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A Look at The Walking Dead- Season 7, Episode 7: "Sing Me a Song"
Posted on December 6, 2016 by omarid513
So after that slight detour to check in on Heath and Tara, it's time to return to some multiple plots and see just what happens when Carl pays Negan a surprise visit at the Sanctuary. The comic fan in me cannot wait for this one. Welcome to "Sing Me a Song."
The episode begins with Michonne on the road as she again comes across the burned mattresses. Doing her best impression of Omar from The Wire, she whistles "The Farmer and the Dell," and soon puts down two approaching walkers. Setting down the radio and her katana, she begins dragging one of the walkers away.
Elsewhere, Rick and Aaron awaken just past 5:30. Rick contemplates radioing into Michonne, but doesn't. As the two prepare to head out, they make a new discovery.
On another part of the road, some Saviors talk of how something is still going, but it might be the end of them. At least Negan is smart enough to not let that mess anywhere near them. Fat Joey also apparently rigged the herdway.
When the Saviors finally depart, they are unaware that Carl and Jesus are also on this truck. While the drive continues, Jesus pours syrup onto the road in order to leave a trail, thinking that they're close. Jesus wants to bail and follow the rest of the way. The trucks are slow enough, so he and Carl will be in the blind spot and can race behind the other cars.
However, only Jesus jumps out and is left on the road as Carl continues towards the Sanctuary. As the truck approaches, Carl loads up one of the machine guns and overhears Negan's voice. One of the Saviors tells Negan that the redirect has been screwed up. They're on it now, but there's still a mess.
As the Saviors check the truck, Carl opens fire and manages to gun down a few of the Saviors. He demands that the rest lower their weapons, saying that he only wants Negan. Negan indeed presents himself, calling Carl adorable, even though he scares the shit out of him.
Dwight tackles Carl and confiscates his knife, but Negan orders him to back off. After all, it's no way to treat a guest. Negan is all ready to give Carl a tour of the place, and Carl eventually relents and takes Carl's hand. Negan tells Carl that, like Daryl, he's lucky, as both of their lives and jobs would be tougher with just one hand or arm.
As Dwight takes Daryl instead, Negan laments that he'll maybe have time to screw just one of his wives today. As for what's in store for Carl, two things: Carl can't shatter the badass image that Negan has of him, so Carl can't show any fear. Second, Negan sure as shit isn't about to ruin the surprise..
Negan brings Carl inside the Sanctuary, where he greets a waiting crowd of Saviors. He tells his followers that they have gone out into the world, fought the dead, and come back with some good shit. That shit can be theirs if they work hard and play by the rules. As such, everyone, regardless of points, gets fresh vegetables at dinner. Negan tells Carl that this is a sign of respect, as the people are still kneeling.
Back in Alexandria, Rosita and Eugene have the first of many arguments this episode, this one over whether to gather supplies for the Saviors or ways to fight back. Spencer, though, believes the three should travel together, but Rosita says that she's fine with Eugene.
Spencer can grovel to the Saviors all he wants, but he still believes this is all Rick's fault. Even if Spencer can do better, Rosita isn't so confident that he's capable. If Spencer wants to provide for the Saviors, he can, but he'll do so alone.
You know, Spencer certainly has a way with women. Those that don't end up in harm's way can't get far enough away from him.
Negan pops by his harem and tells Carl that the women won't mind if he stares at their tits. He shares a drink with Sherry and wants to know what happened with Amber and Mark, but Sherry says that's none of Negan's business. Fair enough, but Negan wants to know if it's true that Mark skipped out on redirect duty to be with Amber. After all, there are rules for a reason and nothing matters if you're dead.
Sherry is with Negan because she gets that. She admits that Amber made a mistake and wants Negan to go easy on her, but Negan reminds Sherry that he's never hit any of the women. True, but Sherry knows that there's worse to Negan. This tale is to be continued.
Negan then goes to Amber, played by Autumn Dial, and tells her that he doesn't want anyone in his harem that doesn't want to be there. If Amber wants to go back to Mark, she can, but what she can't do is cheat on Negan. There are other women who would love to take Amber's place. If Amber wants to return to Mark and her mother, Negan can put all three of them on the same job.
Though Negan accepts Amber's apology, but Negan reminds Amber that she knows what's coming next. It's all going to work out fine for Amber, though. Negan then tells Sherry to go fetch Carson. Negan knows that he's an asshole, but Sherry still likes him anyway.
Then Dwight and Daryl just as Negan is kissing Sherry. Daryl, as the help, brings in a plate of food, which is sad to see, I will admit. He demands to know why Carl is here, but that's none of his business. If Daryl isn't careful, a toothpick will go through Carl's good eye. Negan then tells Dwight to fire up the furnace. It's time for a little déjà vu.
Back on the road, Rick and Aaron approach a gate with only a day to find supplies. They climb the gate, which warns approaching people that the only thing beyond the gate is trouble, and head off to find supplies. You'd think that, based on Terminus, Rick would be more wary of areas with signs.
Elsewhere, Spencer asks Gabriel if hating someone is a sin, and it's not since it's a thought. Actions matter more in the end. Spencer admits that he hates Rick. He was a cop, but shouldn't be in charge. Deanna, though, served in Congress and brought out the good in people. However, Rick did the same for Gabriel through his inspiration. More than that, Rick, despite not being perfect, kept people together and alive.
And neither Deanna nor Reg's deaths were Rick's fault. Before Spencer contemplates what would have happened if things went differently, Gabriel only looks towards the future. No point in speculating on 'What ifs.' But Spencer sees no future as long as Rick is in charge. The only good thing that could happen is if Rick doesn't make it back to Alexandria. Gabriel then orders Spencer to stop the car.
He tells Spencer that what he's saying doesn't make him a sinner, but a tremendous shit. For now. It doesn't have to be terminal, though. Fuck yeah, Father Gabriel. Anyway, Gabriel then gets out of the car and decides to walk back. Spencer soon also exits the car and heads into the woods. He soon finds a walker up in a tree with a compound bow nearby.
Back at the Sanctuary, Negan brings Carl to his quarters and confirms that yes, all of those women are his wives. After all, why settle for just one? Negan wants to get to know Carl better, as he's fascinated by this kid. He figured a kid like Carl would mope around and cry about missing things like prom, but Carl instead went on a mission and killed two Saviors. And Carl is smart enough to know that Negan won't let this slide.
Negan then orders Carl to take off his bandage. Carl refuses, but Negan reminds Carl that two of his men are dead. This is punishment, and Carl probably doesn't want to piss off Negan right now.
Carl soon relents and removes his bandage, revealing the socket where his eye used to be. It is indeed disgusting as shit, but Negan finds it glamorous, even if won't get Carl a girlfriend anytime soon. An impressed Negan wants to touch it, but Carl soon gets very upset by this.
Negan pulls back and apologizes for hurting Carl's feelings. He was just fucking around. Soon, there's a knock at the door. Fat Joseph returns Lucille to Negan, as he left her by the truck, which never happens. Negan reclaims Lucille from Fat Joseph and asks if he treated Lucille kindly like a proper lady.
And that includes if he patted Lucille's pussy like a lady, but Negan is just fucking with Fat Joseph. After all, a baseball bat doesn't have a pussy. That's just Anatomy 101. This is what Rick should be teaching Carl. Negan then asks Carl to sing him a song. Carl can't think of any, so Negan asks Carl what his parents used to sing or play for him.
Eventually, Carl begins singing "You Are My Sunshine" while Negan takes random swings. Negan loves it, as does Lucille- the one thing she loves more than bashing in brains. When asked about his mother, Carl doesn't answer, so Negan puts two and two together. More than that, Carl admits that he was the one to put her down. Negan then orders Carl to get up because the iron should be ready.
Negan tells his Saviors that what's about to happen is hard to watch. He can't ignore the rules and let it slide because, as the Saviors say, the rules keep us alive. The Saviors provide security and bring civilization to the world, but they can't do that without rules because the rules make it all work. Negan knows that it's not easy, but there's always a cost. Here, if you try to cut corners, then it's the iron for you.
Negan heads down and receives the red-hot iron from Dwight. He apologizes in advance for what's about to happen to Mark, played by Griffin Freeman, but it is what it is. With that, he presses the iron to Mark's face as Mark lets out a horrible scream. When Negan removes the iron, Mark passes out from the extreme heat. With the ritual done, Negan orders Daryl to clean up the mess and tells Dr. Carson to get to work.
But everything is cool. Mark's face should be a daily reminder to everyone that the rules matter. Plus, Negan doesn't want to do this again. He then leaves with Carl in order to figure out what to do with him.
In the woods, Spencer manages to secure a rope to the platform the walker is situated on and gets it loose enough for the compound bow to drop. He retrieves it just as the walker drops, losing its arms in the process. Spencer pick-pockets the walker and, among the items he finds, comes across a note.
Eugene and Rosita arrive at the munitions factory, though Eugene has no desire to be here. He refuses to help, even though he did initially agree to do so. Since then, Eugene has considered other options and is wondering whether this option even makes sense. He's not trying to stop Rosita so much as slow her roll. And Eugene is seeing clearly. As Abraham said, the Saviors have numbers and a single bullet won't do it.
