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February in photos

Curled up. Gong xi fa cai! Happy Year of the Snake, y'all.
Raindrops keep falling on my head... #whpumbrellas Winter buds.
Happy Fat Tuesday! Woof
Neighbor of the feline variety. Offshoots.
Happy Valentine's Day! :) Riley's #1 love? Kibbles.
2-17 032 lock bridge 2 2-17 039 orsay 3
2-18 034 mona lisa 2 2-19 007 eiffel
Fortune cookie wisdom.

Like this:

Los últimos (the last of the Spain sketches)

Of monsters and men in Steubenville

  1. Trisha

  2. Jon

    I love the photo of the tourists in silhouette behind the clock. Also, the photo of the people taking the photo of the Mona Lisa. Why does everyone have to take the same picture, anyway?

  3. Thanks, Jon! Yeah, the photo of the people taking photos of the Mona Lisa turned out better, I thought, than my photo of the Mona Lisa itself. (Herself?) I did take that photo, though. I suppose we are all compelled by the idea of “should.” One should see the Mona Lisa, and one should have proof of it.

  4. When I went to Paris, I stayed with a French friend, and when she took me to the Louvre, she was like, “I suppose you want to see the Mona Lisa. The big star of the Louvre! Well, there she is.” Then she waved her hand disinterestedly in the direction of the crowd (much like in your photo) and wandered away while, yes, I went and looked at the big star.

    That’s all I think about when I see that painting. ;)

    As an aside, I never understand why people take photos of famous paintings? Why not just get a print or a postcard or download a perfect, unobstructed photo from the internet?

  5. Juliann

    Beautiful photos, Kristan. Looks like February centered on Paris and Riley. Sounds like a good month to me.

  6. Sonje-
    I dunno, I think taking your own photo is more personal, even if (or maybe because?) it is imperfect. That said, I don’t take a lot of photos in museums, because it’s hard to capture art with that extra degree of removal.

    Yup, “Paris and Riley” about sums it up, hahaha.

  7. These photos are all so fantastic! They always make me want to play with my camera more and try Instagram. But ah, one more thing I don’t have time for right now!

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From 3 April 2018 the service for Volunteers and Active Citizens within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames will be provided by Volunteering Kingston.

Volunteering Kingston will support those who live, work or study in the Borough to explore volunteering:

  • Helping individuals to register and become volunteers and active citizens
  • Assisting charities, organisations, public and private sector to successfully involve volunteers
  • Providing specialist support for those individuals and groups who have extra needs
  • Brokering good volunteering placements
  • And championing volunteering best practice

Volunteering Kingston will be open to take your enquiries either by phone, online or email from Tuesday 10 April:

Contact Volunteering Kingston

Phone: 0300 365 9980

Follow us on Twitter: @vol_kingston

Facebook: Volunteering Kingston or join FB group Volunteering Kingston Group

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HOME  ›  Products  ›  Optical Communication Devices

Optical Communication Devices

Supporting the progression of an Advanced Information Society in the Optical Communications Field

Amongst the various types of optical communication devices, KYOTO SEMICONDUCTOR Co., Ltd. is concentrating its efforts in the field of fiber-optic power monitors for Optical communication Networking Systems.

KYOTO SEMICONDUCTOR is proud to hold the dominant worldwide market share. Fiber-optic power monitors are primarily used in long-haul (backbone) systems and metropolitan networks. The market continues to grow and expand into Data communications and CATV markets. We are striving to capture market share in the field of Duplexer or Triplexer modules for FTTH and FTTP. We expect to see a rapid increase in demand for both domestic and overseas markets such as Korea, Taiwan, China and USA in the fields of not only the receiver but also the transceiver for FTTH and FTTP solutions in future.

Long-wavelength Photodiodes

  • Long-wavelength Photodiodes
  • Long-wavelength Photodiodes

The long-wavelength photodiodes and its related module products developed and manufactured by KYOTO SEMICONDUCTOR Co., Ltd. support long-haul and metropolitan networking systems based on DWDM (Dense Wavelenght Division Multiplex) and FTTX Subscribers (Fiber to the Home/ Fiber to the Building/ Fiber to the Premises /etc.). Our optoelectronic components are incorporated into DWDM systems, Optical Amplifiers, ONUs (Optical Networking Unit), ONTs (Optical Network Terminal), Routers, Receivers and Transmitters,etc.
And, these are photo-conversion devices used in Internet and LAN (Local Area Network) that are electronic components essential to build an optical network infrastructure to support the worldwide community.

Semiconductor Lasers

  • Semiconductor Lasers

KYOTO SEMICONDUCTOR VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser diode, VCSEL) with the peak wavelength of 850nm is designed for application of short range and high-data-rate transmission systems. Our VCSEL product lineup comprises 3 types in 3 kinds of packages, respectively.
Two kinds of VCSEL devices are hermetically sealed；one is packaged in metal can with a lens, and another is packaged in isolated mini can.
Last is LC-receptacle type of TOSA (Transmitter Optical Sub-Assembly).
Each signal modulation is available up to 4GHz.

