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I feel strongly about people speeding down the road when children live in or on that street. This problem can be discontinued by having speed bumps and stop signs. Speeding issues can be resolved and, as a result, the number of deaths per year will decrease.
I am mainly interested in this topic because I deal with this exact problem every day. A child (children) could be hit by a car while playing with friends. Some speeders won�t be able to stop quick enough if a child is running across the street to get a soccer ball or something of that nature.
Another reason I feel strongly about this is at age 19 the death of men is 135 men out of 100,000. That is almost three times the amount of 19-year-old women deaths by car a year.
Arguments against this would include that not all kids will be hit by a car because some parents do not allow their children to play near the road. The number of deaths per year could also decrease if parents would go outside with their children.
As result of more cautionary signals, the deaths per year will decrease. Will you be outside with your child the next time he or she is outside? I hope so.
� Chelsea Lynn, Ottawa Middle School sixth grader


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NORTH HANOVER � The Northern Burlington County Regional High School is presenting its spring musical �Thoroughly Modern Millie� next week.
The event will be showcased at the North Hanover Upper Elementary School on Schoolhouse Road on April 6, 7, 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. Attendees can access the school from the C.B. Lamb school�s parking lot on Schoolhouse Road and follow the extension road which connects the two schools.
Tickets are available online at www.seatyourself.biz/nburlington and range from $8 to $12.
Mark Zimmaro can be reached at 609-871-8059 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Follow Mark on Twitter at twitter.com/mzimmaro

subset: commoncrawl


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SACRAMENTO — After years of aborted attempts, the Legislature is poised to approve a controversial overhaul of California's Endangered Species Act, creating new rules that allow developers to destroy imperiled species and their habitat if they fully mitigate the damage caused.
The two-bill reform package has the support of Gov. Pete Wilson and will probably become law. But it has sliced a nasty gash through the environmental community, with some groups hailing the compromise and others predicting that it will nudge stressed wildlife populations ever closer to extinction.
One of the bills, (SB 879) by Sen. Patrick Johnston (D-Stockton), would authorize the state Department of Fish and Game to issue permits for the "taking," or killing, of a species as a byproduct of development.
Such permits--now negotiated in private--would be subject to public review and would require developers to compensate for any destruction to an extent equal to the harm they cause.


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Alex Alben, the Washington state Chief Privacy Officer testified in support of House Bill 2200 on January 18, 2018 -- a carry-over from last year's legislative session that enacts the old FCC privacy rules for internet service providers as state law.
Mr. Alben was testifying for the second time in support of this bill - the first was back in April 2017 when it first came before the legislature.
© Copyright 2018 Washington State Office of Privacy & Data Protection | Request Records | Accessibility


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On Thursday, February 8th at 7:30 pm, the Society of History and Archaeology of Saint-Émilion invites you to a conference of Mrs Marguerite Figeac-Monthus in the Salle Gothique in Saint-Emilion.
University professor in the ESPE Aquitaine, the specialist of the History of the vine and the wine, she will present us a conference on "the History of the Cooperage in XVIII e and XIX e centuries in the region of Bordeaux".
A visit about the subject will be organized : visit of a cooperage (place and date to specify).
Practical information:
Free admission


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Shanghai Tangwei Toys Factory
Computers are a paradox for Kids: staring at the screen for long periods of time can damage vision, but early childhood education has become increasingly difficult to leave the computer.
The American Pediatrics Academy of (American) believes that children should be restricted to the computer and television screens, and children under the age of 5 are allowed to watch TV for up to 1 hours a day.
Recently, Media Lab MIT (MIT Media Lab) researcher Kimberly Smith (Kimberly Smith) made a set of wooden toys Learning Beautiful, to cultivate their interest in programming with computer contact way.
Inspired by Montessori's Montessori method, she felt that the education of children should follow their natural instincts, so she devised such a program for early childhood toys.
The toy now has 7 series, each of which contains a basic programming knowledge.
Learning Beautiful has received a $15000 grant from the MIT MIT DesignX accelerator, and has now begun its first round of production and is expected to be available on the market by 2018.
Copyright © Shanghai Tangwei Toys Factory All Rights Reserved.


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The holiday season has officially arrived! This time of year definitely has a very special feeling. It's always great to spend some quality time with friends and family members over some delicious seasonal food. Just be sure to keep your kitty's health and safety in mind as you prepare for the festivities. The holidays can be quite dangerous for cats! An Arlington Heights, TX vet lists some holiday hazards for cats in this article.
Fluffy has certainly brought a few trees down in her day! While climbing the tree may be an annual tradition for your playful pet, it can unfortunately be quite dangerous. Be sure to pick a tree with a secure base, one that won't wobble or topple. You may also want to secure the treetop to the wall or ceiling with fishing line for added (but invisible) support. Also, keep your frisky pet in mind when decorating the tree. Put fragile ornaments and tinsel on the top part of the tree, where your kitty can't reach them. Decorate the lower branches more sparingly, with non-breakable ornaments.
Although Fluffy is a bit more finicky about her food than Fido, she's still at risk of eating things that aren't safe for her. Never give your cat meat on the bone; chocolate; alcohol; nuts; raw meat, dough, or yeast; or anything seasoned with garlic, onions, scallions, or chives. Milk is also on the no-no list, are pitted fruits; grapes, currants, and raisins; and anything that contains xylitol. Ask your vet for specific recommendations.
As we all know, our feline buddies are very playful little furballs. However, many holiday decorations are actually quite dangerous for Fluffy. Remove or secure anything small or sharp, such as ornament hooks. Ribbons, string, tinsel, garlands, and lights are also hazardous, as they can choke or entangle cats.
Poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly are all traditional holiday decorations. However, these plants are toxic to our feline friends, and should always be placed well out of paws' reach.
Fire/Heating Elements
Many people like to use pretty or scented candles around the holidays. Just be sure to put candles and potpourri burners in high, secure spots, where Fluffy can't reach them. If you use a fireplace, put a protective grate in front of it.
Season's Greetings! Please contact us, your Arlington Heights, TX vet clinic, anytime. We're always happy to assist!


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Leather Jacket: New Look
Leather Jacket: New Look
24 comments
I have nominated you for the Liebster Award check my blog out for more details :)ReplyDeleteReplies
Oh bless you, thankyou so much! ^.^Delete
lovely pictures! ah I hate waiting for the answers after interviews etc good luck though! :)ReplyDelete
Thankyou! ^.^ Agh I know, it's the worst! >.<Delete
Your hair is so beautiful! Love your outfit too! :) Hope your audition went well :) xReplyDelete
Awh ya sweetheart, thankyou so much! :)Delete
you look gorgeous and i love these photos! if you enjoy my blog too, would you like to follow each other? xo jessReplyDelete
Thankyou! :D Will pop over to your blog now :)Delete
You look so pretty in this photo!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous21 January 2013 at 09:17
Beautiful post. Love your hair.ReplyDelete
nice blog and pic :)ReplyDelete
please visit mine
Thankyou! Of course I will pop over there now ^.^Delete
You look gorgeous, beautiful eyes:)ReplyDelete
great post, really love it.ReplyDelete
Lovely pictures!ReplyDelete
xx Mounia
Thankyou! ^.^ The snow did most of the hard work for me, haha!Delete
lovely post xReplyDelete
- Anonymous21 January 2013 at 18:28
good luck and nice post ;) Love your blog by the way, following! ;) hehe, have a look at mine if you want ;)ReplyDelete
Awh ya sweetheart, thanks so much! ^.^Delete


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Like cell phones, Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) depends on radio signals to work. Unlike cell phones, Wi-Fi uses the unlicensed spectrum to allow mobile devices such as laptop computers and personal digital assistants to make connections. Originally, Wi-Fi was intended to allow devices to connect to wireless local area networks. Now, however, it is often used for Internet access. A home or an office can be set up with Wi-Fi, allowing for a lot of portability for laptop users; a Wi-Fi router designed for home use might have a range of 150 feet indoors and 300 feet outdoors.
Some wireless providers are specifically targeting web hosts as a market for their products and services. Andrew Shoffner, a project manager for WPCS/Heinz, spoke recently about setting up a point to multi-point network for a regional host in its office park. The web host has two T-1 connections; the new arrangement allowed the company to cancel one T-1 and keep the other as back up, using the wireless connection as their primary one to the Internet. As far as mobility is concerned, Shoffner elaborates, any Web host can work remotely almost anywhere and remain connected to their own network or directly to their clients servers with expanding Wi-Fi hotspot access, residential Wi-Fi availability, reduced cost of PDAs and laptops and remote-access software.
Yes, as anyone who has ever visited a Starbucks knows, Wi-Fi has made it out of the home and the office and found its niche as a type of free service offered by various businesses. You almost cant visit a café in a bookstore without seeing people using their laptops, and many (if not most) of those are connected to the Internet via the local Wi-Fi hotspot. These hotspots are literally ubiquitous; they can be found all over the world. The original impetus was to support traveling executives, so many hotels, airports, and restaurants feature hotspots.
Michael Simon, CEO of remote access and administration provider 3am Labs, reflected recently on the progress of Wi-Fi as a business tool. Even five years ago, a broadband connection outside a corporate environment like in a home or a hotel was the exception, not the rule, he said in an interview with Web Host Industry Review. Public hotspots were barely on the radar screen. Today, a person sitting in a café in Paris could use a tool of ours, such as LogMeIn our remote-access service to access and support their corporate network using nothing more than a PDA that is Wi-Fi or 3G enabled.
Next: Finding Hotspots, and What You Can Do With Them >>
More Web Hosting Articles ArticlesMore By Terri Wells


