DALLAS, September 15, 2017 – The American Heart Association – the world's leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease – has once again been selected as a top employer in the U.S. in a leading ranking. Today, the global nonprofit was named by Great Place to Work® and FORTUNE magazine as one of the country's Best Workplaces for Women.
This is the first year the Association has been recognized with this specific distinction, however the organization was recognized earlier this year for the 2017 Best Workplaces in Health Care award and earlier as a Best Workplace for both Millennials and Baby Boomers. Earlier this year, the AHA was recognized as a 2017 Best Nonprofit to Work For by The NonProfit Times.
Research from Great Place to Work shows that women are five times more likely to plan a long-term future with their employers when they're treated as full members of the team, regardless of their position. Ranked employers also set themselves apart from competitors in other important ways: 95 percent of women at these organizations describe them as friendly, and the same share say they're proud to tell others where they work.
"We applaud American Heart Association for seeking certification and releasing its employees' feedback," said Kim Peters, Executive Vice President of Great Place to Work's Certification Program. "These ratings measure its capacity to earn its own employees' trust and create a great workplace - critical metrics that anyone considering working for or doing business with American Heart Association should take into account as an indicator of high performance."
Gender comparison. The ranking considered women's survey results compared to their colleagues to ensure women had as positive an experience as men. This took into account an index of factors where women often lag their peers, such as access to meaningful work, fair pay and plans for a future with their organizations.


text:
Next Big Things
Adventures, familiar and otherwise.
Movies, Fandoms, Pretension, Catsuits
March 2, 2016 | Mel.P.Morgan
Pretentious Sadsack Film Critic Snobbery. It's just getting under my skin right now in a way that snobbery in general* has yet to do.
Sadsack Film Snobbery is where the critical acclaim of a movie or TV show is directly proportional to how emotionally brutalized you feel for watching it. It's the entertainment industry version of clapping in someone's face so you can despise them when they blink.
I do like unflinching, brave, disquieting movies — sometimes. I'm glad filmmakers are making them. I'm glad moviegoers are seeing them. But I'm not always up for them. And the idea that complex, unpleasant questions should be left alone unless they're in a movie that's painful to watch — what seems to be the functional result of incessantly crying up the brutal ones and panning the enjoyable — sucks. It disregards the legitimacy of the needs that send many people, including myself, to the fun movies. As a moviegoer, it often means you have to choose between relevance and enjoyability. And as a critic — or storyteller — it substitutes feeling smugly superior for doing much actual good. (This is my main quarrel with most snobbery — it's a tacky way to feel better about doing very little.)
I, as you've probably gathered, can get worked up about more social issues than is, perhaps, strictly healthy. Not everyone does. That's okay. As an aspirant storyteller, I want my work, someday, to make a dent in them. Some of them. A little dent, at least. Not everyone does, and that, too, is okay. In that pursuit, it's not the handful of people who want to dive into thorny truths and find a way through them that I'm out to convince. (Or whose awareness I want to raise, or whose inertia I want to challenge, or however you want to put it.) It's the people who — for real, significant, valid reasons — turn to stories purely to have a good time.
I have to remind myself, different people view movies differently. They watch for their own reasons, and respond to different things. Those who watch movies for a living often enjoy very different things than people who watch to escape their lives for a couple of hours. (Particularly when those lives contain real versions of the on-screen suckiness the Sadsack Snobs are so smugly brave enough to watch.) Or who just want to use a clean restroom and sit still in the air conditioning. Or to spend two non-combative hours with the people they care about but have very little in common with, or to see beautiful people fighting each other in catsuits. Whatever.
All of these people, with all their reasons and needs, have something to contribute to the giant looming problems that threaten our actual world. If enough of us get together and keep working at it, we really can do something about most, perhaps all, of them. (What? I like hero stories. The language resonates with me.) But pretending that movies that discuss those problems have to be brutally raw — to be unpleasant to experience — in order even to be worth watching widens the divide between People Who Give A Damn about them and People Who Don't.
By elevating inaccessibility into a for-its-own-sake value, influential critics encourage filmmakers to make less accessible movies about more important things — but even that's not the problem, exactly. Those movies are great, and important, and valuable, and so on. They should be made. They should be seen. The problem is, filmmakers are also making fewer accessible movies about those important things. Sadsack Snobbery's functional result is to steer audiences — and thus studios and storytellers — away from taking on difficult ideas at all in the fun, light, comfortable movies.
The number of fun-to-see movies about difficult-to-think-about things is dwindling. And since those are the movies I most like to see, that … okay, it's kind of anticlimactic, but it really makes me sad.
*I myself am a snob about some things. I won't wear ugly shoes, for instance (… unless they're for running or hiking. Or, you know, keeping your toes from getting mangled on a construction site…). I despise ketchup as a travesty of the exquisite (if unrefrigerated) tomato. I dislike cheap polyester. (But not all polyester. Some of it's actually quite nice these days. I mean the scritchy, bouncy, rubbery stuff …)
I'm apparently a snob about qualifying my snobberies.
< 11 Unillustrated Reasons I'm Cutting My Hair Tomorrow
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text:
Business Newsroom
La Trobe Business School
SDG Series: Sustainable Development Goal 9
July 10, 2019 / La Trobe Business School
With over half the world population now living in cities, mass transport and renewable energy are becoming ever more important, as are the growth of new industries and information and communication technologies (SDG Fund, 2019).
Industrialisation drives economic growth, creates job opportunities and thereby reduces income poverty. Innovation advances the technological capabilities of industrial sectors and prompts the development of new skills. Infrastructure provides the basic physical systems and structures essential to the operation of a society or enterprise. Sustained investment in infrastructure and innovation are crucial drivers of economic growth and development. However, basic infrastructure like roads, information and communication technologies, sanitation, electrical power and water remains scarce in many developing countries (SDG Knowledge Platform, 2019).
At the moment, 2.3 billion people still lack access to basic sanitation. In some low-income African countries, infrastructure constraints cut businesses' productivity by around 40 percent. Moreover, 2.6 billion people in developing countries do not have access to constant electricity, and more than 4 billion people still do not have access to the Internet – of which 90 percent are in the developing world. There are opportunities too. The renewable energy sectors currently employ more than 2.3 million people, which could reach 20 million by 2030. Also, in developing countries, barely 30 percent of agricultural products undergo industrial processing, compared to 98 percent high-income countries, which suggests that there are great opportunities for developing countries in agribusiness (UNDP, 2019).
The focus of SDG 9
The focus of sustainable development goal (SDG) 9 is to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. These pillars all share the objective of achieving socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable economic development. Realizing SDG 9 by 2030 requires overcoming resource constraints, building and strengthening developing countries' capacities, and exploring innovative ways to solve development challenges. SDG 9 has approximately 20 targets and indicators related to its three pillars and is closely linked to other SDGs related to job creation, sustainable livelihoods, improved health, technology and skills development, gender equality, food security, green technologies and climate change (SDG Knowledge Hub, 2019).
Implications for business
Ageing, degraded or non-existent infrastructure makes conducting good business challenging. Business relies on materials, resources, labour and service support from all corners of the world and the ability to access them efficiently is key to establishing new markets. Computing and technology-based skills are of significant value to most businesses today, and consumers of common goods and services live on every continent. However, basic infrastructure supporting technologies, communications, transportation, and sanitation that business relies on is not universally available, hindering economic growth and societal progress. Promoting sustainable industries, and investing in scientific research and innovation, are all important ways to facilitate sustainable development (SDG Fund, 2019).
More than 4 billion people still do not have access to the internet. Bridging this digital divide is crucial to ensure equal access to information and knowledge, and consequently foster innovation and entrepreneurship. This presents an opportunity for business. By committing to sustainable industrialization and promoting innovation across company operations, businesses can contribute to development efforts in the regions in which they operate through upgrading local infrastructure, investing in resilient energy and communications technologies, and making these technologies available to all people, including marginalized groups, who might not have access otherwise. Global companies can also promote inclusive infrastructure development by bringing valuable financial services and employment opportunities to smaller and/or minority-owned businesses (SDG Compass, 2019).
Delivering infrastructure
Leadership on SDG 9 represents a significant market opportunity for businesses in other ways too. For example, retrofits and installation of new infrastructure is a market worth $3.7 trillion annually. Delivering this infrastructure can allow businesses to access new markets for their products and services, as well as access to underserved labour markets and resources, while respecting international standards for environment and social impacts. The transition to a green, resilient industrial and infrastructure base globally represents a significant investment opportunity with large rewards for businesses that can position themselves at the leading edge of the sectors that must deliver it (SDG Blueprint for Business, 2017).
Interconnectedness to other SDGs
Action on SDG 9 is strongly interconnected with many other SDGs, most notably SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production. Efforts to create new opportunities for innovation and employment in developing countries directly relate to SDG 8. Infrastructure-dependent SDGs including those relating to food (SDG 2), water and sanitation (SDG 6), energy (SDG 7), and climate action (SDG 13) will also benefit from action on SDG 9. Leading action must be managed such that it does not risk exacerbating existing inequalities, or creating new ones, and so that it is not contributing to any form of corruption and violation of human rights that would negatively impact on a range of SDGs (SDG Blueprint for Business, 2017).
SDG Video
The video on SDG 9 is created by our CR3+ partner ISAE Brazilian Business School (ISAE). The video highlights two projects that are related to SDG 9. The first project is called Jardins de Mel, which involves placing bee boxes in areas such as parks, schools and community gardens. The project raises awareness about the environment, the contribution of insects to maintaining life, pollination and the importance of ecosystem services. The second project is a start-up from Curitiba in Brazil that used renewable energy technology to create a mini-plant that generates energy from water and then returns 100% of the water back to its source.
Please enjoy the presentation.
If you would like access to the full video to use in your teaching, please contact Dr Swati Nagpal.
This blog is part of the SDG Series, a series that focuses on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations, in the lead up to the CR3+ Conference in October 2019.
More blogs in the SDG Series:
- An introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG Series: Sustainable Development Goal 1
#CR3LTU2019 CR3+ ConferenceCR3+Industry Innovation and InfrastructureLa Trobe Business SchoolLBSSDG SeriesSustainable Development Goals
LBS Rises through the Global Ranks
LBS Innovation Series: Cities that feed our planet
SDG Series: Sustainable Development Goal 12 - Business Newsroom
Follow LBS on Twitter!
View latrobebusiness's profile on Twitter
© 2021 Business Newsroom


