News for today's 2018

The Real Reason People Who Have Left A Church "Can't Go Home Again"

4:28 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Story 1<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">John Smith walks from the parking lot toward the church door. He hasn’t been here in several months. I don’t know why. Something at church upset him. Something at home drew him away. A spiritual crisis. No one knows. No one asked. But today John Smith walks from the parking lot toward the church door.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The ushers spot him. They watch him approach. When he’s close enough to hear, one usher places both hands against the inner wall and calls out loudly, “Everybody hold up the walls. They’re gonna fall in if John Smith comes to Church.” The other ushers laugh heartily. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">John Smith makes his way through sheepishly, participates quietly in the service, leaves quickly at the end, and never comes to church again. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Story 2:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Joe and Mary Wilson have been away from church for about 6 months. I don’t know why. No one knows why. No one asked them. But they show up one Sunday, sing the hymns, say the responses with good energy. At the peace, the lay worship leader says, “Well where have you two been? I haven’t seen you here in nearly a year.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“We were here a couple of months ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“No you weren’t. I have been here every Sunday and I didn’t see you. If you were here I’d know it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">That was their last time to worship at that church.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Story 3:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Alice left the church some years ago to pursue other spiritual paths. But an old friend from the church has died, so she attends the funeral. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">At the reception, Nancy, a church regular approaches Alice, “Do you recognize me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Uh, I think so. Can you help me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I can’t believe you don’t remember me. I was at your wedding.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Another church regular joins in, “How about me. Do know who I am? What’s my name?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Alice failed the names and faces test, so she went back to a safer place. The Church was just too hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">An unorthodox hypothesis:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">When I consult with churches whose membership has declined, they often express little desire to attract new members. Instead they say they want to win back the “lapsed.” I generally warn them that the so-called “lapsed” are the least likely demographic group to resume regular attendance at the church they left.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">There are various explanations for that statistic. It could be the ex-members have bad memories of the church. It could be the “been there, done that” attitude. But here’s another hypothesis:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Our gatekeepers know the people who used to worship with us, so they are better prepared with solid techniques to drive them away. A new person comes in the door. We don’t know him. It may take us awhile to find his vulnerabilities and drive him out. But the folks we know, we can kick out the door in a New York minute. Something else may be going on consciously. Maybe the church folks just don’t know good manners. Maybe there is some personal pathology at work – but it looks to me as if the church system that tries to keep everything the way it is, knows that to keep things stable you have to keep the outsiders outside – even the ones who used to be inside – maybe especially the ones who used to be inside. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">That systemic pathology can always be trumped by Grace and Gospel.  That’s the good news. So maybe some of us want to live the Gospel graciously. If we truly want to offer spiritual support and nurture to the people who used to worship with us, and if we want to receive the spiritual support and nurture they may be bringing for us, here are a few simple suggestions:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">First basic suggestion:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Instead of going out and trying to persuade all our ex-members to come back, we could just stop being jerks to the ones who come on their own. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Detailed suggestions on how not to be a jerk:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">                                                                                                      <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not judge, berate, and chastise someone who is in church for not having been there before. The time to do that was when they were absent. You missed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not make jokes about someone’s past absence or their return. You don’t know what you’re laughing at.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not ask people to justify, defend, or explain their absence. Not your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not ask people the whereabouts of someone (spouse, child, etc.) who you think they ought to have brought with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not say, “We have missed you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">In case anyone missed that, “Do NOT say “We have missed you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not engage the returning member in discussion of a fight or unpleasantness that was going on when they left. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not hit a returning member with guilt, shame, or blame.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do not put the returning member through an inquisition. Do you remember me? The South has its problems but they also have manners. Good manners dictate that if there is the slightest chance someone may not know who you are, you tell them your name and remind them of your connection. To say, “do you remember me?” in much of these United States is regarded as uncouth. In the Church, it is unkind.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">So what might you say to a returning member? There are several good options.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Good morning.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“It’s good to see you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Hi. How are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Thank you for coming. I’m glad you’re here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">But here’s the best thing you can do. When you hear one of the gatekeepers guilting, shaming, or interrogating the returning member, cast manners aside – courtesy to whom courtesy is due – gatekeepers are enemies of the cross of Christ and deserve no courtesy – interrupt, draw the retuning member away and apologize, apologize profusely, for the unchristian behavior of the gatekeeper and beg forgiveness on behalf of the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Wisdom adage: If you want someone to come through a door, unlock it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Second basic suggestion:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Don’t let the people wander off unnoticed in the first place. I could not begin to count the number of unchurched people who have told me they skipped church for a while for one reason or another, but no one noticed they were gone, so they never returned. You don’t wait for them to return before you notice they are gone!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">There are two ways to deal with this. The best is to have a shepherd system so that every family in church is contacted (by phone, e mail, personal chat, however it happens) each quarter. The “shepherd” just asks, “How are you? Anything you need from the church? Any concerns about the church I could report to the priest?” That way if someone has been absent, you make caring contact without shaming him or her for being absent.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The other way is to have someone monitor your parish directory and notice whether anyone is unusually absent and have the priest or a lay pastoral care giver call the person to ask how he or she is. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">If we pay proper attention to our people, fewer of them will wander off. If we simply treat them with ordinary courtesy when they return, they are far more likely to stick with us. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">All to often when relationship breaks down between the church and a member, a goodly share of the fault lies with the church. I suspect we know that, and I suspect that’s why we are so quick to blame the member.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

The Real Reason People Who Have Left A Church "Can't Go Home Again"

Story 1 John Smith walks from the parking lot toward the church door. He hasn’t been here in several months. I don’t know why. Somethi...

