text:
Missouri Center For the Book
I am both honored & delighted to announce that I have been elected to the board of the Missouri Center of the Book. What is that? I'm glad you asked!
The Missouri Center for the Book was established in 1993 "to bring the words and ideas of books into the thoughts and lives of Missourians." The Center is a statewide organization that promotes the importance of books and reading to Missouri residents, celebrates the state's literary heritage, and recognizes the contributions of Missouri's authors, book illustrators, booksellers, publishers, librarians, and others involved in the literary arts. The MCB is currently undergoing a major expansion, establishing regional chapters across the state in order to better serve all of Missouri's residents. We are proud to announce our primary sponsor in this expansion is The Mercantile Library, the oldest library west of the Mississippi, housed on the campus of the University of Missouri at St. Louis. This exciting new chapter of the MCB's history is being undertaken with the support and supervision of John Cole, the director of the National Center for the Book at the Library of Congress.
The Missouri Center is an affiliate of the national Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, which was established by law in 1977 to strengthen and celebrate the vital role of books, reading, and libraries in the cultural life of the nation.
The Center is governed by a board of directors composed of authors, publishers, librarians, editors, and community leaders. The board develops programs and plans activities that stimulate public interest in books and reading.
Here are just a few of the fabulous programs they support:
Letters about Literature: a competition which challenges young readers to write a personal letter of reflection to an author whose work somehow inspired them or changed their view of the world or themselves. The contest is sponsored nationally by the Library of Congress and locally by the Missouri Center for the Book and the Missouri State Library. The Missouri Center for the Book has sponsored the statewide contest since 1995, and in that time over 20,000 students in Missouri alone have participated in the program. There were 46,000 participants nationwide in 2013.
Entries are divided into three competition levels:
Level I (grades four through six)
Level II (grades seven and eight)
Level III (grades nine and ten)
First place, second place, and two honorable mention winners are awarded for each of the three competition levels in the state.
National Book Festival: the 13th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival will be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are honorary chairs for the event. This year's festival will feature authors, poets and illustrators in several pavilions. Festival-goers can meet and hear firsthand from their favorite poets and authors, get books signed, hear special entertainment, have photos taken with storybook characters and participate in a variety of activities. Check out this amazing line up of YA & Children authors:
- Katherine Applegate
- Paolo Bacigalupi
- Fred Bowen
- Monica Brown
- Lesa Cline-Ransome
- Giada De Laurentiis
- Brian Floca
- Kevin Henkes
- Jennifer L. Holm
- Matthew Holm
- Oliver Jeffers
- Jon Klassen
- Suzy Lee
- Grace Lin
- Rafael López
- Christopher Myers
- Kadir Nelson
- Richard Peck
- Andrea Davis Pinkney
- Brian Pinkney
- James Ransome
- Jon Scieszka
- Mark Teague
- William Wegman
Teens & Children
- Holly Black
- Susan Cooper
- Kathryn Erskine
- Richard Paul Evans
- Eric Gansworth
- Cynthia Kadohata
- Matthew J. Kirby
- Kirby Larson
- D.J. MacHale
- Lisa McMann
- Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
- Patrick Ness
- Katherine Paterson
- Matt de la Peña
- Tamora Pierce
- Matthew Quick
- Veronica Roth
- Sonya Sones
- James L. Swanson
- Rick Yancey
I am so proud to be a member of this board. In the words of president Larisa Cassell, "We are strong and poised to accomplish astonishingly marvelous things as we become a true Missouri Center for the Book, representing all regions with enthusiasm and dignity."
Altering Books
I recently held a workshop at Missouri State University for the Ozark Writing Project Summer Institute Fellows of 2013 on Altering Books.This type of Project-Based Learning is a comprehensive instructional approach to engage students in sustained, cooperative investigation (Bransford & Stein, 1993). Project-Based Learning differs from traditional inquiry by its emphasis on students' own artifact construction to represent what is being learned (Houghton Mifflin, 2009).Altered books are versatile and applicable to any subject. They can be used in almost any classroom, for a wide variety of purposes: journaling, creating poetry & short stories, outlining, using math manipulation to create pockets, 3-dimensional pop outs and sculptural additions, scientific observations, etc.
Another reason to consider using Altered Books in the classrom: student motivation. In Arts, Neuroscience, and Learning an article by James Zull, Professor of Biology and Director of the University
Center for Innovation in Teaching and Education at Case Western Reserve University (New Horizons for Learning, 2005), Zull states that the researcher understands that the learner feels rewarded when creating new objects or actions. It is further discovered that due to creativity being based on the creator, the reward system kicks in when we are in control and making things that we have thought of ourselves. Freedom and ownership are part and parcel of the neurochemistry of the arts. James Zull goes on to share in his article that the importance of arts in school is strongly associated with motivation and interest.
Here are just a few of the products created by the SI Fellows during the workshop:
Workshops and Retreats
This month I was blessed to be able to attend not one, not two, but three different SCBWI events -all of which helped me fine tune my writing skills.
The first event was an SCBWI Kansas Master Class: The Anatomy of a Teacher Guide and Why You Need One. the class was led by Debbie Gonzales, an author, blogger, educator, and former Regional Advisor for SCBWI in Austin, Texas.
In the class, Debbie began by began by discussing and sharing examples of some of the different types of guides that could be created: discussion (a list of multi-faceted questions that span the Bloom's Taxonomy levels which can be used at the end of the book), activity (contains things that children can manipulate like games, or make like recipes), teacher(written specifically with an instructor in mind, contain components of many of the other types- but with specific directives & examples on how to organize and present the material to students) or cross curricular (contain pages with activities or information that relate to multiple genres such as science, history, & math , in addition to literature connections). She reminded us that in order to have both academic and mass market appeal, guides should be age appropriate, have snazzy graphics, make use of white space, include lesson objectives tied to State Standards and/or National Core Curriculum, contain a brief overview of theme, plot and character, and give a chapter by chapter analysis.
The list of additional items that could be added was endless: photos, recipes, links to You Tube videos or iTunes songs, rubrics, evaluations, arts & crafts ideas, puzzles, games, projects, and literary element activities such as discussion questions, graphic organizers, Reader's Theatre writing prompts, research topics, and word study.
After Debbie gave a thorough overview of Common Core Standards, the real fun began! Participants used scissors, glue, markers, crayons, and templates provided by Debbie to create games based on their own novels or works in progress. Lastly, participants shared what they had created with the group.
This was a fabulous workshop. I am convinced that any author, whether their book is fiction or non-fiction, a picture book, Middle Grade or YA novel, will benefit by creating a guide. Check out Debbie's website www.debbiegonzales.com for examples and links.
The second event I attended was the SCBWI Missouri Advanced Writers' Retreat at Elfindale Masion. Along with 20 other participants, I spent an intense weekend in critique groups hammering out issues pointed out by Maggie Lehrman, Senior Editor at Abrams, who had read and commented on our manuscripts prior to the retreat. In addition to meeting with each of us individually, Maggie also addressed the entire group several times on such topics as voice, trends, and the history of Abrams Publishing. Everything about this retreat was fantastic: the food, the venue, and the people-I wish I could have kidnapped my entire critique group and brought them home with me, their feedback was so valuable!
Lastly, I attended another workshop, this one hosted by SCBWI Missouri: The Truth in Fiction, led by Margaret Stohl, author of the ICONS Series, May 7th release date from Little, Brown and the New York Times # 1 Bestselling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures Novels. Margaret was fabulous and inspiring! She shared her author's journey and then regaled us with anecdotes and helpful hints from both herself and other writers: Diana Athill, Margaret Atwood, Roddy Doyle, & Neil Gaiman, to name a few. My favorite advice: "Don't panic. Midway through writing a novel, I have regularly experienced moments of bowl-curdling terror, as i contemplate the drivel on the screen before me…Working doggedly on through crises like these, however, has always got me there in the end." Sarah Waters, and from Margaret Stohl, "Finish. Have friends that will carry you. Be Cracked and allow your reader to see how Cracked you truly are. they will relate, because they're Cracked too. Jump or stay in the boat. But really, jump." Be sure and take the time to visit this fantastic author if she is ever in your area.
So I'm off to apply all that I learned. Looking forward to fall when I plan on attending several more local area conferences!
Interview with Author Matt de la Pena
I first heard author Matt de la Pena speak in 2011 at the ALAN Conference in Chicago. When I became the ARA for SCBWI Missouri, I immediately began lobbying to bring him to our fall conference and I'm thrilled to report that he will be joining us in November 2013-I believe all of you will enjoy his wit and outlook on life as much as I did. I recently e-mailed Matt and asked if he'd agree to answer a few questions for Mo Scribbles. He graciously agreed. Read on to learn a little more about this fantastic author.
Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.
I was a mediocre student all through middle school and high school. I definitely didn't think of myself as a future writer. Basketball was my thing.I ended up going to college on a basketball scholarship, and it was there that I discovered literature and (eventually) my voice as a writer. My professors saw enough in my work to apply me — without my knowledge — to MFA programs increative writing. They asked to meet with me one day and explained that I'd been accepted by two of the five schools they sent my stories. I was ecstatic. I had no idea that you could "study" creative writing. The three
years I spent in grad school were amazing. I read everything in sight and watched my stories get stronger. One of the most important parts of the program, I think, was the chance to read and critique the work of others. I learned so much about craft listening to my classmates workshop a story that wasn't mine. After grad school I started my first novel — what would become Ball Don't Lie.
Who is your agent? How did he/she become your agent and what was your querying process like?
