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A 'true' father is much more than your child's friend. Your love, commitment to and involvement in your daughter's life is unshakeable. Whatever happens, you will be there for her, as long as you live. So, you have to be kinder, and more forgiving, than any friend would possibly be. Also, to do your job, you have to sometimes be tougher than any friend would risk being.
There will be times when your daughter will not like what you say, or what you do or what you insist she does. A true father expects and teaches his daughter to be a cooperative member of the family, who keeps her agreements, treats others with respect, is thoughtful in any situation and pulls her weight regardless of the circumstances.
Toughness, however, is not the same as meanness. Your daughter will be impressed by your quiet strength more than by your attempts to intimidate her. She will respond to your good-humored suggestions more readily than by caustic verbal criticisms. It is, ideally, a mutually respectful relationship, but not, for many years, an equal one.
What do children, especially teenagers, need from their parents? The security that comes from knowing that Mom and Dad stand on a firm foundation and can't be manipulated. By pushing against this firm family foundation, teenagers learn invaluable lessons about ethics and values, about compromise and standing fast.
One day, and sometimes at a surprisingly young age, your daughter will argue with you – and win! And, if you're honest with yourself, you'll find yourself thinking, 'I guess she's right!' At this point, you can choose to feel put out, or you can choose to feel proud that you have empowered her so effectively. (I once heard a father at a barbecue say to his teenage daughter, when a discussion became heated, 'l don't agree with you, but I think you're making a great argument!' Both father and daughter were aware of other people around them listening in, and she glowed with pride.)
So much of fatherhood is in the little things: like driving her to volleyball practice and watching from the sidelines, to comfort or cheer or both; knowing her friends and meeting their parents; helping her find a good photo of Kakadu National Park on the lnternet at 10:30 at night while she frantically writes out her assignment due the next morning.
If you can work with her cooperatively and good-naturedly on a project (assembling a piece of furniture, for example) without getting tense and angry, then you are laying down the foundations for how she will do this kind of thing with her partner when she grows up. More importantly, you will be setting the standard for the kind of partner she will choose. If you are a remote or indecisive or uninvolved dad, she may choose partners who are distant or indecisive or non-participatory. These are pretty good reasons to work at being an actively good role model for your daughter.
Of course, you will have conflicts. But whatever time you spend in conflict with her needs to be done really well. If you are able to say 'no' to your daughter, kindly but firmly, with good reasons and no arbitrary rejections, she will not only learn how to hear 'no' reasonably, she will in turn learn how to say 'no' reasonably to others when she needs to. You can be much more effective in setting limits and getting cooperation if you avoid using hostility or fear tactics. A father doesn't bully, shout or intimidate.
Many women reading these pages will remember how their fathers launched humiliating tirades at them: 'While you are under my roof, young lady.. .' (as if we have a choice); 'You are a selfish, rude, inconsiderate, useless …' (maybe, but do you have to point it out at the cost of my vulnerable self-esteem?). As men, we often seem to forget (or are careless about remembering) the fact that we are bigger, louder and stronger than our little girls and that physically and emotionally we hold all the cards. Our daughters long for our love, respect, admiration and praise. Which means every cut from a father goes very deep. The true dad is clear and firm, but he isn't aggressive. His underlying tone is warm, even when he is setting clear, firm boundaries. He takes his time, and listens to his daughter's side of the story.
Of course, this isn't always easy. It takes a lifetime of learning. But every inch of progress is worthwhile. Imagine how it might be to really get this right. Our daughters, our little women in the making, will respect and love us, and will want to earn our respect and love and never, ever have reason to be afraid of us.
Taken from Gisela Preuschoff's Raising Girls, 173-6. See my review here.


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Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim
Dan #38- Grandmaster Kim was born in Seoul, Korea in 1929. He was the son of a full-time merchant and a part-time Sumo wrestler, who had trained in Japan and won the Korean Sumo Championships. The prize, Grandmaster Kim recalls, was the traditional one – a live cow.
An avid sportsman and athlete, the elder Kim wanted his son to master a "manly" sport. In 1945 he enrolled his son in a Western-style boxing club. He was a good student, winning eleven of his fifteen bouts on the Korean amateur circuit (similar to our own Golden Gloves). Two events, however, led to a road he has traveled ever since. In his fifteenth bout he knocked out his opponent and the boy, a friend, lay unconscious for twenty minutes. "I thought," Grandmaster Kim remembers, "that I had killed him."
While studying Sumo in Japan, Grandmaster Kim's father (Dong Hwan Kim) had witnessed karate training and had been impressed by what he saw. He decided to end his son's boxing career and in April of 1945 enrolled him in Grandmaster Hwang Kee's Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Dojang in Seoul. Grandmaster Kim became a devoted and gifted student of Tang So Do under Grandmaster Hwang Kee's firm leadership and iron discipline. In 1947 he earned his black belt. Grandmaster Hwang Kee's training was rigorous and sometimes brutal. He required hard body conditioning through constant repetition. Students punched and kicked the Tal yun bong (makiwara) 100 times a day with each hand and foot, often leaving the board stained with blood. All students had Tal yun bong in their homes, Grandmaster Kim had two. Grandmaster Hwang Kee assigned "homework" and Grandmaster Kim was often up smashing the board well past midnight, sometimes to his neighbor's chagrin.
In 1952 Grandmaster Kim assisted in the formation of the Korean Tang Soo Do Association in Seoul, Korea. From 1955 to 1959 he was the top Master Instructor of Moo Duk Kwan in Korea. In 1955 he gave an exhibition at the 1st International Goodwill Tang Soo Do Tournament. In 1961, he was appointed Vice President of the Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Association and in 1962 was elected Vice President of the Korean Soo Bahk Do Association (the parent organization headed by Grandmaster Hwang Kee.) During 1967 he was awarded the 8th Dan and 1968 appointed president of the Moo Duk Kwan in the United States by Grandmaster Hwang Kee. He brought Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do to the United States and founded the Association in Detroit, Michigan.
Through the years, Grandmaster Kim toured the world for exhibitions and has trained Master Instructors in Europe, Asia, North and South America and South Africa. Along the way he found time to train and promote Chuck Norris, Pat Johnson and World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Leon Spinks. Grandmaster Kim also instructed Detroit Mayor Coleman Young's bodyguards. His selfless contributions to the community have resulted in numerous proclamations from mayors around the country. In fact he is listed as the instructor for Grandmaster Hwang Kee's son Kwan Jang Nim H.C. Hwang, president of United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation, Inc. which was established by Grandmaster Hwang Kee.
Veteran martial artists will recognize that Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim held one of the highest ranks in Tang Soo Do in the world: in fact his Dan Number is #38, which was awarded by Grandmaster Hwang Kee (the founder of Tang Soo Do.) For over 50 years Grandmaster Kim was a devoted teacher and inspiration to all who come in contact with him.
Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim continued to develop World Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do, which now stretches its way from California to New York and from Michigan (where the main club started) to Florida, the world headquarters of the World Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do Federation. Grandmaster Jae Joon Kim traveled to all four corners of the United States and around the world, conducting tests and seminars to further the expansion of the Federation.

