text:
Odorless, colorless and dangerous, radon gas poses a real risk in Oregon homes.
TOWARD THE END of the last ice age—between 15,000 and 18,000 years ago—one of the most cataclysmic events in Pacific Northwest history reshaped the upper Willamette Valley. As a result, it gave certain areas of modern-day Portland a lung cancer risk that is second only to smoking.
The culprit is radon. It's an odorless, colorless radioactive gas emitted by all types of rocks, but especially granite. It becomes harmful when it seeps up through the soil and into residential basements. Every year, 20,000 people in the United States die of radon-caused lung cancer, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Portland State geology professor Scott Burns has spent the past 20 years mapping the radon levels of locations throughout the Portland metro area. His first study in 1993 took radon data from 1,100 Portland homes, and mapped low, moderate and high levels of risk. The study changed the way government officials, homeowners, builders, and real estate agents looked at radon, and eventually helped to create new building laws to guard against radon exposure.
That initial study turned out to be the tip of the iceberg. In January, Burns and his student research team came out with a report from a much broader sampling: 32,000 homes in the Portland area and another 22,000 from around the state. It showed more places in the Portland area with a high risk of radon exposure, and for the first time, pointed out other hot spots in the state with dangerous levels of radon, including Milton-Freewater, Lakeview, Sandy, Silverton, and parts of Baker County.
Suddenly Burns was on the front page of Oregon newspapers and was being interviewed by radio and TV reporters. Not long after, Salem's Statesman Journal reported hardware stores in Silverton were having a hard time keeping home radon test kits on the shelves. That's because Burns wasn't just talking about the newfound prevalence of radon, but the fact that it's something homeowners can do something about. Homeowners can perform an inexpensive test in their homes, and if levels are high, they can fix the problem by repairing basement walls and installing ventilation.
"It's the cheapest of all the geological hazards out there," he says.
But how did it get here?
MOST OF THE RADON danger in the Portland area and, in fact, much of Portland's topography, can be traced to the Missoula Floods, which occurred several thousand years ago. During the last ice age, a glacier in Idaho blocked a major river coming out of Montana. Water behind the blockage rose to a depth of 2,100 feet and contained the equivalent of half of Lake Michigan. The ice dam broke, creating a flood of biblical proportions. It scoured the eastern half of Washington, then filled up the Columbia Gorge, traveling at speeds of up to 60 miles an hour.
"If you take the flows of all the rivers in the world measured in cubic meters per second, add them up and multiply by 10, you have the flow rate of the Missoula Floods," Burns says.
The floodwaters filled the Willamette Valley to a depth of 400 feet all the way to present-day Eugene, and then receded north, joined the Columbia River, and drained into the Pacific.
The water carried granite sediment from Montana, and deposited it at various spots along its course. All rocks are radioactive to some extent, because they all contain trace levels of uranium, but some have more than others. Basalt, coming from the Northwest's volcanoes, doesn't have much; granite does. Radon is a product of the breakdown of that uranium. A house built on soils containing granite sediments—especially porous soils that allow the radon gasses to rise and dissipate—is subject to dangerous levels of radon exposure.
Portland's Alameda Ridge is one such place, and has one of the highest radon levels in the city. The ridge was formed when the Missoula floodwaters encountered Rocky Butte. There, the waters slowed and changed course, depositing several cubic miles of granite-rich sediment.
Burns has known about radon levels on Alameda Ridge since his first study came out 20 years ago, and his most recent study backed it up. The surprises came when areas that were not really affected by the Missoula Floods cropped up as being high in radon: Sandy, for example.
"Sandy is my mystery city. It was above the Missoula Floods, so I can't figure out why the levels are high."
Newberg also doesn't fit the same profile as other high-radon areas. The soils there are not very porous—which seems to be a prerequisite for high readings. However, it sits on top of major faults, which enable the release of radon from deep in the earth, Burns says.
DATA FOR THE STUDY came from tests people throughout the state performed in their homes. For as little as $12, you can get a test kit from your local hardware or home improvement store. You just open the kit and place it in your basement. Material in the kit reacts to radon in the air. After a week, you send the kit to a lab, and the lab sends back a reading, measured in picocuries per liter. Anything over 4 picocuries per liter is considered high. Testing is included in the price of the kit.
For $25, you can get a longer-term, more accurate test kit. It's made of a different material, and it's placed in a home for three months.
"It gives you a better picture of what's going on," Burns says.
Brett Sherry, the state radon officer with the Oregon Health Authority gathers test results from the manufacturers of the kits, and that's where Burns got the data for the recent mapping study. Sherry says his office is too small to do the mapping work. As a result, Burns plays a valuable role in the state's effort to get the word out about radon.
Burns enlisted students Tamara Linde, Kassie Lindsey, and Hilary Whitney to crunch the test numbers, sort them by zip code, and plot the results on a map. The experience was eye-opening for Whitney, who talked with the owners of private radon testing companies in Portland. Their test results showed that one house could test radically different than one next door. The difference is often the result of the home's condition. A home with cracked basement walls that let in radon gas can have a much higher reading than one with no cracks, even if they're right next to each other.
"So the risk of being exposed to radon is really not guaranteed to be distributed evenly in a given neighborhood or area, and that's why the EPA, local radon testing companies, and those of us who are studying radon at PSU recommend that every home be tested for radon gas. Because you never know," Whitney says.
Burns couldn't agree more. He says the data his team gathered showed that Portland in general had twice the national average of homes with radon levels higher than 4 picocuries per liter, and that it's in everyone's best interest to do a home test.
"We will probably generate another 20,000 to 30,000 tests in the Portland area as a result of our findings," he says.
John Kirkland, a staff member in the PSU Office of University Communications, wrote "Stop-Motion Magic" in the winter 2013 Portland State Magazine.


text:
Library Fact Sheets
The ALA Library responds to inquiries from staff and members, plus others interested in, or doing research about, libraries. Here is the link to the ALA Library Resource Guides that provide a guide to sources for specific types of statistics about libraries in the United States.
Quotable Facts About America's Libraries
The ALA Office for Advocacy offers Quotable Facts About America's Libraries in English and Spanish - bring one of ALA's most recognizable advocacy tools to your community. These wallet-sized fold-out cards are packed with clever quotes to help make the case for libraries. Hand them out with your business card. Bring them to your legislators or keep one for yourself. In English [PDF] or in Spanish [PDF].
Research on Libraries and Librarianship: Yearly Article in Library and Book Trade Almanac
2013 (pdf)
Citation: Reprinted from the Library and Book Trade Almanac (Bowker Annual), Vol. 59, copyright 2014 Information Today, Inc.
2012 (pdf)
Citation: Reprinted from the Library and Book Trade Almanac (Bowker Annual), Vol. 58, copyright 2013 Information Today, Inc.
2011 (pdf)
2010 (pdf)
2009 (pdf)
2008 (pdf)
2007 (pdf)
2006 (pdf)
2005 (pdf)
Contact the Office for Research & Statistics for questions about content on this page.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Tagged: Baseballexperiences
Fun Times in Queens (10-3-09)
For a while, I'd been wanting to go back to Citi Field for a second game. We'd gone in April when the Stadium was just two weeks old. I wasn't a huge fan of it then. It was too crowded and I felt like we couldn't get anywhere near the field.
Well, a few weeks ago, I found a pair of $25/ticket upper deck tickets on Stub Hub for $3 each. We couldn't pass it up.
