Global Talent Communications Manager (# 108697)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Position:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> Global Talent Communications Manager</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Location:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Duration:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> Full time<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Job Description:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The Customer Group (CG) team is our field based, customer facing organization consisting of Sales, Marketing, Applications, Finance, Human Resources, Facilities & IT.  They partner closely with our customers to provide a comprehensive portfolio of products, services, software and expertise, to help them manage yield throughout their fabrication process-from research and development to final volume production.  Responsibilities of this group include maintaining strategic client relationships, identifying and closing sales opportunities, ensuring our products meet performance capabilities & expectations, providing critical solutions for improved yield performance, and collecting requirements for future products by understanding customer processes and technology trends.  Partnering with our service organization and factory divisions, this diverse and dynamic team helps ensure alignment between customer needs and corporate offering to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Responsibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">1) Develop and implement an overall internal communications strategy which engages employees with KLA-Tencor strategy<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">2) Create and execute successful communications programs that strengthen leaders, managers and employees understanding of KLA-Tencor strategy<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">3) Define global messaging and communication themes in line with the company strategy, brand promise and value proposition<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">4) Work with executives in key functional roles including CEO, CMO, and HR to identify communications objectives, brainstorm creative solutions, develop communications plans, and lead or provide oversight of the programs or plans through multiple channels (programs may include Open Enrollment, Sustainability, PMP, Health and Wellness)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">5) Develop an overall plan for targeted communications efforts using all available and appropriate channels including town halls, brown bag lunches, intranet, apps, web and email, print materials, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">6) Provide communications advice and support to business leaders, other internal communication roles, consultants and senior support staff on a range of ad hoc issues and projects as required (e.g. Organizational Announcements)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">7) Design and execute Global All Hands, webcasts and other face-to-face communications and interactions to all employees or specific audiences from the CEO and other executives<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">8) Drive the development of online and offline communications projects such as videos, apps, microsites, Web content, KLA-Tencor’s Global Collaboration Platform and other communications<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">9) Design programs to ensure leaders stay connected with employees, taking a constant pulse on their attitudes, needs, priorities and communications preferences (e.g. Quarterly GM/VP Toolkit, Engagement Survey Communications)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">10) Oversee crisis communication strategy and process, ensuring that KLA-Tencor is prepared to quickly and appropriately communicate with employees on unforeseen crises and issues<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">11) Design metrics to measure progress and results for communication strategies as required<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Technical Competencies:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Business knowledge<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Communication planning, including experience with current web practices, supporting technologies, new media (including social media and viral messaging)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Change management<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Exceptional research, writing and editing, and in particular, the ability to write in different styles to reflect the nature of the stakeholder, audience and message<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Strong project management skills, and the ability to execute programs with speed, accuracy and efficiency<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> Cultural Competencies<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Creative thinker, with a desire and ability to look for better ways to approach issues and situations<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Compelling storyteller<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Positive, can-do attitude<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Uncompromising commitment to quality and details; able to uncover defects and develop solutions while also able to see the big picture<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Self-motivated, with an appetite for working entrepreneurially and a track record as self-starter<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Strong team orientation, with a strong sense of commitment to team members and clients<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Skilled in cross-cultural communication; demonstrates heightened awareness of cross-cultural issues and strong capability of working across boundaries and differences<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Evidence of intellectual curiosity as demonstrated by other professional training and outside activities; experience and interest in learning about new technologies<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Flexibility to travel globally, attend events as required and to work, if needed, outside of standard business hours<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Emotional Intelligence Competencies:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Demonstrates self-awareness and self-control<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Conveys empathy<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Displays social expertness<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Able to exert personal influence<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Demonstrates mastery of purpose and vision<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Minimum Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Undergraduate degree in marketing, communications or related field is preferred<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- At least 10 years of demonstrated impact in internal or external roles involving executive communications with examples of non-traditional, innovative approaches<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Experience working for a global Company, and demonstrated competence in communicating with internationally dispersed employees / teams<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- A track record of working effectively with senior management (VP and C-Level) and forming peer-level relationships with other senior members of an organization<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Proven history of developing successful multi-channel, global internal communications programs<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Experience in managing core and virtual teams that include speech writers, graphics designers, consultants and agencies<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Past record of successfully driving programs with tight deadlines<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">- Expertise in multi-tasking, prioritizing, and succeeding in a fast-paced, dynamic environment<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Kindly send your resume to <a href="mailto:raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com">raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div>

Global Talent Communications Manager (# 108697)

Position: Global Talent Communications Manager Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Full time Job Description: The Customer Group (CG) team i...