subset: commoncrawl


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10 Reasons to Foster a Teenager in Foster Care
Reasons to be a Foster Parent to a Teen Foster Child
So here are some reasons to take in foster teens.
1. You may become the only family they have.
Can you imagine aging out of the foster system with no one. Not having any family to guide you into early adulthood or if you do have family they may not be very productive or even care about your well being anymore? Wouldn't it be awesome to watch a teen:
- Grow into adulthood
- Be there when they graduate
- Support them when they go to college
- Be there for the birth of their child
All the while teaching them and guiding them to be the best possible adults they can be? Be that family! Be that person to help them through life.
2. You may be able to make that hard time a little easier.
Foster care is not fun. It's hard and mentally exhausting not knowing how long you will be in that placement, how long before you get to go home if ever, if your foster parent will treat you like a person or just another number coming through their home.
Be that home that they remember not because it was stressful or hard, but because it was awesome or at least the home that made all that negative just a bit easier to handle.
3. You may be able to show them what a real home is supposed to be like.
Most children in foster care have not experienced what a real home is suppose to be like. The average foster child is not use to cooking with mom, eating at the dinner table, having a scheduled time to do homework, or even the basics like seeing parents. So you can give them a glimpse of what a home is suppose to be like. You can provide dinners at a table. You can offer up some time cooking in the kitchen. Just normal!
4. You may be able to teach them how not to run when they get scared.
Many foster children are "runners", and I don't mean track! It's easier to run before things get bad than it is to be hurt or rejected by yet another foster home or situation.
By providing a glimpse at a "normal" life you can help them see that they don't need to run. Being a foster parent to a teen gives you a chance to redirect that fear into something more productive than running. You can help them learn new coping mechanisms so that when they grow up they don't continue making the mistake of running every time they are afraid of being hurt or scared.
5. You may be able to show them what is important in life.
You know like:
- Building relationships
- Learning politics
- Figuring out a career, education, and all those other important things we all have to sort out.
Most foster teens have no idea about any of this because the system does not prepare foster youth for adult hood.
6. You may be the only person they will ever be able to trust.
Imagine being a teenager. Now imagine your parents have failed you. The main people you are suppose to be able to trust in life have proven untrustworthy, and the only way you can keep from being hurt again is to stop trusting. Give them a chance to trust someone before they get to a point of no return.
7. You may be able to talk them into listening to that counselor they hate so that they don't end up like their parents.
Foster children are required to see a counselor. For some foster children the counselor changes every time the foster home does. So what's the point in listening to them. Now that I am an adult I understand the value, but 32 placements and close to 30 counselors got ignored because I didn't see the value in listening to their advice.
I also didn't understand why I should listen to people who likely had no idea what it was like to go through what I did. This is your opportunity to help them learn why they should spend some time listening!
8. You may be able to make sure she doesn't have to walk down the aisle alone.
Or even get divorced alone. See as a foster child I didn't get the things on this list. So I married the first person who made me feel like I had a family. I didn't have someone to walk me down the aisle, no one was there for me at the birth of my first child, and when the inevitable happened no one was there for me in the divorce.
NO ONE should have to go through these things without someone. Be that someone!
9. You may finally be their last stop in foster care.
It's such a cruel comparison, but I once heard teen foster children compared to senior dogs in the shelter. Those are the ones most don't want, but if you take them in and keep them till their end they will forever be grateful.
While the comparison is a bit cruel, it's true. Being a last stop can be the saving grace. You can be the memorable last stop to make all the other stops before it worth it.
10. Or just maybe you can show them that someone out there will love them for just being them!
Because when it comes down to it, isn't that all that matters? Don't all people deserve to feel loved no matter what?
Foster a teen! When you do, don't expect them to be perfect. Don't expect them to call you "mom" and "dad". Don't expect them to listen to every word you say. Expect them to have imperfections. Do your part to help them become the best adult they can be!
While becoming a foster parent is great, you need to consider a few things first.
- Becoming a Foster Carer - 5 Top Questions to Ask Yourself
Becoming a foster carer is entering the great unknown. Here a foster mother gives 5 top questions to ask yourself before becoming a foster carer.
Be a Foster Parent
Help these foster children change the statistics and foster or adopt a teen foster child! Your reward won't be immediate. You may not realize it when you get it, but take some time to love a teen child, to understand them when they mess up and you just might be rewarded by changing the life of a teen in desperate need.
A Few Foster Child Statistics to Remind you What Teen Foster Children Have to Look Forward to.
- 6% of aged out foster children graduate from college
- 40% of aged out foster children end up homeless
- 25% of aged out foster children do not even have a high school diploma or GED
- 30% less foster children compared to non foster children held jobs by age 24
- 60% of male aged out foster children are convicted of a crime before age 24.
If you decide being a foster parent to a teen is right for you, consider learning a bit about the important things they need to know.
- Aging Out of Foster Care - 5 Important Lessons
As a foster child aging out of foster care, I was unprepared for adult life. These 5 important lessons for foster children will help kids in your care.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2010 Peeples
The best thing we ever did was adopt our Daughter when she was 13! Yes, we went through some tough times but I would do it all over again! She is now 27, we are closer than ever, and she has given us 3 beautiful Grandchildren. I can't imagine my life without all of them
You have given me a lot to think about. I would like to make a difference in a teenager's life.
Very good points on the reasons to foster teens. I believe your doing an excellent job bringing more awareness to the truth about our foster care system. Great writing also, thank you so much for having the courage to stand up and share your story's and inspire countless people out here, including me.
This article is very useful and hopefully will inspire people to become foster parents. I have always wanted to become a foster parent myself however I have been struggling to support my son and myself for a long time now. Unfortunately the few times when I was on my way to becoming financially secure something happened like one time the company I worked for closed its doors and another time I had to move away from my good paying job and finding a job that actually pays enough to get by is difficult and impossible in many cases. Anyhow, I still hope to become a foster parent someday.
I'm sorry you went through all that. Sounds very scary, unpredictable, lonely, screwed up childhood. I hope your doing better and that you surround yourself with positive people that care about you.
hugs hugs hugs
Welcome back peeples. Just added your story to our Posts. Your own experience make this hub valuable, and we hope you write quality hubs like this one. Powerful to say the least. You are truly a survivor; how many were left behind? You know better than us! Thanks!
There is no one better equipped to write this awareness raising piece than you.
This is a convincing and poignant plea. Thank you for sharing your experiences that show your inner strength.
Voted UP and UABI. Hugs, Maria
This is very personal and touching. Thanks for sharing your story. You are such a strong woman.
What a beautiful, heartfelt article. I would like to add another thought to the mix.People are so worried about the type of teen they will take into their homes but have they looked at their own children? Probably not so perfect. I wish that I were in a position to do this. I would love to take in teens. Keep spreading the word, it's important. My heart breaks for you that you had such a difficult beginning to your life. My heart breaks that you didn't have omeone to walk you down the aisle or be there to answer your questions or just to love you. Everyone deserves to be loved. I hope and pray that your life is better now.
I am so glad you posted this on Facebook in the HOW series.. I am crying,. it is so sad.. Of course I am sharing your story.. I am linking it to mine HOW to adopt a family , children...
this is an amazing write everyone needs to be aware and not turn a blind eye. God Bless you for writing this
So good to read this
The whole system is so frustratingly bad. Teenagers can be tough and living with one you don't know all that well must be particularly difficult. They really need to offer training and ongoing support for families that take in teens. Maybe more families would step forward to take it on. Even at 20 I can't imagine not having supportive parents to turn to as needed.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Some friends of ours are trying to get the word out about the need for foster and adoptive families willing to consider teens, particularly aged out teens. Please check it out, they would love to hear from you!
I'm 27 years old, my husband is 43, and we have two foster children. One is 13 and the other is 8; we do our best to make life go well for them and at times, we can see that it gets hard for them but it gets hard for us to. All we try to do is be there for them, but some times they want nothing to do with us though we all live in the same house. Now I know some times I feel the same with my family, but when it comes to fostering you have no clue what that child may be thinking aboutand that's the problem, some kids do crazy thing weather it be foster or not. I'm not their mother but I know they would love me to be, it's just when they see their parents they start to feel guilty that they look at my husband and my self as parents; when they have parents they see every week. My question is, how do you show foster children that it's ok to have other people who are not their parents, love them as they do?
Your Hubs are really touching, keep them coming.


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Astana (TNA) – Kazakhstan's capital city of Astana will host another international meeting on the Syrian settlement on September 14-15, the press service of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
"The high-level international meeting is expected to review a number of documents regulating the activities of de-escalation control forces and continue efforts to agree on the composition of a task force in Idlib," the ministry said.
According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, the talks are expected to yield de-escalation zone maps in the provinces of Idlib, Homs and in Eastern Ghouta.
The upcoming Astana talks are scheduled to draft provisions on the coordination center and also help the formation of a working group on the release of hostages and the detained persons, the handover of bodies of those killed and the search for the missing, the statement said.
RELATED: Russian FM: Rebels Planning to Use Chemical Weapons in Daraa
"The parties are planned to pass a joint statement on humanitarian demining of historical monuments in Syria that are on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Apart from that, they will discuss other issues of mutual interest," the ministry said.
Ahead of the meeting, on September 13, the guarantor countries plan to hold a meeting of the joint working group.
Astana has hosted five rounds of peace talks for Syria since January. Russia, Iran, and Turkey serve as guarantor states in the peace process. The negotiations are aimed at bringing an end to the foreign-backed militancy in Syria, which began in March 2011.
The Astana talks have so far resulted in an agreement on four de-escalation zones across Syria.
They have been held in tandem with another series of talks hosted by Geneva and brokered by the UN.
When the first round of the Astana talks was organized, the Geneva talks had been stalled for months. The talks in the Kazakh capital then provided momentum for the UN-brokered negotiations, helping revive them.
This post originally ran on Tasnim News Agency.


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Protect your forearms and elbows from those difficult crawls with XTGGear elbow pads! These are built to the toughest standards.
Made with 3mm EVA foam and CORDURA outer layer to provide unparalleled protection!
Perfect elbow pads for even the most aggressive racer or fit cross training athlete. Used as obstacle racing gear, and great for wall climbs and crawls- and BURPEES!
Also great for:
mountain biking- flexible elbow pads with strong outer layer for mobility, not bulky and easy to manoeuvre through trees
skateboarding- elbow pads that protect against grazing, and look pretty cool too
stunts- XTGGear is designing an elbow pad to allow the gel packs to be placed in the forearm area
There are no reviews yet.


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Kids Zumba
Dancing in early childhood is the best foundation for success in school. Zumba class will challenge and develop your child's gross motor skills, coordination elevates mood, improve fitness and social skills.
Alba Carrasco has been a dance instructor for over 20 years and 10 of those years she has been a certified Zumba instructor. As a former owner of APE Fitness in Port Chester, she has perfected this fun exercise routine for many years. She currently teaches Zumba to elementary and middle school children in schools in Westchester.
Zumba every Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 10:40 am


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About Avalon Eyewear
With a contemporary design philosophy, Avalon Collection frames marry clean lines with rich materials to create modern classics. Our modern style is traditionally designed with American pride. From the handsome and sophisticated, to the beautiful and contemporary, each offers affordable luxury in design and pays tribute to the great trends of the century. Avalon Collection is superb eyewear at ready to wear prices. Try us on!
- Modern Classics in Men's & Womens Styling
- Affordable Luxury in Premium Materials
- Chic Decor and Modern Elements of Design
- Refined Expression in Sophisticated Color Palettes
- Signature Eyewear Case & Micro-fiber Cloth
CoolFrames Designer Eyewear Boutique is an authorized Avalon Eyewear online retailer. All frames are guaranteed to be defect-free and authentic. We will replace any defective or damaged items to ensure 100% satisfaction. Our in-house optical lab can install custom prescription lenses into any eyeglass frame and many sunglass styles. We specialize in Essilor presciption lenses including Varilux Progressives, Transitions as well as Crizal Alize and Sapphire (Forte) Anti-Reflective coatings.


