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Your Healthiest Hair Ever
Sarah Kehoe
Dig Deep
When hair follicles are blocked with excess oil and product buildup, hair can look limp and greasy. Dirty follicles can also prevent essential nutrients, vitamins, and oils from properly nourishing strands, says James Corbett, a salon owner in New York City.
TEST: Gently rub and scratch your head. Do you feel pimplelike bumps or see a white residue on your nails or fingertips? If so, try these tips.
Sweep Away Debris
Exfoliating is key to heading off scalp breakouts, caused by trapped oil and bacteria. Skip gritty shampoo scrubs and pick up a brush instead, says Corbett. Those with nubby plastic bristles (such as Conair Professional Babyliss Scalp Massage Brush, $1.99, sallybeauty.com) loosen buildup well. Starting on one side of your head, brush from your front hairline to your neck, using a semicircular motion; continue until you reach the opposite side, 10 to 15 strokes in total.
Wash More Efficiently
Shampoo only once every two or three days with this thorough approach: Wet hair, then rub a quarter-size drop of shampoo into the scalp, moving along the perimeter of your hairline. Next, using circular motions, massage with your fingertips from your temples to your crown, behind your ears to your crown and from your neck to your crown. "Try to move the scalp — this ensures that you're using enough pressure to clean it," says Kaz Amor, a color expert at Warren Tricomi Salon in Los Angeles. Rinse until water is free of suds.
Don't Deep-Clean Often
Purifying shampoos strip your scalp of its natural oils, sending oil glands into overdrive. To prevent slick roots, "use purifiers once a month, tops," Amor says. If they leave your style flat and lifeless (likely, for those with fine hair), spritz on a primer (such as Jonathan), a special styler made with residue-free polymers, for an instant lift.
Best Products to Save Your Scalp
Aveeno Nourish + Soothe Shampoo, $6.49, drugstores, calms itchy scalps with lavender and peppermint.
John Frieda Root Awakening Health Infusing Shampoo, $6.49, drugstores, clears away buildup with eucalyptus.
Jonathan Stylist Professional Series Prep Spray, $20, sephora.com, detangles and offers extra texture.
Lisa Shin
Strength-Train Your Strands
Healthy hair is thick from roots to ends. But aggressive brushing, heat styling, and chemicals used during coloring and straightening processes chip away at the cuticle, Cutler says. This is especially true for the ends, the oldest — and therefore most vulnerable — part of strands.
TEST: Pull back hair (into a ponytail if possible). If it's dramatically thinner at the ends compared to the roots, it's time to bulk up.
Whisk Away Weak Spots
A trim is the most crucial step to fending off frayed, uneven pieces of hair. "Damaged ends start a chain reaction," Cutler says. "A minor split end can continue moving up a mostly healthy piece of hair." Cutting away the fragile part puts a stop to breakage. A rule of thumb: Have your hair cut once every eight to 10 weeks.
Baby Wet Strands
Water temporarily weakens the protective chemical bond that helps hair stand up to aggressors. "That's why it's easier to break wet hair than dry," says Shannon Tor, senior project leader for Tresemme in Chicago. The healthiest way to detangle damp strands: Start an inch above the ends and remove knots in small sections, then move upward in one-inch increments until you reach the roots, Corbett suggests.
Fill Up on Protein
Conditioners containing amino acids as well as wheat, soy, or milk proteins plug holes along the cuticle, temporarily resulting in a thicker strand of hair. Proteins can be drying, however, so use them in moderation once or twice weekly, and find a formula (such as Pantene's) that also contains fatty alcohols or moisturizing lipids, such as ceramides or jojoba oil. Or consider a more potent salon treatment every other month. Redken Chemistry Extreme Shot Phase, $25, redken.com for locations, is packed with proteins and hydrators.
Best Products to Build Strength
Suave Professionals Damage Care Shampoo, $2.49, drugstores, fortifies with proteins.
Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Moisture Balance Conditioner, $3.99, drugstores, rehydrates with aloe vera.
Redken Fabricate 03 Heat-Active Texturizer, $13, redken.com for salons, cushions strands from damage.
Sarah Kehoe
Get Your Shine On
"Healthy hair looks shiny because its cuticles are smooth, creating an uninterrupted surface of light along each hair fiber," says Jeni Thomas, PhD, senior scientist for Pantene. Dullness indicates that the cuticle, or protective layer, has been damaged (common culprits: washing, brushing, and coloring). Adding insult: A ragged cuticle is likely to prompt frizz.
TEST: Have a friend take a picture of your hair while you're outside. Does the sunlight reflect evenly off your strands? If not, use these strategies.
Find a Gentler Shampoo
Traditional sudsing agents — sodium lauryl and laureth sulfates — can be too drying. Instead look for a cleanser (such as L'Oreal Paris) made with ingredients like decyl glucoside, which pulls away debris without stripping hair.
Be Cool
Warm water opens the hair's cuticle, allowing shampoo to get inside. Conditioner, however, is best rinsed with cold water, which seals the cuticle, says Rodney Cutler, a salon owner in New York City and Miami. When blow-drying, finish with the cool-shot button. This not only reseals the cuticle but also allows you to detect still-wet spots (they'll feel super chilly) — important, as they can cause dulling frizz. (Blow-dry strands with hot air again, then top off with cool.)
Comb in Conditioner
Moisturizing styling products, such as leave-in lotions and sprays, prevent dryness and seal the outer layer of hair. But it's important to comb them in. "When the product is not evenly distributed, the bare patches look dry and lackluster," says Cutler. Choose silicone-free products (such as Living Proof No Frizz Styling Sprays, $24, sephora.com). Otherwise, the clingy ingredient can be difficult to remove with shampoo, leaving behind a dulling film.
Best Products to Boost Shine
L'Oreal Paris EverPure Smooth Shampoo, $6.99, drugstores, is free of sulfates.
Nexxus Dualiste Color Protection + Intense Hydration Conditioner, $15.70, drugstores, amps up luster with vitamin E.
Dove Heat Defense Therapy Mist, $3.96, drugstores, prevents hair damage and dullness.
Sarah Kehoe
Pump Up the Volume
Shelve the heavy hairstyling products and stow strand-damaging irons. "Aim for volume and texture," says Cutler. "Together they exude health and youthfulness."
TEST: Wash your hair and let it air-dry. If it naturally lies limp — and a flatiron is the last tool you'd use — your style will benefit from these root-boosting tips.
Condition Strategically
Bouncy hair begins in the shower. After thoroughly washing, reach for a volumizing conditioner (like L'Oreal Professionnel). "Traditional conditioner has a positive charge, which adheres to hair's negative charge," says Ryan Nickulas of Ryan Darius Salon in New York City. "Volumizing versions have a decreased positive charge, which means less product remains on strands." Pull hair into a ponytail and apply conditioner to hanging tresses, leaving the scalp area bare.
Thicken All Over
If you think of gels and pomades as for your ends only, think again. "These formulas add thickness to hair and are ideal for boosting volume at the scalp area — and holding them in place all day," says Chrystofer Benson, artistic director of Logics. Put a dime-size dollop of product in palms and rub vigorously; the heat thins out the formula. Apply to roots first and distribute to ends.
Do the Wave
Dry hair on high heat at the slowest speed. "Think of the lighter strength of a hotel blow-dryer — that's what you need to prevent hair from being wind-blown and flattened," says Michael Shaun Corby, global creative director for Altern . For a beachy texture, scrunch hair as you dry. For more dramatic bounce, wind small sections of hair around your finger; set in place with the heat of the dryer.
Best Products for Building Body
Tresemme 24 Hour Body Root Boosting Spray, $3.99, drugstores, has a nozzle for volumizing.
Neutrogena Triple Renewal Weekly Purifying Cleanser, $6.49, drugstores, rids hair of heavy buildup.
L'Oreal Professionnel Expert Volume Expand Light Nourishing Masque, $30, lorealprofessionnel.com for salons, conditions hair without adding weight.
Luis Ernesto Santana
How Much Damage Are You Doing?
What's more damaging...
Brushing or finger-styling? FINGER-STYLING. "Ragged nails and cuticles can rip the hair shaft or pull it from the scalp," says Cutler. A brush's coated bristles are gentler.
Chemical straightening or flatironing? FLATIRONING. Most women do it from roots to ends, damaging the entire strand of hair. Conversely, "after a chemical straightener is initially applied, it goes only on roots to relax regrowth," says Cutler. Plus, the process is done once every six to eight months, versus the daily use of a flatiron. At home, straighten only those strands that need it, and use a heat-protecting styler.
Coloring hair at home or at the salon? AT HOME — but only when you're going lighter. "Bleach can burn the hair and scalp, and corrective treatments may be necessary, compounding the damage," says Cutler. Leave lightening to the pros. Darkening, however, is safe to do yourself.
Blow-drying or towel-drying? BLOW-DRYING. "The intense heat can cause water inside the cuticle to boil and burn hair," says Cutler. Remove as much water as possible from hair before picking up the blower. Sandwich sections between a towel and press; vigorous rubbing can cause breakage. Then apply a heat-shielder (like Arrojo Thermal Protector, $15, arrojoproduct.com) before blasting with air.
Stop Shedding!
Keep your hair where it belongs with these good-for-you solutions.
It's normal to lose up to 100 hairs daily, so don't panic if you spy a few strays on your shower or bathroom floor, says Naila Malik, MD, a cosmetic and anti-aging medicine specialist in Southlake, Texas. But periods of high stress (the death of a loved one, a major breakup) or hormonal changes (you change your use of the pill or have a baby) can increase the damage. "These situations cause the adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol and androgens, causing hair to have a shorter life cycle," notes trichologist Philip Kingsley, PhD, founder of the Philip Kingsley Hair Institute in New York City. As stress or hormone levels come back into balance, hair loss will naturally subside. (See your doctor to rule out issues such as thyroid or low iron-level conditions.) For faster results, try these tricks from Kingsley:
Hit the gym regularly. Frequent workouts (anything that gets your heart pumping) reduce stress.
Eat two daily servings of protein. "It's the building block of hair," says Kingsley, who suggests lean red meats, egg whites, cottage cheese, and tofu.
Take a multivitamin. It should meet 100 percent of the daily values of the following pro-hair growth nutrients: iron, B1, B2, B6, B12, pantothenic acid, and folic acid. Your doctor may also suggest a gelatin supplement (1,300 milligrams or more), which serves as another great protein source.


