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Baubles for Babes
Easter House Adoption Agency
Writing My Wrongs
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. – Voltaire
Deactivating Dysfunction
Posted on 2016/04/04 by Suz under Adoption Activism
Many years ago, I was on the board of a fairly well known 501(c)(3) organization focused on educating the public on the realities of life as a first mother. My position involved assisting with member communications and website management. Our efforts, however noble they may have been, were continually dampened by personality conflicts. This strong personality bucked heads with that strong personality. Meanwhile, not so strong personalities retreated to the corner and watched. Tempers flared, feelings were hurt, and very little work was done.
Around the same time, a well known adoption activist outside our organization was publicly threatening to shoot one of the board members for disagreeing with said activist. Out in adoption land two separate adoptee organizations were struggling with their own infighting.
Eventually, I resigned from the first mother organization. While I fully supported their mission and wanted to help, I found them too focused on one upping and sandbagging each other. I have that sort of drama in my own family. No need to volunteer for it. After resigning and while pondering the various personalities, I realized that what each person wanted, no, demanded was to be seen and heard. Every member was talented, educated, and committed yet we could not get out of our own way enough to do any real work. We lacked emotional intelligence. Our overwhelming need, no surprise considering we had each been disposed of by our families in one way or another, was to be loved and cared for.
I reflected on this experience when Joyce made her ending comments to her keynote. In her case she was referring to the AAC Board. Admittedly, I do not know the details of what is going on with the AAC. I am merely a member who has heard bit of gossip or been invited to view scandalous and inappropriate (to me) Facebook pages. I am in no position to comment or judge their drama but I do believe I am in a position to ask what can we do about it? This was the question I brought to Joyce following her keynote. Given her work with adoption traumatized individuals as well as her clinical experience and education, what would she recommend? How can we solve this for AAC and other adoption reform organizations? I am generally more interested in solutions than I am in assigning blame or pointing fingers.
Joyce suggested (and I agree) that nearly every single person working in adoption reform comes to it from a place of pain, loss, and trauma. This trauma gets in the way. Okay. What can we do?
Joyce had no clear advice. I questioned how organizations like Donaldson are able to perform. Are they not also populated with adoption impacted individuals? Joyce noted Donaldson is staffed with paid professionals. They have a very different operating model for their organization versus a volunteer staffed organization. Point taken. Does a formal position and associated compensation make a person behave professionally? I am going to guess the answer is "no". Joyce and I were interrupted by a session starting and as a result we did not finish our conversation. Others at the conference suggested that this is a phase AAC is going through and they have been there before and recovered from it. They will again. I suppose that is reassuring but I still ask the bigger question.
Can we solve this for AAC as well as other organizations? If we do not, can we truly make progress if we are constantly bogged down by our shared trauma? It feels like two steps forward and three steps back every time an adoption reform organization attempts to make change.
AAC 2016 Prelim Thoughts
Teen Mom Home
Quits & Quitting
WWYD?
Child Catchers Arrived
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21 Thoughts.
I know the organization of which you speak. We spoke on the phone about my getting involved on the board. I innocently agreed, but hadn't been a member for a year yet, so was not eligible. But I did produce their newsletter for a few years. Yes, there were conflicts and certain people I refused to interact with at some point, but kept on keeping on. Until the organization began to fail, go under. They had few members, not much support. I believe that AAC will live on, get over the recent weirdness, at least I hope so. Although I couldn't attend the Denver conference an appear on your excellent panel, I'm not opposed to presenting again. As I did in Cleveland and San Francisco. I'll be watching what they do to move forward and hope for the best. IMHO, we cannot let organizations, big or small, that educate the public about adoption issues and fight for adoptee and birthmother rights go down. We must do whatever we can to support them as long as they are on the right track.
I have been a member of AAC on and off from the start, was at a meeting in DC in 1979 which was either the first or second AAC gathering, and was on the board for a few years in the 90s. I have attended many, but not all, of their conferences. Was at last year's train wreck in Boston, did not attend this year and have let my membership lapse for now.. Like Joyce who has been involved in AAC as long as I, I have no real answers on how to fix it, but see the same things happening again and again no matter who is on the board. it almost seems like same script, different players, on and on through the years. Is it because it is all volunteers? Would a paid board do better? Is it because of trauma suffered in the past?
Somehow AAC eats up and spits out its board and volunteers, no matter who they are or even what their triad position or philosophy is. Yes, AAC has survived in some sense and probably will continue to survive, and limp along, but I disagree that it has ever recovered, since the same drama and mistakes play out every few years. More like a chronic disease that does not kill but never goes away and cripples and disables. Maybe it is the corruption of a little bit of power bestowed on people who have been powerless, or maybe just ego coming before working as a team, or maybe it is the culture of secrets, lies, coverups and cronyism that mirror the adoption industry and continue to be the working model of the AAC Board? Maybe it is trying to be all things to all people instead of having a clear and more narrow goal and sticking to it?
Perhaps the AAC has indeed outlived its usefulness like the group you used to belong to, and needs to gracefully die so something else with a whole different structure and attitude can take its place. Perhaps the AAC board is just cursed:-) I really have no answers to any of it, but have observed the same coups, board takeovers, firings and shunning of ex-members, and general dysfunction be repeated time and time again since its inception, and nothing really gets better. My reaction to the new regime of AAC , until proven otherwise, is best summed up by The Who; " meet the new boss, same as the old boss…."
Excellent comment Maryanne. I have had similar questions/thoughts.
Kathy Aderhold
I, too, was part of the organization that you speak of. I, too, left that organization for the discord. That was about conflicting personalities. This stuff with the AAC is about direction and about cronyism.
Yes, it is terrible that the AAC is going through this distress. But when over 20 people have been tossed off the board, or left voluntarily because of the activities of the leadership, something had to be done. It is awful that it needed to be made public that dozens of members have left the organization. If a board does not pay attention to its members or refuses to involve the membership by refusing to hold elections, preferring instead to appoint their own cronies, then drastic measures had to be taken. Fortunately, the board is now listening and elections have been promised in the near future. A change in leadership was what was asked for and is now in place.
Carol Chandler
I was also a long time member of AAC and although not involved in the leadership, was loyal for years and attended as many conferences as I could. And I may very well be one of the people who 'invited' you to view the Facebook page that you felt was inappropriate because I felt it important to share with my fellow activist friends; something that had been sent to me and asked to share by other former board members. I was certainly not trying to spread gossip or create problems, but when people I respect share something with me and ask me to share with others who might have concern and/or interest, I do so.
With that said, after all my years of being involved in both of the groups you refer to, I've had it. It seems someone is always going to question one's motives or imply we did something inappropriate and I really don't have the time, interest or passion anymore, to deal with this stuff. I know for a fact, that my feelings are shared by many others who were long time activists.
I do have several original mother friends who I am close with and we actually plan our own get-togethers and even retreats to share our experiences and support. I am going on a retreat in fact this weekend, with several other Arizona mothers who did attend last year's AAC conference and do not feel they want to be involved any longer.
I am only sharing this not to offer an opinion on the political aspects and distress of AAC or any other organization but to try to make the point that many thoughtful and formerly contributing members of these organizations are sick of it all… not only the political shenanigans of the organizations but the petty finger pointing and vilification of individuals who dare to speak up and share an opinion that is different from someone else's.
And thank you Kathy Aderhold for having kept me in the loop about what was going on with the AAC. I hope they can turn themselves around and that you especially are able to be treated with the respect and dignity you deserve.
" but to try to make the point that many thoughtful and formerly contributing members of these organizations are sick of it all… not only the political shenanigans of the organizations but the petty finger pointing and vilification of individuals who dare to speak up and share an opinion that is different from someone else's."
I see this as a critical to the discussion. In full disclosure I had been asked to volunteer to represent my state and after doing some research and talking with others, I opted out. I was turned off by my previous experience with the similar organization. I do not have time or mental energy to be involved in such nonsense. I volunteer my time for real work and progress not politics. Someone at the conference mentioned to me that AAC desperately needed/wanted new members with new views. That would certainly be refreshing but given what possible new members see and are told, I do not see anyone wanting to join. Where does it go? How does it change? Equally important, why should forces that control the adoption industry treat us with respect and dignity when we cannot do it to each other? So many questions. No answers.
Unsigned Masterpiece aka Marianne
In my experience, organizations that do good work or have the intention to do good work are started by people who have great passion to correct the wrong that they perceive needs to be corrected. However, as an organization grows i believe the passion and zealotry need to be replaced by strong and somewhat less passionate but equally committed administrative hands. I say this because I once became the CEO of a charitable organization that had a very worthy mission but the staff were traumatized by the very passionate founder who saw any disagreement as disloyalty and betrayal.
