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Become a Nagios Certified Professional
Validate your knowledge of Nagios and gain exclusive benefits
Nagios Certified Professional
The Nagios Certified Professional – Core certification exam is designed to test the skills of an individual who uses Nagios Core on a frequent basis. This individual should have a good understanding of how Nagios Core works, as well as knowledge of monitoring terminology. Topics covered include handling outages, investigating incidents, acknowledging alerts, scheduling downtime, generating reports, and general use. Designed for IT professionals, administrators, helpdesk staff, and end users.
|Test Questions
|Time Limit
|75 Minutes
|Certification Validity
|2 Years
|Suggested Study Material
|Nagios Core Docs | NCP Core Prep Guide
|Suggested Training Program
|Basic Training
Nagios Certified Administrator
The Nagios Certified Administrator – Core certification exam is designed to test the skills of an individual who is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and maintenance of a Nagios Core installation. This individual should be capable of designing, implementing, and supporting a Nagios Core installation. Topics covered include graphing and trending, distributed monitoring, passive checks, performance tuning, agents, and other advanced topics. Designed for IT professionals and administrators.
|Test Questions
|Time Limit
|110 Minutes
|Certification Validity
|2 Years
|Suggested Study Material
|Nagios Core Docs
|Suggested Training Program
|Advanced Training
|Must pass the Nagios Certified Professional – Core Exam
Certification Exam Process
We've partnered with ProctorU to deliver the official Nagios certification exams online. The basic process is outlined below:
- Create an account and register for an exam online at http://nagioslive.onlineproctornow.com/. From the drop down box select Nagios TesTrac as your organization.
- Select a preferred date and time to take your certification exam online.
- When it's time for your exam, login to the test site and provide the proctor with your identification.
- The proctor will stay online with you while you take your exam.
- 1-2 weeks after you take your exam, we'll contact you with information about obtaining your certificate.
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Nagios certification provides professionals with the following benefits:
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Certification Resources
Our certification prep guides help prepare you to successfully understand Nagios and pass your exam.
These guides are available on the Nagios Library.
- Nagios Certified Professional – Core – Exam Prep Guide. This 150-page guide is designed to prepare the reader for the Nagios Certified Professional – Core certification exam. The guide covers aspects understanding Nagios Core and using its features and functionality on a daily basis.


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UN rights commissioner urges Myanmar to release detained protesters
[JURIST] UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour [official website] has urged Myanmar to immediately release demonstrators [statement] detained last week after participating in a peaceful protest against a recent rise in fuel prices. Arbour said Sunday that allowing citizens to peacefully express themselves will help foster both democracy and reconciliation in Myanmar. Arbour's remarks came days after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released a statement [text] saying that the UN will be "following events in Myanmar closely, particularly in light of reports that student leaders and others have been arrested by the authorities."
The military-led government of Myanmar [JURIST news archive] has recently received widespread international criticism for alleged human rights violations. In June, the United States renewed pressure [JURIST report] on the nation to release democracy advocate and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi [advocacy website], as well as 52 activists arrested [JURIST report] in May for participating in vigils calling for her release. Also in June, the International Committee of the Red Cross denounced "violations of international humanitarian law" [press release] committed by the Myanmar government against citizens and detainees. In May, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled [opinion, PDF] that the extended detention of Suu Kyi violates the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights [texts]. The UN News Service has more.

subset: commoncrawl


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Cleveland Heights, OH (PRWEB) May 23, 2014
Cleveland-area artists are featured in Cain Park's first art gallery exhibit of the 2014 summer season: Dian Disantis, Wally Kaplan and Larry Kasperek. The exhibit runs June 12-July 13 with an opening reception slated for Friday, June 13 from 6 to 8 pm. The gallery is open one hour before all events except Kids Matinees and during the hours of the Cain Park Arts Festival.
The depiction of the natural environment is a recurrent theme in the paintings of Dian Disantis. She is particularly drawn to myopic investigations of flora and fauna and from this approach, she manipulates and invents her own abstracted vision of the subject matter. The works presented at Cain Park were derived from photographs she took of tar marks used to fill cracks created on heavily traveled roadways and by tire marks made on snowy or ice-encrusted surfaces. A Cleveland Institute of Art graduate, Disantis has exhibited at MOCA, the Loren Naji Studio Gallery, the Butler Institute of American Art and the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve.
Man's relationship to his environment and his love of nature has become increasingly important to Wally Kaplan and is reflected in her work. In her travels to Africa and the Galapagos Islands, she found a special kind of serenity and dignity in the vistas, people and animals, which have found their way on to her canvases. Kaplan graduated from Ohio State University and her work has been shown in many juried and solo exhibits including Bank One, University Hospitals, Valley Art Center, CityMusic Cleveland, and St. Paul's South Wing Gallery.
Larry Kasperek works in several photography mediums in addition to the standard 35mm digital and medium format film cameras. Pinhole photography addresses his interest in vintage work and harkens back to the joy of photography that developed with each photo in his dark room. In Reconstruction photography, he takes a series of photos in a logical pattern and re-assembles the images digitally. He enjoys iPhoneography because of the spontaneity it provides. With a photojournalism degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Kasperek launched a 25-year career in newspapers in New Jersey, Mississippi, Michigan, Southern California, and Alabama. He is currently co-owner of BayLight Studio in Bay Village, Ohio. Kasperek's work has been seen at the Cain Park Arts Festival, the Artists Archive of the Western Reserve, the Doubting Thomas Gallery in Tremont, Boston Mills Arts Festival, and BayArts.
Cain Park's Audrey and Harvey Feinberg Art Gallery was named after two local champions of visual arts, who were instrumental in the creation of the Cain Park Arts Festival, a juried fine arts and fine crafts show that continues to be part of the Cain Park season to this day.
Cain Park 2014 season sponsors include Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Ohio Arts Council, Severance Town Center, Intercontinental Hotels – Cleveland, and Motorcars Honda/Toyota/Scion.
Cain Park, a municipally owned and operated summer arts park and one of the nation's oldest landmark outdoor theatres entering its 76th season, is produced by the City of Cleveland Heights and is located on Superior Road between Lee and South Taylor roads.


