text:
Louis L'Amour's contributions to the West can still be experienced in Durango
More than 24 years after his death, Louis L'Amour continues to leave his brand on Colorado. Saturday, the Strater Hotel in Durango unveiled a bronze plaque declaring Guest Room 222 an American Literary Landmark, as designated by the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations.
It was in that corner room overlooking Durango's Main Avenue, on the very drop-leaf table that's still there today, where L'Amour wrote much of his long series of books about the Sackett family, beginning in about 1966 until he bought a 1,000-acre ranch west of town in the early 1980s and began dividing his time between California and Colorado.
L'Amour defined the West for millions of his loyal readers, but Durango was partly defined by his larger-than-life presence, validation that the Old West remains a fixture in the heart of the San Juans.
In August 1980, The Denver Post's Western Slope columnist, Robert Tweedell, called L'Amour Durango's "favorite son."
"Although not a native, L'Amour has strong ties to Durango and a host of friends and admirers who look upon him as one of their own," Tweedell wrote.
Before he and wife, Kathy, bought a historic ranch west of Durango, the couple and their two children would spent the month of August each year at the Strater Hotel. According to accounts, L'Amour was inspired by the polyrhythms of the ragtime piano that played the saloon of the red-brick Victorian hotel, a witness to history since 1887.
Rod Barker said guests such as Louis L'Amour added character and warmth to the hotel his family has owned since 1926. The Strater is naming rooms in honor of special guests, according to remarks Saturday provided by the hotel.
"Having people like the L'Amour family come back to the Strater Hotel
year after year is just so very special to us," he stated. "They
became our good friends and are just such an important family to us,
and we are so very fortunate to know them and have this honor.
"Louis and his love of staying with us and being in Room 222 is the
very reason this whole idea of naming rooms came about starting with
dedicating this very special room The Louis L'Amour Room. It really
led the way for us to take on this wonderful endeavor, our Strater
Hotel Room Dedication Project. We have 93 rooms, and when finished we
will dedicated every room to a person, family, organization, or
business that played an important role in making Durango and southwest
Colorado what they are today."
Kathy L'Amour told The Denver Post in 2008 her husband first arrived in Durango in 1926, when he was 18 years old, looking for a job in the mines.
In the early 1980s they bought a rough patch of land with great historical character, and L'Amour was a minor investor and chief promoter of a real estate venture to develop a Western theme park and movie set. The project was called Shalako, after one of L'Amour's Sackett novels. The project never materialized, however.
L'Amour died in 1988, leaving a towering literary legacy of more than a hundred books, more than 200 short stories and scores of movies, including, "How the West was Won" in 1962 with John Wayne, who had played L'Amour's iconic "Hondo" 10 years earlier.
Colorado is fortunate to have been an inspiration and backdrop for L'Amour's contributions to the American story. He clearly loved the West and was devoted to the story and the readers who experience the West through his imagination.
"I try to bring every one of my stories as close to the truth as I can get it," L'Amour told another Denver Post columnist, Jack Kisling, in 1980. "And then I hope that when the reader finishes he will say, 'Well, now, maybe that's how it really was.'"


