text:
During staff meeting Friday Jerry said we'd cut it short because of a multitude of volunteers expected to arrive at any minute.
He asked Mr. Pat to tell the rest of the staff about the 85 or so fifth-graders we expected from Regent School of Austin.
To my surprise, Pat lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Oh!," he said, "this is about the fifth year in a row they've come out. I thought we'd wind up babysitting the first year, but those kids can work! We love it when they come out."
Everyone dispersed to their sites to welcome the volunteers and get them going. Soon there were groups working everywhere--around the foundation of Joseph House, behind Benedict, in the woods surrounding the camp grounds, and in the community garden helping to prepare the ground for the next garden beds.
I looked out my office window and thought: That's a passle of 10-year olds!
I grabbed my camera and went to the garden to investigate. Moms, Dads, and teachers were all working with the kids, along with Michael, Matt, and their team leader Naomi, raking, busting clods, asking what we planned to plant when it was ready.
From there I went to the Village. The children were levelling a huge pile of dirt left from the excavation for the foundation for the new Joseph House and carrying it by the shovel full to pack it in around the slab.
But there was a problem: dozens of frogs and toads had buried themselves in the soft dirt and the kids didn't know what to do with them. I suggested a relocation shelter near the Benedict garden and hoped the transition wouldn't prove too hard on our amphibious friends.
Wherever I went kids were working amazingly hard, amid scratchy vines, lifting heavy loads, dragging tree limbs long distances. No whining, no grumping, no sass, no attitude but curious and respectful at all times.
A few hours later everyone had lunch and Jerry gave them a talk about Down Home Ranch. After that they piled into vans and headed back to school.
When Jerry came home that evening he said in wonder, "I couldn't believe the questions those kids asked me after my talk. They were amazing. They really listened to what I said.
"I asked if anybody knew how many chromosomes we have in our bodies. A mom said 23 and a student corrected her by saying it was 23 pair. Then one asked me why the doctors couldn't somehow take out the extra chromosome that causes Down syndrome.
"I said I didn't know, but that they were working on figuring out what to do and that I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't one of them that did it someday. And I wouldn't."
Later, intrigued, I went on the school's web site and learned that Regent School was begun with 17 students in 1992, the same year Down Home Ranch was starting to get underway. Today there are over 800 students K-12.
The school's motto is Coram Deo, which translates roughly as "in the presence of God," a reminder that wherever we go, whatever we do, whenever it is, we do well to remember that there is a Witness.
And I have a suspicion that Witness is well pleased with Regent School.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Coram Deo
Posted by Judy Horton at 11:31 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Down Home Ranch, Down syndrome, Regent School, volunteers
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Monica and David...
|Sterling, Kelly, Kyle & Alaina after screening of Monica & David
Thursday was the debut of the HBO documentary telling the story of two young adults who fell in love and got married.
What's the big deal? Happens every day, doesn't it?
Not when the bride and groom both have Down syndrome.
So our living room was packed with Ranchers wanting to see Monica and David the moment it came on the air. Their interest ranged from simple curiosity to a desperate desire to do the same.
Though still rare, marriage between people with intellectual disabilities is becoming more common. Parents and professionals are realizing the unfairness of standing in the way of people who may be handicapped in many ways, but not when it comes to forging bonds of love.
Some might even say that's a specialty of people with Down syndrome.
And what better qualification is there? I once heard a good marriage defined as being "a union of two good forgivers." It reminded me that when our priest was preaching on the need to forgive 70 times seven, Jerry and I agreed that Kelly was the only person in our family capable of doing that.
We focus on the peripheral stuff: Can they cook? Can they keep a clean house? Can they manage their money?
Could you when you first got married? I could barely boil water.
The central issue has got to be this: Can they love over the long haul?
From where I sit, I'd have to give that one an unequivocal yes.
Posted by Judy Horton at 11:46 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Down Home Ranch, HBO, love, marriage and Down syndrome, Monica and David
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Unless the Lord build the house...
|The "New" Joseph House
Why should people with intellectual disabilities be any different? Well, they aren't, as these pictures show.
|Kyle & Sterling insulating their new home
|Sterling learns to do the job right
A few years ago Jerry and I read a book called God Is the Good We Do, by UT professor of architecture Michael Benedikt. The book is long and learned (and in very small type) but the gist is this: wherever there are people doing good, there is God.
I interpret this theory by imagining the written score of a symphony. Is that the symphony? How could it be?
No, the symphony exists only while the orchestra is playing it.
Maybe it's the same with God. God is good and good is God.
People with good hearts didn't just give money to build a house. They also gave money to provide an opportunity for Sterling and Kyle to learn important skills and help build their own home.
And we are thankful indeed.
Posted by Judy Horton at 3:31 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Knockin' 'Em Down
What a week! Sunday: board meeting from 1:00-6:00 PM. Monday:getting in the hay and the blessing of the animals on St. Francis' Day.
Then Tuesday was the great semi-annual Staff-Rancher bowling tournament. What a hoot! The trash talk had gotten pretty bad over the previous week, and we were each determined to do our best for our team.
Then Tuesday was the great semi-annual Staff-Rancher bowling tournament. What a hoot! The trash talk had gotten pretty bad over the previous week, and we were each determined to do our best for our team.
So we caravaned over to Chestnut Square Family Entertainment Center in Bastrop and pretty much took over the bowling alley.
Some of our staff seem to have been pretty good bowlers in their day. Alas, those days are over.
The Ranchers, on the other hand, began bowling in grade school and haven't stopped since. Which is to say, they whupped us and they whupped us good.
After bowling, we went off to the park for pizza and play in the cool autumn evening. Sterling, with high schore of the day of 145, was elected to receive the trophy on behalf of the Ranchers.
Check out pictures from our day below.
Check out pictures from our day below.
|Julia rejects Jerry's offer of a crying towel
|John models the martial arts release
|Sterling and away we go!
Andrew in a pensive moment
|Brian ready to roll
Posted by Judy Horton at 1:11 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: bowling, community life, Down Home Ranch, friendship
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
With St. Francis in the Fields
|Rejoicing in the beauty of the world
Yesterday afternoon Fr. John Williams, aka Rebekah's dad, came out to the Ranch for our annual Blessing of the Animals.
People were pretty tired from haying in the morning, but a good contingent trooped off in seach of those creatures great and small for whom Down Home Ranch is also home. Given the current abundance of said creatures, Fr. John suggested that we select a few "stations" from which to bless, since tracking each one of them down was not practical, and in some cases unwise (such as Peggy Sue, the Longhorn, who holds some sort of bovine grudge against me).
And so we set out from the Pavilion towards the Village, where Missy, Barny, Abi, and Lady all reside.
|Barny gets a blessing
Missy the yellow Labrador is off in Texarkana with Anita, mistress of Martha House, so we went on to our first stop at Barnabas House, where little Barny lives. He was excited to see us, and happy enough to be blessed, but what he really wanted was to go for a walk, so I suggested we put him on a leash and bring him along.
"Maybe not a good idea," said Michael, who is one of Barny's four owners, and proprieter of a huge aquarium housing a multitude of fish. I quickly deferred to his opinion.
|Michael's new fish tank
After that we headed to Teresa House, home of Abi and Lady. Abi is enthralled with attention from anyone but a veterinarian, so she was delighted to sit in Fr. John's lap and receive her blessing. Lady watched amiably from a distance.
Next stop was "the new" Joseph House, which Sterling, John, Kyle, and Travis are hoping to move into sometime in the next few months. Fr. John asked each person to name the home in the Village where they lived or would live, and asked God's blessing on our homes.
I was touched to see Kelly reach out to put her hand on Joseph House as it received its blessing.
I was touched to see Kelly reach out to put her hand on Joseph House as it received its blessing.
From there it was to the top of the haying field, the highest point on the Ranch.
Fr. John explained that St. Francis was considered strange by his contemporaries, because he so loved creation that he would stand in a field and dance, holding up his arms and spinning around. He urged us all never to worry about what other people say about us, but like St. Francis, to rejoice in the beauty of the world.
From the hill, the horses, donkeys, cows, foxes, fish, turtles, armadillos, skunks, racoons, wild pigs and all other creatures on the Ranch received their blessing.
|Natalie moves manure from the barn to the compost pile
Later on in the afternoon Jerry popped into my office and said, "I've got to run to Bloomer's and pick up some winter veggie packets. Be back in an hour."
As I left my office, I saw him digging in the garden and went over to investigate. He'd bought brussels sprounts and broccoli, pansies and peas and was planting them in the beds. Our adolescent rooster was practicing crowing (pretty funny at this stage) and the evening sun slanted across the newly mown hay field.
In that moment, I knew exactly what St. Francis had been getting at.
Posted by Judy Horton at 1:58 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Barnabas House, celebration, Dogs, Down Home Ranch, Fr. John Williams, Joseph House, Martha House, Operation Independence, St. Francis Episcopal Church
Of the Making of Hay
|Community gathering in the hay crop
Last week the hay crew came and cut our hay.
We were glad because we'd been trying to get it cut for weeks, but we're such small potatoes nobody is really enthusiastic about bringing out all that big equipment to work on our measly 20 acres.
But fortune smiled, the weather stayed dry, the temperature dropped, the hay got cut and windrowed, and there it was: 470 beautiful square bales sitting in the pasture ready to be loaded onto the trailers and taken into the hay barns.
|Andrew exults in the beautiful morning air
This morning I saw Keith grab a stray bale lying in the road. He tossed it through the air into the bed of the pickup as easily as I would a bed pillow.
"Wow!" I marveled, and mentioned it to Annette, who said with a wry smile, "Let's see how far he's tossing them at lunchtime."
|Our terrific crew
The usual staff suspects showed up: Brian, Mr. Pat, Charles, Keith, Jerry, Mr. Lobo, and Phil.
The truck and trailer started rolling, and our troops got underway with a whoop and a holler. Brian stacked the bales as they were thrown onto the trailer. Energy was high. Some of the Ranchers worked in pairs to move the 50-pound bales but others managed on their own.
|Natalie & Crystal load a bale
|Loading the trailer with 50-lb. bales
By this time the novelty was wearing thin. It was harder moving the bales into the barn and everyone was beginning to tire.
At one point Travis said, "I don't think I want to be a cowboy anymore."
Then it was back to the fields, and so it went throughout the morning.
I couldn't believe how hard our guys and gals worked, with no complaints or slacking. They are proud that our horses and cows now have a winter's worth of food put away, and they helped make it happen.
And Travis decided he does still want to be a cowboy after all.
|Charles & Keith take a well-deserved rest
Posted by Judy Horton at 11:03 AM 0 comments Links to this post
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JACKSONVILLE - The Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping to avoid a repeat of what happened last year against Buffalo.
The Jaguars played without starting cornerback Brian Williams and backup Terry Cousin, forcing rookie Dee Webb to make his first career start. Webb made three crucial mistakes in a 27-24 loss.
"Any time you're missing a starter, it's going to hurt," Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "I'm not saying we don't have depth on this team, but when you're missing two of your core guys in the secondary, there's going to be a slack somewhere."
The Jaguars (7-3) are in a similar position this time around. Mathis injured his groin last week and has been limited in practice since. If he doesn't play, third-year player Scott Starks or veteran Aaron Glenn would start against the Bills (5-5).
And the Jaguars would be hoping for a better performance than what they got last year at Buffalo.
Webb intercepted a pass on Buffalo's second possession, then promptly fumbled during the return and set up an early touchdown.
On the next series, Lee Evans beat Webb deep. Webb was flagged for pass interference, a 43-yard penalty that set up a short field goal.
Webb neglected to recognize a running play on the next drive, following Evans across the middle of the field and creating a huge backside hole. Willis McGahee found it and ran nearly untouched for a 30-yard score and a 17-7 advantage.
"Like we've done all year, we plugged a guy in and expected him to play well," coach Jack Del Rio said. "That didn't happen."
Del Rio benched Webb in favor of Starks at halftime, but even that move backfired when Starks allowed Roscoe Parrish to catch a pass while tiptoeing the sideline. The 30-yard gain set up Rian Lindell's game-winning 42-yard field as time expired.
The loss down the stretch was one that helped keep Jacksonville out of the playoffs. And Parrish expects the Jaguars to still be upset.
"They're supposed to be fired up," Parrish said. "It's the NFL. They're supposed to be mad. ... If they're (upset) about the loss they had last year, oh well. What can we do about it but go out there and play and beat their behind again?"
A victory would be huge for the Bills, who had won four in a row before losing 56-10 to New England last week.
Still, Buffalo is trying to keep pace in the AFC playoff race and losing to the Jags would severely damage its postseason chances.
"If we plan on doing anything with the postseason or even thinking about the postseason, this is a big game for us," Evans said. "Every game from here on out is a big game, but this game means a little bit more because it's a team that we are going to be competing against."
The game might mean even more for quarterback J.P. Losman.
Losman, who's already been benched once this season, realizes that another loss could lead coach Dick Jauron to switch back to rookie Trent Edwards.
"The guys on our team don't care," Losman said. "Everyone just wants to win ballgames. Whoever is the best player that goes out there and produces a win, that is who they want in there. That goes for every player."
Losman might have to shoulder more of the load, too, especially with rookie running back Marshawn Lynch sidelined for the second straight week because of a badly sprained left ankle.
Although Anthony Thomas is expected to replace Lynch in the starting lineup, the Bills probably will rely on the passing game to pick up the slack.
"We know we're capable of doing what we did a year ago," Bills receiver Josh Reed said.
Maybe, but Buffalo hasn't shown it. The offense has scored at least two touchdowns just twice, against Cincinnati and against the New York Jets, and has produced 300-plus yards only three times.
The Bills, however, could be catching Jacksonville at the perfect time. The Jaguars, already playing without suspended defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, also will be without linebacker Mike Peterson. He broke his right hand last week against San Diego and could be out several weeks.
For Jaguars, Buffalo game brings back bad memories
JACKSONVILLE - The Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping to avoid a repeat of what happened last year against Buffalo.

