text:
If 5% of our 1.7million web
visitors gave just £2 we could
start Roots to Green Living
projects in 100 UK schools!
Click here:
Or Text 'YPTE05 £2' to 70070 to donate
The hot, humid conditions which encourage a wide variety of life in the rain forests, change little during the year. Daily variations are greater than seasonal ones. The average temperature is about 27°C, while the rainfall (may be as high as 160 inches) falls regularly - often in heavy thunder-storms.
Animals of the rain forests are provided with a variety of habitats in the different layers of the forest trees. Some live at the top of the tallest trees while others live in the lower zones. Some animals, live on the ground level or even below the surface and so we have this vast and complex pattern of plant and animal life which has been evolving steadily for millions of years.
Sadly, humans can all too easily upset the delicate 'balance of nature' and this is already happening in South America and Indonesia where vast areas of forests have been cleared and the plight of already rare species has been made even more precarious. The forests are being cut down to either sell and export the timber or to clear areas due to the demand for more land by an ever increasing population.
To find out more about rainforests and people of the rainforests visit Rainforests and Rainforest Tribes.
Two-Toed Sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) - Central & South America
There are two species of two-toed sloth in S. America - Hoffman's (or Unau) found in the forested regions of northern S. America from Ecuador to Costa Rica, and Linnaeus (Choloepus didattylus) in Brazil.
Sloths are slow-moving, tree-dwelling animals that spend almost the whole of their lives hanging upside down from the branches of trees where the growth of algae on their hair provides the excellent greenish camouflage that makes them so difficult to spot.
When they are on the ground - perhaps due to a branch breaking - sloths can only move with difficulty.
They eat leaves and fruit. In addition to the two-toed sloths there are three species of three-toed sloth found in the rain forests of South America
Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) - Central West Africa
Gorillas live in the dense forest of tropical Africa where observation of their daily life becomes extremely difficult. Despite recent successful observations of the mountain gorilla in Zaire, much of their life in the wild remains a mystery.
There are two forms of gorilla. The lowland gorilla and the shaggy-coated mountain gorilla, which was only discovered in 1901.
Largest of all the living primates, an adult male will stand five and a half feet tall, with an arm spread of about 8 feet. It will weigh between 400 and 600lb, usually around 450 lb.
Despite its size and great strength, the gorilla is not an aggressive animal and will not usually attack unless its safety, or that of its family, is threatened. Vegetarian in diet, the gorilla leads an orderly family existence, spending much of the day consuming an intake of about 60lb of leaves and fruit!
To find out more about gorillas visit this factsheet - Gorilla.
Giant Anteater or Antbear – Central and South America
In the tropical forests of Central and South America lives the giant anteater or antbear. The antbear can be seven feet in length from its long narrow snout to its bushy tail. It has an extremely long sticky tongue which darts from its snout as it licks up ants or termites, after it has torn open the insects' nest with its powerful curved claws.
Lesser Malay Chevrotain (Tragus javanicus) - S. Asia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo
Standing only about 12 inches high at the shoulder, the chevrotain or mouse-deer is one of the smallest of all hoofed animals. Moving on pencil-thin legs, this little animal is a timid forest-dweller, feeding on flowers, fruits, vegetable matter and young leaves.
There are four species in this family; three live in Asia and one in Africa. The males have long upper canine teeth which protrude like fangs below the lips. Neither sex has horns or antlers. In Malay folklore the chevrotain is credited with great cunning (for how else could he evade the many different predators who hunt him?).
Siamang Gibbon (Hylobates syndactylus) - Malaya and Sumatra
The siamang is the largest of the seven kinds of gibbon, all of which live in the rain forests of southern Asia. Gibbons are the smallest members of the Ape family and they spend most of their life up in the trees. Their arm over arm movement through the tree tops (known as brachiation) has resulted in the gibbon having very long arms and rather short legs. The saimang stands about 3 feet tall, but his arm-span may be 5 feet. Alone among the gibbons, the siamang has a huge vocal sac on the throat which helps him to produce his very loud (and often blood curdling) calls. Food consists of fruit, leaves, insects, young birds and eggs.
Ocelot (Felis pardalis) -
Central and South America
The ocelot, known in Mexico as the 'tigrillo' or 'little tiger', ranges through the forest regions of Central and South America from Texas in the north to Brazil and Paraguay in the south. It is the third largest of the South American cats after the jaguar and puma.
A fully grown male measures about four and a half feet from nose to tip of tail. Its beautiful spotted coat provides excellent camouflage in its forest home where it preys on a wide variety of animals, including small deer, agoutis, rats, peccaries, pacas, birds and some reptiles.
Sadly, it is much hunted by man for its fur, and it is now seriously threatened. In areas where it is heavily hunted it has become a nocturnal animal, but elsewhere it can be seen in daylight. Although it can climb, the ocelot seems to hunt mainly on the forest floor.
Find out more about big cats in South America visit this factsheet Cats (South American).
Black Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus ursinus) - New Guinea
Nine species of tree kangaroo are listed; seven of them live in the dense rain forest of New Guinea, while the other two species inhabit the forests of northern Australia.
These animals are about the same size as a wallaby but differ in appearance and have much longer forelimbs and broader feet on the back legs.
Although the tree kangaroo may look rather slow and clumsy on the ground, it can climb quite quickly and with surprising agility. Unlike the majority of kangaroos, tree kangaroos are nocturnal animals, spending the daytime asleep in the trees and then coming down to ground level to spend the night on the forest floor.
Once again, despite their awkward shape for tree-dwelling, these animals can move well in trees and have been known to jump 20 feet from one tree to another. They descend trees tail first. Food consists of leaves and fruit.
Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) - Central Africa
Unknown to science until 1900, when it was discovered by H.H. Johnston, the Okapi is the only living relative of the giraffe and shares the family name Giraffidae.
This large animal has shorter legs than the giraffe and a shorter neck. It stands about 5ft (approximately 112 metres) at the shoulder and has a sleek purplish coloured coat with black and white bars on the legs. The head is giraffe-like, with a long muzzle, mobile lips and a long tongue for seizing foliage. The horns, which occur only in the males, are capped with a small polished tip which alone protrudes from the skin covering.
Okapis live in the densest parts of the rainforest, where they live a solitary existence or move in pairs. They feed on leaves of trees, shrubs and epiphytes. The colouring of the okapi renders it practically invisible even at a short distance.
Common Tree-Shrew (Tupaia glis) - S.Asia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo
One of eighteen species of tree-shrew, this remarkable little animal was mistakenly identified as a shrew when it first came to the notice of zoologists. Subsequent investigation proved that this animal was not an insectivore at all, but a very primitive Primate, a member of the family which includes lemurs, monkeys, apes and man! The tree-shrew is a surviving relic from many millions of years ago.
About 14 inches in length, the animal is a skilful climber. Its food consists of a wide variety of plant and animal life.
Find out about other species of shrew all over the world with these factsheets Common Shrew and the Water Shrew both found in the UK.
Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) - Borneo and Sumatra
Although probably once represented on the mainland of Asia, the orang-utan population of about 5000 is confined to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. While they are protected on both islands, the steady destruction of their forest territory poses a constant threat to their future.
The orang-utan is the second largest of the apes and the heaviest of all the tree-dwellers It is also the only great ape to be found outside Africa.
Heavily built, with a height of about four and a half feet and a weight of around 200lb, this ape is normally a rather lethargic mover. It has powerful arms and weak legs, and when on the ground it tends to use the arms as crutches, swinging the body along.
Despite their build and normally lethargic state, the orang-utans are capable of quite rapid movement should the need arise.
Seriously threatened, the orangutan needs full protection if it is going to survive. To find out more visit these factsheets - Orangutan, Rainforests, Palm Oil.
Malayan Pangolin (Manis javanica) - South-east Asia
Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, are found in tropical Africa, south and south-east Asia.
There are four species in Africa and three in Asia. Although they resemble reptiles, these animals are mammals and their 'scales' are simply mammal hairs, flattened and modified into overlapping plates.
Like the armadillo, the pangolin rolls himself into a tight ball when threatened. The tail is prehensile and it permits the pangolin to hang from the branch of a tree when all four limbs are needed for other purposes such as an attack on a termites nest. Here, the powerful claws rip open the nest while the long sticky tongue mops up the termites. Termites and ants are the chief items of food. Pangolins are completely toothless. Little is known about their ancestry.
Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) - S. Asia, Sumatra, Java
All five species of rhinoceros are threatened with extinction. The three Asian species are in great danger, and there are doubts that the rhinoceros can survive in Asia beyond the end of this century.
Like so many other animals, the Javan rhinoceros has suffered heavy persecution at the hand of man, and this once common species declined so rapidly in numbers that in the late 1960's it was thought there were only 24 survivors in the wild.
Thanks to careful conservation and protection the Javan rhinoceros has steadily increased in number over the past few years and in 1991 it was estimated that there might be as many as 60 living in the dense forests of its range. It is the destruction of these forests that will threaten all the successful protection achieved through the efforts of many conservationists from several countries.
The Javan and Gt. Indian rhinoceros have only one horn, the Sumatran rhinoceros has two. The Sumatran is the smallest and hairiest of all the five species.
Slender Loris (Loris tadirgradus) - South India and Ceylon
The family Lorisidae includes the slow-moving lorises of Asia, the equally slow angwantibo and potto of Africa, and the anything but slow-moving galagos or bushbabies found in southern and eastern Africa.
The slender loris lives in the jungles of southern India and Ceylon. It is a lightly built creature with long, spindly legs, slender body and large brilliant eyes. At one time the eyes of the slender loris were used as an ingredient of love potions!
It is a nocturnal animal, sleeping through the day and waking at sunset to move stealthily through the trees in search of its diet of insects, small birds, lizards and fruit.
Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus) - Malaysia
Tapir is the name given to the four surviving species of this large woodland mammal which form the family Tapiridae of the order Perissodactyla (odd-toed hooved animals). They are heavily built creatures with four front and three hind toes, a practically non-existent tail and with the nose and upper-lip forming a short flexible trunk.
Three of the four species live in Central and South America, but the fourth is to be found in the rainforests of Malaysia. The Malayan Tapir is easily recognised by his black and white colouring. This animal may stand 3and a half feet (approximately 1 metre) at the shoulder. It is shy, nocturnal and quite inoffensive, frequenting deep forests and keeping close to water and mud. Its diet is exclusively vegetarian. The young are spotted and striped with white.
To find out more about Tapir visit our Tapir Factsheet.
Jaguar (Panthera onca) - Central and South America
This is the largest of the New World cats, a fully grown male measuring up to 8ft from nose to tip of tail. It is a heavier animal than the leopards of Africa and Asia although similar in size. The jaguar differs from the leopard in having a more powerful head, shorter tail and shout stout legs. It is found on the edges of forests and often beside rivers from the southern United States to northern Argentina. Unlike most cats it seems to like water and obviously enjoys swimming. It will even fish with its paws. The diet of the jaguar includes capybaras, peccaries, deer, agoutis, tapir and fish. Heavily hunted by man for its skin, the jaguar is steadily declining in numbers - and the destruction of the rain forests will speed this decline considerably.
Snakes, like all reptiles, are cold-blooded animals which cannot adjust their body temperature internally. The constant warmth and humidity of tropical rain forests provide an ideal habitat where snakes can live without having to shelter from heat or cold.
Snakes of the rain forest are well adapted to an arboreal or tree-dwelling existence. Many have long thin bodies with angled scales on their bellies which help the snakes to grip branches. Other species have developed 'wings', enabling the snake to escape predators by gliding to another tree or the ground. Ground-dwelling snakes track by scent but in the trees the scent trail is broken whenever the prey crosses to another branch, so many tree-living species hunt by sight. Some have prehensile tails which can grip a branch firmly while the rest of the body moves on. Snakes are well camouflaged; the most common colours are green or brown to match leaves or bark, often with a twig-like or leaf-like pattern.
Like the pythons of Africa and Asia the boas of South America kill by constriction. The largest boa is the anaconda, which averages 35ft in length and hunts along river banks. Other boas include the boa constrictor and the emerald tree boa.
Pythons include many species of non-poisonous snakes which kill their prey, such as birds and small mammals, by constriction. The snake coils its long body round its victim and squeezes it to death. The largest python is the reticulated python of Asia; it can grow to 33 ft long and weigh 300 lb. The 3 ft long burrowing python of Africa is the smallest python.
Venomous Species
Poisonous snakes use their venom mainly for feeding rather than for defence. There are three main groups:
a) Rear-Fanged Snakes
The snakes in this group have the two or three rearmost teeth of the upper jaw enlarged and grooved for injecting venom. Few species are very poisonous and only two, both African tree snakes, are dangerous to man.
b) Front Fixed-Fang Snakes
The fangs of these snakes are fixed at the front of the upper jaw. This group includes many deadly species, such as the mambas of Africa, the cobras of Africa and Asia, and the coral snakes of the New World.
c) Folding Fang Snakes
These snakes have a large pair of poison fangs at the front of the upper jaw. The fangs lie flat when not needed and are raised when the snake strikes. The group consists of the vipers and pit-vipers, for example the rattlesnakes and the bushmaster snake of Central and South America.
To find out more about rainforests and people of the rainforests visit Rainforests and Rainforest Tribes.
Back to the top.