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When people react to gospel preaching, they are either glad or mad. Luke wants Theophilus, his contemporaries and us to see this again as he presents the various reactions to Paul and his witness. In the process we will learn the two aspects of Paul's gospel that excite Jewish opposition: the offer of salvation to Gentiles, on the same basis as Jews, and the resurrection of the body.
That a supposed heavenly vision in the temple would send Paul to the Gentiles was an unthinkable, blasphemous notion. The crowd reacted to this "red flag" vocally, even turbulently. Raising their voices to drown Paul out, they took up again their cry "Away with him!" (21:36; Lk 23:18). Their reason: the proclaimer of such apostasy is not fit to live! Screaming excitedly, throwing off (better shaking out) their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the crowd shows that they want to have nothing to do with Paul. To them he is as repulsive as an unclean Gentile.
The Jews show themselves to be unfit evaluators of Christianity. Their ethnic pride and prejudice are a warning to us all. We have our own "red flags" that cause the same paralysis of mind and hearing. They put an immediate stop to reason and substitute a blind, violent mob spirit or a granitelike imperviousness to gospel truth (Ogilvie 1983:311).
The tribune has to determine why the people were shouting against Paul (21:34). He decides to interrogate the apostle, using torture to bring out the truth. The NIV rendering flogged and questioned leaves the impression that the flogging is a separate punishment, not an instrument of interrogation (the literal phrase is "interrogate with lashes"). Though Paul had been beaten five times by the Jews and felt the Roman lictors' rods three times, this flogging would eclipse all these in its severity and potential for permanent physical damage, even immediate death (Acts 16:22-23; 2 Cor 11:24-25). In flogging, a whip of thongs studded with pieces of bone or metal, attached to a wooden handle, was applied repeatedly to the back of a person positioned on the floor, at a pillar or suspended from the ceiling. He was stretched out with bound arms secured so he could not deflect the blows.
As the soldiers are stretching their prisoner out with thongs about his wrists to secure him for the scourging, he asks a question that transforms him from victim to master of the situation. Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty? Though from the Augustan age the Lex Julia contained an absolute prohibition on binding or beating a Roman citizen, Paul's qualified statement accords with later practice (Sherwin-White 1963:72-73; compare Acts 16:37). The centurion is dismayed and immediately reports Paul's Roman citizenship to the tribune. The tribune verifies it by a simple question to Paul, which the apostle answers in the affirmative. To wrongly claim Roman citizenship was a serious, even capital offense (Suetonius Claudius 25.3; Epictetus Discourses 3.24.41). Because most citizens did not travel far from their hometown, they did not normally carry with them proof of citizenship. But a traveler such as Paul may have carried with him a copy of his birth registration (Sherwin-White 1963:148-49). Paul's bearing and his previous cultivated interaction with the commander, in which he had revealed his Tarsian citizenship (21:39), may be enough to assure the commander that he is telling the truth.
The tribune responds, possibly sarcastically, I had to pay a big price for my citizenship. He is referring to the bribes he paid to intermediaries in the imperial secretariat or provincial administration to ensure that his name would appear on the list of candidates for enfranchisement. Given his name, Claudius Lycias, he had probably received his citizenship recently, during the reign of Emperor Claudius, his benefactor, whose name he took as his nomen. He may have worked his way up through the ranks and moved from centurion to tribune rank.
Paul responds simply, But I was born a citizen. Paul is at least the tribune's social equal, if not his slight superior by longevity of Roman citizenship in his family.
The declaration of citizenship has its desired effect: the military interrogators withdrew immediately. Paul, though still a prisoner, will be viewed differently from now on. In fact, alarm or fear grips the tribune as he realizes that he violated one of the basic rights of a Roman citizen when he put Paul . . . in chains (21:33). As the Roman orator Cicero exclaimed, "To bind a Roman is a crime, to flog him is an abomination, to slay him is almost an act of murder" (Against Verres 2.5.66).
Paul's use of his Roman citizenship teaches us that as an expression of God's moral order, and when the laws governing its exercise of power are just, the state may be appealed to for protection of the physical well-being of law-abiding citizens. The Christian's appeal must always be in the interest of the advance of the gospel.
Though at this point the tribune is no closer to knowing why Paul caused the city to be in a tumult, his integrity in subordinating his methods of interrogation to the laws of Rome is an admirable quality which at least will allow the investigation to continue. He also becomes a silent witness to Paul's innocence.
The commander faces a dilemma. To preserve the life of this Roman citizen, he should probably keep him in custody. And in order to keep him in custody, he should at least have charges. Yet these he has not yet uncovered. His desire is to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. He decides to assemble the chief priests and the Sanhedrin and listen to Paul's defense before them.
Though the tribune is just doing his job in a case of public disorder, he becomes a model for Luke's readers and for us. Just as he persists in his pursuit to know the certain facts of the case (gnonai to asphales; compare 21:34), Luke's readers should study his works to know the certain truth of the gospel (epignos . . . ten asphaleian; Lk 1:4).
With the same spiritual intensity that accompanied God's miraculous work through him, Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin (Acts 14:9; 13:9). He confesses that he has lived a blameless life. Fulfilled my duty to God means, literally, "lived as a citizen before God" (Phil 1:27; 3:20). As the Jews appropriated this term for describing a life of piety, they expanded its scope of reference to the whole conduct of life (3 Macc 3:4; 4 Macc 5:16). Probably the Old Testament concept "to walk before the Lord" is the best equivalent (Gen 17:1). When Paul says that he has all his life, to this day, "walked before God" in all good conscience, he means that he is conscious of no wrongdoing (1 Cor 4:4; Phil 3:6; 2 Tim 1:3). Though he is very much aware of his sinful pre-Christian actions, these he did in ignorance and unbelief, while at the same time being blameless before the law as far as he knew (Rom 7:9-12; Phil 3:6; 1 Tim 1:13). He has lived as a Christian through a renewed mind and cleansed conscience (Rom 12:1-2; 2 Tim 1:3; compare Heb 9:14).
What triggers the high priest's physical response? Is it (1) Paul's manner of speaking (his simple form of address [Lake and Cadbury 1979:287] or impolite speaking out of turn [Haenchen 1971:637]), (2) the content of Paul's confession (the arrogant, even blasphemous, assertion that he can be a good Jew though now he is a Christian [Stott 1990:351]) or (3) the high priest's frustration with Paul's holy boldness as he bears witness to the truth, leaving the Jewish cleric at a loss for words? Ordering Paul to be slapped is very much in character for high priest Ananias, son of Nedebaeus (or Nebedaeus), who served A.D. 47-59. He was both greedy and ruthlessly violent, using beatings to extort tithes from common priests' allotment and leaving them destitute (Josephus Jewish Antiquities 20.205-7).
With his cheek still burning from the slap's sting, Paul fires back, God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Paul's predictive curse follows proper Old Testament form (Deut 28:22; m. Sebuot 4:13). He uses an image for hypocrisy that Ezekiel invoked against false prophets who prophesied peace but could no more stand against the onrushing judgment of God than a stone wall held together only by whitewash can withstand an oncoming flood (Ezek 13:10-16). Paul's rationale is that in a judicial system where one is innocent until proven guilty, to punish before the verdict has been rendered is not to judge fairly (Lev 19:15). Paul's prediction came true: Ananias met a violent death at the hand of brigands in A.D. 66 (Josephus Jewish Wars 2.441). But despite all that seems right about Paul's response, it is, as Paul will quickly admit, still wrong. It is blessing, not cursing, that is to be on our lips. The Lord Jesus calls us to turn the other cheek (Lk 6:28-29).
The servant's remonstrance, either as a question (so the NIV) or as a complaint, reveals the high tension of the moment. Here is God's high priest, Israel's chief leader since it has no king, and Paul has declared God's judgment on him!
Paul pleads ignorance, declares the Old Testament law's requirement and in so doing subordinates himself to the authority of the Word of God. He does not speak ironically: "I didn't know he was the high priest, because he was certainly not acting like one" (contra Marshall 1980:364). Nor was his curse a simple sin of ignorance because Paul did not know from whom the command came or did not understand that he was the high priest (contra E. F. Harrison 1986:367). Rather, it was a sin of omission. Paul did not take into consideration the man's position when he made the declaration (Polhill 1992:469). Paul's prophetic curse, given in hasty anger, had violated a basic biblical precept lived out by David in his dealings with Saul. Though an officeholder dishonors the office through his conduct, one does not have liberty to dishonor him (1 Sam 24:6; 26:9-11). Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people (Ex 22:27 LXX).
How do we cope when a sophisticated cynic's punishing rejection of our integrity drives us to lash out in anger? Like Paul, we must respond in humility, quickly admitting our fault and subordinating ourselves again to the authority of God's Word. "It is not our mistakes that do us in; it's our pride that keeps us from admitting them" (Ogilvie 1983:316).
Paul now called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." Is this only a clever diversionary ploy? Is Paul simply trying to divide the assembly, so that they cannot agree to request and be given this prisoner for trial and certain execution? No, Paul's confession focuses on that aspect of the gospel that will be central to his apologetic throughout his trial witness (24:15; 26:6-8; compare 28:20). It tells the truth about the ultimate reason for his arrest by the Jews. For Paul and Luke, resurrection, especially the resurrection of Messiah Jesus, is the key issue that determines the nature of the continuity and discontinuity between Jews and Christians as part of the true people of God. Hope in the resurrection of the dead (literally, "hope and resurrection of the dead") as a hendiadys is better rendered "hope, even the resurrection of the dead." Paul specifies Israel's future hope of messianic salvation by the event that inaugurates it. This was indeed Israel's understanding, and as Christians affirmed it they stood in direct continuity with the Old Testament people of God (Dan 12:2; 2 Macc 7:14; 1 Enoch 51:1-5; Psalms of Solomon 3:11-12). But the belief that the foundational fulfillment of that hope had occurred in the raising of Jesus created the discontinuity. The Jews, on the whole, did not embrace this truth.
Paul finds himself on trial because of the Messiah's resurrection and the new realities it introduced. For if Jesus had not risen from the dead, he could not have appeared to Paul on the Damascus Road, or in the temple, and commissioned him to take the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 22:15, 21). Paul would, then, not have promulgated a message or lived a lifestyle that his fellow Jews would have opposed.
And today, when many have contented themselves with pinning their hope on social or material progress in this life, we need to declare the good news of a true hope at the end of history, a resurrection to eternal life.
The Sanhedrin was composed of the priestly and lay nobility of the Sadducean theological persuasion together with scribes of the Pharisee faction. An uneasy peace existed between them, for though the Sadducees were the council's majority, the Pharisees had the good will of the people and were able to get their way regarding regulations for Israel's religious life (Josephus Jewish Antiquities 18.16-17).
As Luke points out and Josephus and other ancient Jewish literature document, the Sadducees and Pharisees differed on what happens to human beings after death. The Pharisees affirmed both an intermediate state as "angels and spirits" and a final resurrection (Josephus Jewish Wars 2.163; Jewish Antiquities 18.14; see 2 Baruch 51:5, 10 for evidence of Jewish belief in an intermediate state as angels; 1 Enoch 22:3, 7; 103:3-4 for postdeath existence as spirits; Daube 1990). The Sadducees affirmed neither (Josephus Jewish Wars 2.165; Jewish Antiquities 18.16; compare Lk 20:36).
These social, political and theological factors more than account for the dispute that breaks out, the great uproar that follows and the violence that might well leave Paul torn to pieces (Acts 23:7, 9-10). The debating point leads to a division--a number of the Pharisees argue vigorously that Paul is innocent. Their worldview enables them to admit the possibility that an angel or spirit had spoken to him on the Damascus Road or in the temple. They are not confessing Jesus as risen Messiah, let alone exalted Lord, but they are on the way.
The gospel's worldview assumptions will always challenge the givens in any of today's myriad cultural, religious, philosophical and ideological outlooks. Like Paul, we need to so know our audience's worldview so that we may communicate the truth in love, where possible identifying common ground yet knowing there is always bound to be disagreement.
Things are getting out of hand. The commander sends word for more troops to come down from the Antonia fortress and "snatch" Paul out of the midst of the Sanhedrin. With this second rescue by the Romans, Agabus's prediction has come to its complete fulfillment (21:34, 11): Paul is now fully in the Romans' custody.
Paul believed that it was God's will--at least he purposed "in the Spirit"--to bear witness in Jerusalem and Rome (19:21). He admitted that he did not know whether he would succeed, for the divine guidance he received also included warnings that affliction and imprisonment awaited him in Jerusalem (20:23; 21:4, 11). On more than one occasion he stated his readiness to face death, even in Jerusalem, if that was what faithful witness demanded (20:24; 21:13).
As he is violently opposed by the Jews, an enigma to his Roman protectors, what must be racing through his mind? What's next for him? Though we do not know Paul's mind and heart at this point, the Lord does. The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." This word of comfort, assuring Paul that it is God's will (dei, "must"; 19:21; 27:24) that he bear witness in Rome, is also a word of guidance. Directed by this knowledge, Paul will avoid death by ambush on the way to or in Jerusalem (23:12-35; 25:1-12).
From this vision and subsequent events we learn that because martyrdom is never suicide, the gospel witness can be assured of divine guidance and protection, in the midst of life-threatening circumstances, so that his mission is not cut short.
About this commentary:
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Consumer confidence among Canadians recovered slightly last month, after a significant dip in February.
According to TNS, which polled more than 1,000 Canadians for the results, the Canadian Consumer Confidence Index regained a single point in March, edging back up to 96.5. The index fell from 99.1 to 95.5 in February.
The consumer confidence survey measures how people feel about the economy right now, their outlook for the economy six months from now and the extent to which individuals feel that now is a good time to purchase a big ticket item, such as a car or a major household appliance. The "Buy Index" remained stable, indicating that individuals may continue to be hesitant to make big purchases.
"Canadians are holding their cards close to their chest with regards to their spending plans," explained TNS' Norman Baillie-David. "This may be a worrying sign for the consumer durables and home renovation retail sectors, as Spring usually tends to lift spirits as Canadians buy new homes and/or spruce up their existing homes with new appliances and home renovation projects."
Delaying renovations?
However, a recent survey conducted by Houzz.com revealed that Canadian homeowners are more bullish than their American counterparts when it comes to spending money on home improvement projects.
The 2013 Houzz & Home survey, which polled more than 100,000 individuals, found that Canadian homeowners are the least impacted by the economy when it comes to home remodeling plans, with only 16 percent reporting a significant impact.
The number of Canadian homeowners who say they will delay their projects because of the economy has dropped a full 16 points to 37 percent from 53 percent last year. Among American homeowners, the number of people delaying projects decreased to 45 percent from 52 percent last year.
Additionally, 60 percent of homeowners in Canada indicated that they are more likely to cut back in other areas, such as vacations and other big-ticket purchases, rather than delay or decrease budgets for their home plans.
Most-wanted projects
Kitchen and bathroom renovations remain the most common home improvement projects in Canada as well. One quarter of respondents indicated they intend to embark on a bathroom renovation within the next two years, while 21 percent hope to begin a kitchen renovation or addition.
Like in the U.S., common bathroom renovations include installing new plumbing fixtures, adding radiant heating and updating decor. Warm floors are common in Canadian kitchens as well, as are new cabinetry, energy efficient appliances and solid surface countertops.
Canadian homeowners are more likely than those in the U.S. to remodel to increase the value of their homes. In Canada, 60 percent of respondents cited "increasing home value" as a key driver to starting a home improvement project, versus 54 percent in the U.S.
More Canadians also listed improving the organization and storage of their homes as a key motivation for recent projects, compared to American homeowners (48 percent versus 42 percent).
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text:
This is about family history research in Queensland, Australia. There are articles about sources, problem-solving research techniques, interesting items at Qld State Archives and elsewhere, and specific individuals (some of whom are mentioned in very unexpected sources). Explore the options in the tabs below, in the sidebar and at the bottom of the page, and visit my main Web site.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Discontinuing Web pages
6 comments:
Why would you discontinue your Newsflash and Newsletter pages? I really vote for keeping it as is.ReplyDelete
Mary, I'm delighted that you like the pages. The problem is that updating and formatting them, especially the Updates Newsletter on the Web, takes much longer than you might expect. And not one person responded to my appeal re the email newsletter.ReplyDelete
It would be much easier to put news 'as it happens' in my genealogy blogs, where people have the option of reading it by Following or Subscribing. However I will not make a decision in haste. I may conduct another poll after this one!
I need to make some lifestyle changes, which will probably mean changing the genealogical services that I provide. I spend hundreds of hours each year updating my Web pages and answering emails asking for free advice. Many people do not even say 'Thanks', though a few make a donation to my collection for charity (see the sidebar).
Thank you for your comment on my blog, and thank you also for replying to my comment here.ReplyDelete
I find that most people who write blogs do not reply to comments made. I find it hard also, to go back and check to see if the writer has replied to my reply.
Another thought is that many do not want to 'clog' up their email in-boxes with newsletters. Of course relatives and close friends are different, they will subscribe.
These are just a couple of my opinions, for what they are worth!
I blog for fun and in hopes of finding a long lost relative or two. I'm guess I'm just not as serious about it as many...
Hello JudyReplyDelete
I'm grateful for all the work you have done in the past.
Am happy to go with which ever medium you choose.
Margaret Picard
President FHANQ
Mary, I wish *my* relatives and close friends would subscribe, but most of them are not interested (grin). On the subject of replies to comments... I have not tested this on my own blog, but in the sidebar there is an option to subscribe to comments.ReplyDelete
Thanks Margaret. You have always been one of my most loyal supporters, and I appreciate that. By the way, Townsville Library asked if I would like to do another family history talk there. I am certainly keen, so hopefully the library will contact me again to discuss possible dates.ReplyDelete
If you think we are related, or if you want to comment but cannot do so because of restrictions designed to block spam, please email me at the address shown here or on www.judywebster.com.au.