I have not been a member of the AAC but I find any kind of infighting off-putting. I don't know if I would attribute the problem to people seeking love. I lay it at another one of adoption's gifts. Having once felt powerless I think there is a strong desire – which may be conscious or unconscious – to never be rendered powerless again. I think the work that all of us in adoption have to do is try and recognize when we are being triggered and acting in non-productive ways and try and work it out or at the very least work around it.
" Having once felt powerless I think there is a strong desire – which may be conscious or unconscious – to never be rendered powerless again. I think the work that all of us in adoption have to do is try and recognize when we are being triggered and acting in non-productive ways and try and work it out or at the very least work around it."
Agreed completely UM! Particularly on the issue of control.
One more observation; nothing is going to change in AAC until the board shows respect for the membership by honestly letting them know what is going on, even when there are serious problems, rather than being obsessed with covering everything up so as not to look bad and upset the new people and rank and file members. Just admit the board is a dysfunctional mess, membership is dropping, many positions are vacant, and ask for help from the membership rather than treating them like children who should not be told the dog has died, but has been "sent to the farm."
I am in agreement with you Maryanne and your sent to the farm comment made me chuckle. I am all for transparency. ."Look, we are struggling, we made a mistake, we fecked up, we need help…can you help?".
People cover things up because they have something to hide. AAC is not an organization that has the overhaul/reform of adoption at heart. They promote it.
The registered agent of the corporate office of AAC is listed as:
Company name: AAC
File number: N00026019
Filing state: Missouri
Filing status: Good standing
Filing date: June 3, 1981
Company age: 34 years, 9 months
Registered agent: Kris A. Probasco 1129 W. Kansas, Suite B, Liberty Mo. 64068
The address and registered agent for both (AAC and Adoption and Fertility Resources) are the same, Kris A. Probasco 1129 W. Kansas, Suite B, Liberty Mo. 64068.
There's more information but it's about all this mother can stand to have just written down this much. Tell me who exactly is AAC there for? What agenda is running it? When one of their statements under *The AAC is Committed To* section is –Changing public policies related to adoption practices in order to acknowledge adoption as an extension of family–. That gave me a cold chill the first time I read that section. It still does. Since when has adoption NOT been acknowledged as an extension of family? It sounds so much like agency speak it's scary.
When divergent interests are attempting to run the same organization it seldom works well. As many years as this organization has been in operation it causes me to wonder. How long did it take the group/s in Australia to 'git 'er done'? 20 years?, 30 years? 35? I really don't know. But for all the talk there seems to have been little effective or momentous action from AAC.
For that matter how come AAC has a 'conflict of interest' section, and listed under that they list some organizations they apparently see as "conflict of interest", Origins, BN, and CUB of all things. No mention of adoption agencies or other. I find this very unsettling.
I would like someone in authority in AAC to explain all this to a mother's satisfaction. and no, that won't be easy to do. My 'mother of loss early warning alarm system' went off with them several years back and I walked away, cancelling membership after less than a year. There are some really fine people involved with AAC but the agenda of the organization leaves me doubting any effectiveness they really have in regard to changing adoption practices or policy's to something consistently ethical and in best interest of ALL parties, especially the child.
I *feel* they are promoting adoption as a continuing practice and it gives me the creeps, as it is promoting child abandonment (as seen from the child's possible point of view) no matter how 'sanitary' or 'sanctioned' the methods used. Maybe that is a big part of the divide, some want adoption as an option and others would like to see something entirely better.
An organization as 'large as' and supposedly committed to the betterment of adoption practices, AAC should have the ability to at least make statements to the press to counter the propaganda put out in regard to open records. IF they had the will to do it.
Nothing is going to change when something keeps gumming up the works. Who in adoptionland are treated as perpetual children? Or not worth information? Who hides things in regard to things adoption? Who has much to gain in keeping the status quo? Who has much to lose if things are changed? Improved? Made entirely ethical?
Shea Grimm
I have a different perspective. I don't think the problems with the AAC or other adoption reform organizations are at all related to adoption. I've been involved in grassroots activism my whole life in many different areas/issues, and have seen similar dysfunction in every single one of them, regardless of the issue. People are people.
I will say that in my time on the Executive Committee of Bastard Nation, and now over the last few years coming back to the organization after a long break, we have ( at least during my periods of involvement) never experienced this kind of deep, long term, structural dysfunction and other issues. The AAC was a mess back when I first got involved with it, some 20 years ago. Like Maryanne says, this is entirely status quo when it comes to the AAC. BN leadership and regulars have all been longtime friends and we often remark to each other how we're the only ones we like in AdoptionLand. And I think it's because we are united by one, and only one, issue, and that's equal rights for adoptees. We walk that walk and have from the beginning. We don't get into the fweeings, we don't try to create safe spaces, we don't tolerate dissent with respect to our founding principles. Amanda touched on this in her AAC keynote, if someone in your organization doesn't like what you're doing, they can start their own. I think one reason we're hated by the dysfunctional groups is because we don't have the internal issues they constantly struggle with, constantly shifting purpose, the disgruntled membership.
BN founders and leadership also mostly came from backgrounds of activism and politics. So we were and are not thin-skinned like so many in AdoptionLand. Karen Caffrey keeps running around saying BN and the AAC should adopt her "rules" that she uses for her organization, which are absolutely ridiculous and have absolutely nothing to do with successful activism. In fact as I and others have pointed out to her, we've been a part of successful activist movements that daily violate every one of her "rules". They're more suited to a daycare than activism. The AAC doesn't know who or what they want to be. And that's ever been so.
BN is bound together by a deep and abiding loyalty to one thing – the adoptee rights community. And I mean actual adoptee rights, not groups like the AAC and their state affiliates and Legislative Chair who use the rhetoric even while they're screwing adoptees over. They are not our community. We're also adoptee led, which makes a huge difference. We aren't having the colonizing and self-appointed, self-serving allies that dominates the AAC. Being an ally involves mutual consent, and we don't consent to being co-opted. Most of us in BN do not feel that we have "shared trauma", in fact it's a group of some of the mentally healthiest and most together people I know. We resent laws and structures that attempt to rob us of our dignity and treat us as 'less than', and that shared outrage is valuable. I can't imagine bonding over shared trauma, in fact I think the constant focus on it in AdoptionLand is one reason it's so dysfunctional. People shouldn't get into political activism or organizing as a means to work through and bond over shared trauma, IMO. Not to say there isn't a place for that, but activism and reform isn't it.
Unlike the AAC, BN is a 501c4, so it doesn't have the same requirements re elections that thr AAC does and we also moved away from paid memberships during periods when we didn't feel like we had the organizational structure and ability to deliver value to paid members. Newly reformed and becoming larger and more successful, that will likely change soon. So to be fair, BN isn't as handicapped as the AAC are being a c3. But Cindy makes a good point about Origins, BN, and CUB being listed by the AAC as conflicting with their interests. Doesn't that pretty much say it all when the largest national adoptee rights organization is considered in conflict with the AAC's mission and goals?
Donaldson is not an example of an organization lacking in dysfunction, BTW. Two words. Pertman Era. Also itdoesn't really do anything. And yes, they're paid, and paid well, so their sole impetus is to continue to try to make themselves relevant in the area of grant writing and fundraising which means they don't take any courageous stands, they aren't fighting for legislation or reform. They focus on sloganeering and platitudes and town halls about nothing. The problem in AdoptionLand, whether the AAC or Donaldson, is NOT too much passion and zealotry. It's lacking in both. Organizations like this are allergic to taking any kind of stand that isn't malleable and subject to whims and palatable to the lowest common denominator. They're conflict averse to a fault. They have no moral compass because they have no point of view.
I agree with everything MaryAnne says and especially with her suggestion that the AAC should simply go away and give up. Can anyone point to one thing they have accomplished for adoptees? They've been silent and nonplayers on the biggest issues in adoption and adoptee rights of the past three decades, from the UAA, to unconditional records access, to the CCA, to ICWA. This year they reached new lows in giving out a humanitarian award and $500 to a former paid searcher and felon whose sole contribution to adoption reform has been her constant pimping of her book. Another award for legislative work went to someone who never actually has passed any legislation. They're a joke. The NCFA of all people has actually led the charge on the CCA amendment. The NCFA! I secured one of the three Senate sponsors. Meanwhile, crickets from the AAC.
If I was part of an organization that was decades old who couldn't point to one significant accomplishment for the community it alleges to serve, I'd say it was way past time to throw in the towel.
So IMO they should get out and go away. Their conferences are maybe of some use, so if they wanted to reform and essentially just serve as an organizational structure around which there would be annual conferences, that could work, but they should partner with other groups in doing so, like BN, like the KA community, etc. so that their conferences don't consist mainly of a bunch of therapists accumulating CEUs.
Thank you all for the widely differing and interesting comments supporting my suggestion of dysfunction within the AAC and the adoption activism community at large (which was my point, using AAC as an example). Summary seems to be that AAC should go away, BN is the perfect model and that there is no such thing as shared trauma. I find the last statement most interesting when professionals cite stats that 52% of individuals in mental health systems are adoptees (Pavao). Must just be those bad genes, eh? Clearly being snarky as I am going to have to disagree with Shea that there is not trauma in adoption. Maybe not with the members of BN but certainly with other adoptees and first parents. There certainly is with this first parent.
Ginny09
Adoption reform will come…sadly, with the added abuse to each other because of the on-going trauma of being adopted or being conned out of a kid by a coercive adoption social system. This is why each person associated with adoption Cannot Take Anything Personally because everyone in this community is damaged. The this end, use Google Scholar search, to find scientific evidence to change laws. Two examples. 1. Bioethics Research Library: Maternal-Infant Bonding: The Impact of Early Separation or Loss on Family Development.; 2. Prenatal development of the Brain EBSCO (ISBN 0-88048-499-3)