subset: commoncrawl


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BOSTON -- New corticosteroid nasal sprays that come in propellant-driven, metered-dose devices for relieving chronic allergic rhinitis may make this treatment approach more acceptable to at least some patients, researchers said here.
Results of two placebo-controlled phase III trials of aerosolizers containing ciclesonide (Omnaris) and beclamethasone (Beconase), respectively, indicated that these products effectively reduced symptom scores and, in some analyses, improved patients' subjective quality of life, according to multiple presentations at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology annual meeting.
Allergists not involved with the studies, as well as the researchers presenting the data, said there is a genuine clinical need that is not filled with current spray bottles.
"Those of us who have practiced for more than six weeks know there is a large cadre of individuals that will not use their intranasal steroids correctly," said Gailen Marshall Jr., MD, of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, who had no role in the trials.
John Oppenheimer, MD, of Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in Summit, N.J., agreed, pointing to his own research using insurance claims showing that patients filled their intranasal steroid prescriptions barely one-third of the time.
Marshall told MedPage Today that there are a number of problems with existing sprays. They deliver the product in large droplets that feel uncomfortably wet to many patients. Complaints that the liquid drips out of their noses or down into their throats are also common.
He added that patients also frequently have difficulty aiming the sprays properly so that they cover all the relevant areas of the nasal cavity.
The new formulations are intended to fix these aspects of intranasal steroid sprays.
Both the ciclesonide and beclamethasone products are driven by hydrofluoroalkanes, the propellant now used in metered-dose asthma inhalers following the ban on chlorofluorocarbons. These create a finer mist than the squeeze bottles now used to deliver these agents, which may coat the target regions more evenly and penetrate deeper into the sinus cavity, Oppenheimer said.
Patient reports from the products' clinical trials also suggest that the finer aerosol creates less of a wet sensation.
The major trials reported here included a 26-week, randomized, placebo-controlled study of ciclesonide at two doses (74 and 148 mcg/spray) in a total of about 1,100 patients diagnosed with perennial allergic rhinitis, and a one-year trial of beclamethasone dipropionate at 320 mcg versus placebo in 524 patients.
Both trials relied on patients' self-reported improvements in overall symptoms relative to placebo.
For ciclesonide, there was little difference between the two doses, according to William Berger, MD, of the University of California Irvine, who presented the results here.
So-called reflective nasal symptom scores declined by 2.58 points with the high dose and by 2.71 points with the low dose, compared with a drop of 2.06 points in the placebo group (P<0.01 for both doses versus placebo).
An essentially identical pattern was seen in instantaneous nasal symptom scores.
As expected, treatment-emergent adverse events were somewhat higher with the active drug, seen in 46% of the low-dose group and 42% of the high-dose group, versus 36% of those taking placebo. Most of the difference appeared driven by upper respiratory tract infections, seen in 15% of the low-dose and 13% of the high-dose groups versus 9% of the placebo group.
The beclamethasone data were presented by Shailen Shah, MD, of Pennsylvania Allergy and Asthma Consultants in Collegeville, Pa. The efficacy results were similar to those reported for ciclesonide -- a strong placebo effect but a significantly greater benefit with the active drug.
Patients in the trial were randomized in a 4:1 ratio to beclamethasone or placebo.
With the primary evaluation conducted after 30 weeks of treatment, patients receiving the beclamethasone treatment reported a mean decline in reflective symptom scores of about 4.2 points, versus a 3.3-point reduction with placebo (P<0.05).
Most treatment-emergent adverse events in the beclamethasone trial were more common with placebo. The main exception was epistaxis, reported in 8% of patients receiving the active drug compared with 2% of the placebo group.
Both products' manufacturers -- Sunovion Pharmaceuticals for ciclesonide and Teva Pharmaceuticals for beclamethasone -- said they had marketing applications currently under FDA review for once-daily treatment in each nostril. Sunovion is seeking approval for the 74-mcg dose.
The ciclesonide study was funded by Sunovion. The beclamethasone trial was funded by Teva.
Berger reported relationships with AstraZeneca, Alcon, Ista, Meda, Allergan, Sunovion, Merck, Genentech, and Novartis.
Shah reported relationships with Alcon, Sanofi, Genentech, AstraZeneca, Forest, GlaxoSmithKline, Meda, Novartis, Teva, Merck, and Sunovion.
- Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner
Primary Source
Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and ImmunologySource Reference: Berger W, et al "A 26-week study evaluating the safety and efficacy of ciclesonide hydrofluoroalkane nasal aerosol in subjects with perennial allergic rhinitis" Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2011; 107: A115.
Secondary Source
Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and ImmunologySource Reference: Shah S, et al "Long-term treatment with BDP HFA nasal aerosol 320mcg once daily is safe and effective in subjects with perennial allergic rhinitis" Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2011; 107: A119.


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Health and Safety Auditing
Health and safety audits go along way to ensure that your school is complying with the latest health and safety legislation and that all your employees, pupils and visitors are safe within the workplace. Our health and safety professionals will ensure that a health and safety audit carried out at your school will help you identify both good practice and non-compliances which will guide you on the areas for improvement within your organisation.
A detailed report including an action plan will be hand delivered following the audit, with an electronic document made available. The report will detail your current health and safety arrangements along with suggested actions you need to take to ensure you are meeting your statutory requirements. Actions will be risk rated so you know which areas will need priority or short term action.


