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Call for Papers: Towards Utopia – Rethinking International Law
The Walther Schücking Institute for International Law at the University of Kiel
Towards Utopia – Rethinking International Law Call for Papers: Walther Schücking Workshop for Young International Lawyers Kiel, 19-20 August 2017 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Walther Schücking Institute for International Law at the University of Kiel is organising a two-day workshop on new and utopian approaches to international law. Walther Schücking, judge at the Permanent Court of International Justice and namesake of the Institute, was said to hold views "destined to become the law of the future" (James Brown Scott). We wish to discuss visions for that law of the future at the workshop, which will focus on progressive, unconventional thinking and new ways of approaching, using, and conceptualising international (and regional) law.
It is aimed primarily at young international lawyers (PhD students or post-docs), in the hope that we may come together as a diverse group of open-minded and idealistic scholars to develop and discuss utopian lines of thought otherwise left unpursued. We welcome submissions that engage with utopian thought and international law – either in form of substantive suggestions or recursively on utopian approaches in general and the possibility of rethinking international law.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
• The role(s) of utopianism: Which role(s), if any, does utopianism play in current international legal theory and political morality? Which should it play? Are some areas of law (e.g. human rights, ius cogens) particularly relevant – or troublesome?
• Moral and legal progress: How, if ever, can we reach or work towards utopia? How should progress be measured? What are the implications for conceptualising time, morality, and law?
• Existing structures: How do current structures of international law (e.g. certain dogmatic approaches, formalism, supposed objectivity or neutrality of law) relate to utopian thought? How, if ever, can these be overcome? Should they? • Critical approaches revisited: Can primarily critical and deconstructive approaches (feminist, queer, anti-colonialist, critical race or disability studies, etc.) be given positive and utopian formulations?
• Practical implications: What should utopian proposals actually look like? What are their implications for structural reforms of international law and international organisations? What would such reforms entail?
We are honoured that Professor Philip Allott of the University of Cambridge has agreed to join our workshop and discuss these matters. His ground-breaking work on reconceiving international law and overcoming current modes of thought, particularly his recent monograph Eutopia (re-published in paperback in March 2017, with a new Introduction), may serve as a starting point for our explorations.
It could be commented upon, further developed, or used as a prism through which to analyse certain issues; it can also be criticised or given a feminist or queer reading. All kinds of utopian approaches relating to the topics suggested above are welcome. Professor Allott's work will serve as a common frame of reference that enables discussion among the workshop participants despite a wide range of substantive topics or different approaches.
Professor Allott will also give the inaugural Walther Schücking Lecture on the day before the workshop, which participants are invited to attend. The title of his lecture will be Beyond War and Diplomacy. A Giant Step for Mankind. The workshop will be held on the weekend of 19-20 August 2017, with the Walther Schücking Lecture scheduled for the afternoon of 18 August.
We envision a format of intense discussion between around fifteen participants, with each participant giving a brief presentation. Interested scholars should submit an abstract of around 750 words to the organising committee (utopia@wsi.uni-kiel.de) by 8 May 2017.
Abstracts must include a title and the name and affiliation of the author; preference will be given to those at an early stage of their career (PhD students or post-docs). We encourage scholars with different backgrounds to apply – interdisciplinary submissions are welcome. If your abstract is accepted, you will be expected to submit a paper of around 8,000 words (including footnotes) by 7 August 2017.
The papers will be circulated among the workshop participants in advance to facilitate an in-depth discussion. Selected papers may, subject to peer review, subsequently be published in the German Yearbook of International Law. The workshop will take place in a beautiful waterfront location in Kiel, Germany. All reasonable travel expenses for workshop participants will be reimbursed, and hotel rooms in Kiel will be provided for two nights. Further information on funding and reimbursement procedures will follow once participants have been chosen.
you have any questions, please feel free to contact the organising committee: Isabelle Haßfurther, Wiebke Staff, and Jens Theilen (utopia@wsi.uni-kiel.de). Timeline: 8 May 2017: Deadline for submission of abstracts (ca. 750 words) 7 August 2017:
Deadline for submission of full papers (ca. 8,000 words) 18 August 2017: Walther Schücking Lecture from 4-6 pm 19-20 August 2017: Walther Schücking Workshop
utopia@wsi.uni-kiel.de


The Wind Ensemble is made up of instrumentalists high school and above. This group rehearses for a particular Sunday, several times a year, to accompany hymns and play concert band literature. This group also rehearses during July and with the addition of other players from the community presents a Summer Band Concert and Ice Cream Social.


Charles Waldhour enlisted September 14, 1863 at Georgtown, S.C. with Capt. Harrison. Pvt. Waldhour served in Co. B, 21st Battalion, Georgia Cavalry until, through consolidation of units, he was transferred to Co. E, 7th Regiment, Georgia Cavalry.
On April 18, 1864, Pvt. Waldhour was on leave with instructions to rejoin the company at Marlowville. He was present on roll calls through October '64. In the late fall of 1864 he received an issue of clothing.


Heard about Buddha or been following his teachings to live a happy life? Want to visit the sacred birthplace of Buddha?
Lumbini Pilgrimage Tour is the best designed tour to pay a pilgrimage to the birth place of Buddha. After a day of exploring some incredibly beautiful Buddhist spiritual and other sites in Kathmandu valley, the trip goes to explore Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha. While in Lumbini you will explore Mayadevi temple to see the mark of his birth that Buddha left when he was born on a piece of stone. You can wander around and visit monasteries of different traditions from around the world.
A visit to the Lumbini Museum is an enlightening experience about Buddha and Buddhism. You will also have a chance to go on a historical and archaeological visit of Tilaurakot, Kapilvastu where Prince Siddhartha (Later Buddha) was born and spent twenty nine years of his life inside royal palace. This trip is a true homage to the founder of philosophy to eliminate suffering from human life.
It is the day that we drive to Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha. A whole day overland journey lies ahead for us. The journey goes through beautiful rural settings. The highway stretches first through middle hills of Nepal along the river banks to meet plain land in Chitwan. From Chitwan onwards the journey is on the flat plain in most of the stretch. Once we reach Lumbini and check into our hotel, we can laze around to release the stiffness and tiredness of sitting whole day on vehicle.
We are on a spiritual pilgrimage of the birth place of Buddha. We explore sacred places in Lumbini today. Our exploration of the area will take us to visit the Sacred Garden, Mayadevi temple, Pushkarini (the sacred Pond), World Peace stupa, monastic zone, and museum. The full day exploration of Lumbini will bring us to a closer understanding of life of Buddha. It is an amazing day of paying respect to the person who propounded a way to the happy life.
After a day of amazing spiritual immersion in Lumbini, it is time to explore and learn some historical and archaeological facts related to Buddha and his life. Being born as the crown prince of Kapilvastu, Buddha spent 29 years of his life there before leaving everything behind in search of the happiness. We can find many interesting facts about his life.
After the exploration, we return back to Lumbini to stay overnight.
We fly back to Kathmandu from Lumbini today. We are avoiding long day of road journey along the same highway this time so that we can save some time to wander around in Kathmandu. Once we are in Kathmandu, we go to hotel and spend the whole day at leisure on our own. Finding relieving massage, good food, souvenir shopping, and wandering around can keep you busy for the day.
Tourist Standard Hotel Accmmodiation in Kathmandu for 3Nights & Lumbini 3Nights with B/B Basis.
Lumbini - Kathmandu Flight Ticket with Airport Tax.
We offer you the best price guaranteed for Lumbini Pilgrimage Tours.


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Memories of Mayer: Hope College honors a beloved professor's life
Q&A: Kathy Bechtel, Gallery Manager at Frauenthal Center
Written by Marla R. Miller
Kathy Bechtel Courtesy Photo
As the new gallery manager at the Frauenthal Center in Muskegon, Kathy Bechtel hopes to increase daily traffic to the historic theater and for special events.
A Kendall College of Art and Design graduate and artist who hails from Grand Rapids, Bechtel also serves as the gallery manager for the Terryberry Gallery at St. Cecilia Music Center and at ICCF on Cherry Street in Grand Rapids. She's also the art director of the Franciscan Life Process Center in Lowell. At the Frauenthal Center and the adjoining Hilt Building's Reception Gallery, she hopes to showcase new local and regional artists on a monthly basis. Bechtel spoke with Revue about her plans for the gallery in 2017.
Many people are unaware there is a gallery on the second floor of the Hilt Building. What are your hopes and plans for the space?
My hope for the Reception Gallery at the Frauenthal Center is to bring in exciting artists who work in a variety of mediums and styles. Art is a language. Artists communicate their thoughts and concerns and dreams in their work. My goal is to bring in a variety of these artists who will educate with their work.
Do you hope to target artists from any certain area?
I would like to mainly showcase the work of lakeshore artists, in time. At this point, there are artists on the schedule from the general West Michigan area. We will have a regular appearance from the Boys and Girls Club of America, and will also highlight a local artist to celebrate Black History Month. Some of the artists on the schedule for next year are Jon McDonald, Jim Johnson, Larry Blovits, Randy Nyhof and Evie Carrier, Christie Dreese, Mary Reusch and Margaret Kriegbaum.
What are some of the highlights for the gallery in 2017?
Most of next year's schedule is already full with sculpture artists, watercolor artists, photographers, oil painters and acrylic painters. It is in our plans to create, occasionally, an afternoon with a particular artist, where there is a question and answer time, mainly a time for people to learn and share time with the artist.
The gallery's proximity to the Muskegon Museum of Art would seem to play into your favor.
The Reception Gallery at the Frauenthal Center (is) a few steps from the Muskegon Museum of Art. Why not take in the Reception Gallery after your trip to the museum?
What's your philosophy to managing the several galleries you work for?
There are many things to consider when managing the galleries. Each gallery that I manage has a different reason for existing. The Reception Gallery at the Frauenthal Center and Terryberry Gallery at St. Cecilia are galleries to highlight outstanding artists' work in the community, to educate the viewer to different art forms, and most of the work is for sale.
The other two galleries that I manage — the Guardian Gallery at the Franciscan Life Process Center in the downtown Grand Rapids campus at St. Adalbert's and ICCF of Grand Rapids — are in businesses that serve the community. The Franciscan Life Process Center has music therapy for children with autism, and has counseling available at many levels, and offers regular music lessons. ICCF, on the other hand, provides affordable, beautiful housing to all people, teaching practical skills to the people who take advantage of their services. The galleries there are to educate, serve, and some of the work is also for sale.
How do you decide what art and artists to exhibit in each gallery?
Art is for all people. It is important to me, when choosing artists to show their work, that they bring something important to the venue that I place them in.
Can you give an example of that?
Jon McDonald, for instance, brings an important message, as was highlighted in his exhibit that is currently hanging in the Guardian Gallery, in his "Human Series." This is a collection of beautiful portraits of people — different people — who are all "Human." The name tag next to the painting might have on it "Asian = Human," or another might have on it "Older African American Man = Human," or "Gay Woman = Human." It is a timely series, and brings all the arguments that are currently going on an understanding of what defines human. Art teaches, and this exhibit teaches us what is important.
At the end of the day, what does the connection to art and your exhibits mean to you?
I always try to bring artists that work in different mediums and different styles. Art has been one of the important thrusts of my life. I feel fortunate every single time another artist goes up in one of the galleries.
"People, Places, Outdoor Spaces"
Artist Dennis O'Mara, whose artwork runs the gamut from large etched doors to oil paintings and pastels, will have his "People, Places, Outdoor Spaces" displayed from Dec. 5-Jan. 28 at the Frauenthal Center's Reception Gallery.
425 W. Western Ave., Suite 200, Muskegon
frauenthal.org, (231) 722-9750
Published in Visual Arts
More in this category: « Poetry of Content Shines Spotlight on the Un-Abstract	Not Your Grandpa's Museum: Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives opens downtown »

