text:
Дијалог са атеистима
Дијалог Цркве са свима
Tribute to Richard Dawkins: We Are Going to Die
Branislav81
Аристарх
US Official Claims Iran Missile Forces Across Country Are On Heightened State of Alert - Report
Од Ромејац,
On Friday, a US drone attack killed Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) elite Quds Force in Baghdad, prompting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to warn that Tehran will take revenge for what it views to be a heinous crime.
An unnamed US official claimed that Iranian missile forces across the country were at a "heightened state of alert", noting that the US military have been closely watching for any further moves by Tehran, Reuters reported.
According to the report, the official said that "it was unclear whether the higher readiness level was defensive in nature or not".
SPUTNIKNEWS.COM On Friday, a US drone attack killed Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) elite Quds Force in Baghdad, prompting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani...
GREEK HIERARCH: WE ARE THE SAME RACE AS CONSTANTINOPLE, WE MUST SIDE WITH THE PATRIARCHATE
Met. Chrysostomos of Dodoni (right) with Pat. Bartholomew (left)
Several Moscow Patriarchate hierarchs and clergy went on pilgrimage recently to the Greek Ionian Islands, where they had a chance to meet with the Greek hierarchs of Zakynthos and Dodoni and to discuss current Orthodox events.
During the course of the conversation, His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Dodoni expressed his views on the Ukrainian issue, revealing the influence of the Patriarchate of Constantinople's particular understanding of the issue on certain hierarchs in the Greek Church.
On Sunday, September 15, His Eminence Metropolitan Isidore of Smolensk and His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Bobruisk of the Belarusian Exarchate and two accompanying priests were warmly welcomed at the Monastery of Strofades and St. Dionysios in Zakynthos by His Eminence Metropolitan Dionysios II of Zakynthos and His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Dodoni, formerly the hierarch of Zakynthos, reports nyxthimeron.com.
After visiting the sepulchral church of St. Dionysius, the guests toured the ecclesiastical museum, exchanged gifts, and were served a rich meal, during which Met. Chrysostomos, who has served as a bishop since 1976, expressed his nostalgic love for the two former Patriarchs of Moscow, with whom he had close ties, as well as several other historical figures of the Russian Church.
However, the metropolitan revealed another attitude towards the Russian Church when the guests broached the topic of the ongoing Ukrainian crisis. "With the boldness that distinguishes him, [he] pointed out that any problem could have been raised and solved at the Holy and Great Council of Crete (2016) if the Moscow Patriarchate had not refused, with various excuses, to attend, thereby sabotaging unanimity and unity, and even compelling other Churches. This is because Russia always has aspirations of being 'Third Rome,'" nyxthimeron.com reports.
Whether Met. Chrysostomos has simply grown fuzzy on the details in the years since the Council or whether he was intentionally distorting the timeline is unclear.
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church announced on June 1, 2016 that it would not attend the Council; the Antiochian Church announced on June 6 that it would not attend; and the Georgian Orthodox Church announced on June 10 that it would not attend. Only after these three Churches had withdrawn did the Russian Church announce that it could not attend.
Moreover, the Churches did not simply withdraw, but rather called for the council to be postponed so that their respective issues could be addressed. The Moscow Patriarchate specifically proposed holding an emergency pre-conciliar session for just this purpose, but Patriarch Bartholomew refused to do so, choosing instead to plow ahead with the council without full pan-Orthodox unity.
While the Patriarchate of Constantinople blames the Russian Church for influencing the other Churches to withdraw, this has always remained groundless speculation, as are paranoid fears of a "Third Rome" ecclesiology. A position of respect for the other Local Churches allows them to speak for themselves, and each of the Churches expressed their own seriously-considered reasons for withdrawing from the Council.
And despite Met. Chrysostomos' contention, the Ukrainian issue would not have been addressed at Crete even had the Russian Church attended, as Pat. Bartholomew publicly acknowledged already in January of 2016 that it was not on the agenda. The official agenda for the Crete Council was published on January 28, and also did not include the topic of autocephaly and how to grant it.
Pat. Bartholomew has referred to the fact that autocephaly was not dealt with at Crete to justify his claim to the right to grant autocephaly whenever to whomever, wherever.
Meeting with the Russian hierarchs, the Metropolitan of Dodoni also stated that every nation has the right to self-determination and to Church autocephaly. Recall, however, that the Patriarchate of Constantinople claims large chunks of Greece for itself, thus there are two Local Churches operating within one nation.
Met. Chrysostomos also noted that autocephaly is typically given by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, as was the case with Russia, Greece, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria. It should be noted, however, that those territories were within the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople before they received autocephaly, whereas Ukraine has not been part of Constantinople for more than 300 years. Moreover, the Georgian Church received its ancient autocephaly from the Patriarchate of Antioch.
Concerning the Russian clerics disquiet concerning "Patriarch" Philaret Denisenko, Met. Chrysostomos again insisted that everything could have been settled if not for the Russian Church's efforts to "torpedo" any pan-Orthodox council. Recall that His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch, and many other primates, hierarchs, and Synods, specifically called upon Pat. Bartholomew to summon a pan-Orthodox council to deal with the Ukrainian issue, and Pat. Bartholomew flatly refused, citing the failure of the Crete council.
The Greek hierarch also criticized the Russian Church for ceasing Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, though reports did not mention if he detailed how he thinks a Church should respond to another Local Church non-canonically invading its territory and setting up schismatics as a new church.
Met. Chrysostomos concluded with a very revealing remark, noting that the Church of Greece is of the same ethnicity and race as the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and thus it is inconceivable for it not to align itself with Constantinople.
The Greek metropolitan is echoing the sentiment of Pat. Bartholomew and the Patriarchate of Constantinople with such remarks. Certain Greek and Ukrainian media outlets have repeatedly framed the Ukrainian issue as "Russia vs. Ukraine"
or "Russia vs. Constantinople," rather than considering it through the lens of Orthodoxy.
In October of last year, Pat. Bartholomew himself declared that "Our Slavic brothers cannot tolerate the primacy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and our nation in Orthodoxy," and "Whether our Russian brothers like it or not, sooner or later, they will follow the decisions of the Ecumenical Patriarch, because they have no other choice."
A similar attitude was displayed recently when Metropolitan Ephraim of Hydra, Spetses, and Aegina threatened to canonically punish three clerics who had written a letter of support to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine. Viewing the matter as one of ethnic enmity rather than one of holy Orthodoxy, the metropolitan interpreted their support for Met. Onuphry as a declaration of loyalty to the Moscow Patriarchate, rather than as the declaration of loyalty to the sacred canons of which they wrote.
Such an attitude stands in stark contrast to that of many other hierarchs, including His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Church, who recently spoke of how the Serbian Church is autocephalous and equal to all the other autocephalous Churches, as racial or ethnic superiority has no place in the Church of Christ.
ORTHOCHRISTIAN.COM Several Moscow Patriarchate hierarchs and clergy went on pilgrimage recently to the Greek Ionian Islands, where they had a chance to meet with the Greek hierarchs of Zakynthos and...
REPORTS OF OCA GIVING UP ITS AUTOCEPHALY ARE UNFOUNDED, SAY OCA HIERARCHS
The Orthodox Church in America will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its autocephaly next year, with several events dedicated to the anniversary throughout America. Its tomos of autocephaly, granted by the Moscow Patriarchate, was signed by His Holiness Patriarch Alexei I and the 14 hierarchs of the Holy Synod in Moscow on April 10, 1970.
However, rumors and reports of the OCA's plans to forfeit its autocephaly have been fairly commonplace in the past few years. While all Local Churches recognize the OCA as a true Orthodox Church, currently only the Russian, Bulgarian, Georgian, Polish, Serbian, and Czech and Slovak Churches recognize its autocephaly. Thus, there are those who believe the OCA would give up its autocephaly to "normalize" its situation.
Most notably, the Patriarchate of Constantinople refuses to recognize the OCA's independence, arguing that it alone has the authority to grant autocephaly. Thus, the OCA was not invited to participate in 2016's "Great and Holy Council" on the island of Crete.
More recently, the primate of the OCA, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of America and All Canada concelebrated with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in Cappadocia on the Sunday of All Saints in June this year, which, along with the OCA's stance against the schismatics of the "Orthodox Church of Ukraine," led to accusations of "back room deals," though, as OrthoChristian reported, sources involved in the trip denied these rumors.
Having been in Cappadocia when Archbishop Elpidophoros was enthroned in New York as head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Met. Tikhon instead paid his first visit to the new Archbishop at the Archdiocesan headquarters on Wednesday.
The next day, a report appeared on the blog Monomakhos entitled, "Breaking: The OCA to go under EP!" with reference to two sources claiming that the OCA "has been in negotiations to cede its autocephaly and go under Istanbul."
"One source says that this is 'a done deal,' the other says that negotiations are 'ongoing,'" the report reads, adding that the OCA could either become a vicariate of the Greek Archdiocese or America, or receive an impaired form of autocephaly, such as the "Orthodox Church of Ukraine" received from Constantinople in January.
However, as with the rumors surrounding His Beatitude's trip to Cappadocia, OrthoChristian has been assured by multiple sources within the OCA administration that the Church has no such plans to give up its autocephaly.
One such source, His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and New Jersey, the Secretary of the OCA Holy Synod, assured: "The OCA is not giving up its autocephaly— it will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee of getting it next year ... a number of times and in a number of places: May (South Canaan), August (Alaska), and November (Washington DC). There will be symposia on the history of it, the meaning of it and the future of it, etc."
"As the Secretary of the OCA Synod of Bishops, I know of no such movement ... and I know of no such intention by His Beatitude (or any of our hierarchs)," His Eminence added.
Moreover, the OCA's administrative organization would seem to effectively preclude any such secret deals. The Statute of the OCA defines the Church as autocephalous: "The Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Church with territorial jurisdiction in the United States of America and in Canada." And while the Holy Synod of the OCA holds competency over "All matters involving doctrine, canonical order, morals, and liturgical practice," it is the All-American Council that possesses the authority to "Adopt and amend the Statute."