I was excited to see Citi Field again, not only because I knew it would be far less crowded due to the Mets poor performance but, because it would be our first game ever in the month of October. Plus, I was hoping we'd get a ball — our first ever in Queens.
We started out early by driving to New York (or as Tim says "You Nork") and, as the picture below shows…
…we headed through the Lincoln Tunnel, parked in the Upper West side, hopped on the C-Train at 81st Street, transferred to the 7-Train at 42nd, watched all of the graffiti go by in the rooftops of Queens, and arrived at Citi Field at about 11:40 a.m.
We entered the stadium through the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and headed up the escalator toward LF to see if there would be BP taking place. After getting denied access to the field section behind the 3B dugout, we headed down the line and grabbed a spot on the railing by LF. The Astros were hitting and this was our view:
There were two Astos pitchers shagging balls down in the LF corner and Tim was watching them like a hawk:
In the picture above to the left, the middle guy is Samuel Gervacio and the guy on the right is Wilton Lopez. Lopez was having a grand old time toying with the crowd. On every ball he caught, he faked like he was going to toss into the stands and then he'd turn around with an ear-to-ear smile and throw it in toward the bucket. Eventually, former Astro and current Astros coach Jose Cruz (above to the far left) walked out to LF with his fungo bat.
As by strolled by, I asked him, "Hey, coach, can you fungo a ball up here for my son?" He nodded "yes" and pointed at Tim as if to say, "Is that him?" I nodded, "Yes."
Meanwhile, Lopez was taunting the crowd with yet another ball. Quitely but very authoritatively, Cruz called out to Lopez and motioned for the ball. Lopez's face instantly turned from playful-kid to serious-and-respectful. He toss the ball to Cruz without hesitation.
Cruz turned around and tossed me this:
Cook & Son's first ball ever in Queens! And our first ball with the patented Houston Astros "H" magic markered onto the sweet spot.
"Thanks, Mr. Cruz!"
Tim was a little upset that he did't catch it himself. He got bit by the catching bug, I guess, after meeting up with Ryan Rowland-Smith in Toronto the previous weekend.
At this point, Tim was just wearing his socks and his shoes were in my backpack. I told him to put on his shoes so we could head out to the OF and poke around. He wasn't too interested in his shoes. So, I popped him up on my shoulders and we walked to the LF seats. On our way, I heard, "Hey, Todd!" I looked up and it was Alex K. from "Riveravenue." We'd met Alex in Chicago at Tim's 30th MLB team milestone game. We'd exchanged some emails and knew we might run into each other at this game.
As we went over and started chatting with Alex, I heard another voice call out, "Hi Todd and Tim." It was Joe from "Baseballexperiences." I'd never met Joe before, but I'd read about him on Zack Hample's Blog and, through Zack, on his own blog.
Joe introduced himself and said he reads our blog. Its always cool to meet people from MLBlogs. And these guys would turn out to be extremely cool and fun to roam around the stadium with at several points during the day. They were absolutely great with Tim and he couldn't get enough of them.
We started by chatting and then a picture:
Joe is on the left and Alex is holding Tim on his lap as he reclines on the back of a seat in LF. Note that Tim is holding his shoe. We pulled the old Billy Madison "everyone my age __________, its the coolest!" trick on Tim (we filled in the blank with "wears shoes"), and it worked like a charm. Tim was happy to wear his shoes after seeing that Joe and Alex were also wearing shoes.
Tim then showed off his first Citi Field ball to his new "guys":
After a few minutes, one of the guys asked if Tim and I wanted to go over to the dugout. I said we couldn't because we had upper-deck tickets. They both assured us it was no problem. Joe had an extra ticket on him — maybe it was his dad's, I'm not sure. Anyway, we were up for checking out the restricted area so we followed Joe:
The guy standing a couple sections in front of Joe in the green jacket asked "do you guys have tickets over here?" Joe flashed his ticket and the guy responded, "Yep, you do, head on in, guys." I think he automatically assumed we all had the right tickets. He didn't seem too concerned about checking the rest of our tickets, but I showed our loaner ticket anyway.
And that easily, we were behind the dugout where there was hardly anyone in the stands. This was our view:
Alex snapped a picture of Tim and I as Joe watched BP wrap up:
Then Joe and Alex gave Tim and I advice about which Astro might want to throw us a second ball…
…and it worked. Alex and Joe both called out, "Hey, Stech," to Astros bullpen coach Strech Suba (I think he's the bullpen coach, at least). I think Suba threw three balls over. Tim and I got one. Joe got one. And, I think (but am not positive) that Alex got one as well. A big time assist and thank you to Alex and Joe for that ball.
Tim was looking the other way when Suba threw us the ball. As I caught it, he turned his head to look toward Suba. My glove was above his head and I instantly transferred the ball from my glove to my bare hand and from my bare hand to Tim's glove. I then erupted with, "Tim, you just caught that ball!" Joe and Alex followed suit with a lot of enthusiasm. Tim was fooled, and was happy to have "caught" another ball himself.
All of a sudden Astros pitcher LaTroy Hawkins was standing right by us (and was photographed by Tim):
Joe and Alex, along with some other people, went over to see if he was autographing. But he announced to everyone in the section that he wasn't signing. He was chatting with his friends who he doesn't get to see much because (he said) he doesn't get to NYC much. He stood there and chatted with some people for a long time.
BP ended and Alex and Joe suggested we head out to the kids' play area — they were always thinking about what would make the day more fun for Tim.
When we got there, Tim and Alex posed by the fence showing off the auto-repair slums across the street from Citi Field…
…after a few minutes, the ice cream man came driving down the slummish auto-row. Not suprisingly, there were no little kids chasing him through the auto-slums.
We waited through the line for the whiffle ball field. Before hitting, Tim cycled through the OF:
To the left, check out Tim tracking a home run ball. To the right, Tim is in his athletic stance — ready to get an early jump on the ball. (Click on the picture to make it larger!)
By the way, the auto-slums are just to the left of the 3B line of the whiffle ball field.
Next, Tim had his chance at bat. You only get a couple hits before you round the bases. But Tim loved it:
In the top left, we see Tim taking a hack on the whiffle ball field's jumbo screen. Top right, two fielders make an effort for the ball but Tim shots it between them for a liner off of the LF wall. Then it was time to round the bases.
Tim loved the whiffle ball field.
Next, we parted ways with Alex and Joe. They went to watch the Astros play catch down the RF line. Tim and I went into the second deck to look down at the field and the home run apple:
The apple was in the "up" position during BP and Tim told me that is said "Mariners" on it. He also thought the little leaf at the top of the apple was great.
Then it was time to grab an ice cream helmet and some seats in section 122 (I still had the ticket Joe gave me — he told me to keep it):
To the left, you see our view of the plate. To the right, Alex took a shot of us as Tim scarfed down his chocolate ice cream with sprinkles. By the way, I just mentioned Alex again. He and Joe saw us in our seats and came and sat by us in the first inning.
This was our field view:
Remember how I said we got $3 tickets because people were disenchanted with the Mets by this point in the season? Well, check out the empty seats to our left and right:
I took my only action shots in the first inning. Miggie Tejada laced this pitch up the middle for a line single to CF:
. You can't see the ball yet in the picture below to the left, but Lance "The Big Puma" Berkman blooped that pitch down the RF line for a single. Tejada advanced to third where we would be stranded:
Carlos "El Caballo" Lee then popped up this pitch for an out.
