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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.
Joel 1:3
Valley Christian School has been helping homeschool families for over 25 years. Our primary goal is to assist parents who have been called by God to homeschool their children. We do this by having monthly conferences with a certified teacher, who also has experience as a homeschool parent. Families receive help with curriculum decisions, lesson planning and annual testing. Students take part in weekly homeschool classes, or in some cases do everything at home through our accountability program.
Our desire is to partner with you in the development of Godly character, study skills, problem-solving and writing abilities, classroom etiquette and healthy social development in your children. We provide outreach opportunities, projects, and annual events with and apart from the day school. Families are encouraged and welcomed to attend the all school service project called the Panther Project in October, along with other fundraising events.
Are you interested in learning more about our Homeschool programs? Please head over to our contact page and send us a note or contact Joy Hill at (509) 924-9131.
Full Program
Our one day a week elementary classes are Christ centered and fully cover Bible, geography, and science. The students have computer time and a little grammar, punctuation, and math. Parents like you are encouraged to spend their time teaching reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and math at home. Parents report to the teacher each month on their child's progress for their permanent file. Elementary students can participate in PE, music, choir, and chess with the day school classes. We have a limit of twelve students in each of our elementary classes. Standardized tests are given in March, and students participate in a different type of symposium each year. We collect socks, peanut butter, and jelly for homeless teens each year.
On Tuesdays our middle school and high school classes teach Bible, history, science, math, and English from a Biblical word view. Each teacher communicates with students and their parents weekly so that everyone knows what work is to be completed at home, and what needs to be corrected before the following Tuesday. High school students also have two classes that must be completed at home each year in order to graduate through our program – PE, foreign language, fine arts, and occupational education. Homeschool students are welcome to participate in all the day school activities, sports, robotics, chess… and can take up to three day school classes for a fee. Our small class sizes allow for socializing as well as plenty of time for our teachers to cover the necessary material while building a relationship with each student. We keep track of grades and meet with parents monthly to go over student progress as they work toward a graduation diploma and to keep their permanent file current. Standardized tests are given in March.
Includes all features of the Accountability Program, plus:
One day/week classes, Tuesdays 8:15-3:00 for K-12th on the Valley Christian School campus.
Students must follow VCS standards for dress and behavior when at school.
Activities such as outreach projects, special programs, Science, Literature or History Symposium are incorporated at all levels.
Students may participate in VCS sports.
Students may attend Wednesday chapels. (Grades 3-12)
High School students may attend the Christmas Banquet, the Junior/Senior Banquet along with the Fall and Spring retreats with the day school.
Elementary, Grades K-2
One day/week enrichment classes include Hands-on Science, Bible, Geography, Writing, Computer Lab, Art, PE, Music, and Math Skills.
1st and 2nd grade students may take part in Valley Christian elementary choir, classroom music and PE classes.
Elementary, Grades 3-5
One day/week enrichment classes include Bible, Science, Geography, Computer Lab, PE, Music, and Art.
Students may take part in Valley Christian elementary choir, classroom music, computer and PE classes.
Middle School, Grades 6-8
Students receive instruction, homework assignments and grades for weekly classes in Bible, Math, Science, English, and History
Students in weekly classes receive mid-quarter on-line Progress Reports and semester Report Cards online.
7th & 8th grade students may take up to three daily VCS classes, if space is available. There is an additional cost per class.
High School, Grades 9-12
Credits may be earned through home-taught courses, weekly and/or daily VCS classes.
One day/week classes include Science, Bible, Math, History and English.
Students receive instruction, homework assignments and grades for weekly classes.
Students in weekly classes receive mid-quarter on-line Progress Reports and semester Report Cards on line.
They receive a Valley Christian high school transcript/diploma.
Students may take up to four daily VCS classes, if space is available. There is an additional cost per daily class per year.
Accountability – All Families
Accountability students are taught by you at home from an approved curriculum. Parents meet with the Homeschool Coordinator monthly to show work samples and to report on their child's progress for their permanent file. Secondary students are required to have daily grades, test grades, and a final grade for each subject, each quarter as they work toward the diploma requirements. Standardized tests are given in March.
Grades K-8
Families receive a weekly newsletter; these are also posted on the school's Edline website.
Students receive annual standardized testing, and cumulative school files are maintained.
Curriculum options are discussed and evaluated. However, this is very individualized for classes taught at home and curriculum will be purchased by the parents.
Workshops and Valley Christian School Parent-Teacher Fellowship meetings are open to all parents.
Grades 9-11
Sr. High students may earn grades and credits toward graduation.
All course work is done outside VCS. The parent verifies this work via monthly meetings with the teacher/advisor.
In order for accountability students to receive a high school diploma they must complete the VCS graduation requirements.


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Teams play in the Central Zone Secondary School weekly badminton competition. Auckland Badminton provide a weekly coahing session on Monday lunchtime.
|Year Levels:
|Years 9-13
|Competition Days/Terms:
|Terms 2 and 3. Monday – Friday, dependent on grade competing in.
|Auckland Badminton Hall (Gillies Ave) and some schools
|$70 per term
|Baradene PE top and shorts, can wear Baradene tracksuit if owned
|Staff in Charge:
|jacqui Foote
[email protected]

subset: commoncrawl


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The Business Case for Modern Flexo Equipment [INFOGRAPHIC]
Because of the workhorse nature of legacy – or traditional – flexographic presses, many converters have adapted a 'more with more' philosophy. That's to say, print houses are adding more capacity by purchasing more equipment.
As a provider of industry-leading legacy equipment, Mark Andy understands the draw. The 2200 is a true laborer – a label press that is the foundation on which many printers have built their business. With its flexibility, simplicity and high efficiency, this flexo press has stood the test of time and continues to help enforce pressroom profitability.
With that said, advancements to flexographic technology have paved the way for the Performance Series line that is synonymous with modern flexo. And that technology is more than just something flashy for converters to tout – it translates to more productivity, less waste and ultimately, more profitability.
The Performance Series P4 is uniquely designed to accept plate roll tooling from legacy flexo presses, which allows converters to easily transfer work from existing 2200 or other compatible presses. It encompasses a 'more with less' philosophy; adding more capacity with less equipment.
Are you ready for a competitive audit? We can help. Contact us to learn more about the efficiency, production and ultimately financial benefits of adding modern flexo to your pressroom.


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Dino eggs shape Easter eggs, says new study
An international group of researchers has helped to determine that dinosaurs have shaped the Easter eggs we buy in the high street.
Scientists investigating whether 70 million-year-old fossil eggs found in the Pyrenees were laid by birds, or their dinosaur ancestors, have published their findings in the current issue of the journal Palaeontology.
And researchers from the University of Leicester have extended the study further by comparing Easter egg shapes to those of birds' and dino eggs.
The authors of the Pyrenees research, Nieves Lopez-Martinez of the Universidad Complutense of Madrid and Enric Vicens of the Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona, compared the shape of the fossil eggs with various dinosaur and modern bird eggs:
"We found that different species have different shaped eggs, and that the eggs of dinosaurs are not the same shape as the eggs of birds," said Enric Vicens.
In the scientific analysis, a mathematical formula was used to determine and describe all possible egg shapes, and real eggs were then plotted into this "egg morphospace"; in simple terms, as Vicens points out "dinosaur eggs tend to be more elongate and less rounded than birds eggs.
"Dinosaur eggs also tend to be more symmetrical with less distinction between the blunt and the more pointed end," Vicens added.
A small additional project carried out at the University of Leicester in the UK reveals that Easter egg shape varies considerably more than would be expected if they all came from the same parent species.
Professor Mark Purnell of the University of Leicester Department of Geology, and a council member of the Palaeontological Association, publishers of the research on the Spanish fossil eggs study, said: "Where do Easter eggs come from? At face value this is a simple question, but any parent trying to provide an answer this Easter might struggle to come up with a satisfactory response. According to many, the eggs are delivered by the Easter Bunny, but that doesn't really address the question; where does the Easter Bunny get them from? A quick search of the Internet reveals a confusing range of rumour and speculation could the Easter Bunny really be a hare? Are Easter eggs from hare's nests (and are these really plover nests?) Or are the eggs just symbols of pagan gods?
"Many of the smaller eggs to be found commonly on the UK High Street are very similar in shape to hen's eggs, providing strong clues to their original source. Others are more similar in shape to Condor eggs.
"Perhaps more surprisingly a few eggs are closer in shape to those of dinosaurs, with one in particular being the same shape as the 70 million year old dinosaur egg, Sankofa pyrenaica, described by the Spanish team".
According to Professor Darla Zelenitsky of the University of Calgary, an expert on dinosaurs and their eggs who was not involved in either study "It is really exciting to find these additional links between extinct dinosaurs and living birds - birds are living dinosaurs so it makes perfect sense that their eggs share such similarities." She goes on to note that "Palaeontologists have long suggested that small early mammals might have raided the nests of dinosaurs. Generally, the idea is that they stole the eggs for food, but if the evidence of this Easter egg research is reliable, perhaps early mammals had more playful and colourful motives."
The palaeontological research of Lopez-Martinez and Vicens resulted in a handy diagram showing the range of egg shapes in birds and their dinosaur ancestors. So to answer the question of where your Easter eggs come from, simply compare the shape of your eggs to those in the diagram.


