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Marcelo Vinces leads the newly established Center for Learning, Education, and Research in the Sciences (CLEAR). He helps coordinate on-campus undergraduate research, trains peer mentors, and coordinates workshops for faculty. Vinces earned a BA in biology at Cornell University and a PhD in molecular microbiology at Tufts University. Prior to Oberlin, Vinces worked in Washington, D.C., as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology policy fellow at the National Science Foundation.
Kelly Bezio is a visiting assistant professor of English. Her research is in communicable disorders, particularly how American authors used such illnesses to imagine—paradoxically—community formation. This research has allowed her to explore, among other topics, the mysteries and miracles of smallpox inoculation, the dank boredom of foreign quarantine, and awe-inspiring scourges such as cholera. She is currently co-editing an essay collection titled Religion and Medicine in America's Secular Age, and aspires to write a second monograph on how literary depictions of democratic liberal subjectivity drew on developments in modern chemistry—creating what we might call a chemical aesthetics. She received her Ph.D. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Marcelo's observations:
Kelly and I met for the first time when we sat next to each other at one of our students' presentation for a biology class. The student, Nicole Le, gave an oral presentation on the nightingale for her final class project that was squarely at the intersection of literature, neuroscience and evolutionary biology. From our initial meeting and subsequent conversations, Kelly ended up inviting me to her class. So, on February 18, early in the semester, I took part in ENGL 351, Literature, Medicine, Culture, a course that explores what stories about doctors and medicine, from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to Fox TV's House, tell us about our culture, our history, and the experience of being human. The topic of the day's class was Nature vs. Nurture (Mad Scientists.)
Students had read two short stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Rappaccinni's Daughter" and "The Birth-Mark," as well as selections from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Additionally, Kelly had asked if I had any suggested readings, and I recommended an essay by H. Davies, "Can Mary Shelley's Frankenstein be read as an early research ethics text?" I had previously used this as a recommended reading to summer research students in conjunction with a research ethics session the Office of Undergraduate Research had organized and an unrelated screening of Bride of Frankenstein that I had organized.
Kelly shared her planning notes for the class with me which called for a very interactive class between students talking about "doing science" and the students talking about the stories they had read for class. Some of the main questions to be covered included: What is the nature/nurture debate? How have you related to the nature/nurture debate in the past? How do the readings give us a new perspective on this debate? In other words, what would our scientist characters say about this debate? In contrast, what would our authors say about this debate? How does the "mad scientist" (as a stock character) complicate this debate?
Reflections on the Discussion
I introduced myself and gave a brief chalkboard chat on the research I did for my PhD and for my postdoc. As I was explaining the science, it occurred to me to raise the point of why I chose to study what I did. It's easy to explain why the questions I pursued were interesting scientifically, but were there other underlying motivations? For example, what made the topics exciting and sexy to me? Was there an aesthetic quality I was not consciously aware of that made me gravitate towards such questions? Did I feel love towards my research? I think I was conscious of these notions only because of the context of the class and the readings we had just done. It would otherwise never have come up in conversation or even in my thoughts within the context of doing science research and being among science colleagues.
The students did not have many questions for me as the start. I felt they were still a bit shy or reserved or didn't yet know what to make of me. But one good question I did get asked me if, "as a scientist, was there a conflict in trying to get to answers and at the same time trying to get publications?" I absolutely loved this question because it is a fundamental conflict in science. While we are in it to get answers to questions, there are the realities that also put demands on us, sometimes in line with our need for selfless inquiry, but other times in conflict: publish or perish, aiming for high profile journals, needing to get tenure, patents. These don't always lend themselves to pure scientific inquiry for the sake of truth and knowledge. For example, I noted to the student, we often have interesting but negative results that hide for eternity in lab journals that would be of interest for other scientists to know, but that no journal would want to publish. Vast amounts of good and useful data may lie in lab notebooks and computers around the world that we may never know about. This is due to the current structures that scaffold the scientific enterprise.
The discussion moved into the readings, focusing on what we could call an "irrational spark" as the motivation for doing science, which, after all, is usually seen as the most rational form of inquiry that exists. And yet the scientists in these stories, driven by love or fame, used science for what many would say were not just irrational purposes, but immoral ones too.
It was difficult to discern what Hawthorne was getting at in these stories, if he had something definitive to say about scientists or science. With Shelley we had the help of the reading I suggested, which takes the view that Shelley was not an anti-science romantic, but rather saw the promise of science but also the very human drives that compromised it.
The questions and discussions, very nicely facilitated by Kelly, included, what motivates scientists? How has science changed our definition of evil? Are Hawthorne and Shelley offering cautionary tales? Mourning the imperfectability of the scientific method? Something else? Can science actually make things more evil than nature? Can literature?
Missed opportunities? More Reflections
We sadly ran out of time just as the discussion was reaching a crescendo of ideas, thoughts and energy. In retrospect, Kelly or I could have offered more prompts for students designed to take advantage of a scientist in the room. As we discussed the above questions, what would a scientist have to say? Do scientists think of these questions? What does a scientist feel and think as he or she reads about these mad scientists? Are there mad scientists? What exists to make sure mad scientists don't run amok? What could the scientist in the room learn from these readings and subsequent discussion?
I am curious to hear from Kelly's point of view how this guest appearance worked for her course, how engaged were the students, and what she would do differently in the future.
Future ideas?
I for one feel the session opened up pathways of inquiry for me that are not usually ones available in the scientific context. For example, what is the psychology at work that drives a scientist to spend hours alone, at night and weekends, to seek answers to sometimes very obscure questions? What are the misunderstandings that exist among non-scientists about the scientific endeavor? What place can literature serve in educating scientists of about research ethics, motivation, and science history? Ultimately, I feel this is a perfect illustration of how we need more of these intersectional events that bring together people from very distinct disciplines that may nevertheless share some important interests in common.
Kelly's observations:
The students were enthusiastic about having Marcelo come in. They hadn't heard of CLEAR, and it struck me as a good opportunity to introduce them to the many ways interdisciplinarity was happening on campus.
My intention was for Marcelo to come in and talk about the research he conducted as a scientist in order to provide students with a modern counterpoint to the stories about scientists they were reading by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Listening to Marcelo's comments, I was noticing some common themes: interest becoming obsession, the delights of observation, the power that comes from doing research, the role love plays in doing research, to name a few.
I framed the visit to the students (an approach Marcelo and I agreed on ahead of time) as an opportunity to learn what Marcelo had to teach us about doing scientific research and an opportunity to teach him, in turn, something about the stories we had read.
A couple of interventions may have made this frame more successful, in terms of empowering the students. On the one hand, it may have helped to tell them ahead of time to come up with discussion questions. That is to say, teaching is often about asking questions, not delivering information. (The next day in class, the students told me they would have liked to have heard more of Marcelo's perspective on the stories we all read. This could have happened if they or I had thought to ask him his perspective on particular moments in the text or about the readings in general. The students reported that they were worried about offending him, since the stories we read are often taken as critical of the scientific enterprise.) On the other hand, it may have helped to have students break up into groups after Marcelo's comments and come up with the "lessons" or "questions" they wanted to put to him, rather than jumping right in to discussion.
That being said, we had a really wonderful discussion that day, and I speculate that it was because they were imagining Marcelo's potentially-offended response to the critique of science, and so pushed beyond that interpretation of the stories. (Maybe). Over the course of the discussion, we came up with several excellent questions:
- How is science changing the definition of evil?
- How is literature changing the definition of evil?
- What motivates science? (If we want to continue our literary corollary, what motivates literature?)
- What do we want science's motivations to be?
- What do we want literature's motivations to be?
- Can humans make things that are more evil than Nature would create?
Ultimately, given the opportunity to do this kind of collaboration again—which I would love to do—I think I might try to build conversation between the class and the guest speaker by asking questions like, "As a scientist, how did you respond to the stories?" and "As a literature student, how did you respond to the stories?"
Follow Up:
Marcelo and I met on March 20 to discuss the joint session [see above], and I was really taken with the photograph he took of the whiteboard from our class, which was covered with his drawings of his research, questions we came up with as a class during our discussion, and a student's note about a scientist he studied in another class.
What struck me about photograph was how well it represents the benefit of this kind of multidisciplinary day in the classroom. It collects the topics we discussed, all of which came from specific disciplinary perspectives, and the new questions that arose when those topics were brought up together.
I noticed also during our conversation that Marcelo and I came up with different disciplinary inspirations post-class. I was interested in how talking about "mad scientists" with a scientist helped us to ask new literary questions of Nathaniel Hawthorne. For instance, at the end of class, one of the students raised the idea that Hawthorne may have been interested in working through cultural expectations of literature and what it was able to do—or should do, ethically speaking. In other words, the stories we read may be as much about literary ethics as they are about scientific ethics. On the other hand, Marcelo was thinking about how literature might be used to enliven the study of ethics in a STEM context.
I think in conclusion that multidisciplinarity produces different ways of being disciplinary. This is not new (of course), but I was intrigued by the material results of this abstract truism.


