Fall is upon us! It's time to start working on the big, cozy sweaters and blankets that will help you get through the winter. In the meantime, though, you need some small projects to keep things fresh. Have you tried needle felting? It's super fun. You take a big chunk of wool roving, and you stab it repeatedly with a very sharp needle. Doesn't that sound incredibly satisfying? Considering that it's fall, now would be the perfect time to make wee little pumpkins and witches and ghosties and decorate your house with them!
You can even get a head start on holiday presents with our new Artfelt kits, which include stunning scarves, coffee cozies, and iPad covers. If you'd like to learn how to make any of these things, give us a call or send us an email and book a personalized lesson! You'll be ready for fall in no time!


Proposals will be considered by a panel composed of members of the UACES Committee.
The application process is competitive and funds are limited.
Successful applications will be expected to submit an annual report and acknowledge UACES in any publications or events that arise from the activities of the Network.
Selections will be made on the basis of the following criteria.


Vanderbilt made history by claiming the school's first-ever NCAA championship in a men's sport when it defeated Virginia on Wednesday to claim the College World Series.
But it's what happened afterward that has people talking.
Commodores pitcher Brian Miller got down on bended knee and popped the question to his girlfriend on the field. She happily said yes. Miller, by the way, was drafted in the 15th round by the Tampa Bay Rays.
It must've been an excruciating night leading up to this for Miller. He didn't pitch at all in the game, so you can bet he was even more on eggshells than the rest of his teammates.


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First Lines of Children's Books Revised for a Pandemic + Contest
By Dorian Cirrone on December 30, 2020 / Articles, Book Lists / 18 Comments
I was recently inspired by a blog post featuring the beginnings of ten classic novels for adults, rewritten for our time of social distancing. I thought it would be fun to do the same for some iconic middle-grade novels.
CONTEST: Take a look at the ones below, and then crank up your creativity to post the real first line and a revised first line of your favorite middle-grade book in the comments section. A panel of judges will choose a favorite on January 2, 2021 at 11:59 PM, and I'll donate $50 to one of the following charities (winner's choice): St. Jude, Feeding America, or Doctors Without Borders. I'll post the winning entry on Sunday, January 3.
(Click on the titles and go to the Look Inside feature if you'd like to read the original first lines.)
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
"Where's Papa going with that axe, and why isn't he wearing a mask?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
It was a dark and stormy night, but no one cared because they were all sheltering in.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, disinfecting his groceries with Lysol wipes.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
"Christmas won't be Christmas with just lousy gift cards," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly fine refusing to social distance from others in the grocery store, thank you very much.
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Lyra and her daemon moved through the darkening hall, taking care to keep to one side, out of sight of the kitchen, where she'd surely be roped into baking yet another loaf of sourdough.
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
When I left my office that beautiful spring day, I had no idea what was in store for me and that I should have stocked up on toilet paper on the way home.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
We moved on the Tuesday before Labor Day. I knew the pandemic still wasn't over the second I got up. I knew because my mother didn't even bother to sniff under her arms.
Seven Wonders Book 1: The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis
On the morning I was scheduled to die a large barefoot man with a bushy red beard waddled past my house. Thankfully, he was more than six feet away.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial and found guilty just because she forgot to cough into her elbow.
Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a Zoom party, there was much disappointment in Hobbiton.
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
I write this sitting in the kitchen sink because everyone is either working from home or being homeschooled, and it's the only place where I can get some peace and quiet.
Family Book Club: Middle Grade Books That Can Be Enjoyed by ALL
By Meira Drazin on August 21, 2020 / Articles, Book Lists
As I write this I am preparing to leave New York where we've been for the summer and return to London (where we live during the year) in time to quarantine for 14 days before school starts. I am kind of freaking out about what I am going to do with my kids in quarantine, but probably like most people with children or who are around children, the theme of this summer has certainly been "unstructured time." My kids are currently 15, almost-12, 9.5, and almost-6. And thinking back to lockdown, one of the things that worked well was spending some time a few days a week listening to an audiobook while we colored or just relaxed. Okay, the 15-year-old did not involve herself in this, but for the rest of us it was nice. And when I would be reading a middle grade book to the 11 and 9 year old before bed, she would often casually come in and listen, or if we were discussing a book she'd read or I'd read to her when she was younger, she would happily weigh in.
How about a Family Book Club, in whatever shape that might look like to you?
So, for other people struggling with how to fill the last weeks of kids' summers with something other than screens and devices, I thought I'd make a list of middle grade books that family members of different ages and genders would all enjoy reading (or listening to) and could then discuss.
I'm thinking middle grade books that work on a number of different levels—understood even by little ones not quite reading chapter books to themselves, hit the sweet spot of middle grade readers (either to be read out loud to or to read themselves), might interest your teen if they'll deign to participate (boredom works in interesting ways), and sophisticated and nuanced enough to be truly enjoyed by adult readers too.
Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea—this moves quickly because of short chapters narrated by different voices. The classroom dynamics are realistic and I found it wise in a way that I, as an adult, have taken the subtle lessons, for example how to handle a "girl wars" bully. There are now 3 additional sequels.
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo—written deceptively simply, this one is funny and moving and heartwarming—an all-round winner for everyone every time I've read it. I'd say ANY Kate DiCamillo is a good choice for family book club: as Ann Patchett writes, some people like the magic animals ones (her) and some the realistic childhood ones (me) but they all "crack you open and make you a better person."
All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor—written in the 1950s about a Jewish family on the Lower East Side in the early 1900s, this one just never, ever, feels dated. We are working our way through the sequels now.
Fudge books, in particular Superfudge by Judy Blume—laugh-out-loud funny and relatable about 6th grader Peter and the antics of his irrepressible 5-year-old brother Fudge. (My teen daughter's suggestion was Otherwise Known As Sheila the Great).
Fortunately The Milk, by Neil Gaiman—madcap storytelling that's fun for all ages.
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White—honestly, I hadn't read this since I was a kid and pretty much remembered nothing from it. Reading it to my almost-6 year old this summer, the writing blew me away as well as the story. Garth Williams' illustrations are a delight for everyone. A classic for a reason.
The Ramona books by Beverly Cleary—again, funny and relatable situations that make moving drama out of everyday circumstances and relationships. These have been a big hit over and over again and provoke great discussions about relationships and difficult situations. My personal favorites are Ramona and Her Mother and Ramona Quimby, Age 8.
All of the above are available as audiobooks too. And speaking of audiobooks, a special mention for How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell narrated by David Tennant because on the SCBWI British Isles Facebook group someone queried if people had recommendations for an audio book for a long car ride with an 8-year-old that everyone else in the car would enjoy, and this was the overwhelming favorite.
An important note:
When I looked at my list above I realized that it had no real diversity or POC in it. While many of the books we've enjoyed as a family do (see below), I couldn't think of one that worked as well with my criteria of working for young children too—please, if anyone has any suggestions please add them in the comments.
Books next on my own family to-read list that I think will work well:
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead
Babysitter's Club, the original books by Ann Martin—I loved this piece in the New York Times recently about boys reading these and my sons have devoured the graphic versions, not to mention that all of us are LOVING the fabulous Netflix series. Thought this might work well for us in audio. The first 5 are narrated by Elle Fanning.
Family Book Club for Middle Grade Readers and Up:
Graphic novels abound with moving stories and are great for reluctant readers or for kids ready for sophisticated themes but aren't at a reading level for more advanced MG novels. They don't work as well for the littlest members of the family, but if that's not your situation, these books sparked lots of conversation and good book discussion in our family recently.
New Kid by Jerry Kraft —code switching and discomfort in either world when middle schooler Jordan changes schools, but instead of art school where he'd wanted to go, his parents send him to a prestigious academic school where he is one of the few kids of color. My kids have each read this several times and have asked a lot of questions sparking great discussion.
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed—family love, education, and a Somali refugee's story as told to graphic novelist Victoria Jamieson. Both my sons devoured this. My 9-year-old described it as about "a boy with a brother who can't speak. Really sad but really good."
Other MG books on my (older) Family Book Club list:
One Crazy Summer trilogy—The first book, the story of 3 sisters joining their estranged mother in tumultuous 1960s San Francisco, has been a big hit with all my kids over the years and coming late to the party I've just discovered that there are two sequels which I can't wait to try.
The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman—"Imani is adopted, and she's ready to search for her birth parents. But when she discovers the diary her Jewish great-grandmother wrote chronicling her escape from Holocaust-era Europe, Imani begins to see family in a new way." I can't recommend this book highly enough—I think my boys will be ready for it this year and really look forward to reading it with them. I also gave it to my older daughter's best friend who loved it and I hope my daughter will read it too!
High-Rise Mystery by Sharna Jackson—this just won the prestigious Waterstones Book Prize in the UK and I'm excited to read it with the kids.
If mysteries are your family's thing, check out some of these.
Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein. I just finished this and want to hand a copy to everyone I know. In a portrait of contemporary Jewish life, this book explores self-image, grief and friendship and is a wonderful, wonderful, thoughtfully-written debut.