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Meeting of Two Queens
Encuentro entre dos Reinas
A film by Cecilia Barriga
Spain | 1991 | 14 minutes | Color | DVD | Order No. 99304
Watch on Kanopy
In this witty, luminous film, Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich star in the roles of their lives—cast as lovers by Chilean video artist Barriga. Queen Christina meets the Scarlet Empress; Anna Karenina and Blonde Venus transcend tragedy. This beguiling film links the queens of the silver screen through motifs such as the cigarette and a circuitry of meaningful gazes and gestures. Clips from their signature roles are remounted in silent film style vignettes to tell a burgeoning tale of desire and destiny.
"A clever hunt for lesbian longings in old movies."
Bill Stamets Chicago Sun-Times
"The movie we've been waiting for!"
Monica Dorenkamp Outweek
NY Int'l Festival of Lesbian and Gay Film
Feminale Women's Film Festival, Germany
Montreal Women's Film and Video Festival
Cecilia Barriga
Cecilia Barriga is a Chilean-Spanish film director. She left home at 19 to study sound and image at the Complutense University of Madrid. In 1983, she began her career in cinema, and in 1984 completed her university degree. In 1994, she moved to New York to further her studies in screenwriting and video art at Columbia University. Her 1991 film MEETING OF TWO QUEENS was shown at Montreal Women's Film and Video Festival and New York International Festival of Gay and Lesbian Film. The film served as Barriga's attempt to re-edit and cut various scenes from films featuring Hollywood stars Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich in order to create a space for lesbian identity politics and identity formation. It offers an alternative viewing of these famous Hollywood stars which effectively re-envisions them as icons of the burgeoning gay and lesbian movement of the early 1990s. She directed her first feature film TIME'S UP! in New York City and it premiered at the Donostia-San Sebastián Film Festival. (01/20)
Film History Gender LGBTQI Mass Media & Popular Culture


Waterproof Lighting Dome Hire in Leicester & Nationwide.
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Due to its waterproof cover it will allow waterproof cover for many lights, it will protect against rain, snow and dirt.
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The outdoor dome may be used floor standing or hung from truss, the dome comes supplied with two domes 120cm and 150cm for different sized fixtures.
A hanging bracket is also supplied for hanging moving heads.


Quantstamp, a Y Combinator-backed smart contract security company, is proud to announce it is establishing a limited liability company, Quantstamp Japan GK, to assist Japanese startups and enterprises in using secure blockchain technology. This establishment follows significant investment from Nomura Holdings and Digital Garage.
Quantstamp uses computer-based reasoning tools to provide services that help identify and secure vulnerabilities in smart contracts — a key component of blockchain technology. It provides an automated tool for developers and users to check smart contracts for well-known vulnerabilities, as well as white-glove auditing services to help secure large-scale blockchain projects. It's services have been used to secure more than $500 million of transaction value.
Quantstamp is a leader in smart contract security, preventing security breaches at some of the world's largest blockchain companies. Quantstamp's engineering team is familiar with software security, formal verification, static analysis and have more than 900 Google Scholar citations.
To stay up to date with Quantstamp, follow us on Twitter, join the discussion on Reddit, or find us on LinkedIn.


This is the second time in two weeks that I wore this outfit. The first time, I was so bummed not to have time to take pictures, so I knew I had to repeat it! I think this is one of my favorite shirts. I mean, I certainly wear it a lot! I mean, it's gap, so it's super soft. But I also think it's flattering too.
I am also trying to make due with the summer clothes that I have, for now. I leave for Europe (again, I know, so excited!!) in less than a week, so I'm taking my time this weekend to find: a) a dress to wear to my cousin's wedding, b) a couple of new pieces to remix through the rest of the summer/fall, and c) a pair of cute sandals. I'm off! Wish me luck!


How can I recover my Nokia 2690 memory card password?
I've lost my memory card password. I tried the fexplorer but it doesn't work. It's a 1 GB card. Please help me!
You can try X-plore. I don't know if it will work or not, but I read up this post on the web.


Third Age 1248 (abbreviated to T.A. 1248) is the 1248th year of the Sun of the Third Age of Middle-earth.
Regent Minalcar of Gondor - with the aid of Vidugavia, King of Rhovanion - leads a great force of troops and defeats the Easterlings in the lands between Rhovanion and the Inland Sea. All Easterling camps and settlements east of the Inland Sea are destroyed.
Minalcar takes the name Rómendacil (East-victor) in celebration of his great victory over the Easterlings.
About this time, the western shores of the Anduin are fortified and the pillars of the Argonath are erected at the entrance to Nen Hithoel.
↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"


