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NEW OPTOMETRIST: Dr. Hogue takes over Westrick Family Eye Care
COLUMBIA CITY— Sights will be set on a familiar face in Columbia City.Dr. Andrew Hogue purchased the practice of Dr. Westrick at Westrick Family Eye Care, which is located on North Line Street in Columbia City.Hogue, a Whitley County native, purchased the practice this past summer. He said returning to his hometown has been a blessing."I am enjoying being back in Columbia City with the many patients I already know. I am reconnecting with a lot of memories from being a kid," he said.Hogue graduated from the Indiana University School of Optometry in 1993. For most of the past 20 years, he has been practicing in the Fort Wayne area.Coming back to the Columbia City has been something Hogue has enjoyed, and he has experienced a full slate right from the start in taking over for Dr. Westrick."We've been busy right away, and that's been helpful in keeping everybody going," he said.When the opportunity arose to purchase the Westrick practice, Hogue said he was not alone in believing it was a good opportunity.To read the rest of this story, see the Oct. 15 issue of The Post and Mail. Don't have a subscription? Call (260) 244-5153 or subscribe to our e-edition. For breaking news, sports updates and additional coverage, bookmark the homepage and find us on facebook and twitter.


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RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA -- On 3/12/2009 I ordered a new living room set from Furniture Showcase. My order was for a sofa and chair from one manufacturer and a coffee table and two end tables from another manufacturer. I made a down payment of $650.00 over the phone with the manager and he stated that the furniture would arrive in 4-6 weeks.
On 4/11/09 I called to check the status of my order and was told the furniture was due to arrive the last week of April or the first week of May. My furniture had not yet arrived by 5/9/09 and Furniture Showcase did not contact me. I called and spoke with the manager who stated that he would contact the manufacturer and call me back on Monday, 5/11/09. He did not return my call on 5/11/09.
On 5/12/09, I called Furniture Showcase and left a voicemail asking for a return call regarding the status of my purchase. Again, no one called me back. On 5/13/09 I called and spoke with a representative who stated that the furniture was due to be shipped from the manufacturer to the store on 5/29/09. I asked what was causing the delay and why no one had contacted me. She stated that I would have to speak to the manager. I gave her my cell phone number and asked that the manager call me back. I did not receive a call back.
I called again on 5/26/09 and spoke with the manager who stated that he did not have any information regarding the status of my order and could not provide me with a delivery date. I expressed my frustration at not receiving any return calls. He again stated that he would contact the manufacturer and call me back no later than Tuesday, 5/26/09. And of course, no one called me back.
I called three times on 5/28/09 before finally reaching the manager.. He stated that his contact with one of the manufacturers was on vacation and that he was trying to reach his sales representative with the company. He also stated that he asked his boss to get involved to help expedite the process. I asked the manager to call me back the next day and he stated that he would. He did not.
I called Furniture Showcase twice on 6/1/09 and asked to speak to the manager. I was told that he was unavailable and that he would call me back. I told the representative that at this point I want to cancel my order and would like a refund. She stated that only the manager could handle a cancellation and that she would have him call me back.
The manager actually did call me back that day and again stated that he had no information regarding the status of my order and that he could not provide me with a delivery date for the furniture. I told him that I want to cancel the order and have my money refunded. He then stated that the problems were with the manufacturers, not Furniture Showcase. I informed the manager that the lack of communication from Furniture Showcase and the fact that he did not return any of my calls was my main reason for canceling.
The manager then stated that he was not going to go back and forth with me and if that is the way that I felt he would cancel the orders and follow up with me the next day regarding my refund. He further stated that it should not be a problem to cancel the orders since the furniture had not been shipped from the manufacturers yet. (I find it funny that he knew that the furniture had not been shipped when he previously stated that he had not been able to contact the manufacturer.)
I called Furniture Showcase on 6/2/09 and asked to speak to the manager regarding my refund. I was told that he was unavailable and would call me back. He did not call me back so I went to the store that evening and spoke to him in person. He stated that he could not refund my money for the tables because they were already on the truck being delivered from the manufacturer. Yet he still could not provide me with a delivery date. The manager further stated that he had not been able to contact the manufacturer of the sofa and chair to confirm the cancellation.
I informed him that I wanted a full refund of my deposit because it had now been 12 weeks since I was told the furniture would arrive in 4-6 weeks and he had avoided my calls. He again stated that he could not refund the money for the tables and could only refund what little was left of my down payment after he confirmed cancellation of the sofa and chair. I again asked why I had never been contacted by anyone from Furniture Showcase to notify me of a delay with my order in the first place and why I had to initiate contact every time. The manager stated that he did not have the capacity to contact all his customers.
I told the manager that I was going to the Better Business Bureau and started to leave when he said, "Yeah, see you in eight weeks." I became VERY upset and he told me that he could not help it if he saw the humor in the situation. I went home and filed my complaint with the BBB and understood why he laughed. Furniture Showcase has an F rating with the BBB. I am obviously not the first customer to have a bad experience with them.
I sent a detailed e-mail to the owner of Furniture Showcase on 6/4/09 regarding my experience with the store and asking for a full refund of my deposit. I received an e-mail reply from him on 6/6/09. In it he made excuses for the company's poor customer service blaming trade with China and the sluggish economy. He did not address my concerns regarding my order or a refund. I replied to him again stating that I was dissatisfied and would like a refund. He never responded.
It has now been over FIVE MONTHS since I was told the furniture would arrive in 4-6 weeks. Furniture Showcase has deposit of $650.00 and I have no furniture. But what can I expect? The manager and the owner are obviously very busy dealing with China and the global economy.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA -- About 8 months ago I had a very hard time finding a nightstand to match my bedroom set but thought I found one on the Furniture Showcase website. I called the toll free number and spoke to ** who said that he would order it for me and that he would need a $50.00 deposit to do so. I gave him my credit card number for the $50.00 deposit and ever since I got nothing but empty promises from him and another sales person by the name of **. About 9 weeks ago I gave up and asked very politely for a refund of my deposit and I still continue to get noting but empty promises.
I was told 8 weeks ago that refunds normally take 1-2 weeks to process but still no refund. Furniture Showcase has never delivered the nightstand and also refuses to refund my deposit. I have filed a complaint with the North Carolina Better Business Bureau and am currently seeking legal advice. DO NOT, under any circumstances, give this company any money!!!
NORTH CAROLINA -- I ordered some furniture from Furniture Showcase in February 2009. I had previously made purchases from A&H Wayside and when I went to that website I was directed to Furniture Showcase. I was recently told that A& H went out of business a couple of years ago. I received a couple of notifications indicating that the delivery was going to be delayed for various reasons. They required a deposit of half the amount of the furniture which was $1450. When I called a couple of weeks ago, I was told that the salesperson who I had been working with no longer works there and that my order had been "cancelled." I of course have not received a refund.
When I call they keep telling me that they are checking with the manufacturer to see if the furniture was discontinued and that is why the order was cancelled. I have heard from other customers that they have had similar experiences. I am still trying to either get the furniture or a refund but am not optimistic. I would advise against using this company.
REIDSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA -- Called Furniture Showcase on August 5th 2009 and purchased the Riverside Lyndhurst Console. Called again on August 9, 2009 and added the Riverside Cara Bella to the order. Furniture Showcase took a large deposit from me. It is now March 17, 2010 and I have not received anything from Furniture Showcase. During this whole period of time, they continue to claim that the furniture is in transit but that they cannot track it. I feel that I have been more than fair. I have filed my claim to the NC attorney generals office and if necessary, will seek further legal assistance with small claims collections.
Finally, I called the manufacturer, Riverside, concerning their deliveries. They told me that Furniture Showcase has been dropped as an authorized dealer for Riverside furniture. Caveat Emptor!!!

subset: commoncrawl


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Click on the title button above for information and updates on classroom discussions.
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Guide to the Best "Glamping" Sites in WAThe word "glamping" means glamourous camping. Don't want to pack up a tent, coolers of food, and come home smelling like a camp fire? Head to one of these opulent camping sites in Washington where you can get gourmet food, turn down service and fun camping activities in the beauty of the Northwest!


