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Criminal and Addictive Thinking

Addictive thinking can be very similar to criminal thinking. A lot of times these thinking patterns overlap.  When a person is in active addiction he or she will often justify a lot of things.  Moreover, in a lot of cases they just want to continue their addiction.  Maybe he or she does not know how to stop drinking, drugging or gambling.  Therefore, they are not even willing to consider stopping because they “think” that they have no choice.  Sort of like the criminal who steals to survive.  But, once a person gets into recovery he or she will learn that recovery is more than just putting the plug in the jug or stopping whatever their addiction is.  It is about changing and changing one’s thinking.

There is no question about it that addiction is a thinking disease.  So, let’s discuss how an addict’s thinking is like a criminal’s thinking.  People who are prone to criminal thinking and addictive thinking often have a “victim stance” attitude.  This attitude allows the person to blame others for situations that he or she really have created for themselves.  For example, it’s the cops fault I got that DUI or I drink because I’ve had a rough life.  These thinking patterns lead to irrational decisions.

Addiction is a Thinking Disease!

Then there are the criminals or addicts who take the “good person stance”.  He or she focuses on the good things they have done and ignore the harm.  They might say I may make bad decisions here and there but I am a good person in general.  Someone might also say,” I pay taxes and I get a DUI from this cop.  I am paying more for his or her salary than anyone.  The police should not have arrested me!”  Now you also have those who promote the “unique person stance”.  He or she might think no one in the whole world has experienced what I have been through.  I was slighted, abused or made fun of in school, therefore I drink.

One of the first signs that a relapse is going to occur is that one’s thinking changes and a big piece of this is they start to compromise their values.  A recent article discusses the problem of addiction and how it can contribute to crime in a community.  So, if you are compromising your values and heading down the wrong path it is important to reach out for help and make some changes.  Then and only then can recovery become a part of a person’s life.

The Role of Forgiveness in Recovery

According to psychologists, forgiveness is a conscious and deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you.  This is all regardless of whether they deserve your forgiveness or not.  Forgiveness is not forgetting or excusing the offenses.  But, most importantly, it brings the forgiver peace of mind and frees him or her from corrosive anger which can lead to depression, anxiety and other health problems.

One way to think about forgiveness is through an analogy.  For example, you are holding onto the bumper of a car and it drags you across the pavement.  This is very painful.  But, if you let go, it can’t hurt you anymore.  So, letting go is an important part of the forgiveness process.  It is the main step to improving one’s life. Along with reducing pain, forgiveness has other benefits such as decreasing anxiety, stress and hostility.  Moreover, there is an increase in hope, self-esteem and well-being.  This can lead to improved relationships with family and friends and a greater sense of control and power.  A recent article  discusses one powerful story of forgiveness.

Forgiveness Heals!

Some people do not know how to forgive.  Maybe they don’t want to admit they were taken advantage of.  Or he or she might see forgiveness as a weakness.  Sometimes a person’s ego gets in the way.  Maybe the person doesn’t think the one who hurt them deserves forgiveness.  Furthermore, if we are the one asking for forgiveness we may not get the answer we want to hear.  Someone might say, ” no I don’t forgive you!”  Some people think whoever is more in the wrong should apologize first.  These types of thoughts are not useful and will only hurt those involved.  So, whether it is asking for forgiveness or offering it to someone, forgiveness is a great sign of strength.  It is one of the keys to peace and happiness in recovery.  Forgiveness is the greatest healer of all!

forgiveness, recovery, power

Residential Treatment Centers Richmond Virginia-30 Day Programs

Thirty day (inpatient) treatment programs are for drug addicts or alcoholics.  Many people think entering these programs will cure them.  Unfortunately this is not the case.  Recovery is a life long process. Committing to a program is a great start to that process and is often needed.  Many people try to quit on their own by attending an outpatient program, 12 step meetings or therapy.  But having so much freedom can lead them right back to their addiction.   That is why an inpatient program can be the answer for those who have had such failed attempts.

One advantage of an inpatient program is that it takes the person out of their active addiction environment.  So, for a period of time, the patient can focus solely on their addiction.  Patients also have the benefit of around the clock help. Mental health professions are always there to assist.  They often will have access to doctors, psychiatrists and nurses. All of these professionals work together to address a patient’s needs.  A recent article discusses one way to approach addiction.

In some facilities they will have a professional chef who prepares meals.  Patients will learn about healthy living. They will have time to exercise and meditate. They will learn ways to cope with life.  Group and individual therapy will teach skills to avoid a relapse.  The importance of attending 12 step meetings and developing a plan for after treatment will be a main focus.

Recovery is a Life-Long Process.

How to learn to live a clean and sober life is the name of the game when you seek treatment. As mentioned earlier it is a life long process to remain abstinent from drugs and alcohol.  So if you are fortunate enough to recognize a problem and get help before something tragic happens you are on your way to a better life!

treatment, inpatient

Williamsville Wellness Drug, Alcohol and Gambling Treatment Center.

Balancing Work and Recovery

For anyone with an addiction, a demanding job can make getting help a challenge. Many folks will say that he or she cannot take the time to get help because it will impact their work.  It is quite normal for people to have these thoughts. But to continue an addiction without getting help will surely affect your job!  So, although balancing work and recovery is not always easy, it surely can be accomplished.

Certain employment situations can make recovery and treatment difficult.  Some jobs lend themselves to recovery more than others and some do not.  Think of the food and beverage industry or a job where the company credit card or cash is readily available.  This can facilitate using.  Sometimes it might be necessary to change jobs because work is not conducive to living drug, alcohol or gambling free.  But a situation like this must be a last resort. Therefore, it is often suggested that making a job change should be delayed in early recovery.

Fortunately, a company or the employee assistance program will work with the individual to get them the help they need.  In addition, if you are in a rough work situation having supportive sober people in your life can help you get through it.  In order to be successful with your sobriety balancing work and recovery is critical.  Many people find that by doing this not only does their personal life improve but so does their career.

“Nothing is impossible; the word itself says, ‘I’m possible!’” – Audrey Hepburn

For those who struggle with taking time away from work, there are ways to manage this and get help.  For instance, some people choose an intensive outpatient program (IOP) instead of an inpatient program.  In this case, a patient will attend treatment classes at night which will teach the skills to live sober.  In addition, technology has allowed others to get help through the internet.  Williamsville Wellness has a program which is the only licensed program in the State of Virginia.  It is called is Smart IOP and it is a six to twelve-week program, which consists of group therapy through specialized video modules, individual therapy, and case management meetings.  This is all done online and meets the needs of those who work odd hours or those who live in areas where they do not have access to treatment.

For those seeking to stop an addiction, it is important to create a plan to make recovery as strong as possible. There are not always easy solutions but with some effort, it can be done.  So, remember the words of Audrey Hepburn who said the following, “Nothing is impossible; the word itself says, ‘I’m possible!’”

work, recovery, addiction help

How to Ask for Help For an Addiction

I recently had a conversation with a friend who is questioning whether or not he has a substance abuse problem.  For him he knows I work in the substance abuse field.   Therefore, it seemed natural for him to contact me about his concerns.  But, there are many people who do not have the luxury of having someone close to them who might be able to point them in the right direction.  So, asking for help is not always an easy thing.  But, there are several ways to get guidance if you or a loved one needs information.

The first thing I would say is that if you are thinking you have a problem with substances then you probably do.  “Normal” drinkers don’t have a conversation in their heads about having a problem.  In the case with my friend, he explained to me that when he drinks a few beers he has the urge to use cocaine.  But, he conveyed to me that he is not a regular user because it’s not always around.  Yet, when it is there he can’t just take it or leave it…he takes it!  Our conversation led him to make an appointment with a therapist.  So, if you talk to a loved one or even a stranger about what you are thinking it’s a great start.  Also, if you are too nervous to talk, write down what you are thinking and give it to that person.

Stopping Any Addiction is Much Easier With the Help of Another Person.

Next, I would suggest contacting either your physician (or a physician) or someone in the mental health field.  They should be able to advise you about what to do.  In addition, there are resources in your community who will steer you right.  Contact your local Community Service Board or even the local Alcoholics Anonymous General Service Office. Also, I would highly recommend seeing a therapist.  This is a great way to express what you are thinking without someone judging you.  Finally, the internet is your friend too.  Research different treatment programs in your area.  You can also learn about the disease of addiction through the world wide web.  A recent article discusses the dangers of trying to beat an addiction alone.

No matter what road you take it is critical to realize that stopping any addiction is much easier with the help of another person.  The old saying goes…”A problem shared is a problem cut in half!”  Try it and you will be on a course to an easier way of living.

help, ask, addiction

Maybe It’s Time For a Change.  If you want to improve your well-being then reach out to another person.  Asking for help is a show of strength!

Becoming a Better Man Through Recovery

Developing healthy relationships can be a challenge for anyone.  Properly expressing one’s thoughts and feelings is one of the driving forces to getting along with others.  It seems that some men may not have developed the social skills that can create better relations.

So, what are the key things a man can do to improve relationships with those close to him?  Let’s start off with communication.  For so long, I grew up not knowing how to express myself.  I was a shy kid who was very unsure of himself and when I did communicate it was often a reaction to something.  Unfortunately, my “reaction” almost always came out in anger.  I did not learn until my mid-twenties that I had the ability to learn to change.

One of the first things I needed to do was learn about emotions and how to communicate them to others.  I really did not have a good grasp on the range of feelings that occur within myself.  Anger and happiness were the two emotions that I knew all too well.  But, because I was fortunate to meet some “normal” level headed people, both male and female, my knowledge of ALL emotions developed.  Moreover, my ability to express these feelings improved. It was a strength rather than a weakness to express my feelings to family, friends and sometimes co-workers.

