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Up Next
Colin Kaepernick goes from the accidental activist to the perfect plaintiff
Suspecting collusion is one thing, proving it is quite another
A little over a year ago when asked by Steve Wyche about his decision to sit during the national anthem during a San Francisco 49ers preseason game, Colin Kaepernick responded, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." These and subsequent comments have set the sports world on fire and have thrust Kap into his role as the Accidental Activist.
This and the firestorm of media attention that has surrounded Kaepernick and the NFL over the past year have made it nearly impossible for a consistent narrative to emerge about the underlying issue of why Kap decided to silently sit out the anthem in the first place: police brutality and oppression.
President Donald Trump recently hijacked the discussion by creating a narrative that serves his agenda of distraction by division. Trump created a false binary choice around NFL players' decision to protest by kneeling during the anthem. You either stand or you're not a patriot. You either stand or you are disrespecting the flag, the country and the military.
Kaepernick has taken Trump's narrative along with some comments he made during an event in Kentucky in March — "NFL owners don't want to pick him up because they don't want to get a nasty tweet from Donald Trump." — as the basis for a lawsuit against the NFL for collusion.
Kap is the perfect plaintiff for this case, even though he has an uphill battle in proving the claim, because of his ubiquity.
All owners, general managers and coaches in the league are well within their legal rights to pass on Kap if they believe that the downside due to the distractions associated with having him on the roster outweigh any benefits that his talent would bring to his team and teammates. It's even cool if each and every one of them came to this conclusion completely on their own.
The problem is if any two people from two different teams or the league office had a discussion about the pros and cons of Kap and collectively came to a decision to pass.
The Undefeated's senior NFL writer Jason Reid quoted American University Washington College of Law professor Susan D. Carle saying:
"[Kaepernick] would have to show that each of the teams, that they didn't just on their own decide not to sign him but that at least two of them somehow had a communication and said, 'We're not going to pick him because he's trouble. Let's just kind of blackball him.' He would have to have some evidence to show that.
"It doesn't have to be a written memo. It could be an oral communication that somebody's willing to testify about. If he had an ally on one of the teams who could say, 'Yeah, I heard these [officials from two teams] say we're going to stay away from him.' That could be enough."
The rules of engagement, as outlined by Carle, frame the claim in a way that we can now begin to discuss it without the emotions that often accompany it.
The issue around Kap's case is not an individual team deciding that he's bad for business or 32 teams independently coming to that conclusion on their own. It's about whether or not two or more came to that conclusion collectively.
This is where the ubiquity of Kap works to his advantage. It would be difficult to believe that among the 32 owners, general managers, coaches and officials in the league office, including the commissioner himself, that at least one conversation didn't take place regarding the distraction and business liability that Kap would bring to a franchise. If at least one of those conversations did indeed take place and it rose to the level of "I'm not going to touch him, and you shouldn't either because he's bad for business," then that would definitely end up being REALLY bad for business.
Suspecting collusion is one thing, proving it is quite another. At least we now have a way of framing this issue in a way that can eventually bring it to a conclusion. Only time will tell.


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Lady Gaga's tribute to David Bowie was one of the most anticipated moments of this year's Grammys, and true to form — and to Bowie's spirit — Gaga went for it. Sporting orange hair, face holograms, and a sparkly white pantsuit, she launched into a brisk medley of hits from Bowie's career. Accompanying her was Bowie's longtime collaborator Nile Rodgers on guitar, with Raphael Saadiq handling bass, but it's understandable if all your attention was on the woman absolutely commanding it.
Check out video of the performance above, and if you want to see the Ziggy Stardust tattoo Gaga got yesterday, well, we're here for you on that front, too.

subset: commoncrawl


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Dr. Gary Rudnitsky, attended the 7-year Combined Degree Program in Dental Education at New York University, graduating New York University College of Dentistry in 1987. He has maintained a private practice in Manhattan for over 30 years with an emphasis in Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry. Keeping current on advances in dentistry is imperative to his success and he continuously attends continuing education programs. He has advanced training in Cosmetic Dentistry, Smile Design and Full Mouth Rehabilitation.
He is an excellent diagnostician who can identify disease at early onset thus avoiding more complicated, painful and expensive treatments. Dr. Rudnitsky is well respected by patients, dentists and dental specialists for his thoroughness, dental skills and patient management skills. He always takes the time to provide the best possible care. You never feel rushed, always knowing that he is there to provide the best care.
Dr. Rudnitsky is a member of the American Dental Society, Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and a member of The American Society for Dental Aesthetics.


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Abbie Cornish Fishnet-sexy for GQ
Category: Celebrity in lingerie March 17th, 2011
Sucker Punch star Abbie Cornish has tried on a sexy image in GQ spread featuring her in a bra, fishnet tights and a sheer bodysuit. In the movie Cornish has starred along with Vanessa Hudgens and Jenna Malone (picture below) where they wore bodysuits and fishnets so the GQ shoot is pretty much in for the theme.
I'm a vegetarian—I'm not the type to want to go shoot a gun. Then I actually got to the range and totally fell in love with an M4. It was kind of amazing.
Zack Snyder's gun-and-budget-heavy Sucker Punch is about five scantily-clad ladies breaking out of asylum, much special effects and sexy costumes are expected. The premiere is on March 25, 2011.
Other Incoming Lingerie Searches:
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K R K Rao
Articles written in Pramana – Journal of Physics
Volume 32 Issue 1 January 1989 pp 47-55 Experimental Techniques
Explosive compaction of superconducting powder
Superconducting powder, YBa2Cu3O7−
Volume 32 Issue 6 June 1989 pp 801-809 Instrumentation And Experimental Techniques
Consolidation of YBaCuO powders by shock loading
N C Soni Ram Prasad Ashok Mohan M D Vora S Banerjee C V Tomy S K Malik H S Yadav K R K Rao
Superconducting oxide-copper monoliths have been fabricated by shock-wave loading using cylindrical and plane geometries. Bulk densities up to 96% T.D. have been obtained by varying detonation parameters. The superconducting properties, interface bonding and microstructure of the compacts have been evaluated.
Volume 97, 2023
All articles
Continuous Article Publishing mode
Click here for Editorial Note on CAP Mode


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The second generation of the Nokia 6 has been revealed, featuring a better processor, USB-C (instead of Micro USB), and more RAM at 4GB (up from 3GB). The updated version also features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor, whereas the original had a Snapdragon 430 processor. The changes bring it from more of a low-end to a midrange device, while the price is still the same (around $230), so it's a nice upgrade.
The overall design remains mostly similar, though the fingerprint scanner has been moved from beneath the front screen to the back of the phone. The device is also a bit smaller, though it's a tad thicker, too (by about 1mm). Both devices have a 5.5-inch 1080p screen and retain the 16-megapixel rear camera.
There are options for 32GB or 64GB of storage, which is expandable via microSD up to 128GB. Nokia says the USB-C charger also delivers up to 50 percent power in 30 minutes. It ships with Android Nougat 7.1.1, with support for Android Oreo to come. The new Nokia 6 is currently available for preorder for ¥1,499 in China (about $230) for the 32GB model, but there's no indication about if and when it will be released in other markets. HMD Global, which makes Nokia phones, usually launches products in China before bringing them to Europe and the US a few months later.


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Here we are again, nearing the end of 2018, which means that it's the most wonderful time of the year–when Pleasant Grove Farm starts their annual Christmas Light show!
According to their Facebook page, they started running the light show last night with a partial setup, but hopefully everything will be up soon:
The light show is slated to run from November 22nd to December 26th, 6pm to 10pm every night. After Christmas, they will have a special "Patriotic" show from December 27th to January 1st.
This is always one of my favorite local events to share with my family during the holidays… so here's a shameless plug from a video I took several years ago. Maybe I'll need to do an updated version of it this year…