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Bordeaux City and its Négociants
The heart of the City
By Jane Anson
This Guide was last updated on 16 June 2012
To explore this Wine Travel Guide, select from the menu on the left
Years ago, négociant offices lined the Quai des Chartrons on the far bank of the Garonne River, Bordeaux's main artery.
© Mick Rock/Cephas
There are not many world cities that share a name with the wine region that surrounds them theres no city of Champagne, for example - head to Reims or Epernay instead, nor a city of Burgundy - think Beaune and Dijon. But, many visitors, even when flying in to Bordeaux for a vineyard tour, will plan trips around the Médoc and Saint Emilion and ignore the centre of town. Anyone who visited Bordeaux 15 years ago would have made doubly sure that this was the case, as it had a reputation for snarled traffic and distinctly seedy districts.
All of this has changed, however, and any visitor to the Bordeaux region today should make their first stop the centre of town and its attractive waterfront. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007, the city of Bordeaux has transformed into one of Europe's most vibrant centres, and the wine industry, once disconnected, is busy reclaiming it. Cases of claret may no longer be shipped from the quays downtown, but a handful of négociant houses have opened up to the public, and a museum honours the history of the trade. Wine bars are finally taking their rightful place in a city that for years kept wine just at the restaurant table; and châteaux on the outskirts of the urban sprawl are getting connected through the new tramway. There's even a new wine cultural centre planned for 2015. Its also worth knowing that buying wine can often be easier and better value in central Bordeaux than in the more tourist-focused areas such as Saint Emilion.
Located along the banks of the Garonne River, Bordeaux is protected from Atlantic storms by 'Les Landes', a large pine forest to the south and west. It has a mild maritime climate influenced by the Gulf Stream, with average annual temperatures of 7.5°C minimum and 17°C maximum and winter frosts being rare. There is however plenty of rainfall coming in from the Atlantic with 900mm per year, mainly in the spring. The summers are usually dry and hot with good weather often extending into autumn. The vineyards are notably flat, rarely reaching altitudes of more than a few metres above sea level.
At the northern end of the Graves, Pessac-Léognan stretches along the left bank of the Garonne River to the southern outskirts of Bordeaux. The northern part of the appellation is surrounded by urban Bordeaux with a hilly terrain of well-drained gravelly slopes. Located between the Gironde/Garonne rivers and the Atlantic, the Médoc, from just north of Saint Estèphe to the suburbs of Bordeaux, hugs the banks of the river along one side and is edged by the protective forest on the other side.
The fastest route from Paris, by car, is to take the A10 which takes you straight to Bordeaux. By train, the TGV Atlantique service reaches Bordeaux in less than three hours from Paris (due to become two sometime in the future), five hours from Lille and seven from Brussels. The local bus company Citram Aquitaine is useful for visiting areas outside Bordeaux centre. The closest major airport is Bordeaux-Mérignac.
Bordeaux Tourist Office,
12 Cours du XXX Juillet, 33000 Bordeaux
Tel: 05 56 00 66 00
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: www.bordeaux-tourisme.com
Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vins de Bordeaux (CIVB),
1 Cours du XXX Juillet, 33000 Bordeaux
Tel: 05 56 00 22 66
Website: www.bordeaux.com
This information is provided free of charge, however it is strictly the copyright of Wine Travel Guides and its contributors. We try to do our best in keeping our guides and information up-to-date and accurate, but if you notice any mistakes, please contact us. Note that we take no responsibility for any inaccuracies. Thanks for your respect and understanding. For full details see our Terms and Conditions.


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It's time for this year's Love-A-Thon!!!
This event is such a special one to me as Love-A-Thon is the first ever event I joined last year when Chasing Faerytales was just a 2 month old baby. I had so much fun, and got to know a lot of bloggers, and I am so excited to join again in this year's edition!
This year, along with the lovely Alexa, we have three new hosts - Cee, Hazel and Mel, and thanks girls for putting together this wonderful event!
As a kick off, the hosts want us to introduce ourselves, so let's get to know the mastermind *ahem* behind Chasing Faerytales! :D
1.What's your name?
Wel, strangers, in case you didn't know already, I am Mishma! :) And a little something I haven't shared before, my middle name is Stefni. And yes, spelled that way :D
2.Where in the world are you blogging from?
I am from Sri Lanka, a beautiful tropical island in South Asia.
3.How did you get into blogging in the first place?
I started reading book blogs in 2012. For years, I've been planning launching Chasing Faerytales, and in 2014 December, I finally did.
4. How did you come up with your blog name?
It's actually a long story. I wanted my blog name to be unique and beautiful. So I wrote down a lot of names on a notebook and spent almost a week, picking one among them all. I mixed up idioms, phrases, famous quotes and beautiful unused words and created a lot of names.
Chasing Faerytales was born out of one of my favourite idioms - Chasing Rainbows. To make it more bookish, I added the word Faerytales, to emphasize my love for fantasy.
5. What genre do you read and review the most on your blog?
Fantasy and Contemporary I guess. I do have an insane love for romance - both NA and historical, but I don't review them here.
6. What other types of posts do you do on your blog, apart from reviews?
Discussions. In fact I love them more than reviews. I occasionally do a Top Ten Tuseday here and there, if the topic interests me. I do fun promo posts, take part in bookish and blogging events, and post some personal stuff sometimes as well.
7. Best blogging experience so far?
I honestly can't pick one. There has been instances when some of my posts get really popular and makes me feel like I am flying. Situations where the community showered me with love and made me emotional. My first blogoversary. Hosting the Diverse Reads Challenge, and becoming active in the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement. Starting to co blog at A Perfection Called Books, while getting my co blogger Jillian. Interactions with authors. Twitter chats. Random fun conversations. Blogging itself is a beautiful experience for sure!
8. Favorite thing about the blogging community?
The people. Whenever I feel tired and stressed about running a book blog amidst school and all personal business, I never want to give it up just because of the wonderful community. The blogging community is so supportive, friendly, talented and filled with love and it's certainly one of the best things that has happened to me.
9. Name the 5 books you're most excited for this 2016!
This Savage Song - It's written by Victoria, need I say more? :D
( In case you don't know, I am a hardcore fan of Victoria Schwab )
The Star Touched Queen - An Indian fantasy??? Sign me up!!!
The Rose and the Dagger - I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO MY PRECIOUS BABIES!!!
The Crown's Game - Russian Fantasy. Enough Said.
Heartless - Number 1, this is a villain's back story.
Number 2, this book is written by Marissa Meyer.
Number 3, I am just dying to read the book, no pressure!
10. Name the 5 books you want to read this 2016 that you didn't get to in previous years!
Amy and Roger's Epic Detour - It's my co blogger's fav book, and I really need to read this!
A Game of Thrones - I swear I'll tackle this monster this year
The Young Elites - Antiheroic MC??? THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN FOR ME!
Code Name Verity - I am a huge World War 2 geek
The Song Achilles - This book sounds absolutely beautiful.
11. What's an underrated book or series that you think everyone should read?
Damsel Distressed! It's a beautiful Cinderella retelling about insecurity and depression and it's so painfully true, honest and raw, and it's a must read!
12. Which book boy or girl would be your book BFF?
Caymen from The Distance Between Us! She's cynical, sarcastic, the complete opposite of me and exactly like my real life best friend!
13. Which book boy or girl would be your book boyfriend/girlfriend?
15. Apart from reading, what are your other hobbies or interests?
16. Apart from book shopping, what else do you like shopping for?
17. At a party, the DJ suddenly changes the song – and it's your song. What song would be playing?
18. Pick out either a book you want turned into a film/TV show, or a film/TV show you want turned into a book.
19. What would your dream library look like?
Window seats! Plush carpets! An adjoined coffee store!
20. Author you want to meet and sit down to tea with?
VICTORIA SCHWAB!!!! I doubt that this was a surprise! :D
Are you guys joining in Love a Thon? If so, how excited are you???