Next, it was important for me to listen to others.   The skill of reflective listening was critical for me to learn and it was developed by practicing it.  For instance, one activity for me would be to sit with another person and when they finished one thought I would repeat back in my own words what they were saying.  This helped the other person know that I understood what he or she was trying to convey to me.  Another great tip I picked up was to try to put myself in the other person’s shoes.  I had to try to experience what they were saying to me.  This tip helped me develop empathy.  A recent article discusses some of these ideas and how they can positively impact children.

The Skill of Reflective Listening was Critical For Me to Learn!

One of the biggest words of advice given to me was to think before speaking.  In addition, it was okay to pause before speaking and maybe most important, it was okay to say I did not know the answer to something.  So, my standard reply often would be “I don’t know but let me get back to you.”  These skills helped me become more confident with myself and in general became a better person.  I now had a range of skills that became the key to developing the connections with those in my life.   Now, my life is more meaningful!

Becoming a Better Man,healthy, relationship

Is your life meaningful?

Stop Your Addiction and Become Healthy-David Rogers, M.A., LPC: Therapist

David Rogers, M.A., LPC: Therapist explains addiction and how to become a healthy person in recovery.   He discusses how only stopping the addictive behavior is not enough.  So, a person must learn coping skills to eliminate or deal with the triggers that cause them to drink, drug or gamble.  He then reminds us that addiction is an attempt to meet legitimate needs through unhealthy methods.  Dave lays out a blueprint for meeting those needs and how to solve the puzzle of addiction!

How Addiction Magnifies Problems

For anyone in active addiction, whether they know it or not, their disease makes most things tougher to handle. When a person gets into recovery he or she realizes that they now have a better grip on managing life.  But, a person will not know this until they are abstinent from alcohol and drugs for a period of time.  You see, for a person using substances, everyday tasks can be a challenge.  Anything from doing a load of laundry to going to work can be difficult. So, a person who gets treatment will get back to doing the things that were at one time automatic.

One of the ideas that a person with an addiction needs to admit is that their addiction has made their lives unmanageable.  This concept is quite simple when the person is honest about it.  But, for an addict or alcoholic this might be a tough thing to see.  For instance, there are people who drink or drug daily, yet they go to work and pay their bills on time.  In addition, he or she may have never had any legal troubles due to their addiction.  So, it can be quite easy for a person to deny that alcohol or drugs is a problem.  However, this same person often is unable to socialize unless he or she has a drink in hand.  Or, when problems arise there does not seem to be a solution.  It can almost feel like the end of the world for them.

Recovery Reduces Many Problems and Makes Them Much More Manageable!

For the person in recovery he or she now has the ability to solve many problems which used to baffle them.  If they can’t solve it on their own he or she is willing to ask for help.  We have seen this time after time how putting down the drugs and alcohol can help a person think more clearly.  Moreover, the feelings they might experience are not as extreme either.  Life in general is simpler.  But, for someone in active addiction not only can problems be magnified but it might be too late to get help.  A recent article reviews the sad story of addiction.  It describes the worst case scenario even for those who seem to have things together.  So, if you are on the fence as to whether or not you have a problem it is worthwhile to take an honest look at how substances may be impacting your life.

 Addiction Magnifies Problems, help

Problems in Recovery are So Much More Manageable Especially with the Help of Others!

Treatment Centers for Alcohol Addiction- What is AA?

Treatment Centers for Alcohol Addiction will often recommend that a patient attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings to help maintain sobriety.  So, what is AA?    How do you know if you are an alcoholic?  Who attends these meetings?  When do these meetings occur?  Do I have to speak or read during these meetings?  Is it a religious organization?  Are there rules in AA?  These are just some of the questions people might ask.

Treatment Centers for Alcohol Addiction,what is AA,meetings

Treatment Centers for Alcohol Addiction often suggest attending AA.

AA is a group of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other.  Some meetings will have a speaker do just that.  They tell what happened when they were drinking, what it’s like now without drinking and how they did it.  The whole point of AA is to help those with a desire to stop drinking.  The only person who decides if you are an alcoholic is YOU!  People from all walks of life attend these meetings.  For example; doctors, lawyers, teachers, carpenters, retail associates, you name it… and even retired people attend. The nice thing about these meetings is that they have them at all times of the day.  You can just do a basic internet search and find a meeting.

If you choose to attend a meeting you do not even have to speak.  Just simply say, “I pass.”  If you choose to speak you don’t even have to say you are an alcoholic, just give your first name and you don’t even have to say it if you don’t want to.  AA is not a religious program at all.  It is a spiritual program.  There are no rules in AA.  There certainly are suggestions but it is up to the individual whether to take them or not.   A recent article discusses the benefits of AA.   If you have the desire to stop drinking and want to try, Treatment Centers for Alcohol Addiction will often suggest AA is the place to go.  It has a successful proven track record and has helped millions of people live sober.

The Well-Polished Junkie

Back in the day, a junkie was someone who was not kept, maybe homeless or looking years beyond their age.  Today, there is a new type of junkie who is well-polished both physically and mentally.  Society might not be able to spot this person in a million years.  They are high school/college students, doctors, lawyers and yes even teachers.  So, why is it that these folks are running under the radar?  Well, when someone is a drug addict the last thing in the world they want is to be discovered.  Therefore, he or she will do anything to keep their addiction a secret.

For the addict, the planning and thinking that goes into a drug habit is extremely detailed.  For instance, if a person has an important meeting to attend at work then he or she may curb the amount of drugs they ingest in order to be at the top of their game.  This is very common. Yet, the moment the person gets a chance to fully indulge into their drug of choice they will do just that.  It’s like the old saying, “when the coast is clear….”

Of course, not all addicts can wait to do something safely without being seen or noticed.  In these instances, the addict may skip the meeting or be one step ahead by starting off by saying that they are under the weather, that they are on medication from their doctor.  Also, it would not be out of the norm for an addict to create some elaborate lie.  I have heard of a client saying they had been up for days because their child ran away from home and this was not the case.  It was just a story to cover their addiction.

Don’t Judge a Book by Its’ Cover!

Other ways to hide a person’s addiction might be wearing long sleeves, using eye drops or by not saying a whole lot. Some addicts go as far as lying that they have laryngitis.  Another way is to “dress the part”.  Who would expect a drug addict to be well kept? That’s why we have the saying, “don’t judge a book by its’ cover”.

At any rate, it just doesn’t matter what your background is.  Addiction affects all walks of life.  A recent article discusses this idea but also talks about how one addict is willing to go to any lengths to stay clean.  So, addiction is not always easy to see.  But, if we are aware that it does impact all realms of society then we can be more helpful to those in need.

The Well-Polished Junkie, hide

The Well-Polished Junkie. You just never know who might have a problem.

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Chicago partner Ira Kalina was a panelist at an ACC advanced contracting seminar focused on issues and practice pointers with respect to drafting terms of use and privacy policies for websites incorporating social media features, Web 2.0 privacy practices, and considerations for developers seeking to build applications on the most prominent social media platforms.
Source: San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel


Shale adds 47% to global gas reserves, 11% to global oil: EIA study

Shale fields could add 7,299 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 345 billion barrels of oil to global reserves, according to a US Energy Information Administration report released Monday.

These potential contributions represent a 47% increase in gas reserves and an 11% increase in oil reserves.

Basins of shale oil and gas around the world:

The United States ranked second globally in terms of "technically recoverable shale oil resources" and fourth in terms of "technically recoverable shale gas resources."

The much publicized US shale boom has a number of environmental, political and economic consequences, including the possibility of America becoming the world's top petroleum producer.

Shale has already transformed the US energy market, and the EIA report attempts now to "quantify the potential global significance of the shale boom."

The report explicitly mentions its own shortcomings, suggesting that the estimates are "highly uncertain and will remain so until they are extensively tested with production wells." Economic viability is not assessed in the report.

Development of shale requires use of the controversial drilling technique of hydraulic fracturing or 'fracking,' which is still banned in some countries including France and Bulgaria.

Read more here.
Sources: US EIA;; The BBC


Alliance for Gun Responsibility seeks signatures and support for - NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |

Alliance for Gun Responsibility seeks signatures and support for Initiative 1491

Posted: Updated:

YAKIMA, WA - The Alliance for Gun Responsibility made their way to Yakima today for their Yes On Initiative 1491 campaign tour.

The group had different people speak about their support for the initiative, including local leaders.

They want people to say yes to initiative 1491.

"We work with communities, survivors, and exports to develop, implement, and some times campaign for data-driven gun sense laws," said Stephanie Ervin, Say Yes to Initiative 1491 campaign manager.

The Alliance for Gun Responsibility made a stop in Yakima to inform the community about extreme risk protection orders.

Their gathering place? The Money Tree where, earlier this year, two employees were shot and killed.

But what exactly does the initiative want to do?

"Initiative 1491 builds on Washington state's existing protection order system that keeps guns out of the most dangerous hands," said Ervin.

Dangerous hands, for example, belonging to people convicted of felonies, domestic abusers, and people who pose a serious threat to themselves or others.

For Marilyn Balcerak, a citizen sponsor, the initiative means a lot...because her autistic son who had a gun killed her daughter and himself.

"I knew that he was in crisis, I did everything I could to keep him from getting a gun," said Balcerak. "I even went to the police twice. He killed himself and his step-sister and I was powerless to stop it."

The initiative would allow families and law enforcement to petition a judge to suspend a person's access to firearms. Both sides would be able to present evidence, and if given, the suspension period would last a year.