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About a year and a half ago, on Sept. 18, 2017, a relatively unknown Minnesota state representative flew to New York City to hold a closed-door meeting with the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was in town for the 72nd U.N. General Assembly. This meeting of now-Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., with Mr. Erdogan, the despotic ruler of Turkey, went almost entirely unreported, as it was not open to the press and Omar was not a high-profile figure. Since then, photos of the meeting surfaced on social media, but it largely appeared that there was no report detailing what happened during the hour-long meeting.
But one local Minnesota paper that covers the Somali community did receive access to the Erdogan-Omar meeting. That publication is the relatively obscure Tusmo Times, a Somali paper that covers the Twin Cities metro area. Abdirahman Mukhtar, its founder and editor, wrote a story in the Somali language discussing the meeting. For reasons unknown, the piece has since been deleted by the Tusmo Times. However, a copy of the report was obtained from archive.org's Wayback Machine and translated by One Hour Translate.
The story makes clear, through photos and text, that Omar led the Minnesota-based Somali delegation (which included her non-politician husband, who is seen next to her in photos) that met with Erdogan. This is quite remarkable, given that Omar was then a mere Minnesota state representative, meeting face to face with the leader of an 80-million-person nation with one of the most powerful militaries in the world.
Speaking to the Tusmo Times, Omar said, according to the translation, that she met with Erdogan for about an hour and that the two discussed issues involving Omar's native Somalia and issues for Somalis in Minnesota. She thanked Erdogan for Turkey's support for the Rohingya people in Myanmar. The two also discussed investment and trade between Turkey and Somalia. The meeting ended with Erdogan asking Omar to voice her support for Turkey. The report concludes by adding that Omar not only met with Erdogan, but also with the Turkish prime minister and other senior Turkish officials.
While it's not particularly shocking that Omar remains invested in the success of her native country, the Minnesota representative has been consistently sowing doubt about whether U.S. Jews as a whole can fairly represent American interests. She has taken to using anti-Semitic tropes in maintaining that support for Israel in the Jewish community is an example of having dual loyalties.
Of course, support for Israel, the only liberal democratic country in the Middle East, is not remotely comparable to her continuing support for the rogue dictatorships in Turkey and Somalia.
The day the story was posted, Omar tweeted about her meeting with Erdogan, linking to the now-deleted Tusmo Times piece.
Xildhibaan Ilhan Omar iyo Madaxweyne Recep Erdoğan oo magaalada New York ku kulmay - https://t.co/M1SiigVw6f— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1505827282.0
When news of the meeting surfaced, she immediately received fierce blowback on several social media platforms for propping up Erdogan.
"Did you ask Erdogan about the jailed journalists?" wrote one respondent on her Facebook page. "How about the 100 thousand innocent people he jailed in Turkey."
"Did you discuss the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide and his refusal to recognize them?" said another individual.
"What the hell is wrong with you?? He's a DICTATOR," another replied.
It remains unclear when the article was deleted from the Tusmo Times, but other stories from around the same time remain on the publication's website, so it doesn't appear that the disappearance of the September 2017 article involves a storage issue.
The Erdogan-Omar meeting came on the heels of a major incident in Washington, D.C. involving the Turkish delegation. A few months earlier, Erdogan appeared to order his bodyguards to brutally attack protesters outside a Turkish diplomatic compound in the U.S. capital. A similar incident occurred in New York just days after the Omar-Erdogan meeting, when Erdogan's security detail roughed up demonstrators protesting Erdogan's crimes against the Kurds.
The Erdogan-Omar meeting occurred one year following a supposed failed coup attempt against Erdogan. Erdogan later weaponized the reported coup attempt to imprison thousands of academics, journalists, students, and democracy activists. Over the course of Erdogan's presidency, Turkey has abandoned its secular founding and has transitioned into an aspiring Islamist theocracy that supports terrorist groups throughout the Middle East and greater Islamic world.
Although Rep. Omar has not spoken out much about the politics of her homeland, Somalia remains a ruthless dictatorship that abuses the rights of its citizens. Omar, however, continues to endorse candidates for president there, as if the largely failed state is representative of a liberal democracy.
Rep. Omar published an op-ed in the Washington Post Sunday attempting to clear up her controversial foreign policy views, proclaiming herself a champion of international human rights. She wrote that U.S. foreign policy must "center human rights, justice and peace as the pillars of America's engagement in the world," yet noticeably said nothing about the radicalism of Erdogan and other Islamist regimes throughout the world.
One month after her meeting with Erdogan, Omar thanked Turkey for delivering aid to Somalia after a series of bombings in Mogadishu.
Turkey airlifts injured Somalis from Saturday's attack. This is the most humane way anyone can show they… https://t.co/Z7TDVpEfHi— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1508303547.0
Erdogan's administration has continuously bailed out the corrupt dictatorship in Somalia, providing its leadership with military support, economic aid, and even food rations when necessary. In late 2017, Turkey opened up a large military base in Somalia and has since given weapons and aid to Somali soldiers.
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D.C. With Kids: Hands-On Fun at the National Postal MuseumPosted Feb 05, 2018
Located next to Union Station off the beaten path of the usual tourist attractions and other Smithsonian museums on the National Mall, the National Postal Museum truly fits the "hidden gem" cliché. When we visited last summer during peak tourist season, we had the place nearly all to our ourselves. What surprised me most is just how awesome this museum is for kids. I had no idea! They have done a great job integrating many hands-on and interactive components in their exhibits that make the Museum's potentially ho-hum subject matter fun and engaging.
The centerpiece of the Museum is the soaring Atrium, complete with overhead airmail planes and mail moving vehicles that kids can explore. My daughter loved pretending to commandeer the wheel of a huge semi-truck, riding inside an Old West stagecoach, and exploring a rail car to learn how mail was sorted on moving trains en route to their destinations.
On the upper level, you'll find the the Stamp Gallery, every stamp lover's dream come true, containing the largest and most comprehensive collection of stamps and philatelic material in the world. When you enter the first part of the Gallery, you are surrounded by huge, vibrant video images that bring all different kinds of stamps to life, from cartoon characters and sports greats to world landmarks and historical figures.
The adults in our group enjoyed exploring and re-living important moments in history, pop culture, science, music and more told through the stamps displayed throughout the Gallery. Don't miss the world's first ever postage stamp from 1840, a profile of young Queen Victoria, and one of the world's most famous printing errors – the 1918 Inverted Jenny. This wasn't even on my radar, but the backstory is so interesting! I bet you're Googling it right now, aren't you?
There are three interactive exhibits in the Stamp Gallery area that kept both the kids and adults engaged for quite some time. The first is a virtual stamp collection exhibit where you can sort through the Museum's collection via touchscreen, drag and drop stamps into your collection, and even email them to yourself.
Once your virtual collection is complete, there is a table of hundreds of real stamps to sort through and take home. I'm embarrassed to admit how much I got into this! I found the stamps spanning all different eras and themes fascinating, and even remembered some of the stamps from my childhood. And finally, there is a station where you can create your own stamp design, complete with self-portrait!
While upstairs is all about stamps and postage, downstairs is all about getting the mail to its intended destination. In addition to all of the various mail moving transports used throughout history, the highlight here for my daughter was the package sorting station. She got a kick out of playing postal worker, racing against the clock to sort and toss packages into their correct city bins as quickly as possible.
All in, we spent about three hours exploring the Museum, which is about two hours longer than I expected! We will definitely be back again and suggest it to visitors who are looking for something different. It's also a great alternative on days when the weather isn't ideal for doing the typical National Mall walking tour circuit. As with all Smithsonian museums, admission is free, and the proximity to public transportation, dining and shopping at Union Station make this a great outing or day trip the whole family will enjoy.
Tip: In the lobby behind the Information Desk, you will find free postcards. Take a few minutes to write a note to someone. There is a full-service post office on the bottom level of the museum next to the gift shop. Ask the clerk to hand cancel your postcard with the special National Postal Museum stamp!
Hands-on experiences like the National Postal Museum will open your kids' minds and create memories that will last a lifetime. Check out our post on experience gifts for kids to learn more about giving kids experiences instead of things.
~ Kim
CertifiKID was founded by a mom with a passion for helping parents provide the best experiences for their children on a budget. From outings to adventures, classes to camps, theater to sporting events, amusement parks to getaways, CertifiKID provides the best family-friendly experiences at unbeatable prices. Sign up for family-friendly deals in your area and start saving!
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"The Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre will be hosting an Open Evening and 3rd year anniversary party from 5-7pm on Saturday 12th November 2011. There will be complimentary tours of the Centre showcasing the wide range of activities the Centre has to offer; performances by youth centre members; a fashion show choreographed by our program director, Charrish Ferguson, along with an appearance by the amazing TCI Youth Chorale. Light refreshments will be provided and all members of the public are welcome. Please come out and lend your support to the Centre and let us show you all that has been accomplished since its opening on November 8th 2008. The Centre is located behind Butterfield Suppermarket between Shining Star School and the Community College, Downtown, Providenciales. For more information contact Director, Roxann Wake-Forbes on 331-9602 or via email firstname.lastname@example.com. We look forward to seeing you there!"
ECGYC Third Anniversary Party and TCI Red Cross Market Today
This evening please support our TCI youth at the Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre for their 3rd Anniversary Party. I have had the great pleasure of witnessing many of their performances such as this over the last three years and they never disappoint. Please see the press release below for more information.
Black History Performance
Captivated members of the audience during the Cultural Explosion Performance
Also, be sure to stop by the TCI Red Cross Farmers Market for fresh local produce and a variety of goodies. Last week I picked up sweet potatoes, cornmeal mix, and a pumpkin, all of which were delicious.
Locally grown and handmade, think global and buy local!


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Close Assault, based on Sean O'Conner's "Firefight", and is Matrix Games innovative, fun, and exciting game of World War II Tactical Combat. Using a dual mode user interface, the game allows continuous-time action online or against the computer, or a user customizable "wego" turn length with simultaneous execution allowing play by email. The game portrays the battlefield in a top-down 2D mode using finely detailed, artistically rendered, hex less maps with dimensions up to 3000m per side. Individual tanks, guns and support units are represented in high resolution detail, with the individual men in the squads represented dynamically, so a wide variety of unit postures and degrees of dispersion can be represented. Units are organized into platoon and company sized organizations and players task organize teams under the command of their combat leaders to accomplish objectives. The game focuses on the battlefield impact of key Officers, NCO's or troopers who had decisive influence on achieving victory in the chaos of the battlefield. Role Play style features will allow players to track the careers of their Combat Leaders, their emergence from the chaos of the battlefield, developing reputations within and outside their formations. The flexibility and enhanced capabilities a players Close Assault allow in performance and deviation from ordered routes of advance to "phase line" style objectives elegantly represents command and control and initiative advantages and disadvantages.
Highly accurate combat models depict battle results with unprecedented detail. Artillery employment using call for fire procedures employing spotting rounds, or a variety of pre-planned or "uncle target" bombardment options. Simple but elegant command, control, and communications that reward players for good tactical planning and ease the burden of commanding large numbers of units through a flexible system of conditional "Standing Orders" and objective planning options. A wide variety of unit stances and orders, including player configurable options for setting ambushes, bore sighting and fire lanes, over watch areas, rules of engagement, and responses to enemy action. Detailed terrain modeling including accurate depiction of slopes, multistory buildings, bridge restrictions and construction, hull and turret down positioning, and tunnels and sewers. Scenarios providing a full range from quick play reinforced platoon level to full Battalion Combat Teams, with formation integrity rules to avoid every fight going to the "last man". A campaign system using "point to point" style movement of platoon and company sized units on a much larger battlefield, with automatic scenario generation when enemy units occupy the same point or meeting along a path between them


