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FiLiA are thrilled to have secured funding from ROSA to pilot a community engagement programme. The funding will enable FiLiA to design and test a process to engage women experiencing disadvantage with the 2017 Feminism in London conference. Our aim is that this pilot will be the seed of a much wider and sustained community engagement programme that reaches across all of FiLiA's work and ensures that the experiences of the most disadvantaged women are at the centre of all that we do.
The pilot, launching in January 2017, will reach out to women with experience of the prison system and will have two phases of activity. The first will support a small group of women who have exited the prison system to participate in the planning and delivery of the 2017 Feminism in London conference. The aim is both to benefit the project participants and to put their voices and experience at the heart of the conference. As the biggest feminist conference in the UK, it is critical that Feminism in London is an effective platform for the voices of the most unheard and misheard women in society. The second phase will see the development of a dialogue toolkit which will be free to download from the FiLiA website and which will offer session plans to lead discussion groups with women about issues raised at the 2017 Feminism in London conference. We will be out reaching to five organisations working with women with experience of the prison system to test the toolkit, with these pilot sessions co- facilitated by participants from phase one.
The FiLiA Community Engagement Programme is part of an important feminist history of using community development and engagement as a practice to move towards social justice and liberation for women. At its most radical, community development seeks to redress balances of power in society by moving power into the hands of the disadvantaged communities whose needs are overlooked by social structures and institutions and whose experiences are socially and culturally marginalised. In developing the programme during the pilot and beyond, FiLiA will be consciously drawing on practice in this area from feminists before us and sharing our new practice and learning to the wider movement.
We are looking for feminists who would like to participate in the development of our community engagement programme. You don't need any experience in this area and if women are interested, FiLiA will facilitate a training session around community development and engagement and their potential as tools for women's liberation. We are looking for volunteers interested in the following areas:
Facilitation- supporting the planning and facilitation of workshops during phase one and two
Artists/designers- supporting the creation of the toolkit for phase 2 and a poster with participants in phase one
Coordination and outreach- identifying and building relationships with organisations for phase two and for the wider community engagement strategy
Volunteers will be invited to an initial planning session in January and then work independently with ad hoc meetings as needed. There is no prescribed time commitment, you can take on as much or as little as you wish.
To find out more or volunteer please drop our project leader Laurie a line at: firstname.lastname@example.com


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- decorative font -
I've always wanted to make a decorative font, but with an infinite realm of possibilities, I was drawing a blank. So with eyes closed, I reached out and chose the first household item I touched. A bulb! I began by googling lightbulb fonts to eliminate all possible options that had been done before. After having narrowed the field, the abstract path became clear to me. I flipped the bulb over and focused my attention on the base of the light bulb, hence the name Bulbase.

subset: commoncrawl


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On Nov. 18, a federal judge upheld a jury's $185 million punitive award to a former AutoZone store manager for pregnancy bias, discrimination and retaliation she experienced at one of the retailer's San Diego locations. The judge rejected AutoZone Stores Inc.'s assertion that the punitive award could not stand because the plaintiff did not link a specific AutoZone director, officer or managing agent to her discrimination claims, ruling that the retailer's legal department qualifies as an agent under California law.
National origin discrimination and California workers
If an employer treats employees or job applicants differently due to their country of birth, that is considered national origin discrimination that is prohibited under federal law. Employers who discriminate based on an individual's accent or because an individual seems to be from a particular ethnic background may also be breaking the law. This also prohibits employers from making employment decisions based on the national origin of someone whom that person may know or be affiliated with.
Bullying in the Workforce
In California, a proposed law aims to stop harassment and bullying behaviors in the workplace. It seeks to prevent managers from berating their subordinates and creating hostile work environments. Unlike other legislation that protects certain subsections of the population, such as minorities and women, this legislation aims to provide a greater level of protection to all employees.
Overview of harassment in the workplace
Under California law, harassment in the workplace is considered a type of discrimination. When an employer engages in harassment that is based on sex, race, color, religion, age or disability, they may be found to be in violation of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act.


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We are currently hiring for the following positions:
Sales Representatives -
Rockford (Winnebago and surrounding communities)
Urbana/Champaign and Bloomington/Normal
"Heartland: (1) The central area of the U.S. which is known for traditional values. (2) The center of support for a belief or movement." - Merriam-Webster
We're not your typical beer distributor. We're small, fiercely selective about the breweries we partner with, and defiantly independent. We aren't just looking for employees, but long-term partners.
Work independently to develop and maintain effective customer relationships.
Identify opportunities to open new accounts and grow brands.
Successfully reach or exceed monthly sales goals.
Maintain a regular schedule of weekly appointments with accounts.
Conduct promotions in accounts on a regular basis.
Proper merchandising of accounts with point of sale (POS) advertising, including set up and organization of displays.
Effective accounts receivable collections.
Ensure that products are rotated and code policy followed.
Bachelor's degree with an emphasis in Marketing, Sales or Management strongly preferred.
Minimum 2 years sales or comparable beverage experience, preferably in the beer industry.
In depth knowledge of the beer industry and products.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Valid and clean driver's license.
Ability and willingness to work independently.
Interested candidates should submit their resume, a cover letter and compensation history to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Sunday, 3 August 2008
Dark Afore Dawnin
Provided by: Eric Thompson (my father) July 2003
Author: Etta Gracey Stoee
Date: Unknown
Tune: Unknown
Dinna ye ken the signs o His comin?
Dinna ye hear the soun o His feet?
Ken ye na this is the dark afore dawnin?
Dawn o' the morn sae braw an sae sweet?
The nicht has been drear, but ne'er was it lanesome
E'en through the valley when shadows lay lang
His rod and His staff thegither gied comfort
Fitsair an weary, we aye had a sang
Can we forget, when we were aa greetin
The touch o His haun that wiped awa tears?
The promise He gied us, nae, niver tae leave us
Ne'er tae forsake us, it banished oor fears
Oor herts are sae sair, an' nigh sick wi langin
For the soun o His voice, an the sicht o His face
But the nicht is faur spent, an a bonnie day breakin
An then we shall meet Him - aye - saved by His grace
Posted by Mark Thompson at 07:00
Labels: Misc


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Your Legacy is Bigger Than Your Job (podcast)
Check out the fourth episode of The Cannonball Podcast. You'll find:
- Why plans don't matter as much as intentionality
- The four key components of your impact and legacy
- Some rap music sampling
Want something covered in a future podcast? Leave a comment with your questions or ideas below.


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We Struck Oil
The Acts 4:32 share group on Facebook is one of the simplest and most effective ways that the Grace Klein Community is able to see God work in immediate tangible ways right here in Birmingham, AL. The group is designed to be interconnected with a constant movement of giving and taking. If you know someone in the group, they can invite you in, and once you are in you can also invite anyone you know. Then the people you invite can invite anyone they know and it keeps scattering and growing in a beautifully intertwined and relational way. A fun fact is many people have shared that when they are having a bad day, they go to Acts 4:32 to read what God is doing.
Two years back, we kept seeing a new community member engage in the Acts 4:32 group. She was willing to share everything and from her generosity she was building a natural momentum of love and kindness in the group. We all began to feel like we KNEW Angela Warren, even though many of us had never met her.
Eventually, during our 2017 Drum Circle, Angela came and introduced herself. When she said her name the excitement was instant. Here she was this mystery woman that was making so much impact in Grace Klein Community. AND she walked up so confident, as if we had known one another a lifetime of years. She went straight in to how this or that situation could be addressed and what she would bring by next. Wow, a real living and breathing representation of an open handed life.
Grace Klein Community, Inc. struck oil when our paths somehow intersected with Angela. Today, she is a lead volunteer and serves in a variety of unique and intentional ways. Angela retrieves rescued food from one of our weekly donors, involves her bunco group in special projects, teaches us new ideas and how to implement those ideas to improve the organization, delivers food to groups and individuals who need encouragement, continues to meet immediate needs from the Acts 4:32 group, and stores overage food in her freezer for food delivery. Of course that is not all she does, but a good perspective of all the ways she shares her life with us.
Angela and her husband have two precious daughters that serve alongside her. Many mamas bring their children with them, which is a delight of Grace Klein Community, but even more amazing is one of Angela's daughters has Down Syndrome. A diagnosis does not stop Angela and her girls from scurrying around town, while her husband works, and spreading joy and laughter and hope to all they meet. Watching those young ladies share a hug or deliver some treats to a new friend is an inspiration. Angela is teaching and giving the girls a life full of adventure as she teaches them creativity, the courage to try new things, and the importance of kindness. In today's world, we often need shirts that say, "Be Kind!" Maybe the stress of fractured relationships, the anxiety of bills that need paid, or even the constant busy and hurry of our lives is making many of us not so kind. If Angela's girls know that Down Syndrome is challenging, she is teaching them daily that it has no power to box them in, discourage them, limit their opportunities or isolate them from the world. Angela's circumstances do not define her attitude, her response or her emotions. She is walking kindness and she is making us all better.
If you see a beautiful woman, that always has a smile on her face and a kind word, hauling a hair dryer, a box of frozen bread or a platter of goodies, you may have passed Angela. She is on the move to share love with every person she meets.
"Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." – Proverbs 16:24


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Non-Recourse, Fixed Rates are as low as 4.5%. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Life Insurance Companies, CMBS Lenders, Private Equity Firms, Banks... they are all fighting over apartment loans. The days of walking into your local bank are over. What does your banker really know about trends in crowdfunding that can benefit you? In this day and age you should have access to all your options. Work with the nation's most complete multifamily brokerage and lending solution. Refinancing, buying, or building... we'll be here quoting and beating everyone on the block. Welcome to the multifamily lending revolution.
Hundreds of LendersThousands of ClientsBillions in LoansOnly One Place
Multifamily Loan Specialists are standing by. Call Now: (800)-567-9631 or email email@example.com.