text:
- Get Involved
- News
- Education & Events
- Publications & Research
- Marketplace
- Jobs
- Membership
- Accreditation
- About ACA
Counselor Blog
July 16, 2013
The fun doesn't have to stop when it rains! If you're looking for some ways to spend a rainy day at camp, try these activities out.
1. Marshmallow Tinkertoys and Towers
If there's one food that you have in abundance at camp, it's probably marshmallows! Put those to use on a rainy day by building a 3-D house, tepee, or even a marshmallow buddy with pretzel sticks and marshmallows. (Idea from www.parents.com/fun/activities/indoor/kids-indoor-games-activities/)
Or even better, build a S'more tower, like the picture to the right. (Great idea, Camp Howe!)
2. Board Games
Bust out your favorite board game. From Pictionary to Monopoly, board games a great way to get everyone involved on a rainy day. If you have a big group, set out a few different games and have campers split up and play their favorites.
3. Reading
Take some time to enjoy a good book. Camp is a great place to show kids that reading is fun — if you're enthusiastic about reading for pleasure, your campers will be, too! Record your reading minutes for Scholastic's Summer Challenge. Already this summer, kids around the U.S. and world have broken the summer reading world record!
4. Creative Greeting Cards
Put a spin on the typical letter from camp and have your campers get creative with stickers, glitter, magazine photos, and more to make a greeting card for mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, or friends at home. When the rain clears up, put them in the mail! (Idea from www.parents.com/fun/activities/indoor/kids-indoor-games-activities/)
5. Word Searches
You know you love 'em! Find some great word searches you can print for free at Science Kids. Or get creative and make your own using words about your group or camp.
6. Indoor Bowling
Create your own indoor bowling lane. Make the pins by filling up 6–10 plastic water bottles with about an inch of sand or dirt. Clear out a lane on the floor and use a soccer ball (or whatever you have around) as the bowling ball. (Idea from http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/2008/02/homemade-bowling-pins.html)
7. Coloring
Some nature-focused coloring pages that you can print for free:
8. Making a Collage
Use magazine cutouts and other craft materials to work on a collage. Let campers decide if they each want to make their own or if they want to work on one as a group. Try themes such as "All about Me" or "Our Favorite Things about Camp."
9. Indoor Treasure Hunt
Have an indoor treasure hunt by hiding several small toys, books, or special snacks around the cabin, then give your campers clues or a map that leads to the treasure. (Idea from http://fun.familyeducation.com/play/35560.html#ixzz2ZDUjFJH3)
10. Slow-Motion Tag
Play a game of slow-motion tag indoors! Bonus points if you can communicate in slow motion, too! "Yooooouuuuurrrrrrr'eeeeee iiiiiittttt!!!!" (Idea from www.parents.com/fun/activities/indoor/kids-indoor-games-activities/)
Photo courtesy of Camp Howe, Goshen, Massachusetts
July 10, 2013
"We don't learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience."
—John Dewey, influential educational reformer
After a day on the ropes course or canoeing on the river, we ask our campers to reflect on what they learned about themselves, their skills, and their relationships. We know reflection is a powerful tool — but as leaders, are we using it ourselves?
Well, now's a good time to check in!
How are you doing on your goals? What skills have you gained? What have you learned are your strengths, and what could you improve?
If you're keeping a journal of what you've learned this summer, take some time to look back at what you've written and set some new goals or refine some old ones if you need to. If you haven't logged the skills you've gained, take a moment today to reinforce your memory by writing about a time when you:
- Showed leadership acumen
- Were resourceful
- Taught something technical to beginners
- Encouraged positive group dynamics
What have you learned so far this summer? Share it in the comments below!
Photo courtesy of Manzano Mountain Retreat, Manzano, New Mexico
July 2, 2013
As a camp counselor, you have a special bond with your campers. Maybe it's because you teach them new games and songs, eat your meals together, and experience the thrills of camp as a team. And maybe it's something more, too . . .
Michael Thompson, PhD, an author and psychologist, writes in "Why Camp Counselors Can Out-Parent Parents":
Children love to learn, but they get tired of being taught by adults. Children want to learn from older children, and, at a camp that means older campers, CITs (counselors in training), and camp counselors. They want to live with them, emulate them, absorb them. In our age-segregated society, camp is the only place in America where an eleven-year-old can get the sustained attention of a nineteen-year-old.
So this summer, take advantage of the unique opportunity you have to support your campers' development just by being the caring, fun, responsible leader that you are! You truly are a role model, and your campers love learning from YOU!
Photo courtesy of Camp Howe, Goshen, Massachusetts
June 25, 2013
On the first day of camp, your main objective is to make your campers feel comfortable. But it's also a great opportunity to make parents feel more comfortable about the camp experience, too!
In their absence, you will take on many of the responsibilities of a parent for your campers. So it's important you present yourself as the warm, informed counselor you were hired to be! Here are some of our favorite tips:
Get yourself in the right mindset.
Most of you aren't parents, but that doesn't mean you can't imagine how it feels to be dropping your child off at camp. In her Camping Magazine article, "Wow Your Campers' Parents," Audrey Monke describes an exercise from training expert Michael Brandwein:
Michael Brandwein . . . has an exercise called "A Letter for Learning" (2004). You are asked to pretend you are a parent sending your child to camp for the first time and write about your fears, hopes, and concerns. After discussion, there is a moving letter for you to read that Brandwein has composed. He really sums up how parents feel about sending their child to camp and the mixed emotions that are involved.
If your camp doesn't do Brandwein's exercise during training, you can do some of your own empathy training by doing the following:
- Spend a minute identifying an important child in your life (sibling, cousin, close friend).
- Think about how you would want him/her treated by his/her counselor.
- Think about what you would worry about.
Be polite and confident.
Shake the parents' hands, greet your camper at his or her level, and tell them a little bit about yourself. Maintaining good eye contact and a friendly warmth will put campers and parents at ease. Learn the "do's" and "don'ts" of the initial greeting (among many other ways to be a great counselor) with ACA's bestselling "Camp Is for the Camper," available in both online course and book formats.
Prepare for common questions and concerns.
Authors Karla Henderson, Kelly McFadden, and Deb Bialeschki researched what kinds of questions parents asked of camp counselors. The most common questions fell into five categories: staff qualifications and supervision, camper health and safety, technology and opportunities for communication with children, camper expectations and behaviors, and camp program logistics. Here are some questions to be prepared for:
- What is the camper-to-staff ratio?
- What happens if my child gets sick?
- Will my child have access to e-mail?
- How do you handle homesickness?
- How much time do campers spend outside?
(Read more in the Camping Magazine article, "What Parents Want to Know that Camp Counselors Should Know.")
Remember, you were hired because your skills and personality make you a perfect fit for the job! By being yourself and keeping these tips in mind, you'll make a great first impression on campers and their parents. Share your tips for making a fantastic first impression with parents below!
Photo courtesy of Tom Sawyer Camps, Altadena, California
June 19, 2013
Chances are you'll encounter some camper behavior this summer that leaves you frustrated, confused, or worn out. But don't worry — these tips will help you handle difficult camper behavior and keep everyone on track for a great experience!
Remember to follow any behavior management guidelines specific to your camp or your director's preferences, and keep the following in mind:
- Give the camper one warning; make it clear that the behavior or action was inappropriate and undesirable.
- Give the camper a chance to explain; he or she may have a good reason for the behavior.
- Be consistent and impartial.
- Stay cool and calm; keep strong emotions in check.
- Avoid lecturing or embarrassing the camper; discipline in private if possible.
- Stress that the camper's behavior is the problem, not the camper's personality. Help the camper identify acceptable alternatives to the problem behavior.
- Once the disciplinary time is over, accept the camper as a part of the group again.
- Follow the camp behavior management policies for continuing discipline problems.
(From Behavior Management 101)
Camp experts have written extensively on managing camper behavior for Camping Magazine. Check out a few of the most recent articles:
- Behavior Plans at Camp — A Powerful Tool, by Bob Ditter
- Camper Behavior — Growth without Shame, by Bob Ditter
- Confessions of a Disciplinarian: How Managing Camper Behavior Can Save the Summer, by Stephen Gray Wallace, MS Ed
- Do You Want To . . . Hey, Look Over There! Strategies for Working with Children Who Have Attention Deficits, by Chris Thurber, PhD
- There Is a Reason! Understanding Challenging Behavior, by Scott Arizala
ACA also offers a recorded webinar on Managing Difficult Camper Behaviors, hosted by clinical counselor Susan Fee, MEd.
How do you handle difficult camper behavior? Share your tips and success stories in the comments below!
Photo courtesy of Sugar Bay Holiday Resort, Zinkwazi, Nkwazi, South Africa
June 11, 2013
Making sure your campers are safe, healthy, and having fun all summer long is your main goal. To do that, you need to take care of yourself!
Here on the Counselor Blog, we want you to have the best resources for self-care . . . because camp is just that much more fun when you're alert, ready, and in control.
Read up on these past blogs before camp starts, and make plans to be at your best!
"Stay Healthy at Camp!"
What you'll learn about: eating well, staying active, getting enough sleep
"Catching ZZZs"
What you'll learn about: how much sleep you really need, tips for getting more rest
"My Favorite Camp Counselor" (guest post by author and speaker Michael Eisen)
What you'll learn about: getting enough sleep, making time for fun, reducing stress
Did you notice how many of the posts mention the importance of getting enough sleep? That'd be ALL of them. So this summer, can you make sleep a top self-care priority?
Have fun and stay healthy!
Photo courtesy of Pali Adventures, Running Springs, California
June 4, 2013
When applying and interviewing for jobs, work experience plays a critical role. According to Forbes.com, 66% of employers believe interview performance and relevant work experience are the most important factors in their hiring decisions — far more significant than strong academic performance.
Employers want to know you can apply what you've learned in the classroom to the real world. So what can you do this summer to make sure you reinforce and highlight the skills that are most relevant to your desired career?
These skills are critical — and you'll be using them all!
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has defined "Learning and Innovation Skills" — critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity — as requirements for job-seekers in the 21st century. As a camp counselor, you'll be sharpening these skills all summer long. Here are just a few examples!
- Critical thinking: Assessing your campers' requests and skill levels when dividing them into teams. Reviewing equipment and weather conditions to accurately predict if it's a safe day for your canoe trip. Testing several different morning hikes to see which is most enjoyable and gets campers to lunch on time.
- Communication: Meeting camper parents on the first day, anticipating their questions, and being ready to answer them. Explaining the rules of Gaga to your first-time campers. Clarifying any discrepancies in expectations for camper behavior. Listening to campers' concerns.
- Collaboration: Working as a group to create a set of rules. Teaming up with your co-counselor to address a group problem. Compromising on healthy snacks that everyone enjoys while on the trail.
- Creativity: Finding alternative rainy-day activities that your group will enjoy. Writing and rehearsing a skit for the talent show. Planning ways to keep your activity sessions fun and fresh.
It's important to remember these experiences as you revise your resume and speak with hiring managers. You might consider keeping a log of your skills during the summer as a reference for after the summer.
Take the initiative.
Developing the critical skills listed above will help you no matter what job you're pursuing. But there can be many other opportunities at camp to hone skills that are specific to your future career. Going into journalism? Volunteer to work on or create the camp newsletter. Wanting to get into video production? Make a promo video for your camp starring your campers. Is teaching on your horizon? Keep notes of all your plans and outcomes for activities, skits, nature hikes, etc. Talk with your director or supervisor about opportunities to gain skills that interest you. They might have a great idea about a camp project for you to get involved in.
Your job as a camp counselor is not only fun, challenging, and fulfilling — it's also a fast-paced crash course in real-world skills that will take you far. Remember to watch your progress and growth, and be proud of your accomplishments this summer!
Photo courtesy of River Way Ranch Camp, Sanger, California
May 28, 2013
Campers (especially first-timers) will be counting on you to make your group's "getting to know each other" process fun and meaningful. As the group leader, it's important for you to be prepared and enthusiastic about the upcoming camp session. Here are a few ice breaker activities to get your group's friendships growing and dialogue flowing!
A Tangled Web
Gather your campers in a circle sitting around you. Hold a large ball of yarn. Start by telling your group something about yourself. Then roll the ball of yarn to a camper without letting go of the end of the yarn. The student who gets the ball of yarn tells his or her name and something good about himself or herself. Then the student rolls the yarn to somebody else, holding on to the strand of yarn. Soon your group has created a giant web. After everyone has spoken, you and your campers stand up, continuing to hold the yarn. Start a discussion of how this activity relates to the idea of teamwork — for example, your group needs to work together and not let others down. To drive home your point about teamwork, have one camper drop his or her strand of yarn, which will demonstrate how the web weakens if the group isn't working together.
Adapted from Education World
Pop Quiz
Before your campers arrive, write a series of "getting to know you" questions on slips of paper — one question per slip. Then fold up the slips and tuck each slip inside a different balloon. Blow up the balloons. Give each camper a balloon, and let campers take turns popping their balloons and answering the questions inside.
Adapted from Voxxi
Take As Much As You Want!
For this ice breaker, you need to have a roll of toilet paper on hand. Explain to your campers that they will need it for the next activity. Pass around the roll and invite campers to take as much as they want. After campers have had a good laugh over the amount of paper they took, explain how the game works. For every piece of toilet paper each camper took, he or she must tell the group one thing about him or herself. Some realize they took quite a bit of toilet paper, but with a little prompting and probing from you, they will find things to share. Consider having campers share what they are most looking forward to about camp when they get to their last piece.