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How Education Failed You
How many of us got where we are in our profession because of our education?
Now the reverse:
How many of us got where we are in our profession in spite of our education?
If you are an early millennial like I am, you have a job you kind of like, and you most probably have succeeded at it in spite of what your parents and teachers have told you in early childhood.
It doesn't come as a surprise anymore that what we traditionally understand through 'education' (kinder garden, primary, secondary, high -schools, uni) doesn't form people anymore, but it breaks them, it turns them into obeying robots. There is almost no room for fulfilling potentials because this system is not built around that. As 1984ist as it might sound, the traditional education system is meant to make us docile bovines rather than roaring lions. Because, well, not everybody can be king, can they? So why not sacrifice everybody instead?!
The current educational system does serve someone — it's the fittest, the richest.
They control the assets and they don't need any challengers. I apologize for how conspiratorial that sounds but to their defense I can only say that this situation is nobody's making. This is the result of sheer Darwinian evolution, hundreds of years in which people have tried different ways to organize themselves, out of which capitalism has emerged as a winner (for now). Capitalism currently shapes us and everything we do, implicitly our educational system as well.
Capitalism needs working bees. So today's problematic education is a result and also a premise of capitalism.
Have you ever been consulted by a less-than-average physician? Have you ever been shocked by the illiteracy of a teacher who doesn't know the difference between 'your' and 'you're'? Sadly, this list is long and it is proof that people have landed jobs that are of no interest to them and no talent for. They have been dragged into a conversation they don't even speak the language of. And what's even sadder is that they walk around thinking they are all important and valuable.
Instead of creating contributors, the educational system we have forms an army of dead beats that will ensure the quantitative but not the qualitative growth of the society. These mediocre professionals will spawn and will produce even lower quality students. Do you see where I am going with this?
How about we bring the individual's needs into focus?
Of course, this is a much broader conversation that concerns sociologists, but humor me. From a human point of view, what would an ideal education look like? I think a good education is a knowledge base and/or a skill set that prepares someone to successfully face professional life. This doesn't mean they know it all and there is no room for improvement. This means that whenever they face challenging situations, they know how to adapt; what actions to take and not just sit there, paralyzed by fear.
How could anyone today stay focused and think about what in the world to reply to their screaming boss when the only lesson they learned in life was obedience and compliance? Of course, this conversation refers to many more other things than just dealing with a hysterical superior.
Steve Jobs is the most frequent example of a person who quit school and did his thing. Then it's also Zuckerberg. And, in my immediate vicinity, there's Alin, my husband, whom I admire the most in this world. He did what no school could ever do – taught himself and answered the job market with a unique set of skills he specifically developed for it.
This is the reaching-your-full-potential talk.
I see education as an interactive connection between the individual and the job market, not as a unilateral response to it. It should be more like 'Hm, I think I'd like to do this. Let me see what it is about, let me see if I am good at it, let me see if I have the stomach for it, let me see what it offers, etc'. In case it doesn't work out, move on to the next thing until you find your niche.
You don't reach your full potential unless you do something that comes naturally to you, that you like, that keeps you hooked. And that you don't get to do until you have tried and tried. Only a few of us are lucky enough to get it right the very first time.
If you are in one of those situations when you re-evaluate your professional life and you'd want a piece of advice, here it is: Never stop exploring! And also, like Mr. Jobs said, 'Stay hungry, stay foolish!'


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Aims and scope
Radioprotection publishes articles on all aspects of radiological protection, including non-ionising as well as ionising radiations. Fields of interest range from research, development and theory to operational matters, education and training. The very wide spectrum of its topics includes (theoretical and practical aspects): dosimetry, instrument development, specialized measuring techniques, epidemiology, biological effects (in vivo and in vitro) and risk and environmental impact assessments.


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Basic Wheel Chock Use and Safety Tips
Wheel chocks work best for safety and accident prevention. Chocking, also known as blocking, prevents trucks and trailers from unintentionally moving, like rolling or overturning, while workers are loading, unloading, hitching, unhitching or servicing the vehicle. Unintentional movement is a scary and dangerous situation. It can cause injury and in some cases death.
Basic Chocking
Make sure you invest in chocks specifically designed for the type of vehicle you are driving. It's especially important to pay attention to size. Never use a make-shift chock. That includes lumber, bricks, rocks or any other creative contraption you come up with on the fly. Use only proper chocks manufactured and regulated to do the job right. Make sure to keep sets of chocks in the truck or trailer, you cannot rely on the docks to always have them. That being said, it is best practice for the docks to have wheel chocks, and for that matter chocks that are chained to the dock to prevent theft or loss.
Chocking at a Dock
Upon arrival, set the brakes and activate the locking mechanism included on the dock. You'll need to park as firmly and as closely to the dock as possible. Engage the chocks on both the left and right wheels that are closest to the loading dock. Be extremely mindful when you know a forklift will be driving in and out of the trailer from the edge of the dock. When the wheels are not chocked, or blocked, the trailer can become dislodged creating a space between the dock and the trailer. Forklift operators can get caught in that space or fall into the gap that is created. Do not drive a forklift into a trailer until you are sure the wheels are properly and safely chocked.
Chocking a Free Standing Trailer
Chock both the left and right rear axle wheels. It is best practice to chock both the front and back wheels on both sides of the vehicle. Sometimes it's even better to chock the front and back of each tire.
Acquiring Wheel Chocks
Chocks are an inexpensive way to ensure the safety of those working in and around the truck and trailer. US Cargo Control offers both pyramid and wedge styles in single of two pack quantities, some are also available in a bright orange color. Bulk quantity discounts can be made upon request.


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25 Years and Growing
The Utz family's history in the green industry is traceable back four generations, starting with First Name Utz as one of the original growers of Tyler Roses. As the oldest and largest commercial landscaper in Austin, Utz Environmental Services has been growing and beautifying Dallas and Central Texas since 1995.
Utz is a one-stop shop for design, ordinance compliance, construction, and maintenance for commercial and residential customers. With more than 120 employees across Texas, Utz provides reputable, satisfaction-guaranteed service, backed by successful projects such as Darrell K Royal Stadium at the University of Texas and Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
There aren't enough nice things to say about Utz Environmental Services. From the sprinkler system to the lawn care, to the fabulous stone monument sign, I would never choose another landscape company.- Judith Abbott, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity House Mother
We chose Utz Environmental Services based on quality. We've been pleased with their work for years and we always refer people to them for installation, irrigation and maintenance.- Eric Stanely, Executive Vice President, Yancey-Hausman Associates
Giving Back to Our Community
As a passionate fan of baseball, Chris fondly remembers his time on the diamond as a kid and how the team sport shaped his trajectory into adulthood. Not only is he inspired by the game, but also the clean lines of fresh cut grass on the field. Through Utz Environmental Services, Chris and his team have been able to give back to the baseball community with RBI Austin.
RBI Austin is a Christian-based non-profit organization with the mission of engaging and developing inner-city youth and families athletically, academically and spiritually in underserved parts of Austin. The program provides mentorship and also makes baseball and softball affordable for families regardless of age, skill level and personal life.
Utz Environmental is incredibly proud to be a partner and supporter of RBI Austin. Through its donation of time and services, Utz helps maintain and mow the fields, ensuring teams have a well-kept and special place to play baseball and softball.


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As a PhD candidate in mathematics, Laura Mansfield was tutoring high school students to help pay bills when she had a career epiphany.
"I realized I really liked teaching high school students," said Mansfield, who was studying at Bryn Mawr College near Philadelphia. "I found that I connected with them."
So Mansfield gave up her doctoral studies and plans to become a college professor, applying last year to the Boston Teacher Residency program, an intensive 13-month program that trains teachers for the Boston public schools. This week, Mansfield, 26, will receive a master's degree in education and a Massachusetts teacher's license, allowing her to start teaching math this fall.
Mansfield is among many aspiring teachers who have taken an alternative route to public school classrooms. Traditionally, teachers study education in college, do their student teaching, and take the state licensing exam. But for career changers, like Mansfield, there are other paths.
Alternative licensing programs such as Boston Teacher Residency here or Teach for America and the New Teacher Project in New York are among the ways. Teach for America, for instance, provides courses and partnerships with colleges to help train future teachers and prepare them to get their teaching certificates.
There's also the national Urban Teacher Residency United network — created in 2004 by the founders of the residency programs in Boston, Chicago, and Denver — which helps school districts and higher-ed partners establish residency programs in their own cities.
The Boston Teacher Residency, which marks its 10th anniversary this month, has been among the most successful in training teachers. The retention rate of residency graduates after their first five years is about 75 percent, compared with 50 percent for other new teachers. The program has been so successful that at least 20 to 25 percent of the approximately 275 new teachers hired each year by the school department come via the Boston Teacher Residency program.
The program borrows from the medical profession's use of postgraduate residencies to train young physicians in hospital settings. In the case of the Boston Teacher Residency program, postcollege training is conducted in the classroom.
"So often people come in unprepared for the complexity and difficulty of teaching actual classes," said Jesse Solomon, executive director of the Boston Teacher Residency and its parent organization, the nonprofit Boston Plan for Excellence.
During summer orientation classes, residents are taught how to analyze test scores and student grade data, as well as perform less empirical assessments of how students are faring. They also are taught how to prepare classroom lessons and adjust teaching methods to circumstances, Solomon said.
During the school year, residents are assigned to a mentor teacher at a Boston school and effectively act as teaching assistants during the first few months of the school year. The residents help prepare curriculums, tutor students, and occasionally take over front-of-the-class instruction.
They take on more and more responsibilities as the program progresses. They sit in on parent-teacher conferences, learning how to interact with and encourage parents to be more involved in their children's education.
During the 13-month residency, the vast majority of participants are enrolled in a parallel master's degree program in education through a partnership with the University of Massachusetts Boston. The $3 million budget for the Boston Teacher Residency is funded through the federal government's AmeriCorps public service program, the Boston schools, and private donations.
Residents receive a stipend of about $12,000. If they decide to leave Boston schools within three years after their residency, they have to repay $10,000 to cover the cost of their instruction during the program.
Competition for the 50 to 70 annual slots is fierce, with as many as 600 people applying each year, said Solomon. About half of residents have college math or science degrees, consistent with the program's goal of attracting more math and science teachers.
Mansfield, the onetime PhD candidate, said the residency program was grueling, as hard as any educational experience she has gone through, including her doctoral studies. But it was worth it, she said.
"I've learned more this past year than I think I've ever learned in the past," said Mansfield, who has already been offered a job teaching math at a Boston high school this coming school year. "The residency can be stressful, but it's also very inspiring. I'm positive I did the right thing. I'm positive I want to be a teacher. Now I will be."