When are lessons and classes? Lessons and group classes are offered Mon-Tu & Thu-Sat during the school year with breaks at Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year's, and Easter. Summer lessons are offered when I am in town, and can be scheduled around trips & vacations.
Where are lessons and classes?
In-person private lessons take place at my home studio (Monrovia), my church (Sierra Madre), or at St. Margaret's Episcopal School (San Juan Capistrano). Observe "no parking" and "no U-turn" signs! Sky Mountain students must take in-person lessons in Sierra Madre. Group classes are offered in Pasadena and in San Juan Capistrano.
Occasional distance lessons (or video consultations) via Skype, Facetime, Vimeo, YouTube, or through other video conferencing services, can be arranged in lieu of in-person lessons for students who sometimes need to be out of town, whose commute is longer than practical for weekly driving, or who are recovering from being sick and may be contagious, during their regular lesson time.
Regular distance lessons can take place online for older students who have no options for local teachers in their area.
Up to 3 times a year, if you give me at least 24 hours' notice, you can reschedule a private lesson to one of my other open time slots during the school year, or defer it to a summer lesson.
However, I don't guarantee that my summer availability will match yours. Any deferred lessons that aren't used expire at the end of the summer.
There are no makeups for lessons cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice. However, if you need to cancel with less than 24 hours' notice (or if you need to cancel more than 3 lessons in a year) you can redeem some value from the time slots you're paying for if, before the start of the missed lesson, you send me a video of your latest piece or etude. I will spend your lesson time watching your video and will send you feedback and customized advice so that you can continue to make progress even though you could not attend a live lesson.
During the school year, private lessons and group classes each occur weekly (making for a twice a week commitment). Summer lessons can be scheduled more or less frequently, with more flexibility depending on vacation schedules.
Although you will schedule your lessons for a certain length of time (usually between 30 and 75 minutes per week, based on your current level), this is an approximation. Please be prepared to be flexible with start and end times, and with lesson length.
For children (under 18): In addition to the student and the teacher, a parent or other loving adult in the student's life attends the lesson alongside the student. This adult practice partner takes notes, pictures, and records part of each lesson, in order to support the student's home practice sessions. In essence, it is not the child who takes lessons, but a 2 person team (child+loving adult) who take the lessons together.
For minors: NO PARENT or GUARDIAN Present = NO LESSON, NO REFUND, NO VIDEO CONSULTATIONS, & NO RESCHEDULING; no exceptions.
For those taking online lessons: Your lesson may be RECORDED and stored ONLINE. While common privacy precautions (such as using private YouTube channels or password protected Vimeo pages) will be taken, there are no privacy guarantees online, and students (or parents of minor students) must agree to this before taking online lessons. If you agree to take lessons via a "broadcast" service such as Google+ Hangouts, anyone with internet access might be observing your lesson.
For adults (18 or older): A practice partner is not required.
For all: There may be other people observing your lessons. You may be asked to quietly observe other student's lessons.
At what age can I/my child begin lessons?
Because each family is different, I ask that I be allowed to meet and interact with a young child and their adult practice partner, before assessing whether or not a child is ready to begin viola or violin lessons.
I have taught child-adult teams where the child is as young as 3 years old. I have no upper age limit for teaching adults.
Many children begin in the age 4-7 range; some earlier, some later. Most children over the age of 8 are developmentally ready for the discipline of music lessons. Most children under the age of 3 are not ready. The younger a student, the more hands-on and intense the parent participation required.
3 year olds are more likely to be ready for lessons if they have attended a Suzuki Early Childhood Education class for several months or years, and if they have been constantly exposed to older siblings who practice and listen to music at home on a daily basis.
Tuition is pre-paid to reserve your spot in lessons and classes.
The price to reserve individual lesson time slots ranges between $37 (beginners) and $80 (advancing students), depending on the students' level & lesson length. Tuition for group classes ranges between $200-$300 per semester.
For Sky Mountain Students, a purchase order for the semester, based on the number of private lessons you wish to reserve that semester, is due before classes begin. If you wish to make a purchase order for 25 or more lessons for the entire year, the 10% discount applies to your purchase order.
For SMES students, registration & payment through St. Margaret's at the start of each semester includes private lessons & group classes together. No discounts are available.
Other costs of taking music lessons include instrument purchase or rental, instrument maintenance, sheet music & recordings, and various other supplies (see What You Need).
Are music lessons a high priority but also a significant financial hardship for your family? If so, please ask me about alternative payment arrangements.
Can we enroll in your private lessons and not participate in a group? No. In order to learn efficiently, violin or viola students need both customized teaching (private lessons) and social motivation (group classes, orchestra or chamber music).
Those who get both private lessons and a group or ensemble experience every week learn their music more thoroughly, learn a larger number of things in fewer weeks, and (consequently) get to have more fun with more challenging and more satisfying music much sooner in life.
Adding group classes to private lessons makes financial sense: group lessons are a fraction of the cost of private lessons but they can easily double or triple the effectiveness of private lessons.
Playing the viola or violin is hard enough! Why make it harder by depriving yourself of the rewards of your hard work? Playing music with others is the best, most meaningful musical experience you can have. It provides inspiration, motivation, encouragement and purpose for improving yourself. It is fun to work hard with other people and cheer each other on. It's boring and tedious and depressing to only ever improve yourself alone, and never show anyone but your teacher the results of your work.
Are there materials fees? You will need to purchase or rent a good quality instrument outift of the proper size. Please bring any instrument to me for inspection before purchasing it. (Beware the "VSO"!) You are responsible for instrument maintenance (I will recommend qualified repairpersons when necessary), and you are responsible for obtaining sheet music and audio recordings recommended at the lessons.
Are there any performance fees? For performances of any kind, please plan to pay your accompanist for any extra rehearsal time that I don't provide for you. Concert hall rental and other sundry fees are included in your tuition rate, except for the SMAC-LA graduation concerts or SMAC-OC festival concerts, which do require an extra fee.
Yes, at the beginning & lower intermediate (Suzuki books 1-4) levels, I teach technique & repertoire (how to play the instrument), and I also teach Creative Ability Development (improvisation), and I teach music theory & musicianship (how to read & understand sheet music & charts) on both violin & viola.
Beyond the Suzuki book 4 level, I teach viola technique & repertoire. Violin students beyond the Suzuki book 4 level who are interested in Creative Ability Development (improvisation) or Theory & Musicianship (reading & analyzing music) can schedule lessons with me if they are also continuing to study violin technique & repertoire with a violinist.
What if the student (or someone in the student's family) gets sick? Please do not physically attend the lesson if you are ill, contagious, or have recently been exposed to a contagious disease; or if you know you've been exposed to lice or bedbugs and you have not yet determined that your hair and clothing are completely insect-free.
Distance lessons via Skype, Facetime, or Google Hangout can be arranged if the student and practice partner are up to taking a lesson but may be contagious (or need to stay home to keep an ill or contagious family member out of my music studio).
Video consultations, including customized feedback and practice recordings, can be arranged if a live online lesson is not practical.
Practice partners may attend the lesson without the student if a child is ill and can stay home alone but the practice partner is not contagious.
Up to 3 times a year, if you give me at least 24 hours' notice, I'm happy to try to find a mutually agreeable time to re-schedule the lesson.
Are you using a tablet to display your sheet music at home? Use it during the lesson, too.
Need an app to help you tune at home? Using a metronome app at home when you practice? Show me how you use it.
A great way for parents or practice partners to use your phone or other mobile device is to take pictures of your child's and teacher's posture, and record short audio clips or videos of the week's practice assignments, to watch at the start of each practice session at home! You can also take notes on how to practice for the week.
The lesson is not an appropriate time for students or their practice partners to answer a phone call, compose a text message, email, tweet, or use social media, etc., unless it directly relates to the lesson currently being taught.
Got an emergency? Please interrupt the lesson to let me know that you need to communicate with someone else. We will wait - or cancel the rest of the lesson if needed.
If you're not the student or practice partner, and the app does not distract the student, YES. If the app makes sounds, or if the app distracts the student, NO.
Are there performances? All students are expected to attend recitals and perform at least once a year. (More if possible!) Group classes also perform together on larger concerts, once or twice a year.
What can we do to support the quality and speed of our learning? I strongly encourage attending local concerts and participating in a summer Suzuki institute or other summer music camp for an extra "boost" in learning, along with checking through the 8 points in the next question.
Are you attending lessons and classes regularly (i.e. on average twice a week)?
Are you listening to professionals perform (live or recorded) every day?
Do you regularly practice on consecutive days with a good night's sleep in between?
Do you practice the particular, customized assignments given (specifically) to you or to your class by your teacher(s)?
Do you watch other students learning on a regular basis (at least once a week)?
Do you practice both individually (alone), and socially (together with friends who are also studying music)?
You must do these things over sustained seasons of time (i.e. years). If you are doing all of these things and are still dissatisfied with your progress, let's talk! There may be other more complex issues in play.
What are lessons like? Prospective students are invited to observe me teaching a lesson before signing up to begin! If observing isn't practical, a trial lesson can be arranged.
Please LET ME KNOW at least four(4) lessons in advance, so we can schedule a last lesson date, and so I have time to fill your spot (or adjust my budget to handle the decrease in income).
Tuition is due for the four (4) lessons following the date you notify me, regardless of whether or not you take those lessons. If you have pre-paid the discounted price for 25 or more lessons, but suddenly discover you need to move out of town, or you decide to change instruments or teachers, etc., then I'll calculate the regular, non-discounted tuition rate for all the lessons you've reserved up through four (4) lessons after I'm notified, and will refund whatever you've paid over that amount.
If you need to quit only because you have unexpected financial difficulties and cannot (for example) both feed, house and clothe your family and also pay for music lessons, please ask me about alternative payment/barter arrangements. I have been the recipient of tuition work-study discounts and scholarships in my own music education, and would be happy to pay it forward to a student who wants lessons and will practice, but who can't afford my current tuition rates - especially if I already have a working relationship with the student.
~ I reserve the right to dismiss any family at any time. If I need to stop teaching you, I will try to provide a recommendation for a new teacher, and any pre-paid lessons not yet received will be re-funded.
~ Please don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions about these or other logistical things BEFORE you schedule or attend your next lesson.