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Thatcher: Master of the 'unexpecteds'
The passing of Margaret Thatcher comes at a time when the great theme that shaped her years as Britain's prime minister – the frontier between government and the private sector – is again the focus of serious public debate. Her historic achievement was to widen the frontiers of the "market" and, as she said, to have "rolled back the frontiers of the state."
There is, however, a pendulum in this relationship between government and private sector. The role of government in the economy has expanded greatly since the 2008 financial collapse, along with government debt. So we will likely again see a struggle to rebalance the respective realms of state and market. And it will again be a battle.
The former prime minister's memorial service Wednesday provides timely reason to ask: What was the Thatcher Revolution about? I tackled that question 15 years ago – for my book The Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy – and I decided the best way to answer was by asking Thatcher herself. So I turned up at the Thatcher Foundation, a town house in London's Belgravia, which was the operating base for then-Baroness Thatcher.
"For me, it was so simple," Thatcher told me that day. "The state ought not to tell people what to do. My experience reinforced my beliefs. It was becoming obvious to people that the socialist way meant accepting decline." At that point she shook her head. "Can you imagine – people accepting decline."
She had become prime minister in 1979, when Britain's economic decline was accelerating – many were predicting it would slide to the level of East Germany. Britain was broke, and its economy was broken. Inflation was at 20 percent. Public debt was so out of control that Britain had been forced to borrow money from the International Monetary Fund.
The nation was "all strikes all the time." Trains would stop running. The garbage was not being picked up because the "dustmen" – the garbage collectors – were on strike. Hospital workers walked off the job. So did grave diggers.
The state-owned industries were the most vulnerable to this labor unrest. Unions had enormous leverage over these companies, and the success of their "industrial actions" ensured that businesses would be highly inefficient and lose great amounts of money. Which meant the national government that owned them was losing a great deal of money.
Once in power, Thatcher took direct aim at the "mixed economy," which was championed both by the Labor Party and some Conservatives. The then-dominant consensus held that the government should control the "commanding heights of the economy" and own "the means of production."
Her great test on labor relations came in 1984, when the Marxist-led coal miners went out on strike against the government-owned coal industry. They were sure they would win because the bulk of Britain's electricity was coal-generated. And they could determine whether the coal got to the power stations, which meant that they would determine whether the country's electricity stayed on. Or so they thought.
Thatcher held firm. After a year, the strike collapsed – and all British labor relations were dramatically reformed.
She instituted what became known – after some debate about the proper terminology – as "privatization." This meant decamping from the commanding heights by selling off government-owned businesses that dominated the economy. That became the model for reform for many other countries. It also ushered in a new era of globalization of capital markets, as the shares in these privatized companies were offered to pension funds and other investors around the world.
All this was what we were to talk about that morning in Belgravia. What strikes me now is how her words then, looking back at her time in office, are still relevant.
"Years ago," Thatcher explained, "ordinary people became Labor to get a better life. Now they understand that freedom and enterprise under law is better than massive government control over industry and people. You have to create wealth before redistribution. Socialism started with redistribution before wealth.
"Socialism was the flavor of the time for a long time," she continued. "We in this country had an experiment in socialism. The Conservatives, when in power, did nothing to reverse it. I, myself, never had any sympathy for socialism."
Her views on the proper tasks of government were clear. And ordered. "First, keep finances sound," she began. "Second, ensure a proper foundation of law so that industry, commerce, services and government can all flourish. Third, defense. Education, the fourth, is the road to opportunity."
Then she added, "The fifth is the safety net. Society is more complex and needs to be more sophisticated in how it responds to fundamental questions. How is it to provide an effective safety net without creating or strengthening the dependency culture? How are we to uphold the virtues of civil society?
"And a certain amount," she added, "is to be spent on infrastructure and a certain amount on pure research."
To this list she added, "Don't forget Thatcher's Law." She explained that basic rule: "The unexpected happens. You had better prepare for it."
I asked her about the global impact of the policies she launched in Britain. That, it turned out, had been one of the "unexpecteds."
"In 1981," she said, "a finance minister came to see me. 'We're all very interested in what you're doing', he said, 'because if you succeed, others will follow.' That had never occurred to me."
As it turned out, many did follow.
That morning's discussion had brought a further reflection. The Thatcherite Revolution was itself another "unexpected."
In the mid-1970s, it would have been hard to imagine such a reversal in Britain. The "mixed economy" seemed too entrenched. Yet her political program had not come out of nowhere. It was, rather, built on a foundation of many years of thinking, discussion and analysis.
"Yes," Thatcher said, "it started with ideas, with beliefs." She paused for a moment. "That's it. You must start with beliefs. Yes, always with beliefs."
In addition to tributes from around the world, Thatcher's death has unleashed much criticism. That itself is a sign of her impact. She was certainly a polarizing figure. After all, it was her fellow Tories who brought her down in 1990, rebelling against what they saw as her increasing imperiousness – her complete confidence, as one of her closest colleagues put it, in "the undivided sovereignty of her own opinion."
Yet so much of the diatribe against Thatcher that has emerged in Britain since her death comes from people who don't realize how much more poorly they would live today had it not been for her forthrightness. This reflects a failure to recognize what the costs would have been of, in her words, "accepting decline."
Perhaps the strongest affirmation of what Thatcher had created was embodied in what came after – how Tony Blair's Labor government did not seek to roll back the frontier that Thatcher had defined.
"Very few leaders," Blair said last week, "get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world. Margaret Thatcher was such a leader."
Even clearer was what Blair had said many years earlier, when he was leading his party, which rebranded itself as "New Labor." It should not be a party, he explained, that "bungs up your taxes, runs a high-inflation economy and is hopelessly inefficient" and "lets the trade unions run the show."
That pretty much summarized the ills that Thatcher had targeted as prime minister and set out to fix. To have done otherwise would have been to preside over a country in continuing decline – which she was determined not to do. Not only were her achievements considerable in themselves. What was also remarkable was how her policies resounded around the world.
And would continue to do so.
PHOTO (Top): Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher listens on the third day of the Conservative Party Conference October 9, 1997. REUTERS/Archive
PHOTO (Insert A): British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher points skyward as
she receives standing ovation at Conservative Party Conference on
October 13, 1989. REUTERS/Stringer/UK
PHOTO (Insert B): British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher points a finger as she answers questions at a news conference in London, June 8, 1987. REUTERS/Roy Letkey
PHOTO (Insert C): Prime Minister John Major talks to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on board the new Eurostar high-speed train at Waterloo International station before setting off for Channel Tunnel inauguration ceremonies in Calais May 6, 1994. REUTERS/Archive
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/


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[REVIEW] PRINTCIOUS: My Personalized/DIY/Customized Cushion!Sunday, January 10, 2016
Assalamualaikum and Greetings!
I have finally received my lovely cushion, my personalized/DIY/customized gift from Printcious! I'm very happy with the outcome, because if you've seen my previous post, it was really the same as what I imagined!
They have delivered the same thing as what they mentioned in the website! The material is made of polyester as stated in the product details and the customized cushion comes with a removable cover, which allows washing!
This is my first design =p
My final design would be...
Why you should buy and shopping with Printcious ?
- You can customize your gift by uploading desired design and there you go!
- You still can have something special and customized for your love one by using various personalized designs from Printcious website according to your need even you are running out of time!
- I personally think that their designs are really nice and creative.You can try an error and playing with the design editor first and don't worry because the design will appear on the gift that you choose. So it will look exactly the same what you are going to receive later =)
- For me, I chose a pillow and it was extremely fun as I could even choose the fonts and colour of the pillow on their website. The website is quite user friendly and easy to understand. Customize a gift is no longer a hassle task.
I am overall satisfied with Printcious. The price is pretty affordable, the delivery duration was in time which is 2 days delivery within office hours and their internal customizing process was efficient for me. I would give them a 9 out of 10!
Don't worry, Printcious do provide 7 days free return on your unsatisfied product. Besides that, delivery fees is free if you purchase above RM75 for West Malaysia!! And wow! Princious have won the best website award which means that this website is internationally trusted! So, what are you waiting for dudes? Let's try them out and don't forget to share your opinion too okayh! ;)
Don't forget to click HERE to check out more about my customized cushion!! Till then peeps! Thanx for reading this entry!!!
FACEBOOK: PRINTCIOUSINSTAGRAM: printciousWEBSITE: Printcious


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Made in the USA American Flags in West Helena AR 72390
A nationwide symbol that has the nicknames "The Stars and Stripes", "Old Glory", and also "The Star-Spangled Banner", the American flag is among the highly identifiable icons on the planet today. This is primarily as a result of the status of the United States as one of the most prominent countries in history. The American Flag is the 3rd oldest of the National Standards of the globe – older compared to the Union Jack of Britain or the Tricolor of France. It is distinct in the deep and noble relevance of its message to the entire globe. It stands for a message of national independence, of individual liberty, of idealism, and of nationalism.
Who designed the American Flag?
Exactly what does the American Flag represent?
Why is the American Flag vital to American society?
Where can I buy American Flags?
Who created the American Flag?
According to popular stories, the very first American flag was made by Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress who was an acquaintance of George Washington. In May 1776, so the tale goes, General Washington and 2 people from the Continental Congress visited Ross at her furniture shop as well as revealed to her a sketch layout of the flag.
In 1777, the Continental Congress passed an act that offered our nation an official flag. In those days, the flag was not the same as we see it today. Rather than the 50 white stars in the field of blue, there was a circle of 13 white stars to stand for the 13 colonies. The act mentioned, "Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."
What does the American Flag stand for?
The flag first rose over thirteen states along the Atlantic coast, with a population of some 3 million people. Today it flies over fifty states, expanding throughout the continent, and over multiple islands of both seas; and hundreds owe it obligation. It has been given this proud position by love and sacrifice. Citizens have progressed it as well as heroes have died for it.
The flag includes 13 alternate red and white horizontal stripes representing the first thirteen British colonies that stated self-reliance from the Kingdom of Great Britain, and came to be the very first states in the US. A blue rectangle in the canton shows 50 small, white stars representing each state. The stars are set up in 9 horizontal rows offset of each other. This blue area of the flag is called the Union.
The significance of the Flag, as quoted from Washington: "We take the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country, dividing it by white stripes, thus revealing that we have divided from her, and the white stripes will drop to posterity representing Liberty."
It incarnates for all humanity the spirit of freedom and also the marvelous belief of human liberty; not the freedom of unrestraint or the freedom of license, yet an one-of-a-kind ideal of equal opportunity for life, liberty and also the search of happiness, protected by the stern and also soaring principles of obligation, of sanctity and of justice, and achievable by obedience to self-imposed regulations.
Twice told tales of national honor as well as magnificence collection thickly about it. It bears witness to the tremendous growth of our national boundaries, the development of our natural resources, as well as the splendid framework of our civilization. It forecasts the accomplishment of popular government, of public as well as spiritual liberty as well as of national sanctity throughout the world.
Why is the American Flag essential to American culture?
The American flag is really crucial since it symbolizes the independent government as explained under the United States Constitution. The flag also symbolizes the numerous accomplishments of the nation as well as the pride of its people.
This nationwide symbol reminds people, not just in the Arkansas state, but throughout the entire USA about the different vital aspects of the Declaration of Independence. It is not just a simple icon, which means the freedom and also legal rights of Americans. Floating from the soaring pinnacle of American optimism, it is a beacon of sustaining hope.
It is the sign made visible of the solid spirit that has actually brought liberty and success to individuals of America. It is the flag of all us alike. Let us accord it honor as well as loyalty.
Where can I find American Flags?
You possibly already noticed this, but there are a lot of places where you could obtain American flags. It is important to keep in mind that the flag you're wanting to get need to be "Made in America. There are several vendors whose flags are identified as made in China, and flying a China-made American flag simply doesn't make much sense now, does it?
Based on data, Americans invest over 5.3 million US dollars on imported flags every year – the majority of which are made in China. Maybe much more upsetting is that throughout 2001, in the wave of nationalism that spread over America after 9/11, Americans bought $52 million dollars in imported flags. The flag ought to symbolize the blood, sweat, and tears of American men and women that brought this nation right into existence, not our indebtedness to China and also the death of the American manufacturing field.
The flag symbolizes national freedom and also prominent sovereignty. It is not the flag of a reigning household or royal house, yet of the thousands free people welded into a country, one and inseparable, unified not just by community of interest, however by essential unity of belief as well as objective; a nation differentiated for the clear specific perception of its residents alike of their tasks as well as their opportunities, their commitments and their legal rights.
Have a little pride, cough up a couple of even more bucks, and also buy an American flag made by Americans in the United States
West Helena ZIP codes we serve: 72390


