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If nostalgia helps to fuel the passion for the medium of video games (and from an industry standpoint, it appears to be a worthwhile pursuit), then 3D Dot Game Heroes is a fervent mash note to gamers hoping to reconnect with some past relationship. The game feels both familiar and alien, a facade of a childhood home with its blueprints ingrained in some forgotten recess of the mind. Those who grew up playing The Legend of Zelda, from which Heroes borrows heavily, may find themselves offended at first, then perplexed by their own faint smiles moments later. Is Heroes an homage? An unofficial sequel? A pastiche? What exactly were the intentions of the developer? No matter. Those hypnotized by the 8- and 16-bit action RPGs from decades ago will find their muscle memory bubbling to the surface again, and their childhood clocks resetting. Those not entranced by that idea—or at least willing to accept it—may find Heroes nothing more than a fleeting, frustrating novelty.
In Heroes, the player assumes the control of the descendant of an ancient hero in the land of Dotnia, a kingdom recently forced to upgrade to three dimensions in order to retain its relevance. It's a delightfully clever premise, but the narrative skeleton is old-school Zelda through and through: Traverse a large and varied landscape, gathering new items and abilities from self-contained dungeons that become progressively harder and more complicated as your hero fights to save the world from potentially Earth-destroying (and most definitely stock) dark forces. Clearly, the emphasis is on character development through gameplay instead of plot, as the hero can be swapped out for a multitude of other models at any time, ranging from the bland to the bizarre (and a simple character editor allows one to create and use a grid-based hero of their own design, a nice touch). Gamers looking for an engaging story or politically charged setting need to keep right on drivin'. But anyone who has played the original Zelda and its many clones knows that it isn't really about the story, but rather the satisfying feeling of trailblazing, familiarizing themselves with each new screen and poking through every nook and cranny until one forms an almost symbiotic bond with the game's world and can navigate by visual landmark alone. The Legend of Zelda perfected this genre (blending character leveling and item management with real-time and immediate swordplay), and Heroes is, well, a wholly faithful recreation of that design. It's hard to demerit a game that strives for that kind of a bar and almost—almost—reaches it.
The biggest obstacle in the way of incontestable success is controlling your character within the charming and vibrant environments themselves (rendered, obviously, as three-dimensional block renditions of 8-bit pixel art). The player has no direct control of the camera, and the default angle can make some precise character and item placement hard to judge, which is especially trying in dungeons where the pitfalls and traps are numerous and punishing (several options for camera placement are available, including a more traditional and 2D-like overhead view, but these are only accessible through the pause menu and cannot be changed on the fly). Likewise, sword fighting with your hero requires a slow adjustment period; a "spin-slash" move, for instance, is a crucial technique for defeating some of the more aggressive enemies in the game, but this is awkwardly performed by rotating the analogue stick within a short time-frame during a button-press, lacking the fluidity of the quintessential charge-and-release mechanic of A Link to the Past. Thankfully, the variety of swords that you can collect and upgrade with different attributes—such as lengthening a weapon to the point where it can fill the entire screen when the player has full health—makes the majority of combat fun and robust. This emphasis on spatial relationships between player and enemy feels right and natural in a 3D re-imagining of a 2D action game.
Also of particular note is the dialogue, which is written with so many self-referential nods and winks to other vintage video games I was worried that a forum group had gotten to my review copy before I did. The jokes range from barely indirect quotations from Zelda and other Nintendo games to non-existent gameplay options from other RPG franchises to references from Demon's Souls, From Software's previous title, an intimidating dungeon-crawler released last year for the PS3. While these various instances of meta humor are well written, I'm not quite sure which audience they are intended for; those who aren't already exhaustively familiar with the inside jokes aren't going to understand any of it, and if someone is already exhaustively familiar with them, then how can they come across as anything other than stale?
Yet I caught myself smiling and enjoying myself many times throughout Heroes, as if my inner child had reawakened and was gently reminding me of the many details that should resonate with any retro gamer worth his or her salt: striking an innocent chicken and eventually being punished for it; blowing open hidden caves with bombs; paying money for vaguely worded information that may or may not be useful; and roundabout fetch quests for collectibles and weapons, completely arbitrary but addicting for completionists who want to fill out their inventory screens. In addition, three varying sub-games (one in the vein of the "Tower Defense" genre, one a skill based racing game, and the last modeled after Breakout) can be accessed at various points in the game, or they cannot be accessed. I don't think that they're there for any reason other than they can be there, so they are, and if one finds enjoyment with them, then all the better. It's a philosophy shared mostly by older games than modern ones striving for congruous "interactive experiences," and it's refreshing to see it implemented so plainly and freely here.
So, is 3D Dot Game Heroes a blatant copy of Zelda, or something more? The wonderful thing about the game is that it doesn't seem distracted with or intent on distancing itself from its roots, so debating whether it should be something more or different is irrelevant (it knows what it is and isn't ashamed of acknowledging that). Heroes does feature a unique visual presentation and an irreverent style that isn't common in many other current-gen titles, but unfortunately a crucial element that made those original titles so pleasurable in the first place—fluid play control—comes up a little short. Still, with its budget price, 3D Dot Games Heroes proves to be worthwhile excursion into the veteran gamer's memory, for though Silicon Studio's love letter to Zelda features some less than stellar penmanship in comparison, at least it was written in earnest, and that is commendable.
3D Dot Games Heroes. Publisher: Atlus Co.. Developer: Silicon Studio. Release Date: May 11, 2010. Platform: PlayStation 3. ESRB: Everyone 10+. ESRB Descriptors: Mild Cartoon Violence. To purchase, click here.


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Hi everyone,
first to introduce myself. I am an Apostate from Roman Catholocism. At one time I was a Catholic apologist and seriously considered entering the priesthood.
I majored in Philosophy and minored in Religious science in university.
After I had children and just couldn't get the babies to sit through mass, I found that without the constant reinforcement of being in Church every week, my faith waned. Now, years later after wandering about in the desert of my own mind and exploring many different faiths, I am an avowed atheist.
But I find there's something missing. Often a hear people say things like they have faith but eschew religion (because apparently organized religion has a bit of a bad rep lately), and I think they have it backwards. We as humans seem to be hard-wired for religion. It was one of the very first things we used our intelligence to develop. It must have either had an evolutionary purpose, or was a by-product of our intelligence that didn't have an adverse effect on natural selection. We desire to have symbols, rituals, ceremonies, mark important events, etc.
So I want to start an atheist religion. I am writing a book with the premise that spiritual fulfillment can be achieved through a personalized system of symbols, rituals, ceremonies, etc. independent of any belief or dogma.
For example, I have written a liturgy for the menarche of my daughters.
We celebrate important holidays by honoring important aspects of humanity such as our inventiveness, our capacity for altruism, etc.
So far I have a chapter outline and have started writing bits a pieces here and there. I would love some input from this community.
Views: 420
do we realy need this? I mean...we got enough junk on the floor we are trying to sweep out now..!
we realy dont need one more, no matter how benign that espouses something like a metaphysics as a basis.
"spirituality" has no basis other than metaphysics.
now something based on recent research in brain chemistry and current psychology etc... stuff that can be proven....that would be a plus.
but I, myself would not welcome anything calling itself an "atheist-religion" (hu-duh-wha?!?!?)
and certainly not with "rituals and symbology". I and others try real hard to rid ourselves of superstitious nonsense and you want to reintroduce them?!?
are you mad or just not recovered from Catholicism yet?
I got out of catholosism early and have no wish to see anything like it ever again.
it leads to blind adherence, division, derision, separatism and a power strugle for the top that will lead to the same type of corruption that we see in the catholic religion today.
.....just my personal take....nothin serious.
Thanks Matt - whether you intended them seriously or not, you raise some good points that deserve addressing.
I think perhaps you misunderstood. (see my other comment on this thread below).
Rituals and symbols are not in and of themselves superstitious. Is a graduation ceremony superstitious? No, yet cap and gown and diploma are all symbols that one immediately associates with graduation and all the things it connotes. The same with corporate logos, etc.
A symbol is nothing more than a representation of ideas that says more in a simple visual (or sound) than words can. We use them every day. The have been extensively studied scientifically.
A ritual is not necessarily some superstitious magic spell. Many people have rituals in their every day lives - get up, brush teeth, eat breakfast. When done a certain way in a certain order, that constancy gives them comfort. Add symbols to that and you have something meaningful.
It is the dogma of religion that leads to division and corruption. Not the ceremonies. You don't condemn your neighbor to hell-fire because you ate a wafer and drank some wine. You do it because of what those things represent. If they meant something else, they would have a different impact.
As for spirituality resting on metaphysics... What I'm talking about when I say spirituality is nothing more than a social phenomenon; a very human - and therefore having at it's base neurobiological reasons (though I'm not versed enough to understand them and science hasn't fully explained them yet) - expression of our consciousness, creativity, desire for community and common ground, etc.
To me - it's a real and human desire that just isn't answered to by the intellectual exercise of atheism and humanism.
I believe the major draw to church is the social aspect. People feel they belong and fit in somewhere. They have a "club" so to speak. I posted in a forum several months ago stating that I believe if atheists had weekly social get togethers across the nation, pot luck dinners (lol), and basically a church without the god or the religion that our numbers would grow tremendously. Having been raised in church all my life, and married to a man who had considered being a youth minister (we're both atheist now) I can say the most important thing about church to me was friends and a social outlet. I mean who really likes listening to a preacher go on and on...blah, blah, blah. My teenage sons hate church with a passion but have attended with friends for some church social functions. They would love to have a place for friends and fun etc without the preaching, gay bashing, hell fire and damnation.
I'm rambling, I know...I said all that to say this, I get what you're saying and I agree.
Welcome Marc. Glad you're here. There's something about your post that got me thinking.
Quick question (and I too, am an ex-Catholic), just what the hell is "Religious science?!" That's an oxymoron if I've ever heard one. I excommunicated myself from the Vatican's ghouls about a year ago (documentary excommunication - atheist since I was 13) , and when a small child, was actually a Knight of the Altar. But "Religious science" is a new one on me. Really, I'm curious.
Ever take a course of world religions in university? That's part of the "religious sciences" curriculum. Religion as a human and social phenomenon can be studied scientifically like anything else. Where does it come from? Why did it develop? What do different religions have in common and why? How do myths come to be and evolve Etc. Etc.
The work of Mircea Eliad and others in this area is quite eye opening.
I've heard of UU atheists before. I suppose you could go that route. There are parody churches (meetups) of the FSM. I get the same tingly feeling I used to get in church just by visiting a park or taking in a landscape. I get that tingly feeling when I learn about the universe. I just don't attribute it to a deity. To me, the universe is divine in its own right. We don't have to add any mythologies or rituals to it, you know?
I do miss the fellowship, but you can get that in other sorts of meet-ups without tagging religious labels on them. Pick up a hobby or volunteer. It's far more productive.
Maybe you can form a chapter of the American Ethical Union.
From time to time I attend events at the Philadelphia Ethical Society, which is part of the Ethical Culture Movement.
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To the long list of perks of being a senior, add this one: Organizing a rock concert can count as your final project.
Ten 12th-graders from Yorktown High School in Arlington and Oxon Hill High School in Prince George's County spent their last three weeks of high school getting a crash course in arts management at Artisphere in Rosslyn. The culmination of their work is a battle of teen bands tonight at the arts center.
The teens worked with curators and directors and learned "from soup to nuts" how to create an arts event, said Annalisa Meyer, a spokesman for Artisphere.
They put out a call for artists, evaluated the entries, and contracted with the bands. They learned backstage and technical skills, such as how to coordinate the load-in and how to power the show. And they learned how to write a news release, pitch it to the media and promote the show through social media.
The teens went out and solicited sponsors, and they designed fliers and posters to sell for "merch."
Similar senior work experiences take place around the region each year as teens sign up for internships to test out possible career interests.
Anna DeGarma, a Yorktown High senior, said the hands-on experience at Artisphere this year gave her a better understanding of how many "areas of expertise" need to come together to organize a show.
"This has already given me several new ideas of areas to study in college," she said in a release.
The teen bands that will be competing Saturday include an "uptempo punk rock trio" from Arlington's Washington-Lee High called Red Light Distraction and Safety Third, described in the release as "the Arlington 'heart throbs' featuring students from Washington Lee and Yorktown High School."
The top band, chosen by the audience, will win a recording session.


