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Celebrating Love and Commitment
November 14, 2019 Leslie Westbrook stories
Offered by Rev. Leslie Westbrook
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, Bethesda, MD
I officiated at my first lesbian "Celebration of Love" in 1973. After performing the ceremony, I registered the religious event in the records of the church I served with the required documentation: the date, the place, the couples' full names, and myself as the officiating minister. I had no idea my actions would be seen as controversial.
Today, as our nation debates whether gays and lesbians should have the right to marry, I think back to over thirty years ago when two women asked me, because I was a Unitarian Universalist minister, to bless their union.
It was September of 1973. The couple were in their early thirties. They sat holding hands. One woman was wearing jeans and a denim jacket. Her cropped blonde hair feathered softly around a petite heart-shaped face unadorned by cosmetics. There was a no-nonsense appearance about the way she carried herself. She was from the working class, from Irish South Boston.
Her partner, who had medium length dark hair, was in a traditional summer dress. Pastel hues captured and emphasized her gentle appearance. Both women's quiet reserve permeated the room.
While they both seemed shy, the woman in the jeans took the lead. First, she formally thanked me for meeting with them and then she told me that she and her partner wanted a wedding ceremony. As I asked them questions, they each, in their own very different ways, spoke of how much they loved one another and wanted to be with each other. They spoke of a felt need to tell the world of their love. The woman in the jeans spoke the most. Her speech was intense, direct. She looked me straight in the eyes as she spoke. I liked her. I liked her partner. I liked the way these two women were with each other. I said I certainly would perform the ceremony they requested.
I had just begun my first month as Assistant Minister at Arlington Street Church, in Boston. I was twenty-seven, naive, idealistic, hopeful, a woman in what was still a man's world, trying to learn how to be a minister. I had been drawn to the church I served because of what the Senior Minister preached… respect and equality for all people.
I had never performed a wedding, nor taken a course in theological school about how to develop a wedding ceremony for a couple. A child of the 60's, I was a product of the women's liberation movement. The Senior Minister, approached first to perform the ceremony, gave me a private tutorial. What he taught me are still guiding principles when I work with any couple.
The evening I met with the couple, I sat in an office under a large portrait of William Ellery Channing, the father of our religious movement. Channing's sermon on the occasion of the ordination of Jared Sparks at First Church in Baltimore laid out the Unitarian theology of a unitary, not a trinitary, God. Later, Channing had spoken out against slavery, declaring that all human beings were of one species. Our modern rendition of Channing's ideas are that whether we are white or black, rich or poor, gay or straight or bisexual or transgender, the human blood and desire that courses through our veins is basically the same. I thought it was appropriate that I and those two women sat under Channing's portrait.
Marriage invariably stirs strong emotions in most of us — no matter whether we are gay, straight, bisexual, or transgender. We may have thoughts and feelings about our parents' marriages, the relationships of others we have loved, perhaps of our own past marriages and unions. We may remember painful disappointments, as well as moments of feeling uplifted. Our emotions may run the entire gamut from desire to disgust, from fear to longing, from confusion or ambivalence to absolute clarity of feeling.
Not everyone wants a committed, on-going, monogamous relationship. Many people, however, do. They want an intimate, sexual, companionate relationship that they can count on over the long haul. As in the heterosexual world, the nature of those relationships and the details of the sexual, emotional, financial, social and familial relationships are as varied as are the people who create them.
When a couple comes to me because they want a public celebration of their love and commitment, I help them design a service that will reflect their understanding of the love and affection they feel for one another. I help them design a service that will express their hopes and promises for their future together. I help them think about and acknowledge the limits of their relationship, i.e. under what conditions they would leave the other person. What is it that is critically important to the maintenance and sustenance of their relationship? What would seriously threaten its continuance?
The elements of a Celebration of Love or Gay Wedding are usually simple but full of intense feeling and yearning.
I remember the Opening Words of another Celebration of Love I performed in a garden in Concord, Massachusetts in May of 1981. The words were composed from what the couple told me and what they wrote about their relationship. Imagine that garden, green in the New England spring, sprinkled with the bright flowers that come after a long winter. This time, the wedding was in the backyard of a home in a well-heeled residential neighborhood. Imagine a clear sky, no traffic noise, a slight chill in the air. The Opening Words spoke of what the women valued and cherished, their hopes for the future, their promises to one another. At their suggestion, I said:
"We are here today at Ann and Linda's home because Ann and Linda love each other. We have been called together as witnesses to the happiness which they have found together and to the pledge which they will now make, each to the other, for the mutual service of their common life.
"We rejoice with them that out of all the world they have found each other, and that they will henceforth find the deeper meaning and richness of life in sharing with each other.
"This ceremony brings with it no guarantee. Ann and Linda must deliberately intend, in every coming day, to be married to one another, without regard to the ebb and flow of feelings, without regard to the joys and sorrows of life, without regard to the gifts and denials of circumstance.
"Ann and Linda each come to this union with a unique background that has made her who she is. From this they will make their own history, each one knowledgeable and thankful for what went before in the life of the other."
Like every other wedding at which I have officiated, I declared that the purpose of the gathering was to witness the exchange of marriage vows in which two people commit themselves to a relationship of love, caring and support.
I told the gathered assembly that we stood with this couple in a profound moment in time and we were honored to be with them.
I declared that the couple pledging themselves to one another needed us, their family and friends, to recognize, to support, and to celebrate with them as they began their life together. In fact, I said that the ideals, the understanding, and the mutual respect which they brought to their relationship had their roots in the love, friendship, guidance, and shared experience that we had provided them.
And I spoke of how each woman came from a different family, with different cultural and religious values and different life experiences. Their relationship would be as unique as the two people who formed it.
There were readings of poetry and prose that expressed Ann and Linda's understanding of love and marriage. Then came the most important part of the ceremony. I asked the couple, "Have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?" When they responded affirmatively, I invited them to exchange their wedding vows. Ann spontaneously declared her love, with no written text. Linda, being more organized and formal, vowed her love and commitment with the following words. She said:
"In admiration and trust, I say these true things to you, Ann. I promise to share myself gladly with you, wholeheartedly and without reservation, never to allow any other relation to come before ours. I will seek you out in times of my need and comfort you in yours. You are my best friend and only lover. I will love, respect, and care for you through good times and bad, as long as we both shall live."
The couple exchanged rings, and I declared that they were loving and committed partners from that day forth. The couple kissed, and the assembly laughed with pleasure and clapped.
All of the elements of an adult love relationship were incorporated into the ceremony.
As described in The Psychology of Love by Robert J. Sternberg and Michael L. Barness, an adult love relationship typically includes passion, intimacy, and commitment (p.142).
First, PASSION. These two women were sexual partners. As with any other couple, the details of the ways they expressed their love, affection and sexual desire were known only to them. They were, however, saying in front of their family and friends that this part of their lives together was satisfying and they both consented to it.
Second, INTIMACY. Intimacy includes a feeling of closeness and human warmth. Each woman expressed high regard for her partner. They received and gave one another emotional support, and they felt loved, appreciated, understood and similar to one another.
Finally, COMMITMENT. In front of family and friends, these two women said they would do all they could to maintain the love that they felt for one another.
The issue of gay marriage is now in the national spotlight. Some legal authorities have taken the risk and granted civil sanction to gay unions. I invite you to support those efforts as Unitarian Universalists by speaking out about your religious views on gay marriage, by being involved in lawful assembly, by lobbying your legislators on behalf of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.
I close this morning with the wedding benediction I have used since 1973. I do not know the author of these beautiful words. I have altered the strictly heterosexual references, so that the poem refers to all loving couples. I say:
I wish for you now, and in the years ahead, these three things.
Love in your lives that makes you better people, that continues to give you joy and zest for living, that provides you with energy to face the responsibilities and challenges of life.
A sense of home, with whomever you choose to make up your family, a home that can stand as a symbol of people living together in love, honesty and equality.
And finally, the capacity to say to those you love, when you come to the end of your lives, 'Because you have loved me, my faith in myself has grown; and because I have seen the good in you, my faith in all humanity has deepened.'
I became a minister in the early 1970's in response to the civil rights movements in our country. I felt passionate about Unitarian Universalism and wanted to do what I could to support our efforts for social justice. I served parishes in New England and the Southeast and then for six years served as Consultant in Adult Education for our denomination. For eight years I was a member and then Vice Chair of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Association, the gatekeeping committee that interviews potential new ministers of our denomination.
When I married and started a family, I began specialized training to be a therapist. I earned a doctorate from the Institute for Clinical Social Work of Chicago and a three year certificate from the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy of Chicago.
I have for the past twenty five years served as a counselor and therapist to adults, adolescents, and couples. I offer crisis counseling, executive coaching, individual therapy, and couple's counseling. I see people who are suffering with depression, anxiety and every kind of mental health concern. Others come to me with issues such as infertility, parenting difficulties, marital or intimacy concerns, transitions in their work life, women's issues, death and dying, and Gay/lesbian issues. I especially enjoy working with partners who are in intimate relationships. I do this work knowing that I am furthering our liberal religious principle of 'Respect for the worth and dignity of every human being.'
While I have loved serving our denomination as a parish minister, educator, and administrator, my true love is accompanying individuals as they seek to become more compassionate, productive, and creative persons and working with couples who want more satisfaction, caring and love in their intimate relationships.
Posts by Leslie Westbrook
personal reflectionsweddings and unions
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HOME » News » JUST IN | New Zealand captain Kane Williamson to miss T20I series vs India, Tim Southee to lead
JUST IN | New Zealand captain Kane Williamson to miss T20I series vs India, Tim Southee to lead
Williamson will be joining the rest of the Test specialist group already training in the Pink City which includes Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Neil Wagner and Tom Blundell.
Updated - 16 Nov 2021 10:51 AM
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson will not participate in the three-match T20I series against India to focus on the two-Test matches that follow, it is being reported on the eve of the opening T20I at Jaipur. While many of the Indian stars including Virat Kohli have already taken rest for the limited-overs fixtures, the Black Caps also confirmed Williamson's absence from the three games in a statement.
After the Jaipur T20I, the other two T20Is will be played at Ranchi and Kolkata respectively following which a Test match each is set to be played at the Green Park Stadium, Kanpur and Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Williamson will be joining the rest of the Test specialist group already training in the Pink City which includes Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Neil Wagner and Tom Blundell.
In Williamson's absence in the T20I series, Tim Southee will step in as the captain. While an elbow issue is troubling the batter, he rose all odds and played a masterclass of an innings in the T20 World Cup final against Australia as he made 85 from 48 balls. However, the Kiwis ended up losing the match by 8 wickets.
Lockie Ferguson likely to make a comeback for India series
In another massive development, fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who had been ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to an injury, is likely to return for the T20I fixtures against the Men in Blue.
"[Ferguson's recovery] continues to progress well and he is expected to be available for the T20 series," the official statement said.
The remainder of the New Zealand squad is pretty much the same as the one for the T20 World Cup in the Middle East and the likes of Kyle Jamieson, Mark Chapman and Todd Astle are all likely to be given some game time after being benched in every match of their World Cup campaign.
New Zealand squad for T20Is vs India: Tim Southee (captain), Daryl Mitchell, Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Jimmy Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Todd Astle, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Adam Milne, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.
New ZealandKane WilliamsonTim SoutheeIND vs NZ
What is the weather forecast for India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I on January 29?
India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I: Match Prediction, Powerplay Score, Betting Odds, and More
WATCH: MS Dhoni meets Hardik Pandya-led Team India ahead of 1st T20I against New Zealand