"This is a tool to temporarily take away their ability to buy a gun, and if they have one, to temporarily remove them from a crisis situation," said Balcerak.

In order to get the initiative on the November ballot, the group has to get more than 340,000 signatures.

But it's up to the people of Washington to decide if this is what they want for their state.


Every Feb. 14, couples celebrate Valentine’s Day, striving to find just the right setting to create a romantic night on the town. But relationships are about more than candle-light dinners and slow dancing in the moonlight, and making them last beyond the initial infatuation is no easy feat.

The District Celebrating 10 Years - Discover the District

What Are The Secrets To A Long-Lasting Relationship?

“Under the best of circumstances it takes much love, devotion and especially an enduring commitment between partners to make a relationship work,” says academic D. Scott Trettenero, author of Master the Mystery of Human Nature: Resolving the Conflict of Opposing Values (www.masterthemysterybook.com). “Unfortunately, there is no rule book or instruction manual that guarantees success.”

An obvious reason is that conflict is inevitable because men and women look at and approach their problems from different perspectives. “Men tend to use the left brain point of view which is characterized by thinking while women tend to be more right brain and feeling by nature,” Trettenero says. “Men generally use logic and reason to make what they consider objective choices and decisions. Women generally use emotional values to make more subjective choices and decisions.

“It needs to be stated that one way is not better than the other. But they are opposing in nature and when each side is entrenched in their conflicting way there will always be a lack or breakdown of communication. This is the number one reason that couples can have problems in their relationships which can lead to separation. “One side may try to get their point across using facts and deductive reasoning while the other side is wanting their feelings to be acknowledged and understood. It happens all the time in a typical relationship.”

But despite the normal complications, Trettenero says, it is really possible to make things work and thrive. Incredible life changing benefits can come from a healthy relationship and this needs to be kept in mind during times of misunderstandings and conflict. There are a few core concepts about human nature that are necessary to grasp as you try and seek harmony in your relationship. These include:

Feelings come and go.  Feelings can change over time, which means if feelings you have for another led you to fall in love, then other feelings could just as easily lead you to fall out of love if you aren’t careful.  It is important that the relationship not be based on feelings alone, but on a shared commitment to placing the relationship above one’s own personal desires.
People change over the years.  People have the capacity to grow and evolve in a number of ways.  This is a healthy process of life but it doesn’t always work out that each partner is growing at the same pace or in the same direction.  This calls for both to be able to adapt and embrace the changes each may make.
Conflicts will always be present.  The whole system of human interaction is perfectly created for conflict, and any relationship will never be immune to them. Conflicts of interest within a relationship can sometimes escalate into devastating and traumatic experiences.  But it’s possible to rise above or defuse these situations, Trettenero says.  It all begins with understanding yourself so you can be true to who you are.  It also means that you make sure that your significant other be true to themselves.
With intention and commitment, everything can be overcome.  Conflict resolution in a marriage is one of the most important ways to make it or break it.  The best way to handle a disagreement is to try to find a way that allows both parties to feel good about the results rather than try to overpower the other.

Discuss each of your points of view and be sure to listen to each other while respecting their opinions. “Trying to give advice on how to make a marriage work is tricky, especially when speaking in general terms, because what might work for one couple might be exactly wrong for another,” Trettenero says.  “One thing is clear to those who are married and want to remain married; communication between partners is critical and deserves equal attention by both.


Two poachers fined more than $120,000 for illegally taking abalone off Catalina

Hee Won Chai, 75, of Los Angeles, and Jin Chai Jeong, 58, of Garden Grove, pleaded no contest to charges of taking and possessing a total of eight pink abalone, three green abalone and four spiny lobsters out of season.

Both men were ordered to pay $61,626 in fines and penalties and to donate $1,000 to the CDFW Preservation fund. Additionally, their scuba gear was forfeited and fishing privileges permanently revoked.

Anyone who believes they are witness to unlawful hunting, fishing or pollution is encouraged to call the department’s tip line at 888-334-2258 or send a text to tip411. Both methods allow for anonymity and may result in a reward for successful arrest and prosecution.

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ONE is an event for women.
a weekend retreat, a get-a-way, a conference

ONE is a gathering of women who long to see Jesus exalted in their lives.
a place to relax, to unwind, to laugh, to change, to connect with other women seeking Jesus

ONE is a chance to connect or reconnect with Jesus.
to begin or continue to make Jesus your life, your love, your passion

The ONE Conference was born out of a desire to provide a place for women to unplug from the stuff, the distractions, the blessings even,  of everyday life for a short time to focus on God, His delight in them, and His desire to be their delight.


Scripps resources: sufficient, insufficient, or missing the point?

The Scripps Voice Editorial Staff No matter how excited we all were about leaving home and starting a new chapter, we were all a little nervous coming to college. Adjusting to a new environment, living in the dorms, and learning how to learn in a college setting were—and still can be—daunting tasks. But Scripps College and the 5Cs say they seek to make that transition easier by providing a plethora of resources for incoming students. From the CLORGS provided by SCORE, to 5C resources like the QRC and the Advocates for Survivals of Sexual Assault, students are told that there will always be someone to turn to when they need help.

Still, many students say that this is not the case.

Alexandra Vallas (’15) was somewhat disappointed in the religious resources afforded her when she arrived on campus. “As a born-and-raised Greek Orthodox girl, the church has always been a large part of my life, providing guidance and contributing hugely to my culture and experiences,” she said.

“However, when I came in as a freshman, I felt like there was nothing offered for people of my faith.” Greek Orthodoxy, said Vallas, is rich in history and tradition, so more contemporary, multifaith services leave something to be desired. Additionally, Vallas said she’s had a difficult time connecting with other Greek Orthodox students.

“Heck, the only person I’ve met here of the same faith is someone I met in a car on the way to the airport, which basically means I am better able to connect to people of my faith through random chance rather than the services Scripps provides,” she said.

The MacAlister Center’s website states that holiday services and meetings for Greek Orthodox students occur, but provide no contact information or other direction for such students. “Don’t get me wrong—I really do understand how few of us there are here, and I think the interdenominational approach is sufficient for a lot of people. It just isn’t enough for me, and access to some of that 2,000-year-old tradition is something I really miss while I’m at Scripps,” said Vallas.

Other Scripps students also feel under-accommodated for other reasons. An anonymous first-year said that she was excited to get involved with clubs similar to those she’d participated in in high school, but had a hard time getting involved while adjusting to college. “By the time I settled in and felt reasonably comfortable with the transition to college, I felt like everyone had already packed up and went home, and it was suddenly so much more difficult to find out about the various resources on campus,” she said.

The student, who identifies as queer and is Jewish, also said that she somewhat expected having to work to find a supportive space on campus, but that she actually felt isolated for other reasons.

“Rather than feeling alienated due to my religious background or queerness, I felt mostly alienated due to the for years,” she said. “Above all, though I was aware of counseling offered at the 5Cs, I felt as if there wasn’t a support network for others dealing with depression or similar issues.”

She continued, “Oftentimes, I found that when I was dealing with a particularly low point, it wasn’t professional counseling I wanted or needed, but just a support group on campus or a community I could be a part of.”

While some students feel that they are without resources, others take issue with being compelled to use such resources. Selene Hsu (’15) said that she opted not to remain in the 5Cs’ Asian American student organizations after her first year because she felt the organizations’ work and goals did not align with her experiences.

In high school, “I did not feel different because I was treated with the respect and courtesies that I felt all, if not most students, were given,” Hsu said. “In general, we were all in the same boat.”

“It wasn’t until I came to Scripps that I started feeling different because of my race,” she continued. “I would be called, emailed, and be given invitations to special events that were ‘exclusively’ for Asian students. I was given so much attention and privilege to the point where it made me fairly uncomfortable. These events and invitations just drew so much attention to how different I am to the rest of the population, when I don’t identify myself as different.”

Still, Hsu said she felt that the organizations have an important place on campus. “Some Asians do not feel the same way I do and I encourage them to find a way to make their experiences at the 5C’s work for them,” she said. “But trying to make me feel different or just highlighting, even celebrating my differences does nothing for me.”

Another first year, who asked she remain anonymous, but describes her self as “a half-and-halfie,” half Latina, half white, also felt that Scripps’ resources were somewhat problematic and unwelcoming. “I don’t know any other language besides English and have [therefore] been labeled and pushed away by groups that claim to be all-encompassing for people of a certain race.”

“That’s not to say that they aren’t amazing resources for some,” she added. “They just aren’t always the all-encompassing spaces they claim to be. You should never have to meet a certain superficial unmentioned criteria (that is, speaking the language of the culture, or being less than second generation) to be accepted in a support group on campus.”

Another anonymous student, a Scripps senior, came to Scripps shortly after checking out of rehab. Staying clean and sober on campus was a big priority, but she found virtually no resources to help her. “I went to HEO, Monsour, I spoke with a campus drug and alcoholic counselor—I event went to mass and talked to the priest,” she said. “I’m not religious, but I was losing it, and I knew if I drank I would end up dropping out of school. They were like, ‘there aren’t any other students like you,’ which is bullshit. It was very alienating.”

No student should be simply told there’s nothing for them, but perhaps the issue goes deeper than the existence or non-existence of student resources; perhaps the issue is the over-generalization of students’ experiences. While there is infrastructure for the existence of such groups, and there are many avenues for students to create resources where none currently exist, there needs to be a broader discussion about the gaps in the system. There needs to be a forum for students to connect with others needing the same missing resources.

Most importantly, first year students should not necessarily be told that they have all the resources they need at their fingertips or that they should have all of these things figured out.

