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During the height of garden preparation and growing season, Farmer Fred has produced a large number of videos to cover all of the seasonal updates of his backyard garden. These updates are presented to provide some instruction and background into the sowing and harvesting of various fruits and veggies grown in the garden - with some helpful tips for maintaining your own garden, too!
These videos reveal the Early Fall Garden Update 2016 - feel free to watch as many as you'd like to get a real taste for Farmer Fred's garden and advice!
Early Fall Garden Update 2016: Let's Go Harvest Some King Arthur Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are some of my favorite vegetables - they are easy to grow in the garden, and tend to come out in abundant quantities. As you might expect, I can't eat them all myself, so I often find I give them away to friends and family - and also preserve many of them by creating many jars of pepper sauce and storing in a freezer until needed. With a reasonable amount of planning, you can grow bell peppers yourself at a low cost of investment, and harvest some serious returns throughout the year.
Early Fall Garden Update 2016: Let's Go Harvest My Huge and Healthy Ford Hook Swiss Chard!
Swiss chard is another one of my favorites - it is really one of the most nutritionally dense vegetables you can eat, and has a unique taste that is often ignored by many people who are not growing their own veggies. The simple reason is because availability in stores is not nearly as high as something like Romaine or iceburg lettuce. These plants grow to be pretty large, and keep my family and I fed for a good chunk of the year.
Related: How to Cook Swiss Chard in an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
Early-Fall Garden Update 2016: Update on Our Party Favor Rose Mallow Hibiscus Plant!
Any great backyard garden has space for growing some plants for the sheer beauty they bring. I am pretty partial to the hibiscus plant myself. They have helped me to create a space that is relaxing to spend time in - a sign of a great garden for me. Adding this aesthetic value can help motivate you to continue to put effort into your backyard garden - which is something even cost savings on food can't always bring.
Early-Fall Garden Update 2016: Let's Go Harvest Some Katahdin Potatoes from a Garden Container!
Potatoes really form the basis for much of my diet - thanks to the great healthy dieting advice provided by Dr. McDougall in The Starch Solution. It was a simple step for me to grow my own food, as I have been maintaining a backyard garden for decades - even though I've only gone plant-based in the last couple of years. I have found it to be entirely possible to trim costs and grow much of my needed food in my garden. Of course, I still make trips for other foods and condiments I am unable to grow myself - but there is nothing more organic and natural than being able to go in your backyard, pluck a few potatoes from the ground (or in this case...a garden container), and take them inside to prepare and eat.
Early-Fall Garden Update 2016: Let's Go Harvest 20 lbs of Red Jersey Sweet Potatoes, for $1.50!
At a certain point in the year, we starting annotating some of our video titles to include costs. I think this is valuable to see how an inexpensive packet of sweet potato seeds sprout into such a large quantity. You could easily expect to spend $1.50 on a single sweet potato at a local grocery store - so it becomes a no brainer to invest some time in a backyard organic garden and grow your own!
Early-Fall Garden Update 2016: Let's Go Harvest Some Gypsy Broccoli!
Broccoli is another one of my favorites in the Plant-Smart Living kitchen! As you can see, I have a lot of "favorites," but that is mostly because so many veggies taste great (especially when prepared right) and are good for your health, too. Despite it's popularity in my home, I still get the sense it is a vegetable often overlooked in many people's diet.
Related: Top 10 Reasons to Eat the Leaves of Broccoli Plants
Early-Fall Garden Update 2016: My Malibar Spinach has Gone Wild!
My spinach plant is a really great addition to my backyard garden. It provides some great value for my stomach, and also has the neat feature of growing up my trellis. Maybe it comes as a surprise to you that this veggie grows on vines - it is a really neat thing and not something you would necessarily expect. It is little things like this that I have learned as I continue to grow my own food in my home garden - getting to know what food is on your plate a little better gives you more respect for what you are eating, more appreciation for it's nutrients, and in some ways respect for the people who cultivate and package the stuff we find at the store and don't even consider how it came to be.
Early-Fall Garden Update 2016: Let's Go Harvest Some Curly Leaf Kale from My Lean to Greenhouse!
I like to experiment with growing different veggies in my lean-to greenhouse. This year, I've grown a good deal of curly leaf kale, and as you can see it has grown quite well. It is another one of those foods that forms a great basis for a good, hearty salad and other kitchen experiments. One of the big reasons why I grow food in my greenhouse is because it allows me to more closely regulate temperature, and reduce the likelihood of attacks by little (and sometimes not so little) garden pests.
Related: How to Make a No Cost Mini-Greenhouse at Home
Early-Fall Garden Update 2016: Let's Go Harvest Some Beauregard Sweet Potatoes!
Sweet potatoes are a great alternative to the "standard" white and purple potatoes we often eat. As the name implies, they have a certain "sweetness" that makes them an entirely different flavor experience. One of my favorite ways to eat them is simply as baked sweet potato fries - no oil is even necessary to cook them like this.
Early-Fall Garden Update 2016: Let's Go Harvest 38 lbs. of Sweet Potato Yams, for $1.50!
Very similar in taste and texture (and gardening requirements), sweet potato yams are another great addition in a plant-based kitchen. The quantity that comes from just a few seeds is really astonishing, and seeing 38 pounds of sweet potatoes really helps to showcase the need for more sustainable lifestyles to take root around the USA (and world in general).
Early-Fall Garden Update 2016: A Garden Tour After Our First Killer Frost
This early fall garden update was made to give a little walkthrough of the garden after the first significant frost. This is a point in time where the seasons really begin to notably shift, and the crops you can successfully grow will change in many instances to those that are more viable during fall and winter months - with the colder temperatures in tow. While not nearly as active as the summer months, you can still get a good yield from your garden during fall and winter if you select the right plants to grow!
I hope you enjoyed this look at the Plant-Smart Living backyard garden. This look at the early fall garden update 2016 can help show you what you can potentially expect as seasonal changes come to your garden, and in what ways you can expect changes to come to your crops. As is apparent, it is possible to get some great harvests as the months turn colder and colder!


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All of my yes.
Posted By Pramath | On 12th, Dec. 2014 Under News | Follow This Author @Pramath1605
We reported not so long ago that Sony will be selling you faceplates for your PlayStation 4, which replace your HDD cover, and which give your console a unique level of personality and customization, and while I am sure we were all anticipating some great designs down the line, these might already be taking the cake.
They are transparent covers for your HDD compartment in different colors, and they look stunning- I've always had a thing for transparent electronics (I used to love the transparent Nintendo 64/Gameboy/Gameboy Advance systems that Nintendo used to put out back in the day, which is why I loved their new 2DS designs so much as well), and this seems to stoke the fires of my nostalgia.
Seriously, look at those. Those look absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, so far, they are exclusive to Japan, but hopefully, Sony will see the light and bring them over to North America soon.
I'll buy one of each.
[Thanks, DualShockers]
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1 pointThat is exactly it! Thanks Ozzy. Skelton, I remembered it was a distinct last name. I did not know other Henry's were used at Corinth. I could have sworn I saw it in print in a book, but, it could very well have been this article that I stumbled upon. I may be wrong, but I think most people think, "oh, Henry Rifle, they were blasting away like they do in Western movies". I have even seen Civil War reenactors carrying Henry rifles and they were just blasting away when shooting. I don't think this is historically accurate. I think the soldiers lucky enough to have these weapons, especially early in the war, would have been firing "somewhat fast", but still taking deliberate aim. Ammunition was not just laying around for this weapon. I can't see someone, especially Confederate, burning through ammunition when ammunition resupply would be a colossal issue. At Corinth, for Skelton, I think actually it would have been more than a colossal issue. If he ran out of ammo, there was probably NO resupply, and he would be left carrying a heavy paperweight if he did run out of ammo. I found the picture of Fisher mentioned in the article, holding his Henry rifle. Fisher, and the 10th Kentucky Partisan Rangers Cavalry, however, did not fight at Corinth. Their fighting was done in Kentucky for the most part. Still, incredibly rare and historically important image. I would imagine the most technologically advanced rifle on the field at Shiloh would be the Sharps rifle or carbine. But, I imagine Birge's Western Sharpshooters, along with other marksmen and sharpshooters, were carrying some finely crafted rifles as well, such as the Dimick rifle.
1 pointI would like to get one of those myself!
