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Guest Post: Why Ask Why and An Art Teacher’s Potential

Today, Oklahomans for the Arts features a guest post from Tulsa Arts Advocacy Captain, Britt Greenwood. The essay takes the form of an appeal to arts educators as the Tulsa artist and blogger explores, “Why ask why?”

What is the responsibility of a teacher in the arts? It is as objective of a question as “Define art.”

A teacher can follow the syllabus and nothing more.  A teacher can teach only on the HOW — techniques within their allotted mediums.

Diverging from the mainstream for a moment, let’s pursue a hypothetical WHAT IF, starting by answering the question:

WHY are you an artist?

Remember, you are foremost artists, musicians, performers and then pass on your craft by assuming a teaching position.

Next question:

WHY are you a teacher of the arts?

More than likely, the reasons you teach exceed monetary gain.  If it is only to receive a paycheck, maybe you should rethink your career because our Oklahoma students need and deserve more.

The Hypothetical:

WHAT IF all fine art teachers took their positions one step further
by simultaneously teaching on THE WHY behind the arts?

What is The why? Below are measurable and immeasurable reasons we need the arts.  As instructors of the arts, you are creative and can find creative and impacting ways to share The Why without diverging from your required lesson plans.

Artist and Arts Teacher Patrick Riley draws City Arts Center PR Director Rob Crissinger | Arts Day at the Capitol 2012

Personal Impacts
Art changes and challenges ideas, stereotypes, ideologies.  In turn, art creates open minds, out-of-the-box thinkers, innovators and creators.  Art inspires. Art can provide self-worth and a sense of accomplishment.

Educational Impacts
The arts play a central role in cognitive, motor, language and social-emotional developments.  They motivate and engage children in learning, stimulate memory, facilitate understanding, enhance symbolic communication, promote relationships and provide an avenue for building competence. (Next to Mathematics, Albert Einstein’s second passion was music, preferably Mozart).  Art decrease young people’s involvement in delinquent behavior, enhances academic outcomes for disadvantaged children and improves students’ attitudes about themselves for their future.

Economic Impacts
In Oklahoma, the arts industry generates $314.8 million in local economic activity.  Non-profits spend $176.5 million and $138.3 million is spent by audiences.  More than 40,000 are employed by creative industries in our state, and nation-wide, creative industries make up 4.3 percent of all businesses and 2.2 percent of employees.

Cultural Impacts
Public art speaks for cities — how much cities value culture and attract new businesses and people bringing tourism our public art attractions as well as museums, galleries and performances.  Art is also an expression of our heritage which in turn, teaches citizens about Oklahoma history.

Why Share The Why:

Oklahoma and the United States has, is and will be fighting for our creative future.  Public funds are being cut and potentially face larger cuts as each year passes.

In schools, as funding decreases, art programs are often eliminated, leaving teachers out of a job and students devoid of the opportunity to ever know they have creative potential.

Statewide non-profit art organizations are affected — these organizations, which your students are currently part of, or one day wish to be, may not remain as viable because decreased public funding can bulldoze art non-profits.

How do people obtain the ability think beyond their small circles of familiarity?  They are taught, of course; exposed to alternate ideas and different ways of thinking.  The decision makers in our state, those who control how much money is allocated towards the arts and education, all can be found in their own circle of familiarity and it is up to citizens to teach them.  Teachers have the ability to reach hundreds of students a year.  One-thousand teachers instructing 100 students a year is a reach of 100,000 students.

Implementing an understanding of the power we have as citizens is critical.  What better life lesson than a student to see their influencers, (you), pursue a cause, take action and see results.  These students are our future legislatures, activists, philanthropists and leaders if they are taught to be.  Give yourself and them something to fight for.

How to Share the Why
Utilize and support your states arts advocacy group:  Oklahomans for the Arts, (OFTA).  The WHY behind art is what drives OFTA.  Teach your students about OFTA.

Talk to people about arts advocacy and encourage students to do the same.

Introduce yourself to decision makers.  Share specific examples of how art has changed your students or encourage students visit local legislatures.  It takes as little as three emails and phone calls from constituents for a legislature to reconsider how he/she will vote on a bill.

Vote and encourage students to participate in voting after being registered.

Help campaigns go viral via social media and share these campaigns with students.

OFTA can be utilized as a tool in your advocating with keeping you updated on the current condition of art funding, who is voting against/for the arts, calls to actions, Arts Day at the Capitol and access to arts impact data.  OFTA advocates during the legislative session.

Later this week: Britt will share some special letters from art teachers at Tulsa’s East Central Public School.

You can keep up with Britt on her blog, Tulsa Art Spot


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My First Interview!

Okay, so they title is a little vague, but long titles can be … blah. Right?  The situation at hand:  I conducted my first interview as a writer for Landscape Architects Network!  I usually write articles, and I’ve gotten into the groove of writing Top 10 articles – for some reason, I feel more comfortable with them.  So when I saw this opportunity posted in our team’s community board, I wanted to take the challenge!  And let me teeeeeell you, I was nervous about it.  I researched how to conduct interviews, and read a lot that was helpful.  The most helpful part?  Just DOING IT!  I don’t know why I don’t take my own advice sometimes… I even have “Nikn” tattooed on myself – it is the greek word for victory, and has link to the greek god Nike Athena, and the shoe company Nike, whose motto is JUST DO IT, and happens to be my favorite quote.  There’s a mouthful of advertising for ya!  Anywho… I’m all off subject.  Check out the article I wrote after interviewing the guys, Brian & Jason, at Good Fucking Design Advice.  It really was an honor to interview them and learn more about them and the background of their amazing website!

Some writers from Landscape Architects Network taking the GFDA pledge.

Check out the article here.

Until next time, Ci Vediamo!!!

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A Quick Guide to Renting in Singapore

If you’re one of the many who are looking to rent a property here in Singapore, then look no further than our Ohmyhome app. Specifically created to cater to both tenants and landlords alike, it is a free online platform that can facilitate communication between people who want to deal in their properties.

If you want to learn how to use it, read this.

How to Rent in Singapore

Check Eligibility

After validating the landlord by asking for proof of ownership, aspiring tenants must first check if they are even qualified to rent an HDB flat or room. In order to pass the requirements, they must be any of the following:

  • A Singaporean citizen
  • A Singaporean Permanent Resident
  • A non-citizen living in Singapore who holds an Employee Pass, an S Pass, a Work Permit, a Student Pass, a Dependent Pass, or a Long-Term Social Visit Pass. It must be valid for at least 6 months at the date of application or registration.
  • Not be a tourist .

Prove Flat Ownership

Before getting into negotiations, it would be best if you could completely ensure that the flat owner is who says he is. You can do this by requesting them for proof of their ownership. Owners can do this by visiting the MyHDB Page and printing their confirmation found within after signing in.

Set Up the Arrangement

When the duration and the price has been settled, then the owner must produce an inventory list. On the other hand, the tenant must be able to pay a deposit – usually a month of a year’s lease – and advanced rental once the agreement is finalized. The last step is to then pay stamp duty.

Flats and Rooms for Rent in Singapore

Tips When Renting:

Scout Safely

There’s nothing with taking precautions to ensure that your transaction will go smoothly. Before renting a flat or a room, it would be best if the tenant could:

  • Tour the flat before agreeing to anything. This will both verify its existence and ensure that the tenant will be getting what they believe they are paying for.
  • Visit the flat during the day in order to be able to inspect properly. Make sure to never go alone as there is safety in numbers.
  • Research about the property’s ads in depth as it could potentially uncover signs that it could be a scam.
  • Never had over payment unless a tenancy agreement has been agreed upon in full.

Choose Wisely

  • Aspiring tenants should take it upon themselves to inspect the surrounding properties. Make sure that their rates are no more than 10% of what the landlord charges.
  • A common mistake among those who are still in the scouting stage is that they do not compare properties that are the same. Singapore’s HDB flats come in different varieties and to the untrained eye it may be a challenge to differentiate one from the other; learn more about HDB Flat types here.
  • Get to know the property by asking other tenants about what it’s like to live there. They can provide a truly in-depth description of what it’s like to live in that area.
  • Decide on whether or not a fully furnished, semi-furnished, or completely unfurnished flat is enough. Only claim what is needed.

