text:
Q: Trying to change the Ionic app statusbar text color There appears to be a multiple of threads discussing this but not with any real solution. I was hoping it would be something straightforward. Basically, all I want to do is change the status bar text color as my header/navbar/status bar is a dark blue. The default text color is black and I just want to change it to white, it is that simple.
Where do I make these changes? I have already installed the status bar plugin and my config file is below (this is without any changes suggested in some threads).
<preference name="webviewbounce" value="false" />
<preference name="UIWebViewBounce" value="false" />
<preference name="DisallowOverscroll" value="true" />
<preference name="android-minSdkVersion" value="16" />
<preference name="BackupWebStorage" value="none" />
<preference name="StatusBarStyle" value="default" />
<preference name="SplashScreen" value="screen" />
<preference name="orientation" value="portrait" />
<preference name="SplashMaintainAspectRatio" value="true" />
<preference name="FadeSplashScreenDuration" value="300" />
<preference name="ShowSplashScreenSpinner" value="false" />
<preference name="AutoHideSplashScreen" value="false" />
<preference name="CordovaWebViewEngine" value="CDVWKWebViewEngine" />
<preference name="SplashScreenDelay" value="3000" />

How can I solve this?

A: It depends on the status bar background, if you are using a dark background you could do this:
platform.ready().then(() => {
    // Okay, so the platform is ready and our plugins are available.
    // Here you can do any higher level native things you might need.
        StatusBar.styleLightContent();
});

I have this on the constructor of my app.component.ts
To test more options you can check the doc here

A: For black text with white background you can use below code.
initializeApp() {
    this.platform.ready().then(() => {
         this.statusBar.backgroundColorByName('white');
         this.statusBar.styleDefault();
         this.splashScreen.hide();
    });
}

Check the output in this link
For white text with black background you can try following code.
initializeApp() {
    this.platform.ready().then(() => {
         this.statusBar.backgroundColorByName('black');
         this.statusBar.styleLightContent()
         this.splashScreen.hide();
    });
}

Check code output here

A: In app.js file, apply this:
.run(function($ionicPlatform) {
  $ionicPlatform.ready(function() {
    // Hide the accessory bar by default (remove this to show the accessory bar above the keyboard)
    if (window.cordova && window.cordova.plugins.Keyboard) {
      cordova.plugins.Keyboard.hideKeyboardAccessoryBar(true);
    }
    if (window.StatusBar) {
      // org.apache.cordova.statusbar required
      // StatusBar.styleDefault();
      StatusBar.style(1)
    }
  });
})

Other options are:

*

*StatusBar.style(1) // Light

*StatusBar.style(2) // Black, translucent

*StatusBar.style(3) // Black, opaque

*Statusbar.styleColor('black')

*Statusbar.styleHex('#FF0000') // Red

A: To change the status bar style please refer ionic doc
    https://ionicframework.com/docs/v3/native/status-bar/
this.platform.ready().then(() => {
   this.splashScreen.hide();
   this.statusBar.overlaysWebView(true);
   this.statusBar.styleDefault();
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The second-level diagnosis analyses the dynamic behaviour of the shaft line during speed and load increase phases. Measuring the shafts' and bearings' natural frequencies makes it possible to supplement the diagnosis.
Industrial case studies are put to the participants. The latter will have to establish an approach leading to the diagnosis of the problem posed. The participants can bring along their own case studies if they wish.
Staff in charge of vibratory analyses who wish learn more about these diagnoses. Method, reliability.
The practical work can be carried out on your stock of machines during the training in the company. ?


text:
Japan Glances
The Japanese Tea Ceremony
Society Culture Nov 23, 2016
Sadō, also known as chadō or chanoyu, is Japan's austere rite of tea. Although its origins lie in Chinese Zen ritual, over centuries the ceremony developed into a distinct Japanese form combining native culture, including art, ikebana flower arranging, and haute kaiseki cuisine.
Paving the "Way of Tea"
The Japanese tea ceremony is a highly structured ritual centered on the preparation, service, and consumption of steaming bowls of matcha. Known as sadō, chadō, or chanoyu, the centuries-old rite is steeped in Zen Buddhist thought and practice and combines art, appreciation of nature, and social interaction.
Tea first made its way to Japan from China in the eighth century CE as part of the spread of Buddhism. During the early Kamakura period (1185–1333) Eisai, the founder of the Japan's Rinzai sect of Zen, introduced Chinese tea seeds for domestic cultivation along with methods for making and drinking powdered tea, or matcha. The beverage quickly gained popularity among Buddhist monks and eventually spread throughout the country.
In the Muromachi period (1333–1568) members of the warrior and aristocratic classes frequently held chakai, lavish banquets where guests enjoyed carefully prepared bowls of matcha. These often raucous affairs—sake was also served in abundance—were opportunities for the elite to showcase choice items from their collections, including imported ceramic ware from China, elegant hanging scrolls and paintings, and expensive tea utensils. However, Murata Shukō, tea master of the eighth head of the Muromachi shogunate Ashikaga Yoshimasa, put a stop to the consumption of sake, gambling, and other excesses that characterized chakai and encouraged wabicha, an approach that emphasizes the spiritual aspect of the tea ceremony.
The sixteenth century tea master Sen no Rikyū (1522–91) would later transform wabicha into a solemn, spiritual event concentrating on the ideas of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. This has become the basis of the tea ceremony as it is known today.
From left, a chawan (tea bowl), chasen (bamboo whisk), and chashaku (bamboo tea scoop) sitting on top of a tea container.
Refining the Art of Tea
In perfecting the tea ceremony, Rikyū taught appreciation for the simple, rustic beauty of objects, an aesthetic expressed in Japanese as wabi sabi. To heighten the senses of participants he would make tea in a small, bare room the size of two or three tatami mats (one mat being a little more than 1.6 square meters). The only entrance into the chamber was a narrow nijiriguchi, a low door that guests had to crouch to pass through. (In addition to stressing the equal humility of all participants, who had to bow deeply as they entered, it is said that this type of entrance was also meant to prevent warriors from bringing their swords into the chamber, thus preserving its peaceful atmosphere.)
Tea was served not in expensive vessels, but simple bowls. Prior to entering the tea hut, guests would prepare themselves in an adjacent roji or small garden recreating the calming, natural confines of a mountain temple. Even the lighting and décor of the hut was an expression of the spirit of the tea ceremony, and many of the architectural facets embraced by Rikyū continue to influence modern buildings.
The disciples of Rikyū carried on his teachings, developing these into the schools of Omotesenke, Urasenke, and Mushakōji-senke. These ryūha share many core elements, but differ in aspects like the preparation methods for tea and types of utensils used.
The roji provides a natural environment for guests to relax before entering the tea hut.
Manners and Etiquette
Today, Omotesenke and Urasenke are Japan's leading schools, with millions of followers. Students generally attend classes to learn the specific manners and etiquette of the different forms of the tea ceremony under the tutelage of an experienced practitioner. New pupils must obtain the necessary accessories for the tea ceremony, including a silk cloth for ritual cleansing known as a fukusa, a folding fan used when greeting others at the ceremony, and a cloth carrying case called a fukusabasami. If guests have been invited to a tea ceremony then students are also commonly called on to provide such items as serving trays, paper kaishi that act as plates, and small yōji picks for eating sweets. These rudimentary goods are available at dedicated stores and on the Internet. Classrooms usually provide students a selection of tea bowls along with a kama (kettle) for heating water.
Participants set a folding fan on the tatami mat in front of them when greeting others at the service.
A silk fukusa serves to ritually purify tea utensils.
Sweets are placed on paper kaishi and eaten using a yōji.
A participant prepares to partake in a bowl of usucha or thin tea.
Tea ceremonies are formal occasions and guests should take care to choose a kimono or Western-style suit that has subdued tones. They should refrain from wearing wristwatches and other accessories that could accidentally nick the tea bowl and avoid perfume or cologne that may overpower the surrounding fragrance of tea and incense. Finally, to maintain the purity of the tea room participants are expected to change into a fresh pair of white socks or tabi before entering.
Foreign Aficionados
Interest in the tea ceremony continues to grow among people overseas and visitors to Japan. Many non-Japanese practitioners are drawn to the rite through Zen Buddhism, while others delight in the decorative sweets and the strong taste of matcha. In recent years events such as the annual International Tea Gathering at the Urasenke Chado Kaikan in Kyoto have seen a steady uptick in foreign participants.
Those looking to experience the way of tea on a more intimate scale can make arrangements at shops catering to foreigners, including Motenas Nihon or Asakusa Jidaiya in Tokyo. Many establishments have multilingual staff and even offer to take commemorative pictures of guests dressed in traditional attire. The Midorikai at the Urasenke headquarters in Kyoto offers courses specifically designed for non-Japanese students of tea. There are also numerous venues in Kyoto and Kamakura that offer matcha along with traditional refreshments, including hotels, temples, cafés inside parks, and tea shops.
Related Sites with English Information
Where to Experience a Tea Ceremony
matcha tea ceremony Sen no rikyu

