text:
Obama's top-down grassroots army
President Barack Obama's got a volunteer army — and all their marching orders come from carefully organized paid generals back at headquarters.
Obama won two terms by harnessing a grassroots movement through a tightly controlled, top-down campaign organization. Now the group formed out of Organizing for America is now bringing that approach to Organizing for Action.
It's what differentiates OFA from other grassroots groups, and even the Democratic National Committee: they're combining large-dollar donations and unpaid local leaders for a carefully built, lasting structure that they believe will be just as effective in supporting the president as it was in electing him.
So far, OFA has alternated its agenda – a week on gun control, then a week on immigration, with some connection to Obama's White House schedule. Starting next week, OFA will for the first time run concurrent national campaigns on gun control and immigration, blasting emails to supporters and holding local events.
( PHOTOS: 39 great photos from Obama's first term)
Operating four campaigns allows OFA to target separate audiences, OFA executive director Jon Carson said, with different issues playing to disparate audiences. OFA has been particularly effective in drawing new volunteers in red states Obama didn't contest in 2012, where would-be supporters now have an opportunity to work for the president in their communities.
"There's a set of people whose passion is on gun violence. There are other people whose top passion is the budget fight or the sequester fight," said. "We're very, very happy with the level of engagement."
Previously named Organizing for America, the group changed its name to Organizing for Action when it remade itself after the 2012 election. Though just a few months old, OFA already has local chapters with volunteer state directors in 42 of 50 states. They've each got groups of regional and local leader volunteers working under them, planning actions and events to support Obama's agenda.
But everything they do is managed straight out of headquarters — they're the only ones who get to call the shots, and they're the only ones with access to the Obama data trove, including the 17 million-name email list.
Through regular conference calls and briefing memos, OFA's leadership of paid, experienced operatives directs volunteer leaders in the states detailing what issues the organization will tackle and strategy will be. They tell the state OFA leadership how to hold sessions for new recruits on basics like organizing events, attracting new members, working with like-minded groups and even pitching stories about events to local reporters.
( Also on POLITICO: Right's new cause: Immigration)
"They are just thrilled to have a chance to work in their own backyard," Carson told POLITICO. "The reason people were on the campaign, the reason people came to this president in the first place I think our volunteers, they just get it."
A separate policy development team also determines the issues for them back at headquarters: campaign directors in place for each of the four issues that the president has set as second term priorities — gun control, immigration reform, environmental protection and the economy.
( Also on POLITICO: Dems reach out to Toomey on guns)
"The time to act is now, and people are using what they learned in the campaign, grassroots campaign technology, to all push for some commonsense pieces of legislation, and actions, that can make our country better," said Jim Messina, the Obama 2012 campaign manager and OFA chair, in an interview to air Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" online "Press Pass."
As did the Obama 2012 campaign, OFA has divided the country into five regions, with plans for five regional directors on staff based in Chicago to oversee volunteer state leads. The state leads come from the ranks of Obama campaign alumni, with many performing roles similar to those they did — but now on a volunteer basis.
That can happen through local OFA leaders — who held more than 400 local "action planning" sessions last month — pitch throwing OFA's support behind a cause to headquarters, which is in Washington for now, but moving soon to Chicago. Then it goes to approval before Carson, Messina and OFA senior leadership, including Organizing Director Sara El-Amine and Issues Director Lindsay Siler, both veterans of the 2012 Obama campaign.
"We roughly take a look at it and say, 'Is this in line with the president's agenda?'" Carson said, who said gauging OFA supporters' interest in fighting individual state battles is "a testable question."
El-Amine hosts weekly Monday calls for active volunteers, and state leaders participate in conference calls with OFA regional directors as often as three times per week.
Siler, who was Obama's 2012 North Carolina state director, oversees the four campaigns on guns, immigration, climate and the economy. She oversees campaign managers for each issue who determine when and how to frame them.
The volunteers, though, do get some input: Already OFA members have pushed the organization to get involved in their local issues, which will happen more as local chapters mature, officials predict. They've already joined an effort to reform New York state campaign finance laws and the push for legalizing gay marriage in Illinois. Trying to stop North Carolina from repealing the state's renewable energy standards may be next, Carson said.
El-Amine oversees the campaign's field efforts and is charged with carrying out the issues department's mandates. She sends regular updates to local OFA leaders, with a calendar of what events the organization will focus on in upcoming weeks and direction on what kind of events to plan and when to hold them.
"They are giving us general information as to what's of going on, what Congress is voting on, things like that where we can organize in our states for different types of sessions," said Leslie Jackson, OFA's state lead in Idaho. "Let's say they were voting on immigration reform, they would tell us we would probably want to hold an event for that."
Jackson, a former sales representative who lives in Boise, moved to Oregon for six months in 2012 for a paid job as an Obama field organizer. She's said she's been to Obama's White House once, when she won a 2010 contest for volunteers of his first-term political arm, Organizing for America.
Now Jackson's responsibilities involve participating in three weekly conferences calls with other state leads and her regional director, who relays instructions on what to do next. Jackson is arranging with OFA to build four regional chapters in Idaho, using Obama's email database to identify and recruit other supporters.
Once the local chapters form, Jackson receives updates and minutes from their meetings, which she passes up the ladder to her regional director, Brandyn Keating, another Obama 2012 veteran. The process allows OFA headquarters to keep tabs on the local affiliates and at the same time gives local OFA chapters an opportunity to be heard in Chicago.
"We obviously get direction," Jackson said. "We get all direction from them and we get a lot of training and we have a lot of conference calls."
In Tennessee, Jackie Shrago hosted an Obama 2012 phone bank in her Nashville home. Now she's the OFA Nashville regional lead, coordinating with other groups to produce local events backing Obama's agendas on immigration, gun control and sequestration.
She participates in Sunday night calls with other Tennessee regional leaders and a Monday call for all OFA organizers with El-Amine and relies on briefing materials sent from headquarters. When she plans an event, Shrago, a former CEO of an education company, posts a notice of it to OFA's website, which then prompts an email from OFA to supporters who live nearby. Like other red-state OFA officials, she said she has been surprised by the number of people who have attended her events this spring.
