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ADRIAN JOFFE – Paris-LA
Conversations, Design
ADRIAN JOFFE
INDEPENDENT LINES—
Adrian Joffe in conversation with Dorothée Perret.
Even among the few truly original creative designers in the pantheon of fashion, Rei Kawakubo stands out as sui generis—something the world came to see in the 2017 exhibition Rei Kawakubo / Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Some weeks after the closing of the show, I had the chance to sit down in Los Angeles with Adrian Joffe, the designer's husband and business partner. Kawakubo and Joffe were in town to supervise their newest endeavor, the opening of Dover Street Market L.A.
Comme des Garçons—the company Kawakubo founded in 1969 in Tokyo—includes the designers Junya Watanabe and Kei Ninomiya (Noir), and the lines Play and Black. Joffe, who's official title is CEO, runs the international side of the business: Comme des Garçons Shirt, the various fragrance lines, Gosha Rubchinskiy's streetwear label, and the expanding Dover Street projects and collaborations.
As a regular presence on the Parisian fashion calendar, how has someone as empowered, free-spirited, and imaginative as Madame Rei Kawakubo been able to deliver surprisingly new and utterly unorthodox collections for thirty-seven consecutive years? Joffe—whose degree in Japanese studies from London University and practice of Zen while living in Japan after graduating for four years, has given him something far more valuable than a business degree—answers this question and shares his thoughts on growing the company into an international corporation and a cultural phenomenon ahead of its time.
How is life post-Met?
Post-Met has been good, I guess. A bit of an anticlimax, because I was there at the beginning which was incredible, and then I went at the end to close it. But it was very good.
Yes, it was a big success! In the conversation with the curator Andrew Bolton that was featured in the catalogue, Rei is very clear about the lines she drew with the exhibition, and the ones she left to the museum's curation.
Exactly. We said to the Met, her work has to be in her space. So we made a nice compromise. Rei designed the space and we left it to Andrew to do the curation and the catalogue.
Did you have all the archives?
We had everything from after 1989. Andrew wanted a few of the older things, and she didn't want the older ones. For her, it was like a different person who did it.
She started showing in Paris in '82.
And for the first seven years we didn't have the money to keep the archives. We gave it all to the Kyoto Costume Institute (KCI). Andrew had to ask them if they would give him some of the older ones. We needed the "holes" sweater [Autumn/Winter 1982-83].
Yeah, it's an iconic piece!
So pre–1989 there were about ten pieces from KCI then and all the others since '89 were us, because we kept everything.
Are all your archives gathered in Tokyo?
Totally Tokyo.
Did you find a space for the store in L.A.?
Yeah, we've got a space. It's in the Arts District, on Imperial Street. It's on the edge, a bit near where they're building a kind of High Line thing [the 6th Street Bridge project]. The new space will be 20,000 square feet. It's an old bowstring-truss building and two neighboring 1950s warehouse buildings that we are connecting.
That's good news. It's going to be Comme des Garçons?
No, we decided in the end on Dover Street Market. Rei is so incredibly busy so she can leave DSM to me and my amazing team a little..
Rei is an amazing designer, as the [Met] show has shown. A lot of people interested in fashion have always known she's a one-of-a-kind designer.
For over a century, we haven't had many designers like her. And it's remarkable, I think, that she's a woman. But I was interested in a side of her creativity other than her inventiveness with clothing and retail design: the business. The commerce. Clicking and making it happen.
Basically it's the same thing. Rei "designs" the company, so that means the clothing, the shops, the graphics, and the business side as well.. how to do business creatively. It's all her one eye.
How did you click?
For Comme des Garçons?
For Comme des Garçons, and being in a creative business like that. I imagine it's creative, no? Being next to Rei? [laughs]
Oh, god, she taught me so much. Basically I just try my best to manage the business in a creative way, ie come up with retail concepts, commercial strategies, ways of doing business that are unique, break the rules and adhere to the values of the company.
You married in 1992?
Yes. We met the year before. Comme des Garçons was well known, but the business side was not so well known outside Japan. At the time [sales] were 80% Japanese, and 20% outside Japan.
Mostly Europe?
Yeah, it was like 10% Europe, 10% America. Mostly Italy and America at the time. But very small. It took a long time; it wasn't overnight. We had the Paris store and the Paris company. And when I came on board, Paris had to ask for money from Tokyo every month to pay the rent. [Paris] was very dependent. I had left for a bit—a couple of years, a year and a half—and when I came back, one of the reasons for coming back was to make Paris independent, and all international business financially independent of Tokyo. That was my aim, so I said, "We need to do a perfume, we need to do some production outside Japan." We needed new ideas to do new kinds of shops.
I was wondering if you had any experience with production, and commerce of fashion?
I had worked a little bit with my sister, who was a knitwear designer. I also had a little experience in production. I did everything for my sister. We had three people: she made the sweaters, I produced them and…
So you already knew how an idea went from—
It was a tiny thing, but I knew the basics—how to pay for production, the little things. It's self-taught, because my education was not fashion. I think everyone knows what I did: I was a linguist—boring story—and I also came from academia. So I learnt business as I went along really.
This is really where you created your own art—
Not sure you can call it that really. It took time. But Rei always said that it had to be done in a creative way. She didn't want business for business sake, she didn't want to make things just to make money. She wanted a successful business based on creation.
That's the interesting thing to translate and witness: how do you stay creative in business? Because business is business—
And you can see right now, how business is—
Really business. [laughs]
Really difficult—
I think it's priorities, you know? You see how important the bottom line really is. For her it was never the most important thing. What was very important was there was no point in creation if she couldn't pay for it. It's just about finding the fine balance between business and creation.
That was her independence?
Yes. It was vital. She didn't want a typical CEO. There's still no, like, CFO, or anyone like this, because they would say, "You've got to make profits." For her, it was enough if she could do the next one. One by one. Make enough, sell enough to do the next one. To do whatever she wanted without knowing what people wanted her to do.
But at the same time, it's not that she wants to impose a vision.
It's not a corporate way of imposing. Although you have managed to build a group, no?
Comme des Garçons is a group now. I always forget how big it is. [laughs]
[Your example is an inspiration] for young designers to look to Comme des Garçons for—
Independence. Creative design. There are other people who stay independent, but they keep doing the same thing.
Or they very quickly have to—
Make compromises—
Or sell out to a big group.
I also think it's the age we live in. Everybody's in a hurry.
Have you changed the periodicity of production over time? Have you resisted the infernal cadence? You do two shows a year with Comme des Garçons, with the women's line—
And two of the men's.
And that's it. That's how you've been keeping it?
Yeah. And often Rei will say she's in trouble, she can't think of the next idea. She goes through torture every time. And often I'll say to her, "Maybe we can do it later, give you more time" But she says, "No, I've got to do it when everyone's in Paris." She never wants to put people out, she never wants to disturb people. She's completely different that way from everyone else I know. She needs the restraints in order to create. Wanting to do what she wants is not a selfish thing. And also, it keeps her—
In the frame.
The framework. One needs the framework.
Yeah, I can understand that. It's also that she respects the tradition [of the French fashion calendar].
Very much so.
Right? It's not that she goes against it. I'm sure she likes this. It's like a solennel moment, no?
That's what it is.
Because, historically, that's where Paris is a great place.
Exactly. If she's going to do a perfume, it's going to be in France, it's going to be the real thing. She has always loved and respected authenticity and tradition. That's why she wanted Place Vendôme. People often find that contradictory. She always wants to do something new, and yet really respects tradition.
That's the beauty of it. To me, that's her strength.
She really—
Followed the tradition. She hated to be a week late. She doesn't just do what she wants.
Although she's managed to create new paths, new possibilities. She really is a true modernist!
Yes I believe so. Modernist punk. She's like a punk—doesn't listen to anybody. She has no preconceived ideas. She doesn't like the establishment, she hates people telling her what to do.
I'd also to talk about that concept of mu [emptiness] and ma [space] that Andrew developed as a concept of curation. It feels like Rei resisted this idea.
It's not connected in that Japanese, Buddhist way. Rei is interested in Japanese history, but feels her work is not consciously connected to the fact she is Japanese.. It's not about "Emptiness and void"— but perhaps it's the way she works, in that she starts from zero each time. Rei accepted [Andrew's idea] as a kind of notion, as a kind of explanation for the public, since it was necessary to have a title for the exhibition, but she said that it's not a conscious thing for her. The Art-of the in-between was a brilliant insight into the exhibition created by Andrew.
I understand—it's an abstraction!
An abstraction. That's very good. The abstraction is the strength. And the personal. Everything she does is quintessentially her.. I've always thought so. And because of the total thing we do, like when you said you have to be creative within a retail concept—
Let's go back to that conversation. How are you creative with retail?
We like to make shops that are new and exciting, that don't follow existing formulas. The 37 guerrilla stores we did, all the Dover Street Markets, the CDG Pocket shops etc, all aim to provide a stimulating retail experience and survive at the same time.
I remember. I think you had one in Berlin?
We did four guerrilla stores in Berlin (including the very first one) in four different locations since the number one rule was to do it each time for one year only in any given location.. Like real guerillas in the jungle, when they get too known, and have to move their position? We did them in exotic locations like Reykjavik, Ljubliana and Krakow, or if they were in fashion cities like Hong Kong or Singapore, then we did them in exotic locations within those cities.
That was in the early 2000s?
The first guerilla store was February, 2004. That's when we opened Dover Street, at the end of that same year. Everyone thought Dover Street was a guerilla store, so it was hard to do the two.
It's two different concepts.
Dover Street was always going to be permanent, as permanent as anything can be.
And you started in London, the first Dover Street?
Yes, in London.
What about here in L.A.?
It's not always the same. Every city, you know which one you're in, because they're completely different. But the idea is the same—mixing it all up, the cheap and the expensive, the men's and the women's, creating a community of people with vision, something to say. We like to share our space.
What do you mean, "sharing your space"?
We like the idea of the synergy and the accidents that happens when creative people come together under one roof. So the original idea of DSM was to take some space for us, for CDG, create an overall environment and then give the rest of the space to all kinds of other people, for them to do what they wanted with. For some of the young designers we have, it's good exposure and for the well known luxury brands we have, it's a chance for them to do something different to what they usually do.
Yeah, it's a good window.
They get the space, that window. For some, we buy their collections, we pay for them in advance.
So you buy their clothes, you don't take them on consignment. I know some people who have built empires like that. [laughs]
We're very different.
It's good because it's a real support that helps to finance, at that level—
It's a partnership. That's why if we do more Dover Streets, we can grow with them. Simone Rocha is even opening her own shop in New York now, which is great. There's quite a few of them. Molly Goddard is amazing. So we try to nurture them in a way, and leave them free at the same time.
It's a conversation.
Yeah, exactly, and this is a nicer. And it works both ways. One way streets lead nowhere. We need them as much as they need us..
Would you say the activity of doing shops, and the way you're doing it, is also a way to gather people into a real physical space, as opposed to digital retailing where the experience is only shared through the screen?
Absolutely. It's really sad and somewhat annoying to read that the future of retail is online. Don't get me wrong, our E shops are doing incredibly well and becoming a very important part of the business, but we like them to stay ultimately a kind of service, for people not near a DSM, or need a reorder. DSM is a family and a family that doesn't meet and touch and talk and exchange is not a family that can grow and evolve in a healthy way.
As someone with a formal background, is literature important in your everyday life? Who are the voices, authors, titles that have accompanied you?
Literature is crucial of course. There is no life without words.. I like reading about people's lives, history, and also poetry. People definitely need to read more of the masters..
My last question is on the meaning of "Comme des Garçons." In French it means "like boys," but in the exhibition catalogue it was translated as "like some boys." Did it come from the lyrics in the Françoise Hardy song "Tous les garçons et les filles"? What did Rei really mean when she came up with this name for the company in 1969?
No meaning whatsoever. It just sounded good.
This conversation was originally published in PARIS LA 16, the "Fashion and Writing" issue (2018–2019).
Text © PARIS LA.
Portrait of Adrian Joffe by Katerina Jebb. Image © Katerina Jebb, courtesy of the artist.
Adrian Joffe, Comme des Garçons, Dorothée Perret, Rei Kawakubo
RICK OWENS — MONUMENTAL FASHION
I went to art school to be a painter, but was too intimidated by having to live
Art, Conversations
BARBARA KRUGER — PICTURES GENERATION(S)
The exchange of energy between the art of Barbara Kruger and its audience comes in blasts of text
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE — FRANCES STARK AND A. L. STEINER IN CONVERSATION
Frances Stark is a writer, a professor, a mentor, a mother, a motorcycle land-speed record-holder—a true Angeleno


