Law Librarian - Halloran & Sage LLP (Hartford)

<b>Law Librarian - </b><span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Halloran & Sage LLP</strong></span> (Hartford) is an established, multi-practice law firm serving a diverse cross section of clients in the private and public sectors. We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, highly skilled Law Librarian, located in our Hartford office. The successful candidate will possess excellent interpersonal communication, and strong organizational skills. The candidate will take pride in his or her professionalism, be detail-oriented, self-motivated, and self-confident with the ability to work on a team or independently in a highly productive and fast paced environment. Job Description: The Law Librarian is responsible for the overall administration of the Firm’s Law Library and electronic research resources for all Firm locations. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Managing the operations of the law library, including provision of reference and research services; interlibrary loan; online information retrieval; acquisitions and collection development; organization and inventorying of library materials; and library accounting and budgeting; Conducting in-depth research in wide range of areas including practice-specific areas of law, business intelligence, public records, legislative history, medical and news/media. Training lawyers, staff and others on the use of Internet-based legal research programs such as Westlaw and emerging electronic resources such as Google Scholar, electronic journals, on-line court dockets and legislative materials. Conducting periodic reviews of new and existing electronic resources with an eye toward improved service and research efficiencies. Performing various cataloging and inventorying procedures for all types of library resources. Skills and Experience Required: An advanced degree in library science, law or business is required. Minimum of 5 years’ of professional experience as Law Librarian. Expertise with online systems including Westlaw and other online systems used in law firms. Demonstrated experience in fiscal planning and budgeting. Excellent communication and writing skills. Ability to work effectively with all levels of the firm with tact and diplomacy. Demonstration of high degree of trustworthiness commensurate to handling confidential and sensitive material. Flexibility to work additional hours, as necessary. Salary: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. If being a vital part of a professional team excites you, and you seek to enhance your career with one of the largest law firms in Connecticut with offices in Hartford, Middletown, Westport, Danbury, New London and Washington, D.C., this is the opportunity for you. Halloran & Sage offers a stimulating and collaborative environment, competitive salaries and generous benefit package. We are an equal opportunity employer. Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume with salary requirements to: <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:humanresources@halloran-sage.com" href="mailto:humanresources@halloran-sage.com">humanresources@halloran-sage.com</a>.

Law Librarian - Halloran & Sage LLP (Hartford)

Law Librarian - Halloran & Sage LLP (Hartford) is an established, multi-practice law firm serving a diverse cross section of clients i...

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What questions do employers want to hear in an interview?

<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">Justin Thompson, CareerBuilder Writer</span></b><br /><br /><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -30px; text-align: left;"><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div class="cbmsnArticleImage" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/82/ar5l2t86rzfp20glcp82.gif?time=6/8/2012%2011:20:10%20am" /></div></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;" /><div class="ArticleContent" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Once you've received the call from an employer inviting you in for an interview, the real preparation begins. Prior to an interview, candidates should research the company so they can not only answer questions, but have questions ready to ask the hiring manager as well.</div><div class="ArticleContent" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /><br />The interview is where the job candidate and employer get to know each other. Think of it like dating. While a job interview is in a professional setting and the outcomes are different, the intentions are the same. You've exchanged information because you think there might be a connection, and now you're ready for your "first date." As much as you want to make a good first impression, the employer needs to make a good impression, too.<br /><br />Just like a first date, you don't want one person to dominate the conversation and ask all the questions. It should be a balanced dialogue, and you should <a href="http://www.theworkbuzz.com/get-the-job/interviews/5-rules-for-asking-better-interview-questions/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">ask questions</a> that get to the heart of the matter: Who is this employer, and why should I work for this company?<br /><br /><b>The right questions to ask</b><br />Alan Guinn, managing director and CEO of The Guinn Consultancy Group, works with employers every day. He recommends that recruiters listen for these 10 questions from job applicants to see if they've done their homework and truly want the position:<br /><br />1. I've been told that I work very well as a team member. What are some of the ways your company encourages teamwork?<br />2. We all know how important job satisfaction is to everyone. I want to be happy in any role. Is the company committed to promotion from within, whenever possible?<br />3. I love your published mission and values. How are these reflected in day-to-day life at the company? Can you share some examples with me?<br />4. If your son, daughter or a friend was looking for a job, would you recommend working for this company? Why?<br />5. What do you think distinguishes this company from its competitors, both from a public and employee perspective?<br />6. How often do you speak with your C-level officers? When you do, what do they normally ask you? Do they ask for your opinion?<br />7. How does the company demonstrate a sense of pride in its employees? Can you help me understand what it looks for in return?<br />8. Are there paid, ongoing learning opportunities offered at my level of job responsibility? What obligations do I have if I elect to take advantage of them?<br />9. What does the company expect in the way of personal and professional growth for a person hired into this position?<br />10. Does the company value a difference in <a href="http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2975-Workplace-Issues-Signs-your-job-is-taking-over-your-life/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">work and personal time</a>, or does it blur the responsibilities between the two?<br /><br /><b>Think about your goals first</b><br />Don't feel obligated to walk into the interview with a set number of questions, but these give you an idea of the right questions to ask. Also think of the questions in terms of your career and personal goals. If you're moving into a role with more responsibility, how will that affect what questions you ask? If you're starting a family soon, what do you want to know about the company's commitment to work/life balance?<br /><br />Thoughtful planning and preparation for an interview will not only help you feel more confident but will also leave a great impression on the person interviewing you.<br /><br /><i>Justin Thompson is a writer and blogger for </i><a href="http://msn.careerbuilder.com/msn/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><i>CareerBuilder.com</i></a> <i>and its job blog, </i><a href="http://www.theworkbuzz.com/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><i>The Work Buzz</i></a><i>. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.</i></div>

What questions do employers want to hear in an interview?

Justin Thompson, CareerBuilder Writer Once you've received the call from an employer inviting you in for an interview, the real preparat...

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Part Time Library Assistant - Burlington Public Library

<b>Part Time Library Assistant - </b><span style="color: #48286d;"><b>Burlington Public Library</b></span> is looking for an energetic individual with the demonstrated ability to effectively work with the public at our circulation desk. Also performing other library related duties, including but not limited to, responding to patron request for information and assistance, reader's advisory, shelving, as well as general clerical duties. The position is for 12 hours per week - afternoons, nights and rotating Saturdays are required. Pay is $12.90/hour, no benefits. A bachelor's degree is preferred. For a complete job description see our website, <a _fcksavedurl="http://www.burlingtonctlibrary.info" href="http://www.burlingtonctlibrary.info/" target="_blank">www.burlingtonctlibrary.info</a>. Send resume and cover letter no later than <span style="color: red;">January 18, 2013</span> to: Diana Rudzinski, Assistant Director, 34 Library Lane, P.O. Box 1379, Burlington, CT 06013, or by email to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:drudzinski@libraryconnection.info" href="mailto:drudzinski@libraryconnection.info">drudzinski@libraryconnection.info</a>.