Focus reasons against adoption by finding and using neuroscience research on the Right Side of the Developing Infant Brain…the right side is associated with intimate/human bonding. Is an adopted person bonded to an adoption parents neurologically through an intimate path, or through a survival path? And, where is the trauma of separation kept in the brain? It has to be in the primitive brain…that has no language..so social behaviors can be unpredictable.
Research to find valid neuroscience reasons to maintain family…and then start supporting this evidence by applying conversations of Ethics…Research can be done independently and shared…no one needs to collaborate face to face…Can we start?????
Bill Carson
As an adoptee who has only been involved in adoptee organizations for a very short time, who doesn't know the history or baggage of the organizations or personalities and doesn't know where the bodies are buried, I'd like to make a couple of observations. I will admit my views are tempered by my own experiences and observations, and the knowledge that I have gained from a select few.
First of all, organizations must abide by their own bylaws. If there are supposed to be elections, then there darn well better be elections. If interim appointments must be made, they should be made sparingly, and only until such time as proper procedures can be followed.
Regarding the awards, I, too, found it quite odd that the AAC would give a legislative award to a person whose legislative efforts have not borne any fruit. Texas? Yes, good work was done and groundwork was laid, and the failure of the bill wasn't necessarily the fault of any of the Texas organization, but still it didn't pass. And in the meantime, has the AAC recognized the successful efforts from Ohio or Colorado or other states whose adoptees can now obtain their birth certificates and adoption records? Or did the award just need to go to a member of the AAC board, to cement their loyalty?
And then there was the conference itself. Since I haven't attended other conferences, I have nothing to compare it to with respect to attendance or organization, but it didn't seem many people were there. And the cost (My Lord!)—I saw one person, a non-member walk-in, who coughed up $275 to attend one day. For that money the person got to attend a keynote address, two break-out workshop sessions, an awards luncheon, a support group meeting and a film. Seriously? Why do you start at 9am and not earlier? Why do you have six break-out workshop sessions going on simultaneously? Why not cut the number of breakouts in half and double the number of sessions? It wouldn't be hard to do if you cut back on the 30-minute breaks between events. [shrug]
Suz, Shea did not say there was no trauma in adoption, but that in her opinion, shared trauma was not a good basis for activism. Shea said: " People shouldn't get into political activism or organizing as a means to work through and bond over shared trauma, IMO. Not to say there isn't a place for that, but activism and reform isn't it. " There is trauma in adoption for many mothers and many adoptees, but this varies greatly from person to person, and when it is made the basis for activism and bonding, it effectively excludes the many mothers and adoptees who do not feel they are traumatized victims or see that as their core identity. No need to get defensive about being traumatized by surrender and long-term rejection; I share that part of your story, as do many, but not all.
I agree with Shea on this, and also with her analysis of AAC: "The AAC doesn't know who or what they want to be. And that's ever been so. " AAC has continually tried to be all things to all people and ended up being nothing effective. Their forays into legislation have generally led to miserable compromised bills, and their constant blaming BN for not supporting legislation BN has always said upfront they will not support is tiresome and not exactly honest.
Cindy, thanks for your in-depth research on AAC as an organization. To clear up one thing, Kris Probasco is or was a social worker who was not a triad member, who was instrumental in forming AAC. She was a good friend of Annette Baran, also a social worker and non-triad member who was involved in supporting open records for many years until her death. Jean Paton, the woman who started the adoptee rights movement in the 1940s, was one of the founders of AAC but broke with them over making it so much a social work organization, among other things. Jean was then treated very shabbily by AAC. As has been already said, this dysfunction was there from the beginning. AAC has always been pro-adoption in a broad sense, but they also tried to accommodate anti-adoption people and adoptive parents and agencies at the same time, which just led to confusion and some very strange presentations at their conferences.
I had no idea that AAC officially considered "Origins, BN and CUB" a conflict of interest". Thanks for the laugh:-) Gee, they still took my money as a long-term member of BN, NJ Origins (now defunct) and a CUB Board member. In any event, AAC has continued to go downhill, agreeing with Shea on their dreadful pick of Villardi award winner this year. BN is not "the perfect model" for anything but the narrow focus of adoptee rights activism and legislation to get access to their own OBC. There is still plenty of room for an organization like AAC to deal with the therapeutic aspect of adoption, to hold yearly conferences on this that reflect the real interest of triad members, and to be run by a Board that respects the members and is transparent in its operations. If AAC needs to be dismantled and something new can step into that niche, that is a good thing. If AAC as it exists could actually change, get out of legislation, and work on therapy, adoption in the arts, adoption research, family preservation, long-term support for those who are traumatized while welcoming the input of those who are not, that would be a great thing too. But they need to narrow their focus as BN has done, and stick to what they are good at without attacking groups and individuals with a different focus.
Maryanne – It was this portion of Shea's comment I found curious.
"Most of us in BN do not feel that we have "shared trauma", in fact it's a group of some of the mentally healthiest and most together people I know. "
Seemingly, based on this statement, BN members have felt no negative effects from adoption and are able to be uber successful in their activism as a result.
Suz, Shea didn't say that there's no trauma in adoption. What she said was "Most of us at BN do not feel that we have "shared trauma" ". "Most" and "shared" are the operative words here. She most certainly does not presume to speak for all.
Speaking for myself (which should go without saying, but just in case . . . ), I do not believe that "bonding through trauma" is a desirable way to form community, or even that, on its own, it is a good foundation for friendship. All experience is individual, and when people "bond through trauma" it seems to me that their individual experiences run the danger of bleeding into each other in such a way that important distinctions become blurred and indistinct.
It creates a morass of suffering or "slough of despond" which exacerbates, rather than relieves, pain, making it more difficult to extract meaning from one's particular circumstances and to decide what to do with them. "Bonding through trauma" may seem empowering, but in reality it is, as Robert Burton wrote of melancholy, "a friend in show, but a secret enemy". Healthy relationships call for more vital and urgent common interests and goals than the backwash of past suffering.
I also take issue with your implication that the claimed 52%of adoptees in the mental health system are there solely because of adoption related trauma.
" I also take issue with your implication that the claimed 52%of adoptees in the mental health system are there solely because of adoption related trauma."
Oh, clearly you missed the citation. This was not an "implication" rather a quote of research shared by Dr. Pavao. Feel free to reach out to her to question her research/sources.
Since I know the founders of BN personally, I would say that was a true statement. The adoptees who began BN are generally people who do not characterize themselves as traumatized by being adopted, and indeed they do seem like a positive, funny, upbeat group of people. They did not "feel no negative effects", but chose not to focus on the negative effects that some did feel. Some had good adoptive homes, some not so good, some lousy, but that is not what their activism is about. My son when I finally got to know him turned out to be much like my BN friends, but with no particular interest in adoption reform. His passion is environmental activism. He has bad experiences in his adoptive home, but has not made that the core of his identity as a person, much like the adoptees who started BN whom I was able to relate very well as friends and colleagues. I also have other adoptee and birthmother close friends who feel personally very traumatized by their adoption experience, but it is other things we have in common, not the trauma, that binds us as friends.
I do think that the general attitude of BN adoptees has made them more successful in their narrow focus work for adoptee rights, because it is not about personalities or traumas but simply civil rights. Which is not to say that this is a recipe for success for any other kind of organization, including one that deals with the psychological repercussions of adoption. I do not think Shea was saying that either. BN is very good at the clear rights argument because they do not let it get bogged down with reunion as the result of access to records, nor supposed general psychological harm of being adopted. They are not the answer to dealing with the long term need for support and therapy some of us feel but they do not claim to be.
"Since I know the founders of BN personally, I would say that was a true statement. The adoptees who began BN are generally people who do not characterize themselves as traumatized by being adopted, and indeed they do seem like a positive, funny, upbeat group of people. They did not "feel no negative effects", but chose not to focus on the negative effects that some did feel. Some had good adoptive homes, some not so good, some lousy, but that is not what their activism is about"
Lovely to hear. I am sure many first mothers will find comfort in knowing adoption works well for some.
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text:
THE CHEERK WORM
HABITAT/BEHAVIOUR - DIET - MATING - RESEARCHERS - USAGES
The Cheerk is a strange-looking large worm, generally white or red, with two small pink stripes running down its body. It is regarded as a pest by many throughout Caelereth, as it will, with time, take all the nutrients from the soil it inhabits. This is a result of the venom it secretes from its double-forked tails, as well as the Cheerk's ravenous eating habits. It is however, the staple diet for many creatures, and is necessary to the ecosystem.
Appearance. A Cheerk, to be simple, looks like the Tharian letter Y. It could also be described as resembling the dwarven rune c, which represents the CH sound. (The name itself is from the Thergerim Taal; in the original dwarven 'Cherk' or 'Liar', interestingly enough!) The body is long and slender, splitting into two tails, and the top body segment is the head, which is slightly thicker than the two ends. The tails both have tiny, venomous tips. Although it is difficult to find them, there are six small eyes, scattered randomly about the top of the head. There is also a wide slit that forms the Cheerk's mouth.