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Busy week for Mammoth Ski Teams
If it seemed like Mammoth skiers and snowboarders were all over the map recently, it is because they were.
Moreover, the members of the Mammoth Ski and Snowboard teams crossed all the winter disciplines, from alpine skiing and snowboarding, to ski and snowboard cross, to cross-country skiing.
The breakdown looked like this:
January 24-25: Hole Shot Tour-Copper Mountain Resort
Mammoth Ski Team's Madeline Riffel took a pair of bronze medals during the first of three events in the Hole Shot Tour.
The Hole Shot Cross Tour is a competition designed to bridge the gap between grassroots and world cup level for snowboard cross and ski cross. The event also brings together athletes across the country to identify the top juniors in the country. Athletes 15 (SBX)/ 16 (SX) and older compete together in an open-class style event. The top juniors will be named to U.S. Snowboarding's and U.S. Freeskiing "Project Gold," a group of the top development athletes in the country who will train together in the summer and are invited to other select projects.
Athletes also qualify for Junior World Championships and World Cup events from the Hole Shot Tour.
January 25: Mammoth Mountain
Athletes from Mammoth High School swept the top of the podium across all events. While Fleur Connolly warmed-up the women's snowboarding field with a win of over a second in the third race of the season, she finished the fourth race with a combined finish that was nearly nine seconds ahead of the rest of the women.
Devin Tubbs also completed his day with a double win in the men's snowboarding races, while Sierra Gilfoy and Kevin Wolfe also each walked away with a double win in both ski races.
January 25: CNISSF Tahoe Donner XC Freestyle
Mammoth Middle School and Mammoth High School sent a total of 25 athletes to the CNISSF Tahoe Donner XC Freestyle race. The Mammoth contingent competed against 250 other students from northern California schools.
Mammoth Middle School Top 15: Trace Calvin, fifth place; Connor Kusumoto, sixth place; Jared Mahler, 12th place, Harrison Manzano, 15th place.
Mammoth High School Top 15: Amanda Kirkeby, 4th place; Patty Hensley, 12th place.
For more results, visit: http://goo.gl/ks1YU.
January 26: USASA Rail Jam at Winter X Games 17
Mammoth Mountain Snowboard & Freeski Teams athletes, Jed Sky SNB, Greydin McCalla SNB, and Carly Margulies SKI traveled to Aspen to compete in the 2013 USASA Rail Jam at Winter X Games 17.
Ben Wisner, the director Mammoth Mountain Snowboard & Freeski Teams, explained that the athletes "were all in a USASA event on the X Games course, it is not an actual X Games event but one they qualified to enter through the Unbound Series at Mammoth."
January 26: USASA Slopestyle
Seventy-five competitors took part in the USASA Slopestyle event held on Saturday, Jan. 26. Listed are the first place youth winners: Ruggie Boys (7 & under): 1. John Connolly, Mammoth. Grommet Girls (8-9) 1 Tessa Maud, Carlsbad; Grommet Boys (8-9) 1 Evan Langston, Mammoth; Menehune Girls (10-11) 1 Taylor Morgan, June Lake; Menehune Boys (10-11) 1 Justus "Judd" Henkes V, San Diego; Skier Boys (10-12) 1 Aaron Durlester, Woodland Hill; Breaker Girls (12-13) 1 Kai Shafer, Trabuco Canyon; Breaker Boys (12-13) 1 Carson Dohan, Malibu.
Skier Men (13-15) 1st Peter Hensley, Mammoth.
Youth Women (14-15) 1st Jordyn Nowakowski, San Diego; Youth Men (14-15) 1st Jordan (JJ) Rayward.
Junior Men (16-17) 1st Connor Albright, Redondo Beach.
For additional winners, visit http://goo.gl/ukcdM.
January 26: MMCF Academic Elite Team 2013
Executive Director of the Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation, Stacy Corless, announced the 2013 Academic Elite Team. Academic Elite Team status is given to Mammoth Teams athletes in grade 5 and up with a grade point average of 3.5 and higher. Among the athletes, 111 student athletes were presented with the award, for which they had to apply and write an essay that explored how they balance snow sports and academics. A full list of recipients can be found at: http://goo.gl/uRyaX
January 26-27: U14 North Series GS, Mount Shasta
Twenty-five Mammoth U14 racers competed in the Mount Shasta U14 North Series GS. But one athlete, Ryan Foulke, did double duty. First, Foulke raced in the Inyo/Mono High School event, taking two third place finishes on Friday, then he traveled eight hours to race with his MMST teammates at Mt. Shasta on Saturday and Sunday. Eight members of the team took top 15 results including: Ladies: Eva Yguico 9th place; Sarah Ellis 15th. Men: Lachlan Anderson 8th; Barrett Calvin 9th; Samuel Richau 11th; James Gooch 13th; Erik Eisen 14th.
Results from Jan. 27 were: Ladies: Sarah Ellis 9th; Rylie Whistler 12th; Eva Yguico 13th. Men: Samuel Richau 5th; Barrett Calvin 6th; Erik Eisen 12th; James Gooch 14th.
January 27-30: SR/U21/U18_Elite FIS Tech, Park City Snowbird
A contingent of seven MMST U18/U21 athletes spent four days racing against some of the best racers in the western region at both Snowbird and Park City. Their results are as follows:
Ladies: Slalom: Nakita Norton DNF-1, 50, 42; Danica Hagen 40, 44, 46, DNS; Natalie Riffel 43, 40, 52, 25; Charlie Kelly 57, DNS; DNF-1, 60.
Mens Giant Slalom: Lucas Underkofflfer 38, 50, 53, 49; Tyler Wormhoudt 45, 59, 55, 44; Kirk Carlson DNF-1, DNF-2; DNF-2, 26.


