text:
Toyota's three-part recall could bring as many as 8 million vehicles into dealerships around the world. From slipping floor mats to sticky accelerator pedals to a fraction of a second's difference in the Prius' braking system, each of Toyota's three recalls had a theme: Drivers were losing control of their surging?? vehicles.
After several public mea culpas by the company's CEO and the president of Toyota (USA) taking questions live on Digg, the company is moving quickly to reassure drivers that it has covered all the bases. But three questions remain unanswered.
1. Will the Prius fix work?
Toyota says customer concerns stem from when drivers try to brake on a bumpy, slick, or otherwise rough surface, the car's skid control can engage and delay the braking system for 0.46 seconds. The software update will reduce the time of the delay to 0.4 seconds, the time delay on previous generations of the Prius, a Toyota spokesman told the Monitor.
Toyota says only the 2010 Prius uses the new braking software. Separately, the company has recalled 2004-09 Priuses because floor mats can jam the accelerator.
However, as far back as 2005 numerous owners of these older Priuses have complained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that when braking on rough surfaces, their cars actually surge forward.
One possibility is that the sensation of a "surging" vehicle occurs when a driver expects the car to continue slowing but instead maintains its previous speed.
"My wife was coasting to [a] stop (around 5 MPH) for a stop sign and when she put her foot on the brake the car started to accelerate. She came to a stop after hitting another car head one," one complaint reads.
Another consumer experienced a surging Prius as a regular occurrence.
"Ever since I've owned my 2005 Prius, I have experienced unintended acceleration on a regular basis. It most often happens on a particular street in my neighborhood where I need to stop before entering a main thoroughfare," the driver writes. At the intersection, the road declines slightly and "just at the point where I begin to brake, the car suddenly lunges forward."
2. Is the problem limited to Priuses?
When Toyota announced the 2010 Prius recall Feb. 9, it also recalled the 2010 Lexus HS 250h, which uses an antilock braking system similar to the Prius.
But complaints of surging over bumpy terrain extend to other Toyotas in earlier model years.
"The braking issues that were described in the [Monitor article on consumer complaints] are EXACTLY what I've experienced on multiple occasions with my 2005 Lexus ES330. When it has happened to me in the past, I've thanked my lucky stars that there weren't any people, cars, trees, whatever in front of me," wrote Michael Herger of Marrieta, Ga. in an e-mail. "Because it typically happens on bumpy surfaces and wet surfaces coming to a stop, I've made a terrible assumption that the car is somehow responding correctly."
Mr. Herger recently took his car to a Lexus dealership and was told his car was fine.
"All I can do as a consumer is trust that I just took it to the dealership and they're not hiding anything," he says. "But if we, a year from now, found out that it was a larger issue and it does include my car, that it was a typically corporate, it's-all-about-the-money thing," that will reflect very poorly on Toyota.
A review of NHTSA data shows that while few drivers couched their pre-recall complaints in terms of surging cars while going over bumpy terrain, many drivers spoke of surges at low speeds. In one case, a driver of a 2006 Toyota Corolla reported crashing the car four separate times due to it surging forward when being driven at low speeds. A 2007 Camry owner attests that as his wife was pulling into a parking space, she braked and the car surged into a parked car.
3. What did Toyota know, and when did it know it?
Toyota says it began fixing the 2010 Prius's braking system last month for cars still on the assembly line.So why not announce a fix for the cars already in consumers' garages rather than waiting until February to announce the recall under heavy pressure from US regulators?
It raises the possibility that Toyota was not telling customers all that it knew. For example: The company also altered the manufacture of its accelerator pedals for cars sold in Europe in mid-2009 after they were deemed sticky – but says it did not begin investigating problem in the US until October 2009.
Toyota says the European problems seemed to affect only right-hand drive vehicles. And, experts agree, sudden-acceleration problems can be very difficult to pin down.
But some critics see a more troubling pattern of corporate behavior.
"What we're seeing emerging here is a problem with unintended acceleration that starts to show up in the complaint rates around 2002. The company started out really by telling consumers, 'It's your fault, it doesn't happen.' They told the government that unintended acceleration can only happen when customers hit the wrong pedal," says Sean Kane, who heads Safety Research Strategies, an advocacy group in Rehoboth, Mass.
"Then we saw this move toward blaming this sticky pedal, but ... that recall has no bearing on the unintended acceleration incidents that we're seeing at all. I think it's a distraction to what's really happening," Kane says. "They've been willing to blame their consumers for the problem when it appears that there's a multitude of root causes."


text:
Her real name was Olivia Rundquist. Her father was a doctor. Already as a child she played the organ. Ten years old she came to the USA and was adopted by an american couple. Quite young she appeared as pianist, then she studied singing under E. F. Bristol in New York. In 1890 she sang in Boston the part of Lady Saphir in operetta ''Patience'' by Sullivan. In 1891 she gave her first professional concert at the New York Lenox Lyceum. In 1893 she came to Europe and became a pupil of Lilli Lehmann. She made her debut in 1895 at the Opernhaus of Cologne as Azucena in ''Trovatore''. After her retirement she taught singing in New York.
Chronology of some appearances
1893-1895 Cologne Opernhaus Trovatore (Azucena) (Debut)
1896 Bayreuth Festival
1900-1903 Munich Hofoper
1902-1903 London Covent Garden Lohengrin (Ortrud)
1903 Bayreuth Festival
1903 New York Metropolitan Opera Walküre Sieglinde (Debut)
1906 New York Metropolitan Opera Carmen (Carmen)
1906 San Francisco Opera Carmen (Carmen)
1907 New York Metropolitan Opera Salome (Salome) (American Premiere)
1907 Paris Théâtre Châtelet
1910-1914 New York Metropolitan Opera Armida (Armida)
1910 Paris Grand Opéra Armida (Armida)
1918 Minneapolis Opera Tosca (Tosca)
1920 New York Aeolian Hall Concert
Columbia, New York 1911-01-21
Tannhäuser (Wagner): Dich, teure Halle 30635 A5281
Columbia, New York 1911-01-30
Lohengrin (Wagner): Elsas Traum 30645 A5281
Columbia, New York 1911-01-31
Carmen (Bizet): Seguidilla 30646 A5282
Columbia, New York 1913-10-23
Tosca (Puccini): Ora stammi a sentir A1505 39061
Columbia, New York 1913-10-28
Walküre (Wagner): Ho-yo-to-ho A1451 39073

subset: commoncrawl


text:
In December 2012, poet Angela Topping and I decided it was time to start a proper John Clare Facebook page. In the 20 months since then, my how we have grown, with today no fewer than 423 members. Last year in August we held our inaugural 'group' weekend in the Helpston area, and over 19/20th May this year a gathering remembering our great poet by his graveside, and the gravesides of his wife Patty and muse Mary Joyce.
We have writers, musicians, painters, photographers & illustrators, film-makers, poets, sculptors, several descendants of Clare, academics, and plain old fans of his work. We have a rolling virtual exhibition of work "John Clare 150" dedicated to Clare (more contributions would be welcomed), and several books have been published from members of the group who met via these pages, as well as other collaborations.
We plan a second (or is that third) gathering over the weekend of the 12th/14th September (mark your diaries now), again in the Helpston area, but with the possibility of visits a bit further afield to Holme Fen and Woodwalton Fen, weather depending of course.
And to add to all that, the weekend of the 11th to 13th July was the Festival in the village organised by our friends from the John Clare Society (many of us are of course, members of that organisation - one of the largest literary societies in the country).
Our cup runneth over...
Click here to go to the facebook page.