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You can be a part of making the mission of the JP2 Project a reality. See the various opportunities for work and service to build up our youth to transform the world.
Currently Seeking!
Mission-driven people to fulfill the following roles!
Ways to Serve
Help us build the Civilization of Love and Truth, one heart at a time!
All of our programs need priests who will transmit the spirit of our patron to the young people we serve. From our study abroad and pilgrimages in Poland to our seminars and weekend retreats stateside.
Internship Program
Our competitive media and outreach internship program is a beautiful opportunity for young adults to gain professional experience in a faith-based non-profit organization. It is our great opportunity to work with the young people we've dedicated our lives to. Interested in learning more about our internship program? Email Sofia at: email@example.com
Retreat Service Team
Serve as a facilitator for our outdoor retreats for young adults in the USA or serve in the areas of children's ministry, food service, or event planning for our family programs in the USA or Poland.
We like to refer our students in need of counselling services to well-formed professionals who understand the person holistically and as made for sanctity. Get on our list of counselors ready to serve those struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, or other obstacles to human flourishing. Email us!
Business Professionals
Want to make the JP2 Project soar but cannot commit full-time to ministry? Share your professional expertise in a one-on-one setting with a staff member, in a working group with staff and interns, or in working sessions with the whole board.
Religious Prayer Partners
Be a missionary for the JP2 Project right from your convent or monastery. We firmly believe God is transforming lives through the Project because it is supported by your prayer. Join the 30+ communities already praying. There is so much need! Email us!
People need to know about the JP2 Project in order to participate in these powerful programs. Bring these initiatives to your local parish, young adult ministry, Newman Center, school or other community. Alumni ambassadors are also sought each year. Click here!


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CARSTAR Blue Springs
Auto Repair/Services
8-5 M-F Afterhours with appointment
Driving Directions:
Between Woods Chapel North and Woods Chapel South on the east bound lanes, south right hand side.3.5 Miles east from 291 and 40 Hwy. West of Swim Things. Directly south of Woods Chapel Presb church
About Us
Quality autobody repair with over 20 years of experience. CARSTAR is a nationwide company, Lifetime guarantee at our location and receive a 5 year Nationwide warranty. Deductible financing**


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Dr. Faith McGibbon is an owner and senior partner of Village Family Dental and the head of our pediatric practice. Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, she received her BSC in Chemistry from Howard University. She received her DDS degree from the Marquette University School of Dentistry.
Dr. McGibbon is a distinguished military veteran. Upon graduation from dental school in 1990, she was selected for the Army's one-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program and served a total of four years with the U.S. Army Dental Corps. Dr. McGibbon's career with Village Family Dental began in 1994. She completed specialty training in pediatric dentistry at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 2001 and returned to Village Family Dental to lead its rapidly expanding pediatric practice. In January 2002, Dr. McGibbon became a partner of Village Family Dental.
Dr. McGibbon is an active member of the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, the North Carolina Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Academy of Laser Dentistry and the Fayetteville Dental Society. She holds staff privileges at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital and Cape Fear Valley Hoke Hospital.
Dr. McGibbon is fluent in Spanish and has participated in mission trips to Central and South America. She currently resides in the Fayetteville area with her husband. In their spare time they enjoy traveling internationally and spending time at Sunset Beach, NC.


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About Kamar
An item of interior décor marked by the elegant harmony of all its components. Kamar is a chair with a steel frame and polyurethane padding. The upholstery is in eco-leather or leather; the decorative zip fastening is supplied in black.
About Bonaldo
Bonaldo was foudned by Giovanni Vittorio Bonaldo in 1936, in the Veneto region of Italy. A company that boasts of Italian authenticity, Bonaldo started expanding its product line to venture into beds, dining tables, chairs, accessories and more. Having won many prestigious design awards like the Goog Design award and the Red Dot design award over the last 2 decades, Bonaldo has designed some of the worlds most iconic furniture pieces.


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Ports preparing for Hurricane IrmaWritten by Marine Log Staff
SEPTEMBER 5, 2017—Ports in the Caribbean and Southeast U.S. are bracing for the impact of Hurricane Irma. For example, Port Everglades, one of the world's busiest cruise ports accommodating 3.4 million passengers, was notified by the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port that Port Condition WHISKEY will be set for Hurricane Irma starting September 6 at 8 AM. The onset of sustained gale force winds (39 – 54 mph) are predicted within 72 hours.
Port Everglades says that preparations to be addressed and completed are:
- Take due diligence to prepare for potential storm impacts;
- Begin removing all debris and secure potential flying hazards;
- Implement Container stacking plans. Reduce stacking height to no more than four high and no more than two high for hazardous materials;
- Facilities that are unable to meet these requirements due to space constraints must submit a container stacking protocol to the Captain of the Port (COTP) Miami for approval at 305-535-4472;
- Oceangoing vessels moored or at anchor should be prepared to get underway; and
- Hazardous materials should be removed from areas prone to flooding.
Given the current storm track, the USCG Captain of the Port anticipates the setting of Port Condition X-RAY on Thursday, September 7.
Meanwhile, effective 8 AM yesterday, the Coast Guard Captain of the Port San Juan, Capt. Eric P. King, set port condition X-RAY for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgins Islands due to the possibility of sustained gale force winds greater than 39 mph from Hurricane Irma that may arrive within 48 hours.
The Coast Guard strongly cautions the maritime community to remain vigilant and take the necessary precautions as Irma has been forecasted to have the potential to develop into a Category 4 Hurricane.
During port condition X-RAY port facilities are currently open to all commercial traffic and all transfer operations may continue while X-RAY remains in effect.
Mariners are reminded there are no safe havens in these facilities, and ports are safest when the inventory of vessels is at a minimum. All ocean-going commercial vessels greater than 500 gross tons should make plans for departing the port.
Vessels desiring to remain in port must immediately contact the COTP to receive permission and are required to submit a safe mooring plan in writing. Vessels bound for the U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico unable to depart 24 hours prior to threatening winds making landfall are advised to seek an alternate destination.
Pleasure craft are advised to seek safe harbor. Maritime and port facilities are reminded to review and update their heavy weather response plans and make any additional preparations needed to adequately prepare in case of a potential impact to the area. Mariners can view the latest port updates on the Coast Guard's Homeport site.
At this time, Coast Guard Captain of the Port San Juan anticipates setting port condition YANKEE at 8 AM on Sept. 5, for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. These dates and times are subject to change based on future forecast.
If and when port condition Yankee is set, meaning sustained gale force winds are expected within 24 hours, vessel movement shall be restricted, and all movements must be approved by the captain of the port.
The Coast Guard is warning the public of these important safety messages:
• Secure belongings. Owners of large boats are urged to move their vessels to inland marinas where they will be less vulnerable to breaking free of their moorings or to sustaining damage. Trailer-able boats should be pulled from the water and stored in a place that is not prone to flooding. Those who are leaving their boats in the water are reminded to remove EPIRBs and to secure life rings, lifejackets and small boats. These items, if not properly secured, can break free and require valuable search and rescue resources be diverted to ensure people are not in distress.
• Stay clear of beaches. Wave heights and currents typically increase before a storm makes landfall. Even the best swimmers can fall victim to the strong waves and rip currents caused by hurricanes. Swimmers should stay clear of beaches until local lifeguards and law enforcement officials say the water is safe.
• Be prepared. Area residents should be prepared by developing a family plan, creating a disaster supply kit, having a place to go, securing their home and having a plan for pets. Information can be found at the National Hurricane Center's webpage.
• Stay informed. The public should monitor the progress and strength of the storm through local television, radio and Internet. Boaters can monitor its progress on VHF radio channel 16. Information can also be obtained on small craft advisories and warnings on VHF radio channel 16. Information on how to prepare your boat or trailer for a hurricane can be found at the Coast Guard's Storm Center webpage: https://www.uscg.mil/news/stormcenter/.
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Society for
Developmental Biology
Registration is open for the
72nd Annual SDB Meeting to be held
June 16-20, 2013 in Cancun, Mexico in conjunction with the 17th
International Congress of Developmental Biology! The
abstract submission deadline is
March 15 and the early
meeting registration deadline is
April 1.
The Hotel reservations deadline at the congress rate is
March 15.
Latin American-Caribbean Student/Postdoc and
applications are due March
15. Travel award applications for
postdocs, and
faculty are due March 15.
Renew your membership
today for
reduced registration rates, eligibility for
consideration for one of 80 short talk slots, and
application for travel awards!
SDB is sponsoring
and breaking the left-right axis: Laterality in
development and disease, a Satellite Symposium
of the 72nd Annual Meeting,
June 15-16,
2013 in Cancun,
Mexico. Additional speakers will be selected
from submitted abstracts. Organizers
Marnie Halpern and
Oliver Hobert strongly
encourage students and postdocs to apply. Email
abstracts to:
sdbL–[email protected] by
March 15. Register
here for the satellite symposium and SDB/ISDB
The SDB Board of Directors selected the following recipients for the
2013 SDB Awards. The
presentations and award lectures will take place at the 72nd Annual SDB Meeting in
Edwin G. Conklin Medal:
Marianne Bronner, California Institute of
Developmental Biology-SDB Lifetime Achievement Award:
John F. Fallon, University of Wisconsin
Viktor Hamburger Outstanding Educator Prize:
William Wood,
University of Colorado,
Choose Development!
Summer Research Program Seeks Students and Mentors
NSF–funded Choose Development!
summer research training program is seeking mentors
committed to increasing the number of
underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities entering doctoral programs in pursuit of research careers in developmental biology.
Apply to be an SDB Academic Mentor and host an SDB
Fellow in your lab. Encourage eligible
undergraduates to apply. Deadline for
Mentor and
Student applications is March 1.
Learn more
Seven SDB regional meetings will be held throughout
the US this year (six this spring and one in the
fall). Regional
meetings are an excellent opportunity for students
and postdocs to present their research and give
short talks. See
upcoming events below for meeting dates and
Lee and Elizabeth Rideout—winners of the 2012 Hilde
Mangold Postdoctoral Symposium at the SDB Annual
Meeting in Montreal—were awarded first-place prize
trips to the IX Spanish Society for Developmental
Biology (SEBD) Meeting held in Granada Spain,
November 12-14, 2012. Below, Lee and Rideout
share their reflections from the meeting. ...
continue reading
Applications are being accepted for the 2013
Embryology Course at the Marine Biological
Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
The 6-week course accepts 24 students from around
the world. Course directors
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado and
Richard Behringer
strongly encourage outstanding graduate students and
postdoctoral fellows to apply. Deadline is
February 8, 2013.
Learn more
SDB is now accepting nominations for
President-elect, Junior Faculty Representative, and
Representatives for the Mid-Atlantic, Northwest, and
West Coast regions. Go
here for nomination
details. Deadline is
February 18, 2013.
more meetings
Don't miss out on the benefits of SDB membership
including discounted meeting registration and
eligibility for awards.
Renew or
join now.
Click here
to retrieve your membership number.
Check out the SDB website for the
latest jobs in
developmental biology.
President: Vivian Irish
Secretary: Victoria Prince
Treasurer: Sally A. Moody
President-elect: Martin Chalfie
Past-President: Mike Levine
Junior Faculty: Laura Gammill
Canada: Pamela Hoodless
Northeast: Oliver Hobert
Mid-Atlantic: Liz Gavis
Southeast: Guillermo Oliver
Midwest: Carole LaBonne
Southwest: Richard Behringer
Northwest: David Raible
West Coast: Tom Schilling
ex officio members:
Professional Development and
Education Chair: Diana Darnell
Publications and Communications
Chair: Jasna Markovac
Developmental Biology Editor-in-Chief: Robb Krumlauf
Executive Officer: Ida Chow
Editor: Marsha E. Lucas
Webmaster: Renée Barnes
Developmental Biology is the official journal
of the Society for Developmental Biology
WIREs Developmental Biology, published in
association with the Society for Developmental
Society for Developmental Biology
Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
(301) 634-7815 — Fax: (301) 634-7825