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Carl's Back Story
Carl is from Fort Riley Kansas, home of the 1st Infantry Division of the US military. Both his parents worked on the base, but neither were enlisted. One Summer his father finds him a job on the base as a janitor and he develops a childhood crush for one of the officer's daughters when she flirts with him. He feels like she lured him in and then unexpectedly turned on him; in any case, all he remembers is that he lost his job. Then, in High School he wanted to visit a foreign country (get out of Kansas) so he applied to AFS in the hopes of spending a semester abroad, but he wasn't accepted.
After High School, most of his classmates enrolled in the Army, but Carl had grown tired of all the meaningless discipline and applied to UCLA under the guise of the ROTC program. He meets Mark in college when they turn out to be roommates his freshman year. It was tough at first since they had nearly nothing in common, but they become close friends as Mark helps Carl with his studies and Carl helps Mark become more outgoing on campus.
Carl is straight and had never come across the LGBT community until he went to UCLA. Fortunately, Mark was able to get him past his initial culture shock and he's willing to work with anyone now, but there's still a sense of bewilderment and he keeps it out of his private life. In college, he always made it a point to tell people that he was straight and would get upset when people joked about "what his relationship with Mark really was".
Carl has tons of charisma and he now travels the country giving motivational seminars to veterans. He's best known for using interactive exercises to engage his participants. He drops in on Carl whenever he is in the Bay area, but he has grown tired of the road and knows that if he finds the right girl, he'll ask her to go back to Fort Riley with him, get married and settle down.


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Minor In Possession Lawyer in Okaloosa County
Laws that concern the use of drugs or alcohol in the possession of a minor are known as minor in possession laws. These laws are enforced whether or not the minor was actually using the drugs or intoxicating substance or was just in possession of them. A minor below the legal age can be convicted of Minor In Possession charges even if they have unopened cans or bottles of beer or alcohol in their possession. However, these laws do not apply in cases where the minor consumes or uses the drug or alcohol with the permission of their legal guardian or parent at home. Attorneys at the office of Stephen G. Cobb in Okaloosa County, FL, have handled numerous cases and defended minor in possession charges. Call us at (850) 423-0035 to discuss your case with an Okaloosa County Minor In Possession Lawyer. Florida Criminal Defense Legal Group, PLLC also serve other areas in Florida including Jefferson County, Madison County and Florida Panhandle.
You Might Be Interested In:
- What Is A Minor In Possession Of Alcohol Charge In Florida?
- What Are Penalties For Minor In Possession Of Alcohol Charges In Florida?
- Are People Taken Straight To Jail On Minor In Possession Of Alcohol Charges?
- Can Minor In Possession Of Alcohol Charges Affect Jobs And Job Applications?
- What Are The Consequences Of A Minor In Possession Of Alcohol Conviction?
- Should I Accept A Diversion Program For MIP Charges In Florida?
- What Is The Process After Someone Has Been Arrested On MIP Charges?
- Are There Any Diversion Programs Specific To MIP Charges In Florida?
- How Do You Defend Minor In Possession Of Alcohol Cases?
- What Are Some Common Mistakes Made In MIP Cases?
- Unique Attributes Of Cobb Law Firm In Handling MIP Cases


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Late last week Microsoft has apologized to OneDrive users that have lost their free 15GB/30GB of space on its cloud service, offering the chance to keep the gigabytes without additional compensation.
The Redmond company has decided to go for such a move after receiving more than 72.000 user requests for the return of the cloud space. Last month, Microsoft announced it will terminate the unlimited OneDrive space for Office365 users, and some 15-30GB of free space for all others.
"In November we made a business decision to reduce storage limits for OneDrive. Since then, we've heard clearly from our Windows and OneDrive fans about the frustration and disappointment we have caused. We realize the announcement came across as blaming customers for using our product. For this, we are truly sorry and would like to apologize to the community," said Microsoft's Douglas Pearce.
Together with the apology, Microsoft has offered current OneDrive users to keep their free storage on the cloud (which varies between 15 and 30GB).
All OneDrive users need to do in order to keep their free gigabytes is to click on this link (opens in new tab)before January ends. If they don't their space will be limited to 5GB, which will be a new standard for all other users of the service.
Pearce also assured that non-business Office 365 subscribers - Home, Personal, or University, would receive 1TB of storage. The company, however, isn't bringing back the 100GB and 200GB OneDrive storage plans. And the "unlimited" OneDrive storage tier is also not making a return.


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In february 2013 a students team from Alma Mater Tv took part in Erasmus Intensive Programme for two weeks in Torino University.
"Media & TV Students' Training"
"Media & TV Students' Training"
The intensive programme "Media & TV Students' Training" will be a great opportunity to
implement a common programme working with other institutions already involved in EUTV.
Students will learn to:
– Develop the approach/method to translate complex topics into comprehensive audiovisual
language (e.g. results from multidisciplinary research) for the general public(show, don't tell)
implementing high journalistic quality criteria;
– Work with an International Approach, bringing diverse backgrounds into interdisciplinary
project management and intercultural teamwork and enforcing intercultural teamwork between
students and teachers;
– disseminate knowledge;
– promote European cultures and scientific thought with students who are interested in learning
new and innovative ways in teaching media subjects;
– promote multidisciplinary approach in the media.
Main activities
– learning to shoot, edit, story telling for audio-visual formats on science dissemination,
– implementing high journalistic quality criteria in their work,
– using a website to divulge and distribute the products of science journalism,
– exploring research,
– managing projects,
– conducting meetings with scholars and learning how to translate humanities events in
audiovisual communication,
Target Groups
– students from European universities who will discuss and explore the means of translating
scientific results into the audiovisual language of science journalism and thereby supporting the
spread of science results worldwide.
– teachers involved in media, who are interested in learning new and innovative ways of teaching
in media subjects
Expected outputs
– The output of the workshop will be the audio-visual features produced by the students. These
can then be incorporated into the EUTV website. Students can refer to the website e.g. when
applying for jobs and they can also be sure of an international display of their work.
Curriculum for the Workshop
"Media & TV Students' Training"
The Erasmus Intensive Programme brings together students and teaching staff from European higher educational institutions which is a unique opportunity for cross-fertilization between higher education in journalism and media and European University TV.
During the last years video and web TV has become a common used tool for communication and education. Almost all universities use Web TV and host media production.
As a result of the international conference on University Television,(Turin "University Making
Television"), in 2009, EUTV was created – a consortium of European universities supporting broadcasting and webcasting in order to disseminate acknowledge, promote European cultures and scientific thought and emphasize scientific research results.
The media course will benefit from EUTV network while the course may contribute to EUTV's further development.
The programme will allow a better multilateral cooperation between higher education institutions in Europe involved in EUTV.
Our primary goal will be that STUDENTS LEARN how to create a web-based platform. In the long perspective we want to create a platform which can enable students to find a bigger audience for their work and to profit from watching other students work.
Also, a goal is to support the development of innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practice for lifelong learning (ERA-OpObj-6).
The targeted audience of EUTV is the international scientific community comprising students and teachers. They are all called to take the proposed content as a basis for further discussion and
for further cooperation of different university tv channels/ seminar cooperations and so on.
One of the main goals of the Programme will be the support to the development of innovative
ICT-based content, through the establishment of a web-based audio-visual platform. This tool
will disseminate projects and events in humanities, arts and natural sciences from European universities, across the world, engaging students in workshops.
One of the concepts of EUTV is to teach students the art of making audio-visual products with a high level of journalistic quality, enhancing their intercultural competences and acquainting them with interdisciplinary work.
The content for the platform is provided by the members of the consortium. It will be produced primarily by students as well as media professionals. The features are produced in the countries of the members and in their native languages with subtitles or in English.
The platform allows the content to be available as single features while at the same time programmes on specific topics etc. will be produced. Each member has the possibility to host a programme.
To improve the quality and to increase the volume of student and teaching staff mobility throughout Europe, so as to contribute to increase by 2013 individual participants in student mobility under the Erasmus programme and its predecessor programmes (ERA-OpObj-1);
and to improve the quality and to increase the volume of multilateral cooperation between higher education institutions in Europe (ERA-OpObj-2)
Teaching Scheme
The courses will be conducted in mixed groups of three students. The groups are composed by
two students from a media subject and one student from a non-media subject. On this basis the
learning process is conducted on a peer-to-peer level. The groups and their work are supervised
and accompanied by professionals from the media and academia from the EUTV consortium. All
courses are held in English.
Before the workshop starts the students are encouraged to choose a topic about which they want
to produce a feature. They are further asked to conduct research in advance and to exchange with
the other students via an internet platform especially provided.
The IP program will be developed for 80 hours course. According to the ECTS Standard one ECTS
equates 25-30 working hours. In addition to the present program the projects require the
students to do some (supervised) preparation before the workshop in Turin starts. This
preparation work will add up to another 25-30 hours. Therefore the IP program will equate 4
Students will be selected among the universities involved. The selection criteria will be based on
their technology competences and their skills on professional figures of television productions.
The course will improve the students knowledge in setup a TV product. The main proposed idea
will be that making television means to work in a team and to cooperate to make sense to a
communication product.