The All-American Council is convened periodically, normally at intervals of three years, as per the Statute. Its members include the hierarchs, clergy, and lay representatives. The last All-American Council was held in St. Louis, Missouri last year.
Update: His Grace Bishop David Mahaffey of Alaska has also responded to the rumors, on his Facebook page, stating: "Beloved in the Lord. There is a very vicious rumor being circulated ... concerning the status of the OCA that is completely false. I will not even mention the rumor here because I will not be fuel it any further, but suffice it to say, IT IS COMPLETELY FALSE."
ORTHOCHRISTIAN.COM The Orthodox Church in America will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its autocephaly next year, with several events dedicated to the anniversary throughout America.
France's churches are under attack, but the establishment doesn't seem to care
During the French Revolution's worst years, some of the most visible expressions of violence involved attacks on the Church, which was perceived as a pillar of the ancien régime. Revolutionaries slaughtered numerous clergy and expelled thousands of others. They expropriated Church-owned property and occasionally ransacked and burnt churches.
It was hard not to recall these past events when reading about the recent spate of vandalism inflicted on Catholic churches throughout France over the past two weeks.
The Observatoire de la Christianophobie reports that between February 3 and 11, nine Catholic churches were subject to severe vandalism, ranging from the smashing of statues and stained-glass windows to the overturning of tabernacles. One church in Yvelines, the church of Saint-Nicolas de Houilles, was vandalised three times in seven days. It follows a series of similar attacks on Catholic churches throughout France in 2018.
Vandalism isn't a new problem. But why have Catholic churches in France become a target in recent years?
Part of the answer lies in that they are easy targets. Many churches are open to the public on a regular basis. In some cases, they lack internal surveillance cameras. This made it simple for a group of Romanian migrants, for instance, to stroll into Catholic churches throughout 2018 and walk out unimpeded with valuable artifacts to sell.
Beyond professional thieves, the absence of security means that anyone with a grudge or strong resentment about their present circumstances won't encounter too much difficulty if they choose to wreak havoc on a church's interior. That could include people ranging from disgruntled teenagers to Islamists looking for easy targets.
To that extent, the outbreak of church vandalism may reflect the social unrest presently permeating France. The country is now into its fourth month of protest by the gilets jaunes (yellow vests). Much of this has been expressed through vandalism of banks, high-end businesses in fashionable parts of Paris and other cities, and the occasional scrawling of graffiti on national monuments. The police's aggressive response to the gilets jaunes has also helped inure many otherwise peaceful people to everyday violence.
That, however, doesn't explain the French media's relative silence on church desecrations or the French government's indifferent response to the problem. The only major French newspaper to raise major concerns has been the centre-right Le Figaro. On February 13, Prime Minister Edouard Phillipe belatedly tweeted a condemnation of the attacks, promising he would discuss the issue at his next meeting with France's Catholic bishops.
That's hardly a robust response. It also suggests that, when it comes to violence against Catholic places of worship, the reaction of much of France's political and media establishment is a collective shrug.
In some quarters, things have not changed much since 1789.
https://catholicherald.co.uk/magazine/frances-churches-are-under-attack-but-the-establishment-doesnt-seem-to-care/?fbclid=IwAR2zcLNMc51XhzQK0iVrFIiFoTS1I5Gfv1roZ8Zfq-TtLg9E8aI1RRrbP_E
MANY THOUSANDS WILL DIE – The Coming Schism in Orthodoxy: "Repent, and Stop This Insanity" By Metropolitan Jonah
Од o. Miroljub,
https://www.fort-russ.com/2018/10/many-thousands-will-die-the-coming-schism-in-orthodoxy-repent-and-stop-this-insanity/
Published on: Oct 14, 2018 @ 00:40 – By Metropolitan Jonah – Once again, the United States and its policies are creating chaos, setting up the murder of innocent people, and disrupting an ancient institution. Only this time, it is direct interference in the affairs not just of a nation state, Ukraine, but of a religious institution, the Orthodox Church. And the effect of this is not just on a local, but worldwide level.
The granting of autocephaly to the schismatic Ukrainian body, the so-called Kiev Patriarchate, is not primarily an ecclesiastical issue, but a political one. Ecclesiastically, the US policy is interfering on a number of different levels. It is not, of course, interfering for the sake of human rights, freedom of religion, of religious institutions governing their own lives without government interference, or the fundamental American principle of the separation of church and state. It is rather operating contrary to these fundamental American principles, and trying to force the faithful people of Ukraine into a unified state church, supporting an unpopular government installed, supported and maintained by the United States, and essentially appointing the clergy and hierarchy, particularly the patriarch, for that body. Undoubtedly it will support the Ukrainian government in its efforts to nationalize the 12,000 churches belonging to the legitimate canonical Ukrainian Churchand its faithful people, confiscating the buildings and property, including the ancient sacred monasteries and national landmarks.
The Ukrainian people, faithful Orthodox Christians, will fight against the confiscation of their churches, just as they fought the Soviet confiscation of their churches by the Communists in the 1920s. And now as then, they will give their lives for the protection of their holy places from defilement by false brethren. Just as they heroically fought the Nazis in the Second World War, and then the Communists again after the Nazis were expelled, they will reject the false patriarch Denisenko and fight against a government that they know cares nothing for them and their interests, their liberty and religious freedom, just as they rejected the Living Church Renovationists in the 1920's.
Thousands will die, protesting against American policy translated into violent action by the Ukrainian government. This is a grave sin, for the Ukrainian leadership and their American masters.
Moreover, not content to manipulate the ecclesiastical and political mafiosi of Ukraine, a failing state grasping for power and lacking legitimacy from its people, the State Department and other agencies have injected themselves into the Patriarchate of Constantinople. They have manipulated the elderly Ecumenical Patriarch, either directly or through their proxies, through his greatest weakness: the precarious position of the Patriarchate within Turkey, politically and financially. They would expand his jurisdiction, and have ensured his financial stability with bribes of millions of dollars. They are using and abusing an old man who is trying with all his might to preserve an ancient institution. They have compromised him, and the institution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and are thereby disrupting not only the Ukraine and its precarious peace, but fostering a schism that will rend the Orthodox world, a community larger than the United States. This is a bitter and cynical move, and profoundly evil.
Their justification is that they want to curtail the influence of Russia. The neoconservatives and others who control so much US policy are possessed by a paranoid Russophobia, left over from the first Cold War, and a new hatred of the Christian values espoused by the resurgent Russia. Despite Russia's overtures for greater cooperation and détente, and President Trump's apparent willingness to make friends with Russia, we remain hostage to the fears of State Department and Pentagon bureaucrats. Should we not to mention that Russia has a GDP less than that of Texas, and a military budget less than one tenth that of the US. So the United States tries to hit the Russians in the place they care about the most: their Faith, their Church, their Christianity.
The canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, under Metropolitan Onuphry, is a maximally autonomous church attached to the Russian Orthodox Church. It is the Mother diocese of the Russian Church, and there is a thousand year connection between the Kievan Metropolitanate and the rest of the Russian Church. For years, the Kievan Metropolitanate has been autonomous, which means that their main connection with Moscow is that they commemorate (pray for) the Patriarch of Moscow at services. Otherwise, they govern their own life. The Russian Patriarch has far less authority over the Church in Ukraine than the Pope does over the Roman Catholics in America. (There is a close parallel to old deep seated American anti-Catholic attitudes, and fears of the Moscow Patriarchate.) Yet there are close personal ties, and huge numbers of Ukrainians serve in parishes and dioceses throughout Russia. The ties are organic, and the canonical Ukrainian Church has no desire, and has not asked, for autocephaly.
And so the United States State Department and agencies support a disgraced and legitimately defrocked charlatan who is all dressed up, and who is himself manipulating the pathetic Poroshenko, for his own ambition. They have blackmailed the elderly Ecumenical Patriarch, in regards to the disappearance of funds from the American Archdiocese, and then bribed him. To justify himself he asserted an interpretation of his own jurisdiction that is rejected by the rest of the Orthodox Churches.
The other thirteen Orthodox Churches, with one or two exceptions that have remained silent, condemn this move by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. They do not accept the assertion of virtually universal jurisdiction by the Patriarch of Constantinople, nor the authority to act unilaterally, especially on matters that require the consensus of all the Churches, such as the granting of autocephaly. While the Patriarchs cannot control what happens politically in Ukraine, what is more likely is that they will meet and try to remove Patriarch Bartholomew for having acted contrary to the universal canons. The greatest hope is that the Ecumenical Patriarchate will repent and stop this madness. It may be too late.
In the meantime, if they go through with the autocephaly, babushki—grandmothers—will be dying in Ukraine trying to defend their beloved churches from the new Ukraino-Nazis.
The Patriarchate of Constantinople will have relegated itself to schism from the rest of the Orthodox world; it might as well then join the Vatican. In any event it will lose any claim to the primacy, save historical memory, and thus any influence.
Sooner than later in Ukraine, Poroshenko will be voted out, and Denisenko, 90+ years old, will die. Then the schism will fall apart, regardless of its status. Ukraine will continue to collapse, autocephalous church or no, into political, social, economic and ecclesiastical chaos. No one, not the US and not Russia, is willing or able to step in and save it. It will finally have to emerge from the ashes. So it will join Iraq, Libya, Syria and other places destroyed by US intervention.
Orthodoxy, however will survive – preferably with the Ecumenical Patriarchate intact, but even without it. The other churches have already rallied around the Patriarch of Moscow as standing for and maintaining canonical order; and around Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev as a victim of profound injustice, revealing Christ suffering in the midst of persecution. So thanks to US policy, Moscow emerges strongly as the moral leader of the Orthodox world. Poetic justice.
But you, State Department, will have the blood of the little Ukrainian grandmothers and old men on your hands and your heads. And you will have to answer for your decisions and actions before God. Or do you even care?
Metropolitan Jonah
Metropolitan Jonah is a bishop within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the former Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and a native born American.