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Why can't I encrypt multiple strings using one encryptor on MonoTouch? I'm using the following (trimmed-down) class to encrypt some data before sending it from an iPad app to a WCF web service.
public class FlawedAlgorithm
{
    protected static byte[] key = { 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42, 42 };
    protected static byte[] vector = { 13, 37, 13, 37, 13, 37, 13, 37, 13, 37, 13, 37, 13, 37, 13, 37 };
    protected ICryptoTransform encryptor, decryptor;
    protected UTF8Encoding encoder;

    public FlawedAlgorithm()
    {
        using (var rijndael = new RijndaelManaged())
        {
            this.encryptor = rijndael.CreateEncryptor(key, vector);
            this.decryptor = rijndael.CreateDecryptor(key, vector);
        }

        this.encoder = new UTF8Encoding();
    }

    public string Encrypt(string unencrypted)
    {
        var buffer = this.encoder.GetBytes(unencrypted);

        return Convert.ToBase64String(Encrypt(buffer));
    }

    public string Decrypt(string encrypted)
    {
        var buffer = Convert.FromBase64String(encrypted);

        return this.encoder.GetString(Decrypt(buffer));
    }

    private byte[] Encrypt(byte[] buffer)
    {
        var encryptStream = new MemoryStream();

        using (var cryptoStream = new CryptoStream(encryptStream, this.encryptor, CryptoStreamMode.Write))
        {
            cryptoStream.Write(buffer, 0, buffer.Length);
        }

        return encryptStream.ToArray();
    }

    private byte[] Decrypt(byte[] buffer)
    {
        var decryptStream = new MemoryStream();

        using (var cryptoStream = new CryptoStream(decryptStream, this.decryptor, CryptoStreamMode.Write))
        {
            cryptoStream.Write(buffer, 0, buffer.Length);
        }

        return decryptStream.ToArray();
    }
}

When I run the following code on the server and the iPad, both print the same encrypted string.
var algorithm = new FlawedAlgorithm();

Console.WriteLine(algorithm.Encrypt("Some string"));

However, when I try to encrypt a second value, the results on the server and iPad are different.
var algorithm = new FlawedAlgorithm();

// The first encryption still functions correctly.
Console.WriteLine(algorithm.Encrypt("Some string"));

// This second encryption produces a different value on the iPad.
Console.WriteLine(algorithm.Encrypt("This text is a bit longer"));

When I decrypt the deviating iPad result on the server, part of the decrypted string is gibberish. The encrypted results from the server decrypt correctly.
The problem does not manifest itself if I create a new FlawedAlgorithm instance for each call, e.g.:
// These statements produce the correct results on the iPad.
Console.WriteLine(new FlawedAlgorithm().Encrypt("Some string"));
Console.WriteLine(new FlawedAlgorithm().Encrypt("This text is a bit longer"));

This leads me to think that the problem lies somewhere in the state of the objects involved. I have inspected the buffer variable in the Encrypt(string) method and the values produced by the UTF8Encoding instance are correct. This implies that the encryptor field (or its underlying implementation) is the culprit.
When I start varying the size of the first encrypted value, I can see changes in the result of the second encryption call. This would probably mean that some part of a stream isn't being cleared or overwritten properly. But the streams the FlawedAlgorithm class uses, aren't part of its state; they are recreated on each method call. And the encryptor object doesn't seem like the type that manages its own streams.
Has anyone else encountered a problem similar to this? Is the RijndaelManaged class flawed? Or are there some stream and memory management pitfalls in MonoTouch at play here, unrelated to this cryptography example?
P.S.: I have tested this on both the iPad and the iPad Simulator; both display this strange behavior.

A: When using .NET cryptography you must always check ICryptoTransform.CanReuseTransform (or assume it will return false). If it returns false then you cannot reuse the same encryptor/decryptor and must create new instances.
Skipping this check means that any changes in the framework (or via configuration files, since cryptography is pluggable) will likely break your application in the future.
You can use something like:
 ICryptoTransform Decryptor {
    get {
       if (decryptor == null || !decryptor.CanReuseTransform)
          decryptor = rijndael.CreateDecryptor (key, vector);
        return decryptor;
    }
 }

to hide this complexity from the caller of your cryptographic routines.


Amish Furniture Kitchen Island Tag: Guide To Choice Better Kitchen Islands Furniture.
Admin, October 18th, 2017. Kitchen, Guide To Choice Better Kitchen Islands Furniture.
To get the proper kitchen islands furniture is not difficult to remember this so many ways that we can do to make things more convenient and enjoyable. Kitchen islands - one item that offers functional and aesthetic value when we decided to implement it in the kitchen. When we do a search, we will find there are so many choices of size, design, style, and features of the islands that we can get according to your tastes, needs, types of materials, the availability of rooms and respective capabilities. As occupants kitchen plays an important role, not a few homeowners who put more attention on kitchen islands, including by presenting kitchen islands furniture. Furniture on kitchen islands will be very useful, especially when we consider the function of the islands themselves. There are a number of functions that can be obtained from kitchen islands, ranging from as additional intelligent storage solutions for the kitchen, up to instead of a dining table. When we take it as a substitute table for eating or doing other activities, then we will require the presence of furniture in the kitchen around the islands. We will need a number of seats that will make the function work with the maximum.
If we do that, then there are a number consider that we have to note the following.
First, be sure to get the kitchen islands furniture with attention to the availability of the room - when we plan to include a number of seats and placed around the islands area then make sure there is enough space for us to move. Ensure the existence of such kitchen islands furniture does not impede the flow of traffic around the islands so that the kitchen remains a place that is comfortable and enjoyable. Second, be sure to get the islands furniture with designs and styles to suit your kitchen décor - this we do to bring a harmonious atmosphere and give more WOW look at the overall room. We can choose to get a bar stool with a sleek design and simple to be paired with kitchen islands in a modern style kitchen. We can also choose to get a number of seats with detailed and intricate carvings on the classic style kitchen, and so on. It will be a fun job when we are trying to find matching furniture suitable for kitchen islands. Third, consider the height of kitchen islands that we have with furniture which we shall present - if we ignore this and choose the furniture, such as chairs for kitchen islands arbitrarily, it is likely for us to find the functions and appearance are less than the maximum. For someone who likes perfection, this certainly is not something we want, right?!.


A dream where you are being chased suggests that there is something or a situation in your life that you are avoiding. It implies that someone wants something or a response from you. If you are chasing someone in the dream then it suggests that you are trying to get someone's attention or that you are trying to reach a goal or target.


text:
ENTERTAIN THIS
Spoilers! Kurt Russell reveals his Mrs. Claus from Netflix's 'Christmas Chronicles'
Spoiler alert! This story contains details about the ending of "The Christmas Chronicles."
Watching Netflix's new holiday film "The Christmas Chronicles," it's not hard to imagine Kurt Russell being a pretty awesome Santa Claus. And if you're at all familiar with his life, it's also not too much of a surprise to see who's playing Mrs. Claus.
The movie puts Russell in modern times, working with a pair of kids (Judah Lewis and Darby Camp) to save Christmas after his sleigh crashes. The trio has a wild night including a car chase in a stolen vehicle and Santa getting tossed in the slammer (where he jams out with a jailhouse rock band).
Everything turns out well in the end (naturally) and Santa makes it back in one piece to the North Pole, where Mrs. Claus strolls in, greets him in elvish and is played by none other than Russell's longtime love, Goldie Hawn.
"Well, Nick, were you just a little bit naughty last night?" Mrs. Claus asks her husband, after hearing of his holiday shenanigans. "In a nice way," Santa responds. She leans in for a kiss and says, "That's why I love you." (Awwww!)
Russell tells USA TODAY that the scene – the first time the two actors have shared the screen as romantic partners since 1987's "Overboard" – was pretty special. "I love that (moment) because it's not just the cherry on top. It made me feel like, 'Ooh, what's that life like? What's their life like up there?' ."
The cameo came about thanks to Russell, who would ad-lib lines during scenes referring to Mrs Claus. "Pretty soon it became increasingly evident to all that, well, if Kurt Russell's playing Santa Claus, who should Mrs. Claus be?" Russell says. "Of course we were all looking at each other, and I said, 'Should we address the 800-pound gorilla in the room?' "
Russell personally pitched Hawn on playing Santa's wife in "Chronicles," which turned out to be a real family affair: Hawn's son Oliver Hudson plays the main kids' father, who's died as the movie begins but acts as posthumous inspiration for the youngsters' rekindling their Christmas spirit.
Oliver's character is crucial, Russell says, "because what you see in the very beginning has to carry throughout the movie without seeing him again, and it's what gives it its emotional impact at the end."
He adds that he looked at the movie as "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to play Santa "because you have to be the right age, you have to be the right kind of person. And I'm looking forward to all my family seeing this because there's a lot of Easter eggs throughout that really only my family members can totally appreciate."


