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Journey East Community Performances
The Journey East 2016 delegation from Leland and Gray High School has just returned from a month long cultural-exchange in China, where they have performed their original production "Dare to Dream" in front of thousands of Chinese students and teachers.
The production "Dare to Dream," was performed in front of various audiences in colleges, secondary schools and primary schools across China. When the students started the Journey East program, many of them were inexperienced performers, but after a month, even the novices to the stage became seasoned veterans. The show is directed by artistic director Jennifer Connor and musical director Riley Goodemote. Under the direction of Connor and Goodemote, students came up with a show that bridges the cultural and linguistic divide by creating a largely non-verbal show that uses movement and music to captivate the audience. The show is centered around the dreams of four slumbering children. In their dreams, they encounter both the forces of darkness and light. From sea monsters to clowns, Dare to Dream provides audiences with a unique interpretation of the conflict between good and evil in the unconscious realm of our dreams.
Performances of "Dare to Dream" will be on the following dates at these locations:
Wardsboro Elementary May 10 at 12:30 leave LGUHS at 11:30
Newbrook Elementary May 13 at 10am leave LGUHS at 9:00
Springfield High School May 23 at 9am leave LGUHS at 7:45
Grafton Elementary May 24 at 9:30 leave LGUHS at 8:30
After the performance on April 29, there will a celebration of the director, Tom Connor. The Journey East program has been in existence since 1999, and hundreds of students, teachers and community members have been a part of this incredible program. From hosting visiting students and teachers, to traveling to China, this community has been deeply impacted by Journey East and the diligent work of Tom Connor.
As part of the program, there is a cultural-exchange between the Arts College of Inner Mongolia and the Leland and Gray community. This exchange has brought students and teachers from Inner Mongolia to Vermont and every other year the Journey East delegation stays at the college and participates in a collaborative performance. This exchange has broadened cultural horizons in both China and Vermont. Because of the work of Mr. Connor, meaningful friendships between people on opposite sides of the globe have been created. Mr. Connor has not only been recognized in Vermont for his work in encouraging cultural-exchange, but this year on the visit to the Arts College of Inner Mongolia Mr. Connor was made an honorary professor of the college.
The students who have participated in Journey East have had their lives impacted in various ways. A current Journey East student, Brianna Reed, said it well when she said "It says something about his personality that he came to China, was inspired and realized how important it was to share what he saw and experienced with others" Mr. Connor has devoted his time and energy to sharing his passion for China with students and the community at large. Many of the students who have participated in this program have gone on to return to China or pursue careers in international relations.
The reception following the performance is open to anyone who has been part of or impacted by the Journey East program. This is a dessert potluck and all are encouraged to bring a dessert and share their memories of Tom and the devotion and energy that he has brought to this program and the Windham community at large.
Mr. Connor has had an extraordinary impact on this community and this reception is an opportunity to honor him and all he has done.


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Tone 6th
The Guardian
Original poster
The night was quiet, the only sound was the water lapping up against the Water Lilies. Sapphire Lake was the host to a home long sense forgotten. The Ieyoshi household was once hustling and bustling with life, from children to elders this house had them all. The house also doubled as one of Japans finest swordsmen schools, being lead by Grand Swordsman Takeda Ieyoshi. The school taught the way of the spirit sword. This style prided itself in the scared arts of magic infused sword fighting, something that wasn't easy to learn. Only twelve students graduated to the rank of Master Swordsman.
Though as years went on members of the house hold started to pass away or just move on, leaving both the school and home in a state of disrepair. However, one man and student continued to live on the old halls of the home. Jiro Ieyoshi was the fifth son of Takada Ieyoshi, and the last to receive the rank of Master Swordsman. It is here, where we start our journey into a tale of very bizarre events that leave the very balance of space and time hanging by a thread. It all starts with a raging impact that scars Sapphire Lake.
Water pounded against the old dilapidated house. The lake screamed in pain as it cooled whatever had struck in. Jiro awoke breathing heavily, clenching his sword, his eyes darted out the window and out to the lake. Small flames skipped across the water, eating every lily pad they came to before going out. The Samurai dashed for the door and outside, the cool night air nipping at his face. He ran to the small dock and looked outwards towards the center of the lake.
"Is this another one of Gin's monsters?" his voice was gruff and deep.
He spotted a floating human like figure out on the water. He closed his eyes "Spirit of the water aid me so that I may save a life." he whispered. He thrust his palm out, aiming at the figure, and a large wave of water shot of towards its target. It rushed past the figure, and Jiro pulled his hand back slowly. The torrent of water followed, bring the shape to shore. The samurai ran full speed to the body, only to be surprised at it was a man encased in metal.
"Surly this is Gin's work." he drew his sword, a blade as white as the moon, and readied it. "Up with you metal man!" Jiro roared.
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subset: commoncrawl


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05 June 2020
The new HP TouchSmart tx2 is a multi-touch display laptop at an affordable price.It has a 12.1-inch swivel display (LED-backlit) ,Windows Vista, fingerprint reader, webcamera with mic., Bluetooth 2.0, Wireless LAN, stereo speakers, a 5-in-1 multicard reader and a LightScribe SuperMulti DVD burner. It is powered by AMD Turion X2 dual-core processor.It will have option of up to 8GB of DDR2 memory and options for 400GB and 500GB hard drives.
The HP TouchSmart tx2 Notebook PC detailed specs are:
- AMD Turion(TM) X2 Dual-Core Mobile Processor RM-72 (2.1GHz)
- 12.1-inch diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP LED BrightView Widescreen (1280×800) with Integrated Touch-screen
- 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
- ATI Radeon(TM) HD 3200 Graphics with 64MB Display Cache Memory
- 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
- Webcam with integrated microphone
- HP Imprint Finish (Reaction) and HP Color Matching Keyboard
- Wireless-G Card
- SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
- 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
- Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
HP TouchSmart tx2 Price in India: HP TouchSmart tx2 Notebook PC will cost around(starting range) Indian Rupee(INR) 55,000


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Baby Girls' Sue Sue Bear Sassy Dress
This dress set is so sweet!
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Long sleeve pink dress.
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White lace trim, with pink satin ribbon,
sewn around the hem.
Sweet small white ribbon bows down front.
Pink bear applique on front.
Pink knit tights with a soft elastic waist for a gentle fit.
White lace headband with white ribbon bow.
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Lovely selection of newborn and preemie
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Perfect dress for twins and multiples!
Sweet take me home dress.


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Flanking my back door are these amazing cacti – they're huge, over seven feet tall, and bright green… Fortunately, they're also spineless, and though I call them Booger Cactus, because to me, they look like big piles of the nasty green stuff, they're actually called Totem Pole Cactus.
Apparently, these lovelies bloom but once a year – and the bloom usually opens at night. I can't wait to see it!


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August 29, 2011
What invention are you especially glad has been invented because it makes your life immeasurably better?
The great thing about writing a blog (or anything on the Internet for that matter) is that if you make a mistake you can remove a page and start over again, inserting the correct fact or statement for something you hadn't intended to say.
That's what I'm doing today. When I opened the blog this morning, I noticed I had made a mistake that could be made by almost anyone. Anyone, that is, expect those who have not used the Internet for very long — or who are extremely cautious and/or extremely lucky. (The same thing can happen to users of word processing when you try to reuse an old document.)
What happened here is that I had tried to take advantage of the wording I used earlier for the series of "Questions Worth Asking Yourself." I simply copied the format I was planning to use — without first removing the old questions and inserting new ones. Consequently, the questions made no sense in relationship to the title.
They were perfectly good questions, but they didn't match the subject of "An Invention You Cannot Do Without."
Now I'll try again.
Questions Worth Asking Yourself: #4
In a post on July 15 called The World's Greatest Challenge, I began a series of questions I call "Questions Worth Asking Yourself." Here is the fourth in that category:
What one piece of technology that has been created in the last one-hundred years would you not want to do without?
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Here are a some related posts from this blog, and articles from the Support4Change website:


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Dr. David Reuter received a bachelor's of science degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University. He then went on to receive a combined MD / PhD degree in Medicine (Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis) and Biomedical Engineering (PhD from Purdue's Department of Vet Physiology and Pharmacology). Dr. Reuter completed his residency in pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in 1997 and practices pediatric emergency medicine at the University of Washington.
In 2001, Dr. Reuter co-founded Cardiac Dimensions Inc. where he created and developed a catheter-based implant for patients with heart failure and mitral regurgitation (a disorder of the heart in which the mitral valve does not close properly when the heart pumps out blood.) As Chief Medical Officer, he has raised over $60 Million dollars, managed a multi-million dollar research budget, and has trained and proctored physicians in Australia, Paraguay, Europe, and the United States. He is currently an instructor at the University of Washington and has been recognized for his contributions to Bioengineering. Dr. Reuter has 14 patents and over 34 abstracts and manuscripts published in numerous medical journals.
Let's speak with Dr. Reuter to see how he became so successful in his field.
AK: What or who inspired you to become a doctor and or a medical researcher?
DR: As a doctor, I enjoy interacting with people, and I find the biology of the human body fascinating. The notion that learning about how the body works would allow me to care for people who need a compassionate physician inspired me to be a doctor. The book Dear and Glorious Physician confirmed my interest.
As a researcher, caring for children that are diagnosed with an incurable disease inspired me to research better ways to care for our patients.
AK: Did you have a mentor who helped you learn what you would need to do to prepare for a career as a physician?
DR: The faculty I had in medical school were committed to teaching both the science, and the art, of medicine. I completed my residency training in Pittsburgh. There were several physicians there who were amazingly smart, but were best known for their compassion. I try to model myself after them.
AK: What was your undergraduate college degree? How did this help you prepare to study medicine in medical school?
DR: My undergraduate degree in Engineering was of tremendous value because engineering teaches you how to think through a problem; how to apply fundamental principles to a problem in order to find a solution. This thought process is used every day in medicine.
AK: How did you become interested in research in the field of cardiology?
DR: A young patient of mine who I diagnosed with heart failure in my first year of residency died two years later. Since the heart is just a pump, I knew that I could apply my engineering knowledge to solve problems in the field of cardiology.
AK: Our current Amazing Kids! Magazine issue theme is called "Our Amazing Body." What amazes you about the human body the most?
DR: The more you challenge your body, the more it can do (physically, intellectually, emotionally).
AK: Describe your research work you are currently involved in. Who are you working with in your research and where do you do the research?
DR: In my research, I am addressing the problem of heart failure which causes the valves inside the heart to leak (blood goes backward instead of forward)
As an inventor, I developed a cardiac implant that treats the leaky heart valves without requiring open heart surgery. My patients walk out of the hospital the day after I treat them.
I have the privilege of working with the best and brightest cardiologists / surgeons all around the world: Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Australia, Germany, Paraguay, Netherlands.
AK: How can your research work help in the discovery of advances in the medical field?
DR: As we treat patients with the device that I invented, other researchers are developing better tools to image patients (echo and CT), and to diagnose problems sooner so that the therapy works better.
AK: What are your goals you hope to eventually accomplish, both as a doctor and as a medical researcher?
DR: My goal as a physician is to make every one of my patients know that I care for and respect them, and that I'm doing all in my power to make them better.
My goal as a researcher is to tackle some of the toughest problems that others have not been able to solve in order to find a solution. My next goal is to find a cause for the problem of high blood pressure that occurs sometimes with pregnancy.
AK: What do you think is one of the greatest medical inventions in the field of cardiology?
DR: The development of bypass surgery 50 years ago revolutionized the field of cardiology. A great book King of Hearts summarizes the amazing pioneering work of early researchers in this field.
AK: What advice would you give kids who dream of becoming a doctor or a medical researcher someday?
DR: If you enjoy caring for other people, and if science is interesting to you, then I know of no job (vocation) that is more rewarding than being a physician. If you work hard in school, and surround yourself with friends who support your aspirations, you'll likely find medical school to be absolutely fascinating, and medicine to be tremendously rewarding.


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Overtraining occurs when a bodybuilder has trained to the point where his workload exceeds his recovery capacity. There are many reasons why overtraining occurs, including lack of adequate nutrition, lack of recovery time between workouts, insufficient sleep, and training at a high intensity for too long (a lack of splitting apart workouts). Training at a high intensity too frequently also stimulates the central nervous system (CNS) and can result in a hyperadrenergic state that interferes with sleep patterns.[52] To avoid overtraining, intense frequent training must be met with at least an equal amount of purposeful recovery. Timely provision of carbohydrates, proteins, and various micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, even nutritional supplements are acutely critical. A mental disorder, informally called "bigorexia" (by analogy with anorexia), may account for overtraining in some individuals. Sufferers feel as if they are never big enough or muscular enough, which forces them to overtrain in order to try and reach their goal physique.[53]
^ Mangano, Kelsey M.; Sahni, Shivani; Kiel, Douglas P.; Tucker, Katherine L.; Dufour, Alyssa B.; Hannan, Marian T. (February 8, 2017). "Dietary protein is associated with musculoskeletal health independently of dietary pattern: the Framingham Third Generation Study". The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 105 (3): 714–722. doi:10.3945/ajcn.116.136762. PMC 5320406. PMID 28179224 – via ajcn.nutrition.org. https://businessinsightsbiz.tumblr.com/


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Gaia Herbs Olive Leaf 120 vcaps
Supports immune system health and function while promoting cardiovascular health.
- Contains antioxidants that support heart health and protect against oxidative damage*
- Promotes immune system health and function during times of stress*
- Offers 900 mg of olive leaf extract in each serving
- GMO free
- 100% vegan
- Tested free of pesticides and heavy metals
Gaia Herbs' Olive Leaf offers immune system support against seasonal stressors promoting defense against symptoms of the cold and flu.*
Each serving of Gaia Herbs' Olive Leaf contains 900 mg of extract which has been gently concentrated using Gaia Herbs' unique formulation methods. Olive leaves contain important antioxidant flavonoids that nourish the immune system while also providing cardiovascular support.* Olive leaf extract is rich in antioxidants known as oleuropein compounds which protect the heart against oxidative stress while also promoting immune system function.*
About Gaia Herbs
Since 1986 Gaia Herbs has followed strict standards when formulating their herbal remedies and medicines. Adhering to principles of purity integrity and potency Gaia Herbs carefully observes herbs through each stage of cultivation and production to ensure you receive the highest quality herbal extract possible. Today Gaia Herbs cultivates approximately 5 million individual plants each growing season delivering their powerful effects to customers nationwide.
Supplement FactsServing Size: 2 vcapsules
Servings per Container: 60
Directions for Use: Adults take 1 capsule 2 times daily between meals.
Other Directions: Not to be used during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a medical condition or take medications please consult with your doctor before using this product. Keep away from children. Use only as directed on label. Safety sealed for your protection. Keep bottle capped at all times and store in a cool dry place. Natural separation may occur. This does not affect product quality.
- Amount per Serving% Daily Value
- Calories20*
Olive leaf extract900mg*
* Daily value not established
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Other Ingredients
Vegetable glycerin, vegetable cellulose (capsule).


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Our children's chiavari chair hire are perfect for birthday parties, garden parties, christenings, weddings & much more. The children's chairs are available in white, baby pink, clear, blue and red. Get ready to create that wow factor at your children's events, don't forget to team them up with our children's table hire too. We also provide children's party decoration please check out our Themed Parties section.
Please view the gallery below to get inspiration for your next event.
Venue Decoration page under the what we do tab to get inspiration for your next event. If your looking to book a number of items, don't be shy! Ask us for a deal, we will be only to happy to apply one.
For further details please call us on 07564 886 863 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
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We specialise in Weddings, Corporate Events, Themed Parties, Photobooths, Magic Mirrors, Selfie Mirrors, Flower Wall Hire, Starlight Backdrops, Light up Letters, Light up Numbers, Luxury Centrepieces, Venue Decoration, Baby Showers, Baby Boxes, Balloons, Starlight Dancefloors, Sequin Table cloths, Chair Hire, Table Hire, Childrens Parties, Children chair hire, Props, Sweet Tables, Doughnut Walls Hire, Easels, Wedding Planning Service, Wedding Planning Management, Party Planning, Chair Covers & Sashes, Ruffle Chair Hoods and much more.


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- iOS 12.0+
- ARKit
ARAnchor (or a instance of any anchor subclass) represents a position and orientation in world space, and optionally associates extra information with that point (like a name, or plane or image detection data). Each time ARKit generates an
ARFrame object (describing the current environment as of a specific frame of live camera video), ARKit updates the
anchors associated with the session as of that moment. Because anchor objects are immutable, ARKit must copy them to make changes from one
ARFrame to the next.
If you create your own ARAnchor subclass, you must implement the
init(anchor:) initializer required by this protocol. To ensure that any custom information in your subclass is maintained between successive frames, your implementation should copy any custom properties it declares.


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Shrewsbury this year basked in bright sunshine, which really helped the festival atmosphere, but made some of the large marquees uncomfortably warm – you can't have everything! There was the normal extensive range of events, craft fair and artists, with not just something for everyone, but plenty for everyone. Some of my highlights were the Richard Thompson Electric Trio (and occasionally Quartet) who really were electrifying. Concentrating on material from the forthcoming album, 13 Rivers, but sprinkled with classics from the past (even numbers from early Fairport which they'd never performed live), the band was on absolutely blistering form, with superb sound in the main marquee. Usher's Island played (and sang) absolutely beautifully despite the fact that they'd travelled straight from their previous gig (in Denmark) by car and plane, arriving five minutes before they were due on stage! It was a shock to find this was the first appearance of Johnny Coppin at the festival. It was a surprise to see that he and Phil Beer had been put on in the smallest venue, the Sabrina Tent. Unsurprising, 'House Full' signs went up before they started and the performance was enthusiastically received following which the tent virtually emptied. Hopefully we will see more of him at this and other festivals in the future. The sound was odd – perhaps they didn't think Phil Beer had anything worth saying?!
Flanders in the shape of Shaarmaarwar sported an unusual line-up of mandolin, mandola and guitar. Their concert set was slightly nervy and rushed, but they came into their own when playing for a bal in the dance tent and were hugely appreciated by a large group of dancers, whilst remaining fun and interesting for those listening. But there were problems with Blowzabella. Surely one of the seven people milling around behind the main console on the sound desk should have realised that having three saxophone players on stage blowing lustily into microphones was not purely for decoration? Instead, all we could hear was an accompanying figure on the hurdy-gurdy, obliterating everything else. Eventually some instruments emerged, but the fiddle and melodeon might as well have not bothered being there.
The Year Turns Round Again was a show featuring morris and contemporary dance with excellent music from Hazel Askew. Sometimes the contemporary aspects were difficult to reconcile within the overall structure, but provided a great contrast whilst intertwining with the traditional elements.
Budiño postured and strutted, but his piping failed to ignite the audience and he was possibly the wrong choice to close proceedings.
Almost wherever you went there was a classy and worthwhile performer – many of them from off the beaten path, to tickle the ears and/or feet. A cornucopia of excellent music and dance and a fabulous festival all round.
Paul Burgess


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Hillary combines her love of animals, attention to detail, and mastery of painting skills, to create extraordinary portraits of dogs for their discerning owners. Her commissions begin with an interview of the owner and dog along with a photo shoot, if proximity permits. Then, in the challenging and unforgiving medium of watercolors, she uses a detailed and controlled approach to build up layers of paint with tiny brushes made of the finest kolinski sable. With hundreds of thousands of individual strokes, she creates the lustrous effect of the dog's coat, while capturing the animal's vitality, individual personality, and soul.
To view dog portrait images: click here
To commission a dog portrait: click here
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Luxury living rises to a new level with these superbly appointed Coolangatta apartments. Each apartment provides commanding views of Kirra Beach with floor to ceiling windows. Views from the study see as far as Surfers Paradise.
Enjoy spacious open plan living with Nirvana By The Sea. Each Kirra apartment transforms the essence of beach lifestyle. With subtle attention to detail Nirvana By The Sea is the ideal option for Kirra Surf Apartments.
Cook in the designer kitchen for modern dining that's fully equipped with Miele appliances. Surf the internet in the spacious study with complimentary Wireless Internet. Relax in the comfortable lounge area with Digital and Foxtel TV and DVD Player.
Experience sun, sand and parks on your doorstep. Choose from Executive One Bedroom Suite, 2 Bedroom Apartments, 3 Bedroom Skyhomes and Penthouse.
Investment opportunities
Nirvana by the Sea has luxury apartments for sale in Coolangatta. Interested buyers can see the investment opportunities. These Coolangatta accommodation apartments feature views of beautiful Kirra Beach. They also feature floor-to-ceiling windows and open plan modern living areas.


