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Don't we already have enough chemicals and sugar in our lives?!
I am irritated. Maybe it's all the fertility meds I'm on or maybe it's the fact that it's mid-February and I'm in limbo because winter isn't over just yet and spring is not here. I can't believe I'm complaining about the weather since I live in Southern California, but I think you'll find that EVERYONE complains about the weather, no matter where they live or how ideal the weather may seem. It has been cold and rainy and gloomy here which reminds me of my hometown of Boston and I find myself grumbling and sighing as I walk the dogs in the atypical Socal weather.
Either way, the ads I have seen for some new products on the market simply irritate the hell out of me. Here they are – but first, let me put in a disclaimer: I am not a health expert. I am not a dietician. I am a regular gal who is just concerned with my health, and living in Socal, I am forced to be greener, cleaner and leaner. After you read my rant, you may think that I've turned into a total Hippie but I assure you , I am not. However, the older I get, the more I am wanting a healthier, less toxic life. Maybe I'm afraid of death. 😉
We all know we should take our vitamins, and the older we get, the more vitamins and supplements we are supposed to take. I look like a junkie when I put out all the pills out for the day. For some, swallowing pills is no big deal. For others like myself, who have trouble because of our dainty, delicate pharynx and esophagus, swallowing a bunch of pills is annoying drudge work. So the ads for Vitamelts are appealing. I admit, when I saw the cheerful people, simply putting one of these melting pills in their mouth, I was excited. No water needed, just put it in your mouth and the vitamins melt into you. Ahhh,. But then the skeptical side of me (which usually wins out over the more fun, fancy-free side), thought that the fact that these come in flavors like "Creamy Vanilla" and "Chocolate Mint" reeked of something unhealthy. And I was right. I checked the nutrition info and there are naughty ingredients like sucralose, corn starch, sugar, etc. And these are from NatureMade? Doesn't sound very natural to me! And of course, the nutrition info does not tell you how much sugar is in each dose. How convenient for them.
Here's what experts say about sucralose, maltodextrin and other unnatural sweeteners:
When you eat sweets, regardless of the source of the sweetness, your brain elicits neurotransmitters similar to those secreted when you eat pure sugar. As a result, you may continue to incur cravings and an increased appetite for the substance even though you're consuming calorie-free versions of the food. Additionally, according to Bauman College, you may be lulled into thinking the food you're eating is healthy because of its low sugar content when in actuality, you are consuming large amounts of refined and processed carbohydrates in the maltodextrin fillers, refined flour and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils used in the manufacturing process. Both psychologically and physically, you actually may be sabotaging any weight loss efforts by substituting real sugar with so-called healthy alternatives.
These little melting miracles are as bad as candy, I think. I can understand some parents giving their kids Gummi vitamins because trying to get some kids to take a pill, much less swallow it whole can be like trying to get a hamster to sit. But we adults should really be able to just take our vitamins without all this sugar and extra stuff. And if you really hate pills, the vitamin section of any place like Whole Foods or even GNC have liquid options. Of course, look for the sugar content in these. ARE YOU GOING TO DIE OR BE FAT IF YOU TAKE VITAMELTS? Probably not, gut considering the amount of sugar we ingest on a daily basis, why add more?
FARM RICH MOZZARELLA BITES and other snacks
I first saw the ad with my niece, while watching some Disney show. It was super cute and catchy and zippy and fun and wow! The kids looked healthy and happy and with a name like Farm Rich, you think it must be healthy right? Not really. There's still plenty of fat and sodium in these snacks that are made to LOOK healthy. Cheese is the main ingredient. It's comparable to fast food if you ask me. I know kids want the fun stuff and the stuff that is bad for you, but be careful how much fat, calories, sugar and processed foods they are getting.
I am really sick of this Greek yoghurt craze. Really. Yes, yoghurt can be good for you. But here's the curveball – if you look at any cleanses, or diets that are all about eating cleaner and better, the top three things they tell you to cut out are sugar, gluten and dairy. I know this is no fun. I would much rather be eating some garlic bread (gluten), some nice red wine (sugar) and a big ol' hunk of cheese with ice cream for dessert (dairy). Alas, the facts keep staring me in the face that these things should not be eaten regularly. Sure, there are reports that red wine can be good for you, but remember that the sugar in it is not so good and it can pack on the pounds. Just ask Gerard Depardieu.
So what's the big deal with having a little Greek yoghurt? Well, nothing really unless you are wanting to take some dairy out of your life. Take a look at THE VIRGIN DIET http://thevirgindiet.com/. I think it's very interesting. There are so many ads for Greek yoghurt, I'm getting dizzy. "Eat it for breakfast!" "Makes a great snack!" And now, Ben & Jerry have jumped on the hype train. Hopefully you know that frozen yoghurt is dessert, right? And hopefully you know that it is fattening and full of sugar, right? The thing that pisses me off is that they make it feel like it's all healthy and good for you since it's GREEK yoghurt. Rubbish! The average serving has 26 grams of sugar and 8 grams of fat. So maybe you want to take a vacation from Greece, no?
Also, fyi:
Be wary of Greek yogurt's fat content. In just 7 ounces, Fage's full-fat Greek yogurt packs 16 grams of saturated fat—or 80 percent of your total daily allowance if you're on a 2,000-calorie diet. (That's more than in three Snickers bars.) Dannon's regular full-fat yogurt has 5 grams of saturated fat in an 8-ounce serving. Saturated fat raises total and "bad" LDL cholesterol levels, increasing the risk for heart disease. Read nutrition labels carefully. If you're going Greek, stick to low-fat and fat-free versions.
Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned clean air from nature? Oh yeah, we polluted it. Well, such is life. With progress comes pain. The air quality is already not stellar, so what the hell are people doing going around adding more chemicals to it?! WTF people?! Febreze makes my blood boil. It is just downright evil. There are 87 chemicals in Febreze and nowhere on the website, do they say ANYTHING about the ingredients or if it is bad for the air quality. And now, to make your air even more tragic, they have these nifty little stick up things that will fill your air with a scent of your choice to have you gagging and wheezing in no time. Please PLEASE stop using this crap. Here's how you can make your air smell better;
Open the damn window! In winter, I know it's tempting to shut yourself in and keep the cold out. Plus, letting heat you paid for out the window seems, well, crazy. But if you just open your windows for a few minutes once a week, you will help not only refresh the air, but circulate it.
Buy a plant! The EPA says indoor pollutants (from chemicals we use like Febreze, cleaners, etc.) are one of the top 5 threats to human health. Eek! Common household plants can help because they absorb some airborne chemicals and trap pollutants. The best choices for the job are: rubber plants, lady palms, peace lilies, golden pothos, and syngonium.
Here's one report on Febreze that you will definitely not find on their site:
Here are some other non-toxic ideas to make your air smell nice:
Their slogan says "Because everyone deserves to breathe happy" – notice it doesn't say, "because everyone deserves to breathe HEALTHY."
It's cute, it's convenient, I want it. I just love how these companies do their packaging. They really know their stuff. This is a genius idea. You keep it on your counter, and when you need just a little clean-up, voila, use this! Sounds awesome right? Well sure, as long as you're okay using lots of chemicals, like more and more chemicals. Know what's in your Windex? How about paint remover. Think I'm wrong?
Though mainly used to remove paint, 2-Butoxyethanol is found in a wide variety of cleaners. This colorless liquid has a sweet aroma and is valued for its ability to dissolve things such as soap scum, ink, grease, and oil. Though a relatively new component of the Windex chemical formula, it has been popular in whiteboard cleaners, dry cleaning solutions and oil spill dispersants for years.
Here's what the Windex people say on their site as to why they use chemicals:
Keep in mind that all materials are "chemicals" – chemicals are the basic building blocks of everything, including our food, clothing and the air we breathe. For example, water is a combination of the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen (H2O), and air is a mix of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases. Also, there are plenty of chemicals found in nature that are toxic, such as arsenic and cyanide.
Hilarious! Like we'll find cyanide growing in the woods or at the beach. Puh-lease. They can try to justify it all they want. A chemical is a chemical. I recommend using some less toxic, natural cleaners like Real Simple or Meyers. They are a bit more expensive, but you do not have to use a lot to get stuff clean.
Now before you think I've gone to the total nutty green side – you know, the people who drive a car on vegetable oil and compost and wear Hemp shoes, own chickens and want to live in a commune, STOP! I use chemicals. I eat meat. I wear leather. All I'm recommending is that you REDUCE the amount of chemicals in your life and eat cleaner. I have tried to replace most of my household cleaners with green or natural ones. I use fragrance free laundry detergent. Our soap is all natural. I only buy organic eggs and meat. BUT – I color my hair, I use lipstick and BB Cream that is made out of God-knows-what and I eat candy now and then that is totally processed and riddled with chemicals. I am a modern gal, after all.