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Off-Campus Merchants
Your Skidmore ID Card is now accepted for payment at the following Saratoga Springs area merchant locations (listed alphabetically).
This Off-Campus Merchant Page is designed to allow one-stop shopping and ordering by listing merchant services, locations, telephone numbers, business hours and menus on each merchant web link provided below.
When placing telephone orders for delivery service you will be asked to state the 16-digit account number that appears on the front of your Skidmore ID Card and begins with the numbers 60124. Upon delivery, you will be asked to present your Skidmore Id Card for account number and photo verification, and you will also be asked to sign your receipt at that time.
Additionally, when placing telephone orders for delivery service, please communicate to the merchant whether you wish to have a gratuity for delivery service added to your bill and also deducted from your Skidmore ID Card account, or whether you plan to pay a gratuity for delivery service using cash at your door.
List Off-Campus Merchants
Plum Dandy Frozen Yogurt & Toppings
Rite Aid:
- 90 West Avenue
- 155 Ballston Avenue
- 3027 Route 50
- 30 Church Street
- 11 Maple Dell
- 521 Broadway
Remember that you can use your Card wherever you see the logo displayed.
Check the lists for our on-campus and off-campus partners.
When it comes to convenience, your Skidmore ID Card is your ticket!


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Views: 98
I disagree that we need to be on the "good" side of the Wal-mart decision. Personally, I do not have a problem with children hearing profanities. The rule in our house is that it is fine to use profanity, so long as it is done in a gramatically correct way. I ask that my children refrain from using profanity in front of others who might find its use problematic.
As to the way that women are referred to, it is a great opportunity to talk about sexism.
I guess if one wants to characterize me as a decadent degenerated sociopath, one had better have something better than this to back it up.
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"Man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that he sometimes has to eat them." Adlai Stevenson
13 June 2011
Labour hypocrisy on 10p tax rise revealed
But this was not an aberration. Under Blair/Brown the gap between rich and poor rose faster than under Thatcher. They declared it was their intention to abolish child poverty, but the pledge (like so many others) crashed and burned.
So I find it strange there are still some misguided souls in the Lib Dems who think the Labour party is in some way 'progressive' or indeed 'radical' and it is the party's duty to work only with Labour in some sort of left alliance of the deluded.
So when Richard Grayson and Linda Jack report back to the Social Liberal Forum next weekend on their talks with Ed Balls and Liam Byrne (among others) I hope they are laughed out of the hall. I'd guess they won't be because the SLF, sadly, has a blind spot to evidence that disproves their rose tinted world view of Labour. Their knee jerk reactionism to all things Conservative prevents them taking the pragmatic and balanced position of pursuing political goals that actually can be delivered by the Lib Dems in government.
By 2015 when no-one will be paying any tax on incomes less than £10,000 it will do more for helping those at the bottom end of the pay scale than anything Labour ever did and it will have been done because the Lib Dems are working with the Conservatves - not Labour.
1 comment:
Shocking bias towards the top 30%, to the abject detriment of the poorest. *sigh* I like the Social Liberal Forum, I have never been in a position to believe Labour is anything more than the political wing of the trade unions bosses moving towards popularity but without particular regards to the people, as they assume to know best and favour grand visions and programs centralised form on high. I think the Lib Dems have made achievements with sacrifices as we did not have a majority. Labour broke manifesto commitments by introducing student fees and then next time again broke another commitment by tripling them and they have no excuse they had an overall majority. My glasses are not rose tinted or blue rinsed I am a pragmatist that cares about people. Dan has rightly highlighted the hypocrisy of Labour in the 10p tax rise and how this was obfuscated by their spin machine, the one that is bigger than when in government and continues to offer an easy way to fill copy space for overworked journalists...ReplyDelete


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"You've never done this before, right?" asks the teenage girl in this Levi's "Live Unbuttoned" commercial as she strips off her clothes. The boy replies with a shy, "No," and she then tells him, "It's my 34th time..."
Levi's are not new to using sexual and romantic undertones in their campaigns, and they utilize it to good effect in this commercial, which was directed by Fredrik Bond for BBH London.
Naturally, the tongue-in-cheek commercial ends up being about something other than the alluded first sexual experience, yet which still involves unbuttoning your jeans... I will not spoil the climactic finish, which you can see in the above video, for yourself.
Youth Sexvertising To Sell Jeans
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Denim Addictions
Virgin Imagery to Sell Used Cars
Fashionable Special Effects Commercials
Suggestive Sizevertising
Sexvertising Organ Donation
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text: Really good and creamy tasting, without the fat you would normally get from a roux sauce. 1 160z can spinach (or use frozen/fresh equiv.) 8oz button mushrooms, chopped. 2 large cloves garlic, crushed dash of nutmeg S & P 3 egg whites 8oz ff cottage cheese/ricotta Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Don't worry, it looks disgusting but will taste fab. 1oz cornflour 1 pint of ff milk/soya milk s & p 1 tspn mustard, english, french or wholegrain Mix a little of the cold milk with the cornflour to form a paste, gradually add the rest of the milk and then other ingredients. Heat until thickened, do not boil. You can add a little ff cheddar at this point if you wish to give the sauce a strong cheese flavour. Layer with no-cook lasagne sheets, sauce, lasagne, spinach/mushroom mix, lasagne, sauce. Top with a little ff grated cheddar if desired. Bake 40 mins at 200C (don't know F equiv.) For variations add sweetcorn onstead of mushrooms, or just increase spinach. Use a ff tomato sauce instead of white sauce to layer. We prefer the white sauce as it takes us back to our decadent lifestyle before FF! ------------------------------


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PhoneGap is a mobile development framework. Building applications for each device–iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile and more–requires different frameworks and languages. PhoneGap solves this by using standards-based web technologies to bridge web applications and mobile devices. Since PhoneGap apps are standards-compliant, they're future-proofed to work with browsers as they evolve.
PhoneGap is a web-based mobile development framework, based on the open source Cordova project. You will learn the basics of PhoneGap, get started with building your first app, and gradually work on complex tasks like building and improving the CSS defining the app style, font, colors, and views using jQuery themes. You will learn to edit the index.html file to include the correct JavaScript. You will use the PhoneGap geolocation API to locate restaurants on a map and monitor your current position. Finally, you will review your code, get the certificates from the OS you want to deploy your app, and build it using PhoneGap Build.
Get to grips with a new technology, understand what it is and what it can do for you, and then get to work with the most important features and tasks. This is a guide that starts with the basics of a PhoneGap mobile application along with top features to enable you to build your own PhoneGap mobile application.
Who this book is for
This book is ideal for those who want to develop mobile apps but do not want to learn a new SDK for every phone on the shelf. You should have basic knowledge of HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS or any programming language.
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Two women, two horses, four dogs and one long-suffering husband escaped the gloomy Irish Winter by travelling to the South of France. Follow our adventures as we journey home across France on horseback to raise funds for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.
From slang.ie :
Wagon. A cranky contary female / an ugly female. She\'s some wagon eh?
wagon. wagon - an awful woman. than one is such a wagon!
wagon. a woman thats a bitch. dat ones a right wagon.
Wagon. A cantankerous old woman.. Yer wan's some wagon, I asked her could I feed the seagulls and she lifted me out of it!
wagon. car or other mode of transport. i'll drive my waggon.
Wanderly Wagon. A much loved Irish children's TV program which ran from 1968 to 1982
Friday, 21 October 2011
Friday Weather Watch
Well it looks like some rain is going to fall in the Luberon next week! But I suspect more rain will fall in Cork.
It's interesting to see there is a much bigger fluctuation in temperature in Cereste - I expect that'll become more pronounced as Winter proceeds.
Posted by Martine at 15:29
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Lately… for the past couple months or so my anger has been really intense. It's gets so bad that I'll get migraines and lash out on undeserving things… or I just shut down completely. I don't know, is this post me admitting I need help? Asking for help? Hoping I can help myself? What? I'm on the brink of ruining my most important relationships and I know it… I just can't control myself. I can't help but feel monstrous. I'm tired of snapping at my boyfriend for no reason and realizing a second too late how uncalled for my words or actions are, I'm sick of the pent up anger at my mom for her wrongdoings. I'm so angry at myself for being who I am, for feeling this need to be so angry. I used to be happy. What happened? I sit here violently painting picture and pacing the perimeters of my house searching for answers within myself, looking for relief. I try journaling and meditation and find no peace. I think there is something seriously wrong with me. This isn't run of the mill moody.
Stuck In My Own Head. Help?
i'm 19 years old. I live in the rainy Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. I'm an overthinker, a daydreamer, and I'm a singer... not a speaker. But journaling my thoughts is supposed to be good for me, so why not. -CurrentlyLostGirl