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Presidential Debate 2012...Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Tonight at 9 P.M. ET, Jim Lehrer will moderate the first of the 2012 Presidential Debates live from Denver, CO.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpNDN7WmMEKYyAufrZLMZT5ijFfmDeV9Oxj0TV2nQJ9tuprp5NEnw8mauMH1j07KdzltPdWPfeKDVJp78cv0jmYYnFGmcKhGgM-kWrVC_UpBDhOhkRFpuRkHdltjABicdML2ehbytyyk/s1600/Obama+Romney+Debate+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpNDN7WmMEKYyAufrZLMZT5ijFfmDeV9Oxj0TV2nQJ9tuprp5NEnw8mauMH1j07KdzltPdWPfeKDVJp78cv0jmYYnFGmcKhGgM-kWrVC_UpBDhOhkRFpuRkHdltjABicdML2ehbytyyk/s400/Obama+Romney+Debate+2012.jpg" width="400" /></a>Tonight’s questions will focus on fiscal and domestic policy.  Subsequent Presidential debates will focus on foreign policy and social issues.<br /><br />So, in the meantime and on the precipice of tonight’s debate…<br /><br />We brought both President Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney into the Bagwine Studios of IWS in order to have a tête-à-tête type summit in order to discover what makes the hearts and souls of President Barry and Governor Willard beat.<br /><br /><b>Matt:</b>  Gov. Romney…Let’s begin with you.  If you had been born a black man rather than a pasty white type of guy…what type of black man would you be?<br /><br /><b>Romney:</b>  Hmmmm?  That pre-supposes that my father would have been a negro as well, and since as a white man living in Detroit he ran Ford Motor Company…um…as a successful negro living in Detroit, he would have run Motown Records. So I guess I would have become the cat’s pajamas in some Section 8 mogul form or fashion. Or I’d have taken over Motown Records and be known today as, Quincy Gordy and/or Berry Jones.<br /><br /><b>Matt:</b>  Likewise President Obama…If you had been born truly white, rather than an awkwardly DNA’ed mufaletta, where do you think you’d be today?<br /><br /><b>Obama:</b>  Hell I’d still be residing in Hawaii.  And as a white man I would actually be able to enjoy the surf.  I could swim in the ocean.  Ride a surfboard, and just hang out getting a tan.  You can’t do any of that type of thing when you’re a black man.  Hawaii isn’t paradise when you’re a black man; it’s just a Zip Code.<br /><br /><b>Matt:</b>  Let’s move to religion…President Obama?  If you were a Mormon, how do you think you would react?<br /><br /><b>Obama:</b>  Well…First I would say unto myself…Why your mommy and daddy belong to a church that considered us folks of color lesser folk until 1980 or so?  But then?  I’d be all over that polygamy thing and marry Tyra Banks, Shakira, Eva Longoria, Michelle, produce 8,000 kids, and be the first Democrat Presidential candidate to ever win the State of Utah.<br /><br /><b>Matt: </b> And Governor Romney?  What if you had been raised a Muslim like President Obama?<br /><br /><b>Romney:</b>  That’s a bazaar question.  Ha Ha Ha, get it?  Bazaar?  Anyhoo…The word bazaar is a portend as to what I’d do.  I’d probably ingratiate myself to the Muslim community and make millions off of selling spices and tea leaves produced in China and Laos to my Muslim brethren in the kitschy markets of the Middle East.<br /><br /><b>Matt:</b>  Gov. Romney.  Soft Drinks…Pop…Soda…They can help to define a person.  What is your favorite?<br /><br /><b>Romney:</b>  Well as a Mormon I don’t consume caffeine, but as a drinker of soda, I do once in awhile enjoy an ice cold bottle of Coca-Cola.<br /><br /><b>Matt:</b>  Coke does contain caffeine.<br /><br /><b>Romney:</b>  Pepsi?<br /><br /><b>Matt: </b> Pepsi does as well.<br /><br /><b>Romney:</b>  Well, I do enjoy being in the bubbly presence of the CEOs of both companies.  Ha Ha Ha.<br /><br /><b>Matt:</b>  President Obama?  You favorite soft drink, pop, soda?<br /><br /><b>Obama:</b>  Hee Hee…I see you smiling Matt-Man, because as you worked in fast food in High School and work at the Beer Mine now, you know what us bruthas like.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRQymYAmkK94Yzj9FY6_pgdGpnBBoy3ndGegFNIUAROhOvlkwlC3KBtzYzPeAdK7S2MhuIo-inkawfW8Z8AWZjFcNGkp8aT1GoxEm6qbo9TVZXcvneY2TySLWibc2x50IFKeZ4K26lMI/s1600/Tahitian+Treat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRQymYAmkK94Yzj9FY6_pgdGpnBBoy3ndGegFNIUAROhOvlkwlC3KBtzYzPeAdK7S2MhuIo-inkawfW8Z8AWZjFcNGkp8aT1GoxEm6qbo9TVZXcvneY2TySLWibc2x50IFKeZ4K26lMI/s400/Tahitian+Treat.jpg" width="400" /></a><b>Matt:</b>  Ha…And what would that be?<br /><br /><b>Obama:</b>  We like Orange Pop, Grape Pop, and Tahitian Treat.<br /><br /><b>Matt:</b>  Word…And even though you are Hawaiian, you’ll have none of that Hawaiian Punch shit.<br /><br /><b>Obama:</b>  Fuck that shit.<br /><br /><b>Romney:</b>  Can I say fuck that shit too?  I mean, if it’ll help me be hip?<br /><br /><b>Matt:</b> You just did, Governor.<br /><br /><b>Romney: </b> Yo, Canine.  Woot Woot.<br /><br /><b>Obama and Matt:</b>  Uh-huh.<br /><br />And that concludes our debate and if you’d like, Jayman and I will be broadcasting LIVE Today at 11 AM ET on Blog Talk Radio so catch us LIVE by clicking right <i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2012/10/03/yada-yada-yada">HERE.</a></span></i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Matt-Man</i><br /><i><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</a></i><br /><span style="color: blue;"><i><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS">@MattMan_IWS</a></i></span></div>

