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In her book, The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron recommends that people who want to get unstuck from creative blocks, do "morning pages." Morning pages are 3 handwritten pages of stream of consciousness writing. They're not supposed to be inspired or creative. They are not meant to be read by anyone else. They are just a place to dump out the contents of our minds so we can see what's there.
I've done morning pages or something like them, for decades. I haven't always done them daily, but I do them frequently. I've used them to stay grounded and clear. They are the primary way that I make time to listen to myself. Doing morning pages is like having a long conversation with a good friend, except they're available anywhere and at any time.
In the past year, I've fallen into what I think is a common trap in LOA circles. By trying to feel more positive, I denied or didn't pay attention to how I was actually feeling.
As soon as I noticed something bothering me, I would run to youtube to try to find an Abraham video that would help me feel better. Or I would immediately try to find better feeling thoughts. There's nothing wrong with either of those methods for feeling better. I just missed the crucial first step of identifying how I was actually feeling. In an effort to not dwell on negative feelings, I avoided looking at my feelings at all.
This led me to an emotional crisis. Various stresses had come up in my life and my efforts to find better feeling thoughts, just weren't helping. I was getting depressed and edgy. I was crying often and randomly. I was having some self-destructive thoughts.
Depression and self-destructive thoughts aren't new to me. I spent years in daily battles, trying to overcome them. Now, I go years without feeling any depression or self-destructive urges at all. It shocks me when I do have feelings like that, because it is so rare.
Luckily, my past experience has given me plenty of tools to get out of depression. During my recent crisis, I picked up those tools again. I rested. I meditated. I did everything I could to take pressure off of myself. And I wrote.
The turning point out of this depression, was the long afternoon I spent writing "morning" pages and sitting beside a river. I wrote quickly, without censoring myself. I filled at least a dozen pages with my thoughts and feelings. At the end of it, I felt a new calm and had a better understanding of why I had been feeling so bad.
It took a few more days for me to nurture myself back to equilibrium. Once I was clearer about the thoughts and feelings that led to this crisis, I was able to use some of the LOA techniques I've learned to improve those thoughts and feelings.
So, I'm back to writing morning pages almost every day. It's nice to have this old friend back. I'm feeling better. Life is good.


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It's all about floors
Lecol supplies products for installing, finishing and maintaining solid wood floors, parquet, carpet and resilient. There is a unique and complete system available for all floor types. Like the members of a relay team our products have a complementary and strengthening effect on each other. Combined with our advice, this guarantees a perfectly finished floor. Our product offering can be devided into 2 groups:
Solid wood & parquet floors
Here you can find the complete Lecol product range for installing and finishing Solid Wood & Parquet Floors. Our extensive research and development has resulted in a range of products that meet the daily demands of the most critical floor fitters. By using our products on a regular basis, professional flooring installers have become used to the positive experiences that Lecol products deliver. These products rate highly in regard to open time, strength and ease of application.Product range Solid Wood & Parquet Floors
Carpet & resilient floors
In addition to the Solid wood and Parquet floor products, Lecol is also able to provide quality products that are suitable for the installation of Carpet & Resilient Floors (LVT), under the Wakol brand. Projects such as schools, hospitals, nurseries, canteens are not uncommon. Below you will find the total package of Wakol products which are widely used in the resilient sector. Product range Carpet & Resilient Floors
In the development, support, and application of our high quality products we concentrate on the wishes and requirements of our customers. We also take into account trends and special market developments. Scientific research and long term practical tests form an integral part of the product development process. Through this Lecol always provides an up-to-date range of products. A generation that meets the highest actual standards.
In 40 years Lecol has gathered much experience and our market approach has been very successful. Market leadership in the Netherlands for several years is a confirmation of this. Lecol has expanded its activities abroad several years ago but the headquarters remain in Waalwijk, the Netherlands.
- Opening hours April and May 2018
In April and May some public holidays in The Netherlands (Easter, King's Day, Ascension Day and Pentecost) are coming up. In connection with the upcoming holidays, our opening hours have changed. We would like to draw your attention to it!
- Lecol appears on the UK road network
Lecol UK (supplier of flooring installation, finishing and maintenance products) has become more noticeable recently. The newly branded delivery trucks have begun to appear on the UK road network.
- How To Fit a Parquet Floor by Woodfloor-Renovations
Two good examples of how to install a parquet floor using the correct Wakol and Loba products. A completely connected system! See how Woodfloor-Renovations made it happen.

subset: commoncrawl


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Prosecutors have refused to drop the death penalty in the case of the Glendale Heights father accused of burning his sons to death.
Kaushik Patel, 34, had offered to plead guilty in exchange for a prison term, his attorney said.
He now will go on trial April 21.
Patel is charged with dousing his sons, Vishv, 7, and Om, 4, with gasoline in the bathroom of their home on Nov. 18, 2007, leaving them with severe burns that led to their death several months later.
DuPage County Public Defender Robert Miller told Judge Kathryn Creswell in August that Patel was willing to accept a life sentence in exchange for avoiding the death penalty.


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Saavedra stall triggers wreck at start of Indy GP
Saavedra stall triggers wreck at start of Indy GP
May. 10, 2014
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis got off to an inauspicious start Saturday when pole-sitter Sebastian Saavedra stalled, triggering a violent wreck.
IndyCar used a standing start for the series' first race on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But Saavedra's car simply didn't go when the lights went out and, after Ryan Hunter-Reay frantically darted around him, Saavedra was clipped by Carlos Munoz and then hit hard from behind by Mikhail Aleshin.
"We just followed protocol at the start," Saavedra said. "As soon as I released the clutch, it went from 11,000 rpm to zero. This should not have happened, unfortunately."
The initial hit from Munoz didn't seem too bad, but Aleshin's direct hit sprayed debris all over the track, sending spectators and track workers standing along the wall scrambling for cover. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, the honorary race starter, was waving the green flag when he was struck near his left elbow and on the left side of his chest by debris, spokesman Marc Lotter said.
Ballard was treated at the scene but did not require stitches and after treatment he left the track to watch the rest of the race from home, Lotter said.
Saavedra was seen in his cockpit with his arms in the air anticipating a potential collision as cars tried to weave their way around his stalled KV Racing car. He was visibly upset after the accident as he talked to his team on his pit stand. He had won the first pole of his career — in part because Hunter-Reay had his two fastest laps disallowed for causing a caution in Friday's qualifying — and was looking for a strong finish at the famed race track.
"Man, we had an opportunity to be at the front of the pack in this amazing place. We wanted to bring it home in the same place," he said. "To not even get a chance because of a freaking electrical thing ... . "
Munoz said he could not avoid clipping his fellow Colombian.
"I was already in fifth gear," Munoz said. "I was really close to the car in front of me, I just saw him go to the right. I just had to go to the left, but I was not fast enough."


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Although many Charlotte Real Estate Agents are already familiar with Shea Homes, I think many of them were pleasantly surprised by the level of detail and elegance that we've focused in on at Atherton.
Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) October 17, 2015
On September 29, 2015 Shea Homes of Charlotte hosted a luxury community grand opening of their newest neighborhood, Atherton, in Weddington for local real estate agents. Over 100 real estate agents attended the event.
Guests mingled to live jazz music by Union Symphony while dining on the complementary full course catered lunch, and taking fun photos in a photo booth. Two model homes, one of which exhibited a cooking demonstration by Electrolux, were open to tour. Attendees were encouraged to take photos during the event and post them to social media using the hashtag #SheaHomesFightsCancer. For each person that posted using the hashtag, Shea Homes donated five dollars to Levine Children's Hospital. Posts using the hashtag included pictures of the band, selfies among friends, and comments on the design features offered in the homes at Atherton. Shea Homes proudly donated $1,000.
Michele Scott, VP of Sales & Marketing for Shea Homes Carolinas commented, "Although many Charlotte Real Estate Agents are already familiar with Shea Homes, I think many of them were pleasantly surprised by the level of detail and elegance that we've focused in on at Atherton. We're offering a whole new level of design options and personalization, including professional appliances, flooring, and outdoor living options such as large sliding doors so you can create one large entertaining space, indoors and out."
Atherton offers new home construction in Weddington, just outside of Charlotte. These upscale homes are in a quiet neighborhood minutes from dining and shopping. Atherton has 131 homesites and boasts between four and over six thousand square foot homes, positioned on homesites around 1 acre in size. The Grayson model's sleek French gray cabinets, waterfall leather granite island, and tile stair risers were among some of the conversation pieces of the day. Thousands of comparable options are available in Shea Home's 4,000 square foot design studio.
Atherton's homes include four-sides brick exteriors with earth tone color schemes to complement the landscape, 3 to 5 car garages, and luxurious master suites with spa-like baths. Homes range from the high $600's to $900's. For more information on Atherton and other Shea Homes communities, please visit http://www.sheahomes.com.
About Shea Homes
Shea Homes Charlotte is a division of Shea Homes Limited Partnership, an independent member of the Shea family of companies; Shea Homes is the oldest family‐owned homebuilder in the United States. Shea Homes builds new homes in California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Washington, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Florida. With choices to suit homeowners in every stage of life, Shea Homes offers new homes ranging from affordably priced traditional single-family homes to magnificent luxury residences. Shea Homes has been recognized as a leader in customer satisfaction with a reputation for design, quality and service. For more information about Shea Homes and its communities, visit SheaHomes.com.