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- 2 pounds ground chicken (or turkey)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
- 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup dried bread crumbs or GF
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- In a large bowl, use a fork to combine the ground chicken, garlic, parsley, oregano, and lemon juice. Season with the salt and pepper. Form the meat into 16 small patties.
- Place the bread crumbs in a shallow dish. Coat each patty in the crumbs, turning to coat and pressing so the crumbs adhere; set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add some of the patties and cook, turning once, until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes total. (If the patties brown before they're cooked through, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and continue to cook for a few minutes more.)
- Repeat with the remaining oil and patties. Serve plain or on hot-dog buns halved to match the miniature size of the burgers
- To freeze: Form the chicken mixture into patties but do not coat it in the breadcrumbs. Place the patties on a parchment- or wax paper-lined baking sheet and freeze. Transfer to a large resalable bag and store for up to 3 months.
- To reheat: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or defrost in the microwave. Coat in the breadcrumbs


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How many times over the years have you heard yourself say, "I need a vacation to recover from my vacation!" upon your return from any of the fabulous vacation spots you were visiting? While vacations are designed to get you out of your head and away from the stresses of everyday life, we often cram them with activities, adventures, and events until we are exhausted, drained, and ready to sleep for a week. This year, however, instead of a vacation, you're taking a journey of health and wellness to Fort Walton Beach. This year, your journey is going to be all about you!
Day 1: Feel the Tensions Ease- Florida Wellness
You've traveled most of the day, spending your hours in cramped spaces, breathing other's oxygen, and feeling your stress levels rise, but now that you've reached your beachfront condo at The Breakers of Fort Walton Beach, you can already feel the tension easing. As you go about your business of unpacking and exploring the luxury amenities we offer, take a few moments to go out on the balcony and just breathe—breathe out all the bad mojo and horrible travel experiences, and breathe in fresh ocean breezes and good karma. They say a journey begins with a single step, and you've just taken yours!
Day 2: Water Therapy
The theory of evolution shows how we came from water and perhaps that explains the attraction we feel towards great bodies of water; it is in our DNA. Whatever the reason, nothing clears the mind and fills our souls more than a day at the ocean, so on day two of your journey we are going to the beach to enrich our bodies with some Florida health. Bring a beach blanket, an umbrella, and if you need to keep your mind occupied, a good book to read. Today, the most strenuous activity you will participate in is floating on your back in the clear waters, feeling the sun's rays kiss your face and the cool saltiness below you. Today is about the sun, peace, and the salty water, and when you return to the sugary white sand beach, take a moment and practice your breathing again.
Day 3: What SUP with You
Day three brings us back to the beach for a water therapy of a different kind. Stand-up paddleboarding is an ancient art that has become the newest craze, and SUP Express, located in Destin, is going to be your partner in wellness. Offering tours (including a night SUP experience that amps up the calming factor!), rentals, and instructions, your every SUP need will be met with a visit here! And because stand-up paddleboarding works out the body as it provides a peaceful meditative experience for the mind, you'll be doing your body twice as much good!
Day 4: Outer Beauty and Inner Peace
No health and wellness journey would be complete without a trip to a spa, and the Beverly Hills Day Spa found at 114 Palmetto Suite 6 in Destin offers an award-winning day of pampering! Offering everything from mani/pedis to skin care to couples massage, you'll be sure to find your inner peace as they work on your outer beauty. And remember, peace of mind can come from looking good, so go ahead and splurge with that pedicure after your massage; pretty toes makes the soul feel good. Click here to learn more about our spa treatments.
Day 5: Walk Away Your Worries
Sometimes all you need to feel better about yourself is a simple walk, and if that walk happens to take you along the shores of the Gulf, even better! Every journey needs a bit of compromise, so today is a free day—just be sure to start and end it with a casual stroll along water's edge. Feel the waves splashing against your toes, smell the salty beach air, and keep your eyes on the horizon as the sun rises in the morning or sets in the evening. And when you're looking for an extra helping of peace and enchantment, a moonlit stroll can be added to the mix! Check out one of the most popular parks in Fort Walton Beach- Ross Marler Park.
Day 6: Happy Stomach, Happy Heart
Florida Wellness starts in the stomach. If you put nothing but junk in, expect your health to suffer, so on the final full day of your journey, we're going to feed your belly with some fresh and healthy treats from the sea. The Back Porch at 1740 Scenic Highway 98 in Destin has been a local tradition for just about 45 years now and the secret of their success is simple: serve healthy food that tastes great. Their grilled seafood dishes will delight your taste buds, fill your stomach, and make your scale very happy!
Day 7: The Final Farewell
The week has passed in a blink of an eye, but we're hoping your journey has been a successful one. Are you ready to go back to work, feeling calm, centered, and relaxed? Then we have done our jobs right! As you pack for your return home and take one last look at the most important pieces of your Florida health and wellness journey, your Breakers getaway, we look forward to seeing you again! It's never too soon to start planning your next journey, so reserve your favorite piece of paradise today!


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By Dennis Rweyemamu
Tanzania's natural wealth has increased with the discovery of large deposits of deep-water off-shore natural gas. These discoveries have generated considerable expectations, even though commercial operations have not started. But what is the magnitude and timing of the economic impact of the "boom"? How many jobs will be created? What is the potential for local supply chains and government revenue? These are important questions which need to be tied into managing expectations from the much politicized gas discoveries.
Official estimates put the total amount of gas discovered so far at about 57.25 trillion cubic feet (TCF). These are significant volumes, though much smaller than the 180 TCF reserves also recently discovered offshore Mozambique. They are also a very small fraction when compared to countries having the largest proven gas reserves in the world including Russia (1139.6 TCF), Iran (1201.4 TCF) and Qatar (866.2 TCF). The on-shore or shallow-water fields, such as those at Songo Songo and Mnazi Bay account for only 20 percent of the discoveries, while the offshore deep water fields account for the other 80 percent. The latter will cost much more to bring to production which reflects the scale and engineering involved.
There is a range of potential uses for increased gas supply to Tanzania. Until recently, the country was producing up to 30 per cent of power from diesel generators, with imported fuel. Substituting to lower cost gas-fired power generation would be a potentially significant gain, and the most immediate and lowest cost source comes from the on-shore and shallow water fields: Songo Songo and Mnazi Bay. Given the scale of production volumes required to justify the investment, the majority of the deep-water gas will have to go for export where there is the demand for gas at world prices in sufficient volumes. Yet still, there are 'domestic market obligations' included in the contracts for deep-water gas. That means that some minimum percentage of gas, probably between 5 and 10 per cent of production, could be sold into the domestic market, if required, at an agreed price with the potential use of gas for electricity, industrial production and fertilizer production.
Although there are proven reserves of gas, it will be a long time before there is any production from the large offshore reserves. That wealth in the form of gas is effectively 'stranded' until the huge investment required to release it, is both committed and disbursed. The combination of deepwater gas production and the development of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant makes for a big and complex project, surrounded by a range of risks. Such a project goes through phases, and it begins with the planning phase which involves technical and commercial evaluation. This can last several years, depending on the complexity of the project. Once a decision to go ahead has been made, and the necessary preparation is completed, the construction phase typically lasts for 4 to 5 years. Once the project starts operations, it will run for 20-30 years, and when it has finished, de-commissioning takes place over 2-3 years. Tanzania is still in the planning phase and the final investment decision is not expected to be reached before 2018 at the earliest.
The largest impact of the deepwater gas project is likely to be through government revenues. The project will also contribute to direct, indirect and induced job creation, but the scale will critically depend on whether opportunities for training and employing Tanzanians are being taken, and whether it will be possible to develop a Tanzanian element in the supply chain. But what are the likely numbers and timing of these impacts?
During the planning phase of these projects, the contractors and their subcontractors will have already created a few hundred jobs. This is not much, although these jobs will also have had a modest induced impact through multiplier effects as workers spend their incomes. In addition, these companies need locally supplied inputs and services including transport, housing, office space, and other office services.
Direct job creation during construction could potentially be in the thousands of jobs, mainly for the construction of the LNG plant. However, this will depend on the extent to which sufficient up-front training and skills development can be delivered. During the operating phase, direct job creation will be more limited, numbering only in the hundreds of jobs. There will be scope for more jobs to be created indirectly, if the government and the private sector can work out a suitable approach to developing the industrial capabilities of Tanzanian firms and the skills of individuals as part of the supply chain. Relying solely on local content within the gas sector to develop a large country like Tanzania is not adequate. This makes thinking about linkages with the non-extractive economy important. Seizing the opportunities to transfer knowledge, business practices and kick start private sector development that leads to wider development beyond the gas sector is typically a better strategy.
During the production phase, the single biggest impact will eventually be from revenue to government through royalties, profit shares, corporate income tax, and dividends from the state-held equity in the project. However, even if all goes well (best case scenario), production is unlikely to start before 2022. The need to reimburse capital costs means that significant profit-sharing will commence a further five years or more down the line (starting 2027). It is also likely to take ten years of production (untill 2032) before both a corporate income tax liability and a dividend for distribution from after-tax corporate profits are realized. Projections show that annual revenue to government at peak (beyond 2035) will be a modest number of single-digits percentages of GDP (about 2%) and a few tens of dollars per person per year.
What the figures have actually shown us is that, although there will be significant gains from the gas projects, it will take some time before these gains are fully realized. However, the discoveries have already triggered an explosion of unrealistic expectations, which can rapidly become a problem for Government. This has to be countered by presenting the basic facts. There is a critical need in communicating facts and managing expectations. The default option is that people will think they are now very rich having discovered trillions of cubic feet of gas.
This article was written as a part of the work that is being undertaken under UONGOZI Institute's Natural Resource Management Programme. More information on the Programme is available on UONGOZI Institute's website: www.uongozi.or.tz. To comment on the article, visit www.uongoziblog.wordpress.com.
Mr. Dennis Rweyemamu is the Head of Research & Policy at UONGOZI Institute.