1 pointBy the Noble Daring of her Sons: The Florida Brigade by Jonathan C. Sheppard This Doctor's Thesis of 403 pages, published in 2008: http://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu:176253/datastream/PDF/view Although this resource provides concise details of Florida's early colonial history; and the "unusual connection to Iowa" (pages 13- 14); a solid description of settlement by cotton planters and tobacco farmers (with development of political structure based on agricultural pursuits -- pp.15 to 24)... The interesting bits for SDG begin on page 24: 24 - 25 Florida the third Southern State to secede (after South Carolina and Mississippi) 26 - 27 Pensacola and Adam Slemmer (and Picken's Truce) 28 - 34 Patton Anderson 34 - 36 Braxton Bragg at Pensacola 49 - 55 Raid at Santa Rosa Island of October 1861 66 - 72 Fort Donelson loss requires Major General Bragg to move north 72 - 74 Roles of BGen Samuel Jones and LtCol William K. Beard after Patton Anderson leaves Florida 75 - 80 Federal movement up Tennessee River leads to Day One at Shiloh 80 - 81 Day Two at Shiloh (and return to Corinth) 81 - 82 Aftermath of Florida Battalion. Details of Battle of Shiloh from Florida Battalion perspective (with interesting descriptions not found anywhere else.) Mostly accurate depiction of the Battle of Shiloh, with the only real blemish: the timing being out by thirty - sixty minutes on a couple of occasions. Otherwise, a solid effort; and worth the thirty minutes to read. Cheers Ozzy
1 pointYeah well----- I have been working on my presentation for the Battle of Shiloh Seminar to be held this Fall at the Kenosha Civil War Museum September 15th. I will be sharing the stage with Professor Tim Smith-- Larry J. Daniel, Army of the Tennessee specialist and Bjorn Skaparsan of Ranger Shiloh fame! So I have to do a good job! It took me weeks to do the Confederates and that is not done. I will provide the list when I can after I get my talk on paper and a powerpoint-- You need a powerpoint for uniforms and flags. Here is a total for all, Grants Army of the Tennessee, 30, 759 Rifles and 11, 907 smoothbores. Buells Army 17, 921 and only 2,476 smoothbores. I am still working on this.--- These are close approximates.--- I have it all in my notes--- Maybe I will write a book about it???????????? Tom
1 pointMona Well stated, in regard to "Grant's concern about McClernand." At Fort Donelson, it is obvious that Grant did not put McClernand "in temporary command, in Grant's absence" because he did not trust McClernand. That evaporation of trust is even more profound at Pittsburg Landing (where Grant took extraordinary efforts to keep McClernand away from the levers of power.) Sherman: as you suggest, Grant likely selected fellow-West Pointer, in-need-of-a-sponsor Sherman, because he knew Sherman (who was still "on his way back" from a nervous breakdown, trying to rejuvenate his career) would do as he was told. And after having promoted and supported all of Grant's decisions -- up to the unexpected moment of Confederate attack on Sunday morning -- U.S. Grant (who valued LOYALTY) was not going to cut his loyal lieutenant loose to "take the consequences" for the surprise at Shiloh. That scapegoat (for a tangential matter) was Lew Wallace; but both Wallace and McClernand were consigned "to the reserve" after Shiloh: as far removed from the levers of power as possible. Regards Ozzy


text: There was a time in my life when I was an "anti-pick "snob. I'm not sure why. My first real Bass Hero Chris Squire used a pick and when I was starting out I copied as many of his licks as I could. I guess that for a while I felt that using a pick made it more of a bass guitar than a bass…whatever. Using a pick allows to you to add even more sounds and feels to your repertoire, and why limit yourself? Some amazing bass players get great sounds using plectrums and in this section I'll demonstrate down picking, up and down pick strokes and talk about muting with the heel of your picking hand to dampen the strings and get a tighter sound.


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Site Showcase: Maison Zhou
I was super excited to see this submission come in from one of our original SSDG-ers! Hester and her team at Delilah Creative always put together crazy beautiful work, and this gorgeous ecommerce site is no joke. Impeccably planned and designed, you can see right away how this client now has a great site that is updatable for any new product that comes in their shop. Well done Hester and team!
Client Site Description: eCommerce Site
Template Chosen: Rally
Why did you choose that template?: We always work with Rally! It's the most beautifully clean template, but to be honest we always strip out all of the content and demo pages from the site to start from scratch.
What was the Client's Objective?: Create a really beautiful, custom e-commerce website for her luxury sleepwear brand.
Tell us a bit about the design process?: Our client already had their logo, but was finding it tricky to add nuance and sophistication with just the monochromatic colour scheme they were trying to work within. We worked on a Brand Style Guide to introduce a subtle secondary colour palette of navy blue and celadon, and then we created an editorial-feeling site design with very minimal photoshop elements (aside from the top banner) to make it easy for our client to manage moving forward.
How did you help the client differentiate their business through design?: We used customised image blocks across all of the image block setting options (collages, cards etc.) to give the Maison Zhou website a magazine-feel. They can use these blocks in blog posts, on text-based pages and also on social media to really give their site a premium feel to match their product.
Is there custom development? What about custom added CSS? Can you tell us why you did or did not use these edits?: Yes, there's quite a bit of custom development, especially on the navigation, but we tried to keep the CSS to elements that the client wouldn't need to touch on a regular basis, to avoid any issues or confusion. We also installed a plugin to help match the colour variant images to the variant descriptions, which can be a limitation with Squarespace's basic e-commerce set-up.
What are the top three creative features you used in the design?: 1. Custom image blocks to give an editorial/magazine feel
2. Homepage with different product sections with background coloured banners to imitate a custom e-commerce build
3. Watermark effect and layered elements which make the site feel very custom
Anything else you want us to know about the site?: We're so so proud of this site! People think you can't create a really beautiful e-commerce site using Squarespace, but you definitely can.
Designer: Hester ABA from Delilah Creative
Client's Site: Maison Zhou


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Slight decrease in Dutch bank results in 2011
The results achieved by Dutch banks in 2011 came out slightly lower than in 2010, when signs of a recovery started being seen according to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). Rising credit losses were reflected in the need for substantially higher loan loss reserves. On the other hand, however, the banks were able to reduce their operating costs and so improve the sustainability of their profits. The capital buffers remained largely the same as in 2010.
The net profit of the Dutch banking sector in 2011 came out at EUR 7.8 billion; this was EUR 1.1 billion (13%) lower than in 2010. The return on capital of 6.3% was one percentage point lower, comparable with the average for the eurozone. Although the sector's result is better than in 2008 and 2009, it remains below its pre-crisis level.
The modest rise in income was largely attributable to non-recurring income relating to the discontinuation of activities.


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Unique L.A. brings culture and community
"Unique" seems like a logical word to use when describing an event that brings together a gaggle of Los Angeles locals specializing in everything from crafting wooden neckties, to creating jewelry out of guitar strings, to practicing modern-day herbalism. That word is incorporated in the title of what is now the largest independent design show in the country, "Unique L.A." The festival, which first started in December of 2008, celebrated the fourth anniversary of its annual spring show with a two-day shopping event at California Market Center downtown last weekend.
The event featured over 325 local designers, restaurants, craftspeople, and artists selling their wares, as well as a number of free workshops, and a photo booth where attendees could use an array of props and pose for a free picture, compliments of Oh! Snap Studios.
On the event's website, founder Sonja Rasula states that her mission is to "bring modern made-in-America design to the masses," and to "help small businesses grow and become sustainable, to support the local economy, and to teach shoppers the value of conscious consumerism."
The site also stresses the event's emphasis on community. In the past, Unique has partnered with a number of local environmental groups, including Heal the Bay and Friends of the Los Angeles River. Last weekend's show supported 826LA, a local organization that provides creative writing workshops and after-school tutoring to students in the community.
Local designer Juliana Hung, who sold her ceramic jewelry and plant-holders at this weekend's show, says that there is a sense of community at the event.
"It's great," says Hung. "Everyone is really nice, and we kind of help each other out and learn from each other."
Hung says she enjoys the dynamic nature of the show's patrons, and draws from her background in industrial design to create something "fun and unexpected" in her ceramic and leather jewelry.
"There's a really big diversity of categories, and all different crafts," she says. "It's really interesting to see the energy."
Though the show is over, there are several upcoming events presented by Rasula and her team. Unique will present its first annual San Francisco show on the weekend of June 30, and also reportedly has a New York City event in the works. Rasula also curates a monthly movie night at L.A.'s Echoplex, which includes pizza, a movie, and drinks for $10.
The next movie, the 1955 film noir classic "Kiss Me Deadly," will be screened on May 21.
Visit stateofunique.com for further details.


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Table of Contents | Message Board | Printable Version
"BOLD and ARDUOUS PROJECT"
His "Bold and arduous project" is to obtain moral perfection. His intention is to avoid committing any kind of fault and to do only what he consciously thinks is right. He starts by avoiding the company of people who would lead him away from moral perfection and concentrates on avoiding wrongdoing. To his dismay, as he avoids one fault, he finds himself unknowingly committing another. Franklin quickly realizes that intention of being good and doing right does not make one virtuous. As a result, he contrives a method by which he intends to break all his bad habits and acquire good ones. He catalogues all the moral virtues, including them under different names. He winds up with thirteen virtues that he thinks are absolutely necessary. He lists each of them and attaches a brief idea which defines its limits:
1) Temperance -- Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation. 2) Silence -- Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
3) Order -- Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
4) Resolution -- Resolve to perform without fail what you resolve. 5) Frugality -- Make no expense but to do good for others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6) Industry -- Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
7) Sincerity -- Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8) Justice -- Wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9) Moderation -- Avoid extremes. Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10) Cleanliness -- Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11) Tranquillity -- Be not disturbed at trifles or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12) Chastity -- Rarely use but for health or offspring--never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13) Humility -- Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Franklin strives methodically to attain these thirteen virtues. He keeps a record in which he marks out the seven days of the week. For every virtue, he allows one day. He marks it in black if he fails to observe the virtue on its given day. In the same fashion, he makes a schedule of his day, planning about seven hours for sleep, eight hours for work, and the remaining hours for planning, reading, thinking, eating, writing, examining, and carrying on the daily routine.
Franklin proceeds with the zest to pursue his arduous project, but he soon realizes he is a man with no less faults than other men. However, his attempt to live the thirteen virtues helps him to improve himself. The virtues that give Franklin the most problems are Order and Humility. He always falls a little short of total organization, and he knows he is often proud of his accomplishments. When he tries to act humbly, he finds himself feeling proud of his humility.