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Q: Is it possible to use ffmpeg to trim off X seconds from the beginning of a video with an unspecified length? I need to trim the just the first 1 or 2 seconds off of a series of FLV recordings of varying, unspecified lengths. I've found plenty of resources for extracting a specified duration from a video (e.g. 30 second clips), but none for continuing to the end of a video.
Both of these attempts just yield a copied version of the video, sans desired trimming:
ffmpeg -ss 2 -vcodec copy -acodec copy -i input.flv output.flv

ffmpeg -ss 2 -t 120 -vcodec copy -acodec copy -i input.flv output.flv

The thought on the second one was: perhaps if I specified a length beyond what was possible, it'd just go to the end. No dice.
I know it's not an issue with codecs or using seconds instead of timecode since the following worked a charm:
ffmpeg -ss 2 -t 5 -vcodec copy -acodec copy -i input.flv output.flv

Any other ideas? I'm open to using other (Windows-based) command line tools, however am strongly favoring ffmpeg since I'm already using it for thumbnail creation and am familiar with it.
If it helps, my videos will all be under 2 minutes.
UPDATE:
I've switched over to using Mencoder (http://www.mplayerhq.hu/) since it looks like ffmpeg won't accomplish this without some additional hackery.
The Mencoder syntax to accomplish what I set out to do is:
mencoder.exe -ss 2 -oac copy -ovc copy input.flv -o output.flv

A: Try:
ffmpeg -i input.flv -ss 2 -vcodec copy -acodec copy output.flv

I think the input parameter is supposed to be first.

A: Turns out this command will trim the video from 2 seconds on, as expected:
ffmpeg -i input.flv -ss 2 -vcodec copy -acodec copy output.flv

The issue was with the keyframe interval in input.flv. It was set to 5 seconds, which yielded 3 seconds worth of black frames at the beginning of the video (5 - 2 = 3). I've since changed my keyframe interval to 1 second, though 2 seconds would probably also yield the desired results in my case.
UPDATE: Updated ordering of -i and -ss parameters per Dave's answer, which I've accepted for credit.

A: It sounds like there might be additional codec parameters required for video, but this worked to trim the first 5s off an mp3 file for me (similar to Bora Savkars Answer, though his solution output the part I wanted to trim instead of the file I wanted, minus the first 5s)
ffmpeg -ss 00:00:05 -i input -c copy output

https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg.html

A: Use -ss and -to before -i like this:
ffmpeg -ss 00:01:10 -to 00:02:10 -i input -c copy output

A: Using -vcodec copy was also causing me to have a poorly functioning video at the point of the trim.
ffmpeg -i nick.mp4 -ss 52 -vcodec libx264 0 -acodec copy nick4.mp4
Is what I was able to use to accomplish a properly working video trimmed where I wanted it. (Thanks to Karl Wilbur for the hint in one of the comments to an answer)

