Grammys 2013: Gotye, Fun. victories show pop's winning appeal

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px;">Despite Frank Ocean's pre-show coronation, the evening belongs to Gotye and Fun.</h2><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #292727; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px;">By Reed Johnson, Los Angeles Times</span></div><div><div class="date" style="background-color: white; color: #930000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 3px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dateString" style="display: inline;">February 11, 2013</span><span class="dateTimeSeparator" style="border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; color: white; display: inline; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-left: 6px;">, </span><span class="timeString" style="display: inline; text-transform: lowercase;">7:00 a.m.</span></div><div class="date" style="background-color: white; color: #930000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 3px; padding: 0px;"><span class="timeString" style="display: inline; text-transform: lowercase;"></span></div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">Since at least 1989, when it was universally ridiculed for bestowing the hard rock-metal award on<a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/music/jethro-tull-%28music-group%29-PECLB000005155.topic" id="PECLB000005155" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Jethro Tull (music group)">Jethro Tull</a> over <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/music/metallica-%28music-group%29-PECLB0040414448.topic" id="PECLB0040414448" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Metallica (music group)">Metallica</a>, the Recording Academy has lived in fear of seeming terminally out of touch.</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">British neo-folkies Mumford & Sons won the evening's top prize, album of the year, for its earnestly hand-woven and homespun "Babel." The irreproachably indie duo <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/music/the-black-keys-%28music-group%29-PECLB00000060625.topic" id="PECLB00000060625" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="The Black Keys (music group)">the Black Keys</a> scored the rock song Grammy for "Lonely Boy."</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">Months before Sunday's awards show, R&B newcomer <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/music/frank-ocean-PECLB0015315.topic" id="PECLB0015315" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Frank Ocean">Frank Ocean</a> had received a full-dress media coronation for his freshman release, "Channel Orange." When his disc deservedly won the Grammy for urban contemporary album, as expected, several scribes in the Grammy press room reportedly erupted into applause.</div><div class="articlerail" style="clear: both; color: black; float: left; font-style: normal; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: none; width: 234px; z-index: 4;"><div class="articleRelates module" style="border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 10px 10px 0px;"><ul style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li class="newRelatedItem" style="clear: both; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-grammy-awards-2013-red-carpet-pictures,0,156288.photogallery" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target=""><img alt="Grammy Awards 2013: Red carpet" height="105" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-5118648c/turbine/la-et-grammy-awards-2013-red-carpet-pictures/186/186x105" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-right: 5px; padding-right: 8px;" title="Grammy Awards 2013: Red carpet" width="186" /></a><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-grammy-awards-2013-red-carpet-pictures,0,156288.photogallery" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target="">Photos: Grammy Awards 2013: Red carpet</a></li><li class="newRelatedItem" style="clear: both; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-ms-grammys-2013-live-updates-show,0,5331456.story" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target=""><img alt="Grammys 2013: Live blogging the show" height="105" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-51187bd8/turbine/la-et-ms-grammys-2013-live-updates-show-thumbnail/186/186x105" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; 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padding-right: 8px;" title="Grammys 2013 : Play-at-home Ballot" width="187" /></a><a href="http://ballots.latimes.com/grammys-2013-play-home-ballot/" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target="">Grammys 2013 : Play-at-home Ballot</a></li><li class="newRelatedItem" style="clear: both; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-grammys-2013-best-worst-pictures,0,1193575.photogallery" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target=""><img alt="Grammys 2013: Best & worst moments" height="105" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-51188c7c/turbine/la-et-grammys-2013-best-worst-pictures-thumbnail/187/187x105" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-right: 5px; padding-right: 8px;" title="Grammys 2013: Best & worst moments" width="187" /></a><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-grammys-2013-best-worst-pictures,0,1193575.photogallery" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target="">Photos: Grammys 2013: Best & worst moments</a></li><li class="newRelatedItem" style="clear: both; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-grammys-2013-show-pictures,0,473983.photogallery" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target=""><img alt="Grammys 2013: Show highlights" height="105" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-511873ab/turbine/la-et-grammys-2013-show-pictures-thumbnail/187/187x105" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-right: 5px; padding-right: 8px;" title="Grammys 2013: Show highlights" width="187" /></a><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-grammys-2013-show-pictures,0,473983.photogallery" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target="">Photos: Grammys 2013: Show highlights</a></li><li class="viewMore userDefinedViewMore" style="clear: both; display: block; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><a class="more" href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-ms-grammy-surprise-frank-ocean-gotye-fun-20130211,0,3388500.story#" id="storiesMore" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;">See more stories »</a><ul style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></ul></li></ul></div></div><div class="konafilter pm-ad tpl03 " id="pmad-rail" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 10px 5px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: none; z-index: 4;"><div class="medium_rectangle medium_rectangle1" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; 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Sometimes in music, as a rock 'n' roll troubadour once observed, feelin' good is good enough.</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">Which might be the mantra of the aptly named Fun., the New York trio of castaways from other bands, and <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/music/gotye-%28music-artist%29-PECLB0000014801.topic" id="PECLB0000014801" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Gotye (music artist)">Gotye</a>, the project led by Belgian-born Wouter "Wally" De Backer. Both earned multiple gold statuettes Sunday by delivering instant-gratification pop, the kind that we count on to burst the bubble of self-seriousness that surrounds every legacy-media awards show.</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">Gotye scored in the categories of record of the year and pop duo/group performance ("Somebody That I Used to Know") and alternative music album ("Making Mirrors").</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/grammys/" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>GRAMMYS 2013: Full coverage</strong></a> | <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-ms-grammys-2013-live-updates-preshow,0,1671752.story" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>Pre-show winners</strong></a> |<a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-en-grammys-2013-top-nominees-pictures,0,1306207.photogallery" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>Winners</strong></a> | <a href="http://ballots.latimes.com/grammys-2013-play-home-ballot/" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>Ballot</strong></a></div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">Fun.'s 2009 debut album, "Aim and Ignite," which reached an unprepossessing No. 71 on the Billboard charts, gave little hint that this year the band would ride the success of its admirably fluffy hit single "We Are Young" (winner for song of the year) to take the perhaps more-coveted prize of best new artist, beating out the heavily favored Ocean.</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">It remains to be seen what sort of artistic staying power Gotye and Fun. will have, because pop music stardom tends to be a fickle commodity. Exhibit A, of course, is <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/music/justin-bieber-PECLB000005153.topic" id="PECLB000005153" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Justin Bieber">Justin Bieber</a>, the Canadian wonderboy (now 18).</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">Nominated two years ago for best new artist, he lost to jazz virtuoso bassist-singer Esperanza Spalding in what was considered a major upset.</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/grammys/" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>GRAMMYS 2013:</strong></a> <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-en-grammys-2013-top-nominees-pictures,0,1306207.photogallery" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>Winners list</strong></a> | <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-grammys-2013-best-worst-pictures,0,1193575.photogallery" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>Best & Worst</strong></a> |  <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-grammy-awards-2013-red-carpet-pictures,0,156288.photogallery" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>Red carpet</strong></a> | <a href="http://timelines.latimes.com/grammy-awards/" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>Timeline</strong></a> | <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/fashion/la-ig-grammys-2013-red-carpet-fashion-photos,0,4827614.photogallery" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>Fashion</strong></a> | <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/music/la-et-grammys-2013-show-pictures,0,473983.photogallery" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>Highlights</strong></a></div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">Although his commercial stock remains relatively high, Bieber this year was snubbed by the Grammys. Some speculated that he was dishing out payback by scheduling a livestream of chatter and new music for his fans that just happened to fall during Sunday night's Grammy telecast.</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">But the ploy partially backfired when Bieber reported the livestream had gone over capacity, locking him out. "Since nothing is working im super upset i feel i gotta make it up to u. i should post a new song on twitter you can still be excited," Bieber told his masses of Twitter followers.</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">Meanwhile, another non-nominated artist named Justin, last name Timberlake, offered an example of how a pop star can stay relevant by not hitting the panic button when listeners (or award voters) shift their attention elsewhere.</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/grammys/" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong>FULL COVERAGE: Grammy Awards 2013</strong></a></div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">Although at 32 Timberlake is middle-aged in pop years, he still may have his best artistic period ahead of him. On Sunday night, he reminded a global audience that before he became an actor, businessman and one-half of the second-biggest gaffe in Super Bowl history, he was one of the most effortlessly charismatic male singers around.</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">He did this by delivering a suave, tuxedo-swathed performance leading a big band called JT & the Tennessee Kids in a medley of two new songs, "Suit & Tie" and "Pusher Love." Just in case home viewers didn't get the swing era allusions, the broadcast segment was swathed in a retro sepia light and set against a background of Art Deco-style structures.</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">Timberlake wasn't the only performer to take the high road to pop-star longevity.</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">Early in the telecast, <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/music/elton-john-PECLB002595.topic" id="PECLB002595" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Elton John">Elton John</a> took a seat at the piano and, metaphorically, at the edge of the spotlight trained on <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/music/ed-sheeran-PECLB00000014272.topic" id="PECLB00000014272" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Ed Sheeran">Ed Sheeran</a>, to perform a duet of the 21-year-old English singer-songwriter's "The A Team."</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;">Musical fashions may change and pop songs may come and go. Genuine pop stars master the art of sticking around.</div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;"><em><a href="mailto:reed.johnson@latimes.com" style="color: #2262cc; text-decoration: none;">reed.johnson@latimes.com</a></em></div><div style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: none;"></div><div class="ent-must-reads" style="color: black; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; height: auto; line-height: 20px; margin: 20px 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-transform: none; width: 620px;"><h2 id="title" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">MORE GRAMMYS COVERAGE</a></h2><div class="ent-pick" style="float: left; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; width: 204px;"><a href="http://timelines.latimes.com/grammy-awards/" style="color: black; margin: 3px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><img alt="TIMELINE: Grammy winners through the years" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-50bfe077/turbine/la-et-grammy-timeline-sl-thumbnail/187/16x9" style="border: none; float: left; height: 105px; margin: 3px 7px 2px 0px; width: 187px;" /></a><a href="http://timelines.latimes.com/grammy-awards/" style="color: black; margin: 3px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><div id="ent-hed" style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; padding: 0px; width: 192px;">TIMELINE: Grammy winners through the years</div></a></div><div class="ent-pick" style="float: left; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; width: 204px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/grammys/la-en-grammys-2013-top-nominees-pictures,0,1275119.photogallery" style="color: black; margin: 3px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><img alt="" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-51185b57/turbine/la-et-three-must-read-grammy-2013-feature-well/400/16x9" style="border: none; float: left; height: 105px; margin: 3px 7px 2px 0px; width: 187px;" /></a><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/grammys/la-en-grammys-2013-top-nominees-pictures,0,1275119.photogallery" style="color: black; margin: 3px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><div id="ent-hed" style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; padding: 0px; width: 192px;">PHOTOS: 2013 winners & nominees</div></a></div><div class="ent-pick" style="float: left; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; width: 204px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/grammys/la-en-grammys-2013-nominees-complete-list,0,7075586.htmlstory" style="color: black; margin: 3px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><img alt="Grammys 2013: Complete list of nominees" src="http://www.latimes.com/media/thumbnails/photogallery/2012-02/67969944-10170802.jpg" style="border: none; float: left; height: 105px; margin: 3px 7px 2px 0px; width: 187px;" /></a><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/grammys/la-en-grammys-2013-nominees-complete-list,0,7075586.htmlstory" style="color: black; margin: 3px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><div id="ent-hed" style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; padding: 0px; width: 192px;">Grammys 2013: Complete list of nominees</div></a></div></div><em style="color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-transform: none;"><br /></em></div></div>