Check the Inventory of Contents

  • This is a common source of dispute for many, which is why ensuring the list is well-made is essential.
  • Provided by the landlord, it is a complete list of all the items on the property. Tenants should check whether or not the list is accurately done as it will stand as the official go-to document should a dispute arise.
  • Landlords must be able to accurately state where each and every item is placed in accordance with the list.


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Mad For Middle Grade: Coming Up Next

Welcome to MAD FOR MIDDLE GRADE!  We’re here the first Monday of every month, discussing middle grade writing, chatting about from our favorite middle grade books, introducing our own middle grade titles, sharing middle grade writing advice, and generally obsess over everything middle grade!

This is our VERY LAST POST! Thank you, readers, for taking this middle grade debut journey with us–we’ve been so extraordinarily grateful for all of your support. Since this is our last post, we wanted talk about what’s happening on the horizon for us, so you’ll be able to find us in the future!

Question: Talk about what’s coming next for you!

StolenMoon-1Rachel Searles
Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan

Rachel Searles is prepping for the January 27th release of her sequel, THE STOLEN MOON (which has already received a starred review from Kirkus, hooray!). She’s excited to add that THE LOST PLANET (available in paperback Jan. 27th) has been chosen for the 2015-2016 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List. Rachel will be spending the next year working on new projects and seeking the elusive balance between making time for writing and caring for a new baby. Keep up with Rachel at www.rachelsearles.com or @RachelSearles

Matt LondonUnknown

Matt London is hard at work to bring you the continuing adventures of the Lane family. Book 2 in the series, THE 8TH CONTINENT: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE, comes out February 24th, 2015. Book 3, BORN TO BE WILD, will be released later that year, in August. Beyond that, well, let’s just say there’s a continent’s worth of stories to tell. In the meantime, you can find Matt at www.themattlondon.com or on Twitter @themattlondon.

Paul Durham

This fall and winter Paul Durham is visiting schools and bookstores throughout New England to talk about THE LUCK UGLIES. The second book in the trilogy, THE LUCK UGLIES: FORK TONGUE CHARMERS, arrives on March 17, 2015, and he will be packing his bags for national tour stops in far-flung places such as Houston, Austin, San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon. In the meantime, Paul is writing the third book in the series, which will be released in Spring 2016. You can check in on Paul’s Luck Uglies news and occasional ramblings at www.pauldurhambooks.com, on facebook at www.facebook.com/pauldurhambooks, or on twitter @pauldurhambooks.

Louise Galveston

Louise Galveston is excited to announce that By the Grace of Todd is a 2015-2016 Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee and will be available in paperback next month (Jan. 2015). The little Toddlians set off to find a more responsible god in the sequel, In Todd We Trust, which releases on St. Patrick’s Day. Louise and her family will be welcoming a new little person into their lives early this summer, but the title of that masterpiece is yet to be determined. You can keep up with Louise’s news and schedule of appearances at www.bythegraceoftodd.com and www.louisegalveston.blogspot.com. Follow her on Twitter @LouiseGalveston

Kate HanniganCC2 Summer Showers Cover short medium

Kate Hannigan will be coming out with a sequel to her early middle-grade novel CUPCAKE COUSINS (Disney-Hyperion) in June 2015. Titled CUPCAKE COUSINS: SUMMER SHOWERS, it follows more adventures with Willow and Delia on their lakeside vacation. The cousins are ready to help with Aunt Rosie’s baby shower, but with Willow’s hand injured, no one seems to think they can do anything in the kitchen. They face meddling big sisters, a County Fair cooking contest, lost family heirlooms, and more. Book 3 in the series publishes in September 2016.

Detectives Assistant cover websiteKate’s historical fiction for middle-grade readers, THE DETECTIVE’S ASSISTANT, publishes in April 2015 with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers–marking the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Set just before the Civil War and inspired by America’s first real-life female detective, Kate Warne, it tells the story of 11-year-old Nell who untangles her own family’s mysteries while helping out her aunt with her detective work. It features ciphers and puzzles, as well as hair-raising thrills, as Nell and Kate Warne take part in cases that have nation-changing consequences.

Visit Kate online at http://KateHannigan.com.

Tara DairmanStars of Summer__FINAL CVR

For Tara Dairman, next year is looking to be just as delicious as this one was! Gladys Gatsby’s restaurant-reviewing adventures will continue in THE STARS OF SUMMER (sequel to ALL FOUR STARS), which comes out on May 5, 2015. You can find out more about it, add it on GoodReads, or preorder it here: http://taradairman.com/2014/10/14/sequel-title-cover-reveal-the-stars-of-summer/

Jen Malone
Aladdin/Simon & Schuster

With her debut year in the rearview window, Jen is happy to kick back and enjoy the role of “established author” (hahahahahahaha).  Jen’s new series You’re Invited  (co-written with Gail Nall)YOU'RE INVITED launches with book one on May 19th and follows four tween girls who form a party-planning business out of their abandoned sailboat clubhouse.  Needless to say, the parties do NOT go as planned. It’s been described as “hitting that sweet spot between Babysitter’s Club and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.”

Also publishing next summer is Jen’s YA with HarperImpulse entitled Map to the Stars. It tells the story of a down-to-earth girl stuck accompanying a teen star on the European promotional tour of his new movie. A “momager”, an annoying assistant, a security team, and rabid fans are plenty to navigate as the two explore a romance, but when the paparazzi hits the scene, things get really sticky.

Both are available for preorder here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jen+malone

You can follow more adventures at www.jenmalonewrites.com or @jenmalonewrites

Gayle Rosengren

This has been an incredible year with so many “firsts” that it’s hard to imagine another time that will Unknown-2equal it for excitement, unless…*drum roll*… it’s the release of my second book! My middle grade novel, COLD WAR ON MAPLEWOOD STREET will be published (again by Putnam/Penguin/Random House) in early August.  It’s about 12 year-old Joanna’s experiences during the week of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, and it speaks to growing up in a world full of uncertainty.

In addition, I’ll be kicking off the New Year with a very special event in Batavia, Illinois at Grace McWayne Elementary School, as the featured author at their first ever Family Reading Night.  On February 5th I’ll be signing books at the annual WSRA  (Wisconsin State Reading Association) conference in Milwaukee. And other events are in the works, so it’s already plain to see that 2015 is going to be yet another amazing year.  I couldn’t be happier!

Gayle would love for you to visit her website at www.gaylerosengren.com and follow her on Twitter @GayleRosengren

HookCover_frontonly_72Heidi Schulz

Heidi Schulz will not be hanging up her cutlass anytime soon. Her sequel to Hook’s Revenge, Hook’s Revenge: The Pirate Code, will be out next fall followed by her picture book debut, Giraffes Ruin Everything, in Spring 2016. Other future plans include finally getting around to painting the no-longer-new trim around her windows and eating pie. Catch up with her on twitter (@HeidiSchulz) or on HeidiSchulzBooks.com

Jennifer Downey

Jen Swann Downey is looking forward to the rapid regeneration of her fingertips which sadly wore away to bloody stumps during the drafting for THE NINJA LIBRARIANS: A SWORD IN THE STACKS. The sequel will release in late 2015, a few months after the paperback release of the first book in the series, THE NINJA LIBRARIANS: THE ACCIDENTAL KEYHAND. She is also hoping to remember to frolic more along dark moonlit streets, and solve all of her family’s single sock riddles. Thanks to the readers of the OneFourKidLit posts for paying attention to all of us as we rode out on our book steeds. Hope we gave something back. Come on over and visit at www.jenswanndowney.com or https://www.facebook.com/JenSwannDowney

Unknown-3Jennifer Torres
Speeding Star

These days Jennifer Torres arrives at her desk promptly at  5 a.m. each morning (before the kids get up) to work on her next project, a middle-grade fantasy/mystery called SPELL’S CANOE. She continues to visit schools, libraries and bookstores promoting her debut series, THE BRINY DEEP MYSTERIES.  Jennifer is also working on a new series of biographies for Rosen Publishers to be released in 2015. Keep up with Jennifer at www.authorjennifertorres.com and on Twitter @Jenn__Torres.

Rebecca BehrensWhen Audrey Met Alice final cover

Rebecca Behrens is looking forward to Audrey meeting Alice again, when the paperback edition of When Audrey Met Alice is released in May 2015. Her next book, Summer of Lost and Found, will be published by Egmont USA in early 2016. She has a short story, “Thatagirl!” running in Scholastic Scope next spring–and another one inCricket, too! In the meantime, she’s visiting schools and libraries, teaching workshops, and (slowly) writing something new. Follow her on twitter (@rebeccabehrens) or visit her online at www.rebeccabehrens.com.