What do you think, Scripps? Share your experiences and opinions with us on our website,


Chinese Gardens Photos, Images, & Pictures

Managed by Eelong
Created: 04/20/2011
7 images from 6 contributors
Description: Chinese gardens are delicate ,refined , and complex. In contrast with natural scenery, the beauty of Chinese gardens lie in their combining culture and art into one.
Keywords: travel, beauty, water, style, asian, nature, history, reflection, china, traditional, peaceful, culture, arch, asia, east, park, pavilion, lake, bridge, chinese [show more]


How to Raise the Grain & Stain Wood

Staining wood can fundamentally change its color and character, and personalize any object or surface to meet most tastes. A common method of applying stain is to simply wipe it on, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe off the excess. In most instances, this method will provide the desired result and is quick and relatively simple. In some cases, however, like when dealing with less porous woods like maple or ash, it is necessary to raise the grain so that the wood accepts more of the stain during the application. Fortunately, this is an easy process.

Staining wood provides deep, rich color.

Surface Preparation

Step 1

Using 120 grit or finer sandpaper, sand the surface to be stained. Be certain to follow the direction of the wood grain during the sanding process, because the stain will highlight any cross-grain marks.

Step 2

Vacuum the wood thoroughly to pull dust from any cracks and provide a clean work environment. This will keep dirt and other impurities from getting into the stain or finish as you work.

Step 3

Wet a clean rag with water, and wipe the wood down with it. While you shouldn't flood the surface, don't be afraid to get it wet either. The water will penetrate the wood, and cause the grain to raise up and open. Let the wood fully dry before proceeding.

Staining the Surface

Step 4

Use a clean cloth or an applicator to apply stain to the surface. Use a generous amount of stain to make sure it covers the entire surface. The now-open grain should easily accept the stain. Let it sit for a couple of minutes to fully penetrate.

Step 5

Wipe off any excess stain. If working a large area, make sure to go back into the adjacent sections to blend them all together. This will prevent one area from being darker or lighter than others.

Step 6

Let the stain dry overnight, and then coat the wood with three layers of finish. Use a brush or other applicator depending on the size of the surface. If the first coat of finish pulls the stain for any reason, give it more drying time before proceeding.


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Ca(2+) signals are thought to play important roles in plant growth and development, including key aspects of pollen tube growth and fertilization. The dynamics of a Ca(2+) signal are largely controlled by influx (through channels) and efflux (through pumps and antiporters). The Arabidopsis genome encodes 14 Ca(2+) pumps, 10 of which belong to a family of(More)
Sex determination in honeybees (Apis mellifera) is governed by heterozygosity at a single locus harbouring the complementary sex determiner (csd) gene, in contrast to the well-studied sex chromosome system of Drosophila melanogaster. Bees heterozygous at csd are females, whereas homozygotes and hemizygotes (haploid individuals) are males. Although at least(More)
Fungus-growing (attine) ants and their fungal symbionts passed through several evolutionary transitions during their 50 million year old evolutionary history. The basal attine lineages often shifted between two main cultivar clades, whereas the derived higher-attine lineages maintained an association with a monophyletic clade of specialized symbionts. In(More)
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Organisms have evolved a bewildering diversity of mechanisms to generate the two sexes. The honeybee (Apis mellifera) employs an interesting system in which sex is determined by heterozygosity at a single locus (the Sex Determination Locus) harbouring the complementary sex determiner (csd) gene. Bees heterozygous at Sex Determination Locus are females,(More)
Ants and termites have independently evolved obligate fungus-farming mutualisms, but their gardening procedures are fundamentally different, as the termites predigest their plant substrate whereas the ants deposit it directly on the fungus garden. Fungus-growing termites retained diverse gut microbiota, but bacterial gut communities in fungus-growing(More)
Leaf-cutting ants combine large-scale herbivory with fungus farming to sustain advanced societies. Their stratified colonies are major evolutionary achievements and serious agricultural pests, but the crucial adaptations that allowed this mutualism to become the prime herbivorous component of neotropical ecosystems has remained elusive. Here we show how(More)
In flowering plants, development of the haploid male gametophytes (pollen grains) takes place in a specialized structure called the anther. Successful pollen development, and thus reproduction, requires high secretory activity in both anther tissues and pollen. In this paper, we describe a novel member of the eukaryotic type V subfamily (P(5)) of P-type(More)
BACKGROUND Leaf-cutting ants live in symbiosis with a fungus that they rear for food by providing it with live plant material. Until recently the fungus' main inferred function was to make otherwise inaccessible cell wall degradation products available to the ants, but new studies have shed doubt on this idea. To provide evidence for the cell wall degrading(More)


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Rockets-Clippers Series Preview: Does L.A. Have Enough Left in the Tank to Topple a Rested Houston Squad?

The second-seeded Houston Rockets and third-seeded Los Angeles Clippers tip off Game 1 Monday of their Western Conference Semifinals matchup in what should be an entertaining series.

The squads are coming off two vastly different first-round series. In five games, the Rockets disposed of the Dallas Mavericks, who had chemistry issues with point guard Rajon Rondo and were without forward Chandler Parsons for the last four games.

However, the Clippers went the full seven games with the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Most of the contests were close and we saw remarkably high levels of basketball played by both teams. Los Angeles point guard Chris Paul finally iced the series with a tiebreaking floater with a second to go:

Both the Rockets and Clippers won exactly 56 regular-season games and seem to be similarly evenly-matched in this playoff matchup. Let’s look at each team’s path to this round, X-factor and finally make a series prediction.

How did the Rockets get here?

Although James Harden didn’t win this year’s NBA MVP award, he had an MVP-level year in 2014-15 as Houston’s chief manufacturer of offense. He averaged 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists during the regular season and maintained those numbers in the first round. (28.4, 3.8 and 7.8, respectively)

Star center Dwight Howard would have helped Harden out more throughout the season, but he missed more than half of the regular season with injuries. Key rotation members Terrence Jones, Donatas Motiejunas and Patrick Beverley also missed chunks as they struggled to stay healthy. Motiejunas and Beverley are still out, but Howard and Jones are back now and playing well.

In the first round, Houston creamed the Mavericks with a relentless offensive onslaught and a strong eight-man rotation. The Rockets averaged 114.2 points per game, 10.3 more than they did during the regular season.

The squad continues to push “Moreyball,” a analytics-based approach to offensive play championed by general manager Daryl Morey. On most possessions, Houston aims to get a three-pointer, a shot at the rim or free throws. According to statistics, these are the most efficient shots.

Harden is the head of the Moreyball snake, as his penetration often leads to kick-outs for threes, layups and dunks for him or an open teammate or a shooting foul.

Who’s the Rockets’ X-Factor?

Josh Smith. Houston acquired the talented power forward in December after the Detroit Pistons waive him in December, and he has been a valuable member of the Rockets’ second unit.

His decision-making is questionable at times, especially regarding shot selection and turnovers. In the first round, he took more shots per 36 minutes (18.6) than Harden. (17.2) He also averaged 3.0 turnovers in the series, which is far too many for a big man playing only 25.6 minutes per game.

For all the negatives, Smith is still an athletic defensive stopper and point-producer for the Rockets. He’s also an underrated passer. In the first round, he hooked up with Howard for numerous alley-oops:

The Clippers’ best (and really only) bench big man is Glen Davis. He’s a solid defender and decent offensive player, but can you see the chunky post succeeding against Smith’s far superior athleticism?

In the first round, the former All-Star averaged 24.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per 36 minutes. If he stays near those numbers while making better decisions, the Rockets will have an excellent chance to beat the Clippers.

How did the Clippers get here?

Just like all season, Los Angeles won its first-round series against San Antonio on the strength of its killer starting lineup.

The Clippers’ starters combined for 80.7 points per game in the epic seven-game tussle against the Spurs, led by 24.1 from Blake Griffin and 22.7 from Paul. The group, when on the floor together, had a net rating of plus-7.6, not an eye-popping number but excellent considering how often it was used and how good the opposition was.

Off the bench, Davis packed some serious two-way punch in limited minutes. Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers were inconsistent, but had some big moments to shift momentum in Los Angeles’ favor.

Known for being playoff chokers, the Clippers also showed a great amount of mental fortitude throughout the series.

After losing Game 3 by 27 points, Los Angeles came back to win Game 4 in San Antonio. When the Spurs won and took a 3-2 lead back to the Alamo City, the Clippers made the big plays down the stretch in Games 6 and 7 to beat the most experienced and best-coached team in the league. Credit head coach Doc Rivers and the players for not laying down when adversity struck.

Who’s the Clippers’ X-Factor?

Paul, without a doubt. An X-factor isn’t usually a team’s best player, but with CP3’s health being such a question mark, he has to be the guy whose performance swings the Clippers’ chances the most in one direction or the other.

We saw how he played in Game 7 against the Spurs despite being hobbled. He was hitting everything, whether from the outside or from mid-range, contested and uncontested. But he had to operate from the outside, since he struggled to speed past his defenders. His ability to change directions and maneuver screens on defense was also compromised.

So, kudos to him for a great performance through adversity, but an injured Paul probably won’t be quite that good again.

Now, if CP3 completely regains his mobility while staying ridiculously hot from the outside, he’ll be impossible to contain. That’s a combination that all but ensures a Clippers series win.

What happened in the season series?

The teams split the season series 2-2. Here’s a brief summary of each game:

Game 1 (Nov. 28): Clippers win 102-85

The Clippers had no problem disposing of a Rockets team without three starters, including Howard. Griffin torched the likes of Motiejunas and Tarik Black for 30 points and 10 rebounds.