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You face a problem or a task. Do you have?
- leads on how to get started on a solution
- one or more approaches toward a solution
- immediate solutions, because you have been in this situation many times before
In other words, how involved are you in a process – a problem and its respective solutions (or inputs mapped to outputs)?
- You think about it.
- You know it.
- You live it.
Perhaps sports analogies are overused; nonetheless, consider the process of hitting home runs in baseball. Baseball fans think a lot about baseball, and they think they know how a batter hits a home run. An experienced batting coach knows how to hit a home run and is able to teach it and perhaps even succeed in hitting one from time to time. A seasoned batter (particularly the record setter) lives home runs, hits them regularly, has many techniques for hitting them, and even improves on these techniques with each hit.
Defining involvement in terms of to think, to know, and to live, is a simplified perspective, but you may find it to be effective. If you want to start living a process, whether (for example) it is mastering a technology, forming a new organization, or adopting a new habit, ask yourself how involved you are in that process.
- Do you think about the process, but have many unanswered questions (or perhaps have yet to ask the valuable questions)?
- Do you know the process well, and have an educated background in its domain?
- Do you live about the process, face it regularly and have habits and an intuitive sense to deal with it?
Answering these questions may prove challenging, but your answers will help you understand your opportunities with respect to a process or problem you face. If you think about a process, do some research and coursework to get to know it. If you know about it and are passionate about it, spend time with it; live it.
Further Reading:

subset: commoncrawl


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Liberty News
Liberty hires new Director of Student Accounts
Jeff Ford, Liberty University's new Director of Student Accounts, is excited to start helping students and their families as the new school year kicks off.
The Student Accounts Office works together with the Registrar's Office and Financial Aid Office to help students manage their payments for everything from tuition to textbooks.
"We work with students, faculty, staff ... and those that support (students) in the process of paying their bills and making adjustments as life changes," said Ford, who has a daughter who is a junior at Liberty. "We want to keep that as smooth as possible, helping everyone with lots of passion and energy. We want to make it as simple as we can. It's a ministry."
Ford, who has a B.B.A. in Accounting from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, has held a CPA license in Virginia since 1991. He has worked in several fields, including healthcare, insurance and not-for-profits. He has worked with Liberty as a business consultant since 2009 under the direction of Liberty's Chief Financial Officer, Don Moon.
"We wanted a person with a good financial background, with a good analytical skill set. Jeff had worked with us a couple years ago, so that's where we got to know him and felt like he would be a good fit for the university," Moon said.


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Plan de Servicio al Pasajero - EEUU / Customer Services Plan - USA
Customer service and commitment to our passengers has been the driving force behind our brand. We strive to get it right, first time, every time. Occasionally things do not go as planned. We believe that you have the right to know what level of service you can expect from us all the time, even in those rare moments when we fall short of the very high standards we have set ourselves.
We've split our Customer Service Plan into 12 sections to make it easier to use.
1. Offering the lowest fare available
Our first promise is to offer you, at the time you make your booking directly with us via our contact centre, website or airport ticket desks, the lowest possible fare available for the time, date and class of service you wish to travel in.
From time to time we may offer different fares, our contact centre agents will advise you of other fares that may be available and will help identify the lowest published fare for your needs. Remember that the lowest fares have less flexibility, for example they usually have to be booked well in advance are based on a minimum stay, are non refundable and you cannot subsequently change dates or flights. If you want a more flexible ticket you must let us know at the outset so we can search out the best deal for you.
You may occasionally see lower fares advertised via non-direct online travel agents however our Price Guarantee offers you peace of mind.
2. Notifying customers of known delays, cancellations and diversions
Delays and disruptions are a frustrating but sometimes an inevitable part of air travel. In the event of a flight cancellation, a delay of more than 30 minutes or a diversion, we will notify you. Within 30 minutes of us knowing about it, we will provide you with the best available information via.
- The call center pages of our website
- Our recorded Flight Information telephone line
- Airport information boards (where they are under our direct control)
- Our groundstaff and cabin crew
3. Delivering baggage on time
We handle hundreds of bags per flight, and due to the sheer volume, checked baggage can very occasionally go astray. If your baggage doesn't arrive on the belt it is absolutely essential that you make contact with one of our airport staff or representatives and file a report (sometimes called a Property Irregularity Report or PIR) before you leave the airport. Once the report is filed with us we take all reasonable measures to locate your property and minimise the inconvenience caused. If you are not a resident of the country you have arrived in, will promise to reimburse you for the reasonable receipted costs you incur when buying essential overnight items such as toiletries, nightwear etc. To find out more about making a claim for reimbursement of essential items please see our baggage pages
Most delayed bags travel on our next flight, as an international carrier the duration and frequency of flights dictate the time you can expect to be reunited with your property. Once your bag arrives at its final destination, in most destinations, we will return it within 24 hours of its arrival, at no cost to you.
In the unlikely but regrettable event that your baggage is not found within the 21 days after you file the Property Irregularity Report, we promise upon request to provide confirmation of your loss for insurance purposes or, if you do not have insurance, process your claim within the limits of our liability. More information can be found in our making a baggage claim page. We will also refund you any additional/excess baggage fees you have paid if your bag is irretrievably lost.
Due to customs restrictions in Accra and Lagos we regret we are unable to deliver delayed bags to passengers. They must be collected from the airport.
4. Allowing reservations to be held or cancelled without penalty for 24 hours
In order to give you some thinking time, if you call one of our contact centres directly or make a booking on our own website www.aviorair.com we will allow you:
- To hold a telephone reservation at the quoted fare without payment, or
- Cancel a website booking without penalty for a maximum of 24 hours after the reservation is made as long as that reservation is made one week or more prior to a flight's scheduled departure.
Website bookings must be cancelled in the first instance by calling our contact centre and subsequently applying for a refund, within the 24 hour time frame.
5. Provide prompt refunds where due
If you book and pay for your ticket through our Contact Centre, website or our airport ticket desk, and are unable to travel you should contact us regarding a refund. Once the correct documentation is received we will check whether you are entitled to a refund as per the rules of the fare you have purchased, and if so we aim to refund the appropriate amount to you within seven business days if purchased by credit card, and within 20 business days if purchased using cash or cheque.
A few things to remember about ticket refunds:
- Some tickets particularly special offers, sale and net fares are not refundable.
- If you book and pay for your ticket through a travel agent you must apply to them for your refund or refund advice.
- 3rd party taxes, fees and charges collected with the fare, and shown on the ticket will also be refunded. Any applicable fuel surcharges will be refunded as long as the ticket they were purchased with is refundable.
- Refunds for credit/debit card purchases will be made only to the credit/debit card account used to purchase the ticket, and may take up to 10 weeks before appearing on the card statement.
- Refunds for lost tickets may take longer as we have to ensure they have not been found and used or already refunded.
6. Assisting and enabling customers with special needs
We are committed to meeting the needs of all our customers with disabilities. Over the last 20 years our dedicated team of Special Assistance co-ordinators have helped and assisted millions of customers travel independently with ease and comfort.
We comply fully with our obligations for US citizens, Part 382 of the US Air Carrier Access Act 1986 relating to non discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel.
You can find out more about the services we offer for passengers with special needs by visiting the passenger mobility section on this site. Individual travel requirements can also be discussed directly with our Special Assistance Department.
7. Meeting customers essential needs during lengthy tarmac delays
On very rare occasions unforeseen events may cause a lengthy on board delay either prior to take off or after landing. These events are usually outside our direct control however we will take all reasonable measures to ensure passengers are kept up to date with the latest information available, and for significant on board delays, where safety and security restrictions allow, our cabin crew will provide snack refreshments, lavatory facilities, and access to basic medical assistance.
For more information on flights departing from US airports only please see our Avior Contingency Plan for Lengthy US Tarmac Delays
8. Handling flight oversales
In common with most airlines we may sometimes overbook flights to allow as many people as possible to travel. Often passengers holding confirmed reservations and flexible tickets change their plans or don't turn up. To address this and ensure popular flights do not leave with empty seats we use historical data to take a small number of additional reservations.
On rare occasions however all the confirmed passengers will check in for the flight and in this instance we comply fully departing from US airports the US Department of Transport 14 CFR Part 250, by firstly seeking volunteers to give up their seats and by offering affected passengers compensation and a seat on the next available flight, as well as meals and accommodation where necessary.
9. Disclosing cancellation policies and other information
One of our aims is to provide you with a seamless journey from the time you make your booking right through to when you touch down and collect your baggage. In order to do this, we try to provide you with as much information as possible about the policies and procedures that may affect your travel including:
Booking policies and mistakes
We understand that occasionally booking errors occur and if you make a booking on our own website you can make name or date amendments within 24 hours of the booking being made for a charge per amendment. (You can't transfer a ticket to a completely different person though and date changes are subject to availability in the same fare class, any difference in fare will be either collected or refunded). Likewise if during the booking process our system causes you to make and pay for a duplicate flight, we will issue a full refund of the duplicate flight without any charge, providing you tell us within 24 hours of the booking being made and subsequently provide us with your credit or debit card statement. These amendments can only be made by calling our contact centre.
For security reasons it is absolutely essential that the name on your booking, ticket and passport are exactly the same. If they are not you will be unable to board the flight. This applies to every passenger so when you are making your booking either through a travel agent or direct with us via our website or contact centre it's a good idea to have all the passports with you. The person that you've known as John all your life may be called Jack in his passport. And Jane may be spelt Jayne.
Your booking and ticket must reflect your first and last names only. Middle names are not required. This rule also applies to marriage or maiden names. We can no longer allow passengers to travel by accepting marriage certificates or decree absolutes in conjunction with a passport.
If a mistake has been made we will allow you to amend the name to reflect the correct spelling in the passport, up to 2 hours before the flight is due to depart. However you cannot transfer the ticket to another person.
If you have booked through a travel agent, please call them to change the name, or if you have booked through our website or over the phone, you can call our Contact Centre. There will be a charge to amend each name.
Cancellation policies and other important information
When you book your flight directly from us, upon request our contact centre people can advise you:
- The planned scheduled time of departure and arrival of your flight
- The airport and terminal of departure and arrival
- The latest times you can check in for your flight
- The number of en-route stops or aircraft changes, if known at the time of the enquiry
- The name of the operating carrier and the flight number
- Your cabin baggage allowance along with your free 'checked in' baggage allowance plus the charges we make for additional and excess baggage
- The aircraft type scheduled to be operated on the route, it's seating configuration and lavatory availability, if known at the time of the enquiry
- Where to find the rules of our frequent flyer programme.
- Any conditions attached to the fare you will pay including whether or not it is refundable
10. Notifying customers in a timely manner of changes to travel itineraries
Very occasionally operational situations along with unforeseen or extraordinary circumstances require us to significantly change the scheduled departure and arrival dates and/or times of a flight after the booking has been made. In this event we will contact passengers who have booked with us directly, either via our website or our own contact centres, using the mobile telephone number and/or e mail address given to us at the time the booking was made. For passengers who booked through a travel agent or tour operator, we will send the notification message directly to the agent/operator via our reservations system.
Where the change is known in advance we will endeavour to advise passengers and travel agents of significant changes to itineraries at least 14 days before the original scheduled departure date/time.
11. Ensuring responsiveness to customer complaints
We want you to enjoy your experience with us. Sometimes however things do not go according to plan and if you feel that we have not lived up to your expectations, or that we could improve our service in some way, please let us know. Under normal circumstances, we will respond to you within 28 days and at the latest within 60 days of receiving your complaint. If we can we will call you to discuss your concerns alternatively, or at your specific request, we will write or e mail you.
12. Minimising inconvenience resulting from flight cancellations / misconnections
Flight cancellations are rare and we will try to minimise the inconvenience they cause by posting them on our website under the flight status pages as soon as we know about them. In addition, where possible we will notify you by sending you a text or e mail message providing you give us your mobile phone number or e mail address at the time you make your booking or by web.
If you are already at the airport when a flight is cancelled we comply fully with the requirements of the establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of Denied boarding, flight cancellations and long delays.
Passengers who have purchased a 'through ticket' and miss an onward connecting flight because the Avior Airlines was cancelled or delayed will be rebooked on the next available flight, subject to availability in the same ticket class, without penalty. Where necessary and appropriate overnight accommodation and meals will be provided until the next available flight departs.
We take our Customer Service Plan very seriously and we aspire to deliver our commitment day after day. However, the Customer Service Plan does not create contractual or legal rights. Our conditions of carriage set out these rights and the obligations of both parties when you do business with us. They include and uphold all the rules and laws that we, as a global airline, must operate within.
Our conditions of carriage can be viewed here and should be referred to in order to fully understand your rights and our obligations. We are not responsible for any damage you may incur (over and above the limits and liabilities set our in our conditions of carriage) for flight disruptions, overbooking, lost baggage, late refunds, or other occasions where we do not meet our Customer Service Plan.