award Grammys 2013 Grammys 2013: Gotye, Fun. victories show pop's winning appeal

Despite Frank Ocean's pre-show coronation, the evening belongs to Gotye and Fun. By Reed Johnson, Los Angeles Times February 11, 2013 , ...

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Pope Benedict XVI Says He Will Resign

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/02/11/world/20130211_Pope_511-slide-VU0B/20130211_Pope_511-slide-VU0B-articleLarge.jpg" /></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><nyt_byline style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 18px;"></nyt_byline></span><br /><h6 class="byline" style="color: grey; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 2px 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By <span itemid="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/elisabetta_povoledo/index.html" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/elisabetta_povoledo/index.html" rel="author" style="color: #666699; text-decoration: none;" title="More Articles by ELISABETTA POVOLEDO">ELISABETTA POVOLEDO</a></span> and <span itemid="http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/c/alan_cowell/index.html" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/c/alan_cowell/index.html" rel="author" style="color: #666699; text-decoration: none;" title="More Articles by ALAN COWELL">ALAN COWELL</a></span></span></h6><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span><h6 class="dateline" style="background-color: white; color: grey; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Published: February 11, 2013  From: http://www.nytimes.com</span></h6><h6 class="dateline" style="background-color: white; color: grey; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h6><h6 class="dateline" style="background-color: white; color: grey; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 22px;">ROME — Citing advanced years and infirmity, </span><a class="meta-per" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/benedict_xvi/index.html?inline=nyt-per" style="color: #666699; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 22px;" title="More articles about Benedict XVI.">Pope Benedict XVI</a><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 22px;">stunned the Roman Catholic world on Monday by saying he would resign on Feb. 28 after less than eight years in office, the first pope to do so in six centuries.</span></span></h6><h6 class="dateline" style="background-color: white; color: grey; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px;"><div data-key="AehAeh" data-num="1" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div data-key="AehAeh" data-num="1" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">After examining his conscience “before God,” he said in a statement that reverberated around the world on the Internet and on social media, “I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise” of his position as head of the world’s one billion Roman Catholics.</span></div><div data-key="ApcApc" data-num="2" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A profoundly conservative figure whose papacy was overshadowed by clerical abuse scandals, Benedict, 85, was elected by fellow cardinals in 2005 after the death of John Paul II.</span></div><div data-key="TRFBha" data-num="3" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Rev. Federico Lombardi, the <a class="meta-org" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/r/roman_catholic_church/index.html?inline=nyt-org" style="color: #666699;" title="More articles about the Roman Catholic Church.">Vatican</a> spokesman, said that the pope would continue to carry out his duties until Feb. 28 and that a successor could be elected by Easter, which falls on March 31. But, he added, the timing for the election of a new pope is “not an announcement, it’s a hypothesis.”</span></div><div data-key="WthWth" data-num="4" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">While there had been questions about Benedict’s health, the timing of his announcement sent shock waves around the world, even though he had in the past endorsed the notion that an incapacitated pope could resign.</span></div><div data-key="TptIpm" data-num="5" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“The pope took us by surprise,” said Father Lombardi, who explained that many cardinals were in Rome on Monday for a ceremony at the Vatican and heard the pope’s address. Italy’s prime minister, Mario Monti, said he was “very shaken by the unexpected news.”</span></div><div data-key="TapTap" data-num="6" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The announcement plunged the Roman Catholic world into intense speculation about who will succeed him, and seemed likely to inspire many contrasting evaluations of a papacy that was seen as both conservative and contentious — though perhaps not so confrontational as many had feared of the man they called “God’s Rottweiler” for his tenacious defense of church doctrine.</span></div><div data-key="TpmTpm" data-num="7" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The pope made his announcement in Latin, but his statement was translated into seven languages: Italian, French, English, German, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish.</span></div><div data-key="TpmTpm" data-num="7" itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"></div><div data-key="ItwItw" data-num="8" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“In today’s world,” the pope said, “subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of St. Peter and proclaim the gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.”</span></div><div data-key="FtrFtr" data-num="9" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“For this reason,” he continued, “and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom, I declare that I renounce the ministry of bishop of Rome, successor of St. Peter.”</span></div><div data-key="SsaSsa" data-num="10" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Silver-haired, stooped and cerebral, Benedict could well influence the choice of a successor because he has molded the College of Cardinals — the papal electoral body — by his appointment of kindred spirits during his papacy.</span></div><div data-key="VlhVlh" data-num="11" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vatican lore has it that cardinals seen as front-runners in advance of the vote rarely triumph, and  Vatican-watchers say there is no clear favorite among several potential contenders: Cardinal Angelo Scola, the archbishop of Milan; Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the archbishop of Vienna; and Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the Canadian head of the Vatican’s office for bishops.</span></div><div data-key="ThaTha" data-num="12" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There have also been calls for a pope to be chosen from the developing world, home to half of the world’s Catholics.</span></div><div data-key="BtfBtf" data-num="13" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was elected on April 19, 2005.</span></div><div data-key="AanAan" data-num="14" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At a news conference, the Vatican spokesman said the pope did not express strong emotions as he made his announcement but spoke with “great dignity, great concentration and great understanding of the significance of the moment.”</span></div><div class="emActive emReady" data-key="FLsFLs" data-num="15" data-sentences="1" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span data-num="1" style="background-color: #f2f4f5;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Father Lombardi said that the pope would retire first to his summer residence in Castelgandolfo, in the hills outside Rome, and later at a monastery in Vatican City.</span></span></div><div class="emActive emReady" data-key="FLsFLs" data-num="15" data-sentences="1" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span data-num="1" style="background-color: #f2f4f5;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At the time of his election, Benedict was a popular choice within the college of 115 cardinals who chose him as a man who shared — and at times went beyond — the conservative theology of his predecessor and mentor, John Paul II, and seemed ready to take over the job after serving beside him for more than two decades.</span></span></span></div><div class="emActive emReady" data-key="FLsFLs" data-num="15" data-sentences="1" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span data-num="1" style="background-color: #f2f4f5;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></div><div data-key="ItfItf" data-num="2" itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the final years of John Paul II’s papacy, which were dogged by illness, Benedict, then Cardinal Ratzinger, said that if the pope “sees that he absolutely cannot do it anymore, then certainly he will resign.”