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Kai Rui (code 661186) became the first batch of listed companies in Qianhai Equity Exchange Center
(CPS China Security News) On May 30, the Wuzhou Hall of Shenzhen Wuzhou Hotel was full, and the highly anticipated Shenzhen Qianhai Equity Exchange Center was held here. Shenzhen Mayor Xu Qin, Song Liping, General Manager of Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and Hu Jizhi, Chairman of Qianhai Equity Exchange Center attended the ceremony. A total of 1,200 companies listed on the day to achieve the show, greatly exceeded the expectations of all parties, but also completed in early this year, the center of this year's "300 listed first, 500 to fight for the year" goal. Zhongshan Kairui Electronics Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Kai Rui Electronics"), as the leading enterprise in Zhongshan Electronics Industry, became the first listed listed company with the code of 661186.
At the opening ceremony, Shenzhen Mayor Xu Qin said that Qianhai Equity Exchange Center will create an all-round innovative SME financing platform, which is a major innovation in the financial services real economy, and effectively alleviate the financing difficulties of SMEs in Shenzhen and even the whole country. Low will play a positive role.
Shenzhen Mayor Xu Qin delivered an important speech at the opening ceremony of Qianhai Equity Exchange Center
Song Liping, general manager of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, pointed out that if the early stage of the company's listing, mature investors will restrict them and guide enterprises to improve their accounting base and governance. There is a certain threshold in the exchange market. Only companies that reach a certain scale can be listed on the exchange. There are currently more than 2,500 listed companies in the two exchanges in Shenzhen and Shanghai, even if there are more than 5,000 listed companies in mature markets, this is a huge China. For the SME group, it is obviously not enough. The Qianhai Equity Exchange Center will be a useful supplement to make up for the shortcomings of the exchange.
For the company Kairui Electronics, this is definitely a very good opportunity. As the first batch of listed companies, Kai Rui Electronics has developed rapidly since its establishment. In recent years, it has been in a period of rapid development. Through many years of market operation and development, Kai Rui has accumulated a good reputation in the industry. The popularity of the company has also started in the industry. The rapid and stable development of Kairui Electronics is an important reason for its first listing in the Qianhai Equity Exchange Center.
PrevOpening of the Qianhai Equity Exchange Center Our company is one of the first listed companies
NextThe 114th Canton Fair site in 2013

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
import express from 'express'
import React from 'react'
import { renderToString } from 'react-dom/server'
import { createStore } from 'redux'
import { Provider } from 'react-redux'

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import webpackConfig from '../config/webpack.config.dev.js'
import webpackDevMiddleware from 'webpack-dev-middleware'
import webpackHotMiddleware from 'webpack-hot-middleware'

import App from '../src/containers/App'
import todoApp from '../src/reducers'

const app = express()
app.listen(5000, function() {
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})

const compiler = webpack(webpackConfig)
app.use(webpackDevMiddleware(compiler, { noInfo: true, publicPath: webpackConfig.output.publicPath }))
app.use(webpackHotMiddleware(compiler))

app.use(handleRender)

function handleRender(req, res) {
    const store = createStore(todoApp)

    const html = renderToString(
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            <App />
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    const state = store.getState()

    res.send(renderFullPage(html, state))
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    return `
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        <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
        <title>React Demo</title>