Adapted from Education World
Desert Island
Tell your campers to imagine they've been exiled to a deserted island for a year. In addition to the essentials, they may take one piece of music, one book, and one luxury item they can carry (i.e. not a boat to leave the island!). Ask them what they would take and why. Give campers a couple minutes to think about their responses and then have them share them with the group.
Adapted from 40 Ice Breakers for Small Groups
All My Campers
Ask campers to form a shoulder-to-shoulder standing circle, and then have each person take a step back. Give each participant a place holder to set at their feet. The leader will begin in the center of the circle, but his or her task is to try and find a place on the outside of the circle and have someone else end up without a place. The leader will make a statement, for example, "All my campers who are wearing tennis shoes" or "All my campers who love to swim," etc. If that statement applies to any campers in the group, they must come off their places and find another spot in the circle. Campers may not move immediately to their right or left and may not move off their space and return to it in the same round. When everyone has had a turn or two and you think campers have had enough, simply say, "OK, this is the last round." Give a round of applause to the last camper who ends up in the center.
Adapted from Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace
Watch an example of "All My Campers."
Photo courtesy of Camp Kamaji for Girls, Cass Lake, Minnesota
May 21, 2013
How much do you know about the typical kid in America?
Use this infographic to learn a little bit more about today's kids . . . and your campers! Familiarizing yourself with their realities, strengths, and challenges will help you connect from day one. (Viewed best in Chrome or Firefox.)
May 13, 2013
So you have your dream job this summer — working with a ton of kids, having fun, and staying active at camp!* How do you make sure that you get exactly what you want out of your summer at camp? We've already talked about what to expect. Setting goals before the summer can be helpful and make you more aware of your desired outcomes.
Get Clear on What You Want
Start by asking questions like this:
- How do I want my campers to feel at the end of their session?
- What would I want campers' parents to be able to say about my counseling abilities?
- How do I want my coworkers and supervisors to feel about my counseling abilities?
- How do I want to feel at the end of the summer?
- What will allow me to do the best job I can?
Make SMART Goals
After you know what you want, make SMART goals toward getting there:
Examples of SMART goals:
- I want to "catch" each of my campers doing something good every day.
- I want to work with my campers to set 3–5 main ground rules of our camper group on the first day. (For help with this, read Stephen Maguire's "The Cool Counselor: For the Right Reasons.")
- I want to tell a coworker "thank you" for something each day.
Use these examples as a guide as you create goals specific to your job.
Keep a Record
As the summer progresses, it will be helpful to write your about your goals and how you are accomplishing them. That way, if you create a goal such as "Make sure all of my level-one swimmers are ready for level two by the end of the session," you will remember the steps you took to achieve that goal — and the skills you gained. This notebook will serve as a reminder of your goals during the summer . . . AND afterward, when you are adding to your resume or portfolio.
If you have any other tips, share them in the comments below!
*Haven't found your dream job yet? Post your resume or browse openings on ACA's Summer Jobs at Camp site!
Photo courtesy of YMCA Camp Wabansi, Brussels, Wisconsin
February 18, 2013
So you've found your dream job this summer — you're working at camp for the first time!* You'll be spending your summer playing with kids, making a positive impact on their lives, having tons of fun, meeting new people, and making friends. But there are a few other very important things that you should expect from your job at camp.
Safety First
The most essential aspect of your job this summer is safety. Make sure your campers are always wearing the right clothing/equipment for activities. Create an environment among your campers that values respect — make sure everyone feels emotionally safe. Take care of yourself (get proper sleep and nutrition) so that you remain alert and can make appropriate safety judgment calls at all times. Physical, mental, and emotional safety should be your main priority at all times.
Resources to help:
- The Role of Safety
- A Healthy Camp Depends on You: Six Things Staff Can Do to Have a Healthy Summer
- Wanton Words: Curbing Verbal Crudeness and Cruelty at Camp
- Excellence in Staff Training to Reduce Bullying
- Risk Management: A Letter to Camp Staff
You Are the Example
This summer, as a staff member, your campers will look to you for guidance and leadership. It's important to give campers structure (establish expectations at the beginning of camp), make sure your campers know that you are in charge and are comfortable in that role, and be able to communicate with campers effectively. You will be leading by example, so it's extremely important to know the profound impact your actions, habits, and words have on your campers.
Resources to help:
- On the Care and Feeding of Adolescents at Camp (working with teens)
- The Seven Absolutes of Camp Counseling
- Four Simple Words to Better Communication
- Will I Be Enough to Make a Difference?
- Patience
Games Are More Than Just Fun
Playing games with your campers is not only fun, but beneficial! Ice-breaker games on the first few days of camp can help campers adjust to one another and become friends. Playing games with your campers on the spot can make for better transition times (think of how much easier those extra five or fifteen minutes before lunch will be if your campers are occupied). And observing your campers while they play games with each other allows you to notice and give positive reinforcement for things like: good sportsmanship, including everyone, playing by the rules, and good communication, just to name a few.
Resources to help:
- Configure the Ideal Smartphone: "Apps" for Camp Staff to Download and Install
- Essential Staff Training Activities (staff training activities you can use with campers, too)
- The Right Activities for the Right Moments
- Staff Training: What Do You Expect?
Find more information about these topics and more in ACA's Knowledge Center. Not your first summer at camp? Tell us what else someone might expect from their first summer working at camp!
*If you haven't found your dream job yet, post your resume on ACA's Summer Jobs at Camp site to help employers find you!
Photo courtesy of Camp Howe, Goshen, Massachusetts
February 7, 2013
This week's post is a guest blog from Laura Dallas McSorley, a member of one of ACA's educational allies, Teach For America.
Camp Glisson was the most wonderful place I had been as a kid — almost magical. I had been to other day camps and even overnight camps, but nothing was like the first time I stepped onto the grounds of Glisson — beautifully nestled in the North Georgia mountains around a large waterfall, with an old wooden chapel. I went every summer, as did my siblings, and even my parents as a nurse or the minister for a week. (Glisson is a United Methodist camp.) When I was old enough, I was finally a counselor, getting to fulfill a long-held dream. Most of my co-counselors were passionate about Glisson's central mission: ministry to children. Many went on to go to divinity school or teach school.
I, however, couldn't imagine myself in the classroom or in a church. Instead, I spent the next several summers dedicated to various social justice causes that pulled me away from camp — homelessness prevention and housing reform, advocacy on my college campus. And as I began to dig deeper, exploring not just the effects but the root causes of the social injustices I saw around me, I found Teach For America (TFA). After graduation, I headed to Washington, DC, to teach in a Head Start classroom with TFA's first cohort of early childhood educators. I spent the next five years teaching pre-K in the city.
At camp, the culture we built in our "living groups" was so powerful that campers and counselors were often crying at the end of the week when it was time to say goodbye. We often said at those times that, while we felt like we were returning to the "real" world, in many ways camp was more real. Camp and the communities we built offered a glimpse at what a "beloved community" could be, in the way God intended us to dwell in the world.
I thought about this often when thinking about how to build a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for all my students, regardless of what might be happening outside our classroom or school. Of course, I worked intentionally to have strong relationships with families, including home visits, and to incorporate students' home lives and cultures — through pictures of their families, favorite books, memories of neighborhood walks, and community reading materials. Just like at camp, I tried to make my classroom a microcosm of the real place we want the entire world to be — one where we are free to explore the "outside" world with fresh eyes and discover new information about ourselves we can translate at home. For my three- and four-year-old students, this might mean being more independent in their routines or exploring and describing an array of animals that live in the ocean.
One of my dear friends and co-counselors, Rob, and I were known for singing — all the time — with our youngest campers. Not just at the designated chapels or special "singing on the porch" activities, but literally walking from lunch to the pool . . . and everywhere. Years later, this became my persona as a teacher as well — but with a different purpose. I wanted to use all my teaching time with students in developmentally appropriate ways as strategically as possible — making every moment count toward the ambitious goals we were working toward together. While we rhymed our way through "Willaby Wallaby," counted down with understanding from 'Five Little Monkeys," or explored complicated new vocabulary like "Dreidel," this brought joy and perhaps again a bit of notoriety to our neighborhood walks — just as I had enjoyed at camp — but also rigorous mastery for our students on key skills to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.
I want all kids to have the chance to feel a part of a loving community as I did each summer at camp, just as I want all children to have an excellent start from their very first formal experience in early childhood through the rest of the school experience. I loved being a camp counselor, as you likely do, too. Now imagine you are getting to expand your impact to not just a few weeks, but to a year or more with a student and their family. As a teacher, you'll get build daily the "real" world we want all students to have. What could be better?
Laura Dallas McSorley was a 2006 D.C. corps member with Teach For America. She currently serves as Managing Director of Teach For America's Early Childhood Education Initiative. Don't forget to apply to Teach For America by the final deadline — Friday, February 15th. APPLY NOW
Photo courtesy of Lutherhill Ministries, La Grange, Texas
January 28, 2013
Want to know what it takes to have a career in camp? Take advantage of ACA's upcoming Student Camp Leadership Academy (SCLA) — Texoma opportunity:
- Begins: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
- Ends: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at noon
- Location: YMCA Camp Carter in Fort Worth, Texas
SCLA — Texoma brings students together with camp professionals to take an in-depth look at options for a profession in the camp field. It also helps students build skills to prepare for a career in camp. For more information about SCLA and its history, read Student Camp Leadership Academy: Developing the Next Generation of Camp Professionals.
After successful completion of the SCLA experience, all students will receive an ACA SCLA certificate. Learn more about outcomes of SCLA.
Registration fee: $135 program fee and board per person
For more information and to register, contact Tim Huchton at email@example.com, or 765-349-3539 by February 5, 2013.
Photo courtesy of Camp Aranzazu, Rockport, Texas
December 7, 2012
Camp is place to make new friends (or meet up with old ones!), learn how to be a leader, and hone your skills to help kids have fun and grow.
ACA's 2013 ACA National Conference gives you the chance to do all that, too!
Network with peers and experts, attend great keynote lectures, and workshop your skills in a wide variety of educational sessions. And, as always, Student Members of ACA attend conference FREE. (Check out the registration page for details.)
Join us in Dallas, February 12–15, 2013! Visit the conference homepage to find more about the keynote speakers, educational sessions, and schedule — plus special events and pre-conference gatherings.
Not a member? First-timers can join ACA for free.
October 25, 2012
Guest post by Sarah Andes, a 2009 Mississippi Delta corps member, Teach for America
Summer camp is about discovery. New sports and hobbies. New friends and loves. New tans (at least if you're in Texas). New songs. New independence. It's all about creating and experiencing a community in which kids are free to explore and grow.
That's why I loved Greene Family Camp at the time. I knew it as "fun." Looking back on my experiences as a camper, counselor, and administrator, I now value camp for the unintended byproducts of those "fun" summers. I developed a set of values and beliefs at camp that have grounded the choices that I've made and the attitudes with which I have made them ever since.
Several years after my last summer at Greene, I once again packed up my belongings and loaded the car, but this time I was headed down a new path: east to the fertile farmland of the Mississippi Delta to begin my journey as a 2009 Teach for America corps member.
My approach toward teaching Algebra 1 at Williams-Sullivan High School, beyond the state standards and the lesson plan templates and the learned pedagogies, stemmed from the wise words of my brilliant camp director, Loui. He constantly impressed upon us the understanding that, to their parents, each of our campers was the most important child in the world. Each camper deserved our unceasing respect, attention, and care, and this philosophy guided me in cultivating an empowering community within my own classroom.
Loui urged us to "talk independently with each camper every day." And as a teacher, I greeted my students at the door and checked in one-on-one as I collected their homework and they worked on the first activity of the day.
An administrator implored me to "say yes if you can." And as a teacher, I worked to create a student-centered culture in which I facilitated students' learning by validating what they knew ("yes!") and pushing them to think more deeply and to apply new knowledge.
And my favorite, Loui's mantra: "enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm." As a teacher, I continued to make a fool of myself as I had years before. I sang math songs and made horrible jokes. I incorporated kinesthetic workouts and taught students algebra Taboo. I knew that I was the leader who had the power to make my classroom a joyful and exciting place to learn.
Being a good teacher is not being a good counselor. Your goal is not for your students to have a good time. Your students might not always want to be there. You are working within, rather than removed from, the pressures of your and your students' day-to-day lives. But it is this challenge that drives me to continue working in schools and with students. The stresses may be new, but as I tackle them I can draw upon the experiences of my youth to frame my vision for the future. Education, too, is about discovery, and it's my job to make sure all students, like all campers, are able to explore and grow. That's a lesson I learned around the campfire a long time ago.
American Camp Association is proud to partner with Teach For America. APPLY NOW to the 2013 Teach For America corps! Next application deadline: Friday November 2, 2012. If you're interested in learning more, find out who we look for and learn about your potential to change lives.
Photo courtesy of Cheley Colorado Camps, Estes Park, Colorado