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VideoGameCritic wrote:If I could go back in time I'd love to browse around those old departments stores like Montgomery Ward and peruse the latest in "high tech" merchandise. I'd probably go on a shopping spree.
There are sites online where you can view/virtually flip through the old Sears Wishbook and Radio Shack catalogs. It's super-nostalgic and really takes you back to your childhood. Definitely makes you wish you knew then what you know now.

subset: commoncrawl


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Local Sports Roundup
College tennis: Powers reaches ITA Regional final
Marc Powers of Stamford, a freshman at Yale who attended Greens Farms Academy, advanced to the finals of the Wilson/ITA Regional tournament held in Hanover, NH.
Powers, who was unseeded, was defeated by 4th-seed Seven Vloedgraven of Binghamton, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 in the final. He went 6-1 in the tourney including a win over No. 3 seed Mihai Nichifor of Columbia in the semifinal round.
Powers and his doubles partner, Yale captain Connor Dawson, advanced to the semifinal round of the doubles draw, defeating the No. 5 and No. 4 seeds on the way.
Prep football: Evans has another big day
Former Stamford High School athlete Chris Evans had another big day with the Taft football team (4-1) as he caught five passes for 166 yards, including touchdowns of 64 and 40 yards, in a 31-23 victory against Trinity-Pawling.
In a 19-0 win against Choate, Evans took a lateral on a free kick and got to the 13-yard line and then caught a TD pass with 1.9 second left in the half. He also had a 1-yard touchdown reception in the second half.
SHS to honor football champions
Stamford High School will honor players and coaches from the undefeated 1958 and `59 state championship football teams prior to its football game Friday against Fairfield Warde at Boyle Stadium. Members of those teams are invited to a tailgate reception at 5 p.m. outside SHS` Kuczo Gymnasium. Players will be introduced at halftime.
For information, call Steven Samela at 249-8771.
Golf: Sterling Farms women
The team of Cindi Hart, Carol Frattaroli, Jen Kaplan and Dana Barnes cane in with 158 for low gross in the Waltz Tournament. Low net was 137 by Roz Perlson, Barb Wechsler, Carolee Joerman and Nancy Klingman followed by Jo Socci, Alice Honcharik, Pauline Blanch and Anna Calitri (138) and Ceil Kolenda, Arleen Pavony, Judy Notaro and Joyce Gilbert (144).
Barbara Anderson and Dana Barnes combined for low gross 175 while Janie Cloutier and Barbara Mulrooney shot low net 156 in a blind partner tournament.
In the B Flight, Karen DeBartolo and Perlson`s 198 won low gross and Joyce Nam and Betty Ballinger came in with 153 for low net. Notaro and Lorraine Fenton (219) and Anna Modugno and Klingman (159) won gross and net honors in the C Flight.
Kaplan`s 84 was low gross in a stoke play event while Cloutier won low net.
Youth football: Trinity tops Trailblazers
Austin Longi ran for a 38-yard score and threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Nick Della Jacono and Khalil Murphy added a 5-yard TD run as Trinity Catholic defeated Trailblazers, 19-6, in Stamford Youth Foundation Middle School Mickey Lione Division football action.
Robert Tusch, Anthony Spadaccini, Billy Santoro, Mike Ruther, Joseph Carrizzo and Connor Amann also played well with the Trinity offense while Michael Szemenyei and Longi, who had interceptions, along with Harrison Smith, Tyler Pingol and Matt Christensen keyed the defensive effort.
Jorden Young raced 15 yards for the Trailblazers score while Michael Catchings, Frank Dalembart, Isaiah Wash, Jake Bivona and Benger Touissant were other standouts.
Jerry Aime scored three touchdowns as Rippowam remained undefeated with an 18-0 win over Dolan. Steve Kilburn and Michael Elliot also played well for the Rip offensive unit while En Deja Whyte, Thomas Costigan, Mickey Csapilla, Festim Isufaj, Haywood Alexander, Jesus Cerazo, Tivon Joseph and Kaden Bouldin led the defense.
Pacing the Dolan squad were Denzell Denny, Petro Marchyshyn, Jimmy Corcoran, Ray Nieves Reyes, Tyler Smith and Mike Lowe.
Ryan Coppola connected with Dante Fargnoli for two touchdowns while Cameron Webb ran for one score and returned a kick for another and Isiah Ramon also had a TD as Cloonan defeated Scofield, 33-6. Matt Ainbinder had a PAT while Jeff Glover, Dan Sanchez, Randy McClintock, Randy Barahona and Tim Farrell were other top players for Cloonan.
Leading the way for Scofield were Michael Coppola (TD), Jamal Barrett, Matt Pascale and Jirini Jackson.
In a battle of unbeaten teams in the Middle School Junior Varsity division, Trinity Catholic edged Dolan I, 11-6. Sam Ruzzi had a 35-yard field goal and PAT and Kevin Piotrzkowski added a 23-yard fumble return to lead Trinity.
Stefon Alexis, PJ Duddie, Jay Handler, Harry Block, Drew Scanlan, Timmy Noone, Luis Gonzalez, Omar Fortt, Ryan Palmer, Griffin Northrop, Jack Rutherford, Frankie Compolattaro and Jordan Skiba were among the top players for Trinity.
James Gronberg connected with Andrew Antoine for a 30-yard scoring pass for Dolan while Andrew Kydes, Roger Lima and Fabian Garcia also had good outings.
Antoine Jenkins returned an interception for his second touchdown of the game with 24 seconds remaining to led Trailblazers past Scofield, 12-6. George Gonzalez, Denold Auguste and Kendall Sistrunk also contributed to the Trailblazers win.
Pacing the Scofield effort were Justin Przypek (35-yard TD run), Tyler Serricchio, Jacob Scarvey, Sebastian Rodriguez, Steven Adams, Matt Gorey, Grant Smith, Pat Maloney, Ozzie Acuna, Kyle Przypek, Julian Rodriguez, Mark Serricchio, Justin Chase, Sawyer Holbrook and Kevin Colo.
Demetrius Ancrum had four touchdowns to spark the Rippowam JV I team in a 40-13 win over Cloonan. Eric Stahl added two TDs while Tyler Adison, Darian McCulley, and Michael Bernardelli also had good games. Eviute Rodriguez and Evander Cruz scored for Cloonan while Max Atkinson, Cameron Greig and Drevin Carthins also played well.
Jay DeVito had two touchdowns and Mike Vukelic, Calib Sclafani and Tyler Ferris also scored as Dolan II beat Rippowam II 40-6. Gerg Bortot, Johnny Somers and Dick Stiffler also played well for the winners while Manuel Garcia, Christian Jeffers, Austin Caporale, Diamani Bailey and Michael Molgano led Rip.
In the Elementary School Division, Jonas Harper scored three times and Brendan Fahey, Aaron Danolfo, John Kola (interception), Joseph Pettus (interception), Benjamin Joseph, Joshua Vindas, John Newtown, Arthur Yuaniv, Dakeem Carmichael and Jose Nieves also had good games as the Titans topped the Giants.
Matt Maignan threw to Jeremy Young for a TD and Tyler Fisher, Tyler Walker, Tarik Rivers and Jaavon Elliott also had solid performances for the Giants.
The Jets used the efforts of Jerome Atkinson (touchdown), Emmanuel Pierre-Louis, Malik Powell, Orlando Ashford, Jasyn Andrew, Michael Greene and Aidan Fay to get past the Raiders.
Nico Kydes, Sean Mailhot, Nick Romanello, Nick Lucente, Lucas Breault, and Mark Raimondi played well for the Patriots in a win over the Cowboys. Andrew Branson, Davie Gladstone, Ares Rivera, Daniel Villacis, James Kryszczynski, Alex Colon, Matthew Doyle, Andrew Branson, AJ Rakoczy, Jeleni Jackson, Kenny Downer and Kyle Dower played well for the Cowboys.
In the Mitey Mite Division, Jacob LeFort, Chris Vitti, Jack Conte and Mike Vakos were among the top players for the Huskies in a battle with the Gators were were led by Edwin Gibson, Isaiah Williams, Isaiah Johnson, Ja`den Hosten, Isaiah Joyner, Baylor Bridges and Justin Torres.
Deyvonte McElveen (two TDs), Jay Lockwood, EJ Rimerman, Dominic DeMasi, Michael Hoha, Cole Baustita and LaronWebster had good games for the Longhorns in a battle with the Wolverines who were led by La`Cayle Compare (55-yard TD), AJ Iacconna, Cole Imbrogno, Bobby Zmarzlak and Justin Geli.
Travel soccer: Rogers leads U/12 girls to State semifinal
Anna Rogers converted a penalty kick with five minutes remaining in the game as the Stamford Under 12 girls travel soccer team defeated Enfield, 3-2, to advance to the semifinal round of State Cup competition.
Rogers opened the scoring for Stamford while Francesca DeSimone also scored. Mid players Katie Sullivan, Ally Fahey, Laura Green and Elizabeth Grosso also had good games.
Justine James had the lone goal for the U/12 girls in a 1-1 tie with Fairfield in league play. Theresa Angon, Cassie Herrera, Mia Vitti, Cristina Belmonte, Kayla Gioelli and Elizabeth Mastolini also played well.
The Stamford Under 11 boys team dropped a 3-1 decision to Simsbury in the quarterfinal round of State Cup play.
Javel Dawkins, assisted by Lester Gudiel, gave Stamford an early lead and Conor Nicholson, Danny Altamura, Sam Pfrommer and Adam Zacharewicz also played well but Simsbury tied the game right before halftime and then won it in the second half. Keeper Will Marment had numerous saves, including one on a penalty kick.
Fabrizio Obregon had three goals to spark the U/12 boys in a 6-0 win against Easton Redding United. Carlos Aspiazu, Nevan McCann and Leao Valladares also scored for Stamford while Richard Ira and Rafal Bierezowiec recorded assists. Other top players included Jack Ende, Kevin Lam, Jose Vergara, Jeffrey Beltran and Kieran Mulvaney.
The U/13 boys recorded a 6-0 win against the Ridgefield Raiders with Danny Lopez, Joey Schinella and Jorge Alvarez each collecting a goal and an assist. Also scoring were Martin Davila, Twade Foster and Jake Brandt while Jake Atkinson picked up two assists and Eric Mojica had one.
Travel ice hockey
Carter Trabakino and Griffin Northrop collected goals as the Stamford Youth Hockey Association Bantam A travel team battled to a 2-2 tie against Greater Bridgeport. Justin Nizolek added an assist for Stamford.
Jack Willet and Patrick Mimms had goals and Noah Richardson and Ryan Silk added assists as the Bantam team dropped a 3-2 decision to Southeastern.
Hunter Gilchrist and AJ Cerbone had goals, with Robert Smeriglio and Brendan Knightly registering assists, but the Stamford Mite A team dropped a 3-2 decision to Watertown. Defender Zachary DeLeo also had a good game.
Goals from Quinn Thompson, Eric Cimino, Nick Rich, Logan Healy and Andrew Burwick gave the Squirt A squad a 5-3 win over Eastern Connecticut. Cooper Healy had two assists and Garrett Waldner, Sam New and Logan Healy added one apiece.
New and Griffin Smith picked up two goals each and Cimino, Burwick and Cooper Healy also found net to lead the Squirt A team to a 7-2 win over the Greenwich Blues. Rich, Waldner, Cooper Healy, Logan Healy, New and Burwick were among those with assists while Christian Compolattaro was solid in net.
Third period goals from Patrick Auz, Ryan Hart and Matt Davey lifted the Squirt A team to a 3-1 win over the New Canaan Winter Club Squirt B team. Jordan Marchese and Hart added assists and Caroline Silk had 15 saves in goal.
Nick Smeriglio and Shane Haggerty were defensive standouts but the Squirt A1 team also lost a 2-0 decision to the New Canaan Winter Club Squirt B team.