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Night Photography
My latest effort is to work on night photography. Everyone seems to have a slightly different take on the best practices, with some common themes.
1. Darkness is essential. In general, this may take a bit longer than one would hope. If you're after stars, wait until it's really dark.
2. Some daytime work is also essential. It's just too hard to come upon a good plan when the world is pitch-black. Plan the photo in the day. Make the photo in the night.
3. Care and deliberation are essential. Recently, I did the first 2 photos of the night sky with my lens cap on. That didn't work so well. Take time setting up. This involves knowing the location ahead of time, bringing a headlamp, going slowly (it's dark).
4. Composition is just as important at night as in the day. This goes back to the daytime work and the planning. Think foreground.
5. Equipment:
1. tripod with good head. My preferred tripod is currently a Feisol carbon fiber. I recently upgraded by ballhead to a RRS BH-55, and I couldn't be more pleased with the ease of use and steadiness.
2. camera that has decent high ISO results. I'm currently using a Nikon D800E.
3. Cable release is most helpful, although a timer or shutter delay will work for photos that have less than a 30 second duration.
4. Headlamp. It is really helpful to set up and take down and check your level and get back to your car without tripping.
1. f-stop of 2.8 allows shutter speeds of 20 seconds. Longer times will result in obvious star movement. If you want pinpoints, stay under 20 seconds. And, that varies with focal length.
2. Wide angles give a more expansive sky and show less movement. I'm using 14mm currently.
Lenses are not created equal. Some expensive lenses still show a distorted star. This is known as coma. It is an optical imperfection related to certain lens designs. I'm using a Rokinon 14mm manual focus lens, which is quite inexpensive. Nikon makes a 14-24mm f2.8 lens that is widely felt to be the best wide angle lens available for the 35mm format. Neither of these lenses demonstrate coma.
3. ISO of at least 3200 and up to 6400 is needed generally to get the dimmer stars without movement blur. This is why the good high ISO performance of the camera matters. There is a way of getting around this, which is another subject, but it involves the use of a tracker which electronically moves the camera with the stars, allowing much longer exposures.
Here's a look at the sky on September 20th around 10 p.m. in McCall, Idaho.

subset: commoncrawl


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Debbie Anderson, Director of Exceptional Student Education
I am honored to serve Santa Rosa District Schools as the Director of Exceptional Student Education. This district has been my home since 1985 and is where I chose to raise my 6 children.
I started my career in 1994 as a teacher of students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. I can say without a doubt that I would not want to be in any other profession. The amount of satisfaction I receive on a daily basis can't be duplicated. The students I have worked with over the years have taught me how to be a better person and how to appreciate every single success.
From teaching, I entered the world of school based administration. I had to honor to be a principal for over 18 years before assuming the role of Director of Exceptional Student Education. I feel like I have landed in the position that was made for me.
My goal is to bring to the needs of our students to the forefront and to provide the teachers, schools and community with the tools they need to support EVERY child's right to be a valued and productive individual and citizen.
My hope is that parents and community members will join me in my journey to achieve my goal. As a team, we are much stronger than any one individual.
Deborah Ray, Deputy Director of Exceptional Student Education
My name is Deborah Ray and I currently have the pleasure of serving as the Deputy Director of the Exceptional Student Education department. I devoted 14 years providing instruction to students with various exceptionalities and have been in administration for 7 years. As a military dependent (daughter and spouse), I had the opportunity to live around the nation, experience diverse cultures, and formulate lasting friendships along the way. I was born and raised in Texas and will always be drawn to tumbleweeds and Tex-Mex cuisine! However, we have now retired in Florida and have recently established permanent residency in Santa Rosa County. There are many reasons why I was attracted to the Santa Rosa County School District. My reasons were two-fold. Professionally, I wanted to work in a district where they encourage and sustain the standard of excellence. It was important for me to work in a district where students with exceptionalities are supported in all aspects of the school setting. Personally, it was essential that my son could attend schools where his academic needs are met and his career interests enhanced. I am a firm believer that you "bloom where you are planted," and I have no doubt that this role will allow me to serve our community unconditionally and ensure our most deserving students have access to an enriched, supported education throughout their academic career.
Tiffanie Ives Coleman, Coordinator of ESE
(850) 983- 5560
Tiffanie Ives Coleman is excited at the opportunity to serve the students and teachers of Santa Rosa. Tiffanie is from Santa Rosa County and has experience working with students of varying exceptionalities across all grade levels. Tiffanie holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Master's Degree in Emotional Disturbances/Learning Disabilities, and a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership. Prior to Tiffanie's current position, she was a Program Director of a school for students with Autism, Behavior Specialist, Inclusion Specialist, MTSS Coordinator, and Exceptional Education Teacher. Tiffanie is passionate about ensuring educational relevance for all students with disabilities. Outside of work, Tiffanie enjoys spending time with her son Jaxson and husband Clay.
Dustin Coleman, Coordinator of Behavior Interventions
I was born and raised in the Denver metro area of Colorado and lived there until about a year ago. I am a proud graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor's Degree of Arts in psychology, Go Buffs! I also have a Master's Degree of Arts in Education from the University of Colorado at Denver. I have completed the Principal Licensure Program through the University of Phoenix and the National Principals Association Fellowship (NPAF) through the RELAY Graduate School of Education. I am blessed to have an amazing family including my wife, two sons, and two daughters who light up each of my days. I am a diehard Denver Broncos fan and am passionate about almost everything sports! I love hiking, camping, and fishing with my family. Professionally I am driven by the ability to make a difference and helping young minds to flourish. I am proud to be part of the Santa Rosa County School District and can't wait to ride the waves of change this year!
Autism Spectrum Disorder:
Celeste Rivenbark, Program Facilitator
My name is Celeste Rivenbark and I am proud to call the Berryhill Administrative Complex my home. I have been working in the field of special education for 15 years. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, growing up in a family of educators, that is all I really knew. I went to the University of West Florida on a tennis scholarship- GO ARGOS!!! I have an undergraduate in both ESE and Elementary Education.
When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family. I have two boys who are my world. Most of my afternoons and weekends are spent being a "ballpark mom"- yes I am that mom!!! J I also enjoy watching college football- if it involves football and the SEMINOLES- count me in!!!! – GO NOLES!!!
"Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world."
Nelson Mandela
Laura Brumfield, Board Certified Behavior Analyst
My name is Laura Brumfield. I am the Board Certified Behavior Analyst for ESE in Santa Rosa County. I graduated from Loyola University in 1986 with a Bachelors in Music Therapy. I attended Chapman University, graduating with a Master in Psychology. I became a Behavior Analyst in 1997. I love working with students of all ages and my core value is best practice. I have lived all over the United States but Santa Rosa County ESE is my home!!!
Section 504:
Cindy Ryan, Program Facilitator
(850) 983-5577
I am truly honored and excited to serve my county in the position of Program Facilitator for Section 504. I was drawn to persons of exceptionality as far back as I can remember. As a teenager I volunteered for the Red Cross Disaster Action Team and the Cerebral Palsy Clinic. I graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in the Area of Exceptional Student Education. My teaching experiences began over 24 years ago and has included working with students of varying exceptionalities across most grade levels and settings. My position prior to Program Facilitator was as an ESE Liaison which provided me with many years of experiences to work collaboratively with students, parents, teachers, schools and the county to develop individual education plans to help students reach their individual potential. I continue to fulfill my passion for teaching through homebound instruction and teaching Extended School Year during the summer.
Vanessa Avis, Specialized Curriculum, Instruction, & Interventions
I am very happy to join the Santa Rosa County ESE Team as a new Program Facilitator for Instruction and Intervention. I started my career in education over 20 twenty years ago in Marion County as a Varying Exceptionalities Teacher. I've also taught general education classes in grades K –2. I hold bachelor's degrees in Primary Education and ESE-Specific Learning Disabilities and a master's degree in Reading (K-12). I joined Santa Rosa County in 2007 as an Academic Intervention Specialist and MTSS facilitator. Through this opportunity I have had the privilege of serving striving readers and mentoring teachers in best practices for reading instruction.
My husband and I are parents to two grown sons and the proud grandparents for three grandsons. We love the Emerald Coast with its abundance of golfing and boating activities and have made this our forever home.
Ellen Baucom, Program Facilitator, MTSS
Ellen Baucom is our new Program Facilitator for behavior at the elementary level. This is a new position to help ease the load Nancy Virgilio has had. Ellen's main responsibility will be to assist the MTSS Teams with their students with behavior concerns. She will be performing observations and giving input on behavior interventions. Her phone number is 983-5152
Karen Burch, Program Facilitator, Secondary
My name is Karen Burch, I am an Air Force Veteran, wife of 33 years, mother of 2 adult children and a Special Educator. Education began for me as a Training Manager in the United States Air Force. There I oversaw the training of the enlisted service members within the Civil Engineering Squadron. My next assignment was maintaining top secret training materials and the computer lab for the F-15 Fighter Training Wing School. After leaving the Air Force, the next phase in my life ,finding myself the parent of a special needs child, lead me to the field of education. I applied for and accepted the position of an ESE Para Professional. My main responsibility was working with students who demonstrated emotional and/or behavioral concerns. This is where I realized my unquestionable purpose in life. I enrolled in the Para to Teacher Program at The University of West Florida. I dug my heels and became employee by day and student by night until I did it ..became an ESE teacher at SS Dixon Primary. After 16 years in the classroom I have joined the ESE Department as a Program Facilitator for Behavior serving our secondary students. I believe it is not only my responsibility to prepare students but to prepare fellow educators ensuring success for all. As a Special Educator and parent I am strong advocate for mainstreaming students of all disabilities and that teachers must be provided with the necessary tools to create success for these students. One of my favorite things about working with secondary students is helping them make choices without regret and that when their purpose is clear it is a good day.
All work and no play makes me stir crazy... I am die hard Auburn and Packer Fan, I rescue freshwater and land turtles and love adventures with my family!
Nancy Virgilio, Program Facilitator, Elementary
I am the Program Facilitator for Behavior for Elementary in Santa Rosa County. I provide consultative services to elementary schools by training staff in classroom management skills and de-escalation training. I also consult with teachers and observe students that need some behavior management strategies in the classroom setting that is individualized for a particular student having behavioral problems within the classroom setting. I oversee and consult with 10 behavior focused classrooms for students that need more intensive behavior modification and social skills training daily. I also provide parent support for these behavior focused classroom students. I provide CPI: Nonviolent Crisis Intervention to school staff that teaches verbal de-escalation strategies to use with students that are in crisis. I love being an educator, working with students, and watching their growth. I am a life long learner and am always looking to expand my knowledge base. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at 983-5171.
CBSA Classrooms:
Nicole Kinnard, Program Facilitator
My name is Nicole Kinnard and I am the CBSA Program Facilitator. I received a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education from University of West Florida in 2005. In 2011, I received my Masters of Arts in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from University of West Florida. I spent 9 years working in Escambia County as an Autism Teacher, teaching a range of grades from Pre-K-8th grade. My last 3 years in Escambia County, I conducted a model classroom. I also spent 4 years working at Sacred Heart Autism Center as Board Certified Behavior Analyst, taking on the role of training new staff and conducting initial assessments. For the past 9 summers, I have spent my time working at Kids 4 Camp through Autism Pensacola as a Lead Coach. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my 3 children (Holton, Hyde and Alyssa) and husband (Heston).
Communications and Related Services:
Bobbie Jo Cueno, Communications Specialist
Bobbie Jo Cueno joined SRC school district as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) in 1994. She took over the role of program facilitator for the SLPs in October 2014. She has been involved in the LINKS (Leaders Investing in Nurturing Students Success) mission to establish better communication between the medical community and school district. When she is not busy looking for innovative therapy practices to bring back and share with her SLPs, she enjoys reading and watching Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
Inclusion and Adaptive PE:
Elizabeth Toms, Program Facilitator
I'm very excited to join the ESE team this year as the PF for Inclusion! I recently moved to the area, and am living in Pensacola. I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia with my parents and older brother. I earned my BA in psychology and special education, as well as my master of arts in teaching at James Madison University in Virginia. I've had the privilege to teach students in adaptive curriculum classrooms as well as inclusion classrooms. I love planning travel adventures and doing outdoor activities like hiking and going to the beach. I also enjoy yoga and cooking delicious meals!
Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing, Visual Impairments, and Traumatic Brain Injury:
Jackie Jones, Program Facilitator
Gifted Education:
Krista Mitchell, Program Facilitator for Gifted
My name is Krista Mitchell and I am excited to join the Program Facilitator team in Santa Rosa County as the new Program Facilitator for Gifted! As a parent of two gifted boys, Kade and Kole, I have a lot vested in this program.
I received my Bachelor of Arts degree from UWF with a dual major in Primary and Elementary Education and taught in the general education classroom for 20 years at Rhodes Elementary, where I met my husband, Gary Mitchell. During those 20 years I furthered my education and graduated, once again from UWF, with a Masters in Educational Leadership and then received my Gifted Endorsement. In 2015, I began teaching gifted students in elementary schools throughout the county.
I have a passion for gifted students and their families. I believe that gifted students require differentiated educational services beyond those normally provided by the general education classroom. I desire for our gifted program in SRC to assist gifted students in reaching their full cognitive and creative potential. I look forward to seeing our gifted program flourish!
Ancillary Services - Occupational therapy/Physical therapy, Extended School Year, and Hospital/Homebound:
Gary Mitchell, Program Facilitator
I am a native of Santa Rosa County. I graduated from Milton High School and earned both bachelors and masters degrees in special education from the University of West Florida. This is my 29th year as an educator with the Santa Rosa County School System. 16 years were spent in the classroom, 4 years were as an ESE Liaison and this is my 9th year as a Program Facilitator. I am married to Krista Tolbert Mitchell, who teaches gifted students in Santa Rosa County. We are the parents of two boys. Kole, a fifth grader at Berryhill Elementary and Kade, an eighth grader at King Middle School.
ACCESS and Hybrid:
Amanda Failing, Program Facilitator
I am so excited to be the Program Facilitator for ACCESS/Hybrid/VSA for Santa Rosa County. I have been able to serve in multiple roles in the district. I have been given the opportunity to grow professionally, including: ESE Liaison, Behavior Focus Classroom Teacher, VE Teacher, PI Teacher and 1st grade classroom teacher. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership. I have certifications in General Education K-6, Reading, ESOL, ESE K-12 and Educational Leadership in the state of Florida. I love working with the students, teachers and staff and guiding them to find the champion within themselves all while serving our district and community.
Assistive Technology:
Kristina Chittick, Program Facilitator
I currently have the pleasure to serve as the Program Facilitator for Assistive Technology. I started my education journey as an Arkansas Razorback playing softball on a full ride scholarship (Go Hogs! WPS!). I have two Masters degrees one in ESE with a dyslexia specialization and one in ABA Psychology. I hold professional certifications in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Exceptional Student Education (K-12), Prekindergarten disabilities, Preschool Education, Elementary Education, and English for Speakers of Other Languages. I am bilingual and speak both English and Spanish. I believe in providing staff, teachers, parents, students, and specialists individualized tools and supports to meet their needs. Access is one of the most important supports we can provide.
I am a military dependent and my family just recently relocated from Colorado to Santa Rosa County. We traded the mountains and skiing for the beach!
When not working I enjoy spending time with my husband and our 2...nearly 3 boys and our two bulldogs. We enjoy going on family adventures together as often as we can!
Lisa Templeton, Program Facilitator
I have been in the Early Childhood Special Education Field for 31 years. I have been with Santa Rosa Schools for 20 of those years and as Program Facilitator for Prek for 11. I have 2 grown children who are both in the Air Force.
Linda Andrews, Program Facilitator
Linda Andrews, ESE Transition Program Facilitator, assists stakeholders who work with students in preparation for adulthood, ages 14-21, to improve the transition planning process. Continuous collaboration and annual review of each student's IEP postsecondary goals in education, training, employment, career, and independent living as well as self-determination skills are required. Some ongoing initiatives are to build capacity, ensure compliance, and sustain the Tri-County Transition Interagency Collaborative with the goal of informing and bringing together the community agencies, schools, and families of Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Escambia County School Districts. In addition to her commitment of thirty-three years as a professional educator, Linda Andrews' expertise in being married for also thirty-three years has provided her with the blessings of being a mother and a grandparent. These personal roles contribute to her insight and compassion for families regarding the educational and life after high school challenges. Having the opportunity to assist families and impart knowledge of available options and supports empowers as well as enables many families to feel a renewed optimism which overshadows that fear and uncertainty about the future. She tells parents that it's okay to ask questions, say that you don't understand, or that it's overwhelming; the transition team is available to provide support and services. Mrs. Andrews wants families to realize that most young adults even with significant challenges are able and have the potential for employment as well as greater independence with support in order to become a contributing adult and member of society. Mrs. Andrews has raised a family of four children while developing her own career and truly values the importance of being a lifelong learner and steward of knowledge. She enjoys her career and pursues with passion to make a difference in the lives of children. Mrs. Andrews has spent over twenty-five years as a classroom teacher in three Florida counties, rural to inner city backgrounds, but for the duration of her career, other professional stakeholders are and will be her other students. Contact Linda Andrews via email: email@example.com or call (850) 983-5168.
Administrative Assistants:
Stephanie Hail, ESE Bookkeeper
Dawn Phillips, Secretary
Katrina Ellyson, Secretary
Jenifer Higginbothem, Secretary
Lisa Kay, Secretary
Starlinn Phillips, Secretary
Kelly Crowell, Secretary
Technology Support:
Robby Shell, Sr. System Analyst
Steve Sutherland, Sr. System Analyst