THE EXAM WILL BE GIVEN DURING YOUR SCHEDULED EXAM DAY. YOUR TEST WILL CONSIST OF 50 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS BASED ON THE "ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE" SECTION OF THE GOVERNMENT STANDARDS 2 THROUGH 18 LISTED BELOW. READ AND REVIEW THESE SECTIONS TO PREPARE FOR THE TEST.
The skills identified in standard GOVT.1a-g are cited in the "Essential Skills" column of each chart for Virginia and United States Government with the exception of "g" (select and defend positions in writing, discussion, debate). Students should have opportunities to practice writing, discussion and debating skills, but these skills will not be assessed on the Standards of Learning test. All other skills will be assessed on the Standards of Learning test. Teachers should incorporate these skills into instruction throughout the year.
a) describing the development of Athenian democracy and the Roman republic.
The United States constitutional system incorporates democratic elements that were developed in Athens and Rome.
What elements of the United States constitutional system evolved from Athens and Rome?
b) explaining the influence of the Magna Carta, the English Petition of Rights, and the English Bill of Rights.
The United States constitutional system incorporated ideas from the Magna Carta, the English Petition of Rights, and the English Bill of Rights.
What elements of the Constitution of the United States of America are derived from the Magna Carta, the English Petition of Rights, and the English Bill of Rights?
c) examining the writings of Hobbes, Locke, and Montesquieu.
Principles of government and law developed by leading European political thinkers—Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Montesquieu—may be found in the Constitution of Virginia, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States of America.
What were the fundamental principles of American government and law developed by leading European political thinkers?
d) explaining the guarantee of the rights of Englishmen set forth in the charters of the Virginia Company of London.
The charters of the Virginia Company of London extended the rights of Englishmen to the colonists.
Why are charters of the Virginia Company of London significant?
The basic rights of Englishmen were guaranteed to the colonists by the charters of the Virginia Company of London.
e) analyzing the natural rights philosophies expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence is an expression of natural rights philosophy.
How are the natural rights philosophies, expressed by John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, reflected in the Declaration of Independence?
· · Rousseau believed that all men are equal.
· · Locke believed that government is based on an agreement between people and their rulers ("social contract"). He felt that people have the right to life, liberty, and property.
e) recognizing the freedom of the individual.
Concepts of democracy define and shape the meaning of citizenship.
What concepts define the meaning of democracy as expressed in the United States constitutional system?
· · Fundamental worth and dignity of the individual: All persons are entitled to life, liberty, and due process under the law.
· · Equality: All persons are entitled to equal rights and treatment before the law.
· · Majority rule: The will of the majority as expressed through elections is fundamental to the American system.
· · Minority rights: The Constitution of the United States protects the rights of the few from oppression.
· · Compromise: The structure of the United States government necessitates compromise by all sides.
· · Individual freedom: All persons are born free, equal, and independent.
An analysis of current events demonstrates contemporary applications of democratic concepts.
a) examining the ratification debates and The Federalist.
The debates over ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America focused on power given to the national government.
How did the amount of power given to the national government polarize the ratification debates?
The Federalist was a series of essays supporting adoption of the Constitution of the United States of America.
b) identifying the purposes for government stated in the Preamble.
The purpose of government is established in the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America.
What is the significance of the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America?
c) examining the fundamental principles upon which the Constitution is based, including the rule of law, consent of the governed, limited government, separation of powers, and federalism.
The Constitution of the United States of America is based on fundamental principles.
What are the fundamental principles contained in the Constitution of the United States of America?
· · Consent of the governed: People are the only source of governmental power.
· · Limited government: The government may do only those things that the people have given it the power to do.
· · Separation of powers: Government is divided into three branches— legislative, executive, and judicial.
· · Checks and balances: This is a system whereby each branch of government exercises some control on the others.
· · Federalism: In this form of government, powers are divided between the national government and state governments.
· · Rule of law: The Constitution of the United States of America is supreme and all individuals are accountable under the law.
d) illustrating the structure of the national government as outlined in Article I, Article II, and Article III.
Articles I, II, and III of the Constitution of the United States of America establish three co-equal branches of government.
How does the Constitution of the United States of America organize the national government?
· · Article I establishes the legislative branch of the national government setting forth the two houses of Congress to make laws.
· · Article II establishes the executive branch to carry out the laws passed by Congress.
· · Article III creates the United States Supreme Court and empowers Congress to establish lower Federal Courts to interpret the laws.
e) describing the amendment process.
The amendment process provides a way that the Constitution of the United States of America can remain responsive to the needs of a changing nation.
To date, there have been 27 amend-ments to the original Constitution.
What are the procedures to amend the Constitution of the United States of America?
d) examining the ongoing debate that focuses on the balance of power between state and national governments.
The Constitution of the United States of America provides for a federal system of government in which power is shared between the states and the national government.
What is the relationship of the state governments to the national government?
How is power divided and shared between the national and state levels of government?
What powers are denied to both national and state governments?
The Constitution of the United States of America establishes a federal form of government in which the national government is supreme.
The powers not given to the national government by the Constitution of the United States of America are reserved to the states or people.
Conflicts between the state and national authority in a federal system are found in concurrently held powers.
Federalism is not a static relationship between levels of government. The distribution of power between the states and the national government is the source of considerable political debate.
a) describing the organization, role, and constituencies of political parties.
Political parties are organized to win elections.
How do political parties organize to win elections?
Political parties have national, state, and local organizations.
Each major political party seeks to define itself in ways that wins majority support while remaining committed to core principles.
Third parties can form to highlight single issues in a given election or provide a long-term forum for minority views.
b) describing the nomination and election process.
At each level of government, candidates for elective office are chosen using a variety of nominating methods.
How do political parties nominate candidates for national, state, and local offices?
How do the major political parties select presidential candidates?
The two major political parties use the national nominating convention to select presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
In Virginia, state and local party organizations determine which method of nomination will be used to select candidates. Once nominated, candidates campaign and go before the voters for election to office.
Democracy requires that elections be free, honest, and accurate.
c) examining campaign funding and spending.
Running for political office is expensive.
How has the high cost of getting elected affected campaign funding and spending?
Laws limit the amount individuals and groups may contribute to federal, state, and local candidates.
In state and local campaigns, campaign contributions are unlimited but must be reported.
Rising campaign costs require candidates to conduct extensive fundraising activities.
d) analyzing the influence of media coverage, campaign advertising, and public opinion polls.
Media coverage, campaign advertising, and opinion polls influence public opinions during a political campaign.
How do media coverage, campaign advertising, and public opinion polls influence national, state, and local elections?
Mass media (including Internet) influence public opinion.
Campaign advertisements are used to persuade and/or mobilize the electorate.
e) examining the impact of reapportionment and redistricting.
Changes in population and resulting reapportionment have a political effect on legislative membership at the national, state, and local levels.
How do demographic changes lead to reapportionment?
What effect does reapportionment have on elections?
Redistricting is a legislative function.
Redistribution of legislative seats can significantly change the outcome of elections.
Gerrymandering is the process of redrawing district boundaries to benefit one political party or group of citizens.
United States Supreme Court cases in the early 1960s established the "one man, one vote" principle—Wesberry v. Sanders (1964).
f) identifying how amendments extend the right to vote.
Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America have extended the right of suffrage.
How have the amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America extended suffrage?
The extent of engagement in a political campaign can be measured by voter turnout.
What factors influence voter participation?
Education, age, and income are important factors in predicting which citizens will vote.
More citizens vote in presidential elections than in other national, state, and local contests, but the percentage of Americans voting in presidential elections is on the decline.
Voter apathy, dissatisfaction, and the failure to meet voting requirements contribute to the decline in voting.
a) examining the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The legislative branch is a bicameral body with committees playing a major role in the legislative process.
The Constitution of the United States of America grants both expressed and implied powers to the legislative branch.
The executive branch consists of the President, Vice President, and the federal bureaucracy.
The organization and powers of the judicial branch are derived from the Constitution of the United States of America and federal law.
How are committees organized and what is their purpose?
What are the expressed and implied powers?
What are the three parts of the executive branch and how are these positions filled?
What are the expressed and implied powers of the executive branch?
What is the organization and jurisdiction of the federal court system?
· · Committees are organized by subject matter.
· · Because of the large volume of work, committees are essential to the legislative process.
Implied powers allow Congress to do all things "necessary and proper" to carry out its expressed powers.
The executive branch is headed by the President and Vice President, who are supported by the Executive Office, the cabinet, and the federal bureaucracy.
b) analyzing the relationship between the three branches in a system of checks and balances.
A constitutional system of checks and balances gives each of the three branches of government ways to limit the powers of the other branches.
How does the system of checks and balances protect against an abuse of power by any one branch of government?
The Constitution of Virginia provides for legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
How are the three branches organized and what are their essential duties?
– – The governor, who is the chief executive officer of the state, is responsible for preparing the biennial state budget, overseeing the execution of state laws and policies, and proposing legislation to the legislature. Governors serve for a four-year term and may not serve two consecutive terms.
– – The lieutenant governor's main duty is to preside over the state Senate when it is in session.
– – The attorney general is the state's highest legal officer, who oversees all law enforcement activity.
· · The legislative branch of Virginia is known as the General Assembly. It is the oldest continuous legislative body in the Americas. The General Assembly is a bicameral (two-house) law-making body.
– – The Senate consists of 40 members, who serve single-member districts based upon population. Senators are elected to four-year terms.
– – The House of Delegates consists of 100 members representing single-member districts based upon population. Members serve two-year terms.
· · Virginia's judicial system consists of four levels of courts. Judges are elected by the state legislature for a specific term.
b) examining the structure and powers of local governments: county, city, and town.
Virginia local governments vary in type, form of organization, and responsibilities.
Regional authorities are political subdivisions of the state and address needs that cross local government boundaries.
Responsible citizens can exert influence on the policymaking process at the local level.
How are local governments in Virginia organized?
How can citizens shape the policy agenda and influence the decisions of local government officials?
Cities are separate governmental entities independent of the authority and taxing power of adjoining counties.
Incorporated towns are governmentally part of the county in which they are located.
Counties and independent cities, as units of local government, adopt and enforce ordinances and provide services for their residents.
An elected board of supervisors is generally responsible for the legislative and administrative affairs of the county.
An elected council is the local legislative body in independent cities and incorporated towns.
Regional authorities are created by the General Assembly to serve one or more special functions such as planning, land use, developing regional transportation facilities, and maintaining water and waste disposal systems.
c) analyzing the relationship between state and local governments.
The authority of local governments in Virginia is derived from the state.
What is the relationship between the state and local governments?
Counties and cities, as administrative subdivisions of the state, assist in the local implementation of state laws and programs.
a) examining different perspectives on the role of government.
Individuals have different opinions about the role of government in shaping public policy.
How do individuals differ in their opinions about the role of government?
Differences of opinion about the role of government are due primarily to ideology.
Individuals may not always be consistent in their opinions about public policy (e.g., a person may hold conservative views about the economy and liberal views about society).
b) explaining how local, state, and national governments formulate public policy.
Public policy is shaped by the interaction of the participants in the policy process with the policy agenda.
How are policy agendas and policy decisions shaped by individual citizens, interest groups, and the media?
Public policy is the action the government takes to address an issue, solve a problem, or meet the needs and wishes of the citizens.
Participants in the policy process include political leaders, interest groups, the media, and individual citizens.
c) describing the process by which policy is implemented by the bureaucracy at each level.
Public policy is primarily implemented by bureaucracies at the national, state, and local levels.
How do bureaucracies implement public policy?
At all levels of government, bureaucracies conduct the day-to-day operation of government and carry out public policy. Bureaucracies shape the meaning of laws passed by legislatures through rule-making and help to draft new bills for lawmakers. Some bureaucrats shape policy by providing information and advice to the executive branches of government.
d) describing how individuals, interest groups, and the media influence public policy.
Individuals, interest groups, and the media influence public policy.
How do individuals, interest groups, and the media influence policymakers?
a) explaining the jurisdiction of the federal courts.
The United States has a separate court system whose jurisdiction is derived from the Constitution of the United States of America and federal laws.
Where do the regular federal courts derive their jurisdiction?
What is the jurisdiction of each of the federal courts?
Article III of the Constitution of the United States of America and federal laws identify the jurisdiction of the federal courts.
· · Exclusive jurisdiction—Certain cases, such as bankruptcy and federal crimes, can only be tried in federal courts.
· · Concurrent jurisdiction—Congress allows some cases to be tried in either federal or state courts (e.g., cases between citizens of different states).
The Supreme Court of the United States is the court of last resort. It hears appeals from state and special courts.
b) examining how John Marshall established the Supreme Court as an independent, co-equal branch of government through his opinion in Marbury v. Madison.
The United States Supreme Court gained recognition as an equal branch of government as a result of John Marshall's judicial strategy.
How did the Supreme Court gain status equal to the other two branches of the federal government?
Prior to the appointment of Chief Justice John Marshall, the Supreme Court had little power.
In Marbury v. Madison (1803), Chief Justice Marshall and the Supreme Court first declared an act of Congress unconstitutional, thus establishing the power of judicial review.
c) describing how the Supreme Court decides cases.
The Supreme Court hears cases and makes decisions based on the opinions of the majority.
How are Supreme Court cases decided?
· · Briefs—Both sides of the case and any interested parties submit written information summarizing their point of view.
· · Oral arguments—Lawyers for each side present oral arguments. They are often questioned by the justices regarding their arguments.
· · Conference—Following oral arguments, justices meet to discuss the merits of a case. The decision of the court is determined by a majority vote.
· · Opinions—Justices are assigned to write the majority and minority opinions of the court. When all opinions have been written and justices have determined which opinion they will support, the decision is announced in public. Justices who disagree with those opinions may write a dissenting opinion.
d) comparing the philosophies of judicial activism and judicial restraint.
Supporters of the philosophies of judicial activism and judicial restraint disagree regarding the role of the federal judiciary.
How do the philosophies of judicial activism and judicial restraint relate to the federal judiciary's exercise of its authority?
Judicial activists believe federal courts should use the power of judicial review to solve important societal issues. Since justices are not elected, they can make controversial decisions without fear of losing office.
Those in favor of judicial restraint argue that the Supreme Court should avoid ruling on constitutional issues whenever possible. When action is necessary, it should decide cases in as narrow a manner as possible.
a) examining the Bill of Rights, with emphasis on First Amendment freedoms.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America, known as the Bill of Rights, outline American civil liberties.
What are the freedoms listed in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America?
The Bill of Rights is composed of the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America. It guarantees the rights of individuals and expresses limitations on federal and state governments.
– – Government may not establish an official religion, nor endorse, or unduly interfere with the free exercise of religion.
– – Individuals are free to express their opinions and beliefs.
– – The press is free to gather and publish information, including that which criticizes the government.
– – Individuals may peacefully gather.
– – Individuals have the freedom to make their views known to public officials.
b) analyzing due process of law expressed in the 5th and 14th Amendments.
The right to due process of law is outlined in the 5th and 14th Amendments of the Constitution of the United States of America.
How do the 5th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America protect due process of law?
· · Procedural due process of law—The government must use fair proceedings.
· · Substantive due process of law—The laws under which the government acts must be constitutional.
c) explaining selective incorporation of the Bill of Rights.
The selective incorporation of the Bill of Rights through the 14th Amendment (due process of law clause) greatly enhances the protection of civil rights.
How did the Supreme Court use the 14th Amendment to extend the Bill of Rights protections to state proceedings?
Beginning in the twentieth century, the Supreme Court used the 14th Amendment (due process of law clause) to limit state actions, just as the Bill of Rights limits the national government.
The Supreme Court has incorporated in the due process clause all of the provisions of the Bill of Rights except those of the 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and 10th Amendments and the grand jury requirement of the 5th Amendment.
d) exploring the balance between individual liberties and the public interest.
The protection of civil liberties and civil rights, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America, is balanced by compelling public interest.
How does the public interest influence the liberties and rights of individuals?
Few rights, if any, are considered absolute.
· · Some forms of speech are not protected (e.g., libel, slander, and obscenity).
· · Speech that is a "clear and present danger" is not protected (e.g., shouting fire in a crowded building).
· · The press can be restricted when publication will cause serious and irreparable harm (e.g., national security).
e) explaining every citizen's right to be treated equally under the law.
The equal protection guarantee of the 14th Amendment provides the basis for the safekeeping of civil rights.
How does the equal protection guarantee affect civil rights?
The equal protection clause is contained in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.
The promise of equal protection under the law does not guarantee all people will be treated exactly the same.
The government may classify or categorize people into groups for justifiable government goals (e.g., adults under 21 may not purchase alcohol).
· · Civil Rights Movement—Congress passed a series of laws outlawing discrimination.
· · Affirmative Action—The government passed laws and implemented procedures to reverse the effects of years of discrimination primarily against women and minorities.
a) describing the responsibilities of the national government for foreign policy and national security.
How are foreign policy decisions made and implemented?
How are American interests safeguarded at home and abroad?
The President has primary responsibility for making foreign policy; the President can negotiate, persuade, apply economic pressure, and threaten military intervention.
· · Congress has the power to declare war and to appropriate funds.
· · The Senate has the power to confirm ambassadors and to ratify treaties.
· · The Supreme Court has the power to interpret treaties.
b) assessing the role played by national interest in shaping foreign policy and promoting world peace.
United States foreign policy priorities reflect American political values.
How does the national interest shape foreign policy decisions?
Making foreign policy decisions requires balancing competing or contradictory foreign policy goals.
c) examining the relationship of Virginia and the United States to the global economy.
Total world production is greater when nations specialize in the production of those products that can be produced most efficiently.
What is the nature of the relationship of Virginia and the United States to the global economy?
International trade provides Virginia and the United States with goods and services for which they do not possess absolute or comparative advantage.
Virginia and the United States benefit when they produce goods and services for which they have a comparative advantage and trade for other items.
d) examining recent foreign policy and international trade initiatives since 1980.
The United States continues to face challenges to its security and economic well-being in the post-Cold War era.
In recent decades the national government has worked to reduce barriers to international trade.
What challenges shaped American foreign policy in the post-Cold War world?
How has the national government worked to promote fair and free trade throughout the world?
c) comparing the extent of participation in the political process.
Governments organize their institutions to serve the fundamental purposes for which government is established.
Participation in the political process reflects the degree to which governmental power is limited.
How are constitutional governments typically organized?
How does participation in the political process reflect restraints on the power of government?
· · A federal system of government (United States and Mexico)— Powers are shared between levels of government; powers are separated and shared among the branches of the national government.
· · A unitary system of government (Great Britain)—All governmental power is vested in the central government, which may choose to delegate some of its authority; this type of government often has a parliamentary system. The legislative branch holds both legislative and executive powers. The executive is chosen by the legislature.
Limited governments have restraints on power and encourage broad-based participation in the political process.
Governments of unlimited power (authoritarian governments) place no limits on the power wielded by one person or small group.