Come try our fresh, never frozen burgers, or cheese curds made with real Wisconsin cheese! And if you're crunched for time - call ahead because all menu items are available for take-out. Thirsty? We've got you covered there too! We have a wide selection of tap beers and over 80 varieties of bottled beers. They're always changing, so stop in and see if we've got your favorite!


As many of you know – September is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So many individuals have been affected by breast cancer. One of the products that we carry, RevitaLash, has a very interesting story behind it.
RevitaLash was developed as a very special gift from Dr. Michael Brinkhoff to his wife Gayle as she underwent and recovered from chemotherapy treatments. Gayle has been quoted saying the loss of her eyelashes was even more traumatic than losing her hair and to have a product like RevitaLash was such a gift both emotionally and physically.
It is stories like Gayle's that continue to inspire us and the RevitaLash family. As a small way of giving back, RevitaLash will donate 10% of profits from all sales of RevitaLash Lash Conditioning products during the months of September and October to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This donation is an addition to the time, energy and money RevitaLash and its employees already donate throughout the year.
We are also giving away one RevitaLash Advanced Formula Eyelash Conditioner on our Facebook fan page. Go to our Facebook fan page and leave a comment on why you or someone you know needs this. The winner will be announced next Tuesday. To become a fan of our Facebook page click Here.


2016 is the centenary of the 1916 Rising – a rebellion mounted to achieve personal and political freedoms from contested ruling authorities on the island of Ireland.
2016 is also the 20-year anniversary of the closure of the last Magdalene laundry in Ireland located on Seán McDermott Street Lwr in Dublin's north city centre.
While many fought for an idea of home in 1916, others were confined and silenced in homes such as the Laundries, Mother and Baby homes, industrial and reformatory schools, orphanages and related institutions.
'1916: Home: 2016' calls for participants to join together to stage a national and international programme of multi-disciplinary creative arts projects responding to the homes we have made, the homes we hid, and the homes that we are yet to imagine and build.
'1916: Home: 2016' is coordinated by an international committee of artists and academics including Patricia Burke Brogan, Mary Caulfield, Thomas Conway, Jo Egan, Evelyn Glynn, Declan Gorman, Miriam Haughton, Louise Lowe, Declan Mallon, Paula McFetridge, Aoife McGrath, Charlotte McIvor, Emer O'Toole, Emilie Pine, and Brian Singleton.
Events will take place in the second half of October 2016 throughout the island of Ireland and internationally to coincide with the anniversary of the closing of Ireland's last laundry. For this preliminary call, artists will propose events that they would like to produce as part of this national and international programme. This programme is open to all creative communities, individuals and organizations.
By grouping these projects together in time, '1916: Home: 2016' will create spaces to reflect on a spectrum of stories that explore the hidden lives and narratives, both in Ireland and elsewhere, from 1916 to 2016 and beyond.
Multi-disciplinary creative arts projects may utilise theatre, performance art, visual art (including fine art, photography, installation, sculpture), dance, music, creative writing and research projects. Projects may be proposed to be fully produced or presented as staged readings, workshops, or exhibitions.
Interested individuals and parties should submit a concise outline of the proposed project including project title, format, summary of concept with supporting materials as appropriate, project location and proposed venue, and listing of possible collaborators or associates to 1916home2016@gmail.com by 1 February 2015.
The programme will culminate in a multi-institution led conference bringing together participants from the project. Documentation of the events throughout October will occur through a follow-up edited collection and other archival measures.
Further information will be released through the Irish Memory Studies Network association, with details on its website. If you would like to propose a project that cannot occur in October 2016, but will be related to the objectives of '1916: Home: 2016', please contact us for further dialogue.


text:
\section{The AMS-02 Detector}

The AMS-02 experiment will be installed on the International Space Station at an altitude of about 400\,km in 2010 for about three years to measure cosmic rays without the influence of the Earth's atmosphere \cite{ams04}. The detector consists of several subdetectors for the determination of the particle properties, namely a transition radiation detector (TRD), a time of flight system (TOF), a cylindrical silicon microstrip tracker with eight layers surrounded by an anticoincidence counter system (ACC) in a superconducting magnet with a field of 0.8\,T strength, a ring image \v{C}erenkov detector (RICH) and an electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) (fig.~\ref{f-ams_detector}).

\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=1.0\linewidth]{icrc1064_fig01.eps}
\caption{The AMS-02 detector.}
\label{f-ams_detector}
\end{figure}

\section{The Anticoincidence Counter}

\begin{figure*}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=1.0\linewidth]{icrc1064_fig02.eps}

\vspace{0.2cm}

\includegraphics[width=0.9\linewidth]{icrc1064_fig03.eps}
\caption{\textbf{\textit{Upper)}} The anticoincidence counter system after integration (left) and the principle of component arrangement (right). \textbf{\textit{Lower)}} ACC working principle.}
\label{f-acc_overview}
\end{figure*}

The AMS-02 anticoincidence counter \cite{doe08,doe09} surrounds the silicon tracker and can be used as a veto for the trigger decision made by the TOF (fig.~\ref{f-acc_overview}, upper). This is important for rejecting events with particles entering the detector from the side or with particles from secondary interactions inside the detector which could distort the charge measurement. To improve existing upper limits on antihelium an inefficiency of the ACC smaller than $10^{-4}$ is needed according to MC simulations. The inefficiency is the ratio of missed to the total number of particle tracks crossing the ACC.

Another important task of the ACC is to reduce the trigger rate during periods of very large flux, e.g. in the South Atlantic Anomaly. For that purpose, it is important to use a detector with a fast response.

The ACC cylinder has a diameter of 1.1\,m and a height of 0.83\,m and is made out of 16 scintillation panels (Bicron BC-414) with a thickness of 8\,mm. The ultraviolet scintillation light through ionization losses of charged particles is absorbed by wavelength shifting fibers (WLS, Kuraray Y-11(200)M) which are embedded into the panels. The WLS fibers are coupled to clear fiber cables (Toray PJU-FB1000) for the final light transport to photomultiplier tubes (Hamamatsu R5946). A set of two panels is read out by the same two photomultipliers, one on top and one on the bottom, via clear fiber cables (Y-shape) in order to have redundancy and to save weight (fig.~\ref{f-acc_overview}, lower). The slot between two panels is realized with tongue and groove and is crucial for the determination of the inefficiency because of less scintillator material and a smaller active (WLS) to passive (scintillator) material ratio. The qualification of the individual components is discussed in references~\cite{doe08,doe09}.

\section{ACC Inefficiency Determination with atmospheric Muons}

AMS-02 was pre-integrated with all subsystems but the magnet in 2007 and 2008 at CERN, Geneva. The data used here are taken after this installation.

In most runs a trigger is given by any two out of the four TOF planes. The trigger condition for events used in this analysis used tracks with hits in both upper TOF layers. TRD and tracker tracks are extrapolated to the ACC in order to find the intersection on the ACC cylinder and to determine the ACC detection efficiency.

\subsection{Event Reconstruction}

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[width=1.0\linewidth]{icrc1064_fig04.eps}
\caption{Clean event for the ACC analysis during the AMS-02 preintegration runs with atmospheric muons. The outline of the ACC hit shows only a part of a panel.}
\label{f-eventdisplay_1209556604_33077}
\end{figure}

Fig.~\ref{f-eventdisplay_1209556604_33077} shows a typical event used in the following analysis. In addition, the AMS-02 coordinate system is shown. The origin is located at the center of the tracker. The axis of symmetry of the ACC cylinder is the same as the $z$ axis of the AMS-02 coordinate system.