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I'm having two issues - both relating to referencing controls from the child page's code behind.
The first involves referencing a panel control on a user page to change the color at the click of a button on the child page holding a master page. I've done this successfully without a master, but can't seem to get it right with the master. First and second tries listed:
Try 1:
<%@ Register Src="~/inc/ceSteps.ascx" TagName="ceSteps" TagPrefix="uc1" %>
<asp:Content ID="Content1" ContentPlaceHolderID="head" Runat="Server"></asp:Content>
<asp:Content ID="Content2" ContentPlaceHolderID="ContentPlaceHolder1" Runat="Server">
<uc1:ceSteps ID="ceSteps" runat="server" />
Then on the code behind for my page:
Dim myCtrl As UserControl = CType(FindControl("ceSteps"), UserControl)
myCtrl.pnlStage1.BackColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromHtml("#dfdfdf")
yahda, yahda, yahda....
Second try:
Protected MyCtl As Panel
Private Sub Page_Init(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Init
MyCtl = DirectCast(FindControl("pnlStage1"), Panel)
End Sub
Protected Sub btnStep2b_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnStep2b.Click
MyCtl.BackColor = Drawing.Color.Azure
End Sub
The second failure to reference correctly is with a reference from the code behind on a child page at a button click to a placeholder on the master page within an ajax expanding menu. I get object reference errors. The placeholder outside of the accordion produces no errors. Here's my first two tries:
Try 1:
CType(Page.FindControl("$Accordion1$accPane1$phProfile"), PlaceHolder).Visible = True
Try 2:
Dim myAcc As Accordion = TryCast(Master.FindControl("Accordion1"), Accordion)
Dim myAP As AjaxControlToolkit.AccordionPane = CType(myAcc.FindControl("accPane1"), AjaxControlToolkit.AccordionPane)
CType(myAP.FindControl("phProfile"), PlaceHolder).Visible = True
CType(Master.FindControl("phProfile"), PlaceHolder).Visible = True
And, the master page doesn't reflect the change on the correctely referenced control with a click of a button on the child page until another page with the same master is loaded. Any way to reference it on the original child page and the force the master to refresh or something?
I know this is more than one question, but the referencing issues seems to be related to me. Thanks for any help.


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Self-service enrollment access will no longer be available for students registering
for the Spring 2013 semester after Friday, January 11 at 4:30 p.m. Therefore, students will not be able to drop or add classes for Spring 2013 through
their self-service account. Spring 2013 classes begin on Monday, January 14.
Monday, January 14 will be the last day to add a 16-week or first bi-term on-line class for the Spring 2013 semester. If you need to add an on-line class on Monday, please contact your assigned advisor or our Advising Center.
Remember Friday, January 11 is the last day to pay tuition in our Business Office and Sunday, January 13 is the last day to pay tuition on-line through your student self-service account.


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PUYALLUP - Visiting California Lutheran scored 20 unanswered points to break away from a tie and eventually defeat Pacific Lutheran, 37-23, in the Saturday football season opener for both teams at Sparks Stadium.
The Kingsmen, who came into the game ranked No. 11 in the d3football.com Top 25 national poll, tied the game at 17-17 on the final play of the first half, scored two touchdowns in the third period, and added a final tally four minutes into the final quarter. At that point, Cal Lutheran held a 37-17 lead, and it was able to hold off the Lutes despite a 2-yard Cody Pohren touchdown run with 8:51 left to play.
The game, played on a warm afternoon, featured plenty of high-powered offense plus four turnovers and nine penalties by each team, not unexpected in a season opener.
The Lutes squandered a great scoring opportunity on their first drive when an ineligible player downfield penalty wiped a touchdown pass off the board, and a delay of game infraction on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line led to an incompletion and the ball being turned over to the visitors.
Cal Lutheran got on the board with 1:17 left in the opening quarter on Romello Goodman's 2-yard scoring run, capping a 20-yard scoring drive that came after a PLU fumble. Just 61 seconds later, Cal Lutheran made it 14-0 when Vincent Minor stepped in front of a PLU receiver and took Dalton Ritchey's pass back the other way for a 36-yard score.
The youthful Lutes responded in fine fashion, running off the next 17 consecutive points, all coming in the second period. Brandon James capped a 70-yard, seven-play drive with a 4-yard scoring run, and Ritchey added a 1-yard quarterback sneak about three minutes later, ending a 48-yard, 3-play drive after the first of two Jonny Volland interceptions. Ritchey hit Kellen Westering on a 43-yard first play bomb to set up the eventual score.
After the PLU defense forced a punt, the Lutes drove the ball 56 yards on 10 plays to set up Nick Kaylor's 25-yard field goal.
Cal Lutheran was not to be denied, however, starting with 37 seconds on the game clock and driving 47 yards, leading to David Sandler's game-tying 40-yard field goal on the final play of the half.
A Pacific Lutheran miscue on the team's first possession of the second half put momentum on CLU's side. A muffed punt snap gave the Kingsmen the ball on the PLU 30-yard line, and two plays later quarterback Kevin Ramay scrambled 15 yards for the go-ahead score.
The Kingsmen increased their lead to 30-17 with an 86-yard, 5-play drive capped by Ramay's 47-yard scoring pass to All-America receiver Eric Rogers. After a muffed punt gave CLU the ball at the PLU 9-yard line, Ramay found Donald Senegal alone in the end zone, giving the visitors a 37-17 lead.
That led to PLU's final scoring drive, a 79-yard, 6-play effort highlighted by Kyle Warner's 38-yard reception and finished off by Pohren's scoring run.
Cal Lutheran gained 399 yards, with Ramay finishing 23-for-36 for 262 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Rogers had 11 catches for 177 yards, and Goodman caught five passes for 34 yards out of the backfield. The freshman running back led all ball carriers with 88 net yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
Free safety Broc Galbreth was all over the field the CLU, finishing with a game-high 10 tackles, eight of them solo. The Kingsmen had three quarterback sacks and nine tackles for loss, three by Steven Keezer.
The Lutes compiled 385 yards of total offense, including 337 through the air on 22-for-43 accuracy by Ritchey, a sophomore making his first collegiate start. Ritchey threw two interceptions and did not have a touchdown pass. His favorite targets were Kellen Westering, who had seven catches for 111 yards, Kyle Warner, with six catches for 152 yards, and Daniel Herr, who had six grabs for 55 yards. James ground out 55 rushing yards on 11 carries.
In addition to his two interceptions, Volland tied teammate Greg Hibbard for team-high tackles honors with seven. Ben Kaestner had a quarterback sack and forced fumble among his three tackles for loss.
Pacific Lutheran plays its second consecutive Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent next Saturday when it travels to Redlands, Calif., to take on the Redland Bulldogs. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game can be heard in the Tacoma area on KLAY 1180 AM and online at www.golutes.com/listenlive.