text:
Alms – 10.0 Triple Bock – 2016 Vintage
The German beer purity law of 1516 is celebrating its 500th anniversary. We have
brewed a special beer for this occasion. ALMS – 10.0 Triple Bock – 2016 Vintage – only
available in a limited edition of 2,000 bottles.
Pure alpine well water is one of the most important ingredients in hand-brewed
ALMS beer compositions. The 10.0 Triple Bock is an especially drinkable,
top-fermented triple bock with a light fruit note and pleasant caramel sweetness.
The fine foam and its golden appearance round out this specialty beer.
Triple Bock 0,33 l
Ingredients: water, barley malt, wheat malt, hops, yeast
Alcohol: 10 % by volume
Original gravity 22.2 %
Optimal drinking temperature: 8 °C


text:
Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates salvaged a point at Maritzburg United on Saturday after coming back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 in the Absa Premiership.
The Team of Choice opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Evans Rusike did great work on the left flank before cutting it back across for Mondli Cele to direct home.
The hosts were two goals clear in the 32nd minute. Rusike got the ball in a dangerous position and showed some great control before dinking his finish over Brighton Mhlongo.
Only four minutes later the home side were 3-0 ahead as Brian Onyango hit the back of the net with a simple finish after a terrific cross from the left by Deolin Mekoa.
Bucs got themselves back into the game with a goal in the 37th minute. A poor clearance fell for Thabo Rakhale who sent a stunning volley into the back of Tawfeeq Salie's net.
The gap was closed to a single goal in the 53rd minute when a mistake from Thamsanqa Teyise resulted in a loose ball falling for Thabo Matlaba who smashed it home with aplomb.
Bucs continued to push for the equaliser and were finally rewarded in the 80th minute as Kermit Erasmus pounced on a loose ball and fired home from close range after United failed to clear their lines.


text:
Interview copyright © Damian Michael Barcroft 2017
Gillian Saker – Dr. Patricia Amory
An exclusive ENDEAVOUR interview
by Damian Michael Barcroft
DAMIAN: Hello Gillian, it's lovely to catch up with you again. It's been a few years now since our RIPPER STREET interview, what have you been up to since?
GILLIAN: I really can't believe it's been so long! Goodness, quite a bit has gone on since then. More of the same really; more TV, a lot more stage work. And a lot of singing too. I hope I've come on somewhat since RIPPER STREET which was my first ever job and a wonderful place to learn the ropes. I've got a long way to go, mind! I've got a lot to learn still.
DAMIAN: [RIPPER STREET SERIES 2 SPOILER ALERT!] You were obviously thrilled to be asked back for the second series of RIPPER STREET but then they killed your character off, did you know Bella's fate as you signed up to return or was it something of a unpleasant surprise?
GILLIAN: I was really surprised to be asked back. As far as I knew, I was only signed up for a guest role, so it was really wonderful that the writers decided to extend my character's storyline. I knew that something was going to happen to Bella. That was part of the deal when I signed on. But I didn't know what it would be or when. I think I found out while we were shooting the previous episode. So a bit of a surprise! That said, it was a pretty cool way to leave and Toby Finlay is a brilliant writer so I was glad to leave in one of his episodes.
DAMIAN: Curiously, when I asked you about your research for RIPPER STREET and the episode A STRONGER LOVING WORLD in particular which featured spiritualism and the occult, you told me that you read all about the friendship between Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini. A couple of years later and you're appearing in the HOUDINI & DOYLE TV series – how strange is that?
GILLIAN: I know! How strange is that?! It was fate. I actually worked with another ENDEAVOUR director on that – Ed Bazalgette. Maybe you're my lucky charm. I should talk ideas with you more often.
DAMIAN: I am your lucky charm and absolutely anytime. So, continuing the trend for appearing in TV shows that I like, tonight you'll be appearing in ENDEAVOUR. How did you come to be involved?
GILLIAN: The usual way. I'd met the Mammoth Screen team for a couple of other projects. I came in and auditioned for Ashley Pearce (director) and Helen Ziegler (producer). I've been a fan of ENDEAVOUR since I saw the first film while I was still at drama school. And I think Shaun Evans is brilliant, so when I was offered a role I jumped at the chance.
DAMIAN: What can you tell us about tonight's episode GAME?
GILLIAN: I don't want to give away too much. It's about a bunch of academics who are in the process of creating a chess-playing machine, and in the lead up to the machine's important debut tournament with a Russian chess pro one of the team goes missing.
DAMIAN: And something about the character that you play, Dr. Patricia Amory?
GILLIAN: I play one of the academics. My father is a pioneer in the industry and I'm trying to find my place as a young female academic in a male dominated world. The loss of Richard hits her really hard. It was a really fun role to play, in part because the team was so great. The other actors were all fantastic, and I'm sure as many of the ENDEAVOUR cast and crew say, the atmosphere on set is brilliant, and I'm still friends with a fair few of the company. Plus James Laurenson, who played my father, is so experienced. It was wonderful to watch him work.
DAMIAN: Gillian, it's an absolute pleasure as always – thank you very much indeed.
GILLIAN: And you! I wonder when we shall cross paths again. Happy New Year!


