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Practice What You Preach, Part V
When last we left our aspiring pretend-composer, he was staring down the barrel of a deadline, albeit self-imposed. The situation was by no means hopeless … but it was starting to look like all those research papers from college: in spite of all possible preparation, he was going to be typing till midnight the night before the due date.
Like exactly none of the great composers of the nineteenth century, I played back the mp3 files that I had made of the seven anthems in this contemporary Advent/Christmas set. Just wanted to make sure that the grand sweep of the series of songs made sense … or to make sure that there was any kind of grand sweep at all, or aural evidence of a grand plan.
Turns out that the original opening song was okay in the second position, now that I'd written a prelude to it. There were a couple of slower items to start. They were followed by a subversively swingy take on a "Watchman, Tell Us of the Night" text, and a fairly energetic setting of the shepherds' adventure. Conceivably, it could have been a good place to pause (as in the middle of a service, one must pause and do other things). On the other side of the halfway point, a slow gospel anthem, followed by a Wise-Men desert camel groove (please refer to this dignified explanation for this silly description!), followed by the big finish.
Something was still bugging me. It felt like the tempo of the whole thing just kept increasing and increasing. A lot of slow and pensive stuff early, and the longer it went on, the less relief a listener was likely to get from the constant cranking-up of the intensity. I thought I needed some brief moment of repose before the last movement.
Then I remembered what complete tightrope act I had considered perpetrating, when I stumbled onto the web archive of Christina Rossetti's poetry. She wrote the text that became the hymn "Love Came Down at Christmas", and every time that has appeared as a hymn in a church service or come on the radio within my hearing, I've somehow felt – arrogantly, one could argue – that segments of the melody it was set to, well, just felt awkward to me.
So, sure, let's go make contact with the third rail. Let's go try and re-set a justly-famous and beloved piece of poetry that has an already widely-recognized melody attached to it – a traditional Irish folk melody, no less. If the Irish have known one thing over the centuries, it's how to write a darn melody that'll stick in your head.
What am I, nuts?
Well, many of you already know the answer to that.
But I thought it ended up setting the table for the Big Finish movement pretty well. A chance to take a breath before the final plunge, perhaps.
We'll see.
So, I thought I felt pretty happy with the pieces, even if the way they'd developed hadn't be precisely linear. More like one of those "Family Circus" comic strips with just one gigantic panel, using a dotted line to trace and little Billy's mischievous path around his neighborhood.
Just one thing, now:
All that remains is to get it in front of live people – the actual people who we're conscripting (encouraging) to prepare and present this material in December, as if it were an actual Large Work – and see if they think it's worth a dang. Our church choir has presented works of Brubeck and Buxtehude, Saint-Saens and Murphy (my prolific brother-in-law and organist), … and I ain't them! … but the style of a lot of this material has definitely not been run up the flagpole during Advent before, in our church. So, novelty at least.
We'll see, indeed.
[Postscript: this week, we opened our 2013-14 church choir campaign with one of two Thursday-night rehearsals that will precede the first "choir Sunday", on the 8th of the month. I gingerly passed two of the more straightforward movements out to them, and we read them down. And I must say, the assembled singers were more than kind and generous about them. Of course, while we were sightreading the "This Is No Time" movement, I could only notice what I perceived to be flaws in the writing … except that they read it so well that I was forced to pay attention to their handsome singing. Afterward, I described to a couple of folks how my blood pressure was ever-so-slightly elevated, shall we say, as we began to sing it. They seemed surprised at that; but I'm not a composer by trade, and I was hoping that wouldn't show.
[Just hang on till we read the "City of Angels"-esque movement. Then we'll really see what's gonna fly…!]
Practice What You Preach, Part IV
When last we left our aspiring composer type, he staring down the barrel of a deadline, albeit self-imposed. The situation was by no means hopeless … but it was starting to look like all those research papers of his life: in spite of all possible preparation, he was going to be typing till midnight the night before it was due.
With three days of a summer vacation remaining before I had to dive back into the world of faculty meetings, lesson planning and lunch duty, I had written five songs. My plan had been for seven. So, three days and two songs. No problem.
Which is, on its face, a pretty absurd statement. No, I wasn't going to be writing the equivalent of the Pathetique Symphony – perhaps a Pathetic one! – but it's over-the-top to expect to whip off a decent anthem in a day. Which, I reminded myself, is why we sleep on it and the next morning we edit. Hard.
Right. To the poetry pile! I looked at what had been written so far and it was severely lacking in shepherds and angels, which is of course one of the fun parts of the Christmas story. Many years ago I imagined writing a piece that properly conveyed what the shepherds might have felt. I don't care who you are: if you are suddenly set upon, in the middle of the otherwise quiet wee hours of the morning, by blindingly-lit supernatural figures that claim to be angels, you are terrified right down to your regulation sandals. But back then, I imagined a much less contemporary-music-sounding thing, and frankly it was probably wouldn't have been appropriate for the Offertory music slot at the local Methodist church.
Two things happened almost simultaneously. First, I recalled having thought that it would be a fun experiment to write a tune based around one of those four-guitar-chord riffs that go around and around and around and are in fact the entire harmonic structure of a Green Day or a Michelle Branch tune. Especially since at one point way back when, I remember mumbling, "well THAT'S not very creative." I was a Gershwin snob, I think.
And second, remarkably, a poem hurled itself at me, out of the Christina Rossetti catalog, that started out, "Shepherds watch their flocks by night…"
Well there ya go.
And after a morning and an afternoon, and then another morning of polite but ferocious editing, I had a song in 6/8 (up to that point I hadn't gotten into compound meter, and was beginning to consider the monotony of having most of seven songs in 4/4), driven forward by a pair of '90s pop guitar riffs. Not my usual. Kinda fun.
The other element of the Big Story that was still glaringly absent: Wise Men of any kind. And again … I don't know who exactly was choreographing this wild poetry-goose chase, but amazing! This time the Madeleine L'Engle catalog stepped up and delivered a curious poem, written in the first person, from the perspective of the three kings. Its structure was intriguing: each of the six stanzas had a six- or seven-syllable line, followed by a pair of very similar two-syllable lines, followed by a last eight- or ten-syllable line. So? Tenors and basses sing the longer lines, punctuated by sopranos and altos interjecting the short lines, and we potentially answer the question "so, are the men going to have any melodies in this collection of songs?"
And possibly the question "how much Philip Glass -grade repetition can a choir stand before it throws up its collective hands in frustration?"
And possibly the question "can I get away with overlaying a piece with a stereotypically Lawrence-of-Arabia, 'Do You Hear What I Hear' percussion ostinato?" Well? They traversed the desert, after all … and we've got a couple of fine percussionists in the congregation (one is seven years old, one is a recent college graduate, and both rock-solid), so of course we utilize!
Is our hero finally finished? Do seven songs actually equal one complete work? Will our hero step back and admire, or will he perpetuate his irritating habit of writing a lesson plan ahead of time and then straying from it halfway through the class? Find out … in the final installment of … "Start Rehearsals Already"!
Practice What You Preach, Part III
When last we left our musician-with-a-fledgling-composition-gig, he was thrilled with having two anthems in such shape that he didn't hate them, even the next morning. He was also giving a faint edit/update to that "Part II" post, thanks to a stray paragraph that got copy/pasted incorrectly. He was also recognizing that all he had to do was find five songs just like the first two.
(Theme music UP, then fade DOWN. Narrator speaks.)
I'm still trying to decide whether writing two pieces out of a total of seven … and then spending two weeks on the road, away from a computer or piano keyboard … is a BAD idea (you're on a roll and you stop?!) or a GOOD idea (give the material an opportunity to marinate inside the brain; step back and get some perspective). But it's what I did. Went on the road with DMA, and to visit various friends, over the course of 15 days – give or take a 36-hour stop home to do laundry and not much else.
So I had what I felt were solid bookend pieces … and needed to fill in the guts of the Large Work. Piece o' cake.
Back to the poetry of Ms. Rossetti and Ms. L'Engle, as has been previously discussed to death. I found a poem by Christina Rossetti that began, "This Advent moon shines cold and clear, these Advent nights are long…" and for the first time, a musical idea leapt to the forefront and demanded my attention. Thus far, I had finished [1] a sort of slow, straight-ahead opening song (don't honestly know how else to describe it, other than perhaps "your choir will shine with this pensive Advent text treatment") … and [2] a showy, funky final movement that was trying not to be a disco song. Early on, I'd wanted to have something swing out a little bit, since a few years ago I wrote an Easter anthem in the style of an Ellington big band original (Just Not As Good! … I am still humble) which kinda caught on.
Weird, I thought, to have a song swing out when the only loud part of the Advent story is usually the angels carrying on about peace on earth, goodwill to men (and women). BUT that first line of text transported me musically to the land of Guy Noir, Private Eye. I refuse to write a Christmas Pageant script with a Philip Marlowe-style narrator … but I did hear a muted trumpet wailing in the distance; I sensed Manhattan Transfer-esque choral harmony with lots of stray ninths and 13ths; and I felt a slinky, slightly desperate swinging of eighth notes coming on. At the very least, it could cause people to sit up and scratch their heads.
I will now admit that shortly after that tune got into some next-to-next-to-last-draft form, another poem wandered in front of my eyes that caused me to teeter on the edge of musical composition mimickry. This past spring, I heard a choral piece that knocked my socks off. It was slow; it was written specifically for a large number of voices, in four parts, emoting in a contemporary gospel genre (not the classic spiritual style, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", so much); and it was a monstrous hit with the audience of which I was a member that night. I admit … I'm not for plagiarism; and I'm trying to be original here … but I really wanted to write something that would have a comparable effect.
The poem I was looking at, describing the newborn baby Jesus, had relatively few words in it. Perfect for a slow tempo. Problem: as is often the case with Christina Rossetti's poetry, it was basically in hymn form. So, no refrain to hit the listener over the head with … to put a big pretty bow on the package … to be the earworm that listeners can't get out of their heads.
Solution? Simple. Re-visit Latin class.
Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te … and Gloria in Excelsis Deo, for good measure.
('Twould have been truly odd to have a Large Work, written for Advent and Christmas, without that line in it. Phew. Rescue!)
There was one more item that would come out of the week following the fortnight of my Mid-Atlantic Summer Tour. A Madeleine L'Engle poem called "The Glory" turned out to be a text that I really liked, a text for which I immediately came up with an appropriate idea for a musical setting, and a text that with a lurch I realized had to be presented prior to the text that comprised my current "opening song".
I had written that opening song, and especially the beginning of it, to be absolutely the beginning of the Large Work. Two quotations of that aforementioned four-note motif, like a call to prayer from a minaret (use your imagination; go with me on this one, for the moment). Brilliant. And now, the high General Effect score might have been in danger from the actions of its own composer?
Yep, pretty much. The new opening song was lots more contemporary-sounding than the old opening song, and probably laid out that element of the Large Work much more effectively. But I was still a little deflated. Wish I'd seen that coming before. Ah well.
So, a productive week following the Summer Tour. Then, a productive week following that – just not productive in the service of the Large Work. A brief, previously-scheduled trip to Cape Cod … and then the few days that remained between my Cape return and my re-immersion into School Teaching (oh yes! –my day job) were going to have to be pretty productive. I had no illusions: once the school year kicked in, accompanied by the beginning of the regular church-gig program year, composition time was going to be sparse…
Will our hero finish two more anthems before the giant stone door slams down and leaves summer vacation on the other side of it? Will the basses finally get something melodic to sing? Find out … in the next exciting installment of … "Humility Takes a Holiday"!