Franklin intentionally does not mention any sect or religion on his list of virtues, for he feels that the list is universal and should be pursued by all humans.
Franklin sincerely feels that all his prosperity and his good reputation is due to his efforts to act in a virtuous manner. He has never regretted his attempt to attain moral perfection, even though he failed. He feels happy that he has endeavored to better himself and willingly acknowledges that he is only human and capable of error. He particularly notes that he has always struggled with being proud and orderly.
Table of Contents | Message Board | Printable Version


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El-P and Killer Mike Reveal Run the Jewels Tour Details
Hip-hop duo Run the Jewels have just announced that they'll be hitting the road this summer in the lead up to the release of their new album. Rappers El-P and Killer Mike will kick the tour off with a show on July 31 at Salt Lake City's Pioneer Park, where they'll be supporting Wu-Tang Clan. After that, it's on to Chicago, where they'll play the Double Door on August 2, and then Lollapalooza on August 3. Following a show at Seattle's Showbox on August 9, they'll make a run through Canada — playing Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. The guys will cross back over the border and play Portland's MusicFest New on August 16 and then head on to Denver and Los Angeles. After a couple months off they'll return to the stage to play the Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin from November 7 to 9.
Having previous worked together in 2012, when El-P produced Killer Mike's well-received R.A.P. Music, the two formed Run the Jewels in 2013 and released their self-tilted debut album later that year as free digital download. The collaboration earned heaps of critical praise and a sophomore album was announced in February of this year, tentatively titled Run the Jewels 2.


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Hebrews 4:9-11
While talking to my dad on the phone recently, I lamented to him that I was just "so tired!" He listened thoughtfully while I cried and poured out all the reasons I thought I was tired and the ways I had tried to relax and find rest. Finally, he said something like, "You're not resting in God." I got quiet as his words hit me. I admitted he was right. I was familiar with many of the Scriptures that tell us to rest or tell us about rest. I knew about the Sabbath, but my practice of it was haphazard at best. Then, I came across a passage in Hebrews. Hebrews 4:9-11 says, "So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall." My refusal to enter God's rest wasn't just exhausting, it was disobedient!
Usually, it is difficult for me to rest. Sometimes it's difficult to see, hear, or feel God. I wonder where He is. But when I stop and choose to rest in Him, I am renewed. All the chaos swirling around us and all our efforts to find rest and satisfaction in ourselves add up to anxiety and unrest. It's only by obeying God's command to rest in Him that we find true rest.
Physical Rest Is a Picture of Our Spiritual Rest in Christ
Rest was instituted at the creation of the world when God, the Creator and beginning of all things, rested. Genesis 2:2-3 tells us, "By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done." Rest is a physical act. It does our bodies well to take a break from physical and mental labor. Memories are solidified and our brain is recharged when we sleep. Our aching muscles are given a chance to repair. However, rest isn't just physical. Physical rest is a snapshot of our spiritual rest in Christ. What we see and feel when we rest from physical or mental labor helps us to understand what happens when we rest spiritually in Christ. Emotional wounds are healed, our spirits are strengthened, and our ability to trust God even in the midst of uncertainty increases. In Christ our rest is complete—body, mind, and spirit.
When we honor God with our complete self and take the time not only to rest physically but also to meditate on His words, listen for His voice, and tune out everything else, we find true rest—in Him alone. True joy, peace, and energy can only come from God. In Him, we are renewed to keep pursuing God and fulfilling the calls placed on our lives. We are released into the power of the Holy Spirit to conquer fear, evil, and sin in all forms. And we are reminded that through Jesus's death and resurrection, we will someday reach eternal rest from the worries, problems, and sin of this world as God makes all things new again.
Rest Is Both a Command and a Gift Given to Us
True rest cannot be found apart from salvation in Christ. It is available only to those who know Christ, and it is available now. But Hebrews warns us not to be like the Israelites and reject God's rest through disobedience. Living a life apart from God always leads to destruction. Always. This includes all those "big" sins, of course, but it also includes things we don't want to think of as sin—including not taking a regular time of Sabbath in our lives. We show our pride and arrogance when we assume we don't need rest. Even God Himself rested!
Neglecting the practice of Sabbath rest might not lead to failing school, or it might not stop you from getting into your top college choice. It may not keep you from making a lot of money. But, it will destroy your body and your mind. It will lead to questionable decisions because an exhausted mind is often a clouded and distracted mind. It will lead to burn out. And ultimately, not taking the gift of rest God offers is disobedience, and it will lead to spiritual destruction. As John 14:6 says, "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned." We must make it a priority to honor and obey God through the renewing of our bodies, minds, and spirits.
The command to rest isn't meant to be a burden; God intends it as a gift. God knows how easy it is for us to value our human work and effort. He knows the pressure our culture places on us to perform, succeed, and achieve. This gift of rest reminds us that we are not God, and we don't have to be! The pressure is off. We don't have to have it all figured out or make things happen. We simply must abide in Him. John 14:4-5 says, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." Apart from this abiding {resting} in God, we can't produce spiritual fruit.
Learning to rest in God takes practice. That's why it's considered a spiritual discipline. But Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." We need not be overwhelmed and burdened by God's command to rest. All it takes to begin resting in God is to recognize we are not God, and we need Him. Make yourself aware of the presence of God. Read the Word and other books that will help you grow in your faith. And maybe, just maybe, the best thing you can do is sleep! You'll soon find that the more you look for God and choose to consciously rest in Him, the easier it is to recognize Him at work all around you and to abide in Him always. In this abiding, we are reminded that eventually we will find ultimate rest when we enter into eternity with Christ.
God, thank You that we can find true rest in You. Forgive us when for when we have refused to abide in You and have looked to ourselves for strength. Help us to notice You more in every moment of the day and to remember that rest is for our good because You love us. And when we feel like we can't find the time simply to be with You, help us to answer, "Yes!" as Your Spirit beckons us to come to You. We love You, God.


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Art knows no boundaries and age and I gotta know it as soon as my kid started to treat my apartment walls as canvas for her imagination. S little guidance & platform like Colgate Art contest can boost kid's confidence to pursue art as a career.
Colgate Palmolive's "My Bright Smile"™ Global Art Contest has, since past 17 years, given children across the globe a platform to express their creativity and showcase their artistic talents. The unique Global Art Contest is held under the umbrella of Colgate's Oral Health Education Program "Bright Smiles, Bright Futures®", which not only provides a platform for children to let their inner talent shine, but also educates them about the benefits of good oral care.
Participants, aged 6 to 9, from schools across Pakistan are invited to participate in this global contest to help them showcase their talent. The contest usually receives thousands of entries from across the country. This year too, the "My Bright Smile"™ Global Art Contest received an overwhelming response from children across Pakistan, with 115,595 entries from schools nationwide.
On 23rd May, 2017, an exhibition displaying several shortlisted entries was held at the Alliance Française Art Gallery in Karachi. The judges for the contest were present at the occasion including Ms. Nahid Raza, renowned artist and President's Pride of Performance award winner; Ms. Riffat Alvi, Director VM Art Gallery; Mr. Munawar Ali Syed, Visual Artist & Teacher at Indus Valley Institute of Art & Architecture and Visual Studies Department, University of Karachi; Ms. Nurayah Shaikh Nabi, Arts & Crafts Professional; and Ms. Rumana Hussain, Illustrator and Author. Prizes will be distributed to the 100 best entries by young artists, and the following 12 lucky winners have been selected for their exemplary pieces of original art:
- Syeda Kissa Fatima,The Smart School, Cantt. Way Campus,Karachi
- M. Shameer, Stanmore Public School,Karachi
- Samama ,Delsol -The School, Karachi
- Ansa, Bahria Model School & College, Karachi
- Zainab Kashif, Generation's School, Karachi
- Khadija Khan, Generation's School,Karachi
- Batool,MSB Educational Institute,Karachi
- Hafsa Akram, Lahore Grammar School, Lahore
- Nimra Iftikhar, Silk School Of Tomorrow, Lahore
- Eman Aqeel, The Educators – Jinnah Campus, Lahore
- M. Abdul Hadi, Sherri Public School, Faisalabad
- Nabiha Saif, Sherri Public School, Faisalabad
To acknowledge the hard work and participation of all the contestants, each one will be awarded a Colgate "My Bright Smile"™ Certificate.
The next phase of the contest involves the top 12 entries to be sent to Colgate Palmolive's Global Head Office in New York, to represent Pakistan and compete against the entries received from other countries. The 12 best entries from across the globe will be showcased in the "My Bright Smile"™ 2018 Calendar and each winner will receive a Colgate Palmolive grant of US $250 while their respective schools will receive a grant of US $500.


text:
Hambleside Danelaw's range of GRP dry fix valley troughs have been keeping UK roof junctions durable and sound for 20 years. Backed with a 30 year service life guarantee and BBA Certified for peace of mind and quality assurance, these valley troughs have maintained their unique profile, standing the test of time.
Designed to provide hidden water gulleys at the roof valleys, these troughs are an ideal alternative to traditional lead. The popularity in lead alternatives is ever growing and manufacturers are responding to this demand.
Working with lead
The World Health Organization has identified lead as 1 of 10 chemicals of major public health concern. They state that "Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the Earth's crust. Its widespread use has resulted in extensive environmental contamination, human exposure and significant public health problems in many parts of the world."
The EU has already opted to ban or restrict the use of lead in many contexts from petrol to paints and even electronic equipment. Some European countries have banned the use of lead within the construction industry while Denmark has completely banned the import or sale of products containing more than 0.01% of lead compounds.
