Please tune in to our exciting guest webinar on Thursday from 6-6:30pm

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiGgVC_B2M0CguE9UklyZxZ3Yx2hqcyi0q-Fl_-vD8lYbXk0ZJD_MhCr2wZDIp-fAJalLcy5G1BwS7CgQYvH06QWCGSeW67eEQOf09YxWuC6yMeTfhDtrQ_sv30bj-7DGSUOOKiz28-k/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-gEJeVzbXGZ3mOfRZCw6BJ-Gymn1kHhJJwjkvnYpwIt6j7xMZkWsMd-jc_ilYrAMy0kacscQXapWVCp5odfPLvkkVq4oeE9NZ64No37G7vW7HTT8pWVU_5_qoKUGVA2TlVSCc_IXU8o/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="260" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Details </span></span></b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Three superb short presentations on 'Learn the news',  'Brainpop' and "Prezi' presented by Mary Lou Berndt, a teacher in East London on Thursday from 6pm till 6:30pm.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Background</span></span></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last week I had the privilege of attending the first TeachMeet in the Eastern Cape which was co-hosted by Stirling Primary School and Clarendon Primary School in East London, but held at Stirling Primary this time round. The two enthusiastic teacher organisers were Claire Dean from Stirling Primary and Sharon Cox from Clarendon Primary. A full blog report will appear soon.  It was marvelous to see how much the East London teachers had to share with one another.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the presenters, Mary Lou Berndt shared three lovely presentations on Learn the News, Brainpop, and Prezi. I have asked Mary Lou to present these at our next guest webinar this Thursday, so please do pop in and listen. You won’t be disappointed! Here are the details. (Just click on the URL, and sign in as guest with your name.) This webinar will be recorded. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Join us on Thursday</span></span></b> </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Meeting Name</u>: Learn about 'Learn the News','Prezi' and 'Brainpop'<br /><u>Summary</u>: These were three superb presentations given at the East London TeachMeet on Thurs 11th September by Mary Lou Berndt. Learn about 'Learn the news' (a great programme for your students to find out about the news), how to make a 'Prezi' and an amazing site called 'Brainpop'. <u></u><br /><u>When</u>: 09/20/2012 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM<br /><u>Time Zone</u>: (GMT+02:00) Harare, Pretoria </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>To join the webinar</u>:<br /><a href="http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/marylou/">http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/marylou/</a></span></span> <br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Note</span></span></b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b><br />If you have never attended an Adobe Connect webinar before:<br /><i>a) Test your connection:</i> http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>b) Get a quick overview</i>: <br />http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We really hope that we will meet you there on Thursday.  </span></span><br /><br /><br /></div></div>

webinars Please tune in to our exciting guest webinar on Thursday from 6-6:30pm

Details Three superb short presentations on 'Learn the news',  'Brainpop' and "Prezi' presented by Mary Lou Berndt,...

Read more »

Books donation for a primary school in South Africa plus an opportunity to collaborate…

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwzpLDJ7DpjNnS9ZF9u6PYK8m4HHRTLHCu3huZ6IcmzGBfBv3Zj4scJlfV0oEA80T6HsVAl17Pl-id4Pobp1nEhsvNEvlOFTLq5mUp6IcAO96baTVKzcGMDNukPZ8vXe996A7H71uS_8/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidz49pvDmjB-foeANQXHLLIn61KOoV5DCLSBpx3zSGn78VHtSMkgzWSBeOKg2cPqAFll1vnrwU0r-63JpDnggUU0tGGcUzSxI-z2hYvhfJ_eVnIz7uoVDquihyq3DaGN7hyphenhyphenRENw2V6JY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recently we had a very interesting email from a teacher in Seattle who is a librarian at her school. She would like to donate some books to a school in South Africa and also set up a Skype collaboration with a teacher at this school. Here is an extract from the email… </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“We have 5-6 boxes of brand new paperback picture and chapter books sitting in our school that are not being used. I have a dream of putting them in the hands of an impoverished school where need a library or need books. I’d love to hook up with a school and begin a Skype collaboration if possible. We could make videos of the books or introduce ourselves with our school. Somehow I’d like to bring technology, books, global collaboration together in a project that helps children who need the help.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The stereotype of country African schools are ones of extreme need. I don’t really know if this is true or not. People think we all drive expensive cars and have all things perfect here in the States. Neither myths are true!</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have seen websites of helping African villages with books, but I am very wary of them due to the administrative costs, etc. I’m more interested in doing something small, but that has real impact. Is there a place for this kind of idea? Do you know people I could contact to start? Is this something you might be interested in?” </span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you know of a school where this would go down well, please contact <a href="mailto:fiona@schoolnet.org.za">fiona@schoolnet.org.za</a></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you would like to read this teacher's blog, here is the URL: <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://bellbulldogreaders.edublogs.org/" style="color: #0077cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">http://bellbulldogreaders.edublogs.org/</a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">  This blog came second in the 2011 Edublogs Awards. </span></span> </div>

Collaboration Books donation for a primary school in South Africa plus an opportunity to collaborate…

Recently we had a very interesting email from a teacher in Seattle who is a librarian at her school. She would like to donate some books to ...

Read more »

Congratulations to our Adobe Youth Voices project winners!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhfhdMRmhiqhc-kUgUXj9dEnLBcbtkEiYjGxZl9e2tGH4UuXP6wBSQfAIvPlCYO-fcl09xs5hGfcBSuvGF9nt0F2RZqOVAKfx41_RWosCcaBjNUeanHdQ1cRkq1CjCa2sVL_s9dtJyAA/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwn8W4Ajf2jfzqK_J6j18UnwkvdHEezhkyCGTASYSIM3ddagAJiqq_vBOLAN-WC0LoZ-vX9R0lo934sezRXAJi2najAvt8UcG5GQdICtrmII5N5bvlnFnGGOjjYWUjehB7J0foMM9jz0/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recently we asked our SchoolNet premium members to vote for the Adobe Youth Voices media project they thought was the best.  (<a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2012/09/south-african-teachersplease-help.html" title="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2012/09/south-african-teachersplease-help.html">http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2012/09/south-african-teachersplease-help.html</a>) We had 39 people vote and this is a great gesture of commitment as it was no small feat to download and watch all the projects. What a dedicated team of premium members we have!! Here are the results:</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Winner</span></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Title</u>: Rise of Racism and Hazardous Stereotyping<br /><u>Educator:</u> Maropeng TL Monareng<br /><u>Prize:</u> wins trip to Cape Town; registration for ESN conference; accommodation, meals & flip video camera<br /><u>Votes</u>: 11</span></span></span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IkddFbwAWok?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Second place</span></span></b><br /><u>Title: </u>Water is Life - use me wisely <br /><u>Educator:</u>  Cynthia Lukhele<br /><u>Prize:</u> Cynthia wins second prize (flip camera); and five learners win digital cameras<br /><u>Votes:</u> 9</span></span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RRqlutCaZWw?rel=0" width="420"></iframe> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Third prize</span></span></b><br /><u>Title</u>: Bullying<br /><u>Educator</u>: Saul Pila<br /><u>Prize:</u> Saul wins a flip camera</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Votes:</u> 6 </span></span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VWBP9xpLXh8?rel=0" width="420"></iframe> <b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Complete spreadsheet of results</span></span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you would like to see the complete spreadsheet of results please view theme here.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.box.com/s/u3ypprlr9937kju878dl" target="_blank">Adobe Youth Voices 2012 voting results  </a></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Want to join the new intake of the project? </span></span></b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />If you would like to be involved in the new intake of 12 teachers for the current year please email <a href="mailto:omashani@schoolnet.org.za">omashani@schoolnet.org.za</a> TODAY! You won’t regret it! More details are available on this blogpost <a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2012/09/adobe-youth-voices-in-south.html" title="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2012/09/adobe-youth-voices-in-south.html">http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2012/09/adobe-youth-voices-in-south.html</a></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span></div>

Adobe Youth voices Congratulations to our Adobe Youth Voices project winners!

Recently we asked our SchoolNet premium members to vote for the Adobe Youth Voices media project they thought was the best.  ( http://e-blog...

