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This Is the Life! 6 Great Life Science Activities
Make science make sense to your child with these hands-on activities.Download All (6)
Download All is only available to Education.com Pro members. Learn More
Click on an activity in the set below to see more info.
Build a TerrariumView Full Activity
Create a mini plant habitat with your kid to help teach him what it takes to make an ecosystem work.
Germinating Seeds ExperimentView Full Activity
Try this fun and simple activity to help nurture your child's observation skills and nourish a growing love of science!
Build a Toad AbodeView Full Activity
Creating a home for a toad is an easy and fun project for kids. Here's how to make your very own toad abode.
Endangered Animals GameView Full Activity
Introduce your child to the importance of preserving the world's biodiversity by turning a lesson on endangered species into a fun game for the whole family.
How to Start RecyclingView Full Activity
Help your child make a recycling poster for your household and teach her how to take care of the environment!
Celery Science ExperimentView Full Activity
Here's a classic celery science experiment that uses celery and food coloring to demonstrate how plants absorb water.
Want to download this whole set as a single PDF?Download All (6)
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Halle Berry's ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry has been reunited with his daughter for first time since a nasty Thanksgiving Day (22Nov12) fight with the actress' fiance Olivier Martinez.
Aubry and Martinez clashed outside Berry's Los Angeles home and the Monster's Ball star obtained a temporary restraining order to keep her former partner away from her and their four-year-old child, Nahla.
The protective order expired on Thursday (29Nov12) and Aubry's own restraining order against Martinez was also lifted this week (ends02Dec12), while Berry's lawyer revealed "an amicable agreement" had been reached between the two sides.
Tensions have now simmered down enough for Aubry to see his little girl. He was pictured walking in Los Angeles with Nahla on Friday (30Nov12).
The bad blood between the trio reportedly stems from a bitter custody dispute over Nahla - Berry wants to emigrate to France with Martinez and take her daughter with her, while Aubry is resisting the move.

subset: commoncrawl


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Such a crowd makes one reflect upon Allah's unique vast creation. Since the moment the world came into existence, Allah has created billions of human faces, all different from each other.
There is no time, place or condition necessary for thought. Anyone may think while walking on the street, going to the office, driving a car, working at the computer, attending a friend's gathering or having lunch.
While driving a car, for example, it is possible to see hundreds of people outdoors. He who looks at these people can think about many different things. It may come to his mind that the physical appearances of these hundreds of people are completely different. None of these people look like one another. It is astonishing that, although these people share basically similar features such as eyes, eyebrows, eyelashes, hands, arms, legs, mouths and noses, they all look so different from one another. Thinking a little further, one remembers the following:
Allah has created billions of people over thousands of years all different from one another. This certainly is a piece of evidence of Allah's obvious existence and marvellous creation.
The person watching all these people rushing may be occupied by many different thoughts. At first glance, each one of these people seems like a distinct individual. Every one of them has his own world, wishes, plans, ways of living, topics that make him happy or unhappy, and tastes. Yet these differences are misleading. In general, every human being is born, grows up, goes to school, looks for a job, works, marries, has children, sends the children to school, marries them off, ages, becomes a grandmother or grandfather and finally passes away. From this point of view, there are no big differences between people's lives. Whether one lives in a neighbourhood in Istanbul or in a Mexican city does not change anything at all. All of these people will definitely die one day. A century later, perhaps not even one of these people will be alive. The person who realises all this, carries on thinking and asks himself the following questions: "Since all of us will die one day, why does everybody act as if they will never depart from this world? While a person, whose death is certain, ought to strive for his life after death, how is it that almost all people behave as if their lives in this world will never end?"
Such a person is one who thinks and reaches a very crucial conclusion from what he thinks.
A great majority of people do not think about these issues. If they are suddenly asked, "What are you thinking at the moment?", it will be seen that they think extremely unnecessary things that will not be of much use to them. However, man is able to think meaningful, wise and important subjects at every moment from the time he wakes up until he sleeps, and derive conclusions from what he thinks.
In the Qur'an, Allah informs us that in all circumstances the believers reflect and derive beneficial conclusions from their thinking.
In the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for people with intelligence: those who remember Allah, standing, sitting and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth: "Our Lord, You have not created this for nothing. Glory be to You! So safeguard us from the punishment of the Fire." (Surat Al 'Imran: 190-191)
As we are also informed in the verse, because believers are people who reflect, they are able to see the miraculous side of the creation and exalt the power, knowledge and wisdom of Allah.


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Take precautions to avoid fires this harvest season
LINCOLN—With almost all of Nebraska under high fire danger, it's important farmers take extra precautions with harvest underway across the state.
Cleaning and maintaining equipment is key as is being prepared in the event a fire does happen, said Paul Jasa, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension engineer.
The first thing farmers should do is to identify and monitor potential hazards on the combine, said Joe Luck, UNL Extension precision agriculture engineer.
This includes:
doing a "dry run" of the combine before entering the field to listen for worn bearings or moving parts and check for any over-heated bearings. Push/pull shafts and sheaves often to check for worn bearings.
Checking wires and wiring harnesses for damaged insulation to prevent an electrical short. If there have been problems with blown fuses, try to find the source of the problem instead of constantly replacing the fuse. Exposed wires could be causing the short and creating sparks which could start a fire.
Never putting in a fuse with higher capacity than those recommended as the wires may overheat and start a fire.
As harvest continues, those outside the combine should listen and watch for potential problems.
If using other equipment (grain cart or rotary mower) in the field during harvest, also keep an eye on it for possible problems.
During harvest it's important to clean debris from the combine at regular intervals. Be sure to:
Clean any area where chaff or plant material accumulates often, especially those near moving parts
Check areas around the engine, exhaust manifold, fan shrouds, fuel/oil tanks, and chaff spreaders to ensure they are free of debris. Using a leaf blower or compressed air tank is an easy way to remove debris material that builds up on the combine.
Closely monitor any belts that are frayed or worn as they can produce enough heat to start a fire.
Any time you think you smell smoke, stop and examine the combine completely. Chaff and plant materials may smolder for some time before an actual fire starts, sometimes even after the combine has been shut down.
It's also important to take precautionary measures and be prepared to respond if a fire does occur. This includes:
When harvesting on windy days, if possible, start on the downwind side of the field. This way, in case a fire does occur, at least the wind will carry it away from the standing crop.
Consider carrying a water tank with a pump to the field and always keep a fire extinguisher handy.
Some growers keep a tractor with a tillage implement close by to till a fire break if necessary.
Most recommend keeping at least two fire extinguishers with the combine at harvest—one in the cab and one accessible from ground level. Check your fire extinguishers annually to ensure they are charged properly and always remember proper extinguisher use. Stand a few feet from the fire and aim at the base/source with a sweeping motion.
If a fire does occur, always remember that your personal safety is the most important thing. Don't put yourself or others in any unnecessary risk. Always call 911 as soon as you notice a fire, then try to put it out.
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What are the best landing pages that are effective on adf.ly?
(please show me links to the landing pages or tell me what they have on them)
(If not allowed please delete) What are some good landing pages to run on adf.ly?
Ask how you can improve your site to increase your leads/sells when advertising though Adf.ly
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Re: (If not allowed please delete) What are some good landing pages to run on adf.ly?
For advertising, I got a lot of results from online marketing tools for making money online. Pretty much your guaranteed leads if you give out "free" opportunities or tools. To generate sales, it all depends on your communication with them.
Go for warm marketing imo.
Go for warm marketing imo.
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The Medical Case was one of twelve war crimes trials held before an American tribunal as part of the Subsequent Nuremberg Proceedings. The trial dealt with doctors and nurses who had participated in the killing of physically and mentally impaired Germans and who had performed medical experiments on people imprisoned in concentration camps. Sixteen of the defendants were found guilty. Of the sixteen, seven were sentenced to death for planning and carrying out experiments on human beings against their will. Here, the court announces sentences for defendants Wilhelm Beigleboeck, Herta Oberhauser, and Fritz Fischer.
Copyright © United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC


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News & Events
Events Calendar
"Now You Know": Recycling at RU »
Wednesday, October 4
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. @ Bonnie Food Court StageCampus Sustainability Week event. A 15 – 30-minute session for sharing information about sustainability on campus.
Chartwells Food Truck Event »
Wednesday, October 4
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. @ Bonnie PlazaCampus Sustainability Week event. Get something different for dinner tonight!
Hispanic Heritage Month Dinner »
Wednesday, October 4
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. @ Muse Banquet HallCelebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a dinner featuring keynote speaker Dr. Marisela Rosas Hemphill. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Center of Diversity & Inclusion (CDI); limited to two per student ID.
Chasing Coral Documentary »
Wednesday, October 4
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. @ Bonnie AuditoriumCampus Sustainability Week event. Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. A team of divers, photographers and scientists set out on a thrilling ocean adventure to discover why and to reveal the under-water mystery to the world. Sponsored by RU Sustainability and R-SPaCE.
Scholar Citizen Initiative Bake Sale »
Thursday, October 5
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. @ Bonnie PlazaCampus Sustainability Week event. Raising money for Pulaski Grows!
Shred-a-Thon »
Thursday, October 5
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. @ Heth Clock PlazaCampus Sustainability Week event. RU Recycling is hosting the Shred-It truck to safely and securely shred and recycle unwanted documents. This is a free, campus-wide event and is open to all RU offices and departments, students, faculty and staff with a valid RU ID. For more information, contact Neal Thompson at firstname.lastname@example.com or x7207.
"Now You Know": What Chartwells is Doing to Eliminate Food Waste »
Thursday, October 5
4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. @ Bonnie Food Court StageCampus Sustainability Week event. Now You Know is a 15 – 30-minute session for sharing information about sustainability on campus.
Recycling Sculpture Competition »
Thursday, October 5
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. @ Bonnie PlazaCampus Sustainability Week event. The Sustainability Leadership Team is hosting a recycling sculpture competition. Teams will compete to create the best sculpture from recyclables and win prizes!
Homecoming 2017 »
Friday, October 6 - Sunday, October 8
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.Make your road trip to Radford University Homecoming 2017 official by registering for your favorite activities. Homecoming Weekend 2017 events include: • Presidential State of the University Presentation • Alumni Volunteer Leadership Lunch and Awards • Alumni and Family Village • Women of Radford Lunch • Alumni Lacrosse Game • New Russell Hall Alumni Center Open House • The Golden Dinner • Froggy Friday's at BT's/Sharkey's On Top Saturday • Highlander Weekend Brunch • Academic Events • Soccer, Baseball, and Softball Reunion Activities • Outdoor Alumni Adventures Visit www.radford.edu/homecoming to register and access a complete list of events.
State of the University Address »
Friday, October 6
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. @ Bondurant Auditorium, Preston HallAll alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to the keynote address by President Brian O. Hemphill on the University's progress over the last year as well as future plans.


