text: LS-ultimate.com :: View topic - Teaching positions with KIPP Delta advanced search Username: Password:   Teaching positions with KIPP Delta LS-ultimate.com Forum Index -> Forum View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message rcheekJoined: 06 Apr 2003Posts: 537Location: Helena, AR Posted: Tue, 11.17.15 4:18 pm Post subject: Teaching positions with KIPP Delta Hi All, I wanted to put in a plug for my employer and school district, KIPP Delta. We are a charter school region, operating in eastern Arkansas, serving high-poverty, mostly African American populations. Over the last 13 years, KIPP Delta has grown from a single class of 5th grade students, to a region with 1450 students in six school and operating in three different cities (Helena, Blytheville and Forrest City). As we expand we are constantly looking for talented teachers and leaders to work for our organization. Next year we are projecting we'll have nearly 70 positions to fill. You can find our a list of our current job openings posted at http://kippdelta.org/current-openings. Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions and are potentially interested in work in education and serving in a high needs area. Robert Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First LS-ultimate.com Forum Index -> Forum GMT - 6 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum General----------------ForumLS Alums You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Designed by: Powered by: © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group


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For a day, at least, the car reigned supreme. But the bicyclist joked that he may file an appeal.
On a gorgeous Monday morning that also was the first fare-paying day for passengers on the Green Line light rail connecting the downtowns, several reporters at the Star Tribune staged their own "Amazing Race."
Taking different modes of transportation — light rail, car, bicycle and bus — the six journalists took off from the State Capitol in St. Paul at 8:30 a.m. to see who could best navigate rush hour and get to the front door of the Star Tribune in downtown Minneapolis first. At stake: a little bit of pride and bragging rights at the company's annual picnic.
Automobile lovers will be happy to know that TeamCar, ferrying Star Tribune staff writer Jennifer Brooks and news intern Beena Raghavendran — along with Josey the dog — finished first. Despite a few wrong turns and Minnesota road construction, they made the trip in 26 minutes.
"I have never driven from downtown to downtown before, which is why we used a different route," Raghavendran said just minutes after the big win. "Jennifer also is still getting used to the roads, so both of us were a little shaky on the route! So I took the 11th Street exit and probably should have taken one of the earlier exits, but it worked out fine anyway."
While the two encountered a few slow spots, driving a car along Interstate 94 on this Monday was much quicker than the other modes. Brooks said this is not always the case.
"I-94 is a gridlock roulette wheel. Some days, you can make it from downtown St. Paul to downtown Minneapolis in minutes," she said. "Other days, you should just block out an hour of your schedule to stew in bumper-to-bumper misery. Today's one of the better days."
Finishing second was Star Tribune staffer Matt McKinney, who was riding his bike. An experienced cyclist who pedaled along transitways and greenways crossing the University of Minnesota campus, McKinney turned in an impressive finishing time of 30 minutes, 57 seconds.
But McKinney was not gracious in defeat. He claimed that TeamCar cheated.
"The rules said we had to touch the door of the building. … I was first to do that, at least," said McKinney, who covers the Minneapolis police beat. "After touching the door I turned and saw the car drivers standing next to their vehicle in the parking lot. They were chatting, and though they had arrived a few minutes before me, still hadn't walked over to the building. Let it be known that the bicyclist followed the rules."
Third, and grateful for a smooth ride and the time to chat with a fellow Green Line passenger, was James Walsh, the writer of this story and a train geek. While the Green Line stopped often, it made the trip from the Capitol/Rice Street station to the Downtown East station in less than 40 minutes. From the Capitol steps to the front door of the Star Tribune took a stress-free grand total of 42 minutes.
Eric Roper, a Star Tribune writer who favors buses and bikes over automobiles, spent much of his commute on the Route 3 bus. He finished the trip just five minutes behind Walsh. Roper didn't seem to mind, taking time to enjoy the journey.
"The early crowd was a mix of all ages, from people in their 20s to those who appeared in their 70s," he said back at the office. "Few people boarded or departed as the bus cruised down Front Avenue and the driver announced the stops one by one as they whizzed by: 'Kent.' 'Dale.' Most riders used automated Go-To cards [available at Cub and Rainbow], but one man who did not slowed the bus by about 27 seconds as he searched his wallet and inquired about a paper transfer."
Despite that delay, Roper said he enjoyed the friendly driver and the ride's "good vibes."
Finishing last, owing to some confusion caused by changes to connecting bus routes, was staff writer Nicole Norfleet, who arrived at the newspaper 59 minutes after she left the Capitol. It was only the second time she had taken the bus in the Twin Cities, she said.
Nevertheless, she may have had the most interesting trip.
At the start of the race, she tweeted: "Waiting at Rice & Univ to take the 62. I was running after @StribRoper and woman yelled if I needed help. Probably thought he was robbing me."
A bit later: "Just got off at 6th and Cedar. Unfortunately, the 94 left a few minutes ago so I have to wait to the next one after 9 a.m."
Then, this: "I apologized to last bus driver for being so confused. She asked why I didn't just take the train."
When the race was over, Norfleet — who covers the St. Paul Police Department and works in the Star Tribune's Woodbury office — decided to take a less stressful trip back to her car in St. Paul.
"Just got off the Green Line back at the Capitol," she tweeted. "It was very pleasant."

subset: commoncrawl


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2014 BMW X3 xDrive20d review
Face-lifted BMW X3 gets subtle styling tweaks, more kit and a new and more efficient 2.0-litre diesel engine. We try it in the UK for the first time...
The BMW X3 has long been a strong contender for anyone after a large 4x4; we named it our SUV of the Year between 2011 and 2013. Now the car has been updated with cosmetic changes and more-efficient engine options.
The new look incorporates different front and rear bumpers, revised headlights that look a little sleeker than the ones they replace, and a new surround for the double-kidney grille. It's a refresh that's designed to make the X3 look more like its big brother, the X5.
The changes to the engine line-up are more significant, with a new 2.0-litre diesel engine that promises to be more refined than the unit it replaces, as well as trimming a few g/km off its CO2 emissions.
Prices have risen by around £1100, but you get more kit as standard; even entry-level SE models now come with luxuries such as a powered tailgate, sat-nav and heated front seats.
What's the 2014 BMW X3 xDrive20d like to drive?
The weakest spot of the old X3 was BMW's 2.0-litre diesel engine, which offered decent economy and CO2 emissions, but was beginning to sound increasingly noisy compared with the more modern units offered by several rivals.
The good news is that the new motor in the revised model (available in the xDrive20d tested here and, in detuned form, in the rear-wheel-drive sDrive18d) is a much more accomplished performer.
In xDrive20d form the engine has 187bhp and 295lb ft of torque; that's more than enough to ensure comfortable progress in a car of the X3's size, and the low-rev grunt means you rarely have to stress the engine - but when you do push it performance is pleasingly brisk.
Our test car had the optional eight-speed automatic transmission, which is superb; in manual mode it offers smooth, seamless changes. It's also worth noting than on the xDrive20d model the auto is actually more efficient than the manual (131g/km of CO2 emissions compared with 136g/km).
On all models except the xDrive35d, incidentally, you can also choose an optional 17in wheel and low-rolling-resistance-tyre package (£340) that cuts a further 7g/km from the CO2 emissions.
The most noticeable difference comes in refinement. While the old xDrive20d's engine could be heard at motorway speeds, the new edition's engine note fades nicely into the background when you're cruising. At higher speeds you're more likely to be bothered by road noise or a modest rush of wind noise from around the windscreen pillars and door mirrors.
However at lower speed under gentle throttle loads, the automatic gearbox holds on to gears, and lets the torque of the engine pull you along. Normally that's a desirable trait, but it has the side-effect of keeping the engine in a band of revs where is sends a resonant diesel grumble into the cabin.
The rest of the X3 package is largely unchanged, but that's no bad thing.
The ride is undeniably firm, but there's enough sophistication in the suspension set-up to keep things comfortable over pock-marked roads. Body control is excellent for an SUV of this size, and while the steering may be a bit heavy for some (especially when parking) it's really precise when cornering.
Our test car came on wide cross-section rear tyres and the optional (£940) adaptive dampers, which improve overall comfort – we'd recommend the latter to most buyers because they improve body control.
The X3 is capable of swift progress along a B-road, with a surprising amount of involvement for a big 4x4. The chassis feels balanced, body movement is really well marshalled, and there is a huge amount of confidence-inspiring grip in tight corners.
In fact the X3 feels almost as sharp to drive as its sportier sibling, the X4. High praise indeed.
What's the 2014 BMW X3 xDrive20d like inside?
Don't expect the face-lifted X3's cabin to feel like a different world compared with the outgoing model's. Yes, you get a bit more chrome detailing and some different finishes on the centre console, but the basic interior is unchanged.
That's no bad thing, because it means you get plenty of soft-touch materials throughout and switches and dials that operate positively and feel well damped.
BMW's iDrive infotainment system has been updated to feature sat-nav as standard, and its interface (a rotary dial on the centre console surrounded by shortcut buttons) remains wonderfully intuitive and easy to use. It makes the equivalent systems the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60 seem decidedly clunky by comparison.
There's decent space up front for two adults, and two more grown-ups will be comfortable enough in the rear. The central transmission tunnel is likely to make life uncomfortable for a middle passenger in the back, however.
Boot space is unchanged in the new car, so you get 550 litres with the rear seats in place or 1600 litres with them folded. That's pretty much the same luggage room you get in the rival Audi Q5.
There's really no need to venture above entry-level SE trim which, as well as the new features already mentioned, still includes leather upholstery, climate control and front and rear parking sensors.
Should I buy one?
The BMW X3 was a strong package before, and the revisions to the car are in all the right areas. In particular, the 2.0-litre diesel engine's improved refinement makes the car an even more accomplished all-rounder.
So, if you're in the market for a comfortable, well-finished, practical and great-driving family SUV, the X3 should be at the top of your shortlist.
What Car? says...
Rivals Audi Q5 Range Rover Evoque Mazda CX-5
BMW X3 xDrive20dEngine size 2.0-litre dieselPrice from £32,990Power 187bhpTorque 295lb ft0-62mph 8.1secTop speed 131mphFuel economy 54.3mpgCO2 136g/km
BMW X3 xDrive20d autoEngine size 2.0-litre dieselPrice from £34,500Power 187bhpTorque 295lb ft0-62mph 8.1secTop speed 131mphFuel economy 56.5mpgCO2 131g/km