Lauren Magaziner

Here’s what’s coming up next for Witchling Lauren:

1. Paperback release of The Only Thing Worse Than Witches in August 2015.
2. Book #2 scheduled to release in early 2016. While there is no definitive title (yet), Lauren can tell you that it’s about a whimsically weird school for thieves, muggers, robbers, burglars, crooks, and otherwise intolerable criminals. She’s hoping that Pilfer Academy will steal your heart. *ba-dum-tss*
3. Practicing her evil laughter
Muahahahahahaha*hacking coughs*

Follow her misadventures at http://laurenmagaziner.com/ or on twitter @laurenmagaziner.

caminarSkila Brown
Candlewick Press

Skila Brown is hard at work on her next middle grade story. In the mean time, she’ll have two new books out in the spring of 2016 with Candlewick Press: a picture book collection of shark poems, Slickety Quick, and a verse novel for teens about the ill-fated Donner Party, With the End in Sight.

Dana Alison Levy18769364
Delacorte/Random House

Dana Alison Levy is delighted to continue romping with the Fletchers! The sequel, A FLETCHER FAMILY SUMMER, is due out spring 2016. When not trying to keep Sam, Jax, Eli, and Frog out of trouble, Dana will be working on more books for kids and teens, and might occasionally remember to do laundry. You can find her at www.danaalisonlevy.com, where she rarely talks about herself in the third person.

SecretHumofaDaisy paperbackTracy Holczer

Tracy Holczer’s novel, THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY, releases in paperback on May 1, 2015, and she is fiercely working on novel number two. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SMALL THINGS is about eleven-year-old Samantha Rossi who writes down small observations about life in order to face all the big things she can’t quite handle. Like her surgeon father coming home from Vietnam a different person, and her best friend choosing to start a Stewardess Club instead of joining the Odyssey Project the way they’d planned. It’s a story about heroes, the big and the small. It’s due out in May, 2016.

UnderTheEggLaura Marx Fitzgerald

Laura Marx Fitzgerald is hard at work at her second novel, due out in 2016 from Dial/Penguin. Tentatively titled THE GALLERY, this middle-grade mystery takes us to New York in the Roaring Twenties where a young maid discovers an heiress’s secrets through her mysterious art collection. Laura is also busy with school visits and field trips, where she is delighted to share the many real-life mysteries of the art world with elementary and middle school kids. Visit Laura at her website LauraMarxFitzgerald.com for more about writing, art, and history.

Laura looks forward to the paperback release and audiobook releases of UNDER THE EGG in spring 2015.

Q&H cover from onlineAdriana Brad Schanen

Adriana Brad Schanen has been visiting schools and book clubs with her debut early middle grade novel, Quinny & Hopper, which was selected as a TLA Bluebonnet Award Reading List book and picked up by Scholastic for 2015 book fairs and newsletters. She has several MG and YA projects in progress.

Check out her website in early 2015 for official news of the publication of her second book — she’s bursting to share it! adrianabradschanen.com

HopeIsRobin Herrera
Amulet Books

Robin Herrera is currently finishing up what will hopefully be her second book, a humorous young adult novel set in 1990. In the meantime, she’ll continue to edit comics and graphic novels. You might catch her at the annual ALA conference in San Francisco, but for the most part she’ll be staying home in Oregon. 2015 will probably be the year Robin goes to the dentist. She is not looking forward to it.

Visit her online at robinherrera.com or on Twitter @herreracus.

Well, that’s it from us, folks! Thanks so much for tuning in this past year and a half, and be sure to check out our archives for more of our splendiferous posts.

And now we shall ceremoniously pass the baton to our 2015 middle grade debut friends in the Fearless Fifteeners group! May your journeys be full of wonder and MAGIC!

TTFN–Ta ta for now!

Lauren Magaziner is a 4th grader at heart, watches way too much TV, and loves to steal people’s toes to make Toecorn, which tastes like chewy, meaty popcorn. Only one of those is true. (Okay… you caught me. They’re all true.) Her MG debut THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN WITCHES—about a boy who becomes a witchling’s apprentice in a town full of dangerous, Toecorn-loving witches—is available now from Dial/Penguin.


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Bruzio Manzocchi

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John Tavener

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Sir John Tavener (born 1944), a contemporary British composer, is perhaps the most prominent Orthodox composer in the Western world today. Sometimes described as a "minimalist", he is a descendant of the English choral composer and organist John Taverner (1495-1545). Bringing Orthodox tradition to bear on his own work, he speaks of his music as being "icons in sound."

Early life and work

Presbyterian by birth, Tavener was born into a religious family. On a music scholarship he studied piano and organ at London's Highgate School and then at the Royal Academy of Music. In the 1960s, while desiring to make a name as a concert pianist, he was also serving as organist of a Presbyterian church in Kensington. Tavener burst onto the wider contemporary classical music scene in 1968 when his cantata The Whale was performed by the London Sinfonietta. Soon The Whale was heard by Ringo Starr and the Beatles decided to add it to their Apple recording label. Soon other of his works were also released, such as Celtic Requiem and Nomine Jesu. In 1969 he became professor of musical composition at Trinity College. Tavener's early work reflects much 20th century innovation and iconoclasm. In 1977 this was to radically change.

Conversion to Orthodoxy and subsequent work

In 1977 Tavener converted to Orthodoxy, joining the Russian Church in Britain, having first been introduced to Orthodoxy in Greece through his first wife. Since 1991, the English nun Mother Thekla has been his spiritual mentor and has contributed some of the texts of his many works.

Some of his prominent works since becoming Orthodox include The Akathist of Thanksgiving, written in celebration of the millennium of the Russian Orthodox Church, The Protecting Veil and Song For Athene (sung at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales). After Diana's death in 1997 he composed Eternity's Sunrise, based on poetry of William Blake, and dedicated it to her memory.

In 2003 Tavener composed his monumental work The Veil of the Temple (performed by four choirs, several orchestras and soloists, lasting seven hours) based upon texts from the book "Medieval and Renaissance Serbian Poetry 1200-1700" written by Predrag R. Dragić Kijuk. While his early music was influenced by late Stravinsky, often invoking the sound world of the Requiem Canticles and A Sermon, A Narrative and a Prayer, his recent music is spare, uses wide registral space, and is often diatonically tonal. Some commentators see a similarity to the works of Arvo Pärt, from the obvious common religious tradition to the technical details of phrase lengths, diatonicism, and coloristic percussion effects. Messiaen is also arguably a strong influence throughout his career.

John Tavener was knighted by Queen Elizabeth for his services to music in the 2000. He is a friend of Charles, the prince of Wales, who himself has drawn on the spirituality of the Orthodox Church and is a frequent pilgrim to Mount Athos. In honor of the prince, Tavener wrote a setting of the "Many Years" in honor of his 50th birthday.

For inspiration, Tavener drinks from a deep well, which includes a wide variety of sources. Father Seraphim Rose, Elizabethan poet John Donne, Catholic mystic St. John of the Cross, Greek folk traditions, William Blake and Dostoyevsky are all drawn on, in addition to the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church.

According to some sources, Tavener has been estranged from the Orthodox Church and Mother Thekla. [1]

This article or section is a stub (i.e., in need of additional material). You can help OrthodoxWiki by expanding it.

Some material for this entry is taken from the Wikipedia article of the same name.

External links

Further reading

  • Geoffrey Haydon, John Tavener: Glimpses of Paradise (Gollancz, 1995)
  • Brian Keeble, ed. The Music of Silence: A Composer's Testament (Faber & Faber, 1999)
  • John Tavener (with Mother Thekla), Ikons (HarperCollins, 1994)


text:
Mississippi Hypocrisy

Isaiah J. Poole

A $3.7 billion program that channels federal money to local communities for projects designed to improve blighted areas and help produce jobs has been in the Bush administration crosshairs almost from the day the administration took office. The Bushies never liked the Community Development Block Grant program, and has justified trying to kill it by rating it “ineffective.” But killing it outright has been a step too far for even some Republicans on Capitol Hill, who have seen it as at least a convenient channel for pork-barrel spending in their districts and have thus helped Democrats keep it on life support.