In the bottom of the first, the third out was made at first. The Astros first basemen (who is that, Berkman?), ran over to the dugout and a cluster of kids gathered in the first row to ask for the third out ball. Alex said, "hold on, I have to run down there."
As he left our row, Berkman launched the ball over all of the kids. It was like it was in slow motion. Alex left us at the perfect time. It was like he was a wide receiver being led by a deep bomb. He and the ball converged just as it reached head level. And then he ran back up showing off the third out ball:
…it was pretty funny. He was gone from our row (literally) for about 7 seconds.
After the second inning, Tim was getting restless. I asked him if he wanted to go see the Pepsi Porch in RF (second deck)…where I told him he could see the train passing back-and-forth. He did.
On the way, we stopped by the Jackie Robinson Rotunda to get pictures with the big 42 (Tim took the picture of me and the 42):
Then we headed up to the Pepsi Porch. Check out something really cool that I didn't notice last time we were at Citi Field — a second jumbo screen in the RF foul corner:
…that's very cool. Every stadium has a bunch of seats that can't see the jumbo screen. But with this second screen, maybe Citi Field does not have any seats in a jumbo screen blind spot.
Here is a panaramic view from the bridge leading out to the Pepsi Porch:
Tim ran into the porch (he was in a huge running mood at this point) and ran down to the first row in the right CF side of the porch. I followed him and took this panaramic view:
Check out what I found just to the right of the view of the jumbo screen/scoreboard…
…a huge "weed bed." Beautiful.
Here is a panaramic view from the foul side of the Pepsi Porch:
And here is a view showing the entire Pepsi Porch from the second deck of the LF foul seats:
From the spot of that last photo, we turned around and headed up the stairs to the top of the stadium in RF foul territory — another area we'd never visited before at Citi Field.
Here was the view from the top:
We continued touring around the upper deck. I decided to head back to the home plate area of the upper deck. On the way, I took a panaramic view into the stadium from the back side of the upper deck concourse:
See all of the glass on the second deck across the stadium — behind the LF foul pole? That's a restaurant. I asked Alex and Joe if they'd ever gone there. One of their dad's had been and wasn't impressed. There is a deck at the bottom of the restaurant (outside the glass), but apparently they won't let people out on the deck because they made the railing too short and fear that people will fall into the field level.
Back to the tour. Here is the view from the upper deck behind home plate:
Due to the Sterling Club and suites that close-off the main concourse from the field behind home plate, and the railings and ushers that keep the commoners from getting into the seats behind home plate, this is the best view most people will ever get from behing home plate at Citi Field.
As you approach Citi Field from the subway, you will notice that the upper deck seating behind home plate is set way back from the front of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda entrance. Well, in the upper deck there is a huge circular concourse area above the Rotunda and behind home plate. The ground has a huge baseball design built into it, which I thought looked nice. Along the outside of the concourse (the outer edge of the Rotunda roof), there are food stands, a team store (one of at least 3-4 at Citi Field). In the middle, there are standing tables where you can stand, eat your food and watch the game on yet another jumbo screen — this one hanging from the back of the upper deck seats:
I gotta admit, that's pretty cool. They have a similar picnic area behind home plate and above the main enterance at Safeco Field, but people up there have no clue what is going on with the game. Nice touch, Mets. They have another one of these jumbo screens on the back of the CF scoreboard for the parents standing in the play area with their kids.
Speaking of CF, that was our next stop. This is the view from the concourse in deep CF:
And here is a view that shows where the play area is in relation to the scoreboard and field:
With that, our touring was concluded and Tim wanted to take some hacks in the soft toss cage. There are two cages. One for little kids with soft toss or a batting tee (depending on the kid's choice). The second has a slow pitching machine. Here is Tim in the soft toss cage:
The lightest bat was really still too heavy for him. But he had some decent hits.
Right after Tim hit in the cage, the rain started to pour down. It was the end of the fifth inning (an official game), and the umps called for a rain delay.
Tim and I trudged around in our rain gear until we eventually found ourselves back in the Rotunda. Tim saw some teenagers climb half-way up the "2" in Jackie Robinson's big blue "42." Tim wanted to do it too, but (a) it was too high and (b) dad was having none of it. By this time, it was about 2:30 or 3:00 pm, and Tim was ridiculously tired (no nap) and he lost it when he wasn't allowed the scale the wet, slippery and tall 42.
As I tried to calm him down a bit, Alex and Joe found us. They tried their best to cheer him up but he was whiney and crying up a storm. Then, Alex asked him, "Tim do you want to go upstairs and play catch?" Instantly, Tim's crying stopped on a dime. "Yes!!!," he responded. "Ahh, HA!," I said to Alex and Joe, "you've witnessed some of Tim's classic fake crying!" One of them asked, "You were faking it, Tim?!" Tim responded, "well, I was a little sad." Classic Tim, the actor!
We had time to kill. So next, we went and looked at all of the "game used" stuff the Mets had for sale in the field level concourse.
After looking at that stuff for a bit, Alex and Joe asked if we want to go into the Sterling Club. Now, the Sterling Club is the ultra-exclusive and pricey luxury club level area for all of the people with the big railed-off cushy seats behind home plate. Alex's dad had got tickets somehow. After paying $3 per ticket, how could I pass up an opportunity for Tim and I to see the Sterling Club.
Joe and Alex entered the club. Safely inside, Alex passed off his ticket to Joe and came and passed it off to me. Joe then re-entered on his own. Tim and I strolled around a minute in the Rotunda and then headed up the Sterling Club escalator and into the club.
The lighting in there wasn't friendly to my camera, all of my pictures came out blurry somehow. But he is some of what we saw:
In the top left, there is a ridiculously fancy looking restaurant, which looked out of place (and was totally empty) at a ballpark. See the red arrow in top middle of the restaurant? Its pointing to floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the visitors' practice batting cage, which are pictured at the top right. For perspective, the restaurant is to the left as you enter the Sterling Club and it is located roughly behind the 3B dugout. As you view them in both of the top pictures, the field is to the left of the restuaurant and the visitors' batting cage.
At the bottom left, there is a fancy bar (and Joe's head). For perspective, the restaurant is behind me as I took that picture and home plate is behind the left side of the bar.
In the bottom right, we are sitting in a little nook in the far opposite side of the Sterling Club next to a bunch of windows overlookign the Mets batting cages (they have two cages, the visitors have only one). For perspective, the Mets (1B side) dugout is just behind and to the right of me as I took this picture.
At this end of the Sterling Club, there is another fancy bar. This one is more of a lounge style bar. The bar is across the back wall (opposite the field) and the rest of the room has scattered seating.
In that picture, we are drinking delicious FREE MILKSHAKES. It was the best chocolate milk shake I'd had in a long time.
Here is the view from the cushy Sterling Club seating behind home plate:
It was just misting at this point. But no one was outside in the seats (except for Alex's mom). So we took the oppotunity to play catch in the expensive seats:
This lasted about 10 minutes before an usher shut us down.
Next, we decided to go check out the old home run apple from Shea Stadium. It is behind the bullpens in deep, deep, deep right CF. On our walk out there, it started to rain hard again. Here is a picture of Tim, Alex and a little girl staying dry under the top hat:
After spending some time by the bullpens and in the RF concourse (where Tim clanked Cow Bell Man's cowbell, Tim and Joe ran several races and Alex and Joe swung Tim around by his feet and hands), the rain stopped!