text:
'The Simpsons' Voice Actor Marcia Wallace Dead at 70
Marcia Wallace, best known for her roles as teacher Edna Krabappel on The Simpsons and Carol Kester on The Bob Newhart Show, died at the age of 70.
A 28-year breast cancer survivor, Wallace had reportedly been gravely ill lately, though the exact cause of her death has not been revealed yet. The Simpsons producer Al Jean expressed his crew's sadness over Wallace's passing in a statement issued to Entertainment Weekly,
"I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing of the brilliant and gracious Marcia Wallace. She was beloved by all at The Simpsons and we intend to retire her irreplaceable character."
Wallace is not the first cast member of The Simpsons to pass away, resulting in the retiring of the character. Lawyer Lionel Hutz and actor Troy McClure haven't been seen in a new episode since 1998 after the death of Phil Hartman, and Lunch Lady Doris was retired in 1995 after Doris Grau passed away, but made a brief return in 2006 with another actress doing the voice. Al Jean also admitted that he and other producers had recently been discussing killing off a long-running character, as they had in the past with Bleeding Gums Murphy and Maude Flanders, though Wallace's Edna Krabappel was not one of the considered characters. Wallace was awarded an Emmy for her voice work as Edna Krabappel in season 3 for the episode "Bart the Lover", where Bart discovers that Edna had posted a personal ad and begins writing her fake love letters, later feeling regret after Edna waits over three hours on a fake date.
Wallace was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1985, later beating it and becoming an advocate for early detection procedures, winning the Gilda Radner Courage Award in 2007 for her work in Cancer awareness.


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text:
The second bank holiday of May is almost upon us, but will the weather be gloriously warm and sunny or will it be bleak and grey?
In general, over Yorkshire and the Humber there will be rain, occasionally heavy pushing north, being drier in the south later on.
Here's an hour by hour breakdown of the weather in Yorkshire over the three day bank holiday weekend.
Cloudy with scattered showers through the morning, but turning brighter away from the coast. Dry with sunny spells during the afternoon and early evening. Maximum temperature around 21 °C.
Highs of: 21°C
Lows of 12°C
05:00: 12°C and overcast
06:00: 12°C and cloudy
07:00: 12°C and cloudy
08:00: 12°C and cloudy
09:00: 12°C with heavy rain
10:00: 12°C with heavy rain
11:00: 12°C and heavy showers
12:00: 12°C with sunny intervals
13:00: 12°C and cloudy
14:00: 13°C with sunny intervals
15:00: 14°C and sunny
16:00: 14°C and sunny
17:00: 16°C and sunny
18:00: 17°C and sunny
19:00: 18°C and sunny
20:00: 20°C and sunny
21:00: 21°C and sunny
22:00: 21°C with a clear night
23:00: 21°C with a clear night
Dry and warm with sunny spells for most of Sunday, cooler on the coast.
Highs of: 22°C
Lows of 11°C
00:00: 12°C and partly cloudy
01:00: 12°C and cloudy
04:00: 11°C and partly cloudy
07:00: 12°C and sunny
10:00: 18°C and sunny
13:00: 22°C and sunny
16:00: 21°C and sunny
19:00: 18°C and sunny
22:00: 13°C and cloudy
Dry and warm for most of Monday (and Tuesday), but cooler on the coast in easterly winds.
Highs of: 18°C
Lows of 12°C
01:00: 12°C and overcast
04:00: 12°C and overcast
07:00: 12°C and overcast
10:00: 14°C and overcast
13:00: 17°C and cloudy
16:00: 18°C and cloudy
19:00: 17°C and cloudy
22:00: 14°C and overcast