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Just a few books I am currently reading or have read.
"Blue Labyrinth" by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Another very good book from the long running series. Read it!
"Riptide" by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Although I have read this book long ago, I really want to read the book again; and I NEVER read books a second time.
More treasures from the sea? One of my favorite books "Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea" by Gary Kinder.
I was previously fascinated by the person who sought out the treasure at the bottom of the ocean, Tommy Thompson. Brilliant and determined, he did what no other man could do; bring the treasure to the surface. Sadly, Mr. Thompson is in the news again, this time on the run from the law. Read the book though. A page turner.
Pirates with a "different" kind of gold?
The book "The Last Pirate" by Tony Dokoupil is on my reading list. I have yet to read this book, but the book looks interesting to say the least.
"The Lost City of Z" by David Grann is also a winner. I purchased the paperback book, then downloaded the e-book from the library. I was reading the same book via different versions at the same time. I found it easier to read the paperback at home, but the e-book in the coffee shop. Truth is much stranger than fiction as this book illustrates. Look for the movie to be available soon.
More tales of the sea? A favorite book I read several years ago; "Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson.
Talk about calling the wrong call. Not only did his miscalculation cause the loss of many lives, his error caused the destruction of his home and family. A very good read.
Wait. One more book about the sea.
"The Perfect Storm" by Sebastian Junger. Another great book about men, the sea and how mother nature has cruel and mighty fist.
A book that is "out of this world"? Try "Sex on the Moon" by Ben Mezrich.
The title is a bit misleading by the true tale is amazing.