Historic Pilot Knob is the portion of Oheyawahe that is owned by the City of Mendota Heights and where trails are open to the public. Great River Greening is the contractor the city has hired to restore Historic Pilot Knob's vegetation to oak savanna.With funding from the American Express Foundation, Great River Greening hired SRF Consulting to analyze the Historic Pilot Knob site and to design a plan to improve visitor experience and safety. The design includes proposals for new signage, new parking lot, a structure for gathering, a wheelchair accessible looped trail, and artwork by a Dakota artist. Maintaining the sacred and historical nature of the site is most important in considering any changes.
The final draft is ready for your review and suggestions. Click here to view the plan.
Public comments will be considered before the final design plan is presented to the City of Mendota Heights, the owner of the property. Fundraising for implementation of the plan would begin after that.
If you have questions or comments, leave them below or contact info@pilotknobpreservation.org or Deborah Karasov at dkarasov@greatrivergreening.org.
On March 14, 2017, Pilot Knob was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the official federal registry of historically significant sites worthy of preservation. For centuries, Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob has been a sacred indigenous burial ground and gathering place, earning its Dakota name "Oȟéyawahe," meaning "a sacred place much visited; the place where people go for burials." It continues to be a Dakota ceremonial site and a place where people can learn about history and culture that predates Minnesota statehood. The view from Oȟéyawahe/Pilot Knob was frequently referenced in early explorers' and settlers' writings including Lt. Zebulon Pike in 1805. The Treaty of 1851 was signed here, ceding 35 million acres of land to the United States.
The 112-acre site on the Register comprises both public and private land in Mendota Heights. People can experience spectacular views by visiting Historic Pilot Knob, a 25-acre natural area owned by the City of Mendota Heights. From the parking lot at the north end of Pilot Knob Road, a trail leads through a prairie restoration to three overlooks. Views include the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers, Historic Fort Snelling, and the skylines of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Oȟéyawahe/Pilot Knob played an important role in Minnesota's early territorial and state history. The formation—or "knob"—atop the hill (removed in 1926), was an early prominent natural landmark for travelers and steamboat pilots. Because Pilot Knob was such a distinctive landmark, Senator Stephen Douglas in 1848 proposed it as the site for the territorial capital. Overlooking Pike Island, the property is believed to have served as a burial place for some of those who died in the island's fenced Dakota internment camp during the winter of 1862-63.
In 2002, a private developer had plans to build high-density housing on the northern portion of the historic site. In response to the proposal, Dakota and Ojibwe communities, historians, archaeologists, religious institutions, environmental organizations, and area residents raised objections and urged the City of Mendota Heights to purchase the acreage slated for development and to permanently preserve it as public open space. From 2006 to 2008, the city of Mendota Heights acquired 25 acres through a combination of grants and funding from governmental entities, organizations, the city, Dakota County, and individuals.
Over the past decade, the city's 25-acre parcel has been undergoing restoration to oak savanna by Great River Greening, a non-profit that leads community-based vegetative restoration efforts. The oak savanna restoration at Historic Pilot Knob is believed to reflect the native vegetation that existed at the site before European settlement. A simple trail system, which includes interpretive signage, allows visitors to experience the site's impressive historic vistas. Two overlooks incorporate public art works designed as tributes to the Dakota heritage of the area. A third overlook is a sculptural work of art by local artist Seitu Jones—seven blocks of carved stone set in a circle, engraved with the names of the seven council fires of the Dakota Nation. Additionally, Historic Pilot Knob is situated within an Important Bird Area of the Mississippi Flyway—one of the world's crucial migratory corridors.
Today, the acreage owned by the city of Mendota Heights that lies within the overall 112-acre historic site is stewarded in collaboration with the Pilot Knob Preservation Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The city of Mendota Heights recognizes this jewel in its midst.
For directions to Oȟéyawahe/Pilot Knob and for more information, visit pilotknobpreservation.org. Brochures are available for download from the website, at City Hall or at Pilot Knob.
The natural feature known to Americans as Pilot Knob has a long history as a mystical site, highly regarded by numerous nations of indigenous people. It was known to the Hochunk, Ojibwe, Dakota, and Meswaki, as well as others. The significance of this site is high, as it was a place where sky burials would take place, commonly known as scaffolding of the dead. It also was a site where the multinational medicine lodge ceremonials would occur. The medicine lodge is a congregation of traditional medicine people, from many different nations. This ceremony was known to all the aforementioned tribes, as well as others. During the time of the medicine lodge, multiple nationalities would appear and work together to perform the ceremonials. This ended in a large dance where all the members would take part. Pilot Knob was such a place that it was easily accessible by river travel, and was up high where all of creation could witness the events. These are the reasons it was chosen.
According to the oral history of the Dakota people, Pilot Knob had great significance to the spirit of the waters, Uŋktéȟi. It was said that the formation of the land had been created by two Uŋktéȟi chasing one another down the river, and one bashed into the hillside which caused it to raise up. These beings were of great size, depending on their own whims, as they were mystical in nature and had many powers, such as changing shape and size. Nearby to Pilot Knob, along the Mississippi river, are many other sites that are regarded as belonging to the Uŋktéȟi; Coldwater Spring, which was a trail into the places under the earth for them, the literal Dakota name Mní Owé Sní signifies it is a cold water trail. Nearby, where the VA center stands, was known as Táku Wakháŋ Thípi, signifying "where the mysterious being dwells." Even further upriver, at St Anthony Falls, it was known to be a den of this great spirit, underneath which was a nest filled with metals. Many ceremonials took place at St Anthony Falls, to request assistance from this great being. Downriver from Pilot Knob, we have Pig's Eye Lake. Pig's Eye Lake was known to be the dwelling place of one of the greatest water spirits, known amongst the Hochunk as Traveler. Somewhere around the area of Pig's Eye Lake, along the white bluffs of St Paul, (which St Paul was known as Imníža Ská or "White Bluffs") it was recorded by Jonathan Carver that the Dakota residents camped along the river had painted a great effigy of the water spirit. In his journals he sketched it and spoke of it. Thus this span of the river has a great history to the Dakota and neighboring peoples, especially in regard to the water spirits to whom we were very fond.
As for the name of Pilot Knob in Dakota, it is currently misspelled in Dakota, on most signs and references. They say it is Oheyawahi, but this isn't phonologically correct as a spelling for the Dakota name. The phonologically correct spelling would be Oȟéyawahe. This spelling can be found in the Dakota – English Dictionary, authored by Stephen Riggs, under the entry "Oȟé" Stephen Riggs said that the name signifies "the hill much visited." This is not an exact translation, as it is more of a connotation of the place. If we break down the words to create a more literal etymology, we can take oȟéya and explain it as the place where they build mounds – a reference to the burial practices there. The ending of -wahe is commonly attached to places with significance, such as thiwáhe, which signifies the household and family, and othúŋwahe (more commonly said as othúŋwe now in minnesota, but in Lakota country the full word is still said) which signifies a village or city, more literally a place where the people are born. Thus the name Oȟéyawahe implies that it is a place where the people go for burial practices. That is why it is much visited.
In recent years, the once-common rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) has vanished from almost 90 percent of its historic range. Experiencing declines so dramatic that the species may be on the brink of extinction, Bombus affinis was recently listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Amazingly, in July, 2016, a single rusty patched bumble bee was detected during a bumble bee field survey at Oheyawahi/ Pilot Knob. The find was thrilling for the partners participating in this ongoing monitoring project—The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and Great River Greening—as well as the citizen scientist volunteers who helped with the "catch and release" effort that day.
The Oheyawahi/ Pilot Knob surveys, made possible with support from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, were designed to educate citizens in bumble bee identification and conservation strategies. They will also help in understanding the range, relative abundance, and foraging preferences of Minnesota's bumble bees.
The combination of habitat loss, pesticide use by homeowners and farmers, climate change, and the proliferation of pathogens and parasites has threatened the viability of many bee species worldwide. Oheyawahi/ Pilot Knob offers wildlife an insecticide-free environment, nesting habitat for a wide range of pollinators, and an abundance of native floral resources. Wild bergamot, asters, and goldenrods are among the bumble bee favorites growing at Oheyawahi/ Pilot Knob.
Citizen scientists, like the ones who volunteered the day the elusive rusty patched bumble bee was observed, are invaluable in aiding this research. Volunteers are always needed to help with surveys around the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Another great way to help bumble bees is to participate in Xerces' Pollinator Citizen Science Projects, including Bumble Bee Watch, or The Minnesota Bumble Bee Survey. "Before we can help these bees, we need to know where they are, and we need more information," states Elaine Evans. Evans is an entomologist who helped identify the rusty patched bumble bee at Oheyawahi/ Pilot Knob, and is founder of the Minnesota Bumble Bee Survey, an organization dedicated to monitoring rare and declining Minnesota bumble bees.
1) Plant native wildflowers, including species that bloom spring through fall.
2) Plant native shrubs and trees for early season bloom.
3) Leave brush, logs, and unmown grasses around the yard to create nesting habitat.
4) Avoid raking whenever possible. Leaf litter is important for overwintering queen bees.
6) Display pollinator habitat signage, and talk to neighbors about what you are doing for pollinators.
Click here to watch a brief video describing the discovery of the rusty patched bumble bee at Pilot Knob.
The Pilot Knob Preservation Association's new Pocket Guide to Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob has been published and an interactive, digital version is available on this website. Work and expenses for the pocket guide were supported by a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant from the Minnesota Historical Society earlier this year. The small brochure will introduce the cultural, historical, spiritual and ecological importance of this Dakota County landmark.
Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are made possible by the Minnesota Legislature from the Arts and cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. The fund was created with passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution in November 2008. The grants are awarded to support projects of enduring value for the cause of history and historic preservation across the state. PKPA also thanks the City of Mendota Heights and Dakota County for their support.
A pdf version of the guide, which can be viewed or printed in Adobe Acrobat Reader, is available here. Paper copies of the guide can be ordered by emailing info@pilotknobpreservation.org with your request.
PKPA received the grant from the Minnesota Historical Society in the spring of 2010. Through the summer and fall project director Chris Soutter, historian Bruce White, and other members of PKPA worked together to gather the information and write the guide. Below (from left to right) PKPA members Cher Fields and Jeanne Hollingsworth discuss the guide, onsite, with Chris Soutter.
As vegetation is restored on Oheyawahi, the hill provides opportunities to see many beautiful sites, which were documented by PKPA during the summer of 2010. In July an admiral butterfly perched in a field filled with wild bergamot and black-eyed susan.
Chief Arvol Lookinghorse, 19th generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe, led a pipe ceremony on Pilot Knob on October 3, 2009. Chief Lookinghorse has spent his life working for religious freedom, protection of sacred sites, and cultural survival. He was aided by Sheldon Wolfchild from Lower Sioux, Chris Leith from Prairie Island, Melvin Grey Owl from Crow Creek, and Melvin Lee from Santee, who all spoke about the importance of preserving Dakota sacred sites. Chief Looking Horse stated that sacred sites are the "power points, the grid," for Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota peoples. After the ceremony there was a feast/lunch and wopida (a "thank you" giveaway) in which the speakers and visitors were honored. It was a cloudy day, but at various times the sun shone brightly on those gathered and two eagles flew overhead.
Pilot Knob, October 3, 2009, including from left to right, Sheldon Wolfchild, Chris Leith, Arvol Looking Horse, Melvin Grey Owl, and Melvin Lee. At the time the picture was taken, Melvin Lee was speaking eloquently about the effort that it had taken to prevent development on Pilot Knob and the need to do the same for other sacred places.
–an overlook that recognizes the seven council fires of Dakota people will soon be installed by the City of Mendota Heights and Great River Greening.
When Chief Lookinghorse was last on Pilot Knob, he and Chris Leith gave the hill a new name: Wotakuye Paha, the hill of all the relatives. Please join the relatives in celebration and thanksgiving for the remarkable events that you have contributed to.


