text:
Mrs Brown's DayCare-This Woman Should Be A Jamaican Saint
Children, children everywhere! One hundred and forty of them! Our host here in Jamaica, Tony Beach took us to visit Mrs Brown's Daycare in the Edgecombe Ghetto of Runaway Bay last week. Tony has great respect for the work done at this daycare and he wanted us to see it for ourselves. Here's Tony with Mrs Claudette Brown who runs a daycare for 140 children on a tiny piece of land in a ramshackle old building with four small rooms. Six other women work with her. When we drove up the children outside playing in the small cement and dirt front yard rushed up to the gate to greet us. The children said "Hello, Hola and Bonjour" welcoming us in three languages. "Do you want to know how to say hello in German?" Dave asked. When he said, "Guten Tag," the kids quickly copied him. A little boy immediately grabbed Dave's hand and a little girl mine when we entered the yard offering to be our guides. It was amazing how many children were crammed into each of the tiny rooms. In the two-year-old's room, they were giving the children lunch. Tony told us when the daycare runs short of money for salaries the women who work there simply divide whatever funds they have left after expenses for their salaries. Apparently Mrs Brown often ends up staying at the daycare till well after it closes at 5 pm, sometimes till 8 o'clock, because parents don't show up to pick up their children. Sometimes she just ends up taking children who are left behind home with her.
The kids ran to get books and asked me to read to them. I was amazed at how they knew their colors, the names of shapes, concepts like big and small and over and under. Tony told us the local primary schools say children from Mrs Brown's daycare are usually well ahead of the other students when they enter school. A teacher in a tiny dark classroom with tarp walls was working on counting concepts with a small group of older children. Tony and Mrs Brown were having a heart to heart talk while we toured the daycare. Tony runs an after school program in Runaway Bay and he tries to share supplies donated to his program with Mrs Brown and help her out financially when he can. Often parents of Mrs Brown's students can't afford to pay the minimal fee she charges and she hates to make the children leave because she tells Tony, "it's not their fault their parents don't pay and I can't punish them because of their parents." As kids do everywhere these Jamaican sweethearts loved Dave and they all wanted to play with him. Claudette Brown gets no government support for her daycare. It is her own service to the community. She's quite an amazing woman.
We were so glad Tony had taken us to Mrs Brown's daycare. She is doing so much to help so many children with so very little.
Other posts about Jamaica……..
Beaching It on the Caribbean
The Remarkable Place We Work in Runaway Bay
Pedicure Patois
Building A House in Jamaica
Wish I Had Them In Jamaica
Pirates, Plantations, Political Activists and Pot
Jamaican Introductions
Acquiring a Taste for Jamaican Food
Dead Yard Party
Filed under Childhood, Education, Jamaica, New Experiences, People, Travel
Tagged as daycare in jamaica, daycare in runaway bay jamaica, edgecombe ghetto daycare runaway bay jamaica, mrs. brown jamaica daycare provider
Crying Is Required
As the pandemic wears on I will be the first to admit that I cry much more easily and more often than I did before. I know that my situation is not unique and that I am better off than many. But when I think about how long it has been since I have seen my three grandchildren and my son and daughter-in-law in Saskatoon I get teary. I realized the other day that I have not hugged my son and daughter-in-law here in Winnipeg for over a year. Their little four-month-old daughter only sees my face on a screen or with a mask on.
Photo of me doing art with children on the Winnipeg Art Gallery site
I have not gone back to the Winnipeg Art Gallery since I was laid off from my job there because I think as soon as I walked through the doors I'd start to cry remembering how much I loved being there and loved talking about art with our visitors.
When I let myself think too much about the impact the pandemic has had on my father's dementia the tears can flow before I know it.
The other day I watched one of those Flash Mob videos where a crowd of musicians gathers slowly to perform an instrumental and vocal rendition of Beethoven's Ode to Joy and I was weeping by the end thinking about how long it has been since I have sung a hymn with others or have listened to a choir perform in person.
I photographed the Tear Drop Temple in Jerusalem
When I visited Jerusalem I went to the Dominus Flevit Temple. It is also known as the Tear Drop Temple because its roof is shaped like a teardrop. The temple was designed and placed on the Mount of Olives in memory of Jesus' tears.
Inside the Dominus Flavit Temple
The Bible records two times when Jesus cried. Once was at the death of his good friend Lazarus and another was when he was overcome with sorrow because he knew what was going to happen to the people of Jerusalem. The Tear Drop Temple is said to be built on the spot where Jesus wept.
There are times when we all need a good cry. There is nothing wrong with tears. They are not a sign of weakness. Tears can relieve stress and provide a good emotional release. Tears are a healthy sign of our humanity and vulnerability. During these pandemic times, a good cry should probably be a regular requirement.
American writer Rita Schiano says "Tears are God's gift to us. Our holy water. They heal us as they flow."
Jesus knew that. We need to remember it too.
Tears in A Bottle
Dad's Sacred Trees
A Peaceful Mind and Heart
Filed under COVID-19 Diary, Religion
Tagged as dominus flevit temple jerusalem, pandemic tears, tear drop temple jerusalem
Beautiful Debris
A plate made from the recycled ceramic debris pictured around it
Smashed! That's the title of an article in the latest edition of the magazine Positive News. It talks about the Granby Workshop in Liverpool England which makes new dinnerware and decorative tiles by recycling discarded ceramic crockery. About 68 million tons of ceramic waste is sent to the landfill each year in Britain. The Granby Workshop is trying to reduce that number.
The Granby Workshop reminded me of my visit to the Temple of Dawn in Bangkok, Thailand. It is covered with millions of pieces of smashed ceramic bits that skilled craftspeople have turned into works of art on the exterior of the temple.
The Temple of Dawn was built by King Taskin in the 1700s. He wanted to find a way to use the millions of broken bits of beautiful china that had to be discarded when ships arrived from China with ceramic dishes. Some of the dishes always smashed in the ships' holds on the journey to Thailand.
Winter Sun From the Ski Trail by Sharon Loeppky
The article about the Granby Project also reminded me of my cousin Sharon Loeppky who makes these absolutely stunning pieces of art from discarded bits of smashed china and ceramics she finds in rubbish heaps.
Isn't it lovely and interesting how the bits and pieces of broken things can be turned into something new and beautiful?
A Giant Recycling Project- The Temple of Dawn
An Artist in the Family
Filed under Reflections, Thailand
Tagged as Granby Project, sharon loeppky, Temple of Dawn Bangkok
He Would Have Been 100
If my father-in-law Cornelius Driedger were still alive he would have turned 100 today.
Dad's parents Margaretha Friesen ( 1895-1984) and Abram Driedger (1890-1955). Abram is in his Red Cross uniform in Moscow. They were married September 22, 1918 in Schoenfeld, Ukraine in the Molotschna Mennonite Settlement.
Dad was born February 26, 1921 in Tiege, Ukraine. His parents fled there after bandits led by Nestor Machno, repeatedly entered their Schoenfeld home and threatened to kill Dad's father Abram Driedger.
The Marientaubstummenschule was a School For the Deaf with an excellent reputation established by Mennonites in Ukraine in 1890
In Tiege they stayed in the Mennonite School for The Deaf closed to students because of the revolution. Several other families also took refuge there. Abram worked for some local farmers. Cornelius was born there just a month after his one and half year old sister Kaethe died of pneumonia.
My husband Dave stands on the porch of his father's birthplace in 2011 on a visit to Ukraine
Cornelius was a sickly baby. Worried she would lose another child his mother took him outside the School for the Deaf and held him up to God. She vowed if God spared her child she would dedicate him to the work of the church. Perhaps hearing his mother tell this story is one reason Cornelius became a pastor later in his life.
A famine began shortly after Cornelius was born so his parents spent a few years living in the village of Petersagen with his maternal grandparents Cornelius and Agatha Friesen. His younger sister Agatha was born there.
Cornelius, his sister Agatha and their parents. This photo is from their immigration papers.
On June 23, 1924 about 1000 Mennonites including Cornelius, his parents and sister crowded into box cars at the Lichtenau train station in southern Ukraine.
My husband stands on the railway tracks at the Lichtenau Train Station in Ukraine where his father's family began their long journey to Canada
They traveled to Latvia where they took a ship to Antwerp Belgium. From there they boarded the steamer the Minnedosa which took them to Quebec City landing July 19, 1924.
Cornelius' family in the late 1930s Cornie is in the middle back row with his sister Margaret on his left and sister Agatha on his right. His brother Abe is on the far right and his youngest brother John stands between his parents.
When they first arrived in Canada Cornelius' family stayed with Mennonite families in Welesley and Zurich Ontario. In 1925 they moved to Newton Siding Manitoba and also lived in Glenlea Manitoba for a time. In 1929 his parents decided they should move to Pelee Island, Ontario to join his father's relatives living there. Cornie quit school at age 13 to help out on the farm.
In April of 1937 Cornie's family left Pelee Island for the mainland and lived on a farm where they worked as sharecroppers. Cornie hired himself out to other farmers to earn extra money and also worked in a tobacco factory.
Dad was baptized in 1941. He is third from the left in the back row and his future wife Anne is fifth from the right in the middle row. They were baptized by Cornie's uncle N. N. Driedger in the Essex County United Mennonite Church.
Cornie married Anne Enns on September 26, 1942 in the Oak Street Mennonite Church in Leamington, Ontario.
Dad is the worker in the middle of this photo.
They had only been married a few months when Cornie had to leave to work in a logging camp in Montreal River. He had been drafted and since he was a Mennonite and a conscientious objector, he did this alternate service.
Dad working in the family greenhouse.
After working on the Hadley and Marsh Wigle farms for nearly a decade in 1956 Anne and Cornie bought their own farm on Highway 77 in Leamington.
They had five sons Robert, John, Paul, David and William.
Dad with his friends and fellow ballplayers. Dad is to the far left in the back row.
Although their family worked incredibly hard on the farm there was still time to indulge in their passion for baseball. Dad played and so did all of his sons.
Mom and Dad on the right at Dad's ordination
Over the years Cornie took on many roles in his church including Sunday School Superintendent and pulpit assistant. He was ordained to the ministry in 1970. In 1974 when his brother-in-law Jacob Neufeld who had served as the pastor of North Leamington United Church died Dad became a full-time pastor. He and Mom rented out their farmland.
Mom and Dad celebrating their 50th anniversary
Cornie and Anne's five sons all married but sadly their oldest son Robert died of cancer in 1974. Cornie and Anne were blessed with ten grandchildren.
Dad with other staff members at the Leamington Mennonite Home
Dad retired from his job as a pastor in 1989 and he and Mom sold their farm to their son Bill and his wife Julie and moved into a townhouse in Leamington. In 1984 Dad took a job as a chaplain at the Leamington Mennonite Home and served in that role till 2008.
Retirement gave Mom and Dad time for leisure activities and enjoying their great grandchildren.
Anne and Cornie at their granddaughter Hannah's wedding in September of 2011
Anne died on October 14, 2011, and after living in the Leamington Mennonite Home for several years Cornie passed away June 6, 2016.
At his funeral, many people spoke to the family about all the ways Dad had cared for them in his pastoral role. In a tribute, his sons Dave and Bill thanked their Dad for teaching them to work hard and for sharing his passion for the game of baseball with them. They noted that the role their father seemed to have enjoyed most in life was that of a grandfather.
My father-in-law Cornelius Driedger would have been 100 years old today.
Anne Driedger
Remembering Rudy York
Baseball Legacy
Filed under Family
Tagged as Cornelius Driedger
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Putting on my blue garter belt as I am getting ready for our wedding
I know the title of this blog post is a phrase associated with weddings. Traditionally in order to ensure a happy future a bride was supposed to wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Doing a little reading on wedding websites I found out there are reasons behind each of those directives and I think they can apply to everyday life, not just weddings. I thought of examples in my own life this week.
Something old connects us to our past and provides continuity between past and future generations. I received something old this week in the mail. This leather case belonged to my grandfather Peter Martin Schmidt the man whose story inspired my soon to be published novel.
When my grandfather was killed in a car accident in 1961 my grandmother gave it to her niece's husband who happened to have the same initials as my grandfather's which are embossed onto the case. Now that man's daughter returned it to me. I am guessing the case was maybe used to keep cufflinks and tie clips. I want to find a use for it too, so it won't just be a decorative item. Any suggestions?
Something new suggests hope for a new future. We got a new sink yesterday. Our old ceramic sink was badly stained, its faucet cracked and its rim allowing water to leak into the cupboard below. Our kitchen is often the focal point of our entertaining.
Chatting with members of my writing group in our kitchen