text:
What if travelling is not only about sightseeing and relaxing; but also about learning about the rich Egyptian culture? Our 9 days trip to Egypt will make you enjoy both sightseeing and paying visits to iconic monuments. Starting from the heritage found untold streets in Cairo passing by the most wonderful cruise in the Nile river from Luxor to Aswan. You will head back home feeling like a royalty after meeting in person with the great Pharaohs.
►Cruise the Desert on a Camel Ride around the Pyramids .
►Explore the Solar Boat of king Cheops
►Special visit to the very recent discovered tomb of Mehu in Saqqara.
►Stand in front of the imposing Sphinx
►Visit the famous Mummies room at the Egyptian Museum
►Enjoy the experience of the local Market
►Cruise up the Nile for four Nights on a luxury cruise line
►Visit the Tomb of King Tutankhamon
►Enter the Tomb of Ramses VI
►Visit the hidden gems of Karnak temple
►Visit the Spectacular temple of Abu Simbel
►Sail down the Nile on a sail boat during sunset.
Friday: Arrive in Cairo
Arrive at Cairo Airport. Our meet-and-assist service will take you from just outside your gate through the passport control area and help you through luggage claim and customs. Then they will accompany you to your hotel in Cairo.
Saturday: Cairo
Visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, home of the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, more than 120,000 items. You will stand face-to-face with the Mask of King Tutankhamun. Your tour will also include the royal mummies room inside the Egyptian museum .
After lunch, you will visit Ibn Tulun Mosque, the oldest Mosque in Cairo with the largest area of land, still surviving in its original form. You will have the option of climbing up the minaret which provides a panoramic view of old Islamic Cairo.
Wrap up the day by walking through old Islamic Cairo; walk in El Muizz Street which has the greatest concentration of medieval architectural treasures in the Islamic world; explore the winding alleyways of the famous Khan El Khalili market, the major souk in the Islamic Cairo district. (B, L)
Sunday: Cairo
Start your day by visiting Saqqara, the necropolis of Memphis and home of the Step Pyramid, the first limestone structure that was ever built. Explore its 4350 year old colored tombs. Go inside a pyramid and see the ancient Hieroglyphics engraved on its walls thousands of years ago. Your tour will include a special entry to one of the recent discovered tombs in Saqqara .
Visit the Giza Pyramids, the only surviving of the Seven Wonders of the World. See the 4500-year-old Solar Boat of King Khufu. Ride a camel out in the desert and stand in front of the imposing Sphinx, the combination of human intelligence and the strength of a lion. (B, L)
Monday: Luxor/Cruise
Take an early flight to Luxor and begin your deluxe cruise. Visit the temple of Karnak, the largest religious complex that was ever built for a god.The temple is dedicated to the god Amon Ra, the chief creator god in Ancient Egypt. During Karnak temple visit you will have a special access to the Opet festival temple and the glorious temple of Khonso, Two hidden gems that are rarely visiting by travelers .
Next visit the Luxor temple that was predominantly built by Pharaoh Ramses the second.
Check in at your luxury cruise & overnight. (B, L, D)
Tuesday: Luxor/Cruise
Start the day by visiting the Valley of the Kings, hidden behind the mountains on the west bank of the Nile. Enter the tomb of King Tut Ankh Amoun and stand face to face in front of his Mummy. Also, your tour will include an access to Ramses VI, one of the most colorful tombs at the King's Valley. Visit the temple of Hatshepsut, the only female Pharaoh who dressed and ruled Egypt like a king. Have a photo stop by the huge colossi of Memnon. After lunch, set sail to the town of Edfu. (B, L, D)
Wednesday: Cruise
Visit the temple of Horus at Edfu, the most intact temple from the ancient world. Sail to Kom Ombo Temple dedicated to the crocodile and the falcon gods. Visit the Crocodile Mummification Museum to see crocodile mummies that are thousands of years old. (B, L, D)
Thursday: Aswan/Cruise
In the morning, visit the island of Philae and the temple of Isis, the goddess of love and passion in ancient Egypt.
Visit the granite quarries where ancient Egyptians mined granite to build their eternal structures. After lunch, go on a leisurely felucca sailboat ride down the Nile. (B, L, D)
Friday: Aswan/Cairo
After breakfast on-board, Disembary your Nile cruise and take an early morning flight to Abu Simbel on the southern border of Egypt. This site is the home of two massive rock temples dedicated to Pharaoh Ramses the second and his wife Nefertari. See the gigantic statues of the pharaoh standing for over 3200 years, flanking the entrance to one of the most impressive temples in Egypt. (Lunch bag will be included) (B, L)
Saturday: Cairo
Final transfer by our High End Representative to the Cairo Airport to travel back home with your heart filled with memories of the sights, sounds and voices of Egypt to carry with you. (B)
- 03 nights at Four Seasons Nile Plaza hotel (or similar), based on bed & breakfast "Nile View room".
- 04 nights on board of M/S MayFair (or similar) Nile Cruise start sailing from Luxor on Full Board basis.
- 01 night at Le Meridien Cairo Airport hotel (or similar), based on bed & breakfast "Standard room".
What is included in the tour
- Exclusive meet-and-assist service by our High End Journeys Representatives at airports
- All airport transfers by a private luxury vehicle
- 3 nights accommodation in a 5 star deluxe hotel
- 4 nights on a luxury Nile cruise
- 1 night accommodation in an airport hotel
- All domestic flights.
- All entry fees for archeological sites mentioned on the tour
- Service of an Egyptologist guide on a private tour throughout your trip
- All meals stated on the itinerary, (B) for breakfast, (L) for lunch and (D) for dinner
- Bottled water during all tours and meals.
- All applicable taxes and VAT
What is NOT included in the tour
- International flights.
- Any meal or drinks that is not mentioned
- Entry visas to Egypt.
- Gratuities for the guides and drivers or any other kind of tips.


text:
Sign Up For the Latest News & Exclusive Offers
Stay informed about Plano news and special events by subscribing to our quarterly e-newsletter.
Plano Texas is an active and lively community with many events of interest to our out of town guests and local community throughout the year. Ethnic festivals, arts and crafts fairs, exciting theatre, sporting events and much more are included in the calendar of events. Use the easy search box below to find out what is going on during your visit or plan your next trip to Plano around one of these great events. If you are interested in having an event listed on our calendar, you can Submit an Event here.
Please note: We are doing our best to confirm events in our city during this time. However, it is advised for you to look at event websites/social media or contact event organizers directly prior to attending an event to confirm if it is still happening.
North Texas Performing Arts Summer Musical Theatre Intensive is proud to present "Cabaret" June 21-24 at North Texas Performing Arts – Plano. Students in grades 9-12 will be bringing the exciting, vivacious American musical classic to life through their performance.
Cabaret won 8 Tony Awards for its original run in 1967 including Best Musical and inspired numerous revival productions including the Oscar winning 1972 film (including Best Picture) starring Liza Minnelli and Directed by Bob Fosse and the Tony award winning 1998 revival (including Best Revival).
"It's a show that's very deep and layered," said Director Morgan Southard. "It's a lot more than a story about just a nightclub. Southard has performed in the show herself and has a deep passion for the musical's script and music. "I'm really excited that these students get to take on such a complicated and nuanced material."
As the 1920's draw to a close in Berlin, amidst the economic depression of post-World War I, a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all their troubles at the seedy cabaret called the Kit Kat Klub. Cliff, a young American writer newly arrived in Berlin stumbles his way into the Kit Kat Klub and is immediately taken by English cabaret singer Sally Bowles. Meanwhile, Fräulein Schneider, proprietor of Cliff and Sally's boardinghouse, tentatively begins a romance with Herr Schultz, a mild-mannered fruit seller who happens to be Jewish. Yet times are quickly changing in Berlin and danger lingers in the air.
With the Emcee's bawdy songs as wry commentary, Cabaret explores the dark, heady, and tumultuous life of Berlin's natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. With musical numbers including "Willkommen," "Cabaret," and "Two Ladies." Cabaret is a musical that pushes the boundaries and holds "the mirror up to nature."
Tickets can be purchased online at ntpa.org.
This show is recommended for audiences age 13+ due to mature content.
Thursday, June 21, 8:00 pm
Friday, June 22, 8:00 pm
Saturday, June 23, 3:00 and 8:00 pm
Sunday, June 24, 3:00 pm
Stay informed about Plano news and special events by subscribing to our quarterly e-newsletter.