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Welcome to Tourist parks Accommodation , we offer superb holiday accommodation with our professional team, locate your provider today from our extensive range of listings below.
'BIG4 Toowoomba Garden City Holiday Park' is your first choice for centrally located four star accommodation. Toowoomba and the Golden West await your visit. Whatever your taste, whatever the time, this region of south east Queensland has something special to offer both the daytripper and the holiday maker.
An easy hour drive south of Toowoomba, and you are in Steele Rudd Country. Throughout the shires of Cambooya, Pittsworth and Millmerran explore the pioneer history and writings of Arthur Hoey Davis. North into the Eastern Downs you can explore galleries, cafes, nurseries, parks, gardens and museums. Drive the designated Tourist Drives through Crows Nest, Rosalie, Jondaryan, Dalby and the Garden City Holiday ParkBunya Mountains. West of Toowoomba your experiences will be wide and varied, from nature based activities like bushwalking and birdwatching to warm, hearty country cuisine and hospitality.
At BIG4 Toowoomba Garden City Holiday Park, you'll find everything that you would expect of a four star BIG4 Caravan Park and more! We are big enough to provide a complete range of accommodation options and small enough to give every visitor a high degree of personal attention. We're the 'Park with Pride' in beautiful Toowoomba.
Centrally located on the southern banks of the Burnett River and within walking distance to restaurants, theatre and public transport to the city centre. Featuring powered sites, air conditioned and ensuited cabins, on-site tents, tent sites and backpacker accommodation. Guest facilities include: guest laundry, swimming pool, BBQ and entertaining area, camp kitchen, STD phone, sorry no pets.
Horseshoe Bay is where the "bush meets the bay' and ideal for bushwalkers to take in the fantastic views of the Coral Sea. Excellent snorkelling is only 30 metres off the beach. A choice of accommodation types including fully self contained balcony units, studio style and family units, cabin vans, powered vans and camp sites. All guests can enjoy our large swimming pool, hot spa, sauna, licensed restaurant, cafe/coffee shop, guest laundry, BBQ facilities, children's wading pool.
Biloela Caravan Park is located in this small rural district 127 km from Gladstone. Good value for money. Site to suit permanent or tourists. Sites close to amenities. Adequate lighting at night. Annexe slabs available, drive-through sites available. Laundry, rec room, late checkout allowed (up to noon), good camp kitchen, kiosk. Quiet, shady, family-friendly park. Clean UC gas bbq (free). Suitable for families.
Peninsula Caravan Park is surrounded by natural bushland yet just minutes from the centre of town... Facilities include; clean amenities block, laundry, barbecue area, public telephone, children's playground, cabins, overnight vans, bunkhouses and air conditioned, self contained units with fans and microwaves.
The Glasshouse Mountains Holiday Village is a 3.5 star rated holiday accommodation retreat nestled amongst the picturesque Glasshouse Mountains near Beerwah, close to Australia Zoo and the spectacular backdrop of the Sunshine Coast. Come and watch the sun set behind the mountains as you relax and soak up the atmosphere outside your holiday unit accommodation, onsite caravan or camp site.
Welcome to Golden Beach Holiday Park on the Sunshine Coast! The park offers you a perfect opportunity to rest and relax, and is only a short drive to all Sunshine Coast attractions. We are only 50 metres to a safe beach and 3 kms from Caloundra. Caloundra is within an hour's drive of Brisbane. It's a great place to bring the family. We allow small well controlled dogs onto powered sites.
Dunk Island View Caravan Park is located only 50 metres away from the beautiful white sands of Mission Beach. Nestled amongst tropical palms and lush rainforest gardens, boasting delightful views to Dunk Island and only a 50 minute boat ride to the Great Barrier Reef. The park is central to shops; restaurants; cafes and Bars. A fully equipped kitchen, which includes a fridge, freezer, stove and oven and a TV is available for use of campers.
There are eight fully self contained units (6 one bedroom units and 2 two bedroom units) with en suite bathrooms and air conditioning, with linen provided.
Features: Pool, BBQ, a general amenities block with washers, dryers, iron and ironing board and outdoor clothes lines. This is a pet friendly park and so they may stay on application. Note however that pets are not permitted in the holiday unit accommodation.
Family owned and operated country style park adjoining the Barron River only a 1 Hour drive from Cairns International Airport or 11km from Mareeba town centre. Powered and unpowered sites, self contained units & cabins available Facilities include salt water swimming pool, camp kitchen with fridge and freezer, free barbecue, clean amenities and guest laundry with hot water, washing machines & dryers.
BIG4 Cairns Crystal Cascades Holiday Park is the perfect place to stay. We have a great selection of cabin accommodation, caravan and camping sites. From self contained luxury resort style accommodation to grass campsites, we at BIG4 Cairns Crystal Cascades Holiday Park have a vast range of options to choose from.
With the BIG4 seal of quality, you can rest assured your expectations will be met. Not convinced? Take look at some of our reviews. With our spectacular mountainous rainforest backdrop and breathtaking scenery, you are sure to be in a relaxed and peaceful setting. For information on upcoming specials and events, be sure to check out the specials page.
Accommodation options at Cooktown Holiday Park include large areas for tour groups, powered sites, 1 & 2 bedroom cabins, standard & family units. Boasting a large pebblecrete pool with a grassed area ideal for lounging around, camp kitchen, modern amenities, guest laundry, shop and internet access Your hosts Tammy & Dave Martland
31-41 Charlotte Street, Cooktown, 4895
Cooktown, Queensland
Latitude: 15° 28' 34" S (-15.476167)
Longitude: 145° 14' 45" E (145.245869)
Perfectly situated within walking distance to everything you might need for your next camping holiday. Featuring standard and deluxe cabins with ensuites, powered and unpowered camp sites, swimming pool, TV room, BBQ area, guest laundry, children's playground, public phone, LPG. Set in lovely award-winning gardens and just a short walk to cinema, shops and restaurants. Tour information and bookings to the Great Barrier Reef.
Situated only 5 kms from the city centre and set on 10 beautiful acres, Glenlodge Caravan Village features the perfect base for you to explore the East Coast of Queensland. Featuring deluxe and standard ensuite cabins, unpowered and powered camping and van sites. Guest facilities include: swimming pool, BBQ area, guest laundry, public phone, LPG gas.
Renowned for its peaceful and quiet location, Oakwood Caravan Park is only 5 minutes north of Bundaberg and only 2 minutes from the local golf course. Featuring 1 and 2 bedroom air conditioned on-suite cabins (1-6 berth), on-site vans, shady caravan and camping sites. Guest facilities include: BBQ, guest laundry, well stocked kiosk, swimming pool, STD phone, EFTPOS, linen hire.
Surrounded by natural beauty, Esk is an idyllic destination for short or long term stays in the area. Visitors can take time to explore many of the natural & man made wonders our region has to offer. From Deluxe Balcony Cabins to Spacious Sites, Manicured Campgrounds or Budget Cabins we aim to cater for all tastes and budgets. Relax in our park like setting and enjoy our local bird and wild life or take a short stroll to the main street where you will find many interesting places to eat and shop.
Located on 8 acres in a rural setting bordering the Caboolture River, close to Highway One, just 30 mins north of Brisbane and 15 minutes from Australia Zoo the Caboolture River Caravan Park offers excellent value for those seeking budget business or short term accommodation in Cabins, Villas, powered Caravan Sites or camping facilities. Our quiet Village complex has sealed roads, and ample space for most sizes of vehicles, RVs and towed vans or small trailer boats. There are on-site managers, large swimming pool, boat ramp and Camp Kitchen equipped with BBQ.
Tin Can Bay Tourist Park is set in a quiet, peaceful location with spacious sites, self contained ensuited and airconditioned cabins, powered and ensuited sites. Park facilities include inground tropical pool with beach entry, modern amenities block with wheelchair facilities, guest laundry and kiosk.
This Caravan Park Innisfail is centrally located in a marvelous sight seeing area, while staying at August Moon Caravan Park take the time to explore some of the Innisfail's beautiful attractions - all within easy traveling distance.
Our peaceful friendly park is set in 10 acres of Tropical Oasis just 4 min south of Innisfail 'The Gateway to the Atherton Tablelands," the ideal base for exploring the Atherton Tablelands, Cairns or Mission Beach.
Our new park cabin section has a selection of accommodation from standard, deluxe and up to superior deluxe ensuite cabins for you to choose from. August Moon Caravan Park also has non ensuite deluxe cabins at a budget price.
Noosa River Holiday Park is the only park on the coast to offer double concrete slabs on all of their 92 powered sites - one for the van and the other for the annex. Each site also has plenty of room for a car and a boat and easy access to the beautiful Noosa River.
There are also 43 unpowered tent sites all with prime waterfront positions overlooking the Noosa River. If being close to the water is what you are looking for then this is the ideal park for you.
Atherton Hallorans Leisure Park is set on 6 1/2 acres near Hallorans Hill Lookout on the scenic Atherton Tablelands, just 98km SW of Cairns. Atherton is made up of rich volcanic soil with many natural attractions close by, such as the Crater Lakes, Curtain Fig Tree, Milla Milla Falls and more. Atherton Hallorans Leisure Park overlooks the township of Atherton just a short distance from the Post Office and the business centre. A quiet and relaxing park with all the usual facilities including a new saltwater pool and new fully self contained park villas with reverse cycle air conditioning with large patios giving you beautiful views of the Tableland sunsets.
Relax, unwind, renew at CairnsVilla & Leisure Park where you will find serenity in the city.
Set amongst 11 acres of stunning tropical gardens, experience happy friendly service in a relaxed setting.
Relax and recharge or take advantage of easy access to local shops, clubs, and activities as well as handy to public transport for city shopping & restaurants. Perhaps plan your trip to one of the many tourist attractions or a day trip to The Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas or Cairns tablelands.
Select from a range of accommodation options including air-conditioned holiday villas & cabins complete with everything for a great stay.
Relax around the pool while the kids unwind at the playground. If you are travelling with a caravan or motor home we have lovely shady sites close to clean amenities which include a laundry.
We look forward to having the pleasure of making your visit to Cairns more enjoyable.
Island View Caravan Park offers 5 acres of shady beachfront park overlooking Great Keppel Island . A large variety of accommodation is available from 2 bedroom fully self contained chalets, cottages, villas or units through to cabins, caravan, motorhome & tent sites. Facilities include salt water pool, playground, recreation room, table tennis, basketball court, picnic area, camp kitchen, barbecues, kiosk, pets on application, UHF television reception, clean modern amenitiesand guest laundry.
The Cooroy Motel has been fully renovated and refurbished. The motel accommodation has been given a three and a half star rating, offering exceptional service, well appointed rooms and value for money. It is the perfect destination for a relaxing break for the travelling business person, tourist or holiday maker.
Room Facilities Include;
Right on the waterfront, Jacobs Well Tourist Park offers a tranquil base from which to enjoy all that southern Moreton Bay has to offer.
For boaties, there's a myriad of islands to explore and the fishing's great all year round. Or simply enjoy the peace and quiet of this park, with its abundance of native wildlife, including colourful lorikeets that visit each day to be fed.
For a change of pace, the Gold Coast is just a half hour's drive away, and all the fun and excitement of Dreamworld, Movie World and Wet n Wild is just 15 minutes away.
The range of accommodation options includes 5 waterview villas in beautiful natural surroundings.
At Jacobs Well Tourist Park you can choose from powered and unpowered sites, as well as villas.
Coolum Beach Holiday Park caters for all camping options from two-man tents to 5th-wheelers. There are 133 powered caravan sites each with a concrete slab for your annex. There are also 30 powered tent sites perched on top of the dunes with uninterrupted views out to the ocean and direct access to the beach. This offers the perfect camping experience.
There are 71 unpowered tent sites also with easy access to the beach.
This park has large sites and is able to cater for RVs, buses and 5th-wheelers – just contact the park to discuss your needs.
AWARD WINNING CARAVAN PARK OF QUEENSLAND Situated close to the surf beach, shops, hotels and feature fully self contained villas, clean, modern amenities with babies bathroom, disabled facilities, camp kitchen, covered BBQ area, large swimming pool, laundromat, mini golf, half court tennis, recreation room.
Award-winning Brisbane Holiday Village is the ideal choice for your next stay when visiting Brisbane. Whether it is for business, holiday or relocating, our extensive quality cabins cater to all budgets. They offer spacious, self-contained accommodation with resort style facilities. Our landscaped gardens make it the perfect location to park a caravan or pitch a tent. Our specialist co-ordinators can also assist with group accommodation and meal packages to suit your requirements.
The Village is 15 minute drive south of Brisbane City and is close to Brisbane attractions, sporting venues, shopping, hospitals and restaurants. There is easy access to both the Gateway Motorway and Pacific Highway with public transport facilities at the Village's entrance. Brisbane Holiday Village is a popular destination for those visiting Brisbane sporting or cultural events, to see family and friends, attending medical treatment or business trips.
Twin Lakes offers motel rooms, 1 and 2 bedroom holiday units, caravan sites & powered sites. Park facilities include Dining Room/Bistro/Restaurant, Swimming Pool, Guest Laundry and Public Phone. Pets by arrangement.
The Gold Coast Holiday Park is directly located only a 2 minute drive to the main theme parks and offers the luxury of over 32 acres of nature, space and freedom-making our Gold Coast Holiday Park the family holiday find of a life time.
Choose from Luxury Villas, Family Bungalows, Cozy Cabins, motel studios, power or unpowered RV sites, back- to- nature caravan and camping sites and sites for big rigs with a licensed poolside café with open fire and plenty of relaxed seating.
The large modern park is pet friendly and offers an exciting array of facilities and activities and is conveniently located 15 minutes from the heart of Surfers Paradise and 45 minutes from Brisbane City.
Situated in picturesque Charters Towers North Queensland, the Aussie Outback Oasis is your ideal holiday destination for time away. The property offers different types of accommodation ranging from cabins to powered and un-powered sites. The cabins feature ceiling fans, doonas, reverse cycle air-conditioning, cooking facilities, tea and coffee making facilities, clock radio, microwave, toaster and television.
Featuring standard and deluxe cabins with air conditioning, ensuite, camping sites, perfectly situated for you to explore the South Burnett Region of Queensland.
Beachcomber Coconut Caravan Village is in "PARADISE", located at the beachfront and surrounded by lush rainforest looking directly at Dunk Island and the Family Islands, 2 hrs south of Cairns at South Mission Beach.
Beachcomber is a newly renovated boutique style park offering a diverse range of quality accommodation including:
The village features a new award winning resort pool with Slide, Mushroom, waterfall and Balinese Huts. We have a modern colourful playground area, Half Tennis Court, Recreation Area, Campers Kitchen and even a BYO Restaurant & Kiosk area.
Rollingstone Beach Caravan Resort - Absolute beach frontage overlooking Palm and Havana Islands. Our large resort pool allows guests to swim year round and the Park has 3 lakes set amongst the sites, full of our beautiful Barramundis. We also have modern amenities, a great camp kitchen for our guests, a kiosk and a basketball court the kids.
We have a variety of accommodation including 2 & 3 bedroom luxury Beachfront villas & 2 bedroom ocean view cabins, Beachfront Ensuite Van Sites, Beachfront Powered Sites, Motorhome Sites, Ensuite Sites, Powered Sites and Unpowered Sites.
King Reef Resort on the beachfront at Kurrimine Beach offers all types of holiday accommodation, Cabins, Motel, Caravan and Camping.
King Reef recently won QHA Mid Range Accommodation 2011 for Queensland Situated only a short drive from cairns and only fifteen minutes from mission beach, King Reef Resort at Kurrimine Beach is one of far north queenslands best kept secrets.
Being the only place in the world where the Great Barrier Reef kisses the mainland and with King and other top reefs so close to the shoreline, King Reef Resort at Kurrimine Beach is a 'fishermans utopia'. There is never a lack of other things to do at 'King Reef Resort' with plenty of Rainforest walks right at the doorstep and day trips to the Atherton Tableland, a must visit is beautiful Paronella Park, with the Sugar Mill and Tully Hydro Scheme tours a consideration.
With the hotel complex inside the resort grounds and overlooking the beach, King Reef Resort offers the holidaymaker much more than just a large and diverse range of accommodation - with Pokies, Dining, Entertainment, Fishing and other competitions all features of our 'Beach Pub'.
Our award winning Bowen Village Caravan & Tourist Park is located at the top of the Whitsundays in unspoilt and beautiful Bowen.
Featuring spacious en-suite, powered and unpowered sites and four star cabins set amongst tropical shrubs & palms. The Park is eco friendly and is the right place to stay in Bowen.
Located on the south side of Bowen, the Park offers a great base to explore the Whitsundays and further north to Ayr and Townsville, just the place for a fun filled holiday, or a southern winter escape, with plenty of quiet, space and freedom.
The Park's facilities are amongst the best, with Bowen's first "Water Park" resort pool, outdoor movies, and a brilliant camp kitchen with fire pit and much much more. Bowen Village Caravan & Tourist Park is a member of the Top Tourist Parks, so best quality is assured.
Woodlands is ideally situated in the Atherton Tablelands and set amongst 6 acres of lush tropical garden. It's the ideal place to explore the wonders of tropical north Queensland.
There are over 175 caravan sites, 44 Villas, 18 Cabins and 29 Olympic Units and the park is set in tropical surrounds. You'll enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and standard of accommodation. Facilities include a large swimming pool, Laundromat, shower and toilet amenities, and camp kitchen area with flatscreen TV and free BBQs.
To enjoy a Cairns holiday you need accommodation that can offer access to all of the wonders of Far North Queensland including the Great Barrier Reef, heritage rain forests such as the Daintree, the beautiful beaches of Cairns, the Cairns casino and other entertainment found in the city of Cairns and of course Queensland's incredible outback. Cairns First City Caravilla offer it all and more. Located close to everything and offering a complete range of accommodation styles, space, outdoor activities, tour advice and information and above all, friendly and experienced service. Book self contained motel type accommodation or book a powered or camping site in the large holiday park.
With over 5 acres in the heart of the Rainforest Clad Hinterland, our Holiday Village is the ideal base of Exploration for the many exciting Natural Treasures on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.
Whether you're after 3.5 star rating Bungalow Accommodation or wanting to 'rough it' in one of our Campsites (with all the comforts of a full motorhome hook-up), we offer a get-away that is just what you've been looking for.