text:
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
The New YA
YA is not MG.
This is the most important thing that people need to realise when buying books for kids/teenagers.
YA is not MG.
MG is middle grade. Middle Grade is typically 8 -12. My books are Middle Grade. The first three Harry Potters are MG. Again, it encompasses many different genres, and while the age range is more specific, there are divisions within it as well. Within Middle Grade you can also have Upper Middle Grade which can be read too by 13 and 14 year olds (that awkward tween stage of literature).
So what is YA then? YA I suppose is anything above that in theory. And yet a YA will rarely have a protagonist younger than 14. Kids like to read up you see.
So what is YA then?
YA is a very new genre. People might argue that, they point to fiction for kids that has been around for forever. They point even to Judy Blume, who remains quite popular. But the new YA isn't that. I'd argue that these days those books you think of when you think of your childhood as being YA are actually Middle Grade. Even if they involved teenagers, these books were primarily read by kids in the tween age range. Once a kid got to high school, if they indeed even kept up with reading, they moved on to adult books. Teenagers don't much want to feel like kids.
I know. I remember that feeling.
I'd argue that the new YA, the YA of the last decade, is the first time YA is being written for YAs.
So what is YA then?
If we suppose that in the past teenagers moved on from what was at the time considered YA to adult books, and that now teenagers are reading actual YA books as actual teenagers, then how can we assume YA ought to remain in some category belonging primarily to middle grade fiction? If they can handle the adult stuff, why then can't YA have adult themes?
The question is asked all the time, "What is acceptable for YA?", "Am I allowed to do this in YA?"
The answer is very straightforward. Anything. Yes.
But remember these two important details. Your main character has to be a teenager. And the plot must have something to do with coming of age.
I'll also add that a faster pace than some adult literature is quite desirable. But then again in adult literature, there are times, dude, when it could also be quite desirable.
Other than that: Anything. Yes.
The new YA respects that teenagers get that the world isn't perfect. That there is sex, drugs, violence and bad language. That bad things happen. But the new YA still for the most part remains a genre of hope. It is rare you will find a YA book ending on a desperate note.
Granted I think this might frighten some adults/parents. Because we look back to our YA reading experiences, back when YA wasn't really YA but MG. We forget the texts we studied in highschool, the adult books we had to analyse, the adult content we were faced with. In our minds, YA still is innocent, because our YA was much more innocent.
There were authors pushing the boundaries, Ms. Blume of course, and the odd YA actually meant for YAs, The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier (you could consider both of them the inspiration and forebears of the new YA), but for the most part the books were much safer than they are now. However. They also weren't truly meant for teenagers. Because teenagers, again may I repeat, were reading adult books.
Because YA is also a very new genre we have to understand that books that in the past were categorised as adult, could quite conceivably have been categorised as YA had the genre existed at the time.
All very complicated, I know.
Why am I saying all this? I guess because I see articles like these and I just shake my head. The article is about a "children's book" called Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan, and asks whether publishers should not take more responsibility for content. Aside from the absurd notion that it is up to publishers to censor what comes out onto the market to preserve one group's idea of morality, what the author of this article neglects to mention is that the book is not MG, is not a "children's book", but is YA. And the author of this article clearly has no concept as to what YA is. Nor do many of those interviewed. This false premise alone is the greatest frustration I have with this article. It means every argument postulated for or against, is discussing the wrong subject. It's like saying, "I read this slice of life book and was shocked to find dragons in it!" when the book you are talking about is clearly a fantasy.
Look, I write MG, I understand that there are certain topics I can't write about, or at least must handle very delicately. This is simply not the same with YA.
I will not pretend that YA with very mature themes are not a harder sell, and much harder for a publisher to market. I also will not pretend that even adult works dealing with certain themes do not get the public's ire raised as well. It is much easier to sell a work about chaste vampires, than one that deals in gritty real world issues. It is naive to say what I have said: Anything. Yes. I really should have added, "But you'd better do it darn well."
But we also have to stop pretending that the literary market is anything like it was when we were kids (and I wasn't a kid that long ago compared to some, and even since then, it has changed considerably).
JK Rowling made kids' books profitable. The MG market exploded with the advent of Harry Potter. She actually changed the face of publishing. This seeped into the YA market, which was already experimenting, and now with Twilight, it is not just a force to be reckoned with, but one of the few genres where sales have gone up in this economic climate.
Go into a bookstore and look at the YA section. It is an incredible thing. So many different styles and genres all shelved side by side. The opportunity to try new things is right there at your fingertips, not isolated from each other like over in the adult section. There is lovely PG rated work to be found, it isn't like it has disappeared, but there is the tougher stuff out there too.
And it's okay. It's good to have choice. I know parents are complaining that they need age banding on books so they understand what it is their kids are reading. But I just don't think that's the answer. A child is not universally ready for something at 12, and then ready for something else at 14. It depends on their upbringing, their reading level, their likes and dislikes. Gasp! On being an individual human being. I could not, and still can't, read/watch horror. Doesn't mean there weren't kids back when I was little reading the Goosebumps series. If we age banded based on my example, no one would be allowed to read horror ever at any age.
The answer, in my mind, is understanding the new YA. And the answer to understanding what it is kids are reading is to read what the kids are reading. To understand that YA for YAs is meant to be read by intelligent discerning minds, by teenagers who are far smarter than a lot of adults give them credit for. Let's not forget that many teenagers are heading off to university by the time they are 17.
You don't want your 12 year old reading YA? There is still MG. There is some amazing MG out there (if I do say so myself). But you need to understand that difference between MG and YA. Because it didn't exist before recently. It's new. YA used to be MG. It isn't anymore.
And again, that's okay.
One final thought: Shakespeare is taught in, I'd venture to guess, almost every highschool in the English speaking world. Shakespeare was a genius. He can express thoughts and feelings in a way that is beyond perfect, you just want to roll his words around in your mouth they are so glorious. However. Shakespeare was also a naughty boy, and his plays are rife with blatant sexual jokes and innuendo. He was also a violent boy, writing about eye gouging, suicide, fights to the death. . .
Your teenagers are reading Shakespeare.
Is all I'm saying . . .
23 comments:
- Melanie Avila said...
Great post.
I think of Shakespeare whenever I feel a bout of high-brow-ness coming on from anyone (including me).
He made his plays accessible to everyone back in his day; he was the great common man's playwright. And yeah, he's bawdy as all get-out.
:) Stop the kids from reading Shakespeare!!! ;-)
- Kirsten Hubbard said...
- hannah said...
Well said. Very well said.
- Callista said...
Grea post, and very true. What I read as a young adult is more like current MG. The new YA is much more adult like.
- susan259 said...
Very well said! I have read Tender Morsels, and it is definitely in my mind a YA if not older YA book...can't believe Anne Fine's quote??? I would argue a little that there were some of us reading YA, although I'd say for me it was when I was 11-13 years old, then I read a ton of adult books in high school and returned to YA in college as a student and then in library school. I still read YA!
- Jenny B. Jones said...
Love that we're seeing so many more adults reading YA, as well. I don't know if that's thanks to Potter and Twilight or due to an influx of great YA. Or both?
- Michelle said...
This is a fabulous post thank you for really great insightful comments about the genre. Like others have mentioned I think this also provides some insight into why so many adults are now reading and enjoying YA works. It really does cross over multiple audiences.
- Adrienne said...
Thank you everyone for your lovely comments. I think this whole total misunderstanding of the YA genre (and not only YA, but MG as well - maybe I need to write a post on that next), is just getting a little out of hand really. That it's time for people within the literary community to take a step and realise that things are changing, have changed. This includes those who dismiss MG/YA as lesser writing, both in quality and thematically.
Felt a need to speak up. Glad to see I was relatively articulate in doing so :) .
- Stephen said...
Well said and thank you.
If you don't mind, I'd like to link to this in an upcoming blogpost of my own. I have a few readers who would benefit greatly from your wisdom.
I need to mention, however, that every time I read "YA" in your post, I heard a high-pitched attack yelp in my head. I'm not sure what that says about me, but you might want to keep it in mind in case you decide to perform the post as a monologue someday.
- Adrienne said...
Stephen - please do feel free to link away, and thank you very much for the compliment!
As to the YA thing. I think it's really interesting how people read that word. Some, like yourself hear: "Yeah!!" (in a high pitched attack yelp). Some read it automatically as "Young Adult". And others, like myself, read it literally, "Why - eh" (maybe it has something to do with being Canadian).
But I promise if I ever do perform the post as a piece of performance art to do the high pitched yelp, if for no other reason that it would definitely grab the attention of my audience.
And I do so love attention.
- Lea said...
I attended the book discussion which you participated in at the Ad Astra convention and ever since then I haven't been able to get this discussion out of my head.
As a teacher it kills me everytime I see parents in book stores who won't buy their kids books unless there is some sort of age band on it in case there is something 'inappropriate' in the book. I always just have to think to myself, why don't you quickly read ahead and see for yourself? It really doesn't take THAT much to skim through a book to see what the content is. And presumably, who knows what a child is up to reading more than their parent?
I was particularly inspired by your mention of shakespeare, I have never really thought of it in that context before but you are absolutely right. Shakespeare dealt brilliantly and bluntly with many topics that even some adults would consider 'inappropriate'.
As A final side note, I just wanted to say that I have just finished reading your books and I wanted you to know how much I enjoyed them! My heart was beating so fast when Alex first started her adventure! These are definitely books which will become a part of my classroom in the future!
- tapeheads said...
It's so strange to me that people seem to have forgotten what they read when they were preteens and teens. I mean, sure we all read Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie, but we also read things like Rumble Fish and Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones. Not to mention the ubiquitous Flowers in the Attic series. And that was when I was in high school OVER TWENTY YEARS AGO! Do we think our kids can't handle the same stuff we could?
- Jana said...
Good post. It made me think. I hadn't really thought about the differences between YA & MG. It is definitely more than the age of the protagonist. The dividing lines really aren't quite clear. I'm an aspiring YA novelist and I plan to deal with some tough issues in my writing.
When I was a teenager, I was reading MG, YA, & classic adult literature. Teenagers are a lot smarter than most adults give them credit for. I used to work at a library & I remember noticing the changes in YA books. I was quite surprised at the time, but it makes sense. In most books these socially & morally challenging issues are dealt with in a manner that illustrates the problems with such actions. That can be more effective than a parent just telling a kid that something is wrong. I remember reading a Madeleine L'Engle book that had a (gasp) sexual scene in it. I wasn't expecting it, but it was tasteful & appropriate. As long as the tough issues are dealt with appropriately, I have no problem with it. As my son gets older, I may feel differently, but I plan to be a responsible parent & check out what he reads.
I'm with Jana. Books don't need age banding—if anything, they need to follow the small type near movie ratings that lists why a movie received the rating it did.
When I make book recommendations, I always alert friends about the potentially objectionable content. If a friend is liable to nightmares, I'm not suggesting she reads anything even faintly creepy. I do the same thing with songs and movies. But I also bear friends' parents in mind when I recommend books to them.
I read a lot of YA because I tend to find it more tactful if not better written than most adult novels in the genre(s) I like. (I'm a BIG urban fantasy fan--is it too much to ask for less blaspheming and jumping into bed, and for more character and relationship development?)
I also write YA. I endeavor to keep it "clean" like MG as far as language and sexual content go. It's my topics and characters that make it YA. Like a narrator who's a runaway white slave.
- Paul West said...
Interesting take. I'm not sure I completely agree, but I think you're on the right track.
- Wendy said...
I know this is an old post; I linked to it from somewhere else. While I agree with a lot of your points about what teens can "handle", I disagree about YA being "new". There've been a lot of books written for teenagers throughout the last hundred years, and teenagers really were reading them. They were sophisticated in concept and explored the same general issues that YA explores now, if less graphically. It is not the YA that's changed; it's the world. As movies and TV have gotten more graphic/explicit, so have YA novels. It isn't edginess or graphicness that defines YA, after all (or if anyone said it did, I'd strongly disagree).
To say that the YA of "then" was really middle grade is to ignore the great difference between old-school middle grade and old-school YA, as well.
- Adrienne said...
Wendy - it's never too late to comment, thanks for stopping by!
You make some interesting points, and maybe if you could give me some examples of old YA that would really help. I also have to ask about your statement about YA written in the last hundred years when teenagers didn't exist until the 1950s. So maybe we have a definition issue going on here as well.
When I think YA from my youth I think of the likes of Judy Blume and Paula Danziger. And I wasn't reading those books when I was a teenager (I know this because I remember in one of Danziger's books thinking that the protagonist was super old: 14). I remember incredibly moving stories involving young people, like "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" - which I know I read in grade 5 because we made hundreds of paper cranes and hung them from the library ceiling. When I think further back I think Enid Blyton and Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys. Again, books that were really not read by actual teenagers (15,16,17,18), but preteens.
Like you I don't think edginess defines YA either, but I think a degree of sophistication in theme does. My good friend Lesley Livingston has written a wonderful YA "Wondrous Strange" that is very PG, not edgy at all, and is at the same time very exciting, beautifully written, romantic and great fun. It is also very much aimed at teens and read by teens.
See the YA genre is tricky because the transition from kid to adult has always been a difficult one for teens. One of the ways they try to demonstrate they are all grown up is to read grown up books. I was reading "Jurassic Park" at 13, and many of my friends loved Stephen King. So the idea of having books that feel grownup enough that teens want to read them, but that are still about teens is a very interesting and, in my mind, new concept.
As I said at the beginning, teenagers actually didn't exist until the 50s. One was a kid, and then one was an adult, and that's what I think a lot of the old YA played into, the 11 - 14 yearold age range.
I truly don't feel like I am ignoring old YA, but I would love to be proven wrong, and maybe I have totally forgotten about true old YAs (or heck, might not have known about their existence in the first place). I acknowledged in my post there were a few exceptions, ie "Forever", "The Chocolate War". And I'd also suggest that books that were categorised as adult back then, might have now been categorised as YA: "The Catcher in the Rye" for example.
I'm not trying to put down the books from the past, nor am I advocating edginess. I am simply saying there has been a marked change in the children's book industry and I've seen it most with the YA books out there. In my mind it is a truly new genre. It might have had some precursors, but we've never seen anything like what's going on now with this category, and we need to acknowledge the difference or else we are going to continue to hold it to archaic standards.
- Wendy said...
Thanks for your thoughts, Adrienne. Oddly enough, not long ago I wrote a post that I think some people thought was a response to yours, but I hadn't read it yet; I was responding to similar comments I've heard from others. I make one of your points, about books published for adults "back then" that would probably be YA now. http://sixboxesofbooks.blogspot.com/2009/09/yes-virginia-there-was-ya-when-you-were.html
I've heard the teenagers-didn't-exist-before-the-50s thing, and I know it's an accepted sociological thing for many, but I've never bought it. I think there's been evidence of "teenagers"--whether that word was used or not--for quite some time. (And the word was definitely used since at least the 1920s.) I think, for instance, of the high school books about Betsy and Tacy, by Maud Hart Lovelace; it's clear in those, which were quite autobiographical, that the high school kids have a life quite separate from the adults and the children. Different mores, different interests, different styles. They take place in the early 20th century. Even in Laura Ingalls Wilder's later books, I see evidence of a teen culture. I think perhaps the 1950s was a time when almost everyone suddenly GOT to be a teenager; before that many kids did enter an adult world after eighth grade.
- Timothy Power said...
Fantastic post, Adrienne! :)
- RobbedTheBank said...
Thank you so much. Has really made me look at the whole age-band thing in a completely new light!
- JustSarah said...
Question: Why are we still referring to young adult books as "children's books" anyway? For me, the concept of YA existing is completely alien to me.
That's the part that confuses me, like when my mom referred to Lord Of The Flies as a kids book. Are you kidding me? You would let your six year old read Lord Of The Flies? Middle grade and Young adult books are completely different animals.
- Emma Larkins said...
Very helpful! Still not sure I want to come out and label my book as "YA," but I have a better understanding of it now.