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Updated: December 2017
The Philippines is known for having the world's longest Christmas season. It starts at the first day of September and ends on the feast of the Epiphany. Definitely, Filipinos go all out and love to celebrate the Yuletide season in fun and merriment. This is the time where families and friends unite and and enjoy the season in the most "Christmassy way". So if you're living in or visiting the Metro, here are some of my recommended must-see Christmas destinations, attractions and activities in (and near) Metro Manila.
READ ALSO: 10 Christmas Destinations AROUND THE PHILIPPINES
Where to Spend Christmas in (and near) Metro Manila?
1. Theme Parks (Star City, Sky Ranch, Enchanted Kingdom, SM Mall of Asia)
Theme parks are just some of the attractions that will surely add to the enjoyment of the holiday season. Bring the kids to the nearest theme park in your area, they will surely love the rides and attractions. Theme and amusement parks are not just for kids, it's for adults too! Check out Star City and SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Sky Ranch in Tagaytay and in San Fernando Pampanga as well as Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa Laguna.
|Looking for Hotels in Tagaytay? Click here to check availability and discounted room rates. Save up to 40% on room rates!
2. Giant Lantern Festival, San Fernando City Pampanga
Giant Lantern Festival or "Ligligan Parul" is an annual Christmas event in San Fernando City, Pampanga. It is a grand display of huge lanterns showcasing spectacular lights, interplay of colors and kaleidoscopic patterns accompanied with lively Christmas music. The Giant Lantern Festival competition is held every 2nd week of December where several barangays showcases their giant lanterns to compete for the top prize. READ MORE HERE: Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando Pampanga.
|What are the recommended Hotels in San Fernando? Click here to check availability and discounted room rates. Save up to 40% on room rates!
3. Ayala Triangle Lights and Sounds Show, Ayala Avenue, Makati City
The Ayala Triangle Gardens showcases a spectacular display of dancing lights and lively Christmas music with the annual lights and sounds show. Watch the lights at the Ayala Triangle Gardens come to life every 30 minutes from 6:00 to 9:00 PM daily. The show is frequented by families and by the yuppies working in Makati. It usually starts late November or early December and run until the first week of January.
If you want to stay overnight in Makati to watch the Ayala Triangle Lights and Sounds Show, you may check out Somerset Olympia Makati is which located just across Ayala Triangle. It is an apartment-style / serviced residences ideal for families or group of friends.
|Why not stay in one of the Hotels in Makati? Click here to check availability and discounted room rates. Save up to 40% on room rates!
4. Maytinis Festival, Kawit Cavite
Every year, residents from Kawit, other towns and visitors from nearby provinces, flock to Kawit Cavite to witness Maytinis Festival. It is an old Caviteño tradition held annually during December 24th (Christmas Eve) showcasing a dramatic recapping of St. Joseph and Virgin Mary's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. It also features ancient biblical scenes from the Old to the New Testaments depicted in floats with characters portrayed by Kawiteños. READ MORE HERE: Maytinis Festival 2013.
|Looking for Hotels and Resorts Cavite? Click here to check availability and discounted room rates. Save up to 40% on room rates!
5. Shopping Malls and Christmas Bazaars
Go to the shopping malls and enjoy the lavish Christmas decorations. Go on shopping at the bazaars for gifts with their Christmas sale and dine at the restaurants. Surely, shopping malls and bazaars will be jam-packed this Christmas season.
|Looking for Hotels in Manila? Click here to check availability and discounted room rates. Save up to 40% on room rates!
6. UP Lantern Parade, Diliman Quezon City
Annual Christmas event in the University of the Philippine in Diliman, it showcases a grand parade of lanterns and colorful floats by various colleges and organizations in the university. It is usually held on the 3rd week of December before the university's Christmas break.
|Recommended Hotels near UP Diliman? Click here to check availability and discounted room rates. Save up to 40% on room rates!
7. UST Paskuhan Festivities, España Manila
Every year, Thomasians revel in Christmas joy during UST Paskuhan Festivities. The Paskuhan Festivities marks the start of the students' Christmas break, thus several activities were lined up to the delight of the students. Paskuhan Mass and the Paskuhan Festivities usually held during the whole month of December and culminates before the university's Christmas break on the 3rd week of December.
|Recommended Hotels near UST? Click here to check availability and discounted room rates. Save up to 40% on room rates!
8. Christmas Village at Policario Street, Mandaluyong City
Policarpio Street in Madaluyong City comes alive during Christmas season. This is one of the popular places to visit in Metro Manila for free during the holidays. Take a walk along the streets and be amazed by the houses intricately decorated with fabulous Christmas decorations and lights. A perfect place to bond with your family and friends!
|Looking for Hotels in Mandaluyong? Click here to check availability and discounted room rates. Save up to 40% on room rates!
9. Meralco Liwanag Park
Located inside Meralco Compound in Ortigas Center, Pasig City, the Meralco Liwanag Park is open from November 29, 2016 until January 8, 2017 from
Monday to Thursday at 6:30 pm - 10 pm and every Friday to Sunday at 6:30 pm to 11:00 pm. On Dec 24, 25, 30, 31 and Jan 1, the park is open until 12 midnight. Christmas Bazaar is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
10. Roxas Boulevard, Manila and Ayala Avenue, Makati
Walk along Roxas Boulevard or Ayala Avenue in Makati Central Business District and savor the beautifully decorated buildings. Everyone will definitely love the millions of flickering and shimmering Christmas lights and decorations.
|Why not stay in one of the Hotels along Roxas Boulevard? Click here to check availability and discounted room rates. Save from 20% to 40% on room rates!
11. Christmas-on-display (COD) at Greenhills Shopping Center
A well-loved Filipino Christmas tradition, it is an annual Christmas display of automated figures with interesting movements accompanied with colorful lights and music featuring Christmas stories to the delight the public. Shows usually starts mid or late November and lasts until early January. Also, catch the Christmas Night Market and Christmas Bangketa Fair held in conjunction of the Christmas Shows.
|Looking for Hotels in Greenhills? Click here to check availability and discounted room rates. Save up to 40% on room rates!
12. Explore the Santa Claus House in Antipolo
Located east of Metro Manila or just 30 minutes away from Ortigas Pasig, Casa Santa inside Jardin de Marimar is a museum of more than 3,700 items with Christmas and Santa Claus themes and motifs from different countries around the world. Open all year round, it is the best place to educate the kids about Christmas traditions and cultures. Casa Santa tours starts at P180.00 per person, booking can be done by reservation or by walk-ins!
Jardin de Marimar
276 San Jose Ext., San Isidro Antipolo City
Looking for hotels and resorts in Antipolo City? CLICK HERE.
13. Staycation in Metro Manila
Spend the holidays in the many luxurious Hotels in Metro Manila. During Christmas, hotels offer different holiday packages that will surely delight the family, especially the kids. Enjoy the lovely Christmas decors, avail hotel packages that includes Noche Buena feast or a New Year countdown package.
Looking for hotels in Metro Manila? CLICK HERE.
14. Crosswinds Tagaytay Christmas Village
Crosswinds Resort Suites is an ideal getaway for families and friends searching for a peaceful and serene escape away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. When staying here, don't miss visiting Santa's House in their Christmas Village. Indeed, at Crosswinds Tagaytay, everyday is Christmas! Click here to see room rates at Crosswinds Resort Suites Tagaytay and book online.
"Time space warp! Ngayun din! Hahaha!" 😂 Felt like I was transported in a different world when I entered "Lumina: Walkway of Lights at @resortsworldmanila!" . . . If you're in Manila or have a flight at NAIA Terminal 3, drop by at Resorts World Manila and visit this colorfully illuminated light installation. Be sure to take that cool holiday #selfies! 😃😃😃 #RWLumina #RWLuminaSolo @apple #iPhoneX
15. "Lumina: Walkway of Lights" at Resorts World Manila
Dubbed as the "brightest and longest lighted indoor corridor in the Philippines," Lumina: Walkway of Lights is a stunning spectacle of lights that will surely be a delight for everyone. Located at the 2nd floor of Resorts World Manila, it is a 110-meter pedestrian walkway that connects Maxims Hotel with the upscale lifestyle shopping mall, Newport Mall. It is said to be made with at least 100,000 multi-colored LED lights carefully arranged in a tunnel that is perfect for selfies, wefies, groufies, and OOTDs this Yuletide season.
Lumina Opening Hours
It's open to everyone on these schedules:
December 1-15, 2017
Monday-Friday - 12:00 NN-12:00 MN
Saturday-Sunday - 10:00 AM-12:00 MN
December 16-23, 2017
Monday-Sunday - 10:00 AM-12:00 MN
December 24, 2017
Sunday - 10:00 AM-7:00 PM
December 15-31, 2017
Monday-Sunday - 10:00 AM-12:00 MN
MORE PHOTOS HERE: "Lumina: Walkway of Lights" at Resorts World Manila
Nothing beats the Christmas season in the Philippines! Merry Christmas to all!!!
If you have other suggestions, please don't forget to leave a comment below. Thank you very much!
RECOMMENDED READ: 10 Must-see Christmas Destinations AROUND THE PHILIPPINES
FOLLOW MY ADVENTURES ON INSTAGRAM @PinoyAdventurista
Thank You For Sharing!
|Leave a Comment via Facebook