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The BBC today revealed plans for a new reality show in which Andrew Lloyd Webber will seek out someone 'special' from among the general public to take on the coveted, but currently vacant role of absolver of all our sins. The show, entitled 'They know not what they do', has received thousands of applications but of them, only two exceptionally true and loving contestants will make it to the final where the prize of a long, slow, tragic but profoundly symbolic death by crucifixion on prime-time TV, for the good of man, awaits.
The successful contestant, who Lord Lloyd Webber conceded would probably be a vegan and drive a Toyota Prius, would shame us all by dying on the cross just before a trailer for Panorama because of our appetite for war, our indifference to the plight of those less fortunate, and our extensive use of plastic bags. 'Through his noble self-sacrifice we'll be able to carry on exactly as before,' he said. 'But he'd be there in our minds at all times, urging us to do the right thing and constantly reminding everyone – or at least the twenty five million who will watch it if the audience projection figures turn out to be correct – what great telly it was that night.'
Lord Lloyd Webber will once again be joined by show host Graham Norton and Denise Van Outen while John Barrowman will be on hand to offer advice on piety and how to 'keep smiling through'. 'It's a ratings winner,' said excited producer Jas Stevenson, 'the build up throughout successive live shows will be tense for the competitors but it's just going to be amazing at the end of each show watching their faces when Andrew tells them; 'You… could still… be Crucified!'
The BBC also confirmed they are planning a book to tie-in with the series; 'We're looking at a number of writers; they might each give their own slightly version of events, just to keep the debate going that little bit longer.'
For those unlucky enough to be voted off, the remaining contestants will all movingly chant to camera; 'Why hast thou forsaken him, Oh Lord?' after which the rejected candidate will receive a damning critique from the judges of all their faults, clearly explaining why they haven't made it through to martyrdom, glory and never-ending TV fame.
Ms Stevenson conceded that the humiliation of being sent home early would be a cross that some might find hard to bear, but said; 'Counsellors are ready for if any of them get depressed and try to stage their own self-crucifixion outside the control of the show. Obviously that would take the edge off the suspense at the end of the series and we couldn't possibly have that.' The producers have also rejected an offer of having common criminals executed on either side of the winner. 'Nice though it was of the Home Office to get into the spirit of the show…'
Red & Toast Not Ghosts


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25 May 2015 :: 14:05:23 pm 102751
Body Found On Traffic IslandA body of a woman has been found on a traffic island in Pattaya. The cause of death is unknown and she had been dead for around 3-4 days.
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PATTAYA-24 May- [PattayaDailyNews] at 13.00 pm Pol.Lt.Boonlai Ineium-inspector of Huay Yai police station- was notified that a body had been found on traffic island. After notification the police officers and rescue team immediately rushed to the scene.
At the scene the officers found an Asian woman aged approximately 45 years old who was badly decomposed. It's expected that she had been dead for around 3-4 days. Upon inspecting the body the police didn't find anything to identify her. The officers then sent the body to the Police hospital for an autopsy to find the real cause of death.
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|By Admin1 (admin) (188.8.131.52) on Monday, July 27, 2009 - 6:41 pm: Edit Post
Peace Corps Volunteer "Peace Corps Mexico" writes: A Peace Corps Volunteer needs your help Supporting the Troops
Some of you may wonder about the philosophical continuity of someone who serves in both the Marine Corps and the Peace Corps. Well, the unifying motivation among people who join the marines is a desire to make a positive difference in the world. That is the same motivation for most volunteers in the Peace Corps. And in both cases you´re dealing with individuals who are willing to overcome challenges and experience personal discomfort in support of their ideals. That makes for some quality personnel, and my colleagues in both organizations have truly been first-rate. I certainly feel blessed and honored to have had the opportunity to serve in two such fine organizations. That is your government at work, folks.
Peace Corps Volunteer "Peace Corps Mexico" writes: A Peace Corps Volunteer needs your help Supporting the Troops
NFTT- A Peace Corps Volunteer needs your help Supporting the Troops
by Peace Corps Mexico
Digg this! Share this on Twitter - NFTT- A Peace Corps Volunteer needs your help Supporting the TroopsTweet this submit to reddit
Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 07:30:24 AM PDT
As a former Marine Corps officer, and current Peace Corps Volunteer, it is truly a pleasure to participate in the Netroots for the Troops (NFTT) initiative. I had the honor of doing four deployments between 1990 - 1994, and have experienced the joy of receiving care packages first-hand. This great project further demonstrates the quality of our community, so please consider making a donation of any size. It all helps. You can DONATE HERE
Some of you may wonder about the philosophical continuity of someone who serves in both the Marine Corps and the Peace Corps. Well, the unifying motivation among people who join the marines is a desire to make a positive difference in the world. That is the same motivation for most volunteers in the Peace Corps. And in both cases you´re dealing with individuals who are willing to overcome challenges and experience personal discomfort in support of their ideals. That makes for some quality personnel, and my colleagues in both organizations have truly been first-rate. I certainly feel blessed and honored to have had the opportunity to serve in two such fine organizations. That is your government at work, folks.
* Peace Corps Mexico's diary :: ::
But enough about me, this is about the troops, so please check out the following for an opportunity to contribute to a great cause.
Our goal for Netroots For The Troops 2009 is $50,000.00 (cash or in-kind donations).
We realize that you would like to donate something tangible to go inside the packages that will be mailed to the troops. Unfortunately, accepting in-kind donations from individuals is not practical in terms of storage and handling of the items. The Pittsburgh Convention Center is a union shop so we have more stringent rules that need to be followed. Instead, we will only be accepting corporate donations or cash from YOU to purchase items for the care packages this year.
Here's how YOU can help:
1. Please contact TexDem or VeloVixen if you know someone who might be helpful in securing the corporate in-kind donations. To help you think of companies who could donate products, see below* for a list of potential items. Put your thinking caps on and let us hear from you. It takes time to get through the corporate processes so we need to hear from you ASAP!
2. We are accepting cash from individuals and beg ask that you DONATE HERE to contribute to this worthy cause. Your donation will enable us to purchase the things that we are unable to obtain through corporate donations, and will help to pay the costs of shipping them to our troops. This year your donations will be tax deductible, thanks to Netroots Nation and their partner Netroots Arts and Education Initiative, a California 501(c)3 corporation.
3. Sign up for a diary! Our goal is to post two diaries per day until NN09. That's a lot of diaries! Don't worry---we've made it easy for you. We've got a template set up, and all you need to do is add a small introduction telling us why you are donating, sharing a story of someone you know who has served or is serving, or any other thing you want to share that might help motivate others to donate. Please contact politik if you are interested in posting a diary.
4. Do you know a service member who would like to receive a care package? Email a request to: firstname.lastname@example.com before July 31, 2009.
Please include all of the following information. Unfortunately we will not be able to process any incomplete requests:
Last name:
First name:
APO Address Line 1:
APO Address Line 2:
APO Address Zip:
5. Write letters to be included in the packages! Our own jlms qkw is collecting the letters and will print them out and bring them to Pittsburgh. Just email your letter to her firstname.lastname@example.com. Look for more information from jlms qkw soon. If you need some ideas, rbutters wrote an excellent diary with tips on how to write letters to troops and why it's so important to them.
6. Help us assemble the packages in Pittsburgh. It's fun! More information will be forthcoming for those of you who are going to be in Pittsburgh and would like to help there.
7. Please consider joining the NFTT FaceBook Group. Invite your FaceBook and non-FaceBook friends.
*The following list contains some of the things we would like to include in the packages. Please let us know if you know someone who might be helpful in securing these corporate in-kind donations. (Please DO NOT send these items yourself! We have no way to accept them. Instead, your cash donation is the very best way to help make this happen on the ground in Pittsburgh.)
* Baby wipes
* Mechanix gloves
* Language translation books or CDs (Rosetta Stone as an example)
* LED flashlights
* Gel shoe insoles
* Goop Cleaning Gel
* Powdered energy drinks
* Gel energy food packets
* DVDs and CDs
* Letters to the soldiers
* More suggestions coming soon
Books for Soldiers
Soldiers love to receive books, but due once again to the logistics of collecting and storing them prior to NN09, books will not be included in the packages that NFTT will put together this year. Other organizations are more specialized in the collection and distribution of books to Iraq and Afghanistan. If you are interested in sending books, please consider checking out the Books for Soldiers Website. It is run by DKos's very own StormBearand is a great resource for giving.
Important Note about Successful Online Donations
When you make your online donation, the screen indicates that you are donating to Netroots Nation. This is the right screen! Rest assured all donations WILL go to NFTT. If you wish, feel free to use the comment area provided to note that your donation is intended for Netroots For The Troops. It isn't necessary to do this however, as this is the only fundraising activity being conducted for Netroots Nation at this time. For further information about online donations, please read TexDem's diary on the subject.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: June, 2009; Peace Corps Mexico; Directory of Mexico RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Mexico RPCVs; Military
When this story was posted in July 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Join Us Mr. President!
"We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .
Obama names Peace Corps Director
President Obama has nominated Aaron Williams for Peace Corps Director - an RPCV who has spent 40 years working in international development. "It's exciting to have a nominee who served in the Peace Corps and also has experience in international development and management," says Senator Chris Dodd. Our congratulations to Williams and thanks to the President for his excellent choice to lead the Peace Corps. Read our biography of Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams.
July 11, 2009: House says Yes, Senate No
Senate Funding for Peace Corps Falls Short of Goal 10 Jul
House supports $450M Peace Corps Budget 17 Jun
Senator Kit Bond says PC is Smart Power 29 Jun
Parents Keep Dream Alive for Fallen Zambia PCV 3 Jul
PCVs Safe in Honduras after Coup 28 Jun
Jahanshah Javid recalls Peace Corps Volunteers in Iran 22 Jun
Peace Corps to return to Sierra Leone in 2010 18 Jun
Ryan Van Duzer rode bike from Honduras to Boulder 17 Jun
Monica Mills Named a Top Grassroots Lobbyist 12 Jun
Tiffany Nelson teaches - and learns in China 12 Jun
Dr. Roger Brooks spent 35 years with Concord Schools 9 Jun
Dr. Catherine Taylor Foster administered Polio vaccine in Nepal 8 Jun
Bill Lorah Runs Pre-Collegiate Program in Colorado 7 Jun
Brian Carroll writes: An African village adapts 7 Jun
Rebekah Martin finds love is not enough 6 Jun
Peter Bartholomew helps preserve Korean traditional culture 5 Jun
Obama speaks to Islamic World at Cairo University 4 Jun
Matt Hepp combines humanitarian and climbing objectives 4 Jun
Juana Bordas named 2009 Unique Woman of Colorado 2 Jun
Phil Hardberger left his mark on San Antonio 31 May
Philip Nix retires as headmaster of Day School 31 May
New: More Stories from June and July 2009
May 30, 2009: Peace Corps' Roadmap
Peace Corps' Roadmap for the Future 26 May
Who are the Candidates for Peace Corps Director? 24 May
Have French Atomic Tests put PCVs at Risk? 1 May
Obama asks Congress for 10% increase in PC Budget 7 May
Guy Consolmagno debunks "Angels & Demons" 22 May
Obama praises Dodd at credit card signing 22 May
John Garamendi front runner in California primary 22 May
Al Kamen writes: New management structure at PC HQ? 22 May
Damian Wampler's play Twin Towers opens in NYC 21 May
Michael Volpe learns that DC is networking capital 21 May
Dr. Mike Metke returns to Costa Rica 10 May
Jesse Fleisher Lives well on less 14 May
Al Kamen writes: PCVs peak at 11,000 under Obama Budget 11 May
James W. Kostenblatt is making a difference in Mozambique 10 May
Karen and Warren Master host Kyrgyzstan teen 9 May
Alberto Ibargüen writes: The Future of Newspapers 9 May
PC Monitor 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus in Mexico 1 May
Paul Theroux writes: Obama and the Peace Corps 1 May
Johnnie Carson to head State Department African Affairs 29 Apr
Michael O'Hanlon writes: Grading Obama's First 100 Days 29 Apr
Amy Potthast writes: The Peace Corps Lottery 23 Apr
Read more stories from April and May 2009.
Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview
Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.
Read the stories and leave your comments.