Cheerks are about a fore and a half to a ped in length when fully grown. They weigh about a quarter of an od. The skin is extremely moist and slippery; this is believed to be some sort of defence mechanism, to stop anything that may harm it from attaining a firm hold upon it. They are either a white colour, which is more commonly seen, or a rarer red. Both types have pink stripes running down both the sides.
Special Abilities. The Cheerk is able to secrete a venom from the tip of its two tails. It uses this secretion to kill the tiny insectoid paeth that reside within the soil. The venom is also poisonous to elves, humans and dwarves, although not fatal. Strangely enough, no other species are affected negatively. It is actually seen by some orcish tribes as a medication - some are known to take Cheerk venom as a headache cure.
However, the venom has an unwanted effect that is an annoyance to any species – it will kill nutrients within the soil. Coupled with the amazing appetite of a Cheerk, as time passes by, the patch where it lives will become sterile and no plant life will be able to grow there. It is easy to tell if a patch of soil has been Cheerk-poisoned, as it will have a slight pinkish tone in contrast to the brown, black, or tan of fertile soil around it. However, if the affected ground is rid of Cheerks, then gradually the venom is diluted and washed away enabling nutrients to return so plant life can thrive once more.
Territory. The Cheerk can be found anywhere. As long as there is soil to live, Cheerk will thrive. They prefer nutrient-rich ground, but soil that has previously been affected by Cheerk poison and then recovered seems to be a particularly attractive target for them. Thus farmers find it very difficult to get rid of a Cheerk infestation, for no sooner has a field built up its strength than a new wave of the pests attack it again.
Habitat/Behaviour. The Cheerk live alone, simply eating, tunnelling, and surviving. If two meet, they ignore each other and continue on their gustatory paths. They are not territorial, and roam the soil of Caelereth as they please. During damp conditions, such as rainy weather or flooding, they must emerge from the earth or drown, and are often easy prey at such times. Generally, however, they remain tunneling about a fore below the surface of the ground, their holes filling naturally in behind them, thus loosening soil in their vicinity.
Diet. The Cheerk eat soil particles for nutrients. Unfortunately for Santharian farmers, they tend to eat so many that the soil becomes unsuitable for growing anything, since there is nothing to sustain the plant. Also, as mentioned above, their venom causes the soil to become sterile. They also digest tiny bugs within soil, which are known as paeth.
Mating. When a Cheerk feels it is time for mating, it will slowly make its way to one of the several, small underground caverns that are made by Cheerk simply for the purpose of reproducing. It could be some time before they find one, as they are not stable; unsurprisingly they constantly cave in, being made only from loose soil. Upon arrival the Cheerk will claim an area and start a strange waving motion with its two tails, which it hopes will attract it a mate. It is generally a female who seeks an impressive tail display from a male, not the other way round.
When the partner is chosen, they couple by joining in the cloacal area at the junction of the tails. After this, the female will leave with an egg pouch, containing hundreds of eggs, attached between the tails. She will find a suitable place amongst the soil to leave them and then continue with her life. The young Cheerks, known as Cheerklins, are left to fend for themselves from birth. It is because of this lack of care during their youth and growing, coupled with the instinctive nature by many in Caelereth to kill the Cheerks and the fact that they are so heavily preyed upon, that only perhaps ten to twenty of the hundreds of eggs make it to life as an adult.
Researchers. Although not a creature that you would think would be studied, there has been many a researcher who has spent time studying the venom of the Cheerk, to see its effects on living beings. What is of particular interest also is how exactly the venom will rid the soil of nutrients, and also how orcs find the venom beneficial, while humans, elves and dwarves become ill upon direct contact.
Usages. Although this creature is poisonous to humans, elves and dwarves, it does have uses within other sentient species. For example, orcs have used the venom of a Cheerk as a headache cure, which is taken in a rather unusual way. An interesting description of an outsider watching an orc use Cheerk venom is given below:
"I was astounded. One minute the orc was complaining of a pounding headache, next she was down on her knees scrabbling in the soil. She dug a large hole, and chanced upon one of those filthy Cheerks. I fully expected her to bring down her large orc foot and pound it into the ground, but, to my surprise, she picked it up. My amazement was confirmed when she threw back her head, roared, and slashed open a patch of skin on her brow with her blade-like nails. She grasped the wiggling Cheerk firmly by the head and squeezed the venomous tips causing venom to drip slowly onto the wound. She dropped the Cheerk, which I promptly squashed, and spent a few minutes almost in a trance. Upon emerging from her dazed state she proclaimed that all was better, and the headache was gone."
The orcs also apply the venom to open wounds, reasoning that it will kill any paeth that may reside, which if left would cause infection. The Cheerk is eaten by many species as part of their daily diet, the poison it secretes are seemingly inconsequential to them. The Cheerk is also favoured by flying creatures, especially birds, who will often hunt them in damp weather.
Information provided by Artemis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In the pit, the musicians brought together under Daniel Kawka's baton display a coherent tone, indisputably convincing: work on the transparency and the strings' motivity, sensual relief of the woodwind (oboes, bassoons, clarinets), gourmand opulence and sometimes sarcasm of the brass instruments: no doubt, the conductor, elsewhere director of the Contemporary Orchestra, understands Wagner. He brings, as a score lover, a generous, deep, intensively lyrical gesture, which especially in the night act (the night act from the lovers blindness before being given by Melot), is able to ignite, obtaining a magnificent sound from the musicians: nothing better to reinforce the visual magic that is unfolding on stage: a succession of different scenes from the same room, conceived as the states of a trance and of an emotional metamorphosis lived out by a magnificent couple. Fitted to the huge setting, the required manpower overflows sometimes from the pit and submerges the singers in places, but the unity and the poetical tension that the highly inspired conductor manages to transmit to his interpreters, turns out to be winning. Not for a long time have we heard Tristan so sensual and electric, between ecstasy, abandon, tenderness and bitterness. The radical violence taking place is more explicit: Tristan, tragic opera and languorous? Not the case in DanielKawka's eyes: it is more a permanent discharge of electrical energy and ecstatic hymns. Tristan, like Yseult shows himself to be determined, tending toward death, known as the only exit for deliverance and surpassing.
Thus ends in 2009, the journey of the mythical production signed by Olivier Py (which marks as well the end of the lyrical season of the Dijon Opera). The Dijonaise leg of the tour proved the blazing and electric (II) confidence of the conductor Daniel Kawkawhose work currently continue around The Gods Twilight and Richard Strauss operas. Tristan, Brangäne, Marke rounded off a miraculous triad carried out by the superlative drive of two orchestras brought together (Camerata from Bourgogne and the Orchestra of Dijon). It is a pity that in its « miraculous » centre, the singing of the soprano Elaine McKrill, chosen for Dijon, appeared to us less obvious a choice.
Be that as it may, we now have proof that the best productions are not exclusive to Paris. The new season 2009-2010 of Dijonpromises surprises and new discoveries of which classiquenewswill inform you soon.
Daniel Kawka operated a magnificent piece of work with theDijon Opera. The complex score gives the impression to be perfectly mastered : the leitmotiv rises with efficiency, the sonorous framework is differentiated expertly, the preludes of the first and third acts engross us in the atmosphere, especially the third one that superbly resounds the Leitmotiv of the loneliness ; the English horn soloist relays this impression in a frightening way. Capœira dancers bring dynamism to this oppressive atmosphere.
The stage is at the same time homogeneous and convincing. The King Marke has an admirable stage presence thanks to the powerful and deep voice of Jyrki Korhonen. Elaine McKrill plays the main role with subtlety and the final song « Mild und leise » is strengthen by her musicality. The loving duet leaves her sometimes below Leonid Zakhozhaev's radiant timbre: the entwined dialogue « O sink Hernieder » shows the singers to not be in the same league. Something must be said of Martina Dike, who possesses a magnificent Wagnerian voice; her voice combines the power with the warmth of the timbre, and it manages as easily to mingle poetically with the orchestra in « Haben acht » as in « la gaite de la tour».
Welcome Daniel Kawka who, from the prelude, adds to this fascinating atmosphere. Here is a conductor that knows how to take his time and is not afraid of silences. He is not wrong, because they are magnificent; they plunge the spectator into a metaphysical bath, and add some magnetism to the performance. The sonorous range of Camerata de Bourgogne- DijonOrchestra, is subtle and enlightening, the English horn (played on stage) is at the same time vibrating, luminous and desperate.
Succeeding the American J. A. the french conductor Daniel Kawka, by his smooth conducting, with great clearness in emphasizing the leitmotiv, knows constantly how to revive the interest. The musicians from the Orchestra of Dijon Opera and the Camerata from Bourgogne, under the precise and clear baton, achieve concentration and intensity miracles that we have never seen before, just like Jean-François Louis's English horn with a wonderful sound that seems to pierce the rarefied. Thanks to its homogeneity, its commitment, its poetry, the whole of the performance is a privileged time, achieving in its own way this osmosis between theatre and music as Wagner wished.
After Geneva and Angers-Nantes, Dijon! The public studio from the capital of Bourgogne welcomed for two evenings the already mythical Tristan d'Olivier Py, which we believed was reserved for ever to the Lemant Lake banks. Perfect integration with the room, local orchestra completely transformed, Casting better than in Bayreuth last summer ; to sum up, an exemplary success.
The biggest surprise of the evening was the performance of theDijon Orchestra, without doubt widely reinforced, who distils a melting, high quality sonorous mix, where asperities are sometimes lacking, but with a noteworthy homogeneity and a remarkable crepuscular colour.
Daniel Kawka's conducting contributed a lot to this, always attentive to not cover the stage, reserving his grand forays for when the orchestra was playing alone, with a magnificent fluidity, with a finishing quality transformed by some breathtaking transitions– the one before Liebestod offering the weightlessness experience in a uncertain atmosphere– and a care of the timbres giving birth to a monologue from Marke the King which is amongst the best conducted we have ever heard : alive, serving the text, the declamation, stripped of emphasis.
Of the casting, we will remember the general homogeneity, better than the one offered last year by Bayreuth, thanks notably to the choice of clear voices of colour and diction.