We headed toward the 3B dugout just in time to witness the removal of the tarp:
Tim decided to take some pictures in the remaining down time before the game resumed, including this one of Alex and Joe:
As the grounds crew prepared the field, the P.A. announcer invited the remaining fans to sit wherever they could find open seats in the field level (other than in the Sterling Club).
Tim and I decided to hang out in LF. Almost everyone else decided to sit in the infield. As a result, if anyone was going to hit a homerun to LF, there would be great odds that we would collect our first ever home run ball. Check out how empty the OF was (heck, check out the whole stadium!):
Tim still had not napped and was still in desparate need of some rest. But he had no interest. What he did have interest in for "game part 2" was "ice cream helmet part 2":
Unfortunately, no one hit a homerun for the rest of the game.
In the top of the 9th inning (with the Mets winning), we moved to the infield and sat by the tunnel where we knew the umpires would leave the field after the game. Here was the excellent view:
Although we'd already got two balls on the day (our first ever in Queens), I wanted to get a ball from the umpire because it would be a commemorative Citi Field inaugural season ball — this would be our last and best opportunity to get one of those balls. Soon, Alex and Joe both turned up. They had the same idea.
Tim was ready to catch a foul ball (below to left)…
…while no foul balls came our way, Tim did collect a commemorative ball from home plate umpire Damien Beal (above to right).
"Thanks, Blue!"
After chatting with Alex and Joe a little bit more, we said our good-byes (we'll be keeping our eye out for those guys next season) and Tim and I headed to the 7-Train platform.
On the way out, I took the following night-time photo of Citi Field:
…that place always looks great in photos.
And that's the story of our final national league game of the season. After this game, I have a much better feeling about Citi Field. I still don't like the closed-off concourse behind home plate or the design of the standing room areas (no standing counters), but we had a great day in Queens. The following day, we'd be in Baltimore for the final game of the season.
Season Fan Stats:
32 Games (plus one 5+ hour rain out with no game)
1 Ken Griffey, Jr. Homerun (Career Homerun No. 624, August 23, 2009 in Cleveland)
13 Stadiums (Safeco Field, Camden Yards, Citizens Bank Park, Citi Field, Nationals Park, Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, HHH Metrodome, Miller Park, U.S. Cellular, "Jacobs" Field, and Rogers Centre)
25 Teams (Mariners, A's, Rangers, Rays, Orioles, Tigers, Twins, Indians, Red Sox, Yankees, Royals, White Sox, Blue Jays, Phillies, Mets, Nationals, Cubs, Braves, Padres, Dodgers, Cardinals, Marlins, Pirates, Astros, and Brewers — and sort of the Giants)
27 Ice Cream Helmets (Mariners (5), Phillies (5), Mets, Nationals (3), Red Sox (3), Yankees (2), Twins, Cubs, Brewers, White Sox, Indians, and Blue Jays (and 1 Brewers Cheese Fries Helmet))
35 Baseballs (20 Mariners, 3 Astros, 2 Rangers, 2 Umpire, 1 Phillies, 1 Red Sox, 1 Nationals, 1 Pirates, 1 Twins, 1 Royals, 1 Indians, Yankees/Orioles 1)
MLB Closed Out (NL Closed out on 8/16/09, AL Closed out on 8/17/09)
6 Autographs (King Felix Hernandez, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Jason Phillips, Ronny Cedeno, Jeremy Guthrie, Ryan Perry)
5 Player/G.M. Photographs (King Felix Hernandez, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Jason Phillips, Jack Zduriencik, Ryan Perry)
10 Mascot Pictures (Mariners Moose, Orioles Bird, Slider (Indians), 3 Presidents (Nats), Screech (Nats), 4 Running Sausages (Brewers) — Honorable Mention: The Green Monster statue bench)


text:
Once a year, there is a time where there is a sense of peace and calmness in the air. Enemies have meals with each other and discuss strategy. Strangers go out of their way to help each other. Altogether, life is pretty good for two days a year.
I'm not sure what you were thinking about, but I'm talking about BlizzCon.
Blizzard is a company that obviously values their fans, and appreciates the followings they have for their games. Why else would they spend so much money putting on a two day festival for their games, and likely lose a lot of money in the process? With all of the stuff that happens at the Anaheim Convention Center that is included in the ticket price, it's well worth more than what you pay for.
My wife and I were fortunate enough to go to BlizzCon in 2008, and had an amazing time there. More than likely, I'll be doing some sort of a post around this time every year to reinforce the fact that it is an awesome trip, and I can just hope that everyone has the chance to go to it at least once. Multiple times is even better! However, we must deal with what has just happened.
BlizzCon 2011 – Mists of Pandaria and other stuff
One of the best parts came shortly into the opening ceremonies, which was the annoucement of the World of Warcraft annual pass. This has a person commit to a one year term with WoW in return for some really great perks. The number one perk being that you can get Diablo III for free. Yes, free. When the game is released, the digital download version will be provided to people who are signed up with this, as well as an in-game mount called Tyrael's Charger. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me.
Mists of Pandaria
Obviously, the big deal this year was the new WoW expansion: Mists of Pandaria. We have a new expansion coming, and for the first time since Vanilla we won't have any sort of a "main villain". There will be a number of enemies that will be there to smash, along with a ton of new features. The biggest things are definitely the new race of Pandarens, the new class of the Monk, and the new continent of Pandaria. Along with that there will be a new Pet Battle system, PvE scenarios, challenge dungeon modes, a new talent system, among many other things.
When we first heard about Mists of Pandaria being trademarked earlier in the summer, I was very skeptical like many others. Yet, after seeing all the details come forth in the various panels through the BlizzCon virtual ticket I am very pleasantly surprised at how excited I am about it. The way that they have the lore fleshed out as well as the gameplay shown has me convinced that this could turn out to be quite good. Of course, I'm a Blizzard fanboy, but that's beside the point.
One thing that I think I'm really looking forward to is the Pet Battle system. In essence, it's Pokemon inside WoW including having a few different abilities that will be used in a turn-based battle system. Companion pets will be account-bound for the most part and can be used to battle each other for prestige and rewards. Basically, it's a brand new pasttime for people to spend a great amount of time and money with.
The talent and spec system revamp looks very exciting. Basically, talent trees will be gone and replaced with different choices to make about your abilities at certain levels. Whereas before we were limited by what spec you were to choose your abilities at higher level, now there will be certain talents that can be taken by any spec. As an example, Living Bomb will be able to be learned by any spec rather than just those who spec in Fire. As time goes on and we get to see how the system fleshes out we'll have a better idea of how it will all work.
Even though the Pandaren were once used as an April Fools' joke, the new concept art and character models that were shown give a great look at them in-game now. They don't look as comical as they did in the old joke posts as well as in Warcraft 3. I've always enjoyed Samwise's drawings that have surfaced over the years, and this makes them really fit in to the Asian theme that has been developed for the new continent.
Plus, the Pandaren starting zone is on the back of a turtle. How awesome is that?
StarCraft II
I own StarCraft II and enjoy playing it, however I'm not very good at it. Even so, I really enjoy the game and love the story. Though more often than not I would not win the matches (PvP, I wasn't too bad at vs AI), the game itself is very great.
At the end of Day 1 of BlizzCon, they had a match of the Global Starcraft League which is based out of South Korea. Many people will know that the game is absolutely huge in the country, and there is a massive eSports market built around it. Out of curiosity, my wife and I decided to tune in to it and see how the games were going… and we found that we were enjoying it much more than we thought we would.