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Alert 2014-2
Subject: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks
Date: January 13, 2014
Description: Simplicity Bank
Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Simplicity Bank, Covina, Calif.
To: Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks and Federal Savings Associations; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (Districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsels; and All Examining Personnel
The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks using a correct routing number of 322278183 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with online auction and online purchase scams.
Counterfeit checks do not resemble the bank's authentic items and may be identified by the following: Counterfeit items are light blue or light green in color, and the bank's logo and name are teal green and yellow in color, respectively. One authorized signature line appears on the counterfeit check, which displays a signature name of Rachel McDonald. The check number and date are located in the upper-right-hand corner, and the check number contains only five digits. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are located in the top section of the check.
For additional information and to verify the authenticity of Simplicity Bank's cashier's checks, please contact Compliance Officer Cathy Patton by mail at 1359 N. Grand Avenue, Covina, CA 91724-1016; by telephone at (800) 524-2274, by fax at (626) 858-8993; or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Consumers who receive a counterfeit or fictitious item and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
Additional information concerning this matter that should be brought to the attention of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) may be forwarded to
For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resource at www.occ.gov/fraudresources.htm.
Ellen M. Warwick


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As I'm sure most on here will have heard of Caroline Quigleys (nee Kananagh McAlester) recent sudden passing.
Caroline was much loved member of a large well known Dundalk FC supporting family. This fundraiser is to help with funeral costs etc and promises to be a cracking nights entertainment. Venue is of course Oriels Lilywhite Lounge on this Saturday coming from 8pm. Anyone wanting to support this good cause can purchase a ticket from myself in Goldstar Jewellers PM me here or indeed any of the McAlester (Maxis) family.
Tickets are priced at €10 and I can also take a PayPal payment and pass it on to the family.
Thanking you all for your support
Alan Gray
Caroline Quigley Benefit Night
Yes, there are other things to discuss apart from Dundalk F.C. and feel free to discuss them here!
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After 25 years of rating sand, Dr. Beach plans a change in criteria
It has been two years since Siesta Key Beach was named the No. 1 beach in the U.S., prompting local tourism officials to step up their efforts to keep the designation fresh in travelers' minds.
At the same time, a pending shift in how Dr. Stephen Leatherman - also known as Dr. Beach - compiles the annual list could help local beaches not be, well, so two years ago.
Siesta Key Beach, which was named the top beach during an annual Top 10 compilation in advance of Memorial Day weekend in 2011, received a swell of interest and millions of dollars in tourist-related spending following its designation.
In the years since, though, other beaches have captured the spotlight, while Siesta Key has not been mentioned at all. Under Leatherman's rules, once a beach ascends to the No. 1 spot, it falls out of consideration.
It has been quite a comedown. The disappearance from the list followed years in which Siesta Key Beach climbed the ranks of the list on its way to being named No. 1, a streak that garnered countless media references and attention.
But that lack of attention could change by 2015, when Dr. Beach plans to revamp the way he grades the nation's beaches, a move that would allow past winners - such as Siesta Key - to once again vie for the coveted top ranking.
Without that change, local tourism officials acknowledge, Siesta Key's name recognition will diminish with each passing year.
"It's not going to be as a good as it was making our way up the list," said Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, the county's tourism agency, "or even last year, when we were still feeling the bump from being the most recent No. 1 beach, and we won't continue to get those tremendous media hits that we had before."
"Even so, the ranking has really raised the total recognition for Siesta, and that will continue to live on for a long time," Haley said.
The No. 1 beach ranking has been promoted "shamelessly" since the title was won, Haley said, in tourism advertisements in local and foreign markets alike. The designation has also been trumpeted on billboards and banners inside stores, including the Walmart Supercenter on Cattlemen Road.
"If you search for Siesta Key, you see it's still being mentioned everywhere," Haley added. "It really does still live on."
This year, Florida beaches in the panhandle, Key Biscayne and Bonita Springs were recognized among the top 10.
Leatherman said Tuesday he is working to revamp the way the list is compiled.
"Once I reach the 25th anniversary of the top beaches list, in two years, I am going to change the criteria around a bit," said Leatherman, who is also a co-director of coastal research at Florida International University's International Hurricane Research Center.
Leatherman plans to give more credit to beaches that go above and beyond to keep the sand free of litter and to keep visitors safe from natural threats, such as rip currents.
Sarasota County's fight to ban smoking on the beach would help it gain some of these bonus points, Leatherman said.
"My goal is to honor those beaches or jurisdictions that are being proactive in various areas and are making a difference," he said.
In 2007, Siesta Key ranked 10th on Leatherman's list, then rose to 3rd place in 2008. The beach took the second-place spot in both 2009 and 2010 before being crowned No. 1 in 2011.
The second-place ranking in 2010, the same year that Florida tourism officials were panicked about the April oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon BP explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, helped alleviate some of the tough blows to tourism the region saw that year, Haley said.
"That wound up being the best thing for us," she said. "Dr. Beach kept being asked in interviews why a Florida beach would be ranked so high during the threat of the oil spill, and he told everyone that he didn't see it impacting us that much at all. It really was the best thing that could have happened for us that year."
Although no other Sarasota-area beaches have made the list since Siesta Key, Haley hopes to promote other regional coastal communities in the future.
"We've been dropping hints about our other beautiful beaches, like Lido Beach and Nokomis," she said.
Leatherman said he has recently taken a closer look at some Manatee County beaches, like those on and around Anna Maria Island.


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The WMA is proud to present this
2016 WebAward for Outstanding Achievement
in Web Development
Winning Entry: Palazzo Versace Dubai
Winner Name: TravelClick Web Solutions
TravelClick (TravelClick.com) provides innovative cloud-based solutions for hotels around the globe to grow their revenue, reduce costs and improve performance. TravelClick offers hotels world-class reservation solutions, business intelligence products, and comprehensive media and marketing solutions to help hotels grow their business. With local experts around the globe, we help more than 38,000 hotel clients in over 160 countries drive profitable room reservations through better revenue management decisions, proven reservation technology and innovative marketing. Since 1999, TravelClick has helped hotels leverage the web to effectively navigate the complex global distribution landscape. TravelClick has offices in New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Barcelona, Bucharest, Dubai, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Ottawa, Paris, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. Follow us on twitter.com/TravelClick and facebook.com/TravelClick.
TravelClick, Inc.
United States