subset: commoncrawl


text:
GQ's daily look back at the stylish men and women who looked sharp and lived smart... more >
Fall 2006
January 29, 2006
Location: Paris
Designer: Véronique Nichanian
Owned By: Private
Founded: 1837, Paris
History: Thierry Hermès' company began producing saddles, harnesses, and bridles for Russian czars and European nobility in 1837. By the early twentieth century, the company had expanded into clothing (the brand introduced the first zippered golf jacket, in case you were wondering) and accessories. Over the past two decades, men's designer Véronique Nichanian has earned a devoted following for collections that offer a modern take on the brand's luxury heritage—plus the occasional (and season-appropriate) injection of color.
The Look: Lavish understatement with a French accent
- Your Daily Eye Queue: A Look Inside Rick Owens's Studio, Fashion's Biggest Influencers, and More...
- GQ Global Street Style: Roy Zhang Is Not Afraid to Chase Shanghai's Most Stylish Men
- Introducing Hiro Clark: Limited Edition T-Shirts Inspired by L.A.'s Dark Side
- Tie The Knot Teams Up With Bryan Cranston
- GQ Selects: Shinola Runwell Watch
- How to Wear the Monochromatic Look
News + Politics
- Chadwick Boseman's GQ Cover Story October 2014
- Blake Griffin: GQ October 2014 Cover Story
- Julian Casablancas Is Done Trying to Save You
- The GQ+A: Travi$ Scott on Buying "the Grill That Is Going to Kill Pharrell"
- 10 Songs That Blew My Mind: Banks
- "Aint Nothing Shine Brighter Than That Bad Boy" The Inside Story of Hip-Hop's Most Notorious Label
How To
Food + Travel
- David Chang's Kitchen: Don't Get All "Fresh" with Me
- David Chang's Kitchen: Your Idea of Bologna is Total Baloney
- Chart: The Family Tree of Bourbon Whiskey
- Recipe: Semi-Summer Salad - Chef Jeff Taibe of Oak + Almond
- The Great Franco-Italian Pasta Experiment
- How to Pick from an Overpriced Restaurant Wine List