I was so ignorant about this process. Have to say, my MFA program didn't prepare us at all for the practical part of getting a book published. I went into one of those "guide to literary agents" books, found five agents (all of them lived in LA, where I was living at the time) and sent out some incredibly unprofessional query letters (someone please ask me about theseletters while I'm in MO). The first agent I signed with passed away a few months after he sold my first book. I'm now represented by Steve Malk — who is one of my favorite parts of my career.
What steps did you take after you got your first book deal? What are the essential marketing things you recommend authors do from signing the book deal contract
to the release of the book?
Oh, man. I had no idea what I was doing. I assumed I was going to become instantly famous and start dating Angelina Jolie. But she never called. Which I still think is weird. The best advice I can give is to stay focused on the work. It's great to network through social media and to be open to all events the publisher may ask you to do, but at the end of the day a writer should be focused on writing. My first agent once told me, "Don't cross your fingers while I'm out trying to sell this. Makes it hard to type." Find a balance. Be a good person. Be generous and humble. Don't only tweet out praise for you and your book (guys like me will be tempted to key your car). Be good to the people who work to edit and promote your work. And always be thinking about the next story you want to tell.
In January 2012, it became illegal to teach your novel Mexican White Boy in Tucson classrooms. Can you tell us your reaction to that?
I always wanted to get banned. I really did. How cool would it be say, "Man, my books are so raw people can't even read 'em." But when the Arizona thing happened, I was deeply saddened by the reality of the situation – my book Mexican WhiteBoy was essentially taken away from the readers who most identify with the world. That's when I realized the incredible travesty of censorship. The decision makers in Arizona are keeping Mexican-American readers away from Mexican-American storytellers. It quickly became clear to me that the decision was motivated by political fear of a growing population. Those in power wanted to keep their power, and one of their strategies was to limit the amount of information the feared group would be exposed to — especially if it might
collectively motivate them. Truthfully, AZ decision makers are okay with the growing population of Mexican-Americans as long as they're "good" Mexican-Americans. Really dangerous stuff. However, the strategy is backfiring. What they've ultimately done is create a generation of activists. I met some incredibly motivated students at Tucson High who feel they've been given a cause. And they're hungrier than ever for information. The worst part is, they probably "boxed" my book based on the title alone. There's absolutely nothing in the book that incites "racial resentment." The character is as white as he is Mexican. If you want more information about what happened in Tucson, here's a NY Times article about my visit to Tucson High:
You've published a wide variety of material: YA novels, picture books, short fiction, articles, and essays. Do you prefer one type over the other? Why?
My YA novels are my heart. I've had a lot of fun doing the picture books and the articles and essays, but I love writing novels. I love following a character around for three hundred pages.
You teach creative writing at NYU & Vermont College. Tell us about your writing schedule and how you stay productive while juggling teaching, your travel schedule, and writing deadlines.
When I'm in Brooklyn, I treat writing like a traditional job. I clock in at 7:30 and I write until 3:00 or so. When I'm on the road I have to be a little more creative. I have to write on planes and in hotels after school visits. I just try to work my butt off. There are definitely some brilliant writers out there who can sit down and bust out a beautiful draft of a novel in three months, but I'm not one of them. I have to work really, really hard.
Do you have a story about a favorite place you've visited as a writer? Or any perks/pitfalls you'd like to share as someone who has succeeded?
The talk I did at Tucson High (where Mexican WhiteBoy was boxed) was probably my all-time favorite visit. I love it when literature becomes bigger than itself. I've also had really great experiences in smaller towns like Pleasanton, Texas and Madras, Oregon and Lincoln, New Hampshire. Big cities are fun, but there's something really special about visiting small towns and meeting kids with big dreams.
Tell us about your latest project.
My next YA novel, The Living, comes out November 12. Shy is spending the summer working on a luxury cruise liner (I had to go on a cruise for research!), but while he's out on his second voyage the "big one" rocks the west coast of America. He has no idea if his family back home is dead or alive. Worse yet, the earthquakes cause a tsunami that sinks the cruise ship. Shy finds himself adrift in the ocean, alone, in a busted-up lifeboat. It's a disaster novel from the POV of my usual working-class characters. I'm currently working on the sequel which is titled The Forgotten. If I'm not finished by the conference, I'm going to be in big trouble!
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
To steal a phrase from the hoop world: Don't talk about, be about it. We all have dreams and ambitions and inspired story ideas. But the only thing that matters is what ends up on the page. Writing groups can be incredibly helpful. SCBWI is an invaluable experience. But try and keep your WIP a little close to the vest. Sometimes the passion it takes to verbally describe a great new idea will zap the energy you need to actually write it.
A Different Kind of March Madness
While everyone else is glued to the TV, I'm up to my eyeballs in registration forms for the 5th Annual Ozark Writing Project Middle Grade Conference. The conference is May 10, 2013 and will be held at Missouri State University. We are expecting 600-700 students and their teachers to attend. This year we are offering twenty three different writing sessions, taught by authors, writing project TCs & MSU students:Comic Books & Story Telling, Altered Books & Found Poems, Telling True Stories, Getting Wild With Writing, SLAM Poetry, Creative Writing in Digital Space, Whose Line is it Anyway?, Immersed in Verse, Mapping Your Setting, Appeal of Zany Inventions, Writing Though the Senses, TeamUp.WriteUp.CrackUp., Mapping the Past, Once Upon A Cool Motorcycle Dude, A World of My Own, Discover Your Writing Personality, Weaving Music Into Your Story, It's All About the Slant, Reality On Sale Today, Toils & Troubles & Twists…Oh My!, Creating Imaginative Worlds, Play Detective, and Write a Spooky Story.
Needless to say-putting on an event this large is time consuming and requires a lot of work! Recently, I was reminded why it's all worth it. Branson, one of the schools that attends the OWP Youth Conference asks the students who wish to attend to write letters explaining why. One of the teachers passed a few of them on-they are precious!
Here are a few excerpts:
I love to write…Wait, I don't just love to write writing is my life. I write at school, at home, in the car and at any restaurant that allows pen and paper. I will write …about anything.
I think the Young Authors Conference is an excellent opportunity to learn about many different types of writing and skills that authors use. I think I would be a good young author to bring on the trip to Missouri State University because I love writing and I am very eager to learn new writing skills and forms of writing. I also want to be an author when I grow up and I want to start learning how to become a better one now.
I would love to go to the Young Writers Conference at Missouri State University because, well,I've always loved tp write. I think its really fun to sit down at your desk with a pencil and just put all of my thoughts onto paper. A pencil and paper is all you need to take you on a journey to somewhere…I really like how you can just go into your own little world while writing, explore new things that you've never bothered to before. Be yourself. Express your thoughts, feelings, and, well, you.
And so I'll continue to toil. Who knows, we may be inspiring a future J.K. Rowling!
Networking at Art of the Book Workshop
I spent a delightful day at the MSU Brick City building. Many of the workshop participants were friends & acquaintances from the OWP and it was nice to catch up on what they've been doing. In addition, I had a chance to chat with James Baumlin, a professor at MSU and editor at Moon City Press. I look forward to partnering with him on future ventures, possibly a project involving The Big Read. I was also impressed with Judith Fowler. I am hoping she'll be able to present at the OWP Youth Conference and she may prove to be a valuable contact for the SCBWI illustrators.
The conference opened with Prof. Richards discussing the history of literacy. Did you know that one of the first fiction stories ever recorded was about the pharoh's wife losing her wig?
He also shared facsimiles of old books.
Then Judith Fowler led a workshop on various techniques for book making.
After lunch, participants learned how to make several other foldables and reflected on how to implement using book making in the classroom. Prof Baumlin shared materials on Poe he will be publishing soon for The Big Read. After a quick tour of the gallery and collecting $50 gift certificates to use towards supplies for book making in the classroom, we dispersed. I'd like to thank Dr. Keri Franklin for the opportunity to speak at this event-as always, my association with the Ozark Writing Project continues to expand my horizons!
The Art of The Book Workshop & More…
I'm so thrilled to be a part of the NWP. Those folks have their fingers in a lotta pies! As the OWP Youth Coordinator, I recently met with our site team at MSU to begin planning the 5th annual MG Youth Conference, which I expect to draw 750 students and teachers, on Friday, May 10. I'm honored to be flying to the Spring meeting in DC on behalf of our site in March. Members from across the country will be lobbying for the return of federal funding for the NWP. I also happily agreed to present at Dinner & Demo in April- an event where teachers can get together , have a bite to eat and share best practices. Next, I set a tentative date for a Writing Marathon in July, and when Dr. Keri Franklin, our site director, mentioned a Weekend Writing Retreat might be fun, I actively began the search for a site. Think I'll shoot for October for that one! But first things first-I'm pleased to be a part of The Book Workshop Team. Hope those of you in the area will come & join us! See details below.
"The Art of the Book"
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Saturday, February 9, in Room 102 of Brick City Art Building (MSU downtown campus)
One hour of graduate credit at a 50% reduction
Save your seat today! http://bit.ly/11nDiE4
Workshop Description and Aims
This daylong teacher-training workshop contributes to a statewide NEA-funded project that is being administered by the Missouri Center for the Book (MCB, of which Dr. Baumlin is a board member); the MCB is a state affiliate of the national Library of Congress and housed in the State Library in Jefferson City. This statewide project, "Celebrating the Art of the Book," promotes literacy in the schools by providing hands-on workshops to students (primarily in middle school grades) on "book arts." Using the National Writing Project model, the focus in southwest Missouri is provide hands-on workshops to teachers to help them find ideas for celebrating the art of the book in their classrooms with students. The immediate aim of this teacher-training workshop is to provide a pedagogic model for as many as twenty K-12 teachers in the Ozarks region. Drawn from among area teachers in all disciplines, participants will be expected to replicate the workshop's four omponents in their own classrooms, for their own students. These components include:
(1) a brief discussion of the history of the book and demonstration of the traditional manuscript- and print-based technologies pertaining to the codex format;
(2) a composition component, when students produce their own verbal/visual texts;
(3) a component in book layout/design, when students will learn ways to arrange their texts/illustrations in page formats;
(4) a component in techniques for folding, binding, and cutting pages, when students will put finishing touches on books of their own creation.
One immediate outcome of these workshops will be the students' own books which, under their teachers' guidance, they will have made for themselves. A second outcome will be the students' heightened understanding of and appreciation for the historical, technological, literary, and esthetic elements of the traditional codex-book—in sum, for what a book is and how it is produced. (This
second outcome addresses the cultural "shift" from print- to web-based communication; it is a reminder to students that "book arts" matter.) A third and most important outcome is to raise the students' verbal/visual literacy skills by immersing students in activities of reading/writing and technical/esthetic judgment. Having made a book of their own, students will be inspired to read and appreciate the books of others.
Note that a precondition for participation is that teachers commit to replicating the aims/techniques taught in this workshop in their own classrooms. By this means, the "Teacher-Training Workshop in 'The Art of the Book'" can reach and impact 1,000+ students across the Ozarks.
NEA funds ($3,000) will be used primarily to provide complementary books and modest stipend-incentives to school teachers who attend and to cover workshop costs of the workshop, e.g. beverages and lunch. The complementary book will be Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe: An Enriched Edition. This book has been selected for the April 2013 "Big Read," a local literacy initiative sponsored by the Springfield-Green County Public Library System, to which our proposed teacher-training workshop gives support. This is a book that some teachers (and/or their students) may want to pattern their own "book arts" workshop upon.
Additional resources (paper and art supplies, promotional/organizational oversight, correspondence with participants, etc.) will be supplied by the art education program and "Arts on heels" program (Dir. Judith Fowler) of the MSU Department of Art and Design and by the Ozarks Writing Project (Dr. Keri Franklin), which has assumed an institutional leadership role in this teacher-training workshop. As a further incentive for workshop participants, Dr. Franklin of the OWP has formally requested that the University offer one hour reduced credit fee and waive student fees for ENG 665.001: Literature and Language. Participants who wish to receive graduate credit for this teacher-training workshop may enroll in ENG 665 for the spring 2013 semester. Please fill out this form to enroll in the course: http://outreach.missouristate.edu/assets/outreach/Spring2013CourseEnroll.pdf.
Tentative "Workshop Schedule
"Teacher-Training Workshop in 'The Art of the Book'" is scheduled for February 9, 2013 in Room 102 of the Department of Art and Design's Brick City Building in the MSU downtown Springfield campus. This workshop will be an opportunity for the art education program to show off its newly-refurbished downtown facility. A schedule follows.
9:00 a.m. Coffee and welcoming remarks by Dr. Rachelle Darabi, MSU Associate Provost for Student Development and Public Affairs.
9:10-10:00 Presentation by Prof. Richards on the history and technologies of literacy (confirmed), with a break for questions. (Mr. Richards will show artifacts/facsimiles demonstrating
the evolution of writing and its preservation in written/printed texts.)
10:10-12:00 and 1:00-3:00: Presentation by Dr. Franklin and Professor Fowler will present on creating books and illustrations and incorporating writing. (Participants will be led through writing exercises applicable to K-12 audiences in order to generate texts.) Simultaneously, Prof. Fowler will work with individuals/small groups to discuss options in formatting. Presentation by Dr.
Fowler on book illustration and various techniques of folding papers and making bindings/book covers. A brief break follows.
12:10 p.m.-1:00 Lunch with Ms. Piddington, who will describe her work as a children's author and literacy advocate.
3:10-4:00 A post-workshop talk-back facilitated by Dr. Baumlin on the materials covered and ways that participants plan to use these materials in their own classrooms.
Co-sponsoring partners (campus, community, state, and national):
Missouri State University Department of English
Missouri State University Department of Art and Design
Ozarks Writing Project
(OWP, Dir. Dr. Keri Franklin)
MSU "Arts on Wheels" Program
(Dir. Judith Fowler)
Springfield-Greene County Public Library System (SGCPLS)
Various Greene County Public School Systems
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
Missouri Center for the Book (MCB)
Project Organizer (for MCB, on behalf of NEA): Dr. James S. Baumlin, MSU Department of English
Workshop Presenters: Dr. Keri Franklin, MSU Department of English and Director, Ozarks Writing Project , Ms. Judith Fowler, MSU Professor, Department of Art and Design, Ms. Kim
Piddington, children's novelist and OWP Co-Director for Youth Programs, Mr. David Richards, MSU Professor of Library Science and Head of Archives and Special Collections.
2012 SCBWI Missouri Fall Conference
Since I am the ARA for SCBWI Missouri, I may be a bit prejudiced, but I think our Fall Conference was a huge success. The facilities and food at Linwood University were top notch. The Italian buffet was delicious! However, it was the faculty that really stole the show. We had insightful keynote addresses from author David Harrison (The Writer at Work), editor Emma Dryden (Driving Through the Digital Landscape: Fasten Your Seatbelts and Don't Close Your Eyes), illustrator Will Terry(Changing Tides), and author Ellen Hopkins (Writing Bravely). Breakout sessions proved productive. Attendees chose between sessions led by Terry for illustrators, Hopkins for advanced writers, Harrison for authors, and a "combo" session led by Polette, Harness, & Igalls that focused on Nonfiction,Education Markets, and School Visits. During lunch, attendees were treated to a visit from a panel of authors Jody Feldman, Beth Fehlbaum, Jo Knowles, Deborah Heiligman, Selene Castrovilla, and Shannon Delany, who were in town for YALSA. Lastly, critiques were available for both illustrators and authors from either Terry, Dryden, or several editors from Harper Collins. Agent Regina Brooks was slated to attend, however the recent disaster on the East Coast derailed her. She will be e-mailing her critiques to participants at a later date.
On a personal note, Friday night, I enjoyed dinner with Emma Dryden who is personable, knowledgeable, and a true professional! The conference presented an opportunity to reconnect with authors that I've met at previous events and whose company I really enjoy. Saturday evening, sharing cocktails and dinner with Ellen Hopkins was a perfect way to end the day. A weekend in St. Charles would not be complete without a short shopping trip to the historic district -where I picked up multiple bottles of Red Ghost hot sauce for my husband. And we took the scenic route home, stopping for lunch in wine country.
If you are a children's author or illustrator-I urge you to join SCBWI and start taking advantage of all the wonderful opportunities the organization offers.
Springfield Writers' Guild Meeting
Today I had the pleasure of attending the SWG monthly meeting at Heritage Cafe. During mentor hour, we critiqued work by several authors, mostly picture book manuscripts. I always enjoy reading the work of others, and these manuscripts were engaging: its hard to go wrong with characters like Jerky James, plots that include monsters under the bed, and humorous musing about thin lipped chickens. Here's hoping we see all of these in our local book store soon.
The keynote speaker was Brian Katcher, author of Almost Perfect, the 2011 Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award, and Playing With Matches, winner of the 2010-2011 North Carolina Young Adult Book Award and a Show Me Award nominee. Mr. Katcher offered hopeful authors the following tips:
1. Finish the book.
2. Join a writers' group to help you spot problems in your manuscript.
3. Try entering contests-he got his break this way. Even if you don't win, your manuscript may catch the eye of an editor or agent.
4. Don't get dejected by rejections, keep sending your manuscript out.
5. Be ready to rewrite again, and again, and again.
6. Check sites like Writer's Beware and Editor's and Predators before signing a contract with an agent or publishing house.
Mr. Katcher was humorous and gave a realistic picture of what it's like to get your big break. He cautioned authors to remember that you're only as good as your last novel. He will be speaking Nov.2-4 at the YA Literature Symposium, Hyatt Regency, St. Louis, and if you are in the area, I recommend you check him out.
41st Annual SCBWI Summer Conference
From the moment SCBWI founder Lin Oliver lit the opening match to start the parade of faculty; to the last keynote given by author Gary Schmidt, the 2012 SCBWI Summer Conference was magic.
There was almost too much to see and do. Inspiring keynotes. Agent panels. Editor panels. Picture Book panels. Intensives. Critiques. Parties and socials. Workshops and signings and award banquets, oh my!
Here is a list of my top ten moments:
10. The presentation of quilts with squares done by SCBWI illustrators (Tomie de Paola, Paul Zelinsky, & E.B. Lewis to name just a few) to Chelsea and Sarah at their baby shower. The quilts are true works of art. Museum worthy. Really. Another exciting party moment: the flash mob dance to Age of Aquarius at the Hippie Hop. Enough said.
9. The daily Olympic/Literary jokes. A few of my favorites: Big Bad Wolf blows lead. Phelps diet plan revealed; One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Bittersweet ending for Willy Wonka.
8. The faculty introducing themselves with a single word. One of my favorites was Matthew Kirby. His word, commit. Fiction not crime. This made me giggle before I'd even had coffee.
7. Keynote speaker Tony Diterlizzi. Funny, funny, funny.
6. Editor Ari Lewin's workshop on writing fantasy. Her advice: tease the reader, use character & world building, not explanations or magic, in the opening scenes.
5. Keynote speaker Patricia Maclachlan. She says, "Children learn how to speak so they can tell us the stories that are already in their heads."
4. Editor Elise Howard's workshop on the realistic fiction market. Her advice: it all starts with intriguing characters.
3. Keynote speaker Karen Cushman, who said the following, "Seek surprise. Write with passion, dream big, and trust yourself. And remember, sometimes it's necessary to write and sometimes it's necessary to pull weeds." A woman after my own heart.
2. Keynote by Gary Schmidt. He made me laugh. He made me cry. Then he made me laugh again. What a spectacular story teller.
1. Deborah Halverson's intensive class titled Writing for Teens? Then Think Like One. She said to sound authentic your teen
characters need to ditch self awareness and stop analyzing others. She advises authors to: embrace their inner drama queen. Think big and push hard. Show, don't preach. And finally, become italics unfriendly. What I wouldn't give to have this woman edit
my manuscript!
Like most attendees, I've returned home from the 2012 SCBWI Summer Conference with my creative spirit renewed and new tools for my writer's toolbox.


