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Why Army will beat Navy: a social media analysis
On Saturday at 3 PM EST, the weather in South Philly is predicted to be a chilly 39 degrees with a 43% chance of rain. Perfect conditions for an epic football game. But predicting the game-day temperature outcome isn't the analysis Army or Navy fans are looking for ahead of the season's biggest gridiron contest.
There are a lot of different datasets one could analyze ahead of the Army-Navy game, but as a communications firm at our core, we wanted to see which branch is winning the social media game. Recently, Army and Navy public affairs have created more and more buzz around the game with attempts to out-do each other on social media through spirit videos featuring everything from Star Wars references to, well, a lot of goats. As head of the data-driven market research arm of ScoutComms, Scout Insight, I wanted to use some of the same tools we use every day for clients to examine how our community is united (or divided) this time of year.
In 2013, eons ago in internetlandia, Navy fans slightly edged out Army fans in terms of search interest (though the team handily demolished any ideas of "Beat Navy". The Google Trends graph below shows that beginning in 2014, Army fans became a little more vocal, even hopeful, you might say. Search interest in "Beat Navy" was on the rise. Alas, so were Navy touchdowns.
Of course, 2016 was a streak-breaking year for Army football and judging by the volume of "Beat Navy" queries, Army fans were not shy about gloating. Heading into the '17 match-up, in terms of Google search interest, the teams are neck and neck, though Army has a slight advantage.
Utilizing Sprout Social, our analysis of how the Army-Navy rivalry is playing out on Twitter can get a bit more granular.
Over the last month, usage of #GoArmy or #BeatNavy has outpaced #GoNavy or #BeatArmy. Except for November 27, even peaks in pro-Navy propaganda have been overshadowed by larger peaks of pro-Army fervor.
How did Navy turn the tide on November 27th? By unveiling its uniform for the game, with a Blue Angels theme that surely won't irk the service's hundreds of thousands of non-aviators.
Tell me if these @NavyFB @NavyAthletics @UnderArmour @BlueAngels uniforms just revealed for the @ArmyNavyGame are not the coolest in @NCAAFootball ! #BeatArmy #GoNavy #RaiseTheSail #GoNavyBeatArmy pic.twitter.com/mZGOOxEcnb
— Scott Wykoff (@ScottWykoffWBAL) November 27, 2017
But, a week later, the Army released its uniform for the game, which is inspired by the 10th Mountain Division and features a skiing panda commando.
Conquer The Land #ClimbToGlory https://t.co/T9SiHDr5n5 pic.twitter.com/Ufez1WMKOX
— ArmyWestPoint Sports (@GoArmyWestPoint) December 4, 2017
So, you can see where this is going. The Army's uniform helped drive nearly three times the number of Tweets the Navy garnered for its Danger Zone-less duds.
The day after releasing images of its uniform, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley followed up by posting a joint spirit video, filmed with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson. With more than 550 Retweets (the CNO's own Tweet of the video has only 77) of the video, Milley and the Army managed to give #GoArmy/#BeatNavy a coveted two-day social media peak.
It's not all bad news for Navy fans on social media, though. What goes up must come back down. Over the last week, despite Army Tweets crushing the Navy in volume, the Navy has a much stronger growth trend heading into the weekend. So don't count out the crafty sailors—on Twitter or on the field.
"But Lauren," I hear you feverishly typing. "The Army is a larger branch than the Navy. Of course they can outnumber them in Twitter warfare."
According to the Pentagon's latest active duty strength numbers, there were 476,167 soldiers as of October 31, 2017. There were 507,651 sailors and Marines (you're Department of the Navy, deal with it.) Admittedly, Army Guardsmen and Reservists outnumbered Navy and Marine Corps Reservists by 437,413 people, but, you know… #GoArmy.*
Lauren Jenkins is a Vice President and Managing Director of Scout Insight at ScoutComms.
*ScoutComms Vice President Brian Wagner is a Navy Reservist currently deployed to Afghanistan so we should probably be a little less biased about this whole rivalry thing. Thank you for your service, Brian! #BeatNavy


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Cooking healthy meals are not a luxury for everyone. It isn't easy to wake up at 6 am and cook 3 meals that will last you for the day. And buying food from fast food restaurants for quick service isn't exactly the best option at times.
Imagine not having to wake up so early in the morning just to prepare yourself a healthy and delicious meal for the day and not having to buy food from fast food chains as a last resort but still get that fresh, fulfilling and appetizing meal that helps you stay fit.
Have you ever heard of Healthy Meal Plan Deliveries? These are businesses that not only satisfies your palette, gives you healthy meals delivered to your door, but it also works for your convenience.
How can it satisfy my palette?
The food prepared for you isn't just your regular diet food that tastes bland and unappetizing. Say goodbye to diet plans researched online that taste boring when prepared and eaten. The meals will not make you feel forced to finish it but it will make you want to have the next bite one after the other. Here are some of the meals some food service delivery offers, Classic beef stew and Red rice, Classic pasta Puttanesca, Sticky and sweet chicken tenders, etc. Doesn't that sound appetizing?
How does it give me a healthy meal?
How is it possible that it would taste mouthwatering but still be healthy? Well with the right cooking and the right ingredients, these food delivery services are able to provide you a meal that is composed of healthy ingredients cooked in the right way. They would provide you a calorie diet plan per day so that you would be able to keep track of how much calories you need to burn. Some of these businesses actually have their own nutritionists that would answer your dietary questions.
What do you mean by it works for my convenience?
A big problem for those people who want to live healthy is that they do not have the time. Time for yourself is hard enough to find. How much more for time creating a meal that is well prepared and calculated?
They do the preparing for you. No more worrying about "What will I cook for lunch?" "How much calories will I have to intake?" Because this service does all that for you. And the best part is that THEY DELIVER. Yes, that means you do not have to go to them to get your meals but they go to. They deliver the meals right in front of your doorstep and they deliver it fast, fresh and well cooked.
What exactly is so great about this? So what if it tastes good, is healthy, and is convenient? Let us list down the reasons why it would make your life a bit better.
1. On the way to a healthier life – The benefits of having a meal that is well prepared is that your body wouldn't just absorb the food and get energy but it would be able to absorb vitamins that your body needs. And of course getting the right nutrition doesn't just prevent you from diseases but it also shows on your outer appearance. Pimple breakouts wouldn't be as often as they used to be, skin will get softer, and much more.
2. Control, control, control – For those wanting to lose weight, this healthy meal plans deliveries pay close attention to the portions given to you because portion control is the main component in losing weight. The sizes will be proportional to what your body needs. And with them, you wouldn't have to worry about how much food you should actually intake. Making your weight-loss process an easier one.
3. Time-saving – We all have to admit that life rarely gives you free time and this is perfect for those with such a busy schedule. Always having to go over-time, need to pick up the kids in school, etc. With them, you wouldn't need to stress over looking for recipes and worrying about having enough time to do them. Cooking time is not the only time you will be able to save because after this, grocery time will be cut down to close to nothing.
4. Easily accessible – You wouldn't need to wait in a long line in the grocery to buy food, for this service all you have to do is click. A lot of these services have Facebook pages, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. Just message them that you want to inquire about their service, look at their menus and tell them which one you would want and where you would like it delivered. Everything else will be done by them. This provides the perfect solution for those who don't have much time in their hands.
5. Convenience in ordering and eating – If you were worried about having only to eat whatever they give you, worry no more because they offer different menus that have unique meal plans you can choose from that would suit your taste buds. Typically, this service covers breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. Although some offer more, like breakfast, AM snacks, lunch, PM snacks, and dinner meals. And the only thing you will need to do is if you like your meals extra hot is heat up the delivered meal in your countertop microwave oven.
6. Pocket-friendly prices – Because meal plans are not as rare as they used to be, their services are now at a reasonable price. It wouldn't be hard to find the right meal plan service that will fit your weekly/monthly budget. They give you the choice to pay for the entire week or for the entire month. While there are some that have the "pay as you go" service. But choosing the monthly meal plan is a cheaper choice thus more money you can save.
The process of living a healthier life could not have been made easier than through this Healthy Meal Plan Deliveries. A service that lets you save money and time, while enjoying the whole experience. Research the healthy meal plan delivery that suits your taste and your lifestyle.

subset: commoncrawl


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Regional Service Manager-HR – 3+Years – HDFC – Delhi, Gurgaon
HDFC Bank is a young and dynamic bank, with a youthful and enthusiastic team determined to accomplish the vision of becoming a world-class Indian bank.
Our business philosophy is based on four core values – Customer Focus, Operational Excellence, Product Leadership and People. We believe that the ultimate identity and success of our bank will reside in the exceptional quality of our people and their extraordinary efforts. For this reason, we are committed to hiring, developing, motivating and retaining the best people in the industry.
This Job is posted in http://www.hdfcbank.com for more details visit http://www.hdfcbank.com/aboutus/careers/default.htm
Job Description:
|Regional Service Manager-HR
|Work Location
|Delhi, Gurgaon
|Date Posted
|Thursday, November 06, 2008


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www.Howdidwedough.com – PizzaExpress Receipt Survey
Were you satisfied with your PizzaExpress experience? If you have some comments want to tell PizzaExpress, just go to the website www.Howdidwedough.com and follow the instructions to participate in their customer satisfaction survey. By completing of the survey, you will receive an offer code for free Dough Balls to enjoy with your next meal at Pizza Express. You'll be also entered into a monthly prize draw where you can win a £500 gift card.
How to enter the Pizza Express Receipt Survey?
To start the survey, go to the website www.Howdidwedough.com and click on the "Continue" button.
On the next page, you need to enter the required information from your PizzaExpress receipt, including Survey Invite Code, Date of Visit, Time of Visit, and Amount Spent. After you enter all of them, click the "Start" button.
Then you need to answer a list of questions regarding your recent PizzaExpress experience. It will only take a couple of minutes to answer all of them.
At the end of the survey, submit your contact details so that you'll be entered into the competition automatically.
Please note:
This Competition is open to residents of the United Kingdom aged 18 or over.
You can use the free Dough Balls voucher on any day and at any time, in any PizzaExpress restaurant in the United Kingdom. Your code is valid for 6 months from date of issue.
Learn more from www.Howdidwedough.com!