Someone has to pay the price, and even if Rosita is willing, it's still an uphill battle. Rosita reminds Eugene that she owes both him and Abraham. If there's a price, she'll pay it. She lashes out at Eugene, calling him a weak coward and saying that he's only alive because people feel sorry for him. So for once, he needs to do something useful and make her a goddamn bullet.
Rosita, you're being a real cunt right now.
We return to the Sanctuary where Dwight and Sherry again have a smoke. Dwight tells Sherry not to beat herself up, as he figures that she sold out Mark and Amber. Sherry says that isn't what happened, but Dwight sees through her lie.
Sherry says that this deal with Negan was only meant to affect them, but Dwight believes that Sherry is just standing on someone else's back. The two could be spotted, but Dwight isn't worried since they're not doing anything. Sherry agrees with that much.
Negan still won't let Carl wrap up his face because Negan isn't done with him. Carl demands to know why Negan hasn't killed him, Rick, or Daryl yet. Negan has plays for Daryl, saying that he'll make a good soldier. Rick is already gathering for Negan, but as for Carl, that remains to be seen. It's better and more fun for Negan to break him. So Negan asks Carl what he should do with him, since he can't release him.
He could do a number of terrible things, but Carl suggests that Negan jump out the window to save him the trouble of killing him. If Negan was going to do anything, he would have done it. Carl doesn't even believe that Negan would kill him, and maybe Carl is right. As Negan gathers Lucille, he tells Carl that they're going for a ride.
As the trucks leave the Sanctuary, Negan is unaware that Jesus is atop his truck. Negan tells Daryl that he's taking Carl home and orders Dwight to take Daryl back to his box. Back to Easy Street it is.
So while Daryl stews in his cell, he gets a key under his door and a note that tells him it's time to go.
On the road, a lone Savior happens upon a roadblock of corpses when she's soon approached by Michonne, who orders her to lower her gun and knife. She orders the woman to take her to Negan.
And just where is Negan? Well, he's back in Alexandria with Carl as he pays Olivia a surprise visit. He wants to speak with Rick, but he's out scavenging and might not be back today, so Negan will wait. Olivia tells Negan that Alexandria is low on supplies, particularly with food, but Negan takes one look at Olivia and figures can't be the case for everyone. This makes Olivia cry. A dick comment, but it's Negan, so I'll allow it.
Negan apologizes for being rude and offers instead to fuck Olivia's brains out if she agrees, and that gets Negan a slap in the face instead. That just gets Negan 50 percent more into Olivia. He orders Olivia to make him a drink.
So Carl gives Negan the grand tour of the house as we get a montage. He even gets to meet and picks up Judith.
Rick and Aaron- you remember them, right?- happen upon a sign telling them about an armed person who has supplies and ammunition. The only way for someone to have reached this point is that the person who wrote the sign must apparently be dead. Indeed, Rick and Aaron find what looks a houseboat.
Rosita thanks Eugene for her bullet and apologizes for what she said, though Eugene rejects it because he knows Rosita meant what she said. As the two make their way back, they happen upon Spencer, who found a list of caches from a dead man with a plan. However, Rick is going to do more than just hand this over to the Saviors..
Well, Spencer won't have to wait long to deliver the goods, as he, Eugene, and Rosita find that Negan is already at Alexandria.
In fact, Negan, Carl, and Judith sit on one of the porches and unwind. Negan likes it so much that he'd like to stay, and knows that it's probably stupid to leave Carl and Rick alive. Maybe he should just bury kill and later bury them in the flower beds. He says this while holding Judith, which is creepy as fuck.
Now I'm no professional or a doctor, Jim, but I'll just come right out and say it: I fucking loved this episode. The Walking Dead has been going through a tough period right now with the ratings. Perhaps people are tired, maybe the bottle episodes have gotten on their nerves, maybe the entertainment factor has dried up for some. I don't know.
I'll admit that the bottle episodes have been somewhat slower, but at the same time, they've allowed for some very good world building and character development. Plus, when done well, like the excellent "Clear." I wouldn't personally say any of the bottle episodes we've gotten have been as good as that, but I've enjoyed them nonetheless. But I can understand some criticisms when people say they'd prefer multiple storylines.
We sort of get that here, to a point, but I dug this episode not just for its fun factor, but as a fan of the comic book, this felt like a treat as we got to see a lot of comic moments come to life. And we didn't even spend the entire episode at the Sanctuary, so those wanting several plots to play out at once hopefully got what they wanted.
As for me, having comic moments on screen was the real joy of this episode to me. We got the iron ritual, we saw Negan's harem, and Negan bonding with Carl.
Actually, let's start there, because some of the stuff with Carl was a bit weak. I don't blame the acting because I do think Chandler Riggs did a good job, but I have to wonder how these scenes would have played out if this Carl was as young as his comic counterpart was at this moment.
I sympathize with Carl because of the position he's put himself into, but it didn't feel as uncomfortable as it was originally because Carl, though a badass in both interpretations, was just a kid. Here, he's already been hardened through things like putting down his own mother. If anything, I just wish that we had more scenes that allowed Carl to show his vulnerable side.
Having said that, I'm not really complaining. I like how Carl, despite crying in front of Negan, maintained his composure, not to maintain a front, but because he's not intimidated by Negan. Hell, he went as far as telling Negan to jump out of a window and questioned whether Negan would even follow through on killing him. Carl is tempting fate, but I think he knows that Negan wouldn't kill him at this moment if he hadn't already.
But as Negan indicated, it's more fun to try and break him. And given the shit that Carl saw this episode, I would agree. Even though this is the second tour us viewers have had of the Sanctuary, there's something different about seeing it with Carl as opposed to spending most of the time in Daryl's cell. Here, we saw more of the Saviors and their devotion to Negan.
As he tells his followers, there are rules. Break them and you get the iron, which was a pretty disturbing scene. I had hoped that the show wouldn't cut away when the iron made impact, but we did eventually see it, so I'm not angry. It showed how strict a stickler is for the rules, but also the lengths he'll go to make sure his disciples stay in line because, as he told them, he didn't want to have to do this again.
The strange thing is, as evil of a man that he is, we see that Negan has standards. He reminds Sherry that he's never hit any of his women. He previously offered Dwight a chance to bed any woman as long as she said yes. And he's not forcing any of the women to stay with him, even though their lives are far better living with him than scavenging for points.
And we see his softer side not just with Carl, but in Alexandria. He tried to apologize to Olivia after making fun of her weight, and though he got slapped for his troubles, we've seen how much Negan gets off on people fighting against him.
Though I maintain that seeing him hold Judith while talking about how he would kill Rick and Carl is one of Negan's creepier moments. Hell, just seeing Negan hold Judith was still creepy as shit. He's like the demented dad who loves fucking with you, but there's some small part of him that still cares about your feelings.
Negan's a guy you should hate, but Jeffrey Dean Morgan's performance makes him as eccentric and likable as he is in the comic, even though you're also rooting for his death at the same time as laughing with him.
But enough about Negan, because I could talk about him all day. There were plenty of other great character moments this episode. I loved Gabriel calling out Spencer on his shit. Not only was he right, but this shows how far Gabriel has come since his introduction and some of his time in Alexandria. This is the same man who warned Deanna that Rick and his group are dangerous people.
Now, even though he's maintaining his faith, he's not afraid to call someone a tremendous shit. He's witnessed Rick's ability as a leader and even though Rick has made some bad decisions, he's also shown why he deserves to lead Alexandria. Deanna was a good leader, sure, but she saw something in Rick, and Spencer should realize that.
But he still doesn't acknowledge Rick's leadership, so chances are he's going to do or say something that could lead to disaster. I say that not just as a fan of the comic book, but the fact that he thinks things would be better if Rick didn't return to Alexandria shows that he's plotting.
Not sure what to make of what Michonne's doing. Like Sasha and Rosita, she wants her revenge against Negan and perhaps she's heading right to him, but I assume this will play out more in the mid-season finale. And at the same time, she's being proactive in her mission, and she's better at this than trying to be Alexandria's resident sniper.
As for Rick and Aaron, I wager they may come across some weapons and the two may grapple on whether to keep them for themselves or, as Spencer is doing, hand over their items to Negan. It would be nice for them to have an extra stockpile of weapons on standby in case needed. The area they found looked pretty isolated, so chances are they could even leave the arms there, take down the sign, and keep quiet about the spot.
There's a lot I liked about this episode and I'm very anxious to see how this will all play out in the mid-season finale, especially with Negan back in Alexandria, but before wrapping up, I'll just go through one negative I have.
The one part of this episode that I wasn't a fan of was Rosita, or rather, her attitude towards Eugene. I get her rationale. She wants her revenge not just for herself, but for Abraham as well, and she's not going to let anything stop her, especially if it's possible for Eugene to manufacture a bullet. What I didn't like was her calling Eugene a coward and saying that his survival is due to other people's actions.
Rosita is way out of line here. Yes, Eugene isn't as gung-ho as her, but ever since "No Way Out," Eugene has stepped up and done a lot to help the survivors. He bit Dwight right in the dick, giving Abraham the opening he needed to attack the Saviors, and in "Last Day on Earth," he was the one who ended up taking the camper, even though he ended up getting his ass kicked by the Saviors.