"The OFA group has a very large ability to send emails to people," Shrago said. "Every time I find there are new people show up who I didn't know before."
And in Montana, Judith Heilmann served as the 2012 Obama campaign's paid state director. Now she is OFA's state leader, spending time this past week training OFA volunteers in campaign essentials like speaking to reportersand writing press releases for local media – tasks Carson described as one of OFA's main concerns but something that for Obama has always been the purview of paid press staffers.
"I'm really impressed with the local press coverage of all this. There is clip after clip on evening news and in local papers, with work that our supporters are doing across the country," Carson said. "Local earned media is one of the top priorities – we're really impressed with some of the coverage from local reporters."
Heilman, 60, retired to Bozeman after working as a police officer in California. She said she is devoting about 35 to 40 hours per week as the Montana state lead. The job doesn't come with a stipend and Montana is too large to drive across for meetings in other parts of the state, so she does most of her organizing by phone or online.
"Eventually," she said, "I'm going to have to have a paying job."


text:
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See you at Hayahay Resort!
Place your reservation
Coming to Hayahay? Check out what you can do during your stay.
6 reasons why you will come back

subset: commoncrawl


text: Although I'm a little fish in a very large pond, I am on a crusade to rid the market of these improprieties, and expose as much as I am capable of. As such, here is a concise description of problems that currently exist on the NYSE (all relating to Specialist activity), which prompted me to write to the SEC, NASD, and NYSE market surveillance division. Of course, I received boilerplate letters/emails back from the latter 2, and never heard from the SEC. Feel free to use any of this information in future articles, to depict how the "little guy" is getting hurt from these corrupt practices. By the way, I am a profitable scalp trader; however, I feel that my profits are being limited by the abuses below: Since I began my full-time job of Day Trading a year ago, I have learned an awful lot about how the market works, and unfortunately, have learned how corrupt the marketplace really is. I worked for Reuters for 13 years in IT management (the majority of which was spent developing institutional and retail foreign exchange-based trading systems), and thought I knew everything about the marketplace, until I actually started trading for a living. I trade exclusively NYSE-listed issues that have low liquidity (average of about 100K - 200K shares per day). My chief 3 complaints with NYSE, are as follows: 1) Specialists "pennying" front-running activity seems to be on the rise, since market liquidity has dried up of late. Although NYSE Open Book quotes are on a 10-second delay, market orders that are "front-run" by Specialists (by a penny), rarely, if ever, appear as entered orders on the NYSE Open Book. This results in Specialists "jumping in front" when it is advantageous for them, and diminishes the usefulness of the supply/demand information provided in the Open Book, and provides the Specialist with a tremendous advantage. This activity is running rampant these days - the invent of decimalization has been a real boon for the Specialist; not the trader. The so-called "price improvement" that NYSE allows for, provides for penny improvements for those who are already willing to pay the "market" price for a stock, and causes "price disimprovement" for those that are posting limit orders, and are jumped in front of. This clearly disrupts the laws of supply and demand in the marketplace, and diminishes the usefulness of placing limit orders. This results in diminished confidence in the marketplace by those placing limit orders, which will inevitably result in fewer limit order being placed. This will ultimately (and has already) diminished the liquidity in the marketplace. 2) Orders that get routed to 3rd party markets or ECN's and that are at the top of the book, for a NYSE-listed stock, invariably get passed up on execution, when a NYSE-based order can be executed at the same price. The Specialist invariably gives precedence to NYSE orders at the SAME price (which are either shares of the stock in HIS portfolio OR are customer NYSE market orders), even if these 3rd party orders are at the top of the book. This poor inter-market coordination (governed by the truly archaic ITS system) is within legal boundaries, but creates 3 inherent problems: a) Poor execution for these types of 3rd party market top-of- book orders, which diminishes the fairness of the marketplace. There truly isn't one market for these stocks, but many, as a result, which creates inefficiencies, and leads to advantages for Specialists; b) Creates a logjam for limit orders, that are stuck behind these types of orders. As a result, I will be less likely to place a limit order behind one of these 3rd party market orders, if they are at the top of the book. This results in the altering of the supply/demand and liquidity for this stock. Limit orders are the backbone of what creates a market for a given issue, and tampering with this activity, is a true violation of what the marketplace is all about; c) Although it cannot be proven, the Specialist can place a trade at the top of the books for one of these ECN's, and basically render all limit orders behind it, useless, by continuously making fills at that price. The Specialist, by rules of the ITS market, can give precedence to orders on the NYSE (his/her own or customer-based) at that price, and effectively ignore any of these ECN orders (by rule, he/she does not have to fill "across" these markets). What winds up happening, is that regardless of whether the Specialist has created this top-of-book ECN trade or not, this archaic ITS system effects the laws of supply and demand, which is not a good thing for the fairness of the marketplace, and certainly helps diminish public confidence in the marketplace. 3) Although it is very hard to prove, there are some Specialists that create bogus orders at times (on the NYSE Open Book), that are placed on the book, which help manipulate the marketplace in their favor. There is no question that this activity occurs, and the legality of it is certainly questionable. Unfortunately, this is very hard to prove. I have written to the NYSE and the NASD to complain about these activities (with concrete Time and Sales examples), for what it's worth. Additionally, I am scouring the Internet in an attempt to see what legislation is in the pipeline to correct these problems, and to find out if there is more that I can do to help expose it. The average John Q. Public person has no idea that these activities are occurring - it is traders, like ourselves, who are intimate with these unethical activities. Furthermore, these improprieties are readily more apparent to the trader in stocks that have thin liquidity. In high liquidity stocks, it is very hard to recognize these activities, since the market moves so quickly with these issues. In thin liquidity stocks, every move can be watched and tracked, and it is that much more apparent. Moreover, these practices seems to be on the rise, since the market's overall liquidity has dropped dramatically over the last several months. I love trading for a living, but having to deal with these severe imperfections in the NYSE, is an impediment I shouldn't have to face. Specialists are in business to make money first, and to help regulate/stabilize the market second. These 2 functions are not compatible, and until they are addressed properly, this "all-boys club" will continue to undermine the spirit of the true marketplace.