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Magic Mountains holiday in Zauchensee
Summer fun & adventure for families in the austrian mountains
Familie holiday in the austrian mountains. Magic Mountains Club: In the summertime from June to September Zauchensee in Salzburger Land is transformed into a holiday club resort in the Alps. Whether you prefer leisurely or sporting activities the Magic Mountains Summer Club at an altitude of 1,350 m offers a varied programme for families, couples and singles. The international animation team offers over 50 hours of sport, fun and games weekly in Zauchensee. From children's olympics for the little ones, canoeing and pedalos rides for the teenies and guided hiking and mountain biking tours for the adults. There's something to suit everyone.
On arrival in our hotel in Zauchensee you receive the Magic Moutains Card from reception. This is your personal ticket to the varied activties and brings you additional advantages, e.g. reductions on sport equipment rental. The card also includes three return journies per week on the Gamskogel chairlift. The 4 star Hotel Zauchenseehof in the Salzburger Sportwelt lies right next to the Magic Mountains Centre and the turquoise-blue Zauchensee lake.
A programme of activities to keep you busy
Magic Mini Fruits (3 to 5 years)
- Motto days
- Children's olympics
- Picnic
- Disco evening
- Hotel swimming pool
- Games, arts & crafts, painting,…
- Every Friday – prize-giving ceremony with show
Magic Kids (6 to 9 years)
- Sport, fun and games in the Magic Center
- Monday to Friday: rowing boots and pedalos
- Monday to Friday: children's sailing courses for children over 7 years: € 10,00/ official watersports basic certificate: € 35,00
- Introduction to climbing
- Special children's hiking tour
- Swimming day in the Therme Amadé (discounted admission)
- Children's olympics
- Kids' and teens' disco
- Show performances at the prize-giving ceremony
- Motto days and picnic
Magic Teens (10 to 13 years)
- Sport, fun and games in the Magic Center
- Monday to Friday: fun on the water with rowing boots and pedalos
- Monday to Friday: surf courses for children over 40 kg in German and English:
€ 10,00/official watersports basic certificate: € 35,00
- Mountain bike tours
- Archery introductory course
- Climbing introductory course
- Beach volleyball and basketball
- Self-defence courses
- Special teens hiking tour
- Swimming day in the Therme Amadé (discounted admission)
- Children and teens olympics
- Children and teens disco
- Show performances at the prize-giving ceremony
Magic Youth (14 bis 17 Jahre)
- Sport, fun and games in the Magic Center
- Monday to Friday: fun on the water with rowing boots and pedalos
- Monday to Friday: surf courses for children over 40 kg in German and English:
€ 10,00/official watersports basic certificate: € 35,00
- Mountain bike tours
- Archery introductory course
- Climbing introductory course
- Beach volleyball and basketball
- Self-defence course
- Swimming day in the Therme Amadé (discounted admission)
- Youth olympics
- Youth disco
- Night tournament
- Show performances at the prize-giving ceremony
Magic Sports
- 3x per week: mountain bike tours of varying levels of difficulty incl. mountain bike rental (according to availability)
- 3x per week: hiking tours of varying levels of difficulty
- 3x per week: 1 return journey on the Gamskogel chairlift
- Several times per week: archery, introduction to nordic walking and tours, self-defence courses, beach volleyball
- Fitness sessions incl. the following: aerobics or step-aerobics, stretching, bodystyling, relaxation courses, zumba, jogging
Magic Soccer
- 13 x 24 m artificial turf football pitch
- Football camp with licenced trainers for 4 to 6 age and ability groups (children and teens from 7 to 13 years)
- Training from Sunday to Friday (after group allocation): warm up, co-ordination training, technique training, methods of play, end of course tournament or test
Magic Surf & Sail
- Recognised official surf and sailing school
- Children's sailing lessons (from 7 to approx. 11 years) on children's sailing boats (Optimists)
- Childen's and teens' sailing lessons (over 40 kg) Monday to Friday at least 1.5 hours practice and theory for the surf and sailing exam
- Registration fee: € 10,00 (payable in resort)
- World-wide recognised sailing certificate incl. final exam: € 35,00 (payable in resort)
- Free rental of surf boards, children's sailing boots, rowing boots and pedalos according to availability (lessons have priority) from Monday to Friday 10.00 am to approx. 4.00 pm
Magic Let's Dance
- Sunday to Thursday: dance lessons every evening with qualified dance instructors
- Party dances: disco fox, salsa,…
- Latin: rumba, cha-cha,…
- Standard: waltz, foxtrott,…
- Dance show on final evening
Magic Center
- Open daily from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, 1.30 to 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm until nightfall
- Magic Radio: News and Hits
- Magic Boutique (Sportswear & Info)
- Drinks station (cordials and water – own drinking bottle useful)
- Covered outdoor stage
- 6 trampolines
- Table tennis, badminton, basketball
- Obstacle course
- Chess
- Sports equipment issue: mountainbikes according to availability (tours have priority), children's bikes, scooters, balls, table tennis, badminton etc.
Magic Evening
- Torchlight walk for the whole family
- Casino night for kids & teens
- Poker tournament teens
- Football tennis evening tournament
- "Lounge-evening" with live music
- Games or quiz evenings
- Weekly regular guest get-together
- Prize-giving ceremony with show performances in the World Cup Arena
- 1x week: wine tasting (extra charge)
Michael Walchhofer Kids' and School Children's training week from 26.8. – 02.9.2017
Each year the Internation Kids' and Schoolchildren's Trainings Week a special highlight of the Magic Mountains summer in Zauchensee. Children and teens born 2000 to 2007 train together under the leadership of Ski World Champion Michael Walchhofer and ÖSV (Austrian Ski Club) Condition Expert Reini Ronacher, supported by ATOMIC. An exciting week full of training sessions, fun and a varied programme of events awaits the kids.
Programme and further information
Sporting weekly programme
- Training and implementation of various condition elements, such as: balance training, stamina training, agility training, strength and springiness training
- Final competition with prize-giving ceremony and raffle with great prizes
Great programme of events (child and accompanying adult)
- Tour of the World Cup Run in Zauchensee
- Tour of the ATOMIC factory in Altenmarkt
- Swimming day in the Therme Amadé spa
- Ski bazar
- Equipment and "waxing" seminar
Booking of the training week is only in combination with a Magic Mountains family holiday possible (at least 1 adult and 1 child). The programme can be booked as part of a Magic Mountains family holiday at the 4 star Hotel Zauchenseehof in the Salzburger Sportwelt.


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When Stormie Omartian's husband suggested moving to Tennessee 20 years ago, she made it clear she did not want to go. Los Angeles–not Nashville–was home.
"I really liked living in Los Angeles," Omartian said. "As difficult as it was, I knew how to live there."
She explained this to her husband … and to God.
"I told Him all the reasons I didn't want to go," said Omartian.
But in asking the Lord to reveal His will–not hers–she came to the conclusion that she should go. Not next month. Not next year. Immediately.
"So we left before we even sold our house," said Omartian. "We knew we were supposed to go then."
Just a few months later, on January 17, 1994, the Omartian family figured out why the Holy Spirit led them to leave their home so quickly. On that day, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake shook Southern California. It killed 60 people, injured more than 7,000, and destroyed the Omartians' Northridge home.
The quake was felt as far away as Las Vegas, Nevada and Richfield, Utah. Northridge was at the epicenter, sustaining some of the most severe damage.
At the time, Omartian's family still hadn't sold the house, so nobody was inside. Omartian believes it's likely anyone in there during the quake would have been killed.
"I was glad that we listened and heard the leading of the Lord," she said.
Finally, Freedom
Stormie Omartian wasn't always able to discern the will of the Lord so clearly. She spent the first 28 years of her life apart from God. Raised in an abusive home on a cattle ranch in Wyoming, Omartian lived a life full of fear.
"I was raised by a mentally ill mother, and she was very abusive physically and verbally," said Omartian. "But I think what affected me the most was being locked in a closet much of my early childhood."
Depression and hopelessness were all Omartian knew. Those feelings stayed with her, even as she tried to move on, working as a young performer in Los Angeles.
"It was a better life, but I still had all the fear, anxiety and depression," she said. "Everything was a struggle. Into my 20s I became more depressed and more anxious and more fearful."
She tried just about everything to find happiness–drugs, binge drinking, unhealthy relationships. She dabbled in various Eastern religions and even the occult. Nothing satisfied. Her world just grew darker. So dark, she felt suicide was the only way out.
"I just couldn't face it anymore," said Omartian. "It was like an avalanche of emotion that was beginning to control me."
Before she made a move to end her life, the Lord made a move to save it. One of Omartian's friends saw her struggling and convinced her to have lunch with a California pastor.
"He told me about the Lord and that God had a plan and a purpose for my life," said Omartian. "I had never heard of anything like that. And right away, things began to change. I began to feel hope for the first time ever."
She joined a church, got her hands on a Bible and never looked back. There was something different about Jesus that she couldn't find anywhere else.
"All the other things really held no promise," said Omartian. "Occult practices and Eastern religions are all about what you can do for a better life. With Jesus, He's already done it all. When I received Jesus I felt different. I felt hope. And I never felt that with the other things I was involved in."
Obeying God
Since Omartian made the decision to follow Christ, God has used her in a powerful way. Her Power of a Praying… books have helped countless readers find a closer relationship with God and, as a result, stronger relationships with their spouses, friends, and children.
Omartian's latest book, Lead Me, Holy Spirit, addresses one aspect of prayer life that's easily overlooked: listening. She hopes to teach readers to acknowledge the Holy Spirit in order to hear God's will for their lives.
"In Romans 8:9, it says if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, we're not His," said Omartian. "When you receive Jesus, He gives you the Holy Spirit. He'll lead us away from sin. He'll enable us to live the way God wants us to live."
Omartian says learning to hear the Holy Spirit is all about studying the Bible.
"You cannot hear from God reliably if you don't have a solid foundation in His word," she said.
That's the message she hopes to convey clearly and simply in her new book. As she prepared to visit The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C., for a book signing on May 9, Omartian says it's the same kind of clarity and simplicity of message that drew her to Billy Graham years ago at one of his Los Angeles Crusades.
"I was so impressed by his message," said Omartian. "It was never long, never boring. It was always clear and simple. Sometimes the message gets way complicated, and for me, I don't need complication. My life is already complicated."
Omartian volunteered as a counselor at Billy Graham's Nashville Crusade in 2000, where her two young nephews decided to receive Jesus.
Whether the message comes through a Crusade, a book, or a well-timed lunch meeting with a pastor, Omartian ultimately wants the lost and hurting to know Jesus Christ. He's the one she credits with her success in writing, parenting and 40 years of marriage.
"I am so dependent on God that I don't think for a moment that I can do anything without Him," said Omartian. "I depend on Him for everything."