Join us at the Flat Classroom Conference in Japan March 8-10, 2013!

3:41 PM Tukiyooo 0

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69031678@N00/5475400906" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Flat Classroom Conference 2011" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="160" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5057/5475400906_abca170817_m.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 240px;">Flat Classroom Conference 2011 (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69031678@N00/5475400906" target="_blank">ToGa Wanderings</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8107002@N03/5478339430" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Flat Classroom Conference" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="179" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5478339430_1779e63621_m.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 240px;">Flat Classroom Conference (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8107002@N03/5478339430" target="_blank">superkimbo</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a personal invitation for you to attend the </span><a href="http://www.flatclassroomconference.com/conference-asia-2013.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Flat Classroom Conference Japan</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">, to be held at the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.439306,139.65403&spn=1.0,1.0&q=35.439306,139.65403%20(Yokohama%20International%20School)&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="Yokohama International School">Yokohama International School</a>, March 8-10, 2013. In addition you are invited to bring students as this is a unique conference format that joins both educators and students together in a challenge-based format. You and/or your colleagues are very welcome to come as independent educators without students, but we want you to also consider this as an opportunity for your school to embrace the full conference purpose. The conference environment is 1:1, and provides a sound model for those schools that are already 1:1 or are moving in that direction.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">In order to recognize and appreciate the challenges facing our host country, Japan, our Conference theme will be: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">How do we help each other?</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">We are fortunate to have very close relations with two intermediate schools in the tsunami-hit Tohoku region of Japan, as well the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.tisweb.net/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Tohoku International School">Tohoku International School</a>. In order to highlight the opportunities that we have to support others, in our local environments, participants will be asked to develop project ideas that respond to the conference theme locally and globally, while working in small groups. This is an excellent chance for students especially to integrate with CAS and community and service ideas.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">For educators the conference format provides Web 2.0 skill development, multimedia creation skills and global collaboration pedagogy. Team work will cement ideas and opportunities for implementation beyond the conference. Students will leave the conference with leadership skills, technology skills, presentation skills, and a better understanding of diverse cultures and collaboration. Groups will have a chance to see Yokohama and Tokyo and make new friends while working towards an action project. The </span><a href="http://blogs.yis.ac.jp/fcc/conference-schedule/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Conference Schedule</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> shares essential objectives and workshops.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Internationally acclaimed</span><a href="http://www.flatclassroomconference.com/presenters-japan.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">leaders</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> include </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://cogdogblog.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Alan Levine">Alan Levine</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://wearejustlearning.ca/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Sharon Peters">Sharon Peters</a>, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://123elearning.blogspot.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Julie Lindsay">Julie Lindsay</a>, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://mscofino.edublogs.org/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Kim Cofino">Kim Cofino</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">as well as </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.simonmay.co.uk/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Simon May">Simon May</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more about the</span><a href="http://www.flatclassroomconference.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Flat Classroom® Conference</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> on the website. Come and join the Flat</span><a href="http://flatclassroomconference.ning.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Classroom</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">®</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Conference community</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> and learn more about previous live events. Learn more about Flat Classroom® through the book:</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flattening-Classrooms-Engaging-Minds-Collaboration/dp/0132610353/ref=sr_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1321982379&sr=8-1&al_rs=#al_rp" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds: Move to Global Collaboration One Step at a Time.</span></a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flattening-Classrooms-Engaging-Minds-Collaboration/dp/0132610353/ref=sr_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1321982379&sr=8-1&al_rs=#al_rp" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Make your plans now!</span><a href="http://www.flatclassroomconference.com/register-now-japan-2013.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">REGISTRATION</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"> for </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">Flat Classroom® Conference Japan March 8-10, 2013 is OPEN NOW.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brought to you by </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">Flat Classroom® Conference and Live Events Inc.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Directors, Vicki Davis and Julie Lindsay</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Flat Classroom Administrator, Steve Madsen: </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:conference@flatclassroom.org" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">conference@flatclassroom.org</a></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Website:</span><a href="http://flatclassroomconference.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">flatclassroomconference.com</span></a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Community:</span><a href="http://flatclassroomconference.ning.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">flatclassroomconference.ning.<wbr></wbr>com</span></a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Further details on the Website for Japan 2013:</span><a href="http://blogs.yis.ac.jp/fcc/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline;">blogs.yis.ac.jp/fcc/</span></a><br />  <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=cdcd1aee-ee68-4bbb-a22a-de1fd616b1f3" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>

Join us at the Flat Classroom Conference in Japan March 8-10, 2013!

Flat Classroom Conference 2011 (Photo credit: ToGa Wanderings ) Flat Classroom Conference (Photo credit: superkimbo ) This is a personal inv...

Bread!