text:
Q: Error while adding Cloudendpoints backend to Android I have a Test Android application and have added a cloud-endpoints backend module to it. I have also been able to create a custom class and generate the cloud endpoints for that class. I have also been successfully able to test the endpoint on the localhost server (8080).
However, when I am trying to create an Async task, many problems appear.
1) I am not able to import com.google.api.client libraries that are necessary.
2) I am also not able to import the classes of the backend module in the app MainActivity (i.e. it does not show up as a code error but it does show up as an error when I run the app on my phone)
3) I am not able to commit my code in Github after doing a test run because the path of the backend file is too long to process.
The main activity file is as follows:
package com.example.shashank_pc.testcloudendpoints;

import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

}
}

The backend module class file (for which I have generated cloudendpoints) is:
@Entity
public class TempClass {

@Id
String ID;
int a;

public String getID() {
    return ID;
}

public void setID(String ID) {
    this.ID = ID;
}

public int getA() {
    return a;
}

public void setA(int a) {
    this.a = a;
}

}

The build gradle for the app-backend is as follows:
buildscript {
repositories {
    jcenter()
}
dependencies {
    classpath 'com.google.appengine:gradle-appengine-plugin:1.9.42'
}
}

repositories {
jcenter();
}

apply plugin: 'java'
apply plugin: 'war'
apply plugin: 'appengine'

sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7

dependencies {
appengineSdk 'com.google.appengine:appengine-java-sdk:1.9.42'
compile 'com.google.appengine:appengine-endpoints:1.9.42'
compile 'com.google.appengine:appengine-endpoints-deps:1.9.42'
compile 'javax.servlet:servlet-api:2.5'
compile 'com.googlecode.objectify:objectify:5.0.3'
}

appengine {
downloadSdk = true
appcfg {
    oauth2 = true
}
endpoints {
    getClientLibsOnBuild = true
    getDiscoveryDocsOnBuild = true
}
}

The app module build file is:
apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
android {
compileSdkVersion 25
buildToolsVersion "26.0.1"
defaultConfig {
    applicationId "com.example.shashank_pc.testcloudendpoints"
    minSdkVersion 22
    targetSdkVersion 25
    versionCode 1
    versionName "1.0"
    testInstrumentationRunner
"android.support.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
}
buildTypes {
    release {
        minifyEnabled false
        proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
    }
}
}

dependencies {
compile fileTree(dir: 'libs', include: ['*.jar'])
androidTestCompile('com.android.support.test.espresso:espresso-core:2.2.2',
{
    exclude group: 'com.android.support', module: 'support-annotations'
})
compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:25.3.1'
compile 'com.android.support.constraint:constraint-layout:1.0.2'
compile 'com.google.code.findbugs:jsr305:2.0.1'
testCompile 'junit:junit:4.12'
compile project(path: ':backend', configuration: 'android-endpoints')
}

The build gradle for the project is:
buildscript {
repositories {
    jcenter()
}
dependencies {
    classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:2.3.3'

    // NOTE: Do not place your application dependencies here; they belong
    // in the individual module build.gradle files
}
}

allprojects {
repositories {
    jcenter()
}
}

task clean(type: Delete) {
delete rootProject.buildDir
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Batter get more! Per 1 Fillet Serving: 190 calories; 1.5 g sat fat (8% DV); 320 mg sodium (13% DV); 1 g sugars. Serve tender Shurfine Battered Fish Fillets with this cool and creamy Cucumber Yogurt Sauce, and you won't need to fish for compliments! Featured Recipe: Cucumber Yogurt Sauce. To download our inspiring recipes visit www.shurfineinspires.com. Quality guarantee.
Shore good! Bakes in 10 minutes. Per 3/4 Cup Serving: 200 calories; 1.5 g sat fat (8% DV); 730 mg sodium (30% DV); 2 g sugars. Pop Shurfine Popcorn Shrimp in the oven, and you've got a delicious meal in minutes! For more zing, pair with this easy cocktail sauce. Featured Recipe: Easy Cocktail Sauce. To download our inspiring recipes visit www.shurfineinspires.com. Quality guarantee.


Congratulations to Mark & Jolene for their wedding at Kahala Beach.
We celebrate with tropical cocktails at the Kahala Resort.
The food at this wedding location venue was excellent, as was the service, many of our friends and family still rave about it. My wife and I highly recommend this wedding reception venue.


text:
Home People Metro Roundup: Brook Highland resident honored with Vulcan Community Award
Metro Roundup: Brook Highland resident honored with Vulcan Community Award
by LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
Photo courtesy of Susann Montgomery-Clark
Susann Montgomery-Clark, second from left on back row, is the 2022 recipient of the Heroes Award, part of the Vulcan Community Awards given out by the Vulcan Park Foundation. She is pictured here in a Christmas family photo prior to the 2019 death of her daughter, Megan (center on back row).
Susann Montgomery-Clark is being honored for the work she has done since her daughter's passing to help others who may face domestic violence situations.
She and her husband Rod, who live in Brook Highland, established the Megan Montgomery Domestic Violence Prevention Fund in memory of their daughter, Megan, who was killed by her ex-husband on Dec. 1, 2019. Their goal is to provide grants to local nonprofits that can educate students in high school and college about toxic and potentially violent relationships, stopping the violence before it ever happens.
"That's what we want to change, to make sure that young women get the knowledge they need to protect themselves," Montgomery-Clark said. "We don't have the expertise to do the education, but there are nonprofits out there that do."
Montgomery-Clark is this year's recipient of the Heroes Award, part of the Vulcan Community Awards given out by the Vulcan Park Foundation. She said the great thing about being honored is that more people are going to hear Megan's story and the message of what needs to happen to prevent domestic violence.
She and her husband want to see healthy relationship education taught in schools. The schools can apply for a grant from Megan's Fund to assist in hiring someone to do relationship education that is age appropriate.
"We don't dictate what the curriculum they use, we just want them to do something," Montgomery-Clark said. "We want to get in on the front end."
So far, it's been well received, and they are now a public 501(c)3 charity.
As a public foundation, they can raise more funds to reach more schools. Montgomery-Clark said when they tell Megan's story, it makes it real for the kids.
"God gave me 35 years of fundraising and PR experience in the nonprofit industry for a reason," she said. "It would be a sin for me to not use what I've been given. It's so natural for us to do this."
While they've been through the unimaginable in losing their daughter, Montgomery-Clark said they "can't not do it, and that it's not even a choice."
"We will do it until we are not able to do it anymore," she said. "With the foundation, we'll have some relief."
The foundation has four non-family board members, and Megan's sister, Meredith, serves as the staff person. Montgomery-Clark said she is a partner in this work and is devoted to keeping Megan's mission alive after we are gone.
The couple does the work because it is what Megan wanted to do. A few months before she was killed, Megan posted on social media that she wanted to help other women know the warning signs and to see the red flags before it's too late.
"She was planning on doing that," her mother said. "She was going to speak up. She didn't get to do that, so we're doing it for her. Megan's saving lives today just like she wanted to. If she was alive, she wouldn't have this much impact. It's tragic people don't pay attention until somebody dies."
Montgomery-Clark is one of seven citizens being honored with a Vulcan Community Award, who, according to the press release announcement, are all "citizens who exemplify civic pride, leadership and progress" and "work tirelessly to affect change, serve, lead or make a difference in the lives of the people, places and organizations in the city."
Jennifer Chandler, director of development at the Vulcan Park Foundation, said, "The important legacy these seven individuals have created will impact the lives of many for years to come."
Montgomery-Clark and the other recipients were chosen by an independent panel and recognized at the annual reception at The Club in Homewood on Nov. 29.
The 2022 Vulcan Community Award honorees
Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Jesse Lewis, a Birmingham visionary entrepreneur
Hero: Bradley Johnson of the Bibb County Sheriff's Office
Game Changer: Dr. Mark Wilson of Jefferson County Health Department
Servant Leadership: Lawrence Sheffield of Manufacture Good
THE SPEARS
Heroes: Susann Montgomery-Clark of the Megan Montgomery Domestic Violence Prevention Fund
Game Changers: Josephine Lowery of College Choice Foundation
Servant Leadership: Kelly Greene of Food For Our Journey
Susann Montgomery-Clark Megan's Fund domestic violence domestic abuse Megan Montgomery Megan Montgomery Domestic Violence Prevention Fund Vulcan Park Vulcan Park Foundation Vulcan Community Awards Heroes Award Brook Highland


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Q. Is New Wagon R comfortable?
Q. New wagon R auto gear hai ya manual?
Q. Can we have alloy wheels in it?
Q. In this CNG Variant, only CNG or can we use petrol too?
Q. Kya ye auto gear me hi ati h?
Q. Can it be used on CNG?
Q. How are reviews of new Maruti Wagon R?
Q. How is the performance of AMT?
Q. Wagon R 2019 is it ok to buy under 6lacs budget?
Q. Is it available in diesel variant?
No. It's only petrol, not even cng varient is available right now.
Q. What are the features in base model LXI?
Q. What about safety and road grip?
Q. What is meant by optional in wagon r?
In the optional variant of Maruti Wagon R 2019, you get the passenger airbag also. As from the base model only driver airbag is offered by the company.
Q. Is seat belt pretensioner and passenger side airbag optional with VXI, if yes, What is the cost?
Yes, you have to pay 20k extra for it.
Q. Is it available with LPG?
Q. What is the safety aspect? Is it tested by the GNCAP? What are the findings?
Q. Is Wagon R better car in terms of mileage and style?
Nice family car with good space but once I got problem with it .. I got replaced many parts still the problem persists.
wagon R is a good car for me it is a best car.
Q. What is the price of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?
Q. What is the mileage of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?
Q. What are the specs and features of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?
Q. What are the top competitors of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?
Q. What are the top variants of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?
Q. What is the service cost of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?
Q. What is the EMI of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?
Q. What are the colours available in Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?
Q. What are the petrol variants of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?
Q. What are the automatic variants of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?
Q. What is the top speed of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?
Q. What is the fuel tank capacity of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?
Q. What is the boot space of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R?