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HTX Hoops
Youth Basketball Select Teams, Tournaments and Training
Agree to pay all team fees in a timely manner. Players that do not pay their club fees in a timely manner and by the designated due date will not be permitted to participate in tournaments until all club fees have been paid. I understand that these fees do not include player travel expenses or food.
(All Tournaments and Practices are Mandatory)
1. Absence Notification Player must call the coach and inform them of the absence PRIOR to their practice date. The player is excused if Absence is due to a school-related function In the event that this occurs, the player must notify her coach prior to practice and the coach may request a note from school personnel. Player is required to sit out one game for each practice missed.
2. Practices missed without prior notification will result in sitting out an entire game. (Make-up practices will be schedule at the clubs discretion)
3. Player is allowed two (2) un-excused missed practices without penalty. Missed practice must be due to a significant event or extreme illness and they must have a signed note explaining the miss.
1. Punctuality All player need to be ready to practice at the designated start time.
2. Tardiness – The player is excused from arriving late if tardiness is due to a school-related function (or coming in from outside of the local area). In the event that this occurs, the player must notify her coach prior to practice and the coach may request a note from school personnel.
3. Un-excused Tardiness: Coaches decision may include running.
The object of the HTX Hoops select basketball program is to improve the players skill levels and to play competitive basketball. It is possible that not all players will play substantial minutes in each game. However, practice will improve every player's skill and this is the building block for his/her future sports achievement. Player/parent relationship is critical in supporting this improvement. Teams do not win without good benches. Remember, the coach selected your child because he/she saw potential in their ability.
1. Player's must arrive 30 minutes prior to game (unless coach says otherwise)
2. Players must check with their coach before leaving the gym.
There will be no coaching by parents. No matter how good your intentions are we insist there be no shouting instructions to your daughter or shouting (complaining) to officials during games. Your vocal support and positive encouragement are welcome after a good play. "Go" or "Shoot" are interpreted as instructions and as such are not desirable. There will be times a team coach may make decisions and players are instructed to do things parents will not understand. Club, team, and player growth will sometimes be given a greater priority than results; especially in the years prior to high school
No conference will take place after a game or practice. No walk-ups! The following steps should be taken if a player has a grievance with the coach
STEP ONE: The player should discuss the problem/concern with the coach and try to arrive at a solution to the problem.
STEP TWO: The parent should call the coach and schedule an appointment for the player, parent and coach to meet at an appropriate time. Remember it is best to have the child address any questions to the coach. But if you have questions be cordial, don't be confrontational and be prepared for FRANK answers.
STEP THREE: If the above steps do not remedy the problem, the parent should call the President of the HTX Hoops to schedule a meeting with the player, parent and coach to arrive at a solution.
I have read the above and understand that the HTX Hoops program requires time and commitment. I have reviewed the dues and payment structure above and understand that the individual must pay all fees in full regardless of the duration of participation. By accepting of a position on a HTX team you are responsible for all team fees even if injured, quitting or being released from the team for cause. The amount of the payment, together with any and all sums as are herein agreed to be paid to the HTX HOOPS at the HTX Gym, 1156 Fox Meadow, Alvin, TX 77511 or on the HTX Hoops website.
I, HEREBY RELEASE, discharge, and covenant not to sue the HTX Hoops, its instructors, members, directors, agents, officers, volunteers and employees, advertisers, and if applicable, owners and leasers of premises, on which the Activities takes place, from all liability, claims, demands, losses or damages on my account caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the Releasee or otherwise, including negligent rescue operations; and I further agree that if, despite this release and waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement, I, or anyone on my behalf, makes a claim against any of the Releasees, I WILL INDEMNIFY, SAVE AND HOLD HARMLESS each of the Releasees from any litigation expenses, attorney fees, loss, liability, damage, or cost which any may incur as a result of such claim, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
© HTX Hoops 2015 – All Right Reserved


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Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Greg Iles Readalong Giveaway
Mystery Playground is participating in the Greg Iles' Natchez Trilogy read along and this month we're re-reading the first book, Natchez Burning. To help us celebrate, Harper Collins Publishing is sponsoring a giveaway including the tote bag above and the books in the trilogy, Natchez Burning, The Bone Tree and Mississippi Blood.
To enter all you have to do is comment below about why you want to read the book. To get a second entry, go comment on our Facebook page.
Here's our original post about the readalong, and our review of the first book.
My mother recommended Natchez Burning to me when it first came out. She could not put it down, and once I started, I couldn't either. It's a big book, but that means there was more to love. The setting so vibrant, I felt like I was transported.
We just started the readalong last week so you have plenty of time to catch up.
Don't forget to comment below to be entered to win the tote bag and the trilogy. You get a second entry if you go to the Mystery Playground Facebook Page and comment there. the contest will end one week from today.
- Deborah Lacy
15 comments:
What a nice contest! I'll admit, I haven't read any of these yet--and feel as if I should, given that this is smack-dab at the intersection of my reigning interests in mystery fiction and Southern lit. As you mention, these are big books--and a big trilogy--and given the schedule of reading for classes, sometimes it's tough to fit in a big project around the edges. But the post here seems to be another reminder that I should make time. Thanks for hosting the contest!ReplyDelete
I've read Greg Iles in the past and have always really enjoyed his books. Unfortunately, I have not started on this trilogy yet but it is definitely at the top on my TBR pile. Great contest and I would love to win.ReplyDelete
I've heard a lot of people who have read Iles and loved him so I need to give him a try and love a series so this is perfect!ReplyDelete
These books are getting great reviews. Just added all 3 to my TBR pile!ReplyDelete
I'm from the South and I am always sorta sad when I finish a Greg Iles book. His ability to transport me home is incredible. I love his writing style.ReplyDelete
Thanks for this great feature and giveaway. Greg Iles writes enthralling, unforgettable and memorable novels which are intriguing and give me great enjoyment.ReplyDelete
Thanks Deb. Like Art, these books have been on my list for a very long time. Mainly the length is keeping me putting them off - since I have so much reading to do for the blog. But this re-read is a great reason for me to take the step. Plan for post-Bouchercon.ReplyDelete
When I read a Greg Iles novel I become enmeshed within the pages and completely riveted. His way with words, the characters and the plots are captivating.ReplyDelete
If Mystery Playground says this is a good read, it must be so. I like Southern settings.ReplyDelete
This sounds like a great book for my mystery book club to read and discuss. We like reading novels with a strong sense of place and that come highly recommended.ReplyDelete
You and your mother couldn't put it down. Sounds as if I must read it, too.ReplyDelete
- Jim CollinsAugust 31, 2016 at 5:47 PM
I read my first Greg Iles (The Quiet Game) earlier this year and enjoyed it thoroughly. It had a strong sense of place and a consciousness of race without trying to prescribe answers. Since then I've have been trying to find or make time for more.ReplyDelete
I've been reading Greg Iles for decades and have always loved his work—it would be so great to win the trilogy!ReplyDelete
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
All of Greg Iles books are tops on my list. Once I read one, I had to read them all. I sing his praises to everyone who will listen. I have read these and will happily read them again. Run, don't walk to the nearest library or bookstore. you will not be disappointed.ReplyDelete
Our winner is Amy Ball! Look for an e-mail shortly.ReplyDelete