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Stripe Automatically Updates Credit Card Info for E-Merchants
Stripe is an ecommerce payment platform that has become a favorite among online merchants. The newest program from Stripe automatically updates a shopper's credit card information when he or she gets a new card number. This streamlines the shopping process and could also make the transition to chip-and-PIN cards much easier for both consumers and retailers.
Known as "smart saved cards," this feature provides merchants with an opportunity to quickly gather payments from customers, even after they have replaced their credit card numbers. As long as the linked account information remains the same, Stripe will populate the new card data onto the website and create a clean path for the new transactions.
"There's no extra work required, and this feature works with most MasterCard, Discover, and Visa cards—without this improvement, over half of the cards stored with Stripe in the last year would expire by 2016 if they weren't updated," the company said on its blog.
Now merchants can continuously charge their customers for renewed services and subscriptions without worrying about credit cards expiring or being replaced. When more banks issue new credit cards for customers to update to EMV card standards, the numbers will transition in Stripe's system without any extra effort.
With innovations like these, Stripe is making it easier for e-merchants to get their money and customers to get the products and services they desire.


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Many women who are diagnosed with cancer wish to save their eggs before beginning treatment, since these therapies often leave women infertile. However, this option was typically limited by the phase of the menstrual cycle a woman happened to be in at the time of cancer diagnosis. Traditional fertility treatment can only be done at the onset of the woman's menstrual cycle, and postponing chemotherapy for several weeks to start fertility treatment is not often a practical option.
There are no new drugs involved in the treatment — only a new approach.


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If severe weather strikes in the Mt. Pleasant, Iowa area this summer, it's important for you to know exactly what to do. Rather than scrambling to prep your home during a storm, preparing board up services before the storm hits will give you peace of mind, and keep your home safe.
Ready to get started? Here are a few tips and tricks to ensure that you have the board up services necessary to stay safe in your home during a storm.
Start with Studs: Insert studding on either side of your windows and glass doors. These should align with your boards for easy installation, even during the high winds and unpredictable patterns of a summer storm!
Check Cuts: Make sure that your boards extend at least one inch past the window frame for added support and security. This will keep you and your home safer!
Need Numbers: Number each board and window so that you know exactly which board goes where when the time comes. Take the time to write clearly in permanent marker or paint, so that the number is clear when it really counts!
Secure with Screws: Attach the boards to your window frame with corrosion-resistant screws. These screws will hold much better than traditional nails and should be set approximately sixteen inches apart on your board.
Preparing for emergency board up is important, but can be an emotionally time-consuming process. Rather than trying to figure it out yourself, why not ask for professional assistance?
The folks at ServiceMaster Disaster Restoration are here to make sure your home stays safe during a storm in the Mt. Pleasant, Iowa area. Your safety is a priority and, even though tough weather strikes sometimes, the professionals at ServiceMaster are even tougher. Give us a call today, and make sure your home is ready for summer storms!


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zhèng: 正
It took me a long time to realize that one character often doesn't stand for a single English word in Chinese. As I've learned more Mandarin I've come to discover that there are a lot of people walking around with nonsensical single-character tattoos. Context matters in characters.
With that said, why 正?
First, it's a beautiful, blocky character. It's a little foreign, a little exotic. But it's still accessible. You could draw it it you tried.
By itself you might translate it as "positive." Coupled with a second character it implies realness and maybe a little urgency:
正在: right now. It's going on right now.
六点正: it's six o'clock right now.
正边:The front side of something.
Chinese speakers please weigh in. My Mandarin is terrible.


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Resin bugs: walking sticky traps
Reduvid bugs (Reduvioidea) – of which there are more than 7,000 named species – have evolved a diverse range of structural and behavioral adaptations to enable them to capture prey (4), including the application of sticky substances ("sticky traps") to their forelegs by so-called resin bugs. Such 'sticky trap predation' is known from species in both the New and Old Worlds:
"Unique among known sticky trap predators, assassin bugs (Reduviidae) have evolved both exogenous and endogenous sticky trap predatory mechanisms: some trap their prey with sticky plant resins, some scavenge insects entrapped by sticky plant trichomes and others self-produce sticky secretions." (Zhang et al., 2016) (3)
I came across some resin bugs on a 'resin trap' – a natural or human-induced outflow of resin at the base of a large dipterocarp resin tree – which I wrote about in a previous blog (5). Recently, I came across more of these amazing insects (see below) and thought it was worth including some additional photographs of them, to show their adaptations for capturing prey. The bugs cover themselves with plant resin, particularly the front legs, which helps them to capture prey, such as bees.
Some of the bugs have thick applications of resin on their fore-legs. Precisely what strategy they use to capture prey, sit and wait; wave their legs around; creep up on them (?), I am not sure of.
I came across one sitting in a hole in the resin trap (below) but they were generally fairly active, albeit moving somewhat slowly (as you might if covered with a sticky resin!).
The bees also collect resin for their nests and hover above the resin trap before landing on the sticky resin (below).
There were also lots of ants foraging for prey items on the tree and in the resin trap; probably Oecophylla smaragdina. Presumably they are clever enough to steer clear of the resin bugs, although I came across these two individuals quite close to each other.
I still do not have a firm identification of the resin bugs shown here, but they are probably a sub-species of Amulius malayus, or a closely-related species. The resin bugs must moult at some stage, and there was evidence of either cast skins (exuviae) or dead bugs within the resin (below).
There must be a lot to find out about these insects and they would make a fascinating study, although one would have to be careful of the ants' nests which are found nearby. I quickly became covered with ants on one occasion when photographing the bugs!
- Silva, Alexandre Coletto da and Gil-Sntana, Hélcio R.. Predation of Apiomerus pilipes (Fabricius) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Harpactorinae, Apiomerini) over Meliponinae bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae), in the State of Amazonas, Brazil. Rev. Bras. Zool. [online]. 2004, vol.21, n.4 [cited 2017-11-29], pp.769-774
- Weirauch, C., Bérenger, J. M., Berniker, L., Forero, D., Forthman, M., Frankenberg, S., … & Marshall, S. A. (2014). An illustrated identification key to assassin bug subfamilies and tribes (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification, 26(2), 1-115.
- Zhang, J., Weirauch, C., Zhang, G., & Forero, D. (2016). Molecular phylogeny of Harpactorinae and Bactrodinae uncovers complex evolution of sticky trap predation in assassin bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae). Cladistics, 32(5), 538-554.
- Zhang, J., Gordon, E. R., Forthman, M., Hwang, W. S., Walden, K., Swanson, D. R., … & Weirauch, C. (2016). Evolution of the assassin's arms: insights from a phylogeny of combined transcriptomic and ribosomal DNA data (Heteroptera: Reduvioidea). Scientific reports, 6, srep22177.
- https://rcannon992.com/2017/02/24/stingless-bees-and-resin-bugs/
Animal behaviour, ants, bees, Ectinoderini, Harpactorinae, Insects, True bugs
rcannon992 View All
I am an entomologist with a background in quarantine pests and invasive invertebrates. I studied zoology at Imperial College (University of London) and did a PhD on the population dynamics of a cereal aphid (Metopolophium dirhodum) in the UK. I spent 5 years with the British Antarctic Survey studing cold hardiness of Antarctic invertebates and 17 years with the Food and Environment Research Agency. My main interests now are natural history, photography, painting and bird watching.


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Ancestors of My Children
Every branch of my children's ancestry has been pushed back at least to their immigrant ancestor. I would love to find the birthplace of Nikolaus Matthias Kuehner in Alsace, France or Germany and from there find his parents. Kuehner is the shortest branch of this family tree, with Nikolaus born July 12, 1824.


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Work starts on Rochester Riverside development
Thu 2 June 2011, 2:41 pm
Work began this week started on the first phase of the Rochester Riverside regeneration scheme.
Engineering contractor FM Conway is carrying out utilities and infrastructure work on the 30ha site.
Housing association Hyde Group is due to start construction on the first new affordable homes on the site in September.
The initial work will include building a new road and footways onto the site and installing utility supplies including gas, electricity and drainage.
In addition, improvements will be made to the junction of Doust Way with the High Street and Eason's Yard car park will be redesigned.
Leader of Medway Council Rodney Chambers, said: "This is a major milestone in the redevelopment and regeneration of the area and I'm delighted to see work starting on this key site.
It has outline planning permission for 2,000 homes, hotels, shops, offices, bars and restaurants, two public parks, a primary school and the river walkway and cycle path that opened in 2008.


