It's that time of year again. There are only 96 days until Christmas. Soon I'll begin my annual Christmas countdown. Stay tuned for my hints, tips, and suggestions.
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The stores already have Xmas stuff out!
Of course they do. It's less than 10 weeks until Christmas!
Only 67 days until Christmas!
Buy your Christmas stamps soon. They should be available at your local post office now. There are several advantages to buying them now.
You'll have them when you address your cards.
You won't have to wait in lines during the holiday season.
You can be sure they won't be out of the ones you want.
You can start using them at the beginning of the season so you won't still be using them in February.
Of course, the stamps are now forever stamps, so using them up won't be quite as critical. You can always save them for next year.
If you are planning to offer any holiday specials to your customers, now is the time to start planning.
I do a Black Friday Sale. I also offer a shopping service. My plan is set. Flyers are prepared, though I won't be sharing them for a few more weeks.
There are 66 days until Christmas!
Are you ready for holiday guests? Take a critical look at your guest room (or the corner of the basement you use as a guest room). Is everything clean, fluffed, and ready for guests? Do you have plenty of decent towels? We have a small basket with things like toothbrushes and sample-size toothpaste, deodorant, and such that we leave out for guests. By taking inventory now, you'll have plenty of time to pick things up little by little so you don't overwhelm your budget.
Only 61 days until Christmas! It's 2 months from today.
If you've got someone on your list who's difficult to buy for, try thinking outside the box.
My brother and I could not be more different if we were raised on separate continents. In addition to the fact that we have very different taste and interests, he and his wife live a much more affluent lifestyle than we do. (In other words, they have lots more money.) It was always a struggle to figure out something for them. A couple of years ago I gave my brother a memory. When we were kids we'd watch the Christmas specials together. We'd have popcorn, Hershey bars, and Pepsi in Slush Mugs* while we watched all of those 1960s TV specials. Those specials are on DVD now, so I bought a few of our favorites. I found a set of 4 Slush Mugs and packaged those together with the DVDs, some popcorn, and some bottles of Pepsi. I included a note saying that I hoped he would be able to build some of the same kinds of fond memories with his own family.
*Slush Mugs have an internal sleeve that you freeze. You pop that sleeve into the mug, then add your drink. Soon slushy ice begins to form on the sides. I always scraped mine down so it got all slushy quickly. My brother would let his sit until it was almost solid. If you search online you should be able to find them if they interest you.
Today is November 15. There are only 40 days left until Christmas!
No. No is a complete sentence. You are not required to make an excuse or justify your answer.
No, I'm already committed. Have you already agreed to head up your church bazaar? Direct the children's program? No one said you have to do everything.
No, but I'll . . . If you're willing to take charge of the spring carnival or chaperone the next four field trips, let them know.
I learned a number of years ago that one of the guilt-trips that worked well on me was to say that if I didn't do it they might have to cancel. It took a long time for me to realize that if it was supposed to get done but I couldn't do it, God was tapping on someone else's shoulder. It wasn't my fault if it didn't happen. Plus, if I did it when I wasn't meant to do it, I was cheating the person who was supposed to do it out of the opportunity to serve where they were supposed to serve.
How's your music? Do you love classical Christmas music or are the classics (like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) your passion? Check over what you have. Make sure they're in good shape. Make note of any replacements you need. This way you can be on the lookout for good deals.
Keep a healthy perspective. I love Christmas magazines at least as much as the next person, maybe more. However, they can make you crazy. I don't want to burst your bubble, but Martha Stewart doesn't actually do all of that by herself. If you don't have a full-time staff supplemented with additional seasonal help, you cannot do everything she does. The same goes for Paula Dean, Rachel Ray, and even Sandra Lee, the Semi-Homemade lady. Don't beat yourself up if your home and dinner table don't look like the ones in the magazines. Take a few ideas and run with them. Make them your own. Just promise me you won't be awake at 3 a.m. the night/morning before the big family dinner hot gluing leaves (or snowflakes, or baby Jesus cut-outs) to your napkin rings.
Once you put your tree up you'll probably have lots of fairly small things you'll want to keep on hand—light fuses, extra bulbs, ornament hooks, etc. Get a small decorative gift box with a removable lid or decorate a box and lid separately so you can get inside easily. Put your tree supplies inside, then tuck the "present" under the tree. It will keep those things handy while getting rid of a bit of clutter. Make sure it will stand out among your packages, though. You don't want to have to go searching through dozens of actual gifts to find it.
Consider putting together a Christmas morning basket. The concept is simple: gather the tools and supplies you'll need to open Christmas gifts and put them in a basket, gift bag or gift box beneath the tree.
Include items like scissors, box cutter, notepad and pen (for recording who got what from whom) camera or videocam, trash bags, zippered food storage bags (for bundling small pieces so they're not lost) and extra batteries. Yes, you can put those things in the box with the tree supplies, but I find it easier to keep them separate.
Today is November 17. There are only 38 days until Christmas!
Connect with people and be nice.
Hold the door. Everyone's rushing. Everyone's focused on their own mission—finish the list. Make a genuine effort to hold the door for others over the next several weeks. Don't expect a thank you, though. As I said, everyone's focused on their own mission. Of course their bad behavior doesn't let you off the hook. If someone holds the door for you be sure to make eye contact, smile, and say thank you. It just might make their day.
Visit someone who can't get out. Do you have a neighbor who's housebound? Is there someone from church who barely makes it out once a week for services? Is there a nursing home nearby? People need people, and spending a little bit of time talking with someone who has few visitors could be one of the best gifts you give yourself this year.
Write a letter. This is a great time of year to reconnect. And, who doesn't enjoy getting a handwritten note? You can include it in a Christmas card, but you don't have to. A few years ago I wrote to someone I hadn't seen or heard from in years. She's my godmother. She and my mom were best friends when I was little. Over the years they'd lost touch. For some reason she'd been coming to mind, so I looked her up online. It led to a reconnection. At the very least, you might bring a smile to someone's face.
Today is November 18. There are only 37 days until Christmas!
We're just one week from Black Friday. If you're a Black Friday shopper like me, you'll want to be prepared. Work on your list before you go. Many stores have already started letting you know some of what they'll be offering.
Don't just concentrate on gift shopping. I know that may be your main focus, but it's also a good day to pick up things that you've been wanting or needing for your home. Most of my gift shopping is done, so most of my list is things that are just for us. No reason not to take advantage of those sales for ourselves.
On Black Friday make sure you eat a healthy (but fast ) breakfast. I'll have something before I leave, but I know lots of people who stop for breakfast after their first couple of stores. Just don't load up on lots of simple carbs; you'll be sorry later when your energy bottoms out. Eating yummy stuff is part of the day, but don't completely fall off the wagon. Make wise choices and indulge sensibly.
Take along a healthy snack. When I'm power shopping I carry a small bag, backpack, or sling bag. I'll have a couple of Lara Bars or RX Bars in there just in case I start to lose energy or get too hungry. You know how it is—you get involved in those deals (or standing in line) and realize it's been far too long since you last ate. If you have something with you, you'll be less likely to reach for that tempting Cinnabon or candy bar.
Be safe. I usually shop alone, so I know I need to be very aware of the people around me. Make sure you lock your car. Pay attention to your surroundings. Make sure your most expensive purchases aren't readily visible to people who pass by your vehicle.
Today is November 19. There are only 36 days until Christmas. We're 5 weeks from Christmas Eve, people!
Find a place to give. Volunteer to ring bells, serve a meal, or anything else that will help someone else.
I've read about a family that gets up on Christmas morning and makes a huge batch of pancakes and coffee. They then take these along with cups, paper plates, plastic forks, and syrup down to where the homeless gather in their town. Before they ever open one gift or peek into one stocking they give to others.
Today is November 20. There are only 35 days until Christmas! Five weeks from today!
Take a little time and give blood sometime in the next several weeks. It's one of the best gifts you can give a stranger this year.
Today is November 21. There are only 34 days left until Christmas!
Smile and inquire about the person who is serving you. When the person taking your order or the cashier behind the counter says, "Welcome to _____________. How are you today?" Respond with, "I'm [good, great, wonderful, fantastic, blessed, or however you're feeling], thanks. How are you?"
I'm amazed at how often it really catches that person off guard. I've been rewarded with big smiles. I've had many people thank me for asking. I've had several others tell me that no one ever asks them that.
Showing concern for others can be a wonderful way to spread Christmas cheer.
Today is November 22. There are only 33 days until Christmas!
Want a tangible way to spread some cheer? Tip big for the next several weeks. This is a very busy time for people in a lot of service industries—restaurants, salons, etc. Unfortunately, this is the time of year they often deal with some of the nastiest customers. With the economy tight, it's very likely that people will scale back their tips. Be amazingly different, and tip a little extra.
Also, many of us take advantage of some fantastic deals this time of year. A few years ago my lunch on Black Friday was actually free. But, when your meal is discounted, don't discount your tip. Tip on the full, non-discounted amount of your meal. In fact, since you're saving so much, tip a little extra.
Those of you who know me might remember about my tip cards. I leave a little card with every tip thanking the server for their attention. Of course, if it accompanied a skimpy tip it probably wouldn't have quite the same impact.
Rae, do you care if we adapt some of your countdown to use on our FB pages?
Not at all. Just make sure to take out any personal anecdotes. I'm sure you didn't give your niece a poster of her artwork for Christmas.
Today is November 23. There are only 32 days until Christmas!
If you're like me you'll be decorating soon. Many of our decorations have sentiment attached. Does your family know the stories behind your decorations? Several years ago I started a list. It's a spreadsheet listing each of the sentimental decorations/ornaments, when we got them, and the why. Was it a gift? Was it to commemorate something?
Doing the initial list was daunting, but adding to it each year is easy. Now there's a record of the reason we have over a dozen pig-related Christmas ornaments and decorations.


