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Why is the Microsoft Surface such an awesome gaming experience? August 22, 2013Posted by azsoftwaredeveloper in Uncategorized.
Tags: Halo, Microsoft, Spartan, Surface, Windows 8
Microsoft @Surface is asking its Twitter followers why the Surface is such an awesome gaming experience.
I have used a Surface running Win RT, so I thought I give my two cents on the gaming experience.
First, I like the ability use multiple different types of controls. I got a chance to play Halo: Spartan Assault, and the game play was fantastic. I originally said to myself "how are you going to pull off a good third person shooter with touch controls?"
Well, I can honestly say they nailed it off. Your left thumb is used to move move the Spartan while your right thumb is used to both shoot and aim. The Surface's screen is a great virtual joystick. I also liked the fact that there was no joystick overlay telling the gamer where they had to put their thumbs. You place them were they are most comfortable and that is the center of the joystick. Need to throw a grenade? The button easily within reach of your thumb. Don't like touch controls? That's OK, because Halo: Spartan Assault works with keyboard and mouse as well, and the Surface supports both.
The next item that makes the Surface a great gaming experience is Xbox Live. I enjoy being able to earn achievements and compete with my friends. Having a metric to see who progressed through the game further / with more difficulty is a lot of fun.
The Surface is also compact. I brought it one once while traveling, and it fit great on an airplane in my cramped coach seat. It's built-in kickstand allowed me to set it up on the tray table and continue destroying piggies in Angry Birds: Star Wars.
Finally, I like that you can quit out of Halo: Spartan Assault on the Surface, and pick right back up where you left off on your Windows Phone. I hope to see more developers dual release for both platforms and offer this same functionality. Beating Angry Birds twice is not as enjoyable.
No comments yet — be the first.


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Parties: how to kinda nod and look at your phone so everyone just thinks your friends haven't show up yet.
Showing up on time to parties: Why you don't do it.
When the proper time to talk about your band is and how that time is never.
Modern Warfare
"Hold me back bro!" How to yell this in a way that implies that if your bros weren't holding you back, oh man, it would go down.
"Yeah? Come at me bro!" Perquisite: No fewer than four (4) popped collars.
The game Modern Warfare.
Ethnic Studies
Puerto-Rican girls and why they aren't returning your texts.
Being Canadian and why that doesn't means you're ethnic, Dwayne.
Seriously, Dwayne. At least stop saying the N word.
Creative Writing
Tweeting jokes about dead celebrities: why you should wait, like, ten minutes, guys.
How to write an essay of an email asking for an extension on your essay.
How to text a girl at 11:30 PM on a Tuesday to invite her to come by and "chill" and to get away with it.
Women's Studies
Flirting: what it is, and why your waitress isn't doing it.
Feminism 101: Why saying you're taking a class on Feminism to try to get chicks is terrible, ineffective.
Independent "study" online. Lock your door.
Dance 101
Swaying in the back like an idiot: how we all do it.
Dubstep Dancing 101: Quitting while you're ahead.
The girl circle and how to conquer it. Note: Class graded as Pass/Epic Fail
It's the third date and she's a six who has had two drinks. What base can you expect to reach?
"She was a seven dude. At least a six. These these must be bad pictures."-How alcohol has the power to change number rankings. Find the formula!
Find how to calculate what percentage of your tuition is spent on naps.

subset: commoncrawl


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Best Values
|Black Wool Melton Collar Clicker Coat
|Black Pinch Front Milano Straw Hat
|Patent Leather Dress Shoes, Black, by Greenspan's
|Pendleton Long Sleeve Solid Black
|Stacy Adams Madisons High Top Black
The Last Original Clothing Store T shirt in White
The Last Original Clothing Store T shirt. It was designed by and tattoo artist OGS. White T shirt made of 100 percent cotton with the design in black, from American material, assembled in Mexico, printed in the USA. White T shirt with black design. (not oversized.)
Click To Enlarge
- Item #: MTSTLOCSOGSWHT
- Manufacturer: Greenspan's brand


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Police, fire and ambulance services could share resources and buildings across Lincolnshire.
County fire chief Dave Ramscar has been speaking to the BBC about talks between the three services that could lead to the development of a single emergency services hub at South Park, Lincoln.
He said the talks could also see the merger of administrative services as well as a shared control room, with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue joining the one at the county police headquarters in Nettleham.
If the move goes ahead, it would also allow police to use fire stations across the county.
Mr Ramscar said discussions are in the early stages and will look at what is best operationally as well as financially.


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Ledyard Public Schools welcomes your new students! Click on the links below for detailed information and to download and complete the necessary forms needed to enroll your child.
These forms can be submitted at the school of enrollment.
We are happy that you chose Ledyard for your child's instructional needs and we look forward to the achievement of their academic successes.
If you have any questions about the enrollment process at Ledyard Public Schools, please contact the school directly or the Central Office at 860-464-9255.
Ledyard Public Schools has made a concerted effort to identify and remove students and families who are falsifying residency papers for the sole purpose of obtaining school accommodations. Please contact the Superintendent's Office at 860-464-9255 if you have any information you believe may be helpful to identify these students. All information will be kept confidential.
Ledyard Center School
Grades K-6
Gales Ferry School
Grades *PreK-2
Juliet W. Long School
Grades 3-6
Gallup Hill School
Grades *PreK-6
Ledyard Middle School
Grades 7-8
Ledyard High School
Grades 9-12
*Ledyard Preschool
1. Immunization Requirements
3. School Registration Information for New Students
4. School Registration Form for New Students
5. Residency Verification Requirements
6. Release of Information Authorization Form


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Monday, November 20, 2006
Where was Richards' Heckler Contingency Plan?
Hecklers are an occupational hazard in standup comedy and experienced standups arm themselves with some kind of contingency plan for dealing before stepping onstage. The strategy for dealing with heckling will vary with the persona and temperament of the comic, the tone of the audience, and the nature of the heckler. It's bizarrely unprofessional for someone who has been at this as long as Richards to be so vulnerable to hecklers.
Put your comedy seat-belt on or stay off the stage.
Thing is, Richards (unless he's been prodigiously reckless about handling his money) has the best possible defence against heckling: He didn't need to be there. Did he?
Some meta questions: Is Michael Richards actually a nobody whose name recognition is so low that headline writers have to refer to him as Seinfeld's Kramer? Look how many headlines refer to Seinfeld's Kramer. Did this incident tarnish the Seinfeld rerun and DVD brand? Are we going to be able to watch that program any more without echoes of the n-word ringing through our ears?
By cosmic coincidence, Seinfeld is booked on Letterman tonight--and Richards appears by satellite to apologize. (Secret of Comedy is, indeed, timing.) The taping happened earlier. TMZ has video of Seinfeld esacping to his Limo.
Mickeleh's Take: Last week: groundbreaking for the Martin Luther King monument. By the weekend: More evidence that MLK's dream is still far from our reality. But now we're living in macaca time. Cameras are everywhere and uploading is easy.
(Tags: Richards, Michael Richards, Kramer, Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld, Racist, Letterman)
2 comments:
- Anonymous said...
Well, there's no real excuse for how he handled hisself on the stage, but why can't ALL people shut the fuck up and BEHAVE themselves when they go out? Ever try going to a freakin' movie... it's the SAME shit only a comedy ticket costs a hell of a lot more.
ALL I want to "hear" is the comic I "PAID" to see and the management should throw ALL "hecklers" out on their asses "bouncer" style (only "face" down) like they do in a bar when you had a little too much to drink. About 5 BIG dudes pick you up by the back of your pants, the back of your collar and your pants cuffs and the landing AIN'T gonna be pretty as you're thrown out and up and your face slides across the sidewalk. THAT'S how you handle hecklers.
- 7:28 PM, November 20, 2006
- Mickeleh said...
I'd love to see management get tough on hecklers. If you're in the audience and the management won't keep order, then you should demand a refund and walk out. The audience has the power. If you paid to see the act, make sure the club owner honors your ticket.
But, sometimes, the heckler has what George Costanza called, "hand."
On Letterman last night, Seinfeld told a story about a time early on in his career when he was onstage at Catch a Rising Star in NY. His usual approach is to stop his act and stare at the heckler... inviting the audience to put some social pressure on the offender. On this night, it didn't work. In fact, the heckler through a glass at Jerry. So Jerry says, "I'm just going to stand here and wait and enjoy watching you get thrown out." After a long wait, the manager comes on stage and asks Jerry to leave. Turns out the heckler was a minor Mafia boss.
BTW... I started shushing audience members in movies since I was twelve. I remember my first time vividly. The credits were rolling, and someone behind me started to explain to a companion what the picture was about. I turned around and asked, "Did they hire you to narrate this picture? No? Well, then keep quiet." Fortunately, it wasn't a Mafia boss.
- 11:42 AM, November 21, 2006