Read more »

Made to Crave - Chapter 5

At this point, I am 2 chapters shy of finishing Made to Crave.  I will provide a full review once it's over.  While it is taking me awhile to complete the reflections, I'm glad I'm doing them.  I know it's important for me to try every avenue at understanding my weaknesses when it comes to food.  This is just another approach in that discovery process.<br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2012/08/made-to-crave-ch-1-reflections.html" target="_blank">Chapter 1 Reflections</a></li><li><a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2012/08/made-to-crave-ch-2-reflections.html" target="_blank">Chapter 2 Reflections</a></li><li><a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2012/08/made-to-crave-ch-3-reflections.html" target="_blank">Chapter 3 Reflections</a></li><li><a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2012/09/made-to-crave-ch-4-reflections.html" target="_blank">Chapter 4 Reflections</a> </li></ul><br />The title of this chapter was "Made for More".  I highlighted several passages from this chapter that I found thought-provoking/inspirational and wanted to share.<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Passage 1:</b><br />"We must ask God to join us in this journey.  We need to ask God's wisdom, revelation and intervening power to be an integral part of our food choices from now on.  Why not make this a daily prayer, first thing in the morning, before we've eaten a thing that day: 'God, I recognize I am made for more than the vicious cycle of being ruled by food.  I need to eat to live, not live to eat. So, I keep asking for Your wisdom to know what to eat and Your indwelling power to walk away from things that are not beneficial for me.'"</blockquote><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Passage 2:</b><br />"The real reason for grounding ourselves in the truth that we are made for more is 'so that you may know him better'.  The more we operate in the truth of who we are and the reality that we were made for more, the closer to God we'll become."</blockquote><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Passage 3:</b><br />"We would do well to pray for the eyes of our hearts to be enlightened to this hope and power.  Too many times, we try to muster up the gumption to make changes in our lives on our own.  It doesn't take long for the dark feelings of discouragement, disillusionment and defeat to fill our hearts."  </blockquote><ul></ul><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>1. "I was made for more" is a spiritual truth that unlocks great power for Christians.  When you think of your past failures and your current struggles with food, how do you hope this truth might help you?</b></span></i><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">I think about this concept often.  There are many days where I live in disbelief that I am <i>still </i>struggling with this overweight lifestyle.  You know how when you're a kid, and you look up to those older than you thinking how smart they must be and how much they must know?  I always used to think, "I can't wait until I'm an independent adult.  I won't be struggling with my weight any longer.  Finally, I will be in control of my own food choices and I will, at last, overcome this battle."  It was as though, an older and wiser Hilary wouldn't be this weak and food-dependent.  Yet, here I am, 28 years old, still fighting this fight.  So yes, deep down, I know I was made for more than living like <i>this</i>.  I cannot live the full life that God wants me to live if I continue to overeat and, thus, get down on myself.  There are many life experiences that I have simply bypassed purely because of my weight.  <b>I. cannot. keep. doing. this.</b></span><b><br /></b></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>2. When you introduce yourself to someone you don't know, how do you define yourself?  By your family relationships (as a wife, mother, daughter, aunt)? By a professional title, or lack of one?  By where you live or go to church? What might your introduction reveal about how you understand your own identity?</b></span><br />This question is quite appropriate, seeing as how I'm about to meet a bunch of people this weekend at FitBloggin' <i>(which, by the way, I'm extremely nervous about it! How much of an imposter am I to be going to a FIT BLOGGING conference when I'm clearly no expert at losing weight. *sigh*)</i>  I think the answer to this question probably depends on the setting for me.  In general, I think I probably tend to define who I am based on where I live.  For the last 6 years, the center of my universe has been my pure distaste for living in the DC area.  It's no secret to most that I absolutely hate living here. This city isn't me at all.  <br /><br />I would say after I describe where I'm from, my next avenue would be my profession.  I'm not sure if this is a product of living in this highly competitive/political city, but it just seems to be a standard introduction to say what you do.  It seems to be people's way of classifying you in their mind as worthy or not.  Warning: there might be some bitterness coming through in that sentence.  <br /><br />Anyhow, sadly, despite the fact that I just got married, the last way I would use to define myself is that I am now a wife.  Being in a relationship in this town seems to be looked down upon.  Yes, I have some married friends.  But I have just as many single friends too.  And I've definitely heard those single friends say: "I cannot imagine being married right now.  The fun would be all over."  It's like I'm being judged simply because I've found my life partner.  <br /><br />So what does all of that say about how I understand my own identity?  I think it says I need to re-evaluate what is truly important in life (i.e. being a wife, an aunt, a daughter), because <i>that </i>is what should define me.  Not where I live.  Not where I work.  Not what grade I am on the G-S scale.  Those latter things are superficial in my book.<br /><br />How does all of <i>that </i>translate to weight loss?  For me, I think it says that sometimes I want to lose weight for the wrong reasons.  Yes, I want to feel better about myself and be healthy.  But I cannot deny that I want to feel more accepted in this harsh, skinny-friendly world.  I know I am judged on my weight more often than not.  I try to overcome it by having a bolder personality and making jokes, but that can sometimes be a cover up.  Anyhow... I need to stop and move on to the next question :).<br /><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>3. Lysa describes how she once defined her identity by her circumstances: Lysa, the broken girl from a broken home; Lysa, the girl rejected by her father; Lysa, the girl sexually abused by a grandfather figure.  Have you ever felt your identity was defined by your circumstances?  If you were to describe your identity as Lysa did, what would be on your list?</b></span><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">-Hilary, the girl who has to live in this city that she hates because of her husband's financial obligations. </span></span><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">-Hilary, the girl who was made fun of in the girl's locker room in high school for being fat.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">-Hilary, the girl who cannot live her life to its fullest because she's fat.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">-Hilary, the girl who feels like she is never going to accomplish anything in life until she loses this weight, because only <i>then </i>will she know that she can do anything she sets her mind to. </span></span><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">-Hilary, the girl who can never seem to get anything right the first time and now has to return to school to pursue the career she truly wants to have. </span><b><br /></b></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>4. Take a moment to review the following list of statements, inserting your name before each one.  How does this understanding of how God sees you impact the circumstance-based view of your identity you listed in response to question 3?</b></span><br />-Hilary, the forgiven child of God. (Romans 3:24)<br />-Hilary, the set-free child of God. (Romans 8:1-2)<br />-Hilary, the accepted child of God. (1 Corinthians 1:2)<br />-Hilary, the holy child of God. (1 Corinthians 1:30)<br />-Hilary, the made-new child of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17) <br />-Hilary, the loved child of God. (Ephesians 1:4)<br />-Hilary, the close child of God. (Ephesians 2:13)<br />-Hilary, the confident child of God. (Ephesians 3:12)<br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">-Hilary, the victorious child of God. (Romans 8:37)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">Those sentences should be completely enough to negate all that I said in question 3.  Unfortunately, it's not that easy.  Yes, I should make a more consolidated effort to read the Bible, attend church regularly and pray more often in order to develop a better relationship with God so that I can free myself of those demeaning thoughts in question 3.</span><b> </b></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>5. Refer back to page 51 or your Bible.  Reread Ephesians 1:17-20 and reflect on the key themes of the passage using the questions below.</b></span><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><b>a) Be persistent: "I keep asking".</b>  Do you have any reservations about asking God for wisdom and power each day to help you on this journey?  How do you hope persistent prayer might help you?</i> <span style="color: black;">My reservations from asking God for help on this journey is because I feel like He's got better things to do.  People are dying from cancer.  I am simply trying to lose weight.  It's not the same. How can I whine about weight loss when much more serious things are going on in this world.  I feel that my weight loss prayers are not worthy.  I guess I would hope that persistent prayer might reveal to me that what I just said really isn't true.  He cares about us all, regardless of the magnitude of our battles.</span> </span><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><b>b) Embrace a true identity:</b> "Glorious Father." With what untruths about your identity have you struggled?  How might your life change if you could embrace the truth of your identity as a child of God? </i> <span style="color: black;">The untruths I struggle with are that I'm just always going to be this overweight person who cannot accomplish anything in life.  And while, yes, I know I've accomplished some milestones in my life thus far, those seemed so easy compared to this journey.  I think that my life would change in that if I truly had more faith that God would get me through this journey if I just asked, I would feel The Big Weight lifted from my shoulders.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><i><b>c) Find the deeper reason:</b> "So that you may know him better."  How might God use your journey toward healthy eating as a way to help you get to know Him better? </i><span style="color: black;">Oh I have no doubt that the goal of this journey isn't just to lose weight, it is to get to know Him better.  I know that there is simply no way I'm going to accomplish The Big Weight without him.  Plain and simple.  The struggles I'm going through at this point can only be overcome by my asking for His help.</span> </span><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>d) Discover a hope and power like no other:</b> "That the eyes of your heart might be enlightened."  To what degree do you feel like everything depends on you - your willpower and determination?  A little, a lot? To what degree do you believe that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is also available to help you? A little, a lot? As you reflect back on each day, how will you know whether you relied on your own strength or leaned into God's strength?</span>  </i>I do often feel like, because of what I said in question A, that I should be able to accomplish this weight loss on my own if I just had more willpower and determination.  While deep down I should believe that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power available to me, again, I don't feel like my measly weight loss issues are that worthy.  I mean come on, Jesus died on the cross to save us all.  I'm trying to lose weight so that I can have a better life.  It doesn't seem comparable in the least!  I think that if I can allow myself to start asking God for his help, regardless of the guilt I feel in doing so, that eventually I will just know deep down that my success is coming from His doing, and not mine.  It's how I felt when God brought Joel back to me after the Terrible Awful.  Believe me, nothing or no one could have changed Joel's mind when he walked out that door in February.  But God did.  I know that because I feel it deep down in my soul.</blockquote><br />If you made it this far, thanks for reading!  :)