text:
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- 1991: The Gryffindor first-years have an Astronomy Class at midnight, on the top of the Astronomy Tower.[citation needed]
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ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — Earl McElfresh, whose watercolor maps of Civil War battlefields are the subject of an exhibition at St. Bonaventure University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, will give a gallery lecture at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20.
McElfresh's talk, titled "Seeing the Civil War Again for the First Time: Creating Civil War Maps," will take place in the Quick Center's Winifred Shortell Kenney Gallery, where his "Four Score and Seven" exhibition runs through May 31.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the talk.
McElfresh is the cartographer for McElfresh Map Company of Olean, which has been producing detailed maps of historical events since 1993. His maps are designed to be definitive topographical portrayals of historical events and are known for their accuracy, comprehensiveness and artistry.
The exhibition features maps of Civil War battlefields, particularly Gettysburg, and is accompanied by a timeline of Civil War events.
Quick Center galleries are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the Quick Center is free and open to the public year round.
Application forms, procedures and additional information
There are many ways to experience
St. Bonaventure for yourself
Learn more about the programs that interest you


text:
Gold medalist Walter 'Buddy' Davis
From Nederland, Texas, to the world's stage
Tall and strong Walter "Buddy" Davis might look just like any other Texas cattle rancher, but he is so much more. He's a gold-medal winning Olympian, one of only two Aggies to be named an All-American in two sports, was a basketball player on not one but two NBA championship teams, is a world record holder and — perhaps most important — he's the father of seven daughters and two sons. Oh, and he overcame crippling polio when he was a 9-year-old elementary student in Nederland.
Buddy had the distinction of standing on the center podium in the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki, Finland, after winning the high jump event, and he still has the gold medal to prove it.
"I remember standing on that podium," said Buddy recently in his Lufkin home, "and watching the American flag go up the pole. When the first notes of our national anthem sounded across the stadium, I got a chill like you wouldn't believe."
Until the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the XV Olympiad was famous for featuring the most world records broken. A total of 69 nations participated in these games, up from 59 in the 1948 games. Thirteen nations made their first Olympic appearance in 1952, and there were about 100 participants in the American delegation including two that took home the gold and silver medals in the high jump.
But how did a boy from Nederland, Texas, get to Finland and the world's biggest athletic stage?
Born to A.J. and Mary Therease Davis in Nederland, Buddy attended public school. His dad worked for Pure Oil Company for some 44 years. His mom was a registered nurse. When Buddy was 9 years old, he contracted the dreaded polio disease and his home was put under quarantine, forcing his two sisters and one brother to live with an aunt for a number of months. Buddy's mom was determined that her son would live as normal a life as possible, so she put to use all of her nursing talent.
Mary read everything she could get her hands on about the disease and organized deep warm baths for her son's legs and then spent hours massaging the muscles and helping them to retain their strength. After 18 months, Buddy had regained the use of his legs and was able to walk and run again.
Buddy continued to grow and soon fell in love with his next-door neighbor in Nederland, Margaret Tynan. Buddy graduated from Nederland High School in 1948 and went on to Texas A&M University where he played basketball, becoming the highest scorer in the state. In his junior year, Buddy got the idea he might like to try baseball. His basketball coach was also the baseball coach and allowed him to pitch relief for three good innings. The young athlete was pretty proud of himself when he struck out eight men. "Look, Buddy, I've got four good pitchers and one basketball center. Get over to the gym and do your calisthenics," the coach said, bringing to an end his baseball career. On the way to the gym, he happened to see the track and field practice on Kyle Field. He watched as one athlete cleared the bar with the old scissors technique.
On a spur-of-the-moment decision, Buddy decided to give the high jump a try with his baseball mitt in his hand. He cleared the bar and went on to win the Texas Relays that year with a 6-feet, 9-inch jump. The coach decided to take him on to other track and field events. Buddy became an All-American in track and basketball, one of just two Aggies to ever win that designation in two sports.
By the time Buddy was a senior in 1952, he was married to Margaret, had started a family, and had captured the NCAA and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) titles in the high jump and received an invitation to the Olympic trials. He had also broken the high jump world record and the 7-feet barrier in May 1952. "I went from obscurity to a world record with one jump," said Buddy humbly. "Think about it. Nederland did not even have a track when I was there in high school, and here I am being invited to the Olympic trials."
Buddy describes the trials for the Olympics in Helsinki as a whirlwind. "It certainly was not then what it is now," he laughed. "We did not have sponsors, coordinators and a core of press people." He said he made the Olympic team on a Saturday in Los Angeles, and the next day he flew to New York to get his passport and uniform. The athletes stayed at Princeton University in New Jersey for the week. Margaret was home waiting on the birth of a child and did not get to accompany her husband to this important event. Her parents, however, did get to see him in Los Angeles where they were visiting relatives.
Buddy remembered clearly that he had a quarter in his pocket when he left Los Angeles, and when he left New York for Finland, that had been reduced to a dime. "We didn't need anything, really," he said. "The committee saw that we had food and our clothing, but looking back now, can you imagine traveling without money in your pocket?"
The games opened July 19, 1952, and the high jump was on the first day of competition, July 20. He said that the temperature was in the 60s, and he remembers it being a rainy kind of day. He and his teammate, Ken Wiesner, were both "straddlers," referring to the technique that replaced "scissors." There were 28 competitors in all, and Buddy took the gold with a record-setting leap of 6 feet, 8.32 inches.
"No one met us coming off the podium with endorsement offers, contracts or even gifts that I remember, but it didn't really matter. We had won medals for our country, and we were proud and happy," he said. "Margaret learned of her husband's success through the newspapers. "We didn't have television then," she said, "and I was so happy when I learned that Buddy had done well. I still have the air mail letters he wrote to me from Finland, and I treasure those." The Davis' second daughter was born July 23, 1952, just three days after his medal-winning jump.
Buddy went on to play professional basketball for two teams and win two NBA championships. His two rings, one from the Philadelphia Warriors in 1956 and the other from the St. Louis Hawks in 1958, testify to these feats. One is kept with his gold medal in a protective case, and Margaret proudly wears the other as she has for these many years.
"I only wish I had not been so young and inexperienced," said Buddy, "so that I could have realized what winning the gold medal really meant and that I would have been mature enough to take in everything."
Buddy went on to have a storied professional career in law enforcement with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, a 30-year banking career where he achieved the office of bank president, a stint as a top ranking civilian with the U.S. Coast Guard in Puerto Rico, and lastly with FEMA. He, like his father, has always raised cattle.
He and Margaret have nine children, seven girls and two boys, and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren. "Oh, you should see this place when they all come home," laughed Margaret, speaking of their comfortable Lufkin home with big wrap-a-round porches and a fishing pond. "It is quite loud, but lots of fun."
Buddy said that they were a close-knit family and that he believes he gets that from his dad. "My dad was the most kind and gentle man I've ever known," he said. "It is said of us, if a bee stings one of us, we all swell up."
"As all of us kids get older, we realize more and more what an amazing story our dad is," said Shaun P. Davis, Buddy's youngest son and executive director of South East Texas Regional Planning Commission and former district director for Congressman Charlie Wilson. "Growing up we knew our dad was famous, but he rarely talked about it and we took it all in stride. My dad was more interested in being a good provider and taking care of our cows out in Bessie Heights Marsh across from Port Neches Park. That's what I'll always remember most — my dad and I and my Granddaddy Arthur Davis working cows across the river. I'll bet you that's what he remembers most, too."
Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at brendacannonhenley [at] yahoo [dot] com.