2:08 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lidl is now stocking these lovely Bavarian bread rolls along with muffins, pain au chocolat & cherry rock buns!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflbMevZzfVON24yTHEzMEMtSQaPys67Kb5se9iFsG-WVUn9q2aElV0wsorNv7-Qbngd6mGkDsQtF_GwC72Q2_Dv7rceVQc5IXqmgCZhov4bFd0f7yMXoVKc6WtTuVygHyFV8VMzSAtOAn/s1600/IMG_2663%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/AVvXsEgflbMevZzfVON24yTHEzMEMtSQaPys67Kb5se9iFsG-WVUn9q2aElV0wsorNv7-Qbngd6mGkDsQtF_GwC72Q2_Dv7rceVQc5IXqmgCZhov4bFd0f7yMXoVKc6WtTuVygHyFV8VMzSAtOAn/s320/IMG_2663%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWGzvTfipqVWV4BKaJP3doomC5EZtVvgEJuM3b2NP2IC5Rz_-D-w2qeXVUTlmdgzzDrKcAVUx1BudmQQozvAg9iK2Tw0QYDjuJrMsap6sFYBG7L_l8a6rMBeGFxhde2IY0Nn0u1z0Bh_9/s1600/IMG_2664%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/AVvXsEgRWGzvTfipqVWV4BKaJP3doomC5EZtVvgEJuM3b2NP2IC5Rz_-D-w2qeXVUTlmdgzzDrKcAVUx1BudmQQozvAg9iK2Tw0QYDjuJrMsap6sFYBG7L_l8a6rMBeGFxhde2IY0Nn0u1z0Bh_9/s320/IMG_2664%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Lf6GugYCw166osx3oYDHv6pKW-IPf-PZ3D5pANbiLbhcGRJxv7CyhPwtPHSJXH-vLOZeXHiQo5VdecrNqfkyg5nFxyM_Jf6IzmfaTl_gFiwRCIQlgM3sgo8CL92ndmQbmIhjpgKY1iAp/s1600/IMG_2665%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/AVvXsEg-Lf6GugYCw166osx3oYDHv6pKW-IPf-PZ3D5pANbiLbhcGRJxv7CyhPwtPHSJXH-vLOZeXHiQo5VdecrNqfkyg5nFxyM_Jf6IzmfaTl_gFiwRCIQlgM3sgo8CL92ndmQbmIhjpgKY1iAp/s320/IMG_2665%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAqQBk3Vw1JhTwLuQSWdfh6WUeLXqVdvhooqar-V1Byi5_Le3AXVbhiLlvcE2BuUK6oV30jkVTP5DECshrWSyZZVkrazlM93Nttk6tQdSYbJzl8sa2EtTTtO_AuvBwtAJn8U3oBtJeF4r/s1600/IMG_2666%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/AVvXsEjKAqQBk3Vw1JhTwLuQSWdfh6WUeLXqVdvhooqar-V1Byi5_Le3AXVbhiLlvcE2BuUK6oV30jkVTP5DECshrWSyZZVkrazlM93Nttk6tQdSYbJzl8sa2EtTTtO_AuvBwtAJn8U3oBtJeF4r/s320/IMG_2666%5B1%5D.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />

Bread!

Lidl is now stocking these lovely Bavarian bread rolls along with muffins, pain au chocolat & cherry rock buns!

Senior Software Engineer (C/C++/C#/.Net/MFC, GUI, Java, OOA/OOD/OOP) (#108872)

10:11 AM Anonymous 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">    <br /><div dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Position</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">: Senior Software Engineer</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br />  </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Location</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">: Milpitas, CA<br />  </span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Duration</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">: Full time</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br />Job Description</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">:<br />  The Surfscan-ADE division of KLA-Tencor is an industry leading supplier of wafer inspection and metrology systems. Wafer suppliers and device manufacturers worldwide rely on our measurement and inspection systems to certify and ensure the highest quality bare silicon substrates. Semiconductor device yields begin with the bare wafer, and our leading technology provides early insight into surface defect, shape, flatness and nanotopography and other advanced metrics of these 300mm substrates. In the near future our inspection and measurement systems will be able to handle next generation substrates with the diameter of 450mm. Our optical laser interferometry will support the next several generations of IC manufacturing.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br />Responsibilities:</span></b></span></div><div dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The successful candidate will join a world-class team of software engineers to conceive, design, develop, optimize, and integrate advanced algorithms and software modules used in geometric wafer inspection. She/he will be working independently to design, develop, and debug complex computer software systems, requiring in-depth evaluation of analysis of various factors, exercising judgment within broadly defined practices and policies in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. The successful candidate will work independently to design and develop software for current and next generations of Surface Metrology tool.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br />Required Qualifications:</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><br />  </b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Good understanding of OOA/OOD/OOP and Design Patterns</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br />  </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Proficiency in C++ programming, including templates and STL</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br />  </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Understanding of Windows OS internals (multi-threaded environment, memory management, ...)</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br />  </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Results-oriented; positive attitude; good verbal and written communication skills</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br />  </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Strong problem solving and analytical abilities</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">></span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />- Ability to understand and work with existing code base</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Arial;">.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br />Preferred Qualifications:</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />- GUI programming overall and using Java, JNI in particular</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br />  </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- .NET/C#, Interop with un-managed systems</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br />  </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Understanding basics of COM</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br />  </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Understanding of Scripting languages</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br />  </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Signal/Image processing and scientific programming background</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br />  </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">- Systems background in at least one of the areas: EE, Optics, ME</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br />Minimum Qualifications:</span></b></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />Doctorate (Academic) with at least 2 years of experience.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />OR</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />Master's Level Degree with at least 4 years of experience.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />OR</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 5 years of experience.</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><br />  <br />  </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Kindly send your resumes to</span></span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="mailto:Sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com"><span lang="en-us"><u><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">Sivaram.bose@kla-tencor.com</span></u></span></a></span></div></div>

Senior Software Engineer (C/C++/C#/.Net/MFC, GUI, Java, OOA/OOD/OOP) (#108872)

Position : Senior Software Engineer Location : Milpitas, CA Duration : Full time Job Description : The Surfscan-ADE division of KL...