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It's location, location, add another location in Paris, as gallery owners and entrepreneurs seek space and opportunity beyond the French capital's heavily trafficked ring road, known as the Périphérique.
This fall two gallery openings lead the fray, as the major art dealers Larry Gagosian and Thaddaeus Ropac cut ribbons on expansive spaces for monumental art.
Mr. Ropac's new space in Pantin, a nexus of modern dance in France, is more arts village than gallery, spread across five buildings on the former site of a disused boiler works factory. Buttazzoni & Associés architects have updated the buildings, turning the site's centerpiece into four interlinked exhibition halls of different dimensions, all with long walls and skylights stretching as high as 12 meters, or 39 feet. Across the tree-lined courtyard, performances will be held in a multimedia space.
The Gagosian Gallery will open in a 1,650-square-meter, or 17,760-square-foot, 1950s industrial warehouse on the grounds of the Bourget airport, a stone's throw from the runway where Charles Lindbergh landed after his historic flight across the Atlantic in 1927 — and where today, private jets can take the megadealer's clients straight to the door. Still, the space itself was the key appeal, with its three large skylights and a rare feature for a gallery: a 340- square-meter mezzanine giving elevated views of the art, with a drawbridge that can be lowered to allow works inside. "There aren't that many spaces in Europe that allow you to show art in this way," said Serena Cattaneo, director of the Gagosian Gallery in Paris.
The Gagosian space will be the dealer's 12th worldwide and is being adapted by Jean Nouvel, who has taken a light-touch approach by adding four large walls, restoring existing features and incorporating details of airport iconography. "It's not aggressive towards the actual or original space. It's much more a project of preservation than a new build," Ms. Cattaneo said.Continue reading the main story
Both Mr. Ropac and Mr. Gagosian will open the week of Oct. 15 with new works by the German artist Anselm Kiefer, who himself has a studio in an expansive depot near an airport in Croissy-Beaubourg. The programming clash is widely seen as a territorial battle between the two galleries, though both are playing down that issue.
"I think it's totally exaggerated, I'm quite relaxed about it," said Mr. Ropac, touring the Pantin space as dozens of workers installed phone lines and raced to finish construction. "We've planned this for a long time, and if Larry decides to do something similar and also do something with Kiefer, then at least we were the first to announce it. It's an interesting move. I think it's good for Paris, it gives it another dimension."
Ms. Cattaneo noted that Anselm Kiefer had staged a double exhibition in Paris before, showing at both Ropac and Yvon Lambert. The "Für Paul Celan" shows in 2006 were, however, billed as a collaborative exhibition, with the works split between the two galleries.
This time, Mr. Kiefer will produce two separate, standalone exhibitions. "Anselm wanted for the shows to be different," Ms. Cattaneo said. "He would not have changed anything here, he has been working on this show for a long time," said Mr. Ropac. "There is no interference."
In Pantin, Mr. Kiefer will present "Die Ungeborenen" (The Unborn), a panorama of a dozen monumental canvases, smaller works and two immersive installations, one of them a landscape of lava stones with jars containing synthetic resin sculptures of embryos. "It's the other aspect of the unborn, the desire of not wanting to be born," stated the artist. His show at Gagosian is titled "Morgenthau Plan"; further details were not yet available.
Competition between galleries is fierce not only for access to works, but also for retaining top artists. Larger spaces can be a draw, affording the talent more freedom and opportunity. Mr. Kiefer showed his appreciation for the new Gagosian space by likening it to Walther von der Wogelweide's poem "Under der linden," while the artist has adapted his Ropac show specifically for the Pantin structure.
"We are here to help the vision of the artist become reality," Mr. Ropac said. "We felt that the last show we did with Kiefer in the Marais showed its limits. When we were preparing our last show with Antony Gormley, he gave us sculptures that weighed up to four tons and we couldn't move them into the space. We had to give up on two sculptures."
While the chance to think big can be a boon for artistic expression, the market for the resulting works can be difficult. "We have taken quite a few of our artists here, from Alex Katz to Gilbert & George," Mr. Ropac said. "I anticipate that we will get a lot of large-scale art, but it will be a challenge for us to place it. There is still a limited number of collectors, museums or foundations who are able to take such works."
Some artists also hesitate. "Some that we took here decided to still do their next shows in the Marais. They were overwhelmed. We don't want to push it too much and put pressure on the artists. It has to evolve naturally."
After the Kiefer exhibition, the Ropac gallery plans several group shows to see how the new space develops. The first of these will be titled "Disaster — From Andy Warhol to Banks Violette." Major solo shows are also planned and several concurrent shows are possible. Meanwhile, the gallery has commissioned an opera by the Canadian-Chinese artist Terence Koh for 2013 and is talking to the composer Matthias Pintscher, who will become music director of Pierre Boulez's Ensemble InterContemporain orchestra next year, about linking its musicians with gallery artists. Norman Rosenthal will curate a show on the condition of painting. Edwin Wurm will bring his "One-Minute Sculptures" to the performance space, inviting audience members to adorn found objects and become instant works of art.
Before all this, and concurrent with the Kiefer show, Mr. Ropac has staged something of a personal return to his roots with a double exhibition of Joseph Beuys, an early source of inspiration for the dealer, in both his Marais and Pantin spaces. In the latter, the gallery will recreate Beuys's famous performance "Iphigenie" through recovered manuscripts, drawings, sculptures and vitrines. On the opening weekend, a white horse standing on a copper plate outfitted with microphones will send sounds reverberating throughout the gallery.
"We couldn't imagine a better baptism for this performance space," said Mr. Ropac. "We really want an audience. We want it to become a lively place."
Other coming attractions on the outskirts include the Frank Gehry-designed Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la Création in the Bois de Boulogne and Jean Nouvel's Philharmonie de Paris, not far from Pantin. And on the Île Seguin, the R4 arts center — planned as an art-world microcosm with studios, gallery spaces, production facilities and exhibition halls — is beginning to stir, presenting installations and events even before construction has begun.
"There really is, in French culture, this idea of a pilgrimage to go and see art," Ms. Cattaneo said.Continue reading the main story


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Connect with Dean, Placements at +91-9891150100, firstname.lastname@example.com
Each dynamic batch of PGDM aspirants commences the course at IFBS on a positive note. The two-year marathon race takes off in all seriousness from day one. A successful culmination comes after four semesters are successfully conquered. Usually, an excellent campus placement brings a new lease of life. It is an age of globalization in education with the fabulous spread of the media in a student-driven learning atmosphere. Students know that they are going fabulous places, but not without excellence, zeal, and drive. Besides, a great majority of students have already been exposed to the world of work before joining PGDM Program. The institution further refines the work culture philosophy to which they would contribute to the successful study.
PGDM College for Placement in Delhi
The institution trains the mind and the body, the personality, and the spirit to be geared towards successful business and management needs. The fact that the world today runs on business wheels is a motivating factor. In some way or the other, everybody is connected to a range of businesses. It is a long and patient ride through the two-year course. Sensationalism and overnight successes are unheard of. It is often a grueling process of professional management success, like laying the bricks one by one to construct a mammoth skyscraper. Success at the Best PGDM course in Delhi NCR does come after sustained labor! Thought leaders inspire change in the institution as well.
Top PGDM College in Delhi for Placement in Delhi
Every year at inception and at graduation, the institution honors the noble legacy of the founders. They blessed the student culture with the spirit of enterprise, innovation and honed study, research, and work skills. Most of them originated in IIMA and IIT. They continue the same honored traditions that have delivered numerous successful placements. The professional network of links promoted by the alumni is what drives top notch placements across the spectrum. Companies in India and abroad never stop searching for the best students.
Marketing, Finance and HR, International Business and Operations Management are some of the specializations offered, and they attract many regular recruiters! Banking and Financial Services, Hospitality and IT, Manufacturing and Pharmacy, Telecom and Media are some employers who regularly knock on the doors, seeking smart recruits.
Along the way come internships with leading companies that help to groom the management professionals further. The work adventures do come as a relief from the rigorous column that is otherwise the norm. The refreshing world of internship consolidates and reminds of the lifetime of work that waits after leaving the institutional gates. That is the truth about our PGDM Program, a preparation for perhaps decades of labor. Some experience humble beginnings who climb the success ladder after great effort. The lucky, most meritorious students often land lucrative jobs with the big fish in the industry. There is no stopping, once the career has zoomed into the skies.