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Home » Catalog » Ledgers
Call 305-594-4628 for
The bronze and granite ledger stone pictured above is a cemetery memorial that marks the grave of Alicia C. Santana De Yanes. It was made by the City Monument Company at it's ledger manufacturing facility in Miami, Florida. Alicia C. Santana De Yanes lived from April 9th, 1924 to April 14, 2012. The ledger features two attached bronze decorations and an attached bronze floral vase holder with a bronze ring which is used to attach a flower vase to the ledger. The City Monument Company designs granite ledgers, grave covers, full and half ledger grave markers and bronze grave ledgers for families in Miami, South Florida, Miami-Dade County and the Caribbean Islands. We design and manufacture ledgers in our production facility in Miami, Florida. Once they are finished, we then deliver them to cemeteries in South Florida or ship them to various locations outside of South Florida. Call 305-594-4628 if you are interested in purchasing a ledger similar in style to the one pictured on this page. We will be happy to provide you with a cost estimate.
Ledgers, like flat, flush or lawn level markers, are designed to lie flat on the ground. Ledgers are solid granite pieces sized to cover the entire grave, in most cases. Grave covers are granite slabs that are often placed in front of a cemetery memorial or headstone. Granite ledgers, in contrast to traditional erect cemetery monuments, cover the actual grave. You will see these types of memorials in cemeteries located in Miami, Florida and neighboring communities. We custom design bronze ledgers and granite ledgers which are set in cemeteries to cover a portion of the burial grave. These grave markers are different than traditional headstones which are placed at the head of the grave. The City Monument Company also manufactures ledger panels which are frequently built by using a few smaller panels which are then attached. Some people refer to ledgers as ledger stones. This type of cemetery grave marker is a low to ground large rectangular grave marker usually fabricated from granite (they used to be constructed from white marble or sandstone) that is set flat over a grave or placed on top of a box tomb (vault or crypt) or table tomb which are used for in-ground burials. You may see ledger stones in older cemeteries that have armorial crests or Latin inscriptions. Ledgers commonly sit directly on the ground or on low level supports. Newer cemeteries, often called Memorial Parks or lawn cemeteries use ledger stones to make sure the appearance of the grounds is neat and because maintenance is easier. Ledger stones usually have specific information about the deceased etched into the surface. One or more names of the interred may be inscribed on the ledger stone and are ordered by the date of their interment. We manufacture ledgers and grave covers in different sizes and colors of granite.
Bronze is often added to a ledger to increase its aesthetic appeal. We design individual ledgers that pay tribute to one person and double or companion ledgers that memorialize two people, usually a husband and wife. Granite grave covers and bronze ledgers may be used alone or may be combined with other types of cemetery memorials, headstones, tombstones, gravestones and monuments. Ledgers are frequently attached to a granite base. Our stone cutters and carvers can polish all the visible surfaces of the ledger. Parts of the ledgers that we make that are not polished are rock pitched which produces a rough rock finish. Our artisans usually use a rock pitch finish on the sides of a ledger, memorial bench or monument base. This type of finish is produced by splitting the granite. We can also cut core holes into the ledgers that we fabricate to hold flower vases. Custom cast bronze and three dimensional (3D) Bas-Relief bronze styles are available. Ledgers can be personalized by our designers with unique carvings, finishes, funerary art, symbols, images, hand or laser etched scenes, sculptures, lettering, shapes, colors and textures in order to memorialize the unique life of a loved one, relative or family member. Names, inscriptions, epitaphs, sayings, religious verses, poems, bible quotes and birth and death dates are usually carved or etched into ledgers we handcraft. The designers at the City Monument Company can also include bronze elements such as cast bronze flower vases which are often set in the center of the ledger at the top. Other options for additions to ledgers include laser etchings, porcelain photos or portraits and bronze plaques.


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Quite possibly my favourite part of Manchester is the Northern Quarter. Streets full of vintage clothes shops, independent book stores and bars, an abundance of Vinyl shops, and a quirky atmosphere whether it's day or night. The best place to visit is Afflecks Palace, an independent emporium where you can buy anything from incense sticks, to fancy dress costumes, to badges and posters, there's even a cereal cafe at the top. Also, there's some cool graffiti in the Northern Quarter – it's pretty much the Shoreditch of the North.
As someone who appreciates a good ol' stroll in the park, Manchester never disappoints. In the summer, students flock to the parks with their disposable barbecues and their cans of Strongbow dark fruits and listen to (what they think is) music. There's always a park close by, and if you manage to find a day where it's not raining, then you should go for a walk in the nearest park.
Yep that's right, Central Bark is a beach dog cafe in Wythenshawe, whether you bring a dog or not you can pay £5 to go inside and play with loads (and I mean loads) of dogs for 20 minutes, or just grab something to eat or drink and pet the dogs that chill out in the cafe. It's honestly a dream come true. If you're having a bad day or week or if you just love dogs like I do, this will 100% brighten your day.
South of Manchester (about a 35-40 minute bus from the centre) you'll find Withington and East and West Didsbury. There's a plethora of pubs and quirky coffee shops, as well as multiple vegetarian cafes, it's nice to get away from the big city vibe sometimes.
Ahhhh it's nearly that time of year again. The Manchester Christmas markets start in November and I might just start a countdown because I'm that excited. I buy nearly all my Christmas gifts from the markets because they sell so many different handcrafted gifts.
If you're ever in Manchester and happen to be in the university area, be sure to go to the Whitworth – a small gallery with ever-changing exhibitions, and a nice park behind it. It's about a 5 minute walk from the university and is free.
Ok, this is the best Indian restaurant I have ever been to (and I've been to India). Sanskruti is a vegetarian/vegan Indian restaurant in Fallowfield and fortunately a 2 minute walk away from my house. I've visited with plenty of non-vegetarians and they have all loved it, so meat-eaters don't knock it til you try it.
There are so many awesome bars in Manchester: you've got hundreds of cocktail bars to choose from in the centre like Albert's Schloss, the Alchemist, Cloud 23, the Washhouse (a bar disguised as a launderette), Cottonopolis, to name a few. There's also Base Mcr, a baseball bar with batting cages where I have never actually been but I heard it's fun.
It's a diverse and welcoming city where there's never a dull moment.