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Campus News
Kanbar Hall Dedication Ceremony: President Barry Mills
Story posted October 27, 2004
Kanbar Hall, Bowdoin's newest academic building, was dedicated on Friday, October 22, 2004. Following is the text of President Barry Mills' remarks at the event.
It is my pleasure to welcome you all tonight to this important event at Bowdoin. We are at the College very proud of our new Kanbar Hall.
Now what I would like to do is a psychology experiment. If I say Pie in the Skyy what comes immediately to mind? The Red Sox beating the Yankees in Yankee Stadium? How about a new home for the psychology and education departments? I am sure that Al Fuchs and Penny Martin thought for many years that this could never happen. I certainly thought until Wednesday night that the unthinkable could never happen at Yankee Stadium. Well we are here tonight because we believed that Pie in the Skyy is possible. We have a new important building on our campus and at least some of you have a World Series team to root for.
Our special thanks for this building go to Elliott Kanbar - Elliott is Bowdoin Class of '56 and is here tonight with his wife Barbara. Elliott is a New Yorker and he and I have spent a good deal of time together since I came to Bowdoin. Elliott loves this College and supports it generously. He calls often with ideas for improvement and is a persistent reminder for me to focus on the important issues facing the College. It is no exaggeration to say that I know of no person who understands the US NEWS rankings system better than Elliott. There are few at the College who care so passionately about the excellence and reputation of the College and want us to be the very best - and certainly better in all respects than Elliott's arch nemesis in Vermont. We are enormously grateful to Elliott and the Kanbar Foundation for their support that has made this building possible.
Elliott is the rare donor these days who calls saying - how can I help, what do you need - always eager to help with what we see as our priorities. This confidence in us is gratifying. I hope you find this building and the remarkable programs it supports and enhances as impressive and important as do we.
But, back to Pie in the Skyy - the job of a college president is nearly always interesting. I often travel to San Francisco and when I do I always visit with Elliott's brother, Maurice Kanbar, because he is an engaging and fun fellow. We often have lunch and Maurice always orders a drink for me (it is around noon - but with the jet lag for me, almost a reasonable time to drink) and always with vodka - Skyy vodka in fact - the family invention. And now back to Pie in the Skyy - on my most recent trip, Maurice ordered for me Pie in the Skyy, and I immediately thought of Kanbar Hall - but no - it is not Kanbar Hall, in fact, but pineapple juice and Skky vodka - not a bad way to start the middle of the day; see my job isn't so tough. And sometimes Pie in the Skyy becomes the possible - thanks to the Kanbars.
The learning, research and scholarship represented by this building and the programs that inhabit it are impressive and represent the sophistication and attention to learning and teaching in intimate settings that are the hallmarks of Bowdoin. We have very, very sophisticated lab and experiment and testing space in the building for our faculty and students to learn together and grow. Space, I am told, that is the envy of psychology and neuroscience students and faculty from research universities.
The classrooms and computer center are the most technologically sophisticated and represent a new model for classroom design at the College.
All of our faculty in psychology and some in neuroscience have their offices together on the second floor of the building - enhancing interaction and collaboration - together for maybe the first time in their history - and I hope that these experts in psychology will be able to figure out how to coexist in such close proximity to each other for the first time in a long time.
We have a new home for our education department, a department with an important history at Bowdoin that does very important work here at the College and inspires so many of our students. Our dedicated faculty also work to certify each year Bowdoin students as teachers for our schools.
And finally, we have a new home for the Baldwin Center for Learning and Teaching and our quantitative skills program and our writing program, a program that I understand celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Congratulations. These centers are important areas for our students to work together and with talented professionals and other students to polish their skills that are critical to their success at Bowdoin and in life. These are not centers for remedial learning - but places for all students of all abilities and at all levels to go to improve and enhance their skills.
I know in talking with Elliott that it is important to him that this building be alive - a vibrant center of activity throughout the day and night. I want to assure you that this place is very much alive. About a week ago one weekday night, I walked in at about 10:00 in the evening - I found students and faculty in Kanbar Hall working on the computers, editing their papers, doing their research and sitting in small groups studying. This building stands as a beacon on Bath Road announcing the Bowdoin College campus and as a beacon to the students from all over campus for an opportunity to study and learn.
Today, while many of us spent the day in meetings, there were a number of seminars and panel discussions by members of our faculty, visiting scholars and former students. Thank you all for participating today and celebrating the dedication of this building through a continued commitment to education and learning.
There are many to thank for all their support for this building.
Again, thank you Elliott and Barbara and thank you to the Kanbar Foundation.
We welcome the Hazelton family, including Jane Hazelton, whose husband Paul was a beloved professor of education at Bowdoin for many years for whom the Hazelton Seminar room on the first floor is named.
The Stenberg Family, Terry '56 and his wife Shirley and their son Douglas'79, made this seminar room possible - thank you.
I want to thank Beth Baldwin and Joan Mims, the sisters of Linda Baldwin '73, for their late sister's commitment to Bowdoin and the creation of the Baldwin Center for Learning and Teaching.
Four foundations also gave Bowdoin support for this project: The Alden Trust support created the computer center on the first floor, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation supported the large classroom on the first floor, the Booth Ferris Foundation supported the neuroscience laboratory on the ground level, and the Margaret Burnham Trust also provided support for the building.
Thank you.
Finally, let me thank our facilities leader Dave D'Angelo for his leadership of this project. Dave, together with the great work of Don Borkowski and Greg Hogan, brought this building to Bowdoin on time and on budget - and it is fabulous.
Our architects - Peter Kuttner of Cambridge Seven, who is represented today by Todd Cirillo and Steve Imrich - a great design in a challenging location - people say the building looks like it has been here forever. The interior is a gem - thank you.
The team from Payton Construction - great work - you were very professional and a pleasure to work with. Thank you also for delivering us a building on time and on budget.
Finally, I would like to thank Craig McEwen and Louisa Slowiaczek, as head of the campus committee, and all the other members of the committee, for their careful, thoughtful and collaborative work on this building.
And, let me take a special moment to welcome all of the members of the Class of 1956 who are here tonight to celebrate with us and congratulate Elliott on his achievement for Bowdoin.
Tonight is a great night at Bowdoin. People often think about buildings as architecture or monuments - at Bowdoin buildings are about architecture, but they are really about program. Program that supports our most important mission - the education of our students and the intellectual life of our faculty, staff and community. Kanbar Hall is an important contributor to our vital program and we are so very grateful to you all for your support and confidence in this College.
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RELIGION: Highland Heights pastor's recuperation progressing well
BROADWAY BAPTIST CHURCHWe have all seen or done it. – You know, PULL when the sign says, "PUSH." We laugh inwardly at ourselves and others while trying to be "cool" through it all. The other day I found a biblical principle here that I believe will help you through each day of this New Year. It is simply PUSH! We all admit that God is real, and even necessary, but do we believe He is enough? I want you to know that He is not only enough; He is more than enough. Here is an acronym for PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens! There is an old song that goes, "Just keep on praying till light breaks through." When you don't feel like praying, that's when you need to pray. You need to pray until you do feel like praying! So when you find yourself struggling and wondering if God is enough, if His grace is sufficient, or if His mercies are new, just PUSH. Pray until something happens.If you don't have a church home, we would like to welcome you to come and visit us this Sunday. Our Life Groups, which is for all ages, starts at 10 a.m. Our morning service is at 10:50 a.m. and our evening service begins at 6 p.m. Come and let us be a blessing to you as we worship the Lord together.EMMANUEL FELLOWSHIP CHURCHWe invite you to join us this Sunday at Emmanuel Fellowship Church! Our Sunday morning services are at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Both morning services are filled with the same warm fellowship, dynamic worship and life-giving messages, as well as top-notch children's ministry and nursery care for children up to fifth grade.January is a good month for new life! This Sunday, Pastor Eric will continue a New Year series entitled "Bringing Faith to Life!" Come listen to this week's message as we receive a fresh word on how to see resurrection occur in every area of our faith! We will also be celebrating with many from our church family this month as they follow the Lord Jesus in baptism, so don't miss this special time.We look forward to launching the Spring Semester in our Life Groups this week! We have seven small groups meeting throughout the week, most of them on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. Check out the Life Group display in the church foyer or call the church offices at 236-9200 to find a group to plug into! Our children and youth are also back in the swing of Wednesday evening ministry, beginning this Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. with a launch of their Spring curriculum. There's a place for everyone, so come join the growth!We also invite you to step into The Growth Central Bookstore when you visit EFC. It's stocked with Bibles, study aids, devotionals, marriage and parenting resources, worship music, inspirational gifts, original art and fiction books — there's something for everyone! The bookstore will be open between Sunday morning services, from 10:30-11 a.m. and 12:30-1 p.m. For more information about the ministry of EFC, log onto the church website at www.efcsweetwater.com.Faith Lutheran Missouri SynodFaith Lutheran Missouri Synod is a small friendly congregation, located at 1607 Josephine. We welcome newcomers to the community or anyone interested in the Lutheran faith to worship with us. Sunday school is at 9:30 a.m. and worship is at 10:45 a.m. Interim pastor is Rev. Chester McCown.FIRST BAPTIST CHURCHFirst Baptist Church invites you and your family to join us on this Sunday for Bible study, beginning at 9:15 a.m. for all ages, followed by the Sunday morning service which begins at 10:30 a.m. First Baptist Church is located at 213 East Third Street, next door to the Post Office. All are welcome. Your presence will enhance our worship experience and fellowship together.New FBC T-shirts are now on sale as a fundraiser for Missions. These T-shirts are for the entire family and will be great to wear for future church and community events.Spots are still available to volunteer to help facilitate our Children's Church. If you facilitate a class for one month on Sundays during the morning worshiphour, you will find it to be one of the most fulfilling things you have ever done! Please call the church office for more information.Fifth and sixth graders will have a movie night! All fifth and sixth graders join us on Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. for pizza and a movie. The 2013 church calendar involves many exciting events. Growth Group sign-ups are coming soon. Women on Mission will be meeting once a month. Worship choir rehearsal will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday nights. KidX will resume on Jan. 30 at 5:45 p.m. Bible Drill for third through sixth grade will be at 4:30 p.m. on Sundays. There will be many church-wide fellowships and assorted ministries. Please call the church office at 236-6348 to become involved.We look forward to bringing in 2013 with you! We anticipate a blessed and joyous New Year as we share the good news.For in depth information, find us on Facebook and check the website at www.fbcsweetwater.org.FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHFirst Presbyterian Church would like to invite you to worship with us on Sundays at 10:45 a.m.This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord. The lectionary is Isaiah 43:1-7 and Luke 3:15-17, 21-22. Pastor Kary's sermon title is "A Baptism – Shaped Life." The greeters this week are Buck Cason and Jo Thompson.Visitors are always welcome at First Presbyterian Church; we hope you will join us. The church is located at 14th and McCauley. Adult Sunday school is at 9:30 a.m. Worship service is at 10:45 a.m. A nursery is provided for all church activities for children kindergarten age and younger. Coming up:• Installation and Ordination of Elders for the Class of 2015 will be on Sunday, Jan. 20, during worship.• There will be a session meeting on Jan. 16, at 5:30 p.m.Reminders:• Presbyterian Women meet on the first Wednesday of each month. The business meeting is at 5 p.m. and the Bible study begins at 5:30 p.m.• Choir practice is every Thursday at 5:30 p.m.• Plarning will meet every Wednesday in the fellowship hall at 1 p.m.• All committee meetings resume on the second Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m.• Session meetings are on the third Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m.HIGHLAND HEIGHTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCHYou are welcome to join us for Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. and worship service is at 10:45 a.m., with a special guest speaker, District Superintendent Darrell Patterson. Worship assistants are Lisa Peterson serving as worship leader, Brenda Alexander leads the congregational hymns and plays the keyboard, pianist is Eugenia Hill and our greeter for the month of January is Jenene Taylor. We are pleased to report that Pastor Claude's recuperation is progressing very well and he plans to return on Sunday, the 30th of January.Committee meetings scheduled for January:• Finance committee meets Sunday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m.• Evangelism committee meets Monday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m.Looking at a map of the United States, it is apparent that the flu is running rampant across the nation approaching epidemic proportions, effecting all ages. "Bless This House" asks prayers for God's healing power, as well as the caregivers that are ministering to the sick.You are always invited to join us at 1801 Lamar Street, sharing in our vision of making Disciples of Jesus Christ, growing spiritually, fulfilling our God-given gifts, witnessing to others and ministering to ones in need.WORD OF GOD CHURCHTransforming ordinary people into passionate followers of Christ through God's Word, growing them into mature Christians, to be Jesus' lights in this world and witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus and the Kingdom of God, seeking the lost for the glory of God and His kingdom. We are a non-judgmental ministry — meaning that the ministry itself is not judgmental. We are not concerned where you have been or where you are at, but where you are going. Everyone needs hope and to feel the love of God's mercy. Those who falter and are weak are welcome. We will guide all that come, into a direction for peace in their life.The teachings from the pulpit are deep rightly divided truth as 2 Timothy 2:15 speaks of. You will hear the unadulterated word of God ministered straight from the Bible. Introducing deep truths and promises you can stand on, that will never crumble out from underneath you. These truths have discipled many to be followers of Christ as it can do for anybody. Opening up the eyes and ears of these who receive.Services:• Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.• Thursday night from 5:30-7 p.m.• Sunday night is youth hangout for 11-17 year-olds and Children's Rock night for 5-10 year-olds. Adults are welcome to come fellowship with the youth.• Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. is teen and tween youth church, pastor led for 11-17 year-olds and children's classes are for 5-10 year-olds. Ministries:• T.A.G. and Tween's — These ministries are for 11-17 year-olds. They have youth church on Wednesday night. There's praise and worship performed by them. Then the pastor brings a message of truth to seed in their lives that is in a way that they can understand and comprehend. They also have Sunday night hang out, doing all kinds of things and events with each other in the youth ministry, from movies to playing volleyball at Sonic or cookouts and other things. They get involved with fundraisers to raise money for their events. They have the Reaching Out While Reaching Up ministry that helps people around town. They have The Rock as a place to hangout before and after church time. There is summer camp at Extreme Camps that they have a blast at while deepening their faith.• Children's Ministry — Wednesday night there are classes set up to put a foundation of God's word in the children's life with a fun and enjoyable environment and experience. There is lots of love, guidance and good values seeded into their lives. They also have Sunday night fun at The Rock. Those children that come on Wednesday night classes get to come on Sunday night to play at The Rock youth center during regular adult discipleship. Sometimes there are movies, games and snack night. They also get involved in fundraisers and summer camp.• P.U.R.E. Ministry — Ephesians 1:4 Princesses Under Royal Election meets every third Friday of the month. The ministry teaches young ladies their value to God by being a child of the King loved by their Father, coming under a covenant with God to keep their purity until marriage. It is even for those who want to start over.• The Rock youth center opens Saturday night from 6-9 p.m. for sixth, seventh and eighth grades. A Christian atmosphere presented, but not forced. It is fun for everyone. We have this generation's Christian music, a 6ft and 3ft half pipe skate ramp, a foam pit, velcro wall jump, pool table, air hockey, foosball, skating, video games, basketball and volleyball area. A snack bar is available with drinks, nachos, frito pies, candy, chips, etc. It is a controlled environment with adult supervision with lots of love and a short time of a small seeded truth of God into their lives.• Website — The church now has a website address which entails what is going on inside the church, the ministries of the church and gives you information of The Word of God Church. You can visit the website at www.swwordofGod.com. (under construction)• Summertime Camp- 11-17 year-old Extreme Camp — an experience that will change their lives, a camp that reaches them at their level, setting the love of God on fire inside of them. It's a blast!- 5-10 year-olds camp is suited at the level to where it keeps their attention — fun and an unforgettable experience with God.