Game 2 (Feb. 11): Clippers win 110-95

Howard was out again, but so was Griffin. DeAndre Jordan took advantage more than the Rockets’ bigs did, totaling 24 points and 20 rebounds. Some of those points came in Hack-a-Jordan situations, but it was an impressive performance either way. The Rockets were ice-cold from three, shooting 9-0f-45 from the great beyond.

Game 3 (Feb. 25): Rockets win 110-105

With Howard and Griffin still both out, the Rockets won this contest by passing the ball more cleanly than Los Angeles, earning a 27-to-9 assist-to-turnover ratio compared to 18-to-15 for the Clippers. Corey Brewer also scored 13 fourth-quarter points.

Game 4 (March 15): Rockets win 100-98

Harden had his best game of the season series with 34 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, pushing the Rockets to the close victory over Los Angeles. Howard was still out, but Griffin couldn’t take advantage, scoring only 11 points.

Who will win?

First of all, you really should take the season series between the Clippers and Rockets with a grain of salt. Injuries abounded throughout the four games and the squads now find themselves in very different positions heading into Monday night’s showdown in Houston.

The whole “rest vs. rust” argument will certainly be relevant in this series. The Rockets haven’t played since last Tuesday while the Clippers are coming off a grueling seven-game series against the Spurs.

There could be an adjustment period to start Game 1 for the Rockets, who aren’t used to playing a team as good as the Clippers. On the other hand, fatigue could definitely be a factor for Los Angeles, who had three starters play more than 39 minutes per game in their first round.

Strategically, both Harden and a healthy CP3 present matchup problems for the opposition.

Los Angeles doesn’t have that ideal perimeter defender who can shut down big 2-guards like The Beard. Matt Barnes and J.J. Redick will probably switch off on Harden, with Barnes checking him the majority of the time.

The Rockets are starting a 37-year-old Jason Terry in Beverley’s place, which means they’ll have to find someone else to guard Paul. Trevor Ariza is the most logical candidate (with Brewer doing it in reserve), but they’ll need to find someone for Harden to cover. Redick is an option, but Houston would rather its offensive star didn’t have to run around all those screens to chase the three-point specialist. If Harden guards Barnes, Terry will have to be the one running around those screens. It’s not ideal, but that final scenario is probably the most likely one.

If CP3 is even somewhat healthy, the Clippers will have the advantage in the starting lineup, as they would against any team in the league. Of course, Smith and Brewer off the bench keeping both the Rockets’ perimeter and post players fresh is huge for Houston and a definite advantage there.

Basically, the teams are almost a wash, with CP3’s health as the huge deciding factor. He’s still questionable to play Game 1.

With home-court advantage in the Rockets’ favor, probability that Paul’s mobility will be affected at least initially and fatigue taking a slight toll on the Clippers, I think Houston will pull it out.

Series Prediction: Rockets in 7 (R0ckets win Games 1, 2, 5 and 7)

Note: All statistics are from Basketball-Reference.com or NBA.com and accurate as of May 4 unless otherwise indicated.

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Individual Counseling

Individual Counseling

You might feel that something is not quite right inside you, a nagging sense of being “ill-at-ease” and “out-of-sorts”. You might be unusually saddened, irritated or angered by people and conditions around you, or notice an absence of emotional energy with fewer real sensations of happiness, pleasure, anxiety or even sadness compared to other periods of your life. You might have survived significant trauma in your child hood or adult past, believed that you have adequately “dealt with all that stuff,” and yet be experiencing strange surges of emotion or sensations in response to circumstances that never used to affect you.

People who are close to you might be oblivious to your inner state, or they might have expressed concern and suggested you seek help. You also might be reluctant to seek out professional help, opting to handle matters your own way, and perhaps seeking some kind of relief for your distress through over indulgence in substances (food, drugs, alcohol) or distracting activities (work, career, relationships, rescuing others, etc.)

If you are dealing with any of these signs of internal distress, you could benefit from consulting with a professional counselor to learn if and how you might experience insight, relief, and overall emotional wellness through individual counseling. Robert Castle’s approach to counseling and psychotherapy is interactive and strengths-based, starting with cognitive (thought-based) or behavioral coping skills, and shifting towards awareness of family of origin themes and the impact of past trauma as needed to activate more enduring progress and personal growth.

Use the Contact form to schedule an initial phone call, and learn how to arrange this type of consultation and ongoing assistance at Collaborative Counseling.

Helping Professional Counselors Find & Provide Clinical Supervision

Meaningful Personal Growth Is Possible


Crocs Uncover

Bizarre Species

viernes, 9 de diciembre de 2011

Pits add to Stonehenge mystery

The previously undetected pits could provide clues for solving the puzzle.

National Geographic

A map of the Stonehenge area shows the placement of the stone circle and the Cursus, as well as another monument known as Woodhenge and a suggested ceremonial route between the monuments.

Archaeologists have previously noted that the Cursus was apparently created several hundred years before Stonehenge's 5,000-year-old stone circle was erected. The newly detected pits may have been part of a grand layout that guided the placement of the standing stones.

But to what end?

Gaffney, who led the survey project, speculated that the Cursus was the central stage for a midsummer ritual that was enacted long before Stonehenge's heyday. "The perimeter of the Cursus may well have defined a route guiding ceremonial processions which took place on the longest day of the year," he said.

In addition to the pits, Gaffney and his colleagues found a previously undetected gap in the middle of the northern side of the eroded earthwork that defines the sides of the Cursus. They propose that ceremonial leaders entered the Cursus through that gap, and then gathered at the eastern pit to conduct sunrise rituals. Over the course of the day, participants in the rituals might have made their way westward, ending up at the western pit at sunset.

"Observers of the ceremony would have been positioned at the Heel Stone, [with] which the two pits are aligned," Gaffney said.

Henry Chapman, another archaeologist at the University of Birmingham, said Stonehenge's position would have added to the symbolism. "If you measure the walking distance between the two pits, the procession would reach exactly halfway at midday, when the sun would be directly on top of Stonehenge," he said in the news release. "This is more than just coincidence, indicating that the exact length of the Cursus and the positioning of the pits are of significance."

The researchers suggested that the pits may have contained tall sighting stones, or wooden posts, or even fires to symbolize the sun. Just imagine how it would feel to watch the sun rise from a fire lit before dawn, follow its movement across the sky in time with a daylong procession, and then see it fall into the flames at sunset.

"Stonehenge may have been emerging as an important area for quite a long time, and sometimes you can't necessarily see that in the standing archaeology," Gaffney said in an MP3 podcast provided by the University of Birmingham. "The stones themselves, which are generally later, don't give you that information. You have to infer it from relationships between multiple monuments."

The researchers aren't anywhere close to finishing the puzzle: Gaffney figures there's at least another two years' worth of survey work to do. Even then, the full story of Stonehenge and its environs may remain wrapped in mystery. How much can stones and earth tell? Stay tuned ...

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IAA Spoilers This article is a contains spoilers
This page contains information about the plot or ending of Ubisoft Shanghai's I Am Alive. Read at your own risk.
This article is about the unexplained event in I Am Alive. You may be looking for the 2009 Chicago Earthquake.

Haventon in the aftermath of the Event.

The Event is a series of earthquakes that shook and nearly destroyed the city of Haventon and most of America in I Am Alive. Details of the Event are never described in full, but entails a series of earthquakes and plumes of dust and ash.

According to the Protagonist, it began a "year ago" from the events of the game.[1] which take place during the 21st through the 22nd April of an unknown year[2]

The Event is a series of earthquakes, floods, and ash and dust clouds that occurred without warning and took place continuously without letting up. People sought refuge in makeshift shelters and some to emergency shelters.

A survivor named Linda reveals that the scramble to escape the city had the populace walking over each other to reach the crowded boats that would take them to the survivor camps and settlements where the air was clearer and the environment was safer than the hostile city, but strapped for resources. Those who were unfortunate enough to miss the boats were stranded in the toxic city, surviving as best they could on dwindling supplies. Those that dared to go outside and braved the dust rarely ever returned.

During the events of the game, aftershocks still rock the town of Haventon, but some at random moments and rarely last long. The protagonist must climb through these ruins of the town he once called home in search of the two he cares about most, his daughter Mary and wife Julie.

  1. Chapter 1: Return
  2. Dates as seen on the screen of the Protagonist's camera

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Contracts Administrator

7 days left

InterQuest Solutions
15000.00 GBP Annual
29 Jul 2017
26 Aug 2017
Contract Type
Contracts Administrator

Northampton - GBP17500 - DOE

InterQuest Recruitment are proud to be helping with the recruitment of a Contracts Administrator for one of our most valued clients, a leading name in the technology sector.

The Role:

To ensure resolution of customers queries, both internal and external, to the customer's satisfaction in an accurate and timely manner and to ensure the processes followed are compliant with internal procedures.

*To ensure the billing process adheres to company procedures and customer requirements.
*To administer the process of a customer query and ensure resolution to the customer satisfaction in an accurate and timely manner.
*Maximise the level of efficiency of resolving customer queries and tickets to aid in the delivery of a seamless end to end process for the customer to meet or exceed SLAs to deliver a high level of customer (internal and external) satisfaction
*Customer call handling to resolve queries and customer issues.
*Process contract administration amendments.
*To administer the credit and rebill process having gained appropriate approval.
*To support the team leader to ensure departmental targets and objectives are met.
*Assist in relevant projects, when required.