text:
Judge J. B. Howell 1816-1880
Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 4/14/2017 at 14:49:08
The Clinton Age, Clinton, Iowa, June 25, 1880
Judge J. B. Howell died at his residence in Keokuk, Ia., Thursday morning at 4 oclock. He was born July 4, 1816. He was raised near Newark, Ohio and graduated from Miami University in 1837. He came to Iowa and settled at Keosauqua and began the practice of law. He soon became one of the leaders of the Whig Party in Iowa and in 1845 started the Des Moines Valley Whig. He transferred the paper to Keokuk, changing later its name to the Gate City, and retaining his proprietorship until his death.
Lee Obituaries maintained by Sherri Turner.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen


text:
Alternative Titles
Type: Novel
Volumes: 1
Chapters: 4
Status: Finished
Published: Mar 11, 2009
Genres: Hentai
Authors: Washimi, Yu-ko (Art), Takizawa, Hajime (Story)
Serialization: None
Score: 3.001 (scored by 1 users)
1 This score is not weighted. Please note that 'Not yet published' titles are excluded.
Ranked: N/A2
2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #41623
Members: 21
Favorites: 0


text:
- 1 large mango (about 510 gm)
- 50 gm tapioca pearls (sago)
- 3 Tbsp raw sugar
- 100 gm ice cubes
- milk, to taste (optional)
- Soak tapioca pearls for at least 3 hours.
- In a sauce pan, pour in some water. The amount of water should cover all tapioca pearls. Bring it to a boil. Add tapioca pearls to the boiling water on medium heat. Stir them constantly and make sure that they don't stick together. After cooking for 15 to 20 minutes, remove from heat. Cover and let sit for another 30 minutes. The tapioca pearls should be translucent, without any white dots in the middle. They are done. If they are not ready, turn on the heat again and cook for a few minutes more. And then let sit for a while again. Drain tapioca pearls and rinse under cold water. All tapioca pearls should be cool to the touch.
- Cut mango into cubes, about 1 1/2cm in size. Save 1/3 of them. Blend the rest of mango cubes, ice cubes and sugar in a food processor into thick juice, about 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer into a large bowl. Mix in tapioca pearls.
- To serve, divide mango juice with tapioca pearls into 3 to 4 small ramekins, top with mango cubes. Serve cold.
(Pour in milk or coconut milk to add more flavours)
Read more: http://en.christinesrecipes.com/2010/01/mango-tapioca-pearls-dessert-happy.html#ixzz2ACaRYHmO