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§ Mr. Oakes
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the effect on marine life in fishing grounds and in British territorial waters of the proposed dumping in the sea south of Ireland of toxic chemicals including cyanide.481W
§ Mrs. Fenner
Denmark, as one of the signatories of the Oslo Convention, has pledged itself to take all possible steps to prevent pollution of the sea by substances which might create a hazard to marine life. It is clear that in sanctioning the disposal of the waste materials in deep water far from land, it has acted in conformity with the terms of the convention. I am advised that there will be no effect on marine life as a result of the proposed dumping.


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There have been a number of developments in UK and EU Internet safety policy in recent weeks.
On 18th April 2012, a cross-party parliamentary inquiry into how safe children are online published its report. This follows on from the commitments made by ISPs in response to the recommendations set out in Letting Children be Children, the report of an independent review of the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood (also known as the Bailey Review), published by the Department for Education in June 2011.
By way of context for the new parliamentary report, the previous Bailey Review included the following recommendations in relation to protecting children from inappropriate and harmful content online:
In October 2011, industry responded to the Bailey Review with the launch by BT, TaltTalk, Virgin Media and Sky of a new code of practice on parental controls. This further described the concept of active choice thus:
However, the report of the recent parliamentary inquiry makes a stronger recommendation, that adult content should be blocked by default at network (rather than device) level:
The inquiry's report describes active choice as a "step in the right direction" but suggests that it "will do little to address the underlying problem of inadequate filtering unless a more energetic approach is taken with implementation plans." It also acknowledges the complexity of implementing such an opt-in model:
Finally, the inquiry's recommendations include the following:
The strategy makes some specific recommendations in relation to age verification and protecting children from inappropriate and harmful content:
By way of context for the new parliamentary report, the previous Bailey Review included the following recommendations in relation to protecting children from inappropriate and harmful content online:
"Making it easier for parents to block adult and age-restricted material from the internet: To provide a consistent level of protection across all media, as a matter of urgency, the internet industry should ensure that customers must make an active choice over what sort of content they want to allow their children to access. To facilitate this, the internet industry must act decisively to develop and introduce effective parental controls, with Government regulation if voluntary action is not forthcoming within a reasonable timescale. In addition, those providing content which is age-restricted, whether by law or company policy, should seek robust means of age verification as well as making it easy for parents to block underage access. ACTION: Internet industry and providers"
The Bailey Review went on to explain this active choice further:
"There has been much discussion about whether or not filters should be activated by default, with users only being able to access adult material if they take the trouble to remove the filters. We note, however, that Professor Tanya Byron concluded that this "could lull some parents into a false sense of security…[as they would] need do nothing more to help their children go online safely" (Byron, 2008). But we are also aware that Professor Byron recommended that the Government should consider a requirement for content filters on new home computers to be switched on by default if other approaches were failing to have an impact on the number and frequency of children coming across harmful or inappropriate content.
We believe that it is now time for a new approach. Specifically, we would like to see industry agreeing across the board that when a new device or service is purchased or contract entered into, customers would be asked to make an active choice about whether filters should be switched off or on: they would be given the opportunity to choose to activate the solution immediately, whether it be network-level filtering by an ISP or pre-installed software on a new laptop. We believe that this will substantially increase the take-up and awareness of these tools and, consequently, reduce the amount of online adult material accessed by children."The Bailey Review also recommended that the work being undertaken by the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) on age verification should "proceed without delay", stating that the industry "has the wherewithal to find a solution" and that the Government should consider regulation in this area if voluntary action is not forthcoming quickly".
In October 2011, industry responded to the Bailey Review with the launch by BT, TaltTalk, Virgin Media and Sky of a new code of practice on parental controls. This further described the concept of active choice thus:
"…new customers will be presented with a enforced choice whether or not to use the tools provided by their ISP (whether network, router or PC-based controls - "Controls") to filter access to the internet at the point of purchase or installation/activation of the internet service ("Active Choice"). The introduction of Active Choice will empower parents, drive increased general awareness and communicate more widely the issues and concerns outlined in the Bailey Review...we are committed to making it easier for those parents who do wish to use Controls to make an Active Choice whether or not to use Controls on their account. Many parents may choose not to apply Controls for a range of reasons, such as trusting their children or opting to supervise them in other ways, but we believe that providing an Active Choice to parents and carers is likely to improve the take up of Controls."This enforced, active choice will be in place by October 2012 and will be provided free of charge. The code of practice also noted that "ISPs currently offer a range of Controls, and there is agreement, that no one type of Control offers a perfect solution", and that the signatories would work with "an independent body to conduct an annual review and public report on the take-up of and effectiveness of parental controls and our compliance with the Code."
However, the report of the recent parliamentary inquiry makes a stronger recommendation, that adult content should be blocked by default at network (rather than device) level:
"Many feel that device-level filters are no longer offering sufficient protection for children online. Only a minority of parents use these filters and this number is falling. An explosion in the number of internet-enabled devices makes the process of individual device protection even more arduous...It would be difficult and wrong to propose mandatory government censorship of internet pornography but clearly a new approach is required. A network-level "Opt-In" system, maintained by ISPs, that delivered a clean internet feed to customers as standard but allowed them to choose to receive adult content, would preserve consumer choice but provide an additional content barrier that protected children from accessing age inappropriate material. This model would emulate the system already used by most major UK mobile phone companies, where access to adult content is blocked until an age verification check is conducted by the network operator, and could use the filtering technology already operating in all schools and on some public Wi-Fi hubs."
"Several key design and implementation issues would need to be addressed, including a workable age-verification interface and the need to design a granular permissioning system so that households can maintain different levels of access for different family members."But that said:
"There is currently no evidence that an Opt-In model would add substantial cost or slow down internet access speeds and the main objections to the proposal appear to be ideological. We find it perverse that companies who apply an adult content block for their customers accessing the internet via a mobile device would argue against introducing a similar system for their fixed broadband customers."Regional broadband consortia and local authorities have a wealth of experience in providing safe online environments for children in schools, and I would venture that the task is much more complex and difficult than is suggested by the extracts from the parliamentary inquiry report above. Which isn't to say that this issue should be left on the "too difficult" pile, just that technical solutions are not as straightforward as might first appear. The same applies to age verification online. There are no silver bullets in these areas, nor are there ever likely to be: these are not issues that can ever be completely "fixed" as technologies will continue to change and develop. Continuing the drive to educate both children and parents in online safety remains crucial, to help avoid any complacency in this area. The 2008 Byron Review drew a useful analogy between Internet safety and the dangers of water:
"Children and young people need to be empowered to keep themselves safe – this isn't just about a top-down approach. Children will be children – pushing boundaries and taking risks. At a public swimming pool we have gates, put up signs, have lifeguards and shallow ends, but we also teach children how to swim."Still very appropriate today I think. The parliamentary report echoes the Bailey Review's recommendation that industry self-regulation is to be preferred - "The Panel believes that ISPs working together will deliver a more effective Opt-In system on a self-regulated basis and that government regulation of the internet should always be done with the lightest touch." However, "given the strength of the ideological resistance to introducing this change, we believe that the Government should seek backstop legal provisions to intervene should industry progress prove inadequate."
Finally, the inquiry's recommendations include the following:
- ISPs should be tasked with rolling out single account network filters for domestic broadband customers that can provide one click filtering for all devices connected to a home internet connection within 12 months.
- The Government should launch a formal consultation on the introduction of an Opt-In content filtering system for all internet accounts in the UK. The most effective way to reduce overall development cost and create the most flexible solution would be for ISPs to work together to develop a self-regulated solution.
- Public Wi-Fi provision should also be filtered in this way otherwise home-based controls will be easily circumvented.
The strategy makes some specific recommendations in relation to age verification and protecting children from inappropriate and harmful content:
"The Commission...intends to propose in 2012 a pan-European framework for electronic authentication that will enable the use of personal attributes (age in particular) to ensure compliance with the age provisions of the proposed data protection regulation...Industry should...ensure the availability of parental controls that are simple to configure, are user friendly and accessible for all on all internet-enabled devices available in Europe. The tools should be efficient on any type of device and for any type of content, including user-generated content."Another recommendation focusses on rating and labelling content:
"One of the risks children face online is seeing inappropriate content (such as pornography or violent content). The ambition is to have a generally applicable, transparent, and consistent approach to age rating and content classification EU-wide, for a variety of content/services (including online games, apps and educational and other cultural content) and to explore innovative solutions (e.g. rating by users or automated rating). The system should provide parents with understandable age categories, while recognising that the same content may be rated as appropriate for different age categories in different countries. This approach should be used consistently across sectors, thus addressing the discrepancies in the implementation of current systems for the different media in order to benefit market competition...Industry should...establish an EU approach to age rating and content classification applicable across services as described above, building on the success of existing initiatives such as PEGI (and) look into how these systems could be made interpretable by parental controls."This recognition of the importance (and difficulty) of age rating and classification of online content is important I think. Finally, the EU strategy expresses a similar preference for self-regulation, suggesting that regulatory intervention will simply not be as effective:
"Ongoing effective industry self-regulation for the protection and empowerment of young people, with the appropriate benchmarks and independent monitoring systems in place, is needed to build trust in a sustainable and accountable governance model that could bring more flexible, timely and market-appropriate solutions than any regulatory initiatives."It will be interesting to continue to compare developments at UK and EU level, commentary from the BBC states that more details of the EU's proposals are expected to be published at the end of May, and are likely to coincide with the government's consultation on the recommendations of the recent independent parliamentary inquiry.