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text:
Reykjavík Nights is the latest book in the Detective Erlendur series to be translated into English. It is a prequel to the other books, set in 1974.
Erlendur is a traffic cop who dreams of being a detective one day. He has become fixated with two seemingly unrelated incidents that happened the previous year. Hannibal, a local tramp who he had some contact with through his police work, had been found drowned around the same time that a local woman disappeared, presumed to have committed suicide. No one has connected the two, but something about both stories doesn't sit right with Erlendur. Did they know each other somehow?
Erlendur does solve both mysteries in the end, but perhaps more interesting for the regular readers are the glimpses into his personality. Already we see the loner character, who does have kind of a relationship with a woman that he isn't really interested in. His fellow police officers are a little buffoonish and obsessed with pizza, TV and other bad American influences. Reykjavík itself is growing but still unbuilt even in quite central areas. We also get to meet Marion Briem for the first time towards the end of the book.
As the book is standalone, you don't need to have read all the previous books, but understanding all these references are actually what makes the book interesting, rather than the cases. As with all of the books, being familiar with the local geography and mentions also helps with understanding the context and for this story, how much the landscape has changed in 40 years.
There is another prequel set in 1972 which has not made it into English translation yet, Einvígið. It will be interesting to see whether Indriðason continues with the Erlendur series or starts another one. I found this book to be "good enough" but it felt a little rushed somehow and didn't have the "wow" factor of a Jar City. As with many authors I like, I'd be willing to wait a bit longer for a really great book.


text:
Ubuntu Server will be one of the first operating systems offered to customers of VMware's infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) cloud, with OS images that should be portable across clouds operated by VMware and rivals such as Amazon.
vCloud Hybrid Service, set to go live in September, will support all 90 or so operating systems certified to run on the vSphere virtualization platform. For most of those, customers will need to install the operating system themselves. A select few will be published by VMware on what's basically an app store, making them a bit more accessible.
VMware's pricing page currently lists just Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, and CentOS. It has been reported that SUSE Linux is on its way. Ubuntu will join the party sometime in the fourth quarter, likely November.
"That's certainly what we've been working towards with VMware, that Ubuntu is available on the vCHS [vCloud Hybrid Service] and that it's an Ubuntu image that we produce," Ubuntu Server and Cloud Product Manager Mark Baker told Ars at the VMworld conference this week. "It should be fully compatible and exactly the same as the Ubuntu you'd run on Amazon or [Windows] Azure."
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is a standard option on Amazon, which runs the biggest IaaS cloud, but it's not clear when it might make it onto vCloud Hybrid Service.
VMware and Red Hat are increasingly becoming competitors. With VMware touting its new services and software this week at a conference attended by 22,000 people, Red Hat released a blog post arguing that its "open" approach to hybrid cloud computing is better. Publishing CentOS instead of RHEL could be a snub directed by VMware at Red Hat, as CentOS is essentially a version of Red Hat that customers can get without paying for a Red Hat subscription, compiled from the RHEL source code.
"No comment from us on this one" is the answer a Red Hat spokesperson gave Ars when asked if RHEL will be an option on vCloud Hybrid Service.
UPDATE: VMware has told Ars that it plans to add Red Hat to its catalog of OSes, but did not say when.
vCloud Hybrid Service aims to be a natural extension of VMware's virtualization platform, letting customers run applications in the cloud and in their own data centers and manage them all in the same way.
From a purely technological perspective, ignoring competitive concerns, it would make sense for RHEL to be front and center on the VMware cloud. Red Hat is far and away the most successful enterprise Linux vendor, and VMware is far and away the most successful server virtualization vendor. Although Red Hat would prefer customers to use the KVM hypervisor instead of VMware's, many businesses do run Red Hat's OS on vSphere.
Customers should still be able to use RHEL on the VMware cloud if they install it themselves. VMware has said the cloud "will support the thousands of applications and more than 90 operating systems that are certified to run on vSphere." RHEL is one of those supported operating systems.
Ubuntu users can also upload their own images instead of using the ones provided by VMware and Canonical.
"Customers who created an image on any currently supported version of Ubuntu can transfer that image to the vCloud Hybrid Service," an Ubuntu fact sheet states. "To ensure that VMware provides a safe and secure environment for critical business applications, VMware will only accept images based on versions of Ubuntu for which updates are still being produced."
There wasn't a ton of heavy lifting Canonical had to do to get Ubuntu running on vCHS, Baker said. "A lot of it is validation, testing and making sure it behaves the same way as it does on AWS [Amazon Web Services] or other platforms and that we have a nice model to be able to provide updates," he said.
Baker said Ubuntu 12.04, the Long Term Support release from April 2012, will be on vCloud Hybrid Service, along with more recent versions up through the 13.10 release scheduled for October.
Portability across clouds is a key goal for Canonical. It's inevitable that customers who are heavily dependent on VMware virtualization and management tools would find it complicated to move workloads back and forth between the VMware cloud and the Amazon cloud. But Ubuntu itself won't throw up any roadblocks.
"There's a lot of customer uncertainty about how portable are these things," Baker said. By validating and testing Ubuntu images on Amazon, Azure, and VMware, Canonical hopes to provide some certainty. If you want to move a workload from one cloud to another, "the desired goal is that you don't see any difference at all," he said. Canonical's Juju and cloud-init tools can also help customers deploy workloads to various cloud services.
vCloud Hybrid Service will charge customers by the amount of CPU, RAM, storage, and bandwidth they need. Operating system costs are in addition to that. Windows Server on vCloud Hybrid Service will cost $25 per virtual CPU per month, while CentOS is free.
Ubuntu will be a free download on vCloud Hybrid Service when it's ready in Q4 2013. Customers who pay for the Ubuntu Advantage support service can shift their licenses from on-premises deployments to the VMware cloud.
Canonical and VMware have been ramping up their partnership as of late, collaborating to bring VMware's server and network virtualization technology to OpenStack clouds. Canonical may well be making some cash from VMware, as the company generally charges cloud providers for the right to publish Ubuntu images. VMware will also get "an efficient service for ongoing image maintenance," in Canonical's words.