After being let down at last year's graduation by the gymnasium's P.A. system, the community came together to raise the needed funds for an upgrade. The fault in the old system was that it was dreadfully underpowered, and the sound emitted from the speakers was so distorted that the voices coming through it sounded like the teacher in Charlie Brown cartoons.
People from the community banded together to help raise money, showing up for fundraisers such as the "Cook Off" hosted by Vicks Bar. This event featured food donated and prepared by local barbecue authorities Mike Meredith and Terry Edgar, with Bonnie Dunning-Wooley donating the space. That fundraiser alone was an overwhelming success and netted around $1,000 for the cause. Other community fundraisers included a soup and bake sale and a bazaar. Not to mention, donations were also received by the Lucky Clover 4-H and several other anonymous contributions. The PTO also raised funds through 50-50 raffles and feeds hosted at the school.
The community's efforts quickly raised the substantial funds needed to replace the outdated system. Austin Sounds's Joe Rennick was contacted by Tracy Sibley, of the Nashua PTO, to consult on how to properly outfit the venue to insure announcements could clearly be heard, as well being able to handle the other events that take place in the gym. Donating his time and skill to the project, Rennick utilized his years of experience identifying what the project would require, in equipment and its placement, to provide a clear audible signal that would not be affected by poor acoustics that can plaque gymnasiums.
Following with Rennick's recommendations, the school had a 10,000 watt system installed with a 10-channel mixing board feeding into two self-powered speakers placed near the stage, with an additional four self-powered speakers that will be mounted on the ceiling of the gym in the near future. The system also has bluetooth connectivity allowing for wireless input. The sound is much clearer and with just two stage speakers hooked up, can be heard throughout the gym and up to the office. The new sound system is more than adequate to handle everything that the school will need including games, dances, plays, and concerts.
The amount of funds raised, and the amount of time people donated for this cause, is a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together.