People sit on the stools at our counter to visit. I spend lots of time in front of the sink after we have hosted parties and social events cleaning things up. I have photos of my grandchildren on display on the shelf just above my sink so I can look at them often. My new sink reminds me that in the future we will once again be able to fill our kitchen with friends and family and my new sink will get lots of use.
Something borrowed is a reference to good luck. If you borrow something from people who are happy you will be happy too. We just borrowed this puzzle from a couple from our church who have been happily married for a long time. We haven't had a chance to start it yet, but it is a reminder that we have lots of great friends in many different areas of our lives and that is certainly a lucky thing. We have borrowed many puzzles from friends and family during the pandemic.
Using my new mitts for a walk in the forest near Whittier Park
Something blue is in the rhyme because the colour represents loyalty and faithfulness. This week my husband Dave bought new beautiful blue mitts for me to wear on our winter walks together. Dave and I have been faithfully married for over forty-seven years now and during the current pandemic, I have been very glad for his loyal presence during what would have a very lonely time without him.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, not just for weddings, but for all of us as we navigate our way through life, remembering our past, hoping for the future, and cherishing our positive human relationships.
Learning a New Word
A Writing Inheritance From Two Grandparents
The Blueberries Slowed Him Down
Filed under COVID-19 Diary, Family
Tagged as something old something new something borrowed something blue
Getting To Know My Great Grandfather
A second cousin of mine recently sent me this photo of my great grandfather Peter H. Jantz who was born in 1850. Doesn't he look like a dashing young man? Notice his suitcase and coat on the floor behind him? I see the pocket watch tucked into his vest.
I think this photo was taken in Illinois shortly after Peter arrived in America from Poland. He had sailed on the S.S. Westphalia on May 6. 1874 when he was 24 years old. He landed in New York and then made his way to Illinois. He lived in Illinois for three years before moving to Kansas.
Peter was the youngest of five children. He was born in the village of Czosnow. His mother Eva Nickel had died in 1869 before Peter left Poland and notes about his family on the Grandma Online website suggest two of his three older sisters may have preceded their mother in death.
Peter's oldest sister Maria came to America with her husband Heinrich Frantz in 1876 two years after her younger brother had immigrated. She and her husband and family of eight children lived in Kansas as well for time before moving to Oregon in 1893. I think Peter's father and older brother Gerhardt stayed in Poland since there is no record of their deaths in America. So my great grandfather was a bit of a bold adventurer leaving his whole family behind in 1874 and sailing to America on his own.
On March 11 in 1879, when he was 29, Peter married my great grandmother Maria Gerbrandt, whose family was from the town of Hillsboro in Marion County. Her family had immigrated to Kansas from Swiniary Prussia in 1875 on the S.S. Paris. Swiniary is now part of Poland. In the photo above you can see Peter with his wife Maria and their eight children- Anna (Annie), Marie, Edward, Johan, Matilda (Tilly), Heinrich(Henry), Valentine and Ben. Shortly after his marriage Peter bought 80 acres of land from his father-in-law for $800 and he and Maria established their own family farm.
My grandmother Annie is the youngest and she was born in 1892 so I assume this photo was taken around 1893 when Peter was in his forties and had been married for around fourteen years. He has aged considerably since his coming to America photo was taken. Besides the eight children in the photo, Maria and Peter had a ninth, a boy named after his dad. Peter was their second child and he only lived for a year.
I believe this photo was taken around 1904 since that is the year when Peter's oldest son Ben got married and his wife is not included in this family photo. Peter is now in his mid-fifties and in 1906 he decides to immigrate with his family and settle in Drake, Saskatchewan. His five sons were all interested in farming and there was more land to be had in Saskatchewan than in Kansas. In 1904 Peter made an exploratory trip to Saskatchewan with some other men and a decision was made to move.
Just as Peter made a bold immigration move at age 24, at age 56 he makes another one and in 1906 he leaves America for Canada. The family started a homestead two miles west of Drake Saskatchewan and eventually four of Peter and Maria's sons as well as their daughter Annie and her husband had homesteads nearby. Peter died of respiratory problems just four years after immigrating in 1910. He was 60 years old. Sadly his daughter Tilly died one year later and his son Johan three years later both of tuberculosis.
This is on the back of Peter's coming to America photo so we know he had his picture taken in Lebanon, Illinois at the McKendree Art Gallery by a photographer named J. Lupton. I looked him up and indeed there is a John Lupton who lived from 1833-1897 and who died in Lebanon Illinois. He was an art professor and professional photographer. My great grandfather lived in Summerfield Illinois which is only 3.5 miles from Lebanon where the photo was taken. From the German writing on the back, it looks like my great grandfather sent this photo to someone, perhaps his sister Maria in Poland who followed him to America?
The McKendree Art Gallery in Lebanon, Illinois where Great Grandpa Peter had his photo taken, is still in existence today. It is part of McKendree University which opened its doors to students in 1828. If we can ever travel again someday, I'd like to go and visit the gallery.
A big thank you to Elisabeth Reimer, my second cousin, from Saskatoon who supplied me with the wonderful photo of our Great Grandpa Peter.
When My Grandmother Was Twelve Years Old
Family Blueprints
Birthday Books- A Hundred Years Old
Filed under Family, History
Tagged as Peter H Jantz, Peter H Jantz born in 1850, Peter H Jantz Drake Saskatchewan
The Remarkables
I talked to a young mother recently who said her two-year-old son wasn't learning to talk as early as his sibling had. She wondered if that was because his daycare workers wore masks so he couldn't see the way their mouths formed words. She was confident that post-pandemic, the speech of her COVID kid would flourish.
Photo by Polina Zimmerman on Pexels.com
On a walk with a friend, we talked about high school athletes who haven't been able to participate in the sports they love for the last two years. This has made it tougher for them to earn athletic scholarships for university and has cut them off from the teammates and coaches that played such an important role in their lives. Despite this many have remained devoted to their sports, training on their own. Some people call teens living through the pandemic, the COVID generation.
I was talking with someone, who like me, has had a grandchild born during the pandemic. Our grandchildren have seen very few people besides their parents yet they continue to achieve all the appropriate developmental milestones. Some people are referring to children born during the pandemic as COVID babies.
Photo by Max Fischer on Pexels.com
The media is reporting that kids will be behind academically because their schooling has been interrupted by the pandemic. Luckily my nearly nine-year-old grandson was only out of school for about four months due to the pandemic, but he had such a variety of learning interests before COVID-19. He played basketball and took dance classes. He had a violin teacher and a swimming instructor. In summers he went to art and drama camps. For over a year now he has not been able to do some of those things that enriched his education but when I talk with him and he tells me about what he is reading and shows me his drawings I know he is still learning and growing intellectually. Some people are calling school age kids who are going through the pandemic the children of COVID.
Children born during the pandemic are being given all kinds of labels like COVID babies or COVID kids, or the COVID generation or the children of COVID. In a recent article Neil Renton the head teacher at a school in England talks about the dangers of referring to the current crop of kids with a disease- related label. He says that instead the fact children are actually surviving the pandemic with such remarkable adaptability should be celebrated. We should be calling them The Remarkables.
Photo by Julia M Cameron on Pexels.com
Renton believes there is power in words and he thinks using the name of a disease to refer to children implies something negative. It conjures up images of closed doors and feelings of hopelessness. Studies show that the expectations teachers and parents have of children impact their performance. If we always talk about our current kids as some kind of disease generation negatively impacted by COVID-19 we perpetuate negativity and set up a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure.
Renton also points out that science shows us negative thoughts and speech hamper brain performance and trigger stress hormones. We do our kids a disservice if we label them with the name of something negative like a disease and expect less of them because of that.
I am not minimizing the challenge of COVID for kids and their families. There are no doubt all kinds of effects that living through the pandemic will have on our current generation of children. But…………… it is indeed REMARKABLE the way so many children are surviving and even flourishing during this challenging time and in their best interest, we need to emphasize the positive by not labelling them with the name of a negative disease.
God Rest the Children
What is the Best Way to Raise Children?
Meeting the Street Children of Delhi
Filed under Childhood, COVID-19 Diary, Education
Tagged as covid babies, covid kids
Elegant Things
The Pillow Book was written over a thousand years ago by Sei Shonagon, a lady-in-waiting for the Japanese Empress. It's become famous for the lists it contains. I was intrigued by a list of forty items titled Deeply Irritating Things and one called Things That Make My Heart Beat Faster. But my favourite Sei Shonagon list is Elegant Things. Included on her list are snow on plum blossoms and a perfect duck's egg.
Sei Shonagon inspired me to make a list of elegant things.
My friend Glenys'elegant table set for an Easter luncheon
My elegant grandparents on their wedding day in 1917
An elegant chandelier in a guest house we stayed in during our visit to Rome
The elegant Florence May Blumenthal as portrayed by artist Giovanni Boldini. I photographed the portrait on display at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in 2018
An elegant fern I photographed in Akaka State Park Hawaii
My elegant mother dressed up and ready to go to my Dad's medical school graduation in 1959
I photographed this elegant woman selling clothing in Bali
Elegant Queen of Hearts Teapot by Michael Sherrill photographed at the art gallery at Arizona State University
An elegant vase I photographed during the Olympus exhibit at the Winnipeg Art Gallery
My grandmother signing a guest book at a wedding in her elegant hat
An elegant necklace photographed at the Winnipeg Art Gallery made by Inuit artist Papiarak Tuqiqi.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Inuit Fashion Show
A Walk in Akaka State Park
Filed under Books, Japan
Tagged as elegant things, Sei Shonagon, The Pillow Book
The Hands of A Basketball Player- Michelangelo's David
"He'd a make a great basketball player. Look at those big hands." That was my husband's first comment as we walked up to the statue of Michelangelo's David in the Academia Gallery in Florence, Italy. The white marble statue is 17 feet high and shows David ready to fight Goliath, the Philistine giant.
David's hands do look big, but Michelangelo made them that way because initially David was created to stand outside a palace, rather than in an art gallery. From up close you can see the veins in his hands.
I'm standing by the sculpture of David in the Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence
Michelangelo thought people would be viewing David from far away. He wanted them to be able to see all the details of his statue, including David's hands. Although some people think the 29-year-old Michelangelo made a mistake when he carved David's large hands, experts agree their size was deliberate.
I took this photo of Michelangelo's statue just outside the Uffizi Gallery
At age 24 Michelangelo began visiting morgues. He would cut up unclaimed corpses and study their anatomy. He was as well-trained as any physician in the body's structure. He wouldn't have made a mistake with David's hands. He wanted them to be larger than life and powerful. From up close you can see the very veins in his hands.
Two other artists had rejected the piece of marble Michelangelo used for David because they claimed it lacked perfection. Michelangelo was able to create something beautiful despite the flawed material he had been given.
We visited the statue of David on a February day along with a few other hardy souls who were braving Florence at the coldest time of the year. The absence of the crowds that usually mill around David made it possible for us to spend about 40 minutes examining not only his hands but all his features from every side.
David has a determined, focused look in his eye. His cheeks are smooth and his upper lip is just a little bigger than the lower one. His nostrils are slightly flared, his brow mildly furrowed and his hair classically curly.
You can see the clear outline of his rib cage. His elbows appear calloused and rough and his feet are crusty and cracked.
My husband Dave is right. Michelangelo's David does have big hands. He also has a big heart, one filled with enough courage, confidence and youthful enthusiasm to try the impossible and succeed.
Just the way his creator Michelangelo succeeded when he took an imperfect piece of marble and turned it into something that has become one of the most universally recognized pieces of art in the world.
If you liked this post you might also like…….
Galileo's Grocery List
A Bizzare Museum in Florence
Filed under Art, Culture, Italy, Travel
Tagged as Michelangelo, Michelangelo's David, Michelangelo's David's big hands
Night Shopper
Other Cartoons in Ivan Brunetti Style
An Unfortunate Event
A Sad Story
Filed under cartoons, COVID-19 Diary
Tagged as online shopping at night