The fight was Terran vs Terran (MMA vs MVP), two amazing players who put on a great fight. In the end, the underdog (MMA) won the match with 4 wins to 1. I stayed up until 1:30 in the morning to see this, since I was so enthralled by the action. Because of this, I decided to re-install SC2 and start playing it again. Good job BlizzCon, you did your job.
Diablo III
Thankfully, Diablo III will be coming out soon (we hope). The biggest announcement with this game was definitely the WoW Annual Pass giving the game for free, but there was a great lore panel along with some good gameplay footage and overall cool stuff.
Diablo I and II were somewhat lacking in the overall lore, and as Chris Metzen started at the beginning of the D3 lore panel, this was the first year they've actually had a panel devoted just to lore of that universe. The story has been expanded tremendously, and I'm extremely excited to see how the game turns out.
What wasn't mentioned
We didn't hear anything about the "Titan" project, which was said a few days before the convention started. While this isn't great, this is Blizzard we're talking about – they don't give out any details until they're ready for it. Personally, I would rather have something polished as opposed to something halfway done.
There are more projects being worked on within the walls of Blizzard. Through some of the interviews that happened, as well as looking at the job postings on the Blizzard site, we know this. As with Titan, we just won't be given any information until they're ready.
In the end…
As much as I wish I could have made it to Anaheim this year, unfortunately that just didn't happen. The virtual ticket was the next best thing that could have happened, and fortunately through that I can watch things happen after the fact. As I write this post, I'm watching some of the panels that I missed through the days.
I have to say a huge "thank you" to Blizzard Entertainment. BlizzCon was one of the best experiences that I've had, and every year I look forward to it whether or not I can actually be there. I can't imagine the amount of work that goes into the convention and how much money is spent, but I'd like to say that it's totally worth it.


text:
Welcome to bloofoxCMS
bloofoxCMS is a free open source content management system (CMS). bloofoxCMS is a small and easy to use CMS. It enables you to manage websites and intranet sites on a very simple way. It is slim but also flexible.
You may use and download it free of charge without any limitations. But it would be a great pleasure to receive a small donation.
[ Features ] [ Screenshots ] [ Download ]
You may use and download it free of charge without any limitations. But it would be a great pleasure to receive a small donation.
[ Features ] [ Screenshots ] [ Download ]
bloofoxCMS Key Features
Very easy installation over web browser by using an automated install process with only 2 steps. If you prefer a manual setup just use our SQL dump files.
Easy to use admin panel with structured areas. You need only a short training period. The Admincenter includes an intuitive user interface.
More simply and fast expandable program code also for PHP beginners. Every php developer is able to extend the code with additional individual code lines.
Fast customization und creation of individual template designs with HTML or XHTML and CSS (cascading stylesheets). Our templates are completely free of PHP code. Even web designers without PHP knowledge can create templates.
Bug Tracker & Feature Requests
Please write bugs to the bug list. If you want bloofoxCMS to get a new feature please write your idea to the feature list.
Interesting Websites
open source cms (EN) | cms critic (EN) | cms matrix (EN) | php resource (DE) | php archiv (DE) | php welt (DE)
Latest News
bloofoxCMS 0.5.1 available
bloofoxCMS now available on github
bloofox CMS goes end of life
Make a donation
You may help us by making a little donation. Please click the image beside. Thanks for your support!
bloofox & sourceforge.net
bloofoxCMS is also available at sourceforge.net.
Project bloofoxCMS


text:
By Jamie Gardner
The meeting of the Appling County Board of Commissioners held Tuesday, September 4, was a meeting topped by public discussion. Several concerns were addressed during the meeting including a road issue and Lake Mayers usage.
Members of public discuss concerns with commission
No Trackbacks
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)


text: Surround your baby's photo with pieces awash in pink or blue. This clever frame depicts a nursery carousel. Don't forget the silhouette pieces. We can craft a name, initials, date or a favorite toy, just ask! Please let us know if you would like the pink or blue frame in the comments section in your online order.


text:
Matt Diaz contract terms
Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com
Heard that the Pirates' two-year agreement with outfielder Matt Diaz is for "approximately $4.25 million." That has not been confirmed by the club, which is mum on all aspects of the deal since it is not yet official. It's also unknown how the salary would break down exactly per year and what incentives might be built in.
Diaz made $2.55 million with Atlanta in 2010.
Follow me on Twitter: @LangoschMLB
2 Comments
This is a good sign. I'm pleased with this. He's proven himself in Atlanta. Hopefully he can bring his bat with him. We'll work on his defense. I think, with Diaz, Garrett Jones shouldn't have to play against righties anymore… if we keep Garrett.
Diaz will platoon in RF with John Bowker ??
Jones will platoon at 1B with Steve Pearce ??
Alvarez , Cedeno, Walker, Tabata, McCuthen
Doumit to ??
Bench Some combination of Marte, Rodriguez, Pressley, Jarrimilo ?
Rotation of Mc Donald, Maholm, Corriea, Olsen, Morton / Lincoln
Meek,Hamerhan,Resop,Karstens, Moskos, Ledesma, Thomas,
Mc Cutheon, all we need is Kawakami
Let's go Bucs


text: Government hostility to renewables and Scottish independence may put the lights out Peter Strachan Alex Russell | 1st August 2014 As the UK's electricity supply margins drop to new lows, the government's punitive approach to renewables will only make matters worse, write Peter Strachan & Alex Russell. Likewise its threats to boycott Scotland's wind power is utterly irrational - we will need it to keep our lights on. Victory - 30 new marine reserves for Scotland The Ecologist | 25th July 2014 Scotland's network of marine reserves doubled in area today with the designation of 30 new marine reserves. The move has been welcomed by green groups who have long campaigned on the issue - but they warn: this is where the real work begins. Maybe we can all learn from smaller islands? Thembi Mutch | 8th March 2014 Europe's periphories are meant to be in a state of collapse - but not so the Shetland Isles, where Thembi Mutch found a land of open skies, howling storms, historic traditions, and an active, growing community of notable individuals ... One tree at a time: restoring the forest of Caledon Philip Mason | 3rd February 2014 Scotland's native forest remains in only a few fragments, but Trees For Life is working to restore it, and almost all of the work is done by volunteers. Philip Mason joined their newly expanded long-term volunteer programme for two months last autumn. Time to bring back Nature's flood management engineer - the beaver Louise Ramsay | 20th January 2014 As climate change brings more rain, Britain is suffering from the extinction here of our native flood engineer - the beaver. Louise Ramsay says it's high time to re-introduce these charismatic rodents all over Britain. Jura: reinvigorated by adventure Jon Gardner | 15th November 2013 Looking for a green holiday amid gorgeous landscapes and unbridled nature? Jon Gardner was inspired to visit Jura, where George Orwell wrote 1984. He was not disappointed ... Britain's forgotten foods Grace Philip | 31st May 2012 With Jubilee fever hotting up, Grace Philip argues that it's time to pay attention to another part of our heritage: our tasty native produce Chemical weapon and radiation fear at Scottish RAF base The Ecologist | 21st May 2012 RAF Kinloss in Moray, Scotland, at the centre of an investigation into radioactive contamination and chemical weapons buried at the site Top 10… water inspired breaks Ruth Styles | 4th May 2012 Last month's downpours might have put you off water for life but that doesn't mean a watery getaway isn't worth a look. Ruth Styles rounds