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Telephone: +44 (0)1323 728144 | firstname.lastname@example.com
Thank you once again to all our guests who have left reviews throughout the last year.
This is now our fourth consecutive award and with your continued support we look forward to receiving our fifth!
Need assistance?
If you need help or have a question, get in touch!
Call us on +44 (0)1323 728144 or request a call back below.


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Minis En Masse 3: They Came from Patreon
Once again, I bring you a slew of miniatures - this time exclusively due to the generosity of my Patreon supporters. Four new sets should be enough to keep your adventures fresh and exciting for a while! Click on any of the links below to download.


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I got a little bit carried away thinking about a chocolatey Easter. The vibrant blossom everywhere set me mulling over all those forthcoming opportunities to gather flowers, select pretty foil wrapped eggs and making indulgent Rocking Dog bakes for friends and neighbours. Admittedly Easter is still a little way away but there is nothing wrong with a little bit of planning, hunting and gathering! As we left Umbria our local patisserie Michele & Co was beginning to put out Easter loveliness. Crisp white tissue papered packages were embellished with silk flowers, wool, lace, ribbon and twine. His styling is inspirational as are his delicious sweet offerings.
Yesterday I made pretty lined bags for going on a future egg hunt. Gingham was selected as the structured pattern is perfect to use as guidelines for sewing lines of braid and ribbons. I added appliqué eggs and the linings came from a vintage embroidered tablecloth. The bags constructed, I used lace for handles and finally sewed some pretty vintage buttons for extra frou factor.
My favourite garden in the village is in full flourish. It is wild and lovely. Narcissi, Tete de Tete, Daffodils and Fritillaria push through the grass in generous clumps. The garden is bordered by Japonica, Camelia, Catkin and fruit trees. Its organic wild nature makes me smile… always. After cutting back hedges neatly in Italy I had that moment of bad haircut regret! A degree of shagginess and un-eveness definitely gives a garden an air of mystery and romance. This local garden has romance and whimsy aplenty. I can definitely imagine a good egg hunt there.
Oooh I feel a Chocolat moment coming on!
By the way the next Rocking Dog creative Huddle will be on Wednesday 29th March 7-9pm. All welcome. Delicious homemade cake, chat and creativity. Donations into the teapot with a percentage to Fine Cell Work supporting prison inmates to sew wonderful things.


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- This event has passed.
Advanced & Competition Team Practice
January 16 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 6:30 pm on Tuesday and Thursday, repeating until February 27, 2020
Join us for our advanced and competition team practice at the McCaskey High School Wrestling Room. Wrestling techniques and skills to advance knowledge of the sport will be the focus of each practice.


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Need More Business? Get S.M.A.R.T.
We are S.M.A.R.T. aka Southwest Metro Area Referral Team. Our mission is to help our members receive quality referrals via a method of timed repetition. Successful business breeds other successful businesses.
Southwest Metro Area Referral Team
To help our members receive quality referrals via a method of timed repetition of information. Successful businesses breed other successful businesses. We are dedicated to the success and prosperity of our member businesses. We strive to willingly share our ideas with our member business for the betterment each other and the group as a whole. Ultimately, the success of our members is our goal.
Group Overview
S.M.A.R.T. (SouthWest Metro Area Referral Team) is a growing group of small businesses from the Plainfield and surrounding areas formed by Past President – David Sacks & Past Member – Pete Ritenour.


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Just over the bridge from Hilton Head Island is the eclectic neighborhood of Bluffton. The first residential space, between Kuhio Ave and the Ala Wai, saw its major construct-up in the 60's to eighty's, multi-story residences claiming heaps that when held ageing stroll-ups and houses that had been falling apart. Sparkling deal for traders in search of earnings producing properties in Costa Rica.
Along with houses in Lengthy Island, there were additionally 2287 condos, ninety five townhouses, and 421 multi-family units on the market in Lengthy Island last month. The variety of available condos in Trump Tower is sort of thrice greater than different massive buildings downtown, in accordance with Lissner's data.
Stunning ocean view condominium, a resort-like condominium community close to the sting of town on the north finish of Jaco Seashore. Use the search below to find an Emerald Isle apartment on the market that meets your wants. Within the Central Valley, we offer exclusive Escazu luxury condominiums, Santa Ana, Cariari, Sabana, Rohrmoser, Heredia and Alajuela the place you'll discover stunning condos on the market and for lease in Costa Rica.
As a future property buyer, join our e-mail notification service ( electronic mail alert ) and receive information about all the most recent flats for sale in Paris. This unit has lovely views, group pool, outdoor cookout grill, widespread areas and an awesome location just one hundred meters from the seashore!
This luxurious 2 bedrooms, 2 bogs is situated steps away from the Unique Seashore Membership Resort & boosts an open colonial Spanish Architectural touch. Inside a number of steps you will benefit from the sandy tropical seaside of Jaco. Builders are scrambling to construct excessive rise residences all over the metropolis to satisfy the demand of renters shifting here.


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Skrillex – Ruffneck
Left Boy – Outro
Deichkind – Illegale Fans
Comett – Once upon a time / The city of lights
Jónsi – Gathering Stories
Colin Stetson – Those Who Didn't Run
The Hundred In The Hands – Pigeons
I wonder what was in that drink of hers.
Robyn – Dancing On My Own (Live at iheartradio)
You just can't get enough of Robyn's live material!
Chromeo – Don't Turn The Lights On
Things get really weird around the 2:50 mark.
Lissie – Cuckoo
The only now living person able to build indie cred (via hyped TV-series and Gaga covers) despite sounding like Shania Twain. Even David Lynch is on board.
MONOMANIAX – Sexy Turismo
Jonsi – Animal Arithmetic
Norman Palm – Easy
Primary 1 – I Need Air (Magnetic Man Cover)
Magnetic Man being Skream, Benga and Artwork is turning up everywhere right now.
RAC LIVE – Kele 'Everything You Wanted' RAC Remix
RAC and half of The Twelves tear up some poor Portland dude's house with a Kele mix.
Clogs – Last Song
Papa Topo – Lo que me gusta del verano es poder tomar helado
Beatifully overexposed indie summer scenes.
The Cheapers – Bonfire
Family dinners can be bad but this one's going to haunt you.
ytcracker – The Link
It's time for more 8-bit nerdcore!
Jaill – The Stroller on Vimeo
Lissi Dancefloor Disaster – Oh My God (Live at Indiedagis)
My Gold Mask – Dancing On My Own (Robyn Cover)
Is Robyn the new La Roux in terms of getting covered for extra cred?
It's that day of the week again, the day where the visuals play as large a role as the actual sounds.
It's been quiet around Dmitry for a while but now an LP is on the way and is to be release on march 1st. The video is pretty much an orgy in swedish lunches with a simian execution.


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Lifts to Plateau Rosà and summer skiing open in Breuil Cervinia from the 20th June; Chamois: chairlift Corgnolaz-Lago di Lod will open on the 6/7 june week end.The Cervino Valley is waiting for you. #CERVINOAWAITSYOU
The Matterhorn lies in the middle of our great international resort, right inbetween Italy and Switzerland.
The success of Cervinia is amongst other things due to the ski-in/ski-out possibility throughout the whole town. All winter long, thanks to the slopes descending from the high altitude of the surrounding mountains and ending right onto the streets of Cervinia, like the worldwide famous Ventina piste, or the Cretaz and CieloAlto slopes, all intertwined and connected by our lifts system, Breuil-Cervinia makes you forget about your car. The only transports you'll use will be cable cars, snowcats, or, for sportsmen , mountaineering skis and snowshoes.
Plateau Rosà, with its 3500 meters in altitude, is the most famous snow white terrasse of the Alps. In one glimpse the Matterhorn (4478 mt), Monte Rosa (4810 mt), Gran Paradiso (4061 mt), the ridge of the mountains in Piemonte, like the unique profile of Monviso (3841 mt), and the close mountains of France and Switzerland, like Eiger 3970 mt), Jungfrau (4158 mt) reigning over the Oberland. Here starts the wonderful Ventina piste, also connected to the slope descending from the Klein Matterhorn on the Swiss territory. It is from Plateau Rosa that the real 11 kilometers of this awesome piste begin. It starts with the famous seemingly neverending "S" that through a slight slope and continuous gradient changes leads to the intermediate station Cime Bianche Laghi (2812 mt). It is also possible to reach this station by the near valley of Valtournenche and the Goillet chairlift. But the ride is not over: a series of schuss lead to the "traverse" and the Bardoney area, where the second spectacular and technical part of the piste begins. The famous Bardoney wall is right there awaiting for you to be ridden on in one go. But if your legs get tired, you can always stop in one of the many mountain huts, or stop along the slope and "soak up" the view of our King the Matterhorn, who offers a different sight at each turn.
Plateau Rosà is the main access to the Zermatt resort, but the Theodulpass is an equally comfortable access point from Breuil-Cervinia, through the chairlifts "Plan Maison", "Fornet" and "Bontadini". A piece of local history: as far back as half the XVI century the Theodulpass was used by the Valtournenche villagers for commerce with the neighbouring Switzerland, walking paths that are now ski pistes in order to reach the main Vallese cities.
At the feet of the Matterhorn, in the shadows of the "Noble Cliff" lie the chairlifts Cretaz and Pancheron. Here the Matterhorn, with its mighty yet enchanting presence, offers many different perspectives on its peaks, one at your every turn. It is especially thanks to the Pancheron chairlift (6 seats, protection bubble, safety bar for children) that the already ample offer of the Cretaz resort widened. This lift allows you to reach the elevation of 3000mt (right under the Furggen ridge) in less than ten minutes and then choose between the Plan Maison ski area or the City of Rocks, with its technical pistes of rare beauty like #9bis or #24 which show their best side in spring when the snow transforms and lets you trace perfect lines even on the steepest walls.
The Ventina piste is probably the most famous run in Cervinia, but surely the Cieloalto pistes are just as known and challenging; in fact World Cup races were hosted here in the 70s. Steep slopes ending amidst the woods (ideal for training in scarce visibility conditions like fog or snow), they are ideal for expert skiers looking for a challenge top to bottom.