Presidential Debate 2012...Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney

Tonight at 9 P.M. ET, Jim Lehrer will moderate the first of the 2012 Presidential Debates live from Denver, CO. Tonight’s questions will foc...

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Book Review: The Architect Says

<a href="http://www.papress.com/html/book.details.page.tpl?isbn=9781616890933"><b><i>The Architect Says: Quotes, Quips, and Words of Wisdom</i></b></a> compiled and edited by Laura S. Dushkes<br />Princeton Architectural Press, 2012<br />Hardcover, 160 pages<br /><br /><img alt="book-quips.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/book-quips.jpg" title="Precedents in Architecture: Analytic Diagrams, Formative Ideas, and Partis" /><br /><br />Even though architecture is a spatial, tactile, and visual medium, and architects naturally convey their ideas primarily through visual means (drawings, models, renderings), they still have a need for writing. And some architects have a knack for creating catchy phrases, many of which have been handed down (more or less accurate to the original) for generations, such as Mies van der Rohe's "Less is more" or Robert Venturi's response, "Less is a bore."<br /><br />Laura Dushkes, appropriately a librarian at NBBJ in Seattle, has compiled a number of gems both familiar and otherwise in this small book. Actually she has crafted less a book than a pocketbook of inspiration. Even the design (hardcover, rounded edges, ribbon marker, large type with various fonts) makes <i>The Architect Says</i> resemble what can best be described as a sketchbook/textbook hybrid. It's as if the "quotes, quips, and words of wisdom" were jotted down like in a sketchbook, and the architects are speaking to us as if they are our teachers.<br /><br />Beyond the actual selection of quotes, the most intentional aspect of Dushkes' editing is their ordering. They work together to give a cover-to-cover read of the book a nice flow, with certain takes, topics, and themes grouped together. Contradictions and disagreements abound, most obviously with the above lines by Mies and Venturi facing each other on one spread. Another important element is the way the type design emphasizes certain parts of each quote; given their brevity I find the blue highlights unnecessary, but they do affect the reading of the various quotes.<br /><br />Reading the whole book is fairly quick, but it's clearly meant to be a book to browse; a lack of an index and sources for the quotes (outside the architect who wrote it) means it doesn't really work as a reference. Coming across unexpected quotes or ones that hit a nerve makes a flip through the book great. A couple of my favorites includes Jan Kaplicky: "It's not a sign of creativity to have sixty-five ideas for one problem. It's just a waste of energy." and Frank Gehry: "I don't know why people hire architects and then tell them what to do." These and other quotes make the book a great gift, especially for that architect who'd rather read the good parts instead of a whole book. <br /><br /><b>US: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890932?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1616890932&linkCode=xm2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.com" border="0" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan.gif" /></a> CA: <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1616890932?ie=UTF8&tag=aweeklydose02-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=15121&creativeASIN=1616890932" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.ca" border="0" height="28" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan-ca.gif" width="90" /></a> UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1616890932?ie=UTF8&tag=aweeklydoseof-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=1634&creativeASIN=1616890932" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.co.uk" border="0" height="28" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan-uk.gif" width="90" /></a></b>