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Kushal Punjabi Follow
All About Kushal Punjabi
Actor-model Kushal Punjabi is the latest celebrity contestant to get voted out of celebrity dance show, 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa'. His journey in the show was a short period of four weeks only. He was teamed up with choreographer Mohena on the show. "Frankly, I did not expect it coming. Judges ... read more


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Ok guys, I've been having a lot of fun lately with these sketching tutorials. There's this new program I'm trialing on and I've gotta say, it's just straight up awesome for making sketches look so graphite like. I am using 'Corel Painter 12', and it's best for artists who are used to traditional media. This program would be perfect if you're not too familiar with digital drawing, and more so traditional. Anyways, this new tutorial will be on 'sketching a horse' in the easiest fashion. I will break down the steps to create the overall composition as well as tips and tricks to use to have the same sketchy effect. I hope you guys will enjoy this one, and I plan to have more tutorials like these in the future! Have fun!
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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Bastion is an award-winning action RPG experience that redefines storytelling in games, with a reactive narrator who marks your every move. Find out why Game Informer Magazine said, "Supergiant Games' debut effort isn't just good – it's a must-play." Explore more than 40 lush hand-painted environments as you discover the secrets of the Calamity, a surreal catastrophe that shattered the world to pieces. Wield a huge arsenal of upgradeable weapons and battle savage beasts adapted to their new habitat. Finish the main story to unlock New Game Plus mode and continue your journey! Also included is the 'No-Sweat Mode', offering unlimited chances to continue.
What's New
Bastion 1.4 Update now available! This update addresses a flickering screen issue on some Macs, a black background issue on some Macs, and a crash on launch affecting some users running OSX 10.5. If you experience any additional technical difficulties, please let us know at [email protected] We hope you enjoy Bastion!


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The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker ReciprocitySM Program of Midwest Real Estate Data. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Keller Williams Realty Partners are marked with the Broker ReciprocitySM logo or the Broker ReciprocitySM thumbnail logo (a little black house) and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers.
Based on information submitted to the MRED as of 12/15/2019. All data is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MRED. MRED supplied Open House information is subject to change without notice. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.
NOTICE: Many homes contain recording devices, and buyers should be aware they may be recorded during a showing.
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Data last updated: 12/15/2019 10:45:50 AM
Property locations as displayed on any map are best approximations only and exact locations should be independently verified.
Lifestyle, neighborhood, and school data ("Supplemental Data") is provided by the operator of this website as a convenience to users. This Supplemental Data is not provided or reviewed by Midwest Real Estate Data. The operator of this website updates the Supplemental Data from time to time, but it does not represent, warrant or otherwise promise that the Supplemental Data is current, free from defects, or error-free. All Supplemental Data is provided AS IS with all faults. Users are encouraged to consult their own data sources to confirm the accuracy of all Supplemental Data before using the Supplemental Data as a basis for any decision. Complete list of data sources. DMCA_Notice
NOTICE: Many homes contain recording devices, and buyers should be aware they may be recorded during a showing.


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7th Heaven
Derby Swirl
(6 Eye)
Classic Derby Boot
The Fit Expert
Kate from our Los Angeles (Abbot Kinney) store says:
True to size, and incredibly comfortable!
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Almost 25 years ago John launched the first Angel-soled Fluevogs into the world! Since then Angels have been part of various social and fashion movements, and are often referred to as the most comfortable soles on the planet. The 7th Heaven Angel Soles add rubber to the mix, but you still get that amazing comfort that you're used to and they're still resoleable. Iconic Angel Soles that still "resist alkali, water, acid, fatigue and Satan," The Derby Swirls will turn every head along your journey. As it says on the iconic pull tab... DDFT!
The burgundy, black and brown Derby Swirls are updated ever so slightly with a custom welt, an OrthoLite foam insole and an embossed and painted angel at the heel.
The JF Tapestry Derby Swirls tell a bigger story than you think!
The green floral jacquard and black/floral Derby Swirls feature re-engineered recycled rubber soles with a rubber midsole, bonded leather welt, air pockets for extra lightness and flex grooves for comfort.
The black vegan Derby Swirls are made from high quality vegan 'leather' aka. microfibre/polyurethane and feature a 100% recycled rubber (TPR) sole.
Kate from our Los Angeles (Abbot Kinney) store says:
True to size, and incredibly comfortable!
J'adore !
Lorsque j'ai posé mes yeux sur eux pour la toute première fois sur le site web, j'étais enchantée par leur beauté, mais en boutique, j'ai trouvé cette version des Derby Swirl encore plus belle ; les motifs dorés parsemant la zone fleurie ajoutent un éclat de lumière intéressant. De plus, ils sont très confortables. Merci, John !
great stylr, won't last
Perfection is: The green floral jacquard Derby Swirls
SO comfy, SO beautiful, these are my favourite Vogs!!
The revamped sole is dreamy! I love my others from this family, but I definitely noticed a difference.
I wear a women's Vog 8 in most boots & shoes, these are a men's size 6 and they are amazing! If you have a wide foot or a high instep, try these on, they're magical!
Thank you again, John!!!


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Growth in the Global Nanomedicine Market 2017-2021 trends … – satPRnews (press release)
Global Nanomedicine Market 2017-2021
This Nanomedicine market research is an intelligence report with meticulous efforts undertaken to study the right and valuable information. The data which has been looked upon is done considering both, the existing top players and the upcoming competitors. Business strategies of the key players and the new entering market industries are studied in detail. Well explained SWOT analysis, revenue share and contact information are shared in this report analysis.
Download sample pages of this report:http://tinyurl.com/y7bs9wea
Data integration and capabilities are analyzed to support the findings and study the predicted geographical segmentations. Various key variables and regression models were considered to calculate the trajectory of Nanomedicine market. Detailed analysis is explained and given importance to with best working models.
Geographically, the segmentation is done into several key regions like North America, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America. The production, consumption, revenue, shares in mill UDS, growth rate of Nanomedicine market during the forecast period of 2017 to 2021 is well explained.
The ongoing market trends of Nanomedicine market and the key factors impacting the growth prospects are elucidated. With increase in the trend, the factors affecting the trend are mentioned with perfect reasons. Top manufactures, price, revenue, market share are explained to give a depth of idea on the competitive side.
Each and every segment type and their sub types are well elaborated to give a better idea about this market during the forecast period of 2017 to 2021 respectively.
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About Us:Key Market Insights is a stand-alone organization with a solid history of advancing and exchanging market research reports and logical surveys delivered by our numerous transnational accomplices, which incorporate both huge multinationals and littler, more expert concerns.
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Growth in the Global Nanomedicine Market 2017-2021 trends ... - satPRnews (press release)


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TRY SOMETHING NEW Chapter 24: There'll Be No Escape For The Princess This Time!
There's a lot of good comics this week. I know you want to buy the same old ones you always buy because they feel safe and comfortable. I get that. I'm not gonna tell you to not buy the stuff you like. I'm not a jerk. But I do need you to do me a favor. You can do that, right? Sell your kidneys, sell your kids, agree to do illegal stuff for unsavory men, sell your fillings, rob a bank. It's time to try some new comics. I made a list of which ones you will need to buy if we want this to work out between us. You want this to work, right? You care about me, right? I care about you a lot. You are my favorite reader. I only write this for you. Want me to prove it? I make Tyler put in pretty pictures like this one to make you happy-
OCCUPY COMICS #1 is out this week. This issue features political and socially charged short stories by folks like Alan Moore, Mike Allred, David Lloyd, JM DeMatteis, Art Spiegelman, Ben Templesmith, Dean Haspiel, Ales Kot, Ron Wimberly, Molly Crabapple, Charlie Adlard, and a ton more. The book is a benefit for Occupy related initiatives like Occupy Sandy and Strike Debt (google them). Regardless of your personal politics this is a series well worth reading. It offers a ton of interesting viewpoints on a lot of different issues, smart social commentary that cuts across party lines and political aisles. Add to that some stunning artwork and storytelling, and some of the best and brightest in comics doing their best to say something beyond the usual "man punching another man" stories, and this is definitely something everyone who cares about the medium should be buying. Not a lot of comics are going to entertain you this much, inform you this much, and maybe help someone keep their home. Think about that when you choose to buy Red Lanterns instead and wonder why you feel like a husk of a person.
Did I mention that I like DARK HORSE PRESENTS a lot? I do. Issue 24 comes out this week. Congrats on 2 years of putting out the best book no one reads Dark Horse. Among the many great shorts in there, this issue sees the premiere of a new superhero character Blackout. Dark Horse has been doing a great job of getting exciting talent to launch new superhero books that are a fun alternative for those who feel tired of Marvel and DC's usual fare. X, Ghost, and Black Beetle are among the best superhero books on shelves right now and hopefully Blackout will be joining their ranks. Written by up-and-comer Frank Barbiere, Blackout doesn't feel like it's reinventing the wheel, it doesn't need to. It's just really good. Barbiere has a knack for playing in genre and doing it better than most and this launch shows him doing that again with ease. Hopefully by this time next year I will be telling you "I told you so" about one of your favorite new series.
Speak of the devil. Mr. Barbiere has clearly been pretty busy. This week also sees the FIVE GHOSTS #3 out. I could write a whole bunch of snarky $#!% about Five Ghosts but I want to give Mr. Barbiere a nice quote for ads and whatnot. Five Ghosts #3 raises the stakes on this already great series in every way. Smart, tense, and beautiful, the best book of the year keeps getting better. Buy Five Ghosts or admit you are fake. Your welcome Frank.
Do you like pretty stuff? Read GODZILLA: HALF-CENTURY WAR. James Stokoe (pronounced "Stew-Coo-Ooo-Whoa-Eee") is one of the best artists working in comics right now. Like the beautiful bastard child of Paul Pope, Geof Darrow, and Osamu Tezuka, Stokoe has earned a rabid fanbase by quality of work but not quantity of work. I am pretty sure I will never see a year with 12 issues of his work on the stands. With that understanding you should all view the arrival of a whole trade of his work as a sort of holiday. Skip work, buy some diapers and a lot of chocolate milk, get yourself a massage, and rent a new couch because it's about to get awesome for you. In case the title didn't make it clear, this book is Stokoe drawing a giant Japanese (Can they claim ownership of him? Should they?) dragon monster thing while it wrecks stuff. Yeah. It's awesome.
THE PROPERTY is the new graphic novel from Rutu Modan, author of the brilliant Exit Wounds. If you have never read any of Ms. Modan's work, her stuff reads like Tintin if Tintin was full of powerfully quiet human drama instead of, ya know, racism. It is economical in both art and storytelling, but the story never feels rushed or shortchanged. This is as elegant as comics get. The Property tells the story of 2 generations of Polish women returning to their homeland to reclaim property seized in the holocaust. As the story progresses both the cause and the meaning of this pilgrimage begin to change for the women and what results is a very touching and humorous story about peoples relationships to each other, their history, and the larger world around them.
It is that time of the week when I tell you to buy some new Image comic #1. This weeks obligatory #1 is THE BOUNCE. Joe Casey has written just about every major superhero worth writing and a lot that aren't. He always makes books that manage to feel smarter and more fun than his contemporaries. Well now he launches The Bounce which is essentially a stoner version of Spider-Man. If there is one thing you should trust Mr. Casey to do it is both examine and deconstruct superheroes in really intelligent ways all while not letting you realize that is happening. He hides the smart storytelling in the fun. That's smart. I'm tired. Buy this book.