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BALTIMORE (AP) — No one is complaining that the refs cost the Cleveland Browns the game. That mere fact is a major victory for the NFL and the seven-man crew led by referee Gene Steratore, who brought official harmony back to the nation's most popular league.
Cheered from the moment they walked onto the field, the men in stripes ran a smooth and efficient game Thursday night as the NFL's lockout of officials came to an end with the Baltimore Ravens' 23-16 win over the Browns.
"To just be applauded by 50,000 people prior to anything happening, it was something that kind of chokes you up," Steratore said. "It was a very special feeling."
Sure, there were calls that made both sides unhappy. Browns coach Pat Shurmur drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing an intentional grounding call, and Ravens left tackle Michael Oher could be heard raising all kinds of beef about a holding call.
But, overall, the officials kept the game in control, curtailing the chippy play and choppy pace — not to mention the inconsistent calls — that had marred the three weeks of games with replacement officials.
"It was great to have those guys back," Ravens running back Ray Rice said. "It looked like they knew what they were doing."
An agreement to end the lockout was reached late Wednesday after marathon negotiations, two days after a "Monday Night Football" finish brought debate over the use of the replacements to a fevered pitch nationwide.
That game ended when a 24-yard desperation pass on the last play was ruled a touchdown — even though replays appeared to show it should have been an interception — giving the Seattle Seahawks a disputed 14-12 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
The stage was set for something eerily similar Thursday. A fourth-down unnecessary roughness penalty on Baltimore's Paul Kruger — a good call, given the way he shoved Cleveland's Joe Thomas after the whistle — gave the Browns one final play from the 18-yard line.
But Brandon Weeden's 18-yard pass sailed high as time expired. No controversial ending this time.
"I thought they handled (the game) great," Cleveland coach Pat Shurmur said. "I had all the confidence in the world that this was going to be officiated in the right way."
The newfound love for the refs was evident all evening.
About an hour before kickoff, they made their first appearance on the field and heard cheers from the early arrivals. A few minutes later, Steratore was shaking hands with Shurmur near midfield and getting a hug from Ravens face-of-the-franchise Ray Lewis at the 30-yard line.
Later, when the crew returned, they received a standing ovation and doffed their caps to the crowd. One fan held up a sign that read: "Finally! We get to yell at real refs! Welcome back!"
"It was very chaotic with the replacement refs," said Karen Riley, a 44-year-old fan wearing a Rice jersey. "They couldn't control the players on either side. There were bad calls, constantly, and in some cases refs making different calls at the same time."
When Steratore then turned on his microphone to greet the captains for the pre-game coin toss, the crowd heard him say: "Good evening, men. It's good to be back."
The stadium erupted in a roar.
"You know we always pride ourselves in being a face without a name," Steratore, a 10-year league veteran, told The Associated Press about an hour before kickoff. "This will be a little different, but I don't expect it to last too long. And that's the goal — is that we can let them get through that portion of this. It's happy to be back, it's happy to be appreciated. But then as soon as the game starts, it's happy to disappear again and let the entertainers entertain."
The deal to end the lockout is only tentative — it must be ratified by 51 percent of the union's 121 members in a vote scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Dallas — but both sides nevertheless went forward with the plan to have the regulars back for Thursday's game.
So Steratore hustled to Baltimore, making the 3½-hour drive Thursday morning from his home in the Pittsburgh area. He's usually in place the day before a game, but none of his regular pregame meetings had to be changed because the Browns-Ravens game was at night.
"We've had a few weeks to actually realize that this was the first September that I was home for multiple Saturdays and Sundays for almost 30 years of my life, continuously. … It just feels completely different," Steratore said. "To be away from something that is involved with this level of professional sport, just to come back and feel that again, it doesn't take long to realize why you were missing it as much as you were missing it."
Steratore, who is a basketball official in the Big East Conference among others, also was fully aware he would be jeered the first time his crew made a questionable call — just like always.
"Without a question," he said. "I've been yelled at by my own children many times, so this won't be any different."
Sure enough, the same fans that cheered the coin toss let out a full chorus of boos when line judge Jeff Seeman tossed his yellow flag some 20 yards to whistle Baltimore safety Bernard Pollard for a personal foul in the third quarter. Replays showed it was a good call: Pollard led with his helmet to make contact with a defenseless receiver, costing the Ravens 15 yards in a drive that led to a field goal for the Browns.
Steratore's crew nearly made a misstep in the first quarter, incorrectly spotting the ball by 2 yards after a misapplication of the rules following a holding call on the Browns. But two members of the crew caught the mistake and notified the referee before the next snap. A brief huddle ensued, and the ball was moved to its correct spot.
The crew made it clear it wouldn't tolerate the extra shoving and yelling after the whistle that had been frequently permitted by the replacements. Offsetting personal fouls were called on Cleveland's Johnson Bademosi and Baltimore's James Ihedigbo for extracurricular roughness on a punt return in the first quarter.
Then there was Shurmur's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Replays appeared to validate the grounding call he was trying to contest, and the coach took responsibility for his loss of temper.
"I can't do that," Shurmur said. "It's an emotional game, and I got to make sure I keep my emotions in check."
There were 18 penalties called in the game, mostly the familiar calls for holding and false start. There were two rare — and indisputable — whistles for fair catch interference on punt returns, and a hands-to-the-face call on Baltimore's Kelechi Osemele was so obvious that it drew three flags.
The league's new agreement with the officials runs for eight years. Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged the ending of the Seahawks-Packers game "may have pushed the parties further along" in the talks.
"Obviously when you go through something like this it is painful for everybody," Goodell said. "Most importantly, it is painful for our fans. We are sorry to have to put our fans through that, but it is something that in the short term you sometimes have to do to make sure you get the right kind of deal for the long term and make sure you continue to grow the game."
The dispute even made its way to the campaign trail, with President Barack Obama's spokesman, Jay Carney, calling Thursday "a great day for America."
"The president's very pleased that the two sides have come together," Carney said.
Local & State
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Photo credited to Sally Asher.
Have you joined us for our "Tombs by Twilight" tour? Our next tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 at dusk will be conducted on Saturday, August 27th at 6:30 PM – we hope you'll join us!
Save Our Cemeteries has partnered with New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries to provide a unique walking tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 at dusk. This exclusive evening cemetery tour departs from Richard Fiske's Martini Bar (RF's) at the Chateau LeMoyne Hotel. After a guided tour of the cemetery, guests return to the hotel lounge for complimentary drinks, appetizers, and post-tour socializing.
Founded in 1789 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is located just steps outside of the French Quarter at the corner of St. Louis and Basin Streets. It is the final resting place of some of the most illustrious citizens of New Orleans, including Etienne de Bore, pioneer in sugar development; Daniel Clark, financial supporter of the American Revolution; Paul Morphy, world famous chess champion; and other local and national figures.
Notable structures include the famed oven wall vaults, the supposed tomb of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, and the magnificent tombs of the French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish societies.
The oldest existing cemetery in New Orleans, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is a maze of wall vaults, family tombs, and society tombs that artistically showcase the unique burial customs and traditions of New Orleans.
Save Our Cemeteries is the only non-profit in New Orleans that offers cemetery tours. A portion of the proceeds from your tour ticket price will go directly towards cemetery restoration in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.
Tour is only available to persons 21 years of age and older. Ticket price is $45.00 per person, and advance reservations are required.
To make your reservation: www.saveourcemeteries.org/exclusive-tombs-by-twilight-tour/