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Jesus and Wiffle Ball
Here's a picture.
Here's Bob and Dave (white homeless men) teaching Zane (4 year old son of a working single black mother) how to hit a wiffle ball at the Elevate Detroit Mt. Clemens CommuniD BBQ today.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But I think this one's priceless.
Jesus is all over it.
5 Year Anniversary Luau & Pig Roast Press Release
5 Year Anniversary Luau & Pig Roast Press Release
Elevate Detroit, a nonprofit organization that specializes in creating community-building events across southeast Michigan is celebrating their fifth birthday on June 16, 2012.
The organization, launched in 2007, began when a few friends wondered what it would look like to haul a grill into Cass Corridor, Detroit and share a meal with the homeless people they found there. Since then, they have added four more locations (Pontiac, Flint, Mount Clemens and Hazel Park) and provide approximately 1,200 meals/month across southeast Michigan. All of the meals and supplies are provided completely by people who attend the events.
The celebration will be at their Detroit CommuniD BBQ location: Robert Redmond Plaza at the Corner of Second Ave. and Selden St. The event will be luau themed with a pig roast from Coal's BBQ. The festivities begin at 1:00 p.m. and will go continue late into the afternoon.
Link to Glenn Beck on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcSgWLaJuNE
Link to Free Press article about Bing's reaction: http://www.freep.com/article/20110301/ENT03/110301012/Bing-knocks-Glenn-Beck-Detroit-Hiroshima-comparison
Link to Patrick Reyes blog post: http://patrickreyes.net/2011/03/02/maybe-glen-beck-was-right/
So I'm a few days behind with the whole Glenn Beck thing…
It's March 4th and although I've had a couple articles and a blog post bookmarked for a couple days now, I'm just catching up. But really… I don't feel like there's much to say.
For you who don't know yet, you can click through the links above and read for yourself or I'll try to give a quick recap here:
Basically Glenn Back compared that last 50-60 years of Hiroshima's history to Detroit.
Hiroshima was hit with an atomic bomb in 1945. Scientists thought the city would be uninhabitable for decades. Instead, they people decided to rebuild their city. Now, 66 years later, Hiroshima is a thriving metropolis. Beck points out that, yes there was some government assistance in rebuilding Hiroshima. But the majority of the work, time and money it took to rebuild came from individuals who loved their city and would not let it lie in ruins.
Over this same time period Detroit has gone from a vibrant and thriving metropolis, the "Paris of the West," to ruins. Beck says that bad and corrupt government, corporate and union policies are what destroyed the Motor City.
Basically… yes. I would also like to point out that he neglected to mention white flight. White flight, in my opinion, was the catalyzing factor that enabled, encouraged and brought about bad and corrupt government, corporate and union policies.
But why is this news? Anyone who lives in Southeast Michigan and is honest with themselves knows this to be true. We've known this for decades. We've watched this, we've experienced this and we've lived this for decades. This isn't news for February 28th, 2011. This is old news.
Detroit today is not the Detroit that is comparable to Hiroshima. Or maybe it is, but the timelines are just askew. Hiroshima came to its ruin in 1945. Detroit came to its ruin more gradually culminating early this century. But the phrase "will the last one out, please turn out the lights" will never apply to Detroit.
Detroit is being remade. Yes, there are some governmental changes that are helping Detroit to be remade. But not for the most part. For the most part it is people, individuals who have decided they love their city and are not willing to let it fall to the wayside.
What Glenn Beck is missing is the current. The current of Detroit has changed. The river of wealth, knowledge and education is now beginning to flow the other way. We, together, are stemming the tide of escapism, white flight and neglect. We are stirring a new direction for our city. There is a new tomorrow and more importantly, there is a new today.
There's a song by Robbie Seay Band that says,
"And it might not be
The prettiest thing that you'll ever see
But it's a New Day
Oh baby it's a New Day"
This is Detroit. And this is a New Day. And we have a new current. The current is a city on the incline. The current is a city that is being remade from the ground up through grassroots efforts and community organizers who are encouraging people to love their city and their neighbors. And what is most exciting to me about the current is the strong role the body of Christ is playing in it.
We have people reversing white flight. We have people sharing with other as they have need. We have people beautifying their homes, their blocks and their city. And they're doing it for no other reason than to show the world that it's a beautiful place and should be treated that way. We have CCS, the DIA and the DSO. We have food and restaurants galore. We have urban prairies with deer, pheasants and chickens roaming free. We are number 2 in the nation for fishing rod sales. By consumption, we are the potato chip capital of the world. We have more registered bowlers than anywhere else in country. We have Critical Mass, Noel Night, the Auto Show and DEMF.
We may have inherited the problems of our parent's Detroit. But this is not our parent's Detroit. This is a New Day and it comes with a new current flowing in a new direction… forward.
Glenn Beck was right about where our problems came from. But he's missing where we are now. A lot of people have been up in arms about what Glenn Beck said about Detroit. I see no problem. He's right. He's just a bit behind the times. There's no point in denying our history with all of its victories and all of its defeats. To deny one's history is to deny one's current state. And I'm proud of our current state… or should I say… City.
A few links to good things: http://elevatedetroit.com (blatant self-promotion)
Palladium Boots / Johnny Knoxville video: http://www.palladiumboots.com/exploration/detroit
Requiem for Detroit by the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rkm3y (no, not the video clip unfortunately, but I do have a DVD)
Christmas CommuniD BBQ
I'm so excited today is finally here!
We're planning an outdoor family style dinner in late December in Detroit. From a logical perspective, from a rational perspective, it's a dumb idea at best. From a Kingdom perspective… well I think it's a Kingdom idea.
The idea is to have a family style sit down dinner. This isn't us serving them. This is all of God's family sitting at a common table and sharing a meal together in celebration of Christ. Christmas. It's what the word truly means… celebration of Christ.
Close your eyes for a moment and just picture the park… The gazebo with holes rusted all over the roof. The light poles with no lights on top. The tags sprawling across the building wall. The dolphin.
It's a place known in the neighborhood for crack and heroine dealing. It's a violent place. A vile place. It's a place I've been told that many neighborhood people won't come unless "you're here". It's a place I've been told that, "White people don't belong here." It's a stronghold of a defeated enemy. And it's being redeemed.
This is Christmas Day. Today there will be strings of lights and Christmas decorations. There will be tables all pushed together into one BIG table. There will be chairs lining all the way around. Hot food aplenty sprawling before our eyes and hungry bellies. Every color of person created (yes, even white people), every income level, every education level, every strength, every weakness, every addiction, every habit, good and bad, all beckoned to come sit together and share a common meal in celebration of our newly born and now risen Lord Jesus.
I don't know what heaven will be like. I don't know what God's Kingdom looks like in its fullness. I hope we'll be able to fly. That would be fun. But I do know that whatever it looks like… today we shall see a reflection… Yes, we shall see a reflection of Heaven. That reflection won't be in rusty gazebo roofs, broken lamp posts or cement statues of oceanic mammals. It won't be in strings of lights or piles of snow or sidewalk salt. It won't be in decorated cookies or trees and it won't be in pots of ham or green beans or dinner rolls. The reflection we'll see will be in the eyes and hearts of every person around that table. Every glint of hope and faith and love in every eye glowing all the brighter as glint sees glint and love flows evermore like a fountain of life. We may not see what Heaven will look like. But in fleeting moments… if we're paying attention… we'll know what it feels like.
Grace and peace to each of you. It's a deep honor to serve, love and celebrate Christ alongside each you. Truly… Merry Christ Mass


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For people who are not familiar with SF Design by Swaffette Firefly, you can find clothes from classic to sexy, from formal to casual and for man and woman and you will even find matching shoes in her shoe collection!
As present I received the sf design anniversary ballgown and for Kafee the sf design anniversary tux – sage. A perfect combination together, it made us want to go to a party and have a dance. What I like about the dress is the bustier with the lace trim. It gives you a much better decollete and nice detail, at the back it has nice diamond studs, very sexy! The resize menu takes care of the perfect size for you. The tux has a classical design, but made perfect with all the extra prims like the shoulder parts, sleeves for the arm and prim for the lower part of the jacket. Also the pant has leg prims. It gives the tux so much more swing and it makes it less stiff. And good news, both outfits have matching shoes included. Not shoes you will only wear with this and never anymore, no, good quality shoes you will find another matching outfit for. This gown and tux will be available from this sunday on at SF Design.
Swaffette, congratulations and wish you at least another 5 years with great designs, keep up the good work!