text:
Bhangarpada pincode – 425417 – Sonare Digar
Pincode of Bhangarpada is 425417, Bhangarpada comes under Chinchpada post office. Bhangarpada is located at Nandurbar district of Maharashtra. Please refer below table for complete details of Bhangarpada.
Bhangarpada Pincode – 425417
|Village/Locality Name
|Office Name
|Sonare Digar
|Office Type
|Post Office/Sub-Office
|State/Circle Name
|Delivery Status
|Division Name
|Region Name
|Head Office
Address of Bhangarpada
Village/Locality – Bhangarpada, Sonare Digar, Chinchpada, Nandurbar, Maharashtra, Pincode/Postal Code – 425417.
Places nearby Bhangarpada
Total 66 villages/localities come under pincode 425417.
Bhangarpada is a part of Sonare Digar, there are 5 other villages/localities which come under Sonare Digar branch office.
Chinchpada is post office of Bhangarpada, there are 66 villages/localities which come under Chinchpada post office.
Bhangarpada is part of Nawapur sub-district, total 310 villages/localities come under Nawapur sub-district.
Count of villages/localities which come under Nandurbar district is 1794.
There are total 55230 villages/localities which come under Maharashtra state.
Dhule is the divisional office of Bhangarpada, there are 3124 more villages/localities which come under Dhule division.
Bhangarpada`s regional office is Aurangabad, total 19541 villages/localities come under Aurangabad region.
Postal head office of Bhangarpada is Dhule, total 3124 villages/localities come under Dhule head office.
Question and Answer related to Bhangarpada.
Question – What is the pincode of Bhangarpada?
Answer – Pincode of Bhangarpada is 425417.
Question – What is the post office or sub-office name of Bhangarpada?
Answer – Chinchpada is a post office or sub-office of Bhangarpada.
Question – What is the branch office name of Bhangarpada village/locality?
Answer – Bhangarpada`s branch office name is Chinchpada.
Question – Bhangarpada comes in which sub-district?
Answer – Bhangarpada comes under Nawapur sub-district.
Question – Bhangarpada comes in which district?
Answer – Bhangarpada comes under Nandurbar District.
Question – Bhangarpada comes in which division of Maharashtra Postal Circle?
Answer – Bhangarpada comes under Dhule division.
Question – What is the name of Postal Head Office and region of Bhangarpada?.
Answer – Bhangarpada`s postal head office name is Dhule and region name is Aurangabad.
Question – Where is Bhangarpada?.
Answer – Bhangarpada is in Nawapur sub-district of Nandurbar District of Maharashtra state.
Question – How to reach Bhangarpada?.
Answer – We have complete details of Bhangarpada, how to reach, what is local language of Bhangarpada, images of Bhangarpada, residents of Bhangarpada, news related to Bhangarpada, schools nearby Bhangarpada and hospitals nearby Bhangarpada. You can visit Wikivillage home page to serach your village/locality.
Question – What is the population of Bhangarpada?
Answer – Please visit Wikivillage home page to search your village/locality and check the population of Bhangarpada, literacy rate of Bhangarpada, male and female ratio, and agricultural status of Bhangarpada.
We have collected this data from OGD platform of Government of India, we do not guarantee the correctness of this data. Users can use this data as per their own wish & risk, however, any feedback, suggestion regarding the correctness of this data is always welcome.


text:
One cannot deny the fact that watches look great on ones wrist. When talking about men, watch is no less than jewellery which adds to the style of a men. Wearing a watch gives a feel of pride and when the watch is a Swedish one then you really feel top of the world.
Swedish watches have been in trend and craze from long. These are one of the best quality watches which are available in the market. No doubt Swedish watches are a bit expensive but when you are getting the quality prices hardly matters. Swedish watches maintain the simplicity which make them look more stunning and gives them the royal look.
But this not at all means that you don't have funky Swedish watches available in the market. Today with the changing trend and market demand, there are many cool looking and funky Swedish watches available in the market which will not just make you crazy but will make it next to impossible for you to avoid buying them.
So, if you are still not sure which watch to grab for yourself or your partner, check out for Swedish watch at www.woodsea.se and you will surely find them best buy either for yourself or for your partner.
You can even gift them without any doubt. The person who will receive this wonderful gift will surely praise your choice and will thank you for the lovely gift which is precious in itself. So, check out for some Swedish watches today and get one for yourself.


text:
Graphic Designer
Graphic Designers live and breathe design, typography, color theory, and composition. They're responsible for creating stunning visuals for both print and digital media. They work closely with art directors, creative directors, copywriters, and web developers, to translate marketing and brand strategies into comps that render beautifully in print and code.
Main Tasks:
- Design artwork for printing media and web interface
Skills Required:
- Creative and Original
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Other Graphic Software will be advantage.
Attitude Required:
- Be nice and committed
We are looking for a PHP developer who is dedicated to his craft, writes code that is proud of and can hit the ground running. We need you to write beautiful, fast PHP to a high standard, in a timely and scalable way that improves the code-base of our products in meaningful ways. You will be a part of a creative team that is responsible for all aspects of the ongoing software development from the initial specification, through to developing, testing and launching.
Main Task:
- Develop / Modify php programs
Skills Required:
- mySQL
- PHP programming language
- Other languages will be an advantage


text:
I'm hosting Angeline today. My job is to post a review.
Angeline Jellybean review
By Crystalee Calderwood
4RV Publishing LLC
October 2008
Reviewed by Elysabeth Eldering
What happens when too much of a good thing becomes too much? Angeline Jellybean is a girl who only likes to eat jellybeans. She wants them for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Everyone knows that you can only eat so much of a good thing before it makes you sick in some way or other.
Once Angeline discovers that there are other things to eat besides jellybeans, everything turns out okay for her.