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*Enter a Model No. (prefix/partial match)

New Products

Low profile parallel beam LED KED050-H23
Parallel beam LED with a newly designed low profile lens for optical encoders.
Photovoltaic power converter KPC8-T
High efficient power converter from 1300-1600nm laser light into electrical power.

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K4KPN-6 6 Meter APRS Digi / I-Gate Full Availability

August 10, 2018

Observing a need for a 6 meter APRS I-Gate in this region, KYPN realized the K4KPN-4 BPQ32 node could probably meet this need without any additional hardware investment. Recent versions of the BPQ32 node software have considerable built-in APRS digi/gate capabilities that only need to be configured and enabled.

The past few months showed that the past trend of most activity on the node being on the UHF 9.6k, 220 1.2k, and 10m RP ports was still holding true today. Thus we pondered could the APRS features on the 6m port be enabled and would they coexist with the existing Node and its BBS, Chat, and RMS functions? If both could coexist then it was frankly a no-brainer to do it.  The 6m port puts out a stout signal that penetrates well into the valleys and hilly terrain common to the area.

The 6 meter APRS scene has seen bursts of activity over the years, but good 24x7x365 digi/gate infrastructure is very rare outside of a few pockets of activity. The rest has been more of  what I’d call seasonal activity of folks firing up on frequency to listen for packet/APRS DX during the late Spring and Summer e-skip seasons. Others use it as a less congested alternative to the mess that 2m APRS can be in some areas.

At one time there was a push to build up packet infrastructure on 50.620 across the country for the PropNet network. The WSPR mode and network came on the scene and its many advantages stagnated PropNET growth. What remains of PropNet seems mostly focused on PSK31 operations on HF. No PropNET packet operations have been noted on 50.620 for over a decade now. This means 50.6200 MHz is an underutilized frequency begging to be put to good uses.

Testing showed both APRS and conventional packet should coexist fine on the Jonesville BPQ32 node’s 6m port. Thus on the afternoon of July 9, 2018 KYPN spun up K4KPN-6 on 50.6200 MHz 1200 baud AFSK packet mode. K4KPN-6 offers both full WIDEn-n compliant digipeating and basic R-I-R (2-way) I-Gate messaging functions.

The current plans are to run K4KPN-6 24×7. The 6m port beacons an APRS compatible beacon every 5 minutes to help detect DX openings. Beaconing faster would provide a better chance of catching meteor burns, but 5 minutes was felt to be a good compromise value for a mixed use port.

The advanced APRS digipeater functions available in BPQ32 are downright slick and one can tell John gave them some thought. The I-Gate side has some cosmetic issues, but it is plenty usable from a functionality standpoint. I’ll try to run some changes/improvements past John (G8BPQ) this winter. He is busy sailing/traveling during the Summer months. Thus I avoid bugging him with non-critical feature requests and minor bug reports that can wait. John should be deemed a Saint for his patience with his user base and his willingness to continually improve BPQ32/LinBPQ.

So far K4KPN-6 looks like a valuable asset both locally and for the 6m APRS DX folks. Best of all with our existing 6m port on the Jonesville BPQ32 system there was no need to buy anything else. Just enable and configure the functions you want in the bpq32 config file and restart the node. Obviously you’ll need an APRS-IS login and password if you want to use the I-Gate functionality.

Node and application stack (BBS, Chat, RMS) remain available on the 6m port. The APRS functions are just another application running on the node.

6m APRS Path Recommendations?

Making use of the K4KPN-6 6m APRS digi/I-gate functions is no different than operating on 2m APRS. Paths of WIDE1-1 or WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 are good choices for 1-hop and 2-hop paths.

6m APRS Beacon Rate Recommendations?

The 6 meter APRS frequency is not overloaded like the 2m APRS is in so many areas of the country. There is plenty of spare airtime on the channel. Thus the use of aggressive beacon rates is unlikely to be an issue. 5 or 10 minute rates for infrastructure sites should be fine in most areas.

Temporary use of even faster rates for testing or during meteor shower peak times should not be an issue and would increase the odds of snagging a burn. Mobiles can probably dial things down to 1 or 2 minute rates.

6m APRS Biggest Range Challenge? Noise Floor

The 50 MHz band propagates locally just like the 30-50 MHz VHF-Low band that you may be familiar with. Not so great in a pure urban environment. So so in a suburban environment, but ultimately best suited to rural environments where its range and terrain penetration qualities can shine.

Note:  There’s a reason why a surprising number of users remain active in the VHF-Low Band spectrum even though it doesn’t get much press. Current marketing/sales efforts are geared towards selling more expensive and complex systems on the higher bands. The range and simplicity of VHF-Low systems are still a good fit for some users.

Don’t laugh at Low band. VHF….  I know of a 46 MHz system installed in the early 1980’s that is still in use. Now that’s serious ROI. Also note that the VHF/UHF Part 90 narrowbanding mandate did NOT apply to VHF-Low systems.

Back on topic….

All things being equal 6 meters has more range potential than 2m. Problem is in the real world of RF all things are rarely equal. On 6m you are probably using a lower gain base antenna and most likely a less efficient mobile antenna system compared to say 2 meters. In most real world installs some of this will be offset by higher standard transmit powers, less free space losses, lower feedline losses, and better terrain penetration. All that aside, the main range limiter for 6m operators today is the higher local noise floor (NF) compared to the higher bands.