text:
To Woman with the three children at Cedar Springs Christian Bookstore in Knoxville, TN,
As I was sifting through the homeschool materials looking for a workbook, you were busy making judgement calls based on fear and ignorance. Then you taught your children to do the same. Shame on you.
From the same mouth that you profess the love of a savior you also villianized one of the nicest people you will never meet. My brother was the "strange man" that was standing behind your children. No, he was not "watching" your little whelps, he was watching Veggie Tales, the same thing they were watching.
I watched you as looked up in horror as you saw your children watching Veggie Tales on the TV in the store and you saw my brother standing a few feet behind them. I watched you get up and tell your children to come sit with you because there was "a strange man watching you." I watched your children cry because of your fear of approximately half of the world's population.
I also noted that two of your children are boys who will grow up into the very thing you fear. I also noted that you were wearing a wedding ring. Are men just necessary evils in your world?
This "strange man" that you were so frightened of is my brother. He is moderately mentally handicapped. Had you just kept a watchful eye or even just quietly called your children to you, I may not have judged you so harshly. But, since you are a loud mouthed idiot with no tact, kindness, or love in your soul, and yet call yourself a Christian, I do judge you. You need to think about what you are saying and what you are doing. Your actions speak far louder than the words you use with your children.
You told them to be kind to each other while you showed no kindness to others.
To the readers of this blog,
Why are we villianizing men? Why are we quick to think the worst of those around us?
I urge you to remember 2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
Being a Stay at Home Mom Isn't That Hard
|Consistently teaching the children to pick up their belongings
means that the living room takes 10 minutes to clean.
Being a stay at home mom isn't that hard. Ok, hear me out. There are always exceptions to the rule but for the majority of us, being a stay at home mom just isn't that hard. Yet, we are always the first to stand on our soap box shouting at others about how difficult it is to keep our homes clean or to complain about how we never get a moment to sit down. So what gives? Why does it always seem that there is something to be done? Why is the laundry never caught up and the sink never empty?
There. I said it. The majority of us moms don't manage our time efficiently. We have time to get on FB and complain about how our dishes aren't done when we should actually be up doing them. We manage to read blogs, complain, check emails, complain, Tweet, complain.
Let me temper my post with some grace. Yes, there were seasons of my life that were hard. I had 2 babies within 10 months (I swear it was all my husband's fault!) and my life revolved around sleep deprived diaper changes, feedings, play time and all the other joys of being high risk pregnant for practically 2 years straight. I am not saying that seasonally we aren't going to go through rough patches. I'm not saying that even the physically easy days don't have moments that are emotionally draining. However, the truth of the matter is, that as my children have gotten older, being a stay at home mom has become easier. Easy to the point that there is no good reason for me not to be "all together". No reason for me not to have a good nights sleep, cook a good breakfast, clean house, school the children and even enjoy some down time browsing Facebook.
|Proof that we can memories without messes.
We are stamping with the bottom of a celery stalk.
|Since I have taught my children how to do their own laundry,
and I actually LET them, this stack took about 20 minutes to fold
and get put away.
I'm not saying that I am never guilty of complaining (trust me it is quite the opposite!) and I realize I defy all of the mushy memes that talk about how I am a "nurse, cook, janitor..." and I suppose, in a way, I am all of those things, but at the end of the day this is the life I am not only called to, but it is the life I CHOSE. So really, what I want to tell all of the stay at home moms out there is to pull up your big girl pants, get yourself together and realize how good you actually have it. Now stop reading this blog and go do your dishes! Oh, and remember, it is all worth it :)
Disclaimer: As I said above, there are exceptions to every rule. I am speaking in general terms. I realize there are mom's whose children are ill, dealing with ADHD, autism or a other conditions and that their situations are far different than mine. Oh, and stick around for part 2 in which I tell you why being a stay at home mom is so hard!
We Choose Virtues: A Mosiacs Review
|Use the coupon code
VIRTUE15 for 15% off your order!
We Choose Virtues is an easy to use, bright, colorful and fun program that helps you teach different traits. Using catchy phrases and cute characters such as, Chuck and Duck's "I am diligent! I start fast, work hard and finish strong!", helps your child to remember each trait they are practicing. What is even better is that the cards come in 3 different versions: secular, NIV and KJV. The secular cards are great if you prefer to use a different version of the Bible not offered.
There are many products in many price ranges to choose from. A full homeschool kit will cost you about $99 or you can choose to purchase individual items such as the Virtue Clue Cards for $5.99!
We were blessed with a chance to review the KJV We Choose Virtues Flash Cards ($14.99), the downloadable Teacher's Manual ($5), the downloadable Kids of Virtueville Coloring Book ($3), as well as two free items: the Family Character Assessment and Memory Verses, Bible Truths and Heroes.
We have always begun each day with praying and our independent Bible time so adding in We Choose Virtues was pretty easy. At the beginning of each week I chose a card and introduced the virtue we would be learning that week. We would "meet" the character and read the card and the Bible verse together a few times. After that we hung the card up on the fridge so that would walk by and see it several times per day. Now this is where the Teacher's Handbook comes in handy. The Handbook is full of great teaching ideas and suggestions on how to help your child learn the virtue as well as fun ideas on how to practice. Throughout the week we added reading the scripture (we didn't memorize it as we already have a list of scripture we are memorizing). We also spent time talking about how to exhibit the virtue and of course, coloring our coloring page that went with it! The most fun I had was calling the children out when they did an especially good job with the virtues! My 4 year old son loved it when I praised him and we all clapped for how diligently he cleaned his room.
There are so many wonderful things about this program. Yes, you can teach all of these virtues without ever picking up a flashcard or a coloring sheet, but We Choose Virtues has so many great resources that help children to really internalize the meanings of those virtues. The products can all be used individually, as supplemental material or you can purchase the kit and have an entire curriculum. The products are affordable, fun and easily adaptable. Most of all, you and your children will have fun learning Christ-like virtues!
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Navigating Homeschool Conventions
|My shopping buddy, Stephanie gathering up her
convention purchases!
They can also be a nightmare. Yes, conventions are a great way to save money and get all of your homeschooling material in one place, but they are also intimidating to first time attendees and even to those of us who have been several times! Going in blind is the surest way to overwhelm yourself with all of the great options offered at conventions. Let me help you prepare for the convention season by giving you a few pointers.
1. Pre-register. In the age of the internet, most conventions have a website with an online registration option. Not only will this save you time when you arrive, but you often get a discounted price on convention tickets when you pre-register. For our local convention that translates into a $10 per ticket savings!
2. Visit the convention website and check out the speaker list. You will want to decide which break out sessions, if any that you want to go to. Most of the bigger conventions last 2 days so knowing which speakers you want to listen to will help you decide which day(s) you want to attend. Remember, these are totally optional. You can skip the speakers all together, but be sure to check out the list because there just might be someone you really want to hear!
3. Visit the convention website and check out the vendor list and the floor layout. I know this sounds silly but you will want to go in with at least some idea of how the floor is laid out. You should also take a moment to mark which vendors you definitely want to visit. It is easy to get lost in the sea of vendor booths if you don't have a plan.
4. Have a budget before you go. Better yet, take cash. Oh, if I could only give you one piece of advice this would be it. I love most of the homeschool publishing companies that I have had contact with, but at convention everything seems to draw me in. Going without a budget is a rookie mistake that will cost you dearly if you tend to be like me and are easily distracted by shiny new books.
5. Know that it is ok to walk away. I hate to put it this way, but sometimes, vendors can get pushy. Think used car salesman. You need to know before you go that you may have to walk away from a vendor who is still trying to sell their product. I found out the hard way that trying to be "polite" can cost you a lot of time.
6. Go with a friend. This is not an absolute must, but it is so much more fun to share the car ride and the convention experience with friends!
Conventions, in my opinion, are a must have experience for homeschoolers and with the right preparation can be an exciting and encouraging experience for you!
Monday, March 18, 2013
Life Learning: Ditching the School at Home
|Photo Credit
I had the same vision most new homeschoolers have. My children up, dressed and fed by 8am. We start the day at our desks in front of the white board by saying the Pledge of Allegiance. At exactly 8:30 we do Bible, 9:30 is math and so on. Certain lessons take an hour others take 30 minutes. Why? Because my heavily scripted teachers manual says so. Never mind the fact that they were only 4 and 5. Never mind the fact that most of the work was busy work designed to keep children in a classroom setting quiet while the teacher works with those who need the extra help. Never mind that school for 2 children is taking up just as much time as school for a classroom full. And never mind that we ended the day exhausted, tired of being around each other and generally hating school.
Boy was I in for a shock when my idealistic homeschool didn't work out. After a few weeks of trying this I finally sat down and started thinking about why it wasn't working. I hated it. It was boring and repetitive and so much of it felt pointless. If, as an adult, I didn't see the value in it, of course my children weren't going to either!
Not long after I had my epiphany I began to re-structure our schooling. I admit, it was hard. I was just as culturally trained as everyone else to believe that learning could only happen within the context of a seriously structured school environment. I was utterly willing to let school become our life. What I wasn't realizing is that it should have been the other way around. Life should have been our school!
|Exploring Moss
There are going to be rough days no matter how you choose to homeschool, but take it from me, when you live like you are learning all the time you will find that both you and your child(ren) will enjoy school far more than if they were sitting at a desk and you were standing at your chalkboard trying to do school at home. Remember, it is HOMEschool not SCHOOLhome.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Homeschooling and the Struggling Learner
Homeschoolers are often portrayed as smart, savvy, super-socialized kids. Everyone brags about how their kids have progressed way beyond their public school peers. Studies that are widely regarded tout the abilities of homeschooled children every where and it is really made to seem like this is the norm. If you homeschool your kids they will be smarter, surpassing their peers in everyway possible, and will adore the process of learning. Standardized testing is something that a homeschooled kid can toy with and still outshine everyone else. The parents of these children give speeches, receive accolades in the homeschooling and the general community at large, and are sought after for advice.
For sure, there are super smart homeschoolers. There are super smart homeschooling families.
For sure, there are super smart homeschoolers. There are super smart homeschooling families.
Then there is this: the struggling learner and their family.
Not many in the homeschooling world want to face the reality that there are struggling learners. There are children who are in 3rd and 4th grade who can not read fluently on a lower grade level, if at all. There are 2nd graders who have not yet mastered simple addition. There are 7th graders who read but comprehend little of the material. There are few homeschooling tutorials or co-ops that have classes for these kids. No one really brags on these kids or the parents of these kids. No one wants to talk about them much at all, unless it is to talk about everything they must be doing wrong and what they would do to change it. No one sees the value in the words of the homeschooling parent of a struggling learner – after all – it took her 4 years to get her kid reading on a 2nd grade level, she must be doing it all wrong, plus, her kids don't know all their math facts, and to top it all off *no one* in the family has memorized The Preamble.
I can see the fear in recognizing these kids and families. Homeschooling pioneers really fought for the freedoms that we homeschoolers enjoy today. We are close enough to these homeschoolers, perhaps even being fortunate enough to be mentored by one of them, that we recognize the right to homeschool is a bit tenuous. Maybe we are afraid that if the government got wind of these kids who are seemingly left behind, that we would have new and unnecessary regulations and laws thrust upon us. Maybe we really are just a tad bit judgmental and really do feel that we are superior teachers or are using superior curriculum. Maybe we feel like we really can do "it" better and secretly blame the parent of struggling learners. Maybe we are the parent of a struggling learner and are scared of the judgment and criticism offered by the government, public school teachers, and other homeschooling families.
I have made no secret of the fact that I am the parent of a child with ADHD. I have also made no secret of the fact that I have a child with a chronic illness. But I am the parent of *three* struggling learners. For a while, I blamed myself. All of the children I homeschooled struggled. No one seemed to "get" anything. No one really wanted to "do school". I changed curricula a few times, cried a lot, talked to a bunch of trusted friends, and received the well meaning advice from more than one Sunday school teacher. I even had one of my kids tested at the public school to see if they were mentally retarded. (She was not, but did test below average.) I thought maybe I was doing it all wrong and maybe they would be better off doing something else. I was evidently incapable of teaching anyone and was making a mess of homeschooling and was probably going to ruin whatever future my kids could have had.
Then came along my 4 year old. She is a homeschooling mom's dream. This child learned simple addition in one sitting and then taught herself subtraction as she laid in bed that evening. (We still co-sleep with her). She essentially forced me to teach her to read and is doing well. I expect her to be reading on a second grade level in a few months. She has yet to officially start kindergarten or homeschooling.
|Long nights of addition will do it to ya!
I use the same curriculum for all of my children. I use the same technique. I use the same schedule. I live in the same house. We all eat the same food. We go to the same church. We drive the same van. There is no fault. There is nothing to blame. It really is just what it is – some kids learn slower. Some kids may never be able to achieve high levels of academia. Some kids just are not that smart, intellectually speaking. Some kids really are just going to be average and that is okay. It is okay that some kids are just going to barely learn what they need to learn to graduate. One of mine is probably going to graduate with a special education diploma – that is okay if it the best that she can do.
We need to teach our kids to be the best they can be, even if that looks like it is less than their peers.
If you are the parent of a struggling learner, the time for self blame and feeling ashamed is over. It is not your fault or your child's fault.
We need to teach our kids to be the best they can be, even if that looks like it is less than their peers.
If you are the parent of a struggling learner, the time for self blame and feeling ashamed is over. It is not your fault or your child's fault.
If you don't have a struggling learner the time for judgment & gossip has passed. Unless you are intimately involved in the life of the parents and children, you probably don't understand and may not be able to understand where these families are at. Suffice it to say, these kids and their moms and dads work harder than you can possibly imagine.
We need to come together as a community and learn to accept other homeschoolers and homeschooling parents as they are. There is not one of us who can do it all. There is not one of us who has all the answers. There is not one of us who has the best way.
We need to come together as a community and learn to accept other homeschoolers and homeschooling parents as they are. There is not one of us who can do it all. There is not one of us who has all the answers. There is not one of us who has the best way.
|A gold star for everyone!
Monday, March 11, 2013
The Reading Lesson Review
GENERAL INFORMATION: The Reading Lesson – Teach your child to read in 20 easy lessons by Michael Levin, M.D. and Charan Langston, M.S.. This curriculum can be purchased on Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Barnes and Noble for typically under $20. This curriculum also has other items that can be added in order to make it more than just a reading curriculum! The additional separate components also include smaller parent books for different age levels that feature verbal math lessons, that is, step-by-step math without using pencil or paper. The Sounds of Letters DVD also teaches your child how letters of the alphabet sound, and there are also CD-ROMs with stories for your child to read (parent directed NOT a game format). But this curriculum doesn't just meet the needs of your beginning reader. They also have a book titled Big Words for Little Kids (ages 8-11) which is geared for parents to teach their children how to identify and separate words into their roots, various prefixes and suffixes in order to help them learn the meanings of unknown words. Although I have not had the opportunity to use this Big Words book with my older elementary student yet, I am looking forward to it and am sure that it will prove to be a valuable resource.
|Get a FREE SAMPLE LESSON!!
For the purposes of this review I will only be referring to the Reading Lesson book and the Verbal Math Lesson Level One for ages 4-7. Mental math seems to be a lost art. With the exponential growth of technology and gadgets, it seems as though very little if any instruction is focused on learning to process mathematics in a mental way, sans pencil and paper. I was pleasantly surprised to find a verbal math book geared towards early learners (4-7). I really enjoyed how this verbal math book utilizes language to hone mental math skills at an early age, making the connection from concrete to verbal. Sure, mathematical rules are taught, but moreover, what is also reinforced is essentially the mental wrestling with basic math in the form of oral word problems from basic to more complex. At such an early age, I see this as a great benefit for all learners, actively engaging them in critical thinking. For those who are more verbally inclined, this is a fantastic way to reinforce learning in an outside of the box way.
The Reading Lesson book was different than anything we had tried before. Beginning with the alphabet and the sounds, putting those sounds together, and reading words, it is also uniquely different in that it specifically and gradually introduces punctuation as well. Such as, what do commas, question marks and periods look like at what do readers do when they see them? Each lesson can be done at your own pace, and is prefaced with helpful notes for the teacher as to what will be taught, warnings of possible problem areas for your learner as well as encouragement to take your time.
I have tried several other reading programs with my children over the years, and this one is definitely worth looking into. Others have been dogmatic and not very visually appealing in their approach but here the cute drawings, clear and uncluttered pages, as well as concise teacher directions make this one different from most. While the book itself contains "stories" we really did miss with this curriculum was the ability to hold books and turn the pages of pint sized books. There are many additional resources that are available on CD-ROM, yet the one thing that we treasure is the joy of holding actual books in our hands from which to read. However, each family is different and this curriculum just might suit your family's needs perfectly!
Tara is a married home schooling mom of 2 who enjoys spending time with family and friends, serving in her church and passionately pursuing adoption. She has resisted the urge to blog for years now, but fears she may be losing the battle.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Homeschooling and Housekeeping (The Clean Edition)
|Is your home company ready?
Your husband calls you 10 minutes before he arrives home to let you know that his boss is coming for dinner. Panic sets in and again the mad dash to get not only get some extra dinner together but to also get the house "company ready" and yourself cleaned up.
Do either of these sound familiar? As I was perusing Facebook this morning I came across an article entitled Top 10 Reasons Not to Organize Your Homeschool. While I do understand that she probably meant at least some of it to be tongue in cheek...or I hope she did...I couldn't help but think back to all of the memes and blog articles with sweet words reminding us of how quickly the years pass, how there is always work to be done, how we should put aside laundry and dusting in favor of enjoying our children. Really, how can you look at that poem and not nod in agreement?! No doubt there is a time for laying down the broom and just enjoying your children. There are moments when cleaning comes low on the priority list, but how often do we put off cleaning or organizing in the name of "spending quality time with the children" only to find our homes and mind so cluttered that we can't truly enjoy it. What fun is it to play with your children all day and look up to find yourself surrounded by a mess? Or to have your husband come home from an already busy and often stressful day to house buried in chaos? Or to have company unexpectedly show up and your home not be clean and inviting?
We have been convinced that it has to be one way or the other; that if we are keeping a clean house we must be neglecting our children. I am here to tell you it doesn't have to be an either/or! You can do both!
So why should we keep a clean and organized home?
Because we want to be Christ-like and God is not a God of chaos (1 Corinthians 14:33). If our goal is to be like Christ, which it should be, we should be practicing the characteristics of Him. The Bible is clear on how we are to conduct ourselves. We are to do things decently and in order (I Corinthians 14:40) and we are to care for our homes (Proverbs 31 and Titus 2). If we are not following these scriptures we are sinning.
Because a clean and organized home contributes to your child being healthier spiritually, mentally and physically. We discussed the spiritual aspects up above, but there are other obvious reasons that an orderly home is a good thing. God knew what He was doing when He gave us instructions to be orderly. Cluttered homes make for cluttered minds. You would be surprised at the behavioral differences between a child living in a clean uncluttered home and one living in chaos. I know that when my house is cluttered, I feel flustered and am easily provoked. When my home is clean, I am calm and find it easier to be patient. Then of course there is the obvious, clean homes make for less sickness!
Because we don't want to have to make excuses every-time someone shows up unexpectedly! After about the tenth time of telling the same friend "I'm sorry for the mess" I knew she had to be thinking that my house was always chaotic. She was right. Sure I had moments, when given plenty of notice, that the house was clean for company, but I was never ready for someone just to show up. Just think of how much more enjoyable a visit is when you aren't sitting on your couch staring at a huge pile of dishes while you wonder if your friend notices that you haven't vacuumed the floor or cleaned the toilets this week!
|Books are easy to access
And there is plenty of extra room!
Like anything you can go overboard. If you find yourself spending 4 hours a day scrubbing your kitchen, you probably need to rethink your cleaning habits. If your family is not allowed to relax for fear of making a mess that freaks mom out, you probably need to rethink. If you aren't flexible enough to let your children do some messy activities every now and then, you probably need to rethink. However, keeping a reasonably clean, organized and company ready home is not only healthier it is Biblical.
Stay tuned for my next post which will offer some practical ways to keep a clean house and enjoy your children all at the same time!
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text:
Blackpool Carers Centre will be holding Emotional Resilience Workshops to raise awareness and promote positive thinking around mental health. The will include education around mental health conditions, the stigma attached to mental health, developing healthy minds and encouraging emotional resilience.
This 6 weeks course is free and open to all carers aged 11-25.
Each young person will receive a "wellness box".
The Grand Theatre will be working with the participants to showcase what they have learnt about mental health through a final performance.
To book a place please contact Michaela Goodridge or Amy Cookson
01253 393748