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Idaho Weight Loss
Call (208) 343-3652Directions
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If you are overweight, your health may be at risk. That's why, before you sign up for any weight loss program, you should ask these questions for your own safety: Will I always be seen by board-certified specialists? Will those same professionals oversee my blood work, care and weight loss progress? Is your medical staff trained and experienced to care for diabetes and other diseases? Do you have proof of your treatment outcomes and results? Do you have a proven maintenance plan to help me stay at my goal? At Idaho Weight Loss, the answers are always YES. Protecting your health and welfare means everything to us.


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For the past few years I have used the same pizza crust, it's one that we all enjoy and I'm kinda iffy when it comes to dough especially for pizza, if I like something I stick with it just because I fear trying something that will be a total fail.
While on Pinterest the other night, I came across this Fail-Proof Pizza Dough recipe and I thought "well, I'll try it".
I'm so glad I did because it's amazing and it's now our favorite. I'm sure I'll still use my old recipe but this one is just too good to pass up.
The recipe comes from Lauren's Latest, and I can't wait to see what other goodies she has on her site :)
Basic Pizza Dough
yield: 2-12 inch pizzas, approximately 1 lb. of dough
1 cup warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon honey {or sugar}
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
3 cups bread flour {give or take 1/2 cup…depending on the heat & humidity}
In a large mixing bowl, preferably that of a stand mixer, stir yeast and honey into warm water. Sit for 5-10 minutes or until bubbles form and mixture starts to foam. This tells you that the yeast is alive and kicking. Pour in salt, oil and half the flour and mix.
Once that flour is incorporated, start adding flour in bit by bit until you get the pizza dough to the consistency you want: slightly tacky, but when you touch it it doesn't stick to your hands.
Once you reach this stage, turn the mixer on high to knead for 6 minutes. Turn a timer on and walk away! Resist the temptation to stop earlier than 6 minutes! That seems to be the magical number. It should look something like this when it's done!
The dough should be smooth and easy to work with. And the bowl should be clean!
Lightly grease the bowl & the dough so it doesn't dry out, cover with plastic wrap and let it rise 1-2 hours. That's it!
For the Cheesy Garlic Pizza, I also used Lauren's recipe for the cheesy garlic bread sticks, just tweaked it a little. I used romano, cheddar, colby and monterey jack.
Cheesy Garlic Bread Sticks
yield: 1- 12 inch pie
1/2 recipe Fail-Proof Pizza Dough
2 tablespoons softened salted butter
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese {use the real stuff!}
1/4 pound grated mozzarella cheese
{salt & pepper, if desired}
Preheat oven to 500 degrees with pizza stone inside. {If you don't have a pizza stone, use an upside down cookie sheet}
Mix butter and garlic in a small bowl and set aside.
Spread pizza dough out into a 12-inch circle on parchment paper. {This makes it easier to transfer to the pizza stone.}
Spread the butter and garlic mixture over dough
and top with parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.
Top with a light sprinkling of salt and pepper, if desired. {That step is totally optional!}
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Cheesy Garlic Pizza
6 comments:
This looks delicious. I can't wait to make it.ReplyDelete
Yum! I'm going to try this!ReplyDelete
- MichelleJanuary 30, 2012 at 9:06 AM
Can't wait to try this! Your basic pizza crust recipe is a staple in our house but this looks wonderful too! Thanks!ReplyDelete
[...] stop talking about it!! That is a big win for me. This recipe was inspired by a recipe posted at Full Bellies, Happy Kids. As a tip, I used the garlic that comes in the jars so I could also use a bit of the water that is [...]ReplyDelete
[...] pizza dough. I have used it twice now, and it has not disappointed. I adapted a recipe I found on Full Bellies, Happy Kids to work in the bread maker. If you don't have a bread maker though, head on over there to see [...]ReplyDelete
Delish! Thanks for sharingReplyDelete
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OSLO, May 8 (Reuters) - A planned pipeline linking Norwegian natural gas fields to markets in Denmark and Poland is on track for completion by October 2022, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said on Wednesday.
The Eastern European country sees the Baltic Pipe as a way to diversify its gas supply, most of which is currently imported from Russia under a long-term contract with Gazprom that expires in 2022.
"It is going well. We try to finish that investment by October 2022. For the moment it is in accordance with the schedule," Czaputowicz told a news conference after meeting Norwegian counterpart Ine Eriksen Soereide in Oslo.
The Polish minister told Reuters the construction of the Baltic Pipe could only increase the interest of Polish energy firms such as state-run PGNiG and refiner Lotos in investments in Norway.
"Definitely if the Baltic Pipe is constructed, it will be another argument for investing in the fields here in Norway... Knowing the philosophy of the company (PGNiG), they are very interested," he said.
PGNiG, which agreed in October to buy Equinor's 42.38 percent stake in the Tommeliten Alpha gas and condensate field in Norway, has said it plans to increase its gas output in the country via acquisitions.
The firm is targeting a total gas output of 2.2 billion cubic meters (bcm) by 2022 from 0.55 bcm in 2017.
Poland Wants Out of Gazprom Deal
Poland uses around 17 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year and imports more than half of that from Gazprom. The Baltic Pipe's capacity will be 10 bcm a year.
"We want to have it ready in order not to be forced to continue that contract with Gazprom. Simply we do not want to prolong that contract," said Czaputowicz.
Asked how Poland would fill any supply gap in case the Baltic Pipe's construction takes longer, he said there were more possibilities to guarantee it.
"For example our LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminal, which will be also enlarged," added the minister.
Poland's Swinoujscie LNG terminal is due to expand annual capacity to 7.5 bcm from 5 bcm by 2021, hoping to capitalise on higher gas demand in central Europe and lessen the region's dependence on Russia.
"We treat Norway as a reliable international partner. Russia is not such a partner for us," Czaputowicz said.
PGNiG had already bought four spot LNG cargoes by March 7 this year, compared with five cargoes for all of last year. (Editing by Terje Solsvik/Mark Heinrich)


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Win Dinner for Six at Brae
Koko Black x Dan Hunter
Our Stores
Our Story
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The first Koko Black store opened in Melbourne in December 2003, and our delight in sharing the immense pleasure and happiness of chocolate has turned Koko Black into an Australian business employing over 350 people across Australia.
For a list of our current vacancies click here.
We are always on the lookout for talented, passionate individuals to join our growing team.
If you would like to join the Koko Black team, please send your CV to firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Every chocolate crafted by Koko Black has its own unique personality and story.
With over 100 chocolates and counting - the Koko Black range is complex, indulgent and always adventurous. Originating from the finest Belgian couverture chocolate, each individual chocolate is meticulously handcrafted in Melbourne, using premium natural ingredients.
We are proud to be an Australian company and strive to use local ingredients in our chocolate, such as Tasmanian leatherwood honey and Australian grown nuts.
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Dan Hunter, one of Australia's most celebrated chefs, is passionate about connecting people with place. It's a philosophy that guides his award-winning restaurant Brae, and now this unique collaboration with Koko Black.
"I want to connect people to place — to capture the idea that places have their own flavour profiles. My intention is to draw out what Australia's taste of place can actually be." —Dan Hunter