The old enemy of power line noise remains, but it is now joined by a wide variety of noise spewing consumer electronics clobbering both HF and the lower VHF spectrum. Sadly this is a problem that will only get worse unless the FCC cracks down on a lot of the cheap poorly designed/filtered junk behind so much of the problem. Even then it would take ages for device attrition to clean up the spectrum much. Plus we’ve become a society that expects everything to be super cheap versus paying for higher quality equipment.

Where you live and operate can make a huge difference and must be factored in unless you like surprises. I was stunned at the NF differences between the old KY QTH and our temp place here. Living out in farm country most of my life definitely spoiled me. I wouldn’t call this “urban” by any means, but having several neighbors nearby = a lot more noise on the bands. I was initially worried about the big power distribution lines a few hundred yards away out back. Turns out they are actually the least of the NF problems here LOL.

Every amateur radio band has it’s pros, cons, and unique propagation characteristics. Six meters is no exception to that rule. It remains a local workhorse of a band that also offers some fun DXing at times. It is called the Magic Band for a good reason.

K4KPN BBS & RMS Gateway are Available

June 9, 2018

KYPN would like to announce the full availability of the KYPN Dry Ridge BPQ32 based packet radio site as of June 9, 2018.

The following packet radio applications are available:

K4KPN-1    BBS
K4KPN-4    Node
K4KPN-13  Chat/Conference Server
K4KPN-14  RMS Gateway

The above packet radio applications are normally available 24x7x365 to appropriately licensed amateur radio operators on the following frequencies/modes:

441.0500 MHz 9600 baud *
145.6900 MHz 1200 baud
223.6600 MHz 1200 baud *
28.1480 MHz USB dial, 28.1495 CF, Robust Packet “NET10R” *
50.6200 MHz 1200 baud **
* High availability, primary port.
** Dual-use port, both general use & 6m APRS WIDE1-1 Digi

All 5 bands and 3 modes are published to the Winlink channel listing.

Recommended user software:

KYPN recommends Outpost Packet Message Manager version for BBS access. Full installer is available for download here.

KYPN recommends Winlink Express v1.5.12.0 or newer for RMS access. Available for download from here.

More details can be found on the K4KPN-1 packet BBS under messages #1 thru 8.

More details in future blog posts and the work in progress draft KYPN System FAQ.

The KYPN team.


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Collective Investigating? NLRB Increases Cooperation with Other Governmental Agencies

Contributed by Beverly Alfon

If you are an employer, the latest rash of formal agreements between the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and various government agencies (local, state and national) warrants some real attention.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), announced that it will start advising employees who fail to timely file whistleblower retaliation complaints under OSHA that they may still have time to seek relief under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).  While Section 11(c) of the OSH Act only allows 30 days for an employee to file a complaint alleging that s/he was discharged or otherwise discriminated against because s/he filed a complaint under the workplace safety statute or engaged in other acts protected by that statute, the NLRA allows up to six months after the employer’s alleged unlawful conduct (assuming that the safety complaints constitute protected activity) to file an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB.   The new policy provides OSHA agents with sample letters and talking points to use to inform employees about their rights under the NLRA.  It is just one example of the NLRB’s efforts to widen its reach.

Other recent examples of broad NLRB collaboration with other pro-labor agencies are as follows:

  • Ten months ago, the NLRB entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Civil Rights Division’s Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) to formalize their collaborative efforts to enforce the NLRA and the Immigration and Nationality Act, which prohibits citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing and recruitment or referral for a fee, as well as discriminatory Form I-9 and E-Verify practices.
  • In March 2014, Region 13 of the NLRB (Chicago) and the Illinois Department of Labor entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to “[strengthen] its collaborative efforts.”  IDOL enforces a multitude of laws, ranging from child labor laws to prevailing wage requirements.
  • Last month, Region 13 of the NLRB entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, which is charged with enforcing the local Chicago Human Rights Ordinance and the Chicago Fair Housing Ordinance.  These ordinances prohibit discrimination in the areas of housing, employment, credit transactions, bonding and public accommodations.

Each of the agreements provides for the sharing of information, referral of matters between the agencies, and coordination of investigative and enforcement actions.  They even require cross-training and technical assistance to staff members so that they can identify when a referral to the other agency is appropriate.

Although it is common for government agencies to cooperate, these latest agreements are somewhat surprising in light of the clear distinction between the laws that the agencies are charged to enforce.  For example, now the NLRB may refer a matter to OSC if it suspects potential discrimination related to citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, termination, and recruitment, or discriminatory practices in the employment eligibility verification process. Likewise, if the IDOL is investigating a prevailing wage issue and an employee or union alleges employer conduct that may violate the NLRA, it is now more likely to spur an NLRB investigation.

Bottom line:  The NLRB has not been thwarted by the high-profile legal defeats that it has faced in its attempts to increase its presence among workers (e.g., NLRA posting requirement) and promote union representation.  Increased inter-agency cooperation will result in increased government scrutiny of employers and in turn, increased exposure to liability.  Risk assessment and management is necessary, now more than ever.


