I've seen most every possible combination of document styles, from fully formatted documents with headers, footers and a very particular style of headings, lists, bullets, numbering, lettering, Roman numeral numbering and then some. I've even seen documents with no strict format at all. And some that have no format, they are simply line after line of text.
Certainly not an unformatted approach; that might work well for the ee cummings' of the world but in the work place it needs to be formatted somehow.
I like numbers with tabs and indents: There are many to choose from and a variety of ways to use them.
You get the basic idea. Every business is different and each should have the style sheet that works best for both the document author and the document reader. Probably the most important part of this is that there should be consistency throughout the documents. Don't write half the SOPs with number format and the rest with Roman Numerals. Strive for the same spacing throughout the document.
Headers and Footers: Headers allow you to state the document title and any document numbering scheme you like and have them appear on each page. Many people put the page number in the header. Company logos have a way of finding their way into the header. This is a nice touch and can bring a polished look to the document. Select whatever works best for your documents. A popular header for business involves a table with sections merged to form blocks and the divisions can be moved around.
Header development can be complex and neither header nor footer need be the same throughout a document. Headers and Footers should not overwhelm a document. A good header is around 4 – 6 lines long. 6 lines is typically an inch when you use 12 pt. fonts. This usually allows a logo that is clear and plenty of room for the other information. Footers should be around 2 or 3 lines long and type can often be smaller on the footer than the rest of the document.
Footers are a good place to put warnings (document not valid when printed unless signed) (For reference only) etc. I prefer the page number in the footer rather than the header.
Fonts and sizes: Don't go crazy, just because Word has a million different fonts doesn't mean you should use them all. Remember that the documents should be consistent. If you start out with Arial 12 don't change to Times New Roman in the middle of the document for no reason. There are reasons to alter the type style in the document but they are usually reserved for something like quoted text or tables from another source. Quotes are usually in smaller text or italics.
Commands are an exception to that rule. When you have a note, caution or warning, make it stand out. I like to use a larger size, bold and left justify the command beyond the standard indent. If it's critical I use color for warnings and cautions.
Page layout: Documents should be portrait unless there is a compelling reason to deviate; bi-folded check lists could be a compelling reason to use landscape.
Forms can be either portrait or landscape depending on how they will be used. If your form is included in a document then try and stay consistent with the layout. It is frustrating to read a document that requires turning it 90 degrees to check a box and initial in the space provided. TIP: if your document includes a results form put the form on one page (if possible) and attach it to the end of the document, preferably facing the back not the front. Now the user only has to turn the document over to enter the information rather than flipping pages or having the data scattered throughout the document.
Margins: Word generally defaults to a 1 inch margin all the way around. Smaller margins allow you to get more on the page, but they also crowd the document so be careful. I remember a very well defined form that was trashed because the left margin was less than the 3-hole punch, obscuring the title of several entries.
White Space: The thing that ultimately makes your document readable is white space. Leave that double line between paragraphs, wide margins, space around an illustration, drawing or picture.
When you think you're finished, print it out single sided, then hold 2 pages together against a light. This is the easiest way to see if the margins shifted or tabs varied. Repeat for each page.
When you're all done and you have your document all set save it, now take the same document and delete all the text leaving only the header, footer and whatever indents and numbering in place. Now you have a stylesheet for your next document. Save that as a different document for your next one!
Is your profit margin about to retire?


Are you in need of some lightness during these dark cold days of winter?
1. Accessorize – it's what separates us all!
Be smart about accessories. Accent pillows in a bold color or pattern, a bright-colored or white throw blanket and colorful fixtures will brighten up an otherwise dull room during the winter. For example, the palette of Mauve and Copper is a wonderful way to add lightness & brightness to your home in the winter months.
2. Don't let your Rugs just lay there!
Does your area rug make the room brighter? If you have a dark rug, there's a good chance it makes the room a little too dark in the winter. Try changing it out with a lighter area rug for the season or just remove it for a few months to let your shiny hardwoods reflect natural light.
3. Declutter . . . and Discover!
Clutter can make a room look smaller and even darker than it should be. This winter, take just 10 minutes a day to declutter an area at a time to stay organized.
Fresh flowers add a pop of color and life to an otherwise dark and dull space. Brighten up your living room this winter with a vase of bright flowers and use a colorful arrangement to bring a fresh look to a kitchen or bathroom. Purchase bouquets of store bought flowers and let your light shine through the home!
5. Use Mirrors . . . in the right places!
I hope my Grace Notes brings Reorder ~ Refresh ~ Renew feelings to your home this winter season.
Contact me if I can help bring clarity to your life!
My new trend to start tomorrow would be a Walking Network Meeting Club ~ not meeting for a breakfast – not meeting for coffee – not another meeting where everyone is sitting around, no more of that for morning meetings! I would like to start this trend with the Women Small Business Owners in my local area. Every week, we meet at a new Walking Meeting Place for what I would call a Walk & Talk where we discuss about business problems . . . but ALWAYS ending the walk with solutions for the week. This trend I have had in my business journal since July 1998 – stay tuned a trend could be developing with the blossom coming soon!
I would love to read everyone else's trends – It's a new year of beginnings . . . . . . .


The Individual Advancement Program (IAP) provides support (up to $2,000) to Indiana artists for career development projects. Applicants must plan a project (or phase of a project) that is feasible within the requested budget and completed within the proposed timeline.
Because the Individual Advancement Program is so popular we only accept certain disciplines per year. We'll accept visual arts (crafts, design, media arts, photography) applications for FY21.