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When it comes to "rainy day blues," it's not just a case of our moods being affected by feeling irritated at the rain, or being joyful on sunny days just because it means you can get out and about – it goes deeper than that. The real influencers here are the changes in weather and sun rising/setting that comes with seasonal changes. Our bodies respond with that sensation of "rainy day blues" on colder, darker days – prevalent in winter and cooler climates and regions of the world.
We all have a natural body clock (circadian rhythm) which regulates our sleep/wake cycle, and in turn, this regulates our moods. The winter season can throw off our natural rhythms with the changing times of the sun becoming brighter later in the morning and darker earlier in the evening. Our sleep patterns are adversely interrupted, which is a major factor for how our moods are affected, as our bodies naturally want to adjust to the rhythm of the sun (in its creation of melatonin – the sleep chemical) though oftentimes, with our pace of life, we go about our lives as if nothing has changed. The affect is that we ignore our natural body signs, which affects our sleep, and ultimately, how bright and shiny we wake up.
If it's not available to you in your lifestyle to adjust your sleeping schedule, then there are other ways you can support your body in balancing its circadian rhythms when the seasons change. The more time you spend outdoors – particularly when the sun is rising or setting, the quicker your body's rhythms will adjust.
Also, light therapies are on the rise in modern times. Studies reveal that people who deal with depression during the darker seasons, or regions that don't see much sun (namely, the U.K), can expose themselves to 'light boxes,' which may help to regulate your mood.
Generally, your body will balance itself out, after a mild run in with seasonal mood changes. If you do notice that you have longer, recurring instances of low mood, then also look into other treatments, and again, consult your doctor to ensure it is not more than just feeling the winter blues.
For more information on how you can stay healthy both physically and mentally, get help from: http://lernerchiropractic.com


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Thrill Zone - Lasertag/ Heroblast
All the action, with none of the impact. Blast into the future with our state of the art laser gear and transport yourself into various battle scenarios with your very own referee!
- Adulto
- $39.00 - $49.00
Comunícate con nosotros
1 / 5
Acerca de
Forget everything you previously knew about traditional lasertag. Wired headbands and vests, plastic guns and sci-fi sounds belong in the past and have no place at 360° Battleground Lasertag. We use state of the art technology to make sure we can provide the most interactive and enjoyable experience possible for your hour in our professionally designed 360° Battleground.
Our Tippmann 98/Phenom X7 professional laser guns and specialised 'Heroblast' gloves transport you into various battle scenarios that are transmitted straight to you for quick changing game modes. Defeat your opponents in a Deathmatch, test your tactical skills in Domination mode or perfect your blasting accuracy to ensure victory in our Sniper game mode.
Dirección física
Thrill Zone - Lasertag/ Heroblast, 53 Shotover Street, Central Queenstown, Queenstown, 9300, New Zealand.
Horario de apertura
- Horario comercial:
- 10am- Late
- Meses de funcionamiento:
- Todos los meses del año
Instalaciones y características
- Proximidad con el pueblo:
- Central Queenstown
Precios y condiciones
|$39.00 - $49.00


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We are continually adding to our online product list. Check back often. Check in-store for availability.
Real food is raw – minimally-processed, never cooked, all natural nutrition. We believe in feeding raw because we know the good it can do. It's feeding the way nature intended so your dog is able to absorb and digest all the goodness from whole-food ingredients for: lean, strong muscles, strong bones, healthy skin, coat, teeth and gums, as well as immune and digestive health. Unlock your dog's potential to thrive with Instinct Raw Frozen Bites Grain-Free Cage-Free Duck Recipe.
Store Locations


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Jon(athan) Cuadros is a film photographer born to Colombian émigrés, currently based out of Berlin.
His debut photobook "Lichtquellen" is now available via Pogo Books Publishing.
You may follow him on Instagram here: @jncdrs.
+49 1577 368 7207
Solo & Joint Exhibitions
2017 Lichtquellen Book Launch & Solo Exhibition, CoGalleries, Berlin, DE
2017 Once Upon a Pink, Puderraum, Berlin, DE
2016 Deflection: European Month of Photography, FK Kollektiv, Berlin, DE
Group Exhibitions
2017 The Blind Curator, FK Galerie, Berlin, DE
2016 Les Poussières, Stardust, Orlando, USA
Featured Press
2018 METAL Magazine
2017 Huck
2017 FotoFilmic
2017 Curated By Girls
Printed Matter
2017 Lichtquellen
2017 Sukeban Magazine Issue II
2017 Luxury Death "Glue" Zine
2017 Rûm Issue°II
2016 Nai Harvest Farewell Zine
2016 Is It Over Yet? Magazine


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I'm adverse to delve that deeply into what the Shah party could be thinking on East Jerusalem. I talked about lions person. Well, this is a vital moment in decision produce talks for you to the workplace.
Risk is uncertainty. You enter an unknown situation, like proverbial fork in the highway. You don't know where either path ends and actual may encounter along method but will take a very something intriguing about each and every the directions and you make a solution to go on the "right" in order to the "left" (no, no visiting with Yousef Al Otaiba reveals the sincerity please).
Faith, propaganda, pity, tradition, and seduction are all examples of emotion igniters, luring you towards something out from the you would pick without any sort of influence the least bit. Maybe even if the influence is less subtle like torture or a threat. A middle east, individuals are told to suicide bomb places or their families would get killed. Still a sort of mind control.
Now I'm wondering if this underlying, unspoken philosophy permeates Barack Obama's campaign. Obama calls himself a Christian, as do many from the presidential candidates, but he has teamed up with Oprah, who promotes secular humanism. Placing the way ahead for humanity squarely in the hands of humanity, as secular humanism does, doesn't bode well for our country.
3rd Internet Question: ONE ANSWER TO CHRISTIAN UNITY MIGHT BE FOR CHRISTIANS TO ORGANIZE AN ECUMENICAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH WHERE THE CHURCH WOULD RECRUIT ALL CHRISTIANS, INCLUDING ROMAN CATHOLICS, TO BE MINISTERS TO WHOMEVER NEEDED HELP. What do you think?
As you read these lines perhaps you say, "I have my Christmas tree but I am worship it, and consequently, I see nothing wrong with thought." Let me remind you, however, that you want to determine what is right and what is wrong. God determines what's right and wrong. In the event the Christmas tree is no idol to you, why are you so not wanting to give upward? What are you doing down your knees a person first place your gifts under it?
The neat thing is selection of amenities like spa, water sports and highly decorated lounges it has within on your own. To be pampered by spa service on a cruiser as big and marvelous because Dubai Yacht is truly an experience with its own which are not matched. The mesmerizing glass made stair case that runs within the heart among the Dubai yacht is a wonderful sight to capture. The yacht is enormous and so well furnished that running barefoot is in order to find get your eyesight off it. A very lot of money was spent by the owner of this private Yacht to make its interior look just like you are on a dream make.