This delightful children's book is written in rhyme and is beautifully illustrated. It shows how too much of a good thing can really not be so good for a person.
Remember to tune in tomorrow and find out what is on Angeline's plate. Susan Thompson is bringing in the new year. Stop by and remember to leave comments. Hope you enjoy the tour - see you all in the postings - E :)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Angeline Jellybean has arrived
I'm hosting Angeline today. My job is to post a review.
Posted by elysabeth at 12:48 AM 11 comments
Labels: Angeline Jellybean, book review, Ms. Crystalee Calderwood, virtual book tour
Monday, December 29, 2008
On the radio for real
I will be making an appearance on the radio on December 30th from 8:30 to 9 PM (EST). Hope you all will come out and listen to the interview. See you then - E :)
Posted by elysabeth at 9:20 PM 3 comments
Labels: internet radio, JGDS series, Lillian Cauldwell
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Hosting Angeline Jellybean
Another new tour is coming soon. I'll be hosting Crystalee Calderwood and Angeline Jellybean. I'm hoping Stephen will stop by as well. The schedule is as follows:
Angeline Jellybean Blog Tour
DECEMBER 28, 2008 Ransom Noble
DECEMBER 29, 2008 Vivian Zabel
DECEMBER 30, 2008 Laura Peters
DECEMBER 31, 2008 Elysabeth Eldering
JANUARY 1, 2009 Susan Thompson
JANUARY 2, 2009 Sarah Adkins
JANUARY 3, 2009 Lea Schizas
JANUARY 4, 2009 Crystalee Calderwood
Come ring in the new year with this delightful new children's book published by 4RV Publishing.
Posted by elysabeth at 12:00 AM 2 comments
Labels: 4RV Publishing, Angeline Jellybean, Crystalee Calderwood, Stephen Macquignon, virtual book tour
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Radio time postponed
Okay I know I said I was going to do a radio spot today and I had all intentions of doing so, was told we wouldn't even eat dinner until late afternoon or closer to actual supper time because my brother and sister-in-law wouldn't be here until late afternoon. Well, they came about 2 o'clock this afternoon and we ended up having dinner at 4:15 and therefore, I missed my 4:30 time. I'll post when rescheduled, giving everyone a link to listen. Hope your Christmas was a merry one and that you all had a blessed day.
Posted by elysabeth at 6:25 PM 0 comments
Labels: internet radio, JGDS series, Lillian Cauldwell
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Holly Jahangiri's character, Trockle, just gave me the "Your Blog is Fabulous" Award!! I'm told the rules of the award are simple: Write about 5 addictions (not sure I can really come up with five addictions) you have and then pass the award on to the 5 blogs (that can be tough when everyone keeps nominating the same ones) that you think are Fabulous… So here goes:
Five addictions:
1. Chocolate, white, dark and milk (in that order, even though I know white is really not chocolate).
2. Computer games (spider solitaire and freecell mostly but addiction solitaire is right up there)
3. Grape Nuts hot
I'm at a total loss for items 4 and 5 (it's much harder to come up with things I'm addicted to than fun info about myself. I'll try to keep working on this and may edit it at a later date.
Five fabulous blogs:
1. Mr. Hughes
2. Batya's UPositive blog
3. Cassie Litton Gregory
4. Katie Hines
5. Rena Jones
Posted by elysabeth at 9:29 AM 3 comments
Labels: fabulous blog award, JGDS series, nominations
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Musing our Children Holiday issue newsletter
For your reading pleasure, pop on over to Musing Our Children's and enjoy the holiday issue of the newsletter we have put out.
My interview with Cheryl and her review are in the issue. Remember to share with other teachers and parents who would like to get their kids interested in reading and writing.
We are looking to do school visits in May (some authors charge fees to do presentations, which from my understanding is where the money can be made in the book industry, but during this week, we are offering free visits. There is a link for scheduling school visits at other times, so check us out. We have a lot to offer - a variety of authors and types of books published as well as different types of workshops. We also encourage kids to review books and have their parents and/or teachers post to the site. This is a great way to get the kids reading and keeps them involved in the process. There are tips and helpful hints and all kinds of things going on. Check us out and remember to keep checking back every so often for updates. Keep May 4 through May 8 in mind for school visits. See you all in the postings - E :)
Posted by elysabeth at 11:41 PM 0 comments
Labels: JGDS series, Ms. Elysabeth, Musing our Children website and newsletter, school visits
Monday, December 15, 2008
An award for my blog!!!!
Who'd a thunk, we received an award.
Vivian Zabel, my publisher, has honored the JGDS series blog with the Honest Scrap award. Scrap means left overs, fragments, discarded material, and many times truth and honesty is discarded material, considered fragments and left over. So, we need to tell it like it is, and let the scraps fall where they will.
According to Lea's blog,The Writing Jungle, the guidelines for winning this award include the following:
1. List 10 honest things about yourself (make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep!)
2. Pass the award on to 7 bloggers
Kind of like being tagged again except now I have to post something honest about myself, not that I have been dishonest in the tags.
1. I hate my mouth (in dire need of repairs or having them all taken out) so I don't smile as much as I used to.
2. I love receiving hugs from friends.
3. I hate kissing though.
4. I used to be really shy - when I was in school, before college days. People find that hard to believe since I am such a people person now.
5. I want to travel to every state before I die; if for nothing else but to just say I've been there. I have had extensive travels up and down the eastern seaboard and a few states out west, but with my series, I now have more of a desire to visit every state. I was glad when my father retired because it meant no more traveling and now I want to travel again.
6. I'm weird when it comes to snow. I love snowflake designs and would trim my tree (if I were doing a tree) with lots of different snowflake ornaments but I don't like snow much. I only like it for the time it has come down and enough to say it has snowed and then I want it to go away. If it lasts more than a day, then I'm tired of it.
7. I hate shopping - I've never felt a need to really do the girly shopping thing. Run in, get what I want or need and then out again. But I don't mind wandering through the store and looking at everything every once in a while, just out of curiosity.