text:
Texas singer-songwriter Robert Ellis is inspired by what he knows best. His nostalgia-filled debut album, Photographs, is like a series of snapshots culled directly from Ellis' life. Acoustic guitars and banjo licks climb gently over the lyrics as he paints beautiful pictures of home life, relationships and love. Ellis' twangy, traditional vocals stand out over the subtle yet skillful guitar-driven instrumentation. It's time-honored, down home country music with a bit of a modern folk twist and musical simplicity at its very finest.
While Photographs won't be available in stores until July 5, you can exclusively stream the entire record via the player below.
video platform
video management
video solutions
video player {SEO}

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I led the redesign of an iconic publishing site. How can I help you?
My name is Dale Geist, and I'm a UX designer who also does front-end coding, with a specialty in Drupal.
Since starting my web career in 2005, I've been lucky enough to contribute to award-winning tech startups, iconic publishing brands, premium consumer brands, and worthy causes. My proudest moment was the launch of the all-new No Depression site, where I got to see my work pay off in the revival of a beloved music publishing brand.
In addition to my web work, I'm a gigging singer-songwriter and a student of American music history. I live in the town of Sonoma, California, with my wife, two Little Leaguers, cats, dogs, chickens, and goats.
I'd love to help you with your project. Drop me a line.


text:
The donation of 375 video works from the Goetz Collection to the Free State of Bavaria in 2014 seals a gap in the Bavarian museum landscape while simultaneously continuing Munich's long-standing tradition as a film and media hub in Germany. The endowment now provides a variety of opportunities for future displays in the area of video and new-media art. Last year saw the launch of the art-film festival KINO DER KUNST, which garnered international attention from the moment the lights dimmed for its very first screening. KINO DER KUNST is about to be held for the second time, with events taking place from 22 April to 26 April 2015.
The Goetz endowment and the upcoming festival now provide the perfect opportunity for a comprehensive exhibition of video works at both the Pinakothek der Moderne and Museum Brandhorst. The exhibition 'Creating Realities – Encounters between Art and Cinema' takes a closer look at fictional narration in contemporary new-media and video art and also draws from the theme of this year's KINO DER KUNST festival.
On show are works by 17 video artists who were born in the decades from the 1960s to the 1980s. This generation of artists uses new media art to explore the reception and reflection of narrative cinema. The curators have selected some films and multi-channel video installations with a fictional character and innovative narrative structure. What they all share is a hermetically sealed, immersive visual world, as well as an outlook that is lyrical or utopian.
In a confrontation with the traditional cinematic narrative, events follow a linear, transparent temporality. But spoken language is not always the medium that supports the action. Communication often takes place without words; sometimes silence produces a complete history of its own or makes the unconscious or subconscious tangible.
Works by Ulla von Brandenburg (DEU), Sven Johne (DEU), Jesper Just (DNK),
Sam Taylor-Wood (GBR), Yang Fudong (CHN)
In the study of narrative, an omission of events that are not essential for the progress of a story is called an "ellipse". The works gathered here are so fragmented or tell a story with so many perspectives that the narrative construction becomes an enigma. What is true; how do the individual parts fit together? How reliable is the story?
Works by Keren Cytter (ISR), Omer Fast (ISR), John Gerrard (IRL), Pierre Huyghe (FRA),
Philipp Lachenmann (DEU), Clement Page (GBR)
As a conceptual image, the title "Neighbour's Yard" awakens associations with voyeurism, or with something that perhaps lies in the dark, but also of otherness. It is a look into a different world as well as a game with different identities and roles. Pictorial aesthetics of television, cinema, internet and social networks offer inspiration. The analog and digital worlds merge.
Works by Ed Atkins (GBR), Brice Dellsperger (FRA), Bjørn Melhus (DEU), Ryan Trecartin (USA), Andro Wekua (GEO)
The computer desktop seems to be the new window on the world, digitally supported and as flat as the surface of a tablet. Reality appears to be a networked structure and, with increasing speed, a deconstruction and reconfiguration of conventional ideas. Narrative develops from the permanent circulation of diverse information found in image, text and sound.
Works by Camille Henrot (FRA)
Opening: April 21, 2015, 7 p.m.
Pinakothek der Moderne
Opening Hours
Daily except Mon 10 a.m. – 6 p.m, Thu 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Pinakothek der Moderne
Barer Str. 40
80333 München
Museum Brandhorst
Theresienstr. 35 a
80333 München


text:
2015 NASA Day of Remembrance
NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida payed tribute to the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other NASA astronauts who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery, during the agency's Day of Remembrance on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015.
At 10:30 a.m. EST, Kennedy Deputy Director Janet Petro, Kennedy associate director Kelvin Manning, and President and Chief Executive Officer of The Astronauts Memorial Foundation Thad Altman held a wreath-laying ceremony at the Space Mirror Memorial located in the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Petro made brief remarks at the observance.
Photo Credit: Talia Landman


text:
Chateau Ste Michelle Gewurtztraminer Columbia Valley, 2009 White wine with a hint of effervescence
More posts
- Chateau Ste Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Rating:
- Chateau Ste. Michelle (Indian fields) can sav (Columbia valley). Good price at Triangle. Sale? Really good!
- Light body,fruity and sweet Crisp and tangy and pairs well with a variety of food(like bbq chips) Grape used-Riesling Tastes like citrus,peach and apple Grown in Washington state Originally a German wine #1 best selling Riesling in US
- Very smooth
- 2011 Indian Wells - one of my favs


text:
Publisher: HQN Books
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Origins: From Publicist for Review
Synopsis: Charlotte Morgan grew up in Mustang Creek, Wyoming, and couldn't wait to escape to the big city. But life in New York isn't as fabulous as she'd like to admit—she's lonely, doing a job she doesn't love and dating too many frogs she meets online.
There was one potential prince, though—Jaxon Locke, a veterinarian with definite possibilities—but his move to Idaho to fill in at his dad's vet practice ended things just as they were getting interesting. What Charlotte doesn't know is that he misses her, more than he expected…
Meanwhile, Charlotte's great-aunt Geneva—the woman who raised her—needs to enter an assisted-living facility. So, just before Christmas, Charlotte moves back home. When Jax catches wind of her move back West, he's determined to get to Wyoming and do whatever it takes to win her back.
Christmas in Mustang Creek is a magical time in a magical place, not least because of a mysterious visitor named Mrs. Klozz. She knows that love is the greatest gift of all, and she's ready to help out Santa by giving these two a push in the right direction!
Review: Charlotte (Charlie) Morgan was raised in Mustang Creek, Wyoming, but left country life behind in order to experience the big city. Her relationship with veterinarian Jaxon Locke was seemingly perfect, but Jaxon loves the country life, and when he must go home to help with his father's vet practice their relationship falls apart. Months later, Charlie's out of a job and her aunt, who raised her after the death of her parents, is in failing health so Charlie decides to go back to Mustang Creek. However, she doesn't expect to find Jaxon Locke there, too. He's the new vet at the local Mustang Creek practice and he still loves Charlie with all his heart. CHRISTMAS IN MUSTANG CREEK is a sweet country romance which gives readers an uplifting sense of Christmas cheer. Of course, Jax and Charlie have a little help in the romance department from Mrs. Klozz, the woman who is staying at Aunt Geneva's house while she's in a nursing home. CHRISTMAS IN MUSTANG CREEK is a light romance with little conflict and a tender happily ever after.


text:
What's the Latest Development?
The Information Age has made humans more managers of knowledge than vessels for it. As a result, our schools are debating whether students should still memorize facts and formulas so readily accessible on any smartphone, or if they should concentrate on the concepts that bind those facts and give them meaning. "Memorization has enjoyed a surge of defenders recently," according to Ben Orlin, a high school teacher in Oakland, CA. "They argue that memorization exercises the brain and even fuels deep insights. They say our haste to purge old-school skills-driven teaching from our schools has stranded a generation of students upriver without a paddle."
What's the Big Idea?
Orlin argues that while memorization served students well in the past, its primary purpose was to help students cope with the technological constraints of the day. "What separates memorization from learning is a sense of meaning. When you memorize a fact, it's arbitrary, interchangeable--it makes no difference to you whether sine of π/2 is one, zero, or a million. But when you learn a fact, it's bound to others by a web of logic. It could be no other way." To encourage students to learn facts, teachers must alter tests to emphasize concepts, rather than continue to test students on their ability to memorize lessons.
Photo credit: Shutterstock.com


text:
Room Rates range from $119.00 to $249.00 depending on Room Type and Season.
All 19 rooms are individually decorated, have private bath, down comforter in winter, down pillows, telephone with voicemail, cable TV, ceiling fans, shampoo & soap, hair dryers and daily maid service and WiFi.
- Most rooms are limited to 2 people, please ask about rollaways.
- 3rd floor balcony rooms have spectacular views but are quaint with slanted ceilings.
- 2nd floor queen and twins have 10 foot ceilings.
- $30.00 per night for 3rd person
- Two doubles – One room has 2 double beds, and a mountain view. OK for 3 people
- Queen and Twin – One room has 1 queen bed and one twin bed. 3/4 bath Ok for 3 people.
Queen with Balcony
from $179 per night
King with Balcony
from $209 per night
from $199 per night
from $169 per night
from $169 per night


text:
- Home
- Deluxe Ironing Station
Product Description
Sorry this item is no longer available. Check out the Full Size Ironing Center. There are some who say a good idea is hard to improve upon. But the Deluxe Ironing Station is proof that they're wrong. It features a full-size ironing surface that measures 49 by 18 inches, accommodating even the largest items with ease and has an expanded mesh metal top that prevents warping from heat and steam. Its long lasting durability is only the beginning. This deluxe ironing board also includes time saving safety enhancers like built-in rolling rear wheels, allowing you to move the board from place to place without having to carry it. And the oversize iron rest cradles larger irons with patented heat proof silicone pads that prevent burns. It's fully adjustable up to 36 inches, meeting the needs of your unique height requirements – both high and low – and comes with protective PVC non-skid feet that prevent sliding and scratching on your floors. The increased functionality and simplicity found in the Deluxe Ironing Station just goes to show: there's always room for improvement. Looking for a wall mounted ironing board? Don't miss our full selection of ironing boards and accessories. Benefits in Detail:
Full-size ironing surface, measuring 49 by 18 inches, allows you to iron everything from the smallest napkin to the largest tablecloth. Built-in rolling rear wheels make moving the board easier. Oversize four leg system locks in place to provide a sturdy ironing surface that resists tipping. Expanded mesh metal top allows condensation to escape, preventing warping from heat and steam. Larger iron rest accommodates full-size irons and includes patented heat-proof silicone pads to prevent it from becoming too hot. Oversized 35mm tubing provides reliable stability and prevents wobbling and tipping. Height adjusts up to 36 inches to accommodate a wide range of height requirements. Features non-skid PVC feet, keeping the board firmly in place during use and protecting your flooring from marks, scratches and other damage. Also features spray bottle holder, shirt rack for hanging finished items, and a wire tray beneath the board for conveniently storing folded clothes.
Product Reviews
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!