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Chinese Dragon On Black galaxy s8 case by Melissa A Benson. Protect your Galaxy S8 with an impact-resistant, slim-profile, hard-shell case. The image is printed directly onto the case and wrapped around the edges for a beautiful presentation. Simply snap the case onto your Galaxy S8 for instant protection and direct access to all of the phone's features!
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Paul Craddock
May 23rd, 2019
Nancy Guess
May 19th, 2019
It is said that the Chinese dragon brings good luck and power to those who are worthy. Well, there is something enchanting about an Oriental dragon. And they are so different from their Eastern cousins. This red and blue dragon floats in front of the sun and a mountain looking very fierce. Perhaps their charm comes from the combination of so many animals. They have the body of a snake, scales of a carp, head of a camel, horns of a deer, the eyes of a hare, ears of a bull, belly of a frog, paws of a tiger, claws of an eagle and a lion's mane. Two long whiskers spread out from their snout, and under it's chin is a pearl. That's a lot to put into one creature! But it works.
Hello, I am Melissa A Benson, an Alternate Reality Fantasy Illustrator and Fine Artist. I design and create colorful, realistic paintings for fantasy art collectors, RPG gamers and Pagan art collectors. My unique style comes from using oils and colored pencils or, for black and white work, graphite and charcoal pencils. There are a lot of Celtic influences and Pagan allegories in my work and I specialize in anthropomorphic creatures. Many will recognize my name from the gaming industry for creating powerful and imaginative illustrations for many top collectible card game (CCG) publishers. I have worked with Wizards of the Coast, White Wolf Publishing , Iron Crown Entertainment's, Black Dragon Press Z-Man Games & others. Visit my...
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Sketched Book – Self-compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind – Kristin Neff
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I read Kristin Neff's Self-compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind (2011) on the recommendation of a friend who's been working through many of the issues addressed by the book. I liked the book's differentiation between self-esteem and self-compassion, and its exercises for acknowledging your inner critic and becoming kinder to yourself. The website (self-compassion.org) has MP3s for guided meditations and a hyperlinked bibliography of related research.
I've sketched the key points of the book below to make it easier to remember and share. Click on the image for a larger version that you can print if you want.
2015-03-24a Sketched Book – Self-compassion – Kristin Neff – #sketched-book #self-help
I've been thinking about self-compassion and self-care over the past few years, ever since I decided not to set up that taskmaster dynamic with myself. Instead of trying to force myself down one path or another, I chose to go along with myself, focusing on understanding and then slowly guiding myself. It seems to be working well. I can tell the difference between that and the approach many people seem to take (decision, guilt, shame, force), and I like the kind approach more.
It's good to be able to look at your negative internal monologue or the parts of yourself that you've been avoiding thinking about, become aware of what's going on, and work on reframing or transforming those thoughts. It's good to look at what you're resisting and figure out how you can embrace and move through that pain.
I've had a very easy life so far, compared to other people I know. I'm glad this book exists; the techniques will help me through the challenges that are sure to be ahead, and I hope they'll help other people too. Good book if you often beat yourself up, judge yourself harshly, or feel lost and frustrated.
Haven't read the book yet? You can buy it from Amazon (affiliate link) or get it from your favourite book sources.
Like this sketch? Check out sketchedbooks.com for more. Feel free to share – it's under the Creative Commons Attribution License, like the rest of my blog.


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At some point, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady no longer will be the quarterback of the Patriots. Coach Bill Belichick either can plan for the inevitable transition, or he can hope the team falls bass-ackwards into an Andrew Luck.
Belichick possibly has opted to plan for that transition, by using the team's 2014 second-round pick not on a guy who'll help Brady win another Super Bowl before he leaves New England, but on a guy who could help Belichick win a Super Bowl after Brady is gone.
And so Jimmy Garoppolo could be be the backup to Brady (for now) and the eventual successor to Brady.
"We know what Ryan [Mallett's] contract situation is," Belichick told reporters on Friday night. "We know what Tom's age and contract situation is. I don't think you want to have one quarterback on your team. I don't think that's responsible to the entire team or the organization."
Asked if he has talked to Brady about the possibility of picking a quarterback, Belichick was classically evasive: "I talk to Tom on a regular basis."
It's possible that, with Mallett entering the final season of his rookie deal, the arrival of Garoppolo could mean the team will keep three quarterbacks on the roster in 2014.
"It could," Belichick said. "I don't know. It could. I don't have any control over how anything is going to unfurl. We put the players out there and they compete and we evaluate them. I can't control that. . . . We'll do whatever is best for the team. We've had four, we've had three, we've had two. So whatever's best for the team, that's what we'll do. Nothing is set in stone. We've had different numbers of guys at different positions. I don't think there's any concrete formula. We'll do what's best for the team."
At some point in the future, what's best for the team will be to nudge Brady off the roster. Once Garoppolo signs, he and Brady will each be under contract for four years. By the time those four years are up, Jimmy could be taking over for #Tommy.


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[Funeral Program for Lenora Miller, August 1, 1990]
Description: Funeral program for Mrs. Lenora Miller, born April 28, 1917 and died July 30, 1990. The funeral was held August 1, 1990 at Emmanuel AME Church, officiated by Reverend Michael W. Gibson. Funeral arrangements were made through Carter-Taylor-Williams Mortuary and she was buried in Seaside Cemetery in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Date: August 1, 1990
Item Type: Refine your search to only Pamphlet
Partner: San Antonio Public Library


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DUBAI (Reuters) - Caroline Wozniacki brought the house down on Thursday when she spiced up Rory McIlroy's post-round news conference at the DP World Tour Championship by asking her boyfriend what she was getting for Christmas.
The Danish tennis player, a former world number one, interrupted the normal talk about birdies and bogeys and five-irons and three-woods with a question out of the blue from the back of the room.
A smiling Wozniacki, dressed in all white, took the microphone from one of the reporters and asked McIlroy amid roars of laughter from the assembled media: "If you win this week am I going to get a really nice Christmas present?".
The world's number one golfer pulled his cap over his eyes before telling his girlfriend: "Have you not already got a lot of nice presents?
"I have been looking, I have been looking. But it won't take winning this week to buy you a nice present - I'll get you a nice present anyway."
It drew another smiling response from the golf-watching Wozniacki: "That must be because I'm an unbelievable cheerleader".
McIlroy prompted more giggles from the floor when he said: "You're a better tennis player", to which the Dane replied, "That's not very nice".
An expensive gift is sure to be heading Wozniacki's way next month with the Northern Irishman having already banked almost $13 million in official earnings by winning the money-lists on both sides of the Atlantic.
McIlroy can add $1.33 million to his bulging account by landing the first prize here this week plus a $1 million bonus from the end-of-season prize pool.
He is, however, more concerned about adding the Dubai title to his European money-list crown come Sunday night.
"It would be great to emulate what Lee Westwood did in 2009 and win both trophies," he told reporters after a first-round 66 left him one stroke behind tournament leader Luke Donald.
"That's the goal and the motivation this week. I've come to the last two DP World Tour Championships with a chance of winning the money-list and missed out.
"Having already wrapped it up this year, I guess I can go out there and play without thinking about it. It is definitely a nice thing to not have that pressure on your shoulders."
Editing by John Mehaffey


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Celebrating its 30th year, Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings (DCWS) has honored Dr. Huw Lewis of the Hope College music faculty as one of 30 individuals whose support, leadership and generosity over the years have helped make the three-decade milestone possible.
When DCWS was formed in 1982, Lewis was director of music at Detroit's St. John's Episcopal Church, where he had founded the St. John's Bach Society. He made the church available to DCWS for its first concerts, and the St. John's Bach Society served as the fiduciary for DCWS until the organization obtained its own tax exempt status.
Lewis was among several of the honorees recognized during DCWS's "30 Something" concert and 30th Year Gala on Saturday, Oct. 22. His participation in the event included performing the harpsichord in a suite by Handel with DCWS members Kevin Good, Vicki King and Don Baker, who are also Detroit Symphony Orchestra musicians.
The 30 honorees include founding musicians, past board members and board chairs, collaborative partners and those who have donated their time and expertise to the organization. Those recognized during the gala included H. Robert Reynolds, conductor and artistic advisor of DCWS, who is retired from the University of Michigan faculty and currently conducts and teaches at the University of Southern California.
A professor of music and organist, Lewis has taught at Hope since 1990. Born in Wales, he performs nationally and internationally on a regular basis, and has been featured at important meetings and conventions sponsored by many professional organizations including the American Guild of Organists and the Royal College of Organists.
He was a featured recitalist at the 1987 International Congress of Organists. Dr. Lewis's playing has been broadcast in America and in Great Britain where he has made numerous recordings for the BBC. He has served on many competition juries, most recently for the 2003 Dallas International Organ Competition.
While a student, Lewis received numerous prestigious scholarships, fellowships, and prizes. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London, at Cambridge University, and at the University of Michigan.
He served at St. John's Episcopal Church, where he was also organist and choirmaster, from 1974 until joining the Hope faculty. Before coming to Hope he had also been choir director of Temple Israel of West Bloomfield since 1987 and a member of the adjunct faculty at Marygrove College - teaching organ - since 1982.
Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings is an ensemble committed to bringing to life the body of repertoire that utilizes between six and 20 musicians. DCWS musicians are drawn primarily from the Detroit Symphony and Michigan Opera Theatre orchestras. Now in its 30th year, Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings presents mixed works for winds, brass and strings. Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings was named Crain's Detroit Business 2010 Best-Managed Nonprofit. More information about DCWS is available online.


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The Gorgon
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|In pre-WWI Germany, the lovely assistant to a mad brain surgeon moonlights as a snake-haired gorgon, turning men to stone. A professor arrives in the village to investigate, only to become another victim.
|Directed by:
|Terence Fisher
|Anthony Nelson Keys
|Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Richard Pasco, Barbara Shelley, Michael Goodliffe, Patrick Troughton, Jack Watson, Jeremy Longhurst, Toni Gilpin, Prudence Hyman


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MONTPELIER — The Addison County American Legion team remained in the thick of the Northern Division playoff hunt by splitting four recent games. AC is 9-4 in the league, 9-5 overall.
On Tuesday, AC won a back-and-forth contest at Montpelier, 4-3. On Sunday, visiting Essex rallied past AC, 3-2. And on this past Saturday, AC split a doubleheader at Burlington, dropping the opener, 8-7, before winning the nightcap, 8-2.


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Perhaps one of the best stories this year was Scott Walker's victory in his recall election. That election was prompted by Wisconsin passing a law that limited collective bargaining for some public-sector unions (most government employees, minus police and firefighters) and forced them to contribute more to their pensions.
Naturally, public unions threw a hissy fit at the thought that they would have to pay for their own benefits rather than forcing other people to pay for them—you know, government-backed robbery. They forced the recall election, but lost badly, and in the end it was perceived as a major blow to labor unions around the country. Not only did it deplete the Wisconsin unions' coffers, it also damaged their image as a credible threat, and gave strength to more governors to fix their awful state budgets.
In retrospect, though, perhaps the big winner was Lawrence O'Donnell. Immediately after the results came in, O'Donnell proclaimed that the winner of the Wisconsin recall election was, bizarrely, Barack Obama. I derided him at the time, yet it turned out he was correct: Obama went on to win the 2012 presidential election, and took Wisconsin by 52% to Romney's 46%.
Despite that, though, Walker's recall victory was a major victory for free market advocates and libertarians everywhere. Let's hope we can continue the fight under Obama's second term.