And our angelic Peggy. Her bud is Airebella.
Love it when they pic up mom's attitude, no rush, I'll just hang out here.
And of course Andee has to be in the middle of everything. Look how FAT he is!!! Maybe we should have him preg checked to!!!
Fury sure grew also. Golden Girl enjoying lunch.
Amazing that there is no scar left from Kresky's terrible shoulder wound this summer. Well, I guess it's really not amazing considering the care and attention that Ramona gave this girl.
The weather co-operated and we had a good push to get the walls and rafters on the garage.
Our Marengo arrived in Germany from Denmark!! Thankyou Ramona for this, and for the wonderful pictures of our boy!!
Franzi was happy to be back in Germany and says Seleena never forgot a thing, and it sure doesn't look like it either!!
Saturday morning up early to catch up Savanah. Walk the fields for an hour, can't find her, Roland brings the Avalanche and as soon as Pall hears that he brings up the whole herd to follow us into the corral.
Savanah is perfect, not sure she wants to leaver her buds. Load mom first and the step is a bit too high for her, so we reposition the trailer and in she goes. The rest of the herd says goodbye over the fence. They know.
Scott came back Sunday morning to see LT and Keemah. They were the 2 girls he reduced it down to. Look at little Carrie!! She is sooo gorgeous! and mom was so good. Did some round pen, lunge and driving. Just a tad bit too cold to do much riding.
Some pics of Princess's little gems, just opened their eyes on the weekend.
Wonderful, wonderful Thanksgiving dinner! Raquel was with us and then Chandra, Ron, Amanda, Reilly, Reo, Devon, shelly and Joline all came and we had turkey, stuffing, gravey, ham, cheese spuds, acorn squash, sweet potatoe, cream corn, peas, salad, and Joline brought fresh saskatoon pie and of course we topped it with fresh whipped cream!! Yummy!! Thanks everyone for pitching in to make it wonderful time.
Roland and Sitka take a catnap Monday. And Ramona was happy! I finally figured out how to use Skype on our laptop so she visited with us for about an hour Sunday on video from Germany! What a world of technology.
Chandra got me intrigued to learn more about my camera, so played around with the wonderful candle arrangement that Ramona's mom gave us and got these neat shots!
Franzi sent us these wonderful pictures of our wonderful Doc!! Look at him! WOW!! As tall as his Friesian pasture mate and he has so much wonderful mane!! They LOVE him!
Teary day at the stables. Ramona and her mom left yesterday to lots of goodbyes and "I don't wanna go home!"
Ramona became part of the family during her 7 months in Canada and will certainly miss her Kresky horse, Cookies last year baby. Curly, her standard poodle she also fell in love with, had her first bath Friday and headed south with Ramona heading back to Germany.
We all headed downtown for a last big supper together. Roland treated us to a wonderful meal at the top of the Chateau Lacombe and we revolved around for almost 2 hours and enjoyed the wonderful view.
Stopped at the Leduc #1 on the way in and Roland explained how this landmark impacted Alberta's history.
The meal was fantastic, right from the appertizers to the dessert!!
LT had her baby!! Finally on Sept. 11, just before we left for Spruce Meadows.
And she is a gorgeous filly, just like Franzi said, everything she wished for.
Excellent Dun markings, perfect curl, just a little angel of a package.
Everyone had to get some pets in with the soft little one.
LT is the perfect mom, ever watchful, but respectful.
Roland had never touched a baby that was only about 4 hours old!! She's a sweetie. Expect to see lots of pictures of this gem.
Ramona wanted to some jumping before she leaves so Franzi got her up on Mac and they did SUPER!!
Mac took her to every jump and they both figured out what to do.
He has pretty good form for his first time jumping outside. Then Franzi climbed on Chico to take him over a few.
And look at Chico tuck!! Nice focus Franzi.
So now we know for sure that Chico is an all around boy, he looks handsome no matter what he does.
And then Franzi was pumped so she asked if she could take Oakley over a few of the cross country jumps the next day. Told her Oaks had not jumped for a couple of years so make sure you warm her up good. and she did. and Oaks never forgot a thing. Love this girl.
They jumped all the jumps on the course and Franzi said she had a blast!
The rock jump and the tire jump.
Last week Franzi wanted to visit the stables she is hoping to work at next year. and they were kind enough to offer the girls a chance to ride cutting horses!! So we went back and Ramona had her first ride on a cutter. And never fell off!!
Once again the Spruce Meadows Masters competition was everything we hoped it would be. Fun, fast and furious competitors. The CN International 1,000,000 was one of the best ever with Eric Lamaze for Canada loosing by only 2/100ths of a second!!! OUCH!!
Always a crowd favorite, and one of mine, good old Ian Millar.
Kinda like a Cinderella story for him with Big Ben, way back in my show jumping days. He's 63 now and still competeting. Although maybe he shouldn't be with 20 faults in his first round on Saturday, but then he did post a clear.
A definite stable favorite, Our Cookie's Chance. Steady, easy going and chosen.
He is going to make an awesome mountain horse for Roland. Plus a super Ambassador for the Curly Horse breed. You'll be seeing them in the parades.
Wish they were all as easy to train as this sweetheart. Just as friendly as Chance, but, sorry Chance, she is the pretty one.
Would be awesome if we could always keep the ones like her.
Would have to say Keemah was probably the biggest surprise for Ramona while at the stables. This was Ramona's first experience working with young horses and she was both amazed and pleased to see the quick progress of this girl.
Keemah is bred to Prince for what will probably be one of our last full ABC babies.
Wonderful job girls! Our new stallion, Sasha's Thunder, under saddle and very handsome.
And another proud stallion, our Tubbs O'Reilly. Our Irish Tinker boy imported from England.
Both girls were extremely pleased how easy he is to handle and how simple to train.
Good old Mac. Strong and solid as a rock!
Colorful! and his tail has even grown in.
Mysty's Maxx. Turning a very nice dark chestnut.
Our next Dilon, Stardust. Trusting, willing, caring, just an all around good boy.
Star always stamps her babes with her personality and with Winchester as a dad you know we always have a winning combination.
And a wow for beauty. Our Ambrosia. Fantastic job Franzi.
So balanced, elegant and athletic. What a stride.
Couple of shots from Franzi and Ramona's trail ride at Strawberry creek with Ambrosia.
Excellent area to train the horses.
Golden Girl was Ambrosia's rock for her first trail ride. such a sweetheart.
Nothing bothers this girl. surprised? No! Nice shot of Chelsea now under saddle.
Okay, ready to be wowed?! Look what Franzi did with Chico!! Turned him into a reiner!
Amazing how a couple of trips to the mountains can set the foundation for anything. He is so steady, flowing and confident..
I've never had much to do with western reining but after seeing how quiet and steady Chico is, it just might be something to pursue.
And willing, and forward, and controlled and beautiful!
Kodiak going very well. Tad bit on the lazier side of things, girls needed a popper to get him to canter, no resistance, just said "no thanks, I'd rather just trot nice and fast!".
Another one of our very solid, very square boys. Like a tank!
Some pics of our Angelic looking Ambrosia. From our Friesian/TB mare by Palladin.
She is certainly one of the most impressive horses we have raised.
Franzi has done a wonderful job with her this summer.
Huge stride, tons of energy, potential to excel at anything asked of her.
had a fun lesson on the weekend. Shot of Susan on Chico.
And Claire on Golden Girl in her lesson. Franzi has also done a fantastic job with her, doing flying changes and leg yields with hardly any rein pressure.
Ramona on Kodiak for a little lesson. Franzi hoped on to get him to canter but he had had enough for a full day and decided he would much rather trot very, very quickly!
Ambrosia and Kodiak ready for the trails. Franzi has some pics of their first trail ride, will try to post them over the next while.
Ramona and Kresky. She has decided to take Kresky back to Germany with her after she is old enough to breed.
First time doing concrete work and wasn't even sure what it was going to look like. Had to wait 2 days before we could wash the powder off to see it!
But certainly worth all the hard work. Looks pretty professional.
John and Cam arrived and finished off the dormers with the logs and installed all the hand rails on the steps. Now the cabin looks finished. Ramona and Franzi helped with the staining.
Lovely sunset after a hard days work.
Took Saturday afternoon off and went to the Lakedell Fair for a couple of hours. Had to have ice cream! Watched some young kids (2 year olds even!) try to ride some sheep.
Got to watch a demo on polo cross, very interesting. And the cowboy shooters where there also. Great entertainment.
Sunday my sister arrived from Ontario and we had a wonderful family super. Her daughter and her granddaughter, Chloe, arrived and got to have her very first pony ride.
Lots of tears when she had to get off, all she could say was "more, more, more!".
Stroll through the herd and of course Pall is front and center. Oakley and Savanah are his best friends. Andee is not!
And so ends another busy and super weekend at the stables.
Finally a couple of pictures of the fantastic job Roland did on our stone work!!
Looks so natural and blends in perfect with the cabin. Great job!
And some shots of pouring the concrete for our cabin yesterday. That was allot of work!!
Tom helped float it all and do the edging. Was a perfect day, 22 degrees and a bit overcast so it allowed us a bit more time. But still not much time to get it all floated, edged, powdered and stamped. The stamps are 4'x4' and very awkward to place and lift by yourself! My back was killing me by the time I was done.
Will post some pics of the final product, but here it is ready to edge and stamp. Should have lighter highlights from the dye I put on before stamping. Can't wait to see it!! Have to wait 2 days to remove the powder.
Finally got the final coat of stain on the front of the cabin. Franzi held the ladder on top of the scaffold for me while Ramona told me the parts that needed more stain that I could not see!
Kodiak, so solid, like a tank!
Elko baby from Kim, Irabella.
Flasha Chrome! Look at that mane!!
Brigs has the most amazing coat of curl! and a super curly, ringlet mane.
Angelic Ambrossia. So super to see Franzi riding her. This mare is huge!
One of the prettiest, quietest, gentlest curly girls we have ever raised, Golden Girl.
Keemah, Ramona's favorite. After Chico, after Kresky!
Kits super curly, super mini!!
Senza just gets more beautiful every day.
Winchester's stamp, Stardust. Going well under saddle now.
Megan fell in love with Starfire's tail, not hard to see why. Such unusual color combinations.
And another perfect conformation from Winchester, Mysty's Stormy.
And finally a couple of updated pictures from Anna in Denmark competing on Deelite!!
Keelah and Folly both had their first outside rides yesterday!! Superstars!!
Ramona and Franzi have loved working with Keelah, especially Franzi as she was here 3 years ago when Keelah was born!
Keelah is going to be an awesome girl. She is so gentle and so easy going, just like her momma.
Wonderful news and pictures from Chris!! SS Sunnybrook's Wyatt won overall show high point CHAMPION at Bergens Curly Horse Classic Show with 8 year old Charlotte Axani riding!! and Charmer won reserve with 11 year old Katie Axani riding!
It was a Huge first for the sisters to win the over all show! Charlotte and Katie got 1st & 2nd place in Equitation & Pleasure classes - except for the Senior Pleasure class which mom, Chris, won 1st on Charmer.
CONGRATULATIONS GIRLS!! Way to ride.
Finally here's some pics of our amazing mini curly born June 25th!! Out of our perfectly confirmed girl Little Britches, who is out of Kit by non other than Lucky Charms!!
This little gem is perfectly curly!! First time we have had a foal this small born at the stables!
Nellie had a wonderful colt last night. Kristine reports that she got up every half hour and finally at 4 AM he arrived!
FINALLLY!! Some updated pictures of some of the horse!!
Everyone in these pictures is for sale (except Antigua) and since we are heading into one of the worst droughts on record would sure like to find some new homes for some of them!!
Ramona was not impressed that the only morning she did not check the horses Cookie had her baby!! We were up at 5 to head off to the parade!!
Here's Keemah's gentle one, Blaze. He has such a soft, kind, gentle eye. Easy to halter break to.
He's going to show some of his grandma's sport horse qualities for sure.
And here is his mom, Keemah!! Look how soft she is going. We are very, very pleased with her progress. Started her training in March and she has progressed in leaps and bounds!
Intelligent eye, level headed, but no surprise. Her mom is Buffy, our girl that is now in Germany and full sister to our winner of the Alberta Horse Improvement Program for Superior Alberta Bred Curly, Oakley!! Then add Pall to the mix and we know we have a winner.
Keemah is an excellent prospect for an all around family horse, trail horse or 4-H project. She has the brains and the beauty with the breeding!!
This "little" (not) girl should need no introduction! She's our oups Irish Tinker curly girl!!
She is already amazing. Such conformation and temperament. No wonder these horses survived thousands of years!
And then there is our Angelic Ambrosia. She is one of the gentlest, touch seeking horses we have ever raised. She totally responds to and desires to be stroked on her forehead.
and LOOK at her!! As I told Ramona, she truly is the result of 20 years of selective breeding. She CAN do anything. Has the build and the brains.
And the HEART!! Of course. She's a Pall baby.
BRIGS!! Our super sport horse boy! This is Ambrosia's gem from last year, so we really don't need to say more.
Curly Sarah's gaited girl, Flasha Chrome.