So, unable to kill it—it is expected to get about $3 billion in fiscal 2008, down from $4 billion two years ago—the Office of Management and Budget keeps railing about how funds ought to be better targeted at its ostensible mission, which is to give a boost to poor communities where the free market isn’t spreading the wealth on its own.

It’s in that context that a news story in the Friday edition of The New York Times should make people furious:

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Day Of Action Against The Sequester (Video)

Campaign for America’s Future, the AFL-CIO, and more than 60 national organizations today had one simple message for Congress: Repeal the sequester.

Over 300,000 activists joined forces for a national day of action in Washington and in their local communities. Protests were held across the country, with thousands of concerned citizens speaking up against the devastating impact that the sequester will have on millions of hardworking Americans. All in all, 9 percent of domestic spending and 13 percent of defense spending will be cut in a seven-month time span. Aside from the million jobs expected to be lost, the threat of a double-dip recession, and risk to our national security, the automatic cuts would have a simply egregious impact on .

Raleigh Green, a Department of Veterans Affairs worker, said that “the answer to the budget problem is not on the federal workers’ backs,” and that the middle class “didn’t create this problem.”

Green, a U.S. Army Veteran, said that although he has not been furloughed yet, “if it [the sequester] affects one of us, it affects us all,” and that Congress should “get rid of it, period,” because “the decisions they make today are going to affect me for years.”

CAF shares the sentiment of Green and the majority of Americans: “What Congress created, Congress can end,” argues Roger Hickey, co-director of CAF.

On this day of action, former congressman Barney Frank, a longtime advocate for a sensible federal budget, pointed out in an interview with’s Isaiah J. Poole that he “voted against the sequester” and “what we should be doing is repealing the sequester.”

Frank urged members of Congress to “cut the military, cut it sensibly, don’t lay off workers,” and raise revenue through “increased taxes on the wealthy.”

The House also voted today on the Congressional Progressive Caucus’s Back to Work Budget, which Frank believes “a lot of Democratic members really believe in that budget, but are worried about it politically.” (The Back to Work Budget was defeated, 327-84, with 102 Democrats voting against the budget and 84 voting in favor.)

He concluded that Americans must keep voicing their opinion that jobs and rebuilding the working-class economy should be the priority, and members of Congress “ought to hear about it.”

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AUD745.00   AUD521.50 30% OFF

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You can find more information in the section Shipments.

Code: RU6048001 -

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text:
Strasbourg has a lot of old and picturesque churches, including the Protestant church of St Thomas, whose organ was played by Mozart when he visited Strasbourg in 1778. At the centre of the old city is the amazing Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame, whose immense spire is a landmark for miles around and an icon of Strasbourg itself. It is covered in statues, with vast stained glass windows and immensely high vaulting inside. The cathedral houses treasures such as this gilded triptych and a magnificent 16th-century astronomical clock that is a work of art and science combined.

Source: www.oxfordprospect.co.uk

See on Scoop.itOxford Today

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Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year's Eve!

I came across this photo of my great-grandparents celebrating New Year's Eve at Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco, 1965. They look so happy and decked out with their little hats. Just had to share it with you!

The clock is ticking and it's almost 2011. Thank you so very much for your constant support, comments, encouragement and laughter. You make this all worthwhile!

Wishing you from the bottom of my heart a happy & healthy New Year with all good things!

Now go on and CELEBRATE!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Still Washing Coins at the St. Francis Hotel

Yesterday the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle had a most fascinating article that caught my eye. The Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco employs a coin washer, yes, a coin washer---something they've been doing since 1938.

In the mid-1930s, this employee cleaned the change women were using to pay for lunch so they wouldn’t get their white gloves dirty. Today, coin washer Rob Holsen cleans about $700 to $800 in coins a week in an old, manually operated machine.

Holsen says, "It's a connection to a different time. A connection to a more gentle time, when to go downtown was a big deal. Dress up, put on a hat and gloves, and go to Macy's."

Rob Holsen runs cleaned coins through a sorter, which assembles the change in paper rolls. Then uses a heat lamp to dry the coins. {His predecessor Arnold Batliner's portrait on the wall--Batliner held the position for 31 years!}

It is believed the the St. Francis Hotel is the only hotel to still wash its coins. Every penny, nickel, dime and quarter. Mr. Holsen even inspects and weeds out the funky coins that are bent and mutilated. Amazing.

I'm thrilled to know that some old traditions still exist during these fast-paced, different times.

You can read the entire coin-washing story here.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Whimsy by Daryl Banks!

Happy Monday and hope you all had a magical Christmas!

Perhaps a bit risque, but I adore this series, "Crinoline Flowers" by Canadian-based fashion photographer Daryl Banks.

These unique photographs appear as if these dancers have been transformed into poofy flowers don't you think?

To see more of Daryl Banks photography, visit his website here.

all images: Daryl Banks

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Merry, Merry!

Happy, Happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home! -Charles Dickens

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

image: fullobliss

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Pay it Forward

I just had to repost this beautiful, thoughtful list that Anne Marie at Brunch at Saks blogged about. She started her own list of little, simple things that we can do for others to change the direction of someone's day.

"Whether you spend $5 on someone else, or you simply smile to lift the spirit of others- committing a random act of kindness is truly a way to serve from the depth of your heart."
- Brunch at Saks

Brunch at Saks 'Pay It Forward' List:
  • Hand write a note to a friend or relative and put in the mail.
  • Bring a meal to a neighbor or friend when they are sick.
  • Spend an hour playing games with the residents of your local convalescent hospital.
  • Pay for the person behind you in a fast food line.
  • Mow your neighbor's lawn or pull weeds out of their planters.
  • Bring a pile of old magazines to a doctors office or hospital for their waiting room.
  • Take unwanted clothing items to a shelter or goodwill.
  • Tape the exact change for a soda or snack to a vending machine.
  • Leave a couple pieces of candy on a coworkers desk with a note.
  • Pay for the person behind you at a toll booth.
  • Call a family member or friend on the day of a test or other important event and tell them you're thinking of them. (No text messages, IM's, Facebook comments, etc! An actual call so they can hear your voice)
  • Offer to babysit for friends or family so they can enjoy a night out.
  • Draw colorful pictures and bring them to a local hospital for patients' windows.
  • Leave behind your finished magazine or book on a plane or bus.
  • Make an extra sandwich and snack bag for a homeless person.
  • Start off by telling a customer service agent "I know this problem is not your fault." We so often blame them, which is unfair and must be very stressful.
  • Return a shopping cart to the front of the store.
  • Write a note with an encouraging thought to someone special and put it in their lunch bag or coat pocket for them to find.
  • And finally, when all else fails, simply open the door for someone behind you and leave them with a smile.

I'm sure many of us have done some of these random acts. Do you have any to add to her list?

photo credit: *Deline

Monday, December 20, 2010

Just Because...

I came across the lovely image on Pinterest. It reminds me of the heavy snowfall happening around the world. So sorry that some people won't be able to spend Christmas with their families due to airports closing...

photo credit: anja

Sunday, December 19, 2010

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

And it looks like another full week of rain here in San Francisco Bay...I quite like the "pitter-patter" as long as I don't have to go anywhere!

What's the weather like in your neck of the woods?

photo credit: Jikon Lai

Friday, December 17, 2010

A Sourdough Stocking?

Yep. That's right. Little did I know that the famous Boudin Bakery in San Francisco made seasonal sourdough bread shaped like stockings, snowmen and Christmas trees! 50 years living here and I never knew that!

wrapped up stocking bread

Thanks to my friend Marianne, who spoiled me rotten with holiday gifts. We had our annual holiday lunch the other day, and with no alcoholic beverages present, we managed to laugh ourselves silly.

I generally don't like to brag talk about the gifts I receive, but these were too fun to pass up. AND, you may get some ideas for holiday gifts.

Love the fuzzy scarf that pins to any length, and the fingerless gloves with white faux fur. Perfect for this cold season and so festive!

I think Marianne was spying on my wish list on "Pinterest" and spotted this handsome diffuser by Paddywax called "Library." They have a variety of scents paying homage to literary greats including Poe, Whitman, Thoreau, Austen & Dickens. It smells wonderful and the packaging is great, isn't it?