8. When I make a friend, it is for life. There is no friend for a season or just in my life briefly.
9. My godmother was more like my mother than my real mother is. I felt I could confide in her without a problem. I miss her tremendously.
10. I'm at a loss for what to put for this one since it seems all my bases are covered with the list above. It's fun to receive an award just because.
The 7 blogs and people I will nominate are:
1. Batya Wininger
2. Janelle Dakota
3. Cassie Litton Gregory
4. Chai
5. Vonda Skelton
6. Mr. Hughes
The problem with 7 is that I visit many blogs but only consider a handful true friends. I am not sure who else to put here. Forgive me my friends. See you all in the postings - E :)
Posted by elysabeth at 6:26 PM 1 comments
Labels: 4RV Publishing, Honest Scrap award, JGDS series, Ms. Vivian Zabel
Sunday, December 14, 2008
PIVTR appearance
Just announcing that the JGDS series will be doing a spot on the above internet radio on Christmas day from 4:30 to 4:45 EST. I'll be promoting the series as a whole and talk a bit about the upcoming books. Tune in by clicking the title link and join Lillian Cauldwell and others all afternoon and night Christmas day. Spots start at 4 pm and run until midnight. Hope you all will come and listen - see you in the postings - E :)
Posted by elysabeth at 11:04 AM 1 comments
Labels: JGDS series, radio interview
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Virtual class visits continue with some fun writing
It's been a while since I've posted anything about what is going on in the 6th grade class in Utah that I'm visiting via Internet (Smartboards and Google Talk). The last writing we really did was when I posted some of the pictures from the Harris Burdick Mysteries and tried to get some of you to participate by writing a start based on the lesson for the time. I had a few of you respond. So for December, the writing projects are as follows:
1) Write a letter to Santa - You are to write a letter to Santa Claus explaining what you want for Christmas and why you should get it. Remember to use good examples and reasons. Remember our 6-Traits lessons.
Length: 1 page Story board: Yes Rough Draft: Yes Editing Kit: Yes
2) Acrostic poems: You are to write 3 ACROSTIC POEMS using any of the words below:
Winter, Christmas, Snowflake, Snowman, Santa Clause, December, Holiday, Sharing, Fireplace, Sledding. You MUST choose from these words. Circle your three choices. The words you use to create the poems must be words or sentences that represent your thoughts and feeling about that word. Don't just use a word because it fills the space!! Also illustrate each poem to match the words.
Length: 1 page each Story board: No Rough Draft: Yes Editing Kit: Yes
3) Short essay: You are to choose 1 of the following options and do it for your 3rd project. Write about your favorite family traditions OR your favorite Christmas memory. Remember you are to choose only one.
Length: 1 1/2 pages Story board: Yes Rough Draft: Yes Editing Kit: Yes
Now I don't much about writing poetry and don't know about storyboards for such short projects. So I've written my letter and one acrostic poem. For your viewing pleasure, here they are:
Snowflake (because I am partial to them in the winter - they are unique just like everyone in the world is)
Soft like a flower petal
Neatly falling
Over the
Falling from the sky
Landing in wet patterns
Across the still earth
Knowing that you will blanket the ground
Ever quiet the Snowflake
My letter is rather lengthy - was a page and a half single spaced but Mr. Hughes said it was okay to be longer than the 1 page he has on the project:
December 9, 2008
Dear Santa,
It's been a long time, over thirty-five years, since I've written a letter to you asking for anything. Believe me when I say it isn't because I stopped believing in you but it has more to do with lack of wanting anything. I have my family and semi-good health and a vehicle to get me from point A to point B, so I really haven't had anything I could really ask for. This year is different. I've had a pretty good year and I think I have been a good girl but the end is drawing near and I do have some needs. I am really not asking that you visit me but more my friends and family. So here is my list for them:
For my oldest child, Jonathan, I ask that you put a job in his hands, one that is fitting for his talents. He is frustrated having no funds to do the things he really wants to do. So bring him a good job.
For my other two children, Hailie and Benjamin, give them the wisdom to continue doing well in school and to know right from wrong as they grow to adulthood and start making it on their own.
For my friend Batya, I ask that she get a break in getting her business started and that she have an abundance of clients that she is never wanting anything. I also ask that something be done about her neighbor who is bound and determined to run her from her home. Please make him an offer he can't refuse, maybe a new housing area to live in or a change of heart. (From what I've heard the man is warped and needs a good whipping, so I guess he really gets the stocking full of coal this year.)
For my friend Jane, please bring her some joy. She's had such trials and tribulations this year that she really could use something good. Maybe an offer on one of her novels.
For my publisher Vivian, please bring her income to not have to worry about possibly shutting down the business. I don't think she realizes how the company will start turning a profit but it needs to be sooner rather than later. Her health is failing her and she is struggling. I am trying hard to stay on top of things because I am selfish, I have a large contract and I want to see her succeed, not only for me but for herself as well. I'd like to see every author she has contracted do well in their own rights (doing well is so subjective). I hope that all her illustrator needs are met and that she can get all the upcoming books out without too many problems. I know it's a business but she needs to be enjoying herself and right now, she is frustrated and talking of throwing it all away. I really don't want to be tossed in the trash. So send her something to keep her from losing it and to help give her a positive outlook on things.
For my friend Mr. Hughes, bring him a new laptop so we can continue having our virtual class visits. For his class of students, please bring them some books and good cheer, time with their family and lots of new ideas for future writing projects.
For my adopted children, I wish for them to always have a hug available when they need it. I wish for them to just have a fun holiday season. Their needs are all so different, I can't even fathom individual gifts for them.
For me, I would like a few things but I'll understand if you can't bring them. I'd like enough money in my checking account to live comfortably and be able to help the kids with college if they decide to attend. I'd like either a house that is ready to live in or a redo on this house with a bigger bathroom, a laundry room that is separate from the kitchen area, and storage spaces, closets or whatever. I'd also like an actual room for my bedroom and a room for my office. That way the kids can watch TV without disturbing me while I'm writing or working. I'm in dire need of a new vehicle, a mini van preferably. I also would like to see my geography series really take off and be in fourth through sixth grade classes around the country. I can hope for some awards on the first book but if nothing comes of that, I'm okay with it. I'll keep trying for those.