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City government reporter

Jourdan Vian is a reporter and columnist covering local government and city issues for the La Crosse Tribune. You can contact her at 608-791-8218.

“Oh my goodness.”

That was Rotary Lights spokesman Pat Stephens’ reaction when I told him that despite my longtime connections to La Crosse, including four years as a resident, I had never managed to get down to see the La Crosse area Rotary clubs’ premier Christmas light display before this year.

Jourdan Vian Rotary Mug

Jourdan Vian

Every year I mean to get there. I really do. I go into the week after Thanksgiving with the best of intentions. “I’ll go after the snow falls, so I can see the lights reflect off it,” I think, and then the next thing you know it’s the week of Christmas and I’ve got four different family parties to juggle, and then Christmas is over and it’s way too cold for me to even consider spending half an hour outside.

I lived in Monroe County until I was 14, just a short half-hour to 45-minute drive away. I moved back at 22, and I’ve been working within walking distance of the display for seven full years now.

The lack of Rotary Lights in my life really hit home this week when I saw named La Crosse Wisconsin’s Twinkliest City, largely due to the Rotary Lights, though the North Side Business Association’s Copeland Park display and the fireworks got an honorable mention. Yup, that’s right. We’re the best. Suck it, Madison and Milwaukee.

I mentioned the honor during our Tuesday news meeting and discovered that I was the only one on the Tribune news staff who had never been, including three people who have lived in La Crosse less than a month. Our new crime reporter, Basma Amer, moved to La Crosse a week ago, and even she had managed to see the lights before me. It was a little sad. I mean, if I’m going to be within walking distance of the best, I really should actually, you know, go enjoy it once in a while.

For the record, Stephens was much more gracious regarding La Crosse’s distinction as Twinkliest City.

“That’s pretty neat,” he said, sounding pretty tickled with the idea, before adding that he was really excited to hear it and proud of all the people in the community who put in the time and effort to make it work.

“It’s our 24th year. We’ve got a pretty good established name, and we have people coming from literally all over the Midwest to visit us now,” Stephens said.

I made my inaugural Rotary Lights trip Wednesday in preparation for talking to Stephens. My boyfriend, Mitch Shaker, was more than happy to take me on my first trip to see the 4 million lights illuminate the city’s most popular park — though he did insist that we walk, saying it would be way better than driving through.

You guys, he was right. It’s freaking magical.

I’ve seen photos, but they really don’t compare to walking through it myself. I knew they really did a number on the trees, turning each one into a sparkling tower, but I had no idea how many other amazing displays they have. Why did nobody tell me there was a globe? Or a UFO and alien Santa? There’s not one, but two fire-breathing dragons, you guys!

“Everybody loves the dragon that breaths fire,” Stephens said.

But for him, the highlight is the 33-foot-tall computerized tree with the four others around it across from the Four Sisters Wine Bar & Tapas restaurant.

“That is just magnificent. It’s just a great display that really moves us up a notch,” Stephens said.

Both of those displays are in my personal top three, but the best is definitely the giant squirrel display, depicting a squirrel running up one tree and down another. Stephens tells me that was an idea that started with a six-pack and a sketch on some napkins and grew from there. Literally, the squirrels were originally imagined closer to their real size, rather than the about three-feet long they ended up.

“You can’t miss ’em in the trees,” Stephens said.

I did not stop to see Santa Claus, since there were quite a few kids in line, but Mitch and I did take a nice photo on his sleigh and wave at his reindeer. He’ll be there between 5 and 8 p.m. through Dec. 23.

However, I did stop and partake in the complimentary s’mores, and listened to the La Crosse Irish Music Sessions Players from outside of the Ice Castle.

The verdict: Rotary Lights and La Crosse have earned their Twinkliest title.

“You gotta get down there more than once,” Stephens said.

The Chad Erickson memorial ice rink wasn’t open when I went, but Stephens told me they were adding another layer and hope to get it up and running this weekend, so people can enjoy free skating — complete with free skate rentals — before stopping in one of the warming tents to defrost and enjoy some live music.

Stephens was a little sad to lose the Wendell Anderson band stand to construction this season, but says it’ll be better than ever next year.

“We’re going to get through it. We know next year with the new band shell and hopefully a roof on the band shell, it’ll be even better,” Stephens said.

Visit for more info on all they’ve got going on.

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Jourdan Vian can be reached at or follow her on Twitter, @Jourdan_LCT.

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The Legend of the Candy Cane

Image result for candy cane clipart

When you think of Christmas many things probably come to mind. Maybe presents, Christmas trees, the nativity, and of course, candy canes. Candy canes are seen everywhere this time of year. You can find them in stores, in gift bags, and in many decorations. But, we forget that candy canes are more than just a minty decoration, they are symbolic.The candy cane, created first in the 18th century, was a way ingenious way  to share the love of Christ during this period in Europe which oppressed the public display of Christianity. The “J” shape of the candy cane represents the shepherd’s staff which characterizes Jesus as the great Shepherd. The shape also stands for the “J” in Jesus. The red stripes of the candy cane signify the blood Jesus shed on the cross for our sins, by His stripes we are healed. The white of the candy cane is for the sanctification of our sins and the holiness of Jesus.