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Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service
NOOK Book(eBook)
Available on Compatible NOOK Devices and the free NOOK Apps.
New York Times Bestseller: The moving, entertaining, never-before-told story of how one man found his calling: to see that those who defend this country and its freedoms are never forgotten.
"The book is called Grateful American, and I promise you after you read it you will be grateful for what Gary has accomplished and contributed to our country." -- Clint Eastwood
As a kid in suburban Chicago, Gary Sinise was more interested in sports and rock 'n' roll than reading or schoolwork. But when he impulsively auditioned for a school production of West Side Story, he found his purpose--or so it seemed.
Within a few years Gary and a handful of friends created what became one of the most exciting and important new theater companies in America. From its humble beginnings in a suburban Chicago church basement and eventual move into the city, the Steppenwolf Theatre Company launched a series of groundbreaking productions, igniting Gary's career along with those of John Malkovich, Joan Allen, Gary Cole, Laurie Metcalf, Jeff Perry, John Mahoney, and others. Television and film came calling soon after, and Gary starred in Of Mice and Men (which he also directed) and The Stand before taking the role that would change his life in unforeseeable ways: Lieutenant Dan in the Academy Award–winning Forrest Gump.
The military community's embrace of the character of the disabled veteran was matched only by the depth of Gary's realization that America's defenders had not received all the honor, respect, and gratitude their sacrifices deserve. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, this became Gary's mission. While starring in hits like Apollo 13, Ransom, Truman, George Wallace, CSI:NY, and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Gary has worked tirelessly on behalf of those who serve this country, entertaining more than a half million troops around the world playing bass guitar with his Lt. Dan Band, raising funds on behalf of veterans, and eventually founding the Gary Sinise Foundation with a mission to serve and honor America's defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need.
Grateful American is the moving, entertaining, profoundly gripping story of how one man found his calling: to see that those who defend this country and its freedoms are never forgotten.
Product Details
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|HarperCollins Publishing
|NOOK Book
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About the Author
Gary Sinise is an Oscar-nominated actor and winner of an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild awards, and has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, all while advocating for America's veterans for nearly forty years. For his service work, Gary has been presented with numerous humanitarian awards including the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the George Catlett Marshall Medal from the Association of the US Army, and the Spirit of Hope Award by the Department of Defense. He was named an honorary Chief Petty Officer by the United States Navy, was pinned as an honorary Marine, and received the Sylvanus Thayer Award at West Point, given to a civilian "whose character, service, and achievements reflect the ideals prized by the U.S. Military Academy." He's also the recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian honor awarded by the President of the United States to citizens for "exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation. "
Marcus Brotherton is a New York Times bestselling author and coauthor. His books include Grateful American with Gary Sinise, Tough As They Come with SSG Travis Mills, and We Who Are Alive & Remain, with twenty of the elite paratroopers from World War II known as the Band of Brothers. He is the recipient of the Christopher Award for literature that "affirms the highest values of the human spirit."
Table of Contents
Prologue: Stunned 1
Chapter 1 Yearning to Breathe Free 11
Chapter 2 Baptism 27
Chapter 3 The Start of Steppenwolf 38
Chapter 4 The Corner of Hollywood and Love 56
Chapter 5 When We Started to Look Beyond Ourselves 70
Chapter 6 Glimpses of Glory 84
Chapter 7 Steinbeck Country 101
Chapter 8 Big Movie Years 116
Chapter 9 Darkness and Light 135
Chapter 10 Turning Point 152
Chapter 11 A Bridge Between Worlds 167
Chapter 12 Honor. Gratitude. Rock and Roll 184
Chapter 13 Perfect Timing 197
Chapter 14 Helping Children 211
Chapter 15 Flurry of Action 228
Chapter 16 The Gary Sinise Foundation 243
Chapter 17 Why I'm Still on a Mission 261
Called to Action 275
Acknowledgments 277
About the Author 279
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A great picture into what our soldiers have gone through and the evolution of a young wild kid to a man who humbly helps as he can.
"The nation which forgets it defenders will be itself forgotten" – Calvin Coolidge Gary Sinise, an Oscar nominated actor for his supporting role as Lt. Dan Taylor in the 1994 blockbuster "Forrest Gump", has also appeared in other big screen roles such as Apollo 13, Ransom, Reindeer Games, Mission to Mars, and Of Mice and Men, which he also directed. This book details Gary's life from his youth in Chicago, to the founding of the Steppenwolf Theater Company, to directing, to acting, his passion and advocacy for those who serve our country, as well as forming the Gary Sinise Foundation. With sincerity, and sometimes humor-infused story-telling, Gary recounts the events of his misdirected youth, his marriage, his children, and his acting career. He includes the good and not so good sides of his own personal life and marriage. His admiration of his wife through her heart-breaking struggles is refreshing and honest, if not downright inspiring. After acting in a high school production of "West Side Story", Gary found his calling as an actor. But, it would be a few decades before he would be able to see success as an actor. The role of "Lt. Dan" became more than an Oscar-nominated supporting role though. It resonated with disabled veterans, Vietnam vets, and inspired service members. Lt. Dan's struggles were not some Hollywood construct – but instead actual struggles. Gary's positive performance re-ignited recognition of their plight, especially after Vietnam. After being recognized and honored for his portrayal, it inspired Gary to do more to honor our military and thank them for their service. Instead of walking away from that role and shun the typecasting, he later used it to propel his own mission forward, starting with USO handshake tours, moving up to performing for troops. It wasn't until 9/11 that everything changed and "Lt. Dan" was recalled to active duty. This time he wouldn't be fighting a war – he'd be providing moral support and encouragement for the troops. The character's name eventually became the name of Gary Sinse's band formed in 2003 (not named until 2004) – the "Lt. Dan Band" had one sole focus – the troops – to entertain them, give them messages of love and support from home, and our gratitude for their tireless efforts. As Gary details in his book, this cover/tribute band was founded solely for the troops and since that time has played more than 400+ shows between domestic military bases to overseas. This book, while sometimes disjointed in the chronology, is written to educate and entertain – two of the primary goals of his foundation. But, it also serves as an inspiration – a call to duty to champion the cause of our crusaders – military, fire fighters, police, and EMTs. Our real heroes, their challenges – how we as civilians can give back, how we can express our gratitude. This is book is not only the story of the origins of an actor, the chairman of a foundation – but one man's dream, his mission – to make a difference – to make sure our nation's heroes are never forgotten. I found myself in tears on more than one occasion, and I do recommend keeping a few tissues handy. I also laughed in certain places. But, this was, as I was telling on my social media accounts while I read it – an inspiring, emotionally engaging, heart-breaking, and compelling read.
What a powerful narrative, inspiring and heartrending. It's a must-read for anyone who has ever thought, even once, that one person can't make a difference! What an inspirational example Gary Sinise is for all us ordinary folk.
It is an honest and thought provoking book. It is very inspiring and definitely makes me want to do more for our military and first responders! Awesome work Gary Sinise!
I was honored to be included on the Launch Team for #GratefulAmericanBook and eagerly anticipated the arrival of my advance copy. I was not disappointed and finished the entire book in one day. Gary's life journey to be the beloved service ambassador that he is today is a real "this is us" story. He is a regular guy with real life challenges who understands that we all have much to be thankful for. The emotions were raw for me in several chapters. My daughter and son-in-law are active duty Army officers and are connected with patriots who have sacrificed everything so that we can be free and enjoy the liberties that we do. My husband & I financially support various groups that support our vets and first responders and send care packages periodically, but Gary's story has inspired us to seek what other avenues we have to help. Thank you, Gary! We too are Grateful Americans.
Having enjoyed and admired the on screen and off screen works of Gary Sinise, I was more than pleased to receive an advance copy of his autobiography, Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service. Being his generational peer (we were born only weeks apart) our life journeys saw the same historic milestones from different perspectives. As I read each chapter, I experienced the range of emotions from laughter to tears learning how he dealt with his own successes, failures, joys and sorrows. I also gained an appreciation for the expanse of his philanthropic efforts through his foundation. I can only conclude after reading the book that the Hand of Providence guided each of those experiences to uniquely equip Gary to be the man he is today. I heartily recommend this book to you, you can expect to feel the same gratitude towards this country and those who protect it that Gary does. In addition, you will be thankful that men like Gary answer the higher calling to service.
If you ever wondered what motivates Gary Sinise for all he does for our veterans, this book gives you a first hand account. From his humble beginnings as a misfit student to a student of hard knocks, Sinise provides an insider's view into theater business and the sacrifices his family was more than willing to make on their behalf to his support his endeavors. On a personal note, being the wife of a Vietnam Combat Marine Veteran I'm not only grateful for all the work Gary Sinise does with veteran's groups and organizations but also for being public and sharing the plight of the active duty and veterans. Special blessings to his wife and children for embracing his values and offering their unbridled support. Marjorie High
Gary Sinise, writes an autobiographical account of his life. He shares stories of his troubled youth and how a high school teacher inspired him to become an actor. Along the way he and a group of friends formed a theater group called Steppenwolf. He tells the story of how he worked with Tom Hanks in the movie Forest Gump and he became Lt. Dan. He discovered his passion was to honor our veterans and first responders and their families. He has earned many awards in the course of his life: acting, military awards for his service to veterans, first responders and their families. He earned the second highest civilian award our nation can confer on one of it's citizen. The Gold Medal for Service to our country, presented to him by President George W. Bush. The photo album at the end of the book, with captions, added to bringing home the reason why he works tirelessly to provide help through the Gary Sinise Foundation to a variety of causes. This book is both inspirational and motivational.
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book. I have been reading it in the small amounts of spare time I have. I love this book and here's why: The way this book is written seems as though I am talking to an old friend. Gary Sinise tells the good with the bad. While this book is an easy read, it is an emotional one. There were times I was laughing and then brought to tears. My favorite chapter is "When we started to look beyond ourselves." As I read this chapter, I was reminded of why I created a Vietnam Memorial at my high school in 2002. The feelings that Gary described was exactly how I felt and feel to this day. When Gary begins talking about "Tracers," I was overcome with emotions. He describes the play which was originally performed by veterans only. He sought advice from his brother-in-laws, who all served in Vietnam. He wanted to make sure the play was an accurate portrayal. He offered free attendance to veterans and hosted question and answer times after to help with healing. For me, I saw this as the starting point of the Gary Sinise Foundation. My second favorite chapter is "Steinbeck Country." I own a copy of "Of Mice and Men" and wrote a lengthy paper in high school over it. I remember my teacher showing it to me in 11th grade. Then watched the movie starring Gary Sinise. I learned in this book that his dad edited the movie for him, which I thought made the experience even more special. I did not know how passionately he felt about this movie or story until now. He does a great job of outlining every step of his journey. As the book progresses, he talks about "Forrest Gump," the Gary Sinise Foundation and why he continues to serve. I personally feel like Gary leaves nothing out of this book. Not only do you feel like you know Gary Sinise better but you know the people around him better too. He doesn't sugar coat his troubles and I love that. As Gary is explaining what he is going through personally, he also describes what the world around him is like. I think this gives a great frame of reference to view the bigger picture. This book is an enjoyable read and I hope that continues to inspire people to "always do a little more." #GratefulAmericanBook
Gary Sinise opens his biography with an attention grabbing prologue that begins at the 1994 Disabled American Veterans convention in Chicago. He was there to be honored by the group for playing "Lieutenant Dan" in the movie Forrest Gump. He choked up as the disabled veterans enthusiastically stood to applaud his portrayal of a disabled Vietnam veteran. Gary was humbled at receiving their award for, as he says, merely portraying a character as an actor. He thought about how poorly our Vietnam veterans were treated when they returned home from serving our country and became determined to "make sure our veterans are never treated that way again." Thus were planted the seeds of Gary's passion to start the Gary Sinise Foundation whose motto is: "We can never do enough to show our gratitude to our nation's defenders, veterans, first responders, and their families who serve alongside them, we can always do a little more." Gary takes us on his journey about growing up in the Chicago area from Harvey to Highland Park. He candidly writes about his childhood and his struggles to make friends and graduate from high school. His early selfish focus was on himself. Fortunately, a teacher sees him in the hallway, tells him he looks like a gang member and asks him to try out for the school play, West Side Story. This participation gets him involved in something greater than himself and he is truly transformed after being accepted into the theater family at school. He writes about co-founding Steppenwolf Theater and his career as an award winning actor and director. This brings us to his life changing role as Lieutenant Dan Taylor from the hit movie Forrest Gump. In the book, he states his character Lt. Dan is wearing only shorts and flip flops when you first see him because the director wanted us to see him with his legs he would eventually lose in the movie. Then, September 11, 2001 happened which changed his life's purpose from focusing on himself to honoring our veterans, first responders, active military members and their families. Gary wrote, "I wondered what I could possibly do to support my country during this terrible time." He contacted the USO several times and asked to go on tour to personally thank those military members who were serving our country. He didn't get a response back until he said he was Gary Sinise who played "Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump." After a few fulfilling handshake tours, he formed the Lt. Dan Band, where he plays bass guitar, and has since performed over 400 concerts to raise money for charitable causes to support our troops and first responders. In the book, Gary writes, "I want to lead a good life, not just for myself, but also for my fellow man. A life of service, to try to make the world a better place. America has given me this opportunity, and for that, I will always be grateful." If you have an interest in learning about Gary Sinise and how his life evolved from "self to service," then this book is a must read for you. I have followed Gary Sinise's efforts to honor our troops, veterans, first responders and their families for years. I learned a lot about Gary Sinise and found the book informative, entertaining and enjoyable. I received an Advance Readers Copy from Gary Sinise and was able to read the book before the official release date to write this review. I just received the Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition and love the beautiful photos and postcards.