So you see, Santa, I'm not asking for too much this year, just hoping for a small break for lots of people. I wish for my friends and family a joyous and peaceful holiday and that all their dreams and wishes do come true.
Yours truly,
Elysabeth Eldering
Author of the JGDS 50-state, mystery, trivia series
Hope you enjoy and maybe some of you will write a poem or a letter or even your favorite memory. Go on, I dare you to post your writings - E :)
Posted by elysabeth at 7:59 PM 1 comments
Labels: acrostic poem, December writing projects, JGDS series, letter to Santa, virtual class visit


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Sex killer Paul Bernardo is serving an indeterminate sentence for the slayings of two schoolgirls, a dozen rapes and more than two dozen other sex offenses — but there are still women who reportedly want to marry him.
The latest is reported to be a 30-year-old university graduate from London, Ont., who began corresponding with him last fall, according to QMI news agency.
Tim Danson, a lawyer for the families of murdered schoolgirls, reacted sharply to the report.
"He should not be given any privileges," Danson told the Star on Thursday.
He also said the woman who considers herself to be Bernardo's fiancée needs plenty of help.
"People close to her have to reach out to her and save her from herself," Danson said. "Just the thought of it is disturbing."
Danson said he highly doubts Bernardo will ever get out of prison, even though he's reportedly eligible for parole in 2018.
Still, there are plenty of women who struggle to make contact with him through letters.
One website for prisoners' families features a hot discussion on whether it's right to try to make contact with Bernardo.
"I write to Paul all the time, I send him cards and no I dont have a fetish for concrete!" a woman who identified herself as "shoes" wrote. "I have read many books on his crimes and for some reason i hold compassion for him. Its deep in my bones and i cant let it go."
Another woman, who identified herself as "brandy99," wrote that she can see a difference between Bernardo the man and Bernardo the criminal.
"His crimes arent what intriques me it's him," she wrote.
The Correctional Service of Canada declines to comment on individual cases.
Speaking in general terms, spokesperson Mélissa Hart said an inmate's "behaviour, accountability and risks" are assessed before a decision is made on whether an inmate can marry.
"Once an inmate makes a request to marry while incarcerated, the institutional management along with the inmate's case management team will assess the request to make sure it would not pose a risk to the security of the institution, staff and public," Hart said in an email.
Jason Tamming, a spokeman for Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney, said while he could not comment on specific cases, the government "always puts the rights of victims ahead of the rights of criminals.
"We continue to examine ways to ensure that the worst of the worst stay behind bars where they belong, without needless perks that these dangerous and violent criminals certainly never afforded to their victims," Tamming added in an email.
In a report published on Thursday, The Quebecor-owned QMI report does not name the 30-year-old bride-to-be. It says that even her family doesn't believe the ceremony behind bars will ever take place.
According to the QMI report, the couple first met last fall after she wrote him.
The QMI report says that his fiancée believes he is innocent even though he made videos of his victims in captivity.
"He has convinced her that he didn't do this (rapes or murders)," her father told QMI.
Danson said Bernardo's trial left no doubt that he is a sadistic psychopath.
"That's well beyond the pale, given what was proven at trial and on the videotapes," Danson said.
The QMI report says the bride-to-be has a tattoo on her ankle that says "Paul's girl."
The QMI report also says the engagement has caused tensions within her family.
If the marriage did take place, Corrections Canada could determine is she would be allowed to meet with her behind bars.
Prisoners are permitted private visits of up to 72 hours duration once every two months. A former Millhaven inmate told The Star said that prisoners often are able to increase that visiting time in swaps with other inmates.
Bernardo made the news last summer, Steven Blaney, the federal minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, said he would not be enjoying a transfer from ancient Kingston Penitentiary to a more comfortable medium security prison.
Paul Bernardo won't get cushier cell: Public Safety minister
Horror of Paul Bernardo crimes continues to haunt
Killer cop disgusts even Paul Bernardo
Blaney went to pains to state that Bernardo couldn't expect soft prison time.
"Paul Bernardo was convicted of heinous and despicable crimes," he had said then, in a prepared statement. "While I do not control the security classification of individual prisoners, I have received assurances that there are no plans to move this inmate to a medium security institution.
"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French, whose lives were taken too soon."
Blaney could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
Bernardo is now believed to be housed in Millhaven Penitentiary in Kingston.
Kingston Penitentiary was closed late last year. Bernardo spent 18 years there housed 23 hours a day in a cell that's roughly 1.5 metres by 3 metres.
For the remaining hour, he was allowed to watch television or exercise.
For a time, a prisoner in the adjoining cell was convicted murderer and former Toronto police officer Richard Wills.
Wills was transferred out of Kingston to a maximum-security B.C. prison because his behaviour disgusted Kingston Penitentiary staff and inmates, including Bernardo.
Exactly what Wills did to disgust them remains a mystery.
Bernardo's other neighbours in the same segregated range of the Kingston Penitentiary included Russell Williams, former commander of CFB Trenton, who was sentenced in 2010 to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years for two sadistic sex murders.
Wills was transferred to a maximum-security facility in B.C. late last month for a fresh start, the sources said. Suzanne Leclerc, of Corrections Canada in Ottawa, said she is prevented by the Privacy Act from saying where federal inmates are housed.
Bernardo's first wife, Karla Homolka, was convicted of manslaughter for her role in the slayings of French and Mahaffey and served 12 years in prison.
She wasn't charged in the 1990 Christmas Eve drug-rape death of her sister, Tammy Homolka, but her sentence took the incident into account.
Toronto journalist Paula Todd tracked down Bernardo's former wife, Karla Homolka, two years ago and made her the topic of her e-book: Finding Karla: How I tracked Down a Serial Child Killer and Discovered a Mother of Three.
She found Homolka lived in Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.