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TfL needs to act now on bus safety
After Transport for London announced a new Bus Safety Standard to be applied to new buses, Caroline Pidgeon stressed the need for faster action by TfL and bus operators to ensure all buses are safe for all Londoners.
"We welcome TfL's announcement of a new Bus Safety Standard in a bid to make Londoners' journeys on buses safer. However, these measures simply do not go far enough.
23 October 2018 - 9:40pm
Read more about TfL needs to act now on bus safety
Financial regulator to review Crossrail's lack of transparency on delays
The Financial Conduct Authority has confirmed to Caroline Pidgeon it is reviewing the late announcement of the Crossrail delay, and the lack of transparency provided to the public and the financial markets, to decide whether to launch a formal investigation.
Caroline said:
"The Transport Committee identified grave discrepancies in the evidence gathered from meetings to determine who knew what, when, with regard to the launch of Crossrail.
Read more about Financial regulator to review Crossrail's lack of transparency on delays
Londoners have been let down by the lack of clear communication on Crossrail delays
As Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, Caroline Pidgeon has written to the Mayor expressing great disappointment at the lack of transparency around the delay in opening Crossrail, with board meetings held in secret instead of being forthcoming with the public.
We accept the assurances you have personally given to the Assembly that you did not know the specific details of the delay until two days before the announcement.
9 October 2018 - 10:10pm
Read more about Londoners have been let down by the lack of clear communication on Crossrail delays
Waiting five years to fix the "crossing of death" is an insult to Greenwich residents
After Caroline Pidgeon pressured the Mayor to publish the list of dates to fix London's 33 most dangerous junctions, it has emerged that the Woolwich Road roundabout will not be made safer until 2023.
"There are very good reasons why the Greenwich A102 junction is now known by local residents as the 'crossing of death'
Read more about Waiting five years to fix the "crossing of death" is an insult to Greenwich residents
£10m lost in Crossrail ad revenue is a blow TfL cannot afford
Caroline's probing of the impact of the delay in opening Crossrail has revealed that TfL will lose £10m that it could have made from advertising inside Crossrail trains.
"The £10m in lost commercial income due to the delayed opening of Crossrail is just the latest blow to TfL's finances.
"Any examination of TfL's accounts shows that it is clearly on the ropes. In its current state I wonder how many more financial blows it can now take."
29 September 2018 - 12:54pm
Read more about £10m lost in Crossrail ad revenue is a blow TfL cannot afford
What does London need from the Spending Review?
17 September 2018 - 6:34pm
Read more about What does London need from the Spending Review?
Urgent action is needed on the most dangerous road junctions
In September's Mayor's Question Time, Caroline questioned the Mayor on his efforts to ensure London's most dangerous junctions are made safe.
Read more about Urgent action is needed on the most dangerous road junctions
Give Watford commuters a fair deal
7 September 2018 - 12:30pm
Read more about Give Watford commuters a fair deal
We need answers from the Mayor, TfL and Crossrail
As the news came in that Crossrail services will not launch in December 2018, and will be postponed until autumn 2019, Caroline Pidgeon, chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said:
"It is disappointing that the decision to delay the launch of Crossrail has been announced at such late notice. It is scarcely believable that the Mayor, TfL and Crossrail did not know of a likely delay a long time ago and chose not to let Londoners know sooner.
31 August 2018 - 2:45pm
Read more about We need answers from the Mayor, TfL and Crossrail
Gospel Oak to Barking: stop letting travellers down by passing the buck
Speaking to City AM, Caroline described her frustration at the poor service on the Gospel Oak to Barking line, and the repeated delays in introducing electric trains to replace the unreliable diesel trains that currently run.
"Users of this line have been badly let down.
"The continual excuses and passing of the buck between TfL, Network Rail and the train manufacturer are a perfect case study of everything that is wrong with our railway industry.
Read more about Gospel Oak to Barking: stop letting travellers down by passing the buck