My point is that this even though Eugene is no Abraham, he has made significant development and has proven that he's a changed man. And for Rosita to call him weak felt like a step backwards. He's just hesitant to taking on the Saviors, and that's understandable. He was there in the lineup right along with Rosita. Who could blame him for not wanting to just jump into this bullet plan?
Otherwise, "Sing Me a Song" was a great episode that allowed us to spend significant time at the Sanctuary as Negan bonded and became great buddies with Carl. As we head into the mid-season finale, there are a lot of pieces in place to make for hopefully a great episode: Jesus may be of help to Daryl at the Sanctuary, Michonne is on the warpath, and Negan has made another surprise visit to Alexandria. No one is on Easy Street right now.
This entry was posted in The Walking Dead and tagged Aaron, Alexandria Safe Zone, Amber, AMC, Andrew Lincoln, Ann Mahoney, Austin Amelio, Austin Nichols, Autumn Dial, Carl Grimes, Chandler Riggs, Christian Serratos, Christine Evangelista, Danai Gurira, Daryl Dixon, Dwight, Eugene Porter, Father Gabriel, Frank Darabont, Griffin Freeman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jesus, Josh McDermitt, Mark, Michonne, Negan, Norman Reedus, Olivia, Paul Rovia, Rick Grimes, Robert Kirkman, Rosemary Rodriguez, Rosita Espinosa, Ross Marquand, Spencer Monroe, The Sanctuary, The Walking Dead, Tom Payne, walkers by omarid513. Bookmark the permalink.


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VN to grow biotech corn by 2012
Viet Nam will start to grow genetically modified corn, which will be the first ever biotech product grown in the country if experimental cultivation yields positive results in 2011, says Trinh Van Hung, Director of the Science and Technology Department under the Ministry of Agriculture...
Anti-regime Hanoi lawyer faces 12 years in jail
VietNamNet Bridge - A former lawyer accused of spreading anti-government documents is to stand a first-instance trial in Hanoi on March 24 and is facing a maximum imprisonment term of 12 years. According to VnExpress, persecuting authorities have allowed four lawyers to...
Hanoi police nab illegal dollar traders
The Hanoi police caught an illegal dollar trading deal worth US$390,500 (about VND8.4 billion) at a branch of the Vietnam Export-Import Bank on March 8. The police caught two individuals Nguyen Ngoc Tuan and Dao Manh Quan red-handed, while they traded in greenbacks with...
'Gold' Buddha statue just made of copper?
VietNamNet Bridge - A statue suspected of being made from pure gold worth US$3.7 million could be made of copper only. The statue weighs 81.9 kg and is 1.16 meter in height and 0.85 meter in diameter at its middle part. Some traders of antique items said the yellow...
Hoan Kiem turtle escapes because of poor-quality net
VietNamNet Bridge – The nets used to catch the turtle were bought from the regular market so the turtle easily broke the nets to slip away. After failing to catch the ancient turtle on March 8, scientists and officials met to learn experience from the incident and to...
Poor infrastructure threatens EZ growth
VietNamNet Bridge - Backward infrastructure is seriously threatening the future development of northern Quang Ninh province's Mong Cai bordergate economic zone. Mong Cai bordergate with China is reportedly one of the best performers among national and international bordergates...
Policies sought to manage housing industry
Improper land utilisation and insufficient financial mechanisms have caused difficulties for the country. A corner of the Viet Hung urban area in Ha Noi's Long Bien District has been finished, ready for people to occupy. The country...

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My Very First Blog: Wat Ratchabophit : One Of The Most Beautiful Temples In Bangkok!
Wat Ratchabophit : One Of The Most Beautiful Temples In Bangkok!
Almost anyone who goes to Bangkok would have visited or at least heard of famous temples like Wat Arun and Wat Pho, but many would probably not heard of Wat Ratchabophit.
So during my third day in Bangkok, my friend and I decided to visit this less famous but no less amazing Wat.
After a good breakfast at our hotel, we walked to the nearest BTS Skytrain which is the Surasak Station. I noticed that the famous Blue Elephant Restaurant is just walking distance to the BTS station. I have never dined at this restaurant before - maybe I should try it one day!
I also noticed that Eastin Grand Hotel has direct covered walkway to the BTS Station, so if you don't mind paying more for accommodation, this hotel sure looks very convenient!
We took the BTS Skytrain to Saphan Taksin Station where we alighted to take a boat at the Sathorn Pier to Tha Tien Pier. From Tha Tien Pier we walked past Wat Pho and followed the map to cross a canal to reach Astadang Road. Wat Ratchabophit is located somewhere there. The walk from the pier to the temple was about 25 minutes.
Seeing barbed wires on the road reminded us of the political rally happening in Bangkok at that time. Luckily the place was safe and we did not encounter any problems.
The first thing I noticed about Wat Ratchabophit was the door. There were two guards or watchmen on the door.
This door to this part of the temple was closed. Later I found out this door led to the Royal Cemetery. We went over to search for the main entrance.
We found the main door opened with the guards in blue uniform welcoming us.
I could not help examining the guards up close. They were pretty special, although maybe a tad eerie. I have never seen any temples in Bangkok with uniformed guards in 3D standing at the door!
After walking past the guards, we saw this beautiful structure in front of us.
Behind this structure is a circular building.
Two elephant statues guarding the entrance.
Hand painted glazed tiles and mirrors made the temple looked so beautiful!
Closer shot of the exterior wall. So, so pretty. I could not help admiring them again and again.
Wat Ratchabophit is a Buddhist temple built during the reign of Rama V in the late 19th century. It has an unusual design in which the wiharn (prayer hall) and ubosot (ordination hall) are linked by a circular courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard between the wiharn and ubosot stands a large gilded chedi (pagoda).
I felt a sense of calm walking along the circular building.
Look at those colourful images on the wall!
You can see the chedi rising above the circular courtyard from here.
Very clean and very quiet. I like it very much as there were not many visitors to this temple.
Forgive me, but I needed to take one more shot even though they were similar looking. LOL.
The beautiful flower decoration hanging on the ceiling.
Excuse me, but I needed to take a closer shot. Haha.
Oh my, will I ever stop admiring the exterior walls?
Oh my God, this is awesome. Clearly, one of the most beautiful temples I have ever seen in the whole of Bangkok! How come Wat Pho and Wat Arun are more popular?
I think this is the door that leads to the ubosot. But it's closed during the time of our visit. What a shame! I heard that the ubosot looks like a Roman catholic church inside! Apparently, Rama V was influenced by European architecture.
More shots of the intricate patterns and designs on the ceiling.
Sorry, but I just had to take another picture of the door again. LOL.
The tall chedi in the middle of the courtyard.
The chedi as seen from outside the courtyard. Oh wait, did I show a similar picture earlier? LOL.
Approaching the inner circular courtyard, where the chedi stands in the middle.
Patterns and art work on the ceiling.
The chedi rising above us.
We were in the courtyard, in between the chedi and the circular building.
A few different shots of the chedi.
The building below the chedi.
OK, one last shot before I call it quits. LOL.
We were back at the front again with the elephants. It was time to leave.
Wat Ratchabophit is such an amazing temple! I highly recommend a visit. I might even come here again just to try my luck in entering the ubosot. But the best thing about this Wat must be the lack of crowd and tourists. I hope it will stay that way for a long time!


Report from Celbridge by Ronan Nicholson - greystonesacs jimdo page!
Greystones Athletics Club (GAC) entered 10 teams in the Leinster Team Event for U9 to U15 on Saturday 8th June 2013 in Celbridge AC.
The competition was at a high level with GAC athletes putting in very good individual performances and all teams performing very well. This resulted in GAC winning 2 bronze medals for the Boys Under 9 (Sean Smyth, Daniel Quirk, Edward Nicholson & Rory McNally) and the Girls Under 15 (Sinead O Neill, Richael Browne, Alison Dawson Whelan & Rebecca Murphy). The Girls Under 13 (Aisling Lawrence, Aislinn Smyth, Sophie Nicholson and Rachael Diggin) came in with an impressive 4th place. Every one of our GAC athletes provided us with great excitement and competed to their best in all events which was a joy to watch and we were very proud of all of them. The relay teams provided huge excitement at the end of a very long day.
It was a very successful team event assisted by the number of parents that travelled to Celbridge. GAC is very thankful to all parents who made the effort to travel but a special thanks has to go to those parents and coaches who looked after each of the teams individually - Pauline Dallaghan (GU10 - Sophie Dallaghan, Ruby Dowd, Maebh O'Neill, Eimear Ryan), Linda Quirk (GU11 - Molly Crowe, Ellen McNally, Erin O'Brien Howard, Emma Quirk), Valerie Lawerence (GU12 Danielle Crowe, Lily Hartnett, Eve Lawrence, Alice O'Neill), Billy Diggins (GU13 – Rachael Diggin, Aisling Lawerence, Sophie Nicholson, Aislinn Smyth, Ellen McGrath) Fiona Ryan (GU13 – Aimee Coughlan, Frances Dallaghan, Sarah O' Connor, Eva Roche, Ellen McGrath) Liz Diggin (GU15 – Richael Browne, Alison Dawson Whelan, Rebecca Murphy, Sinead O' Neill), Louise Casey / Clare McTague (GU15 Team 1 – Catherine Casey, Megan Healy, Aoife McTague, Alana Ryan), Dave Pegman (GU15 Team 2 – Rachael Casey, Etain Pegman, Ellen Prendergast, Joy Spendlove), Emer McNally (BU9 – Rory McNally, Edward Nicholson, Daniel Quirk, Sean Smyth, Frank O' Shea), Fiona O Connor (BU12 – Jay Cafolla, Joe Dowd, Alan Gordon, James Nicholson) and a big thanks to Liz Diggin for being our main team coordinator.
