text:
|Travel & Local
|Bally Technologies, Inc.
|App Views
|0 views
|0 votes
|Google Rating
Discover the first and only urban gaming destination built from the ground up with the official mobile app from MGM Grand Detroit. This interactive concierge app gives you on-the-go access to this Las Vegas-style destination -- browse special events, book luxury hotel rooms and spa appointments, read about celebrity chef restaurants, or check out the latest slots, video poker and table games. It's a great way to discover everything that this southeast Michigan resort has to offer before, during and after your visit.Features Include:HOTEL ROOMS AND SUITESView floor plans, browse image galleries and make reservations in one of our opulent hotel rooms, luxurious suites or on our private concierge level designed exclusively for select hotel guests.NIGHTLIFE & ENTERTAINMENTEnjoy state-of-the-art entertainment and supercharge your senses at our popular nightclubs and lounges. Request a table at V Nightclub, view cocktail and sushi menus from Ignite, or plan your night at U•Me•Drink.RESTAURANTS AND MOREWant to view the dinner menus at Bourbon Steak? Or make reservations at Michael Mina's Saltwater or the Wolfgang Puck Grille? You can do it all right from the app.MAPSAccess overhead custom GPS maps or view detailed property maps of the casino and hotel. You can even drop a pin onto the satellite map to remember where you parked or where to meet friends.IN-APP SEARCHUse the embedded smart-search bar to find content by keyword.BOOKMARKS AND NOTESWhether you want to bookmark information about our casino table games or remember the number to the business center, you can save any page in the app to create your own itinerary.MEETINGSEvent attendees can see private, passkey-protected content only accessible to registered attendees. They can access up-to-the-minute event schedules, programs and materials, speaker bios, break-out room agendas, convention maps and more.SPA AND FITNESS CENTERReserve some time at the only resort-style spa in the area. Then enhance your visit with invigorating therapies at our state-of-the-art Fitness Center and a quiet dip in our indoor infinity edge pool.FULL SERVICE DIRECTORYNeed to contact Housekeeping? The front desk? The Business Center? The app connects you instantly.TWITTER, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND TELL-A-FRIEND INTEGRATIONCheck out MGM Grand Detroit's live Twitter feed or Facebook wall right from the app. Login to our YouTube channel or send any page in the app to a friend.…AND MUCH MORE!


text:
4 Awesome Paid Apps, Free for a Limited Time
We all love apps, but we don't always love paying for apps. Sometimes, however, app developers are generous enough to make their paid apps free for a limited time.
There is no way to be sure how long the developers of these apps will keep these apps at their current price, so act quickly to get them while they are free!
When going out to dinner with friends and family, splitting the bill up at the end of the night can be a real pain.
Worry no more, because there is now a free app that will assist you with your financial woes. This app help you keep track of your expenses that you share with friends or family. It is mostly designed for recording who paid for what so you can instantly distinguish how to settle all of the debts you have in the easiest way.
Just put in how much the expense is and it will immediately calculate and fairly divide the expenses between all parties. If you and your friends use this app, you will never have to worry about who owes how much. This app has a beautiful interface and stylish design that is very easy to use.
The app will also keep a complete history of all payments and transactions you make so there is always a record. Normally $1.99, this app is now free here at the iTunes Store.
Artists and note takers alike can rejoice at the simplicity of this now free notetaking app. FieldNote is a type of notebook app complete with graph paper that you can use for many different purposes. It is simple to use since it only has the drawing function. This app is great for personal and professional use.
You can do anything with FieldNote the same way you would with paper but you'll have everything saved nicely in one app on your iPhone or iPad. Use this app to take notes, draw pictures, select different paper designs, and much more. Usually you have to purchase this app for $0.99, but you can now get it for free here at the iTunes Store.
The best part of any week is the weekend. This is when you make all of your favorite plans, take trips, and spend quality time with loved ones. Now, there is an app specially designed to help you keep track and plan your weekends. You can see what you have going on at a glance and quickly spot any availability so plans can be made easier and faster.
This app will grab things from your iOS calendar but you'll also have the ability to selectively show certain calendars only. All you need to do is give Weekender permission to access your calendar. Normally this app will cost you $0.99, but now you can get it for free here at the iTunes Store.
If you love to ski and snowboard, you are definitely going to need to get this app. For those avid skiers and snowboarders, going big is a huge thrill that can really get your adrenaline going. Wouldn't it be nice if you had some way of keeping track of everything you did so you can have some bragging rights after you're done on the slopes?
You can record and show off your stats from skiing and snowboarding with this amazing app. Slopes is the perfect app for recording how far you went while skiing or snowboarding because it will automatically detect runs and lifts, track your calories by integrating with HealthKit, and will even work in areas with no cell reception.
This app is also battery friendly and can display live stats on an Apple Watch. You can replay your runs in 3D with heat maps, attach photos and notes to your activities, as well as share your stats on Facebook and Twitter.
Not to mention you can import old activities from other Ski Track apps so you have a comprehensive overview of all of your Slope activities. This impressive sports tracking app is normally $7.99, but can now be downloaded for free here at the iTunes Store.
Read Next: 5 Greatest Health Apps of 2015

subset: commoncrawl


text:
From the bestselling coauthor of The Money and the Power (which the Los Angeles Times called "one of the most important nonfiction books published in a half century")—the inside story of the Bechtel family and the empire they've controlled since the construction of the Hoover Dam.
The tale of the Bechtel family dynasty is a classic American business story. It begins with Warren A. "Dad" Bechtel, who led a consortium that constructed the Hoover Dam. From that auspicious start, the family and its eponymous company would go on to "build the world," from the construction of airports in Hong Kong and Doha, to pipelines and tunnels in Alaska and Europe, to mining and energy operations around the globe.
Today Bechtel is one of the largest privately held corporations in the world, enriched and empowered by a long history of government contracts and the privatization of public works, made possible by an unprecedented revolving door between its San Francisco headquarters and Washington. Bechtel executives John McCone, Caspar Weinberger, and George P. Shultz segued from leadership at the company to positions as Director of the CIA, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of State, respectively.
Like all stories of empire building, the rise of Bechtel presents a complex and riveting narrative. In The Profiteers, Sally Denton, whom The New York Times called "a wonderful writer," exposes Bechtel's secret world and one of the biggest business and political stories of our time.
Sally Denton is an investigative reporter, author, and historian who writes about the subjects others ignore—from a drug conspiracy in Kentucky to organized crime in Las Vegas; from corruption within the Mormon Church to the hidden history of Manifest Destiny; from one of America's bitterest political campaigns to the powerful forces against Franklin D. Roosevelt. She has received the Guggenheim Fellowship, the Woodrow Wilson Public Scholar Fellowship, and the Black Mountain/Kluge Fellowship. She is the author of, among others, The Money and the Power, American Massacre, The Bluegrass Conspiracy, and The Profiteers: Bechtel and the Men Who Built the World.


text: At 08:06 PM 7/31/97, you wrote: >Well, it seems the clunk is getting more pronounced--when the car is running >and stopped, and I go 9->3>->9 repeatedly, I can feel and hear the clunk in >the wheel *as well as in the pedals*. Foot on brake, hand on wheel, going >back and forth, I had the simultaneous clunk in both foot and hand during >travel. Check the control arm to subframe bushings/bolts, and the subframe bushings, and the subframe itself - mine was cracked in three places, and sounded just like that... ********************************AUDI FAN*********************************** EMCM(SW) Dave Head 87 5KCStq 202K miles 1.7 bar qcusa #3442 Maitland, Florida ******************************************************************************


text:
Two Agent Mays fighting? This is both scary and awesome.
Legion contributor Christina Janke recaps and reviews Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. each week! Follow her on Twitter @IntrotoGeek!
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. continues to pump us up with action and badassery, and "Face My Enemy" is no exception. However, this week is more of a half-way filler episode that highlights two of our favorite S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Phil Coulson and Melinda May.
We start off in the aftermath of a church getting burned to a crisp. A team of other priests meet with the one another at the church. There they are shown the one item that survived the fire: a wood painting of the Virgin Mary and the Santo Niño which dates back to the early 1500s. A miracle, indeed, but with one hitch: there are mysterious writing scrawled all over the back of it. Similar to what Garrett and Coulson have been writing.
Elsewhere Agent Hunter and Skye seem to…
View original post 1,260 more words


text:
SC's bruised and swollen...it looks as if someone has given him one heck of an upper cut.
Ahhh...it does kinda remind us of our younger days...when boys were still boys...and "let's take this outside" is a solution to almost everything :)
What happened to him?
He just had his wisdom teeth retracted :D
Normally, dentists would recommend that we take out one side of upper and lower wisdom teeth, leaving one side in tact for chewing.
He had been having multiple inflammation due to the lower wisdom teeth and decided to have them taken out. Not one side, but both. Classic SC. After the 2 hours of intense, drilling, poking, cutting of bones etc etc etc (yeah that didn't sound fun), the real "fun" begins. He was advised to eat soft/liquid meals (congee, milk, juice, ice cream...) and he did.
Only for the night after surgery. He ate a pork chop the next day and ended up with bleeding gum and swollen cheeks. That's my DIY ice pack (ice cubes in sandwich bag, wrapped in towel, secured with rubber band)...the ice pack didn't make things better, he developed the bruise the next day. If cold didn't help, try heat. He boiled an egg, wrapped it with towel and rub it on the bruised part to reduce the bruising. It works. The bruise is red instead of blue black today.
But I think he was secretly happy about the bruise. It probably makes him feel very manly and cool :p