Although many clients, specifiers and some local authorities are now discouraging its use in roofing, the UK does not yet appear to be moving to a complete ban.
There's no harm in using alternatives to lead
Innovation in construction materials and methods is key to the future of our industry. In a time when the skills shortage is a real threat, simplicity of installation on-site delivers cost benefits and value. The popularity in lead alternatives and indeed alternatives for a wide range of metals is ever growing and manufacturers are responding to this demand.
Modern materials offer lightweight solutions, easier and safer to handle at heights, preformed options to speed up installation and increasingly can offer a long service life at a far lower cost than traditional metals, such as lead, zinc and copper.
A GRP solution
The most common replacement material used for roof flashings is glass reinforced polyester, widely known as GRP. This lightweight and durable material is simple to install and can imitate the appearance of lead.
As well as the similar aesthetics, GRP has none of the associated health and safety risks that arise when working with and handling lead. Having no scrap value and deterring theft minimises the risk of further damage and losses on site during and after installation.
Due to its non-toxic properties, GRP can be used wherever there is a requirement to recycle water. It does not produce harmful run-off, or streak or stain other building finishes, which makes it suitable for grey water systems. This is an important factor to consider with the current move toward 'greener' methods and materials with the bigger picture of a warming environment and the predicted increase in yearly droughts and water shortages.
Hambleside Danelaw's GRP flashing range, including dry fix valley troughs provide the ideal solution to lead options.
For a healthy roof, use GRP - a lead alternative material.


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Econ 100b
Created 4/30/1996
Brad DeLong
May 1, 1996
Last time I finished discussing deficit prospects, and took a too-brief look at the current macroeconomic situation. This Friday I am going to go over the practice final exam that I handed out on Monday. And next Monday, the last day of class, I am going to answer questions that you ask, and--if we have time--ask questions for you to answer. It looks like I am going to be teaching this course for quite a few years, and I urge you to provide feedback if you have any feelings of mercy toward your successors who are going to be taking this course in the future. The most valuable feedback will be on areas of the course where I should spend more time and effort, and areas where I should spend less.
I started thinking about how to do this lecture when David Romer
asked me to give a guest lecture to his Econ 101b class. I had
been a macroeconomist. Then at the end of 1992 I had become what
journalists call a "senior treasury official," working for the
federal government as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy.
And now I am trying to become an academic macroeconomist again.
It seemed that I probably had things to say about how macroeconomic analysis is--or is not--of use in the making of macroeconomic policy in the United States today. And I thought about it. And I agreed that I probably did have things to say. And as I tought about it it seemed to me that he was right. And it seemed to me that the topic of the usefulness or non-usefulness of Econ 100b-level courses for thinking about--and making--macroeconomic policy would make a very good topic for the final substantive lecture in this course.
And I have decided that I have five things to say that you should hear.
Let me begin by running through all five of them very quickly, in brief and abbreviated form. And then let me circle back around to consider each of them in more depth:
Let me expand on these points in several stages.
First, let me talk about why the government is in the macroeconomic management business. Second, let me use the early 1993 debate about Clinton Administration economic policy-as relayed not completely inaccurately in Robert Woodward's book, The Agenda, to expand on the second and third points: that the issues and principles that are useful are the simple ones, yet the task remains very, very hard. Third, let me detour into the international macroeconomics of the trade and budget deficits in the 1980s to expand on the fourth point-that the principal obstacle is ignorance, some of it involuntary and some of it voluntary and willed.
And then at the end, I will quickly tell you what I have told you, thus making this lecture fit the classic rhetorical pattern: "tell 'em what you're going to tell 'em, tell 'em, and then tell 'em what you told 'em."
Back before World War I it no more crossed people's minds that the government ought to be in the macroeconomic management business--the business of avoiding and shortening recessions and depressions--than that it ought to be in the hurricane-prevention business. The business cycle had its origins outside the government, in fluctuations of demand for investment goods and in foreign demand for America's agricultural exports. Local governments had a duty and a responsibility to alleviate the human cost of the business cycle by helping to provide relief and charity. But the national government? A responsibility to manage the economy to avoid or shorten recessions and depressions? Simply not thought of.
By the end of the 1920s things had changed. President Herbert Hoover, for example, liked to draw a distinction between his brand of Republicanism--which wanted to use the government as a powerful tool to advance public purposes, including economic prosperity--and the Neanderthal Republican "old guard," which included some members of Hoover's own cabinet. Hoover denounced the:
leave-it-alone-liquidationists headed by Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, who felt that government must keep its hands off [the economy] and let the [Great Depression continue until it ended by]... itself. Mr. Mellon had only one formula: "Liquidate labor, liquidate stocks, liquidate the farmers, liquidate real estate." [Mellon] insisted that, when the people get an inflation brainstorm, the only way to get it out of their blood is to let it collapse... even a panic was not altogether a bad thing...
Hoover thus set a new standard for Washington infighting and backstabbing--denouncing the Secretary of the Treasury whom he had appointed and whom he retained throughout his presidency.
Unfortunately for America, Hoover's view of what the government needed to do in order to cut short the Great Depression was almost exactly the opposite of what we would now see as desirable. Hoover believed that the way to bring the Great Depression to a rapid end was to restore business confidence and business investment--and that the best road to restoring business confidence and business investment was to balance the federal budget through spending cuts and tax increases.
Now as Herbert Stein observes in his Fiscal Revolution in America, it is not crazy to worry about the depressing effects of government deficits on investment. Keynes included this channel--that a government that runs a high cyclical deficit in recession may find its lack of balance either increasing consumers' preference for liquidity or discouraging investment--in his General Theory as one factor making the net positive impact of a fiscal stimulus smaller than one would calculate based on the size of the fiscal stimulus and a naive multiplier derived from the marginal propensity to consume:
If, for example, a Government employs 100,000 additional men on public works, and if the multiplier (as defined above) is 4, it is not safe to assume that aggregate employment will increase by 400,000. For the new policy may have adverse reactions on investment in other directions.
It would seem... that the following are likely in a modern community to be the factors which it is most important not to overlook...
(ii) With the confused psychology... the Government programme may through its effects on "confidence," increase liquidity-preference or diminish the marginal efficiency of capital... (John Maynard Keynes, General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, pp. 119-120.)
Nevertheless, we would have to live in a very strange world indeed for Herbert Hoover's policy of fighting recession by raising taxes and cutting spending to be preferable to our current instincts to let the economy's fiscal automatic stabilizers operate to damp down business cycle swings in demand and employment.
The commitment Herbert Hoover had enunciated--that the government would rescue the macroeconomy--was never abandoned. It was codified, in a sense, in the 1946 Employment Act. We hope that current principles of macroeconomic management make more sense than did Hoover's attempt to cure a Great Depression through fiscal contraction.
Why did the government take on this role of macroeconomic management in the interwar years? Before WWI, the most any government did was to try to guarantee the value of the currency: gold standard.
Political scientists' answer #1: the expansion of the franchise--not satisfactory. Answer #2: governments that would not promise to perform the task of macroeconomic management--or that did not deliver--fell apart and vanished in the interwar period.
Answer #3: Hitler and Stalin. Promising full employment was a necessary step in making liberalism more attractive than communism (or fascism).
I don't know which of these is correct...
Second, as far as the amount of macroeconomic analysis useful for understanding, and even for making, macroeconomic policy is concerned, all of you now have--or will have, if you finish the semester and do well on the exam--90 percent of the tools that you would ever need. The aspects of macroeconomic analysis that are the most useful in making economic policy are the fundamentals: the basics.
When I think about this, sometimes I am heartened: we must be very good teachers if we can so quickly bring you up to speed on what is relevant for politics and policy. Sometimes I am depressed: we must be really lousy technicians, and not have all that much to teach, if we can bring you more-or-less up to speed in less than two semesters.
Let me illustrate this by quoting a passage from Robert Woodward's 1994 book about the making of Clinton administration economic policy. The book is called The Agenda. In it Woodward describes the first meeting of Clinton's cabinet level policy council, the National Economic Council.
At one point during the meeting, CEA Vice Chairman-Designate Alan Blinder is making a presentation on the economic consequences of adopting a particular deficit-reduction program. According to Woodward:
Blinder flashed his...chart, which summarized the costs and benefits of a $60 billion annual deficit cut. The costs would be immediate: a sharp 1.5 percent[age point] drop in [the first year's] economic growth from the 2.8 [percent per year growth from 1993 to 1994]... that was projected.
The benefits, on the other hand, lay far off: perhaps a 1 percent increase in growth [sic; a mistake: a 1 percent increase in the level of output; and not in four years] after four years, perhaps 2 percent after 20 years, and a 2.7 percent increase at "infinity"...
Where did these numbers come from? Well you--each of you--could have generated these numbers. To generate the first, Alan Blinder took his favorite estimate of the Keynesian multiplier, fed it the degree of reduction in government spending relative to taxes, and calculated the resulting shift in GDP. To get the second, Alan Blinder took the effect of a $60 billion increase in national savings and fed it to the Solow growth model in Mankiw's chapter four--and had a staff person hanging around the Democratic Transition Team (me) calculate the speed of convergence to the new, 2.7 percent higher GDP steady state growth path.
Blinder did a bunch of calculations, a lot of work for this presentation: considering alternative scenarios and assumptions about how the economy really works, investigating the sensitivity of his conclusions to small changes in assumptions, and so forth. But the guts of the calculation are made up of exercises that you have carried out--and that may well be on the final exam.