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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Twitter Landscape – An Indepth View of the Twitter Ecosystem
Okay. I'm still raiding Michael Gray's laptop while he's on stage speaking. Let's hope this goes okay. And it's time to talk about Twitter. Again! Because we haven't done that in a whole five minutes. Twitter is the new Google, you know? I'm going to name my first born Twitter. Eh, maybe my dog.
Joe Laratro is moderating speakers Chris Winfield, Michael Gray, and Ricardo Guerrero.
Joe says he hopes PubCon isn't renamed TwitterCon in November. There are like five sessions on Twitter over the next two days. Hee, we have a problem.
Chris Winfield is up first. He says the best way to learn about Twitter is to use Twitter to do his presentation. So that's what he did.
He started at 2:31pm on Friday. He asked four questions. The final question was asked at 3:08pm. He got 165 responses in ~1hour because people were slackers and took awhile to respond. Heh. He uses Twitter to create his presentation and they're the slackers. ;) Nice, Chris.
The questions he asked Twitter:
How does Twitter help you work on a daily basis?
People can't imagine not using Twitter to help them with their job. People really get into it. They're using Twitter as an RSS feed. People use it ask questions to people and to get immediate feedback and insight. People use it to grow their network and channel of distribution. Use it to connect with people, brands, etc. You can eavesdrop on other people's conversations and learn stuff.
What is the best thing that's happened to you professionally because of Twitter?
It gives constant inspiration. It's helped people get speaking opportunities. People have found jobs, gotten interviews. It's building their personal brands. People can rely less on Google. New business, new clients, media coverage, etc. Formed new professional relationships.
How can you use Twitter to increase traffic and ultimately get more business?
Understand how it ties into your overall objectives. You can't just jump into it because you think you should be there.
Don't start following random people and trying to sell to them. It's spammy and it won't help you. Twitter is a communication tool. Engage and be friendly. Use Twitter to track what your customers are talking about.
Don't just grab something and think that's the only way people can market on Twitter. You have to find what's going to work for you. Use it to bring attention to others. It's not a push tool.
Spend time monitoring and listening. Find the thought leaders in your niche. Use the hell out of search.twitter.com. There's so much great stuff in there. [I <3 Twitter Search]
Be helpful and insightful, but still yourself.
What's your favorite part about the community here?
The willingness to share information, links, kidneys, etc. It helps people become part of the SEO community. It's become the office water cooler.
The community cares when you care about the community. Aw. hugz!
Next up is Ricardo.
He formed a company called Stwittergy and that means creating a Twitter strategy. And it's really, really hard to spell.
What is Twitter?
An addictive waste of time?
A hot Web 2.0 Social Media app
It's like the Facebook's status update
A new communication tool
Twitter is what happens between blog posts and emails. It's what people choose to share about their lives. It's one of the most intimate forms of social media. It's a huge international cocktail party. It's a platform for connecting and building relationships.
Twitter is not a fad. it's like the early days of the Internet. It's like a cocktail party.
How might you market your company at a cocktail party?
Dress up nicely. Find a small group of people you might fit in with and approach them. Listen. And when it's appropriate, add something. Then, when the group breaks up, hand them a business card. Don't walk in and yell, "WHO WANTS WIDGETS?"
Twitter's the same way.
You can find brands on Twitter using Twitterholic or the Social Brand Index.
Twitter gives you a social 6th sense. You can say you're having a burger. It may not be interesting to the world, but it's interesting to your wife who thought you were a vegetarian. Hee. It gives people context to your life.
He only follows 100 people, but he responds to everyone who tweets him. How does he track them all? Well, he's going to tell us!
Dell & Twitter
Dell started its first twitter account in March 2007. It took the headlines of Dell's blog and tweeted the headlines. Not all that exciting.
Dell's "ringmaster" account follows ALL other Dell Twitter accounts in all languages. It could be useful to point attention to other Dell Twitter accounts or to post things that are not worthy of the blog itself.
He helped to start the Dell Outlet which offers offers/news from Dell. It launched in 2007. A year later, it's made $500k in sales with 1,000 followers. 1.5 years later, there's been $1M in sales, 2,500 followers. Yesterday they passed 150k+ followers.
When they first launched it, they were told they were doing it wrong. Maybe they are, you don't have to follow them. But they're adding value for some.
Challenges of Multiple Corp Accounts
How does Dell expose all its Twitter accounts?
Cross-linking strategy: Dell Twitter accounts only follow other Dell accounts plus the employee responsible for the account the person is viewing. [Get that?] They do that so visitors can see the other accounts they might want to follow.
People behind the account: Follow the face. There's a bunch of Dell icons n the Following area of the page, but only 1 picture of a person.
Tools for listening
TweetLater
TweetBeep
Twilerts
Monitter.com
He uses search.twitter on his phone. What should you search for?
If your company name is unique, search it. If it's not, you may need to search for more than one word.
RSS feed to twitter separate account
You can view an RSS feed of the search result. Run RSS feed through Twitterfeed, TweetBots or HootSuite to post to a separate account of yours.
Separate account to phone via TXT
Set up device to text you separate account tweets.
Twitter Tools:
For easy switching between accounts: TwitterFox or Twhirl
For monitoring @ replies: Twirl or Tweetdeck
For viewing hashtag conversations: TweetChat
Using Twitter/Considerations:
Don't follow everyone back. Tweet regularly, but not too often. It's life in a fishbowl. Once it's out there, it's public and not delete-able.
Types of Tweets:
DM: hidden message
@ reply: visible on your Twitter page
Tweets: Regular messages
ReTweet: makin' it viral and spreading other people's tweets.
Don't be all about yourself, overwhelm people, be a spammer or answer "what are you doing now". It's not a literal question. Hee.
Next up is Michael Gray. His laptop says it doesn't miss him and that I get to keep it. yey!
There is no wrong way to use Twitter. The only way to use it is the way that helps you meet your end goals.
Twitter is flexible. He uses it for asking questions, answers, customer service, traffic, building links, social media & bookmarketing,etc.
Mine the backlinks of your competition
Mine Twitter search for mentions of related keywords
Monitor related hashtags.
Ask questions and answers questions
Answer DMs and @ messages. Shows there's a person there.
Yes. He shows a client hat started in July. They took them over with 300 followers. Currently they're over 9,000 followers. They'll hit 10,000 by the end of the month. That's incredible growth.
Most of the tweets are not self-interested. They're links about other people or other things. You want your account to be the most interesting. Retweet other people's stories and news. Ask questions about current events. It shows there's a person there. Engage in debates. Don't be a robot.
How and When to Bring Out the Big Guns?
Seek out the people who retweet with you. Add them. They should know who you are.
Make sure the link you tweet out is helpful to THEM not just YOU.
Retweet your link 1-3 times per day. Do it during prime tweet time — aka work hours
Ask for retweets
Track and monitor the traffic coming in.
What you can get away with on Twitter is directly proportional to how big you are.
Remember its social, not search.
He shows a bunch of commercial accounts like Woot, Etsy, Starbucks, Dell Outlet, Threadless, etc.
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Thanks to the generous folks over at First Aid Beauty, you can snag this great new freebie. Gran your sample of their new line of moisturizing cream. The sample can be easily requested on Facebook. Visit them using the link below and then hit the sign button. After that just fill out the form with your mailing information. Simple as that. This sample will most likely take 6 to 8 weeks to arrive at your door. This offer will last as long as the company's supplies do.
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Get ready for a treat as Walt Disney World celebrates Fourth of July with a unique choice of fireworks shows at several different theme parks. To celebrate Independence Day, the Magic Kingdom will have special pyrotechnics and Epcot will add a patriotic "tag" to its famous "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" spectacular.
Parks fill to capacity early on July 4th. The Mouse For Less recommends arriving at your preferred park early and staying throughout the day. While the Walt Disney World Resort guarantees onsite guests will have park entry, it does not guarantee entry into a specific park, even if you have dining reservations. To make a long day more comfortable, pack any items you may need throughout the day and stow them in one of the theme park lockers at the front of the parks.
Information below is for 2018, however, most of this information will remain valid for 2019. Page will be updated fully for 2019 when details are released.
America's birthday is celebrated on two days, as Guests will be able to enjoy Fourth of July festivities on both July 3 and July 4. Celebrate Independence Day with the spectacular "Disney's Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky." The 14-minute fireworks spectacular rockets into the sky above Cinderella Castle at 9:00 p.m. on both nights. The firework show is set to an exciting musical score specifically created to stir a sense of pride in being American, while at the same time, inviting guests from around the world to feel part of the celebration.
Looking for other ways to celebrate Independence Day at the Magic Kingdom? Honor the country's highest office by stopping at the infamous Liberty Square sow, Hall of Presidents. The Hall of Presidents includes all 45 U.S. Presidents and traces the history of the prestigious office.
You also won't want to miss the Flag Retreat which takes place at 5:00 p.m. each day on Main Street U.S.A. where Guests can pledge allegiance and hear patriotic songs as the flag is lowered. A veteran is selected for the honor and Guests looking to be a part of the show should check with City Hall to see if availability is open.
Guests should also catch The Muppets Present…Great Moments in History. During this show, Miss Piggy, Kermit, Fozzie Bear and friends reenact famous moments in American history in a whimsical way. The live show is performed daily in Liberty Square.
Park Hours July 3, 2018 – 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Extra Magic Hours: 12:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
'Concert in the Sky' Fireworks – 9:15 p.m.
Park hours on July 4 – 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
The Magic Kingdom is the most popular of Disney's 3 theme parks from which to see fireworks. The park almost always closes due to capacity during some portion of the day. If you can't bear the thought of huge crowds, we have an alternate plan to experience the Magic Kingdom's holiday fireworks. See the Magic Kingdom's special Independence Day fireworks on July 3rd when they are also shown. Plus, you'll be able to see a second nighttime spectacular at Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios, or Disney's Animal Kingdom on the 4th.
The 4th of July fireworks in the Magic Kingdom are spectacular and are shot over Cinderella Castle, as well as all around the park perimeter. The best view is anywhere along Main Street U.S.A., as long as you don't go beyond the Partners statue (Walt & Mickey) in the hub. Or, grab a spot on the train station platform, and you might be lucky enough to get a seat for the show; you'll have to stakeout your spot hours in advance, though. And, to view the fireworks over all 3 castles, view the fireworks from new Fantasyland.
Those wishing to view Magic Kingdom's special fireworks from outside the parks can do so from the observation deck on the 4th floor of the Contemporary Resort, from Transportation and Ticket Center along the walkway to Ferry loading area (breathtaking free views with piped in music), as well as restaurants such as California Grill, 'Ohana or Narcoossee's, or for a large group, a Magic Kingdom fireworks cruise. You can also catch the show at one of the beaches at Disney's Polynesian and the Grand Floridian Resort though sometimes these areas are closed to only resort Guests.
If you are planning to watch the Magic Kingdom's 4th of July fireworks from one of the resorts, you will need to use Disney transportation to arrive, as the parking lots at these resorts are usually closed to all but resort guests and those with dining reservations on the 4th.
Other non-traditional patriotic offerings that guests can enjoy in the Magic Kingdom include a taste of traditional New England-inspired foods at Liberty Tree Tavern, a restaurant situated in a colonial-style inn that serves lunch and dinner daily.
The Stars and Stripes and the Liberty Bell are the most cherished symbols of freedom in The United States of America. The Liberty Bell replica that anchors Liberty Square was cast for Walt Disney World in Annecy-le Vieux, France by the Paccard Fonderie, using the exact same mold as the original Liberty Bell. The Liberty Square bell stands eight feet tall, weighs two and a half tons, and is comprised of copper, tin, lead, zinc, arsenic, gold and silver. It was hoisted into its present location by a crane, just in time for the 1989 Independence Day Celebration. Let Freedom Ring!
There will be Dance Parties in both Frontierland and Tomorrowland on July 3 and July 4.
While not the most patriotic, Disney's Hollywood Studios will be celebrating the 4th of July with the "Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular" fireworks spectacular. The show will take place at a special time on July 4 at 10:00 p.m. The Star Wars-themed fireworks show dazzles with themed fireworks, lasers, special effects and video projections of iconic characters and scenes from the saga, all set to the unforgettable film score.
Park Hours July 4th – 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular – 10:00 p.m.
Fantasmic – Disney's nighttime entertainment extravaganza takes place at 9:00 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.
A new pre-show has been introduced at Disney's Hollywood Studios called Disney Movie Magic. This new pre-show takes place a half hour prior to the fireworks and lasts about 10 minutes.
Based on past attendance, this should be one of the least crowded of the parks.
For the best view of Disney's Hollywood Studios fireworks, find a spot on Hollywood Boulevard facing The Chinese Theater.
Independence Day crowds in the park can be challenging for groups. Bringing as many cellphones as possible is great way to reunited with any members of your party that may have become separated and good tip for all of the parks, especially during overcrowded events.
In addition, an afternoon of live entertainment kicks off at America Gardens Theatre with the Voices of Liberty, an eight-part, a capella Voices of Liberty. who will be performing on Independence Day at the American Gardens Theatre at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Disney Characters dressed in Independence Day attire will meet guests during the day at The American Adventure.
The evening will end with a bang, literally, as Guests enjoy IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth which features dazzling special effects, colorful lasers, brilliant fireworks and fiery torches all choreographed to a musical score, becomes even more dynamic on July 4th. The normal show will be enhanced with "The Heartbeat of Freedom," an overture of traditional Americana themes displayed in a pyrotechnic and laser light event. The performance begins at 9:00 p.m. on July 4.
Daily at Epcot, the American Adventure spotlights American history and heritage. The show is a journey through important moments in America's history narrated by Audio-Animatronic figures of Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain. Guests should also check out the "The Kinsey Collection," in the American Heritage Gallery at the American Adventure Pavilion, which is an exhibit that showcases 400 years of African-American achievement through rare art, documents, books and artifacts.
Park Hours July 4 – 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth – Disney's nighttime fireworks extravaganza takes place at 9:00 p.m.
There are a couple of restaurants with a great view of Illuminations. None will guarantee a window or patio seat, but if you book your reservation at Hacienda de San Angel in Mexico, Spice Road Table in the Morocco Pavilion or Rose and Crown Tavern in the United Kingdom about 2 hours prior to the show, you might be lucky enough to score a prime viewing spot.
The best spots to watch Illuminations in the park, if you're not making restaurant reservations, are between the two gift shops in the entrance plaza of World Showcase. This area is often referred to as "Center Stage" and is a FastPass+ reserved viewing location. Other great viewing spots are on the the bridge between France and the United Kingdom, the Italy Isola (the waterside dock across from the Italy Pavilion) and the area behind Rose & Crown Pub. The latter two are often reserved for private parties and may be unavailable. If there are no open spots around the lake from which to view Illuminations, you might try the elevated platforms at the front of Tokyo Dining in Japan or near the gift shop in Canada to get a better view.
For those who prefer to bypass the crowds in the parks, the Epcot resort area offers a unique view of fireworks from all 3 parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. If you are planning to watch the Epcot's 4th of July display from any of the Epcot Deluxe resorts (Boardwalk Inn, Beach Club, Yacht Club), you will need to use Disney transportation to arrive, as the parking lots at these resorts are usually closed to all but resort guests and those with dining reservations on the 4th.
For a uniquely different way for a group to see Epcot's firework finale, consider booking a private fireworks cruise. Securing one of these cruises is not for the faint of heart, however. Disney doesn't announce when it will begin taking reservations for special event fireworks cruises and availability is extremely limited. We suggest calling Disney's Recreation line (407-WDW-PLAY) as soon as phone lines open (7 a.m EST) each morning, every day beginning six months out for an illuminations boat. Yes, you heard right, every single day!
A special fireworks extravaganza is not held at Disney's Animal Kingdom park on Independence Day. Disney's Animal Kingdom just rolled out a new nighttime spectacular, Rivers of Light that celebrates a connection with nature through light, water and fire. There is also a slew of other nighttime festivities, including dance parties, Kilimanjaro Safaris after Dark, and more that Guests can experience. The park will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Park Hours July 4th – 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Rivers of Light – 9:15 p.m. & 10:15 p.m.
Extra Magic Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
The Fourth of July 5K Run will take place Tuesday, July 3. Pre-registration is available June 24-30 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Fort Wilderness Bike Barn. On-site registration begins at 7:00 a.m. in the field; the run begins from that location at 7:30 a.m.
The Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade begins at 4:00 p.m. on July 4. Registration will be open June 24-30 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Fort Wilderness Bike Barn.
The Fourth of July Beach Bash at Clementine's Beach will take place from 6:00-11:00 p.m. on July 4. Guests will enjoy a live DJ, dancing, games, contests, a movie, and more. In addition, the Fort Wilderness food truck will be available in the settlement area with delicious items for purchase.
Select theme parks and resorts will offer exclusive dessert items in honor of Independence Day.
A Fourth of July cupcake featuring an apple-pie filling at Creature Comforts and Isle of Java at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Patriotic dipped strawberries and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse mini-domes at Amorette's Patisserie at Disney Springs.
The Seven Seas Lagoon glitter with patriotic pride when the Electrical Water Pageant sets sail. The pageant features the American flag and red, white and blue stars set to patriotic tunes, along with favorite sea creatures. Guests can view the water pageant nightly from various resorts surrounding the lagoon.
Times and events listed are subject to change. For the the most recent schedule, consult Walt Disney World's calendar.