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Hi there. I'm now 31 years old. 3 years ago I was 220 pounds and really fat. Then I got a problem with my tooth, which required a surgery and lost about 50 pounds in a few months. I was vegetarian at the time, but I ate very unhealthy. After I lost some weight I listened to a friend's advice to start training ( I was never into sports before that). I started with fitness, then running. It wasn't until last summer, when I got consulted by a nutritionist and got an individual program. It was two weeks of raw food with a 3 day water fasting in between and gradually including some cooked food. I list another 25 pounds and I'm currently at 157 pounds, whch sounds good considering I'm 5' 9" tall. The problem is that about 18% of that are fat and they don't seem to decrease (i got them to 14% during the fasting period). I do a similar but shorter periods 3-4 times a year and this Summer did one a bit longer, but only lasted 1 day on water.
However, I seem to be stuck at some point and I don't see any progress (at least not in my front area )
Here's a set of photos I have taken through the years.
And a photo of my back (just took it. I don't have begore photos, but I do like what's happening there (at least above the waist).
I usually go to the gym 3 times a Week, but recently started going only two times, as I'm learning how to swim and go to the pool at least 2 times a week and also I was on raw food diet too. I also go to the local stadium and do some cardio (mostly rope jumping). I'm now planning to increase my power training to 3 times a week.
I do have some bowel issues (IBS) and a pretty nerve wrecking job (I do work at home most of the time though, but stay up late).
Main problems :
1. I eat late in the evening and usually crave sweet or fatty food - dates and bananas, or even those raw truffels I make (raw nuts and dried fruit and cocoa powder).
2. I sometimes forget to hydrate and end up drinking water not more than 5 minutes before a meal (not during or after).
3. I sometimes overeat - get hungry and eat too much on one meal.
4. I don't sleep well (probably because of IBS, stress and late night meals)
I do some yoga to relieve stress, nut not every day. I also should confess that up until now I've been a vegetarian (and still am) - I do eat some milk products, but not eggs. I have decided to stop eating cheese and milk and only use some raw butter only after cooking. I have decided to ditch gluten completely too.
Here's my diet :
Breakfast - carrot and ginger juice 500ml with some spirulina and/or pea protein
Some fruit and/or/or not raw chockolate "truffels" about 30 minutes after that.
Lunch : some steamed veggies/ rice/quinoa and some legumes, nicely boiled in a pressure cooker + raw veggies and nuts
Dinner is the same as lunch, with some fruit and raw chockolates ot a protein shake before that.
What goes wrong? Well - I sometimes wake up at 11AM, so the whole thing gets stretched to a 21PM or later dinne, which is BAD. I also forget to drink water sometimes and I also forget meals when I'm under a lot of work stress. I also eat a lot, especially on dinner, as It's usually after my fitness training. I do have a protein shake right after the workout, but that doesn't help my wolve's appetite. I also have to eat outside sometimes, which means I eat salt+modified fats, no matter how hard I try not to.
I recently have replaced one of my protein shakes (sometimes two) or the raw salad with a tomato-nutritional yeast-pea protein shake with lemon juice in it.
So basically - I try to eat a lot of protein, combined with carbs and some fat (mostly from the nuts/avocados and some butter), I try not to eat salt (I haven't eaten any salt, incl. hidden salt in two weeks now).
My goal - to be healthy and to reduce those 18% of fat to about 11-12% (I'm being realistic for now). Oh, and a six pack some time in the future, if that's actually possible with my life style and withut the help of "medications"
Lost 20 pounds but now I'm stuck.
Post your before and after photos here. Share success stories and show your progress. This is also the section to post up your videos.
Moderators: Mini Forklift Ⓥ, C.O., Richard, robert, SyrLinus
4 posts • Page 1 of 1
Re: Lost 20 pounds but now I'm stuck.
Nice progress, you've really tightened up and come a long way in the last 2 years!
Re: Lost 20 pounds but now I'm stuck.
Thank you for the motivation man! I do think I have a long way to go though. I need to bulk up a bit without adding too much belly fat, which in my case is almost impossible, or so I think.
My typical routine is 5-10 minutes cardio, some warmup and then 1 hour (sometimes more) training. I'm wondering if I should shorten my training sesions and go to the gym more often. My trainer thinks that 3 times a week is more than enough for me.
My typical routine is 5-10 minutes cardio, some warmup and then 1 hour (sometimes more) training. I'm wondering if I should shorten my training sesions and go to the gym more often. My trainer thinks that 3 times a week is more than enough for me.
- Rabbit
- Posts: 26
- Age: 23
- Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:04 am
- Location: Florida
Re: Lost 20 pounds but now I'm stuck.
I'm sure your trainer has great advice, but listen to your body. Know one knows how your body is feeling, but you. Keep making Gainz
"I'm Making All Kindz Of Gainz, All Kindzzzz......."
-Hodge Twins
-Hodge Twins
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There are a bewildering number of software programs. The choices seem endless. Added to the tens of thousands, if not millions, of programs you can buy or download free for your own computer, there are millions more that run on the Internet. Then, of course, there are all the programs for your computer that use the Internet for all or part of their functions. Where to start and where to concentrate your time and efforts while still doing genealogical research becomes a real challenge. It is sometimes hard to distinguish between needs and wants, entertainment and productivity.
Learning to use a computer is like any other skill, such as playing the piano. There are some basic things you need to know for both a piano and a computer and in each, once you have learned the basics, you still have to learn the individual music pieces or computer programs. If you learned to play the piano at all, you likely remember going to piano lessons and practicing. So why do do we think that we can work on a computer without the same type of lessons and practice? This situation reminds me of the old joke,
The absent-minded maestro was racing up New York's Seventh Avenue to a rehearsal, when a stranger stopped him. "Pardon me," he said, "can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?"
"Yes," answered the maestro breathlessly. "Practice!"People are always saying to me, "Oh, I wish I could know all the things you know about genealogy and computers." I guess my real answer to this statement would be, "If you had spent the amount of time I have spent working on computers and doing genealogy; you would."
It usually does me no good to try and teach someone how to use a genealogical database program if they lack some basic computer skills. Too many times, I see people, both young and old, struggling with using a keyboard. One of the few useful skills I learned in high school was how to type. In computer skills, I would put the ability to use a keyboard as the absolute first and most basic skill needed. If you don't know how to type, take a typing class or download a free typing tutor software program and follow the instructions. Keyboarding (typing) is a skill and it can be learned. To the extent you improve your typing or keyboarding skills, you will begin to find computers in general easier to use. Do an online search for free typing tutor software or look for a commercial product.
Almost as important as using a keyboard, is the skill of using a mouse or trackpad. I use a trackpad for both my laptop and my desktop computer about 95% of the time. There are still a few things, such as clicking and dragging, that are easier with a mouse, so I keep a mouse and a trackpad next to my desktop computer. Once again, using either is a skill. It takes time and practice. If you went to piano lessons and skipped all the practice would you learn to play? Not likely. If you think you can just sit down and use a mouse or a trackpad, you are just as wrong. Both take time and practice. Once again, there are both free and commercial programs online that you can download to learn how to use a mouse or trackpad.
Once you have these two skills, the ability to type and use a mouse or trackpad, you will find that learning other types of things about the computer will come a lot easier. Once again, there are programs, many of them free, to teach you basic things about using a computer. I am always amazed that people think they can just use a computer without taking any classes or practicing.
Moving on, the next basic skills to learn and practice involve your own personal goals for using a computer. If you are trying to store your genealogical information and share it with family members, I suggest you start by learning to use a word processing program. Once again, there are free programs you can download, or there are commercial programs you can buy. You can take a formal class at a local school or community college or you can check out books from the library and teach yourself. You just might try reading the manual for the program you decide to learn.
Once you have learned one program, it is time to tackle the Web. Again, classes, books, practice will all help you to conquer the mysteries of the Internet. When you get right down to it, one of the most valuable tools for anyone, genealogist or otherwise, to learn is how to learn.


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UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The New York Islanders said all the right things in the days leading up to their first-round playoff matchup against the top-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins.
Yes, they knew the odds of an upset in a No. 1 vs. No. 8 series were stacked heavily against them, and yes they were aware that the Penguins roster reads more like an All-Star game lineup than an everyday club.
Still, the upstart Islanders declared they were ready and up to the daunting challenge ahead of them.
Whether they truly believed will never be known, but make no mistake, their comeback victory in Game 2 in Pittsburgh gave them a jolt of positive energy they hope carries them through their first home playoff game in six years on Sunday.
"We've come in believing in ourselves all season long. Nothing has changed in that standpoint," star forward John Tavares said Saturday.
New York was run over in a 5-0, series-opening loss on Wednesday and seemed primed to be routed again on Friday night when the Penguins scored twice in the first 3:19 and then grabbed a 3-1 lead just 18 seconds after the Islanders netted their first goal of the series.
Sidney Crosby scored Pittsburgh's second and third goals in his return to the lineup after missing more than a month because of a broken jaw.
However, no one could have predicted that the Penguins would be held off the scoreboard for the final 40 minutes of action.
"I missed two wide-open nets," Crosby said Saturday after the Penguins practiced at Nassau Coliseum. "I don't know if we were shut down. I didn't feel like we were shut down, but at the end of the day we didn't put the puck in the net. We've got to find a way to do that if we want to win."
It is only two games, and the series is tied 1-1, but there is a different feel now. Before the talk was how many games it would take for the Penguins to turn aside the Islanders, now the fight is on.
That was totally clear when New York forward Kyle Okposo had the first fight of his NHL career. After teammate Matt Moulson was hit by Pittsburgh defenceman Matt Niskanen, Okposo came to his defence and bloodied Niskanen during the unexpected bout 4:58 into the second period.
Just 14 seconds later, Colin McDonald scored to bring the Islanders within 3-2. Okposo would then score the winning goal with 7:37 left in the third period of New York's 4-3 victory.
"It was a turning point of the game for me," Islanders captain Mark Streit said of the fight. "Moulson got hit, and he stepped in for him. It was his first fight and he did really well and he got everybody really pumped and got everybody going.
"After that we never looked back. He's a great leader on the team. He had a great game, scored the game-winner. It doesn't get any better than that."
No one on the current Islanders roster played for the team during its last post-season appearance in 2007. So what lies in store will be a mystery to both clubs when the puck drops Sunday at the unusual start time of noon.
"It's been a while and we know the fans are going to be hungry. So are we," Tavares said. "We've been waiting to play here. As old as this building is, I'm sure it can get pretty loud and be rocking."
"Ever since I've gotten here, no one has really given us much of an opportunity or believed we could do a whole lot. We're just used to the situation. We believe in ourselves a lot more than other people do. It's a great opportunity for us."
Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma was a part of some exciting days in Nassau Coliseum when he was an Islanders assistant during the 2005-06 season.
He was already warning his players on Saturday that they are in for a totally new experience, down to the part where there likely won't be the pockets of Penguins fans present that are usually in the arena for regular-season matchups.
"Our players have not seen this building the way it's going to be," Bylsma said. "I got a little taste of it being here for Islanders-Rangers games and seeing the building full. It's going to be loud. It's going to be a pretty crazy building."
Instead of trying to weather an onslaught, the Islanders will try to keep their emotions and excitement in check.
New York has played seven straight road games, closing the regular season with a five-game trip, during which the Islanders secured their long-awaited playoff berth.
"We've been on the road so much lately, it's nice to get back," forward Josh Bailey said. "We believed going in, and (Friday) night helps for the confidence. You certainly don't want to go down 0-2. Getting the split, coming home, being able to play in front of our home fans, we want to take advantage of that."
The Islanders want their home to match the fired-up building they just left in Pennsylvania
"It was a great atmosphere in Pittsburgh," Streit said. "You've got to love the road games in the playoffs. For us, playing at home … a lot of guys have never been in the playoffs, the fans haven't seen us in the playoffs for a while, so everybody is really excited."