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COVER STORY: The legacy of Nelson Mandela
NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Last-minute law change a threat to religious freedom
WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Bid to suppress free speech at WA parliament
OPINION: How 'tolerance' is used to curb our freedoms
CANBERRA OBSERVED: Labor in worse shape today than in 1975
EDITORIAL: Behind the Rudd, Gillard stand-off
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS: Small business -- too big to ignore
OPINION: Moderate Islam the antidote to Islamism
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Taiwan, Philippines fishing spat muddies SE Asian waters
SCHOOLS: Christianity airbrushed from Labor's civics curriculum
UNITED STATES: Persecution of Christians in the US military
LIFE ISSUES: Legal loophole threat to Irish pro-life consensus
HISTORY: How evil triumphs with our apathy and complacency
OPINION: The pros and cons of types of punishment
OPINION: Ministry for Men's Interests needed
CINEMA: Zombie tales reveal our innermost fears
BOOK REVIEW Rediscovering the idea of civilised liberty
World War Z (rated M), a 3D thriller, is reviewed by Symeon Thompson.
World War Z is the current zombie apocalypse blockbuster. It's even 3D! Yay, I always wanted to get that close to the walking dead.
Adapted from Max Brooks' 2006 novel of the same name, World War Z is about the sudden infection of vast swathes of the populace, turning them into re-animated, flesh-eating corpses.
Brad Pitt stars in World War Z.
Paced and pointed, the movie focuses on the drama of the events, while making side-comments on the human condition.
The cinematography and sound-track serve the purpose of keeping the audience thrilled and engaged — including a dose of real emotion here and there to stop it from being solely a special-effects extravaganza.
Opening with a news collage, it then proceeds to follow Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt), a retired UN investigator, and his family, going about their daily odds and ends, until they're stuck in a traffic-jam that gets overrun by ravening hordes.
After going through the usual "inhumanity of humanity when faced with crisis" trope, Gerry and his family, and another boy, are saved by Gerry's former bosses, and taken to a US navy ship.
His bosses have a simple offer. Gerry will assist them in finding a way to deal with the zombies, or they will ship his family to a refugee camp. With such delicate motivations Gerry is sent off on a round-the-world trip, starting in South Korea, as the UN's point man.
South Korea doesn't go so well. Then there's Jerusalem, where the Israeli strategy consists of constructing really, really big walls. Following Biblical precedents, loud noises and walls don't mix, and let's leave it at that, shall we? Then there's more travelling and more things going on, but that would give the game away.
Zombies are a fascinating cultural phenomenon. The idea comes from yarns about Voodoo priests turning the dead into their slaves. As such it became a mainstay of classic Hollywood horror, and even featured with James Bond in Ian Fleming's Live and Let Die (novel: 1954; movie: 1973).
In 1968 George A. Romero made Night of the Living Dead, after which Baron Samedi and Voodoo largely disappeared from the scene, to be replaced by the peculiarly scientific "modern" zombie. This zombie was now the result of a virus, one that kills the host, but somehow animates the body and is driven to feed on human flesh.
Ever since, zombies have acted as the leading "what-if" for considering global pandemics and the inhumanity that results from crises. They provide a way to comment on science and technology, absolute government, and what happens to communities under pressure — and all within a framework that allows for liberal violence and all manner of pyrotechnics.
Everyone wins, from the teenager keen for some guts and gore to the political ideologue and high-brow social critic. Zombies have become so mainstream that the US Centers for Disease Control even use them as a metaphor for what might happen during a pandemic and how to prepare the populace. I've even heard of a Journal of Zombie Studies, thanks to a paper given by Greg Melleuish about academics and zombies, at a conference a few years ago.
Professor Melleuish made some further remarks, which I've had to dredge out of my memory, so please forgive their lack of adequate referencing.
He said that zombie yarns rely, by and large, on a Hobbesian view of humanity. Human life in nature is "poor, nasty, brutish and short". They hinge on the idea that we are so self-driven that we'll sacrifice anything and everything for our own survival.
This view is one that drives modern politics on both sides, either softened by Locke's very English liberal compromise — where one stops at the point he likes and pretends any further consequences don't exist; or hardened by the weirdnesses that result from those who read a few lines of Nietzsche or Foucault and think that everything can be reduced to a power-play.
But is this the case? Upon examining communities that are "savage", one sees violence, but one also sees honour, rituals and strict moral codes — the very things that liberalism considers unimportant.
The modern state needs Hobbes to rationalise the power it wields, because it can then cheerfully claim itself as the only thing holding off the apocalypse — because, of course, the idea that individuals might be somehow responsible for their actions, or that absolute notions of right and wrong exist, and that we are hard-wired with them, is supposedly absurd.
World War Z does an admirable job in not getting bogged down in social commentary, nor overloading the audience with blood and gore. It emphasises the humanity of a crisis, rather than the inhumanity, without neglecting the need for difficult decisions.
The human condition allows for horrors and haloes, and this movie shows the significance of blood for both — as food, and as family.
Symeon Thompson is a member of the Film Critics Circle of Australia (FCCA).
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CARDINAL GEORGE PELL FREE: The commentary file
RURAL AFFAIRS A national disgrace: Our great land sale
COVER STORY Justice at last: Cardinal Pell set free
ROYAL COMMISSION Hatchet job on Cardinal Pell breached basic principle of fairness
EDITORIAL Australia needs an economic reset after covid19 crisis
CANBERRA OBSERVED The very young can still be 'taken care of' during the covid19 outbreak
COVER STORY Gearing up to ditch free-trade policy


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Yarn for Youth
for 10-12 year olds, June 15-18 from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
In this four day long class, participants will explore the history of needlework as well as practice knitting and crocheting. No previous experience necessary-this class is for beginners!
Yarn it Up!
for teens and adults, June 15, 22, & 29 from 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Stop wishing and jump into the beautiful world of knitting and crocheting! Learn about the history of fibers and needlework, tools of the trade, and take a look at different fibers. A couple of patterns will be used to teach the basic skills of knitting and crochet. No previous experience necessary-this class is for beginners!
Materials needed for both classes:
- 1 skein (ball) of worsted weight cotton yarn, any color/fiber (solid colors preferred)
- 1 pair of knitting needles, size 10 1/2 (American size), any color/material
- 1 crochet hook, size G-6 (American size), any color/material


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TNA Impact Wrestling 4/25/2013 Results and Review
Last week's show is here: http://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/tna-impact-wrestling-4182013-results.html
They showed AJ winning last week with his newly named move, "The Calf Killer".
Teryn Terrel vs Tara
Robbie E was talking to Jesse in the back and trying to start stuff with him and Robbie T. Jesse wasn't interesting.
Jesse vs Rob Terry
They announced Jeff Hardy is thinking of walking away and they announced the return of Chris Sabin.
World Tag Team Titles - Chavo Guerrero Jr and Hernandez vs Austin Aries and Robert Roode
Matt Morgan said Hogan is making a big mistake going in there with Bully tonight and said he had a solution.
They announced some On the Clock challenge with voting for wrestlers to be in it.
TNA Knockouts title - Velvet Sky vs Mickie James
Brooke begged Hulk not to go out but Hulk said he had to show whether he was a good guy or a bad guy. Brooke cried to end the segment.
Overall thoughts: There was more good than bad here but I'm seeing traces of the old TNA and I don't like it. Overall though, the show was good and I liked the tag title match and both women's matches.


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Greenville has provided me with amazing opportunities to collaborate! I was able to join Heather from Shop Stevie and Sarah from The Simple Blonde for a styled shoot.
Working with these two was the best outcome for my first styled shoot here in Greenville. We laughed, walked through the mud just to get the best photo, and even dodged a few cars! Hey, if it doesn't include a little adventure then I want no part of it! See for yourself!
Heather brought outfits from her Shop Stevie closet, and you better believe my name is every single one of them! I fell in love with Shop Stevie a little over a year ago when I was searching for a college graduation dress. I wanted something unique but also trendy enough to wear more than once. And that is when my Shop Stevie addiction started.
Okay, back to this styled shoot!
This styled shoot couldn't have been possible without Jessica from A Darling Day. A Darling Day is a shop here in Greenville with upholstered furniture, chairs, benches, rugs, props, tables, and dressers. Each rental is simplistic and rustic, basically elevating every space. If you're near the Greenville, SC area looking for pieces to be the perfect addition to an event, head over to ADarlingDay.com now! My wheels are already turning to come up with a styled shoot to incorporate The Buford.
I could say that Sarah rocked this session, but that's an understatement! Sarah was the sweetest gal to work with and seriously looked great in every single piece. Is the Varity Velvet Top gorgeous on her, or what?! She was easy going and had great ideas that equally represented all of our styles in the most authentic way! Sarah has the greatest style which goes hand in hand with all of Heather's pieces.
Stepping away from writing content for a quick minute was perfect for my soul. I can't wait for more of these to come!
Now go bookmark these gal's websites, stat!
Clothing: Heather from Shop Stevie | Model: Sarah from The Simple Blonde
| Props: A darling day |