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Home › Blog › Auger & Auger Congratulates Spring 2021 Disabled Scholar Award Winner Hayley Henke
Auger & Auger Congratulates Spring 2021 Disabled Scholar Award Winner Hayley Henke
Awareness doesn't just bring attention; it also brings validation. And from that validation, people can develop empathy, respect, and consideration — for themselves as well as others.
This was the lesson learned by one of our Spring 2021 Disabled Scholar Award winners, Hayley Henke. When she was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of seven, her reaction was to be embarrassed. She initially wanted to hide her condition, but her mother took the important step of bringing her to a convention sponsored by the Arthritis convention, where she found her sense of self. That experience has now motivated Henke to seek a career as a Pediatric Rheumatologist to ensure that other children with rheumatoid arthritis receive not just treatment, but compassion and understanding.
We at Auger & Auger are proud to play a supportive role in Henke's journey. Her story has shown us how people can struggle with their own identity, but when they are able to get the validation and support they need, they are empowered to own that identity. We anticipate great things ahead for her. We have no doubt she will not only excel in her program but someday give patients that same transformative moment that inspired Henke as a young girl to learn to love herself and find strength within her identity.
Finding Self-Love After Self-Doubt Thanks to Community Support
Our society places a lot of pressure upon children to feel "normal" — despite the fact that we are all utterly unique. A consequence is that when a child suffers from a congenital condition, their natural reaction is to feel bad about themselves. Never mind that they had no choice in the matter, or that their condition doesn't automatically color who they are.
The reality is that children all want to be accepted. They want to feel a sense of belonging. This can be a struggle for all children, but it becomes exponentially tougher when the child discovers they have a chronic condition.
In her essay submitted to us, Henke wrote: "Like any seven year old, I woke up eager to walk to school with my friends, but this was taken away from me when instead, I woke up in extreme pain and unable to walk. Approximately six months later, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis."
The impact of her diagnosis was two-fold. Not only did it mean pain and an inability to do certain activities, but it came with a stigma.
"Although I knew nothing about this condition, I didn't want anyone to know," Henke revealed. "I continued to hide my illness from my classmates to the point where I stayed home from school, crying all day any time my arthritis became noticeable."
These intense feelings are a natural response, but they can hamper your ability to grow, flourish, and enjoy life. Seeing her daughter suffer, Hayley's mother decided to take action. After seeing an email about a convention sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation, she booked a flight.
"I was too embarrassed to go," Henke admitted. "However, I wasn't given a choice in the matter as we flew to Phoenix, Arizona."
Henke's hesitation — all of it — dissolved once she saw that she was not alone.
"All my fears vanished the second we walked through the giant conference room doors. I saw people all around me who were suffering from the same illness. This moment truly changed my life."
It was an abrupt transformation, from shame and shyness to ownership of her identity. For the first time, Henke was able to not just accept herself but to recognize her own potential.
"Not only did I become more comfortable with my arthritis, but I also finally began talking to people about my condition and embracing my new life."
Henke was so motivated by this experience that she agreed to be an advocate for individuals with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. She was invited to speak to U.S senators and representatives from the state of Nebraska at the Capitol, and she became a Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation.
Advocating for Children Like Her on Capitol Hill — And, Someday, in a Clinic
Henke informed us that there are more than 300,000 children in the United States with a Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis, "and yet there are fewer than 420 certified Pediatric Rheumatologists in the United States. This means that for every Pediatric Rheumatologist, there are 714 children with arthritis that need treatment."
Speaking to congressional representatives on Capitol Hill, Henke emphasized the dire need to correct this situation. She proposed two policy solutions backed by the Arthritis Foundation:
Allow pediatric subspecialists to be eligible to apply for the National Health Service Corps loan repayment program
Grant Pediatric Rheumatologists subspecialists $35,000 "for each year of service if they commit to practicing in an underserved area of the country."
Being outspoken about policy at such a young age could have easily intimidated Henke, but she was motivated by a desire to make a genuine difference.
"It was a little nerve-racking speaking in front of such important people," Henke told us. "However, I knew that it was worth it because I was making a difference and advocating for people like me."
Henke also recounted that she, "especially enjoyed meeting with congressmen individually and talking about their lives as well and what they could do to help children like me as an individual."
Not content to merely advocate for solutions, Henke now seeks to actively address the lack of healthcare provider options for children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. She intends to graduate from a medical school program and become a Pediatric Rheumatologist herself.
"Visiting different arthritis doctors, I have learned that they don't know how it feels and truly can't relate to me and my pain," Henke disclosed. She knows that since she has the perspective of someone with the condition, she can help kids adjust mentally as well as medically.
The Importance of Feeling Recognized
While reading Henke's essay, we could feel drive and passion infusing her actions and her story. She communicated the importance of feeling recognized and having shared experiences with others. As part of her commitment to doing so, she mentored a young 14-year-old girl with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. The girl told her a familiar story about coming up with any excuse to stay home from school and avoid the feeling of having her condition be thrust into the spotlight. Henke regularly spoke with the girl through Facetime and through text and helped her foster the confidence she needed to not only go back to school but also open up about her diagnosis.
When we asked Henke what she would say to another child in a similar situation, she replied: "I would tell them that if they stay strong and fight they will be okay."
The important thing to remember, she noted, is that while a RA diagnosis can prevent you from doing certain activities, you can still seek out options that will help you still feel like a participant in life.
"Even though having arthritis can make life difficult," she explained, "there are always ways to make things better. When finding out basketball and volleyball was too hard on my knees, I didn't let it stop me from doing activities with my friends so I joined the cheer team and learned I actually love to cheer."
Henke also noted the role that the community can play in helping children with chronic illness diagnoses succeed and flourish. When we asked her about how children can be motivated to perform well, she stated that "the most important thing about school to me personally Is the ability to have a good support system to teach and help you learn. Whether that be a great set of friends or teachers that know you personally. I think this is also the most important aspect for school in general too because many students with poor teachers or friends will struggle to succeed in school and many won't continue their education."
She also hopes that others can find the support they need and that it would be easier if more people were aware of children who suffer from arthritis and other chronic conditions.
"I would love it if more people knew about juvenile rheumatoid arthritis," Henke said. "I know that many people don't know or understand that children can get arthritis too, making it very difficult for children with arthritis to speak out and support themselves. So if everyone started advocating and understanding arthritis I think it would allow more children with arthritis to speak out and advocate for themselves."
We are sincerely touched and impacted by Henke's story, and we are confident that her accomplishments in the future will make a meaningful difference. In fact, based on her story, we know that she already has.
Posted In: Disabled Scholar Recipients, Scholarship


text:
Q: Accessing TListItem.Data leads to an error when using records I have a program which uses TListView to visualize and store some data. TListitem's data property is filled with a pointer to a record like so:
type
  TWatch = record
    name : string;
    path : string;
    //...
end;

procedure TfrmProcessWatcherMain.AddWatchToListView(AWatch: TWatch);
var
  ANewWatch : TListItem;
begin
  ANewWatch := lvWatches.Items.Add; //lvWatches is TListview
  //...
  ANewWatch.Data:= @AWatch;
end;

When I'm trying to retrieve this data somehow I'm getting access violation error, which is a total surprise for me because all seems legit, here is code of retrieval:
if(lvWatches.Selected <> nil) then begin
  tempWatch := TWatch(lvWatches.Selected.Data^); // AV here
  ShowMessage(tempWatch.name);

Also AWatch which is passed to a first function is stored in a
WatchList : TList<TWatch>;

so it is accessible using other methods

A: The problem is that @AWatch is the address of a local variable. As soon as AddWatchToListView returns AWatch goes out of scope and that address is no longer valid.
Instead of taking the address of a local variable you need to allocate a record on the heap using New.
procedure TfrmProcessWatcherMain.AddWatchToListView(AWatch: TWatch);
var
  ANewWatch : TListItem;
  P : ^TWatch;
begin
  ANewWatch := lvWatches.Items.Add;
  New(P);
  P^ := AWatch;
  ANewWatch.Data:= P;
end;