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The MPH/MSN program is suspending admissions for the September 2020 start date due to dual degree program restructuring. Please check the website after fall 2020 for updates.
This program permits students to obtain a dual MPH (Master of Public Health) – MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) degree. Students can be admitted by the School of Population and Public Health and the School of Nursing to pursue an enriched curriculum in public health and nursing studies.
|Program Specific Requirements
|SPPH 400 Statistics for Health Research
|SPPH 500 Analytical Methods in Epidemiological Research
|SPPH 502 Epidemiological Methods
|SPPH 503 Epidemiological Methods 2
|NURS 502 Ethics & Politics of Nursing
|NURS 511 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice
|NURS 548 Qualitative Research Methods
|NURS 504 Research & Evidence-Based Practice
|Other Course Requirements
|One of: SPPH 540 OR SPPH 547
|One of: NURS 540, 520, 530 OR 560
|Required Major Deliverables
|SPPH 508 Practicum
|NURS 599 MSc Thesis
|4 x SPPH or NURS electives
|* Recommend NURS505 Intro Stat for students without or with limited stat training
|Total Credits required for Graduation
Students wishing to pursue the dual MPH/MSN degree program submit one application form, but they must meet the requirements of both schools (SPPH and SON) to be admitted into the MPH/MSN program.
- Information about the admissions criteria for the Master of Public Health can be found here and any questions and application inquiries can be directed to firstname.lastname@example.com.
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) admission eligibility:
- Applicants must be registered nurses
- Applicants must have completed a bachelor degree, normally in nursing
- Canadian students must hold practicing nurse registration in BC or another province. International students must meet general eligibility criteria for nurse registration in BC.
Students already admitted to one or the other program may apply to the dual program during their first year of enrollment and must apply during the regular application period. Students wishing to transfer to the program from another UBC program must satisfy all requirements for admission to SPPH and SON. Enrollment in the dual degree program requires the consent of the Director of the MPH Program and the Director of the MSN Program.
Practicum and Thesis Requirements
Students enrolled in the dual degree program will be required to complete a 9 credit thesis (NURS 599) and a 6 credit practicum (SPPH 508). The thesis is supervised by a School of Nursing faculty member who is also a member of the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. The practicum may be supervised by an individual who has an MPH, MSc, MHSc, or PhD in a public health discipline or equivalent training and experience.
Conferring of Degrees
The MPH/ MSN will be conferred at the completion of the combined program after all requirements for both degrees have been met. Students who choose to receive either the MPH or the MSN prior to completion of the dual program may apply for one of the degrees provided all requirements for that degree have been satisfied. Students selecting this option must simultaneously withdraw from the dual program.


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Men from the Bracknell area had mixed fortunes.
We are sorry to hear of the loss of Wm. J. Hawthorn in the "Vanguard."
It has been reported that 2nd Lieut. R. F. Needham is missing. He was in the fight on the dunes on the coast when the Northamptonshire and K.R. Regiments suffered so heavily. The deep sympathy of many friends is felt with Colonel and Mrs. Needham.
We are proud to be able to record this month the decoration of three more Winkfield men for gallantry in the field. Lieut. Cecil Hayes-Sadler, R.E, who has been serving lately with the French forces has been given the Croix de Guerre. Lieut. Wilfred Lloyd, R.E., has won the Military Cross, after having been recommended for it once before, and Corporal R. Nickless, 6th Royal Warwicks, has been awarded the Military Medal.
We regret to learn that Pte. Joseph Baker is ill in hospital with gas poisoning. He was able to write home himself, so we hope he will soon be completely recovered.
Signaller Fred Holmes has been invalided out of the Army. He was a member of our choir and one of the first Winkfield men to volunteer in August 1914, and he has seen a great deal of service at the front. We sincerely hope that he will soon obtain suitable work and in time completely recover his health.
Sergt. Leonard Tipper (Middlesex Regt), has lately gone out to France and we trust will be remembered in our prayers.
Winkfield District Magazine, August 1917 (D/P151/28A/9/8)


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So says Suzanna Logan, whose summer seems sincerely dedicated to repairing her own heart. As much as she joked about "Big Sexy," it was in that laugh-to-keep-from-crying way. Or maybe that laugh-to-keep-from-hunting-him-down-like-a-dog-in-need-of-"fixing" way.
Hard to tell sometimes, y'know? Anyway, it's all my fault. I played matchmaker between Clever S. and the Unwise Latino — hey, who you callin' racist? — and the unfortunate consequences have grieved my heart.
A smart reporter never burns his sources, so if Big Sexy had called me the other night and, after we had discussed business, we discussed other things . . . well, Your Honor, when a professional journalist speaks hypothetically, that one little word "if" is his Get Out Of Jail Free card.
Nevertheless, there are no accidents, and Miss Logan lost an hour of sleep because she felt compelled to write this:
I'm living what I'm talking. I have an intimate understanding of what pursing God and holiness with all you've got can do to a person's life: It can 180 your direction. I'm living proof. . . .
Of course, I'll never know who reads this or what they choose to do. But God will. And, in the end, that's all that really matters.
Just an accident that at 3:20 a.m. ET, somebody clicked through from her site to mine. Just an accident I was checking my SiteMeter before going to bed myself. All of it, you see, entirely accidental.
BTW, Logan: You threw away your gangster movies? Please tell me you didn't throw away any classic '40s/'50s noir. Classic noir is . . . it's like the Parable of the Double-Crossed Palooka, see?
14. And in the Land of the Angels was a dame,
15. Whom the magistrate did accuse of murder,
16. For she had been seen in an inn, taking strong drink with a certain official,
17. Whose wife she was not;
18. And, lo, it came to pass that this high-society character was ventilated with numerous slugs, .44 in caliber,
19. Which the coroner did retrieve after the mortal remains of the departed soul were found upon the shore of the sea called Pacific, nearby the town of Malibu;
20. Straightway the dame was taken to the hoosegow, where the law of that land said she must be allowed to make one phone call;
21. It was a Thursday, and behind a glass door marked with his name, a certain detective reclined in his chair;
22. Though he spake not, yet his voice was heard, as he told the tale in tones jaded, bitter, cynical;
23. Yet all the while asleep, and on his desk was a writing of the Tribune, which in large letters declared:
25. The phone rang and the detective's secretary, who was some dish herself, answered saying, Axelrod Detective Agency.
26. That's me, said the voice of the detective who spake while sleeping, and he saith:
27. It ain't much of a livin' but at least it's honest most of the time,
28. Instead of working downtown with those crummy double-crossers.
29. Cops, crooks, sometimes it's hard to tell the difference in this town.
30. So now I'm solo, a private detective.
31. Sounds exciting to some people, but it's mostly cheating husbands and deadbeat chislers.
32. Small-time stuff.
33. Then the secretary walked in and saith to Axelrod:
34. Hey, Mike. We got a live one on the line. Want me to tranfer it?
35. Sure, Betty, saith Mike, lighting a Chesterfield
36. Before picking up the phone, and
37. Lo, the screen did split, so that the dame was beheld also on the phone, downtown in the hoosegow.
38. Axelrod. What can I do for you? he saith.
39. Mister Axelrod, saith the dame, sorely distressed, I – I – I didn't do it. I'm innocent — innocent, I tell ya! Jeff and me — I mean, Congressman Davenport — well, it wasn't what it looked like —
40. Whoa! said the detective. Hold on there a minute, lady!
41. Slow down a sec, sweetheart. I don't even know your name yet.
42. And the dame, who was a blonde, saith:
43. Oh. I'm — I'm sorry, it's just that — well, my name is Veronica Highpoint.
44. And a trumpet did sound, and again was heard the voice of the detective, though he did speak not, saying:
45. Veronica Highpoint, big star.
46. Or that's what they said a couple of years ago, until the gossip columns started in on her and the studio dropped her contract.
47. A dame like that, said the voice of the detective who spake not, but he stopped and saith aloud:
48. So how did you get my number?
49. Jeff — I mean, Congressman Davenport gave it to me, saith the dame Veronica;
50. He said it was important, and if anything ever happened to him . . .
But nobody's paying me to write this stuff, see? I'm a professional and Logan hasn't hit my tip jar lately, so this little saga of the drop-dead blonde and the hard-luck gumshoe will have to wait for another day. Today, there's important business in D.C., and I've got to get some sleep. But there are no accidents.


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For a few short days, you can enjoy a whopping $60 discount on all of the Anxiety Summit products for each of the 4 seasons! You will not want to miss this special offer. It starts on Cyber Monday, November 28, 201, and continues for 3 days!
"The Anxiety Summit Thanksgiving Sale" is for 3 days only!
It begins Cyber Monday, November 28 and goes until
November 30 (U.S. Eastern Time).
I listened in on The Anxiety Summit a few years back and that's how I found the help I needed for my daughter. It turns out that much of what I learned from these summits has been extremely helpful for my whole family. These tools have helped us address our emotional health as we've recovered from chronic Lyme Disease.
The Anxiety Summit: Nutritionals Solutions to End Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and OCD – is a great resource to help you with:
- Resources to feel cool, calm and collected during the holidays! (our serotonin takes a dip in the winter and you may feel bluer and even more anxious)
- Nutritional information to help reduce stress, heal the gut, eat a low-histamine diet, balance the microbiome, figure out methylation, pyroluria and much more
- Tools to help balance brain chemistry to keep out-of-control carb cravings in check -so no will-power is required and there are no feelings of deprivation!
Many wonderful practitioners have been featured experts: JJ Virgin, Izabella Wentz, Magdalena Wszelaki, Julie Matthews, Jay Davidson, Tom Malterre, Peter Osborne, Nicole Beurkens, Kelly Brogan, Mira Dessy, Margaret Floyd, Hyla Cass, Anna Cabeca, Corey Schuler, Robin Nielsen, Randy Hartnell, Tom Malterre, Mikell Parsons, Lauren Noel, Alan Christianson, Summer Bock, Kaayla Daniel, Jill Carnahan, Joe Tatta, Mira and Jayson Calton, Kim D'Eramo, Josh Axe, Steve Wright, James Maskell, Autumn Smith, Julia Ross, Daniel Amen, Ann Louise Gittleman, Ben Lynch, Liz Lipski and others
Amazing researchers have also been featured experts: Dr. Ted Dinan (psychobiotics), Dr. Felice Jacka (nutritional psychiatry and red meat) and Dr. Amanda Swart (rooibos to reduce cortisol)
There are also wonderfully uplifting and hopeful client success stories: using GABA for Lyme anxiety, using tryptophan for anxiety and insomnia, going gluten-free.
Here are some 'features' of Anxiety Summit products:
- Each season features 25+ hours of audio interviews (with a transcripts option) with anxiety experts and thought leaders addressing a myriad of topics related to food, biochemistry, functional medicine, toxin elimination, and lifestyle changes to end anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, and OCD
- Our experts are respected researchers, doctors, psychiatrists, nutritionists, consumer advocates, and psychologists
- Each interview offers valuable science-based information along with practical resources that can be used right away.
- The interview topics include targeted amino acids such as GABA and tryptophan, Psychoneuroendocrinology, adrenal health, eating for hormone balance, MTHFR and methyfolate, benzodiazepine dangers, anxiety and addictions, anxiety and autism, Lyme anxiety, mercury toxicity, mold exposure, pyroluria and social anxiety, community, the microbiome and gut health, gluten and grain issues and so much more.
- Provides the latest studies on food-mood connection, useful to both practitioners and non-practitioners.
- The interviews are available for purchase in 3 different formats
- M3 (audio) downloads
- MP3 and PDF (audio and transcript) downloads
- data CD with MP3s and PDFs (audio and transcript)
Be sure to snag this deal while it lasts, I know you will be glad you did!