Part Time Library Assistant - Burlington Public Library

Part Time Library Assistant - Burlington Public Library is looking for an energetic individual with the demonstrated ability to effectivel...

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The last sweet years or bad romance? Handling infidelity in the nursing home | Practical Ethics

Ulf suffers dementia and lives in a nursing home. He often interacts with Lena, who also has dementia. They seek each other out, invite each other to their rooms, hold hands and kiss. They can clearly express what they prefer (or not). The staff think they enjoy life and each other's company. There is just one problem for the happy couple: Ulf is married, and his wife is not happy. She and their children strongly dislikes the relation between Ulf and Lena and asks the staff to keep them apart. They argue that if Ulf had been free of dementia he would not have desired contact with Lena; he might sometimes even be confused and think Lena is his wife.<br /><br><br /><br>The situation was posed as a question to the ethics committee of the National Board of Health and Welfare in Sweden, and it recently responded that the staff should not try to interfere in the relationship: the welfare and autonomy of Ulf is prior to the wishes of the family. An earlier question dealt with a somewhat similar case, where the cuckolded wife demanded that her husband be both separated from the other woman and medicated to "dampen" him.The committee found that it would be against the autonomy of the man to be medicated against his will, and the staff did not have a right (legally or morally) to prevent patients from seeing each other.<br /><br><br /><br>The interesting question is what to make of romances that come about due to dementia. Are they authentic? How do they relate to the interests expressed earlier in life?<br /><br><br /><br>First, it is pretty clear that the patients at least in these cases do have autonomy. They have clear preferences in the present, they do make choices, and likely have capacity to deal with their own lives within the nursing home. However, if a person consistently confuses another one for their spouse it can be argued that they do not have the capacity of making the right choices about their love. Capacity might not be true in all cases, but in the following I will assume the patients have the elements of capacity.<br /><br><br /><br>Is a love that come about due to dementia authentic and worth respecting?<br /><br><br /><br>One approach would be to ask, since attraction happens due to mechanisms in the brain, why we should think attraction in one brain is any more authentic than attraction in any other brain – demented or not. But typically romantic love is believed to be an expression of a whole person: it is not just the result of a small partner-detection subsystem triggering independently of everything else, but linked to a complex web of personality, past emotions and memories, social ideas, subconscious patterns of attraction and repulsion. The whole person is (ideally) involved on all levels. Somebody getting attracted to another just because of an external or internal stimuli cannot be said to have the same level of authenticity, especially if the target is somebody who they would (given past experience) not be attracted to. A good example is the case where a brain tumor caused a man to develop pedophilia (paper), and where the urges disappeared when the tumor was removed. The desires and behavior was not consistent with his past, or with his moral understanding.<br /><br><br /><br>So the question is whether the romantic relations in the above cases are due to the whole person or just a malfunctioning brain. I doubt there is any simple answer. But it is worth considering that at least some people with dementia appear to regress to an earlier age: they retain well-consolidated memories from youth and core personality traits remain, despite the losses in other dimensions. In this case one might argue that attraction might be quite authentic: it is due to the strong core elements of the person, shorn of later complications. In other cases there is personality change that might make the relationship plausible given the current personality but not the past one: it might be authentic in the present but not when considering the entire life of the patient.<br /><br><br /><br>If we cannot recall past promises (and cannot avoid forgetting them), we are not morally bound by them. It can be argued that the past, healthy person would not have wished to be unfaithful. They presumably had interests about the shape of their future marital life, traditionally expressed in wedding vows. We should generally respect stated interests of people even when they are no longer capable. However, wedding vows rarely seem to prevent infidelity. People often underestimate how much their personalities, values and preferences are going to change in the future, making their stated commitments a great deal less reliable than they intended. People fall in (and out of) love not just because of their brains but their overall life context. Suffering dementia and living separated from one's spouse in a nursing home is a serious change of life context: it would be strange if people did not react to it, including by changing their relationships. We might not want to be unfaithful due to dementia, but the dementia is a necessary precondition for the unfaithfulness in this case: what we really want is not to get dementia in the first place, since it no doubt is going to cause many other undesirable future behaviors and experiences.<br /><br><br /><br>If we are serious about enforcing our earlier commitments we might create advance directives, constraining what our future self can do regardless of what they think (for example, telling the nursing home staff on admission to help maintain one's fidelity). But the thought of being constrained what an earlier self desired – given that we have grown and changed – is often disagreeable, so such directives will likely be rare. It is also debatable to what extent "Ulysses contracts" can be morally or legally binding. While autonomy includes the power to bind oneself to a course of action, it also includes the freedom to change one's mind. The standard problems are compounded here because dementia might weaken the identity link to the future self: they are literally a different person, and the past self cannot morally claim any paternalistic power over them.<br /><br><br /><br>We might find it unfortunate that respecting the autonomy and well-being of people may force staff and family to tolerate infidelity. But insofar it is an expression of genuine will and produces genuine happiness, it might still be a gleam of sunlight in the late autumn of life.<br /><br><br /><br><a href="http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2013/01/the-last-sweet-years-or-bad-romance-handling-infidelity-in-the-nursing-home/">http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2013/01/the-last-sweet-years-or-bad-romance-handling-infidelity-in-the-nursing-home/</a>

The last sweet years or bad romance? Handling infidelity in the nursing home | Practical Ethics

Ulf suffers dementia and lives in a nursing home. He often interacts with Lena, who also has dementia. They seek each other out, invite each...