If you are not careful and you do not protect yourself in the summer, you can definitely have some serious health problems, and you can even faint. It is important to keep a cool environment in your home as well, in order to feel comfortable and relaxed. Some tips for surviving summer without air conditioning will certainly help you obtain the desired result.
Heating our own houses can be a real challenge which becomes more costly each year. That's why many people try to find some renewable home heating options which can help them save energy and money.
If you want to make you house more eco-friendly while keeping it very safe, try some of the green home solutions we have gathered for you. This way, you will protect your home and the environment at the same time and you will enjoy the best technologies.
In case you want to know some simple tricks that will help you save energy and money at home, all you have to do is read our article and find out which are the best solutions. With a little effort and perseverance, you will succeed to reduce your energy bills.
If you want to improve the indoor air quality, first you have to read some useful tips that will help you create a healthier environment. Therefore, read our article and find out what can you do in order to breath a clean air inside your home.


Seemingly out of nowhere, Tesla unveiled a special edition surfboard made in collaboration with Lost Surfboards and Matt "Mayhem" Biolos, the iconic surfboard shaper for various World Surf League Championship athletes.
Limited to only 200 examples, the board is made from a mix of the same high-quality matte and gloss finishes used on Tesla cars and features a reinforced deck with lightweight "Black Dart" carbon fiber. It's finished with a subtle tonal logo and is sized to easily fit in the Model S, Model X and Model 3.
Unfortunately, as cool as this is, the $1,500 surfboard sold out almost instantly, but a few are sure to hit the secondary market at a premium in no time.


Belle Glade's rich and loamy soil may be her fortune but those willing to take a closer look at this Western Palm Beach County community knows that there are also great riches in the roots that have been laid there.
Families in Belle Glade know one another by first name and they can rattle off family histories with ease – quickly telling you who was married to who, whose children they were and which part of town they lived in.
So when BRIDGES at Belle Glade found themselves in the panicked position of moving locations within the course of a week, they knew who to turn to for help.
A married couple owned the previous BRIDGES at Belle Glade location and maintained a child-care facility within the building. A year ago, the wife passed away and in her passing, the husband wasn't able to keep up with the demands of the building and the business.
The building fell into foreclosure and BRIDGES at Belle Glade had a week to move.
A mere seven days to find a new location, get it approved, pack everything into boxes and set it up for the families to use.
All while going through an audit.
Tasked with this Herculean venture, BRIDGES at Belle Glade Director Shilondra knew could rely on both her team and the Belle Glade community to pull through for BRIDGES.
Navigator Getsy echoed this sentiment.
Since BRIDGES receives funding from the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, the new location would have to be approved by the organization.
Shilondra and CSC visited three different sites in Belle Glade but unfortunately – none lived up to expectations.
Time was running out and the staff started to get a little worried about what their future held. Shilondra remained optimistic. She had faith that the community and staff like Child Development Specialist Michelle and Parent Coach Jean would pull through for BRIDGES.
Getsy even went as far as to provide BRIDGES families with her personal cell phone number.
Shilondra found a fourth location and hope sprung anew, but it was quickly diminished when was told no-one from CSC would be able to travel out to Belle Glade to visit the location.
Unwilling to be deterred and buoyed by a determination not to let her families down, Shilondra used the technology at her fingerprints to make sure the job got done by taking CSC on a video tour of the site.
On the very last day before they had to move, CSC gave their blessing.
BRIDGES at Belle Glade was getting a new home!
Through it all, she never doubted the commitment and dedication of the BRIDGES at Belle Glade staff.


text:
Bubbles17 26 March 2014 at 18:43
Tracy K Nixon 26 March 2014 at 19:28
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clair dutton 26 March 2014 at 21:44
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Jane Green 27 March 2014 at 09:58
Michelle Dagger 27 March 2014 at 10:04
Jo Hutchinson 27 March 2014 at 11:12
elaine dale 27 March 2014 at 12:22
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Richard Hill 27 March 2014 at 13:53
clair downham 27 March 2014 at 15:56
Michelle Banks 27 March 2014 at 19:36
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Kathy Cakebread 27 March 2014 at 23:09
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isissky rider 28 March 2014 at 13:44
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claire matthews-curtis 4 April 2014 at 05:55
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Faces is an outcome of an experiment with facial appearances of men and women. After a very interesting experimental fase with different visual approaches, this serie you see here was the most powerful one.
Multiplying the two genders in two separate pictures together in a clean and authentic way, someone new appears. Representing an almost future-like person, this person looking you right into your eyes, inviting you to embrace, challenge or deny this part in us.


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Home / Retail
Redefining the brick and mortar retail experience requires a combination of technical skills, imagination, and collaboration.
In today's retail landscape, developments must be able to accommodate future clients and uses. We draw on our deep knowledge of the entire asset lifecycle to design for each unique phase, for the present and into the future.
Innovative Solutions in Store
Our expertise in large-scale project engineering, advanced BIM technology, and building envelope services allows us to take on any retail project, no matter how complex the challenge. We offer a range of services from small, special projects to large, complex developments. Our dedicated team provides rapid, responsive project turnaround.
Our holistic approach to structural and building envelope design allows us to consider all challenges during the design phase and collaborate to provide the right solutions to our clients.
We have intimate knowledge of densifying existing sites, integrating residential with existing retail sites, integrating transit with existing sites, as well as demising existing space.
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Our work includes expansions, new construction, renovations, mall transformations, enhancing a store's value with a new high-end façade, structural glass skylights, tenant fit-outs, and more.
The retail sector offers a unique opportunity to help our clients create a seamless experience for their customers as well as provide a high return on investment. We combine technical skills, imagination, and collaboration to redefine the retail experience.
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10 Highlights
Yorkville Village Revitalization and Parking Restoration
Yorkville Village is an existing mixed-use building consisting of an upscale, two-storey shopping mall, multi-level condos, and commercial office spaces, with associated below-grade parking over three levels.
St. Lawrence Market North Redevelopment
The St. Lawrence Market North Redevelopment replaces the existing single-storey building with a striking new mixed-use, six-storey complex that opens directly onto public outdoor plaza space. Representing a significant revitalization for the area, the project provides a new environment washed in daylight, filtered through a core central atrium running the full height of the space.
Rideau Centre Revitalization and Expansion
The Rideau Centre, located in the heart of downtown Ottawa, underwent a major revitalization and expansion to reinforce its status as the leading shopping destination in the city.
Holt Renfrew Calgary Flagship Store
Turning a former Sears building into its lavish new 151,000 ft² Calgary flagship store, luxury retailer Holt Renfrew made the store its own by adding distinctive modern design elements to the structure.
Southcentre Mall Sporting Life Expansion
As a former Olympic host city situated next to the Rockies, sports and active lifestyles are a part of Calgary's soul. It's no coincidence that Sporting Life chose Calgary as the place to open their first store outside Ontario.
Simons Retail Store Exterior
Simons is a Canadian retailer that has been in operation for 175 years. The new Simon's department store is a fashion anchor for the CORE shopping centre in Downton Calgary, occupying 92,000 ft² of space in both the TD Square and Lancaster Building.
Kingsway Mall, Target Redemise
Located in central Edmonton, Kingsway Mall is the second largest mall in the city, with over 200 shops and services.
We develop retail opportunities that delight customers and, in the case of renovations, maintain ongoing operations.
Engineering Performance Matters
Our Special Projects team works with architects, developers, contractors, and building operators to deliver on structural projects with critical timelines under unique constraints.
Pedestrian & Evacuation Modelling
Using dynamic simulations, Entuitive analyzes pedestrian flow and movement patterns in buildings, transit stations, and event spaces to quantify their performance and gain insight into the user experience.
Structural Glass Design
We collaborate with architects to efficiently explore a wide range of glass design options to help them realize their aesthetic vision.
Tom Greenough
Tom is an Associate at Entuitive. He has experience in both the design and analysis of commercial, institutional, residential, and industrial buildings, including several renovation projects.
Learn more about how Entuitive approaches engineering challenges, and discover why Engineering Performance matters for your project.
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Housed in its original Grade II listed Engine House in the former sewage treatment works for Tottenham, it now forms part of Markfield Park.
Contractors have started a programme of tree works in Markfield Park this week. The works include crown lifting trees to increase clearance for pedestrians and mowers. A small number of trees will be crown reduced because they have been managed like this previously or they have minor defects. One Poplar tree is to be felled because it is a hazardous condition and a small number of trees will have significant crown reductions to create 'monoliths' because they have been colonised by decay fungi. Monoliths is a term used where a mature tree is reduced to leave a section of trunk, usually 5-8 tall, which is retained for a wildlife habitat for insects and nesting birds. The works should take two weeks to complete.
Haringey Council secured funding for some new trees for the park. They've now been planted by Haringey Parks Department including the Borough's Tree Specialist with the help of local volunteers.
Thanks to Haringey Council Parks Department and everyone who turned up to help!
Last November we planted 1000 daffodil bulbs for a good display in the Spring!
With some of Markfield's trees down in last year's storms, it was all the more important to get bulbs planted.
Get involved & out in the fresh air making a difference to ourselves & to our neighbourhood! - See the Conservation page for more outdoor fun!