HOUSANDS WILL DIE – The Coming Schism in Orthodoxy: "Repent, and Stop This Insan


Come join the debut of The Big Hammock in Adam's Park on August 1, 2015 with a kid's reading of Children All Over the World Enjoy Hammocks, written by Antonia Better-Wirz and illustrated by Allie Surdovel. The reading will be performed in English, Spanish, and Mandarin by BR+A+CE at The Big Hammock in Adam's Park, Roslindale, MA between 10-11am. The Big Hammock will be open from 9am – 1:30pm every Saturday in until August 29, 2015. See the full schedule here.
You can donate to The Big Hammock here.


Montecristo is without a doubt a standout amongst the most notorious and qualitative marks that is handling Cuban belvederes. The mark has an incredible history behind it and around time it advanced innumerable lines of Cuban belvederes of a magnificent quality. The mark is remarkably acknowledged by smokers from worldwide and there are just a cluster of smokers that never tasted a Montecristo smoke. Today, the name of the mark is taken by two associations. One association is transforming stogies in Cuba and the other one in the Dominican Republic. As it was specified above, the mark has incalculable discharges on the worldwide business and a standout amongst the most decently accepted lines is named Montecristo Petit Edmundo. These smokes are hand tailored in Cuba, with tobacco of the most noteworthy quality. The line has a glorious victory being sold in the whole planet. There are likewise bunches of steadfast fanatics of this line. Montecristo Petit Edmundo cigars are on a whole different level from the other Cuban cigars. These short vitolas can make anyone to bow in front of them as their quality is a superior one. They are only measuring 110 mm, but since they are following the format of Robusto their ring gauge is of 50. They are handcrafted in Cuba, by skilful torcedors and this thing can be noticed once you lay your eyes on a sample. These cigars are more than good looking; one might even say that they make part from the best looking cigars from the entire market. They have a mature, oily, brown coloured wrapper that is releasing wonderful flavours around it. The talented torcedors managed to make the wrapper without leaving any visible veins on its surface. Petit Edmundo is a very charming cigar as appearance and you will undoubtedly fell in love with it at a first glance. Everything is perfect at these cigars. Starting with their appearance and finishing with their construction, at these cigars you will not discover a single defect. They will offer you a perfect draw, an even burn, and a huge volume of aromatic smoke. Everything will be so well balanced that will make you regret the decision of the producers that made these cigars so short. You will undoubtedly be surprised to discover within such a short cigar such a wide variety of flavours. However, this is nothing to be surprised off especially when it is about the Montecristo brand. These cigars are short but since they are very thick they can hide within them a wide variety of flavours. In the beginning of the cigar you will have to deal with an intense flavour of spiciness. However, this flavour will be soon replaced by that of chocolate. Also, the cedar flavour will make its way in the cigar, so you will get the chance to taste the most delicious combination between these flavours. After a few inches your palate will be made puff by all the possible combinations, which can be made between the flavours. Everything will have some delicious tastes of bitterness combined with sweetness, and salty. The last part of the cigar is outstanding. There, everything will be wrapped into a magnificent creamy flavour mixed with the delicious aroma of wood and pepper. Being a short cigar, you can take advantage of its flavours anytime you want. In the morning it goes perfectly with a strong and black coffee. As well, you can enjoy it after dinner with a glass of fine drink next to you. Montecristo Petit Edmundo cigars are amid the finest deals that you can make when it is about Cuban cigars. These sticks are a bit expensive, but not overpriced. As well, they are worth of every single cent that you will spend for purchasing them. There are lots of Cuban cigar brands, as well as there are lots of vitolas released under this brand's name. Still, this vitola can be differentiated by other lines through quality, quantity of flavours, strength and potential. These cigars can become excellent sticks if they will be put at ageing at least for two years. They can become a real bomb that will invade and explode into your mouth offering you the most noteworthy moments from your life.


We inherited a Second Life island from a previous Tufts University urban planning project where students worked to create and test various city plans. Since the current landowners had completed their project, they were fine with us taking apart anything on the island and refashioning it as we wished. They generously shared their administrative rights and privileges with us and, with our newly bestowed super powers and nothing but empty road ahead, we dug in.
Aerial view of Somerset island.
So the first order of business was to come into Second Life as their administrator avatar and take apart the streets, houses, roads, and landscaping.
We created our own, new administrative avatar: Dr. Care. She would be the keeper of any materials, textures, equipment or scripts that we used to build out the new space. That way, when our new project concludes, we can turn the avatar over to the folks at Tufts and they will have full access to anything they might need.
Next up, we did some touring around to figure out what kind of space to develop. What look and feel would best suit the needs of these learners? Since Liz and I have done a lot of healthcare education work together in Second Life, we already knew that we'd prefer an outdoor setting. Fewer buildings mean fewer doorways, stairways, and a lot less location-confusion and tricky navigation for new avatars.
Liz is a big fan of the designer Alex Bader. After visiting a few places in Second Life that feature his designs, I could see why. He has a wonderful eye and produces lovely foresty glens, river walk ways, magical looking bridges, and realistic looking beaches (with waves). On his web site you can see the range of textures, buildings, and landscapes he creates. His work has a tasteful, ethereal quality to it that just seems to signal you are in a special place. We thought it would be perfect for this group of medical students – restful, welcoming, and open.
Dr. Care purchased the River Bank Building set and Liz set to work on the terraforming. For those of you who's not yet experimented with terraforming in a virtual environment – it's great fun. Raising and lowering mountains, carving out rivers, smoothing over grasslands….it gives you a tremendous sense of power.
the amphitheater (in the center of the island), the three small group areas (red, green and blue) and an exhibits area for the future. We also carved out a gently sloping landing area, where people will teleport in, that affords a peekaboo view of the amphitheater up ahead. We plopped a welcoming gazebo in that spot.
Chimera Cosmos and Spiral Theas in the gazebo.
While most of our participants will most likely teleport from venue to venue on the island, we also wanted to build paths between locations. Liz laid down the lovely Bader River Walk paths seen below. A tricky proposition to get the leveling right, positioning boulders and mossy banks in order for it to look realistic.
In the distance, you can see a waterfall, which marks the location of the main amphitheater. Waterfalls add a lovely visual element as well as a gentle and soothing background sound. Also note the trees in these photos – we went with birch, spruce, and pines. They seemed to fit with the general feeling of the place.
Easy to sit on wooden benches for the amphitheater.
We installed a Pres-o-matic screen (made to look a bit more rustic with a newly created wooden frame) and web viewer, along with a slight stage area for the speakers and stools to perch on.
The small group areas are outfitted with a campfire circle (logs with sit poses) that Liz had in her inventory and a display screen. Comfortable and simple.
Around this time, Liz was hankering for a proper beach – and look what she nimbly created on the west side of the island.
It seemed a shame to see the beautiful waterways on our island with no way to travel on them, so in went a playful canoe. Boats rez on demand from a sign at the dock and, once seated, you have a number of passenger sitting pose options (fishing, reading, or dangling your hand in the water) and of course, you have your oars, if you are the rower.
Rowboating our way around the island.
We managed to traverse all of our new rivers as well as circumnavigate the island without incident.
So, at last, we are ready to open the island to the students. Since this is a private island, visitors must be given access by the island administrator. We're looking forward to working with the residents to see their use their new space and what accommodations and modifications to make over time as they make it their own.
Aerial view of the newly renovated island.
We've just wrapped up our NIH-funded experiment, using virtual worlds for health behavior change and patient education. The Women in Control study, out of Boston University Medical Center, was a year-long research program to test a virtual world versus real world-delivered diabetes healthcare intervention. The program's subjects were Boston area Black women, between the ages of 40 and 60, who suffer from out of control type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The Co-Principal Investigators, John Wiecha, MD, MPH and Milagros C. Rosal, PhD, designed an intriguing study with a talented team. The eight-week health behavior program was an adaptation of a CDC program called The Power to Prevent. One hundred women in the greater Boston area participated. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups – those who engaged in weekly 90-120 minute sessions in the virtual world of Second Life and those who did so in face-to-face meetings at Boston Medical Center.
Our research questions: How feasible is the use of a virtual world for this purpose? And will subjects in the virtual world program demonstrate similar impact at study-end on health behaviors as subjects in the real world, as measured by patient activity levels; dietary patterns; adherence to diabetes medications; and improvements in metabolic and anthropometric indicators (hemoglobin a1c values, body mass index, and blood pressure)?
We are still churning the data and analyzing our results, so stay tuned for future posts and publications, but we do have this 4-minute video (beautifully compiled by Ariella Furman, Framed in 3D) that gives you a feel for the study and the impact on the subjects.
You can also read past blog posts on the study here and here.
Map of GFMER course participants.
In their quest to innovate and offer the best possible learning solutions, Dr. Mario Meraldi, from WHO and Dr. Karim Abawa and Dr. Aldo Campana, from GFMER recently partnered with Dr. John Wiecha, from Boston University Medical School to offer one such course in an online 3D virtual world. Participants from Ethiopia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Pakistan, Nigeria, India, Kenya, Sudan, Afghanistan, and the U.S. came together as avatars for a learning event on Population Dynamics: Past Policies and Future Challenges. Those with spotty internet connections joined the event through a synchronous broadcast delivered via Livestream.
The learning space, showing the ramp which bends around a mountain.
Dr. Schoonheim gathered the learners at each stop and talked through visuals or an experience designed to illustrate her particular point. In the following picture set, you first see a graph depicting world population growth estimates between 1950 and 2010, followed by a visualization of thousands of babies' faces on a rotating cylinder to underscore her point.
A visualization effect for world population growth.
Stacked, rotating photo cubes provided a good presenter perch.
Each stop was marked by a large visual (photograph, book cover, map, or graph). The graphics were all created by designer and Photoshop expert, Kate Motter. Additional visuals were displayed on slowly rotating cubes, stacked at the stop. In a playful touch, Dr. Schoonheim sat on the stacked cubes, to indicate where the learners' attention should focus, as she gave her remarks. World maps reinforced the location of each case study. Dr. Schoonheim infused her comments with locational language (for example: "to your left", "in the next gallery", and "follow me up the ramp to the world map") to help direct the avatars.