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Category Archives: Kiwiana
Since my Visa has been approved [WOOT WOOT! – and yes, they're still discriminating against young, single Asian females], I'm now going into overdrive as to what to do.
Oh the amount of freelancing work I have to finish! Yes yes Hazel & Imm Ai *slog slog slog.
I am now trying to set up a… "mirror" blog if you will which will chronicle my preparation to TT, and possibly TT adventures! Though I have yet to use blogspot [ugh], I am very much sold on WordPress as it can keep track of stats and allows me to customise the blog with a twitter widget! Ya know, just in case I'm too zombified to type a coherent blog post, I think 140 characters x 2 tweets ought to describe my day just fine. For example : Tired. Sleepy. Wish I could ninja my way out of eagle like a hawk.
Or something equally corny, because I am such a corny writer with an even more lame sense of humour. Hah!
Ahem. Anyway. I thought I'd be able to RSS what I write on 2nd blog onto here [so you guys don't have to click here and there, and also that would sorta muck up my stat counter], but it turns out you're unable to.
Or maybe one is. I'm not quite sure. Thank you to Resident Geek for the lmgtfy link. *grind teeth.
I'm preeeeeeeeeeeeettty damn sure one's able to do that though!
Next is a mobile plan. I seriously am not going to bring my Malaysian number there and get charged 4 arms and 9 legs for the roaming. No. I will get a mobile plan there.
What American carrier has great prepay / data plans? The only American cellphone carriers that I know of are AT&T and Verizon [again, much pop culture references here].And which of the 2 is less sucky?
I have a feeling someone's gonna holler , "OH FOR GOD'S SAKE JUST GOOGLE IT" but you know, nothing beats human interaction!
p.s : I will be using a smartphone, and damnit, it still doesn't have an app for blogging via wordpress. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Waiting, waiting.
So I FINALLY got supporting documentation from the studio.
EXCEPT that when they did a copy paste job, the person forgot to correct my name. So instead of the letter saying "Miss Ng", it says "Miss Leow", the other bender's name.
Here's hoping that the rectified letter is back by MONDAY for my interview on Tuesday! Yes folks, I shall be braving the traffic and weather and heading off to the US Embassy for the visa interview. The USA is the only place that I've been to that requires an interview. Holy! So I've managed to bug the great Tay master for tips as how to procede with the interview. He looks like such a badass, but he's honestly one of the nicest guys I know! And yes, he's single 😀
"Any tips, o wise one?"
"Yeah. Clean shaven. Make sure you have no facial hair"
"…I do NOT have facial hair. Wait, what are you trynna say?!"
"uhh. Yeah. Low cut top. Comb hair nice. Act sweet"
"I don't have to act sweet, I AM sweet!" *beams via emoticon
[intermittent pause for the next hour until he logs off]
Poor boy.
Anyway, after feeling so angry and pissed off about the letter, here's a song I looped to make me feel a little better. Yes, it's a depressing song, yes, it's about a love lost and best of all, it's in Indonesian! Whopee!
Managed to find a copy of it floating on youtube WITH English karaoke subtitles. 😀
And my other favourite Indonesian song, Peter Pan's "Mungkin Nanti" [Maybe Later]. I remember a band at the UMSA ball performing this song and me scream-singing my throat out to this song. It feels so surreal to be singing in your [other] mother tongue while in a foreign country. Makes one feel a tad patriotic, screw what the politicians have to say. Plus it was great fun educating the Kiwis as to why / how the average Malaysian speaks at least TWO languages fluently.
p.s : For my friends in the States, Bahasa Indonesia [Indonesian language] and Bahasa Malaysia [Malay language] is practically the same, barring some pronunciation / odd adjectives 🙂
Meiladies aka My Life Story aka Why I Want To Be A Bikram Yoga Teacher
Maladies. Or, since I am in a punny mood, let's call it Meiladies. Not Mei's ladies. Ahem.
Since I've finished the challenge, allow the narcissistic me to celebrate by regaling those of you with the story of my life, or precisely, how Bikram changed my life. I really am half-kidding about being narcissistic, as I look at myself in the mirror 90+minutes a day, EVERY day!
I was born a rather underweight and sickly baby on the 26th of June, year of the wood ox. Instead of a happy, healthy childhood of running through the mud, getting scrapes and climbing up trees, I indulged in a childhood of breathlessness, multiple trips to the hospital and being fed disgusting foul medication all because of asthma. Folks, my childhood asthma was not your regular "Can't play sports or she'll turn blue" type, it was the "3am and my daughter can't breathe and she's turning blue" type. I remember my parents rushing me to the nearest hospital / clinic to get me on that disgusting turbohaler, and even in my state I'd be fighting and pummeling the doctors [once 2 nurses had to hold me down!] with my tiny fists simply because I HATED the smell of the medication.
Yes, ironic isn't it, for someone with chronic sinus to hate the smell of something when she supposedly can't smell it? Every morning since birth, and I mean EVERY single morning no matter where I am [England, Port Dickson, Auckland, Otago, Genting, Cameron's …], I'd wake up to a stuffed nose that will last the whole day, much to the annoyance of other people [especially if I'm on holiday with friends]. So what's a girl to do but to tiptoe around the house trying her best to clear her nose whilst praying that her snivveling won't wake the whole house. Plus with the sinus, my sense of smell was severely affected. Where the smell of delicious home cooked meals / cakes bring delight to children, most days I'd sniff the air and go "Where got food?" [That's Manglish for "Where's the food"].
Childhood asthma disappeared when I lived in England for a bit and when I lived in New Zealand with no instances of asthma, I thought, "WHOPEE, my asthma was childhood and I've outgrown it!".
But we will get back to the asthma story later.
Fast forward to when I was 14. One day, I felt sick, so I got mum to pick me up from school and send me to the doc. The diagnosis? "She has the beginnings of Anorexia", the doctor declared triumphantly. What the fuck? Just because I was a skinny, gangly 14 year old who FORGOT to eat lunch [between school and extra curricular activities, we Malaysian children are a generally busy lot], does NOT an anorexic make me! I vehemently denied, but all she did was prescribe me some pills to take for a month. These funny little coloured oval cases of filth were what ultimately fucked up my metabolism.
Around this point of time I took to cutting myself, due to many family / personal / esteem problems that I had. Though I must say that I look back at this point of time in shame, nevertheless I am thankful that the physical scars have faded, though I now live with a distant memory of the emotional scars. I remember it got to a point where I'd be in class, and when I got stressed I'd take out my penknife and start cutting my hands. At home, I'd cut my inner thighs and ankles and would hide it under my baju kurung. I'm pretty sure my parents don't know about this, because I'd come up with a host of excuses, "I slipped, I fell, papercut", coupled with the fact that they were rarely home to even notice.
At the height of my rebellious youth (16), where I was smoking and taking illicit substances, I went off to New Zealand to live and study which will explain why at times, I lapse into a Kiwi accent. Ah, but my life in NZ was far from being free of the host of problems that plagued me. The first 5 months in NZ, I didn't eat as healthily as I should have. Blame it on environmental stress or even having a housemate who had bullimia, but I had a rather… weird relationship with food. Instead of eating healthily, I'd plan and count my meals, to the extent of calorie counting. For example, I'd think "If I ate this cake I can't have desert later / Today, I will ONLY have a sandwich, fruit, muesli bar and soup for lunch (or breaksies, as I call it!)". In fact, it was only last year that I went "Screw it, if I want to eat Carbonara, I'll have that with a frothy mug of Guinness because my body said so". Note to self : This combo gave me indigestion, so no more!
It was also in NZ that I got into sports. Boy oh boy was I so happy that I got to represent our local student body in netball! Met SO MANY great and awe inspiring people, and I'm so humbled that they call me a friend. But anyways, onto my next malady. Now, netball, as folks may know, is a NON CONTACT SPORT. Correct? I mean, we girls don't bump each other like in football [soccer to Americans], hit each other with sticks like in lacrosse or rain punches like in boxing. No. Netball is a non contact sport where we girls pass the ball to each other and a foul is declared if we so ever shoulder / knock into our opponents. Ahem.
SO WRONG! While practicing, this OAF pushes me out of the way to intercept. GRR! I landed SMACK onto the concrete court on my RIGHT WRIST, hit my shoulder and maybe even my head a tad. I remember being on the floor in a daze wondering "Oh wow, why's everyone soooo tall? And oh, did we score?". A week passed after my accident, and I was experiencing pain and tingling in my right arm, so I decided to see a doctor. And that was the beginning of a nightmare. Instead of a wrist fracture, after a month of visiting physiotherapists, sports doctors and what not, it turns out that the nerves in my wrist were injured / severed during the fall, resulting in carpal tunnel syndrome.
Onward ho to more physiotherapy sessions [I am not complaining, the physiotherapist AND sports doctor were equally HOT!!!], coupled with specialised physiotherapy. In addition to that, I was on an insane amount of painkillers and had a patch for high blood pressure to help treat the problem [ah, I quit smoking around this time too! For GOOD 2 years ago, YAY!]. As a precaution against re-injuring my hand / aggravating the problem, I was made to wear a splint 24-hours a day, minus the time I took it off for a shower. Life was very difficult and troublesome as my dominant hand was well, not so dominant. I could not carry my books, hold a mouse properly, or hold a pen as the damn splint would be in the way. In fact, I could not even wipe my arse after taking a rather glorious dump. Even tying my shoelaces some days would frustrate me to no end as I couldn't get my fingers to get the bunny ears under the loop. As a result, the fiercely independant me had to resign to the fact that I was a cripple, and may be crippled for life. After spending 3 months in a splint and not using my right arm, I soon lost all muscle and strength in my right arm. I could NOT even hold a pen for more than 2 minutes, and the phrase "holding on for dear life" would've meant me letting go after 20 seconds.
It was around this time that I was on hormonal medication to help combat my twice-a-month periods [you think ONCE a month is bad? TWICE is TERRIBLE!]. Looking back, I guess it was a combination of circumstances and medication that I fell into depression. As I explained to a friend, it wasn't the mopey "Oh why does it always raiiiin on meeee" type, it was the "I want to fucking kill myself today, God, where's the OFF switch?". Day in, day out, I don't know HOW I functioned – going to classes, continuing with work and managing all my extra curricular activities, but I do remember feeling shit and wanting to just OD on diclofenac or stand in the middle of the railway tracks and be done with it.