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Over the past decade of touring around the world we have had the privilege of meeting many men and women who are actively serving in our nation's armed forces. We have gotten to meet and interact with service members stationed everywhere from Alaska to Germany and we are grateful for the stories they have shared with us. We believe that music is a powerful tool that can impact lives, and we have received many stories from American soldiers of how our music has encouraged them in the struggles they have faced. Yet, we recognize without the sacrifice of those who serve our country, the freedom to share our faith through music would not be possible. We enjoy freedom to express our feelings, our emotions, and most importantly our faith and we owe much to the men and women who have made this possible.
It has been interesting meeting many different service members and hearing their struggles. Some of the greatest challenges, while placed in different circumstances, are not too different from our own struggles on the road. Being away from your family for long periods of time can be a great struggle, and sadly many military families have felt the potentially disastrous effects of living separate lives. We are often away from our families for weeks at a time through-out the year, but many of these military men and women will not see their families for 6 months to over 1 year while they are stationed abroad. I can't imagine the difficulties this brings to maintain a healthy family and marriage and our hearts and prayers go out to these families.
To Reserve tickets for a specific show please email@example.com 7 days before the event with the date of the event you would like to attend, your full name and the name of your guest.
Kutless will email you back with either confirmation that you will have a ticket waiting at will call or to inform you there are no more tickets available.
You will have to show Military ID at will call the date of the event to pick up your tickets.
Another struggle when we are away from home is to continue our spiritual growth and stay grounded in the Word of God. I have heard from many active military soldiers who are Believers, that the environment they are immersed in within the military, makes spiritual growth a very difficult task. I am grateful to the many chaplains who work tirelessly to encourage these men and women in their walks with God. Unfortunately it seems there are more and more restrictions being placed upon the chaplains determining how they can minister and serve within the Armed Forces. I am surrounded by solid band mates who love the Lord, and yet I still often find it difficult to grow deeper in my walk with God as I travel and am away from my home church. Once again I feel that I only get a small glimpse of the challenge these service members face as they try to dig deep and grow in their faith as they serve our country.
We hope that our music continues to be a blessing and an encouragement to all of our country's service members, but we desired to do more to try and help and impact those who have sacrificed so much for all of us. That is why we created the Kutless Military Mission Project. What is the Kutless Military Mission Project? It is our small way of giving back to our troops.
Initially, we have organized a program to give away free concert tickets to our shows for active military members and their spouses. We hope that these tickets will give these families an opportunity to be encouraged and refreshed as they enjoy the concert.
We are donating a portion of all merchandise proceeds to Operation Heal Our Patriots. This is an organization that we believe in and we feel they are taking the right approach to truly help soldiers and their families heal in the ways that are most important.
Several years ago, we traveled to Anchorage, AK for a show. While we were there, we were invited to visit The Farm Lodge in Port Alsworth, AK. Port Alsworth is a small community in the bush of Alaska, and is only accessible by small airplane. We spent several days fishing, hiking, and site seeing there in the wilderness. It was amazing to get away from the busyness of our schedule and my wife and I found our time there to be very encouraging and refreshing. It is certainly a very special place and I hope that we have the opportunity to go back. Amazingly, as we began our very first few discussions about the creation of the Kutless Military Mission Project, I received an email from Samaritans Purse about a new outreach they had started called "Operation Heal Our Patriots". This program was sending soldiers and their spouses to Port Alsworth, AK for retreats. I had to read the email several times to make sure I was reading it correctly. I couldn't believe they were going to the same tiny village in Alaska I had been to and enjoyed so much only a few years ago. I immediately contacted our friends who we met when we were there last, and sure enough they filled me in on what amazing things God had been doing through the OHOP program. Not only was it helping soldiers heal, but it was helping their families come together and heal as well as they were encouraged to go deeper into God's Word. I can not think of a better or more beautiful place on the planet to conduct such a mission. We felt this was the perfect organization for us to team up with, and we hope to help raise both funds and awareness to aid in the amazing work this organization is doing. It is a practical way for us to help address the huge needs for both family healing and spiritual growth that so many of our military families need and we are excited to see how God uses this partnership to impact many more soldiers lives and the lives of their families.
It is our hope that the Kutless Military Mission Project will grow and expand in the future. We have already been in discussions about coordinating military base concerts and we hope that we will have the opportunity to meet and minister to many more troops where they live and work, on base. Please keep the Kutless Military Mission Project in your prayers. Pray that God will open doors and provide the means for us to effectively minister to many of these men and women who serve our country. If you would like to get involved with the Kutless Military Mission Project or have an opportunity to make a military outreach event a possibility, please email us at email@example.com
Keep our troops and their families in prayer. May God bless them as they daily bless this country.


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LW15 Badger Softener Brush
The Badger Softener is an invaluable tool for the grainer of woods. Its soft delicate tips help create the most beautiful effects in watercolors, especially creating fine blended lines in such woods as burr walnut, burnt elm, mahogany feathered, and rosewood.
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Vision of the Seas - Alaskaby Kuki, CruiseMates Cruise Director
Last night we met our tablemates for the week. We have a large circular table for 10 on the upper level of the Aquarius Dining Room. We were the second couple to arrive at the table. The couple we joined also happened to be Canadian. When the third couple who joined us were from Canada as well, I thought, EEK, they're trying to isolate the Canadians. However the next two couples were from LA and Cincinnati. You have to pity these folks having to listen to the rest of us saying EH all week.
The Aquarius Dining Room doesn't have the "knock your socks off" pizzaz of some ships' dining rooms. However it is bright and airy, and in my view, extends the warmth of the Centrum I described earlier.
And by the way, dinner the first night was excellent. With ten people at our table most of the entree choices were sampled, and everyone said they really enjoyed what they ordered. I walked away happy after finishing off my delicious meal with RCI's signature Key Lime Pie.
Later in the evening the Maitre D had a table set up outside the dining room for people still hoping to change dining assignments or tables. I had my first belly laugh of the cruise by chance as we overheard a passenger's conversation with the Maitre D as we walked by.
This fellow was requesting a table for just himself and his wife. His reasoning: they were both vegetarians, and don't enjoy watching people eat meat. I'm pretty sure he heard us laughing!
We woke up today to overcast skies. A much different day in store for us than yesterday's sunshine. Being a sea day, it's a good day to relax and recover from a long first day.
Here's something new since I last cruised RCI. I quote from the Compass (the daily newsletter on board). "For the comfort and enjoyment of our guests the Vision of the Seas has been primarily designated as a non-smoking ship. However, we recognize that some of our guest smoke. Therefore, to provide an onboard environment that also satisfies smokers, we have designated smoking areas in many of our lounges and on all open air decks".
Being one of the evil breed of smokers, I have noticed a difference. I have to look harder for smoking areas. An example; in the Centrum, smoking is only allowed on deck 4 by the Champagne Bar, and only on the starboard side. Sitting areas on deck 5 and 6 are non-smoking on both sides of the ship. On Lido deck by the pool, the port side is non-smoking, and smoking is allowed on the starboard side.
Ronald, our cabin steward, explained to me that ashtrays are no longer routinely placed in the cabins. While smoking is allowed in all cabins, ashtrays must be requested.
There is definitely increased signage noticeable in all non-smoking areas.
Tonight is formal night, and Mrs. Kuki and I have been invited to make the Captain's Table a bit more Kuki. You'll hear all about it tomorrow.The adventure continues....... Next Installment Go to the Beginning of Kuki's Adventure


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Stories like this one exemplify the family bonds that have given our lowrider culture the backbone it has needed to become an automotive institution with a worldwide appeal. When we laid eyes on this mini three-wheeler at the Lowrider Legends of San Diego art exhibit, we knew we had to bring it in to the studio and shoot it for our readers. The builder, Miguel Garcia, has been into lowriders since his junior high years and wanted to build something special for his own child.
The Pomona Swap Meet served as a jumping off point for this build, much like it has for so many builds over the course of more than a few decades. It was while walking around there that Miguel spotted this trike for sale for $300. The auto body technician from Oceanside, California, decided it to purchase it and build it for his loving daughter Melissa.
All told, the build process took Miguel about two months to complete. "When it came time to paint the trike, Melissa chose the color purple—it's her favorite color," says the proud Poppa. The bike was taken to Parker Airbrushing in Oceanside, California, where Parker sprayed every inch of the trike with multiple purple, pink, and silver patterns, before finishing it off with some classy stripe work.
Thanks are in order for all of Miguel's family for their support and to the members of Members Only car club for being part of the build.


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2019 BMW G11 External for 2019 BMW G11 Evaluation
2019 BMW G11 External for 2019 BMW G11 Evaluation
The 2019 BMW G11 offers outstanding style and technology both inside and out. See interior & exterior photos. 2019 BMW G11 New features complemented by a lower starting price and streamlined packages. The mid-size 2019 BMW G11 offers a complete lineup with a wide variety of finishes and features, two conventional engines.
Check out the 2019 BMW G11 review at http://cavinknight.com. Use our Car Buying Guide to research 2019 BMW G11 prices, specs, photos, videos. The well-rounded 2019 BMW G11 does just about everything you're probably looking for in a three-row family SUV. Get in-depth expert information for the 2019 BMW G11 including reviews, pricing, features and photos on http://cavinknight.com. New and used 2019 BMW G11 vehicles. Select a year to find 2019 BMW G11 pricing, reviews, photos, and videos.
Tags: bmw g11 2019


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New York City Wine and Food Festival Statistics 2012
The New York City Wine & Food Festival, by the Numbers
The New York City Wine & Food Festival, by the Numbers
This weekend marks the fifth annual New York City Wine and Food Festival, and we're en route to check in on the scene as we've done in years past.
You may know that the festival offers an exciting mix of wine and food demos, celebrity chef-hosted parties, and restaurant industry talks, but there's plenty more that goes on behind the scenes. We thought it'd be fun to offer a glimpse of the event by the numbers. Let's begin with the biggest two: roughly 50,000 guests will attend this year's festival, and 100 percent of the proceeds from those festival tickets will go to the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign. For more astounding numbers, read ahead.
Don't forget to check back here starting Thursday night for play-by-play coverage and be sure to follow us on Twitter for live updates!