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Whole Foods Protein Breakfast Shake
Recipe borrowed from Dr Mark Hyman Makes 2 servings: My version
2 Tbsp Sunflower Seeds
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds (can be soaked overnight to make shake smoother and to release nutrients in seeds)
4 Walnuts
2 Tbsp Raw Pumpkin Seeds
3 Brazil Nuts
2 Tbsp Raw Almond Butter
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil Organic Coconut Oil or quarter ripe avocado
1 Banana (may omit banana if diabetic)
1 Cup Wild Blueberries
1 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
*Optional: Advocare's Muscle Gain Vanilla or plant protein powder of your choice. I have also used Advocare's meal replacement shakes which includes carbs so you would need to omit the banana!
Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers. 3 John 1:2


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JCN Online Journals
Welcome the the Journal section of JCN Online. Here you can view every article from the current Journal of Community Nursing.
There are also extensive back issues available.
Please sign in or register to view the articles.
Journal details
Pain assessment in terminal cancer
Catherine Black, Barry Aveyard, Paula Smith and
Pat Schofield discuss a funded study to develop an annotated bibliography consolidating all the available literature relating to the care of the patient with terminal cancer in pain. This article reports a summary of the literature around pain assessment and provides some recommendations for staff working with patients in the community in order for them to apply appropriate pain assessment scales and consequently improve the management of pain.
Catherine Black MA Ed, BA (Hons), DipHSM, RN, RNT is a Senior Lecturer, DHSS Education and Training, Isle of Man
Barry Aveyard RMN, RGN, BA (Hons), Cert ED, RNT, MA is a Lecturer, Sheffield Hallam University
Paula Smith PHD, MSc, DEN, RN is a Senior Lecturer, Sheffield Hallam University
Pat Schofield PhD, RGN, PGDipEd, DipN is a Senior Lecturer, Centre of Advanced Nursing Studies, University of Aberdeen, Scotland
Article accepted for publication: December 2006


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Post Buildathon, many people visited our new riverside campus which houses a geodesic dome and SathyaPrakashVaranashi, an avid blogger, architect, and professor was one of the many who were really happy with the progress that we have achieved in alternative construction techniques. His blog about our work was noticed by the Buckminster Institute, New York who invited us to take part in the Fuller Challenge. This invitation was like a signal for our students who found a way to apply for the competition. The research on bamboo at VDA has been on since over half a decade.
CHHAT (Center for Human Habitat and Alternative Technology) meaning shelter is a student initiative by the students of VDA, which began as an academic experiment for providing a platform to those who are trying to give back to the society by serving a large group of people facing challenges of shelter requirement. CHHAT got recognized by the jury of the Buckminster Fuller Awards and is announced as the winner of the student category 2016. This is the first year that the Fuller Challenge program reviewed student entries separately from the general pool and selected a student winner. CHHAT was selected amongst dozens of entries as best fitting the criteria of the Fuller Challenge.Chhat WebsiteChhat: About Us-Evolution-DesignChhat - Facebook


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U.S. flag waving British supporters of President Donald Trump and Brexit disrupted a speech by Trump-hater London Mayor Sadiq Khan at an appearance before the Fabian Society in London on Saturday. The non-violent protest which called for a citizen's arrest of Khan went on for several minutes before the protesters agreed to leave.
'Arrest him!' Protestors storm Sadiq Khan Brexit speech – police surround demonstratorshttps://t.co/DhaC3FxopX pic.twitter.com/QcYO6Ga7BW
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) January 13, 2018
Khan did not engage the protesters, but afterward snidely referred to them as "very stable geniuses", a mocking reference to Trump's comments about himself in response to questions about his mental health.
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The protesters were reportedly with a group called the White Pendragons. Protesters told the media as they were being led out of the venue they are not racist, but they have issues with Khan's religion disqualifying him from being mayor of London. Regardless, it is fun to see the Left's tactics used against them. Especially when a fuming Khan is seen on video furiously flipping through the pages of a newspaper as the protest went on.
They claim they are not a racist group, nor far right. But they told us Sadiq Khan has no right to be Mayor of London, referencing his religion.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) January 13, 2018
TRENDING: BREAKING: Joe Biden Chooses Kamala Harris as VP Nominee - Who Accused Him of Racism
Sky News reported on the protest:
Mr Khan was about to start speaking to the Fabian Society in London when he was disrupted by protesters from a group called the White Pendragons, who shouted pro-Trump and pro-Brexit slogans.
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It came after a tweet by Mr Khan on Friday, in which he said Mr Trump had "got the message" that he was "not welcome" in London after the President cancelled a planned visit to open the new US embassy.
In a video posted on social media, one protester could be heard saying: "Ladies and gentlemen, we're here today to make a non-violent, peaceful citizen's arrest."
…Sky News political correspondent Laura Bundock said the protesters had been sitting "right at the front of the room", and delayed the start of Mr Khan's speech for 15 minutes.
The group told her that MPs had "broken their oaths of office", adding that they were "employed by us, the people" and "should do as we say".
After paying £35 to get in, they said they were "heading to the pub afterwards"…
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The Guardian also reported on the protest:
…Khan's address on gender equality to the Fabian Society in central London was suspended for several minutes on Saturday morning while a small number of demonstrators from a recently formed far-right group called the White Pendragons made their protest.
Shortly after Khan began speaking at the society's new year conference, one man told the audience: "Ladies and gentlemen, we're here today to make a non-violent, peaceful citizen's arrest."
One man shouted "No to the EU" and another displayed a US flag.
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Audience members began to heckle and slow-clap, but the protesters resisted attempts to remove them, claiming they would sue anyone who touched them for "common assault".
Several police officers then moved in to escort them from the venue.
The protesters claimed the Fabian Society was "subverting our English constitution", with one quoting the Magna Carta…
…When Khan, a former chair of the Fabian Society, resumed his speech he quipped: "On the plus side, I wasn't served with a P45" – a reference to Theresa May's Tory conference speech that was interrupted by a prankster.
The mayor added: "It is a pleasure to be here even though we were distracted by the actions of what some would call very stable geniuses."
Pro-Trump supporters crash Fabian conference in protest of Sadiq Khanhttps://t.co/f1A9IhFjz4 pic.twitter.com/8qDODD4hre
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 13, 2018
Videos of the protesters speaking to the press.
Asked several times for some clarity on what their objection to the Fabians is. They claim Fabians are subverting the constitution of the UK and one quoted the Magna Carta. Not entirely clear how they think Fabians are doing this. pic.twitter.com/RZgjYEEbBx
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) January 13, 2018
The man in this clip would appear to be Davey Russell, a leading member of the EDL, who is known for posting his views of Islam on YouTube.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) January 13, 2018
Khan posted about his speech to the Fabian Society, "Today at @thefabians conference I spoke about how we cannot allow a populist, anti-feminist narrative to take hold in Britain. Men must become better allies and progressives must fight back. #BehindEveryGreatCity #Fab18"
Today at @thefabians conference I spoke about how we cannot allow a populist, anti-feminist narrative to take hold in Britain. Men must become better allies and progressives must fight back. #BehindEveryGreatCity #Fab18 pic.twitter.com/pbbOPH6zYv
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) January 13, 2018
Many Londoners have made it clear that Donald Trump is not welcome here while he is pursuing such a divisive agenda. It seems he's finally got that message. pic.twitter.com/YD0ZHuWtr3
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) January 12, 2018
President Trump recently canceled a planned February visit to Britain, citing his concerns about the deal for the new U.S. Embassy in London. However, Khan has made it clear Trump is not welcome in London and would have orchestrated large protests against Trump.