text:
Best Books for Beginning Readers
I was reading a post from Delightful Children's Book, an excellent kids' book blog, when she confesses to hiding the fantasy chapter books her son prefers underneath the realistic fiction that she'd rather he read. I am the same about wanting my kids to read the carefully chosen books that I have selected for each of my kids. It's just like the cobbler's kids not having shoes, right? The children's book bloggers' kids all want to pick books on their own that are not sanctioned.
And so, in this vein, I am posting the books that my son has chosen to read since school was out. Most of these books, he's asked me to purchase from the Scholastic flyers that come home or asked for them at the library. This are not the books that I'd have necessarily picked for him but I have decided that it's all good. Developing a love of reading does entail reading books that your child prefers. I've also snuck in picture books for him to review for me by strewing them about my bedroom where they are easy to find since we are lazy at night when we search for a bedtime story.
And so, his reviews are below. My notes are in italics.
Beginning Chapter Books
Hiro's Quest by Tracey West, illustrated by Craig Phillips
It was awesome. I loved that everyone could turn into their own special animal and it's not too scary.
He loves anything ninja, I think because he also loves karate. These books are 1 read only so I suggest the library. We have the next two on reserve from neighboring libraries as ours doesn't tend to buy Scholastic beginning chapter book series. I have to admit that this series is not half-bad and counts as multicultural since it has Asian references.
Underworlds series by Tony Abbott
An easy beginning chapter books series perfect for those newly independent readers who will grow into Percy Jackson in a few years. I like the mythology in this series. We read two of these the last month of school.
I liked it but I stopped at the second book because it wasn't as interesting as the other chapter books but I liked it but it wasn't that good of a series.
The Battle Begins
When Monsters Escape
Revenge of the Scorpion King
Miss Daisy is Crazy by Dan Gutman
I loved it. It was very funny but it was very predictable of what was going to happen next.
Mr. Klutz is Nuts by Dan Gutman
I loved it. It was extremely funny and you can never expect anything that he would do.
Mrs. Roopy is Loopy by Dan Gutman
I really liked it. It was funny that she dressed up as all these different characters from nursery rhymes for nursery rhyme week and she didn't even know she did it.
Graphic Novels for Little Boys
Cameron and the Dinosaurs by Scott Christian Sava, illustrated by Andres Silva Blanco
I loved it. It was awesome.
Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework by Nadja Spiegelman and Trade Loeffler
I like it. It's good but not as entertaining as the other books.
Hardy Boys The New Case Files #1: Crawling with Zombies (Hardy Boys New Case Files) by Gerry Conway
I liked it but I was wondering how the make up made them turn into zombies and I think it was a kind of toxic.
Ninjago, The Challenge of Samukai by Gregg Farshtey and Paulo Henrique
I liked it and how there's all these different sections and I think it would be great for kids from the middle of Kindergarten to a little bit of first grade.
Max Finder Mystery Collected Casebook Volume 4 by Liam O'Donnell
I liked all of the Max Finder books and some of the riddles were really tricky and I think kids ages 5 to 8 would like this series very much.
Knights of the Lunch Table: No. 1 (The Dodgeball Chronicles) by Frank Cammuso
I loved it but I didn't like that Arthur lied about he was a master of dodgeball and I never would have guessed that his secret weapon was a pet spider.
Bionicle #1: Rise of the Toa Nuva (Bionicle Graphic Novels) by Greg Farshtey
We had trouble with this graphic novel. It was slightly too scary but the real problem is that we could not keep track of who was who. We mixed up the bad guys with the good guys and the Bionicles are hard to recognize if they are not standing upright. Over all, this was just too confusing.
I think it was a good book but I couldn't understand it that well. And if I did, I think I would like it a little more.
We also read these picture books from Camp Mom Week 1. Some are old favorites and some were new books to review. He liked all of them but especially the Dinotrux books (dinosaurs and trucks are a good combination for him.). He thought How to Babysit a Grandpa was funny. He loved Wild About Books so the same cast of animals and author/illustrator) in Zoozical delighted him. You Will Be My Friend also made him laugh.
New Delightful and Funny Picture Books
Picture Books That He Has Loved for Years
More New Picture Books He Liked
To view any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book or purchase at Barnes and Noble by going here.
Follow PragmaticMom's board Best Early Chapter Books on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom's board Best Graphic Novels on Pinterest.