It was a great day for Team GAC involving one and all as we all worked together to make the day a successful event for our GAC athletes. One of the parents remarked over the weekend "that all the Greystones athletes and parents looked happy to be at the event" and this showed in the way the athletes performed and represented our club – well done everyone!
Another huge thank you to Christina McIntyre and Laura O' Neill who were the Clubs nominated officials, each Leinster Club has to provide 1 / 2 officials to help out on the day, to assist in running the event which was not an easy task taking the weather into consideration. Well done for your hard work in very hot conditions.
And finally we cannot forget Ellen McGrath number 1 sub for the Girls Under 13 teams (x2) and to John O' Connor who in spite of his team not being able to compete due to injuries still travelled to the meeting to support their fellow athletes. Athletes like this are invaluable to the club. In relation to the substitutes for any team event that the athletes compete in the rule is that if a team wins a medal and the substitute is at the event they will receive a medal but if they do not travel to the event unfortunately they cannot be awarded the medal so it is very important that a substitute travels to all events.
It was a fantastic day with the sun shining, what more could any athlete ask for. Once again a big thank you to all parents especially those of you who ensured that all athletes, including your own (children), were covered with sufficient sun tan lotion given the great conditions.
Note for your diaries - Next big meet is the Leinster Individuals in Tullamore for U13 – U19 Sat / Sun 15th / 16th June 2013 so we really looking forward to seeing you all their with your picnics and, hopefully, sun cream!


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» Review of Detroit-Area DUI Arrests Reveals Stark Sentencing Differences
Review of Detroit-Area DUI Arrests Reveals Stark Sentencing Differences
The potential consequences of an operating while intoxicated (OWI) conviction in Michigan are well known to most drivers. Loss of driving privileges, an increase in insurance rates and considerable fines can create significant hardships and barriers to future mobility and job opportunities.
Drivers must also recognize the very real possibility of incarceration after an arrest for OWI. A series of recent stories in the Detroit Free Press looked at local court records from Oakland County, Macomb County and Wayne County, and suggested that the degree of punishment has a good deal to do with where in metro Detroit a driver is arrested.
The report identified considerable differences among average jail time, fines and community service imposed for first-offense OWI. In Warren, a first-time drunk driving conviction led to an average sentence of 32 days in jail, while in many other communities jail time was minimal.
Statistics compiled by the Michigan State Police for its annual Drunken Driving Audit show that 20 of 50 metro Detroit district courts report zero average jail time for first-time offenders facing impaired driving charges. Average fines ranged from a high of over $1,700 in Southgate and Ferndale to barely a third of that amount in municipal Detroit, and only $112 in Highland Park.
Judicial Sentencing Guidelines for OWI, OUIL or UBAL Convictions
One reason for these major inconsistencies in enforcement is the lack of sentencing guidelines for misdemeanor intoxicated driving crimes in Michigan. With nearly 40 OWI/DUI arrests every day in the Detroit metropolitan area, and well over 10,000 breath tests administered in 2010, advocacy groups from both sides of the issue suggest that sentencing consistency would better serve the public good.
James Fell, senior program director for the Alcohol, Policy and Safety Research, told the Free Press that studies have shown that jail for first offenders is a waste of resources: "Jail is really only an effective tool if it is used as a threat to make the drunk driver comply with other orders for probation, treatment, community service or alcohol testing."
Model sentencing guidelines created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism state that first-offense sentencing policy should focus on deterrence via licensing sanctions, vehicle actions and rehabilitation, and only escalate to intensive supervision or incarceration when dealing with repeat OWI.
Some states do require mandatory jail time for first offenders, and Alaska's policy is the most severe at 72 hours. On the other extreme, Mississippi limits incarceration for a first DUI conviction to two days. But the harsh average sentences imposed in Oakland County for first offenses are an extreme rarity among local practices for enforcement of drunk driving laws nationwide.
Fighting the Worst Consequences of First-Offense OWI in Michigan
Drivers who face charges of operating while visibly impaired, high blood-alcohol content, open intoxicants in a motor vehicle or causing death or serious injury if operating while intoxicated, should discuss strategies for avoiding the toughest punishments for DUI offenders. Harsh consequences are by no means a foregone conclusion in any drunk driving case, whether the accused had a relatively low blood-alcohol level or other circumstances are present that work to a defendant's advantage.
The same basic legal principles are in play for all adults charged with drunk driving, including those that govern the procedures followed in field sobriety, breath and blood testing. A Detroit DUI attorney can assess the police report and other evidence to help clients get a firm idea of their legal options for reducing charges or fighting a conviction. A criminal defense lawyer can also help families understand the distinct differences in juvenile crimes cases involving underage drinking.


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76th Anniversary of the New London School Explosion
History In The Pines With Dana Goolsby Noteworthy
NEW LONDON- On March 18, 1937, a day much like any other in the unincorporated districts of London and New London, in Rusk County, a generation of East Texas was lost. For many years New London residents did not speak of the tragedy, but today they are telling their stories of that tragic day in East Texas and how it changed history.
A video was produced in observance of the 75th anniversary of the New London natural gas explosion. WATCH THE VIDEO NOW.
Unlike many other parts of the United States, oil money flowed through East Texas, which spared the region from the full force of the Great Depression and was reflected in the region's school systems. In 1937, New London, Texas, in northwest Rusk County, had one of the richest rural school districts in the United States. The campus of the consolidated London and New London district covered several acres and boasted seven oil wells and a number of buildings of brick and frame construction.
The junior-senior high school was the centerpiece of the New London School campus, built in 1931 with additions in 1934. It was set on sloping ground so that, even though it appeared from the front to be a one-story structure, anyone approaching from the rear would see two stories, since the basement was at ground level on this side.
Early in 1937, the school board cancelled their natural gas contract and had plumbers install a tap into Parade Gasoline Company's residue gas line in order to save money. This practice, while not explicitly authorized by local oil companies, was widespread in the area. The natural gas extracted with the oil was seen as a waste product, and since there was no value to the natural gas, the oil companies turned a blind eye. This "raw" or "wet" gas varied in quality from day to day, even from hour to hour. Untreated natural gas is both odorless and colorless, so leaks are difficult to detect and may go unnoticed. Gas had been leaking from the residue line tap, and built up inside an enclosed crawlspace that ran the entire 253-foot length of the building's facade. Reports state that students had been complaining of headaches for some time, but little attention was paid to it.
March 18th was a Thursday. Friday's classes had been cancelled to allow for students to participate in the neighboring City of Henderson's Interscholastic Meet; a scholastic and athletic competition. First through fourth grade students were dismissed early and most of the younger students were headed home, although some had to wait for their parents, who were attending a Parent Teachers Association (PTA) meeting in the gymnasium. The students in the junior-senior high school were about to cast their ballots in the school elections. It was just after 3:00 p.m., and the school day was practically over. By most accounts, at 3:17 p.m. the students and teachers of the New London Independent School's Junior-Senior High School became the victims of one of the worst school disasters in history.
In the high school's basement woodshop, the shop teacher walked over to a wall socket approximately 2 feet from a particular open door leading to the building's concealed space which was filled with odorless natural gas. He unplugged an electric sanding machine which ignited a flash of brilliant light and heat, and a thunderous explosion blew the floors and roof of the building skyward.
The blast produced a low, rumbling noise, which occurred with horrific suddenness and ferocity. All witnesses agreed there was only a single explosion, which smashed the atoms of the floor of the main structure (an 8-inch concrete slab), and sent it through the roof by way of the occupied classrooms. Debris from the floor, roof, and walls came plummeting down on any would-be survivors.
As workers in the nearby oil fields watched in stunned disbelief, the parents and staff attending the PTA meeting rushed out of the gym to see debris falling on a mound of rubble that had, just moments before, been the junior-senior high school. Onlookers reported seeing the building "go up like smoke" and the earth shaking.
Just outside the building, students in the day's last physical education class ran for cover. Some were injured by falling debris, but all survived. Their instructor was not as fortunate, however. Mr. A.W. Waldrop had just reentered the building for a moment, only to be caught in the full fury of the blast. Onlookers in the vicinity at the time of the blast were in danger from falling debris. One automobile 200 feet away from the school was crushed under a 2-ton slab of concrete hurled from the exploding school building. Altogether, falling stones wrecked 50 cars. Some of the flying wreckage included children's bodies thrown through the air from the school.
Very little of the structure remained standing after the explosion. In the most remote parts of the building's three wings, portions of walls and roof remained intact, sheltering a few small pockets of survivors. But for most that day, death was immediate. Many of the victims were crushed under tons of debris and those near the origin of the blast were dismembered.