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In the fall of 1902, a twenty-year-old James Joyce enrolled in Dublin's Catholic University Medical School. Joyce quickly grew bored, however, and soon dropped-out. The following year he again enrolled in medical school, this time at the University of Paris. After sitting in a few lectures, he again grew bored and again dropped-out (Walzl 158-59). It seemed that Joyce was not destined to become a medical doctor.
Although James Joyce never became a medical doctor, he went on to become a great spiritual doctor—diagnosing people's spiritual maladies and suggesting cures. Such is certainly the case in Dubliners, Joyce's first great work. In the book's fifteen short stories, Joyce, using mostly fictitious characters and events, outlined what he believed to be the sickness of his countrymen. In the book's final story, he recommended a remedy. In what follows, we will examine the diagnosis and cure offered in Dubliners.
Joyce believed that Dubliners were suffering from paralysis of the will. As he wrote in a 1904 letter to his brother Stanislaus, "What's the matter with you is that you're afraid to live. You and people like you. This city is suffering from hemiplegia [paralysis] of the will" (Walzl 159). In Dubliners, we see that paralysis of the will is a weakness of the will, a weakness that causes people to "miss or surrender their chance" to "escape into a fuller and more meaningful existence" (Kelly vii). Let's look at a few examples of this.
Eveline has the opportunity to escape her miserable life—which is marred by a demeaning boss and violent father—by marrying Frank, a man who will "give her life, perhaps love, too" (35). But by the end of the story, we find her "passive, like a helpless animal" (36), lacking the will power to sail with Frank to Buenos Ayres. Much like Eveline, Bob Doran longs to escape, to "ascend through the roof and fly away to another country where he would never hear again of his trouble" (65). But he finds himself unable to do so. Feeling guilty and afraid of losing his reputation, Bob, even though he has a "notion" that he is "being had" (63), abandons his hopes of living a happy life and agrees to marry the rather vulgar Polly.
Little Chandler's paralysis has prevented him from ever taking a chance and pursuing his dreams of becoming a writer. Chandler has long dreamed of being published. Even as he walks to the bar to meet Gallaher, he dreams of "sentences and phrases from the notices which his book would get" (71). He, of course, has never been published because he has been afraid to leave Dublin, and "if you wanted to succeed you had to go away. You could do nothing in Dublin" (70). Because of his timidity, Chandler finds himself immersed in an unhappy life, working an unfulfilling job and being married to an unkind woman. James Duffy's paralysis has caused him to live a life of isolation. We learn at the beginning of "A Painful Case" that he had "neither companions nor friends, church nor creed" (109). He temporarily shares his life with Mrs. Sinicio, but eventually rejects her, denying her "life and happiness." As the story ends, Mr. Duffy realizes the misery of his lonely existence: "No one wanted him; he was outcast from life's feast" (118).
Jimmy Doyle's irresponsibility causes him to lose his inheritance in an all-night card game. Farrington's alcoholism causes him to squander his money and beat his son. Mrs. Kearney's pride and love of money ruins her daughter's musical career (Walzl 185). Gabriel's selfishness prevents him from ever experiencing what is most important in life—love. The examples go on.
It is obvious that Dubliners diagnoses the sickness of Dubliners. When reading this collection, we cannot help but notice how dysfunctional and meaningless these people's lives are. What is not so obvious is that, along with diagnosing this sickness, the book also offers a cure. Joyce clearly intended the book to do this, calling it a first step towards his people's "spiritual liberation" (Tindall 4).
The cure to Dublin's paralysis is found in "The Dead." We know that "The Dead" offers the cure because it is the only story that ends hopefully. The first fourteen stories in Dubliners all end on discouraging notes. After being introduced to characters who are living miserable and/or corrupt lives, readers leave the stories without any hope that things will get better. As we leave Mr. Doran, he has an unhappy life awaiting him; as we leave Little Chandler, he is miring in remorse; as we leave Farrington, we have no reason to believe that he will give up drinking and become a kind husband and father; and so on. Since "The Dead," unlike the other stories, ends in hope, it follows that it offers the cure to paralysis of the will. Why else would a story, which is in a collection of stories focusing on a particular disease, have an optimistic ending unless it offered the cure to that disease?
The claim that "The Dead" ends in hope is contested by some scholars. Jack Ludwig, for instance, interprets Gabriel's act of letting Gretta's hand fall as a recognition of his failure to identify with others. "Gabriel," he writes, "now knows that his last hope of achieving identification—for all his other attempts have been failures just as his acts at the party ended in failure—is gone." At this point in the story, Ludwig writes, it is significant to note that the descriptions of Gabriel in the beginning of the story are similar to the descriptions of "the snow-covered statues of the departed great, Wellington and O'Connell." By "connecting Gabriel with the statues, Joyce is saying that Gabriel is without life, inanimate, made of stone, a paralytic after his final stroke." The snowfall in the story's final scene reinforces Gabriel's death, as well as the death of all of Ireland. As Ludwig writes, "Paralysis is general all over Ireland. Death is general all over Ireland. For his own death Gabriel not waits. He merges with the dead of the past and the dead of the present, watching the snow—the death of all—'falling faintly…upon all the living and the dead'" (162).
Now Ludwig certainly makes some valid points. First, Gabriel's act of letting Gretta's hand fall seems to symbolize his recognition that he has failed. He realizes "how poor a part he, her husband, had played in her life" (234), and he acknowledges that, unlike Michael Furey, he has never truly felt love for another (235). Second, Ludwig is correct in claiming that the description of Gabriel is similar to the descriptions of the statues of dead heroes. While we read that Gabriel has a "light fringe of snow lay like a cape on the shoulders of his overcoat and like toecaps on the toes of his galoshes" (185), we later read that "patches of snow" lay on one of the statues (226). Third, the snow over Ireland undoubtedly symbolizes the death of Gabriel and of all Ireland. Just before we read that "snow was general over all Ireland," falling "upon all the living and the dead" (236), we read that Gabriel's soul "had approached that region where dwell the vast hosts of the dead" (235). Before the description of the snowfall, we also read that the "time had come for him [Gabriel] to set out on his journey westward" (236). Going westward, as William York Tindall writes, has traditionally meant dying (46).
Although the above points should be granted to Ludwig, it nevertheless seems that "The Dead" has a hopeful ending. Although the final snowfall symbolizes death, it symbolizes Christian death. And Christian death is filled with hope, as it is followed by resurrection. So while Ludwig is correct in claiming that the snowfall symbolizes death, he is wrong to equate this death with hopelessness.
Proof that this snowfall symbolizes Christian death can be found in the final few sentences of "The Dead":
It [the snow] was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead (236).
As Walzl points out, the images of crosses, spears, and thorns point to the passion of Christ (216): Christ was crucified on a cross (John 19.17-18), thrust in the side with a spear (19.34), and crowned with a crown of thorns (Mark 15.17). Christ's passion, of course, is not a dreadful, but a glorious event, as his death was followed, not by his body rotting in the grave, but by his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15.3-4). Since "The Dead" ends with symbols of Christ's passion, it seems that Gabriel's death must be interpreted in terms of Christian resurrection and, thus, hope.
Once we recognize that "The Dead" is a story about death followed by resurrection, and not death ending in despair, other images in the story take on new meaning. The snowfall, for instance, also becomes a symbol of resurrection. The snow no longer merely symbolizes death, but death awaiting rebirth. As Walzl writes, "the icy snow, the image of death, melts in the 'mutinous Shannon waves' and becomes water, the archetypal symbol of life; and for the Christian, the baptismal symbol of rebirth" (216). Similarly, the word that the story begins with, "Lily," also takes on significance. As Tindall writes, "Taken literally, Lily is the name of a bitter servant; but a lily, white as snow, serves at funerals and at the ceremony of resurrection at Easter" (47). It seems that it is no mere coincidence that a story about rebirth begins with a symbol of resurrection.
So "The Dead" ends in hope. And since it ends in hope, it is reasonable to infer that it contains the cure to the sickness that plagues Dubliners—paralysis of the will. But we still have not discovered why "The Dead" ends in hope. In other words, we still have not discovered why Gabriel has found new life. If we find this answer, we will have found the cure to paralysis.
Given the importance that epiphanies play in Dubliners and the fact that Gabriel's epiphany is followed by images of resurrection, it seems that the hope of the book is found in his epiphany. In other words, since there is a cause-effect relationship between Gabriel's epiphany and the book's hopeful ending, we must understand his epiphany to understand why there is hope. In order to understand hhis epiphany, however, we must first understand his paralysis.
Gabriel's paralysis is that he is selfish and, as a result, alienated from others. There are several examples of Gabriel's selfishness. For instance, he worries about himself—whether he will look ridiculous during his speech (187), whether anyone hears Miss Ivors call him a "West Briton" (200)—but he never thinks of others. As he admits to himself towards the end of the story, unlike Michael Furey, he has never felt love for any woman (235). Along with being selfish, he is alienated from others. For instance, he is estranged from his homeland, as is evidenced by the facts that he vacations on the continent (198) and even fashions his clothing after the continent's styles (189). He is also estranged from the people at the party, taking "no part in the conversation" at dinner (208). At one point during the party, he looks outside and thinks, "How pleasant it would be to walk out alone" (201).
In his epiphany, Gabriel, for the first time, sees himself as he really is—a self-centered, alienated man. He realizes "how poor a part he, her husband, had played in her [Gretta's] life" (234). "Generous tears" then fill his eyes as he realizes that he has lived a loveless existence (235). As Tindall writes, Gabriel realizes that he is guilty "not of withholding love but of lacking it entirely" (43); he realizes that Michael Furey, though "employed in glassworks," was, unlike himself, "capable of love" (44). Gabriel realizes "it is better to have died as Michael Furey died than to have lived after the fashion" of himself and the others at the Christmas party (Trilling 155): "Better pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age" (235).
Upon realizing his paralysis, Gabriel takes the first step towards change and begins to be reconciled with his fellow Irishmen. In the book's final paragraph, we read that Gabriel's "identity was fading out into a grey impalpable world" (235) and that snow was "general all over Ireland," falling "upon all the living and the dead" (236). As we saw earlier, this passage contains images of death—the death of Gabriel and of Ireland. But it also speaks of Gabriel's act of identifying himself with his countrymen. By allowing his own identity to fade and by finding a commonality between himself and others, Gabriel takes the first step towards escaping his isolation and finally becoming united with others. He is no longer separate from others; he is now "a willing part of the general flow of things" (Daiches 36). As Tindall puts it, "His self destroyed, his identity gone, he becomes one with all the living and the dead. This dramatic extinction of personality could be another hopeful sign. No longer Gabriel alone but one with everyone, he may be ready to accept, give, and participate" (43).
That Gabriel is changing is further evidenced by his acknowledgement that the "time had come for him to set out on his journey westward" (236). Although, as we saw earlier, going westward is a symbol for dying, Gabriel's journey westward symbolizes more than his approaching death; it also symbolizes his act of being reconciled with his fellow Irishmen. In the story, the west symbolizes Ireland: it is where Miss Ivors vacations, as opposed to the east, the continent, where Gabriel vacations (Tindall 45-46). The west also symbolizes selflessness and love: it was in the west, in Galway, that "Michael loved Gretta and caught his death of cold" (Tindall 46). Gabriel's journey westward, then, is a journey of reunification with the people he has long been alienated from and it is a journey towards living the life of love that he has long refused, but is now ready to embrace.
To summarize, "The Dead" ends in hope because its protagonist realizes that he is paralyzed and begins to turn from it. There is hope for him because, even though he has been sick all his life, he has at last found health. So it seems that self-realization is the cure to paralysis—to be more precise, self-realization that leads to change. Self-realization is not only the cure to Gabriel's paralysis, but the cure to the paralysis of all the characters in Dubliners. There might have been hope for all of these characters if, like Gabriel, they had only been able to see themselves as they really were. Had Eveline realized that she was a person deserving of happiness, she might have been able to escape her life of misery. Had Bob Doran realized his cowardice, he might have been able to resist the trickery of Mrs. Mooney and her daughter. Had Little Chandler realized his timidity earlier in life, he might have been able to leave Dublin and fulfill his dreams. Had James Duffy, while he was still young, realized what an isolated wretch he was, he might have been able to love and be loved.
In writing Dubliners, it was Joyce's hoped that he could help his fellow countrymen realize their own sickness and, thus, change and be cured. He hoped Dubliners would give Irishmen "one good look at themselves" in a "nicely polished looking-glass" (Tindall 4).
Dubliners, however, was not written just about and for Dubliners. It was written about and for all of us. As Joyce once told a friend, "I always write about Dublin, because if I can get to the heart of Dublin, I can get to the heart of all the cities of the world. In the particular is contained the universal" (Walzl 157). We suffer from the same maladies as Eveline, Bob, Chandler, James, Gabriel, and the other characters—cowardice, self-delusion, pride, selfishness, avarice, and so forth. When we look at the characters in Dubliners, we see people that are strikingly similar to ourselves. But by seeing our own shortcomings in people that are different than ourselves, we are able to see ourselves in a new light and learn things about ourselves that would not have been otherwise possible. One is reminded of the story of King David and the prophet Nathan. David had slept with Uriah's wife and ordered Uriah to be murdered, but he did not see the wrongness of his actions. In order to show him the light, Nathan came to David and told him a story about a man who had committed similar sins: this man had stolen and killed another man's sheep. Upon hearing the story, David "burned with anger" and declared that that man should be put to death. "You are the man!" Nathan then told David. After hearing this, David realized, "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Samuel 12). Similarly, by showing us ourselves through the lives of different people, Joyce gives us the opportunity to truly see ourselves and, thus, change and become the people we were meant to be. He gives us the chance to be healed.
* * * * *
Works Cited
Daiches, David. "Dubliners." Twentieth Century Interpretations of Dubliners: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. Peter K. Garrett. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968. 27-37.
Joyce, James. Dubliners. 1914. New York: Signet Classic, 1991.
Kelly, John S. Introduction. Dubliners. By James Joyce. 1914. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1991. vii-xlix.
Ludwig, Jack Barry. "The Snow." James Joyce's Dubliners: A Critical Handbook. Eds. James R. Baker and Thomas F. Staley. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 1969. 159-62.
Tindall, William York. A Reader's Guide to James Joyce. New York: Noonday Press, 1959.
Trilling, Lionel. "Characterization in 'The Dead.'" James Joyce's Dubliners: A Critical Handbook. Eds. James R. Baker and Thomas F. Staley. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 1969. 155-58.
Walzl, Florence L. "Dubliners." A Companion to Joyce Studies. Eds. Zack Bowen and James F. Carens. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1984. 157-228.