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USA, MILWAUKEE – April 7, 2016 – Jon Harwood, a Milwaukee game developer announces Kickstarter for Slime of Fury!
Slime of Fury is a 2D Zeldroidvania sidescroller where you take control of Slimy, a cute green slime monster. Punch monsters repeatedly in the face and take all their lunch money. Explore a variety of different areas each with unique enemies and items. Talk to and purchase items from a slew of zany NPCs.
Slime of Fury has fast combo driven combat where enemies drop higher amounts of gems the higher your combo. Exploration is essential for acquiring items that provide upgrades and brand new abilities. The new abilities allow Slimy entrance to new and different areas. When Slimy dies, he is sent to the afterlife. Typically that is the end of the journey for adventurers but there are plenty of shady characters in the Crossroads who can bring Slimy back to Ostrios. Slime of Fury will be available for PC, Mac and Linux.
The story begins in the distant land of Ostrios. The Sun Shines, Birds chirp, Monsters and Humans live together in harmony. Slimy the squidgy slime monster is eager to get home and play his brand new video game, The Legend of Grundledorf II: Bob's Asleepening. But just as Slimy is about to insert the cartridge, the entire world is plunged into darkness! A distant castle rises into the sky and looms ominously over the land. Many monsters of Ostrios see this as an omen to revert to their aggressive and evil ways, but not Slimy. Sensing a true adventure, Slimy sets off, determined to restore order to world and end the eternal night.
-Sick Combos- Punch, Kick and Blast your enemies quickly to rack up a High Combo! High Combos cause way more damage and cause enemies to drop more money
-Powerful Items- Increase your character's stats and abilities by collecting magical items.
-Diverse Environments- Traverse dank caves, thick forests, towering castles, barren wastelands and many more.
-Zany NPCs- Take hints, buy items and services from varied and wacky monsters and townsfolk.
-Ferocious Foes- Do battle with a host of terrifying and sometimes adorable monsters and bosses.
"This game looks awesome, can't wait to play it :3" ~ klopolo
"A metroidvania game where you play as an adorable slime. I can't wait!" ~ Jayellow
"This just looks so cool. I love 2d platformers and I love cute little balls of slime; as of so far we're set! If there was a place to donate I would donate! Keep it up, I want this game :D" ~Droxi
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1723713885/slime-of-fury
Steam Greenlight: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=642692460
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVOmzkYBU7g


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I was having a chat yesterday with someone who asked me if I had any regrets in life. Actually, what she asked me was if I planned to go public with my regrets.
The question stopped me and I had to think a bit before I responded, because I wanted to respond truthfully.
The truth is, I have no regrets. She probed a bit: wasn't there anything that made me cringe when I looked back on it? ...continue reading "Got regrets?"


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Here at Walker's Window Washing we offer professional Christmas light hanging services to save you the time and hassle of having to hang your lights on your own.Learn More
Walker's Window Washing is a locally owned and operated window cleaning company in Idaho Falls. We take pride in our work and care deeply about the experience that we provide for each one of our customers. Want to see what they're saying?
Click here to read our reviews >
Looking for a quality window washer in Idaho Falls? Here at Walker's we use the highest quality products and techniques to ensure clean and sparkling windows that last longer. We have taken care of hundreds of Idaho homes in and around the Southeast Idaho area and look forward to providing you with cleaner windows for a brighter view.
At Walker's Window Washing, we are more than just a window washer in Idaho Falls. We handle everything you need to keep your home looking immaculate while saving you the time and hassle of doing it yourself. See all of our services below:
We are the top rated window washer in Idaho Falls for a reason. Cleaning your windows can be time consuming and sometimes even dangerous. Let us take care of the windows so you can focus on what matters most to you.
Window screens are fragile and have a very short life span, especially if they aren't cared for. When dirty, they can inhibit the breeze, and even obstruct your view. Let us keep them clean for you all year round!
Along with cleaning your windows and screens, we also clear your tracks of any dirt or debris that might be causing your windows to stick. This keeps them opening and closing smoothly.
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We can pressure wash almost any surface including: roofs, sidewalks, decks, fences, siding, concrete, brick and more. With extensive experience in pressure washing, we can ensure a safe and thorough job every time.
Don't let the seasonal gunk clog and damage your gutters. Leaves, branches, twigs and grime can build up quickly if they aren't removed on a regular basis. Let Walker's keep them clean so you don't have to.
Quick to get me a quote and quick to schedule my window washing. Had him do hard water removal on a couple of windows and they seriously looked like new windows when he finished. Cleaned screens ( what a difference that makes!) as well as the window tracks! Excellent job! Totally pleased 👍🏼
Walker did an awesome job on our windows that he cleaned inside and out. He was on time and was very personable and professional. It rained the next after he cleaned the windows and they looked like nothing happened. I highly recommend him to come and clean your windows. You will not be disappointed.
My windows look amazing! I had hard water stains on my basement windows from the sprinkler system, I was afraid I would have to replace them but Walker made them look like new! He also cleaned/repaired the screens and did all the tracks. It makes all the difference and he is very reasonably priced.
Screens, tracks, and windows cleaned inside and out and my house washed. Looks so good! Hard water spots gone. Friendly professional service. Thanks so much! Highly recommend.
Walker has been cleaning my windows for a couple of years. He does an amazing job! My windows, tracks and screens look great. He is professional, dependable hard working and friendly. On top of it he is very reasonably priced.
I don't know a whole lot about window washing. I'm sure there are plenty of qualified people that can do it, but I wouldn't let just anyone peek through my windows and that's why walker will have a customer for life.
If you want crystal clear windows at a fantastic price use Walker. I had horrid white thick water deposits caked on my windows and had tried everything I could think of to no avail. I thought I was going to have to replace them. He got them clean. Just like new!
Walker did an incredible job on our windows! Not only did he bring booties to wear over his shoes while he was in our house, he managed to get off all the cement/stucco/gunk that our builder left splattered on our windows. I will definitely be using him again in the future and would highly recommend him to anyone! His prices were great as well.
Walker did some screen repair for me this time as well as my annual window washing and tract cleaning. He always does a great job and I appreciate his professionalism and good nature.
I had Walker do our outside windows this week; I was so excited to see the wonderful job he does. After our rain the other night I was sad that I was going to find spots on the windows in the morning but found there was nothing but the shining windows. Walker is a fine young man with great work ethics. I will look forward to seeing him this fall!
Walker has been washing our windows for over a year now. I love my house most when Walker has been here! His screen cleaning system is amazing!
He also power washed the concrete patio. He is simply amazing and so reasonably priced. 😊
Had the inside and outside windows cleaned, hard water spots removed, screens cleaned and tracks cleaned! The windows look amazing! I wish the builder would have done this after construction! I am going to have this done every year! Thank you so much!
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Jodi is a writer, administer, and project coordinator extraordinaire. She is highly valued for her talents in customer communications. In many ways Jodi is the backbone of operations for Find Your Fit—she manages calendaring, invoicing, client communications and marketing efforts.
Jodi was born and raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, with a BA in History-Liberal Arts and a minor in German. She then went on to obtain her Associates Degree from the Chippewa Valley Technical College in Paralegal Studies. Jodi was a paralegal for many years with the law firm of Kostner, Koslo & Brovold LLC, primarily assisting Attorney Bruce J. Kostner in areas of Family, Employment, Probate and Real Estate Law.
Jodi moved to the metro area ten years ago. She and her husband have two children. Jodi is putting her BA to use by writing her first young adult historical novel set during WWII.
Jodi's Interests
Family, Reading, Writing, Running, Softball Mom and Score Keeper, Soccer Mom.


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Classroom Resources
Presenting IRV in a clear yet entertaining manner is an important step in building support for IRV in your community. Download and distribute the fliers and factsheets in this section or link to our multimedia content.
- "Faster Cheaper Better" brochure on improving runoffs. Color (.pdf 255kB); black & white (.pdf 218kB)
- "Make Your Vote Count" brochure - an introduction to IRV (.pdf 97kB
- "What is IRV and why do we need it?" brochure (.pdf 183kB)
- Una guía simple sobre Instant Runoff Voting (.pdf): Lado 1 (33kB), Lado 2 (34kB)
- A ballot count flow chart: a graphical explanation of the vote counting procedure (.pdf 12.3kB)
- Fact Sheet on Improving Runoff Elections (.pdf 83.3kB)
- An illustrated guide to conducting a hand count of IRV ballots in San Francisco (.pdf 180kB)
- Guide to counting IRV ballots on an ES&S optical scan machine created by the North Carolina Board of Elections and FairVote's one page summary of the procedure
PowerPoint Presentations
- The Muppets Use IRV! See how it works. (.ppt 2.91mB)
- Power Point Presentation on IRV in Florida (.ppt 197kB)
- A power point presentation from Eureka, CA; it can easily be adapted for your town (.ppt 222kB)
- Power Point on IRV in Vermont, created by Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz
IRV Flash Animation
Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is a method of voting that eliminates the problems found in plurality and runoff elections. Voters rank the candidates on their ballots and the runoff occurs instantly. IRV eliminates the "spoiler" problem, ensures majority support for the winning candidate, saves taxpayer money, promotes higher voter turnout and discourages mud-slinging campaigns.
Click one of the links below to see how IRV elections work, and be sure to view FairVote's own presentation directly below.
- How FairVote fixes the "spoiler problem" - as explained by cartoons
- "Instant Runoff Voting" interactive flash site by Chris Gates
- "IRV, Easy as 1-2-3" by the San Francisco Yes on A Campaign
- "I Heart IRV" to support Yes on 3 in Pierce County, WA
- "Elect-a-Date" from the Minneapolis Better Ballot Campaign