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Be a Plow Pal!
Help your neighbors have a great snow season … be a Plow Pal this winter and spread the word about Minneapolis Snow Emergencies.
Taking a few small steps can help your friends, family, and neighbors avoid the cost and hassle of having their cars ticketed and towed this winter. Your efforts will also help make sure Minneapolis streets are plowed from curb to curb.
How you can be a Plow Pal
It's easy to help spread the word about Minneapolis Snow Emergencies – and help your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors avoid the cost and headache of having their cars ticketed and towed this year.
- Encourage folks to sign up to receive a Snow Emergency e-mail or text message. Alerts are sent as soon as Minneapolis declares a Snow Emergency.
- Add your cell phone to our Snow Emergency Phone Alert, so your cell phone will be on the list to get an automated voice message when a Snow Emergency is declared.
- If you are leaving town for a few days, don't forget to park your car off city streets or leave a set of keys with family or friends, so they can move your car if Snow Emergency is declared.
- If new neighbors move in, tell them about Snow Emergencies and how they can find out more information.
- Use the interactive Snow Emergency street lookup and share it with others. This map lets you check which streets in your neighborhood are Snow Emergency routes and which sides of streets are even and odd.
- Volunteer to be the Plow Pal for your Block Club; when it snows, call 348-SNOW and then let everyone else in your club know when a Snow Emergency has been declared.
Why do we need Plow Pals?
Minneapolis gives folks a host of ways to find out about and follow Snow Emergency parking rules, but we're always working to expand our list of tools.
For the past two years, the City of Minneapolis has surveyed people who have had their cars towed during Snow Emergencies to find out what other steps may help them avoid tickets and tows in the future. The City heard a number of ideas about how to educate folks about Snow Emergencies and we've taken additional steps.
We also learned that it would help if the community spreads the word. For example, a large proportion of people who had their cars towed had moved to their neighborhood within the past year (regardless of how long they have resided in Minneapolis.) By reaching out to help your neighbors learn and follow the parking rules, we can make sure it's a great snow season.
Last updated Mar 6, 2017


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The $29 billion budget passed by the state General Assembly delivers some good news and some bad news to area schools.
But mostly it delivers the same uncertainty that always comes from a budget built by politicians rolling the dice in back rooms.
The budget process in Pennsylvania is misguided at its very core, creating hardship for local schools which gets passed on as hardship to local taxpayers. The lack of a fair funding formula in Pennsylvania means that schools cannot predict the state support that will be coming their way. The lack of a formula also means that school funding is based on the whims of legislators instead of on the basic educational needs of students.
A system based on a formula provides stability and predictability in school funding. Instead, the current system forces school districts to guess at the level of funding they will get from the state. The local guessing game has to be resolved by mid-June for a fiscal year that starts July 1. But the state, which plays by its own rules, typically waits until the last few days of the fiscal year to craft its budget. Schools are in the dark as to how much they�re getting, thus finalizing budgets with guesstimates on the state share.
In the budget put together last week by state legislators, the basic subsidies to local schools remained flat. But increases were included in the new �Ready to Learn� block grant program, money from which can only be used for specific purposes, including kindergarten or implementing technology in the classroom.
Gov. Tom Corbett and many legislators use the �new� grants in education to claim increased state funding for schools. But Pennsylvania remains far below the national average in percentage of state funding for schools, according to the liberal advocacy group Pennsylvania Education Law Center. Only nine states contribute a lower percentage of state funding to schools than Pennsylvania, a February 2013 report showed.
Corbett advocated earlier this year for a fair funding formula, an ironic proposal since a formula that was in place stopped being used in the first budget after Corbett took office. Republican State Rep. Todd Stephens of Montgomery County also proposed legislation this year for �equalization� in school funding as an aid to poorer districts.
Instead of achieving these efforts at fair funding, however, the governor and Republican legislators are patting themselves on the back for giving grants to districts.
The failure to stabilize funding with an equitable system has increased the local burden in districts that can least afford it.
A study by the liberal advocacy group Public Citizens for Children and Youth found that $2.5 million was lost in Norristown in the past three years due to the lack of a fair funding formula, and Pottstown lost $1.5 million. The cumulative effect is that Pottstown taxpayers would have been off the hook for $5 million this year.
The budget written last week was another roll of the dice for local school funding, throwing out some grant money while failing to address the larger issues of stable funding, educational equity or skyrocketing pension liabilities.
In that game, the local taxpayer comes out the loser.


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As reported by Transom Capital Group, Uncle Milton Industries Inc. has been sold to KCB Management. Founded in 1946, Uncle Milton creates, develops, and markets science and nature-based toys, including the company's flagship Ant Farm, to children of all ages.
"The strides that Uncle Milton has made under Transom Capital's ownership cannot be understated," said Uncle Milton president Frank Adler. "Without a doubt, Transom Capital has been a key strategic sounding board to Uncle Milton's management team."
Uncle Milton's portfolio includes such licensed product lines as the In My Room, Star Wars Science, and National Geographic brands. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The sale of Uncle Milton represents Transom Capital's second successful exit during the past 12 months.


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Missions Ministry Calendar
Your email
Their email
Tag 1
This is an area to describe the details of the event Link Style.
This is an area to describe the details of the event. Or you could have any information in here really, it just doesn't matter all that much. But the real test of an area like this is how much text it can actually hold. I mean, surely there must be limits. Right? Well if there are we sould probably display a Link Style.
First Baptist Church of New Castle • 984 West Maitland Ln, New Castle, PA 16105 • [p] 724.658.2507