text:
Melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Add mushrooms and heat for 6 minutes or until soft. Stir in cracker crumbs; pour into a well-greased 9" pie plate. Press evenly over bottom and up sides to form crust; set aside. In a small saucepan, melt remaining butter over medium heat; add onions and heat for 5 minutes or until soft. Spread over crust; sprinkle evenly with cheese. In a blender, combine cottage cheese, eggs and pepper; blend until smooth. Pour into crust and sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes or until a knife inserted just off the center comes out clean. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Enjoy this recipe from What's for Dinner? originally published 10/15/2004.


text: I posted this question a month ago and didnt get much response, so here goes another try. I am considering either the Ibanez BTB or a Brian Moore bass. What do you all think about these two comparitively. The BTB is $1300 and the Brian Moore is $1000. Also, while I'm at it, has anyone ever played a BC Rich ACRYLIC bass?


text:
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State Attorney Censures Officer
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Where I have been and where I am going…
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Posted in Misc. 7 Comments
Last 9/11 SAR Dog Passes
K9 Bretagne (said Brittany) was deployed to Ground Zero in 2001. She was overcome by old age and health problems this week and was put to sleep. She was the last known 9/11 search and rescue dog. Owner/handler Denise Corliss … Continue reading
Posted in K9, Misc. Leave a comment
Memorial Day
Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868. It was originally called Decoration Day and flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial Day is a federal holiday honoring those members … Continue reading
National Police Week and Heroes Plaza in Tampa
This week is National Police Week and the National Peace Officers Memorial Day was Sunday, May 15. The 35th Annual Memorial Service was held yesterday in Washington, D.C. It was fitting that I was able to visit Heroes Plaza along … Continue reading
Posted in Misc., Officer Down Leave a comment
Hi, folks, Randall here. I'm sorry that I have not been around as much as usual. My real job became much busier with a lieutenant's assessment (I didn't get it), an Internal Affairs sergeant assessment (I didn't get it), some … Continue reading
Posted in Misc. 2 Comments
Gainesville Officer Shoots…Hoops
Well, they did lower the rim for the dunk. Randall
Posted in Humor, Misc. Leave a comment
New Glock MOS Pistols
Today, Glock introduced two new MOS (Modular Optics System) pistols at the SHOT Show. Here is their press release: Las Vegas, Nev. – Jan. 18, 2016 Today, GLOCK, Inc., announced the release of two new pistols to join the Modular … Continue reading
Posted in Firearms, Misc. Tagged Glock Leave a comment
Gun Control Sells More Guns
This is an interesting graphic from the New York Times charting gun sales for the last fifteen years. The tallies come from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The NYT article posits that firearms sales increase sharply after talk … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Media, Misc., Politics Leave a comment
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
The following is from the Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) website: National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.) On January 9th, 2016, partnering organizations in support of law enforcement officers nationwide will promote National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.). In light … Continue reading
A Christmas Concert
My daughter's college held a Christmas Gala last week where she was a member of the chorus. It was a beautiful show celebrating the season's good will toward men (and women). The audience was filled with festively-dressed folks, many of … Continue reading
Posted in Misc., Off Duty, Tactics 2 Comments
Gun Violence Remains in Decline
The story here, for me, is the Centers for Disease Control publishing data showing current gun deaths at rates lower than the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The Mainstream Media would have you believe we are suffering through the worst gun … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Misc. Leave a comment
Chicago PD Murder Charges
I have watched Chicago PD's officer-involved shooting video from October 2014. A few things come to mind about the totality of the circumstances. Officers are responding to a commercial burglary call where a suspect was detained by a citizen, but … Continue reading
Posted in Knives, Legal, Media, Misc., Officer Safety, SWAT, Tactics 4 Comments
Orange Deputy Beats Mickey
Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Keith Rogers was a hit in the Magic Kingdom. From OCSO's Facebook page: Deputy Rogers is a celebrity in the eyes of this Tewksbury, MA. youngster! His mom Jennie Ann (who is also a police officer) writes: … Continue reading


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ACE Train Wrapped with Avery Graphics Vinyl to Commemorate 10th Anniversary
Monday, December 08, 2008
Press release from the issuing company(Painesville, OH) December 5, 2008 – Avery Dennison Graphics & Reflective Products Division, a leading provider of vinyl and screen print film products for the sign and graphics industry, announced today that its MPI 1005 EZ and DOL 1000 products were printed and applied by Wrapped Graphics, a wide format graphics provider headquartered in Stockton, Calif., to wrap a full-size commuter train for Altamont Commuter Express (ACE), a passenger rail service that runs between Stockton and San Jose, Calif.
The train wrap was commissioned by the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the ACE passenger rail service. Wrapped Graphics used nearly 1,500 feet of vinyl to wrap the ACE train engine, which is 82 feet long and 15 feet tall. The graphics for the ACE train wrap were printed with an HP 9000 printer. The wrap application for the engine alone took nearly five working days.
"For an application of this magnitude, we chose Avery Graphics MPI 1005 EZ vinyl because we needed a robust vinyl that will endure the train's daily commuter rides," says Larry Lawrence, owner and founder of Wrapped Graphics.
Joel Ross, marketing communication manager for Avery Dennison Graphics & Reflective Products Division, says, "Avery Graphics vinyl wrap products featuring Easy Apply Technology are ideal for a variety of fleet and transit applications. Easy-to-use, this product helps reduce wrinkling and air entrapment during application to ensure a durable wrap with a smooth, paint-like finish."
For more information, printers can contact their local distributor, Avery Dennison sales associate or the Avery Dennison AnswerLine at 800-443-9380. Information is also available online at www.averygraphics.com.
Industry News
Copyright © 2018 WhatTheyThink. All Rights Reserved