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When you install Active Directory on a computer that is running Windows Server 2003 with SP1 (Service Pack 1), the ICS area does NOT appear on the Advanced tab of the network connection's Properties.
To workaround this behavior, configure Routing and Remote Access to use NAT (Network Address Translation). NAT provides the same connection sharing capabilities as ICS.
See How do I configure NAT (Network Address Translation) in Windows Server 2003?
NOTE: See ICS may not work reliably if the DNS or DHCP service is installed on the same computer.
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GMC Survey Analysis 12 - Reports for Heads of School
In this page there is a collection of reports for the 2012 GMC Trainee Survey
Reports are customised to meet the requirements of specific users group in order to give the best overview and insight on the results of the GMC survey.
The reports include all the available data from Foundation, Core and Specialty training. The aim is to give a comprehensive overview of the feedback provided by trainees at different grades.
Where available the reports will also include data for 'all the trainees by POST'. This is a new report introduced in 2010 and it reports on the responses of all the trainees within a particular post specialty.
For a given post specialty the report may include responses from trainees in:
- Foundation Programme training;
- Core training programmes;
- Specialty, including GP training programmes.
More reporting and analytical tools are available in the GMC surveys main page.
Quick links to other reports: A - Reports for LEPs and DMEs, C - Reports for STFS, D - Reports for GP
To download the report click on the relevant one on the list on the right hand side of the page.
For feedback, comments and queries relating to reports or data please contact Marco De Solis in the Quality Department.