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Voile Mtn Surf
Lengths: 165, 175, 185 Dimensions: 110/88/10
(165 length has dimensions of: 105/83/98)
This is a wood core board without a metal topsheet. Omitting the metal topsheet saves weight and this is a fat ski designed for both off and on piste.
The Mtn Surf is a really different kind of tele ski and has been for quite awhile. Another fat board that was way ahead of its time, this ski is much more than a powder ski. It handles everything other than really hard pack well. The 22 mm's of sidecut make it almost a traditional ski by todays standards but it is soft enough to bend into a nice arc, the old way to carve short turns and it still works.
I would not say that this ski is as powerful or made to rip in the same way that others in its class might be, but it is a lot lighter: just 7 1/2 pounds in the 187 length. The one problem here is that as skis get wider there is more surface area to get deflected and tossed around. Most of the big skis are heavy enough to counter this tendency, lighter wide skis such this one, and say the old Atomic lightweights, can suffer in this area. I have to say though that in my test rides of the Mtn Surf I did not notice it to be a problem. It is not really that light I suppose.
I would call this a forgiving ski. It is a very stable platform and floats through the soft stuff nicely. I am told that it is really fun in spring corn too. I have not tried it there myself, but I have skied it now a couple of times and I can see how its characteristics would make it a fine spring ski.
Conclusion: I like this ski. It is fun and for an upward moving tele skier looking to go fat but wanting to stick with a forgiving, relatively light tele-specific ski this might be the ride. Real aggressive experts may want to go with one of the alpine mid-fats, but this is a stable ski for its type. Great!
Lengths: 173, 178, 183, 188, 193, 198 Dimensions: 106/70/94
The K2 X-15 is an all mountain alpine ski with the "Triaxilly Braided" core that K2 uses. It means that fibers are wrapped around the fir core at an angle to give the ski torsional stiffness. It also features K2's "Smart Structure" vibration dampening system with those cool little LED's!
This is a very good ski for strong tele skiers. It is fairly stiff so it may not be suitable for you cardio fit lightweights or telebabes, but for bigger telemarkers this is a fine ski. The X-15's 36 mm's of sidecut make it a terrific carving tool, the width gives it lots of float and, as noted here before, the spiffy anti vibration LED's do seem to work. This is a damp ski without being dead.
This is a true all-mountain ski for telemark. It does well in powder, mush, crud and on the groomed runs. I am told it does well in the bumps too. I enjoyed my time on the X-15 and this was a surprise because in general I have not been a fan of the K2 skis, as many of you already know.
Conclusion: A good ski for big body expert tele skiers. Not an entry level ski.
Atomic Beta Ride 9.22 S
Lengths: 160, 170, 180, 190, 200 Dimensions: 108-72-100
The 9.22 S has Atomic's Beta Technology, a "densolite" foam core with two distinct ridges running longitudinally along the fore and after bodies of the ski. Like many new skis these days, it is very torsionally rigid but fairly soft in flex. I chose the "S" model to try because it was available to me and also because, being softer than the standard 9.22, I think it is more suited to tele turning.
This is a fun ski. Powerful and precise, it is a ski that will keep up with an aggressive expert. The 9.22 S has a ton of side cut, so naturally it likes to carve short radius turns. The wide tail wide tail gives it some of the, what I perceive to be negative, characteristics of the Tale Pothook (below): it tends to want to hang onto the turn a little longer than the driver might want it to. Perhaps this is something that can be adjusted to with time but I always find it a bit disconcerting when I first jump on a ski like this.
Oh, and about that side cut. 36 mm's is a lot, if you don't like super sidecut skis you probably won't like this one either. I really don't like to go much over 30 mm's and yet I still had a good time on the 9.22 S, it is a terrific area ski and a lot of fun to carve turns with. It was also fun in the bumps.
Conclusion: I had a good time riding the 9.22 S but would I buy a pair for myself? No. I can't really put my finger on it but it just did not feel like my kind of back- country ski. It feels to me like a full blown inbounds kind of ski and with so many skis that are at home both in and out of the area, I would invest elsewhere. It just might be me, I know a couple people who love them, but now that I think about it, they are resort skiers.
Fischer Tele Pathic
Lengths: 170, 180, 190 Dimensions: 93/63/93
This is a wood core cap ski with a whole lot of sidecut and a very wide tail, so wide it is as wide as the shovel. It is a soft ski and not well suited to hardpack.
The Tele Pathic was one of the first super sidecut tele specific skis. It has been a popular ski through the past few years and although it has been discontinued, there are still a lot of them kicking around and I have had several requests for a review.
It had been a couple of years since I last skied the ' Pathic when I borrowed a friend's pair the other day. What a nice easy turning ski. Carved turns are a breeze and the soft even flex had a bit of snap to it. It is a fairly light ski, or at least much lighter than the alpine-for tele skis that I ski so often. This lightness is great for climbing but I found it to be a bit of a liability for my style, the Tele Pathic seemed to get tossed around in the spring like snow I had it in.
I have heard this ski referred to as a good beginners ski, I disagree. It is certainly easy to get a carve going but that wide tail does not want to release at the end of the turn, making it difficult to finish the turn cleanly and scribe nice evenly rounded turns. I could make them work but only with a bit more attention to the end of the turn than most beginners would be able to give.
Conclusion: Not a bad ski at all. The quirky tail properties keep it from being a good beginner ski but I found that it handled a fair amount of aggression pretty well and in the hands of an experienced user worked OK. Still, experts will probably want more out of a ski than that. A ski in search of a niche.
Rossignol Sommet
Lengths: 170, 177, 184, 191, 195 Dimensions: 96/65/80
A foam core/metal topsheet ski, the Sommet has a generous sidecut (31mm) and a wide shovel.
This is a soft snow ski. For a soft ski though, it sure does not have much rebound. After my experience with the Attaque, I was prepared to really hate this ski but I did not. This is a relatively forgiving ski due it's dampness. Don't expect a lot of rebound, it just does not have much snap. The telemark turn is, for many, a soft snow turn so for them this will not be a bad ski.
One thing that I find odd is that the flex really does lend itself to soft snow and backcountry powder but the waist width is more like that of an on-piste, carving type ski. The 65mm waist is just not going to give you the float you are going to want for deep and variable backcountry snow.
Conclusion: This may just be a pretty fair entry-level telemark ski. The full price is already low and with big discounts I have even seen it selling for less than $170. I don't really believe in the whole progression thing, you end up spending more money in the long run, but perhaps this ski should be considered by newbies on a budget, keeping in mind it's limitations. Expert? don't go there.
Salomon Supermountain
Lengths: 178, 186, 194 Dimensions: 110/78/100
This is a monocoque, metal topsheet (titaninium and aluminum) ski that has Salomon's "Monofiltering platform" that is said to filter shocks from hard or uneven snow. It has a foam core and a graphite, sintered base.
The Supermountain is the successor to the very popular for telemark X-Mountain, now discontinued. I have a friend who loved the X-Mountain and I liked it a lot too. He recently replaced his worn out X's with this ski and I am happy to report that we both found it to be every bit as fine as the X's. Snappy and lively, it is well suited to all-mountain skiing.
The wide waist gives the Supermountain great float and makes it a superb off piste tool. This ski loves powder, crud and mush, it will do about as well as any ski I have tried in death crust. A good edge holding ski, it is also a lot of fun on the groomers, carving nice arcs reliably. The shock-filter does seem to work in some way, this is smooth riding ski. Torsional rigidity is good and the flex is soft enough for telemark.
A mid-fat like this ski will benefit from being chosen in a shorter length, especially when it come to quickness edge to edge. Unfortunately the available sizes are limited, still, I would recommend the 194's only for the biggest telemark skiers.
Conclusion: A fine ski from Salomon for tele, shorter lengths will help in the weight area for backcountry use. Only drawback: they are so darn expensive and hard to find discounted.
Atomic Beta TM.24
Lengths: 170, 180, 190 Dimensions: 102-64-86
The TM.24 is a foam core ski with Atomic's "Beta Technology", essentially the ski has two long bumps longitudinally on the fore and aft parts of the top of the ski. This is said to add torsional rigidity and still allow smooth flex. Kind of like Saloman's "Pro-link" arms.
I only had a brief time on this ski a couple of weeks ago but it did not take long to figure this one out. It is a decent carver and a forgiving on piste ski. It would be good for a beginner looking to learn how to carve turns instead of skid them. It holds a good edge on hard pack if you can bend them enough, otherwise with that mondo sidecut you will be riding the tips and the tails.
When I ventured out of the ski area it was not for long: this is not a backcountry ski, period. It is a ski in desperate need of some waist width for most off piste conditions.
Conclusion: Atomic says that the target group for this ski is folks looking to make progress in in technique "with a slight emphasis on powder". I would say very slight. They call it an all-mountain ski as well, and I would say only if all the mountain has been groomed!
Tua Mega Plus MX
Lengths: 175, 182, 187, 192, 197 Dimensions: 95-67-85
A torsion box, wood cored ski, the Mega received a makeover this season that included adding more waist width and additional sidecut. It is considered by Tua to be their most all around ski.
I did not like the old Mega much and I really don't care for this new one either. All the compromises in dimensions, flex and weight, made in the attempt to make this a do-everything ski have left it, in my opinion, bereft of any really great qualities. Mediocre float off-piste, average edge-hold on hard pack, not damp but not especially lively either, the Mega is pretty much a middle of the road ski for tele'ers looking for one ski that does not do any one thing really well.
Conclusion: No matter how you dress it up, this is really a dated design looking for a purpose and not finding it. Choosing a ski for the primary conditions you encounter would probably be a better idea, adding skis for special purposes later.
Yostmark Classic Noodle
Lengths: 177, 187, 192, 197 Dimensions: 99/76/87
The Classic Noodle is a wood core, torsion box ski with a reinforced binding plate and a sintered base. Yostmark is a very small ski company who's skis are built for them by Elan in Slovenia. At one time this would have been considered a fat ski, now it barely hits the mid-fat category. It gets back up top, though, with a smooth soft flex ( can you say "faceshot" ?).
This is a wonderful powder specific ski. It is made for savoring the sweet stuff as opposed to ripping it, a great ski for the powder connoisseur rather than the hog. This is not to say that this ski can't rip, it can, it is just such a fine powder tool you will want to sip the pow like fine wine and enjoy each turn for all it is worth. The rebound from the soft flex will have you moving through the deep like a porpoise in the ocean. It also does well in crud
The Classic Noodle reminds me of my old Miller Super Softs (it is a descendant of that fabled ski) it skis more like Yostmark's old Mountain Noodle which was built from the Miller Soft mold. The Classic though, benefits from the advances in modern ski construction: it is soft but still relatively torsionally firm (as compared to the previous incarnations).
At the Outdoor Retailer Show a couple of years ago, several of us tried this ski in the powder at Solitude and the vote was unanimous: 4 smiles up!
Conclusion: This ski is built for powder and it does that very, very well, if you are looking for a specialty ski for the sweet stuff you won't be disappointed.
K2 Piste Stinx
Lengths: 170, 180, 190, 195 Dimensions: 99/70/88
A tele-specific torsion box cap ski. The 'Stinx is a wood core ski with K2's "Triaxial Braid" construction. It boasts 29mm's of sidecut and a relatively wide waist. It has holes in the tips for emergency sled rigging and notches in the tail for euro-style skins.
This ski has been out for four seasons now and was one of the first tele skis to really show the influence of alpine ski design. I have to hand it to K2, they made a smart move. Recognizing that many tele skiers on the cutting edge were mounting up soft flexing alpine skis for telemark use, K2 skipped the skinny ski market and went right after tele-ers looking for downhill turning performance. It was a successful strategy, the 'Stinx has been a huge seller for K2.
If you had been skiing tele-specific skis up until the last two seasons and you jumped on a pair of these, you would think they were the greatest skis since tele skis got metal edges. On the other hand, if you had been adapting quality alpine skis to telemark use over the previous decade you would be more likely to shrug and say "not bad, not great, but a bit better than the rest of the tele ski bunch" (three years ago). This pretty much sums up my own feelings. I liked it a lot better than the rest of the K2 skis which I have often referred to as "K9" skis (this was before the new World Piste that I have yet to try), but still, I was not bowled over three years ago and recently I tried them again and felt the same way.
I'm sure I am not making many friends with this less than enthusiastic review: I know many of you love them and will defend the 'Stinx and its qualities to the death, but I have to call 'em as I see them.
Conclusion: Not a bad ski at all and worth a try if you have a chance to demo them, some people love 'em. I would not tell you to buy the Piste Stinx untried though.
Tua Excalibur Mito MX
Lengths: 170, 178, 185, 192 Dimensions: 98-70-88
The Mito is another double torsion box cap ski from Tua. Built from the same mold as the very popular Big Easy, it has partially segmented edged and a double sintered base. It is marketed as a Randonee ski, but has a soft, round flex suitable for telemark skiing.
I got to borrow a friend's pair for an extended demo one day last month. He had his mounted with the same bindings I use and they were almost the exact length of the skis I normally ski, so I got a pretty good test with few variables.
This slightly stiffer clone of the Big Easy is a fun ride. It holds a better edge on hardpack (but not like the Blade) making it, a better ski for use at the resorts if hard snow is what you usually get. It is a fine off-piste ski as well, with those buoyant dimensions. 28 mm's of sidecut make for a nice rounded arc, and the wide shovel keeps the driver from feeling like Capt. Nemo in the pow. I think the softer ' Easy is more fun in the fluff and the mush, but the Mito has a leg up on the firm.
Like the ' Easy this is a shorter turning, sub-sonic ski. You probably will not be keeping up with your alpine brethren on these.
Conclusion: If you ski harder groomed snow at the ski area but still like to get out in the BC when it is happening, and you want one ski to for both places, this may be your ski. A pair for firm and a pair for soft would be better though.
K2 Four
Lengths: 168, 173, 178, 183, 188, 193 Sidecut: 99/65/88
Like it's telemark-specific cousin, the Totally Piste, the ' Four is a "Tri-axially braided", wood core ski. It sports K2's "SmartSki" technology, a piezo-electric dampening system designed to reduce chatter while still allowing the ski to be smooth flexing.
Although this ski has the same dimensions as the T-Piste, I found it to be a much more powerful ski, far more energetic and a lot more stable at speed. Perhaps those gimicky looking LED's connected to the piezo-electrics do work! This is a relatively stiff ski for tele, I would recommend it more for big, more experienced telemarkers.