Made to Crave Made to Crave - Chapter 5

At this point, I am 2 chapters shy of finishing Made to Crave.  I will provide a full review once it's over.  While it is taking me awhi...

Read more »

Culture Night 2012

<span style="font-size: large;">This Friday is <a href="http://www.culturenight.ie/">Culture Night</a>. I'm looking forward to it.  Last year we visited the <a href="http://www.tcd.ie/Library/bookofkells/">Book of Kells</a> in Trinity College which was really great.  We then headed to Kilmainham to the IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art) to listen to live music.  On the way to the IMMA we stopped off in the <a href="http://winding-stair.com/bookshop/">Winding Stair</a> Bookshop to watch some performance poets recite their work.  All in all a really great night!  The atmosphere in Dublin was fantastic! </span>

Culture Night 2012

This Friday is Culture Night . I'm looking forward to it.  Last year we visited the Book of Kells in Trinity College which was really g...

Read more »

Studio des Ursulines

The lobby of the <a href="http://www.studiodesursulines.com/">Studio des Ursulines</a> cinema in Paris posed quite a problem for <a href="http://www.h2oarchitectes.com/">h2o Architectes</a>, mainly because three things needed to happen in the small space: greeting and welcoming the public, selling tickets, and hosting events. Their solution "regroup[s] all functionalities into one central piece," a fixture that "slides and unfolds to reveal the necessary uses: closed it serves as a counter; open, it offers a register at it’s heart; when the lower part is spread, it offers bench seating and tables for children." Take a look:<br /><br /><img alt="h2o_Ursulines.gif" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/h2o_Ursulines.gif" title=" Cinema - Studio des Ursulines" /><br />[Photos: Stéphane Chalmeau | animation by archidose]<br /><br />I'm a sucker for objects that expand from something to solid to something open and multi-functional, hence it being featured here. My only quibble is with the tracks on the floor, which disappear when the seating is in place but are too much of a distraction when the fixture is closed. Nevertheless, it's an interesting solution to a fairly difficult problem.

Studio des Ursulines

The lobby of the Studio des Ursulines cinema in Paris posed quite a problem for h2o Architectes , mainly because three things needed to hap...

Read more »

Sr. Systems Design Engineer (wafer inspection | metrology | optics | subsystem | error-budget) (#108656)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job Title:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Sr. Systems Design Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Milpitas, CA <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Full time<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job Description: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Successful candidate will be able to develop System level technical specifications for the next generation SWIFT Wafer inspection tools with minimum input from Management and work closely with other functional groups (Marketing, Applications, Manufacturing and Service) to define right level of compromise between performance and cost.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Design, write and execute detailed test and characterization plans. Create performance models of complex electromechanical, optical and opto-mechanical systems. Create top-level system error budgets by integrating and performing trade-off analysis of contributions from various sub-systems. Create and monitor top-level system integration plans. Hold requirements reviews, attend design reviews and develop associated engineering documentation. Provide engineering support for escalated manufacturing and field issues. Interact and work with other engineering groups, marketing, field support and manufacturing groups in the course of the above duties.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Semiconductor industry experience is highly desired.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Basic Qualification:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Master's Level Degree with at least 6 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">OR<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 5 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Please send in your resumes to <a href="mailto:vinod.sanker@kla-tencor.com">vinod.sanker@kla-tencor.com</a> </span></b></div></div></div>

Sr. Systems Design Engineer (wafer inspection | metrology | optics | subsystem | error-budget) (#108656)

Job Title: Sr. Systems Design Engineer Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Full time Job Description: Successful candidate will be able to d...

Read more »

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 09/18/2012

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://jureklepic.com/2012/09/16/the-unspoken-truth-about-influential-liars/">The Unspoken Truth About Influential Liars | UNSPOKEN ~ Social Media</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Jure Klepic calls it like he sees it. Just because someone has a high Klout doesn't mean they are telling the truth. One thing I've learned in social media is that if you want a lot of links and people responding to you BE WRONG. BE CONTROVERSIAL. BE RUDE. I no longer respond to rudeness with links and responses because that is helping the fool who is doing it.  Jure also says to beware of those who call themselves social media experts. He's right. Many of the "experts" are buffoons with few followers (they say that they don't have time for that) and fewer real friends. They like to be listened to by making big bucks with big companies who don't ask themselves if they SHOULD listen to them. This is a great, thought provoking post about journalism, klout, and ethics. </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></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsdkrebs/7981377119/">2012-256 Our Socratic Oath | Flickr - Photo Sharing!</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">I love this flickr pool and follow the pictures here to motive me and provide pictures for my digital "frame of fame" in my classroom - this new "socratic oath" about finding the genius in each child is a great one.</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/flickr">flickr</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.angelamaiers.com/2012/09/skype-in-the-classroom-connecting-dots-between-schools-students-and-communities.html">Skype In the Classroom – Connecting Dots between Schools, Students and Communities</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Choosing to matter is becoming HUGE. Here's a guide to the directories and ways that students and schools are flattening their classrooms as they choose to matter. </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/flatclass">flatclass</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</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 09/18/2012

The Unspoken Truth About Influential Liars | UNSPOKEN ~ Social Media Jure Klepic calls it like he se...

Read more »