Microsoft steals inovation over Google! it has now released a public BETA of erstwhile Live Folders TODAY... this is an open BETA available in the US, UK, and India.
this is now called Windows Live SkyDrive: http://skydrive.live.com/ . so head over there and get your 500 MB of online space NOW!
· An upgraded look and feel – new graphics to go along with your new features!
Another first is inclusion of India in the BETA release.. i think it may very well be the first product that has launched in India alongwith US!


Download the new and improved official FC Barcelona App and discover all the great new features for the ultimate Barça fan experience.
With the brand new App you can get everything you need on your phone or tablet. Never miss out again on the latest FC Barcelona news, get live match updates, watch exclusive videos and much more from your favourite teams and players!
● Keep following your team through the summer with exclusive coverage of the transfer market so you can learn about the latest signing of FC Barcelona. Follow the team as they prepare for the next season and find out the schedule for the next friendly match or how they are performing in the International Champions Cup.
● Access the FCB official store directly through the app. Find the official Nike kit for the 2018/2019 season, but also all the official Barcelona fan merchandise and the accessories you need to show your colours wherever you go. Be sure to learn about the next sales and promotions through the notification service!
We are constantly updating our APP to improve it, please update it if you want to enjoy all its advantages. Thank you.
No se anuncia el canal de tv donde retransmite el partido.
Me encanta la App para estar informada pero con el equipo femenino no habéis dado ni una con los nombres y apellidos de las jugadoras, espero que lo arregléis.


Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Alumni Association.
of Managing a Recessionary Economy: The American Experience''.
challenges that existed before the current recession,'' he said.
Nigeria realise her economic potential.
well as neglected other sectors of the economy.
are regarded as the most prosperous today.
out better, stronger and more defined.


text:
158 American Police Officers Died by Suicide in 2018.
For the third straight year, COP suicides exceeded all combined causes of line-of-duty deaths. In 2018, at least 158 officers died by suicide, nine percent more than the total number of line-of-duty deaths resulting from 15 other causes such as felonious assault, patrol vehicle accident, heart attack, and duty-related illness.
The single greatest cause of death for law enforcement officers each year is suicide. California (12), Texas (12) and Florida (10) had the highest number of officer suicides. At least 12 officers killed themselves on duty—in their patrol car or at their agency.
Of the 2018 officers who died as a result of suicide, 150 were male and 8 were female. The average age was 41 years with an average length of 15 years of service. In December alone, 19 officers died by suicide. In contrast, there were 10 line-of-duty deaths. December was not an unusual month. Deaths by suicide exceeded all combined causes of duty death nearly every month in 2018.
Nor was 2018 an unusual year. Last year, the number of officers dying by suicide was 159. In contrast, the total number of duty deaths in 2017 was 137—roughly half of those deaths were the result of felonious assault such as gunfire, vehicular assault, and the like. Other causes included patrol vehicle accidents, heart attacks, duty-related illness, and others.
In fact, the ratio of felonious deaths to other causes has remained at about 1:1 for decades. The problem is, we know there are other tragic deaths by suicide that we don't know about. So as bad a number as we have this year, we know in reality the number is higher.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Beyond existing Vancouver Police programs dedicated to mental health and elder abuse, we will create an organization-wide alert network for locating missing vulnerable persons.
All fire halls will become safe places for vulnerable persons and seniors in need.
Offer community education and support for witnesses with dementia through the VPD Elder Abuse Unit, in partnership with Family Services.
Training is delivered approximately 6 or 8 times a year to different systems or agencies. This training is not specific to witnesses with dementia, it is about the complexities of engaging older adults in the criminal justice process.
Link individuals with cognitive impairments or psychiatric problems to health services with the Dedicated Mental Health car.
Create an internal alert protocol on missing vulnerable persons, including people suffering from dementia and other cognitive disabilities, in partnership with Engineering and other City departments.
The system has been operational with Engineering since summer 2013, with plans to expand to Vancouver Public Library, the Park Board, and other City departments in 2015.
Utilize all 20 City fire halls as places where vulnerable people, including seniors, can go for safety, first aid, or referrals.