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Yes. Because we ship alcoholic beverages we are REQUIRED BY LAW to ship with Adult Signature Required. Any note saying "please leave on porch...in garage...at back door" will not be honored. Let us know if there is a best day for delivery. We cannot specify a time during the day that delivery will be attempted. UPS will not deliver on a Saturday or call you before arrival. We recommend having shipments sent to a work or business address to ensure someone is available to sign. Please contact us at 877-779-4631 with any further questions regarding this policy.
No, Empire is dedicated to offering each product at the best price possible by the bottle. There are no further case or quantity discounts available. We are happy to match competitor prices when we can. Sign up for our Email List to find out about special offers including weekly wine recommendations, free shipping deals and coupon codes.
Empire must be contacted about any problem with an order within 30 days of delivery. If you come across a corked or otherwise flawed bottle please re-cork the bottle. Do not discard the wine, we cannot accept returns for empty bottles. If you receive the wrong product or vintage in error please contact us right away at 1-877-779-4631 or by emailing us via our contact page EmpireWine.com/contact/form/. We will arrange for a pick up and, depending on the situation either reship or issue a refund.
In general, orders placed by 3pm Eastern Standard time will ship the same day. This is of course not guaranteed. It may take a few days for an order to be put together and for all products to be in stock. If you need to receive the wine by a specific date please include a note with your order in the "Special Instructions" box at checkout. Ground shipping is not guaranteed, please do not yell at us if the package is delayed in transit by the carrier.
Shipping charges are waived ONLY for the items listed at EmpireWine.com/free and on the special offer listed at EmpireWine.com/4free.
Yes, simply select the In-Store Pickup option at checkout. Please allow 24-48 hours before coming to pick up your order. Not all of the products on the website are kept in our store location. You will be called/emailed/texted when the order is ready for pickup. Please contact us at 877-779-4631 with any further questions regarding this service.
Yes. Gift cards can be purchased here!
Anything held or put aside must be paid for in advance. We need to ensure the accuracy of our inventory and that products are available to all paying customers. We do not 'build' cases over time - each order is processed and billed individually.
Yes we do! Visit our local delivery page to find out more information.
Log in and click "My Account" to view your purchase history. The status of each order can be found on that page. Please contact us at 877-779-4631 with any further questions.
Yes. At the final step of the checkout process there will be a "Gift Note" and "Special Instructions" field. All gifts are shipped without pricing information included.
Rare and collectible wines will have insurance fees assessed. We may also require that more secure packaging is purchased to protect these valuable products during transit.
Empire Wine is licensed to send wine via common carrier. We are not licensed to ship liquor/spirits. Other items are listed as such because of their size or shape. If you have any questions about these items please call us at 877-779-4631.
When it is extremely hot or cold on the route between our location and the delivery address, Empire Wine advises customers to choose to have the order held in our temperature controlled facility until the weather is more favorable for shipping. 3 day or 1 day air options are also available, these delivery methods will help ensure that wine is not exposed to the weather for prolonged periods of time. Empire Wine reserves the right to hold orders to protect the integrity of products shipped. Empire Wine assumes no responsibility for wines damaged in transit by temperature. Please call us at 877-779-4631 with any further questions.
Once an order is processed, picked, and ready shipment all cancellations will incur a 15% restocking fee. In addition, the buyer is responsible for all shipping fees for orders canceled after already in transit.


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John F. Bitter DVM- President/CEO
•Bachelor Science at Colorado State University 1993
•Semester at University of Queensland Equine Theriogenology 1992
•Doctor of Veterinary medicine 1997
•Associate veterinarian at Argyle Veterinary Clinic 1997
•Assumed ownership June 2005
Born and raised south Texas grew up on working cattle ranch and assisting father in his mixed animal veterinary practice. Married June 1997 and a proud father of three boys.
Ryan Royse DVM
Dr. Ryan Royse received his BS in zoology from the University of Oklahoma State University College of veterinary medicine in 2007 with his DVM. He stayed on at OSU to complete an internship in equine medicine. His primary interests are in small animal medicine and soft tissue surgery, along with small animal reproduction. Outside of veterinary medicine Dr. Royse enjoys spending time with his family and friends and likes to travel.
Melissa Pearson DVM
Dr. Pearson attended Texas A&M for her undergrad education and earned a degree in Biomedical Science in 1992. Dr. Pearson continued at A&M and received an additional veterinary science degree as well as her DVM in 1996. Dr. Pearson practiced in Flower mound for 10 years and joined Argyle Veterinary Hospital in 2006. Her main interest is in small animal internal medicine and small animal dermatology. Outside the practice, Dr. Pearson enjoys gardening and running. As a mother of three, she especially enjoys spending time with her family.
Elizabeth O'Connor DVM
Dr. Alina Ali DVM
Dr. Ali was born and raised in South Florida, where she grew up riding hunter/jumper. She then attended Cornell University and graduated in 2011 with her B.S. in Animal Science, minors in Biology and Education. In 2015 she graduated from Cornell University with her D.V.M, specializing in equine medicine. Her love for all animals sent her to Alvarado Veterinary Clinic, where she completed a mixed animal internship. Her primary interests include small ruminant medicine, ophthalmology and internal medicine across all species and soft tissue surgery. Outside the practice, Dr. Ali enjoys traveling, spending time with family, salsa dancing and running with her dog, Jelly.
Dr. Melanie Hensley DVM
Photo and Bio Coming Soon


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Maryville College reaches out to the community with a number of educational opportunities. Click on the links below for additional information.
Smoky Mountain Advanced Placement Summer Institute is a professional development opportunity for high school teachers in various subject areas.
Expanding Horizons:
Maryville College's Summer Youth Theology Experience is an exciting five-day getaway for high school students interested in exploring potential for leadership with the values of Christian faith in a complex world.
GLIMPSE Student Leadership Conference:
How can students of color deal with the current social justice movements while they also take care of themselves? GLIMPSE will challenge students to stay actively involved in fighting for justice, while also making sure that they are taking care of themselves to continue the movement of social justice. Find out more.
Great Smokies Experience:
The Great Smokies Experience is a one-of-a-kind, credit-bearing, college class experience for high school students entering their junior and senior years. Created and administered by professional educators from Maryville College, The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, and the Mountain Challenge Program, this is a ten-day program where you will experience the great outdoors through hands-on experience and getting up close and personal with nature.
National Tartan Day at MC
Partnering with the board of the Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games for its own Tartan Day Celebration, Maryville College give the campus and wider community an opportunity to learn more about the Scots-Irish who settled the U.S. and East Tennessee and also celebrate this culture with Celtic music, dancing, clan and tartan displays and highland games demonstrations. There is no cost to attend.
STEAM Camp at MC
STEAM Camp is a new initiative organized by the Maryville College faculty.
At STEAM Camp, you will study fascinating topics from the worlds of math and science with dedicated college professors, create math-themed art, and participate in character-building outdoor activities. For more information, please see our registration page.
Villamaría at Maryville College
Villamaría at Maryville College is a new initiative aimed at improving and increasing access to Maryville College for Latino students from surrounding East Tennessee counties. The program seeks to build and strengthen relationships with the Latino community, including an increase in Latino student enrollment.
Our mission: "We will listen, we will learn, and we will serve our region to become the institution of choice for our Latino community." Villamaría is supported by the Kresge Foundation, Excelencia in Education, and the Appalachian College Association.


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Tag Archives: China
Steel Beast against Monster of Deals:"Trump will do what's best for America, but China will do what's best for China!"
U.S. President Donald Trump's first shot across China's bow over its steel exports, escalating a years-long brawl over trade between the world's top two economies, may not pull up Beijing.
China exported 620,000 tonnes of steel direct to the United States last year, a fraction of the 800 million tonnes it produces each year, equal to about half of world output.
Repeated allegations that the world's top steelmaker is dumping excess output on world markets may hit harder closer to home – in
China approved three Ivanka trademarks on same day she met with Xi
Three new Ivanka Trump brand trademarks were approved in China on the same day Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner sat next to Chinese President Xi Jinping and wife Peng Liyuan earlier this month at a Mar-a-Lago state dinner, The Associated Press reported early Tuesday.
Xi visited Mar-a-Lago, President Trump's luxury resort in Palm Beach, Fla., on April 6. Trump and Kushner attended the state dinner that evening, sitting next to the world leader. The AP found that three trademarks that confer monopoly rights to sell Ivanka brand jewelry, bags and spa services were approved in China on the same day as the dinner.
Alibaba job boom: Jack Ma chats with Trump about how to create 1 million US jobs over 5 years
Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group, arrives at Trump Tower for meetings with President-elect Donald Trump on January 9, 2017 in New York.
Jack Ma (R), founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group, and President-elect Donald Trump pose for the media after their meeting at Trump Tower January 9, 2017. Alibaba's Jack Ma says job creation will focus on small business
13 Hours Ago | 03:31
Donald Trump's TAX Plan from 'Time To Get Tough' book!
I am reading Donald Trump's blockbuster book 'Time To Get Tough: Make America #1 Again'. In this book Donald describe his tax plan.
Donald Trump:'We need to do is lower the U.S. corporate tax rate from 39 percent to zero. America's corporate tax rate is the second highest on the planet. The international average is 26 percent. How can we expect companies to hire American workers and locate their business in America when our government taxes them at exorbitant rates for doing so? That's crazy. I want to encourage American companies to stay here and hire American workers, and I want foreign companies to relocate their businesses to the United States and create jobs here. We are the greatest country on planet earth-the world's companies want to be here. A zero percent corporate tax would create an unprecedent jobs boom. Millions of jobs would materialize.
Donald Trump's Historical Words!
Our country is in serious trouble. We are not respected by anyone. We are a laughing stock all over the world. ISIS, China, Mexico are all beating us. Everybody is beating us. Our enemies
are getting stronger and we are getting weaker. Politicians are all talk and no action. They will never be able to fix our country. They will never bring us to the Promised Land, and I cannot sit back and watch this incompetence any Ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for President of the United States. While I love my company and what I have built, I love my
Donald Trump: Currency manipulation 'the worst of China's sins'
Donald Trump said late Monday that China's currency manipulation is unacceptable because of its harmful effects on the U.S. economy.
"The American people need to be told the truth about our 'partner' China," he wrote in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal.
The Paper says:'With Donald J. Trump as president, China will be on notice that America is back in the global leadership business and that their days of currency manipulation and cheating are over!'
Donald Trump on Tuesday released a policy paper detailing how he would fight back against the "financial blackmail" of China if elected president.
In the paper, the Republican presidential candidate listed four steps for taking on China's "communist dictatorship," with a heavy emphasis on getting America a better deal.