I adore this book, Taschen's Paris. Taschen always has the most fabulous books, and this one is a beauty! Hardcover with amazing photos and descriptions of Dr. Angelika Taschen’s personal Parisian favorites – hotels, boutiques, restaurants, bars, cafés, and more. Available here. {you must get this}

You may be asking, what is this? A faux fur cat tail? Yep. Well, according to Marianne, "All the girls in Laguna Beach wear them."

Well, gotta stay in vogue with those Southern California gals, so yours truly now has a cat tail hanging from her bag!

So, there you have it. My fun gifts from the delightful Marianne (who wouldn't let me take a photo of her...)

I'm eating my yummy sourdough stocking now...remembering just why I love San may want to order one of these as a gift. Boudin delivers. These are super good....

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Have You Been to Claridge's Hotel?

This may be the week I should be paying attention to my horoscope or something. Between my friend Janet blogging about the lovely Fortnum & Mason, a friend inviting me to take a short trip with her to the U.K., and then reading about the remodel at Claridge's in London, someone is telling me it's time to go to London!

The legendary Claridge's Hotel was recently re-branded and I'm mesmerized! Forgive me, but I've had to take some of this content from the Full House blog where I discovered it.

London design studio Construct has given the branding of London's famous Claridge's Hotel a thorough overhaul, starting with the hotel's crest which has been redrawn.

isn't this mint green the prettiest color?

They introduced this gorgeous palette of mint green, gold, white and black. Chevron patterns appear on the inside of bags, envelopes and on various objects, publications and goodies only available at the hotel. Sadly not online. Here are a selection of images of some of the items available. I am in love with this color combo and the amenities of this 5 star hotel.

How yummy is this color combo?

And another part of the remodel are some of their recently renovated rooms designed by Diane Von Furstenburg...

London is calling my name...

And the crème de la crème, afternoon tea served on this gorgeous china. Simply scrumptious!

Have you been to Claridge's Hotel before? How about my U.K. blogger friends, eh? It looks absolutely divine!

photo credits: Claridge's Hotel, Full House, Construct

Monday, December 13, 2010

Illuminating Images...

The holiday season is so magical. The one time of year when you can bask in twinkling lights, glitz and glitter. Everything just seems to glow and shine a little brighter.

Here are some favorite images I've collected that simply glisten...

photo #1; irene suchocki


text:
How to Fuck Your Creative Team

It was about 2 years ago when I found myself at Intro Bar, surrounded by various copywriters and art directors from my previous Agency, toasting with such splendor and spectacular fêtes of Moët & Chandon. An iPod Shuffle was presented to me, which laid beneath a delicately wrapped champagne colored box.

No, they were not celebrating my departure from the Agency. On the contrary, they were celebrating my birthday. They had bothered to organize a surprise birthday party for me, in spite of all the pain and late nights I have put them thru.

It was at that significant point of my life when I first felt I was doing something right as a Suit. Not only was I not murdered by my platoon of copywriters and art director yet, they actually celebrated another year of my existence. The iPod Shuffle, which remains my daily companion as I commute to work, felt like a medal of recognition. It was my version of a Gold Clio Award.

As a Suit, you will run into conflicts with your copywriter or art director. Not always, but often enough to make you wonder how were you unlucky enough to be married to such a bastard. He or she is probably thinking the same thing too. Fact is, we have a love-hate relationship from Day One. Like the relationship our parents have.

How do you make your relationship with your Creatives work, and continue fucking like crazy bunnies happily ever after? Well I have a list of suggestions that may help keep you coming every night. Please note that the judgments made on made Creatives below are purely general and hypothetical. Bitch back if you disagree.

Suggestion 1: Know the size of their goods and how they fuck.
When you’re first introduced to your copywriter or art director, make the effort to unravel what’s beneath his or her clothes. Is he known to be great with big ideas but horrible with little details? Is she a famous award-winning art director with a matching inflated ego? It helps to know the size of your lover’s goods. It will aid you in the manner of which you manage him or her.

To cite an example, I have had a former Executive Creative Director (ECD) who could develop jaw-dropping concepts within hours but yet, found it difficult to even spell the Client’s brand correctly. What did I do? I invited a junior copywriter for a ménage trios to proofread everything the ECD wrote.

Suggestion 2:  Be his/ her mother.
Creatives are kids at heart, says my former Group Account Director. I cannot agree more. This is not a bad thing. Suits are too pragmatic to retain any of their once-vivid imagination and this is one key characteristic that all Creatives worthy of their salaries managed to keep within their souls. And I’d like to think that this is very much related to the fact that they are kids at heart. While you milk their imagination for what its worth, as his or her mother, you need to be mindful of the following:

a. Deadlines
– Your kid will not do his or her homework unless you remind him or her

b. Allergy to Rules
– Creatives are allergic to rules. Sadly, there are some which need to be imposed – like corporate guidelines for example. If a 500-word legal disclaimers need to be included in an advertisement, it needs to be included in the advertisement regardless of how ugly it looks. If your kid’s gonna have a bad reaction against such a rule, serve him or her a chilled beer as medication. That usually helps. Or whiskey on the rocks, whatever’s up their alley.

c. Live with the pranks and create some of your own
– I was once in the midst of writing a creative brief one late night when my dear Creative Group Head decided to pull the power plug off. Admittedly, it is funny now when I mention it, but at that point, I was on the verge of strangling him for his silly prank. No, I didn’t save my document. And yes, I had to bloody re-write everything. While I was re-writing my brief, he decided to rewire all the Suits’ telephone lines so that Clients would be calling the wrong person the next morning. I thought that was funny. Hehehe. Creatives are born pranksters. Learn to live with it; it can lighten up your mood a lot.  Unless of course, if they do get too far, I’d recommend this as payback:

Collaborate with Studio to create a fake Final Artwork (FA) that has either the headline with a misspelling or major alignment error (i.e. the second copy line runs out of the ad space), depending on who you intend to sabotage – the writer or the art director.  Put on your Oscar® winning performance and present the fake FA to them, telling them of the mistake they’ve made which will cost the Agency thousands for compensation. Watch them snivel.

Suggestion 3: Have angry sex.
Good Creatives who are passionate about their work will have high emotions regarding it. As such, they tend to fight with you when you attempt to bastardise their concept into something it shouldn’t be. I agree they can get over-dramatic (God, I’m asking to you to include a blurb that says “NEW!” in the ad, not tattooed on your forehead!) but give me a Creative who takes pride in his or her work over one who simply takes orders. The latter should be in the Studio department. Yes, I will get killed for this statement.

Suggestion 4: Dress to seduce.
A vast majority of Suits are females. Females have tits. A healthy percentage of Creatives are males. Males have 2 heads. Do I really need to elaborate on this? Feminists can sue me for all I care, but your appearance does help in your relationship with your Creatives. I’m not asking you to bury their heads into your tits, I’m asking you to provide a little subliminal encouragement. Flirt, show a little affection, and use your brain as your best fashion accessory. It would go a long way.

Please note that Suggestion 4 is only applicable to women who are at least average looking (do a dipstick survey would you?) and above. If you’re fat, ugly, or above 50 years old, DO NOT EVEN TRY. It’s illegal.

Suggestion 5: Don’t try to take his/ her role.
Ironically, while most Creatives won’t bother to attempt to play Account Executive, plenty of Account Executives will attempt to play copywriter and/ or art director. I am as guilty as charged. At times when you think your copywriter/ art director is struggling to meet the requirements of the brief, and you feel the need to offer your 2 cents’ worth, start off your ideas with a simple header in your brief:

  • Suggested directions to undertake (to be further consulted with the Creative Team)

Simple, isn’t it? Don’t hurt their egos, it’d come back and hurt you instead.

Suggestion 6: Swallow. Spit out sometimes.
In my previous Agency which is rather creative-lead, I had 10 changes listed on my progressive brief, of which 8 were rejected for their subjective nature. Go fight with the Client, they ordered. And I did.

In the same Agency, the ECD scribbled, “this brief sucks” on a brief I wrote albeit approving for changes to be proceeded with. I went up to him and told him in his face, “The brief doesn’t suck. I was clear in the requirements. The fundamental purpose of this ad is to drive sales by means of being tactical. While I agree it is hardly mind stimulating, I don’t agree I wrote a “sucky” brief.” I left him speechless by my audacity and walked off.

I strongly believe that it is our jobs to defend our creative properties. Our creativity is our product. We need to defend it in order to keep our product in demand with the Client. On the other hand, I don’t swallow immature and mindless attitudes ejaculated by insecure dickheads. They don’t taste good.