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Blackstone in contract to buy SF office complex for $245 million
America's largest private landlord is poised to buy office buildings that span three San Francisco blocks.
The Blackstone Group is in contract to buy Embarcadero Square, a 293,877-square-foot office complex in the north Financial District, for $245 million, according to a market report from brokerage JLL. The seller is Gaw Capital of Hong Kong. Neither company responded to requests for comment.
The pending deal — potentially one of the largest of the year — is another sign of investor interest in the northern Embarcadero and Jackson Square area. The historic district has smaller buildings and little new construction, in contrast to the crane-filled South of Market neighborhood.
"There is a lot of tenant activity in Jackson Square," said Kyle Kovac, a broker with CBRE who is tracking the Blackstone deal but not involved. "You're starting to see rents in excess of South of Market."
Asking rents in the north Financial District exceed $80 per square foot, Kovac said.
Tenants are attracted to the area's quieter streets, access to the Embarcadero BART Station and new restaurants.
"When you get there, your blood pressure goes down," said Kovac, who is marketing an office building at 600 Battery St. for sale.
Embarcadero Square is bounded by Broadway and Jackson Street, as well as Front Street and the Embarcadero. The buildings, constructed in the 1980s, include upper level condos that aren't part of the Blackstone deal.
Tenants in Embarcadero Square, formerly branded as Golden Gateway Commons, include insurance company Esurance, a U.S. Army recruiting center, advertising firm Bonfire Labs and CBF Electric & Data.
"We have a lot of foot traffic, a lot of office workers," said Geri Koeppel, a freelance journalist and resident of the neighboring Gateway apartments.
Koeppel said ground-floor retailers have been mostly replaced in the past few years by office tenants. For example, a cafe called Coffee Roaster at 536 Davis St. closed, she said.
"That was really hard on a lot of the residents. That was a gathering spot," Koeppel said. "There's been a lot of turnover in the last few years. There's very few neighborhood-serving businesses in the ground floors."
Koeppel mostly shops at the nearby Embarcadero Center office and retail complex.
Blackstone also owns 211 Main St., the headquarters of Charles Schwab, and has a 49 percent ownership stake in One Market Plaza, whose tenants include Google. Blackstone is also reportedly selling control of the Ferry Building, for which it has a lease with the Port of San Francisco.
"Tenant activity drives investor confidence," said Kovac. "We're seeing waves of capital coming into San Francisco and specifically looking for deals in Jackson Square."
Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: email@example.com Twitter: @rolandlisf


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Posted on 26 April 2019 by Anar Mirzayev
Dear Family
I'm Anar. In recent days, I know that the tips we share are not very successful. So we decided to expand our analysis team. And that really worked. We have been sharing very successful tips for the last 2 days. And I hope that we will continue this way after that.
We do not spend the money we earn from advertising and application purchases for ourselves. We spend almost all of our earnings to provide you with better service. We, like you, win by betting.
I would like to thank our excellent family who have always been with us and never left us. You are very valuable to us. Also, we will do great surprises to you very soon! Continue to follow us. ♥