American Apparel Inc. (NYSEMKT: APP) stock future outlook?
Since last few weeks American Apparel Inc. (NYSEMKT: APP) is in news and one can see average trading volume is in the range of ~5 million!!
There is a lot going on behind the scene. One can see -20% to +20 fluctuations in stock price just because of some market news. Last week board of APP fired its founder and CEO. There is certainly much going on in this company. Let's see what it means from stock perspective.
In Dec 2007, APP stock was at its peak trading at ~ US $15. Since Jan 2008, it started declining and never got a chance to cross even $5 mark. APP went into loss and to keep running the company company had to take debt. Some long term debts are going to mature very soon and in fact one lender Lion's capital gave a kind of hard notice to repay back. Due to its brand and good will, APP attracted some foreign investors who trusted in APP brand and invested their capital in the company. Personally I think, APP brand is unique and I find APP has a quality as compared to its competitors. I like the designer cloths by APP and most importantly APP supports "no sweat shop". Ethically APP is doing right. What is the point to support the system where workers are exploited whether it is in America or other pat of the world. Just think about it? Just wear the shoe of a worker who even does not get 50 cents a day? Is it ethical?
However many clothing companies which include very large corporations do not think this way. I think they are promoting the system where wealthy individuals exploit cheap labor in Asian countries. Also, one can see the quality of cloths manufactured in those sweat shops. These cloths do not have any quality! these cloths are like use and throw. On one wash, their color fades away, cloths looks too dirty and old that its hard to wear.
But lets focus our attention to future outlook of APP. There had been some mistakes done by APP's ex-CEO in past which lead company into nearly bankruptcy territoriality. However its nothing to worry about it now. We believe that new management will work on to strengthen APP's balance sheet. In last quarter, APP made significant profit with a revenue of aprox. 139 million and sales growth of ~2.5%. We think this trend will keep going forward for APP. APP has significant high beta but need to consider that in the hands of new management there are better chance that APP financial condition will improve.
APP ex-CEO has a very eye for design but he may not be good in terms of finances. But new management will focus on financial management. We think APP stock is a long term bet. There are short term bullish kind of behavior of APP stock but one needs to be patient enough and have faith in APP brand.
Let's know what do you think. Your comments are most welcome!
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Georgian was the recipient of this year's Al Sparling Memorial Bursary for $1,000, presented by AWMAC (Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada) Ontario.
The bursary is given each year to a college woodworking program to promote woodworking, encourage the next generation of woodworkers and in recognition of the college's dedication to woodworking education.
AWMAC Ontario supports a number of colleges and each year the bursary is given to a different college.
The college that hosts the AWMAC Ontario Apprenticeship Contest each year receives the bursary distribution. Georgian hosted the competition last March.
The cheque was accepted by Lynn MacKinlay, lead professor, Cabinetmaking Techniques program.
As part of the presentation, AWMAC talked about opportunities for students to participate in the Student Standards Questionnaire is based on AWMAC's quality standards manual NAAWS.
In addition, students were encouraged to participate in the 2019 apprenticeship contest to be held at Conestoga College on Saturday, March 23.
This is another great opportunity for students to come together, network with other students and show off their woodworking skills. A number of AMWAC members will also attend the event to welcome students.
AWMAC Ontario Vice President and Woodworking Canada publisher Bert Kleiser presents a $1,000 cheque to Georgian professor Lynn MacKinlay.


The changer is a versatile component that can be used on top of the Dresser, Crib or Cradle stand, and attaches safely to all components. Protective sides and a padded mattress offer a safe and comfortable place to change your baby. The height of the Changer encourages eye-contact and you can choose both a sideway or parent facing position depending on the base unit and room setting. The included storage box keeps essentials close at hand and can be attached to any side of the Changer. When your child is older, the Changer transforms into a play table by simply turning the Changer upside-down and placing it onto the cradle stand.
The use of any detergent or microfiber cloth is not recommended.
The Changer Mattress is water repellent and easy to wipe clean. It can be hand washed at 30°C (86 Fahrenheit). Do not tumble-dry. The Changer Mattress Cover can be washed on 60°C (140 Fahrenheit).