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TrackMyTour lets you create an online map of your journey for friends and family to follow along. Here's how it works:
Your friends and family can visit your online map at anytime to see the progress of your journey.
Waypoints can be created offline and submitted later when you're connected (e.g., at the hotel WiFi).
Automatically tweet and post to your timeline with the twitter & facebook integration.
Follow the tours of your friends and family, leave comments, and get instant notification when they update their maps.


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Family Photo Shoot – Marriott's Marbella Beach Resort
Family Photo Shoot
Marriott's Marbella Beach Resort is a 4 star hotel situated in Elviria Marbella. With its luxurious accommodation consisting of either 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms with separate living areas it is a popular family holiday resort offering first class facilities in a prime location.
If you are staying at this resort this summer why not have some fun with your family and enjoy a photoshoot, capturing memories of your holiday for years to come.
Please contact me for more information.


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Strawberry Gooey Butter cookie recipe
1/2 cup Butter, softened
1/4 tsp. Vanilla
1 Egg
8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
2 boxes Strawberry Cake Mix
Powdered Sugar
Mix butter, vanilla, egg, and cream cheese until well blended. Add cake mix. Scoop balls of dough with scoop. Roll in powdered sugar. Bake in convection oven for 5 minutes, turn, and 3 minutes.


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Feb. 21, 2009
Las Cruces, New Mexico - Gordo Castillo came off the bench to score a career-high 20 points and New Mexico State shot 78 percent from the floor in the second half as the Aggies pulled away Saturday night for a 94-86 victory over Cal State Fullerton in an ESPNU Bracket Buster matchup.
Josh Akognon scored 32 points and hit a career-high eight 3-point field goals but the Titans lost for the fourth time in five games to fall under .500 at 13-14. New Mexico State had six players in double figures including Jonathan Gibson with 19 points and Jahmar Young with 16 and improved to 15-12 (12-3 at home) with its fourth win in succession.
Marcio Lassiter scored 16 points for the Titans and Aaron Thompson had 13. Jacques Streeter hit a pair of 3-pointers to bracket the halftime intermission on his way to 10 points.
The Aggies broke the game open with an explosive 15-0 run midway through the second half, turning a 58-54 deficit at 15:00 into a 69-58 lead at 12:14. Castillo, a product of Las Cruces High School who entered the game averaging 3.9 points, hit two of his six 3-pointers (in only 8 attempts) to launch the spurt. The Aggies made 10 of their first 11 shots and 18 of their first 21 shots of the second half, which began with Fullerton ahead, 44-43.
"I thought we competed well against a good team in a place that's tough to play," said CSF Head Coach Bob Burton. "I'm proud of the effort. We just ran out of gas in the second half."
Akognon hit his first three 3-point tries of the game and ended up with five in the first half on his way to 19 points. But he didn't score again until a pair of free throws with 8:03 to play. He scored 11 points in the final 4 minutes as the Titans cut a 17-point deficit to as few as 6 points. But the Aggies missed only two free throws in the second half and only five field goal tries.
Fullerton shot 52 percent from the floor for the game and made 13 of 28 3-pointers. But NMSU shot 63 percent overall and made 12 of 23 treys. Wendell McKines, the leading rebounder in the Western Athletic Conference at 9.8 per game, matched his career high with 15 rebounds to lead a 35-24 Aggies' edge on the boards. Ray Miller led Fullerton with 7.
Fullerton returns to Big West Conference play Thursday night at UC Riverside.


text:
First of all I must thank tiny4579 for all of the hours he spent with me on this project and for his kernel that makes it possible for this to work on GingerSense roms. This has been a great team effort.
If you install any of these mods, on a Sense rom, Tiny's 10/15 kernel with wireless "n" support will be installed. On AOSP your currently installed kernel will be used.
There are 3 versions of this mod (choose ONE):
- The normal_data mod just converts your /data and /cache partitions to the ext4 filesystem type for better all around real world performance and makes the necessary changes for this to work with your currently installed rom.
- The no_data_limit_normal_dalvik mod (no 150MB data limit) does the above conversion but also removes the linking of /data/data to that small 150MB partition that causes the low space issues. It instead uses a subfolder of your 750MB /data partition to hold these files. It copies the data from your datadata partition, to this new subfolder and keeps the permissions in tact so that your phone doesn't know the difference. The old datadata partition is unused after this.
- The no_data_limit_dalvik_moved mod does exactly what mod 2 does but then uses the unused datadata partition for your /data/dalvik-cache folder.
*If you use the no_data_limit_dalvik_moved mod and need to wipe your dalvik-cache, flash the wipe_dalvik zip file.
**Disclaimer: This mod has a ZERO percent chance of bricking your phone but You, and only YOU, are responsible for what you do to your phone.
- If you flashed a version lower than v1.0 of the no_data_limit script, READ THIS!
- Reboot into recovery and make a good nandroid backup
- Either flash the rom you want to use, Restore a nandroid or skip this step to convert for your currently installed rom
- Flash either the normal_data convert script or the no_data_limit convert script, depending on what you want
- Reboot
- Next click the "Thanks" button for Tiny (post #2) and For Me! Then Enjoy!
- If you want to confirm that the mod worked, run this from adb shell or teminal emulator:
mount | grep ext4
To Move Dalvik Back to Normal Location:
- Flash this. (Thanks cmlusco!)
To Uninstall
- Just do a full wipe in CWM
- Flash a fresh rom or restore a pre Ext4 backup
If you upgrade your rom after converting (Like a flashover update)
- Re-run the mod as the last thing while in recovery after flashing the update.