At the halfway point, we offered a short break with virtual snacks served on a platform, overlooking a stunning vista (complete with waterfall). The learning ramp, bent around to deposit the participants back to the starting point, where they assembled in an open-air seating arrangement for a question-and-answer session. The chat was lively with questions coming in from the Livestream audience, as well as the in-world learners.
Snack break, with a view.
With 19 avatars in Second Life and 40 viewers in the Livestream audience (many of whom watched in small groups, clustered around one computer), the event reached a significant audience. In addition to managing the broadcast, Ariella Furman recorded the session so that others could later, asynchronously, review the session.
– Time between stops, while feeling like natural transitions to the avatars in Second Life, felt like dead air time to the Livestream audience. In the future, we should design to fill those gaps, and keep our broadcast audience in mind, as well as the avatars.
– Highly visual elements, like the rotating photo cylinder, take a few minutes to rez for most viewers therefore sufficient time must be accounted for in order to achieve the desired effect.
– Rehearsal time was mandatory. Our crew conducted three rehearsals – the first was a run through of the content with discussion amongst the team at each point. The second was a technical rehearsal to test the video, livestream, and simulated effects. The third was a dress rehearsal, conducted in real-time (without interruption), just as the live event would be. With each rehearsal, the transitions smoothed and the problems lessened.
– The facilitator's comfort in the virtual world was an essential ingredient. Though new to online virtual worlds, Dr. Schoonheim quickly took to the medium. She invested many preparation hours in Second Life, getting used to the navigation and the "feel" of being in an avatar. The avatar's look was important to her. Liz Dorland helped her with hair, skin and clothes to match her real world appearance. We also gave her a speaker's animation effect (pacing and gesturing), and added a notepad into her hand.
– It's difficult to balance the positive impact of interactivity (fielding questions throughout the session) with the importance of keeping on track and sticking to the alloted time. Participants posed questions during the session which the producers acknowledged and queued up for the final question and answer session (given how impossible it is for the speaker to give their talk and monitor a flowing chat window simultaneously). Marloes led an engaging discussion session in the last 10 minutes of the event by addressing those saved questions. In hindsight it might have worked well to have a second content expert, a sort of teaching assistant, to type answers to questions as they came up in local chat during the session. If the audience feels their questions are attended to, they will engage further.
All in all, the event went smoothly. Here are additional photographs and here is an Economist article, on the topic of population dynamics and fertility rates that Marloes recommends for further information. Be sure to check back in a few weeks, when I will post Here is a montage video of the event, currently being created by Ariella Furman.
Over the last three years I've planned, designed, and orchestrated a dozen learning events in the virtual world of Second Life. I've been fortunate enough to work with extremely experienced and talented programmers, producers, content experts, scripters, and machinima artists from whom I have learned volumes about planning and staging successful learning events. As I reflect on these experiences, I've drawn up a list of the top eleven (ten seemed so predictable…) most important lessons I've learned (as you might imagine, this list has a well-matched, ancestral double called, "the most egregious mistakes I have made").
1. Train for a just-enough (and no more).
As with most virtual worlds, Second Life is chock-a-block full of intriguing possibilities. You can fly, build, photograph, gesture, control the time of day! In addition to all that, the interface is rich/complex and there is always more than one-way to accomplish any task. It's tempting, when introducing someone to a virtual world, to show them everything – or to show them just oonnnne more really cool skill as it might be the tipping point to infuse them with the enthusiasm you have for the possibilities. However, I have finally learned to resist that temptation. On their own, learners will perform a calculation – if the preparation for the learning event outstrips its value to them, they will deem it unsuccessful. So it is in everyone's best interest to keep the skills training to the barest minimum. Not only that, most people can't absorb tons of information in one sitting; I know that I didn't – why should I expect that others will? Our pre-event training regimes include only those skills the learners will need in order to participate in the event and no more.
2. Establish the learning goals upfront and use them as a filter.
In the early planning stages, work with your content experts and the program sponsor to establish a short and well-defined list of learning goals. What is it that you want your learners to exit the program knowing? That list will serve the team well in many ways. It will drive decisions about how to spend money (will that fun simulation help you meet the learning goals?), clarify how to allocate time on the agenda, and serve as a filter when the inevitable "mission creep" begins.
3. Make sure your back up plan has a back up plan.
The old saying really is true, if it can go wrong, it will. I have seen so many "unexpected" problems crop up in every event I've been a part of – sound problems, connectivity hassles, access issues, electrical problems, region shut-downs, you name it. It seems obvious, but the very best way to avoid these inevitable glitches ruining your event is to anticipate them and have a plan in place to address each one. For example, it's good to have phone numbers and/or skype IDs for all learner participants (if they have sound problems, you can always skype them in).
4. The power of two facilitators.
Our learning events always include a content expert who has worked with us to develop the session's content and then, typically, serve the lecturer/facilitator role. We now recommend two facilitators. Hopefully you can line up colleagues, who are used to working together, but it can work equally well with experts who you bring together for the cause. Why two? It's helpful for the learner to hear two perspectives, two voices and it improves the event's flow to hand-off one to the other. Very importantly, while one is speaking/leading, the other can monitor the local chat, provide feedback, and address content questions that arise. If the instructional design calls for small group work, then you instantly have two small group leaders (voila!). They also serve as back-ups for each other (if one is having sound problems, the other can pinch hit).
5. Measure twice, cut once.
That age-old seamstress mantra totally applies here. There is just no substitute for rehearsals where you can go through your program to work out all the kinks. Run your facilitators, producers, and other program staff through at least one full rehearsal, preferably two. If the calendar doesn't permit time for two, full rehearsals, then opt for a "blocking" rehearsal. That is, rehearse all the transitions, without the intervening content (when people come on, go off, all the movements and transitions).
6. Answer the question, "why are we doing this in a virtual world?" before it gets asked.
No doubt about it, conducting learning events in virtual worlds (any virtual world) is a lot of work – for the sponsor, the producers, and for the learners. So it only makes sense to use virtual world technology if you are making use of its unique affordances. That is, if you are doing things that can only be done in a virtual world. If you bring your learners into a beautiful virtual environment and then talk at them with a PowerPoint deck for an hour, everyone will leave feeling cheated. Instead, make it work for you. Devise a simulation, do some role plays, leverage some whimsy, do some collaborative building, defy the laws of physics – make it clear why you have all gone to the trouble to be there.
7. Experienced technical support producers are essential.
In addition to your upfront investment in learner training, participants will need technical support on the day of the event. Count on it. The presence of experienced, calm, and professional technical support (we call them "producers") is a must. Did I say "calm"? Let me say it again. Calm. My preferred ratio is one producer for every eight new learners. Make sure you have a private back-chat channel open (IM, group chat, or Skype) for the producers to strategize, share, and hand-off among themselves. Consider asking the learners to come 15-20 minutes early in order to troubleshoot any pesky technical issues before the event gets underway (not all will be able to, but those who do will be taken care of, freeing your producers to focus on the just-on-time or late arrivals). Have your producers wear a "Ask Me for Tech Help" label on their avatar.
8. Consider venue design carefully.
After playing with a number of event location design options, I've gravitated to the simplest possible. Our events typically have outdoor seating (no doorways to navigate, no walls to bump into, and no ceilings to hinder the view) with very large and simple visuals (to avoid view problems). I tend toward natural looking scenes (a few trees, open sky, and a blue-water view) with very little visual clutter. But, of course, you also want the design to reflect and support the content of your event. Design your seating with automatic sit (upon clicking) and encourage all participants to be seated as soon as they arrive (which helps to calm things down). Landscape simplicity also helps to keep the prim count low to reduce the processing load.
9. Document everything as you go.
I am continually amazed by how quickly I forget useful things. Who attended? What was the plan? How much did we rehearse? How long did it take? What happened in local chat? Keep a record of it all, including a blog post or two (like this one!) to sum up your major take-home lessons. You'll be glad you did when the planning for the next event begins.
10. Don't forget to assess.
It is important to find a way to build evaluation into your learning plan. Often, we get so caught up in the work of producing the event, we forget to gather feedback from the learners when it's over. Even if it's just a short questionnaire, provided as a link, at the end of the session, find a way for your learners to tell you honestly what worked (and didn't work) for them. You might also consider gathering similar feedback from the facilitators and producers. They often catch glitches that you might miss.
11. Find a way to make it fun.
One of the things we all love about virtual worlds is that touch of fantasy about them. Even though it may be important for your event to project a serious and professional tone, your learners are sure to enjoy at least one touch of whimsy somewhere in the program (we typically do this on a break or at the end). It could be something as simple as some virtual food and drink, served up to your guests. Maybe an automatic dance floor for everyone to trip the light fantastic? Fireworks are always fun. A simple t-shirt emblazoned with your company or program logo, given to each avatar at the end of the session can be a surprising hit.
Chimera Cosmos puts on a fireworks display for our group session.
As writers we know that third person perspective is a form of storytelling in which the narrator relates all the action in the form of another person, making use of the pronouns "he" and "she" (as in, "She boarded the ship bound for Venice."). This produces a very different effect from telling the story using a first person voice ("I will tell you the story of my trip to Venice."). Writers often feel more comfortable storytelling from the first person point of view, but that third person perspective actually gives the writer more headroom, more freedom to spin the yarn in unusual ways.
I've been thinking more about the third-person perspective, as it relates to virtual worlds. The photo you see above is the typical viewer perspective in virtual worlds, like Open Sim, Second Life, Jibe, Kitely, Wonderland, etc. It's as if you are floating just behind your avatar, looking over his or her shoulder. Seeing what your avatar sees in front of them, but including your avatar in the frame of reference, as a constant reminder of their presence. You are not them, as you are in a "first person" perspective virtual experience (like first-person shooter games – Call of Duty, Halo, etc). This third person perspective makes it clear that there is another – an avatar, an alternate you.