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Lille Old Town (Vieux Lille)
It's in Vieux Lille, the Old Town of the city, that the Flemish dash to Lille's character can be most clearly seen. The red brick buildings and narrow cobbled ... Read more
Hospice Comtesse Museum
The Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse is the town museum of Lille. It's housed in an old hospital founded by Jeanne, Countess of Flanders, for the poor of the ... Read more
Lille Museum of Fine Arts (Palais des Beaux Arts de Lille)
Lille's Fine Arts Museum (Palais des Beaux-Arts) is giant—only the Louvre tops its size among France's museums—and its collection is suitably illustrious. ... Read more
Grand Place
The center of Lille, the Grand Place (or, as it's officially called, the Place du Général de Gaulle) is a magnet for tourists and a meeting point ... Read more
Cathedrale Notre Dame de la Treille
The Cathedrale Notre Dame de la Treille takes its name from a 12th-century figure of the Virgin that has been long revered in the city. The cathedral was ... Read more
Lille Métropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art
Lille's Museum of Modern Art (now called LAM) was founded on the savvy eye of Roger Dutilleul, a collector who began picking up work by Picasso and other ... Read more
Maison Natale de Charles de Gaulle
There are few Frenchmen who occupy the imaginations of their countrypeople like Charles de Gaulle, General of the Free French army in WWII, long-reigning ... Read more
Town Hall and Belfry
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Musée des Canonniers
A great museum for those interested in Lille's military history, Musée des Canonniers explains the story of the Sainte Barbe Brotherhood (one of the ... Read more
Hospice d'Havré
This historic monastery is not only remarkable because of its history, but also because of its current vocation. Founded in the 12th century by the daughter of ... Read more
Le Fresnoy
The National Studio for Contemporary Arts located in the Lille suburbia acts as both a teaching establishment and a museum; its goal being to give northern ... Read more
Manufacture des Flandres
Plunge straight into Flander's textile history at this historic manufacture located right outside of Lille. A professionally-trained guide explains visitors ... Read more
Musée de la Resistance
Between March 17, 1943, and May 1, 1944, 68 antagonists were shot by Nazis at the Bondues Fort. It's on the ruins (the fort was destroyed by the Germans ... Read more
Musée La Piscine
Far from being a museum dedicated to pools, Musée La Piscine in Roubaix is in fact an arts museum houses in a former indoor, Olympic-sized swimming pool. ... Read more
Museum of Natural History
Opened in 1822, the Museum of Natural History is one of Lille's oldest and is the only of its kind in Nord / Pas-de-Calais. The fact that the museum still ... Read more


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A triumphant return.
NFL 2K marks the reemergence of Sega Sports, the once proud publisher of
quality sports games for the 16-bit Genesis. The death of the Saturn and the demise
of Sega from the video game scene meant curtains for Sega Sports, who found themselves
without a system for which to make games and without a consumer base to support
The times have-a-changed, however, and now Sega Sports finds itself staring
at a dreamy new system and embracing a newfound desire to get back on top. And
if NFL 2K is any indication of what's in store, it won't take them long
to reach that summit. This is, without a doubt, the single greatest football
game to grace a console and is reason alone to go out and buy a Dreamcast right
away. Hike!
By now, we've seen a few Dreamcast
games. We know how powerful this system is, we know how impressive the games
can look, and we know that we're dealing with a new breed of gaming. But, this
one is just awe-inspiring. At times, you'll actually forget your playing a game
. . . and this time, I mean it.
NFL 2K truly shows off the power of the Dreamcast with absolutely stunning
graphics. Over 1300 motion-captured moves only begin to tell the tale of this
polygonal feast. NFL 2K uses a physics system rivaling that of a high-end
flight sim. Players react with acute detail to hits and collisions, ricocheting
off one another without a glitch or pause between animations. The ball will
actually land in a receiver's hand; otherwise, it will bounce off his arm/leg/helmet
and react accordingly. Facial mapping and real-life body sizes are here for
every player in the league. All 31 stadiums are recreated faithfully, down to
the fan created signs and city specific billboards. Play in varying degrees
of rain or snow and witness the frosty breath in cold weather. I could go on,
but I might break a blood vessel. Hands down, this is the best looking console
game I've ever seen.
In all fairness, some of this can be attributed to the system the game is
running on . . . but who cares? It still looks like a million bucks, and until
we see a better looking game, I'm giving credit where credit is due – to the
developers, Visual Concepts.
We all know that graphics only go so far in a sports game, and, thankfully,
NFL 2K puts its money where its mouth is with terrific gameplay. You'll
find all the basic game modes, including Exhibition, Season, Tournament, and
Playoffs. You can also Practice offensive sets or special moves, check out a
Tutorial to get a better feel, or start a Fantasy season complete with full
league draft.
The game excels in its dedication
to realism. Teams actually play the way they're supposed to – the 49ers tend
to pass well, while the Steelers give it to Bettis and get out of the way. Offensive
linemen will pick up blitzers and block them. Running backs will improvise if
caught in a bad situation. More than any other football title, NFL 2K
immerses you in the essence of the game.
This realism carries over into the AI, which doesn't seem to fall for the
same tricks over and over again. This means you have to work to keep up with
the computer. If you get burned on running plays time and time again, the CPU
will keep running the ball. Likewise, if you keep trying the same couple of
plays, you'll find the computer intercepting the ball and sacking the QB. The
game actually learns from your habits and uses them to beat you down, which
forces you to rethink your game plan. Calling the intelligence 'artificial'
just doesn't seem fair.
The control is also done well. Most of the basic moves are here, like spins, hurdles and dives. One neat addition is 'Maximum Passing,' in which you use the analog pad to slightly alter the placement of your pass. This is handy when you have to beat tough coverage – just add a little more to the pass to make it a foot race, or throw it short to make your receiver come back to the ball.
I also applaud the play selection. Unlike the mini-windows you usually cycle through, plays are set against the actual field. This really helps in play selection. Need a first down? Just one glance will show you whether or not your pass routes will eclipse the first down marker.
As an added benefit, NFL
2K includes the unique option of VMU playcalling. This is particularly useful
in a two-player game, as plays are shown on each player's VMU rather than on
the TV. However, the full passing/running routes are too complex to be shown
on the little LCD screen, so it's just a text option. Good for experts, but
novices should stick to the standard.
More glowing praise must be given to the sound. NFL 2K features over
11,000 different announcer comments, the most in any game, ever. The chatter
gets a bit irritating, but it does in real life as well, so no points off.
No game is complete without a player/play creator, and again NFL 2K
scores big. You can customize just about everything in your player, from his
faceguard (over 30 choices) to whether or not he wears a nose strip. Good for
the guys with allergies, I guess.
So, is there anything wrong here? Frankly, the only thing I can think of to
gripe about is the inordinate amount of VMU memory blocks this thing takes up.
In fact, you need 1 entire VMU worth of free blocks to save your game. Ouch.
However, it's worth the extra money to just go buy a new VMU.
Also, I should note that the difficulty level is high. The game is default
to Rookie setting, but once you beat that (and you will), the jump to Pro is
enormous. The game suddenly starts walloping you. I tried one game at the All-Star
level (the highest setting) and picked up negative yardage. Don't say
I didn't warn you.
Football has always translated well as a video game. The venerable Madden
series, the upstart Gameday
franchise, and the impressive Quarterback
Club games have elevated gridiron gaming above most other sports. With strong
graphical traditions and new advances in gameplay, these titles represent the
highest achievements in pigskin programming. . . until now. NFL 2K has
raised the bar in football video game design with astonishing graphics, tremendous
gameplay, uncanny realism, and endless depth. Even non-sports fans should check
this one out.
Psssst….hey, Sega….welcome back!