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Kentucky in the Classroom
Take an interactive look at Kentucky, a state that is rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. Explore Kentucky's diverse geography and see how it has contributed to the state's extraordinary biodiversity. Learn from Kentuckians who have left their mark historically; visit the Kentucky State Capitol without leaving the classroom; and download stunning photographs of Kentucky plants, animals, and places for use in projects and presentations.
Produced over the years by KET, the instructional resources in Kentucky in the Classroom are designed to inform and inspire students while providing teachers with powerful tools for transforming learning in the classroom.


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Abandonment is a raw emotion that I think we all can connect to in one way or another. A friend has abandoned you. A spouse. A family member.
Abandonment is a hard emotion to address because it isn't just one word with one emotion. There are 5 or 6 branches of emotions that come out of it and all of those have to be addressed too.
With abandonment comes loneliness, disappointment, hurt, betrayal, anger, sadness, and bitterness. But abandonment can also lead to empowerment.The two words don't even seem like they go together. BUT what if being abandoned was the best thing for you? What if abandonment showed someone's true colors?. What if abandonment freed you from chains?
My family abandoned me. And I felt hurt and betrayed and devastated. I wrote my father a letter. It is on my blog. I have read and reread that letter. I know that as a parent, if I read that letter, I would probably feel awful. I would feel agony in my heart for the pain my daughter felt, I would also feel guilty for not somehow protecting her. I would NOT feel accused or blamed and I would certainly not then abandon my child. But that is exactly what they did. And guess what. I am free. I never have to hear them bring up the past. I never have to feel unvalidated. The truth of my abuse caused my family to abandon me. Whatever excuses they want to give of feeling hurt, or embarrassed….don't matter any more. I was not WORTH keeping. I was easily DISCARDED. And anyone who can desert someone for telling the truth, I promise you is not worth having in your life in the first place. You may have beautiful memories. Those memories do not have to be tarnished by their current behavior. You can keep those good memories in your heart. But if one letter can cause and entire family to abandon you. I assure you, you are better off without them.
It is passive aggressive behavior. I am sure if you have been abused or raped then you know what I am talking about. A person in your life will just toss out a statement or comment. You think maybe they don't mean it that way and just disregard it. after being abused I then inadvertently chose to settle. I settled for comments that I should not have settled for. But I was so used to everyone acting like nothing happened that it became the norm. Each of these comments though just chipped away at my soul. You have to be so careful because you don't even know it is happening until you wake up this hollow person surrounded by people who are supposed to love you, but feeling totally alone when you are around them. So that man that abused me was a member of a ski team. My family ALWAYS brought up seeing a member of that ski team whether out shopping or in a store. Why? To see if I will react? Well I can't react because I have been programmed by a family to not ever be able to feel. Because they don't feel. If they did feel then they would never bring up the things they did. How do they think bringing that up would make me feel? Was it passive aggressive to show that they could bring up whatever they wanted? I'm guessing it was total denial. and showing that they did not acknowledge what happened. Or maybe just trying to minimize it by making this nonchalant comment so everything is nice. Oh how wonderful to see such and such out and about. Really? Such and such was an integral part of the horrors of my childhood. Each of these comments over the years all add up. So really by abandoning me they did me a huge favor.
They disowned me because it was easier to disown me then to actually feel. If they just push me aside then they can go on living their lives never to scratch the surface. And there are people in life that are like that. I know tons of them. They do not change, evolve, or grow. They just put on their rose colored glasses and float along through life. and then when I tell the truth oh my gosh their glasses broke for a moment. But they couldn't stand the pain of anything real so they quickly just bought another pair and went on like nothing happened. If I am not around then they don't have to deal with real. I feel sorry for them. But I am no longer tied to them. Their abandonment freed me from their illusion.
You cannot float along through life. Deep down you will be eaten up! But there is this illusion that if you put on these rose colored glasses and float along then everything is ok. If you go through life thinking everything is ok then you will never heal. You will never teach. You will never inspire. You will be stagnate. You will be smothered. You will never do the things you were truly meant to do in this life!
But I know…you don't want to be alone. You've already been through so much. You don't want to lose anymore.So you hold on to people that really are not in your best interest for you to grow and heal as a person. But sometimes holding on to someone just wraps you up in chains from the past that you cannot become freed from. Sometimes them abandoning you allows you to be who you are and not ever accept disrespect again.
I could be angry at my family for letting me down. For being selfish. But why? There are no words that will make them change. There is no convincing. There is no getting through. It is their choice. And as long as they choose to not see and not deal with the truth I would not want them in my life anyway. And so…..
Abandonment leads to empowerment. My life is not a game..I am no pawn in anyone's plan. I was a pawn the whole time i was being abused. I played that game of keeping secrets my entire childhood. They must come to terms with their own feelings of what happened to me. They either will or they won't. But it has nothing to do with me. Without me they can either choose to deal with the past, or put back on their rose colored glasses. I am simply nolonger part of that process for them. Do not let someone bring you into their game. Do not let someone bring you into their emotions over your abuse. That is for them and not you.Take yourself out of other people's game. Their control and their games are not your concern. They are holding you back from being the you that you are meant to be.
It is not your job as a person who has been victimized to baby the people around you. It is not your job to comfort them. It is not your job to settle for mediocre behavior.
I honestly wish it had not taken my family abandoning me for me to see them for who they really are. I wish I had seen things for what they really were and left. Leaving is empowering. But apparently so is being abandoned. I just never knew that, but I guess I had on my own rose colored glasses.


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Register for a Trade Account and save 20% - minimum order value applies - bona fide trade customers only.
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Product Information
Size per Cavity: Ø 75mm x h 8mm
Number of Cavities per Mould:6
Volume per Cavity: 27.5ml
Total Volume per Mould: 165ml
Shipping Weight: 200.00 gms


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This is one of those products that would probably appeal to the same crowd who waxes nostalgic for old brick cell phones. The handset attached to this Buffalo keyboard looks to be around the same vintage, albeit an updated version that uses Skype.
It's beyond us why people would insist on a corded handset like this, when there are so many other alternatives available out there--including phone-mouse combos. It also appears Lilliputian in size, as Dvice points out. Then again, it's destined for Japan, where there aren't too many Shaq wannabes wandering around.