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Serving SuggestionTo keep the dip warm, serve the hot prepared dip in a small slow cooker or chafing dish.
SubstitutePrepare using chopped white American cheese slices.
Special ExtraPrepare using 1/2 EACH green and red pepper.
We are using cookies in order to facilitate your navigation. By continuing to navigate on this website or clicking on the close button you accept our policy regarding the usage of cookies. Read our Privacy Policy to learn more.


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(Senior) Internal Auditor - MNC
|Hong Kong
|Contract Type:
|Finance & Accounting
|HK$30000 - HK$45000 per month
Our client is a Fortune 500 business with APAC headquarters in Hong Kong. Employing over 40000 staff worldwide, the company has further expanded its presence across the globe and has operations across various niches. They are currently looking for a (Senior) Internal Auditor to join their Regional Internal Audit Team.
Reporting to the Internal Audit Manager, you will be responsible for the following:
- Develop a clear understanding of the operations, processes, and activities
- Implement and review controls and business processes
- Mitigate any potential risks arising from internal control weakness
- Plan and execute review and testing related to internal controls and risk management procedures
- Partner with management to develop corrective action plans in response to all audit observations and subsequent follow-ups
- Prepare internal audit reports on findings and recommendations and follow-up the implementation status of agreed recommendation
- Degree holder in Accounting, Finance or equivalent professional qualifications
- At least 3 years auditing experience with CPA firms or within the commercial sector, preferably with manufacturing industry background
- Occasional business trip is required
- Self-starter with passion to pursue for highest standards
- Proficiency in written and spoken English and Chinese
- Candidates with more experience will be considered as Senior Internal Auditor


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Dusted Off: Poems From Before
SynopsisThis is a group of five poems I'm refining, to eventually choose up to three which I will submit for a poetry exhibition/contest. Each is under a page long, so an easy way to earn review points.
You need to be a Workshop member to read and review this submission. Joining is quick and easy, Click here to find out more


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Belly Shots:(Weekly from February 5th to July 21)
I have been sticking to working out, changing it up a little, a previous knee injury has made it a little tough for me to do hip hop abs… I have to take it out and reincorporate slowly, to see if that what is causing the knee pain.
I also, changed it up a bit so that way my body doesn't get too used to it… But my scale moved up 5pounds and will NOT move…..
I have been under calories or close to everyday except Saturday and Sundays. I am working out everyday, drinking plenty of water and eating my protein. I'm kinda at a loss. I'm hoping that I can figure this out, because I got really really happy when I bought shorts that were 3, yes 3 dress sizes smaller!
I finally feel better about the way I look and feel about myself! It feels like I have my mojo/sexy/happy back! (Not that I wasn't happy before… It's just a different happy, a happy to be me again!)
I'm not going to give up! I can't I need to be healthy and look healthy! I do still see a change from last month to this month, even if scale doesn't show it!
Here are up to date progress photos with dates: (I forgot inches…next time!)
Update(5/29/15): since last post April 22, I have lost 0 pounds. Inches lost: arms 0, legs 0, waist .5
I am happy about the half inch in the waist, but frustrated at no loss anywhere else.
So, I am happy to report that since January 12, 2015, I am still going strong on my workout regimen and monitoring my calorie intake.
Since January 12th, I have been using the myfitnesspal app. This app is great for multiple things. It helps track your calories with a awesome database (or you can add your own if you can't find the info), great way to track your exercise, water intake, weight. I love it!
In February, I got a FitBit Charge HR. I quickly fell in love and became obsessed with meeting my step goal daily! Plus, if your friends have one, you can "compete" with them! I also really like how it tracks my sleep.
Here are my progress photos:
Each picture has three photos.
Picture 1-January 26
Picture 2-March 9
Picture 3-April 11
I think the back picture shows most progress. Followed by face photo.
Inches lost: arms 1 , waist 2.5 , legs 1.5 .
I'm gonna keep on going! Will update later on!
Till next time!
*I am not associated with Fitbit or myfitnesspal! I just love their apps!
Feed me!
Trying the Recipes of Pinterest One at a Time
Food Fun For Feeding Therapy and Picky Eaters
PR's, 4 children, hopes and dreams; I'm always running after something
Compassion is delicious!
living our happily ever after - southern style!
Stay at home mom that shouldn't have access to a laptop
A blog full of humorous and poignant observations.
Motherhood Misadventures + Creative Living
Days in the Life of a Stay at Home Mom, Trying to Live a Natural and Organic Lifestyle for Herself and her Kids. Read about Her Successes, Struggles, and Failures.
The Art and Craft of Blogging
The latest news on WordPress.com and the WordPress community.


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I think it was the little birds on the table stationery which I fell in love with first. Then I saw how gorgeous Lizzy and Josh were, how beautifully they'd incorporated countryside touches and bright, colourful styling into their day – and I was smitten. This is a stunning wedding from beautiful Sussex venue Chafford Park, with our lovely friend and English Wedding Blog sponsor Penny Young behind the camera. Grab a cuppa, settle down somewhere cosy and enjoy!
Handmade was a big part of our day – the venue is in a beautiful setting, but is a blank canvass. We wanted it to very feel personal to us, and to enjoy a full year of preparations. We picked our own flowers at Blooming Green and arranged into mismatched jugs, just using tape to give structure instead of oasis. We also made our own buttonholes, boutonnieres, flower girl basket and bouquets.


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A very useful site to help support early signing in the home with your child/family. Meet three families using sign language in their everyday life in and around the home. Watch some signed stories or find a sign. An easy to navigate site and very helpful.
We use cookies to track usage and improve the website.
Click here for more information.


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A runny nose happens when your body produces too much mucus to clear out viruses, bacteria, or other particles in your nasal passageways. A runny nose is a common side effect of cold viruses as well as allergic reactions.
A runny nose can be a side effect of the following breast cancer treatments:
- mitoxantrone (brand name: Novantrone), a chemotherapy medicine
- Herceptin (chemical name: trastuzumab), a targeted therapy
Managing a runny nose
If you have a fever, sinus pain or nasal discharge that's bloody or green- or yellow-colored, you may have a sinus infection. Ask your doctor about medicines you can take to treat the infection.
- Blow your nose gently — don't strain yourself.
- Use soft tissues when you blow so your nose doesn't get red and raw.
- Apply petroleum jelly to your nostrils to help prevent irritation.


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John Fallgatter
- Posted by chrisferrill
- On September 13, 2015
- 0 Comments
A native of Kern County, John is a graduate of San Diego State University. He has been in the insurance industry since 1973 and Partnered with Rolly Rhodes in 1993. In 2003 he became a Certified Work Comp Advisor. Over the years, John has been involved in many community organizations and is currently a member of Bakersfield West Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Business Association. He is a the proud parent of six boys and four grandchildren.