text:
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Chinese composition part1
I thought it was time, considering I've posted so many English compos and zero Chinese ones. The reason I've neglected doing so for so long is that Chinese doesn't come naturally in our household, even to Kenneth, who studied in a SAP school for 10 years. The best analogy I can give is that for us, using the Chinese language is like a very right-handed person attempting to write with his left hand. (For me, it's like using my left foot). My kids are definitely more adept at it than I am (which isn't saying much) but still, it requires lots of painstaking work and effort even to maintain a basic standard of efficacy.
It's a pity - the Chinese language is so rich in culture, I think we're losing a big chunk of our heritage due to our ineptness. So we try to encourage our kids to take an interest and hope that in time, they can see beyond the challenges of learning the language to appreciate its beauty.
Unfortunately, while I am adamant against memorising good phrases as a technique to teach English composition, both my kids do this for Chinese composition. The schools teach it this way and the Chinese language is such that so many of the nuances are so complex that they need to be learnt straight off. I suppose it's possible to develop your own style but my kids don't have strong enough a command of the language to do so effectively.
In p6, Lesley-Anne usually scored between 26/40 and 29/40, which is in the moderate range. For the composition below, she scored 32/40 which was her highest this year. The Chinese standard in her school isn't too hot, so probably pales in comparison with other schools, especially the SAP schools. Anyway, I'm just posting it here as a record of her work.
This is the picture:
Here's what she wrote (sorry, unable to type out - would take me a year):
Monday, October 26, 2009
A day in the life
Occasionally, people also ask me how I can juggle work, seeing to my kids, blogging and other activities at the same time. Truthfully, I'm a little embarrassed by the idea that I could be a super mum because I really am not. The freedom I get from running my own business from home can't be overstated, it gives me the flexibility to tend to changes in schedules, and how long I spend on work really depends on how efficient I can be, not how many hours I have to sit in an office.
So essentially, this arrangement affords me the lifestyle I want, while allowing me time with my kids. However, every now and then, I have one of those days where I feel I have too much on my plate and get totally frazzled. Last Tuesday, during the PSLE marking week, was one of those days. Here's what transpired - a glimpse into a not-so-typical-day of my life.
8.15am: Crawl out of bed. I really should stop going to bed at 2am.
8.30am: Poke head out of bedroom door and yell at kids to get ready.
8.39am: Yell at kids to put on their shoes because we're out the door in 1 minute.
8.40am: Leave the house.
8.41am: Go back to house to retrieve car keys.
8.43am: Enroute to school, mutter under my breath about arranging badminton training sessions at this "unGodly hour".
8.55am: Drop Andre at school. Shout last minute instructions at him from car window.
8.56am: Drive Lesley-Anne to chalet. Lucky girl is having a post-PSLE sleepover with her girlfriends. Proceed at snail pace because I've never driven this route before.
9.15am: Reach destination unscathed, hooray!
9.30am: Finally arrive at chalet on foot, slightly winded. Parked at the wrong place, darn it.
9.40am: Leave chalet, feeling somewhat sentimental over Lesley-Anne's first sleepover with friends.
9.55am: Home. Have toast and big mug of Super 3-in-1.
10.10am: Finally can settle down to work. Hmm... maybe I'll just check on Mouse Hunt first.
10.30am: Get call from Andre - training will end half an hour earlier, only 2 kids (including him) turned up. Darn it! Well, gotta pick him up soon so might as well continue playing.
10.45am: Leave to pick up Andre. Mutter at the crazy pedestrians playing Russian Roulette by stepping off the kerb in front of my car.
11.00am: Have a chat with badminton coach on Andre's progress. Wonder how to juggle all the upcoming changes in the training schedule.
11.30am: Enroute home, marvel at an elderly man who proceeds to cross the road despite seeing my approaching car, waving his walking stick at me menacingly the whole time.
11.45am: Arrive home. Send Andre to shower. Tell him he has to practise his piano before lunch.
12noon: Rap on the bathroom door and yell at Andre to hurry up, taking a luxury spa bath isn't going to get him off practising his piano.
12.15pm: Decide it's really time to work. Oh look, almost time for lunch. Ah well, might as well play Scrabble then.
12.30pm: Lunch.
12.50pm: Sit at computer. Really should start work now.
12.51pm: Oh wait, forgot to assign Andre his math revision homework.
1.00pm: Go back to computer. Open several emails from clients asking when they can expect their writeups.
1.02pm: Major panic. Attempt to start writing. If only can get rid of this writer's block.
1.10pm: Mojo flowing now. Subject is awfully boring though. Come on, keep at it.
2.30pm: One draft completed. Break to mark Andre's math assessment paper. Mutter under my breath over careless mistakes.
2.45pm: Go through math paper with Andre. Before I start, Andre says, "Mummy, can you not say 'tch' when I get something wrong? I don't like it." Yikes, guilty as charged.
3.00pm: Fall asleep. Super 3-in-1 has limited potency. Or maybe I shouldn't go through test papers on my bed.
3.25pm: Wake up with a start. Stumble to computer. Full intention to work... right after I sound the Mouse Hunt horn.
4.15pm: That can't be the time????? @*&!@%$!! Scramble to start work. Feverishly. I'll have another mug of that Super 3-in-1.
5.15pm: Phew! Managed to finish it before the end of the day. Send it off to client. Amazing what looming deadlines can inspire.
5.20pm: Drive Andre to get his hair cut. Seriously, I feel like I'm participating in a live video game where you maneoveur the car to avoid zig-zagging pedestrians. Wasn't there a recent report in the Straits Times about the increase in jaywalkers? I swear half of them live in my neighbourhood.
6.00pm: Hair cut done, ooh... Michael Chang, look out! Off to have dinner at the nearby hawker centre. Char guay teow with all the crispy lard bits. Never mind lah, Andre had badminton training this morning. I know I didn't, doesn't driving count as exercise? Teh tarik to wash it all down.
7.20pm: Home. Put all my persuasive charm on to cajole a pouty Andre to do a couple of English worksheets, reminding him it's SA2 next week.
7.30pm: Get sms from Lesley-Anne: "Just had dinner. Having a great time."
7.50pm: Mark English worksheets. Terribly worried over mistakes. Go through worksheets with Andre, trying very hard to reign in the 'tch'.
8.30pm: Fetch Kenneth from MRT station. Very happy it's my last drive of the day.
8.50pm: Chillin' time. Andre and I take turns to watch each other play computer games. Wonder what Lesley-Anne is doing.
10.00pm: Watch 'The Mentalist'. One of the better shows on tv these days.
10.30pm: Pack Andre off to bed. Hugs and kisses. "I love you, mummy." He truly is a good kid.
11.00pm: Me time! Rest of the household is out like a light (well, except for Lesley-Anne whom I'm sure won't be getting much sleep tonight). Alternate between playing Mouse Hunt, clearing emails and writing this post (wondering again why I ever started this blog).
1.00am: I'm wide awake. That teh tarik sure has kick!
1.55am: Decide to go to bed. Technically, it's not 2am yet, right? I'm sure I'll be fine tomorrow... I mean today.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Why we shouldn't try to make our kids happy
Her message is that while many adults comment that kids these days are different from 30 years ago, it's really the parents who are different. And a big reason for that is that we have become too pre-occupied with trying to make our kids happy.
Of course as parents, we want our kids to be happy. I think the problem arises when we mistake happiness as a goal instead of an end product. When this happens, parents start running circles around their kids trying to make them happy, as if that's their purpose in life. It's exactly what those parents that I previously described as keys, try to do. As Connie mentions, once kids cotton on to that (and they will, very quickly!) boy, are you in trouble because you're letting yourself be held ransom to their every desire. Can you say brat?
Happiness is not a goal. It is a resultant state, helped by ideals such as living responsibly, having good values, having compassion for others, pursuing your passion etc. If we as parents provide a solid foundation for nurturing these qualities, then maybe, just maybe, our kids will be happy.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
English composition part 5 (Andre's)
But can escape mum, can't escape teacher! He's had to write a couple as part of his homework and I thought this one was worth a post. This was the picture he had to write about, sorry it's not very clear.
This was what he wrote:
"Hurray! Hurray!" "The exams are over!" the students at Sunshine school shouted. Mary was so happy that the exams were over. She was so proud of herself because she got full marks for all subjects. Mary rushed back home.
When she was on her way home, she thought, "Mum will be so proud of me, I can't wait to get home." When Mary was walking along her corridor, she noticed a man acting suspiciously. "Oh no, the strange man is trying to break into my neighbour's house! I must warn Mum quickly."
Mary quickly and quitely went into her house and immediatly ran shrait to her mother. "Mum! Mum! I saw a man trying to break into our neighbours house!" she said. "Oh no, quick, we must call the police at once!" Mum replied. Mary nodded and rang the police.
By the time the man was coming out of the house, the police were here. The police caught the man red-handed.
The man mumbled, "The police are here, I'm done for!"
The man tried to run as fast as he could, but the police caught up with him. The police pulled the man down to the ground and handcuffed him.
"Wait! I can explain, OW!"
The police ignored the man and took him to the police station.
Mary's mother was indeed proud of Mary. Her mother praised Mary for being vigilant. Mum gave her thumbs up and hugged her. Mary was so happy because she did a good deed by staying alert.
Ok, so there are quite a few holes in the plot and the grammar is questionable but I was rather heartened by his effort, it's an improvement from his earlier attempt. Forgive a mother's partiality but I quite enjoyed reading it because his use of dialogue was so animated it made me laugh. Can you tell he has been reading copious amounts of TinTin and Calvin & Hobbes?
More importantly, he didn't drag his feet to write this! He finished this piece of work without whining and without my prompting, which is an achievement in itself. Feeling encouraged, I asked him, "Do you enjoy writing more now?"
The instant and matter of fact answer: "No."
Ah well, one step at a time. I can dream, can't I?
Monday, October 19, 2009
UNSW Writing competition... and the real reason why it's good news
Admittedly, the writing award wasn't as unexpected to me as the science one but still, it came as a very pleasant surprise. This is because in the three years that she has participated in the writing competition, this is the first year she managed to get a Distinction. According to the report, this puts her in the top 6% of p6 Singapore kids who sat for the test.
However, what I found most encouraging about the report was not the actual score but the progress that she has made over the past three years. The great thing about the UNSW competitions is that they track the history of the student's scores, in relation to other kids in the cohort and even in relation to other cohorts, as shown here:
As you can see, in p4 when Lesley-Anne first took the test, she scored only marginally higher (as shown by the black dot) than the cohort's average within the top 41% (she received a Participation certificate). In p5, she improved slightly, scoring within the top 31% (receiving a Credit). This year, her results shot up (depicted by the black triangle). The score is borne out in her compositions - the ones she has written this year are a vast improvement from those written in 2008 (click on the label 'English' to find postings of Lesley-Anne's compositions). If I'm interpreting the chart right, the p6 results are very similar to the sec1 results this year, which gives me some reassurance that she should be able to cope well with English next year.
To me, her performance spells hope, not just for her but for Andre as well. Why? Because I know there was no significant difference in the type or intensity of coaching Lesley-Anne received in writing from last year to early this year when the test was conducted (although she did have an excellent English teacher this year). There was also no marked difference in her reading frequency that could have contributed to the sudden improvement in results. This tells me that she naturally developed a maturity in writing and was suddenly able to commit her thoughts into words effectively, ie come into her own style of expression.
I've been resisting enrolling Andre into a writing class despite his mediocre marks in composition because I find that many of their methods stifle creativity and impose rigid techniques such as memorising model compositions and phrases instead of instilling the love of writing. Lesley-Anne's results in the UNSW competition makes me optimistic that I'm making the right decision, to let Andre develop his writing skills naturally through time. I realise it's a gamble (what if it doesn't improve sufficiently by PSLE??) but I'm willing to take a chance because I think nothing is worth the risk of killing your child's love for the language.
So parents out there, if your kids are facing problems acing their compositions right now, take heart! Maybe there's hope yet.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Goodbye Hammie
Hammie was feistier and livelier, which made her more fun to watch and play with. As she aged, she grew mellower and would enjoy being stroked, even licking my hand. Here's a short video we took of her earlier this year.
Hammie lived to a ripe old age. Dwarf hamsters typically have a life span of 1½ to 2 years but Hammie lasted a grand total of 2½ years. Every time we thought the end was near because she started to look frail or drop fur, she would miraculously rejuvenate. I attribute her longevity to the fact that we fed her lots of fresh food. And I'm not talking just vegetables or fruit - we gave her prawns, cheese, eggs, fish and even yoghurt. Hamsters are omnivores, they even eat chicken, just make sure that the food doesn't have sauce on it or strong seasoning. Our hamsters really lived it up! Well, if your life span is that short, make the most of it, right?
We're not sure if we'll be getting new pets. Losing a pet is sad, even a hamster. I can just imagine how traumatic it must be if it's a dog or a cat. Andre wailed, "I'm so sad about Hammie!" even though he'd barely played with her for months.
So the hamster cages are going into cold storage for now. Goodbye Hammie, you were fun to have around. Hope you're enjoying fresh prawns and eggs in Hamster Heaven!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
English composition part 4
Now that the exams are over, here's one that she wrote this year. The style is slightly different from her usual one in that it has more descriptive narration.
Here are the instructions:
One day, you and your sibling were strolling in a nearby park. Suddenly, you heard a noise coming from behind you.
Based on the above situation, write a composition of at least 150 words. In your story, make use of the points below:
- how you and your sibiling felt
- what the both of you did
- what happened in the end
The sky was dark and raindrops made a "pitter patter" sound on my window. The wind was howling loudly outside my window. In the past, I hated storms. The flashes of lightning and claps of thunder made me feel uneasy, sometimes scared. Now, with my furry companion asleep in my lap, nothing about the storm scares me. He probably has a calming influence on me. I marvel at the fact that he is not afraid of storms himself, after all, he had been through a terrible ordeal involving a storm...
Alicia and I were walking at the park. We both loved that park. The occasional breeze would seem to whisper to me, as if it is saying: "Do you remember all the fun you and Alicia had in this park?" and I would recall how we used to sit on the swings while waiting for the ice-cream man to come and how we rode on the round-a-bout until we got dizzy. That day, the park was cooler than usual because of the rain the previous night and the playground was wet. Because of this, we had almost the whole place to ourselves and the park was peaceful without the laughter of young children sliding down the slide.
"Sis! Did you hear that?" Alicia asked, her voice trembling.
"Hear what?"
"The bush, it rustled!"
"The bushes always rustle when there's a breeze."
"I know that, but this one it... whined."
"Bushes don't whine!"
"But this..."
Her sentence was cut short. Then, I heard it too. A faint whine coming from a bush. I peeked in but I saw nothing. I felt something brush against my calf. It was hairy and a little wet. What was it? An image of a big, slimy hairy caterpillar crossed my mind.
"Yuck! Get it of my leg!" I shrieked.
"Get what of, Sis?"
"The caterpillar!"
She started giggling.