text:
Call 020 7752 0000AAA
Small Ship Cruising
Our Small Ship Destination cruises are comprehensive and in the main concentrate on a particular area or theme with the focus of the voyage being the itinerary and experience to be had. Our small vessels can dock in ports which larger vessels cannot access and can often moor in the centre of town which allows for more time spent exploring the destination as opposed to travelling from and to the vessel by coach. Destinations covered by our 'small ship destination cruising' include the Baltic, Black Sea, Japan, Mediterranean and Adriatic. Itineraries are based upon cultural themes including Art, Music and politics of the region. Onboard you will be joined by specialist guest speakers who accompany the passengers ashore with the expert local guides and also deliver talks onboard. The advantages of exploring by small ship are numerous and include small group sizes when exploring ashore, ability to access some of the world's most pristine and untouched ports, no queuing to embark or disembark the vessel and a relaxed and informal atmosphere onboard which is conducive to becoming acquainted with fellow travellers and onboard staff and learning whether it be about the wonders of nature, the culture or ancient civilisations you are visiting.
Glories of Sicily
A circumnavigation of Sicily aboard the MS Serenissima
Itinerary at a glance
- Malta / Piazza Armerina / Agrigento / Trapani / Palermo / Messina /Taormina / Catania / Syracuse /Noto
South Seas Island Odyssey
An expedition from Vanuatu to French Polynesia aboard the MS Island Sky
Island Sky
Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Brisbane / Vanuatu / Tanna / Fiji / Tonga /Cook Islands / French Polynesia
Wonders of the Ancient World
Discover highlights of the Ancient World on a voyage from Malta to Athens with Guest Speaker Louise Schofield aboard the MS Serenissima
Itinerary at a glance
- Malta /Syracuse / Crotone / Otranto /Lecce /Butrint / Kalamata / Mystras / Nafplion / Athens
Conflicts, Cures & Curiosities in the Mediterranean
A voyage from Athens to Malta aboard the MS Serenissima in association with Jon Baines Tours
Itinerary at a glance
- Athens / Corinth Canal / Itea / Corfu / Sarande / Kotor / Gallipoli / Taranto / Crotone / Lipari / Messina / Pozzallo / Valletta
Natural Wonders of the Amazon & Galapagos
An extraordinary river cruise through Ecuadorian Amazonia aboard the MV Anakonda combined with an island hopping cruise through the Galapagos aboard the Isabela II
Anakonda & Isabela II
Anakonda & Isabela II
Itinerary at a glance
- Quito, Ecuador
- Quito
- Coca
- Yasuni National Park
- Galapagos
- Sante Fe Island / South Plaza Island
- North Seymour Island / Santa Cruz Island
- Bartolome Island / Santiago Island
- Baltra
Sicily & the Barbary Coast
Discover the Roman sites of Sicily & North Africa aboard the MS Serenissima
Itinerary at a glance
- Malta / Piazza Armerina / Agrigento / Trapani / Cagliari / Bejaia / Algiers / Tlemcen / Tangiers / Casablanca
Wildlife & Wonders of the Indian Ocean
A voyage from Mauritius to Tanzania including Madagascar & the Outer Seychelles aboard the MS Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Mauritius / Reunion / Madagascar / Diego Suarez / Aldabra / Kilwa Kisiwani / Zanzibar / Dar es Salaam
Morocco, Madeira & the Canary Islands
A voyage from Casablanca to Tenerife aboard the MS Serenissima
Itinerary at a glance
- Casablanca / Essaouira / Madeira / Las Palmas / El Hierro / La Gomera / Tenerife
Seville & Beyond
An escorted tour to Seville including a cruise along the Guadalquivir River to Cadiz aboard the MS Belle de Cadix
Belle de Cadix
Belle de Cadix
Itinerary at a glance
- Huelva
- Cadiz
- El Puerto de Santa Maria / Isla Minima
- Aracena Natural Park / Ronda
- Cordoba
Passage through the Seychelles
Island Hopping in the beautiful Seychelles aboard the MS Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Dar es Salaam / Aldabra Islands / Farquhar Islands / Alphonse Islands/ Aride /Curieuse / Praslin / La Digue / Mahe
Passage through the Canary Islands
An island hopping voyage between Tenerife & Madeira aboard the MS Serenissima
Itinerary at a glance
- Tenerife / La Gomera / El Hierro / La Palma / Lanzarote / Madeira
Splendours of the Seychelles
An island hopping expedition cruise through the Seychelles aboard the MS Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Mahe / Praslin /Grande Soeur / Amirante / Farquhar Islands /Aldabra / Alphonse Island / Aride /Curieuse


text:
The Thoughtful Outdoor Traveler: Ideas to ponder on your pilgrimage
On Safety:
"Go carefully lads, be careful; a single moment's enough to make one dead for the whole of one's life."
(G. Pecoste)
"It is the momentary carelessness in easy places, the lapsed attention, or the wandering look that is the usual parent of disaster." (A.F. Mummery)
"He may, with the good luck which sometimes attends children, drunkards, and persons of weak intellect, escape the dangers without even knowing that they were there. But if he affronts too often forces whose powers he had not attempted to understand, he will in the long run succumb." (Lord Schuster)
"There is an educative and purifying power in danger that is to be found in no other school." (Albert F. Mummery, in The Pleasures and Penalties of Mountaineering)
"A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice." (Ed Howe)
"The thing to be wished for is, not for the mountains to become easier, but for men to become wiser and stronger." (Edward Whymper)
"A mountain has never been climbed until you are safely down, and for
descending climbers, a mountain sets an ingenious trap. After you've made it to the top, you have
the feeling that all the hard part is over.
This is the siren lure that leads to that one careless step." (Grant Pearson, in To the Top of
"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it." (Proverbs 27:12)
"The prerequisite for misadventure is the belief that you are invincible, or that the wilderness cares about you. The wilderness does not care about your human rights. The unvigilant perish; the prudent survive." (Daryl Miller)
"The rigid person is a disciple of death; the soft, supple, and delicate are lovers of life." (Tao Te Ching)
"Courage divorced from logic becomes hubris, in which arrogance etches away the old honesty. The good vibes of kharma silently change into the false understandings of hubris." (Galen Rowell)
"Many of our mistakes in life, both physical and moral, are the result of hurry." (Lester Zook)
On Nature, and our visits there:
"The world is not to be put in order, the world is order incarnate. It is for us to put ourselves in unison with this order." (Henry Miller)
"A human returning from a difficult climb is a wise and calm being, glowing from within." (Voytek Kurtyka)
"To those who have struggled with them, the mountains reveal beauties that they will not disclose to those who make no effort. That is the reward the mountains give to effort. And it is because they have so much to give and give it so lavishly to those who will wrestle with them that men love the mountains, and go back to them again and again. The mountains reserve their choice gifts for those who stand upon their summits." (Sir Francis Younghusband)
"The goal of life is living in agreement with nature." (Zeno of Elea, Greek philosopher, 490-430 BC)
"Climbing is not a battle with the elements, nor against the law of gravity; it is a battle against oneself." (Walter Bonatti)
"Each fresh peak ascended teaches something." (Sir Martin Conway)
"May our five senses be pure, and may the weather on the honorable mountain be fine." (Japanese pilgrims' motto)
"It is precisely in climbing mountains that a man learns his limitations and becomes humble."
(Anderl Heckmaier)
"The principal advantage of taking photographs on a mountain is that the mountaineer is thus enabled to stop at frequent intervals and recover his breath. That is why most elderly mountaineers carry cameras. Taking a photograph is a much more convincing excuse for a halt than a boot lace or braces that need adjusting. All those liable to be touched in the wind should take a camera." (F.S. Smythe)
"And thus these threatening ranges of dark mountains, which, in nearly all ages of the world, men have looked upon with aversion or with terror, are, in reality, sources of life and happiness far finer and more beneficent than the bright fruitfulness of the plain." (John Ruskin)
"If the going is tough and the pressure is on; if the resources of strength have been drained and the summit is still not in sight; then the quality to see in a person is neither great strength nor quickness of hand, but rather a resolute mind firmly set on its purpose that refuses to let its body slacken or rest." (Sir Edmund Hillary)
"Pretty places are good for the soul." (Lester Zook)