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Ibanez SCA220 Reviews
While it's the lower end model, it's still a pretty decent player. If you can find one at a good price on eBay or your local music store, it could be worth considering. Just be sure to replace the pickups as the stock ones are pretty bad. [read more on Audiofanzine]Hatsubai rated this unit on 2011-08-11.
This is a wounderfull guitar.. easy to use sounds great, light. but its all personal preferance! u decide [read more on Audiofanzine]Jeff rated this unit on 2002-06-13.
� Gear Review Network / MusicGearReview.com - 2000

subset: commoncrawl


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20 DIY Home Decor Ideas Using Decorative Paper
I recently shared an article about different ways pretty patterned papers, like scrapbook paper and others, can be used for craft projects. A few of them were home décor crafts but there are still so many things you can do with them, especially for home decorating.
Using pretty paper to update furniture and other decorative pieces can really help give things a fresh new look. A few other things you can do is use it to decorate candles, create beautiful wreaths, chandeliers and lots of other decorative items.
Finding Paper on a Budget
Scrapbook paper is wonderful, but I know what you may be thinking. Price-wise, it can be really expensive but not always. If you need just a sheet or two you can buy them by the sheet usually for about .25 a piece.
Look for sales and you can use 40 and 50% coupons at craft stores. You can get a whole book of beautiful paper for sometimes half the price.
Something else you can do is print free patterned papers off the Internet and just print what you need at the time. Just be sure to seal any paper you print from an inkjet first with something like Mod Podge, to avoid runny ink. I am looking into getting a laser printer myself. I hear the ink is sealed when you use those.
Mod Podge
You will see Mod Podge mentioned a lot in this article. Just in case you don't know, Mod Podge is basically like white glue but with a gel-like consistency. It will not only glue paper down but you can brush it over the top of the paper and use it as a sealer.
It comes in matte and glossy finish and dries super fast and crystal clear. This stuff is amazing.
1. Make Art for Your Walls
- The first one is a gorgeous piece of wall art that I found at Jessica's Musings. It was made with a canvas that was painted black with pretty scrapbook paper cut in the shapes of leaves. I just love it. It's such a bright pop of color for a wall. What is really neat about it is I can easily see many ways you could personalize something like this to fit your own colors and décor.
- Over at Ali Edwards, I found the pretty framed butterfly art in the second photo. This was made using butterflies cut from paper using a paper punch. I have seen similar projects. One was a Valentine's decoration that was made pretty much the same way except hearts were mounted inside the frame. You could make this type of framed art out of any paper punch shape out there. The possibilities are endless!
- Queen of Diy made the fabulous group of wall art you see in the third photo and she shares a great tutorial with wonderful illustrative photos showing how you can make this for yourself from 12x12 scrapbook paper sheets and foam board! This is one of my all-time favorite projects out of all the things I have seen done with scrapbook papers.
2. Make Drink Coasters
- I love these square tile coasters along with the tutorial I found at The Cottage Home. Square tiles of this size are inexpensive and can be found at any home improvement store. As beautiful as these are, you won't believe how easy they are to make and wouldn't these make a great gift?!
- Vintage Image Craft has the tutorial for these lovely round coasters made from old CD's. I love this idea and you really can't go wrong. You can use pretty vintage images like in the tutorial or you can use bright modern colors. The possibilities are truly endless!
3. Make Bookshelf Decorations
Pretty papered covered books make beautiful decorative accents on bookshelves, tables, etc. I love these that I found at A Cultivated Nest. The books are first covered with pretty scrapbook paper and then stamped with rubber stamps. It is a beautiful effect and I know they would look beautiful stacked just about anywhere.
4. Do Furniture Makeovers
- Have a look at these amazing bar stools I found at Abernathy Crafts. Who knew that bar stools could look this fabulous? These were actually old bar stools that got a makeover and I must say she did a wonderful job with them.
- I also found these cute decoupaged chairs at Mitzi's Collectibles. These chairs are adorable, especially the pink one with the patchwork seat. She actually used vintage wallpapers for these (which is darling!) but any kind of paper would work. I love the "shabby chic" style of these chairs. So cute!
5. Make Decorative Trays
This is an amazing DIY tray I found at Made By Girl. It is as beautiful as it is functional . . . this is such a clever project! It is made using a large picture frame with pretty paper inside and a couple of drawer pulls attached for the handles. She was gracious enough to share a wonderful photo illustrated tutorial as well :)
6. Make a Dry Erase Board
I am very excited about these DIY dry erase boards I found over at Sister See Sister Do. This is such a neat idea! She turns a regular picture frame into a very cute dry erase board by adding paper, photos, etc. mounted inside the frame as a background.
7. Line the Interior of Your Cabinets
I love this cabinet makeover I found over at Modern Jane. The interior was lined with black and white patterned scrapbook paper and I just really love how it pops when the cabinet doors are open. I think this was a fabulous choice. To me it has a simple look, yet elegant at the same time.
8. Make a Cute Desk Organizer
Over at Interiorholic I found this cute wooden IKEA organizer that got a new face using some black and white patterned paper. I'm a sucker for black and white patterns and this one is no exception. Just like with the cabinets above, the contrast of black and white paper really makes this pop.
9. Decorate Suitcases
- These stackable suitcases are super cute! I found them at The Vintage Umbrella and they were made by mod podging squares and rectangles cut from scrapbook papers onto them. This would be a great project for your pretty paper scraps.
- Suitcases, especially vintage ones, are used for much more than just travel these days. People love to decorate them and use them for storage, since they stack so well. In the second photo is a small vintage suitcase makeover that I found at Design Sponge. It was covered with pretty wrapping paper. I love the big red flowers!
10. Give Your File Cabinet a Facelift
Do you have an old file cabinet sitting around that is just an eyesore? Why not give it a new look like this one I found over at Faith's Place? She simply took some Mod Podge and glued some pretty scrapbook papers on to the front of the drawers. I think it looks amazing and it sounds like it was so easy to do.
11. Make Decorative Balls
- These balls that I found at DCWV Diary (along with a video tutorial!) remind me of those decorative twine balls. I think they are very cute. All you need is a glue gun and some paper and they are really just so, so simple to make.
12. Create a Pretty Paper Wreath
- This is a nice wreath made from paper that I found at Fiskars project gallery. I love that it sort of looks fluffy and also that the ends of the paper is punched with a decorative punch. It makes it look like lace. It was actually made from book pages but you could use any type of paper.
12. Make a Gorgeous Lampshade
I think this paper shade is my favorite project out of everything here. I LOVE how there is a hidden element inside the shade that only shows when the lamp is on and the small punched holes.
I think the natural brown color of the paper is very nice but I also think any paper would look stunning, though you may not be able to see the hidden motif as well if it's too dark of a pattern. If you are interested, Shelterpop has shared a fabulous, photo illustrated tutorial.
13. Create a Beautiful Paper Chandelier
What can I say about this chandelier? There are no words! It's absolutely precious. It is made with white cardstock and vellum. You can use a die cutting machine or paper punch for the butterflies.
I think this would be very pretty in a girl's nursery or maybe out on a screen patio and most definitely would make a beautiful wedding decoration. I keep thinking this could look even more magical (if that is possible!) if you could somehow have some small fairy lights intertwined around the hoop and maybe hanging with the butterflies. I know they do have small battery operated LED's now. You could probably buy them with a white cord and they would blend in so well you wouldn't even see them.
This is one of those that you could very easily change up to suit your tastes, like using different colors or using a different punched shape. This is an amazing project. To learn more and see a nice tutorial go to Heartland Paper.
15. Give Your Clock a Makeover
Give an old clock a new life by changing its face . . . sort of like this one I found at Wonderful Joy Ahead. She bought a plain inexpensive clock at Walmart for a few bucks but it was the perfect canvas and she improved it drastically just by covering the face with pretty paper and adding some new numbers but you could do the same with any old clock you have.
I think this is such a great idea. It is a great way to match your clock with your other décor. I would have never thought of it.
16. Cover a Step Stool
- Look at this bright and pretty step stool I found at Pink and Green Mama. I love the colors on this stool. It's so fun!! She used Mod Podge to attach the scrapbook paper and it really is just gorgeous! Something she mentioned in her post is that she used outdoor Mod Podge because it's waterproof and I think that was an excellent idea. You may want to keep this in mind if you will be Mod Podging furniture in the future. Using the outdoor Mod Podge may be the best choice for your project, especially if it will be in an area prone to getting wet.
- Hearts are my favorite shape and I couldn't help but share this precious heart shaped stool I found at Two Girls Being Crafty. This one also is covered with a pretty scrapbook paper using Mod Podge. She also sprayed a clear sealer over the top of the stool for added protection. This stool is so cute. I just love it!
17. Give Your Bathroom Scales a Makeover
I swore off scales a long time ago but this project I found at Yearning to Create is very tempting! I have never seen a bathroom scale makeover, but what an awesome idea! This is a great way to update an old scale that still works great or to match your scale with your current décor. I love the paper that she used. The scale has a whole new look.
18. Embellish Your Light Switch and Power Outlet Covers
- Another way you can use paper to decorate your home is to cover your outlet covers with paper in colors and patterns that match your décor. Like this outlet cover I found over at Boospire . . . For Women! This is just one of many things they did in bedroom makeover and I think it looks fabulous!
- Here is a pretty paper covered light switch plate that I found at Jones Design Company along with a nice, photo illustrated tutorial showing how it was done. I think that pattern really pops and it looks very nice mounted on the wall.
19. Make Some Flower Cubes
These flower cubes at Favecrafts make a cute decorative touch to any space. Make your own by covering a Styrofoam block with paper squares in the color and pattern of your choice. These can easily be customized to match your existing decor.
20. Make Paper-Covered Candles
How About Orange shows how to make these neat cut-paper candle holders. What I love about this one is that it really doesn't matter what paper you use, you will still see the candle shining through. This is genius! Some paper may be too heavy to see the candle through it but if you do it this way, you could use paper you want and still see the candlelight. I love the textured look that the paper gives to the candle and these candles look great covered with plain white paper.
Another paper that is nice to wrap around candles in glass holders is rice paper, tissue paper and vellum. These come in different colors and they are translucent so you can see the glow of the candle through the paper. I am not sure if vellum is considered 'paper' but it IS in the scrapbook paper section of craft stores :)
Just a Few Tips
- If you are looking to cover something that is large with paper but just do not have enough paper that you would like to cover it with, use wrapping paper. It comes in a stunning selection of prints, colors and styles and will do the job beautifully. The best way to do it is to use something like Mod Podge to glue it onto the surface and then do a few coats over the top to seal it and help protect it.
- Regular Mod Podge is wonderful and provides a lot of protection to your projects, but for even more protection, especially for things in the kitchen or bathroom that will be around a lot of water, outdoor Mod Podge would be even better OR you could spray on a clear sealer.
- Don't forget tissue paper and crepe paper. Those can be used to decorate things too.
I hope that you have enjoyed this article and have found these ideas interesting and useful for you. Hopefully you are feeling inspired to use some pretty paper for decorating around your home.
Just remember to keep any eye out for sales and don't forget to use coupons. Half off craft store coupons can really make a difference. You can go right to their website and print one off or get one in the Sunday paper.
Happy home decorating with pretty papers!
Thank you for all your help, I'm in the U.K. And wondering if I can buy Hodge Podge here?
I love all of these crafty and nifty ideas, Jamie. Voted up for awesome and two thumbs up!
These are great ideas! Now I know what to do with all my leftover scrapbooking paper from creating my wedding album! Thank you!
Wow, these are some wonderful ideas. I really like the Switchboard and suitcase idea. Thank you for sharing this. Cheers :)
Great ideas!
These are some great ideas for brightening up rooms and I'm keeping those step stools in mind!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful creations and ideas. Great hub Jamie Brock.
Neat ideas! I love the stools and the dry erase board idea!
You offered so many wonderful ideas in this one article that I decided to add it to my Where to Find Vintage article.
These are beautiful craft ideas. My first impression of your main photo was that it consisted of pieces of gem stones. Now, I would be interested in trying this in a small painting mosaic format. Thanks.
I love decorating with paper! I've made a dry erase board, recovered a table, and decorated clothespins with scrapbook paper before. There are just too many cool decorative papers in the world and I don't scrapbook, so I have to use them somehow.
Loads of great ideas and inspiration here! Love the pictures and the available tutorials. Problem: Where to start first. : )
Great hub; voted up and Shared.
What an awesome hub, thank you for sharing so many ideas and images. Very nice collection. Happy I found it!
Just came across this hub - wonderful ideas! I will refer back to this one again and again since there are so many clever ideas I have never seen before.
The bathroom scale cracked me up! Also like the black and white light switch cover idea. Looks like I've got some projects ahead of me:)
Love these ideas! Especially the wreath and butterfly chandelier!!! Thanks for sharing!
This is a wonderful assortment of ideas. I will be coming back to this hub on a rainy day.
You are a natural designer ! Really neat.
great ideas! Didn't know there was an outdoor mod podge! Love the decorating of cabinets! The step stool is so cute! {:-Deb
Great ideas, great tips. I was thinking of painting the interior walls of a small hutch but now am going to think again!
I always look at that beautiful paper and wonder what to do with it, not being a scrapbooker. Thanks for the great ideas - these ideas are so cool. Voted up and tweeted!
I used to cover switch plates with pretty napkins but I like this paper better.
Awesome hub! I'm going to refer back to this. I've already done the coasters and since discovering the joys of scrapbook paper and mod podge, I'm interested to see what else I can do. You've given me some great ideas. Voted up and sharing.
What an AWESOME hub! So many wonderful ideas, you have put much work into this so great job! Love the suitcases, candles, lamp and light switch . . . all are brilliant.
Voted up and more and sharing on! Definitely bookmarking this great piece!
So many great ideas there, I actually plan on something similar to the butterfly cut out picture as some christmas gifts but using a heart punch. Love so many of them though so will have to keep it in mind when I need some more inspiration!
Thanks voted up and shared!
Wow whoever knew you could do some much with decorative paper! Awesome hub!
I like the paper chandelier. I want to try a beautiful one.
Great ideas for decorating home. I especially liked those nice coasters. I should make them for my office. They really look wonderful.
Awesome job as always, Jamie! It is really amazing how many different ways you can use decorative paper around the home. Thanks for linking my scrapbook paper article.
Hi Jamie great and very useful ideas within this well written hub. These are 20 great home décor ideas !
Vote up and more !!!
Oh my, I used Mod Podge years ago for decorating. I love the bar stool idea. The file cabinet I refaced I used contact shelf paper. Great ideas.
It's true, using decorative paper covers on bookshelves is a way to bring back the lure, by making it a focal point, of books and magazines as a sign of an organization. Without the decorative paper, you would have to take down your shelve and get another, which is expensive for many.
I've been building up my paper collection! I love when the paper stacks go on sale at Joann's. Great quality and cute designs...thanks for the tips and inspirations...you know I especially love the butterfly ones!
I just love these ideas. Creative and very cool, I am thinking seriously about doing my bar stools like this. Thanks so much!
SO cool. Lots of great ideas here. voting up and sharing!
Wow! These are some really great ideas. The bathroom scales actually look nice. Who would think scales could be pretty? Love the dry erase board idea too! Definitely trying that ASAP! Thanks for sharing!