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Drinking Buddies
Odie Henderson August 23, 2013
"Drinking Buddies"
Watching "Drinking Buddies" is like being the designated driver for a most uninteresting bunch of drinkers. Part of the fun of being the DD, at least for me, is watching your charges make asses of themselves while influenced by what the Baptists called "that Devil's Brew." The characters in "Drinking Buddies" are no fun at all; they're a bunch of whiny, passive-aggressive, unconvincingly drawn, unkempt-looking clichés. They ramble incessantly, because this film is "completely improvised," and fail to involve us in this "drama." I put quotes around that word because, in order to be credited as a drama, a film has to be dramatic. This looks like a string of screen tests and home movie outtakes of the actors getting hammered on set. It's "Grown Ups 2" for the art house crowd.
"Drinking Buddies" squanders a rich opportunity to present the world of beer-making. It ignores the process completely. The main characters, Luke (Jake Johnson) and Kate (Olivia Wilde) work in a Chicago brewery. Kate is the brewery's sole female employee, but little is done with this goldmine of a detail. Luke is her best buddy, possibly a former friend with benefits, who carries a torch for Kate despite being involved with Jill (Anna Kendrick). Kate's job is administrative; Luke's job is walking around the brewery barefoot while looking like the MGM lion after a night in a crack house.
Despite having access to all the free beer they can imbibe, Kate, Luke and the other male brewery workers go out to bars to drink, play pool and ramble on incessantly about things that hold no interest for the viewer. The price of a movie ticket will buy you a couple of beers. Wouldn't you rather be drinking them than watching "realistic" depictions of people drinking them?
But I digress. Luke and Jill team up with Kate and her significant other, Chris (Ron Livingston) to spend the weekend at Chris's lake house. The poster and trailer for "Drinking Buddies" imply that this situation will lead to some Bob and Carol, Ted and Alice style sexual shenanigans, but this is untrue; it takes up a very small part of the film. While on a nature hike, Jill kisses Chris, a believable scenario rendered unbelievable by the way it's depicted. Later, Luke ruins that "the director is showing real life" argument when he says no to Kate's half-naked request to go skinny-dipping. When Olivia Wilde asks you to go skinny-dipping, YOU GO.
After the weekend, Chris dumps Kate, who responds by going out with her male co-workers and getting lewd, screwed and tattooed. Meanwhile, Luke and Jill have the strangest sounding conversations about whether to get married. Listening to them, and to everyone else in "Drinking Buddies" highlights why the film is so bad: These actors do not know how to improvise dialogue. For this to work, you have to either sound like a human being or a stereotypical movie character. Everyone here sounds like they're new to speaking English. In a comedy, this is a horrible idea. To prove my point: If you do see "Drinking Buddies," compare Wilde's "dialogue" with that of a seasoned comedy vet like Jason Sudeikis, who plays Kate's boss at the brewery.
"Drinking Buddies" really tests viewer patience once Jill goes to Costa Rica, leaving Luke to pursue rumpy-pumpy with Kate. Their scenes together become intolerable, with Luke doing the kind of passive-aggressive dance no man would do, and Kate being coy about it all. They talk and talk and oh God please bust my eardrums. We're also treated to an interminable passage of Luke helping Kate move, though that at least has some gore and the film's director (in a cameo appearance) getting punched in the face.
The inclusion of stars of note actually makes the Swanberg formula worse. Unknown actors would have kept me from making comparisons to Wilde's acting on "House" or Livingston's turn in one of my favorite movies, "Office Space." I acknowledge that I'm no fan of this genre, but I've found films in it that I've enjoyed. I must disagree with the critics who have labeled "Drinking Buddies" a "White People Problems" movie. Privilege seems to be the farthest thing from these characters' minds, and the problems they have are universal regardless of how poorly rendered they are.
Do yourself a favor. Bypass "Drinking Buddies" in favor of hanging out with your own. You'll have more fun, and I bet the conversations will be better.
Odie "Odienator" Henderson has spent over 33 years working in Information Technology. He runs the blogs Big Media Vandalism and Tales of Odienary Madness. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here.
Robert Daniels
Tomris Laffly
Acasa, My Home
Small Axe: Alex Wheatle
Olivia Wilde as Kate
Jake Johnson as Luke
Anna Kendrick as Jill
Ron Livingston as Chris
Ti West as Dave
Mike Brune as Mike
Jason Sudeikis as Gene Dentler
Frank V. Ross as Frank
Joe Swanberg as Angry guy in car
Joe Swanberg