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Pharmacists 'should refer patients for cancer tests'
Pharmacists should be given a much larger role in preventing disease, referring suspected cancer patients for diagnostic tests and offering a 'polypill' to prevent cardiovascular disease, public health experts have advised.
The move was made at a seminar attended by health minister Earl Howe, with several prominent academics recommending that pharmacies were an 'ideal portal' for hard-to-reach patients to access tests and preventative medication.
The recommendations come after pharmacy leaders came under fire for an access scheme that involved giving patients access to antibiotics and salbutamol inhalers without a prescription.
Professor Richard Parish, chief executive of the Royal Society of Public Health said pharmacists came in contact with a large number of patients - particularly men - who are traditionally reluctant to visit a doctor - and could persuade them to go for tests if they have symptoms of cancer.
He said: 'If you've got someone coughing up blood coming in for five weeks running, rather than just saying: "You need to see your GP", direct referrals into early diagnosis creates potential for early detection and referral.'
Professor Sir Nicholas Wald, director at the Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine, also said that pharmacies should be able to hand out preventative medication at the UCL School of Pharmacy seminar.
He suggested that a combination pill containing statins, ACE inhibitors and aspirin amongst other ingredients, could be given to healthy patients aged 55 years in pharmacies to help tackle cardiovascular disease.
He said pharmacists would be ideal for dispensing the drug, as patients already pick up preventative medicines like antimalarials from pharmacies, and don't feel as if they are bothering their GP, he said, though added that doctors could also prescribe the pill.
He said: 'We need a culture where there's an effective, safe, relatively low cost polypill for everyone. I think that's achievable at about £1 a day.
'The pharmacy is an ideal portal of entry. You can get antimalarials directly from the pharmacy. Much easier, lower cost, and people don't feel they're bothering a specialist. That's not to say that doctors shouldn't do it too, but we need to stop ignoring the problem.'
He added that obtaining the pill at a pharmacy would solve the objections of other health professionals, such as GPs, who might be reluctant to prescribe such a pill for someone who hasn't presented with high cholesterol or blood pressure.
At the seminar, health minister Earl Howe said the Government's wanted pharmacy to have a greater role in primary care in order to 'free up GP's time to do the things they feel they are there to do.'
Readers' comments (4)
A Great soundbite but as ever the devil would be in the detail. I like Clare Gerada's response in the Telegraph article about this - lots of common sense.
We are moving rapidly to a situation where government and the public need to decide what their priorities are in health and then fund it appropriately. A scheme like this risks flooding hospital clinics with patients who don't turn out to have cancer thus causing longer wiating lists and a reduction in the pick up rate and maybe even delays in diagnosis overall. But please don't blame the commissioners when it happens!
The government needs to spell out their intensions clearly to the public. The reason for push such as this is cost cutting exercise - rather than invest in more GPs, they have decided pharmacist is a cheaper alternative.
The public should understand this and decide if this is what they want. If the decision is made, we the GPs should be allowed to re-direct the patients to the pharmacists for the agreed conditions. Otherwise the government will be paying 2 different organizations to do the same job - it just doesn't make sense!


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Last Workshop in Series: Public Speaking !
By Seraphina Mallon-Breiman This past Monday night concluded the final workshop in the Social and Academic Workshop series, my own personal Delicate Balance Project. This workshop focused on Public Speaking and was led by student Yasmeen Najeebi, Director of Res Life Luke Krueger and professor Bill Throop. The beginning of this workshop was run virtually! Student … More Last Workshop in Series: Public Speaking !


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Although a pilot by profession, this love diver for sea life and the marine world cleans everything that pollutes the ocean. In his free time this ecologist collects trash from the seabed, it is a small and large waste that accumulates on the corals and bottom and has a negative impact on the marine world. It often ends up in the womb of fish and other marine inhabitants.
On one occasion a rescued shark trapped in plastic is rescued. Although the view was very sad for him, at the same time saving the shark for him was the most beautiful feeling he had ever experienced.


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Thanks to leakage, let's try the latest Android Pie beta on the Galaxy S9, we already have a good idea of what the update has saved for Samsung's flagship forwards. As we will expect, Android 9.0 comes with a lot of noteable updates, such as a system tray dark theme and a brand new TouchWiz replacement called "One UI".
As it turns out, these leaks were just appetizers, as Samsung has started the official rollout of Android Pie beta for Galaxy devices today on November 15th. However, it is a catch, as the software update will only be available for unlocked S9 models in Korea, Germany and the USA, at least initially. It just started to roll out today in South Korea, and the American beta program has finally gone from kl. 11.30 in the Pacific Ocean.
Step 1: Install Samsung +
First, you need the Samsung + app. You can find it by searching for "Samsung +" with the Galaxy Apps app in your appbox or by clicking the link below and then selecting "Galaxy Apps" from the "Complete Action" dialog. Once you've reached the Samsung + Download Page, touch "Install" to grab the app.
Step 2: Sign up Beta
Then open the Samsung + app and log in with either your Samsung account or your Google Account (both tasks must already be saved on your phone). From here, if the One UI beta program is available for your Galaxy S9 or S9 + variant, you'll see a small banner toward the center of the page. Just tap this banner and then follow the screen's instructions to sign up for the beta application.
If you do not see the Pie Pie registration instant message in the Samsung + app, it's probably just a matter of time before it appears (assuming you have a supported Galaxy S9 variant, of course). So be sure to check out the Samsung + folder frequently, as there is only a limited number of slots available on the beta application.
Step 3: Update to Pie
After signing up for the beta version, open the Settings app and select "Software Update." From there, tap "Download updates manually," then wait a few seconds while the phone checks the update. If it does not show up right away, check back in about five minutes.
When the update is found, it will be downloaded and installed automatically. This process takes up to 30 minutes, so make sure you have a charger at hand.
Remember, this is a beta build, so you can encounter some bugs – even though Samsung has tested this firmware internally for a few months now, so it's pretty stable. However, the building does not transfer SafetyNet, so you lose access to some apps like Netflix and Pokémon GO. If it's too much for you to stomach, know that Samsung has said they will release the final public build of Pie to beta-eligible phones in January 2019.
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Willow Short lived as a "warrior from birth." Her older brother, Mark Jr., charmed people with a "contagious smile" and her older sister, Liana, devoured books as an "avid reader."
That's how the three children found dead along with their mother and father in an apparent murder-suicide at the family's Berks County home this weekend are described in heartbreaking obituaries published Wednesday memorializing them and their mother, 33-year-old Megan Short.
"She was witty, sassy loved school, art, dressing up, parties, Barbies, princesses and playing tricks on her family," the obituary says of Liana, 8, the oldest of the three siblings. Of Mark Jr., named for his father, it reads, "MJ's sweetness didn't overshadow his roughness. He approved of hugs, but kisses were out."
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
And for little Willow, who in her two years alive already survived a life-threatening congenital heart defect that required a heart transplant when she was days old, the remembrance reads: "Her second home for the first year was [Children's Hospital of Philadelphia], where she became an expert at putting on EKG stickers and other medical procedures. Yet, she loved life and was the happiest child ever.
"She was funny, loved Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, dancing, taking walks, pulling all the tissues out of a box, opening the refrigerator every few minutes and opening the pantry," the obituary continues.
Megan Short's obituary described her as an "awesome mom" who "put her babies above all."
"She was sweet, caring, empathetic, forgiving, giving, accepting, helpful, real, strong, honest, an advocate for organ donation, intelligent and beautiful," the memorial reads.
As funerals for the children and their mother, 33-year-old Megan Short, were set Wednesday, the Berks County District Attorney's Office announced that officials plan to hold a news conference Monday afternoon to provide more details on the investigation into the family's tragic deaths.
Arrangements for Mark Short, 40, the husband and father, have not been announced.
Days after the parents and children were discovered dead of gunshot wounds in the living room of the family's stately Sinking Spring home, investigators have still not said which parent they believe pulled the trigger. There remain more questions than answers about what went horribly wrong.
NBC10 Investigator George Spencer delved into records in Berks County in search of any evidence that proved claims of marital issues, Megan Short's plans to leave due to alleged emotional abuse by her husband or "domestic issues" described by police in the wake of the family's deaths. But a records search in Reading turned up no protection-from-abuse orders and no filings for divorce on behalf of either the husband or wife.
Megan Short's friends and relatives of Mark Short have said that Megan expressed plans to leave her husband on social media, and alleged abuse in the home. Police said in the days after the tragic apparent murder-suicide, which also left the couple's children, 2-year-old Willow, 5-year-old Mark Jr. and 8-year-old Liana, dead, that the murder-suicide appeared to be a "domestic incident" gone terribly wrong between . But they never provided any additional details on what the couple's "domestic issues" were or whether police had a history of responding to calls at their Sinking Spring residence.
Whatever tensions in the Short home existed, they apparently boiled over sometime over the weekend. One of Megan Short's relatives contacted police in Sinking Spring and asked them to pay a visit Saturday to the couple's stately stone-and-siding home on Winding Brook Drive after she failed to show up to a planned lunch.
That's when police made the harrowing discovery in the home's living room: Both parents, all three children and the family dog all lay dead of gunshot wounds. Police have said a handgun was found next to one of the adults, but they haven't said yet which adult they believe did the shooting. They did, however, say they located what appeared to be a handwritten murder-suicide note somewhere in the home.
In another unusual twist, authorities ordered an autopsy to be performed only on Mark Short's body. They have not yet revealed any results of that autopsy.
In the last two years, the Shorts struggled with serious illness in their youngest child, Willow, who was born with a congenital heart defect. She underwent a heart transplant when she was just days old and needed intensive follow-up treatment, which has been chronicled in both the Reading Eagle and the New York Times. Megan Short also wrote recently of her own struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder caused by grappling with her daughter's illness on the Philly at Heart blog.
Mark Short's relatives told NBC10 earlier this week that Megan Short had been planning to leave him and file for divorce. They described Mark Short as a family man who was desperately trying to keep his family together -- although Megan Short's claims of abuse, shared with the Reading Eagle by her friends, told a different story.
"Mark was really trying to make it work, and he took them to Disney World in February to try and bond the family together," Eleanor Short, Mark Short's aunt, said. "Evidently, it didn't work, because she still wanted to get out of the marriage."
NBC10 has reached out to Megan Short's relatives and friends, but has not received responses.
Funerals for the children and mother will be held for friends and relatives at Givnish Funeral Home on Academy Road in Northeast Philadelphia Thursday and Friday.
In lieu of flowers, the obituaries ask for donations to Gift of Life Family House or the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Cardiac Center.
Authorities in Berks County said until Monday's news conference, no more information about the tragic murder-suicide will be made public.
"There will be no further updates until that time, so that we may focus all of our efforts on bringing closure to this investigation," the office wrote in a statement.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.