text:
Parents have the option in Calgary to educate their children outside of the public or Catholic school systems in any number of charter or private schools.
Alberta was the first province in Canada to establish charter schools, and Calgary currently has six.
A charter school is a public school that is operated independently under a performance contract approved by either the local board of education or by the Minister of Education. Charter schools must teach the mandated provincial curriculum as a baseline, but each school's charter is a unique and specific contract.
Calgary Science School Society
Foundations for the Future Charter Academy
Westmount Charter School Society
Private schools may charge tuition and other fees, and there are two kinds in the province: accredited and registered.
Accredited private schools are composed of language and culture schools, schools where students write provincial exams and are taught by Alberta certified teachers, and special education private schools that serve students with special needs.
Registered private schools are not accredited by the Minister of Education and do not require instructors to have Alberta teaching certificates.
Visit the Alberta government's education website for a list of private schools in the province.
Send this link to a friend
Calgary Economic Development (CED) gratefully acknowledges the support and funding received from all three levels of government and the corporate community in Calgary.
Action Calgary is CED's corporate partnership program. Established in 2008, Action Calgary engages the leadership of Calgary's corporate community in a partnership to deliver results on strategic projects that will help diversify and strengthen the local economy.


text:
Members of the Paranormal Historical Preservation Society look to restore one of the oldest cemeteries in Jasper County, Missouri.
It is believed by many people and investigators the Peace Church Cemetery in Joplin is haunted and full of paranormal activity.
The body of the convicted serial killer, Billy Cook, is said to be buried near Peace Church and some say he still haunts the old cemetery.
But brush as tall as the tombstones currently cover the burial ground.
To ensure everyone who is underground is not neglected and rests in peace, paranormal investigator and founder of the Paranormal Historical Preservation Society (on Facebook), Kira Pfeifle, wants to clean up the historical landmark.
"We think it's an important part of Jasper County's history and we think we need to preserve it for other future generations to know about it as well as the history," says Pfeifle.
Headstones date back into the 1800's. In addition to cook, many pioneers and soldiers were said to have been buried here.
Pfeifle showed us the Cook family plot.
"This is where Billy Cook's mother and father were buried, basically to the left of it all the way towards the back where the road widens is where we have a lot of activity."
While Pfeifle admits it was her passion for paranormal activity that led her to the cemetery, it was the neglect that really caught her attention.
"Right now we are in the process of getting a fundraiser started."
The group hopes to raise enough funds to smooth out a gravel road, repair some of the headstones and get rid of all the weeds.
"We are going to want people to come out to help de-weed it, plant trees, flowers, help fix the gravel road and the main entrance too," says Pfeifle. "So we just need a lot of labor work."
Society members say the expect to have fundraising events in the next couple months.
KOAM - Licensed to Pittsburg, Kansas
Send tips, ideas and press releases to: firstname.lastname@example.com
Send newsroom questions or comments to: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: (417) 624-0233 or (620) 231-0400
Web comments or questions: firstname.lastname@example.com
Newsroom Fax: (417) 624-3158


text:
WELCM: Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Conference and Ministerium at St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Wurtemburg
Our wonderful women's group plays a vital role in the life of St. Paul's. Our outreach includes support given to our Youth Group, ELCM Affiliates in Africa and emergency financial support for people in need in our home town communities.
We hold quarterly meetings where we develop as Christian women through discussion and studies of current issues that affect our families and our lives. We read and analyze books and articles and enjoy quite lively conversations!
We make and deliver meals for people who are dealing with hardship at home and hold fundraisers to build our funds to offer financial support to various church ministries.
Many of the women in our church gathered together for lunch, for some good old fashioned fellowship. It's the perfect way to get through a long, cold Winter! Jan. 2013
Our WELCM meeting on November 10, 2012 was another fun time with plenty of delicious food and exciting conversation. We discussed the 1850 lithograph showing the "Stages of a Woman's Life." These ladies are some very special people here at St. Paul's, and are at the core of everything we do here. God bless them all!
We returned to Mount St. Alphonsus, one last time before it closes to the public at the end of this year. Our TENTH WELCM Retreat was heald on Saturday, November 12, 2011. We reviewed parts of the Book of Job and discussed how God views the thankful heart......as we near the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Pastor Mark held a closing service while our organist, Joe Chupay, played beautiful church hymns. There will always be a special place in our hearts for our retreats at MSA!
The retreat we held in 2011 focused on "The Women's Right's Movement/Feminism and What the Bible says about the Role of Women. It was a lively and fascinating discussion!
Our annual WELCM Retreat was held on March 13, 2010 and was it ever fun! The theme was "A time for tea, a time for Thee." We discussed the book of Psalms, ate lots of delicious food, talked about our favorite tea cups and pots and just enjoyed the sisterhood we have here at St. Paul's Wurtemburg. In the picture above, are the wonderful women who participated in this year's event, holding their special tea items. God bless you all!
One of the many fun events the Women of the ELCM participate in..... a Hudson River Fall cruise on the boat, The Teal. 2008
The WELCM group was instrumental in erecting an authentic Alpine roadside shrine, acknowledging our German ancestry.
Many of our WELCM Retreats have been held at Mount St. Alphonsus in Esopus, N.Y.
WELCM Retreat. 2009 The main topic of discussion was William Young's book, THE SHACK.


text:
I need to stop being lazy and get back into my photography :/
I have a lot of ideas for photoshoots but I just need models :/
(Source: gusphotographs)
finally doing my army photoshot, i will post some pictures later tonight.
Asked by natural-wonders
I use Lightroom, but the only tools that i use to enhance my photos are the cool, warm and the crop tool. I try my best to not use editing programs, and just use the camera settings.
I took this photo in San Francisco's Japan Town for my time and space project.
(Source: gusphotographs)
Design by Simon Fletcher. Powered by Tumblr.
© Copyright 2010


text:
Thank you for your interest in contacting Mac GUI with your comment or question. To get started, please state the nature of your message.
You would like assistance with a feature or service of Mac GUI or A2HQ.com.
You have a comment or question concerning Mac GUI Vault, or you would like assistance locating a particular file or resource, or you would like to contribute to Vault.
You would like to report abuse of Mac GUI's services, or an infringement of the Mac GUI Terms of Service or site rules.
You have a comment or question which does not fit in any of the above categories.


text:
Daniel Koepke could face 60 years
Daniel Koepke, convicted in Washington County last November for exposing himself to his 6-year-old cousin and masturbating on her bed, was charged with groping another underage girl in the Village of Sussex sometime between 2010 and 2011.
Koepke, 18, was charged Feb. 14 in Waukesha County Circuit Court with first-degree sexual assault, contact with a child younger than 13.
Koepke, previously of Sussex, began serving a 22-month prison sentence for his previous conviction on Jan. 24. If convicted of this new charge, he could face up to 60 years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint, a woman reported to the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department that Koepke inappropriately touched her daughter's friend.
The 14-year-old girl told police the incident occurred in the summer before she entered seventh grade or during seventh grade when she was 12 or 13.
Koepke was among a group of friends her brother had invited to spend the night. She was "the little sister who wanted to hang out with her big brother," the complaint said, and so she slept in the room with the boys.
She fell asleep alone, she said, but when she awoke, Koepke was laying with her with one hand down her shirt and his other hand on her buttocks, outside of her pants.
She said she thought she was dreaming and rolled over to face the defendant. She began to fall asleep again and Koepke became more aggressive in his groping, the complaint said.
He then noticed she was awake and pulled away. She told police she asked him, "Why would you do that?" She left the room, and Koepke later texted her saying he was sorry and it would not happen again, according to the complaint.
The girl said that the following summer Koepke texted her asking if she wanted to have a water balloon fight because he wanted to see her in a swimsuit, according to the complaint. She did not respond and said she has been avoiding Koepke since the alleged incident.
She said she did notimmediately tell anyone about the incident because she did not want to hurt her brother, whom she loves.
Koepke was previously convicted in a 2012 case involving his aunt's children in West Bend.
Koepke pleaded no contest to charges of incest with a child and causing a child to view a sexual act on Nov. 15, 2012, and was sentenced to 22 months in prison and five years' extended supervision. Charges of first-degree sexual assault were dismissed in that case.
Koepke's next expected court date is Feb. 28.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.
E-mail Newsletter
Top stories from the Lake Country area. Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings.
Enter your e-mail address above and click "Sign Up Now!" to begin receiving your e-mail newsletter Get the Newsletter!
Consruction season is underway in Lake Country and
we've got you covered when it comes to street closures and delays:
Sussex, Menomonee Falls area projects
Greater Lake Country area projects
AS IT APPEARED IN PRINT: PDF collection of Oconomowoc "Athletic Fields Forever" coverage.
Celebrate Lake Country
communities with stories
MORE: See full gallery
SUBMIT: Post Your Photos now
Do you have news or a nonprofit event that you would like to share with the community? Whether it's a community organization, a business, a local school, or a notable neighbor, we'd love to hear about it.
- 24th Annual Milwaukee/NARI Fall Home & Remodeling Show
- Mukwonago's Bark for Life to Benefit American Cancer Society
- All God's Children of Delafield Announces A New Playground Being Built; Special Participation Event Mon., Sept. 15
- Hamilton again on Newsweek's "Best High Schools" list
- Public Hearing on Town of Merton Garbage Pickup
- Christ the King Church of Delafield Announces New Worship Schedule; Adds Singer/Guitarist/Songwriter Dave Gerhartz to Music Staff
- Household and Agricultural Hazardous Waste Special Collection: Saturday, September 13 – Oconomowoc
MORE: See the rest of Your Stories
SUBMIT: Post Your Story now
Lake Country residents share their views on news, happenings and current events.
LivingLakeCountry.com features more than a dozen community bloggers - a group of volunteer conversation leaders who are up on the latest topics and never short on an opinion. Just a few are pictured here. Check out the rest and see what they have to say!
View All Blogs
Discussion Guidelines
Do you want to become a Community Blogger? LivingLakeCountry.com welcomes your thoughts and opinions. Contact us for more information:
I want to blog


text:
The blog is correct. I don't know where you got that ADC4 is mapped to Arduino Pin 5 and ADC5 is mapped to Pin 6, etc. Refer to http://arduino.cc/en/Hacking/PinMapping2560
In fact, I was able to debug both of my Arduino Mega boards (an old Arduino Mega 1280 and a new Arduino Mega 2560 R3) connecting ADC Pins 4-8 to an AVR Dragon, based on the blog's instructions.