text:
(May 19, 2017, 12:19 PM EDT) -- NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge in Louisiana did not abuse his discretion when refusing to review the denial of a food grocer's claim for $2.4 million under the Deepwater Horizon Economic and Property Damages Class Action Settlement, a Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel ruled May 18, holding that the claims administrator did not misapply or contradict the terms of the settlement by allowing program accountants to calculate the grocer's monthly profits and losses (Claimant ID 100217021 v. BP Exploration & Production, Inc., et...
5th Circuit: Administrator Did Not Misapply Agreement When Denying Grocer's Claim
To view the full article, register now.
Try for FREE for fourteen days
Already a subscriber? Click here to login


text:
But stepping away from all that, Ollie little adventure as Lord High Protector and the British Civil war seems to me at this altitude to be the closest model history has to offer for our own coming revolution in America. I mean let's be frank, the players in that conflict really are already established. It will be some liberal in the central government who eventually sets off actual armed revolt. I say this because in spite of Antifa and the hyperbole of the left over Trump, they themselves aren't capable of much in the way of action. They say things not do things. They are planners and deciders, not executors. They leave the lowly doing of things to the conservative proles. And that includes fighting actual fights with actual bullets.
They control the bureaucracy sure, but they've dumbed it down to a point where any idiot can do it, and that's who's doing it. It's become a holding pen for the client's of liberalism. The swamp creatures that Trump has promised to drain the water out from under. They have fallen into government work because the private sector wouldn't have them. And when push comes to shove, they could no more mount an armed resistance to a conservative or nationalist government than the National Organization of Women would be at good at organizing an armed militia.
So it will be a totalitarian (probably Social Justice) liberal who sets off the second American Civil war, and a Cromwell like figure will be the guy who overthrows them. Someone Nationalist, with a military background. Charismatic enough to generate political support of a portion of the landed gentry, but not so landed himself that he can't draw support from the masses.
I don't see that person out there right now, but I wonder how visible Cromwell was before his rise. I'm not exactly an expert on him. But one thing is for certain, his popularity was not universal. The Irish still hate him, and our future Cromwell will no doubt pee in a few rice bowls before it's over too. Maybe the gays, who technically have no reason to be liberal in a climate with the radical Islamic wolf at the door and liberal academia feeding it from the table, that will end up bearing the ire of whoever it turns out to be, and end up holding the next permanent grudge.
But the most likely group taken from a snapshot of today, is obviously the jews. The jews are the big source of division among the various nationalist factions. The more extreme groups see them as a source of outsized influence and cultural decay, while the more centrist groups see them as productive, peaceful and inoffensively prosperous. I'm in the latter group, but I don't know how it will play out. Until the first shot is fired, and very often for a long time after that, you never know how it's all going to fall out.
But anyway, I wanted to wish Ollie HAppy Birthday and let him know that for my part, I'm perfectly willing to let bygones be bygones. I'm not much for bearing grudges when I don't know the details of what happened. And if history is the final arbiter of right and wrong, then whatever his sins were, they seem largely forgiven to me.
I hope our future Cromwell does as well.


text:
CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago woman is getting ready to celebrate her 110th birthday on New Year's Day.
Family and friends are throwing a party for Daisy Driss, who was a 1907 New Year's baby, WLS-TV reports.
Driss says she doesn't feel any different from when she was 99. She says "The days go by and I go by with them."
Driss worked as a Chicago Public Schools teacher until she was forced to retire in 1972. Since then she's kept her mind sharp by reading the newspaper "cover-to-cover" at breakfast.
Driss says she doesn't have any secrets for a long life, but she does have some advice: "Have faith in something and stick to it."
41.878114 -87.629798


text:
Camera phone is blurry 🙁
Buzzlight year – To Infinity and BEYOND!
Camera phone is blurry 🙁
Buzzlight year – To Infinity and BEYOND!
Jud turned 66, and Evan was happy to help blow out the candles!
Evan took a tumble off a chair at the kitchen table one day… Doctor said that he didn't need stitches for the wound. Ended up healing nicely!
Evan and his little sister getting ready to go trick – or – treating. Evan loves Dinosaur's, so his daddy and mommy got him one sweet costume!
Photo's were shot by
There are two ways to view the photos.
1. click on a photo and use your mouse to navigate left and right.
2. click on the link above the photo labeled "PicLens" and it will start a slide show.
Sophia and Evan came over for dinner, and she couldn't stop asking her dad for some corn that was on his plate. After a few failed attempts to steal daddy's corn off his plate, Sophia got her own ear of corn and the rest is on video.
A day at the beach for Evan to experience the Pacific Ocean since he had been restricted to certian places due to heath concerns and being immune suppressed.


text:
This is the cake they had made. The boys really like it. And it was very tasty.
This is Zane excepting his trophy. Our coaches were so gentle and kind with the kids this year. I had heard that there was a lot of yelling and screaming but we did not have that at all. I hope that becomes the norm for little league football.
Zane likes his trophy. It has a hologram on the star so he thinks that is "awesome".
When we finally made it home, all the kids (with the exception of Maci Clare) crashed and this is what I did.
This is my one of my favorite things to do at night. And Maci Clare is following in my footsteps. So Jim snapped this picture of the two of us reading in bed last night.
BTW, this is what a microwave for 10 seconds does to a frozen Hershey bar.
It tasted pretty gross too. So much for getting my chocolate fix today.


text:
Investigating Speech Lateralisation Throughout Development
This project is looking at whether there are differences between the way the left and the right sides of the brain control speech and language.
There has been a lot of research showing that it is predominantly the left hemisphere that processes speech and language however there is also evidence showing that the right hemisphere may have a crucial role to play.
In this study we are interested in whether there is a difference between the sides of the brain that are most active during speech tasks in children of different ages, as well as between children and adults. In our research we use computers to show people words and pictures, and then measure how their brains react. When we compare results from a number of people this allows us to see common patterns in the sides of the brain that are most active during speech.
The Relationship Between Speech and Motor Control
Our bodies are anatomically very symmetrical. If you were to draw a line down the centre of your body from head to toe, each half would probably mirror the other to a large extent. However, research shows us that functionally our bodies are not symmetrical. For example, most people prefer to use one hand over the other for every day tasks, and especially so for complex tasks like writing.
Evidence from research into speech lateralisation across the brain's hemispheres shows that there are specific neural patterns displayed in people who are left handed compared to those who are right handed.
This study will examine the relationship between hand dominance, motor control and speech lateralisation in the brain. It will use a variety of techniques to assess hand dominance and compare these measures to the patterns shown from fTCD data of speech production.
Speech Lateralisation and motor control in Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) and Dyspraxia
In this study we are interested in whether there is a difference between the sides of the brain that are most active during speech tasks in individuals who suffer from motor co-ordination difficulties.
If you are over 18 and suffer from Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Dyspraxia, or other motor control impairments then we would like to hear from you. You do not have to have had a formal clinical diagnosis.
All studies shown on this page have received ethical approval from the School of Psychology Research Ethics Committee, University of Lincoln.


text:
Allow adding a note to inhaler usage
This would allow tracking of triggers, severity of symptoms, peak flow values, etc.
17 votes
anonymous shared this idea
planned · AdminShaun Austin (Admin, Inhaler Tracker) responded
Hi, we are planning to update the inhaler tracker app with this and many other great new and useful features while still maintaining the simplicity.
No firm estimates yet but work has already started.


text:
Polar EP by Cobby & Litten
New Polar EP from Steve Cobby, with Russ Litten. Downtempo electronic drum funk and spoken word poetry. There's no romance here. It's a cold eyed view of the promised land.
In the Polar EP, Russ Litten's flat vocal style and celebration of the homely and the ordinary is accompanied by a restrained backing from Cobby. None of the lush electronic funk of Fila Brazillia here. It's more Spartan. And in Chip Fat drums have an edge and electronics are limited to sonar pings. C'mon, let's go for a "bag of scallops".
I Can See The Lights offers "Let's get you home dad…you're pissed…you've already missed Match of The Day." A bit of acoustic guitar accompanies the evocative image of "a staggered tango" and long in the past dreams.
Spiderman Unmasked throbs awkwardly with creaking electronics and the life of the underclass. "Lose yourself to the heat, the noise" and "12 hours shifts". It's "up to your hips in chicken blood and shit."
The EP closes with I'm a Mate of Deans (sic) for which I can't better the description offered by the Gibson Family who said "1:32 of pure magic, like the feeling of joyfully knocking on a door, full of anticipated good times only to be turned away too soon & given a familiar blanket."


text:
|Use this URL to cite or link to this record in EThOS:
|New forms of copyright infringement involving protected digital content
|Madi, Ramzi A. A.
|Awarding Body:
|University of Aberdeen
|Current Institution:
|University of Aberdeen
|Date of Award:
|Availability of Full Text:
This thesis considers random access memory, cache, and out- and in-line linking as selected new forms of copyright infringement involving protected digital content. It examines the legality of transient and incidental copies in random access memory and cache client or local caching and proxy server or forward caching, and discusses the legality of different types of linking: surface and deep links and in-line linking, through critical analysis of the United Kingdom law, before and after the latest amendments in 2003 to the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, in addition to the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002. A brief discussion regarding the position of some European countries before and after the implementations of several European Union Directives related to copyright infringement concerning internet is also presented. The thesis considers several arguments related to the copyright holders' exclusive rights, such as issuing copies of the work to the public, performing, showing or playing the work in public or communicating the work to the public. However, it focuses mainly on the reproduction right. Several traditional defences to infringement of copyright are presented, especially fair dealing and implied licence. Also considered are different potential technological solutions, such as date bombs, metering technology, link removal request policy or password protection, and non-technological solutions, such as licensing or obtaining an agreement to link, as means of avoiding those new forms of copyright infringement. It is concluded that it is important to amend some pieces of the United Kingdom legislation, especially section 28A of the United Kingdom Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and the United Kingdom Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002, as well as some pieces of the Directive 2001/29/EC of the European parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of Certain Aspects of Copyright and Related Rights in the Information Society, and the Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2000 on certain legal aspects of information society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market (Directive on electronic commerce).
|Not available
|Not available
|Qualification Name:
|Thesis (Ph.D.)
|Qualification Level:
|EThOS ID:
|Not available