text:
Camellia flowers
B804/4346 Rights Managed
530 pixels on longest edge, unwatermarked
Request/Download high-res file
Uncompressed file size: 56.8MB
Downloadable file size: 17.4MB
Please login to use the price calculator
Credit: GEOFF KIDD/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Release details: Model release not required. Property release not required.
Keywords: agm, blooms, botanical, botany, camellia x williamsii debbie, close-up, daibi, evergreen, flower, flowering, flowers, garden, horticultural, horticulture, nature, new zealand champ, peony-form, pink, plant, plants, portrait, semi-double, shrub, shrubs, spring, two, vertical
Licence fees: A licence fee will be charged for any media (low or high resolution) used in your project.


text:
Why Indian Railway Must Change It's Announcements?
Yesterday, while I was waiting for my train at Ernakulam Railway station, an announcement came… "Attention Passengers:Train Number 553366 Trivandrum-Mangalore Express is JUST arriving on platform number 2"….
How Much is USD 170 Million in Crores?
How to Disable that Ridiculous App Notifications on Your Android Phone
Tell me if this sounds familiar: You are in the middle of an important work and suddenly your phone buzzes with a "ding".
3 Must Have Qualities of a Serious Entrepreneur
Why do some entrepreneurs fail even though they are better educated, better planned and had enough funds?


text:
Outfit details: Sunnies - Sunglass Warehouse. Tank, skirt, belt, bracelet - Ann Taylor. Pumps - Target. Earrings - I don't remember. Shirt - I don't remember, but here's a similar one.
A button-up shirt, a pencil skirt and a pair of basic black heels are my work wear staples for summer. Though I normally like to wear a full suit, it's much too hot for that in July!
I go in for a Saturday morning shift a couple times a month, and yesterday was one of them. These were taken after a few sweaty hours of entertaining customers outside, then enjoying sushi at Hanami. I'm all for hard work, as long as I get to eat. Mmm, food...
Anyway, I'll make this one short and somewhat sweet, as I still haven't unpacked after a week in my new space and only have a few hours left of my weekend. I almost showed you a photo of my bed surrounded by boxes, but I'll save that for a before/after post. ;)


text:
Combine 1 package salad dressing mix, flour, and pepper, to taste, in a large plastic bag. Set aside. Combine another package salad dressing mix, egg, and 2 cups buttermilk in a shallow bowl. Soak steaks in buttermilk mixture. Remove 1 steak and toss in flour mixture. Shake off any excess flour and dip again in the buttermilk mixture. Return to flour mixture and toss. Repeat process for remaining steaks.
Heat 1/2-inch layer of oil in a large cast iron skillet to 350 degrees F. Place 2 steaks in the pan at a time. Cook for 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
To make the gravy, combine 1 cup buttermilk, chicken broth, and gravy package in small saucepan. Bring to simmer over medium heat and stir well. Top steaks with gravy and serve with mashed potatoes and gravy, if desired.
Check Out Our
Get a sneak-peek of the new Food Network recipe page and give us your feedback.See it Now!


text:
What is mechanical engineering? What a mechanical engineering does? How did the mechanical engineering change through ages? What is the future of mechanical engineering? This book answers these questions in a lucid manner. It also provides a brief chronological history of landmark events and answers questions such as: When was steam engine invented? Where was first CNC machine developed? When did the era of additive manufacturing start? When did the marriage of mechanical and electronics give birth to discipline of mechatronics? This book informs and create interest on mechanical engineering in the general public and particular in students. It also helps to sensitize the engineering fraternity about the historical aspects of engineering. At the same time, it provides a common sense knowledge of mechanical engineering in a handy manner.Uday Shanker Dixit, Manjuri Hazarika, J. Paulo Davim. three-dimensional ... The pioneering work in the area of heat due to friction was done by Thames Benjamin , Count of Rumford, in 1798 (Benjamin 1798). Joule (1850) provided theanbsp;...
|A Brief History of Mechanical Engineering
|Uday Shanker Dixit, Manjuri Hazarika, J. Paulo Davim
|Springer - 2016-08-13
You must register with us as either a Registered User before you can Download this Book. You'll be greeted by a simple sign-up page.
Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page.How it works:


text:
How Is My Site?
View Results
BlissfulSims.com is a Sims 4 website among the Sims community. We are a website that supports The Sims 4 games by offering you many items for download to expand and enhance your gaming enjoyment for The Sims 4. We offer tutorials, downloads, suggestions, and much more.
Read More


text:
The KARAOKE Channel is the ultimate KARAOKE experience. 4 ways to experience KARAOKE at its best: Karaoke Online Community, Karaoke for Mobile, Karaoke Download Store and KARAOKE on TV.
No coupon codes have been listed for this site. If you find one please submit it (using the form to the right) for other QponCoupon.com users to view.You could also try posting a request from facebook discussion board.


text:
MIDLAND - Midland is not only a model of economic growth amid a boom, but also is an example of what's needed for long-term, sustained growth, according to Andres Alcantar, the chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission.
At 4.2 percent in July, the most recent numbers available, Midland had the lowest unemployment rate in the state. Odessa followed at a close second with a rate of 4.9 percent in July, according to data from the commission.
Whether through pushing for development of infrastructure to meet needs or recruiting non-energy businesses, such as Midland Development Corp. did with XCOR Aerospace, Midland leaders are looking ahead, according to Alcantar.
Our twice-weekly e-newsletter provides a quick overview of Texas real estate markets. Because your time is valuable.


text:
iPad for sports addicts?
The CEO of Walt Disney seems to be aligned to his largest shareholder's latest toy, the "magical and revolutionary product at an unbelievable price."
The most interesting comment in the AP interview of Bob Iger is the potential of the iPad for couch potatoes — not the geeks but the jocks:
"We find that the iPad has a lot of potential. We think it's a really compelling device. We think it could be a game changer in terms of enabling us to create essentially new forms of content."This to me is a major opportunity for the iPad — a portable device with hypertext-linked videos.
"ESPN ScoreCenter, which is a great app on the iPhone, and provides relatively rudimentary information, scores, basically, suddenly we have an opportunity with a platform where you can really make the scores come to life."
Of course, that assumes the content provider is willing to deliver the content without Flash. ABC (and ESPN) are willing to do so — and perhaps Hulu will too.


text:
But, I firmly believe that it is not Obama's solo prerogative to solve things in the world. He alone cannot do it and should not be given the responsibility to do it. After all, what justice is it to overload one man with the problems of the magnitude that are confronting us today? Solving job losses, pay cuts, no hikes, drowning brands and companies that are household names, inflation, high interest rates, declining revenues, taxes, poverty, AIDS eradication, the I's (Iraq, Israel) and the K's (Korean) and the P's (Pakistan, Palestine), are just a few of the things on this man's 'to do' list.
What we need is a collective endeavour to attack the world's problem head on. There needs to be a greater and more actionable role for the UNO (after all, it was created in the height of the mess in the 1940s', right?). We also need greater resolve from top funding agencies like the IMF, World Bank etc, in conjunction with banking institutions - and by that, I mean, exercising basic rules of credit checks while disbursing loans, be it a retail, government or corporate consumer.
I also feel that people around the world should stop saying that their solution is the only solution around. Liberalisation has brought this "know-it-all" attitude amongst a varied many, that can have a ripple effect (negatively) - as sound theory and alternate opinion will dissolve. For good opinions not to dissolve, I think we need a global central agency for policy reforms - not just country level. Some sort of a central authority that takes in inputs from various people around the world and presents the most actionable inputs to the 'powers-that-be' (Obama & his ilk). My reason is that, solutions may emerge even from the unfanciest of places possible and we need not always believe that pin-striped guys travelling in limos are the solutions to the world.
All in all, it is certainly not Obama's sole prerogative. He has a role to play. So do the rest of us.