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Thanksgiving is Thursday, and that means more than 43 million Americans will be on the road, driving to family gatherings. For many parents, the crowded roads can bring another challenge: Keeping a 9-year-old entertained along the way. And sometimes, DVDs are not enough. These days, kids love to tinker with smartphones and tablets, as well.
With that in mind, NPR's Renee Montagne spoke with an actual 9-year-old, Jane Frauenfelder, and her father, Mark. Together, they host the podcast Apps for Kids.
Here's a list of apps the Frauenfelders recommend for traveling kids, in an interview airing on Morning Edition Wednesday:
Story Dice — Making up stories is a time-honored way to pass the time on the road. This app gives you the basic elements of a story, in the form of simple images on dice (a face, a king's crown, a rocket, etc.). Players then string the images together.
"What we like to do," Mark says, "is take turns, each of us telling a story that uses all of those elements. And then we, as a family, vote on the best one."
Jane describes a typical story: "One day, there was a kid on a school bus, and he was carrying a soccer ball. Then it flew out of the school bus, so he had to chase it. Then he met a magical unicorn that gave him a piece of toast."
"That's the short version," Mark says.
The game is similar to Rory's Story Cubes, which comes in both app and physical form.
Mobbles — Virtual pets are released weekly in this game, in which digital animals have their own quirks and needs.
"You gotta take care of your Mobble every day," Jane says. "Wash it, play with it, clean it. And it's actually a lot of work."
Jane explains what she sees as the game's most fun feature: "You can catch Mobbles if you're on the road somewhere. Like, maybe you're in Arizona. Then you can get like, a Mobble from that zone."
Postcard on the Run — Share images of your trip the old-fashioned way. "You make a postcard, and then you can actually send it to somebody, in the mail," Jane says. "Like, they make a real copy of it."
The cards can include a finger-written note, a map — or even a scent, in a feature called "Smell Mail."
If that's not enough to fill your little one's time on the road, here are some bonus apps the Frauenfelders recommend trying:
Cobypic -- A coloring book for the digital age: kids fill in drawings with their own colors, chosen from photos taken on a smartphone's camera. The drawings range from simple images to iconic works of art.
"It's kind of like an online coloring book," Jane says. "But it's more fun."
Waze -- Sometimes diversions just won't do, and all a child (and a parent) wants is to get to their destination. Blending GPS maps with real-time tips from other drivers, Waze provides advice that can help you avoid traffic snarls, or find the cheapest nearby gas station.
Another feature allows friends to share their current location — and lets Waze's estimated 30 million users chat with one another on the road. Typical topics include speed cameras and lane closures.
You can learn more about Jane and her father's podcast, Apps for Kids, on Boing Boing.
As many Americans get ready for those long drives to a relative's house for Thanksgiving dinner, planning may include figuring out how to entertain the kids. Some families may sing in the car, but many kids now prefer smartphones and tablets.
Here to suggest some apps for kids to play in the backseat is Mark Frauenfelder and his nine-year-old daughter, Jane. They host a podcast called "Apps for Kids" on the website BoingBoing.net.
Good morning.
JANE FRAUENFELDER: Good morning.
MARK FRAUENFELDER: Good morning.
MONTAGNE: I'm wondering how you two got started doing your father daughter podcast?
FRAUENFELDER: Well, we were seeing all these great apps on the iPhone that nobody else was noticing.
FRAUENFELDER: My wife doesn't think it's like the greatest thing for us to always be doing iPhone games, so now it's like when my wife says, Jane, you're using the iPhone too much, Jane can say that she's conducting research.
MONTAGNE: And does that work still?
FRAUENFELDER: Yeah, it's a good thing because that way we kind of just get to do them for work.
MONTAGNE: Well, what would you like to start with as a recommendation?
FRAUENFELDER: Well, "Story Dice" is a fun game.
FRAUENFELDER: It's a simulation. It looks like you have a set of dice that you can roll on a virtual table. And instead of the dots representing numbers on the faces of each dice, there are little icons. And so you roll them until you get like a frying pan, a bicycle and a bowling pin. What you do is then you have to create a story that incorporates all of those elements into the story.
FRAUENFELDER: Yeah.
FRAUENFELDER: And so what we like to do is take turns, each of us telling a story that uses all of those elements. And then, we as a family, vote on this one.
MONTAGNE: Jane, can you give us an example of what kind of story you might have told?
FRAUENFELDER: Yeah. Like, one day, there was a kid on a school bus and he was carrying a soccer ball. Then it flew out of the school bus, so he had to chase it. Then he met a magical unicorn that gave him a piece of toast.
MONTAGNE: Well, that sounds pretty good.
FRAUENFELDER: That's the short version. We usually make them so they last about three minutes.
MONTAGNE: I gather also that virtual pets are making a comeback. Tell us about the virtual pet app on your list.
FRAUENFELDER: "Mobbles" is a game where you got to take care of your Mobble every day. Wash it, play with it, clean it. And it's actually a lot of work. But what I think the most fun part of the game is, is you can catch Mobbles. If you're on the road somewhere, like, maybe you're in Arizona, then you can get like a Mobbles from that zone.
FRAUENFELDER: It's using the GPS to show you where you are. So you see a map and it will show you Mobbles on that map. So if you are driving in that direction, you can snag that Mobble and add it to your menagerie.
FRAUENFELDER: Yeah. Actually, I've been forgetting to play for a while so now all my Mobbles are kind of like sick and tired and dying.
MONTAGNE: Oh. I hope this conversation changes that.
FRAUENFELDER: Yeah.
MONTAGNE: Tell us about another app that makes the time go by on a long road trip.
FRAUENFELDER: There's also a postcard. You make a postcard, and then you can actually send it to somebody in the mail. Like, they make a real copy of it, then they send it to the person you want to send it to in the mail.
FRAUENFELDER: So when were on vacation, you can actually send a physical postcard to someone that uses a photo that you took on your iPhone. It has extra features, like you can add a scent. So if you're taking a picture of a beach, it has kind of a saltwater smell, I think or tropical flowers.
FRAUENFELDER: Yeah. You could then add a small picture of the GPS to show where you are.
FRAUENFELDER: And it costs a couple of bucks, I think.
MONTAGNE: Yeah, this is called, the formal name is "Postcard on the Run." Well, this sounds like you will have plenty to do on the road. Thank you both very much for joining us.
FRAUENFELDER: You're welcome.
FRAUENFELDER: Thanks, Renee.
MONTAGNE: Mark Frauenfelder and Jane Frauenfelder, his daughter, host the a podcast "Apps for Kids" on the website BoingBoing.net. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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A Titanic Weekend at the Kansas City Public Library
Commemorate the centennial of the sinking of the "unsinkable" R.M.S. Titanic with these free events at the Kansas City Public Library, April 13-15, 2012.
Howard Iceberg & the Titanics: Welcome Aboard!
Friday, April 13, 2012
6:30pm @ Central Library - Rooftop Terrace*
Mainstays of the local music scene for 30 years, Howard Iceberg and the Titanics offer a set of original songs and tributes to the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking. A 6 p.m. reception precedes the performance. *In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside to Helzberg Auditorium.
Watch a YouTube video of Howard singing his own version of the folk song "Titanic (It Was Sad When That Great Ship Went Down)" set to clips from famous cinematic retellings of the story.
Wade Sisson: Racing Through the Night
Saturday, April 14, 2012
1 p.m. @ Waldo Branch
Wade Sisson reveals the history of the Olympia, the Titanic's sister ship, which raced 300 miles in a desperate effort to save the passengers and crew. Sisson teaches classes in Titanic history and has been a member of the Titanic Historical Society for more
than 25 years.
Titanic Lives: Kristen Iversen and Julie Hedgepeth Williams discuss survivors of the Titanic
Sunday, April 15, 2012
2 p.m. @ Central Library
Kristen Iversen discusses her biography of Titanic survivor Molly Brown, a Missouri native and denizen of Denver's Gilded Age who spoke out for women, children, and mine workers. Iversen is director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing at the University of Memphis. Julie Hedgepeth Williams follows the lives of her great-uncle and his family, who found themselves on the Titanic after abandoning their work as missionaries in Thailand. Williams is a professor of journalism at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.
Titanic Ticket Giveaway
These events are being held in conjunction with Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition on display through September 3, 2012, at Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Rd.
For more information on the voyage of the Titanic, please visit http://www.uscitizenship.info/titanics-immigration-to-the-united-states/.


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|Thread Tools
|2013-03-31, 03:53
|Link #1
Black Steel Knight
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Indonesia
As far as I know, Gundam Unicorn marks Sunrise/Bandai's first attempt at an animated adaptation of pre-existing Gundam material (in this case, a novel). This will open a new possibility of other pre-existing materials such as novels, short stories, mangas, or heck, even games to be adapted into an animated feature whether it's an OVA series or TV series. Don't you find it interesting? Imagine if, after Unicorn, Sunrise is to adapt Gundam Sentinel, Advanced of Zeta, Ecole du Ciel or the highly anticipated adaptation of Origin manga. That will be very interesting.
As for you? What's your opinion on this? What do you think is the best pre-existing materials for Sunrise to adapt after Unicorn? The "best" here means that it has a strong appeal to Gundam fans in general so that it'll be well-liked and profitable to the company, thus makes it "commercially possible" to adapt. Of course, it's not just limited to the UC universe. If there are other materials from other Gundam universe that you think has a lot of potential to attract viewers when adapted, you can mention it here too (eg. Astray mangas from SEED). For each title you mention, please add some explanation of what form is the best for the adaptation (OVA or TV) and why it will be a good material to adapt so that we can discuss it here, as well as enlighten those who are still unfamiliar with the material of your choice.
Ok. With this, I hope we can have a good discussion.
Last edited by Obelisk ze Tormentor; 2013-03-31 at 11:58.
|2013-03-31, 12:12
|Link #2
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
I've never been too fond of the inevitable comparison that will be made between the anime and the source material. (That's part of the reason why I'm staying away from the Unicorn threads until the last episode is released.) I also prefer having all the audiences finding out the story together as opposed to having some knowing the general story before others.
But, regardless, I believe The Origin seems to be the accepted next adaptation in Gundam. After that, (assuming they're continuing with this travesty ) it should probably be the F91-related manga series (Crossbone?) since people seems to favor them.
|2013-03-31, 12:43
|Link #3
Black Steel Knight
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Indonesia
|2013-03-31, 20:55
|Link #5
Black Steel Knight
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Indonesia
After Unicorn and AGE new project, I really hope that Sunrise keep their promise and make Origin their next TV series so that the younger generation will have easy acces to it. At the same time, they can release OVA series chronicling Shin Matsunaga's story which can be adapted from the various mangas to further please UC fans like me . I think that Zeon commander is pretty popular among UC fans due to his badass combat skill coupled with badass mono-eye Suits.
|2013-03-31, 21:37
|Link #8
Ancient Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Which is why I think Origins will be the last adaptation... Both UC and Origins were heavily hyped, much more than any other manga or novel adaptation out there, so they are special.
|2013-04-07, 13:18
|Link #9
User Title eaten by ravenous bunnies
IT Support
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Zeon
Age: 27
We all know Gundam 0079 was supposed to have 50-51 episodes but instead only got 43, that's why I really think Origin got an adaptation in the first place. I do hope they don't go on a adaption spree and adapt G Gundam or the first 25 episodes of ZZ.
|2013-04-07, 16:19
|Link #10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
|2013-04-07, 16:55
|Link #11
Mama there goes that man!
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: UK
While I know there's a 0.1% chance it happens, I'd love to see After War Gundam X: Newtype Warrior Jamil Neate adapted into a two or three-episode OVA. I've never actually read the manga (haven't been able to find a translated copy floating around on the web), but I'd love to see one of the best characters in one of the most underrated series get an OVA.
|2013-04-07, 20:43
|Link #12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
|2013-04-07, 21:03
|Link #13
Black Steel Knight
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Indonesia
Hathaway's Flash events debuts in Gundam Unicorn Episode 7
"Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash" is the series in which Xi Gundam appears. The series took place in U.C.0105, about 9 years after Gundam Unicorn. In Episode 7, some elements from that era is scheduled to make an appearance"
Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash was a series of three Gundam novels written by Gundam-creator Yoshiyuki Tomino from February 1989 to May 1990. They chronicle the later life of Hathaway Noa, the son of Bright Noa, twelve years after the events of the second Neo Zeon movement as seen in Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack. The novel featured four new mobile suit designs by Moriki Yasuhiro, the mechanical designer of Hades Project Zeorymer.
In Hathaway's Flash, Hathaway Noa is still haunted by his past actions (not to mention the spirit of deceased Newtype Quess Paraya), joins a terrorist organization called Mafty and adopts the false name "Mafty Navue Erin". The organization Mafty is fighting a terrorist campaign against the Earth Federation government, and they are eventually able to acquire the incredibly powerful prototype Ξ Gundam, which Hathaway becomes the pilot of. Using the Ξ Gundam Mafty attempts to attack a meeting of high-ranking Federation cabinet members in Adelaide, Australia to force them to vote down a provision which would strengthen the Federations already considerable powers.
As a point to note, this novel focuses on a version of events chronicled in creator Yoshiyuki
Tomino's novelized form of Char's Counterattack, rather than his animated movie version."
A very nice surprise indeed. Now that the novel is written by Tomino himself, the chance of it being adapted is likely higher, no? And Xi Gundam is one helluva Gundam!
Btw, Hathaway's pilot-suit reminds me of those UN pilots in Macross universe .
|2013-04-07, 21:34
|Link #16
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
And I agree about the pilot suit resembling the macross ones XD
|2013-04-08, 21:09
|Link #18
A random passerby
Join Date: Jul 2012
Age: 26
I honestly wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if Hathaway's Flash gets an ova adaption. Unicorn has been one of the hottest things from the Gundam franchise since Seed was airing, so I think we might see more of these uc side story adaptions in the future.
|Thread Tools