It was horrible. Oh so horrible. It was a black pit so deep, I don't know how I climbed out or snapped out of it. I have an inkling that it was because of the hormonal medication that I became even more depressed, and every time my period would swing by, I'd have all these nasty suicidal thoughts ambling in my head, "I WISH that car would just run me over and be done with it / I WISH that truck would just smash into my car and sever my spine". I'm not quite sure if any other lady in this world has suicidal thoughts twice a month before their period hits!
I came back to Malaysia, land of haze / smog and general air pollution. Ah, lovely. 3 years ago, during Chinese New Year [when the air is dry, acrid and it's haze galore], I ran out of breath climbing up 1 flight of stairs to my room. I thought to myself : Fuck, my stamina can't be THAT bad! Ex lifeguard / lacrosse player / netballer, I can't fucking DIE walking up the stairs, RIGHT? It turns out that my childhood asthma made a great and glorious return! Gasping for breath, I had to get my mum to drive me to the nearest clinic for antoher round of turbohaler treatment.
At the grand age of 22, I had it all : depression, carpal tunnel, esteem problems, eating problems, asthma, sinus. I used to joke that if I were born 50 years ago I'd probably be dead by the age of 18.
One day, a friend of The Boyfriend's, who was working at the gym, suggested I sign up for Bikram Yoga.
"Pffth, it's just normal yoga done in a hot room, right?"
"It's DIFFERENT" Kym cajoled.
"But it's the SAME as doing the regular Hot Yoga!"
"Try it" she sang.
Fine, so I got suckered into it.
And after one class, this sucker signed up for 10 classes. And a 1 month pass. And a 1 year pass. And another year pass. Sucker!
1 year 8 months later, I am better mentally and physically for it. I don't feel like off-ing myself anymore [and OH! my periods are ONCE a month now! I am no longer the most fertile woman in the planet that causes her significant other(s) a mad scramble for the condom], my sinus is GONE [I can SMELL now. In fact, my sense of smell is so freaking acute I know when benders in the room are having their periods. Gross and useless superpower, I know!], my carpal tunnel is GONE [I can grip tight, I can hold a pen, I can PUNCH people again, HAHA!] and I don't look sideways at cake as though it's EVIL. I feel more confident about myself and as corny / cliched as this may sound, I've come to terms with myself.
It is with these reasons that I want to inspire people to change their life, and this step begins with attending Fall 09 Bikram Yoga Teacher Training. I'm NOT wanting to become a teacher just because, oh la, I've got an awesome backbend [*cough, self praise, cough*], can do a full camel / contort myself into freaky postures. A few benders at the studio said "Oh yes, you should become a teacher, you're soooo flexible!". The point of being a teacher is NOT to show off how flexible / strong one is [though some teachers with kick ass practice really can inspire students], but rather, to help change lives, one spine / mind at a time.
What I have just wrote [typed?] about is a rather personal journey for me, and not many, if any, know ALL the sordid details of my life. In fact, a little part of me feels almost embarrassed to be selling my story out to the public, but hey, if it's gonna help even ONE person overcome what I had, well, I'd say my job as a teacher has only just begun.
Before I begin, I shall tell you what a glorious and delicious dinner I had. On tonight's menu was leftover lasagna from Sunday topped with Parmesan cheese that expired in January 2008. Hmm. No wonder the cheese tasted a little bit funky.
Today's class with Jakob was one of the more hilarious. While lying down in savasana, he told the 2 newbies : "OK, that concludes our warm-up. And now, the REAL yoga begins…". A shocked "HAH?!" filled the silent, humid air, after which Mel and I started giggling half the time during savasana. Jakob explained that yes, the standing series was to warm your body up, and that the real benefits are reaped during the floor series.
Here's a very interesting analogy I learnt today [it pays to listen and not daydream, Tip # 9081 to Self Realisation] :
Kill yourself in class. [By killing yourself, I am not talking about being suicidal, for my friends who are non-Bikram yogis 😀 ]. By killing yourself, you effectively "die" and strip away all negative preconceived notions about yourself. You kill your Ego [there's a philosopher who wrote about The Ego and The Self, and I forgot who he is. Can someone help my melting brain out?]. To be Reborn and have a new Life, new Body with the door to your Self open, you need to kill yourself first. It is only then from the ashes that you rise.
And that is all for today. My brain has melted into a pile of mush and I don't think iasd fsdfn..spi djfs ..
M*3p9t6ir jg26m.kdgoad
Newscasters Have Fun Too!
I've always found Wendy Petrie to be a little stiff and boring. Guess I'll have to eat my words after watching this video :
Like I said in my post, it is quite apparent that my studio lacks some excitement in terms of eye candy for the females [and the gays, if you will].
1 : Hey Mei, what happened to the friend you brought a few times?
M* : Which friend? *acts innocent
1 : You know, the guy who looked Malay …
M* : OH! You mean the tall, dark handsome model-looking one?
M* : Oh. Er. He's busy I think ….
1 : Oh. *crestfallen
Junaidi Ramadhan Aminuddin. You're wanted back in the hot room, stat! 😛
Milk Me!
Day 4, class 5. 6:15pm
I begged to be corrected for tulandandasana (balancing stick pose) today.
Still need to build strength on the LEFT side of my body, whereas the right side's strong, but not as flexible. Either or, I'm waiting for the day in the challenge where I stiffen up and have to rely on strength and not flexibility.
I've noticed lately when doing backbends, my monkey mind keeps on muttering "No no no no no I'm not gonna do this. Let's just skip this part now, shall we? Oh come on, we shall take it easy peasy, kill yourself the second set!". But how hard is it to tune it out and listen whilst the instructor is screaming "Stretch up, chest up, go back way back fall back try to fall down backwards push push push fall back way back more back go back one day you are going to touch the floor" ?
Turns out, it's quite difficult. I'd have to tell my monkey mind, "Shut the HELL up. I'm doing the posture, and if I die or get crippled in class, he'll have to cart my twisted body out". And whaddaya know, I'm halfway backwards looking at the floor. And I've also noticed, the good classes that I've had were when I bent backwards. Unless it's a week leading up to Monthly Bleed, then hell hath no fury like my ovaries thrashing and releasing hormones that don't allow for flexibility.
Sigh. It's good to be a guy.
Today the instructor came over to squueeeeeeeeze and clench my hands tighter in ardha-kurmasana (half tortoise pose). And WOW did I feel the change in my shoulders. A-ha, I thought. This must the SUPER SECRET SQUIRREL technique! Well, not really SSS, but just another way of going deeper into a pose.
Towards the end of class, I had this strange craving for a nice, tall glass of cold milk. The full fat creamy kind, not the watered-down lo-fat high-calcium no-taste milk. After class, was talking to a few members and they planted ideas of having ais kacang or cendol after class! Oh man I could really do with cendol right now, even after my glass of milk and tin of soy milk. Gaaah!
OK now that the nice yogini is out, it's time for the NICER Mei to make an appearance.
Went back to my old office to pass the cancer sticks cigarettes to some colleagues who decided to buy 1 carton at RM70. The deal is this : my friend sells it to me at RM70. I sell it to FRIENDS or PEOPLE I LIKE for the same price. No point in being too greedy, right? Anyway, I'm indulging their addiction during this recession. Again, I'd like to reiterate for those who didn't get it right the first time round : I DO NOT MAKE ANY MONEY OUT OF YOUR PURCHASE. Not a single cent. Although it would be nice to have some extra money since I am UNEMPLOYED until further notice. And by further notice I mean : TILL DECEMBER 2009 IF ALL GOES WELL.
"Working" for the family does not mean I get paid. Even if I do, it's in food and "Let me help you out with car payments". That sort of thing. So my Shakti dreams will have to wait, unless you know of someone who wants to buy a kidney.
And what do some people say when they discover that it's Duty Free cigarettes?
"Oh, duty free. Sure taste like shiet".
Oh, wow.
The audacity in saying that. The goodness of my heart in wasting RM10 [or more] in petrol to go to Mid Valley under the blistering sun, paying RM1 for parking, walking up from P4 in Gardens all the way up to Northpoint. AT NO EXTRA CHARGE. And yet you can come and say "Oh sure taste like shiet".
Can I get a "THANK YOU"? I should have charged RM75 for that. At least it'll cover my petrol and parking.
How ungrateful.
The upside of travelling all the way there was meeting Za, Tiffany, Tay and Jessie for lunch. Huge props to them for my lunch! It's ok guys, I think I can fend for myself till December. In which case, is anyone keen on buying a kidney?
p.s : Anyone who wants to buy from me now, it's RM75. Hey, I gotta cover the cost of parking and petrol. Unless you'd like to waste YOUR PETROL to come to my house in Subang Jaya. It's still RM75 in that case because I need to go out and see my contact.
pps : May be waived to RM70 if I like you.
*Apparently Duty Free cigarettes "taste like shiet" because of its [lower?] nicotine content. I wouldn't know. I crushed my last cigarette under my stilettos a year or more ago and never had the luxury of shit tasting cigarettes.
Friend Killer
Yesterday, I dragged Jun 'Handsome Scientist / Detailer Extraordinare / Badass Biker' to go for a Bikram Yoga class with me. Try it, I said. You'll feel great and better, plus you get to lose some weight, I cajoled. After much evangelising wheedling talking about the benefits of Bikram Yoga, he finally agreed to go to a class.
I just forgot to mention that we ladies wear tank tops and short shorts [or bikini bottoms] and the men Speedos to class. 😛
BUT! I DID mention that we'd be practising Bikram's 26-posture sequence on a room heated to around 40º Celcius.
So on that fateful Monday evening, I dragged Jun to the Hot Torture Chamber. His first class of his life would possibly be one of my many hundreds, and also my 2nd class of the day and 4th class in 2 days.
As usual, we started off with the Pranayama Deep Breathing. Then the Half Moon. Then the Awkward.
By Awkward Posture [a real thigh killer, but it helps you get the nice toned legs you oh so envy of me], Jun was wobbling and breathing with his mouth open a big no-no in Yoga. It's been scientifically proven that breathing through your mouth raises your adrenaline level, causing you to feel dizzy and nauseas.
It was by Eagle that Jun sat down and seemed to melt on the floor. And I peeked into the mirror to look at him. Poor boy looked positively confused and sweaty [but not as drenched in sweat as I was]. It was then I thought :
Oh shit. I killed my friend. Hmm. I wonder if he'll drop me off before speeding away, never to be my friend again.
Freudian Slip Slop
I miss Kiwi newscasters, not only because I miss the accent [I reckon I picked up some of my accent from hearing the news] but also cause I think Simon Dallow is kinda cute.
Last ditch bid became last bitch did. LOL
Here's another one. Excuse the slow-mo action the poster was aiming for.
And there's your LOL of the day 🙂