Middle Grade for All
In truth, minus needing to encompass a little one's needs, to me the perfect Middle Grade book is written in a way that absolutely resonates on many levels and to many ages. My list includes a lot of obvious ones–classics and award-winners. But there are thankfully untold numbers that are amazing for a Family Book Club. In addition to the ones mentioned above, here are some suggested by friends of mine who said these worked well for different-aged readers in their families:
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman (for fans of The Westing Game)
All Four Stars by Tara Dairman
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds (have just ordered this for myself)
Born a Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood by Trevor Noah, adapted for young readers edition
And Finally, In Her Own Words:
One of my favorite middle grade readers, who was in a neighborhood mother-daughter book club with her mom, recommends these (and her mom endorses them too 🙂
The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
A Drop of Hope by Keith Calabrese
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Jennifer Choldenko
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder
Let me know how you get on with any of these, and please write more Family Book Club suggestions in the comments. With fears of a second Covid-19 wave and another lockdown looming (and who knows what will be with school), we all might have a LOT of time on our hands. But I can think of worse things than spending it reading and discussing great children's books. Stay safe and Happy Reading!
All books can be bought on MUF's Bookshop.org affiliate program or wherever fine books are sold.
Nostalgia and Those Childhood Favorites: Which books are we just sentimental about, and which books stand the test of time?
By Meira Drazin on September 23, 2019 / Articles
Fresh or Frozen?
For many of us of a certain age, there comes a time where we want to impart to our children, or children we know, the culture that we got at their age that essentially made us "us." What I mean is, when our child is nine, we really want them to love the books that we loved when we were nine. That we read over and over again. That we can instantly recall incidents and episodes from; as well as the smell of the couch we would lie on when we read it; the ache of our hearts and taste of our tears from the sorrow of a character dying, experiencing cruelty or even just going through heartbreak. The same goes for movies. Cue me excitedly putting on Grease for my then-nine-year-old daughter in the hospital room TV as she waited to be wheeled down to surgery for her tonsils to be taken out. Wow, bad idea on so many levels. She didn't enjoy it, not just because she was a nervous wreck about the impending surgery, but also because she didn't get it. The movie went right over her head—thankfully. (I was mortified to be watching it with her. And felt like the worst parent!) And let's just say the film has not aged well in terms of values, in terms of feminism, in terms of #metoo, in terms of America as a white world, in terms of anything frankly. But happily, for the most part, many of the books I loved as a child I have been able to read to my children with more confidence in my parenting skills—and with the added bonus that my kids loved these books too.
What is the Common Denominator?
Jonathan Rosen spoke here on the MUF blog about his nostalgia for the books he read as a child which have inspired the spooky books he writes today. And Marjorie Ingall, who reviews children's books for the New York Times and is a culture columnist at Tablet Magazine, while on the faculty of the TENT writing residency mentioned The Carp in the Bathtub "as a book that holds up for today's kids and isn't purely a nostalgia exercise for adults." I started thinking about this idea of nostalgia when I was planning a tribute to Judith Kerr and the relevancy of When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.
A nostalgic-feeling cover of the All-of-a-Kind Family series from 2014
What other middle grade books from my own childhood stand the test of time—both for me and for my own kids? Is there a common denominator? When I first started writing my middle grade novel HONEY AND ME, my eldest daughter was at an age where I had begun to read to her some of my favorites as a child— Ballet Shoes, Anne of Green Gables, tons of Judy Blume, all the Ramona books, and All-of-a-Kind Family. My daughter is now fourteen, but I have been reading these to my sons too—currently ages eight-and-a-half and nearly eleven—and they've also loved them. One of the things I think connects these books is writers who deeply understand the magnitude of the smaller dramas of every day life, and are interested in the details of them. (What I particularly loved about the All-of-a-Kind Family books was that they did this about being Jewish, in a way that was both integral and incidental.) I very much try to bring this sensibility to my own writing.
If Not Now When?
Beverly Clearly's Ramona books (the first one is from 1955), all the Judy Blume books, but especially the Fudge series (first one is from the 1970s) and All-of-a-Kind Family (first one is from 1951) all particularly still feel fresh and relevant. But I do wonder: could these books be published today?
I clearly like the old-fashioned—or lets say the character-driven and safe-feeling. But in my own writing I constantly feel like I come up against (probably rightly) what works for today's audience. It would seem that with all the above books all still in print, the market generally does keep the books worth keeping. However at the same time, the fashions have changed so when it comes to what is being published today even when something has an old-fashioned feel to it, it's still done in a modern way. I'm thinking for example of The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser—it's reminiscent of Elizabeth Enright's beloved The Saturdays, but when I tried the episodic The Saturdays with my then-eight and ten-year-old sons they were bored—whereas The Vanderbeekers has a modern-feeling plot structure and they were immediately sucked in. (Just to say also, I think of my sons' reading tastes as a litmus test—if they don't like something it's not necessarily conclusive, but when they do like something, especially novels that you wouldn't automatically think to hand to tween boys, it is telling about the strength of that particular book.)