up 10 of the best Five of the best... gypsy caravan breaks Lisa Stephens | 19th April 2012 Forget My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding; the UK's Romany caravans offer discreet luxury, emerald eco credentials and the chance to get back to nature in style. Lisa Stephens rounds up five of the best Food of love: why 'aphrodisiac' oysters could be the sustainable alternative to meat Matilda Lee | 12th April 2012 Oysters need a thriving natural eco-system and ultra clean water to survive. And as Matilda Lee discovered on a visit to Loch Fyne Oysters, they even find their own food. So are oysters the green choice? Climate justice: Scotland pioneers new fund to help poor countries with adaptation Chris Hegarty | 13th March 2012 After leading the way on climate legislation with the 2009 Climate Change Act, the Scottish government are now putting their money where their mouth is with the creation of the Climate Justice Fund to pay for developing country adaption projects Wind turbines: the future of renewable energy or a blight on UK countryside? Bethany Hubbard | 24th February 2012 The wind farms debate rages on as the need for renewable energy grows. But is the UK in danger of putting aesthetics before the need to cut carbon emissions and adopt greener technologies? Five ways to make this year's family break the greenest ever Laurie Tuffrey | 17th January 2012 From taking the ferry to a budget version of the Orient Express, Greentraveller founder, Richard Hammond, shares his top five ways to holiday without harming the planet Review: Pitcairlie House, Fife Kristen Harding | 21st October 2011 Deep in the heart of Fife, Pitcairlie House is a magical place to spend a chilled out weekend getting back to nature, says Kristen Harding Ten of the best... British volunteering holidays Christine Ottery | 21st October 2011 Volunteering holidays aren't just for bored teenagers. As Christine Ottery found out, there are plenty of ways to see the UK and do your bit at the same time Salmon farm threatens Scottish island of Eigg's green credentials Kathrine Anker | 26th September 2011 The Isle of Eigg has won prizes for its use of renewable energy resources. But a proposed fish farm could ruin the eco-friendly reputation that the small island community has worked so hard to obtain, and the tourist appeal that comes with it The eco travel guide to Scotland Ruth Styles Vanessa Jones | 22nd September 2011 Jagged peaks, cerulean lochs, plentiful wildlife and wonderful historical treasures have made Scotland a truly magical place to go, say Ruth Styles and Vanessa Jones Best of British: the three spots you have to swim in Daniel Start | 8th September 2011 In an exclusive extract from Wild Swimming, author Daniel Start looks back at his best-ever wild dips St Kilda: exploring Scotland's most westerly point Jonny Muir | 31st August 2011 Remote, beautiful and totally uninhabited, St Kilda is a wild paradise just off the Scottish coast. In an extract from his book, Isles on the Edge of the Sea, author Jonny Muir explains why it was love at first sight Top 10…British glamping trips Jeff Holman | 6th May 2011 Planning a staycation this summer? With everything from gypsy caravans to forest hideaways available, glamping takes the hard work out of camping. Jeff Holman rounds up 10 of the best Top 10…Eco-friendly half term breaks Ruth Styles | 4th February 2011 Try something new during the half term break, whether it's wolf tracking in Sweden or surfing in Wales. Whatever your budget, likes or dislikes, we've got an eco-friendly family trip for you Scotland unveils world's first carbon budget Severin Carrell | 18th September 2009 The Scottish government estimates spending on core services will lead to the release of 11.5m tonnes of carbon dioxide New green electricity projects to be trialed in the UK The Ecologist | 1st March 2009 The problem with renewable energy is not that there isn't enough, it's how to bring that power to where it's needed, when it's needed. Pagination Previous page ‹‹ Page 3 Next page ›› Subscribe to Scotland Home New Editors' Picks International Change makers Thought leaders Science & systems Extinction Rebellion Resurgence & Ecologist ENDOXA Ecologist recycled


text:
Dallas Psychologists - South Dakota
Search Psychologists provides a complete directory of Psychologists in Dallas, SD and a plethora of information on psychological testing, child psychology, consumer credit counseling, couples therapy, mental health, sex therapy, religious counseling and psychotherapy. Browse through articles on Psychological Testing, get answers to frequently asked questions on Child Psychology and more.
Related Searches
1. Psychological Testing Dallas
2. Child Psychology Dallas, SD
3. Consumer Credit Counseling Dallas
4. Couples Therapy Dallas


text:
Everything That's Wrong with Politics and the Media and America and EverythingComments
Let Alex Pareene be your guide into the weekly circles of Hell known as the Sunday talk shows. Why anyone watches these things, I do not know.
Note: you may want an alcoholic beverage of choice at hand while reading.


text:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4: 4 – 9
Our small prayer group leader read these words slowly and intentionally. He read in Kinyarwanda, of course, and so I sat resolutely on a small brown bench trying to understand. He read these words on behalf of our Tuesday prayer group; he read this scripture as a representation of God's bread. He shared this verse for me. It was my final day to pray in Ruramira, my home for the past two years. When I read the verse later in English as Divine and I finished eating my favorite food (plantains) in my living room, tears and gratitude filled my heart. What wonderful words to encapsulate my life here. What a beautiful piece of the Bible to send me off with. When we finished our prayers that last Tuesday, the old mamas huddles around me. Their old skin touched me as they set their walking sticks aside and they let out soft sounds of sadness.
"Uzagaruka ryari?" (When will you come back?)
"Simbizi." (I don't know.)
"Eh baba we. Imana yanjye! Turababaye pe." (Oh my God, we are so very sad.)
"Ariko niba Imana ashobora kwerekana inzira, nzagaruka." (But, if God shows me the way, I will return.)
I muttered something about these women being wonderful abakekurus (old women) but I completely lost words to speak when I saw one of these women grasping her mouth and holding back tears. Rwandans are stoic; never before had I seen an older Rwandan woman cry. Kinyarwanda, English….I don't know. Finding the right words is impossible with goodbyes like this. Which is why that scripture means so much to me; where our words and understanding fails, God comes.
I've been a Peace Corps Volunteer in Rwanda somewhere around 820 days. For 27 months. The end always seemed like an idea formed in some intangible myth. We'd talk about America but it didn't seem real. Of course I knew Rwanda would come to an end – eventually – but even now it feels impossible to look at my ticket and know it is really happening. To say I'm struggling to process all of this barely covers it, despite knowing from the very beginning that Peace Corps was never permanent. I remember in the first days of training how we always joked that "today is forever" because of the long days of Kinyarwanda lessons, cultural training, walks to our training site, and integration attempts with our families. I was convinced that if "real Peace Corps life" (that is, the time after training) was like that then there was no way I would survive two years in this country.
"Real Peace Corps life" is not like that. If you approach the experience not as a job but wholly the life you have, then time moves, life happens, and sooner than you really understand, it's over. My life for the last 820-ish days has been full. It's been some of the best and worst days of my 24 years. In this time as a resident of Rwanda, I've had two birthdays, learnt a language, lost around 20 pounds, and was called "umuzungu" every single day. I found one of the best friends I will ever have, prayed regularly at the Catholic Church, was harassed, coached football, had rocks thrown at me by our village "crazy", was lied to frequently, ate amazing home-made Rwandan food on student visits, helped establish a library, learned to use charcoal, somehow became a teacher, and lived in a village full of many people who had never seen an American before.