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Emerald Clover | Gold Clover | Silver Clover | Bronze Clover | Green Clover | White Clover | 4-H Alberta Friend
4-H Canadian National Partners
4-H Alberta recognizes the tremendous impact sponsors have on 4-H's ability to deliver a quality product. In addition to financial support, many of our sponsors raise the community profile of 4-H by displaying and promoting the 4-H logo.
We rely on the support from the community, the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our financial partners to exist in a synergy whose end result is producing the leaders of tomorrow from the youth of today. Sponsorship plays an integral role in the operation of the 4-H Alberta program. It is a key reason why our 4-H program effectively meets the needs of its members and adult volunteer leaders.
For more information on 4-H partnerships, please contact:
Mark Olson
Interim Chief Executive Officer
4-H Foundation of Alberta
Cell: 403-869-3528
Main: 780-422-4H4H (4444)
Bianca von Nagy
Director, Development
4-H Foundation of Alberta
Cell: 587-583-3152
Main: 780-422-4H4H (4444)
Are you interested in becoming a sponsor for 4-H Alberta? Please take a moment and read the following four resources for information on 4-H in Alberta.
We would like to express our sincerest appreciation to our partners and supporters for their continued investment and support.
As the exclusive Emerald Clover Sponsor you will enjoy prime visibility throughout the entire year. You will
have exposure at all Provincial level events and have many opportunities for VIP hostings as well as exciting
engagement possibilities. This sponsorship level will also give you the distinction of adding your logo to the
historic and picturesque Alberta 4-H Centre and your organization can say with pride that it is creating a legacy
of leaders in Alberta!
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($50,000 - $99,999)
Gold Clover Sponsors have exposure at 50% of confirmed Provincial level events. We will work with you and
your team to create unique, customized engagement opportunities that will excite you and your stakeholders.
This is your opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of Alberta's youth!
($25,000 - $49,999)
As a Silver Clover Sponsor you will have visibility at 30% of confirmed Provincial level events and competitions.
In addition, you will continue to have high-profile logo recognition in many 4-H Alberta media outlets.
You are the key to creating a bright and promising future for 4-H Alberta's youth!
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Meeting of the Public Relations Commission and Mass Media of the Council of Rectors of St. Petersburg in SPbPU
On January, 27 Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University housed the meeting of the Public Relations Commission and Mass Media of the Council of Rectors of St. Petersburg universities. The theme of the meeting was "The Problems of Organizing the Work of Public Relations in Higher Education Institutions: the Experience of SPbPU".
As the meeting was held on the solemn holiday – the day of the full lifting the siege of Leningrad – it began with a minute of silence in memory of the heroes who defended the city.
The event, which aimed at sharing practices in the field of information exchange, was attended by over 20 representatives from 14 universities of the city. The participants of the meeting were welcomed by the Rector of the Polytechnic University A.I. Rudskoy: "Today Mass Media play a decisive role in the lives of Russian youth, so they have to carry the heavy burden of educating the youth." Andrey Ivanovich gave a brief description of the interaction of the Polytechnic University with the media and various community groups, emphasizing the importance of interactive methods of influence. "Our university has Media Center, which successfully monitors the information field of the University. Our new website, launched less than a year ago, is not only informative, but also educational. It directs the students, protects their rights and so on", concluded the Rector.
The talk about the information policy of the university was continued by D.I. Kuznetsov, the Vice-Rector, the Press Secretary. In his report "Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in the global educational environment and its information policy" Dmitry Ivanovich told about the stages of the development of the university, as well as about the transformation of the Polytechnic University under the Project "5-100", and the place of the university in international rankings. «PR depends on what is happening inside the university in the sphere of education, research, international activities. These are the main resources from which we derive the information that we provide to the market", - D.I. Kuznetsov explained.
Tuchkevich V.M., the head of the Advanced Information Technologies Office of SpbPU, reported about presenting the university in the Internet and about working with social resources, commented in detail on the stages of the development of the official website of the University and the main aspects of filling it with content. In order to present the implementation of the information policy of the university from the traditional - printing point of view, the Director of Academic Publishing A.V. Ivanov gave the speech "Polytechnic University Academic Publishing in the era of technology platforms changes".
The Director of Corporate Public Relations Office A.N. Kobyshev presented the stages of formation of corporate culture and style of the university. The new logo of the Polytechnic University was of particular interest among the participants of the meeting. The colleagues asked questions on the brand architecture of SpbPU, and also asked for advice on the creation of the corporate style of their universities.
At the end of the meeting the participants had a tour of the main building of the Polytechnic University.
Media Center, SPbPU


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Category Archives: Why I Hate Saturn
Why I Hate Saturn
Why I Hate Saturn
By Kyle Baker (writer/artist)
Published by DC Comics/Vertigo
Originally released August 2004
Availability: Amazon.com
Cover price: $17.95
Format: Soft cover, color, standard-size
Synopsis from publisher:
Cranky Columnist Anne Merkel is only happy when she's complaining…about her editors, about being single in New York City, about running out of Scotch. But when her long-lost sister shows up claiming to be Queen of the Leather Astro-Girls of Saturn, Anne's going to wish she'd never complained about anything…
This publication is an original graphic novel. All material in this publication was written and illustrated by Kyle Baker.
Why I Hate Saturn was originally published in 1990 by Piranha Press, a now-defunct imprint of DC Comics. In 2004, Vertigo republished the same contents with a new cover by Kyle Baker.
- Why I Hate Saturn (1990)