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Prof. Shai Feldman
Judith and Sidney Swartz Director, Crown Center
Prof. Nader Habibi
Henry J. Leir Professor of the Economics of the Middle East
Dr. Naghmeh Sohrabi
Assistant Director for Research, Crown Center
Prof. Asher Susser
Senior Fellow on the Myra and Robert Kraft Chair for Arab Politics
What's Up in the Middle East
Event Audio and Summary
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On August 27, 2009, faculty members affiliated with the Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis assessed current conditions in the Middle East as grim overall but relatively positive from an economic standpoint. Ultimately, the review offered perhaps a faint ray of hope for easing of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Naghmeh Sohrabi, the center's assistant director for research, told an audience in Rapaporte Treasure Hall that there is a widespread public misperception that the current upheaval in Iran began after that country's disputed June 12 presidential election. She said the power struggles are much older and deeply rooted in the history of the Islamic republic that was declared in Iran in 1979.
"We are not watching the beginning or the middle of the rise of the radical right" personified by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, she said. "Perhaps we are watching the end."
Sohrabi said a three-party alliance – Ahmadinejad's political supporters, the Revolutionary Guard and the Basij militia accused of much of the post-election bloodshed – is breaking down Iran's republican institutions by attempting to shut down opposition political parties and its show-trials featuring apparently coerced confessions.
Asher Susser, Senior Fellow on the Myra and Robert Kraft Chair for Arab Politics, said prospects for either an interim or a long-term peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians are extremely dim.
The failed Oslo Process, Susser said, introduced political institutions and definitions which could have formed the basis for a peace agreement because they defined Palestine as the West Bank and Gaza, while the empowerment of Hamas during and following 2006 elections shifted emphasis back to an insistence on the right of Palestinians to return to anywhere in historic Palestine where they claim roots.
"Israel can make peace with a Palestine that is the West Bank and Gaza," said Susser, former longtime director of the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University. "It cannot make peace with a Palestine that is all of [historic] Palestine."
The only immediate hope Susser saw was for what he called "coordinated unilateralism," in which "each side does its own thing" – the Israelis redeploying and shifting borders and settlements as they find advisable; the Palestinians building the institutions of a state. In this process "there is no agreement. No one signs away great historical claims," Susser said. "That's not great, that's not all we hope for, but it is better than sitting on our hands and waiting for Obama."
Indeed, the question in the event's title, "What's Up in the Middle East?" might well have been answered "nothing's up -- it's all down," but for the relatively positive evaluation of regional economic conditions provided by Nader Habibi, the Henry J. Leir Professor of the Economics of the Middle East.
Habibi reviewed the gyrations of oil prices before and during current international economic troubles to explain why the region has been less impacted than other areas by the downturn. He said that the ability of Middle Eastern governments to separate economic matters from political and military conflicts also played a role.
Oil-producing nations suffered a shock from the crash in oil prices, he said, but the vast reserves accumulated when prices were extremely high before the crash cushioned them from the blow. Now, he said, recovering oil prices are allowing producers to resume development projects that were suspended when the crash occurred. Non-producers were harder hit by the decline in development in the producing countries and the general decline in volume of world trade.
Habibi said the Israeli economy has done well during the economic turmoil, for which he gave much credit to Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer. At a crucial moment, Fischer ordered Israeli banks to accumulate safe investments, Habibi said, and the Israeli central bank did a good job of testing private banks there for soundness – something that was not done in the United States and many other developed countries.
Introducing the program, Shai Feldman, the Judith and Sidney Swartz director of the Crown Center, paid tribute to the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and recalled a visit by Kennedy to Feldman's home in the mid-1960s, when Kennedy was in Israel to look into community health coverage, in which Feldman's father was involved.
"I asked him what does it take to succeed in public life," Feldman said, "and I still remember what he told me: 'Perseverance.'" It is a quality Feldman said he would recommend to all who are concerned with the Middle East.
-- Charles A. Radin


text: This content uses hCalendar Gumbo Limbo Cajun Band at Free Fridays Where Bo Diddley Plaza When 10.04.2019 Time 8:00 PM Overview Description The public is invited to join us for our annual series of free, family-friendly concerts, at Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave., in downtown Gainesville. Bring your own chairs and enjoy the music. 352-334-ARTS www.FreeFridaysGNV.com Category Concert Back


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Deborah J. Vagins
ACLU Washington Legislative Office
Deborah Vagins is senior legislative counsel at the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. She leads the Washington Legislative Office's civil rights advocacy efforts and develops pro-active strategies on pending federal legislation and executive branch actions concerning racial justice, education, employment discrimination, voting rights, and disability rights. Vagins has been instrumental in advocating for major civil rights legislation, including the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 and the 2006 Voting Rights Act reauthorization, among others..
Before joining the ACLU in 2005, Vagins served as the acting deputy general counsel and senior attorney-advisor to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Prior to that, Vagins was an associate at Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll, where she litigated high-profile nationwide civil rights class actions. She represented more than 1.5 million women from Wal-Mart in the largest Title VII employment discrimination class action in history. She was also an associate at Sidley & Austin in the civil, criminal and constitutional litigation practice group and founded the firm's Committee for the Recruitment and Retention of Women. Earlier Vagins worked at EMILY's List and clerked at the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. Vagins graduated magna cum laude from the Washington College of Law at American University. She received her B.A. with distinction from Swarthmore College.


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- Hallo Gast
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By balticalbatros70 (Saturday, April 21st 2012, 1:38pm)
By Aero-Club Kropp e. V. (Thursday, February 10th 2011, 8:30pm)


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This workshop trains church teams in how to reach new people in their mission field.
Pastor + Church Leaders must attend together.
The Workshop Includes:
The Strategic Differences Between 1955 and Today
Reintroducing Your Church to its Mission Field
Your Pastor's Role in Reaching New People
Your Congregation's Role in Reaching New People
Each team will develop an Action Plan to take home with them. Additional support is available by participating in a "Coaching Cluster" facilitated by Griffith Coaching.
Information: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Andrew Pereira
Andrew Pereira is an award winning journalist who joined the KITV4 News team in March 2012 as the station's senior reporter.
In 2010, he received the Edward R. Murrow Award and the Society of Professional Journalists award for his investigative reporting.
That same year he was honored with the Excellence Award on Community Reporting by the Chinatown Business and Community Association.
In 2011, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences San Francisco/Northern California Chapter nominated Andrew for two Emmy Awards for his series and feature news reporting.
In September 2012, Smart Business Hawaii and the Small Business Hawaii Entrepreneurial Education Foundation honored Andrew with the George Mason Outstanding Business Reporting Award.
More recently, in January 2015, Andrew was named as the best political reporter on Hawaii television by Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post blog The Fix.
Andrew began his journalism career in 1995 at KHNL News 8 where he rose from intern to executive producer of the station's morning news program. From August 2004 through April 2012, he reported for Fox News affiliate KHON2 News.
In his free time Andrew enjoys spending time with his family, surfing the waves of the North Shore, and playing futbal with his club teams Ohana SC and International FC.
Andrew may be reached at email@example.com or ph. (808) 754-7578. Follow Andrew on Twitter at @KITV_Reporter or friend him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AndrewPereiraKITV.


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Re: New Moon-Your movie going experience
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:03 pm
I just went this afternoon (Tuesday the 24th), and it was nice; the theater wasn't even a third of the way full. (I live in a small college town, and most of the people I know went already, either in town or in the larger city about 1/2 hour away.) There were a lot of married folks and couples there, three pregnant women that we noticed and two babies. I was a bit concerned that the babies would disrupt my viewing pleasure, but it wasn't a problem at all. My two roommates and I got to the theater about a half hour before the showing, the place was nearly deserted and we got great seats . I may go again, because watching it with my roommates was interesting... both of them like Twilight, in their way, but think that it's really dumb overall. And I see their point, but disagree with them . So I'm tempted to go again, alone.
So that was my experience... loved the movie!!!
So that was my experience... loved the movie!!!