Cataloging Coordinator - University of Hartford, Allen Music Library

<strong>Cataloging Coordinator - </strong><span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>University of Hartford, Allen Music Library</strong></span>. Position Summary: Performs general and basic cataloging and processing functions for the Allen Library. This position supervises the student employees. This is a regular position that may include evening and weekend hours. Key Responsibilities: Trains and oversees students on proper copy cataloging procedures and processing of music and dance materials. Provides supervision to student staff performing all copy cataloging and processing functions. Reviews and approves the work of all student employees for copy cataloging and processing functions.* Adheres to local and national standards for copy cataloging of materials in various formats. Keeps abreast of national cataloging policies. Performs copy cataloging and creates provisional records for music and dance materials. Oversees the processing of Hartt recordings. Assists in the maintenance of authority records to assure the quality and integrity of the library database.* Establishes and maintains administrative control over cataloging records and documents detailing intellectual content. Organizes and arranges materials to facilitate access for patrons and library staff. Receives, prepares and processes materials for binding. Maintains supply inventory. Trains and oversees student staff in the repair of library materials. Provides quality customer service in person and by telephone, answering inquiries pertaining to library resources as necessary and appropriate. Participates in campus, local and area professional development seminars and training, attends committee and staff meetings as appropriate. Performs other related duties as assigned. * Indicates an "essential" job function. Formal Education: Bachelor's Degree in music required. Work Experience: 0 to < 1 year. Knowledge and Skills: Professional Skills: Requires knowledge of theories and practices of a professional field. This level of skill is typically reserved for an individual with a four-year degree, or a high-level vocational skill demonstrated by a number of years of on-the-position experience (i.e., management). Writes reports using technical data requiring considerable interpretation, developing new methods and procedures. Frequently applies knowledge to practical issues and problems. Working Conditions: Normal office situation. Physical Efforts: Typically sitting at a desk or table. Intermittently sitting, standing, stooping. Typically standing and/or walking. Typically pushing and/or pulling. Typing and keying data on computers. Requires repeated reaching by extending hand(s) and/or arm(s) in any direction. Requires handling by seizing, holding, grasping, or turning hands, but without finger dexterity. Moderate lifting or carrying 26-50 lbs. Special Skills: * The ability to work effectively with diverse groups. Pay Grade I -- See salary ranges at <a href="http://www.hartford.edu/hrd/files/pdf/Non_Union_staff_salary_ranges.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.hartford.edu/hrd/files/pdf/Non_Union_staff_salary_ranges.pdf</a>. See the complete job description at <a href="http://www.hartford.edu/hrd/Employment.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.hartford.edu/hrd/Employment.aspx</a>. Application Procedures: There is no deadline for applications and the position will remain open until filled. Electronic resumes are highly encouraged. All resumes are acknowledged. If you are applying by email, please send one complete set of the following: resume, cover letter (including position of interest and salary requirements), and professional references to <a href="mailto:hrd@hartford.edu">hrd@hartford.edu</a>. If you are applying by either fax or by mail, please send two complete sets of the following: resume, cover letter (including position of interest and salary requirements), and professional references to: University of Hartford, Attn: Human Resources Development, 200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117-1599, Fax: 860.768.4732. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national and ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected class. The University is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Action employer (AA), Male (M), Female (F), Disabled (D), Veteran (V). Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. The University of Hartford is an open and welcoming community, which values diversity in all its forms. In addition, the University aspires to have its faculty and staff reflect the rich diversity of its student body and the Hartford region. Candidates committed to working with diverse populations and conversant in multicultural issues are encouraged to apply.

Cataloging Coordinator - University of Hartford, Allen Music Library

Cataloging Coordinator - University of Hartford, Allen Music Library . Position Summary: Performs general and basic cataloging and processi...

Read more »

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 09/18/2012

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://52tiger.net/print-from-ios-dropbox-ifttt-automator/">Print from iOS with Dropbox, IFTTT and Automator | 52 Tiger</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Awesome "recipe"to save a file to a dropbox folder and have it printed. I'm going to do this - then I can go to school and have printed anything I need from my ipad the night before. It uses Dropbox, ifttt.com, and automator. Cool and useful.</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/productivity">productivity</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ifttt">ifttt</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/tumblr">tumblr</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.danpink.com/archives/2012/09/friday-on-office-hours-why-do-some-kids-succeed-and-others-fail">Friday on Office Hours: Why do some kids succeed and others fail?</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">I am going to be getting this book, which was a topic of discussion last week with Dan Pink. He says that the author (aptly with the last name of 'Tough') says: "The book takes on what Tough calls the “cognitive hypothesis,” the idea that success hinges on mental processing speed and traditional brainpower. Instead, citing lots of interesting research, Tough shows that “non-cognitive skills” – perseverance, optimism, self-control, and so on – are actually what matter most." Perseverence, optimism, self control. These are things I drill into my students. "No Whining" signs grace the walls. "Never never never give up" is on my fridge at home. I'm going to read this and perhaps share it with my parents at school. Wow.</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/success">success</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/tumblr">tumblr</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://classroomwindow.com/new-teacherview-surveys/">New TeacherView Surveys | ClassroomWindow - Where the best solutions win</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">I love what Classroom Window is doing by surveying teachers and reporting the findings and am an advisor to the company. They did a fantastic job with their flipped classroom survey and have 5 more. If you care about helping make some sense to the hype, take the time to give your feedback in these areas -- teachers only. (Follow this link to give feedback on these surveys.) "We’re excited to announce 5 new TeacherView Surveys on Adaptive Math Programs, Classroom Apps, Online Test Prep, Student Response Systems, and Interactive Whiteboards</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/tumblr">tumblr</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.angelamaiers.com/2012/09/skype-in-the-classroom-connecting-dots-between-schools-students-and-communities.html">Skype In the Classroom – Connecting Dots between Schools, Students and Communities</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Choosing to matter is becoming HUGE. Here's a guide to the directories and ways that students and schools are flattening their classrooms as they choose to matter. </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/flatclass">flatclass</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://googledrive.blogspot.com/2012/06/announcing-your-two-most-requested.html">Announcing your two most requested features: offline document editing and Drive for iOS</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">How to enable offline Google Drive (GoogleDoc) editing and some droid features. As always, Chrome works best with these features. Test them out and try them. Also, you'll want to download the Drive App on your Droid or Apple device.</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/edapp">edapp</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/Google">Google</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://googledrive.blogspot.com/2012/04/introducing-google-drive-yes-really.html">Introducing Google Drive... yes, really</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">The "official" announcement of Google Drive which is a mesh of dropbox -like storage and a built in editor of all kinds of things (formerly Google Docs.) You can "install" Google Drive but don't have to to usethe services. Don't get confused, it is still Google Docs, although I've found an enhanced drawing feature in Docs when testing with my students this week.</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/google">google</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edapp">edapp</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://halfanhour.blogspot.ca/2012/09/k-12-moocs-and-communities.html">Half an Hour: K-12 MOOCs and Communities</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Stephen Downes, one of the leading thought leaders in edtech, discusses K12 Moocs and their potential. Julie Lindsay and I work with students of this age all of the time. While there are certainly some students who would do well in a MOOC, many need guidance and focus, particularly at the younger ages. It is still possible and doable and something I'd like to work with in Flat Classroom if there are others who might be interested, let us know. vicki at flatclassroom dot org </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/edreform">edreform</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/tumblr">tumblr</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://googlescholar.blogspot.com/2012/08/scholar-updates-making-new-connections.html">Scholar Updates: Making New Connections - Google Scholar Blog</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Google Scholar now has a new feature for those who publish and create articles. It searches articles (in your scholar profile) and will scan the web to find other articles relating to your topics of interest. This is something for researchers to delve into.</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/google">google</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/scholar">scholar</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</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 09/18/2012

Print from iOS with Dropbox, IFTTT and Automator | 52 Tiger Awesome "recipe"to save a file...

Read more »

Monday, Monday

<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.archidose.org/wp/">A Weekly Dose of Architecture</a> Updates:</span><br /><br />This week's dose features <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/09/17/alphabet-library/">Alphabet Library</a> in Montpellier, France by Hoffice:<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/09/17/alphabet-library/"><img alt="this week's dose" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Sep12-17.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The featured past dose is the <a href="http://www.archidose.org/Mar07/12/dose.html">Slide Library</a> in Manhattan, New York by Marble Fairbanks:<br /><a href="http://www.archidose.org/Mar07/12/dose.html"><img alt="this week's dose" src="http://www.archidose.org/Mar07/12/image04.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="featured past dose" width="640" /></a><br /><br />This week's book review is <a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/09/17/architectural-and-program-diagrams-1/"><i>Architectural and Program Diagrams 1</i></a> edited by Miyoung Pyo and Kim Seonwook (L):<br /><a href="http://archidose.org/wp/2012/09/17/architectural-and-program-diagrams-1/"><img alt="this week's book review" height="300" src="http://archidose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/diagrams.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's book review" /></a>   <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-architects-sketchbooks.html"><img alt="this week's book review" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/book-sketchbooks1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="This week's book review" width="300" /></a><br />(R): The featured past book review is <a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-architects-sketchbooks.html"><i>Architects' Sketchbooks</i></a> by Will Jones.<br /><br />: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">World-Architects.com U.S. <a href="http://www.american-architects.com/projects/reviews/41">Building of the Week</a>:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/38053_nike_camp_victory">Nike Camp Victory</a> in Eugene, Oregon by Skylab Architecture:<br /><a href="http://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/38053_nike_camp_victory"><img alt="this week's Building of the Week" src="http://c214210.r10.cf3.rackcdn.com/files/projects/38053/images/900:w/NIKECampVictory2.jpg" title="Current Building of the Week on american-architects.com" width="640" /></a>

Monday, Monday

A Weekly Dose of Architecture Updates: This week's dose features Alphabet Library in Montpellier, France by Hoffice: The featured past...