Who's baby is this?? Solid, stocky, yet not bulky, HUGE for a yearling, confident and conformed??
Has a half sister in Germany, cousins around Europe, brothers and sisters all around the US and his half sister was in the parade on Saturday!! Yup, another Annie winner, Goliat!!
And look at our Mac now. He's been ridden every day for the last couple of months now and has progressed tremendously!! Here he is in one of our beginner jumper lessons.
Always has been steady for anything we throw at him. Pic of Susan taking one of her first few riding lessons to!!
Here's Manly, our JJ boy out of Rilo, our sport horse jumping mare!
A new arrival to our stables. Here is Phleap, who is going to be one of the tallest curlies you will find anywhere in the world!!
We did an exchange with Kim and received this gentleman out of Lacey, ICHO 690S, by non other than her foundation Curly stallion from the wilds of Nevada, Elko!! Now here is a find.
And Curly Sarah is back in our riding string!! And of course doing awesome. Took her out for a trail ride along the highway and she was steady as a rock, as always.
She's one of those rare horses that I would take anywhere as she will face anything head on!!
Here's Tina (Amber Airetina) out of our gorgeous Cierra Amberina by Winchester.
She has the same content attitude as her mom. And not sure what color she is going to finish up as. Her mom is that gorgeous Amber color, hence her name!
Ramona caught these cool pictures of Ambrosia and Keemah SWIMMING in our lake!!
The two escape artists knocked down her fence in front of the arena and made their way to our new place where Ramona found them playing in the water!!
Keemah even lays down in the lake!!!
My favorite daughter asked me what I wanted for Mothers Day. I told her, a day off. So being the caring daughter she is, we received a gift certificate to spend an enchanted evening at Edmonton's oldest, grandest hotel along the riverbank downtown.
Grand. That is certainly the first word that comes to mind upon our arrival. We are booked into a room overlooking the garden court and downtown. Request a smoking room and the staff are very accommodating. They tell us we will have to down grade, but we get a room with a view of the river valley! Works for us!!
Reservations in the Harvest Room for supper. And what a supper. Start with Seafood Chowder! Compete with caviar atop smoked salmon and shrimp, with the broth poured separate around the mound! Then appetizers and the main entrée, salmon for me and tenderloin for Roland. Wow.
Take a stroll around downtown, stop at a little club for a drink, meander along the riverbank and see the Chateau Lacombe!
Carry on along the crest of the river valley and decide to take the elevator to the top of the Chateau Lacombe. The La Ronde Restaurant, famous for its incredible view, is the perfect place to spend an hour on a magical evening.
It revolves once every 90 minutes and provides a unmatched panoramic view of Edmonton and the river valley.
Back to the Mac, stop in the lounge, talk for hours, and where did the time go? Did we really do all that in an evening?? Another perfect memory to stash.
Book an afternoon off with Ramona and take in the local long weekend events.
Thorsby has it's show and shine with lots of old and new vehicles on display.
Head over to Gitzel's museum. Boy have they got tons of local history on display. I'm impressed.
Larry brings out his new team of Percherons to do a plowing demonstration.
Stacy first contacted us in March as she wanted to meet a Curly horse "in person". She loves horses, but her sister has extreme allergies to horses and she wanted to know who we had available for sale. Stacy and Ralph came up for a visit and fell in love with Red, who is going to have a foal this year from Charming Prince! So the next step was to see how her sister was with the horses.
Stacy's sister has allergies so bad that she would need a hospital visit if she was in the same room as the boots from someone that had ridden a regular horse. So of course they were very apprehensive about testing her. They got all the information on the nearest hospital before allowing her to even touch a horse.
But to their surprise she had NO reaction at all from petting and brushing Red. So Ramona decided to put her on Mac and for the first time in her life she got to ride a horse!! Shiver material!!
Very nice, heart warming email from Tanja in Germany. She has SS Oakley's Ahani Spright, a filly from SS Annie's Oakley and Charming Prince.
Almost one year has past since I told you about Ahani. It's time for an up date.
She jumped in this box two times at least don't know why. She hurt her legs by jumping out of the box. The legs are healthy now and all the horses are on the field since may. The whole day and night with out these boxes.
Hailey arrives from cold Lake to test her allergies to the Curly Horses!
My seven year old daughter Hailey has severe allergies and asthma. I would like to bring her to your stables and see if she reacts to the curly horses. We live on a farm and work our cattle with horses, Hailey often feels left out. If a curly horse works for her that would be so great. If you have available time next week I would really like to bring her out. Please let me know.
And so they arrived and were thrilled that Hailey had no reaction to the horses. We had Mac, Chico and Kruzer ready, but as usual, Kruzer was the one that made the decision. The horses always seem to know who is the right match.
After doing the brushing test Ramona takes Hailey into the round pen for a lesson on how to ride a horse! Hailey is all smiles.
And is thrilled to ride a horse by herself for the first time in her life! Kruzer stands patiently while Hailey gives him his well deserved rub down after the ride.
Ramona, Helle and Kristine have a lesson and Ramona is thrilled to ride SALLY!!
Ramona was suppose to ride Oakley, but Oaks knew what was up and headed to far end of the field. So I told Ramona she could ride Sally. Her face lite up - Really?? and so with all smiles she had another good day in Canada!!
Kristine had a very good ride on Mac. She learned lots and it was her first time outside this year. More smiles!
Helle had a nice ride on Pall. He's not the easiest horse in the world to ride and she did fine.
Sally also tested Ramona to start. But of course Ramona thought it was just plain fun!
And then they got to go for a gallop and then Ramona was totally all smiles! Love it.
Our first baby of 2009. Little Kit, our miniature Shetland, had a very cute little filly on April 29th.
More pics on the Easter Photo Shoot page!
Some shots from Linda for our indoctoration to the Provincial Museum Archives. This is Antiqua, our Curly Irish tinker baby!
And another stable favourite, SS Chance.
Oakley and Golden Girl make a pretty picture, then a silouette of Ramona with Oakley.
Few nice shots of me and my buddy Pall. No time to ride him this year, so a bit of action to start with.
but I love him and trust him and away we went.
Some really nice shots of our new boy Sasha.
He's turned out way better than we hoped. Really gorgeous markings and size.
Oaklies gorgeous filly, Savahah lookly very photogenic for the photographer!!
Really cute pic of Pall and Savanah. Then a funny pic of black and white dogs bouncing out of the way of black and white horses!
Really nice shot of Sally, not sure why the handler looks so grumpy!! At least the rider is happy.
This handler looks a little happier, way to go Raquel. Sally with this years angel, Antiqua.
And Sally with last years jackpot filly, Keelah!!
The Ferro family arrived from St. Albert to learn about horses. We started with our grooming and saddling. Mac and Kruzer had their intro for this year.
Our newest addition, little Trixie, did very well.
And of course our Pegasus, Peggy, was the rock.
I was amazed after everyone entered the arena to find them all lined up and facing the rail. Usually we have mahem everywhere, but these guys are troopers! After a very quick orientation it's out to the trails!!
Peggy, Trixie, Dusty and Mac all got to be out and enjoy the wonderful day. The sun was shinning and it was in the high teens, a nice surprise!!
Everyone did super considering the limited instruction time we had.
Mac! And the day is done. Another super one for which we are thankful.
Our new boy is HOME!!
Saturday we headed south so pick up our newest addition to the stables. We arrived in Cranbrook at 8:30 AM, 900km later, and were thrilled to see Tammy already there and ready to go. She had driven up the night before and slept at the truck stop. So we unloaded our new boy and he walked right into the little two horse trailer I had to borrow (worked on my one ton from 7 in the morning until we ran out of time, it just would not start). I told Tammy I love it when a horse actually looks better in person than when you see pictures on the internet. He is just plain handsome.
Have to find a barn name for this guy, won't be hard, he has tons of personality and very observant of what is going on around him. Ramona was thrilled to se the Rockies for the first time and was lucky as we got to drive through one of the prettiest parts, the Crowsnest Pass.
Thunder had a bit of sea legs when he finally got to get out of the trailer upon our arrival home. Who could blame him? He had been traveling for 2 days and yet never stomped or screamed the entire way. very impressed with him. Love the little bit of blue on his right eye also. Those of you that know me know I do night like walleyes, but I really like this.
Ramona and I stretched our legs in Longview and I picked up a couple of Birthday presents for someone special, then we stopped and grabbed some Easter goodies in Red Deer. Stopped every 3 hours for puppy and horse, water, feed, stretch, then on the road again!
Isn't this a COOL picture!! Dagmar galloping with Kitty (Cjura) out in a wonderful fall with all the colors and smiles and just good old fashioned fun! Thankyou Dagmar for sharing your wonderful memories. Kitty is the first horse that we exported to Germany and we could ever wish for a finer home.
Bernard with their second filly into Germany and a Happy Easter from Dagmar and Whitney!!
Second stop on our 1900km journey was to pick up our new little princess at the Calgary airport!! (first stop was dropping Folly off to "see" JJ). and what a gorgeous, cute, fluffy, friendly little girl we were greeted with. Her she discovered my fur covered slippers. Didn't take her long to get into trouble!
She started her journey at 5 AM Saturday from New Orleans, flew to Chicago, 7 hour lay over, up to Calgary then headed off to Cranbrook with us! Slept the entire way, not one peep out of her the entire journey. Here she is trying to decide if Sitka is a play mate! Then she didn't know what to make of the TV!!
Okay, what's next! Just full of energy after traveling for basically 2 days!
Received some very cute pictures from Kristine of our lovely gaited babies Starfire, Senza and Fury.
Kristine reports: I'm sending along some pictures of the foals. Senza, Fury and Starfire are all being ridden by our cat now, and seem to really like it. Bailey likes cuddling up on their backs and having a nap as well.
The foals got really interested in my headphones and so I let them try them out and listen to some classical music. They listened intently and really liked it, so I think they will be wanting their own set of headphones now!!
Starfire got to wear my helmet, and he closed his eyes like, "what next?!" He's so cute!
Then I got Senza and Starfire putting one of their front feet up on a log. Senza will basically try anything, and takes anything new as a fun adventure. They all learn so fast and are basically afraid of nothing!
And now introducing our newest addition to the stables. Thunder, an ABC registered Pinto Curly stallion!! He'll definitely add some color, curl and class to our breeding program. He'll be arriving from Washington, USA next month.
Now here is a really cool picture from Franzi in Germany. She's riding Seleena and training Clooney, her son. He's turned out to be a real looker!!
Finally a bit of warmer weather and time to stock up the wood pile. Reo generously offered us some logs he had stockpiled for the last 3 years, so we headed out on Sunday to fill the trailer. Roland had a new chain on his saw and Ramona joined us.
Ramona discovers just how deep the snow is! And that's not back in the bush where it hasn't blown away.
Back to the trailer and time for some "coffee" delivered by Reo. Lots of hard work, but feels great to be outside doing something, finally!!
Ramona needs a break and tries to lay down on a log, but rolls off!! Finally makes it and relaxes before the final load into the truck. Next day was -15 AGAIN!!
Finally a couple of pictures of Shilo's little babies! They just started to open their eyes Saturday. They still sound like little seal pups.
the only pics we could get from Saturday of Ramona working Kodiak. Was -40 today!! No working horses until it gets warmer.
and a couple of pictures from Franzi of, first, Princess Annie, who she says is HUGE!! and then her girl, Seleena. Franzi has been training Seleena for reining and reports that she is doing AWESOME!!
Terrible storm on the weekend. Knocked out power, internet and vehicles in the ditch everywhere.
Franzi forwarded some excellent pictures from Maria! Look at her and Buffy!! Wow, they are really starting to become a team. Wonderful to see.
And a couple of shots of Maria's wonderful upcoming herd. Buffy and Serrando, who is out of Nellie by Winchester, a full brother to Senza below, and Buffy's little one.
I thought I'd send you a few pictures of the foals. They are all doing great and are training so fast! They sure love the new halter! Here's Starfire!
When I'm training the other two foals, Fury always stands right there waiting - he basically puts his nose into the halter when I put it on. He's even learned to give a hug on command!
Senza and Starfire don't mind plastic on or around them - in fact Senza really perks up when she sees it and comes running over to have it put on! Fury isn't as impressed! He thinks its a predator I think and LT seems to agree!
I'm also sending one of Nellie. I thought that since Whinny and LT are both curly she might want to look like one too! She looks cute in braids, but I love her with a wavy, curly mane when I take the braids out.