Book Review: The Architect Says

The Architect Says: Quotes, Quips, and Words of Wisdom compiled and edited by Laura S. Dushkes Princeton Architectural Press, 2012 Hardcove...

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Victory Lap: Pondering the struggles of being a teacher

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjqaQGv_iJcXAk1sbs0sozAvmvWBIM0KtJg8_hwCtR7A0R52hD5a5aJB-8EkTSZlE30ascVv6sPylb0R1Y3XXXb7ruyAs13vt-ay30QdyKBFqhkR09x3jOHVALhzUjQ5XHW1isCnV4dx0/s1600/bigstock-runners-jogging-group-in-park-26729189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjqaQGv_iJcXAk1sbs0sozAvmvWBIM0KtJg8_hwCtR7A0R52hD5a5aJB-8EkTSZlE30ascVv6sPylb0R1Y3XXXb7ruyAs13vt-ay30QdyKBFqhkR09x3jOHVALhzUjQ5XHW1isCnV4dx0/s400/bigstock-runners-jogging-group-in-park-26729189.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sometimes we all have a down day. Then we have a down week. Suddenly, we realize that we are down too much. Exhausted and no longer excited, we've sat down, laid down, or been flattened and wondering where the encouragement will come from.<br /><br />The other day someone said something unkind to me on twitter about being middle aged and middle class and it hurt. (Plus the fact he was making fun of my Christian faith, but I'm about to get used to that these days.)<br /><br /><h3>It is easy to get down when you're a teacher. </h3>Just like preparing to speak for a keynote, I have that same rush of adrenaline that I feel each time the bell rings for a new class to come in. I know that if I'm leading the conversation that I must perform - I must be on top of my game. So, by the end of the day (as when I'm writing this) there's no game and no energy left for me. Going to the grocery store, cooking dinner, or preparing for an online meeting are the furthest thing from my mind. All I want to do is completely collapse in my chair and watch an old episode of Numb3rs or Monk with a big old hot brownie and some Blue Bell Ice cream on top.<br /><br />I get the great opportunity to be a full time teacher and Mom and to write about it. This is my niche. <b>If you're reading this and have nodded your head at what I'm writing</b>, you're my audience. I don't get a quiet office, I get up at 5 am when it is quiet to have my quiet time and write quietly for you each day. On my knees, I ask God what people need to hear out there and how I can be helpful.<br /><br /><h3>Retreat and struggle.</h3>But lately, with some private things in my life that I've had to do, I've felt as if I'm in retreat.<br /><br />What will happen if I open up and let you know that my schedule this school year is really getting to me? Will you think I'm a bad person? Not a worthy person? Do all speakers and authors that you read really have to be skinny, energetic, and perpetually young? Do they all have to be excited about every day and act like they've had 6 cups of coffee in their cereal for you to like them?<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvVGaKgtdxqvp30t6sRpf2u6DkOJe7T633oNzmtNc-3XebIjZJ0cbJCqSeGjN-L-wIkBjl0pRHXiJbvIkQfudxD14Gu7uo1Nv1CGbH_kIWNEOoMIEjFvtEZ1dh1bhfDPshIANpWHAma-U/s1600/bigstock-Hoeing-5212379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvVGaKgtdxqvp30t6sRpf2u6DkOJe7T633oNzmtNc-3XebIjZJ0cbJCqSeGjN-L-wIkBjl0pRHXiJbvIkQfudxD14Gu7uo1Nv1CGbH_kIWNEOoMIEjFvtEZ1dh1bhfDPshIANpWHAma-U/s320/bigstock-Hoeing-5212379.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teachers have a tough row to hoe.</td></tr></tbody></table><h2><br /></h2><h2>Reality.</h2>Reality for teachers is that we may get away to a conference for a few days but we've got a hard row to hoe every day of the week. We're up past midnight grading papers and have parents who send us emails and expect an immediate reply. We might have a tad of time and if we read our reader or education news we see another teacher basher who has written a damning article from the quiet of their office while their secretary holds their calls and their own children are off at school.<br /><br />I feel like most edreform articles are unrealistic diatribes by the clueless for the clueless. Meanwhile, those of us doing this for a living are attracted to articles about how to do it better and rarely can stomach the edreform debates swirling around us that will determine the future of education in America or the country in which we reside.