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Member and Patient Resources
Pam Gatto is the current Chair of the Health First Board of Trustees. Gatto has been a member of the Health First Board of Trustees since 2007. She's also vice chair of the Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center and Health First Palm Bay Hospital Board of Directors. She also serves as vice chair of the Brevard Health Alliance Board of Directors.Pam is president of Gatto's Tires and Auto Service and is a past president of the Tire Association of North America and the Florida Independent Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association. She is a 2001 inductee of the Tire Industry Hall of Fame.Locally, Gatto was 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year, won the 2000 Volunteer of The Year Award from Florida Today and has served as past president of the Junior League of South Brevard. She also served as past chair of the Brevard Workforce Development Board, the Space Coast Tiger Bay Club and the Brevard Art Museum Board.


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Lyon Arboretum rings in holiday season with plant sale on November 17University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Horticulturist, University of Hawaii at Manoa
On hand for sale will be colorful ti varieties, cactus and succulents, orchids, anthuriums, heliconias, gingers, tillandsias and other bromeliads, Hawaiian ferns and other native plants, UH variety vegetable seeds and many other plants for homes and gardens. Ceramic pots and planters will also be available.
Olomana Tropicals will be selling Schaueria calycotricha 'Lime Puff,' a versatile shrub with lime-yellow ohia-like flowers that are useful in leis or as cut flowers. They will also be selling several kinds of lilikoi (passionfruit).
Arboretum volunteers from Hui Hana Hawai'i will sell beautiful, one of a kind dry and fresh holiday wreaths and oshibana crafts. There will also be tasty jams and jellies and Hawaiian honey – perfect for stocking stuffers and holiday gifts.
A free shuttle service to the Arboretum has pick-up and drop-off points at the intersections of Po'elua Street and Manoa Road, and Nipo Street and Mānoa Road.
Lyon Arboretum, located at 3860 Mānoa Road, is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed on Sunday and state holidays.
For more information, call 988-0456 or visit: http://www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum/.


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How to Use
the Readings
Inquiry Question
Reading 2: Combatants' Accounts
Alfred B. Peticolas, a young lawyer, enlisted in the Fourth Texas Mounted Volunteers in Victoria, Texas in May 1861. Sergeant Peticolas recorded the call Colonel Scurry's troops answered to march to the support of Major Pyron at Apache Canyon the evening of Wednesday, March 26, 1862.
Laid over today and waited for the 3rd Regt. Towards evening it came in and two or three hours after, an express from Major Pyron came in informing us that he had been attacked by a large body of Pike's Peak men during the day; that he had gotten the best of the engagement and had fallen back to wood and water, which he would hold till we came up to him. The order was immediately given, and in an hour after we received the express, we were all under way. This, however, made it about 8 o'clock when we started, and we were told that the distance we had to go was 12 miles, but before it was walked we found it to be at least 15. Pyron had two men killed and 3 wounded.
Ovando J. Hollister was living in the mining district of South Clear Creek, Colorado, in the summer of 1861, and enlisted in Captain Sam H. Cook's company of mounted volunteers. He served with the First Colorado Volunteers from the time of its organization through its campaign in New Mexico and return to Denver. Hollister sustained injuries during the campaign that rendered him an invalid unfit for military duty in January 1863. He described the forced winter march by the Colorado Volunteers from Denver to Fort Union to meet the advancing Confederate forces.
The teams, relieved of their loads, took aboard a full complement of passengers, leaving, however, between three and four hundred to foot it. Away into the wee hours of morning did we tramp, tramp, tramp, --the gay song, the gibe, the story, the boisterous cheer, all died a natural death. Nothing broke the stillness of night but the steady tramp of the men and the rattle of the wagons. We were now to prove the sincerity of those patriotic oaths so often sworn, and right nobly was it done. At length the animals began to drop and die in harness, from overwork and underfeed, which forced us to stop. But for this, we would doubtless have made Union without a halt. Col. Slough rode in the coach. That never stops between Red River and Union. Why should we?
Questions for Reading 2
1. Who gives a better description of the land through which he marched, Hollister or Peticolas? Why?
2. How did their patriotic oaths, made when the volunteers enlisted, help Hollister's companions to continue their 30-mile night march towards Fort Union? Why did Colonel Slough's actions cause them to complain?
3. Peticolas' companions made a forced march of 15 miles. Why did they not complain?
4. In what ways were both soldiers' experiences similar? In what ways were they different?
¹ Don E. Alberts, ed., Rebels on the Rio Grande: The Civil War Journals of A. B. Peticolas (Albuquerque: Merit Press, 1993).