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Shortly after the 12:30 p.m. Mass ended, parishioners and visitors started packing the pews. You could feel the anxiety building up as musicians and sound personnel prepared the altar steps, turned into a stage, for the performance.
The choir, under the direction of Conductor Margaret Durando, made a dramatic entrance by
singing on the side aisles before assembling at the altar for the remainder of the event.
Talented singers from Nativity, St. Raymond, and St. Albert Churches, as well as the St. Francis High School Chamber Choir, impressed all with their beautiful voices and musical talent. Mozart (mostly!) and Haydn compositions delighted the audience. All present agreed that it was a memorable event and suggested that we host another performance in the Spring of 2007.
The concert was professionally recorded and CDs are available for purchase. They make wonderful gifts! To order yours, please download the form and mail it with your payment directly to the conductor (instructions are on the form).


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Back to Men's Basketball coverage
Known for his buoyant personality and adrenalized reactions to any Kansas basketball highlights that play out in front of him, a downcast Mitch Lightfoot slumped at his locker inside The Alamodome this past March.
Villanova had just competed its shellacking of the Jayhawks at the Final Four. Fielding questions both about the national semifinal defeat and its big-picture implications, Lightfoot was asked what he would take away from his sophomore year.
But he had no desire to discuss how far he had come as a player. The 6-foot-8 backup forward instead praised then-KU seniors Devonte' Graham, Svi Mykhailiuk and Clay Young, noting how much he learned from each of them.
"We've got to pick it up where they left off," Lightfoot said, "and bring it into next season."
It's that type of response that epitomizes the junior forward's approach as a key role player in the program.
KU assistant coach Norm Roberts described Lightfoot, who averaged 3.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in 14.0 minutes as a sophomore, as a "winner" who genuinely wants to improve.
"And there's not a player on our roster that loves the Jayhawks more than he does," Roberts declared. "I mean, you cut his chest open there is no doubt Baby Jay's flying out. There's no doubt with that dude."
Born in Kansas City, Mo., before his family moved to Arizona when he was 5, Lightfoot grew up a KU basketball fan. His passion for the program seems to feed all the work he puts into developing into a better player, as he heads into his third year in Lawrence.
This past season, KU needed Lightfoot inside, as the roster lacked frontcourt depth, especially before freshman Silvio De Sousa proved he could be trusted with playing time as a mid-year addition.
Only time will tell whether KU's coaches decide to rely on Lightfoot as much during the 2018-19 season, now that the cast of bigs includes 7-footer Udoka Azubuike, 6-9 forward Dedric Lawson, 6-9 De Sousa and 6-10 freshman David McCormack.
To his credit, Lightfoot spent the months following KU's Final Four setback by taking some of his frustrations out on the team's weight equipment.
Roberts said Lightfoot looked markedly bigger and stronger by the time the Jayhawks began their summer workouts.
"And that's something we talked about a lot. He was just too thin," Roberts said of Lightfoot as a sophomore. "You can't play down there at (210 pounds). You can't. You've gotta get bigger and stronger, and he did that."
Now Lightfoot, at 225, has some bulk to throw at opponents and further aid his effectiveness inside.
"No one's gonna out-tough him and no one's gonna out-try him," Roberts said of Lightfoot.
In order for Lightfoot to preserve his place in the rotation, KU's coaches want him to continue to be an effective help-side shot-blocker (per sports-reference.com, Lightfoot led KU in 2017-18, blocking an estimated 10.8 percent of opponents' 2-point attempts). But they also want him to defend both forward spots, and routinely move his feet well enough on the perimeter to switch on ball screens.
After he shot 57.1 percent from the floor as a sophomore, his coaches will require Lightfoot to score easy baskets, too, following an offseason dedicated to working on his jump-hook and finishing with both hands.
Joining Lagerald Vick, Azubuike, Marcus Garrett and De Sousa as KU's only returning rotation players from its recent Final Four run, Lightfoot anticipates the 31-8 season benefiting those who experienced it — even the Jayhawks who watched during their redshirt transfer seasons, Dedric and K.J. Lawson and Charlie Moore.
"That's our goal every year, to get to the Final Four and, hopefully, win a national championship," Lightfoot proclaimed during his postgame interview in San Antonio. "So we're going to come back with that same fire. This feeling sucks, but it also can be used to get better, and we'll try to use it."
i think Souza will not to play the start of season, so we need to have lightfoot to step up again
He probably won't play at all so Lightfoot will be very important to this team
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Just a quick note to say that we're moments from leaving our home away from home at Kolbe House in Capetown for the last time. We're heading out for a few days of rest and retreat (including more education and reflection time, and…SAFARI!!!). We so appreciate all of your prayers and support and LOVE your comments–please keep them coming, and look for some more reflective posts in the next few days before we come home.
Blessings and peace,
Karen and All


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McBride sisters connect through blood and wine
Try not to be too envious, but Robin and Andrea McBride are straight up living the dream.
The half sisters' lives revolve around wine.
The founders of the nature friendly eco.love label recently launched their latest, Truvée — a play on the French verb, trouver, to find. There's a meaning behind the moniker: The two have the same father but different mothers, who raised them 7,000 miles apart. Despite the distance, Robin and Andrea eventually connected at the urging of their dad, who died back in 1999. Coincidentally — or not — they soon realized they shared a mutual passion for winemaking.
The San Francisco-based McBride siblings were in Miami this past week to introduce their lightly oaked chardonnay and a Grenache-based red blend.
How did your company come about?
Andrea: I was born in Los Angeles but raised in my mother's native country of New Zealand. I was introduced to the wine industry through grape growing, as a business management apprentice for my uncle, who is a grape farmer in Marlborough, New Zealand. This background helped when we established our first company, importing boutique, premium and sustainable wines from the top wine-producing regions in New Zealand. We then went on to establish our first wine company, from New Zealand.
Robin: I was born in Los Angeles and raised in Monterey, California. With miles of vineyards and a wine region a stone's throw from where I grew up, it was easy to become enchanted with wine and the business of bringing it to market. My early career began in sales and marketing as well as international import and exportation. After we established eco.love in Andréa's backyard, we knew we wanted to make wines in the Central Coast of California — it was my turn!
What do you want readers to know about you?
Andrea: We believe in challenging the status quo. We challenge the status quo by making delicious wines, from the most unique, prestigious and sustainable vineyards from within the Central Coast of California, but at a price everyone can afford.
If you had to pick: Red or white?
Robin: Asking us that questions is like asking a mother who is their favorite child — it's impossible! You can't go wrong with a cool, crisp chardonnay on a hot summer's day, and you can't go wrong with a medium-bodied red blend when grilling out by the pool.
Andrea: No matter the season, we're fans of all wine varietals through and through.
What is it like working alongside each other?
Robin: Fabulous, hilarious. We have a lot fun together and feel very blessed.
How was your trip to Miami?
Andrea: Fantastic! We hung out at a few of the wonderful places that serve our wine, including The Mondrian Hotel, Dulce Restaurant, Love is Blind, Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita and Villa Azur, to name a few.
See any upcoming wine trends?
Robin: We're noticing that people are becoming more comfortable exploring, which is great. Advice we give anyone who is curious to try new things is to figure out what you like and what you don't like. The more you taste, the more you'll learn and wine is a wonderful, life-long journey.
For bar and liquor stores locations: truveewines.com


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We love reading other blogs written about Henderson. It's great to see what visitors have said – and the awesome photos they have to share. Sometimes a local writes a blog about Henderson – and their insights are always so interesting! Here are a few recent favorites:
1. If you are considering visiting for the weekend, this blog by Preservation Adventure hits up the lesser-known highlights like a certain historic home of movie fame and a chicken joint that you've just got to check out. Read the full post here.
2. On the trail for good food, this blog makes us laugh with personal writing on Bon Ton Mini Mart.
"Everything is pretty fast except the chicken," explained the man behind the counter. "That's made to order, so it takes about thirty minutes." We settled in for a wait, content to sip iced tea and watch the ladies in the back whip up our chicken. Read the full post here.
3. In June blogger Kyle visited Audubon State Park. We love his photos of the campground and the museum. Read the full post here. What else do you do in June in Henderson? The W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Fesitval of course! He also writes a wonderful post about that as well.
4. This post by Roost Home blog is about decorating your home with Audubon prints. Here in Henderson we love Audubon, who lived and painted here. The John James Audubon Museum & Gift Shop is a great place to view his artwork – and buy a print for your own room renovation! You can also see an original copy of Birds of America – the HUGE book that she references within her blog.
"The original book is HUGE and sold at auction for $10 million last year—the world's most expensive book! You can buy a smaller version online for much less than that. Truth be told, the thought of ripping up that book to frame a print kind of horrifies me! Luckily, reproductions of individual paintings are easy to find." Read the full post here.
5. L&N Bed and Breakfast has a blog about owner Norris Priest and his bow tie collection. When young photographers came for this year's Mountain Workshops they photographed and interviewed Norris. Check out the blog and visit L&N Bed and Breakfast during a stay in Henderson. It has a beautiful downtown location! Read the full post here.
6. Here's a sweet engagement post by Jesse Daniels Photography. Audubon State Park is a great place for family photos or engagement photos. Did you know the park also offers services for outdoors weddings in the courtyard? To find out more call them (270) 826-2247.
7. Carrie and Matt posted a riverfront photo on their clothing store blog for Imogene + Willie. Check out the "Homesick for Henderson" post and maybe do some shopping on their online store while you're there!
8. Here's a beautiful blog post about Mountain Workshops in Henderson, Kentucky.
9. This post shares a review of Henderson's Atkinson Park Disc Golf Course. Did you know we had disc golf on the riverfront?
10. An American Queen blogger talks about her visit to Henderson where she was "pleasantly surprised." Read the post here.
11. And finally visitors to Evansville and Henderson shared photos of Henderson's Audubon State Park. Apparently the Bird Observation Room is just as fun for adults! Check out the blog and photos here.
We love reading blogs about the area, and are so glad people choose to review the positives and negatives of Henderson. Do you have a favorite blog about Henderson you'd like to share?