</span></div><div data-key="WhtHha" data-num="3" itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">When he took office, Pope Benedict’s well known stands included the assertion that Catholicism is “true” and other religions are “deficient”; that the modern, secular world, especially in Europe, is spiritually weak; and that Catholicism is in competition with Islam. He had also strongly opposed homosexuality, the ordination of female priests and <a class="meta-classifier" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/stemcells/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" style="color: #666699;" title="Recent and archival health news about stem cells.">stem cell</a> research.</span></div><div data-key="BoAHwo" data-num="4" itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Born on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, in Bavaria, he grew up the son of a police officer. He was ordained in 1951, at age 24, and began his career as a liberal academic and theological adviser at the Second Vatican Council, supporting many efforts to make the church more open.</span></div><div data-key="BhmTtc" data-num="5" itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But he moved theologically and politically to the right. Pope Paul VI named him bishop of Munich in 1977 and appointed him a cardinal within three months. Taking the chief doctrinal job at the Vatican in 1981, he moved with vigor to quash liberation theology in Latin America, cracked down on liberal theologians and in 2000 wrote the Vatican document “Dominus Jesus,” asserting the truth of Catholic belief over others.</span></div><div data-key="TlpTlp" data-num="6" itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The last pope to resign was Gregory XII, who left the papacy in 1415 to end what was known as the Western Schism among several competitors for the papacy.</span></div><div data-key="BtwBtw" data-num="7" itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Benedict’s tenure was caught up in growing sexual abuse scandals in the Roman Catholic Church that crept ever closer to the Vatican itself.</span></div><div class="emActive emReady" data-key="IaoIao" data-num="8" data-sentences="1" itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-num="1" style="background-color: #f2f4f5;">In 2010, as outrage built over clerical abuses, some secular and liberal Catholic voices called for his resignation, their demands fueled by reports that laid part of the blame at his doorstep, citing his response both as a bishop long ago in Germany and as a cardinal heading the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles such cases</span>.</span></div><div class="emActive emReady" data-key="IaoIao" data-num="8" data-sentences="1" itemprop="articleBody" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"></div><div data-key="IodHct" data-num="9" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In one disclosure, news emerged that in 1985, when Benedict was Cardinal Ratzinger, he signed a letter putting off efforts to defrock a convicted child-molesting priest. He cited the priest’s relative youth but also the good of the church.</span></div><div data-key="VoaIac" data-num="10" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/r/roman_catholic_church/index.html?inline=nyt-org" style="color: #666699;" title="More articles about the Roman Catholic Church.">Vatican</a> officials and experts who follow the papacy dismissed the idea of his stepping down at the time. “There is no objective motive to think in terms of resignation, absolutely no motive,” said Father Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman. “It’s a completely unfounded idea.”</span></div><div data-key="FhsAea" data-num="11" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">For his supporters, it was a painful paradox that the long-gathering abuse scandal finally hit the Vatican with a vengeance under Benedict. As the leader of the powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he had been ahead of many of his peers in recognizing how deeply the church had been damaged by revelations that priests around the world had sexually abused youths for decades. As early as 2005, he obliquely referred to priestly abuse as a “filth in the church.”</span></div><div data-key="HwoBhc" data-num="12" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">He went on to apologize for the abuse and met with victims, a first for the papacy. But he could not escape the reality that the church had shielded priests accused of molesting, minimized behavior it would have otherwise deemed immoral and hid the misdeeds from the civil authorities, forestalling criminal prosecution.</span></div><div data-key="TctAhw" data-num="13" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> The church’s 265th pope, Benedict was the first German to hold the title in half a millennium, and his election was a milestone toward Germany’s spiritual renewal 60 years after <a class="meta-classifier" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/w/world_war_ii_/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" style="color: #666699;" title="More articles about Wold War II.">World War II</a> and the Holocaust. At 78, he was also the oldest new pope since 1730.</span></div><div data-key="TchAiw" data-num="14" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The church he inherited was in crisis, the sexual abuse scandal being its most vivid manifestation. It was an institution run by a largely European hierarchy overseeing a faithful largely residing in the developing world. And it was increasingly torn between its ancient, insular ways and the modern world.</span></div><div class="emActive emReady" data-key="FtcMwi" data-num="15" data-sentences="2" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-num="1" style="background-color: #f2f4f5;">For the church’s liberal elements, rather than being the answer to that crisis, Benedict’s election represented the problem: an out-of-step conservative European academic.</span> <span data-num="2" style="background-color: #f2f4f5;">Many wondered if he would be a mere caretaker, filling the post after the long papacy of the beloved John Paul until a younger, more dynamic heir could be elevated</span>.</span></div><div class="emActive emReady" data-key="FtcMwi" data-num="15" data-sentences="2" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">In 2006, less than two years into his papacy, Benedict stirred ire across the Muslim world, referring in a long, scholarly address to a conversation on the truths of Christianity and Islam that took place between a 14th-century Byzantine Christian emperor, Manuel II Paleologus, and a Persian scholar.</span></span></div><div class="emActive emReady" data-key="FtcMwi" data-num="15" data-sentences="2" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"></div><div data-key="TecHsI" data-num="2" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war,” the pope said. “He said, I quote, ‘Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.’ ”</span></div><div data-key="WmcHab" data-num="3" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">While making clear that he was quoting someone else, Benedict did not say whether he agreed. He also briefly discussed the Islamic concept of jihad, which he defined as “holy war,” and said that violence in the name of religion was contrary to God’s nature and to reason.</span></div><div data-key="BafHha" data-num="4" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Benedict also faced questioning by some critics about what he and others have said was his unwilling conscription into the Hitler Youth and the German Army during the Nazi era. He has also faced accusations that he displayed reticence and insensitivity about the Holocaust.</span></div><div data-key="IabHaA" data-num="5" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In a book-length interview in 1997, Benedict, then Cardinal Ratzinger, said, “As a seminarian, I was registered in the Hitler Youth.” He added, “As soon as I was out of the seminary, I never went back.”</span></div><div data-key="RiaRia" data-num="6" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Reared in a Catholic family in Bavaria, where the church was seen in many ways as a bulwark against Nazism, Benedict was later drafted into the German Army and served in an antiaircraft unit.</span></div><div class="emActive emReady" data-key="AphAye" data-num="7" data-sentences="1" itemprop="articleBody" style="line-height: 1.467em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-num="1" style="background-color: #f2f4f5;">As pope he visited Auschwitz in 2006 as a gesture of atonement, calling himself a “son of the German people.” A year earlier, on one of his first trips as pope, he visited the Cologne synagogue and marked the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, “in which millions of Jews — men, women and children — were put to death in the gas chambers and ovens.”</span></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div></h6></div>

Pope Benedic Pope Benedict XVI Says He Will Resign

By  ELISABETTA POVOLEDO  and  ALAN COWELL Published: February 11, 2013  From: http://www.nytimes.com ROME — Citing advanced years and infirm...