text:
Q: Loop over first and last element only Given N elements, process only the first (0) and last (N-1) element.
But, if N = 1, only process the single element once.
Using a loop that runs once or twice, as appropriate, lets us avoid duplicating the loop body.  If there's a readable way to do this, it has a benefit for source-code size.  It may also have advantages for machine-code size, if the loop body is large, and the compiler doesn't end up duplicating it.

I tried incrementing by N-1 but it will not work when N=1 (loops forever). Are there tricks (reverse loop f.i) that will fix this?
for (i = 0 ; i < N ; i += (N - 1))

Edit:
My original problem concerns three nested loops in x,y,z direction, which is why I couldn't just process elem[0]) and elem[N-1]. Now I have the following
#define forEachLglBound(i_,j_,k_)                                   \
        for(Int i_ = 0;i_ < NPX;i_+=((NPX>1) ? (NPX-1) : 1))        \
            for(Int j_ = 0;j_ < NPY;j_+=((NPY>1) ? (NPY-1) : 1))    \
                for(Int k_ = 0;k_ < NPZ;k_+=((NPZ>1) ? (NPZ-1) : 1))

A: How about the following line. Very close (textwise!) to the original solution.
for (i = 0 ; i < N ; i += (N > 1) ? N-1 : 1)

A: If you can factor the loop body out into a function or macro, probably the most readable way is:
process( arr[0] );
if (N-1 != 0)
    process( arr[N-1] );

If that's not an option, or you think one of these loop structures is readable enough:
XOR can toggle a variable between 0 and the value you XOR with.
int i=0;
do {
    process(arr[i]);
} while(i ^= (N-1));  // xor to toggle, but stays zero if N-1 is zero

This compiles to better asm than any of the other options, as you can see on godbolt.  I included the ideas from the other answers, including the simple if (which does very well when duplicating the operation is cheap).
The xor version keeps working very well in a triple-nested loop (see the while_xor_triple function at the bottom of the godbolt link).

Without using xor, I think this loop is moderately readable:
int i=0;
do {
    process( arr[i] );
} while( (i!=N-1) && (i=N-1) );

if i isn't already N-1, set it to that and redo the loop.  This should make it easy for the compiler to do the test efficiently, without having to compute any expressions other than N-1.  gcc still tests and branches on both operands of the && separately, though, but with less overhead than some of the other answers.

The 2nd while loop could compile to something like this (but unfortunately doesn't, because gcc doesn't do the trickery of my first two insns):
    xor   edx, edx
.repeat:
    mov   ecx, edx
      ... loop body using i (ecx)
    mov   edx, [N]
    dec   edx     ; edx = N-1
    cmp   ecx, edx
    jne .repeat

I thought of the XOR idea while thinking about how to do it in asm.  IDK if a smart compiler could make this output from the while(i!=N-1 && i=N-1) version, but it's definitely better:
    xor   ecx, ecx
.repeat:
      ... loop body using i (ecx)
    mov   edx, [N]
    dec   edx        ; edx = N-1
    xor   ecx, edx   ; i ^= N-1
    jnz .repeat      ; jump if the last result wasn't zero

If you have N-1 stored in a register or memory, the mov/dec to compute it on the fly go away.

A: for ( i = 0, repeat = 0; repeat < 2 && repeat < N; repeat++, i = N-1 )

or
repeat = (N<2) ? N : 2;
for ( i = 0; repeat > 0; repeat--, i = N-1 )

A: How about this, though don't have to use a for loop maybe, but it's a simple way and easy to understand.
for (int first = 0, last = N - 1;;) {
     // the stuff use first
     if (first != last) {
     // the stuff use last
     }
     break;
}

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Much has been written about the millennial generation – entitled, coddled, lazy, and self-absorbed. While some may agree with those descriptions, I do not. Let me begin by saying, I have 3 children, 8 nieces and nephews, and dozens of clients and friends who qualify as millennials.
Overwhelmingly, you are compassionate, have a global perspective, and a progressive outlook. And had Millennials been in charge of electing the next President, Hillary Clinton would have won the presidency by a landslide.
I am not writing to tell you who you should have voted for or to express any personal views; I am making a generational observation.
You are a generation of young women and men who were raised in a country much more diverse than your parents' generation. You choose and remain loyal to your friends, regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation. You are "PC" because you're informed and compassionate. Many of you were fortunate to grow up in communities so diverse that the depth of bigotry, hatred, and disenchantment that you saw during this presidential campaign was unfathomable.
Your hope for another four years of social and environmental progress was shattered Tuesday night.
Many of you are protesting, some in the streets, others on social media. You have been told to just accept it and see how things play out. You have even been called sore losers.
Your protests are not because you lost; they are in support of your friends and family. You are angry and scared for them, and for yourself, and are searching for productive outlets for your anxious energy. I strongly believe that the passion and love behind your posts, signs, and marches is fuel for our future. Our greatest future leaders are amongst you.
Let me remind you that progress is not linear. Your most formative political years have been Obama's eight-year presidency. From social justice and environmental standpoints, progress was rapid and substantial. It appears that many felt it was too much, too soon.
Our country may need a pause. We may need to take a collective breath and allow others to "catch up" to our societal shift. The country may even take a step back or two, or circle around a bit, before taking further steps forward. This is the normal course of progress and where your energy is needed. This is where your open minds, intellect, passion, and community can yield great results.
· Don't just write your congressmen, call them and express your concerns to a staffer.
· Attend congressional town halls.
· Don't just donate to an organization you believe in, volunteer or serve on a committee.
· Create opportunities to unite your community.
· Step outside your circle of influence and solicit a differing perspective.
· Seek opportunities for further engagement and growth in an area you are particularly passionate about.
With patience and persistence, we will continue to move forward together. Keep talking, hugging, embracing, striving, learning, listening, and compromising. We are depending on you and I truly believe: Millennials, you've got America's back!
Many awoke this morning feeling sad, scared, helpless, and marginalized. The United States Government was effectively overturned last night. It was accomplished ceremoniously, peacefully, and with full integrity. It wasn't "rigged;" there was no bloodshed. Votes were counted and lines were drawn. Yes, it is good to be an American.
Many of us never truly considered the reality of a Trump presidency. We never believed the American majority could disregard his campaign of hatred, bigotry, and isolationism, for the sake of "change." But the electoral majority did.
Growth is not linear and usually includes pain, setbacks, resets, and sometimes a mini-storm or two, but in the end, growth triumphs when we stay true to our purpose – when we continue to listen, learn, contribute, compromise, and work hard.
The antidote for a virus is an antiviral; the antidote for a bacterial infection is an antibiotic; the antidote for hate is love. The voters have spoken and Donald Trump will replace Barack Obama in that house on Pennsylvania Avenue. There will be change, likely a lot of it. We can and should challenge what we don't like, but when we do it with love, we all feel better. Just as love is the antidote for hate, positivity is the only antidote for negativity.
Let's bring civility back to the dialogue.
Let's take this opportunity to model for our children an appropriate and constructive way to express differences.
There is growth ahead. We don't know what it will look like or where it will blossom; we just know it will. Whether you voted for Trump, Clinton, or didn't vote, no longer matters. We are here, right now. Each moment provides an opportunity to fight hate with love and negativity with optimism, to choose growth.
I hugged the crossing guard at my children's elementary school today. Not because I had to, because I wanted to. My day has been better because of that hug and I hope his has too. Let's spread the love.
Whether you are a student, parent, empty-nester, or young professional, September reminds us that summer is over and our lives are resuming a "normal" pace. Many of us welcome routine and the structure it provides, increasing our productivity and connectedness. Yet as we move into fall, we may feel anxious about the expectations and challenges ahead.
Will I succeed? Will I fail? How can I get it all done? I thought I would be in a different situation by now. I didn't accomplish all I planned over the summer.
The Buddha shared, "Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good." Drop-by-drop. Little-by-little. Step-by-step. Significant change is the accumulation of small steps. First we must start; then we must persist.
Most meaningful: What was your most meaningful encounter or accomplishment?
Deepest connection to others: Who did you connect with that supports you and your efforts? Who did you support?
Biggest mistake: What mistake did you make and what opportunity for growth resulted?
Learned the most: What did you learn and how will that knowledge propel you?
Most progress toward goals: Where did you make the most progress this week?
Next week's priorities: What is your next step? What will be the next drop in your bucket?
These questions are tools to acknowledge personal growth and movement towards goals, whether concrete or abstract. When we take a moment to track our progress, we create a momentum shift, motivating and energizing our journey forward. Crabtree's "Structure of a Progress Report" proves that progress is always happening; it is time we celebrate it!
Let's recognize the significance of ALL progress: drop-by-drop, step-by-step, the pot will fill!