Decent in powder (but not great, too narrow of a waist), it really comes into its own on groomers, backcountry corn and other less than bottomless conditions. I skied it in crud one day and it was not bad there either.
Conclusion: A pretty darn good tele-ride that delivers in a variety of areas, not for newbies. The ' Four has been around awhile, you might be able to find a deal!
Tua Blade MX
Lengths: 175, 182, 187, 192, 197 Dimensions: 92-64-82
The Blade Mx is a double-torsion box ski from the same mold as the Tua Razor, the difference is that the Blade has heavier fiberglass reinforcement to make it much stiffer.
For you hard-snow skiers looking for a ski that will carve the rock hard pistes, this is your ski, at least among the tele-specific contenders. One of my ski partners, a guy with a ton of experience skiing hard, man-made snow, ( he was the patrol director working nights at our local area for 13 years ) says that the Blade holds an edge as well or better than any ski, alpine or tele he has ever skied.
This is not a backcountry ski. The narrow waist will have you diving and not coming up in the fluff, at least not without a lot of work.
Conclusion: A very specialized ski, that will rock inbounds in even the most bullet-proof conditions. Get this ski to add to a quiver only, unless hard-pack is your only goal.
Dynastar 4X4 ATV
Sizes: 160, 170, 178, 186, 192 Dimensions: 107-70-92
The 4x4 is a " multicell core, glass fiber, titanium sheet, kevlar fiber " ski. I think that means it is a foam core, metal topsheet ski with kevlar reinforcement. Also it has something called a "Zicral Sheet" that is said to add torsional rigitity.
The 4x4's dimensions make it a fun carver and all terrain ski, worthy in the powder and stable all around. It holds an edge on the hard pack extremely well . Unfortunately the construction makes it a bit too stiff for my tastes as a tele ski. I like an alpine ski with a smooth, even and soft flex for telemark, this ski is a bit too alpiney to fit the bill. Getting that rear ski to bend was a huge chore.
Dynastar makes a 4x4 ATL, a woman specific ski that is softer wide bodied metal laminate version of the above that I'll bet would make a pretty killer tele ski: combining the best elements of the ATV with a softer flex. I would like to try that one, even if it does say right on the ski "For Women". I'm secure.
Conclusion: Too stiff for tele, try the ATL if you can find a telebabe with a pair.
Volkl Presto and Mountain Ranger
Sizes: 170, 177, 181, 187, 191 Dimensions: 98/72/88
The Volkl Presto (the red ones and the blue ones) and it's later incarnation the Mountain Ranger, are foam core, metal topsheet, cap skis. Underneath the typical terrible Volkl graphics lie a mighty telemark ski.
A soft snow, short turn monster, these skis were languishing on alpine store shelves all over the U.S. until telemark skiers started snapping them up wherever they could find them, and often at big, big discounts. Ahead of it's time, the Presto, with the wide waist so nice in a backcountry ski and the soft even flex we look for in a sweet tele ski, has become, for many of us, the yardstick by which we judge this class of ski. It is probably no coincidence that the Tua Big Easy shares almost identical dimensions to the Presto, but the Volkl hit the market three years earlier.
Sadly, the Presto has virtually disappeared. The red ones gave way to the slightly stiffer (and heavier) blue ones. Last year it was renamed and marketed as the Mountain Ranger, now also discontinued. I believe Volkl also had a ski out called the Snow Ranger Light, which may or may not have been the same ski. In Europe they sold an AT ski with the same dimensions but with a wood core called the Tour 4000, I have heard it skied much like the Presto. Anyway, the point of all this history is that you may see a pair of these skis sitting on a sale rack somewhere, if you do snap them up, you will love them!
Conclusion: Every tele skier I let try my Prestos ( and that was many ) went out and bought a a pair, sometimes multiple pairs. Not a ski for going fast, they are just a supreme tele-turning ski. We will miss them when they wear out!
Volant Power Carve and Ti Power
Dimensions: 103/73/97 Sizes: 163/173/183/193
The Power Carve and the newer Ti Power ( a titanium version of the popular Power Carve ) are typical Volant skis: not just a metal top-sheet but a metal ski! These are cap skis and highly durable, they have a loyal following and telemark skiers have been using the Volant Chubb for years, so I was anxious to try the Power Carve and the Ti Power.
Volant claims to have invented the "mid-fat" and I am sure Volkl would argue that point, either way, these skis do not compare favorably to the Snow Ranger: slow edge to edge and very, very damp, the Powers are heavy and low energy. Some skiers like a damp ski for it's forgiving properties, I find damp usually equates with "dead", and that would be my take on the Power Carve and Ti Power. These skis reminded me of skis that had been used for a long time and skied out.
In variable conditions they ski about how you would expect a big, heavy ski to ride: lots of float and easily bashing through the crud. Unfortunately they do all this with very little flair.
Conclusion: Not my cup of tea but if you like really damp skis that are low-energy but forgiving than you might want to try the Power Carve or Ti Power, some people love 'em.
Salomon X-Scream Series
Dimensions: 106/68/96 Lengths: 179, 187, 195
This powerful ski has been getting a lot of attention from telemark skiers from all around the globe. It is a monocoque cap ski with a titanium and aluminum layer and a wood core. The X-Scream Series also sports Salomon's Prolink arms at the mid-points of each end of the ski. These arms are designed to add stiffness while still allowing an even flex. It looks like Salomon has abandoned the confusing and lame "PR" labeling on their skis: these skis are plainly labeled as to length.
The X-Scream Series has a whopping 38 mm's of sidecut, making it a true carving ski. The waist, at 68 mm's, is just a tad under that magic 70 mm number that so many have found desirable in a backcountry ski. Though with a tip and tail as wide as this ski has, I don't think you have much to worry about as far as float goes.
I found this ski to be a smooth turning, fast edge-to-edge ski, with plenty of pop at the end of the turn. It feels damp at high speed but is still plenty lively while performing slower, shorter turns. Rounded even turns are a piece of cake with this ski, though releasing the tail requires a bit more attention to the up motion in the turn sequence, this may be due to the quite wide tail dimensions.
One expert level ski partner likes this ski so much that he owns 3 pair! He tested the X-Scream last winter in the bumps at Mary Jane and reports that they did much better in the bumps than he expected. He calls it a great all mountain ski.
I have not had the opportunity to ski the 'Screams in powder, but I am sure that it would perform well in that heavenly stuff: it is soft enough and as I said, with all that surface area there should be plenty of float.
Conclusion: A high performance, expensive ski that, in the hands of a good tele skier, will rock. Fast, powerful, and not what I would call a forgiving ski, it is not for beginners, but will rule for those with more experience looking for an upper level ride.
Update: I skied these skis again recently while taking the new Skyhoy binding for a test ride. This really is a great ski, more forgiving than I had remembered it being and with the Skyhoy, even more of a monster carver. A bit touchier than the Snow Ranger for example, but a fine, fine ride!
Black Diamond Resolution
Dimensions: 99/66/92 Lengths: 160, 170, 180, 190
The Resolution is yet another torsion box, foam core tele ski. Built on the same mold as Atomic's popular TeleCarve, it is a bit stiffer and heavier.
This was Black Diamonds premier ski going into last season and this year has been discontinued. There are still a lot of them around for sale though and often at good prices. At the right price, this is a decent upward moving beginner tele ski. All that side cut and the wide tail will have you carving in no time. It is not a ski that likes to skid the turn endings. BD marketed this ski as an experts ski, it is not, you will be struggling to keep up with the pack on this one. The narrow waist limits it's performance in the outback as well.
Conclusion: If you are moving up in your skills and you ski with a lot of fast skiers you will quickly lose interest in this ski, on the other hand, if you are starting out and you can find one at a good price, go for it.
K2 Totally Piste
Dimesions: 99/65/88 Lengths: 180, 185, 190, 195, 200
A "tri-axial" braided, torsion box, wood core ski. The triaxial braid is said to be composed of "lightweight fibers" wrapped around the core to give the ski more torsional rigidity...uh, OK.
With the cool graphics of the Totally Piste you expect this ski to really perform. In reality I would compare it to painting flame on the side of my wife's Toyota Camry. It is a good, dependable car but flames?
And so it is with the T-Piste, not a terrible ski, maybe even a decent hardpack ski at a resort, but a pretty crummy BC ski. The float you get in soft snow feels like it is coming from the tips and the tails, not a great feeling. On piste it is not very lively, requiring a lot of work from the driver. Maybe it is a good bump ski...there must be something.
Conclusion: Look elsewhere. Sure would like to try the new World Piste though.
Tua Big Easy
Dimensions: 98/70/88 Lengths: 170,178,185, 192
This double torsion box ski is very reminiscent of the Volkl Presto(98/72/88), an alpine ski that came out a few years before and flopped as an alpine ski but found a cult following among tele skiers. The wide shovel and waist of the 'Easy makes it a terrific ski in soft snow, yet it still manages to hold a credible edge on the firm.
The Big Easy is a terrific BC ski, it handles powder, corn and the bad stuff about as well as any ski I have tried. It is a touring for turns ski, not a touring ski, but breaking trail is easier than you would think due to the wide platform. Still, it is not a light ski, add big boots (T-2 or Veloce at minimum) and you will be feeling the weight, the payoff comes though when you point these babies down. The 28 mm's of sidecut assures you that they are made for turning.
As you may be able to tell from the lengths offered, the ' Easy is designed to be skied in shorter lengths than you may be used to. Over six footers will find the 192 to be plenty of ski, the torsional rigidity is very good and the extra surface area of a wider ski like this means you can go shorter without worry. As mentioned, you want to ski these with beefier boots, I don't think I would try them with the T-3 class of boots.
Conclusion: A fine ski for backcountry and resort use, especially in softer snow conditions. If you ski primarily hard and icy conditions at resorts you will want to look elsewhere, if not give this ski a try, you will not be disappointed.
Rossignol Attaque
Dimensions: 100/67/88 Lengths: 177, 184, 191, 198
This was Rossi's big premier ski last year, featuring their "Dualtec" construction. Essentially this is a cap on top of a laminate type construction. It is a slightly de-tuned version of the popular Bandit alpine ski. With 33 mm's of sidecut, a wide shovel and Rossignols reputation as a quality ski maker, this ski should be a winner. It is not.
Perhaps it is the relatively narrow waist for this type of ski that makes this model such a dog. Very low energy, this ski was no fun in the powder at Solitude where a group of us tried it. Some comments from the group:
"Worst ski I have tried in 25 years of skiing". "I could not wait to get it back to the barn". "The only good thing I can say about the Attaque is that it was fast on the groomers which meant I could get it back to the demo area quickly and change it out".
Conclusion: A terrible ski, to be avoided at all costs.
Volkl Snow Ranger
Dimensions: 105/79/98 Lengths: 170 through 200
Now called the Snow Ranger Vertigo (!?) the venerable 'Ranger has been the ski that virtually defined the mid-fat category for years. With Volkls "Power Frame" technology, it is a torsionally rigid yet amazingly even flexing ski.
This ski simply rips! It is was originally marketed as a powder ski and it excels in the fluff but it also grips ice and hardpack like a claw. It is one powerful ski. The sweet spot on these Volkls is huge, just don't try to ski them slow, they are made to go fast (real fast), at slow speeds (less than 5 mph) they tend to be a bit "hooky" ( another tester called it the Ranger Hook) just build up a bit of speed before beginning your turns and you will never notice it.
The Snow Ranger is a high speed carving monster. I have two pair, 180 and 200 cm's. The 200's allow me to keep up with the fastest of my alpine friends at the resort. I use the 180's with lighter boots and still am able to push the speed envelope with them, yet they make a fine BC ski as well (the 200's stay at the resort).
Volkl has a unique mounting point. There is a mark on the ski for lining up the boot tip (this is an alpine ski so for tele we move the boot up a tad to compensate for the longer tip), Volkl designers correctly note that the ball of the foot, the pressure point when turning, is in about the same spot for a size eight as it is for a size 12. They design the sweet spot with this in mind and want the boot tip mounted accordingly (most alpine skis have a boot center mark that lines up with a center mark on the alpine boot). This works great for telemark, placing the ball of the foot in just the right spot on the rear ski.
Conclusion: I can't say enough good things about this ski, if you are looking for a big, fast, powerful ski to rip at the resorts buy a long pair, if you want a versatile ski for the BC yet still want to haul ass at the resort, get a shorter pair, but by all means add the 'Ranger to your quiver. It may end up being the only pair you ski!
Real reviews by real skiers. What a concept! Add your own today. Reviews only please, questions can be posted as replies but new threads looking for opinions should be posted to the main Telemark Talk Forum.
3 posts • Page 1 of 1
- Johnny
Rank: XCD KNIGHT
- Posts: 1787
- Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 6:11 pm
- Location: Quebec / Vermont
- Ski style: Dancing with God
- Favorite Skis: Redsters, Radicals, Objectives and all Asnes skis.
- Favorite boots: ALFA Guard Advance, Scarpa TX Comp
- Occupation: Full-time ski bum
/...\ Peace, Love, Telemark and Tofu /...\
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
Re: SKI REVIEWS '99/00
NIce retro review.
Keep up the good work, Johnny.
Keep up the good work, Johnny.
"everybody's a genius" - albert einstein
- Verskis
Rank: XCD Pinhead
- Posts: 118
- Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2017 2:14 am
- Location: Tampere, Finland
- Ski style: XCD touring, yo-yoing small hills
- Favorite Skis: Åsnes Rabb 68
- Favorite boots: Alico Ski March
- Occupation: Hydraulics engineer
Re: SKI REVIEWS '99/00
LoveJohnny wrote:Atomic Beta TM.24
Lengths: 170, 180, 190 Dimensions: 102-64-86
The TM.24 is a foam core ski with Atomic's "Beta Technology", essentially the ski has two long bumps longitudinally on the fore and aft parts of the top of the ski. This is said to add torsional rigidity and still allow smooth flex. Kind of like Saloman's "Pro-link" arms.
I only had a brief time on this ski a couple of weeks ago but it did not take long to figure this one out. It is a decent carver and a forgiving on piste ski. It would be good for a beginner looking to learn how to carve turns instead of skid them. It holds a good edge on hard pack if you can bend them enough, otherwise with that mondo sidecut you will be riding the tips and the tails.
When I ventured out of the ski area it was not for long: this is not a backcountry ski, period. It is a ski in desperate need of some waist width for most off piste conditions.
Conclusion: Atomic says that the target group for this ski is folks looking to make progress in in technique "with a slight emphasis on powder". I would say very slight. They call it an all-mountain ski as well, and I would say only if all the mountain has been groomed!
Ha, I'm using these as my groomer skis. Bought them dirt cheap to learn the telemark turn on groomed slopes before applying it in the backcountry.
Good to know that " It is a decent carver and a forgiving on piste ski. It would be good for a beginner looking to learn how to carve turns instead of skid them. It holds a good edge on hard pack if you can bend them enough..." , sounds like it is not a bad ski for my purposes!
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We're an Independent Community Bank, interested in the prosperity and well-being of our community. We're Bandera Bank…We're Bandera's Bank.