Ground water flows slowly underground through pore spaces between sand, gravel, and cracks in rock, in underground formations called aquifers. These aquifers supply water that is used for sources for drinking water, agriculture, feeds our lakes, and recharges our streams and rivers.
So as you can clearly see, having safe, clean groundwater matters to each and every one of us. Without it we will all face a high probability of disease and sickness because of the contaminants we would ingest by drinking water from polluted groundwater sources.
Thirteen years ago the National Groundwater Association, an organization which has proven itself highly useful in bringing groundwater safety issues to people's attention for many years, began National Groundwater Awareness Week as a way to generate interest in groundwater cleanliness and advocate private well testing.
Without regular well water testing well owners will not know if the aquifer from which they obtain their water has become contaminated.
While the list of potential contaminants would take forever and a day to complete, the most commonly found contaminants in groundwater include arsenic, nitrates, nitrites, coliform bacteria, and various metals such as lead, iron, copper, manganese, etc.
Far too many private well owners put faith in notions such as "my well gets its water from the deepest part of the aquifer so I know it's safe to drink" or "we have never had a problem before so we shouldn't have one now" and potentially set themselves up for trouble.
Contamination of aquifers does happen and it can occur without any clearly identifiable cause. It takes time for unwanted contaminants to work their way down through the soil and/or through vast mazes of underground waterways so a contaminant found today may have began its journey into the aquifer years ago.
Well and groundwater professionals all pretty much agree that private wells should get tested for at LEAST coliform bacteria, nitrates/nitrites, arsenic, and dissolved heavy metals once a year — preferably by a certified drinking water testing laboratory.
For a list qualified labs in your area, take a look at the State Certification Officers for Drinking Water Laboratories page on the EPA web site. It contains a list of links to certified labs arranged in alphabetical order by state.
For those who would like to perform spot checks on the quality of the water produced by their well on their own, we suggest taking a look at the Well Driller Master Test Kit since it gives well owners the ability to test for many different parameters on more than one occasion.
The Well Driller Master Test Kit comes with 50 Free Chlorine Test Strips, 50 Ultra Low Total Chlorine Test Strips, 50 Hydrogen Sulfide Tests, 50 Total Hardness Test Strips, 50 Nitrate/Nitrite Test Strips, 50 pH Test Strips, 24 Manganese Tests, 50 Water Metals Test Strips, 10 Arsenic Tests, 25 Iron Tests, 50 Copper Test Strips, 2 Lead in Water Tests, 2 Pesticide Tests, and 1 bottle of Bacteria Test.
« Do You Sell Test Kits for Fluoride?


BoKS Manager is the server software used in Powertech Identity & Access Manager. BoKS Server Agent is the client component that protects a server. This information applies to BoKS Manager 7.0 and BoKS Server Agent 7.0.
♦ Oracle Solaris 10 on SPARC for Server Agent only.
* Except on HP-UX where 320 MB is needed.
Note that these are minimum recommendations. Requirements depend on platform, domain size, number of hosts and users etc.
The required shared memory size, configurable in BoKS Manager, depends on the size of the security database. These are minimum starting values. Note that BoKS Manager and BoKS Server Agent do not touch the kernel.
Compatible versions of products that can be used with BoKS Manager 7.1.
Default ports are 6500-6508, and 2478 with protocols TCP, UDP, SSL, and HTTP. The BoKS Control Center (formerly FoxT Control Center) admin server uses port 4343 by default. Ports are configurable.
A sub-administrator's access to BoKS Control Center can be restricted to specific menus and objects using BoKS Attribute-based Access Control (ABAC).


Good Morning, it is time for breakfast!
Our breakfasts at College Inn are truly a fun and delicious event. The casually elegant seating on the breakfast porch with a spectacular view of College Wesleyan Church and the University combine to make it a great way to start your day. For early risers, we can have coffee, tea and a morning paper waiting for you on the breakfast porch starting at 6:00am. We serve everyone a delicious breakfast when best fits your schedule.
No problem! All protein and no carb breakfasts are a specialty for us. Please let us know about dietary needs and preferences when making your reservation and we will be happy to accommodate you.
Throughout the day, special treats are available on our snack table for your enjoyment 24 hours a day. Snacks include: fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, candies, fruit and our delicious fudge brownies.
Located on the grounds of the B&B is JAX Cafe. The Bed & Breakfast is actually in two houses next to each other and the third house is JAX. JAX Cafe serves amazing breakfasts to the inn guests and all those stopping by, too. Simply epicurean and large portions. A special treat, besides the coffees, teas, and food, are the paintings. One of the featured artist at JAX Cafe is Eric Reaves, former long-time illustrator of Garfield. There's also a very cool and original Rembrandt that Eric Reaves adapted for the Cafe'. It is a must see! The café's phone number is 765-667-7263. Hours for JAX Cafe' are Monday through Friday., 7:00-1:00, and the inn's hours are perpetual.


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Dichochrysa yuxianensis är en insektsart som först beskrevs av Bian och Li 1992.  Dichochrysa yuxianensis ingår i släktet Dichochrysa och familjen guldögonsländor. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Guldögonsländor
yuxianensis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Stoke Newington students for gay rights
by Rosie Thompson/ February 9, 2012/ Hackney/ No Comments/
Hackney schoolchildren campaign for gay rights pic: Mike Flood-Page
Stoke Newington school students marched in support of gay rights at Clissold Park today.
Around 200 young people aged between 12 and 13 from Stoke Newington Secondary School walked around the local park with banners in support of equality for the London homosexual and transgendered community.
The demo is part of the school's annual week in support of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights.
Stoke Newington Teacher and LGBT coordinator, Elly Barnes, said: "Schools have the power to transform lives and be a driving force to break down social prejudices to create a cohesive society."
The annual LGBT week began five years ago and has since helped eradicate the use of defamatory language and has reduced homophobic bullying and taunting.
This year the LGBT celebrations have been the biggest yet, drawing help from the Project for Advocacy, Councilling and Education (PACE), who promote gay well-being and mental health, and Drill Hall theatre and arts centre.
The annual festivities concluded with a celebratory concert with a special guest appearance from Paralympics athlete Clare Harvey, who captained Scotland's Women's Rugby team before a bicycle accident confined her to a wheelchair. She is now one of Britain's Olympic hopefuls in floor volleyball.
Olympic Park to be turned into culture and education hub
by Jacqui Agate/
Sadiq Khan releases 10-point plan to fight crime
by Itunu Michelle Oduwole-Aigbogun/
The Hackney Cypriots helping refugees
by Amanda Ternblad/
Pacman and MarioKart live on in Hackney's retro gaming bar
by Begum Whitehead/


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Islote del Cabo är en ö i Argentina.   Den ligger i provinsen Santa Cruz, i den södra delen av landet,  km söder om huvudstaden Buenos Aires.

Klimatet i området är tempererat. Årsmedeltemperaturen i trakten är  °C. Den varmaste månaden är januari, då medeltemperaturen är  °C, och den kallaste är juli, med  °C. Genomsnittlig årsnederbörd är  millimeter. Den regnigaste månaden är juni, med i genomsnitt  mm nederbörd, och den torraste är november, med  mm nederbörd.

Källor

Öar i Santa Cruz (provins i Argentina)


It was almost 2am when we finally arrived at Vannes station, on the west coast of France, by TGV. I was pretty excited at the thought of flashing through the countryside at 300km/h, turning cows, fields, and villages into one long smear of green and brown blurs. But it was dark, and I fell asleep from exhaustion, waking up with bleary eyes as red as the train's.
After spending quite a lot of time exploring Paris' most famous and exciting museums and monuments, and an equal amount of time sitting at home eating cereal in my pyjamas, I decided to investigate what other things I could discover. This was Paris after all, and art of some kind could be found around almost any corner!
I found one of my favourite 'lesser-known' sights in Paris at Parc Bercy, a quiet park in Paris' East in the 12th arrondissment. It's a series of bronze sculptures called Les Enfants du Monde (The children of the world), created by French sculptor Rachid Khimoune in 2001. This multicultural crowd of melted and reworked metal represents 21 different countries, standing peacefully in a long line in the upper terrace of Parc Bercy. Each character comes to life with the very metal of the city streets; the textures, colours and insignia of manhole covers is integrated into each personality.
On a grey and rainy Paris day, I took a raincoat and a camera to see what these sculptures were.
For about 6 months I've been trying to learn French. If you know me, or read my blog from time to time, you'll know that my girlfriend Cindy is French, and from the beginning of our time together I've always wanted to have a conversation with her in her native language.
What have I been doing during my time in Paris? Well, sightseeing of course! But during my downtime i've found the time to paint; a small slice of life as a poor artist. Please enjoy what I came up with! Right now they're off the frame, rolled up and hiding in a transport tube!
Photographer. Acrylic on canvas, 16″ x 20″. Another small one; sorry can't remember the size!
…That didn't really happen, it was an email. But the list is real. Here goes.
The Hôtel des Invalides is a monument located in central Paris, not far from the Eiffel Tower. With it's high stone walls, manicured Queen-of-hearts garden and resplendant golden dome as it's unmistakable pinnacle, this huge building looks as though it was built to house a king; however it's original purpose was to house French war veterans. These days, it serves as a military museum.
Napoleon died in exile in 1821 on the island of St. Helena. In 1840, Napoleon's body was moved from the island to Paris, where in Invalides, his final resting place, a massive tomb was being constructed. The tomb is open to the public now. The huge casket is the size of a small truck, and looks like a great big wooden footrest covered in melted chocolate. The tomb is in a still, quiet circular room behind the Invalides church, hewn into a circular pit and guarded by stone sentinels, ringed by carved names of great Napoloeonic war victories.
As you know, there is a lot to do in Paris. You've probably heard of many of them – great monuments stare at each other from across great boulevards, the museums housed in former castles, eating and drinking great food.
But what about trying to track down the little curiosities?


One day after reports of drone activity near Newark Liberty International Airport temporarily halted flights, there are questions about whether the unmanned object spotted in the New Jersey sky, was indeed a drone.
Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration said at 4:44 p.m. on Tuesday they received two reports of possible drones operating near Newark Airport. One came from a Southwest pilot and the other from a United pilot who saw what they believed was a drone in the air as they prepared to land at Newark. However, an FAA spokesman said on Wednesday, the agency has been unable to independently confirm the sightings.
He said previous reports of drones flying near Gatwick and Heathrow airports in London - have made people more "predisposed"to assuming when they see something in the air, it's a drone.