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Win A $1K Travel Voucher In Logo Design Contest
The Bermuda Olympic Association [BOA] is hosting a design competition for a new Team Bermuda logo that will be featured on athletes' non-competition attire, with the winning designer set to receive a $1,000 travel voucher.
A spokesperson said, "The Bermuda Olympic Association [BOA] today announced that it is running a design competition for a new Team Bermuda logo that will be featured on athletes' non-competition and non-ceremonial attire, and on BOA sponsorship materials and merchandise to coincide with the beginning of the Tokyo 2020 Games.
"The BOA is inviting Bermudian professional graphic designers and graphic design students [working or studying in Bermuda or abroad] to submit designs for consideration by a Committee of the BOA, which will shortlist three to five to be put to a public vote.
"The design that gets the most votes from the public will be declared the winner and will become the official Team Bermuda logo used in connection with the island's participation at major festivals including the Olympics, Pan Am Games and Commonwealth Games.
"Design submissions are due by 29 January 2020. Shortlisted designs will be displayed at the Bermuda National Gallery and online at www.teambermudalogo.com from 8 to 21 February 2020. Members of the public can vote for their favourite design at the Gallery or online. The winning design will be announced on 10 March 2020.
"In addition to bragging rights, the winning designer will receive a $1,000 travel voucher, plus the rights to use the design in promoting his or her design services."
Brenda Dale, BOA Vice President said, "The International Olympic Committee is encouraging National Olympic Committees around the world to develop commercial logos that complement their official NOC emblems, and which will be used on sponsorship materials and merchandise as a way to enable the community to show their support for athletes.
"The BOA is a charity, and our resources are committed to the development of our athletes, ensuring their participation in major international sports festivals, and educating our youth on Olympism. Logo design isn't our forte, so we wanted to come up with a creative way to develop a design for the 'Team Bermuda' logo that would involve and be embraced by the public.
"The logo competition is a great opportunity to help showcase Bermuda's graphic design talent by inviting designers to 'put their mark' on Team Bermuda, so to speak. We're really looking forward to receiving the designs and sharing them with Bermuda."
Peter Lapsley, Executive Director of the Bermuda National Gallery, where the shortlisted designs will be on display to the public for voting, said, "We are very pleased to partner with the BOA to help get the public involved in selecting a great new logo for Team Bermuda.
"As an arts organisation Bermuda National Gallery is engaged by and in support of great art and great design, and having the opportunity to showcase the work of talented Bermudian artists and works representative of Bermuda, is exciting and very much in line with our mission."
"Additional information about the Team Bermuda logo contest, including submission requirements and competition rules, is available on www.teambermudalogo.com."
BBC Offering Coverage Of The Rio Olympics
Thousands Enjoying Olympics Via Free BBC App
Olympic App Offers Draw To Win New Phones
CableVision Clarifies Olympics Broadcast Rights
Olympic Regional Broadcasting Rights Awarded
BOA Launches New Website
#GoodNews #Olympics
Category: All, News, Sports, technology
Bullwinkle t. mooseknuckle says:
What's wrong withe the quo data ferunt crest?
RumTumTugger says:
"The International Olympic Committee is encouraging National Olympic Committees around the world to develop commercial logos that complement their official NOC emblems."
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Joe Bloggs: I'm sorry, are you suggesting that all health restrictions intended to arrest the spread of COVID-19