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Bismillah Alrahman Alrahim
Oh Ya Rasool Allah (s.a.w),
I miss you so much. I always wish to become a great muslim like you. I think of you as a leader, as a person who takes the right path. You were sent to us as a mercy. You were sent to us to spread islam and the Quran. You are the greatest person that I know. I have never met you, but I feel that I know you since a long time ago. When I follow sunnah, and do what you taught us, I feel that you are still alive, living with us.Inshallah I will do my best to be in the same level as you in Jannah.
Shahd Abuabed, a 6th grader, an 11 year old


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Another week, another firing. It's going to be hard to beat Mooch's mere 10 days on the job.
Here's my weekly roundup of articles, food for thought, ways to take action, ongoing resources and lighter stuff to keep sane. You can take a look back at week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, week 13, week 14, week 15, week 16, week 17 , week 18, week 19, week 20, week 21, week 22, week 23, week 24, week 25, week 26 and week 27.
As per usual, I hope you will take the time to read and understand what's going on and then take some action that goes beyond sharing a Facebook post or sending an email. If you have something to add, please do so via a comment.
I will continue to do this for as long as necessary. We can't look away. Neither can the men and women we elect to represent us.
- Donald Trump Endorses Police Brutality In Speech To Cops (Huffington Post, July 28, 2017)
- The Anthony Scaramucci Era Will Be Freakish, Embarrassing and All Too Short (Rolling Stone, July 28, 2017)
- Anthony Scaramucci's wife files for divorce (Page Six, July 28, 2017)
- McCain casts crucial vote to kill 'skinny' ObamaCare repeal (The Hill, July 28, 2017)
- ObamaCare opponent: I'm still on my parents' insurance (The Hill, July 30, 2017)
- John Kelly, Asserting Authority, Fires Anthony Scaramucci (New York Times, July 31, 2017)
- Bill Browder's Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Could Explain Anthony Scaramucci's Bizarre Behaviour (Huffington Post, July 31, 2017)
- Court tells EPA to enforce Obama methane pollution rule (The Hill, July 31, 2017)
- Justice Dept. to Take On Affirmative Action in College Admissions (New York Times, August 1, 2017)
- How to earn 'points' to come to the US under Trump's immigration plan (CNN, August 2, 2017)
- Senate bill would allow Mueller to challenge firing in court (The Hill, August 3, 2017)
- 'This deal will make me look terrible': Full transcripts of Trump's calls with Mexico and Australia (Washington Post, August 3, 2017)
Food for Thought
- Behold the Trump boomerang effect (Washington Post, July 30, 2017)
- New Yorker Cartoon Perfectly Illustrates The Hiring Cycle In Trump's White House (Distractify, July 30, 2017)
- My Party Is in Denial About Donald Trump (Politico, July 31, 2017)
- President Trump is now directly implicated in trying to cover up the Russia scandal (Washington Post, August 1, 2017)
- Here's the president talking about how surprised he is that some Asian countries are large (Vox, August 1, 2017)
Take Action
- ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: STOP TRUMPCARE (Indivisible)
- Attend Resistance School
- Facebook Town Hall Feature Lets Users Call and Email Elected Officials (Teen Vogue, Mar. 27, 2017)
- Join SocialStandsWithPP to ensure that women have access to health care services.
- How to find town hall meetings (CNN, Feb. 10, 2017)
- Join People Power
- Join the United State of Women
- Make 5 Calls
- Resistbot
- Take action on CREDO
- Pay attention to Indivisible's Action Calendar
- Run for office:
- She Should Run
- Running Start
- Emerge America (many states, like Maine, have their own local programs)
Ongoing Resources
- Dan Rather's Facebook page
- What The Fuck Just Happened Today?
- Trump Human Rights Tracker
- ACLU Action Page
- Countable
- Presterity
- New and Guts
- Trump archive
Now stop, take a few breaths and enjoy these last fun articles and videos.
- Comedians Protest Anthony Scaramucci's Ouster (New Yorker, July 31, 2017)
- Anthony Scaramucci fired: What else happens in 10 days? (BBC, August 1, 2017)
- Stephen Colbert Gives 'Bohemian Rhapsody' A Hilarious Update In Farewell To The Mooch (Huffington Post, August 1, 2017)


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The firestorm surrounding remarks tweeted by the Creative Writing professor at Fresno State, Randa Jarrar, speaks to multiple issues in our current society. As the debates regarding "what should be done" about her hateful words directed at Barbara Bush (specifically) and the Bush family (as a whole) fly across the Internet, our First Amendment right to the freedom of speech is once again being publically argued.
Many (it seems) in this current culture, believe that the First Amendment affords us the right to "say anything we want . . . about anyone we want . . . at any time we want" without any repercussions or consequences. But is this what the First Amendment really guarantees us as U.S. citizens?
Here is the actual text of the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Some historical context is important here, to appreciate why "the freedom of speech" was included in the First Amendment. One of the common practices of the King of England at that time was to imprison, or otherwise punish, anyone he considered a political dissenter. And the term "political dissenter" was used to describe anyone whom the King found to be objectionable to him because of what they said or wrote (both in public and private). As well as a tool to silence any political opponents, this practice often led to the unjust imprisonment of preachers, newspaper writers, lawyers, and anyone else who was found to speak against any practice of the King or the country. Although this is still practiced in many countries around the world today, our founders realized that one of the cornerstones of freedom was the ability to speak freely without fear of the government penalizing them.
So, are there any limits on this First Amendment? Our legal system definitely recognizes certain limits on the freedom of speech, particularly when it conflicts with the rights and freedoms of others, such as in the cases of libel, slander, hate speech, pornography, obscenity, false testimony, fighting words, and intellectual property. Justifications for limitations to freedom of speech often reference the "harm principle" or the "offense principle." Limitations to freedom of speech may occur through legal sanction or social disapprobation, or both. And certain public institutions may also enact policies restricting the freedom of speech, for example speech codes at state schools.
So then, back to the core question . . . are we really allowed to "say anything we want . . . about anyone we want . . . at any time we want" without any repercussions or consequences whatsoever? The answer to this seems to be an obvious "no." What the First Amendment does protect us from is being punished – unjustly – by our government for expressing opposition to any practice and/or policies of the government. I can publically speak out against anything and everything my government does, practices, or puts into law. I can stand on the street corner, sign in hand, and declare my absolute disgust for any elected political representative without fear of retribution from them. I can write a scathing article about why I don't like what my government is doing in another country, and distribute it in a newspaper, magazine, hand-out pamphlet, or on the Internet, and never worry about being penalized for it.
But, should I choose to stand up on my desk at the office and yell personal insults toward my boss, do I get to use my First Amendment right of "the freedom of speech" to protect me from being fired for that outburst? Of course not. If I take this tirade out on the street corner in front of the company I work for – where I'm NOT in the office – do I then get to use "the freedom of speech" to keep from getting fired for inappropriate behavior because I'm in public? I doubt it.
So then, why the outrage over the fact that a public university (that thrives off the collective reputation of its staff for donations from private citizens, businesses, and foundations) is considering taking internal action against an employee (to whom they pay a 6-figure salary) for making remarks in public that undermine that reputation? Is it because it's a "public" institution? If that's the case, then isn't she getting paid with taxpayer monies? And if so, why don't the taxpayers of California get to vote on whether or not any action should be taken? Or, perhaps, the school's alumni and donors (whose monies are also footing part of her salary) should get to weigh in on how she be dealt with? As it is, lawyers on both sides are already posturing for a legal fight, depending on how the university chooses to deal with this.
But let's look a little closer at the actual details involved in her outburst. Were her words directed toward the U.S. government – its policies, practices, or laws? No. Were these remarks directed toward a sitting politician or public representative? No. Do the phrases "smart and amazing racist," "raised a war criminal," "happy the witch is dead" and "can't wait for the rest of her family to fall to their demise the way 1.5 million Iraqis have" read like anything other than personal attacks directed toward individual citizens (and their family members)? They do not. Is the professor entitled to her opinion? Beyond a shadow of a doubt. Was the choice to share these opinions about a private citizen - immediately upon their death - socially acceptable within the context of our culture? Public opinion appears to be leaning toward "no." Is her belief that being "tenured" entitles her to some kind of immunity from accountability by her employer correct? Not if she's relying on the First Amendment.
And that's the "rub" – the First Amendment is there to insure that the U.S. Government, or any representative of that government, cannot unjustly punish U.S. citizens for voicing any grievances they have with that government. What it does NOT do is protect private citizens from being held accountable to the rules, regulations, policies, guidelines, values, or codes of conduct that their employers may set forth. And let's not pretend that public universities (especially in today's litigious culture) don't bend over backwards to insure that potential employees aren't made aware of those types of policies prior to hiring them. Remember, "Employment" is a contract between an employer and a worker, in which specific compensation is guaranteed in return for a specific task being completed. And depending on what that task is, the worker may be held to certain requirements relative to time-tables, workmanship, working hours, and behaviors that must be adhered to. So, if there are any "codes of conduct" that Fresno State University has in place, you can rest assured that this tenured professor was well aware of them.
If you happen to agree with this professors remarks (and their timing), you are welcome to defend her openly to those around you – that is a privilege afforded you by this country. If you believe her remarks were egregious and reprehensible you can certainly argue your point with anyone who will listen. But in terms of how her employer decides to handle the situation, let's not pretend that her right to "the freedom of speech" is what's at stake here. It is not. And in these situations, it never will be. She was not speaking out against any policy, practice, law, or representative of the U.S. Government. If she had been, no one would have blinked an eye! No, she specifically targeted a private citizen (immediately after their death) as well as their family. And the First Amendment does NOT give any of us the right to "say anything we want . . . about anyone we want . . . at any time we want" without any repercussions or consequences.