Head of Technical Services - Canton Public Library

8:25 AM Anonymous 0

<strong>Head of Technical Services - </strong><span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Canton Public Library</strong></span> is seeking an organized, detail-oriented individual to manage the  technical services operations of this small, active library that serves a  community of 10,000.  The successful candidate will be responsible  primarily for cataloging and classification of library materials,  database management, adult collection development, technology, and some  public service desk work. Requirements: MLS from an ALA-accredited  college or university and 3 years of library experience, or a Bachelor's  Degree and 5 years of library experience. Thorough knowledge of  contemporary bibliographic maintenance standards and practices.   Proficient computer skills for hands-on support of the library's  computer operations.  Commitment to excellence in customer service.  Full-time position: 35 hours per week, including 1 evening plus periodic  weekends in rotation. Municipal benefits package.  Salary range:  $49,000 to $51,500. Send letter of interest, resume, and completed Town  of Canton employment application by <span style="color: red;">December 19, 2012 </span>to  Robert Simon, Library Director, Canton Public Library, 40 Dyer Avenue,  Canton, CT  06019.  Job description available by clicking <a href="http://www.ctlibrarians.org/associations/10663/files/HeadofTS_CantonPL_jobdesc.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. Town employment application available at <a href="http://www.townofcantonct.org/" target="_blank">www.townofcantonct.org</a>. EOE.

Head of Technical Services - Canton Public Library

Head of Technical Services - Canton Public Library is seeking an organized, detail-oriented individual to manage the technical services op...

Today's archidose #637

4:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

Here are some photos of the Repsol Headquarters in Madrid, Spain, by <a href="http://www.rafaeldelahoz.com/">Rafael de La-Hoz Arquitectos</a> (2010). Photographs are by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/">Ximo Michavila</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/8238744471/" title="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #7 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #7" height="268" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8238744471_7b27b23b77_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/8239811140/" title="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #1 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #1" height="376" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8239811140_49cb921dd4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/8238744567/" title="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #5 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #5" height="510" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8200/8238744567_2a3e1864e8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/8241739819/" title="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #2 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #2" height="508" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8241739819_6b6a92effa_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/8242808158/" title="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #6 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #6" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8242808158_7e5e01312c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/8241739735/" title="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #4 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafael de La-Hoz. Repsol Headquarters #4" height="538" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8241739735_1f019fb28d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />To contribute your Flickr images for consideration, just:<br /><blockquote>:: Join and add photos to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/archi-dose/">archidose pool</a>, and/or<br />:: Tag your photos <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/archidose/">archidose</a></span></blockquote>

Today's archidose #637

Here are some photos of the Repsol Headquarters in Madrid, Spain, by Rafael de La-Hoz Arquitectos (2010). Photographs are by Ximo Michavila...

New Meaning and Drive in Life After Cancer - NYTimes.com

4:20 AM Tukiyooo 0

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; ">When people hear the words "You have <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Cancer." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/cancer/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">cancer</a>," life is suddenly divided into distinct parts. There was their life before cancer, and then there is life after cancer.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The number of people in that second category continues to grow. In June, the National Cancer Institute reported that an estimated 13.7 million living Americans are cancer survivors, and the number will increase to almost 18 million over the next decade. More than half are younger than 70.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">A new book, "Picture Your Life After Cancer," (American Cancer Society) focuses on the living that goes on after a cancer diagnosis. It's based on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/08/health/cancer-survivor-photos.html#/all/" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">a multimedia project by The New York Times</a> that asked readers to submit photos and their personal stories. So far, nearly 1,500 people have shared their experiences — the good, the bad, the challenging and the inspirational — creating a dramatic photo essay of the varied lives people live in the years after diagnosis.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">For Susan Schwalb, a 68-year-old artist from Manhattan, a diagnosis of early-stage <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Breast cancer." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/breast-cancer/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">breast cancer</a> at the age of 62 led to a <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Breast lump removal." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/surgery/breast-lump-removal/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">lumpectomy</a>, followed by a <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Mastectomy." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/surgery/mastectomy/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">mastectomy</a> and then failed reconstruction surgery. She discovered that cancer was not only a physical challenge but a mental one as well, and she turned to friends and support groups to cope with the emotional strain. When she saw the "Picture Your Life" project, she <a title="Susan Schwalb's photo. " href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/08/health/cancer-survivor-photos.html#4bd6e6a38e31df0e00000027" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">submitted a photo</a> of herself wearing a paint-splattered artist's apron.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"What cancer made me do in my own professional life is to pedal faster," Ms. Schwalb said in an interview. "I've encountered some people who decide to enjoy life, retire, work in a garden. I decided I had to have more of what I wanted in life, and I better move fast because maybe I don't have the long life I imagined I would have."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Indeed, a common theme of the "Picture Your Life" project is that cancer spurs people to take long-delayed trips, seek out adventure and spend time with their families. Photos of mountain climbs, a ride on a camel, scuba diving excursions and bicycle trips are now part of the online collage.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Dr. David Posner, associate program director of pulmonary medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, says a diagnosis of metastatic <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Colon Cancer." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/colon-cancer/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">colon cancer</a> at the age of 47 has helped him relate to his own patients with cancer. The past decade has included nine operations, six recurrences and three rounds of <a title="Recent and archival health news about chemotherapy." href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/chemotherapy/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">chemotherapy</a>, but Dr. Posner said he never missed more than three weeks of work.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"My salvation has been my family and my work," he said. "When I was at work I wasn't thinking about myself, and it was very therapeutic. I see my share of cancer patients, and I motivate them and they motivate me."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a title="Dr. Posner's photo. " href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/08/health/cancer-survivor-photos.html#4bd8e7678e31df0bc3000138" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">Dr. Posner</a> said he decided to be part of "Picture Your Life" because he wants to get the word out that a cancer diagnosis — even a dire one like his — doesn't have to define your life.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"I think about someone asking me, 'So how was your last decade — was it wasted or was it a life filled with a lot of happiness and joy?' " he said. "The cancer thing was a pain, but for the most part I've had a pretty good time."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The "Picture Your Life" collage includes photo after photo of survivors with their pets. Sandra Elliott, 59, of Claremont, Calif., submitted <a title="Sandra Elliott's photo. " href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/08/health/cancer-survivor-photos.html#4bbfdc9ad141b9263a000097" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">a picture of herself with her two golden retrievers, Buddy and Molly</a>. They were just puppies when she received a diagnosis of Stage 2 breast cancer in 2003. During her recovery from surgery and chemotherapy treatments, she took the dogs to romp on the Pomona College campus, near her home, and one day a professional photographer snapped the picture.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"No matter how bad I felt that day, no matter how many chemo treatments or doctors appointments, those two little puppies with these big black eyes would look at me with their tails wagging as if to say, 'It's time. It's time. It's time to go out!'  " Ms. Elliott recalled.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"I felt so physically horrible, and I'd look at them and the pure joy on their faces and in their bodies for just being out in nature and being able to smell the air, smell the trees, chase a squirrel — that sheer in-the-moment love of life they showed me really lifted my spirit on a daily basis."</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Ms. Elliott still lives with chronic pain as a result of nerve damage from her cancer treatment, and she can relate to others in the "Picture Your Life" project who worry that their cancer will recur or that they'll never feel completely normal again. But she says a stronger theme runs through all the pictures and stories.</p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; ">"We have all been forced to find the joy in the smallest things," she said. "I'm sitting here looking at a geranium about to bloom. These things are out there — we just have to be reminded to look at them. And cancer is a big reminder."</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; "><br></div></div><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/new-meaning-and-drive-in-life-after-cancer/">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/new-meaning-and-drive-in-life-after-cancer/</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