A range of eras in these covers from my personal evergreen library
…. Then again, just because something has gone out of print doesn't mean that is deserved. I recently tracked down two 1980s favorites to read to my kids: This Can't be Happening at MacDonald Hall by Gordon Korman, about the antics of a duo called Bruno and Boots at their boarding school—which was still hands-down hilarious to both my sons and me; and Here She is Ms. Teeny Wonderful by Martyn Godfrey about a girl who likes to jump BMX bikes and to her utter dismay becomes a finalist in a national beauty pageant. I haven't read this last one to my sons yet, it's next on the list (we're currently on Rita Garcia Williams' One Crazy Summer: historical fiction and over their heads that they're still enjoying)—but when I read it again myself I was delighted to see that notwithstanding the cover, it was still funny, fast-paced and feminist. I should also mention that the Bruno and Boots books (there were several sequels) I was able to find were a 35th anniversary edition, reissued by Scholastic in 2013, and the Kindle editions are still available for purchase.
So perhaps this is all to say: a well-constructed book with sympathetic characters, emotions you can relate to and dramas you feel invested in no matter how similar or foreign they might be to your own life, will always have the power to suck a young reader in so the pages keep turning. And long after they have turned the last page and closed the book, or perhaps even started the whole thing again from the beginning, —the story, the experience of reading it, and the memories of that experience—will become baked into their very being. And one day, many years later, they will wish to impart this multi-faceted cultural experience on to the important young people in their own lives. Just as we did to them.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Intel Announces 'Yolo' Low-Cost Smartphone For Africa – All You Need To Know
Marc Mcilhone
Intel and Safaricom have announced Africa's first Intel-powered smartphone, a handset named Yolo that is aimed at first-time smartphone buyers in Kenya.
The Yolo smartphone is based on an Intel design and packs Intel's core technology. It sports a 3.5-inch display, a 5-megapixel camera, and HSPA+ modem support.
The device is available from Safaricom, an Intel partner and a major mobile network operator in Kenya. According to Intel, the smartphone's target audience is "cost-conscious…first-time buyers."
"We're redefining what cost-conscious Kenyans can expect from a smartphone, said Peter Arina, General Manager of Safaricom's Consumer Business Unit. "The Intel-based Yolo smartphone strikes a unique balance between price and performance – we consider it to be a real breakthrough. It's great news that Kenya will be the launch country in Africa for smartphones with Intel Inside and we expect a great reception from our customers."
"We are delighted to partner with Safaricom in bringing the first smartphone with Intel Inside to Kenyan consumers," added Aysegul Ildeniz, Regional Director for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa Region. "The new handset extends the benefits of Intel technology to more smartphone users around the world and we believe that Kenyan consumers will welcome the increased functionality and overall value of the device. We look forward to our continued cooperation with Safaricom."
The Yolo smartphone will cost Kshs. 10,999 (about $126), and it will also pack 500MB of free data. The 5-megapixel camera allegedly sports "advanced imaging capabilities," including a burst mode capable of producing seven pictures per second. Meanwhile, the video mode can shoot 1080p videos. The handset will initially be available countrywide in Safaricom stores, but a wider release across other African countries is also in the cards.
The Yolo smartphone also packs an Intel Atom Z2420 processor under the hood, as well as Intel's Hyper Threading Technology that can reach processing speeds of up to 1.2GHz. According to Intel, the handset will also support FM radio and it will sport a slot for expandable memory. Moreover, Yolo is also equipped with Intel's XMM 6265 modem for global roaming. For added protection, data back-up and restore capabilities, users can also enable the handset with McAfee mobile security software, notes the press release.
The Yolo handset is based on Intel's latest smartphone platform for emerging markets, which made its debut earlier this month at the International CES 2013. With Intel Inside, the smartphone promises to provide fast Web browsing, great multimedia capabilities, and an excellent Android apps experience.
Source: Mobile Apps.Com – Press Release – 2013
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Marc Mcilhone is AfricanBrains' Editor - sourcing news and features content and overseeing the work of the site's contributors. Marc's work is informed by his technical background in architecture having worked for some of the UK's leading practices on projects within the education, healthcare and housing sectors. Marc has a particular interest in how African innovators are creating sustainable solutions that have a positive impact on people's everyday lives. Please email press releases and news to: editor@africanbrains.org
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How Reading Nigerian Fiction On Domestic Work Helped Me With My PhD
Art by Nicholle Kobi. Source: Pinterest
It was quite hard to write this post as I'm getting a little personal, but only a little. This month (March) makes exactly two years since I finally said bye bye bye to my PhD. In that time I still stick to a few things:
1. The PhD is damn hard.
2. I am stronger than I think.
3. I am so glad I never have to do it ever again.
Well, after almost two years of ignoring my PhD monograph, at the beginning of the year I decided I was actually going to pick up my thesis and begin thinking about doing something with it. First, I wanted to pay homage to the role Nigerian fiction played in my thesis. A teeny background before I begin.