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Thank you for reading ¡Vámonos! in 2012. Wishing you all the above and more in 2013.
Lisa xx
Cuento de Navidad por David Bisbal
David Bisbal cuenta contigo para cambiar la situación de pobreza en la que viven muchos niños de nuestro país. Por ello ha versionado "Cuento de Navidad" y te pide que le ayudes a difundir su mensaje compartiendo este cuento.
Cuenta conmigo contra la pobreza es un proyecto de la Obra Social "la Caixa" a favor de Save The Children que quiere cambiar la situación de pobreza de muchos niños y niñas de nuestro país.
Descubre cómo en http://www.cuentaconmigocontralapobreza.org/es/?utm_source=yt_desc&utm_me…
Planet WizZ
Today in Waterstones in Coventry, Maria Alexander aka @IamMariaAlex has been holding a book signing for her first book – very exciting! Entitled Welcome to Planet WizZ, it is the first of a series of books 'Teaching children Spanish the WizZ way', and Maria kindly let me have a pre-launch look!
Planet WizZ is 'a mysterious little planet..that never stays still and keeps whizzing among the other planets.' The planet is inhabited by wizzes, including Marrón and Naranja who are twins and the 'stars' of the story, along with Se ñor VerdeRojo who runs the only school on WizZ. Spanish is the official language on Planet WizZ and, whilst the book is written in English, there are Spanish phrases in the text besides the characters names. Each chapter (five in this book) has a theme in the form of a question e.g. ¿Qué hay en tu mochila? ¿Cuántos años tienes? ¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños? and within the chapter, relevant vocabulary is used which is then listed at the end of the chapter.
I enjoyed the story – the characters are amusing and you quickly get to know their personalities and traits. The Spanish does not detract from the story by which I mean that the story doesn't seem stilted as you switch reading between the two languages, and there aren't too many new words introduced in each chapter. All the Spanish is highlighted in bold so it's clear to the reader when the Spanish is coming, and the characters' names are also written in the colour of their name (as I wrote the names above!) I loved the graphics – simple but very amusing and appealing. (I think all teachers could do with 5 eyes like Se ñor VerdeRojo) And I particularly liked the little bits of incidental ICU that appear as you read such as information about Spanish speaking countries, and also the 'valuable lessons' that the characters often learn by the end of the chapter! The page of vocabulary at the end of the chapter promises sound files for the pronunciation of each item on www.planetwizz.com – you can currently register for future updates and I sure that this will follow soon along with other supporting resources as soon as website glitches are sorted out.
Whilst the books are aimed at 6-9 year olds, as Maria says in this lovely interview by one of her pupils, Ellie, they can equally be used by older beginners as a starting point as the themes such as numbers and the alphabet, are ones you usually meet at the start of language learning.
The interview also talks about how some of the proceeds from the book will got to M.A.M.A., an organisation that uses art and music to make the world a better place!
According to the Bablake newsroom you can buy the book, priced £6.99, from Waterstones in Coventry (where Maria will be signing more copies during late night shopping on Wednesday 19th), WHSmiths, independent retailers and on Amazon (although it says currently unavailable, they'll have more copies very soon)and the Book Repository.
This is billed as the first of many Spanish books, and there'll be more languages too…(see below!)
Good luck Maria! Looks great!
TuDiscoveryKids.com
I came across this website earlier when searching for something else and thought I'd share it.
TuDiscoveryKids is the website for DiscoveryKids in Latin America and features all sorts of activities in Spanish linked to some of their programmes. I thought I'd highlight a few that you might find interesting!
Juego de los colores
In this game, learners are given five tubes of paint and challenged to make the colour indicated – in the example above 'bordo' or burgundy. They squeeze the tubes to squirt the paint onto the palette, use the paintbrush to mix the colour and then paint the picture with the colour they mixed. Great for linking to colour blending in art.
Fábrica de palabras
In this game, the crane challenges you to complete words by finding the missing consonants. The letters are then hoisted into the word and the crane repeats the sound and tells you if you're correct. Then you are asked a yes/no question about consonants and vowels before being given another challenge. Great for looking at sound/letter link.
Todos a bordo
A game for dinosaur fans – and every class has them! The dinosaurs travel from Triassic to Jurassic to Cretaceous period and you are in charge of showing the dinosaurs to their seats, checking the tickets, feeding them and making sure that they get off in the correct period. As you go, you learn what type of food the dinosaurs eat and also in which time period they belong.
Conoce los 5 sentidos
This game links to your senses and asks you to choose from three objects that match a description e.g. Algo que tiene olor – something that smells or algo brillante – something shiny, and then decide which sense you would use to find out. As you play, you can learn the names of the objects from which you select, increase your knowledge of adjectives, and also consider your senses. You need to be careful as well not choose the correct sense for the adjective e.g. I had to find something 'silencioso' (silent) which was 'una pluma' (a feather), and this linked to 'Oido' – hearing rather than touch which you might have chosen had the adjective been 'suave' – soft. A fun link to science!
Each game also has links to other activities that have a link – for example, a video called Masa repugnante is suggested for this game which links to a video about an experiment to make a gooey yucky dough!
And there are also articles that would be of interest to educators and parents. This one links to the game above.
This is a very simple game that wants you to indicate the animal that makes a certain sound by clicking on the animal. This is made harder by the animals being in silhouette on what looks like a sight chart! A fun game that could be played when discussing animals as well as when thinking about how languages have similarities and differences.
Leer es un juego