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The University of Hawaii Board of Regents approved increases in the salary ranges for coaching positions yesterday.
The new guidelines allow annual pay for football coordinators and associate coaches between $116,640 and $203,688. The range for other football assistants will now be $56,340 to $165,000.
The highest maximum approved yesterday was $209,784 for women's basketball head coach (the minimum is $118,488).
The BOR also approved bonuses totaling $8,000 per person for eight members of the 2007 football coaching and administrative staff. Four assistant coaches who left UH for SMU with former Warriors head coach June Jones already received those bonuses.
Hawaii football coaches could be in line for some big raises after the Board of Regents approved new pay scales yesterday. But if that does happen, it won't be until 2009 at the earliest.
New head coach Greg McMackin's assistants (including four holdovers from June Jones' 2007 group) signed one-season deals when they came on board officially last month that will be in place until the end of March 2009.
The current pay scale for offensive coordinator Ron Lee, defensive coordinator Cal Lee and associate head coach Rich Miano ranges from $65,412 to $117,744. The new scale approved yesterday ranges from $116,640 to $203,688.
The other assistant-coach ranges have more variance: The current spread is $50,160 to $90,288 and the new approved range is $56,340 to $165,000.
Interim athletic director Carl Clapp said the football coaches' salaries for the coming season are within the current and new approved ranges.
"All current salaries, with few exceptions, fall within (both) those ranges," Clapp said. "A few (in other sports) will require some adjusting.
"We have different contracts for our coaches and most all assistants are annual," Clapp added. "As they come up, we negotiate a new number and that's an ongoing process."
Ranges for 24 other jobs were also approved yesterday.
The maximum salary for women's basketball head coach went from $135,636 to $209,784. Jim Bolla's base annual salary was $120,000 for his first three-year contract that ended prior to this season. His salary for this year was not immediately available.
"The intent of the adjustment and update is to ensure the UH-Manoa Athletics program remains competitive and salaries are comparable with NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision ... programs," a news release from UH read.
Other salary ranges were approved last July, including head football coach. McMackin's base pay is $1.1 million per year, making him the highest-paid state employee.
The Board also approved $8,000 bonuses for eight members of the UH football coaching and administrative staff. That money came from donations to the June Jones Foundation. Four assistant coaches who joined Jones at SMU when he left UH to coach the Mustangs have already received those bonuses.


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Eight years ago, Sister Virginia Welsh was sent to the Toledo neighborhood once known as Kuschwantz and now known as Kwanzaa Park with a simple but very large writ: Find out what they need there and do it.
The Catholic Church was closing parishes. Four formerly mighty Polish parishes had dwindled to a few handfuls of families. St. Anthony of Padua Church was, Sister Ginny told me when I visited her the other day, the CedarCreek of its era. It once had 4,000 members. By 2006, it had fallen to about 100 families.
But could the church keep a presence in the neighborhood in the form of service?
Sister Ginny walked the neighborhood and asked the people what they wanted. (They needed many things.) The eventual result was the Padua Center, which is a place as hard to define as Sister Ginny herself. I guess I would call the Padua Center a neighborhood hospitality house, centered on kids and education.
The Padua Center is in the old St. Anthony of Padua rectory. Two major programs — both for children — are run there. One is for students who have been suspended from school in grades K through 6. This program keeps the kids up to date with school work and simultaneously tries to work on their behavioral issues. Sister Ginny tells me they teach peace education. "We tell them: You have power, and when you misbehave, you lose that power. We teach them how to restore their power."
Sister Ginny
The second program is a summer tutoring program and day camp for kids in grades K through 8. The hope is to prevent summer academic slippage. On the day I visited, about 25 kids were there. During the school year, a thousand or so kids might come and go in the course of a year. Padua does this with three paid staff members, interns, and volunteers.
One boy who came to Padua during the school year, dealt with his issues and went back to school, asked if he could come back to Padua. Why? Sister asked him. "Because," he said, "no one bugs me here, I can get my work done, and if I need help, I can get it." He was in fourth grade.
Many of the kids come back, just to say hello and thank you.
Padua also runs occasional special programs, including, in the past, nutritional awareness for adults and "how to be gentlemen," for boys.
Sister Ginny is a no-nonsense, straight shooter. She has no time for social or political pieties. She told me she didn't come to Kwanzaa Park to maintain people in their poverty but to help them break out of it. She was an old teacher. Learning, she thought, was the key. Empowerment, not charity. She still thinks that.
Padua also offers a neighborhood coffee hour ever day for those who want it. It sponsors an NA meeting and a UT scholarly study group. Most significantly, perhaps, it runs a large community garden where the whole neighborhood can come to get healthy food. And, in fact, to compost, plant, and recycle. Sister Ginny told me: "I am a Franciscan. We grow things."
She is trying to teach children and their parents how to do the same — and, generally, about healthy living and the connections of nature. In addition to the Ujima (collective work) garden, across the street, Padua does some vertical hydroponic farming at the center, and they raise chickens. The kids love the chickens and they learn that eggs come from them and not Kroger. Sister told me that most of her kids were surprised to learn that oranges come from things called orange trees, which cannot grow in Toledo. The Padua gang even have a worm farm. The children think it is "gross" but fascinating.
Padua gets no money from the diocese, but runs its own small fund-raisers and survives on these, occasional grants, and small service contracts with TPS and Lucas County Children's Services.
Grant givers want data. Sister Ginny sees people. She tells me about the mythical lady who threw star fish back into the sea after high tide. The woman was told by a friend that she was fighting a losing battle. Hundreds of star fish wash ashore every morning and evening. You can't throw them all back. So what difference does it make? Sister's answer: It makes a big difference to the one that is thrown back.
On Tuesday: How intervening institutions like Padua can help kids and build neighborhoods.
Keith C. Burris is a columnist for The Blade.
Contact him at: firstname.lastname@example.com or 419-724-6266.
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Math and SAT Tutoring Service on Eastern Shore: Easton, MD / Denton, MD / Centreville, MD / Cambridge, MD
About Us
Subjects and Rates
Alla Rada
Experienced Certified Math Teacher
My name is Alla and I have been teaching and tutoring in the area of mathematics for the past fourteen years. I am a former math teacher from KCHS and have tutored for three years for the students of the Chesapeake College and have done private tutoring for high school students over the past four years. I have tutored in subjects such as remedial math, College Algebra, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Statistics, Algebra, and Algebra 2 and prepared clients for GRE, SAT and GMAT tests. This spring I started tutoring online using unique software called "White Board" so you don't need to travel anywhere to meet me. We both can be at home and have a tutoring session.
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is a free digital whiteboard that users can share online in real-time. Sorta like pen and paper, minus the dead trees, plastic, and the inconvenience of being at the same place at the same time. We are going to use in teaching this beautiful tool.
Our Unique Tutoring
Affordable in home tutoring / One-on-One Attention / Convenient for busy families / Even tutoring for adults
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- The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Nutrex Hawaii.
With all the buzz on motivation lately (PS have you sent in your photo's for my contest?) I thought I would share a few things that help keep me motivated, healthy and on track during the holidays.
1. Be prepared-- with all the sugary treats around it's even more important to be prepared during the holidays. This means hitting the grocery store with a list of your meals for the week, prepping your food, and making sure you always have a go-to snack/meal on hand.
We actually didn't make it to the grocery store over the weekend, so although we were tired after a long Monday, we got it done yesterday and it honestly is such a relief to have a stocked fridge- my favorite!
2. Have a plan- don't just go to the gym aimlessly, know what your plan of attack is before you get there. This way you are making the most of your gym time and getting the best results too. If you need help with a new workout plan- contact me for online training!
3. Take your vitamins and supplements- I can tell you first hand after being sick for the past 10 days, this one is a must! Something I have recently added to my lineup of supplements is Spirulina. Nutrex-Hawaii was kind enough to send over lots of green goodies for us to try out and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by all the wonderful things Spirulina does for you! In just one 3g serving, you get 60% protein, Vitamins A, K1, K2, B12, Iron, Manganese, and Chromium, Phytonutrients, and Hawaiin Spirulina has more nutrition per gram than any other on the market.
Here are some more fun facts:
• Strengthens the immune system
• Boosts energy levels
• Supports cellular health
• Supports cardiovascular, eye and brain health
Hawaiian Spirulina is packed with nutrients, gram per gram it has:
2800% more beta-carotene than carrots
3900% more iron than spinach
600% more protein than tofu
280% more antioxidants than blueberries
Click here to sign up for Nutrex Hawaii deals
Use promo code HOLIDAY30 for 30% off through 12/31
For healthy spirulina recipes, click here
What are some things you do to stay healthy during the holidays?


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Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first NJ.com user to add photos or videos of Pseg Global It
Pseg Global IT is located at 35 Waterview Blvd, Parsippany, NJ. This business specializes in Electric Utilities.
This sect of the gas and electric compnay, PSEG Global, provides IT consulting and service as an added convenience for their business clients. This is the local branch for Parsippany. Visit the services section of the company website for more details.