Read more »

FitBloggin & SCM's!

It's FitBloggin' week!!!  I'm finally starting to get excited.  Since school started, I live week to week in terms of my schedule, and while I knew this event was coming up, it is only <i>now </i>that I am genuinely thrilled to see what this blogger conference has to offer.  It is my hope that I walk away from FitBloggin' rejuvenated in my weight loss journey so that I can continue down a path of nice and steady losses toward my goal.  I'm also looking forward to meeting/making new friends! :)<br /><br /><br />My <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/240315642310217980?size=business&media=pearl&front=business_front_vert&back=business_back_horz&mode=fill" target="_blank">blogger business cards</a> came in today from <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/" target="_blank">Zazzle</a>.  Holy crap!  They turned out so much better in person than I expected!  <i>(Please let me know if that link does/doesn't work since that is a direct link to the card.)</i>  They have a pretty pearlized finish to them with shades of purple, naturally.  Can you tell that purple is my favorite color?  Maybe not if you read TBW through a reader.  I LOVE purple!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl02Qt0lBN7twTAznL9iN1S4fWgjqWUsXaM6zkJS4ND6cDIZs6PBJMmDucEZ5nfCVE1bEhfJf_sfLxUdGxoGxcdmsZo-G68dRX41OAuLwBAFpMHWc7X5rtKULN015K5QXy_RnUuk1viQ/s1600/blog+business+card+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl02Qt0lBN7twTAznL9iN1S4fWgjqWUsXaM6zkJS4ND6cDIZs6PBJMmDucEZ5nfCVE1bEhfJf_sfLxUdGxoGxcdmsZo-G68dRX41OAuLwBAFpMHWc7X5rtKULN015K5QXy_RnUuk1viQ/s320/blog+business+card+1.JPG" width="188" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WtmwiO_Ae-hI3TTVnI35B0E9l0qsP1oc74Vj03QUhqCRcu0PL-hUMqiIp9VxwIMpRW8MM29Y0SnOzYvjFstqtfkb4cLjl5zOQWy0IvxnsWpPmoja0LvX8jZsowWtYwp3Xo1DUYvNByQ/s1600/blog+business+card+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WtmwiO_Ae-hI3TTVnI35B0E9l0qsP1oc74Vj03QUhqCRcu0PL-hUMqiIp9VxwIMpRW8MM29Y0SnOzYvjFstqtfkb4cLjl5zOQWy0IvxnsWpPmoja0LvX8jZsowWtYwp3Xo1DUYvNByQ/s320/blog+business+card+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />And last but not least, I gave a good shot to making my own salted caramel mocha today.  <a href="http://www.52kitchenadventures.com/2011/10/12/homemade-salted-caramel-mocha/" target="_blank">This</a> was my inspiration.   I altered it a little, using 1 Tbsp of Smucker's Caramel Sauce (ice cream topping) and a packet of <a href="http://www.realhotchocolate.com/Flavors.aspx" target="_blank">Cold Stone Smooth Cravings 70 calorie hot chocolate</a>.  I didn't add whipped cream either.  My calculated version came out to 5 PointsPlus!  Uhhhh... I'll definitely take a Starbucks version over mine any day :).  Still, I'd like to perfect this drink so when Starbucks says adios to theirs, I can still enjoy mine.  I found that my version was a little too chocolatey and could have used more milk. <br /><br /> <span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Do you have a great recipe for salted caramel mochas?  Are you attending FitBloggin?</b></span><br />

fitbloggin salted caramel mocha zazzle FitBloggin & SCM's!

It's FitBloggin' week!!!  I'm finally starting to get excited.  Since school started, I live week to week in terms of my schedul...

Read more »

Look what's happening!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have heard rumours that a Marks & Spencers Foodhall is coming to Ranelagh.  This is our favourite place to shop!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">            On Sunday a building was knocked down where    supposedly M&S is meant to be built!  We can only wait in hope and see what they build!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUP8cTnkT_t0Q_EK0ibhYmU9S0GcIP7m6h1asyu_DMgB22OjmA-pThjswxK2zck0qW0rtEiVxkPCxUkKPWASJRe7CoIUK5k2Bp8CRHlxNQQhfL4D-np9_7SGftB5AbJVshvybKH0cZSEJ/s1600/IMG_1893%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUP8cTnkT_t0Q_EK0ibhYmU9S0GcIP7m6h1asyu_DMgB22OjmA-pThjswxK2zck0qW0rtEiVxkPCxUkKPWASJRe7CoIUK5k2Bp8CRHlxNQQhfL4D-np9_7SGftB5AbJVshvybKH0cZSEJ/s320/IMG_1893%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the building next door to Russells.  It is less then a 5 minute walk away from our house. Jason's Snooker hall used to be in this building.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrQgVO5qucCQhP90-zzALx0aECDv337hPA5jxW0a8R7On6IdeeA9VcN7XaxMNzDxvdhd6aJY401dmsHK9xB4HrZ9Cxz_5EPDJo7EnY7CgMssBYp0bPSIxSwiuYuCBgs4XltNHTSzpjctT/s1600/IMG_1894%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrQgVO5qucCQhP90-zzALx0aECDv337hPA5jxW0a8R7On6IdeeA9VcN7XaxMNzDxvdhd6aJY401dmsHK9xB4HrZ9Cxz_5EPDJo7EnY7CgMssBYp0bPSIxSwiuYuCBgs4XltNHTSzpjctT/s320/IMG_1894%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I have been following this blog by an <a href="http://newlifeinireland.blogspot.ie/">American in Ireland</a>, it's a nice read and I enjoy seeing a foreigners perspective on life in Ireland!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Update 4th of Oct - we have now heard that an Aldi is going in here.  :-(</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We are not impressed.....</span>

Look what's happening!

We have heard rumours that a Marks & Spencers Foodhall is coming to Ranelagh.  This is our favourite place to shop!             On Sunda...

Read more »

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 09/17/2012

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Two-Minute-Mental-Math-Warm-UP-6141485/">Two Minute Mental Math Warm-UP - Resources - Share My Lesson</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">I like this two minute mental math warm up for grades 4-8. Interesting idea to get them started.</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/math">math</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/I-Wonder-Informational-Writing-50006064/">I Wonder... Informational Writing - Resources - Share My Lesson</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">"This activity can be used during a science unit on animals. It can also be used as an assessment if a rubric is used." For elementary students, this writing assignment is cross curricular and designed for second grade, but could be adapted. You can align with common core.</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/writing">writing</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://sites.helenbarrett.net/portfolio/">Helen Barrett's eportfolio using Google Sites</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Dr. Helen Barrett shares her eportfolio on Google sites. This demonstrates how a professional uses the site as an eportfolio tool.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/eportfolio">eportfolio</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/portfolio">portfolio</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/eportfolioapps/online-tutorials-sites">Google Sites - ePortfolios with GoogleApps</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Some ideas for creating eportfolios with Google sites. This website has some templates and ideas for eportfolios if you want to use this in your classroom. This website has a lot of resources and is a great one to discuss ideas and find how-to tutorials.</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/google.">google.</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 09/17/2012

Two Minute Mental Math Warm-UP - Resources - Share My Lesson I like this two minute mental math warm...