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I have been so confused through the night. I became a christian in my early 20's, I saw an amazing loving community of people that I wanted to be a part of. Jesus then came and spoke to me and invited me into a relationship with him. Since that time in the summer of 1992 I have 'belonged' to 4 churches, all bar one move was due to moving to different parts of the country. I currently work for my present church as the children and youth pastor.
So all should be right - yes - no. I have three children aged 9 1/2, nearly 11 and 13 1/2, 2 girls and a boy in between them. Our two youngest have been brought up through the churches, our eldest who has lived with us for 18 months, did attend from being approximately 9 years old. I would say that my 11 year old stopped enjoying it at about 7 years old - he still cannot say why. My 9 1/2 year also stopped enjoying it at around that age. I have always been involved in the childrens ministry with them.
Have I done something wrong? My husband took the oldest two to a youth service being run near by last night - they left after 40 minutes as they were all really not enjoying it, though husband did say that he could have stuck it out to see if it got better.
Have I given them an attitude of expectation that has become all about self grattification? I know they are all in the process of building a relationship with Jesus, we have visited churches where they have loved stuff, they do all love being involved in family services with us. Is it wrong for me to long for us all to 'belong' to a worshipping community that we love to be with? Maybe my expectations of too unrealistic.
Then this morning as I wallow in the pit of confusion, my son tells me about a music video he and his little sister have watched this morning before I got up. He told me it was a rap version of This Little Light of Mine, saying the video was brilliant and it was in the charts. He was so impressed that when I said shall we look for it on youtube, he was by my side instantly and helped me to find it. We then sat and watched it together, a small act of worship from the two of us this morning - thank you God. I don't have my questions answered but I am reassured He is with me.
LZ7 - This Little Light: FULL HD (NEW 2010 OFFICIAL)


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Heather was appointed Open Heart Kitchen's Executive Director in January, 2017. Prior to this role, she served as the Executive Director of Monterey Zoological Society, and co-founded Elephants of Africa Rescue Society where she also served as CFO. She brings over 18 years of experience in Nonprofit Management and utilizes her experience to drive organizational growth without compromising program quality.
Felicia is a Certified Dietary Manager with over 10 years of experience operating various kitchens in hospitals, nursing homes, and the county jail. Felicia runs the day-to-day operations and management of food services. Felicia loves the rodeo, fishing, and Pokeno! She joined the OHK family in March, 2020.
Denise oversees fundraising and donor relations for Open Heart Kitchen. Denise has experience in fundraising, marketing and event planning for various nonprofits including The Health Trust, Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund and Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Most recently, she was the development officer at the Bankhead Theater where she was responsible for sponsorships, grants, and major gifts. She currently volunteers for Mighty4 Arts Foundation and serves on the board of Tri-Valley Haven.
Shawnda joined Open Heart Kitchen in November of 2010 as a Site Supervisor before assuming her current role as Volunteer Coordinator. Whether you are a guest or a volunteer, Bost has a passion for helping people find their "fit" in the Open Heart Kitchen family. Under her leadership, Open Heart Kitchen's volunteer base has grown to one of the largest volunteer networks in the Tri-Valley. Prior to joining Open Heart Kitchen, Bost served more than 15 years in customer service and logistics.
Becki grew up in England and lived in Australia for a number of years. Lucky for us, she moved to California in 2016 and started volunteering in our kitchen and eventually joined our team as a Site Supervisor, and she is now a Program Coordinator for our Volunteer Services Department. In her spare time Becki loves to travel, as well as volunteer at the Valley Humane Society where she follows her deep passion for helping animals.
Christi has been with Open Heart Kitchen since 2015. Christi worked in customer support before becoming a stay at home mom to her 3 children. Through her position at Open Heart Kitchen she encourages her own children to volunteer in the kitchens and learn the importance of giving back to the community. When she's not giving back to the community she can be found gardening or in her kitchen baking up a delicious new confection!
Gunilla was born and raised in Sweden, and moved to the Bay Area in 1994. Gunilla brings over 20 years of experience as a pastry chef and baker. She started as a volunteer at Open Heart Kitchen, and officially joined our team as chef in January, 2015. When Nilla's not in the OHK kitchen, she's probably spending time with family or out on a hike (ask her for her favorite hiking trail recommendations!)
Lisa joined Open Heart Kitchen in November of 2014, as a Production Chef and Site Supervisor after volunteering in our kitchen. She graduated with High Honors from The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of San Francisco with an Associates Degree in Baking and Pastry. As much as she loves cooking, she says that she loves the interaction with her volunteers even more.
Liz built a career in Silicon Valley, but always held a passion for cooking, baking, and helping people. She enrolled in the culinary program at Diablo Valley College, which led her to begin volunteering regularly at Open Heart Kitchen in 2017. By the time she joined our team in 2018, she already knew our kitchen like the back of her hand!
Todd is the driving force behind our Bag Lunch Program, managing volunteers in the creation and distribution of more than 2,500 bags weekly. In addition to that, he delivers meals to our Senior & Hot Meal sites, and picks up large donations. Before joining the OHK team, Todd was a stay at home dad and worked with middle school-aged kids at Crosswinds Church in Livermore. He has been married for 25 years to his wife Synthia, with whom he has a daughter, 2 dogs and a rescue cat.
Gary has been with Open Heart Kitchen since 2003, and prior to that he was a member of our Board of Directors. Gary oversees meal service at our Asbury Church Hot Meal Site, collects large donations, and delivers meals to homeless clients who are unable to get to one of OHK's meal sites.
Sharon has been with Open Heart Kitchen since 2014 and oversees the Senior Meal service at our Livermore Community Center site, as well as the Hot Meal service at our Asbury and Trinity sites.
Heather is a third generation (and raising the fourth!) Livermore resident who has a long history of volunteering in the community. She has recently made the career change after 30 years in the restaurant industry to join Open Heart Kitchen to pursue her passion for giving back to our community. In her time off she enjoys finding unique travel adventures within the Bay Area and cooking for Cub Scout camps every summer.
Evelyn moved to California from Chicago in 2005, and joined the Open Heart Kitchen family that same year. The things that Evelyn enjoys most about working for Open Heart Kitchen is the sense of fullfillment and purpose that it gives her, as well as working with Open Heart's volunteers and staff.
Linda joined Open Heart Kitchen as a Site Supervisor in July, 2017. Volunteering at the Pleasanton Senior Center and working with her fellow volunteers sparked her interest in joining our team. Prior to coming to OHK, Linda worked in tech in Silicon Valley, but realized her real passion was working with food and interacting with people. Linda makes every diner that walks into our dining room feel special, and she has a gift for telling our diners' whole stories in a way that is both empowering and uplifting.
Loree runs the Hot Meal service at Lynnewood Church on Sundays, and is an integral part of our Bagged Lunch production.
Steve is a proud Dublin resident who spent nearly 30 years of commuting into Silicon Valley where he worked for the San Jose Mercury News as a reporter, deputy managing editor and editorial page editor. Instead of retirement, Steve yearned for "refirement": something less career-driven and more service oriented.This passion lead him to Open Heart Kitchen.