text:
Processing the Hugh Morton Photographs and Films
Covering the Beat: The University in the WWII Era
Grandfather Mountain: Commerce and Tourism in the Appalachian Environment
Hugh MacRae at Invershiel
Hugh Morton Among the Movers and Shakers
Hugh Morton and North Carolina's Native Plants
More than Tourism: Cherokee, North Carolina, in the Post-War Years
Roads Taken and Not Taken: Images and the Story of the Blue Ridge Parkway "Missing Link"
Scottish Heritage at Linville
Selling North Carolina, One Image at a Time
The Grandfather Backcountry: A Bridge Between the Past and Preservation
The Singing on the Mountain
The Tar Heels' 'White House Photographer'
Wilmington: Faded Glory to Fresh Achievement
Another special connection with another legend named Smith
Posted on April 3, 2015 by Stephen Fletcher
In February we shared a blog-post about the special connection that Hugh Morton had with Legendary UNC Basketball Coach Dean Smith. Today, April 3, 2015, on the one-year anniversary of the death of another legend named Smith, Morton Collection volunteer Jack Hilliard shares the special connection Hugh Morton had with Music Legend Arthur Smith. In case you landed here first, be sure to check out today's other post on Arthur Smith by Stephen Fletcher, the second half of today's doubleheader.
Arthur Smith and band "The Crackerjacks" performing on an outdoor stage at "Singing on the Mountain" gospel festival, Grandfather Mountain, Linville, NC. L to R: Ralph Smith, Sonny Smith, Don Lear, Arthur Smith. Photograph illustrates article about Smith, "Another Tar Heel Booster," in September 2, 1950 issue of THE STATE magazine, with caption that says Smith is "singing his original composition, 'Foolish Questions.'"
When the folks at Grandfather Mountain staged their 90th Singing on the Mountain festival on June 22, 2014, they dedicated the event to Arthur Smith. Smith had passed away a little over two months before on April 3rd, just two days after his 93rd birthday.
Smith and his "Crackerjacks" had served as Music Masters of the event from about 1950 through the early 1980s. I think it's safe to say that Smith had a standing invitation from his dear friend Hugh Morton to be a part of every Singing on the Mountain. During the 1960s and '70s, Smith was responsible for inviting his friends Johnny and June Carter Cash in 1974 and Rev. Billy Graham in 1962, plus many other famous names. Smith was the featured speaker at the 1991 event.
The 2014 speaker was noted evangelist Leighton Ford who had been the main speaker at the event in 1969 and 1989. Ford built his '14 message around the words of some of the gospel songs Smith had written over the years. In an interview before the event, Ford said, "I do plan to include some of Arthur's songs and thoughts in this, because our faith is a singing faith." Legendary Charlotte television broadcaster Doug Mayes introduced Rev. Ford. Mayes had helped Clyde McLean serve as the chief announcer on The Arthur Smith Show, which was taped at WBTV, Channel 3 in the Queen City. Mayes also shared some of his memories of Smith and the "Crackerjacks."
The 2014 musical lineup included a noon tribute to Smith by his son, Clay, and "Brother Ralph" Smith's sons, Tim and Roddy, playing instrumentals with David Moody of The Moody Brothers. Vocalist Keith Dudley offered several of Smith's most well-known hymns, and George Hamilton IV, who performed with Smith for years, came in from Nashville and his job as backstage host of the Grand Ole Opry to sing Smith's most famous hymn, "Acres of Diamonds." The Cockman Family of Sherrills Ford, NC added several of Smith's secular hits including "Feudin' Banjos" and "Guitar Boogie."
Arthur Smith (center, with banjo), posing with his band "The Crackerjacks." Back Row (L to R): Tommy Faile, Wayne Haas, Kaye Murray; Front Row (L to R): Ralph Smith, Carl Hunt, Arthur Smith, Carlene "Sam" Howell, Jim Buchanan. Possibly taken on the deck of the USS North Carolina in Wilmington, N.C.
Arthur Smith and Hugh Morton go back a long way. There are pictures in the Morton Online Collection of Smith and his "Crackerjacks" at the 1952 Azalea Festival in Wilmington and a decade or so later on the deck of the Battleship USS North Carolina. But it was in 1962 that the Morton–Smith "team" set out on its most famous project.
In the mid-1950s, the National Park Service was preparing for the final 7.7 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the state planned to gain, by its power of eminent domain, a portion of Grandfather Mountain in order to build a road higher on the Mountain than Morton wanted. Here's how Morton described the situation in his 1988 book, Making a Difference in North Carolina:
To accommodate the requested "high route," the state condemned additional land and we protested to Chairman A.H. Graham of the North Carolina Highway and Public Works Commission. . . The Chairman promptly arranged for a hearing before the State Highway Commission for the National Parks Service and me.
Almost immediately I received an invitation from WRAL-TV, in Raleigh, to debate the Grandfather Mountain right-of-way controversy with National Parks Director (Conrad) Wirth. . . Later I was notified that Wirth was bringing his engineer, and suggested I bring my engineer or lawyer to even up the sides of the debate. I had neither engineer nor lawyer. So I invited my friend Arthur Smith . . .
Wirth obviously did not know Arthur Smith when I introduced them, and was unaware that he performed daily in nearly every television market in the southeastern United States, including WRAL-TV. The Park Director and his engineer spoke first. . . I made a brief statement and then Arthur Smith, in his Southern drawl said, "When a man like Hugh Morton owns a mountain and loves it like he does, it don't seem right for a big bureaucrat to come down here from Washington and take it away from him."
The telephone switchboard at WRAL-TV lit up with support for our position and it was soon obvious that Conrad Wirth had lost the debate. . . . The State Highway Commission voted to return the illegally condemned land.
Hugh Morton almost never promoted himself, but he did try once, with a little help from a few of his friends. Hugh's longtime friend Charles Kuralt described the start of that effort at the 1996 North Caroliniana Society Award ceremony.
On December 1, 1971, in the shadow of the Capitol in Raleigh, surrounded on a chilly day, by shivering pretty girls in shorts wearing "Morton for Governor" hats and carrying "Morton for Governor" signs, with Arthur Smith playing "Guitar Boogie" for the crowd, with Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice on hand to declare "I have been on Hugh's team all my life," Hugh Morton formally declared his candidacy for governor.
Morton chose to withdraw his candidacy a couple of months later. It was likely the only occasion when the Morton–Smith duo failed to achieve its goal.
Ralph Smith, Don Ange, Jackie Schuyler, Dick Schuyler, Maggie Griffin, George Hamilton IV, and Arthur Smith at the Sea of Galilee in Israel. Taken on 1973 trip Hugh Morton took to the "Holy Land" along with musicians George Hamilton IV, Arthur Smith, Ralph Smith, and others, possibly for filming of television special.
In March of 1973, Arthur Smith took his syndicated television program to the Holy Land to record shows in Nazareth, Jericho, Mt. Sinai, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and of course at the River Jordan. The group also visited Rome. Morton, along with wife Julia and daughter Catherine, went along to take photographs that were later used for album covers.
North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt called Hugh Morton in March of 1981. The Governor wanted a 3-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax to finance road improvements. Morton, as always, stepped in to help. Hunt had polling data that said support for the gas tax was weakest among blue collar workers and farmers. The Governor's plan called for Morton and retired Charlotte banker C.C. Hope to lead an effort to change the opinion of that segment of the population. Well, Hugh Morton had better idea. Rather than banker Hope, why not recruit Arthur Smith? Morton believed that a country music legend like Smith would do better than a banker when trying to convince blue collar workers and farmers to support a gas tax. Smith agreed to take on the challenge. The plan worked; on June 26, 1981, the legislature approved the tax.
Also in 1981, Morton completed work on the award-winning film The Hawk and John McNeely. The music track for that film was done by Arthur Smith and the film was narrated by Woody Durham, "The Voice of the North Carolina Tar Heels" football and basketball teams.
Musicians Arthur Smith (far left), Raymond Fairchild (second from left), and others performing at the dedication of the final piece of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain, N.C.
It was a beautiful September day in 1987 when the Blue Ridge Parkway was officially opened for traffic to travel the entire 469.1 miles through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties. The dedication ceremony brought together again Arthur Smith and Hugh Morton. They had come full circle, from that famous debate 25 years before in Raleigh, to the official dedication at the Linn Cove Viaduct on September 11, 1987.
Almost five years later, on September 2, 1992, another celebration took place at Grandfather Mountain. This time it was the 40th anniversary of the Mile High Swinging Bridge. Many familiar faces turned out for this party as well: Kuralt, Justice, and of course Arthur Smith with guitar in hand to entertain the crowd.
Arthur Smith was best known for his music, but he was a serious Bible student and Sunday school teacher throughout his career. In a January, 1992 book titled Apply it to Life, he shared his practical applications of the Scriptures. By combining his favorite verses of Scripture, humorous stories that he had collected over the years, and ten of his most popular inspirational songs, he was effectively able to apply the messages found in Scripture to one's everyday life.
"He had a very strong faith and considered being the musical host for the 'Singing on the Mountain' to be part of his ministry," said Harris Prevost, vice president of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.
According to Hugh's wife Julia, Hugh and Arthur had only one serious disagreement during their long friendship. That disagreement came during the campaign to get "Liquor by the Drink" in North Carolina.
Both men were teetotalers, but Morton saw the tourist value in Liquor by the Drink and fought hard to get it approved. He was finally successful in 1978 without Smith's support, but he never lost Smith's respect.
From Swinging on the Bridge to Singing on the Mountain . . .
From the Azalea Gardens in Wilmington to the Holy Land and Rome . . .
From the Deck of the "Showboat" to the Linn Cove Viaduct . . .
Hugh Morton and Arthur Smith stood shoulder-to-shoulder carrying out numerous projects and celebrating others across the state of North Carolina for more than 50 years. And on this day, one year after Arthur Smith joined Hugh Morton once again, I choose to believe that their special connection continues.
Hugh Morton and Arthur Smith during their March 1973 trip to the Holy Land.
Epilogue:
When The Levine Museum of the New South in Charlotte published its 2002 book The North Carolina Century: Tar Heels Who Made a Difference, 1900-2000, they chose a Hugh Morton portrait of Arthur Smith to support the Smith profile.
This entry was posted in Biography, Celebrities, Grandfather Mountain, Singing on the Mountain by Stephen Fletcher. Bookmark the permalink.
2 thoughts on "Another special connection with another legend named Smith"
Jack Hilliard on June 23, 2015 at 8:40 pm said:
George Hamilton IV will be honored at the 91st Singing on the Mountain on June 28th 2015.
http://www.hcpress.com/festivals/annual-singing-on-the-mountain-at-grandfather-to-recognize-musician-george-hamilton-iv.html
ED SMITH on January 4, 2019 at 11:12 am said:
Whatever happened to Carlene Sam Howell who was with Arthur Smith?