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Hi! Today's prompt is Japan. What I am learning from this challenge is I need to start taking more interesting pictures and slow down when I take them too! Most of my Japan building pictures were not good at all. I found this picture from our December 2012 trip. Have a […]
Posts in category World Showcase
Daily Disney for 9/12/14
TGIF! Today's prompt is Tea! At first I was thinking, what on earth will I post?? Then I remembered the super cute tea cups that were in the UK pavilion during the Flower & Garden Festival. Have a magical day! ~Kristie


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'Dilettante' in court over rare Shakespeare theft
CONSETT, England (AP) -- The self-described "dilettante" pulled up to the courthouse in a stretch limo on Tuesday, dressed in white and holding a cigar and a cup of instant noodles as he faced down charges of stealing a rare First Folio of Shakespeare's plays.
Eccentric British book dealer Raymond Scott, 51, is accused of stealing the book and six other centuries-old books and manuscripts, from Durham University's library in northern England in 1998.
Before entering court, he read aloud from Shakespeare's "Richard III."
"Like Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, I have had to suffer not only the whips and scorns of time but also the law's delay," he told reporters, complaining about the slow pace of his decade-old case.
Police say the 1623 Folio is worth about 3 million pounds ($4.5 million). The First Folio marked the first time Shakespeare's plays were collected and published together. About 242 are believed to be in existence.
The stolen copy was recovered after a man calling himself an "international businessman" walked into the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington in June, carrying the book, and asked for its authenticity to be checked. Library staff contacted police, who traced the man and arrested Scott.
Scott has previously denied charges of theft and handling stolen goods, saying he bought the book in Cuba.
He did not enter a plea Tuesday. He was released on bail until his next hearing April 14.


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Even as the Minnesota Twins celebrated today, the players who happily doused themselves with champagne could not forget the sad times. Many of them had been together through the difficult years of the decade, learning as they lost and hoping that the losing would come to an end.
Finally, it did. The Twins overcame the Detroit Tigers, capturing their first American League pennant since 1965 with a 9-5 victory that abruptly ended the four-of-seven-game playoff series at five games. They flew home when it was over and now await either the San Francisco Giants or the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series opener on Saturday.
The Twins were never given much chance to defeat the Tigers, not after enduring a season that rose and fell and never offered any promise. They won fewer games than the Yankees, ended the season with a five-game losing streak and lost 25 of their last 34 games on the road.
When the league championship series opened, they were prohibitive underdogs. Record Without Distinction
And when they looked back, they saw a record without distinction. The last two Twins teams to win the American League West were each swept from the playoffs in three games - once in 1969 and again in 1970. Their only previous pennant, representing Minnesota, produced a seven-game loss to the Dodgers.Continue reading the main story
In many ways, this team was no different than its predecessors.
''We're not a lot of rookies,'' said Frank Viola, the pitcher, ''but we didn't know how to win. We're learning now, in big situations.''
They were brought together by a manager who let his players play, and by the addition of a relief pitcher who closed out games that others used to let slip away. Turned Twins Loose
Tom Kelly, the 37-year-old manager, stuck his hands into his back pockets and watched his players enjoy their moment today. He had simply turned the Twins loose this season, let them play aggressively and refused to allow them to dwell on their defeats.
''Our battle cry all year has been to keep things on an even level - not too high, not too low,'' said Roy Smalley. ''Kelly led us by example. He never let us ride an emotional roller-coaster.''
Many of them had ridden the slide in 1982, when the Twins lost 102 games and finished last in the West. Tom Brunansky, Randy Bush, Gary Gaetti, Kent Hrbek were all rookies then, and they were still together last season, when the team dropped 91.
''I wasn't here in '82,'' said Kelly, who was the manager of the team's Class AA Orlando affiliate. ''But I know they were force-fed. They were all up a year too soon. They should've been in Triple-A.''
Kelly came in at the end of last season and filled one of the missing pieces. In the winter, the club acquired Jeff Reardon from Montreal, and he saved 31 games. Gingerly Toss
Reardon was on the mound in the ninth inning at Tiger Stadium this afternoon, taking the ground ball from Matt Nokes and tossing it gingerly to Hrbek, the first baseman, for the final out.
The game was not an easy one to win, even though it marked the first time in the series the Twins did not have to come from behind. They scored four runs in the second off Doyle Alexander, knocking him out of the game, and added five more over the last three innings. Brunansky had a two-run double in the second and a bases-empty homer in the ninth, giving him nine runs batted in and a .412 average for the series. But Gaetti, who played superbly at third base and hit .300, was named the series' most valuable player.
The Tigers trimmed Minnesota's lead to one run on Alan Trammell's run-scoring single and Nokes's two-run homer in the fourth. Even though they fell behind, 9-4, in the ninth, they still threatened, scoring a run off Reardon and putting two more runners on base before the final out came.
''We we got ahead, 4-0, and I went out and gave up three, the guys came into the dugout and talked about adding some more runs,'' said Bert Blyleven, the winning pitcher. ''It's what's gotten us in this position all season. We've had that one goal in mind.'' No Analysis
They could talk about the game, but they could not offer an analysis about their play in the series. They simply wanted to enjoy it.
''When it's going good,'' said Gaetti, ''you don't try to analyze it. You don't say, 'We're playing over our heads.' When it's going good, it's going good.'' The Tigers could see that from the beginning when Minnesota won the opening two games at the Metrodome. Then, on the road, where they suffered through some of their worst moments, they won two of three.
''They didn't give us a chance to regroup,'' said Mike Henneman, the Detroit pitcher. ''Whenever we made a mistake, they cashed in. This wasn't the same Minnesota team I faced all year.''
Nor was it the same Minnesota team that had lost so often in the past. Sparky Anderson, the Tiger manager, credited Kelly.
''I've never seen a club come in with so much desire,'' he said, ''and that comes from Tom Kelly. I've watched these kids grow for the last five years until he took over, and that warm feeling he has for them - you can see it now.''Continue reading the main story


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Decent homes need decent spaces
An action plan to improve open spaces in social housing areas
Prepared by CABE and the National Housing Federation in partnership with Neighbourhoods Green and over 30 social landlords.
Decent homes need decent spaces is about how social landlords can provide more opportunities for people to enjoy the space on their doorsteps, whether they want to relax, experience nature, grow vegetables, play, compete in sport, or just chat with their neighbours.
The action plan sets out 10 priorities for change:
- Commit to quality
- Involve residents
- Know the big picture
- Make the best use of funding
- Design for local people
- Develop training and skills
- Maintain high standards
- Make places feel safe
- Promote healthy living
- Prepare for climate change
It is led by CABE and the National Housing Federation with support from social landlords and associated organisations across the country.
Learn more about the advice that we provide for social landlords.
Published on 6 July 2010
Download this publication
Decent homes need decent spaces (PDF, 4.53 mb)
Related publications
Community green: using local spaces to tackle inequality and improve health
It's our space: a guide for community groups working to improve public space
Your comments
Rookwod House Association on 6 November 2010 at 4:26pm
Yours faithfully
D Smith


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'Wossy' is one of the UK's biggest stars (and not just on Twitter :P). He's worked in TV and radio for over 20 years and has a plethora of TV credits, notably his own Friday night chat show, BBC Radio show and taking over from Barry Norman as the presenter of the BBC's flagship Film programme.
But we love Jonathan, not for his fame, but for his geek credentials. His career has seen him front cult favourites such as The Incredibly Strange Film Show and Japanorama. And if that's not enough for you, he's appeared as himself in a Neil Gaiman short story and has just written his first comic book series, Turf. And let's not forget, he's married to the lady who wrote the screenplays for Stardust, Kick Ass and X-Men: First Class.
Jonathan is well-known as a huge cult film fan, comic book nerd, gamer and toy collector. So I couldn't help but envision a huge wall of alphabetically-organised comic books, wall-to-wall Marvel and DC comic art, the latest tech and collectibles coming out of your ears. As it turned out, my imagination came up sorely short.
If there were an MTV Cribs for geeks, Jonathan Ross's house would have to be first for a visit.
Wossy's 'office' is beyond nerd nirvana. For one thing, THE CEILING DISPLAYS SUPER MARIO SPRITES!!!
Another thing to geek out about is the chairs. They may look like something out of Blake's 7, but they're actually fully wired for surround sound, which is perfect for watching movies on the matching plasma screen or, as Jonathan says, getting your arse kicked by your son at Halo. (I have to say, surround sound chairs must give him quite the advantage over other online gamers. Beware Master Ross on XBox live!)
Jonathan gave us the tour of his favourite possessions, putting up with our (ok, my) exclamations of "OMG that's not an original [insert obscure character] figure from [insert Japanese anime]". That did, however, turn up a couple of facts:
1) He has a custom-made briefcase so he can carry his favourite figures around with him
2) He has possibly the coolest mother-in-law in the world: she knitted him an original Astro Boy figure (at the bottom in the pic below), complete with a voice recorded off a DVD!
We also got to meet the Ross pets: both real and artificial:
Back to our subject, Jonathan was really up for hamming it up. He tried on several different costumes, including a winged hoodie and these awesome 'Icarus' trainers (taken out of their box and worn for the first time just for Geek Calendar!).
We also tried a few of him going commando (no, not like that) posing with an original Johnny Seven OMA gun (the Rolls Royce of toy guns, I'll have you know).
We heard about the projects on his horizon, including a travel show taking in the Trans-Siberian Express on the way to Hong Kong, and more comic books -- with one an awesome-sounding series on old-age superheroes (think Mr Fantastic with his bits sagging :P).
Jonathan was really accommodating and a fantastic host. We really can't thank him enough for taking part and having us round to geek out all afternoon (though I'm sure he enjoyed it as much as we did!). Thanks also to the lovely Gia Milinovich for helping us arrange the shoot.
Here are some further pictures of the Ross office. As always, there are more behind-the-scenes shots on our Flickr page.
Twenty geeks, fifteen shoots. Mission complete (at least this part of it).
Geek out.