And the challenges that other people made to Blinder's analysis also all used concepts with which you are very familiar. To quote Woodward again:
Larry Summers interjected some optimism. A favorable response on long-term rates from a good deficit reduction plan, he said, was not so unlikely. The inflation premium [in bond interest rates] was abnormally high now, he noted, and a good plan would convince the markets that inflation was not that much of a problem and long-term rates should fall.
In the language of Econ 100b, Larry was saying that Blinder's analysis was incomplete because Blinder had only thought about what happens to the IS curve when the deficit is reduced. Larry thought that the inward shift in the IS curve would be matched by an outward shift in the LM curve--as the Federal Reserve lowered short-term interest rates, and as investors expected the lowering of interest rates to continue into the future.
So, in short, you have very smart people who have devoted their lives to managing the intricacies of macroeconomics debating issues of vital importance to economic policy--and do they use concepts from Econ 137? Do they use concepts from Econ 202? Do they use concepts from Econ 236?
No. They use concepts from Econ 100b. And I would go a step
further and say that that was the level at which the debate ought to
have been conducted.
But the fact that the issues and principles that are useful are the simple, basic, fundamental ones does not mean that the job is easy.
Uncertainty is enormous.
Neither the present state of the economy, nor its future course, nor the effects of policies on the future course of the economy is known with any confidence.
To a juggler, the principles involved in juggling three items are pretty simple--but the task of juggling priceless eggs in variable gravity remains very, very hard. (Flying Karamazov Brothers story at the Microsoft company picnic, perhaps: things that they had done thousands of time suddenly became very very difficult and very very nervewracking because of the variable winds.)
So people age very quickly in these jobs. Insomnia is rife. Stakes are very high--and for real. (How much has Bob Rubin aged in the past four years.
To make things worse, even if you have correctly spotted the proper policy and analyzed the proper consequences, you have to convince lots of people who are not economists that it is in fact correct. This is hard:
Let me give you an example of the second and third. I got to my Treasury office one morning to find a memo in my inbox, stating that:
The NEC and the NSC are convening a team to produce an analysis for the President of the nation's structural current account deficit. The project will analyze the underlying causes and composition of our deficit and the economic problems it may cause for current and future living standards. The study will be global in scope, with particular emphasis on our economic relations with Asian nations.
...The effort will be coordinated by Ira C. Magaziner...
Translation: Ira Magaziner needs something to do after making a catastrophic mess of health care reform. Ira thinks that he can make a contribution by identifying barriers to America's exports that cause a "structural" trade deficit. And some Japan-bashing thown in.
The problem is that we know that the U.S. trade deficit grew from zero in 1992 to $150 billion this year because of the balance of national savings and investment--memos written in early 1993 predicting it.
Yet if Ira acknowledges this, he is out of a job--and few people ever leave the OEOB until their hands are ripped by force from the ornamental stone geegaws of the building.
And Ira generalizes from his experience as a consultant, in which a firm that fails to export (or that sees its markets stolen by imports) is probably failing to be "competitive"--and he cannot make the conceptual jump necessary to notice that what is true about an individual firm is not true for the economy as a whole. Potential foreign customers of a business can always decide that its products are not worth buying, and go buy the products of some other firm.
But once you have sold your imports in America and gotten paid in dollars, you must buy something American (or trade your dollars to someone who wants them to buy something American)--either an export or make an investment. There is no "alternative" place to spend your dollars. Thus whether America's businesses are competitive or uncompetitive, the international accounts balance--with the trade deficit equal to net investment by foreigners in the U.S.
Ira's response: I have a friend trapped in the OEOB who has to deal with him occasionally: "I don't think economists have much to say that is useful about modern international trade."
All in all, a pretty powerful set of reasons insulating one
against any kind of rational argument.
Economists know a lot of stuff...
A lot of what they know is pretty useful...
You now know a lot of what economists know...
Yet we do much less well than we in some sense should...
Econ 100b
Created 4/30/1996
Professor of Economics J. Bradford DeLong, 601


text:
On May 24th, 2016 Lindsay Tia hosted the first annual Mass Fallen Heroes Fashion Show at Coppersmith in South Boston.
This event was well attended and very fun! I purchased a VIP ticket, unfortunately I wasn't informed by the front door staff that there was a separate VIP reception upstairs, so I don't have too much to report on that.
The venue is a converted warehouse with a nice outdoor patio. The front wall was lined with tables selling gorgeous Lindsay Tia merch. The main runway was at the end of the bar with picnic table style seating. There wasn't anyone to control or manage the VIP seating so I was glad that I arrived early because the space filled up quickly.
Prior to the start of the Fashion show Lindsay gave an emotional speech about the impact of Military heroes and fallen soldiers in her life. She detailed the importance of the Mass Fallen Heroes program and how she is using her brand and designs to give back. Lindsay's intro was followed by a powerful rendition of the star spangled banner. There were a few issues with the sound system and there was a playback error with the video they were trying to show (it detailed the MFH program) The audience was unable to hear any of it. (If I get a copy of that video I will post here).
The fashions were fun flirty summer looks with a few large parachute dresses in camouflage inspired colors and prints. Several looks were paired with cute Lindsay Tia clutches in vibrant colors with patent leather and monogram details.
I would love to see this become a yearly event and possibly incorporate different designers or themes.
About Lindsay Tia: Lindsay's merchandise is influenced by the experiences that have inspired her, made her brave, and sparked a desire to empower others.
Featured Bravery Bag: The Bravery bag is made with red white stripe canvas, navy and white star canvas, grade A leather, and lined with seersucker.
Lindsay Tia has joined forces with Mass Fallen Heroes to honor the fallen, support the families of the fallen, and also support local veterans and their families with her new Bravery Brand.
Come celebrate the bravery in all of us while enjoying cocktails, food, and festivities including:
-Fashion Show showcasing the launch of the Bravery brand.
-Launching of the Bravery Video
-Bravery Brand products - purchase your Bravery product and % goes to MFH
-VIP roof deck party
-DJ Nico Higgins
-Activities where we invite you to share your own story on bravery
Your attendance at this event will help MFH provide support to the families of our fallen heroes.
Lindsay Tia is an American Made accessories company launching her new brand the "Bravery Brand"—"Where Bravery Meets Fashion." All Lindsay's BB products are made in the three gateway cities in MA (Fall River, Haverhill, and Everett) and will give 10% of proceeds to MFH. The Bravery Brand mission is to use our products to identify and represent all of the brave stories in MA. From everyday bravery to heroic bravery on the battlefield, there is bravery among us all.
The Bravery Brand
The Bravery Brand represents our inner superhero. Whether you are a hero serving in the military, or a hero within yourself conquering life's everyday battles, there is someone brave in all of us.
The Bravery Brand represents the American Dream that anything in life is possible if you follow these three steps:
Step #1: Believe in yourself
Step #2: Give it your all
Step #3: Always remember to be brave!
Let the Bravery Brand represent the fearless, All-American, and unstoppable person you can be!
BIG THANK YOU to:
Fashion Production: Kathy Benharris
Hair Salon: The Beauty Bar Dyan La Rosa
Makeup: B.makeup and brow boutique Danielle Scanlon-Hill


text:
The Mlles. Vercessi-Clarkes, editors-in-chief
Month: November 2016
CVU XC: Examining the season, looking to the future, keeping runners at the front of the pack
Mr. Isaac Cleveland
CVU boys and girls cross-country won with record breaking times last saturday during the NVAC District Championships in Swanton, Vermont. Tyler Marshall, the senior superstar of CVUHS boys cross country running, won during the 5k with an astounding new personal record: a 15:24.2 minute 5k time. He ran just under a five minute mile and beat his nearest competitor by a minute. Tyler Marshall shared that with this new personal record, he was even more ready for next weekends race. "It was a confidence booster," he said, "not only for myself but also for my team."CVU's girls team was lead to the first place title by none other than our very own Sophia Gorman, Ella Whitman, and Jennifer Ireland, scoring 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the competition. Gorman won with a 18:11.9 minute time and ran just under an impressive 6 minute mile.
However, even with these stunning times and multiple championship medals for both Gorman and Marshall, what will happen to their team as these two seniors leave for their college careers?
Some Leaves continue to Cling to CVU tree, despite advancing seasons
Mr. Merrill Alexander
HINESBURG- Clearly not all of CVU trees are ready for winter quite yet. One CVU tree was still clinging to about 5% of its precious leaves even by mid November.
While most trees are completely bare of all leaves one tree in CVU's parking lot is still clinging to a few leaves. The leaves are brown and shriveled showing they are ready to come off. The rest of the leaves are probably just one wind storm away from falling, like their comrades.
According to CVU student-arborist Nathaniel Mick, these leaves are the "oddballs." While most trees are completely barren the few remaining leaves are not that unusual.
Opinion: Regulation causes Additional Hardship for Vermont Farmers
Mr. Jeremy Lang
When one imagines Vermont, the mind may wander to lush green rolling hills, farms covered in neatly wrapped hay bales, and black and white spotted cows grazing peacefully. Tall, slow moving tractors dot the mountains, and the only sound is the wind blowing through neatly planted rows of corn and hay. Under this postcard view is a disturbing truth: our Vermont farmers and farms are vanishing quickly.