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The joy of writing

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPKvCXSxZTmGmisNEd5CAlfGmhjo9L8ig0uFHDveqnMO1a1M0r7e-62IouVXanTpDAUCTWW8IdsV_eaubuByooDShAaNsQ-ZO70xp3Qg8a4Az2kTJBZ3YibVuQ29B059UHt6ANNsYKRDU/s1024/Photo%252520Feb%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525208%25253A25%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: right; float: right; "><img alt="" class="alignright" height="667" id="blogsy-1360459832049.2124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPKvCXSxZTmGmisNEd5CAlfGmhjo9L8ig0uFHDveqnMO1a1M0r7e-62IouVXanTpDAUCTWW8IdsV_eaubuByooDShAaNsQ-ZO70xp3Qg8a4Az2kTJBZ3YibVuQ29B059UHt6ANNsYKRDU/s500/Photo%252520Feb%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525208%25253A25%252520PM.jpg" width="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Books are beautiful gifts... but you can write words to improve other's lives too.</td></tr></tbody></table> <blockquote><p> "No man is an island..."</p></blockquote> <p>These words were penned by John Donne as he thought he lay dying from the plague. Masterful words as he pondered the meaning of life and death 'for whom the bell tolls."</p> <p>Truly, some of the most heart wrenching, agonizing circumstances, squeeze from the pen of great authors words full of meaning that distill rich drops of life onto the pages of history.</p> <blockquote><p>"Never, never, never give up."</p></blockquote> <p>said Winston Churchill to a people who were pondering just that. The words meant so much because the nights were, quite literally, so black, punctuated by fiery death dropped from the sky and sirens that kept sleep at bay. Who could understand a sleep deprived people with tear encrusted eyes working through the day to live to face another unfaced foe again that night?</p> <p>Yet, the words became immortal when uttered at the darkest moment. They gave hope and stay written because they are repeated - this one is even on the magnet on my fridge as I teach my children to face the giants of their lives with pitiful stones and slings and a God who sees.</p> <p>But as I ponder the words of so many great authors. The things written that we remember... and I wonder if all such words must be penned in some sort of prison - a prison of circumstance or solitude. If one hopes to write well, are we also wishing upon ourselves such a prison? Are the walls we erect around ourselves in order to observe the world, also separating us from the mankind upon which we ponder and reflect.</p> <p>Writing is a gift and yet, there are times when I am deprived of her sweet release - stuck checking email or grading papers - I feel like my love of writing is a curse just because I can't do it. There are other times that things are so personal, that they are only suitable for journal -- indeed, that is what John Donne was writing. </p> <p>Yet, his words and conclusions as he traveled through the darkest days of his life have taught me so much. He eventually concluded that one must either fear God or everything else. Such a conclusion, perhaps, could only happen from days of torment, although as one who aspires to write, I wish it wasn't so.</p> <p>My own mortality raises her head at me as my body ages and small things happen... the little pop in my knee. The need to get progressive lenses and write everything down are reminders that I am at least changing in some way. </p> <p>Yet, the passion I feel for my students as they walk in my room is stronger than ever. The thing is, I am also a writer too. And I feel passion for anyone who chooses to read my meager words upon the cybersphere. I am not a John Donne lifting my head to write upon a creased page as I sweat and am bled of my life's marrow by physicians ill informed and even unable to properly diagnose my malady. No GK Chesterton writing tomes of ponderings for newspapers and ready to debate and captivate audiences or Winston Churchill laying out words late into the night to secretaries who will type and return the first draft the next day as he travels to state events and insults Lady Astor. I'm no Emily Browning writing her words alone or one of the Bronte geniuses writing of love and insanity. I'm no Hemingway, getting up at 3 am to write until heading out to fish around noon - although I have to admit that his existence is one that makes me most envious. I love to fish...and write.</p> <p>And yet, I realize, that the new form of writing - one which allows me to write and ponder in near real-time allows certain opportunities. While not truly a journal - surely my inner thoughts are not worthy of anyone but me and my Maker -- it is still somewhat a pondering of the current state of my life.</p> <p>I write as I am living through a turmoil and lava hot level of stress that no one could truly understand as I seek to be and remain a teacher. I type as I try to balance and keep those Baskerville Hounds that seek to voraciously gobble up my positive attitude so that the marrow of my being is consumed. I scribble down thoughts I attempt to stave off the pendulum that sometimes swings overhead as I alone detect its subtle lowering of the blade upon my ability to thrive amidst the chaos. </p> <p>As these struggles surround me - the network of cables tentacling through the campus like the demon beast in 20,000 leagues under the sea - or the extra curricular activities that scream into my brain like the locked up bride of Heathcliff when I'm trying to sleep. Or the precious children that I ponder daily as I plan lessons, teach, and assess and try to provide feedback that not only teaches my subject but will shape their lives.</p> <p> As I work to parent the three beautiful children in my care and feed them good, healthy food. As I climb Mt. Laundry feeling as lost as the passengers in "Alive" -a book that I read as a child and made me afraid to fly over snow capped mountains. As I work to juggle an online life that would easily choke me like the tentacles of the sea that wrapped around Jonah's throat when he was thrown overboard by a crew anxious to stave off an angry God. </p> <p>I watch for the threats to my peace of mind like the family in Swiss Family Robinson watched for the pirates they knew would come, and invariably, like them, those pirates come when I'm not looking.</p> <p>So, while I'm not all those other masterful authors - those men and women I admire. It is easy to forget that they were flesh and blood, just like me and you, writing admist the struggles and pressures of life. They didn't always want to write, but like the prophet Jeremiah perhaps the words were "shut up like fire in my bones, I tried to hold them back but I could not." I think of Peter Marshall, the amazing Irish pastor who settled in DC, perfectly formatting sermons that would live long after him, and his grieving young widow, Catherine, who would first write "A Man Called Peter" but proceed to have a career of her own writing such novels as "Christy." I think of Philip Yancey's long struggle with God and pain and penning the book "Soul Survivor" about how he reconciled his faith in God amidst a church that falls short that has helped me with my own heartache over my childhood church's departing from the Truth.</p> <p>As I ponder these great authors who have punctuated my own life with their beautiful words and prose. These people who reach through time and space like Dale Carnegie did for me as a child reading his book in the bathtub trying to figure out how to win that student government election in high school. </p> <p>These authors were great because they wrote from experience and had a somewhat creative genius of seeing the world. Indeed some of them got along better with the characters in their writing than with the humans in their lives (i.e. Tolstoy). </p> <p>Truthfully, my heroes have most often been speakers and authors - with a focus on the latter. From the author and finisher of my faith to the great authors of the ages - I just don't think there's enough time to read all of them. I'm so thankful that so many of the great works of the ages are converted and put on the amazon store for free so I can absorb their words as I absorb my hot bubble bath every night. Oh such mastery! Oh such beauty and such heartwrenching sadness. </p> <p>This has truly been a meandering piece and one I'm not sure I'll ever publish but one I write as I grapple with my small tiny place in this scene. For writers can write, but they truly become alive when readers read. While I write nonfiction, I'm no less tenacious about the words I choose and the stories I tell. I read the manuscripts I draft for publishers and when I tire, I mark red through the page and write "boring" in the margin and rework the page. </p> <p>I dream of writing and yet I write now. Even this, these are words. They are here for you to read or for you to ignore. For me, writing is a joy. As I sit here and type on my ipad and watch these letters appear upon my Blogsy app, I'm spellbound and captivated by the joy of expressing something to another person in the hopes that one person will read it.</p> <p>It makes it worth it to endure the criticism of the typos and run on sentences and fragments that I intentionally allow in blog posts. This blog is a conversation of types - albeit somewhat onesided, until I get the kind comment or email - or sometimes the irate comment or email -- who do I think I am, after all - a normal, average teacher in a very small town in a very tiny school on a very large globe? Really, who am I?</p> <p>It matters not who I am, but rather, what I do with what I have. My words are a love affair with other teachers who need encouragement and perhaps this post is a love affair with other writers -- anyone who writes a paragraph online in the hope that another will like, retweet, comment, or be inspired by. As for me, I live for those who send me messages that their lives are changed.</p> <p>A while back a woman wrote me a note that it had been since 2011 that she had been to school without being kicked or hit or bit by her special needs students. Struggling with an unsupportive admin, she came across a blog post that I wrote one day and saw the words "All you have is enough." She wrote it in sharpie and put it on her desk -- then soon replaced it with a paraphrase of "the Lord is my shepherd..." that related to the same thought. She said it got her through November and December.</p> <p>I want people to write things to help me get through February, March, April, and May this year. So, if that is what I want, that is what I'll try to be for you. You might need that encouragement too. You might need that glimmer of hope. </p> <p>Writing is such a powerful medium. The pen may be mightier than the sword but enough keyboards can defeat an army. We now have the ability to escalate and elevate the great writing among us faster than ever in the history of mankind. It is a dream that we will escalate good writing, I'm not sure that it is the case, but we can dream such a dream. And right now, with the embattled educators whose hearts and minds are cast aside by a society that has lost the art of respecting educators, we need keyboards to write the encouraging words that can transform this generation. </p> <p>Writing is a beautiful thing, but good writing is surreal. It lifts us from our struggles and helps us rise above the trials of life. I'm so grateful to live in an age when books are so accessible and little people like me can write and share with the world our thoughts, until, eventually, perhaps, we can become better writers worthy of a larger audience. Yet, just one improved and helped person is enough of an audience for any person. The first three months of my blog I had 7 readers, I loved those readers - they meant so much to me. I still think of them and wonder who they were. </p> <p>While the authors mentioned here are truly some of the greats, it is great to be an author of any kind in any place.</p> <p>Remember your noble calling, writer. I'm glad to be among you. Your words are very important and make a difference. Be the writer you want to see in the world, you live in a day where you can do that.</p> <p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