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On the occasion of completing reviews on the Doctor Who's 7th Series, I should like to re-imagine it as a role-playing game campaign using Cubicle 7's Doctor Who RPG. (Go back one, to Sarah Jane Adventures Season 5.)
The GM
The Players
-Matt keeps wanting to make his Doctor older, so every chance he gets, he makes it seem like a lot of time has gone by between his visits to his companions' houses. Rather sad Karen and Arthur are set to leave, he lets it be known that he would likely reject a new companion. That gets the GM thinking.
-Karen wants Amy to grow older too, perhaps think really hard about retiring and choosing real life over TARDIS adventures. She doesn't know what Steven has planned for their last session, but she's game for an epic death scene if needs me. She also toys with the idea of splitting up with Rory.
-Arthur upgraded Rory in the previous season, so doesn't need to do much this time around. His plan is to keep supporting Amy as an equal partner in life and in adventure. He's not as keen on the idea of marital strife as a subplot.
-The new player is Jenna, and the origins of her character are a little convoluted, as we'll see. She starts with an audition character, which the GM co-opts into a meta-arc he hopes will keep the Doctor interested, then creates a Victorian version of the same character to play every week, but loses that character and must redesign her once again as a modern-day girl. Clara Oswald will be a cute funny girl, brave and clever, and with a good rapport with kids (they joke that it's how she relates so well to the Doctor). She herself doesn't know the solution to her own mystery. Steven, as ever, plays it close to the vest.
The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe. Christmas rolls around and the companions aren't available, so Steven invites potential future companions over. Might as well start the audition process early. Claire will play Madge Arwell, a plucky WWII widow, and two junior members of the RPG club, Maurice and Holly, will play her children (kids their respective ages), Cyril and Lily. These are more or less designed from templates to fit the GM's tribute to the Narnia books, but with so many players unfamiliar with the campaign around the table, there's a lot of flying by the seat of one's pants. Living Christmas trees, a giant industrial robot, a plane lost in the time vortex, and Matt riffing on cool stuff to integrate into the kids' new house, is all par for the course. They have fun, but none of the new players seem right for the continuing campaign. At the end, at Claire's urging, Matt does call Karen and Arthur with season's greetings. And they do it in-character. Cute.
Pond Life. During the GM's once-again long prep time, the campaign's three main players get together with Steven online and play out some scenes in amidst the normal chat. The GM throws a visiting Ood butler at them, and Karen establishes Amy and Rory broke up, hoping to start the next season with something interesting to play.
Asylum of the Daleks. The audition process continues with Jenna at the table playing Oswin, meant to be a one-off character, a naval officer stranded on a Dalek asylum planet who will turn out to be a Dalek when finally rescued. Jenna knows this isn't to be a continuing character, but doesn't know her Oswin's been converted into a killing machine. She just thinks she's in a closed environment, hacking her way through the facilities. Karen and Arthur play their subplot, acting like they're getting a divorce, but the Doctor helps them work things out (Matt is so sneaky, it's scary; he doesn't want the subplot to go on for longer either, it seems). The GM's plot has the Daleks ask the Doctor for help destroying their own mad soldiers, and he introduces the idea of Daleks with the Infection Trait. Cue the Resolve rolls, Amy almost succumbs!
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship. Another session, more auditions. Rupert plays John Riddell, a big game hunter from the early 20th century. Riann plays Queen Nefertiti of Egypt, literally the historical figure. And Mark comes up with the fun idea of playing Rory's dad, Brian Williams, a handy everyman who's never really wanted to travel, but a trip in the TARDIS soon changes that (and it ties into the companions' current situation, where they're allowed to live their normal lives and only occasionally go on spacetime trips). In this case, the trip involves a giant Silurian spaceship, returning to Earth in the future, deserted but for dinosaurs running rampant aboard, plus a villainous collector of rare items and creatures, and his two robots. The GM mostly plays it as a comedy, though Matt makes a point of being more involved in the villain's demise, showing how not having permanent companions changes the Doctor. Rupert and Riann's character prove rather limited, but Mark has managed to squeeze himself into a potentially recurring role as part of the Pond family.
Attributes: Awareness 3, Coordination 3, Ingenuity 3, Presence 2, Resolve 3, Strength 3
Skills: Athletics 2, Convince 2, Craft 2, Fighting 1, Knowledge 2, Technology 3* (AoE: Handyman jobs), Transport 3
Traits: Brave, Charming, Face in the Crowd, Hot Shot, Obsession (Minor; Travel), Resourceful Pockets, Technically Adept, Unadventurous. Story Points: 12
Home Tech Level: 5
A Town Called Mercy. Steven tries his hand at a western, with all the tropes and trimmings plus an alien cyborg gunslinger hunting one of its people's war criminals. The week's guest is Ben, the town marshal. He does a good job, but would the Doctor travel with such an action man?
The Power of Three. Steven has this idea about a slow invasion that would take place over months, Earth-time. He sets it up so Amy and Rory (and Mark!) transition from month to month as mysterious alien cubes just sit there and make themselves inconspicuous parts of popular culture. Until they spring into action. Also at the table is Jemma, playing Kate Stewart, UNIT's new scientific adviser and the Brigadier's daughter. Could she be a companion, or at least, a recurring player? Could be. In this, their penultimate session, Karen and Arthur explore their characters' lifestyle. They could have chosen to live normal lives, with one last blow-out to come, or take the more exciting road to board the TARDIS and eventually (but still in the next session) meet their final fates, good or bad. Obviously, they take the latter.
The Angels Take Manhattan. It's to be Amy and Rory's last game, so the GM makes it a doozy. He creates a timey-wimey mystery about a book the characters find themselves in, brings back River Song and the Weeping Angels, and goes all out making them take over 1930s New York. It's no holds barred play, where rolls are difficult and the characters could easily die. The players' solution, to have love triumph over all and create a paradox is so strong, they get out of it completely. And had they chosen "real life" in the previous session, the GM would have omitted his final scare. But since the characters, if not the players, have selected to keep traveling forever, the Angels finally get the Ponds and position them out of reach from the TARDIS. Left up to them, Karen and Arthur describe what their long lives as a New York couple was like, and that's that. Tears may have been shed; we're not saying.
The Snowmen. After trying out a fairly large number of players, Jenna is selected. She had the best chemistry with Matt, and the best schedule to fit the gaming sessions. She won't play a Dalek, of course. She creates Clara Oswald, Victorian barmaid by night, governess by day. The GM tells her secretly this character has a connection with Oswin, so if she can remember things she might have said in that session long ago, and can mention them again, it would be of some help. Why Victorian? Because that's where the GM not only wants but needs to set his new Christmas scenario in 1880s London, seeing as Neve, Catrin and Dan are all joining them for the holiday session as Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax, characters they'd developed for one of the previous season's games. Because he's lost the Ponds, Matt puts his Doctor into bitter retirement mode, living on a cloud above the city, in a redesigned TARDIS (he and the GM worked out some sketches to make it colder and harsher to fit the character's mood). Clara will have to thaw him of she's to become the new companion, and Steven is reasonably sure the links to her previous character will intrigue him. He also re-introduces a villain from seasons long past, the Great Intelligence, an evil entity looking to enter our reality and take it over. It used to use robotic Yeti, which the GM isn't sure about, so he makes them animated snowmen instead. The whole table is shocked when, after some horrifyingly bad rolls, Clara is killed! But Jenna and the GM share a wink at this stage that fires up the Doctor. She can recreate her character as a modern woman, something a little easier to play, and have an even stranger link to TWO dead versions of herself.
Attributes: Awareness 2, Coordination 2, Ingenuity 1, Presence 3, Resolve 3, Strength 4
Skills: Athletics 1, Fighting 2, Subterfuge 3
Traits: Alien, Alien Appearance, Alien Senses (Snowmen detect their prey telepathically and can form very close to it), Dependency (Requires sub-zero temperatures), Enslaved (Great Intelligence), Face in the Crowd, Fear Factor 1, Natural Weapon/Chilly teeth (+2 to Strength), Networked, Psychic, Shapeshift (Minor; Snowmen can take various snowy forms, including that of a snow flurry of individual killer snowflakes), Weakness (Major; Heat-based attacks cause twice the damage), Weakness (Minor; characters may make a Presence + Resolve roll to imagine them melting and they will). Story Points: 4
Home Tech Level: N/A
The Bells of Saint John. Clara's real debut, unless she dies again (she doesn't, breaking the streak), with the Great Intelligence once again in the background. The GM proposes a plot about evil wi-fi capturing souls and controlling humans, and Jenna gets to establish her new character. She's kept the governess element, and realizing that as Oswin she was a master hacker, asks late if she can add that to her sheet. Since she got into the adventure by being clueless about computers, the GM agrees but justifies it as leakage from her bad wi-fi experience.
The Rings of Akhaten. Before this part of the campaign began, Jenna told her character's back story (obviously, absent any connection to previously seen selves, because she doesn't know what that's all about). It involved a leaf replete with coincidence, responsible for her parents meeting, and holding sentimental value for Clara since her mother died. Jenna hoped to show how there are coincidences in the universe (her version of what the GM was on about) and to justify her PC's motherliness. This detail would become important in this scenario in which the GM wanted to render a very alien culture based on song and story, with various alien races trying to pacify an Old God. It's the players who use the leaf as food too rich for the monster, using what it represents as an untold and infinite story it cannot completely consume. Steven is so charmed by it, it gets a pass.