I became a friend, a family member, visited 4 other countries, went on 3 safaris, and showed my parents this beautiful country. I became a fan of waking up at 5:00am, read books, watched a lot of TV shows, and journaled almost every day. I have completed over 12 journals to prove it. Using a latrine became normal, I dealt with a nasty staph infection, and I was sick a few times. The most serious episode is now rumored to be an act of "poison" among my community members but I think I just ate a bad batch of meat. I drank banana beer in secret, wrote letters, and spent a lot of time on crowded buses. Once, I danced in front of 3,000 people at a church revival. Many times I prayed for over 5 hours on Sundays. I learnt far more about grace, love, and humility than I can even begin to say. I saw the good and bad of Rwandan culture and absorbed a lot of it in my own personality. My Peace Corps superlative at our going-away party was "most likely to return and live in Rwanda" and in a letter from Yazina, she commended the "miracle" it was to see an American woman also become a Rwandan woman. The lines certainly are blurred for me.
I have only told a few people this, but last year I heard voices in my house when I tried to sleep. I called out my grandmother's name and I felt something on my back and neck. This all happened for a span of about a week in early 2012. I never knew what it was for sure, but I lost several nights of sleep before going to Kigali to see the doctor. Was I going crazy? Our doctor drained my ears and I only heard the voices once more after and so who knows.
In one of the most defining moments of my life, Rwanda served as the place I first heard the voice of God. I'll never forget it. I was in a motorcycle accident one spring evening, around 6:00 at night. My motorcycle driver had come to take me, while another driver took Yazina and Divine from a restaurant we were visiting. It was dark, rainy, and not a good time to be in the road on a motorcycle. My motorcycle collided head-on with an old man and his bicycle as the road veered slightly to the left. Time stood completely still as my driver braked harshly and I was ejected forward from the back. I wore a measily helmet but it managed to stay on as I met the road with the back of my head and body and rolled once into a ditch. However, it's what I heard when I spent milliseconds in the air, completely free in the body, that has changed my life. My legs dangled and I heard nothing but complete silence. I was screaming, but I didn't hear it. The screeching of the brakes didn't enter my ears. All I heard was,
I processed be still and was sure to keep my body strong so I could absorb the impact on the pavement safely. Bruises, a cut lip, and shock aside, I was fine. In the next few minutes, I called Suzi completely panicked, and then was able to call the girls to come back. I'll never forget the feeling I had when I saw Divine on the other side of the road waiting for me, arms wide open. It was raining heavily at this point, and all I could do was sob. She held me tight, repeating that God loves you over and over. In light of all of these events, I know that was God. I know it.
So you can perhaps see the difficulty in understanding how this is over. Somewhere along the way it became a reality (for good and bad) and life continued. I learnt a lot of things in these months of residing in a small village surrounded by forests and banana trees. I learned how to communicate using multiple languages and many times, using the body as well. I learned the difference between being a "good" teacher and a "fun" teacher – because you can be both. I learned how to cook – a skill I'm very excited about.
I learned things I never imagined I would need; things like, using oil on the outside of a pot to prevent smoke leaving black stains, the best way to run when 5 children desperately want to hold onto you, how to kill a snake with a mop, and how to overcome fear with a woman who is insane and trying to remove all of her clothes in front of you.
Yeah, my life was strange here.
Of everything though, the one constant, transcending life lesson that was evident during my time in Rwanda was this:
That alone, is what I know for sure.
Oprah Winfrey always ends her issues of O! Magazine with a few inspiring paragraphs about her most recent life insights. What I Know For Sure, is what she calls them.
Well for me, I can only spend endless paragraphs trying to adequately describe a truth I can barely fathom. God. Never. Leaves. Us.
It's the only sentiment that explains the relationships I have made. And it's the truth that held me together on the more challenging and trying days here.
What I know for sure is that God is the reason I was able to move my life, to leave my family, and to find pure, untainted joy in a place that like anywhere else has a plethora of issues.
Rwanda has not always been kind to me.
But in the midst of dark times, there was always light.
When my grandmother died, I had my host family to console me.
When I saw students beat others, there was a belief that things could change.
When I was lonely, someone always appeared or called. Or, I had Velveeta cheese from dad tucked away somewhere.
When I felt like a failure, GLOW club shined.
When I was afraid, living in my house without power, I found contentment in going to sleep early and peacefully in the night.
When I ran on these rural roads and people sometimes mocked me, I was able to run faster.
I'm a very lucky woman though. Most of the time, I loved Rwanda. Deeply, intensely – I loved it here.
And it isn't very hard to figure out why. This last weekend, on a final visit to my host family, we gathered around the table after a delicious meal of meat, fries, rice, and fanta to pray. Divine had come with me and my family was so happy to meet her. Mama started to pray and she prayed long and hard. For 10 minutes she spoke to God. For 10 minutes she also struggled to find the words to speak – tears were stuck in her throat as she prayed for my journey, for the continued strength in my relationships, and for the time I had in Rwanda. When she finished the only thing I could tell her was that I believe that their family and Divine are direct blessings from God. God is the reason I was able to love this place like I do. His hand was in everything.
My last month here was one long goodbye. First to school, then to my students, then to teachers, then to my community, then to families, then to my students, then to my friends, then to my host family, and my last goodbye – in a sense, my goodbye to Rwanda – to Divine.
It was one of my favorite months here. I traveled around freely – to around 5 different districts – and to prevent being alone in my house while in my village, Divine moved in with me to support me for my last weeks. We spent our days truly enjoying each other's company. She taught me how to properly wash clothes, I taught her how to use "home row" while using a computer. We even made her a facebook and email on a trip into town. We cooked. We listened to the radio. We took naps. We just lived life.
In one of my final days in Rwanda, we, along with 3 other of my girls, enjoyed a trip to Akagera National Park so they could experience a safari and see incredible animals and physical scenery. They loved it. They squealed at the sight of giraffes and upon seeing a large elephant in the road just 15 feet away, believed the elephant would come to eat us. Our 6 hour game park drive thrilled them and they repeatedly acknowledged how unbelievable it all was. I sat next to a quiet Divine on the way home. But our friendship is so comfortable that silences don't bother me – a testament to our closeness because I love chatting! Finally she looked at me and spoke with conviction and clarity.
"Heather, the reason I am quiet is because I just feel this action you have made is so uncountable. It's above my head – I don't have words to say. It's just amazing."
I told her, "no problem Shu, there is no problem. I am just so happy you could see that place."
"Thank you so much. But Heather. It's more than this action of today. It's all actions you have shown for me and others in the 2 years to share life. You are the first person in my life to speaking something and shoe the action – always. I have friends and family to support me, but what you have done for me…I don't understand. Birarenze (to be at a loss for words)…I don't have the words. All of this, it comes from God, and…wow. I don't understand."
Divine and I have had a slow goodbye and so we have had many conversations that try to pinpoint how we can have the friendship we do, but it always comes back to our lack of understanding – namely that it comes from God and how can we begin to grasp the intricacies of friendship that he works within?
I sigh and quickly code these words from Divine into my memory. I don't want to forget. Her words soothe my soul and it's in that moment that despite the pain in moving on, I can do it – one, because I have humbly succeeded in what I set out to do (help the world just a little bit) and two, God's given me an incredible friend who has taught me about life in ways only explainable by God's divine touch.