My thesis looked at the everyday lives of male and female domestic workers in Lagos – a labour force that, while somewhat 'hidden' in public policy terms, is a significant part of daily life in Nigeria. These women and men perform different jobs, such as caring for children, keeping homes (and surrounding compounds) neat and tidy, washing clothes and/or dishes, driving people around, and keeping homes safe and secure. Yet, they often remain invisible in Nigerian society, and in most cases are treated with very little respect and dignity, and face multiple and varied forms of abuse and discrimination. In my thesis, I was interested in understanding the terrain of struggle and negotiation in the places people work, live and move through on a daily basis – particularly in a context such as domestic work, where unequal power relationships are deeply embedded within these everyday situations. I was also interested in how these experiences are shaped by factors such as gender, age, occupation, living conditions (living with employer or not) and so on.
Now that's out of the way ....
When I first started working on my PhD, one of the things I found frustrating (and trust me, there were many) was that while (as mentioned earlier) domestic work was an important part of daily life in Nigeria, I really struggled initially to find information surrounding details of the employment in the country - even in terms of numbers. With time I did find some papers and texts on the subject and my interviews greatly helped, but it was tough in the beginning.
On many occasions when I was frustrated with my PhD, or just felt like giving up, I would turn to fiction – as a way to escape from my thesis. If I'm honest, it was also a way to procrastinate and ignore it all together. I never even intended (or thought it was possible) for fiction to play a role in my PhD. More than anything, what it ended up doing was giving me the confidence to continue writing about a topic I felt needed to be researched. It also made me realise that while I had to follow certain rules and regulations regarding how a PhD is written, I could also write it in a way that was not too rigid. A way that enabled me to tell a story – because ultimately I was telling a story of the lives of men and women who worked, and sometimes lived, in the homes of middle- to upper-class Nigerians.
While I did not read these novels as the bearer of truth for all things on domestic work in Nigeria, it was great for someone like me who was arguing about the somewhat invisibility of domestic workers in Nigerian public policy to see that fiction writers had taken the time to write about domestic workers in some shape and form. There were, of course, different portrayals and experiences of domestic workers in these stories I read.
There was Chinua Achebe's (1966) A Man of the People, which portrayed African men in the kitchens of the missionaries or other colonists as cooks and stewards, as well as Buchi Emecheta's (1994) The Joys of Motherhood, where the father of the female protagonist, Nnu Ego, sends her to Lagos to marry a man, Nnaife, who earns a living as a 'washerman' for an English family. Then there was Flora Nwapa's (1966) Efuru, a novel about an independent, but 'cursed' woman living in a village in colonial Nigeria. I remember reading it back in 2013 and getting to the section where Efuru asks her mother-in-law to help her get a maid to help her look after her baby. Her mother-in-law found her a ten-year-old girl, who was the daughter of her mother-in law's cousin, and this was the conversation that ensued:
'What bothers me now is a maid. I want a maid to help me look after Ogonim while I trade with my husband.'
'A maid? You want a maid to look after your only child? She will kill her. I advise you not to have a maid. You will regret it.'
'I shall get a good one. I want to help my husband. We have been losing much money.'
'What is that to you? What is money? Can a bag of money go for an errand for you? Can a bag of money look after you in your old age? Can a bag of money mourn you when you are dead? A child is more valuable than money. So our fathers said.'
As if these were not enough, Efuru's friend began to narrate all the atrocities of maids.
'You know Nwanta, don't you?'
'Yes.'
'You know that her first son is blind in one eye.'
'A maid was responsible for it.'
'How?' Efuru asked in horror.
'The boy was playing with a stick. The maid saw him and did not take it away from him. So the stick went right into his eye and now the poor boy is blind in one eye.'
'You know Nwanyuzo, don't you?'
'Yes, I know here very well.'
'You know that her daughter has a burnt face. And I don't know who is going to marry a girl with a burnt face. It was a maid who was responsible for it too.'
Efuru did not ask her how that happened this time. It was not necessary. 'I have maids no doubt, but I know how to treat them with an iron hand. I do.'
I also read about domestic workers in contemporary Nigerian novels, such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche's (2006) Half of A Yellow Sun through Ugwu - Odenigbo's 'houseboy', Abidemi Sanusi's Eyo (2009) where a young girl is trafficked to the UK, where she initially works as a 'domestic servant', and Chika Unigwe's (2012) The Night Dancer, where Ezi's husband has an affair with their young maid, Rapu.
Short stories, as well, such as Life During Wartime: Sierra Leone, 1997 by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie published in 2006 in The New Yorker online, where Adichie writes about Fide – a 'houseboy' from the village, who is described as 'backwards' because he had never seen a refrigerator, spoke a rural dialect of Igbo that was not Anglicised and chewed rice with his mouth open. There was also the short story, The Housegirl by Okey Chigbo in Chinua Achebe and C.L, Innes' Contemporary African Short Stories.