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Welcome to Your Santorini Wedding | Tips & Advice
Wedding Abroad Insurance
I strongly recommend having this type of insurance when planning a wedding like this. I sincerely hope no-one ever has to use it, but think it is money well spent just to give you that extra peace of mind knowing you are fully covered if any unforeseen mishaps occur. It is widely available for a relatively small fee in comparison to the overall price of your wedding. Be advised like with any insurance policies compare the market, know exactly what you are covered for, pick a package that suits your specific needs and always read the small print before you purchase.
Setting a date
Before you set an exact date with venues, familiarize yourself with all the flight information for travelling to Santorini available from your area. Ensure this is up to date information and not likely to change before your wedding. Always book your flight /holiday with a reputable and fully bonded travel agent. Aim on having the wedding day in the middle of your stay allowing plenty of time for other guests to arrive,also this give you time to get a nice tan (not too much though you don't want sunburn or tan lines !!!!! ) and leaves you time afterwards to enjoy your honeymoon. Take into consideration any legal requirements regarding the lenght of your stay before and after the wedding. Once you have a date confirmed with your chosen venue send out your invitations, you will need guest numbers attending to start organising transport, budget for menus and seating arrangements at the meal and much more.
Wedding planners
There is only so much you can do on your own, most couples will require the services of a planner especially when dealing with the essential paperwork and legal requirements.So the search for your planner begins !
A wedding planner in my mind is someone you put your trust in to organise one of the most important days of your life. It took me a visit to the island in 2007 and many weeks of careful research online to find our planner.
When it comes to picking your wedding planner do your research compare different wedding packages available, the costs involved and location options to choose from. Make contact with some companies to see if you feel comfortable dealing with them. I would maybe ask what is the actual fee for the planning services weather it is a fixed fee or a percentage fee or how it is worked into the package, maybe get a breakdown of costs.You probably know from looking at the websites that the wedding planner packages available are for couple only weddings allowing you to add on services to cater for larger parties.When you start to add on additional services required through the planner this means more work for them and unfortunately adds on a substantial amount to your final bill. The wedding industry in Santorini is well established and very popular with couples worldwide, making wedding planners very busy all year round, so book a date well in advance to avoid any disappointment.
I know the idea of planning certain areas yourself is a bit nerve wrecking, some people might feel they simply don't have the time or the skills required to organise such details, but making the contact is the hardest part .
Most hotels or restaurants catering for wedding functions in Santorini can be dealt with directly via emails and nearly always have someone dedicated to this area.You are doing the same amount of work, as you would have to be emailing your planner regularly to to see how things are progressing.This way you are in control, you know exactly what is happening, and you know your costs . If you have the luxury not to be budget conscious and just looking for a reputable planner to organise the whole event I can advise you on some well established agencies.
This the one area I would advise you spending extra money on to get the best results, after all when it is all over apart from your memories this is the only physical evidence of the whole event ! With weddings abroad not everyone will be able to attend so your photo album acts like a story book for these people letting them get a real feel for the day you had. Lets be honest everyone wants to look amazing in these all important photos.
I would strongly advise doing extensive research into finding a photographer that suits your individual needs. Some people don't like very posed photos feeling uncomfortable and tense preferring natural pictures,on the other hand some people prefer these as they know exactly what kind of photos they want. Every couples style will be different but I think a good mix of both types is the right balance.The backdrop is so perfect and romantic for these type of photos that it is very hard to go wrong.
Most wedding planner packages have a photographer included for a very small price compared to what you would pay at home, so make sure if you are using the agencies chosen one that you know what exactly you are getting eg . how long they are with you, how many shots you get, what you will receive afterwards disc or album. Make it known if you have any special requests ie.if you want family and guest shots also.Find out do the crop and organise your pictures,otherwise you will be left with all the hard work when you get home.It is very time consuming and expensive to try and fix, crop, select, print, all your chosen photos for your photo album, which will be on demand the minute you get home.
This is an area overlooked at the start of the planning process, but when you start to look at various different locations and venues across the island you understand how important a factor it is. With weddings abroad you are responsible to ensure your guests have transport to and from the wedding. This is one off those add on features with wedding planner packages and can work out very expensive with some planners depending on the size of you party. So budget this in from the start you don't want any unexpected costs arising.
*Where possible have your ceremony and reception in the same venue this means fewer bus transfers, costs you less money, saves you time on the day ( which you need because it will fly by) and is a lot less hassle for you and you guests.Put someone in charge on the bus to make sure everyone is accounted for or give a list of names to the transport company.
I would advise having your ceremony at 6.30 - 6.45 this guarantees that you will have plenty of time to get beautiful photos as the sun sets in the background. The transport company will advise on how much time to allow to get to the ceremony from your location. The ceremony takes around half an hour depending on the celebrant. You will need time after the wedding with the photographer also.Your meal could start at 8.00 - 8.30 leaving more than enough time for your after party. Remember you have a lot to fit in speeches, toasts, wedding cake ,first dance etc ... (this is if it is all in the same venue for photographs etc)
Some areas of the caldera can get windy and cool in the evenings so advise guests to bring shawls, a light cardigan or jumper especially if outdoors. Also advise on having mosquito spray for any unlucky guests who get targeted !
Most brides think the more flowers the better ! true when you are at home and having a church wedding, but when you have such magnificent scenery as your background loads of flowers is not essential if you are watching your budget, only minimal decoration is needed to create more of a wedding atmosphere. If you are lucky enough to be able to get married in one of the many beautiful churches in Santorini you may want to decorate the church with some beautiful floral arrangements if so look no further than FABIO ZARDI FLORAL DESIGN based in Santorini they can cater for any occassion just contact them on email@example.com & view sample work in the 'Gallery' page or you can visit their website www.fabiozardi.com.
Step By Step Plan
1.First of all make sure and carefully read over the 'Your Santorini Wedding'
website pages on TIPS & ADVICE, note the information about travel dates etc.
before you set in stone an exact date.
2.Familiarise yourself with the SANTORINI MAP, get to know the well known and popular areas
for holding weddings or for accomadation.( Fira, Imerovigli, Oia, Kamari, Perissa)
3.Try have an idea of your NUMBER OF GUESTS attending, this is essential for
doing any research into booking certain venues and helps planning your overall budget.
4.Decide on what TYPE OF DAY you think you would prefer either a Caldera view ceremony & reception ( the volcano side of the Island) or a Caldera view ceremony & seaside view reception in Kamari/Perissa might suit you and your guests wants & needs better.
5.Take time looking at the various LINKS ON THE WEBSITE for popular hotels & restaurants that cater for wedding functions on a regular basis.You can contact them directly about dates available, sample menus and prices or for any other queries you might have.
6.If you decide to use one of the many hotels who offer FULL WEDDING PACKAGES
and planning, you may not need a separate planner, but if you decide to have the local help of a well known planner for the legal aspects contact them as soon as you have a date in mind to reserve it and book the registrar for the ceremony.Most wedding planner packages are for the ceremony only and allow you to organise the wedding reception.Please see advice on selecting planners on the website before selecting your planner.
7.Once you have the DATE SET YOU CAN START PLANNING on all the other aspects
depending on the sort of venue you are opting for (at this stage you could send out your invitations unless you want the venue details written on them) use tripadvisor for independent reviews for hotels restaurants and planners.
TYPE a .A hotel ceremony/reception (all in the same venue)
Look at pictures of the wedding area, ask about the decorations they use, see menus available, price per head, waiter serviced or buffet meal , wedding cake selection and price, wine price list, bar drinks price list.Room rates available per night, if you are only staying here for the wedding night they nearly always offer discount as you are having your wedding with them .Find out any rules/regulations on music or entertainment, if you want a dj,weather have they dancefloor area and what time can you have the music until ? Are you allowed fireworks ?Once you know these things and you are happy with it all you have to do is a seating plan for your meal if you want one that is.Once you have your venue confirmed you can start booking your dj, fireworks, hair/makeup, putting research into your photographer and transport options using the direct links to service providers on the website.
Type b .A Winery / chapel ceremony & restaurant reception.
See winery options available find out if any rental rates apply to the ceremony sites.Look at restaurant options available taking into account your party size, distance from ceremony site,transport costs, what decorations are used, menus available , price per head, wedding cake selection and price, waiter serviced or buffet, wine and drinks price list, firework regulations, private toilets, if any dj is allowed as not all will allow them and some might have restrictions on the time they are allowed play until, do they have a dancefloor area for your party.All these aspects will help you determine which options will suit you best.
8.At this stage you have all aspects of planning covered and everything will be coming together for you.Concentrate on your dress, shoes, accessories, bridesmaids, grooms suit, wedding rings, any specific decorations you want,colour themes ,flower selection and colour, your first dance song, specific music selection for the dj ,planning any other events for the holiday like sunset boat trips , group nights out or day trips, holiday bookings for you and guests,car hire etc.etc.etc.
9.Keep in contact with your planner all the time and know the deadline for having all paperwork sent to them.Send to them with plenty of time to spare to check in case anything is amiss or wrong.
10.Enjoy the exciting lead up to the wedding, relax on the day so you can fully enjoy it.
How to get started
1. Firstly read over the tips & advice page which includes the step by step plan & familiarise yourself with the map if you have not been to Santorini before.
2. View the various ceremony and venue options available from the 'plan your day' section & by viewing pictures in the gallery. Decide which would suit your wedding party the best taking into consideration your party size & location. Make contact with me or directly with the venues you like to get more information eg. sample menus, drinks lists, entertainment regulations if any, accomodation prices or any additional information you require. This will enable you to see which venues suit your wedding needs best. View the service providers eg.photographers in the same manner and see which appeal to you, either contact me or make direct enquiries through the links provided.
3.Always quote Annissa @ yoursantoriniwedding for a special discount when making any bookings or enquiries.