text:
New 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Double Cab Long Box 4-Wheel Drive Work Truck
SUMMIT WHITE exterior and JET BLACK / DARK ASH interior, Work Truck trim. Back-Up Camera, iPod/MP3 Input, 4x4, WT CONVENIENCE PACKAGE SEE MORE!
4x4, Back-Up Camera, iPod/MP3 Input MP3 Player, Electronic Stability Control, 4-Wheel ABS, Vinyl Seats, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes.
WT CONVENIENCE PACKAGE includes (AKO) tinted windows, (KI4) 110V outlet, (AQQ) Remote Keyless Entry, (A91) remote locking tailgate, and (DL8) outside, power-adjustable mirrors. TRANSMISSION, 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC, HEAVY-DUTY, ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED with overdrive and tow/haul mode. Includes Cruise Grade Braking and Powertrain Grade Braking (STD), MIRRORS, OUTSIDE HEATED POWER-ADJUSTABLE (includes driver's side spotter mirror), AUDIO SYSTEM, CHEVROLET MYLINK RADIO WITH 7" DIAGONAL COLOR TOUCH-SCREEN, AM/FM STEREO with seek-and-scan and digital clock, includes Bluetooth streaming audio for music and select phones, ENGINE, VORTEC 6.0L VARIABLE VALVE TIMING V8 SFI, E85-COMPATIBLE, FLEXFUEL capable of running on unleaded or up to 85% ethanol (360 hp [268.4 kW] @ 5400 rpm, 380 lb-ft of torque [515.0 N-m] @ 4200 rpm) (STD). Chevrolet Work Truck with SUMMIT WHITE exterior and JET BLACK / DARK ASH interior features a 8 Cylinder Engine with 360 HP at 5400 RPM*.
KBB.com's review says "If you're looking for big pulling power in a full-size heavy-duty truck featuring somewhat reserved styling and a strong history of durability, the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD and 3500 HD trucks are sure to please.".
Horsepower calculations based on trim engine configuration. Please confirm the accuracy of the included equipment by calling us prior to purchase.
Exterior Color: Summit White
Vin Number: 1GB2KUEG8JZ240303
Stock: 133755
View this 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Extended Cab Pickup - Long Bed Double Cab Long Box 4-Wheel Drive Work Truck for sale in


text:
Would you like to receive this newsletter in you inbox?
Come check us out at http://groups.yahoo.com/techsuperfans!
Game Review - Versus Marshall
Three Key Plays
Mid-Season Review & Outlook
ACC Standings
Hokie Trivia
Looking for a good place to catch the game? Visit
this site to find Hokie-friendly places and more!
Game Review - Versus Marshall
by Brian "Where's the Ice?"
Virginia Tech's offense came out of the gates slowly in the first half only putting two touchdowns on the board while the defense allowed one scored by Marshall. The Hokies seemed lifeless for most of the second half where scoring took them long drives that progressed at a sluggish rate. Quarterback Michael Vick threw his second interception of the season, a passed that bounced off of Josh Morgan's hands into Marshall's Chris Royal's hands, brother to Eddie Royal of the Hokies.
To add to the dismay of the second half, Virginia Tech running back Cedric Humes sustained a broken arm. Humes underwent surgery on Sunday. Some sources report he has a status of doubtful for the game versus Maryland on October 20, and others report he could miss up to six weeks in recovery. This weakened the Virginia Tech running squad even further due to Mike Imoh's sitting out this game due to an ankle injury. The Hokies plan to dress him in the game against Maryland.
In effort to get the Hokie offense back into full form, Branden Ore rose to number one on the depth chart for the remainder of the afternoon. He and the Hokie offense began to produce very soon after his entry into the game with his fourteen yard touchdown run. This put the Hokies up by seven going into halftime.
During the second half, the Hokies played quite differently. Their offense produced seventeen points during a time span of three minutes and twenty-nine seconds midway through the third quarter. Brandon Pace hit a field goal, Vince Hall returned a fumble for a touchdown, and David Clowney caught a forty-eight yard touchdown pass. This very quickly produced the offense that the Hokies had lacked through most of the first half. You could say they had made up for lost time.
Branden Ore amply filled the shoes of Cedric Humes and Mike Imoh by amassing 146 yards over 19 carries. The Hokie offense, mostly in the second half, produced 409 yards of offense, 176 in passing and 233 in rushing. The Hokie defense contained the Thundering Hurd's offense very well most of the game, and they forced a fumble that they turned into a touchdown during the same play. However, if a team like Marshall can rush for 164 yards while passing for 117 against Virginia Tech, Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster needs to whip his squad into better shape prior to the bigger in-converence games to come soon.
This almost Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide performance will simply not cut it when playing the powerhouses Miami and Boston College. If Virginia Tech's offense plays as stagnantly as they did through most of the first half, Miami and Boston College could have the score run to a number tough to match in the second half. I don't know whether the Hokie players didn't get themselves fired up enough to play because they didn't calculate Marshall as a formidable opponent or whether they just didn't have the chemistry Hokie fans have seen over the passed several games. Somewhere late in the second quarter, maybe sourced in anxiety over Humes' injury, the Hokies turned on the jets and began playing like the scoring offense and defensive machine that they ACC has come to know over the past season and a half.
This week, the Hokies get the week off from play, so Virginia Tech fans can take the week to catch another game or two as a prognosis of what lies down the road this season in Hokie opponents.
Three Key Plays
by "Mad Jay"
1) Cedric Humes breaks his ulna (one of the bones in his forearm) during pass-protection midway through the 2nd quarter. As everyone who reads TSF knows I have been down on Humes since he hurt his leg in spring practice 2004. He flat out has not been the same back. HOWEVER, I must admit that he was coming back to form this year. His performance against WVU and Marshall were genuinely starting to look like the tackle-breaking Humes of old. I still don't think Humes is an NFL-caliber back, but I truly feel bad for this senior who has been a leader on the team especially with his output lately.
The reason this is a key play though is because it introduced running back Branden Ore to the rest of the country. One-hundred forty-six yards and 20 broken tackles later, they know who Branden Ore is. I saw Ore up close and in person against Duke and this kid is the real deal. Barring injury he will be a star. His performance against Marshall sets the stage for a Mike Imoh/Branden Ore backfield that will be extremely potent the rest of this season, with another super back-up in George Bell. This revamped running attack should help reduce some of the pressure on Marcus Vick. Again, let's appreciate Humes and look forward to his return by the end of the season, while at the same time get excited about Branden Ore continuing the lineage of stud running backs at Virginia Tech.
2) Brandon Pace converts a 19 yard FG to close out the first drive of the second half. The Hokies came out hot in the 3rd quarter and set the tone for the rest of the game. The drive let Marshall and the Hokie fans know that the team had responded to a very unfocused effort in the first half.
3) On the second play after the Brandon Pace FG, Chris Ellis stays at home on a bootleg and forces a fumble by Marshall QB Bernie Morris. The ball goes straight up in the air and is hauled in by Vince Hall who rumbles in for the touchdown. This makes the score 24-7 and essentially puts the game out of reach.
Mid-Season Review & Outlook
by "EhhTee"
Back from his five week hiatus in India, "EhhTee" has returned fired up to comment on some College Football!
History of the World – Okay Just Football – According To EhhTee
With the unofficial mid-point of the season behind us, it's time to look back at all the little things that make us mad and make us glad. Having spent a month in countries where they play another kind of football and that baseball-looking sport with a flat bat, I've only now begun to pick up on the wonders of another great college football season. The Virginia Tech Hokies are, of course, flying high. Where's the Ice and MadJay have kept you well informed so far. So grab a frosty beverage, strap on your helmet, and join me on a magic carpet ride back through the first half of the season.
Instant Replay
Instant replay has made its way into Division I-A college football this year. Hold on. Wait a moment…
Yes, upon further review, instant replay has made its way into Division I-A college football. A year after the Big Ten experiment with it, the NCAA has adopted the rule to ensure the referees get the calls right.
Never could I be called a fan of instant replay, but I do think the current scheme is working. Unlike its NFL counterpart, the NCAA rule only allows for booth reviews of on-field calls. That is to say, the coaches don't have that ridiculous red flag (It clashes with most team colors anyway and only Bill Cower can really pull it off. He's so dreamy!) The challenges come only from officials in the enigmatic booth upstairs. It is a good attempt to ensure two things: the refs get the call right and there will always be peace on earth.
The Florida State University Native American Heritage and Remembrance Team from La Florida
The Seminoles are a tribe of Native Americans who reside in the state of Florida. The Seminoles are a tribe of Native Americans who reside in the state of Oklahoma. These are two distinct and separate tribes. One takes pride in the usage of their name as the symbol and mascot of one of their state's prominent universities. The other takes offense to such "disgrace" of their heritage. The latter saw fit to complain (later reversing its position on the matter) and now the proud Florida State Seminoles, along with seventeen other schools with Native American themed mascots, may be forced to change their name or face banishment from post-season play.
My only question is: who's next? Will PETA go after Boston College for using an endangered species as its mascot (Eagle)? How about we send in Green Peace to take out the Stanford for using a tree on their uniforms? Will the Sinn Féin scold Notre Dame for the slanderous Fighting Irish mascot? Does the Velcro industry will have a big problem with the Akron Zips?
What about the Hokies? Well, I think since most of the country doesn't know what a Hokie is, nobody's going to have a complaint about them.
The So Called Number One
Okay, I'll admit that twenty-seven straight victories is impressive. I'll even admit that USC might be the greatest team of this decade to date. But at 5-0, this year's Trojans have some chinks that can be easily penetrated by three power-packed teams they have yet to face. This weekend will be their biggest test to date as they go to South Bend to face the surging Notre Dame Fighting Irish. I may be convinced of their supremacy if they board the plane Saturday night with a win. But I don't think that's going to happen.
The Trojans also still have to face UCLA (pronounced oo-kala) and California. These are two very powerful teams and had it not been for a UCLA victory over Cal last weekend both teams would be
Georgia on My Mind
On the opposite coast we come to sleepy Athens, GA. The University of Georgia Bulldogs are atop the SEC East and have never looked better. Last weekend they left their cozy town to travel to Knoxville, TN. Neyland Stadium, home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers, is one of the toughest places to play in all of college football. Georgia proved their domination of the SEC East, and perhaps the entire SEC with an impressive victory over the Volunteers. Georgia is playing the best football in the country right now.
The Insanity That Is the Big Ten
Michigan is 3-3. Ohio State is 3-2. Penn State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are atop the conference. Where did this come from? The Big Ten is in a state of upheaval. Michigan faces red-hot Penn State this weekend and is in danger of posting their worst start since 1967. Ohio State, who was favored to win the conference, was stunned in Happy Valley by Penn State last weekend.
Joe Paterno is leading his Penn State Nittany Lions to one of the greatest turn-arounds in college football. Last year the Lions were an abysmal 4-7. The year before, they were even worse with a record of 3-9. What's more, the Lions are 3-0 in conference with victories over Ohio State, Minnesota, and Northwestern. Those three wins equal the sum total of the Lion's Big Ten wins in 2003 and 2004 combined.
Coincidentally, the last time the Lions defeated Ohio State was in 2001. The victory was Joe Paterno's 324th win. At the time, he became the winningest coach in NCAA Division I-A passing Bear Bryant. Paterno is currently second to Bobby Bowden who passed him recently.
Notre Dame Not So Lame?
In another turn around story, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have surprised many with a 4-1 start. An offense fueled by a coach that knows how to make a lot from a little, a stubborn defense that knows how to keep teams out of the red zone, and maybe even a little bit of Irish luck have brought the hype, and the hoopla, back to South Bend.
Last year, Charlie Weis left his job as offensive coordinator of the NFL champion New England Patriots to coach his alma mater Notre Dame. He has been able to reinvigorate the team and has given the Irish faithful hopes of a BCS bid. He even let a terminally ill kid call a play on the field making the Charlie Weis story my nominee for this year's "Awwwwwww" Award.
ACC Expansion
Not a surprise to true SuperFans, the Hokies are the cream of the crop in the newly expanded ACC. However, if we recall one of the motivation behind the expansion, was to bring in Miami to boost the conferences overall strength. Enter the Hokies. No one ever suspects the Spanish Inquisition, and no one expected the Hokies to be the perennial powerhouse of the ACC.
However, with three teams in the top 10, and perhaps the strongest middle-tier teams in Boston College, Maryland, N.C. State, Georgia Tech, and Virginia, the ACC is the strongest conference in Division I-A football.
Big Least
Even less surprising is the dismal performance by the recovering Big East. Perhaps the worst BCS-eligible conference, the Big East is struggling to keep its teams ranked. West Virginia and Louisville are mediocre teams that are playing some of the worst teams in the Division and at times struggling to beat them. Louisville had major trouble with lowly Kentucky and lost to South Florida.
It Takes TWO to Make a Thing Go Right
Here we are again. Nine teams are still
Game to watch this week:
Thursday, October 13
Clemson at NC State, ESPN, XM Channel 191, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 15
Wake Forest at Boston College, JP/Raycom, XM Channel 191, 12:00 pm
Miami at Temple, FSN, XM Channel 192, 1:00 pm
Georgia Tech at Duke, ESPNU, XM Channel 193, 3:30 pm
Florida State at Virginia, ESPN, XM Channel 193, 7:45 pm
USC at Notre Dame, NBC, 3:30 PM
Colorado at Texas, ABC, 3:30 PM
ACC Standings
Florida State 3-0 5-0
Boston College 2-1 5-1
Maryland 2-1 4-2
NC State 1-2 2-2
Wake Forest 1-2 2-4
Clemson 1-3 2-3
Virginia Tech 3-0 6-0
Miami 2-1 4-1
North Carolina 1-1 2-3
Georgia Tech 1-2 3-2
Virginia 1-2 3-2
Duke 0-3 1-5
| AP | USA Today | TSF
2 | Texas | Texas | Texas
3 | Viringia Tech | Viriginia Tech | Virgina Tech
4 | Florida State | Georgia | Georgia
5 | Georgia | Florida State | Florida State
6 | Alabama | Miami | Alabama
7 | Miami | Alabama | UCLA
8 | Penn State | LSU | Penn State
9 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | Texas Tech
10 | LSU | Penn State | Notre Dame
11 | Florida | Texas Tech | Miami
12 | UCLA | UCLA | California
13 | Texas Tech | Florida | Boston College
14 | Boston College | Boston College | LSU
15 | Ohio State | Ohio State | Florida
16 | Michigan State | California | Tennesee
17 | Tennesee | Michigan State | Auburn
18 | California | Tennessee | Oregon
19 | Louisville | Louisville | Minnesota
20 | Oregon | Aubrun | Michigan State
21 | Auburn | Oregon | Wisconsin
22 | Minnesota | Minnesota | Nebraska
23 | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | Colorado
24 | Colorado | Colorado | Northwestern
25 | TCU | West Virginia | NC State
by Brian "Where's the Ice"
TSF Trivia
Some ACC Honors
(1) The ACC honored Hokie linebacker Vince Hall Monday afternoon (10/10/2005) for his level of play against Marshall. He made ten tacles, three of which me made solo. He also had two quarterback hurries.
(2) On October 3, the ACC co-honored Hokie quarterback Marcus Vick along with Wake Forest quarterback Cory Randolph as best offensive backs of the day during their defeats of West Virginia and Clemson respectively.
(3) On September 26, the ACC honored Hokie tight end Jeff King as the ACC Offensive Lineman of the week for his performance in Virginia Tech's victory over Georgia Tech.
"Mad" Jason Oakley
Anand "EhhTee" Trivedi
Brian "Where's The Ice?" Wrenn
An EhhTee Production, llamas not included; 170.
This news magazine is in no way affiliated with, or supported by,
Virginia Tech, the Virginia Tech Athletic Department, the NCAA, the
BCS, the Big East Conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference or any
other organization other than EhhTee Productions. EhhTee Productions
is an institution created by the author of TechSuperFans for the
further advancement of the media through electronic means.
TechSuperFans and TechSuperFans.com are trademarks of EhhTee
Productions. EhhTee Productions and its staff are in no way
responsible for any losses or actions taken by its audience.