Our final example is accessed via the image of a library where you click on the book you'd like to read. The book is read to you but there is a missing word in the text. In the first example, there are three images from which to choose to fill the gap; in the second you have to choose the word that has the syllables correctly ordered. A fun way of keeping attention if you are using the story with the whole class as well as a little challenge for an individual reader.
I hope you'll investigate the site more yourself – there are many more games and activities that merit attention. Perhaps I'll come back with a follow up post in the future to explore further!
Night Zookeeper Drawing Torch app
Being a fan of 64 Zoo Lane and having a wild imagination, when I discovered that there was someone called the Night Zookeeper on Twitter, I was fascinated and wanted to know more. And I wasn't disappointed when I found that the NightZookeeper pr
oject was all about encouraging children to be creative and use their imaginations.
To quote the About on the Night Zoo Teacher website (companion to the NightZookeeper one)
Night Zookeeper was first delivered as a creative project in a Lancashire school back in 2007. It was clear from the beginning that the project had huge potential to inspire children to learn through the mediums of art,
creative writing, ICT and playground games. And so, from the children's smiles, animal noises and magical creations, a Night Zoo was born.
In 2011 we launched the website (www.nightzookeeper.com) and the project has since gone from strength to strength. Support has reigned in from education thought leaders, governments and most importantly from teachers from all around the world.
The Night Zookeeper team consists of artists, storytellers, primary school teachers and creative technologists. We are all united in our belief in the importance of fostering a child's creativity in the classroom and at home.
I have to admit that, not having had a class on which to try it out, I've not explored as much as I might. However, following on from #TMTwist last week which was organised by @nightzookeeper (with @jodieworld and @oliverquinlan) and held at NightZookeeper HQ (looked wonderful – wish I'd been there in person rather than virtually), I revisited and was particularly interested to hear of an app!
Night ZooKeeper Drawing Torch is a FREE app for iPads that is just amazing or as Apps Playground says ' A CREATIVE IPAD TREAT FOR KIDS'. Taking the premise that you are a Night Zookeeper, you are set challenges or missions to look after thousands of magical animals and defeat the monsters that attack the zoo. And how do you do that? By drawing of course with your drawing torch! I am no great artist but that doesn't matter – in fact, I find that it helps me in the classroom as no one can EVER be intimidated by my drawing being better than theirs! And because it's a drawing app that asks for you to use your imagination, there's no right or wrong answer so there's no fear there. AND it's all part of a story too, beautifully narrated! Examples of the challenges (I've taken them form the iTunes page as I don't want to spoil the surprise by revealing more!) – "What do you think a Spying Giraffe looks like? Can you turn one of your friends or family into a strange animal? Could you draw a frog, if a monster has stolen the colour green?"
So far I've completed two missions of the 22 on the app, each a star in the night sky. I'm trying hard to ration myself and not do them all in one go but it's very tempting! The naughty monsters are already being tricksy and making life interesting. Below are the first two drawings I made (told you I wasn't very good at drawing!), saved to the CameraRoll of my iPad using the save option – you can also email. Very simple!
As I said, I love any opportunity to get people thinking and exploring their creativity – whether young old or in between! And I'm having a blast playing with this app. In the classroom I can see this app as a great springboard to some brilliant imaginative writing, dancing, singing not to mention drawing of course. It could be linked to Science e.g. adaptation and habitat, to PSHE e.g. problem solving, and that's just a few ideas for starters without a) exploring the whole story and b) looking at the resources offered on NightZookeeper Teachers page.
I've already tweeted @Nightzookeeper asking about the app in other languages – a bit impatient of me considering the app is only 3 weeks old! However, I like to get my requests in as soon as possible, especially when I like something! It takes Build your Wildself (which I love and have mentioned before here and here ) a step further – so much further – and that's just one aspect of it.
Two ways I might use it.
1. At the moment, I teach English to some delightful kids and over the last couple of weeks we (coincidentally) talked about animals and made up our own hybrids so I think this app will be a great next step – you can redo the challenges so that's not a problem!
2. And although the challenges are written in English, there's nothing to stop you using the Drawing Torch for things other than the official missions, is there? So I could set my own mission in Spanish for example and learners could carry it out using the app. They wouldn't win a star but I'd find another reward! ;o)
I'm sure that's there's more to come from Drawing Torch in the future. In fact, there's a competition for kids to devise a new mission and win an iPad Mini (closing date 4th January and you don't need an iPad to enter!).
And I've just discovered that, despite only being 3 weeks old, Drawing Torch has already been nominated for Best Edu Mobile app in the Edublog Awards . Way to go @NightZookeeper!
LinguaMedia app – updated
Linguamedia is an app that allows you to watch foreign TV stations online. Originally launched earlier this year with French channels, Linguascope announced today that their Linguamedia app has been updated so you can now watch German, Spanish, Italian and English channels as well as French ones. They've also improved video playback, and updated it for the iPhone5 screen.
The app costs 69p and offers 16 French, 6 German, 12 Italian, 12 Spanish and 5 English channels (NB the channels are in that language not necessarily from that country so there is an Austrian and a Swiss channel for German) It is possible to access TV online e.g. by searching "RTVE" you can watch the stream of RTVE1, RTVE2, Telesport and Canal 24H, but for convenience, this app is great. You need a wifi connection to view the stations, and as Linguascope warn
I've mentioned Linguatrivia Spanish and Newshound previously but there are many other apps from Linguascope available. Worth a look!