text:
Alex Guzman
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@MHSMiddlesexNJ
In light of the recent tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, I wanted to use this space to discuss school safety. We take the safety of our staff and students very seriously and we work closely with the Middlesex Police Department to share information and ensure we are following the same procedures. As an Administration, we evaluate our policies and procedures and we make improvements as necessary. In the coming months, we will be announcing changes to our students during morning announcements and grade level meetings. Please understand that these changes are working towards a safe and secure school community.
At Middlesex, we encourage and support "See Something, Say Something". As I've discussed in the past, our students are living in a digital world where information is spread quickly and sometimes inaccurately. It is important that our students understand that actions, in person or online, can have lasting repercussions. It's important to take threats of violence or crime very seriously regardless of where it is said. We encourage our students and families to follow the idea if you see something, say something. We do not want to have an incident because someone didn't feel comfortable sharing what they saw or heard. Many of our students have built trust with adults in the school and it is our hope that each student has an adult that they would go to if they saw or heard threats of school violence. We take all information that is shared very seriously as the safety and security of our school community is a priority.
There are a lot of emotions around the shooting in Parkland, Florida. There have been numerous news stories; we've learned names and histories of the victims and the attacker. For some of our students, this may be difficult to cope with or they may need extra support in processing what happened in Parkland. We encourage our students to reach out if they need assistance; we have our Counseling Office available to students who may need additional support during the school day.
We appreciate all of the feedback, questions and concerns that you share with the school administration; we value your input and encourage you to continue to share with us so we can continue to provide the best possible educational experience to all of our students.
300 John F Kennedy Drive, Middlesex, NJ, United States guzmana@middlesex.k12.nj.us middlesex.k12.nj.us/msd/HS/
Congratulations to Dylan Robertson for his second place medal for bowling at the Sectionals for Special Olympics. He will be moving on to the State Competition - Good Luck Dylan!
Congratulations to Jake Robel for scoring 1,000 points for his basketball career! He earned his 1,000th point with a monster dunk in just 3 years of playing.
MHS Presents Legally Blonde: The Musical. Performances will be March 15, 16 & 17 at 7pm in the Peter J. Diskin Auditorium. Tickets may be purchased at the door each night of the performance, there is no reserved seating. Tickets are $10/adult and $7/students and senior citizens. This production is not suitable for children under 13.
A reminder about student safety, if your student is going to be leaving early, please send your student in with a note to the office in the morning so an early dismissal pass can be issued. This will allow the students to leave their classroom to meet you in the office so that the entire class does not need to be interrupted by a phone call to locate your student. For those students who drive or walk, please indicate in your note that they will be doing so. If it is not noted, we will need to call and speak with a parent for permission. If someone other than a parent/guardian will be picking up a student, please notify the office as students will not be dismissed without parent permission. This is for all students regardless of age.
A note about school security, Please be advised that students will no longer be able to enter the building at Door #5 (near the library) in the morning. The front doors under the canopy - Door #1 and the door near the gym - Door #14 will be the only entrances for students in the morning. After 8am, ALL students should be entering through the Visitor Entrance at the front of the building. Please remind your students that at no time should they be opening doors to allow others to enter the building.
Yesterday morning, March 14th at 10am, Middlesex High School students participated in the National School Walkout. For those students who chose to participate, they gathered in the Gym to acknowledge and remember the lives lost on February 14th at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fl. This effort was organized by 4 students who worked together to create a peaceful demonstration, including wearing the colors of Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, burgundy and black. After exiting classrooms and walking to the gym quietly and respectfully, the students gathered on the bleachers for a short speech by the 4 student leaders. The students spoke of their reason for gathering everyone together and then read the names of each lost life, including their age and grade or in the case of adults, their role at the school. Those gathered remained quiet and respectful of the experience and the intention of the walkout. The students gathered together for a photo to share on social media to show their support and at the end of the 17 minutes, students returned to their classes. The students, whether they walked out or not, should be commended for the maturity and respect they demonstrated today.
Academic Highlights
On February 20th, Ms. Anagnostos arranged for her Forensic Science students to attend a presentation by law enforcement that supported the units that the students were working on in class. The units addressed included history of forensic science, applications of law, evidence types (class and individual) and analysis, eyewitness testimony and ballistics/gun control. To encourage the practice of social engagement, the students and guests participated in an informal meet and greet to close out the demonstration.
Thank you to Sgt. James Knapp of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office (Evidence Division), NJ State Trooper Nicholas Mimikos, School Resource Officer Joleen Auricchio and Officer Bryan Rodrigues of the Middlesex Police Department for taking time from their busy schedules to work with our students.
Over the last 15 years, the Key Club has collected over $25,000 to donate to the Leukemia Society. This year's coin collection took place the week of February 26th. Collection boxes are placed in each homeroom and the homeroom that raises the most money per student wins a Domino's Pizza Lunch. Ms. Sharp's homeroom won this year and collected $15.05 per student.
The Top 5 Homerooms were:
Ms. Sharp - $15.05 per student
Mr. Bustamante - $11.30 per student
Ms. Gitler - $9.89 per student
Ms. Siegrist - $8.65 per student
Ms. Vitali - $4.46 per student
This year's final total was $865.30 donated to the Leukemia Society. Thank you to all of the staff and students who participated and supported the Leukemia Society.
Did you know that there is a Middlesex High School in Saluda, Virginia whose school colors are also blue and white? They are the Middlesex Chargers.
Shout Out to Middlesex Fire Department's Beechwood & Pierce Firehouses for opening their doors for our students to rehearse for the Spring Musical while school was closed due to the snow storm. We appreciate the community's support of our students, THANK YOU!
Shout Out to Ms. Heiba, Mr.Gallagher and all of the participants in the Marshmallow Challenge! During National Engineer's Week, they hosted the Marshmallow Challenge.
"Engineers are changing the world all of the time.
They dream up creative, practical solutions and work with other smart, inspiring people to invent, design and create things that matter.
Engineers Week is a time for everyone to celebrate and wonder what the next big innovation will be."
The Marshmallow Challenge is an engineering design challenge to build the tallest freestanding structure with only a marshmallow, dry spaghetti, string and tape.
Students and staff took the challenge and a team of students won with a structure measuring 30.75 inches!
The Math Department joins the Marshmallow Challenge
Great turnout for our 1st Challenge
Hard at work building structures.
Shout Out to Madame Kiss, her students and Ms. Sladky for volunteering their time to help After-Care students at Mauger make Mardi Gras masks at the 2nd Annual Mardi Gras After-Care event. Thanks to the students and to Ms. Samantha Sladky for helping out with this event too! Much fun was had by all!
Holly Wintermute (née Norgard) graduated Middlesex High School in 2007. She graduated Vassar College in 2011 and Seton Hall University School of Law in 2014. She now works as a civil litigation associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in New York City.
While at Vassar, Holly majored in Psychology and English and wrote her thesis on Shakespeare's Macbeth and Henry IV, Part I. During her junior year, she studied abroad in London and had an incredible time visiting her friends at their programs throughout western Europe. Holly was also actively involved in Together Opposing Neglect and Child Abuse (T.O.N.C.A.) and Helicon, the literary magazine. Perhaps most importantly, she learned how to knit.
At Seton Hall Law, Holly served as a Submissions Editor on the Seton Hall Law Review, and her Comment "Pushing Schools Around: New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act" was published in 2014. She was also involved in the law school's Interscholastic Moot Court Program and competed in national competitions in Albany and Houston. During her third year, she served as Director of the school's Gressman Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Program, the final round of which was judged by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Law school is also where she met her husband!
At Debevoise, Holly has worked on a variety of matters, based in federal and state court. Her practice includes securities, contract, white collar, and bankruptcy actions, and she has handled various pro bono representations.
She spends her free time doing yoga, seeing as many Broadway shows as possible, and playing Cranium with her family and friends.
Our students are incredibly talented and we have student art throughout the building. We created this section to show off some of our talented students' work. Thank you to the Visual and Performing Arts Department for encouraging our students to express themselves creatively!
Our first selection of photos comes from the Art Enrichment Club who are painting the hallways above our doorways. The teachers are able to select what they would like and the art wing highlights their artistic styles - ceramics, drawing & painting, theater and music!
Ms. Clark's Ceramics classroom.
It's showtime.....at the stage door!
Ms . Siegrist's Dance & Performing Arts classroom became its own Playbill.
Mr. Dow's Painting and Drawing classroom encourages everyone's masterpiece.
Mr. I's Band classroom shares a few words from Bob Marley.
Welcome to our newest addition to the Blue Jay Broadcast! We're taking you inside the halls of MHS....stay tuned.
https://youtu.be/pR--4xP6Zo4
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
2019: Delta Ijaw unite to deliver state for APC, Buhari
Ijaw leaders in the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed their resolve to pull their resources together to deliver the state to the party for the second term victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in next year's general elections.
This was part of the resolutions in the communiqué issued at the end of an enlarged meeting of the party at the Ugborikoko, Warri home of Ijaw APC leader, George Timinimi.
The meeting was attended by many Ijaw chieftains and APC members from Warri South-West, Patani, Bomadi, Burutu, Warri North and Warri South local government areas.
The communiqué was signed by Timinimi and other party leaders, including Sir Theodore Ezonfade, Denbo Dembofa Oweikpodor, Ebikabowei Victor, Alphonsus Feh, Chief Micheal Johnny, Comrade Collins Eselemo, as well as APC Ijaw local government chairmen and 53 others.
They agreed that Ijaw leaders would work for the re-election of President Buhari because of his unique achievements in the last three years.
They named former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva; the Minister of State for Agricultural and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Authority and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, as national leaders of the Ijaw in the APC.
Communique said: "The Ijaw in Delta State APC pledge their total and unalloyed support for the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election due to his administration's monumental achievements in infrastructural development, economic stability, people-oriented programmes for the vast majority of the less privileged and the giant strides achieved in his anti-corruption crusade.
"The Ijaw in Delta State APC have affirmed that henceforth, George U. Timinimi is their leader. This is premised on our collective desire to be focused as a people with coordinated leadership to deliver the dividends of democracy to our area.
"The Ijaw in Delta State APC hereby affirm that Chief Sylva, Senator Lokpobiri, and Dr Peterside are the leaders of the APC in Ijaw land. We, therefore, pledge our support and loyalty to the trio as we partner with them to liberate the entire Ijaw nation from the shackles of the opposition."