text:
Before birth Lior was diagnosed with Full Trisomy 18. Below is an explanation to help you better understand. Most T18 mommies had never heard of the syndrome until their babies were diagnosed. This blog is a day to day account of what Lior goes through and how the syndrome affects a child.
Letters to Lior
Trsiomy 18
There are 23 pairs of human chromosomes. In Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), there is an extra chromosome with the 18th pair. Like Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), Trisomy 18 affects all systems of the body and causes distinct facial features. Trisomy 18 occurs in 1 in 3,000 live births.It is three times more common in girls than boys. Unfortunately, most babies with Trisomy 18 die before birth, so the actual incidence of the disorder may be higher.Infants who survive, experience serious defects and commonly live for short periods of time. Trisomy 18 affects individuals of all ethnic backgrounds. Trisomy 18 severely affects all organ systems of the body.The majority of children who are born with Edward's syndrome do not live past their first year of life. Their average lifespan for half of the children born with this syndrome is less than two months; approximately ninety to ninety-five percent of these children die prior to their first birthday. The five to ten-percent of children who do survive their first year experience severe developmental disabilities. Children who live past their first year require walking support and their ability to learn is limited. Their verbal communication abilities are limited as well, although they are able to respond to comforting and have the ability to learn to smile, recognize and interact with caregivers and others. They can acquire skills such as self-feeding and rolling over.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tomorrow is my Birthday
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Count down .....
Ok so now its the count down 2 and a half days till your BIRTHDAY !!!! Whoo hoo !!!! cant wait, neither can daddy or the girls although you probably havent a clue why we are all so excited, but you will soon find out.
Loving you lots
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Happy times
In any event, you have been smiling so much more lately - and then when daddy gets hold of you, lots of giggles, some of them delayed reactions but nevertheless a wonderful sound.
From all the operations, you seem to have lost quite a bit of muscle tone but you are slowly building it up again. When you feel like it you try stand a little (with mommies help of course) and you hold your head up for a little longer each day - something you were able to do for quite a while before the operations.
You have also put on some weight, almost 600grams and now all of a sudden your 0-3 months outfits are looking a bit too snug - so now we have got you in the 3-6 months outfits which kind of seem a little bit too big - sigh ....... - you will grow into them ..... eventually :)
You were just too cute the other night - full of energy and trying to mimic mommies expressions. I was trying to make and O sound and showing you the shape of my mouth you tried so hard, eventually you went squint but managed to get the O shape going - just too gorgeous for words. Nevertheless your sisters thought you were absolutely histerical - such a little character you are.
So we are getting ready for your birthday party and have decided on a Mickey Mouse Pirate theme, - a) Mickey Mouse because of your Mic-Key and b) Pirate because your one eye is smaller than your other - Kudos to Jacqueline, Mommy and Tia - YAY !!! Cant wait. We never thought we would see the day, but here we are and it is so wonderful and exciting, and going to be so memorable.
Missing you much littke munchkin
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Ting - ting - ting -ting - and the lightbulb goes on
So mommy is really thinking about aunty Taryn (litte Mik's mommy) , she is really not feeling well, she is very sick and feeling down. I read her blog today and I just wish I could be there to give her a great big hug and have a good cry with her and be able to comfort her and say I know how you feel, something I think we both need.
I know for people not in the same situation or as I would normally say, the same roller coaster ride as us, this may sound strange, but reading aunty Taryn's blog today has finally hit the nail on the head for me, let the bell ring (ting -ting), or the light shine or knocked some sence into me. We have both blamed ourselves for you and little Mikayla having T18, asked ourselves what we could have done to make you "healthy", we have both asked why God didnt answer our prayers, but in fact GOD DID ANSWER OUR PRAYERS . All through our pregnancies, we asked for healthy babies and although you and little Miks both have T18, you are still healthy. You are as healthy as can be for a Trisomy 18 baby. Although there are times that you stop breathing and have to be fed through Mic-key and although you have a cleft palet and rocker bottom feet and a slight case of club foot, and although there may be neurological problems and although your hands arent completely open as a normal baby's would be, and besides the nasty post nasal drip and the constipation, you are generally very healthy - and isnt that what we asked for? Healthy doesnt mean NO DISSABILITIES - healthy means no sickness. You dont have a sickness, you have an extra chromosome.
As hard as it is, it makes me feel better to know that God did think of me and daddy and of you, and that he did give us what we asked for. I didnt ask for a "normal" baby, I didnt ask for a baby that does not have Trisomy 18, I asked for a HEALTHY baby and that is exactly what I got. So thank you heavenly father for listening to my prayers, thank you for keeping our precious little boy healthy.
So I will be keeping aunty Taryn and little Mikayla in my prayers, I will be praying for their health and for them to keep strong. I will continue to pray for my healthy baby to remain healthy.
Love you lots little pumpkin
Friday, April 8, 2011
And reality sets in ........ in a big way
I have been reading a blog which Little Nolan's mommy has written (Nolan was also a full T18 baby) - "Life after loss" - I am sitting here and cannot contain myself, the tears are flowing and I seem unable to stop them. Little Nolan passed on not so long ago and his mother is doing so well but desperately missing her little boy and trying to go through the grieving process
I know that someday I will be feeling and going through the same motions - and I am only hoping that it wont be any time soon. I am sitting here and my chest is closing in, as if my heart is already broken and in need of mending. I feel like I can't breath and like everything is spinning out of control.
I keep thinking will our little angel go peacefully, will we be with him when his time comes, will I be able to hold him and make him feel safe and loved, will we be able to whisper our goodbyes and be able to be strong for each other, will I be able to comfort the girls when they will need me most. Will I have made an impact on Lior's life and been the mommy that he wanted and needed and that God intended him to have .......... I know that God has sent him to us for a reason, I know he is "on loan" and I know it selfish but I am so desperate to hold on tight, I dont want Lior to be "on loan" - I want him to be mine to always be here - forever - I fear I am not strong enough.
I know he is still with us and I know it seems strange to some - "mourning a child that is still here" - but I am not mourning Lior, I am mourning what is to come, I am mourning the future, a future that I dont want.
Although we have learnt to "live in the now", live for every second of every day, we are still human and cannot keep these feelings at bay. Dont get me wrong, I love and cherish my little angel, but now I ask WHY .... why has God put us through this - Why does he feel I am strong enough to do this !! What is his plan for me.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Whooooo hooooo - such a relief
04-04-11 cont
Daddy and I were expecting a sleepless night last night, but to our surprise you slept well, even though you had me awake from 12 to 4 this morning, we still felt like we had some sleep and this morning you looked just like yourself, our beautiful sleeping little angel. Thank you for being so strong my angel boy, thank you for giving us the strength to carry on ? we love you so so so much my precious precious angel.
22-03-2011 continued again
22-03-2011 continued
Lets carry on - The nurses were not quite sure what to do with mommy or what to say to me cause I was basically hysterical I was crying so much I couldn?t talk (daddy was downstairs - I think trying to gather himself to be strong for me) and the nurses brought me a box of tissues and tried to console me ..... not quite succeeding. The time came when we had to take you to theatre - they allowed us to carry you in....... "walking the walk" - I felt like a prisoner in my own body, going to a death trap - I know it all seems so negative - but I am human after all and I do feel these things, as hard as I try not to. Anyway, you went into theatre later than scheduled but you were sucking so hard on your dummy and a little restless. Eventually when they came to get you I tried so hard not to cry and I remember saying to you that I would keep your dummy and that you had better come back and get it from me and that I love you so so so much - (I know it sounds silly - but when you are emotional, silly just does not matter. Every second felt like a million years, we now had to sit and wait for two hours and as hard as we tried to block it out, all the negative thoughts creep in - what if !!!! It felt like the doctor would come out at any second and say I am sorry, we did all we could. After two long heart wrenching hours the surgeon came out and my heart dropped straight to my toes, I think he saw the panic in my face because before daddy and I could get to him he put his hand up (as if to say don?t panic) and said that everything went well, there were no complications. Eventually they called us to get you from the recovery room and all you did was cry - I mean what else could you do - but the thing is it wasn?t really a cry it was more like you were saying a distinct owe. Even the nurses in the neonates had a good giggle cause it was so clear. My sweet little angel, hearing and seeing you like that broke my heart. You just wouldn?t settle, eventually the sister in neonates decided that they needed to put you on a pillow on my lap. The second they did this you stopped crying, just like that - like turning a tap off, but not for long. The anaesthetic obviously started wearing off and the pain set in. They gave you all the normal pain meds that a baby would receive post op, but this did nothing, so they eventually had to resort to giving you morphine to ease the pain. So little yet your little body resists so strongly. Even with the morphine running through your veins you refused to sleep, you forced your little eyes open and held on to daddy for dear life, but at least you were pain free, we at least we think you were. Eventually at 8 that evening your little eyes just couldn?t any more, you finally drifted off and had a good night. You slept most of the Tuesday which was good for you, but then we had to try and start weaning you off the morphine, you didn?t do too badly although we did have to up the dose every now and then just to get the pain under control and manage it. Wednesday was good, you also slept pretty much all day and all night - which I was really grateful for cause when you sleep your body heals quicker. Thursday night it all began, colic set in and from 9 in the evening to 3 in the morning all you did was cry - this still has not changed. You are on so many pain meds but nothing seems to work. The more you cry the more the tube leaks - which makes mommy panic (quietly). The surgeon says this is normal, but I still don?t like it. I just wish we could put the peg on, but I know we cant until your wound heals some more. I never dreamed this would be so difficult and so emotional. I mean I knew it would be trying times but not as difficult as it has been.
Daddy and I decided to try you on Isomil. This is now the 6th formula we have had you on. Every formula we have tried you take to for a while and then you battle to keep it down, so we have to continously change it. In any event we tried you on the isomil last night and it made you so sick. Normally if you vomit you get it over with and are still happy and smiley, but last night you seemed to be in pain. You brought up pretty much all of your feed and then some. The flem that came up with it was so thick, you really battled. You cried for a long time after that and when mommy eventually got you settled, you did not want to know anything about being in your cot, so we snuggled for a while until I thought it safe to put you in your cot without waking you up. Once you were settled I fed you with the Novalac and although you still battled you managed to keep it down.
Last night was really difficult cause for the first time I have felt like you were suffering and I really had to restrain myself cause I did not want you to feel my anxiousness, I wanted you to feel that you were in a calm environment, but I think you sensed it, cause you just wanted to be with me and gladly so.
So daddy and I have decided to explore the option of the gastric tube. We will have to see all the specialists and make a decision from there. All we want is for your quality of life to be better and if having the tube in the tummy will be better, so be it, at least then we can give you solids without having to dilute it. I hope and pray my little angel, that the doctors will say that you are fine and your little heart and lungs will survive the op.
"Heavenly father, you have blessed us so much and it feels so wrong to ask for so much more, but we continue to ask for your blessings of health, love, strength and courage to make this decision, to know that with your guidance, that whatever we decide together with the doctors, will be the best for Lior. That your loving hands will comfort and nourish him and that he will snuggle under your "wing" and know that he is with the highest power - Amen.
