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New Year's Honours List/Plagiarism Accusations Resurface – Poetry News Roundup January 2nd
Published by Joanne Jeffries - January 2nd, 2020
Today on My Poetic Side we bring you the poet on the New Year's Honours List and the accusations of plagiarism that have resurfaced.
Poet on New Year's Honours List
The 2020 New Year's Honours list is not short on literary figures with a number of honours going to novelists, ad those involved in the field of literature through publication or services relating to literature. The novelist and poet Jackie Kay, who is the current Scottish Makar (poet laureate) is, however, the only poet to make the list this year.
Kay has been appointed a CBE for services to literature. She says that she will be accepting the honour, not only for herself but also on behalf of her peers who work in the field. Born in Edinburgh but raised in Glasgow, Kay who is 58 was made an MBE in 2006.
Poet Accused of Plagiarism
Last week Rupi Kaur the poet who rose to fame on Instagram was being named as the Writer of the Decade, this week she has been accused of plagiarism. It is alleged that some of her poetry bears striking similarities to those of a poet on Tumblr.
Following her internet success, Kaur published a couple of poetry books in quick succession. The suggestion that some of her poetry might have been "borrowed" is not actually a new one, but since she was claimed as the writer of the decade last week the accusations have resurfaced. The claims were initially made when "Milk and Honey" went viral and people were quick to point out that there were some large similarities between her work and that of Nayyirah Waheed a poet on Tumblr who published her first book in 2013. Salt, which was published a year before Milk and Honey included a number of poems that Waheed shared with her followers on Tumblr.
It is difficult to overlook the fact that there are some remarkable similarities between the work of the two poets. Both use snappy sentences and short lines, there is little punctuation in their poetry and honey and water are frequently used in metaphor form. A comparison even concluded that many of their poets have similar structures and themes which raises doubts about the originality of Kaur's work.
Waheed reached out to Kaur via Tumble in the hope of putting the matter to bed but Kaur did not want to discuss it, simply denying that there was any plagiarism involved. Rupi has however publicly acknowledged Waheed as one of her inspirations, a clear sign that she was at the very least aware of the other poet and the style of her poetry.
The arguments have now surfaced with social media followers of both poets arguing over whether there was in fact plagiarism involved and if Kaur is worth of the title. One thing is clear, whilst Waheed may have been the first of the two to have become published nobody is denying that it is Kaur who appears to have made poetry much more accessible through her use of Instagram.
Plaigiarism Scandal #2 – Poetry News October 6th
Rare Manuscript Found/Poet Accused of Plagiarism – Poetry News Roundup . December 3rd
Plagiarism Scandal – Poetry News September 13th
A Social Media-Fueled Bestseller List


DENVER | The Regional Transportation District claims that high-rise growth in downtown Denver is one of the main reasons the district has faced ongoing issues with the metro area's commuter rail network.
A test train rests at the Peoria Station.
That discovery resulted from an action plan the district submitted to federal regulators Friday and made public Monday.
The document says Denver's rising skyline around Union Station consistently blocks GPS signals the system relies on to maintain the University of Colorado A-Line running smoothly and safely.
The plan says a software patch for that issue is expected soon, along with solutions to other factors in the crossing gate problems.
The district says it is ready to open the long-delayed G-Line to Denver's western suburbs in the first quarter of 2019 if the Federal Railroad Administration approves its action plan.


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La Divisione paracadutisti "Nembo" è stata una unità del Regio Esercito (italiano) durante la seconda guerra mondiale.

Storia

La 184ª Divisione paracadutisti "Nembo" venne ufficialmente formata il 1º novembre 1942, a partire dal 185º Reggimento fanteria paracadutisti "Folgore", (già della 185ª Divisione paracadutisti "Folgore") e da altri reggimenti addestrati presso le Scuole di Paracadutismo di Tarquinia e Viterbo ed attivati presso il Deposito Truppe Paracadutiste di Firenze, ossia il 184º Reggimento di fanteria paracadutisti (24 agosto 1942) ed il 184º Reggimento artiglieria paracadutisti (15 settembre 1942), cui successivamente si aggiunse il 183º Reggimento fanteria paracadutisti (11 gennaio 1943).

Organizzazione
La divisione era così strutturata:
 Comando e Compagnia comando divisionale
 184ª Compagnia mista Carabinieri Reali
 146° Ufficio postale da campo
 184ª Sezione sussistenza
 184ª Sezione intendenza
 184ª Sezione sanità
 184º Reparto trasporti
 184ª Compagnia mortai (81 mm Mod. 35)
 184ª Compagnia genio collegamenti
 184ª Compagnia genio minatori-artieri
 184ª Compagnia motociclisti paracadutisti
 284ª Compagnia ciclisti paracadutisti

 CLXXXIV Battaglione genio guastatori paracadutisti, su:
 Compagnia comando
 1ª Compagnia genio guastatori paracadutisti
 2ª Compagnia genio guastatori paracadutisti
 3ª Compagnia genio guastatori paracadutisti

 183º Reggimento fanteria paracadutisti, su:
 Comando e Compagnia comando
 Compagnia cannoni reggimentale (65/17 Mod. 13)
 X/bis Battaglione paracadutisti, su:
 Compagnia comando
 28ª/bis Compagnia paracadutisti
 29ª/bis Compagnia paracadutisti
 30ª/bis Compagnia paracadutisti
 XV Battaglione paracadutisti, su:
 Compagnia comando
 43ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 44ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 45ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 XVI Battaglione paracadutisti, su:
 Compagnia comando
 46ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 47ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 48ª Compagnia paracadutisti

 184º Reggimento fanteria paracadutisti, su:
 Comando e Compagnia comando
 Compagnia cannoni reggimentale (65/17 Mod. 13)
 XII Battaglione paracadutisti, su:
 Compagnia comando
 34ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 35ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 36ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 XIII Battaglione paracadutisti, su:
 Compagnia comando
 37ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 38ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 39ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 XIV Battaglione paracadutisti, su:
 Compagnia comando
 40ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 41ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 42ª Compagnia paracadutisti

 185º Reggimento fanteria paracadutisti, su:
 Comando e Compagnia comando
 Compagnia cannoni reggimentale (65/17 Mod. 13)
 III Battaglione paracadutisti, su:
 Compagnia comando
 7ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 8ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 9ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 VIII/bis Battaglione paracadutisti, su:
 Compagnia comando
 22ª/bis Compagnia paracadutisti
 23ª/bis Compagnia paracadutisti
 24ª/bis Compagnia paracadutisti
 XI Battaglione paracadutisti, su:
 Compagnia comando
 31ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 32ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 33ª Compagnia paracadutisti

 184º Reggimento artiglieria paracadutisti, su:
 Comando e batteria comando
 I Gruppo artiglieria paracadutisti, su:
 Batteria comando
 7ª Batteria artiglieria paracadutisti (47/32 Mod. 35)
 8ª Batteria artiglieria paracadutisti (47/32 Mod. 35)
 II Gruppo artiglieria paracadutisti, su:
 Batteria comando
 9ª Batteria artiglieria paracadutisti (47/32 Mod. 35)
 10ª Batteria artiglieria paracadutisti (47/32 Mod. 35)
 III Gruppo artiglieria paracadutisti, su:
 Batteria comando
 11ª Batteria artiglieria paracadutisti (47/32 Mod. 35)
 12ª Batteria artiglieria paracadutisti (47/32 Mod. 35)

Costituita in modo affrettato e con personale meno attentamente selezionato di quello della divisione "Folgore", la "Nembo" operò solo sul territorio nazionale.

Fino all'8 settembre 1943
Nell'aprile del 1943 il 185º Reggimento fanteria paracadutisti venne trasferito nella zona di Gorizia per contrastare le sempre più frequenti infiltrazioni di partigiani jugoslavi nel territorio friulano, operazione che li tenne impegnati fino al mese di luglio. Trasferito successivamente nelle Puglie e poi in Calabria, venne brevemente impiegato in Sicilia contro gli Alleati dal 3 al 13 agosto 1943, quando rientrò in Calabria, dove, dal 3 settembre, impegnò in combattimento (VIII battaglione) le forze britanniche e canadesi nella zona dell'Aspromonte a seguito degli sbarchi dell'operazione Baytown.

Nel frattempo (giugno 1943) il resto della divisione venne trasferito in Sardegna, venendo frammentato in Gruppi Tattici formati ciascuno da un battaglione paracadutisti rinforzato da altri elementi, con funzione di riserva antisbarco e di difesa degli aeroporti, come segue:
 Raggruppamento "Quaroni", ad Assemini su:
 Gruppo Tattico "Luserna" (XV Battaglione)
 Gruppo Tattico "Gigersa" (XVI Battaglione)
 Gruppo Tattico "Conte" (CLXXXIV Battaglione guastatori)
 II Gruppo del 184º Reggimento artiglieria
 Raggruppamento "Renzoni", a Serramanna su:
 Gruppo Tattico "Rizzatti" (XII Battaglione)
 Gruppo Tattico "Corrias" (XIV Battaglione)
 I Gruppo del 184º Reggimento artiglieria
 Raggruppamento "Invrea" a Marrubiu, su:
 Gruppo Tattico "Del Vita" (XIII Battaglione)
 Gruppo tattico "Valletti" (X Battaglione)
 Compagnia cannoni da 47/32
Raggruppamento di manovra "Tantillo" a Sanluri, su:
184ª Compagnia mortai da 81
184ª Compagnia motociclisti
284ª Compagnia ciclisti
Compagnia cannoni da 47/32
III Gruppo del 184º Reggimento artiglieria
 184ª Compagnia genio collegamenti
 184ª Compagnia genio minatori-artieri

Alle dipendenze della Divisione erano anche il Gruppo Tattico "Cadeddu" (formato dal Gruppo Squadroni "Cavalleggeri di Sardegna" su carri L6/40 ed inquadrato nel Raggruppamento Tattico "Invrea"), ed il XVIII battaglione carri M14/41 (inquadrato nel Raggruppamento di Manovra "Tantillo").