A track fit was developed to find tracks which point to the ACC. The requirement of a reasonable agreement between TRD and tracker track acts as an effective momentum filter such that only high energetic particles without any significant interactions in the TOF or tracker are taken into account for analysis.

The analysis starts with the TRD track, which is defined by requiring that at least three out of the four upper layers of the TRD, at least ten of the twelve intermediate layers and again at least three of the four lower layers have hits on the track. A hit is considered to be on the track if its horizontal distance $\sqrt{\Delta x^2+\Delta y^2}$ from the track is less than 0.6\,cm (= straw tube diameter).

To select clean single track events the new straight line fit in the tracker requires at least three layers each with only one reconstructed hit within a road around the extrapolated TRD track. In addition, only tracks with reasonable $\chi^2$/dof values are taken into account. For a reliable track fit two additional cuts are applied to accept only clean single track events for the analysis. The ratio of the total number of hits in the TRD to the number of hits on the TRD track has to be smaller than 1.5. In a similar way, the ratio of the total number of reconstructed tracker hits to the number of hits on the fitted track must be smaller than 1.3. These two ratio requirements lower significantly the number of events having additional hits resulting from interactions of the primary particle in the detector. On average, the intersection of the track on the ACC cylinder can be extrapolated with a mean RMS of about 0.7\,mm.

Furthermore, the comparison of the TRD track and the tracker track showed that TRD and tracker are on there nominal positions with respect to each other and proof the high integration precision. This is done by extrapolating both tracks to the $z$ position of the upper TOF and examining their distance at this position. The resolutions in $x$ and $y$ direction are 0.55\,cm and 0.41\,cm, respectively.

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[width=1.0\linewidth]{icrc1064_fig05.eps}
\caption{Azimuthal and $z$ occupancy on the ACC of fitted tracks surviving all cuts. The vertical lines indicate the positions of the slot regions between two sectors and the horizontal lines the positions of the tracker layers. The color code on the right shows the number of entries.}
\label{f-090216_4_0_6_0_4_2_3_phi_z}
\end{figure}

The ACC cylinder is located between $z=-41.5$\,cm and $z=+41.5$\,cm. The track occupancy distribution in azimuth angle and $z$ on the ACC cylinder shows a structure due to the shape of the TRD, the TOF and the tracker planes (fig.~\ref{f-090216_4_0_6_0_4_2_3_phi_z}). No hits above $z\approx20$\,cm are visible because it was required that the first tracker plane shows a hit on the track.

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[width=1.0\linewidth]{icrc1064_fig06.eps}
\caption{Positions of slot regions. The vertical lines indicate the nominal slot positions ($n\cdot\pi/4, (n=-3,\dots,4)$).}
\label{f-090216_4_0_6_0_4_2_3_acc_sector}
\end{figure}

The position of the seven slots between the eight ACC sectors is determined by requiring all four ACC PMTs of adjacent sectors to show clear signals. The frequency distribution of these events is shown as a function of the azimuth angle in fig.~\ref{f-090216_4_0_6_0_4_2_3_acc_sector}. The data shows that the used tracker fit is able to reproduce the geometry of the ACC.

\subsection{Inefficiency Determination}

In the following, a good ACC event is defined to show at least in one PMT of the sector to which the fitted track is extrapolated an ADC value larger than 21\,ADC counts (average RMS of PMT pedestals: 7\,ADC counts).  ACC events not fulfilling this requirement are called 'missed'. The distribution of the highest ADC values of each event for the central part of a panel, the slot region between two sectors and the slot within a sector is shown in fig.~\ref{f-090216_4_0_6_0_4_2_3_acc_adc_highest_slot_central}. As expected, the slot between two sectors shows the smallest MOP value. Within a sector the mean ADC values as a function of azimuth angle show clear drops at the slot positions (fig.~\ref{f-acc_phi_mod_adc_highest_bothmean}). The mean drop ($\approx20$\,\%) for the slot region between panels sharing their PMTs is not as strong as for the slots between sectors ($\approx30$\,\%). In addition, the spectrum of the central part shows one missed event below the cut of 21\,ADC counts which cannot be explained by statistical fluctuations of the fitted Landau distribution. The mean inefficiency $I$ for the pre-integration of the complete ACC system is calculated to be \begin{equation}I=1.5^{+2.3}_{-1.1}\cdot 10^{-5} < 7.2\cdot10^{-5}\mbox{ (95\,\% confidence level).}\end{equation} This result is beyond the requirement of $10^{-4}$ and dominated by only one missed event which was measured while the complete experiment was rotated around the $y$ axis by -90$^\circ$. By assuming that muons preferbly come from above it probably crossed the ACC from the outside before traversing tracker and TRD. In this case the probability for unclean events due to interactions, e.g. in the tank, is much higher. Therefore, we interpret the derived inefficiency as an upper bound.

\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=1.0\linewidth]{icrc1064_fig07.eps}
\caption{Highest ADC values of the complete ACC system for the central region of the ACC panels and the two different slot regions in an interval of 15\,mrad around the slots. The vertical line indicates the cut for the definition of a good event.}
\label{f-090216_4_0_6_0_4_2_3_acc_adc_highest_slot_central}
\end{figure}

\section{Further ACC Properties\label{s-further}}

Besides the inefficiency study the data were used to extract further detector properties. This is important for the development of a realistic signal behavior for the ACC simulation.

Knowing the direction and the intersection of a particle with the ACC, the pathlength in the scintillator can be calculated and compared to the measured ADC value. The mean ADC value increases non-linearly with pathlength $l$ and can be parametrized by:
\begin{equation} ADC(l)=(929.9\pm12.4)\cdot\sqrt{l/\mbox{cm}-(0.25\pm0.07)}.\end{equation}
This can be used to normalize all measured charges to the panel thickness which was already used for fig.~\ref{f-acc_phi_mod_adc_highest_bothmean}.

Furthermore, the PMT signal pulseheight decreases due to attenuation if the distance of the particle intersection to the PMT increases.  Additional signal drops at both ends of a panel result from the smaller active to passive material ratio with respect to the rest of the panel due to the method of WLS fiber embedding. A good description of this behavior is achieved by a polynomial fit to the mean normalized signal as a function of position $z$ along the panel:
\begin{equation} \begin{split}ADC(z) &= (-2.5\pm 0.3)\cdot10^{-5}\cdot(z/\mbox{cm})^4\\&-(1.55\pm0.09)\cdot z/\mbox{cm}+(622\pm2).\end{split}\end{equation}The measured signal behavior across (fig.~\ref{f-acc_phi_mod_adc_highest_bothmean}) and along the ACC panels were used for a simulation of the ACC inefficiency during operation in Space. This takes into account that the angular particle distributions of atmospheric muons (mostly from above) and cosmic rays (isotropic) are different which results in longer pathlengths in the scintillator material for an isotropic distribution. Therefore, the average signal height will be larger for cosmic rays. Neglecting the missed event during the pre-integration and extrapolating the Landau fits (fig.~\ref{f-090216_4_0_6_0_4_2_3_acc_adc_highest_slot_central}) to lower signals this simulation led to an ACC detection inefficiency of $I<3.2\cdot10^{-7}$ (95\,\% confidence level).

\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=1.0\linewidth]{icrc1064_fig08.eps}
\caption{Mean (normalized) ADC values vs. the azimuthal position in an ACC sector. The line indicates the slot between the two panels of the sector.}
\label{f-acc_phi_mod_adc_highest_bothmean}
\end{figure}

\section{Conclusion}

The atmospheric muon analysis with AMS-02 showed that the production of the ACC veto counter was successful.

This project is funded by the German Space Agency DLR under contract No. 50OO0501.

\section{Acknowledgments}

The authors wish to thank the following people for their
support: A.~Basili, V.~Bindi, V.~Choutko, E.~Choumilov, A.~Kounine and  A.~Lebedev for the help during data taking at CERN and with the AMS software.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
RGD Office Opens in Savanna-La-Mar
Residents of Westmoreland will no longer need to travel to Spanish Town or Montego Bay to have official documents dealt with by the Registrar General's Department (RGD), as a fully equipped office was opened on January 26 on Lewis Street in Savanna-la-Mar, the capital.
The West South Western regional office of the RGD, which is expected to serve persons in Westmoreland and Hanover, is the second of three regional offices to be opened in January, as part of the agency's decentralization effort.
This office is expected to provide all the services now offered by the RGD head and existing regional offices, including the registration of births and deaths, the application of birth, death, and marriage certificates, still birth and adoption certificates, genealogical search, deeds and conveyances as well as a wedding registry.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Operations Manager of the RGD, Bryan Aikman told JIS News, that recent findings of the RGD's mobile team, which paid periodic visits to sections of the country, were that three additional regional offices were needed in Port Antonio, Savanna-la-Mar and Santa Cruz.
"We at the RGD therefore, did a rationalization where we looked at the population and distribution and realized that it would be timely, as part of the decentralization process, to introduce these three new regional offices. This is just part of bringing the services to persons who no longer have to travel these great distances," Mr. Aikman noted.
"These offices have been very successful . in terms of the number of persons who visit them on a daily basis, which run into an average of 26,000. Our efforts therefore, is to spread this number out to the regional offices, thereby drastically reducing the number of persons who travel, and reduce the crowd coming to Spanish Town," he added. Meanwhile, Regional Manager for the Savanna-la-Mar office, Ricardo Redwood told JIS News that he was happy to be leading the RGD's team in Westmoreland and was ready and prepared for the challenges ahead."I am looking forward to any challenges that may come my way. with one aim in view, as our motto suggests, we aim to satisfy the general public. We are here to serve everyone. We are looking forward to a lot of people using our facilities being satisfied and we hope we will be able to do that," he said.
The first customer at the Savanna-la-Mar office, Carmeta Campbell told JIS News that she welcomed the service, "because it is very convenient to have this in our parish, as travelling to Montego Bay or Kingston is very costly and also time consuming".
"I do not have enough words to explain how happy and grateful the entire community is; we could not believe that this would happen so early. We are all very happy and hope we will be able to have everything done here and we won't have to go to Spanish Town to do any interviews," she said.
Wayne Vacciana, Public Cleansing Officer, told JIS News that "it's a very welcome idea to have the Registrar General's Department Office in Savanna-la-Mar, as persons living in the parish would have to journey all the way to Montego Bay and Spanish Town to get official certificates and documents prepared".
Housewife, Helena Gray said the "employees look to be friendly and I am so glad to be able to process my applications in Savanna-la-Mar, because going to Montego Bay is a journey that you will have to prepare to pay the cost which is high. I am hoping for a very good service".