Writing The joy of writing

Books are beautiful gifts... but you can write words to improve other's lives too. "No man is an island..." These words wer...

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Can Do Kid review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deborah Luster founder of <a href="http://www.iamacandokid.com/">Can Do Kid's</a> noticed that there was a lack of products for young children that were focused on positive self esteem.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She set out for that void and wrote a book to inspire children called I Can Do Anything!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The book became the start of the company and called it Can Do Kid Inc.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all know being a kid can be tough especially with self esteem issues.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the books are a great way for dealing with these issues because of their motivating titles.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second book is titles "I am Happy Just The Way I am." is especially a great title because sometimes kids are made fun of early on in life and start to think of themselves badly.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are for children of all ages and not only do they have books they have protein bars as well!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was sent their books and the bars for a review!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfZUXf6SKt58hfp22Hw6jx4iuCMkJlyz6EO02jOkU7hOuQ7lSVrXdNyzVm-1lgg5A3YHPhMN-Tr3Ria5js38MKXtqytlC-Vxh2BVGpX6D8CzUYqnIJtTMYOX-cKyEXaH5Bd15gPZHrx4/s1600/Can+Do+Kid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfZUXf6SKt58hfp22Hw6jx4iuCMkJlyz6EO02jOkU7hOuQ7lSVrXdNyzVm-1lgg5A3YHPhMN-Tr3Ria5js38MKXtqytlC-Vxh2BVGpX6D8CzUYqnIJtTMYOX-cKyEXaH5Bd15gPZHrx4/s320/Can+Do+Kid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The protein bars were made by busy moms and their active kids!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going to soccer practice, girl scouts or a  swim meet?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't forget to pack your Can Do Kid bars !</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Created with the help of hundreds of kids and their moms.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sold at:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whole Foods</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">natural stores</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Independent stores</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Facts:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gluten free</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All natural</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved each flavor of these bars!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They were delicious, fixed my sweet tooth craving and they were in bite sized squares!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yum!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Chocolate Crunch:</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A rice crispy like center coated in milk chocolate, makes a sweet and delicious treat and not to mention healthy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Cookies & Cream:</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a creamy center with chocolate chips bathed in milk chocolate.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very delicious and if you have a craving for a cookies and cream candy bar this sweet healthy treat sure does the trick!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Can Illa Vanilla:</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A creamy delicious velvety white chocolate coated over a graham cracker like crust!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So good!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mom's I know you have got to be sneaking these for yourself!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shame on you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have bars for adults as well !</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">formulated with 11 grams of protein and all natural, gluten free and so delicious!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best thing of all is that your children's school can hold a fundraiser offering these bars!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How great is that?!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Want to learn more about them?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check them out at the sites below. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Can-Do-Kid-Inc/127394940509?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Can-Do-Kid-Inc/127394940509?fref=ts</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.iamacandokid.com/">http://www.iamacandokid.com/</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Can Do Kid review

Deborah Luster founder of  Can Do Kid's  noticed that there was a lack of products for young children that were focused on positive self...