<br /><br /><h2>There has to be a balance. </h2>So, for me right now, I'm not in retreat, I'm prioritizing.<br /><br />My husband and I have been working hard to balance our budget using Dave Ramsey's <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Financial Peace University">Financial Peace University</a>. It has meant packing sandwiches and cutting out extra expenses and my book budget was slashed to $20 a month. It will likely also mean that I won't be able to go to ISTE 2013. We have a son to send to college in the fall and this is the way it is.<br /><br />Maybe I am middle class. Maybe I am midway through my life. But it isn't going to to turn into a crisis.<br /><br />As I type this, I'm about to go put on my shorts and walk around the track (and run a bit too) as I listen to my new favorite Christian group, Veritas.<br />I'm going to fix a good dinner and spend time talking to our Flat Classroom Certified teacher cohort... a fantastic group of educators who excite and motivate me.<br />I'm going to know that I'm not thinking clearly right now because I'm EXHAUSTED.<br />I'm going to read some more of my <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Rapp" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Mitch Rapp">Mitch Rapp</a> book tonight as conducts black ops and gets the bad guy.<br />I'm going to fix an incredible dinner that my husband will love to come home to and put on my lipstick and give him a big kiss when he walks in that door.<br />I'm going to chat with the people who hang out on my Facebook fanpage as we talk about being teachers.<br /><br />I'm not going to judge the success of my day by whether I got to inbox zero or got some more followers on Twitter.<br />I'm not going to look at my Klout or Peerindex to measure what kind of person I am.<br />I'm not going to look at my list of 60 things that I have to get done RIGHT NOW or else.<br />I'm not going to get down on myself any more.<br />It stops now.<br /><br />I'm thankful to be a teacher. Teaching isn't like anything else. I rarely  have things I do in class that  I can mark off a list. But I can put my head on my pillow tonight knowing that I gave EVERYTHING to my students and that I was a fantastic teacher today. I gave it all. As our football coach says, "I left it all on the field" and I paraphrase, "I left it all in the classroom" -- I gave everything I had.<br /><br /><h3>An obscenely long paragraph of what I did today (you might want to Skip ;-)</h3>I was prepared when they walked in the door, I'm working hard to stay up on my grading, I've responded to all of the parents who have questions for me and I have appointments to teach all the kids before or after school who have missed because they were sick. I did an incredible job with study hall today as I helped the kids list all of the work they have to do on the board and I made sure they stayed on task so their parents won't have to worry about it tonight. I encouraged eighth graders who were sad about losing elections and helped my ninth graders Blackboard Collaborate with a classroom in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=29.4166666667,-98.5&spn=0.1,0.1&q=29.4166666667,-98.5%20(San%20Antonio)&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="San Antonio">San Antonio Texas</a>. My tenth graders understand the 10 flatteners in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Thomas Friedman">Thomas Friedman</a>'s book The <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/World-Flat-History-Globalized-Twenty-first/dp/0713998784%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dhttpwwwbrighc-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0713998784" rel="amazon" target="_blank" title="The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Globalized World in the Twenty-first Century">World is Flat</a> and are ready to start collaborating. They understand the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dot-com_bubble" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Dot-com bubble">dot com boom</a>, the dot com bubble, and the implications of Y2k, the IIT's in India, and the history of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Tim Berners-Lee">Tim Berners-Lee</a> and the protocols that created the Internet. My homeroom is ready for Homecoming next week and I've got seniors doing SAT prep for the test Saturday. I've been conversing with teachers on the Flatclassrooms Ning as we brainstorm symbiotic learning opportunities and how e can creatively make more and been awe struck by Sue Levine's post about the <a href="http://flatclassrooms.