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For the casual visitor, it's easy to miss that Southeast High School in rural Kansas — once among the lowest academic performers in the state — is in the midst of a profound transformation.
Like so many other Kansas schools, the building in Cherokee (population: 722) shows the telltale signs of a suffering economy. Bus routes have been cut, as have supplies. Custodians, secretaries and cafeteria workers took an eight-day pay cut. During the harsh winters, students bundle up to make it through classes where the temperature hovers at an uncomfortable, but cost-saving 68 degrees.
But look deeper, and another picture emerges.
Every one of those students is assigned a MacBook for the year. Teachers use iPads on classroom walkthroughs designed to improve instruction and boost student engagement. And the entire school improvement process is underscored by consultants from Cross & Joftus, a Washington, D.C.-area consulting firm.
The schizophrenic portrait of school funding is not unique to Southeast. It is one of roughly 1,200 schools in the nation to win a federal School Improvement Grant (SIG), given to those in the bottom 5 percent in the country to spark radical improvements in school culture and student performance. The backdrop of the recession means that many of these schools have funding to do things they've never done at the same time that they're hamstrung to fund many of the basic things educators typically take for granted.
State cuts
Southeast won a $1.4 million grant at a time when Kansas cut its education funding to the lowest levels since 1999. The grant allowed the school to take risks that have paid off: It has leapfrogged from among the worst high schools in the state to achieving "standard of excellence" ratings in reading and math, as well as 100 percent proficiency in science.
"The grant has been a stop-gap lifesaver to us in many ways, enabling us to continue moving forward when everything else is being cut," said Glenn Fortmayer, superintendent of the USD 247 Cherokee school district. "If we didn't have the grant, there are so many things for kids we couldn't even begin to contemplate doing on our own general money."
While there is some cause for optimism nationally — two recent reports found that states and districts thought the funding was helping — there are also fears that the slow pace of economic recovery could undermine whatever gains schools are achieving through SIG.
A report last October from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan policy institute, found that elementary and high schools in at least 37 states received less funding in the 2011-2012 school year than they did the year before, and in at least 30 states school funding now stands below 2008 levels — often far below. The report warned of the impact of sustained decreases in the funding of federal initiatives like SIG, noting that "deep funding cuts hamper [schools'] ability to implement many of these reforms."
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said as much in testimony before Congress in 2010: "It is very difficult to improve the quality of education while losing teachers, raising class size, and eliminating after-school and summer-school programs."
Shortfalls in Philadelphia
That quote may seem prophetic to school officials in Philadelphia, where epic budget shortfalls have led district leaders to announce that they are unsure they'll be able to meet their payroll obligations in July.
It's a dizzying descent from just two years ago, when the district received more than $51 million in SIG funding for 27 schools, the largest total for any city in the country. The size of the grant was in many ways a vote of confidence in former Superintendent Arlene Ackerman, whose vision of school turnaround mirrored the federal government's. Among other initiatives, Ackerman ushered in "Promise Academies," poorly performing schools that got larger infusions of cash to support extended learning time, new teachers and coaches and a "parent ombudsman" to respond better to community concerns. When SIG came along, it was a natural fit.
But after the first year of the grant, newly elected Republican Gov. Tom Corbett implemented an austerity agenda that cut $1 billion from education. Philadelphia, which has a nearly $3 billion school budget and educates some 12 percent of Pennsylvania's public-school students, bore roughly one-fourth of that burden. The state cuts were the largest contributor to a budget shortfall that ballooned to more than $700 million — all but $22 million of which had been filled by the district as of March through cost-saving measures. Ackerman was ousted, and many believe her commitment to the Promise Academies, despite their cost, contributed to her exit.
It struck some as absurd that the city was keeping positions like parent ombudsmen and student advisers — both funded by SIG — while it was cutting teachers and not paying for textbooks. Massive teacher layoffs, which by contract were to be conducted according to seniority, led to a lawsuit when the district sought to exempt the mostly young Promise Academy teachers in order to preserve the program in those schools. After a lengthy court battle, the district lost, and the staffs the academies had carefully assembled were decimated.
Adding to the bitter taste left by the episode is a study performed by Research for Action, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, which found that the academies performed better than a matched control group on every academic indicator measured. The state, however, is skeptical that the district can sustain those gains and is leveling a more serious charge — that Philadelphia is using SIG funds to back-fill the extraordinary cuts to state and local budgets.
'Back-filling' concerns
The first major sign of trouble came when federal monitors visited the city last spring. The U.S. Department of Education challenged the expenditure of $9.2 million — 73 percent of the district's first-year SIG budget — on summer school, according to a report of their findings. The monitors said the district could be running afoul of a federal law that forbids the use of federal funds to supplant state and local funds. In November, the state responded that Philadelphia had been unable to provide documents to support the summer-school expenditures from 2009, adding that it "had little confidence in the ability of [Philadelphia] to provide accurate information."
The state's suspicions grew after a subsequent monitoring visit this February. "We started to delve into things and ask, 'Where's this teacher? Where's this program? You said you were going to do this — where's the results?' And they simply can't produce them," said Renee Palakovic, division chief for federal programs at the state education department. "They can't produce a body and say, 'This person is the school-based instructional leader.' They can't maintain their extended-day programs because they have no money, so they've started to shut them down."
More troubling, at least one school altered its SIG grant mid-stream to allow for the hiring of a science teacher whose position Palakovic said was eliminated due to the cuts. Philadelphia explained that the new hire was necessary to keep class sizes small. Under the law, reducing class-size is a proper use of SIG funds, but the state suspects this represents another instance of the district using federal funds to supplant state and local funds, a violation of federal law.
The visit left Palakovic deeply skeptical about SIG's chances for long-term success in Philadelphia: "I just wrote an e-mail to my superior saying, 'The results in Philadelphia are going to be slim to none because they're not really offering anything additional in these schools. There's nothing new. There's no reform. It's just keeping the boat afloat.' "
Fernando Gallard, a district spokesman, said Philadelphia was working to address the state's concerns, but denied that Philadelphia was using SIG funds to back-fill cuts. Feather Houstoun, a budget specialist on the School Reform Commission — the city- and state-appointed body that governs the district — acknowledged that "successive belt-tightening had reduced the ability of the school district to track and monitor" its grant funding.
Returning funds
Federal officials said they were unaware of any other suspicions regarding the use of SIG funds for back-filling. Jason Snyder, who heads the turnaround office at the U.S. Department of Education, reported that at least 12 schools had their grants terminated or not renewed for performance reasons.
"Some states and districts have taken the courageous and rare step of terminating grants where the money is not being used well," he said. "It's important that the funds go to those schools committed to using them effectively to help their students and to doing things differently than they have before."
Nonetheless, Philadelphia's conundrum may underscore the importance of a finding from a March report by the Center on Education Policy (CEP), an independent education think tank. While more than half of 46 states that responded to a survey indicated they had adequate levels of staff expertise to help SIG recipients, only slightly more than a third felt their state had adequate amounts of staff and time to assist with program implementation, including monitoring.
The center's report, which examined SIG implementation in Idaho, Maryland and Michigan, highlighted another aspect of federal funding with economic overtones. While districts had to list all of their schools that were eligible for funding in order to apply, they were granted considerable leeway in terms of how thinly they spread their funds — so long as no individual school received more than $2 million per year.
Haves and have-nots
This meant that states like Michigan, which had more than 100 schools in the bottom 5 percent, funded only 28 schools. In Saginaw, there are two high schools in the bottom 5 percent: Arthur Hill High School, which received a $4.4 million SIG grant, and Saginaw High School, which did not get funding.
"In Michigan, the non-grantee schools were not able to implement all of the things they thought would help them improve their schools," said Caitlin Scott, a consultant who worked on the report. "Several weren't able to do things like hire coaches to help them with instruction or extend learning time the way they wanted to."
It is too early to answer a more compelling question: whether Arthur Hill High is showing greater gains in student performance due to the SIG funds.
The difference between the SIG haves and the grantless have-nots is playing out more starkly in Las Vegas, where the Clark County School District is in arbitration with its teachers union to plug an $80 million budget shortfall.
But due to the national scrutiny of SIG grants, Clark County is pouring additional resources —aside from the grant money — into helping turn around its SIG schools.
While the district is trying to pass a $10 billion capital improvement plan to rehabilitate its aging schools — many with failing air conditioners and leaky roofs — the district funded renovations to the campuses of all of its SIG schools last summer. Dozens of maintenance crew members cleaned all the campuses, some of which had been left in abysmal shape. Western High School, one of the oldest in the district, completed a new broadcast journalism studio, library and science/nursing classrooms. Renovations at another building, Chaparral High School, ran as high as $2 million to clean up graffiti, etched windows and feces in the bathroom. All of these funds were reallocated from the district's maintenance fund, which pays for annual school upkeep.
The cliff
With the education sector of the economy emerging slowly from the recession, some states are anticipating level funding for their education budgets next year, while others are hopeful they'll be able to restore some cuts. This hasn't quelled a near-universal source of angst for SIG schools — the issue of how to sustain programs once the grant funds run out.
It's a palpable fear at Harding High School in Bridgeport, Conn., where a $2.2 million SIG grant has sparked a fragile recovery.
With the help of Global Partnership Schools, a New York City-based consulting firm, Harding shows some encouraging signs. Daily attendance is up sharply, now at 85 percent, compared to 60 percent a year ago. And the number of failing grades fell to 26 percent in the first quarter of the school year, down from 34 percent a year ago.
While acknowledging the gains, new Superintendent Paul Vallas, a nationally known reformer, considers himself largely unimpressed. Given the size of the grant, he expected to see more visible signs of academic improvement.
And, like others, he worries about the future. No one knows what will happen to SIG-funded programs such as the reading laboratory, the summer and Saturday classes, the hallway "climate specialists" or a Virtual Academy for online learning.
"When you spend it as if it's part of the operating budget, you have a tendency not to spend it efficiently or effectively, and you create a cliff, which means any success that emanated from the [grant] will quickly disappear once that cliff is hit," he said. "This money is going to run out."
Andrew Brownstein is an editor with Thompson Media Group in Washington, D.C. He writes about federal K-12 education policy.
This story was produced by The Hechinger Report, the Education Writers Association and Education Week. Reporting was contributed by Robert A. Frahm of the Connecticut Mirror, Dale Mezzacappa of the Notebook, and Paul Takahashi of the Las Vegas Sun.
For the casual visitor, it's easy to miss that Southeast High School in rural Kansas — once among the lowest academic performers in the state — is in the midst of a profound transformation.