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Perhaps the flight agent doesn't have a Netflix account or doesn't frequent Broadway shows, and didn't recognize Danielle Brooks, who plays Taystee on the hit original Netflix original series Orange is the New Black. Whatever her defect, Brooks' fans aren't excusing her from throwing shady microaggressions at the OITNB actress.
Brooks tweeted Thursday, "I hate when gate agents look at me like I've never flown first class and say 'You're in first class? Lucky you!' Really tho"
Danielle Brooks On Juggling It All And The 'Sassy Black Woman' Stereotype
The since deleted tweet caught the attention of fans who had a few rebuttals for the agent.
"Next time just reply, 'They pay me enough per episode,'" responded @ILuvMYAfro.
@thedanieb Next time just reply, "They pay me enough per episode (gate agents name of airline name)"— America Is A Woman (@ILuvMyAfro) June 30, 2016
"Tell them it's their lucky day too cause first month of Netflix is free so they can join," tweeted @haughtdayum.
Brooks was most likely travelling to or back from her guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
The thread was reported by NY Daily News, which screenshot Brooks' original tweet.
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Amazon argues Alexa data in murder case is protected by First Amendment
Amazon is currently battling the State of Arkansas, which wants Amazon to deliver any information that may have been collected by an Echo device owned by a defendant charged with murder. In response to the warrant that asks Amazon to "produce any audiorecordings and transcripts that were created as a result of interactions with an Amazon Echodevice owned by the defendant," Amazon is arguing such data is protected by the owner's First Amendment rights.
In November 2015 James Andrew Bates woke up to find friend Victor Collins dead in his bathtub. Police soon charged Bates with first-degree murder, while Bates alleges he went to bed that night and only discovered Collins' body the next morning. After finding an Amazon Echo in Bates' house, police pressed Amazon to release any audio it had gathered from the device across the 48-hour period when the alleged homicide occurred.
After initially complying with requests to provide subscriber information and purchase details, Amazon refused to release additional, more comprehensive data, even after the police issued a formal search warrant. On February 17, 2017, Amazon filed an extensive motion in an effort to quash the search warrant.
The online giant is arguing that the responses of Alexa, and the data gathered by the Echo device, are protected by First Amendment rights, and unless the State can provide a "compelling need" justifying the release of the information, the search warrant should be quashed.
While the Echo device only awakens and records audio directly after the keyword is spoken toward the unit, police are hoping that either the device was accidentally triggered at some point, or that records could reveal it being activated overnight during the time the defendant claims he was asleep.
"Amazon does not seek to obstruct any lawful investigation, but rather seeks to protect the privacy rights of its customers when the government is seeking their data from Amazon," the motion states. It also goes on to argue that there is significant precedent establishing that the First Amendment protects not only an individual's speech, but his or her "right to receive information and ideas."
Referencing several prior precedents, the motion ultimately argues that, not only are recordings of an individual's voice captured by the Echo protected under the First Amendment, but Alexa's responses are also protected. Citing a 2003 case where Google successfully argued its search results were "constitutionally protected opinion," Amazon argues Alexa's decisions about what information to include in its response to a query should be "entitled to full constitutional protection" under the First Amendment.
The result of this legal tussle will set a compelling precedent as to the degree of protection and privacy for user information gathered by devices such as the Amazon Echo. This may be the first court battle of its kind, but as more and more voice activated systems record and track our every movement, it surely won't be the last.
Source: Motion filed by Amazon (published by Ars Technica)
Update (Mar. 8, 2017): According to a report from the BBC, Amazon has dropped its legal fight against the State of Arkansas subpoena and will hand over data collected by the defendant's Amazon Echo smart speaker as said defendant has dropped his opposition to the sharing of such information.


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A Very Special Visitor Reportedly Stayed With Meghan Markle & Prince Harry This Summer
Since marrying Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex in May, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex's life has gone through a lot of changes. But based on a new report, it seems like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had a special visitor during the past few months to make her transition to life as a royal a little easier. Markle's mother Doria Ragland reportedly stayed with the Duke and Duchess in Oxfordshire, England this summer, which I think totally makes her an honorary royal.
Omid Scobie, a royal commentator and contributor for sources including Good Morning America and Harper's Bazaar, and host of the On Heir podcast, shared the news on Twitter this weekend. "ICMI: Sources confirm to @ABC @GMA that Duchess Meghan's mom Doria Ragland visited Prince Harry and her daughter for an extended stay at their Oxfordshire home this summer," Scobie tweeted. "Doria is said to enjoy a close relationship with Harry and continues to be a pillar of strength for Meghan."
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's primary residence is Nottingham Cottage, a house on the grounds of Kensington Palace in London, according to The Telegraph. Other royals including Prince William Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children, as well as Princess Eugenie and her fiancé Jack Brooksbank live in homes on the royal property as well, Business Insider noted. However, Nottingham Cottage is currently being renovated, so Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have been leasing a home on the Great Tew Estate in Oxfordshire since the royal wedding, Architectural Digest reported. The two homes are about an hour and 45 minute drive apart, based on Google Maps.
It's no surprise that Ragland reportedly had an "extended stay" with her daughter and new son-in-law this summer, considering how close her and her daughter's relationship has always seemed. Ragland touched down in England three days before her daughter's wedding this May, People reported at the time. Photos even surfaced on Getty Images of the mother-daughter pair arriving at Cliveden House Hotel on the National Trust's Cliveden Estate, where they stayed together the night before Markle tied the knot.
And Ragland was right by her daughter's side on her big day. The two arrived at at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle together by car before Duchess Meghan walked down the aisle, accompanied by her father-in-law Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales.
And speaking of walking down the aisle... The weeks leading up to any wedding are often a little bit stressful for the spouses-to-be, but for Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry, a slew of obstacles were thrown at their wedding by Markle's father (and Ragland's ex-husband) Thomas Markle, who was supposed to walk his daughter down the aisle.
A few weeks before the wedding, Mr. Markle staged corny paparazzi photos of himself doing wedding-related activities. Shortly afterwards, he admitted to TMZ that the photos were in fact staged, in hopes of making his public image more positive. Days later, reports broke that Mr. Markle had a heart attack, according to CNN. Just two days before the wedding, Duchess Meghan issued an official statement announcing that her dad would not be attending the wedding or walking her down the aisle.
"Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding," she wrote, according to a tweet by Kensington Palace. "I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health."
Duchess Meghan's wedding was clearly surrounded by more drama than she was expecting — not to mention, marrying into the royal family is undoubtedly a bit of a culture shock. So, it's pretty amazing that Ragland was able to take time away from her life in Los Angeles to be a "pillar of strength for Meghan," as Scobie put it.


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Obtaining designer kids clothes can become almost like an art. Every child is different and every parent is different as well. This leaves many questions unanswered which is why I decided to put together a list with tips for obtaining designer kids clothes. All 5 tips are equally important; hence the order of tips does not reflect their importance. Actually, one could write a never-ending list of tips on this subject. Therefore, narrowing them down to only 5 meant picking out the most important ones. But since the following 5 tips are so important, they also require some explaining. After all, they are the 5 most important tips for a reason!
Have you ever seen someone who copied the exact same outfit from somebody else, but it didn't look nearly as good? I see this happening very often. Most people buy clothes or outfits that they have seen on others. Unfortunately, they ignore the most important "fashion secret" when doing so: The fit is more important than the looks of any item. The most decisive factor in whether an item of clothing looks good or bad is how it fits! You need to keep this in mind when shopping for kids' clothes. Always make sure that the clothes you buy for your children have the perfect fit, otherwise it's a waste of money. The most prestigious Gucci t-shirt will look sloppy and awkward if it doesn't fit your child well. What you have to do is the following: Pay close attention to your child's body and posture when it's moving freely. This way finding the right fit should happen naturally.
When buying clothes for your children, you should pay a great deal of your attention to how you can combine the clothes. Especially since we usually don't buy everything in one day, we might end up purchasing kids clothes that, once we're back home, turn out to not fit in with the rest of our child's collection. Hence, when looking for new kids clothes, you should always ask yourself: How can I combine this with the rest of my child's clothes? Does he or she already have many other items that would go well with this? Ultimately, there's nothing wrong with buying clothes that are a totally different style from what your child has been wearing until now - as long as you know that you're going to have to find more clothes to combine it with. There's nothing more frustrating than buying something that looked really nice in the store but turns out to be really hard to combine with what you already bought for your child. Therefore, thinking in terms of combinations will help you a great deal.
In tip number one I talked about how important it is that the clothes fit your child perfectly. It is very similar with colors. Every person usually has a couple colors that look astonishingly well on him or her. The same holds true for children, of course. If you can find the colors that support your child's posture and personality, every outfit made up of these colors is going to look even better. What are the factors that could determine the colors your child should wear? Such factors could be: skin color, posture, body or personality. But that doesn't mean you are completely restricted in terms of colors. It's always good to experiment with colors but keep in mind what your child's color is and accentuate that; your child will always make a better impression wearing colors that support his or her unique character.
More often than not, parents buy kids clothes with a certain plan for the future on their mind. Sometimes, kids clothes are bought that don't fit well or don't have the right colors because the parents think that they will look great sometime in the future. This can be a very big mistake! If the future doesn't turn out the way parents expected it (for example your child doesn't grow as you expected or your kid all of a sudden wants to wear a new hair style) the purchase was a complete waste of money. Therefore, only buy kids clothes if they look good now! If they don't look good now it's not worth the money. If you you follow my tips from this article when buying kids clothes, you are going to get clothes that will look really nice for a long time, anyways.
During the last couple of years, countless of blogs and websites about kids fashion have appeared on the web. I myself read many of them regularly and it helps me a lot in my fashion choices. Even if you find a bad blog, it helps you figure out what you DON'T want for your child. Reading blogs helps you fuel your inspiration; all of a sudden, you'll know what you are looking for. Once that happened, you can search for the specific item or outfit you have in mind which usually leads to some of the best purchases you can make. Don't read kids fashion blogs if it feels like a chore; don't try to analyze too much when reading them. Just browse articles, images and videos until your own inspiration kicks in. This is not about copying what others suggest! Instead, this is all about luring your own fashion ideas out of the subconscious.
A general advice I always like to give is to involve your children in your shopping choices, as well. If your kids are old enough, they might even be interested in looking at kids fashion blogs and websites themselves. You might be surprised by how well kids can put together their own outfits!
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TLC's 'King of the Crown': Meet beauty pageant expert Cy Frakes
Tonight TLC debuts its reality series King of the Crown at 9 p.m., starring beauty pageant expert Cy Frakes. The 12-episode series follows Frakes and his team at the Columbia, S.C.-based Gowns and Crowns as they work their pageant magic on various young women. One of their clients is Caitlin Upton, the 2007 Miss Teen USA contestant whose geography answer became a YouTube sensation, who shows up in tonight's premiere. The fabulous and funny Frakes stopped by EW's offices for a chat about business, beauty, and butt glue..yes, butt glue.
EW: How did you become an expert in beauty pageants?
FRAKES: I've been in the pageant business for 23 years. I think it's just been kind of a metamorphosis over time. I directed pageants and then I produced them and then I was an emcee. And for a long time I was a judge. Over the years, I saw the girls changed but the mistakes they were making didn't. I decided I could help these girls be better and stronger contestants.
EW: What is it that you love about pageants?
FRAKES: Pageants are like theater. They're like sports. Pageants are like the Olympics of beauty in our society. It's where you're setting yourself up to be judged by your inside and outward appearance.
EW: I had no idea there was such a thing as butt glue [adhesive spray that keeps contestants bathing suits from riding up]!
FRAKES: It's the stuff that l baseball players will spray on their hands to keep their gloves stuck to their hands. You can get it in liquid. You can get it in aerosol. Then people figured out you could take the same stuff, package it in a pink bottle and sell it in a pageant store for like $85; it's really like a $10 can of hairspray.
EW: How did it feel watching Caitlin Upton go through that whole controversy at Miss Teen USA?
FRAKES: That's really a hard call because when you work with a girl from 14 to 17 you really get to know them. I look at lot of these teenagers, they're like your kids. Obviously you want them to succeed and go that far. It's like a football player: You don't wanna fumble a ball in the superbowl and that's what she did. I think the best way to answer that is I didn't view that as a coach—I viewed it as a parent and you don't want any thing like that to happen to your child.
EW: Has the economy affected your business at all?
FRAKES: It really hasn't. Pageants are like dance and piano. I think in some families they've weighed out which you wanna do more. Luckily I've won out.