Cold War. In this scenario, the players find themselves aboard a sinking Soviet submarine during the Cold War, with an Ice Warrior aboard. The GM is keen to reinvent this monster from the old campaign files, and uses it both as a noble warrior and an Alien-like monster lurking in the shadows.
Attributes: Awareness 2, Coordination 4, Ingenuity 2-3, Presence 3, Resolve 3, Strength 4
Skills: Athletics 3, Convince 3, Fighting 4, Knowledge 3, Marksman 3, Medicine 2, Science 2, Subterfuge 4 (AoE: Hide in shadows), Survival 3, Technology 2, Transport 2
Traits: Alien, Alien Appearance, Climbing (Major), Code of Conduct (Minor; Warrior's Honor), Fear Factor 2, Natural Weapon/Claws (+2 to Strength), Weakness (Major; prefers cold weather and can't stand intense heat; -2 to all actions in high temperatures). Story Points: 3-8
Home Tech Level: 6
Hide. Next, a ghost story set in the 1970s, with a time travel puzzle the PCs figure out using the TARDIS. The GM introduces the idea that the blue box and Clara don't get along, something to fuel the mystery of what Matt has started calling "the impossible girl" (he doesn't miss a beat and asks the psychic in the story if she gets any weird vibes from Clara). As often happens with players in control of the Doctor later in their campaign, Matt is also becoming very comfortable with suggesting things (i.e. saying something that becomes true by virtue of the Doctor saying it), so in this case, he's the one who establishes the time traveler is the ghost hunters' descendant, and once the story is over, that the monster in the pocket universe is just a love-lorn creature that needs to be reunited with its love on normal-Earth. As usual, the GM allows it so long as it fits the session's emergent themes.
Journey to the Center of the TARDIS. The GM concocts a scenario that will take the characters down into the damaged TARDIS' bowels, with time breaking down and lots of new rooms being uncovered. To make things more dangerous, he's got ruthless salvage experts and time zombies (the monsters they will become from exposure to the Eye of Harmony) in there with Clara and the Doctor as well. The NPCs and logic behind the monsters could have done with another draft, but the characters so seldom get to treat the time machine as an unexplored world, and there's timey-wimey stuff aplenty, so it's a fun session regardless.
The Crimson Horror. The Doctor and Clara investigate a strange mystery in Victorian Yorkshire, but they fall prey to an evil woman and her prehistoric leach. "Hold on before spending your Story Points, guys," sayeth the GM, "How about we call the Victorian players to see if they can come in and join?" After a short break, Neve, Catrin and Dan arrive and get involved in the same mystery, eventually rescuing the Doctor and Clara, whose players wait patiently and snicker at seeing other people go through similar story beats in their own way. They've lost the momentum though, and the joining players end up dominating the action even after that.
Attributes: Awareness 1, Coordination 1, Ingenuity 2, Presence 2, Resolve 3, Strength 1
Skills: Athletics 1, Knowledge 2, Medicine 2, Science 2, Subterfuge 4, Survival 3, Technology 2
Traits: Adversary (Silurians), Alien, Alien Appearance, Cowardly, Dependency (suckling off a humanoid + salt), Friends (Major; Mrs. Gillyflower), Last of My Kind, Natural Weapon/poison (can cause blindness, paralysis and death), Psychic, Repulsive, Size (Tiny), Slow, Weakness (Major; red leeches are small, soft creatures with no hind legs, only infrequently letting go of their host). Story Points: 4
Home Tech Level: 5
Nightmare in Silver. Campaign fatigue is setting in. The GM's long wanted to redesign the Cybermen and make them more dangerous, so he sets an adventure in the far future, after the Cyber Wars, justifying tons of new Traits for members of what he calls the Cyberiad. He plans the a chess game between the monsters' collective mind and the Doctor, an exiled emperor, and high stakes, but adds one element too many. That element: the kids Clara babysits finagle themselves aboard the TARDIS. Only, he's not very good at playing these NPCs and uses them as smug little trouble makers. The players are a little off as well and wanting to just get through it, they play their characters as straight up adventurers, never questioning whether they would really do the things they do (Clara using melee weapons and guns, for example). Not the best session, and they vow to do better with their season finale.
The Name of the Doctor. Because they've become members of the family, and because they know all about the Great Intelligence which Steven plans to use, the Victorian crew is once again invited (with some lead time, this time). They're the ones who get the regular PCs involved and are held hostage by the villain to get the Doctor to Trenzalore, reputedly the site of his grave. Jenny even dies, though she's later saved by a generous helping of Story Points. Steven brings River Song back one last time, as a virtual ghost, to give the Doctor some closure on that front before Matt inevitably announces he's soon to leave the campaign. And of course, Steven means to reveal how Clara can be in several places and times at once. When he presents the Doctor's time stream as an open wound in spacetime, something the Great Intelligence can jump into to destroy every moment in the Doctor's life, Jenna gets the hint and follows. Clara restores the balance, and the GM has some fun grabbing old campaign notes at random and reading from them what she might see in there. Refusing to let her die, the Doctor jumps in too, and in a sort of mindscape, the GM reveals one last surprise: The incarnation of the Doctor that "broke the promise", the one that ended the Time War by any means necessary.
Steven never solves a mystery without presenting another, but that's a story for the RPG club's anniversary games. Coming soon!
Labels: Doctor Who, RPGs, Seasons of DWAITAS
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You could be forgiven for thinking that all of the top Argentina tourist attractions are crammed into the city of Buenos Aires. However, this isn't the case at all.
While this massive city has some amazing sights, there is also plenty more to be discovered in the 8th biggest country on the planet.
North Argentina Tourist Attractions: Salta and Tucuman
What can expect to find in the north of Argentina? It's probably just a desert wasteland, right? Well, I have travelled through this region plenty of times and I love it.
The first thing you should know about the north of Argentina is that it is massive but lightly populated. You won't see much desert, though. Rather, you will see awesome fields of orange trees and sugar cane that just stretch out into the distance. The distances here are huge and a bus trip from Buenos Aires to Salta takes the best part of a day.
It is worth it, though. Salta is a cute, laid back city that feels on a different planet from the noise and bustle of the capital. The main plaza here has a lovely cathedral and the people are famously friendly too.
Salta is probably the best city in this region but the North of Argentina tourist attractions also include the fine city of San Miguel de Tucuman (commonly just called Tucuman). Here, you will find the historic building where the country's independence was declared and where a daily show is carried out in honour of this.
Tucuman has a stunning plaza and one of the biggest city parks you will ever see. It is famous for its magnificent climate and for having a great culture scene. I have also visited here a few times and feel that it offers a little less for tourists than Salta but is bigger and possibly a better place to live.
Cordoba and Its Surroundings
The city of Cordoba is the second biggest in the country and has a lot to offer tourists. The first things people told me about this city are that the people are famously friendly and that they have a funny accent. The first point certainly seemed to be true, while my problems in understanding the local accent could be down to the second point.
Few of the most obvious Argentina tourist attractions are found here but it is a cool place to spend some time. There are some atmospheric old religious buildings in the city and Paseo del Buen Pastor seems to be the place where the locals head to when they want to meet up.
Most of the main attractions here seem to be outside of the city itself. For example, I took the wildly popular train ride out to Cosquin but had to get the bus back to Cordoba, as all of the carriages on the return trip jam-packed 10 minutes before the departure time. An annual music festival is held in Cosquin but at other times of year it is a peaceful place to head for a barbecue and a quiet stroll round the small town.
The nearby Carlos Paz is where many Argentine celebrities head to during the summer months, as the many local theatres become the cultural centre of the nation for a period. The other big attraction here is a cuckoo clock that, well, to be honest it regularly leaves crowds of eager tourists a bit disappointed with its feeble display every hour. Nevertheless, this is another easy day trip well worth making, with a cheap bus journey from Cordoba taking just a couple of hours.
Other Top Argentina Tourist Attractions
The rest of Argentina has enough in it to keep you travelling for years. The Iguauzu Falls, Bariloche, Mar Del Plata, Mendoza, Corrientes and Ushuaia are all places well worth exploring and very different from the country's cosmopolitan capital.
The people, the scenery, the weather and the food as you explore the different regions of this country but the feeling of being somewhere very special never goes away.
If you are planning on visiting here, then the very best piece of advice you can receive, is to make it a long trip. Even with a couple of months in Argentina you are unlikely to feel that you have had more than a tantalising taste of a huge country. However, it will be enough to let you see that there is a lot more to see and do here than just visit Buenos Aires.
Argentina Tourist Attractions – by Robert Bell
Featured image 'Ushuaia' by Douglas Scortegagna and all Flickr images are licensed under CC BY 2.0
Thus concludes our Argentina Tourist Attractions. We hope you find this information useful. If you are looking for a specific piece of information, please do comment below as we may have just forgotten to mention it.
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Typeface design
"Science fiction" is for humans still a thrilling topic. With modern movies, books and art projects we get a feeling about how it could look on other planets. I used these ideas to create a typeface named Anakyn. My inspiration came from the abstract ideas of the universe, the soft lights, the technical shapes of spaceships and the movement of the stars.