I even read about domestic workers in places I least expected – it was like subconsciously I was looking for it everywhere. I once randomly found a collection of stories by Steen Marcusson on his life as an expatriate in post-colonial West Africa with an excerpt on Hausa 'maiguards' (security guards). In one section, Marcusson (2003) writes:
'How did the numerous thieves get into the store? Easy enough. 'The two devious night-watch-men were the ring leaders of the thieves!' It was clear to a blindman that our problem was an "insider" job or more correctly "insiders". You never spotted signs of break-ins or forced entry … My first initiative was to replace the two Yoruba night-watch-men with 4 huge and powerful Hausa men. Hausas from the North are big, often 6'6" and more, and strongly committed Muslims. Hausa security guards from Kano were the right answer to security in "Yorubaland". With Hausa night-watch-men any possibility of collusion was blanked out.'
I did read beyond Nigeria, such as Ferdinand Oyono's (1990) Houseboy - set in colonial Cameroon, and Amma Darko's The Housemaid set in Ghana, but through these works of fiction I found a space to begin to tell the story about domestic work that I really believed needed to be told.
Fiction also enabled me to improve my skills in writing, find my voice, and write my PhD in a way that was comfortable for me and true to who I was, as well as the women and men I interviewed (without losing all the academic rigour and so on that was necessary). Really, it gave me the confidence to own my PhD topic and realise that (to a large extent) I can be in control of it - instead of my supervisor. And l like I said earlier, it offered me a space to escape from the thesis when I needed it the most.
Blogging also helped me write my dissertation – and one day I may write about that. For now, this is a little thank you to fiction from me and my dissertation. Now, I'm off to find new inspiration and motivation to actually turn into it something beyond a PhD monograph. Wish me luck!
Tags : Confessions of a bookaholic
Claire 16 March 2018 at 15:00
Thank you for sharing this, I love how fiction served to inspire you and to free you from feeling as if your thesis was not in your control. I hope that you can use your material to find further inspiration and allow it to evolve into something with different criteria, something that an audience of readers can share in. I wish you luck and courage!
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This month, Bob talks about the similarities between the podcast and bacon, how wonderful his home life isn't, why he loves everyone with the exception of #haters, answers your questions from the Patreon community posts, and having sex with robots. He also talks about these songs: WHY AM I CURSED WITH LOVING YOU, CHRISTMAS IS JESUS, TURN THIS PLANE AROUND, CONDITION OF LOVE, GETTING BETTER (LIVING WITHOUT MARIE), WINDMILLIN, MAKING IT UP, RIVER and ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY METHADONE.
Tagged: Bob Schneider, Podcast, Song Club, Patreon, podcast, new music
Bob talks about trying to be funny all the time vs. not worrying about being funny; the news; being a government building on the outside and an emotional whirlwind on the inside. The songs he discusses this month are: THE BOAT SONG, BOOMERANG, DORIS, CHEESE, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS, LITTLE BIRD, SPOOKY HOUSES and TAYLOR SWIFT.
Tagged: Bob Schneider, Song Club, Patreon, Podcast, new music, Boat Song, Boomerang, Doris, Taylor Swift
Songs introduced in Episode 19 include:
All Out of Love
At Night Sometimes
Buongiorno Baby I Love You
C'mon Baby (alternative version)
C'mon Baby (fast remix)
C'mon Baby (porno version)
I Love Love
Tagged: Bob Schneider, Song Club, Patreon, New Music, Come On Baby, C'mon Baby, new music, podcast
Bob presents a special 'on the road in Little Rock, AR' edition and answers all of your questions from the Patreon Community posts, as well as talks about Drake's hair and how to make the songs you write better, and introduces you to these new songs, 'Lemonade Stands,' 'Babies,' 'Wondergirl,' and the original demos of 'Thanks For The Good Times,' 'The Flavors Too Strong,' 'People I've Met,' 'Katie,' 'Love Is Everywhere,' and includes a redux of 'Tumbleweed' in the patented reggae format because he doesn't like reggae...he LOVES it!
Tagged: Bob Schneider, Katie, new music, Patreon, podcast, reggae
In this special 'On the road' episode, Bob broadcasts from lovely Novato, California and talks about being a mountain climber, the Space Force, the Bob Dylan Harmonica trick, the song writing process and his latest album, Blood & Bones. The songs featured on this episode are: Lord of the Flies (Space Force), I'm A Man, As Happy As We Can Be, Bombs On Me, According To The Scientists, Down The Dark Stairs, Gumanema, and the original demo of Make Drugs Get Money.