Fastinating book about a great American. As a veteran myself I really appreciate all that Lt Dan has done in support of our military. Recommend this book to everyone. Thank you!
From start to finish, Gary Sinise weaves a story of passion, purpose, and perseverance. Qualities, I believe our forefathers had when they founded this wonderful nation, and qualities Gary Sinise exemplifies today. Grateful American really should be required reading in schools, so young people can see how selfless service can change the world.
Take a journey with Gary and one of your own too. If you think you know Gary Sinise you really don't. If you want to know how Gary prepared for the role he is now playing, that of one of the foremost supporters of our defenders, first responders, veterans and their families you need to get your copy of this book as soon as it is available. You will see the steps he took to get to where he is today along with the missteps and lessons learned along the way. Inside you will learn how a high school drama teacher planted the seed and challenge that have brought us the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, Of Mice and Men, in which he acted, produced and directed, and characters brought to life on the screen, both large and small, of Harry Truman, George Wallace, Lt. Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump, Mac Taylor in CSI New York, Ken Mattingly in Apollo 13 and the Lt. Dan Band and Gary Sinise Foundation. Along the way, you will learn the advice he received from Steven Spielberg, that he ignored, and why he was once kicked off the Warner Brothers lot, as he shares his life story. Obviously, there is a lot more inside that will make you laugh, cry and say ahh (light bulb goes on) from time to time. Gary has played many roles so far in his life but the role he has played over the last several years and will be his legacy is a role he was called to play. The book shows how his life preceding The Gary Sinise Foundation prepared him for this role. He plays it like no one else with sincerity, humility, and gratitude. It's what makes him a Grateful American. After you read his story I suspect you will be too. Just a note about the Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition - You get a letter from Gary inside and, in keeping with his mantra, "I believe that while we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation's defenders and their families, we can always to a little more." there are 3 postcards included for you to mail to a veteran, active military service member, or first responder to thank them for their service and remind them they are not forgotten. Much like his high school drama teacher challenged him I challenge you to read his story in this book. You will be glad you did. You might just travel that journey from self to service yourself and we can never have too many Grateful Americans.
I've appreciated Gary Sinise as an actor for quite a few years now, but it has only been in the past couple of years that I became aware of all that he does for our military, veterans and their families. This book provides a detailed look at how he went from a kid who was barely making it through high school to an incredibly talented actor and generous philanthropist. He was very open and honest about his journey, sharing the difficulties as well as the successes. I had no idea the extent of his service. I never wanted to put the book down! I finished it feeling so grateful for all he has done to support so many people over the past few decades. He is truly an amazing human! It was refreshing to read about someone who chose to use their fame and success for good, as opposed to the Hollywood norm of self-promotion. I would definitely recommend this book! I received an advance reader copy from the publisher.
I'm a sucker for biographies, and this one is quite enjoyable to read, not just because it's the story of a life, but because it's the life story of Gary Sinise, a fine gentleman who does good work. I love the fact that he starts his story going back several generations to his roots in Italy, and then telling about how he ended up in the entertainment industry and ultimately in what he is doing today with his support of the military. This is a great read and I highly recommend it! I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and chose to write this review.
I received an Advanced Reader copy of this book. I also purchased a hard copy as a gift for a friend who is a Veteran. I haven't finished it but am more than halfway through and I can honestly say - it is fantastic! Gary Sinise is a true American Patriot and probably one of the most genuine, generous and selfless people you will ever find. He traces his past from his teen years, when he thought only of being a musician to pivotal points in his life where his path was diverted, leading him to change his views on life until he realized how much our American way of life is due directly to the sacrifices made by our veterans. He learns what it means to be grateful and to give back - and he really does. This book is a must read. It is also a perfect gift for any veteran.
A wonderful journey.......... " when joy connects to mission, a life's purpose begins to take shape." This quote from Gary Sinise in his book "Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service", just about says it all. I received an Advance Readers Copy and although I finished the book about a week ago, I have taken my time to reflect on all that I have learned. He takes the reader on a trip through his early life as a troubled teen to finding his passion in theater, to marrying the love of his life and starting a family, to recognizing that there is always a larger picture. From his first USO tour to the creation of the Gary Sinise Foundation, he urges us all to "do a little more".
For a number of years, I have admired from a distance Gary Sinise and all that he has done and continues to do for our American heroes -- our active military, veterans, first responders and their families. I have often wondered how and why one person does so much. As a member of the launch team for Grateful American, I received an Advance Reader's Copy. After reading the book, I now have more insight into who Gary Sinise is and what motivates him; and I have an even greater appreciation for him and all that he does! I discovered in Grateful American that he is a man who knows his mission and he passionately spends his time and resources to accomplish that mission. In Grateful American, Mr. Sinise gives us an up close and personal look into his journey from self to service. He begins by taking us from his childhood to his "wild" teen years, the discovery of his love for acting, his creation of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater, and his successful career as an actor, director and musician. He also shares with us his journey of faith. He is transparent about the ups and downs of his life and how the shakings he and his family experienced led them to a solid rock, one that would never crumble or fall. Following September 11, 2001, our nation was shaken and Gary's heart was broken. He was also fearful regarding what the future held. Gary found healing through service. He had watched the ungrateful treatment our Vietnam vets received when they returned home and he was determined that our military would be treated differently this time. His life was transformed from that of an actor to an advocate, an advocate to carry our nation's gratitude to our military. Throughout the pages of the book, Gary Sinise's love for his country and his freedom is evident. He is grateful for America's defenders who have sacrificed to provide that freedom, and he does all that he can to let them know that. He puts his love and gratitude into action. The book Grateful American is engaging, insightful and inspiring. Once you pick it up, you will not want to put it down, and my guess is that you, too -- if you are not one already -- will become a grateful American.
I have been blessed to be the recipient of the advanced reader's copy of this book and was a part of its launch team! If I had to sum up "Grateful American: A Journey From Self to Service" in one phrase, it's 'do a little more' because that's what Gary Sinise has done his entire life. He's strived to do just a little more and that desire has manifested into a powerful foundation that has helped and will help so many. I didn't love this book because he wrote it. Great men are all around us. I love this book because he walks the talk. He's never backed down from a challenge. He's not great at taking no for an answer. He makes things happen. He perseveres. He loves and cares for others more than himself. He's a great example. The springboard of his success as a humanitarian seems to be his role as Lt. Dan. I felt the whole time, like I was sitting on Forrest Gump's bench listening to Gary tell me the entire story from his youth to his life's work and purpose. The book is written in a very conversational tone. It was a delightful read. The book has also encouraged me to try to do just a little more to aid in Gary Sinise's efforts to help us never forget the heroes that pave our road to freedom and safety. My eyes have been opened to some history I knew little about. I have a fresh understanding of just what goes on around me. I have a knew found appreciation for the men and women of our military, first responders as well as their families and loved ones. I find myself even more grateful than I was before. I could wrote SO much more, but I don't want to spoil it. I would highly recommend this as a must read. As quickly as you can get your hands on it.
Gary Sinise has always been a favorite actor of mine. Once I heard and saw of his work for our nation's veterans with The Gary Sinise Foundation, my respect only grew. I was overjoyed to read his book, "Grateful American: A Journey From Self to Service." Gary is a talented performer who also runs a non profit, The Gary Sinise Foundation, meeting the needs of our injured or disabled veterans and first responders. Coming from a family full of veterans and loved ones who are first responders, this book hits home with me. I was honored to get the opportunity to read early, and this book does not disappoint. Gary shares his story of growing up in Chicago as a young man attempting to find his place in the world. Troubled and floundering in high school, a caring drama teacher encouraged Gary to audition for a play, and the rest, as they say, is history. Hearing his story of growth, change and his finding faith later in his life makes for an emotional read. Gary peppers the book with stories of those who give of themselves, their families and their lives to secure our freedoms. He realizes that he is a place where he can do more than most people can, and he takes the opportunity. I agree with Gary when he states, quite unequivocally, that "we can all do something." "Grateful American" pulls you into an intimate look at Gary's life, his family, his acting work and his choice to become involved in creating a non profit that provides the things we all wish we could do for our veterans: support, encourage and give back the independence that catastrophic injuries take from those who have given for our freedoms. I was moved to tears often throughout the book, but I also felt that his message is one that will resonate with all of us. One of the quotes I loved the most from the book centers on Gary's faith journey and his call to do the most he can do for those in need: "I began to feel called by God to take greater action, compelled to use everything I'd been blessed with to serve in a more substantial way. I wanted to create something that could be there for the long haul and, over time, do good work for others." I feel very blessed to have been an early reader, thanks to Nelson Books. All opinions are my own. This book would make an excellent gift for just about any age group. I appreciated the chance to follow Gary's journey and think many others will be inspired by his message. Don't wait! Get a copy for yourself and for a friend. You will both be changed.
I received an ARC copy of this book. I am a veteran of the United States Army and found my knowledge of Gary to be limited only to his military contributions, and of course, to his character as Lt. Dan. I met Gary in New Orleans in 2017 and thanked him personally for all that he has done for this country. I feel a bit of regret not knowing more about his life than I do now. I would have at least dropped in a joke or a reference to his past to make the encounter more personable. There are a lot of names mentioned in this book and I found that it was helpful to look up the referencing names and get a picture in my head before continuing to read. It was a much more pleasant story after I was able to put faces to names. I think that's the point where any book comes alive, is when you start picturing the characters, rather than just reading names. Believe me, you will be pretty surprised by some of the names you come across that have made such an impact on his life. Going in with no information whatsoever of his past before the movie Forrest Gump was a real treat! I felt like I was learning very intimate, personal things about Gary that no one else knew except for the ones close to him. You will read this book and fall in love with not only Gary, but also everyone that has guided him along his path to service. Some very emotional moments throughout the book, but also a lot of funny ones too. He doesn't shy away from any subjects that might be considered taboo, because those things are what made him the man he is today. The book is very genuine and raw. I read it in 3 days, it consumed all of my free time. The chase of what was to come next was then ended with the last page...and for a bit of time, I felt like Gary was now a friend. I understood his life's story and message and felt so thankful to have been given the experience! I knew this book would be a 5 star read about 10 pages in. Yes, folks, it's that great! Take the time to get to know a real American hero!
Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service is an outstanding read! Gary Sinise is a Patriot, who has penned his life's journey in an honest and humble way. I, like many others, knew of Gary because of his role as Lieutenant Dan in the movie Forrest Gump, but through this book I learned so much more. The book brought back memories of the turbulent '60's and '70's and the story of Gary's struggle through that time. Even with his success in his acting career there were struggles, but Gary pushed forward and began to discover his life's mission, that of service. I have personally been lucky enough to see some of his service firsthand. My husband, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant, and I saw Gary a few times at EPCOT, where he was the narrator of the "Candlelight Processional." He has been our favorite since the first time we saw him. The last time we were able to see him was the time that we got the privilege of being part of his service. At the end of the performance, he asked for the house lights to go up, and then asked for all of the veterans in the audience to stand and be recognized! My husband was hesitant, but I pushed him to stand. What an honor! We also got to see a performance of the Lt. Dan Band. This was how I began to realize Gary's mission. I was thrilled when I was notified that I was on the Launch Team for this book. I gave the book a five star rating because it is thoughtful, meaningful, well written. Gary is the epitome of what an American should be and why each of us should be Grateful. I hope that everyone can read the book and will come away with the true meaning of what a Patriot is. Thank you, Gary for your story and for your service to our Veterans and First Responders. I received my Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher at no cost.
This is an insightful look at Gary's personal journey on his way to becoming a grateful supporter and encourager of our armed forces and first responders personnel. It is more than a recitation of facts, though. After reading it I feel like I know the man and what makes him do what he does. Thank you, Gary, for allowing us this insight into your life, your family, your career, and your passion for our troops.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. The title of this book could have also been 'Greatg American'. While Sinise will never be considered a great writer, his story of how he came to be is very interesting and highly readable. He is much more than an actor who played in good movie. Not many people would realize the significance of the importance of his founding involvement of the theater company 'Steppenwolf' in Chicago along with his music and acting chops. People of America need to support Sinise as he supports veterans.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. The title of this book could have also been 'Greatg American'. While Sinise will never be considered a great writer, his story of how he came to be is very interesting and highly readable. He is much more than an actor who played in good movie. Not many people would realize the significance of the importance of his founding involvement of the theater company 'Steppenwolf' in Chicago along with his music and acting chops. People of America need to support Sinise as he supports veterans.