text:
Results 1 to 9 of 9
Thread: Plywood under firebox?
Plywood under firebox?
Can someone please confirm that this is wrong? I took this picture by sticking my camera into the ash dump and pointing it up. That sure looks like plywood; should that have been removed?
Similar Threads:Welmoed Sisson
Inspections by Bob, LLC, Boyds, MD
"Given sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine."
Re: Plywood under firebox?
Your question has come up a few times in the past. I seem to recall Bob Harper saying the hearth needed to be 6" thick of masonry/concrete to separate wood framing from the fire. I could not find that post, but here is another with a similar issue. Generally, I see expanded metal lath or something similar holding up the hearth.
Department of Redundancy Department
Re: Plywood under firebox?
Morning, Welmoed,
I am not demeaning your post.
A fireplace ash dump is installed on the inner hearth floor. Near the back of the fire box.
You push ashes and debris through the ash dump doors and the debris falls down the ash pit.
There well be a collection cleanout door at the bottom of the ash pit.
Please describe what the appliance is above.
Is that a CMU chimney or chase?
I suspect a chase.
I am making a guess, not the smartest move, but they installed a Zero Clearance gas/LP appliance on the second level bedroom.
I am certain that Zero Clearance will lift some members eyebrows.
Last edited by ROBERT YOUNG; 10-14-2016 at 10:50 AM. Reason: Incoming calls.Robert Young's Montreal Home Inspection Services Inc.
Call (514) 489-1887 or (514) 441-3732
Our Motto; Putting information where you need it most, "In your hands."
Re: Plywood under firebox?
Thanks, Robert. I like to get my terminology correct.
This was a chimney, not a chase; it was a masonry firebox with a masonry chimney and clay tile flue liner; no cap or spark screen. The firebox was full of ashes and I couldn't see the ash dump door. The chimney was filthy, but the ash pit looked like it had never been used. It did look like there was a cutout in the plywood for the ash dump. The door to the ash dump was in the garage in the lower level; the fireplace was on the main level in the living room.
If it were an insert, I wouldn't make a big deal out of it.
Welmoed Sisson
Inspections by Bob, LLC, Boyds, MD
"Given sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine."
Re: Plywood under firebox?
chimney parts.JPG
1: I see no chimney foundation. Is there a footing?
2: A chimney with clay-tile flue liners. A flue liner is a secondary barrier in a chimney that protects the masonry from the acidic products of combustion, helps prevent flue gas from entering the house, and reduces the size of an oversize flue.
Robert Young's Montreal Home Inspection Services Inc.
Call (514) 489-1887 or (514) 441-3732
Our Motto; Putting information where you need it most, "In your hands."
Re: Plywood under firebox?
I believe she put her camera through the cleanout door into the bottom of the ash pit, aimed it upwards at the underside of the hearth and took the pic. I think that plywood is directly under the hearth and the rectangle is the ash dump.
I suggest searching past posts of Bob Harper's for specific information. I know I have seen posts by him specifically addressing this type of condition. Did you follow the link I provided?
Department of Redundancy Department
Re: Plywood under firebox?
Right, pics have been posted here and elsewhere of that same thing. The brick masons left the form in under the hearth. It is wrong. Pics have also been posted of the plywood or planks burnt or charred from the heat.
The good thing is there are probably no other combustibles under there, but it is a fault, you bet.
John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
Re: Plywood under firebox?
Neither the IRC nor NFPA 211 specify a thickness of solid masonry units or reinforced concrete that is deemed sufficient to a combustible form under the hearth. The hearth extension carries a 4" clearance to combustibles below per NFPA 211-11.3.1 2015 ed.
184.108.40.206 states that "Wooden forms used during the construction of the hearth and hearth extension shall be removed when construction is completed."
This is a view of the underside of the hearth taken from the ash cleanout below looking up. You can usually spot combustible forms by inserting a telescoping mirror down into the ash pit, where provided with the mirror angled to provide a view of the underside and shine a light. The ash pit is also an excellent viewpoint where there is sufficient lighting.
If you breach the walls of the ash pit chase and cut out these plywood forms you will have to grout the resulting gap created by the removed plywood.
Keep the fire in the fireplace.
We had a house fire for this very reason...
The top of the ash pit was plywood, which continued through masonry to the band joist and sill plate of the house. Just as we were leaving the house my son noticed a thin thread of smoke coming up through a tiny crack in the mortar of the hearth and being drawn into the front of the fireplace, and thence up the chimney. No smoke smell. I knew there was an ash pit, and concluded there must be some smoldering going on in there... since any reasonable pit would expect hot embers (we let the fire go out and the ashes cool, but ashes can keep a hot coal for a loooong time, and some small amount of hot coals should be expected through the ash dump in normal operation) this should not really be a problem. A little smoke, warm ashes, smoke comes up through the dump and up the flue, so no worries.
But, I went outside and peered in through the cleanout, just in case. I saw some flames. Up at the top. (?!?). Crawled under the house. The plywood had caught on fire, burned through to the band joist (doubled 2x12) and now the band joist, the sill plate, and a portion of subfloor and floor joists was just starting up.
In ten minutes it would have been a massive fire. A garden hose knocked it back until the fire department arrived.
Yes, this is a hazard.


text:
First Palmetto Bank Online Banking Login services are enabled by the bank to its loyal clients. The bank is based in South Carolina, United States. It offers personal and business banking solutions to the customers across the United States. If you have enrolled for internet banking services you will be enabled to access the desired banking services at your comfort zone.
Signing in the user can view account statements, register for automatic payments, make a transaction, apply for a credit card, print transaction details, set payment alerts and more. Read below for a detailed guide to the First Palmetto Bank Login, First Palmetto Bank Routing Number and First Palmetto Bank locations.
First Palmetto Bank Login Instructions:
Step 1- Its easy to login into their online account then, they need to visit their bank's Homepage (firstpalmetto.com) and look for 'Account Log In' at the top left of the page. Here they must enter their 'User ID' and click 'Submit'.
Step 2- Upon clicking the link the users will be taken to the next page where they've to enter their 'Password'. Click 'Submit'.
Forgotten Username/Password:
Step 1- If any user having trouble remembering their password or has lost their password then they can reset their password. To do so, the user will have to go to the bank's homepage and look for 'Account Log In' at the top left of the page. Below that, click on "Forgot Password?" link.
Step 2- The users will be taken to next page where they must enter their 'Access ID', 'Last 4 Digits of Tax ID Number' and 'Email Address' and then click 'Submit'.
How to Enroll:
Step 1- New account holders who want to enroll for online banking then, they need to visit their bank's Homepage look for "Personal Online Banking" at the top left of the page. Below that, click on "First Time User" link.
Step 2- On the next page, the users will have to complete the "Blank Fields" and then click on 'Submit'.
- Name
- Email Address
- Address
- City
- State
- Zip Code
- Home Phone
- Date of Birth
- Account Number
- Account Type
- Password
First Palmetto Bank Information:
|Headquarter Address
|407 Dekalb Street Camden, South Carolina 29020
|Official Website
|Routing Number
|Receiving Bank ABA
|Customer Service Contact Number
|Find a First Palmetto Bank Near Me
|Android App


text:
NEEF's 12th ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT RAISES $100,000
North East Educational Foundation (NEEF) Jerry Comalander's Fore! the Kids Tournament teed off to raise funds for innovative grants throughout the district. A total of 150 golfers, representing 52 companies donated over $100,000 to the 12th annual golf tournament benefiting NEEF. The golfers played 18 holes at the Canyon Springs Golf Club on Friday, Sept.