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October 6, 2002
"You can't get rid of the Twins," left-fielder Jacque Jones said. "[Contraction proponents] tried it. Then the strike situation. The Oakland A's were up 2-1 [in the series]. We just never quit." – Jacque Jones
You can forgive the 2002 Twins for assigning more meaning to their ALDS win over the Oakland A's. Just a year before, there were reasons to have serious doubts if there even would be a 2002 Minnesota Twins.
While there was drama throughout Game 5, it looked as though the Twins had put the game away heading into the bottom of the ninth with a three-run top of the ninth.
The inning started when Dustan Mohr drew a walk from A's closer Billy Koch. The next batter, AJ Pierzysnki, made a 2-1 Twins lead into a 4-1 lead with one swing of the bat. He reportedly said "Booya" as he stomped on home plate**, causing Koch to refer to him as a "jackass" in some post game interviews.
**It was later revealed that it may have been Dustan Mohr who yelled "Booya" at home plate, but this may be a case where facts get in the way of a good story – this was a very Pierzynski thing to say.
A David Ortiz RBI double made the score 5-1, which seemed like a safe lead with one of the best closers in baseball on the mound. As it turned out, two of the first three A's batters reached safely, and Mark Ellis hit a three-run home run to pull the A's within one. After getting the second out of the inning, Eddie Guardado provided more drama by allowing Randy Velarde, the tying run, to reach with a single. Finally, the game and series ended when he coaxed a foul ball pop out from the bat of Ray Durham.
The celebration ended the post season for Denny Hocking, who was the most valuable position player in the game according to WPA.
1. Brad Radke 0.35
2. Mark Mulder 0.17
3. Denny Hocking 0.14
Hocking, of course, had his finger spiked by a teammate in the celebration. Lost in all of the late inning drama, however, was how good Brad Radke had been.
One big key to the Twins' advancement is their starting pitcher, Brad Radke. The long-time ace right-hander delivered in the biggest game of his career, going 6 2/3 innings and allowing one run on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
"He has been our man for a long time here," Gardenhire said. "And he did it again today. He picked up our baseball team again, and it was vintage Brad Radke — [he] used all his pitches [and] got us through the 7th inning."
Bottom WPA:
1. Jacque Jone -0.20
2. Terrence Long -0.20


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Holman New Testament Commentary: Mark
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The series continues - a series that answers the questions students of the Bible ask most. An eight-step approach leads the reader from the introduction with contemporary illustrations, through verse-by-verse commentary, to a conclusion and life application. "Deeper Discoveries" help the reader understand the most important words, phrases, and teaching of each chapter. A teaching outline helps the reader to internalise what has been read, organise its message, and prepare to share it with others. The "Final Issues for Discussion" section brings closure to the reader's study. A closing prayer personalises the study and commits the reader to live out the truths studied. New International Version.
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I'm following on from my previous post, Why I Write, and promise this will be one minute and fifty-four seconds well spent. The YouTube clip I'm recommending is titled – Ira Glass on the Creative Process. I know there's a plethora of wonderful writing advice out there, but this one sticks for me.
What is Ira Glass known for, besides his enviable abs and self-effacing humour?
Mr Glass's award winning radio show, This American Life, tells the stories of ordinary Americans, most of them true and most of them by or about everyday people. Don't let the word, 'Americans' put you off; these stories are fascinating because they are about all of us. This American Life is broadcast on nearly 600 stations (including ABC radio, Australia), and is consistently the top Podcast on iTunes.
Da da … Ira Glass on the Creative Process, it's gold:
As an aside, if you're a commuter or planning a car trip I recommend downloading the $3.79 App and listening to Somewhere in the Arabian Sea–
This story is still on their favourites short list and goes for an hour. Fun to listen to Ira Glass getting into big trouble when he asks about sexual relations on the USS John C. Stennis.
What are your golden nuggets of writing advice? I'd love to know. 🙂


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This week is Internet Week in New York.
On Tuesday, Boulder Digital Works (I'm lucky enough to be on the Advisory Board there) hosted an evening at the Art Director's Club called 'Evolve!' at which they launched their neat new website (created by Modernista!) – take a look at: http://bdw.colorado.edu/, it's very cool. There were a number of short presentations from some BDW board members, including Scott Witt (just recently moved to a new role as Creative Director at Apple), Shane Steele (just recently moved to be be VP Global B2B Marketing at Yahoo!) & Scott Prindle, Technical Director at CPB in Boulder. I tagged along and got my ten minute slot.
I thought I'd use it to highlight why we need places like Boulder Digital Works in the first place. In short, to produce a new breed of hybrid creative; what we call 'T-shaped people' – awesome in (at least) one area, plus highly collaborative and at least literate in many other things. So blending both the right skills and the right attitude. Far too often the latter – an appetite for all things open and collaborative, a readiness to leave ego at the door – is sacrificed at the expense (frequently, the *great* expense) of simply importing people with new skills.
In addition to sketching out why these hybrid people are so important in creating new forms of creative product, I briefly touch upon the importance of the agency implementing the right kind of 'operating system' (the processes, values and culture within a company) if the fancy new 'software' is going to run smoothly. If the operating system is outdated, even the most impressive software is redundant. I show, in one slide, an overview of how BBH in New York is approaching the re-engineering of it's OS.
Would love to know what you think, and what your experiences are of finding, working with, managing and retaining T-shaped people. The future surely belongs to them.
For best viewing view on slideshare (this link takes you right there), where you can see embedded film & speaker notes; I have added the latter into the first comment there.