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These cream horns are not very difficult to make at all and make the perfect addition to any holiday dessert table! Let Laura Vitale show you how to make them below!
- 1 Sheet of Puff Pastry, thawed if frozen
- 1 Egg, beaten with a tablespoon of cream
- 2 Tbsp of Sugar
- 1 cup of Heavy Cream
- 1/4 cup of Confectioner Sugar
- 1/4 tsp of Lemon Zest
- 2 tsp of Vanilla Extract
- Nutella
- Fresh Raspberries


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It's so nice cause I'm able to closely snoopervise and I am within arm's reach for emergency cuddles. I haven't been getting as a good a rest, but I have to admit I like the extra cuddles. What's that? The pink thing next to me?
Floofy Friday
It's so nice cause I'm able to closely snoopervise and I am within arm's reach for emergency cuddles. I haven't been getting as a good a rest, but I have to admit I like the extra cuddles. What's that? The pink thing next to me?
12 comments:
My human needs to get my desk cleared off so I can continue to properly supervise her! It's a disaster area! Although I do want to say that buried somewhere in there is a Hello Kitty tape dispenser and a small Hello Kitty Lazy Susan where she keeps her paper clips and post-its. So basically her desk looks like it belongs to a very messy TWELVE-year-old girl!ReplyDelete
We usually can't see the surface of the head peep's desk, but she cleaned it off recently (well, we started a deskalanche and she finished). But it's important to have a spot where you can observe while humans are working. You never know when you might need to intervene and change their serious working face into a smile with a cuddle or two.ReplyDelete
Nice that your mom has made some space in her office for you guys. It's only right, y'know. Besides, you look better on the shelf than whatever she had on there.ReplyDelete
Room to lounge, cuddles, a chin scratcher and a treat stash. It sounds like Mom is getting her office set up as it should be, boys!ReplyDelete
As long as there are treats, cuddles, and a place to lounge, you've got it made!ReplyDelete
Hope you have a happy Friday.
That's a very fine snoopervising spot!ReplyDelete
Looks like a good snoopervisin spot!ReplyDelete
It's nice to see you have things well in paw!ReplyDelete
if you saw my office, it is a DISASTER!ReplyDelete
nothing wrong with looking like a 17 yr old girl.. as long as you don't ACT like one.. (well unless it is a very mature 17... that's a different story)ReplyDelete
You are right where Astrid likes to spend her time. Only in her case it is the kitchen counter as Mom does everything on her laptop. Mom thinks your mom's crystals are pawsome. XO, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista JoReplyDelete
Mum is a kind of order maniac, so we always have place on the desk at the beginning of her work, but it's better not to move something with our tail or our paw ! To tell the truth, at the end of the work session, it's a mess, but she always put her things away before doing something else ! We agree with you : it's a great place to get scritches and cuddles ! PurrsReplyDelete


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It's no secret that we love weddings! And we love this couple's venue Hummingbird Nest Ranch…. it's simply stunning!
A huge thank you to Holding & Company Photography for sharing these beautiful images with us!
It's always great to work with our fave vendors as well such as Unique Floral Designs. They never fail to impress!
Details matter…check out this dress!
Succulents make for a great boutonniere…don't you think?
Of course, our favorite detail….the wedding cake! The couple chose a textured buttercream cake adorned with fresh flowers and succulents.


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Teacher Activities
Student Engagement
Materials and Resources
Table Time
Map/Globe Exploration: Introduce each chosen item on the table. Explain that the globe is a small version of what the world looks like. Point out the continent of North America on the globe as well as the country of the United States and show the students the United States on the map. Point out Michigan (or their state) within the United States and their hometown within that state. Ask the children where people they may know who live-in a different city, state, country, etc. Invite the children to explore the globe and maps. Point out where the continent of Africa is on the globe and show the students on the map. Point out the country of Senegal and the large city of Dakar. Let the students know that Senegal is the country they are going to be learning about. Encourage the students to make a map of where they live.
Map/Globe Exploration: a globe; various maps- Senegalese map, United States map, Michigan map, map of own city; a world atlas; paper; markers or crayons
Circle Time
Big Question
'S' letter/sound: Introduce/review the letter 'S' with the visual. Describe how to make the sound:
Djembe drum: Explain to the students that in Senegal, djembe drums are popular instruments used to make music. Use the djembe drum to help each student say their name. Start out by inviting each student one by one to say their name and then practice saying the syllables in their name by playing a drum beat for each syllable. You can also encourage the students to practice repeating other patterns or saying each others' names. The students can follow along by tapping their hands on their legs as the teacher uses the drum.
Question: Draw a large four-column chart on the white board. Write the question 'What color is your hair?' above it. Adhere four pictures of hair colors to each of the four columns. Discuss with the students how each person has different colored hair. Review the four color categories their hair color might fall under: blonde, brunette, red and black. Explain how this is just one way each person in the world is similar to each other: same hair color category and different from each other: different color shades/ tones. Invite each student to come up and put their picture/written name under their chosen column.
Senegalese music: Pick a song from one of the three Senegalese CD's to play to the students. Discuss about the different sounds in the music-vocals, instruments compared to songs they hear in the United States.
Song: Pick out black, brown, yellow, red and white crayons and give one to each child.Explain how many people around the world can have skin of many different colors. Then have the students lay their crayons down on the floor in the middle of the circle. Sing this song as a group:
"We're Just Like Crayons"
The Little Blue Boy: Read this story about a boy from the village of Koba who is the only child in his village who has blue skin. Point out the title and the author and review literacy/print concepts as you read along. While reading, point out the meaning of new vocabulary words such as midwife, village, delicious, hut, etc. Make comparisons between the culture, habitat, etc of this village with the students' hometown: housing, names, clothing, etc. including similarities and differences. Make connections between the students' answers to the "What color is my hair" question. How does that relate to this story? Discuss how everyone is unique and special in many different ways and that we should always accept and respect the ways that someone may be the same or different from us. Show the students the Le Petit Garcon Bleu book and explain that this is the same book, just written in French. Introduce the concept of French being a different language than English.
Poem: Recite the poem "I Am Different From My Head to My Toes" and ask the students to listen. Model the motions as you recite the poem. Review the concepts and parts of the body mentioned in the poem: self, friend, head, toes, eyes, nose. Then repeat the poem again and invite the students to recite it with you while imitating the motions.
"I Am Different From My Head to My Toes"
(Curriculum Crafter)
'S' letter/ sound:
Djembe drum: Djembe drum
Question: White/chalk board or large piece of paper; marker to draw columns and write question; picture/name of each child with something (tape, magnet, etc) to adhere it to the white/chalk board or large piece of paper; 4 pictures of hair color
Senegalese music: CD player, Senegalese CD's
Song: Copy of the words to the "We're Just Like Crayons" song; at least one crayon for each child either a black, brown, yellow, red or white crayon.
The Little Blue Boy: The Little Boy Blue book by Fatou KEITA and Le Petit Garcon Bleu book by Fatou KEITA.
Poem: Copy of the "I Am Different From My Head to My Toes" poem.
'S' letter/ sound:
Djembe drum: Connection between syllables in each students' name, patterns, and using musical instruments.
Question: To recognize the hair color category their hair color falls under. To make a choice and comparisons between friends in class.
Senegalese music: To hear various songs from popular Senegalese music artists and compare the music with popular American music.
Song: To learn and sing a song about people of various colors of skin in the world.
The Little Blue Boy: To hear a story written by an African author that relates to accepting and respecting similarities and differences in people. To introduce a book written in French and English.
Poem: To introduce a poem and promote social development through recognizing ways in which people are similar and different. To encourage fingerplays and motions related to the poem.
Group Time
Passport: Take a picture of each child with a Polaroid camera or have them printed prior to the lesson.Show the students an example of a passport and explain its purpose. Invite the students to make a small passport book from construction paper by folding several pieces of construction paper in half and stapling along the edge. Encourage them to glue their picture onto the first page of their passport. Help each student add personal information such as their name, birth date, address, phone number, and thumb print on the remaining pages.
(Curriculum Crafter)
Djembe: Make a djembe as a model prior to the activity. Invite the students to make paper cup djembes by using a paper cup and first covering it with a square of wax paper. While holding onto the wax paper, secure it with a rubber band at the top of the paper cup. Invite the students to use markers to decorate their djembe.
Passport: A real passport or copy of one; construction paper; stapler; glue; a digital camera and printer or a Polaroid camera; crayons; ink pads and stamps; stickers that may be unique to a various countries; a globe or map
Djembe: plain paper cups, squares of wax paper, rubber bands, markers
Passport: To promote social development and foster knowledge of personal information. To familiarize students with the purpose of a passport. To encourage fine motor development through writing, folding, gluing and cutting.
Djembe: To familiarize students with a Senegalese musical instrument. To encourage fine motor development through writing, gluing and cutting.
Book Time
Themed Books: Set out various books on a book shelf or display related to celebrating language, culture, diversity, etc. in the United States and Africa. Encourage students to explore the books, look at the pictures, use the pictures to tell their friends or teachers about what they think is happening in the story, or have a friend or teacher read it to them.
Themed Books:
Themed Books: To encourage interest in books relating to the themes of language, culture, communication and diversity.
Center Time
Rice Table: Fill a table made for sand or water with rice. Place various manipulatives in the rice and encourage the students to use the manipulatives to use the manipulatives to transfer the rice, or fill containers. Explain that in Senegal, like many other countries, rice is made to be eaten in many meals.
Rice Search: Fill a large bowl with rice, beans and small manipulatives. Set out small bowls for sorting the manipulatives (e.g. one bowl for beans, marbles, dice and small toys to total four bowls). Invite the students to use their hands or spoons to separate the manipulatives from the rice and sort them into the small bowls.
Mancala: Set out the Mancala game for the students to play. You have to demonstrate how to play the game, take turns, and count the marbles or game pieces.
Plane ride: Arrange a dramatic play area to resemble a plane. Set the several small chairs in two rows and attach ribbon to one side of the chair to be used as a seatbelt across the students' laps. Arrange a seat for a pilot to fly the plane. Set up an area to purchase tickets and hand in their bags or small luggage. Invite the students to study the travel newspaper section, travel magazine and/or globe and choose a destination. Encourage the students to use their passport they created for the trip. Designate someone to be an airport worker and decorate the students' pages of their passport by adding stamps or stickers from countries.
(Curriculum Crafter)
Rice Table: Sand/water table, uncooked rice, manipulatives- various sized spoons, plastic shovels, funnels, scoops, plastic containers or bowls, buckets.
Rice Search: large bowl, small bowls, spoons, uncooked rice, dry beans, other small manipulatives such as marbles, dice, small toys.
Mancala: Picture of Mancala game from Senegal; actual Mancala game board
Plane ride: several small chairs, ribbon for a seat belt, globe, travel newspaper section or magazine, pretend money, pretend plane tickets, bags or small luggage, the personal passports they created during group time, stamps or stickers.
Rice Table: To promote fine motor development and hand-eye coordination.
Rice Search: To promote fine motor development and hand-eye coordination.
Mancala: To encourage game play, turn taking, mathematical skills, and fine motor skills.
Plane ride: To promote use of pretend or dramatic play while encouraging global awareness.
Snack Time
Multi-color Pepperidge Farms Goldfish crackers
Snack: Encourage oral motor movements, make connections between previously read stories and give a prelude to a story to be heard. Discuss basic concepts: color, texture, shape, category, previous experiences etc.
Multi-color Pepperidge Farms Goldfish crackers; introduce multicolored fish and have the students remember these goldfish when they hear the story during story time: The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister.
Snack: To encourage oral motor movements and basic concepts during snack time.
Story Time
The Rainbow Fish: Read this story about a rainbow fish that is the only fish in the sea who has shiny scales. Point out the title and the author and review literacy/print concepts as you read along. While reading, point out the meaning of new vocabulary words such as shiny, rainbow, etc. Discuss how everyone is unique and special in many different ways and that we should always accept and respect the ways that someone may be the same or different from us. Discuss the feelings that the rainbow fish had at the beginning of the book and the end of the book and compare them. Ask questions such as: "Why does he feel the way he does at the end of the book?" and "How is the rainbow fish like the little blue boy?" to draw conclusions and comparisons between this story and The Little Blue Boy story.
The Rainbow Fish: The Rainbow Fish book by Marcus Pfister
The Rainbow Fish: To hear a story that relates to accepting and respecting similarities and differences in friends. Making the comparisons between The Little Blue Boy and The Rainbow Fish stories.
Home Connection
Home Connection: Send home the Home Connection parent newsletter about the topics learned about and discussed throughout this lesson.
Home Connection: Copy of the Home Connection parent newsletter for each student
Home Connection: To promote generalization and carry over of concepts and ideas learned throughout the lesson.