Read more »

<strong>University Assistant - </strong><span style="color: #48286d;"><strong> J. Eugene Smith Library</strong></span>, Access Services. Temporary (3-4 weeks with possible renewal), part-time position. HOURS: This University Assistant position is contracted to provide Access Services Desk coverage per semester or session up to 19 hours per week, primarily daytime hours, though flexibility in schedule is desirable. The exact schedule will be established by the Head of Public Services in coordination with the schedules of other University Assistants. If the contract for this position is renewed, the scheduled hours may change for any subsequent contracted period dependent on the Library’s coverage needs and other University Assistant schedules. DUTIES: Under the direction of the Access Services Librarian (circulation, reserve, interlibrary loan) or other full time Access Services staff members, the University Assistant will help to: Supervise the operations of the Access Services desk, which includes providing circulation, reserve, and interlibrary loan assistance to patrons, and supervising of students working at the desk charging, discharging and renewing library materials, collecting fines and clearing patron records, etc. Monitor the Library building as scheduled. Depending on hours scheduled, this may include working with and supervising students clearing the Library of patrons at closing times, and closing and securing the Library after the Library is empty, and working with Library staff, Campus Police and the Willimantic Police as need arises to resolve Library Code of Conduct and as well as security and safety issues. Perform routine maintenance of public copiers on all floors of the Library, including loading paper and toner, assisting patrons with copy machine problems, reporting copier breakdowns to the Director’s Office, etc. Train and supervise student workers in these functions. Perform routine maintenance of public printers as necessary, including loading paper, reporting printer breakdowns to the Director’s Office, posting “Out of Order” signs, showing patrons how to use the “pay-for- print system,” etc. Perform other duties as assigned by the Access Services Librarian, the Head of Public Services or the Library Director such as: share supervision of the Access Services Desk and student workers as necessary; create and/or edit bibliographic, item and patron records in the Library’s integrated system (CONSULS); participate in interlibrary loan, stacks management, Course Reserve Reading Collection maintenance; train student workers and assist with other tasks performed by the Access Services staff. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: The University Assistant must be able to: provide effective library services to students, faculty, and the general public; perform public services work with a diverse population of students, faculty and staff members, and community library users; work under stress, with courtesy, calmness and good judgment; work in a team environment with other library staff, as well as independently in an emergency staffing situation; work with the Library’s ILS and personal computer software to perform assigned functions; perform detailed work accurately; work evenings and weekends with great dependability if scheduled. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: A preferred applicant for Access Services University Assistant would have one or more of the following: a bachelor’s degree, experience with library automated circulation systems particularly Innovative Interfaces Inc. Millennium, experience supervising student or part time employees, and/or work experience in an academic setting. To apply, preferred method, please submit via e-mail: a cover letter, resume, and three letters of reference to <a href="mailto:banachp@easternct.edu">banachp@easternct.edu</a> or Ms. Patricia Banach, Eastern Connecticut State University, J. Eugene Smith Library, 83 Windham Street, Willimantic, CT 06226. EASTERN is an AA/EEO employer. Women, members of protected classes and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

University Assistant - J. Eugene Smith Library , Access Services. Temporary (3-4 weeks with possible renewal), part-time position. HOURS:...

Read more »

Circulation Desk - The Wethersfield Library

<strong>Circulation Desk - </strong><span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>The Wethersfield Library</strong></span> is seeking a part-time employee for its busy circulation desk. Duties include checking out and discharging library materials and assisting patrons. Excellent customer service skills, a pleasant telephone manner, strong computer skills, and willingness to work with new technologies are required. Candidates must have public library service desk experience. BA/BS and experience with SirsiDynix Workflows are preferred. 19 hours/week year-round including weekdays, evenings, and one Saturday in rotation. Occasional Sundays possible. $16.55/hr, no benefits. Send resume and cover letter including your library experience, hours of availability, and email address by <span style="color: red;">September 28, 2012</span> to: Collection Services Manager, Wethersfield Library, 515 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield, CT 06109. No phone calls please. AA/EOE/M/F.

Circulation Desk - The Wethersfield Library

Circulation Desk - The Wethersfield Library is seeking a part-time employee for its busy circulation desk. Duties include checking out and...

Read more »

Email From an Oscar Winner's Son...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBEZYPAW6s-79IzkJ9Ee4ASd4QVL4LRtUTpHIJQD6fbGEJ4lsyYGu8ZInv_frqCuVeIYDK0jPYjodJczNlQ0B3Azbf3NrRZ6kPtaMek5qCWtwEgdlyErGZzYxCi-30Jr1P2nKm03THXY/s1600/gone+with+the+wind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBEZYPAW6s-79IzkJ9Ee4ASd4QVL4LRtUTpHIJQD6fbGEJ4lsyYGu8ZInv_frqCuVeIYDK0jPYjodJczNlQ0B3Azbf3NrRZ6kPtaMek5qCWtwEgdlyErGZzYxCi-30Jr1P2nKm03THXY/s400/gone+with+the+wind.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Every now and then a delightful surprise arrives in the <a href="mailto:ladyevesidwich@gmail.com">ladyevesidwich@gmail.com</a> emailbox.</span></span><br /><br /><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A few months ago I was contacted by British scholar Dr. Susan Smith, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Sunderland in England and author of <i>Hitchcock: Suspense, Humour and Tone</i>,<i> </i>published by the British Film Institute. Dr. Smith was interested in getting in touch with <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/08/akaann-newton-of-shadow-of-doubt.html" target="_blank"><b>Edna May Wonacott</b></a></span> who portrayed young Ann Newton in Hitchcock’s 1942 masterwork <i>Shadow of a Doubt</i> for a paper she was working on. I’d originally gotten to know Edna in 2010 and an interview I conducted with her was published online, in the local newspaper of the Arizona city where Edna now lives -and in <i>Films of the Golden Age</i>. Dr. Smith had came upon my interview (and those that followed) with Edna online and asked if I’d put her in touch with the now 80-year-old former child actress. I did, and Dr. Smith later interviewed Edna for her paper.</span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNmEkEKIzrVDA_GZ-Yw0Ax9YOdjKeAf4GVUnJWD_a841AL6WFgXENz89bIDUoZi4KkVnCkKj6-s9GViufQkmEA7-GSA9D8bAjRffJYXp_BQD3cZINr3sAAP6GIdPgTeEsQnDKLcrkWcQ/s1600/King+and+I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNmEkEKIzrVDA_GZ-Yw0Ax9YOdjKeAf4GVUnJWD_a841AL6WFgXENz89bIDUoZi4KkVnCkKj6-s9GViufQkmEA7-GSA9D8bAjRffJYXp_BQD3cZINr3sAAP6GIdPgTeEsQnDKLcrkWcQ/s320/King+and+I.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The King and I </i>(1956)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">More recently – i.e., last week -  I received an email from Brooke Wheeler, son of legendary art director/production designer/set decorator Lyle Wheeler, winner of five Academy Awards (for <i>Gone with the Wind, Anna and the King of Siam, The Robe, The King and I, The Diary of Anne Frank</i>). Last year, in July, I’d published a piece by a young woman, Constance/aka/”Captain Gregg,” who was then primarily blogging at Turner Classic Movies’ Classic Film Union. The piece was entitled “Lyle Wheeler – Setting the Scene.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For those unfamiliar with Lyle Wheeler, he not only won five Oscars but was nominated for an additional 24 - for his work on films including <i>Rebecca, Laura, Leave Her to Heaven, All About Eve, Viva Zapata!, My Cousin Rachel, Love is a Many-Splendored Thing, Daddy Long Legs </i>and <i>Journey to the Center of the Earth</i>.<i> </i>He also contributed as art director and/or production designer and/or set decorator on well over 300 additional films that weren’t (though many should have been) Oscar nominated – films like <i>A Star is Born </i>(1937), <i>Nightmare Alley</i>, <i>The Snake Pit</i>, <i>A Letter to Three Wives</i>, <i>Niagara</i>, <i>Pickup on South Street</i>, <i>How to Marry a Millionaire</i>, <i>The Seven Year Itch</i>, <i>Carousel, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit</i>, <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/09/guilty-pleasures-movie-blogathon-no.html" target="_blank"><b><i>No Down Payment</i></b></a><i>, The Fly, South Pacific</i>, <i>The Long, Hot Summer</i>, <i>The Best of Everything</i> and <i>In Harm’s Way</i>. Wheeler worked in movies during every decade from the 1930s through the 1970s, that’s five decades, and was inducted into the Art Directors Guild Hall of Fame (est. 2005) in 2008 (other illustrious inductees include <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/05/cmba-movies-of-1939-blogathon-private.html" target="_blank"><b>Anton Grot</b></a>, William Cameron Menzies, <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/search/label/Van%20Nest%20Polglase" target="_blank"><b>Van Nest Polglase</b></a>, Hans Dreier, Cedric Gibbons, Henry Bumstead, <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/05/north-by-northwest-free-to-public.html" target="_blank"><b>Robert F. Boyle</b></a> and Alfred Junge). Wheeler also worked in TV, most notably on the the noirish and iconic <i>Perry Mason</i> series.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUh9OVuSN-XDfxya5DyZ7PEwnamB0XU9uO3HK9wzLN19EtCbpL3fG-PPBgr7I29aNXJEeA_u_RCWWmiBt4pgx4NJkVLAgl3FiTwvuIW9nf01jPNrgMKrVLlD7w0d_Q_9nJwwfXVm-r52w/s1600/Lyle+Wheeler+Films.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUh9OVuSN-XDfxya5DyZ7PEwnamB0XU9uO3HK9wzLN19EtCbpL3fG-PPBgr7I29aNXJEeA_u_RCWWmiBt4pgx4NJkVLAgl3FiTwvuIW9nf01jPNrgMKrVLlD7w0d_Q_9nJwwfXVm-r52w/s400/Lyle+Wheeler+Films.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here is what Lyle’s son Brooke Wheeler wrote:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>After doing some recent research on my father Lyle, I came across your excellent and well informed article…</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>I'm sure Lyle would have been appreciative of all the kind comments, as I am. Just an FYI, Lyle's career continued into the mid 1970's, renewing his relationship with Otto Preminger on IN HARMS WAY (1965) post 20th Century Fox, then with features through Columbia Pictures like MAROONED (1969) and his final feature, POSSE (1975) (with Kirk Douglas starring and directing). It is wonderful to hear younger audiences enjoying all the Classic "Golden Age of Hollywood" films…. Many Thanks,<br /><br />W. Brooke Wheeler</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">To read the superb piece on his father that prompted Brooke Wheeler's email, <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/07/lyle-wheeler-setting-scene.html" target="_blank"><b>click here</b></a>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/AVvXsEgtcPd7E21BWyXSQ4ny6VrwUajVJfvrVfRbdE7qGxzfaamem1eOCl8JnTzSUrXH1z-B_pU79mfq7vmUwPfDTBQNGy5nZa6av2CQ5Ez_uWsGkS0FB8vAjiX5Rz6pdTT3rhhNcj0-jADxSCM/s1600/Leave+her+to+Heaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcPd7E21BWyXSQ4ny6VrwUajVJfvrVfRbdE7qGxzfaamem1eOCl8JnTzSUrXH1z-B_pU79mfq7vmUwPfDTBQNGy5nZa6av2CQ5Ez_uWsGkS0FB8vAjiX5Rz6pdTT3rhhNcj0-jADxSCM/s400/Leave+her+to+Heaven.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leave Her to Heaven </i>(1945)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Brooke Wheeler Captain Gregg Dr. Susan Smith Edna May Wonacott Lyle Wheeler The Lady Eve (author) Email From an Oscar Winner's Son...