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Happy Earth Day
Posted 21 April 2012on:
We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow and illustrated by Bob Staake
Same, Same, but Different, by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
I think there is a strong connection between valuing the environment and valuing other people. Just a month ago it was big news as the world's population reached 7 billion humans, with a prediction this number will reach 10 billion by 2050. I'm a fan of the hundreds of little acts each of us can take to help protect mother earth, but this Earth Day, I'm focusing on how caring for the environment intertwines with caring for others. Some of these others may be friends (so that is easy), but there are many more who need the same basic human rights we often take for granted (freedom of expression, housing, clean water and nutritious food, education and opportunity, safety and a secure community of support).
While it feels difficult to explain the complexities and connection of environmental protection and human rights to young children, the two books highlighted in this blog set a basis to start from. Both books contrast a North American child and family with an international counterpart. In We Planted a Tree the main voice is from Kenya with glimpses of other locations around the globe, while in Same, Same, but Different the pen pal is located in India. In both stories, even though the contrasted lives are different, they also share many similarities. The planted tree has a clear ecological impact no matter where it is planted. These stories also move through time with their illustrations, so it is shown how what we do now, has an impact on future generations.
My daughters' ages feel like a pivotal time for helping them develop attitudes and beliefs that may stay with them for a lifetime. So we talk a lot about, for example, not wasting water and about people in many other countries not having access to clean water. Recently, we watched the Water Brothers documentary series on TVO. This was a big deal not only because it meant watching television outside of our usual weekend viewing; it gave them a bit more awareness that this issue is real and more important than just remembering to turn off the tap. With these books we also talk about how other children live. While my information about how the chocolate treats we enjoy depends on the work some children are made to do on coca plantations may have been a bit over their heads, they are starting to make a connection about how our actions including our consumption are part of a system that needs correction. The environmental and social issues that challenge us now will certainly become urgent during their lifetime. While we are lucky to live in a country with plenty, we must also understand how our awareness and action is part of our responsibility to the world both environmentally and socially.
In the coming year(s) I'm committed to helping my daughters learn more about conscientious consumerism, sustainable diet and valuing others, no matter what their colour, religion, race or socieconomic status. These will be some important contributions toward a better and more sustainable planet for everyone.
Happy Earth Day everyone! Send us a comment on how you and your emerging reader(s) are also helping to be the change!
Welcome Back
Posted 1 April 2012on:
In Front of My House by Marianne Dubuc
It was brewing in the news and in the union support campaign all fall/winter, so the recently-ended strike by Toronto library staff should not have come as a surprise. The strike, which lasted two weeks, centred on the workers refusing a contract that would have diminished their job security. What could the city's plan have resulted in? Reduced hours, fewer resources, closed branches and ultimately less access to books. Each morning Sophie and I walked past the librarian picket line in front of City Hall on our way to daycare. While some were the lovely early spring days in March, anyone who has ever been involved in any kind of public demonstration knows how grueling these efforts are.
I think all library users owe these workers a huge thank you for taking this very important stand.
During these two weeks I was constantly reminded of how important our library is in supporting my daughters' learning. The challenge of new and interesting books is especially important for beginning readers. Last night Elizabeth began reading In Front of My House to Sophie and me. We found this book just waiting for us to pick up when our local Branch re-opened. Its unusual size, lovely illustrations, quirky use of font sizes and word placement, and use of repetition makes it a great book for those just becoming comfortable reading aloud.
This book provided a huge boost to Elizabeth's confidence as a reader. It was also fun for Sophie to practice some counting. After Elizabeth had finished, Sophie flipped through the pages to re-tell her own version of the story. It was a lovely and positive way to end our day. I can't thank the library enough for all the ways it enriches our lives.
We invite any other beginning readers ! to let us know some of the books that they have discovered on the shelves of their local branch. Welcome back!
I believe in you
Posted 26 February 2012on:
I Believe In You, by Marianne Richmond
I wish I didn't nag my daughters so much. I truly believe in their power to make good choices and do the right thing. As winter drags on, however, there seem to be too many days when, for instance, the walk to the Y becomes an endurance test because we have left the house with only one mitt or no hat, or someone's lips are raw from licking and lack of lip balm use!
I Believe In You is one parent's lovely collection of positive, encouraging thoughts for children. It touches on all the themes that are important to us these days – telling the truth, not letting other people's moods dictate our feelings, and being responsible for our actions. Sometimes life's challenges can weigh like a huge anchor, so it's good to have a book like this to strengthen the most important messages I can share with Elizabeth and Sophie. I believe in each of them; their job is to become the best person they can be and I will be there to support them. This book is highly recommended.
"Stories Are Everywhere"
Posted 5 February 2012on:
Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen, Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher
I haven't been using my creative thinking for this blog entry – or it could have been posted over two weeks ago.
On that weekend our family ventured to the Lillian Smith Library for a Family Literacy event with Andrew Larsen. We had borrowed one of his books prior to that session – Imaginary Garden. This is a lovely story of Theo and her Poppa. Author Larsen told us we all have stories to tell and this can be one of the best gifts we will ever share. His quote is the title of this blog. He showed us some early home-created versions of the stories he created and reinforce how important oral story telling is, in any day and age. This book is supported by amazing illustrations to encourage story tellers to use drawing to tell their stories. Author Larsen shared some ways this book stimulated readers imaginations and has taken on a life of it's own since it was published.
Using one's imagination and wondering is a main theme in so much writing – both for children and adults. This session helped reinforce how creative thinking needs to be encouraged the same as reading and math skills.
Have you and your child shared imagined stories, as well as books, lately? If you need some help, check out Imaginary Garden. It is a find that is truly inspiring!
Questions, questions, questions
Posted 18 December 2011on:
11 Experiments That Failed by Jenny Offill & Nancy Carpenter
Bernadette in the Doghouse, by Susan Glickman
On a recent drive over the Grandma's house, Elizabeth (7 years old) decided to quiz Sophie (almost 5 years old) on some math questions. Sophie held her own, providing some pretty creative answers. To end that session Elizabeth concluded with some exasperation, "Sophie! You have so much to learn!"
Most days spent with my daughters have at least a few moments when I am struck by that same notion of there being so, so, so much more to learn. This feeling may be invoked from my daughters constantly changing personalities or by a reminder of some long ago stored away school information or by a science fact that I never really truly understood. Luckily there is the Internet and Anil is also a pretty reliable source of facts so there is a fair share of referrals going on!
Young children seem to love science and all the questions about how the world operates, so we were all pretty happy to sit down for 11 Experiments That Failed, and we weren't disappointed! This young lady has some pretty zany ideas and who doesn't occasionally wonder – could you live on snow and ketsup? What would happen if you tried to grow something in your brother's old sneaker? I'm not sure if this book will quell or fuel Elizabeth's future investigations (our freezer has more experiments than food in it currently). This book (re)introduced us all to the word hypothesis, so we will likely see this activity continue!
At the same time we wrere also reading a chapter book about a third grader named Bernadette who identifies herself as a young scientist – Bernadette in the Doghouse. The added complexity of this book was how much more complicated friendships are beginning to become for girls her age. Along with the world of science, these are deep waters to navigate. It was nice to have a story so Elizabeth understands that she is not alone when friend A says something bad about friend B or friend C says she doesn't want to play with her today.
Here is to hoping that the coming new year is a time of wonderful discoveries in science and friendly friendship for girls (and boys) all over the world!
Bullies and Friends
Posted 2 December 2011on:
Forget-Me-Not Beautiful Buttercup by Michael Broad
I'm so glad the wise young women in Elizabeth's after-school program informed me that it was Anti Bullying Week – Nov 14-18 in the UK and arranged a day for the kids to colour pictures and talk about bullying. This is an issue that sometimes seems low on the parental radar, but can raise it's negative influence and become all encompassing the second it is impacting your child. Guarding against it is one of the reasons we enrolled Elizabeth in Taekwondo and is also why we are interested in hearing ideas to support building self confidence. We see, through Elizabeth's attending public school, how much schools try to communicate around this issue (it will NOT be tolerated). At least at the elementary level, students hear messages to make them feel they can raise issues that occur.
In thinking about this blog I ran across efforts to create an equivalent national awareness Anti-Bullying Day here in Canada – December 16. By luck, early this week Sophie was at home sick with pink eye, giving us the opportunity to see a discussion session on TVO Kids with a representative from Kids Help Phone and young people phoning in to talk about this isue. All of this awareness is a without a doubt a good thing.
Forget-Me-Not: Beautiful Buttercup touches gently on this topic. I think that any book that approachs a serious topic like bullying, but lets the readers and listeners draw their own conclusions, can be more powerful than simple preaching. Sophie, for one, appreciates the importance of being a good friend and had a very positive response to the characters in the book.
This is a story with colourful illustrations about a young elephant and a warthog. The warthog is the littlest of her litter and subjected to taunts of "teeny-tiny-ugly-wugly". Her friendship with the elephant and their resulting actions just go to show how – we are all different, some in ways more visible than others and we all contribute in our own ways. It is a story of how to embrace and appreciate others despite their differences. The elephant and the warthog do just that – much to everyone's appreciation in the end. There is a good "sticking up for what you believe in" message in this book, and a reminder of the power of friendship. Enjoy!
Word Girl(s)
Posted 28 October 2011on:
Just imagine how my heart rejoiced when Sophie announced she wants to go as Word Girl this Halloween. This is an incredible decision for a girl who has been all princesses and fairies for the last two years! As someone who would rather read than watch TV, it seems a bit strange that something called Word Girl originated as an animated children's TV series, not as books (according to Wikipedia). All this to say we haven't actually read a Word Girl book yet, but we have seen her occasionally on TV and recently got a DVD from the library that featured her in some Halloween episodes. In one of the episodes Word Girl's friend dresses as Word Girl for trick-or-treating. Word Girl's superhero identity, similar to Superman's, is never revealed even to those closest to her "regular" self.
Even though it has proven impossible to find a ready-made costume, I'm continuing my hunt for a orange cape, because this blogging mama is pretty pleased about this development. I'm ambivalent about TV and video (while it turns my daughters into viewing zombies, it allows me to actually get some things done), but I can't deny some of it has value. The television episode of Arthur (another of my favourites) that features the school cafeteria lady's diagnosis with cancer comes to my mind as an incredibly educational and lovely example of quality programming. In the case of Word Girl, I think it is creating an excellent character role model – what's not to love about a girl who can fly, has a monkey side-kick and a special talent of introducing interesting words?!?
This character, whether in book or animated form, is helping to reinforce the importance of words with my daughters. Word Girl(s) Everywhere – You Rule!
[Update] Here is a Halloween photo of Word Girl –
One the Girls Like
Posted 11 September 2011on:
Jumping Jenny by Ellen Bari. Illustrated by Raquel Garcia Macia
It is interesting to see what stories or part of a story will resonate with your child. It is not always what you would expect.
Last year Elizabeth's Taekwondo class had a kick-a-thon to raise money for the Strong Kids Campaign at the YMCA. In school, her class participated in the Jump Rope for Heart campaign; the school also had a parent council donation request (new school equipment), a loonie-a-button (funds for earthquake victims in Japan), bake sale (to support the grade 8's class trip), etc., etc. Each of these is a well-intentioned and meaningful effort, but sometimes (and I'm sure I'm not the only parent to think this) the amount of child fundraising seems almost too much! Still, it is good for kids to recognize how they can help make things better and certainly in this day and age raising money for good causes is a regular activity for children.
In this book, Jenny's class is preparing to help out a sister school in Africa. She sets a goal for herself to make 1,000 jumps on her pogo stick even though she has only made it as high as 250 previously. Jenny has had some rough times with others not appreciating her jumping but she determines to use her ability to help raise money through collecting pledges for each jump. I love the message in this story. Elizabeth connected to the jumping (skipping rope has been a new and much enjoyed activity this past summer). Sophie connected with the number 1,000 and now points it out whenever we see it (or a number with some similarity like 100, 10,000, etc), so we all connected with this story in some way.
I think the overall message was to remind us how our actions can make a difference everyday. This book comes highly recommended by the three of us!
Why don't more words begin with the letter X? (And other mysteries of the universe)
Posted 6 September 2011on:
A Call for a New Alphabet, by Jef Czekaj
What I perceive as Elizabeth's reluctance to read for herself baffles me. We rarely have TV on during the week. We read together all of the time. Many of her friends seem to be quite proficient readers. She recognizes the value of reading – especially for all of the things she sees advertised and believes she needs.
My finds at the library this week include a copy of Usborne Parents' Guide – Help Your Child to Read and Write, by Fiona Chandler. It reminds me that learning to read is one of the hardest things a child will ever do. I tell myself Elizabeth will become a reader when she is ready. Yet when I see young children who are deeply immersed in their own independent reading, I hope she will soon share this experience.
In the meantime, I remind myself of how lucky I am to be a parent reading to my children during a time when incredibly fun books are available. Any day that begins with or ends with a laugh from the book we are reading feels like winning a jackpot! A Call for a New Alphabet is an educational hoot! While my daughters don't fully appreciate this story yet, it has humour that works on many levels, beginner to advanced.
I never have imagined that vowels and consonants could be so much fun; the author gives each their own personality and 'issues'. It is understandable that 'X' would lead the charge for a new alphabet — who wouldn't be upset being so near the end of the alphabet and starting off so few words? But as he dozes off to sleep the night before the letters vote on a change, 'X' dreams deeply and begins to appreciate the complexity of all the other letters. It is fun in a comic book style, and a good read for an older child because it will reinforce grammar rules.
Does 'X' succeed? Well, you will need to pick it up to find out. Be prepared to laugh — this is one craftily written and illustrated story.
For Our Friends in the Park
Posted 26 August 2011on:
Press Here by Hervé Tullet
I think most parents and caregivers would agree – being with children expands your world. Kids are out in the world constantly making new connections and building their community. It is a great thing and I'm grateful to my children for every new connection we make. Maybe especially when you live with young children, in a building, in the city, in the summer – the park is one place where community grows. I've read stories by other parents lamenting the end of park season and I have felt that way in the past few years as the summer begins to feel like it is making way for fall. Where would we go? What would we do? How could life continue without the space and connections we find regularly in the park? It doesn't have to be a fancy park either. Sure, fancy rubber tarmac with zippy movers and climbing challenges are great; but even a small space with a few swings and some space to run around is fine.
This is the kind of park Sophie and I visit many afternoons on our way home from daycare/work. It is right across the street from another daycare, so we meet up with different parents and children, do some swinging, running and bumping (on the teeter-totter) and chat before finishing our way home. This park attracts younger children (perhaps because they are too young to demand a more sophisticated setting?), and it is here that Sophie has found a new role – that of the big 4-year old (using the "big kid" swing) among other children who are 2 or 3 years of age range.
While both Sophie and Elizabeth strongly enjoyed Press Here, I can imagine the younger children we see in this park really adopting it as a favorite. This is a book that I think would really develop in complexity of involvement along with a younger child – I can imagine beginning to read it with a child at 18 or 24 months and continuing to let the book evolve until they are a beginning reader. This book involves and will interest young children — what kid doesn't love to press buttons?! The story makes the reader and listener active participants in a tale about dots. In our age of extended bling and over stimulation, this book is pure simple genius.
Even as I was thinking about writing about this book here, it reminded me of another book Night/Day: a book of eye-catching opposites. Sure enough these two books are by the same author/illustrator. The Night/Day book never seemed to become a favorite with my daughters and I never really understood why. Now I think that, although it is also a great book, the difference is the active involvement expected in Press Here. So this recommendation is for our friends in the park — we hope you get to connect with a copy of this book and enjoy it. We would love to hear your reaction and happy reading!
A Star in the Sky
Posted 22 August 2011on:
Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola
I'll admit it – I'm a big crier! Sad (or happy) movies (with big sound tracks), novels with stories and endings that make you feel like you are losing your best friend (again), opt-ed pieces in newspapers, or children's books like Love You Forever by Robert Munch. So I pretty much knew what was coming when one of my daughters picked out a book with the title Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs. I tried to dodge it with "We're taking too many books out already!", but somehow it stayed in our library check-out pile. Now I have to admit I'm glad it did.
Death is a really hard and scary concept for kids (OK, for almost everyone), but it shouldn't be ignored. It is around us all the time – my daughter's daycare friend's father died suddenly; even more recently one of my good friends' dearly-loved 99 year old grandmother died; and today I spent some time mourning the unexpected loss of Jack Layton, a man who gave such incredible energy, intelligence and realness to politics in Canada. As much as I would like to shield my daughters from the pain people feel from these losses, it is a reality. It is only through talking about death that children are able to begin to understand and develop the coping skills they will need to deal with what they will face throughout life.
This book presents 4 year old Tommy, a child who gets to connect with both his grandmother and great-grandmother every week. He does this with an innocence and love that is generous and lovely. His defense of his great-grandmother saying "she looks beautiful" is touching and wise. Based on my own relationship with my grandmother, I have always hoped to pass on to my daughters an appreciation of the beauty of old people. I never anticipated finding a book that also helps to convey that message. The death of his great-grandmother and her empty room is heartbreaking. His hope remains when he sees a shooting star in the sky, first for his great grandma and later after his grandmother died. I think this is a comforting and good message for this age range.
This book is based on the author's personal experience. He is also the author of other books like Strega Nona. It is obvious that old people had a great influence on his life and I'm very grateful that he passed along the stories and wisdom that he gained from these connections.
Wendy's Grandma at 97 years old
Wilma Nichols (May 23, 1911 – May 23, 2011)
When you wish…
Posted 21 August 2011on:
The Big Wish by Carolyn Conahan