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I decided to take the rest of the week since our session with Dr. Schwier to watch my world in a reflective light clearly focused on the theme of community. It's been an interesting and busy week and as I write it all down now, I realize just how much community means to me but also how diverse and varied the communities that surround me and include me are. As I work on my project to build a digital learning community that functions as an out of class enhancement to the work my students do during our sessions at school I am further inspired to embrace the challenges that present themselves in the nurturing of a fledgling group of interactive learners.
Starting with Dr. Schwier's introspective and thoughtful ruminations on community, I began to reflect on the past couple of years I have spent becoming a part of the Education Technology and Design or ETAD Master's of Education community at the U of S. This community is not confined by the borders of an institution in Saskatoon, but rather is open to a world of interesting and diverse people that find the use of technology in learning to be a fascinating and challenging world. These people have been paramount in the formation of my identity as a learner in a greater realm. This wasn't an easy transition. In the beginning we found ourselves to be taking classes in from people that spoke from great distance. We got to know each other as two dimensional moving pictures on screens with voices that would cut in and out and speed up on a catch up sequence that made us often sound like chipmunks on helium. We worked in strange spaces like discussion boards and shared documents, often collaborating asynchronously achieving common goals and sharing our thoughts and knowledge with people we had never met face to face. When I had the chance to meet many of my colleagues during a presentation in at the U of S and again at our ETAD Studio this past July I was taken by how three-dimensional everyone looked... a strange revelation indeed. But we were all bound together by a familiarity. As of last semester I've had new challenges presented to me that made it difficult to be positive about my place in education. But this community of ETAD helped me regain my passion and resolve and nudged me back onto the tracks. Dr. Schwier, Dr. Wilson and Dr. Morisson are all part of a fantastic team of caring and creative individuals that have grown a community that I am fortunate to be included in. EC&I 831 seems to be a natural extension of the ideals that make the program at the U of S so strong. I can see us quickly becoming something more that our parts and it feels it has only just begun.
I've lived in a few places in my life; Shellbrook, France, Montreal, Regina, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Shellbrook, Japan, Malaysia, Shellbrook, Nipawin, and Regina. Funny how some of those places repeat themselves. My home town as you may have guessed is Shellbrook. I've been a part of groups of people doing some amazing things in all of these places. If I wrote about all of those experiences here... we'd have one long read for you on our hands! I was at one high school for the past eight years here in Regina and now am at another, feeling like a new guy once again. There are new students, new colleagues and new duties. Each class has it's own social dynamic and for one hour each week day a group of about 30 people try to find their way with each other. In a large school like the one I'm presently at, not everyone in the room knows each other when they first arrive. Developing a positive dynamic in a classroom is a delicate task. I've had my ups and downs over the years trying to make things work. Most of my time is spent working with students these days. They come with a variety of ability and skill both academically and socially. I've begun to introduce them to using social media tools to express themselves and interact outside of the classroom. I'm excited to see what this project will become as I try to mirror a bit of what is happening in EC&I 831 with my own students. We are using Blogger and Twitter as well as other web-based applications to grow an environment of sharing and encouragement in our visual arts classes, my home room and our outdoor education club. I've spent a lot of time developing a positive relationship with students that I hope will translate into a positive and interactive experience for them online. My vision of success in this project would be to see students interacting with each other, sharing ideas and content without being prompted by the guidelines of an assignment.
Outside of my work at a public there is of course my little family comprised of my wife, my daughter and myself and two cats. There are also my friends, my volunteer association colleagues, my cultural community association people and the neighbours in the area I live in. I teach a sessional at the U of R and am in a master's degree. There is also the Twitter-verse, Google + communities and Facebook. These communities all blend together to form and influence me. I too play a role in supporting and influencing them. It's really incredible to think that one individual today is a part of many overlapping spheres of influence through not only their endeavours in real time but also through the connective electrical tissues of the internet. I hope to become a positive contributor to my online communities. I hope that I will have something interesting to share as I have learned so much from the sharing of others over the years. I'm hopeful too that my students will find a rewarding presence in their learning community both face to face and online.
If you made it this far I'd like to thank you for reading. If you have any advice or experiences to share on the topic of online learning communities, perhaps some success and challenges you've encountered I'd like to hear about them.
Thanks again for reading,
Jason Grayston
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Progress In Building a Learning Network
Things are progressing in my building of a student learning network here at Winston Knoll Collegiate. The past two days have been spent with my first group of grade 10 art students activating their Google Apps for Education accounts, familiarizing themselves with everything Google and creating their first blog.
The main goal here is to create a place where students can display work and reflect upon their experiences. Until now they have used a sketchbook to do this type of activity. I want to move students into a more collaborative space in their learning. Students will now have the ability to look at each other's blogs and post comments on their classmates work. This will be done after teaching students how to objectively critique artwork.
Students that have a mobile device (almost every one of my students has one) will be able to contribute to their blogs and make comments on the blogs of their classmates using their own technology. My goal is to have them do their first critique next week after they have set up their blogs, become familiar with posting and commenting. To begin with commenting on the blogs I'm going to have each student post three or more compliments on other student's work on their blogs. I think this type of atmosphere will help to encourage positive and objective critiquing in the future.
These individual blogs will be worked into true learning portfolios. The blog portion will be used for assignment submission and reflection. Other sections will include research, brainstorming and planning for projects.
All of the student blogs will be linked from a central blog. This central also has a course calendar, assignments, photos from the classroom and an integrated twitter feed that students can post to by using a specific hashtag. We tried using the twitter feature today and it was a lot of fun. Our philosophy will be developed collaboratively by all students and I intend to use a Google Doc to do this. An embedded Google doc will also allow us to compile blog addresses and links of interest.
It's exciting. Students seem to be motivated and interested in using their hand held devices in a new and interesting way. I will be providing links to the central blog when we have more content added in and the blog has been customized.... I'm thinking of having the class collaborate on that part too!
If you have any ideas or suggestions, feel free to let me know!
Posted by Jason Grayston at 2:47 PM 4 comments:
Thursday, September 19, 2013
A Learning Network
I've been working on a web-based learning network for my classes here at Winston-Knoll Collegiate.
Essentially, each class I teach has a dedicated blog. These are all cross-linked to a central hub called Mr. G @ WKC. Right now I'm working on student accounts in Google Apps for Education so that students can set up learning portfolios in my art classes and in my home room. I created a professional twitter account @mrjgrayston for a part of my school communication. This feed is embedded in a few of the blogs as well.
I have built the following blogs so far:
Visual Art 10
Art 9
Outdoor Ed
My Blog
ECI 831 Blog
I'm setting these up at the moment but will post links to them once I have all the formatting and permissions set up.
Students will begin setting up Learning Portfolios on Monday next week. The goal is to set up everything so that they can easily use their mobile devices to work on their portfolios and comment on their classmates blogs.
Today I had students download the Blogger App and the Google App on their devices.
Excitement is building!
Essentially, each class I teach has a dedicated blog. These are all cross-linked to a central hub called Mr. G @ WKC. Right now I'm working on student accounts in Google Apps for Education so that students can set up learning portfolios in my art classes and in my home room. I created a professional twitter account @mrjgrayston for a part of my school communication. This feed is embedded in a few of the blogs as well.
I have built the following blogs so far:
Visual Art 10
Art 9
Outdoor Ed
My Blog
ECI 831 Blog
I'm setting these up at the moment but will post links to them once I have all the formatting and permissions set up.
Students will begin setting up Learning Portfolios on Monday next week. The goal is to set up everything so that they can easily use their mobile devices to work on their portfolios and comment on their classmates blogs.
Today I had students download the Blogger App and the Google App on their devices.
Excitement is building!
Posted by Jason Grayston at 12:41 PM No comments:
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Student Electronic Portfolios & Learning Network
Next week we begin the great BYOD experiment... It starts with Google Apps for Ed. All of my students will have accounts. They will then create blogs as online portfolios. Student blogs will become a place for them to reflect and document their process in art making. Students will also be able to make comments on their peers blogs. Their blogs will also connect them with a central learning hub Created and curated by me. This learning network has many goals. The biggest goal is that we will all learn from each other. We will create a social media learning network that runs alongside our face-to-face classroom time. Right now I'm creating user accounts and developing the central blog. Students will create their blogs next week. I already have them documenting content from class with their phone's cameras. Fingers crossed!
Posted by Jason Grayston at 6:01 PM No comments:
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Life: Online... Flames vs Islanders
Posted by Jason Grayston at 5:56 PM No comments:
Friday, September 13, 2013
Underwater Photography
Today I had Shane Gross of www.grossphotographic.com come in to talk to my Visual Art 10 students. I dove with Shane last Christmas in the Bahamas and was excited to have him present to my classes. He has a great presentation that was tailored for my art students. He speaks of the underlying principles of his passion, of photography and of the preservation of our oceans. There were hints of biology and technology and amazing stories of sharks that captivated students. Originally from Regina, Shane now calls Harbour Island, Bahamas his home where he works as a dive instructor and part owner of Valentine's Dive Center. I'm going to try to arrange a Skype session with him for my students when he's back down at the dive center. Thanks Shane for a great talk. Hope to see you again under the great blue waves.
Posted by Jason Grayston at 10:53 AM No comments:
Labels: Guest Speakers
Thursday, September 12, 2013
A New Beginning
It seems fitting that a rebirth in how I promote the use of technology in the classroom should occur. After all, it's a new school year, I'm in a new school, I have to prep all new classes and I'm in a new masters class. The challenge? I used to have a lot of technology available to me in the classroom. Now I have one computer in the corner and limited access to shared technology resources. I wrote a research paper this summer on Bring Your Own Device/ Technology. My idea for this fall is to grow a culture of personal device use in the classroom, having students build electronic learning portfolios of their work and connecting them together into a learning community. This will be a community of students in two Visual Arts 10 classes. My goal is to fuel student interest in their subject area through their interactions with peers using social media to bring them all together. It's baby steps in the beginning as students become accustomed to a device welcoming environment. I'm happy to say that it's been an easy sell so far... after all... Open Education has to start with an open mind. I want to encourage students to stay connected in the classroom and to open new connections with others. Sharing ideas, resources and feedback within the learning community will hopefully lead to greater individual success within the class.
Posted by Jason Grayston at 7:27 AM No comments:
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Life Care Centers of America's Whatever It Takes And Then Some program honors associates who go beyond their job descriptions in caring for residents, their families and fellow associates. Here are three of the inspiring stories from our October 2015 winners:
JoAnn Heck, a licensed practical nurse at Life Care Center of Charleston, South Carolina, took extra time to educate a resident and his wife when the resident received doctor's orders to be on insulin just as he was preparing to go home. Heck then gave the couple her personal cell phone number so they could call her with questions. When they called for help the next day, Heck went to their home, went over the process fully again and gave them written instructions for each procedure in layman's terms. The wife said that Heck was truly an angel.
Niccole Bove, activity aide at Life Care Center of Post Falls, Idaho, had finished reading a portion of the Bible to a resident who is mostly non-communicative when she started talking to him. Though he didn't respond, she could tell he was listening. She then had an idea. "If you can hear me, raise your right hand." The resident raised his right hand. She then said, "If you liked what I read to you from the Bible, raise your left hand." He then raised his left hand. Bove proceeded to have a conversation with the resident, and she could tell he was enjoying the communication. She eagerly shared her discovery with the aides and nurses, and they were able to communicate better with him.
Dee Dee Deyo, therapy aide at Lakeside Health Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, comes in on her time off to cut and color a resident's hair who only wants her to do it. She sometimes brings patients to the therapy room and plays music for them while she cleans and then plays a game with them when she is finished. She took a patient to temple on her own time after hours because it was really important to him and he didn't have anyone to take him.