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Re: What info should I be getting from a renter, and how do I verify it?msdebj Apr 13, 2012 1:03 PM (in response to cobah)
Cobah, first thing you need is an detailed contract that is signed and dated. And, I know there are various opinions about this, but I also require a copy of the credit card AND driver's license ( other government issued photo ID). These are standard requirements when you rent a hotel room.
Those must be in my possession before I even charge their credit card. Period. No exceptions.
Require a Damage Deposit. This is NOT applied towards rent.
As for screening, I use facebook, google, etc. to search their email address, name and phone number, before I even reposnd to an inquiry. It's amazing what people post on Facebook.
Just a few of my tips, that have worked well for me over the years. I'm sure others have other ideas as well.
Re: What info should I be getting from a renter, and how do I verify it?anja Apr 13, 2012 11:31 PM (in response to msdebj)
Hi cobah,
This has been a topic for discussion, and continues to be. If you use the "Search" bar at the top of this page, type in the word "screening" and then try "interacting with guests" to find some previous posts that will give you ideas from what other Owners feel about it...and do.
You can ask inquirers for any indentification that you want [except don't ask for USA Social Security numbers}. Common ID info is acceptable as hotels do this, too. Some people will comply. Some will not. You will have to try a few tactics to see what works. But, set a policy for yourself. You can put it in your advertisement, on your website, what is needed by the Owner prior to accepting a reservation. It's your home. It's your business. You decide what will make you feel comfortable. Some Owners have a rigid I.D. requirement...some less. For some Owners, just a phone conversation and a credit card works.
There are other things you want to know about people before you give access to your home....along with their I.D. As msdebj does, I also try to search for any of the personal details that an inquirer offers when they contact me. More often than not, I'll do a "search" online even before I answer the inquiry {it depends on how the inquirer is approaching me in their inquiry}.
True example: Just a couple of days ago, I got an inquiry that sounded innocent enough. It was from a person who said that he and his wife were looking for about a week in a 10-day period in my location for a particular time frame, "...please send availability and price". He offered his full name in the saluation {which is a good sign...and it was a very unique name so I thought I'd be able to easily 'search' it.} So, I first entered the guy's email address into my Google Toolbar....only three references appeared for the emails. But, one was something on YouTube. I clicked.
I was disgusted by what was uploaded onto YouTube by this individual. Entertaining --- NOT. Disgusting, immature antics between him and his friends playing with food in, what appeared to be his kitchen - which was messy {his 'wife' ??? was sitting at the kitchen table laughing.} Their ages were twenty-somethings. They were from somewhere in the United Kingdom...not that it mattered because I get many UNK guests who are simply wonderful...but I'll mention it here because using your imagination, it could add to the flavor of the 'piece' concerning popular "regional foods". My inquirer and his buddies were pulling down their pants, inserting food into the crevices of their backsides. I clicked away in a nano second but had seen enough to gross me out the entire day....it will be awhile before I enjoy another plate of fish & chips. Jolly ho...away we go --- NOT to my place! {My apologies to anyone in the UNK --- I'm just communicating what I saw and heard.}
I am, however, finding it increasingly difficult using people's emails for searches. Most email addresses lead to nothing, for me, because people create them to inquire {only}. So, for the inquiry, I would also like a full name from the person {to aid in my online screening search}. However, again...I am finding that too many of my inquirers do not include a full name in their inquiry.
A common...in fact...a typical inquiry I get reads like this:
I'm wondering if you have availability for x/xxx to x/xxx. Please send information and price. Thanks, Bill, Bob, Marge {or JJ} ...but hardly ever surnames. And, their email will be gmail, or hotmail....one that was newly created and not traceable to any content links.
I'm not comfortable with that type of inquiry because I do not favor revealing my information if they will not tell me who they are, and how many people they travel with. If there is a phone # offered, I'd call, first. If no phone # (which is common), I usually reply with an "interim" response aimed at getting more information from the person....it's not an "interrogation message from me"....it's just a friendly reply telling them that I may be able to help them and would like to send them my information pack, by email. Usually, they respond with what I need to be able to give them a comprehensive, thorough information package that will help them decide if my place is right for them {but, note that it is I who will decide if it is suitable --- if I'm not content with their response!}. My information pack contains everthing about my place they need to know, including rental terms & conditions + the price for their stay...for their consideration. Whatever happens from that point between us is "contractural" (if I agree to accept the reservation}.
It helps to get a phone number from the inquirer...so you can call them. However, I notice that the overwhelming majority of my inquirers do not offer me a phone number! I have to ask, usually. Sometimes, I never hear from them again (!!)....some people will not give it just for the inquiry {strange, these days}. One woman wrote back to me that her # is private and she only gives it out after she gets the first "response" from the Owner...to see if she is really interested. Geeze, the games we play, these days}. I did not "invite her to reserve my place for other reasons that I do not have to go into here......e.g. her Trip Advisor review contributions told me a lot about her -- she signed off with her "nick name" which proved to be very searchable.
There are many Owners that only book after they've had at least one phone conversation. So, perhaps, as you are new to renting, you should tell your inquirers that, as the property Owner, you'd be happy to speak over the phone. You can gain a lot of information from an inquirer, in a conversational manner {not interrogation manner}: who they are, who they are traveling with, have they visited your area before, have they ever rented a private vacation home, the purpose of their visit to your location {vacation or business...attending special family event, etc..} Just by being friendly, but also business like --- it's a balancing act --- you can get information you want. And, then you can decide whether they are a "fit" for your place.
I have to turn down some people who travel to my location to use my home for purposes that I not only would not agree with, but I am not "licensed" for. Like, weddings and other types of group gatherings. For example: I've been asked if a guest's family & friends could come over for a "luau" at my place. I LOVE family luaus....but I can not permit my guests to invite who they know on the island to my place. I take all "requests" on a case-by-case basis, but there are some things that I can not ...and will not....permit here. I will never permit anything that could upset other residents in my immediate area...and potentially cause me to be considered a "nuisance" vacation rental Owner. My resident neighbors are WONDERFUL! We all know each other...and respect each other's peace.
So, you should find out what type of "experience" your inquirer expects when using your home. It's important for the inquirer to know that your home may -or may not- be suitable {you decide who stays / what your home is used for}.
Other Owners here will have similar and perhaps different tips on what to find out, before you book. All of us are very experienced and have a lot of value to share.
Re: What info should I be getting from a renter, and how do I verify it?msdebj Apr 13, 2012 3:51 PM (in response to anja)
anja makes some great points. Like her, I've noticed a real drop recently in the information travelers provide when making an inquiry.
One thing I do now, when I get a generic request with no last name, phone #, etc. is to respond rather genericaly back.
I let them know that the property is CURRENTLY available ( 1st come , 1st serve). I then ask for more information : name, phone number, ages of the guests, is there any special reason for their trip, etc. ( I do this nicely, by saying I want to make sure our home is appropriate for them.)
I then give VERY basic information (our age restrictions, price breakdown, How to Confirm a Reservation,). I then end the note this way:
"If you have any questions, would like more information or wish to proceed please let me know. I can email you a Rental Application/Agreement and we can go forward."
Easy, since I have several templates I just cut and paste- takes less than a minute or 2.
They will either give me the information I need, or my home will suddenly become unavailable for the time period they are interested in. They get no specific information from me unless I get it from them.
Re: What info should I be getting from a renter, and how do I verify it?anja Apr 13, 2012 11:26 PM (in response to msdebj)
Yes..that's it! I agree msdebj! That's a similar generic response I send. It usually works to get what I need....I won't send them my information package unless their reply is what I need. I probably lost a lot of potential business....but I also probably was saved from a bad renter experience, too. It's all relative.
It's been discussed here before: the Traveller needs to be "educated" on "How To Inquire". The Traveller needs to learn and understand that private property Owners need to know who they are before we will do business with them...give them our keys....and that it is us who selects them! No Traveller would permit anyone into their homes if they did not know who, what, where and why, either!
This has become more important as vacation rental scams become more and more widespread. Both parties have to be aware that we both need to foster trust, with each other.
HA can do A LOT to educate the Traveller On "How To Inquire".
The Inquiry Form: I would also like the inquiry form to be completely filled out, with full name, email address and a valid phone number from the inquirer {not 555 555-5555} ...and program the "inquiry form" so it will not "send" if it is not completely filled in.
Re: What info should I be getting from a renter, and how do I verify it?iopbeachhouse Apr 14, 2012 8:27 AM (in response to anja)
I absolutely agree with you about the "inquiry form". I have filled out forms on other web sites that will not accept the form unless all the information is included.
Re: What info should I be getting from a renter, and how do I verify it?anja Apr 14, 2012 5:50 PM (in response to iopbeachhouse)
I think that the Inquiry Form can tell us A LOT if only the inquirers were forthright with their request, by telling Owners what they *really* need. It would save us a valuable time that we otherwise waste dealing with some of these inquiries. Afterall, the 'inquiry tool' is supposed to help us Owners [who pay for this service] with servicing the Travellers' requests. I think the 'tool' can be improved. I know that this OP's question was specifically about I.D., but the 'inquiry tool' and the Travellers' poor inquiry skills play a part in whether we, Owners, feel secure from the get-go starting with the inquiry.
Example: four days ago, I got a inquiry from a guy who stated he wanted to rent my place, QUOTE: "For me and my wife {no children}." It was an 8-night proposed stay. We emailed each other a couple of times to get some specifics. Then, I sent him my information pack which includes all details...that I "tailored" for him and his wife's stay --- and I offered a discount because it was a time of year it slows down here. I heard nothing for three days. I thought he was "gone". On the fourth day {this morning}, he responds that he and his wife love the place, location, the amenities, the price...but they will not be renting it because, QUOTE: "We are actually coming to the island to "get together" with 3 other couples --- and your policy for extra visitors will not work for us. " He should have mentioned, in the inquiry, that the place was NOT needed for "just me and my wife"! I would have had a very different response...certainly my price would have been very different. But, regardless, I can not fit 8 people into my small cottage --- even if it was just for "day stays". I have a limited capacity which *is stated clearly in the ad that he did, indeed, read because he had questions*!. Why the heck did he not mention that there are 3 other couples in the mix...coming and going????? That information should have been in the "comments" section of the first inquiry --- because the guy could clearly see that my place was TOO SMALL for 8 adults to hang around in. Was he really intending to squeeze 8 adults {who knows, maybe more tag along} into my one-bedroom cottage? Why bother to even inquire with me if he knows that they will be 8 adults "using" my cottage....why not seek out a more spacious place "to entertain" their friends?
The Traveller needs to be educated on How to Inquire.
And, that inquiry form supplied by HA/VRBO could be updated to prompt Travellers to include important *details* in the *comments* section. I would like to see something like:
- Number of people?
- How many extra guests will visit?
It would be wonderful if the "inquiry form" were formulated so that it is really ***useful*** for the Owners to work with....it is us who have to 'serve' the interests of the Traveller....but the Traveller is not "encouraged" to be specific so we can do the job! P.S. I apologize to Doug /OP-cobah if I took your question and ran with it. But, there is a lot we Owners need to know about people during the "inquiry process".