My name is -Pod- and I've been skateboarding since 1985 and photographing skateboarding, music (bands and live shows), People, places and other random images since 1992. I also publish a skateboard zine called "SAUCE" that was born in Portland late 2004. I'm originally from Tempe, Arizona and currently reside in beautiful Portland, Oregon. I am a very versatile photographer that can shoot just about anything and have a professional eye for detail and color as well as a self motivated artist. I love photography and take great pride in my work. Please feel free to browse around and view my work. Any questions, comments, and / or inquiries for hiring my camera and I for services, please use my contact information below. Thank you for stopping by.


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New Poll Finds High Support for Religious Liberty
by Travis Weber, J.D., LL.M.
A just-released poll shows very high support for religious freedom, especially in the context of that freedom being pitted against gay rights.
According to Caddell Associates, which conducted the poll, "[t]here is an overwhelming sense on the part of American voters that they want to find common ground in order to protect both the expression of religious freedom and the rights of gays and lesbians. What is clearly being signaled is an aversion to having an all out cultural war between these competing interests."
While poll respondents broadly supported protecting the rights of all, "when asked which was more important, by a four to one ratio, voters said protecting religious liberty (31%) over protecting gay and lesbian rights (8%)." Notably, over half of the respondents (53%) said both were important.
Support for religious freedom jumps even further in the context of wedding vendors. 83% said "yes" when asked whether a Christian wedding photographer with "deeply held religious beliefs opposing same sex marriage" as "the right to say no" to a same-sex couple asking him or her to photography their wedding. Amazingly, even "80% of Agnostic/Atheists said the photographer had the right to say no."
The polling also found that a majority believe "that the military has no right to regulate the religious actions of military chaplains. "
According to a report by the Washington Examiner, the poll shows that "Americans reacting to the Supreme Court's approval of same sex marriage desire a truce between religious freedom and gay rights." However, "if pushed," they "overwhelmingly side with protecting the liberty of their faith by a margin of 4 to 1."
It is clear that a broad swath of Americans are demanding that individual rights must be on the table of protections as we move ahead in a world of legalized same-sex marriage.
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Mr Samit Roychoudhury of 1988 batch has complied the third edition of "The Great Indian Railway Atlas". The Atlas is available on http://indianrailstuff.com/gira3 for sale worldwide. In addition it is also available on Amazon and Flipkart.
A detailed series of maps of one of the world's largest railway systems, with accurate track alignments, up-to-date information on track status, facilities, etc. The Atlas, popular with railfans, travellers and map-lovers alike in India and abroad, now in it's third edition has been conceived and painstakingly created by Samit Roychoudhury, a design professional and railfan. 94 pages of full colour maps, of 1 : 1,000,000 scale, referenced by a locator map. Accurate alignments and locations. Approximately 12,000 locations, including existing and closed stations, sidings, control locations etc indexed and with their respective station codes. Divisional and zonal headquarters identified. Almost every closed line and station depicted. A majority of sidings and industrial lines indicated. Tracks show gauge, whether single or double, electrification, etc. Metre and Narrow gauge in a separate colour for easy differentiation. Divisional jurisdiction shown using markings. Most works in progress including new lines, gauge conversions, electrification, including those under survey, etc. All Facilities such as Locomotive Sheds (electric, diesel and steam), EMU/DMU car-sheds, important Freight Yards, Goods Sheds, Container Terminals, Accident Relief Train locations marked. With approx. 23 detailed inset maps (mostly 5x scale) of complex areas. With 9 inset maps of the cities with Metro systems. Separate Narrow Gauge Map of Bengal. Glossary of name/spelling changes. Single spread At-a-Glance Map of entire system, showing the jurisdiction of the various zones. This page also contains a submap showing the extent of electric traction on the Indian Railways. A Railfan's Map which has all locations with Railway Museums, Galleries, Heritage Parks, Railway locations under the UNESCO Word Heritage Site, as well as plinthed and preserved locomotives. Dedicated Freight Corridor Alignment marked.


Leave us a message below if you have any question or want to start reserving a rabbit!
Feel free to email Emily at jkemitchell@hotmail.com or Eva at evamrr0@gmail.com if you have any interests or questions about our rabbitry, or our rabbits. You can also enter your name, email, and any comments above. We can also answer question about rabbits in general. We can discuss where to meet, or if you wish to see our rabbitry, and do the transaction. If our location is too far away from yours we can make arrangements to meet you somewhere half way. Anywhere past The Dalles, Maupin, Portland, or Vancouver will need a gas fee depending on how many miles away it is and the gas price at the time.
Email us if you see rabbit you like, we can put you on hold or (if someone is already on hold) as a backup. We operate on a first come first served basis. You can hold a rabbit for three days max before it goes to the next person in line. We can also put you on our Interested List for upcoming litters. If a rabbit is on hold there will be a back up buyer so if the first buyer decides not to get that rabbit the next person will get, again with the back ups its first come first served.
If you are the first person on hold you can make a down payment on your rabbit so it will be yours for sure at a later date. You can do that by emailing us a check (if so we can tell you more over email), or cash. We do not take paypal , debit, or credit, sorry. A down payment is usually $15 unless we tell you differently. You can take back your down payment with a $5 withdrawal fee.
Full payment is made, date, time, and place for pick up is also made. No changes can be made. If you decide not to get the rabbit, no refund will be made. If a rabbit dies before pick up or a week after pickup it is our job to find you a new rabbit, and your money will be sent back.


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Quoting Pramoedya Words, President Jokowi: Only One That We Have, That is "Bravery"
Date 16 Januari 2015
Read: 5.589 Views
In connection with issues concerning the submission of the Commissioner General of Police Budi Gunawan as a candidate for Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Kapolri), Wednesday (14/1) evening, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) wrote the message sufficiently clear on his Facebook fan page.
"In our life, we have only one, that is bravery. If you do not have it, then what is the meaning of our lives? "Wrote Jokowi quoted the words that ever delivered by the litterateur and humanist, Pramoedya Ananta Toer.
According to the President, related to the proposal of candidate for Kapolri to replace General (Pol) Sutarman, has been carried out through several stages of the procedure. Stages including receiving a proposal from the National Police Commission (Kompolnas).
Related to the alleged of problematic account of candidate that proposed as Kapolri, President Jokowi admitted that he had asked.
"I also received this letter, clarification regarding the account. Here delivered the results of an investigation and concluded that the transaction is fair transaction", President Jokowi said in a press statement at State House, Jakarta, Wednesday (14/1) evening.
Based on the clarification letter and the proposal from the National Police Commission Kompolnas), President Jokowi necessarily make a letter to the Parliament (DPR-RI) for approval endorsement of candidate for Police Chief (Kapolri) to replace General Sutarman
However, further Jokowi, in this process then there is the determination of a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). "We respect, we respect KPK, there is a legal process here," said Jokowi. Nevertheless, President Jokowi said, there is also the political process in the Council, he also appreciates the Council.
"After completed, then we shall decide the policy that we will take," Jokowi said without signaled whether the policy is in line with the message quoted from Pramoedya Ananta Toer words, "In our life, we have only one, that is bravery. If you do not have it, then what is the meaning of our lives?". (ES)
President Jokowi: Large Businesses-MSMEs Partnerships Should Greatly Contribute to Inclusive Economic Growth
Big Companies, MSMEs Partnership Expected to Increase Competitiveness Against Global Market
President Jokowi Visits Flood Affected Areas in S.Kalimantan
President Jokowi to Visit Disaster-hit Regions in S. Kalimantan