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The Supreme Court's decision in the Hobby Lobby/Conestoga Wood case has certainly been the cause of much controversy. This is natural, and to be expected, since it touches upon so many key issues in the so-called "culture war", and it was both a hotly contested and much anticipated decision.
But much of the reaction to the Court's decision has been, well, a bit unhinged. Some have claimed that the Court was casting women back into virtual slavery. One legal commentator for a major newspaper stated openly — and bizarrely — that the reason for the Court's majority ruling was simply that they lacked a uterus. Right.
Why all the hysteria?
I think much of it is a result of the nature of the controversy itself — one that goes to the heart of conflicting visions of who we are.
One of the key issues underlying this case is the role of women in society, and how that is to be assured. Everyone agrees that women should be a full and equal participants in society, free from unfair treatment. But we are in a pluralistic society, and there are many views on how that is to be accomplished, which necessarily involves differing views on the questions of fertility, sexuality, human life.
Many women and couples consider controlling their fertility to be a core value, and have organized their lives around it. They believe that easy, low-cost access to contraceptives is essential to their lives. They view anything that works against that value, and, indeed, anything that casts doubts upon it or appears to disagree with it, as a direct attack on their self-definition and identity.
We disagree with that value. But, in our pluralistic society, it is a reality that we must recognize. The fact is that those views have a place at the table in the public discussion.
But pluralism is a two-way street. As Catholics, we have a different view of sexuality, fertility, and human life. Our values are based on our faith, reason, and a particular understanding of the nature of the human person. We believe that fertility is a gift, not an "unwanted physical condition". It's a blessing given to us by God, inherent in human nature as male and female, and not a curse. To deny this is to deny an essential part of who we are, and to set us at war with ourselves. As a result, we believe that the "contraceptive mentality" is bad for individuals, relationships, and society. We are convinced (largely from our own failings and hard-earned experience) that the virtue of chastity is a beautiful, beneficial way for people to live and love.
We also believe in the sanctity of human life, from the first moment of conception. It is a scientific fact, not a matter of religious belief, that at the moment of conception a new, individual, unrepeatable human being comes into existence. We also believe, based both on faith and reason, that it is a grave injustice to deliberately end the life of any innocent human being, and is a sad failure in our duty to love one another.
We have also organized our lives around these values, which are central to our religious faith. It's not just something that we do on Sunday morning, or in the privacy of our homes. It's essential to our self-worth and identity, and it affects all aspects of our lives.
We understand that many people disagree with us — just as we disagree with them. But, again, in our pluralistic society, it is a reality that others must recognize. The fact is that our views have a place at the table in the public discussion. In the end, people should certainly be free to make their own decisions about fertility and sexuality and the meaning of their lives – but so should religious people.
The American way is to guarantee the freedom, equality and autonomy of everyone, including religious people, to live lives of integrity, in keeping with their core values. We have long recognized that. Our laws are full of religious accommodations, like the exemption from the draft for Quakers, and the freedom from saying the Pledge of Allegiance for Jehovah's Witnesses. This is a matter of basic respect, civility, and just plain good manners.
The bottom line is that there is a serious conflict of values going on here, one that is difficult, if not impossible, to resolve definitively. There's no easy answer, no magic bullet, that will solve all the disputes and make everyone happy. And "winner take all" is a terrible way to conduct politics — some people will triumph, but it also means that many of our neighbors will be "losers". That's no way to have a healthy community.
People naturally respond emotionally, even hysterically, when they're scared that their way of life and values are threatened. Even though we won this particular case, we're scared too — our religious freedom is very fragile right now.
So maybe it would be a good idea to turn the volume down a bit, recognize the raw feelings on all sides, and try to find a way that we can preserve as much as possible of everyone's values, while preserving a sense of unity, solidarity, and mutual love.
Tags: HHS Mandate, Religious Liberty