Crooner Bing Crosby and rock legend chameleon David Bowie sing a duet in Crosby's Christmas television special in 1977. See their performance of "The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" and find out what it took to get Bowie to appear on the show. Two songwriters recount their quick turnaround of the song to win Bowie over.


The only male from a breeding designed to produce, "Trevor" and his littermates have no less than fourteen crosses in an extended pedigree to our beloved Ch. Ravenstone Teodor (England). "Trevor's" outlook on life is joyous - loves everyone, everything, loves to travel and go, go, go! He is tall, leggy and gloriously silver and is maturing slowly-fine by us!
"Trevor's" first outing was at the Garden State Norwegian Elkhound Club Specialty where he was BOS in the Puppy Sweepstakes to his litter sister "Karly." His next show saw him go Winners Dog at the Greater Cleveland Norwegian Elkhound Club Specialty Show from the Bred By Exhibitor class under breeder Eric White. His third and fourth shows were at the back-to-back specialty shows of the Norwegian Elkhound Association of Minnesota under Michael and Wendy Sharman ("Naraena") of England and Sweden. "Trevor" was Winners Dog and first male Award of Merit under Michael Sharman on Saturday for a 3 point major and Winners Dog and Best of Winners under Wendy Sharman on Sunday for a 4 point major. Both wins were again from the Bred By Exhibitor class. Another four point major came from breeder-judge Kathy Carter ("Norelka") when she awarded him Winners Dog and Best of Winners at the Greater Milwaukee Norwegian Elkhound Association Specialty, once again coming from the Bred By Exhibitor class. Trevor's final class win came at the Norwegian Elkhound Club of the Potomac Valley Specialty Show where he was Winners Dog for another 4 point major under judge Nathaniel Horn ("Eastern Waters"). FINISHED!!! in seven shows from start to finish--all at Norwegian Elkhound specialty shows and finishing with FOUR majors from the Bred By Exhibitor class--quite remarkable, we think!
Since completing his American title, Trevor has won several nice Best of Breeds in the U.S. and group placings. He went to Canada in September of 2008, winning a number of Best of Breeds and returned there in June of 2009 to complete his Canadian title with some nice wins and a big GR2 at the Oxford County Kennel Club.


text:
Lifeline: Meals on Wheels delivers more than good food
It thrilled me to watch the little grandmother break into a grin with delight when we delivered her hot lunch. My partner, Colin, carried the thermal bag and I would lay out her soup, her hot meal and small bowl of desert. She always stood and watched, savouring the small luxury of being served.
And then the most important part of our quick visit: She'd ask how cold it was outside, or what "foolishness" city council was up to, or what we thought of the Toronto Blue Jays' prospects that season.
For others on our route, it was the food that mattered most. One old man, who told us every visit how his teeth had been stolen, would smack his lips and tuck his serviette into his T-shirt when we unpacked his lunch. Another made us wait until he'd tasted each dish. One sad woman, who obviously hadn't moved from her couch in days, cried when we didn't bring soup.
But it wasn't about the food for us, a group who acted as "runners" each week for the Meals on Wheels drivers at Mid-Toronto Community Services. No, we went to see the seniors who lived alone in Regent Park. We were a lifeline, the only humans many of these seniors would see for weeks on end.
"The unfortunate part is that the primary reason you're there is to deliver a hot meal," says Shannon Stevens, director of service development with the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA). "If they're the first person on a list of 10 or 12 you have to deliver to, you don't have a lot of time to chat. It's hard to balance the social part with the need to get the meals to the people who need them."
Recent figures for Toronto Meals on Wheels programs show that nearly 10,000 solitary seniors who are unable to cook receive a hot, nutritious lunch each day.
In 1999, about 800,000 meals were delivered and served in the city by nearly 4,000 volunteers, who gave up more than 180,000 of their own lunch hours to act as drivers and delivery folks.
Yet the need remains great. "Meals on Wheels is always looking for volunteers," says Stevens, urging those interested to call local providers or volunteer agencies. "We're trying to involve corporations that can get their employees involved in helping, either through spending one lunch-time a week or even a month."
For me, once a week was all the nerve I could muster. It was a tense trip through apartment building hallways in Regent Park, past burned mattresses and groups of young men who stopped talking to watch us pass. We were young and fit, and traveled in pairs. How frightening would it be for a frail senior to go out for a meal, or to go grocery shopping?
Once inside the seniors' apartments, though, our effort was rewarded over and over again. We tried to make them talk and smile, and we laughed the hardest when they'd offer a chuckle.
Then came the day the little grandmother wasn't waiting for us at her door. I knocked and waited. My heart pounded and I knocked again. I took a deep breath and tried the handle, just as she opened the door. We saw her usual place setting for the lunch we carried, and beside it sat a teenaged grandson.
"My grandma said she had visitors," he said with a shrug, "so I thought I'd come to make sure she's eating her lunch." That young man will never know just how much his visits meant to his grandmother. And to me.
Advice Guide
Helping Your Parents
Moving & Downsizing
Support for Caregivers
Province and City Guide
The Cost of Living at Home
THE COMFORT LIFE NEWSLETTER
Retirement Homes Associations and Links
Ontario's CCACs in Action
Ontario Community Support Association
Canada's Personal Support Workers


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The 770 returns in the original burgundy colourway, alongside a new complimentary tan suede variation, both of which have been crafted to the highest quality at the New Balance factory at Flimby, UK. According to Mark Godfrey from New Balance, the 770 has been produced in several locations since 1984 but this latest incarnation is based on the 'Made in Ireland' version from the New Balance archive. The original shoe was used as the blueprint: every element and measurement you see on this shoe holds true to the original design.


The upper left quadrant of the turboDial panel is where you find the Contact's information, including the phone number selector, name, title, company and address information.
In the example shown above there is one more link at the end of the row: in this case it's the letter T. This last link is a custom link that can be optionally displayed with each contact.
The purpose of the custom link is to give you quick access to a link of your choosing with portions of the link automatically filled-in by turboDial using information unique to the contact and the logged-in User.
turboDial creates the custom link using instructions you provide in the Street Address 2 field of the User record in Infusionsoft.
Note, this is the User record in the Admin->Users section of Infusionsoft. It is not a Contact record. You must provide the custom quick link configuration in the Infusionsoft User record for every turboDial user you want to have access to this feature.
The Street Address 2 field is re-purposed to be used in creating the custom link since it is the User record link available to turboDial that is least likely to be needed for other purposes. However, the field can contain a maximum of 74 characters, so you must limit your custom quick link configuration accordingly.
The sections below show you how to create an instruction that you can then install in the User record (Street Address 2 field) of any User in the Admin->Users section of your Infusionsoft account.
You cannot mix type 1 Keyword links and type 2 Web Page links in the Street Address 2 field.
Read on for the instructions for each type.
This is the label for the link you want to appear at the end of the Quick Links in the turboDial panel, and it is followed by a colon.
In this case the link will appear as the letter F. You could also use a different letter or multiple letters.
This specifies the specific Internal Form to be opened is the form with ID # 266. Read below to learn how to find the form ID for an Internal Form.
Note that when the Internal Form is opened this way it is displayed as an "Add Contact" page, but the contact information is already correctly filled in to match the contact that turboDial is focused on. You can ignore the Add Contact header.
In the top Infusionsoft menu choose the "Add a Contact" option under Contact.
In the Add a Contact page that opens, use the drop-down selector to choose the Internal Form you want to be able to open from turboDial.
In this case the link will appear as the letter T. You could also use a different letter or multiple letters.
This specifies Timetrade Activity code for the appointment type you have created in Timetrade. Read this page for more details from Timetrade.
turboDial will create a Timetrade link that pre-fills these fields in Timetrade: First Name, Last Name, Phone, Email Address, Company.
In this case the link will appear as the letter A. You could also use a different letter or multiple letters.
This specifies the AppointmentCore appointment type code you can find when you create an appointment type and get the booking URL.
turboDial will create an AppointmentCore link that includes the Infusionsoft Contact ID so that the AppointmentCore booking page will be pre-set to the intended contact.
This specifies the AppointmentCore Multiservice appointment type code you can find when you create an appointment type and get the booking URL.
turboDial will create an AppointmentCore Multiservice link that includes the Infusionsoft Contact ID so that the AppointmentCore Multiservice booking page will be pre-set to the intended contact.
The vertical bar character is typically found on the back-slash key.
You should have space for about 5 Keyword type links within the 74 character limit of the Street Address 2 field, if you use 1 character labels for each link. If you create more than about 4 Keyword type links then you may find your links are hidden off the right edge of the Contact Info section in turboDial. However you can use 2 fingers on your trackpad to scroll the information to the left and access the remaining links.
In the example the link appears as the letter T. You could also use a different letter or multiple letters but be aware that the total number of characters allowed in the Street Address 2 field is 66, so make your label as short as possible.
This is the booking link for a specific appointment type the User has previously setup in Timetrade.
Timetrade allows the first name to be pre-filled by adding 'firstname=' to the booking link.
turboDial will replace this code with the actual first name of the contact.
Timetrade allows the email address to be pre-filled by adding 'email=' to the booking link.
turboDial will replace this code with the actual email address of the contact.
You may not include multiple Web Page Links in the Street Address 2 field.