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Read: John 14:15-24
In His teaching, Jesus made it clear to His disciples that He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). The Bible clearly says again, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5). Jesus is the only way to the Father, and our belief and commitment to Him results in love and obedience, and ultimately leads to an eternal home in heaven with Him.
Christina, a Bible college student in Minsk, Belarus, wrote this testimony: "Jesus died for everyone, even the most desperate sinner. The worst criminal who comes to Him in faith, the Lord will accept. For a very long time, Jesus had been knocking at my door. Figuratively speaking, the door to my heart was open. I was a believer. But I kept the safety chain in place. I would not turn my life over to Him." Christina knew this was not right, and she felt that God was convincing her to make a change. "I knelt before Him and opened the door as wide as I could." She took off the chain that day.
Sincere and committed followers of Jesus will do what He commands, without safety chains or back doors. There will be no reserving little corners of our lives all for ourselves. And there will be no secret sins. Every area of our lives will be surrendered to Christ and His lordship. Like Christina, if you have been holding back from surrendering to Jesus completely, it is time to unhook that safety chain. Let go of those reservations. Throw open the doors of your life, yield to Jesus' lordship completely, and experience the joy of obedient discipleship. No life is more secure than a life fully surrendered to God.


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Mr & Mrs D Harvey
We don't think we knew at the time how lucky we were to have met you. After initial discussion you engendered a trust which continued throughout the length of the project.
You kept the work flowing and your estimates proved to be accurate. You were able to bring in the right skills at the right time to ensure we made maximum use of the time. Keeping us informed and getting us through the process of the LBC was another great asset.
On top of all of that you are a super person with genuine interest in your clients and a commitment to your work to match. We do hope we will work with you again and wish you well on your new projects.
Mr & Mrs Skelton
Thank you so much for all you did to ensure the extension was completed on time, within budget and to the highest standard. We love the space, which was very comfortable for eleven of us over the Bank Holiday weekend. Your attention to detail has made all the difference to the finished project.
Mr & Mrs R Simon
With many thanks for all your help with our new house. We really appreciate all of your work and to go that extra bit further to help us get the house we have wanted.
Mr & Mrs R Crang
Arash, another big thank you for all your efforts at our house. The extension and outbuildings look great and very please with the work finishing a few weeks ahead of schedule. Look forward to working with you on the archery buildings!
Do not forget our offer of running a complimentary archery session for you and your workers, family etc.
Mr & Mrs Pack
Thank you very much for an amazing work! The barn conversion has been finished to a very high standard and we love living here. Thank you for all your hard work.
Mr & Mrs Fatah
Thank you for all your hard work. We love all finishes to bathrooms and in particular the kitchen with the glass splash back cladding that you suggested!
Mr & Mrs Norman
The new house looks fantastic. Everyone has commented on the great work you have done. Thank you so much!
Mr & Mrs Barker
A very big thank you for all the work you've done on our house. We love it!


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2.5 million years of historical learning in the comfort of your school
The magnificent
Pupils will learn ..
•About the features of the Neolithic period
•About Skara Brae as an example of a Neolithic community settlement
•About Stonehenge as a cultural/religious structure
Lesson notes:
This lesson covers the Neolithic (literally meaning new) period which is characterised by familiar looking communities of huts and stone houses, organised farming with crops and animal domestication and complex tools, best exemplified by Skara Brae, which is on the list of suggested NC content.
Introduction: Neolithic recap
Remind pupils that the Neolithic had the following features:
•4,000 to 2,000 BC in Britain (varies in other parts of the world)
•More recognisable settlements such as the stone buildings of Skara Brae
•Planted crops
•Animal domestication of sheep and cattle for food and clothing
As per previous lessons, briefly cover the impact of these events, explaining how humans were becoming more organised and settling more, no longer having to constantly rely on hunting and gathering but farming instead. This is the true foundation of modern humans and our community-driven, collective-living lifestyles.
Possible activity 1: (Literacy) a menu from the Stone Age
Ask pupils to pretend that they are writing a restaurant menu for a Neolithic café. What sort of food would the menu have? Would it be different than the foods available to the Paleolithic hunter gatherers? What difference would farming make?
Possible activity 2: (IT/Literacy) Skara Brae research and quiz
Research Skara Brae (many internet resources available) with a view to writing a quiz for the rest of the class. Pairs swap to ask questions of the other partner.
Possible activity 3: (Art) Making Stonehenge or Skara Brae
Use clay or rolled up paper painted grey to make a model of either Stonehenge or one of the Skara Brae houses. Skara Brae was notable for having stone cupboards. Can pupils make a whole mini house from stone / paper-stone?
Come back together for feedback as a class about each event, or read the Skara Brae quiz out for other pupils to answer.


text:
5th September 2012
I almost forgot. If you haven't played Joe Danger SE, it is on sale right now. RIGHT NOW!
For this week only you can pick up one of the highest rated, most fun games on XBLA for a teeny 600pts. Then you can play it, finish it, all in time for Joe Danger 2 to release. Whoop whoop!


text:
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text:
The Opus Tower in Dubai was conceived by the late architect, dame Zaha Hadid, and with respect to her legacy, the contractor sought to find a solution that would preserve the design with no compromise.
Odico was engaged to deliver 2500 unique EPS guidework items for the manufacturing of advanced, aluminum profiles, supporting the large, doubly curved exterior glass facade.
For the project, a complete, project specific workflow automation was developed, enabling the 2500 unique profile CAD-files to be produced without operator assistance. This enabled an increase in production speed from 60 parts per 24 hour to 250 parts per 24 hour, helping the client to meet critical project deliveries.
Image credits: © Zaha Hadid Architects


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The state of California and its 58 counties have a mounting crisis on their hands and the blame game is in full swing.
In 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown was handed a federal mandate to reduce the prison population because of overcrowding, which was ruled to be cruel and unusual punishment and the primary cause of unconstitutionally poor inmate medical and mental health care. Brown appealed but the mandate was upheld. Should Brown have chosen to ignore the mandate, then he would be held in contempt. And so began the great shift from prison to county jails, known as realignment. This, however, did not mean that current inmates would move from prisons to jails, but that newly convicted nonviolent, nonsexual and nonserious offenders would serve their time in jail, not prison. And the plan worked, in part, to reduce overcrowding. But not enough. And not without perceived repercussions at the local levels.
The first problem at hand is that, though Brown has been able to reduce the prison population by tens of thousands of inmates, he still has approximately 6,000 more to go. (Various news sources have estimates of up to 12,000 inmates.) Brown's original plan was to relocate them to prisons out of state by Dec. 31, the deadline of the mandate, costing state taxpayers upward of $700 million over the next two years, which is only a short-term fix. But Democratic state legislators compromised with Brown and came to an agreement on Monday, that rather than the costly capacity-only relocation proposal, Brown would instead ask a panel of federal judges to modify the Dec. 31 deadline so as to reduce the population to 137.5 percent of capacity; the facilities had been operating at times at 200 percent capacity over the span of a decade. Should the judges approve a deadline extension and/or raise the maximum operating capacity, Brown will implement a cheaper, rehabilitation-focused program intended to reduce recidivism rates. There is no deadline for the judges to make their final decision on the request, but prison officials say they need to start making plans this week if the judges do not go along with the compromise. If all else fails, however, certain inmates will be released by deadline on early parole.
The second problem is, really, conflicting data over how realignment has affected local communities with regard to public safety. FBI crime statistics revealed that for the first six months of 2012, property and violent crimes increased in 40 of 69 cities, with the Sacramento-based Criminal Justice Legal Foundation citing realignment as the cause. On the other hand, violent crime dropped in five counties that received the majority of the lower-level prisoners that would have gone to state prisons, which means that the counties can handle the increase of inmates without crime increasing, according to San Francisco-based Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice.
While law enforcement and other related officials crunch numbers of data, the fact of the matter is that there are no concrete details that indicate realignment has anything to do with any negative effects on the community. While there have been egregious crimes committed by these "post-release offenders," aka low-level offenders served the same amount of time in jail as they would in prison; and they are in similar, if not the same, comprehensive programs of supervision when released on probation as they would be if released on parole. Dually noted, probation agencies are handling a higher-risk, more sophisticated, violent clientele, but those same people on probation locally would be the same people on parole locally. It's not as if people on parole never went back to their home towns. At this time, there is actually no data readily available that directly links realignment to increased crime. Period.
As legislators and law enforcement officials argue back and forth about increased crime or decreased crime or the problems with realignment or the successes of realignment, undoubtedly what that continues to be glossed over is 1. keeping people out of jail in the first place, and 2. reducing the recidivism rate. But for now, we will focus on the recidivism rate.
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, based on pre-realignment and post-realignment dates and data in a one-year study beginning Oct. 1, 2011, the rate of post-realignment nonviolent, nonserious and nonsexual offenders convicted of new crimes is nearly the same as the rate of pre-realignment offenders convicted of new crimes (21.3 percent pre-realignment and 22.5 percent post realignment). Arrest rates dipped slightly from 62.0 percent to 58.7 percent for the same time period — the arrest rate remaining pitifully high. (The three-year recidivism rates on average for all felons returning to prison has remained steady around 61 percent of the last decade with the exception offenders that fall within realignment standards.)
So if realignment hasn't substantially changed the recidivism rate, then why do we continue to focus on realignment as causing an increase in crime? The data thus far does not indicate that to be true. What is at the nucleus of this whole argument is that instead of focusing on more law enforcement and more prison cells, we, as a society, must home in on better rehabilitation programs while inmates are serving their time. It is the department of rehabilitation and corrections, not just corrections. When, exactly, did we stop rehabilitating inmates and only seek to punish them? If we want to see less crime and less money going to prisons, jails and law enforcement, then we have to change the status quo.


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Winemaker Notes
Ruby to deep garnet red in color, with characteristic intense aromas of violets and red cherry, Bolla Chianti is medium bodied with lively fruit flavors.
Grapes are crushed and fermented at controlled temperatures to extract optimal color, soft tannins, and typical aromas. The wine is totally fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel for about 10 to 12 days to obtain character and natural soft tannins. Malolactic fermentation follows to reduce acidity and increase roundness.
Bolla Chianti is a perfect match for rich pastas, steaks, roasted meats, and aged cheeses.