?Numerate and literate
?PC literate with good excel
?Must be able to read/write/speak the local language where the Shared Service Centre is located.
?Excellent communication skills
?Ability to accurately process data within given timescales
. Ideally one years experience in an office environment


Monday, July 5, 2010

Summer In My Mind

Those of you who know me know that one of the things I am least fond of is the season of summer.  The high levels of humidity added to the endless heat spells make me wish for Fall and beyond with an even greater longing every year.  But I must admit there are a few things about summer that I really do enjoy.

Summer brings back fond memories for me as a kid because I remember waiting on the front steps of the home I grew up in on Summer Street in Pekin for my mom to come home.  Even on those front steps I could smell the aroma of grandma's home cooked supper.  There was always a meat and potato dish usually accompanied by fresh sweet corn, green beans, or any other freshly made dish from the easily acquired fresh produce from the farms in the area.

Mom worked for a local insurance company and for years got off at 4:30 Monday through Friday.  Her arrival at home between 4:40 and 4:45 was very predictable.  Occasionally, she would have an errand to run after work and that would push back her arrival time somewhat, but normally, she arrived on time.  Why was I so anxious to have her home?

Every evening during the summer months, with the arrival of my mother, my grandmother, grandfather, mom and I would sit down to grandma's carefully prepared supper.  That time of the day holds some of the fondest memories that I have of my childhood.  Grandpa would always inquire after my mom's day.  Grandma spent her time bouncing from the supper table to the counter serving everyone in the room.  The meal started with the usual grace before meals and then we dug in.  I think I was almost always the first one done because of what was ahead for the evening.

Weather permitting, every summer weekday evening, once supper was finished, the dishes washed and enough time had passed, my mother and I would don our swim suits, grab a towel, and head for the local pool.  For about two and a half hours each evening I swam like a fish.  I dove off the boards that were in the pool, a fixture banned from most public pools these days because of the potential dangers they represented.  I loved swimming the width of the pool  while under water.  I vividly remember the setting sun and the changing colors of the summer evening sky as day lazily rolled into night.  It was an idyllic time.

Then there are the sounds of summer that had a melody all their own.  Crickets chirping wildly as evening came on accompanied our nights on the front porch.  We had a screened in porch and so could sit in the cool of the evening (relatively cool!) bug free.  Grandpa sat in "his" chair at one end of the porch, cigar in hand puffing away while talking about the "old days" on the farm when he was a kid.  Grandma would soon join us and just sit and relax, enjoying what must have been her first break of the day.  Mom would also be there, sitting on the porch swing, slowly seining to and fro listening to my grandpa spin his yarns.  Night came softly in those days as lightning bugs danced across the lawn.  An occasional car would travel up the brick paved street making such a racket that I am sure these days would be banned by the EPA due to excessive noise.

But that was a sound in those days that brought comfort and security to a little boy's life.  I often return to those days in my memory to touch base with the simpler times of my life.  It was a time of family and, once in a while a neighbor would drop by to add to the flavor of the evening.  Neighbors were neighbors back then, not just someone who lived near you, but someone who was like a part of your family.  They watched out for you and you watched out for them.

The evening skies from that front porch dazzled my imagination.  Stars seemed to shine a little more brightly back then.  These were the days when all the world looked to the evening sky with increasing wonder because the Soviet Union and United States had just begun what was being called the space race.  Shortly after the launch of Sputnik in the fall of 1957, the neighborhood would gather on the darkened street corner, heads firmly aimed at the sky, in an attempt to see that little point of light the Russians had only recently launched soar over our little Midwestern town.  It only took a few short minutes to cross from one horizon to another, but it filled everyone with sheer excitement and, in many cases fear.  After all, it was the Russians who had first reached space successfully.

Those summer evenings long ago passed into my personal history.  But they are the fond part of the season that I find mainly objectionable.  We didn't go camping.  We didn't swim in rivers and lakes.  Our simple pleasures came in the local pool, and warm summer nights spent as a family in the familiar and comforting aroma of my grandpa's cigar.  Laughter and memories punctuated those evenings with the sweetness of life that a child should experience.  They were marvelous times now receding into the past with ever increasing speed, but they shall always live for me in my memory.  And while we had no air conditioning and most of those warm summer nights were spent trying to find the coolest part of the sheet so you could sleep reasonably well, that, somehow, seems unimportant.

What is important that those summers on Summer Street gave me the life of a family and its memories to comfort me and bolster me as I journey along in life.  I'll never forget the sweet scent of grandpa's old cigar which today I might actually find offensive!  I'll never forget the ride to the pool with my mother and, often, a neighbor kid or two along for the fun.  And I will certainly never forget my grandmother and her home cooked suppers and the gentleness and tenderness that went into their preparation.  When I remember summer in this context, the season isn't so bad after all!


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the idea behind UnMuted?

UnMuted is a voice raising platform in the form of a mobile application for citizens to report civic issues encountered in the city; governments to track, manage, and solve - ultimately making cities better through transparency, collaboration, and cooperation.

UnMuted is based on community phenomenon and thus leverages the power of voice. It enables each one of us to be loud and clear. Your voice is going to be heard not just by responsible authorities but everyone in the community.

How does the app work?

All you have to do is use your phone to click a picture of any civic issue that you face and post it on UnMuted. The app is intuitive and automatically takes the location of the issue based on geo-sensing sytem. You can classify the issue into one of the categories as defined in the app. You can also browse the issues posted by others in a particular locality/area. And you can even vote for an issue reported by others which would reinforce the criticality of the problem.

There goes your contribution towards making the city you live in beautiful!

Do I have to pay for using this App?

UnMuted is available for free. It can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Do I have to register to report an issue?

Yes, you have to make one-time registration with UnMuted to report issues. And it’s simple. You can register using your existing e-mail ID or your facebook account. However, you can always browse issues reported by others even without registration.

What can be reported using UnMuted?

With UnMuted you can report any civic issue that you face in your city – it can be pothole, dump of garbage, a broken streetlight or a fallen tree. These are just examples of issues that you can report using UnMuted and not a comprehensive list. Broadly, you can report any problem that you encounter within the realm of civic amenities.

What is the privacy setting on UnMuted?

All issues reported by you along with the photographs and other information are public which means it is visible to everyone using this app.

Who fixes the problems I report?

Most often, it’s the relevant local civic organization of the city/state or the governance body that responds to issues. Overall, it’s a matrix of people and organizations who attend to civic issues you encounter, and often there are many more voluntary organizations that help make a difference in their communities. When they receive notification of a particular issue that falls under their responsibility, it enables these organizations to resolve the issue or to make a positive change.

UnMuted as a platform, congregates the voice of the people and becomes the key resource pool for these organizations and local governance systems which are engaged in managing and resolution of issues.

Where does the name come from?

The concept of UnMuted is to provide a voice-raising platform. All of us face and get affected by civic issues. Until the concern is voiced on a common platform, it is mute. Along comes this app, provides a common platform to all of us for sharing and raising our concerns. And woo hoo! Unmuted it is.

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Hep B Blog

Tag Archives: hepatitis D

hep DBy Christine Kukka

Hepatitis B Foundation Launches Education Initiative for People Coinfected with Hepatitis B and D

hepc-graphicBy Sierra Pellechio

The Hepatitis B Foundation is excited to launch the Hepatitis Delta Connect program to provide education and resources for patients and families affected by hepatitis D, the most aggressive form of viral hepatitis. Hepatitis D infection requires the presence of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), so only people already infected with hepatitis B can become infected with hepatitis D.

There is a large gap in knowledge and awareness about this virus, and the foundation is working to provide easily-accessible information and support to those in need.

Because the hepatitis D virus (HDV) is acquired only if a hepatitis B infection is present, it can be effectively prevented through hepatitis B vaccination. While hepatitis D is not common in the United States, worldwide it affects 15-20 million people.

Areas with the highest rates of hepatitis D infection rate include China, Russia, the Middle East, Mongolia, Romania, Georgia, Turkey, Pakistan, Africa and the Amazonian river basin. It is transmitted through direct contact with infected blood and bodily fluids, and most commonly affects high-risk groups such as intravenous drug users, men who have sex with men or have multiple sexual partners, and people emigrating from countries where hepatitis D is common.

Hepatitis D can be acquired either through coinfection (becoming infected with hepatitis D and B at the same time) or a super-infection (becoming infected with hepatitis D after a person has hepatitis B). A coinfection generally resolves spontaneously after about six months, but it can sometimes result in life-threatening or fatal liver failure. Like hepatitis B, hepatitis D may not present with any symptoms, so getting a simple blood test is the only way to know if you are infected.

Hepatitis B Foundation Health Outreach Coordinator Sierra Pellechio
Hepatitis B Foundation Health Outreach Coordinator Sierra Pellechio

Treatment options are limited, but pegylated interferon has shown some effectiveness in a small percentage of patients (less than 30 percent). The good news is that there are five promising drugs currently in clinical trials. Visit our HDV Drug Watch and Clinical Trials page for more information about these drugs. We at the Hepatitis B Foundation appreciate the support of Eiger Biopharmaceuticals to help launch this valuable patient-focused program.

Hepatitis D is a complicated virus, and for this reason, it is very important for patients to find a knowledgeable liver specialist (or hepatologist) who can provide the best care and management.

The most important message for those living with hepatitis B is to get a simple blood test to find out if they have hepatitis D if they believe they are at risk. There are promising new treatments that could help prevent the serious complications related to a hepatitis B and D coinfection.

As the coordinator of Hepatitis Delta Connect, I am thrilled about this opportunity to help create a resource for patients who are living with hepatitis D. My experience in health literacy and community outreach blend with my commitment to support those in need, allowing me to promote the project in ways that will help raise the visibility of hepatitis D and let the 15-20 million infected people know that they are not alone.