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What with all the "Dark Knights," "Smallvilles" and "X-Men: First Class" of the world, we thought we had seen everything there was to see about becoming superheroes. Hold on to your tights, Batman! The new movie "Chronicle," about a trio of high-schoolers who develop superpowers, remakes the genre in a way that is fresh and new.
It feels like the first time.
Putting the "found footage" genre of moviemaking techniques to good use, the film is part "Smallville" but also part "Carrie," which gives a well-trod subject some new super-bounce.
Andrew (Dane DeHaan) lives with his drunken father and dying mother, a loner at his Seattle high school. He finds his only companion – it would be too much to call him a friend – in his cousin Matt (Alex Russell). One could argue Andrew's best friend is the new videocamera he uses to chronicle every minute of his life, a presence that increases in importance as the film goes on.
The two attend a party, Andrew oddly filming himself and everyone on the dance floor, and meet up with Steve (Michael B. Jordan) in one of those drunken, unlikely alliances that happen at high school raves. Steve is everything Andrew is not: Confident, popular, and exuberant in his budding future.
The three investigate a hole in the forest floor, finding a glowing rock. Things go very weird, shown cleverly through the intermittent failure of the camera to record the proceedings, and when the three wake up, they find they have the power to control objects with their minds.
This is where the film gets fun. Without all the "with great power comes great responsibility" lecturing, the boys use their new powers as boys will do, starting with blowing wind up cheerleader's skirts, throwing rocks at each other's faces, and leading to an aerial game of football.
Instead of Spidey's take home lesson about responsibility, the key phrase of this film should be "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Andrew, already troubled, introduces the first dark note when he punishes a honking, tailgating driver with what can only be described as overreaction.
His wrestling with the implications of his power and the two friends with him drives the rest of the movie and takes it to profound heights. DeHaan plays his role very well, with increasing hubris, reminding one of a young Leonardo DiCaprio. As his power grows, so does his dissatisfaction with his family, friends, and high school classmates.
The "found footage" style of filmmaking, hardly novel anymore, becomes a character in itself. The movie is viewed entirely through amateur screens: Andrew's camera, another teen's camera, then later, security tape, iPhones, and police dashboard cameras. At times Andrew plays with the camera, floating it with his mind into wide shots or panning shots, no camera man necessary. This is of course, an irony, as it takes skill to make it seem there is no camera man.
In one telling moment, an enraged Andrew faces a crowd and pulls every phone, camcorder, and iPad from them, arranging them around himself in the air to record himself at every angle.
It's as if nothing is real unless captured on video tape. The all-seeing eye of the professional filmmaker has been replaced by the ultimately more invasive eye of constant documentation by the average person.
This is life in the age of Facebook and Twitter.
As with all superhero stories, the truth is not found in the extra powers, but in the character of the person wielding them. Andrew may be the strongest in power, but Matt and Steve must decide where they fit in and how long they will tolerate Andrew's behavior. They're just ordinary kids, but power has found them and they have great responsibility, whether they like it or not.
It all adds up to a fantastic film, the first truly great film of the year. I recommend it highly.
Rated PG-13 for intense action, sexuality, some teen drinking, and some language. The film is not really objectionable except for one story line involving Andrew's attempt to lose his virginity. In the context of the film, this is a good thing. It's a small part of the film, and not graphically shown except for a brief shot of him with his pants down and no nudity, but it is talked about and parents should be aware.


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ASCAP Governing Documents
Downloadable Documents
Listed below are links to downloadable documents that govern ASCAP and its relationship with its membership and licensees.
- Articles of Association *(PDF)
The basic document that sets out ASCAP's structure and governs its relationship with its members, as amended through May 2002.
- Membership Application and Agreement
The documents that all members sign when they join ASCAP.
- Compendium of ASCAP Rules and Regulations, and Policies Supplemental to the Articles of Association *(PDF)
The rules, regulations and policies adopted by the Board of Directors.
- ASCAP's Survey and Distribution System: Rules & Policies *(PDF)
The rules and regulations governing distribution of royalties to members, including the Writers' Distribution Plans, the Writers' and Publishers' Distribution Formulas, the Weighting Rules and Weighting Formula.
- Second Amended Final Judgment entered in United States v. ASCAP *(PDF)
ASCAP's Consent Decree with the United States government that largely governs ASCAP's licensing activities.
- Board of Review Rules of Procedure *(PDF)
- Rules for Appeals of Decisions of the ASCAP Board of Review *(PDF)
- Writer Resignation Notification Form *(PDF)
- Publisher Resignation Notification Form *(PDF)
*Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader plug-in.
Download the plug-in by clicking the link below.


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[Max Brooks, author of the Zombie Survival Guide, has a new historical comic book out, called The Harlem Hellfighters, about the historic black 369th infantry regiment from WWI. Here's an exclusive essay that Max wrote for Boing Boing about his favorite history comic books. It's a terrific reading list! -- Mark]
History is boring, and I say that as a former history major. In high school, history was the only subject I was any good at. It kept me focused, it kept me engaged. It probably kept me off drugs. To this day, the "life story of the human race," to quote one of my college professors, is nothing short of a lifelong passion. However, it's a passion I share with very few people. And why? Because history is boring. Or, to be more accurate, it's too often presented in a boring way.
Too often teachers do nothing more than preach fact regurgitation, while using uninspired texts. They numb the brain and extinguish the heart with a flood of intricate details without ever taking the time to tie those details together. I've been lucky enough to have some great history teachers, and what made them great is that they always started with the BIG PICTURE. They introduced their subjects in the broadest, simplest, most easily digestible manner before diving into the specifics. That big picture thinking kept me as focused as the finished image on the box of a jigsaw puzzle, and it's a method I continue to use whenever I tackle a new subject.
Before cracking a one ton tome by David McCullough or Doris Kearns Goodwin, I always try to find a big picture primer for their subject, and through the years, I've found no better primer than comic books. The visual aspect of illustrated work has always made history come alive for me. To see the clothing, hairstyles, architecture and technology in vibrant color (or even black and white) serves as an instant time machine.
Sometimes I've found all the information I've needed on a subject within a comic book's pages. Sometimes those pages have served to stoke my interest. Sometimes they've even taught me something the prose volumes have missed.
Here are few examples of the illustrated books that have taught me about what once was. They are:
The works of Larry Gonick. This man is essentially a one stop shop for knowledge. Whether it's U.S. history, world history, physics, string theory, even sex, this guy delivers. His artwork is simple -- black and white drawings mixed in with quick, witty bullet points. His facts are imparted either through narrative captions, or through historical characters themselves, such as a George Washington lamenting that his egalitarian, racially integrated army was "against the sacred law of the plantation." Gonick's blending of art and words transmits a shocking amount of information. In just one page (ONE!) of his American History comic, he discusses drugs, AIDS, cults, mass murders, political assassinations and something called the "Perception Gap" (as personified by JFK with his head sticking up through a TV set while his pants drop to his ankles.) If you want to learn a lot of history in a little bit of time, there's really nobody better.
Malcolm X: a Graphic Biography was written by Andrew Helfer, and illustrated by Randy DuBurke. Breaking my own rule, I discovered this work after reading Malcolm X's autobiography. I thought I was in for a quick, illustrated repeat of the original work but was pleasantly surprised at the impact it had on me. Helfer's language is stark and dramatic with phrases like, "Now his enemies were black men he had once called his brothers… and they wanted him dead." DuBurke's imagery is nothing short of iconic. On one page, a black man stoops to drink from a child sized drinking fountain marked "colored" next to an adult sized drinking fountain marked "white." Their choice to continually jump from past to present also illustrates the epic journey and many transformations of, in the words of Helfer, "one of the most (America's) most original and outspoken leaders."
Helfer and Duburke's work might not be suitable for younger readers, but I've found Capstone Press' "Graphic Library Series" to be a virtual clearinghouse of education for all ages. Unlike Gonick's voluminous omnibuses, these short, simple booklets focus on one specific subject and or individual. As a parent, they've been instrumental in jumpstarting my son's love of reading. I don't mean to sound like a commercial, but before we discovered these books, reading was a chore for my son. Now, he devours at least one a day -- and night, as he is finally reading himself to sleep! In just one month he's learned about Harriet Tubman, Franklin Roosevelt, Cesar Chavez, Patrick Henry, Fredrick Douglass, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington (who he's actually been teaching me about), the Boston Tea Party, the Moon Landing, and the attack on Pearl Harbor. Yesterday he told me "I get to read about Mother Jones next!" Thanks, Graphic Library.
If my son continues his love affair with political history, I might soon be introducing him to a recent personal favorite of mine: 08: A Graphic Diary of the Campaign Trail by Michael Crowley and Dan Goldman. The title is pretty self-explanatory. It takes us back through the roller coaster ride of the Obama's first term victory over John McCain. Quotes make up the majority of the text, from everyone from the candidates, to the pundits, to comedians like David Letterman who joked that "someone's putting something in (McCain's) Metamucil." The artwork is a stark black and white representation of the historical figures involved. They are pretty much realistic with the exception of a few artistic liberties. Personalities are sometimes drawn with exaggerated expressions, like when a somewhat psychotic looking Ann Coulter tells Sean Hannity that she would campaign for Hillary against McCain. Other pictures show character mash-ups, such as Obama drawn alongside Paris Hilton to illustrate how the Republicans tried to portray him as a "celebrity." My personal favorites are two of the last images that seem to crystalize the cultural conflict beneath the campaign. The first panel shows a crying Jesse Jackson set against a repeating background of "Yes we can" with the caption, "For some, it was the swan song for the civil right movement." The panel beneath it shows a generic, old, bearded, extremely depressed looking white man set against a confederate flag with the caption, "For others, proof that history had left them behind."
While 08 might have questionable political neutrality, there is no question whatsoever, about the stance taken by Cole Dixon's False Witness: The Michelle Bachmann Story. Issue #1 of this comic was thrust into my hand at a convention, and after reading it, I went right over to their booth and bought the other two. As I said, the folks at Cole Dixon LLC are right out there with their views about Mrs. Bachmann (The banner on Issue #2 reads "Right Wing Nuts RULE".) Unlike 08, the artwork is cartoonish, with images like Mrs. Bachman (with cross in one hand and assault rifle in the other) accepting a crown from a blonde Jesus. Others show her standing on a surfboard above a crowd of right wing protestors, bursting through an American flag with an AK47, and anxiously reading a book entitled History for Extremist Kooks. Regardless of what someone might think of the series' political views, no one can dispute that its authors have done their homework. Each claim is backed up by citations at the back of each issue, and they chronicle Bachmann's public statements. Some of her statements are rooted in ignorance, like when she accused the U.S. government of working with Iran to turn part of northern Iraq into a new terrorist state. Some are rooted in paranoia, evident when she demanded an investigation into the loyalty and patriotism of members of congress. And, of course, many of her words and deeds are simply rooted in hatred, such as equating the homosexual lifestyle to bondage, child abuse, and Satan.
Not all American graphic history has to come from America. Jean-Pier Filiu and David B. have collaborated on Best of Enemies, which traces the course of growing entanglement in the Persian Gulf and North Africa. Chapter 1 retells the epic of Gilgamesh and Enkidu with their original dialog replaced by the modern speeches of George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld. Chapter 2 goes on to describe how, at the dawn of the 19th century, the mighty Barbary pirates pick a fight with a scrappy, little, previously unknown former British colony called "The United States of America." Subsequent chapters weave a tale of politics and oil: Britain and France's contradictory post-Ottoman colonial policy, FDR's meeting with Ibn Saud (where the latter's entourage demanded a screening of American pornography), and the rise and fall of Iran's promise for moderate modernization, Mohamad Mussadegh. The black and white art falls somewhere between the stark reality of O8 and the surreal cartoons of False Witness. Images vary from the humorous, such as Australian Oil Baron, William Knox Darcy, dipping his pipe-shaped nose in a pool of oil, to the tragically haunting, such as the deposed, house-arrested Mussadegh, now a living skeleton, surrounded by blackness as he quietly cooks his dinner.
And when it comes to haunting imagery, there is no darker hole in the universe than Goddamn This War! by Jacques Tardi and Jean-Pierre Verney. These Frenchmen can rightly take their place along Erich Remarque (All Quiet On The Western Front) as some of the greatest World War I storytellers of all time. Verney's illustrations begin with vibrant color; blue skies, green grass, bright red trousers on enthusiastic French soldiers. Slowly, as the war drags on, the color fades into grey. This is not a comic book for children, and is only for adults with a strong stomach. Two pages have nothing but a collection of 18 human faces that have been horribly disfigured by combat. Tardi's damnation of humanity knows no borders; he slams both the U.S. and France in one sentence when he describes Black American soldiers as "the slaves we'd sold them a while back." The story is told from the point of view of one French "Poilu" who begins his war in 1914 on the fields of Northern France, and ends it, in 1919 sitting alone in a Paris Café. He's only got one arm now. "The other one stayed in Argonne."
I could go on and on about the growing value of historical comic books, praising numerous other works like Will Eisner's Last Day In Vietnam, Margane Satrapi's Persepolis, and, of course, Art Speigleman's Maus. However, I must cut this short as my son just turned 9 and he's eager to read to me from his birthday present: World War II and the Cold War. Thanks Saddleback Educational Publishing.