text:
Governor Cooper Declares October Cyber Security Awareness Month
Governor Cooper has declared October as Cyber Security Awareness Month in North Carolina to bring awareness to the impact cybersecurity threats and breaches have on the security of citizens and the state.
"We all need to be mindful of the value the data we hold both at our workplaces and in our personal lives," said Eric Boyette, State Chief Information Officer and Secretary of the Department of Information Technology. "Too many people do not realize the significance of cybersecurity and open the way for problems, including bad actors attempting to take advantage of your data. This month, we want to remind people of some easy ways they can make it more difficult on the data thieves."
Infrastructures and industries are dependent on technology and the internet to support, transportation, healthcare, emergency response systems, energy, utilities, telecommunications, and financial services. This constant connectivity exposes people and institutions alike to cybersecurity threats.
Every week, 50 to 60 percent of North Carolina state government emails are related to SPAM, viruses, or phishing, while 64 percent of Americans have been victims of a data breach.
During October, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology will be holding events and providing tips, tricks, and best practices for protecting personal data from cyberattacks. On October 11, Secretary Eric Boyette will be speaking at UNC Charlotte's Cyber Symposium. His remarks will focus on Governor Cooper's "Meet the Threat" cybersecurity compact signed by Governor Cooper and 37 other state governors to help protect their residents from cybersecurity threats.
On October 19-20, DIT and its Enterprise Security and Risk Management Office (ESRMO) will be hosting a two-day cybersecurity symposium at the NC Rural Economic Development Center, Room 150/151, 4021 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27610. The symposium is open to all state and local government employees. Attendees will learn about cyberthreat assessments and participate in workshops on "Threat Hunting and Incident Response." Please visit the Cybersecurity Symposium registration page for more information.
During this month, it is important to understand that everyone is part of the cyber ecosystem. Our data is under constant attack, and we cannot defend ourselves unless everyone plays their part and practices cyber hygiene. Take the steps to protect our systems from malware and computer viruses and pay attention to emails before clicking on links. Remember, Cybersecurity is OUR shared responsibility. STOP, THINK, CONNECT.
National Cyber Security Awareness Month was begun in 2004 by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the United Stated Department of Homeland Security. Today, the initiative is worldwide.
Please visit the DIT website for more information. You can also follow us on Twitter @NCDIT or search for the hashtag #cyberaware.
The North Carolina Department of Technology promotes a stronger North Carolina through broadband, public safety, healthcare, cybersecurity, and customer service. For more information about the North Carolina Department of Technology, visit https://it.nc.gov/ or follow @NCDIT on Twitter.


text:
The financial services industry faces increasing customer demands in a highly competitive marketplace. Financial services providers face new pressures to deliver consistent customer experiences, whether in person, or via phone, email, or other electronic communications channel. Whether customers visit a physical branch location or engage with call center professionals for service—they expect a consistent, quality, brand-affirming experience each and every time they engage.
Financial service providers need to anticipate customer needs and automate delivery of key customer messages across multiple channels—IVR, SMS, and email—to cut churn risk and negative brand sentiment. Also, they must meet customers' evolving service expectations and reduce inbound customer support costs and deliver timely information to customers to prevent additional downstream support cost.
At SkyCreek, we have deployed customer contact management solutions for major financial service providers in North America. Our solutions support national level enterprises, which need to deliver a consistent customer experience across distributed operations. We apply our 20+ years of customer contact expertise and industry-specific knowledge to customize our solutions to meet each financial service provider's precise business needs. Our technologically-advanced solutions help financial customers streamline operations, deliver consistent, positive customer experiences, and reduce costs and churn.
In the past, most financial service customers sought service at a local branch location. While this remains true today, more customers are reaching out to call centers to sign up for new services or address any issues. As a result, financial service professionals face new pressures to deliver consistent customer experiences, whether in person, or via phone, email, or other electronic communications channel.
Financial service companies must create strong experience compliance programs to address service provided multiple levels: organization-wide, regional, branch, and individual. By using automated surveys and taking a multi-layered approach to experience compliance, companies can spot problems at the source and take immediate corrective steps. They can remedy customer concerns right away and address employee performance issues with training and performance measurement. Alternatively, companies can identify positive, service-enhancing behaviors at a micro-level and incorporate them into broad customer service practices. This approach strengthens customer service performance across the organization.
Plus, financial service companies can implement other contact management technologies to heighten customer experiences. Reminder technologies can alert customers to pending renewals or service adjustments. Order verification routines can build-in customer verification steps to assure service delivery and accurate billing.
SkyCreek is a customer contact management pioneer with over two decades of industry experience. We have deployed solutions to meet the complex customer contact needs of some of the largest North American financial services companies. Our solution set includes:
All of our fully-customizable solutions embody our industry-specific experience and technical expertise. Plus, each SkyCreek customer receives a dedicated, named account manager to address ongoing training, maintenance, and customization needs. We take a flexible, customer-centric approach to every deployment. Our competitive pricing helps financial service companies achieve measurable ROI from their customer contact management programs.


text:
How we can help
Silver Lining IT and telephony solutions are one of the South Coasts largest and growing IT support organisations.
From pay as you go support and procurement right through to significant business changes such as opening new offices, Silver Lining have the skills, commitment and resources to help, support and enhance your business.
We understand that every business is different, therefore if you don't see the solution you are looking for, please contact our team who will be happy to discuss your requirements in more detail.
or call our team on 0845 313 1111
Our Process
As a specialist in IT and business telecommunications we'll do more than simply fulfil your current requirements. We want to understand your business objectives for the next 5 years. We'll enquire, analyse and make suggestions to help improve efficiency and cost savings, whilst solving your problems now and for the future.
Mail and Telephone Orders
As a complete provider of business telecoms and data services we believe that the combination of great consultancy and listening/understanding our customers data requirements enables us to recommend and strategically build the right solution for you.
Managed Services
We offer a wide range of fully managed service options for businesses of all sizes. Whether you need us to simply monitor your network and applications, take on every aspect of your IT, or open up the benefits of a fully hosted IT solution.
View our latest infographics including the facts and figures around key IT and communication trends, from cloud IT to connectivity and from support to smartphones.
Case studies
We are proud to work with customers of all sizes, across all sectors. We ensure each customer have a fully managed, tailored solution that's fit for purpose and competitively priced.
We provide our customers with a dedicated managed service, covering IT, mobility, voice & data solutions.
Contact Us
Contact us today for help or advice on your IT & telecoms and receive a FREE Costa!
Accessibility Controls
The player supports TAB to change the controls. Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.