We had a good but sort of strange weekend, mommy was on facebook T18 mommies site and I came across a video clip of a little boy called caleb, who also has Trisomy 18, also a gorgeous little boy. I managed to get daddy to have a look and he was so intrigued which got him wanting to see more. Now remember this has been very difficult for daddy, mommy's way of coping was and still is to do as much research as possible, but daddy not so much. Anyway we came across another video clip of a little boy called Lane whose mommy has asked to be friends on facebook, anyway he is now two years old and doing really well, but at the end of the clip there was a statement to the effect " we want to change the doctors perception of "Trisomy 18 - incompatible with life" - well my little angel I have never seen daddy so disturbed in all my life - which then turned to anger and then determination. How can someone tell us or decide for parents like us that our children are not worth living. We were so lucky with your doctors that they respected out decision to bring you into this world and support us as best as possible. Overseas this is not the case, children like you are considered not worthy of life - a complete disgrace and it is you my little angel and many more children like you, that prove them wrong. I am so proud of you !!
The last three nights you have been so restless that we have only managed to get at least two hours sleep every night. The night before last you had another seizure, not a severe one, but bad enough. You were fast asleep and I put you down in your cot for the night and quickly went out the room to make a bottle for your next feed, (something I never do, I never leave you alone, but you were sound asleep, breathing easy and restful). I was standing talking to daddy while shaking/mixing your bottle and next thing I knew there was a horrible screetching sound coming from the room, normally when you have a seizure, you dont cry or moan, but this one you just screetched with the rest of the symptoms you have. Fortunately it did not last as long as the previous one, so you settled very quickly. Although I know I couldnt have stopped it, I feel so guilty for having left you for two minutes. NEVER AGAIN !! Daddy and I have decided we will split your meds and give you half in the morning and half in the evening as it makes you sooooo restless, maybe it will be better this way and you can work most of it off during the day. I think daddy had enough of my umming and aahing every ten minutes last night and then to top it all off, not sure how the heck it happened but I knocked over a jug of water which fell into your cot and eveything was soaking wet. So I padded the pram with blankies cause during the day (when you decide to have a nap, which is not the norm) you love sleeping in it. SO I put you in there and well still every ten minutes umming and aahing (from me of course) - not sure if it is tiredness or frustration or what. It was a long day yesterday off to work at half 6, home by 6 and then off to youth with the girls for their little function and eventually home just after 9. I think right now mommies body is screeming for some sleep, but we will push along and try to remain calm and unemotional and patient. (easier said than done right now). I think you are teething more than normal right now cause dad says you had a really runny tummy this morning and you didnt keep any of your morning feed down. But I am not really too concerned about that, you have kept your feeds down very nicely the last week or so. I guess mommy is just feeling very, lets say - overwhelmed today and the fact that I am not with you is making it even harder. Missing you terribly today my little munchkin
We started you on the meds for the seizures. Daddy and I were scared to give it to you at first cause we were not sure how your body would react to it. Daddy still said to me that he was not going to let you sleep in your cot and that you would sleep in bed with us. So we decided to give you the meds early so that we could monitor you. Well it knocked you for a loop, within ten minutes you were fast asleep, there were no side effects except for a little restleness. My only concern was that the medicine would make you like a "zombie" but it hasnt, so my heart can rest. You have stayed as talkative and as happy as you always are. I think many people need to take a lesson out of your book, you have had so much going against you, yet you fight back and still stay happy and shine your little light on everyone around you, no matter what the circumstances are, no matter how crappy you are feeling your little light shines ever so bright!!
Your other big sister - Tia - started high school today, she was super excited and so proud to walk into the school with your other sister. It was just so heart warming to see Tannyth looking out for Tia - Enjoy the harmony while we can:).
Although I know Tia is so excited, her heart is not where it should be today. When I got home on monday, I saw that she had been crying and was not herself. It turns out her daddy was very ugly to her and she is so heartbroken and somehow I think you knew cause you talked to her non stop and made her feel a little better while daddy was trying to council her and keep her self esteem up. Sometimes I just dont know what I would do without daddy, he is definalty my rock.
You are also going to meet anuty Sharon for the first time day, she cant wait to meet you - shoo okay, getting a little emotional right now and battling to hold back the tears, so I think i will write some more a little later. Loving you so much. Love mommy
Tia is in her element, cause all your other sisters are sick so she is the only one that is allowed to hold you and she is just loving it .... having you all to herself. Well my little one, in the next few days the house is going to be very quiet, your sisters will be going back to school so at least they wont wake you up in the morning anymore, not that you really wake up before 10. When you want to sleep, nothing seems to bother you. I guess it will be back to fighting with Tia to try and drag her out of bed in the morning. she is like you, loves her sleep - when she wants to :-)
Missing you much and cant wait to get home to be my family. Love you lots!!
Lior is doing great, although he is a little snotty and coughing a bit, but nothing serious, as long as I keep nebbing him he will be fine. We had a wonderful christmas with the entire family and a quiet new year with the kids, I think I was asleep beore the new year even kicked in !!
Lior is now 8 months old and going from strength to strength every day. He has learnt to turn himself in a full circle when he is lying in his play gym and can entertain himself for ages. We figured out he just loves classical music, his whole demeanour changes. He has learnt to play peek a boo with us and is manouvering himself a little more in his walking ring. He is also trying to eat purity, yesterday we managed to get him to eat 6 mouthfuls and then he just gets tired and irritable so we have to tube the rest, but at least he is trying.
Not quite sure what to do about feeding tubes for Lior, the suppliers have discontinued the make that we use, or should I say the length and the next length is double the size of Lior. Its either this or using the weekly tube and I dont want to do that cause the older and stronger Lior gets, the more difficult it is to get the tube down, he fights so much and just stops breathing, and I think I would rather only go through this once a month than once a week !! I will have to phone the world to see if anyone of the hospitals may have stock lying around.
Was difficult coming back to work today, kind of felt like when I had to come back from maternity leave, just did not want to leave my little boy. In any event, I am sure he will love spending the time with his sisters and his ouma.
Yay - well done !!!!!
Lior has now started to try and roll onto his tummy, he gets it right, but now has to figure out that he needs to move his arm out from underneath him, baby steps - he is doing so well. He is just so full of life and bringing so much sunshine into our lives. Talks non stop, or should I say shouts non stop, loves the attention he gets from his sisters and has even started laughing in his own little way.
The girls are going to be spending christmas with us this year, it is actually their other parents turn but because this may be the only Christmas that we may have with Lior we have asked for the girls to be with us. They are all so excited and so are we.
Just want to wish everyone an awesome and blessed christmas, may all you wishes come true and may God be with you and Bless you in every way possible!!!!
Just dont know what to say anymore
I then get to work this morning to find out that one of my colleagues gave birth to her little boy over the weekend (at 26 weeks of pregnancy) and due to complications he passed on this morning, on the morning my little boy turns 7 months old. When will all this stop !! this year has just been horrendous. I cant say I know how she feels cause I still have hope, I still have my little boy. I wish you Gods richest blessing and all his strength through this difficult time my friend!!
I also want to say Happy 7 month birthday my little boy, a true miracle indeed
Christmas wish
Lior is doing well - a little flemy at the moment, so started nebulising him with saline and adrenailine again and giving him physio (which to my surprise he loves - falls asleep). The only problem is when he is so flemy he doesnt really keep his feeds down, but like the doc says as long as it is only a little and its the only way he gets it out, no problem. I started him on purity this weekend, gave him a little per mouth, although he battled a little he took it in his stride and swallowed (takes him a while though), he seemed to enjoy it - well the banana one at least, will have to see how he takes to the vegies - but he did let me know when he was tired and did not want to swallow any more, so gave him the rest via his feeding tube. Was quite a mission trying to feed him with a spoon cause with the cleft palet there really isnt anything for him to grip the spoon with so I figured out that I had to turn the spoon upside down and sort of scoop it off the spoon with his lower gum. Feeding the purity through the tube is confusing cause I have to dilute it with boiled water to ensure that it is thin enough to run through the tube, so in the end I am not sure if I am giving him enough, cause now the feed seems to be double with the water, so I try to ensure that he has half a bottle (small) of purity - I suppose it is enough for him, considering his milk feeds are only at 120ml - will slowyly start to increase it weekly. The only other thing that concerns me is that we have had to drop a bottle, so now instead of 5 he is only having 4 - been so long since we had a baby in the house, I cant remember all these things, and with Lior its just sooooooo different - we dont really know when he is full or when he has had enough or is still hungry, okay the hungry part we are getting a little better at figuring out, he tends to really suck my finger when he is, but he is also teething now so he sucks and bites my finger cause of that as well, at least we are giving him vydalin which also helps (just cant stand the smell of the stuff, sometimes I am glad we giive it to him thorugh the tube cause that stuff is just soooooo ugh !!! . He really is getting to be full of beans now. Loooooves his rattle, has a few bruises from konking himself on the head !! We have also been putting him in the walking ring more often and he is managing to move around a little, mostly out of frustration, but atleast he is trying - one step at a time, after all he is doing things we were told he never would.
I received an e-mail from taurus inc (the baby competition) to tell us that the babies with the least votes would again be taken out and Lior is still in !!! Considering I havent told anyone, besides daddy and the girls and besides my last post - I am really chuffed !!! All in all we had a good weekend, he has been sleeping well and been very cheerful !!
15-11 - 2010
I just hope and pray that I can keep him from getting ill with this weather constantly changing and I just cant keep him covered at night, even if I put a little sheet on him he kicks it off and if I put warm clothes on him he just sweats terribly and I dont want him to be "wet" during the night - just a no win situation at the moment.... what to do ......
I entered Lior into a baby competition - thought what the hell, he is who he is and I am proud of him and love him to bits and iether people will vote for him or they wont. We got an e-mail this morning telling us to go to the site (http://www.taurusinc.co.za/results.asp?category=266200917237) to see which babies have been eliminated from the competition for not having enough votesd and Lior IS STILL IN THE COMPETITION !!! Yay my little pumpkin is soooooooooo gorgeous !!!
6 months
I met another lady at the hospital - she was in the room next door to us - yes we were lucky enough, or the doctor was kind enough to arrange a private room - her little boy is now 8 months old, he has been in and out of hospital for the last few months. They know he has muscular distrophy ..... how ever you spell that - and suspected cerebal paulsy - he is just the most gorgeous little boy, red hair, huge blue eyes and just full of life. On Friday last week they were discharged and re admitted on Tuesday night, it now turns out that the blood tests indicate that he has a virus called SMA and will probably not live to see his second birthday. Mommy my heart goes out to you, for once I can say I know how you feel. We at least knew before and chose our path, you have only just found out and your path has been chosen for you. Be positive and cherish every moment that you have, the good and the bad, this is what will help you stay strong.
Lior is back home and we cant tell you how lovely it is to be home and in our own environment and to know that we have a little more time with our boy. Love you my angel !! I also just want to thank all my friends and loved ones and especially my colleagues who have been so full of love and support and been a huge shoulder to cry on !!