text:
how to get a girlfriend
hi, I am working as a Banker and I like how to get a girlfriend. Since day before yesterday night I want to get get infomation about good click here
Receiving girlfriend it simple enough task since there are also many social sites and internet dating sites from where you are able to select girlfriend but sometime process of receiving partner become extremely tough for timid guys. Getting girlfriend is not very hard as many individuals feel. All you need is positive about approaching females. No matter what form of women you're intending to approach. If you have good confident then you effectively approach any ladies and get a sweetheart. Before nearing try to develop confident as well as communication abilities. With the help of both of these you're able to acquire any girlfriend and process of obtaining girlfriend become truly easily for you personally . If you certainly are a shy person and looking for step-by-step plan for how to get a girlfriend after that follow these kinds of under actions:
1. Pick right women:
If you want to obtain girlfriend next it is very important to pick woman that has comparable hobbies, interest, liking as well as disliking. Prior to approaching girl and seeking relationship it is better to learn regarding the girl hobbies etc. If you pick wrong females you never method women successfully. It is very important that your hobbies and curiosity must complement your partner. Begin producing new buddies in social and internet dating sites and understand regarding their own hobbies. Once you find out your dream girl sticking with the same hobbies next start constructing strategies for suggesting her.
2. Approach girls from new places each day:
Avoid yourself from approaching girl in your local area. Prevent approaching and also attracting girl in your class or at the job place. Make an effort to go to your close by places exactly where there are several girls and method from that place. Many people discovering their fantasy girl from on-line social and also dating sites. Have you ever tried it? In case you would like to learn how to get a girlfriend then you have to learn how to approach women online. Social sites and online dating sites are totally different. In places to waste time boys and girls want new to talk with friend for enjoyment inside weekend but in dating sites boys and girls main objecting is dating. We suggest being friend along with your girl next ask for date. If you have adequate trust through girl next she allows your provide.
3. Learn Flirting:
Before wondering how to get a girlfriend you have to learn about tease. Try studying articles, submit and sites regarding flirting tips. In case you would like to get a girlfriend then you have to learn how to come on with just about any girl, any serious amounts of any spot. For getting the girlfriend it's better to consider make this procedure fun as well as enjoying. Strategy girl at bar simply by asking for boogie or consume. You have to know just what form of compliment you must give to girl which you planning for nearing. Girls such as guys that provide sweet go with to them. Find out a lot more info about why cant I get a girlfriend
They're three strategies for receiving the girlfriend. The most crucial factor of how to get a girlfriend is motion. If you don't get any kind of motion in approach women then you never discover. Now you have precise plan to approach women and right now you must stick to it.


text:
Connecting to MySQL on another windows machine
|User, date
Written by noa.drach
10 months ago
Category: General
2 posts since Thu, 14 Nov 13
I saw several threads related to connecting to a remote sql instance and it looks like they are all related to OS other than windows - so i decided to post this question.
I'm using a W7 64bit machine and i try to connect to mysql that is installed on a Windows Server 2008 r2 machine - I use the TCP\IP connection option
and i keep getting the error message
SQL Error (1045) in statement #0: Access denied for user '<existing user>'@'<my ip>'
any ideas on what I should check?
Written by ansgar
10 months ago
5012 posts since Fri, 07 Apr 06
See the myriad of search results on that error message in Google.
Just some hints:
* This is totally unrelated to your OS, or the OS on which the server runs
* "Access denied" is mostly a privilege error. Your username in conjunction with the ip is not allowed to connect there.
* If you're sure the username exists on that server, watch out for the hostname configured in the account, and if that matches your client ip.
Written by noa.drach
10 months ago
2 posts since Thu, 14 Nov 13
Got it (I think - the remote machine belongs to someone else and i need to wait for them to set the user so i can login).
The reason i posted this is because I saw several issues where SSH was discussed in relation to this error - so it through me off-track.
Please login to leave a reply, or register at first.


text:
A poll of more than 4,600 Americans found that 47 percent think electronic cigarettes should be legally available for smokers, but more than half also
Tobacco Company Sues to Block Flavored Cigar Ban
The leading maker of clove cigarettes has gone to court in a bid to prevent the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from imposing a
Company Wants FDA Blessing to Market 'Safer' Tobacco Products
A Virginia company plans to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for permission to market its smokeless-tobacco products as "modified risk," the Richmond
Public Supports Strong Regulation of Tobacco Ads, Survey Finds
A recent poll by industry trade magazine Adweek reached a conclusion that the magazine's readers probably were not happy to hear: most Americans support firm
Various Reasons Behind Teen Smoking
It's indisputable that too many teenagers are smoking cigarettes, but what's less clear is why they do so, a new study indicates. Reuters reported Sept.
Doctors Wrongly Assume Harm in Asking Mentally Ill Smokers to Quit
Smoking is widely prevalent among individuals with mental illnesses, but many doctors are loathe to encourage such patients to quit out of a misguided fear
NIATx launches ACTION Campaign II: Financial Strength in a Changing World
In the United States, 23.2 million persons aged 12 or older need treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem, yet only one in
Study: Smokers at Greater Risk of Developing Tuberculosis
According to a new study from Taiwan, smokers are twice as likely as their peers who have never smoked to develop active tuberculosis (TB), Reuters
Drug-Free Communities Continuation Grants Awarded
Community-based anti-drug coalitions currently receiving funding through the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) program have been awarded an additional $60 million by the Office of National Drug
No Clear Winners in Florida Engle Cases
Both plaintiffs and the tobacco industry have scored some wins in individual cases springing from Florida's former statewide, class-action lawsuit by sick smokers dubbed the
Reproduction in whole or in part of this publication is strictly prohibited without prior consent. Photographic rights remain the property of Join Together and the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. For reproduction inquiries, please e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Deb Mortillaro and Dreadnought wines takes us to South Africa for this voyage.Priory October (Al Fresco - Hopefully!) Wine Tasting
Thursday, October 16, 2014
October brings a taste of California's some of California's hottest new wine pioneers.
Source: North Side Chronicle
May 08, 2014
The North Side Chronicle's Alyse Horn covered the Priory Hotel's "Stash Bash" party celebrating the Priory's affiliation with Stash Hotel Rewards, a nationwide network of indpendent hotels which offers a rewards program where guests can build up points toward fee stays. Stash Hotel Rewards is affiliated with more than 180 indpendent hotels nationwide.
Stash Hotel Rewards is a program which allows you to earn points towards free rooms at The Priory Hotel and other unique independent hotels all across the U.S. It's free to join - so click the logo and start earning points today!
Finally, a hotel rewards program that lets you
stay where you want
- One-of-a-kind hotels dedicated to the spirit of meaningful travel
- Earn free rooms ridiculously fast
- Redeem points easily-no blackout dates*
The Priory Hotel is now a part of Stash Hotel Rewards
* Points earned apply to room reservation only.
Pittsburgh is ultimately a collection of unique neighborhoods - each with it's own charm and attractions. Whether it's shopping in the Strip District, taking in the nightlife on the South Side, or enjoying a ballgame on the North Shore - Pittsburgh neighborhoods have something to offer for everyone.
Northside/North Shore
The Strip District
Mt. Washington
Squirrel Hill
Highland Park


text:
Welcome to the LinkNet IRC Network. We pride ourselves on the overall quality of the IRC network we've built.
LinkNet provides the fusion of:
- Friendly and Dedicated Staff
- Ratbox Based IRCD Software
- AES Server-to-Server Encryption
- SSL Server-to-Client Encryption
It's easy to see that we are serious about bringing the best network we can to our users, so make LinkNet your new home today!
LinkNet says goodbye to some serverAfter years of loyalty and service some ...
LiZZaRd / 11.03.13
Asian server renamedThe staff of irc.sg-link.net decided to ...
LiZZaRd / 12.18.11
Finnish IRCD renamedThe staff of irc.fi.link-net.org ...
LiZZaRd / 06.19.11


text:
Tesla Model S named Car of the Year by Automobile Magazine, Yahoo
Performance, elegance and its success in elevating the status of electric cars help the Model S win top honors.
The fact that Tesla won COTY has nothing to do with politics. It's a fantastic car that I happen to like a lot, but that still doesn't change the fact that these tax incentives for buying electric cars need to be killed. Who should the tax payer offset the cost of some righ guys Tesla or Fisker? Or even a lesser expensive Leaf and Volt? If there is a demand, they will sell.
(On the bright side, so far the Model S won't turn you into BBQ, so that's a plus.)
Vehicles that make us scratch our heads and ask: Why?
Cars are cool, and here at MSN Autos we love everything about them, but we also know they're more than simply speed and style: a car is an essential tool, a much-needed accessory to help you get through your day-to-day life. What you drive is also one of the most important investments you can make, so we'll help you navigate your way through the car buying and ownership experiences. We strive to be your daily destination for news, notes, tips and tricks from across the automotive world. So whether it's through original content from our world-class journalists or the latest buzz from the far corners of the Web, Exhaust Notes helps you make sense of your automotive world.
Have a story idea? Tip us off at email@example.com.