text:
Sunday, April 7, 2002 -- Waverly, WV
Challenge at Mountwood-WVMBA Pts. #1 (iPO Event Id#: 4782)
Story and photos by Don Parks
[Overall Results]
Pictures: [Set 1] [Set 2] [Set 3] [Set 4] [Set 5] [Set 6] [Set 7] [Set 8] [Set 9]
[Set 10] [Set 11] [Set 12] [Set 13] [Set 14] [Set 15] [Set 16]
Spring cleaning for the lungs
The 2002 WVMBA Point Series kicked off with a bang at Mountwood Park with over 250 riders coming out to enjoy a beautiful Sunday of racing. After what had been a dreary week for cycling, temps in the low 70's were a welcome change. If this was any indication of the type of season to come, it is surely to be a great one.
Mountain bike race courses in WV share one thing in common - mountains. While they may not be as big in the western part of the state where Mountwood Park is located (some mountaineers would refer to them as hills), what they lack in size they make up for in frequency.
Fast action at Mountwood
The Mountwood course didn't lend itself for recovery on the downhills and, being the first race of the season, put the hurtin' on many of the racers (backs, legs, lungs and hearts). Mostly dry conditions leading up to the race made the clay surface into a fast hardpack. With the exception of a couple of short road sections, racers were forced to keep their senses about them as they negotiated the twisty singletrack and, everyones favorites, plenty of log-jams.
We're not sure if this is the accepted term for these trail obstacles (log-jam is the best we could come up with). If a tree of any sizeable diameter falls on the trail at Mountwood you can count on someone stacking smaller limbs and logs on either side creating a rideable obstacle. Quite the challenge when you've been going all-out for an hour and a half and face a slew of 10 log-jams in a row. The experts (who had to complete two laps) probably faced over 100 during the race.
Logs, logs, and more logs
Everyone was testing their early season legs, and it seems that many also had to test their tire changing form. Pinch-flats were many as the rocks proved stronger than rubber when hit just right. "I saw tubes all over the place," commented Expert/Pro race winner Nick Waite, and the 18-year-old Devo/WV Tourism rider was not immune.
Waite battled with Dave Walker and Mike Walewski early on until he had to take a time out to fix a puncture. After resuming the chase, he caught Walker but Walewski was gone, a victim of flats as well. Waite finished the roughly 50K course in 2:11:31 with Walker taking second at 2:16:31. Taking third, and flatting along the way as well, was T.J. Platt at 2:22:12.
Rock 'n Roll WV style
In the women's Pro/Expert field no one could hang with Tiffany Kenny as she cruised to a win at 2:43:39. But behind Kenny the racing for second was fierce. In the end it was a sprint to the finish second place for Missy Showman (3:03:42) with Sarah Crandall-Fletcher (3:03:45) just seconds back in third. Mandi Riddle kept them in sight for much of the race as she finished a close fourth at 3:04:34.
There was plenty more great racing in all the categories as the WVMBA season got a great start. It quickly moves on as just the next week (April 13/14)is race number two at ACE Adventure Center in Oak Hill, WV. It is a full weekend affair with the Anguish at Arbuckle Downhill kicking it off on Saturday with the Minden Mud Fest cross country event on Sunday.