Suggestion 7: Do not fake an orgasm.
If your Creatives aren’t performing, please do them a favour and don’t lie with orchestrated moans and an eventual fake orgasm. At times, after fucking all day with other Suits (you don’t expect to be the only lover, do you?!), their libido can reach a hiatus and unfortunately, we have yet to invent a blue pill for creativity erection. If you know that their concepts will not fly with the Client, be constructive and tell them the truth. Let them restore their energy a bit and come back to you with better concepts. DO NOT sell what you do not believe in. Maintain that dignity.

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text:
Getting back into blogging

Delete faux post.  (Check).  Change title to something faux witty.  (Check).  Upload headshot from picture when boating with my son.  (Check).

Find a way to migrate old links to my blog to this, then get this into new planets and stuff.  Uhhh.  Check?

7 Responses to “Getting back into blogging”

  1. amk Says:

    Updated on planet.python.org; check.

  2. Jon Stahl Says:

    Welcome back, Paul!

  3. LarsN Says:

    I’m not sure if I should be afraid or not? I didn’t get to read any previous blogs of yours. Either way, welcome to my Google Reader.

  4. avegancalledbacon Says:

    H@@ray 🙂

  5. Ofer Wiesglass Says:

    happy to read again your blog

    the old one was very intersting for me

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text:
IMG_4453Hi, thank you for coming to visit me at Peaceful Parents, Confident Kids. My name is Kate Russell and I am the mother of two beautiful girls born 13 months apart. My parenting story began nearly three years ago as I welcomed my first daughter into the world, blissfully unaware of the enormous challenge I was about to undertake.

It is a fact of life that when we become a parent we are going to worry, over think things, re-evaluate things over and over and often conclude that we are just not good enough. But this is ok. These feelings are normal and are a sure sign that we are indeed good parents. The mere fact that here we are, trawling the internet for that elusive answer to being the worlds greatest parent must mean that we are doing the best we can for our children.

I believe that from the moment of conception, a little switch is turned on in a parent’s brain. In fact, it is actually more akin to a powerboard of switches. There is the guilt switch, the unconditional-love switch, the anxiety switch, the ambitious switch and the I- really-hope-I-don’t-stuff-this-up switch. If a person already had these switches on, then they go from being on the dim setting to the extremely brightly lit setting.

I don’t believe that there will ever be one answer that will suit all families. I strongly believe that, in parenting, finding the ‘answer’ that resonates most with you is a big step in the right direction. For me, that answer came in the form of RIE parenting.  After discovering the philosophies of this parenting style I was and still am amazed at the transformations seen in our household. We went from one of shouting, chaos and turmoil to one of respect, empathy and gentleness in a very short amount of time. RIE or Resources for Infant Educarers truly embodies everything I believe my children need to become physically and emotionally aware and has been responsible for repairing and strengthening the relationship I have with my two dear children.

This blog was set up for me to be able to share some of my stories. Many of these I tell with an open and honest heart in the hope to inspire even just one other person to reflect on their parenting practises and become a more mindful parent. I learned through trial and error and at the expense of my children that it was not good enough to simply ‘wing it’ and go with my instincts. The whole idea that my small children are actually capable, whole beings with their own thoughts, desires and understandings was quite foreign to me and it was clear I was not respecting them as such. Since making this significant shift in my basic view of the children I have been able to work with them through many challenging moments and be the support and guide they have needed me to be at those times.

I strongly believe that it is never too late to change how we parent and have learned that being a conscious and reflective parent will empower my children to grow with confidence and trust in themselves. I look forward to hearing from you all as you also make your own parenting journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact me to ask me anything or just to share a little story of your own. I do love hearing from you!

Kate  xx

16 Responses to About

  1. Sheila du Plessis says:

    Great to see so much on little ones. Are there parents out there who need to talk about children from 7 years – 18 years? If you would like to contact me, I am willing to do some blogging on this age group. I have written Book 1 on parenting, building confidence in older children/teenagers and empowering them to cope with life and their peers. The future of our youth, lies with the individual family. Life has no reverse gear!

    • I have no doubt, Shelia, that there are parents out there who would love to see a blog on that age group. As my two are only young, I am focussing on the trials and tribulations they face during these toddler years, but I am sure, when the time comes, I will certainly be looking for information relevant to the tween and teen years. Good luck with it all. Kate

      • Sheila du Plessis says:

        Thanks, one needs to take one step at a time. If you know of other people with this age group, please ask them to contact me. I must still get an actual blog online. Enjoy the Journey, it is a remarkable road to travel ……

    • Elaine Mcenroy says:

      yes i would be very interested in reading your blog. my son is just turned 7and i have not followed an rie parenting approach- i always wonder if if it is too late too allow him to benefit from it. thanks – Elaine

      • Sheila du Plessis says:

        I Elaine, where do you live? I am in Pretoria, South Africa. There are so many foundations you can lay with your son’s age. I work on acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, bringing the child into the picture, so they have boundaries. Parents need to know, it is never too late to start working with children/teenagers. Book 1 covers, Boundaries, Negotiation and Decision Making. At times one needs to allow them to make a basic choice, even if the parent knows it is wrong. This does not include what I call BIG ISSUES. Please get back to me, I have so much experience and knowledge gained over 20 years.

  2. Sheila du Plessis says:

    I have not started a blog yet, but would be happy to answer questions via this site or my email. My books are simple to read and if parents get into action from about 7 – 10 years, they should find working with their children will become easier. Some young people in their 20’s have also found Book 1 helpful. You can buy directly from me. Email: sheiladup@telkomsa.net

  3. Cathi Carol says:

    The problems I read about here really have nothing to do with “differences in families”, but the age-old incorrect belief that children are not worthy of the same love and respect that we give to human beings of other ages (despite the lip service given to these here) and are better off being subjected to guilting, the withdrawal of love, and even abuse.

    For instance, would you force another adult to “share” with someone else, or would you respect their autonomy and assume that the choices that they make individually have a lot to do with their loves, fears, and experience? Sharing is natural and inborn; if it doesn’t happen, there’s a reason for it. Ask. Perhaps fears that need to be dispelled. Then model sharing, don’t force it – that teaches children only to believe in scarcity, not in loving behavior.

    If an adult you loved, cared about, and respected ripped something you were working on together would you stick up your nose, express your disapproval and disappointment, and then walk away until they came to you with a guilty supplication to appease you, or presume they had some reason for their strange behavior and gently ask why they did what they did, and listen to them nonjudgmentally? Listen first, then share, then teach if necessary. Don’t ever, ever guilt.

    Immature, selfish behavior toward children (this is a problem of the world) draws out of them responsive behavior related to the seeking of withheld, needed parental love – not feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that show that they are loved, are learning responsible behavior, and are growing up happy and healthy.

  4. BritMum says:

    I’m glad I came across this blog and look forward to reading more posts.

    I have two girls 19 months apart, the eldest being a very spirited almost-3-year-old. I am so tired of being the police every day in our house, shouting and physically pulling my kids apart because I don’t know what else to do and they’ve pressed all my buttons. It’s draining and depressing.

    What you say about the shouting and chaos really resonates with me. I wanted to say thank you for being honest about your journey and the things you’re doing. A lot of people don’t talk about that aspect and instead just paint a picture of perfect parenting all the time. They tell us we should be calm and in control and respectful and they wouldn’t dream of losing their patience or their temper because that’s a sign of weakness and it makes for terrible parenting. Those other sanctimonious parenting pieces do a better job of making people feel like inadequate parents (and at the polar opposite, reinforcing other people’s sanctimony) than they do to inspire and enable change.

    Thank you for recognising what it’s like for lots of us, for not hiding away from that or demonising it, and for the refreshingly different approach.

    I look forward to reading more and will definitely be following up by finding out more about RIE to see if it’s for us.

    • Hi BritMum! Thank you for taking the time to comment. I am pleased you can take something from what I write. It certainly is a hard slog at times and I don’t think there would be much benefit to anyone if I pretended everything was fantastic all the time. As long as we have goals for where we would like to be, every chaotic day just provides a learning opportunity for stepping closer to that goal. Good luck with your spirited children. Please don’t hesitate to message or email me to ask me anything 🙂 Kate

  5. Laurie says:

    Do you have any issues with toddler sleeping and an RIE approach to dealing with a 2-3 year old who wakes frequently? He’s never been a good sleeper and I’ve only recently started using the RIE approach but I’m really lost as to what to do about his fight against going to sleep, as he’s waking so much more since we took the side off his crib.