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Southernmost Point

<p>Key West is the Southernmost city in the USA.  It is closer to Cuba than Miami.</p><p>Here is a picture of the Southernmost Point marked by a giant buoy.  It was very busy when I took the photo as the Ragnar Relay racers had just arrived in town.</p><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKUGR6TU6a8Ak9UtLxuzmGNkO2Vkzt_oCaBXCaEhBuXzyrLEd1DhjiBjBnYxerGqLhTSTzOVGl_S8qYLPyPpzmzuUOdvT3wUjJ3_965nr-WR-KbT03sPGhLij8cBQ0h3VWPLns5eyxIHG/s1600/20130106_151758.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKUGR6TU6a8Ak9UtLxuzmGNkO2Vkzt_oCaBXCaEhBuXzyrLEd1DhjiBjBnYxerGqLhTSTzOVGl_S8qYLPyPpzmzuUOdvT3wUjJ3_965nr-WR-KbT03sPGhLij8cBQ0h3VWPLns5eyxIHG/s400/20130106_151758.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWDziNtCVr6PuAqmch-jPwO7h-QfNp1nzQiepmVcNGirF5EQNeSXdBAC8zZy9r_T5tG9jW5EJ04Opp3vRE8N8WFHgpyfhI9hmVjfw8H2lT3JGEzXaVfbHyri7wrC71I83M32pL3RXt58i/s1600/20130106_151307.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWDziNtCVr6PuAqmch-jPwO7h-QfNp1nzQiepmVcNGirF5EQNeSXdBAC8zZy9r_T5tG9jW5EJ04Opp3vRE8N8WFHgpyfhI9hmVjfw8H2lT3JGEzXaVfbHyri7wrC71I83M32pL3RXt58i/s400/20130106_151307.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RBBCn_W0kSfZSJXT7HyIKJiyXaOU7NlfCHZnj-gz4KCqxANA2sXUTOIVcCkMLMHCHKpIffu2gMu0YGuG9vo9XcMYfTAKEIExekaVSIt5BwW6_Tp9j9aYGTe7SeSt_-2GyGKdL1Ad38EE/s1600/20130106_151653.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RBBCn_W0kSfZSJXT7HyIKJiyXaOU7NlfCHZnj-gz4KCqxANA2sXUTOIVcCkMLMHCHKpIffu2gMu0YGuG9vo9XcMYfTAKEIExekaVSIt5BwW6_Tp9j9aYGTe7SeSt_-2GyGKdL1Ad38EE/s400/20130106_151653.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDQBq5qMeUV4RALw1DrUZquVX4yZDvA4wkrXr58eHXyRCgWxKfWht1nDTC-8d0MDIpHnrJsAuyvnbBQ6tqFm23beO-0WguX4xwPKIgmh5Uun_zJVoPWEK7MlBX_PhHHm-QpzwQVSiEfW1/s1600/20130106_151347.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDQBq5qMeUV4RALw1DrUZquVX4yZDvA4wkrXr58eHXyRCgWxKfWht1nDTC-8d0MDIpHnrJsAuyvnbBQ6tqFm23beO-0WguX4xwPKIgmh5Uun_zJVoPWEK7MlBX_PhHHm-QpzwQVSiEfW1/s400/20130106_151347.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSq3h3wEd-JuCsTt19oOk9ojM0GRpKxsBGlrwRzz3QgdmWAB0nNoAt74AYE0mazXmw4CwZQ07FN6JGjTVs69GNA67BLWJ3KWQH0DvlJcTqYjlAArRjXAle_zx9qhgNmIAN8tcXBpm_1ex/s1600/20130106_151642.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSq3h3wEd-JuCsTt19oOk9ojM0GRpKxsBGlrwRzz3QgdmWAB0nNoAt74AYE0mazXmw4CwZQ07FN6JGjTVs69GNA67BLWJ3KWQH0DvlJcTqYjlAArRjXAle_zx9qhgNmIAN8tcXBpm_1ex/s400/20130106_151642.jpg" /> </a> </div>

Southernmost Point

Key West is the Southernmost city in the USA.  It is closer to Cuba than Miami. Here is a picture of the Southernmost Point marked by a gian...

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Why not consider a ‘Mystery Skype’ session with your class this year?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Submitted by Fiona Beal with permission from Brenda Hallowes...</i><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This is a guest post from a Schoolnetter</i><i>, </i><i>B</i><i>renda Hallowes, who teaches ICT at Cotswold Preparatory School in Port Eizabeth. Brenda has a blog ‘<a href="http://cotslabnotes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cotswold Lab Notes</a>’ and when I read this <a href="http://cotslabnotes.blogspot.com/2012/11/global-connections.html" target="_blank">post </a>in November I asked her if I could use it as a guest post since it highlights the practice of ‘Mystery Skype’ in action. Mystery Skype can also be conducted using a Google hangout! </i></span><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/AVvXsEjuIoMXZxQxClrvtfZz3Jee4MaMI6Y-Pq__fM93YvWcCvEpv2eRpGZFtwfwAxf4_qdsjY71-O3ZzVDHQ5egzFYYiexo8vbwFx34X69aisAQzr-XYXZYAv-FyYNDP8pqtBXaEZt3ZmywluE/s1600-h/image%25255B11%25255D.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCuG7zl8z7K1bzJu5gtCf0xmJTjuN6rGQG1IIqG-2xYPbHygDhDuqtfNiLvHNaSrDGTaG8hfBKKXSIoEzS7_ZtGz6r-bmTiTs3Ktxq62AzfyEnrhnS7EDGxloNik6i2xtm9Ef8Eq30fE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brenda's blog 'Cotswold Lab Notes' </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Brenda relates:</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We live in a global village. Technology has opened up so many opportunities for connection and collaboration. In the computer lab we have been taking advantage of the opportunity for global connections via the </span><a href="http://theglobalclassroomproject.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Global Classroom Project</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I joined the Skype chat group for GCP. Due to time differences the group is active twenty-four hours a day.  The chat is lively and informative. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the fun activities of the group is a "Mystery Skype".  Two teachers connect their classes in Google Hangout without telling their students where the other class is in the world. The children have to ask questions that elicit a yes or no answer in order to work out the location.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><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/AVvXsEhW0c1ry7JjAkzPNLmATsmw_wCOCuWHarcrMrsQp_YVhQlzJJtUSWJLZYl4-077PprxskRaNj6kwx2Yh5xUCoL91Q7IMS7mjVgVmadtQmdsnXdrt_BBWsDsSJZtaYrYVh_hWMyCJvaF-Lg/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_W0buMCImJ22bxbY30dPzMZ15ZXu49yseBVuM273T4hxyGTfZqcFIFu5g5aC-VeUwH4u1QY1256yi094bPx_kCEbj8ANuPFR_4TVsS0ObzsmDtGkPSWnJtLS6wXDaFOLcBKDB2cF7LM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brenda's Grade 2 class during the session</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><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/AVvXsEiB-QEDi6lEP3K8XydNluIEFxz7qbB1hovwnVyhzMiqPD2SzWtocUFwF8Vio-YMNCoT2T1IIRAzncMpmteuRs6CkMUKDlOcEx5djOgnBEjDJVtRRVUI8H36l1Wx7M_SXbM0weIZwWYMEBk/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHuuL53iVVKT6VlArocJc26wQqxBNBHa4qZtYByM9DGRhtuT5WmU_VCRwe_GR6YcxdJIR5IvLDj1NIjwHvOylC6gTFq8NmIynr0EVWtUkRIXDFa06BoxupbDAgGu_KbcuFtqmDUevUXY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grade 2 class in Indonesia during the session</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the first things the students have to understand is the concept of a continent. Once we have established which continent the other class is on they then have to pinpoint the country. If they do get really stuck they are allowed to get clues such as the capital city or the hemisphere. I was surprised and delighted when one of my Grade 2 classes guessed Indonesia after they had established that it was in Asia. After trying the larger countries like China and India they began to study the map more carefully. They could barely pronounce the word Indonesia but  they learned that it's a country in Asia and they met a class of real live students from there.  Some of our students demonstrated good thinking when trying to find the answer and then I had one little girl who kept coming up and saying, "Johannesburg! or East London". It's a whole new world out there. Our students are young and many of them are lacking exposure to the world beyond our school and homes but I believe that we can offer them opportunities for enrichment <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_of_proximal_development">beyond their present development </a>through technology and good scaffolding. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are coming to the end of the academic year. This has been the first year at Cotswold that I haven't worked through a set curriculum purchased by the school. It's been an adventurous year and I have learned so much. I'm looking forward to what the new year brings. Technology is changing so rapidly and the trend is towards the "Read Write" web where we discover how to construct our own new knowledge using online tools. It certainly is a great time to be involved in education.”</span></div>

news Skype Why not consider a ‘Mystery Skype’ session with your class this year?