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West Vista 3 Bedroom Townhouse
103 Old Orchard Road
St. Albans, Vermont $1,600/month
Lauren Lane: Beautiful 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath end unit Townhouse built by Sheppard Custom Homes in 2014. St. Albans is a growing, yet still quaint city that sits in the valley between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains. Enjoy the park, unique shops, great dining, museum and more! Conveniently located right in town, one minute off the second St. Albans exit, and 25 minutes to Burlington.
Open floor plan with over 2,000 square feet of living space! Master suite on main level with tray ceiling, recessed lighting, two closets and private three-quarter bath. Open dining and kitchen with tons of cabinets and great natural light. Large living room with gas fireplace and slider to back deck overlooking yard. Bedrooms 2 has a private entrance to the upstairs shared full bath. Oversized attached two car garage, first floor laundry and full basement for storage.
Utility Information (obtained 11.4.16)
Vermont Gas:
– 2016: $77/month avg; High: $154 January; Low: $30 August
– 2015: $104/month avg; High: $232 February; Low: $30 September
Green Mountain Power: $95/month avg. ($142 high, $81 low)
Price: $1,850/month
Included: lawn care, trash removal and snow removal.
Available: Dec 1; 1 year+
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Rental criteria: Looking for good credit scores (700+), established landlord references and that tenant is spending less than 25% of their income on rent.
Contact: Kaitlyn Dorey


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Our current appeals
We're currently running some great appeals. Select one to find out more.
Registered Charity Number: No.1159833
Holy Sepulchre London is a vibrant Anglican church in the City of London, with a vision of 'Living for God in the heart of the City'. We are part of the HTB Network, and our Sunday congregation is a joint plant from HTB and St. George's Holborn.
Our location in the midst of the City of London's workplaces inspires our vision to be 'The Workplace Church'. We seek to envision and equip people to live out their faith at work, sharing the good news of Jesus with those around them.
We also have a rich heritage as 'The Musicians' Church', and are passionate about our ministry and mission amongst the musicians' community and using excellence in music to the glory of God.
We're currently running some great appeals. Select one to find out more.


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Apply for Free Hippo Sak Trash Bags from Moms Meet
Moms Meet selects only products and services that meet high standards and deliver better-for-you benefits. They welcome health conscious moms to be part of their community. To sample products you must be a Mom Ambassador or Blogger to participate. You can enroll for free on their website. To date I've received all kinds of free stuff from their website including hand soap, gummy bears, nasal spray, and even earrings.
Right now they are offering free Hippo Sak Kitchen Bags for you to sample and share with your mom group. Fill out the online application for a chance to be selected.
This offer is only valid for residents of:
- United States


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AMI Announces Agenda for Recalls and Public Health Investigations ProgramThursday, October 18, 2012
(American Meat Institute)
The American Meat Institute has published the agenda for the Recalls and Public Health Investigations program scheduled for Monday, January 28, 2013 at the International Meat Expo (IME) at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. IME is part of the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE).
This program addresses the unique challenges of recalls and public health investigations. AMI has worked with experts across the industry to develop a learning experience tailored to meet those challenges.
The program presents information on industry topics such as:
- Understanding how a public health investigation is conducted
- The investigation process and outcomes from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
- Developing a broader understanding of an investigation
- Preparing responses to food borne outbreak questions
- Preparing message points for outside stakeholders
- Writing and reviewing the company's recall plan
- Asking questions of officials during a food borne outbreak
- Engaging in mock recalls by understanding benefits and being able to provide better suggestions
Meat and poultry packer/processors, senior management, recall coordinators, technical services, operations management, and quality assurance managers are all encouraged to attend.
The confirmed speakers include Bradford Clemens, food safety and quality assurance manager, Clemens Food Group; David Goldman, M.D., Office of Public Health Science-FSIS; Robert Hibbert, partner, Morgan Lewis; and Andrew Milkowski, Ph. D, University of Wisconsin.
The registration fee is $150 per attendee.
To register and view the conference agenda, please visit www.ime13.org.share on facebook share on twitter


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Hi there!
I'm Nicole Elizabeth and welcome to Instapot.online. In this website, I share with you the exciting experience of using Instant Pot.
Ever since I started using Instapot, my cooking woes have been sorted. Dishes that took me 4-5 hours to be cooked and prepared now take me nothing more than an hour.
And this website has been made to share my love for cooking on my Instapot through tips, recipes, and reviews so that you can take your cooking experience to another level as well. Feel free to contact me!