La crisi dell'8 settembre
A seguito dell'armistizio (8 settembre 1943), con conseguente dichiarazione di non belligeranza e denuncia dell'alleanza con la Germania nazista, nella Divisione "Nembo" esplosero violenti contrasti tra gli elementi fedeli al giuramento al Re, che intendevano attenenersi alle direttive impartite dal Governo italiano, ed elementi che invece rifiutavano di accettare il cambio di alleanze.

Tra le unità schierate in Sardegna si verificarono numerosi episodi di ammutinamento che furono sedati con difficoltà. Vennero arrestati il colonnello Pietro Tantillo, vice comandante della divisione e comandante del Raggruppamento di manovra, ed il tenente colonnello Ademaro Invrea, comandante del Raggruppamento di Marrubiu. Centinaia di altri ufficiali di soldati del X e XIII battaglione vennero arrestati ed internati nel campo di punizione di Uras ed in una caserma di Cagliari, mentre centinaia di militari della divisione vennero trasferiti in altre unità. Il comandante della divisione, generale Ercole Ronco, venne destituito e sostituito dal generale Giorgio Morigi, già comandante della 183ª Divisione paracadutisti "Ciclone".

L'episodio più grave fu la diserzione del XII Battaglione (maggiore Mario Rizzatti) con elementi del X Battaglione, una compagnia controcarro ed una compagnia mortai, che si unirono alla 90. Panzergrenadier-Division tedesca seguendola prima in Corsica e poi sul continente. Il tenente colonnello Alberto Bechi Luserna, capo di Stato Maggiore della Divisione, venne ucciso nel tentativo di fermare i ribelli.

La divisione, ridotta a soli cinque battaglioni e profondamente scossa nel morale, non poté quindi che essere poco impiegata per contrastare le truppe tedesche presenti in Sardegna, come originariamente previsto nei piani formulati dal generale Antonio Basso.

Anche tra le unità del 185º Reggimento della divisione schierato in Calabria si verificarono gravi disordini e sbandamenti, e la maggior parte del III Battaglione (capitano Sala) si unì alle forze tedesche nella zona, ripiegando verso la Campania con la 29. Panzergrenadier-Division.

Dopo l'8 settembre 1943

La Nembo nella Repubblica Sociale Italiana

Agli elementi della "Nembo" schieratisi con i tedeschi si unirono agli elementi delle 121ª e 131ª compagnie paracadutisti e della 112ª camionettisti del 10º Reggimento arditi che non avevano partecipato ai combattimenti per la difesa di Roma (come avevano fatto invece la 122^ paracadutisti e la 111^ camionettisti), gli ADRA, due compagnie del XX Battaglione della 183ª Divisione paracadutisti "Ciclone" (che pure insieme al XIX battaglione della stessa divisione aveva combattuto per tre giorni contro i tedeschi in Toscana) e la compagnia del capitano D'Abundo, formata da complementi della stessa "Nembo" provenienti dalla Scuola Paracadutisti di Viterbo. L'insieme di queste forze andò a formare il primo reparto paracadutista della Repubblica Sociale Italiana, denominato "Raggruppamento Volontari Paracadutisti Italiani", che si spiegò sulle coste laziali contro le forze anglo-americane in funzione antisbarco: raggiunto il migliaio di uomini di organico e ridenominato "Raggruppamento paracadutisti "Nembo", il reparto fu posto alle dipendenze operative della 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division del generale Ramcke., per confluire infine nei reparti paracadutisti della Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana della Repubblica Sociale Italiana.

La Nembo nel Regio Esercito cobelligerante

Le unità della "Nembo" rimaste fedeli al Governo regio entrarono a fare parte dell'Esercito Cobelligerante Italiano. Tra le unità del 185º Reggimento, schierato in Calabria, la 9ª Compagnia del III Battaglione (capitano Gay) confluì in quello che venne denominato "1º Reparto Speciale Autonomo" (più tardi noto come "Squadrone "F"") mentre il resto del reggimento si riorganizzò attorno all'XI Battaglione per formare il 185º Reparto Autonomo Paracadutisti "Nembo", ordinato su:
 Comando e Plotone comando
 31ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 32ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 33ª Compagnia paracadutisti
 34ª Compagnia mortai (81 mm Mod. 35)
 35ª Compagnia cannoni (47/32 Mod. 35)
Il reparto, rinominato a gennaio 1944 come 185º Reparto Autonomo Arditi Paracadutisti "Nembo", venne quindi incluso nel Primo Raggruppamento Motorizzato, la prima unità del Esercito co-belligerante Italiano ad entrare in combattimento contro i tedeschi, comportandosi brillantemente nei combattimenti di Monte Marrone (marzo 1944), prima di venire riassorbito dalla Divisione.

Infatti nell'aprile 1944 la parte della 184ª Divisione paracadutisti "Nembo" rimasta in Sardegna (comandante gen. Giorgio Morigi e capo di S. M. ten. col. Giuseppe Izzo) rientrava sul continente, e veniva inviata in zona di operazioni sulla Linea Gustav, prendendo poi parte alle azioni di guerra di Chieti e di Abbadia di Fiastra nel giugno 1944, ed alle battaglia di Filottrano e Battaglia di Montecarotto (luglio 1944) nelle Marche.

La Divisione era così organizzata:
 Comando e Compagnia comando divisionale
 184ª Compagnia mista Carabinieri
 146° Ufficio postale da campo
 184ª Sezione sussistenza
 184ª Sezione intendenza
 184ª Sezione sanità
 184º Reparto trasporti
 184ª Compagnia mortai (81 mm Mod. 35)
 184ª Compagnia genio collegamenti
 184ª Compagnia genio minatori-artieri
 184ª Compagnia motociclisti paracadutisti
 V Gruppo artiglieria controcarro
 CLXXXIV Battaglione guastatori paracadutisti
 183º Reggimento fanteria paracadutisti, su:
 XV Battaglione paracadutisti
 XVI Battaglione paracadutisti
 184º Reggimento fanteria paracadutisti, su:
 XIII Battaglione paracadutisti
 XIV Battaglione paracadutisti
 184º Reggimento artiglieria paracadutisti, su:
 I Gruppo artiglieria paracadutisti (75/18 Mod. 35)
 III Gruppo Artiglieria paracadutisti (100/22)
 Batteria contraerea paracadutisti (20/65)

Il 24 settembre 1944 la divisione venne sciolta, e parte dei suoi elementi paracadutisti confluirono nel Reggimento paracadutisti "Nembo" e nel 184 reggimento artiglieria paracadutisti inquadrati nel Gruppo di Combattimento "Folgore"; fra essi Carlo Reddi, medaglia d'oro al valor militare.

Onorificenze alla bandiera

Note

Bibliografia
 G. Lunardi, P. Compagni, I paracadutisti Italiani 1937/45, Editrice Militare Italiana, Milano, 1989
 F. Cappellano, S. Orlando, L'Esercito Italiano dall'armistizio alla guerra di Liberazione, Ufficio Storico Stato Maggiore Esercito, Roma, 2005, ISBN 88-87940-61-4

Voci correlate
 Paracadutismo
 Esercito Italiano
 Medaglie, decorazioni e ordini cavallereschi italiani
 Fanti dell'aria (per il Reggimento "Fanti dell'Aria")
 183ª Divisione paracadutisti "Ciclone"
 185ª Divisione paracadutisti "Folgore"
 Operazione Herring (per il "F" Recce Squadron )
 Gruppo di Combattimento "Folgore"
 Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana#I paracadutisti
 Divisione meccanizzata "Folgore" (eredi del Gruppo di Combattimento "Folgore")
 Brigata paracadutisti "Folgore" (per l'attuale Esercito Italiano)
 8º Reggimento genio guastatori paracadutisti "Folgore" (per l'attuale Esercito Italiano)
 1º Squadrone da ricognizione "Folgore"

Collegamenti esterni

Grandi Unità italiane della seconda guerra mondiale
Corpo italiano di liberazione
Divisioni aviotrasportate dell'Esercito italiano

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Maternal iodine status in a multi-ethnic UK birth cohort: Associations with child cognitive and educational development
Threapleton, DE orcid.org/0000-0002-5884-3372, Snart, CJP, Keeble, C orcid.org/0000-0003-1633-8842 et al. (18 more authors) (2021) Maternal iodine status in a multi-ethnic UK birth cohort: Associations with child cognitive and educational development. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 35 (2). pp. 236-246. ISSN 0269-5022
Maternal iodine requirements increase during pregnancy to supply thyroid hormones critical for fetal neurodevelopment. Iodine insufficiency may result in poorer cognitive or child educational outcomes but current evidence is sparse and inconsistent.
To quantify the association between maternal iodine status and child educational outcomes.
Urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) and iodine/creatinine ratios (I:Cr) were measured in 6971 mothers at 26-28 weeks' gestation participating in the Born in Bradford cohort. Maternal iodine status was examined in relation to child school achievement (early years foundation stage (EYFS), phonics, and Key Stage 1 (KS1)), other learning outcomes, social and behavioural difficulties, and sensorimotor control in 5745 children aged 4-7 years.
Median (interquartile range) UIC was 76 µg/L (46, 120), and I:Cr was 83 µg/g (59, 121). Overall, there was no strong or consistent evidence to support associations between UIC or I:Cr and neurodevelopmental outcomes. For instance, predicted EYFS and phonics scores (primary outcomes) at the 25th vs 75th I:Cr percentiles (99% confidence intervals) were similar, with no evidence of associations: EYFS scores were 32 (99% CI 31, 33) and 33 (99% CI 32, 34), and phonics scores were 34 (99% CI 33, 35) and 35 (99% CI 34, 36), respectively.
In the largest single study of its kind, there was little evidence of detrimental neurodevelopmental outcomes in children born to pregnant women with iodine insufficiency as defined by World Health Organization–outlined thresholds. Alternative functional biomarkers for iodine status in pregnancy and focused assessment of other health outcomes may provide additional insight.
Authors/Creators:
Threapleton, DE https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5884-3372
Snart, CJP
Keeble, C https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1633-8842
Waterman, AH https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9882-7206
Taylor, E
Mason, D
Reid, S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6460-4119
Azad, R
Hill, LJB https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4069-5121
Meadows, S
McKillion, A
Alwan, NA
Cade, JE https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3421-0121
Simpson, NAB https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0758-7583
Stewart, PM https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1749-9640
Zimmermann, M
Wright, J
Waiblinger, D
Mon-Williams, M https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7595-8545
Hardie, LJ
Greenwood, DC https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7035-3096
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information:
© 2020 The Authors. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Born in Bradford; child development; cognition; deficiency; iodine; nutrition; pregnancy
Published (online): 1 September 2020
Academic Units:
The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Food Science and Nutrition (Leeds) > FSN Nutrition and Public Health (Leeds)
The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM) > Clinical & Population Science Dept (Leeds)
The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Psychology (Leeds)
Department of Health Accounts Payable - SULEEDSUNI PR-R10-0514-11004
MRC (Medical Research Council) Not Known
NIHR National Inst Health Research R&D ARC M20086
MRC (Medical Research Council) UKPRP M20072
Symplectic Publications
https://doi.org/10.1111/ppe.12719
Filename: Paediatric Perinatal Epid - 2020 - Threapleton - Maternal iodine status in a multi‐ethnic UK birth cohort Associations.pdf
Licence: CC-BY 4.0
RDF+XMLBibTeXRIOXX2 XMLRDF+N-TriplesDublin CoreAtomSimple MetadataReferMETSHTML CitationASCII CitationRIOXX2 CC0OpenURL ContextObjectWRRIOXX2 XMLEndNoteMODSOpenURL ContextObject in SpanMPEG-21 DIDLReference ManagerRDF+N3