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Keeping Your Eyes on the Goal
Many projects fail because their goals are unclear or their course is diverted during execution. A concise vision statement can prevent this. A few hours spent creating a well-defined vision statement will help the project to be communicated and understood better, will help the project stay on course and will ensure that your goals are met. In order to achieve these benefits, you need to take a structured approach to building your vision.
We all have things that we want to achieve in our personal and business lives. You can't even work the satellite-navigation in your car without having a goal. Like in the car, our goals help make choices about the path we follow – hopefully the road we're on is heading toward our destination and not away from it.
Setting a destination also helps when you need to communicate to others where you're heading – next time someone asks where you're going just give them a list of roads and ask if they want to come along.
In business, the way we can express our goals is with a vision statement. Vision statements are not just those huge unwieldy things that are lovingly unveiled at the annual corporate jamboree and then quietly ignored by the workforce for the rest of the year. Even the smallest project can benefit from one. A good vision statement will:
- Ensure that we have a common agreement on where we want to go before we start.
- Be used to elicit buy-in from people who will help us along the way.
- Help to guide choices and decisions along the way.
- Measure our progress from where we started.
- Identify when we have reached our destination.
So, how do we create a vision that delivers these benefits?
Start with a Need
The vision expresses a requirement for something to be different, and we need to identify why such a change is necessary. By doing this, we can ensure that we have the right vision to fulfill the need.
"Let's go into town."
"I need to buy some batteries for the TV remote."
"The local store sells batteries, too."
"Okay, let's go to the store."
So, to have an effective vision, we should express why a change is needed and which needs it will fulfill. There are three major needs that drive most businesses:
- We can make more money (e.g., by increased sales).
- We can spend less (e.g., by reducing company headcount).
- We can reduce our exposure to risk (e.g., ensuring we fulfill compliancy requirements).
Be clear about which combination of these your vision is addressing, and state them in a language that the business will understand. Do this and you will find that business leaders are more likely to support your efforts. You should also ensure that these needs are aligned with the business direction that your organization has chosen. Look at other business visions or mission statements that are part of your company policy as guidance. Again, the business is more likely to support initiatives that support the company policy.
When writing our vision statement, we need to consider our audience and what we will use our vision statement for. Ensure that you write in language and terminology that will be understood by your audience – it's no use to present a technical vision and expect business users to support it. The vision statement is also primarily for communication of our vision – keep it short and understandable, not too general and not with huge amounts of detail.
Describe your Future State
So far, we have only identified a need. What we need to do next is explain to our audience what they will get if they follow our vision.
"Why do we need batteries? The TV remote is okay."
"If we have spare batteries in the cupboard, then in six months time, we won't have to steal them from other remotes when the TV remote stops working."
You may have spent many hours thinking through the issues and possible solutions, but your audience probably hasn't. The easiest way for them to understand your vision is if you tell them what difference it will make to their business life. Your future state should cover three things:
Scope: If your vision is within a fixed scope, then ensure you point that out so your audience is clear about how much of the business will change.
Timescale: You need to tell your audience how long it will be before they notice a change. This does not need to be very detailed at this stage, but it should be reasonably accurate. You don't want to create an expectation that you cannot fulfill.
The things that will be different today: This is not a detailed project plan, but you should capture the major outcomes of your vision. Ideally, you previously identified the things that will change in your needs as requiring improvement. The benefits of the vision should be clearly communicated. If these are hard financial figures, then this is the place that we should state them. For example, "Within six months, the purchasing department will see a reduction of invoice mismatches of around 10 percent. Within one year, this reduction will be sufficient to start reducing headcount within the purchasing team by one full-time employee."
If you haven't thought through the problem to the point where you can express a future state in terms of scope, timescale and outcomes, then you are also not at a point where you can effectively communicate the change. Developing a vision statement can be a useful tool for clarifying your own ideas.
Now for the Changes
Hopefully the audience has seen that there is an issue and has bought into the future state described. In order to move from the current problematic state into the future beneficial state, changes need to be made. Describe what changes are required to achieve the transition.
"If we are going to keep spare batteries for the TV remote, we need to spend some cash upfront, we need to stop other people from stealing them for use elsewhere, and we must ensure that we buy new ones as soon as we use the spares."
This statement of changes should not be a detailed project plan. You need to describe the changes in the same level of detail that you used for the needs and the future state. The changes should be general enough for your audience to understand and detailed enough that they can see the major tasks that need to be undertaken.
Make it Memorable
So far, the one thing that has been missing from all of our work is that one memorable statement that our audience can take away with them when they leave. Something that we can use if asked:
"So what is your vision all about?"
"To always have a working TV remote."
Look back over the issues that will be solved, the things that will be different in the future and the changes that will need to be made. Try to encapsulate the main idea in a single statement that is short, easily understandable and good for communication. It's okay if the statement doesn't tell the whole story – our total vision statement will be more than just this one phrase.
Putting it All Together
A complete vision statement is a combination of all of these pieces that we have documented. Create a document that tells a story to your audience:
"We need to make a change because there is a current problem …"
"My vision is ..."
"If we make this change then at the end of … time you will see these differences …"
"In order to achieve these end results, we need to make the following changes …"
Now, we should have a vision statement that:
- Ensures that we have a common agreement on where we want to go before we start,
- Can be used to elicit buy-in from people who will help us along the way, and
- Helps to inform choices and decisions along the way.
But how can it be use to measure our progress?
Keeping it Alive
If the vision statement is good enough, then the audience will have been persuaded to make changes and projects will have been developed from the vision. Because the vision identified current issues and how things would be different in the future, it is an easy task to translate these into critical success factors or key performance indicators for the project phases. By creating such measures and actively monitoring them, it is possible to measure progress from where we started and identify when we have reached our destination
However, businesses don't stand still while we make our changes! Ensure that you have regular review sessions with the business users that supported the vision to check that the vision for the future is still valid and that it still supports the overall aims of the business.
Remember to refer back to the vision statement when decisions are required along the way or when new projects are initiated. The vision will have challenges and diversions, but without a clear statement to guide you, it's easy for the ultimate goal to be lost. You may not achieve your vision in a single step, but you can ensure that each small step is in the right direction.
Finally, the work is done, the projects completed, changes have been made. You can now refer back to your vision statement, compare it with the new reality and say, we have arrived.


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Smeg are pleased to introduce new built in Wi-Fi wine coolers to the range, available in Dolce Stil Novo, Linea and Classic aesthetics in undercounter or reduced height options.
With Wi-Fi connectivity capability, you can operate, control and monitor your wine cooler remotely using the SmegConnect App from your smartphone and tablet (iOS and Android).
The App has a strong focus on the food & wine experience and thanks to Il Cucchiaio d'Argento and Tannico, always has updated and customisable content.
Through the Smeg Connect App you can manage programmes and switch on/off all appliances connected to the network, anywhere and at any time, safely and conveniently via your smartphone or tablet
The attractive and intuitive interface gives access to lots of additional features, such as recipes and matching with wines, while a "Personal Assistant" helps you to navigate through the App and "Direct Assistance" allows you to easily contact our customer service department, through a simple on-line form.
This combination of appliance and App is the perfect mixture of Italian design with advanced technologies, the best solution for preserving and exhibiting a precious and valuable wine collection. SmegConnect wine coolers perfectly control the serving and preserving temperature in addition to many other functions such as sharing wine lists with your friends via Facebook.
Models available are as follows:
45cm reduced height:
Dolce Stil Novo: CVI618RWNR2 – Copper Trim, RH, CVI618LWNR2 – Copper Trim, LH, CVI618RWNX2 – St/Steel Trim, RH, CVI618LWNX2 – St/Steel Trim, LH
Linea: CVI118RWN2 – Black, RH, CVI118LWN2 – Black, LH, CVI118RWS2 – Silver Glass, RH, CVI118LWS2 – Silver Glass, LH
Classic: CVI318RWX2 – St/Steel, RH, CVI318LWX2 – St/Steel, LH
60cm undercounter:
Dolce Stil Novo: CVI638RWN2 – Black, RH, CVI638LWN2 – Black, LH
Linea: CVI138RWS2 – Silver Glass, RH, CVI138LWS2 – Silver Glass, LH
Classic: CVI338RWX2 – St/Steel, RH, CVI338LWX2 – St/Steel, LH
Some Wi-Fi Wine coolers are available now (depending on the model)
Smeg will also be introducing Wi-Fi ovens and dishwashers to the range, expected to be available early 2019, so watch this space!


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Cello Lessonswith Arielle Jochum
Arielle Jochum
Instruments: Cello
Days Available: Friday Evening and Saturday
Contact Form
Ready to sign up for private lessons with Arielle? Please send us an email to firstname.lastname@example.com with the name of the student, age, the preferred day(s) for lessons, and a short message about why he or she would like to take lessons!
About Arielle Jochum
A recent graduate from McDaniel College, Arielle participated in the Westminster Symphony Orchestra, McDaniel College Choir, and was a continuing participant in the McDaniel Jazz Band. She has been playing the cello for over 13 years and has experience in playing the ukulele, piano, guitar, and singing. Her experience performing in various settings has enabled Arielle to have a musical style that is flexible, able to adapt, and learn from her fellow musicians.


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"Beginner's Luck" starts here Aug. 3-12
Mississippi Bend Players will premiere the comedy "Beginner's Luck," written by Emmy Award nominee and Golden Girls producer P.J. Lasker Aug. 3-12.
Augustana alumni and brothers Keenan and Tristan Odenkirk play Harold and Harry — different personalities of a former child star trying to deal with his loss of fame as an adult. Dropped by his agent, disliked by his ex-wife, and mourning his loss of confidence, he devises questionable plans for a career comeback and copes with his existential crisis by talking to himself.
The play is directed by Augustana alumnus and Broadway veteran Phil McKinley.
"As a producer/director, I'm always exploring the opportunity to produce new plays by writers who need a platform to develop their work," he said. "Mr. Lasker brings to MBP his award-winning talents as a creator and writer for the hit series "The Golden Girls" and "Barney Miller," among others."
McKinley's production also features Marjorie Gast, Megan Clarke, Mike Schulz, Lora Adams and Mark Reubling. They are joined onstage by an ensemble of six company interns who extend their involvement to all areas of the production, including scenic construction, costumes, lighting and sound, dramaturgy and house management.
"Beginner's Luck" will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 3, 4, 10 and 11, and at 2 p.m. Aug. 5 and 12 in Augustana's Brunner Theatre Center.
Tickets are $20, or $15 for seniors, students and Augustana faculty and staff. Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more.
Talk-back sessions with the cast, director, and creative team will take place after the opening weekend performances. Playwright P.J. Lasker will participate in the talk-backs Aug. 3 and 4.
A show-after-show will be presented Aug. 10 and 11. This 45-minute cabaret will feature summer interns and be presented in the Honkamp Black Box Theatre 15 minutes after the curtain call. Admission to the show-after-show is $5 per person.
The Mississippi Bend Players is a regional theatre group whose mission is to provide excellence in theatre for the Quad Cities area by producing both proven commercial works and original material.
Kevin Carton, 309-794-7323