Every now and then a delightful surprise arrives in the ladyevesidwich@gmail.com emailbox. A few months ago I was contacted by British scho...

Read more »

monday distractions

I don't know about you, but I'm having a bit of trouble getting in gear today. So, I thought I would do what any responsible person would do in this situation - encourage others to procrastinate with me.<br /><br />If you have some spare time today, or have a long list of things you don't want to tackle, here are three good reads. And really, reading is exercise for your brain and exercise is very important to your health. So this is actually rather important for you in order to lead a long and healthy life.<br /><br />First up, the new (hand over your heart) domino. Have you read it yet?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rjIHF1O0ktZeTtbez5lLzHqnT_XHwen-YOQJsUyuEUisGkqHSLIZlVrnKHZU_kZk4lCGHzu44lSFxEVzktzDXXcf47p-u1OCZvaoJOEkaevOgzZ_j53NGMjTOnI-Q1RWSWK8Nxf293Gw/s1600/dominobestrooms.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rjIHF1O0ktZeTtbez5lLzHqnT_XHwen-YOQJsUyuEUisGkqHSLIZlVrnKHZU_kZk4lCGHzu44lSFxEVzktzDXXcf47p-u1OCZvaoJOEkaevOgzZ_j53NGMjTOnI-Q1RWSWK8Nxf293Gw/s400/dominobestrooms.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>My old friend Domino and I met for a date on the porch this weekend and we had a grand time. I love the Style Council layout, which gave a completely fresh view to photos we've all seen before. It goes without saying but I'll type it anyway, how I wish this was still a monthly publication!!<br /><br />Then we've got the new issue of <a href="http://issuu.com/ivyandpiper/docs/ivyandpipersepoct2012" target="_blank">Ivy and Piper</a>. Always a good read full of delicious pictures. This amazing house tour is right up my color obsessed alley.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></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/AVvXsEjR646J7DhpW0rirpy1KxcxdjRPHuYHyCosc3okWZOxR_PnHgwofc_TENqbiNPQtZo6-CBxyVRT4eXqDhaGVbfdp7SMkgkq2xS6qZ3JZXRJl6xWQXgszXRhkNvB_P_o8i7M1hppIv5n68cL/s1600/ivypiper2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR646J7DhpW0rirpy1KxcxdjRPHuYHyCosc3okWZOxR_PnHgwofc_TENqbiNPQtZo6-CBxyVRT4eXqDhaGVbfdp7SMkgkq2xS6qZ3JZXRJl6xWQXgszXRhkNvB_P_o8i7M1hppIv5n68cL/s400/ivypiper2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Chatterley's Affair hour tour - <a href="http://issuu.com/ivyandpiper/docs/ivyandpipersepoct2012" target="_blank">Ivy and Piper</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEiFKUj8KFBheUHD3kIu-dxVM2UUdO-3HPvjIryG-j4ByledA7LVyxwxDhD__I-kZhajuzLFOnhv7C1wwwWRSq2Zt9Xx8jZvuwY7im5f40UbexLWtQzMxTzJmeMtAsqt-KhxGEU_he6ztGNU/s1600/ivypiper3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKUj8KFBheUHD3kIu-dxVM2UUdO-3HPvjIryG-j4ByledA7LVyxwxDhD__I-kZhajuzLFOnhv7C1wwwWRSq2Zt9Xx8jZvuwY7im5f40UbexLWtQzMxTzJmeMtAsqt-KhxGEU_he6ztGNU/s640/ivypiper3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Chatterley's Affair hour tour - <a href="http://issuu.com/ivyandpiper/docs/ivyandpipersepoct2012" target="_blank">Ivy and Piper</a></td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEiX0weGzhAQCvZbF_7PGIU-oFjae4egT0VGTPW2NvtBi7oFzNyva2UrC6plflE_Y1ajL6A8_Q5UHENHuInXoahalZoVtVINE5PCbQ-YU2vSWp9VMyH-ENqUBCnF_eLzHqNZ6vpSbylRynPD/s1600/ivypiper4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0weGzhAQCvZbF_7PGIU-oFjae4egT0VGTPW2NvtBi7oFzNyva2UrC6plflE_Y1ajL6A8_Q5UHENHuInXoahalZoVtVINE5PCbQ-YU2vSWp9VMyH-ENqUBCnF_eLzHqNZ6vpSbylRynPD/s400/ivypiper4.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Chatterley's Affair hour tour - <a href="http://issuu.com/ivyandpiper/docs/ivyandpipersepoct2012" target="_blank">Ivy and Piper</a></td></tr></tbody></table>And don't forget <a href="http://www.houseoffifty.com/" target="_blank">House of Fifty</a>. Several great articles, a feature on local (to me) genius Amie Corley and jewelry I am putting on my Christmas list.<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/AVvXsEjfPOrRiic2YomFvNYKkgNu7FbRYaQsz7OaWnn2Nr1MuoF18NSSTPJixen5cNGj9CwRMD1HWwyQEmC8SlZkDPpw7UTgetyi3yP28TM5ms5zb5O7QNJzNuUoSyjCQifoiuTPSHV-ZLPg8kPd/s1600/houseoffifty1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPOrRiic2YomFvNYKkgNu7FbRYaQsz7OaWnn2Nr1MuoF18NSSTPJixen5cNGj9CwRMD1HWwyQEmC8SlZkDPpw7UTgetyi3yP28TM5ms5zb5O7QNJzNuUoSyjCQifoiuTPSHV-ZLPg8kPd/s640/houseoffifty1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houseoffifty.com/" target="_blank">House of Fifty</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Exercise regime for today complete. You're welcome.<br /><br />How do you get thru a particularly slow Monday? Any other good magazines this month I shouldn't miss? Does anyone else get a contact high from Brasso?

monday distractions

I don't know about you, but I'm having a bit of trouble getting in gear today. So, I thought I would do what any responsible person ...