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Once located in Downtown El Cajon, I discovered my bookstore, 50,000 Books in the early 70's as a customer. I was looking for a book and calling around from the yellow pages.
The store had what I wanted, so I asked where they were located. The location was two blocks from my house and I was shocked. We had a few used bookstores in El Cajon, but this was one I had never noticed, two blocks from my house. The owners had morphed the store from sun glasses to used books.
I was amazed to find this little gem in Downtown El Cajon, and gradually got to be friendly with the owners, Russ and Ginger Von Hoelscher.
Within a few months I was working part time for the owners. They had some urgent business to take care of, and needed some someone to run the store for a few hours. I was on my own after one hour, and thus began an amazing journey. About a year or two later, I was buying a bookstore.
I called for one book, and ended up buying the store. That still cracks me up.
Although I found that I could easily compete with the chains, from my bricks and mortar, online selling is so competitive that I could no longer justify this service. I do appreciate all the support from my long-time customers and if I did open another store this would be high on my list.
I've been trying to figure that out for years.
But I know that for now I'm in El Cajon.
What happened to 50,000 Books at 116 E. Main St.?
It's a goner. I moved out around four or five years ago, because I thought the corner would be more secure.... Little did I know. I tried to move back in when I lost the corner building, but the rent was doubled, and I just couldn't come to an agreement with the landlord. It's been empty since. How's that for economic development? I supposed the value has doubled due to those imaginary rent dollars The downtown management group boasts about how it's redevelopment has increased rents. The landlords buy into it because who wouldn't want a little extra rent. The businesses who actually generate the services to help pay for the redevelopment get a little squeezed, but that's o.k., because there's an unlimited supply of new and unique businesses to drive traffic to the downtown, right? Yet it's been vacant for over three years. It will take about three years at the increased rent, just to make up for the losses, assuming the next tenant survives three years. It's ironic that now that downtown El Cajon has turned a corner, the rent's went up faster than the business, and I just could not see myself supporting that kind of nonsense. Support your local downtown, and then watch them rip it right out from under you, after your business helped pay for it. No matter what they say about price cartels, they do work.


lately, i've been thinking a lot about what relative proportion of various training types and methods to use to create an optimal platform for skill development in the class at georgia tech. as usual, i have sixty-ish variables going around in my head about what to do when for what students. i've had the benefit of being exposed to a lot of different styles of practicing taido, and i've spent considerable time learning and developing a pretty large repertoire of training methods. sometimes, these things can be a great advantage to me as an instructor, but sometimes i feel as if i have too many options and not enough guides for choosing among them.
so, i thought i'd post a poll.
most martial arts train students using a variety of methods. in taido, the obvious two are hokei and jissen. i'm curious as to which kinds of practice people value the most in their own training.
shukumine taught that jissen and hokei were both equally important components in a taidoka's development. through proper hokei practice (using imagined opponents and paying attention to the ten hokei performance guidelines), students can develop timing, distance, and speed in addition to good form. these skills are put to the test in jissen by forcing us to improvise creatively and react to the movements of a partner.
i know some instructors who have extended this logic to conclude that each tournament competition (including tenkai, team jissen, and group hokei) is of equal value, though i find it hard to agree that team events offer much training value to individuals until they have already reached a certain level of skill. the technical limitations imposed in team jissen can be helpful training for less-experienced students. however, i tend to feel that students need to build some basics before attempting to work in such a complicated, multi-partner environment as we see in tenkai or dantai hokei.
karate has the three ks: kihon, kata, and kumite. basic punches, kicks, and blocks are drilled until the practitioner can do them perfectly without thought. kata are supposed to hold the "secrets" of the techniques, and students are required to learn various possible applications from each kata movement. kumite is "free fighting," in which karateka are allowed to make use of whatever weapons and strategies they can personally employ within the ruleset.
on the other side of the spectrum, many mixed martial arts schools follow in the line of thought made famous by bruce lee that martial arts forms and routines are utterly useless. they make the claim that fighting against the air in solo drills offers zero translation to fighting a live opponent. i've heard kata referred to as "dead forms" by some who feel that the only valuable kind of training is that in which students face "live" resistance.
this attitude can also be seen in bjj schools that pair students against a partner from day one. solo work is reserved for conditioning and fitness. even some more "traditional" martial arts tend to value their combative components much more highly than their form practice. one notable example is judo (arguably a sport), which includes forms, but emphasizes working against resistance in daily training. another is kendo, training for which only rarely has students hitting anything other than a partner. even basic strike practice is performed against another armored student, the theory being that all students need to get used to hitting and being hit.
personally, i have a hard time saying that any one kind of practice is necessarily more important than another – they all have the potential to add great value to students' development. however, i can see that perhaps some modes of training will hold greater value for various students at particular stages in their taido education. in some cases, it may have to do more with personality than with any other factor.
whatever, your criteria for choosing, try to figure out which of these training methods you personally feel is the most important to you right now. we'll see what everyone thinks in a couple of weeks… thanks.
Previous Previous post: poll results: how much do you practice?


If love and caring can be measured in quantities of slime, I know a foster family who has a ton of it. Slime (the activity version) is exactly what you might imagine: globs of goo that stretch, and plop, and squish. You can make it or you can buy it. But either way, for tactile and creative kids, it's just absurdly cool. During one of our A Family for Me video shoots, I had the pleasure of witnessing both the fascination-with-slime phenomenon and the impressive enthusiasm of one foster dad.
Turns out, this was a pretty ingenious suggestion by Foster Dad because it allowed us to include the five other kids in his care. The only catch for us was that we needed to protect the privacy of the other children … while recording video for the child we were featuring. Our videographer would need to avoid faces, and focus the action on many, many young hands.
My intention was to purchase a reasonable amount of slime. But before I could, I received an email from Foster Dad basically stating that he'd already started a slime-making marathon. He asked that I just pick up some "add-ins." For those not familiar with the slime world, "add-ins" are things like glitter, beads, and shells, to be incorporated into one's personal pile of goo, thus making the slime all the more weird and alluring.
On the day of our video shoot, I swung into the crafts store, loaded up with sparkly and strange trinkets, then met up with our videographer at the park we designated as our meeting spot. Soon, a large van pulled into the parking lot and out of every door climbed six foster kids and two foster parents. Then they started loading each other up with bags of party necessities: a table cloth, paper plates, mini containers, etc. Finally, they lifted out a giant cooler on wheels and made their way over to our picnic table. There was a collective pause as everyone gathered around the cooler. Foster Dad opened it up to reveal what looked like 50 large Ziplocks, containing every variation of slime imaginable. Multiple colors, textures, and variance of translucency glittered in the sun. It was a stunning smorgasbord of slime!
I had to step back. Not only to take in the sheer volume of slime, but also to remind myself that entertaining these kids is not this family's job. This family's responsibility is to care for them and keep them safe. It's to keep them fed and help them navigate their current circumstances and uncertain futures. Foster parents need to get them to their various appointments and events. And in this family's case, they need to do all this while navigating six different complex backgrounds and six different sets of needs. But still, with all that going on, they were still able to pull off making this day extra special!
The party, of course, was a slimy success. The kids traded colors, exchanged "add-ins," and marveled at each bag of slime's unique characteristics. They chattered away and seemed to really appreciate the goofiness of the event. As we neared maximum sliminess, we asked our featured child and Foster Mom to join us away from the other kids for a bit, so we could interview this creative preteen. And for a girl who seemed a bit soft spoken during the activity, she answered my questions with thoughtful and engaging answers. Soon, our videographer and I said our goodbyes and left the family there, to enjoy the rest of the day.
As always, I was anxious to review the footage and hand it off to KING-5 News, so they could put together another A Family for Me segment. But life is complicated and life for foster kids tends to be even more so. For now, circumstances require that we hold on the broadcasting the video. But the experience was a reminder that we try to accomplish a couple things at once with our program. We aim to create those all-important videos so families can meet waiting children. And we also try to provide a fun experience and really memorable day for each child we feature. In this case, thanks to Foster Dad, it was a great day times six kids!
Plus, I can attest that there was, indeed, some magnificent slime squished that day.
Learn more about A Family For Me and watch the videos of kids waiting foster and adoptive families.
This entry was posted in Advocacy, Creative Endeavors, Foster Care, Reflections, Staff/Board Spotlight, WACAP, Waiting Children and tagged A Family for Me, Community, Foster Children, Foster Parent, Foster Siblings, Love, US Kids. Bookmark the permalink.