All handling fees are included.
© Copyright 2017 Essex Winter Series. Essex Winter Series is 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has provided quality arts presentations for the Connecticut River Valley and Shoreline communities since 1978. EIN#06-0991889.


text:
Best Buy > Video Game Console & Games > Bayonetta 2 - Nintendo Wii U
Bayonetta 2 - Nintendo Wii U
Bayonetta returns for more exciting action-packed fighting in Bayonetta 2, the next game in the thrilling Bayonetta series. With intense new weapons and devastating new moves - like the Umbran Climax - you're ready to take on hordes of angels and demons. Add an extra dimension to combat with two-player online co-op fights, which let you enter the fray with a friend by your side.


text:
NewsTV News
'Euphoria' sparks rise in young people seeking help for addiction
The UK Addiction Treatment Group has reported a small rise
By Sam Warner
Zendaya starring in 'Euphoria'. Credit: HBO.
Euphoria has led to a rise in young people seeking help for addiction problems, according to the UK Addiction Treatment Group (UKAT).
The HBO series wrapped up its second season last night (February 27), and throughout its run one of the main themes has been drug addiction, particularly shown through the perspective of Rue Bennett (Zendaya).
READ MORE: 'Euphoria' season two episode eight: death, destruction and heartfelt reunions
According to UKAT's head consultant, since the show was released there has been a small rise in young people seeking help for addiction.
"What shows like Euphoria do is to raise the awareness of young people and children experiencing and in some cases, struggling with mature life situations like drug misuse," Nuno Albuquerque told Metro.co.uk.
CREDIT: Sky/HBO
"Thankfully there has been a very small rise in the number of young people getting in touch with our support services asking for help and guidance."
He added: "It's naive of society to believe that our younger generation don't use and abuse substances, or to think that we can always protect them. If shows like Euphoria manage to encourage even one young person to reach out and ask for help, then that's wonderful."
Despite the increase, the US Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) previously criticised Euphoria's portrayal of teen drug use, claiming it chose to "misguidedly glorify and erroneously depict" such aspects.
Is Fez (Angus Cloud) in trouble? CREDIT: Sky/HBO
Zendaya subsequently defended the series, telling Entertainment Weekly: "Our show is in no way a moral tale to teach people how to live their life or what they should be doing.
"If anything, the feeling behind Euphoria, or whatever we have always been trying to do with it, is to hopefully help people feel a little bit less alone in their experience and their pain. And maybe feel like they're not the only one going through or dealing with what they're dealing with."
The star also revealed: "I've had a lot of people reach out and find so many parallels from all ages, all walks of life. So many parallels with Rue and her story and Rue means a lot to them in a way that I can understand, but also maybe in a way that I could never understand, and that means the most to all of us."
The UK Addiction Treatment Group online live chat service is free, confidential and available 24/7. They will signpost you to the best help for you.


text:
///
/// @file		SystemState.h
/// @brief		Virtual SystemState Class
/// @details	Models a certain state in the System State Machine.
/// @n
/// @n @b		Project SunriseClock
/// @n @a		Developed with [embedXcode+](http://embedXcode.weebly.com)
///
/// @author		David Gschwend
/// @date		02.09.14 14:50
///
/// @copyright	(c) David Gschwend, 2014
///

// Core library - IDE-based
#if defined(COSA)
#else // error
#error Platform not defined
#endif // end IDE

#include "Cosa/Types.h"

#ifndef SystemState_h
#define SystemState_h

/// @class Generic System State for the Controller State Machine
class SystemState {
public:
    /**
     * Possible Infrared Messages we can pass on.
     */
    enum IRMessage {
        UP          = 0x00,
        DOWN        = 0x01,
        RIGHT       = 0x02,
        LEFT        = 0x03,
        PLAY        = 0x04,
        MENU        = 0x05,
        REPEAT      = 0x06,
        ILLEGAL     = 0xFF
    };

    /// @brief  Possible Touch Button Types
    enum BUTTON {
        LightUp     = 0x00,
        LightDown   = 0x01,
        VolumeUp    = 0x02,
        VolumeDown  = 0x03
    };

public:
    ///	@brief Timeout for this State in Milliseconds.
    virtual const uint16_t timeout_ms() = 0;

    ///	@brief State Identification String
    virtual const prog_str* toString() = 0;

    ///	@brief Event: Entering this State.
    virtual void onEnter() = 0;

    ///	@brief Event: Leaving this State
    virtual void onLeave() = 0;

    ///	@brief Event: Touch Button was pressed.
    virtual void onTouch(BUTTON button) = 0;

    ///	@brief Event: Remote Control Message received.
    virtual void onIRMessage(IRMessage message) = 0;

    ///	@brief Event: The one-second system Tick occured.
    virtual void onSecondTick() = 0;

    ///	@brief Event: The user-defined timeout_ms elapsed since entering the state.
    virtual void onTimeout() = 0;

};

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Overcast. High 41F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..
Rain. Low 34F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Lewis County Sheriff's Office. Watertown Daily Times
Lowville man jailed on murder counts allegedly had 'hooch' in his cell
LOWVILLE — An inmate at the Lewis County Jail faces allegations that he made "hooch" in his cell.
Shawn L. Exford, 29, is charged with second-degree promoting prison contraband after corrections officers allegedly found a quantity of homemade alcoholic beverage fermenting in his cell during a search on Sunday.
He was issued an appearance ticket for Village Court on the contraband count.
Exford is being held on murder and arson charges contained in a grand jury indictment handed up in March in connection with a Nov. 30, 2019, fire on South State Street in which two women died.
It is alleged that he set a fire at a multi-unit apartment building at 7525 S. State St., resulting in the deaths of Catherine A. Crego, 58, and Saratina R. Kilbourne, 42, as well as creating the risk of death to four others residing in the building.
Oswego County furthers the creation of a solar farm in Volney
Douglas Waterbury's court appearances adjourned
Public Record Oswego County Police Blotter
Wrestlers from Fulton G. Ray Bodley High School pin down their college ambitions
Mary Culeton commits to play women's basketball at Fredonia State
Fort Drum soldier extradited to New Jersey where he faces murder charge
Local banks preparing for second round of Paycheck Protection Program
Quiet Watertown company makes big splash with manless patrol boat
Man in ER after allegedly being stabbed by girlfriend in Watertown