As soon as the violent energy of the blast had been fully expended and the debris had settled, bystanders began to attempt whatever rescue was possible. The scene quickly became one of chaos. Desperate parents swarmed to the scene, shocked and hysterical. They stood around the rubble, making their misery and grief known to those searching through the debris.
About 1,500 oil workers rushed without hesitation to the blast site, and worked relentlessly for hours, searching for bodies. In the oil fields, these men were known as "roughnecks," but during the relief work, the community called them "angels."
Fire apparatus from the local rural districts and the nearby oil companies also responded immediately, but no fire followed the explosion.
From Warm Springs, Georgia, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dispatched a telegram promising, "the Red Cross will do everything possible. You have my authority to call on every agent of the government to aid." The medical director for the American Red Cross was immediately dispatched to Texas. Doctors and nurses from as far away as Fort Worth, Little Rock, Houston, Shreveport, and Dallas also arrived, ready to apply their much-needed skills.
In the nearby community of Tyler, plans were being finalized for the dedication ceremony of a brand-new hospital, scheduled to open the following week. After receiving a phone call reporting the explosion, the staff went into action a week early. More than 100 children, many of who had suffered serious head injuries, were transported to the new medical facility, although it had only 60 beds.
As word of the disaster spread, thousands of automobiles blocked the highways into the community. The state police and American Legionnaires had initially rushed to the scene and taken charge, but crowds estimated at more than 5,000 threatened to overwhelm them. Though the onlookers were united by hope and the best of intentions, they were making it impossible for rescue vehicles to get to the scene. To remedy the situation, Governor James V. Allred ordered the Texas National Guard to the scene of the New London School to keep the roads to the site open.
Walter Cronkite, a young green reporter at that time, was also sent to New London. Later in his life Conkrite said, "I did nothing in my studies nor in my life to prepare me for a story of the magnitude of that New London tragedy, nor has any story since that awful day equaled it."
Classes resumed just 10 days after the explosion. Of the 500 students and forty teachers in the building, approximately 298 died. Some rescuers, students, and teachers needed psychiatric attention, and only about 130 students escaped serious injury. Those who died received individual caskets, individual graves, and religious services.
A new school was completed in 1939 on the property, directly behind the location of the destroyed building. The school remained known as the London School until 1965 when London ISD consolidated with Gaston ISD, the name was changed to West Rusk High School, and the mascot was changed to the Raiders. A large granite cenotaph on the median of Texas State Highway 42 across from the new school commemorates the 1937 disaster. The majority of the victims of the explosion are buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, near New London.
Experts from the United States Bureau of Mines concluded that the connection to the residue gas line was faulty. The connection had allowed gas to leak into the school, and since natural gas is invisible and is odorless, the leak was unnoticed. To reduce the damage of future leaks, the Texas Legislature began mandating within weeks of the explosion that thiols be added to natural gas in order to make leaks quickly detectable. The practice quickly spread worldwide.
Shortly after the disaster, the Texas Legislature met in emergency session and enacted the Engineering Registration Act (now rewritten as the Texas Engineering Practice Act). Public pressure was on the government to regulate the practice of engineering due to the faulty installation of the natural gas connection; Carolyn Jones, a nine year old survivor, spoke to the Texas Legislature about the importance of safety in schools. Over 70 lawsuits were brought against the school district and Parade Gasoline Company, all of which never made it to trial or were dismissed. The court ruled that neither party could be held responsible for the explosion.
Over the years, the New London School explosion received relatively little attention given the magnitude of the event. Explanations for this are speculative, but most center around residents' unwillingness to discuss the tragedy. Today, New London residents and Trinity Mother Frances are telling their stories of that tragic day in East Texas, when a generation was lost.
Visit the New London School Museum
Monday through Friday: 9am – 4pm
Saturday: March 1st thru August 31st – 10:00am – 3:00pm
Fountain service is available during those hours.
The Tea Room is open from 11:00am – 2:00pm
Groups wanting to visit on Saturdays must call ahead for arrangements.
Large groups should call ahead for any day to set up a time for their visit so volunteer tour guides can be arranged.
ADMISSION – $3 for adults and $1 for children.
INFORMATION – For more information or to make reservations, call 903-895-4602.
DONATIONS – Those interested in making donations to the museum can contact theLondon Museum, P.O. Box 477, New London, Texas, 75682.
Tagged 76th Anniversary, East Texas, Engineering Registration Act, ETX, Explosion, gas leak, Historic Explosion, Memorial, Natural gas, New London, Parade Gasoline Company, Pineywoods, Texas Engineering Practice Act
Willie Nelson Scheduled to Perform in the Pineywoods
Willie Nelson Scheduled to Perform in the Pineywoods LUFKIN- Country music legend Willie Nelson is making a stop in East Texas. Nelson and family will play at the Angelina County Expo Center on Thursday, April 19. Both general admission and reserved seating is available. Advanced ticket prices range from $39 to $54.
Lost In Upshur County
Posted on November 18, 2011 August 30, 2016 Author MYETX
By Nikki Pelezo
The powers that be here in Upshur County divided the county into four distinct areas and in the Northeast quadrant the roads are named after flowers, in the Northwest quadrant the roads are named after animals, the Southeast they are named after birds and the Southwest they are named after trees. It makes for some pretty swell road names. Which would you rather live on, Newt or Jackrabbit?
Horror Classic In The Park
Palestine- Kick off the Halloween season with a Hollywood horror legend at Classic Movies in the Park in Palestine! Grab your blanket or lawn chair and someone to hang on to and head to Reagan Park for the strangest story the screen has ever told, "The Devil Doll."
Dogwoods & Diamonds: A Dynamic Duo


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O Chile participou dos Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 1972 na cidade de Munique, na então Alemanha Ocidental. Nessa edição dos jogos o país não teve medalhistas.

Chile
1972
Desporto no Chile em 1972

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Colorful knit blend with an underlying checkerboard pattern. Perfect wrap for under a coat or jacket in a unisex style.
Garments knitted by hand are skillfully structured with an individual flair. No two are alike and each becomes a treasured heirloom piece. For each handknit item sold, we donate a handknit item to a local charitable organization.


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PPBF – A Song of Frutas
Today is the last day of Hispanic Heritage month. I think you'll agree that today's Perfect Picture Book selection is a wonderful way to celebrate!
Title: A Song of Frutas
Written By: Margarita Engle
Illustrated By: Sara Palacios
Publisher/Date: Athenium Books for Young Readers/2021
Themes/Topics: intergenerational, multicultural, Cuba
When we visit Abuelo, I help him sell frutas. We sing the names of each fruit as we walk, our footsteps like drumbeats, our hands like maracas, shaking bright food shapes while we chant with a rhythm:
Mango limón coco melon naranja tononja plátano piña.
Brief Synopsis: A young girl visits her grandfather in Cuba and helps him sell fruit.
Learn about Cuba, the setting of this story;
What's your favorite fruit? Why? Find out more about your favorite fruit, learn how to say the name of that fruit in Spanish or another language, and/or sing a song about your favorite fruit;
In Cuba and many other Spanish-speaking regions, people traditionally eat 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve, and make one wish per month for the coming year. Do you have a tradition in your family to celebrate the new year? Describe in words or pictures things you wish for – either for yourself, your family and friends, or the world;
Check out the Curriculum Guide for many more activity ideas.
With its rhythmic prose and detailed, colorful illustrations, A Song of Frutas is a delightful glimpse into the life of a Cuban fruit vendor and his young Cuban-American granddaughter. For those who have never encountered an open-air market or vendors who stroll the streets with fresh foods and other treats, this is a reminder that food doesn't need to arrive shrink wrapped on large grocery shelves or bundled into bags on your doorstep. It's also a reminder of the importance and dignity of the people who provide our nourishment, and the happiness that results when others view these vendors as important members of our community.
Engle's lyrical text sprinkles in Spanish words seamlessly, much like a family with roots in one culture might continue to use those words or phrases when they move to a new land where another language is spoken. With the English phrase or word often following the Spanish one, or with the Spanish words next to illustrations of the items they identify, both of which happens here, Engle provides a wonderful opportunity for younger children to learn some Spanish.
In the story, the unnamed young narrator is visiting her beloved Abuelo and helping him sell frutas. I love that she finds pleasure in working with him and meeting all of the other vendors and customers. Not surprisingly, her favorite is "la ducera, a woman with the voice of an angel, who croons so sweetly in praise of los caramelos". The love of chocolate and candies just may be universal!
While much of the story takes place during the visit in Cuba, Engle also reminds readers that travel between Cuba and the United States has not always been possible due to political reasons. A New Year's Eve "wish is always friendship between countries, so that we can visit mi abuelo more often" and that he, perhaps, can visit the United States, too.
Rather than ending on this more somber note, Engle shows the young narrator and her abuelo exchanging letters, singing "rhymes back and forth…all our hopeful poems flying like songbirds who glide and soar through wild sky" sending hugs to each other until their next meeting.
With its Author's Note that explains the Spanglish used in the text, to a brief explanation of travel restrictions, and an exploration of the singing vendors of Cuba and Cuban New Year's eve traditions, A Song of Frutas is a wonderful resource for libraries and classrooms. It's also a joyful read for families, especially for those that blend multiple cultures.