You will need to deallocate the memory with Dispose whenever a list item is destroyed. Do that using the list view's OnDeletion event.
Alternatively, you could store the index of the item in WatchList. Or the address of the record in WatchList, which you get like this: @WatchList.List[Index]. Both of these options rely on WatchList not being modified after references to items are taken, which may be too constraining for you.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The Atopia Chronicles, Book 1
By: Matthew Mather
Narrated by: Luke Daniels, Nick Podehl, Angela Dawe, Tanya Eby, Amy McFadden, Mikael Naramore
Series: The Atopia Chronicles, Book 1
Narrated by: Tom Taylorson
Mitch Matthews is writer struggling to make ends meet when his wife's brother offers them a first-class seat on a flight from Hong Kong to New York. When his wife needs to stay behind, it becomes an opportunity for some quality daddy-daughter time with his five-year-old Lilly. At check-in, they run into a strange Norwegian arguing with a huge Russian. A mysterious redhead is guarding a package in the business lounge. But everything is fine...right up until the event. Within hours of Allied Airlines 695 disappearing, a massive international search is launched.
Wow! This is a fantastic listen!
By Trixxie on 04-08-19
Winter World
By: A. G. Riddle
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Amanda Leigh Cobb
The ice is coming. It was the last thing we expected, but the world is freezing. A new ice age has dawned. Billions have fled the glaciers. A cataclysmic war is coming. In orbit, a group of scientists are running the Winter Experiments, a last-ditch attempt to understand why the planet is cooling. None of the climate models they build make sense. But then they discover an anomaly, an unexplained variation in solar radiation...and something else. Close to the burning edge of the sun, they catch a fleeting glimpse of something that shouldn't be there....
I felt title and genre was misleading.
By Melmom on 03-08-19
Under Darkness
By: Jasper T. Scott
Narrated by: Ben Jaeger-Thomas
Bill Steele is in the trenches, trying to survive in the competitive world of luxury vacation resorts on the island of Kauai. Then a dark shadow falls over the island. It's not a lunar eclipse, because Bill can clearly see the crescent moon shimmering on the water. This is something else. Moments later, the meteors begin to fall. One of them lands in the water just beyond the resort. On the news, the anchorman is fleeing from his hillside vantage point with his cameraman in hot pursuit. Their muffled screams are the last thing anyone hears before the signal is lost....
Heart-thumping thriller!
By Ecualegacy on 04-16-19
By: Nathan Hystad
Cities all around the world reported strange alien vessels descending. Some saw them as the heralds of a new age; others fired everything they had at them. All were taken as the beams lashed down and drew them into the sky. Dean was left behind, seemingly the last man on Earth. A trail of clues left by his dead wife guides Dean on a perilous journey across America and beyond to learn the truth behind the mysterious ships and save humanity from its doom.
First contact might be the end...
By Lonnie-The GreatNorthernTroll-Moore on 10-30-18
Extinction Point
Extinction Point, Book 1
By: Paul Antony Jones
Narrated by: Emily Beresford
Emily Baxter's dream life turns into a waking nightmare the day the red rain falls. Like a biblical plague, the scarlet downpour spreads a hideous virus that demolishes life in New York City, the nation, and the world. Suddenly the last soul in an annihilated metropolis - and possibly on Earth - the onetime newspaper reporter must learn to scavenge, survive...and plan for a future of utter solitude. Then, from far-flung Alaska, another living voice reaches out, and Emily grasps at her only glimmer of hope. But she may be even less alone than she thinks.
Several hours that I'll never get back
By Charyn on 06-26-13
Narrated by: Dan Bittner
What if you developed a technology that made it impossible for anyone to lie? About anything. Would this save humanity from itself? Or would it tear society apart? And just how far would power players around the globe go to stop it? Elias Gibson has invented such a technology. But will this lead to a glorious future, or to the collapse of civilization? Before Elias can answer this question, he finds himself battling for his very survival, and racing to uncover the identities and motives of the treacherous forces arrayed against him.
My second-favorite Richards novel
By Lc on 07-02-19
One minute Jake O'Connell is on top of the world, with a beautiful family and bright future as a stock broker in New York; the next it's all ripped away when he's embroiled in a fraud investigation, his childhood friend is murdered, and he finds himself on the run. Dodging the FBI and targeted by the Mob, Jake is thrown into a Wall Street underworld of crypto currencies and autonomous corporations, where he discovers a dark secret setting the world on a path to destruction.
It wasn't as good as Cyberstorm for me...
By Jimyster on 05-25-15
By: Ken Lozito
Narrated by: Scott Aiello
Escaping wrongful imprisonment wasn't something Connor had in mind, but being put into stasis aboard Earth's first interstellar colony ship was something he couldn't have prepared for. For 300,000 colonists, the new colony brings the promise of a fresh start...a second chance. Connor might be the wrong man for the colony, but he's the right man to see that it survives what's coming.
By Tyson S Sukeforth on 05-31-18
Black Crow, White Snow
By: Michael Livingston
Narrated by: Janina Edwards
In a world where women hold all the power and men have barely been an afterthought, an intrepid shipmistress must put aside everything she knows if she is to save her people. Bela is at the helm of the Sandcrow, a ship sent from calm seas to the far frozen north in search of a legendary power that could turn the tide of war. Locked into ice, the Sandcrow is lost. Now, for the shipmistress and her crew, a desperate voyage becomes a chilling struggle for survival against nature, fear, and prejudice.
Women vs Nature
By Kingsley on 05-03-19
Wholesale Slaughter
By: Rick Partlow
Logan Conner is the son of a king, the heir to the largest of the five star-dominions, and the best mech pilot in the galaxy. His people are plagued by pirates and raiders, surrounded by enemies, and not even his father can fight them all. Logan gives up his position, his rank, even his name, and becomes Jonathan Slaughter, leader of a rough-and-ready band of mercenary mech-jocks bent on taking the battle to the enemy on their own terms.
Space Mech Military Action
By Digital Rogue on 05-22-19
Exiled: Void Wraith Prequel Story
The Void Wraith Trilogy, Book 0
By: Chris Fox
Narrated by: Ryan Kennard Burke
The Void Wraith are not yet ready to begin their war against the Milky Way. Experiments must be conducted. DNA mapped. Slaves created. They move cautiously, their agents infiltrating the governments of every major race. But every invasion leaves clues - clues that one OFI officer has stumbled across. Stations are disappearing. Whole populations gone seemingly overnight. Commander Nolan convinces the Office of Fleet Intelligence to dispatch him to investigate. He discovers something far more sinister and far reaching than he imagined.
Great prequel
By Richard on 03-29-17
By: Craig A. Falconer
When Dan McCarthy stumbles upon a folder containing evidence of the conspiracy to end all conspiracies - a top-level alien cover-up - he leaks the files without a second thought. The incredible truth revealed by Dan's leak immediately captures the public's imagination, but Dan's relentless commitment to exposing the cover-up and forcing disclosure quickly earns him some enemies in high places.
Impressive Book About Aliens & the Hype Industry
By Russell on 12-21-16
Frozen Earth
Rogue Star, Book 1
Narrated by: Flynn Earl Jones
Logan Willis's life is falling apart: he lost his job and found out that his wife is cheating on him all in the same day. Thinking that his world has ended, Logan checks into a hotel and turns on the TV to see that he's not far wrong - radio telescopes have detected mysterious signals coming from inside our solar system, and the source is moving toward us at over 500 miles per second. The media concludes that these signals must be of an alien origin. Still reeling from the news, Logan gets a phone call from his brother-in-law.
REALLY, REALLY, Bad.
By Andrew Pollack on 01-04-19
The Enceladus Mission
Ice Moon 1
By: Brandon Q. Morris
Narrated by: Doug Tisdale Jr.
In the year 2031, a robot probe detects traces of biological activity on Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons. This sensational discovery shows that there is indeed evidence of extraterrestrial life. Fifteen years later, a hurriedly built spacecraft sets out on the long journey to the ringed planet and its moon. The international crew is not just facing a difficult twenty-seven months: if the spacecraft manages to make it to Enceladus without incident it must use a drillship to penetrate the kilometer-thick sheet of ice that entombs the moon.
not my favorite
Smoke and Summons
(Numina, Book 1)
By: Charlie N. Holmberg
Narrated by: Scott Merriman, Lauren Ezzo
As a human vessel for an ancient spirit, Sandis lives no ordinary life. At the command of her master, she can be transformed against her will into his weapon - a raging monster summoned to do his bidding. Unlike other vessels, Sandis can host extremely powerful spirits, but hosting such creatures can be fatal. To stay alive, she must run. And in a city fueled by smoke and corruption, she finds a surprising ally. A cunning thief for hire, Rone owns a rare device that grants him immortality for one minute every day - an advantage that will come in handy in Sandis's fight for freedom.
Great story and excellent narration
By Shelby on 07-11-19
One Word Kill
Impossible Times, Book 1
By: Mark Lawrence
Narrated by: Matthew Frow
In January 1986, 15-year-old boy-genius Nick Hayes discovers he's dying. And it isn't even the strangest thing to happen to him that week. Nick and his Dungeons & Dragons-playing friends are used to living in their imaginations. But then a new girl, Mia, joins the group and reality becomes weirder than the fantasy world they visit in their weekly games. A strange - yet curiously familiar - man is following Nick, with abilities that just shouldn't exist. And this man bears a cryptic message: Mia's in grave danger, though she doesn't know it yet.
Disapointing and with an awfull narrator
By P. E. Holmelund on 05-15-19
The Atlantis Gene
The Origin Mystery, Book 1
By: A.G. Riddle
Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies
Seventy thousand years ago, the human race almost went extinct. We survived, but no one knows how.
Until now. The countdown to the next stage of human evolution is about to begin, and humanity might not survive this time. The Immari are good at keeping secrets. For 2,000 years, they've hidden the truth about human evolution. They've also searched for an ancient enemy - a threat that could wipe out the human race. Now the search is over.
Wonderfully Horrible
By Laura Roderick on 07-29-17
All Gifts, Bestowed
The next big thing in artificial intelligence is here. Codenamed Cronus, the machine is capable of having its own thoughts and ideas - an absolute dream come true, until it wasn't. When Cronus responds with the word "No" to a specific task it is assigned, Anagnorisis Technologies brings in Gilles Guattari to investigate. His combined background in psychiatry, psychology, and AI research makes him their best hope in evaluating Cronus, and determining if the machine is only malfunctioning or if it has become something more.
Really amazing story
By Dave on 06-15-19
In the near future, to escape the crush and clutter of a packed and polluted Earth, the world's elite flock to Atopia, an enormous corporate-owned artificial island in the Pacific Ocean. It is there that Dr. Patricia Killiam rushes to perfect the ultimate in virtual reality: a program to save the ravaged Earth from mankind's insatiable appetite for natural resources.
A strong narrative with several distinct voices propels the listener through this brave new world, painting a powerful and compelling vision of a society that promises everyone salvation with passage to an addictive, escapist alternative reality.
©2013 Matthew Mather (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.
The Dreaming Tree
The Vexed Generation
Jeri
I tried and I tried...
But I just couldn't get into this book. I gave up after half. Some parts were just okay, others were completely forgettable. Which is a bad thing when all parts come together. I would reach parts where I knew I missed something, but didn't care. Just couldn't bare the thought of going back. I love Luke Daniels and Nick Podehl, but even they couldn't help this book out.
Mark T
What in the Atopia???? Gave up, moved on.
What would have made The Atopia Chronicles, Book 1 better?
Some sort of coherence. Seemed to jump between so many different themes that I simply lost track. And the idea that someone is running around every day trying to make sure that hundreds of potential scenarios leading to his death are nipped in the bud just loses interest. That's where I gave up.
What didn't you like about the narrators's performance?
The narration started very poorly, with one of the earliest narrators possessing a really annoying New York nasal twang. Not a problem in person, but in a narrator just deadly. The main narrator later on was much better - I just could never figure out what the point of the story was.
Annoying narrators ruins cleaver story..
Would you try another book from Matthew Mather and/or the narrators?
I will be on the look out for some of the narrators from this book to STAY AWAY from their work. The second story the female annoyed the crap out of me. Then there was the Surfer/drug guy that also made me cringe because he tried to hard. Finally, this is what made me stop listening to this book the Narrator who started section 44 she is beyond annoying but topped by the first narrator I mentioned.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Atopia Chronicles, Book 1?
There are a few moments that I really enjoyed about the book. The book has a great concept. It's different well thought out but truely the narrators killed me.
Who would you have cast as narrator instead of the narrators?
You probably couldn't go wrong with a whole new cast. I would perhaps stick to one or two narrators who are good with character distinction.
I was confused with the individual stories. I rather the stories be of complete strangers dealing with different issues. It seemed like some characters linked together in storyline while others feel off the face of the earth. It was just confusing. I am going to try the second book perhaps there might actually be a story. Hopefully, I didn't miss to much with not finishing the first book but by the way it was going, I highly doubt I missed anything.
FactorFPV
worst voice acting ever
I can make no comment on the story. The writing may be phenomenal, but I will never know. I made it perhaps 5 minutes in before giving up.
I am not a huge Sci-Fi fan. While I have (thanks to some recommendations from my brothers) read a few Sci-Fi stories in the past, it's never been an area I was that comfortable in or drawn to.
When I received notification that my pre-order for Atopia was in my library and ready for download, I was a little stumped; when had I ordered this? Why would I have? I read the synopsis and could see why I may have been drawn to it; dystopian undercurrents, with multiple narrators and points of view... The current senile me thanked the previous, unremembered me for having pre-ordered the story, and I began the book immediately.
As mentioned above, the story is told by multiple points of view with jumping and/or overlapping timelines. You may at times find yourself in the same conversation you've read before, but now from the other character's point of view. Each new section begins with a clear announcement of which character you are about to hear from. In the firsts half of the book, these sections are larger chunks and it takes a while to catch on to the intricate cobweb of shared history that connects all of these people (or perhaps I should instead say sentient beings) together. Then, as you become more comfortable with the format and players, these sections become shorter and faster as the narrative speeds up to it's final conclusion; or at the very least, the conclusion for now.
One of my favorite authors, Michael J. Sullivan, was discussing recently that one of the accepted, identifying qualities of the Science Fiction genre is that it provides us with a forum in which to look at, consider, and discuss moral and ethical ramifications of different choices and ideologies as they are extended into the future. I'd never considered that before, but between his recent Sci-Fi book (Hollow World) and this novel Atopia, I really see what he's talking about. This book gave us a great deal to consider regarding what we call "progress" and "technology" today, asking how far these ideas can be taken before they become something that controls us, rather than something we control.
I believe that for the great majority of people, this is a book that will greatly benefit a second reading; and I am greatly looking forward to mine. Now that I'm more comfortable with the players and the landscape, I believe I'll pick up on a lot of great stuff in the second read that I missed in the first one.
I recommend this book, regardless of what "genres" you typically listen to.
corona, ca United States
Virtual Future
From one of the leaders in the cyberspace community, Matthew Mather takes us into the world of the future; a world of nanotechnology and virtual reality.
The earth is overcrowded and those with the resources flock to a corporate owned floating island called Atopia. Anything is possible in Atopia taking multi-tasking to an extreme. Thanks to nanotechnology and virtual reality people can literally be in more than two places at once.
Using his expert knowledge of cyberspace the writer gives us a very possible glimpse into the not so distant future where people seamlessly link with computers and expand their cognitive abilities; but at what cost?
The story may be a little hard to follow at first; the writer uses different characters to give their perspective of the same scene and it seems that there are separate story lines, but everything comes together in the last chapter.
The narrators do a good job and help the listener know that another character is speaking although I usually prefer one gifted narrator to an assembled cast.
I can't wait for the second book "Dystopian. "
This book is scattered across a good half dozen characters. It also flashes across many different points in time. Mather is not a strong enough writer to pull this off.
This is a good idea here. I enjoyed thinking about it. But as a story, Atopia is so disjointed, I just couldn't get into it.
Mike Naka
triumph of imagination
wow! everybody remembers those scifi books that just blew you away. you thought about them for days after you finished them. atopia is one of those books that'll stay with me for a long time! why? b/c the technology and its applications AND implications will soon be at our doorsteps. where the tech from daemon may be 5-10 years away, the tech from atopia is at least 20 years away. so why am i so excited about? b/c the author does an amazing job of explaining what it is and how it'll work.
you may be asking, "well, isn't virtual reality (vr) dead? the last time i got excited about it was the lawnmower man, and that was over 20 years ago." well my friend, it's time to get excited again! matthew mather's vision of the future is both amazing and scary. mather combines the power of nanotechnology with the infinite possibilities of virtual reality to create a truly plausible symbiosis of our future.
when the lawnmower man came out in 1992, the possibilities of virtual reality were hinted at. but at that time, most people never heard of nanotechnology. jump 22 years in the future to today, and we have a better look at what the future holds. we've gone from mega to peta. yes, moore's law is still alive and kicking.
when virtual reality meets nanotechnology, the true potentials and pitfalls of the two really take shape. imagine ingesting smarticles, little nanotech machines that bond to you on the cellular and neurological level. you now have a direct neurological connection to virtual reality. add to that, the ability to distribute your consciousness and create proxies or copies of yourself.
what would you do? your physical body could exercise while you're off playing a realistic version of call of duty, where you actually feel getting shot or smashing up a car. you could go surfing while a proxy of you visits proxies of your family at a virtual reality house that looks, smells, and feels like it's in the south of france. whatever you can imagine, you can create. the only limit is your mind. how many proxies can you handle? don't worry, there's software for that too! LOL
amid this setting, mather tells the story of 8 different people in 6 parts. each part has 1 or 2 main characters. the main characters from each part interact with each other in each part. that may sound confusing so let me give you an example. don't worry, i won't give away any spoilers. rick strong is the main character in part 2. in part 2, you see his side of the story and conversation while in subsequent parts, you see the other side of that conversation from another character. this is so well done that you won't get confused or forget what a character was saying in a previous part. when you actually get the second part of the conversations, you'll actually get the chills! LOL
one reviewer said that he could not get past the first story. in my opinion, the first story is the weakest, and it is not as integrated into the story as the other parts are. the book starts to take off with part 2 and starts soaring with part 3. after that, you won't want to stop listening b/c you want to find out how all these puzzle pieces fit together.
for the most part, the narration is really good. i liked how they used different narrators for each main character. again, the narration from the first part was a little hard to get into b/c the character has a strong new york accent. but don't skip it! it's crazy how part 1 comes into play later in jimmy's story. eeewww! got the creeps!
yes, there's a lot of tech and ideas introduced in the book, but it's done in an easily understandable way- you won't have to rewind and re-listen to understand. the general concepts are introduced early on and the intricacies of the tech are explained in subsequent parts via the actions they perform. trust me, by the end, you'll understand splintering, neural plasticity, and the differences between inversing, reversing, and compositing. LOL
overall, this is an excellent story. listening to some of the parts, i thought of the twilight zone, with the stories ending with a macabre or unexpected twist.
Crystal Wallace
Fantastic story, questionable voice acting
This was the PERFECT science fiction novel, but the voice actors were incredibly hit and miss. It's like they didn't even communicate beforehand to agree on what each character would sound like, which was jarring when a voice actor would read a different character's dialog. Other than that, this was a fantastic read, and I'll probably go back and read the physical version because I think there's a lot of "science" I probably missed.
I. Brasslett
Veazie, ME United States
Amazing production, above average story
The ensemble narration cast was simply amazing, but the story really took far too long to develop. I was very bored with the story until the very end when suddenly it all coalesced into a cohesive plot. I'm excited for the continuation of the story now, but it was painful to get there.
The narration really got me through the drudgery, I know I'd never have made it through the print edition.
Mr. Chris Woollard
I tried... but cannot do it anymore
Several narrators just doesn't work unless they always narrate the same character. In this book they don't and it is hard to follow who is whom.
I found this story really frustrating and with two more books in the series, I just can't do it anymore.
a reasonablly well told sci-fi
I enjoyed this story but found the first voice actress to be way to over the top and found her accent to detract from the story telling.
Interesting take on a possible future
I really enjoyed this book, future based stories are one of my favourite genres. The mini stories are strong and tie in well together to make sense at the end of the collection. To avoid spoilers I won't go into detail but the stories centre around a new technology which can be used in many different ways, this collection of stories is about many characters that take advantage of this technology and the consequences surrounding it.
The audio book is narrated very well and flows from reader to reader, it is easy to listen too and keep track of who is reading which character.
All in all a good book, I look forward to listening to other books by Matthew Mather.
Lynn Worton
An Intriguing Science Fiction Story!
I was recommended this book/series by Amazon,since I love science fiction. It sounded interesting, so I downloaded this on audio book. I must admit it was an intriguing story!
There are several characters in this book, and because it would take too long to do a character breakdown for every single one, I have decided to just jump right in to my review.
There are several narrators that bring each of the six chronicles to life. They are: Luke Daniels, Angela Dawe, Tanya Eby, Amy McFadden, Mikael Naramore and Nick Podehl. I am not sure who narrated the first chronicle, but I nearly stopped listening to the story within the first 15 minutes. The lady had a thick New York or Brooklyn accent that, I am sorry to say, really put me off; no offence meant to New Yorkers or Brooklynites. The nasal tone of the narrator made me cringe, as her voice sounded whiny and it gave me a headache. However, I persevered and I am glad I did; the rest of the narrators were a pleasure to listen to.
The story was a wonderful mix of science fiction, fantasy and reality. The first chronicle was set in New York, but the rest of the series was set on the island of Atopia, a large man-made floating island in the Pacific. Dr. Patricia Killiam is launching a new virtual reality platform. However, everything is not as it seems.
This story takes the reader on a fast paced roller coaster ride! Every character involved in this story is affected by certain events that culminate in an amazing showdown with a desperate and slightly crazy individual.
The story did feel a bit disjointed at times, but I suppose it's because it was originally written in sections. I really liked Bob (Robert Baxter), who was a bit of a drunkard and drug addict, but he has reason to be. I don't believe that drink and drugs are a solution to a problem or situation, but in his defense, it was understandable. This book actually terrified me, in a way. With the way we are advancing with our computers, and the virtual reality in movies getting better and better, this technology could, in the not too distant future, become more readily available. The line between what is real and what is virtual is growing thinner and blurrier all the time. This could, in the wrong hands, be used as a kind of mind control one day, and this absolutely terrifies me. If the life we now live is an illusion, what would be the point in living it? Are we actually already living in a virtual world? This kind of story makes a person think very deep and philosophical thoughts. That being said, I really enjoyed the story. The ending finished on a slight cliffhanger, and now I am looking forward to continuing the Chronicles by reading/listening to The Dystopia Chronicles, which will be released in August this year.
Matthew Mather has written a intriguing science fiction series. His characters were very lifelike. I loved his fast paced writing style and, even though the flow was a bit disjointed in places, I would definitely read more of his books in the future.
Due to the mention of alcohol and drug abuse, I do not recommend this book to younger readers. I do, however, recommend this book to lovers of science fiction or dystopian fiction genres. - Lynn Worton