text:
How to teach, travel, & save money on just half a paycheck
Asia, Life Abroad, Reviews, Teaching ESL, TESOL Stories, Video
Watch the video below for our interview with Sydney & Colin, two Oxford Seminars grads teaching ESL abroad. In the video they'll talk about their experiences teaching English in China, including info about their school, what it's like living in China, and how teaching ESL allowed them to save money on travel.
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Read some of the highlights from the video below:
The last time we talked to you, you were just about to leave for China. How are things going?
S: Really well. It was kind of a whirlwind when we first got here. Everything moved very, very quickly, but we have our apartment, we're settling into our job finally, and kind of settling into China.
C: I think in 5 days it will be 2 months since we got here.
Tell us about yourselves. What made you decide to go on this adventure?
S: I'm from Florida. I'm 23 years old and I just graduated with a degree in Communications from Florida State University. I decided to do this because one of my friends, Emily Smolich decided to do the same thing through Oxford Seminars and she just looked like she was having the time of her life. And it looked like a great way to meet people, travel, and pay off debt. It just seemed like the whole package. And I wasn't really ready to settle down and stay in one place yet.
C: I'm Colin. I'm 28 and I actually have a degree in Physics. I graduated from UNC. I got really tired of working at a desk. So I started doing freelance work and then Sydney was like "I really want to go teach English in China"… I wanted to get out and see the world and adventure a little bit. Teaching English in China sounded like an adventure.
What is it like teaching English abroad as a couple?
C: It's interesting because a lot of places have really strong opinions about couples. They're either very supportive because they get two teachers for one interview process and housing process. Or they really don't like it because they think we'll come to their country and then break up and then they'll lose two teachers. But the people in Changzhou have been really great about it. It really worked out well for us.
What was it like arriving in China?
C: We're in Changzhou. It's about 3.5 hours' [drive] outside of Shanghai. But the crazy thing about China, even though we're 3.5 hours out of Shanghai, we didn't feel like we had left the city the entire time we were driving… that's how densely populated this part of China is. We're in…the central eastern [part of China] right off the coast.
S: They told us when we got hired that it's a smaller city and it's got a lot of culture. And we're like "Oh that's cool! How many people live there" and they're like "Just over 4 million!"
C: Yeah, small by China standards.
When did you start teaching? What are your classes like?
C: We got here on a Wednesday. Our schedule with the school is Wednesday through Sunday and then we have Monday and Tuesday off, typically. So we got here, we spent two days getting settled in and I think that Saturday and Sunday we were already in the classroom learning and observing other teachers.
I got kind of thrown into it. Usually they have a two-week training period. I taught my first [class] 8 days after I got here.
S: One of the teachers was sick. [But] they made sure the training periods weren't super long. They made sure you slowly got accustomed to it rather than just throwing you in the deep end.
What are your students like?
S: They're really, really cute. I have ages 3-12. We each teach 9 to 10 classes a week. They're adorable… They're, for the most part, really well behaved. They're very smart…If I was their age, learning Chinese, I wouldn't be able to do it, the tests they take and the drilling. It's a lot of drilling and playing fun games with them.
Now that you're teaching, how affordable is China?
C: We're actually getting our first full paycheck at the end of next week. When we got here there was a training period like we mentioned, and that's not paid at the full salary rate. So we basically got a little under half a month's pay in April.
S: Which is really ironic because we got a little more than a third of a month's pay but we were still able to go to Thailand and live comfortably, pay all our bills, and send money back to family. So this will be our first month with a full paycheck.
What is the vacation time like?
C: The school is pretty flexible during the week. They're pretty flexible about letting us request [time] off. Even though we've only been here 7 weeks, they let us have a three-day weekend.
Have you done any traveling since arriving in China?
S: We left school on a Sunday night…got on a plane… and we landed in Thailand. So the USD… is worth about 31 in the Thai baht and we lived like Kings on no money at all! [The flight] was about 4 hours.
The hotel we stayed at was a 5 star hotel and it was so cheap! It was breathtaking. And everyone in Thailand, literally Bangkok is known as the city of smiles, they are just the nicest people you've ever met. And the weather was gorgeous and there were temples everywhere!
C: And you can haggle for everything! And I like haggling so I got some pretty good deals!
S: Thailand is my number one travel location! I just want to go back.
C: We're already planning a second trip. We have a much longer vacation from the school later in the summer, and we already know that's where we're going.
S: Yeah that's the great thing. China has so many holidays.
Where are you planning to travel next?
S: We'll be taking a trip to Hong Kong in the next couple months and then Thailand, but a different part of Thailand, not Bangkok, probably Phuket.
Have you made friends with other teachers abroad?
S: Yeah, our school employs like 30 teachers and they just opened a new location so they're growing. It's a whole bunch of Americans and Canadians.
C: I've met a handful [of friends] who are either going to university or teaching at other schools by playing soccer. I'm in a chat group that has about 25 other foreigners in our city that get together to play soccer once a week.
Do you have any last words of advice for people thinking about teaching English abroad?
S: Just do it. It's very scary and there can be a lot of paperwork to go through but it's totally worth it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
C: Yeah, if you're at this point watching this video, chances are you're really curious. Just go for it!
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"J. Kenji López-Alt is the Managing Culinary Director of Serious Eats, and author of the James Beard Award-nominated column The Food Lab, where he unravels the science of home cooking. A restaurant-trained chef and former Editor at Cook's Illustrated magazine, he is the author of the New York Times best-selling cookbook The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science."
I have been a fan of Kenji's work since he was at Cook's, so when the email from Kirkland Tap & Trotter (sister restaurant to Craigie on Main) came, advertising a special dinner with Kenji, that would showcase fried chicken made from his recipe, I was on it. I convinced Carol to accompany me, despite the hefty price tag ($75).
The restaurant was packed and I was seated next to a woman who introduced herself as Helen. Perhaps it was her Russian accent, but I immediately suspected it was Helen Rennie, author of http://www.beyondsalmon.com/, a seafood blog I enjoy reading. Not wanted to seem like a stalker, I asked her what she did and she mentioned her cooking school. That is when I knew it was her for sure. What a treat, meeting Helen and eating Kenji's fried chicken all in one night!
The meal started with Kirkland's "Lacinato Kale & Apple Salad, Fourme d'Ambert cheese, walnuts, roasted red onion vinaigrette" and "Housemade Farmhouse Terrine, port-soaked dried fruits, pickled mustard seeds"
The kale was thinly julienned, coated in the minced apples and walnuts. It was one of the best kale salads I have had. The terrine was delicious, as well. We asked for seconds, and thirds. I loved the port-soaked dried fruits and will have to steal the idea.
The fried chicken was the main event and it came with thyme cream biscuits, mashed sweet potato, stewed green beans and a red cabbage slaw. The chicken was buttermilk brined, and twice fried for crunch. I had 2 drumsticks, which were outstanding – crisp and flavorful. I mistakenly grabbed a breast piece (I thought it was a thigh). Alas, even Kenji can't keep white meat from being dry. The biscuits were tender, but needed a little more salt. I thought the rest of the sides were good; the greens beans were the best of the bunch.
Dessert was "Mary's Apple Pie." I don't know who Mary is, but the regular Kirkland menu lists "Mary's Peach Pie" so maybe the pastry chef? Either way, she makes a mean apple pie. The crust was perfect and the apples were exactly the right texture. The bourbon whipped cream was the perfect finish. I convinced them to pack up the last slice for me to take home to Steve.