Elementary Christmas Concert

See the source imageComing up on December 13, Laurens Academy will host their annual elementary school Christmas concert.  The concert will be performed by grades 4K through fifth grade.  It will begin with various children from the older elementary grades showcasing their piano skills.  Next, the 4K and 5K classes will sing Christmas tunes like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  The older grades will sing more traditional Christmas songs like Mary Did You Know and Silent Night. The concert will also feature some Christmas music history that will be told as the night goes on.  Some kids have earned spots to sing in small groups, solos, trios, and duets while others will read to the crowd.  The older grades will get to showcase their acquired skills that they have learned throughout the first semester on the xylophone.  After the show comes to a conclusion, the Laurens Academy staff will be serving cookies and milk for the children and their families.  Mrs. Owens, the music teacher, and the elementary children have put in loads of hard work and hope to see a big crowd attend their show!

See the source imageExams are an important part of a student’s life. They teach you to learn how to recall information that was taught earlier in the year. Students at Laurens academy take two sets exams: one set halfway through the year right before winter break and the other at the end of the year before summer break. Many people stress over exams, but if you are prepared they are not too bad. One way to make sure you will be ready is to be organized throughout the year, and to keep track of your information. When exams get close, you can pull out your study guides, homework, and old tests to study easily. Another way is to randomly take out old notes and glance over them during the year, even when exams are not very close. Using these tips, students may be able to be more prepared for the exams coming up soon.

LA Varsity Basketball Scrimmage

Image result for basketball clipart

The Laurens Academy varsity boys basketball team played Woodruff High School in a scrimmage last Thursday. The team played well and technically there was no winner. There were five ten minutes quarters and the score reset each quarter. The entire team got an opportunity to play so everyone got some game experience. The starters for the game were Noah Moore, Dawson Foster, Charlton McCall, Luke Kerber, and Thomas Lowry while the rest of the team came off of the bench. Cal Robertson, Diamonte Grant, Colton McGee, and Will Jones all played several minutes in that game as well. The team fought hard and everyone had a great time. The team is already looking forward to their next scrimmage at Northside Christian and Tuesday, November 13.

LA Thanksgiving Dinner

Image result for turkey thanksgiving clipart

Next week, on the 14th of November, the LA cafeteria staff will be preparing a lovely thanksgiving meal for students and faculty. The dinner will consist of many delicious home cooked vittles, such as, turkey, potatoes, green beans, yeast rolls, mac and cheese, sweet potato cobbler, and last but not least some tasty apple pie.  We have nobody to thanks but Mrs. Tammy Tollison and Mr. Jimmy Powers for putting this feast they have planned for us together. All of us students are counting down the hours to enjoy this wonderful meal!

Thanksgiving Traditions

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Thanksgiving is a big holiday in the United States. There are a lot of different traditions that we celebrate. Most people cook a big meal and invite family and friends. Other people will gather around the TV to watch sports. Some people watch the parade on TV, and some go watch it in person. A lot of people travel too, visiting family.  Food is mostly associated with this holiday. Even though we enjoy eating food, the holiday is about being thankful. There are also traditions about being thankful around this time. Such as: people going around the table and saying on thing they are thankful for, or saying things you’re thankful for the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Some people might read some bible passages. No matter what you do on Thanksgiving, we have to remember what the holiday is for, giving thanks.

9th Grade Bake Sale Project

See the source image

The 9th grade Christian History class had a bake sale to raise money for third world families in need of food through a program called Samaritan’s Purse. This sale will help the families by gathering money to buy them a goat, a cow, chickens, or other animals that would be useful by providing them with food they can eat and sell. This bake sale took place from the 29th of October through the 1st of November. It was so successful that we decided to have another bake sale during the week of November 12th and go through the 16th. We raised over 70 dollars in our first sale by selling a variety of cookies, brownies, and snacks. The class hopes to collect even more money for the program in the upcoming week. Everyone has some ideas to raise more money and we look forward to using those in the next few weeks.

Former Student Joins the Navy

Former student Jack Kerber joined the Navy this past year. Before he came to Laurens Academy he was homeschooled. He attended Laurens Academy for his eighth grade year throughout his senior year. He graduated in may 2016. Since graduation, Jack went to Greenville Tech and worked at General Electric. He decided he wanted something more, so he decided to follow his grandfather’s footsteps and join the Navy. He first went through bootcamp in Chicago which was hard but he had a good time and made some new friends. He is now in school in a Naval Academy in Charleston. I am sure he will do great things in his career.

Kindergarten Pow Wow

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The kindergarten classes have been learning all about different Native American tribes. The K-4 class has been learning about the Cherokee Native American tribe. The class learned about where the Cherokees lived, what they ate, the clothes they wore and other things like that. They have learned several songs to help them memorize and share this information with others. The K-5 has been learning about the Wampanoag tribe. They have also memorized a few songs about the tribe. They will do a performance to show off what they have learned at our annual “Pow Wow” on Friday, November 16. The kids will perform some of the songs they’ve learned using props and costumes in front of their parents.. At the end of the Pow Wow, they will enjoy a feast of foods like turkey, cornbread, pumpkin pie, beans, nuts, berries and other foods.