  6. Hi Laurie! I firstly wanted to say that I empathise with you about the sleep thing. It is so incredibly difficult to parent effectively, calmly and respectfully when you and your toddler are both sleep deprived. Overall my children are quite good sleepers but we have certainly been through phases lasting upwards of three months where one or both of my children have struggled with sleep. Developmentally there are proven stages of sleep regressions that many toddlers go through at .18 months and 2.5 years. They attribute this to a leap in cognition and huge changes in brain patterns and thinkings.
    I am sure you have been told to ensure your toddler goes to sleep independently without a crutch that won’t be there when he wakes through the night. If a toddler is used to you lying in bed with them when they go to sleep for instance then when they wake through natural sleep cycles through the night, he will be looking for the same conditions to go back to sleep in. We worked this out after a period of bad bedtime tantrums led to us stay with our daughter whilst she went to sleep at night. Every night, several times a night she would come into our room and need us to stay with her until she got back to sleep. Once we realised what was happening we changed how we put her to bed and she is now more settled through the night. This was tough for her though and we had to give her space to express her unhappiness at the change in her routine. We allowed her to cry and acknowledged how hard it was for her. It took a few nights like this (often taking 2-3 hours) before she learned to settle herself to sleep.
    She still comes to us in have night occasionally – 2 – 3 times a week but usually only once and is happy to be put straight back to bed and left to go to sleep on her grown again.
    Other things that help us is earlier bedtimes. Our girls are put to bed at 6:30 lights out at 7:00 after stories etc. if we let it go to long over tiredness kicks in and it takes much longer.
    If things are really bad during the night, my husband or I will sleep in the room with our kids for the night. We ensure we don’t do this often though. Someone once told us it takes 3 nights to form a habit and three nights it break one. Not sure if that’s true but it’s always been a good guide for us.
    I hope that helps. I will see if I can find some good articles for you. I haven’t written any on sleep!

  7. Hi Cameron,
    My email is peacefulparentsconfidentkids@hotmail.com
    I would be more than happy to answer your questions.

  8. Leif says:

    I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your site.
    It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to
    create your theme? Fantastic work!

  9. Sarah says:

    Hi Kate,

    Thank you for all your wonderful posts. I have 3 little boys and trying every day to reduce bribes and punishments at home, and I am looking for help making a workable solution to TV watching. We have 2 computers and an iPad, no actual tv, and my eldest at 5 can turn on Netflix and YouTube alone. Because I have to lay down to breast feed my 6 month old during the day they are watching too much tv. I don’t want the change to feel like a punishment but I want to reduce this. Do you have any posts on this?

    • Hi Sarah, I feel your pain. It can be so hard to break the TV/ Screen time cycle because NOTHING is at effective at keeping our little ones entertained when we can’t give them our full attention.
      What I would do is let the children know up front (in the morning) that you intend to limit/ stop screen time. Acknowledge their presumably negative feelings they will have about this, they are well within their rights to voice their disapproval.
      Have some other activities organised for them to swap with during those feeding times. Be honest about why you will no longer be letting them watch screens eg it is not good for their eyes or their brains to watch too much. Then follow through and stay strong on not letting them watch it. The moment they see you hesitate or give in to their pleas for screen time, you have made your ultimate goal much harder to reach as they will test your conviction over and over.
      We have recently become successful in doing away with pretty much all screen time during the week. A couple of months ago we instigated movie night on a Friday Night. We wanted this to be a special (memory making) event so we make pop corn, snuggle under a doona and Mum, Dad and two kids all watch the movie together (even though it is pretty much the same one every week because that is what the children want). So now when the children ask for TV during the week (which they rarely do now), all we have to say is Movie night is Friday night, tonight is Sunday, so that’s 5 more nights away.
      We found that turning the TV on for even just the promise of one episode of Dora was too stimulating, too easy for us to resort to and generally resulted in the children pestering for it all day and not contentedly playing as we had hoped. It has worked best for us to go cold turkey rather than phase it out, but your kids are older, so I would use your own judgement there. These articles may help you as you embark on this task.
      It doesn’t have to seem like punishment when you have sound rationale which you explain and then acknowledge their feelings etc.

  10. Pingback: Anger is a Scary Emotion (Guest Post by Kate Russell) | Janet Lansbury

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Music Video: Primario y Julito together with The Unwanted Children, “My Crime”

New music straight from Cuba.  A collaboration between Primario y Julito and Los Hijos Que Nadie Quiso (The Unwanted Children), two dissident hip-hop groups in the island.  This new video is for the single “Mi Delito” (‘My Crime’), from the new CD by Primario y Julito which has the same name.

The video was filmed a few months ago and was just recently published thanks to independent journalist Roberto de Jesus Guerra, director of ‘Hablemos Press’, who posted it on his YouTube channel.

Primario y Julito (Havana) and The Unwanted Children (Bayamo) join forces in this song to rap against government corruption and persecution of freedom defenders in the country.

Tell me Fidel, tell me Raul, until when are we gonna have to put up with State Security knocking on our doors, to harass and arrest“, raps Primario in the beginning of the song, while the chorus says, “I didn’t assassinate Boitel, I’m not the culprit of Mariel boat-lift, I don’t repress those who think differently, I didn’t lock up 75 innocent people…this is my crime, speaking about what you have never spoken of“.

In a recent interview with this blog, Julito explains that this song is one of his favorites from the new album and is a protest anthem against the abuses committed by the Cuban dictatorship.

Ángel Yunier Remón Arzuaga “El Critico”, member of The Unwanted Children who participates in “My Crime” is a living example of some of these government abuses on the island.  He’s been behind bars for three months for his protest lyrics and because he is a pro-freedom activist.  (#PassItOn: Ángel Yunier Remón Arzuaga #FreeElCritico).

The Unwanted Children and Primario y Julito collaborate on a number of tracks in the new album.  Here’s the video:

Music Video: Primario y Julito together with The Unwanted Children, “My Crime”

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Energy Advice: Think Long Term and at the Local Level!

Interview of Nikos Salingaros by Mumtaz Soogund on Defimedia, Mauritius, 8 March 2013.

Dr. Salingaros recently joined the CT (Centrale Thermique) Power debate in Mauritius, and in this light graciously agreed to share his views on the matter with the readers of News on Sunday.

MS: A coal-powered plant proves to be a massive investment in the long run, and people are talking more and more about renewable sources of energy. Are they viable and would they be equally efficient in Mauritius?

NS: Of course, it is very easy to build a coal-powered plant today, because the techniques have already been developed for several years now, but we must think about the long term. Where does the coal come from? Does the equation include the cost of transporting the basic materials? Is the source of coal and its low price guaranteed for decades? No. Because once the decision is made, the nation is linked to this energy source and a particular distribution technology, and it would be too expensive to change afterwards; and I here I am speaking about the generations ahead. Renewable energy is not as developed now, but at least it does not bind the country to a solution that is antiquated and probably unstable. The great advantage of alternative energy sources is their scale: the technology allows a distribution of several “central power stations”, small enough so that one does not even call such a power plant “central”. A country may today make the decision to skip over old technologies such as coal, to arrive directly at the methods of the future for extracting renewable energy.

MS: Should the energy sector be addressed separately from the term sustainable development?

NS: Not at all! Energy is closely linked with sustainable development (or not). Without energy, there is no possibility for development, but if you pay too much for energy, we’re stuck anyway and development suffers, becoming a victim of constraints and instabilities. The country must have a very clear idea of sustainable development, tied to a plan for producing and consuming energy. The two go together. And even if you use “clean” energy for the purposes of unsustainable development, you will win nothing.

MS: The government highlighted that our energy demands are increasing and thus warrant a new power plant. However, very little is being heard about reducing our energy consumption. What design alternatives/ideologies can we adopt in order to achieve a lower energy consumption?

NS: The energy waste worldwide is appalling. A population can be happy with much less energy than we think we need today. Look into the past. Those days with very little energy! Add our medical and scientific advances to the traditional model of society, for a healthy life. The result does not even approach the image of crazy consumption encouraged by the media! The media puts across the wrong impression: that we are compelled to consume a huge amount of energy. Why? To play childish games of copying the rich and energy independent countries? A wise government will promote a practical and educational program to reduce energy consumption as a central factor in its program of sustainability and independence. The right word here is to seek “independence” from global industries that control energy, zeroing in on possible local solutions.