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Hydrodynamics is the dynamics of liquids, i.e. of low compressible fluids. It is part of rheology, a general science of fluids. For a while this entry will have a redirect fluid dynamics.
L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifschitz, Fluid mechanics (Russian original is Hydrodynamics), vol. 6 of the Course of Theoretical Physics, Pergamon Press
Vladimir I. Arnold, Boris A. Khesin, Topological methods in hydrodynamics Applied Mathematical Sciences 125, Springer
Dennis Sullivan, Algebra, topology and algebraic topology of 3D ideal fluids, arxiv/1010.2721 (has some ideas on need of a version of higher geometry at the end of the article)
wikipedia: fluid dynamics
Last revised on June 3, 2019 at 04:13:47. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.


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Letter: Apartments would threaten Mill River
Before it made front page news, it was dumb luck that I learned the Conservation Commission's Inland Wetland Agency had scheduled a hearing Feb. 6 on a proposed affordable housing development on Bronson Road.
Four stories (a parking level and three residential floors) on 2.74 acres, with 116 paved parking spaces on the banks of the Mill River.
Hasn't this river experienced enough trauma? Didn't we just fight for many years to have the river cleaned up? And now the town is being presented with a plan to add to the plight of the river, the ecosystem, the wildlife and the residents?
You might think that because the development is proposed between I-95 on the north and railroad tracks on the south that it's a less-than-desirable piece of property.
Have you ever been out on the river? Have you seen where the swans have their babies every year? Have you been the blue crabs and the blue herons, the songbirds, geese and ducks?
This river is home to so many species, and despite the horrific pollution that it suffered for so many years, it's alive. It will be even more alive once the cleanup is completed. We must protect it from further development and the risks (that go beyond the outward aesthetics) that such a development might bring.
I spoke at that Feb. 6 hearing and was told that if you speak once, you can't speak at future hearings (is that a rule in town?). Well, my passion broke through and got me in trouble with the chairman (I guess I didn't follow the appropriate protocol).
I lived in one of the four houses in town spared by the British when they stormed the beach; I thought that was pretty "special."
But after downsizing, I moved to the lower Bronson Road neighborhood and onto Mill River. It is here that I discovered the incredible beauty and ecosystem treasures that many in this town already long knew about.
The River Lab project, founded and administered by the Mill River Wetland Committee, is an educational gift that every elementary school child in town receives. How many of you reading this are parents who assisted in those field trips?
Please, protect the only tidal river and its surrounding beautiful environment that we have in this town. Attend the Inland Wetland Agency hearing on Thursday, March 6 (7:30 p.m., Osborn Hill School all-purpose room).
You don't have to speak (though remember, if you do, you won't be allowed to speak again) but just turn out and show the Conservation Commission and the town that you care.


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Adult Sex Games and Nude Game Mods For Your Favorite PC Games…
This nude patch is tweaking up the outfit of the Vanquisher female character in the game Torchlight making it completely naked along with some custom animations to make the female character you play act better in its nude form. When starting the game you need to choose the female Vanquisher character and not any of the other two male characters for this mod to work.
To install it extract and copy the folder "Nude Mod" from the archive of the patch here:
For Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data\Runic Games\Torchlight\mods
For Windows Vista/7: C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\runic games\torchlight\mods
Replace the "{user name}" with the username for your current Windows User.
For deinstallation just remove the folder "Nude Mod" from the mods directory in the respective folder, depending on the OS you are using.
The game Blade Kitten is a new animated third person action adventure with cell shaded anime-style graphics. You play as Kit Ballard, a bounty hunter that is one of the best in the business. Together with her alien sidekick Skiffy and her sword, the Darque Blade, she hunts down rogue mechs and soft targets. Kit becomes the nexus of a tumultuous series of events on the strange planetoid known as Hollow Wish. This nude patch for Blade Kitten relies on user modified textures and TexMod to reveal what is under Kit's clothes and make her look much more attractive for the adult gamer, especially for the people that are keen on anime characters. The female hero you play a.k.a. Kit Ballard is an animated character and when she is naked you can see here boobs, pussy and ass in the same style as the overall character and game world, which is still quite nicely done. Because of the nature of the game after applying the nudity patch you will not only be able to play with the nude Kit character, but also see her in closeups naked during the cutscenes which are rendered with the in-game models and are not pre-rendered movies. The nude patch applies only to the default costume and further in the game if you change your costume you will not have the clothes removed from all the important parts of the character to make here naked.
To install the patch, just extract all the files from the folder "Nude Patch" in the archive into the main game folder where you have installed Blade Kitten and run the "Bladekitten-Nude.exe" to start the game with the naked mod. This will just temporary load the modified textures to make Kit naked and will not make any permanent changes to the game, running the standard Bladekitten.exe executable and the game will run normally without any modifications.
This is probably the best naked patch for the game Just Cause 2 in terms of both removing the most clothes from the in-game NPCs as well as providing the best quality nude skins for the characters that get their clothes removed. This patch removes almost all the clothes from the strippers dancing in the Mile High Club inside the game, but doesn't stop at just that… it also removes some clothes from different male and female characters in the whole game, although you can see the completely naked girls only in the strip club.
All you have to do is download the patch from any of the links below and either extract the folder "dropzone" from the archive to the main folder where you have the game Just Cause 2 installed or extract the files inside the "archives_win32" available in the patch to the respective game golder with the same name and you are ready to start the game and see the naked strippers when you visit the Mile High Club. If you want to make things go back to normal, just delete the "dropzone" folder you extracted in the main game folder (or the two files you've extracted in the "archives_win32" folder from the patch), it is easy as that with no permanent changes done to the game. So happy playing of the game with a the naked strippers instead the fully clothed ones that are normally available.
– Download the Just Cause 2 Nude HD patch – mirror 1 – mirror 2


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Ever wonder what projects we are working on here in Teton County? What about what's happening across Wyoming?
Take this virtual tour and learn more how the Weed and Pest Districts are working for you!
We are proud to be a part of the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC). The WWPC is comprised of 23 Weed & Pest districts in the State of Wyoming. One of the main goals of the Council is to provide coordination and leadership in the fight against designated and declared noxious weeds & pests and invasive species in the State of Wyoming. The Council works closely with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture and the University of Wyoming to keep current with the latest technology and research available in the ongoing management of noxious weeds and pests. The Council has many committees that have specific goals that help the Council meet their goals.


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Sunday, November 22, 2009
The Garage Sale-A Lesson Learned
After weeks of purging, from attic to basement, I recently held a garage sale. Once the sale was over it was time to count the proceeds. While emptying my pockets of collected coins and bills, I discovered half a ten dollar bill. My initial reaction was to search for the other half thinking that it had probably been folded so often that it had weakened and fallen apart. I searched but didn't find the other half. It took me a while to realize what had actually happened. Someone had given me that half bill in payment. I am glad that deceit was not my first assumption. I am trusting and want to stay that way, but everything that happens has an effect and I have been trying to understand what this has taught me. I found a helpful quote.
Master Kan speaking to Grasshopper in the Kung Fu TV series:
Those who deny evil in man remain weak and defenseless.
Deal with evil through strength - but affirm the good in man through trust.
In this way, we prepare for Evil, but we encourage Good.
So I will continue to be trusting and I suppose somewhat naive, but when given a folded bill in the future, I trust I will always unfold it.
Posted by Rambling Artists at 9:43 PM
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text: On 16/01/07, Neil Mitchell <ndmitchell at gmail.com> wrote: > For some reason, in Firefox printing those diagrams to a black and > white printer gives black for the background. It means that the arrows > and annotations are in black on black, not the most readable... I've uploaded new versions using a white background. If it still doesn't work, yell. -- -David House, dmhouse at gmail.com


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Zen bath with split-face travertine wall, custom walnut vanity and mirrored lighting/cabinet in a very small bathroom
This custom floating walnut vanity is topped with marble to match the circles marble mosaic tile floor. Walls are a sea blue Venetian plaster.
We updated this builder-special condo bath with new cherry cabinets, covered a post with mirror and built a beautiful display space and hidden jewelry safe next to the shower


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The new Hublot
One of the watches I missed at Baselworld: The La Clef du Temps watch by Hublot. Apart from looking science fiction, the watch allows the user to slow or speed up its movement (i was about to write speed up 'time' but that would factually incorrect :^)). Again, Ablogtoread has covered an interesting back story on the watch.


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Charlie reveals the REAL reason he didn't want Ali to meet his family
1 min read
This is HEARTBREAKING!
It's safe to say Charlie from The Bachelorette has been one of this season's most controversial contestants.
But this morning, the 31-year-old revealed to Fitzy & Wippa that not everything is as it seemed…
The NSW builder was slammed on social media for not allowing Ali to meet his family during Hometowns.
But it turns out he had a very good reason for cancelling the family time – and it was all to do with his sick grandmother.
Watch Charlie explains below.
1 min read
Did someone order a team roast?!
1 min read
He was not happy!