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-sweet-taste-of-synchronicity" target="_blank">Sweet Taste of Synchronicity</a>. Heck, I even finally got my insurance company and the local hospital to admit a massive billing mistake when my son was in the hospital with pneumonia that is going to give me a lot more peace of mind. In between classes, I helped our science teacher upgrade the software for her Ken-a-vision electronic microscope and made sure the new Accelerated Reader system was working and removed a trojan horse from a computer that was preventing an important order from being placed.<br /><br />^^^<br />Look at this list. I didn't even list everything but I think I did a lot more than I thought I did. I even went and retitled the paragraph and deleted some things! I bet if you type a paragraph about what you DID today you might be as shocked as I am. I felt like I did NOTHING today. I was sitting here feeling like a loser like I didn't get a THING done and look at that list!!<br /><br />I even marked seven things off the list in my planner too.<br /><br /><h2>Routines, Classes, People Everywhere All the Time</h2>Teaching isn't like the business world. It isn't. We don't have lists, we have routines. We don't have meetings, we have class -- all the time. And we never have an empty room. We are often on the edge of hyperventilation and capitulation and yet we don't.<br /><br />I am a teacher and I'm not going to have a guilt trip about the fact that I don't get a list of 50 things done any more. I gave all I had today and that is enough.<br /><br />So, to those of you reading this, my dear friends.<br /><br />It is enough.<br />You are enough.<br />If you give all you have to your students and you grade, communicate with parents, and work hard to study and stay abreast of your subject.<br />If you juggle the clubs and the events at your school and work hard to help others.<br />If you work with a passionate intensity to better the lives of those around you.<br /><br /><h2>YOU ARE ENOUGH.</h2>You've done enough.<br />You are important, beautiful, wonderful people and YOU ARE MY HERO.<br />In fact, if the world really understand what it takes to do what you do, they'd call you a hero too.<br /><br />But they don't, and it is OK.<br />It is OK because as teachers, we MUST appreciate each other.<br />I'm not here to be thanked now, I'm here to be thanked when my students get out into the world. They'll see then that I gave them a world class education in my tiny room in my tiny school in my tiny town in my tiny county. <b>They'll see that the tiny-ness of where we live never meant that was the size of our minds.</b><br /><br />You are the modern nobility. You are teachers. I am proud to be among you.<br />Teach well. Be well.<br />I'm going to go run a mile around the track right now and the last lap will be a victory lap. It will be a victory lap because this is a good life and I am rich and I am young. Rich in experiences and young because I work with the young. I will not let a person on Twitter belittle me or make me feel any less of the winner I am because I work with CHILDREN and I love them and I love this job. It doesn't matter that people put me down, I'm doing IMPORTANT work.<br /><br />I am ashamed at my guilt trip and upset that I didn't see clearly that I did good, noble things today.<br />But I will be happy if you too see the error of our ways as teachers.<br /><br />Victory Lap, here I come! I hope that you'll find a way to do a victory lap of your own today - whether it is around the grocery store or walking around the school -take time to walk with your fellow teachers and talk about what it means to be a teacher and why you do it. You are the modern nobility.<br /><br />Take a victory lap.<br /><br /><br />Photo credits: <a href="http://www.bigstockphoto.com/" target="_blank">Big Stock</a>, may only be used with proper licensing.<br /> <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=beef183b-8659-4b93-970a-f46f255043cd" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>