text:
Thematic lists
War Films
Costume drama
Historical titles
About Youth
About Kids
ATF Online (December 1-3, 2021)
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Key Buyers Event: Digital (June 8-13, 2021)
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Plan the Perfect Trip to Istria: Your 7-Day Itinerary for Rovinj, Pula, and Beyond
Istria, Croatia is a stunning region located on the Adriatic coast that is filled with charming towns, beautiful beaches, and delicious cuisine. If you're planning a trip to Istria and wondering how to best spend your time, look no further! Here is your ultimate itinerary for a week-long adventure in Istria.
The Ultimate Guide to Croatia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Croatia is home to ten UNESCO World Heritage sites, each representing a unique aspect of the country's rich cultural heritage. Seven of those sites are located in Croatia, whereas three are transnational sites. From ancient ruins and medieval castles to natural parks and protected islands, these sites showcase the diverse beauty and history of Croatia. […]
BY Lucija
The Dark History of Goli Otok in Croatia: A Yugoslavian Alcatraz
During the Yugoslavian regime, Bare Island was used as a political prison, where prisoners were sent to be imprisoned and punished for their perceived opposition to the communist government.
BY TourofCroatia
Zagreb Sightseeing: The Top 17 Attractions to Visit
Are you planning a weekend of sightseeing in Zagreb? Look no further! Here is your guide to the top 17 attractions that you should make sure to see.
Streetart Zagreb: A Vibrant and Artistic City in Europe
Over the last two decades, the street art scene in Zagreb has grown significantly. It is no surprise that some refer to the city as a giant museum. Artists are not only using the city's walls to express their art; there is much more to discover.
National Park Mljet: A Paradise of Clear Waters and Lush Greenery
Located off the coast of Croatia, Mljet National Park is a must-see destination for any traveler. With two saltwater lakes, Veliko and Malo Jezero, stretching for four kilometers in the middle of the island, and crystal clear waters that could be mistaken for the Adriatic Sea, this park is a true paradise. The lakes are connected to the sea, which explains their slightly salty taste.
National Park Plitvice Lake: A Must-Visit UNESCO Heritage Site
Are you planning a trip to Croatia and looking for a must-see destination? Consider visiting the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest national park in the country. With 16 stunning lakes in shades of turquoise and green, connected by cascading waterfalls, this park is a true natural wonder.
Zavratnica Bay: A Hidden Gem of the Adriatic
Have you ever heard of Zavratnica Bay? If not, now is the time to discover this hidden gem of the Croatian Adriatic Coast. Nestled in the northern coastal region of Croatia, at the foot of the majestic Velebit mountain, Zavratnica Bay is a world away from the popular Dalmatia region.
Island Hopping in Croatia: The Top 5 Islands to Visit
Croatia is the perfect destination for an island-hopping holiday, with over 1,000 islands, islets, and cliffs along its impressive coastline. From vibrant beach parties to breathtaking views and delicious cuisine, these are the top five islands for island hopping in Croatia.
BY Simon
Discover all Mamma Mia 2 movie locations on island Vis
Everybody who watched the first part knows: the plot takes place at the small and beautiful Greek island Kalokairi. Donna, the main character lives on the island, inviting all her friends for her daughters Sophie's wedding. In The second movie, 10 years have passed and everybody meets again at the island for a big hotel opening in Donna's memory. But little do most people know: the second movie wasn't shot at the Greek island Kalokairi. Not even in Greece…
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Military Religious Freedom Foundation Protecting the Constitutional Guarantee of Separation of Church and State in the United States Military
Michael L. "Mikey" Weinstein
Foundation Voices
MRFF In A Moment
Religious Freedom & the Military: An Ongoing History
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Weekly Watch Archive
You Don't Have A Clue…
– December 5, 2019
What is in the Constitution. There is no constitutionally-mandated seperatiin of cchurch and state. I suggest you all return to grade school, and start yiur education over.
Separation of church abd state was a personnal letter between two persons; and to avoid Situations like the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. Not to keep individuals from expressing their personal beliefs. For example Personalized Dogtags.
FYI: a lot of churches were against state runned churches.. The Baptists particularly.
You need some very fine tuning in your pursuit to fight against GOD, but here is the truth….You lose…
(name withheld)
Response from MRFF Board Member John Compere
On Dec 4, 2019, at 5:17 PM, John Compere wrote:
The US Constitution 1st Amendment provides, respectively, our historic trinity of religious freedoms – (1) freedom from religion, (2) freedom of any religion or no religion, & (3) freedom for religion speech. It prohibits our secular government, which includes the military, from "respecting" a religion establishment. Our government must remain neutral regarding religion (neither pro-religion nor anti-religion, but religion-neutral. Its genesis was the 1785 Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom mandating "no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever." The US Supreme Court (which has the exclusive constitutional authority under Article III, Section 2) has continuously so ruled.
For your information, even Jesus separated religion & government (see Mark 12:17).
Brigadier General John Compere, Judge Advocate General's Corps, US Army (Retired)
Former Chief Judge, US Army Court of Military Review & US Army Legal Services Agency
Disabled American Veteran (Vietnam Era)
Board Member, Military Religious Freedom Foundation (80% Christians)
Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member Mike Farrell
On Dec 4, 2019 2:24 PM, Mike wrote:
Dear (name withheld),
The insults to spelling and grammar in your missive certainly tell us a lot about your ability to read and
understand the constitution and the laws of the United States.
I think no more need be said.
Mike Farrell
(MRFF Board of Advisors)
You still do not have a clue. Read the Constitution. And i do not think I was particularly insulting. But i do admit my typng skills SUCK
On Dec 4, 2019, at 7:13 PM, Mike wrote:
Well, you got me. You made me laugh out loud. I get it about the typing.
But you were insulting and there's no reason for that.
As to the separation of church and state not being in the Constitution, neither is God. That certainly
doesn't mean God doesn't exist, does it?
Bottom line is you're quite wrong about the separation of church and state. And, not incidentally,
you're also wrong about our perpetrating a "fight against GOD." In fact, 95% of the staff, clients, members and supporters of the MRFF are Christians. We have no quarrel with God; we have a quarrel with those
who insist there is only one true faith and they want America to endorse it and the American military to be God's army.
We believe America is stronger by guaranteeing the freedom of choice of one's belief system to everyone is one of the greatest strengths of our nation.
I should not have been rude. I understand your position. I do not agree. I worry about the proverbial slippery slope.
Once a Freedom is removed then it will not take much for the next one to go and so on… (How is my spelling so far….? )
I know everyone uses Hitler…but he look what he managed to do to Germany, the Jewish People and the Europe. By simply removing the rights to a gun…can you imagine 1 million Jews still in possession of their guns?
Any way…you absolutely have the right to do what you are doing…so says the Constitution and i do not have the right to try to take that away. Please forgive me and accept my heart felt apology.
Okay, I have to say it… Merry Chiristmas, Happy Hanukkah, and. Happy Festivus to the rest if us. (Seinfeld circa 199?????)
Let me say, if I may, that you are hard to decipher.
Your typing has certainly improved; I'll give you that.
I'm not sure what your reference to the slippery slope means. What freedom is being removed? What are you in danger of losing from our position?
And let me warn you, you're treading into dangerous territory with your Hitler reference. What is it, in your view, "he managed to do to Germany?" You list "the Jewish
people and the (sic) Europe." I believe most thinking people know the horror he visited on Europe and the world by the vile, catastrophic, grotesque and
anti-human murder of six million Jewish people and a significant number of Gypsies as well as people who happened to be homosexual (at least those
who were not Nazis). Referring to that as something he "managed to do" tends to make it sound like an accomplishment. I find it hard to believe that's what
you mean to suggest, but following it with a question regarding imagining "1 million Jews still in possession of their guns" tips it even further into the realm
of obscenity.
Would you care to clarify?
Just forgive me…you are not alone when attempting to decipher me. Apparently i speak my own language.
Just please forgive me for any rudeness and any other offense.
On Dec 8, 2019, at 12:16 PM, Mike wrote:
If your request for forgiveness means your comments did not mean what they appeared to mean, I can certainly forgive you for some ill-chosen words, but please understand it us important to be clear. When mentioning historic, world-shaking tragedies like those concerning Hitler and the Holocaust, one must tread cautiously.
And to go back to your original point, we are not taking away anyone's freedom. We are protecting everyone's freedom.
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MRFF News Feed from Around the Web
Veterans Affairs Removes Headstones With Swastikas at Texas Cemetery - Jewish Exponent
Editorial: Headstones didn't inform; they insulted - San Antonio Express-News
Open Letter to Air Force Academy: "MRFF Told You So" - LA Progressive
Unhappy with Pentagon's religious liberty guidance, lawmakers set up meeting with top defense official - Military Times
Christian love wasn't meant to be weaponized: A retired Air Force chaplain and rabbi's message - AirForceTimes.com
'Jarring' Nazi headstones removed from Fort Sam - San Antonio Express-News
Pentagon unveils new religious liberty policies after pressure from conservative lawmakers - Military Times
Watchdog seeks discipline for Army chaplain who shared John Piper coronavirus book - Religion News Service
Nazi headstones removed at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio - Houston Chronicle
The searing pain of losing a service member to suicide calls us to action - Military Times
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text:
Indian economy likely to grow at 7.7% in 2018: FM Arun Jaitley
He was speaking at the second annual meeting of the New Development Bank (NDB) in New Delhi on Saturday.
By : IANS
Apr 1, 2017 14:23 IST
Arun Jaitley delivering the Keynote address at the Opening Ceremony of the Second New Development Bank (NDB) Annual Board of Governors' Meeting, in New Delhi on April 1, 2017.PIB India
The Indian economy is expected to grow at 7.2 per cent in 2017 and by 7.7 per cent in 2018, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Saturday.
"Though this is a challenging time, India has remained a bright spot. We have successfully implemented reform measures," Jaitley said at the second annual meeting of the New Development Bank (NDB) in New Delhi.
He said that India requires investment of Rs 43 lakh crore or $646 billion for infrastructure over the next five years and hoped that the NDB, which became operational in 2015, could contribute to this.
"This offers enormous opportunity," he said.
"NDB President K.V. Kamath has done a commendable job. The bank is now fully operational. It has successfully raised money from the market. It will soon make disbursements in India," he said.
"The first agreement on NDB loan in Madhya Pradesh has been signed some days back," Jaitley added.
He said that NDB was established to finance sustainable development projects and must fit into the role envisioned by its founding nations -- India, China, Brazil, Russia and South Africa.
Hoping that the NDB will offer loans at cheaper rates, Jaitley said India was looking to have a mutually beneficial partnership with the bank.
"I hope that NDB will emerge as a development bank and help in funding of emerging economies," he said, adding protectionism and geopolitical tension remained as major challenges for the economies.
"Protectionism is a challenge to growth prospects. But global growth is showing positive sign and moving upwards and is expected to improve further in 2017-18," Jaitley said.
Kamath, who also addressed the opening ceremony, said that the bank was looking at financing over $2 billion in 15 projects of member-countries in 2017.
The bank, which has its headquarters in Shanghai, had financed seven projects in 2016 and is now working towards opening its first regional centre in Africa.
"We found great support in first year of operation. We hope to open African Regional Centre by May," Kamath said.
London's New Year parade was exhilarating and these pictures prove it!
Stunning images of how the world welcomed the New Year!
Circus Krone: The masters who can control the king of the jungle!
Day after Piyush Goyal snub, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos offers 10 lakh jobs in India
Sensex, Nifty tumble as SC dismisses Airtel, Vodafone pleas on payment dues
Budget 2020: Check date, time; what can we expect from this year's budget?


text:
from datetime import datetime
import sqlite3

import pandas as pd

class Results:

    def __init__(self, fname):

        self._fname = fname
        self._conn = sqlite3.connect(fname,
                                     detect_types=sqlite3.PARSE_DECLTYPES)
        self._conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row

        self._setup()

    def _setup(self):

        cur = self._conn.cursor()

        cur.execute('CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS results '
                    '(loss TEXT, '
                    'embedding_dim INTEGER, '
                    'n_iter INTEGER, '
                    'batch_size INTEGER, '
                    'l2 REAL, '
                    'learning_rate REAL, '
                    'use_cuda BOOLEAN, '
                    'xnor BOOLEAN, '
                    'mean_mrr REAL, '
                    'time TIMESTAMP) ')
        cur.execute('CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS benchmark '
                    '(embedding_dim INTEGER, '
                    'xnor BOOLEAN, '
                    'duration REAL, '
                    'memory INTEGER, '
                    'time TIMESTAMP)')

    def save(self, hyperparameters, mrrs):

        data = hyperparameters.copy()
        data['mean_mrr'] = mrrs.mean()
        data['time'] = datetime.now()

        cur = self._conn.cursor()

        cur.execute('INSERT INTO results '
                    'VALUES (:loss, :embedding_dim, :n_iter, '
                    ':batch_size, :l2, :learning_rate, :use_cuda, :xnor, '
                    ':mean_mrr, :time)', data)
        self._conn.commit()

    def save_benchmark(self, embedding_dim, xnor, duration, memory):

        cur = self._conn.cursor()

        cur.execute('INSERT INTO benchmark '
                    'VALUES (:embedding_dim, '
                    ':xnor, :duration, :memory, :time)',
                    {'embedding_dim': embedding_dim,
                     'xnor': xnor,
                     'duration': duration,
                     'memory': memory,
                     'time': datetime.now()})

        self._conn.commit()

    def clear_benchmarks(self):

        cur = self._conn.cursor()

        cur.execute('DELETE FROM benchmark')

        self._conn.commit()

    def __contains__(self, hyperparameters):

        cur = self._conn.cursor()

        cur.execute('SELECT COUNT(*) FROM results '
                    'WHERE loss=:loss AND embedding_dim=:embedding_dim '
                    'AND n_iter=:n_iter AND batch_size=:batch_size '
                    'AND l2=:l2 AND learning_rate=:learning_rate '
                    'AND use_cuda=:use_cuda AND xnor=:xnor', hyperparameters)

        return cur.fetchone()[0]

    def load_best(self, embedding_dim, xnor):

        cur = self._conn.cursor()

        cur.execute('SELECT loss, embedding_dim, n_iter, '
                    'batch_size, l2, learning_rate, use_cuda, xnor FROM results '
                    'WHERE embedding_dim = :embedding_dim '
                    'AND xnor = :xnor '
                    'ORDER BY mean_mrr DESC LIMIT 1',
                    {'embedding_dim': embedding_dim,
                     'xnor': xnor})

        return dict(cur.fetchone())

    def __del__(self):

        self._conn.close()

    def load(self, best_only=False):

        cur = self._conn.cursor()