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- Voice in the Wilderness: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
- Gospel Reading: Luke 16:1-13 Wealth as a Tool for the Kingdom
- Second Reading: Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:1 Is There No Balm in Gilead?
- Psalm Nugget: Psalm 4 Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (psalmimmersion.com, @pomopsalmist; Patreon)
Image: Balm of Gilead, "Jerusalem: A Medical Diagnosis Exhibition" By Deror_avi
Voice in the Wilderness: 1 Timothy 2:1-7 with Sean Andreas
Featured Musician - New Band: Whym, "Steady" from their debut album Sing, Doubter
Hello and welcome to the Pulpit Fiction Podcast, the lectionary podcast for preachers, seekers and Bible geeks. This is episode 185 for Sunday September 18, 2016, Proper 19, Year C.
- Voice in the Wilderness: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
- Gospel Reading: Luke 16:1-13 Wealth as a Tool for the Kingdom
- Second Reading: Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:1 Is There No Balm in Gilead?
- Psalm Nugget: Psalm 4 Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (psalmimmersion.com, @pomopsalmist; Patreon)
- 1 Timothy Conversation with Deb Krause (slightly delayed)
Thursday Night Special with Michael Slaughter
- Upcoming: Miroslav Volf, Lisa Sharon Harper and Christian Piatt!
Featured Musician - New Band: Whym, "Steady" from their debut album Sing, Doubter
DONATE: www.pulpitfiction.us/donate
- Five Star Review on iTunes: Rpk0478 "Thank you for the excellent resource. I cannot wait to get out of school so I can put you guys in my budget. IOU big time!" If you are starting to put together a continuing education budget at your church, please consider us.
Gospel Reading: Luke 16:1-13 Wealth as a Tool for the Kingdom
Initial Thoughts
- Strange passage- engage, don't run from it
- What is this parable about? Seemingly full of contradictions
Immediate connection to prodigal son - story of the prodigal Steward
- "Squanders" - same word in 15:13
- Connection ends there - manager is not repentant nor is the rich man forgiving
- Parable is not about forgiveness and repentance
Squandering wealth
- Do not be bound by the desire to keep wealth
- Steward squanders wealth to "buy" the favor of the debtors
- Relationship is always more important than wealth
Repeatedly cheating the rich man?!
- Not necessarily- the steward may have reduced the amount owed by the amount his (the steward's commission), therefore sacrificing his own profit in order to gain favor with the debtors.
- Having relationships is more important than money
- Craddock - probably not true because then the steward would not be referred to as dishonest
Homes and Tents
- The steward uses dishonest money to secure a home (oikos)
- Jesus does not promise homes (oikos) in vs 9, rather tents (skenas)
- "Jesus does not promise to provide what the unjust steward sought, the stable abode of those who have possessions and security. Rather, Jesus promises the unstable abode of the wanderer, the refugee, and the pilgrim, whose mobility requires the dispossession of goods." - Scott Bader-Saye, Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year C, Volume 4: Season After Pentecost 2 (Propers 17-Reign of Christ)
Why is the manager commended? He uses what was entrusted to him for a higher purpose - his purpose may have been selfish - what is our purpose?
- How do your finances, gifts, and talents serve your greater purpose?
- What is your church's purpose? What is your individual purpose?
- "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18)
Look at the greater context- v.13 divides this passage from the next- this one about constructive uses of wealth that builds relationship and the next about destructive uses of wealth that prevent relationship
- Wealth is not evil - the worship of wealth is.
- Many Churches are looking ahead to stewardship campaigns - what is the purpose of the Stewardship campaign? To what purpose will the church use the gifts entrusted to them?
- If all we have is actually God's (a very different view than many truly believe) - how are we using the gifts entrusted to us?
- Articulate the vision.
- Wealth is not bad- the worship of wealth is. How can wealth be used to build the Kingdom?
Psalm Nugget: Psalm 4 with Richard Bruxvoort Colligan
Second Reading: Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:1 Is There No Balm in Gilead?
Initial Thoughts
The weeping prophet
- Weeping and Strength - Healthy Masculinity
Power of Lamentation
- "Too often as Christians, we edit our prayers to God. We speak frankly to friends, advisors, and paid professionals, but we don't speak frankly to God. Jeremiah holds nothing back from God and models a prayer life of both praise and lament." (Garrett Galvin, Working Preacher)
This prayer has been edited in our hymns. United Methodist Hymnal #375 "There is a balm a Gilead." Listed as an "Afro-American spiritual," it transforms the question into an answer.
- The balm in Gilead is the love of Jesus.
- Image of the summer over, harvest past, and not saved. A terrifying future lies ahead. Without a good harvest, starvation in the winter is a probability.
Good News of Lamentation
- Prophet's words are also God's words. "Much of the power of this text lies in the fact that, as we read the words that convey the prophet's hurt, we suddenly realize that these same words are describing the hurt of Israel's God." (James Newsome, Texts for Preaching, Year C)
- The weeping and suffering of God implies that there is another way.
- Lamentation can spur movement and change.
- Repentance seldom happens without the pain of lamentation. As long as people are pretending everything is okay, nothing will change.
Is there a balm in Gilead?
For grief, there is no balm but time.
- Rush to make things better, or to get people to cheer up is not helpful.
- People cannot plan their recovery from grief.
- Even if there are stages, there is not a clear ascending line through them.
- For injustice, the only balm is justice.
Part of the problem of the people is that they look to God only when times were tough instead of keeping faithful through the times of comfort.
- "Time and again, in response to dire warnings of impending doom, the people of Jerusalem tended to ask not, "What have I done?" but, "Where is God?" But that's way too easy an out! It is too easy for us to blame God when something goes wrong in our world. If there is no 'balm in Gilead," no restoration of peace and justice in our world, no healing from the wounds of violence and greed and selfishness and dishonesty, it is not for lack of compassion in God!" (Alan Brehm, The waking dreamer)
- For grief, there is no balm but time.
You be the balm in Gilead
- "Sometimes I would like to ask God why he allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world, when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid He may ask me the same question." Anonymous
The balm in Gilead
- Awareness
- Education
- Activism
- Faithfulness
- The balm in Gilead
- "Jeremiah forces us to confront idolatry in our own lives. We can easily laugh at the Israelite worshiping wooden idols, but what really controls our life? Are we obsessed with the latest technology and consumer goods? We can see Israel's unhealthy obsession with Zion here, but what do we fail to see in our own lives? I was recently at a children's soccer game with many parents on the sidelines, but then I noticed about half the people were looking at their smart phones instead of their children." (Garrett Galvin, Working Preacher)
Tasty Wafer of the Week:
- Out in Scripture - Excellent resource from the Human Rights Campaign - short lectionary based exegesis and devotional for every Sunday in the RCL
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- Christina Auch - On the podcast for 9/11 you asked what folks are doing. For the past several years, the ELCA has designated the second Sunday of September as a churchwide service day, "God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday".(GWOH) Congregations have the freedom to shape it however we want and move it if it suits our context. That said, because it officially falls on the 2nd Saturday of September and this year, that day is also the fifteenth anniversary of the 9/11 attaches in D.C., New York and Pennsylvania, congregations are being encouraged to honor first responders (police, sheriff, fire, EMTS, etc.) in this year's GWOH projects.
Finally, the chaplains have organized a "Shield a Badge" initiative here in the county and I am encouraging members to participate with a one year pledge to pray for a person from the sheriff, police or fire departments who has requested prayer.
While in the past two years, I haven't encouraged more than prayerful remembrance of 9/11, this Sunday's emphasis is not on nationalism, terror or even grief but on thanksgiving for the servant leadership of the people both in our community and in our congregation.
- Support us at pulpitfiction.us/donate
Featured Musician - New Band: Whym, "Steady" from their debut album Sing, Doubter ++
Thanks to our Psalms correspondent, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (psalmimmersion.com, @pomopsalmist, Patreon). Thank you to Scott Fletcher for our voice bumpers, Dick Dale and the Del Tones for our Theme music ("Misirlou"), Nicolai Heidlas ("Sunday Morning", "Real Ride" and "Summertime") and The Steel Wheels for our transition music("Nola's First Dance" from their album Lay Down, Lay Low) and Paul and Storm for our closing music ("Oh No").


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Still by Alessandra Torre
Series: Unknown (See Below)
Source: Personal Library
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
My feet hurt. Four inches of a-size-too-small shoes will do that to a girl. Especially a girl who is used to sensible flats, paired with nylons and JC Penny skirt suits. But your best friend only gets married once, and when she is paying for an all-expense paid bachelorette party to the Bahamas, the sane thing to do is hop on that plane, put on your sexiest pair of strappies, sip on penis-shaped straws, and dance your feet off.
I wasn't looking for a man. Wasn't planning to do anything but hobble my swollen feet up to the room and collapse. Maybe splurge on minibar candy and a six dollar bottle of water. I may not have been looking, but when you run into a man like Brett Jacobs, you don't walk away. You wipe up your drool, remember your southern graces, and bat your eyelashes.
I may have forgotten my southern graces. They may have gotten lost in the pushmeupagainstthewall and takemehere action that occurred. In the clothesripping ohmygod action that followed. They may have, along with my sanity and common sense, left me with bruised lips, ripped panties, multiple orgasms, and blistered feet.
God bless cheap shoes, impulse decisions, and weak willpower.
What are the odds that a weekend hookup during your friend's Bachelorette weekend can turn into the real deal?
I don't need to think, to analyze. I threw reason and safety and good decisions out the window as soon as I walked through the door to his suite. I traded logic for a touch that I desperately crave…
Riley would much rather be spending a weekend on her front porch in Macon, Georgia than dragged to the Bahamas on a wild Bachelorette party for her friend Chelsea… But there she is.
Sensible, responsible, boring Riley in a tiny dress and fuck-me shoes…
After overindulging in food, drink, sun, and gambling, Riley has certainly met her "party girl" quota for the day. She hobbles her way back toward her hotel room on sore and blistered feet when she is saved by Tall Dark & Handsome who offers her a pair of fuzzy slippers.
I guess you could say he swept her off her feet…
After some sexy banter, he offers to walk her back to her hotel room. Ever the gentleman, the mysterious stranger says goodnight to Riley without pressing for more, and she is left reeling…
Fuck him. I don't need a one-night stand anyway. My dusty vagina is perfectly happy with the extensive network of cobwebs it's spent years creating.
Somewhere, in the empty recesses of my mind, my subconscious tears to pieces the 'I love Brett' picture and moves on to more official business.
Yes, Riley is adorably awkward and undersexed while being level-headed and full of Southern Charm. I adored her…
"…you will be mine. You will not return to life as you know it. You will not flirt with men around the water cooler at work. You will bend for me, spread for me, allow me to have every inch of your surface, all while screaming my name and shuddering into my heart. That is what I mean."
Brett is a man who doesn't fall into one-night stands, but he is helpless to the draw of this Southern Belle who has captured his attention…
I have a single complaint:
It was soooooooooo short…
I know that seems like a ridiculous thing to complain about while reading a collection of short stories… But there it is.
Alessandra Torre creates wonderfully complex characters and thrusts them into situations which keep you on the edge of your seat, but there were too few pages to convey that sort of feeling…
She indicates that this is the beginning of something wildly beautiful (and I believe that with all of my pervy little heart) but we're left without any dates for the continuation of this story.
I shall anxiously await more information…
I read this book as part of the Bend Anthology which features some of the most talented authors currently working in Modern Romance.