Warning! If you blink, you might miss it: that magical period when your child believes anything is possible. It may last a year, a few months or merely days, but it is that time when your child is amazed by all that seems unexplainable–such as the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, super heros (and heroines) and even the power of a wish made while blowing a piece of dandelion fluff.
This summer, my daughter Elizabeth would not let any piece of dandelion fuzz float past without grabbing it to launch another secret wish. We have spent the past few weeks jumping and chasing after every piece we see. I don't mind because she is about to turn seven, and I know these days of childhood will be over way before I'm ready for them to be.
In The Big Wish, Molly's yard is covered in dandelions–so many, the town's mayor believes it is a disgrace. Molly explains that she is the guardian of these flowers until they become wish-puffs ready to achieve a world-record wish. A chance for a wish?! The town decides to hold a contest for the biggest, best wish, with Molly deciding the winner. What should the big wish be? The town characters have plenty of ideas that go beyond the personal and indulgent (along the way, you can ask your child–and yourself–what the wish should be). When the yellow dandelions have become wish-puffs, the townspeople must suddenly all spring to action to protect the field of dreams. Molly in return recognizes that everyone's wish is of value. These actions help the townsfolk realize that they have the power to make their wishes come true. The biggest wish event may be officially over, but the dreams and community actions to make them happen have just begun.
It took us a few readings and examination of the illustrations to realize the full beauty of this story. Give it a bit more of your time than a typical picture book. It has a message worth appreciating and passing along.
What will you wish for?
A Tribute
Posted 16 August 2011on:
Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile, by Gloria Houston. Illustrated by Susan Condie Lamb.
Each of my daughters has a middle name which is one of her grandmother's names. For sometime I have been searching for other examples of those with the name Dorothy, to assure Elizabeth that she was NOT named after the Wiggles' dinosaur. Rather, she inherited that name as a tribute to my much loved and missed mom, whom she never met but I have tried to convey through photos and stories. This book is a tribute to another lovely Dorothy, a librarian who touched many people's lives via bookmobile.
If you grew up in a small or mid-sized Canadian or US city you may be familiar with the bookmobile either as an extension of the local library or the sole source of books. For me, this book also highlights the spunkiness of many women in the 1950's, 60's and 70's – who were feminists. They had a vision of what they hoped for in their lives, but for many this vision ended up being sacrificed to accommodate marriage (and children). That was true for my mom who never had the opportunity to study or continue to build her career once she became a mother. This does not mean that women like my mom didn't make significant contributions (I recall my mom's involvement with all ages as a volunteer). But those contributions, like those of many women at that time, were unrecognized, at least until we were older and she returned to the paid labour force. Miss Dorothy's vision luckily found a receptive audience in North Carolina, during a period in time when books were not so readily available. While she yearns to oversee a collection "in a fine brick library in the centre of town" she is committed to those who like to read. The importance of books is highlighted when the bookmobile becomes stuck due to poor weather. "Finally a farmer on his tractor came down the road and saw the bookmobile. 'Miss Dorothy,' he called. 'Do you have a book of poems I could borrow?'" Books and librarian are rescued, but rescued as well was the farmer who needed poetry in his life.
It is beautiful how Miss Dorothy gracefully ages through the pages. The story ends with letters from those who benefited from her commitment to the notion that books are for borrowing. The final page provides an author's note, a tribute to this much-loved woman in the form (a book) that meant the most to her.
Valuing Difference
Posted 28 July 2011on:
Edward the "Crazy Man", by Marie Day
Living in a large city my daughters are exposed to homeless people most days. I'm sure every location, no matter what size, has some people who are homeless or living on the margins in a visible way. The challenge as a parent is to help our children understand what is happening when the instinct to just ignore the situation seems so easy. Children who have always had a secure home can understandably be baffled by people sleeping on the street, looking ragged, apparently talking to themselves or yelling agitatedly. While to an adult it can seem obvious they are suffering from mental illness, explaining this in the moment to a child is not easy. It is good to have some time outside these encounters to be able to talk about what may be happening in a calm and reflective mannner.
Luckily one day we spied Edward the "Crazy Man". He was not sitting on the sidewalk but on our local library shelf. My daughters were attracted to the book's colorful cover. The content inside is equally well done. The story begins when Charlie is school age. He is intrigued by the local "crazy man" and tries to help him with odds and ends from his family's garage. From a classic bully scene, the story evolves. Turn the page and fast forward to the later rediscovery of this character by Charlie. We don't really know how Charlie learned or maintained his caring nature, but the story demonstrates how it is possible to be empathetic as a youngster and as a grownup. Now an adult, Charlie has the power to help the man, and he does. When we are finally introduced to Edward we are told he has a brain disease called schizophrenia and learn some of the signs of this disease. Even though the other adults don't seem much more sympathetic than the children did, Edward is able to succeed, thanks to the caring support of Charlie. Greater awareness of and empathy for those with mental illness is important given that "one in five Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. The remaining 4 will have a friend, family member or colleague who will" [www.camh.net]. While the happily-ever-after ending many seem like an unlikely outcome, this story provides a good introduction to this issue. It is great to be able to share this story and use it to build some understanding rather than just giving a quick, shallow answer to a child's question asked in the street or "pretending" that mental illness is not an important issue that children can develop an awareness about.
If you know of other young reader books that present stories around mental health issues please feel free to post a comment to share them. Thanks.
"Taylor's Favourite!"
Posted 18 July 2011on:
Wolf's coming!, by Joe Kulka
This picture book is a fun, fast-paced, rhyming twist on the classic tale of a wolf! Around our house it is referred to as "Taylor's favourite!", after one of my daughters' pre-school daycare classmates who just couldn't get enough of this book! For children who are a little bit older, and able to manage a little bit of suspense in their stories, try adding a bit of vocal tension and pace your reading to make this wonderful book one that will receive demands of "again!, again!". It has a birthday party ending which resonates with children.
I'd suggest your audience for this book is a little bit older (4-6 years), or who have been exposed to many types of stories. Some children find the suspense element just a bit too overwhelming. Enjoy!
Once upon a time…
Posted 13 July 2011on:
Are you a parent or a caregiver who is interested in finding new, interesting and meaningful books to help instill a love of reading in a young child? If so, this blog is for you! It will help you discover good young (ages 3 – 8) children's books fast.
These are books that have been read by my two daughters (Elizabeth, now age 7 and Sophie, age 4) and myself. We get many of our books through the Toronto Public Library so whenever possible we will provide a link to the library listing and their wonderful system where anyone with a valid Toronto Library card can place a hold for a book. When your book arrives at your local library branch a nice lady will phone you and leave a message so you know your next book discovery (or rediscovery) awaits. Hopefully no matter where you live, your local library (or bookstore) will be able to help you get these books.
Who doesn't love all the tried and true classics in children's books? Little Bear, The Giving Tree, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Winnie the Pooh, and the list goes on and on. We love them too, but this blog is going to try and take you down a different path. We will try not to list of the books you will find in classic lists (if you haven't already, check out Michele Landsberg's Guide to children's books which has some old favorites and some you may not have heard of before) or the current magazine favorites. We want to help you discover lesser-known books that would be good additions to your reading list.
And because there are so many books out there, we invite you to make your own recommendations to add to this list. We are aiming to include one book each week for the next year!
Let's all read happily ever after…
The End.
It's A Wrap!
Posted 3 September 2012on:
Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates
Stella Batts Needs a New Name by Courtney Sheinmel, illustrated by Jennifer Bell
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
It has been a wonderful summer of learning and fun adventures! Even as I begin to write this my daughters are being amazed by the athletic feats of the paraolympic women and men. We applaud their courage and outstanding skills!
This has also been a very empowering summer for Elizabeth and Sophie. Both have made great progress in swimming, showing commitment to learning, and being the best individuals they can in the face of constant change (for Sophie – leaving her daycare familiarity and family after more than 4 years; for Elizabeth – evolving into a hand-raising, pick-me child who discovers how to float as the magician's assistant at the CNE!) Both of my daughters surprise and amaze me regularly!
We have had a terrific time participating in the Toronto Public Library's Summer Reading Program, seeing the behaviour of our visiting turtle Speedy and enjoying all this summer offered. Part of that was Elizabeth beginning to read chapter books on her own (starting with Stella Batts Needs a New Name, by Courtney Sheinmel and birthday gift Ramona Quimby, Age 8, by Beverly Cleary)
With fall around the corner, we are getting back on our regular reading together schedule. A recent favorite has allowed us to focus on story telling through illustrations rather than the words has been Dog Loves Drawings, by Louise Yates. This dog loves books so much he owns a bookstore! Then one day he receives a blank book for drawing and discovers the joy of creating his own characters and story. Make sure you have your pencils sharpened and some blank pages ready before you start this one!
* * *
It's hard to believe it has been over a year since Emerging Readers started. Thanks for visiting! It has been great to share so many good books to inspire young people's interest in reading. Now we are looking for our next creative adventure, so this will be the last post here.
In the meantime don't forget what a wonderful place the TPL (or your local library) is for providing you with new ideas and great books. Keep reading – and we look forward to the next time our paths cross!
Hurray, the 2012 Summer Games have begun! What a fantastic opening ceremony — we look forward to the amazing display of sports (and good sportsmanship) to come over the next two weeks. Here are some of our favourite moments from these games so far –
Day 1 – Men's doubles rowing heat
A Canadian team was winning this heat, having pulled ahead early and the commentators observed the tension building up in one of the rowers shoulders and arms. Feeling very happy about their victory Elizabeth observed "Well, they can take it slower when they are rowing back (to the start)."
Also Day 1 – Women's basketball
Things were looking very promising for the Canadian women's first game against Russia. However, the Russians proved too much in the final minutes beating our team by a 4 or 5 point margin. Sportsmanship is so key to all we do in life. Learning how to lose is such a hard lesson. Kudos to these women who, although disappointed, played as a team and accepted the outcome. This is a big and important lesson — thank you ladies for showing us how to do it gracefully!
Day 6 – Sport unknown (overheard from upstairs)
Anil – "I can't believe he just did that!!!"
Elizabeth – "OOOHHHHH!"
Also Day 6 – Practising for the 20?? Olympics at the Riverdale Pool – sister synchronized jumping event
Elizabeth – "Sophie, that one was not the best, but the entry was clean."
Day 8 – Trampoline
Canada's first gold medal is won by Rosie MacLennan! Hurray! We are so proud of the people representing our country!
We are loving the Olympics, although it has combined with our few days vacation travelling in Ontario to put our regular reading on hold. I don't really mind: there are so many great lessons and ideas these Olympics are encouraging, I think this is also time well spent.
Hope you have been able to enjoy some of the Olympics too. Feel free to leave us a comment with your favorite Olympic story.
Do you feel like dancing?
Posted 17 July 2012on:
Bea at Ballet by Rachel Isadora
We just have a few days left until Sophie's week of summer dance camp. We'll be lucky if she doesn't explode from excitement first. Her dance classes to date have been primarily creative movement, but the idea of ballet intrigues her (she happily sat through an entire production of the Nutcracker back in the winter).
There are lots of children's books about dance – this one shows lots of different dancers. It provides a nice introduction to the common terms, moves and items associated with ballet. This book is a hit at our house right now; I'm sure Sophie sees herself in it. She is even trying out the positions based on the illustrations! If you have a beginning dancer too – check it out!
100 Years of Children's Services
Posted 30 June 2012on:
I recently picked up a booklet at the TPL celebrating Lillian Smith's hiring and her contributions as Toronto's "first professionally trained children's librarian". It is packed interesting historical tidbits and highlights 100 books published from 1912 to today. It has lots of familiar covers, some of which I recall reading as a child and one which we have covered in an Emerging Readers blog from almost one year ago (Press Here by Herve Tullet).
Included in the selection of 100 are some that we are fortunate to have as part of our home library collection that we can read time and time again –
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans – one of the original brave girls ("To the tiger in the zoo, Madeline just said 'Pooh-pooh'"). If you are thinking of taking your daughter(s) to see that new movie this summer, also plan to pick up this great book.
Mr. Gumpy's Outing by John Burningham – I can't count the number of times we read this one to the girls in the first years of their lives! It wasn't a surprise to see the new book run now being featured in bookstores.
Finally, there is one book that we hope to catch as a theatre production in the next two weeks at the Toronto Fringe Kids Festival: Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman.
There are many suggestions in this booklet that we haven't read yet, so we are going to add them to our summer reading list and we may highlight some here soon! Let us know your favourite too!
A New Twist on an "Old" Favourite!
Posted 10 June 2012on:
Ivy + Bean – No News Is Good News by Annie Barrows & Sophie Blackall
Elizabeth, Sophie and I are about to embark on a new adventure – two months of summer vacation together! In recognition of this new three-of-us together model, Elizabeth and Sophie are contributing to this blog post. Each of us is looking forward to our own vision of what this summer will be…
Cathy: getting time to connect with each of my daughters in a way not possible during too short weekends, with (too many!) scheduled activities.
Elizabeth: sleeping in, no dictée and "my birthday is the next one in the family!"
Sophie: spending time with Lizzy, missing my daycare friends and (maybe) cracking the code to learn to ride a two-wheeler by myself!
Thanks to our local book bank, we've acquired a few books in a series that is one of our "old" favourites, first discovered through the public library — Ivy + Bean! Author Annie and illustrator Sophie can't create these stories fast enough, but when Ivy & Bean – No News Is Good News became available this past spring, it encouraged us to re-read some of the previous adventures we had already enjoyed. They were just as fun the second time around! These stories are chapter books with occasional illustrations. Like many good books, you will frequently find yourself looking forward to the next opportunity to read more!
C: Which character do you like best?
E: Ivy
S: Yeah, Ivy
[This surprised to me. Both girls seemed to like the character who they describe as neater and more proper. Maybe because it is frequently Ivy's imaginative and creative sides that cause the adventures to unfold!]
C: If you were to join in their next adventure what do you think it should be about?
S: Hotdog buns or bananas
E: Tiny, tiny beans or crickets, baby crickets
[This interview took place over breakfast. Sophie's mind was obviously influenced by other forces!]
If you haven't yet enjoyed these adventures, the stories are about two 7-year old girls who live on the same street. They are different enough that they never thought they would become friends — but they are! These are hilarious adventures involving dance, babysitters, ghosts, small individual wax-wrapped cheeses, mud volcanos, and more!
We also recently discovered a similar type of book series – Heidi Heckelbeck has a secret. The author of this series has had four books published so far this year (!). Even though the library only has access to two of the books so far, if you need some additional good reading for this summer, it is worth checking out. Enjoy!
A New Frontier
Posted 23 May 2012on:
Owly – Just a Little Blue, by Andy Runton
Owly & Wormy – Friends all Aflutter, by Andy Runton
Ahhh, it's spring time and everything seems so new again!
We got our bikes out, so Sophie and I have added some days of work and daycare commuting using our conjoined bike. So far it has been great! We have a low stress, downhill route in the morning and a bit more tricky (left hand turns and more traffic) ride uphill at the end of the day. Since this is still pretty new for us we are getting use to each other's rythm and ways. The bike ride home seems to be Sophie's preferred time to be a Star. There has never been a doubt that in our small family she is the born performer! During the bike riding she belts out every song she can think of including a good mix of Christmas favourites and songs I assumed she would have forgotten from mom and baby drop-in centre days (which seem so long ago now). She also includes some I'm sure are her own creation. It is this last batch that made me think she was ready for the type of children's book without words – make up your own story. We had tried some of these books before, with mixed success. However a recent library blog on kid's comics plus her creative bike expressions suggested it was time to try that kind of book again. I think we are both glad they are in our current library borrowed pile!
Our usual morning breakfast routine was changed a bit this week. Sophie wanted to use a bar stool to eat at the little window/ledge that connects our kitchen and dining area. I find it so difficult to get her to focus on eating in the morning that I'm happy to accommodate most requests. This morning Sophie decided to entertain herself with Owly – Just a Little Blue while she sat there with her cereal. Her story evolved around an apple and I may have broken her interpretation when I told her the name of the owl. She only made it through a few pages, but as a natural story teller, I have a feeling she will be revisiting this one.
We also borrowed a copy of the picture book interpretation of this character Owly & Wormy – Friends all Aflutter, which we will have a look at this week.
I love to encourage my daughters to use their imaginations. As I've suggested in the past, this skill is often overlooked, but can be one of the best sources of satisfaction throughout life. While the timing with the wordless books didn't work some months ago, now it seems to have found a receptive audience. I find it hard to know what kind of reading material will be appropriate when. I guess the trick is just to keep track of these possible tools and keep trying different ones until we find the ones that work to help our children develop in the way and at the pace that is right for them!
Happy story telling!
Little Bear
Posted 15 May 2012on:
A Kiss for Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik and pictures by Maurice Sendak
I have often admired those with the skills to execute both the writing and the illustration that make a children's book. Many times, however, it is someone else's unique interpretation of a story that gives it some added depth.
This was reinforced this past week with Maurice Sendak's death. Where the Wild Things Are, the book he authored and illustrated, obviously made a huge contribution to children's literature (and our thinking about the kind of information and thinking of children), but, to me, it is his illustrations of the Little Bear series that show his talent and his love of humour.
The Little Bear books depict the world from a young bear's perspective including his understanding of himself and his interactions with others (family and other animal/human friends). His mother's frank explanation of what will happen to him when he tries to fly like a bird to the moon is a classic in parental humour and honesty –
"And maybe ," says Mother Bear, "you are a little fat bear club with no wings and no feathers. Maybe if you jump up you will come down very fast , with a big plop." (Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik and pictures by Maurice Sendak)
The story that I find most lovely is A Kiss for Little Bear. This book is the final one in this series and the only one published after Where the Wild Things Are (there are hints that maybe Little Bear shares Sendak's love of drawing wild things). It is the illustration on page 22 with Little Bear laughing as the little joke he has started with a kiss being passed along from friend to friend that shows Sendak's skills as an artist. The mischievousness and fun of this illustration makes the words and characters in this story come alive. When you get a copy of the book, let us know if you agree!
Merci Monsier Sendak!