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Wow - Same story, but different problems and solutions!
Lesson 7 of 10
Objective: SWBAT identify the problem and solution in a fable and then compare/contrast another version of the same story from a different author.
- 'text feature' headers (cut)
- copy of Thirteenth Story with underlined areas to read
- copy of The Runaway Pancake (if you have internet issues)
- set up the whiteboard
- venn diagram with plot - one for each student
- Lesson vocabulary words from the Reading/Writing word wall: fable, illustration, version, problem, setting, characters, event, solution, plot
- 'Wow-Same Story' powerpoint
I chose these fables because they were more appropriate than many of the dated fables. Some of them have quite a bit of violence and older language. I only read the highlighted parts because it was really long.
Resources (4)
Let's Get Excited!
Underlined words below are lesson vocabulary words that are emphasized and written on sentence strips for my Reading & Writing word wall. I pull off the words off the wall for each lesson, helping students understand this key 'reading and writing' vocabulary can be generalized across texts and topics. The focus on acquiring and using these words is part of a shift in the Common Core Standards towards building students' academic vocabulary. My words are color coded 'pink' for literature/'blue' for reading strategies/'orange' for informational text/'yellow' for writing/'green' for all other words.
Engage students
- "Today we're going to talk about some fables and compare them." (powerpoint slide 1)
- "I'll show you some illustrations, read some stories and show a few videos."
- "These stories are fables, which are very old stories that people have told over and over again through the years."
- "Many times, there are different versions in other countries. It's good to understand how the different versions compare because the story ideas come up again and again.
- Many times, we'll see the problems, settings, characters, solutions and events on TV and in other moves. Did anyone see the Gingerbread Man in Shrek? That's an example of why these old fables or stories are important to know."
- "We're going to compare and contrast these fables and others using a Venn Diagram."
The students are reading and recounting fables (RL.2.2) from diverse cultures to determine their central message. This is important because the themes, characters, and problems reoccur throughout literature. I am building on their general knowledge by helping them read and recount 'classic' literature. They are building on their content literacy expertise, which will pay off throughout the years as they are exposed to more and more literature from other cultures.
Resources (1)
Resources (1)
Teachers' Turn
Review the concepts quickly
- "Let's talk about story elements first so we can compare the 2 versions of the story."
- "What is a character?" (Take ideas - animals or people) Put up the header on the board.
- "What is a setting?" (Take ideas - place and time) Put up the header on the board.
- "What is an event?" (actions, things that happen) Put up the prompt on the board.
- "Now as we look at these versions of the story, there is also a problem and solution. A problem is...." (take ideas - what one or more characters wants to do or wants to happen by the end of the story) Put up the header on the board.
- "So what does the 'solution' in a story mean?" take ideas - 'how the problem was solved.' Put up header on the board.
Model the skill
- "First we'll talk about Jack and the Beanstalk. This version was written in America. (slide 2-3) Here's an online version of the Jack and the Beanstalk. (slide 4) This story was written in America." (show the movie)
- "The main characters are Jack, mom... I don't think the man is a main character. The giant might be."
- "The setting is 2 places. I'll infer that they live in the country."
- "Let me pick 3 main events. (Model - 'Jack met a man and sold the cow and got beans - yes that is a big event but can we change it to Jack sold his cow to get beans? Jack went to sleep. He did do that, but is that a major event?) "Each story has 3-4 main events that tell what happened."
- "The problem is what Jack wants to happen by the end of the story...." (Spend a moment reviewing the 'main' problem) "Jack wants things from the giant."
- "The solution is what happened to the characters at the end. Was the problem solved? Jack got the gold and the giant died. Yes those are both solutions."
Guided Practice
- "Now I will read another version of the story called Thirteenth. It's from Italy. (slide 4-5) You can help me identify the story elements." (Read the highlighted portions - slide 6)
- "Who are the main characters?" (take ideas - ogre, ogress, Thirteenth)
- "What about the setting?" (take ideas - ogre's house, King's castle)
- "Can we pick 3 main events?" (Thirteenth grabs the coverlet, horse, gold/Thirteenth almost gets caught but puts the ogress in the oven/Thirteenth puts the ogre in the chest and is rich)
- "What is the problem?" (ideas... Thirteenth wants to steal the ogre's riches but almost gets caught)
- "What was the solution?" (ideas... Thirteenth puts the ogre in the chest, he gets all of the riches)
Compare as a group on the whiteboard
- "Let's think about those 2 stories and compare and contrast them using a Venn Diagram. We put the things that are different in this part of the circle and the things that are the same in this part of the circle. Let's go back to the headings."
- "Were the characters the same? Both stories had a mom (write that in the middle) but Jack and Thirteenth were different (write that on the outside)
- "What about the setting?" One was the sky and the other was a castle. They were both written a long time ago so we'll write that in the middle."
- "Events?" Jack climbed but Thirteenth ran. Jack stole a harp and hen and Thirteenth stole a horse and coverlet." (Write those on the outside) "The giant chased both of them so put that in the middle."
- "What was the problem? That's the same, the boy wanted to steal from the giant/ogre. Put that in the middle"
- "What was the solution? The boy ran away but Jack cut down the tree (put that on Jack's side) and Thirteenth put the giant in a chest (put that on the other side)."
- "Wow! Same story but different problems and solutions! Both characters had to react to big challenges (the ogre or giant) and they were brave enough to help their families."
- "When we compare and contrast similar versions of stories, it helps us become better readers. We can learn to think about the story structures in a different way and it helps us understand more about the stories!"
- Here's what the whiteboard looked like when we were done.
We are reviewing all of the story elements, but are focusing on identifying problem and solution. The Common Core State Standards encourage students to examine stories to determine their structure and organization (RL.2.5). This interaction with the features allows them to be 'close readers' who interact and anticipate the features as they occur ('look at the events that lead to the solution' or 'see how the characters change in response to the problem'). This is an emphasis in the Standards - encouraging active participation in carefully constructed situations (2 fables that contrast) so students can examine and compare them more independently.
Resources (1)
Resources (1)
The Students' Take a Turn
We are doing these as a group because the reading level is too high for the students. Fables translated to English from other countries typically are written in English that is far above their reading level. Also, I have found that comparing and contrasting all the story elements, as well as identifying an appropriate problem and solution is best addressed in a group at this time of the year.
Build knowledge
- "Let's look at two more fables together and then you can have a turn comparing and contrasting.
- "Here's the German version of the 'Runaway Pancake'." "Remember to listen for characters, setting, action, problem and solution. Think about how the characters interact and how the setting is unique." Show the video or you can read the fable if you have internet issues.
- "Now can you guess what the American version of this story is?" Take guesses. "Yes its the Gingerbread Man." (slides 11-13) "Here's a quick video of the Gingerbread Man."
- Wow, when I think about these 2 versions, I noticed that there is the some similarities and some differences." (quick review)
- "The characters had problems to respond to"
- "The settings seemed the same"
- "What about the problems and events?"
- "Did the stories end the same?"
- "I also noticed that the story elements work together. When the characters change (pig vs fox) and the setting changes (farm vs ...) it changes the story and the problem/solution." These are big ideas and very intuitive - its worth mentioning them to see if the kids have comments. There are more lessons to be taught on character development and how story elements affect each other, but for now its worth mentioning.
They are contrasting those fables (RL.2.9) using a Venn Diagram. Analyzing how two or more texts address similar themes and story lines allows them to build knowledge and compare the approaches that the author takes. Asking questions to allow comparison requires them to cite evidence to answer the text-dependent queries. The Standards want learners who take charge of their learning - asking questions to get answers, searching the texts for verification, and comparing ideas to gain a better level of comprehension.
Resources (2)
Apply What You've Learned
Explain the task
- "I'm passing out a Venn Diagram for you to use."
- "Write the titles of the story on the top 'Runaway Pancake' and 'Gingerbread Man'."
- "Think about the story elements and compare and contrast the stories."
- "Who can tell me where the elements that are the same should be written? Yes, in the middle of the circles. Write the characters, setting, events, problem, and solutions that are different on the sides of the circle."
- You have 10 minutes to think of ideas. Then we'll discuss."
Support student work and discuss
- Give them 10 minutes with a one minute warning.
- "Now raise your hand and tell me what elements you put in the middle?" ran away, .....
- "What ideas were different?"
- "Wow, again these stories are the same, but the problems and solutions were different. Raise your hand if you liked the German version better? Why? Raise your hand if you liked the American version better. Why did you like it better?" Good introspection time - the fables from other countries seem a bit more 'rough' or the characters are not as nice. There is not a nice movie about those stories...."
- "Remember we read fables because the themes (or ideas) reoccur over and over again. Even other countries have stories that share that same theme. " You could take a moment to query about themes of these stories, if there's time....
- "When you watch television and movies, keep an eye out for these events and characters. Many tv shows and movies have ideas from fables."
- Here are 2 examples of completed student worksheets: worksheet 1 and worksheet 2.
Scaffolding and Special Education: This lesson could be scaffolded up or down, depending on student ability.
For my special education students, the video and story read aloud were a perfect way for them to participate and understand the stories without having to read at the 2nd grade level. The videos were much easier for them to understand and I realize they were a bit lost with the story read, since there were no pictures and the vocabulary was harder. I still think they got some great exposure from ideas that the other kids offered and I called on them earlier in the comparison so they could offer up clearcut similarities and differences (Jack had a cow and the other boy did not). When they completed the diagram, I either paired them up with a buddy or wrote some vocabulary on their slate to help them.
For more advanced students, the stories from other countries might be of great interest. They would probably have more ideas about contrasting the more difficult story elements, such as the problem and solution. I would also question them more about how the setting change leads to characters and problem changes. Perhaps they would also like to extend this idea and research another fable and find what versions are offered from other countries.
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Resources (2)
Here are some nice websites to use for comparing another fable, Cinderella. There is a link to a Russian Cinderella story, a Korean Cinderella story and a variety of other stories about this character.