        cur.execute('SELECT loss, results.embedding_dim AS embedding_dim, n_iter, '
                    'batch_size, l2, learning_rate, use_cuda, results.xnor AS xnor, mean_mrr, '
                    'COALESCE(duration, 0.0) AS duration, '
                    '0.001 / COALESCE(duration, 0.0) AS qpms, '
                    'memory '
                    'FROM results '
                    'LEFT JOIN benchmark ON ('
                    'results.embedding_dim = benchmark.embedding_dim '
                    'AND results.xnor = benchmark.xnor) '
                    'ORDER BY results.embedding_dim, results.xnor ASC, mean_mrr DESC')

        data = [dict(x) for x in cur.fetchall()]

        if not data:
            raise Exception('No data to be read')

        if best_only:
            return (pd.DataFrame(data)
                    .sort_values('mean_mrr', ascending=False)
                    .groupby(['embedding_dim', 'xnor'], as_index=False)
                    .first()
                    .sort_values(['embedding_dim', 'xnor']))
        else:
            return pd.DataFrame(data)

    def plot(self, fname):

        import matplotlib
        matplotlib.use('Agg')
        import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
        import seaborn as sns
        sns.set_style("ticks")

        data = self.load()

        xnor_data = data[data['xnor'] == 1]
        float_data = data[data['xnor'] == 0]

        fig, ax = plt.subplots()
        ax.set(xscale='log',
               xlabel='Predictions per millisecond',
               ylabel='MRR')
        ax.plot(xnor_data['qpms'],
                xnor_data['mean_mrr'],
                label='XNOR')
        ax.plot(float_data['qpms'],
                float_data['mean_mrr'],
                label='Real-valued')
        ax.legend()
        fig.suptitle('MRR-Scores Per Millisecond Tradeoff')
        fig.savefig(fname)


text:
A view from Phil Rhodes
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
How creativity is contributing to the Armistice centenary commemorations.
2-3 minutes
A few minutes ago, I opened an email from the Union Chapel, a gig venue in Highbury, London. It was an invitation to a commemorative concert for the "Thankful Villages" of the First World War. These were villages where every young man who was sent off to fight made it back alive – a miraculous rarity in a conflict that touched almost every family in Britain.
That these places were so few in number is indicative of the scale of the conflict. But the email also reminded me that, this weekend, villages, towns and cities everywhere are finding creative ways to mark the Armistice centenary.
Four years ago, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red took over the Tower of London and the nation's consciousness to mark 100 years since the start of the First World War. A wave of ceramic poppies gradually spilling out of the tower into the moat, the installation drew millions of visitors over the course of a few weeks.
Commemorative art has always been around – but it felt like that work planted a seed that has grown over the past four years. And with the centenary of the declaration of the end of war this weekend, tributes are taking place in all manner of ways.
For the Tower of London, there was undoubtedly pressure to capture the nation's mood once again. The artistic response is Beyond the Deepening Shadow, a nightly visual and aural experience featuring choral music and the words of poet Mary Borden set to a growing circle of flaming torches that will gradually illuminate the moat.
The Olympic Park is temporarily home to 72,396 shrouded ceramic figures, each one handmade and representing a soldier killed at the Somme with no known resting place.
A light and sound installation proclaiming hope is taking place in Durham, a town where the illumination of a miner's lamp has long meant something more than simply seeing in darkness.
And the specially created 14-18 Now organisation has commissioned an ambitious array of responses from artists, musicians, designers and performers over the past five years, culminating in Danny Boyle's project Pages of the Sea, which takes place this Sunday, 11 November.
Different though they inevitably are, there are recurring themes that run through these tributes. Themes of remembrance and thanks. Of sorrow and anger. Of courage and hope.
Westminster Council will hold its own commemoration across the famous Piccadilly screens today (Friday). Taking place between 6pm and 7pm, the experience will draw watchers and passers-by into a poignant and thought-provoking world of light and sound.
We have been consumed by this project for the past few months at the Unlimited Group, highly aware of the responsibility that goes with it. The pressure we've placed on ourselves has been to create something that would resonate with people of all ages and that would honour those who served in the First World War in a sensitive but brutally honest way.
It seems obvious, but every passing year takes us further away from the conflict and makes the horrific scale of the sacrifice feel more abstract. One of our aims was to give meaning to the extraordinary death toll and to put a human face on what can often seem like a dizzying parade of statistics.
The installation will feature a relentless stream of soldiers marching across the screen, each one representing someone who lost their life between 1914 and 1918 – punctuated by 11 stories of real people (many from or have connections to Westminster) who served in the war.
When we finally raised our heads from our own work a few days ago, it was staggering to see the sheer number of creative projects taking place to commemorate the Armistice centenary across the UK and the world.
Not every memorial will please everyone, but each has its own place and its own purpose. And each serves as a reminder that creativity, in service of something bigger than itself, still has the power to bring us together.
Phil Rhodes is creative director at TMW Unlimited
Advertising TMW Unlimited
Digital out-of-home sites to mark 100 years since First World War ended
Royal British Legion selects Leagas Delaney for creative account
Royal British Legion uses AR to turn commemorative pins into a storytelling experience
Royal British Legion seeks agency for Armistice Day centenary campaign
The most memorable Sainsbury's ads by AMV BBDO
Here's 2015's Poppy campaign


We aims to be an institution of excellence dedicated to producing future leaders.
We are committed to impart our children with the knowledge of such matters that will help them to grow up with the spiritual values and lead the best life. We endeavor to make them realize their explosive potential and use it in the most effective manner, to hone their innate skills and enable them to overcome the challenges of today's fast changing world. Our aim is to develop the children's caliber in such a way that they can reach the zenith of success and exist in this world with their absolute wisdom as valuable assets to our country and society.