Submitted by Fiona Beal with permission from Brenda Hallowes... This is a guest post from a Schoolnetter ,  B renda Hallowes, who teaches IC...

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2013 goals

Ok, I know. I'm a little late to the party. And you are probably rolling your eyes to have to look at yet another New Year's list, but I've got to create some accountability here people. If I don't put this list out into the great big interwebs, it will become part of the long list of things that never get done. I need to be able to look you in the eye after all.<br /><br />After my success with my <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-did-i-do-2012-goal-review.html" target="_blank">2012 goal list</a> I find it best to keep this suckers <strike>short</strike> manageable. So I'll keep this short and sweet.<br /><br />1. <b>Entry refresh.</b> It is really too small to be considered a foyer and "entry" is even pushing it, but whatever it is it needs a kick in the pants. The hubs and my dad hung the wallpaper the first summer we were in the house and it is pretty beat up. I also need more storage...somehow. A head scratcher.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0J__0Tdp6WQgC3nZqpO7IVVvw_gP7dMUqa_KD-9kKqqHpo0SI9xsI0E9dXK4TQmMyzxRyI2FnlJmng1HH2-FNl5bagvW05vT1Lex4OPWUv-n84zvqkk4BJjkir4aVtnkh1KTGMcW-cwC/s1600/littleblackdoorentry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0J__0Tdp6WQgC3nZqpO7IVVvw_gP7dMUqa_KD-9kKqqHpo0SI9xsI0E9dXK4TQmMyzxRyI2FnlJmng1HH2-FNl5bagvW05vT1Lex4OPWUv-n84zvqkk4BJjkir4aVtnkh1KTGMcW-cwC/s640/littleblackdoorentry.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />2. <b>Sew something. Anything.</b> I've got the sewing machine, it's the whole using the sewing machine thing that is getting in my way. Just to figure out how to spool the thread is a challenge for me. Don't judge. I'm just not a patient person. So the goal is to sew myself a pillow at the very least. 12 months to sew a pillow. I'm pushing myself for greatness, aren't I?<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/AVvXsEhp6m7cgf39L4os9PodpEwmZ-fEAEH_O8nPagF6xRNYTheQySE-bhyphenhyphenp-zHwt0qgLevs8spo0S8UDRljEHQL7U3oP_zf0U3D22P6j53uJlRK2BR9HzpZhRAhJZX7qDuToVjsOuSIpA_rMcjC/s1600/39.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6m7cgf39L4os9PodpEwmZ-fEAEH_O8nPagF6xRNYTheQySE-bhyphenhyphenp-zHwt0qgLevs8spo0S8UDRljEHQL7U3oP_zf0U3D22P6j53uJlRK2BR9HzpZhRAhJZX7qDuToVjsOuSIpA_rMcjC/s320/39.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vintagerosegarden.tumblr.com/post/2316013782" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>3. <b>The girls' room.</b> It's almost time for Eve to move into her big girl bed, so it is the perfect time to start from scratch. Hopefully I can make these bossy clients happy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Vbvh68RfyO_P50b5Hr0IKDHmA65sIerEtSUzHvp1c3Ht317hzDH9k05nsiWf8AgFN-WDPPgZmK_8jxCxh3GJ9oSbR0U3fwvxm7cJtNo8jEobWO-2nS6T3IMbPq5RTJ5vlGPnlWIhzWyU/s1600/-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Vbvh68RfyO_P50b5Hr0IKDHmA65sIerEtSUzHvp1c3Ht317hzDH9k05nsiWf8AgFN-WDPPgZmK_8jxCxh3GJ9oSbR0U3fwvxm7cJtNo8jEobWO-2nS6T3IMbPq5RTJ5vlGPnlWIhzWyU/s400/-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />4. <b>Bathroom redo.</b> All cosmetics. Not the lipstick kind, but the paint kind. I'm over the color(s) in there and something needs to change. Pinterest and I have been consulting on this already. Now if I could just narrow it down to one idea...<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/AVvXsEhcbh29-1QxDmwR6hDKuRuIcy4CJX4X3M3ocqZcOcwskzUAJcXUBoggSGkujcdR4Jzx5Pklz9HxRc8O4JuUB-jP_tc6CD7dpdGZU5avVoymQPm38Cy4T_kQ1ekzfirF1mJQ0vYboXyUsVcN/s1600/lonnybathroominspiration.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbh29-1QxDmwR6hDKuRuIcy4CJX4X3M3ocqZcOcwskzUAJcXUBoggSGkujcdR4Jzx5Pklz9HxRc8O4JuUB-jP_tc6CD7dpdGZU5avVoymQPm38Cy4T_kQ1ekzfirF1mJQ0vYboXyUsVcN/s400/lonnybathroominspiration.jpeg" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lonny.com/" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>5. <b>Open my little black door a little more.</b> Did you know I have a growing design business? Of course you don't, how could you? I don't talk about it much. That will change, in a good way. More to come.<br /><br />So there is my top 5 for the year. Officially out there. And I already feel behind. No turning back now, you've read it after all. Have you planned for any big changes this year? Any new adventures?

2013 goals

Ok, I know. I'm a little late to the party. And you are probably rolling your eyes to have to look at yet another New Year's list, b...