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pom pom heart art

It was pointed out to me by Amelia (my 5 year old) that we don't have any Valentine's Day decorations. Now unless it is Christmas I've never really gotten into many decorations, but I'm not one to ever deny the wee ones some beauty. And what better excuse for afternoon crafts with the girls than Valentine's Day prep.<br /><br />I loved the <a href="http://blog.effortless-style.com/2012/12/diy-pom-pom-heart-pillow/" target="_blank">pom pom pillow that Camila</a> created (inspired by the always wonderful Anna Spiro) and thought it would be a great chance to use up the left over <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/12/childs-play-christmas-mantel.html" target="_blank">pom poms I had from Christmas</a>. But to involve the girls in the project I decided to include some finger painting.<br /><br />This canvas has been in the basement for quite some time. I can't remember what this project was for but obviously it didn't turn out very well. No sense in letting it go to waste.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rwWVs3xb7pYfnW5a9O2_T4w_yc5koLqjs7f0k2ozIGX5tuChzl0RvPIhHDf8dMeBK1AezZXsxbs-PGXdXP9Y1Ikh089XhN2L_GphVAJqVs8r9JrHMk0hLgpVuq1W5VYgLOJR9slrlsIG/s1600/HeartArtbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="523" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rwWVs3xb7pYfnW5a9O2_T4w_yc5koLqjs7f0k2ozIGX5tuChzl0RvPIhHDf8dMeBK1AezZXsxbs-PGXdXP9Y1Ikh089XhN2L_GphVAJqVs8r9JrHMk0hLgpVuq1W5VYgLOJR9slrlsIG/s640/HeartArtbefore.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The girls were given a choice between blue, pink or yellow.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94_rxv1QKTk6wMEycno-25Uk3Gq8orK6gjx9lcDy3WJ9VB_XxuYD_zQaQlvqmM2gVcS37zjRRcqwC0UXvBcY39MY7RHmgNAv8X8eNib5LCk2wpd0QCqPZd15WGzaNgJR9NjAmipYMj66r/s1600/HeartArtToddler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94_rxv1QKTk6wMEycno-25Uk3Gq8orK6gjx9lcDy3WJ9VB_XxuYD_zQaQlvqmM2gVcS37zjRRcqwC0UXvBcY39MY7RHmgNAv8X8eNib5LCk2wpd0QCqPZd15WGzaNgJR9NjAmipYMj66r/s640/HeartArtToddler.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />They chose blue.<br /><br />As with any good finger painting project, it didn't take long at all to get the canvas covered. My little artists did quite a fine job of creating layers and depth of color I think.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjxOtIp-tOiXfJ3RjsVZQEpqo9EADaDuwC_gOqtwIz-sVvJZQipt9VjqsxoP0eX367W1J_GVSYmJUKequCmIV0RDY194Ob-qpJDK0Pzs4scNdZbOXnEjEmCjsxyOlk3tuyNbRtcZxbizP/s1600/HeartArtFirst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjxOtIp-tOiXfJ3RjsVZQEpqo9EADaDuwC_gOqtwIz-sVvJZQipt9VjqsxoP0eX367W1J_GVSYmJUKequCmIV0RDY194Ob-qpJDK0Pzs4scNdZbOXnEjEmCjsxyOlk3tuyNbRtcZxbizP/s640/HeartArtFirst.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Next we created a heart to cut out<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThs2ASALvXj7Ay3WdrnOlQgKP6HzHg1k5E2ZdPeor-wcaDRZmhyphenhyphenmO-sTADoo4oSOddgn4WSVVRX79qRI3dYoADllT9EN0kW7GE_NbWTXCVaAl_s-hckqX330F8jSGopqnyEO9BeqrsbwF/s1600/HeartArtTemplate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThs2ASALvXj7Ay3WdrnOlQgKP6HzHg1k5E2ZdPeor-wcaDRZmhyphenhyphenmO-sTADoo4oSOddgn4WSVVRX79qRI3dYoADllT9EN0kW7GE_NbWTXCVaAl_s-hckqX330F8jSGopqnyEO9BeqrsbwF/s640/HeartArtTemplate.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />and positioned it on the canvas. I traced the heart with a blue pen so we would have a line to follow<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUvTvFLXxvtj_fXABfRqLTAiEClwCJTqxAs2lRp_1xpfLGGVaU2msLfe9sldRNeb_h4s1eRAegnaJTCeh4qeSpnGA2xGiL-uf-yvy717VhOrrxjZq340pmXkrxpcCAmJABlSIprV2aZ_P/s1600/HeartArttemplate2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUvTvFLXxvtj_fXABfRqLTAiEClwCJTqxAs2lRp_1xpfLGGVaU2msLfe9sldRNeb_h4s1eRAegnaJTCeh4qeSpnGA2xGiL-uf-yvy717VhOrrxjZq340pmXkrxpcCAmJABlSIprV2aZ_P/s640/HeartArttemplate2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />while Amelia laid out the colors in a pattern. (which isn't really a pattern at all but a word she loves to use)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUGUByqV-tu3m74Emsws4BcxD3JCaTnpBOOcLIp_u3dbAYpiIKMVdoqXeZcUN7WI1qd2yuCHr73qZjTsKsEb6g2NeNljcu_HoR2iXeyxFR54DdspEPx4cjniJKMfgMZA9yyUXxfKt_ufY/s1600/HeartArtLayout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUGUByqV-tu3m74Emsws4BcxD3JCaTnpBOOcLIp_u3dbAYpiIKMVdoqXeZcUN7WI1qd2yuCHr73qZjTsKsEb6g2NeNljcu_HoR2iXeyxFR54DdspEPx4cjniJKMfgMZA9yyUXxfKt_ufY/s640/HeartArtLayout.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the can kept the paper from moving</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Making sure to follow the outline, we put the glue gun to work.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFVvqOqQ-3zTAloHLc-ldaExVGe9dVPlC3Bx5SWZ9je4N2negwdyOC0uGphmdl4s6PPagw29YVhC3X24urhVkVvizzUH4aoMe6cwV7Vt6zX5ar_jHzg066WfbRv6m7EPC1jcSHxcqymKp/s1600/HeartArtinaction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFVvqOqQ-3zTAloHLc-ldaExVGe9dVPlC3Bx5SWZ9je4N2negwdyOC0uGphmdl4s6PPagw29YVhC3X24urhVkVvizzUH4aoMe6cwV7Vt6zX5ar_jHzg066WfbRv6m7EPC1jcSHxcqymKp/s640/HeartArtinaction.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />We made ourselves a fine little heart and the girls LOVED <strike>bossing</strike> telling me which pom pom to put where.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA396va-c496Pefs2dWsbeLPEl7pomPnOSy16c9MpTAXqQDvlaTNXFxrgWAsjIiR02ROuyCuGANennloB2ksmVrqAILTpktpGTPwbd9Qry3jjmiLEbTeTRr43QO9MUm_FI477hXtgapCUm/s1600/HeartArt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA396va-c496Pefs2dWsbeLPEl7pomPnOSy16c9MpTAXqQDvlaTNXFxrgWAsjIiR02ROuyCuGANennloB2ksmVrqAILTpktpGTPwbd9Qry3jjmiLEbTeTRr43QO9MUm_FI477hXtgapCUm/s640/HeartArt.jpg" width="570" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrp65AEMkwtbDRFsE5pkR0FuNEX22lccpYHAxlT5K2-P3tMGjs-kgU3LAIinsyftaEoDM-cUP8Y50mMqj_mqFA_Ovt8xrxlL2JjvifpYlmuo78qox-A9HiKaNWDZ6j6SA00CeHyfTRpTq/s1600/HeartArtCloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrp65AEMkwtbDRFsE5pkR0FuNEX22lccpYHAxlT5K2-P3tMGjs-kgU3LAIinsyftaEoDM-cUP8Y50mMqj_mqFA_Ovt8xrxlL2JjvifpYlmuo78qox-A9HiKaNWDZ6j6SA00CeHyfTRpTq/s640/HeartArtCloseup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJaDyYLhjuRXdW8l_r_N0_OhiV-PhZYyswkpoYaNvZvI_8E56WDl9RoLFP6q4cdG-vlFvsFdSqVinByOkekAsLwAigD9uaFiY3FPPZBUJtaEWBRWGMxYM6joElW1NnDekyn26aZDyZqn8/s1600/HeartArt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJaDyYLhjuRXdW8l_r_N0_OhiV-PhZYyswkpoYaNvZvI_8E56WDl9RoLFP6q4cdG-vlFvsFdSqVinByOkekAsLwAigD9uaFiY3FPPZBUJtaEWBRWGMxYM6joElW1NnDekyn26aZDyZqn8/s640/HeartArt2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />There was the last minute addition of a pink border around the frame after it was decided that there wasn't enough pink. And really, when is there ever enough pink, right?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3upJeuvXxcVVH2Jez5VOIqeUOhxIBvk6oiOB6q_j19SlYNI2dXaim9YfdsmojZ0awycg3MiDPZIzWaEydm0iSZQzEuqvfV1rLF071Ncl6sOR6CXaShwk8MxVgFVV4AI1sYAhDHRDEhfAj/s1600/HeartArtBorder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3upJeuvXxcVVH2Jez5VOIqeUOhxIBvk6oiOB6q_j19SlYNI2dXaim9YfdsmojZ0awycg3MiDPZIzWaEydm0iSZQzEuqvfV1rLF071Ncl6sOR6CXaShwk8MxVgFVV4AI1sYAhDHRDEhfAj/s640/HeartArtBorder.jpg" width="562" /></a></div><br />It is a hit with the girls and has been featured in about every room in the house. I might not be able to limit it to Valentine's Day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSawgGVKwspbMNn8XwrICrf1jXYqbJ1M_o-UeqxShxYXR5kGhHBSHOhnWNKAVI3wtfdQtfORkCxWPGmyiQmIZ0SYHsGTVl5nd1jMqXAZ86VVwlRr2Zdv8NlZ3m-EIkLDC_kgkKLPPhRBVw/s1600/HeartArtDIY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSawgGVKwspbMNn8XwrICrf1jXYqbJ1M_o-UeqxShxYXR5kGhHBSHOhnWNKAVI3wtfdQtfORkCxWPGmyiQmIZ0SYHsGTVl5nd1jMqXAZ86VVwlRr2Zdv8NlZ3m-EIkLDC_kgkKLPPhRBVw/s640/HeartArtDIY.jpg" width="580" /></a></div><br />Do you do much decorating for Valentine's Day? Do you even celebrate Valentine's Day? Do you have a babysitter you can send over on Thursday?<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoehywK9gNFAkJA5Y1f5PlH6RV-83gR07UJEcqpOe2wKaGY4IokmwyqIT_ul_UAYc-kkW6HKxsj3gvqPh67ndxJe1PUDrEeEV9PRv_JDRJI8v4x8vtxmv4Bxqg6s37M3LGL-if_0L7bCj/s1600/lovelycraftslinkysquare_zpsdbd1f974.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoehywK9gNFAkJA5Y1f5PlH6RV-83gR07UJEcqpOe2wKaGY4IokmwyqIT_ul_UAYc-kkW6HKxsj3gvqPh67ndxJe1PUDrEeEV9PRv_JDRJI8v4x8vtxmv4Bxqg6s37M3LGL-if_0L7bCj/s200/lovelycraftslinkysquare_zpsdbd1f974.jpeg" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bowerpowerblog.com/2013/02/lovely-wreath-linky-party/" target="_blank">Bower Power</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />

pom pom heart art

It was pointed out to me by Amelia (my 5 year old) that we don't have any Valentine's Day decorations. Now unless it is Christmas I&...