In April 2011, Michelle Erstikaitis, a woman who had professed admiration for Bernardo, was named a dangerous offender herself.
Erstikaitis, then 31, had a lengthy criminal record that included threatening in 1999 to kill Debbie Mahaffy, the mother of Leslie Mahaffy.
At the time, Erstikaitis said she believed Bernardo was innocent.


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Remote Technologies Incorporated XP-8s Remote Control Processor
Jan 21, 2013 3:22 PM
RTI XP-8s Remote Control Processor
Remote Technologies Incorporated has announced the XP-8s remote control processor. The XP-8s features a new 532MHz i.MX processor, which features two-way driver support and faster system file downloads. The internal non-volatile Flash memory has been upgraded to 128MB and each unit will ship with a 4GB SD card. The XP-8s includes eight two-way RS-232 ports, IR ports, built-in relays, and sense inputs. An Ethernet port provides RTiPanel support and IP control for complete whole-house or facility control of AV, lighting systems, thermostats, and multi-room audio. Additionally, the processor features an astronomical clock, allowing for events or commands to take place automatically. Availability: Now Price: NA


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RV Show: 3 Models You'll Want to Take Home Today
It's time to get a great deal on your family's new RV! Check out the incredible RV show pricing we're offering on select models right now. Any of these three travel trailers for sale at Moore's RV could be yours … Continued


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FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots honored former linebacker Ted Johnson at halftime of yesterday's game. ''I'm certainly overwhelmed," Johnson said before the game. ''It's so flattering, over the top really. I'll take it in, I'll enjoy it and I'll appreciate it and not let this moment pass me by." (Full article: 428 words)
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Situated right by the Italian border, and in the next valley along from Zermatt, a ski holiday in Saas-Fee has a slightly less convenient transfer than your average Swiss resort. Of course that needs to be put into perspective as Swiss Ski resorts have arguably the easiest transfers in the Alps.
There are a number of airports to choose from, the closest of which is Sion, making it slightly easier to get a good deal on your airfare. Although the journey is long, it is magical, as when you arrive you'll find yourself among the highest mountains in Europe and in a wonderful, traditional, car-free Alpine setting.
By Plane
Sion - 80km / approx 1h20m by car or 2h30m by rail
The easiest way to get to Saas-Fee from Sion is either in a hire car or private transfer with Ski Lifts
It is also a manageable journey on public transport, although slightly inconvenient by Swiss standards. You'll need to get into Sion itself from where you take the train to Visp, and then the bus (which runs every 30mins) to Saas-Fee. Check sbb.ch for tickets and more info.
Geneva - 234km / approx 2h30m by car or 3h40m by rail
If travelling by rail, take the train from the airport direct to Visp, where there's a 15 minute wait for the bus that takes you direct to Saas-Fee. You can buy tickets from sbb.ch.
It will be a little quicker to drive, so taking a hire car or private transfer with Ski Lifts are both options.
Zurich - 250 km / approx 3h20m by both car and rail
There are direct trains to Visp from Zuriuch airport that leave at 40 minutes past every hour, failing that you will need to change at Zurich Hauptbahnhof. From Visp there is a bus that takes you up to Saas-Fee.sbb.ch has timetables and tickets.
If you prefer the open road then we suggest either hiring a car or taking a private transfer with Alp Line.
Bern - 120 km / approx 2h25m and 10 minutes longer by train
If taking the train from Bern airport you will need to change at Bern Hauptbahnhof to the direct train to Visp. From Visp the bus will take you to Saas-Fee.
Bern's not great for private transfers so your best bet is a hire car if you want to avoid public transport.
Basel - 225km / approx 3h10m by car and about 10 minutes quicker by train
Like with Bern, the train from Basel will require a change at the main Bern station, and then another change at Visp on to the Saas-Fee-bound bus. Check www.sbb.ch for more details and tickets.
You can also hire a car and drive fairly comfortably, or splash out and get a private transfer with someone like Ski Lifts
Milan - 160km / approx 2h45m
There is a bus that goes directly from Milano Centrale to Saas-Fee, with 2 services in the morning and another 2 in the afternoon. The bus can be booked at www.sbb.com. There are train options available as well, but they involve 3 or 4 changes so we wouldn't recommend them.
If driving make sure you fly to Malpensa airport rather than Linate, as Linate is on the wrong side of town for Saas-Fee. From there you can hire a car or take a private transfer.
Car Rental
If you require a hire car for your ski holiday, there are a number of fantastic car rental companies based in Europe.
By Train
Taking the train from the UK to Saas-Fee can be done in a day, but it is a good 11 hour journey. You will want to set off from St Pancras no later than 0930 train, and will need to change in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon if travelling via Lausanne, or Paris-Est if travelling via Basel. From Basel or Laussane there's a change to the train for Visp, where you then change to the regular Visp to Saas-Fee bus.
So, if you want to avoid the trappings of modern air travel the train is an option, but not a particularly easy one.
The drive to Saas-Fee can be done in a day, but it is likely to be quite a long day, and once you arrive you'll wonder what the point of it all was as the village is car free. If you are determined to do it though, you'll be on the road for a good 9 hours or more once reaching Calais.
Once on French soil you'll need to head South East past Reimes, Troyes, Dijon and then on to Lausanne in Switzerland. From Lausanne you'll drive through the Rhone Valley towards Visp and from there the final climb up to Saas-Fee. You can get more detailed directions at www.viamichelin.com
There are 3000 parking spaces in the large covered car park by the entrance to the village. The parking costs are CHF16.50 for the first day, and then CHF12.50 for each day after that. In order to take advantage of the multi night stay discounts you will need to have a visitor card which your hotel can provide you with. All hotels in Saas-Fee can provide transport from the car park to their property.


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If the Catholic Church is so out of touch and irrelevant, why the concerted efforts at the UN to drive out the Vatican's influence?
This goes back years. Why now? And what's behind this latest attack?
As faithful Catholics continue to contend with last week's incendiary United Nations report attacking the Church for her teachings on contraception, abortion, and homosexuality, it may be time to look closely at the real agenda at the United Nations.