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Communication happens when we are engaged and interested. Communication allows real interaction to happen. When the AAC user is engaged and interacting, we can build language and meaningful communication. When we focus on the strengths and interests of AAC users, we can find so many opportunities to engage and build language.
Unfortunately, many AAC users are given fewer opportunities to engage and build their language skills than children learning to speak. Often, AAC learners are tested using their AAC system. They are asked questions to show what they know or don't know. They are asked meaningless questions. AAC users are made to use their AAC system to prove themselves. Where is the motivation to use your AAC system in this way?
AAC is not a test. AAC should not be used this way. AAC should not be used to do boring and repetitive drill exercises. All this may make an AAC user hate their AAC system, rather than see the value and strength in it.
Instead, we need to engage our AAC users. To do this, we find common ground and build on their strengths and interests. Choose interesting and engaging activities. Have real conversations. Give the AAC user the motivation to communicate real messages.
Every AAC user is different. There are many different ideas and activities that may interest them. Work with the AAC user and the team to find engaging ideas that give opportunities to build language.
Each time we try to engage with an AAC user, we can consider at the effort and reward. The effort is how hard or easy it is to achieve success in the activity. And the reward is seeing natural reaction that comes from communicating a message successfully to make something happen. We need to keep effort and reward in balance. AAC users may chose to not engage if the task is too hard or too effortful, especially if they cannot see any reward or benefit. Equally, if the task is too easy, then the AAC user may quickly lose interest.
So, check your planned activity. How can you make it so the AAC user has the best chance of engagement and success?
Engagement is not about making an AAC user look at us, nor is it about making them follow a set of instructions or "testing" what they know. Instead, we need to create real reasons to communicate. Look for opportunities to show them how to use words on their AAC system or use it to communicate something interesting and fun.
Doing interesting activities will create reasons to make comments and ask questions. Keep a list of things that the user likes or does not like. Keep a box of motivating books, objects and activities ready to go at any time. Try new things all the time. Hunt out cheap toys and games wherever you go.
Always be age respectful. Always choose activities, games and books that are in line with what other people their age would do and enjoy.
Sometimes, we can be a little creative and sabotage situations so that communication may happen.
Use these strategies with caution and respect to the AAC user.
Often AAC users are given their AAC system to participate in a planned activity. They can use their device to make comments and requests during that activity. But can the AAC user have an conversation?
More often than not, a person who can speak does not only talk about the activity in front of them. They also share news about their lives or their interests. They ask questions of the people around them. They take turns with others to have a conversation about anything at all.
In some instances, AAC users are given far fewer chances to have conversations. However we can support AAC users to develop their conversational skills. Conversations are a wonderful way to build language and real connections with others. An AAC user can learn how to have conversations using their AAC system when it is modeled by the people around them. They can point to words on the AAC system as they chat. It can also be helpful to support an AAC user to learn how to start or initiate conversations. Follow the AAC user's lead and help them to start conversations about interest areas. Conversations can happen any time. It may be during the transitions and breaks between activities. What is important is to find opportunities for interaction, and then model the language for conversations.
Look for incidental opportunities to start conversations in any activity. These incidental opportunities are the interesting comments that may happen on the side. In many cases, they can start a whole conversation about something different. For example, while you are doing a farm puzzle, the AAC user may remember the story about a time they went to a farm. Use this side conversation to model about the farm trip (eg. We went to a farm, Farm was fun, I liked the chickens, We fed the pigs, etc.). So much language happens when follow the natural flow of conversations with AAC users. If a different or related topic of conversation comes up, go with it and see what extra words and interaction happen.
In the table below we can see some of the different ways we can use language to enter into conversations.
For specific ideas, we recommend visiting the AssistiveWare Core Word Classroom. Here, you will find many planner documents. Every planner includes a section on Social Interaction. It gives different examples for modeling social interaction in the activities you may already be doing.
When we engage and interact, we create opportunities to build language and real communication.
This article on engaging and interacting is just one in the Learn AAC series about "Starting Communication".
Now that we have started communicating using AAC, next we can consider ways to start Building Language and Communication.
Blog post on engaging autistic students.
Blog post on communication temptations.
Blog post from PrAACtical AAC about building communication opportunities.
Angelman Syndrome Foundation webinar on non-directive language.
Wetherby, A. & Prizant, B. (1989). The expression of communicative intent: Assessment issues. Seminars in Speech and Language, 10, 77-91.


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Q: array_push() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given I have the following php code:
<?php

class Session {

    public function __construct() {
        if (!session_id()) {
            session_start();
        }
        if (!is_array($_SESSION['messages'])) {
            $_SESSION['messages'] = [];
        }
        echo is_array($_SESSION['messages']);
    }

    public function AddMessage($msg="") {
        array_push($_SESSION['messages'], $msg);
    }

    public function GetMessages() {
        $messages = $_SESSION['messages'];
        unset($_SESSION['messages']);
        return $messages;
    }

}

$session = new Session();

?>

And the output of $session->AddMessage('message') is:
1
Warning: array_push() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in ...\Session.php on line 16

so is_array clearly says that $_SESSION['messages'] IS an array.
What am I missing?

A: session_id is a function, so it should be:
    if (!session_id()) { //Not just session_id
        session_start();
    }

If you would have turned on error reporting it might have thrown:

Notice: Use of undefined constant session_id - assumed 'session_id'

Note: OP has edited the original question

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Eh, what's 14 miles? That's not exactly what I was thinking on Friday morning, but that's the sense you'd have had from watching me. I'd slept poorly, so I rose well after 7, showered, went to Maggie's for a pancake breakfast and a takeout lunch, and stopped by Paragon to get a bottle of Sportlegs capsules, a dietary supplement (calcium, magnesium, vitamin D) that supposedly reduces muscle fatigue. (At dinner Wednesday evening at the Telluride Bistro, a well-spoken mountain biker name Hans, who was sitting next to me at the bar, had recommended Sportlegs, and I was concerned enough about my inadequate training that I was willing to give it a go. I later checked with a doctor friend who was skeptical, as was I, but she figured it wouldn't hurt.) Back at the Victorian Inn, I finished packing, checked out, and finally was on my way around 10:30.
The Victorian Inn is on the left. My bike is parked in front.
I made two big mistakes on that first day: I underestimated the difficulty of climbing 2,760′ from a starting altitude of 8,750′ (the equivalent of a 276-story building when you include overcoming 550′ of elevation loss), and I assumed that the elevation gain would be roughly evenly distributed over the distance. The first half of the day's ride augured ill for the last half; the climbs were too gradual, and by the midpoint, downhills had wiped out all of the elevation I'd gained. At 7.6 miles, I was down at 8,770′ again and had to climb to 10,960′ feet, or a grade of about 6.5% over 6.4 miles. As I rode, I kept recalculating the amount of elevation that I had to gain for each mile remaining and knew that suffering lay ahead. Still, the views continued to distract me.
The road in the valley is where I'm headed.
I had lunch on the bridge that crosses this creek.
This is a view to the south. The mountains on the horizon are to the west of Telluride. I'd just come up the road.
This, too, is a view to the south, another half mile along the same road.
A closeup of the log fence in the previous shot.
The route wasn't nearly as isolated as I'd expected based on accounts I'd read online. Until I reached the "County Road T60 No Winter Maintenance" sign at mile 11, I was rarely out of sight of houses, travel trailers, or RVs. Last Dollar Road was no freeway, but cars and trucks passed me headed in both directions a couple of times an hour until the road became especially steep and rough, about the time that I started thinking seriously about accepting a ride to the pass if someone offered. After that, the only traffic that passed me was headed downhill, and I pushed a 35-pound bike loaded with 40 pounds of gear for most of the last three miles, in addition to the mile or so that I'd already walked earlier in the day. No one was going my way anymore, but everyone stopped for a brief chat, mostly, I suspected, to gauge my condition and, if I were in sad enough shape, to offer me a ride back to Telluride. My interminable slog was well shy of a picnic, but I could appreciate the absurdity of finding a gasping biker still wearing a helmet while pushing a loaded bike up a steep gravel road, and I couldn't help but return their cheery greetings.
At this point, I was about a mile and a third from the hut. I'd been on the road in the lower left corner of the shot an hour or so before.
This was the road ahead, such as it was.
The road leveled off some after the third switchback, and I got to bike the last few hundred yards to Last Dollar Pass, but that minor victory was forgotten on the climb from the pass to Last Dollar hut with which I began this account. By the time I hove in sight of the hut it was already after 7:00, and with sunset maybe 15 minutes away, I had to quickly haul my bike and gear inside, learn how to work the propane stove and lights, start dinner, find the outhouse, and take some pictures before dark set in. A box of macaroni and cheese was the best I could do on the energy I had left, that and a few cookies (the package was already open) and a can of store-brand cola. I was in bed by 8:30.