A recent blog post by Christopher Hutchison (Khosian Fisher in SL) got me thinking more about this. In his post, Hutchison (who is a computer science lecturer in the UK) talks about the notion of imaginary friends. That intriguing and mysterious element of childhood, when we manufacture imaginary friends through which we play out the dramas of our young minds. Psychologists have long pointed to this behavior as normative and healthy – a way for children to work out their fears, anxieties, as well as their joys. He references the work of Marjorie Taylor, professor at University of Oregon and author of the book, Imaginary Companions and the Children Who Create Them. Taylor's book explains that these imaginary friends allow children to explore relationships, anticipate the consequences of behavior, and role-play various emotional encounters in life. Children who have imaginary friends (and it's more common than not) tend to be less shy and more able to see things from anothers' perspective.
So it's not a huge leap (and Chris makes it beautifully) to think of these avatars we create in virtual worlds as adult versions of these "imaginary friends". When we interact with others in a virtual setting, we are offered the anonymity and comfort of working out conversations, navigating relationships, and grappling with new ideas. As if we are rehearsing all of that for real life. The space may well be virtual but the rehearsal is very real, and the lessons learned from it apply directly.
Spiral: Hi, Flora! Good to see you.
Flora: Hey there. How are you?
Spiral: Fine, thanks. How long have you been here?
Flora: Since 3:00, but I had lots to catch up on, so that's ok.
The italic phrases are always playful. A sort of thought-bubble – a wink and a nudge. A comment that, in this case, Flora is making, but letting you in on the secret. And this habit has always carried the nuance, for me, of the avatar's puppeteer coming through and showing themselves, reminding us of the third person perspective. I love this cultural artifact of virtual worlds.
It's worthwhile to remember the origins of the word "avatar". It derives from the Sanskrit word, "avatara", meaning "descent", as in a deity descending from heaven to Earth. In English the word has come to mean an incarnation, a representation, a manifestation. The term is often associated with Vishnu and the varying list of avatars in Hindu scripture. It seems to be less about incarnation of a deity (in the Christian sense) and more about manifestations of the divine in human life and the natural world. It's interesting to ponder the many ways that these interactions our avatars have (with us, as their puppeteers) manifest themselves in our regular lives…how are they influencing us?
I can draw a clear line of sight between this observation and the experience we've had working with various learners in the virtual world. Take, for instance, working with diabetes patients in the Women in Control project (Co-PIs John Wiehca and Milagros Rosal). Women in Control (WIC) is an NIH-funded study to measure health behavior changes between two groups – those who participate in a health behaviors intervention in face-to-face sessions conducted in the real world, and those who engage in the same intervention in the virtual world. I've blogged about this work in earlier posts here and here.
As we've worked with the patients in this study, I've taken particular note of the way they refer to their avatars. The subjects get quite chummy with their virtual representations, right from the beginning, and they consistently refer to their avatars in the third person. Great concern is expressed over their avatar's appearance (clothes, shoes, hair, jewelry as well as their size and shape). They consistently ask where the avatar "goes" after they quit the virtual world and express a desire to put her "in a safe place". When they first navigate their avatar around the virtual space they'll say things like, "Oh, no!! She went in the water and now she's all wet!" or "I can't get her to do what I want her to do." or "I want to make her fly!". They consistently refer to this virtual being they've just met in the third person – and that referencing continues throughout the eight-week intervention. The WIC team is still hard at work on this project, but stay tuned for the results.
Another example is a project with family practice physicians, learning patient communication techniques in a virtual setting. In this case, the doctors, present as avatars, role play interactions with standardized patients (also avatars). The third person perspective here, I think, gives them a certain anonymity; a distance, while still being very present, that allows them to take greater risks. In a profession that demands consistently upheld expertise, it must indeed feel quite risky to be a beginner and make mistakes in front of your peers. I suspect that the third person perspective of the avatar offers them a safe remove to be a novice and allow for a natural, stumbling learning curve.
I love the way this video captures the feeling of the workshop – the presence you feel from the avatars listening, the tentativeness of their attempts at role-play (and how hard that is), the sense of the physical space where the events took place, and the dynamism in the facilitator's explanations of motivational interviewing technique. Considering the fact that this program ran for six hours in real time, you get a pretty darned good take on it in three minutes.
Finding the most effective balance between direct instruction and discovery learning is a tricky business. We just finished the first group computer and Second Life training in our Women in Control study (Drs. John Wiecha and Milagros Rosal, Co-PIs), and I have to confess that, despite all of our careful planning and design, that particular fulcrum turned out to be pretty darned illusive. There were nine women in this first group (three more groups to come) – all of them with type 2 diabetes, new to computers, and definitely new to Second Life. Our job? To get them up and running on their brand new laptops, and comfortable in the virtual world of Second Life. The challenge is made all the more daunting by the fact that the women in our study are not computer literate and most of them have a fourth-grade reading level.
* A passive introduction to SL (project SL up onto a screen, dim the lights, and give them a basic tour) at the end of the first computer training really helped. "Just sit back and relax, you don't have to do anything right now, just enjoy." You could see them visibly relax after the tension of figuring out USB cable connections and learning the significance of new terms like "modem", "space bar", "application", and "return key". I kept the initial tour to just the basics – my avatar waved to them, walked around a bit, sat down, stood up, and then flew ("Oooohh!!!") over the area that will be their new virtual "home".
* We break the training into two successive sessions – it's too much to swallow all at once. Ideally, it would be three sessions. Almost everything our subjects are learning is completely new to them – it's overwhelming.
* Modeling the fabulous instructional comics made by my colleague, Liz Dorland, I created very simple tutorial comics (sample: Talk.WIC) that review the basics of talking, moving, and finding objects in inventory. I kept to one page per skill, used very simple language, and printed them out. These went over very well.
Throughout the training sessions I could feel the constant push and pull of how much to instruct versus giving time and space to explore on their own. We think of didactic instruction as the most efficient method (pack it all in) for teaching complex information to a large group. In a budget-strapped grant such as ours, with a large population (100 subjects), time is of the essence. But we also know that exploration and discovery are keys to learning that sticks and a better overall experience for the learner. This idea is reinforced by a study, recently published in the journal Cognition, by Elizabeth Bonawitz (UC Berkeley) and Patrick Shafto (University of Louisville), where four and five-year olds visiting a museum were divided into four groups with four pedagogically different introductions to a novel toy. The toy had many "hidden" interactive elements in the toy (squeakers, musical panels, lights). Group 1 received a full-on demonstration. The experimenter with Group 2 pretended she was interrupted in the midst of her demonstration, suggesting that she didn't finish demonstrating all that the toy could do. Group three's demonstrator pretended that she'd discovered something the toy did by accident. And in Group four, the toy was simply given to the children with the comment, "Wow, see this toy? Look at this!" and then the demonstrator left the room. After the various introductions, the children were left with the toy and allowed to play. All of the interactions were videotaped and later analyzed. The results were crystal clear – the less direct instruction received, the longer the children played with and explored the toy. And it wasn't just time spent on task, the fourth group (the group given less instruction) tried out more actions on the toy. In other words, direct instruction seemed to dampen the learners' motivation for exploration and self discovery.
But how to balance that experimental truth against the fact that these adult learners have absolutely no context for this new world they are exploring? Their low literacy, limited experience with computers, and negligible understanding of the internet would cripple open exploration and only lead to frustration. For this program, we've settling on a hybrid model – a blend of direct instruction, followed by periods of exploration. What some refer to as guided inquiry. For example, we show them the gesture panel in Second Life, ask them to click on it, and then stop talking – indicating a gap in the "class" for exploration. We lead their avatars to an interactive dance floor, show them how to access the choser panel, and then stop talking – indicating another gap. The audio recordings of the training sessions reveal a rhythmic swell and lowering of sound, almost like a musical score, that trace the pattern of these "gaps". The noise level gets loud and raucous during the exploration times then quietly hums during the direct instruction times. I'm coming around to understand that the chaotic noise level is, in part, a measure of success. But it is omportant to recognize that these learners (and most of us, for that matter) need both. They need context, shape, and guidance — and they need to explore and follow what interests them.
Designing sessions this way involves mental adjustments on the part of the instructors. For example, we must get used to a reduced emphasis on "covering the content". One has to let go of anxiety over topics left out or diminishing time to "get to" key concepts. We are learning to measure success by the learners' enthusiasm for the experience. If they end the session feeling like it was fun, that this virtual world was intriguing and they wanted to get in there again to play around, then the training session was a success. But that doesn't mean that we don't have a plan for the skills they must master in order to be succesful. Fortunately, we've built into the instructional design later opportunities for the learners to scoop up specific skills missed in front end training, if needed.
I have to say that my favorite moment of the training was when they first logged into SL and saw their avatar rez in front of them. "Ooooh! There she is!" These moments, when their delight and fascination over this completely foreign world, are contagious.


text:
REIZEN IN STIJL !
Vraag reisvoorstel aan
Safaris en reizen
Trouwen en huwelijksreis
Safaris vanaf Zanzibar
Safaris & Reizen
Zuid-Afrika reizen
Indische Ocean
Ethiopische Historische Plekken
Korte reizen en rondreizen
De grote Migratie van de Gnoes
Beklimmingen
10 Reasons to Visit Tanzania in 2019
by Chris Walker Bush
A Safari New Year's Resolution
2019 is upon us! With many of us back at work, daydreaming about your Tanzanian safari is an occupational hazard.
Tanzania remains one of the most beloved and enchanting safari destinations in the world, and we've compiled the ten reasons to visit Tanzania in 2018.
Far more than just a place to see the Big Five and the Wildebeest Migration, Tanzania offers a wealth of natural and cultural experiences to be treasured for a lifetime.
#10 - World Class Hiking Experiences
While the majority of national parks of Tanzania do not lend themselves to walking safaris, there are plenty of breath-taking hikes that can be taken by the adventurous.
From the towering heights of Mount Kilimanjaro to the volcanic slopes to Ol Doinyo Lengai to the verdant jungle of Empakai Crater, Tanzania is a hiker's paradise.
Climbing Mount Meru
While climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is the ultimate goal for many aspiring hikers, there are some less challenging hikes you can use to get in shape for the big event.
Climbing Mount Meru is a shorter, less daunting hike that many use to acclimatize for Kili.
Achievable in just three or four days, a Mount Meru summit can be added on at the start or finish of your safari adventure.