1. Describe cultural issues relevant to transgender individuals.
2. Identify bio-psycho-social factors which may be relevant when conducting neuropsychological evaluations with transgender individuals.
Trittschuh, E. H., Parmenter, B. A., Clausell, E. R., Mariano, M. J., & Reger, M. A. (2018). Conducting neuropsychological assessment with transgender individuals. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 1-18.


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motobike jack - yes i can.
Pretty cool and a lot cheaper than landing gear.
One of those "why didn't I think of that" inventions.
Pricy but worth more than that if you ever drop your bike.
I have dropped bikes in the past. Usually I am so pissed, adrenalin makes picking the bike up feel as light as a feather.
Unless your broken leg is wedged underneath it. Of course in that position, the jack wouldn't have done me much good either.
ouch, that is gnarly..made more so if your leg is trapped on searing hot exhaust..
I get why some riders may want something like this, but watching the demo video it was scary seeing that jack lean out like it does while lifting. They caution you to keep your foot on the base to keep the bike from falling again. I think a pivoting base world work much better and safer.
I'm recovering from back issues/surgery and I got a Dirt Napper, which is similar to the Motojack, I'm sure. I haven't used it, but is reassuring to know it is with me if I need it.
Location: Land of 10,000 THAWING Lakes!
Thanx in advance TwiZted. I'll give ya my address next Dec. Ho-Ho-Ho.
And then the video demonstrates it on guess what? On a "clean, dry, level pavement, no gravel, no dirt and at a Perfect Angle to Just Walk them back up." Sheesh.
No really that would make a great gift for your friends, good on you.
Had to pick up an FL recently for a rider. She was on DG (decomposed granite.) What does Harley make those out of, lead? A hoist would have been welcome. Those things are stoopid heavy!


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This server has received 2229328 hits from both ipv4 and ipv6.
You might have ProxyPass configured to pass all requests to Tomcat. However its better to serve some content directly from Apache for speed – images for instance. If you arrange your site into a well planned folder structure you can exclude certain folders in proxy_ajp.conf.
The file is parsed in order, so the exclude must come first.


Below is a list of the five Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited schools that offer medical assistant programs across the state of Missouri. You must graduate from one of these medical assistant programs before you can take the National American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) Exam.
As you take these medical assistant college factors into thought, it's usually useful to talk with current-day students as well as former students of the CMA programs of curiosity. Also, questioning employers whom have actually hired these graduates can supply you additional knowledge to each program's strengths & weaknesses.


I read this Story from Rev. Sam Adeyemi and i love it so much. It will inspire you. Please do make sure you read to the end.
The barbers and hairstylists of the United States were about to have their national convention. They wanted people to appreciate their profession and wanted to give Americans a better image of their profession. They hired a young Public Relations executive to handle the job and help in packaging the convention.
The young man thought of a very brilliant idea and went to work immediately. He went down town the city of New York, to the slums, and picked up a young man who obviously was a street urchin, popularly called 'area boy' here, who was looking so unkempt. With clothes that were tattered and soiled. His hair was unkempt and his beard dirty. The guy listened to the young executive's offer, and since there was some money involved they bargained and the area boy agreed to the conditions.
The young executive took him first to a photographer's shop and had some snaps of him the way he was; dirty and unkempt. Then he gave him a face lift: a steam bath, a shave and an hair cut, and took him to the photographer for another round of snaps. But he was not finished. The young executive took the boy to town and got him professionally made suits, shirts, ties and shoes. Then he had a third round of photographs snapped.
On the day the convention started, the young executive positioned three life-size photographs of his subject in the lobby of the hotel, so every one who came in saw the transformation that had happened to the man. And he wrote at the top of those pictures, "See what the Barbers and Hairstylists of America can do to a man". And the story immediately hit the headlines across America.
For effect, the well-suited area boy was positioned at the hotel lobby to shake hands with people as they came in for the convention. The strategy worked. The campaign was a success. The Manager of the Hotel was touched; he fell in love with the young man and decided to do something to help him. He decided to get the area boy a job. He made some phone calls and it was agreed that the man should start work with one of the manager's friends. So he had an agreement with the man to come back on Monday to resume. However, on the agreed Monday, he expected the man all day but he didn't show up. The next day, there was still no sign of him. When the young man didn't show up after a month the manager forgot about him.
After some months, they were going through their store, when the manager saw the picture of the man again and then decided to go down to the slum to look for the guy. He had the picture of the guy, and he kept asking but nobody knew the man. Then after one hour it occurred to him that he was holding the picture of the area boy after he had been cleaned up. So he went back to pick the picture he took before he was cleaned up and within a few minutes the man was located.
The message in the story is this; the barbers and hairstylists in America can change the outside of a person in a few hours but if they don't change the person's inside, the person has not yet changed. Although the young man was changed outwardly, inwardly he was the same old street urchin.