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EAST NORRITON — While they all agree there's nothing quite like Via Veneto virtuosity when it comes to Italian cooking, fans of the legendary restaurant find themselves a bit divided into two camps these days.
There are those who love Via Veneto Pizza & Family Restaurant's new leased location at DeKalb Plaza in East Norriton, with its beautiful, spacious dining room, BYOB option, al fresco dining and ample parking, and wish it would stay there permanently – which it might.
Then there are the folks who are anxious for Via Veneto to come back home to the 1803 Markley Street spot it occupied for 30 years – which it definitely will at some point.
But whichever side of the Via fence they're on, everyone is invited to enjoy a free slice of pizza and a cup of Via's famous water ice on Customer Appreciation Day, June 24 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event comes two months to the day after Via Veneto set up a "short term" shop barely a mile away from its Markley Street property, which is earmarked for an as-yet-to-be-determined makeover.
"Customer Appreciation Day is our way of thanking our customers for their loyal support during the move and over the years," said manager Joe Stabile.
Joe's dad is co-owner Domenico Stabile, who purchased the eatery when it was located in Logan Square with his brother Natale Stabile, and their cousin, Vito Parisi in 1973.
Sadly, Natale Stabile passed away last year, and his son Anthony Stabile has taken over as a manager of the operation where he's worked since he was a kid.
The much-loved Via vibe didn't miss a beat in the moving process, Anthony said.
"We did all the moving of the ovens and everything ourselves; it was all the employees grabbing things and shipping it out… a lot of heavy lifting and a lot of scrubbing and cleaning," he recalled. "We had so many people offering to help us. We never realized how many people we were moving away from and how many people we were moving closer to."
A Blue Bell resident was recently overheard saying that she missed patronizing the restaurant famous for its Sicilian and Neapolitan pizzas when she moved away from her native Norristown.
"Some people won't cross that border anymore," Anthony said.
The original plan was to relocate to East Norriton for maybe six months or so until the Norristown renovation was finished, but the overnight success of the new restaurant has the family considering keeping both places.
"The parking in Norristown was really hard, and people tell us all the time how much they like the parking here in the shopping center," Anthony said.
There's plenty more to like here besides the ease of parking, including something the old place may have lacked: ambience
The comfort of the cushy booths and the Williamsburg-blue color of the walls help make the proxy Via's space eminently inviting.
When dining in you should be aware that the establishment has thoughtfully provided a couple of options, which are posted at the hostess' podium.
Take a right and you've accepted residence in the main dining room, where a waitress will take your order. Or, you can grab a seat in the self-serve section – along with a leftover vibe from the old place in one of the original "retro" plastic booths.
"Now you don't have to worry about ordering at the counter and coming up to get your food anymore, if you'd rather sit down and have somebody wait on you," Anthony said. "People love it."
They're also loving the new trattoria-worthy entrees, like Veal Marsala ($14.95), plus an array of paninis ($7.25), including Palermo (capicola ham, Genoa salami, Provolone cheese) and Milano (roast beef, Russian dressing, Swiss cheese and coleslaw).
"We still have all the same recipes that everybody loves," said Anthony, who, like his cousin Joe, knows his way around the stove and the oven when necessary.
Coincidentally, the move coincides with Via Veneto's 40th anniversary, though the Norristown renovation won't be ready nearly in time for a homecoming celebration this year.
"We want people to know that we will be back on Markley Street," Anthony said. "We own the property and we were in that building for 30 years. That's our home. It's where Joe and I grew up and where everybody knows us."
Follow Gary Puleo on Twitter @ Mustangman48.
Via Veneto Pizza & Family Restaurant
2688 DeKalb Pike
East Norriton


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For the 3rd time I had the opportunity to interview Phil Libin (CEO for Evernote) during the Leweb conference in Paris. This time though I did it in video so I am able to present you with sounds and images !
You can view the full video on YouTube below.
You can also get the audio file to listen to it on your mobile device or computer by subscribing to the RSS feed or via the iTunes link to the show.
Subjects covered during the interview :
- The launch of Evernote Business (in 7 countries as of December 2012)
- New features coming up in Q1 2013
- Mobile strategy
- And last but not least, the Evernote Socks !
Until the next time, happy evernoting !


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Being of best value drives our business forward, we refuse to be beaten on price, whilst ensuring that we are always improving standards and the importance of doing that little bit extra.
Moore's Maintenance will constantly liaise with you throughout any project ensuring the right finish that you would expect, if you're looking for Decorators in Basingstoke for that grubby old works canteen or that tired out of date hall stairs and landing, a fresh coat of paint in the office, call the professionals on 01264 362 378.
Check out what some of our client say about us just click on the Checkatrade logo


text:
The Daily Word 7.13.10: Emcore Gunman, George Steinbrenner, Fidel Castro
The gunman's name is released in the Emcore shooting.
New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner dies of a massive heart attack at age 80.
There's a major design flaw in the brand spankin' new iPhone 4.
A woman gets nine years in prison after having sex with her adopted son.
Guacamole and salsa have been responsible for an increase in food poisoning reports, according to the CDC.
Twittering can get you up to 11 years in prison, like these two Venezuelans.
Fidel Castro to make a public television appearance, predicting the beginning of nuclear war.
A study shows that the position of your belly-button impacts your success in sports.
The burqa ban in France passes the lower house in an overwhelming vote.
Listen to the audio recording of Mel Gibson's angry rant to ex Oksana Grigorieva.
The chile harvest this year is expected to be later and smaller due to the weird weather patterns.
An Española man thought it was OK to bring a gun into a Chili's restaurant.
Top-secret Russian spy Anna Chapman's UK citizenship is revoked.


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UCLA has played 29 basketball games this season, of which only 55 percent were victories—and zero percent were home games.
Officially, the Bruins were listed in the home side in 18 of those games, which is true in the sense their athletic department picked the site, sold the tickets, handled the game management.
There was no homecourt advantage whatsoever in these games, however, the majority of which have been contested at LA's decrepit Sports Arena—a building closer to USC's campus geographically, and to the 1860s aesthetically.
Homecourt is a pretty big deal in college basketball, but UCLA has had to do without this season as Pauley Pavilion is renovated—reconstructed might be a better word—and the Bruins attempt to move forward into the 21st century.
— Special report paints picture of UCLA program in turmoil
Some people don't feel that's worth a mention in discussing why UCLA is enduring its second poor season in the past three under coach Ben Howland. But it's a factor.
What is surprising about the reaction to UCLA's struggles is how much is not learned by observing the history of similar programs.
There seems to be this sense that coaches get smarter or dumber, better or worse, from year to year.
There seems not to be an understanding that what is changing annually in college basketball is the collection of players a given team fields.
In eight-plus seasons, Howland has taken UCLA to six NCAA Tournaments, three Final Fours and one championship game. He successfully worked with elite recruits Jordan Farmar, Arron Afflalo and Kevin Love in preparing them for the NBA. He also polished such underrecruited gems as Russell Westbrook, Darren Collison and Luc-Richard Mbah a Moute into significant pro players.
Some assistants who've worked for Howland will tell you nobody they've encountered has a better mind for the game, is better at assessing and exploiting a team's weakness. And yet many in the public are reacting as though Howland forgot how to coach.
Anyone recall the climate around Duke five years ago? About that time, Jamal Boykin and Eric Boateng had been recruited and transferred out. That was not long after Michael Thompson had taken off for Northwestern, and not long before Taylor King would spin through that same revolving door.
The Blue Devils lost in the NCAA Tournament first round in 2007, in the second round in 2008 and were blown out, embarrassed, handled in the 2009 Sweet 16 by a Villanova team that wasn't exactly awash in future NBA stars. The media attitude toward Duke, coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils' recruiting effectiveness was so profoundly negative during that era the university proactively worked to bolster the Blue Devils image, holding mid-summer news conferences with Coach K to give him an opportunity to correct the record.
And, in 2010, the same players whose presence on the Duke roster led to an avalanche of criticism won the school's fourth NCAA championship.
This has been even a less glorious era at UCLA. There is no disputing this. The Bruins were 14-18 in 2010. They are 16-13 now. This is not what is expected from UCLA, but failing to recognize the circumstances that produce such struggles is only going to lead to more.
—Homecourt disadvantage. Pauley never has been an intimidating place to play. UCLA's teams often have been overwhelming, and Walton and Wicks and the O'Bannons frightened opponents because they were great. But the vacant end zones kept the building from playing a bigger part in the Bruins' success. That's being repaired as Pauley is renovated.
—Recruiting. With talent along the West Coast in a downward spiral—ironically, there've been more McDonald's All-Americans from Canada (five) in the past three seasons than from California (two)—UCLA was slow to react to the need to take its brand on the road. That happened in 2011, however, when Howland hired Atlanta-based Korey McCray as an assistant. McCray has experience in junior college and "AAU" basketball; he helped connect the Bruins to promising wing Jordan Adams, who signed in November, and low-post force Tony Parker, whom the Bruins still are pursuing along with Memphis, Ohio State, Kentucky Kansas, Duke, Georgetown and Georgia.
Most important, UCLA went across the country and pushed to land 6-8 point guard Kyle Anderson, one of the nation's top prospects and the best perimeter talent to sign on with the Bruins since Baron Davis in the late 1990s. The Bruins remain a significant factor in the pursuit of the nation's top wing talent, Shabazz Muhammad of Las Vegas, along with Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, Arizona and UNLV.
—Premature early entry. Love, Westbrook, Farmar and Afflalo left for the NBA as early draft entrants following star-level college seasons. That's not what we're talking about. We're talking about players who departed before they were terrific college players. Jrue Holiday was a year away from being a high lottery pick but left after averaging 8.5 points as a freshman.
— 128 teams in the Big Dance? No thanks
Malcolm Lee and Tyler Honeycutt left somewhat unexpectedly after last season. Neither had averaged even 14 points, and neither became a first-round pick. This has been the most significant factor in UCLA's decline this season.
Perhaps the most significant obstacle to UCLA's success, and something Howland must learn to manage if possible, is the proximity of so many LA-based agents to the Westwood campus.
It is hard to collect a steady flow of high-level talent if there already are good players on the roster; it is hard to anticipate player departures if they're going to leave following good but not great seasons.
The one tactic that makes sense in this environment is to pursue elite talents such as Muhammad and Anderson, because it's easy for a coach to figure when they'll be gone—and easy to tell the next batch of recruits that those players won't be in the way. Whoever does show up at UCLA next season will get to play in a glorious new home, a genuine home, as Pauley reopens for business. If Ben Howland is their coach, those young men also will be blessed to play for one of the best in the game.