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Dedication ceremony
In conjunction with the ILWU, we hosted a dedication ceremony this past Saturday to officially open our school. Family members of Harry Bridges, ILWU leadership, including international vice president Ray Familathe and pensioners' poet laureate, Jerry Brady , Rep. Janice Hahn from the 36th District, city council member Joe Buscaino, and LAUSD's own superintendent Dr. John Deasy, boardmember Dr. Richard Vladovic, and principal Lou Mardesich all spoke words of praise, hope and encouragement as we enter into this, our first year serving the families of Wilmington.
See the ILWU Credit Union's photos and a few of our own on our photos page.
We thank all of you who were able to attend our Parent Informational Meetings last Tuesday, May 1, and this evening, May 8th. Parents were provided with a general overview of Harry Bridges Span School, introduced to the interim principal, Lou Mardesich, and the school design team. A short question and answer session followed each meeting. Handouts and important information included:
Food Services Meal Application:
June 18, 2012 Applications will be sent home with current LAUSD students who will be transitioning to the new school. These need to be returned to the cafeteria at their CURRENT school or sent to Food Services/LAUSD using the stamped envelope provided.
July 10, 2012 Applications will be mailed home to the current address on file if your application has not been received.
August 1, 2012 Applications will be available in the Harry Bridges Span School office. They can be submitted at the school site.
Applications can also be submitted any time after July 1, 2012 on the Food Services website at http://cafe-la.lausd.net.
Registration for kindergarten will begin next week. Please see our calendar for dates and times.
Registration letters will be sent home within the next two weeks to all other students within our address boundaries. Call our office for more information.
Grade-level orientations will be held during the summer. Parents and guardians of all registered students will be sent information regarding the dates and times for these orientation meetings. During orientation parents and students will be given more detailed information about behavioral expectations, campus rules and procedures, curriculum and instruction. Parents and students will also be offered tours of the campus. At this time, as it is still under construction, only the main office and auditorium are available for use.
Academic Attire (uniforms):
Parents were provided information regarding the required school uniforms. All students will be expected to wear navy blue or black bottoms (shorts, pants, skirts or jumpers). Students may not wear denim, sweatpants or pajama-type bottoms. Elementary students will be expected to wear white collared short- or long-sleeve shirts (polo type preferred), while middle school students will have the option of powder blue or dark/navy blue. No sleeveless, non-collared, or logo/striped shirts are allowed. Students not in uniform will be sent to the office to change in to an appropriate school uniform. Parents who have financial difficulty will be assisted in acquiring uniforms. At this time the school is not selling academic attire as we have not yet chosen a mascot. Once a mascot has been selected, the school anticipated selling school-logo tops for all ages and PE uniforms for middle school students.
Documents Provided:
Initial informational documents were provided. These include the Academic Attire Policy, Food Services Meal Application, Kindergarten Core Suggested Reading List, 2nd and 3rd Grade Common Core Suggested Reading List, 4th and 5th Grade Common Core Suggested Reading List, and Grades 6-8 Common Core Suggested Reading List.
Many questions were asked at the meetings. If you have any further concerns or questions, please feel free to contact the school office.
Academic Attire
Our school uniform policy, known as Academic Attire, has recently been posted. Click here to see the policy online. Click here to download the .pdf. All students must be in uniform!
School Site Council Orientation
You are encouraged to make a difference in the governance of our school by participating in this year's School Site Council. An orientation is scheduled to provide you with an understanding of the purpose of the School Site Council and to explain the election process.
The orientation will be held as follows:
Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Harry Bridges Span School - Auditorium
The election is scheduled as follows:
Date: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Harry Bridges Span School- Auditorium
Parking is available on the perimeter of the campus or in the structure on "M" Street.
Parent Informational Meetings
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
5 p.m. -- Kindergarten through 2nd Grade
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
6:15 p.m. -- Grades 3 – 5
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
5 p.m. -- Middle School Grades 6-7
This is where you will find the latest Bridges news. Please also check our CALENDAR for scheduled events, our BRIDGES GAZETTE for weekly reminders, and once published, our NEWSLETTER for timely updates.
August 2017


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COVID-19: From Friday 24 July 2020, anyone coming to George Meehan House for any reason should wear a face covering. Check out the latest information on our COVID-19 advice page.
Documents needed to give notice of marriage or civil partnership
Please read this page in full and call us if you do not understand anything.
We will only see you if you have evidence of a confirmed ceremony booking that is due to take place within the next two months. Haringey is not currently making any ceremony bookings and so an alternative venue must be booked before giving notice.
There are strict rules on what can and cannot be accepted when giving Notice of Marriage / Notice of Civil Partnership. If you do not bring the correct documents to your appointment we will not be able to see you and you will need to book and pay for another appointment.
Do not book an appointment before 9am, after 4pm, or on a Saturday:
- if your immigration status is complicated
- you only have copies of documents, or if your documents have expired
- if you require an interpreter (please note that the Register Office does not provide interpreters)
If you do not follow this advice we may not be able to take your Notice(s) and any Notice fee(s) you have paid may be lost.
You must show evidence of:
- A confirmed ceremony within the next two months
- Who you are eg name, age and nationality
- Evidence of where you live
- Evidence any former marriage has ended if applicable
- Documents to show change of name if applicable
What documents do I need to bring?
If you or your partner are subject to immigration you must both provide a recent passport sized photo. Please bring evidence of your current immigration status if you can.
Evidence to prove who you are:
Please bring one of the following original documents:
|Further information
|A valid passport from any country
|If you have a valid passport you should bring this with you. We are not allowed to accept expired passports.
|A valid Identity Card issued by a European Union or EEA country
|We can only accept ID cards issued by a country from the EU or EEA. Cards from other countries including driving licenses cannot be accepted.
|A UK Certificate of Naturalisation
|We can only accept a certificate of naturalisation of it has been issued by the United Kingdom
|Valid Home Office Travel Document
|The document must not have expired
|Valid UK Government issued biometric immigration document
|For example your current valid UK visa or entry clearance on a plastic card with your photo on it that has not expired. Unfortunately we cannot accept Home Office Application Registration Cards (ARC Cards)
British Citizens without a passport
Any person born in the UK from 1/1/1983 is not automatically British. If you were born in the UK before 1983 you can use your valid UK Birth Certificate or UK Driving Licence to give Notice of Marriage. Expired Driving Licences cannot be accepted. If you were born on or after 1/1/1983 or if you were born outside the UK you will not be able to do this.
If you were born on or after 1/1/1983 your nationality comes from one or both parents. You will need to show us your full original UK Birth Certificate along with evidence of your parent(s) nationality at birth. This could be their passport or their birth certificates. Copies of Birth Certificates can be obtained from the Register Office where the person was born.
Evidence to prove where you live
Please bring one of the following original documents:
Please note that computer print outs of bills are accepted
|Further Information
|Current Council Tax Bill
|This must be your most recent bill and have your name(s) on it. It must be for an address that you live at
|A Bank Statement dated within the last month
|The document must be a bank statement and not a letter from the bank. It must have a date on it and be less than 1 month old.
|A utility bill less than 3 months old
|The bill must have a date and your name(s) on it. It cannot be more than 3 months old. Bills for mobile phones cannot be accepted but bills for broadband, cable and landline telephones are OK.
|A UK Driving Licence
|The document can be paper or photo card and must show your current address. The document must not have expired.
|Valid Tenancy Agreement
|This must be for your current property and have your name on it. Please try to avoid bringing tenancy agreements as we may not always be able to take them. For example if they are very old or unsubstantial.
|Letter from the owner or proprietor of a property
This could be a letter from your landlord and must be dated immediately before Notice is given. The letter must confirm that they are the owner or managing agent for the property and state that you have lived at the property for at least the last 9 days. They must give their address.
It could also be a letter from a Hotel Manager confirming that you have been staying at the property for 9 days or more and must be dated immediately before Notice is given. They must give their address.
If you have been married or in a civil partnership before
If you have been married or in a civil partnership before you must show that the marriage or partnership has ended. Please see the table below:
|Further Information
|Original UK Decree Absolute
|This is the final divorce document and must be the original. You can obtain your Decree Absolute from the court that granted your divorce.
|Overseas Divorce
|This must be the original and final divorce. If the divorce is not in English you will need to provide a full 3rd party translation. You or your partner cannot do the translation.
|Death Certificate
|This must be the original death certificate and link you to your former Husband or Wife. You may need to provide the original marriage certificate to enable us to establish a link.
|Documents confirming annulment
|If a marriage has been annulled you will need to show an original document proving this. if the document is not in English you will need to provide a 3rd party translation.
Be Prepared
Please ensure that you have the correct documentation before coming to your appointment.
You can book a Notice of Marriage / Civil Partnership appointment online. Please go to the Notice of Marriage/Civil Partnership page for further information on giving Notice of Marriage.
Please fill in our marriage enquiry form if you have general marriage enquiry or call us on 020 8489 2605.
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Here's how mine looked.................................
What a great treat----a chocolate chip cookie AND a brownie all in one!!!!!
Have a great weekend everyone
: o)
I am from Gambo, NL, located on the east coast of Canada, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. My hometown of Gambo was once divided into three smaller communities, known as Middle Brook, Dark Cove & Gambo. I grew up in Dark Cove, and absolutely love to cook and bake, so I thought what better name could there be for my first blog than 'My Dark Cove Pantry'. Even though I now live in Flatrock, and now have a new pantry, it will always be 'My Dark Cove Pantry'.


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Title: Perchance to Dream
Authors: Lyssa Chiavari (Editor), T. Damon, Allan Davis, Heather Dixon, Jon Garett, Alex Irwin, Alicia Michaels , Selenia Paz , Megan Reynolds, Patricia Scott, Jane Watson, Richard Walsh
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: June 3oth, 2015
Genre: YA, Shakespeare, Anthology
Purchase Links: Amazon
Blurb :
Romeo and Juliet. Hamlet. Macbeth. Everyone has heard their names. Everyone knows their stories. But you've never seen them like this.
In this collection, some of the hottest names in YA today reimagine ten of Shakespeare's best-known plays and sonnets for a new audience. From sci-fi adventures on distant moons to modern magic found in everyday places, these updated myths pay homage to the Bard's timeless storytelling while spinning fresh and original tales that will captivate readers all over again.
Blogger's Note:
I just started reading this Anthology yesterday, and I am loving it so far! It is also no 1 in Amazon's New Release ( YA & Anthologies ) !
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2014 Reading Challenge
Ayah has completed her goal of reading 35 books in 2014!
January 2017


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Althalus is a young thief and occasional killer known for his skill and incredible luck. A number of capers end without much monetary reward for him, until he stumbles into a shrine built to the fertility goddess Dweia. Soon afterward he meets with the wizard Ghend, who hires him to steal the Book, a magical tome that can be found in the bizarre House at the End of the World. There, Althalus discovers Dweia in the form of a black cat and learns that she has chosen him to aid her in a war against Ghend and her evil brother, the destroyer god Daeva. Together Althalus and Dweia use the power of the Book and gather together a small team of questionable heroes who must battle Ghend's supernatural forces and armies. The thief Althalus can only hope his luck holds out for this one last task, since the very fate of humanity is at stake (goodreads.com).
The Redeption of Althalus is the first book I read by the Eddingses. Supposedly their books are good, but I found this one to be boring.This is over a 700 page book, and by page 520 I decided I just couldn't read it anymore. I can't believe I even read that far into it.
I found that the story was predictable and formulaic, which usually doesn't bother me, but in this case it became really boring with the addition of long, drawn out, detailed explanations of battle tactics. I like reading about battles and such, but I don't need this much detail behind it. The battles were also uninteresting and you have a pretty good idea who is going to win within a page or two. Additionally, throughout the novel there weren't any surprises or twists in the story, so there was nothing to keep me intrigued. I don't know why I even read as much as I did. I guess I figured it would get better. The plot really did have potential and their were some interesting aspects to the book, but it was just poorly executed. What I did like about the book was the lack of detailed violence.
The characters were also one-dimensional and uninteresting. What I didn't like were the descriptions of the characters. All the women on the good side were beautiful, the one woman on the bad side was ugly, and this seemed to be the same for the men. The fat characters were slow and lazy and the skinny characters were athletic. There wasn't any variation. I didn't really come to like any of them or think of them people. None of the characters had any difficulty completing their tasks or coming up with and executing ideas. They just weren't real. I also did not particularly like some of the dialog between the characters. Calling someone "pet" is just a little strange. There was also a bit of repetition with the dialog and storytelling.
Overall Thoughts
I would recommend this book for young adults because its not as graphic as many other adult fantasy novels. The writing was also good with few to no errors. As previously mentioned, the plot did have some interesting aspects and their was definitely potential for a better story. I think this book would be more enjoyable for young adults who haven't read much fantasy or to people who really like reading about battles. Otherwise, I wouldn't waste any time reading this book.
My rating: 1/5 stars!
View this book on Amazon and Goodreads!
Authors website has information about their other books
*photo provided by wikipedia.org