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The Nevada lawmaker hopes to become the first female freshman U.S. Representative to win a Senate seat
Indiana Republican Luke Messer added his name this week to the small but growing list of U.S. Representatives seeking U.S. Senate seats in 2018 – deciding to risk his safe seat in the House to take on first-term conservative Democrat Joe Donnelly.
Messer is one of only four members of the chamber (excluding Mo Brooks in Alabama's 2017 special election) to seek a U.S. Senate seat thus far this cycle, joining West Virginia Republican Evan Jenkins, Texas Democrat Beto O'Rourke, and Nevada Democrat Jacky Rosen.
Rosen's campaign to unseat Dean Heller is particularly noteworthy not simply because she is the only freshman among this group and not only because she is the lone woman: Rosen is seeking to become the first female freshman in the House to win a U.S. Senate seat in history.
Smart Politics reviewed the more than 600 U.S. Senators who previously served in the U.S. House and found that just 36 of them were sitting freshmen at the time of their election or appointment to the upper legislative chamber – all men.
Three of these 36 members are currently serving in the Senate: Republicans Tim Scott of South Carolina, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, and Steve Daines of Montana.
[Scott had been elected to a second term in 2012 but was appointed to the U.S. Senate before the new Congress convened].
Only 19 sitting House freshmen have been elected or appointed to the U.S. Senate in the direct election era (1913-present), including just eight over the last half-century.
In addition to Scott, Cotton, and Daines, the remaining five are:
- Maryland Republican J. Glenn Beall, Jr. (elected 1970)
- Connecticut Republican Lowell Weicker (1970)
- South Dakota Democrat James Abourezk (1972)
- Minnesota Republican Rod Grams (1994)
- Kansas Republican Sam Brownback (1996)
Seventeen of these 36 members entered the U.S. Senate prior to the direct election of U.S. Senators with Delaware Federalist Henry Latimer the first to do so in 1795. [Tennessee's Andrew Jackson was the second in 1796].
There have also been more than five-dozen former one-term U.S. Representatives who later were elected (or appointed) to the U.S. Senate following a gap in congressional service.
However, all but seven of these members entered the senate before the direct election era.
Washington Democrat Maria Cantwell is one of the seven. Cantwell served one term in the 103rd Congress but lost her reelection bid in 1994. Six years later, she unseated Senator Slade Gorton and is now seeking a fourth term in 2018.
Only one other former one-term U.S. House member has won a senate seat over the last half-century: Virginia Republican George Allen. Allen served just 14 months in the House from November 1991 to January 1993 and did not seek a second term, choosing instead to run for governor. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000.
While no sitting first-term female U.S. Representative has ever won a U.S. Senate seat, three women were in their second term including Illinois Democrat Tammy Duckworth who defeated Mark Kirk last November.
The two others are Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow (elected in 2000) and New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand (appointed in 2009).
Overall, a dozen female U.S. Senators had previously served in the House, averaging 4.1 terms.
Olympia Snowe (8 terms), Tammy Baldwin (7), and Shelley Moore Capito (7) had the longest such tenures in the lower chamber.
Rosen is the second female U.S. Representative from Nevada to launch a bid for the upper legislative chamber. Seven-term Democrat Shelley Berkley came up 1.2 points short against Heller in 2012.
Just five of Nevada's 26 U.S. Senators since statehood arrived on the job with prior experience in the U.S. House – the eighth lowest rate in the nation (19.2 percent) trailing only Alaska (0.0 percent), Oregon (8.1 percent), Wyoming (14.3 percent), Florida (14.7 percent), Nebraska (15.8 percent), Minnesota (17.9 percent), and Utah (18.8 percent). The national average is 31 percent.
Of the four sitting Nevada U.S. Representatives to win a Senate seat, none have been freshmen.
Harry Reid was in his second term when he was elected to the chamber in 1986 while at-large Democratic congressmen Francis Newlands (1902) and James Scrugham (1942) were each in their fifth terms.
Dean Heller had begun his third term when he was appointed to the seat vacated by John Ensign in May 2011.
Ensign, the only other Nevada U.S. Senator to serve in the House, was two years removed from his two terms in the House when he won his Senate seat in 2000 after a failed 1998 bid against Reid.
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lluminations #34, Sivan 5775, Parshat Behaalotecha
Torah Gems
The Torah relates that the Jewish people complained about the man in the desert: "Who will feed us meat? We remember the fish that we ate in Mitzrayim, and the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic, all free of charge. But now we have nothing, the only thing we see is the man (Bamidbar 11:4-6)." This dissatisfaction awakened Hashem's anger.
Yet, the Torah relates that Moshe told them, " He (Hashem) afflicted you and let you hunger in that He fed you the man that you did not know (Devarim 8:3)." According to this passuk, it sounds like the man was an infliction because it left them hungry and it was not a normal food substance. If so, why did their complaint about the man anger Hashem?
In order to answer this question, let us refer to a mishnah in Avot 6:4: "This is the path of Torah – eat bread with salt, drink water by measure, sleep on the floor and live a life of deprivation… and toil in Torah."
To understand this, let's think of a path to a king's palace that is full of thorns and rocks. Wouldn't it be befitting for a path to the king's palace to be filled with flowers and nice, smooth pavement?
Similarly, the Torah is Hashem's word, and Hashem is the King of the universe, so we would assume that the path to the Torah would be beautiful, like the path to a royal palace. Yet the Mishnah teaches us that the path to the Torah is a path of deprivation. Why should the path of Torah be so challenging?
The learning and living of Torah is the purpose of our existence. When one is immersed in Torah learning, his heart is not overly concerned with the material world. The holiness of the Torah gives his neshamah satisfaction. This spiritual joy and satisfaction that ones gets from Torah learning helps him to feel satisfied even with the most minimal material provisions.
If the man does not satisfy a person, or on the same note, if one is not happy with his frugal lifestyle, it indicates that he is not yet fulfilled with Torah. When the Torah permeates a person's being, the sweetness of Torah fills him and makes everything in his life sweet, including the man.
As the Mishnah concludes: "If you do so (toil Torah and eat bread and salt, etc.) you will be happy and it will be good for you, you will be happy- in this world; and it will be good for you- in the world to come."
Based on Lev Eliyahu by Rav Eliyahu Lopian
Glimpses of Greatness
Halacha Weekly


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Type: Indica Dominant Hybrid
Breeder: Unknown
flowering period: Unknown
D Kush, AKA OG Diesel Kush, is a mix of the legendary Chem D cut and my SFV (San Fernando Valley) OG Kush BX2 male. It gives you the great Chem Kush characteristics which is a sure winner. Medium stretch and good yields of stinky buds with an earth, lemony, piney, and musky Chem flavor. Overall, it has a very light taste. It has a potency of about two or three hours. Having a very strong couch lock effect it is highly recommended that you smoke it at night. The OG Diesel Kush also has many medical benefits such as reducing any form of pain, insomnia and can also help you regain your lost appetite.
flavors & aromas:
May Relieve or Improve


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Flag Day is believed to have first originated in 1885 when B.J. Cigrand, a schoolteacher in Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, arranged for the pupils in his district to celebrate 'Flag Birthday'—the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes.
On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned flag related ceremonies for the children of his school. His idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York.
On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration. The following year, on June 14, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day. Read more at http://www.usflag.org/history/flagday.html.
Help your students celebrate this special day with a math coloring page and an Excel Math flag word problem. Download the coloring page and print or copy one for each student. You may want to provide star stickers for your students to add to the blue field. Or have them draw stars in the field before coloring it.
|USA Flag Coloring Page
Click here to download a copy.
New to Excel Math? Preview elementary math lessons that really work for Kindergarten through Sixth Grade on our website: www.excelmath.com.