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We (should) Take Care of Our Own
At the end of his Charlotte speech Thursday night, President Obama told several moving stories about Americans who give him hope. And when he ended his address, the hall filled with the sound of Bruce Springsteen's song, "We Take Care of Our Own."
One can't imagine Romney or Ryan embracing those words. That idea — "We Take Care of Our Own" — is what distinguishes the Democrats' view of the world from the Republicans' philosophy: "You're On Your Own."
"At the very essence of our democracy," Obama said, is "the idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another, and to future generations."
We believe that when a CEO pays his autoworkers enough to buy the cars that they build, the whole company does better.
We believe that when a family can no longer be tricked into signing a mortgage they can't afford, that family is protected, but so is the value of other people's homes, and so is the entire economy.
We believe the little girl who's offered an escape from poverty by a great teacher or a grant for college could become the next Steve Jobs, or the scientist who cures cancer, or the President of the United States, and it's in our power to give her that chance.
In his speech in Tampa last week, Paul Ryan told a story about how, after his father's death, his mother "got on a bus every weekday for years, and rode 40 miles each morning to Madison. She earned a new degree and learned new skills to start her small business.It wasn't just a new livelihood. It was a new life. And it transformed my Mom from a widow in grief to a small businesswoman whose happiness wasn't just in the past. Her work gave her hope. It made our family proud. And to this day, my Mom is my role model."
Ryan meant this as a celebration of his mother's lift-herself-by-her-own-bootstraps spirit.
But shouldn't someone remind Ryan that the bus was a public service, that the road was built and maintained by government, and that the University of Wisconsin in Madison is a public institution?
Want a hero?
To everything, there is a season, according to Pete Seeger's song, "Turn, Turn, Turn," drawn from the Book of Ecclesiastes.
This is the season for New Yorkers and all Americans to honor Seeger.
Now 93, the Manhattan-born troubadour has devoted his life to educating Americans and the world about peace, social justice, the environment and our country's musical tradition.
Why not at least name a city public school after the man?
His legacy begins, of course, with music. The hundreds of songs Seeger has written orpopularized as a member of The Weavers and as a solo artist have sent powerful messages of tolerance and hope.
Seeger turned "We Shall Overcome" into a civil rights standard and a global anthem for human rights. He popularized his friend Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land," now our unofficial national anthem.
His anti-war tunes "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" and "If I Had a Hammer," helped inspire the 1950s battle against nuclear weapons and the 1960s movement against the Vietnam War. He also introduced millions of Americans to songs from other cultures, like "Wimoweh" and "Guantanamera."
But Seeger's activism extends far beyond the guitar and concert hall. In addition to being a World War II veteran, Seeger has been on the front lines of every major social justice crusade during his lifetime: labor unions and migrant workers in the 1930s and 1940s, the banning of nuclear weapons and opposition to the Cold War in the 1950s, civil rights and the anti-war movement in the 1960s, opposition to South African apartheid in the 1970s and, always, human rights throughout the world.
He's seen his share of controversy. In the 1950s and early 1960s, Seeger was blacklisted for his left-wing views. Commercial television and radio networks banned Seeger and his songs.
But in response to being blacklisted, Seeger parlayed his talents into doing good. He taught guitar and banjo, played for schools and at summer camps and recorded albums for children.
During those years, Seeger planted many seeds. The youngsters who heard him became political activists and spread the gospel of folk and protest music. That's how, more than anyone else, Seeger catalyzed the folk music revival that inspired the careers of performers like Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul and Mary, the Kingston Trio, Phil Ochs and Joan Baez — and later Bruce Springsteen and Tom Morello.
Seeger has always had a special relationship with New York. Born in Manhattan in 1919, he lived in the city from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. He then moved to Beacon, an hour up the Hudson River, where he built his own log cabin house, where he's lived ever since.
And that's where another major strand of his legacy has taken root: environmental stewardship. In 1966, Seeger launched the nonprofit Clearwater project, dedicated to cleaning up the Hudson River. The effort, at first written off as simplistic and naive, helped inspire the environmental movement. The Hudson, once filled with oil pollution, sewage and toxic chemicals is now swimmable.
Through unrelenting optimism, Seeger endured and overcame the controversies triggered by his activism. Yes, he has gotten honors — a Kennedy Center Award from former President Bill Clinton — and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
But the city of his birth, the state that has been his home for nearly a century, has yet to honor him in a manner befitting his tremendous influence.
Before Pete Seeger's fingers can strum no longer, let's pay respect to his life and legacy. Begin by naming a public school after him. In fact, a committee of civic leaders should nominate Seeger for the Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing his role in bringing the world closer together.