text:
Lunchtime Chamber Music at Yale February 10
The Yale School of Music will present a Lunchtime Chamber Music concert on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:30 pm in Morse Recital Hall in Sprague Hall (470 College St., New Haven). This free event features a colorful variety of ensembles composed of graduate musicians who have come from around the world to study at the Yale School of Music. Violinist Wendy Sharp is director of the chamber music program.
Admission to the recital is free. For more information, visit the Yale School of Music website or call 203 432-4158.
Additional performances in the Lunchtime Chamber Music concert series are scheduled for:
February 10 / March 31 / May 5 / Sprague Hall
February 17 / April 14 / Center for British Art
concerts, lunchtime chamber music


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Built with a soft and durable PU upper and an A-Frame overlay, the Umbro Speciali Eternal Club Jnr HG kids football boots provide good ball feel and a secure fit.
With a soft fit and feel, the Umbro Speciali Eternal Club Jnr HG kids football boots feature a durable PU upper for long-lasting comfort and touch. A-Frame support cradles the foot ensuring support, stability and a snug fit.
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Each commercial establishment in Modesto is unique. For either industrial or retail and any business large or small, E C R Rain Gutters provides a wide range of commercial roofing system options along with exceptional products and materials installed and maintained by experienced and qualified roofing specialists.
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text:
From flashmobs to cutting their own pay: The Big Bang Theory cast really are the best
Cydney YeatesWednesday 20 Feb 2019 4:03 pm
The Big Bang Theory cast are the best (Picture: CBS)
The Big Bang Theory is ending in May and while the finale episode still hasn't been written yet, we've decided to take a look back at all the times the cast have been the best ever.
Although the sitcom has been serving us joy for the past 12 years, it's the stars of the show that have really gone above and beyond.
On a number of occasions, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco and the gang have shown their undying support to their fanbase and the television community too.
So here's a little rundown of some examples of their greatness.
Showing support for Jussie Smollett
The Big Bang Theory's entire team showed support for Empire star Jussie Smollett following his brutal attack.
Sat in the set's living room, the cast and crew surrounded a sign that declared: 'We support Jussie.'
Kaley Cuoco shared the photo on her Instagram, with the caption: 'On behalf of everyone here [at The Big Bang Theory] we #standwithjussie #jussiesmollett #wegotyourback.'
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtUMAKzhoOL/
Cutting their pay
In 2017 it was reported that the original main cast members Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar all took pay cuts back to support of Mayim Bialik and Melissa Raunch and give them a rise.
At the time, it was alleged that the OGs opted to take home $1 million (£800,000) per episode for their work on the CBS sitcom so they could free up money and allow Mayim and Melissa, who joined in season four, to double their salary of $200,000 (£160,000) per episode to $450,000 (£360,000) an episode.
Legends, right?
Creating a flash mob for the studio audience
The cast well and truly adore their fans and to prove it, they orchestrated a flash mob for their studio audience earlier in the month.
Kaley said the performance might well be her favourite memory of working on the show for the last 12 years and same, tbh.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt1Msk_ngPM/
Making personalised videos for fans
Last month the cast sent not one, not two, but three heartwarming videos to a four-year-old boy battling an inoperable brain tumour.
Dublin boy Oscar Keogh received the clips after his mum had reached out to Melissa Rauch, who plays his favourite character, to ask whether she could send a signed picture.
So naturally, the family were absolutely delighted when they saw that Melissa had roped in Jim and the rest of the gang to record three personalised messages.
Yup, they really are the bomb.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs-TksZFIL3/?utm_source=ig_embed
More: The Big Bang Theory
Johnny Galecki flips the bird at Kaley Cuoco in chaotic BTS The Big Bang Theory photo
Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco overlooked in Emmys 2019 nominations for The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory's Johnny Galecki reunites with Roseanne co-star Sara Gilbert
Sharing behind the scenes gossip
Mayim is a trooper at answering fan questions in videos posted to her YouTube page, giving audiences an insight into all things Bazinga.
Over the past year, she's told us her own personal reactions to finding out the show was coming to an end, to how Amy Farrah Fowler's wedding dress.
More recently, Mayim has revealed that she's never watched a full episode back and why she doesn't let her kids watch the series either.
Visiting a superfan on his deathbed
Mayim, Melissa and Simon went and visited superfan Joe Steiger's bedside during a hospital stay in 2017.
'I'm forever grateful and indebted to them,' Joe wrote on his Instagram at the time.
The cast later paid tribute to Joe after learning the news that he passed away in August 2018, with Mayim writing: 'Three days ago, I exchanged messages with our TBBT superfan @joesteiger as we often do in the years since I met him.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl8o9daBere/?utm_source=ig_embed
'He was feeling especially motivated to try and make the journey to Los Angeles to see a taping of the show that brought him so much joy.
'Joe was taken from this Earth yesterday at the age of 31 after losing his battle with Muscular Dystrophy. Our hearts are broken and we send prayers and wishes to his family.
'Joe was endlessly positive and funny and tender and thoughtful. He saw himself as someone who could change the way people thought about disability, challenges, and the power of communication even when it seems impossible. May his memory only be for a blessing.'
The Big Bang Theory continues on Thursdays on CBS.
MORE: Even The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik were shocked by the first time Sheldon and Amy had sex
MORE: The Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik reveals loving reason she doesn't let kids watch show
Jim ParsonsJohnny GaleckiKaley CuocoKunal NayyarMayim BialikMelissa RauchSimon HelbergThe Big Bang Theory
Brian May's wife Anita Dobson had to sit in the ladies 'for a while' after watching Bohemian Rhapsody: 'I was in shreds'
Love Island: Anton Danyluk forced to leave villa over sickness
Love Island producers 'ordered the boys to stop masturbating in the shower'
Peaky Blinders actor Karl Shiels 'died in his sleep' after worrying cast mates by 'repeatedly falling asleep on set'
Love Island viewers are convinced new girl India Reynolds has been on the series before
Home › Entertainment › TV


text:
Unauthorised collective investment scheme
4m under-40s misunderstand pension risk
The research was carried out on behalf of flat fee platform Interactive Investor
Around 4m savers under the age of 40 could be losing out on investment returns because they think a medium risk pension will produce the strongest returns for their pension.
Only 20% of workers under the age of 40 think that a higher risk pension was the most appropriate level for their age, according to research by Opinium on behalf of flat fee pension platform Interactive Investor.
Four in ten (39%) under 40s said the most appropriate risk level for their pension is medium, with 28% saying that low risk is the most appropriate risk level.
Two thirds (66%) of those surveyed aged between 18 and 39 (representative of around 10m people) said they have a low risk (25%) or medium risk (41%) pension, while only 19% said their pension is high risk.
The risk profile of younger workers' pension investments appeared to reflect their risk appetite rather than how many years to retirement they have left: with the research showing that young workers do not have a high risk appetite when it comes to where their pension is invested. Only 16% described their risk appetite as high, 41% described it as medium and 33% said their risk appetite was low.
A recent report from actuarial consultancy LCP suggested younger workers would either have to increase their contributions or take other actions, such as increasing the risk level of their pension, to boost their chances of retiring with a decent retirement pot.
However, when it came to expectations for returns, the new research from Opinium found the average expected real annual return from a pension among workers under 40 is 4.6%, almost double the 2.4% weighted average rate of return calculated by LCP for a typical pension implied by FCA assumptions on future growth rates for different assets.
Men were more likely than women to say they have a higher appetite for risk when it comes to pensions and other investments, with 24% of men under 40 describing their risk appetite as high compared to 9% of women.
Men were also much more likely to say they currently have a higher risk pension than women, with 27% of men compared with 10% of women under 40 saying they have a higher risk pension.
Nearly half (49%) of men said they have a medium appetite for risk compared with 33% of women, while 43% of women said their risk appetite was low, compared with 23% of men.
Risk appetite was generally higher among workers in their twenties, with 20% saying they have a high risk appetite compared to 13% of 30 to 39-year olds, suggesting that understanding may be better among younger workers who have started working life under auto-enrolment.
Opinium conducted research between 21 June and 25 June 2021 and interviewed 2,000 UK adults aged 18 to 39.
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Opinium
Interactive Investor
risk ratings
Pension concerns as life expectancy increase slows
John Moret: Recent FOS rulings on SIPPs 'concerning'
FCA set to launch BSPS redress scheme
Pension transfer values climb to a new high
20m could get State Pension Age reprieve - LCP
More in this category: « Q&A: John Porteous on Charles Stanley's new arm Kingswood buys Lincs Chartered Planner for £4m »


text:
Get 29 games and support the Aussie fire relief with new Humble Bundle
By Staff Writer 17 January 2020 | Categories: news
The recent Australian bushfires have had catastrophic results on the country, with 26 million acres burned, over 2200 homes destroyed, and one billion animals lost. In the wake of the country's worst fire season on record, Humble Bundle alongside developers and creators, are bundling a care package of much-needed funds for relief to those affected.
The Humble Australia Fire Relief Bundle is a special one-week bundle featuring over $400 in incredible games for just $25. 100% of the proceeds from your bundle purchase go to help the wildlife and animals affected by the Australian bushfires, through WIRES, RSPCA, and the World Wildlife Fund via the PayPal Giving Fund.
If indie games are your thing, this bundle will leave you extremely satisfied, with a massive 29 games in this bundle. Some of the titles include Euro Truck Simulator 2, Hollow Knight, Paradigm, Think of the Children, Feather, Paperbark and The Stillness of the Wind.
All of the games in this bundle are available on Steam for Windows, and some for Mac and Linux too, while a number of the games are available DRM-free as well.
If games are not your thing but comic books are, the Humble Comics Bundle: SPAWN 2020 by Image Comics is worth a look at. Todd McFarlane's Hellspawn sent to Earth to deliver evil souls to Hell is offered in different tiers of $1, $8 and $15, with the final one getting you comics worth $466.
Australia Fire Relief BundlegamingHumble Bundle