Tagged: Bob Schneider, new music, podcast, song club, patreon, Blood and Bones, Gumanema, Make Drugs Get Money
Bob Schneider Song Club Podcast #14: Where Bob talks about how much electrical current is flowing in his brain, recording with Patty Griffin and Billy Harvey, feeling hopeless at the airport, why you shouldn't talk about poop in a song, and of course, BEANS! The songs featured on this podcast are, HELPLESSNESS, PENCIL ME IN, CHANGING YOUR MIND, LET EM COME, CLOSE ENOUGH, and once again another album track from his upcoming album, 'Blood And Bones', GOODWILL
Sign up for Bob's Song Club at patreon.com/bobschneider to get 12 new tracks, set for release to patrons on Monday, May 21.
Tagged: Bob Schneider, Podcast, Song Club, Patreon, new music, Blood and Bones, Goodwill
Bob talks about playing table tennis as a teenager, his drinking days, listening to a monk give a talk, and goes on and on about whatever else comes into his head. This month's songs include: CRAZY TRAIN, HAPPY PEOPLE, FOOTBITE, KING OF THE WORLD, THAT'S RIGHT, BOOMBOX, THE LONG ROAD, as well as the original demo for LOST, and the studio version from the upcoming album, Blood and Bones. Enjoy
Sign up for Bob's Song Club at patreon.com/bobschneider to get 9 new tracks, set for release to patrons on Monday, March 19.
Tagged: Bob Schneider, Song Club, Patreon, patrons, Podcast, new music, Blood and Bones, Lost


Crowdsourcing — MAD STRATEGIES Inc.
Crowdsourcing was first used as a way for video game developers to test the early versions of games by inviting the public to participate in beta testing. This helped them identify bugs in the game and get player feedback on gameplay and appeal without having to hire paid help. Today, crowdsourcing takes many forms and is a great way to get help from people willing to invest time, energy and money on your idea.
Crowdsource your funding: Kickstarter is a great example. Their mission is to "bring creative projects to life" by allowing people to donate money to ideas or products they are interested in supporting.
Crowdsource knowledge and expertise: Subcontracting an expert or could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and there is no guarantee you'll like any of the ideas they present. Crowdsourcing gives you access to tens of thousands of knowledgeable people. InnoCentive is a community where large corporations post technical or scientific problems to people who can help provide solutions through "fresh thinking and cost-effective problem solving". In September 2009, Netflix awarded a $1 million prize to the winner who successfully improved their collaborative filtering algorithm.
Crowdsource innovative ideas and creativity: With no biases or preconceived ideas, crowdsourced designers are free to be as creative as they want and may come up with concepts or perspectives that company employees might have never thought of. It also allows you to leverage a virtually unlimited pool of minds, viewpoints, expertise, and experience.
Crowdsource your marketing/advertising photography. Invite the public to upload pictures of your product in action. It makes them feel connected to your product and gives your brand exposure.
Consider crowdsourcing as a form of customer outreach. Crowdsource feedback from your customers. This lets you know what you can change or improve. Listening to your customers will help you learn about their concerns and what parts of your product they like/dislike. People love to give their opinion. This shows your customers you care about them, that you aren't afraid to be vulnerable and want them involved in the process. Yahoo Answers is a great forum for asking questions. It provides access to large pools of people willing to answer questions of all kinds.
When a truck that got wedged under an overpass, baffling all of the engineers and first responders on the scene, but it was a child who had the idea to let the air out of the tires to free the truck. Great ideas don't always come from experienced professionals. Sometimes "outsiders" can see obvious flaws and provide ideas that become the missing piece of the puzzle.
Method cleaning products used crowdsourcing to create a "laundry montage" using footage submitted by fans. They invited people to join their mission to save the earth and be part of something fun! People love to share exciting news as you can see in the video below.
Below is the instruction video for those who wished to participate and submit their video clip.
And finally, the much anticipated laundry montage with fan submissions.
"the wait is over. our crowdsourced music video has finally come together thanks to the wonderful submissions of our people against dirty (along with a stellar team behind the scenes). we took all of your videos and wove them together to make one great laundry montage. check it out, pass it along and then give us a try. thanks again to those of you who gave us a window into your laundry world! we couldn't have done it without you."
One of the best ways to get your project or product off the ground is to build a relationship with the crowd and identify those who are invested. Get to know the people who actually care about what you're doing. Keep in mind that making your project public also exposes you to competitors so don't give away more than you need to. Today, it's all about sharing. Crowdsourcing harnesses the creative and competitive spirit of people all over the world and creates affordable options for small businesses and entrepreneurs who need help.
How can your business benefit from crowdsourcing?


If you work for a large company, chances are you're probably involved in some sort of wellness program. According to Healhcare.gov, corporate wellness programs are intended to improve and promote the health and fitness of employees, although insurance plans may offer them directly to their enrollees. A wellness program allows your employer or plan to offer you premium discounts, cash rewards, gym memberships, and other incentives to participate. Some examples of wellness programs include programs to help you stop smoking, diabetes management programs, weight loss programs and preventative health screenings.