Read more »

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 09/17/2012

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/09/15/teaching_ate_me_alive/">Teaching ate me alive - Salon.com</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Heartwrenching, heartaching, upsetting, but all too true. For those who want to see inside the life of many US public school teachers, Peter Hirzel has a gutsy, edgy post on salon and says many of the things that are often whispered and said in email. But there is a part that I want EVERY teacher to hear because it reflects something I say a lot to teachers: "When we have each others’ backs, we are invincible. So I hope all the teachers continue to be kind to one another, because one kind word was very, very often the only thing that got me through the day." BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. Encourage each other. Smile. Say hello. You are fellow journeyman and deserve each other's respect and kindness. Please hear this. Don't be discouraged, but if you're in edreform and don't read this post, you shouldn't be in edreform because you don't get the conflicting emotions plaguing the psyche of so many teachers today. </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/edreform">edreform</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/opinion/sunday/can-great-teaching-overcome-the-effects-of-poverty.html?_r=2">The Chicago Teachers’ Strike, in Perspective - NYTimes.com</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">This New York Times Oped has the forums at Reddit roiling. It hits so many issues about helping poor children succeed (it isn't all about good teachers) and hits at the heart of the big picture problems that so many kids are having in their lives, not just in schools. We've got tough situations right now in the US often spurred by increasing violence and decreasing stability in the family. This is across the board in many schools, even mine, when parents fight, children suffer. Schools are part of a very complex equation in the lives of children and so are teachers. But to say that a teacher or a school are THE determining variable in the formula of success is wrong. This Oped is a good one and worth a read for everyone.</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/edreform">edreform</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/the-only-2-tricks-you-need-for-maximum-productivity.html">The Only 2 Tricks You Need for Maximum Productivity</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">Jason Connell at lifehack shares the 2 most important things you should do for maximum productivity. I think if you had to get it down to two, these two would be it. (Planning weekly and planning daily) but I like how he describes it. Of course, he's not a Mom of 3 with 4 jobs like I am and so I have to add some other things like daily checklists and routines to be able to keep afloat, but the same basic element is there: plan your work and work your plan. Great article to get you motivated and refocused.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/productivity">productivity</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/focus">focus</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 09/17/2012

Teaching ate me alive - Salon.com Heartwrenching, heartaching, upsetting, but all too true. For thos...

Read more »

30 Days of Webtools #27: Discover the benefits of YouTube in the classroom

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDyurW9NxVG-eIJi0F5fp7Y70mGQFc1SlwOFOIl_AP7zHcDyTWNCpDymlzbA4ea3LsCL6bvtSlJOD4yNGM47tuIYQQljXt4AnN8L3JwlUgeGZCyCEj_HtNnkcmjUpSwrcO-v1XreIXzk/s1600/YouTube.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDyurW9NxVG-eIJi0F5fp7Y70mGQFc1SlwOFOIl_AP7zHcDyTWNCpDymlzbA4ea3LsCL6bvtSlJOD4yNGM47tuIYQQljXt4AnN8L3JwlUgeGZCyCEj_HtNnkcmjUpSwrcO-v1XreIXzk/s200/YouTube.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recently I have become very aware of the benefits of YouTube for an educator. There are amazing resources for the classroom - one can so easily start making a collection of useful clips that can add spice to your daily lessons. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are some ideas:</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Chop videos using TubeChop</span></span></b><br /> (<a href="http://www.tubechop.com/">http://www.tubechop.com/</a>)</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaT6wtQHV7-hIQjE8ktPgmxgPhiEH1sxbndlIcD9k28PiXtgmmWARg67Nnqc2OFUcHjWqCsdvpX_EnG7L6oOdsXYVL4G9cOhSxtYI2d04AAO9Rd5dyw51mQZQT7S8vvxe1ck8sESZ178/s1600/TubeChop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaT6wtQHV7-hIQjE8ktPgmxgPhiEH1sxbndlIcD9k28PiXtgmmWARg67Nnqc2OFUcHjWqCsdvpX_EnG7L6oOdsXYVL4G9cOhSxtYI2d04AAO9Rd5dyw51mQZQT7S8vvxe1ck8sESZ178/s200/TubeChop.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Using TubeChop you can cut interesting bits out of a YouTube video and keep the link. (If you wanted to download it you would probaby have to use Screencastomatic to record the clip)</span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. Use KeepVid to download YouTube movies<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">(</span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://keepvid.com/">http://keepvid.com</a></span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://keepvid.com/">/</a></span><span style="color: black;">)</span></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpW42BDCJpIuBHXjZtTezdKAfhGeQQyJi0FgPWnr8J-wRCuRjB-Rxz7AWUZ1Hf67S7aEH1Tmpz57H5YdSTk_6LPRwduKlFWoh6qz4A10Zv4QcrzoEBJjn_KF8u1Mh1rsyR-m1EYAnCa8/s1600/keepvid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpW42BDCJpIuBHXjZtTezdKAfhGeQQyJi0FgPWnr8J-wRCuRjB-Rxz7AWUZ1Hf67S7aEH1Tmpz57H5YdSTk_6LPRwduKlFWoh6qz4A10Zv4QcrzoEBJjn_KF8u1Mh1rsyR-m1EYAnCa8/s200/keepvid.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">KeepVid is amazing for downloading a movie as an MP4 and then renaming it and storing it on your computer. You could go the extra step and use Windows Movie maker to chop the piece that you particularly like and store that clip on your computer. </span></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. </span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make your own instructional videos with TED </span></span></b></span><span style="color: black;">(</span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://ed.ted.com/videos">http://</a></span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://ed.ted.com/videos">ed.ted.com/videos</a></span><span style="color: black;">)</span></span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5p8BHCTchcGZFHjFWd-EC3EZsxK8GFFTRw1m5udNuQnwD-aRWWoyTaUSrnE8hXB6iGzJSSoA0rOVjkhzL5PpZkPezv-ZAZijogS4n1oIqV-VMvR7l3RZ91ZD5gF8LpcBsXOtcdt1TIFo/s1600/Teded.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5p8BHCTchcGZFHjFWd-EC3EZsxK8GFFTRw1m5udNuQnwD-aRWWoyTaUSrnE8hXB6iGzJSSoA0rOVjkhzL5PpZkPezv-ZAZijogS4n1oIqV-VMvR7l3RZ91ZD5gF8LpcBsXOtcdt1TIFo/s200/Teded.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">TED has a great service for educators where you can make a video using online material and create a lesson around it.  This is very useful for the flipped classroom approach. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />4. Create a free SchoolTube channel or TeacherTube channel</span></span></b></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">If you create videos with your class, either a School Tube or Teacher Tube channel will be a great way to you to store all your videos in one online location for easy access. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">So, the above-mentioned applications provide just a few ways that you can make YouTube a great classroom resource. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Please take a look through the Slideshare below for more detail. </span></span></span>Perhaps you know of even more applications or ideas that you can share with us? </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/14312719" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" width="427"> </iframe> <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><b> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/discover-you-tube" target="_blank" title="Discover you tube">Discover you tube</a> </b> from <b><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal" target="_blank">Fiona Beal</a></b> </div></div>

30 days of web tools Web tools youtube 30 Days of Webtools #27: Discover the benefits of YouTube in the classroom

Recently I have become very aware of the benefits of YouTube for an educator. There are amazing resources for the classroom - one can so eas...

Read more »