New Meaning and Drive in Life After Cancer - NYTimes.com

When people hear the words "You have cancer ," life is suddenly divided into distinct parts. There was their life before cancer, ...

New Faces Of Meth Ads Are Utterly Harrowing - Business Insider

3:50 AM Tukiyooo 0

<base href="data:"><div style="color: black; text-align: left; "><p style="margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">Eight years ago, the <a href="http://www.facesofmeth.us/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(29, 99, 125); ">Multnomah County Sheriff's Office launched a campaign called "the Faces of Meth</a>" to address Oregon's methamphetamine problem. The images showed the jarring effects of meth on addicts' faces through before-and-after pictures from their arrest records.</p><p style="margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><a href="http://www.rehabs.com/explore/meth-before-and-after-drugs/infographic.html" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(29, 99, 125); ">Rehabs.com recently followed suit</a> with this infographic. Warning: these images are disturbing.</p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><br></span></font></div><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-faces-of-meth-ads-are-utterly-harrowing-2012-12">http://www.businessinsider.com/new-faces-of-meth-ads-are-utterly-harrowing-2012-12</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

New Faces Of Meth Ads Are Utterly Harrowing - Business Insider

Eight years ago, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office launched a campaign called "the Faces of Meth " to address Oregon'...

30 Days of Google #13: Get the hang of a Google+ hangout (plus webinar recording)

3:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<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/AVvXsEi_VsP27fZOV26Up2FySsh4EIDCTkR6q3HYtf8fnc4AKZD7I5ELMkYEdXQDZxYcMENKKNmY-2EL2WtPIuki60UP2-Ec2a1r0KavhNRVgg5BMrfqzteUpO8A11vRG84dGjptywbJ6OGdlKM/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jqxpgA1ktf8GsTlIuG6BuIYHAcst6tIPxd913LTXy5nZ_p5Gi7U_Jl3n7jD2TeF1ofOqTOQXA32ih4IO9IbcBCVxa5jyDUVzrOKadziDVAfJDqInopuHxDlcBz0ksJJTTdHLPbDBfxg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="240" /></a></div><br /><u><br /></u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What is a Google hangout?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Google+ is Google's new social networking tool. I have only just discovered its amazing potential since attending the Google Teacher Academy in New York in October. Google has put a lot of funding into developing Google+ and they are committed to making it work well for education, so it will just get better and better I am sure. Once you have created a </span><a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Create-Circles-in-Google-Plus" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">circle of friends</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in Google+ you can choose to hang out with them on Google+. This allows you to video chat, IM chat, watch YouTube videos together, and more. </span><br /><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Summary of benefits</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Google Hangouts are part of Google+, Google's new free social networking tool. On a Hangout 10 people (possible 15 on Google Apps) can:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*video chat</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*IM (instant message) chat</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*watch YouTube videos together</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*collaborate on a Google Doc</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*use a whiteboard collaboratively</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*add effects for fun</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*record the Hangout directly on YouTube</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*live stream for more viewers</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*A minimum of two people </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*and more… </span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A Slideshare showing the steps</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This slideshare was used in the SchoolNet webinar of the same name and shows the steps in creating a hangout.</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/15447237" style="border-bottom: #ccc 0px solid; border-left: #ccc 1px solid; border-right: #ccc 1px solid; border-top: #ccc 1px solid; margin-bottom: 5px;" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="427"> </iframe> <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/get-the-hang-of-a-google-hangout" target="_blank" title="Get the hang of a Google+ hangout">Get the hang of a Google+ hangout</a> </strong>from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal" target="_blank">Fiona Beal</a></strong></span> </div><strong><u><br /></u></strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Webinar recording:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week SchoolNet had a webinar whih was presented by me (Fiona Beal) on 'Get the hang of a Google Hangout'. Here is the recording</span><u>. </u><br /><a href="http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/p6kgz1ndmhz/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/p6kgz1ndmhz/</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (22 mins)</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ideas for using a hangout in the the classroom</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Read a story</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Bring in an expert/guest speaker/author|</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Share from a Slideshare</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Homework tutoring</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Professional Development meeting</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Work on a project together</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Virtual penpals</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Global classroom discussions</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Career Day wit panelists</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Attend other hangouts (Google has a whole library of hangouts)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Extended discussion on a class topic</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Subject-related hangouts</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Conduct workshops and seminars</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Additional reading and viewing</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">a) A tutorial </span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please note that Google updates its products continually so some features in this video might look different.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7K06lHu4gDk" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>b) Further Reading</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*<a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Google%2B-Hangouts">How to use Google Hangouts</a> </span><br />*<a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Google%2B-Hangouts-for-Teaching" style="background-color: #f9f7f1; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to Use Google+ Hangouts for Teaching</a><br />*<a href="http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/events/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to create a Google event</a><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>