This line dance comes from the town of Strumica. The footwork is influenced by the rocky terrain. The dance is done by the shepherds in this area. Presented by Atanas Kolarovski in Chicago, October 1968.
Translation: Named for a nearby mountain, Belasiča.
Pronunciation: be-LA-seech-ko. I believe the name is accented on the second syllable (3rd from last), which you hardly ever hear. Oh, and also: A-ta-nas Ko-LAR-ov-sky! (Does he pronounce it that way?!) That does conform to standard Macedonian pronunciation but the further east you go (Strumica's pretty far east) the more that rule breaks down.
Music: Dances of Yugoslavia, Voyager Recordings VRLP 402, Side B, Band 1 (LP); Worldtone WT-10003 Side A (45 rpm).
Formation: Broken circle, leader at R end. Hands joined and held down to begin. As originally danced, men and women did not join hands, but held a handkerchief between them. Today usually only the leader holds a handkerchief in his right hand and uses it to signal pattern changes.
Style: Body is held erect but relaxed. The bouncy character of the steps is reflected throughout the body. When directions say to 'step on the heel' it is not meant that the toes are pointing in the air, but that the ball of the foot is on or close to the floor and the heel is bearing the weight.
Sequence: Steps may be repeated as often as leader desires. In actual Internatioal Folk Dance practice, each part is always done for 16 measures, thus associating a specific melody phrase with a specific part.
1. Hands joined and held down.
1 Moving in LOD, step on heel of R ft (ct 1); Close L to R, bending L knee (ct 2).
2 Step on R heel in LOD (ct 1); Close L to R, bending L knee (ct &); Step on R heel in LOD (ct 2); Lift L leg in preparation for next step, R knee bends a little (ct &).
3 Still moving in LOD, repeat MEAS 2, reversing footwork.
4 Turning to face center, step on R ft (ct 1); Lift L leg in front of R, knee bent (ct 2).
5-8 Repeat MEAS 1-4, reversing footwork and directions (move RLOD).
2. Hands up to shoulder height, elbows bent.
1 Facing center, step on R heel to right side (ct 1); Close L behind R, bending L knee (ct 2).
2 Step R to right side (ct 1); Close L behind R (ct &); Step R to right side (ct 2); Lift L leg, knee bent, beside R leg. R knee bends during this small low lift (ct &).
3 Step L next to R, lifting bent R leg next to L (ct 1); Raise and lower L heel as lower R leg is extended fwd a little (ct 2).
4 Repeat MEAS 3, reversing footwork (ct 1); Lift L leg in front of R, knee bent (ct 2).
3. Hands are held down.
1 Turning to face LOD, step R (ct 1); Bring L leg up to R so that L ankle is behind R calf. L knee is turned out. At the same time R knee bends sharply (ct 2).
2 Turning quickly to face RLOD, step L-R-L. The size of these steps may vary but there is movement in RLOD (cts 1&2).
3 Still moving RLOD, step R (ct 1); Raise R leg (knee bent) in front of R, as R heel is raised and lowered (ct 2).
4 Repeat action of MEAS 2 at a near run, but turn to face center on last step L.
4. Hands raised to shoulder height, elbows bent, during first measure.
1 Facing ctr, step R in front of L, lifting L leg behind R (ct 1); Step L behind R, raising joined hands to shoulder height (ct 2).
2 Step R beside L (ct 1); Raise L leg (knee bent) in front of R, NO heel lift (ct 2).
3 Bending R knee, turn L knee to left (ct 1); Straighten R leg and return to position as in MEAS 2 CT 2 (ct 2).
4 Facing center, step L-R-L (cts 1&2).
These NOTES slightly revised from UOP Folk Dance Camp Syllabus, 1968.
I was interested in Michael's comments on Belasičko – this is the first time I've seen the written dance description although we've done the dance in our group for years. Our version is similar with a couple of minor variations, the main one being Part II, measure 2, count 2 where instead of stepping right and lifting the left leg in front as two separate actions, we make a small leap onto the right, simultaneously lifting the left foot in front and holding it there.
Regarding the music, there seems to be more than one recording. The one we dance to uses the same tunes as in the VIFD music, but in a different sequence. The VIFD sheet music shows a series of 6 repeated tunes. The dance only requires 4 of these to be done one time through, so by repeating the 6 tunes twice the dance can be done three times. Our recording, on the other hand, seems to be based on a sequence of 4 tunes, matching the length of the dance, except that in one of the repetitions it skips one of the tunes as I recall it. Our recording also starts with the 3rd tune in the VIFD music.
To my ear the tune doesn't sound so much like a medley as a connected series of variations with key changes as is found in many other tunes.
Quite true, although there are 6 musical phrases (A, B, C, D, C', D') and four dance phrases. So the first time through the dance, the 1st part is done to A, the second time through it's done to C', and the 3rd time through it's done to C. The other parts progress through the musical phrases similarly. As Michael indicates, mess with that order (either as a dance leader or in your band's arrangement), and you'll make some folk dancers unhappy.
Rumors from usually reliable sources say that's Atanas himself on lead accordion on the usual recording. I did see/hear him play Belasičko on the accordion at a Chicago workshop, a few years back.
For more background on this dance, you might want to ask Bob Leibman. I recall Bob questioning Atanas rather closely when Atanas taught Belasičko in the Boston area in 1966.
This dance is also fairly popular among folkdancers in Japan, always done in the set pattern.
With regard to Belasičko, I remember hearing a rumor that Atanas had created the dance (from Macedonian steps and styling) and people found out and were quite angered. Any one have any information on this?
For the information of Graham and others, the tune "Belasičko Oro" which Atanas Kolarovski used for the dance of the same name was originally released on RTB EP 14729 (45 rpm). This record features (the late) Macedonian flutist IVAN TERZIEV accompanied by a (unidentified) folk orchestra. The other titles on the disc are: Donkino Oro and Ograzdensko Oro. Under the titles, it mentions that Terziev is the composer of these tunes. Another record (RTB EP 14728) features Terziev playing Berovka Oro, Strumičko Oro, Ratevka Oro and Kazi, kazi Katil Gjorgji. Here too, it says that Terziev is accompanied by a folk orchestra (unidentified). Based on the "sound" of the backup musicians and arrangements, my feelings is that the orchestra is most likely in part composed of musicians associated with the old "Galevski-Nancevski" formation which played regularly for Radio Skopje. From a picture on the cover of another RTB record "Makedonska Ora" (RTB EP 14700) featuring the G-N orchestra it looks like Terziev is a member of this band.
From the catalogue numbers, I would guess that these records were produced in Yugoslavia in the mid-sixties. Atanas Kolarovski taught Belasičko in the late sixties using his LP released on the VOYAGER label (Seattle, USA) VRLP 402 side II band 1 (Belasičko Oro). As far as I can tell, this is the same version as the RTB one. One interesting point: the liner notes on the Voyageur LP state that the tunes uses Gajda, kaval, karadusen, tarabuka, tambura, daire and tûpan.
Regarding the confusion over the written score, Belasičko is on pages 14-15 in VOLUME 2 of the Vancouver IFD Music Book © 1982 Deborah Jones. There is also a transcription on page 20 of the Pinewoods International Collection (Tom and Barbara Pixton © 1998, NightShade Productions).
Little question, in #3, D should be Dm? and in #5 G should be Gm? Or does it really go from major to minor?
I use similar chords to those Dean shows with the exception of the last bar in melodies 3 & 5. In place of the last Dm I usually play F,G in melody 3. In melody 5 I use F,A in place of the Gm. I use a different chord structure in melody 5 than in melody 3 because of the way the notes are laid out on the guitar. The F-A sequence in melody 5 allows me to emphasize the notes F&A changing to E&A, with the A acting as a drone while the melody moves down the scale. In other words I'm only plucking 2 or 3 strings. I could do the same thing in melody 3 by plucking C and E chords, making sure to include the high E note in both, but it doesn't sound as good to me as the F,G sequence which is more emphatic. In melody 3 when I pluck a D chord, I'm plucking the notes D-A-D, which means it's neither major nor minor. In melodies 1 & 2 I don't play chords at all, but just use thumb and finger to play melody plus harmony on the 1st & 3rd or 2nd & 4th strings. (This follows the harmony in the VIDF song book.) When played this way on a 12 string guitar the result is a melody line that is both above and below the harmony line because of the octave string pairs.
The guitar plays on the backbeat, so where there are places where everybody rests on the backbeat (for example, the last "Am" in melody 4 on the 2nd and 4th repeat), there is no guitar chord. It's interesting that melodies 3 and 5 are not the same, even accounting for transposition. The first difference is in the second measure of melody 5, where the first chord should be an F. On the recording, there is no guitar chord at all at this spot on the first time through melody 5 – just the F chord at the end of the measure. It's only when the melody is repeated that the guitar plays C-F. It's almost as if the guitarist took a moment to pause and decide which chord belonged there.
About the Pinewoods International Collection: Tom Pixton, who spent countless hours putting it together, did not attempt to duplicate source recordings in terms of setting chords to the melodies – he just relied on his own sense of good taste. I think there's even a disclaimer to that effect in the introduction to the book. Tom's chords for Belasičko are probably not what most people would choose for that tune, but they work. I've played Belasičko with Tom for several years, and I haven't heard anyone come up to us and complain that the chords weren't "just like the record".