Large and even many small marine vessels have on-board electrical systems to power accessories including radios, navigational equipment, lights, pumps, refrigeration devices, battery chargers, and the like. The most common way of providing a ship-to-shore power connection is through the use of a shore power cord. The shore power cord provides a temporary butsecure electrical connection between a land-based alternating current (AC) electrical source and a vessel's on-board electrical system.
When power is needed on a docked boat, a shore power cord is used to connect the power source to thevessel. A conventional shore power cord includes a length of flexible, multi-conductor cable (e.g., hot, neutral and ground wires) having a watertight molded plug and connector at respective ends. The male plug is inserted into the land-basedreceptacle while the female connector is received by and locked to a charger or power inlet mounted to the vessel.
The neutral wire is tied to earth, or shore, ground at a land-based power source(such as a circuit breaker) and provides a return path for the alternating current supplied by the hot wire. The ground wire is a redundant path to ground to help prevent electrified equipment and/or stray currents if any electrical accessories,conductors, or connections malfunction. As such, the grounding wire should not conduct electrical current during normal operation.
The negative post of the vessel's DC system is, by convention, tied to the vessel's bonding system. Therefore, in a vessel which is properly wired to utilize a shore power connection,the shore-based grounding circuit is electrically coupled to some or all of the underwater metal components of the vessel including propellers, shafts, rudders, outdrives, through-hull fittings, and the like. Though necessary to provide AC and DCleakage current a safe path to ground, the connection of the shore ground wire to the vessel's DC grounded circuit has the potential to create problems with galvanic and electrolytic corrosion.
If one of the vessels has any metal hardware dissimilar to the metal hardware on the neighboring vessel,a wet-cell battery effect is formed. The less noble metal hardware (e.g., an aluminum outdrive) of one vessel acts as a negative plate while the more noble hardware (e.g., a bronze rudder) of the second vessel acts as a positive plate. The surroundingseawater serves as an electrolyte and an electrical current is generated across the grounding wire of the shore power cord.
The problem of electrolytic corrosion is similar to galvanic corrosion. In the case of electrolytic corrosion the degradation of the underwater metals is accelerated by a stray DC current emanating from one of the vessels. This may be causedby faulty wiring, a poorly grounded on-board appliance, etc. Electrolytic corrosion is often indiscernible from galvanic corrosion, and in fact the term galvanic corrosion is sometimes used to describe either type of corrosion.
Therefore, what is needed is a device that senses and alerts a vessel owner to the existence of a DC current on the grounding leg of theshore power cord. By doing so, excessive galvanic and/or electrolytic corrosion could be prevented by identifying a vessel operator of highly corrosive environments or conditions.
Galvanic isolators, are devices installed in series with the grounding wire of the shore power cord to block low voltage DC galvanic current flow while still permitting the passage of alternating current normally associated with the groundingwire. In doing so, a galvanic isolator allows the grounding leg of the shore power system to operate as a redundant path for return (ground) currents while preventing the conduction of DC currents normally associated with galvanic corrosion. However,galvanic isolators are often installed only after an appreciable level of corrosion has already occurred.


Discussion in 'Feedback, Suggestions' started by Leonicolai, Mar 10, 2018.
Hello can anyone tell me if a automatic trasmition ABS modulator can fit a manual trasmition P38. Or do i have to find speficialy an manual one?


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Mitski revels in hurt to make neo grunge, but would trade it all to be happy and dull
Words by David Zammitt Photos by Phil Sharp
All wrapped up in a blanket scarf and with her shoulders hunched to fend off London's April chill, Mitski Miyawaki is tired. It seems a perennial problem for the 25-year-old, who regularly tweets in the middle of the night lamenting her brain's nocturnal alertness when all around her the population slumbers and snores. While I boast, a little insensitively, of my own regular 8-hour appointments with the Sandman, she describes a cycle that typically involves a short-lived fit of sleep around midnight followed by a rhythm of tosses, turns and half-dozes before settling into a few snatched hours as the morning comes around and the rest of the world gets ready for the day ahead. At one point, she says, it was even more of a struggle. "When it was three hours, I was waiting tables all day – for twelve hours – and then I would do whatever music thing I could fit in after that."
It's a wonder, then, that she gets anything done. For she certainly gets things done. Her fourth album in five years, 'Puberty 2', is by far the most ambitious project to date for the artist known simply by her given name. Though the song writing on the first three LPs was of a consistently high standard, it always felt like Miyawaki was constrained, and while 2012's 'Lush' and its follow-up, 2013's wonderfully named 'Retired from Sad, New Career in Business', hinted at sounds fashioned out of raw materials beyond the indie rock, with their pianos and strings you sensed that there was more to come, a wider palette to be experimented with. And this time she has mined a new quarry altogether. It's all the more impressive for her serial lack of rest, though she says she's just become clever about how she uses her dwindling pool of reserves. "I have no energy, it's just that I'm very good at rationing it. I have no social life, I don't have fun – ever – it's just all work."
The production, crucially, has slid up a gear. Under the watchful eye of trusted long-time collaborator Patrick Hyland, 'Puberty 2' boldly breaks out of prescribed structures through skilful, confident sleights of hand that just wouldn't be possible with solely acoustic instrumentation. From the first machine gun synthesised drum stabs of opener, 'Happy', you know you're in for a more interesting – if a little bumpier – ride this time around.
Stylistically, it is also Mitski's most varied work. Impressively blending a range of ostensibly disparate genres, from trip hop to new wave via punk and electropop, it's a beautiful tapestry that works as a whole despite the seeming incongruence of its parts. One minute it recalls the early 2000s indie rock of Grandaddy ('Dan The Dancer') or the neo-grunge Waxahatchee ('Fireworks', 'My Body's Made Of Crushed Little Stars') and the next it's all smart eighties slow jams ('Thursday Girl') and dreamy synths that would have psychedelic tears dripping down Robin Guthrie's wee cheeks ('I Bet On Losing Dogs').
It all arises from a growing confidence in her own abilities and a newly found disregard for reproducing the songs on stage that have given Miyawaki the freedom to evolve. "For the last album [2014's breakthrough 'Bury Me At Makeout Creek'] I was very conscious of being able to recreate the songs live," she admits. "And my live situation was very lo-fi, where I would either have one guitar in a basement or a three-piece band in a basement. So I wrote songs that would translate well to that environment." She is clearly excited by this fresh brashness. "For this record I wasn't so concerned about playing it live because I realised that I could just have a different live version. I just wanted the record to sound good, to go into the studio and do what served each song regardless of how I would play it later, live."
But while the fruits of those toils are hard won, Mitski is evasive when it comes to the album's title. There was no 'Puberty 1,' of course, and so I ask if it is intended to hint at a sequel to or reflection on the changes she went through in her teenage years while she now goes through the metamorphosis of her twenties. "Most things that are important, I deliberately don't think about," she states cryptically with a look that says she wouldn't tell me anyway. "So maybe it has loads of meaning and that's why I gravitated towards it, but how it happened was that me and the producer were just riffing on what the album title should be, just joking around and I latched on to it." She pauses. "Maybe I latched on to it for deeper meanings but I try not to get too existential!"
Born in Japan to a Japanese mother, a lot is made of Miyawaki's heritage as journalists scramble to label her work as flowing seamlessly from her background. In interviews and reviews she is almost always described as Asian or Asian-American before any mention of her music. It's something that understandably grates. "It's like racism masked in progressive thought," she says. "At the end of the day, therefore, I'm not a person. I'm a symbol. And then people start talking about how I'm not representing it properly." She rolls her eyes and sighs, her articulateness making it obvious that she's thought hard about her stance on the issue. "Sometimes it's helpful when there are other East Asian girls who message me and they say, 'Oh my gosh, there aren't any other East Asian women. I didn't realise I was missing that figure until I saw you.' That's always encouraging." Having self-identified as a feminist from early on, she has also found that people assume every song is written from that perspective and with a feminist thesis at its core from the poet laureate of Asian(-American) females. "I'm not writing as an Asian woman," she says, "I'm writing as a person. I'm not making music to be a politician and I'm kind of being dressed up as that."
Rather than simply an Asian female, then, Mitski sees her identity as much more complex. She's spent chunks of her life living in China, the Congo, Turkey and various parts of the United States. Although it should be pointed out that that Japanese passport didn't come easy. I ask about her childhood and she pauses and smiles before recounting the story of her birth. When Mitski was just about ready to come out into the world, her mother flew to her native Japan in a rush to secure citizenship. "My mother… crazy. It was crazy of her to do that, to carry an unborn child in her stomach while she's travelling from Africa to Japan, give birth, fly back to Africa." So rushed was the task that she nearly emerged mid-flight. "I was almost born in the plane, according to my mother. Although I don't know how accurate that was! And then, once she'd recovered, we just went back." The wistfulness that runs through her songs, she says, is a direct result of that peripatetic life. "It's shaped my identity at my core and that informs my music," she tells me. "A lot of it is to do with leaving – saying goodbye – and going to a new place and not belonging. I think those are big themes in my music, objectively!" Who needs critics when you can write your own reviews?
It's that sense of longing that functions as the thread running through Mitski's work, tying together all of those genres so beautifully. For as well as a longing to be somewhere else, so many of her songs are born out of a longing for someone else. At every turn there are broken relationships. Some have faded, some have burned out brightly but she's yet to write a song with the happy ending she so craves. She admits that in her formative years she sought out these experiences, saying: "When I was a teenager it was all about experiencing everything. I was a junkie for emotion and I wanted it all." Now, however, she just wants a relationship that works within a life that works. "Lately I've found that I just want to be happy. You get a little older and you just get tired. So maybe when I was younger I chased that and sometimes I would do it for the song. I've had a lot of relationships where I knew from the start… I was like, 'Oh, this is so juicy. This is gonna hurt!'" She rubs her hands in mock delight. "Now I just don't have the time or energy. Honestly, if I could give all of this away for happiness, I would. I would rather be boring and happy than be fucked up and – apparently – a good artist." Feeling that it would be impolite not to, I offer my sincere thanks and she beams. "You're welcome!"
As well as dealing with an external world that loves to foist their own ideas of identity upon her, Mitski has also struggled to keep a handle on where her public persona ends and her private sphere begins, as fans and critics alike presume they know the woman behind the music. Where once only friends sought to empathise or share in her life narrative, now members of the public take it upon themselves to get involved, even when it's far from appropriate. For a while, this affected her work as she tried to second-guess what her audience wanted from her. "There was a period where I thought it paralysed me," she says. Luckily, she was able to seize back the reins. "The world kind of disappears. When I write I'm not thinking of anyone but myself. I am the protagonist, I'm the drama queen," she laughs. "It's all about me."
Unfortunately, while she manages to keep her art separate, this intrusion has disturbed her on a personal level. "I think it does affect me in my day-to-day," she says. "It's quite sad – maybe I turn everything into a sad thing – but what I've noticed is that so many people think that they know me now. It's very weird because they don't, and what's paralysing is getting messages or emails from people I've never met acting like they're my best friend or expecting me to do things for them. I've had people say, 'So, my mother is in the hospital and she has cancer. Can you please come visit her?' That's been paralysing."
Sadly it's part and parcel of a career that has been quietly ramping up and looks set to take off in earnest in 2016. Miyawaki, however, has a very different idea of what accomplishment looks like. It certainly doesn't involve selling thousands of records, and it isn't dictated by her bank balance. "I don't think I'll be successful this year because what I see as success has nothing to do with material shit. I want freedom; the freedom to do as I please and be left alone, finally." The 'finally' is telling, more than hinting at the struggles she goes through for her art, and the many voices that surround her in her day job. "I think I'm working this hard so that maybe in ten years I'll be left alone to just make the music I want to make at my own pace. I think that's very ambitious because no adult gets left to do what they want to do and my ultimate ambition is to do what I want to do, when I want to do it."
We agree to check in in 2026, and I remind her of a smaller ambition, namely a recent tweet where she said that all she wanted was a permanent place to live. As though she'd forgotten all about it, discounting such a lofty goal as mere fantasy, her eyes light up at the prospect. "If I was concerned with material shit I would have a place to live by now, but yeah, I would like somewhere to go back to!"
Originally published in Issue 77
From rags to Richards: 17 years of ups and downs with Jason Williamson
Meet Legss, an experimental London band in conflict with the capital
King Hannah: the sound of the American West comes to Liverpool