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Just asking as I'd cataract op just over year ago at age of 44. I regularly attend my opticians and 2yrs ago was told I'd perfect vision yet within 3mths I was experiencing severe problems with my left eye. I was told I'd cataract growing at rate they had never seen b4. Apartently most take between 5-10yrs to develop. They told me it was yet another complication associated with fibro. I had op bout 6mths after it was 1st diagnosed. I now have 1 in my right eye (thankfully not developing as fast yet). I've never heard of it b4 so just wanted 2 ask if any1 else suffered.
It was funny though, I used 2 bring my mum along 2 my apps and even though I was 1 sitting in front of them they still spoke over my head 2 my mum....lol
Goodnite all and may we all sleep 2nite at least 4 few hrs good sleep xx


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This time we birded later in the day, and as it got dark, Clappers began to vocalize. We had been playing tapes along the southern side of the salt ponds earlier, when suddenly we heard Clapper Rails giving grunt calls from the mangroves on the northern side. Quickly we walked over a dike to the other side and started recording what sounded like at least three pairs - one close, two further in. Oliver recorded the following vocalizations, documenting the presence of Clapper Rails in El Salvador for the first time:
The next morning, we heard and saw a Clapper Rail in another salinera, La Ostia across the border in Valle, Honduras. We've had this species here several times before, since I first found two adults here last August tending chicks. Sunday I managed a poor quality shot of a bird that briefly came out of the vegetation to inspect my playback.
|"documentation shot" of Clapper Rail (in Honduras, not El Salvador)
Van Dort, J. 2013. Clapper Rail breeding in Honduras. El Esmeralda, Vol II (1): 23–26. Asociación Hondureña de Ornitología (ASHO).