"Some fine sister you are! Help me now!"
"Does that look like a caterpillar?"
I turned around and saw the muddiest dog in the world. Its fur was matted and drenched and it looked as if it had rolled around in a pigsty.
"Aww... Sis! Let's take him home!"
Was she nuts?
"He is in the most sorry state ever!"
"Why would you want him? Just because Mom and Dad are vets and would take in an animal anytime doesn't mean that you should take him home! You don't even know what breed he is, let alone know how to take care of him!"
"He is a Jack Russell."
How did she know that? Anyway, I stood my ground. I wasn't going to let Alicia take that dog home. Being a Jack Russell, he would probably be hyperactive and would be able to tear the house down.
I dragged a protesting Alicia home leaving the dog behind. Our parents were not home yet. Thank God they work on weekends and come home late at night after bedtime or they would instruct me to bring the Jack Russell home after hearing Alicia's story. By the time Alicia wakes up tommorow, she would have forgotten about the dog. She is very forgetful.
Knowing Alicia, she would probably sneak out to go and get the dog. However, she could not as a storm was brewing.
As I looked out the window at those dark clouds, I could not help thinking about the dog who was going to get soaked again in the rain. On imagining how sickly it would look if it caught a chill, my heart softened. I wanted to go back to the park to bring it home. But one thing stood in my way. My fear of storms. The lightning and thunder always scared me, since young. However, I pluckered up my courage and went out the door.
I returned home with a shivering dog in my arms. Both of us were drenched, but it was worth it.
A clap of thunder brought me back to earth. The wind was still howling outside, reminding me of the day Fluffy came into my life.
Once again, her choice of words is very simple and she relies a lot on dialogue to keep the plot moving. I realise that's how I used to write as a student too. I think the grammar could be better but Lesley-Anne tells me she tends to make grammatical mistakes when she's writing quickly. I hope this is something that will correct itself in time.
Monday, October 12, 2009
The PSLE maths conundrum
By now, some of you may have heard of the ruckus over the PSLE maths paper on Thursday. In short, the paper was a killer. How tough was it? Let's see - a boy who's a Math Olympiad platinum winner cited the paper as Math Olympiad standard. Others have said it was even harder than some of the top schools' prelim papers.
Lesley-Anne came home teary-eyed as she couldn't solve three 4-mark questions and she barely finished the paper, no time to check at all. From what I heard over the grapevine, tears were flowing in PSLE exam halls all over Singapore. Lilian and I were predicting that complaint letters by panicky parents would rapidly find their way into the Straits Times' forum page. Surprisingly, this has not happened yet, although Today newspaper has already written a piece on it here.
I'm not one of those parents, in case you're wondering. The reason is that I have no wish to become one of those kiasu, whiny parents who complain whenever things don't go their way. Besides, I don't think it will make an iota of a difference (what, you expect MOE to hand you an A* because you complained?)
I have no issue with difficult PSLE papers. I think generally, it evens itself out because the PSLE T-score is moderated, meaning that each child is assessed not on the actual score on his exam paper but how he performs in relation to the rest of the cohort. The better you perform compared to your p6 peers, the higher your T-score will be, regardless of your actual mark. So a difficult paper is actually advantageous for kids adept in that subject because they will be better able to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack.
Having said that, I think the challenge is to be able to pitch the level of the paper appropriately. In the case of this year's maths paper, I think it was unrealistically high. Of course this is just my gut feel since I haven't seen the paper, I'm going by comments I've read in forums and anecdotal accounts.
In most years, the PSLE maths paper contains a couple of very challenging questions which I assume is to suss out the truly bright mathematical talents. If so, then the majority of students are not expected to know how to solve these, which is fine. However, this year, the few challenging questions were so difficult that they stumped many of even the top tier maths whizzes, eg. those who participate in the Math Olympiad and those in GEP. If this is true, then instead of being able to identify the top 5%, maybe you end up identifying, say the top 0.5%. The top 5% then gets bunched up with perhaps the top 20% because all of them couldn't solve the same questions. (All numbers are arbitrary).
My question then is, how is this useful in any way? The handful of maths prodigies has most likely already been identified, through their past performance. What is the value of having a measurement tool that can differentiate only the top 0.5% followed by the next large category of 20%? Not much, in my opinion.
My main concern, however, is the impact on kids who are in the middle of the bell curve (which would be the majority). Again going by what I've heard, the rest of the paper was no piece of cake either, with many questions requiring a lot of time and thinking, even for Paper 1, which is traditionally more straight forward. This meant that many kids were not able to finish the papers. I know exams are also a test of time management but to what degree? I mean, is someone necessarily a better technician because he can assemble a gadget in 20 minutes versus one who can do it in 25 minutes? What are we testing here?
The purpose of any exam, especially a national one, should be to test understanding of the concepts and the ability to apply them, not to trip the kids up. I'm not suggesting you have a super simple paper that everyone can sail through but if you have a paper where a good proportion of the kids (who have gone through the national education system) is unable to perform satisfactorily in, I think it puts a question mark not on the students but on the system. Something is wrong - either the kids were not taught adequately or the exam not set correctly.
The casualties of course, are the kids. You can argue that since the T-score is moderated, kids shouldn't be too unduely distressed over an overly difficult paper. To that, I say we sometimes forget that these are 12-year-olds. Give them a break. Many of these kids have been slogging for the PSLE all year, diligently doing paper after paper, sacrificing tv and other pleasures for the hope of performing well at the PSLE. Being unable to answer the questions or even finish a paper sends them this message: "Your effort was not good enough." Demoralising is an understatement. Even if they do manage to attain a reasonable T-score, it's like a back-handed compliment - they just didn't do as badly as others.
Lesley-Anne was very disappointed with her performance in the paper after putting in so much work, although I acknowledge that having DSA does relieve the anxiety somewhat (thank God!) I hope that for the sake of the sanity of future parents and kids, the national exam policies and practices can be reviewed and adjusted appropriately. Not too much to ask, surely?
Friday, October 9, 2009
What's the lesson again?
We're constantly trying to impart the lesson that attitude is as important as ability when it comes to sports. Kenneth always reminds him to focus on the next point and not dwell on the previous point that he had lost. Just one point at a time. Of course it's easier said than done. When Andre's on the court, his competitiveness explodes in full force, making it hard for him to accept failure.
Last week during badminton coaching, this point was hammered home. Andre was playing against another student in a 5-point round game. He was down 0-2 and his opponent needed only one more point to win the round. Coming from behind, Andre took the next 3 points and won the round, to the disappointment of his opponent.
In the car, we thought that was an excellent opportunity to reinforce the lesson. (We're cheong hei people lah!)
Kenneth: You played very well just now. So now you know what's important in a game?
Andre (promptly): Footwork.
Kenneth: No lah!
Andre: Smashing?
Kenneth: !!!! Aiyah, you were two down and you still managed to win. So what did you learn from that episode?
Andre (light bulb switches on): Not to get frustrated.
Kenneth: That's right. Of course footwork is important. But more importantly, you must never...?
Andre: Lose.
Kenneth: GAHHHH!!
Andre (catches on like a game show contestant): Give up! I mustn't give up!
I'm sure he would have gotten it right the first time if it was multiple choice...
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Lego Power Miners
As you know, Andre received a couple of boxes of Lego Power Miners for his birthday at his request. We'd actually given Lego a miss for years, even amidst all the Bionicles craze, as Andre had never been keen on building contraptions. He'd always prefered ready assembled cars and trucks, those that required any sort of construction, he usually left to Lesley-Anne.
So I was a little surprised and apprehensive when he asked for Lego Power Miners. I think Lego is a marvellous toy but you basically pay for the fun of construction, it's costly if you're just looking to play with the final product. Anyway, he assured me he was interested in building it, so these were the two sets he received from us and his aunt.
The first one is a mean machine, it took Andre and Lesley-Anne a few hours to put together. When it was done, I must say I fell in love with Lego all over again. I loved Lego as a kid but of course the selection was much more limited in those days. It had the same quality and attention to detail that I remember and perfectly cut pieces - not a single uneven fit that is so common (and frustrating) with the imitation Lego toys. No wonder Lego has been able to maintain their price premium for decades, despite the proliferation of copy cats.
This is the 8961.
Very intricate moving parts. The drill and truck operator seats came complete with tiny, miniature gear shifts! Here's a close up of the motor bike. There's even a little clasp at the back that holds the bike in place. A Lego man can ride on it and hold its handlebars.
The set also came with a catapult and two rock monsters that you could flip their tops open to store coloured gemstones (one of them in the pic below came with the other set).
The 8959 is a smaller set, Andre assembled it by himself.
As luck would have it, we discovered later that these two boxed sets can be combined to form a mega monster - the Crystal Crawler. What a bonus! After playing with the two toys separately for a couple of days, he attempted to construct the combined one. The step-by-step instructions are online. Before he could complete it, he had to leave for badminton training so I finished building it for him. It's a real beaut, I have to admit and I'm not even a machine-oriented person. I was just awed by the meticulous construction. Here it is:
The scoop at the back extends seamlessly and completely. When stretched out from end to end, it looks like a mechanical scorpion. Very cool!
Andre has been playing with his Power Miners all weekend, he loves them. My engineer brother-in-law was fiddling with them and sighed, "This is the type of toy I dreamed of as a kid."
A truly educational and creative toy. Totally worth saving up for!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Cherishing the wonder years
I think all mothers feel that pang when their youngest child grows up. Maybe that's why we're determined to baby our little ones for as long as possible, to hang on to the sweet, wonder years where the world is still waiting to be discovered.
I won't pretend that I don't miss those years, but I'm very grateful that I was able to have near perfect work arrangements to enjoy Lesley-Anne and Andre to the fullest at that age. We can't turn back time and I feel for parents who regret not having spent more time with their kids during their formative years.
Andre has matured significantly in the past one year. I can see the difference even in his physical features. He has lost much of that baby face as well as his baby fat, probably due to his badminton training. He no longer has interest in cartoon merchandise like Ben 10 and has begun to recognise and steer towards his sporting abilities. At a recent birthday party, he was playing soccer with a group of friends and the birthday boy's mum asked me if Andre attended soccer coaching as he was a very good goal keeper. I said no, his performance was probably boosted by the fact that he's not afraid to fling himself right into the path of the oncoming ball! Andre also shared with me, not without some pride, that during PE, everyone wants to be on his team. This makes me glad, especially since back in school, I was always last on the schoolyard pick! (Bookworms and PE are like water and oil - they just don't mix).
My little boy is growing up fast. But in certain aspects, he's still as child-like as ever and I hope he will maintain that innocence for as long as possible. He still climbs into my lap and is generous with his hugs and kisses. He still holds my hand, he will make silly faces and mimic silly moves. He still says the funniest, out-of-the-blue, totally huh? things - (in reponse to an insult from Lesley-Anne - "if I'm a dust mite, you're... you're... fabric!!")
Last week when I was picking Andre up from school, a boy dashed to the school gate, waved enthusiastically at him and yelled with affection, "Bye Andre!" Later, I realised that boy was one of the kids in the class who was constantly getting into scrapes and having trouble making friends. I asked Andre if he was a friend, he replied, "Yes. W told me not to be friends with him but I don't care lah. I'm friends with everyone."
I think it is this easy-going and gregarious nature of Andre that enables him to accept everyone for who they are and enjoy whatever life has to offer. It is humbling that my 9-year-old should be a constant check against my own cynical attitude, and it's a real blessing for me. My wish for him is that he will never lose this guileless temperament. At the risk of sounding like a besotted mum, I truly believe the world would be a better place if there were more Andres in it.
Friday, October 2, 2009
9 candles for Andre
So off we went!
Lunch was at Hoshi Restaurant at IMM, recommended by Lilian. There's an ala carte buffet promotion there now, $28.50++ for adults and $15.50++ for children. They charged Lesley-Anne the child price even though she's above the 140cm height limit, so that was a bonus.
It was excellent value for money. Nothing gets my attention faster than the phrase "free-flow sashimi". Quality wise, I actually differed in opinion with Lilian on quite a few items. The sashimi was fresh but somehow, we felt the quality lost out to some other ala carte buffets we've tried. The tuna was a little mincey and not as firm. Having said that, it didn't stop us from having 6 platters of mixed sashimi and 7 extra plates of salmon sashimi...
I thought the highlight was the ebi tempura. I'm usually not a fan but these were super light and crispy - excellent! The soft shell crab was pretty good too and Lesley-Anne loved the yakitori. The tepanyaki items looked better than they tasted - ok but nothing special. Food pics here:
Can you tell he's satisfied?
Then we headed to the Science Centre, just around the corner. (Yes, we planned it that way). I haven't been to the Science Centre in quite a few years so I was pleasantly surprised to find that they have added some new and more interactive sections. I thought some of the previous exhibits were looking a little run down. The pic on the left is of an old display but always a favourite optical illusion with my kids.
One of the temporary exhibitions currently running is the F1 exhibition, which showcases the technology behind the uber cool sport. There's an actual F1 car on display and here's Andre trying out the position of an F1 driver.
A relatively new section at the Science Centre is the I-Space area which showcases IT in all its glory. Tons of interactive displays including RFID tags, 3-D games and home applications - all great fun for this little boy who loves trying out gadgets. Taking centrestage in the I-Space section is a neon-lit tree-like structure made out of optic fibres. It's pretty neat.
There was also this giant electronic soft board (sorry for bad description, I'm no techie!) where you could sms a message and see it float on display. I imagine Andre thought it was magical that the Science Centre knew it was his birthday.
We didn't visit the Omni-theatre but there's a Van Gogh show currently being screened and I thought this promotional exhibit was very interesting. You may recognise the scene below from one of Van Gogh's very famous paintings but what you may not realise is that it's an actual physical exhibit. The way the room and furniture has been painted makes the scene look uncannily like a picture. Amazing stuff.
To top off that fabulous day, Andre went home to his pile of presents and to his delight, he got everything he wanted (he made no secret of his birthday wishlist) - a couple of new Beast Quest books, a badminton shirt, more toy cars and his favourite - two boxes of Lego Power Miners. What can I say, he has very nice family members!
And of course, what's a birthday without cake? Happy birthday Andre! You'll always be my lovable, huggable, cutie pie.