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It's SotU Time, Let's Party!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hola y’all! It’s time for the State of the Union again and I know you are as excited as I am. Don’t worry about the actual state of the union (Spoiler Alert: It’s shitty) or even if Obama thinks unemployment near 8% for the remainder of his presidency is just fine (Spoiler Alert: He does.).  That’s not what the SotU is about. It’s about getting together with friends and family and having a good time! What? You aren’t planning a SotU Soiree? Well you should be. And I’m here to help!<br /><br />Anyway, here are some ideas to help you enjoy State of the Union …<br /><br /><b>Take one drink every time …</b><br /><br />1. Obama gets a standing ovation from the democrats, but the republicans just sit there. <br />2. They show John McCain and he looks all pissed off.<br />3. John Boehner tears up.<br />4. Joe Biden appears to be nodding off. <br />5. They show Michelle Obama<br />6. Obama mentions jobs<br />7. Someone yells “YOU LIE” at Obama<br />8. They show Justice Scalia looking incredibly bored.<br />9. Obama uses some fake person in a small Midwestern town’s ordeal as an example of how we can do better.<br />10. Obama points out that the most challenging and important job he has is that of “Commander in Chief.”<br />11. He references God or Jesus.<br />12. Obama makes some vague reference to climate change<br />13. Affordable Care Act!<br />14. They show a celebrity sitting in the balcony<br />15. They show someone in uniform<br /><br /><b>Chug an entire beer if …</b><br /><br />1. Any of the Republicans or Supreme Court members flip Obama off.<br />2. Obama points at a black guy and calls him “Mah Nigga!”<br />3. Obama actually makes a specific proposal that might work!<br />4. The camera catching Joe Biden scratching his balls.<br /><br />Best snack food options for the SotU are gonna be a bit different from what you’d get at a Super Bowl party mostly because it starts a lot later. Just stick with some chips, cookies, candy of some kind, cupcakes, pie and maybe even ice cream. Be sure that it’s something that you can throw at the TV or spike on the floor in a fit of anger without doing any real damage though.<br /><br />If they happen to show American’s first OPENLY bi-sexual and atheist congresswoman Krysten Sinema of Arizona, say “how YOU doin’?” and then take a bite of both your burrito AND fish taco at the same time.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaO9lkM7lH0MQvN3B1pJ5TV1nGUJ9qgCO0AoQCmqhoGSgTrKmEAa8kuvNzDCTfxwMY_3Jaar7IerWAPZNRTFz3Ne0KanAZ0khiXnwhBotIXYAF6JVYXo1yVEQGIg9IgRjuNn6G-rHrLzk/s1600/Krysten-Sinema-Boobs-Hot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaO9lkM7lH0MQvN3B1pJ5TV1nGUJ9qgCO0AoQCmqhoGSgTrKmEAa8kuvNzDCTfxwMY_3Jaar7IerWAPZNRTFz3Ne0KanAZ0khiXnwhBotIXYAF6JVYXo1yVEQGIg9IgRjuNn6G-rHrLzk/s1600/Krysten-Sinema-Boobs-Hot.jpg" /></a></div><br />If <strike>you’re a RACIST</strike> you don’t really care about the SotU you can always watch a movie!<br /><br />How ‘bout “The Untouchables” set in Obama’s Chicago? (Editor’s note: Now that there are 8,491 murders being committed every single day in Chicago, the city’s correct full name is “Obama’s Chicago.”<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvobZAsiPz2vLq4sTRY4fMEfumkDTgRDHaOfOBnb-nIzRU0oTgdY2sNU23UDK8xwD8Gm238BiyEsEQYt-yEN7OJeel1_0pYkFlGSL9CCf5nu1OKUuRjuIIoH5ErDY9L2HBIvXBoMZEAhQ/s1600/The+Untouchables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvobZAsiPz2vLq4sTRY4fMEfumkDTgRDHaOfOBnb-nIzRU0oTgdY2sNU23UDK8xwD8Gm238BiyEsEQYt-yEN7OJeel1_0pYkFlGSL9CCf5nu1OKUuRjuIIoH5ErDY9L2HBIvXBoMZEAhQ/s320/The+Untouchables.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br />Or maybe “The Cincinnati Kid” for Speaker John Boehner’s hometown.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhGM7aiKSkOT6-LkiylxJ9S6qxXUtFzzcFD1e-kejrlDwKlYnTLeqf0iE4ouzSzoGnsxUdWrFrCANDbdlDZ8mkXyA9qyVHUpUSbcwTMlef9rnK5wUQKujsMG7nMbuq-bxQWC_kmRo_g0/s1600/The-Cincinnati-Kid.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhGM7aiKSkOT6-LkiylxJ9S6qxXUtFzzcFD1e-kejrlDwKlYnTLeqf0iE4ouzSzoGnsxUdWrFrCANDbdlDZ8mkXyA9qyVHUpUSbcwTMlef9rnK5wUQKujsMG7nMbuq-bxQWC_kmRo_g0/s320/The-Cincinnati-Kid.jpeg" width="229" /></a></div><br />If you prefer TV you can watch “The Bob Newhart Show” set in Obama’s Chicago<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherHWO6eJ4wim82I9LU5vIzVxYVRgIbkFB_UztbaPMH0ovTcgAXN5NDsMlLh_p_FM1J6zYTzknkxjOt78iFYYG1UQOKjCUJnYehvl9gobJJUK9D1ylSnoctPDngnN0BS9VnIJB2ko1ClA/s1600/the_bob_newhart_show-show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherHWO6eJ4wim82I9LU5vIzVxYVRgIbkFB_UztbaPMH0ovTcgAXN5NDsMlLh_p_FM1J6zYTzknkxjOt78iFYYG1UQOKjCUJnYehvl9gobJJUK9D1ylSnoctPDngnN0BS9VnIJB2ko1ClA/s320/the_bob_newhart_show-show.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Or of course, “WKRP in Cincinnati” for the Speaker who is a big Les Nessman fan.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid988vhJJjc8cKFQYp8Ru9kHa1S_6_hZ_XrOvq0vzaAl6UX0xNaSZt1inS2aKz4aOFWb8fO11vdFxLZWILaM9FSQsBC5ENNQWbI65yiwpPPX3s6Zh9_y2diIHg3J3H68dfE47fD0l3Iik/s1600/wkrp_in_cincinnati.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid988vhJJjc8cKFQYp8Ru9kHa1S_6_hZ_XrOvq0vzaAl6UX0xNaSZt1inS2aKz4aOFWb8fO11vdFxLZWILaM9FSQsBC5ENNQWbI65yiwpPPX3s6Zh9_y2diIHg3J3H68dfE47fD0l3Iik/s1600/wkrp_in_cincinnati.jpg" /></a></div><br />Or, crazy as it sounds you could just entertain yourself listening to Matt-Man and me talk about writing on I’m With Stupid! Hells yeah! We talk about our writing process, inspirations, tips and all kinds of funny and other charming stuff. You should totally check it out.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.adobe.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="105" id="143577" name="143577" width="210"><param name="movie" value="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fplaylist.aspx%3Fshow_id%3D4387595&autostart=false&bufferlength=5&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flashplayercallback.aspx" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf" flashvars="file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fplaylist.aspx%3Fshow_id%3D4387595&autostart=false&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=105&volume=80&corner=rounded" width="210" height="105" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" name="143577" id="143577" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;">Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid">Im With Stupid</a> on Blog Talk Radio </div><div></div><br /><br />Jayman<br /><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws" target="_blank">@Jayman_IWS</a><br /><br /><br /></div>

It's SotU Time, Let's Party!