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Q: Item ID doesn't match the list item number I have a SharePoint list for which I need to open with a custom Edit Form using the item ID, but I notice that the item number doesn't match the ID. For example:when I access the list using REST:
_api/lists/getbytitle('Situation')/items

It lists the list items properties, including the ID (Item 8 in this case):

Notice that in this case the Id number is (8). When I open the list in SharePoint, there is no such item with an ID=8, it stops at 6:

This is becoming an issue when In try to edit the record using:
...Situation/editRecord.aspx?ID='+id

I get an error, because these is no item with ID=8. On the other hand if I just try _api/lists/getbytitle('Situation')/items(8), just to check, it shows the correct item. I've never seen this before. What could be happening here? If more details are  needed, please let me know. thanks.

A: Why not try use filter instead
/web/lists/GetByTitle('Situation')/items?$filter=ID eq 8

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Parents all over the country, tell me that when they register for camp, their intention is for it to be a multiple-year experience. That being said, you likely have a significant number of 2018 not-yet-registered campers who haven't responded to your camper outreaches, emails, calls, texts or social network postings.
Are they a lost cause? No, you just have to be more strategic!
Determine likely 'fixes' to improve your product. Be realistic about what you can really change and be absolutely confident that you can deliver.
Create an intriguing parent communication. Whether it is delivered via snail or email is not so much the issue as the way it is written that positions you as offering a 'noticeably improved product' in 2019. Opening/closing day logistics and during camp parent communication plans are common complaints. There is no need to apologize for the issues of last year, just pledge that you will improve the experience.
Feature and strategically time the communication. Do not combine your revitalized 'commitment to excellence' with other messages. Deliver it as a stand alone at a time when parents will be most receptive like previous to a discount deadline or day 2 after a school vacation.
Be prepared to respond via phone or email. If parents want to know more, be fluent about your game plan. Don't promise perfection or give too many details. Just share enough to convince parents that you can and intend to deliver what you promise.
Your 2018 not-yet-registered families are low-hanging fruit. Take the time to massage the relationships and address their issues.
Email campconsulting@roadrunner.com or call 310-451-1876!


1936 - graduates from the Rigas Valsts Technikums.
August 27, 1936 - joins the Aviation Regiment and begins flight school.
1937-1939 - Member of the 13th graduating class of the Military College.
Graduated from flight school (pilot).
Died: May 31, 1940 in an airplane crash at Spilve. Buried in the Meza Kapi, Riga.


Dr. Monroe explores how churches can better prevent child abuse and respond well in the face of abuse allegations. By understanding common practices of predators, church leaders can develop policies to lower risk. When allegations do arise in the church, leaders can avoid compounding injuries with pastoral responses that care for the congregation and all parties involved. Dr. Monroe explores some of the common mistakes made by church leaders including the failure to recognize false repentance. He concludes by describing a spiritual car Pumpernick'se team approach for ministry to victims, offenders, and their families.
Dr. Monroe is professor of counseling and psychology at Biblical Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, and directs both the Master of Arts in Counseling and the Global Trauma Recovery Institute. He blogs regularly at www.wisecounsel.wordpress.com.


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La chaîne Kumroch (en ) est une chaîne de montagnes située à l'extrémité nord-est de la chaîne Orientale du Kamtchatka, dans l'Est de la Russie.