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Why Financial Management?
Financial resources are integral to any development work. It has been the endeavor of FMSF to promote robust financial management practices in the Development Sector. We believe that better financial management contributes to better transparency and in effect it enhances accountability.
Good financial management practices will help an organization to:
make effective and efficient use of resources
achieve objectives and fulfil commitments to stakeholders
become more accountable to donors and other stakeholders
gain the respect and confidence of funding agencies, partners and beneficiaries
gain advantage in competition for increasingly scarce resources
prepare for long-term financial sustainability.
Our Approach
Our competency in the area of Financial Management has been achieved through extensive study and research. We are involved in:
Diploma in Financial Management and Accountability - a one year online diploma programme
Project Accompaniment
System Review and development
Trainings & Workshops
Self-Assessment Tool - www.rateyourngo.org
Internal Control Tool Box Series
Diploma in Financial Management and Accountability (DFMA)
The Diploma in Financial Management and Accountability is a one year long-distance online education program in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). It caters to the unmet demand of sustained financial management. The global online program is specifically designed for personnel already working in voluntary sector seeking to equip themselves with financial management skills and for persons who are seeking to join the voluntary sector in near future.
To know more about the programme, please visit our website www.fmsflearningsystems.org
Project Accompaniment
Effective management of financial resources is integral to any development work. Development effectives can be achieved by facilitating -
process of smooth inflow of funds;
ensuring consistent implementation of the planned activities; and
complying with the reporting requirements.
We at FMSF address this area through financial project accompaniment, which begins at the pre-approval stage of the project and continues till the project is successfully closed. In this process, FMSF closely cooperates with both the funding organization on one hand and the implementing partner on the other.
At present, we are providing project accompaniment to approx. 150 donor funded development projects.
Please contact us for more details.
Systems Review and Development
FMSF has developed a highly specialized tool for conducting financial evaluations, assessments, reviews and investigations on behalf of various national and international agencies.
Certain activities under System Review and Development are:
Finance Review
Quick Finance scan
Pre funding Assessment
Midterm & End Term Assessment
Review of utilization of funds
Designing Policy, manuals and processes
Hands on Accompaniment
System Development
Setting up Budgetary Process
Conflict Resolution & Negotiation
Financial Investigations
Please contact us for more details.
Trainings / Workshops on Financial ManagementFMSF conducts training programs and workshops focusing on Effective financial management and internal control systems. Apart from organizing workshops and consultations, members of the FMSF Resource team also facilitate workshops organized by other agencies.
To know about our upcoming workshops, please see our workshop calendar.
Self-Assessment Rating Tool - www.rateyourngo.org
Voluntary organizations who wish to participate in this rating exercise are provided with a secure confidential report on the performance of their organization as per legal/accountability conformity laid down by the law of the land.
If you wish to assess and rate your organization, please log on to www.rateyourngo.org
Internal Control Tool Box Series
The Internal control Tool Box series is an effort for
providing a framework that deals with robust internal control procedures
which should be followed in the day to day functioning.
We would soon launch the series through mass mail as Internal Control Tool box Series. Each issue will come with a self-assessment tool for NPOs to assess and address the critical areas.
To subscribe please mail us with your contact details email@example.com
We recommend our latest publication Finance & Legal Handbook for NPOs - 4th Edition, a well-researched handbook of more than 600 pages that explains the various key finance, legal and governance aspects of NPOs in a laymans language.
Click here to know more about the book