Thanksgiving Break

See the source image

Thanksgiving break is coming up soon. There is only a week until the break starts and everyone is really excited! Some students are able to travel so it’s nice not to have to worry about school or homework.  There are many different places to travel near us.  One of the areas you could go is the mountains where you can look across vast open areas where you can relax and feel the cold mountain air. If the mountains aren’t your thing then you can go to the beach where the beach is going to be a lot colder than usual. Then there is thanksgiving where you can take time off with family and friends and talk about how thankful you are for all of them. I hope that everyone enjoys their vacation.

Softball Field day

Last weekend, softball coaches Shannon Reynolds and Megan Huck held a softball practice with friends and family. The catching equipment came in and everyone  had a wonderful time hanging out and practicing. We had a great turn out and it went very well, we had the Huck family, Kenny and Lisa Langston, Mckenzie Haupfear, Olivia Suttles, Rylee Baylard, and Addison Manley. The team pitched, threw the ball, practiced playing catcher, and had a great time all around. The softball season starts in the spring and we are glad for our coaches who find ways to have fun! Everyone who went had a great time and congratulated each other afterwards. We can not wait for the season to start!

Crusaders JV Girls

Image result for basketball clipart

This year, the Lady Crusader varsity basketball coaches had to made some tough decisions. Due to the amount of players participating in the varsity program, ninth graders Elissa Hucks and Ivy Codington graciously moved down to join the middle school students and formed a JV team.

The difference in the schedules of the high schoolers and the middle schoolers resulted in a change to the practice schedule. Instead of practicing 2:15 to 3:30 as they typically do, this year the team will practice from 3:30 to 5:00. We all wish the JV girls luck as they will begin their season in the following weeks.

Eighth Grade Field Trip

Image result for moon time lapse

On Wednesday, October 31st, Mrs. Codington took the Laurens Academy eighth grade class on a field trip to the Clemson Planetarium for their Earth science class.  The field trip was focused around our solar system and space. While at Clemson, the eighth graders learned about stars, constellations, asteroid belts, other planets,  galaxies, and phases of the moon. They also learned about different theories about space including the possibility of aliens existing. The eighth graders got to go sit inside a dark, big, blow-up dome where they viewed different phases of the moon and look at different constellations.  They ended their field trip with lunch at Wendys in Clemson. The students loved the chance to learn more in depth about our solar system and space with Mrs. Codington in Clemson.

Coach’s Thoughts

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The Laurens Academy Volleyball had a great season this year. Even though they had some ups and downs, the volleyball players played excellent. The volleyball team made it to the quarterfinals of the state tournament then lost to Wardlaw, who is going to the championship. The coach, Shannon McGee, said that she was so proud of the way that they played as a team and with great sportsmanship. She says that she was very impressed with the way that they stepped up and played together even when they were facing adversity. She said that it was a pleasure being their coach and will miss the seniors dearly. She loves the volleyball players and they love her. The ones that are not graduating are already excited for the next season of volleyball.

Character Day

Every year the elementary school has Character Day. It is on Halloween and every grade does different people. There is a time period each class does, and they dress up as famous people from that time period. The characters normally range from the 1700s to the early 1900s. The fourth grade is doing characters such as: Betsy Ross, Alexander Hamilton, Paul Revere, Patrick Henry, and a few others. The third grade is doing characters such as: Andrew Jackson, Dicey Langston, Thomas Sumter, and many others. When you do character day, you also have to research information on your person and make a poster. They also have to give a speech on their character. This experience teaches them about people in the past, and how to research information. Also, how to present a speech in front of people. I think this Character Day is going to be very fun, and it will be cool to see all the costumes.


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Tax season is open

The IRS is now generally accepting e-filed returns.  However, due to IRS reprogramming of their software to encompass Fiscal Cliff Legislation in early January, certain filings are not yet being accepted.  Some of the most common forms which are delayed are:

Education credits – Form 8863 (American Opportunity Credit and Lifetime Learning Credits)

Depreciation and Amortization – Form 4562 – This may affect small business owners with schedule C depreciable assets  and some pass through investment activity.

Energy credits – Form 5695

Domestic Production Activities Deduction – Form 8903 – this affects area manufacturers

Hope you’ve kept good records and are organized this tax season.  We’re expecting lots of activity later than usual in the regular filing season.  Best of luck during this busy time!


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Glacier Peak Wilderness

Miles of wildflowers, open spaces and mountain ranges with some snow covered peaks, Trevor Anderson went on a trip to the Glacier Peak Wilderness and he is sharing his experience

Although every one of my photography trips has been rewarding and memorable in some regard, there are certain trips that fuse together just the right ingredients of emotion, challenge and pleasure to make them especially memorable. A trip to the local mountains in the Glacier Peak Wilderness in 2008 brought the perfect recipe to create a lasting memory and an assortment of some of my favorite images to date.

This trip started out fairly ominously. I recall the weather being forecast for mostly clear skies, but being an avid mountain adventurer, I knew the mountains could…

Read this and many more articles in High Definition inside Issue 39 of Landscape Photography Magazine.