30 Days of Google 30 Days of Google #13: Get the hang of a Google+ hangout (plus webinar recording)

What is a Google hangout? Google+ is Google's new social networking tool. I have only just discovered its amazing potential since attend...

Springfield News-Sun; No Longer Relevant, No Longer Local

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfu2MtuDMT0_SC_z9uBNrCX3VLk-3p1yGWwM0fz9OvuzhdNJW9oOEDSYp9QeA4x-gN-40VAQj-dw20DKfWliTz0SVF2pwred2-wZ1ZDkx0gy7Y0vp2d_VR2nY-qdxvQFGluRpSIIBcQY/s1600/Springfield+News-Sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfu2MtuDMT0_SC_z9uBNrCX3VLk-3p1yGWwM0fz9OvuzhdNJW9oOEDSYp9QeA4x-gN-40VAQj-dw20DKfWliTz0SVF2pwred2-wZ1ZDkx0gy7Y0vp2d_VR2nY-qdxvQFGluRpSIIBcQY/s400/Springfield+News-Sun.jpg" width="400" /></a>Cheeeeers, and here with the daily headlines from Bagwine, Ohio is IWS co-host and gadabout town, man about town with your Bagwine, Ohio daily news, Matt-Man.<br /><br />I would like to able to type that in, and mean it, but alas, I cannot.  And do you know why?  Of course you don’t, so please allow me to tell you why.<br /><br />I would like to get my hometown news from our hometown newspaper the <i>Springfield News-Sun,</i> and pass on any interesting local stories contained within the Gray Lady of Bagwine unto you, however…<br /><br />My hometown newspaper, the <i>Springfield News-Sun</i> is no longer local.  It is no longer relevant.  It is no longer the daily ledger of note on which upon its pages, contains the goings on of my city.<br /><br />It has become merely an arm of advertising for Cox Publishing, whose flagship newspaper in this area, is the <i>Dayton Daily News</i>, so what do we now get in our “hometown” paper?  Uh-huh…Dayton daily news.<br /><br />I understand the economics of newspapers.  In this digital age, printed newspapers are to information what Catholic monks were to the Gutenberg press, but c’mon <i>Springfield News-Sun</i> and Cox Publishing…<br /><br />Have a S<i>pringfield News-Sun</i> that reflects the news, notes, and information that is relevant to Springfield, or?<br /><br />If your printed papers of several communities are going to be bellowed out of the Dayton news factory, could you at least hire local folks to keep your websites updated with current local news?<br /><br />Oy Vay…the content on the Springfield News-Sun website is less timely and less topical than Yakov Smirnoff’s appearance in the movie, Buckaroo Banzai, and nearly as dry as his stand-up appearances in Branson, MO.<br /><br />I have felt this way for a long time, but here’s what finally propelled me to write on this topic.<br /><br />On Saturday December 1st, the front page of the <i>Springfield News-Sun</i> sports page featured an in-depth story about a high school basketball game that took place on Friday night.<br /><br />I love it…I love high school basketball…but here’s the problem Mr. and/or Mrs. Cox Publishing…<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52eNgWE-w6A7RT7lesBSs6Bh_t4Rsxt9jSHbNNm7PKcydZATFsb_Xnz5ZfevbZmes2-fLo7ExMVJxynJAcuIIeHDKSZySRxg0YPJmT2cKVe_m38g8tZsUUz_xOkkxEjHUSxPCsYInU-Y/s1600/dayton-daily-news-media-center-dayton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52eNgWE-w6A7RT7lesBSs6Bh_t4Rsxt9jSHbNNm7PKcydZATFsb_Xnz5ZfevbZmes2-fLo7ExMVJxynJAcuIIeHDKSZySRxg0YPJmT2cKVe_m38g8tZsUUz_xOkkxEjHUSxPCsYInU-Y/s400/dayton-daily-news-media-center-dayton.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The game written about was between Chaminade-Julienne and Greenview, neither of which are in Springfield, nor even in Clark County.  Do you really think the 145,000 or so people in Springfield and Clark County care about that game?<br /><br />Of course you know we don’t, but you don’t care, because in this area, Cox Publishing covers Dayton exclusively, and uses Springfield, Middletown, Hamilton and other smaller city newspapers as advertising dumps.<br /><br />Oh sure, each city paper gets a fill-in space here and there, but your newspaper “journalism” is directed by a template and formula that caters not to the local reader, but to the advertising that goes along with your radio and TV stations within the Cox Media Group.<br /><br />The only things local and relevant about the Springfield News-Sun anymore are the obituaries and the pizza coupons, other than that, us yokels here in Bagwine only know for sure that last Friday, CJ defeated Greenview in basketball.<br /><br />And we also know...<br /><br />That the Cox Media Group made its monthly advertising quota.<br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><br />Matt-Man<br /><i><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@yahoo.com">mattmaniws@yahoo.com</a></i><br /><i><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@mattman_iws</span></a></i></div>

Springfield News-Sun; No Longer Relevant, No Longer Local

Cheeeeers, and here with the daily headlines from Bagwine, Ohio is IWS co-host and gadabout town, man about town with your Bagwine, Ohio dai...