The adventure began as I stepped off the plane in Orlando and quickly boarded the Disney Magical Express bus to the Happiest Place on Earth. As I entered the POP Century resort, I could feel the excitement building. My first surprise happened as I was checking in. Vicky, the captain of my racing team Hakuna Matata, was in the food court nearby and came over to say hello.
It was certain from the start that this would be an amazing race weekend experience. Vicky and I went to the Expo so I could pick up my race packets, Ryan's race packet, and purchase a few goodies. One thing I wanted to do was to see if I could be reassigned to an earlier corral. They had placed me in D and I did not think that was right. Well, they agreed and moved me to Corral B! Score!
Then I went to sign Ryan and me up for the new Dumbo Double Dare race in Disneyland during Labor Day. This 'challenge' is new -- with a 'new' 10K race on a Saturday and the Disneyland Half on Sunday. And if you finish both, you get a third Dumbo medal (also new). I stood in line for over 25 minutes waiting to register us but I finally got it done. Running this inaugural race will also earn me my Coast to Coast medal! So I am very excited about all the fun stuff that this Disneyland race will bring!
After the expo, I had dinner with my friend Kipp at the Grand Floridian Cafe. Yummy food! Then we came back to the POP Century resort because I was still waiting for the rest of the family to arrive. They did, they had dinner at the POP Food Court, and then it was time for bed. Ryan and I had a race first thing EARLY Friday morning!
Disney decided to have actual corrals for the 5K race this year, probably because there were over 10,000 people registered to run the race! Ryan and I were in Corral A but preferred to run with Mike and his family in Corral D instead. While we were waiting, Ryan and Kim got caught up in all the DJ music and started dancing!
Well after all that fun, we were ready for the race! I think it took 40 minutes from the time the first wave started until we actually crossed the Start Line. That was kind of crazy. But the race itself was a lot of fun, running through EPCOT. Ryan was going to run with us but soon turned on his afterburners and left us in the dust. I decided to try to catch him but then later realized this was a bad idea -- I still had two more races to complete. All in all, we had a great time in the race and loved the medallion we received.
Joe Taricani and Rudy Novotny at the Expo!
After the race, I got cleaned up and went back to the Expo to meet my friend Joe Taricani for the first time face-to-face. Joe is the host of The Marathon Show broadcast and he wanted to interview me. So I got down there and not only met him, but also Rudy Novotny (The Voice of America's Marathon) who is the announcer at all Disney races. It was quite the honor to meet the two of them. And then Joe gave me a gift -- a new iFitness belt! You know that I wore that belt during both the Half and the Full. It is now my Goofy Belt!
The rest of Friday was spent first at a team breakfast at the Kona Cafe, followed by some fun times at Hollywood Studios. Then I headed back to POP for our WISH Team Meet-up and Dinner. It was great seeing all the familiar faces of people I had been in contact with via the WISH Disboards for all of 2012. So many awesome friends!
The downside was that our team spent most of the evening talking and laughing in the Food Court! So instead of getting a full night's sleep before the Half Marathon, I only got about 4 HOURS of sleep on Friday night. No one really wanted to end the conversation!
This time it was 2am when the alarm woke me up. I got myself ready and headed down for the buses and to meet up with the team. I ran this race with the captain of our racing team, Vicky. She was wearing her WISH Green jersey while I was dressed up as Woody from Toy Story. We got ourselves situated at the Runners Area and then walked the 1/2 mile to the corrals. We felt like cattle because it was SO CROWDED! I think there were about 26,000 runners in this race.
Rather than write up a play-by-play of the race, I encourage you to read the Race Report that Vicky wrote about the Half Marathon. She wrote a great report! I will just add that we had a fabulous time! We weren't worried about our finish times. Instead, we made a point to take in the sights, take lots of character photos, and just have fun in the shared experience.
Towards the last few miles, I was having some knee pain which I was not pleased about (knowing I had the Full to run the next day), so I eased up a bit to try to avoid really hurting it. When we finished, I got it iced up and it seemed to be fine later in the day.
After the race, I decided to take my Ice Bath by relaxing in the pool at the resort. Ryan and I hung out in the pool for a good while, having some good father and son bonding time. Then we went to the Magic Kingdom for lunch at the Crystal Palace. Afterwards, I went to see Lou Mongello (of WDW Radio Show fame) with Kipp while Christi and Ryan went to ride The Pirates of the Caribbean. Then we reconnected to ride Space Mountain.
For one more time, I woke up at 2am for a race. No costume this time, just my WISH singlet. I got myself geared up and headed to the buses to meet the team. Vicky and I had made the decision to split the team into two groups based upon corrals, since we had team members in various corrals for this race. Vicky went with the Corral B folks, and I went with the Corral D folks. This was great because I really wanted to run with my friend Kimberly who was in Corral D. When we got to our corrals, we also found Courtney and her father in the same corral! So we hung out together as we waited for the race to begin.
Although I did not run with Vicky during the Full (except for the last 3 miles when the two groups met up in Hollywood Studios), she wrote a great Race Report for the Full Marathon which I (again) encourage you to read rather than me trying to document the entire mile-by-mile analysis myself (I guess I am being lazy...).
Kimberly and I decided to take it easy during the Full and not worry about our finish times. We wanted to enjoy the experience. And since I had already run two races previously, and doing my first Goofy, I was happy to try to pace myself through this. I mean, hey, 42.4 miles is a lot of miles over three days (at least for me it is).
So we did run/walk intervals for the first Half rather consistently, and that worked out fine. We took photos together at the Castle which was cool (last year, I did not get castle photos because it was totally dark when we got there). The Full course matched the Half course until Mile 8 (where the Genie was) because at this point we diverted to run through the Speedway. That was pretty cool. Then we met up with my running partner Mike, another awesome surprise! He stayed with us through the Animal Kingdom.
We found the WISH Scream Team outside of the Animal Kingdom and that was just so WELCOMING! I needed the emotional boost at that point because the sun was up, the temp was rising, and I was beginning to feel the effects of having run those previous races. I was so happy to see them, I gave one women there a big hug. I am not sure she appreciated a big sweaty hug, but she was very gracious about it.
Speaking of temps, the race was really hot and humid! By Mile 17, the temp was near 85F with 100% humidity levels. Brutal! So we adapted our pace, made sure to hydrate well, and kept moving forward.
Kimberly and I stopped for several photo ops along the race course and generally kept each other company, taking turns talking and keeping each other in good spirits. In reality, I think she did MUCH more to keep me positive and moving forward than I was doing for her. She was a real gem... a 'diamond in the rough' as it were. I am not sure I would have finished if she hadn't been there.
Suffice to say that the mile markers kept moving past as we ran and walked our way through the Wide World of Sports, Hollywood Studios, and finally EPCOT. My body was tired and hurting -- knees, tight calves, shoulders, and feet. But I kept on moving. I was NOT going to DNF (Did Not Finish) this race. I wanted that Mickey medal and I WANTED that Goofy medal. I had come too far to stop now.
The second WISH Scream Team outside Hollywood Studios was another welcome sight. Again, right when I needed an extra energy boost! And those iced washcloths were heavenly!! Thank you all who were there!!!!
When we entered EPCOT, I was on the lookout for my family, who I knew were going to be there somewhere to cheer for me. I kept running but not seeing them. When I got to Mile 25, I made a decision. I was not going to walk any more of the course. I wanted to run strong for my family -- for my son. I wanted them to be proud when they saw me. So from somewhere I know not where, I found the strength/resolve and started to pick up the pace. Kim and Robbie were commenting that I was "kicking it into high gear". I kept running as fast as I could 'will' myself to go. I was gritting my teeth as I ran.
And then I saw them! I was all the way to the left of the course path and they were all the way to the right. But I saw them and we waved! Christi was trying to tell me something but I couldn't understand or hear her. And there was no way I could stop because if I did, I was worried I would not have the energy to start again. So I just kept running. As Mike would say "Just Run until someone hands you a medal!" Later, Christi told me that Ryan was going to run with me but she stopped him.
Kimberly was still with me. And we kept running. When we passed the Gospel singers, I almost cried. I was going to finish! I was going to be a first-time Goofy Finisher (only a year after running my first Half at Disney)!! Running that last tenth of a mile was an emotional high for me. Rudy called out my name as I gave Donald Duck a hi-five and crossed the Finish Line! WOW!
As Kimberly and I walked to get our medal (and I went to get my Goofy medal), we ran into Mike and Liz, who had finished a bit before us. That was really awesome! We got our finisher pictures with them, and then with Robbie. It was a special moment for us to be sure!
Robbie, Kimberly, and me at the Marathon Finish!
I won't lie though. I hurt a lot! My feet were really sore from the pounding, and the fact that we had been on the course for 6 hours and 44 minutes! My worst Finish time ever! Of course, at the time I didn't care about that, just that I was sore! So we met up with the WISHers at the Runners Area, where I immediately sat down on the asphalt and took off those running shoes (while I drank both a Muscle Milk and sports drink). I was afraid to look at my feet for fear of blisters or worse. But alas, my feet looked fine. Yay!
So after a few more photos, and a chance to meet Kimberly's parents and her son (and to tell little Isaac that his Mom was an amazing person!), I made my way SLOWLY to the bus back to POP so I could shower and rest a bit. I realized at that moment what Christi had been trying to tell me. They were leaving to catch their flight home after the race so I wouldn't see them again until I arrived home on Tuesday.
I met up with my cousin Doug and his family at the Food Court about an hour later to chit chat and eat something. It was great having some time with them!!
Then it was time to meet with the team for our team dinner on Sunday night at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. Dinner was very tasty. Afterwards, Vicky, Kipp, and I went to the Magic Kingdom to do rides, watch the fireworks show, and enjoy the late hours in the park. But by 10pm, we were exhausted. It was nice to go to bed without having to get up early the next morning!
Monday was just a fun, relaxing day which started after a good 9 hours of sleep! I went to the WISH Breakfast meetup with Kipp and had a great time hearing about everyone's experiences over the weekend. I had a nice surprise when John Bingham and Coach Jenny Hadfield tapped me on the shoulder to say Hi while I was there on The Boardwalk. They congratulated me, and Jenny gave me some tips on recovery since I had another Full Marathon to run three weeks later (the Surf City Marathon).
After that, Kipp and I went to Epcot for a while and rode the new Test Track. Awesome!!! Then I went to the Saratoga Spa for a one hour massage. That was MUCH needed! My legs and feet felt a ton better! Then I hooked up with Mike's family and got to spend some time with them in the Magic Kingdom!
Then I went to find Vicky, Robbie, and Shaun who were doing the "Drinking Around the World" tour at EPCOT. Thanks to the Find Friends app, I was able to find them and had a good German beer there. Then Vicky and I went to have dinner with Dave and Sally at Kouzzino's on The Boardwalk. Excellent dinner, followed by some great ice cream! A great day!
Tuesday was a day of packing and getting ready to leave for Chicago. After eating breakfast at POP, Vicky, Dave, Sally and I went to Hollywood Studios to ride the Toy Story Mania attraction. I had never done it before! Oh My Gosh! It was too much fun! I did it three times! We stayed there until Vicky and I had to go to Magic Kingdom for lunch with D.K. Peterson at the "Be My Guest" restaurant in the new Fantasyland. What a cool Castle and restaurant! We had a good lunch too!
Then I had to 'literally' run to try to get transportation back to POP to catch the Disney Magical Express bus to the airport for my flight home. That was quite the adventure and I missed my bus! But I caught the next one, and was able to successfully catch my flight home.
I had the TIME OF MY LIFE at Disney this year! And what made it most special were all the friends and family that I got to share the adventure with! To be able to say "I am a Goofy (Dopey, really) Finisher" is an awesome feeling. But the true blessing of this WDW Weekend was that I had such awesome people there with me.
Posted in Marathon, Disney, Races and tagged with Marathon, Disney, Races.