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Born in southern California and raised in Alaska, Selina Ray has more than 25 years of successful start up business building experience. She has been a Strategic Partner for a variety of companies throughout the US and abroad. Selina has been a successful Owner/Manger of the multi-national company Siberian Sea, Inc. and as Owner of her Personal/Business consulting practice.
Upon relocating to Los Angeles 14 years ago, she has continued utilizing her management, coordinating & organizational skills to help several entertainment-based businesses grow. This would include: Executive in Charge of Production at CAT III Entertainment, Production Coordinator for Aha! Entertainment, Office Manager/Coordinator at Absinthe Pictures, LLC and Research & Development at Mike Mathis Productions, Inc.- and now VP of So Cal Operations for ICM Resources, Inc. establishing herself as a resourceful and creative team builder. Selina sees her current work at ICM Resources, Inc. and their mission, as an ideal setting to contribute her talents to the community she calls home.
Selina has spent more than 20 years studying ancient traditions and learning from many of today's most recognizable teachers within the Spiritual community. Her personal intention is of self-awareness and personal responsibility. Assisting others on their personal journey has been a lifelong path. a
Selina 'Wayshower' - is dedicated to Raising consciousness through Social Media. Her blog, Our Global Community, is a spiritual and enlightening pursuit to expand and reach the global community. Her blog fosters the exchange of ideas and musings on raising our consciousness through social media, and it is considered a forum of discovery.
You can find Selina on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
• Advanced Neuro Dynamics•Kona, HI •Certification
Successfully completed a two-year training program in Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Business communications and negotiations. Certified as a Master Practitioner in N.L.P. & Hypnotherapy
• Ford Institute of Integrative Coaching•La Jolla, CA•Certification
Successfully completed yearlong Intensive training in Coaching, for both businesses and individuals, with an emphasis in goal setting, empowering clients moving through transitions in their careers and daily lives.
Namasté Loveॐ


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22222-FAIRCH Fairchild Products Pneumatic Computing Relay
- Product Type: Computing Relay
Fairchild Model 22 Pneumatic Computing Relay, 1/4" FPT Pipe, 20 PSIG, Die-Cast Aluminum, Buna-A Diaphragm, Pneumatic Computing Relay with Zinc Plated Steel Range Screw and Fastener.
Product Description
Pneumatic Computing Relay; Item Pneumatic Computing Relay; Overall Dimension 3 Inch Width x 8.76 Inch Height; Pipe Size 1/4 Inch Female Threaded; Function Reducing, Averaging; Material Die-Cast Aluminum (Valve/Bonnet); Mounting Type Line/Panel; Mounting Hole Size (2) 1/4 Inch-20 TPI x 0.5 Inch, (2) 11/32 Inch; Maximum Over Pressure 100 PSIG (Any Connection), 250 PSIG (Supply Connection); Normal Supply 20 PSIG; Supply Pressure Effect 5 PSIG; Output Flow Capacity 2 SCFM, 20 PSIG; Air Consumption 0.06 SCFM at 15 PSIG; Ambient Temperature -40 to 200 Deg F; Includes Buna-A Diaphragm, Zinc Plated Steel Range Screw and Fastener; Applicable Standard ISO 9001, FMFeatures
Small Bleed Across Relief Seat Assures Fast Response to Small Signals; Multiple Inputs Allow Versatility in Process Control; Adjustable Bias Range from -18 to +15 PSIG Permits Variation in Output; Two Gauge Ports Located 90 Deg from Supply and Outlet Ports, Allows Versatility in Installation; Assures Fast Response to Even Very Small Signals; Allows Versatility in Process Control Applications; Permits Variation in Output to Meet Your Needs; Quick and Easy Installation in the FieldSeries/Model Info
The Model 22 Pneumatic Computing Relay is a highly versatile control valve designed to perform a number of specialized functions, including averaging, differential, inverting, and totalizing. This high quality unit, which offers up to four inputs as well as positive and negative biasing over a broad range, is available in several configurations to meet most application requirements. The combination of multiple configuration options and accurate response characteristics make the Model 22 the ideal choice in a variety of applications with specific input/output requirements such as override or multi-element control, or as an ON-OFF valve. When used as an ON-OFF valve, the Model 22 may open or close a pneumatic circuit, moving rapidly to a full open or a full closed position when signal pressures deviate from set point. In the full open position, the valve passes full supply pressure without modulation or regulation. The function is achieved by connecting output pressure to the signal chamber. This connection forms a feedback loop so that, once flow is started, the valve is driven wide open.


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Making 3s doesn't always mean a win
The 3-point line is what has brought the top and middle of college basketball much closer than ever.
But success from behind that stripe that sits 20 feet, 9 inches from the rim doesn't always mean victory, and a poor performance doesn't mean a loss.
Connecticut's 56-55 victory over Kentucky in the Final Four on Saturday night proved that.
The Huskies won despite making just one of 12 attempts from 3-point range, while Kentucky finished 9 of 27, including going 7 of 15 in the second half.
The 8.3 percent outing was Connecticut's worst long-range effort of the season, the previous worst was 2 for 14 (14.3 percent) and that also came in a win, 66-61 in overtime against South Florida on Dec. 31.
The game's first big twist was because of 3-pointers. Connecticut led 31-21 at halftime. Both teams combined for a total of three 3s, and two were by the team that was trailing.
The Wildcats came out torrid from behind the line to start the second half.
Brandon Knight and Darius Miller both hit 3s to start Kentucky's 14-2 run to open the second half, and Doron Lamb and Knight capped the spurt with two more 3s.
Lamb hit a 3 to tie the game at 42 with 11:15 left. DeAndre Liggins hit a 3 to halve Connecticut's biggest lead of the second half, making it 54-51 with 1:37 left.
The last 3 of the game was by Knight at the buzzer, but it was a cruel shot that left the Wildcats a point short of going to the title game to face Butler.
Connecticut didn't hit any of its six 3-point attempts in the second half, but sometimes that just doesn't matter.
''We were not getting any shots to go at all,'' said Connecticut freshman Shabazz Napier, who sealed the win by making both ends of a 1-and-1 with 1.7 seconds to play that gave the Huskies a four-point lead. ''That is unusual for us.''
The Huskies came into the game shooting 33.7 percent from 3-point range, and they made an average of 5.9 per game. Those numbers were even better in the four NCAA tournament games - 38.4 percent and seven per game.
Kemba Walker, Connecticut's All-America guard who has led the Huskies' 10-game postseason winning streak by averaging 26.3 points per game, had Connecticut's lone 3-pointer, and it came in five attempts. Napier missed all four of his attempts, Jeremy Lamb missed both of his and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel misfired on one. That's 1 for 12.
But what made the difference for Connecticut was the defense it employed in the first half to keep the Wildcats under control from long range in building the halftime lead.
''We ran them off of the 3-point line. We talked a lot about that,'' Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said. ''The big guys helped out early and got that 10-point lead. I felt very comfortable except for the rebounding. Then the second half they came out and made four straight. Now we're in a whole different kind of ballgame.''
Liggins had his personal battle with making and missing 3-point shots.
''I mean, when I hit that 3, I gave my team a chance to win,'' Liggins said of the one that made it 54-51.
Then he missed a 3 with 3 seconds to play that would have put the Wildcats in front.
''No, it wasn't,'' he said when asked if the play was designed for him to take a 3. ''I should have drove it. But I hit a 3 and I got fouled and I made a shot. And I thought I had the hot hand a little bit. It was a good shot, but it fell short.''
Just like Kentucky.