Longue de , elle est composée de montagnes dont l'altitude moyenne est comprise entre 800 et . Son point culminant est le mont  () ; le mont Skalistaïa () est un sommet notable situé au nord. Le versant occidental de la chaîne est escarpé, le versant oriental a des pentes plus douces. La chaîne est traversée en son milieu par la vallée du fleuve Kamtchatka.

Sur les pentes poussent des forêts clairsemées de bouleaux d'Erman (Betula ermanii), d'aulnes et de pins nains de Sibérie. Les sommets sont recouverts par la toundra.

Notes et références

Massif de montagnes en Russie
Kraï du Kamtchatka

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Review: 19th Century Ghostbusters
Imagine an alternate universe where some of the world's greatest literary voices are somehow now involved in the paranormal. This universe comes to life in Emily Dickinson: Paranormal Investigator. Written by Todd Brian Backus, this is a new level of geek theater. Combing an array of styles and inspiration, Emily Dickinson: Paranormal Investigator is a specific world that is a bit messy to the audience. Dramaturgically, there is a giant binder filled with questions and rules that are necessary to define the world that Backus has crafted. Unfortunately, the rules within the play seem to make the most sense to Backus and director Ben Ferber. Aside from the question of linking these literary greats to the paranormal, there seemed to be major plot points missing from this already jam packed sixty minute action-adventure. There just seemed to be so much going on that it's not a surprise if you get easily confused. Moving forward, clarity will be key to this piece. While some of the language that Backus used was slightly shifting, he maintained a consistent Steampunk-like period through costumes, nicely designed by Emily White, and themes. However there was one drastic misdirection when it came to Henry David Thoreau. Backus and Ferber extended time by turning Thoreau into a sideways cap wearing frat boy, equipped with red solo cups. Because this moment was so jarring, it called into question the rest of the world. It was certainly funny, it was just out of place.
photo by Todd Brian Backus
While Emily Dickinson may have been the titular character, the real star was Marina Shay as Helen Hunt Jackson. Shay has an impeccable approach to comedy. She was engaging narrator and wonderful companion. Of the only characters with infamous connection to spirits are the Fox Sisters, the masterminds between all of the paranormal experiences in the play. How Backus and Briana Sakamoto crafted the character was possibly the happiest marriage of the genres. Sakamoto's small stature turning into the biggest badass on stage was some of the strongest sources of comedy. Taking on the sinister Walt Whitman, Leigh Poulos had fun taking on the evil genius. Likely due to the way they were written, Heather Harvy as Emily Dickinson and Daniel Morgan Shelley as Edgar Allan Poe were quite reserved in their performance. With three actors with high energy, the opposite end of the spectrum didn't stand out.
Director Ben Ferber tried to a lot with this multi-locational play. With every scene being in a new location, Ferber employed a scenic shift after each scene. And the transitions were anything but clean. And it's never a pretty sight to watch an uncosutmed scene change occur under dialogue. Paring down the movement would have been in Ferber's favor. Jeff Sherwood had an intricate sound design that was used for the action sequences. And it was a nice element.
Emily Dickinson: Paranormal Investigator is a clever idea that needs to be fleshed out. Who knows if the restrictions of the festival were to blame, but there are a number of kinks to be worked out before the next step.
Posted by Michael Block at 3:22 PM
Labels: Emily Dickinson: Paranormal Investigator, Frigid Festival, Frigid Festival 2016, Review
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Review: A Clown Walks Into a Bar
Everyone loves a little classic noir story. But when you put a new twist on a classic genre, you know you're in for a fun night. In the high...
Review: Blurred Vision
By Michael Block Through a blurry neon haze of the 80s comes a gritty drama that has taken over a decade to make its New York debut. Writt...
Review: Who is Bradley Cole!
It was inevitable. Social media has made its way into musical theater as a leading character. In Bradley Cole , all the highs and lows of th...
Review: A Musical Revue From Hell
What if you have a really cool idea but it just gets executed so badly? You get Hell's Belles , a new musical revue from book and lyricist B...
Review: Going Out With a Bang
How would you spend your final moments on this earth if you knew you were about to depart this life? In Carl Holder's An Intimate Eveni...
Review: Finding Yourself Underneath the Northern Lights
By Ed Malin Renowned playwright Israel Horovitz has a new play at LaMaMa. Barefoot Theatre Company and Compagnia Horovitz-Paciotto presen...
What's the Best of 2011?
It's been an exciting year in theater all over NYC! Did you have a show that moved you tears? A show that brought you excitement that yo...
Review: Launch The Comedy Rocket!
By Michael Block Remember the Sony hack a few years ago? You know the one. When "The Interview," the satirical stoner comedy about Kim Jon...
Review: Another Love Triangle
By Michael Block Lust and love are age old ideas that seemingly get intertwined and often are a source of misguided tension and heartbrea...
Review: Musical Advisory Alert
By Michael Block In the current landscape of musical theater, the need to stand out is becoming more prevalent. Setting yourself out from ...
The TITN Team