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'Bat Boy: The Musical' opens next Thursday! Buy your tickets online!
Join the Facebook Event or check out our photo album. We'll be updating photos all week as we get ready for this fantastic show!
'Bat Boy: The Musical' opens next Thursday! Buy your tickets online!
Join the Facebook Event or check out our photo album. We'll be updating photos all week as we get ready for this fantastic show!
Bat Boy: The Musical Flies into the Bonstelle Theatre for Only Two Weeks
Opening April 12, 2013
DETROIT— The Bonstelle Theatre presents the rock 'n' roll cult classic, Bat Boy: The Musical by Keythe Farley, Brian Flemming, and Laurence O'Keefe, running for only two weeks, April 12 through 21, 2013. Based on the grocery store tabloid, Weekly World News, Bat Boy: The Musical is a rambunctious musical comedy that closes the Bonstelle Theatre season with a bite. Tickets are $20-$25 and are available by calling (313) 577-2960, visiting http://www.bonstelle.com, or visiting the Wayne State University Theatres Box Office located at 4743 Cass Avenue on the corner of Hancock.
Bat Boy: The Musical is about a supernatural half bat/half boy creature that is discovered in a cave in West Virginia and brought to the home of local veterinarian Dr. Parker. The Parker family decides to take him in and teach him to behave as a normal human, attempting to integrate him into a narrow-minded town. As he tries to fit in, romantic sparks fly and he decides to run away with the veterinarian's daughter, Shelley. But happiness is shattered as the town hears the shocking story of Batboy's unholy origin.
First performed on Halloween in 1997, Bat Boy: The Musical has had success both in the United States and in London's West End. The character of Bat Boy was created by former Weekly World News Editor Dick Kulpa, and debuted as a cover story on June 23, 1992. The original front-page photo of Bat Boy, showing his grotesque screaming face, was the second-best selling issue in the tabloid's history, and he has since evolved into a pop-culture icon. This creature inspired writers Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming to write a stage adaptation, and they were joined by American composer/lyricist Laurence O'Keefe.
The musical differs in a few of its plot details from the Weekly World News portrayal of Bat Boy. In the musical, Bat Boy learns to speak from his adoptive family, yearns for acceptance and tries to join society, only to face hatred and violence from a town that fears him and jealous rage from his foster father. But according to the Weekly World News, Bat Boy is a member of a race of creatures who have interacted with humans for at least 400 years, and he was discovered in the Ozarks in 1992 by biologist Dr. Ron Dillon after he was trapped by a falling rock in a cave he was hiding in. At the time only two feet tall and weighing less than 20 pounds, Dr. Dillon was shocked later when the creature grew a set of wings and escaped. This would be only the first of Bat Boy's many captures and escapes that Weekly World News would expand upon.
Though Bat Boy and his stories told by Weekly World News are fictional, the story of Bat Boy: The Musical deals with serious themes such as hypocrisy, acceptance, forgiveness, racism, revenge, and scapegoating, but often punctures the most serious moments with slapstick, surrealism, camp-horror, and irony. The show also contains religious themes with biblical allusions. One interesting theme about the show, which lies somewhat underneath the surface, is the idea that we all have a dark side, or an animal side, that comes out when we're afraid, that drives us as humans for food, sex, power, or control; and the idea that we must embrace this side of ourselves instead of fear it.
Bat Boy: The Musical won awards for best Off-Broadway musical including the Lucille Lortel Award, two Richard Rodgers Awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Outer Critics Circle Award in 2001. Regional productions of Bat Boy have been nominated for and won awards including the 2003 Elliot Norton Award (New England) and the 1998 Ovation Awards (Los Angeles).
The cast includes (in alphabetical order):
Jacqueline Fenton (Allen Park, MI) Ensemble, Ivy Haralson (Belleville, MI) Ron Taylor, Bridgette Jordan (Southfield, MI) Reverend Billy Hightower, Sara Kline (Madison Heights, MI) Sheriff Reynolds, Alyssa Lucas (Garden City, MI) Maggie, Colin Mallory (East Lansing, MI) Pan/Daisy, Jackson McLaskey (Mt. Clemens, MI) Dr. Thomas Parker, Matthew Miazgowicz (Dearborn, MI) Lorraine, Shane Nelson (Windsor, ON) Bud, Britta Peele (Harrison Township, MI) Shelley Parker, Jonathan Pigott (Wyandotte, MI) Ensemble, Kelly Robinson (Royal Oak, MI) Meredith Parker, Luke Rose (Harrison Township, MI) Rick Taylor, Anthony Scamihorn (Marshall, MI) Mrs. Taylor, Anna Seibert (Detroit, MI) Ruthie Taylor/Ned, Nicholas Yocum (Royal Oak, MI) Bat Boy/Edgar.
The production team includes:
Michael J. Barnes (Director), Julia Moriarty (Assistant Director), Jeffrey Michael Rebudal (Choreographer), Daniel Greig (Music Director), Devon L. Hansen (Instrumental Music Director), Meghan Lynch (Stage Manager), Curtis Green (Scenic Designer), Anthony Karpinski (Technical Director and Properties Master), Mary Gietzen (Costume Designer), Brian M. Scruggs (Lighting Designer), Tyler Ezell (Sound Designer), and Alexandra Stewart (Publicity Manager).
About the Bonstelle Theatre
The Bonstelle Theatre is a Broadway-style House with a 1,143-seat auditorium featuring a balcony, owned by Wayne State University. Here, future stars of theatre, film, and television follow in the footsteps of such successful alumni as Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning S. Epatha Merkerson (NBC's Law and Order, Lackawanna Blues), Lily Tomlin (9 to 5, ABC's Desperate Housewives) and Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters, NBC's Heroes). For box office hours and information on performances, tickets, group discounts and corporate packages, please call the box office at (313) 577-2960 or visit the theatre's website at www.bonstelle.com. Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 29,000 students.
Season sponsored by CBS Outdoor, Between the Lines, and Encore Michigan
Bat Boy: The Musical
Book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming
Music and Lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe
–Calendar Information-
April 12, 2013 – April 21, 2013
Friday 8 p.m. April 12, April 19
Saturday 8 p.m. April 13, April 20
Sunday 2 p.m. April 14, April 21
Now that the gorgeously designed, directed and performed The Arabian Nights has come to a close at the Bonstelle Theatre, take a moment to reflect on what audiences witnessed onstage with a behind-the-scenes style interview conducted with its director, PhD. candidate, Jennifer Goff. For more information about Jennifer, check out her website!
Q: What approach did you take when directing The Arabian Nights?
A: My overall approach to the play was to start with the stories themselves. This is a story made up of stories – about the power of stories. We really wanted to look at what it is that stories do, how they function and how these particular stories have been passed down through the centuries. These stories began being passed down orally and weren't even written down until a couple hundred years after they first started circulating.
We wanted to explore the beauty of taking these stories, which are usually only read, and put them on the stage. The theatre itself is such a three-dimensional, interactive way to tell stories, that it really became a celebration of the power of storytelling. Storytelling is something that is not only entertaining, a lot of fun, emotional and exciting, but it's something that actually can change a person and affect the world. I think you really see that very clearly through Scheherazade's story – this is a story about stories and what they do to, and for, people.
Q: What was it like directing your first play at the Bonstelle Theatre?
A: Well, directing at the Bonstelle is a very different experience than I've had in a long time. First of all, it's bigger! Most of the productions I've directed, both here and professionally over the last decade or so, have been on smaller stages…where the audience has a very intimate relationship with the performers. The challenge with a huge stage like the Bonstelle is still giving audiences an intimate experience, even though they're much farther away. Directing has really been a lot about working with the actors on how to communicate, not only with each other, but with the audience. It has been a big adventure but these students are so energetic and marvelous that…they taught me a lot along the way as well.
Q: What role did movement play in this production?
A: Movement was a huge part of this production. The Arabian Nights and most of Mary Zimmerman's work are part of what's called the Chamber Theatre Tradition, which is basically a combination of narrative storytelling and theatre. There is a very interesting combination of "acting out" and becoming the characters, yet also still being you while relating the story.
Most of the actors play multiple roles and although you can see it in their lines, costumes and in the stories themselves, the physicality of each character becomes really important. The audience should be able to see an actor as a new character and know before they even speak that they are someone else. Movement has been a huge part of delineating all these different characters and stories. It's been really fun.
Q: Was it important to you to convey Zimmerman's original message of the play?
A: It was very important to me to try to honor what Mary Zimmerman was attempting to do when she adapted this piece. She first adapted The Arabian Nights in 1992, right in the middle of the first Gulf War conflict. She was really responding to the "us versus them" mentality that is a part of "war time". She was disturbed by this idea that we could somehow separate ourselves from what was "over there" and that they were somehow "not us." She wanted to look at stories – a very famous set of stories – and use them to introduce Western audiences to this culture that was so "over there" – far away – letting these Western audiences see that there's really a whole lot more that we have in common than what we have different.
It's interesting because the time period these stories come from is known as the Golden Age of Islam. It was at that point when Baghdad was the center of culture, trade and commerce. In the 13th century, Baghdad was sacked by the Mongol army. At the time, Baghdad was home to this amazing library called the House of Wisdom. One of the first things the Mongols did when they sacked the city was destroy the library. They took the documents, which were from all over the world and just threw them in the Tigris River. The saying goes, that on that day, the Tigris River ran black with ink as the streets of Baghdad ran red with blood.
It's the idea that stories are what make us who we are, so it wasn't enough for the Mongols to kill the people; they wanted to try to kill the stories. But you can't – because once the stories are heard they live on. So here Zimmerman was, taking these stories and saying – you can't separate the people from their stories. You can't separate us from these stories or from these people. It's a really beautiful message of unity and inclusion and understanding.
Q: Do you believe the message of The Arabian Nights is still relevant today?
A: I think the message is extremely relevant. We've been in conflict in the Middle East actively for the last ten years. Especially with the way warfare happens now, it's so easy to disconnect ourselves and forget that there are real people involved in this, on both sides of the conflict. Any steps we can take to remember the people and the little strings that are connected so intricately between us and everyone – I think that will humanize us and reminds us that we all have a lot in common.
Reviewed by Robert Delaney, Detroit New Monitor
Thursday, February 14, 2013
A young woman saves her neck by telling fascinating stories to the prince she has been forced to marry in "The Arabian Nights," the current production at Wayne State's Bonstelle Theatre in midtown Detroit.
Tony Award-winner Mary Zimmerman has adapted the famous collection of Persian, Indian and Arabic tales, "The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night," for the stage. Under Jennifer Goff's direction a youthful and energetic undergraduate cast has great fun performing it — and that fun is shared by the audience.
It would, of course, be impossible to include all of the tales in one play, and Zimmerman has chosen to leave out some of the more familiar ones — such as those of Sinbad, Aladdin and Ali Baba (which were not actually in the original collection) — in favor of some less well known stories.
Yesmeen Mikhail is the storytelling enchantress, Scheherazade, and Luke Rose is her homicidal husband, Shahryar. They both also portray other characters, as do all of the cast members.
Also very impressive are Laith Salim as Harun al-Rashid, Lisa Youngs as Sympathy, and Nicholas Yocum as the Madman. Scenic designer Leazah Behrens has given us a fanciful set, and the costumes designed by Donna Buckley are (who would have thought I'd ever be able to say this) "right out of the 'Arabian Nights.'"
"The Arabian Nights" continues this weekend, through February 17, with performances at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and at 2 p.m., Sunday afternoon, at the Bonstelle Theatre, 3424 Woodward Avenue, a block south of Mack and just a few blocks south of Orchestra Hall. For ticket information, call the WSU Theatre box office at (313) 577-2960 or go to www.wsushows.com.
Reviewed by Patty Nolan, The Examiner
Click HERE to read the review on the Examiner's website.
If you're like most Americans, any mention of the "1001 Arabian Nights" conjures Technicolor images inspired by Disney. But Sinbad, Ali Baba, Aladdin and the Genie are nowhere to be seen in the Bonstelle Theatre's new production of "The Arabian Nights." And for good reason.
When Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman adapted the collection of ancient Persian, Indian and Arabic tales into a resonating stage play, she deliberately left out the stories we know best. Instead of focusing on the fantastic, her funny, anachronistic retelling reveals and revels in the humanistic. Produced during the Gulf War, Zimmerman used the beloved, centuries-old stories to show audiences that, politics aside, we are all very much the same.
It works. Because we can't help but understand that we are laughing, or cheering, or feeling sad for the characters in the same way that those ancient people must have.
In this Bonstelle production, directed by WSU PhD candidate Jennifer Goff, we are treated to a colorful, over-the-top show. The scenic design by Leazah Behrens is a lush swirl of carpets, silken drapes, tasseled pillows and all the trappings of an exotic Persian palace. The costumes by Donna Buckley are lavish and clever – designed to help the large cast play multiple roles.
This is still essentially the tale of Scheherazade, the young woman who must weave a new story every night in order to postpone the death sentence imposed by her misogynistic husband, the King Shahryar. But if you're thinking about bringing the little kiddies, hold off. This version of "The Arabian Nights" is geared more toward the tastes of mature audiences.
The play opens with the king choking his first, unfaithful wife to death. Not so funny. Not so G-rated. These stories include violence, infidelity and even epic flatulence. Apparently, the comedic appeal of a good fart is universal. This show is funny. Surprisingly so. And the huge Bonstelle cast is just wonderful. With each new story that Scheherazade tells, the ensemble brings it to life. Every actor plays multiple roles – some serious, sad and romantic – but many of them are worthy of your favorite bit of slapstick. And we like these characters. We want them to survive, find their true loves and make lots of babies.
And that's what Zimmerman is trying to tell us. As human beings, our stories are essentially the same. We weep when our hearts are broken. We laugh when someone breaks wind. We yield too often to temptation. But sometimes we do the right thing. And that makes life worth celebrating and sharing. Just like this charming Bonstelle production.
The spectacular Bonstelle company includes: Zyle Christian-Cook (Marcellus, MI) as Butcher and Others, Robert J. Hammond (Troy, MI) as Jester and Others, Ivy Haralson (Belleville, MI) as Perfect Love and Others, Garett Harris (Royal Oak, MI) as Boy and Others, Sharayah Johnson (Birch Run, MI) as Greengrocer and Others, Derell Jones (Detroit, MI) as Pastrycook and Others, Alyssa Lucas (Garden City, MI) as Abu al-Hasan and Others, Sydney Machesky (Allen Park, MI) as Dunyazade and Others, Taylor Morrow (Warren, MI) as Girl and Others, Jackson McLaskey (Mt. Clemens, MI) as Clarinetist and Others, Michael Meike (Clinton TWP) as Wazir and Others, Yesmeen Mikhail (Wyandotte, MI) as Scheherezade and Others, Luke Rose (Harrison TWP, MI) as Shahryar and Others, Laith Salim (Dearborn, MI) as Harun al-Rashid and Others, Nicholas Yocum (Royal Oak, MI) as Madman and Others and Lisa Youngs (Wyandotte, MI) as Sympathy the Learned and Others.
"The Arabian Nights" runs at The Bonstelle Theatre in Detroit through February 17. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12-$15 and are availableonline, by phone (313) 577-2960, or by visiting the Wayne State University Theatres' Box Office located at 4743 Cass Avenue on the corner of Hancock.
The Bonstelle Theatre continues its 60th season with the critically acclaimed To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee dramatized by Christopher Sergel Tomorrow. Pulitzer prize-winning To Kill a Mockingbird is a story portrayed through the eyes of a young girl who, during the Great Depression, learns life's hard lessons about morality, fear of difference and the death of innocence. The play runs from December 3-12, 2010. Tickets are $12-15 and are available by calling the Theatre Box Office at 313-577-2960, online at www.bonstelle.com, or by visiting the box office at 4743 Cass Ave. on the corner of Cass Ave. and Hancock.
Here's a glimpse into that Depression-era Alabama world. Derrell Jones, Amber Gale, Ivy Haralson, and Cecilia Shropshire are featured.