Empaakai Crater
For those who don't necessarily want to scale a mountain, a day trip to Empaakai in the Ngorongoro Highlands can be a great way to trade the safari vehicle for some fresh air.
Guided by a local Maasai, you'll venture down to the crater floor, wander the shores of Lake Empaakai, and then return to the crater rim for a stunning view of the surrounding landscapes.
While you're not likely to encounter rhinos and lions during your hike, you can expect to see buffalo, bushbucks, monkeys, and a variety of bird life.
An active volcano with amazing views of Lake Natron, Ol Doinyo is a popular but challenging hike.
Ol Doinyo Lengai - Climbing a Volcano
Few people can say they have climbed an active volcano, but that's entirely possible while paying a visit to Tanzania.
Looming ominously over Lake Natron, Ol Doinyo Lengai is a challenging hike that must be completed at night to combat the fierce heat that rises from the volcano.
Arusha National Park Walking Safaris
You don't need to be a hardened adventurer to hike in Tanzania, and Arusha National Park's lack of dangerous wildlife makes it a great place for young and old alike to get out and go hiking.
You can even combine your hike with either a game drive or a canoe safari!
The Ngorongoro Highlands Trek
For the truly ambitious, our seven day Ngorongoro Highlands Trek combines both Empaakai and Ol Doinyo Lengai with five days of hiking through the unspoiled wilderness and isolated villages of the Ngorongoro Highlands.
A Hiker's Itinerary
If all of the above sound like your dream safari itinerary, our 10 Day Kila Kitu safari combines a number of hiking days with traditional game drives.
Lion cub, Selous Game Reserve
#9 - A Southern Circuit Safari
With Tanzania boasting both the sprawling plains of the Serengeti and the lost world of Ngorongoro, it's easy to forget that the entire country is alive with national parks just begging to be explored.
Tanzania's southern circuit includes wild and wonderful parks such as Selous, Ruaha, and many more.
For those who have already tackled Tanzania's Northern Circuit or who love to get away from the tourist crowds, the Southern Circuit is every bit as wild and rugged as you imagine Africa to be.
With driving distances greater and roads in poorer condition, safaris tend to be a bit longer. What you pay in inconvenience, however, you are returned with unspoiled wilderness and fewer tourists.
A southern circuit safari takes you off the beaten path and into deepest, darkest Africa. Check out our offerings below!
Southern Big Five Safari
Six Day Southern Tanzania Retreat
Seven Day Karibu Selous Safari
Seven Day Karibu Southern Tanzania Safari
Eleven Day Tanzania Off the Beaten Track Safari
Eleven Day Undiscovered Tanzania Safari
Eleven Day Wild Tanzania Safari
Twelve Day Big Five and Chimpanzees Safari
Twelve Day Complete Southern Tanzania Safari
Tented camps blend the luxury of a lodge with the natural charm of camping.
#8 - Camping on the Serengeti
While there are plenty of brick and mortar lodges to be found across Tanzania, the tented camp experience is something that every traveler should have.
Sleeping in tented luxury out amidst the elephants, hyenas, and lions is something that you'll remember for the rest of your days.
What is a tented camp? We're glad you asked! The perfect fusion of luxury accommodations and being close to nature, tented camps are the most common kind of accommodation in large parks such as the Serengeti.
Camping Safaris
For the truly adventurous, traditional camping with sleeping bags and fireside stories are also an option.
Read more about camping in Tanzania.
All of our camping safaris include all camping equipment and the services of a private chef, so you're not going to need to worry about lighting your own campfire or foraging for your dinner!
A visit to Stone Town is akin to time-travel, so steeped in history are the city's streets and alleys.
#7 - Stone Town
The Zanzibar capital is a city steeped in history. A true melting pot of Arabic, European, Asian, and African cultures whose every brick has a story to tell.
Often seen as just a layover on your way from a safari to Zanzibar's famous beaches, there is more to Stone Town than meets the eye.
Located on the shores of the azure ocean, Stone Town's labyrinthine alleys, towering spires, and historic sites make it a living museum.
Why not include a Stone Town walking tour or a romantic Stone Town dinner in your itinerary?
For those with a bit more time, there are a number of Zanzibar day trips that can be arranged from Stone Town.
The opportunity to interact with the Masai is an attraction all of its own.
#6 - Maasai Culture
The iconic colorful attire and jumping dance of the Maasai have become synonymous with Africa, and it is in Tanzania and neighboring Kenya that these semi-nomadic people can be interacted with.
Whether you simply snap a photo of a wandering herdsman out on the savannah or spend a night at the Maasai operated Africa Amini Maasai Lodge, the chance to interact with these fascinating people is one not to be missed.
For those wanting true cultural immersion, our six-day Culture & Wildlife Safari blends traditional game drives with two unique cultural experiences with the Maasai and the Hadzabe. If you're more interested in the cultural element than the wildlife, you can even take a full Tribes of Tanzania safari!
Ngorongoro's landscape is every bit as breathtaking as the animals that call the crater floor home.
#5 - Experience the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The towering walls of this massive volcanic caldera conceal a primal lost world in which many of Africa's most recognizable animals can be seen in their natural habitat.
The best place in Tanzania to see the endangered black rhinoceros, Ngorongoro's crater floor is alive with animal life including lions, hyenas, flamingos, elephants, buffalo, warthogs, and hippos.
For the more energetic, the opportunity to hike nearby Empaakai Crater gives a more intimate view of the region.
Making it to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is definitely a bucket-list worthy aspiration.
#4 - Mt. Kilimanjaro
The Roof of Africa stands at the very gateway to Tanzania's famed Northern Circuit. Africa's highest mountain dominates the landscape on a clear day.
Whether you desire to climb the mountain and shout your triumph from its peak or simply to see the great mountain from its base, there are numerous ways to take in the majesty of the mountain affectionately known as 'Kili'.
Shadows of Africa offers a number of Kilimanjaro climbing options.
The elusive leopard is the hardest to spot, but possibly the most beautiful of the Big Five.
#3 - The Big Five
The lion, leopard, elephant, cape buffalo, and rhinoceros might have been dubbed the 'Big Five' for being hard to hunt, but these days the iconic quintet is more popular with photographers than big game hunters.
Tanzania is one of the best countries on earth to see the Big Five in its entirety, and a visit to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro all but guarantees you the chance to see these instantly recognizable animals.
While our six-day Big Five safari is the best option for those chasing the Big Five, all of our safaris that include Ngorongoro and the Serengeti give you the opportunity to spot the entire group.
Zanzibar can claim to be a contender for Africa's most beautiful beaches
#2 - The Beaches of Zanzibar
Few names are as synonymous with picturesque beaches than Zanzibar.
Its very name conjures up images of white sand, crystal clear waters, and a fascinating blend of cultures that can be found in few places on earth.
Zanzibar is just a short flight from Arusha, the nation's safari hot spot. With resorts ranging from laid back backpacker haunts to world-class luxury escapes, Zanzibar is one of the world's most accessible slices of paradise.
A Romantic Beach Escape
Zanzibar is perhaps best known for the huge variety of romantic resorts, B&Bs, and lodges that line its many idyllic beaches.
Shadows of Africa can assist in arranging romantic escapes for all budgets.
Of course, Zanzibar isn't just for couples! There are plenty of fun resorts for families, solo travelers, and groups of friends too.
It's not just beaches on Zanzibar. There is a huge variety of Zanzibar tours to explore the island's history, experience its natural beauty, or duck beneath the waves to see the area's unique marine life.
The more popular options include:
Safari Blue
Zanzibar Spice Tour
Prison Island Tour
Combining Zanzibar and a Safari
Zanzibar is the perfect starting (or finishing) point for your dream Tanzanian adventure, and we offer a number of itineraries that let you combine the best of both worlds.
Three Day Safari Escape from Zanzibar
Two Day Tarangire and Zanzibar Safari
Two Day Arusha & Maasai Experience
Six Day Love is in the Air Honeymoon Safari
Of course, any of our Tanzania safaris can be combined with your trip to Zanzibar. Just speak with your safari expert about making that happen!
The Wildebeest Migration is often called 'The Greatest Show on Earth' with good reason.
#1 - The Wildebeest Migration
The Wildebeest Migration is something that needs to be seen to be believed. A movement of more than one million animals, this annual procession of wildebeest and zebras from the southern Serengeti into Kenya's Masai Mara draws visitors from all over the world.
Whether you're in Tanzania to see the calving season, the high drama of a river crossing, or the sheer size of the herd as it moves across the plains - Tanzania offers the absolute best opportunity to see this massive movement of animals.
We're experts on planning Wildebeest Migration safaris in Tanzania, and we've made it easier for you to plan your own dream trip with our Wildebeest Migration guide.
Want to make your Tanzania dream a reality? Contact us now to get a free quote!
This entry was posted in Tanzania Attractions, Latest Post and tagged tanzania safari, tanzania 2017, tanzania safari 2017, kilimanjaro 2017.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Oh, hello—I didn't see you there.
As if your status of Book Nerd wasn't high enough – what with your endless bookshelves, strange priorities to buy books over groceries, and constant chatter about what this character did in that book – bring your new pet into the fold with a deeply literary or historical name. Pick a perfectly bookish name in honor of your favorite character!
Beethoven—The deaf pet that manages to create loads of noise.
Keats—The tan/golden/orange pet, affectionate and clingy.
Cromwell—Specifically for a Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
Brontë—The wild, short-sighted, practically blind pet.
This is my book. There are many like it, but this is mine.
Dickens—The pet who talks too much.
Austen or Thornton—The judgmental pet.
Mozart—Pets with loads of energy.
Roosevelt—Reserved for those pets with moustache stains.
Ingalls—The pet that prefers the outdoors.
Fairfax or Rochester—The sassy pet with a hot and cold attitude.
Sunset cat reads whenever there's daylight.
Sherlock—The pet that manage to find all the lost socks.
Henry [the VIII]—A beautiful male that's used for breeding purposes.
Daisy—The prissy yet adorably wishy-washy, dainty pet.