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And The 2013 Oscar Goes To...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Cheeeers All.  With the Oscar nominations coming out this week, I thought I’d let you know what some of my favorite movies are.<br /><br />And by favorite, I don’t mean all technically good and what not, but movies that if they come on TV, I would watch again and again even though I have seen them 10,000 times.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrPDideJVVoKA4IP8W3OO9Igw_vBONvknKcz5Joajz8OauEDOjeV4uXITSP2qzR_h_G9tDjHIRgR1ElAySdekYyKbM5zic06I4Wmi2a-qqV8ZVEkYmQYdVxQKO-OT82ruGHK6OubTDLk/s1600/christopher-lee-as-count-dracula1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrPDideJVVoKA4IP8W3OO9Igw_vBONvknKcz5Joajz8OauEDOjeV4uXITSP2qzR_h_G9tDjHIRgR1ElAySdekYyKbM5zic06I4Wmi2a-qqV8ZVEkYmQYdVxQKO-OT82ruGHK6OubTDLk/s400/christopher-lee-as-count-dracula1.jpeg" width="270" /></a>And without further adieu, and in no particular order, the Mattscars go to….<br /><br /><b><i>Dracula: Prince of Darkness</i> (1966)</b><br /><br />Hands down my fave Dracula movie of all time.  Although I don’t spend my days trying to write “new and creative ways to portray vampires”, I am a Draculaphile.   Christopher Lee was THE best Dracula ever, annnnnd…although filmed in 1966?  This movie contains some major, “not so implied” lesbianism.  Oh yeahhhhhh, Baby!!<br /><br /><b><i>Napoleon Dynamite</i> (2004)</b><br /><br />Are you kidding me?  This movie is so stupid and so eclectic (in a literal sense, not a sarcastic sense) that my now 18 year old son and I still say to one and other, <i>“Your mom goes to college.”</i>  Oh my God, the disturbing dryness of it all is a hoot.  When the opening scene has Napoleon tossing out a plastic Superman with fishing line tied to its neck out of a school bus window so the action figure careens down the road, you just know that this movie is gonna be good.<br /><br /><b><i>Shawshank Redemption</i> (1994)</b><br /><br />Who doesn't like this movie?  Communists, that’s who!!  Oh…and Republicans, because they think the warden was just trying to get his fair share from the government and what is wrong with that?  However, there is nothing better than watching a movie where a guy in prison sticks it to THE MAN and the sticking it to THE MAN doesn't involve having anal relations with a cell mate.<br /><br /><b><i>Kelly’s Heroes</i> (1970)</b><br /><br />I am a freak about WWII movies and this one is one of my favorites.  Great cast and great storyline.  A group of disenchanted U.S. Army regulars want <i>“a piece of the action”</i> and successfully attempt to heist gold from a German controlled bank in France.<br /><br />A great cast that includes Don Rickles, Gavin Macleod (no seriously, he was funny), and a hilariously drugged up Donald Sutherland as, Oddball, balance the seriousness of Clint Eastwood who gives some hilarious looks like he did at this year’s GOP Convention.  Although during this movie, he was acting, and not a prisoner of ideology and senility.<br /><br /><b><i>Stalag 17</i> (1953)</b><br /><br />Just like the aforementioned movie, a star-studded cast of William Holden, a young Peter Graves, and a host of others, make this a great flick.  The acting is beyond awesome.  The entire film has funny moments, grungy moments, and serious moments, and just as WW II movies should end, the bad guy, in this case a German spy in a German prisoner of war camp amidst Americans, gets his due in the end.<br /><br /><b><i>Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House</i> (1948)</b><br /><br />Are you serious?  Have you never seen this movie?  If you haven’t, you don’t know what funny is.  Cary Grant (in all of his bisexual glory), and Myrna Loy are hilarious, as he as a successful businessman decides to build their perfect home in the country and move away from the bustle of NYC.  The laughs pile up, due to the price and the problems they incur while getting their perfect home built.  Melvyn Douglas and Reginald Denny are a hoot as well. <br /><br /><b><i>Groundhog Day</i> (1993)</b><br /><br />I think many people have come around, but maybe some STILL do not think of Bill Murray as an “actor.” Pffffft…The man is the bomb, and Groundhog Day is a GREAT movie.  Funny, poignant, and cute.  And Andie McDowell in this movie?  Cute…As…Hell.  And Andie McDowell in this movie?  Cute…As…Hell. And Andie McDowell in this movie?  Cute…As…Hell.<br /><br /><b><i>Braveheart</i> (1995)</b><br /><br />Mel Gibson is a major league asshole, and yet, Braveheart, is a major league cinematic home run.  I love it as much as I loathe the 14th Century Brits.  Nothing like a ragtag team of haggis eaters beating up on a group of backstabbing, pretentious stocking wearing men.  Alba Go Braugh!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN4KH8goaWygoPwED0W1bQWPHkQPh9T9AX2agjQfnqv2RmD1PAwPbzNpIv57Ciice6b9pJlLXQBBM-YbuBIRTSIS9mWZIBr1127xm2qrRTYZPa-ZKV-Ny9Jj4Y89l7bRW6fdv1cqc3tc/s1600/Inigo+Montoya+Sexy+Funny+Princess+Bride.gif" 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/AVvXsEjhN4KH8goaWygoPwED0W1bQWPHkQPh9T9AX2agjQfnqv2RmD1PAwPbzNpIv57Ciice6b9pJlLXQBBM-YbuBIRTSIS9mWZIBr1127xm2qrRTYZPa-ZKV-Ny9Jj4Y89l7bRW6fdv1cqc3tc/s400/Inigo+Montoya+Sexy+Funny+Princess+Bride.gif" width="400" /></a><b><i>The Princess Bride</i> (1987)</b><br /><br />This may be my favorite movie of all-time…I vacillate on that.  It is so sweet, so cute, and so damn funny. Great cast, great story, and to this day, I quote lines from that movie every day.  After all, who doesn’t like mimicking Inigo Montoya saying, <i>“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”</i><br /><br /><b><i>Glengarry Glen Ross</i> (1992)</b><br /><br />Holy Cow…A dark movie with an all-star cast…Pacino, Lemmon, Baldwin, Arkin, Ed Harris (yeah, he needed his first name used), Spacey and Jonathan Pryce (yeah, him too).  So depressing, so dark witted, and so wonderful.  Who knew that selling real estate could be so cut throat?  This movie has afforded me my fave line whenever anyone leaves the house door, our refrigerator door, or the cooler door at the Beer Mine open….<i>“Always Be Closing!!  Always Be Closing!!”</i><br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><br /><i>Matt-Man</i><br /><br /><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com"><i>mattmaniws@ymail.com</i></a><br /><i><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@mattman_iws</span></a></i></div>

And The 2013 Oscar Goes To...

Cheeeers All.  With the Oscar nominations coming out this week, I thought I’d let you know what some of my favorite movies are. And by favor...