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Fourth Sunday of Easter – 2018
Whenever Jesus talks about sheep and shepherds I realise that I am listening to a "foreign language". I am a city boy, growing up in Chicago and attending a seminary in a near-by suburb. I never even saw a live sheep until I went to Rome to do my studies after ordination. I never had anything to do with sheep. I saw great numbers of them when I studied in England and even larger numbers of them when I came to Australia. But whenever people talked about sheep and shepherds I had the feeling that I was a foreigner.
So when Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd because he lays down his life for his sheep, I believe it because he said it. But I really don't know if every shepherd would make the same judgment or if the owner of a large sheep farm would feel the same way.
But I do understand that if someone loves another being (sheep or person) and has responsibility for the other, he or she would be willing to lay down his or her life for the other. I have heard of mothers covering their child with her own body when there was danger of being killed so that the child would live. My brother who fought in World War II told me stories of soldiers taking a bullet to save the life of a friend.
The closest I have ever come to understanding what Jesus was saying was when one of my former students, a Comboni missionary, was killed in Brazil. I had taught him Liberation Theology. In his mission there was a conflict between land-owners who wanted to keep their land free for grazing for their cattle and squatters who had nowhere else to go. Violence erupted. He began to meet with the squatters and land-owners. He was making progress in finding a peaceful solution. But one evening after a meeting he was ambushed by some land-owners and was killed; they were not pleased with the settlement he was negotiating. I was asked to preach at his Memorial Service at our school in Chicago. I think I then finally understood what Jesus meant when he said that the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.
Jesus also says about a "good shepherd": I know my own and my own know me. I learned something about "knowing my own" when I was chaplain for a SPRED (Special Religious Education Program) community. The catechists taught me how important it was to know the name of these mentally or physically disabled children (to use the language that we used thirty years ago) and to use their name whenever we celebrated a sacrament together. I also had an experience of knowing how important it was for a "good shepherd" to know my name. When Cardinal Bernardin arrived in Chicago to lead the diocese the priests wanted to know how he wanted to be called. He said: "My name is Joe; call me Joe." We couldn't help wondering if he really meant it. But one time when he was at our school I had to get past him and I said: Excuse me, your Eminence. He turned around and looked at me and said: Larry, my name is Joe. I was surprised that he knew my name, and perhaps even more surprised that he wanted me to call him Joe.
The other thing that Jesus said is that we will know him as the good shepherd and will want to follow him. There were a number of cursillistas in a parish where I helped out, and every Saturday morning a number of us would go out for breakfast. We would share our closest moment to Christ during the past week. One of the men told the story of his experience at a conference "downtown". As he was leaving he saw a man who had too much alcohol weaving down the hallway. He caught up with him and said: where are you going? He replied: I'm driving home. He said: no you are not; give me your keys. When he got in the car he found out that the man lived in a suburb most distant from his own. But he kept driving. When he asked the man for his address he found that the man had passed out. So he went into his wallet, found the address, took him into his back door, put the keys on the table next to him, left and then walked three miles to find a cab to get back to his car and go back home, arriving there at 4 AM. When we asked if he had left a note for the man he said: no, I was taking care of Christ, and he knew who I was. It was his moment closest to Christ.Larry Nemer


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Denim has long been an iconic symbol of American culture. Today, on average, most Americans own around seven pairs, according to a study by Cotton Incorporated. Are blue jeans a timeless piece of clothing, an artifact of culture, a staple of fashion? They are all of these things and yet so much more. There are books written about them, blogs devoted to them and ancient paintings depicting them. Over 400 million pairs of jeans are sold each year in the United States, ask anyone their timeline or history and most people will be confused. Denim's beginnings were humble, rooted in the working class. The opposite of designer wear, a pair of jeans was made for hard working laborers. Having secured their own spot on the runway, they are reinvented time and time again. Unlike anything else they spanned multiple categories, from very cheap and casual to the highest ends of luxury. Always changing,...Read More
Aug 31 2018


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What a fun play place! Indoor park for rainy days or stir crazy days after being snowed in – it's just $10 for 2 passes. You can use them for two children or use it twice for the same child.
I'm definitely going to do this with my boys at some point in the next few months. Who wants to go with me?


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"We are going to keep watch over the lands of our country so that they truly profit her children. We are going to restore ancient laws and make new ones which will be just and noble…We are going to rule not by the peace of guns and bayonets but … Read the rest
Monthly Archives: October 2014
Everything in east Congo will be ok now because John Prendergast is coming…
Yes, everything in north and south Kivu will be ok now because John Prendergast is coming. And they have finally thought to put a black Mr Nice-guy in the picture – Don Cheadle from `Hotel Rwanda`.You probably are a nice guy Don Cheadle so please don`t hang-out with John Prendergast.… Read the rest
Who And What Are Boko Haram?
More to the point would be : who and what were Boko Haram. Not because 25 September headlines reported the leader of Boko Haram dead (again) but because Boko Haram leadership has been dead a few years now.If we try to evaluate the little that is known about this previously … Read the rest
Meddling In Sierra Leone
Charles Taylor is old news now, he is quietly going mouldy in a dark, damp British prison accused of crimes against humanity, supporting the RUF, meddling in the affairs of another country.
Meddling in the affairs of another country…Well, I never …
It`s a good job the RUF were a … Read the rest


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The Build: http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/witch-doctor#aeUkRZ!ecZ!abcaaa
This is a spinoff of a few other builds. I have used it halfway into Act 2 Inferno with success (by success I mean I do die, but I move forward at a consistent rate.)
I opted out of Horrify/Mass Confusion for Haunt. Adds more dps, and constant pressure.
Fetish Passive will give you the opportunity for a lot of "little tanks" and distractions. I use wall only to trap the mob, for maximum safe uptime. Hex is used virtually on cooldown, as its a safe heal. The reduced dmg from the other passives allow for wiggle room.
Running spirit vessel (which I would do during bosses)


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Makeup is supposed to feel good, not just look good. Because what you put on your face is also absorbed into your body. AVEDA develops makeup with ingredients derived from real flowers and plants – not petroleum or mineral oil. So get real. Wear makeup made to help you feel beautiful – inside and out. Our specialties are weddings, pictures, dances, special occasions and make-up lessons.
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Addon Airbrush foundation $25.00
Must mention at time of booking
False Eyelash Application $15.00
Must mention at time of booking
Make-up Touch Up (Complimentary with any service.)


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You can ask for assistance in activation by sending an email to email@example.com
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Patria (2014)
Drama, War2014 Year N/A Mins 6.1 Imdb
Harold Brusse, Ricardo Esser, Timothy Flohr
As the 1914 summer sun heats up mainland Europe, World War One crashes down across the fractured peninsula. Living in Paris, Dutchman Arthur Knaap yearns to serve, protect and defend his beloved nation and joins the Foreign Legion.
Patria Movie Information
- Production Co: Expressie Produkties
- Released: 25 September 2014
- Imdb Rating: 6.1
- Runtime: Mins.
- Writer:
- Director: Klaas van Eijkeren
- Cast: Harold Brusse, Ricardo Esser, Timothy Flohr


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Have you ever been to an open home and asked the question "What are the vendor's expecting?"
In New Zealand we bring so many homes to the market that have no pricing, it's no wonder frustrated potential buyers are always asking the same question.
Auction, tender, by negotiation, set sale, expressions of interest, CV$920,000, POA, PBN, etc, etc.
The other day I had a conversation with a lady who came through one of my open homes. The property was going to auction and she said to me in a very matter-of-fact manner "You're the local expert, how much do you expect this home to sell for?"
So how does an "expert" answer a perfectly reasonable question like that?
I'll analyse her question step by step:
Firstly, she was absolutely correct. I am the local expert. I've sold more homes in the area in question than any other agent. I look inside more homes than any other agent and/or property valuer. I see more homes than buyers see. If anyone has a reliable crystal ball I should have the Ferrari of crystal balls!
Secondly, I still have difficulty guessing how much it will sell for. It is an auction and the market will ultimately decide the home's fate (and price). Sure I could have said to her "it should sell in the $1million to $1.1million bracket". Why am I reluctant to say that? For many reasons –
1. If buyer sentiment changes (due to unforeseen circumstances) between now and the auction most buyers might freeze. This would affect the value.
2. If interest rates went up or down between now and the auction some buyers' ability to buy might improve or get worse. This would affect the value.
3. If all similar properties available for sale all of a sudden sold, this would affect the value. Similarly if the market was suddenly flooded with similar homes, that would affect the value.
4. If a neighbour who had won lotto decided they need the land to house their new fleet of luxury cars, that would affect the value.
5. If a motorway extension close by was announced, that would affect the value.
6. If there was only one bidder, that would affect the value.
7. If there were 20 bidders, that would affect the value.
The most important reason I would be reluctant to say that it should sell in the $1million to $1.1million range is this: In case it doesn't! If the owner is so realistic that they just want to cut it loose it could sell in the $900,000s. How would the buyer feel when they call me after the auction, me having said $1mil to $1.1mil and I say it sold for $910,000?
Sure, the same person could come to auction, bid it up to $1,050,000 and then see it sail up to $1.2million. That could happen, but how much control do I (or they) have over that occurence? Litttle or none!
The market is the market and the value is the price offered by the highest bidder. When it comes to guessing or estimating the value, vendor expectations are completely irrelevant. I understand why buyers ask the question, but hopefully I've explained why it can't and shouldn't be answered.
One of the most profound things I have learnt (from Tony Robbins) is that the quality of your life is determined by the quality of the questions you ask. If you ask "what are the vendors expecting", that's not a great question. Most people ask it, I know why they ask it, but it's not going to help you to buy a home! If you re-phrase and ask "would the vendors accept $1,000,000?" then you would be asking a very good question and you would be more likely to get a realistic answer. (If I know the answer to that question I'll answer it).
Still not convinced? Still think I must know what every home is worth? Give my crystal ball a try…..