text:
San Antonio SAT airport not covered in one of our SAT forum topics? Feel free to post a comment or question here for SAT airport. Share your experiences and get notified when there is a response.
If you were an iFly member, you would have received 2 points for searching for a flight.New Users: Create an account Or login to your account:


text:
Sign up and get a coupon for FREE Queso or Sopapillas from On the Border! You must enter in a zip code of your nearest On the Border restaurant to access the coupon (for Tulsa, I entered 74133). Print your coupon and take the family out for dinner this weekend! Enjoy!
{Related Posts}


text:
To guarantee this part fits your vehicle, click here. If it doesn't fit your vehicle, we'll recommend similar products.
Our Advantage
Need Help?
Compare Related Products
4WD Pros EW2000 Winch
Our price: $60.16
Our price: $60.16
Mile Marker 76-50105-32 Winch
Our price: $68.03
Our price: $68.03
Smittybilt 97202 Winch
Our price: $99.99
Our price: $99.99
view image gallery
Superwinch1730000 Winch - Electric
Part #: S491730000 | Mfr #: 1730000
In Stock
Ships out in 1-2 Business Days
Ships out in 1-2 Business Days
- Low Price Guarantee
Be the first to write a review.
- Overview
- Manufacturer info
- Extended Warranty
- Related Products
- Related Products


text:
Dare the Bear
"I waited fully drawn again for 10 minutes. It seemed like hours. Then he moved, and it was like slow motion. As he moved his front leg forward, there was the shot and I took it. The bear just bolted. I was sure I'd make a clean shot, but after 10 minutes waiting I'd heard nothing. I was worried that maybe I'd just wounded him so I decided I had to go look for him."
Piktel found his arrow. Only three inches of it was sticking out of the ground, and it was covered in blood. Cautiously he went after the bear. "I really didn't know what would happen; maybe he was waiting for me. There was some tension there. But I only went into the brush about 30 yards and there he was laid out. He'd dropped in mid stride. The arrow had gone through his heart. When he bolted, he was running dead."
Piktel had successfully hunted bear before in Maine. In fact, hunting has been a consuming passion all of Piktel's life. But it was a passion that almost overwhelmed him.
Back home in Daisytown, Pa., Bill Piktel with (l-r) sons Willie, 22, Brian, 14, Robert, 6, and wife Becky.
He came to truck driving eight years ago after working for a tree trimming company. "I was going from paycheck to paycheck before, but driving gave me a better standard of living; in fact, it changed my life," Piktel says. "I was over-the-road for the first five years, and when I got time at home I found I really valued my family and I wanted to be with them more. Before I started truck driving I'd go off hunting every chance I got, and I'd leave them behind and kind of not make them a big enough part of my life. I changed and put my family first. Now I've got a dedicated route and I'm home at times during the week and usually home weekends.
"The Transport America people were pretty good to me. When I asked them, they worked out a way for me to be home more. They're like a second family to me, and Marge, the terminal manager, she's like a second mother."
Piktel lives in Daisytown, Pa., and his home terminal is in North Jackson, Ohio. He delivers to Dick's Sporting Goods stores and his longest run is up to Green Bay, Wisc., an overnight haul. He also trains drivers for Transport America.
Piktel says the best lesson he learned about hunting and, "maybe about life," came from an old man he was hunting with. "He told me he couldn't enjoying his hunting as much as he did when he was younger and in better health. He said 'I'll tell you a secret. If you start saying "I should have," it's too late. You should have.' I've taken that to heart."
Big Bighorn
To bag a bighorn sheep, something he calls "one of Mother Nature's grandest creatures," George Drake needed two things: a permit and an understanding wife.
The permits are like gold in the Rocky Mountains, and frustrated big game hunters can try for years and never get one. But Drake, a 10-year veteran with Davis Transport of Missoula, Mont., and the company's 2002 company driver of the year, got one the first time he applied in Wyoming.
"After a very serious conversation with my very understanding wife as to why I needed to raid our savings account, I booked the hunt," Drake says.
He would hunt in Whisky Mountain country near Dubois, Wyo.
"I met the outfitter at the trail head and we went on horseback a couple of hours to the camp. Whisky Mountain is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen. In our industry we get to see some beautiful country from the cab of a truck, but the horse allowed me to see places I'd only dreamed about."
Drake's base camp was in a high meadow with a high mountain stream and great camp food.
"We hunted for three days and saw a total of 21 legal rams. The outfitter kept telling me we could find a better one. On the fourth day the sheep gods smiled on us and we found the ram we wanted."
Drake's trophy was an 81/2-year old ram with 15-inch bases on his horns. One horn was 34 inches long and the other was 32 inches.
"This was the hunt of a lifetime."
Off-Duty Destinations
Deschutes River State Recreation Area
In northern Oregon just off I-84 there's a place where drivers can stop off and hunt birds or fish for a special trophy. Here is a park where ranger Jim Anderson says truckers often stop off with a trailer still hooked up, fish for an hour or two, and then drive on.
If you decide to stop awhile, this state park has a lot to offer. It's a sheltered place where both spring and summer come early, giving you relief from the cold weather.
OverdriveOnline.com strives to maintain an open forum for reader opinions. Click here to read our comment policy.


text:
General Managers, Restaurant Managers & Kitchen Managers
Click here to apply online
We are looking for managers with 2-3 years of demonstrated leadership abilities (casual dining experience a plus). Ideal candidates must have a commitment to quality and exceptional guest service as well as the following skills:
* The ability to lead by example & coach others
* Successfully manage a budget & positively impact financial results
* Build a strong team
* Strategically solve problems
Your leadership ability will play a huge role in your career growth and success.
Click here to apply online. In most cases, you must be eighteen years of age or older. However, we do hire 17 year olds for the position of host/hostess and dishwasher.
We have many exciting opportunities for servers, hosts/hostesses, line cooks and general utility personnel. We offer great pay and benefits to our hourly employees and a fun and exciting work environment.


text:
An updated description of a possible vehicle and driver involved in this incident has been obtained. That vehicle is described as a small dark gray sedan, late 1990's to early 2000's model, unknown make. The vehicle was observed to have one of its headlights out. A white male was seen driving this vehicle. The white male is described as late 20's to early 30's with dark, short hair. He was seen wearing a horizontally striped polo-style shirt with a collar and blue jeans. This vehicle and driver were last seen westbound on Park Blvd from 121st Street North, immediately after the crash.
If you have any information on the vehicle or person of interest, please call Cpl. Keith Williams at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office 727-582-6200
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
-Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT)
Victim – We are not releasing information pertaining to the victim's identity until the next of kin has been notified.
Deputies are seeking the public's help solving an overnight traffic fatality in Seminole.
The hit and run crash occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
The crash occurred on Park Boulevard, just east of 110th Lane in Seminole.
Deputies are seeking the public's help solving an overnight traffic fatality in Seminole.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. last night, the victim was crossing Park Boulevard, east of 110th Lane. The victim was not crossing at an intersection, nor utilizing a crosswalk.
As the victim crossed the road, a dark colored sedan struck him and fled the scene traveling westbound. While still in the roadway, the victim was then struck by a silver Honda Civic. The driver of the Civic stayed on scene and cooperated with authorities.
The victim was treated at the scene then brought to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Witnesses at the scene describe the vehicle that fled as a small, dark colored sedan with possible front, passenger side damage. The front passenger headlight is said to be out.
Anyone with information about the crash or suspect vehicle is asked to contact Cpl. Keith Williams of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office at 727-582-6200.


text:
I don't think she's a game fan, she sounds like a fake, probably wants a job in TV presenting and using the 'girl gamer' as a platform.
The tweet where she thanks and accepts Eurogamer's apology like she's just won an Oscar, made me sick in my mouth a little.
Hope she's cleaning public toilets by the end of the month.
Edited by lavalant at 23:34:01 27-10-2012
#9110577, By lavalant Rab Florence / Lost Humanity
lavalant 1,328 posts
Seen 3 days ago
Registered 10 years ago


text:
See and share Beautiful Nature Photos and amazing photos of interesting places
See the flying French depart
Like the bees of Bonaparte,
Swarming up with a most venomous vitality.
Over Baden and Bavaria,
And Brighton and Bulgaria,
Thus violating Belgian neutrality.
And the injured Prussian may
Not unreasonably say
"Why, it cannot be so small a nationality
Since Brixton and Batavia,
Bolivia and Belgravia,
Are bursting with the Belgian neutrality."
By pure Alliteration
You may trace this curious nation,
And respect this somewhat scattered Principality;
When you see a B in Both
You may take your Bible oath
You are violating Belgian neutrality.


text:
Cough Medicine Abuse by TeensA common ingredient in many cough and cold remedies has become a popular substance to abuse by teenagers searching for a cheap, easy high.
Could Your Child Have a Drug Problem?Before assuming your child is taking drugs, find out if something else may be causing him or her to behave unusually.
How to Spot Drug Use in KidsAlthough most adolescents who use drugs don't become drug abusers or drug addicts in adulthood, drug use in adolescence can put their mental, emotional and physical health at risk.
How to Talk About Drugs With Your KidsThe key is communication. Talking to your children is only half the answer. Listening is the other half.
Substance Abuse/Chemical Dependence in AdolescentsSubstances frequently abused by adolescents include alcohol, marijuana, and amphetamines. Some teens are at higher risk of developing substance-related disorders.
Teens and Prescription DrugsMany young people take prescription drugs because they believe they are safer than street drugs, but they can be just as dangerous if taken improperly.