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Throwing A Hat Into The Ring For Croatia's Presidency
August 18, 2019 by inavukic 17 Comments
Presidential candidates for Presidency of Croatia 2019
In a political environment Croatia is finding itself these days, where anything seems possible – where major political parties of either centre, right and left ideological persuasion (who have held governments either in their own right or as minority-governments) are seeing alarming falls in popularity as well as acceleration of infighting within the political parties; where new political parties or movements are popping out of the grassroot public ground like mushrooms after autumn rains; where independent candidates for general or presidential elections pop out of their relative political anonymity randomly like Jack-in-a-box – it seems just about everyone in the country wants to run for the president (elections due late December 2019). So far there are 11 candidates who have announced their candidature and even a fairly conservative list of potential candidates stretches beyond a dozen names as more Pantovcak (Office of the President of Croatia) hopefuls are likely to swell the already ridiculously large and politically erratic and rather politically amorphous heap of candidates.
At this stage of building-up momentum to official election campaigns that start once the official list of candidates is published it is difficult to gauge which individual that has announced his/her candidature is "the real deal" for Croatia and which candidate is just trying to raise their public profile to be utilised at 2020 general elections or is actually serious about running for president. Some perhaps don't even know where their testing of the waters will lead; for some it is like the proverbial throwing one's hat in the ring and come what may!
Typically, having strong credentials and success as leader (either in branches of executive government, in strong political parties or movements, having a leading role in active and successful military defence of country, or the corporate or large organisations world and the like) is, one would agree, a good steppingstone to the presidency of one's country. Being a Mayor of a city or town, being a political activist either as part of specific causes associations or as an individual, being an office-bearer in a political party led by others would not under such standards for a good presidency be considered a key qualification for the presidency.
But there is nothing typical about Croatia 2019! Croatia has a long way to go in lining its socio-political main artery with the values and aims that drove the 1990's Homeland War and the country's absolute secession from communism (Yugoslavia). To achieve this the president of the country must, besides above mentioned qualifications of a leader, possess personal virtues, morality, commensurate with the said values and aims, otherwise the state of perpetual widespread claims that Croatia is not yet free and independent despite its military victory in Homeland War against the Serb aggressor is likely to result in the typical for Croatia actually being the typical of the EU and not the Croatian people who fought for and shed their blood for independence.
And so, together with possessing good qualifications for the presidency, it is widely maintained throughout the developed democracies that a president of a country must possess and must have demonstrated high personal virtue – morality – that is tightly in tune with the people and the direction a country must take in order to be a good place for all the citizens to live in. While some may disagree with the view that moral virtue is important for presidency one would find it difficult in disagreeing with the view that president whose decisions are not grounded in the right sort of ethical values may be less well-equipped to respond well – and, more importantly, might be frighteningly unpredictable in his or her responses. Political ethicists have emphasised the ways in which democracies can fall apart in the absence of personal virtue. Conservative thinkers throughout developed democracies, in particular, have argued that political institutions can only function when all those who participate within them are capable of compromise and of self-government. Rules, to put it simply, don't work unless people governed by those rules care about them and voluntarily choose to abide by them.
A true or dedicated leader with high moral values is likely to pay particular attention to the values and mission that have been established in the foundation of the country he/she leads. In Croatia's case the foundation values, which were underpinned by Franjo Tudjman's vision of reconciliation between all foes (particularly WWII communists and anti-communists), may be summarised as defending the sovereignty of and democracy in a national Croatian state (made up of Croats as vast majority) and among Croatian people wherever they lived. Tudjman died in December 1999, a mere year after the Homeland War officially ended, and had not lived long enough to complete the task set out in the beginning, when secession from communist Yugoslavia was whole-heartedly supported by 94% of democratic votes at referendum on same issue. And hence, from year 2000, the tables started turning against the very idea of a Croatian democratic and sovereign state as former communists including those who rejected independence movement in the first place or never spent a day on the battlefields for Croatia or never made any type of contribution towards it, increasingly occupied key positions of power. That is, former communist mindset and habits of corruption and nepotism continued thriving as more and more former communists held onto power or were injected into powerful positions on grounds of political suitability. This would have been the ground rather easily cultivated since the very Constitution of the Republic of Croatia lists WWII antifascists (communists) as parts of the foundation for independent Croatia! Yet WWII antifascists fought to keep Croatia within the borders of Yugoslavia, against which multitudes of Croats died and fought against for decades upon decades.
And so we come to this day and the political environment in Croatia where it is imperative for the progress of democracy and living standards to shed decisively the remnants in legislation and public administration and practice all that defined the communist Yugoslavia regime. But the leaders of Croatia in positions of power fail miserably in condemning the totalitarian communist regime of the past while condemning the WWII Ustasha regime. At times the lunacy in this is painfully transparent: it's as though the same leaders hold the view that by condemning the communist regime (which purged hundreds of thousands innocent Croats) they would be seen as some kind of historical revisionists who are on the trail of minimising the crimes that are said to have been committed by the WWII Independent State of Croatia. And yet, if one asks the people of today one would find that majority believe both regimes should be condemned or brushed off with the same brush when it comes to victims; all victims should be recognised as such and Croatia to open a new slate for a healthy future. But no, this is not of interest particularly to the hordes aligning themselves with the justifiers of communist crimes in particular (given that crimes pinned to the Ustashi regime have been and continue to be addressed openly if not politically twisted).
Among the current candidates who have their eyes set on future presidency there are three individuals whose platforms, opinions, reactions etc. are constantly present in the mainstream and other media like a revolving door that slaps important national issues into a ridiculous circus so that the people never really get a grip on what and how an individual candidate will fix things for a country on steep economic and demographic decline and how the values of the Homeland War will again be brought into the national focus.
The three candidates that are receiving most media attention are Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic (current president), Zoran Milanovic (former Prime Minister, former League of Communists operative and former leader of Social Democratic Party) and Miroslav Skoro (a popular musician and singer, a businessman, former member of parliament and diplomat from the HDZ/Croatian Democratic Union Party from which he has estranged himself as member in recent years). Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic continues to appear as a personality whose opinions on important matters are adjusted to the audience she is addressing at any one moment; she talks of returning Croatia to the values set by the first president of Croatia Franjo Tudjman and yet fails to spell those values out or lay out the plan of action, at least roughly. Zoran Milanovic is hotting-up the waters for continued animosities and recriminations between former communists and former anti-communists, leaning favourably to the former communist beat; nothing good for Croatia can come out of this just as nothing good came out from his Prime Ministership out of which he exited with a shattering political demise within his own party. Miroslav Skoro for the time being reminds one of the "Lone Ranger" except for the fact that he appears as actually having no strong convictions regarding the credence of the values of Homeland War and may like the above two play for all teams (left and right and centre). None of these candidates give the impression that the crisis Croatia has been in for the past few years (economic, demographic, ideological…) has sunk in. None of them offer any concrete steps they would undertake as president to fix things. As for the other candidates so far in the race there is a mixture of the above but all, without exception, want to "save Croatia!". It's time Croatia stops acting as a victim, which it was, and starts decisively implementing the values of the Homeland War, which by the way, are succinctly contained in Franjo Tudjman's 30 May 1990 speech at the Inaugural Assembly of Croatian Parliament in which he listed the crucial tasks to be done in order for a democratic and independent state of Croatia to function! Nothing else or different will save Croatia! Ina Vukic
Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Antun Babic, Communist Yugoslavia, Croatia, Dalija Oreskovic, Goran Jurisic, Ivan Pernar, Katarina Peovic, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Miroslav Skoro, Mislav Kolekusic, Presidential elections 2019, Tomislav Panenic, transitioning from communism to democracy, Vlaho Orepic, Zoran Milanovic