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Introducing Klynt 3 | Klynt.net
Amazing Interactive Platform
The rest of my favorite links are here.
Introducing Klynt 3 | Klynt.net
Amazing Interactive Platform
The rest of my favorite links are here.
By Jeremy Rue
"It's become a verb in our newsroom," a New York Times graphics producer tells me. "People are now saying, 'can we snowfall this story?'"
Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek has become a watershed in multimedia journalism. The story by John Branch recently won a Pulitzer prize in feature writing, and as noted by the Pulitzer website it was "a project enhanced by its deft integration of multimedia elements."
As a journalism educator, I'm constantly collecting links to examples of stories that attempt innovate and redefine the narrative form online. For years, story structures online have mostly been a repurposing of legacy formats — TV, radio and print. While we are starting to see the journalism industry leverage digital media in very powerful ways, more often it's a complementary component to a more traditional story structure. For example, you might see an interactive graphic or map or audio slideshow off to the side of a text story.
Then came Snow Fall.
It was posted on the front page of the NYTimes.com website in late 2012. The day it published, I received a dozen e-mails from faculty members, students and non-journalism colleagues with messages akin to 'Hey, did you see this?'
A few of us at the Berkeley j-school who specialize in multimedia journalism — Richard Koci Hernandez, Paul Grabowicz and myself — have been poring over the project, trying to decipher what it brings to the table and how it might exemplify future story structures.
The integration of multimedia in Snow Fall was purposeful. As New York Times Graphics Director Steve Duenes explained in an interview with Poynter Online, they were looking to find ways to create a seamless experience, "…So it didn't feel like you were taking a detour, but the multimedia was part of the one narrative flow."
Beyond the multimedia integration, there were various technical and design components brought into play:
While some of these are simple design embellishments, their power lies in the emotional response they trigger as you venture through the story — and I use "venture" intentionally, because this is the feeling that it evokes. Effective design triggers an emotional response which can enhance the story structure.
From the opening video animation — which could have just been a static image — the viewer is taken to a barren and ominous place. Using silent videos instead of still images is a much more effective way of conveying this sense of place.
I am seeing more of this use of video animation in place of static images in projects done by our grad students. It's a way of making static design come alive, similar to the way portraits stare at their gazers in the Harry Potter world, or how Cinemagraphs can elicit a captivating — albiet sometimes creepy — viewer response.
In Snow Fall, the opening animated images set the mood of the project in a similar fashion to background music setting the mood of a movie. It creates an atmosphere from the very moment the project opens. It's important that these videos are silent and repetitive. They aren't narratives — they aren't meant to be watched or played in the same fashion as a stand-alone video. Also, auto-playing audio on websites is considered poor design practice and annoying to users.
I expect we will be seeing many more video animations as a design element in future online journalism packages.
Next, let's look at the various scrolling mechanisms in play. I am a proponent of using scrolling as a narrative device, even when the primary medium is not text. It is a new trend I've noticed and very different from the traditional non-scrolling routes such as clicking on arrows or tabs.
One example of a scrollable narrative is a blog post by Cabel Sasser, co-founder of Panic software company (and not a professional journalist). He wrote a fascinating and suspenseful account of exploring the basement of the old Oregonian building. In this piece, which is simply a collection of photos and some small snippets of text, scrolling is the method used to advance the narrative. This creates suspense going from photo to photo, unveiling more and more of the narrative as the reader scrolls to explore this world.
In more traditional journalism environments, this might have been a slideshow, which I think would have completely ruined the experience.
We also see the trend toward scrolling in big online news packages. Global Post's America The Gutted piece piece was built as a single long webpage rather than paginated into separate pages. In the past, this type of single-page design convention was discouraged because it added to the load-time of the page, and bandwidth was at a premium. But with the proliferation of broadband, some web producers are opting for fewer separate pages within a single story and more content on a single page.
Scrolling also allows people to get a glimpse of what to expect from the package by quickly going down the page and scanning the content. Web usability studies show that users like to skim content, especially when presented with a large quantity of it. We've noticed that our journalism students similarly tend to scan through a piece before pausing to read or watch it.
Another mechanism used in the Snow Fall piece was the curtain effect, which creates the sense of revealing or concealing panels of content as the user scrolls. This was most notably used in a ESPN piece on Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Doc Ellis.
The curtain effect serves a few different purposes. Initially, it's what my colleague Richard Koci Hernandez refers to as "eye candy," a design embellishment that wows the user, and draws them into the story. but this effect is ephemeral and will lose its impact as more and more people use it and it becomes more commonplace.
The curtain effect also makes the process of scrolling more playful and adds a sense of mystery as the story unfolds as the curtain rises.
One of our graduate students, Erik Reyna, used this technology, called Curtain.js, in a story about homelessness. The curtain effect revealed different graphics and photos from the project, and encouraged readers to scroll through the piece.
All of these components together create a more immersive experience for the viewer, like that found in traditional media like documentaries or long-form narratives. In a digital world, creating this experience needs to include design conventions and leveraging new technological innovations to engage readers. All of this is experimental, but my hope is journalists will analyze and build on projects like Snow Fall so we can more effectively deliver news and other content to the public.
by Danny Groner/ Shutterstock
"The sounds of silence." It's a vivid refrain we're all familiar with, thanks to Simon and Garfunkel. Behind this apparent oxymoron lies something more, a certain sensibility that all digital producers work into their final projects. Skilled professionals use silence to help establish, build, and propel their stories forward. That goes beyond reaction shots from main characters, though; acting can only take a film so far. Adding carefully-selected and re-purposed B-roll shots can carry the emotional weight to pack a real emotional punch onscreen. To push a story along, filmmakers draw on a whole slew of effects, which can include audio-less clips that still speak for themselves. Here are five areas where filmmakers can incorporate stock clips to maximize emotional impact:
Man washing car clip
If a film doesn't start from the beginning, chances are at some point along the way it'll feature a flashback to another time. These devices help viewers get much-needed context in a constructive and crafty way. Otherwise, characters would have to express revelations through awkward dialogue, and, worse, viewers would lose out on making connections that increase the depth of a story. Beyond highlighting attributes or trauma of a lead character, flashbacks can offer a glimpse into a different era. Pick a clip that both demonstrates an event, an episode, a season, or a time period, and drives the point home with emotion and mood that reinforces it.
Suspense relies on prolonging a feeling of mystery for as long as possible without alienating the viewer. The best directors achieve it thanks to a combination of great acting, steady camerawork, and a slow-burn pacing. To set the mood, they'll allow a shot to go on for just a bit longer than others typically would, giving a clip enough time to marinate and resonate with the viewer. For instance, think about how Alfred Hitchcock masterfully lingered on a window, or on a dark bird, to give it a sense of importance. Watching it, you don't know when it'll come up or matter again. But it plants the idea in your head, handing you information that even the characters don't have.
Confusion. Disorganization. Mayhem. They're difficult emotions to display without having someone knock over a stack of papers or fall into a wedding cake. But digital producers must find ways to make everything seem crazed without losing sight of the plot. Yes, there's an order to the disorder that must come through. Your best bet is to showcase stress and disruption through external effects first, such as crowded streets and people banging into one another, and then afterward to turn the focus onto the characters. People will naturally attach the emotions they see in one place to the one that immediately follow. That way, it's not a reflection of the characters as much as the circumstances surrounding them.
This is one area where you must be careful to avoid cliches as we all associate certain places or objects with the same calming sense. However, settings like beach getaways can get in the way of telling a truly original and provocative story. Instead, the best filmmakers call on other ways to deliver the mood. One idea would be to zoom in on a blade of grass in the morning, slowly swaying in the wind. A closeup shot on something innocent and ordinary can soothe the viewer. The pace of motion in the clip also goes a long way towards communicating calm — keep it slow and your audience will find themselves in the right headspace for the action that follows.
This is a FIRST for me. I've never made my iphoneography available for purchase. So for a LIMITED time, 7 days, you can buy this image. It's an honor to be working with the great folks @canvaspop to offer this limited edition print of one of my favorite images.
AFTER THE FALL Video from Matt Black Photography on Vimeo.
AFTER THE FALL from Matt Black Photography on Vimeo.
As leaves fall annually, Western Kentucky University's Mountain Workshops draw a team of dedicated teachers and determined learners to a small Kentucky town, where together they explore the richness of community, the beauty of landscape, and the possibilities and challenges of visual storytelling.
The 37th annual Workshops will take place Oct. 16-21, 2012 in the city of Henderson, Ky. Please visit our web site at http://www.mountainworkshops.