Serving as mentors to the amazing young people in the Young Scholars program is among our most rewarding experiences. Join us by learning about the program here, and see why so many find this program so gratifying.
The Young Scholars Liberty Partnerships Program (YSLPP) is a multi-year collaborative project between Utica College and the Utica City School District (UCSD) to motivate diverse and talented students to stay in school, earn a New York State Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation, and pursue post-secondary education.
Each year, Young Scholars serves approximately 350 students from grades 7 through 12. UCSD teachers nominate students in sixth grade who show promise, but who may not achieve their full potential due to social and/or economic factors. The finalists are selected by a volunteer panel of professionals from the area.
Chosen students receive year-round academic support including a summer program prepping them for the following school year, college and career exploration, social and emotional support provided by counselors and staff, community service, and enrichment activities. If the student is fortunate enough, they are also paired with a mentor.
The program has been quite successful, as the impressive results show in the YSLPP brochure. More than one hundred YSLPP students have served as summer interns in the local community, and the program's partnership with Workforce Development has provided hundreds of its students with summer jobs.
An important part of the Young Scholars program is pairing adult mentors with program participants. Mentors are volunteers who serve as positive role models, give students guidance and advice, and provide fun social and cultural enrichment experiences. Experiences are often as simple as a visit to the mall, a lunch out together, taking in a sporting event or movie, or going for a walk at the park. Many activities are free, so it doesn't cost a lot, in money or time. In fact, the minimum commitment is only 2-4 hours a month. Some mentors have one student they provide support to, and many mentor multiple students, often participating in activities with several students together. Many mentors have kids of their own, and bring their mentees along during family events.
While mentoring means a very modest commitment of time, mentors can make a tremendous impact on the lives of these promising young people. Mentors say they get more from the experience than the students do, and often form lasting friendships with their mentees. With a small investment in time, mentors make a big difference in the community.
Although a number of First Source staff and Members have joined with other community members to serve as mentors, the program can use more. Some 60 mentors serve now, and the program would like to grow that number to 100, so we are encouraging you to consider joining us as a mentor and making a difference in the life of a Young Scholar. If you have a friend or family member who you think would make a great mentor, encourage them to apply as well.
Becoming a mentor is a simple process with just a few qualifications. The first step is filling out an application and a Background Check authorization. You must have a valid NYS driver's license, and be willing to commit to the program for one year. Once you are qualified, the program provides an orientation, and ongoing support to help you get started and continue to provide fulfilling experiences for your mentee.
We are very excited to continue to partner with this tremendous program to help fulfill the dreams of our youth here in the Mohawk Valley, as their goals align with our community mission. We provide financial support, fill leadership roles, offer job shadowing and internships to Young Scholars interested in banking and/or financing, donate tools to teach financial literacy in their summer program, team up with Young Scholars for community service, and encourage our staff and Members to volunteer as mentors.
How Can Your Place of Work Get Involved?
To teach community members more about the program, Young Scholars offers 30-minute "Lunch & Learn" presentations and workshops for any sized group, organization, or business. Simply contact them to schedule a presentation for your workplace or organization.
Individuals can learn more by contacting Linda Stewart, Mentor Coordinator, by email at lbstewart@utica.edu, or phone at 315-792-3237. Join us in becoming a mentor, and help our students Grow Big Dreams.
"Mentoring is something that has changed my life in the most positive way. I always find that mentoring has truly made me have a more profound understanding of today's youth. I feel that no matter what, both of my mentees know that they have someone with whom to share a laugh or an important conversation. Mentoring is a never-ending gift, a mentoring situation that after graduation will hopefully turn into a lifelong friendship."


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South Africa to send dozens of cheetahs to India under new deal | CNN
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Flood warnings in NSW as Geelong celebrates 10th AFL grand final win – follow live
25 September 2022 0 10 mins 4 mths
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Flooding will worsen this week: SES
The SES has warned that a new trough and associated low pressure system is forecast to enter western New South Wales on Monday. The trough will progress westwards on Tuesday and Wednesday bringing more rain and the chance of thunderstorms "in many areas".
The SES says:
Given the current flooding, saturated catchments and full dams, this forecast front will likely exacerbate the current riverine flooding with multiple systems anticipated to see prolonged or renewed minor to major flooding.
With catchments wet and many dams at capacity, waterways are very sensitive to rainfall, and further river rises and renewed flooding are likely for the inland catchments.
Ongoing operational activity can be expected to continue in these areas.
The SES will be liaising closely with the Bureau of Meteorology to determine the impact areas of the forecast weather.
Updated at 00.19 BST
'I am pessimistic about seeing a republic achieved any time soon'
Trent Zimmerman, a longtime republican and former Liberal MP, has warned that King Charles' accession will not make the Australian republican cause any easier.
In a piece for the Guardian, he writes:
I have supported Australia becoming a republic since my early 20s. For me, it's about a simple proposition – should we have an Australian as our head of state – a head of state whose only loyalty is to our own nation.
Some monarchists have tied themselves in knots arguing the monarch is not our head of state – quite treasonous of them really – but that proposition does not really pass the pub test, let alone constitutional scrutiny.
Yet today, as I have been for some time, I am pessimistic about seeing a republic achieved any time soon. It will certainly not be advanced to the stage of a vote during this term of parliament and I suspect not until a future federal government is more than confident of its success.
Wee Waa and Warren will be cut off by floods for days: SES
The State Emergency Service has responded to 825 requests for assistance and performed 59 flood rescues in New South Wales in the past 11 days.
The SES this morning released new data on its workload in the recent flooding across the state, particularly in the central west and southern parts of the state:
Previous 24 hours up to 6am 25 September 2022:
A spokesperson said the flooding was continuing in western and southern NSW, with a number of flood warnings current.
The spokesperson said Wee Waa and Warren will remain isolated for "many days" and that major flooding was still affecting Gunnedah.
Many communities are experiencing continuous or repeat flooding. Currently minor to major flooding is present in several catchments across the state as flood peaks move slowly downstream.
Major flooding is still impacting Gunnedah. The river peaked at 8.24 metres yesterday morning. It is expected to remain at major level for the remainder of the weekend; however, it is slowly receding. As the water recedes SES personnel will be on the ground to conduct rapid impact assessments.
Wee Waa and Warren will remain isolated for many days. We are conducting numerous resupply operations to residents with essential stores such as water, food and medicines and have deployed aircraft and high clearance vehicles.
Residents look out at the flooded river in Gunnedah on 21 September. Photograph: Tom Plevey
My colleague Tamsin Rose has investigated the booming demand for cosmetic injectables in Australia, which has prompted experts to warn of the risks of serious mental and physical harm.
You can read her piece here:
The river near Gunnedah, in NSW's north-east, peaked at 8.24 metres yesterday. Emergency services say they've had "a busy few days" in the area.
NSW SES volunteers have had a busy few days in Gunnedah. The river peaked at 8.24m yesterday. As flood water recedes volunteers will be back on the ground conducting impact assessments. If you have been impacted by floods and need assistance please call the SES on 132500. pic.twitter.com/0wkvLpOq12
— NSW SES (@NSWSES) September 24, 2022
Child dies in Melbourne fire
A child has died after a fire took hold of a shed in Melbourne's east.
Emergency services were called to reports of a blaze at a home in Ringwood about 6pm on Saturday.
Once firefighters had put out the blaze, the young child was found dead inside the shed at the rear of the Belle Vue Avenue property.
The child is believed to be a resident of the house.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and an investigation continues on Sunday.
– from AAP
'Considerable' rainfall expected next week in NSW
Inland New South Wales will remain on high alert for flooding, despite a short reprieve from heavy rain.
Bureau of Meteorology forecasters are now turning their attention to early next week, with "considerable" falls expected on Tuesday and Wednesday in southern and central inland parts of the state.
Senior meteorologist Jake Phillips told AAP:
It's a bit early to know exactly how high the flood peaks will get as a result of that rain, but it's definitely something that our hydrology team will be checking out pretty closely over the next day or two
It definitely will exacerbate some of those flood peaks and could send some of them either into prolonged major flooding, or raise them from moderate into major, potentially.
Among places authorities were concerned about on Saturday was Gunnedah, where the Namoi River peaked at the major flood level of 8.24 metres in the morning.
State Emergency Service spokesman Greg Nash said people downstream of places like Gunnedah on the river should keep abreast of the latest flood information.
It's anticipated that water will move downstream slowly and may isolate some areas.
Wee Waa was isolated by road on Saturday, but the emergency service deployed resources to the town.
Nash warned against attempting to cross floodwaters in cars, saying:
We have some very resilient communities and some communities that are very much aware of their flood risk.
[However] we want people to drive to the conditions, and if you find a flooded or a damaged road as a result of flooding, to stop, turn around [and] find another away – it's not worth the risk to push on.
In the 10 days to Saturday, the emergency service had fielded more than 800 requests for assistance in NSW, which included nearly 60 flood rescues.
In the 24 hours to about 5.30pm on Saturday, the emergency service received 120 requests for help and five flood rescues.
Flooded terrain near Murwillumbah. Photograph: Jason O'Brien/EPA
Five-year-old boy dies in NSW floods
We're waking to the horrible news that a five-year-old boy has died in the NSW floods. He was separated from his family on Friday night when their car was submerged in floodwaters on McGrane Way near Tullamore, in the state's central west.
Emergency services were called to the scene late on Friday, finding two younger children and their parents, who were clinging to trees. The five-year-old was missing.
Fiona Aveyard, a local farmer and Rural Fire Service member, told the ABC she had been one of the first to arrive on scene. She said:
It was a miracle they even got a signal to call for help.
We arrived in the dark in water that was backed up a couple of hundred metres from the crossing. The water at the low-level crossing was up about a metre and a half.
They [the family members] were downstream in the creek clinging to trees – a mother, a father and two young children.
The parents were able to free the two younger children from the car but the five-year-old was trapped in the car as it submerged.
Police have since announced that they'd found the five-year-old's body on Saturday afternoon.
Ch Insp David Maher told the ABC:
The family were very distraught in relation to the incident.
The family are Sydney residents but they do have a property in Tullamore. Tullamore is a very small community, very close-knit and it's had a major impact on the whole community.
Good morning and welcome to our live blog for Sunday 25 September.
We'll keep a close eye on the flooding in New South Wales, particularly in the central west.
Tragically, emergency services have found the body of a five-year-old boy, who was separated from his family on Friday night when their car was swept away in floodwaters.
Heavy rainfall is set to ease in the state's north today, but will continue in other areas.
We'll bring you all the latest developments as they happen.
by Admin 27 January 2023 2 mins 1 hr