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What are we,darling?
But fate's fickle toys.
All wound up with no where to go.
What am I,darling?
But an accidental externality.
And you, the twist in my tale.
What are you,darling?
But a persistent presence,
Conspicuous only by absence.
Where are we, sweetheart?
Lost perchance.
Hidden within and considered without.
For, darling, what are we?
But I,the enchanted,
And you,the poison in my cup.
Inspired by 'Cheers,darling'-Damien Rice.


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- This event has passed.
Bullying Recovery Peer Group
November 9, 2019 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
The BRRC peer group is available to any school age child in the Denver Metro Area that has been affected by bullying. This facilitated group is designed for children to learn they:
- are not alone
- should not feel ashamed as they have done nothing wrong
- did not deserve what happened to them
- can talk and/or listen in a safe environment
- can learn to help others and see the good in the world
Fill out the form below to get started, and we will contact you.


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The Anthropology of Slavery
The Womb of Iron and Gold
Publisher's Note on Translation
Introductory Chapter: Kin and Aliens
Part I - The Womb: The Dialectic of Slavery
1. The Historical Dimension of Slavery in West Africa
2. Extraneousness
3. Sterility
4. Profits and Accumulation
5. Unborn and Reprieved from Death
6. Promotion of Slaves
7. Half-Breed Slaves
Transition: Revenge of the anti-Kin
Part II - Iron: Aristocratic Slavery
A. Slavery and Power
1. The Coming of the Brigands
2. The Great Task of the Kings
3. The Divine Court
B. The War Economy
1. Cases
2. Analyses
Part III - Gold: Merchant Slavery
1. The Land of the Merchants
2. The Spread of Slavery within the Peasantry
3. Forms of Exploitation
4. The Internal Market for Slaves
5. To Buy or to Breed?
6. The Disintegration of Slavery
Index of Proper Names
Subject Index
African Studies Association: Melville J. Herskovits Award
Short Listed
Anthropology: Cultural and Social Anthropology
You may purchase this title at these fine bookstores. Outside the USA, see our international sales information.


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Online registration for 2020 Cheer opens 5/26/20
IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST REGISTRATION CONTINUE DOWN TO "PROGRAMS" when site is open.
You may use the information you submitted in previous seasons to save time with future registrations. Please use the following steps when site is open:
1. Select the registration form under the word Programs.
2. Login using the email address and password you created last season
3. Choose the sport
4. Click on "Add Participant Below or Click to Select" and pick your child's name
5. Update health and demographic information, if necessary
6. Sign-off on seasonal agreements
7. Save and Submit


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Today is an epic day for me, but tomorrow will be even more so. And two weeks from tomorrow will be the biggest day in my life for years.
Today sees the cover reveal on my debut novel, Grace's Turmoil.
It is a romance novel that fits into the new category/genre of Seasoned Romance, with a cast of mature characters. It has a sixty-eight-year-old heroine and a seventy-one-year-old hero.
Tomorrow sees my contemporary romance, Grace's Turmoil, reach the pre-order stage with Devine Destinies and I think the link will be devinedestinies/preorder/grace-s-turmoil/
Check out the blurb.
Divorced and emotionally damaged, artist Grace Stollery wants nothing more than to spend her semi-retirement painting and let time heal her emotional scars.
But when dashing widower Alfred Nobel moves into her retirement village he turns her life upside down and her heart inside out by awakening feelings she wants to keep dormant.
Alfred quickly sets out to woo Grace and slowly she warms to him. But the village's resident femme fatale wants him for herself. Will she succeed in driving a wedge between Alfred and Grace?
Then 15 December sees the actual book release of what will be Book One of a series titled 'Not Too Old for Love'.
These will feature characters who are all aged sixty plus, but who live life to the full. Few of them see themselves as old, just older than they once were. And several of them are looking for companionship, friendship, romance, and even relationships.
I got into writing some four years ago because I was impressed that my then fourteen-year-old granddaughter had self-published two novels on Amazon. And I wanted to see if I could—at the age of sixty-nine— write a novel and get it published.
But for me it was more than just wanting to see what I could do. I also wanted to dispel the view that seniors/pensioners are past the stage of having fun, let alone having romance and sexual relationships. So, I thought I would set a romance in the unlikely location of a retirement village, filled with mature people, and see what happened. I think it has worked but you must make your own judgements, and please let me know what you think.
If you want to know anything about how the book developed, how I decided on the characters and their names, etc. please enter a comment in the Leave a Reply box on the Blog page, or use the Contact page to get in touch. Now, at the age of seventy-three I find myself getting ready to start laying out an outline for Book Two of my 'Not Too Old for Love' series. What was going to be a one-off novel has evolved into a series that hopefully will be made up of at least three books. This has largely happened because I was asked if two particular characters could have their own book.
The plan is for future books to all be stand-alone, but to be linked by a common location, and characters from previous books. If you read this one please let me know what characters you'd like to see get their own book, and what couples you think would fit together.


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|Litle P
Litle P is a 7-year old blue-tailed Pichu (Sometimes considered a Shiny Pichu) and one of the titular characters in the Litle P and Sandslash Series.
Probably his most distinguishable feature is his speech impediment, pronouncing the L and R sounds as W's.
Litle is very naive and clueless, but it is often hinted this may just be an act. He also has a very wild nature, which leads him to trouble.
He is also very admiring of those older than him. Sandslash is an example of that. Although the two fight, Litle P feels safe around his brother, and aspires to be like him.
He is a fan of the Super PokeDude Show.
Like most Pichus, he has the ability to create electricity, although he electrocutes himself. When he unleashes electricity in large amounts, like when he uses Thunderpunch, he can knock himself out.
He has also been shown to be very "floaty", as he jumps fairly high and is said to be light. This is somewhat proven, as he is a lightweight in Litle P Kart.
Litle P is very friendly, and, to the annoyance of some, considers almost everybody his friends. There exist some exceptions, however.
- Mrs. P
- Litle P Sr. - Deceased
- Sandslash P
- Jiggy P
- All Amigoes
- Billy McBoberson
- Sunnyscythe
Detective P
Detective P is Litle P's Alter-Ego, which he uses to solve mysteries. Usually, these are useless things that most people just make up. According to Sandslash, he rigs up about half of them himself.
A full gallery of all artwork of Litle P.
- His first name is Marcus, which he considers embarrassing, and "Litle" is actually his middle name. The creator of the series, Max2, has no memory of where his name came from.
- This makes him the only main character within the Litle P series to have a confirmed full name.
- He was considered the people's mascot of Fantendo, when Unten was still gaining popularity. But is now ranked as a classic Fantendo character alongside Henry the Moose and PalmMan.


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Taking care of your feet is essential to being able to function normally throughout the day. Having proper balance and support in your shoes is the number one way you can lower any pain that may be occurring. While the shoes themselves are of importance, the more important factor is having the proper shoe insoles.
With the right insole in your shoe, you can reduce or completely remove plantar injuries as well as lower back pain. When the foot's bio mechanical symmetry is disrupted, stress is transmitted throughout the tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones.
As the stress increases and more wear and tear occurs, you develop pain. Pain shows that the foot's function is out of sync. You may have developed a change in foot trajectory between heel strike and toe-off, have differentiation in pivotal speed between feet, or have variation in the force on the sole of the foot.
Now in regard to plantar injuries, they involve tiny tears in the plantar, which is a tendon sheet on the bottom of your foot. This injury will disrupt your balance and your ability to run or walk. You may feel a sort of cramping sensation when trying to walk if you have this type of injury.
Your feet are most important to the stability of your entire body. Everything starts with your feet. If they are out of alignment, then the rest of your body's alignment may be negatively impacted as a result. This can especially effect the pelvis area and lower spine. Consistently being misaligned will create pain in the lower back.
Other stressful factors from daily life include:
- standing for hours at a time
- downward force of gravity
- repetitive motions like running or jumping
- being overweight.
Along with cushioning the foot, it also needs help with the plantar vault, metatarsal arch, and extra cushioning for the heel.
The best choices for insoles to choose from are ones that provide added support to all problem areas at once. You'll want one that provides heel support, arch support, and cushioning for the toes.
Also, each type of shoe is different. Dress shoes will obviously have different stressful implications than running shoes or work boots. You use these shoes for differing environments from one another; therefore, know when and where you'll be wearing them. In some cases, you may just need a simple heel wedge to correct the problem.
Always take plenty of time to try out a shoe before buying it. You should never purchase shoes you aren't absolutely certain will fit you right. Furthermore, a lot of places that sell shoes will also carry accompanying insoles for you to buy if you wish.
Retail outlets where you could look for shoe insoles would be local pharmacies such as Rite-Aid and CVS, as well as larger stores like Wal-Mart and BJ's. A specialist can also talk with you and lead you in the direction of an insert that's right for you. No matter the type of shoe, whether it be Ugg Australia, New Balance, Sperry Topsider, Dansko, or Clarks, there is always the possibility of needing a little extra support.
Your feet are the foundation to the rest of your body. Supporting them properly with insoles should be one of your top priorities to sustaining a healthy physical life.