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Bike Town

<p>Key West is what I would consider a bike friendly town.</p><p>Here are a few photos of cyclists in KW.  I think there is something very timeless about people on bikes.  </p><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWFT9lqme03UxwmSLav_B_YEyS54fTWz_dcl23X0DLHHQDB14hKi-1jEastgA2SqeTm90_XAfLWE9bKCZRJF-i_aEur4mL6pnJkY1IO5goE0hSR1ruSzqmpWILes5rCUCj_syXKF9oCLm/s1600/20130106_152458.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWFT9lqme03UxwmSLav_B_YEyS54fTWz_dcl23X0DLHHQDB14hKi-1jEastgA2SqeTm90_XAfLWE9bKCZRJF-i_aEur4mL6pnJkY1IO5goE0hSR1ruSzqmpWILes5rCUCj_syXKF9oCLm/s400/20130106_152458.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTy3hLncCMymsYtZcurbh19fOwubFek3GxbyIMcMk1-mkY1ZdRjQpGJYiGXNcyhoePesLIl5m_NG4NDl0lL1y2nDR90-cfkmwcsTN8RUWXRhvYE97EiBCJJMEEL1-xVlsbOt-tigCYtb3P/s1600/20130106_152024.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTy3hLncCMymsYtZcurbh19fOwubFek3GxbyIMcMk1-mkY1ZdRjQpGJYiGXNcyhoePesLIl5m_NG4NDl0lL1y2nDR90-cfkmwcsTN8RUWXRhvYE97EiBCJJMEEL1-xVlsbOt-tigCYtb3P/s400/20130106_152024.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FqbO_6GBlm-2YEDpG4NyO8rCbMom_QU9GMWf5pdiF9kl04Dy2bekD1WaXdDamwHy12FiNaXda3vbfjFswOef1WihMY1lSJ760MiGdgJvh_y67PkLS4vE-nKl7qz74ViwYnSp5IUKVr68/s1600/20130106_144134.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FqbO_6GBlm-2YEDpG4NyO8rCbMom_QU9GMWf5pdiF9kl04Dy2bekD1WaXdDamwHy12FiNaXda3vbfjFswOef1WihMY1lSJ760MiGdgJvh_y67PkLS4vE-nKl7qz74ViwYnSp5IUKVr68/s400/20130106_144134.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qIvZfOvLiyFj4s9Hlh2aEgOK92SQTgwr_Chkqs5fD30FXMaHnWVMf5F3keOFYH1Bu2kMajoYGUw2zWvBRA-l3bFhyphenhyphenPeYiqLv8Q4-WA_mX_G3Y5TrAhww1Hv5mTEyNRYWkfbFqJu3MhPY/s1600/20130106_132402.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qIvZfOvLiyFj4s9Hlh2aEgOK92SQTgwr_Chkqs5fD30FXMaHnWVMf5F3keOFYH1Bu2kMajoYGUw2zWvBRA-l3bFhyphenhyphenPeYiqLv8Q4-WA_mX_G3Y5TrAhww1Hv5mTEyNRYWkfbFqJu3MhPY/s400/20130106_132402.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQarywV5AoQXaaTtzVQJrSdNAzr1rcCm4ks_Zi0FdOX89EYDUze1_4e9Kt7DsNLMYY6OtvBdW8mBUezUFt0jNrrSmqmUhyNFIXT-rqrx2xtp207Evr5pM3hP0RBArcWPQW2CoM3ZW8yJKL/s1600/20130106_143459.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQarywV5AoQXaaTtzVQJrSdNAzr1rcCm4ks_Zi0FdOX89EYDUze1_4e9Kt7DsNLMYY6OtvBdW8mBUezUFt0jNrrSmqmUhyNFIXT-rqrx2xtp207Evr5pM3hP0RBArcWPQW2CoM3ZW8yJKL/s400/20130106_143459.jpg" /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1IusbLLOcnoB2OF0qHOeu3FB0rtcIfznVLz-fYM-hfKWWEDUsbI5m0T2OtnhbpDPpKBvY-0lofeaTfACBe-DelE0AvSxGeC0Cs8sTqbeveKJzH6kV4NuG3S0OWaLm5VQBUOxtd2AqFXW/s1600/20130106_143452.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; 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Bike Town

Key West is what I would consider a bike friendly town. Here are a few photos of cyclists in KW.  I think there is something very timeless a...

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Epiphany In Pahrump: A Glimpse Of The Future Church?

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QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Calibri;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Worship was in fine form at St. Martin’s in the Desert, Pahrump, Nevada this Epiphany morning. For those who don’t know, Pahrump is a desert town situated between Las Vegas and Death Valley. Surprisingly it boasts at least one winery. I heard there was a second but have not seen it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">A lovely crèche was in the front of the nave. Three children processed bearing figures of kings and camels to complete the Nativity scene. The big deal about today’s service is that we received 9 new Episcopalians – all adults. To put this in context, that means we received as new members about 20% of those present.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Today’s vestry meeting was taken up mostly by discussion of community social ministries – a report on the monthly Teen Night hosted for community teens by St. Martin’s, the Stand For Children program hosted by St. Martin’s, the collection of school supplies for low income students, a $1,000 gift to Meals on Wheels because there is a waiting list of senior citizens needing that service. Most of St. Martin’s energy and attention is pointed outward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">We did go over the proposed budget, which will be presented to the annual meeting. It included the assessment paid to the Diocese plus a substantial additional contribution to support Ministry Development around the Diocese. The vestry expressed gratitude for the training the Diocese has provided them in the past. They want to support our effort to offer programs to other congregations. They want more training themselves, but mostly they see their contribution as “paying back” or “paying forward” for what they have been given. It’s sort of like the Eucharist – a giving back and receiving again. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The proposed parish budget for this year is a deficit budget, but the vestry wasn’t too worried about that. They adopted a deficit budget last year and wound up with a surplus. So they are hopeful. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">But the St. Martin’s vestry was concerned that other congregations in Nevada may be struggling financially. They had heard about this in table conversations at Convention. They wanted to know if they should send support to struggling congregations out of their deficit budget. I assured them that the Diocese would take care of that and they had done their part by paying in their assessment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">St. Martin’s has a generous line item in their budget for outreach. They have another line item to support the operating budget of Camp Galilee (our diocesan camp & conference center). That line item does not include the money they send to Galilee out of their education budget to pay the expenses of sending children from Pahrump to camp. Some of these children are members of St. Martin’s. Some are just kids in town who need a week of camp at Tahoe. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">There was talk about the upcoming MLK Breakfast where St. Martin’s has sponsored a table and Rev. Julie will give the invocation. They will do another project later in the year for the Bishop’s Big Hairy Audacious Goal, probably a Stand For Children event. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The vestry did not discuss The Knitting Nancys of St. Martin’s. But we did talk about them over the coffee hour. They had been featured in the national newsletter of The Seaman’s Institute for the sheer volume of gifts they produce for people who need them. None of this even mentions the prayer and study being done by St. Martin’s members of The Episcopal Community.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Oh bricks and mortar issues. There was a bogus rumor last year that our church in Tonopah was up for sale. So St. Martin’s members expressed some anxiety during the coffee hour for the well-being of our congregation in Tonopah. I wish there were not rumors that the Diocese is closing small churches. But I like it that one small church cares about another. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Being a bishop, I did my best to find fault with them. So I challenged the vestry on the budget to provide continuing education funds for their priest. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Covered,” they said, “it’s under ‘training’.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “What about her costs of attending clergy conference?” I shot back. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“It’s under ‘business travel’,” they replied. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“And her Convention costs?” (I was scrambling.) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“We pay full fare for both clergy and lay delegates,” they said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“How about a Basic Discipleship class?” I asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Done and dusted,” they said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “How about following that up with a Gifts Discernment Workshop?” I countered. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Calling you this week to schedule it. And by the way how are you coming on another Lenten mission discernment program as a sequel to the one we did last Lent?” they replied. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">I was defeated. So I gave up and went home. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Congregational Life Office of The Episcopal Church featured St. Martin’s in the Desert in a documentary film last year as an example of a congregation that is growing and flourishing because they are connected to their community. When they gather to sing and pray, they have a tangible sense of mission. Their mission field is right there in Nye County. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Having failed to nail St. Martin’s for any failures, I was left with nothing to say this morning but to commend them for actually acting like Christians. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><!--EndFragment-->

Epiphany In Pahrump: A Glimpse Of The Future Church?