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Finding a restaurant in the Lehigh Valley serving gluten-free food that's safe enough for someone with celiac disease can be difficult. Finding truly delicious gluten-free food is nearly impossible, or so it seemed. When I discovered that a restaurant in Hellertown had a gluten-free menu, and was serving food that I could enjoy as much as I did before having to go gluten free, I was thrilled. Bella's Ristorante on Main Street is a rare find worth discovering. The walls in the main dining room are covered with amazing murals and there are cozy booths to be had for those who prefer such.
I ate there once before I had to go gluten free, back when they first opened, and I remember their Pasta e Fagioli soup was almost as good as my homemade, which is of the Napoletana tradition. I had some sort of chicken dish for my entree and my food memory says it was very tasty. Their small canoli were indeed delicious.
I have now been back a number of times since my diagnosis and have enjoyed a lot of yummy gluten-free food there. This past fall, my man Joe and I went there after work one Saturday and one of the evening specials sounded so incredible that I requested it. After some questions, the waitress came back and relayed that Chef Vinnie said he would make it gluten free, just for me! This entree was a salmon fillet in a brown wine sauce with spinach and tomato and cheese. Normally, I tend to avoid cheese with seafood but my mouth was somehow watering at the menu description and so I couldn't resist!
Joe enjoyed a cup of some lentil soup while I dug into a fresh salad. Their house dressing is quite nice, a tangy vinaigrette worth pouring over the fresh mixed greens. As Joe ate some garlic-coated rolls, I tried to ignore the incredible scent of their buttery coating, remembering how I used to love them. When our entrees showed up, my huge warmed plate was full—a decent portion of salmon was provided, swimming in a sea of light sauce, almost a broth. There were lightly wilted leaves of fresh spinach adorning the broth as well as chunks of fresh tomato. The sauce was quite aromatic and I dug in fork and spoon to test this interesting flavor mixture. It was divine. Delicate and not too cheesy, the sauce was addictive. The only thing that could have made it better would be a small bit of pasta to soak up that delicious sauce!
I ate it all, something I rarely am able to do at Bella's, but I just couldn't stop digging in.
If you have a family member who is gluten free, this is an excellent place to go. They have several tasty choices on their standard gluten-free menu. My favorite, hands down, is their shrimp with pink vodka sauce. Despite not being a fan of pink vodka sauce, I tried it and fell madly in love with Vinnie's rich cream sauce and the mixture of big and small shrimp nestled in the sauce and penne. Last time he sprinkled it heavily with fresh chiffoniered basil leaves and that really made it delightful. Whenever chefs add fresh herbs, the food is elevated and, honestly, most restaurants fail at that for their gluten-free entrees. They are too cautious, not realizing that fresh herbs are safe for those of us with celiac disease.
Always remember that a lot of spice mixtures have some flour added for fluidity, which makes their products unsafe for people with celiac disease. When restaurants stick to fresh herbs and single variety McCormick bottled-dry herbs, they add so much more flavor to their gluten-free offerings.
Do tell the server that you are gluten free, and if you are celiac, mention that as well for extra care in preparation and serving. You won't be disappointed in the quality or quantity of food served at this beautiful Italian restaurant.
639 Main St., Hellertown | 610.748.1020 | bellasristorante.com
About the Author
Angela has been eating gluten free since her celiac diagnosis in the winter of 2013. She started a blog on Patch in February 2013 and moved to Wordpress in 2015. Angela has been a writer of sorts for much of her adult life and enjoys writing blog posts as well as poetry, children's stories and an unpublished memoir.
Angela works as a circulation assistant at a small library and teaches in various elementary schools. She has also worked as a private chef, a paralegal, a quality control and edit clerk, a clothing store manager, a flower gardener and a few other odd jobs. She has been published in the Saucon Source.
Cooking has been a focus in her life ever since she baked small cakes at age five with her mom. Writing has been important in her past careers, and writing her blog allows her to combine three things that she truly loves: cooking, eating and writing. Angela's mission is to inform others living with celiac as well as anyone who eats gluten free for other reasons. She loves posting recipes she has created as well as product reviews, restaurant reviews and general rants about living gluten free.
Angela cooks seasonally, limits sugar intake and avoids processed foods for the most part, but she knows that sometimes you must indulge in lovely, sweet desserts, and for that you must forgive and simply enjoy.
She hopes that her postings here tempt folks with celiac or wheat allergies to eat out, to cook real food and to regain their joy in delicious meals.


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Hiii everyone and TGIF! Okay, so if you read one of my previous posts, It's A Boy!, you'll know that my family recently just adopted a new sweet addition to our home. We finally have decided on a name for our little pup…and "Ollie" stuck! From the very beginning, my mom and I were very pro Ollie but my dad unfortunately was not on board. BUT after almost an entire week of my mom and I calling him Ollie, my dad finally came around! Is he happy about it? I don't know. But I knew my mom and I had this small victory in the bag when I heard my dad calling him Ollie last night! Score!
My dad snapped some pictures of our little peanut bear and his Golden Retriever big sister, Gem, yesterday so take a look at our dog children:
^^^ Lol, that second picture kills me! #selfie
We are so happy to have our Ollie Bear and Gem and we are extremely thankful to the rescue group, Canine Lifeline, for helping to make them part of the Mushenheim family! Be sure to check out their website and give their Facebook page a like as well! 🙂
Oh, by the way, Ollie says "thank you" to everyone for all of the sweet compliments on my previous post about him! He was so flattered! Happy Friday! Much love. -Sarah


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List of Prezicasts.
Please remember that the order these are presented in here is not an indication of the order in which they should be watched. You can view them in any order. Some are linked to from other pages on this site, but some only appear here (those marked with [**]). Supplementary readings and links are suggested for those; the remainder have those links on other pages.
By the end of the course distance learners should have watched all the Prezicasts. Please also read the explanatory technical notes at the end of this page (after the list of movies).
Problem-Based learning. The online Prezicast is available here. This Prezicast is linked to one of the course activities and can also be seen on that page. For supplementary reading, just start with this page and follow up some of the other references thereon. The list of types of problems that I refer to in the Prezicast is from Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Moore, J. and Marra, R. (2003) Learning to Solve Problems with Technology: A Constructivist Perspective, London, Merrill.
The triadic model. There are three interlinked Prezicasts, on the Objective; Subjective; and Intersubjective sides of the triad. For supplementary information, go to the set of pages on the triadic model.
Environmental literacy [**]. You should look at this Prezicast after having familiarised yourself with at least the basics of the triadic model. The online version is available here. I haven't provided any supplementary information about the notion of 'environmental literacy' itself, but try St Clair's contribution to Hull et al (see the main reading list).
Critical media analysis. The online Prezicast is available here. This connects with a course activity: there is plenty of supplementary information on that page.
Information Obesity: the micro-, meso- and macro- levels [**]. The online Prezicast is available here. For supplementary information, read the book…. The book's web site might also be useful. (Flat and very Web 1.0, but a storehouse for lots of resources and other links.)
Cognitive biases [**]. The online Prezicast is available here. (See also the note at the end which is pertinent to this one.) A very useful illustration of the wide range of cognitive biases is available, and worth looking at. My understanding of this area, and how these biases form a key connection between realms of the triadic model of informational relationships, was substantially formed by Ricardo Blaug's paper, "Cognition in a Hierarchy" (2007, Contemporary Political Theory 6/1) – this is not an easy read for those of you unfamiliar with social and political theory, but if you feel confident, it's worth a go. (The same ideas were later worked up into Blaug's book, How Power Corrupts: Cognition and Democracy in Organisations (2010), but the paper has everything in there in denser form.)
Information behaviour [**]. I've finished this Prezicast now: it's available here. The literature review mentioned therein by Saracevic is most easily retrieved via this Google Scholar search: it comes in three parts, and all of them are worth reading, in the end. Donald Case's book, Looking for Information, is available from the JRUL as an e-book.
Other video-based material
- Have a look at the video about Deansgate library.
- Supersize Me is embedded into one of the course activities – read the notes and then view it from that page.
- Two clips from Broadcast News are embedded into the activity on critical media analysis. This is quite a good film in general, and does have things to say about the news media, though it's more interested in the romantic lives of the characters than their working ones for most of its length.
Some other movies may be of interest – there are plenty more but these are two of my personal favourites:
- The Truman Show (poster on left), though it takes about half an hour to get going, is a brilliant investigation of the way that, quoting a character in the film, 'We accept the reality of the world with which we're presented'. In the light of the developments in 'reality TV' over the last few years, it is very prophetic.
- Network is a 1970s satire on the TV industry; a newsreader suffering a nervous breakdown is turned into entertainment by executives desperate for ratings. It's over-the-top but makes its point well enough.
A note on the Prezicasts: please read
The Prezicasts were created as an experiment a couple of years ago. In technical terms they are Prezis (see http://prezi.com) with an audio commentary overlaid, and, at some points, video materials (mainly of a 'talking head' – mine, specifically). In teaching terms they are basically short, 10- to 15-minute lectures with accompanying visual material.
Prezis can be viewed online or off. It is probably most convenient to watch them offline, as apart from this meaning they can be viewed any time, regardless of connectivity, when viewed offline they also 'autoplay' properly. Viewed online, you need to keep pressing the 'next' button (or use the arrow keys) when the commentary comes to a stop. To view them offline you will need to download the relevant zipped folder from the course Dropbox. (Everyone registered on the course will receive an invite to the Dropbox by e-mail at the start of the course: this e-mail will contain all the necessary information here.) Once downloaded you will need to extract the contents of the zipped folder and then open the file called 'Click Me'. Viewed online, you need to keep pressing the 'next' button (or use the arrow keys) when the commentary comes to a stop. If you are viewing online, you can click on the 'more' button to enable a full-screen view.
The Prezis were written and recorded by me, but as a technical creation, credit for the Prezicasts belongs to Mike Toyn (Senior Lecturer in ICT in Education at the University of Cumbria, and a former student on the MA: DTCE). It was Mike who did the necessary editing. (Note that we did the 'Cognitive Biases' one first, as a test, and you'll probably find this one less polished compared to the others.)
And please, if the Prezicasts aren't working: tell me – better still, tell Marilena (firstname.lastname@example.com). We need to know if things aren't working as they should.
Media and Information Literacy by Andrew Whitworth/University of Manchester is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.