As is evident from the opening lines, Engle's use of lyrical language enables the text to sing, much like the narrator and her abluelo sing the fruit names.
A Song of Frutas is a work of fiction, but it's clear that Engle, who is a Cuban American, clearly understands Cuban society and culture and draws on memories of her visits there to add rich details to this story.
Tagged intergenerational, multicultural
PPBF – Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua
Posted on October 8, 2021 | 8 comments
Monday is Indigenous Peoples' Day, a day when we celebrate the first inhabitants of these lands. I can't think of a more Perfect Picture Book to read this weekend.
Title: Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua
Written By: Gloria Amescua
Illustrated By: Duncan Tonatiuh
Publisher/Date: Abrams Books for Young Readers/2021
Suitable for Ages: 6-10
Themes/Topics: indigenous peoples, Nahua, Mexico, art, biography
A girl stared at the stars sprinkling the hammock of sky. Like many other nights she listened to the whisperings of the ancient Aztecs in the wind. She heard their xochicuicatl, their flower-song. She listened as the elders repeated tales their grandfathers had told. Tales their grandfathers' grandfathers had told: how sacred streams and mountains protect them, how the Nahua lost their land to Cortés, the conqueror, and to the Spaniards who followed him.
She was Luz Jiménez, child of the flower-song people, the powerful Aztecs, who called themselves Nahua—who lost their land, but who did not disappear.
Brief Synopsis: A biography of Luz Jiménez, a Nahua girl in Mexico, who became a model for several important artists and a teacher, and who thereby helped preserve her people's culture.
Learn about the Aztecs, from whom the Nahua people descend;
Luz Jiménez served as a model for many artists, including Diego Rivera, a Mexican artist known especially for his murals. Try recreating a mural by Diego Rivera;
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day;
Check out the rich back matter, with its Author's Note, Artist's Note, Timeline, Glossary, Notes and Bibliography.
In this rich biography, readers learn the story of Luz Jiménez, a little-known indigenous woman who became the face of the Nahua people by serving as a model for many artists. She also realized her dream of becoming a teacher, by sharing the stories of her youth, native crafts, and the Nahuatl language with anthropologists and university students. I love that readers learn so much about traditional Nahua life and culture in this book. From the legends Luz grew up listening to, to the skills she learned as a girl, including grinding corn, twisting yarn, and weaving, readers experience Luz's life in the early twentieth century.
Readers also experience this culture through Tonatiuh's detailed and signature-style artwork that features side-profile humans and glimpses of Nahua legends in the landscape. He also shared in the Artist's Note that he found inspiration in the "works of art for which Luz Jiménez modeled".
We also learn, though, that the Mexican government required Nahua children to learn Spanish in school, as "the descendants of the Spanish who ruled the country" sought "to turn the native children into modern ones". I found this tragically similar to the stories about residential schools for indigenous children in Canada and the United States.
In addition to learning so much about the Nahua peoples and their history in Mexico, readers also discover how young Luz had a dream, a dream to attend school and become a teacher. Although the school she attended was not one that included lessons about her native culture, and although she never taught children in her beloved home village, she did become a teacher – a guide to her culture and a university instructor sharing the Nahuatl language. I love how this shows young readers to hang on to their dreams, and to adapt them to life's circumstances when necessary.
I also love how Luz broke with tradition, becoming a model for artists, to help preserve her native culture and traditions. In the Author's Note, Amescua shares that Luz "never told her mother about her modeling work" as it "wasn't something that Nahua women typically did." Only by breaking norms did she preserve them – what an important action to discuss with kids.
I believe that Child of the Flower-Song People is a wonderful resource for classroom discussions. Note that it includes a reference to the death of Luz's father at the hands of government soldiers, it has a fairly large word count, and it includes more historical details than many picture books. It clearly is targeted to the upper end of the picture book market.
In the Author's Note, Amescua shares that she first learned of Luz's story in a pamphlet announcing a symposium about her at the University of Texas. Although Amescua missed attending that symposium, the story stayed with her, and years later, she researched and wrote this picture book biography.
"Flower-song", part of the title and an image that runs through the book, derives from the Nahuatl word for poetry, xochicuicatl, "the flower and the song". In the Author's Note, Amescua shares that she uses "the term 'flower-song' to represent the Nahua spirit in Luz and the Nahua people."
Tagged art, Indigenous Peoples, Mexico, Nahua
PPBF – Bright Star
A favorite author/illustrator released an eagerly-awaited, new picture book earlier this month. With its focus on the borderlands, an area much in the news recently, I think this is a Perfect Picture Book. I hope you agree!
Title: Bright Star
Written & Illustrated By: Yuyi Morales
Publisher/Date: Neal Porter Books, an imprint of Holiday House/2021
Themes/Topics: borderlands, wildlife, family, barriers, connections, empowerment
Child, you are awake!
Breathe in, then breathe out, hermosa creatura.
You are ALIVE!
You are a bright star inside our hearts.
Brief Synopsis: A fawn born in the borderlands desert takes its first exploratory steps, and, faced with a barrier, learns to make its voice heard.
When we think of borders and/or barriers between countries or regions, we generally think about the people who are prevented from crossing. Why do you think Morales focuses on a fawn that confronts a border wall?
Learn about the flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert;
View a video in which Morales discusses the making of Bright Star;
Check out the Educators Guide for discussion questions and more, and the Event Kit for activity ideas.
With gorgeous mixed-media artwork and limited text using both English and Spanish, Morales transports readers to the Sonoran desert borderlands. There, readers witness the birth of a curious white-tailed fawn. We experience the sense of wonder it feels exploring this seemingly austere, desert landscape that is filled with cacti, other desert plants, and many native animals, birds, and insects.
When the fawn encounters a huge wall that precludes further progress on its journey to find water, it lets the world know how it feels by shouting out, "NO!" Thankfully, the earth protects the young fawn and the other creatures with a soothing rain shower, enabling it to "imagine a new story" of "the most beautiful world." This world is filled with young children of a variety of soft brown hues, wearing colorful clothing that references the desert creatures.
An omniscient voice, like a caring mother, prods the fawn to explore, to overcome fear, and to listen to the surrounding silence. I love the gentle tone of the text and the reassurance this narrator imparts to the story.
In an afterword, Morales explains why she made the book. First in the list, "I made this book because you and I are connected". These connections are very apparent throughout the text and most especially in the illustrations. The details, including the use of woven and embroidered cloth and a photograph of the arm of a young child at the border "used for the color and texture of the children's skin" in the book, show the care, and love, Morales is sharing with the children at the borderlands and with us, the readers.
With its detailed illustrations, low word count, and message of community and caring for each other, Bright Star is a wonderful picture book to share with younger children. Because it raises so many questions about how we treat others, including the natural world, at the borderlands, I think this is also a wonderful choice for classroom and home discussion with older children.
In another of the statements about why she created Bright Star, Morales stated that she "made this book knowing that children everywhere, but especially migrant children at the borderlands, have experienced things that they should never have to endure." But rather than concentrating solely on these atrocities, which would be a difficult topic for young children to read about, Morales introduces readers to the beauty of the borderlands, the diverse flora and fauna, and the beautiful faces of young children. And while the wall that divides the borderlands plays a prominent role in the story, the young fawn uses its voice to shout "NO!" and then listens to the wisdom of the soothing silence. In the end, Morales leaves readers hopeful that communities will use their voices to reunite the peoples and natural world of the borderland.
Tagged borderlands
PPBF – Anita and the Dragons
Regular readers know that I love stories that feature moving house, especially when they involve international moves. I recently read a new picture book about a move from the Dominican Republic to the United States that I think you'll agree is a Perfect Picture Book!
Title: Anita and the Dragons
Written By: Hannah Carmona
Illustrated By: Anna Cunha
Suitable for Ages: 3+
Themes/Topics: emigration, imagination, bravery, moving
Today is the day I will meet the dragons – large winged beasts who will carry me away. For years, I have watched the dragons high above me as I play, hopping from one cement roof to another. Their snarls shake the gravel roads.
But being the valiant princesa I am, I never let them scare me!
Brief Synopsis: Anita, a young girl with a vivid imagination, prepares to emigrate from her native Dominican Republic.
Anita and her family live in the Dominican Republic. Learn more about this Caribbean country;
Anita describes airplanes as dragons. How are airplanes like dragons? How are they different? Draw a picture of an airplane, a dragon, or a dragon airplane;
Reread the opening lines, "Today is the day I will…" What will you do today to overcome a fear, complete a task, or fulfill a dream?
Check out a few other activities and coloring sheets here.
With courage and imagination, Anita, a young Dominican princesa, prepares to enter the belly of a dragon with her family and fly to a new home. I love how Anita portrays the airplanes that fly overhead as dragons, dragons that she will conquer. I think kids will relate to her worldview and plucky spirit. Those with siblings will enjoy how she dismisses her brother for questioning that they live in a palace, stating simply that she would never allow "a toad like you inside my walls".
Those who have faced new situations will understand the physical manifestations of fear, the sweat, the clenched stomach, clammy hands, and a "rock the size of my fist" landing "with a plunk in the empty pit of my stomach." Despite this fear, despite the necessity of saying goodbye to beloved family members and their island home, Anita and her family bravely "stand strong", entering the beast's belly to journey towards "new adventures".