text:
Loukoumi Foundation's Mediterranean Tasting Event for a Good Cause
Eleni Sakellis and Matina Demelis
IMG_1586-e1572311680952
NEW YORK – Seven celebrity chefs participated in the Loukoumi Foundation's Mediterranean Tasting event at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan on October 28. The event capped off a week of events celebrating the release of Inspiring Stories That Make A Difference by 75 young authors, the latest book in the Loukoumi series by Nick Katsoris, founder and President of the Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation.
Proceeds from the event benefit the new program Loukoumi Feeds The Hungry in which Celebrity Chef Maria Loi will cook with a different school each quarter, and then together they will bring the food they cook to a local homeless shelter.
At the tasting event, the "Dream Team of Chefs" cooked up Mediterranean specialties attendees enjoyed buffet-style. From cold appetizers to Greek and Cypriot favorites including octopus, spanakopitakia, halloumi, Greek yogurt with honey and koulourakia for dessert, attendees had a wonderful time all for a good cause.
Katsoris gave the welcoming remarks noting the events celebrating the release of Inspiring Stories during Make a Difference With Loukoumi Week which included the Loukoumi Good Deed Bus Tour of Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, the town which on September 11, 2001 took in the passengers of the diverted planes on that fateful day and inspired the musical Come From Away. On October 19, students from Gander Elementary School followed in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents, visiting many of the local locations featured in Come From Away, doing good deeds at each.
On October 21, the Loukoumi Foundation launched the new Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation Treatment Room at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. As part of St. Jude's STARR program, while patients are receiving their treatments in the room, reading instructors will come in and help the children with their studies since they often have to leave their schools for months at a time to receive care. The Loukoumi Foundation room is funded by the donations of children who make a caring card for patients and also donate $1 to fund this project.
On October 22, the day of the release of Inspiring Stories That Make a Difference, all the young authors of the book and Loukoumi were invited to attend a performance of Come From Away on Broadway followed by a talkback with the cast. On October 26, the Loukoumi Good Deed Bus toured Manhattan with stops including a visit with Chef Maria Loi cooking with children at a local school, and then together bringing the food to a local homeless shelter. A stop at the 9/11 Tribute Museum followed where bus riders and Come From Away families wrote "Never Forget" cards and letters to families who lost loved ones on 9/11.
Katsoris then introduced the celebrity chefs, including Loi who came up with the idea for the tasting event, The Center for Discovery's Department of Nourishing Arts Chief Chef Cesare Casella, Host of Fresh to Frozen and Back Chef Diane Hendericks, Point-Hub CEO and President of the Hellenic Chefs Federation Chef Miltos Karoubas, Executive Chef of The Sheraton NY Times Square Chef Achilles Poliviou, White House Executive Pastry Chef and The Perfect Pie Chef Bill Yosses, and Executive Chef of the New York Athletic Club Chef Anthony Walton.
Chef Achilles Poliviou, Chef Maria Loi, Poliviou's wife Anne Marie Poliviou, Andrew Burriesci, Mauricio Benitez, and Lucas Marino. Photo: TNH/ Matina Demelis
Katsoris also presented the inaugural Parents of the Year Award to Mike Manatos and Laura Evans Manatos who brought their three children, Sienna, Andrea and Lucas, up to the stage to accept the award.
"When we started ten years ago we had 200 kids participating in one year. This year, we have reached 100,000 children across America participating in our programs," Katsoris said of the Loukoumi Foundation's decade of making a difference.
He told The National Herald that he was very proud "of what we have achieved. All this is to teach children how to make a difference in this world, not just one day but every day to become the next generation of philanthropists. These kids are our future. Every adult should inspire a child to do good deeds. That is how we will change the world."
Point-Hub CEO and President of the Hellenic Chefs Federation Chef Miltos Karoubas and Chef Maria Loi. Photo: TNH/ Matina Demelis
Chef Maria Loi said, "When you see this whole world around you, what else do you want. Loukoumi is in my heart. What we do is something different. We will continue and the next event will be even greater."
Chef Poliviou with roots in Cyprus was born in Britain but has lived in America for many years. He told TNH, "It is an honor for me to be a part of this event and support such an endeavor. With a name like Achilles, I have to support it."
Chef Karoubas traveled from Greece for the event, which, he noted, "is of great significance and so I decided to come. We are promoting Greek flavors and Mediterranean cuisine."
Guests received a parting gift at the event, a copy of the charming children's book, Loukoumi Saves a Park.
More information about the Loukoumi Foundation and the books in the Loukoumi series is available online: www.loukoumifoundation.org.
"Anything Goes" to Steam into U.S. Movie Theaters in Spring
NEW YORK (AP) — If you can't make it to New York to see Sutton Foster on Broadway in the classic musical "The Music Man," don't worry.
How Did Ancient Greeks Understand Their World?
COVID-19 Pandemic Puts Greek Theaters, Performers in the Dark


text:
The phrase No Good may refer to:

 No Good (group), an American hip-hop group
 "No Good (Start the Dance)", a song by the Prodigy
No Good (Fedde Le Grand song), a 2013 remake of above
 "No Good", a song by Plan B from Who Needs Actions When You Got Words
 "No Good", a song by Kate Voegele from Don't Look Away
 "No Good", a song by Nappy Roots from Wooden Leather
 "No Good (Attack the Radical)", a song by Pantera from Vulgar Display of Power
 No Good (album)
 Spirit Hunter: NG, a video game

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Is Captivating Content Still Possible in the Digital Age?
In today's age, organizations are susceptible to information overload. What sticks and what goes?
Before starting anything, users of social media must know where the organization stands now , where they want to go and what will it take to get them there. Unfortunately, organizations can venture into social media too quickly only to lose vision. The popular questions are "How many tweets should I be doing daily?" or "How can I increase my likes on Facebook?" Stop! Think about what you want to accomplish first.
By defining the purpose of social media usage, achieving the best content strategy is easy. The big kids on the block—Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and even LinkedIn and Flickr—have become standard for PR programs and traditional media.
1. Satisfy community needs- Use Google Analytics to know the tabs on which Web pages and blog posts attract the most visitors and interaction. Then, prioritize topics based on observations and metrics.
2. Is the brand restricting?– Sometimes the brand of an organization can actually constrain rather than benefit the company. Don't just think directly brand-related tactics but also think tactics that are adjacent to the brand. Although they may not generate immediate leads, it can pay off in the future.
3. Use free tools- By plugging in keywords with the Google Keyword Tool, Google will provide additional related keywords to increase your competition level and number of monthly searches. Also, Google Insights allows you to analyze statistics of keywords by category and geography to better fine-tune Google searches. Marketing RELEVANCE can also help with search engine optimization.
4. Be a filter- Create an editorial content calendar and start thinking like a media company. Be a content editor by choosing what information is the most relevant and interesting.
For help with creating captivating content for your organization, contact Marketing RELEVANCE today!


text:
MIGHTY CRUSADERS #4 unlettered preview
by First Comics News on February 23, 2018 MIGHTY CRUSADERS #4 unlettered preview2019-01-29T17:00:15-08:00 - News
MIGHTY CRUSADERS #4
The epic battle rages on! It's Eliminators vs. the remaining Crusaders who aren't under Dream Demon's control. May the best team win!
Script: Ian Flynn
Art: Kelsey Shannon, Ryan Jampole, Matt Herms, Jack Morelli
Cover: Kelsey Shannon, Matt Herms
Variant Covers: Rich Buckler, Phil Jimenez with Steve Downer
On Sale Date: 3/21
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S
https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/mighty-crusaders-4-unlettered-preview/https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mighty_Crusaders_logo-2017-600x257.pnghttps://www.firstcomicsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mighty_Crusaders_logo-2017-150x64.png 2019-01-29T17:00:15-08:00 First Comics NewsNewsMighty Crusaders
MIGHTY CRUSADERS #4 The epic battle rages on! It's Eliminators vs. the remaining Crusaders who aren't under Dream Demon's control. May the best team win! Script: Ian Flynn Art: Kelsey Shannon, Ryan Jampole, Matt Herms, Jack Morelli Cover: Kelsey Shannon, Matt Herms Variant Covers: Rich Buckler, Phil Jimenez...
Mighty Crusaders
History of the Mighty Crusaders – Episode 3 – "The Red Circle Relaunch!"
Jackpot Comics Companion Under Review
REVIEW: MIGHTY CRUSADERS TPB
RICH REVIEWS: The Mighty Crusaders Vol. 1
MIGHTY CRUSADERS VOL. 1 preview
ARCHIE'S SUPERTEENS VS CRUSADERS #2