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Captured in a Click
More people than ever are capturing images of the world around them that may have never come to light if not for advances in smartphone cameras and other technology, which now provide photographers more opportunities to create quality images right from their pockets.
SEE THE PHOTOS
The winning images, along with 20 honorable-mention images selected for the exhibition, will be on display at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, through June 23.
For the second consecutive year, the Palo Alto Weekly and Palo Alto Art Center have teamed up to bring exposure to a greater variety of works from more participants through the revamped Peninsula Photo Contest. This year's competition includes entries from anyone who works, lives or attends school in or near the 650 area code, from Daly City to Sunnyvale. The categories include: Abstract, Portraits, Moments, the Natural World and Travel, as well as the new Nocturnal category, which includes images taken between dusk and dawn that reflect a night theme. The judges reviewed more than 850 images submitted by 187 adult and youth photographers. Each of this year's 12 winning images captures life and everyday objects from a unique perspective — from the shadow of a fork stretched across a napkin with a film-noir quality to a rain frog perched on leaf in the Andes at night to the documentary-style image of two girls role-playing at a birthday party. This year's contest included an unexpectedly high number of images taken on smartphones that were selected as finalists and honorable mentions, according to the judging panel, which was unaware throughout the process of which photos had been taken on professional, high-quality cameras versus the mobile devices. One of the biggest surprises, according to the judges, came at the end, when they learned that the contest's Best in Show winner was shot on an iPhone.
Read on to learn more about the photographers and the ideas and feelings they hoped to convey through their work.
Category: Abstract
Adult winner: "Hitchcock's Fork" | by Laurie Naiman
Artist comments: "I captured this with my iPhone while waiting for dinner at an outdoor cafe in Mountain View. It was sundown, and I was attracted by the strong shadows cast by the fork on the napkin. The monochrome and 'noir' rendition was created in post-processing. This evoked the title."
Youth winner: "Light" | by Clara Montero Scheidt
Artist comments: "This photo was a bit of an experiment because it was simply a light on a wall — but something about the perspective of this photo is unique and makes it appear less like a light on a wall and rather a light in the middle of the sky."
What the judges said:
Abstract photography has a way of making us see the world a little differently. It was a delight to see Laurie Naiman's approach of photographing a fork and napkin on a counter top interpreted into a noir-like image. From the sharp angles of light hitting the counter to the slightly sinister shadow cast by the fork, the image conveys a sense of mystery and suspense.
Scheidt's image was also a unique capture of a regular object. At first glance, one does not quite know what they are looking at: Is it a mural of a perfectly sunlit sky filled with clouds or a window of some sort? Only after staring at it for some time, did I realize it was a light fixture perfectly framed from beneath looking above. I love how this image surprised me and how it invites us to pay more attention to everyday objects.
— Veronica Weber
Category: Moments
Adult winner: "Waiting" | by Deborah Lord
Artist comments: "'Waiting' is a documentary-style image made by observing, setting up and waiting for the right moment during a child's birthday party. I loved this moment because I think it is relatable to parents who have also waited and shows a sweet childhood moment of role playing 'parent.'"
Youth winner: "In Passing" | by Katie Chan Firtch
Artist comments: "This shot was taken on an iPhone SE in San Francisco from inside a store. I managed to capture it before the scene elapsed mere seconds after. To me, 'In Passing' is but a single frame of the ever-turning roll of film called life. From the mundane to the supernatural, from the ordinary to extraordinary, it is the acknowledgement of the small moments in life that make our world go round."
"Waiting" is a delightful moment; it captures, with great irony, the subtle game of two girls role-playing. I love the posture of the girl in high heels, made even more dramatic by her wings. Even if we don't see her face, we can imagine her expression. It's the kind of image that makes us love photography for helping us make an emotional connection and preserve a fleeting, timeless moment for life.
"In Passing" is a very different and interesting image, defined by movement and color. It has a very gritty, urban feel to it and I love the way the colors match and alternate: the yellow jacket and the moving blond hair, the greens of the skateboard the coat, the red/browns of the car and the building behind. All connected through movements and lines.
— Federica Armstrong
Category: Nocturnal
Adult winner: "Pristimantis Rain Frog On Leaf" | by Geoffrey Brooks
Artist comments: "This beautiful rain frog was found on a late-night hike in the foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes. I used a heavily diffused off-camera flash with a reflector to try to highlight the rich color and texture of its skin."
Youth winner: "Oh So Shiny and Bright" | by William Sawrey
Artist comments: "'Oh So Shiny and Bright' was taken near the summit of Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii using a long exposure and light painting to illuminate the foreground as to enhance the contrast with the overarching core of the Milky Way."
Geoffrey Brooks' "Pristimantis Rain Frog At Night" image is a beautifully lit capture of a rain frog sitting still against a pitch-black nighttime backdrop. The soft diffused light of flash envelopes the creature, highlighting its vibrant colors of rust orange, light green and earth brown and its delicate leopard-like pattern on its arms and belly. I especially loved the composition of this image which was taken at a slightly lower level so that the animal sits poised above the photographer, leaving the viewer to truly appreciate the creature's distinct features.
William Sawrey's "Oh So Shiny And Bright," photograph is another stunning image. A long exposure of the glittering Milky Way rises in the background above the gnarled trees and bushes in the foreground. I believe Sawrey must have shined a light along the vegetation in the foreground, which frames the trees against the stars perfectly and is a brilliant capture of the beauty of the wild places away from city lights.
Category: Portrait
Adult winner: "Nick&Nancy" | by Terrance McLarnan
Artist Comments: "This image was made from two separate ones to create this third image. I was deeply touched by the deep sadness in this child's eyes when we met; I used the second image to heighten how our culture turns its back on sadness and the bleak internal life it creates."
Youth winner: "Hidden Portrait" | by Jacqueline Irvin
Artist comments: "'Hidden Portrait' was created through a double exposure of a cobblestone road and a photo of my friend. It was inspired by a project to explore the relationship between nature and portraits of people's faces through double exposures."
There are so many elements that go into making an unforgettable portrait: layers of meaning and mystery. Terrence McLarnan has sandwiched two separate images to conjure mystery. The tragic emotion on the face of the child is compelling and moving by itself. However, that emotion is reinforced by an undefined figure turning his/her back on this child. The added element strengthens the impact. McLarnan's message is strong, inescapable.
Jacqueline Irvin calls out to us through a double exposure. She has combined a portrait of a friend with a separate image of cobblestones. The mystery is evoked and the mood elevated in the mixture of elements through double exposure. Sometimes each image on its own is uninteresting and poorly composed: The combination has potential to create an extra special impact. There is much undefined in this image — a mysterious element — that adds another layer of power.
— Margo Davis
Adult winner: "Waiting Patiently" | by Dan Fenstermacher
Artist comments: "A woman looks peacefully into the abyss of the ocean in a still and contemplative glance while bathed in early evening sunlight as people around her create movement in all directions in Asilah, Morocco."
Youth winner: "Amer Fort" | by Sahana Singh
Artist comments: "'Amer Fort' shows the strength of women in India. They are the backbone of Indian society."
What Dan Fenstermacher shows us in "Waiting Patiently" is his masterful skill in perfecting a perfect compelling, dynamic composition. He has put form above content. His images have his strong voice: One that displays the dynamism of the relationship between forms and figures, a balance of elements and a wonderful interplay of color. A touch of blue in the shirt of the central figure echoes the blue sky and little of bit of blue sea in the right corner. At the same time, there is a sense of place that is revealed subtly, in the air, in the sea and in the atmosphere of the photograph.
Sahana Singh's colorful image uses the relationships of figures to reinforce her message of three strong Indian women. The juxtaposition of the women, two making eye contact and one hidden behind her hand and head scarf, use form to reinforce their women power. How wonderful that they are even more striking because of the simple textured walls and arch that frame them. Form, again, becomes a forceful conveyor of message.
Category: Natural World
Best in Show: "Seagull Side-Eye" | by Debbie Cooper
Artist comment: "I captured this bold crow with my Iphone 8Plus on live mode, enabling me to select the decisive moment when the seagull appears to be expressing annoyance at the crow's approach."
Youth winner: "Prenning Puffin" | by Sebastian Velasquez
Artist comment: "Amid the chaos of birds swimming and fishing in the water and flying back and forth, I spotted this secluded puffin in a moment of stillness, preening its feathers. I felt like I was getting a glimpse into a private moment."
Timing and perspective are two of the major components to creating a compelling image and Debbie Cooper captured both in her photograph "Seagull Side-Eye." It gave new meaning to the phrase, "a bird's eye view" and stood out from the rest of the entries with its moody film-noir feel.
"Preening Puffin" stood out not only with its striking contrast between light and dark but also with its wonderful glimpse into the simple moments of nature.
— John Todd
Peninsula Photo Contest 2019 Winners
"A Moment of Reflection" | by Andrew Valencia Yan
"Cautious Boys" | by Colin Sakamoto
"Crossing Over" | by Jack Clearman
"Danali at Dawn" | by Jim Colton
"Fantastic Voyage" | by Mira Zaslove
"Fox Trot" | by Sebastian Velasquez
"Giant Clam" | by Joel Simon
"Hanging Out in Havana" | by Jim Colton
"Laundry Day in Japanese Village" | by Nadine Levin
"Painted Palm Frond" | by Bill Frimel
"Precious Family Time" | by Melissa Brookmire
"Reflections on a Rainy Night" | by Andrew Valencia Yan
"Scout" | by Isabella Brake
"Spectacular Crab" | by Bill Frimel
"Strength" | by Sharon_Kenney
"What's Inside" | by Mira Zaslove
Click through the slideshow using the left and right arrows.
MEET THE JUDGES
Federica Armstrong
Federica Armstrong is an editorial and commercial photographer working with many nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area. Her skills include traditional documentary photography, environmental portraiture and event photography. She is the founder of the Palo Alto Photography Forum, a lecture series that features prominent photographers and promotes conversations on current issues through visual storytelling. Armstrong's latest project, "In Plain Site," which focuses on Silicon Valley Superfund Sites, was published in the New York Times Lens Blog in 2018.
Margo Davis
Margo Davis is a fine art photographer with many published books and a long teaching career. She teaches intermittently for the Stanford Continuing Studies Program. Her work is represented in individual as well as major museum collections, including Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University, San Francisco MOMA, Bibliotheque Nationale and Brooklyn Museum. View her work at margodavisphoto.com.
John Freeman Todd
John Freeman Todd has been a professional photographer for more than 25 years. Since 1996, he has been the team photographer for Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes. He also owns International Sports Images (isiphotos.com), the official photography supplier to the U.S. Men and Women's soccer teams, Stanford Athletics and the former Maverick's Big Wave Surfing contest. View his work at johntodd.com.
Veronica Weber
Veronica Weber is a staff photographer and videographer at the Palo Alto Weekly where she has spent more than 10 years covering communities along the Midpeninsula. In her spare time, Veronica enjoys taking long hikes and photographing the Bay Area's abundant nature. Her work has been recognized by the California Newspaper Publisher's Association and the Peninsula Press Club.
AND THE SPONSORS ARE …
The Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto Online, Palo Alto Art Center, The Six Fifty and Palo Alto Photo Forum sponsored this year's Peninsula Photo Contest. The Best In Show winner was awarded $500 and adult and youth winners were awarded $100 each. Adult winners also received vouchers to a lecture series by the Palo Alto Photo Forum. All winners received memberships to the Palo Alto Art Center.
Discuss this year's winning entries and honorable mentions on Town Square, the community discussion forum at PaloAltoOnline.com.
← Legacy makers → In Gunn graduation speeches, students drop their 'excellent facades,' urge vulnerability