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I have changed the name of this feature in response to a comment on a recent Family Newsletter Friday post that began, "Sorry to butt in on your family newsletter…" Why, hon, you're not buttin' in at all, you're absolutely welcome here! So now "Friends" has been added to the title. It started as mostly a summary of research I had done each week, so I figured people who were not researching these lines (that is, not cousins or "family") might not be interested. However, other items – some blog highlights, other happenings and bits of information that would be of more general interest – gradually got added in. Right now I don't really want to split them up into separate features, because one or the other is often rather scant some weeks. Another change is that I will be starting with general-interest items first.
Blogs/Follow Friday
They That Go Down to the Sea is definitely back and going strong. One of my favorite posts is Treasure Chest Thursday: Gram's Christmas Present. Not only does it exhibit the glorious writing style and strong story line that characterize this blog, but it holds the promise of a source of plenty of material to inspire future posts. You'll have to read the story to see what that source is. (And I already had this post written before the following post on Down to the Sea was written, so there was no collusion here!)
I actually got one of the Sheriff Henry Lewis articles from the Dallas Morning News transcribed and posted this week!
Most interesting genealogy-related Google search of the week: Ludwig's angina, a cellulitis infection of the tissues of the floor of the mouth that is sometimes fatal. This was the cause of death of Ernest Elbert Wheeler, the young husband of a distant cousin.
Sort of finished up on the J. J. Norman-Martha King family. (Though not quite; J. J. and his brother Thomas Frank had identically named sons named for their father: Joseph Madison Carroll Norman. In looking for one – TF's son who is said to have left home at age 18 and was never heard from again – I found the other on the census, with more children. Still looking for the first one, though.) I'm trying to tie up various loose ends, especially with the help of Inez Cline's Norman Family History. However, her history only covers 5 of J.J.'s 12 children, so there are still some blanks to fill in. (And there still remain many – if anyone reading this is descended from this family, I'd love to hear from you!)
Now working on the Thomas Frank Norman family – like my great-grandfather, a son of Joseph Madison Carroll Norman and Rebecca Monk. I did not know about this family until I connected with Gary B. through Ancestry and then later obtained the Inez Cline history. Cline says that they had 9 children but only 4 survived to maturity. I'd like to find the other 5.
An interesting find on Sunday: by searching for Normans in Texas who are from Alabama, I found Thomas Frank – as Franklin T. Norman, a widower with the four surviving children Vinie, Jessie, Joseph M., and Donald. And what is really intriguing is that they are shown as boarders in the household of a Webster E. Lee, whose father was born in Alabama. Family patriarch Joseph Madison Carroll Norman had two stepbrothers, Lafayette and Samuel, from his mother's second marriage to a Matthias Lee. I don't think this Webster is a son of either of them (since he is shown as having a brother William Lee who is too old to be a son of either), but still … there could be a family connection, especially since there were also older step-siblings through Matthias Lee. (And up above on the same census page there is a Samuel – too young for the half-uncle, but could still be related.) Also, if Thomas Frank died in 1912 as stated by Inez Cline, that means his children would have been minor orphans.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Family and Friends Newsletter Friday 8 January 2010
3 comments:
I enjoy your posts, Greta - and have selected your blog for the Happy 101 award. You can pick it up at Ancestor Soup (ancestorsoup.blogspot.com)ReplyDelete
I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts in 2010!
I've awarded you the "Happy 101" award. You can read about it and pick it up here:ReplyDelete
I love your blog and have awarded you the Happy 101 Award. You can pick up your award at Heritage Happens http://heritagehappens.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-101-award-from-becky-at-grace-and.htmlReplyDelete
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South Africa are favored to bury a Soccer City Stadium jinx today by defeating Argentina in this year's Rugby Championship opener.
The Springboks have twice played at the 95,000-seat Soweto venue that hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, and fell 29-22 and 32-16 to New Zealand's All Blacks.
Originally set for central city Bloemfontein, the Argentina Test was moved to form part of a Nelson Mandela Sports Day with the national soccer team playing Burkina Faso earlier.
Former South African president Nelson Mandela, 95, the first black president of the republic and a worldwide icon, is in a Pretoria hospital more than two months after being admitted for a recurring lung infection.
Honoring the elder statesman includes transforming the Soweto stadium from a soccer pitch to a rugby pitch during a 90-minute break between the internationals.
While debutants Los Pumas proved competitive in the southern hemisphere tournament last year, they remain the weaklings of a quartet completed by Australia.
They have also been hit by late injury blows, with inspirational No. 8 and skipper Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and loosehead prop Marcos Ayerza forced to withdraw.
Leonardo Senatore is the loose-forward replacement, veteran center Felipe Contepomi is the stand-in skipper, and young Matias Diaz enters the front row.
South Africa warmed up by defeating Italy, Scotland and Samoa in a tournament they hosted and 13 of the starters against the Pacific islanders in the final are retained.
Duane Vermeulen replaces long-term casualty Pierre Spies at No. 8 and Juandre Kruger regains the lock slot he temporarily ceded to Flip van der Merwe.
The replacements include scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, 31, back in the green-and-gold mix after being part of the side beaten by Australia in the 2011 World Cup quarter-finals.
Du Preez is among seven foreign-based stars in the matchday 23 — a sign of the tough economic times as South Africans are lured abroad by far fatter salaries.
Although coach Heyneke Meyer kept faith with Ulster scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, Du Preez is to play part of the game and is seen as a key cog in the 2015 World Cup plan.
"Fourie has been a world-class player since I started coaching him at the Bulls when he was a teenager. His small touches on the ball are brilliant and he has lost none of them," Meyer said.
Meyer says he is seeking improvement in all areas after ultimately comfortable wins over Italy (44-10), Scotland (30-17) and Samoa (56-23) in June.
Since those wins, the scrum laws have changed to crouch-bind-set, consigning the "hit" to history, and putting greater emphasis on cohesion and endurance.
Springboks scrum coach and former France prop Pieter de Villiers admitted that all Test front rowers must brace for a steep learning curve.
"It is now very important for the scrum to stand together and have endurance, and it is going to become a much tougher battle," he said.
Argentina are famed for the "bajada" scrum, with the eight forwards working as a unit and channeling power through the hooker.
While there may not be a big gap between the packs in the set-pieces and loose exchanges, the Springboks backs appear stronger.
Labeled a conservative, Meyer surprised critics by choosing adventurous fullback Willie le Roux, and wings Bjorn Basson and Bryan Habana, as well as centers J.J. Engelbrecht and Jean de Villiers, possess pace and power.


text: Articles describing SDO, the science investigations, and science data products are now available in Solar Physics. An overview of SDO is the first article. If you go to that link and pick Issue in the left column, you will see all of the articles in Volume 275. Most of the articles are Open Access, which means you can read them without a subscription. A book containing these articles will available later this year.


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Download link (right click and 'save-as') for playing in VLC or other compatible player.
A variety of physical phenomena involve multiple length and time scales. Some interesting examples of multiple-scale phenomena are: (a) the mechanical behavior of crystals and in particular the interplay of chemistry and mechanical stress in determining the macroscopic brittle or ductile response of solids; (b) the molecular-scale forces at interfaces and their effect in macroscopic phenomena like wetting and friction; (c) the alteration of the structure and electronic properties of macromolecular systems due to external forces, as in stretched DNA nanowires or carbon nanotubes. In these complex physical systems, the changes in bonding and atomic configurations at the microscopic, atomic level have profound effects on the macroscopic properties, be they of mechanical or electrical nature. Linking the processes at the two extremes of the length scale spectrum is the only means of achieving a deeper understanding of these phenomena and, ultimately, of being able to control them. While methodologies for describing the physics at a single scale are well developed in many fields of physics, chemistry or engineering, methodologies that couple scales remain a challenge, both from the conceptual point as well as from the computational point. In this presentation I will discuss the development of methodologies for simulations across disparate length scales with the aim of obtaining a detailed description of complex phenomena of the type described above. I will also present illustrative examples, including hydrogen embrittlement of metals, DNA conductivity and translocation through nanopores, and affecting the wettability of surfaces by surface chemical modification.


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by Mark Cramer
Kathy Reynolds recently won the Bronze Medal in Kumite at the Pan American Jr. Championships. (She was the Gold Medalist at age 13.) Kathy is a student of Mike Jacobs in Genoa, Ohio and has trained in Shiteigata at the Bedford GKK.
Kathy has been a constant figure at the Bedford Qualifier to the USA-NKF National Championships Team Trials. Moreover, Kathy has conducted kumite seminars at the Bedford Dojo and has worked with our students to improve their kumite skills.
One of the things that impresses me the most about Kathy is that she is quite humble about her accomplishments. At our tournament, I have several times asked Kathy to do a demonstration match with a brown or green belt who had no one in her division to compete with. Kathy has always conducted herself with restraint and respect toward her opponent.
Matching a Pan American Champion with a dojo-level competitor could be disastrous for the unsuspecting green belt. However, Kathy has always made the demonstration match a good experience for the other competitor.
Kathy also competed the World Karated-do Federation (WKF) World Junior and Cadet Championships, held in Melaka, Malaysia from October 13 – 16, 2011.
Kathy Reynolds
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by Mark Cramer


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Raw Freeze-dried Fruit by Funky Monkey -- SOLD OUT
Quantity in Basket:
Code: FunkyMonkey
Shipping Weight: 0.00 pounds
Your Choice:
banana with acai
pineapple with lime
carnival fruit mix -- out of stock
pineapple with guava -- out of stock
apple with cinnamon -- out of stock
mango with OJ -- out of stock
banana and cinnamon -- out of stock
RAW FREEZE-DRIED FRUIT by Funky Monkey (12g)
It's fruit that crunches, because it's freeze-dried (and
shelf-stable). Each bag contains one serving of
100% real raw fruit, nothing
artificial, and no added sugar. Gluten-free
and very tasty. A super-healthy snack for kids
and adults.