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When it comes to hostels in Fiji, you won't find big chains like YHA, Base or Nomads. All the hostels here are independently owned. Hostels.com currently works with around 85 of these properties.
The main difference between hostels in Fiji and hostels elsewhere, is that here the prices per night tend to include meals and activities. This is because many of these hostels, especially the properties on the smaller islands, are located in remote areas where you can't just pop out to the shops for food. It means that prices per night are a bit higher than with other hostels.
As for the main island of Fiji, the hostels here tend to be more like regular hostels. You'll find travel desks in most of these properties, where you can arrange a wide range of trips and tours. One thing to note about Fijian hostels is that they rarely have internet or phone services. When these services are provided, they are generally quite expensive.


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'Tis the season, you know. Therefore, I bought a tiny little country style Christmas tree for my coffee table. There was a larger tree next to it in the shop, and the star on the top of that tree caught my eye. It was simply made out of stuffed yellow canvas with exaggerated points, and on it was painted one word. That word was "BELIEVE." I can't really tell you why it struck me, but it now lives on top of my tiny tree as a reminder each day. I have other trees but this tree is my favorite. BELIEVE, BELIEVE. Perhaps it has a connection to the season or the fatigue and pain I always feel. My positive self wants to believe; believe in life, believe in joy and maybe, also in Santa. I don't think the jolly old guy is in charge of health, so no grudges there. I don't believe there are any children, or adults for that matter, sitting on Santa's lap asking for pain for Christmas. Oh dear, what an image.
I think that star actually touched a much deeper part of me which is troubled this year, and I suspect many of you share that gnawing sense of unrest. The entire world seems to be full of unrest this year. Everyone we know is touched in some way by war, mortgage worries, or financial problems. Those of us who live with chronic pain every day can feel more burdened by all of these outside forces than others. It can make us want to fall to the floor and crawl under the Christmas tree skirt. I'm fortunate because mine is bedecked with Mickey and Minnie, and they are the king and queen of the world of belief. Actually, I think it's called make-believe, but who is to say they aren't the same thing.
I know when you see the sign or ornament that suggests we BELIEVE this time of year, the reference is to believe in Santa. Deep in the heart of every adult we want to believe as we did in childhood. We want the peace, the expectations and the spirit of the season. There was a magic in those childhood Christmases. Most of us live our lives seeking to replace that feeling of joy, fairy dust and elation. That's not easy to find when you live with pain every day. We tend to lean toward the "lump of coal" thinking.
One thing I know with certainty is that 24 hour news is not good for all living things; especially for those who are already challenged up to their stocking caps. "Merry Christmas and come see who has been maimed, dethroned or thrust with violence today. Noel away as you watch some tragic story about a well-known person who is dead due to some nefarious doings, or attempt to remain neutral as some darling baby or his Mom has disappeared. Deck the halls as violence erupts in some other far away part of the world." Once you've heard about the latest tragedies, murders, mayhem and chaos in any part of the world, you don't need to hear it over and over again. Okay, I know we need to be informed, but embracing all of the chaos in the world can cut your beliefs down to the ground and, like a fallen pine tree, remove you from your roots and nourishment. When that happens, all hope is gone.
It may seem a far distance from a painful joint or two to that simple word, BELIEVE. If all you believe is that life sucks…life will suck. If you believe you have been dealt an unfair deal in the card game of life, you probably have been. But so what? The cards are in your hand and all the complaining about how they got there won't really change anything, will it? Now you find yourself at a crossroad. What you believe will determine how this road ascends, descends, and curves. It will also determine where you will go on this sleigh ride of life. This ride will eventually end you know, and you will look back and malign yourself for the waste of self-absorption.
We spend vast amounts of time looking for answers from doctors, books, websites, and friends. We need to find answers, comfort, treatments, and various ways to be the best we can be and to achieve the most out of these tortured lives we have been given. All of these are necessary. We know we need medical, psychological, and spiritual help. It's difficult to imagine all the appointments, insults, degradations, and condescension we will and do endure. All of this necessary nonsense can pull us right out of the Christmas tree, and we often land on the hard frozen ground. We face physicians who bear no resemblance to Santa or one of his elves. We are surrounded by a world of Scrooges who are often friends, relatives, or strangers. All of this traveling uphill in "bad" weather which is exemplified by our suffering creates a terrific need to BELIEVE.
I find great comfort in the power to BELIEVE. We all believe something, don't we? We wake up believing it is going to be a good or a rotten day. We believe we are going to feel better due to a new medication. We believe life stinks because someone has let us down. It's a strange thing about believing because we often become what we believe. That proves there must be some power in the ability to visualize, imagine, and foresee due to this belief. What kinds of beliefs live in your heart? Is it time to kick out a few vagrants who are living there like the Grinch, Mr. Scrooge, and old man Fear? The Bible tells us "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." So, what do you thinketh…think???
Our minds take us to some strange and fearful places. Just for this season, could we all practice our ability to be children and try to recapture what we felt as children? If you had a lousy childhood, then pretend. What did you want your childhood to be? It's not too late to dream, to wish and to expect. Your thoughts, your brains, and your wishes are more powerful than your wretched body. Excuse me if your body is not wretched, but if it is, overpower it with joy, expectation, and belief.
To BELIEVE has nothing to do with money, the weather, or others. Belief is very personal and lives within you. To BELIEVE in your heart and in your mind can change the relevance of pain and push it to the back burner. To BELIEVE can bring a smile to a frowning face. I know, you're thinking I've been hanging out with the grandchildren too much and they are influencing me. They are. They constantly remind me of all I have forgotten. Now I have to bake cookies for Santa, sew a Christmas gift, and take time to tinker with ornaments, greenery, Christmas lights and to thank that little yellow canvas star.
Sue now has a Facebook page — check it out and "like" her now!


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The technological development of computer networks and the societal flourishing of social networks are affording the rise of networked individualism in a positive feedback loop. Just as the flexibility of less-bounded, spatially dispersed, social networks creates demand for collaborative communication and information sharing, the rapid development of computer-communications networks nourishes societal transitions from group-based societies to network-based societies (Castells, 1996, 2000; Wellman, 2002).That seems like an accurate description of the transformation that we are in the midst of, but I'm puzzled by the implicit positive spin. My read of this transformation, folllowing people like Jodi Dean and postautonomist types like Virno, is that networked individualism is a boon for the communicative capitalism on which it depends, much in the same way that possessive individualism was a boon for consumerist capitalism. (Consumerism, conspicuous consumption, identity through shopping-based lifestyles, etc. -- the sort of stuff in Adam Curtis's The Century of the Self.) Community as defined by volume of communication persists, but community as a kind of collective subjectivity that prioritizes the group over the individual atoms is lost. The network formations emphasize this atomization, breaking the link to the pre-individual basis for subjectivity (a la Gilbert Simondon, described here).
Networked societies are themselves changing in character. Until quite recently, transportation and communication have fostered place-to-place community, with expressways and airplanes speeding people from one location to another (without much regard to what is in between). Telephone and postal communication have been delivered to specific, fixed locations. At present, communication is taking over many of the functions of transportation for the exchange of messages. Communication itself is becoming more mobile, with mobile phones and wireless computers proliferating.
Each person is a switchboard, between ties and networks. People remain connected, but as individuals, rather than being rooted in the home bases of work unit and household. Each person operates a separate personal community network, and switches rapidly among multiple sub-networks. Even in more localistic Catalonia, people appear to meet their friends as individuals and not in family groups. In effect, the Internet and other new communication technology are helping each individual to personalize his or her own community. This is neither a prima facie loss nor gain in community, but rather a complex, fundamental transformation in the nature of community.
A "personalized community" is an oxymoron; community is that which can't be personalized. That phrase is just a nice way of describing a network fromthe point of view of an individual node, which may be near or far from the center, rich or poor in connections. Once you've taken steps to personalize community, you are making it convenient, editing out or time-shifting the responsibilities it otherwise requires to suit the community of one.