Mary Poplin, PhD, Professor of Education, School of Educational Studies, Claremont Graduate University.
To further "flesh out" Is Reality Secular? Testing the Assumptions of Four Global Worldviews? (InterVarsity Press, 2014), I asked Mary Poplin, PhD, Professor of Education, School of Educational Studies, Claremont Graduate University, to offer a follow-up series focused upon practical illustrations, stories, and resources. This is the "teaser" which includes a call to join the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) in refining our resource material over the course of the coming academic term.
Mary Poplin: Many students, particularly in the humanities and social sciences are being taught that truths are nothing but individual or social/cultural constructions of reality that change over time and are used to wield power over others. A skeptical young coed asked Dallas Willard in one of his last talks, "What is truth?" His answer was that truth is reality and reality is what you run into when you are wrong.
In every field, we can engage students in reflecting on truth – what is truth, is there such a thing, what is the alternative, are the laws of physics are true, are there any other laws that might be true, for example, what about the laws of the effects of alcohol on human beings? Are there things we can know in our field that are true, how do/could we know? We can develop strategies to walk through thinking about truth by exploring truth as represented by physical laws, natural laws of nature, laws of human flourishing, moral laws, health laws, laws that govern relationships, such as forgiveness.
S. Joshua Swamidass, who presented on Gradschool for God's Global Mission, connects with Emerging Scholars (Kaitelin Hansen and J. Nathan Matias) at ESN's Urbana12 Your Mind's Mission Reception featuring Greg Jao.
Book Reviews/Discussion including series on books such as Abraham Kuyper: A Short and Personal Introduction, Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service,Head, Heart, and Hands: Bringing Together Christian Thought, Passion and Action, The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship, Your Mind Matters.
Christian Professional and Academic Societies — is your field covered? If so, please check the link to confirm that it works. If not and if you have a recommendation to add, please let me know.
Questioning Christianity 2014: Suggested Reading List (Redeemer Presbyterian Church) recently caught my attention. Other recommendations?
Devotionals . . . Scholar's Compass launched this fall.
Faith & Academic Commitments in a Post-Modern World. More from Alan G. Padgett.
Suggested Readings for Undergraduates — most definitely time to update this list!


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Biografia
Mosse i primi passi in ambito musicale grazie ad un compagno di scuola, che in quel periodo collaborava per Cadena SER realizzando illustrazioni e poster. Quest'ultimo gli fece conoscere Joaquín Luqui e il cantante Toni Genil, i quali gli offrirono un'esibizione a un festival di beneficenza per la Croce Rossa nel maggio 1979. I giornalisti che erano in sala si interessarono a lui e lo segnalarono alla casa discografica CBS, con la quale incise il suo primo singolo, Sin amor; quest'ultimo, che era una versione adattata in spagnolo da Luis Gómez-Escolar della canzone tedesca Dschinghis Khan, raggiunse la posizione numero 1 nelle classifiche spagnole in due settimane. La CBS spese 7 milioni di pesetas per promuovere il suo primo album. Il 9 febbraio 1980 si esibì per la prima volta dal vivo.

Dopo una pausa nella sua carriera dovuta al servizio militare, ebbe un altro grande successo con il contributo del produttore Pedro Vidal grazie al singolo Fotonovela nel 1984, con il quale tornò al numero 1 in Spagna e riuscì ad entrare nei mercati europei. In Perù Fotonovela venne utilizzata come sigla della telenovela Carmín. Il successivo singolo Baila divenne la sigla della Vuelta a España 1985.

Nel gennaio 2012 annunciò il suo ritorno con l'uscita di un nuovo disco e nella primavera del 2013 svolse un tour acustico in giro per la Spagna.

Vita privata
Sposato con una donna australiana di origini ebraiche, nel 1994 si stabilì a Melbourne. Nel 1996 si trasferì negli Stati Uniti d'America, risiedendo dapprima a Miami e successivamente a Los Angeles. Si è ritirato dalla vita pubblica, anche se continua a scrivere e produrre musica nel proprio studio.

È il padre dell'attrice Nathalia Ramos.

Discografia

Album
 Sin amor (1979), CBS
 A solas (1980), CBS
 Tiempo de Iván (1982), CBS
 Baila (1985), CBS
 Hey Mademoiselle (1986), CBS
 Más difícil (1988), PM Records
 Vuelta a casa (1992), La Rosa Records
 Versos diversos (2001), Caliope Studios

Singoli
Sin amor (1979)
Loco (1979)
Soñarte (1980)
Te quiero tanto (1980)
Te agradezco (1981)
Oh Gaby (Oh, Gaby, Gaby) (1982)
Bajo los caracoles de tus cabellos (1982)
Fotonovela (1984)
Baila (1985)
Ya no puedo detenerme  (1985)
Pon la radio (1985)
Hey Mademoiselle! (1986)
Starman (1986)
Un Dia Mas (1986)
O-A (1988)
Ojos de Oriental (1988)
Salvame (1992)
Bailar con la luna (1992)

Note

Collegamenti esterni


The mattress on my dormitory bed is so hard that I'm finding it difficult to sleep. I woke up at 5:00 this morning. Feeling a little hungry, I went for a walk to find something to eat. I found some chicken on a skewer. I had to go out today to get a SIM card and to buy my school uniform. One of the staff members of the political science department took me to the nearest shopping center, where I was able to get everything I needed. When I got back to the dormitory, I chatted with a Thai girl. I was surprised to see all the vegetables she had. There're no supermarket nearby, so I wanted to know where she had bought them. She told me there's a kind of market near the faculty of agriculture, so I went there. You can see it in one of the pictures. When I was looking around for something to have for dinner, I came across a food stall that was displaying a picture of a dish that looked pretty good, so I bought it. But it was so spicy that I couldn't finish it. Today I really hit it lucky. I wasn't able to connect to the WiFi, but a girl called Susan very kindly helped me. This gave me a chance to talk with her and her friend Tina. They were really kind. Susan in particular helped me with many things I wasn't sure about, so she has become my best friend now. It was nice to be able to go out for a walk with them later, too.


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