Home Free

2:10 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1KNT-mJu-vZNJhxO2dn2jPYF6Avv3XpWhCYqtQsYfo_s64oZrx-Rmt119lqTaKCLNnwr1l0PPs4CIrJk-juXs8PxlZnfDMyg_cb3quI_swaMu_d-6eEtdZ8vsOc9t_cvT6PCuk-cnMo/s1600/home+free+cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1KNT-mJu-vZNJhxO2dn2jPYF6Avv3XpWhCYqtQsYfo_s64oZrx-Rmt119lqTaKCLNnwr1l0PPs4CIrJk-juXs8PxlZnfDMyg_cb3quI_swaMu_d-6eEtdZ8vsOc9t_cvT6PCuk-cnMo/s320/home+free+cookies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even though I am eating healthy and exercising I still love to have something sweet, especially chocolate! I received these in my Healthy Surprise box and was craving chocolate so I grabbed a glass of milk and the cookies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Let me tell you, if you love chocolate and are watching your weight, or have any kind of Gluten allergy then these are for you! They are so good, it's unbelievable.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> They are bite sized chocolaty, crunchy cookies and really helps with the sweet craving! They are the best cookies I have had in a long time! <a href="http://www.homefreetreats.com/"></a></div>

Home Free

Even though I am eating healthy and exercising I still love to have something sweet, especially chocolate! I received these in my Healthy Su...

30 Days of Google #12: How to send a message and share a circle using Google+

12:27 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Google circles are a feature of Google+ and they can be very useful for keeping in contact with a group of people. For example I have a circle called Google PD clan.</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How I send a message to the Google PD clan</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whenever I want to send something to that group this is what I would do:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. In my Google+ stream I would write a message. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitljOIfpvghJtSGh-VaS-eumP9zkyHD0HYkHhixo-ZXjEG8Afe7LBASl9gR85uIJwnLd0F9FA7yleFaRJv3VedrCS9ZmT2PNuPtvl6O11gevMQY1PD9Xi6kyfP8BTvA8ps5A55iWakkHE/s1600-h/image4%25255B1%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7ize3J6u8YG1f3E0gzYvqrQma08_obilu94-j983Zj6cA-zAE2MegFsWiXG6m-xRGtGnqSkTHirKPmf4vBCTUvALXGHsjGztcdtSOyQN8_mnQDQgIX1_1JwS_Iv5bSAOLJ1AWd08L5A/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Decide which circle or person I am going to send it to, select them and press ‘Share’ (in this case to a circle called  Google PD clan)</span>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDH_KeC8bMidwkpQQ3o6c0WEpHppcxBIlDUN88ISE6dmI8k3afKktyV05FSolz6jIlox60m8xh1jGS0tS344eoxMnLSRQotswiSxJS2geIwpI7Ur7QrLpboNB692KdkpbIlMQEQafpN8/s1600-h/image8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0DddR6meyhMuKl_zZ1OjAU4if7fqCYHS6XjiuAGAlBJAvZxtnPPakR8CIS5f4xa7UDcgcSlmuMey6D8_7eYGZarE90qNkTTXVKHoezx0U3kVTymha7oobJ5ZpRyrjBqr3KUS83-_rog/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How would I share the whole circle with the Google PD clan? </b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If one creates a specific circle for a specific purpose (such as my 'Google PD clan' circle),  I could actually share my my whole circle with the group members.  To do this I would choose the option to '<i>share a circle'</i>.  The group members would then receive the shared circle option/invite but would have to accept it and name it.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDjH8pPWmaekMSBvFaWo17r21S0gxjZCJTd_0MjbCTCzrbkfVAt0mEh-AlFmi7PA-aS_DqermKMjk6xTWIEA6zg9IpUvL1JfoK8J8c7CLxIRBrEHQr-ReCliHghVh8ovY0sAHswQPByE/s1600-h/image35.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLBUgR-zj4CzWCxSvQYx1-twd2GFx1lzyNNvHdtKqH8Ar4Lex1tlHUmmFrqFOPyKgK9RXP2j2G1qc-saNP-4LrfuGzARxpYNfdq27wHiDnx8jPqV7lifkhYgtWbp-RQrKUR7qGevLXbI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></div><br /><u><br /></u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why not try sharing a circle?</span><br /><u><br /></u></div>

30 Days of Google 30 Days of Google #12: How to send a message and share a circle using Google+

Google circles are a feature of Google+ and they can be very useful for keeping in contact with a group of people. For example I have a circ...