Don't miss the sneak preview of the book!
India, ranked 100th among 190 countries for ease of doing business, is not the choicest place for startups. Only a handful of founders have been able to beat the odds.
What's in their journey that can be dissected and emulated?
This curiosity led Nistha to pursue those who rose from humble beginnings yet making a dent in the Indian startup universe. This book is a record of that eighteen-month journey.
In her incisive one-on-one interviews with 15 ambitious founders of India including Girish Mathrubootham, Nithin Kamath, Jaydeep Barman, Gaurav Munjal, Tarun Mehta and others, Nistha uncovers the decisions and insights that led these startup founders to find their unique roadmap to success.
One thing that underlined all the stories was the founders' belief in NO SHORTCUTS.
Read the never-heard stories of Freshworks, Faasos, Unacademy, Zerodha, Slideshare, Pulse, Aspiring Minds, Madhouse/Morpheus, Akosha, Ather Energy, Instablogs, Greyb, LikeaLittle, Wingify and Fashiate.
After selling Flatchat to Commonfloor, Gaurav is building Unacademy. The startup started off as a YouTube channel but now it is a learning platform where anyone can teach! The story of crossing 20M views a month and 5 lac app downloads is told by the young and fiery founders – Gaurav Munjal, Roman Saini and Hemesh Singh.
Nithin Kamath went on from losing INR 4 lac in trading to bootstrapping an INR 240 crores high tech trading platform, Zerodha. Read the story of a self-made man and a smartly built business.
How did two Stanford graduates build an iPad app, Pulse, that Steve Jobs praised in his WWDC Keynote? Ankit Gupta tells how Pulse evolved from a design course project to a LinkedIn acquisition.
From selling Kolkata rolls to finding new ways to recruit talent and create buzz about his company, Faasos, Jaydeep Barman is building a food company that users and investors love alike. The craziness began in the name itself!
How did serial entrepreneurial couple Ankit and Nandini build India's first multi-blog network, Instablogs, when no one even knew what a blog is? They came up with successful content marketing practices long before the term 'content marketing' became so popular.
How did a non-tech-inclined, Mechanical Engineer, Amit Ranjan, manage a distributed team between Delhi and Silicon Valley to build the famed Slideshare?
Varun Aggarwal from MIT takes up the challenge to solve the talent and recruitment problem of India with a sophisticated adaptive test behind Aspiring Minds. His story of convincing engineering colleges, students, and companies alike to recruit via his platform is an inspiring one!
How did 3 engineers build a leading patent research firm GreyB without any external funding? Hear most fascinating sales, marketing and team building stories from Deepak and Chakshu!
How did a genius programmer, Prasanna, build a product LikeaLittle that grew faster than any social medium ever? What happened after he turned down $50M offer from Facebook and $100M from Google?
How did 3 Yahoo! research lab scientists and engineers build and sell a company Fashiate in five months to Snapdeal? Nikhil Raiswasia shares his version of the fairy tale.
How did Sameer Guglani build Netflix of India – Madhouse that became one of the first successful exits for an Indian startup? What lessons did he carry on to building the successful startup accelerator Morpheus?
After 4 startup failures, all Paras wanted was to earn Rs 50k to prove to himself that he's not a destined startup-loser. Then Wingify happened and now he's running a $15M annual revenue bootstrapped company (and he still thinks he's just beginning).
Girish Mathrubootham joined MBA to save himself from the embarrassment of having no job. Today Freshworks is aggressively moving towards the unicorn valuation of 1B USD. Read how he spotted an opportunity and ran away with it.
India has never been known for new product (hardware) development but that might change with the vision of Tarun Mehta. Ather Energy is the most serious and promising attempt at creating India's own smart electric scooter and it is here to stay.
Roman is the Doctor from AIIMS, and an IAS officer who resigned to start Unacademy. The startup started off as a YouTube channel but now it is a learning platform where anyone can teach! The story of crossing 20M views a month and 5 lac app downloads is told by the young and fiery founders – Gaurav Munjal, Roman Saini and Hemesh Singh.
How did a lawyer from Chandigarh, Ankur Singla, start Akosha that processed 3M customer complaints? A story of how nothing can hold a driven entrepreneur back!
Did you know that Jaydeep came close to shutting down Faasos when things were going hopelessly wrong in Mumbai? Same with GreyB – Deepak thought he will never find right employees in Gurgaon! But all of them turned the corner by taking some right decisions. The stories here are all about those decisions and what you can learn from them.
Whether you are an ambitious entrepreneur, a college graduate, a young professional harboring loftier dreams, a corporate executive unhappy with status quo or just a curious soul, the interviews featured here would leave you with a more realistic understanding of startups and how to move forward when you are stuck.
Where did the original idea for the startup come from?
How did the startup get its first 100 users and grow from there?
Why did the founder bootstrap or seek funding?
What decisions did not work well and how did the founder recover from it?
How did the startup figure out its business model?
A successful Wall Street professional and early employee in Manhattan startups, Nistha returned to India in 2012 to start her own Indian entrepreneurial journey. After a couple of attempts, she found success in Scholar Strategy, an education counseling company that prides itself in helping 100s of students getting into top universities across the world including Harvard and MIT. This unique lifestyle business allows Nistha to work only 6 months a year, spending the remaining time traveling and writing.
Her first novel, Seven Conversations, interpreted Bhagvad Gita in a modern context and gathered rave reviews. With 32,000+ followers, and 4.5M+ views on her answers on the popular American QnA based website, Quora, Nistha writes extensively on careers, entrepreneurship and pursuing one's passion. Her articles have appeared on Entrepreneur, Times, DailyO, DNA, Tribune and other leading media outlets.
Previously, she studied Computer Science at University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign and dropped out of MBA program at NYU Stern where she organized Stern's first Entrepreneurship Summit inviting the likes of Seth Godin.
Apart from running Scholar Strategy, she conducts aspirational talks for students and writing workshops for bloggers.


Some people get very moralistic about debt, and look down their noses at those who have any at all. But there's nothing wrong with a little credit card debt. In fact, there are times when it's a positively good thing. Suppose you've recently been unemployed and have eaten up (literally as well as figuratively) your cash reserves. Just as you're due to start a new job, the car you're relying on to get you to work breaks down. Is it better to call your employer to say you won't be able to take the offered post, or to charge the repair to your plastic?
There are limitless similar examples of when the smart choice for those who lack alternatives is to run up debt. And that's not counting those for whom there's no choice: when it's a question of feeding the kids or filling a vital prescription. No, the problem often isn't moral; it's practical.
The trouble with running up too much of this sort of debt is that those pesky credit card companies tend to insist you pay them back. And they demand high levels of interest too. At the time of writing, IndexCreditCards.com reports that average credit card rates are 15.09 percent annual percentage rate (APR) for consumer non-rewards cards, and a full 17.48 percent for consumer rewards cards. And those are averages: for every cardholder with a brilliant credit score paying less than 10 percent, there are likely to be quite a few paying well over 20 percent.
It's when people find themselves facing this toxic blend of credit card debt and high interest rates that problems often begin. And it's then that many turn to balance transfer credit cards. These can provide a breather from the burden of interest payments by offering in most cases zero percent APR for a typical period of six to eighteen months. As the name implies, you simply transfer the balances from your existing credit cards to a new card.
Browsing the comprehensive list of balance transfer credit cards on IndexCreditCards.com, there's currently not a single one that's available to those with less than "excellent" credit. Now, that probably doesn't mean that your credit score has to be spot-free, but it does suggest that, in order to be approved, your credit report should be generally favorable.
So timing is all. If you wait until you fall behind on your payments, you may well be too late. Make your credit card application as soon as you anticipate possible problems, and it's much more likely to be successful.
Last September, IndexCreditCards.com released an article (Transfer Balance, Then Put That Card Down!) that explained a real danger that frequently arises with balance transfer credit cards: people see them as a new line of credit that's there to be used. If you're smart, you won't do that.
Credit card companies often include in their terms and conditions a clause that means that all your monthly payments are going to be applied first to the balance transfer amount. So if you charge new spending to that card, you're not going even to begin paying it down until you've cleared the balance transfer. Instead, it's going to sit there accumulating high interest rates.
So, if at all possible, the best thing to do when you have a balance transfer card is to put it away somewhere safe until you've paid it down completely. By all means, continue to use your other--now debt free--credit cards (that way you can continue to earn rewards and enjoy the consumer protections they offer), but only charge items that you know you're going to be able to clear at the end of the current billing cycle. That way, when the balance transfer card's paid off, you should have absolutely no credit card debt.
The length that the 0-percent APR will apply--generally between six and eighteen months. Pick one that will allow you to zero out the balance comfortably before a higher rate kicks in.
The amount of the balance transfer fee. That's the percentage which is usually between 3 - 5 percent of the amount transferred that the issuer adds to your opening balance. Watch out for occasional promotions that waive this fee, but expect to have to pay it.
Of course, you may plan to close the new account at the end of the zero-APR introductory period. But, if you don't, you should also add into your selection criteria the card's suitability for your needs when it's used normally. Is its rewards program generous and appropriate for your lifestyle? Is its standard APR reasonable? Does it charge an annual fee? That sort of thing.
You can click through the links on this page for more information or to access a credit card application. Good luck!
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Police Seek Suspect in Newark Ironbound Business Burglary
By metrostaff on January 25, 2023 at 11:11 a.m. EST
By: Yuritza Arroyo
Authorities in Newark request the public's help identifying a male suspect in connection with a business burglary that occurred on Sunday, January 22.
According to Newark Police, at approximately 3 a.m., officers responded to a business located in the 200 block of Ferry Street on a call of two males wearing black clothing breaking the front glass door and entering.
Police say responding officers observed an overturned display case with missing items, other damaged display cases, and two cash registers that were left open.
The suspects fled south on Jabez Street towards Backus Street.
Detectives investigating this incident obtained footage of one of the suspects, who changed clothing but kept on his distinctive pink hat in both photos.