Her English is a second language and yet I know her heart more deeply than people I have known for years. Her love for God is unchanging in all things – she showed me what it means to be a strong Christian woman.
We laughed everyday, shared meals, went on walks, studied, explained our histories, and did it all from two very different walks of life.
What I know for sure is that God never leaves us because in the time I needed friendship He gave me one of His most devoted followers.
Today is just like every other day. The Kigali sun is starting to reach the peak in the sky, birds are bustling around in the trees, and I'm ready for a buzz of caffeine from a cup of coffee. It's just like any other day, except that it's my last day in Rwanda and that in just 9 short hours, I will be on a plane headed for America. Headed for home.
I left my village on a moto, tears streaming down my face, as a group of my closest friends waved goodbye. They had come early in the morning to give letters, hug me, sip coffee, and say some parting words. Some of the congregation at the Catholic church were working the fields as my motorcycle zoomed past and I wistfully placed my hands in the air to wish them peace. I was leaving. Leaving. I remember the first time I came to Ruramira, by way of motorcycle, and I was leaving much in the same way. Only this time, there were kids screaming "Impano! Impano!" and I could look around, knowing where most of the paths lead. The difference was that I was leaving a home.
I went back to the very place I started – my host family – so I could give them final hugs. The goodbye was prayerful, full of gifts, and amazing, inspiring words. I told them what Divine has done for me in my time as a volunteer, and they commended her greatly, wishing her to come back and visit. They repeatedly told me how much appreciation they have for the work I have done and even more so, my attempts to live and work within Rwandan culture. Mama could barely believe the things I have learned to cook (cassava bread, bananas, and good sauce) and when she heard some of the new Kinyarwanda phrases I have acquired she stood back in shock. Somehow you have become Rwandan, she told me. From a strong Rwandan woman, that's about the biggest compliment you could ask for.
Divine and I came back to Kigali following our visit to the host family to enjoy one more night together. We had tea and bread and we listened to the Catholic radio station. We talked. A lot. And we cried, a lot. When morning came, after few hours of sleep, we prayed together. Tears fell fast, quickly, and fiercly. How had this day finally arrived? How is it possible that I will not see this girl every day? Divine prayed so beautifully, asking God to protect our journeys, and praising Him over and over for the way He has worked in our lives. She asked for God to help us "have no fear" in separation and to keep us strong. I accompanied her to the bus station and helped her find a bus to go back home. It will be her first time to back at home in quite some time as she spent the last month living with me. I think her family will be happy to have her back. I hugged her once more, shook her hand and watched her sit in the bus. Immediately, she buried her face in her lap. She later told me she stayed like that for the entire journey. I went to the office for Peace Corps, found a quiet place in the garden and cried holding my Bible for 30 minutes. It was one of the saddest days I have had in my life. To say goodbye is already difficult, but when there is no certainty about the time you will see that person again, your heart hurts. And hurts a lot. I know Divine will be in my life forever. And I know I'll see her again. It's just a matter of accepting where life has taken us now. Our connection is one of the strongest I have felt in another human being. She's a young, Rwandan student who comes from a poor village in East Africa. I'm a young wanna-be American teacher from a country and family where all of my needs have been met on a consistent basis. And yet, our conversations were perceptive, deep, and open. I know this girl. And she knows me. To walk away from Peace Corps with that kind of relationship is a resounding success.
God never leaves us.
Of everything I have learned, this is the most important.
There's so much I could say and so much I want to try to explain; and yet, I'm losing the words.
I have an inexpressible amount of gratitude for my friends and family back home. Thank you for reading this blog. Thank you for sending letters. Thank you for sending American food. Thank you for your encouragement. I like to think of this blog as some sort of time capsule and so I'll be starting a new blog once I get back stateside. In case you haven't noticed, I love blogging, and so I look forward to writing about the next phase of my life back home. This blog will forever be the pieces of writing and experiences about Rwanda and I appreciate everybody who took the time to read and try to understand some of the things I experienced while working in this country.
A special thank you to my parents. Each and every time I want to do something, you are the first people to figure out HOW to make it happen. When I wanted to come to do Peace Corps you didn't think I was crazy. Too crazy, anyway. And when I found out it was Rwanda, you started planning the time you were going to come to visit – and you came. I want you to know how much that meant to me – and what that meant to my friends in Rwanda. The most important thing I have wanted to show in Rwanda is that love is far more than words (it's an action) and you, my parents, have demonstrated that beautifully.
I'm indebted forever to the kind people in Ruramira. The reason I was able to have a positive and successful experience was because my community was welcoming, kind, and ready. They were open to have conversations, willing to take me in their home, and waved at me when I passed through on my daily runs. I will love that village forever. And a piece of me will always be there.
Today when my plane finally takes off, I'm not sure what will be running through my mind. I imagine I'll be consumed with what it's going to feel like to finally be home but also I'll reflect on the people and places that have worked within my life for the last couple of years. I'll remember Godriva, an old mama who gave me a couple of dollars as a going away gift, and I'll remember Divine's mother who frequently would break out into dancing just for the hell of it. I'll remember the life I had there – even if for a short while – and know that no matter where life takes me, I'll always have that.
I'll think to myself that the most amazing thing of all is that though the Peace Corps experience is deeply personal, it's also so much more than about yourself. It's about the community you worked, the friends you make, and the people back home that are waiting to hear and understand all of the stories. My life is profoundly changed forever. And for that, I give all thanks to God.


text:
The CL2200 is a medium duty electronic lock. The bolt slides on the inside surface of the door to lock or unlock.The bolt is moved manually by means of the outside knob after the code is entered, and freely by the inside knob at all times. When a valid code is entered and the blue LED lights burn, the knob will retract the bolt. The key will open the door for management functions. Code Free Mode can be programmed at the keypad using the Master Code.
The lock can store up to 80 different User Codes. Codes may be 4, 5 or 6 digits long. Programming is via the keypad, using the Master Code.The lock has fitted as standard two alarm release terminals:
Brand: CodelocksBody Material: Zinc AlloyButtons: Individual, stainless steelCode free option: YesDoor thickness: 35mm - 60mm (1 3/8" - 2 3/8")Finish: Brushed steel, polished brassKeying alike: Locks can be supplied as keyed alike on requestKey override: YesNon handed: Lock will fit doors hung on the left or rightPower: 2 x 1.5v AA cellsSpindle type: Flat bar spindle & 8mm square adaptorSuitable for: Internal useType: Surface deadboltOperations: 80,000
(Details shown apply to the default selection)
Spare parts are available to order online. From fixing bolts to replacement latches, we've got it covered.
Access the product card here
Be the first to Write a Review for this item!
0 Items - $0.00 | View Basket
+61 2 9882 1009
Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved.
Home > Electronic Locks > CL2000


text:
Whittier, CAHome Menu
City Calendar
Branch Bookworms-Whittwood
- Date: 03/15/2019 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
- Location: Whittwood Branch Library
10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave.
Whittier, California 90603
Are you in 5th-8th grade? If so, join us for book sharing, games, crafts, and snacks. Tell us what you read recently and hear from others as well.Return to full list >>


text:
National Center for State Courts
Access: Open Access
The National Center for State Courts is an independent, nonprofit court improvement organization founded at the urging of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Warren E. Burger. He envisioned NCSC as a clearinghouse for research information and comparative data to support improvement in judicial administration in state courts.
URL: http://www.ncsc.org/
Format: Full text