text:
ImRage: 100% Free DLC — Why You Should Support Tekken Tag Tournament 2
As many of you might know, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is due to be released tomorrow and, even before the game's release, I'm of the opinion that it's destined to succeed. The tag system looks exciting, the battles look intense and it's overflowing with features; but those factors alone are never enough to guarantee a successful game. What might be more important to it becoming successful is the philosophy behind TTT2; a philosophy that is practically non-existent in developers nowadays. But before we get to that, try this mental exercise quickly: how much would you be willing to pay for a ten character DLC? R50? R100? R200?. Well here's a Tweet from TTT2's head developer and here's what he has to say about it.
Try 0. Read it again once you've picked up your jaw because I absolutely struggled to believe it the first time. Is this really a developer going that extra mile to produce a better game? It's as scarce in today's industry as a flying cat. It's actually quite an absurdity when you consider that the game already has 50 characters ready to play off the disc. Think about that for a second, fifty. That's more than any other fighting game released this generation, more than any Tekken game ever released and there are at least ten more, all downloadable or unlockable for free with Harada promising to work on more in the future. Ten more brings the roster up to 60. Tekken 6 had 41 playable fighters and that was considered ridiculous. Even Super Street Fighter IV's cast of 35 was considered to be varied and large. 60, and possibly more, just dwarfs it by such a huge factor that its hard to even imagine it. (Full list can be found here.)
- You'll Be Able To Play (Expensive) PS2 Games On Your PS4 Now | 2 months ago
- Jessica Jones Disempowers Its Male Characters And The Effect Is Refreshing | 2 months ago
- Hell Is 30 000 Deathclaws Tearing Through Boston And It's Glorious | 2 months ago
- Sony Santa Monica Is Teasing Something Truly Strange | 2 months ago
It seems too good to be true but in a time when video game developers are too cheap to even include an instruction booklet in their games any more, you have a development team that is trying as hard as it can to fill their game with as much quality content as possible. You can argue quantity versus quality but the Tekken series has always had high quality characters with great models (which have improved since Tekken 6) and between 50-100 moves each so it's hard to be disappointed as a Tekken fan when nearly every character that the franchise has ever seen is playable in this one game. And that's not even counting the other free DLC extras. I'm sure the Dead or Alive fans who purchased their Bikini costumes would be jealous when they find out Tekken Tag is giving the exact same thing to its fans free of charge.
I'm actually finding it hard to stay my usual objective self on this and I can't help but feel the excitement. So many games nowadays are minimalist experiences and once you get through the meagre scraps that they throw at you for about six to eight hours you pretty much have no reason to ever play the game again other than sheer debilitating boredom. Worse yet is the state that the Fighting Game genre is in at the moment thanks to Crapcom. It should come as no surprise to those of you who read this column on a regular basis that even though I am a huge fan of the Devil May Cry and Street Fighter franchises, I hate Capcom and everything they stand for. I actually wrote about why I consider them to be the current generation's worst developers right here and one of my main reasons for despising them was because of their desire to constantly push more and more paid DLC till it became an industry standard.
And sadly, constant paid DLC is becoming an industry norm. Recently, a BioWare developer spoke up to defend Day 1 DLC (click here) and I quote him saying: "Every game is an ongoing service, almost like an MMO, where on any given day new content shows up. Maybe that's part of the base package, and maybe it's a premium feature". To me, at least, that's a sad image of the future of gaming. That you can pay R500 to R600 on a game at full retail price (which is already ten times the price of a movie or five times the price of a book) and then still not be entitled to the full experience unless you're willing to pay an additional 10%-30% premium on your purchase to buy content, some of which might already be on the disc (i.e. having been finished during the standard development cycle). I'm sure it works as a business model, but something about it makes me sick to my stomach.
The most shocking example of this, as many of you are no doubt familiar with, was with Capcom's very own Street Fighter X Tekken. It was a game that I was really looking forward to, being both a Street Fighter and a Tekken fan, but not even I could deny that it was an un-finished bare-bones experience where you could hardly finish a battle without the timer running out. Within a week I could already see what a flimsy package it was. And then, of course, came the worst shock of all that left everyone who purchased it feeling betrayed; the 12 character on-disc DLC. Twelve additional characters were locked on the disc and could only be unlocked by paying an additional $20 on your original $60 purchase (US figures here). That's a 25% premium just to fill out a character roster? And don't get me started on all of the other DLC for that game that's required to actually make the game feel complete in terms of promised features. Imagine having to pay 25% more on a movie ticket or you can't see any of the Catwoman scenes in Batman. Ludicrous isn't it? But that's essentially what Capcom did.
There were of course 'people' (read imbeciles) who defended this strategy and saw the 'merits' in it but I felt determined in my beliefs that this was not the right way to do things and that if developers went this route it would be a sad and miserable era for the gaming industry. And now with Tekken Tag's release, I finally feel vindicated in my beliefs; there are still Triple A developers out there that care enough to produce the best game that they possibly can. Developers whose first priority is to make a great game rather than make a great profit. It really is heart-warming to see developers like Valve and many Indie companies still have the desire to produce amazing games. Even Ubisoft joined the party recently when they decided to finally kill off DRM for good (see here for more).
And now Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is going to show the industry that games don't have to produced with the intent of milking every last cent from the potential customer base to be successful and, for that, it has my full support. At times, any one of us might feel like a small fish in a big pond with no ability to affect the societal forces at large but remember that a mass of consumers is made up of free-willed individuals. No matter how small it may be, you have a vote. And you can use that vote not only by supporting games that follow practices and philosophies that you agree with, but also by refusing to support those that you don't. Street Fighter X Tekken was a commercial failure because gamers didn't like what they saw and didn't buy it. Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom didn't even sell a million copies. (See here and here but Google it if you don't believe me). If any other game tries to extort us, we have the power to fail it by simply ignoring it's existence. What developers need to realize is that we don't need them. They need us…
See you in two weeks time…
- http://egamer.co.za
- http://www.facebook.com/bastol.bunder
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602797306
- http://egamer.co.za/


text:
Organize it All Providence Kitchen Cart with Wire Baskets Natural
- Our price
- + FREE SHIPPING (Ships in 3 days)
- Product ID: 025625
- Ships via FedEx Ground see details »
Product Description
Organize it All's Kitchen Cart with Wire Baskets Natural from the Providence Collection is elegantly designed to fit with your kitchen decor. Its three metal wire baskets are sturdy, classic, and subtle. They offer ample space to store extra food or kitchen gadgets, so you're using every inch of your kitchen efficiently and stylishly. Below the tile-top is a pull out drawer for kitchen accessories, and the entire cart sits on casters for easy mobility. Move the cart closer to you when you're working in the kitchen so you have extra work space!
- Product ID: 025625
- Brand: Organize it All
- Dimensions: 18.5 x 14.5 x 30 inches
- Shipping Weight: 16.09 lbs.
- Material: Metal wire; Wood; Tiles; Casters
Shipping Info
- Usually ships in 3 days. This means your order will leave our warehouse in 3 business days.
- Ships via FedEx Ground see details »
- Order today & get Free Shipping!
Sponsored Links


text:
Peggy Guggenheim, Vincent Meessen, and the Ritual of Collaboration at the Venice Biennale
Artsy Editorial
80 x 120 cm (each piece) - Total : 12 pieces
Image rights: Courtesy of the artist and Imane Farès
Sammy Baloji's artistic concern is rooted in the daily life of Congolege people, and he uses photography to explore his country's present and to retell its history from the perspective of its people. "Ethnography, architecture, and urbanism [are] among my current focuses," he has written. "My reading of the Congolese past is a way of analyzing African identity today, through all the political systems that the society has experienced." He often combines archival photographs with his own shots of the people and places bearing the marks of colonialism. In his "Mémoire" series (2006), for example, he focuses on the former mining town of Lubumbashi. By superimposing photographs of the people who worked and ran the mines over his own images of these now disused structures, he reveals the ongoing ramifications of the past.
Congolese, b. 1978, Democratic Republic of Congo, based in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Brussels, Belgium
Peggy Guggenheim, Vincent Meessen, and the Ritual of Collaboration at the Venice Biennale
Artsy Editorial
Belgian Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale
Artsy Editorial
My Highlights from 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair 2014
Simon Njami


text:
Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck.
Alternatives to help protect those you love.
Options to help you save for the future.
It's never too late to plan. Start today.
Helping you reach your financial goals by carefully developing a plan that aligns with your specific needs, experience and time horizon, is an honor and my highest priority. Regardless of where you are in life, I have the tools and financial products that, along with your collaboration, we can combine into an appropriate solution for you.
Helping you reach your financial goals is my number one objective. Working
together, I'll help you make sound financial decisions consistent with your
comfort level, investment time-line and goals. We can start small and grow, or
evaluate and build upon any existing financial plans. The end result will be a
strategy designed to help you build, protect, use and transfer assets in the
most advantageous way. Periodically we'll review your situation and make
adjustments as needed. It just makes sense - as your life changes, so do your
financial needs, and I'll be here for you at every stage of your life.
I am a Registered Representative of CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc., member
FINRA/SIPC. I am also a licensed representative of CMFG Life Insurance Company.
It's easy to get started. Please contact me for a no-cost, no-obligation


text:
To Connect With Me
For business-related queries: Katherine Fausset at Curtis Brown Ltd.
To contact me directly, email me at email@example.com, although please note that due to the massive influx of email I get every week, you may not get a response.
Interviews & Guest PostsI'll be willing to do more interviews as the release date for my next book, THE AFTERLIFE OF HOLLY CHASE, draws near, so through the fall and early winter. One thing I will advise if you get me to agree to an interview: keep on me. Remind me, constantly, about what you need and when you need it by. Usually around launch time I am so crazy busy, and my email becomes a black hole, and things fall through the cracks. So don't be afraid to crack the whip on me to get something done.
Signed CopiesI offer signed copies of my books through Rediscovered Books. Here's their information:
180 N 8th St - Boise ID 83702 / (208) 376-4229
If you'd like a book personalized as well as signed, please contact them, and BE PATIENT. It can take a few weeks for me to get into the bookstore and personalize books, depending on my travel schedule.
ARCs / Free stuffUnfortunately, I do not have ARCs that I can distribute to book bloggers. Please request these from the publicity department at HarperTeen.
I'm getting a lot of requests these days for free review copies, free bookmarks, free swag. I really wish I could grant these wishes, but I honestly can't afford to send out a bunch of free stuff. Sorry.
Bookclubs, Classrooms, and LibrariesI am available for events (workshops, school talks, readings, and book signings), especially in the Boise, Idaho Falls, or Salt Lake City areas. I especially love school visits and teaching opportunities, since teaching is my other big passion in life besides writing. I have roughly ten years experience in teaching creative writing on the university level, plenty of fun talks and activities for students of all ages. If I don't live in your area, I am also willing to doing online chats and Skype visits.
I also regularly do school visits with my friends and co-authors of MY LADY JANE. Please check out our school visits information page.
BookstoresI would love to do an author event (a writing workshop or signing) at your bookstore. If you're in my local area, email me. If you're outside my local area, email me anyway with your store's information, and I will pass that on to my publicist.
For the PressBelow are digital images suitable for both print and electronic media. To download a high-resolution jpeg of the thumbnail images, click on it to get a larger version, then save the image from your browser. Or, right mouse click and select the "Save As..." option. Mac users, click on the image to see a larger image. Hold the Control key down and click on the image to see menu options, and choose "Save Image to the Desktop."
Please see the Bio tab for my official press bio.