In addition to our website, please email questions to connect@hepdconnect.org follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@hepbdconnect) to join the global conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Hepatitis D Coinfection with Hepatitis B

Hepatitis D Fast facts:

—   It is an incomplete viral particle that was discovered in 1997.

—   Approximately 15 million people are infected with HDV worldwide.

—   Preventing hepatitis B, especially vaccination, will prevent HDV.

—   There is currently no effective treatment for HDV


Loughborough University
Leicestershire, UK
LE11 3TU
+44 (0)1509 263171
Loughborough University

Loughborough University Institutional Repository

Title: Electroosmotic flow measurements in a freely suspended liquid film: Experiments and numerical simulations
Authors: Hussein Sheik, Abdulkadir
Bandulasena, Hemaka C.H.
Starov, Victor
Trybala, Anna
Issue Date: 2017
Publisher: © Wiley
Citation: HUSSEIN SHEIK, A. ...et al., 2017. Electroosmotic flow measurements in a freely suspended liquid film: Experiments and numerical simulations. ELECTROPHORESIS, In Press.
Abstract: Fluid flow profiles in free liquid films stabilised by anionic and cationic surfactants under an external electric field were investigated. Depthwise velocity fields were measured at the mid region of the free liquid film by confocal μ-PIV and corresponding numerical simulations were performed using Finite Element Method (FEM) to model the system. Depthwise change in velocity profiles was observed with electroosmotic flow dominating in the vicinity of the gas-liquid and solid-liquid interfaces while backpressure drives fluid in the opposite direction at the core of the film. It was also found that the direction of the flow at various sections of the films depends on the type of surfactant used, but flow features remained the same. Numerical simulations predicted the flow profiles with reasonable accuracy; however, asymmetry of the actual film geometry caused deviations at the top half of the computational domain. Overall, electroosmotic flow profiles within a free liquid film is similar to that of the closed-end solid microchannel. However, the flow direction and features of the velocity profiles can be changed by selecting various types of surfactants. The free liquid films thickness was selected to match dimensions of foam Plateau border. Hence these findings will be useful in developing a separation system based on foam electrokinetics.
Description: This paper is in closed access until 18th April 2018.
Version: Accepted for publication
DOI: 10.1002/elps.201600549
URI: https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/24797
Publisher Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elps.201600549
ISSN: 0173-0835
Appears in Collections:Closed Access (Chemical Engineering)

Files associated with this item:

File Description SizeFormat
Sheik_et_al-2017-ELECTROPHORESIS.pdfAccepted version1.24 MBAdobe PDFView/Open

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1. Australia
  2. QLD
  3. Queensland Islands
  4. Horseshoe Bay
  5. #196004

Sunbird Retreat

House, Horseshoe Bay

Instant confirmation

Min 3 nights stay

6 guests
4 bedrooms
4 beds
2 bathrooms

"Sunbird Retreat" as the name suggests, birdlife will entertain you while you enjoy your surrounds. The front deck area will make the rest of the world seem so far away. A perfect space to enjoy a quiet moment, a great book or time with family and friends.

This 4 bedroom home has been designed to allow space for everyone to enjoy. There is an opportunity to book "Sunbird Retreat" as a one bedroom home. A perfect retreat for a couple to enjoy the privacy and space a home can offer instead of the need to be in a small apartment.

The master bedroom features a queen bed and ensuite. The 2nd bedroom also a queen bed. The 3rd and 4th bedroom each have a king single bed and there is a 2nd bathroom. The open plan living, dining and front deck space offers enough room for everyone to enjoy. The front deck is furnished comfortably and includes a bbq.

This home is fully self contained and offers the best of both worlds for a visit to Magnetic Island. You will feel like you are part of the National Park with the fringing granite boulders, native plants, wildlife and birds and yet a 5 minute stroll down the street and over a small bridge and you will be part of the Horseshoe Bay beachfront with access to local shops, eateries and amazing sunsets.

2 Car Spaces

Private, peaceful, tranquil bush setting close to beach access, birdlife

Features covered by Stayz Rental Assurance

Air conditioning, Dishwasher, Washing machine

Air conditioning Balcony Ceiling fan Dishes and utensils Dishwasher Kitchen Outdoor grill Refrigerator Toaster Washing machine

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Winter temperatures at the North Pole can range from as low as −43 °C (−45 °F) to −26 °C (−15 °F). Summer temperatures, on the other hand, average around the freezing point, otherwise known as 0 °C (32 °F). Temperatures at the South Pole are considerably lower than at the North Pole, primarily due to the fact that the South Pole is located at an altitude in the middle of a continental land mass, while the North Pole is at sea level in the middle of an ocean, which acts as a reservoir of heat. In midsummer, high temperatures at the South Pole average at around −25.9 °C (−15 °F). Temperatures drop as the sun gets lower, as low as −45 °C (−49 °F). In winter, the average temperature remains steady at around −58 °C (−72 °F).

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Saturday, July 10, 2010

What is it About Julia Child??

About this time every year I begin rewatching episodes of the original French Chef series in preparation for our annual tribute to Julia Child dinner. Rewatching them not only amuses me but gives me pause to consider why she became the legend that she did. Now, I'm not just talking about the Julia Child we all have been introduced to through Julie Powell's book "Julie & Julia" or the brilliant performance by Meryl Streep in the movie of the same name. I'm talking about the real deal. The woman who inspired other women to get back into the kitchen and cook, arguably launched the concept of the Food Network, built a cookbook empire of 12 books and was a regular on Good Morning America until very close to her death. People adored her, they made fun of her (Think Saturday Night Live) and they trusted her.

I always knew who Julia Child was, and had even seen a few of her episodes of the French Chef as a child/teenager, but I hadn't yet begun to cook so I wasn't particularly interested in her. When I started cooking about 12 years ago, I began rewatching her shows and reading her books and began what I would call a love affair with the woman. I couldn't watch enough, read enough or learn enough about who she was and what she did. I was inspired by her, mesmerized by her and entertained by her. I have carried this inspiration with me and have continued trying to introduce or reintroduce people to her yearly with my Tribute to Julia dinner. I don't expect everyone to be as enthusiastic about her as I, but I'm certain that everyone will appreciate the uniqueness of her through my eyes.

My theory is that she spoke to so many, including me, because she was the "every" woman. Well, almost. Except perhaps for her large frame and notable height, 6' 3", she was basically a typical female born at a time when most women didn't work per se, but married off into good families and raised children. That is until she fell in love and moved to France, which of course changed her life as we all know the story so well now. Even then, however, she always admitted that she wasn't a natural cook. It took a good teacher and a lot of practice to make the food she loved so much and was so passionate about. And even on her shows, the effort showed, often in the form of notable disasters. That endeared her to us. She wasn't perfect and so we didn't have to feel intimidated.

She also, had something I think we all strive for but many of us don't actually achieve. A certain joie de vivre or carpe diem attitude. She didn't just preach it, she lived it at every moment of her life. She ate with passion, drank with passion, loved with passion and entertained with passion. I'm sure she had her ups and downs, but I attribute her long life to this marvelous committment to living that I think we all envied and secretly tried to recreate in our own lives.

And finally, she was confident. She didn't make apologies for her mistakes, she didn't pretend to be a super model. She was who she was and she was proud. So many of us fall prey to the labels and preconceived notions of what we should look like and how we should behave in todays society that we end up placing immense pressures on ourselves to conform and don't take the time to actually appreciate who we are. That made her a role model for modern women in my opinion and that holds true even to this day.

Much has changed since the French Chef came on the air for the first time in 1962. The world is a different place. But to this day and for eternity, Julia will remain in our hearts and our minds, a beacon of light shining upon our forks and knives, beckoning us to enjoy and wishing us Bon Appetit.


Digital Divide, by K.B. Spangler (13:30)

IOD-DigitalDivideToday we see that even when a reader wants an explanation, that’s still no license to provide it intrusively.

What I gleaned about the story: Rachel is the first cyborg assigned as liaison to the human police, but with her scary mental ability to circumvent any tech of any kind, her fellow officers wind up feeling more threatened than enlightened. Sooner or later, this is going to come to blows. And my money is on sooner.

Find this book on Amazon.

Technical Note: 99% of all the books I read for IOD display cleanly. I might not like the layout settings with some of them, but the text is visible on the page, in sequential order. With this one, something seems wrong. I suspect that the line-heights specified in the CSS file do not match the requirements of the embedded fonts. But whatever the reason, chapter headings show up in over-large characters, on top of the paragraph text. Not above. On top of. This occurred with the EPUB file, using Calibre as the viewer, which is the reader I use for all IOD books. After I had finished the treadmill session, I went back and checked the Kindle file, which the author had also provided, and saw that there were no such problems there. I don’t charge WTFs for this kind of issue, but I do comment on them when I see them. Publishers, please be sure you are carefully checking all of your publication files, using a number of common reader devices and apps.

WTF #1: Sloppy proofreading

Analysis: Near the bottom of the first page, our POV character encounters an ATM machine that asks her: Would you like to apply for low-rate credit card? Should that have been “a low-rate credit card?” Or should it have been “low-rate credit cards?” Or was this supposed to signify that the screen had been translated from a foreign language, or written in that artificially shortened manner of speech we often see in headlines and advertising? But no, the very next sentence presented yet another service offer, this time complete with the definite article. So it should have been “a low-rate credit card,” but the article was missing.

It’s a minor slip, but every glitch weighs heavily when it comes on the first page. And since I stopped consciously to wonder about the correct reading, it draws a flag.