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CRESTVIEW � During the next Evening Library Time, travel back to the Middle Ages for �A Medieval Eve� on May 28.
It�s an open house format, so come to the Crestview Public Library any time 6-7:30 p.m. All ages are welcome.
Come whack-a-knight (age 12 and under). Watch fighting and fencing. Play a game from the Middle Ages.
Presented by the shire of Phoenix Glade, the Society for Creative Anachronism is an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe.
Registration is not required for this free event. Call 682-4432.


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The following posts were made by reddit user UsedToThrowaway to share with us some insight into South Park's performance in Season 20 and possible effects on future seaesons.
October 27, 2016 -
Would like to share some information about this season and the outlook Comedy Central has on South Park right now...
I created this throwaway because I am an active Redditor on my normal account and do not wish to be associated with this post.
There is a growing sense of disappointment within the Comedy Central HQ about the current format of the show. As a business standpoint, this is not ideal for the network. The quality has seemingly dipped over time and a lot of those higher in the network are becoming frustrated that they cannot play reruns which hurts their ratings as well as outreach to a newer audience. What I mean when I say is they can't play reruns is that with the current format, you can't play the 5th episode of the season and have someone who is not a South Park diehard understand what is happening.
The contract extension that was signed in July of 2015 was before anyone knew they would change their format. As you know, Matt & Trey and all involved often wait until the last moment to decide on what to do. The network feels this has drastically hurt them in regards to the new format because they don't have a solid plan for the show. This is all a crapshoot right now. That would be fine in older formats, but they risk having huge plot holes and having things not make sense.
The rating have dipped. The season opener for the season had high expectations and met that because a lot had to do with old viewers tuning in to see what kind of show it would be. Ratings actually did increase slightly over the next few shows but the last 2 episodes have been considered a failure by audiences. This is expected to level out or drop off and not rise as people who have missed an episode or two now are completely out of the loop and are expected to just "give up" on it in a sense.
The ratings drop is a bit worrying. This is the quickest it has dropped in the shows history. For majority of the seasons, the trendline has increased through the shows season but this does not look like it will happen this year.
In a poll given out by CC, people did not favor the direction of the show and had a below average outlook on main characters such as Cartman and Randy who scored the lowest they ever have. Butters has dropped, Kyle has dropped while the only character popularity to rise was Gerald.
The network will always support the show, but they really are not happy with what is going on with it and I personally would expect that maybe by 2018 they switch formats back to how it was.
Just passing along what I have to share because I often see debates on here about the new vs. old format and want to give a basic idea to everyone what is being said behind the scenes.
CC is unhappy is the amount of episodes they play from the last 2 seasons. You won't see many repeats being aired. This has nothing to deal with the Hulu deal. CC just feels that nobody will watch a single rerun of the new episodes.
December 8, 2016 -
Not to 'toot my own horn' but I am the CC employee who warned you a couple of months ago this would happen to South Park.
No more season-long formats confirmed. CC and Matt&Trey agreed it had run its course and wasn't moving the show forward any longer.
I said all there is to know. They are going back to the old format. Comedy Central and Matt&Trey agreed the direction of the show was not working and are going back to the old format. I posted that 41 days ago, what happened between then was they let the season finish and reviewed the numbers. The decision to do this was made previous to episode 9.
Hint: the episode names "Not Funny" and "The end of serialization as we know it" weren't accidents.
February 9, 2017 -
We could possibly see 12 episodes this upcoming season.
There are some early talks going on that they may extend this season by a few episodes. This is VERY EARLY in discussions and I personally don't believe it's going to happen but it has been brought up and talked about. Possibly 8 random episodes in the old format with a mini series at the end for the Holidays.
I know people would favor this so I just thought I'd pass it along and hopefully it does happen. I know that majority of people preferred having random episodes and then a mini 3-4 episode series at the end.