text:
iPhone 6 Sales Crush Means Late-Night Waits For Some Early Adopters 222
from the who'd-a-thunk-it dept.
Probably why I couldn't reach NeoGAF for most of yesterday, unless I went through tor. Which I did, because I'm a man and I have my needs.
Seeing a lot of pro-russian "psyops" on one local forum attached to a news outlet focused on economics, so much so that it's pretty obvious that it's organized. Massive amounts of downvotes on anything negative to the pro-russian side, and weak conspiracy theories written in broken english moderated up.
Not sure why they're wasting their time, but there you go. I guess the proud Cheka men have nothing better to do than troll forums.
The Titan-Z was and is a PR product. It was conceived simply to create buzz around nVidia. They had the misfortune that AMD put out a better card before they could get the darn thing to market though. First they delayed it, then as pressure mounted they finally sneaked it out without much of the ado they were hoping for. I doubt there exists or will ever exist more than a couple of hundred Titan-Zs IN THE WORLD.
Anyone who tells you that this card "is for X" where X is something else than PR is wrong and/or lying. It doesn't make sense anywhere.
Here's a new sneaky approach, less destructive but so far effective: U.S. Marshals Seize Cops' Spying Records to Keep Them From the ACLU
Very disappointing. So it's almost exactly the same price as the products that are already out but using 2x nm NAND. Oh well, I guess it's my fault for thinking Crucial would actually make a move here.
There seems to be a step missing from A (that's not how memory works) to B (therefore uncomputable). The premise that memory isn't lossy sounds like rubbish, even IF it's perhaps not so simply a question of 'read errors'
I recently watched this talk, Modeling Data Streams Using Sparse Distributed Representations, which seems to be able to represent memory in a layered and lossy way perfectly fine in a computer.
Without life, Biology itself would be impossible.


text:
Have Kids, Will Blog
The boom of mommy bloggers on the web
She wasn't into scrapbooking. She wasn't into jotting down thoughts in fancy journals. She just wanted to find an easier way to document her three children's lives. Her extended family lived in various locations around the country, and she was struggling with ways to keep them all updated on her kiddos' exploits, their photos, and their foibles as well as hers.
So in late 2002, Mindy found her solution: She started a web log (known as a "blog"), an Internet-based personal journal of sorts, where she chronicles her life as a working mom of three kids, ranging in age from almost three to six. Visitors to her blog can chuckle at her anecdotes, like her dialogs with her six-year-old son (who has a keen taste for sushi, but once required clarification on whether a PB&J sandwich could be considered a salad), her frantic search for the perfect Christmas gift (a spear for said six-year-old) and the ups and downs of motherhood (like trying to find a moment, when not refereeing between siblings, when she could apply mascara in peace). Or you can cry with Mindy about her difficulties regarding divorce, family relationships, and work.
Make Way for Bloggers
The Mommy Blog—whose tagline, "A quasi-rational thought sandwiched between T-Ball and Happy Hour," features a boy in an old-fashioned red shorts jumper mixing martinis—reads like a sarcastic Bridget Jones-meets-real-life-motherhood in the USA, imbued with humor, love, and angst. The very personal site is popular, netting 120,000 hits between March and December 2004, peaking with 3,500 hits the day Mindy posted photos of her house. "It's like therapy for me because I get to talk," Mindy says. "I'm absolutely stunned at how much traffic [the site gets]."
Mindy is far from alone. Keeping a personal journal online, where everyone from your boss to your mother-in-law can read your one-liners or screeds on the daily inanities of parenthood circa the 21st century, is a trend that's growing exponentially. More than eight million Internet users keep a blog, according to a poll released in January 2005 by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. And the readership for these journals has also exploded. Some 32 million Americans counted themselves as blog readers in the Pew poll. Twenty-seven percent of Internet users indicated that they regularly view blogs, compared to just 17 percent who reported viewing blogs almost a year earlier, the poll said.
Bloggers opine about anything from politics (several political bloggers were featured in September 2004 by The New York Times Magazine as having a major impact on the presidential race), to media and sports. Mommy blogging—writing about your family and parenting—is blossoming, with parents squeezing their journaling time in between their children's naps and school pick-up traffic jams or late at night. The 2004 Best of Blogs Award for personal online diaries even gave a nod to the burgeoning group of moms who blog, adding a special category for them. Mindy's blog was a top finalist for the best overall blog.
Then there's Melissa of Suburban Bliss (whose website's tagline reads, "Birth Control Via the Written Word"), who was a finalist for the best mommy blog. Melissa, whose blog was named by The Detroit Free Press as among the Detroit-area journals with "serious buzz," professes with shock that something, which initially drew about 15 readers, now gets upward of 2,500 hits a day.
Ask this mother of a preschooler and a six-year-old what makes her Web journal an interesting read and Melissa replies that recounting her family's happenings with an ample helping of self-parody and levity helps other people relate to her blog. "I've always kind of felt really realistic about parenting, I would say, almost cynical," she says. Melissa adds that her site exhibits all facets of being a mom, not just the happy, cute parts. "Everybody knows that you love your kids. It goes without saying. I am more interested in the other part of it."
A recent visit to Suburban Bliss revealed a new tagline, "You're still itching aren't you?" featuring little bugs and bug tracks, a reference to her daughter's three week battle with lice—"Lice Fest 2004″—which Melissa wrote about in minute detail, including photos of her daughter's head covered in mayonnaise in an attempt to kill the bugs. "These are Lice of the Apocalypse and I am going to die before they ever die," Melissa wrote in one post. "One-point-five hours of nit picking (literally) and her head is clear. I swear to God there are no more nits on her head. Please let this be the end. Please. Please. Please." (Unfortunately for her, it wasn't and the Lice Fest wore on.)
- <
- 1
- of
- 2
- >


text:
Artist, Cosplayer and Such
Yonashi, here.
art or art blog cosplay
Dangan Ronpa: Junko Enoshima
Anime Evolution 2013
Why I am always facing the same side, I just don't know.
BONUS+SPOILERS: Its a tough life.
Junko Enoshima@Rennai
Bonus pic@anti-holic/Hiro
And 90% of the cosplay was borrowed from Dishonest!
hold on the last one wheres the photographer


text:
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. - Authorities in Bonita Springs are investigating the discovery of severely decomposed remains, found at the end of Bonita Beach Road on Tuesday evening.
Due to the advanced state of decomposition, authorities have been unable to determine the gender, age or even whether it's a case of foul play. As of 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, investigators were in the process of collecting the remains and processing the scene.
WINK News will bring you additional details as soon as they become available.


text:
Narrow your search
Microsoft made a direct comparison between the Surface Pro 3 and the MacBook Air 13", so we're throwing them into the Prizefight Ring to settle the score once and for all. Let's get it on!
The WD My Passport Pro is an all-around excellent storage solution for any Thunderbolt-enabled Macs, particularly the MacBook Pro or Air.
Amazon just launched its new Fire TV. Here's how it compares to the other three biggest streaming device platforms in terms of features, apps, form factor, remotes, and pricing.
Which has the most apps? Which has the coolest features? Which one is the best? The four most popular streamers each have their merits, so we'll help you decide which box is right for you.
In this edition of Ask Maggie, CNET's Marguerite Reardon helps readers decide which smartphones and tablets are right for them. With a bevy of new product introductions this week and coming soon, there are a lot choices.
The slimmer body and higher-res screen of the original Retina MacBook Pro were a revolutionary leap. This revamp adds modest internal upgrades for modest improvements, but price cuts to both the 13-inch and 15-inch models sweeten the deal.
It's a $100 handset showdown -- CNET stacks Samsung's GS4 Mini with Motorola, HTC, and Apple's own mid-range versions of their flagships.
If you've never played this tower-defense classic, don't miss out on this unbeatable giveaway.
Cars have been getting smarter and smartphone connectivity is better than ever, but 2014 should be a quantum leap forward for smartphone connectivity. Join us as we look at the main contenders.
This week on the CNET Tech Review, Motorola's Droid X dukes it out with HTC's Droid Incredible; CNET's Top 5 back-to-school product picks; Apple works its TrackPad magic; and how to reverse the iOS 4 curse.


text:
FARGO (KFGO-AM) -- A semi hauling a 130,000 pound drag line jack-knifed on I-29 south of Fargo late Tuesday morning after a retaining lock gave way on the semi trailer combination.
The entire northbound lanes and shoulders of the interstate were blocked, forcing the North Dakota Highway Patrol to re-route traffic.
It took about four hours to get the semi and drag line removed.


text:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
IMO the real nice thing about this is that well-rounded tanks aren't penalized compared to tanks stacking the state du joir. I've always preferred to balance my stats (not hard to do as a bear) but have gotten weird looks at different tiers. Now I hope I can take gear fairly casually and tell at a glance (or with the Pawn addon) if a piece of gear is an upgrade.


text:
Ewen McKenzie
Ewen McKenzie
Reputations on the line and emotions again at fever pitch for battle between old foes
Ewen McKenzie In 1882, a Queensland team first took on NSW in a two-match rugby union series before the Queensland Rugby Union was officially formed at Brisbane's Exchange Hotel on November 2, 1883.
Ghosts of '92 stalk Newlands
Ewen McKenzie Table Top Mountain is a prominent landmark that dominates life here in Cape Town. It's so damn big that the locals will never have to worry about finding a house with mountain views as you can't help...
Ewen McKenzie
What I've learned about grand finals
Ewen McKenzie Many people subscribe to the theory that you must lose a final before you can win one. I am not one of those people.
No surprise to me that Beale is a trump at No.10
Ewen McKenzie It's always interesting to note what the perception is and what is written in the public domain. More often than not there is such haste and enthusiasm to announce the next big thing that sometimes...


text:
(Source: touchdisky)
Major shipping routes in the colonial era. British, Dutch and Spanish shipping routes from 1750 to 1800.
(Source: 3mishari)
Help Gaza's children achieve their dreams: safe homes; clean water and food; healthcare;safe shelter and clothing; education; equality and basic freedom; and a tranquil world.Boycott israel
But if you really wanna know what's "extreme" (you don't), I'll have you know that it is pretty "extreme" to take a religious tradition with over 14 centuries of legal, philosophical, jurisprudential, exegetical, political, and societal thought, that has spread to just about every continent, that has come in contact with probably the majority of the world's contemporary cultures, that has over a billion adherents in the world, that has at least five major schools of law, and that has an extraordinary capacity to be adaptable to space and time, and to reduce that tradition in its vast richness to one monolithic understanding of one arbitrary, useless issue. And while you're at it, you can take your eurocentric understanding of what is "normal" behavior and shove it because if your primary concern with Islam is supposedly not being able to shake someone's hand, your concern isn't at all with the faith but with Otherizing and vilifying its adherents as ignorant followers of a religion that you, in your ignorance, have labeled as too extreme because it seemingly doesn't conform to what you deem acceptable.
My favourite drink.
(Source: charonity)
Enjoy first class entertainment and golf tournament at this year's Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. Don't miss out, get your tickets now!