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October 31, 2008
Republicanism 101: Learning it on the ground at Colorado
McCain-cum-Senator Schaffer Rally in Denver, Colorado.
Denver, Colorado. This is as 'middle America' as you can get, with brown, flat, wide spaces stretching on till the Rocky Mountains in the distance. Coming from Washington, DC, entering this city is a change of scenery. The city itself has about 590,000 residents. And a significant shift of political ideology as well, for me. DC is flagged blue all the way, with practically every analyst rooting for Obama in this year's elections.
Here, the race has been closer. Colorado has not elected a Democratic Presidential candidate since 1992 (where it voted Clinton), although in the recent years its preference for the Democrats has been evident in its selection for Congress and Senate seats. As of 28th October, polls show Obama leading 50-44. The McCain campaign has hence needed to respond fiercely in the final throes of the fight.
Tonight I had the privilege of attending a local community Republican rally. I had expected it to be outdoors, like the Malaysian ceramahs, but it was in a warm hotel hall instead. About an estimated 400-500 people were present, an average age of about 45 years or older. Predominantly white, both males and females (but with one black lady running for State Senate). There were quite a few young people, although I suspect most were there because of their families. Nevertheless, those present were adamant about their beliefs.
I asked Dylan and Becka, two young Republicans, why they supported McCain although many of the young obviously were voting Obama this Elections. Their answer was that Obama was merely a showman without content, a good communicator. They believed in a limited government with greater individual freedoms for citizens to decide for themselves. They think mainstream media is too biased towards Obama and that Fox News is the only balanced news channel. I may disagree with them on some points, but I was generally impressed by their enthusiasm on political issues – they must have been about 18.
Boy scouts were called on to introduce the march pass the American flag, and the pledge of allegiance was read out followed by the national anthem.
There were several issues raised in the rally tonight that stood out. These points are obviously the same points being hammered all across the country. Although there are supposedly "50 Republican Parties in 50 States", the national issues are standard:
- Loyalty to God: There were several references to faith and religion, and a preacher himself spoke at the podium. "God will help us to do the righteous thing".
- National Security and Defence: A video was screened, showing military soldiers sacrificing their lives. "Let us put America back into a position of power", "Obama wants open borders, We want closed borders".
- Individual Freedoms: Strong emphasis was placed on American citizens' right to individual freedoms, alluding that "this country" was the only remaining country in the world with freedoms.
They did quite a bit of mudslinging as well, saying that:
- The policies that Obama is proposing will not work in the long run, citing examples from Europe that have failed. I suppose they refer to social democratic structures resulting in large unemployment rates although these were not explicit (one may tend to differ in opinion on this as well, since I can think of several Scandinavian examples with effective results).
- Obama was not willing to place his hand on his chest during the national pledge/anthem, hence branding him an anti-nationalist. (hence the lapel pin issue that emerged in August this year)
Although this was exactly what I had expected at a McCain rally, it was still a good exposure campaign. I was, however, disappointed that there were not more reasonable arguments made. For example, the worrying points raised repeatedly were extremely telling of the continued conservative worldview of the right-wing Christian populace supporting Republicans. In my humble opinion, it becomes a dangerous thing when God is used as free license to qualify every possible proposal by Republicans. By encouraging citizens to pray for the "righteous" outcome, it sounded like voting for Obama would be the "unrighteous" thing to do. Such blatant dichotomies can only be reflective of a narrow interpretation of faith and religion. This ties automatically all McCain – or Senator Schaffer who is running in Colorado – policies to God and anything opposite is not, apparently. As a Christian myself, I find this view unpalateable.
Also, I was disappointed with the myopic inability to see that America has to initiate conversations with the rest of the world instead of promoting "closed-borders" to improve its foreign relations. The speeches tonight assumed that the US should always begin from a position of power, an elevated vantage point. This may not necessarily be in the best interests of all other countries, including Malaysia. Some opening space of rational bilateral dialogue needs to begin, which Washington Post columnist David Ignatius in his briefing with us, thinks Obama will definitely do.
Finally, the Firearms Coalition of Colorado issued a Legislative Alert. The Right to own guns is a key Republican issue. The first sentence of the above brochure says "As gun owners, we all need to turn out and volunteer to work for the election of pro-gun candidates".
This has been my introduction into heartland politics of America. It's raw, it's in your face. The paraphernalia of McCain, Schaffer, Palin and all other Republicans running for State Congress or Senate reminded me of the Pakatan Rakyat rallies back home. One major difference though, is how willing local, everyday citizens are in taking up office. The elderly Suzanne Andrews who is running for State Senate held my arm and told me, "I'm just a mom, I bake bread for my children, I'm no lawyer or anything like that, but my friends asked me to run and I did." Her brochure says she protects traditional conservative values. And she is proud of it. Welcome to the Republican World.
Tomorrow, I meet with both the Democrat and Republican Campaign Headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Should be an eye opener. Hopefully I'll hear less emotive arguments to support McCain.
October 30, 2008
From DC to Denver, Colorado
Moving away from Washington DC, I'll be going down to the ground tomorrow onwards. I'm looking forward to seeing Denver, Colorado for the first time. This will involve meeting with those organising voter canvassing, state level campaign strategists, youth groups, the league of women voters, and hopefully go to a political rally.
Here is a profile of the Colorado state, one of the battleground states:
Mr. Bush won this state by less than 5 points in 2004 and Democrats are making a big push here this time. Look no further than Denver, where the Democrats held their national convention. It seems to be paying off: Polls show Mr. Obama taking a lead here and Republicans are growing increasingly glum about holding the state.
All polls show that Obama will likely win, but things may shift slightly over the final days. The Latin American vote will be important in this state.
Fun Ways to Predict: Obama vs. McCain
Aside from the pollsters, statistical models and pure guesswork-cum-analysis, here are two fun ways to determine which US Presidential candidate will win this year's Elections, it is said.
First Method
For 72 out of 76 years, the victory or the defeat of the Washington Redskins has predicted who would win or lose the Presidential race. If the Redskins loses or ties with its opponent, the incumbent party loses. If the Redskins wins, then the incumbent party also wins. This result corresponded with 17 out of the last 18 elections. The game is on, on Monday night, the very night before the Election Day, so all eyes will be on the lookout.
Second Method
The 7-Eleven Poll, it is called, where outlets all across the country are selling large cups of coffee in either Red or Blue colours. They are trying to see how many Reds (representing the Republican McCain) or Blues (representing the Democrat Obama) they can sell over the counter, and use that as a predictive tool. I have to go out to buy my very own 7-Eleven cup (of course I would skew the poll since I am not actually an eligible voter..)
The White House Race
My latest article in The Nut Graph, comparing the issue of race in the US and Malaysia. Incidentally, it is estimated that 3-5% of people may fall prey to the Bradley Effect – mentioned below here.
By Tricia Yeoh
ONE question hovering over the minds of Americans as they enter the final leg of the 2008 presidential election campaign is whether race will influence voters. If it does not, then the battle between Senators Barack Obama and John McCain should be purely about their policy stands, experiences, and abilities. It should have nothing to do with the fact that one man is black and the other, white. If this is the case, the US would have successfully displayed leadership in its championing of equal civil rights.
But how realistic is this? If racism fundamentally still exists, then what is the use of the constitution (in the US or Malaysia) in legislating morality, really? This is, of course, if we consider racism a serious moral issue.
Read more here.
Obama is Winning the Moderate Vote
Mark Penn, CEO of a communications strategy company, who has been advisor to numerous politicians including Tony Blair and Hillary Clinton, drew out some demographic statistics of the voting public. Although some of these may seem too general, without specifying state-by-state differences, these are good indications of what to expect:
- In general, 50% of Americans are economy voters,
- 25% are security voters,
- 25% are values voters.
Those concerned with the economy would vote Democrat 2:1, and for those concerned with security and values would vote Republican 2:1. Ever since the economic crisis hit, this has increased the percentage of voters concerned with the economy, and every additional percentage point that "economy" is cited as a greater issue of concern over the other two, the Democrats get an advantage. Essentially, people want the candidate that they see can handle the situation at present.
Penn stipulated that this elections is so gratifying for many because it shows a rejection of the Right. The American voting population is roughly 40% conservative, 20% moderate, and 20% liberal. Obama wins 9 in 10 liberals and has successfully managed to swing the moderates to his side, getting about 6 in 9 moderates.
- Religious conservatives still vote Republican 2:1
- Obama is losing the white vote by 10-12 percentage points, which is less than Kerry. Analysts are saying that race may not necessarily be the reason those rejecting him are doing so – it may be more to do with policy stances than race (which is a positive sign)
- Obama is getting 80% of the Latin-American vote. This will be a constituency to watch out for, since it is the fastest growing electorate and in the next elections will swell even larger with many more to be registered.
Each candidate has a general base, which would be something like this:
- Obama's base = African Americans, upper income, upper education, liberal, democrats, young voters
- McCain's base = Whites, conservatives, traditional Republicans, national security voters, most religious.
Viewers should not rely on exit polls to determine the predicted outcome of the elections. We must see actual votes from precincts, one by one. Exit polls are not accurate indicators at all and supporters have either falsely celebrated or cried over what they thought was the final result.
The key thing to note from all this is that a Centre-Left Coalition has emerged from Obama's campaign. The Centre is making their decisions known in this election. In a sense, McCain is not necessarily the preferred typical Republican candidate. He has been, in his own words, a maverick of the party. He has been known to stand up to Bush, and other party members. This may be a reflection of how America's ideology is shifting from centre-right to centre-left. What I am interested in is how this will change the population's capitalist ideology in the future, further what would make of its free market system, trade policy (FTAs).
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October 29, 2008
Economic Boost may help McCain?
With the economy cited as one of the main issues in the US Election '08, political pundits are trying to project the effect of the recent stock market rebound.
Wall Street shook off more signs of global economic troubles Tuesday and headed for a rebound while investors awaited the Federal Reserve's next move on interest rates. Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 368, or 4.59 percent, to 8,379.
The most recent polls show a slight tightening of the race between Obama and McCain. Can this be attributed to the recent McCain attacks of Obama being socialist? (a taboo word in capitalist America)
Gallup experts told us today that the worse the economy is doing, the better it is for Obama. With such an inverse relationship, does this spell a turn for the worse for the Democratic candidate? It is traditionally the case though, that a few days before polling the race tightens. Watch the Editor-in-Chief of Gallup, Dr. Frank Newport, state his case here.
Integrity in Polling and Journalism: How Far To Go?
One of the questions that we have been asking political analysts here in Washington DC is whether or not these two things are influencing voters in advance of the elections (notwithstanding the 18% of voters who have already cast their votes in early elections!):
1. Polls
2. Op-Ed pieces and Reports
This casts a new light on the issues of integrity in polling and journalism: How far should they go, without influencing the vote? To be honest, they are going to go ahead anyways, but the issue is where do you draw the line on integrity?
First, let's talk about polling. The questions that are being asked may have a certain bias to them, perhaps? Every question asked has an expected outcome, surely. Most of the polls (check http://www.electoral-vote.com) conduct interviews with landline phones at home, not on handphones which would give you younger, more pro-Obama results. Secondly, only 9% of respondents complete the poll in full. So you are getting 91% of people not finishing the poll.
Further, as Obama is polling higher rates than McCain, will these lead people on to believing that they should "go with the winner"? Or will they instead react in slight fear and cause the vote to swing McCain's way? (mind you, much of Southern America is still conservative to the full, and Obama is still a black man running for the highest seat in the country.)
Journalism. We had the honour of Bill Nichols speaking to us today, who runs Politico, an online news site which although started in January 2007 is one of the leading Elections sites today. (He worked in USA Today for 20 years and covered the White House and the State Department). His site was the first to run the story on how the Republican Party spent $150,000 on Palin's clothes. When asked why he decided to run it, and not focus on say, the clothes of Obama, he replied that there was value to the story and he followed journalistic integrity through objectivity.
Others might argue, though, that this is not necessarily objective reasoning since the party was validly using the money that had been validly donated to them through valid means, for reasons they thought best and most suitable. All writing has a biased agenda, based primarily on the writers' own political sentiments, and did this perhaps shine through in the selection of coverage?
Whatever it is, everyone can agree that the polling results and online articles are definitely having an influence on the perception of voters.
Capitol Steps Performs for us
American politics is not all about hard analysis and serious discussions (although this is what I have been doing practically 24 hours a day – okay, okay, minus the sleeping hours). There is great humour in all of this, as we can certainly thank Tina Fey for. Capitol Steps is a group of ex-Congress staff members who came together in the '90s. During a Christmas party, they were supposed to have come up with a nativity play but (quoting the guy who introduced this to us), "they couldn't find Three Wise Men and a Virgin".
So instead, they've been the primary source of entertainment for Washington DC folks (yes, all the penguin-suited people on Capitol Hill and K street in town), and they were certainly cracking me up tonight. From fabulous adaptation of songs ("Obamamia" sung to the tune of "Mamma Mia") to George Bush's exit speech where he slurs everything and mixes things up completely ("I'll try to explain this mess in a way everyone can understand, including me").
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How the Election Will Actually Work
The Democrats and Republicans are not organised the same way ours are in Malaysia. We tend to think of "political parties" as strict systems, with strict party lines, constitutions, manifestos and membership. This is not the case in the United States. As many have been telling us on this program (International Visitors Observe The Elections or I-VOTE), there are 51 different Democratic and Republican parties, for each state.
This tells of the Federalism the US practices, one where even the elections are run by the State or Local Authority. There is no such thing as a National Elections Commission. As a result, each state has their own voting system, and rules can even vary within a state.
It is a misconception to think that Americans are voting their President on 4th November, next Tuesday. What they are doing is to vote either the Democratic or Republican representatives to become members of the Electoral College. The moment there is a majority of those selecting either party, that party will sweep all available seats for that particular state. Oklahoma, for example, where I am going to be on Election Day, has 7 electoral college seats. If the voters give a majority vote to the Republican, all 7 representatives will "win" their right to vote in the Electoral College. There are 538 Electoral College seats to be filled, and a candidate would need 270 to win the Presidency.
The Electoral College then meets on the 15th December 2008, where they officially vote the President of their choice. Most of the time they vote according to the candidate their party has endorsed. There have been times where delegates have voted the independent candidate. Finally, on January 8th after the votes are tallied, only then can the new President of the US of A be officially announced as head of the country.
What continues to fascinate me is that there is no one hardline stance taken by the parties, neither do they shove their party belief system down any of their supporters (nay, not even the Presidential candidates themselves). The words Democrat and Republican have become more adjectives than nouns, in that they are descriptive of the character of people. I can be "Democrat today, Republican tomorrow". Presidential candidates hence become their own agenda setters, each choosing to champion a particular policy stand of choice.
Presidential elections are really, at the end of the day – determined by the state. It gives further truth to the meaning of "United States" of America, since really, it is about the states independently choosing their representatives, and then uniting because they happen to think they want a common leader who will take care of the Federal issues. Any other issue, leave it to the State and National governments!
511,000 people hold public office in the United States. Yes there is 1 Federal Govenrment, but also 50 States and the District of Columbia, 561 Native American Indian tribes (that have their own elections), 3033 County Governments (like our States), 14561 School Systems (voters elect their own School Boards who can shape education policy!!), 35949 Towns, Townships and Municipalities, and 17381 other special districts.
This Election is NOT just about Obama and McCain. There are Senate elections going on; other township and school board elections going on too. I will be observing all of these simultaneously! And THIS is actually the heart of American politics. The fact that it is locally-driven, bottoms-up, participatory. (Unfortunately, this is also the reason why Americans are so myopic and think little about foreign policy. Because they spend all their time keeping their representatives accountable to the voters, and what makes them care are the details of everyday living, not so much, at the end of the day, what happens in Iraq or Afghanistan).
American politics is Local, Local, Local. I have to keep reminding myself of this!
McCain's Top 3 Mistakes
Today, Mr. Greg Schneiders who was Deputy Assistant to the President for Communications in the Carter White House – speechwriting and communication strategy – talked to us about branding and marketing of Presidential candidates. Some of the interesting things to note if you want to take over the country (hint, hint, Anwar Ibrahim.. or Najib Razak..):
"You want to allow people to be able to imagine you as President."
This is what Obama did, and all three Presidential debates helped him. He was always at ease and cool, even when McCain was attacking him. In the first debate, McCain did not even look at him squarely in the eye. In terms of physique, McCain is old and bent (no fault of his, he is old of course and had severe injuries when a prisoner of war, so his arms can't fold properly and neither can he do up his own tie), whilst Obama at 48 is energetic, tall and strapping, emanating new life in his very being. But all these aside, McCain could have very well rode on his own personality of stability and comfort, things that Americans actually love. Instead, he made 3 big boo-boos, according to Schneiders. These are:
- Sarah Palin: Palin, oh Palin. Instead of the capable Alaskan Governor she was known by, the campaign turned her into a bimbo who understood foreign policy from her window looking over to Russia, moose-shootin', lass who allowed campaign money to be spent lavishly on her wardrobe. "Is she doing more harm than good" to McCain's campaign is what everyone is asking in the final few days.
- Deciding to go back to DC to "help with the economic crisis" and almost missing the 1st Presidential Debate. Instead, Obama just acted cool about the whole thing, and used it to his advantage even. The President of the United States, he said, must be able to handle more than one thing at a time. Simultaneous task-juggling was what he could do, and millions of Americans across the country would have seen him doing so with not so much as a quiver in his voice.
- Joe the Plumber – When "Joe the Plumber" (he's not even a plumber, really – just works in a plumbing company) was introduced in the Presidential Debate, it may have been relevant and even unique to introduce an actual person, but the Washington critics are saying he has oversimplified the economic situation. Further, he keeps on raising the issue of Joe even today. No sophistication of argument. Repeating it over the TV ads may be shooting himself in the foot.
Obama has a strong sense of self, confident and comfortable in his own skin, and everyone can see this plainly. To be a leader, it is said that you have to know yourself first, and know what you are after.
Americans have had Obama screened in their living rooms for so long that they can see this for themselves. Seven days to go, and McCain seems to be losing ground… (but you can never tell, things change quickly in the final days!)