Before you can understand Hedge fund, you have to first of all know what Mutual Fund is.
Mutual fund is an investment programme funded by shareholders that trades in diversified holdings and is professionally managed.
By diversified holdings, I am referring to a mix of Paper Asset investments such as Stocks, Shares, Bonds etc.
It is a pull of investment fund that includes money from many retail or institutional investors and is used to purchase securities.
Only sophisticated and accredited investors are allowed to use hedge funds.
Besides the fact that they are open to a limited number of accredited investors, hedge funds require a larger initial minimum investment compared to mutual funds.
Also, they are illiquid. That means investments cannot be withdrawn for a long period of time known as lock up period which could be a year.
A key characteristics of Hedge funds is that it has a wider investment latitude than other investments. It can be used for anything ranging from real estate, stocks, equities and other derivatives. Whereas mutual funds are used only for stocks and bonds.
Another difference is that unlike mutual funds that charge fixed fees despite the performance of the investment, the managers of hedge funds only charge their fees based on a percentage of the investment returns.
Overall, hedge funds carry the most risk in the market because their managers make lots of speculative investment.
Also, their use of use of leverage, or borrowed money, can turn what would have been a minor loss into a significant loss.
There are many other interesting characteristics, advantages and risks associated with hedge funds, but for the sake of time and so that I won't bore you 😃.
You can find out more about the fund through this article by Barclay Hedge.
Hedge funds is only one of many investment vehicles which I intend to treat on this Forum sometime in future, maybe from July.
Investment is a very wide topic which we need to take time to break it down into many segments so we can thoroughly understand it.


ACNE is the Scandinavian brand on everyones lips, and a brand I simply cannot get enough of. The fashion house was started in the late 90's when co-founder Jonny Johansson created one hundred pairs of raw denim jeans with a distinctive red stitching which he distributed amongst his hip friends and family. With a base in Stockholm the brand has gone from strength to strength, exporting ultra-cool Scandinavian minimalism to a discerning global audience. These AW13 Noa silk flats are inspired by menswear slip-ons, and feature leather lining, an almond toe and a low stacked heel. With the textured slipper firmly in this season, this is the pair I have my eyes on for teaming with sleek tailoring.
The ACNE Noa floral slipper is available at www.acnestudios.com and cost £300.


Description: Transporting passengers from Toronto to popular summer recreation areas and carrying fresh fruit from the Niagara Pennisula was good business for the Niagara, St. Catherines, and Toronto Navigation Company. The company ordered the "Dalhousie City" from the Collingwood Shipbuilding Company, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. She was launched June 24, 1911. She was modified just before 1920. Bilge keels were added to prevent the ship's rolling in a heavy sea, and her propellor was redesigned to increase her speed. She was sold in 1950 to the Lake Shore Lines, renamed the "Island King II and used as an excursion ship around Montreal. She burned November 14, 1960 at Lachine, Quebec.


text:
La Titanopsis calcarea est une espèce appartenant à la famille des Aizoaceae.

Culture
Elle supporte de très forts gels, jusqu'à -15 °C voire en dessous.

La culture en extérieur est aisée dans les régions froides, à condition d'être à l'abri de la pluie. Arroser modérément en été. Le vent qui assèche rapidement le substrat est un atout supplémentaire. Si ces conditions sont respectées, la floraison apparait annuellement. La culture en appartement est plus difficile, car le manque de soleil combiné avec un excès d'humidité peut lui être fatale.

Notes et références

Liens externes

Espèce d'Angiospermes (nom scientifique)
Aizoaceae
Plante succulente

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


*Schiborr C. et al. (2014): The oral bioavailability of curcumin from micronized powder and liquid micelles is significantly increased in healthy humans and differs between sexes. Molecular nutrition & food research. 58(3):516-27. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201300724.