It is scary how children can get sick, literally over night. We went to visit Jacqueline on saturday and had a lovely day, no indication whatsoever that you were not feeling so great - you were your normal happy bubbly self. On Saturday night you were niggly so we did not get much sleep and then on Sunday you just didnt stop screaming to the point that you kept on losing your breath and then being completely pooped. We would get you settled for an hour or so and then it would start all over again. We took you to your paed on Monday and you still screamed in the waiting room, but the minute we walked into the doc's office, you were chatting away as if to say, look at me I am fine - nothing wrong. Wish that were the case. Yet again you have developed flem on the chest and we have to nebulise you and put you on antibiotics . The doc says with Trisomy babies it is common to have the chest infections - my worry is that it will get harder and harder for you to recover from the infection every time you get one. He also held your legs and noticed how your one little leg shakes, as if you are resting it on a nerve, he says it is a common example or sign that you are not neurologically normal. Although we knew that this would be one of the downfalls of your syndrome - but it does not seem that you are not neurologically normal, yes you may not be as advanced as other babies but your are learning. He was also amazed that you were "talking" and responding to us and like wow he can hear you and respond thats amazing. No, its not amazing, you are as normal and as perfect as can be !! Anyway we got you home and nebulised you, boy did you scream and at 5 months you are so strong that I battle to hold you. You were a little better after that, no more screaming. Gave you a nice bath and nebulised you again, this time I think you were just too tired to even bother fighting, even your llittle eyes were bloodshot. We fed you and put you to bed. You had such a good night, restful, and are all smiles again today. I am so glad we did not wait to see what was wrong. We just cant take any chances
When I got home yesterday I could see daddy was not entirely himself and he told me he had a very emotional day yesterday. Now dad being dad and I suppose being a man, it is very hard for him to show emotions, besides the fact that he tries not to because he feels he needs to be strong for mommy and your sisters. I am glad he did. It has been a long hard road so far - loving every minute we have with you - but as hard as we try it always remains in the back of our minds - will today be the day, will you prove the doctors wrong again and continue life past 18 months. Every day with you is such a blessing
HaPpY HaPpy
Cherish the light
Today I found myself in complete and utter awe ...... tomorrow Lior will be 5 months old ............ how quickly time goes by. We will celebrate his "birthday". I have been looking at photos of our little miracle since birth and although he is still so little (the size of a new born baby and weighing just over 4kg) he has grown soooooo much. Doctors said he would never do things and would be severly deformed and have severe mental retardation and that it would be best for us to abort. NEVER did we ever consider this, we needed to give our little boy a chance at life and he has grabbed it with both hands and holds on tight.
I look at the milestones he should be reaching, yes he has not reached all of them but he has reached most of them for his age - he has learnt to role onto his back and to his side again, he lays on his tummy and lifts his head and shoulders (doesnt like this position at all) although he does not smile as much as "a normal" baby would he still smiles (something the doctors said he would not do). He holds his hands together and manages to get his two fingers linked. When he is on his little play gym, it takes a while but he does eventually try and reach for the toys, although he cant grab them he still tries. On Saturday he also figured out how to suck his thumb, so yes he has not reached all the milestones that a 5 month old baby would normally but he has far exceeded everyones expectations. ALthough he is susceptible to infections and sickness he still fights and stays strong and continues to be a happy baby, dont get me wrong, he still has his litle tantrums when he wants to - and the difference for us ..... although it scares us at times we cherish every moment, every tantrum every little sound that he manages to get out, even the frustration on his face when he can't get the sounds out (due to the cleft palet).
I got an e-mail from Jay yesterday and after a lilttle discussion her advice to me was .................. "live for each day you have him enjoy the love and joy he brings you and love him like there is no tomorrow, because in the end that will help you. The love and joy you shared........" Very hard words to read but ever so true !! Just looking at his pictures and remembering our moments the day before gets me through the next day when I am at work.
Jay's little girl passed on in November last year - little Jess also had Edward Syndrome. She was 18 months old. I dont know Jay well, but I look up to her, she is kind and generous and is more than willing to share her feelings and advice with me. This means so much to me, she has been through what we are going through at the moment, she knows every incling of feeling that passes through us as we experience every day. Together we want to let the world know !! Support groups/information in South Africa is very limited and doctors etc are not very forthcoming with the information. I must say though we have been very lucky with our doctors, they have supported us through all our decisions and not treated us any differently, this has made the world of difference to us and we want to acknowledge and give thanks to them.
Not many people know about Edward Syndrome/Trisomy 18, we also thought it to be very uncommon/rare, but research has shown that this syndrome is the most common after down syndrome, the only difference is, T18 is not compatible with life, 85% of babies are born to heaven or the mother miscarries in early stages, 10% of children born with the syndrome do not live past their 1st birthday, that is why it is so important for us to drown ourselves in little Lior's spirit and bask in his light that shines continously.
We had a good public holiday, spent the day with family at your aunty's house and she just kept you entertained most of the day. By the time we got home we were all pooped - it was a long day. Mommy put you down for the night but you didnt sleep well, kept coughing most of the night. I was not taking any chances, took you to the doc and you seemed to have caught some kind of virus - which in your case is very dangerous. So yet again mommy has to do what you hate most, nebulise you. Fortunately its only for a week this time and not 3 weeks, so I think we caught it at beginning stages. The doc says we can't put you on antibiotics cause you have just come of a course of them. But in any event, you were much better last night. I put you down after your feed and you were quite happy to be in your cot, but when I kissed you goodnight, you decided no more I want to be in bed with mommy and daddy - and yes you got your way - and only with the greatest of love and pleasure !!
Daddy and I decided we needed a day out yesterday and went shopping, yet again you just loved all the different things to see, and again it never seizes to amaze me how complete stranges just want to touch and cuddle you - it is as though you have this light shining through you that everyone can see and wants to be a part of.
God willing my little angel - your light will continue to shine. We love you so much !!
Your little footprints are travelling all over - shining lots of light and love on so many people.
You almost gave your ouma a heart attack yesterday, either you were trying to clear your throat or trying to get your tummy to work, but you stopped breathing aand went blue, you took longer than normal to recover. Ouma has not experienced it with you yet, so needless to say she panicked and so did your Diana - Yay Tan to the rescue, cause she has been around us when it happens and sees what mommy does, she kept a calm head and told ouma to put you on your side, blow in your face and pat your back and then phoned daddy and told him to hurry home. Its amazing that a 15 year old can stay calm in a situation like that. - Needless to say you were pooped after that, had no energy whatsoever. I spoke to daddy this afternoon and he says you had another little episode today. Mommy needs to keep an eye on that, you seem to be having apnea a little more often than normal and that really scares me, I am not ready to let go :-(
Caroline came to see mommy yesterday and it was great talking to her, but it also opened a whole mine of emotions. I think yesterday was the most difficult day I have had since being back at work. My thoughts just spun out of control. When I am with you it is so natural and nothing else but my family matters. But When I am not with you the fear sets in.
I fear most that I will not be with you when your angles come and get you, that I will not be able to hold you and cuddle you, that I will not have a chance to say goodbye and whisper to you that i love you one last time. I fear the pain and loneliness that your daddy and your sisters will feel.
Little Ethan came to visit yesterday and normally I wouldnt think of it, but yesterday it hit home, that I may never get to see you reach those milestones, walking around with our keys in your hand, and trying to kick an apple, walking under my desk and hearing you laugh, this is why I treasure every second I am with you. Your different cries, your coughing, your sneezing, the way you love to be without a nappy, and how you arch your back when you are in the bath until your head is in the water. How you talk to your sisters when I am dressing you, how you love to have your doekie against your face when you want to sleep and how at times you dont want to suck your dummy but my finger, I try so hard to keep these imprinted in my mind, I am so scared that I will forget.
How can you heart feel so much Joy and happiness and also feel like it has been shattered into a million pieces at the same time
I love you
Boy oh boy did you give me a hard time with your evening feed - it took almost two hours to feed you. We got you into bed at about half past ten and I think Mommy and Daddy just fell into bed we were so tired, but that didnt last long. At 00:30 you had me awake and for the life of me I just could not figure out what it was that you wanted so we were up and down - in the bed with mommy and then back in the cot - changed your nappy - back in bed with mommy - back in the cot and so it went on. When you finally fell asleep it was 04:30 and time for mommy to wake up and feed you - What a night. Feeling and looking a little like a zombie today but I dont mind - you are most definately worth it !!
We had a good weekend spent time quality time with the family and went out for a change. We dont normally take you out that often cause I dont want to make people feel uncomfortable with your feeds - but now I just dont care - its not natural for others but its natural for us.
We took you to the mall on Saturday and you just loved every minute of it, you did not want to be in the pram, you wanted to be in our arms just so you could look at everything, you were in your element "talking away" looking at the lights and as daddy says - talking to your angels!!
Everyone kept asking us how old you are and were so suprised when we told them 4 month - they all thought you were only a couple of days old !! - okay you are tiny, but you are a lot bigger than a few months ago.
The morning did take a bit of an odd turn though, two ladies asked us how old you are and why you have a tube in your nose - so i explained to them that you had Trisomy 18 and naturally they asked what it means and I told them all about it - I definately did not expect the reaction I got - the two of them looked at me and started crying - two people I have never met before !! - I rubbed the one ladies arm and said its ok and then I had to walk away - Your sister was very uspet with me, she kept on saying that I must go back and talk to them, but the thing is, how do you comfort someone you dont know and especially when it is something that is so close to your heart. I know one of the ladies is expecting so I am sure millions of thoughts went through her mind, but I am sure her and the baby will be fine and I wish them all the best.
Mommy is a bit on the tired side today - sort of living on maybe 3-4 hours sleep a night - Daddy stayed awake with you the whole of Saturday night so that mommy could sleep but without the both of you in the room, mommy did not sleep much. Right now, if we are lucky we get maybe 3 hours sleep a night. You didnt have such a fantastic night last night, you were very restless and needless to say I jumped up every time you ummed and aahed. Somehow you manage to wiggle yourself under the blankets - maybe you are like daddy - you like to sleep with the blanket over you face. We eventually got you settled before I left for work this morning - you fell asleep straight away - oh how I wished I could snuggle up with you. Back at work and missing you terribly - longing to be home
10 September 2010
Wow , what a busy day for you today, driving around with daddy - I am sure you were not too impressed, after all you dont like the car very much.
I missed you this morning, not having done your feed seemed to take away a vital part of my day. I cant wait to get home to you and your sisters. Yay - your sisters arent going to their daddy this weekend, they will be spending it with us, cant wait. Although they are not impressed, they had things planned - teenagers what can we do. At least we get to have family time this weekend, and we are going to meet your little neice tomorrow, so excited
8 September 2010
At least when I got home last night you showed your excitement to have me home and that just made my heart swell with so much love. Your sisters are loving every minute that mommy is not there cause they get to change your nappies and entertain you for most of the afternoon and when I get home I think they are quite relieved to hand you over! - Ha they thought having a baby was easy !! I love the fact that they get to do these things with you, they are building memmories that will be with them for ever
It gets harder and harder every day and I feel more guilty every day cause I know that the girls are not getting as much of the attention that they should or want to get - I just need to be with you every second I can !! I know they understand but I am sure they feel it the lack of it right now - I dont know how to divide myself :-(
I found a website today where a father has made an amazing dedication/memmory of his little girl who has passed on. She also had Trisomy 18. I managed to get in contact with him and he is quite happy to help us answer some questions - obviously to how it pertained to their little girl - but maybe some of it can help us and give us support.
On to happy news - Your little niece will be welcomed with loving arms into this world tomorrow. Your uncle is so excited and cant wait to meet his little angel - I cant wait to meet her either. I am not sure of her name yet, they havent told anyone, they want to introduce her when she is born. We will have to take you to meet her in a little while.
I am sitting here and counting the minutes to when I can leave and get home to my family. I love you all so much