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Baby, We Were Born To Rerun
By Brian Lowry
Due to a TiVo mishap, I recently missed an episode of HBO's gritty western Deadwood,
which made me really %*@+#-ing mad. (Watching too much of the show, I've noticed, tends to make people speak as if they live
in Deadwood.)
Then I remembered, no sweat: The series would repeat the next day—and a couple more times that week—allowing me to get my fix later.
Seldom, if ever, will you hear an encouraging word said about reruns, and the prevailing opinion within the media (summed up in the upfront presentations and subsequent press coverage) is that they are being eradicated from broadcast TV almost as fast as traditional sitcoms. The truth is a bit more complicated than that, although it makes for less compelling headlines.
Rather than going away, reruns are morphing into a new phase of their lives—one in which they are deployed more immediately, and strategically, than they have been in the past.
Indeed, NBC, CBS, and UPN have all built near-instant reruns into their prime time lineups, announcing plans to repeat The Apprentice
and America's Next Top Model
a few days after their initial telecast. As for CBS, the network will seek to forestall viewers' weekend trips to sister Viacom unit Blockbuster with Crime Time Saturday,
a rotating rerun wheel using Jerry Bruckheimer-produced series, such as Cold Case
and Without a Trace, as the spokes.
Similarly, Fox will air several series twice a week through the summer, mirroring HBO's "have-it-your-way" model, after successfully establishing The O.C.
last year by blanketing its lineup with the soap.
Part of this has to do with simple economics, since reruns represent an inexpensive means of balancing the cost of a prime time schedule.
Moreover, so-called reality programs lack the shelf life of scripted fare, making it incumbent on networks to cash in to the extent they can now, before names like "Omarosa" and "Trista" take their inevitable trip down the modern memory hole.
There are other good reasons, however, to deploy repeats early and often—again taking a page from cable, where movies and series run and rerun until the sprockets come off. That's why TNT plays the same movie on three consecutive nights and The Shawshank Redemption
and Die Hard
are seemingly always on somewhere.
Of course, the cable gnats weren't around to nibble at network shares back when broadcasters could comfortably view the summer as rerun city. Yet an equally important game-changer involved the ascendance of serialized or semi-serialized dramas, such as ER, The West Wing, and 24, which require viewers to keep pace with continuing storylines. (By contrast, fans of Bonanza
could miss an episode with impunity, knowing that, if Hoss or Little Joe came close to marrying, the girl would do the honorable thing and die.)
What's happening now, in fact, reflects a schism among various kinds of dramatic programming, with reruns adapting to each form.
Procedural crime shows have spread like locusts, offering the networks self-contained bliss. As such, we'll see enough CSI
and Law & Order
repeats this summer to convince a casual observer that domestic crime rates are at an all-time high.
As for serialized shows, their reruns have migrated into an entirely new medium: namely, the DVD. In fact, I know people who consciously eschew 24
on Fox in order to watch each season at their leisure—usually in some sort of three- or four-day marathon.
The point is that, with the exception of cheap reality or talk shows, broadcasters can't make a business out of single airings of scripted series. Which means they have to find some way to amortize costs—if not on their own air, then through some other conduit. Despite audience erosion, there's also ample evidence that people possess a near-insatiable appetite for scripted programs they really like, which will endure long after folks have stopped debating how Donald Trump does that with his hair.
A few years ago, NBC sought to address this whole conundrum with an ad campaign titled "It's New to You," the point being that, if viewers missed episodes of favorite series, they weren't really reruns. Chalk it up as one of those logical ideas that the public simply didn't buy, a bit like Walter Mondale's 1984 campaign pledge to raise taxes.
Still, to say reruns are out, as many have, misses the point. Yes, the old rerun formula is changing, but, of necessity, there will always be plenty on—or available for purchase—offering that comfortable feeling of déjà vu all over again.
I could explain why, of course, but that would be repeating myself.
The television industry's top news stories, analysis and blogs of the day.


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Today has been a strange one. It was my day off, but from the moment I woke up it just seemed to rain, rain, rain and rain some more! I'd just got used to the heat and sunshine and here we are again, back to cloudy skies and days spent indoors. Hoping to brighten up my day, I decided to throw on my New Look coral pink skinnies that I picked up last week. This is the first time I've worn them and I love them. They fit perfectly, and only cost £16.99 which is really great value compared to other coloured skinnies on the High Street. They're from the YESYES range which I suppose you could say is the basics, value denim range they do, but they're great quality for the price. They have a few other colours of these as well. I style them with a gorgeous polkadot cutout blouse that was very kindly sent to me from Glamorous. As you know, I've been lusting after a lot of their items for a while now, so I was so excited when I was asked if I would like to review something. I chose this as I think it's very 'me'. You all know I love my little collared blouses, so this was an obvious choice, and the cut out detail really drew me to this. It's also available in the opposite colourway too, black with white spots.
Blouse – c/o Glamorous
Jeans – New Look
Shoes – Primark
Bracelets – Sitting Pretty
Nails – Tart Deco by Essie
Lips – Fanfare by MAC
I also chose this gorgeous floral blazer that fits like a glove and looks so lovely on. I'm dying to wear this as it will go with so many colours. It also looks great with the pink jeans, but I thought spots and florals at the same time was a bit too much for me! I'm thinking of styling the jacket with the sleeves rolled up, over some skinny navy trousers and a white slouchy vest top tucked in, with lots of rings on my fingers. Can't wait to sport it at the weekend!
Have you bought anything from Glamorous? What do you think of the pieces I chose?
PS. Don't forget you can still enter my giveaway!
That blouse is STUNNING. I want so bad! xo
I love this outfit! 🙂
So cute! XO
This is a really lovely outfit, your jeans are such a pretty shade and the cut out detailing on your shirt is lovely too!
I've been lusting after that blazer for ages, you're so lucky! I looove the colour of your jeans too, amazing for their price!
That top is so cool! Love the cut-out!
Aw you chose some amazing items 🙂 that shirt is so cool. I may try my hand at DIY'ing a shirt like this xx
I love the colour of your jeans, it goes perfectly with the B&W polka dots. XO
That blouse is really cute and the blazer looks perfect, looking forward to an outfit post with it! xo
Love this blouse, really cute – been eyeing it up myself!
That blouse is so unusual, I love the cut outs!
aw so very jealous you have that blouse, it looks gorgeous with the jeans! x
I love the blouse!
what a cute fun top. looks amazing with those jeans
Love everything here, the polka dot blouse is gorgeous, love the cut out. I recently got some Glamorous stuff via awear, they have some really nice stuff at the moment!


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Clubhouse Pass
Save over $145 by playing 3 rounds and up to 30% off staying 3 nights with this exclusive package. Presenting you with 14 uniquely designed courses, all ranked 4 stars or higher on the Fairway Insider, "Reviews by Golfers for Golfers" and highly awarded in Golf Digest "Top 100 Courses You Can Play", Golf Advisor "Best in South Carolina", and Golf Channels TV show BIG BREAK Myrtle Beach …. Just to name a few!
- Rounds 3
- Bonus Up To $145 Savings


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Archive for May 2019
Candida auris biofilm model
iFyber has added Candida auris to the list of pathogens available on our ex vivo model of mature biofilms. C. auris is a drug resistant fungus that is responsible for a number of potentially lethal infections worldwide. iFyber has brought the organism in-house and to allow our clients access to the ability to test their…Read More
SAWC Spring 2019
Come catch up or meet the team for the first time in San Antonio next week (May 8-10). Learn how we can help with preclinical studies for your advanced wound care device development.Read More


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We've had some poopy people interactions in our move to Colorado.
Some real poopy ones.
But I wanna tell you about a not-so-poopy one. I wanna tell ya about an awesome one.
I wanna tell ya about our friend Viv who we met here at Starbucks.
That's Viv right there...
At first - she was simply making our coffee for us. And let's be honest - Whole30 has destroyed fancy schmancy sugary coffee for us - so Viv was basically pouring us our Venti Iced Coffees, black with no sweetener - and serving 'em up with a smile.
But quickly it became more than a smile. It became:
"Hey Tymm!" or "Hi there Laura!" when we walked in the door.
It became questions about the kids and simple talks about simple things in life.
It became handwritten notes on our cups encouraging us to have a great day.
It became our order waiting for us at the register cuz she knew us well.
It turned in to Viv and Laura grabbing coffee (the irony is not lost here) to talk about life.
It looked like the "dad of daughters" in me feeling compelled to lean across the counter one day and tell her "Hey... our family loves you and if you ever need ANYTHING from us - we're right here!"
And then... this past Saturday night - it looked like this:
Laura got that text message from Viv the night before Baptism Sunday was gonna happen!
And so after crawling down in that baptismal with me to dunk our Z-Dogg in His name... Laura stayed down there...
She grabbed Viv in a hug and spoke real, true words over her about His love for her...
About Him moving in her...
About Him having incredible plans for her life and how He was already using her...
About how she she was glorifying Him...
And then she dunked her!
Woo Hoo!
And man - what an awesome, holy and special thing to be invited to be part of!
Later that night - we went by Starbucks because we knew Viv was working and we just wanted to share our excitement and happiness for her again!
And we needed a new "family picture" with her cuz we voted and we all agreed - she's an honorary member of Camp Hoffman now people!
Viv - our family is thankful for your life and super grateful that God saw it fit for our paths to cross!
And we're super thankful that you see your position at Starbucks as way more than just pouring a coffee! Your ministry is obvious and it's big!
Keep on being the YOU that you are!
Everybody needs a Viv...
- Homemain page
- Aboutcamp hoffman
- Contact ussay hello
- Brighton Their Worldour foundation
- Subscribe to RSSkeep updated!
Monday, November 5, 2018
Our Friend Viv...
Written by Tymm at 11:30 PM
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Blog Archive
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Got this from Shyamal. I had forgotten how much it made me laugh the first time I read it, so I laughed all over again!
This is an apocryphal tale naturally. The metal bands used for bird ringing in the US once had the address of the Washington Biological Survey, abbreviated: Wash. Biol. Surv. until the agency received the following letter from an Arkansas camper:
"Dear Sirs:
While camping last week I shot one of your birds. I think it was a crow. I followed the cooking instructions on the leg tag and I want to tell you, it was horrible."
The bands are now marked Fish and Wildlife Service.
Here's a warbler (possibly BLYTH'S REED WARBLER, possibly not! All those warblers on the bird book pages look exactly alike to me!)
See you lot tomorrow….
Tags: birding, humour, joke, kanakapura road, photography, school


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- Software
- Data Portals
- User Support
- Resources
- About Us
Minsu Joh
National Institute of Supercomputing and Networking, KISTI
Daejeon, Korea
The Korea Supercomputing Promotion Act, titled Utilization and Promotion of National Spercomputing, was enacted on June 7th, 2011. Subsequently, the KISTI supercomputing center was appointed as the national supercomputing center in 2012, and then the supercomputing center and networking center merged to become the NISN on January 1, 2013.
Since 188, the largest user group of KISTI's supercomputing services has been atmospheric scientists. We have been trying to develop user-friendly modeling and simulation environments and huge data analysis tools using the web service and visualization technologies.
For over 12 years we have been developing web-based portal and scientific visualization systems for weather and climate scientists. At last, we finished a WRF portal and a GRIMs portal in 2012. The computing system used is TAHYON2-Sun Blade 6275, one of supercomputing systems in NISN of KISTI. Our next plan is to merge the WRF and GRIMs portals into a single portal and develop other portals for MOM and ROMS.
We also have been trying to extend the user's ability to analyze their huge simulation data using high-end visualization tools. One of the tools we selected as a scientific visualization service is VAPOR. Over the three years, we have enhanced the visualization function of VAPOR for ocean data generated by different models in a same visualization window.