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BOONSBORO -- Scoti Dodson didn't have to wait until November to be elected to the Washington County Board of Education.
A group of the 17-year-old's peers voted in favor of her appointment as the board's student representative. Her first public business meeting in that role was last week. Scoti is an incoming senior at Boonsboro High School.
She replaces Smithsburg High School graduate Aaron Zaccaria as student representative to the board.
Scoti was elected to the position by other members of the Washington County Association of Student Councils. She also is president of the student council at her school.
"I don't really know what to expect," Scoti said of her new role. "I'm hoping for the best ... hoping to get something accomplished."


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5 ways to improve your bottom line in winter
Winter in Utah brings snow and fun, but it can also bring increased energy bills and weather damage to your facility. Here are 5 ways to prepare your building for winter that can help improve your bottom line.
- Have the windows cleaned. Dirty windows prevent natural light from brightening lobbies and rooms as well as give your facility a dark and cold feel. Hiring a professional cleaning service at least twice a year, in the spring and fall, can help keep your facility looking bright and well maintained.
- Have the carpets professionally cleaned. Winter brings salt and slush that can mat and ruin carpet fibers. The best way to keep carpets from wearing out prematurely is to have them cleaned regularly, especially during the winter. Carpets should be cleaned at least twice a year.
- Check for adequate matting beneath carpet. Matting prevents winter salt from leeching through and damaging the floor underneath.
- Lay out winter mats and carpet runners. Mats capture salt and dirt tracked in from outside and help extend the life of your carpet.
- Check the lights. On dark winter days, adequate lighting is especially important to ensure safety, particularly in facilities where machinery is part of company operations. Offices also need good lighting to provide a better work atmosphere.
By following these 5 simple steps, you can save money this winter.


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Snail love . When you can't say it, show it
Snail project me and Alison have been working on, this is the first in the series; showing some snail love!
The idea is to show that you love someone even if you can't or chose not to say it.
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60 comments
Taken on June 1, 2009


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No one can communicate the importance of ENLA membership like the members themselves.
The non-profit and faith based community fills an important service gap that the government cannot address in the period immediately following a disaster. The more organizations that are coordinated and working together smoothly, the faster the recovery process will be. ENLA's growth as an organization is of direct benefit to your organization and the LA region, so we are calling on you all to assist us with the recruitment of new members!
Reach out to agencies who you would benefit being partnered with in a disaster!
Click here to download or print the Digital Recruitment packet
Campaign Period: March 15 – May 15 , 2012
New agencies recruited to date: 1


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My calendar/planner...an unlikely--yet--great place to house inspiring stuff!
Love inspiring stuff? There's no doubt I do!
Case in point... The other afternoon, while weeding outdated items from my planner/calendar, I came across a myriad of inspiring quotes I'd clipped and taped, throughout the years, inside it.
Thought I'd share, a bit, in the event others wanted to get in on the inspiration love as well (smile). Here's a snippet of what I found:
"All I need to do is love myself more today that yesterday, and to treat myself as someone who is deeply loved." –Louise Hay
"A year from now, you will wish you had started earlier." –Karen Lamb
"Be a shepherd, not a sheep." –Unknown
Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there's love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong." –Ella Fitzgerald
"The limit to your abilities is where you place it." –fortune from Chinese takeout
"Sell your ideas—they are totally acceptable." –fortune from Chinese takeout
"In dreams and in life, nothing is impossible." –fortune from Chinese takeout
"All things change when we do." --ancient Zen maxim
Have a fab, inspired Thursday! T.


text: Adriel's expression, barely held together as it was, would shatter beneath the weight of Bacchus' words. He'd hide it by chasing Bacchus' lips, kissing him with every ounce of fire still found in the torch he carried for him. If Bacchus moved to lay back flush on the floor, Adriel would follow, hands placed on the cold tile on either side of Bacchus' face to support his weight as he continued kissing him. Desperate, broken sounds would escape his mouth between caresses of lips, wounded whimpers half-swallowed and the audible struggle to withhold tears. Because Bacchus broke the rules. They weren't supposed to feel. They were only supposed to fuck. Bacchus didn't need him or want him, and what good was love if Bacchus didn't die inside the way Adriel did when they weren't together? But Bacchus had said it, had opened the door Adriel couldn't help but tumble through, his heart landing battered and bruised on the floor at Bacchus' feet. His lover knew him well, and even with the shift in their position, Adriel would gasp with each thrust, moan into their kisses, the kisses he refused to abandon. He'd pant against Bacchus' lips, confess his love and his fears hidden behind languages Bacchus didn't speak or understand, a quiet, rolling mantra of 'I love you' and 'I'm sorry' and 'I'll stay. I'll stay. I'll stay.'


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Since my last trip here, Kayaking, I've been wanting to come back and explore the trail by bicycle. Seeing this was my first outing for the year I was excited to go explore and I loaded up my Camera, GoPro and Mountain Bike!
I decided to park at the far west parking lot, the same place I launched my Kayak from last summer, and begin my ride here. The parking lot was empty at 7:30am, just the way I like it.
I've been to both ends, hiking parts of the trail and Kayaked all the way down the Licking River but this was my first time following the entire trial from beginning to end.
I love getting an early start so that I can enjoy my surroundings in silence, before anyone else gets out. There's just something about the solitude that brings a peacefulness to my heart.
Within the first fifteen minutes of the trip I was riddled with dead batteries on my GoPro and made a new discovery too. If I drove a little further down the road and took a left onto Brushy Fork Rd. I would have discovered the paved parking lot instead of the gravel lot I parked in.
Next time I'll park here to avoid the Broken Bottles, T-Shirts and Boots that someone left behind. It's sad that some people just don't have any respect for nature and leave trash behind like this.Trying to not dwell on the negative, I pushed on putting that behind me.
I can tell you that at 7:30 in the morning things were a bit chilly but I was loving the surroundings.
Nature is truly something that always leaves me in awe every time I venture out. I think it's the combination of natural formations, the silence, wildlife and the history of our journey in time through this world that fascinates me. I honestly can't seem to get enough of it!
I love that they have the plaques along the trail with older photos and the history of the area. The name Blackhand originated from a dark hand-shaped Indian petroglyph which was engraved on the face of a massive sandstone cliff along the north side of the river. The engraving was destroyed in 1828 when canal builders dynamited the cliff face, during construction of the Ohio-Erie Canal, which runs through the gorge.
How cool is it to ride or walk through areas like these while trying to image those that came before us and what their life was like during that time.
I also found it pretty cool that they had a couple bike locking stations for if you wanted to venture out on the trails hiking. Animals and Biking is allowed but not off of the paved areas.
Imagine the history of all the glass bottles that are out in the world right now that came from this place. Things that you don't even think about.
After about only two hours I explored a new place, one that I had been to before, but I'm still discovering. I feel that I need to make another trip here, maybe just hiking the back trails looking for new things and defiantly some more Kayaking!
I also made a complete video of my ride, approx. 26 mins. long. If your interested in watching it please click on the Link below. It will take you to my YouTube Channel so that you can watch.
Interested in checking out a more in depth analysis of this trip. Check out the link below for my Garmin Connect details.
For a Map of the Area Please click the Image below.
Coordinates for the West end parking lot: 40.05967 -82.28791
For a full description of the area check out Wikipedia