This post was inspired by Darwin (Jaime's amazingly fuzzy bunny that deserves internet fame), Winchester and Dillinger (Stina and Sarah's beautiful kitties), Bonnie and Clyde (my family's thieves, may they rest in peace), Watson (Marie and Jeremy's giant bear of a dog), and Rossetti (my own feather-duster black cat).
What's your favorite literary or historical pet name? Fast forward to the future – have you met anyone with pets named after video game characters, sitcoms characters, or modern literary characters? Children count, too – the Ledger siblings and Burtka-Harris twins are no exception.


Pembimbing: Dr. Azhari SN, MT ; Dr. Agus Sihabuddin S.Si ,M.Kom.
ABSTRACT: Extensive adaptation and learning capabilities in the context of non-linear functions that can approach continuous functions with the desired accuracy make artificial neural networks (ANN) an option to forecast currency exchange rates. However, ANN has problems in determining the initial weight value between connections, a long time to reach convergent, and minimum local problems. In this study, the method used to improve the ability of ANN is to use the Deep Belief Network model which is composed of 3 layers of RBM (Restricted Boltzmann Machines) as a pre-training process for initial network initialization. Then proceed with the fine-tuning process to update the weight with the target data using the Adam algorithm. Adam's algorithm is chosen because it can achieve good results quickly compared to other stochastic optimization methods such as Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) by maintaining the level of learning for each parameter and adapted separately when learning takes place from the estimated first and second moments of the gradient. Tests were carried out on two daily exchange rates of USD / IDR and SGD / IDR, the results of the DBN-ADAM resulted in 66.67% Directional Accuracy, RMSE 59.063004, MAE 46.406739 and MAPE 0.34652 for USD / IDR data. DA 66.97%, RMSE 44.098119, MAE 34.186572, and MAPE 0.348857 for SGD / IDR data. DBN-ADAM is also able to reach a convergent point quickly compared to DBN-SGD.
INTISARI: Kemampuan adaptasi dan belajar yang luas dalam petaan fungsi non-linear yang dapat mendekati fungsi kontinu dengan akurasi yang diinginkan membuat jaringan syaraf tiruan (JST) menjadi pilihan untuk melakukan peramalan nilai tukar mata uang. Namun, JST mempunyai permasalahan dalam menentukan nilai bobot awal antar koneksi, waktu yang lama untuk mencapai konvergen, dan permasalahan lokal minimum. Pada penelitian ini metode yang digunakan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan JST adalah menggunakan model Deep Belief Network yang tersusun dari 3 lapisan RBM (Restricted Boltzmann Machines) sebagai proses pre-training untuk inisialisasi awal jaringan. Kemudian dilanjutkan dengan proses fine-tuning untuk memperbaharui bobot dengan target data menggunakan algoritma Adam. Algoritma Adam dipilih karena mampu mencapai hasil yang baik dengan cepat dibandingkan metode optimasi stokastik lain seperti Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) dengan mempertahankan tingkat pembelajaran untuk setiap parameter dan diadaptasikan secara terpisah saat pembelajaran berlangsung dari perkiraan momen pertama dan kedua dari gradien. Pengujian dilakukan pada dua data nilai tukar harian USD/IDR dan SGD/ IDR, hasilnya DBN-ADAM menghasilkan Directional Accuracy sebesar 66.67%, RMSE 59.063004, MAE 46.406739, dan MAPE 0.34652 untuk data USD/IDR.. DA 66.97%, RMSE 44.098119, MAE 34.186572, dan MAPE 0.348857 untuk data SGD/IDR. DBN-ADAM juga mampu mencapai titik konvergen dengan cepat dibandingkan DBN-SGD.


text:
Honeysuckle Road Project
This project was broken into two phases, Phase one is widening Honeysuckle Road from 3-lanes to 5-lanes from West Main Street to Fortner Street. This project will allow for two lanes in each direction as well as a center turn lane. This project will include acquiring additional right-of-way, relocating existing utilities, culvert widening, and the addition of a 6' wide sidewalk along the west side of Honeysuckle Road.
Phase two is a realignment project to connect Honeysuckle Road south of Hartford Highway/AL-52 to a proposed roundabout by Houston County Road and Bridge at the intersection of Campbellton Highway and Taylor Road. This project will include widening the existing Honeysuckle Road from Hartford Highway to Homestead Subdivision to 3-lanes with a center turn lane. Starting at Homestead Subdivision heading south the road will incorporate a two-lane roadway with a center landscaped median island. A traffic signal will be installed with turn lanes at the intersection of South Park Avenue. This project will also include a 10' walking/biking trial from Homestead Subdivision to Campbellton Highway and a 6' sidewalk from Homestead Subdivision to Hartford Highway.
Phase one is currently being designed by Gresham, Smith and Partners. Sain Associates, Inc. is designing Phase two of this project. The City of Dothan is has applied for a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant with a Federal/City cost share of 60/40 percent. The grant application was submitted in April.
Timelines are based on getting awarded a RAISE Grant and meeting Federal requirements for the project assuming there will be some time delay for this.
Update 5-26-2022
Design plans are about 98% complete. The Right-of-Way acquisition process is underway with an anticipated completion Fall 2022 or Winter 2023. Utility relocations for this project are planned to begin in late 2023. Roadway construction would follow and be scheduled to start 2024.
Phase Two
Design plans are about 80% complete with an anticipated completion of Summer/Fall 2022. The ROW acquisition is underway and anticipated to be complete Fall/Winter 2022. This project is scheduled to be ready for bid/construction in 2023.
Type: Street Improvement
Budget: +/- 30 Million
Project Owner: City of Dothan
City of Dothan Project Contact: Bart Barefoot- 334-615-4420
Engineer: Gresham, Smith, and Partners (Phase 1) and Sain Associates, Inc. (Phase 2)
84 West Main Street Lane Addition
Denton Road Widening Project
Ross Clark Circle Road Widening Project


text:
Symbiosis Law School, Pune (SLS-P), a constituent of Symbiosis International (Deemed University) (SIU), and Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT), Pune Chapter, jointly organized the 7 th Late Shri B.G. Deshmukh Memorial Lecture, 2018 on "Education – Oxygen for Development" at Symbiosis Old Viman Nagar Campus Auditorium, Pune on 11 th August, 2018
Symbiosis Law School, Pune (SLS-P), a constituent of Symbiosis International (Deemed University) (SIU), and Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT), Pune Chapter, jointly organized the 7 th Late Shri B.G. Deshmukh Memorial Lecture, 2018 on "Education – Oxygen for Development" at Symbiosis Old Viman Nagar Campus Auditorium, Pune on 11 th August, 2018. Students from various sister institutes of SLS-P were in attendance, such as SICSR, SIT, SID, SSLA, SIMC, and SSE.
This Annual Public Lecture Series has been instituted in the honor of Late Shri B. G. Deshmukh, IAS, Former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. The basic objective behind the launch of this Annual Public Lecture Series is to explore and enlighten the youth and public on the challenges in governance in India.
The program began with lighting of lamp by the dignitaries followed by garlanding of Shri B.G. Deshmukh Sir's portrait. Dr. Shashikala Gurpur, Fulbright Scholar, Director, SLS-P, Dean, Faculty of Law, SIU, initiated the lecture by giving the audience an insight into the conception of the annual lecture series. Dr. Gurpur recounted memories of the lecture taking place on the S.B. Road Campus, where Shri B.G. Deshmukh would take keen interest in the lecture, by suggesting themes pertinent to life and knowledge, thereby ensuring that the lecture proved to be an opportunity for students to gain valuable knowledge outside the confines of their classroom. She credited Dr. S.B. Mujumdar's vision and thirst for knowledge as the reason for SIU's global success, as seen in BRICS and Asian rankings. Dr. Gurpur elaborated on the theme of the lecture, "Education – Oxygen for Development", as she termed, "True education is an avenue of rights and justice which touches upon lives." She upheld SIU's efforts in the field of education in India as an experiment in justice, inclusion, development. She concluded by saying "I appreciate PCGT's unrestrained commitment to the cause of public intellectualism", and expressed her faith in the organization to rejuvenate the cause which is unfortunately on a decline in the country.
Mr. Ajit Nimbalkar, Member, PCGT, Pune chapter, gave an overview of PCGT's inception, aims and objectives. He expressed his belief in empowerment of citizens, and a transparent & accountable government. He elucidated the achievements of Shri B.G. Deshmukh and encouraged the students to be as committed to the nation as Mr. Deshmukh, whose apolitical stance, sincerity and meticulous dedication to his work made him a visionary.
Dr. S.B. Mujumdar, Hon'ble Chancellor, SIU, the Keynote Speaker introduced the topic by stating, "Living beings require oxygen and 'education' is required for development. Therefore, education is oxygen for development." He shared PM Shri Narendra Modi's slogan, "Sab ka saath, Sab ka vikas" and reminded the Indian youth of their responsibility of driving the country to the path of development. Dr. Mujumdar acknowledged the high percentage of youth in India, but went on to say, "The need for the youth population to be utilized as efficient human resource of the country, will reap benefits of the demographic dividend and prevent a demographic disaster." He drew the audience's attention to a glaring reality surrounding the Indian education system and said, "The low gross enrollment ratio found in the country is only 23% of the country's youth enrolled in institutes providing higher education." Dr. Mujumdar informed the students of the dismal state of higher education in India, and held responsible factors such as old syllabus, ignorance of soft skills, poor quality and training of teachers, lack of emphasis on research, among many others. He urged the students to commit themselves to a revolution in the field of education in India, and not to submit to the notion that foreign universities are superior. He commented, "Our country needs more skill based colleges that promote entrepreneurship, innovation and research." Dr. Mujumdar concluded by dismissing the element of reservation in the Indian education system, and upheld merit as the only criterion that must be observed by educational institutes.
Mr. S. C. Nagpal, Chairman, PCGT, Pune Chapter delivered the concluding remarks by appreciating SIU's commitment to being an institute that stands firmly on the pillar of inclusivity and meritocracy. He commended Dr. S.B. Mujumdar's efforts that have contributed to the nurturing of thousands of students across India.
Mr. Satish Khot, Vice Chairman, PCGT acted as the Moderator for an engaging Question and Answer session. Dr. Bindu Ronald, Deputy Director, SLS, Pune delivered the vote of thanks. The programme came to a close with the National Anthem.