Here are some facts:
2.4 million acres in Vermont in 2015 were currently used as arable fields, pastures, wilderness, managed woods and natural habitats. This is called "Current Use," which means the owner gets set in a lower tax bracket so that they don't have tax debt. This amounts to one third of Vermont's land being under land conservation.
The Best Fall activities in the best fall state
Ms. Emma Lieberman
Fall is arguably the most beautiful season in Vermont. People here certainly take advantage of all that fall has to offer. From small businesses, to corn mazes, there is always something to do. On one gorgeous autumn weekend, our intrepid reporter explored Chittenden County, and compiled some of the best things to do during this incredible time of year.
Rutland Wrestles with the reality of Syrian Refugees
Mr. Trey Tomasi
Many towns and cities in Vermont have warmly welcomed refugees from various countries. Vermont has accepted refugees from Nepal, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Syria, to name a few. Vermont has proudly supported the Vermont Refugee Resettlement program for 25 years. The purpose of this program is to help refugees adjust to life in their new country. They assist with learning the new language and help to create community partnerships. If Vermont is a state that supports welcoming refugees, then why do the residents of Rutland have such resistance to Syrian refugees settling in their city?
The city of Rutland is split over the settlement of 100 Syrians moving into their community. Chris Louras, mayor of Rutland, apparently met in secret with representatives of the refugee resettlement program. Louras offered his town as a new home for unvetted Syrian migrants. During these negotiations, Louras "violated the city charter" and this started a chain reaction of protests throughout the city. From the beginning, those involved kept it secret so they wouldn't be met with opposition. Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program Director Amila Merdzanovic said, "I cannot emphasize enough the importance of not sharing the information… move slowly, keep it to a small circle of people, and then expand." In an email to Louras, she stated, "if we open it up to anybody and everybody, all sorts of people will come out of the woodwork. Anti-immigrant, anti-anything."
Opinion: Tesla Drives Toward Auto Pilot
Mr. Declan Trus
Tesla, an auto manufacturer that specializes in electric cars, has just released an upgrade to their car's computer software. This new upgrade is called Version 8. One of the many updates in Version 8 of Tesla's software is upgrading the autopilot system to use radar in order to know where it's going. This is not one of the safest options that Tesla could have done. In October of 2014, the radar sensor was originally installed as a supplementary system to the primary camera imaging system. Tesla now believes it can be used as a primary system. One of the problems that this poses is that the car will have a very strange perception of its surroundings. For example, the radar can see through fog, rain and snow easily, but anything metallic appears like a mirror, and anything metallic and dish shaped will amplify the reflected signal, making the object appear many times its actual size. Avoiding false alarms like this is a big problem that Tesla is faced with as they attempt to convert to full radar. These false alarms include, anything opaque being partially, or fully invisible to passengers in the car or other drivers on the road.
Although metallic surfaces can be very visible to the car's radar, anything opaque will be transparent as glass to the radar. This is a major hazard because if a person were to let the car do all the driving, then the car would not stop or avoid something it can't see. This can be dangerous for passengers and other drivers on the road.
Clowns: Why the long face?
Mr. David Huber
A recent trend has spooked the halls of CVU. The fear some students have been experiencing has been from the recent clown scares/sightings happening nationwide. This Clown scaring started as a marketing strategy for an upcoming indie film called "It". Since then, this marketing strategy has sparked numerous copy cats that aren't advertising for the movie but are going out to scare individuals that come across them.
Recently Vermont has been targeted by this spooking, local high school students who attend BFA which is just North of Burlington received threats from apparent clowns that were telling them, "We're going to kidnap the students and kill the teachers". This has sparked law enforcement to get involved and their investigation concluded that it was another student from a nearby high school. This hasn't been the case around the country though. Schools in philadelphia received similar threats which sparked the school districts to close down schools in the area because the threats received were very specific and they shut the schools down for precautionary reasons.
Opinion: Teacher Salaries, not meeting the standard in light of other professions
Mr. Bryan Claussen
A great teacher does not just force facts into the minds of students. A great teacher can inspire students, help them understand something that will help them in life, or even convince them to pursue their dreams. Teaching is a very important, yet very underappreciated profession.
A global study from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said, "Teachers across 34 developed countries make about 22% less, on average, than their full-time counterparts with similar education levels who have chosen to do pretty much anything else with their lives." In today's society, teaching isn't a desirable job and people that go into the profession are taking a pay cut compared to other fields.
Smartphones might be dumbing us down
Mr. Willem Hillier
As anyone who has ever been in a modern high-school classroom knows, smartphones are very often used, whether the teacher wants them to be or not. Some teachers see them as a tool for learning, others see them as a hinderance. This debate between students and teachers, in all combinations, is something that is happening right now across the nation.
The way teachers view and control phones in the classroom could affect an entire generation of learners and thinkers. In a very practical sense, it will change the way the high schoolers of today work tomorrow, since students will inevitably carry the techniques they have learned and practiced in high school into the work environment. Here at CVU, it really is truly a mixed bag among teachers when it comes to smartphones.
Among the many who think the use of smartphones in classrooms have both pros and cons is Christopher Hood. He believes that these personal electronic devices can be used appropriately, and so far this year he has seen students "using good discretion" with their smartphones. However, he also cautions that there are students that can be irresponsible with their use, and he says that he sees students "checking their fantasy football teams" and "watching ESPN", as well as using various social media services. These types of activities contribute to the sentiment of Polly Vanderputten. She has a policy of "Out of View, Out of Mind" when it comes to smartphones, and strictly enforces it. In her classes, students are required to place their phones into personal manilla envelopes before the start. Judging by the lack of smartphones in my French class, her method seems pretty successful! However, this method can be problematic when there is a valid use for a smartphone.
Water Levels on Lake Champlain Could Hit a Record Low
By Mr. Kaelan Murdock
On October 11, water levels on Lake Champlain had dropped over four feet, according to My Champlain Valley. As of now on November 4, the water levels are still dropping. The Lake is rapidly approaching what could be one of its all-time lows. Boat launches are dry, small rocky islands are becoming exposed, and swamps are being replaced by mudflats. Due to the low water levels in McNeil Cove, the boat launch channel has become so clogged with sediment that dredging has become necessary. The photos below document that process.
The iPhone 7: Are the new features worth it?
Mr. Douglas Schmidt
Apple released their new iPhone 7 model earlier this month which features a better camera, screen, and stereo speakers. However, Apple neglected to include a headphone jack, rendering all previous headphone models useless unless customers purchase a lightning jack converter, or spend more money to buy their new headphone model AirPods, or Bluetooth headphones from a third party. Arguably, this could be Apple's worst move, ever.
A headphone jack serves more than one purpose on an iPhone. It can be used as a microphone input, a credit card reader, a thermometer, and 3D camera. More importantly, it can be use as an audio output. A headphone jack is a more practical, robust, and a much simpler version of Bluetooth. The headphone jack just worked. Micah Singleton, a tech writer for The Verge, said, "The belief that killing the most popular port in the world on the most popular smartphone in the world would have no consequences is wholly shortsighted." It's more than just a plug, it's the source of income for a massive industry of headphone jack accessory developers around the world, and Apple just simply stole it from them.
Kids flip out on new trend: water bottle tossing
Mr. George Lomas
Yet another trend has spread across the country thanks to a high school student named Michael Senator, AKA The Water Bottle Flipping Kid. Water bottle flipping was first started when Senator was involved in his school's talent show. Usually in a talent show people sing, dance, or perform some other impressive art or talent. Senator decided to do something a little different. His act began with an empty stage except for a single, small table sitting front and center on the stage. Senator came out from the side of the stage walking in a funky ice skating manner with the water bottle in his right hand. He had intense music in the background building throughout his performance. Senator was able to time it so that when he flipped the bottle, the landing of it was at the exact same time as the "drop" of the music. Of course, Senator nailed the landing and everybody in the crowd went absolutely insane. The cameraman starts uncontrollably flailing the camera everywhere, but you can still just make out Senator casually walking off the stage as if nothing had ever happened.
Water bottle flipping is an incredible art. The fact that such a simple trick can make a crowd go absolutely berserk and give the person doing it such an incredible feeling of accomplishment shows just how amazing bottle flipping really is.
A Survivor's Story: The Holocaust Trip opens eyes
By Mr. William Ravell
Meeting a survivor of the Holocaust is something that very few people have done, and it is becoming harder to meet survivors as the event grows more distant in the past.
Survivors of the Holocaust can provide first hand accounts of the terrible things that occurred that can't be understood by reading, or watching movies. The CVU Holocaust and Human Behavior class had the opportunity to meet David Bayer, a Hungarian Jew who lived through the terrors of the Holocaust.
Bayer told us the story of his life, starting with how he was a well-off Jew living in Hungary. When the Nazis invaded, his life was forever changed. He was forced to live in a ghetto and had to beg for food from Nazi soldiers. When he did this, His peers pointed out to the men that David was a Jew. Bayer described the feeling of being betrayed by his friends in such a way as heartbreaking and sad. A few of the Nazis poured their soup on the ground in front of him, once they knew he was Jewish. CVU senior, and member of the class, Kiera O'Brien, said that Bayer "thought that they were his friends, and they turned on him. That's hard to think about." O'Brien also talked about how it was "Upsetting to understand what he had to go through. It is hard to imagine a childhood so altered."
Is Heavy Metal a Dying Genre?