text:
'We feel like we are a great team and nobody can beat us,' Joe Flacco says
By By Aaron Wilson
| The Baltimore Sun |
Joe Flacco didn't exactly channel his inner Joe Namath, but the Ravens quarterback definitely likes his team's chances in Sunday's AFC championship game against the New England Patriots.
"I think we feel like we are a great team and nobody can beat us," Flacco said Friday. "I think when you play with that kind of confidence, it definitely gives you a leg up just in case the other team isn't necessarily playing with that.
"I don't want to say they aren't, I'm sure that most of the time they are. If anything, it may give you a little bit of an advantage just because in order to be successful in this league and really in anything, you have to have that confidence. Right now, we are walking around with a little bit of that."
The Ravens, who lost to the Patriots, 23-20, in last year's AFC title game, have been installed as significant underdogs for Sunday. Some of their veteran players — including outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and free safety Ed Reed — have declined interview requests all week, but that hasn't stopped some of the younger players from speaking their mind.
"We don't feel like the underdogs," tight end Ed Dickson said. "We know how we can play. We know what kind of team we have. We know that it's hard to beat the Patriots at home, but we believe in ourselves and that's what it takes."
Fairly healthy
Other than ruling out rookie reserve cornerback Asa Jackson with a hamstring injury he suffered while covering a kickoff against the Denver Broncos, the Ravens are relatively healthy for Sunday.
"Yes, we look good," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. We are very similar to what we have been the last few weeks. Don't think there will be any surprises. We should be in good shape injury-wise."
That includes rookie backup running back Bernard Pierce, who's dealing with a bone bruise on his right knee and had been in and out of practice this week before returning to practice Friday.
He's listed as questionable on the injury report but is expected to at least play on a limited basis.
Pierce was limited against the Broncos, aggravating his knee and gaining just 14 yards on five carries after rushing for 103 yards the previous week against the Indianapolis Colts.
"I'm feeling good, man," Pierce said. "Basically, it just took time. I wasn't really getting any rest. I'm feeling pretty good this week. I'm going to give it everything I've got. I was going to play, regardless."
Starting inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (sprained right ankle, back) and Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach (right knee, ankle) are both listed as questionable but expected to start.
Reserve wide receiver David Reed (thigh) is also questionable.
Sixteen Ravens are listed as probable, including the following starters: wide receiver Anquan Boldin (bruised left shoulder), nose guard Terrence Cody (ankle), defensive end Arthur Jones (thigh, knee), inside linebacker Ray Lewis (right triceps), defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (right knee), strong safety Bernard Pollard (ribs), Ed Reed (torn shoulder labrum), wide receiver Torrey Smith (back), Suggs (right Achilles, right torn biceps) and offensive guard Marshal Yanda (shoulder).
Tough to sack
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady proved to be too elusive for outside linebacker Paul Kruger in the teams' meeting earlier this season, wriggling out of his grasp twice during the Ravens' 31-30 win at M&T Bank Stadium.
On both plays Kruger quickly penetrated the backfield and then struggled to bring Brady down to the ground.
"Yeah, he got away from me a couple of times," said Kruger, who had nine sacks in the regular season and 2 1/2 more in the playoffs. "You always hate to miss those. He's a really good player who you've got to try to slow down because you're not going to stop him completely.
"When we played those guys last time, I was dealing with a bad back. When I watch that tape, I'm like, 'I was really hurting.' I was really tight, but there's no excuse. He's strong, he's experienced and he knows how to get off tackles. He's been around forever. He knows all the veteran tricks."
Chykie Brown fined
Ravens cornerback Chykie Brown has been fined $15,000 by the NFL for his illegal hit on Broncos tight end Joel Dreessen on Saturday.
Brown was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the fourth quarter after leading with his helmet and striking Dresseen high.
He is planning to appeal
Brigance to be part of coin toss
Ravens senior advisor to player development O.J. Brigance will serve as an honorary game captain Sunday and will be on the field for the pregame coin toss.
Brigance is battling Lou Gehrig's Disease and is in a wheelchair.
The former NFL linebacker still comes to work every day at the Ravens' training complex and delivers inspirational messages to the players. He has a charitable foundation devoted to research of Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Rooting interest
The loyalties of Ravens defensive end Arthur Jones and Patriots rookie defensive end Chandler Jones' parents will be divided Sunday when their sons' teams square off.
Arthur Jones is convinced that his parents will be cheering his team because he's their first-born son.
"They're definitely rooting for me," he said. "I've been through all the drama. I got drafted late. They may tell Chandler one thing, but I know who they're rooting for me. My clock is ticking. Chandler can get a championship down the road."
End zone
When Harbaugh was reminded that defensive coordinator Dean Pees jokingly suggested that one way to make Brady uncomfortable is to hire Tonya Harding, Harbaugh had a quick reply. "Is she available?" he said with a laugh. .. BWI Marshall Airport has issued an advisory reminding fans that there won't be an opportunity to greet the Ravens upon their return to Baltimore after Sunday's game. Fans are discouraged from going to the airport terminal or property to try to see the players and coaches. ... The Patriots listed five players as probable on their injury report: cornerback Marquice Cole (finger), Jones (ankle), center Nick McDonald (shoulder), defensive end Trevor Scott (knee) and running back Danny Woodhead (thumb). New England removed cornerback Alfonzo Dennard (non-injury reasons) from the injury report. ... On injured reserve for the entire season with a broken left ankle that required surgery, Ravens defensive end Ryan McBean will attend Sunday's game. An unrestricted free agent, he's hoping to return next season. "I would love to be back," said McBean, who is off crutches and still has metal plates in his ankle. "At this point, it's up in the air. We'll talk about it later on after the season, but I love it here."
awilson@baltsun.com
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text:
Wolf Hartmut Hilbertz (né le , mort le ) est un architecte, chercheur et enseignant, parfois qualifié d'architecte "futuriste", né en Allemagne et ayant vécu aux États-Unis, qui s'est intéressé à l'architecture du futur, aux biomatériaux, à la construction sous-marine de récifs et aux sciences de la mer.

Jeunesse et scolarité
Wolf Hilbertz est né à Gütersloh, Allemagne en 1938, premier enfant de Rudolf Hilbertz (né en 1909, mort en 1995) et de Erna Hilbertz (née Uslat en 1906). Son père avait une pensée artistique et inventive (imaginant par exemple l'un des premiers rasoirs électriques). Son père aurait aimé devenir artiste, mais a été contraint à commencer à travailler dans une banque. Sa mère était enseignante.

Après la naissance de Wolf, la famille s'installe à Aussig (Ústí nad LabemÚstí nad Labem) en République tchèque. Lorsque la Seconde Guerre mondiale éclate, son père, volontaire pour la Wehrmacht devient membre d'un commando des forces spéciales les Brandenburgers.
Wolf a une sœur (Uta) en pleine guerre, en 1940. Quatre ans plus tard, son père est grièvement blessé en Grèce. Alors que le régime nazi s'effondre, sa famille fuit ensuite l'Armée rouge vers l'ouest en 1945. En tant que réfugiés de guerre, lui et sa famille s'installent à Detmold (Allemagne) en 1946.
Il rejoint l'école secondaire (Gymnasium) sans terminer ce cursus, ce qui aurait dû normalement l'empêcher d'entrer dans une université allemande. Toutefois, après avoir terminé son service militaire obligatoire, il est allé à Berlin en 1959 où il obtient (via un examen) une équivalence d'études secondaires, ce qui lui permet d'entrer à l'Université des arts de Berlin (Universität der Künste Berlin), où il étudie l'architecture.
Il épouse sa femme en 1961 à Berlin où il obtient son diplôme d'architecture en 1965. Il émigre ensuite à New York avec sa famille en , avant (en 1966) de déménager à Ann Arbor, dans le Michigan, où il obtient sa maîtrise d'architecture à l'Université du Michigan en 1967.

Carrière
Hilbertz travaille comme architecte à Berlin, puis à New York, et Détroit.
Son premier poste d'enseignant lui est accordé en 1967 en tant que professeur adjoint à Université du Sud à Bâton-Rouge (Louisiane).
Après plusieurs années, il a conçu et publié le concept de Cybertecture. En 1970, il est membre du corps professoral de l'École d'architecture de l'Université du Texas ainsi que de plusieurs autres très innovantes par de nouveaux professeurs-doyen puis Alan Y. Taniguchi (1969-1972).

À l'Université du Texas, il fonde le "Responsive Environments Laboratory", où lui et ses étudiants développent et étendent sa réflexion sur la création "automatisée" (automated creation en anglais) de l'environnement bâti.
Peu de temps après, il est titularisé comme professeur. Après plusieurs années, le laboratoire se concentre sur l'idée de copier des processus naturels pour construire des structures sous l'eau, comme le font les coraux
Le matériau est depuis connu sous le nom de seacrete ou de Biorock.

Hilbertz et Nicholas Negroponte se sont dans cet esprit mutuellement influencés.

Son cursus universitaire comme enseignant-chercheur a inclus des universités aussi diverses que l' (Université McGill, l'Université des Arts de Brême, et l'Université du Texas, où il a également travaillé comme chercheur en sciences de la mer. Il a fondé un laboratoire sur les processus symbiotiques (Symbiotic Processes Laboratory). Hilbertz a cofondé et dirigé "The Marine Resources Co", "Biorock Inc", et a été Vice-Président chargé de la recherche au sein du "Global Coral Reef Alliance". Il a aussi fondé et présidé l'ONG " Sun & Sea e.V "

Publication
Il a publié de nombreux ouvrages et articles sur sa Recherche et développement et largement enseigné dans les Amériques, en Europe et en Asie, via notamment des ateliers pratiques.
Son travail a été exposé sur plusieurs continents.
Il a déposé plusieurs brevets (mondiaux ou pour les États-Unis, avec le  pour ceux qui ont le plus grand intérêt écologique).

Récompenses
En 1998, Goreau et Thomas reçoivent le prix « Theodore M. Sperry Award » pour leurs travaux de pionniers et innovateurs, et le premier prix de la Society for Ecological Restoration.

Hilbertz a jeté les bases de la discipline dite " Cybertecture", a étudié les systèmes écologiques émergents, auto-évoluants et résilients. Il a inventé et perfectionné avec Goreau un processus d'accumulation de minéraux dans l'eau de mer aboutissement au procédé Biorock testé en Jamaïque. Le duo a posé les bases et le cadre d'une nouvelle profession : architecture et paysagement sous-marin, discipline sœur ou fille du Landscape Architecture bien connu dans les pays anglosaxons.

Hilbertz a ensuite passé beaucoup de temps à installer, entetenir et surveiller divers projets dans de nombreux pays, toujours avec son ami et partenaire de vingt ans, Tom Goreau, et avec l'aide de nombreux collaborateurs, étudiants et bénévoles, travaillant notamment sur la restauration de récifs coralliens, la conservation d'habitats pour les poissons, la mariculture et la lutte contre l'érosion.

Dans la mesure du possible, il travaillait avec les administrations et/ou avec la participation des communautés locales.
Ses travaux sur la production de matériaux de construction, métaux ou composants minéraux ou gazeux de l'eau de mer provenant directement ou indirectement de la conversion de l'énergie solaire, l'utilisation durable de saumure, et le projet de l'Autopia Saya initié en 1997 (île semi-artificielle construite dans l'Océan Indien avec et par les coraux) selon les principes d'une " seacology " ont été après sa mort portés par son partenaire Thomas Goreau.

Mort et famille
Un problème initialement diagnostiqué comme maux d'estomac au printemps et en été de 2007, est finalement diagnostiqué comme cancer du poumon fin juillet. Il meurt le  à Munich. laissant sa mère, une sœur, son épouse et ses deux ex-épouses et cinq enfants, deux fils et trois filles. Son urne funéaire est enterré dans le cimetière "Städtischer Friedhof Wilmersdorf" à Berlin.