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More from James Watson on race, evolution, and intelligence.
(For discussions of the latest topics, check out the Human Nature Fray.)
Activists are pressing Disney to let disabled people ride Segwaysin Disney World and SeaWorld. The activists say Segways provide greater mobility, freedom, and dignity than wheelchairs do, but Disney doesn't let visitors use them. Disney's arguments: 1) Segways might run into kids, old people, or disabled people. 2) Segways go too fast. 3) Segways can topple. Activist' rebuttals: 1) A study shows Segways are safer than other personal vehicles. 2) Disney offers Segway tours of its other properties. 3) Disney makes some of its employees ride Segways. Next question: If Segways are approved for disabilities, will they qualify for public subsidies or insurance coverage? (Related: Segways and obesity; Segways as police vehicles.)
James Watson tried to explain and revise his comments about blacks and intelligence. (See original item below.) New quotes: 1) "I cannot understand how I could have said what I am quoted as having said." 2) "If I said what I was quoted as saying, then I can only admit that I am bewildered by it." 3) "To those who have drawn the inference from my words that Africa, as a continent, is somehow genetically inferior, I can only apologize unreservedly. That is not what I meant." 4) "There is no scientific basis for such a belief." 5) People want "to assume that equal powers of reason are a universal heritage of humanity. It may well be. But simply wanting this to be the case is not enough." 6) "We do not yet adequately understand the way in which the different environments in the world have selected over time the genes which determine our capacity to do different things." 7) "This is not a discussion about superiority or inferiority, it is about seeking to understand differences, about why some of us are great musicians and others great engineers." Related news: 1) Watson's quotes were apparently recorded. 2) Watson's lab suspended him. 3) The director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health says Watson's comments "are completely inconsistent with the body of research literature in this area." 4) London's Science Museum said it canceled Watson's speech because he "has gone beyond the point of acceptable debate."
President Bush is putting a critic of publicly funded birth control in charge of publicly funded birth control. This is the second consecutive birth-control critic Bush has put in the job. The new appointee has argued that federal employees' health insurance should not have to cover contraception, "because fertility is not a disease. It's not a medical necessity that you have [contraception]." Pro-choice reactions: 1) You've got to be kidding us … again. 2) Pssst, right-wingers! 98% of women use contraception! 3) Way to go, geniuses—expect more abortions. Conservative rebuttals: 1) The new appointee didn't oppose contraception per se; she just wanted "to allow federal employees the option to choose a health benefits plan that did not include family planning coverage." 2) It's not just a moral issue; some employees don't want such coverage "due to their age." 3) We're for "consumer choice of coverage" and "keeping family planning truly voluntary." Human Nature's question: Birth control isn't necessary … but the Iraq war was? (Related: More contraception, fewer abortions.) Those of you who agree with Bush on birth control: Let's hear your arguments.
A co-discoverer of DNA says average black intelligence is not "the same as ours." Quotes from James Watson: 1) He's "gloomy about the prospect of Africa," since "our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours—whereas all the testing says not really." 2) He hopes everyone is equal, but "people who have to deal with black employees find this not true." 3) "There is no firm reason to anticipate that the intellectual capacities of peoples geographically separated in their evolution should prove to have evolved identically," including "equal powers of reason." 4) Racial discrimination is wrong because "there are many people of color who are very talented, but don't promote them when they haven't succeeded at the lower level." Backlash: A museum has responded by canceling Watson's speech. Critiques: 1) He's "out of his depth scientifically." 2) "IQ tests are culturally biased." 3) Low black scores can "be explained by social rather than genetic factors." 4) He should be held legally liable for "fueling bigotry." 5) His "poisonously racist opinions put … the unsuspecting public at serious risk." Rebuttals: 1) Political correctness should never "stop you ascertaining the scientific truth." 2) "IQ testing has consistently shown that racial groups perform differently." Human Nature's view: Never be afraid to consider testable claims about your sex or ethnicity. (Related: Blacks, crime, and the bigotry of low expectations.)
A woman is shipping 80,000 cans of Silly String to Iraq to detect bombs. Each can is addressed to a specific member of the U.S. armed forces. She got the idea from her soldier son, who requested cans for his unit. Concept: You shoot the stuff across a room and see if it hangs over something invisible, i.e., a trip wire. Feel-good spins: 1) What a mom! 2) Good old American/grunt innovation. 3) "In an age of multimillion-dollar high-tech weapons systems, sometimes it's the simplest ideas that can save lives." 4) This is something ordinary people can do to be useful. Rebuttal: This is something ordinary people can do to feel useful, but in fact, the troops don't need it. Next campaigns to help the war effort: 1) Tampons for the wounded! 2) Condoms for our riflemen!Human Nature's view: The bombers are killing us with consumer products, so let's defend ourselves the same way.
A study indicates that many people trust gossip more than facts. In a rotating money game, participants were stingy with partners who had been called stingy by a third party, and generous with partners who had been called generous by a third party, even when 1) the participant saw extensive evidence that the "stingy" partner had actually behaved generously (and that the "generous" partner was stingy) and 2) participants were told that the gossip was not based on evidence beyond what they had seen. Furthermore, the third party's reputation did not affect the impact of his gossip. Old view: Gossip evolved to help society by spreading the truth about people, thereby punishing cheaters. New problem: If gossip overrides truth, cheaters can evade punishment by spreading lies. New rationalizations: 1) In evolutionary history, gossip has been more commonly attainable than direct observation and has been available from multiple sources, so it tends to be more useful. 2) Evolution didn't train us to consider gossipers' reputations because that that much detail is "too demanding for the working memory." Question: Is this why negative political ads work? Human Nature's answer: Yes.
Scientists are learning to make human tissue with inkjet printers. Method: 1) Configure a "printer" to deposit fluid in a lab dish instead of on paper. 2) Buy a printer cartridge, empty it, and refill it with a menu of cell types instead of a menu of colored inks. Cells successfully printed so far: bacteria, yeast, hamster ovary cells, and human stem cells. Rationale: Inkjets can lay out cells in precise patterns and can add new layers as earlier layers grow, so we can "build complex three-dimensional tissues by printing the right precursors and enzymes in sequence," including "bone, ligament, cartilage, and cornea." Advertised applications: 1) Lab-grown tissue for basic research. 2) Organs for people who need them. 3) Tissues and organs for testing drugs in the lab. (Related columns: Selling organs on the world market; growing implantable organs in human embryos.)
U.S. airports are about to begin using a new naked body scanner. The Phoenix airport already uses a backscatter X-ray machine that sees through clothes. This week, the same airport will debut a millimeter-wave scanner that does the same thing with virtually no radiation. Next airports: possibly LAX and JFK. Objection: "These are virtual strip searches." Government's assurances: 1) You won't be scanned unless we select you for extra screening. 2) The image just looks like a "fuzzy photo negative." 3) We blur the face so nobody can link your identity to the image. 4) The viewing machine is separated from the screening area, so the viewing officer can't see who you are, and the officer in the screening area can't see the image. 5) The viewing machine isn't networked and has no storage capacity, so you don't have to worry about the image being saved or transmitted. 6) A virtual search is less invasive than what we do now: a real pat-down. Human Nature's view: Let them see you naked, as long as they can't see your face. (Would you choose a body scan or a pat-down? Join the debate in this thread.)
Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for fighting global warming. He shares the award with a panel of climate scientists. Official explanation of the award: Global warming "may induce large-scale migration and lead to greater competition for the earth's resources," causing "increased danger of violent conflicts and wars." Complaints: 1) A peace prize for environmentalism? 2) Gore exaggerates the science. 3) He's done nothing for the cause but publicity. 4) He's using it to get rich. 5) The prize is just a fashion award, like his Oscar. 6) It's really a slap at President Bush, just like the Nobel given to Jimmy Carter. Rebuttals: 1) The science is clear, so what's needed now is the publicity. 2) This is not a slap at Bush. 3) It's payback time, baby! Gore's reaction: I'm trying to save the planet. Pundits' reaction: Yeah, but the important thing is, how will this affect the presidential horse race? Human Nature's view: Gore's work deserves a global award, but not a "peace" prize. (Do you think he deserves it? Post your take in the Fray.)
A study concludes that the global abortion rate is falling thanks to birth control. Data: 1) The rate fell 17 percent from 1995 to 2003. 2) The biggest drop was in the former Soviet bloc and "did coincide with substantial increases in contraceptive use in the region." 3) Previous studies found that "abortion incidence declines as contraceptive use increases." 4) Abortion bans don't correlate with low abortion rates. 5) Abortion bans do correlate with high rates of unsafe abortion. Authors' conclusion: If you want fewer abortions, don't ban them; provide more birth control and sex education. Liberal reaction: Bush is making things worse by censoring abortion counseling and pushing abstinence instead of condoms. Pro-life rebuttal: 1) The data are unreliable. 2) They're being spun by pro-choice "scientists." Human Nature's view: Reducing abortions through birth control is a no-brainer. (Do you favor contraception as a way to reduce abortions? Speak up.)
Latest Human Nature columns: 1) The lessons of Iraq. 2) Rethinking the age of consent. 3) The best sex stories of 2007. 4) Are conservatives stupid? 5) Larry Craig's anti-gay hypocrisy. 6) The jihad against tobacco. 7) Fat lies and fat lies revisited. 8) Liberals and bioethics. 9) Recombining man and beast. 10) The spread of virgin births.


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|Compatible HP Ink Cartridge
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|12 months
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Gnip Replay API
Gnip is an online provider of social data. It provides its customers with data gathered from different social media websites/sources. Gnip Replay is a data recovery tool that provides streaming access to recent Twitter historical data. The Gnip Replay API lets developers integrate its services with their applications, enabling them to have access to data that they might have missed recently from Twitter.


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Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over twenty years. His debut novel, "Echoes From The Infantry," received national attention, including MWSA's silver medal for outstanding fiction for 2006. His follow-up novel, "The Legend of Mickey Tussler," garnered rave reviews as well, including a screenplay adaptation of the touching story which aired nationwide in September and is being released on DVD January 10th.
Frank lives on Long Island with his wife Julia and their two sons, Nicholas and Anthony and continues to support groups such as Autism Speaks, Best Buddies, and Challenger Baseball.
I am pleased to announce that January 10th marks the official release of the DVD "A Mile in His Shoes," starring Dean Cain. "A Mile in His Shoes" is the heartwarming film adaptation of my novel "The Legend of Mickey Tussler." The story, which is being re-released by Skyhorse Publishing in April to coincide with Autism Awareness Month, chronicles the struggle for acceptance and ultimate redemption of a seventeen year old baseball player with Aspergers.
The story is being celebrated as one that goes where no baseball novel has ever gone before. Sure, there is plenty of good old fashioned hardball, lots of baseball jargon and feel good descriptions that every baseball fan can appreciate. But this story is one that has never been told before. Set in the minor leagues in the late 1940s, this remarkable tale tells the story of a pitching phenom who must deal with a different set of circumstances, heretofore unexamined in books such as this. In short, young Tussler despite notable baseball prowess, suffers from what we now identify as autism. The book follows the fortunes of the team and their new teammate Mickey, who continues to have a fair amount of trouble adjusting to his new situation while away from the routine and comforts of life back home. It is at these moments that the reader gets a real glimpse into the world as seen through the eyes of an autistic person. It is not the safe, predictable place that most of us enjoy. Rather, it is a frightening, oftentimes emotionally debilitating prison of sorts, replete with all kinds of treacherous pitfalls that the boy is unable to navigate.
The book has been called an excellent reminder that we all need to be mindful of special needs individuals when they cross our path. Perhaps New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez said it best when he proclaimed, "I see all kinds of challenges facing kids today, and this book does a very good job of treating gifted kids and teenagers with sensitivity and understanding in coping with and meeting these challenges."
While the film is not completely faithful to the book, the director manages to successfully maintain many of the overarching themes I tried to allow "the game" to serve as the vehicle through which these messages are established; that anything worth accomplishing requires hard work and determination, the power of teamwork, and that challenges can be overcome.
For more information about the remarkable story of Mickey Tussler, including endorsements and reviews, please visit www.franknappi.com


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Congrats Grad!
Take a look at these festive end of the year ideas that are perfect for celebrating your little preschool graduate.Download All (8)
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Click on an activity in the set below to see more info.
Preschool GraduationView Full Activity
Celebrate your little one's move to big kid school by throwing a very special graduation party complete with friends, crafts, and lots of energetic fun.
Bake Cookie PuppetsView Full Activity
Turn ordinary cookies into puppets and create edible performance art!
Fossilize Your FootprintsView Full Activity
This plaster fossil activity is a fun supplement to preschool science. Use plaster to make imprints of your child's handprints, footprints and other objects!
Preschool Graduation AnnouncementsView Full Activity
Help your preschooler craft her very own announcement to celebrate the special transition to "big kids" school!
No-Cook Play Dough!View Full Activity
Here's a quick and easy recipe for homemade play dough that doesn't involve any cooking! This bright and colorful modeling clay makes a great instant toy!
Make a Foil PaintingView Full Activity
Your preschooler will have a great time painting on a foil background to create a stunning, shiny work of art!
The set is continued below.
Make an Abracadabra Box!View Full Activity
In this activity, you will create a magical box to help your child learn her letter sounds. Here's how to play the Abracadabra learning game!
Make a Preschool Diploma FrameView Full Activity
Help your preschooler celebrate his big day by crafting a special, sparkly diploma frame to celebrate his achievement!
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text: The old man always knows best, so how about you show him a thing or two by getting him a great gift this year? Whether its for a dad or a grandad, youll find the perfect t-shirt, mug and more to make him a very happy chappy!T-Shirts are made from pre-shrunk 100% Cotton (Grey 90% Cotton & 10% Polyester). If you prefer a baggy fit, please order a size up.Check stock and price