text:
European Digital Stories
Link: https://sites.google.com/site/digitaleustories/
European Digital Stories" aims to combine the tradition of storytelling with contemporary technical tools, raising the key competences on EU-enlargement topics and on European common values, teaching digital storytelling competences to 12 to 18 year old students and teachers.
The students will create their own EU digital stories, present materials together in the mobilities, in this way the intercultural dialogue among EU members and the raise of civic keys will be promoted. They will work on different subjects using digital storytelling which will bring new benefits for skills improvement: English skills and ITC skills.
A Comenius team will be formed and different workshops for the target group and teachers about "digital storytelling" and movie editing software will be organized. Both students and teachers will learn to organize plot of stories with pictures, using first person narratives, voice recording, editing the sound according to sequence of the event and adding subtitles to the stories in English. .
The material of narrative videos will be used by a group of students to create the theatre performance "Call for Europe".


text:
Published: November 27th, 2012 at 1:09 pm ET
Title: How to protect the right to health and life of citizens from radiological contamination? – Ms. Mari INOUE, Esq., Human Rights Now New York
Source: ERF2012
Date: Nov 25, 2012
At 17:00 in
Ms. Mari INOUE, Esq., Human Rights Now New York: Recommendation by [the United Nation's investigator] Mr. Grover will not be published until next summer. So it's a long process and both of those processes are legally non-binding.
So how are we going to protect the rights of people, especially the right to health and life of people in contaminated area, because they need immediate assistance. They need immediate attention from medical communities and civil societies, because what's going on in Fukushima is ongoing crisis.
Watch the presentation here
Published: November 27th, 2012 at 1:09 pm ET
Related Posts
- Head of Medical Clinic: Radiation already causing health problems around Tokyo — Highly contaminated areas have led to physiological damage (VIDEO) May 7, 2012
- Video: 10 million people in Japan have been abandoned in high radiation areas after Fukushima — Kanto Region extremely contaminated March 13, 2013
- Japanese Journalist: Workers "very worried" about deformed 400 ft. structure falling on Fukushima reactor buildings and causing another crisis — Immediate repairs needed yet "can't do anything" due to extreme radiation levels — Staff told to "constantly watch it" — One of site's most dangerous places June 3, 2014
- Gov't: Radiation level 60 km from Fukushima plant is as high as the most contaminated areas in Chernobyl — "Fukushima far exceeded any crisis previously encountered" — "A risk of destruction of the society" — Expert: "It's unprecedented in scale and duration" (VIDEOS) August 18, 2014
- Watch: It's official, people who stayed in Fukushima are guinea pigs (VIDEO) September 1, 2012