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Benazir ignored warnings: MusharrafJanuary 3rd, 2008 - 10:51 pm ICT by admin
Islamabad, Jan 3 (ANI): Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday indirectly said that slain former premier Benazir Bhutto was herself to be blamed for her assassination as she had ignored intelligence warnings, which were conveyed to her three weeks in advance.
"Who is to be blamed for her coming out her vehicle?" Musharraf asked in his reply to a question at a press conference here, referring to the slain leader's decision to come out of her vehicle through the SUV's sunroof when a gun and a suicide attacked killed her.
Musharraf, who spoke to reporters for the first time after the December 27 Benazir's assassination, said," We stopped her from going (to the Liaquat Bagh area in Rawalpindi). This time, she again decided to go and she went, on her own. She went, ignoring the threat."
Stating that his life is also under the threat from Islamic militants, Musharraf refuted allegations of any kind of involvement of the country's intelligence agencies and the military in the assassination.
"No Intelligence agency in Pakistan is capable of inducting a man for a suicide attack," he said, adding, "In the last three months, there have been 19 suicide bombings, most of them against the military and the intelligence (agencies). If the same military and intelligence use the same people, it's a joke!"
Though Musharraf did not directly blame militant leader Baitullah Mehsud for Benazir's death, he accused him and another fundamentalist Maulana Fazlullah for carrying out past suicide attacks in the country that killed 400 people and injured 900 others.
"We know these two people are responsible," he added.
On the question that who wanted to see Benazir dead, Musharraf said, "Anyone who wants to assassinate must weight the pros and cons. Who is the maximum gainer from doing this? Would the government be the maximum gainer or somebody else who will gain more?" Justifying his decision to invite assistance from the coveted British investigators, Scotland Yard into the assassination probe, Musharraf said, "We don't mind going to any extent, as nobody is involved from the government or agency side." (ANI)
Tags: allegations, benazir bhutto, british investigators, gainer, intelligence agencies, intelligence agency, islamabad, islamic militants, liaquat bagh, maulana fazlullah, militant leader, pakistan president pervez musharraf, pervez musharraf, president pervez musharraf, pros and cons, scotland yard, suicide attack, suicide attacks, suicide bombings, sunroof


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Bills owner Terry Pegula and head coach Sean McDermott are finally afforded the closure they needed from the Rex Ryan era and can move forward without any remnants of the previous regime.
Determining who will be a great general manager isn't an exact science, but we've whittled the list down to three leading candidates for the Bills' job:
Brandon Beane, Panthers assistant GM
McDermott will be heavily involved in the search for the new general manager and it's likely he'll try to recruit candidates that he's already familiar with. Beane was linked to the Bills by Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports and is among the most qualified options on the market. The 39-year-old was named as the Panthers' assistant general manager in 2005, previously working as the team's director of football operations for seven seasons. Beane also served as the Panthers' interim GM during the 2012 season and was interviewed by the San Francisco 49ers for their general manager role in January.
Boasting a wealth of experience and a strong relationship with McDermott, Beane appears to be the favorite for the job, although the Bills will likely vet several candidates before making a decision.
Don Gregory, Panthers director of player personnel
Like Beane, Gregory also has strong ties to McDermott stemming from their working relationship while with the Panthers. Gregory is also rumored to be in the mix for the Bills' job, according to La Canfora.
Gregory was promoted to director of player personnel in May 2016, previously working as the Panthers' director of college scouting since June 2006. The veteran talent scout received his first job in the NFL with the Chargers organization in 1995 and could provide the Bills with the much-needed stability they desperately crave.
Nick Caserio, Patriots director of player personnel
If you can't beat them, join them, and if that doesn't work, hire them. This modified adage would work well in Caserio's favor with numerous teams lining up to get an insight on what works for the Patriots, as they look to win their third Super Bowl in four seasons next winter.
Caserio is the rare candidate that has worked both as a coach and a scout. The 41-year-old worked as an offensive coaching assistant for the Patriots in 2002 and served as their wide receivers coach in 2007, working directly with Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Caserio also rose from a personal assistant in 2001, to area scout, then served as director of player personnel from 2004-06 and resumed his role from 2008 onward after working with the wide receivers.
The NFL has often been dubbed a "copycat league" and Titans general manager Jon Robinson, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, and Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome have all worked under Bill Belichick in some capacity. Buffalo wouldn't be the first organization to go deep inside New England's payroll in order to bolster its own fortunes.
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Friday, 16 June 2017
I am Dr Nick Aplin, Senior Lecturer from the Physical Education and Sport Science (PESS) Academic Group. My family consists of my wife, Siok Choo and my three sons: Anders, Christer, Niels, and myself. My wife plays a significant role in the family; I've always reminded my sons that Mum is the heart of the family – she comes first in our thoughts and actions. Siok Choo and I work together; she is a Consultant Lecturer at PESS.
My eldest son, Anders, is 25 years old and will convocate from the Nanyang Business School (NTU) this July. Anders was a pioneer at Singapore Sports School in 2004 and followed up at Victoria Junior College. He attended OCS as a Commando and made the transition to Ranger when he extended his posting. He is a professional football player with Geylang International in the S.League.
My second son, Christer, is 23 years old. He attended Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) before fulfilling his National Service in the Naval Diving Unit. He is in his third year at the NUS (Arts and Social Sciences) pursuing Theatre Studies. He will be doing his honours next year.
My youngest son, Niels, is 20 years old. He also attended Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and attended OCS subsequently, after BMT. He won the Sword of Merit and was then posted to Guards. He will be following his eldest brother's footsteps to pursue his studies in the Nanyang Business School (NTU) this year.
They have all represented Singapore in international sporting competitions: Soccer (Anders), Chess (Christer) and Softball (Niels).
I normally spend time with my child/children….
Over the years, sports have been the activity that brings the family together.
At this stage, we remain a close knit family although our sons have varied interests and responsibilities. We cherish opportunities such as small celebrations which bring everyone together. WhatsApp is an important/ a useful means of communication, often to arrange small family celebrations which include their respective girlfriends.
My happiest memory / moment as a dad …
Each of our sons has provided us with golden moments to savour. There has been no single happiest moment, rather an ongoing and continuing series of very happy memories. Significantly, over the years, they have surprised us with various hidden interests and talents.
Scoring a spectacular goal for Singapore Combined Universities in last year's ASEAN University Competition; beating the Russian representative in the final round of the inaugural World Schools Chess Championships; or representing Singapore at Softball in the SEA Games in 2015, they all rank equally high.
Is there something that your sons did that makes you feel very touched?
Anders provided counsel for his youngest brother, who had suffered a misfortune with the car. He reassured Niels that Mum and Dad would not be angry – because after all they are both educators and they understand that these things happen!
Most rewarding thing about being a dad…
My sons are mutually supportive of each other. They help one another and provide advice on matters concerning NS, university courses and which are the best T-shirts to wear.
If I could share a piece of advice with first time fathers, it would be…
Play with your children and demonstrate your passion for the physical and cognitive activities you love. It helps to understand your children's emotions and their outlook towards life. Treat your daughters the same as your sons. Encourage physical play and ball games in particular and make sure your wife joins in too.
Are your children as interested in sport as you are? How do you encourage them to lead a healthy lifestyle?
The sons were also inspired by both my wife's and my sporting interests. My wife, Siok Choo, was a SEA Games Badminton player. From the early years, we both encouraged our sons to engage in competitive sport, but at the same time be mindful of intellectual and social development. My wife has always joined in and encouraged family play and togetherness.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle has been implicit in the respective lifestyles of my sons – encouraging play from an early age was the natural trigger to balanced development.
What lessons or advice do you wish to impart to your sons? If there is one piece of advice that you want your children to always hold dear to their hearts, what would it be?
One ongoing theme of family life would be: Always remember that your mother is the heart of the family – she comes first in our thoughts and actions.
My wife and I have a combined philosophy to bring up our sons to be capable of making their own decisions and be responsible for those decisions.
Finding out more with Mrs Aplin…
Give a short introduction about your husband
We have a very warm family, and I believe, in no small part, it is because of Nick!
Nick is very balanced, understanding, patient, kind and wise. From the start, he believed in equal partnership in our marriage. I respect men who respect women! He loves our sons very much and is very proud of them. I am truly very blessed!
What do you think of your husband as a dad?
Nick is a gem of a father! He empowers our children. To me, 'empowerment' is a very important element in human growth. (Sadly, not many dads do that.) Nick believes in our children's potential, and conveys this belief to them. The boys have a very close relationship with Nick. They will consult Nick and are given the freedom to make their own decisions. Nick believes in having them take ownership of and responsibility for the choices they make, and our role as parents, to support them in their decisions. That is the level of trust and respect the father has for his three sons. In turn, the boys love and respect him.
What is one thing that your husband did for the family that touches you the most?
I don't think there is a single thing/ incident as such but rather the consistency with which Nick carries himself.
When the boys were young, if Nick had to discipline them, he would never fail to reassure them of his love after the disciplining was done. If he was in the wrong, he would be humble enough to apologise to them. I think such messages of love and respect are empowering.
Since they were young, our sons have been told by Nick that "Mummy is the heart of the family", and he lives it. Glee aside, I think there is much wisdom in such an attitude. A happy mother is a happy household, the foundation of a happy family. 😊
Chit Chatting with Anders Aplin
If I could describe my dad in one word, it would be...
If there's one thing you would like to thank your dad for, it would be...
Here's nine things.
N ever one to lose his cool, nor patience
I bear witness to his fatherly brilliance
C hess and Golf are his weekly indulgences
K eeping him company after sunset with a pint of Guinness
A lways an anchor for his family, unwavering and strong
P lacid and proper he is, he can do no wrong
L oving husband, doting father
I rreproachable like no other, if I may add
N ever have we known a better Dad!
Chit Chatting with Christer Aplin
About Dad…
He is very passionate about sport, history, and film/TV, and always takes to heart the interests and ambitions of the family (sporting or otherwise). He could probably take part in a trivia contest (e.g. Who wants to be a Millionaire / The Weakest Link) and do reasonably well.
How has he been an inspiration to you?
For putting up with three sons for so many years, while keeping a nice balance of being at work / at home / leisure. For keeping track and keeping an interest in the boys' and mom's achievements, and for always being around to help.
Always taking care of mommy.
Chit Chatting with Niels Aplin
He's the closest to a human sports encyclopedia, especially when relating to Singapore, that I've seen. He's a decent golfer but he's getting old.
How has he been an inspiration to you?
My dad's discipline and devotion to his work and various projects has shown me that talent only gets you so far. Most of one's success comes through years of patient work. Now I look ahead to the future knowing that it's not always about being the most talented, but being the last to quit.
If I could describe my dad in one word, it would be...
If there's one thing you would like to thank your dad for, it would be....
Being calm and supportive in every situation.