Join the SC Conservation Coalition, a statewide alliance of 39 different conservation organizations, on March 20th for our annual day of lobbying and shucking in Columbia.
That morning we will meet at 10 am at 1208 Washington St for Advocacy Training. After that, we will head to the Statehouse for an opportunity to speak with lawmakers about conservation issues.
Then, that evening at 5:30 pm, we will meet up with fellow conservationists and legislators at 701 Whaley St. in the Market Building for some delicious Bowens Island oysters and live music from Mountain Trout.
Don't miss out… register HERE!


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Search Results: 140 books from 21 publishers. Learn more ›
Tlacuache y Coyote
Yanitzia Canetti (author), Lydia Mba Blazquez (illustrator)
Publisher: Newmark Learning ISBN: 9781478827757
Tlacuache es un animal noble que siempre quiere ayudar. Coyote aprovecha su inocencia y siempre lo logra engañar.
Ratón y León
Cynthia Swain (author), Wilson Williams (illustrator)
Esta es una fábula acerca de la bondad y la misericordia. Si el león le hace un favor al ratón, ¿será posible que la bondad sea devuelta algún día?
¿Por qué el colibrí bebe néctar?
Cynthia Swain (author), Lisa Workman, Terry Workman (illustrator)
La leyenda cuenta que los colibríes comían peces. En este cuento del por qué escucharás la explicación de por qué los colibríes actualmente sólo beben néctar.
¿Quién le pone el cascabel al gato?
Antonio Blane (author), Joanna Czernichowska (illustrator)
Los ratones convocan una reunión importante. Deben encontrar la manera de protegerse del gato de la casa. Un ratón tiene una gran idea. Pero ¿quién le pone el cascabel al gato?
Buli el sapo y Bibi la bibijagua
Yanitzia Canetti (author), Manuela Santoni (illustrator)
Un sapo grande y cabezón vive burlándose y ofendiendo a todos los animales a su alrededor. Hasta que un buen día, por molestar a una pequeña hormiga aprende una gran lección.
The Legend of the Beaver's Tail
Stephanie Shaw (author), Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen (illustrator)
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press ISBN: 9781633621350
Long ago Beaver did not look like he does now. Yes, he had two very large front teeth, but his tail was not wide and flat. It was thick with silky fur. Vain Beaver is inordinately proud of his glorious tail. When he's not bragging about his tail, Beaver spends his time grooming it, while the other woodland creatures go about their business of finding food and shelter for their families. Eventually Beaver's boasting drives away his friends and he is left on his own. But when his tail is flattened in an accident (of his own making), Beaver learns to value its new shape and seeks to make amends with his friends. Based on an Ojibwe legend.
The Legend of Mackinac Island
Kathy-jo Wargin (author), Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen (illustrator)
A beautiful tale of the painted turtle Makinauk, his animal friends, and their discovery of new lands and long-lasting friendship.
D is for Derby: A Kentucky Derby Alphabet
Helen L. Wilbur (author), Jaime Corum (illustrator)
The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuous sporting event in the United States. But don't call it just a horse race. This annual May event, known as "the most exciting two minutes in sports," is steeped in tradition and pageantry far beyond what happens on the track. Following the alphabet, D is for Derby: A Kentucky Derby Alphabet uses poetry and expository text to explain this world-famous event. Topics include famous jockeys, legendary horses, fabled Bluegrass farms and owners, as well as offering a behind-the scenes view of thoroughbred breeding and racing. Readers young and old, along with horse enthusiasts and diehard Derby fans, will enjoy this celebration of one of the most prestigious sporting and cultural events in our country.
Bear and Bird
James Skofield (author), Jennifer Thermes (illustrator)
One spring evening an old bear finds a young bird, still learning to fly, has fallen to the ground. When the bear lifts the bird to safety, a friendship begins. Bear and Bird soon become constant companions, spending their days together, searching out berries and watching out for one another. They are only separated during the winter months when Bear hibernates and Bird flies south. As the years pass, their friendship grows stronger. Then one spring day, when Bird returns from his winter trip, Bear is not there to greet him. Days and then weeks pass and still no Bear. When Bird finally learns why his dear friend is absent, memories of their time together bring comfort and acceptance. In this tale of an unlikely but loving friendship, the cycle of life, including its joys and its sorrows, is gently explored.
Tuki and Moka: A Tale of Two Tamarins
Judy Young (author), Jim Madsen (illustrator)
Eduardo and his family live in a small town in Ecuador, not far from the Amazon rainforest. The rainforest is an important part of their lives. Each month Eduardo and his father travel by river from their town to the rainforest. There, using just a basket and a machete, they gather Brazil nuts. They are castaeros and this is how they earn their living. But the rainforest is not only important to the castaeros; it is home to many exotic species of plants, birds, and mammals, including two playful tamarins that Eduardo has named Tuki and Moka. So although it is difficult work being a castaero, Eduardo looks forward to his visits to the rainforest so he can play with his two friends. But one night, the peace of the forest is threatened by poachers, animal traffickers who illegally capture and then try to sell some of the birds and animals. Can Eduardo save his friends?
J. Patrick Lewis (author), Christopher Denise (illustrator)
Meet Tugg and Teeny. Best friends since... well, forever! Tugg, a gorilla, and Teeny, a monkey, live together in their jungle neighborhood, Sidekick Thicket. As opposite as night and day, the two friends work and play together, each helping the other face life's challenges. That's What Friends Are For is a trio of stories that has Teeny helping hippo Margie Barge learn self-acceptance, finding a substitute horn for Rocko Rhino, and hosting a neighborhood picnic. All with the help of her best friend, Tugg. Engagingly written by Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis, this beginning reader series is charmingly brought to life by Redwall artist Christopher Denise.
Pierre the Penguin: A True Story
Jean Marzollo (author), Laura Regan (illustrator)
When Pierre, an African penguin living at the California Academy of Sciences, begins to lose his feathers, the zoo staff is at a loss as to what to do. The lack of feathers causes Pierre to lose warmth, making him afraid to swim in the zoo pool. And the other penguins start to shy away, giving Pierre the "cold" shoulder. Unfortunately, heaters and medications fail to correct the situation. But one rainy day, inspiration strikes a biologist named Pam. While walking her dog in the rain, Pam notes that her pet wears a raincoat. Could a "raincoat," or wet suit, help Pierre? A tiny neoprene wet suit is designed especially for Pierre. But will it work? Told in rhyme by noted I SPY author Jean Marzollo, this true story of veterinary ingenuity charmingly comes to life. Jean Marzollo has written more than 100 children's books, including the award-winning I SPY series. With a graduate degree from Harvard, she has taught school, written books about teaching and parenting, and was the editor of Scholastic's Let's Find Out kindergarten magazine for 20 years. Jean lives in upstate New York. Nationally known for her many award-winning children's books that feature exotic flora and fauna, Laura Regan's artwork has been used to raise funds for many wildlife organizations. She is the illustrator of A is for Anaconda: A Rainforest Alphabet. Laura lives in the Bay Area in California.
Tugg and Teeny
Meet Tugg and Teeny. Best friends since -- well, forever! Tugg (a gorilla) and Teeny (a monkey) live together in their jungle neighborhood, Sidekick Thicket. As opposite as night and day, the two friends work and play together, each helping the other face life's challenges. Lively, impulsive Teeny always wants to try new things. Sure and steady Tugg is always there to lend a hand or give a word of encouragement. In this beginning chapter book series, Book One's trio of stories has Teeny learning to become a musician, developing her talents as an artist, and fine-tuning her skills as a poet. Book Two has her pondering strange and quirky situations in the jungle. All with the help of her best friend Tugg. J. Patrick (Pat) Lewis lives in Westerville, Ohio, and is the author of more than 60 books for children. He writes full-time, visits elementary schools, and speaks at literature conferences. His other books with Sleeping Bear are First Dog and First Dog's White House Christmas. Christopher Denise is an award-winning illustrator whose books have appeared on The New York Times bestsellers list. Known for his work on the Redwall picture book series, he also works as a visual development artist and character designer for feature film animation. Christopher lives in Barrington, Rhode Island.
A Pet for Miss Wright
Judy Young (author), Andrea Wesson (illustrator)
Miss Wright is a writer. She enjoys her work. Each day she sits at her desk and writes stories with marvelous characters who live exciting lives. But, except for the click-click-click of the keyboard, it is quiet in Miss Wright's office. Too quiet. And too lonely. So Miss Wright decides she needs a pet to keep her company. But finding the perfect pet may not be as easy as it sounds. A mynah bird is too quiet, a cat makes her sleepy, and a hamster running around on its wheel makes Miss Wright dizzy. What's a lonely writer to do? As the happy ending to her story, Miss Wright finds not only the perfect pet but also the perfect helpmate to her work. Judy Young's books with Sleeping Bear Press include the recently released A Book for Black-Eyed Susan and The Hidden Bestiary of Marvelous, Mysterious, and (maybe even) Magical Creatures. Judy speaks at schools and conferences across the country. She lives near Springfield, Missouri. Andrea Wesson studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and has illustrated several picture books, including Not Just Another Moose, Opera Cat, and Argus. She lives in Maryland and would love to live in Miss Wright's house by the beach (but not with a monkey).