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District 2155 residents came up with the votes needed to pass both questions of an operating levy and building bond ballot Tuesday at Memorial Auditorium in Wadena.
A total of 957 voters from the communities of Wadena, Deer Creek and Bluffton turned out on a cold and sunny November day. Election judges also received 56 absentee ballots.
Two questions were put to voters on the ballot. The first dealt with increasing the per-pupil operating levy of $513.29 to $863.29. The second question dealt with an additional $5.3 million in taxpayer money needed to improve health and safety by upgrades to the WDC Elementary School.
"It's just an incredible thing," District 2155 School Board Chairman Kent Schmidt said. "It's going to help the community and our school."
Question No. 1 passed by a vote of 612-393, while Question No. 2 passed 633-378. The voting results will remain unofficial until the school board canvasses them next Wednesday at noon in the district office.
"I'd just like to thank our communities for the great support they give our school and the trust the put in us to carry out our facilities plan and educate their children," Wadena-Deer Creek Superintendent Lee Westrum said. "I'm amazed by the support the communities give the kids."
Prior to the Nov. 7 vote, the tax impact per month of Question No. 1 was set at $5.50 per month on a home valued at $100,000. Voters were informed the tax impact of Question No. 2 would be $3.25 per month. If both questions passed, the combined tax impact per month would be $8.25.
Question No. 1's passage was needed to keep class sizes at their current levels. Other factors included heating and cooling costs, internet access, books and salaries for teachers and staff.
Question No. 2's passage will ensure a number of upgrades needed inside and outside the elementary school and in the adjoining Memorial Auditorium, which is the oldest part of the building dating back to 1934.
The Wadena-Deer Creek School Board elected to ask for the $5.3 million building bond vote because some portions of the WDC Elementary School have been used for decades and need attention and modernization. The main portion of the school dates back to 1953.
The school board had already voted to put $9.45 million into the WDC Elementary building before the Nov. 7 balloting. A portion of those dollars ($3,630,000) comes from the state's Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Fund. Ehlers Financial sold $9.45 million in general obligation facilities maintenance bonds for the district in September.
A large portion of the money will be used to improve the HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) and indoor air quality of the elementary school. The building's heating system will be converted from steam to hot water heat.
District 2155 teamed up with the engineering firm of Foster, Jacobs and Johnson last February to put their plans in motion. FJJ associates went looking for the priorities of community members, parents of WDC students and WDC faculty members to augment their own ideas.
Westrum went on record as saying he weighed the question of updating the old elementary school or building a new one. The elementary building's auditorium and gymnasium were the biggest reasons for upgrading. Both are heavily used by the district.
The district has an agreement with the city of Wadena to pay 29 percent of the debt service on improvements to Memorial Auditorium.
Acting as election judges were Rosalie Miller, Gwen Macklem, Vicki Berninga, Soledad Henriksen, Lucy Andres, Rosemary Kostrzewski and Rev. Allen Refsland.


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TrainingTelephone 1300 369 935Contact Training
Apprenticeships InfoTelephone 1800 210 210Contact Apprenticeships Info
Queensland Training OmbudsmanTelephone 1800 773 048Contact the Training Ombudsman
Funded under the Queensland Government's
Skilling Queenslanders for Work, the project provides intensive employment and training assistance over 12 months to disadvantaged young people aged 15–19 years across Gladstone.
With two 2016 intakes of 20 participants, the project puts young people on a path to employment by providing job preparation skills and accredited training in industries experiencing high local demand.
For the likes of Dani Holland, who was among the first intake, that industry was child care — and participating has paid tremendous dividends in the form full-time employment as a school-aged care assistant and branch support officer.
Dani and her fellow participants were offered up to six months of case-managed support while undertaking either a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or a Certificate III in Education Support over 16 weeks.
"I thought I blew all my chances of something good, some sort of career, when I dropped out of school," said Dani, who turned 18 in December 2016.
"I had been scared and felt like there was too much pressure on me at school, but this program helped me feel like I can do something and helped me learn at my own pace.
"Now I have a qualification, a paying job and the opportunity to be able to complete a diploma — a better future.
"Working in child care is a dream come true, so I'm very grateful for the start the Get Set for Work project has given me."
PCYC Gladstone Get Set for Work project coordinator Sarah Patterson-Kane said the program applied a holistic approach, offering four weeks of leadership activities in addition to accredited training, including workshops with local business mentors.
"The project is about much more than providing support to gain a nationally recognised qualification; it's about readying young people to enter the workforce," Sarah said.
"The leadership activities aim to build self-esteem and confidence, and promote awareness of things like workplace etiquette, drug and alcohol issues, personal hygiene, grooming, cooking and nutrition.
"A camp and jobs skills week are included, covering resume writing, interview exercises and job search support."
For many young people, the project is also about overcoming barriers, such as mental health, financial security and housing issues.
"Participants come from various backgrounds and require different types of extra support, which can be tailored by virtue of the case management model," Sarah said.
"We've had people who struggled to attend school previously, recording up to 106 days truancy, but have been able to stay engaged in our program, complete their qualification and go onto paid employment.
"Past participants have formed community and social connections, and gone on to grow both personally and professionally.
"Through projects like this, the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is changing lives for people who are disadvantaged and giving them a real chance to achieve their goals."
As at 28 October 2016, 13 of the project's first 20 participants were employed, with all completing competencies and half a full certificate III qualification.
Qualifications in community services, retail and warehousing are among the mix offered to the next wave of project participants, with additional funding offered under Skilling Queenslanders for Work's
Get Set for Work program for a new project starting January 2017.
Article first published on 10 January 2017.
© The State of Queensland
Queensland Government


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Rabat- Morocco (PANA) -- The board of directors of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), has approved the funding of several development projects estimated at 30.
58 million US dollars in six Africa countries.
A statement after the board's meeting Thursday in Marrakech, 250-km south of Rabat, named the beneficiary countries as Burkina Faso, Kenya, Guinea, DR Congo, Rwanda and Chad.
The projects would support farming, road construction, reinforcement of infrastructure, opening up of rural areas, and the fight against locusts in the Sahel.
The meeting attended by BADEA Director General Sam Lotfi examined the institution's activities and achievements for the July-September period, and financial reports for the second quarter of this year.
The board also examined the progress report on many BADEA-sponsored development projects.
The Khartoum-based BADEA started operation in 1995.
Between its inception and 2003, its board had approved funds for 335 development projects and 25 loans to the private sector, amounting to 2,485.
429 million US dollars.
Some 43 Sub-Saharan African countries have received assistance from the Bank.


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A man has been sentenced to three months imprisonment after attempting to smuggle 28,000 cigarettes through a North East airport earlier this year.
Colin Baxter, 27, of Washington, pleaded guilty to bringing the contraband into Teesside Airport in February.
Customs officers the airport intercepted Baxter as he attempted to pass through Customs controls without any luggage on his way home from Gran Canaria.
He subsequently acknowledged two suitcases containing 28,000 cigarettes belonged to him.