MS: What are your suggestions to improve our capacity by 2015 and 2020?

NS: I am not going to give specific advice, but rather general suggestions. Think long term and at the local level! Believe in the stability of the entire system: in all the interactions among society, industry, energy, transport, and economic growth. Do not let one dominate the other. Be wary of so-called solutions offered by the rich countries, because they have hidden agendas. And this is also applicable to renewable energy: do not adopt a technology that is controlled by a multinational giant. It is better to work with local firms, small and new, to avoid monopoly. There are small-scale solutions to renewable energy that are not too strongly developed, but nonetheless offer eco-friendly ideas to solve the problems in the long term. Consider the possibility for a big change in four years, when the innovative energy technologies will advance surprisingly.

MS: There is a strong opposition against coal plants, but we also need to urgently increase our power capacity. What is the solution?

NS: According to my thinking, the capacity increase isn’t as huge as people tend to believe. If we make an effort to reduce energy waste in urban construction that occurs as a result of zoning, and its corresponding vehicular transportation, we will already save a lot. Using an incremental program with multiple local renewable energy sources could be the solution. This is a solution which governments do not like at all, because it is not centralized, and therefore not controllable. But a wise government will implement innovative ideas in spite of its own bureaucratic tendency.

MS: Pitched against the cost of alternatives like solar or wind turbines, coal appears cheaper. Is coal power a solution if all precautions are taken to reduce environmental risks?

NS: Coal hides its real costs in catalytic systems that are quite expensive but necessary to treat the dirty smoke. The pollution we see today in China causes a massive degradation of the environment. I see no solution for China because it has adopted systems of energy production by burning coal. Even though China is now producing solar panels, it is too late to change. For the cost, what is cheap today could be extremely expensive in the future. And the reverse: renewable technologies, if implemented on a small and distributed scale today can become cheaper tomorrow. I emphasize again: be wary of centralized renewable energy systems, and focus on small-scale local solutions.

MS: What measures do you propose to drastically reduce demand for electricity, because a reduction means no need for more power plants?

NS: The waste of energy is mainly due to the construction and running of cities. After World War II, cities were built according to a model based on the insane waste of energy. It was done on purpose, following the dreams of certain architects of that time. It is a model of the 1920s, when planners and architects dreamed up images of a future of science fiction without really thinking ahead: a city of skyscrapers among parks and beautiful highways (empty of cars!). This dream became a nightmare. It does not work. In contrast, the sustainable city should be built upon traditional models of cities, where scale, geometry, fluxes, and transport give priority to pedestrians. The sustainable city is assembled from and works on all scales, it does not concentrate energy in nuclei like skyscrapers or a transport system that is purely vehicular. Therefore it does not need huge amounts of energy costs. These mixed-use cities that I propose are congested, of course, but if you try to change their geometry according to the image of skyscrapers, you kill the city. You just have to see how they killed the major cities in Asia.

MS: Even Europe, despite being ecologically alert, is continuing to invest in coal plants. Why then should a small state like Mauritius not do the same in order to enhance its development?

NS: This argument is valid only to encourage wild consumption of energy, and is especially beneficial to companies wishing to extract a hefty profit in the energy sector. Europe can self-destruct tomorrow. Do you want the same fate for Mauritius? Do you think that Europeans are really wiser in their consumption of energy? Certainly, a group of scientists and thinkers who offer innovative solutions are there, but governments are content to follow the wrong but convenient path. This will continue until a massive collapse. Finally, what is development? Definitely not growth of energy consumption, as Western economists say! Let’s not be stupid, and do not swallow the myth that is common in richer countries. “Development” is in fact a healthy and balanced life for the population. Indeed, we need energy, but more important than that is the quality of life, which does not depend entirely on the consumption of energy.

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Anna Mcdonnell

House And Dog Sitter Required (Overnights)

Pet Owner in London

3 dogs, 2 mature dogs that use doggie doors, no walks required.. a blk f pug-14yrs.. 8yr llasa-apso m,,(who is adjusting to new puppy;, doesnt like her one bit, only had the pup for a wk.. pup is a 3and 1/2 month f, french bulldog... gated kit area, crated at night, and during day for naps, calming etc... mature dogs fed 1xs day and in good health,,, pup requires feeding 3xs day at present, no health issues... the pup is true to her breed , a complete lap dog, who loves cu;ddles etc... we need live in home sitting and doggie care for the 17th of may till 6pm on the 18th while we attend a wedding in michigan... we do alot of traveling and this would be a ongoing committment.... thankyou

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Email Address
Phone Number 519-657-...
Services Pet Feeding
Pet Sitting
Overnight Care

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text:
Jan Christopher

Mendonoma Pet Care

Pet Sitter in Gualala

Morning and evening feedings, play time, brush time, cuddle time, mid-day walks, medications, and trips to the vet or groomer. Let us know what your pet likes. We service Gualala, The Sea Ranch and Point Arena. Whether you're visiting or live here, we're happy to care for your pet.

Pet Sitter Details

Email Address ...@....com Confirmed
Phone Number 707-637-...
Provider Type Agencies/Companies
Services Dog Walking
Pet Feeding
Pet Sitting
Overnight Care
Agencies/Companies Yes

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text:
Smoke Rings

It is hot today, up in the thirties,
Hot enough to melt Swiss cheese,
The sun strong, the humidity high,
Not a cloud to be seen, up in the sky,
Now we can begin to miss winter,
So cold, like being stubbed with a splinter,
Today it’s so hot, you can boil an egg,
To broil a steak, no need to go to the “Keg”,
Even the birds were singing lullabies,
Frogs were kissing their tadpoles goodbyes,
Lazy winds were picking late at night,
Time to sit in the breeze with a Coors light,
Light a cigar, blow a few smoke rings,
I am ready for whatever tomorrow brings

And Coffee For All

I saw a sign at the local grocery store,
It was a big sign they hang on the door,
It said we are now selling coffee,
You can find it second shelf next to the toffee,
Right under the new coffee sign,
There was another one with just one line,
“No dogs allowed in here”, to which I say,
Never in my city, there is just no way,
If a dog in my neighborhood wants a cup,
I will not stand idle or shut up,
It is a free society we live-in, freedom for all,
Whether you are a Great Dane or 2 inches tall

Chess Game

It is like a chess game,
You set up the board, take careful aim,
Your target is here, right next to the king,
Your muscles are twitching, ready to spring,
You start easy, the first two squares,
The pawns are in front, the four pairs,
You mislead one way, to overtake another,
Sacrifice a pawn, to promote its brother,
An opening of this, a gambit of that,
On the board, a well developed combat,
You move a knight then manoeuvre a bishop,
Pull a few times on the knight’s stirrup,
Get rid of their castles, king under siege,
A knight is about to lose its prestige,
Another manoeuvre, there she is,
The queen exposed, you are the wiz,
You conquered, you won, celebrate,
You are the man, checkmate

I saw You In The Crowds

I thought I saw you in the crowds,
It was you, I had no doubts,
I was driving on Bathurst, heading downtown,
About an hour before sundown,
The light plays tricks on the eyes,
With the sun soaring low in the skies,
I knew it cannot be you, you are no more,
You have passed away sixteen months before,
Yet the mind plays tricks, or is it the heart,
Logic says not, but the heart is apart,
Maybe just wishing for another glance,
See your face, just one more chance.

I can’t make anybody love me,
Maybe I am not their cup of tea,
Perhaps my humour is not to their liking,
Or the use I do with English wording,
Maybe it is my outlook on life,
Maybe my tendency to end in strife,
Does it really matter who loves us true,
In need, only true friends will stick by you,
All the rest will fade so fast,
You will surely think it a blast,

Walk A Little

The long nightly walks I take,
Are very long walks, make no mistake,
They last for about ninety minutes and more,
It is one kilometer then another then another four,
It takes me through different neighbourhoods,
Through shrubs, pavements, bushes, and woods,
Against the whistling wind going and coming,
I enjoy walking while singing to myself and humming,
Summers and spring are best for such walks,
In winter you freeze without an extra pair of socks,
This is the way to keep in great form,
That’s what you must do, sit not on your butt at home,
Walk, run, exercise, and cover some grounds,
Who knows you may yet lose a few pounds