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Accessing Services: Your Child's Right to Public Education
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), first enacted in 1975, mandates that each state provide all eligible children with a free and appropriate public education that meets their unique, individual needs. IDEA was most recently revised in 2004 (and, in fact, renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, but most people still refer to it as IDEA). IDEA specifies that children with various disabilities, including autism, are entitled to early intervention services and special education. If your child has been diagnosed with a form of autism, the diagnosis is generally sufficient to gain access to the rights afforded by IDEA. The IDEA legislation has established an important role for parents in their children's education. You, as a parent, are entitled to be treated as an equal partner with the school district in deciding on an education plan for your child and his or her individual needs. This enables you to be a powerful advocate for your child. It also means that you must be an informed, active participant in planning and monitoring your child's unique program and legal rights. This is a very important role and at times, it can seem overwhelming and confusing. Two books that may be helpful are Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy – The Special Education Survival Guide, by Pam Wright and Pete Wright, and How to Compromise with Your School District Without Compromising Your Child, by Gary Mayerson. You will also find additional books and websites at the back of this kit that will be helpful in this process.
You, as a parent, are entitled to be treated as an equal partner with the school district in deciding on an education plan for your child.
Throughout your child's educational process, it is important to remember that each child has a unique set of abilities and challenges. Educating both yourself and your child's educational team at school will be fundamental to your child's success in the classroom. Since children with AS/HFA can be diagnosed at all different stages of the education process, it is imperative to make sure that the proper accommodations are given to them no matter when they are diagnosed. Individuals with AS may show evidence of distinct issues; they may struggle more with social interactions and communication than with their studies and schoolwork. Since each child is different, the parents and educators need to work collaboratively in order to play on the child's strengths and enable them to have a positive and successful educational experience. Once your child is diagnosed, it is crucial to make sure they have the proper supports in school. As you work with your school system, it is important to remember that your child's program should be designed individually, as each child has unique needs, even if the diagnosis is the same as that of another child. Acquiring these services will help your child and will also ensure that his or her teacher can provide the best and most effective education possible.
In the classroom, the student and the teacher will face different challenges. The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) offers the following six step plan, which is included in their comprehensive kit entitled, An Educator's Guide to Asperger Syndrome, to help your child enter a classroom, and throughout their education:
Step 1: Educate Yourself
Different behaviors are a large part of Asperger Syndrome. Learning about Asperger Syndrome and the specific characteristics of your student will help you effectively manage the behaviors. Here are some helpful hints that can guide everyday school life for students with Asperger Syndrome.
• Operate on "Asperger time." "Asperger time" means "Twice as much time, half as much done." Students with Asperger Syndrome/HFA often need additional time to complete assignments, gather materials, and orient themselves during transitions.
• Manage the environment. Any change can increase anxiety in a student with Asperger Syndrome/HFA. Strive to provide consistency in the schedule and avoid sudden changes.
• Create a balanced agenda. Make a visual schedule that includes daily activities for students with Asperger Syndrome/HFA. Some parts of the daily schedule or certain classes or activities should be monitored or restructured, as needed.
• Simplify language. Keep your language simple and concise, and speak at a slow, deliberate pace. Students with Asperger Syndrome/HFA have difficulty "reading between the lines," understanding abstract concepts like sarcasm, or interpreting facial expressions. Be clear and specific when providing instructions.
• Manage change of plans. Make sure the student with Asperger Syndrome understands that sometimes planned activities can be changed, canceled, or rescheduled. Have backup plans and share them with the child with Asperger Syndrome/HFA.
• Be generous with praise. Find opportunities throughout the day to tell the student with Asperger Syndrome what he or she did right. Compliment attempts as well as successes. Be specific to ensure that the student with Asperger Syndrome knows why you are providing praise.
Step 2: Reach Out to the Parent
The parents of your student with Asperger Syndrome are your first and best source of information about their child; they can provide you with information about their child's behavior and daily activities. Ideally, this partnership will begin with meetings before the school year. After that, it is critical to establish mutually agreed-upon modes and patterns of communication with the family throughout the school year.
Step 3: Prepare the Classroom
Having learned about the individual sensitivities and characteristics of your student with Asperger Syndrome, you now have the information you need to organize your classroom appropriately. You can manipulate the physical aspects of your classroom, making it more comfortable for children with Asperger Syndrome without sacrificing your general plans for the class. The Educator's Guide to Asperger Syndrome contains information about specific approaches for structuring the academic and physical environment to address the needs of your student with Asperger Syndrome.
Step 4: Educate Peers and Promote Social Goal
Children with Asperger Syndrome/HFA have social deficits that make it difficult for them to establish friendships. However, with appropriate assistance, they can engage with peers and establish mutually enjoyable and lasting relationships.
The characteristics of Asperger Syndrome/HFA can cause peers to perceive a child with the disorder as odd or different. This can lead to situations that involve teasing or bullying. Children with Asperger Syndrome/HFA often cannot discriminate between playful versus mean-spirited teasing. Teachers and school staff must be aware that students with Asperger Syndrome/HFA are potentially prime targets of bullying or excessive teasing, and must watch for signs.
Many social interactions occur during unstructured times in settings outside the classroom where students with Asperger Syndrome/HFA may end up isolated. You may want to create a "circle of friends," a group of responsible peers for the student with autism, who will not abandon him, serve as a model of appropriate social behavior, and protect against teasing or bullying. This tactic can also be encouraged outside of school.
Step 5: Collaborate on the Educational Program Development.
Step 6: Manage Behavioral Challenge.
School is a stressful environment. Commonplace academic and social situations may create extreme stress for students with Asperger Syndrome/HFA. The stressors may include difficulty predicting events because of changing schedules, tuning into and understanding teacher's directions, interacting with peers, anticipating changes, such as classroom lighting, sounds/noises, odors, and so on.
Tantrums or meltdowns (terms that are often used interchangeably) typically occur in three stages that can be of variable length. Students with Asperger Syndrome/HFA rarely indicate that they are under stress. While they may not always know when they are near a stage of crisis, most of their meltdowns do not occur without warning. There is a pattern of behavior, which is sometimes subtle, that suggests an imminent behavioral outburst. Prevention through the use of appropriate academic, environmental, social, and sensory supports and modification to environment and expectations is the most effective method.
There are many strategies that can be used to help your child avoid tantrums or meltdowns. By using a "functional behavior assessment," a professional trained in ABA, education, or psychology can help you determine what triggers the tantrum, change the environment to reduce the stress it is causing, and teach your child to express his or her desires or feelings in a more adaptive manner.
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Throughout your child's education, it will be essential for both you and your child's various educators to continue learning more about AS. You will need to collaborate during each school year and stay motivated to make certain that your child is excelling and feels comfortable in their learning environment. It is vital that your child's needs continue to be assessed and that you work with the team at school to set goals and objectives in your child's Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Your child's IEP will be the road map for their education each year. As the parent, you will aid the school in crafting this plan and will sit in on all important meetings and evaluations. IEP's are formed by many members of the school staff, including teachers, therapists, psychologists and special education teachers. After your child's IEP is established, this team of educators will meet regularly to discuss your child's progress, both successes and struggles. These meetings will address not only academic concern, but also social and emotional issues as well.
Prior to the IEP planning meeting, the school professionals will offer guidance and evaluate your child. The official planning meeting will then take place. IEP's generally contain goals for your child (both long- and short-term), and services that will be provided throughout the year. In addition to the goals set for your child, the IEP must also include ways that these goals will be measured and steps that will be taken for your child to accomplish them. The IEP will be designed each year according to your child's progress and needs.