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In watching the huge amount of precipitation that will deluge Northern California just after the first week of 2017 our Think Tank dared to ask the question no one wants to talk about; are the Sacramento Levees safe? It turns out that Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of California tried to get the upgrading of those levees into the budget several times (along with water retention projects for droughts), but the Democrat majority in the California Legislature at the time wanted to spend that money on social programs.
At the time Democrats called it a victory, but perhaps in hindsight they set the state up for a pending disaster, we shall soon see as this mega storm drops it's mother load on California. How much water will hit Northern California? Well, he Los Angeles Times had an interesting article published on January 6, 2017 titled; "In Mammoth Lakes, preparing for a mammoth storm," by Tony Barboza, Hailey Branson-Potts and Joseph Serna which stated:
"The epic system could dump so much rain and snow that some ski runs and roads are closed warning of significant flooding, mudslides and avalanches in the Sierra Nevada. Up to 12 inches of rain is expected on areas below 8,500 feet & up to 7 feet of snow in higher elevations. The storm was packing the same wallop as one that hit Northern California in 2005, causing $300 million in damage. This system could bring 36-hours of heavy rain to parts of Northern CA. While that is good news for California, in its 6th year of drought, the coming rain could melt already-standing snow – feeding watersheds swollen from storms earlier this week."
True enough and other reports from the Weather Channel suggest that the amount of water could be in the neighborhood of 15-Mississippi Rivers and about 57 Trillions of gallons of water, enough to actually affect the planet's rotation, albeit only few hundredth of a second. Will the mistake of the California Legislature during Arnold's tenure as governor and the subsequent years recently under Jerry Brown cost the US Taxpayer around the country 100s of Billions of dollars? It just might, and this will be a tough call for the Trump Administration if that levee system fails and drowns thousands of people and put a good chunk of Sacramento underwater.
How bad is the situation? Well, it turns out there was a lot of snow pack, about a decade ago, one year that put the snow levels at 175% of normal and they were extremely worried back then, fast forward 10-years later, more wear and tear on the levee system and no major upgrades, that could spell disaster and anyone who isn't worried about it, isn't paying attention – let's just hope the experts and weather forecasters got this one wrong. Think on it – be great, don't hesitate.


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Bilbao in northern Spain is the capital of the 3 provinces of Euskadi. It is a province that borders with Guipuzcoa to it's east, Cantabria to it's west and Alava to it's south. The city of Bilbao is a city that was historically known for it's richness and industry, and today has a population of approximately 400,000 inhabitants. It has enough space to hold atleast one million inhabitants.Bilbao is a city surrounded by mountains, vegetation and industry, since it has become one of the most prosperous cities in the Basque region in Spain. The city has the Bilbao Ria also called Nervion flowing through the centre.In the last 30 years Bilbao has undergone a tremendous transformation, from a city known for it's industry to being a city of touristic excellence. The area immediately surrounding the river has become an area of shopping centres and fantastic cultural spots such as the Guggenheim Museum, the Euskalduna Palace and the Isozaki Atea Towers.
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Hotel Vista Alegre
The Hotel Vista Alegre's offers free Wi-Fi and its excellent location in central Bilbao allows you to walk to a number of sights. Guggenheim Museum can be reached in 20 minutes on foot.
83 €
83 €
Ibis Bilbao Centro
The Ibis Bilbao Centro is situated in the centre of the city, just 10 minutes' walk from the famous Guggenheim Museum and 2 minutes from Indautxu Metro Station. It features air-conditioned rooms...
56 €
56 €
Pension Roquefer
Located in the centre of Bilbao, in the Basque Country, the smart and modern Hostal Roquefer provides bedrooms with balconies and gives easy access to the top city sights.
65 €
65 €
Hostal Ria De Bilbao
Set overlooking the River Nervión, which runs through the heart of Bilbao, this hotel is 2 km from Guggenheim Museum and a 20-minute walk from Doña Casilda Park.
81 €
81 €
Well located in Bilbao's historic centre, this boutique hotel is situated 100m from the Arriaga Theatre. The Casco Viejo Metro Station is two minutes' walk away.
70 €
70 €
Hotel Bilbao Jardines
This innovatively designed hotel is very well located for exploring on foot all the main sights of the city, and is close to the river in the old part of central Bilbao.
58 €
58 €
Free internet, flat-screen TVs and limited free parking are available at Sirimiri Hotel. The hotel is a 5-minute tram journey from the Guggenheim, in the old part of Bilbao.
84 €
84 €
Pensión Don Claudio
Just 50 metres from Zorrotza Railway Station, Pensión Don Claudio is 2 km from Bilbao Exhibition Centre. Set 4 km from central Bilbao, it offers free Wi-Fi access.
80 €
80 €
Hotel Ercilla is a modern hotel located in central Bilbao. It offers a fitness centre with city views and stylish accommodation with flat-screen satellite TV, free Wi-Fi and a private bathroom.
92 €
92 €
Residencia Blas De Otero
Residencia Blas de Otero offers value accommodation in the historic centre of Bilbao, 400 metres from the Cathedral. Rooms include a private bathroom, small kitchen and free internet access.
Petit Palace Arana Bilbao
Set in an impressive 19th-century building, this modern hotel is situated 200 metres from the Santiago Cathedral in Bilbao. It offers free Wi-Fi and stylish rooms with flat-screen TVs.
102 €
102 €
Iturrienea Ostatua
Iturrienea Ostatua is located on a charming pedetrian street in Bilbao's Old Town. Free WiFi access is available. Each room here will provide you with a TV.
85 €
85 €
Hotel Parque
Located in the commercial heart of Bilbao, Hotel Parque is 100 metres from San Mamés Bus and Metro Stations. It features a gym, free WiFi, Turkish bath and a restaurant.
Hotel Ripa
The Ripa Hotel Bilbao is situated in the city centre, three minutes away from the train station and with perfect connections with metro and tram.
48 €
48 €
Barceló Bilbao Nervión
Overlooking Bilbao's River Nervión, Barceló Bilbao Nervión is located 250 metres from Calatrava Bridge and 10 minutes' walk from the Guggenheim Museum. It offers comfortable, modern rooms with...
206 €
206 €
Hotel Artetxe
This charming, Basque farmhouse has been carefully converted into an attractive, rural hotel, enjoying stunning panoramic views over the regional capital of Bilbao.
Holiday Inn Bilbao
Located next to the Basilica de Begoña, Holiday Inn Bilbao offers an outdoor swimming pool and stylish air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi. Bilbao Old Town and Etxebarria Park are a 15-minute walk away.
120 €
120 €
Hotel Bilbi
This hotel occupies a privileged spot next to Bilbao's old city, close to La Ribera market, the Miribilla Quarter and the Bilbao Arena Sports Centre. It has been lovingly refurbished with modern interiors...
Spa Jardines De Albia
Located in Bilbao's main business district, this contemporary hotel and spa is a short walk from the Guggenheim Museum, Convention Centre and the old town. It also has a permanent modern art exhibition.
112 €
112 €
Hostal San Mamés
Hostal San Mamés is located right next to Athletic Bilbao's San Mamés Football Stadium and the Termibus Bus Station. Rooms have flat-screen TVs.
77 €
77 €
Hotel Photo Zabalburu
Hotel Photo Zabalburu offers unique décor and free Wi-Fi in rooms and public areas. It is located in central Bilbao, 200 metres from the Vista Alegre Bullring.
116 €
116 €
Bilbao Apartamentos Atxuri
The Atxuri Apartments have an ideal location in central Bilbao, a short walk from the historic old town. This modern complex offers a gym, rooftop terrace and free Wi-Fi.
74 €
74 €
Silken Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao
Designed by Javier Mariscal, this stylish hotel is located opposite Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum. It features a roof terrace with a restaurant and spectacular views.
169 €
169 €
Aliciazzz Bed And Breakfast Bilbao
AliciaZzz Bed and Breakfast Bilbao is located in the city's Old Town. This guest house features décor based on Alice in Wonderland and has free Wi-Fi access.
95 €
95 €
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The Tarrant Regional Water District has four reservoirs and right now they're at 78% capacity Communications Manager Chad Lorance told NBC 5 on Sunday.
If the capacity drops to 75 percent the TRWD would impose some water restrictions. If we don't get rain soon, that could happen in January.
It would like do what the North Texas Municipal Water District has been doing since August, limiting sprinkler use to twice a week. To go beyond that, things would have to get much worse.
The latest news from around North Texas.
"We haven't had any good rainfall in a good while," said Don Wiggins who runs a bait shop at Eagle Mountain Lake, one of the four reservoirs for the Tarrant Regional Water District. "I watch the beach up there, the markers, like the ladders, the steps on the ladders and we're losing a lot of water. It keeps going down every day... I've seen it worse, but it's been a while since I've seen it like this."
Looking ahead to the winter and into next spring, meteorologists aren't expecting a lot of rain.
The Tarrant Regional Water District provides water to more than 1.7 million people in the North Texas, including the cities of Fort Worth, Arlington and Mansfield.
The North Texas Municipal Water District provides water to the following cities: Allen,
Farmersville, Forney, Frisco, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite, Plano, Princeton, Richardson, Rockwall, Royse City and Wylie.