Victory Lap: Pondering the struggles of being a teacher

Sometimes we all have a down day. Then we have a down week. Suddenly, we realize that we are down too much. Exhausted and no longer excited,...

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Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 10/02/2012

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://1to1inpractice.blogspot.com/2012/10/why-i-gave-back-macbooks-and-asked-for.html">1:1 in Practice at Sinarmas World Academy: Why I Gave Back the MacBooks and Asked for iPads</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">This teacher wanted ipads instead of MacBooks. Here's the rationale including that the teacher can better differentiate. Now, the teacher has been using iPads for 3 weeks and captures reflections. This is what a good implementation SHOULD look like. Sadly, the teachers who use them as epaper don't get to see these sorts of results because they are missing the point. Great read.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ipad">ipad</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/tumblr">tumblr</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/teaching-with-the-presidential-debates/?partner=rss&emc=rss">Teaching With the Presidential Debates - NYTimes.com</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">The New York Times has some options to allow students to participate and learn from the US Presidential debates. If you're teaching and you are wanting to use this as a topic, this is a great lesson plan.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/politics">politics</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/currentevents">currentevents</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/history">history</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/tumblr">tumblr</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/five-web-tools-blooms-taxonomy-weekly-news">In the News: Five Web Tools to Help Teach Bloom's Taxonomy</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Here are some great options from Edutopia for promoting higher order thinking in the classroom.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/blooms_taxonomy">blooms_taxonomy</a></p> </li> </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='http://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 10/02/2012

1:1 in Practice at Sinarmas World Academy: Why I Gave Back the MacBooks and Asked for iPads This tea...

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nantucket style - guest post

Happy Tuesday!<br /><br />I'm over at <a href="http://mycraftyhomelife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Crafty Home Life</a> today talking about my idea of Nantucket style. Head over and <a href="http://mycraftyhomelife.blogspot.com/2012/10/nantucket-style-little-black-door.html" target="_blank">check it out</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-_EgvQNLKn3ZKqzbdL7BPF1S19NiJq2yrcS3sIvfUzmNRAWKGJZe4KahjghU-ZBhBJ43Fz0roNYbP_w_-Ev0YtU78R4Ejf0Ui-XWH5umBfSNoCgscyWHIp2xEuTENdQ60dladhrekqzF/s1600/-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-_EgvQNLKn3ZKqzbdL7BPF1S19NiJq2yrcS3sIvfUzmNRAWKGJZe4KahjghU-ZBhBJ43Fz0roNYbP_w_-Ev0YtU78R4Ejf0Ui-XWH5umBfSNoCgscyWHIp2xEuTENdQ60dladhrekqzF/s400/-1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />

nantucket style - guest post

Happy Tuesday! I'm over at My Crafty Home Life today talking about my idea of Nantucket style. Head over and check it out !

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Turn up the heat without burning people out

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQpEhcnm-VXs44SLNvKqo__NuVTP5tROyR7uQKigW5MazCMhyphenhyphen3JOJKRI07AFtzhqrb8oxyHab69hC3jreX16LGXILK3WNn_FHnRvuLa9Pg_2LtqqgoCC2HaSr5DMP3k56RErUksXsDCtd/s1600/bigstock-An-image-of-food-burning-in-a--21055262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQpEhcnm-VXs44SLNvKqo__NuVTP5tROyR7uQKigW5MazCMhyphenhyphen3JOJKRI07AFtzhqrb8oxyHab69hC3jreX16LGXILK3WNn_FHnRvuLa9Pg_2LtqqgoCC2HaSr5DMP3k56RErUksXsDCtd/s320/bigstock-An-image-of-food-burning-in-a--21055262.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My house reeks of burnt brownie. My eleven year old (mistakenly) thought that if 20 seconds made a brownie, ooey, gooey and delicious, that 2 minutes in the microwave would make it ooey-er gooey-er and delicious-er. He was wrong. It was inedible.<br /><br /><b>There are times we do this with each other. </b>If my students do well with a little stress, maybe if I up the stress for a bit longer, they will perform better.<br /><br /><br /><ul><li>If we do one practice test, maybe four or five will bring up the intensity level so they work even harder?</li></ul><br /><br /><ul><li>IF my staff gets that much done in an extended work day, maybe we should extend our work day more often and get more done?<br /></li><li>If one sharp remark gets that kind of response, maybe I'm being too nice and I should be more firm all the time? After all, don't I want them to jump when I speak?</li></ul><br /><br />And on and on.<br /><br />While sports teams can handle buzzer beaters, they couldn't physically play at that level the entire game. They aren't made to handle it.<br /><br />Brownies are awful and burnt if overcooked and humans become frazzled, upset, and unproductive if they are overworked.<br /><br />There is a fine line between the perfection that comes from a little heat and extra effort at the right time and burning the people and things you care about to a blackened, stinky, mess.<br /><br />Think about the balance required in cooking and realize that you need that same balance with managing and motivating. People don't mind you turning up the heat a little if they know there is a sweet reward at the end.<br /><br /><i>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.bigstockphoto.com/" target="_blank">Big Stock</a>, you do not have permission to reuse without licensing from the website.</i>