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Meteor showers occur about 9 times each year and are a great opportunity to take photos.[1] X Research source Although when a meteor falls is unpredictable, you can still easily capture one on your camera. While a digital DSLR camera will give you the clearest image, your phone camera will work well with a long-exposure app. At the end of the night, you'll have great pictures of a meteor shower that you can share!
Method 1 of 2:
Shooting Meteor Showers with a DSLR
1Attach a 16-24mm lens to your camera. A wide-angle lens works best for photographing meteor showers since it captures most of the sky in the frame. Screw the lens into place on the front of your camera until it's secure.[2] X Research source
- Most stock lenses that come with your camera are 16-24mm, so you don't need to buy any additional supplies.
2Set your camera on a tripod. Take the slide off of your tripod by pressing the release button on top. Tighten the screw on the slide into the mounting hole on the bottom of your camera. Once the camera is secure, put the slide back onto your tripod until it clicks in place.[3] X Research source
- Make sure your tripod legs are on level ground so your camera isn't tilted when you're taking photos.
3Focus your camera on a star or the moon manually. Choose a bright star or the moon to help set your focus. Turn the focus ring on the camera lens until the edges are crisp and clear. Take a couple practice photos, and zoom into them on your camera's live-view to see how they look. If your pictures are blurry, adjust the focus until they appear clear.[4] X Research source
- If you can zoom in on your camera's live-view, zoom in on one of the stars or the moon in frame and watch the screen while you adjust the focus ring. That way you don't have to take additional pictures to find your focus.
4Aim your camera at the meteor radiant. Radiants are the areas in the sky where meteor showers originate from. Point your camera up towards the sky in the location of the meteor shower's radiant. That way, you'll have the best chances of getting pictures of a meteor.[5] X Research source
- The radiant will be in a different place for each meteor shower.
Locations of Popular Meteor Radiants
The Leonids originate from the east near the constellation Leo.
The Perseids radiant is roughly near the constellation Perseus the Hero in the northern sky.
The Lyrids appear in near the Vega star in the constellation Lyra in the north.[6] X Research source
5Change your exposure to 20-30 seconds. Since meteors fall at unpredictable times, increasing your exposure time will capture a photo over a set duration. Turn up the exposure time on your camera to 20-30 seconds so you're more likely to catch a meteor in frame.[7] X Research source
- If your exposure time runs too long, it will catch star movement as the Earth rotates. Never exceed more than 30 seconds of exposure time or else you may confuse star movement for meteors in your photo.
6Wrap the camera in a hand towel to prevent dew formation. Loosely drape a hand towel over your camera so it doesn't cover your lens. Avoid touching the focus rings or any other of your manual settings so you don't have to readjust them.[8] X Research source
- Check the camera lens or camera for dew every hour and wipe it off if necessary.
7Use a shutter release cable so you don't have to touch your camera. Shutter release cables connect to your camera and allow you to take pictures without shaking your camera. Hold the cable in your hand and press the button to take a picture.[9] X Research source
- Shutter release cables can be purchased online or from specialty camera stores.
- If you don't have a shutter release cable, use the self-timer built into your camera.
- Some cameras with wifi or Bluetooth capabilities can connect to your phone so you can control them.
8Take photos as often as you can for the best chances of getting a good picture. Throughout the night, sit in a comfortable place while controlling your camera with the cable. Take as many pictures as you can depending on your exposure time. As you take your photos, watch the sky instead of your camera so you can see the meteors in person.[10] X Research source
- For example, if your exposure time is 30 seconds, then try to take 2 pictures every minute.
- Make sure you have enough space on your memory card for your photos. Usually, a 64 GB memory card will work.
- Look up the peak times for the meteor shower so you know the best times to shoot.
Method 2 of 2:
Taking Pictures with Your Phone Camera
1Download a camera app with long exposure time. The stock camera app on most phones doesn't work for long-exposure photography. Look for an app in your device's app store for a camera where you can manually change the exposure time to 20-30 seconds.[11] X Research source
- Some apps that work well for long-exposure photography include Slow Shutter Cam, FV-5, and NightCap Camera.
2Put your phone on a tripod. Use a tripod or tripod head meant for smartphones. Secure your phone on a tripod so it doesn't move around while you're taking pictures. Set the tripod on level ground or a stand so your photos aren't crooked when you take them.[12] X Research source
- Phone tripods can be purchased online or in many convenience stores.
3Aim your phone camera in the direction of the meteor radiant. The meteor radiant is the point in the sky where the meteor shower originates from. Point your phone in the right direction depending on the meteor shower you're taking pictures of.
- Many meteor showers are named after the constellation closest to their radiant. Use a star chart app on your phone to locate the constellations.
4Take as many photos of the sky as you can for the best chances. Once your phone is set up, tap the shutter button carefully so the camera doesn't move while you're taking the picture. Take as many photos as you can with the exposure time you're using.[13] X Research source
- Make sure your phone has enough memory to store all of the photos.
- Bring a comfortable seat so you can sit and watch the meteor shower while you take pictures.
Tip: Some smartwatches let you control the shutter on your phone remotely. See if the app you're using has smartwatch capabilities.Advertisement
Community Q&A
- Take pictures of meteor showers away from any light pollution from cities or vehicles.Thanks!
- Bright lights will make it harder to see meteors. Turn down the brightness on your phone or camera screen so it's easier to watch the meteor shower.Thanks!
Things You'll Need
Shooting Meteor Showers with a DSLR
- DSLR camera
- 16-24mm lens
- Tripod
- Shutter release cable
- Extra camera batteries
- Comfortable seat
- Hand towel
Taking Pictures with Your Phone Camera
- Smartphone
- Phone tripod
- Comfortable seat
- ↑ https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/list.html
- ↑ https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/510/10-things-how-to-photograph-a-meteor-shower/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/IXOUewHQmT8?t=48
- ↑ https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/510/10-things-how-to-photograph-a-meteor-shower/
- ↑ https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/510/10-things-how-to-photograph-a-meteor-shower/
- ↑ https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide#lyrids
- ↑ https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/510/10-things-how-to-photograph-a-meteor-shower/
- ↑ https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/how-to-photograph-meteors-with-a-dslr/
- ↑ https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/510/10-things-how-to-photograph-a-meteor-shower/
- ↑ https://petapixel.com/2014/05/22/10-tips-photographing-meteor-showers/
- ↑ https://www.spaceanswers.com/astronomy/night-sky-dont-miss-this-years-better-than-average-perseids/
- ↑ https://www.spaceanswers.com/astronomy/night-sky-dont-miss-this-years-better-than-average-perseids/
- ↑ https://www.spaceanswers.com/astronomy/night-sky-dont-miss-this-years-better-than-average-perseids/


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Dame Mary Peters is a British Olympic legend who won the gold medal in the Pentathlon during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.This rare one-off item of signed Athletics memorabilia comprises of a large colour photo of Peters in Olympic action.Under this is an historic and colourful Olympic First Day of Issue Postal Cover which is date stamped and personally signed by Peters across the front. There is also an embedded replica Olympic Medal inset into the cover itself with printed details of her achievements. The cover is mounted within protected corners and inside the envelope is a complete history of the subject. There is a plaque with details of the presentation and it has been recently framed in a stunning black surround with dual inset mounts that gives a great 3D effect. It measures in at a large and impressive 71cm by 42cm. (approx)A magnificent one-off item of signed Mary Peters memorabilia.
If you have any thoughts about this product or want to share it with your friends, please add your comments in the box below.
The sports stars of the 70s bring back great memories of my childhood and I'm so pleased to let you know that we've teamed up with the top supplier of genuine 70s memorabilia in the UK to be allowed to show you hundreds of great memory provoking items that captured some of the greatest sporting moments of the seventies.


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Restaurant: Sunberry Cafe and Catering
Date: March 10, 2016
Location: 65 Pratt Street, Hartford, CT
Our first stop in a five-day excursion to Connecticut was a real winner. Just outside our hotel is a charming little brick side street. Literally, in order were the following: a liquor store, Thai restaurant, cigar shop, Korean BBQ, psychic readings, and Irish pub. All the comforts of home. Not able to decide, Will and I meandered back and forth before deciding on a Frankenstein-esque Korean BBQ. The reason why I say Frankenstein is because of the menu. Aside from Chinese, Thai, and Korean favorites, they also had an assortment of American breakfast classics, Mexican foods like burritos, and a double bacon cheeseburger. An odd mix if you ask me, but since we heard the cooks/owners say they were Korean, we both decided to go with an Udon noodle dish. Will had a fried chicken udon soup while I went with the Korean BBQ spicy chicken udon Bento Box.
Read the rest at Greg's new food blog by clicking here.