text: Umi Sinha was born in the military hospital in Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1952 to an English mother and Indian father. She grew up in India in the decade following Independence, when there was deeply held resentment against the British. She moved to Britain in 1968 during the backlash against the mass immigration of Asians who had been expelled from Uganda and Kenya. The experience of being an outsider looking for a place to belong, along with the impact of history—political and personal—on individual lives, is a major theme in her writing. Sinha has an MA in Creative Writing and taught at the University of Sussex for ten years. She teaches creative writing classes and workshops, runs a performance storytelling club and offers a mentoring and manuscript appraisal service for writers. She is also a trained mediator and trustee at her local community centre. She has had short stories published, including in Cosmopolitan magazine and in a Serpent Tail's anthology. Belonging is her debut novel.


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The Blueprint
6 Practical Steps to Lift Your Leadership to New Heights
Part leadership manifesto, part practical manual, Doug Conant teaches leaders how to work through six incremental steps to lift their leadership and make meaningful change in their organizations and in the world.
Get the Companion Workbook Free with Your Purchase of the Book
Praise for The Blueprint
"Doug Conant has long been one of America's most effective and enlightened leaders. And now he has written an essential book on leadership. Unlike many books in this genre, his is not a collection of wispy platitudes — but an eminently smart and practical guide for building a foundation for your entire professional life. If you're hungering to become a better leader, The Blueprint belongs on your shelf and by your side."
— Daniel Pink, author of When and Drive
"Longtime Fortune 300 CEO Doug Conant has translated a career's worth of wisdom into a practical manual on leadership in the face of turbulence. The Blueprint is a rare offering with perfect timing. Leaders at every level in today's organizations must now be more courageous, well-equipped, and resilient than ever before. Conant's process will help you to explore your unique strengths—fearlessly. The Blueprint will help you find your own clear voice as a leader (no matter what's swirling around you). Read this book now – and better yet, buy a copy for everyone on your team."
— Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management, Harvard Business School
"Doug Conant has proven himself to be a very disciplined CEO – focused, able to let go of what doesn't fit, building greatness step-by-step, laying foundations for decades down the road while delivering results today. His example shows how effective business leadership can be quiet and bold, studious and decisive, disciplined and creative. Conant has so much to teach, and aspiring leaders at all levels would do well to learn from him."
— Jim Collins, bestselling author of Good to Great
"Doug Conant and Amy Federman's brilliant book will change your life – and your leadership – if you incorporate its ideas, using their in-depth six-step approach. The Blueprint shows you the importance of courage, integrity, humility and staying true to yourself as you grow into the authentic leader you are called to be."
— Bill George, Senior Fellow, Harvard Business School; former Chair & CEO, Medtronic; and author of Discover Your True North
"Doug Conant is a special breed: a hard-edged corporate CEO with an introspective nature who attributes his success to reflection, study, and thoughtful inner work rather than birthright or bombast. In The Blueprint he offers a powerful—and approachable– process for more fully connecting with the unique gifts that will allow your special leadership voice to come alive and impact the world."
— Susan Cain, bestselling author of Quiet
"As a leader, being self-aware and deliberate are keys to success. The Blueprint provides a simple but powerful opportunity to leverage the experience and wisdom of Doug Conant to refresh your thinking and approach. It can help you maximize your impact."
— Doug McMillon, President and CEO, Walmart
"Today's busy leaders often question how they can lift their leadership profile while staying true to themselves. The Blueprint is the answer."
— Indra Nooyi, Former Chairman & CEO, PepsiCo.
"Doug Conant hasn't just been a highly successful leader—he's an unusually thoughtful one. In this hands-on book, he shares a model that you can apply right away to elevate your impact."
— Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife
Watch The Blueprint Trailer
Learn the true story that inspired Doug Conant to write The Blueprint, and how reading this book can change your life.
Buy The Blueprint at Barnes & Noble→
Examples to Inspire
Personal Leadership Models
Linda Hagerty-Dotterer, Executive Director, Change Management & Culture at CSL Behring
(Boot Camp Alumni)
Organizational Leadership Models
What is The Blueprint Process?
Doug Conant has codified over 40 years of leadership experience into his 6-step Blueprint process for reflection and model-building that he himself used to transform his own leadership trajectory and deliver top-tier results in global industry. Using this same 6-step process, you can embark on a practical exploration of your own values, beliefs, and competencies.
Upgrade Your Leadership and Your Life
The Blueprint Process: 6 Steps
1: Reach High — Envision
Envision what success looks like to you and set the intention to do better. In this step, you will take your first crack at articulating your Leadership Purpose.
2: Dig Deep — Reflect
Reflect on your experiences to uncover your leadership beliefs and dig deep to uncover what makes you, you. In this step, you will uncover the life lessons that anchor your leadership and develop a deeper understanding of your unique personality and skillset.
3: Lay the Groundwork — Study
Study to fill in all the cracks from your dig, laying the groundwork with all the learnings and insights from the world that exists beyond your personal experiences.
4: Design — Plan
The fun part. Using design thinking as well as thinking prompts, Post-Its, and pen and paper, conceive your Plan: an exquisite design for your personal Leadership Model, derived from your Leadership Purpose and Leadership Beliefs.
5: Build — Practice
Practice your change process. You will brainstorm small, actionable practices that you can begin to fold into your habits and begin to create your Practice Treasury, a stable of behaviors that will help you bring to life the leadership Plan you designed.
6: Reinforce — Improve
Improve, continually learning from what you did right and what you could have done better, reinforcing the strength of your Foundation in perpetuity. Here you will also work to align your personal leadership approach with the expectations of your organization.
The BLUEPRINT Boot Camp
Lifts Your Leadership to New Heights
Two days of virtual training. A lifetime of results. At BLUEPRINT Boot Camp—a 2-day program followed by a year of mentorship and correspondence with Doug Conant–you will experience a total immersion into the craft of leadership. Using patented prompts for reflection, high-impact exercises, and collaborative group work, participants unearth powerful insights from their own lives to develop personal leadership models that empower them to lead with greater impact.
Now Accepting Registrants for 2023:
Nov. 2 & 4, 2022 SOLD OUT | June 7 & 9, 2023
The Author, Doug Conant: The only former Fortune 500 CEO who is a NYT bestselling author, a Top 50 Leadership Innovator, a Top 100 Leadership Speaker, and a Top 100 Most Influential Author in the World.
Your Life Story is Your Leadership Story
Many of the problems leaders face today are rooted in compartmentalization. Leaders believe their work life and their "real" life are two different things, so they develop a siloed self-expression: a "work" identity and a "personal" identity. And they're at odds. Managing this tension becomes yet another task in a crushing litany of expectations and pressures. It does not have to be this way. It's time to try something else.
Many leadership books teach you to emulate somebody else's leadership approach; this one empowers you to lead more like you. Leveraging groundbreaking insights from a 40-year leadership journey coupled with the most current science on habit-building, The Blueprint combines true-and-tested exercises for self-discovery with an experience-backed manifesto on the ten foundational tenets of "leadership that works" to create the quintessential treatise and manual on leadership for our times.