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Hello everyone!
I am back with another review, All the Bad Apples by Moïra Fowley-Doyle. Thanks so much to Penguin Random House Canada for sending an ARC of this book my way for an honest review, as always, all opinions are my own.
**TRIGGER WARNINGS: suicide, drugging and rape/sexual assault, incest, abortion, teen pregnancy, child abuse, and homophobia. This is not a light book and deals with a lot of difficult topics. I won't be discussing them in the review, but please proceed with caution with the book if you find any of these topics triggering.**
This book primarily follows Deena after the disappearance and presumed death of her older sister, Mandy. But Deena knows that her 'troubled' sister isn't dead - she'll be back in a week or two - no matter what her strict Catholic father says. He's always considered Mandy to be a bad apple in the family - and when Deena accidentally comes out to her other sister Rachel as gay, her father considers her one too. Not long after Mandy's funeral, Deena finds letters Mandy wrote about their family history - the explanation for the bad apples and the so-called curse that finds every girl in the family at the age of seventeen. Deena sets off on a journey across Ireland to break the curse and find her sister - although what she finds along the way may not be exactly what she wanted.
I remember reading Fowley-Doyle's first book a few years back and thinking it was good, but that Fowley-Doyle hadn't quite reached her full potential. That's not any particular shade to the author, debuts are often a stepping stone for developing into an author's best work. And now, I think, Fowley-Doyle has reached that potential. This is a brilliantly crafted and enrapturing novel that is part contemporary novel-part historical fiction that blends seamlessly over generations. The stories are so entwined that you become invested in the story as a whole, not just one or two of the character's being described.
This truly is one of those books you just have to hold onto for the ride and not worry about the logistics too much, especially with the magical realism elements. It shouldn't be too hard, however, this book sucked me in from the very beginning and I devoured it in one sitting. I don't remember the last time I was so invested in a book.
However, not only was this book an amazing story about Deena finding herself and her family, but it was also about rage and anger, abortion laws in Ireland, feminism, resiliency, and abuse. These are all themes that are seamlessly woven into the text without you really noticing until you kind of have an epiphany as to what this book is really about. Yes, it is about one family, but it is also about the history of a country and the world on a larger scale. The injustices millions of people have faced over centuries because of their class, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. This book is a scream for all of them.
Overall, this book was so much more than I wanted it to be in the best possible way - I don't think I could have imagined a book so brilliant. It should go without saying that I will be recommending this book to EVERYONE FOREVER.


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Istanbul is a glorious city to visit, steeped in history and buzzing with a heady blend of multicultural food, culture and sights. Every year thousands of tourists flock to major attractions like the Blue Mosque and the Spice Market, and these are definitely worth a visit.
However, if you like to see and do more than the most obvious things when travelling, there are plenty of unusual, quirky, or offbeat things to do in Istanbul. It's always worth asking local staff in nearby restaurants for suggestions, but in the meantime here are a few ideas to get you started.
Have a Genuine Turkish Bath (Hamman)
Skip the tourist-targeting hotel baths and experience the real deal. Men and women are generally separated, but even alone it's a fun thing to do, and there will be plenty of regulars who will help you understand what to do.
Visit the Prince Islands
Just a short ferry ride away from the busy city streets, these nine islands are a haven of tranquillity. The four largest are the main stop-off points, and each has good food, attractive architecture and a slice of history to offer visitors. Cars are banned, but there are bikes and pony traps to get around on.
Explore Istanbul on a Vintage Motorbike
Get a different perspective of the city by roaring around it in the sidecar of a WWII motorbike! Driver, safety equipment and a camera recording the trip are all provided.
Learn More About Jewish History
In the Galata and Balat areas of Istanbul there are some amazing museums which commemorate the lives and culture of the Jewish community, established in Turkey for many thousands of years.
Go Underground – If You Dare!
Underneath the main streets of Istanbul there's an ancient, now unused, water reservoir – the Basilica Cistern. It's a must-see for anyone with the nerves to negotiate dim spaces and lots of steps.
This is a country of fascinating contrasts. Visitors can take advantage of all it offers by choosing to stay in luxury villas in Turkey. There are plenty on offer from specialist companies such as http://kas4villarentals.com/, making day trips to the many exciting places the average tourist may well not see.
From hidden caves and bustling streets to peaceful havens and communal bathing, Istanbul has many layers to unpeel.


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Throughout 2009 and '10 there were a series of magazine pieces wondering how it was that Texas "powered through the global fiscal crisis" (per Fortune) and experienced "something like an economic boom" (according to The Atlantic) while California suffered. But then, of course, we discovered that the state's facing a $27-billion budget shortfall, which could crush public education; the Dallas Independent School Board, matter of fact, will begin its public discussions about the impact of a looming $260-million gutting this Thursday.
On the front page of this morning's Los Angeles Times is a piece that attempts to dismantle Governor Rick Perry's long-standing claims that all's well in the Lone Star State. An excerpt:
The Texas budget crisis is prompting some experts to reconsider what had been dubbed the Texas Miracle. The state has much lower unemployment than California, but economists note that many of the jobs are low-paying. One out of three wage earners in Texas earns too little to keep a family of four above the federal poverty level, according to a 2009 study by the Corp. for Enterprise Development, a Washington-based nonprofit. That is double the percentage of similarly low-wage Californians.Perry couldn't be reached for comment for this article. He was in California at the time.
Such figures call into question whether Texas' economy has really transitioned into a new 21st century model, or whether it has been buoyed by high oil prices and lots of loosely zoned land where construction of cheap houses endured through the recession.
"You have to separate out what your public policies have done for you and what God has done for you," said Scott McCown, executive director of the left-leaning Center for Public Policies and Priorities in Austin. "People shouldn't be fooled by what is going on here."


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By Huma Qureshi
One of my favourite books is Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake. I love it for many reasons: the themes of family and of living — as I do — with an inherited south Asian culture, but mostly the search for somewhere to belong and a place to call home.
The story starts in the late 1960s, when the protagonist, Gogol, named after the 19th-century Russian novelist, is born. But it is when he is living in New York in his mid-twenties that he starts to think about what he really wants, who he really is.
Gogol is charmed by the home of Maxine Ratliff, a girl he is dating. She lives with her parents in a red-brick Greek revival house in Manhattan's upmarket Chelsea. As a young architect, he falls in love with the precise details of the property. Standing outside it for the first time, he notices the black panelled door, the window frames, the cast iron railings. Inside, he admires the stripped floorboards, the large windows. The kitchen occupies an entire floor; every hall is lined with shelves stuffed with books. In many ways, he loves the house, and the lifestyle it exudes, more than he does Maxine because it is so very different from the house in which he grew up, a house which to his eyes is "ordinary".
Every time I read The Namesake, I too fall in love with the beautiful house where Maxine lives. Maybe it is because I also grew up somewhere that might be considered ordinary; maybe it is because I will soon move to one too, leaving behind the north London neighbourhood that I love, where the pretty period properties that line the streets have expensive price tags and lack the proportions my growing family of three small boys needs.
Perhaps too it is because the Ratliff home offers a different way of living. I am the sort of person who likes things to be simple and tidy, constantly putting things back in their place. The Ratliffs do not live like this. They leave the dishes until morning and there are always hundreds of things covering Maxine's floor. Though part of me shudders at this, there is another part that wonders what it might be like to relax and let go of my impulse to be so neat. What would it be like, I also wonder, to have so much space to fill? Because if one did have the privilege of space, why not follow the Ratliffs and fill it with art, books, paintings and wonderful things?
This stunning seven-bedroom house on West 88th Street, at $14.5m, is exactly the sort of house that epitomises the Ratliffs' moneyed New York life. A restored townhouse built in the 1800s, it is breathtaking. Like Gogol, I imagine staring up at the flawless brick façade, and the handsome carvings, before making it up the elegant steps to the front door. Inside, every high-ceilinged room is flooded with light falling through the huge windows; with seven storeys to call home, I dream of never having to downsize my book collection because I have run out of shelf space.
Or perhaps this house in the West Village, a four-bedroom townhouse on the market for $12.75m, would suit me better. Like Maxine's, the house (main picture) is beautiful and red-bricked with handsome black window frames. Inside, there is an entire floor for entertaining and a master bedroom with a large walk-in closet. I wonder if it would be freeing for a while, to live so indulgently. But I suspect, like all fantasies, eventually the charm might wear off, just as it eventually does for Gogol.
Photographs: Mayfair International Realty; 20th Century Fox via Everett Collection; Barnes & Noble; Christie's International Real estate