Banks pitch payday loans as short-term borrowing that allows their customers to deal with a financial emergency, repay the loan, and move on. In fact, CRL's research shows that their triple-digit interest rate loans trap borrowers in a long-term cycle of repeat loans.
Consumer Action joins other advocates in urging regulators to stop banks from offering pay day loans. Research has long shown that payday loans trap borrowers in a cycle of expensive long-term debt, causing serious financial harm to borrowers, including increased likelihood of bankruptcy, paying credit card debts and other bills late, delayed medical care, and loss of basic banking privileges because of repeated overdrafts.
Payday lending has a particularly adverse impact on African Americans and Latinos, as a disproportionate share of payday borrowers come from communities of color. High cost, short-term balloon repayments, and the consequent series of repeat loans, have long been identified by regulators as features of predatory lending.
For more information, please visit the CRL website.


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Home / Entertainment / BBA: Wait till the Girls Come
BBA: Wait till the Girls Come
Posted on September 10, 2009 by The Independent in Entertainment
AFRICA'S premier reality show, Mnet's Big Brother Africa (BBA), in its fourth season running and titled "Big Brother Revolution" roared into life last Sunday evening.
Set in the hulking metropolis of Johannesburg, South Africa, Big Brother is a show where people live together, isolated from the outside world in a "fish bowl" — the Big Brother house — where their activities, comings and goings are under surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The search for housemates was expanded from last year's 12 countries to now include 14 countries. The participating countries are: Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Journalists from the respective housemates' countries including Zimbabwe got acquainted with the newly built house and with the sensation of having one's every move firmly under the glare of Big Brother.
The journalists — or media mates as Big Brother called us —were subjected to the tasks and activities that the housemates would be given in a typical day.
At the end of the 24 hours (which to me seemed more like 72 hours), there was a shared respect and appreciation by the journalists for the psychological stamina and mettle of housemates who resolve to stay in the house for 91 days. Â
DStv Africa Communications manager Sandhya Singh also brought to the attention of journalists the fact that the housemates have to instantaneously form alliances with people they did not know previously in order to survive in the house, which requires great interpersonal skills to pull off.
Whilst it had become apparent to BBA fans that this year's edition was the biggest as yet — with a cash prize of US$200 000 on offer — they could not have anticipated the sweeping changes in store such as the anything-goes policy which gives the housemates room to conspire as much as they like, and the fact that viewers will vote to keep their favourite housemate in the game, whereas they previously voted for the contestant they wanted evicted.
Apart from the introduction of a new presenter, Nigerian Studio 53 host IK Osakioduwa, and a pair of identical twins — Namibians Edward and Erastus who unbeknown to the rest of the housemates, will swap places in the house — viewers also have to grapple with the fact that the current housemates are all male, although female housemates will enter the house next week.
Zimbabwe's representative, 31-year-old Itai Makumbe — the first housemate to enter the house — cut an uneasy and unassuming figure at the launch, which worried many Zimbabwean BBA "commentators". Many however many anticipate that he would rise to the challenge and prove his critics wrong. Â
Describing himself as "friendly, funny, calm, sensitive and sometimes moody", he has been criticised for being too laid back to have what it takes to bring the prize home.
Commenting on the demeanor of the Master's Degree student in Peace and Governance Wilfred Masunda, an avid BBA viewer noted that Itai has to stand out in a house full of hunks and attention seekers.
"He cannot afford to be complacent because Zimbabwe is yet to win anything at BBA. We want him to come out of his shell and prove his worth."
Opinionated, assertive and forceful, most of the housemates have made their views known that they would stop at nothing to get the prize. South Africa's Quinn –– the first Caucasian in the BBA –– who has charmed audiences with his charisma and proficiency in the Zulu language along with Kenya's Jeremy who had the ladies screaming after giving viewers a sneak peak of his six-pack are sure to give Itai a run for his money.
 Whilst no one can predict what Big Brother has in store for the housemates, one thing is for certain: the arrival of the ladies will spice things up!
Big Brother Revolution will be broadcast live on DStv Channel 198 or 199 for 91 days. The daily show, live nominations and eviction shows will be broadcast on Mnet (DStv channel 101/102) while Africa Magic (DStv channel 107) will re-screen these shows. Viewers can also stay up-to-date with the latest news and intrigue from Africa's hottest reality show by logging on to www.mnetafrica.com/bigbrother.
Meanwhile auditions for the Mnet Face of Africa will also be held tomorrow at the MultiChoice offices at Pasangano Building, 20 King George Road, Harare from 9am to 4pm.
"Zimbabwean audiences love the Face of Africa story," MultiChoice PR and publicity manager Liz Dziva said.
They want to see it all, the continental search, the transformations, the successes, the ultimate triumph. So Mnet has invested in a longer series, to let the Face of Africa story be told in its entirety, to let our audiences join the search and live the process".
Entry is open to any woman, who is a citizen of a sub-Saharan country and is between the ages of 17 and 24. The minimum height requirement is 1,72m, the maximum hip measurement is 96cm and entrants should not have an existing modeling contract.
Ngoni Muzofa
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