Worship was in fine form at St. Martin’s in the Desert, Pahrump, Nevada this Epiphany morning. For those who don’t know, Pahrum...

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Montagne Jeunesse Review and Giveaway!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-doLD8zp2C78/UOn3_Q1tNpI/AAAAAAAAEh0/s5xD0x8eA8o/s1600/Monpackage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-doLD8zp2C78/UOn3_Q1tNpI/AAAAAAAAEh0/s5xD0x8eA8o/s320/Monpackage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doesn't it feel so relaxing and soothing to get a facial?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's face it though, without gift cards or coupons they sure are pricey!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I understand that you want the clean and healthy glow on your face as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well not try one in the privacy of your own home?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can with <a href="http://www.montagnejeunesse.com/">Montagne Jeunesse</a> facial cleansing masques that open up your pores, gets rid of oily skin and blemishes!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They have many varieties to choose from.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Their products include peel off masques, moisture and purifying masques, deep cleansing masques, facial scrubs and self heating masques.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you know they have products for men as well!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They have them in all skin types too.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oily, Dry, Sensitive Combination, mature and normal skin types.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Strawberry Souffle-</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gj8ncyCS84I/UOn4IQXUFBI/AAAAAAAAEh8/wzqFUikMllU/s1600/strawberry+souffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gj8ncyCS84I/UOn4IQXUFBI/AAAAAAAAEh8/wzqFUikMllU/s320/strawberry+souffle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gently apply this sweet scented souffle masque with the calming scent of vanilla for supple smoother skin!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Hot Chocolate-</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jGV8NauweIQ/UOn4SXxeYcI/AAAAAAAAEiE/vw3bWzWljlA/s1600/hot+chocolate+masque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jGV8NauweIQ/UOn4SXxeYcI/AAAAAAAAEiE/vw3bWzWljlA/s320/hot+chocolate+masque.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beware Do not Eat! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I suggest warming up some hot chocolate while applying this so your not tempted to eat it LOL.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ready?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apply the chocolaty masque with the exotic scent of oranges leaving you oh so refreshed!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smells so delicious with the decadence of chocolate and citrus oranges, and I can feel it working already and it's only been on for not even a few minutes!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Virgin Olive-</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txW6u0qQTgU/UOn4Z5iCm9I/AAAAAAAAEiM/Q6OHFzaUp98/s1600/virginolive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txW6u0qQTgU/UOn4Z5iCm9I/AAAAAAAAEiM/Q6OHFzaUp98/s320/virginolive.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">infused with Shea and cocoa butter to rejuvenate into healthy and smooth looking skin.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Green Tea-</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IT3l9ZbleoU/UOn4jBHHUdI/AAAAAAAAEiU/APZBjkzTYbQ/s1600/greentea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IT3l9ZbleoU/UOn4jBHHUdI/AAAAAAAAEiU/APZBjkzTYbQ/s320/greentea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">made with green tea and root ginger with squeezed lemons to detoxify your skin.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Talk about healthy skin! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div>1. Enter to win by telling me how you keep your skin looking refreshed? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Want an extra entry? </div><div style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>2. Follow my blog.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>3.Then also follow me via Twitter, here. https://twitter.com/kelli_bliss </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>4. then tweet about the giveaway and make sure you use #montagnejeuness</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>5. leave me a link here to your tweet.</div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find them online as well!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/montagnejeunesse"> www.facebook.com/montagnejeunesse </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or here.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/montagnejeuness"> www.twitter.com/montagnejeuness</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

Montagne Jeunesse Review and Giveaway!

Doesn't it feel so relaxing and soothing to get a facial? Let's face it though, without gift cards or coupons they sure are pricey! ...

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Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 01/06/2013

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://mrsmcconnellsblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/top-12-reflections-on-2012-conclusion.html">Mrs. McConnell's Blog: Top 12 Reflections on 2012 - conclusion</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">IN her final set of reflections, Sandy uses a new feature, that of Google plus tagging in a blogger blog, which is how I found what she wrote! IF you use blogger, use the plus and tag people and we'll find you more easily than the traffic type things. Finally an advantage for being on blogger besides just tight integration with Google. I love how her work with edtech and ipads is part of what she's done. With all she's been through: layoffs, cancer, adding onto her house - I think I've found a new hero and definitely someone I"ve added to my PLN. I've known of her work, but now I"m a fan. Sometimes, when you open up, share and reflect, you connect on a deeper, more personal level than if you pretend like life is perfect. TEachers, lets stick together and encourage each other.</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/inspiration">inspiration</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/all_teachers">all_teachers</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://mrsmcconnellsblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-top-12-reflections-on-2012-pt-2.html">Mrs. McConnell's Blog: My Top 12 Reflections on 2012, pt. 2</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Even more inspirational, here Sandy shares how she worked hard to find a place where students are treated with compassion and inclusion and how she found someone to work with her. She also built onto her house and had surgery on a thyroid tumor. I think that some people think that innovators have it easy and they'll just work when it is easier. Sandy didn't have it easy at all and look at what she's done. I find her reflections so heartwarming and hope some of you will share your stories. We should draw strength from one another.</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/reflection">reflection</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/all_teachers">all_teachers</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://mrsmcconnellsblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-top-12-reflections-on-2012-pt-1.html">Mrs. McConnell's Blog: My Top 12 Reflections on 2012 pt. 1</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Sandy McConnell has created a nice set of reflections for 2012, something I think all admins should want their teachers to do, where she shared her views, what she has done, and how she's improved. Such retrospection on a year is a powerful way to mark learning and remember. She's done so many things, but particularly I like how she didn't let the fact that she was temporarily laid off stop her from learning and moving forward. IF you're having a tough time, you might want to read what Sandy is and has done. She inspires me. Wow. I"ll link to all of her sets, because I"d like you to read them all.</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/reflection">reflection</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/best">best</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/practices">practices</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/all_teachers">all_teachers</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=145599">QR Codes in Elementary School - LiveBinder</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">A very useful livebinder by some teachers on QR codes in the elementary school with information and guides. I've found this is pretty updated even though the first page has a description from 2010. Very useful if you want to use them in your classroom or library at the elementary level.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/qrcode">qrcode</a> <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/history">history</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/elementary_teacher">elementary_teacher</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.activehistory.co.uk/Miscellaneous/menus/history_mystery/qr.php">How to set up a QR Code Treasure Hunt</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Simple instructions that history teachers will love for setting up a QR code scavenger hunt. My favorite app is i-Nigma for scanning qr codes -it just works. " A QR-Code Treasure Hunt is a fun, simple way to get students using their mobile devices to continue learning outside of lesson time. Here's how we set one up at the International School of Toulouse with some guidance on how to do the same with your own students using the QR Treasure Hunt Generator at ClassTools.net."</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/history_teacher">history_teacher</a></p> <ul class="diigo-comments"> </ul> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/gwynethjones/qr-codes-in-the-elementary-classroom">QR Codes in the Elementary Classroom</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">A nice presentation by Gwyneth Jones about QR codes in the elementary classroom and library. If you're looking for ideas and simple explanations, this is a great slideshow.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/qrcode">qrcode</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</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 01/06/2013

Mrs. McConnell's Blog: Top 12 Reflections on 2012 - conclusion IN her final set of reflections, ...