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Florianopólis Beaches Guide
Beaches in Florianopolis, Brazil are some of the most breathtaking anywhere in the world. There are forty-two Florianopolis beaches, to be exact, with one more beautiful than the next and all of them here waiting for you to enjoy.
Florianopolis beaches offer everything from secluded and paradise-like getaways that make the Caribbean pale in comparison to nature preserves with long stretches of untouched and undeveloped coastline, upscale beaches with ritzy beachfront estates to rival Ocean Drive in Miami and fun filled beaches packed with young and beautiful people.
While the waters at the Floripa beaches on the west side of the island are calm and protected and thus great for families and swimming, Florianopolis' entire east coast is blessed with a constant flow of powerful Atlantic swells, making for some of the most amazing and consistent year-round surfing you will find anywhere in the world.
Due to Floripa's unique topography and great variety of breaks, there are likely to be fantastic waves somewhere around the island at virtually any given time. And with so many high-quality breaks to choose from, you'll be sure to always find an uncrowded peak to enjoy wave after wave of uncrowded surf.
Beaches in Florianopolis, Brazil
Two of the best surfing beaches in Floripa , Praia Mole and Galheta, also happen to be two of the most vibrant and beautiful, and are a must see during your visit to Florianopolis.
A short ride ride (less than 5 minutes) from Praia Mole you will find 3 more world-class surfing beaches – one for beginners (Barra da Lagoa), one that holds international surfing competitions (Joaquina), and another with over 4 miles of wide open beachfront and isolated peaks (Moçambique).
As if that were not enough, don't forget that with a car you will be mobile and can easily reach the best swells other Florianopolis beaches have to offer that particular day at surf spots such as Santinho, Praia Brava, Morro das Pedras and Matadeiro. With your choice of amazing surf all around the island, you will be sure to maximize your surf experience in Brazil.
In addition to the incredible beaches in Florianopolis, there are countless more within an hour or so drive along the coast of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. These include world famous surf spots such as Praia da Silveira, Praia Rosa, Imbituba (Garopaba), where the finals of Florianopolis' 2008 WCT event were held, and Guarda do Embaú, known for its powerful left point break and breathtaking natural beauty.
Florianopólis Beaches Guide in Santa Catarina Travel Guide - Brazil Travel Guide


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KID KOALA'S SPACE CADET HEADPHONE EXPERIENCE at 918 Bathurst, tonight and tomorrow (Thursday and Friday, May 3-4), 9:30 pm, all ages. $25-$30. RT, SS. See listing.
Better known as Kid Koala, Canadian turntablist/musician/author Eric San says he's in clubs and at concerts 200 nights a year. But his new Space Cadet Headphone Experience tour allows him to bring his young daughters - ages three and three months - on the road with him for the first time.
An exploratory, interactive complement to his second graphic novel, Space Cadet, about a girl-child astronaut, the tour is logistically and conceptually more complex than carting a laptop or even stacks of vinyl to a club. Throughout the audio-visual show, San cuts and stacks Space Cadet's rockabye soundtrack of orchestral noise and plays piano while concertgoers sit back in "space pods" and take it in via headphones.
"It's sort of like a pop-up, cozy, relaxed, crib-like atmosphere," laughs San while rooting for Polaroid cameras in a Walla Walla, Washington, antiques store. He added a social element by including a gallery that you walk through prior to the show, featuring his space record collection, sculptural installations and original etchboards from the graphic novel.
"As much as I'm a fan of being in a really crowded, sweaty place and smelling armpits all night, some [past concert experiences] that really got me have been intimate ones like the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's," says San, who's also a member of cult alt-rap group Deltron 3030. "Or even if it's a big concert, [I like] those moments when [the musicians] do the quiet songs."
Specifically, San didn't want this tour to be one where "you come and you dance to 140 BPM all night and then take the book home and cry yourself to sleep."
A side effect of this contextual presentation of the graphic novel and soundtrack is that the tour is kid-friendly. "Young families seem to be bringing their toddlers, which is great," San says. "That's mainly because we're playing venues like planetariums and biospheres."
But San says the tour wasn't specifically designed for younglings. So did he instead have in mind all those music lovers grateful for the chance to sit down at a show?
"Yeah," laughs San. "It was really about [creating] something we'd want to attend as adults."


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lattice chicken pot pie for Brandon
inspired by
heart rice krispie treat for Brandon
my beautiful white kitchenaid mixer from Brandon
A glimpse of what we did for our special day. I promise that's the last of the anniversary posts because now I'll be busy with Bruce's first birthday in just a couple days! :D


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Home > World War 2 >
Mali Powstańcy: Warszawa 1944
Little Insurgents: Warsaw 1944
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Product Description
As Filip Milunski explains in a designer diary published on BGN in October 2009, when he started getting into modern games, he was surprised to find no worthwhile games that focused on activities in Poland or Polish life. A trip to the Warsaw Rising Museum got him thinking about the children who delivered orders to groups of insurgents in Warsaw in 1944, and Mali Powstancy is the result.
In the game, players each have three scouts who can deliver orders to various locations throughout Warsaw. New orders are revealed each round, with 20 for four players, 16 for three and 12 for two. To move a scout, you play a movement card from your hand; each player has cards numbered 1-5, and you take them back in hand once they're all used. You can divide the movement points among your scouts, or use the movement to jump one scout from a location to an adjacent location. When you reach the first location on an order card, you mark it with a scout token to show which scout is trying to complete this order; each player may have a scout work on the same order. If you reach the location first, you claim the order and its points, while all the other scouts get nothing.
After all players move each round, a "German solider movement phase" takes place, with either the soldier moving toward whichever scouts are closest to it -- possibly putting them in prison for a turn -- or the player who has a scout closest to the soldier getting additional movement points. You then move all the orders down one level on the order chart. If an order falls off the chart, then it can no longer be delivered as the players took too much time; as a result, one route leading to that location is marked with a German troop token, which prevents all players from using that route in the future.
If players deliver all the orders or all the orders leave the chart, then the game ends, with players counting their points and the high score winning. If a fourth German troop token enters play, however, the game also ends, but with defeat for all of the players.
An advanced version of the game adds extra powers during the movement phase and quickens the pace of play. The movement cards numbered 1-4 each have a power on them that can be used either before or after the regular movement, with those powers being things like swapping two of your scouts within the same district, rearranging orders and peeking at the order deck. These extra abilities are balanced by the order chart having one fewer row, which means that orders fall off the chart more quickly and the German presence in Warsaw escalates more quickly, too. Players also have three secret goal cards which give them points if they deliver orders to 4-6 districts or deliver the most orders to a particular district or deliver the most valuable order.
Description written by W. Eric Martin and used with permission of BoardgameNews.com
Product Information
Filip Milunski
Egmont Polska
Year: 2009
Players: 2 - 4
Time: 30 minutes
Ages: 8 and up
Weight: 700 grams (estimated)