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The second half of the second semi-final is an intriguing mixture.
We started today with Israel's 'Golden Boy' Nadav Guedj. The concept is the right one here: three male backing dancers bringing movement and fun; two backing singers who join in for the final chorus; and a blue-to-gold stage. My one problem is that Nadav is always on the move himself, and that occasionally affects his vocals and connection with the camera. I'd rather he stayed still when singing and only danced when not.
Latvia's Aminata is still throughout, but she's aided by some gorgeous red-and-white ethnic graphics and her vocal prowess. 'Love Injected' has moments when it feels a little too minimalistic and esoteric, but there's no doubting that this is Latvia's best entry in a very, very long time, and it deserves to qualify.
Azerbaijan has committed itself literally to its song title, with a moon and forest backdrop, and two contemporary dancers acting as fighting wolves. They're rather off-putting, and Elnur's vocals weren't always secure when unaided by some excellent, hidden backing vocalists. But the backdrop, which turns to red at the big moment of 'Hour of the Wolf', looks gorgeous.
Iceland's Maria really struggled early on with 'Unbroken', her vocals particularly suffering when going through some fussy little choreography. She looked very lonely on stage when things weren't going well, though the northern lights and mountains backdrop was nice enough. Hera Bjork was absent from the five backing vocalists today due to illness, and her presence may help bolster confidence all round.
Sweden gave us a facsimile of the Melodifestivalen performance of 'Heroes'. The animation looks fantastic and Mans really enjoyed himself on stage. Some felt underwhelmed in the press centre, but it's not surprising the atmosphere wasn't as electric without a crowd to give it an extra lift.
Melanie Rene is the best thing about the Swiss entry that follows. She's a strong singer who engages the camera well. The staging wasn't holding her back: a dark blue forest scene which sees her rip open a dark cape to reveal a silver dress when it's her 'Time To Shine'. This is a strong section of the semi; Melanie needs plenty of close-up camera shots for her best shot at qualification.
Cyprus have kept things nice and simple for 'One Thing I Should Have Done'. A single spotlight shines through a black-and-white lens on John Karayiannis in his prom suit. It turns to colour for the first chorus and a cosmic backdrop develops. There are some nice smokey explosions for the big moments, and John has a winning way with the camera. I could do with something extra for the final chorus – taking the mic away from the stand, perhaps – but overall it was a very pleasing first effort.
Maraaya have kept things as they were in the Slovenian national final. That means a lace dress and headphones for Marjetka, Raay at the piano clicking his fingers, and an air violinist slicing the air. There are gold lights and no backdrop. It feels a little monotonous and static at times, but 'Here For You' is still one of the most interesting and contemporary songs in the contest.
We finished off with some cunning staging from Poland. A pink/purple spring blossom backdrop has the subliminal message of fresh and clean, the wheelchair reveal comes in the first chorus, and for the second the focus is on clips of a pre-accident Monika in her prime. It's a very tasteful way to bring a human element for 'In The Name Of Love'. The vocals, aided by three backing singers, were generally fine, if lacking in power.
It's certainly a competitive semi-final that feels in flux with regards to qualification chances. Let us know your thoughts below.
May 14th, 2015 | 31 comments
31 comments to Eurovision 2015: May 14 rehearsals
I think Latvia, Cyprus, and Poland were best of today visually. Mans projection screen looked a little small on the big stage IMO, I agree with Daniel in that Mans needs to be playing to a full house to feel the real impact with "Heroes" I still think Sweden have it this year, it's has the wider appeal for the voting, Italy will have to have something special to pip sweden at the post, but I must say I'm looking forward to seeing Guy and his street lighting think that will be interesting.
Can't beat a good "tasteful wheelchair reveal".
Perhaps I'm too cynical of X Factor's tactics, but it smacks of them playing dirty to me. The song wouldn't qualify if she didn't have the story. Some randomer confronted me on Twitter earlier for suggesting the emphasis on Monika's disability was a tactic to earn qualification.
It's a bit depressing that disabled performers can't enter in Eurovision without being accused of playing dirty.
Yeah, Because that's exactly what I said.
Not even gonna bother.
Bianca from Electro Velvet has cystic fibrosis. Not narrativised in song or staging or in the promotional campaign. Similarly we've had umpteen blind singers in Eurovision over the years, and apart from Corinna May their disability was never touched on in the song or staging. What Ben's talking about is entries where the disability is being sold as a story, as in the case of Poland, Finland and arguably Serbia (the European Court of Justice having ruled last year that morbid obesity can be classed as a disability). At least with Finland and Serbia, the song and performer are linked, and the songs have an empowerment angle – Poland's song is just a generic ballad with no particular theme that they're using Monika's story to try and sell.
That's exactly right.
That's what I said to this geezer on Twitter and he accused me of dictating that she "hide her reality for the comfort of others." I said no – just don't use it to spring a surprise on the audience and follow up with backdrop videos of Monika on her feet.
Then he goes "so you're saying she should come with an "I'm disabled" disclaimer and have the chair in shot from start to finish?!"
Jesus F'ing Christ, you can't win with these people.
There's a disabled schlager singer on German TV sometimes and her chair's always in shot from the start, just as an able-bodied singer's legs would be in long shots. No big issue. Whereas we're getting slightly into 2 Up 2 Down territory with Poland.
I think Poland could have done a better job of this by actually having a touching first-person song about Monika's life/reflections, then the visuals and direction would seem sincere rather than cynically grafted on to an existing unrelated song.
I don't think its' that exactly, but everyone on here already knows that backstories are something the X Factor milks for all its' worth (just go and check the X Factor section of this very site) and as Eurovision as a production becomes more and more influenced by Mr Cowell's cash cow, it's a logical question.
I really enjoy the Swedish production, though it thrills me less over time, inevitably. And if it ain't broke don't fix it, especially when it doesn't appear to have a weakness.
But, in saying that, I do worry about the widespread claims about it being very derivative. I was already aware of the Avicii "influence" but not the David Guetta one, that commentators all over YouTube have been making.
I recall Georgia being one of the favourites for Semi 2 a couple of years ago. It just scraped through to the final, where it finished miles down the leaderboard (despite a prime draw). I was aware it had direct copy moments from Quedaté Comiga (one of my all-time favourites) of the previous year's ESC. I forgave it that but others obviously (consciously or unconsciously) didn't.
Last year the fancied Cliché Love Song (again, despite a prime draw) finished well down the pecking order. and one of my faves, Malta, finished 4th from bottom in the final. Both were widely criticized for being "copies".
I think other entries have been hammered with the Euphoria copy label, and I would guess those songs prospects diminished accordingly.
It could be that charismatic Mans, his striking poses and his cartoon graphic army are just so engaging that they thrillingly sweep over and above any such qualms, but under 2/1 for Sweden looks plenty short enough.
Given how old the juries are this year (average is is 40), is it likely that many of the older members would be familiar with popular electronic dance music, enough to recognise a Avicii/Guetta influence, enough to be bothered by it?
Ron H
Thank you very much for your comments on the first round of rehearsals for the two semi finals. Do you perhaps know if during the second round of rehearsals starting tomorrow we will be allowed to see how the acts will appear on screen? If so I believe Trijntjes Walk Along will be the act to look out for tomorrow morning. Not for the (too much discussed) dress but the visuals of the act itself. I'm not a video expert and therefore could be wrong, but do think there is reason to expect the Dutch (as has already been rumoured on this site) are using 'augmented reality' to create a completely different, yet unknown environment for the song.
The Dutch team mentioned on several occasions they were planning to bring a 'dynamic video clip' instead of a stage performance to the screen and explicitly told they would not focus on how the act will look like on the stage.
On the physical stage only one primary backlit colour is used most of the time, while the singers are dressed in black and white. It seems the entire stage could easily serve as a giant Chroma Key screen.
Revealing Trijntjes dress (especially this dress) in the first run instead of the dress rehearsals also indicates a more complex visual plan that needed testing. In an interview earlier this year Trijntje confirmed the visuals of the act would need testing on stage 'to see if the plan works' and added to this she 'never knew all this was possible'.
The present physical staging doesn't seem to have enough meaning and looks static for this song. Given the fact Hans Pannecoucke is engaged, makes it very hard to believe there isn't a hidden concept. He would simply loose too much credibility if he doesn't come up with something remotely close to the job he did for TLC.
Finally Trijntje (repeatedly) sings 'Walk Along' but sticks to one place on the huge stage. The only logical reason I can think of is she will indeed be edited into a different environment.
Unless I'm wrong, we literally 'ain't seen nothing yet' off the Dutch performance. Even Trijntjes 'widow veil' (or her decolleté for that matter) could suddenly 'fall in place' once we learn where she will be wearing it next Tuesday. Can't wait to see if this makes any sense or turns out to be the well known ESC trap of wishful thinking.
There were no reports of this sort of animation from those who saw the camera feed at the first rehearsals. Rather than using a green screen background (or similar), the Netherlands have an animated background of two lovers.
regarding Netherlands using any kind of special/amazing staging "you can't polish a turd"
Perhaps not, but enough turds reached the final, top 10 and on occasion even top three.
haha Ron, very good, I cannot argue there.
In all seriousness though, the Netherlands song – the song itself, is just an endless chorus. It's not a good song, they have no ally/friends (other than Belgium) and are drawn early. I don't care what the staging is, it's a NQ
Add to this that there's a not overly attractive woman in her early forties fronting the whole thing…
http://static0.ad.nl/static/photo/2014/5/6/13/20140815205814/media_xll_2428813.jpg
Well perhaps you are right Dash and Guildo. I still haven't written it off for a top ten ranking though. We are talking about one of the best and most experienced singers in the competition. She will definitely impress vocally. And although she most definitely isn't a topmodel, she is very well capable of connecting emotionally to the public which is what music is about at the end of the day isn't it?
I agree the song is repetitive. But from what I've heard from the rehearsals, the vocals have been work on to create more excitement during the last minute. The reviews on Youtube still are very positive, opposite to TCL last year also from eastern Europeans. A like-dislike ratio of 10 is not bad at all! In fact I must admit I like Walking Along more than Calm after the storm myself. Three minutes also might just be long enough to stick a melody in peoples minds instead of boring them to death.
The final outcome therefore in my opinion will depend on the quality and attractiveness of the staging. My gut feeling tells me the blurred animated background of two lovers – like watching a 3-D movie without the glasses – can't just be all we are going to see on screen. The stage after all is Dutch design, so i'm quite sure they will use all its advantages.
Hey Ron, we all have different opinions and I'm not one to say anyone's opinions is the correct one.
You make some good points about the Netherlands, but I still see it as a NQ and if it snuck into the final, it would definitely not trouble the top 10, purely because the juries will mark it down.
Just to pick up the point of being an experiences performer, be careful with that, remember when the UK sent Bonnie and Humpleding…
Can't argue with that Dash 🙂 In fact I was expecting the Brits to bring Vera Lynn to the stage this year. And believe me, I would have voted for her.
Regarding Sweden, I think the change to a red, black, red, white and more red colour scheme says it all.
So much red.
I spotted a few other subtle things thanks to my background in animation, too, but I might be getting too technical at that point.
This raises another interesting X Factor crossover question. Is there any evidence to suggest that some of the staging tricks used in X Factor – eg. Red & Black, Gold, Golden Showers (stop that at the back), Colour Vomit, etc.have a bearing on the scoring at Eurovision? For example, do songs with Red & Black staging generally do worse?
Winner 2007:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSueQN1QvV4
I regard Molitva as, for the most part, an exception to the rule. I don't need or want to write another essay about meeting one of my three main critera, hit-potential, timeless high calibre and accessible novelties. Moltiva ticks the second one.
But it's an exception to the rule because the final of 2007 was not only 100% televoting, but it was also a year where there were only three, yes, three, non big-4 western countries… and all the western countries sent songs worthy of 17th place or lower. Eastern tastes absolutely dominated, leaving the west with only Verka Serduchka to latch onto. No wonder 2 semi finals and 'bowls' came in the following year.
Hi Daniel, any new clever usage of the floor tiles in semi2? Iceland has some golden cracks, that we know but for the rest…
Hi Boki, if my memory serves me, the following had floor LEDs:
-Latvia continued the theme seen on the back wall on the floor
-Iceland's floor went from cracks to gold
-Cyprus, like Latvia, continued the wall theme, with smokey explosions centered on John
-Poland had grass on the floor to continue the spring meadow theme.
It wouldn't surprise me if countries were trying out backdrops and these will completely change for the second rehearsals.
I'd agree, same with outfits – previously it was thought Israel would be in a gold suit, and I doubt Romania wear the painting overalls on TV
Some of the backdrops were a bit jarring
you can see the tv screen version of russia and it looks stunning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekqw1RY7rzA
Just a thought – the number of different pastiches of the Slovenia entry on YouTube suggests the song itself has legs. Some of them are better than the entry itself. Pity about the staging.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8h17T8nkAM