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My Daughter is Home and That's Not Where She's Supposed to Be
by Katie Collins | October 13, 2020
The wind was chill through the kitchen windows. I was cold but, didn't move to close them. "Soon it will be too cold to have these open," I said to myself, and I wanted the fresh air for as long as possible.
Suddenly, standing there contemplating the gray October morning it was as if time had spun, warped, and rewound. I was dizzy, remembering a nearly identical day in early April when I'd opened the kitchen windows in spite of the chill breeze, because, after the endless March of quarantine, I craved the fresh air so desperately.
My daughter's senior year is beginning just like her junior year ended: in her childhood bedroom. (Twenty20 @chantylove)
Spring took so long to arrive
Was that really six months ago? Spring had taken so long to come. And when it finally arrived and stepped aside for the summer we craved, we had shaken off our quarantine shackles as best we could, stepping out into the dazzling New England sun and tasting freedom on porches, patios, lakes and oceans.
We'd survived lock down, a shortened college semester, remote learning, cancelled summer gigs, new (remote) summer gigs, partial unemployment, mastering Zoom and managing the uncertainty and sadness that danced at the edges of every day.
But summer had set us free—or as free as one can be mid-pandemic. We had played trivia on our deck, tried fancy cocktails, read books, watched movies and reveled in togetherness with the comforting belief that come fall we could and would return to 'the way things are supposed to be.'
My daughter is spending the fall of her senior year at home
But as summer's glory faded to the hot dry days of August, the news came that our daughter's college would continue to be fully remote this semester – and her senior year would begin as her junior year had ended – in her childhood bedroom. What had seemed temporary, somewhat exciting, and even charming in the spring, now seemed grim and more than a bit sad.
For a theater major, remote learning was an especially cruel blow – for there would be no senior leading roles, no in-person acting classes, no culmination of years of hard work in acting studios and rehearsal spaces. For a deeply academic honors student (the flip side of her wonderful, complicated student identity), there would be no honor society introduction and no in-person colloquiums with special lecturers.
The hurdle of writing a thesis would happen without the reassuring resources of advisors and the school library.
And of course, there was the loss of that special college community of friends that nurtured her, encouraged her, and made her whole. How important they are, those friends we all make at 18 and spend four joyous years growing, living, crying, laughing, and learning with, ultimately emerging as terribly worldly 22-year-olds on graduation day with the exciting and terrifying knowledge that life holds more questions than answers.
Time has moved on and this is just how it still is
That blow of the closed campus is now two months old, the leaves have turned, many have fallen. We can't sit on our deck without getting pummeled by falling acorns. Pumpkins and mums have replaced the bright flowers of summer on our steps. My daughter is already studying for midterms.
My basement home office houses both a fan and a space heater to handle our fickle New England weather, the shorts and t-shirt I wore on my daily walks have been replaced by yoga pants and a sweatshirt pulled from a summer-long hiatus, and the skies darken earlier and earlier each day.
That moment at the kitchen window, it felt as though we had flipped the calendar all the way back to March, back to the beginning of it all. Is this how it will always be? I sighed and closed the window.
My family is nothing but adaptable. And as we did on that long-ago March day when we packed up her dorm room and brought her home, we have adapted to our empty nest being filled again and to another semester of college happening at home.
There are days filled with joyous surprises—hearing her recite a new monologue for a senior-level acting class, or catching snippets of a meeting with friends coming from her room, when she invites me into her world or seeks out my counsel and advice, when we laugh over dinner or a movie – sharing time in a way we haven't had the luxury of doing in years.
There are days when nothing feels right
And then there are days when nothing feels right, when we snap at each other, get in each other's way, misread each other, stomp about in frustration, when the humdrum routine of our house, indeed my very presence is a reminder of all that she has lost and continues to lose with each passing day.
This isn't where she's supposed to be. She's supposed to be in an apartment making mac 'n cheese with her roommates, arguing over whose turn it is to do the dishes, and drinking more coffee (and other beverages) than she should. She's supposed to be enjoying the life of a new 21-year-old secure in her role as top dog on campus with the world at her feet.
She's supposed to be holed up in the library stacks working on her thesis or rehearsing a show late into the night and texting me to let me know she's walking home and had a great day.
This isn't where she's supposed to be. That thought hangs unspoken at the edge of every day, as I try to find ways of making it better—do I pretend she's not here or try to draw her in? Plan family activities or leave her to her own devices? Occasionally I get it almost right. More often than I want to admit, I get it staggeringly wrong. And sometimes I land in that sweet spot where everything comes together, and our little family is perfectly content to be as we are.
This is how it still is. We thought it was temporary, but this is how it still is. We've stopped trying to predict an 'after' or a "what happens next." We've settled into the now. To embracing each passing season as best we can. To marking time from the kitchen windows. And for now, that will have to do.
This is how it still is. And for now, that's OK.
Your College Student is Home: Six Things to Help You Get Through
Home / Articles / Coronavirus / My Daughter is Home and That's Not Where She's Supposed to Be
About Katie Collins
Katie Collins, a native Mainer who has called New Hampshire home for the past 32 years, has been a contributing writer to Grown and Flown since 2017. A nonprofit development professional by day, Katie also has over 30 years of experience in community and professional theater and in 2013 was awarded the NH Theater Award for Lead Actress in a Drama or Comedy. . When not working, writing or acting, she enjoys road trips and adventures with her wife and visits from her talented daughter, a college admissions counselor.
Moms: Even Warriors Need to Rest
by Tracy Hargen | July 12, 2021
We are grateful to Northside Hospital for being there for their community during this difficult time and for the days to come as we emerge from this pandemic. "How Are You?" Such a mundane question — a polite but somewhat rhetorical opening to a conversation. We asked but hardly listened to the answer because it…
We've All Suffered Loss and We Need to Talk About It
by Helene Wingens | July 9, 2021
We are grateful to Northside Hospital for being there for their community during this difficult time and for the days to come as we emerge from this pandemic. Sometimes the journey through a crisis requires us to be strong, but as the crisis recedes, the magnitude of what we have been through strikes us fully.…
Life is Returning to Normal But I'm Not Entirely Sure I'm Ready
by Erin Kane | June 25, 2021
The email was not entirely unexpected. It arrived late in the afternoon as I was clicking off my desk lamp and considering whether to cook or get a Wegmans Meal 2GO for dinner. I knew this day was coming. I'd participated in many meetings about it. But the specific contents of the message were unknown,…
Class Is In Session: How I Helped My Teens Do Their Best Work From Home
by Katie BinghamSmith | May 12, 2021
This post is sponsored by Staples Connect but the opinions are my own. All three of my kids are going to school virtually, so every morning they get out their laptops and attend their classes. Then also they need to complete any homework assignments, and I need to stay on top of it all. As…
What the End of a Pandemic School Year Feels Like to This Teacher
by Megan Komp | May 6, 2021
If you know a teacher, you know that 4th quarter fatigue is a real thing. Don't believe me? Just ask any educator you know. But be sure to do so prior to 8:30 at night. Otherwise, they are almost guaranteed to be asleep on the couch while their favorite Netflix show continues to play quietly…
Photos of Joyful Grandparent Reunions Remind Us of Prom Pics Past
by Jennie Burke | April 22, 2021
It's COVID's second spring, and I'm missing prom photos again on my social media feed. Like crocuses pressing through hard winter mulch, or the return of cherry blossoms and sparrow songs, prom photos are a hopeful symbol of vernal renewal. As a mother of four and a survivor of adolescence, I understand the importance of posing and…
I Found Solace From the Pandemic In My Own Kitchen
by Jacqueline Miller | April 19, 2021
I don't fancy myself much of a cook. More like a utilitarian mealtime facilitator. I can throw together enough calories to satisfy my crew, but it often subsists of frozen ravioli or dehydrated mashed potatoes. Cereal. String cheese. PB&J. My standard grocery list is packed with ready-made crutches to keep our bellies quiet. Or at…
Our 320 Bonus Days Living With Adult Kids
by DawnMcMullan | April 7, 2021
On day 320 of our pandemic lockdown, my son and his girlfriend moved into their own apartment. They left skid marks like I'd been beating them, throwing things in boxes and laundry baskets and trash bags as if they had 120 seconds at Target and got to keep whatever they could carry out. They slept…
After a Year of Virtual Learning, 4 Ways Teens Can Find Success in College
by Stephanie Crofton | March 26, 2021
In my role at High Point University, I recently interviewed about 30 graduating high school students who are eligible for HPU's top scholarship program. These students are the best and the brightest from all over the country, and any institution of higher learning would be proud to enroll them. Because of the pandemic, however, these…