text:
Two fairies fly through bamboo stalks. This miniature fantasy feng shui piece, part of the Zen Mandala modern art series (botanical abstract landscapes in a contemporary Asian style), is an original 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic painting (standard trading card size).
|This painting is my entry in the eBay groups' fairy fun challenge in the "Fairy of the Flowers" category. Search Fairy Fun on eBay for more entries in this competition.


text:
Major Developments in Anger Management
Posted June 17, 2007on:
Major Developments in Anger Management
Major developments are occurring in anger management on a national basis. Anderson & Anderson is currently engaged in discussions with two National Sports organizations to provide anger management and coaching for professional sports. We anticipate a decision on one proposal in mid July and a second proposal in December.
State governments in Kentucky, California, Texas and Arizona are moving aggressively to increase the competency of state providers of anger management by demanding certification for its anger management facilitators. Anderson & Anderson is the major provider of this certification training. It is also the Anderson & Anderson curriculum which will be used in these programs.
The Federation of Medical Licensing Boards has listed Anderson & Anderson as an approved resource for "disruptive physicians". This is significant in that it is the Anderson & Anderson model of anger management/executive coaching which is now accepted by all Medical Boards in the nation.
Substance abuse counselors throughout the nation are being required to prove certification in anger management. George Anderson is scheduled to present the Key Note address on June 20 at the Jackson State University's Substance Abuse Conference in Choctaw, MS. Anderson will also train substance abuse counselors in adult anger management facilitation during this conference.
All Certified Anderson & Anderson anger management providers are encouraged to place Google ads regarding your services on the internet in order to position your practice to become a part of these major developments. In addition, all providers should place ads on the website of the American Association of Anger Management Providers: www.aaamp.org, the Directory of Anger Management Providers: www.anger-management-resources.org as well as the website of Anderson & Anderson at www.andersonservices.com.
George Anderson


text:
Jokes aside, ("Open the Pod Bay Doors, Siri") Apples announcement last night was nothing short of a glimpse at the future. Imagine a world where you speak aloud to a computer, while you're hurrying around your house looking for your car keys:
Computer, what time does the train to Manchester leave from Stockport?
Your computer stops and thinks for a few seconds, and responds. You probably thought about Star Trek and Iron Man and others alike, picturing huge wall-sized computers with friendly voices that seem to know everything. Or perhaps it conjures up images of a world many years from now, when we have jetpacks and food comes in little pills. While we might be a while away from bite-sized Big Macs, voice control just got a whole lot cooler than we ever imagined. Siri, the voice assistant in the new iPhone 4S, is intelligent enough to understand commands like the one above, and give you all the information you need. You can text your wife while you're driving. You can cancel and rearrange meetings. You can find out if you're going to need an umbrella or not - all without even looking at your device. The future is now.


text:
"A Muslim fanatic with an Internet site praising Islamic suicide bombers as defenders of their comrades is a Major in the U.S. Army with access to military intelligence and lethal weaponry. And it's not as though the army didn't know that he was a Muslim fanatic and supporter of the Islamic jihad against the West. He was under investigation for six months because of his anti-American, jihadist rantings. He did not want to be deployed. He wanted to be discharged.
But despite his identification with America's enemies, the army kept him in its officer corps. How in God's name was this possible? But it was."


text:
Alright-O. One week at Symbiosis. And the hostel.
Long since I blogposted but I want to capture & pen down today.
I've been home-sick ever since I got here. Spent two hours everyday crying like a bitch cause I miss home. I miss mum. & sis. & dad. & ebboo.
But TODAY (Sunday)
Mum & sister paid a surprise visit on Sunday :D FUCKING AWESOMEEEE! *BEST* surprise ever man. Seriously. Was literally & obviously shocked but got over it soon.
Made awesome new friends in Symbi. Apparently I'm one of the Deols. Sunny Deol. & this really close friend of mine is Bobby Deol. Dysfunctional shit.
Mass Media is a radical & broad spectrum subject. Coming out from the science field, we have weird/nice/weird subjects now.
1. Corporate life skills
2. Principles of Management
3. AV production
4. Visual aesthetics
5. World history
6. Journalism & broadcasting
7. Event management
8. Literature in English
9. Screening
10. Computer applications
11. Sociology.
& more. 11 is all I remember as of now.
But what syllabus man.
College starts at 9 30am so morning starts at 6 30am to wash my clothes, bathe & breakkfast. Then college till 4 30 after which we have various club activities. Then back to hostel.
I don't like my roommate much. Really want to shift/move out next year. Mostly I wanna go back home =(
Tired now. Shall keep y'all (if you read this anymore) updated yo.
Hugs & kisses.


text:
The last few days have been pretty difficult. Everything that seemed important has lost most of its meaning. Pretty bad poetry has been written and discarded, hugs and tears have been shared, projects have been embraced for their ability to distract.
But every family has one – a sturdy box, filled with photographs and documents. My grandmother died last Thursday morning after a long illness and at the weekend we opened the thick wooden box that had sat in the bureau of her living room for decades.
Amongst the envelopes full of stiff monochrome snaps, my deceased grandfather's old driving licenses, 1930s telegrams and council house tenancy papers, was my grandmother's birth certificate.
It says she was born in a Northampton maternity home, not far from the Abingdon Road. A maternity home that was later converted into an old people's home. The very building where my grandmother was born was, completely by accident, where she spent her final years.
Shocked, Dad said that they had chosen that particular place to put her because it felt "like home". I like to think she just came full circle.
Goodnight, Grandma.