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|667 sq ft
|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|4 nights
This superb Parisian apartment, located in the beating heart of 8th district of Paris, is bound to make you appreciate the charm of the French capital. Its exceptional location makes the most beautiful monuments of Paris, the luxurious Champs Elysées, shops like Vuitton or Parisian shows like the Lido just a walk away and encourages the experience of the culture of the 'city of light'.
This 62 m² apartment is is located in a typical Parisian building with an elevator. It sleeps 4 guest sin beds and 2 additional on a good quality sofa bed. The apartment has wooden floors and is tastefully decorated with a modern touch.
The apartment has a small entrance which is full of light thanks to a windows opening on the courtyard. The fully equipped independent kitchen is located immediately after the entrance. On demand, the sliding decorative doors allow for the kitchen to be closed while not being used.
On the right after the kitchen, a small corridor leads to most rooms.
• The first door on the left leads to a first bedroom that offers 2 large windows (double glazed), 2 comfortable single beds a large closet and a desk.
• The second door on the left opens to the living room. The living room is very bright due to the large windows that fill it with natural light. Its marble chimney gives it a touch of charm and the large mirror on top of it gives a feeling of wide space. The living rooms offers a sitting corner with a comfortable sofa, a centre table, entertainment appliances and a dining space that can comfortably seat 6 people. The sofa is a nice & colored piece of furniture that can be converted into a comfortable double bed if needed.
• Opposite the living room, is the master bedroom. This room offers a comfortable double bed and has a large window. It has a closet and shelves. The windows has curtains and electric external shades. The windows opens on a small courtyard, very calm.
• Between the living room and the master bedroom, at the end of the corridor, is the bathroom. The bathroom is very modernly decorated. It offers a vanity area and a shower cabin with a shower with a jet massaging system.
• The toilet is located in a separate room in the apartment and has a sink.
The apartment is located 3 minutes walking distance away from the Franklin Roosevelt metro station, right on the Champs Elysées. Get up to the "Arc de Triomphe". or reach the place de la Concorde in a few minutes.
Note that the bathroom has been recently totaly renovated and all painting was redone.
If you are willing to visit Paris of the Champs Elysée, this apartment is a great opportunity, a great deal for money.
- The Champs Elysées, the most beautiful avenue in the world is just 200m away. It will delight you with its countless high end shopping boutiques.
- You are also very close to the fascinating historic monuments like the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde and the romantic gardens of the Tuileries.
- You can even enjoy a romantic walk down the banks of the river Seine.
We very much enjoyed our stay.
The apartment was ideal as far as location. For either walking to the sites or getting the metro which was just down the street.
It met all our needs.
We would definitely recommend to our friends this apartment for their future travels to Paris.
Thank you!!
I stayed in the apartment Colisee for a week with my husband and 4 daughters. We found the apartment clean and equipped with all the basics that we required. The kitchen and shower room were more modern than the rest of the apartment and they functioned well. The location is one block from the Champs Elysee and the Franklin Roosevelt Metro Station. It is an easy walk to the Eiffel tour, the Louvre, the Arc du Triomph and the Tuleries. We really appreciated the self check in ability so that we were not waiting after a long overnight flight to be checked into the apartment. Both check in and check out were straightforward. We would definitely recommend to our friends this apartment for their future travels to Paris.
The place looks nicer in pictures than real time, beds were not comfortable (I get Europeans have this thing for hard beds, but one thing is a hard bed and another a cheap bed frame)
It was hot and no fans, You can only open the back windows to sleep if you want some air due to street noise, and they had so many rules is hard to keep up with.
The noise rule was the worse, don't get me wrong we are not a rowdy, noisy American family. In about 11 years renting vacations properties 2+ time a year is the first time I had literally walk on my tip toes all the time I was there. They make so much emphasis to noise for a reason, the building is cheap as it can be and the unit's hardwood floor creak like crazy!!!! even in your tip toes. The toilet is so tiny is claustrophobic, no ventilation on it either and the worse part is that the cleaning lady made not effort to sanitize it. Smelled like pee when we got there, I reported it and didn't even get an apology on it, my email was ignored :(
The only thing this place has going for it is the location, if that is what you are looking for by any means go for it. I suggest the management to readjust their rental price on it or spend some money bettering the bed frames, buying some fans, extra nails on those floors and hiring a better cleaning lady......
The best thing about this apartment was the location only one block from Champs elysees and within walking distance of mini attractions the only criticisms I would have in it is it the furniture was a bit on this sparse side the kitchen had minimal utensils and dishes and the washer dryer did not have a dry cycle in a very poor spin cycle but it was a very comfortable stay
We enjoyed our stay very much: perfect location for going anywhere in the city. Apartment was clean, spacy and everything was as described and worked well. We also appreciated quick answers to all questions before our stay and that the deposit was released accordingly.
I will definitely recommend to my friends!
The Colisee apartment was exactly as described and fit our needs perfectly. We were four adult women (mom, sister, mom's friend and I). The sleeping arrangement as perfect as my sister and I shared the very comfortable single beds; mom slept on the comfortable sofa sleeper and her friend had the room with the double bed. I appreciated that even the living room had a door so mom technically had a room to herself as well. This was a great and welcome surprise.
Quick response from beginning to end
Excellent location and easy to navigate the city on the metro and buses. 5 min walk to Champs Elysee
Very nice boulangerie (pastry shop) right across the street. we had our croissants each morning to start the day
Easy and convenient check in/check out process (follow the directions provided)
Elevator. Not always available in many countries (see the 'Be Aware of" notes below)
Washing Machine in apt (didn't have to return home with dirty clothes. See "Be aware" notes)
Flat was clean and there was plenty of storage
Loved the efficiency kitchen. Well equipped
Monoprix (grocery market) very close. One block away
The many restaurants in the neighborhood (we particularly loved the asian restaurants. very fresh and very inexpensive. also, EATs. Great sandwiches)
Be Aware
Elevator is small. Max weight is 225kg (basically 1.5 adults). We are not large women but had to go up and down in shifts if you don't walk up/down the stairs.
Washing Machine. Wash cycle is much longer than American washers. approximately 60 minutes (but clothes are darn near dry)
The apartment is in a bldg. next to a lounge/bar and near other late night bars it was super noisy with the windows open. I wore ear plugs each night and was fine but if with infants this may be a concern
Toilet room (bathroom room was very nice). It is a bit tight. not much room to maneuver in there. very small
Towels. Limited. You get one bath towel and a hand towel per guest. If you need a wash cloth, bring it with you.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this apartment to others. The proximity to many major Paris sites as well as the proximity to the Metro and Buses was great.
|Cleaning Fee
- We may accept 3 days stays : simply send us a mail for 4 days and add actual dates in the comment.
-Additionally, we would like to mention:
• Electricity, heating is included (not included only in case of monthly rental).
• Internet is included
• Phone is free to many destinations (US, Canada landlines & cells please ask for details)
• Full end of stay cleaning is mandatory and is included (includes Linen&Towels)
• Paris City tax of 0,83€/day/guest charged on behalf of Paris City is included
- Tax/Handling charges will depend on payment way
- Rates may change at any time. Rates vary depending on season, nbr of guests if applicable, occupation & owner.
- The quote is for 2 guests : a 25€/day/extra guest fee will be required for additionnal guests. It is capped to a max of 250 €/stay. Unfortunlately, the site system does not enable capping the extra guest fee.
- Damage protection will be requested with 2nd and last payment
- Note that this site automatic estimated quote system calculates rents in a basic way : it may result in higher quote for 6 days than for 7 days or other discrepancies. Therefore, we may resend a detailed quote with description, & process via mail.