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Shailya Hospital, Ahmedabad
Sardar Patel Stadium Road, 2nd Floor, Stadium Plaza, Naranpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat - 380013
- 3 Specialities
Shailya Chikitsha is a Sanskrit terminology for Surgical Treatment of any ailments. It started and popularized by Shushrut Samhita in ancient times around A. D. A00. Since ancient times the treatment has been continuously evolving with robots performing it in todays era. Shailya Hospital is a dream project provide best quality treatment with compassion and care in the field of Surgical Gastroenterology and Urology. Shailya Hospital is a Super-Specialty centre with a state-of-the-art infrastructure to provide excellent surgical care to the patient with Gastroenterological and Urological problems.Shailya Hospital is situated in the heart of the Ahmedabad city with easy accessibility to it. Shailya Hospital is equipped with one Modern & Hi-Tech operation theatre, a deluxe suit, 3 special rooms, 1, semi-special room, large waiting area with patient education area, dedicated nursing staff.
- Website : http://www.shailyahospital.com
- General Surgery
- Surgical Gastroenterology
- Urology


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The Antik Mobile Apps are seamlessly integrated to the Antik Wanda OTT Billing to trigger an automatic provisioning of the TV service from the billing. Our billing systems allow the electronic vouchers issue with a different value (e.g. channel package for several months subscribtion) for an easy monetizing your IPTV project.
Key Features
Live TV
Customers can enjoy the Live TV broadcasting anywhere just with a smartphone or tablet if they have an Internet connection using the Antik Media apps for major OS. The streams are provided by the Antik Media Streamer benefiting from the HLS protocol allowing a multiprofile adaptive streaming to provide the highest efficiency even in a low quality or mobile networks.
TV archive
Gain an access to the programs also after their live broadcast ended. User will just simply choose the TV channel and the date and then select the program that he or she has missed. The user can choose his or her favorite show based on the time of the original broadcasting or select the show by genre category.
EPG – Electronic Program Guide
This detailed program guide offers a user friendly environment up to weeks in advance. It allows you to access the archived content by selecting the show directly from the guide.
Users can listen to the radio stations as well as enjoy music on the road through the phone or tablet. EPG in Radio supported.
TV Plugin
Now you can add your own TV channel, where you can watch internet channels, live stream, internet radios and the view of home cameras or other public or private content.
Watching Bookmarks (coming soon)
This combination of the STB and phone service is finally available. Our mobile apps allow you to start watching a show on TV and resume watching exactly where you´ve stopped on your mobile or tablet. All the bookmarks can be easily managed.
Mobile as Remote Control (coming soon)
Customer can easily turn his or her phone or tablet into a remote control. All of the standard STB remote control buttons are included in the Antik app so the enduser can easily decide to change channels or volume using his or her favorite device.
Mobile App for Android
Live TV
TV archive
Mobile App for iOS
Live TV
Mobile App for Win8
Live TV
TV archive
How does the ANTIK MobileTV work?
The Antik Mobile TV is an easy-to-operate system that enables you to watch the linear, the catched-up and the video-on demand TV service customized for all the major operating systems for smart devices and PC. The AntikTV App is a necessity for this process and is available for a free download on the major webstores.
Once you´ve downloaded the app on your device, you can log in the app using the voucher system. Vouchers are generated by an another Antik application – the Wanda OTT Billing System, which is completely integrated to the Antik IPTV Management System and the Antik Media Stremer. Vouchers are randomly generated long strings of codes. They are attached to the channel package and expiration period. You can issue several types of vouchers at once, e.g. 3,6,9 months subscription for different TV packages. The system automatically recognizes the voucher once it is typed to the app, attaches it to the app appropriate channel package and sets its expiration period.
The Antik Transcoders/Encoders and theAntik Media Streamer play important role in the operation of the TV to mobiles. Various devices and network enviroments need different stream resolutions and stream bitrates. Simple smartphone often uses only weak processors with a low power to decode high bitrate streams, and so specific profiles have to be created for them. A higher bitrate and resolution needs to be prepared for good network conditions and the latest tablet device with big screen. Different bitrates are typical for the Internet delivery purposes in HLS format 3 to 5. The Antik Media Streamer together with the AntikTV App will ensure that a correct bitrate and resolution will reach the device.


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Classic Mint Mojito
Five minutes to make, serves 2
Classic Mint Mojito made with all of the fresh flavors of summer. Mint and lime are muddled together to create a refreshing cocktail. Top with sprigs of mint and enjoy a cool drink for a hot summer night!
- 1 Lime
- 20 sprigs Mint, fresh
Baking & Spices
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 2 oz Sparkling Water
- 1 Ice
- 2 oz Rum, white
- 2 tbsp Water
- Add sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook until sugar dissolves. Takes about 1-2 minutes to dissolve. Take off of heat and allow to cool.
- Meanwhile, add mint and lime in a small pitcher or large glass.
- Muddle together for about a minute until all of the juice is squeezed out of the lime and the oils have released from the mint.
- Add cooled simple syrup and rum to the mint and lime.
- Fill each glass with ice.
- Pour half of the mojito mixture into each glass. Top with sparkling water.
Original recipe from chefsavvy.com
Pomegranate Whiskey Sour
Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes, serves 2
If you want a lip-smacking cocktail that's perfect for the winter holidays, mix up this easy-to-make drink, which turns the most beautiful color pink and is perfectly sweet and tart at the same time – exactly what you want in a whiskey sour.
Simple Syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
- 4 ounces bourbon whiskey
- 2 ounces lemon juice
- 2 ounces pomegranate simple syrup
- Make simple syrup by heating water and granulated sugar of medium heat until all sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat, add pomegranate seeds, and allow to cool completely. Run through blender and then strain through fine mesh strainer. Discard seed solid and keep the pink syrup.
- To make the cocktail, combine bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, and pomegranate simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Vigorously shake until well combined, about 20 seconds. Strain into a lowball glass, ice with extra large ice cubes.
Recipe from Pinterest.com/SelfProclaimedFoodie
Apple Sangria
One hour to make, serves 8
The absolute must-have sangria for fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, combining apples, cranberries, wine and apple cider. A winning combination that's also vegan and gluten-free!
- 1 cup Cranberries, fresh
- 1 Granny Smith apple
- 1 Honeycrisp apple
- 1 Pear
- 1 sprig Rosemary
- 1 cup Apple Cider
- 1 (750 mL) bottle Sparkling White Wine
- 1 (750 mL) bottle White Wine
Recipe from damndelicious.net


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From lessons of the day.Saturday, June 30th, 2007
The major sins, which are nine in number, are as follows: associating partners with Allah, murdering a soul, running from battle, accusing an innocent woman falsely, taking usury, spending the wealth of orphans, talking heresy in the mosque, making light of religion, and causing one's parents to shed tears because of one's disobedience. [Bukhari]
Those who were destroyed before you were destroyed due to three traits — excess in speech, excess in food, and excess in sleep. [Ibrahim al Nakhai]


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I am looking or someone to tow a trailer across country. It might be possible to haul a horse or two as well. Let's discuss.No Price Listed
2004 2H LQ with some nice upgrades, werm flooring in horse compartment and back tack, drop down windows at head and hip, mangers, swing out saddle rack…$33,000
2 horse bumper pull, in excellent condition, drop down windows and bars at head & hip, jail bar divider, lined and insulated roof in horse compartment…$15,500
This trailer is in great condition has been used just a few times each year to haul my horse to a few rides. Well cared for, always serviced on time …$28,500
owner motivated, new price Gorgeous Charcoal exterior, lightly used ,clean exterior and LQ , normal wear and tear in horse area stud divider, TV ,…$36,500
Nice, solid, 2 axle 1966 Miley trailer. New Floor$1,500
2005 Bumper pull, step up, slant load 2-horse trailer. Lots of extras: Electric Jack, Custom Wheels, Awning for shade or protection from rain, water tank…$7,500
Brenderup Prestige trailer in great shape and ready for use. If you're looking at a Brenderup, then you're likely already familiar with these lightweight…$4,500
*Never used - hasn't had a horse in it* - Owner purchased and life changed so is now selling. Titled 2016 Trails West 2 horse slant load Living Quarters…SOLD
2008 EBY Victory Series Custom Commercial built all aluminum 3 horse (2+1) extra tall/extra wide trailer. Also converts to 2 box stalls. Length is 21…SOLD


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IHR fans,
From all of us at Ice House Road to all of you, Happy New Year. We finished up 2010 rocking a New Years Eve Party at The Dogwood in Palmyra Virginia. The crowd was great, Snooky on the big screen was, uhh, well, Snooky on the big screen, and we had a fantastic time playing some music for everybody there.
The very next night we drove up to Wintergreen resort and rocked The Edge restaurant. On the way up the mountain we encountered some VERY dense fog. We weren't sure if it was snow from the snow blowers on the slopes getting blown around by the intense wind, or if it was really fog, so Gary decided to call it SNOG. We couldn't stop saying SNOG all night.
It was awesome to play a show with a real soundman. Rezz from Innovative Audio and Sound provided all the amplification, speakers, mics, cords, monitors, and the "magic" button on his soundboard that made us sound like we knew what were doing. All we had to do was show up with our instruments and perform.
I think we gave away just about the last of the 500 CDs we had printed earlier this year up at Wintergreen. And hopefully some of those CDs are being listened to right now. And maybe somebody listening to it is thinking, 'man, these guys are great' and is considering hiring us to play at their next party. If that's you, please contact us at IceHouseRoad.net
We are taking the month of January off. Mainly because Bobby has to fighting some bulls in Oklahoma, build a fence, then fight some bulls in Tennessee. Did I mention that Bobby Sims is the SEBRA Bullfighter of the year for 2010. That's right folks. Congrats to Bobby. To see what he did to earn this award, click here. And click here for more info on the SEBRA finals, where Bobby will showcasing his skills, click here.
We already have one show scheduled for the rest of 2011. We'll be back at The Dogwood in late February.
Hope to see you all there.
Adam "J.R." Stoffel