text:
Genderpedia
An intersectional feminist concept of the day blog.
Hegemonic Masculinity
Feminist Myths
Ecofeminism; Buy Less, Choose Well, Make it Last
17/04/2019 Madeleine	Leave a comment
As a club at IUP, Women's and Gender Studies holds a table semesterly where we debunk Feminist Myths. We try to keep it light-hearted and give people a place to ask questions about things that they might not necessarily know about.
We offer a true and false game to let participants guess whether or not specific things are upheld beliefs in the Feminist Community. The trick of the game is to let participants find out more about Feminism so that it doesn't seem like such a scary concept like most people who are against feminism make it out to be. So, here are a couple of Feminist Myths and why they are, in fact, myths and not true.
First, the Wage Gap was eradicated by the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and women and men are now paid the same.
The wage gap is not merely just about getting paid the same amount for minimum wage jobs. It is about job opportunities and starting salaries offered to people. The wage gap is a bias against working mothers and women of color. Out of 50 states, 7, yes SEVEN, are considered states with "STRONG EQUAL PAY PROTECTIONS."
Yes, 49 states do include Discrimination Provision; requiring that men and women in the same workplace be given equal pay for equal work. This is enforced when taken to court. Most times, unfortunately, this isn't taken to court, because people don't realize that they're being paid less than their male counterparts.
The State of Alabama actually has ZERO equal pay protections in place and 17 other states have severely weak protections. There are several occupations where women are earning significantly less than they would with equal pay. For example, female physicians and surgeons are typically paid $19 billion less annually.
Second, Feminists hate all men.
Feminists do not hate men.
A relevant issue; however, is Hegemonic Masculinity. Hegemonic Masculinity can be defined as "behaviors and language associated with the idealized male group that is seen as having the most power and status in society." America is a Patriarchal culture. This means that we run under the rules, laws, and traditions of men. Yes, this was the way that the world was when the United States was formed.
Yes, we do have founding fathers, but we also lit rooms using candles when that happened. Many many things have become updated since 1776, for example, slavery has been abolished, women gained the right to vote, we have gone to space. Still, the percentage of women in Congress is at 23%. I am extremely grateful that the state of women in the US is better than before, but there are many things that you, as a straight, white man will never understand. Feminists want equality and equity, not dominance and hegemony.
Last, you can't be a feminist if you're a man.
You never need to be a certain gender or fit into a box to be an Ally (read more about how to be an Ally here). You also don't have to say she's someone's mom or sister, or cousin, etc. to need to sympathize with survivors of sexual assault. Recognize that women make up half of this world, yet they are constantly being discounted because a biological factor that is out of our control.
Feminism is about equality for all marginalized groups. As a feminist, you can fight for LGBTQ+ groups, P. O. C, the class system, just remember that it affects women and see how you can make small changes in your life to recognize that.
Education is always the easiest and best way to get involved, do not be afraid to ask questions if you don't know something.
Myths About Feminism
The Simple Truth About the Gender Wage Gap
ActivismActivistAllyAllyshipBinarydominationFeminismgendergender fluidityGenderpediaLanguagelanguage and genderLGBTQ+sexualitysocial construction of genderSocietySocio-Cultural LinguisticsWomenwomen and genderWomen's Studies
Like I addressed in my previous post about Decolonization, a patriarchal practice that happens too often is the domination of the land. Hierarchical systems make us believe that we are for some reason entitled to land and regardless of what the earth does for us, they take and take away from nature and leave no way to fix it. Again, future generations are left to clean up the mess that is left once companies are done tearing away the Earth for their benefit.
Ecofeminism is about the devastation of the Earth and her beings. Most of the Earth's demise has been done by big corporations who use unethical ways to mass produce products that emit fossil fuels and take away from our well being. The first people that are affected by these issues are women and children and the laborers who work for big companies are often underpaid and mistreated.
While we can't reverse the effects of what these corporations have done to the Earth completely, we can begin to make a change. Change never happens from the top down, it always goes from the bottom up. One way we can do this is with Smart Consumerism, or voting with your dollar. Fast Fashion is cheap, trendy clothing that samples ideas from celebrities and popular culture and turns them into garments in high street stores at breakneck speed.
These products have a very short turnaround time between when a trend or garment is seen on the catwalk and when it hits the shelves due to the offshore manufacturing where labor is the cheapest, with the use of workers on low wages without adequate rights or safety. And stores continue to get more customers because of the limited quantity of a particular garment. With new stock arriving in store every few days, shoppers know if they don't buy something they like they'll probably miss their chance.
This theory is problematic. Cheap, low-quality materials cause clothes to degrade after just a few wears and get thrown away. This also leads to body shaming and fashion shaming issues where people don't feel like they can fit in unless they have the latest trends. The fashion industry is the second largest polluter of clean water globally (after agriculture).
The use of cheap, toxic textile dyes and fabrics like polyester, which is derived from fossil fuels and shed microfibers, contribute to more pollution in our oceans. Unfortunately, natural fabrics are just as bad; cotton takes up water and pesticides in developing countries, 300 kgs of chemicals are used for every 900 kg of animal hides to be tanned. In Spring 2017, 235 million pieces of clothing were sent to landfills just in the UK.
You can quit fast fashion, fortunately. Small steps can be implemented in our daily lives to stop relying on fast fashion.
Ask yourself whether you would have worn it three years ago or would wear it in three years
Pack your winter clothes away in the summer and vice versa (fall in love with your clothes again)
Choose Eco-friendly products
Organic Cotton: doesn't contain harmful chemicals and costs more so the farmers who are producing these are being paid more (Bhumi, Kowtow, Ecodownunder)
Linen: Most biodegradable fabric and durable (Conscious Clothing)
Denim: Producing one pair of Levi jeans takes 3781 gallons of water, 11% of global pesticides, harmful chemicals, and dyes, and sandblasting
It is important to remember that just because you do buy from these companies, you are not devalued or do not care about the Earth. Capitalism is systemic. Recognizing that you are a part of a system and that system is corrupt is a great way to start being conscious of the mediums around us and seeing how they influence you.
Vote with your dollar when you see this. Buy local and buy from companies that you feel have a platform that aligns with your ideas.
Women and Life on Earth
Film about the true cost of manufacturing fast fashion:
https://truecostmovie.com/
https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-fast-fashion/
https://goodonyou.eco/material-guide-ethical-denim/
https://goodonyou.eco/how-sustainable-is-linen/
https://goodonyou.eco/how-ethical-is-cotton/
Eco-Friendly Shopping:
https://www.parksproject.us/collections/jewelry-accessories
https://wearpact.com/
https://byolongbeach.com/
https://www.thezerowastecollective.com/about
https://www.onbeinginyourbody.com/
https://www.tinyyellowbungalow.com/
https://elatebeauty.com/collections/pressed-eye-colour
http://lifewithoutplastic.com/
ActivismActivistAllyAllyshipcolonialismdominationEarthEco FriendlyEcofeminismEnvironmentFeminismGenderpediaLanguagelanguage and gendersocial construction of genderSocietySocio-Cultural LinguisticsWomenwomen and genderWomen's Studies
Decolonization; Undoing Colonialism
If you've studied history, you have probably read about Colonization, which is the practice of large, powerful countries invading smaller countries and taking social and economic power over them. Most famously, the British colonies in America colonizing indigenous tribes' homes and ruining their lives. Colonization is not about exploration, it is about domination, and it started much earlier than American history.
Imperialism is defined as expanding a country's power and influence with military force. In school, this act isn't described nearly as forcefully and is phrased as 🌈globalization🌈 which is essentially the same concept. Colonization is a homicidal expedition. For example, the Black Plague, which killed 25 million people or half of Europe's population, was brought over by exploration and trade from Asian countries. We are still seeing the negative effects of colonization with the spread of Western Beauty standards. Colonial ideology erases cultural practices.
Decolonization is the process of leaving these states and undoing the domination that one nation holds over another and while superficially, it seems to be the best option for the country, it still has detrimental effects. Decolonization causes instability of political and economic systems which are the basic structures of any society. The ethnocentrism that Colonizers have takes away basic human rights and leaves natives of that land to try to pick up the pieces.
The Effects of Decolonization in Africa
Women, Gender, and Colonialism
Colonialism and Domination
ActivismActivistAllyAllyshipcolonialismdecolonizationdominationFeminismgenderglobalizationwLanguagelanguage and genderSocietySocio-Cultural Linguisticswomen and genderWomen's Studies


text:
Educational Papers & Articles
These articles detail classroom practice on the teaching of writing skills in context.
Reading Levels and Decodable Phonics
The Reading Recovery Levels developed in New Zealand by Dr Marie Clay were developed for a specific pedagogy to help young children who were regarded as being 'at risk'. Decodable Phonics is a very different pedagogy from this.
Download article (pdf)
WINGS Phonics Decodables: High-Frequency Word Chart
Extended Book Resource (2021)
High-frequency words are commonly seen words that a student will come across often, for example 'at', 'see' and 'was'. Some reading programs often require the student to memorise these words and recognise them on sight.
However, many of these words can be decoded. This reduces the number of things to recall when reading a text.
SA Publisher Wins National Distinguished Service Award
Rodney Martin, Managing Director of SA publishing company Era Publications has received the national George Robertson Award from the Australian Publishers' Association for distinguished service to Australian publishing.
Martin has been Era's publisher throughout its 44 years and continues to work in this capacity with his publications sold into 44 countries and in 20 languages other than English.
From the early days, Martin chased export sales because, as he says, "It was too dangerous for me to remain a small fish in a small pool, and that remains true for Australia as a whole. But I also wanted Australia to play a more prominent role worldwide in children's literature and education."
Storyboarding: Teaching basic structure in writing
A short, practical article by Rodney Martin, first published in an official teachers' magazine in Chengdu, China 2014
Storyboarding is a planning technique that was used by early filmmakers for animated movies. The concept is useful for teaching early learners how to plan their writing – fiction and nonfiction. This article demonstrates how the technique can work in the kindergarten and primary classroom.
Developing Vocabulary
ALEA National Conference, Melbourne and SAETA conference, Adelaide 2011.
Vocabulary is the raw material of communication, and the English language today has the world's largest word lode to be mined. This practical article demonstrates how etymology and wordplay can help children to increase their vocabulary and become word-lovers.
The Message and the Means: The writer's voice, the editor's discipline and the audience's ear'
A paper (2,390 words plus images) presented by Rodney Martin at the 2006 ALEA National Conference in Darwin, Australia.
This paper addresses the difficulty many teachers face in implementing writing curricula that require a functional application of language conventions. It gives teachers practical insights and greater confidence in their understanding and teaching of writing.
Writing and Grammar: Teaching Children to Solve Problems Rather Than Learn Rules
A paper (3,000 words plus images) by Rodney Martin presented to the ALEA national conference in Melbourne, 2003.
This paper offers practical insights into teaching students how to use references to solve writing problems as part of the writing process.
Little Penguins. Rodney Martin, Re-envisioning Process Writing
An academic review and reflection by Helen Toon, Lucinda Vapp and Marcus van Denham (3,000 words) based on the article below (Writing and Grammar), 2004.
Toon, Vapp and van Denham critically examine proposals made by Martin and describe how it alters their understanding of process writing and its potential.
High-frequency words
A brief article including 4 charts over 11 pages by Rodney Martin.
What are regular and irregular high-frequency words? Why are they important to beginning readers? Which high-frequency words are introduced in the WINGS series and at what levels?
The WINGS levelling process
An article (3 pages) by Jennifer Andrews, Reading Recovery Tutor, and Rodney Martin, author and editor.
What process was used to determine the guided reading levels of all the books in the WINGS series? Who did the levelling? How can you be sure of their validity?
Era Publications News
in2Era News
Articles & Papers
My Word - South Kids Magazine
VIP Feature Articles
Articles by Rodney Martin
VIP Members get more!
Subscribe to the VIP Teachers' Club to receive access to exclusive members only content and special discounts. Read more about the benefits, or sign up to get started.


text:
Rio Summer Olympics Odds 8/3/16 – Men's Rugby
Men's Rugby Olympic Odds
The physical sport of Men's Rugby looks to have a real competitive battle for the gold medal at the Rio Summer Olympics. Here's a look at the odds to win.
Rugby is making its first appearance at the Olympics since 1924. According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Fiji is favored to win the gold, as it is getting odds of +210 to win. Other short odds to win are New Zealand (+250) and South Africa (+300). The Rio Olympics take place from August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Bet on the Rio Olympics
Fiji hasn't had great success on the world stage since 2007, when it reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup. It hasn't made it out of pool play in the last two World Cup events. They are currently only ranked 10th in the World.
New Zealand is ranked No. 1 in the World Rugby rankings by a wide margin. They have also won the last two World Cup titles.
South Africa is ranked third in the World Rankings right now. They have played in six World Cups, winning the championships in 1995 and 2007.
NCAAB Betting News, Match-Ups and Trends For Tuesday 1/19/21 on Tue, Jan 2021 by Shazman
NBA Betting News, Match-Ups and Trends For Tuesday 1/19/21 on Tue, Jan 2021 by Shazman
Free Premium Service Plays For Tuesday 1/19/21 on Tue, Jan 2021 by Shazman