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Few months ago, we had a chance to stay in Holiday Inn Express and Suites Lantana First things first. Where the heck is Lantana? That's exactly what I said, and I lived in Florida for many years. Turns out, it's about 30 minutes north of Fort Lauderdale, and there is no compelling reason why you should go there. Unless… The hotel is on IHG PointBreaks list.
And that's exactly why my family came here over MLK holiday weekend. PointBreaks promotion is an incredible deal, and in this case, it gave me a chance to treat my husband's relatives (a family of 6), to a fun getaway. It was neat to hang out in one room and just catch up.
I won't focus on the hotel itself except say that it was perfectly fine. We were upgraded to a junior suite due to my Platinum status that comes with Chase IHG MasterCard (read about it here) I love this credit card and recommend every family gets it at some point. Breakfast at this particular property wasn't spectacular, but it was complimentary and not too bad, all things considered. Standard HIE fare: eggs, sausage, pastries, fruit and pancakes. Wait, that doesn't sound bad at all!
It was quite convenient to just take kids in the morning in their pajamas, grab some food and not worry about driving anywhere. The hotel ended up costing us 4,500 IHG points per night (with 10% credit card rebate), which I previously acquired for around $15 via various promos. Hmm, I really have nothing to complain about…
My husband got this giant bag of popcorn at work few weeks prior, and it has been driving me crazy. So, I took it with us on the trip, and said that the bag is staying behind whether it's depleted or not.
The hotel is located about 6 minutes from a county park with a beach and a Greek restaurant. Even though it was fairly cold, my kids insisted on going into the water. I just watched them and occasionally hollered not to go too far in the ocean.
Few days later, before we set out on our trip back home, we stopped by Greek restaurant to have lunch. It was pretty good, but they only took cash. Say what? You could see the ocean from our table, which was a nice treat.
Lion Country Safari
I can't say enough good things about this place! I saw a flyer with a coupon in our hotel, and decided it would be a fun thing to do as a family. Lion Country Safari is a huge complex that consists of an award-winning campground, drive-throgh safari and an amusement park. I've read some reviews that if you camp overnight, you can usually hear lions roar in the morning, which may or may not be a good thing, depending on who you ask. Let me show you where it's located in Florida:
It's a little over an hour from Fort Lauderdale, so if you are vacationing in this area and have small kids, definitely consider going. It is so much fun, my children are still talking about it even though it's been almost two months since our visit. With coupon, the cost ended up being $100 for four of us, including parking. I feel like we got out money's worth and then some.
When you enter the park, you start the drive-through safari portion. It's a huge area, and you can see rhinos, zebras, lions (fenced off) and many other animals. Quite often, they approach the car and stare at you through the window.
There are several areas, each dedicated to specific part of Africa.
It takes about an hour to drive through the entire habitat, and my 5-year old son got a bit bored by the end of it. But he absolutely loved this part!
There is a place where you can feed giraffes. They sell cabbage for a few bucks, and off you go. My son giggled with delight, so we ended up buying several batches of that darn cabbage. Next time, I'm packing it in my purse. Kidding!
There is also an area where you can feed birds, which my kids thoroughly enjoyed. There were quite a few animal exhibits in the amusement park itself, including one that had giant turtles. We happened to go by when two of them were getting it on. No, I won't show photos, y'all! It's a family blog. So, my daughter started asking questions.
Her: Daddy, what are they doing?
My husband: They are making baby turtles.
Her (loudly): How exactly are they making them?
My husband: I'll tell you later.
A bunch of parents were laughing at our misery. And you know, she would not let it go and kept asking us all day about the mechanics of turtle baby-making. The joys of having curious children.
The rides at this place are kind of primitive and look like something you would find at a state fair. Still, the kids had a blast as you can see on photos. Overall, it was a perfect day to spend as a family. No iPads, TV or cell phones, just simple pleasures of life. And we only discovered this place thanks to IHG PointBreaks promo.
P.S. My parents are coming down for a visit tomorrow, so I'll be taking some time off. There probably won't be any new posts till after March 20th. I find that in order for me to truly disconnect and enjoy vacation, I need to get away from my job, aka this blog. Thank you for your understanding!
That said, I will be checking emails, so feel free to shoot me a question or two. It may take a day for me to respond, but I'll do my best to answer it. I love helping readers, and that part doesn't feel like work at all. Hope to see you soon and have some new stories to share.
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Author: Leana
Leana is the founder of Miles For Family. She enjoys beach vacations and visiting her family in Europe. Originally from Belarus, Leana resides in central Florida with her husband and two children.


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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar this week announced the designation of 14 new national historic landmarks in 11 states and the District of Columbia that have played an integral role in the development of the country.
"Each of these landmarks represents a chapter in the story of America, from archeological sites dating back more than two millennia to historic train depots, homes of famous artists, and buildings designed by some of our greatest architects," said Secretary Salazar. "By designating these sites as national landmarks, we help meet the goals of President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative to establish a conservation ethic for the 21st century and reconnect people, especially young people, to our nation's historic, cultural, and natural heritage."
"These new listings will join approximately 2,500 other sites in the National Historic Landmark Program," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "These places showcase our rich and complex history – from prehistoric time right up to the modern era."
The nearest landmarks are:
•Four national homes for disabled volunteer soldiers — Western Branch in Leavenworth, Kan.; Mountain Branch in Johnson City, Tenn.; Battle Mountain Branch in Hot Springs, S.D.; and Northwestern Branch in Milwaukee, Wisc. — which reflect the development of a national system of veteran health care in the United States.
•The Mountain Meadows Massacre Site in Washington County, Utah, which marks the location of the Sept. 11, 1857, massacre of 120 emigrants by militiamen associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The event was the apex of decades of violence, mistrust, and fear.
Salazar also announced a name and boundary change for Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark near Lovell, which was designated in 1970. Renamed Medicine Wheel/Medicine Mountain National Historic Landmark, the site now includes almost 4,000 additional acres of significant and intact Native American sacred areas.
Big Horn County Commissioner Keith Grant said Salazar's announcement is in line with the agreement of the Medicine Wheel Historic Preservation Plan consulting parties. He said the parties agreed with the 4,000-acre boundary on the condition that management remain as is.
He said the Native American representatives wanted the landmark's name to be changed just to Medicine Mountain and the rest agreed on the split name.
Earlier this year, Big Horn County had notified the other consulting parties that they would pull out their support of the boundary and name change if management was changed and the road to the Medicine Wheel closed.
The HPP states that management will not change and the road will remain open to the public unless all consulting parties agree to a change.
He said a celebration for the expanded boundary is planned for next month.
The program, established in 1935, is administered by the National Park Service on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior. The agency works with preservation officials and other partners interested in nominating a landmark. Completed applications are reviewed by the National Park System Advisory Board, which makes recommendations for designation to the Secretary of the Interior. If selected, property ownership remains intact but each site receives a designation letter, a plaque, and technical preservation advice.
Additional information on the designations can be found at www.nps.gov/nhl.


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8 days
Cabin charter sailing vacation among the Aeolian islands
Trip offered by: Gianluca
Sailing holiday in sailing yacht - Cabin charter - Italy, Lipari - Yacht: Bavaria 46 Cruiser / Logika III
Cruise without flight
Verified The cruise has met our standards
This sailing vacation offers 7 days and 7 nights cruising in the fantastic archipelago of Aeolian Islands, in the Mediterranean Sea. You'll be sailing on board of Bavaria 46 Cruiser "Logika III", a safe and comfortable yacht perfect for a pleasant vacation along the sea. Wide spaces both inside and outside and 4 comfortable cabins provide the maximum comfort needed for wonderful nights cradled by the noise of the sea.
These islands are known as the "seven pearls of Mediterranean Sea" thanks to their charm. They have been named World Heritage by UNESCO in 2005.
Panarea is the smallest island of the archipelago, but thanks to its vibrant nightlife is the most populated by young people. Do not miss the magic mooring in Cala Junco.
Volcano, while sailing in these islands, expect a stop at the picturesque Bue Marino Cave. Then, we will continue our navigation to Gelso, located in the southern part of the island and characterized by a fishing village.
Lipari, the largest, is called the white mountain because it is made up of pumice, a local and volcanic stone that floats on the water.
Salina is the island that fascinated Massimo Troisi, in fact, he decided to set its film called "Il Postino" here. Salina is also famous for capers and Malvasia production, the nectar of the gods.
Stromboli is like a huge black giant with plumes, when the sun goes down you can see the flame of the volcano, something unique. Do not to miss the excursions to the Big crater of Volcano, alternatively you can visit the Geothermal pools to enjoy a relaxing time at the spa.
Alicudi and Filicudi are the oldest islands, beautiful and wild; they are mainly visited by people who want to relax as much as possible while enjoying unique landscapes. Discover all the beauty of these islands with this unique cabin charter sailing holiday and vacation.
8 days
7 days
8 days
8 days


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The New York Times ran an article in which student loan borrowers explained what they wish they had known before taking on debt.
Federal law makes debt counseling mandatory for first-time borrowers, but "because the topic is dense and the department's content is devoid of anecdotes, it's tough to make the lessons stick". Most colleges use the Department of Education's online counseling module, which apparently most students find difficult to navigate and comprehend. What type of counseling would work to make students clearly realize what they were getting themselves into before it was too late?
The ideas from the article seem helpful, but some of them, like requiring a course during the first year of college, are only applicable after the money has been borrowed. Plus that recommendation seems to be overkill and costly.
A TG report, "A Time to Every Purpose", gives some other suggestions for colleges, including these:
- Delivering supplemental counseling, ideally in a face-to-face setting, in order to help answer questions
- Providing sample budget sheets using local cost-of-living expenses
Ultimately, it is the student's responsibility to take the time to fully understand the implications of college debt. Maybe students who borrow should have to pass a pre-entrance exam that covers practical knowledge about how loans will affect their personal financial situation.
Related: "College students are ignorant about how student loans work"