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Five Questions: Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan
September 12, 2014
Dr. Noonan is entering his third year as Superintendent of the City of Fairfax Schools. Dr. Noonan was previously Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services for Fairfax County Public Schools and a Regional Assistant Superintendent. He began his career as a special education instructor, later becoming an assistant principal and a principal at Lanier Middle School and Centerville High School.
1. What are some goals for you and the City Schools staff this year?
With every school year we have an opportunity to revisit the work of our schools and the needs of the community. This year we will carry forward our support and efforts to integrate technology into the classroom by breaking down barriers and supporting students in bringing their own devices to school (BYOD). I hear it said that we need to "prepare students for their future and not our past." I believe we are in a critical juncture in public education where student learning is substantively changing. There was a time where students accessed information in traditional methods like libraries, encyclopedias, and other print materials. Today, students access information through resources at their fingertips. Our students need to be empowered in the future to enter the knowledge economy that we as a community are becoming. The tools we arm students with should support this and BYOD allows us to scale the use of technology in a thoughtful, personalized, and economically reasonable way.
We also will be focusing further on our world class facilities in the City of Fairfax. As I travel around the country, and have the opportunity to see what others have (or don't), I am struck by how great our physical environment is for students to learn. The commitment made by our resident to consolidate schools and renovate Lanier and FHS speaks volumes to the overwhelming support they have for our work in the schools. To this end, it is incumbent upon me and the City of Fairfax School Board to ensure we properly maintain and support our facilities.
Lastly, I am excited to look for ways to expand our preschool offerings for the 4-year old students in the City of Fairfax. We currently have about 50 4-year olds that live in our city and do not access preschool programs before hitting our doors at Providence and Daniels Run. For our students to have the best, and most level playing field with their peers, we need to find new ways to get our future students the head start they need. Throughout this year I will be seeking space and the needed funding to support at least one new preschool program that will serve our neediest kids.
2. What are some exciting programs in the City Schools?
We have a number of exciting programs in the City of Fairfax schools. We are one of the only jurisdictions in the country that offers Chinese language to our students from kindergarten up through high school. We know that second language learning is essential and also supports learning in all other content areas as well due to the cognitive flexibility that comes with learning a language.
I also am excited about the growth of the STEAM lab at Providence. This year, with the addition of the full day Monday schedule, all of the students at PES will have access to the exciting programs that the STEAM lab has to offer on a rotational basis.
Additionally, we continue to have state and nationally recognized programs that support the "greening" of our schools. This year at FHS the advanced placement environmental sciences will be working alongside of Lands and Waters of Virginia to look at systems around the high school that can be improved. This partnership and collaboration is a great public/private partnership that supports the curriculum being taught in APE but also makes the curriculum relevant to the students we serve. This is a best practice in teaching and learning and we are excited to support this program.
3. How has the partnership with FCPS benefited the City School?
The partnership between the City and the County has been mutual beneficial for decades for a number of reasons. However, there is one in particular that is above all others and that is programmatic. At Fairfax High School, for example, approximately 60% of the students attending live outside of our City and are in Fairfax County. If we were an independent City School district our population of students would drop precipitously and as a consequence we would not be able to offer the broad range of programs we afford our students today. We would not have the capacity to field the teams, fill our band programs, and would have a very inefficient use of a beautiful building that our community members paid for. The benefit for FCPS is the same. We welcome the county students in our buildings and because of our engagement they get the benefit of terrific programming as well but, what's more is that our county friends also get the benefit of going to school in a community that is connected, has a small town feel, and has a great school board that recognizes our students for their efforts in our City schools whether the student live in the City of Fairfax or in the county. One other benefit to FCPS is that all of the surrounding schools to the City of Fairfax are at, or above, capacity in enrollment. So, we are helping our county friends by utilizing our facilities thus reducing the need to add capacity in their buildings.
4. What do you see as some important advances in education within the last few years?
The most important advancement in public education, as I see it, is that we now know through practice and quantitative research what works in classrooms and schools to support student achievement. For decades, we worked in isolation and our practice was private. In fact, it could be said that when you got a teaching job you became what could essentially be characterized as an independent contractor. However, now armed with information we know better….when we work together our students get the benefit of our collective knowledge and skill. This collaboration, around common goals and outcomes, creates a new sense of urgency because, for the first time that I can remember, there is a mutual accountability that supports our work. A simple example of a great collaboration is when teams come together, review how their respective students did on a common assessment, and then share the practices they used to get their students ready for the assessment.
5. You are a parent to two kids, what advice do you have to parents just starting out with their kids in public education?
I believe strongly in the power of relationships. I think there is no better way to support students in school than by building a relationship with the teachers your child has in any way you are able. I recognize that not everyone can be in the school volunteering or showing up at meetings to support the school but there are other ways to engage. Start by supporting your student through listening deeply to how they are doing, understanding what their strengths are, and identifying areas they want to get better in. Then share that with your child's teacher. It is an important triad that is being developed…the child, the parent, and the school. Through a great partnership between parents and schools, your child can be successful.


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Hair 101 : How to Dye Your Hair Without BleachingApril 07, 2012
Let me explain a little, before a very short tutorial about coloring your hair. I have asian hair, and my original hair is seriously pitch dark black, and very thick. My mom used to be so proud of my hair and always wanted me to become a hair model for commercial because it was very healthy, shiny, and black LOL . But I ruined her dream because I have dyed my hair since I was 12-13 [don't remember exact age]. I've done it at many different salons, and also at my own home by using many hair dye brands
And probably because I am the only Indonesian beauty blogger with blonde hair, many Indonesian readers asked me question about how to get my hair, or about hair dye process.
I am not a professional hair stylist nor have studied it before, in here I just share my own tips about how to achieve hair color that you want, without bleaching. I know this basic tips based on my own experience. And this only works for dark / asian hair. If you have light hair, you're lucky because you can just get any color that you want easily. So let's start
So, ever wandered why the model's hair on the hair dye box will look different on your self although you use the same hair dye? That's because every models' bleach their hair first before coloring, or have light hair to begin with, so the color of course appears more prominent on them!
Got it?
So of course you won't get the same result!
The most common mistake is that people don't know that to get the exact hair color like on the box is to have your hair bleached before. But for those of you who don't want to bleach your hair, here's the mini tutorial if you have black / virgin hair
Coloring your hair with dark brown, will only make your hair become black brown with a hint of brown under sunlight
Coloring your hair with medium dark brown, will get your hair into dark brown
Coloring your hair with medium brown, will get your hair into medium dark brown
Coloring your hair with light brown / light blonde, will get your hair into medium brown
This mistake makes people can't get the exact hair color that they want, and blame the hair dye. The hair dye has nothing to do with it, it's just the matter of color that you choose! Many people don't want to get the blonde hair color, because they think their hair will turn into blonde as well. In fact, IT'S WRONG! Black hair will never ever be blonde without bleaching, so dont be afraid!
It's just a basic tutorial that many don't know, I suppose. And the result will also depends on your hair dye, and how long the process takes. You can also try it with red.
If you want dark red, get medium red hair dye. If you want medium red hair, go with light red hair. Because black hair can't absorb the color as nice as light hair since it's more pigmented, and black is the strongest color o_o Does it even makes sense?
So if don't be afraid to get blonde hair dye and go dye your hair with it, because it is NOT GONNA make your hair into blonde, but create a medium brown [that most Indonesians want?]
So, does hair dye takes big role in this dyeing process? I say, not necessary. Because most hair dye is just about 9-15USD, and I don't really see much difference between each brands, but people know that I love Palty Hair Dye.
Why is it?
Because I can't get the color that I want on other hair dyes. Said like Milk Tea Blonde, it's difficult to find that color in Indonesia. I know L'Oreal in USA carry similar color, but L'Oreal in Indonesia doesn't provide the color because it's not a trend in here. That's why I use Palty instead, since I can get it easier compared to USA L'Oreal.
So if you ask me, "hey stella, is this xxx hair dye brand good?", "which one is better, this brand or this brand?", "have you tried the xxx by xxx?"
I honestly have to say, I don't see much difference, I only see the color. If it's the color that I want, then I grab it. I also dare to bleach my hair, so it's much easier for me. I don't suggest you to bleach your hair if you don't treat it properly though, and I really recommend you to bleach your hair at salon, because it can be pretty messy compared to hair dye, if you have never done so
Eh but doesn't mean sasha hair dye is good.. wtf it's just 0,5USD per box! How can you expect it to be good, im too afraid to use it lol
stick with L'Oreal, Wella, Palty, Liese, and so on la.. haha
Okay another frequently asked question is how about blonde hair like mine?
You can not have it without bleaching!
I bleached it like 3-4 times on the last time, and finish it with a hair dye, and not to mention that my hair has been under bleaching prochedure many many times before. I still do my hair by myself, and although you guys think that the color looks ok, but in fact on the back part, it's quite uneven, because I cant see it T___T If you have someone to help you is of course much better!
If you still find it confusing, just go visit professional hair salon, and tell them what color you want, I am sure they know at least this basic coloring process and can get you right. But for those of you who want to dye your hair at home, I hope this would be useful!