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- Reliable wireless. No delays or dropouts. The tiny wireless receiver gives you a connection you can count on.
- All-year power pack. With 12 months of battery life, you don't have to deal with the hassle of frequent battery changes.1
- Built to last. You'll enjoy the high quality and reliability Logitech is known for—plus a 3-year limited hardware warranty.
- Plug-and-play simplicity. No software, no hassles—you simply plug in the tiny nano receiver and start using your mouse right away. It works with Window®, Mac, Chrome OS™ or Linux®-based computers.
- Comfy, contoured shape. The contoured design feels good in either hand and offers more comfort than a touchpad.
- 1-year batter life. You can go for a year without battery hassles. The On/Off switch and smart sleep mode help conserve power.1
- Logitech reliability. You get the high quality and reliability that have made Logitech the global leader for mice—plus a three-year limited hardware warranty.
- Logitech advanced 2.4GHz wireless connectivity. You get the reliability of a cord with wireless convenience and freedom—fast data transmission and virtually no delays or dropouts.
- Perfect for laptops. Your mouse works with Windows®, Mac, Chrome OS™ and Linux®. No matter what type of computer you own today—or buy tomorrow— you can depend on your mouse to work like you expect.
A simple, reliable mouse with plug-and-play wireless, a 1-year battery life. No delays or dropouts; the tiny wireless receiver gives you a connection you can count on. With 12 months of battery life, you don't have to deal with the hassle of frequent battery changes.
Technical Specifications
Mouse Dimensions (height x width x depth): 60 mm (2.36 in) x 99 mm (3.89 in) x 39 mm (1.54 in)
Mouse Weight (including battery): 75.2 g (2.65 oz)
Receiver Dimensions (height x width x depth): 14.4 mm (0.57 in) x 18.7 mm (0.74 in) x 6.1 mm (0.24 in)
Receiver Weight: 1.8 g (0.06 oz)
Sensor technology: Advanced Optical Tracking
Sensor Resolution: 1000
Number of buttons: 3
Scroll Wheel (Y/N): Yes
Battery life: 12-month battery life
Battery type: 1 AA battery
Wireless operating distance: Approx 10m
Wireless technology: Advanced 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity
Interface: USB receiver
Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Mac OS X 10.5 or later, Chrome OS
Product Origin: China
System Requirements
Windows Vista®, Windows® 7, Windows 8, Windows 10
Mac OS® X 10.5 or later
Chrome OS™
Linux® kernel 2.6+
USB port
Package Contents
Nano receiver
1 AA battery (pre-installed)
User documentation
Warranty Information
3-year Limited hardware warranty
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Tags: Logitech, M185, Swift-Grey, Wireless Mouse
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The most common questions about Analytical Grammar products right here in one place.
General Questions
Q: Do you offer support for users?
A: You're welcome to e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com or call us if you find yourself stuck. You can also join our Yahoo!Group, or send us a message on our Facebook page.
Q: Do you allow photocopying?
A: Our printed Analytical Grammar, Jr. AG, Jr. AG: Mechanics, and Eternal Argument products may not be photocopied for any reason. The grammar programs all have consumable student workbooks; you would order a book for each child using the program. If you purchase the downloadable digital versions of these products, you may use and print them for all the students in your family. Beyond the Book Report, whether digital or hard copy, can be used for all the kids in your family as well.
Q: How and when do you ship?
A: We use the United States Postal Service for our shipments. Our regular schedule is to ship Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. You are given the option to pay for either Media Mail or Priority Mail postage when you check out. We are in North Carolina. If you live in NC or a neighboring state, the chances are good that your package will reach you within two or three days, even if you choose Media Mail. Supposedly, if you are on the other side of the country, Priority Mail will reach you much more quickly.
Q: To what does the study of grammar lead?
A: Better and more correct writing for one thing, plus a clear understanding of the English language and far more fluid use of it, both in speaking and writing. One's ability to write English correctly is a tremendous advantage in the working world, so one must understand the rules of punctuation. Units 18 through 28 of Analytical Grammar are devoted to punctuation. This is the "pay-off" for the study of grammar, because without knowing the parts of speech, clauses, and phrases, the punctuation rules don't make sense and are soon forgotten. Making grammatical mistakes in one's speaking and writing is not only embarrassing; it can be a real obstacle to career advancement. Units 29 through 35 cover the rules of proper usage (when to use "I" and when to use "me," for example). It is impossible to understand these rules without understanding grammar.
Analytical Grammar
Q: What is Analytical Grammar?
A: It is a unique method of teaching grammar, which starts from "ground zero" – assuming that the student knows no grammar – and continues on from concept to concept, until the entire body of knowledge which we call grammar is covered. The concepts, rather than being taught separately, are woven together into a logical whole which the student will recognize to be what he already knows about how words are put together into sentences to make meaning. Since these concepts make sense to kids, they remember them.
Q: What do I mean by "concept?"
A: In other grammar programs each concept (the adjective, for example) is taught as a separate entity. In truth, most words that we call adjectives can be used as other parts of speech in different sentences. So it stands to reason that what students need to be taught is not to "recognize" an adjective from a list of words; they need to see how an adjective functions in a sentence in relationship to other words.
The concepts in Analytical Grammar are taught in a certain logical order, so that each concept builds on and is reinforced by the concepts already covered. For all intents and purposes, this method is not unlike the study of math where one is applying everything one already knows about math and simply moving on to a new concept.
Q: What does AG cover? Can I see the table of contents?
A: Here is AG's table of contents:
Season 1 —
Unit #1: Nouns, Articles, and Adjectives
Unit #2: Pronouns
Unit #3: Prepositional Phrases
Unit #4: Subject & Verb
Unit #5: Adverbs
Unit #6: Patterns 1 & 2 (Sentences with and without direct objects)
Unit #7: Pattern 3 (Sentences with indirect objects)
Unit #8: Patterns 4 & 5 (Sentences with predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives)
Unit #9: Helping Verbs
Unit #10: Compound Situations
Season 2 —
Unit #11: Participial Phrases
Unit #12: Gerund Phrases
Unit #13: Infinitive Phrases
Unit #14: Appositive Phrases
Unit #15: Adjectives Clauses
Unit #16: Adverb Clauses
Unit #17: Noun Clauses
Season 3 —
Unit #18: Comma Splits and Splices and Comma Rules 1, 2, & 3
Unit #19: Comma Rule 4
Unit #20: Comma Rule 5
Unit #21: Comma Rules 6, 7, & 8
Unit #22: Comma Rules 9, 10, & 11
Unit #23: Quotations
Unit #24: Dialogue
Unit #25: Titles
Unit #26: Semicolons and Colons
Unit #27: The Possessive
Unit #28: Capitalization
Unit #29: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Unit #30: Subject-Verb Agreement
Unit #31: Choice of Pronoun
Unit #32: Who and Whom
Unit #33: Adjective or Adverb
Unit #34: Transitive/Intransitive Verbs and Assorted Usage Errors (double negatives, singular/plural modifiers, etc.)
Unit #35: Active and Passive Voice
Q: What makes Analytical Grammar different from other grammar books?
A: It is taught sequentially as a whole body of knowledge instead of being taught piece-meal along with writing or literature or other language activities. When units 1 through 17 are finished, the student has learned ALL the grammar he/she will ever need to know in order to master the rules of punctuation and word usage. Since every concept is woven logically together with every other concept, there simply is no reason for endless repetition and drill.
Q: At what grade level is Analytical Grammar taught?
A: The sentences used are written at a sixth-grade reading level. The course has been successfully classroom-tested for over 20 years with children from the gifted to "special ed." As a result of taking this course, one student improved his "verbal mechanics" score on his achievement test by 35% – from about average to well above! This kind of improvement is not uncommon.
Q: How do I reinforce Analytical Grammar once the course is complete?
A: Since the student will achieve mastery, you can reinforce his/her new knowledge by calling attention to mistakes made in his or her writing. The student can now address those mistakes in an authoritative manner!
However, all of us forget details! When each unit of Analytical Grammar is completed, the student should tear out the pages of exercises and discard them. What will be left over will be all of the pages of notes. These are numbered sequentially. There is a Table of Contents at the beginning of the workbook and an Index at the end. Voila! The student will end up with a complete and indexed grammar book to refer to in case he needs to refresh his memory in the future. I have had many former students comment to me that this was an invaluable grammar reference when writing college term papers!
Using his/her new grammar reference book, AG students can go on to high school level literature and writing. Every two weeks or so throughout high school, however, we think it's important to take a short break and re-visit grammar and punctuation skills. That's why we've designed our high school reinforcement books. We have four to choose from: American Authors, British Authors, Shakespeare's Plays, and World Authors. It doesn't matter in what order you do the books; just choose the one which goes with your literature and/or history study for that year.
Q: What if I don't want to cover all 35 units at one time?
A: You can easily break the course up into three sections. Units 1 through 10 would be the first section. You could wait a while and then do Units 11 through 17. After another break you should cover the rest of the 17 units together. We've divided these into three seasons.
You can wait a week, a month, or even a year between the sections! Should you decide to wait more than a month, however, I would suggest that you purchase my little volume entitled Reinforcement and Review for just $19.95. It contains reinforcement exercises to be done after Unit 10 and after Unit 17. It also contains some review exercises to be given to the student between the first and second break. Please refer to our "Timeline" to see how this works.
The reinforcement exercises consist of readings from and sentences about some selections from literature, of primary interest to children and adolescents. They are designed to reinforce the skills learned in the preceding units of Analytical Grammar.
Q: What do I need to order?
A: For one student, you need to order the basic set of Analytical Grammar at $99.95. This set contains the student workbook and the teacher book. If you are teaching more than one student, you need to order additional workbooks, one for each additional student at $59.95. If you plan to break the course up – with breaks in between the sections – rather than teaching it all at one time, you need to order Review and Reinforcement at $19.95.
Q: What is covered in Jr. Analytical Grammar?
A: It concentrates on the grammar basics, without going into the more complex concepts such as phrases and clauses. All the parts of speech (nouns, articles, adjectives, pronouns, prepositions, verbs, adverbs, and conjunctions) and the functioning parts of a sentence (subjects, verbs, modifiers, direct and indirect objects, predicate nominatives, and predicate adjectives) are covered.
Q: Can I see the table of contents?
A: Here is Jr. AG's table of contents:
Unit #1: Nouns
Unit #2: Articles, and Adjectives
Unit #3: Pronouns
Unit #4: Prepositional Phrases
Unit #5: Subject & Verb
Unit #6: Adverbs
Unit #7: Patterns 1 & 2 (Sentences with and without direct objects)
Unit #8: Pattern 3 (Sentences with indirect objects)
Unit #9: Patterns 4 & 5 (Sentences with predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives)
Unit #10: Helping Verbs
Unit #11: Compound Situations
Q: What is the reading level of Jr. AG?
A: It is between second and third grade. I recommend that it be used with fourth or fifth graders. The easy reading level is to enable all children to learn the concepts without struggling with comprehension.
Q: How is the Jr. AG course set up?
A: There are 11 units in all, each succeeding unit is designed to utilize and build on knowledge acquired in preceding units. The units are themed around family, school, neighborhood, which are familiar to the child.
There is a page of "notes" at the beginning of each unit, which is really a set of "talking points" for teachers, excetera. I have tried to focus this informational part of the program on questions designed to help children access what they already know about grammar (which is considerable or they wouldn't be able to put sentences together coherently!).
There are three exercises in each unit containing sentences on which the children can practice their new knowledge.
Each unit has a "comprehension assessment" which is designed to let the teachers, parents, and children know at what level (mastery, probationary, etc) they have internalized the material.
At the end of each unit in Junior Analytical Grammar, there is a writing assignment called "Playing With Words." This gives the younger students a chance to develop more fluency in their writing as they reinforce the concepts being taught in the unit. It is highly recommended that this part of each unit be covered.
Q: How long will it take to cover Junior Analytical Grammar?
A: A teacher could easily cover the entire program in eleven weeks, with plenty of time left over for other language activities. Once covered, it would be very easy for the teacher to reinforce the grammar concepts by having students "parse" sentences which they encounter in their other work. It would also be a good time then to discuss such things as what is and is not a sentence and how to use various punctuation marks.
Q: I have a 5th grader and an 8th grader. Can Jr. AG and AG be taught at the same time to different students?
A: Absolutely! If you compare the two tables of contents (above) you'll see that the first season of AG covers the same materials as Jr. AG (they just have different sentences at a higher reading level). The concepts are identical. The only difference is that the first unit in AG is broken into two units in Jr. AG. Simply finish Unit #1 in Jr. AG with that student and then add in your older child with his AG book. They'll track right along together. This works so well (and saves you time!) since you can explain the concepts to both students at the same time, but they do the work at their own reading level. They can even help each other out!
Q. We've finished Jr. AG. What is covered in Junior Analytical Grammar: Mechanics?
A: This is the table of contents:
Unit #1: Comma Splits and Items in a series
Unit #2: Commas – Two adjectives "and" test
Unit #3: Commas – Compound sentence
Unit #4: Commas – Introductory elements
Unit #5: Commas – Interrupters
Unit #6: Commas – Names, Dates, and Places
Unit #7: Direct Quotations
Unit #8: Titles
Unit #9: Possessives
Unit #10: Capitalization
Unit #11: Pronoun-antecedent agreement
Unit #12: Subject-verb agreement
Unit #13: Which Pronoun? (I or me)
Unit #14: Adjective or Adverb? (good or well)
Unit #15: Transitive and intransitive verbs (lie/lay, sit/set, raise/rise)
Review and Reinforcement
Q: Do I have to purchase the review and reinforcement book?
A: If you are going to start at the beginning of Analytical Grammar and go through to the end without stopping, then you don't need the R&R book. If, on the other hand, you plan to take breaks between the seasons (we don't recommend you break in other places), then we highly recommend using the R&R book so the student doesn't forget what she's learned during the down time.
Q: I saw the sample page and noticed the R&R exercises have excerpts from books. Do my students need to have read the books to do the worksheet?
A: No. Instead, we hope your child does the worksheet and is inspired to read the whole book. Wouldn't that be great?
High School Reinforcement
Q: Do I have to purchase the High School Reinforcement books?
A: You don't have to, no. If you feel like the grammar concepts and terms your student has learned will be solidly reinforced after completely AG in another way, then skip them. Unfortunately, many people do one of two things: stop grammar completely or do ANOTHER daily grammar program. Neither, in our opinion, is a good option. You don't want them to forget, but you don't want to (or need to) re-teach. Our high school reinforcement books are the happy medium. It's only one worksheet every other week. The books contain a lot of great Jeopardy!-type information. It's a small price to pay to assure all that time and effort spent on AG doesn't go to waste.
Q: Does it matter the order I do the high school reinforcements?
A: No. There is no order to the books. Simply choose the topic that fits in best with your school year or seems the most appropriate.
Q: Can my child use your high school reinforcements if his grammar instruction came from another grammar program?
A: In theory, yes. As long as your child has completed his study of grammar, then he can use the books. Keep in mind that these reinforcement books don't teach grammar, they simply provide practice in what the student has already learned. If you start a high school reinforcement book with your child and find it too difficult, that means he has not learned what he needs to know. In that case we recommend going through Analytical Grammar and completing the study of grammar.
Q: What authors/topics are covered in the High School Reinforcement books?
A: Here is a listing of the 18 topics in each of our High School Reinforcement books. Please remember that your student needn't have read anything by these authors (yet!) or even be familiar with them to be able to do the exercises.
For Current Users
Q: Do you have errata?
A: No, we don't. We have found minor errors and typos over the years and have fixed them as they were found. If you ever have a question about something you see in one of our books, PLEASE don't hesitate to e-mail ekarl (at) analyticalgrammar.com and we'll clear it up.
Q: I have a teacher book from 1996. Do I need to buy a new one to match your current student books?
A: 1996 is the original copyright date of the program and we don't change or update it, nor do we assign new editions (1st, 2nd, etc.). We believe that by selling a consumable workbook we have a duty to our customers to make every effort not to change anything that would necessitate the purchase of a new answer key. This is why we've made changes in a way that even old teacher manuals can be used with the most recent printing of the student book. If your teacher book for AG has 34 units, then go to our UPDATES page to download the new key for the redone Unit 34 and the new Unit 35.
Q: We're on the adverbs unit and we're struggling. Any advice?
A: You're on the hardest part of the program! Keep going! After that unit you begin diagraming the entire sentence and that really does make life much easier. Just like a jigsaw puzzle gets easier when you have fewer pieces left to place, so too is the study of grammar.
Here's a quick video to help you with adverbs:
Q: My son and I are disagreeing about the placement of a prepositional phrase on a diagram. Who is right?
A: Ahhh, those pesky prepositions. This is a common problem and gets better with practice. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Prepositional phrases (PP) either act like adjectives or act like adverbs. Therefore, they either modify a noun my telling you "which" about that noun, or they modify a verb, adjective, or adverb.
Remember to use the questions to determine what it modifies (which for nouns, how, where, why and when for verbs, how or to what extent for adverbs, etc.).
Remember that if you can move it around or it's at the beginning of the sentence, it modifies the verb.
PP that modify nouns are USUALLY right after the noun they modify.
You can try reading the PP right after the word you think it modifies, it will "sound right" when you read them together. For example:
I went to the store later in the day.
"in the day" is a PP.
Which word does it sound right when read together?
"went in the day"
"store in the day"
"later in the day" — this is what it modifies.
Unfortunately, sometimes a PP's position is up for debate. It's one of the few things in grammar that's not black and white.
Here's a video to help you out with diagramming prepositions:


text: The USEA Cross-Country Design and Fence Construction Safety Task Force is a dedicated group consisting of officials, course designers, engineers, organizers and competitors. The goal of the group is to constantly evaluate all safety aspects of the cross-country phase of competition including, but not limited to, design and construction of the fences and courses. Overall, the main focus of the task force is to reduce the risk of both rider and horse injuries and fatalities while in competition.


text:
My mini-musical "A Woman at War", I found out late last night, made it to the gala/finals night at Short & Sweet Musical KL this evening, Oct 5, at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre. As this post goes live, the show will just be starting. Break a leg, everyone!
I had very little to do with getting the show to this point. After all, I'm just the writer and composer – and the composition I wrote was just a frame of a house in which my co-composer, Laura Danneker, came along and added all the wiring, plumbing, and windows in order to turn it into a solid structure.
This team of theatre arts enthusiasts came along and turned our solid structure into a beautiful home. I am very grateful.
I submitted our work to the S&S assessors this past summer and the musical was short-listed for production. They asked if I had anyone in mind who wanted to produce it. I didn't. And since I live in Penang and the show in is KL, I knew I wouldn't be involved with the actual process of putting this together. They asked if husband-wife team Alvin Looi and Karynn Tan could do it. I agreed. I had never met either of them before. They, themselves, had written another musical for the show but were not producing it. They also had never directed a musical before, but had both been involved in the theatre scene over the last couple years
After I have seen the hard-work and passion they have put into "A Woman at War", I am extremely glad that they are the ones who decided to produce it. They:
- rearranged the songs to suit their production
- they found two talented leads (wonderful Vivian Chan and Boon-Kit)
- they found four musicians, some of whom had to be driven home an hour of their way after rehearsals
- Alvin received permission from his place of employment to have rehearsal there. (Thank you!)
- They bought vocal lessons for the two leads who hadn't had a lot of singing experience
- They found an awesome and talented ensemble to back up the vocals and add a lot of substance to the piece
- They remained completely faithful to the vision I had for the piece. They approached it with care and trusted the lyrics to bring out the emotional bond with the audience.
- And then when the lead male (Boon-Kit) had an emergency appendectomy the morning before the final performance, Alvin stepped in to do Boon-Kit's role because "the show must go on!" And with very little rehearsal with Vivian, Alvin nailed the performance.
All of this to say THANK YOU to Alvin and Karynn for their amazing dedication to my piece. I feel tremendously honored.
Now to the cast: Vivian and Book-Kit's emotional performances were stunning. It said it all when I looked at the women around me at the end of the performance and when I saw them wiping tears from their eyes, I knew they had achieved my vision for the piece.
And the ensemble: so much talent that made the soaring pieces soar and the quiet pieces speak whispers of emotion.
And the musicians: the live music added so much verve to the production.
I thank you all for all of your had work and passion for my piece. I wish I could have been more directly involved and had had the chance to get to know you all better.
Perhaps we can work together more in the future.
So it matters not what happens tonight when they hand out the awards, because performing arts is all about the experience and having a small opportunity to affect the audience. In that, you are all winners!


text:
This post first appeared on Edudemic.
There have been some questions that have been bugging me (again) recently.
- What is the relevance of the skills and content we teach; and who has decided that we, as teachers, know best?
- Who decided that we can't trust the choice and direction of young people?
- Why is it OK to impose boring, unengaging lessons for the sake of a student's "TBD future?"
How many schools and how many classrooms allow student choice? And, in adult-centered spaces, how often do young people have the opportunity to make important decisions?
Our mainstream educational machine is fueled by the idea that adults know best—that adults must impart their knowledge to prepare students for a demanding world. Our responsibility as teachers is to teach students for their own good…a "good" that more and more of us are having difficulty understanding.
We teach students addition and multiplication facts because some day they will need to calculate very quickly…a tip at a restaurant or a bill at the grocery store in case their smartphone runs out of batteries. We teach them to write a five paragraph essay on the theme of a book because they will need those writing skills when…writing an argument to dispute a lawsuit. We teach them how to conjugate "to be" in Spanish because it might save their life…at a fruit stand in South America.
While we are preparing them for possible situations, should these situations define the entirety of the direction of their education?
I propose that we introduce some choice and some unknown into the situation of school. What if we allow students to make choices about what they learn, how they learn, and when they learn? In a way, 1:1 iPad programs are sparking choice whether we're OK with it or not.
iPads Bring Choice
iPads have shocked the school system and provided us with a chance to reexamine student choice. The tool is intuitive, flexible, and powerful. So much of our modern day school systems assume that the teacher, the school, and the adult knows best. In the iPad classroom, that's just not the case.
Truly successful iPad implementations happen when teachers share ownership of the way work gets done with their students. When students and teachers learn iPad tools together, the result is synergistic. In successful iPad Classrooms, teachers give students the space to demonstrate their work and understanding using a range of tools beyond just "a Powerpoint to show what you know about the Roman Empire" or "a 500 word essay about the pros and cons of Communism." To paraphrase Chris Lehman (@chrislehmann), if we give students an assignment that produces 25 copies of identical work, we've given a recipe, not a thought-provoking, opportunity for growth. When teachers give some props to the unknown, and task students to show their deep understanding of a subject or skill with the best tools available, you might say miracles happen. We should be a little less afraid of miracles.
Who would have ever known that Rachel was an artist and could design an animation of the golgi apparatus in action? Who would have guessed that Janet knew math fractions so well that her articulate screencasts could be used to teach other students in the grade above her?
If administration and faculty challenge students to do their best, and follow their natural inclinations and curiosity – to go outside the limited boundaries we set for the sake of standards – we open up a world of possibilities for students and for our society that adults might never imagine. I propose that we, as schools, challenge ourselves. I propose that we re-examine the essentials and assumptions that have driven curriculum, the way that we think learning looks, and give students some choices about the how and the what that they engage in.
Some truths to consider:
In "real life," students often have a voice expressed through social media, peer groups, sports team, etc. At school, they often have no platform at all. How can we build platforms for a wide range of students to express their voices?
In "real life," students have to make decisions that affect their health and wellbeing. At school, we often don't even trust them to choose where to eat their lunch. There's a large gap that we need to address.
In "real life," students have to solve problems every day. "What if my parents don't show up to pick me up?" "What if my friend decides to drive after drinking alcohol?" "What if a friend chooses to speak badly of another friend?" In school, we create strict guidelines that prevent bad things from happening or intervene quickly before young people can mediate themselves. How do we make sure we are scaffolding education to empower students to solve problems on their own?
How do we reinvent?
When you ask people to design a solution for a current problem, they speak and imagine from what they know. If the problem is how do we help students work and learn better, the solution often involves some combination of desks, whiteboards, textbooks, homework, and sitting down for long hours at a time in rapt attention. We imagine that we must prepare our students for the work world we that know.
We need to let that go. We don't need to be responsible, to push our young people in a general direction without guidance, and wish them "good luck." But, we absolutely must be creative in imagining what an evolved learning situation might be, and perhaps it looks more like learning 5000 years ago than it does that of today. Through the tools which technology puts in our hands, we have the power to augment hands on, real-life learning by investigating ideas, accessing world experts, and designing complex solutions or products with a high degree of accuracy.
We've got a lot of work to do. If you could redesign education guided by the ideas that:
- Students can make important choices
- Technology tools can expand learning in ways we cannot imagine yet
- Learning doesn't look the same as it did for us
Then, we might be able to imagine an educational system that doesn't have to "get out of the way" for young people to be successful, but actually helps to guide and unleash the incredible imaginations of the people who will change our world.
Don will be addressing this topic and more at the upcoming iPad Summits in Boston and San Diego.