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Israel-Greece-Cyprus Agreement: Prophecy in the making
Zechariah 9 begins: "The burden of the word of the Lord is against the land of [Syria] and Damascus is the goal thereof. For the eyes of the Lord are upon all mankind and upon the tribes of Israel." So the context is the wipe-out of Syria and Damascus. From Isaiah 17 it appears that Israel gets drawn into this conflict in some way. However, Zechariah 9 gives other details. It is possible that verse 12 may be talking about the return of Jews to the land of Israel (their "stronghold") after a period of dispersion when they were "prisoners of this hope." But whether or not that is the case, they are definitely back in the land of Israel in verse 13. There, the Lord says "When I have bent Judah for Me like a bow, and filled the bow with Ephraim like arrows, I will raise up your sons O Zion [with] your sons O Greece, and make you like the sword of a mighty man. Then the Lord will be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. And the Lord God will blow the trumpet…"
The bolded word between brackets in that quote should be noted. It is written here as "with" as distinct from the word "against" which is used in many translations. There is a good reason why the translators thought that the word "against" was the best rendition. After all, around 165 BC the Jewish Maccabees revolted against Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) who ruled the Seleucid Empire, and they won. They re-established Jewish rule over much of the old land originally inhabited by the Israelites and set up the Maccabean Kingdom for a period of time. For this reason, this passage was interpreted as referring to that event and "against" fitted in better than "with". But Damascus was not an issue at that point, and, strictly speaking, the Seleucid Empire was not Grecian as such, but rather encompassed Turkey and Syria, not Greece. So in a strict sense, the armies of Antiochus were not Grecian at all. In addition, the Lord God did not appear over them in the battle and blow the trumpet on that occasion. So the basis on which the translation was made may be faulty.
In this case, then, we need to examine the words used so that a more faithful translation can be made. In the Greek Septuagint, the word used is "EPI" which has a wide variety of meanings including with as well as at, before, in, on, in the days of, or in the time of, upon, by, for, over, & against. The choice depends entirely on the context and the translator's information. The Masoretic Hebrew uses the word "AL" which has been translated "with" many times in the Bible as well as about, concerning, on, over, to, unto, upon and against. So the choice again depends on the context and translator's preference. The conclusion is that "with" is just as valid a translation as "against" in the present context. Indeed it is to be preferred, since Damascus is now a matter of international importance, and Greece is once again a nation in its own right and has this treaty with Israel and the two are helping each other militarily.
The conclusion is that the tripartite treaty will ensure that Grecian forces will be fighting with Israel, not against her, and that the Scriptures are in agreement with this. Further, in view of the Syrian situation and Damascus, it appears that a major event is soon to occur. When the nations rush against Israel for her role in the Damascus wipe-out, Greece helps Israel and the Lord God appears over the armies and blows the trumpet. This is the Trumpet of God, not an angelic trumpet. The New Testament refers specifically to this event, sometimes called the Rapture or Translation, in which the resurrection of the believers in Messiah over the years and the catching away of the true Christians who are alive occurs (1 Corinthians 15:51-54, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).
This event is also referred to in the book of Zephaniah in the most ancient version of the Scriptures, the Alexandrian LXX, where the gathering of Israel from world-wide dispersion is probably mentioned in 2:1-2, and the coming Rapture before the Tribulation in verse 3. Then, within this same context in the LXX, verse 10 says: "And Damascus will be left as the heap of a threshing-floor, and desolate forever: and the remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the remnant of my nation shall inherit them… and the Lord shall appear over them…"
However, Greece and Cyprus are also in focus after the Rapture event. The Rapture marks the onset of the Tribulation in which a 7 year covenant is signed with Israel to bring peace to the Middle East by the personage that is popularly called the Antichrist. In Daniel 11 he is called the "King of the North" and from the context of Daniel 8 and 11 it appears that he comes from Turkey. The policies of the current President of Turkey are ensuring that the mechanism is set up for this event. Old and New Testament verses indicate that the Temple will be re-built on the Temple mount in Jerusalem as part of that 7 year agreement. However, Daniel 11 indicates that after the first three and a half years the Antichrist (king of the north) will set himself up in the Temple and cause all to worship him as god. This is called the Abomination of Desolation. But the reason why Antichrist does this is interesting; it involves Cyprus and Greece.
Daniel 11 makes it plain that, during this 7 year period of Tribulation, there are three occasions when Turkey and Egypt go to war. On the third occasion, at the end of those 7 years, in verses 40-45 it is the prelude to the battle of Armageddon. At the height of this battle Messiah Returns to rule over the whole world. However, it is the second occasion which gains our attention here. This occurs about three and a half years into the Covenant period, and it involves Cyprus and the setting up of the Abomination of Desolation in Daniel 11:29-31. It reads like this: "At the appointed time, he [the Antichrist – king of the north] shall return and go towards the south [Egypt in this context]; but it shall not be like the first occasion or like the last. For [Grecian] ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he will be grieved, and return in rage against the [7-year] Covenant. … And forces will be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress and shall take away the daily sacrifices and place there the Abomination of Desolation." The question of interest is why Grecian ships from Cyprus should induce the Turkish leader to behave that way and stop his advance to Egypt.
In order to understand why, we need to briefly look at Turkey and recent history. Turkey annexed northern Cyprus after an invasion in 1974. The southern portion of the island belongs to the Greek Cypriots. There is an ongoing dispute between Turkey on the one hand and Greece and Cyprus on the other. That is the prelude. The second part of the 3-part drama is that the current President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, performed an economic and environmental miracle for Turkey by changing its economy to run almost entirely on natural gas, including its transportation system. As a result, Istanbul has some of the cleanest air among the world's cities. The downside is that Turkey has very little oil or natural gas of its own; it has to be imported.
The third part of the drama commenced in 2011 when Israel discovered huge natural gas deposits offshore in the Mediterranean. These gas fields are in both Israeli and Greek-Cypriot waters. Israel has been asked by the Greek-Cypriots to help open and market their reserves. In the last year more reserves have been found further south towards Egypt, and Egyptian-Israeli cooperation is lined up to exploit these deposits also. On Sunday 31st January, 2016, Turkey signed a 1.3 billion dollar gas deal with Israel in order to overcome her supply problems.
Now, a few weeks later, the Tripartite Agreement with Israel, Greece and Cyprus is aiming to have a pipeline supplying these 3 countries from the fields as well. Egypt is ready to be invited in to the party. But Turkey will want to do everything possible to maintain her gas supply. It takes very little imagination to see how an interruption to the Turkish supply line would be a cause of intense anger for the Turkish leader (the king of the north). Since Greece, Cyprus and Israel are now aligned, these events could easily cause Antichrist to vent his anger on Israel by his invasion of the Temple Mount and the institution of the Abomination of Desolation in order to exert his authority. It seems then that we might be watching prophecy in the making. Further information can be found in the article on Cyprus on this website.
Barry Setterfield, 24th February, 2016.


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Staten Island Academy student Mina Rhee and JFK School students work on a review lesson at an Outreach360 program in the Dominican Republic. (Clay Wollney)
on June 09, 2015 at 2:00 PM, updated June 09, 2015 at 4:32 PM
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Outreach360 is an organization that engages volunteers in a service-learning experience providing underserved children with alternative educational opportunities such as English classes, art, music and drama camps and sports programs in an effort to give the children opportunities they must have to live a life of choice.
The full mission of Outreach360 is to transform individuals, families, communities, countries and the world by providing education and activities that enable the development of disadvantaged children.
The organization has centers in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.
In the Dominican Republic, being able to speak English is necessary to pursue a college education. Unfortunately, English classes are not available to many children.
During the last week of May, I accompanied 19 Staten Island Academy seniors on a service-learning trip to the Outreach360 site in Monte Cristi.
The SIA students taught small groups of students at two Outreach360 Learning Centers, one in JFK Elementary School and another after school. The SIA seniors taught English classes, using lessons they prepared themselves.
The interaction between the students was a learning experience for all involved. The JFK students strengthened their English skills and the SIA students got a firsthand sense of the life and needs of underserved children in a developing nation. They also developed a deep sense of love and caring for one another.
Volunteers are what make Outreach360's programs and successes possible. Each week a new set of volunteers arrives to help at the school, building upon the work accomplished the week before. According to Konrad Bennett, an Outreach360 OLE leader who gave us his full and constant attention, "The JFK students bring incredible energy and enthusiasm to the classroom every day but don't often get the individual attention that they crave and need. That's where our volunteers come in … whereas, in a typical Dominican classroom, the teacher to student ratio is about 1:35, our volunteer teams of fluent English speakers can bring that ratio down to 1:3 or lower!"
Bennett further observed that "The volunteer teams bring the real excitement and creativity. It's always incredible to see how much our students learn and how much their desire to learn grows each week."
Does this approach really work?
Said Sarah Edwards, national director of Outreach360 in the Dominican Republic:
"Students who were once illiterate are now reading in English and Spanish. Students who were 'too cool for school' became students of the month."
Of course, the real effectiveness of a program is its outcomes. During our visit we met a few of the program's graduates who now serve as local volunteers; they have mastered English and are in college.
Daritza is on scholarship with Outreach360 and is studying medicine. She explained, "I started studying English when I was 8 years old and also learned many values — patience, respect, teamwork, and punctuality — thanks to Outreach360."
Aidil, another graduate of the program and a highly dedicated volunteer, just completed her freshman year in university. She observed that "The kids can feel the energy that their Outreach volunteers bring to the class each day. For me, it is incredible to see how the JFK students' knowledge increases."
In addition to their work during the day, the SIA students were introduced to various aspects of Dominican history and culture, as well as the country's relationship with Haiti, in the late afternoons and evenings. They also took a guided walk of the town, toured a facility that harvests sea salt and learned how to do dance Dominican style. The lunches and dinners were mainly delicious Dominican dishes.
The impact of the experience on my students was impressive. Their reactions included expressions such as "inspirational", "a real-life experience" and "energizing." One student even described it as "the best week of my life."
As Aidil pointed out, "the volunteers get as much out of the experience as the children they served."
If your school participates in any service-learning programs or you would like to learn more about Outreach360, please contact me at email@example.com or visit the Outreach360 website at www.Outreach360.org.
Originally published in the Staten Island Advance.