Mr. Daniel Sedic
In the past decade, pop artists such as Rihanna, or Kanye West have topped the charts with catchy beats and memorable choruses. They've packed stadiums with fans, played their catchy beats, and sang their memorable choruses to thousands of people. However, a genre that seems to be less in the spotlight now-a-days is metal. This begs the vital question: Is metal dying? What happened to the genre that once topped the charts and served as the definitive style of music for metalheads across the world? The answer to this is no! Metal is thriving–alive and well. In 2016 alone, 1.24 million metal albums were sold.
A common argument is that the demographic for metal is dwindling–no one wants to listen to angry shouting and loud guitars. However, this is totally false. The demographic is larger than ever, as angsty teens are looking for an outlet and middle aged folks are going through their midlife crises. Metal is a genre that speaks bluntly, and often voices the emotions that people can struggle to understand and work through. This makes it a popular genre, as most chart toppers these days have pretty shallow lyrics. This isn't to say that all popular music sucks, and that metal is the supreme genre, but metal is a genre capable of conveying a degree of emotion that transcends what most pops songs can achieve.
Chromebooks: The new normal for CVU Freshmen
Mr. Doug Schmidt
HINESBURG, VT – CVU's new "1-to-1" program is equipping every incoming freshman student with a new laptop to use both at school and at home to further incorporate technology into the learning process.
The program started in 2015, when the class of 2019 received new Windows computers. While the computers worked, they were unable to properly connect to the wireless network the school already had installed. "The Windows computers were good in concept, but in functionality, they had an older wireless card so they only operated on one of the two WiFi frequencies which caused major issues in all cores". These computers were replaced at the end of the 2015-16 school year with an updated Chromebook to avoid running into the same problem. So far, three weeks into the school year, no major issues arose other than a few shattered screens and broken keys.
The goal of the program, according to Matt Vile, CVUs IT coordinator, is "to have a device in every student's hand throughout the day to work on courses online with Moodle and Google Drive, and to do school work at home." He went on to say "This creates an almost seamless connection between working at school and at home, in addition to equipping students with technology they can use throughout their four years at CVU,"
Behind the scenes: New Changes to Moodle
By Mr. Alex Merrill
When you log into moodle this year have you noticed a change? Five out of Ten CVU students have. Some students noticed they had to change their password, while others noticed a new color scheme. However; these small changes could just be made with a couple clicks of by an administrator.
The truth is that moodle at CVU has made its biggest leap in years. This summer CVU upgraded our moodle from Moodle 2 to Moodle 3. If you have not noticed a change that is probably because IT did a good job with the upgrade.
Moodle has been in use for eight years at CVU and in that time it has been upgraded twice. Once from Moodle to Moodle 2, and now to Moodle 3. According to Charlie MacFadyen, Tech integration specialist and moodle expert, "CVU has always tried to stay current with Moodle but only wants to upgrade when a version is "stable". Stable means that a version is free of all major bugs and runs smoothly."
IT snaps out of it, unblocks popular app
Mr. Kyle Gorman
Over the past two decades there have been numerous fads, in the world of fashion, in the world of sports, and most substantially, the world of technology. One trend that is seemingly here to stay is Snapchat.
Snapchat is a messaging software, that requires one to take a picture of themselves or something else, and put text on it. That is just the very basis of the app, Snapchat now has magazines within the app that users can flip, through and 3D filters that can be pasted on to you and even your friends faces.
Snapchat has become a staple in the technology world thus far, especially with the youth. Even in school this app seems to take priority in the minds of students of Champlain Valley Union High School.
As I myself, am an avid "snapper" and student at CVUHS, I wanted to investigate the hard facts behind snapchat use. I sat down with 50 of my peers, with at least ten members of each class and asked them questions about their use of the app, their results may come as a shock to some of the older crowd, but I'm sure millennials will understand.
Windows vs Mac: Smackdown-down-down Saturday Nite!!!
By Mr. Kaelan Murdock
Windows and Macs have been competitors for years. Everyone knows that Windows is better known for flexibility and customization, and that Mac is more streamlined and user-friendly—but is one computer really better than the other?
Well the answer is obviously yes—right? One has to be better than the other… Here are some interesting facts I've gathered over my years of computer experience to help people become more knowledgeable on the subject:
If 3D applications or gaming is your thing, you're far better off with Windows. Windows has a wide variety of games ranging from Xbox ports to Windows specific titles. According to Gary Lambert, a member of the AV staff at CVU: "Pc is better for gaming and 3D applications…In my opinion, Mac never oriented themselves towards gaming. It's really too bad because Macs' graphics are great." Mac is limited in the realm of gaming. Yes there are a few Mac specific games, but I would wager Mac only has about a quarter of the games Windows has readily available. Mac does excel in the creative industry however. Professionals often use Macs for editing, music making, and much more.
AED: Preparing for the unexpected
By Mr. Maxwell Akey
HINESBURG, Vermont– On March 2nd, 2015 at the semifinal Vermont division one girls basketball game between CVU and Rice, a traumatic event took place. Towards the end of the game Rice head coach. Tim Rice fell down unresponsive towards the end of the game. No one had any idea of what to do for a while, considering Time Rice was unresponsive on the ground, until an athletic trainer was able to get an AED and perform CPR until the ambulance came.
Since the Tim Rice episode occurred, a new addition to Vermont's second largest high school Champlain Valley Unions sports teams includes the emergency CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) plan. This new regulation was mandated by the Vermont Principals Association (VPA).
Vermont high school sports are well underway. At Champlain Valley Union High School just 4 weeks in, this year's fall sports teams are CPR trained and ready with an emergency plan in case of another sudden cardiac arrest scenario similar to Tim Rice's. According to athletic director Dan Shepardson, "I hope we never have to use this plan. It's not going to stop a broken leg or a torn ACL, but like the Tim Rice incident, it's to know how to handle a situation like that." Continue Reading
Natural Resources: Leonardo DiCaprio slated to play Dave T. in upcoming Movie
By Mr. Declan Trus
As of now, there is no movie in the works, but Dave Trevithick, a science teacher here at CVU, intends to create full sustainability program at school. This includes growing vegetables for the cafeteria, and even the possibility of raising chickens on school grounds for the cafeteria. One possibility to create sustainability is growing plants such as raspberry bushes as a way to clean storm water draining into the fire pond so it can be used as a fishery.
Dave T. states that CVU's sustainability projects are "something that will affect everybody in the building for the rest of their time at CVU or maybe even their life." Each project in Dave's plan is connected to each other. The vegetation planted on the edge of the fire pond is called a riparian buffer, it filters dirt and other debris out of storm water being drained into the pond. This will make the pond cleaner and will allow more fish to live in the pond that students could catch by fly fishing. This water will also be pumped to the gardens where fruits and vegetables will be grown to be served at the school cafeteria.
Beware the "Leaf Peepers"
By Ms. Olivia Cottrell
Fall in Vermont is more that just the beauty of the leaves, it is also a highly marketed industry. If you search google for 'Fall in Vermont', or anything similar to that, you can find a plethora of websites advertising an amazing natural phenomenon. This phenomenon is one that most Vermonters take for granted. This amazing spectacle draws many people from all over each year. People come from all over, in hopes of catching a glimpse of the painted trees. If you pay attention, you can see license plates from places ranging from New York State to Washington, which is an awfully far trek to see what, to most Vermonters are just some leaves.
Many Vermonters, myself included, grumble about the 'leaf peepers', as we refer to them. Drive down almost any dirt road that's not too far off the beaten path in mid-October (which according to many is prime leaf season), and you can find a car with out-of-state plates pulled haphazardly off to the side of the road with people ogling out the windows. If the residents of the car do not have their faces squashed against the glass, they will most likely be in some other inconvenient position trying to get a good photo, someplace like the middle of the road.
spikeball: gets the old testosterone flowing
By Mr. Maxwell Akey
HINESBURG, Vermont– Get your tickets to the first annual 2016 Spikeball Roundnet Nationals located at West Potomac Park, Washington DC on October 15th. The winner will take home $4,400 cash plus tons of "Spikeball Swag"… Or you could add Life Team Sports to your second semester schedule at Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU) and learn to play spikeball without intense competition.
The global outburst and rise of Spikeball across the United States has influenced Vermont's CVU to add Spikeball in the class Life Team Sports (LTS). LTS, a required class in order to graduate from CVU, has added a new tailgate unit for the class criteria. Spikeball, along with other popular lawn games like Kan Jam and Cornhole, are all new games to the unit and to the LTS environment at CVU. One of CVU's LTS teachers, Tess LaPlante, spoke on the topic. "Spikeball is unique as far as the yard or long game activities go because it is the most active. It really tests athletic strength, speed, agility, and it requires a lot more communication with your partner."
The highly entertaining four player game is rapidly spreading across the student body at CVU. The game is very similar to volleyball and four square. The game is played with one spikeball trampoline and one spikeball. Two teams of two stand across from each other a couple feet away from the net. One player serves the ball off of the trampoline to the person on the other team standing across the net. Next, the other team has three hits to successfully spike the ball onto the net and have it bounce off without hitting the net more than once. Once the ball touches the net,it is a change of possession and the opposing team gets their three hits to try and spike the ball. Points are rewarded if the ball hits the ground, the rim of the net, or if a team takes more than three touches.
The New SAT: A modern update on an old enemy
By Mr. Alex Merrill
On Saturday, Oct. 1, many Seniors took the SAT. This was the first time the SAT was offered in the 2016-2017 school year. Was this an accurate test of CVU students' intelligence, a necessary evil to get into college, or just another money sucking exercise sponsored by the college board?