text:
Today's Word is: Ochugen (お中元)
Around this time of a year in Japan, many stores start taking orders for ochugen gifts.
What is ochugen (お中元)?
It's a Japanese tradition in summer where you send gifts to people whom you'd like to show gratitude to. It's a custom of saying thanks to the recipients and also showing your intent of keeping good relationship with them in future. It's basically the summer equivalent of oseibo gifts given at the end of every year.
Ochugen gifts are usually sent to recipients by July 15th in Kanto area and August 15th in Kansai area. Gifts are typically given to their business partners, clients, relatives, special friends, people you owe favors, etc. In many cases, people order presents at retail stores and have the stores ship them to recipients on behalf of the senders. This way, when gifts are fresh food or perishables, you don't have to worry about them going bad in transit.
Like oseibo, ochugen gifts are wrapped in special paper called noshi.


text:
ARCHIVE: U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement
The U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed on June 6, 2003 by a representative of President Bush. The next step will be sending the agreement to Congress for ratification. Although the negotiations for the agreement were completed in December, the Bush Administration delayed the signing of the deal after Chile voted against the U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing war in Iraq.
While the text was released to the public by the USTR on April 3, 2003, neither U.S. nor Chilean citizens were allowed to provide meaningful input while the agreement was under negotiation. Representatives of industrial, agricultural, and banking interests were allowed full access to the process while citizens were kept out in the cold.
The U.S.-Chile FTA replicates the most problematic provisions of NAFTA and fails to meet the negotiating objectives on labor and the environment determined by Congress in the Trade Act of 2002 (Fast Track). It is problematic for many of the same reasons as the U.S.-Singapore FTA.


text:
- Trending Now: More Trending:
- hogwash probity sequacious inadmissible oligarch, pejorative
Recent Examples of presbyopia from the Web
For the graying set that thinks these glasses are more Thomas Dolby than Harry Potter, reading anything is more difficult, because of presbyopia, the gradual inability of the eye to focus due to age.
Just as presbyopia is no longer a major problem — thanks to eye glasses — many physical impairments of old age will cease being disabilities with the use of technology.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'presbyopia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of presbyopia
First Known Use: 1767
in the meaning defined aboveSee Words from the same year
Medical Dictionary
medical Definition of presbyopia
Learn More about presbyopia
See words that rhyme with presbyopia Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about presbyopia
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up presbyopia? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).


text:
We would love to know your thoughts about robot lawn mowers. If you have two spare minutes it would be great if you completed our quick survey.
Wondering what you can do this month in the garden? Check out our useful blog to see what needs to be done and what does not.
Find the perfect lawn mower for you and your lawn. Our range includes hover mowers, traditional rotary lawn mower and robotic lawn mowers that cut the grass for you so you don't have to.
Learn more >
Trim the edges of your lawn with a Flymo grass trimmer for a neat and tidy finish. Electric and battery cordless grass trimmers are available.
Remove leaves and debris from your lawn and surrounding property the quick and easy way. All Flymo leaf blowers can also be turned into garden vacuums to pick up the leaves too!
Learn what to do and when to take proper care of your lawn.
Read more >
Learn what to do and when in your garden.
The ultimate guide on how to lay new turf and take care of it.
These guides help you find the right tool for the right job.
A problem with many causes and easy fixes.
I bet you didn't know that there were that many different types of grass.
Like all living things, grass needs water.
Leaves have many great uses - don't let them go to waste.


text: The following reply was made to PR pkg/42176; it has been noted by GNATS. From: "Matt Thomas" <matt%netbsd.org@localhost> To: gnats-bugs%gnats.NetBSD.org@localhost Cc: Subject: PR/42176 CVS commit: src/sys/arch/algor/algor Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 14:04:03 +0000 Module Name: src Committed By: matt Date: Sat Mar 5 14:04:03 UTC 2011 Modified Files: src/sys/arch/algor/algor: algor_p6032_intr.c algor_p6032var.h Log Message: Fix prototype of algor_p6032_iointr. Fix buffer overrun ( PR algor/42176 ). Constify a few things. To generate a diff of this commit: cvs rdiff -u -r1.17 -r1.18 src/sys/arch/algor/algor/algor_p6032_intr.c cvs rdiff -u -r1.2 -r1.3 src/sys/arch/algor/algor/algor_p6032var.h Please note that diffs are not public domain; they are subject to the copyright notices on the relevant files.


text:
RYLA – Rotary Youth Leadership Awards – for District 9800 was held this year over the week of 27 November to 3 December. The Club, through the Welfare of the Young Committee, sponsored three participants, Emily Dao, Mona Chandra and Jennifer Mitchell (pictured).
The Rotary Club of Melbourne has for many years sponsored participants for this valuable leadership development program. Many of our past sponsored participants have returned to RYLA in subsequent years as Facilitators. They have seen the program have a very positive impact on their personal development and wanted to assist others to gain the same benefit. RYLA is run worldwide by Rotary Clubs. However, District 9800's program is considered unique in the world of RYLA in that it is entirely run by young people. District has a small committee of Rotarians overseeing the program, but the development of the activities and the day-today running of the program during the week is left to past participants.
Members wanting to direct any future participants to the program please contact the Chairperson, Welfare of the Young Committee.


text:
Derrick Rose and Greg Oden have a lot in common. Both played for college basketball teams that lost in the national championship game.
Both left college after one year to enter the NBA draft. And both were selected with the No. 1 pick: Greg Oden by Portland in 2007 and Rose, praise the pingpong balls, by the Bulls in 2008.


text:
A podcast is a an audio file published on the web. The files are usually downloaded onto computers or portable listening devices such as iPods or other players.
Read more about podcasting from webcontent.gov
HOST: Today on Diving Deeper Shorts, we revisit our interview on harmful algal blooms from October 2009 with Allison Sill from NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.
Let's listen in.
HOST: Allison, first, what is the difference between a harmful algal bloom and a red tide?
ALLISON SILL: Well, red tides are not always going to be harmful and it's a general term used to describe blooms. Many tides aren't red, many of them are actually golden brown, yellow, you can actually have green tides as well. Scientists use the term harmful algal bloom to describe an algal bloom that can have a negative impact on the environment.
HOST: What causes harmful algal blooms?
ALLISON SILL: There are a variety of factors that can cause these harmful algal blooms some of which are natural and some of which are not natural. The cause also is dependent on the species type and what that species needs in order to actually bloom. When conditions such as salinity - which is the amount of salt in the water, temperature, nutrients - when these factors are optimal, the bloom can occur. And some species are actually good indicators of coastal eutrophication, which is known as nutrient pollution.
HOST: Allison, what are some of the impacts that we see from harmful algal blooms?
ALLISON SILL: Kate, as mentioned before an impact that is very obvious to an observer is actually the discoloration of the water. It might appear red, green, brown. There's also a great number of impacts on the marine environment. You can have low dissolved oxygen or anoxic conditions which can lead to the death of fish and you might see fish floating on the surface of the water. We also have what are called unusual mortality events and this is when there are unexpected strandings of marine mammals on the beach, typically it can happen in high numbers. This type of event requires a response from certain agencies. And the research is indicating that 26 percent of all unusual mortality events are actually related to marine toxins. There are also human health syndromes, five in particular that are caused by certain species.
That's all for today's Diving Deeper Shorts, where we highlight a few minutes of your favorite Diving Deeper episodes.
Want to learn more? Go to oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast.html and select the October 2009 podcast archive to listen to the full interview on harmful algal blooms.
You can catch our next episode in two weeks.


text:
Rich Kids of Beverly Hills season 4 to premiere on May 01, 2016
We monitor the news to keep you updated on the release date of Rich Kids of Beverly Hills season 4. New episodes are scheduled to premiere on E! on May 01, 2016. If you want to get reminded of the show's premiere date, please, sign up for updates below.
Basic info and plot
Rich Kids of Beverly Hills (also known as #RichKids of Beverly Hills) is an American reality television series that is currently airing on the E! channel in the United States. The reality show is produced by ITV Studios America in association with Leepson Bounds Entertainment and executive produced by David Leepson (Cesar 911, The Car Chasers), Gennifer Gardiner (The Wanted Life, Magical Universe) and Doron Ofir (Big Women, Big Love, Tattoo Nightmares, Surviving Marriage). Season 1 of Rich Kids of Beverly Hills premiered on E! in the US on January 19, 2014. The show is currently in its third season.
Rich Kids of Beverly Hills chronicles the lives of the most elite young socialites. The series follows the extravagant lifestyles of an exclusive group of twenty-something friends who have gained internet celebrity by documenting their fabulous daily lives on social media. The main cast members are Dorothy Wang, Morgan Stewart, Brendan Fitzpatrick, Roxy Sowlaty, Jonny Drubel, EJ (Earvin Johnson) and Taylor-Ann Hasselhoff (season 3).
In April 2015, E! officially renewed the show for a third season. Season 3 of Rich Kids of Beverly Hills premiered in the US on May 24, 2015 and for now it is set to consist of eight one-hour episodes. In the new season of the show, celebrity offspring Taylor-Ann Hasselhoff joins the #InstaFamous cast. This season you can expect to see more growing pains within life-long friendships, jaw-dropping travels with no need for a filter and Instagramable fashions. Season 3 began with a dramatic confrontation. Morgan, Roxy and Jonny are fed up with Dorothy's "alleged" smack talking and drama starting so they decide it's time to call her out, at her birthday party no less. Don't miss the all-new season of #Rich Kids of Beverly Hills on Sundays at 10pm ET only on E!
Latest developments
UPDATED December 2, 2015: We have just learned that the E! network officially renewed its hit reality show Rich Kids of Beverly Hills for a fourth season. A new cycle of the show is slated to return some time in 2016 and it will consist of eight episodes. The newest chapter of the series will mainly focus on the loved up couple Morgan Stewart and Brendan Fitzpatrick as they are getting ready for the lavish wedding. Since E! is yet to schedule the exact release date for new episodes, check back with us for the latest on the show, or subscribe to our notifications and we will send you an automated email as soon as the release date is officially set.
UPDATED February 12, 2016: We have just learned that the E! network finally unveiled the premiere date of an all-new season of their hit reality TV show Rich Kids of Beverly Hills. A fourth cycle of the show is scheduled to hit the small screen in the US on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT. The new cycle of the series will contain eight episodes and one of the major storylines will be preparations for Morgan Stewart and Brendan Fitzpatrick's upcoming wedding. Sign up for our notifications and we will send you an automated reminder of the release date of Rich Kids of Beverly Hills season 4 one day before the premiere.