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I'll be flying out to Detroit for the ACI National Home Performance Conference next Monday, but before get to Detroit and that great conference, I thought I'd share one more special moment from Energy Out West.
On Thursday afternoon last week, just after lunch, John Tooley, Anthony Cox, and Joseph Lstiburek sat at a table together in front of the participants at Energy Out West talking about the future. (Thanks, Tiger Adolf for the photo.) When you see him, ask Anthony about his new wrist watch! Here is a sampling of comments. I'll let you connect the statement with the speaker.
Solar is dead. Nobody trusts it anymore.
There are some cool new gadgets out there.
The future looks good because of scientific breakthroughs happening right now.
Cellulose is the future.
Efficiency wins, efficiency wins, efficiency wins!
Here is that special moment I mentioned above: John Tooley says to Joe Lstiburek, I agree with about 80% of what you said. But with some things, you are full of %$$##@#@!.
But that's not the actual special moment. That happened just after John spoke, when Joe reached out to John and they hugged. Not an "A-Frame" semi hug, but the real thing. The kind that sounds better in Spanish—an embrasso. I realized then that these three great men in our industry truly love and respect one another, despite their differences. That made me feel very good.
Views: 178
You nailed in Todd, it was Joe L. who said no one trusts solar. I don't remember him sharing his analysis of the solar economy, but I'm sure he has his reasons. I too think that new battery technology and other energy storage will be a huge benefit for solar and wind energy—when the wind don't blow and the sun don't shine.
That must have been Lstiburek's comment ("Solar is dead. Nobody trusts it anymore"). I missed that. The numbers and activity (at least on residential) don't seem to support this statement, specifically the "Nobody" part. Was he referring to the increased efforts by utilities to put up barriers to solar (i.e., charges for grid tie-in), or reliability issues? Many of the state rebates and credits still make solar pretty affordable for houses. However on a large utility-scale, wind generation is much greater; few install wind generation on a residential scale. Naturally we are all in agreement about efficiency; it does win. However, I think advanced technological improvements in energy storage -- residential or utility-scale -- is the next big thing to watch.
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text:
Students taught oral-sex tricks (and more)
You won't believe what prestigious school pushes
WARNING: The following story contains language that some readers may find offensive.
The University of Chicago is leaving little to the imagination with its Sex Week schedule, as it hosts a number of eye-opening events that it promises will go "far beyond typical sex education" with workshops including "Great Oral Sex with Tea Time and Sex Chats," "Anal 101," "The Perfect Vagina," "Sex Ed for Kids" and a play titled "Genitalia the Musical."
According to the university's official webpage, the oral-sex symposium will include discussion on "going down on men and women, techniques as well as individual differences and sexual health practices. Yes, expect tea."
Another workshop, titled "Partner Acrobatics," advertises that members of a circus will "teach you (and your friends) how to stand on shoulders and every other place on the body."
"We'll have a rope-demonstration where you'll find that kink is really focused on consent and communication," the college also notes.
The session titled "Anal 101" is billed as a course on the "logistics and pleasures of anal sex." It features lessons on "prep, protection, barebacking, etc."
Other workshops will feature "hilarious" sex scenes from film and television, as well as a pornographic parody of the "Star Wars" saga. Axel Braun, director of "Star Wars XXX" and some 400 other porn films will even be on hand hosting one event.
The "Sex Ed for Kids" seminar asks: "How do we talk about sex and its related concepts of choice, gender, and desire to our kindergartners?"
Students can also take part in a cold reading of porn scripts, and a live demonstration and tutorial on how to take nude photographs.
See a report on what else youth are being encouraged to adopt as their goals.
There's even a game of Twister taking place on "the hugest Twister Board ever."
The university newspaper, the Chicago Maroon, indicates the sex week is funded by the Dean's Fund for Student Life and the Student Government Finance Committee.
According to Campus Reform, the body allocated $5,048 in student fees for the "educational" event.
A note on the university's website says "Sex Week aims to create an open, safe and supportive space to discuss sex. We are proud to provide inclusive information and conversations around sex to our diverse community here at the University of Chicago."
The events began on Monday and last through this coming Sunday, Feb. 17.