Jungle Surprises
Meet Tugg and Teeny. Best friends since... well, forever! Tugg (a gorilla) and Teeny (a monkey) live together in their jungle neighborhood, Sidekick Thicket. As opposite as night and day, the two friends work and play together, each helping the other face life's challenges. Lively, impulsive Teeny always wants to try new things. Sure and steady Tugg is always there to lend a hand or give a word of encouragement. In Book Two of this beginning chapter book series, Teeny ponders strange and quirky situations in the jungle. All with the help of her best friend Tugg.
Scare a Bear
Kathy-jo Wargin (author), John Bendall-Brunello (illustrator)
Do you know how to scare a bear? Would you bang pots and pans? Would you rattle some cans? Would you shout? Would you yell? Would you ring a loud bell? Do you know how to scare a bear? How would you scare a bear out of your cabin? Or out of your fishing boat? How about away from your campfire? And what if he climbed in your bunk? Would the bed go kerplunk? From the author-illustrator team who created Moose on the Loose comes yet another example of the high jinks and hilarity that happens when wildlife wanders indoors. In this contest of wills, who will win? And once again, by story's end, young campers will know exactly how to scare a bear!
A Penguin Named Patience
Suzanne Lewis (author), Lisa Anchin (illustrator)
Patience is a South African penguin. She is small at roughly 6 pounds and approximately 20 inches tall; but at 24 years old, she is the "penguin in charge" of the penguin exhibit at New Orleans's Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hits, devastating the city and surrounding areas with its catastrophic winds and flooding. The aquarium is severely damaged. With no electricity or relief in sight, the temperature in the aquarium reaches dangerously high degrees, putting the penguins in peril. Patience, and the 18 other penguins, along with some of the other zoo animals, must leave their home and their favorite human, Tom, the penguin keeper. Tom drives his penguins to Baton Rouge where an airplane transfers them to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. Here the penguins will recuperate and live until they can return home to New Orleans. After nine long months away from Tom and their home, the aquarium is finally restored. And Patience, who has been patient, and her penguins return to New Orleans to a cheering homecoming.
Sleepy Snoozy Cozy Coozy
Judy Young (author), Michael Glenn Monroe (illustrator)
Using a charming combination of poetry and prose, author Judy Young explains the bedtime habits of some common North American animals, including moles, moose, and beavers. Young readers will learn not only where certain animals make their beds but also how and why they sleep as they do. Each animal is introduced with a rhythmic singsong-y, tongue-twisting poem guaranteed to bring smiles and encourage reader participation. The accompanying expository text includes information about the animal's unique sleeping habits. Finally, at book's end, the reader is gently guided back to a soft cozy bed of her own.
Leopold the Lion
Denise Brennan-Nelson (author), Ruth McNally Barshaw (illustrator)
When Jack and Ella come across a friendly--and talented!--lion in their backyard they are thrilled to take him in as their pet. And they're positive they know just how to care for their new pet, ignoring Grandpa's cheeky asides. But soon Leopold the Lion grows despondent and chubby. Even the circus who lost him won't take him back! Do Jack and Ella know what to do to get Leopold healthy again? A sweet story with a subtle commentary on making healthy choices.
Bambi's First Day
Felix Salten (author), Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen (illustrator)
"He came into the world in the middle of the thicket, in one of those little, hidden forest glades which seem to be entirely open but are really screened in on all sides." So begins one of the most beloved nature stories. Felix Salten wrote Bambi: A Life in the Woods in 1923. It was translated into English in 1928, becoming a Book-of-the-Month Club hit. Though not originally written for children, the film rights were sold to the Walt Disney studios and the animated movie was released in 1942. Taken directly from the first chapter of Salten's original tale, Bambi's First Day depicts the early moments of the fawn's life in the safety of a forest glen and the shelter of his mother's embrace. Lush oil paintings by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen showcase the beauty of the natural world and tenderly bring to life the heartfelt devotion and love of a mother for her child.Felix Salten is the pen name for Austrian writer Siegmund Salzmann who wrote short stories, plays, novels, and essay collections. Artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen has illustrated more than 20 books with Sleeping Bear Press, including the bestselling The Legend of Sleeping Bear; Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot; Friend on Freedom River; and his popular Hazel Ridge Farm stories. Gijsbert lives in Bath, Michigan, with his wife, Robbyn. They both travel to schools in the Great Lakes area.
Black Beauty's Early Days in the Meadow
Anna Sewell (author), Jane Monroe Donovan (illustrator)
One of the most popular animal stories of all time, Anna Sewell's Black Beauty was first published in 1877. Drawn from the original text and intended for even the youngest of horse lovers, Black Beauty's Early Days in the Meadow depicts the first few months of the horse's life as a foal frolicking in the meadow. Artist Jane Monroe Donovan renders the classic story in lush oil paintings that convey a pastoral world of green fields and shady trees, while tenderly capturing the special love between mare and foal. The perfect harmony of words and pictures proves once again that the simplest messages are often the strongest. Readers will relish the sweetness of life in the meadow and the companionship of family and friends.
Grady the Goose
Denise Brennan-Nelson (author), Michael Glenn Monroe (illustrator)
From the moment she hatches from her egg, Grady Goose has to do things her way, often ignoring her parents' rule of "stick together." But when she lags behind as the rest of her family leaves for warmer climes, Grady learns the hard way that one is the loneliest number, especially for a young goose. A chance encounter with a helpful farmer soon sets things right, and a happy ending is in store for Grady and her family. Denise Brennan-Nelson, the author of the delightful Someday Is Not a Day of the Week, returns with another gentle lesson for young readers. Artist Michael Glenn Monroe's beautiful nature scenes, coupled with an information section on geese facts, add a wildlife component perfect for classroom use.
What would you do with a moose on the loose? Would you chase him, or race him, or stand up to face him? What would you do with a moose on the loose? What would you do with a moose in your yard? Or in your house? How about in your room? Or in your tub? Would you give him two boats? Would you see if he floats? What would you do? Colorful, comic artwork highlights the hilarity that ensues when wildlife wanders indoors. Can boy best beast? By story's end, young readers will know exactly what to do when a moose goes on the loose! Kathy-jo Wargin is the bestselling author of more than 30 books for children. Among her many awards for her work are an IRA Children's Choice Award for The Legend of the Loon and an IRA Teachers' Choice Award for Win One for the Gipper. Kathy-jo lives in Minnetonka, Minnesota. John Bendall-Brunello began drawing at quite a young age, and especially loves illustrating animals and children, capturing movement and life within simple and bold compositions. He has illustrated over 60 children's books. John lives part of the year in Cambridge, England, and part in Cannes in the south of France.
Otter out of Water
Have you seen an otter at play in the water? It's long and it's trim and it knows how to swim. It rolls and it spins. It twists and it grins. What if one day that otter jumps out of the water? Would you ask him to play? What if that otter follows you home? Would he bounce on the chairs? Would he skid down the stairs? The author-illustrator team who created Scare a Bear and Moose on the Loose will once again have readers laughing and guessing. This time the hilarity involves an otter out of water!
I Love You Just Enough
Robbyn Smith van Frankenhuyzen (author), Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen (illustrator)
While pulling weeds and planting seeds with her dad on Hazel Ridge Farm's prairie, Heather discovers a wood duckling alone in the grass. Worried for the duckling's safety, Heather asks her dad if she can care for him. "You have to keep him safe and warm and fed. You have to teach him how to be a duck--to swim, to hunt for bugs, and how to fly." Aptly named Mr. Peet for his chirping sound, the ducking accompanies Heather as she feeds the chickens, rabbits, and horses. They spend the summer swimming together in the pond, and Mr. Peet eventually masters how to fly. Heather becomes concerned when she hasn't seen Mr. Peet in 10 days. Her dad reassures her that the wood duck may have found his own place in nature. Heather is proud of her work and she knows Mr. Peet will be ok, because she loved him just enough.


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