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About Author

Trevor Anderson

I am Trevor Anderson and I am a Pacific Northwest based Photographer. With the immense natural beauty and recreational opportunities available in my region, I was drawn to exploring the moods of nature while hiking at a relatively young age.

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Outdoor Living & Hardscape

ValleyScapes specializes in designing and installing paver patios, pergolas and outdoor kitchens in Topeka & Manhattan KS (and every Kansas property in between).

Click images for larger views.

KS Outdoor Living with Paver Patio, Outdoor Kitchen

Kansas Outdoor Living at its Best

ks outdoor fireplace on paver patio

A serious outdoor fireplace for serious outdoor entertainment 🙂

outdoor kitchen and fireplace

A gentle wall leading into the outdoor-kitchen area

outdoor kitchen design near manhattan kansas

Bird's View of an Outdoor Kitchen Area

outdoor kitchen design near manhattan topeka ks

Detail of an outdoor kitchen

Outdoor living dining area design near topeka manhattan ks

An outdoor dining area emphasized with a circle of pavestones

detail of bergerac pavers cuts next to pool near manhattan kansas

Detail of Pavers integrating with cement

outdoor kitchen patio design near topeka ks

View of the elegant look of Bergerac pavers interlocking

outdoor living in kansas

Full Paver-Patio View

For the following hardscape project in Topeka, Kansas, ValleyScapes used Holland pavers in two colors. Holland pavers come in several other colors and are know for the simplistic beauty, as well as economy on the wallet. The pergola, with ornate edges and adequate spacing, was custom constructed to the needs and desires of the landscaping client in Topeka, KS.

Sidewalk made with contrasting colors of holland pavers

Custom-designed pergola constructed with pressure-treated lumber

Pergola detail

Pergola creating an extraordinary atmosphere

Steps constructed from holland pavers

Pergola creating a natural doorway

A bug's-eye view

A view of the whole pergola, paver patio and house

For the next outdoor living project below, ValleyScapes used Mega-Bergerac pavers, which have a tumbled and ‘antiqued’ appearance. The landscaping client also decided to have ValleyScapes integrate two circles of pavers within the overall design of the paver patio.

Circle design for bergerac pavers

Paver-Patio edge detail

Detail of a larger paver-circle pattern and paver steps

View of the whole bergerac-paver patio with two circle designs

ValleyScapes integrated a custom-paver patio with a house, outdoor kitchen, swimming pool, hot tub and basketball court for the following patio install in Topeka, KS. ValleyScapes used a thick, three-piece Dublin Cobble paver for the hardscape project. Dublin Cobble is a Kansas-landscape customers’ favorite, as it has an irregular but subtle texture. It’s not perfectly smooth, but it’s not as textured as a Bergerac pavestone.

ValleyScapes also installed the river rock for the flowerbed areas, graded the surrounding dirt areas and installed Sod.

View of the columns, pool, hotub and grill

Outdoor kitchen grill with basketball court in the background

Detail of three-piece, larger Dublin Cobble pavers

Detail of patio columns

For the last landscaping project listed here, ValleyScapes constructed several sets of steps, walls with columns, a paver patio and a pergola with ornate designs and clear roofing. The rock of choice, in this case, was the smaller version of three-piece Dublin Cobble for the patio. The rock of choice for the walls was Weston Wall.

Entire view of Patio and Pergola

Detail of a column made from Weston Wall

Detail of the design pattern for Dublin Cobble

Steps for a lifetime

View of the patio from the backdoor

A bug's-eye view

Pergola design detail

Pergola detail

A bird's-eye view

Dublin Cobble patio detail

Let’s meet and begin creating a hardscape or patio installation plan for your property.
Whether you live in Topeka, Manhattan, Lawrence, Junction City or Wamego
(or anywhere in that area of Kansas for that matter),ValleyScapes
is ready to install your next patio and customize it to your vision of what an outdoor, paver patio in Kansas should be.

Thank-you to our most benevolent customers who allowed us to photograph
and display their newly installed patios. The images of these patio
projects are only a small portion of the work we’ve done as landscaping
contractors in Topeka, Manhattan, Wamego, Junction City, Kansas and more.

Please ask us how we can customize your patio installation to fit your needs. No two patios are ever the same!

—Joe (785) 969-9329 -or- ValleyScaping@gmail.com

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Who can claim they see the reality!

I look for this post, always worried about this lovely young woman, she writes so beautifully about her country and her feelings, I wanted to share her words…

Levant woman

What is the reality of what we see?

This is a question I’ve always asked to myself and it’s still unsolved.

What if other people see this blanket differently? What if that yellow color doesn’t look like I see it to everybody else? Now what if they hear my voice not the same way I hear it?

I studied in hand drawing lectures a long time ago about perspective; things don’t look the way they really are, our eyes use a trick in seeing  lines, areas, and also colors that makes it able to include the world in that small pupil we have in our eyes.

–          Things look smaller than they are when they are further.

–          Paralleled lines (which are impossible to meet in reality) actually meet in one point. This point is as high as your eye’s height.