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Food Recall Warning - Western Family brand Original Wild Sockeye Smoked Salmon Nuggets recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes
Microbiological - Listeria
Delta Pacific Seafood Ltd.
Alberta, British Columbia, Possibly National
Ottawa, July 25, 2019 - Delta Pacific Seafood Ltd. is recalling Western Family brand Original Wild Sockeye Smoked Salmon Nuggets from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.
Western Family
Original Wild Sockeye Smoked Salmon Nuggets 150 g 0 62639 35065 9 11720516 and 11720517
If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. In severe cases of illness, people may die.
Learn more about the health risks
Sign up for recall notifications by email and follow us on social media
Report a food safety or labelling concern
This recall was triggered by the company. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.
Delta Pacific Seafood Ltd.: 604-812-3850


The Dijker car company in Nieuwe Pekela has been part of AutoBinck since 1 January 2014.
At this dealership, we sell new cars and provide after-sales services for BMW. We also stock a selection of high-quality used cars.


The world of babies is beautiful. The giggles, the gagas and the smiles melt away even the rudest of people. And then one fine day, you find yourself wanting an angel of your own, you feel like having a baby.... The world of babies is beautiful. The giggles, the gagas and the smiles melt away even the rudest of people. And then one fine day, you find yourself wanting an angel of your own, you feel like having a baby.
How to Get Your Husband to Want a Baby. 4 Unconventional Ways to Grow Your Family. It�s so normal for you to want a baby. And then another, and even another.
The world of babies is beautiful. The giggles, the gagas and the smiles melt away even the rudest of people. And then one fine day, you find yourself wanting an angel of your own, you feel like having a baby.


On the third day of the debate on the President's Address, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong took the floor to suggest changes to the Non-Constituency MP and Elected Presidency schemes.
This followed parliamentary questions on security and public health, and MPs' speeches on topics such as education and ageing.
Starting from June, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority will capture the fingerprints of anyone who enters Singapore at its air, land and sea checkpoints, to beef up border security, said Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Lee.
He was replying to Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) and Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC), who asked what the Government was doing to ensure Singapore's security, given the recent terrorist incidents elsewhere.
Dengue prevention measures can also guard against the Zika virus which is spreading through the Americas, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli in response to Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio GRC).
The virus - which has not been detected here - is spread by the same type of mosquito that transmits dengue.
Ms Denise Phua (Jalan Besar GRC) noted three "unhealthy" trends in Singapore's education system which, she said, must be reversed. They are: a preoccupation with academic scores; affluence affecting chances of academic success; and the segregation of students based on learning abilities. She suggested changes such as dropping the Primary School Leaving Examination, to change the mindset of chasing scores.
Mr Png Eng Huat (Hougang) of the Workers' Party asked if the "teach less, learn more" model could have "merely shifted more of the learning from the classroom to the private tutors". A study of the tuition culture is needed to determine this, he said.
Singapore should see its ageing population not as a problem, but an opportunity for innovation, said Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor. Agreeing, Dr Chia Shi-Lu (Tanjong Pagar GRC) suggested four improvements to eldercare. He called for the faster development of alternatives to nursing homes and more funding for R&D in mobility aides, monitoring devices and robotics.
PM Lee said he intends to amend the Constitution to give Non-Constituency MPs the same voting rights as regular MPs, leaving no reason to perceive them as second class. He also mooted raising the minimum number of opposition MPs in Parliament - including NCMPs - from nine to 12.
A Constitutional Commission will be appointed to study changes to the Elected Presidency and is expected to deliver its findings by the third quarter of this year, announced PM Lee. The panel will look at how to update the eligibility criteria for presidential candidates, strengthen the Council of Presidential Advisers, and ensure presidents are elected from the minorities periodically.


Eli* is a student I will always remember even after my corps year. Eli is inquisitive, funny, and loves being around his friends. Eli loves people, loves his little brother, and cannot go a day without making someone laugh.
Without knowing it, Eli truly has had a great impact on my corps year and will be remembered as the student I've always wanted to fully understand. The extended day program begins promptly at 2:30 p.m., and Eli is always one of the first students to walk into the room. Our program starts with a little game and, although Eli may not always participate in these games, he does seem very eager to join the group.
Eli is also one the students I tutor academically every day, and he sometimes struggles to keep him focused while working on assignments. Brimming with energy, it is understandably challenging for him to sit down for long periods without finding distractions. With that in mind, Eli has shown excellent growth in recent weeks. He is very enthusiastic about coming to the extended day program and has been doing much better retaining focus on his assignments.
The first time I saw a change in Eli was while working on a math problem with him. While his peers had a little hard time getting the work done, Eli seemed to be at ease with his work and finished the assignment before the rest of the students. The completion become a source of pride for him. That day, he was able to accomplish two full homework assignments, which was a huge difference from the amount of work he usually finished.
What changed? One technique that has worked well, especially with math, is timing him to see how long it will take him to finish his problem set. It presents a short-term challenge for him with an immediate reward: beating his previous times. Ultimately, my hope is that these short-term victories will lead to long-term habits.
Eli is the type of students who puts a smile on your face without trying. Without him, my corps year would not be the same. When I look back on my year of service in June, it will be moments I spent with Eli that make me smile and fondly remember my year of service with City Year—watching him grow and overcome challenges while still maintaining a positive outlook is nothing less than a joy.
Want to read about the progress our other students are making?
Tyler* used to say "I hate school." Click to read how his attitude toward school has changed.
Kameron* is an 8-year-old magician who likes to keep us on our toes.
Aaron* has a special thank you message for his corps members.


This weekend, the Savannah College of Art and Design honored Stephen Burrows with the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award. His dresses, a huge hit in the 1970s, were able to perfectly capture the zeitgeist of the time: Technicolor jersey designed to dance the night away. We sat down with Burrows to discuss his pivotal appearance in 1973′s now iconic Battle of Versailles, the importance of business savvy, and how he believes that Gianni Versace copied his idea for metal mesh.
← Stephen Burrows Returns with his 3rd Barbie Doll Nisha!


As in the Executive Seminar, this seminar focuses on the leadership philosophy of Jesus and the application of His leadership approach to organizations today without applying His tactics to modern organizations. We leave that to attendees to work out on their own following the seminar. We take a comprehensive look at how Jesus created an "organization" that began with a small group of largely uneducated men and women under great oppression that has grown and flourished over the past two thousand years with a servant leadership philosophy.
When we study the life of Jesus from a leadership perspective, we find that He had a set of guiding principles, a strategy, plans, tactics and a revolutionary way of dealing with people. No other leader in the history of the world has so lived out the philosophy of servant leadership than Jesus of Nazareth. He was the ultimate servant leader.


Set in the leafy East Midlands village of Crick, Holiday Inn® Rugby Northampton hotel is a 15-minute drive from Rugby.
Just 6 miles away from Rugby Station, the hotel is less than half an hour's drive from Coventry, Northampton and Royal Leamington Spa. Free on-site parking is available and Birmingham Airport (BHX) is a 40-minute drive away. The hotel is the ideal venue for a corporate meeting, conference or wedding in Northamptonshire countryside, with flexible event rooms for up to 170 guests and dedicated meeting planners. A 15-minute drive takes you to 17th-century Althorpe House, once home to Diana, Princess of Wales, while Stanford Hall and Kelmarsh Hall make for pleasant day trips within easy reach.
Start your day with a generous hot buffet breakfast, then indulge in pre-dinner drinks before a meal in light-filled Traders Restaurant. Families love the fact that kids stay and eat for free. Even better, all guests enjoy complimentary access to the on-site Spirit Health Club, with its 15-metre indoor pool, sauna and gym.
Free parking is available for Leisure, Conference and Guests staying overnight. Non residential guests using the Restaurant and Lounge guests are expected to complete a minImum spend.
The Hotel Restaurant and Bar will be under going a total renovation. Full service still available.