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Health Law Section Charlotte Networking Breakfast Event
As a reminder, on Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 8 to 9 a.m, the NCBA Health Law Section will be hosting a networking breakfast. We are excited for an opportunity for our members and friends of the section to have a way to mingle in person and learn more about our section. As you probably know, the Health Law Section is an active chapter, and there are many ways that you can get involved, from CLE planning to pro bono. There are also opportunities for reduced membership dues for law students, so join us to learn more!
The breakfast will be at Robinson Bradshaw's Charlotte office, located at 101 N. Tryon St., Suite 1900. Validated parking is available in the 101 Independence Center Garage (120 N. Church St.).
This a great opportunity for Health Law Section members in the Charlotte area. For any questions and to RSVP, please contact: email@example.com. See everyone on Tuesday!


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From: Richard M Greenfield
To: Ted Rydell
Subject: Re: Guardhooks on line
I received your hooks and lures this afternoon. THEY ARE TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
It is the most impressive product that I have seen in a long,long time. I am going out tomorrow morning and try it out. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to work like nothing that I have ever seen.
Again thanks alot for the product and we will be in touch soon...Capt. Butch


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A recent ruling of the Court of first instance of Genoa (decision no. 1325 of 14 April 2016, Italian text available here) deals with the issues of the objection of arbitration and its characterisation and construction.
The case heard by the Court of Genoa may be summarised as follows.
The quotaholder (and director) of a limited liability company sued the other director, claiming his liability vis-à-vis the company. The latter raised the objection of arbitration and asked the Court of Genoa to declare that the claimant's claim was inadmissible, since the company's Articles of association contained an arbitration clause providing for an "arbitrato irrituale" (that is, an alternative arbitration procedure provided for by Italian law which does not result in an enforceable award).
The arbitration clause at hand is fully quoted by the ruling of the Court of Genoa and it notes that: "Any dispute amongst the quotaholders or amongst the quotaholders and the company, its directors, liquidators or auditors, concerning the negotiable rights concerning the corporate relationship shall be settled by a sole arbitrator. The sole arbitrator shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the District where the company has its registered office and the appointment shall occur within thirty days of the written request filed by either party. The appointed arbitrator shall determine the seat of arbitration, provided that in any event it shall be in the province where the company has its registered office. The arbitrator shall conduct the proceedings as an "arbitrato irrituale", with no formalities or procedural constraints, and shall issue the award, in accordance with the law, within ninety days of the appointment (…)."
The Court of Genoa considered that this clause provided for a regular arbitration, despite the wording of the arbitration clause ("The arbitrator shall conduct the proceedings as an "arbitrato irrituale", with no formalities or procedural constraints (…)"). According to the Court, the wording of this clause does not show the intention of the parties to stipulate an "arbitrato irrituale" (that is, arbitration proceedings resulting in a mere contractual determination, whereas the regular arbitration results in an enforceable award). Indeed, the use of the verb "settle" ("Any dispute (…) shall be settled (…)"; in the Italian text, the verb "risolvere" is used) would show the intention of the parties to agree upon a regular arbitration. In the opinion of the Court of Genoa, therefore, even from a semantic point of view the clause referred to an award with the effect of Article 824(bis) of the Italian Code of Civil Procedure, whereby "(…) The award has (…) the effects of a judgment delivered by a judicial authority." Moreover, according to the Court of Genoa these findings were further confirmed by the fact that the award had to be issued "in accordance with the law." Therefore, the Court of Genoa ruled that the arbitration procedure referred to by the Articles of association were only "informal" ("irrituale") with respect to the procedural rules.
As said, the respondent raised the objection of arbitration and asked the State Court to declare the inadmissibility of the claimant's claim, holding that the dispute should be settled through an "arbitrato irrituale." However, the Court of Genoa dismissed the objection.
The ruling of the Court of Genoa is valuable for its declared intention to follow the case law of the Italian Supreme Court whereby, if a doubt arises, the arbitration clause should be construed as providing for a regular arbitration (on this point, for instance, see decision no. 6909 of 7 April 2015 of the First Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court, Italian text available here).
However, the ruling of the Court of Genoa may be contested on two points.
First, I do not think that the arbitration clause examined by the Court of Genoa may give rise to doubts as its construction. This clause precisely provides for the referral of any dispute to an "arbitrato irrituale." And "arbitrato irrituale" is only the one governed by Article 808(ter) of the Italian Code of Civil Procedure. The construction of the State Court, which ruled on the existence of an arbitration "irrituale" only with respect to "the procedural rules of the proceedings", does not seem convincing enough. It is not even clear how this particular arbitration ("irrituale" only with respect to the procedural rules) differs from an ad hoc arbitration in which the parties – and the arbitrators if the parties do not act – are the only masters of the procedure and its rules (Article 816(bis) of Italian Code of Civil Procedure).
Furthermore, I consider that the Court of Genoa should have accepted the objection of arbitration. The Court rejected that objection because the respondent asked for a declaration of inadmissibility (that is, the consequence of the stipulation of a clause providing for an "arbitrato irrituale"), instead of a declaration of lack of jurisdiction (that is, the consequence of the stipulation of a clause providing for a regular arbitration). Doing so, however, the Court forgot its capacity to characterise the parties' claims and objections. Indeed, pursuant to the principle "iura novit curia", the Court – and the Court alone – is responsible for determining which law rule applies to a particular case; and how it applies, considering the facts submitted by the parties. Therefore, in the case at hand, the Court – having found that the arbitration clause provided for a regular arbitration – should have declared the lack of jurisdiction in favour of the Arbitral Tribunal.
Maybe, we will have the chance to read again about this case.


text: I'm a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and full time paralegal. When all of these hats come off (or get moved to the side a little) what is left is a passion for food. If I'm not cooking it, I'm talking about it, thinking about it, or dreaming about it. With so many hats, though, I need it to be quick and easy. But, I still want our meals to be tasty and healthy. So, pull up a chair, let me pour you a glass of wine, and see what I've got cooking.


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I learn by watching people. I love to look at godly Christian women and marvel at what God has done in their lives. If you asked me directly I could give you the names of a dozen people I look up to and the qualities that I admire in them.
But watching them has often led me to realize that… I'm not there yet.
You've probably heard the phrase "comparing your outtakes with their highlight real." This basically means that I see all of my mess… but I don't see much of other people's.
I mentioned last week that I have wrestled with understanding my worthiness in Christ. I have been learning that even as I sit in the middle of my brokenness, God loves me.
But a few weeks ago, I learned something else.
I was in the middle of a lousy week. I had been struggling internally, striving after that illusive perfection. I felt a bit like my life was on hold– once I worked through my big list of things that were wrong with me, then my life would begin to have meaning and purpose.
And then I read, actually, a comment on this blog from a man at my church, quoting this verse relating to me:
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"John 7:38
Honestly, I started to cry. All I had thought of were my failures over the past week: my worries, my selfishness, my missed Bible readings, my efforts to be perfect… But what was the truth?
God was using me.
I had bought into the lie that tries to piggyback on the one I mentioned last week. This lie says, "Well, you know that God loves you even when you don't deserve it… But He only works through people who are perfect."
And at that moment, I saw it– I was a messy person, and not only did God love me in the midst of that… He was using me.
I realized something important: Maturity doesn't mean that God perfects us so that we need Him less– He simply helps us to rely on Him more.
Those "spiritual giants" that I look up to so much? They are just as messed up as I am. The difference? They have learned how to trust God, how to draw strength from Him, how to let Him transform their lives. They understand a little more the reality of His love for them…
…and it is the overflow of that love that manifests itself as rivers of living water.
God isn't interested in working through "strong," "perfect" people. He takes our weaknesses and uses to them to showcase His strength.
It is not just in spite of my weakness but through it that God glorifies Himself.
And sometimes a messy week means drawing closer to God. Sometimes personal failures bring you back to the foot of the cross. Sometimes imperfections point you to the perfect Savior who died for you.
God is in the business of redemption. He doesn't need you to be perfect to do great things in your life.
The implications for me? Stop wasting time waiting to be perfect, and just rest in God's sovereignty over my life. Trust that He loves me, He is using me, and… I can rest securely in those truths.
P.S. If this or any of my other posts have encouraged you, I would love it if you would share this with a friend!


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Show Me Your Work
August 18, 2010
I love to look at the work of other designers. I have subscriptions to atleast 10 magazines showcasing either design trends for the general public or ideas and knowledge for industry professionals. Those fleeting moments when I'm waiting for applications to load on my computer, I'm surfing the internet studying the competition.
While our company is located in the midwest, I look at sites for designers and remodelers all over the world. The ideas that can accumulate in one's brain is amazing! And while a popular design trend in Miami will probably never fly with my Chicago client, a solution to a design challenge can sometimes rise to the top.
Designers and remodelers should always be learning from each other. But as I have been surfing often lately, I have been coming across a disturbing trend more and more… Photo galleries that are not necessarily reflective of a company's portfolio of work.
The most natural thing when shopping for a designer or contractor is to investigate their website. You see a link called "Photos" and wow! Amazing photographs of amazing rooms. The first question you need to ask… is this a "portfolio of work?" Or is it a "photo gallery?" The later being a collection of photos freely downloaded from the internet that has no relationship to the work performed by this company or individual.
Sad as it may seem, while not blatantly saying 'this is my work' when it is not – posting photos on a website gives the impression that this is the product of this particular company, especially when the source of the photo is not acknowledged. With unemployment so high, many people are trying their hand at flying solo and an impressive website is a good start to finding clients. The old adage of "fake it until your make it" comes in here.
There is nothing wrong with using a first time designer or remodeler on your project – as long as you know, up front, that you are a guinea pig and your investment reflects the inconveniences that you will inevitably encounter.
If you find a website where the photos are professionally shot and there are no acknowledgements attached to the pictures, ask them in an email or phone call if the photos of are their work. If the answer is that it is not their work but they can replicate that look, ask to see a portfolio of their actual work. Don't be afraid to even ask for references for those photos. Trust is earned, not given – and in this business, you are dealing with one of your biggest investments, your home. Never assume anything.
Written for Imperial Kitchens and Baths, Inc. by staff designer Stephanie Bullwinkel, CBD.


text: Dick Montgomery 127 Report post Posted July 13, 2014 Not videos please.....publications only: Let's start with an airplane (Yep. An airplane.) and if you could recommend only 3 publications to that newbie as an excellent resource to get started with basic modeling, what three publications would you suggest? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Australian Man Charged With Murder In New Zealand Shooting!
At least 49 people were killed Friday in two separate mosque attacks in New Zealand. It is the deadliest mass shooting in the country's history. Police have arrested an Australian man, Brenton Tarrant, and charged him with murder. Three other people with possible connections to the attack were also arrested. Posted By Persist


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… I skipped over to the Tuileries fashion week tent on my lunch the other day to snap some street style shots outside of the Issey Miyake show. There was a slew of photographers and bloggers all waiting for the fashion people to pour out of the venue so they could snap quick pics to toss up on the web.
Like so many have started saying, fashion week now happens just as much OUTSIDE of the shows as it does inside. Continue reading


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Up and have lunch here.. yum!
Pipe's fried rice..
Byrd checking on his Chiangmai Outlet..
On the way to Chiangmai Zoo
Too bad, they already closed.. damn it!
hopping around Chiangmai's Café
Chiangmai Night Safari! – this fountain and laser show is spectacular!
will upload the video later!
On Zebra mini coach for the tour!
Met Miss Leopard!
And.. Miss Moose!
Can't remember what is this..
then the real one!
Marti from Madagascar
To be Continue..