I love how the focus of Anita and the Dragons is on the courage and strength Anita displays as she and her family leave the beloved familiar and journey into the great unknown. Because Anita is such a strong character, I felt no doubt by story's end that she would conquer her new homeland and establish a new palace there, one befitting a true princesa.
The beautiful pastel illustrations evoke Anita's island homeland while a stylized illustration of an airplane makes clear that the family is journeying to the United States.
Anita and the Dragons is a wonderful choice for classroom and family reading with its many opportunities to discuss the differences between island life and life in an American city and ways we can overcome our fears to embrace new adventures.
From the assertive first line, "Today is the day I will meet the dragons", to the hopeful ending with its promise of "new adventures," Carmona has crafted a picture book that showcases a strong main character overcoming her fears. I think by analogizing the airplanes to dragons, an image I think many kids will relate to, and by characterizing Anita as a brave princesa, a character I think many kids will want to emulate, Carmona shows readers that they, too, can adapt to change, even a major change like an international move. I also think it's refreshing that Carmona highlights the positives of Anita's life in the Dominican Republic and some things that await them in the United States. Finally, Carmona includes a scene in which Anita vows that she will return to "my island", that she "will see you again." I think this accurately reflects the experience of those who emigrate but hold their place of origin in their hearts and, when able, return home, even if simply to visit.
Tagged bravery, emigration, imagination, Moving
PPBF – Mexique: A Refugee Story from the Spanish Civil War
A month ago, I, like many in the world, watched in disbelief and horror as scenes of refugees fleeing Afghanistan unfolded across our television screens, social media feeds, and in newspaper articles. One article, in particular, caught my attention: a few of the major US newspapers turned to what I thought was an unlikely source for help in evacuating Afghan coworkers: the Mexican government. And then I remembered this Perfect Picture Book sitting on my nightstand, waiting for me to reread and review it. It turns out that Mexico has a history of helping those from afar seeking refuge.
Title: Mexique: A Refugee Story from the Spanish Civil War
Written By: María José Ferrada
Illustrated By: Ana Penyas
Translated By: Elisa Amado
Publisher/Date: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers/2020, originally published in Spanish by Alboroto Ediciones, Mexico/2018
Themes/Topics: refugees, Spanish Civil War, hope, resilience
At night I close my eyes and feel the waves beating. I think they are saying something to the ship. Mexique. That's what it is called. Do the waves know that? Does the sea keep the names of all the ships?
Brief Synopsis: The story of one ship filled with 457 children of Spanish Republicans in 1937, during the Spanish Civil War.
Learn about the Spanish Civil War;
Have you ever traveled anywhere without your parents or siblings? How did you feel?
Learn about Spain and Mexico;
Learn more about the Mexique and the Spanish Civil War in the Afterword.
In sparse, poetic language, told from the viewpoint of one of the children on the boat, Ferrada relays the story of the departure of the refugee ship Mexique from Europe and its arrival in Mexico.
The children aboard were the offspring of Spanish Republicans who sought a place of safety for them to wait out the few months of a war about which many of us know little, if anything. But that war, readers learn in the Afterword, lasted longer than a few months. General Franco and his followers won that war, Spain was left hungry and in ruins, and the Spanish Republicans were persecuted by the victors. World War II quickly followed the Spanish Civil War. Afterwards, General Franco continued to rule with an iron fist until the 1970s. Many of the Mexique's passengers never returned to Spain.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Thankfully, this picture book ends with the arrival of the children in Mexico, a place, as I mentioned above, that many of us in the United States generally don't view as a place of refuge. During the journey, older girls befriended younger children, becoming the "sisters we didn't have before." The children sang, played at being soldiers, cried, and imagined where they were going. White handkerchiefs that looked "like stars or flowers" waving in the wind greeted the children. The children brought "the war in our suitcases". But the story ends on a hopeful note, with those children still believing it would be only three or four months until their return to their families in Spain, like "summer vacation, only longer."
Many of Penyas' primarily black-and-white illustrations appear as panels, graphic-novel style, often across wordless two-page spreads. Several of the more difficult scenes, like leaving family and friends, scenes of war, and scenes of the difficult crossing, appear only in the illustrations.
Because Mexique ends on a hopeful note, because it illuminates a war and a period of history about which many of us know little, and because it highlights the generosity of our neighbors to the south and offers a new perspective for many about Mexico, I think this is an important picture book for classroom and home reading.
The story of over 400 children leaving their homes and relatives behind is a difficult topic to share with children. But by focusing on the passengers of one ship and by using first person point-of-view, I think Ferrado helps readers empathize with the young refugees and eperience the hope they felt when they reached Mexico.
Tagged Hope, Refugees, resilience, Spanish Civil War
PPBF – Grandpa Across the Ocean
This Sunday, we celebrate Grandparents Day in the United States. I think today's Perfect Picture Book is a wonderful way to celebrate the bonds that unite grandparents and grandchildren, wherever they live. I hope you agree!
Title: Grandpa Across the Ocean
Written & Illustrated By: Hyewon Yum
Themes/Topics: intergenerational, Asian-Americans, Korea, grandparents
My Grandpa lives on the other side of the ocean. Where Grandpa lives, it smells strange. It sounds strange.
Brief Synopsis: There might be many differences between a Grandpa and his grandson who speak different languages and live on opposite sides of an ocean, but many things unite them, too.
Cook a meal with an elderly relative or family friend that includes a favorite dish of theirs and yours;
Celebrate Grandparents Day with these fun activities;
Learn about South Korea, the setting for this story.
In Grandpa Across the Ocean, Yum uses kid-relatable examples to show the differences between the Korean grandpa and his visiting American grandson. In addition to the language barrier, readers learn that Grandpa eats yucky foods, watches news programs instead of cartoons, and "naps all the time in his chair". And the only toy in the house, a ball, ends up crashing into Grandpa's potted plants, causing a big mess. What child can't relate to that?
Like the unnamed grandchild, young readers will expect Grandpa to react with sorrow and anger. My guess is that many adults will share that expectation. But instead, this mishap leads to greater understanding between Grandpa and the boy of the similarities that unite them. I love that many of these occur in nature.
Yum's colorful colored pencil illustrations complement and further the text. I particularly enjoyed a two-page spread featuring Grandpa and the boy, in matching hats at the beach, accompanied by the perceptive text, "We watch the waves come and go. They look just like the waves on the other side of the ocean." How true! And certainly something we all should remember, whether we're thinking about barriers separating family members or even separating strangers.
On the jacket flap, readers learn that Yum was born and raised in South Korea, but now resides in New York. Like the mother in this story, she spends part of each summer in South Korea with her own children so that they can spend time with their grandparents. Clearly she has mined these experiences to craft this story.
Tagged Asian-Americans, grandparents, intergenerational, Korea
PPBF – 30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag
Posted on September 3, 2021 | 9 comments
I'm happy to be sharing a recently published picture book that I had the good fortune to win from the wonderful crew at Kidlit 411 earlier this summer.* I knew when it arrived in the mail that I wanted to save my review of it until now, as we reflect on the events of September 11th, on its 20th anniversary.
Title: 30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag
Written By: Amanda Davis
Illustrated By: Sally Wern Comport
Publisher/Date: WorthKids, an imprint of Hachette Book Group/2021
Suitable for Ages: 5-8+
Themes/Topics: 9/11, American flag, hope, community, healing, non-fiction
On September 11, 2001, New York City was attacked. Two planes were flown into the World Trade Center. The Twin Towers collapsed, and thousands of people lost their lives.
It was a tragic day in America's history.
The story of an American flag that flew at Ground Zero in the aftermath of 9/11, that became tattered and torn, and that was repaired by people coming together in a journey through all 50 states.
Check out the Back Matter, including a link to the national 911 flag website;
For the 20th anniversary of 9/11, 30,000 Stitches embarked on a tour of many of the places where the 9/11 Flag was stitched. Click on reflections from some of the many people who helped repair the Flag in this Voices from the Flag Tour;
Learn more about the American Flag.
It's not easy writing a feel-good, hope-filled story about a tragedy, but this is exactly what Amanda Davis has done in 30,000 Stitches.
Although the story begins on that fateful day 20 years ago, readers' attention quickly is drawn to the flag that construction workers hung over Ground Zero in the aftermath of the bombing. From there, readers learn that the flag became "Torn. Tattered. Tired." It was stored away, where it languished until a tornado destroyed a town in Kansas several years later.
A team from New York volunteered to help rebuild that town, and town residents asked that they bring along something from the World Trade Center for a new memorial park. But instead of placing the ragged flag in the park, the residents repaired the 9/11 Flag.
As Davis notes, "a grand idea was born." The Flag would journey to all 50 states, where in ceremonies, new stitches and new pieces of fabric would join together to fully restore the flag. From World War II veterans in Hawaii, to members of Martin Luther King Jr.'s family in Georgia, and many places in between, the flag and a team of volunteers crisscrossed the nation as the fabric of America united to commemorate the victims of 9/11 and showcase the strength, hope, and unity of our nation.