Hola y’all! It’s time for the State of the Union again and I know you are as excited as I am. Don’t worry about the actual state of the unio...

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Unexpected Letter From ER Doctor May Make You Tear Up

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; "><div class="articleBody" itemprop="articleBody" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; text-indent: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; 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; "><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">True love and compassion aren't easy to ignore.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">This week, a 24-year-old Redditor <a href="http://imgur.com/gallery/pekfXzk" target="_hplink" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: underline; overflow: visible; color: rgb(0, 136, 195) !important; text-indent: 0px !important; outline: none; cursor: pointer; ">shared a letter</a> received just after the death of his mother. The event, despite being difficult, brought an unexpected source of condolence -- a personal note from a physician who had never contacted a patient's family before.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">"The letter was written for my father," he told The Huffington Post on Friday. "He stayed by her side until the very end."</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-variant: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">The letter reads:</span></p><blockquote style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 15px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 15px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); text-indent: 0px !important; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; background-color: rgb(245, 240, 227) !important; position: static; z-index: auto; ">Dear Mr. (removed),<p style="list-style: none; margin: 8px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">I am the Emergency Medicine physician who treated your wife Mrs (removed) last Sunday in the Emergency Department at (hospital). I learned only yesterday about her passing away and wanted to write to you to express my sadness. <strong style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-indent: 0px !important; ">In my twenty years as a doctor in the Emergency Room, I have never written to a patient</strong> or a family member, as our encounters are typically hurried and do not always allow for more personal interaction.</p><p style="list-style: none; margin: 8px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">However, in your case, <strong style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-indent: 0px !important; ">I felt a special connection to your wife</strong> (removed), who was so engaging and cheerful in spite of her illness and trouble breathing. I was also touched by the fact that you seemed to be a very loving couple. You were highly supportive of her, asking the right questions with calm, care and concern. From my experience as a physician, I find that the love and support of a spouse or a family member is the most soothing gift, bringing peace and serenity to those critically ill.</p><p style="list-style: none; margin: 8px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">I am sorry for your loss and I hope you can find comfort in the memory of your wife's great spirit and of your loving bond. My heartfelt condolences go out to you and your family.</p><p style="list-style: none; margin: 8px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">(removed), MD</p></blockquote><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">According to the Redditor, his mother had breast cancer. A month ago, breathing difficulties landed her in the hospital, and 16 hours later, she passed away.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">Surprisingly, the doctor who wrote the letter had never met or treated his mother until that day.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">"If my mother were alive to see this, she would want readers to reflect on the power of showing compassion towards a total stranger," he told HuffPost.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">"The support I got from Reddit was amazing -- doctors, nurses and other Redditors who have lost their mothers to cancer were all shocked and amazed that the doctor took the time to write such a heartfelt, meaningful letter," he added.</p></div><div style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-indent: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; 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); "></div><div style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-indent: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; 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); "></div></div><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/09/letter-from-er-doctor-sho_n_2649578.html?">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/09/letter-from-er-doctor-sho_n_2649578.html?</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Unexpected Letter From ER Doctor May Make You Tear Up

True love and compassion aren't easy to ignore. This week, a 24-year-old Redditor  shared a letter  received just after the death of his...

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28 in 28 #10: From the Ground Up

<a href="http://www.papress.com/html/book.details.page.tpl?isbn=9781616890926"><b><i>From the Ground Up: Innovative Green Homes </i></b></a> edited by Peggy Tully<br />Princeton Architectural Press, 2012<br />Hardcover, 160 pages<br /><br /><img alt="28-28_ground-up.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/28-28_ground-up.jpg" title="Book cover" /><br /><br />In 2008 the Syracuse University School of Architecture held the <a href="http://soa.syr.edu/events/2008/greenhomes/">From the Ground Up</a> design competition, asking participants to "provide a new model for formerly vital, urban residential neighborhoods throughout the United States through the creation of sustainable, affordable housing." Seven finalists were chosen from the more than 50 entries, and three of them were built—the R-House designed by ARO and Della Valle Bernheimer, COOKFOX's Live/Work/Home, and the TED House designed by Onion Flats. This book primarily serves to present the three houses as completed and now occupied, while also sharing the other four finalists, getting input on the process from then dean Mark Robbins and hearing some big-picture thoughts from Michael Sorkin and architectural historian Susan Henderson.<br /><br />The title is part of the handsomely made New City Books series from Syracuse SOA and Princeton Architectural Press. Each title examines conditions in Syracuse and other cities, seeing how architecture responds to urban areas and can improve them through landscapes, infill, green building, and other means. The bulk of <i>From the Ground Up</i> may be three houses totaling less than 4,000 square feet, but they are part of this larger goal, both in terms of infilling a disinvested part of Syracuse and in the creation of houses that use less energy and offer smaller footprints than the average (oversized) American house. The book is thorough and tracks each project from the competition drawings to snapshots of the house's owners, a fairly uncommon documentation for some uncommon houses.<br /><br /><b>US: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890924/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1616890924&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.com" border="0" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan.gif" /></a> CA: <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1616890924/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1616890924&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.ca" border="0" height="28" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan-ca.gif" width="90" /></a> UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1616890924/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1616890924&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.co.uk" border="0" height="28" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan-uk.gif" width="90" /></a></b>

28 in 28 #10: From the Ground Up

From the Ground Up: Innovative Green Homes edited by Peggy Tully Princeton Architectural Press, 2012 Hardcover, 160 pages In 2008 the Syrac...

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Blizzard 2013

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am back!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Had the power off for a few days because of the huge snow storm we got.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope everyone is doing well!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Missed you all! </span></div>

Blizzard 2013

I am back! Had the power off for a few days because of the huge snow storm we got. Hope everyone is doing well! Missed you all! 

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Bob Marley Birthday: Reggae Singer Would Have Turned 68 Today (PHOTOS)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Huffington Post</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">  |  By </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leigh-blickley" rel="author" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #999999; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Leigh Blickley</a><br />From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com<br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Feb. 6, 2013, would have been Bob Marley's 68th birthday.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/279067/slide_279067_2069320_free.jpg?1360159499325" /></div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">The beloved Jamaican singer died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36, but <a href="http://www.bobmarley.com/" style="border: none; color: #7c1417; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">his legacy lives on through his music</a>. Marley is credited with helping spread both reggae sounds and the Rastafari movement to a worldwide audience throughout his 18 years in the business.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">According to Urban Islandz, "Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers," which was released three years after his death, <a href="http://urbanislandz.com/2013/02/06/birthday-dopeness-bob-marley-would-be-68-today/" style="border: none; color: #7c1417; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">is reggae's biggest selling album to date</a>, with more than 10 million copies sold in the United States and an estimated 25 million worldwide. And that's no surprise.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Despite his absence, Marley has continued to garner success, being honored with such awards as <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/yawns-greet-bbc-millennium-lineup-738983.html" style="border: none; color: #7c1417; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">BBC’s song of the millenium</a> for "One Love" and getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Also in 1999, Time Magazine named Bob Marley & The Wailers' "Exodus" as <a href="http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070729/news/news6.html" style="border: none; color: #7c1417; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">the greatest album of the 20th century</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Last year, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/20/ziggy-marley-bob-marley-documentary-extramarital-affairs_n_1440997.html" style="border: none; color: #7c1417; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Ziggy Marley talked to The Huffington Post</a> about the first-ever family authorized documentary, "Marley," chronicling the life and times of his legendary father. Ziggy explained another date that is associated with the global icon, saying, "I think 4/20 is a special day. Of course, with our culture we use herb for so many different things, not just for smoking. I think it’s something that we’re not going to hide from, and I think it’s appropriate because it’s a part of our culture and a part of Bob’s music. If you love Bob’s music, well guess what, herb is a part of Bob’s music."</div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Marley is survived by Ziggy and his 10 other children, Sharon, Cedella, Stephen, Robbie, Rohan, Karen, Stephanie, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian.</div></div>

Bob Marley Birthday: Reggae Singer Would Have Turned 68 Today (PHOTOS)

The Huffington Post   |  By  Leigh Blickley From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com Feb. 6, 2013, would have been Bob Marley's 68th birthday...

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