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Cantilever bridges like the Firth of Forth Railway Bridge may look complicated, but the principle on which they're built is very simple. In this video segment from Building Big: Bridges, series host and narrator David Macaulay describes the forces at work in a cantilever bridge and explains how the bridge's design uses some of these forces to create a very strong and stable span.
This resource was adapted from Building Big: Bridges.
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Rounding third base Tuesday, Scott Krueger thought the ball was in left field as his Downers Grove North coach Paul Franson yelled, ``Go! Go! Go!``
But as he saw Hinsdale Central catcher George Huber squat to take a throw from Red Devil shortstop Todd Frese, Krueger knew the play would be close.


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FORTUNE — Designer Oscar de la Renta recently got his silk boxers in a wad when New York Times fashion reporter Cathy Horyn penned an unflattering review of his latest runway show. De la Renta took out a full page ad in Women's Wear Daily to respond to Horyn, who in early October ignited a similar flame under Yves Saint Laurent designer Hedi Slimane.
In both cases, the designers have drawn the sympathy of devotees (Lady Gaga even leveled a rap against Horyn and her boyfriend). Yet in both cases, such behavior is, at best, viewed as diva-esque and, at worst, damaging to a company's bottom line.
In the last three years, companies have had to do serious damage control to restore their reputation in the wake of oil spills, auto recalls, and phone tapping scandals. These companies have paid a price. According to a 2011 study by consulting firm Booz & Company, stock prices of companies that are in the oil, automobile, aircraft manufacturing, and financial services industries show that shareholder value came down an average of 33% within a year. So, while designer tantrums may not put any lives at risk, a company's tarnished brand can have far reaching effects.
MORE: Post-debate thoughts: What wasn't said
Service disruptions at BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIMM) in October 2011 left millions of its users without access to email, instant messaging, and browsing for several days. RIM's response was awkward silence followed by a statement that service had been restored (it hadn't entirely).
RIM was already having a difficult year thanks to competition from Apple (aapl), HTC, and Samsung. The company's communication missteps contributed to a 49.7% drop in its market value in the days following the debacle, according to data compiled by AON and OxfordMetrica.
"Like never before, winners and losers in the war for reputation are increasingly determined by how leaders respond to crises and criticism from single detractors or a multitude of antagonists," says Leslie Gaines-Ross, chief reputation strategist at Weber Shandwick.
Hedi Slimane referred to his critic as a "schoolyard bully," an "average writer," and "a bit provincial" in a rant on Twitter. But Francois-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of PPR, the parent company of Yves Saint Laurent, was quick to praise the designer's debut collection. He told Women's Wear Daily, "The house needed both a renovation and a return to its roots, and with Hedi, we have started down that road," adding that he "stands by" the house and its creative team. Pinault's response is appropriate, as Horyn's original critique was largely subjective and countered by plenty of smitten retailers.
It's trickier to take off the gloves when you are responding to criticism based on something more straightforward such as a product malfunction or corporate malfeasance. In these cases, full-frontal transparency can pay off.
Apple CEO Tim Cook's very direct apology not only addressed consumers' frustrations head on, but played to the hearts of iOS fans and countered competitors and naysayers with numbers. "There are over 100 million iOS devices using Apple Maps…in just over a week iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations."
MORE: Meet the man reinventing the news
In a similar approach, the CEO of Canada's Windsor Regional Hospital David Musyj published his mobile and home phone numbers and invited frank talk from constituents about his $265,000 salary, how he spends more than $320 million in annual Ontario health care funds, and anything else others might question about his facility.
And Labor Secretary Hilda Solis offered a noteworthy retort to former GE CEO Jack Welch's allegations that the latest BLS jobs figures were cooked by quickly offering the general public details on how the numbers are compiled. By describing those details, she helped counter the Administration's critics.
Ultimately, it's best to play the part of the adult in a business world filled with childish antagonists. One thing's certain, though: they aren't going anywhere, or growing up.
Harrison Monarth is the founder of GuruMaker–School of Professional Speaking. He's also the author of The Confident Speaker and Executive Presence.


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Graceland Review: Animal HouseChandel Charles at . Updated at . Comments
The summer is quickly drawing to a close, and Graceland Season 2 Episode 11 reminded us that the lies these agents have been carrying with them have every intention of coming home to roost.
Unfortunately for those involved, a few of those truths came out on sauce night - and it was as bummer!
Perhaps the most unfortunate part, though, is that Briggs finally had to face up to the truth. And not because he felt compelled to, but because the one person from whom he tried his hardest to conceal Juan Badillo's tape and his murder became the one person to come into possession of the tape: Charlie.
Yes, in the midst of her surprise pregnancy in Graceland Season 2 Episode 10, Charlie came into possession of the tape and learned that the future father of her child was also a murderer - and apparently with designs to take Mike out of the picture during tonight's heist!
It's not a surprise that Briggs was on track for a breakdown - the sleepwalking and dreams of killing Mike were a dead giveaway - but I wasn't 100% clear on his intent to kill Mike.
The man really has lost his mind. I don't honestly know what's next for him. Where do you go when the tape is in the hands of someone you know, especially if they don't turn you in?
Oddly enough, Mike is in the same boat... whether he realizes it or not. He is so intent on catching Briggs in whatever lie Mike thinks he could be caught in that he doesn't realize he's one intuitive inquiry or move away from tipping his hand to Paige, to whom he, like Briggs, should have also come clean immediately.
So while Briggs and Mike focused on inching one another out of the operation or into the truth, both their female confidantes are only a step away from outing them. And tonight, one did.
And then there's poor Johnny, who, in the midst of the bickering that broke out during their attempted "family" dinner, revealed his involvement with Lucia to the entire house. In doing so, he became the hero in this installment, as he is the only one of the men in the house with an operation-compromising secret to come clean with the least prompting to do so.
For this, my friend, you deserve a standing ovation.
I'll be honest, though: I am still a little shocked that Charlie had the tape. Who did you think had the tape, Agents?
C. Charles is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.


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BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. -- The eldest of the three Bergen County-born Jonas Brothers' home is on the market... again.
Kevin Jonas listed his $2.5 million Montville home in October. It went back on the market on Monday, for the same price.
Jonas, formerly of Wyckoff and Teaneck, first settled in Denville with his wife, Danielle, before moving to Boonton.
The couple sold that home for $1.95 million before upgrading to the Quarry Mountain Lane home in Montville.
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Customer Reviews
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September 30, 2012
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