Publications
 Toward Cybertecture, in: Progressive Architecture,
 Marine architecture: an alternative, in: Arch. Sci. Rev., 1976
  Mineral accretion technology: applications for architecture and aquaculture with D. Fletcher und C. Krausse, Industrial Forum, 1977
 Building Environments That Grow, in: The Futurist (June 1977): 148-49
 Electrodeposition of Minerals in Sea Water: Experiments and Applications, in: IEEE Journal on Oceanic Engineering, Vol. OE-4, No. 3, , 1979
 Solar-generated construction material from sea water to mitigate global warming, in: Building Research & Information, Volume 19, Issue 4 July 1991, pages 242 - 255
 Solar-generated building material from seawater as a sink for carbon, Ambio 1992

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Biorock
 Corail

Liens externes
 WolfHilbertz.com: website with downloads of his articles
 PDF of the seminal 1979 paper by Wolf Hilbertz, used with permission of the IEEE Intellectual Property Rights Office
 Biorock.net: website about Biorock and accretion as developed by Wolf Hilbertz and Thomas Goreau
 GlobalCoral.org: photo gallery of the Pemuteran project
 Biorock-Workshop.org: website about Biorock workshops
 Biorockbali.webs.com: Coral conservation project Karang Lestari, Pemuteran Bay, Bali
 Biorock Thailand: Non-profit group working with Biorock technology
 Pemuteranbay.com: Reefs in Pemuteran, Bali (Biorock is no. 6)
 Growing a beach in the Maldives, authors Abdul Azeez Abdul Hakeem, Wolf H. Hilbertz, and Thomas J. Goreau
 Aquaculture & Coral Reef Restoration - Pacific Aquaculture Cooperatives International, Sept. 21, 2007
 About.com inventors: Wolf Hilbertz - Sea-cretion
 Saya de Malha Expedition 2002, rev. 1
 US Patent Nr. 5,543,034 from 1996

Architecte allemand
Écologiste allemand
Infrastructure maritime
Naissance en avril 1938
Naissance à Gütersloh
Décès en août 2007
Étudiant de l'université des arts de Berlin
Décès à 69 ans
Décès à Munich
Naissance dans le Troisième Reich


P-Square are a Nigerian R&B duo composed of identical twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye.
The story of P-Square began in St. Murumba secondary school, a small Catholic school in Jos, Nigeria. Identical twins Peter and Paul joined their school music and drama club where they began singing, dancing, and miming songs by MC Hammer, Bobby Brown and Michael Jackson.
They later formed an acappella quartet called "MMMPP" (M Clef a.k.a Itemoh, Michael, Melvin, Peter and Paul). Drawing inspiration from their music idol Michael Jackson, they began break dancing, formed the group called "Smooth Criminals" in 1997. They droped M Clef from the group "MMMPP" which later was changed to "MMPP". Their artistic talent and precise dance routine soon made them household names in the city of Jos, where they performed at school functions and other occasions.
Later in 1999, Peter and Paul returned to music school to develop their skills on keyboard, drums, bass and rhythm guitar. Their work includes the soundtracks for a number of films like Tobi, Mama Sunday, Moment of Bitterness and Evas River.
They have an ever growing fan base across South Africa with a particular stronghold of die-hard fans in Cape Town.
The group has performed alongside the following international artists like Ginuwine, Sean Paul, Akon and Busola Keshiro. The members of P Square are now located in Lagos.
In 2009, P-Square released their fourth studio album, Danger. The album features collaborations with 2face Idibia, J Martins and Frenzy. The first single called "Danger" is a hip hop song with cutting synths and a frog bass baseline similar to an Eminem song. The video affirms this with the presence of clowns and staggered movements in front of the camera reminiscent of comical videos by Eminem. They are also known for the close resemblance which the twins have to American R&B Superstar, Usher Raymond.
On 4 April 2010, P-Square was named the Artist of the Year at the KORA All Africa Music Awards in Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso while they were in London for a Concert at the Troxy, and they will receive a whopping sum of $1 Million Dollars as the Award Winners, in Ebebiyin City.
The duo are reported to handle most of their production/beat making in house. The band has been faced with many controversies for their habit of sampling western songs and popular hits in their records. They have addressed the issue many times in interviews as well as in the lyrics of their songs. Technically speaking, P Square does more in the line of reconstructing the drum patterns, chord progressions or lyrics of the sampled songs as against actually cutting parts of the song and directly sampling into their production. This accounts for the largely electronic feel of their sound.
P-Square attracted headlines when they reportedly turned irate when they were notified in the middle of their at the Guinness Show performance by the organisers about some change in plans which would affect the length of their performance, and that of the next act, 2face.
As reported by a news site vanguardngr.com, the info apparently stirred up resentment as Peter immediately said "I don't know why, anytime a foreign artiste comes to Nigeria, they (show organizers) wanna treat us like slaves in our country". Although initially they continued their performance but midway through, they threw their microphones to the ground and angrily stormed out of the stage saying, "We are leaving; they don't want 2face to come on stage" They were said to have immediately left the premises of the show, but after intervention of the show organisers, they came on stage later with 2face for a performance, but later on were apologised to.


We have been trying faithfully to study come follow me every day individually and as a family. It has blessed our family and me individually as I actually feel closer to the Savior. I actually feel I am coming to know him by studying about his life. I read about him and ponder on why he did what he did. It's overwhelming to think about and wonderful to teach and share and listen as my children share their thoughts and testimonies. Fred and I get up in the morning and read about baptism in the scriptures and we have started reading the baptism lessons in Preach my Gospel. He is serious about his decision to be baptized and about preparing to do so. I am very proud of him and grateful for him. He will be an example for the girls and I look forward to preparing for their baptisms with them some day as well. I also read from the Book of Mormon daily on my own. I look for examples of goodly parents. I love studying the scriptures everyday. We have become a gospel centered home. We continuously work on getting better at this and God sustains and inspires Collin and me.
My calling has been cub scout leader for the past almost 2 years, and Fred and the girls have been coming with me and love participating in the activities but mostly playing in the church gym. As Fred is close to turning 8 and officially joining but also as the church is ending it's participation in cub scouts, Fred has been participating as a scout to get as much of the experience as he can. We are excited for the new youth program!!
It's mid April and spring is all around us. We have days when it's warm and sunny, even a 75 degree day (though mostly 50-60), mixed with mornings of frost and snow. But nevertheless, we've been stuck inside all freezing cold winter and we are ready to be out!! We are out every day, walking and riding, inspecting blooms, breathing fresh air, and even starting to plant a little. Friends and neighbors are emerging from hibernation, and it's been fun having lots of friends over. We still aren't out of the cold yet, but so happy for spring!!
FIRST LOST TOOTH AND IT JUST HAPPENED IN COSTCO!!!!
She's telling everyone and all the sample people are cheering hahaha!!!!
She was eating a piece of sausage and said, "I think my tooth just broke." I felt it and sure enough, it was super wiggly!! I told her to just keep wiggling it and that it would come out in a few days. Well she wiggled and wiggled and it came out a few MINUTES later. There was some blood but I assured her it was just a little and all normal.
She called Collin right away to tell him and couldn't wait to pick Fred up from school to tell and show him. Collin told her congratulations, and Fred was also delighted!! My big girl reminding me once again that she's going off to kindergarten this fall and going to grow up and leave me.
She was very excited to wake up to find a dollar under her pillow from the tooth fairy the next day.
The kids and I had a date during priesthood session of general conference. We went to In-N-Out, then our favorite: the pet store!! We saw so many cool fish (glow in the dark!!), turtles swimming, birds, guinea pigs, mice sleeping in piles, snakes, kitties that we wanted to take home, dogs getting haircuts, lazy ferrets, tons of other lizards, and more. Ella loves playing with all the squeeze puppy toys so we could always find her in the aisles. It was fun and I love these little animal lovers.
And then she drew it.
Spring equinox and a supermoon!!
Outside. Barefoot! The weather will go back and forth from now till the end of April, but the days are longer, it's generally warmer and sunnier, and we all feel quite happy and giddy around here.
We had our first prenatal appointment with our midwife, Christine, whom we love! She comes to our home! The kids adore her too, and entertain for her attention. Ella says, "Chrissy, look at my (doll, house, cat, toy, moms tummy, etc...)." Hattie lovingly rubs my neck and arms. Fred joins in, and then goes back to reading as soon as things seem all settled. Collin sits next to me, supporting me, my partner. I take it all in, breathe it in. I'm present in the moment and in disbelief that we will have another little child soon.
Prenatal yoga has been so good. So thought provoking and healing always. Wild and crunchy too, which I desparately need. We leave for Phoenix tomorrow and I can't wait.
Oh! And Ella got her first book from Great Grandma Smith!!!! She loves it and carries it around with her ever.
Monte is now in Heaven, and Dot is the most wonderful furry best friend to us all.
Love of my life, CS. Read his blog, Fantastic Fatherhood, by clicking this photo.
our engagement & wedding photos (by Leo Patrone).
We're parents and our children are our lives. Every child comes into this world in a special and unique way. Here are the birth stories of our son, Frederick, our daughter, Harriet, and our brand new daughter, Ella.
The incredible tale of the birth of Ella Claire Smith: a calm quiet girl who entered this world faster than lightning.
I used hypnobirthing during both of my children's births, and had them completely naturally. Hypnobirthing allowed me to manage the discomfort and focus fear-free. I was able to trust myself, my body, my baby and have beautiful and positive birthing experiences.
If you need support or have questions, please ask!
i believe in God. i know he is my father and that his son, Jesus Christ, is my Savior, and that they love me very much.