text:
The Texas A&M GeoServices group is dedicated to providing the highest level of support possible.
Our friendly students, staff, and faculty are available to assist you when you have issues.
Our staff is available via email, phone, and chat. If you would rather help yourself, we have created a rich set of support tools.
You can often find answers in our FAQ section, start or participate in a discussion in our active discussion boards,
or watch step-by-step tutorials.
Our staff is available for phone support 9-5 US Central Time. If support staff is busy
helping other customers you can leave a voicemail and someone will get back to you.
Alternatively you can utilize one of our other contact options including live chat and
regular ol' email.
Contact Us
We have created several step-by-step videos to help our users get through some the most common steps involved in using our services.
Enjoy the Texan accents as you watch how to get your data processed using the Texas A&M GeoServices tools.
Watch & Learn
If you have found an inaccurate set of coordinates returned by our system we want to know about it.
We spend all day every day trying to improve the accuracy of our results and your input is invaluable.
If you would like to report an inaccurate result please use the link below for the submission form.
Submit Address
If you have found an issue with our services, we want to know about it.
We spend all day every day trying to improve our services and we are always looking for things that are not working right.
These cases are usually the interesting ones that allow us to develop better algorithms, so please send them our way.
Report Trouble
We take privacy & confidentiality very very seriously. Your data are safe with us.
We have policies and procedures in place to ensure the highest levels of staff training,
industry best practices, and general respect for data to ensure that your data are kept safe.
We also want as many people to make use of our services as possible. Our terms of use are very
liberal to make sure that our users can use our services for useful things. You can integrate
our services into your applications be they commercial, non-profit, web-based, or mobile. You
can store our data once you get it back.
View all the fun legal stuff..
We have an active FAQ & Knowledge Base Community where you can go to find answers to common questions,
explanations of how things work, and all sorts of other good stuff related to the Texas A&M GeoServices tools.
Join the community so you can help yourself, help others, and become an expert in using our services!
Show Me Answers


text:
Philly Police Abuse Case Typifies All-Too-Common Misconduct by Nation's Prosecutors
Actions and inactions by Philadelphia's District Attorneys Office that have blocked Sharif Anderson from his day-in-court for an arrest that took place over 1,200-days ago have elevated this Philadelphia police abuse victim into a prime example of what the phrase "Justice Delayed is Justice Denied" means.
During recent months Philadelphia prosecutors have repeatedy presented specious requests in court that have delayed trial dates for Anderson, who endured a brutal May 27, 2013 arrest when Philadelphia police confronted him as he videoed an incident of police brutality with his cell phone.
Those requests by prosecutors for delays in the Anderson case raise issues regarding adherence of prosecutors to a provision in the Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers in Pennsylvania that states it is "not proper for a lawyer to routinely fail to expedite litigation."
The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office declined requests for comments on issues raised in the case of Sharif Anderson. "Unfortunately, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office cannot comment…because the case is still active," stated a self-serving email reply from the DAs Office.
Disturbingly, it is not unusual for prosecutors in Philadelphia and elsewhere around America to reflexively pursue obstructionist tactics that shield police in cases that contain documented evidence of improper and/or biased actions by police.
The failures of prosecutors to prosecute police misconduct was an underlying element in reports critical of abusive policing issued by the U.S. Department of Justice after high profile examinations of law enforcers in Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio and Ferguson, Missouri -- three cities that erupted in protests following incidents of abusive policing.
In Baltimore, for example, DOJ investigators faulted police for interfering with people who "lawfully record police activity." That DOJ report also faulted Baltimore police for arresting people police deemed as being verbally "disrespectful."
The Sharif Anderson's arrest for lawfully recording police activity began when police proclaimed that some young men had acted "disrespectfully."
Despite federal prosecutors documenting abusive and racially discriminatory misconduct by police in Baltimore, Cleveland and Ferguson, the DOJ failed to charge a single police officer, police supervisor or city official for the misconduct uncovered in those federal investigations.
In the Sharif Anderson case, requests for delay by local prosecutors included a profession of their need for more time to interview the Philadelphia policeman who three years ago confirmed that a fellow officer deliberately smashed Anderson's cell phone with a baton during Anderson's arrest.


text:
|Message view
|« Date » · « Thread »
|« Date » · « Thread »
|"Rob Davies (JIRA)" <j...@apache.org>
|[jira] Assigned: (AMQ-877) Patch: refactoring to allow alternative (using different storage interface) Destinations implementations.
|Thu, 17 Aug 2006 06:34:23 GMT
[ https://issues.apache.org/activemq/browse/AMQ-877?page=all ] Rob Davies reassigned AMQ-877: ------------------------------ Assignee: Rob Davies > Patch: refactoring to allow alternative (using different storage interface) Destinations implementations. > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Key: AMQ-877 > URL: https://issues.apache.org/activemq/browse/AMQ-877 > Project: ActiveMQ > Issue Type: Improvement > Components: Broker > Affects Versions: 4.x > Reporter: Maxim Fateev > Assigned To: Rob Davies > Attachments: destinationFactoryActiveMQPatch.txt > > > We were looking at alternate message persistence mechanisms that can co-exist in current ActiveMQ code base and we are thinking of a mechanism that is somewhat incompatible with the current MessageStore and PersistenceAdapter APIs. Unfortunately, the current ActiveMQ broker doesn't allow for such a change as the PersistenceAdapter and MessageStore interfaces are referenced directly by the RegionBroker and by both the Queue and Topic region implementations. Therefore, we are proposing a relatively small backwards compatible refactoring of the broker code that would eliminate all dependencies on the PersistenceAdapter and MessageStore interfaces from those classes that do not use them directly. This refactoring would also allow creation of a custom Destination implementation that may use an alternative persistence mechanism on a destination by destination basis (which is exactly what we need to do). > The main idea behind the refactoring is to replace many references to PersistenceAdapter with a new interface: DestinationFactory: > public abstract class DestinationFactory { > abstract public Destination createDestination(ConnectionContext context, ActiveMQDestination destination, DestinationStatistics destinationStatistics) throws Exception; > abstract public Set getDestinations(); > abstract public SubscriptionInfo[] getAllDurableSubscriptions(ActiveMQTopic topic) throws IOException; > abstract public long getLastMessageBrokerSequenceId() throws IOException; > abstract public void setRegionBroker(RegionBroker regionBroker); > } > Note that DestinationFactory doesn't mandate any specific persistence mechanism. The classes that would reference it instead of PersistenceAdapter are: RegionBroker, AbstractRegion, QueueRegion, and TopicRegion. Also, the AbstractRegion.createDestination method would be changed from abstract to an implementation that uses DestinationFactory to create a destination. > BrokerService could be changed to use DestinationFactory if one is provided. If none is provided, it will create a DestinationFactory implementation that instantiates Queue and Topic using PersistenceAdapter as it does currently. Hence, full backwards compatibility will be maintained. > Patch is attached. -- This message is automatically generated by JIRA. - If you think it was sent incorrectly contact one of the administrators: https://issues.apache.org/activemq/secure/Administrators.jspa - For more information on JIRA, see: http://www.atlassian.com/software/jira
|View raw message


text:
This unique anthology probes deeply into the diverse experiences of French and native Algerian, male and female, rich and poor, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian people who, through their writing, congregate here to recount personal tales of growing up in this region in North Africa, experiences that bind them as humans. Through literature, Sebbar deftly cultivates an imaginary landscape that does not yet exist within Algeria: a public ground based upon reconciliation and respect for differences. In qBare Feet, q famed writer Hlne Cixous recounts when, at the tender age of seven, an encounter with a young shoeshine boy made her acutely aware of the harsh realities of her own class standing. And in qThe Lost Child, q Albert Bensoussan reaches back to the remarkable day when, preparing for Rosh Hashanah, he was befriended by a young Muslim girl, only to have their relationship inexplicably severed a few short years later. These sixteen stories, wrought with youthful exuberance and a passion for place, reflect how ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds greatly shape lifelong values and perceptions. Leila Sebbar was born in Algeria to an Algerian father and a French mother and has published numerous essays, short stories, and novels, including the qSherazadeq trilogyq qand qSilence on the Shores, q She is currently a teacher in Paris, and has worked on diverse literary and French cultural reviews. Malek Alloula Jamel Eddine Bencheikh Albert Bensoussan Hlne Cixous Annie Cohen Roger Dadoun Jean Daniel Mohammed Dib Nabile Fars Fatima Gallaire Mohamed Kacimi-El-Hassani Jean-Pierre Millecam Jean Plgri Lela Sebbar Habib Tengour AlainVircondeletThese sixteen stories, wrought with youthful exuberance and a passion for place, reflect how ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds greatly shape lifelong values and perceptions.
|An Algerian Childhood
|Leïla Sebbar
|- 2001
You must register with us as either a Registered User before you can Download this Book. You'll be greeted by a simple sign-up page.
Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page.How it works:


text:
This free webinar will review the final hospice payment rule for FY2015 and what it will mean to hospices nationwide.
Ozark, MO (PRWEB) August 19, 2014
HEALTHCAREfirst, the pioneer in Web-based software and services for home health and hospice care, announced today that it is hosting a free webinar detailing the 2015 final rule from CMS for hospice.
Presented by Deanna Loftus, Director of Regulatory Compliance for HEALTHCAREfirst, the webinar will review the final rule and what it will mean to hospice agencies.
The webinar, "Hospice Regulatory Update: Final Rule," is designed for hospice Administrators, Directors, Managers, Compliance Officers and others interested in upcoming hospice regulatory changes. Topics include:
- Wage Index and Payment Rate Update
- CAHPS for Hospice
- Hospice Cost Report Changes
- PECOS for Medicare Part D
- Face to Face
- Hospice Item Set (HIS)
- Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC)
The webinar will be held on August 28, 2014 at 1:30 pm CT (2:30 pm ET).
The webinar is free of charge, however advance registration is required. For more information or to register, visit the HEALTHCAREfirst Regulatory Blog.