Turn up the heat without burning people out

My house reeks of burnt brownie. My eleven year old (mistakenly) thought that if 20 seconds made a brownie, ooey, gooey and delicious, that ...

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Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 10/02/2012

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/10/01/newspaper-test-security-inconsistent-among-states/">Newspaper: Test security inconsistent among states</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">This report from the Atlanta Journal Constitution demonstrates that many states have no security and no measures to detect irregularities. The ostriches are rewarded. Sadly, ignorance is not only bliss, it makes states money. Consistent test administration is required before anyone can look at the test scores with any measure of credibility. "The newspaper surveyed the 50 state education departments and found that many states do not use basic test security measures designed to prevent cheating. And nearly half the states, the newspaper found, make almost no attempt to screen test results for irregularities."</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edreform">edreform</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/tumblr">tumblr</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://edudemic.com/2012/10/education-technology-in-india/">The 5 EdTech Trends Happening In India Right Now</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">India is upgrading and evolving in its education system with an emphasis on how to learn instead of what to learn as well as social and game based learning. It is important to keep an eye on all areas of the world. The country that will succeed will be the one that can truly personalize learning. The country that invents that will export that model to others and bring in money by the fistful. Education is permanently evolving and those in silos will likely suffer the most.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edreform">edreform</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/India">India</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/tumblr">tumblr</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://thejournal.com/articles/2012/10/01/skydrive-adds-recycle-bin.aspx?m=2">SkyDrive Adds Recycle Bin -- THE Journal</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Microsoft Skydrive has a recycle bin. This is great because Dropbox literally saves copies of just about any file deleted. Last week one of my students accidentally deleted my "Turn In" folder and all of the files, I was able to go into Dropbox and restore everything with a click. Dropbox still far exceeds everything else for cloud syncing for this reason.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/productivity">productivity</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/microsoft">microsoft</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/tumblr">tumblr</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.bethkanter.org/facebook-promote/">To Promote or Not to Promote? (…and Is That The Question?):GlobalGiving’s Experiment With Facebook Promoted Posts</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Beth Kanter, the nonprofit social media guru, discusses research about promoted posts on Facebook and nonprofits. Targeted, timely posts can represent as much as a $600 per post uptick, however, general promoted posts don't make a difference. Interesting research. If you are in charge of fundraising at your nonprofit or school, you should follow Beth's Blog and should buy her book, the Networked Nonprofit.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/nonprofit">nonprofit</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/Facebook">Facebook</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/donations">donations</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=59159">A Disruption Grows Up?</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Stephen Downes reports on the first competency based degree. If one takes the tests, one can earn an associates degree. Of course, this begs one to require authentication of who a person really is that is taking the test. Just ask the college board - they still struggle with making sure the right people are taking the test and they give it face to face. </p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/downes">downes</a></p> </li> </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='http://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 10/02/2012

Newspaper: Test security inconsistent among states This report from the Atlanta Journal Constitution...

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You know you live in Dublin when.....

<span style="font-size: large;">You know you live in Dublin when you can smell the hops from the Guinness factory as you drive to work in the morning!!!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to experience all that Dublin has to offer (including the smell of the hops - has to be smelled to be believed!) come to Ireland in 2013 for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd5TwdVGnyE&list=UUnC3_Nah5LoigGNyj03wy1A&index=0&feature=plcp">The Gathering</a>!!!</span>

You know you live in Dublin when.....

You know you live in Dublin when you can smell the hops from the Guinness factory as you drive to work in the morning!!! If you want to expe...

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