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FRANCE CHOOSES THE PATH OF AUSTERITY

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style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">HAS THE NEOLIBERAL MODEL LED EUROPE TOWARD DISASTER?</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.5pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Despite the election of socialist François Hollande to the presidency of the Republic, FRANCE, far from breaking with the neoliberal model that has led much of EUROPE toward disaster, has chosen the path of austerity.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GEOPOLITICAL INFLUENCE: TROIKA IMF, ECB AND WORLD BANK: POLITICALLY UNPOPULAR, ECONOMICALLY INEFFICIENT AND SOCIALLY DISASTROUS?</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The austerity policies advocated by the EUROPEAN UNION - promoted primarily by GERMANY’S Angela Merkel - the International Monetary Fund and the EUROPEAN Central Bank have led to deadlock. They are politically unpopular, economically inefficient and socially disastrous. Wherever they have been implemented, whether in GREECE, IRELAND, ITALY, PORTUGAL, SPAIN and ARGENTINA - without a single exception - they have been unsuccessful, engendering an increase in poverty, unemployment, and public indebtedness as well as leading to the dismantling of the welfare state through the destruction of public services and a drastic lowering of state revenues.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">François Hollande’s election to the presidency of the Republic in May 2012 sparked some hope among FRENCH citizens for an alternative to austerity policies. But rather than significantly increasing the minimum wage and public investment - measures that would have boosted economic growth - the government of Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault adopted the "Pact for competitiveness" recommended by the Gallois report. This is a pact that has shown itself slavishly devoted to policies that have already demonstrated their ineffectiveness across EUROPE.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">FRANCES GOVERNMENT MEASURES WILL LEAD TO </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">REDUCTION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The government has in fact decided to implement the measures recommended by Louis Gallois, commissioner general for investment. In his opinion the policy would improve the competitiveness of French companies at the international level, stimulate the economy and create jobs. At the same time, President Holland has chosen to reduce the corporate tax by granting a tax credit of 20 billion EUR.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In order to do this, the Elysée has adopted two measures. As a first step, public expenditure will be reduced by 10 billion EUR. This means that public services made available to FRENCH citizens will be severely affected, with a direct impact on the quality of life of the most vulnerable elements of the population.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH576kBmteHZmvn2QZQLPMnpiQMEut600xRI92mwNTwx7JsAeWcZuNI9Bo5y7zyX0m5eGVNG55NzPzmSe-_Ty7GNgugkatp9ihAflb0D18zZpbLi-IhA4vS0VNyJbQEPmWFC-xmGa93q8/s1600/1352912503-european-protest-against-austerity-measures-paris_1596648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVH576kBmteHZmvn2QZQLPMnpiQMEut600xRI92mwNTwx7JsAeWcZuNI9Bo5y7zyX0m5eGVNG55NzPzmSe-_Ty7GNgugkatp9ihAflb0D18zZpbLi-IhA4vS0VNyJbQEPmWFC-xmGa93q8/s320/1352912503-european-protest-against-austerity-measures-paris_1596648.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The second measure is the most unpopular: Reneging on his campaign promise, François Hollande has made a decision to increase VAT, or value-added tax. Indeed, former President Nicolas Sarkozy had already raised the VAT using a differentiated formula in which the middle rate was raised from 5% to 7% and the overall rate from 19.6% to 21.4%. This represents an increase in VAT of 10.6 billion EUR, a cost that would necessarily be borne by FRENCH citizens.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">One of the first measures taken by the new National Assembly in July 2012 was to remove this VAT hike. Now, three months later, the Socialist government has reversed this decision by again raising the main VAT rates. Thus, beginning the first of January 2014, the overall rate will climb from 19.6% to 20% and the intermediate rate from 7% to 10%. Only the lowest rate will be decreased from 5.5% to 5%. Collectively, these measures represent a tax increase for the FRENCH population of 7 billion EUR, an imposition that will mainly affect the most vulnerable elements of the population. Indeed, this new tax will account for a loss in purchasing power of 260 EUR per person per year, in other words, 25% of the monthly minimum wage .</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">FRANCES FISCAL GIFT OF 20 BILLION EUR TO LARGE CORPORATIONS ALLEGEDLY WILL CREATE 300,000 JOBS IN BY 2017!!</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The increase in the VAT (+3% for products as necessary as gas, electricity, transport, books, or medicines not reimbursed by social security) will inevitably lead to a reduction in economic activity. Indeed, the loss of household purchasing power will result in a decrease in consumption and, thereby, a decrease in production. This in turn will cause an increase in unemployment, and consequently a decline in tax revenues for the State as well as an increase in the cost of allowances paid to the unemployed.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Furthermore, this plan will stimulate only 20% of the country’s economy. Indeed, in FRANCE, export production represents only one fifth of the wealth produced, while eighty percent of the country’s production is intended for domestic use. It is the latter that will be directly affected by the increase in the VAT </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">According to the Government, this fiscal gift of 20 billion EUR to large corporations will potentially create 300,000 jobs in FRANCE by 2017. However, this is highly uncertain and, in fact, it is contrary to all economic logic. Indeed, assuming that the number is correct, this means that 67,000 EUR will need to be allocated to cover the cost of each job created. However, the creation of a post of teacher, nurse, social worker or cultural attaché in the public service requires an expenditure of only 40,000 EUR yearly. Thus, had the State allocated 20 billion EUR to the public sector, 500,000 quality jobs would without a doubt have been created. This is 200,000 more than what is currently planned for and these are jobs that would contribute greatly to the improvement of public services and the welfare of citizens.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The measures taken by President François Holland and the Government of Jean-Marc Ayrault constitute an economic oxymoron and are doomed to failure. They fall directly in line with the austerity policies already implemented throughout EUROPE, policies that have led the most vulnerable elements of the population to disaster.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">By </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Salim Lamrani</span></span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><br />

FRANCE CHOOSES THE PATH OF AUSTERITY

HAS THE NEOLIBERAL MODEL LED EUROPE TOWARD DISASTER? Despite the election of socialist François Hollande to the presidency of the Republic...

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