Kudos #1: An interesting visual device

Details: In this world, our protagonist appears to be able to see peoples’ emotions as a colored nimbus around them. But is she seeing his true emotion, or is it her subconscious interpretation of the emotion. Those are two very differnent things, implying different possibilities for the story, so I’m keen to find out more.

WTF #2: Implausible story point

Analysis: Unfortunately, there was a wrinkle: it seemed the Agents who had received the implant were able to circumvent all electronic security. Passwords, firewalls, airwalls… these meant nothing. If a device could talk to another machine, an Agent could connect to it and take control of it.

My eyes rolled heavily here. In SF, I expect at least a vague hand-wave at how the unusual tech things work, but all we get here is the dreaded “it seems,” which always strikes me as the writer bailing on trying to come up with an explanation.

WTF #3: Conspicuous exposition

Analysis: Eventually we do get an explanation for the cyborg/emotion interface, even if it is just hand-wavy mumbo-jumbo. The real problem though was that it came as an exposition dump with no real in-story rationale. Suddenly, Rachel the protag just starts thinking about the theory behind why she can see and hear things, even though she’s in the middle of a conversation with her cop partner.

And So May The Wonders Unfurl by Richard Simpson (1:03)

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Library for lovers of Suzhou gardens, Kunqu opera
2017-07-27 16:46:00

A view of the newly-opened Canal Library in Wuzhong District.

Wuzhong District has a new library with books featuring Suzhou gardens and Kunqu, a local form of Chinese opera popular in Kunshan and Suzhou areas.

The Canal Library stands on the bank of the historic Grand Canal and has a collection of about 20,000 books on Kunqu Opera, Suzhou gardens, Yangtze Delta culture and traditions, the Grand Canal, Chinese history and classics. They are from donations or Wuzhong Library.

District officials said the new library will promote Suzhou’s culture and heritage protection and provide an exchange platform for scholars and artists who can hold lectures and exhibitions in the library. Editor:Hiram


Download E-books Whose Bible Is It? A History of the Scriptures Through the Ages PDF

By Jaroslav Pelikan

No e-book has been extra pored over, has been the topic of extra statement and controversy, or had extra effect not just on our spiritual ideals but additionally on our tradition and language than the Bible. and positively no ebook has been as broadly learn. yet how did the Bible turn into the publication we all know it to be?

during this fantastically written historical past, Jaroslav Pelikan takes the reader throughout the sturdy book’s evolution from its earliest incarnation as oral stories to its sleek lifestyles in a variety of iterations, translations, and languages. From the earliest Hebrew texts and the Bible’s visual appeal in Greek, then Latin, Pelikan explores the canonization of alternative Bibles and why sure books have been followed by way of sure religions and sects, in addition to the improvement of the printing press, the translation into glossy languages, and ranging colleges of severe scholarship.

either a permanent paintings of scholarship and a desirable learn, Whose Bible Is It? should be eagerly welcomed by way of the numerous fanatics of Elaine Pagels’s books and Adam Nicolson’s God’s Secretaries.

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Seeing the World and Knowing God: Hebrew Wisdom and Christian Doctrine in a Late-Modern Context

This publication goals to create a Christian theology of knowledge for the current day, in dialogue with units of conversation-partners. the 1st are writers of the "wisdom literature" in old Israel and the Jewish neighborhood in Alexandria. right here, specified realization is given to the biblical books of Proverbs, task and Ecclesiastes.

Sex in the Bible: A New Consideration (Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality)

What's the Bible's stance on such arguable concerns as homosexuality and polygamy? What does it need to say approximately sexual behaviors that a few might deem perverted or legal? Is intercourse constantly improper whether it is now not used to create lifestyles? Ellens solutions those and different questions in a publication that argues that our realizing of what the Bible has to claim approximately intercourse is usually faulty.

To learn the recent testomony is to satisfy the previous testomony at each flip. yet precisely how do outdated testomony texts relate to their New testomony references and allusions? furthermore, what fruitful interpretive tools do New testomony texts reveal? major biblical students Walter Kaiser, Darrel Bock and Peter Enns each one current their solutions to questions surrounding using the outdated testomony within the New testomony.

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As an over-achiever, the idea of this objectively successful life was alluring.

 Not even finished my twenties, I thought, "is this all there is?"

I was so stressed out and on edge with the demands I faced in my daily life between my law practice and other commitments that I thought I didn’t have any time to spend figuring out why I was feeling so stuck.  Instead, I did what many of us do, and I scheduled over, Netflixed over, dated over, drank over, hit the gym over, and worked over the feeling of discord.

It was the voice in me that knew that while our lives are constantly evolving, they are supposed to feel exciting, magical and deeply fulfilling.  If it's not, then something has gone amiss and we've been led astray.  It was time for me to stop running.

I became insatiably curious about meditation, mindfulness, consciousness, the brain, optimizing human performance, goal mastery, spirituality, yogic philosophy, intuition, the science of gratitude and happiness, and what it meant to live a life of purpose.  I wanted to determine how, exactly, to integrate these tools into a life that was extremely demanding and busy, with little spare time. I committed to making incremental shifts until once day I woke up and

my life felt magical, exciting, and deeply fulfilling.

I truly believe that each of us are changemakers here to make a massive impact in the world with legacies of how deeply we loved and how many lives we touched. In order to do that, we have to be stepping into the fullness of our being.  My commitment is to share the research, tools, and  wisdom that I have gathered and offer it to you to inspire you to step into your true power and own your greatness.

i can't wait to meet you.


Wednesday, September 9, 2015

The school in S. Teresa di Riva - Italy

Santa Teresa di Riva is a town located between Messina and Taormina on the east coast of Sicily on the Jonian sea,  with a population of  about 10.000 inhabitants.  It is surrounded by  hills on which some medieval villages were built centuries ago. Sicily was  settled by  different invaders, such as Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabics, Normans  and so on that left their culture and customs  in our dialect, history, architecture and art. Taormina, the pearl of the Jonian sea, is rich in spectacular views and  ancient monuments such as the Greek Theatre  and the  medieval cathedral. The economy of our town is based on commerce, fishing and agriculture.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

        Our  school  is  located  in  the  city  of  Patras,  Western  Greece.  Patras  is  the  third  biggest  city  in  Greece  and  is  the  port  from  where   the  ships  for  Italy  depart.  It  is  220  Km  far  away  from  the  capital,  Athens,  and  100  Km  from  Olympia,  the  birthplace  of  the  Olympic  Games.
        Our  school  was  built  in  1980.  It  has  80  students.  The  number  of  our  students  is  increasing.  Age  range  of  students  is  12-15  years  old.  After  school  programmes  are  carried  out.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Turkey-Arnavutköy-Fatih primary and Fatih Secondary School

 Our school is located in Arnavutköy district of Istanbul. Arnavutkoy  is located in the north-west part of İstanbul. The school was built in 2010. Our school has 170 students. The number of  our students is increasing daily.  Age range of students is  6 to 14. After-school sports activities are carried out.

     Our district is about 35 km away to Istanbul. Our district was established in 2008. The population of the district is about 215 000 . Arnavutköy is one of the green districts of İstanbul.  It has taken the migration from other cities of Turkey. Its people came from rural areas. Therefore, the level of education is low.

       Our municipality gives importance to fuse different cultures  to social projects.  Our district plan is renewed. Major projects are planned for our district. The world's 3rd largest airport project is been doing. Arnavutköy within the next 5 years will be one of the new centers of İstanbul.

Our school, Ramon Berenguer IV high school in Amposta, Spain.

Amposta is a small town in the South-East of Catalonia. It has about 22 thousand inhabitants and it lies about 150 km from Barcelona and about 150 km from Valencia. The economy of the town was mainly based on agriculture, and it has still an influence on its economy. Amposta is surrounded by rice fields, which in its turn conform what is known as the Ebro Delta (a natural water area which has been recently declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO . It covers 367,729 hectares and includes the delta and watershed of the Ebro River, which is Spain largest river in terms of volume. It has a large number of different ecosystems ranging from inland to coastal areas.

Our school, Institut Ramon Berenguer IV, is a secondary school with around 700 students aged from 12 to 18. The social background of our students is varied although in the last years the effects of the economical crisis has affected a large number of families.
Our students attend classes in the morning from 8.30 to 15 h. In the afternoon most of them have different activities, mainly sporty and musical (the town has a long musical tradition).
Employment in the  town is a clear reflection of what is going on in the rest of our country. Families are going through a difficult situation and this fact  has a direct effect on the relationship with the school.
One of the reasons why we are interested in carrying out this project is to involve our students in knowing more about different communities to see how different and how alike they are. Another reason is that with this project they are able to travel and experience other realities they wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise;  and to cooperate to make their world a better place to live in.
The last but not least important reason is that we, as teachers, are eager to learn and exchange our views and experiences with other colleagues around Europe as something that can enrich our knowledge and our souls.

Slovakia - Vráble

About our school

Our school is called Základná škola Viliama Záborkého - Primary school of Viliam Záborský and it is located in a small town Vráble.
Vráble is a small town situated 100 km from the capital city - Bratislava, 20 km from the city Nitra. It has bout 10 000 inhabitants. It lies in vineyard area.

School year starts on 2nd September and finishes on 30th June. Our school is situated in beautiful park. It isn´t very big. We have about 260 students and 20 teachers.

Erasmus + club is working here. Also Folk club is the part. We dance and sing here, remember our traditions.
This project is our 4th international project thanks to which we can personally get know various European countries.

We like also working on eTwinning projects, in which we can meet our foreign friends in virtual space, we organize video conferences and communicate in twinspace.