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First, let us get this out of the way:
I'm screaming. 😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/jmVlu0sTOY
— Uba, MJ (@ubathediplomat) May 12, 2017
One of my earliest Spurs basketball memories was the infamous 1995 Spurs-Rockets tussle. This, especially after the game one destruction, was sweet. The Rockets and Spurs have avoided each other over the last 20+ years mostly because Houston has been fairly poor. With the Mavericks returning to near-irrelevance, it is fun to be Kings of Texas again.
While I predicted the Spurs to win in six and in doing so questioning everyone and everything, I both fully expected a loss tonight but would not have been surprised by a win. As much as I believe in the Spurs Way, talent is important and the Spurs are down their own MVP candidate. As it was, this series began with San Antonio questioning the heart and ability of LaMarcus Aldridge in a 25+ point loss, and ended with the Rockets questioning the heart and ability of James Harden in a 39-point loss.
On twitter, the argument is already being made that this series turned in the last minute of Game 5. This is true and unsurprising because that is basketball. Entire fortunes, careers, and legacies have and will be made on the bounce of the ball 1.
Playoff basketball is also very different than regular season ball and we have seen this most obviously in the Rockets' performance this postseason against both the Thunder and the Spurs.
The postseason is tougher (obviously) because teams are better, more focused, and time to adjust. The Spurs took away some of the bread-and-butter stuff the Rockets like — the fouls on James Harden — and dared the 6-8th man to beat them consistently. Those other guys did beat San Antonio in games one and four, but they did not over the series.
That is both the beautiful and frustrating thing about a seven-game series. Any random guy can get hot for a game and beat you, but it is less likely that that same random guy will get hot for four out of seven.
Game Six was about James Harden's no-show when Kawhi was out with a bum ankle. We all had a feeling that Pop was going to sit Kawhi for a (probably) seventh and deciding game. The Rockets were favored to win and the best we could probably hope for was a strong first half before the Rockets' superior depth took over.
But it never happened. James Harden was in a funk 2 and the rest of the Houston squad had nothing for Jonathan Simmons and LaMarcus Aldridge in the second quarter.
Pundits nearly universally characterized the Spurs and Rockets as one-man shows. The Spurs were (overly) dependent on Kawhi for points and the Rockets (by design) reliant on James Harden's ability to create. The real story was that the Spurs do rely on Kawhi because he is so good and efficient. The Rockets hit another gear once James Harden sits and the bench mob could come in and obliterate the opposing second team.
Eric Gordon, Lou Williams, and the rest of the Houston guys were bad more often this series than they were good. There is the story. When Kawhi was hurt in game five until the buzzer sounded at the end of the fourth in game six, Jonathan Simmons and the others outplayed the entire Rockets team.
Welcome Back, LaMarcus
On Zach Lowe's podcast, Jeff Van Gundy mentioned LMA has been shooting off-balance. After the game LaMarcus said he benefited from getting so many touches and was able to find his rhythm much easier. I am sure it is combination of both of these. If Ryan Anderson was able to bother Aldridge so much in the first game, I imagine Draymond Green will shut him down in the next series. That said, maybe a different offensive approach will help solve the great defensive question that is GSW. That is for another blog post, however.
Right now, let us appreciate the Aldridge we last saw a year ago in the second game of the Thunder series. He scored 40 then, and got 34 tonight. His jumper was falling, which makes everything easier, but he also was scoring within the restricted area.
He has improved from his poor game one performance in each game, but tonight he finally put up the numbers we thought would be required nightly to win the series.
Jonathan Simmons
If Tony Parker was the surprise of the first round (that sounds ridiculous but that is where he is in his career), then Simmons is the star of this one. He is a fan favorite because of his hustle and his highlight reels, but he spends more than a few weeks in Pop's doghouse throughout the season (Dewayne Dedmon does also). This week, we saw the best of J Simms, as he did his best Kawhi impression defending James Harden and getting buckets (18 points!) on the other end.
If you told me our small forward would hold Harden to to one bucket and about 8 turnovers to end game five and start game six while also contributing huge buckets on the other end I would have been unsurprised. "Yes, Kawhi is great. That is what I expect." That is how good Jonathan Simmons was these last two games.
When he raises his three point percentage about 10 points, he will be really good.
Quick GSW Thoughts
As well as our favorite team played tonight, a good portion of the last two wins were because of Rockets flaws. Golden State has few flaws, and those few are masked by otherworldly talent.
Steph Curry is prone to tossing carless passes like James Harden, but Klay Thompson will not have as many no-show games as Eric Gordon. Danny Green got roasted for buckets by Lou Williams and Eric Gordon in game four, that is going to be Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant (whom Kawhi could not stop last year).
The Spurs blew out the Warriors in the first game of the year but GSW has gelled since, and managed to comeback from a 20-point deficit early in March. That was sans-KD. He is back, and looking like the un-guardable 7-footer he is. The Jazz were something like Spurs-lite, and only managed to be down 10 after some really impressive stretches. The Spurs have more all-around talent than Utah — Aldridge is more offensively talented than Gobert, and Kawhi is more athletic than Gordon Hayward and equal in shooting — but is coming off a tough series and dealing with injuries.
Golden State is heavily favored to win the next round for many good reasons. While the Spurs' defense should slow them down, the question will be if SA can manage enough scoring. Manu mentioned this in the post-game.
Last year the Spurs held the 73-win Dubs to some of their lowest scoring outputs all year, and set the blueprint for guarding the Steph/Draymond pick-and-roll. They switched Aldridge out to Steph and trusted him to slow Curry enough. For all the criticism the Spurs have gotten during this Rockets series, they held Houston to three of their lowest scoring outputs all year.
The question in the next round will be if SA can score enough on the switch-everything length the Warriors have.
Right now, let us enjoy the tough series win.
- Do the Spurs three-peat in the mid-2000s if Derek Fisher misses that .4 shot? What if Bob Horry misses the three against Detroit? He missed a very similar one in 2003 after the Lakers made a 16-point comeback to make it a 2-point deficit with seconds to go. ↩
- I am being very generous here. I have seen some people say it was point shaving, poison, sickness, injury, and more. ↩


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Speaking of jazzing up one's style of entertaining (I'm referring to yesterday's post on Peter Callahan), I found this timely article in the February 1960 issue of House & Garden. The article was titled "Party touches your guests will talk about". Truthfully, some of the suggestions were either corny or far too time-consuming. Case in point: "At each place set a tiny basket filled with a bouquet of radishes cut in the shape of flowers, plus watercress for foliage and stalks of celery and olives for added greenery. To be admired, then nibbled while the first course is being served." Um, I don't think so.
But some of the ideas weren't half bad. I'm especially taken with the idea of using vintage ice-cream molds to turn out a good looking dessert. (See below.) Anyway, here are some of the better suggestions that I can see using at future dinner parties. I even added my thoughts on how I might interpret these ideas for my own parties.
Cards or flowers to match up make a game of dinner seating. As your guests go into the dining room ask them to pick a playing card from one of two baskets- the men's containing Kings and Jacks, the ladies', Aces and Queens. Guests find their places by matching their cards to those you've put on the napkins, alternating ladies and men. If you are serving at small tables, ask everyone to choose a flower from a basket containing blooms in as many different colors as you have tables. Each guest looks for the table with a centerpiece in the same color as his flower.
Okay, it's a little silly, but I kind of like this tip. Since my dining room is small, I might forgo the cards in favor of a basket of colored flowers.
Picture markers for trays of sandwiches are both decorative and informative, guiding your guests to the fillings they like best. You can buy French parchment markers like these or make your own. If you're no artist cut out appropriate pictures from children's coloring books or seed catalogues. Or if pretty printing is your forte, skip the pictures and write out the contents of the sandwiches in colored inks. Fix markers to the sandwiches with long Japanese bamboo skewers so that they are easily visible.
For a tea or ladies luncheon, I would absolutely use markers like these. They're easy to make, and with the aid of a computer and printer, you could use all kinds of chic motifs. I'm just trying to figure out what drawing to use for Pimento Cheese sandwiches.
Molded ice with embedded fruit and leaves makes a romantic cooler for a punch bowl. Use any lidless mold, or, lacking that, a cardboard ice-cream container. Fill partly with water and freeze. Then place on top of the ice a layer of whatever you'd like to look at (we used strawberries and rose geranium leaves for this fruit punch), fill to top with water and freeze again. Here the design is repeated by wool felt roses and berries taped to cloth.
I'm not crazy about the way the ice mold looks in the punch bowl in the photograph, but in the right sized bowl, a bombe of ice would look really nice.
Flower-shaped ice-cream molds turn out your desserts in style, ready to be garnished with a chocolate leaf cookie. You can get many designs in old or new ice-cream molds, any of which will be a refreshing change from the standard scoop. Just pack the molds with softened ice cream or sherbet and re-freeze. Loosen the contents before you open molds by wrapping them for a second or two with a hot dish towel.
Yes, yes, and yes. I plan to find a vintage ice-cream mold in the shape of a flower or a fruit. I found one online in the shape of an asparagus stalk. How about molding some pistachio ice cream and then drizzling it with Crème Anglaise (to resemble a Hollandaise sauce.) Kind of weird but kind of fun.
Tiny cocktail trays are the simple solution to cocktail party juggling. On each tray place an individual plate of hors d'oeuvre, a cocktail glass and napkin and an ashtray with matches. Fly-weight Japanese lacquer trays come in just the right size- and in wonderful colors (have a different color for each guest).
This seems a little cumbersome and not as handy as the magazine claimed. But, if you're doing heavy hors d'oeuvres, it might work. Pearl River would be the place to go for small lacquer trays. Of course, most of us can forgo the ashtray and matches.
Italian brandy warmer on a liqueur tray adds an extra touch of pomp and circumstance to the brandy-and-cigars pleasance. You might include two kinds of brandy-perhaps a fine and an Armagnac- for discriminating brandy drinkers, and, for non-brandy drinkers, a white fruit liqueur like kirsch or framboise.
I might skip the brandy warmer, but I do like the idea of putting out a tray of after-dinner drinks. (Sometimes, I skip dessert in favor of a glass of B&B.) It's a nice way to keep the conversation going.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Party Touches to Wow Your Guests
11 comments:
You have amazing style. I just discovered your blog today and I am in love. You are now officially bookmarked. Love the classic tips.ReplyDelete
Bring on the fritos and onion dip. They were the highlight of 60's entertaining.ReplyDelete
Thank you so much, Paula! Very kind of you.ReplyDelete
Dovecote- Actually, that sounds good right about now!ReplyDelete
Love the ice cream shapes, great idea! Regarding placing at tables, we went to our niece's wedding this past weekend, and she had fifteen tables at least, each bearing the name of a vintage. The center of the table was a decoration with old vines and grapes. It was funReplyDelete
Of course, we are in France!
Marnie, I love that idea! So charming! That would be perfect for a party in California too!ReplyDelete
So fun to see these old entertaining tips and how they can be updated to work for today! I've been very busy since mid-August with moving my home and studio, but I'm BACK this week with the Season Premiere of the new fall season of the blog ;) Hope you're having a lovely Autumn!ReplyDelete
Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou
I love reading old magazines like that. Some of the traditions back then were amazing.ReplyDelete
I grew up in the fifties and watching my mom entertain gave me a penchant for "proper". It takes more time, but I get high praise when I do manage a party. As for "advertising" the sandwiches I would write the name in a pretty hand or calligraphy. The drawings seem very casual to me.ReplyDelete
The view from Pontifical.s Porch~
I love all the ideas - my favorite cookbok is The 1965 James Beard's Menus for EntertainingReplyDelete
Beauty- I agree that the James Beard Menus for Entertaining is a terrific book. I have my mother's copy that she bought as a young bride.ReplyDelete