For more than two decades, the UN has dedicated itself to attempting to diminish the influence of the Church on life issues. We need to begin to understand why.
In an October 2013 Crisis article entitled "Kicking the Church out of the UN," Austin Ruse, the president of Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), suggests that the reason for the hostility directed at the Church is because the Church has obstructed the goals of the population control zealots at the UN. "Starting at the Cairo Conference in 1994, the Church has been able to block an international right to abortion … the Holy See has consistently handed the Catholics for Choice, the Norwegians, the United Nations Population Fund and all the other uglies at the UN defeat after defeat."
It is likely that last week's UN Committee on the Rights of the Child report was payback. Despite its non-voting status at the United Nations, the Holy See has stood as the major barrier to the UN goal of universal access to abortion and contraception for young girls and women throughout the world. While the Church was unable to convince all countries—including the United States—of the evils of abortion, the Vatican, as a sovereign state, continues to play an important role at the negotiating table in areas in which the Church has a stake in helping to ensure the right to life and the dignity of the person.
The UN has attempted to end that influence.
This is so implausible, given the foundations of the United Nations on the dignity and rights of all human beings, universally.
But here we are.
So who's looking out for whom? Sr. Mary Ann Walsh puts it well, and succinctly.
Sexual abuse of a minor is a sin and a crime and no organization can become complacent about addressing it. The Catholic Church has certainly done more than any other international organization to face the problem and it will continue to lead in doing so…
A report from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child highlights the problem of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. Unfortunately the report is weakened by including objections to Catholic teaching on such issues as gay marriage, abortion and contraception. This seems to violate the U.N.'s obligation from its earliest days to defend religious freedom. In 1948, the organization adopted its Universal Declaration of Human Rights that declared that "everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion." Certainly the U.N. charge to defend religious freedom includes defending the Church's right to determine its own teachings. Defense of religious freedom is no small matter in a world where people, including children, get murdered for simply going to church. That's what happened last September when militants killed 81 people, including children, attending Sunday school at a Christian church in Peshawar, Pakistan.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child is correct to voice concern over sexual abuse and is to be commended for its efforts. It would have credibility, however, if it also worked to protect the most basic right of a child: the right to live. Would that it made headlines because of concern for minors being trafficked in the world's sex trade and children dying from starvation and dysentery from impure water. When the U.N. committee strays into the culture wars to promote abortion, contraceptives and gay marriage, it undermines its noble cause and trades concern for children to concern for organizations with other agendas. What a lost opportunity.
…the secular human rights regime believes it is at the brink of final victory in these matters. (It has believed so for about 50 years now.) The forces of obscurity are in retreat and religion no longer dictates people's lives, at least in the civilized West. The Catholic Church, in particular, is on the ropes, a victim of its own sins and intransigence. Why not put an end to its obstructionism once and for all? This would help the cause of progress, and actually be a good thing for the Church, too.
The committee no doubt expected the negative reaction of the Vatican to last week's report. But it may have been surprised that so many in the elite media objected too. The Economist criticized the report for being sloppy and taking positions on issues where consensus is lacking. The Atlantic's Emma Green complained that the report inappropriately critiqued deeply-held religious beliefs. And the Boston Globe's John Allen argued that the report would only confirm the opinion of skeptics that the UN is motivated by politics and secular ideology. Perhaps the final victory is still a ways off.
One of sound mind and clear reasoning can only hope. Or better still, hope that perhaps there will be no victory at all for the aggressors against the greatest defender of human dignity and human rights around the world.


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For the love of my mother
As Mother's Day approaches, I am reminded how incredibly blessed I am to have had strong, kind women in my life. From my mom to my grandmothers to aunts to family friends, I have had excellent role models give thousands of examples of how to love yourself and others. I am grateful for the opportunities to spend hours with these women, learning, laughing and listening.
I have been blessed to be surrounded by love my entire life. There is no doubt about it. I was raised by two loving parents who not only loved my sisters and me dearly, but loved each other. Our house was filled with laughter, hugs and silly antics. We were by no means the perfect family – we argued at times, saved pennies, watched Dallas, gossiped and did other not so perfect actions. But we loved and supported each other always. Family loyalty was instilled in us at an early age.
When I was younger I simply assumed that all mothers were as kind and loving as mine. That every mother baked cookies, waited at the bus stop after Kindergarten, volunteered during class parties, read books before bedtime and made crafts with you. It wasn't until high school that I learned that not all moms were like my mom. Maybe it was even college before it really set in that not all moms spend hours on the phone ensuring college financial aid is set or spend hours at a barn so her daughter can live her dream of riding horses or drive hours to pick up a homesick child from college. As I heard stories of other childhoods, I realized how very lucky I am to have my mom whose hugs made the world calm, who cheered louder than others, who made you face reality while standing beside you. I doubt most moms could match the strength of mine during my cancer treatment. She made doctors and nurses move quickly and efficiently, single-handedly took on the insurance company and nursed me back to health. She has been equally protective and supportive of my sisters. My mom, without a doubt, is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to protecting her family.
I'm also lucky to have had two amazing grandmothers (I adored, almost worshipped, my paternal grandfather and my maternal grandfather
sadly died before I was born). They were strong women who taught good lessons about family, loyalty, being a lady, being educated and being loved while giving love. They happily gave hugs and kisses, and, as I grew older, they became dear friends. My memories make me smile while missing them daily.
I don't know if I will ever have my own children. My husband and I aren't sure. I admit some days I waiver, when I think of the love I grew up with and see my husband with other children or see a curly-haired spunky little boy running around (my mom is convinced we will have boys if we decide to have kids). Regardless of our choice, I am thankful for the childhood I had, for the continued love and support my mom gives to me daily. And if I ever become a mother, I only hope I can be a fraction of the mom she has been to us.
Happy Mother's Day to my mom, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends and all the mothers, aunts (we play the mom role at times too) and women who are mothers in some way. May you have a happy, loving day.