30 Days of Google #11: How to create a new circle in Google+

12:20 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Google+ works on the concept of circles each with the level of privacy that you decide on. This post shows you how to create a circle after you have completed your profile in Google+.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Make sure you have joined Google+ (on the top left of your Gmail account) and have filled in your profile.After doing that go to your Google+ page and go down the left side till you get to Circles. Click on ‘Create a circle’. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEdYRP8lnZD3Dnrxu9zhGStq95PBwN_cqoufDOMSIREQfbyzovEKuaY39_ufKZB_62k3lwDfDBV6qQnEBW_f8CkgM-aUPysjlNyVKhvjlJ9GjDTGnUQO2AoDeD_erET4lBDTJLV91g_c/s1600-h/image_thumb62.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image_thumb[6]" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJfGCr7qYXAGsTB_LPLX02-fobenzVEG3ovt88JbhpvBXCq6KleYPfWWPkZpPdP4l8soIt4DVGB94lcfu3hG6F7bN4UMEKwgM69sZf8iBydfOyoMv4iMu8gkRK_WSanL4rYECF-AN9t8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image_thumb[6]" width="242" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Give your circle a name i.e. My technology friends</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvCsQnIp0XYBrGlAxnMCoq_xaBhxWzvT8aE7UItCl43HMYj1w1M3u4W7m9FqtjABbBG_fRdNVO6X1mvKIACM28U0syLwIyj3fAGjKLPjcR5thBnl0V0dbtJRotC1Xgwikm34dx78I7xo/s1600-h/image_thumb82.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image_thumb[8]" border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRWa2ezgbIdPNuksQVNVJYxjorvd9QF-rL9USzoSyoJ890zCmU8_oYuQ_NBCRhfaX0V7v86bES_9WhBcMhDKWXbJ6qVccuXp7lgkHRwaByLcOfn4fdMwzZMu-gsBGvsRtbNO35dTBfo8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image_thumb[8]" width="242" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Now choose how you are going to find people for your circle. Click on ‘Add a new person’</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbinMc06TcGxHFZEA63PFSSrcNdU2e7ecnVRuIWf868r0aLoR9K2kYGbQoxMoOtJ2eSTPpsp_WHk64kGiQqcV1OTiNx9p3UZs4k3GbRViHqbAWWtw0j57qVqV7ZezK2CiQnW411r0yqjE/s1600-h/image_thumb102.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image_thumb[10]" border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRoGBh7kT2hvaMQwiYepOXFb-jgpUqqbdPM-MulCKEmkYuL-63FC_5IUPCHDHIdst1FrRqAFEbq5IMHeie3zdabtS9UjiNLnlnkx_c2qav00Imciko7GqhANItzG8FAi0mpcF-5oiYSI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image_thumb[10]" width="242" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. A number of selections will come up in which case you click on the picture you recognise.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQDe-ZTxa_G7s_f9TcHYDT4BXA9MDAZCrkwpy8d6_3HW7ReTUT7NstCoZTYhXg0A5mDxMSOGTjHElFZDoVhAuPXPeOpVOgAiv9b9alAbUkjs0TSIRCMinO7RA_Ow_f3nmjM9PPW1hrNA/s1600-h/image_thumb122.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image_thumb[12]" border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOzIROZQr9g1FL9odxoJBr1cGDtVBy0zjfMrho62LAl-Ok5BMgs14ZKBXmUdrBtvXLHuVo6gkZWi9QI22-B0kAboGyC2M2XkmZMbW4YM7ERZXVyjQxffqjdRmHSYUbnJBj2AtLttSyMo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image_thumb[12]" width="242" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. However if you don’t know the person which is possible in our case rather use the email address and only one person will show up. Click on the name and add that person.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuQxANVbx_GJGTjfuH8VP5P31Eu3O5drk7AXKmXK11Ywc5BBiKFIBstTjbDUOdt2aZ2sCcV1lx4K8ps3vuSEtZIvcvm5Vpw_2qgwRSPWw682F3bwpqYoSvYTFmKIHPcEkmcNpRcsilDU/s1600-h/image_thumb152.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image_thumb[15]" border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVZ8WyOGb4X3FuLUubuWzO1nLD1HsPlFyTCTM7utxQ1FS6FGfwNfBKhf21VqNBgf2rrTsCab-GQ4Y7glwnG9k6jANZ_4iimw0eRBWrXqHTUEINrIO4wmjPQJ47G7oCPt9CUmH-5cUtuY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image_thumb[15]" width="242" /></a></div><br /><strong><br /></strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why not create a circle following the steps above? (Choose a few folk that you know have gmail addresses.)  Then send a message to that circle. To reinforce your learning about circles, here is a video that explains it really well.</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QNXd9DAhcZw" width="420"></iframe><br />Further reading<br /><a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Create-Circles-in-Google%2B">How to create circles in Google+</a></div>

30 Days of Google 30 Days of Google #11: How to create a new circle in Google+

Google+ works on the concept of circles each with the level of privacy that you decide on. This post shows you how to create a circle after ...

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 12/03/2012

11:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<ul class="diigo-linkroll">      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/analects/2012/12/microblogging-and-world?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/intweetable">Microblogging and the world: Intweetable | The Economist</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">"OF THE 264 Twitter accounts belonging to governments and world leaders, and the 350,289 tweets that have been sent from those accounts to their 51,990,656 followers, not a single one was sent by a Chinese leader." says the Economist in their blog about China.  In a fascinating article that accuses Chinese leaders of a sort of "state led autism" it talks about how one major social media outlet (Twitter) is ignored and blocked by the Great Firewall of China but how their news service is now not only tweeting but linking to YouTube videos (which is also blocked.) The Economist uses this as a fascinating example of how being so insular is going to harm and ultimately limit the rise of China. If you follow China and current events, whether you like Twitter or not, this is a fascinating read and one you may want to bring to your students as well.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/government">government</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/government_teacher">government_teacher</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/currentevents">currentevents</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/social_media">social_media</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/china">china</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/tumblr">tumblr</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 12/03/2012

Microblogging and the world: Intweetable | The Economist "OF THE 264 Twitter accounts belonging...