Outlander's Andrew Gower and Jamie Harris (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) are set for recurring roles in Carnival Row, Amazon's eight-episode straight-to-series fantasy drama, from Rene Echevarria, Travis Beacham, and Legendary Television.
Carnival Row is described as a fantasy-noir set in a neo-Victorian city. Mythical creatures fleeing their war-torn homeland have gathered in the city, and tensions are simmering between citizens and the growing immigrant population. The series follows the investigation into a string of unsolved murders that are eating away at whatever uneasy peace still exists. It's slated for premiere in 2019.
Gower will play Ezra Spurnrose, the scion of one of the most prominent families in the Burgue. When a business deal sours he finds himself under financial straights and reluctantly agrees, at his sister Imogen's behest, to enter into a partnership with a wealthy Puck who has moved in across the street. When he begins to suspect that Imogen is falling in love with the Puck, Ezra will stop at nothing to protect his family's reputation.
Harris will portray Desk Sergeant Dombey, a tough police officer in the neo Victorian city who strongly believes in the old rule of life and resents the growing influx of foreign fairies and pix.
Executive producing Carnival Row are writer/showrunner Echevarria, Beacham, on whose feature script the project is based, and McGuigan, who will direct.
Gower plays the series regular role of Prince Charles Edward Stewart in Starz's Outlander. He recently wrapped a lead role in Netflix's Black Mirror and completed a multi-episode arc in BBC's Capital. Gower is repped by NB Management and Troika.
Harris' recent credits include Shameless, TURN, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Kingdom, The Magicians, Magic City and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. He's repped by by Julia Verdin at Rough Diamond Management.


text:
Who was Miriam Libbey?
Each year at our annual meeting, GHSLA invites an eminent professional in medical librarianship to deliver the Miriam Libbey Lecture. But who was Miriam Libbey, and why was she so important to our profession? In order to answer that question for some of our newer members, as well as all medical librarians who want to know more one of the most influential figures in our profession, we invite you to learn more here by reading Mildred Langner's tribute to Miriam Libbey, reprinted from the BMLA, or by attending one of our meetings to enjoy presentations from librarians inspired by Ms. Libbey's enduring example.
CHRONOLOGY OF MIRIAM H. LIBBEY MEMORIAL LECTURE
The Miriam H. Libbey Lectureship was established in 1991 by the Georgia Health Sciences Library Association (GHSLA) to support an annual lecture in honor of Miriam Hawkins Libbey, former Librarian of the A. W. Calhoun Medical Library of Emory University, Fellow of the Medical Library Association, and instructor of the courses in medical librarianship at the Emory University Division of Library and Information Management.
1st (1991): Savannah – Tom Basler "Yesterday & Today – Pride in Georgia Health Sciences Librarianship"
At the time of his presentation in March 1991, Dr. Basler was completing his long tenure as Professor and Director of Libraries at the Robert B. Greenblatt Library, Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. In April 1991, he began his current position as Director of Libraries and Learning Resource Centers, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
2nd (1992): Unicoi State Park, Helen – Patti Corbett "Bibliography by the Yard"
In 1992, Ms. Corbett was Regional Account Manager for CD Plus. Her career with the company has continued, and she is now Product Manager, Corporate Services at Ovid Technologies, Inc.
3rd (1993): Jekyll Island – Eloise Foster "Leadership & Learning: Lifelong Exploration"
Ms. Foster was, and still is, Director of the AHA Resource Center at the American Hospital Association in Chicago. In addition to this position, she is also the Director of the National Information Center for Health Services Administration.
4th (1994): Joint Meeting with SCHL, Terrace Garden Inn, Atlanta – T. Mark Hodges "One Score and Four Personal and Professional Recollections on Miriam Libbey and Medical Librarianship 1970-1994″ GHSLA Update 1994 Spr/Sum;14(2):3.
At the time of the presentation, Mr. Hodges was Director of the Annette and Irwin Eskind Biomedical Library at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He retired in June 1995, having served at Vanderbilt since 1972, and now has the title of Professor of Medical Information Emeritus. A Fellow of MLA since 1995, he was the MLA Janet Doe Lecturer in 1997 and received the MLA Marcia C. Noyes Award in 1999.
5th (1995): Radisson Hotel, Macon – Jane A. Lambremont "Miriam Libbey: From a Distance"
In 1995, Ms. Lambremont was Chief of Library Services at the VA Medical Center in Alexandria, Louisiana. She became a Fellow of MLA in 1996. She retired in January of 1998, and is currently a part-time consumer health librarian at a hospital in Baton Rouge.
6th (1996): Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain – Holly Shipp Buchanan "Metalibrarians and the Crossroads of Metamorphosis and Metanoia" GHSLA Update 1996 Fall; 16(3):5-6
At the time of her presentation, Dr. Buchanan was Associate Professor and Director of Libraries at the Robert B. Greenblatt Library, Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. In August 1997, she began her present position as Associate Professor, School of Medicine, and Director of Health Sciences Center Library and Computer Services, University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
7th (1997): Radisson Riverfront Hotel, Augusta – Fred Roper "Knowledge and Skills to Thrive in the 21st Century"
Since 1974, Dr. Roper has been Dean of the College of Library & Information Science at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. He was named a MLA Fellow in 1997, received the 1998 MLA Marcia C. Noyes Award, and was the 1999 recipient of the Special Library Association's John Cotton Dana Award.
8th (1998): Joint Meeting with FHSLA, Riverfront Hilton & Towers – Ken Robichaux & Bob Holder "Communications, Partnerships, and Libraries & Vendors"
Mr. Robichaux is, and was in 1998, Sales Coordinator for Majors Scientific Books, Inc. covering the states of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. Mr. Holder was Southern Marketing Manager for Blackwell Information Services. He has since retired and now resides in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
9th (1999): Unicoi State Park & Lodge, Helen – Tom Singarella "Where Did Digital Technology Come From and Where Is It Going?"
Since 1994, Dr. Singarella has held the position of Professor and Director, Health Sciences Library and Biocommunications Center at the University of Tennessee in Memphis.
10th (2000): Sea Palms, St. Simons Island – Carol Burns "A Life of Learning"
Ms. Burns served as the Director of the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library of Emory University.
11th (2001): Columbus Hilton, Columbus – Jocelyn Rankin "Libraries Reaching Out–Lifeline to Our States and the World"
Dr. Rankin served as the Director of the Mercer University School of Medicine from its founding in 1982. At the time of this presentation, she had recently retired from Mercer and had begun serving as Chief, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Information Center.
12th (2002): Crowne Plaza Ravinia, Atlanta – Linda Garr Markwell "Medical Librarianship: Where it started and where it is going"
Ms. Markwell serves as the Head, Branch Library Services for Emory University Health Sciences Center Library, Grady Branch, Atlanta. At the time of this presentation, Ms. Markwell was serving on the Board of Directors of MLA, and is an active member in the Southern Chapter of MLA.
13th (2003): Savannah Marriott Riverfront, Savannah – Jan LaBeause "SHHH. Your Image is Showing: Hollywood Looks at Librarians."
Ms. LaBeause was the Director of the Mercer University School of Medicine Library & Peyton T. Anderson Learning Resources Center. She has also served for many years as the director of the Georgia Interactive Network for Medical Information (GaIN) consortium.
14th (2004): Lake Lanier Islands – Marilyn Barry "What Did They Know? And When Did They Know It? Progress in Helping Clinicians Reach Decisions"
Ms. Barry is Director of the Health Sciences Library, DeKalb Medical Center, Decatur GA.
15th (2005): Georgia Center for Continuing Education, Athens – Mary Fielder "Evolution in Real Time: Darwin's Librarians"
Ms. Fielder is Librarian at Three Rivers AHEC, Columbus GA.
16th (2006): Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, GA – Mary Fran Prottsman "Where are They Now? Libbey's Legacies"
Ms. Prottsman is a librarian with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Information Technology in Silver Spring, MD.
17th (2007): Brasstown Valley Resort, Young Harris, GA – Sandra Franklin "Impacting Change in Your Environment: Do You Make a Difference?"
Ms. Franklin is library director of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library at Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
18th (2008): Lake Blackshear Resort, Cordele, GA – Sharon Cann "A Librarian's Career in Georgia"
Ms. Cann is the retired library director of the Georgia Baptist School of Nursing Library, Atlanta, GA.
19th (2009): Foundry Park Inn, Athens, GA – Stephen Koplan "Information Literacy: Where It's Been, Where It Is, and Where It Goes Next"
Mr. Koplan is curriculum coordinator for the Library & Information Technology Certificate Program at Georgia Perimeter College.
20th (2010): Merriott Hotel, Augusta, GA – Lauren Benevich "Remembering a Career"
Ms. Benevich is a retired librarian for Solvey Pharmaceuticals, now Abbott Laboratories, in Marietta, GA.
21th (2011): Desoto Hilton Hotel, Savannah, GA – Eugenia Abbey "Medical Librarianship–From Medical Library to College Library"
Ms. Abbey is a librarian/assistant professor at Georgia Perimeter College.
22nd (2012): Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center, Atlanta, GA – T. Scott Plutchak "Lost Opportunities: A Decade of the OA Wars"
Mr. Plutchak is Director of the UAB Lister Hill Library.
23rd (2013): Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA – Rosalind K. Lett
Ms. Lett is Associate Director Huntsville Madison County Public Library.
24th (2014): Barnsley Gardens Resort, Adairsville, GA – Joe Swanson, Jr. "Miriam Libbey: Librarian or Informationist?"
Mr. Swanson is Director of the Morehouse School of Medicine Library
2015: Macon, GA – No Lecture Presented
25th (2016): Decatur, GA – Miriam Libbey Program Panel – "The importance of increasing the health knowledge of your community"
Preston Burt, Health Communications Specialist, Environmental Health Tracking Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Laura Hauser, DeKalb County Public Library Literacy Services Director
Dr. Glenda Knight, executive director of Cutting Edge Health Options & co-chair of the Diabetes Community Action Coalition