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Nuffnang Blog Awards, Here I Come
i'd never a proper nuffnang memory really. What i had being a nuffie was just two events. The nokia oki workshop where i met fellow lao jiao coser @ Kaika [from The Cosplay Chronicles], and a movie preview where i dragged twinneh Lawliet [from Living for sake of it].
Thats all I can remember.
So~~~ I decided to go with the other topic, Nuffnang Blog Awards, Here I Come!!
Here are my Top 3 reasons to attend the Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards 2011.
Reason 1:
I think the picture is pretty explanatory. I WANT TO SEE XIAXUE AND CHEESIE BAG THEIR WELL-DESERVED AWARDS...ok and to see how cheesie is like in real form ahahahah.
Vote for them here
you can cast a vote every 2 hours 83
Reason 2:
BECAUSE I NEVER GO BEFORE! *typical singapore declaration*
Well, since it is a invite only event, of course i've never been to one before.
#foreveralone #foreverleftout
Reason 3:
YES I NEED A HOLIDAY. Away from this country and everything. It doesnt help when your parents have gone to Korea and China, when they chuck you at home for 7 days and 4 days respectively and leave you to wallow in sorrow as they enjoy themselves overseas. I WANNA GO OVERSEAS TOO. well... lodging is expensive *stabs floor*
Come 16 December 2011, 500 bloggers from around the Asia-Pacific region will flock to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards 2011 in Putrajaya Marriott. The Awards aims to not only honour the region's best bloggers, but also to bring together blogger communities from across Asia-Pacific. The Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards is brought to you by Volkswagen Malaysia and Putrajaya Marriott.
500 bloggers..from Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Phillipines, China, Hong Kong, Thailand... MORE NEW PEOPLE TO MEET 8D who will pass up the chance right?
now...i will sit... and hope and wait. rofl.
More NG pictures and stuff
Xiaxue imitation:
- pink hair YAY [recalls the hair i molested @ tangs bwahahaha]
- hello kitty
- white top [she's always in some pure colour range clothes which i happen to lack. fml.]
- inspired makeup from picture [pink lips pink cheeks hur~]
original Xiaxue:
shopped myself to look like XX but of course ultimate fail. HAHAHAHHA
normal ones [well i saved my skin though 8D]
Cheesie imitation:
- BUN HAIR, she does so many bun hair examples that i think it represents her /impression
- mouse with cheese. cheese. well as long as it is something with cheese 8D
- pink jacket. I had zero idea, so i jus picked something nice.
- inspired makeup from IMPRESSION [orange cheekies and nude lip, she looks damn good in this combo]
Original cheesie:
one extra from cheesie poseur cos i suck so bad when imitatin her. I CANT SMILE FOR NUTS, how the hell do they always smile so much be it their photos or adverts? I get all cramped up from smiling, ALWAYS.
and end up like this...
my jawline doesnt help much either.
I couldnt do a cheesie fringe though... cos of my original fringe style...
Here's my original fringe style. VISUAL KEI NOT DEAD OKAI!!!!
some random camera plays
and... troll face. wtf.
Honestly? I had fun imitating Xiaxue and Cheesie that I feel the work is all worth it. *laughs*
I hope you guys had fun laughing at my attempts too. 8D copy my idea and i hope you get piles *empty threat*
now tiem for bed.
Nex post[in another two days?] will be another advert and a mini giveaway, so watch this blog 8D


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Amend Approve: Perpetual prototyping and ideas
This is a little tale about a little project I had an idea for (another one), got feedback on and actually built a working prototype, but, that's as far as it got, it was called Amend Approve. For this particular project now, I've decided that any exploration of the idea would require a re-think from the ground up, so, I'll just share everything instead.
I think this is a familiar tale to many people where an idea develops, but for whatever reason… yes, and here's one of mine.
The problem
Getting content approved for designers and agencies is a perennial problem. Amends take more time than anyone actually wants to admit or realises, but importantly eats into time fiddling when designers should be designing. Everyone deals with workflow issues an plans their own way to fit their business structure and skills, but I'm sure there is a better way for many. Extracting the content and specifically ideas around the Page Table by Relly Annett-Baker solidified my ideas at the perfect time. There are a few examples of systems Acquire and the excellent Get Signoff, but they are just slightly too complex for what I had in mind.
For small businesses, out there in the real world, they will only refresh their website and brochure every few years, that's the marketing budget, and for many, a tracking system, such as Basecamp, Trello, Bugherd et al is just friction, so, no logins or accounts allowed. Clients want the job done, they don't want educating, they do though want their content to be correct and just right. Preferably via email.
Designers and agencies
For designers and agencies, they want content, be it text, images, spreadsheets, as early as possible, neat, tidy and formatted in the creative process. If any copy or imagery has been proofed or optimised and isn't just a placeholder, that's ideal. But design isn't a linear process, and this is where issues come into play, so much copy and imagery doesn't happen in isolation, content also needs context.
So, I sketched out the processes involved, imagined it, and sounded out various colleagues if this was worth it. It all felt rather vague.
I built a prototype
I was able to build a working demo with something I knew quite quickly using Expression Engine and Safecracker forms. With this done, I was able to demo my ideas further and we tested this in the wild, with real client cases, not just my clients but with Wil Linnsen at Erskine and Ali and Matt at Mark-Making.
The idea worked, but I had pushed the prototype as hard as I could, and at a technical dead-end it needed to be an app. I was completely unsure about if this could even be of use to that many people, let alone make any money, but thanks to Omar Qureshi, Ant Coleman, Jon Hicks and Steffan Williams, we all felt that there was some value for all of us. Omar built some rails demos, Ant wrote some copy, Jon did some icon work (and experiments in SVG).
There was other work to do, and as many lists and time saving methods you want to employ, you can't cheat time. The brilliant Gather Content seemed to be nailing everything I wanted to do with every update. The came Editorially which was rather wonderful, but like many people, shocked to see it fold so soon.
And that's it. Two and a half years on, I've continued to collect some thoughts on the idea, and there is something, an idea, there in an ever-changing landscape of apps and services, the actual process of moving copy to sign-off to publication is still the same process. I've added some more screens and visuals in the portfolio.
Special thanks to the following for all their input on Amend Approve, advice and encouragement…
- Adam Robertson
- Alex Morris
- Alistair Williams
- Alun Rowe
- Anthony Coleman
- Cory Hughes
- Gareth Jones
- Graham Bancroft
- Herman Wenstad
- James Lindeman
- John Oxton
- Jon Dennis
- Jon Hicks
- Matt Carey
- Matt Hamm
- Matt Reid
- Omar Qureshi
- Peter Mankhe
- Steffan Williams
- Steve Seamark
- Wil Linsenn


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