There are many good reasons for companies to establish wellness programs, including the fact that current employees usually appreciate the gesture and take it into consideration when weighing their long-term options. Prospective employees may even consider a company's wellness program as a deciding factor in taking the job.
Even small business owners are getting on the employer-provided health benefits bandwagon. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation's most recent survey of employee health benefits, 91 percent of large employers (200 or more workers) and 49 percent of small employers now offer their employees wellness programs. Some companies are also offering a financial incentive to participate in or complete a wellness program, and Dr. Shannon Thieroff of Wexford agrees with this practice. "Instead of presenting health screenings as something employees have to do, getting healthy should be something they want to do," she said.
Companies are starting to use resources on-site like health awareness days and lunch-and-learn series, and these sorts of programs have a ripple effect on the rest of the community as employees' children and spouses are also affected. One popular provider of wellness programs is the YMCA, and their corporate clients provide the setting for a healthy ripple effect.
Carolyn Grady, senior vice president of development for the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, said that many local companies and organizations partner with the Y to actively improve the health and overall quality of life of their employees…and then some. "Our dollars are reinvested in the community," Grady said, noting that anyone who supports the Y is making more of an impact than they think.
"As a member of the Y, you're not only improving your own health, you're contributing to the overall health of the community, because the Y is there for everyone," said Grady, adding that wellness is about more than just physical health. "We have three priorities: to close the achievement gap, eliminate health disparities between communities, and provide food security and aid to financially struggling families." The Y provides a variety of services across Allegheny County, and no one is turned away because they can't afford a membership.


A 4 star Inn based near Haweswater in Cumbria. Situated in the beautiful hamlet of Bampton Grange, we are an historic free house nestled on the edge of the North Eastern Fells. We have 8 en-suite bedrooms, and a self-catering apartment tastefully furnished and with views of the beautiful surrounding countryside.
To purchase a listing on the Accommodation or Business pages please phone Chris Cant on 01931 713196.


Pendleton's backbone continues to be our ranchers and farmers.
Rolling Stone Bakery, located in the heart of downtown, offers delicious scones, hearty bread, and supplies many local restaurants with bread and buns.
Barhyte Specialty Foods has a beautiful shop showcasing their mustard and sauces. They locally source some ingredients, including organic mustard seed. Sunshine Gourmet Shoppe also carries Barhyte Specialty Foods items, as well as an extensive selection of kitchen gadgets.
The Hill Meat Company is known for quality meat products; buy them for your own cooking at local grocery stores, including Wal-Mart. Oregon Grain Growers Brand Distillery started in 2016 with Ouragon Vodka and is branching out into whiskey, gin, and food.
Two events not to miss include the Buckaroo Barbeque Challenge as part of Pendleton Cattle Barons Weekend each May and the Battle of the Bars, a fundraiser held in March. The Pendleton Farmers Market held each Friday evening mid-May through mid-October.
Shopping in Pendleton looks different here. We don't have a mall or many large chain or box stores. But we do have some great, unique boutiques and antique stores that can tickle your fancy.
Whether it be handmade leather items, antique tea cups (check out Antiques and Art on Main) or cute, "just right" home décor pieces that you can find at Bella Cosa or Western Soul, two stores you can find in our HistoricalDowntown area, you can find what you are looking for in Pendleton.
Pendleton boasts gorgeous summers and mostly mild winters. Enjoy easy access to a wide array of outdoor activities year-round.
In warmer months, enjoy a walk along the River Walk, which winds along the Umatilla River in Pendleton, escape to the Blue Mountains for a hike, or enjoy a day of fishing at McKay Reservoir. Indian Lake also hosts a fishing derby each June.
Enjoy a round of golf at the Pendleton Country Club — open to the public, gorgeous 18-hole course, practice facilities, fitness center and outdoor pool. Head out to Wildhorse Resort & Casino for an 18-hole course nestled in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Pendleton is on the edge of three Oregon hunting units. Hunts are available for birds, bear, cougar, deer, elk, and antelope. See Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for full rules and regulations. Besides wildlife hunting and viewing, there are also options for mushroom gathering and berry picking.
For bicycle riders, the Century Ride of the Centuries is held each May. Information about other ride options are available at the Chamber Office or Echo Bike & Board on Main Street.
If the weather is keeping you inside, enjoy views of the Blue Mountains from Plateau, the fine dining restaurant at Wildhorse Resort & Casino. You can also stock-up supplies for your next adventure at D & B Farm Supply or Elite Guns & Bows, LLC.
Best known for legendary rodeo, fine woolens and leather craftsmanship, Pendleton has a well-deserved reputation as a town where the best of western tradition and heritage lives on.
Use the Travel Pendleton website as the front door to our community to know more about our rich tradition, fine craftsmanship and legendary reputation. And if you have more questions, please call and we'll be happy to help you find the answers you need. Welcome to Pendleton!