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intro:The only downside to having a fantastic weekend—Sleeping in! Sunday brunch! No annoying work emails!—is knowing it's going to come to a screeching halt come Monday morning. But instead of thinking up creative ways to call in sick, consider changing your approach toward the first workday of the week. Try these expert tips for new ways to turn Monday into an extended weekend...or at least less of a depressing day.
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quicklist: 3 category: 12 Ways To Hate Mondays Less title: Make a lunch date url: text:How often do you suggest lunch with a friend but never get around to actually doing it? "Somewhere on our mental to-do list is the nagging wish to reconnect with friends," says Dr. Lieberman, "but work deadlines and family issues seem to overtake our good intentions." Make Monday your day to reconnect and meet your friend for a midday meal.
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quicklist:4 category: 12 Ways To Hate Mondays Less title: Catch a few rays url: text: A few minutes of sunlight in the morning not only provides a dose of vitamin D, but it increases serotonin levels, which are responsible for mood, says Francine Lederer, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles. "The higher the dose of serotonin, the better the mood and the less likelihood of depression." She recommends spending up to 15 minutes taking in some sun.
quicklist:5 category: 12 Ways To Hate Mondays Less title: Get busy url: text: Here's one way to greet Monday with a smile: Starting out your week with a romp in the hay releases brain chemicals that can have a profound antidepressant effect, says Nicholas Kardaras, PhD, clinical director of The Dunes East Hampton, a luxury rehab center in Manhattan. "But the real key is oxytocin, the powerful hormone that some have dubbed the 'cuddle hormone' because it's released during orgasm and helps create a feel-good bond between you and your partner." No time for nookie? Here are 10 other ways to get an oxytocin boost.
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quicklist:7 category: 12 Ways To Hate Mondays Less title: Wear something new url: text:Nothing says "Happy Monday" like something shiny. "If you went shopping over the weekend, wear that new outfit, shoes, or bauble on Monday," says Rita Eichenstein, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist in Los Angeles.
quicklist:8 category: 12 Ways To Hate Mondays Less title: Commute with a friend url: text:Motor to work with a friend or colleague whose company you enjoy and with whom you can laugh, says Roy Cohen, a career counselor and executive coach in New York City. "It's a nice way to start the week and a reason to look forward to your commute." If sharing the ride isn't an option, you can use Monday to start a new audio book or listen to some new tunes on your iPod, says Amy Wood, PsyD, a psychologist based in Portland, Maine and author of Life Your Way.
quicklist:9 category: 12 Ways To Hate Mondays Less title: Try a new makeup technique url: text:Make Monday your new makeup day and try a new mascara, a multitasking BB cream, or a lip plumper, says Kathleen Forbush Smith, professional makeup artist and founder of BABE Beauty Bar in Nashville, TN (these 2013 beauty award winners fit the bill!). "Or play around with your eye makeup by creating a sexy cat eye, adding a sparkle shadow or applying mini faux eyelash strips. Applying any one of these tips will give you a fresh outlook on a dreaded Monday."
quicklist:10 category: 12 Ways To Hate Mondays Less title:Take picture breaks url: text: Brain imaging studies have shown that the simple act of looking at a photo of someone you love can activate brain structures associated with feelings of wellbeing, and also lessen the brain activity associated with feeling stressed, says Carolyn Daitch, PhD, psychologist and director of the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders near Detroit. "Take a moment a few times a day to glance at a picture of a loved one and give yourself an emotional boost," she says.
quicklist:11 category: 12 Ways To Hate Mondays Less title:Eat chocolate cake for breakfast url: text: It's tough to look forward to oatmeal for breakfast when there's leftover cake in the fridge. So go ahead and splurge, says Amy Goodson, RD, a board-certified specialist in sport dietetics and the Dallas Cowboys' sports dietitian. "Live by the 80/20 Rule: 80% of the time eat for health and 20% eat for pleasure. A small slice of chocolate cake once or twice a week is fine." Who wouldn't look forward to starting the day with some frosting, even if it's a Monday?
quicklist:12 category: 12 Ways To Hate Mondays Less title:Order something to be delivered by Friday url: text: What's better than Friday? Receiving a present on Friday. Hop online Monday and order that pair of shoes, that best-selling book you've been eyeing, or a new waterproof eyeliner from Sephora, and pay a few extra bucks to make sure it's delivered by the end of the week.