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ALTERNATIVE ROCK - DeathSURF - Post-PUNK
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Using industry sources and dealer price guides, the Motor Vehicle Division Aircraft Registration Unit of ADOT determines the value of aircraft annually for tax purposes. The value assessed is based on the average wholesale blue-book value for the make, model and year of the aircraft. No consideration is given to condition, equipment or purchase price.
The tax rate is one-half of one per cent (0.005) of the assessed value of the aircraft, but not less than $20. For aircraft entering the state, either purchased from a dealer or returned to service from storage, salvage or repair status, the tax is prorated based on the number of months the aircraft is in Arizona. There is no provision for refunding the tax if the aircraft leaves the state or is placed in storage during the year.
Aircraft in storage during the entire year are subject to a flat tax of $20. Upon receipt of the registration application, the value of the aircraft will be assessed, the taxes due will be calculated and an aircraft registration assessment notice will be mailed to the owner.
Low Wholesale Blue-Book Value
Tax Rate (one-half of one per cent)
Annual License Tax
Per Month Prorate (1/12)
Aircraft entered in April
x 9
License Tax Payable
Registration Fee
Amount Due
Aircraft license tax for nonresidents is based on the total number of days the aircraft is in the state during the calendar year.
1-90 days
No charge
91-209 days
0.1% (0.001) average wholesale blue book value
210-365 days
0.5% (0.005) average wholesale blue book value
Arizona Department of Transportation
Contact Us
Copyright © Arizona Department of Transportation – All rights reserved.


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The Enchant Gloves : Threat enchant has been around since AQ40. At this point in the game though, it can be hard to find an enchanter who has this formula.
Well, with path 2.2 going live today, that all changes. We now have the same enchant available on the Sha'tar Quartermaster. According to reports from PTR, the enchant requires exalted with Sha'tar, will cost 10 gold and will require the following materials:
8 x Primal Life
2 x Greater Planar Essence
4 x Small Prismatic Shard
On my server, you would expect to pay somewhere around 50 gold for all the mats for this enchant.
This enchant will increase all of your threat output by 2%, thus enabling your DPSers to push that much harder. For me, this took the place of a +8 STA enchant, thus costing me 80 hp for 2% more threat overall.


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Glacier Photo Making International Headlines!
I think my friend Philip is so cool and one of the better wildlife/nature photographers I have ever seen. Captured this shot in Glacier Park, one of the crazier photos to come out of the park in it's history.
Philip said this about the photo: "Taken yesterday evening. I'm sure some of you recognize this trail. Kinda hard to see, probably especially without a computer, but if there was any question still who rules the trails in Glacier Park....
Just to be clear, Bears will avoid hurting people as much as they can in most circumstances. Figure i'd mention that too because its interesting I saw this just days after that shooting incident in Glacier Park with the hiker from Texas and a Bear on the Mount Brown Trail. Will be interesting to see how that investigation turns out. *
This Grizzly kept on the trail the whole time that i could see, other than initially coming down outta the trees and cliff jumping onto the trail, which wasn't more than half a mile at most. But wow he sure did make several groups of people and single hikers move outta the way fast! He wasn't aggressive towards people at all but you could tell he sure enjoyed getting the right of way and moved quickly on the trail. Looked like he just really wanted to get somewhere and was in a hurry to get away from people. Surprised one person by sprinting right by them as soon as they saw each other coming around a bend. Never seen someone move so fast."
Truly spectacular check out more of his photo's here


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Mon, Feb 4
A Night of Superstar Comedy with CHRIS TUCKER Coming to DPAC April 19.
FEBRUARY 4, 2013 (Durham, NC) — Actor, comedian, and humanitarian Chris Tucker will make his debut on the DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, stage on April 19, 2013.
Tickets go on sale Friday, February 8 at 10am:
- Online at DPACnc.comDPAC Ticket Center: 919.680.2787, 123 Vivian Street, Durham, NC
- Ticketmaster.com / Ticketmaster Charge by phone at 800.745.3000
Friends of DPAC members may place their orders on February 6. Joining Friends of DPAC is free, and you can register at www.DPACnc.com/friendofdpac.
"Just when I thought the 2013 comedy lineup at DPAC could not get hotter, Chris Tucker adds a date this spring. As a big fan of his movie career, especially Rush Hour, I couldn't be happier that he is back on the scene and making a stop in the Triangle. Our theater is ideal for superstar stand-up comics like Chris Tucker," said Emily McLoughlin, Marketing Director for Concerts and Comedy at DPAC.
Born August 31, 1971, Christopher "Chris" Tucker is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing the role of Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour film series. Tucker became a frequent stand up performer on Def Comedy Jam in the 1990s. He came to prominence in 1995 film Friday alongside Ice Cube, and then appeared in Luc Besson's The Fifth Element before beginning work on the highly commercially successful Rush Hour films. In 2006 he negotiated an unprecedented $25 million salary to appear in Rush Hour 3, which at the time made him the highest paid actor in Hollywood. Tucker is also a humanitarian and spends much of his spare time traveling and working with his foundation. His latest film, the critically acclaimed Silver Lining Playbook with Robert DeNiro and Bradley Cooper, is receiving Oscar® attention.
About DPAC
Since its opening in 2008, DPAC has become the center for live entertainment in the Triangle. Recognized for its contemporary design, DPAC features 2,700 seats, intimate sightlines and state-of-the art sound and video. Listed four times in the top 50 in Pollstar magazine's worldwide theater attendance rankings, DPAC is currently the #5 ranked theater in the U.S.
What's up next at DPAC? An intimate evening with superstar Olivia Newton-John (Feb 19), followed by the inaugural Bull City Food and Beer Experience (Feb 24).
For more information please go to www.DPACnc.com.


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Faith in Vermont: Traffic in Vermont?
When we first moved to Vermont, my husband noticed something unusual about the news coverage on our local NPR affiliate: there was never any traffic report. To compensate, the weather forecast often ran as long as ten minutes.
Living in California, it had been just the opposite, and with good reason: detailed updates were necessary to help guide us through traffic that often felt like an elaborate video game. In most of California, there's only about one hour -- between 10 and 11 AM -- when traffic isn't in "rush hour." On the other hand, with a climate stuck at 72 degrees and sunny most days, the weather forecast is fairly repetitive.
We soon figured out that the reason Vermont radio stations never covered traffic was because there wasn't any traffic in Vermont. The weather, however, seemed to change every five minutes. In a state that still maintains a large agricultural industry, it's important for farmers to know that it'll be sunny at 9:00, rain at 9:15, and snow by 10:00.
The "Faith in Vermont" column is now one year old. It began as a fond look at Vermont through the eyes of a mother of three young children who'd recently moved from California. A few things have changed one year later: I'm now a mother of four young children (and a dog), and I'm a less recent transplant as I prepare for our third Vermont autumn.
So, things like that comparison between Vermont and California traffic reports are getting harder for me to write. Though technically true, I'm increasingly able to see the subtleties of Vermont life. There is traffic here, mostly around Burlington but also around the major tourist destinations and ski resorts, and even in our own small town during school drop-off and pick-up times (by some logic of small-town planning, our town's elementary, middle, and high schools are all along the same road).
I've also seen more of Vermont. While a year ago I could idealize Vermont's unspoiled, down-to-earth, anti-commercial landscape, I've now been to Stowe. Stowe features slow-moving tourist traffic, gift shops that market chocolate-covered raisins as "Moose Poo," and when we visited, an outdoor art installation that included a work called "Cut." "Cut" was a narrow path of red bark mulch extending a few yards into some trees. For $650, you could purchase an official photograph of "Cut." Made me wish I'd thought to charge our neighbors when I blazed a path through our woods to their yard.
Things are changing in Vermont, too. I used to boast that the only time I had to wait in line was to register my daughters for gymnastics classes through Middlebury's Parks & Rec Department. Gymnastics registration was on a first-come, in-person, one-night-only system, which required queuing up about 30 minutes early. Guess what? Effective this fall, all of Middlebury's Parks & Rec programs are offering online registration. I'm a little sad; those lines were great places to catch up with everyone you knew. And what'll I do with the extra two hours that have just been added to my year?
All of which is to say: expect to see some changes in this column over the coming year: Less comparison of Vermont to non-Vermont, more straightforward observation from a mother of four young children (and a dog) who has mixed feelings about "Moose Poo" and avant-garde art installations.
Heck, for $650, I'll blaze a trail through your woods and throw in one of my children!
Faith Gong has worked as an elementary school teacher, a freelance photographer, and a nonprofit manager. Since moving to Addison County in 2011, her work has involved caring for a house in the woods, four young daughters, one anxiety-prone puppy — and writing for her blog, The Pickle Patch.