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SAP FICO Overview
SAP FICO Stands for FI (Financial Accounting) and CO (Controlling). SAP FICO is the important module of ERP and both FI and CO modules stores the financial transactions data. SAP FICO training materials teaches you in a easy method with screen shots step by step.
About Our Company:
SAP is one of the largest providers of enterprise software application towards better enterprise resource planning. SAP stands for Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing. Back in 1972, SAP was founded launching business solutions that help organize processes in enterprises. Over the years, different modules in SAP were developed for different processes. SAP Finance and Controlling (FICO) is one of the most widely used SAP modules.
Who will benefit from Sap Fico
- The major benefit of SAP FICO is it generates the accounting data into an integrated form to be used excellently in managing profit loss statements and balance sheets etc. The other SAP modules like Sales & Distribution, Production Planning and Material Management easily integrate with this and provide essential data to the organization for internal planning and better control. The SAP FICO module has become now the most demanding module between the emerging accounting professionals for better career growth.
Sap Fico Certification fee
The certification course duration varies from institute to institutes from 2months to 6 months with a fee of Rs 25,000/- and above.
Who can Learn SAP FICO?
- Fresher's with BA, B.com Background
- Charted Accountants
- People Who are currently working as Accountants
Our Training Features:
Experienced Trainers
Flexible Timings
Placement Assistance
Hands on Training
Online Training
Tally Course Syllabus
Introduction to ERP & SAP
Introduction to FI/CO
- What is FI/CO
- Sub modules in FI & CO
- Introduction to G/L (New G/L),AP,AR,AA
- Introduction to CEA,CCA,EC-PCA,CO-PA and PC
- Introduction to Banking and Treasury
- Concepts of Integration with MM and SD
- Introduction to Month end Closing and Year and Closing
Global Parameters
- Company and Company Code
- Business Area and Credit Control Area
- Fiscal Year Variant-Types of Fiscal Years
- Chart of Accounts-Type of COA
- Posting period Variant
- Open and Closing Posting Periods
- Document Types
- Field Status Variants & Groups
- Multiple Currencies
- Introduction to Multiple Ledgers
- Other Aspects of Global Parameter G/L & New
G/L Concepts
- Preparation and Finalization of COA in Real Time
- Account Groups
- Retained Earnings and importance of Retained Earnings
- Tolerance Groups for General ledger/Employees
- Screen Variants for G/L Postings
- Exchange Rate Maintenance
- G/L automatic Clearing Maintenance
- Foreign Currency Valuation and Translation
- Financial statement Version
- G/L integration with MM and SD
- Define and Activate New G/L
- Activation and specification of Additional Ledgers
- Define Currency for Additional Ledgers
- Define Segment
- Define Document Splitting for G/L accounting
- Activate Document Splitting
- Define Document type for Entry View
- Transfer Balances and Carry Forward (Balance Sheet & P&L Items)
- Posting Keys
- Documents in G/L-Park & Post, Hold, Recurring, Account Assignment Model etc.,
- G/L Reports
A/R & A/P, Banking
- Account Groups
- Document Types for Customers and Vendors
- Number Range assignment for Account groups
- Customer and Vendor Master Data
- Reconciliation Accounts for customer and vendor Master Data
- Terms of Payments
- Payment Methods
- Automatic Payment Program
- Dunning
- Down Payments, Bills of Exchange and Guarantees
- Tax Calculation Procedure
- Taxes-VAT and Withholding Taxes
- Automatic determination of G/L accounts for Taxes, Foreign Exchange (Realized and unrealized Accounts)
- House Banks
- Manual & Electronic Bank Statement
- Check and Transfer method of payments through Banks
- Check Register, Check Maintenance, Issuance, cancellation Etc.
- Customer and Vendor Reports
- Z reports and preparation of Functional specs for Z reports
Asset Accounting
- Chart of Depreciation
- Define 0% tax Codes for Asset Accounting
- Asset Class and Account determination of Asset Classes
- Depreciation Areas (Derived Depreciation Areas)
- Screen Layout Rules and Number range Assignments
- Depreciation Areas for Parallel Currencies
- Group Assets
- Depreciation Keys
- Asset Master data (Main and Sub Assets)
- Overview of Revolution of Assets
- Introduction to inflation Accounting
- Asset Acquisition (Direct and AUC)
- Asset retirement (Scrapping, with Revenue with Customer and without Customer)
- Inter and Intra Asset transfer
- Asset Reports/With Different variants and Asset explorer
- Strategy on data Migration related to Asset (Legacy Assets-upload Process)
- FI-MM Integration (Configuration from MM to attain PO,GR and IR
- Account Assignment Categories in PO and business process to be used with different Account Assignment categories
- Valuation Area, Valuation class and its importance in Material Master
- Accounting aspects from Material Master
- Material Movements Types
- OBYC and G/L account assignment from MM process
- FI-SD Automatic Accounts determination
- Revenue Reorganization process in FI and SD Integration
Controlling & Cost Element Accounting
- Define Controlling Area
- Assignment of Controlling area to Company Codes
- Importance of Different Fields in controlling Area
- Primary cost and secondary cost elements
- Activity Type
- Statistical Key Figures
- Reposting, Distribution and Assessment
- Activity type categories
- Planning and Budgeting of Cost Elements
- Cost Element categories
- Cost Element groups
- Cost Element Reports
Cost Center Accounting
- Cost Center Hierarchy
- Cost center Groups
- Cost Center Categories
- Define Planner Profile, Versions for Planner Profile
- Cost Center Reports
- Define Operating Concern
- Define Characteristics and value fields
- Define profitability Segment Characteristics
- Define Characteristics Hierarchy and Derivation
- Maintenance and Assignment of value fields
- Transfer of Billing Document to COPA
- Automatic Account Assignment
- Maintain PA Transfer structure for Direct FI Postings
- Information System in COPA
Internal Orders
- Order Management in Controlling Area
- Define and Assign number ranges to Order Groups
- Types of Order
- Model Order
- AUC (Assets) process with Internal Order (Real)
- Investment Management Integration with Internal Orders
- Month end and final settlements of Internal Orders
- Information System (Reports) for Internal Orders
Profit Center Accounting
- Maintain Profit Center and Activation of company code in profit center
- Control Parameters for Actual data
- Plan Versions
- Profit Center Standard Hierarchy
- Profit Center Groups
- Transfer Pricing process with profit center
- Maintain planner profiles
- Distribution & Assessment
- Automatic Account Assignment for Revenue Elements
- Reports in profit center Accounting
Product Costing and Material Ledger
- Define and Activate Material Ledger
- Assign Currency type to Material Ledger
- Dynamic Price Change in ML
- Other Aspects of ML
- Material Costing
- Maintain Overhead cost Elements
- Define Cost Sheets
- Define Overhead Keys and Groups
- Define Cost Component Structure
- Product Costing by Order
- Variance Calculation
- Work In Progress
- Settlement
- Product Cost by Period
- Variance Calculation
- Work In Progress
- Settlement
- Product Cost by Sales
- Result Analysis
- Settlement
Real Time Concepts
- Uploading the Data(LSMW) to SAP Server
- Overview of SAP Methodology
- Creation of Financial Statement Version
- Transport Request Creation and Release
- SAP Query
- Month End, Year End Closing Activities
- Carry Forward Balances to next Year
- Tickets
Level – II Programme: Project on Real Time Scenarios
- Explanation on ASAP Methodology
- Demo on Live Systems
- SAP R/3 System Landscape Model – Transport Strategy
- Project Implementation through SAP Solution Manager
- End-to-End Implementation Project on real time business objects in phase sequence as shown below.
- Project Preparation
- Business Blue Print
- Realization
- Final Preparation
- Go-Live
- Ellaborating the role of Consultants in different stages of project including documentation, presentations to be done by them
- Project Environment & roles n responsibilities in other types of projects
- Support/ Maintenance
- Roll-out/ Template
- Upgradation
Register For A Free Demo
Our Student Reviews
Working with Tally Academy has been and will always be the most memorable days of my life. This place taught me the work and life values at the time when i was just like a blank canvass persuing my graduation. Just having the required qualilfications and the professional quality is not important for any job but the various human and work values are equally important and this is what i learnt here.am job.
Working with Tally Academy has been and will always be the most memorable days of my life. This place taught me the work and life values at the time when i was just like a blank canvass persuing my graduation. Just having the required qualilfications and the professional quality is not important for any job but the various human and work values are equally important and this is what i learnt here..
Working with Tally Academy has been and will always be the most memorable days of my life. This place taught me the work and life values at the time when i was just like a blank canvass persuing my graduation. Just having the required qualilfications and the professional quality is not important for any job but the various human and work values are equally important and this is what i learnt here.