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Taco & Hot Sauce Enamel Stud Earrings
Made By: Yellow Owl Workshop
Mismatched and especially cute, these tiny studs make quite the hot pair. The cloisonné pair comes packaged in a glass vial, for a teensy delicious combination of taco and hot sauce. They're gilded in 22k gold, making them charming and fancy all at once.
- Cloisonné earrings
- Gilded in 22k gold
- Hypoallergenic posts
- Earrings measure approximately 0.5"


text:
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Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500 Cases & Covers - Cute Teddy Bear PC Custom Soft Case Cover Protector for Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500
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This awesome case for the Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500 is specifically designed to protect your device at all angles. The case fits precisely onto the Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500 for a natural and sleek look, and the speaker opening is specifically designed to fully utilize the speaker without reducing sound quality. This popular Samsung cases access to all ports, speakers and mic's for your convenience
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from an expert in bereavement support.
Grief affects everyone differently. If you are struggling to cope with bereavement, you are more likely to experience stress-related illnesses with a range of physical and psychological symptoms. Expert support and appropriate counselling from a Priory therapist will help you cope with your grief.
Contact the Priory Wellbeing Centre, Manchester to discuss the options available. You will benefit from:
Bereavement can affect you in different ways, according to the nature of your loss. Our team of bereavement counsellors and therapists include some of the UK's leading specialists. They will work with you to understand the nature of your loss, so that an effective and personalised approach to counselling or therapy can be identified.
Professional, empathetic support is available. Get the assistance you require now by calling our enquiry line on: 0161 495 2080
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Priory Wellbeing Centre
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I have never come across a place that offers safety, comfort and support until I came to The Priory
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text:
|Newsline No. 45-07
June 12, 2007
State Division of Workers' Compensation to hold free Spanish-language seminar on workers' compensation benefits and laws in San Jose this Thursday
The California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) will conduct a free Spanish-language seminar on workers' compensation benefits and laws in San Jose on Thursday, Jun. 14 from 6-7 p.m. This seminar is part of a program for Bay Area workers, which rotates monthly between San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.
The seminar is set up for employees that have recently filed a workers' compensation claim with their employer, but any worker can benefit from attending and anyone can attend. The San Jose workshop will be held:
Thursday, Jun. 14, 2007
6-7 p.m.
San Jose Public Library
Dr. Roberto Cruz Alum Rock Branch
3090 Alum Rock Avenue
San Jose, CA
The seminar takes place on the second Thursday of each month and rotates between the three Bay Area cities, moving to San Francisco in July, Oakland in August, back to San Jose in September and so forth. At the seminar, held at easily accessible community locations, employees get information on their right to medical treatment, disability payments, returning to work after an injury and resolving a disagreement over a claim.
The DWC conducts English-language seminars for injured workers on a monthly basis at each of its 24 local offices. A listing of workshop days, times and locations in English and Spanish can be found on DWC's Web site at www.dir.ca.gov/dwc. Click on the link that says, "Injured on the job? Need to know your rights?" Injured workers can also call 1-800-736-7401 to find the workshop near them and hear other recorded information. To go directly to workshop locations in English, callers should press 7, then 7 again, then 1 after dialing the 800 number. Spanish-speaking workers may call 1-800-736-7401 and press 2 for details.
The division also provides free workshop posters in English and Spanish to community based organizations, employers, medical providers and others who'd like to post them. Call 510.286.7076 for more information.


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Tuscaloosa AL – Our series on adult illiteracy continues this morning with a look at its effects on children, and you. When one in four people around you can't read what's at risk for Alabama's future? Alabama Public Radio's Brett Tannehill reports
Illiteracy destroys communities.
It is linked to crime, unemployment, poverty and homelessness. It kills job growth and drains social services. Jackie Wuska with the Literacy Council of Central Alabama says, worst of all, illiteracy perpetuates itself, generation to generation, in households where adults don't read.
WUSKA - But if a parent can't read, they can't share the joy of reading with that child. And reading aloud to your child increases reading comprehension, vocabulary, attention span, even a love of reading. But children who are born to parents who can't read - those children are 50-percent more likely to be unable to read themselves. So it's cyclical. If a parent can't read, they can't read to their child and when they get to school, they're already behind."
And that translates into some rather alarming costs to taxpayers. A study by Princeton University shows that in a lifetime, an average non-reader contributes 60-thousand dollars less in taxes and costs taxpayers 127-thousand-dollars in social services. Also, the difference in lifetime income between those who do and don't graduate high school is about 260-thousand dollars. Education consultant Dr. Ray Hart says considering those numbers, even small improvements will yield big results. He says one community he worked with raised their graduation rate by about 3-percent. It's not a big improvement on the surface, but ...
HART - "It comes out to be about an 18-20 million dollar difference in terms of what those individuals are able to contribute to the community. It makes a huge difference when you look at the numbers and what actually happens in the background when a student drops out of high school and doesn't finish."
AYCOCK - "Sometimes when you hear the word "illiterate" you think the person is just dumb or lazy. That's not the truth. The truth is somewhere along the line they fell through the cracks."
Johnnie Aycock is president of West Alabama Chamber of Commerce.
AYCOCK - "But these are smart intelligent people and we need to be supporting, and encouraging and nurturing their literacy skills. And enhance their ability not only to survive, but to thrive and succeed."
Aycock hopes the Chamber and Rotary International of Tuscaloosa can help improve adult education across the Black Belt, and bring some of the social and economic improvements mentioned in this series. In yesterday's report, we climbed into Louie Singleton's dumpster truck, and talked to him about "falling through the cracks". He dropped out of school to support his family after his father got too sick to work. He raised four children, but didn't learn to read until he was in his 50s. Now he says reading, and all its joys and benefits, will be with him forever.
SINGLETON - "You couldn't buy it back from me for a million dollars. I'd walk away from it. I've said that I don't know how many times. You just couldn't do it. It's like you can learn somebody how to fish and they can eat for a lifetime. Reading is the same way. You can help someone with a word and tell them what it is, but if you learn them to read, then you've done something."
Advocates for adult education hope to do something big statewide by establishing a series of Literacy Councils that would help connect education programs with the people who need them. Efforts to establish a Literacy Council for West Alabama are already well underway. These Councils could change the state forever. But it will take thousands of small victories like that of Louie Singleton.
For APR News, I'm Brett Tannehill


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Introduction to Constructions
Lesson 8 of 14
Objective: SWBAT use a straight-edge and compass to perform constructions: a line through two points, a circle of a given radius, a copy of a segment, adjacent segments, a triangle with given sides. Students will understand what construction tools are and how to use them.
Big Idea: Students learn correct technique with straight-edge and compass... and learn that these tools can do more than they thought!
Lesson Open
Team Warm-up
The Warm-Up prompt for the lesson asks students to think why it might be impossible to draw a line. This allows me to introduce geometric constructions as pencil-and-paper models of geometric objects, which are ideal concepts.
This lesson opener follows our Team Warm-up routine, with students writing individual answers in their Learning Journals. I display the prompt using the Slideshow for the lesson.
As I am introducing the topic of constructions, I display the lesson Agenda and Learning Targets.
Resources (5)
Construction Tools
I distribute copies of the Guided Notes for this activity.
I use direct instructions for introducing constructions. Prior to this lesson, my students have been working with construction tools for a week, and I have been giving some informal instruction. Now, however, I am instructing them in the techniques that will allow them to use a compass and straight-edge with efficiency and precision (MP5, MP6).
The rationale for the guided notes is:
- Each construction is described step-by-step. The instructions use formal mathematical language and geometric notation, which I encourage students to read. They are responsible for learning the language of geometry.
- Each step of a construction is accompanied by an illustration. We create the illustrations in class.
- I lead the class through each construction. I describe the step of the construction using formal language, then demonstrate the step. Students then perform the step.
- Since a construction typically has 3 or more steps, students get to practice the steps of the construction 'pyramid-fashion'. To create the illustration for the 2nd step, they perform that step. To create the illustration of the 3rd step, they perform the 2nd and 3rd steps. And so on.
- The first step of each construction describes what we begin with. Often, students will start by constructing a line and picking a point on the line to make a ray. At other times, an existing object--such as the side of an angle--will provide the starting materials.
I tell students that they are free to work ahead if they feel confident. However, I will not be able to rescue them if they get lost. If they get confused, they should just sit tight, pay attention, and wait for the class to catch up.
During this lesson, we learn the following constructions:
- Construct a line through two given points (I demonstrate proper technique for using a straight-edge)
- Construct a circle (or arc) with a given radius and center (I demonstrate proper technique for using a compass)
- Construct a copy of a line segment
- Construct adjacent line segments
Students find these constructions pretty straightforward. (In fact, they have performed several of them many times in the past week.) So, this section is really about getting organized and teaching students the routine for learning constructions.
Resources (4)
Practicing Constructions
Students practice the constructions they have just learned using the Rally Coach format. I display the instructions on the front board. I distribute the Activity, and students perform the exercises on their own paper.
I am on the lookout for: Are students using the scale of their ruler?
Some will not want to get out of their comfort zone, so they will actually measure a line segment (in centimeters, say), perform multiplication when required, and use the ruler scale to measure a copy of the segment. After I see that students have diligently performed that procedure once or twice, it is not hard to persuade them that a compass measures length much more efficiently (and just as precisely) (MP5, MP6).
Resources (3)
Construction Challenge
As teams complete the practice problems, I display the instructions and pass out the handout for this challenge Constructions Challenge Activity.
The goal of this activity is to have students apply what they have learned about the properties of geometric objects to solve a basic construction problem: constructing a triangle using three given sides.
I am on the lookout for:
Are students having trouble starting the triangle?
I tell them to start with any line segment. They can put it anywhere. Just, don't work too close to the edge of the paper.
Are students stumped about how to position the remaining sides of the triangle?
Some may actually be using guess and check. This is an opportunity for a class discussion about the properties of a circle! I bring the class together and ask them to focus on the front board, where I draw one side of the triangle. (If a student has made a good start, however, I use student work which I project on the front board using a document camera.)
How should we place the second side? Well, what do we know? We know that the second side has to connect to the side we have, so we know where to put one endpoint. We also know how long the side should be, but we don't know what direction it should take. Sketching three or four possible sides of the correct length, I show how the other endpoint of the side--being a set distance from the vertex--must lie on a circle. So, we can use a circle to represent all the possible locations for the second endpoint (MP4). From here, students can usually fill in the rest.
Resources (2)
Resources (2)
Team Size-Up
The lesson close follows our Team Size-Up routine. The prompt asks students to describe a straight-edge and a compass and to tell what each tool is for.
Homework Set 2 problems #20-22 focus on the constructions students have just learned.