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MEEKER | Meeker High School 2012 graduate Aubrey Walsh was introduced to the audience at Meeker Public Library by her father Pat Walsh, who thanked the crowd of nearly 60 for coming out to hear a bit about Aubrey's journey in life since she left for college. He added that he'd like to take the credit for her successes, but in reality, he said, "I had relatively little to do with it. On the other hand, her mother over there (waving in the direction of Aubrey's mother, Marti, toward the back) weeps of goodness."
Walsh praised and expressed gratitude for the community financial aid provided to his daughter, and others, after high school that allows them to advance in life in ways they could not have without the support. He acknowledged, too, the support Aubrey's "church family and other Christian folks" continue to give her.
Aubrey took the microphone saying how wonderfully nice it was to be there, across the street from where she went to elementary school, in her high school hometown, talking with so many old friends and neighbors. And, she added, it was also nice "because I haven't heard Dad say so many nice things in a long time!"
With that Aubrey embarked on a Powerpoint assisted explanation as to how she left Meeker for the University of Northern Colorado wanting to become a teacher, scored a summer orphanage gig in Peru after her junior year, fell in love with new cultures and teaching, became enamored with Christian mission efforts, and earned her bachelor's in elementary education with a minor in special education. As we detailed in a Dec. 28 Herald Times article, she found a student teaching job in a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, which she loved, and applied for full level teaching with the Network of International Christian Schools (NICS). An NICS placement director encouraged her to look at an opportunity in the West Africa country of Ghana, one of the last places she thought she'd like to go. She also knew it was one of the last places her parents would want her to go.
She ventured to take the opportunity and soon thereafter found herself at the 12-year-old American International School in Ghana's capital city, Accra. Aubrey reported that, to her surprise, Accra is a fairly modern, rapidly growing, and very large metropolis—some 1.5 million people. She was asked if there was good ambulance assistance for accidents. Her response was that there are seldom serious accidents because the traffic moves so very, very slowly. She added, however, that there are several very good, modern hospitals in Accra.
Aubrey described how Accra is set on the edge of the rain forest with annual temperatures that don't fluctuate far from 85 degrees. Cocoa trees with cocoa pods flourish at the edge of town. Ghana, she said, is the world's second largest cocoa producer and is a significant exporter of oil and gas resources. There are some 250 different languages spoken across neighborhoods in Accra, some traditional tribal, some of immigrants, a lot of broken English. Religiously, she said that Ghana is mostly Christian, with some Muslim and Islam, some tribal religion and some combined practices. She's hoping for travel into northern Ghana in the near future where typical African wildlife abound.
Her third-grade students are mostly of wealthy parents who typically may be foreign leaders assigned to Ghana for a period of time. Aubrey says she tries to make her students strong critical thinkers, to think for themselves, and not take everything as lock, stock and barrel, the truth. The whole K-12 school has about 150 kids enrolled. Aubrey's classroom has 16 kids. School in Ghana for all students is very much a privilege and not available to many.
Aubrey further described her mixed-race and mixed-history kids as "experienced" with others and not at all judgmental. They all learn English in order to communicate with each other. Aubrey has also learned that different cultures have different attitudes about learning disabilities. Smart kids can get lost and never have a chance at their potential in some of these cultures.
In addition to her teaching, Aubrey spends time with her own church community through the non-denominational Hope City Church in a suburb of Accra. There she's part of an effort to reach local kids in need of alternatives—and she described about 40 kids from the general neighborhood who attend the church on their own (without parents) in order to take advantage of the opportunities.
Asked to characterize the people of Ghana, Aubrey responded that generally they are much more concerned about personal relationships with other people than they are in their own personal needs or time, they're very intentional, she said, and "love soccer," the only organized sport. To take advantage of her experience as a basketball player and expand student experience, Aubrey has recently begun to organize and coach basketball at her Ghana school. She appreciates the opportunity there to interact with high school aged kids.
On the matter of daily living, Aubrey said the electricity, generated by the Electric Company of Ghana, would typically go off for a day or two without warning and then come back on. She loves the spicy Ghanian food, however. Most of the local meat fare is goat and tilapia.
Walsh's home church here is the Meeker United Methodist Church, which has provided some of her support. Anyone interested in donating to Walsh's expenses can send checks payable to Aubrey Walsh, c/o Meeker United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 26, Meeker, which will be deposited into her local bank account for her mission work. Another option is to donate through NICS which will send them a receipt for tax purposes. NICS gets 7 percent of the funds received.
To donate through NICS, visit www.nics.org/donate or www.oasisis.org/donate). Choose donate now; choose frequency of donation; donors interested in a monthly recurring gift should choose "monthly"; for designation, choose "staff support"; a box will pop up that says "staff name or project number"; type in Aubrey Walsh as the Missionary's Name, project No. 004022; type in the amount to give, along with any comments; complete the billing information; donors can use either a debit/credit card or a checking account, complete the information and select "preview"; review the donation and choose "donate."
Meeker grad Aubrey Walsh shares her stories from Ghana
MEEKER | Meeker High School 2012 graduate Aubrey Walsh was introduced to the audience at Meeker Public Library by her father Pat Walsh, who thanked the crowd of nearly 60 for coming out to hear a bit about Aubrey's journey in life since she left for college. He added that he'd like to take the credit for her successes, but in reality, he said, "I had relatively little to do with it. On the other hand, her mother over there (waving in the direction of Aubrey's mother, Marti, toward the back) weeps of goodness."


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Zoe Saldana: Avatar sequels will take 8-9 months
- Bang Showbiz
- 25 July 2014
Zoe Saldana has revealed she will be shooting the upcoming sequels to 2009 film 'Avatar' for at "least eight or nine months" in Los Angeles, California
Zoe Saldana says she'll be working on the 'Avatar' sequels for "at least eight or nine months".
The 'Colombiana' actress - who is pregnant with twins with her husband Marco Perego - has revealed that the upcoming follow-ups to the 2009 blockbuster will be filmed one after the other in California.
She said: "We're going to be shooting mainly in Los Angeles and that will make things easier for me since I live there.
"Because we're doing the sequels back-to-back, it's going to take at least eight or nine months to finish them."
Saldana starred as Neytiri in the first instalment of the adventure fantasy and is to reprise her role in the upcoming sequels, which are to be released in 2016 and 2017 respectively, and she claims the director is nearing the completion of her and her co-stars' - Sam Worthington and Sigourney Weaver's - scripts.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, she added: "James Cameron is still working on the final drafts of the script and then everyone in the cast will get the call."
The 'Guardians of the Galaxy' star also spoke about the types of characters she likes to portray and confessed she wouldn't feel comfortable appearing in a film as simply someone's love interest.
The 36-year-old beauty explained: "I could never play just the girlfriend kind of role where, as a woman, you're there just as an afterthought to the male character.
"I've always held out to play dynamic and forceful women, and it's worked out very well for me."


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|No weight limit
Most orders are despatched the same day and standard delivery is 3 to 5 working days from despatch. FAST Expedited delivery options are available.
Estimated " Usually shipped in" information is shown against most products
Overseas orders
Postage outside of the UK is from £4.95
Finding out delivery Charges and options before checkout
- Simply add an item to your basket
- Click view basket/Cart
- Click estimate shipping charges
*Free delivery and selected charges on orders over £49.00 mainland UK Parcelforce Zone1 for more information check the delivery info page.