The SAT was first created in 1926 as a college admissions test. Since then it has been modified many times. The newest changes occurred last spring and were the most significant in over twenty years. In fact, this SAT has been dubbed "The New SAT." The biggest change was making the essay section optional. Other changes include returning to a 1600 point scale, making the vocab section more relevant to student learning, and aligning the curriculum to common core standards. These changes have made the test more popular with some educators, but many opinions remain unchanged.
After interviewing several Seniors most said they had taken the SATs twice. Victoria Thompson was the exception, saying that she was satisfied with her scores from the first time she took the test. The College Board claims that well over 50% of students will improve their scores the second time around. Katherine Mathon, who took the SAT twice last year, said that she did see an improvement. Maya Townsend just took SATs for the second time and said she felt like she did better; though she admitted she will not know for sure until official scores are released.
VT economy: Whether or not we'll weather the weather
By Ms. Olivia Cottrell
The 2015-2016 winter was a bitterly disappointing season, according to many native Vermonters. Most people- from avid winter fans, to the people that hate the cold- were immensely disappointed in the winter and the effects it holds on the climate and economy today. Over the 2016 summer, Vermont was suffering from a drought. Compared to the average of around 39.9 inches of rain for northern Vermont, this summer hasn't been good at all. Andy Nash, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service in Burlington, says that in most places we would need up to eight inches of rain to get soil back to normal.
The hot and dry summer, combined with an upsetting past winter, will have many effects on Vermont. The Vermont Ski Areas Association reported 3.2 million ski visits, a 31 percent decline from 2015, when there were 4.7 million visits to ski resorts. This is definitely in part due to the dismal ski weather. Only 72 inches of snow fell at the top on Mount Mansfield, and an average of 29 inches statewide this past winter. For Mt. Mansfield, this is a remarkable decline; in 2015, 146 inches fell, making the 2015-2016 winter's snowfall the lowest since the early 90's, and one of the lowest in history. In 2007 a record amount of 327 inches of snow fell. While 2007 was an exception, Vermont is really struggling from the effects of a dismal winter.
Eyeing the storm: how do we cope with increasingly drastic weather?
By Mr. Kyle Gorman
There is no force more destructive than nature. Time after time,coastal communities are trashed and destroyed by unstoppable hurricanes. The American population has seen it before– the immense damage that has been caused to mainly southern states is always a constant battle. As we move into the hurricane season of 2016, no one is optimistic.
Although we have taken the proper precautions and prepared ourselves for the worst, no one wants to relive past tragedies again in the present. Hurricane Matthew promises to be a powerful force all across the southern hemisphere of the United States, and there is no stopping the brute strength of nature.
Hurricane Matthew is not indifferent to storms we have seen before, but his destruction is almost inevitable. The damage caused can set towns and states back years, and there are entire countries who are much worse off than we are.
Grab and go grub for the CVU student that's always on the move
By Mr. Will Ravell
We've all had days where we sleep in through our alarm and are running late. You don't have time to eat breakfast, so you go through the day hungry because the cafeteria always has lines. That's where the Redhawk Cafe Cart comes into play.
A few years ago, the CVU Cafeteria purchased a cart but didn't really do anything with it. This year though, Leo Laforce decided to make it happen. It is widely known that students are often in a rush in the morning, meaning that they may not have time to eat. Many times the cafeteria will have lines, making it hard for students to grab some food. The idea of the Redhawk Cafe Cart is that it will be much faster, offering mostly "grab and go" type snacks, according to Laforce. This cart can be used with cash or with your school lunch account, optimizing the convenience. The hours of operation for the cart are from 7:30-10:10 every morning, to make sure that students are fed in the early part of the day.
Students and teachers aren't sure what to think of the cart. Senior Colin Monsey says "It's weird." He also admits that it is a "good idea." Senior Nate Shanks says that the cafeteria is closer and has a better variety. Business teacher Tamie-Jo Dickinson is a fan of the new cart, saying that one of her students returned to class much faster because the cart had no line. Out of a whole morning business class, only three had ever used the new cart. Senior Zach Toensing says that if the cart were to have iced coffee, he would be using it all the time.
There had been talk of the cart moving around the school, but Debbie Donahue says that the cart will not be moving from Four Corners, because Four Corners is the heart of the school that every student goes through every day.
So far, business has been slow, according to Leo Laforce and Debbie Donohue, but it is starting to be busier, especially during rushes between blocks. It seems that the only real problem for the cart at this point is awareness. Students are confused by it, and aren't sure what to make of it. If you are a fan of the cart and want it to stay around, tell people about it.
Good, Better, Best?
By Mr. Max Schmid
Champlain Valley Union High school is ranked as the 38th best High School out of 26,407. American High Schools are known for their Strong School spirit and their competitiveness. They want to compete with other schools to be able to compare their selves with them. This competitiveness goes from regional to rivalries across the country.
To actually measure how high a High School ranks compared to others, some associations started to create rankings. According to Bestcolleges.com in 2015 we were the 38th best public High School in the United States. That means that we are better than 99.86 % of all schools. We were the only school in Vermont to crack the list. So you can see that this is a remarkable accomplishment.
The rankings capture how much each High School does to invest in the academic excellence of its students. The Association sees this as the factor that ultimately explains why a school deserves to be called a leader in education. The Investment is measured based on a variety of factors including everything from SAT scores to athletics and even hey quality of the lunch in the cafeteria.
VPA puts the Nasty in Gymnastics
By Ms. Emma Lieberman
Varsity Gymnastics is not as safe as it could be for high school students. This is an argument that has taken place between parents, gymnasts, and the Vermont Principals' Association (VPA) since 2013. There are very specific rules and regulations on both national and international terms for gymnastics competition and the VPA doesn't honor all of them.
Varsity Gymnastics is one of the smallest high school sports in Vermont, and it is on the brink of extinction. The sport is going on its second year of probation with the threat of being cut if not enough girls join. Schools simply can't afford the sport anymore.
Gymnastics is not only one of the smallest sports, it's also one of the most expensive. Renting out a gym space every night and on some weekends, or buying equipment for a school gymnasium can cost thousands of dollars. Competition leotards can range from generic $60 leotards, to custom made $300 leotards per gymnast. In addition to long-sleeve competition leos, some schools have matching tank warmup leotards with a price range of $40-$200 per gymnast.
Students Explore Different ways to Fill In the Gaps
Ms. Koko Vercessi
The deadline for college applications is fast approaching, and for those students applying for early decision, that deadline was this Tuesday, November 1st. According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than 20 million students apply to colleges each year and there were over 21 million students attending American colleges and universities in the fall of 2014. However, what many students are discovering is that there are many more options available to them in terms of future plans and opportunities than the regular college experience that most experience the fall after their graduation. Students now have the option of taking what is called a gap year. The American Gap Association defines it as "an experiential semester or year, typically taken between high school and college in order to deepen practical, professional, and personal awareness" and they also have estimated that around 30,000 to 40,000 students in the U.S. take such time off annually. So what exactly are the benefits of taking a year off between high school and college, and what are the negatives of this unique, yet increasingly popular choice?
The American Gap Association states that 90 percent of students who took a Gap Year returned to college within a year in 2015. This seems to be a promising number and leads many to believe that gap years are actually a way to encourage hard work and focus in preparation for college and the rigorous experience it provides. Among the benefits of taking a gap year is that fact that it gives students time to take a step back and take a breath after years of working hard on getting good grades, being involved in extracurriculars, and establishing leadership roles within your school environment. The College View also states that a gap year also gives students time off to think about the academic direction and career path they want to pursue, the work and volunteering opportunities that many students use this year to become involved in provides them with invaluable experiences and strong additions to their resumes, students that work full time are able to save money for school tuition and other college costs. In addition, a 2011 study conducted by former dean of admissions, Robert Clagett at Middlebury College concluded that students who had taken a year off had consistently higher GPAs than those who didn't. Princeton's Bridge Year Director John Luria also said that "A lot of our students say when they enter as freshman that they have a greater sense of purpose in their studies".
The benefits of taking a gap seem to be both substantial and convincing, but are the negatives equally as conceiving? Continue Reading


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Join us for our Healing Communities Open Community Meeting where we discuss how to eliminate the school to prison pipeline by balancing justice with mercy.
The presenter for this meeting will be Attorney Steve Reba of the Barton Child Law and Policy Center - Appeal for Youth Clinic.
Juvenile Life without Parole
The Associated Press has been running a series entitled "Locked Up for Life," which focuses on those persons who were given life sentences with no possibility of parole when they were minors. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that mandatory life-without-parole sentences are "unconstitutionally cruel and unusual for juvenile homicide offenders." In 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the ban (from the 2012 ruling) is to be applied retroactively to persons already serving such sentences and that "all but the rare irredeemable offender should have a chance at parole."
Attorney Steve Reba of the Barton Child Law and Policy Center will present at our August 28th meeting on these rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court and his case before the Georgia Supreme Court, which he argued successfully on behalf of his client who is now an adult inmate.
This issue goes to the heart of how our society addresses children who commit serious offenses; the scientific research on adolescent brain development; the lack of mental health supports for children and youth; the philosophy and practice of restorative justice; and the faith perspective on "irredeemable."
Please don't miss this opportunity to be part of an informative and thought-provoking session.
RSVP by clicking here.
We need your presence and your participation!
Time: 12: 30 pm
Place: Central United Methodist Church
Open meeting and light lunch provided, but please RSVP to firstname.lastname@example.com if you plan to attend.