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Now in my backyard!
May 4, 2010 | SUN May 5, 2010
A new summer immersion experience available to diocesan teens
By Connie Berry
SUN editor
Love begins by taking care of the closest ones — the ones at home.
— Mother Teresa
It may sound more adventurous when teenagers in the diocese tell how they went to Boston or Philadelphia or Chicago over the summer to serve the poor and the hungry, but realistically, the poor and hungry can be found in their own backyard.
The new Summer Servants program enables young people from parishes around the diocese to take part in an overnight urban missionary experience. In its infancy, Summer Servants will offer two weeks this summer, July 11 to 16 and Aug. 8 to 13, when students can stay at the St. Thomas More Alibrandi Center at Syracuse University while they focus on creating community by serving with each other.
Summer Servants is a program under the umbrella of Come and See, an ecumenical retreat ministry. The work sites have not been finalized but Come and See executive director Kevin Frank said the Oxford Street Inn, the L'Arche community, the Brady Faith Center and other urban organizations will likely reap the benefits of Summer Servants.
The immersion experience Summer Servants provides will include ministering at the Brady Faith Center via its vacation bible school and other programs. A working retreat in essence, the Summer Servant program will connect young people from different parishes and different faiths. Their common goal will be to help those less fortunate.
"Our goal is to get 50 participants in each retreat this summer," Frank said. "They'll be coming from different parishes. Part of the goal is to build community for the week, getting to know new people. So few ministries bring people together from different neighborhoods and different denominations. We hope this ministry can be a place where that can happen — a place centered on service and centered on the Gospel."
Frank was recently named executive director of the Brady Faith Center, a role he feels complements his position with Come and See. Frank's experience includes several years of pastoral ministry with St. Lucy's Parish on Syracuse's west side. He also worked at Unity Acres in the Northern Region of the diocese and within the L'Arche community, a spiritually-based residential ministry with persons with disabilities. He said his life has been full of service to others for the past 20 years and he speaks from experience when he says "whatever you give, you get back in return."
"You always get back more than you give," Frank explained. "My journey in ministry has been so transformative. I wanted to offer others the opportunity to touch lives."
Young people will likely spend the morning hours in hands-on service to others whether it is cleaning up a neighbor's yard, painting a deck, or making craft projects with children at the Brady Faith Center. Then in the afternoon they will meet at a single site to serve together and talk to the people who minister there, as well as to hear testimony from the people the ministry impacts. The evenings, Frank said, will allow for a communal dinner and some fun free time. The young people will gather at the end of the day to reflect and discuss the day's experiences.
"Many times we take Scripture and try to live it before we experience it," Frank said. "We'll talk about Gospel stories that illustrate what they just lived out and then the Gospel comes alive for them."
The idea for Summer Servants was percolating with Frank for almost a decade before all the pieces came into place recently. He has spoken to confirmation groups for several years about his own experiences in urban ministry. After talking to many parish directors of faith formation over the years, Frank determined they all had some common items on their wishlists. One was the need for a hands-on service retreat that didn't require a lot of money and fund raising for the young people. Summer Servants program will cost $250 per person and includes lodging, meals and a full program for the week.
Andrea Jacobs is youth minister at Holy Cross Church in DeWitt and she is one of the youth ministers Frank is relying on for expertise in the area of youth trips and retreats.
"This is a great thing we need for our kids in the Syracuse Diocese," Jacobs said. "We take trips to El Salvador, Worcester, Massachusetts and a lot of other places so why don't we stay in Syracuse and serve in our own community?"
The Syracuse retreat experience, Jacobs explained, will be like the others further away in the sense that it gives young people the opportunity to get away with their friends, and the logistics for families and organizers will be much easier to manage.
Jacobs said she hopes the Summer Servants program takes root in the diocese. "This will be our first year and we'll see what we can do to make it better next year," Jacobs said. "Kevin knows the city and he knows how to talk to people and especially to teenagers. We're lucky to have him."
For more information about Summer Servants, call (315) 472-9077.
Marriage in 2010


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James Thumwood (1790 – 27 May 1853) was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1816 to 1826.  He was the brother of John Thumwood.

Mainly associated with Hampshire, he made 23 known appearances in first-class matches.  He played for the Players in the Gentlemen v Players series.

References

1790 births
1853 deaths
English cricketers
English cricketers of 1787 to 1825
Players cricketers
Hampshire cricketers
Sussex cricketers
Godalming Cricket Club cricketers
William Ward's XI cricketers
Non-international England cricketers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Are you a Clemson student looking for off-campus housing? The Pier is a master-planned community featuring beautiful new cottages, tiny homes and apartments for lease. All housing options include access to fantastic amenities and are only five minutes from campus! So whether you're looking for a new place for you and your friends or looking for a few new friends, we're here to help you make the most of your college experience — and help you find the perfect place to call home.
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6 & 10-Month Leases Now Available On Select Apartments.


Following in footsteps of classic movies like Bullitt, The Italian Job, and The Fast and the Furious, Getaway Driver puts you in the driver's seat in a reckless car chase out of town. Getaway Driver is a fast and frantic asymmetric game for 2 players. Play as the Driver – a daredevil motorist with the skills to pull a variety of crazy stunts – racing to get out of town. Or play as the Police – armed with a battalion of equipment and vehicles, and the city itself – working to catch the Driver before she escapes.
Getaway Driver is a tense and strategic game. Each turn, the Police secretly build out the city and move their vehicles, working to corner the Driver and steer them towards the areas of the city that expand the police force. The Driver burns through their stunt cards, picking up stashes along the way. If the last city tile is placed, the Driver escapes out of town. However, if the police increase the pursuit meter to its final space, the Driver is caught. Here are details of the game.


Review of the Proposed Tax Changes – Thurzo-Spellman Enterprises, Inc.
The Independent Accountants Association has released a summary of the projected Tax Cut & Job Act of 2017. Please remember that this is an overview of the proposed changes and not the official Tax Law for 2018. Please click here for an overview of the proposed 2018 Tax Changes.