I read this amazing true story of Lata Bhagwan Khare. Lets read and be inspired by her great willpower.
Lata Bhagwan Khare, a 65 year old resident of an small village in Buldhana district in Maharashtra, lived with her three daughters and husband. She and her husband worked very hard throughout their lives and married off their daughters. All the savings which they gathered over the years were spent on these marriages.
Post daughter's marriages, she and her husband started working as daily wage workers in the nearby farms, they used to make enough to survive.
One day suddenly, her husband felt uneasy and was diagnosed with some serious infection. Lataji was left baffled, with no money in hand and the creepy situation, she couldn't understand what to do. She took him to the nearby government hospital, doctors recommended her to take him to the terminal hospital in Baramati as few tests had to be conducted. Lataji was in tears, she felt pity on her misery. She couldn't see her husband dying in her arms. She felt helpless and sorrowful.
Courageously, she begged her neighbours, relatives and every possible person she could and gathered a small amount and left for Baramati for the further tests of her husband.
Doctor moved her husband in the check-up zone, she discreetly sat outside the room with the teary eyes, praying god to save the only wisdom in her life. Doctor came out of the check-up ward, her eyes lit, eagerly waiting to hear the well-being of her love. But Fate had some other story written for them, Doctor advised further costly tests and medications, which were going to cost them a bounty. Lataji's world collapsed with her nowhere to go, no money to treat her husband. Her world was shattered, her heart ached, overwhelmed by emotions, she cried with helplessness.
They came out of the hospital heavy-heartedly, stopped by nearby samosawala, had two samosas on piece of newspaper, her eyes stopped on the bold Marathi headline on the newspaper, her eyes lit, heart skipped. The headline was about the 'Baramati Marathon and it's prize money'. She was excited and all sorts of thoughts flooded her mind.
Next day, Baramati Marathon was about to commence, everyone geared up in their sports shoes, cozy shorts and tracks, sweat absorbing tees. And there she comes, the 67 year old Lata Bhagwan Khare, wearing torn saree (lugda), bare footed, tears in her eyes. She argued with the organizers, they weren't ready to let her participate in the marathon, she pleaded, she begged, she convinced them to approve her participation.
Marathon started, she hitched her saree just above her ankles, she ran like a wizard, like a 16 year old teen, she didn't think of anything else, she could just see her husband's agony and the winning amount in front of her eyes ahead. She didn't care about the hard hitting rocks and pebbles on her way, her feet bled, but she ran and ran. She won the marathon and was awarded the prize amount. It meant a life to her, she was going to see her husband live. Crowd cheered her, streets of Baramati clapped for her. People were flabbergasted, they saluted her and applauded her.
She collected the winning amount and made sure her husband received the proper medication. This is love, this is devotion. She didn't blink an eye, she never thought about how she is going to win the marathon, how is she going to run barefooted, how'll she survive. She only ran with one motive, to save her husband.
I salute Lata Bhagwan Khare, for her courage and fortitude. In the world full of excuses, you just proved to be an icon.


text:
PEOPLE v. ADAMS
Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, New York.
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Ronald ADAMS, Defendant-Appellant.
Decided: December 31, 2008
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., CENTRA, LUNN, FAHEY, AND GREEN, JJ. Frank H. HiscockLegal Aid Society, Syracuse (Philip Rothschild of Counsel), for Defendant-Appellant. William J. Fitzpatrick, District Attorney, Syracuse (James P. Maxwell of Counsel), for Respondent.
Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him, upon his plea of guilty, of attempted forgery in the second degree (Penal Law §§ 110.00, 170.10[2] ). We agree with defendant that he did not validly waive his right to appeal. The record establishes that Supreme Court (John J. Brunetti, A.J.) failed to " 'engage[ ] the defendant in an adequate colloquy to ensure that the waiver of the right to appeal was a knowing and voluntary choice' " (People v. Brown, 296 A.D.2d 860, 745 N.Y.S.2d 368, lv. denied 98 N.Y.2d 767, 752 N.Y.S.2d 7, 781 N.E.2d 919; see People v. Matthews, 24 A.D.3d 1306, 805 N.Y.S.2d 907, lv. denied 6 N.Y.3d 850, 816 N.Y.S.2d 756, 849 N.E.2d 979). In any event, although the contention of defendant that his plea was not knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently entered would survive even a valid waiver of the right to appeal (see People v. Elardo, 52 A.D.3d 1272, 858 N.Y.S.2d 633, lv. denied 11 N.Y.3d 787, 788, 866 N.Y.S.2d 614, 896 N.E.2d 100; People v. DeJesus, 248 A.D.2d 1023, 670 N.Y.S.2d 140, lv. denied 92 N.Y.2d 878, 678 N.Y.S.2d 26, 700 N.E.2d 564), we conclude that the contention of defendant is actually a challenge to the factual sufficiency of the plea allocution because he contends therein that he failed to recite the underlying facts of the crime (see People v. Williams, 35 A.D.3d 1273, 825 N.Y.S.2d 862, lv. denied 8 N.Y.3d 928, 834 N.Y.S.2d 519, 866 N.E.2d 465). Defendant failed to preserve that contention for our review (see id.), and this case does not fall within the narrow exception to the preservation requirement (see People v. Lopez, 71 N.Y.2d 662, 666, 529 N.Y.S.2d 465, 525 N.E.2d 5). Finally, the sentence is not unduly harsh or severe.
It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is unanimously affirmed.