text:
Saturday Special #4 (March 10, 2018)
Happy Saturday! Don't forget that for a lot of us, clocks go ahead by one hour. I typically do not look forward to this day every year, as it means that the kids will take a few weeks to get back in a routine. The state of Florida decided not to participate, and I am not sure I blame them. How do you all feel about daylight savings time?
We had a few bloggers link up last week, and I would love to see this grow into a resource for parents. Thank you to all of you that either linked up or stopped by to read the wonderful posts. This week's winner with the most clicks was from the Moms Of Amazing Kids blog. I highly encourage you all to check this blog out, as it has some wonderful resources.
Please don't forget to share the link up with your friends and on your social media!
Saturday Special #3 (March 3, 2018)
Welcome Back! For a new link up I am excited to see that we had five link ups this past week! I would love to see a whole bunch more, so we can turn this into a wonderful resource for families. I know everyone is very busy, and it can be difficult finding time, so I really appreciate those that were able to link up. Let's keep this going!
Our family has been hit hard by illness this past week. We spent last week in the hospital with my youngest daughter, which ended with her tonsils being removed. This is a unkind surgery for typical kiddos, but with Down Syndrome it can be quite serious. I am happy to report that she is recovering nicely. However, her big sister came down with a flu bug during this same time, which has now become a double ear infection and sinusitis. Whew! We were finally able to get our poor sweet daughter some antibiotics yesterday, so she woke up this morning feeling some better.
If your week was as hectic as ours, I am sure you are ready for the weekend too! I am really looking forward to reading your awesome posts. I know that they are blessing this house, and I hope they are blessing yours too.
Check out Heidi Naturally
Each week the number of clicks to each post is counted and tallied. This week's post with the most clicks goes to Heidi Naturally. Her post, All You Need To Know About Homeschooling In One Place, is a wonderful resource for home school families, as it has some great resources all in one spot. I know this is one that I will tuck away and bring out again in the future. Thank you, Heidi, for linking up with us. I encourage you all to check out her site for some other great posts and information.
Don't forget to check out the other great blog posts!
I am so happy that we had some link ups last week. Let's work to make this week even better! I hope you all have a great week!
Thank you,
Christine A Howard
Saturday Special #2 (February 24, 2018)
Welcome to our second Saturday Special Link Up! We are glad you are here. You will find a community of bloggers who want to share their experiences with special needs, home school and family travel. Hopefully you will be encouraged in your journey, help others in their journey, and receive lots of tips and support.
A Little About Our Family
Let me first introduce myself. My name is Christine, and I have been a special needs mom for over 20 years. I have seven children ranging in age from 27 to 11. We have a very busy house, and we add to that busyness with two dogs and a bearded dragon. Our family loves to travel! Whether it be to Disney World, a weekend getaway or just to the doctor, we are rarely ever home. Because of this, we home school out of necessity. With being on the go so much, schooling at home (or on the road) just makes sense. If you would like to know more about me, you can check out my bio.
A Little About This Community
I am so happy to be able to build this community, and I hope that everyone finds value in it. The Saturday Special Link Up is near and dear to my heart. I know how isolating both home school and special needs can be, and so I thought this would be a great way to use my love of blogging to connect special needs and home school families together.
Each week the link will be open from Saturday at 9 am (central time) until the following Wednesday at 9 am (central time). During this time, you may link up one of your own original blog posts. The posts should be family friendly and have something to do with special needs, home school or family travel. Once the link has closed, you will not be able to link for that week. But don't worry, because there will be another link up every Saturday.
Please visit other posts while you are here. Remember, everyone likes a positive comment or share, so please comment or share on at least one other post. Let's build this community into a wonderful resource of support!
Each Saturday, the post with the most clicks will be highlighted on the link up page. I will contact the author of the blog to let them know they are being featured prior to the link up going live.
Saturday Special Rules
1. Link directly to blog posts, not to your site's homepage.
2. Make sure to visit other posts to comment and share.
3. By participating in the link up, you agree for me to feature an image on my blog with a link back to your blog.
4. Please make sure that all blog posts are family friendly and spam free (no giveaways, advertisements, links to your store, or link parties).
5. Anyone found to be not following the rules will be removed from the link up. Continued rule breaking will cause the participant to be banned.
Please share this Link Up on your social media platforms using #SaturdaySpecial, and don't forget to remind your friends to join us!
Click Here to see the awesome blog posts for this week!
Thank you for stopping by!
Christine A Howard


text:
Chapter 2
Richard's POV
When I took this teaching job, I had no idea what I had got myself into. I had no idea how to teach adults when all of my former students were teenagers. But I was up for the challenge. I needed a new beginning after all I've been through. A lot of people told me, it would be much easier than trying to teach students that didn't listen. I wasn't sure how many students were going to show up. Even if psychology was my favorite subject, it didn't mean everybody else would feel the same.
I had a quite long way to drive to the university so I was afraid I would come late. But I managed to get there on time. I got into the class room without looking around. I was so concentrated so I didn't pay attention. It was all quiet. If there wouldn't have been whispering,I would have thought no one was there. I opened my folder to take one more look on the agenda. Then I looked up and greeted. It was then I saw the class was almost full. It must have been at least 25 students there. Most of them were women older than 30. Two younger women sat on the front row. They were obviously friends. I started to tell the students who I was and wrote my name on the chalkboard behind me. Then I heard a sigh and turned around.
"Am I boring you?" I asked the young woman at the front row
I hated interruptions. She had light brown hair. She wasn't the kind that you would instantly notice. To me she seemed shy. She replied to me like she hadn't heard my question. She even looked at her friend. When I told her maybe she wanted to start the introductions, she refused. It felt like high school all over again. Then she dared to challenge me. She kept looking at her friend. When another female student started to talk, it seemed she didn't care. It was getting irritating. When I told her to repeat what the woman had said, she couldn't. I knew she was embarrassed and that's what I wanted. She should know I wouldn't tolerate this.
I don't know what happened after that. All I can remember was the conversation in the hall. At first I was upset but then when I looked at her I calmed down. When I'm upset I usually stay like that. She did say sorry and that was OK with me. I didn't want to embarrass her more than I did so I didn't make her introduce herself. I sat back on my desk. After the intros, I continued. It was quite an interesting evening and I was convinced I had made the right choice. When everybody else had left, the two friends were still there. They were talking about something but I kept doing my own thing. While I cleaned the board with a wet sponge, I heard one of them say something about liking someone. I got curious and looked at them leave. Nadia, I think her name was, looked behind her. I left the class room for a moment to follow them. They didn't see me. I took my things quickly and switched the lights off. I closed the door and got to the parking lot. Most cars were already gone. The girls were getting into a red Mini Cooper. I got to my car but as I sat down, I realized what I was doing. This wasn't me. She was a student. I would never date one. I had promised myself I wouldn't sink that low. I had to take those thoughts out of my head. Before I started the engine, I softly said her name, Leia. That was a name I would say a lot, I was sure.


text:
Hankering to make a change? Want to get your hands dirty (or, at least, slightly scuffed)? Take a look at our Take Action Fact Sheets, which will give you the tools you need to make a difference for wildlife — and feel good about yourself!
At-Home Projects & Fact Sheets
See what you can do at home for wildlife.
Outside Projects
Experience nature and see wildlife with these fun "how-to" activities.
Join the Canadian Wildlife Federation in making the conservation movement mainstream by making a difference in your own community — because water's worth it!
Learn more