I love how Davis weaves sewing terms throughout the text. And in her collaged illustrations, Comport includes stitches that bring to mind the 30,000 stitches that Americans in each of the 50 states used to restore the Flag. One two-page spread tracks the journey across a multi-colored map of the US, with the journey indicated by stitches and the locations of the restoration ceremonies indicated by Xs. A single sentence accompanies the map: "The flag wove its way across America—crisscrossing borders, cross-stitching lives." I love the image those words convey.
I think children and their adults reading 30,000 Stitches will gain not only a greater understanding of the postscript to the 9/11 tragedy, but a better appreciation of the importance of national symbols, like our Flag, and of communities rallying to overcome tragedy.
As Davis relates in an Author's Note, she first learned about the 9/11 Flag and its journey to rebirth while searching for an art project for her high school students to commemorate "the lives lost on that tragic day" and that "also focused on the strength and unity that America displayed" afterwards. She discovered the National 9/11 Flag, and its story wouldn't leave her. In addition to basing an art lesson on it, she crafted this story, weaving in many sewing terms and a refrain-like tag line, "The fabric of America…" In the end, readers learn, "The fabric of America endures."
*I received a copy of 30,000 Stitches in a contest, with no expectation, nor requirement, of reviewing it. The opinions expressed are purely my own, and they are not predicated on receiving a copy of the book.
Tagged 9/11, American Flag, Community, healing, Hope, Non-fiction
PPBF – This Very Tree
I think most adults can tell you where they were twenty years ago on 11 September 2001. I was living in upstate New York at the time, but my first career, in the mid and late 1980s, was on Wall Street in lower Manhattan. My husband and I commuted by train from suburban New Jersey, arriving each morning to the bowels of the Trade Center, riding a long escalator to ground level, and then walking to our offices.
On 9/11, I thought back to our neighbors and friends who commuted with us, some of whom brought babies and toddlers to a wonderful day care center in the area. Many of our former colleagues still worked in the area (thankfully, no one we knew was in the Towers that day, although some witnessed the tragedy first hand). So when I saw this new picture book, I knew I had to read and review it.
Title: This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth
Written & Illustrated By: Sean Rubin
Publisher/Date: Henry Holt and Company/2021
Themes/Topics: 9/11, World Trade Center, New York City, Survivor Tree, resilience, tragedy
In New York City there once stood two towers. For a time, they were the tallest buildings in the world. Below the towers was a busy plaza.
That's where I was planted.
Brief Synopsis: A pear tree that had lived on the plaza between the twin towers of the World Trade Center describes 9/11 and lives to experience the rebirth that followed.
Learn more about the history of the World Trade Center, 9/11, and the Survivor Tree in the back matter;
Read E.B. White's lines quoted from Here is New York (1949) about This Very Tree that must be saved (appears as a foreword). Why do you think E.B. White thought a particular willow tree was worthy of saving? Why do you think the pear tree from the World Trade Center plaza was worth saving?
Do you have a favorite tree or other plant? What is it about that plant that you like? Draw a picture of that tree or plant.
Told from the point-of-view of a Callery pear tree, This Very Tree recounts the story of the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City and the rebirth of the surrounding area afterwards. Because of the large loss of life, the horror of the circumstances, and the feelings of vulnerability and distrust that followed, the 9/11 attacks are perhaps the most difficult of topics for a picture book. But by focusing on a tree, a tree that survived the attacks, thrived afterwards, and returned to the very plaza to offer solace and hope, I think Rubin has rendered this tragedy accessible to kids.
I love how Rubin includes so many natural features in the illustrations. Birds flit in and out of many spreads, including a dove that nested in the tree's branches that first spring after the attacks. I also love how Rubin juxtaposes the regrowth of the tree with the building of the Freedom Tower. And when the tree returns to the newly rebuilt plaza, it isn't the only tree gracing the concrete plaza. Rather, it's surrounded by a forest of other trees, there to help this tree feel stronger and less afraid.
By sharing the tree's thoughts and fears, Rubin casts the tree in the role of a trauma survivor. It voices the emotions that all of us feel when we think about 9/11, which, I think, will help adults who experienced this tragedy discuss it with children. That the story ends with the reminder that the tree's blossoms signal spring's arrival enables us to feel hopeful, that a tragedy like this never occurs again.
As someone who reviews many picture books dealing with difficult topics, I'm always interested to figure out how authors and illustrators depict tragic events without terrifying children or leaving them feeling hopeless. By focusing on a tree that survived the destruction of the towers and still graces the plaza at the new 9/11 Memorial, I think Rubin manages to turn this story of a tragedy to one focused on rebirth and hope.
Tagged 9/11, New York City, resilience, Survivor Tree, tragedy, World Trade Center
PPBF – Be A Tree!
The end of summer is nearing, at least in my neck of the woods. Although the temperatures remain high, the sunflowers are past their prime. School buses search out new routes, and my inbox is filled with "Back to School" promotions. Before we turn the corner to fall, I think it's the perfect time to be out exploring the natural world, or reading about it, don't you?
Title: Be A Tree!
Written By: Maria Gianferrari
Illustrated By: Felicita Sala
Suitable for Ages: 4-8 and up
Themes/Topics: trees, community, strength, free verse poetry, environment, cooperation
Be a tree!
Stand tall.
Stretch your branches to the sun.
Brief Synopsis: A comparison of trees and people, showing our strengths and need for community.
If you were a tree, what type would you like to be? Draw a picture of your favorite type of tree;
Take a walk and check out the different species of trees that grow in your community;
Check out the Back Matter that includes an author's note, five ways you can help save trees, how you can help in your community, anatomy of a tree, and further resources.
Using lyrical language, Gianferrari explores the similarities between people and trees. Like trees, we have an outer layer. Our spines are a trunk, giving us shape. At our tops, we have crowns of leaves or hair.
Like people, readers learn, trees communicate and help each other "share food, store water, divide resources, alert each other to danger." Trees create, as it were, a "wood wide web of information".
Gianferrari shows that both people and trees are stronger when they live in communities. A fold out spread shows diverse groups of people and various animals enjoying the shade of many different types of trees. A final spread featuring people of different races, ethnicities, ages, and abilities drives home the point that when we live in harmony with one another, as trees do, we are stronger, like a forest.
I really love how Gianferrari's sparse language encourages kids, and their adults, to draw similarities between ourselves and such an important part of our natural surroundings. I also love the overarching message that we're all better off when we take care of each other.
Sala's watercolor, goache, and colored pencil illustrations include sweeping vistas of many types of trees and forests, and anatomical close-ups.
Be A Tree! is an engaging read-aloud and fact-filled book for school and home libraries.
In Be A Tree! Gianferrari uses strong verbs to exhort readers, whom she addresses directly, to picture themselves as trees, to act as trees, and to live in a community that includes humans and nature. I love the analogies between tree and human anatomy. I also love the metaphor of people being part of a forest, a community that is better together.
Tagged Community, Cooperation, environment, free verse poetry, strength, trees


This can only be good news! For the first time in four months, I impulsively stopped by Graeser Park in Robbinsdale, MN. As I pulled up, I saw two City of Robbinsdale employees installing protective fencing around the rare 1939 beehive fireplace. I introduced myself as one of the volunteers working to preserve and restore this historic Lilac Way park. When asked why the beehive was being fenced in, they said it was to prevent further damage.
I was so lucky—while they ran back to get a tool, I had 5-10 minutes to take a video and many photos of the beehive fireplace before it was fenced in. I even had my good camera with me, in addition to my iPhone. Can't believe I just happened to stop by the park during the 20 minutes it took them to fence in the beehive. Starting to think I was channeling Carl Graeser!
Additionally, Marcia Glick, Robbinsdale City Manager, said that the City of Robbinsdale expects MnDOT to complete the title transfer of Graeser Park to the City by the end of 2019. This process was initiated at the request of the City of Robbinsdale. Once Graeser Park is owned by the City, we hope plans to preserve and restore this historic Lilac Way park will begin.
There are only two beehive fireplaces left in the U.S. – Graeser Park, and the restored beehive in Lilac Park in St. Louis Park. The Graeser Park beehive is the only one in its original location. The Lilac Park beehive has doors on the beehive after restoration, but I suspect Robbinsdale may keep it as a working fireplace.
Graeser Park, March 2018. City of Robbinsdale installing protective fencing around 1939 beehive fireplace.
Graeser Park, March 2018. Detail, beehive fireplace, one of only two in U.S. Built in 1939.
Graeser Park, March 2018. Detail inside one of three fire pit openings on beehive fireplace.
Hear songs from 'Beehive' at Graeser Park's Beehive on Tuesday, Sept. 4th!


Sorry to my 5 followers, for just filling up your readers or email with my old race reports!
Most of you know I used to blog at blogger, on a blog which I've now closed (for complicated reasons!). Well, I did want my race reports saved because I actually do go back and reference that stuff. And the only way I could figure out to be able to link to them is to repost them here.
And if you do read them, ignore goofy formatting, which might not have transferred over good from blogger when i cut and pasted!
Wisconsin Marathon 2012. Heard it is pancake flat, great course. Any takers?
Thanks for making me remember the debacle (but great time running with you and Maria!) at Illinois. UGH.


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