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Student Center: 211 East College St. Mailing Address: 214 Wettermark St. Nacogdoches, TX 75965
Phone: 936.564.7807
"I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I don't know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, How many good things have you done in your life? Rather he will ask, How much LOVE did you put into what you did?" (Blessed Mother Theresa)
In keeping with the Catholic understanding of human dignity, we firmly believe we are called to put our love for neighbor into action.The Catholic tradition recognizes two distinct, but complementary, ways we can respond to this Gospel call: social justice (addressing systemic, root causes of problems that affect many people) and charitable works (short-term, emergency assistance for individuals). Stay connected to learn about opportunities for both!


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Don't smother your hair with silicone serums! Love it into submission with Straight Up™! Nearly identical to your skin's natural oils, Olive Oil Squalane conditions while it controls, eliminating frizz and adding shine without weighing hair down. Just a tiny amount delivers straight up shine, control, and hair-tossing 'swang'!
A highly concentrated, water-free glossing pomade for straight styles.
This one is really about style rather than hair type. It doesn't matter if you have kinky or bone straight hair - if you're styling it straight then this product will help keep it that way.
Olive Oil Squalane, an extremely lightweight plant-derived oil, and Candelilla Wax deliver a one-two punch that eliminates fly aways and keeps every hair in place. Click for a full list of ingredients.
A mature, subtle version of cinammon buns or cookies. Sweet and a little spicy.
As a finishing treatment after blow drying or flat ironing, emulsify a small amount of product between palms and smooth over the outer mantle of hair from crown to tips. For all-over smoothing on straight, wavy or moderately curly hair, work through wet hair prior to styling; Use more for longer hair and less for short hair.
If you have hair that is 'oil sensitive' and easily weighed down, this product was made for you. A little goes a very long way - apply sparingly and focus on the outer mantle and ends of hair.
A little Straight Up™ goes a looong way! You may need more if you have thick hair, but you still don't need much to get a glossy, smooth finish and strong frizz control.
Squalane Oil - Olive, Caprylic-Capric TG (Fractionated Coconut Oil and/or Palm Kernel Oil), Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Euphorbia cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Ricinus communis (Castor) Oil Triglyceride, Specially Denatured Alcohol (SDA) 40B (and) Hexylene glycol, Tocopherol*** (Vitamin E), Citric Acid***, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Essential Oils of Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla), Styrax Benzoin (Benzoin), Santalum album (Sandalwood), Cedrus atlantica (Cedarwood), Coriandrum sativum L. (Coriander), & Elettaria cardamomum (Cardamom).


text: President Clinton Tuesday marked the 92nd anniversary of the Grand Canyon's designation as a national monument by safeguarding other picturesque open spaces. Clinton acted on recommendations from Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt to name as national monuments a jagged 1,500-square-mile desert area dotted with junipers known as the Grand Canyon-Parashant; Agua Fria, 71,000 acres encompassing two mesas filled with Indian ruins, petroglyphs and other prehistoric treasures north of Phoenix; and hundreds of rocks and small islands along the California coast. The Pinnacles National Monument, located south of San Jose, Calif., which was named a national monument by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, was expanded under the order Clinton signed Tuesday. Roosevelt also declared Grand Canyon a monument in 1908. It later became a national park.


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A break in the Belgian Ardennes at reduced rates for all Youth Organisations!
Les Auberges de Jeunesse
Are you a recognised Youth Organisation in Belgium or abroad?
Are you looking for a break in the Belgian Ardennes for at least 4 consecutive nights in July and August?
Are you a group of 15 persons minimum?
Then take advantage of our super promotion of €30 per night per person full board in our Youth Hostels in Bouillon, Champlon and Malmedy!
Feel free to contact the Youth Hostel of your choice for further information..
If you are coming from abroad, check out this website to find out whether you are a recognised Youth Organisation.
Coming soon - a unique summer break!


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Even people who don't want or need to use a medical weight loss plan can benefit from these supplements.
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 01, 2014
Fast Medical Weight Loss clinic now offers supplements that can detoxify the body while also adding nutrients that the body may be missing. Since the winter months are especially hard on the body, one of the main supplements now being offered is Super Vitamin D. A lack of the normal exposure to sun which causes the body to produce vitamin D can cause a deficiency that can result in mood changes, as well as problems with the nervous system. These supplements help support breast, colon, and bone health while also enhancing the mood through overall health benefits.
Now is a great time to detoxify the body with Greens7.2, packed with green superfoods, vegetables, and cereal grasses. Psyllium husks are a great source of dietary fiber that can eliminate constipation and other digestive problems.
The lack of fresh fruit and vegetables over the winter as well as a lack of exercise and exposure to sunlight can result in a feeling of sluggishness as well as weight gain. The Fast Medical Weight Loss Clinic now offers these supplements as part of a medical weight loss plan to give the body a much needed boost any time of the year, but this is a great way to start the spring season off with enhanced energy and performance.
These supplements, combined with an individualized medical weight loss plan can create immediate weight loss. More than that, they can enhance overall health as energy is gained and the individualized diet begins to take effect. Fast Medical Weight Loss already has a proven track record of success. The new line of supplements simply adds more options and benefits to the overall program. Even people who don't want or need to use a medical weight loss plan can benefit from these supplements.
About Fast Medical weight Loss
Fast Medical Weight Loss, founded in 2006, takes a medical approach to weight loss. After realizing that most people give up on their diet plan because they don't see results fast enough, the team at Fast Medical Weight Loss came up with a program that makes sure results are seen daily. Through use of physicians, nutritional counselors, and medical assistants, each medical weight loss program is designed around the needs of the individual. Visit the Fast Medical Weight Loss website at http://fastweightlosstexas.com/.


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Recently, the Zika virus has gained national attention.
The Zika virus has become known for the potential risk of birth defects, particularly microcephaly, which is characterized by an abnormally small head.
The Zika Virus
Zika virus is a disease transmitted via mosquito bite. The primary source of transmission is the Aedes species of mosquito. Although this virus has been a healthcare concern since the 1940s, it came into the limelight recently after it began to spread in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. There are reports of cases in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and, travel-related cases brought into the country.
Symptoms of Zika Virus
Zika virus does not cause immediate symptoms and some people may never experience any symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some of the common symptoms of Zika virus infection are:
- red eyes (conjunctivitis)
- rash
- fever
- joint pain
Transmission of Zika Virus
Zika virus can be transmitted in various ways, in addition to mosquito bites. Transmission of the Zika vira can occur via:
- sexual contact
- blood transfusion
- mother to child
Risks of Zika Virus
Zika virus may cause mild to moderate symptoms. In most cases, the patient does not require hospitalization and very few patients die due to Zika virus. However, the risks of zika virus are particularly high among pregnant women. The most serious risks are:
Microcephaly: According to a recent research, there is a clear link between Zika virus and microcephaly. A large number of babies have been born with this condition living in the affected areas. It is a birth defect that results in a very small head, because of the brain not developing properly. Babies born with this defect may experience:
- development and intellectual delays
- seizures
- difficulty with feeding, movement, or balance
- vision problems
- hearing loss
Brain damage: Exposure to Zika virus before birth can also cause other birth defects in infants such as eye defects, impaired growth, and hearing loss.
The CDC has offered preventive tips that can help pregnant women avoid bring infected with Zika.
- Avoid traveling to areas affected by Zika virus.
- Prevent exposure to mosquitoes.
- Practice safe sex.
- If you have traveled to an affected area during pregnancy, consult your doctor immediately.
Chicago Birth Injury Lawyer
If your child was born with birth injuries resulting from medical negligence, discuss your case with a Chicago birth injury lawyer. Call Willens Law Offices at (312) 957-4166 for a free consultation.