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See a slideshow from Harry's kitchen and dining room.
Coffee cups clatter on saucers, silverware clinks across heavy porcelain plates, bacon sizzles and pops on a nearby griddle, laughter bubbles up from table to table across Harry's. It's a Saturday morning, and I'm sitting in a sun-drenched room with a fat blueberry waffle staring up at me and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice squatting happily next to it. My breakfast companion is tearing animatedly into his Greek omelet, a riot of color on its plate. The day is young, and the food is delicious.
Harry's is a Midtown institution, although you wouldn't know it from the exterior of the restaurant, which was remodeled in 2003. Founded in 1948 by Eugene Pavlovich as a blue-collar, blue-plate joint with a daily steam table, it catered mostly to area construction workers and other working men and women. When Johnny Platsas and his wife, Patricia, bought the restaurant in 1994 from Harry Mickelis — a fellow Greek — they retained the name and the same sense of familial friendliness that permeates every meal here.
Harry's Restaurant 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Lunch hours: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.
Blueberry waffle: $5.99
The Larissa Plate: $6.99
Cajun catfish and eggs: $8.49
Spitiko Greek omelet: $8.99
Feta fries: $5.99
Moussaka with two sides: $8.99
Chicken-fried steak with two sides: $7.99
What they did change up when they purchased the place, however, is the food. Johnny Platsas hails from Crete, while his wife comes from Ecuador. The result is a bizarre Greek-South American hybrid menu that also includes steam-table classics at lunch and American standards at breakfast. Yet despite the disparate influences and seemingly unfocused menu, it all works.
At any given breakfast, you can find yourself chowing down on a Churrasco platter — one of my personal favorites, it includes two eggs served with grilled beef skirt steak atop two cheese-stuffed potato patties fried up in achiote oil and a side of spicy peanut sauce — while your companion might be delicately enjoying a Larissa plate, an eggs-and-potatoes dish spiked with copious amounts of feta cheese and fresh parsley, which is named for Harry Mickelis's hometown in Thessaly.
Of course, you can also get a couple of fried eggs and bacon or a bowl of cereal if your tastes don't run toward the exotic at breakfast: Harry's also serves Special K and Kashi. And in true-blue diner fashion, "fried eggs" isn't enough of an order for the old-school waitstaff. They'll ask with a grin if you want those eggs over easy, over medium, over well or sunny side up.
For those interested in a hearty breakfast served by wonderful people in a boisterous, lively dining room, Harry's will strike a chord every single time. I've yet to have a bad experience here, but that's not to say that Harry's doesn't dish up a few duds from time to time.
There are things you learn to avoid and things you learn to gravitate toward at any restaurant. Harry's is no exception. The hash browns are awful. Waffle House is still the hash brown paradigm that all breakfast joints should aspire to, and Harry's poor hash browns don't even come close to ranking. On the other hand, the "home fries" — which are more accurately described as skillet potatoes — are first-rate, especially when topped with feta and parsley, which the kitchen is wont to put on many of the items.
The "maple syrup" here is simply maple-flavored sugar water, despite the kitchen's efforts to do other things right: jalapeños pickled in-house, salsas made fresh each day. The bacon waffle sounds excellent in theory, but in practice it's an abomination and an affront to both waffles and bacon. Stick to the heavenly blueberry waffles, with the batter light and yeasty and plump blueberries suspended throughout.
Lunch at Harry's is a different prospect altogether, and brings with it a different crowd. While breakfast is more of a relaxed — albeit loud and occasionally rowdy — affair, lunch sees a much quieter and somewhat older demographic arrive. The steam table beckons them from downtown, Midtown, Montrose. It's an odd sort of cross between a 39ers meeting and the cafeteria at the Exxon building downtown: Old men telling war stories sit at tables next to middle-aged men and women in business suits. It's an easygoing crowd, and ideal for enjoying whatever Harry's has on the steam table that day.
While you are expected to wait patiently to be seated if you're planning on ordering breakfast — which Harry's serves all day long — you've got it easier if you're just eating lunch. Pick up a tray, go through the line, pay at the end: It's a shorter, tastier, cheaper version of Luby's.
The ten steam-table selections rotate every day, but there are a few things that stay in the rotation daily, like the chicken-fried steak and some iteration of basa fish (pan grilled, baked, blackened, etc.). There's also at least one Greek specialty each day. Each plate special runs anywhere from $8 to $10 and includes two sides and a biscuit or roll. It's a hearty lunch, to say the least.
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On a recent afternoon, I grabbed a slice of the moussaka off the steam table along with some rice pilaf and stewed okra. No moussaka in this town has ever come close to the magical stuff served up by the late, great Mykonos, but Harry's offers up a passable imitation. The layers of ground beef and eggplant are effortlessly seasoned and crowned with a thick, creamy layer of fluffy béchamel sauce. The rice pilaf was bland, but once dumped into the rich tomato sauce from the moussaka, it became instantly better. The okra, in its own stewed tomato sauce, was neither too tough nor too slimy and soft; Greeks know how to cook okra just as well as Texans do.
Chicken-fried steak on a subsequent visit was odd and difficult to describe. It was pounded thin like milanesa, perhaps a quarter of an inch thick at the most, and breaded with a lightly seasoned batter that clung to each bite, never once slipping off. But the meat itself had a strangely familiar taste: liver. I like liver and onions even more than I like chicken-fried steak (I can hear the sound of my Texas birth certificate being revoked somewhere), so I inhaled every bite, sopping up the cream gravy with extra bits of biscuit. But would a chicken-fried steak aficionado like Harry's CFS? Probably not. I still have no idea why it tasted like liver, but I'm actually eager to repeat the peculiar experience.
Despite the reliable steam-table lunches, breakfast is still my favorite time to enjoy Harry's. Sitting at one of the simple wooden tables and eating a plate of Cajun catfish and eggs, you can watch longtime waitress MiLena darting from table to table and greeting patrons as if they were her own family, Patricia ringing up customers with a smile at the register, and Johnny Platsas pacing the room with shrewd eyes and sharing tales about life back home in Greece as you enjoy the sparkling hustle and bustle of the morning. If Midtown were a sprawling mansion, Harry's would be its sunny, laid-back breakfast room.
If only the place would serve real maple syrup with its pancakes and waffles, I might never eat breakfast anywhere else.


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Cremation Urns
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- Laser Carved Wood Cremation Urn - Hummingbird (Made in USA)
Product Description
Our Hummingbird Laser Carved Wood Cremation Urn is a gorgeous memorial tribute crafted in the USA from premium hardwood. The hummingbird and floral design is laser carved deep into the wood of this beautiful cremation urn. The laser cut scene depicts a hummingbird flitting above a bouquet of flowers, a perfect memorial for a nature lover.
Choose light cherry wood, white maple wood, or darker mahogany. Optional engraved inscription available on the top or back of the urn. Also available as a "companion urn" to hold the remains of two individuals.
- Made in the USA
- Premium solid wood urn for ashes
- Choose natural cherry, white maple, or dark mahogany
- Laser carved hummingbird and flowers
- Personalized engraved inscription available
- Standard adult cremation urn size
- 200 cubic inch interior capacity
- 10-1/2" wide x 7" deep x 7-1/2" high
- Bottom opening panel attached with screws
- Also available in companion urn (double) size:
- 400 cubic inch capacity
- 11" wide x 8-1/2 deep x 8" high
- Select option above
Shipping & delivery
- This memorial is made to order for you within 1-3 business days
- Includes free standard ground shipping
- Time in transit varies by destination; generally 2-5 business days
- Rush shipping can be arranged to meet your need: Contact us at 877-900-5309


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Welcome to the Colleen Oakes homepage! We're glad you are here. Please feel free to travel about the site to learn more about Colleen, her books, her writing journey, her likes and dislikes (likes: the macabre, grey skies, manatees. Dislikes: people who say they don't read like it's something to be proud of). It's also a great place to connect to her social media sites and find contact information.
Pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea and stay awhile!
And look for The Black Coats arrive on February 12th, 2019!
See all Colleen's books below:
- Queen of Hearts


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Hi, there!
I'm Audrey. I am a completely and utterly hopeless romantic with a profound love of books, animals, food, wine, and travel. And laughter. Always laughter.
My proclivity for travel was spurred at a young age. My father is from Ireland, my mother is from Michigan, and they raised our family in New England. Having family to visit all over the country and all over the world allowed me appreciate the fact that there was so much out there early on.
Since I left home for college when I was 17, I've had a hard time sitting still. In my 28 years I've lived in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Michigan, Arizona, and California. And now I'm about to live on a boat, in no particular place at all. I am so excited.
My main role on this trip is to be the navigator. Since I'm the one that needed to travel, I'll be picking out our destinations (be them country, island, marina, or mooring!) along the way. I'll also be the main documenter of our trip; I have hopes to cover it all with pictures, videos, and blog posts.
It might seem completely insane that I'm leaving behind my promising marketing career and stable lifestyle. I get that. But life is short, and I've had this pull on my heart to travel for some time now. And, well, I've always been a little bit crazy.


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@kpopandkimchi started posting pictures of her dog for National Dog Day so I thought I'd share mine!
This is Buddy, He is a Miniature Dachshund mix, he is my grandmothers baby, and he thinks he's a 100lb watchdog.
This is Gracie, she is also a mixed breed, from the same litter as Buddy, and she is my moms baby.
These are my dogs over at my dads. they're Spencer (golden), and Diesel (Mini Pin), they are the sweetest dogs ever and they always want to cuddle.
As a bonus, here is my gat, Gerard. He thinks he's a dog.


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Friend's Email:
Subject: I have found a CD that I think you would enjoy
|Pato Banton, Mad Professor
Mad Professor Captures Pato Banton
Genres: World Music, Pop
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CD Details
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CD Reviews
Great Reggae and Dub
Anax | 03/15/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When Pato Banton recorded this album, his career was just beginning. It was full of promise. After releasing "Hello Tosh Gotta Toshiba" (a novelty song) and "Pato and Roger A-Go Talk" (a rub-a-dub duet with Ranking Roger), he was primed. This CD eclipses the promise of those early songs. The challenge for Pato Banton is to be convincing as a non-Jamaican reggae DJ. As far as slackness and toughness go, his image and style will never match Yellowman's or Josey Wales's. Pato Banton does not have ghetto credence, but procuring the Mad Professor as producer gives Pato Banton the touch and ambiance to compete with any of the great Jamaican DJs. What can you say about the Mad Professor's early dubs? Before the digital effects became predominate, the Mad Professor was a master tape-manipulator, and his dubs here are great. This is the stuff that built Ariwa Studios. "Gwarn!" and "Nuff Kind of Dread" stand out as a great back-to-back combination, and "Give Me Oil" is a good roots-style toast. Later in Pato's career, his message becomes a bit generic and trite ("Wize Up"). He sometimes loses the sense of humor that makes him great on this CD. I recommend The Mad Professor Captures Pato Banton CD to anyone who likes early-80s DJs. If you like Pato Banton but only know his later CDs, this CD may surprise you. (Don't expect "Baby Come Back"!) If you like Mad Professor dubs, you'll probably appreciate this CD a lot."


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January's Little Luxuries
I am slow in posting this but I wanted to share January's little luxuries. Sorry for the delay - we
were are buried in snow!
- I've become embarassingly addicted to this reality show. I surrender.
- This breakfast casserole was on repeat. It's sinful.
- This is our new family anthem.
- I'm hosting an Oscar Viewing Party with tinyprints and I'm really excited.
- I might be addicted to a new hairspray. If it's good enough for Zoe, it's good enough for me.
- I may or may not be adding these to my food group pyramid.
- We booked a date night here for this month!
- My pink coat was a great refresh for my wardrobe.
- Do you know how addicted I am to cherry hearts and how happy I was when they hit stores last month?
- I have insomnia again and this has been a life saver!


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