–          The view of any object differs due to…

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Welcome to LV Turtle - Black

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Since we are based in Las Vegas, we designed a custom Las Vegas turtle! Great gift idea!

  • Will ship on or before December 19
  • Available in 100% Ring Spun Cotton
  • Tagless collar
  • Custom printed in Las Vegas
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Make a Fine Front-Line Impression How do you maintain a functional and friendly front desk at your business? A private-practice expert shared tips in a recent ASHA online conference chat. The Leader listened in. Overheard
Overheard  |   May 01, 2017
Make a Fine Front-Line Impression
Author Notes
  • Kevin D. St. Clergy, MS, is a well-known speaker in the speech-language/audiology profession and hearing aid industry. He has a master’s degree in audiology and 20 years of practice-development experience.
    Kevin D. St. Clergy, MS, is a well-known speaker in the speech-language/audiology profession and hearing aid industry. He has a master’s degree in audiology and 20 years of practice-development experience.×
Article Information
Practice Management / Professional Issues & Training / ASHA News & Member Stories / Overheard
Overheard   |   May 01, 2017
Make a Fine Front-Line Impression
The ASHA Leader, May 2017, Vol. 22, online only. doi:10.1044/
The ASHA Leader, May 2017, Vol. 22, online only. doi:10.1044/
Participant: What are your best tips for front-desk staff to handle unhappy parents? Doesn’t happen often but can be intimidating when it does. Any ideas for ways to defuse parent intimidating behavior would be helpful.
Kevin St. Clergy: One of my favorite books to help go deeper into the subject is “A Complaint Is a Gift” [by Janelle Barlow and Claus Moller]. In that book, the authors outline a process for dealing with unhappy customers/patients. The first step is to acknowledge that they are upset: “Sorry to hear that, Mr. Jones. I can certainly understand why you’d be frustrated. Let me see what we can do.” If they are standing, your front-desk employee should stand up, too. Most people understand that things happen and people make mistakes, so they are usually willing to give someone a chance to make it right. After you’ve offered to find a person to help, get the [unhappy client’s or parent’s] contact info so you can have that staff member handle the situation. Or if the [staff member] is in the office, put them somewhere quiet in a room where they can have a conversation with them so that it’s not out in public. Then thank them for bringing it to your attention.
Participant: When are training sessions scheduled? Before work, after work, during lunch? Is training a requirement of your contract or offer letter of employment, or do you provide a bonus or other incentives for attendance?
St. Clergy: I’ve seen trainings scheduled at all times during the day. I usually recommend during the normal workday—most employees value their personal time, so try not to take that away from them. Training should be a requirement of the job. Don’t offer incentives for things that should be part of their job. Otherwise they’ll ask for it every time you do something different. Do give them time away from their normal job to complete the training.
Participant: Can you elaborate on ways to overcome a caller’s objections to scheduling an appointment with the speech-language pathologist?
St. Clergy: Objections are simply temporary reasons for not buying—or, in this case, not scheduling. I would simply make a list of reasons that patients have given before, and make sure the front-desk employees are comfortable with each answer they should be giving (you’ll need to role-play with them). But in my experience, it’s usually something like, “That’s a great question, Mrs. Jones. I would recommend scheduling an appointment with [the SLP] to get all your questions answered. Our patients comment all the time about how thorough she is and how great a job she does at explaining how everything works. In fact, she’s got an opening as early as Wednesday—what’s better for you, 10 a.m. or 3 p.m.?”
Participant: What if the objection is, “I have to ask my husband”?
St. Clergy: That’s a tough one, as usually couples do like to talk. I would say something like, “Great—no problem. How much time do you need and when shall I follow up with you?”
Participant: As someone who does not have a front-desk person (I am a sole practitioner), my initial phone consultation with a prospective client is my “front-desk impression,” so to speak. Do you have any specific recommendations for this form of first-impression making? I am an accent coach, working with adult professionals in the business world.
St. Clergy: It’s the same whether you’re the owner or a front-desk employee. The key is to smile while you are talking with someone, making sure you answer their questions and encourage a first visit to meet you.
Participant: As a sole practitioner with no front-desk person, I’m afraid many calls will end up going to voice mail. Is there a magic formula for what to include in an outgoing voice-mail message that will encourage people to leave a message?
St. Clergy: I think the question you need to be asking is, do you think it’s better to have an answering machine answer the phone or a human being? Which do you prefer? Most would say human being. I also encourage you to think about positioning yourself as an expert. How many doctors do you go to that answer their own phone? If it’s a budgeting thing and it can’t be helped, just make sure you have caller ID so you can call back those who don’t leave a message. The machine message needs to state expectations and say, “Please leave a message and we will get back to you within 24 hours.” Or something similar.
Participant: We wanted to model best-practice management in our university clinic, but we also wanted to include students in the process, which means students are sometimes covering the front desk, which can lead to a lot of variability. Any suggestions for balancing including students versus delivering a fully professional-level experience for our patients?
St. Clergy: That is a great opportunity for the students, and I highly recommend it. If there is a lot of variability, that isn’t the students’ fault—it’s the clinic manager’s. Working the front desk needs to be outlined in detail—what they should do, how they should use a greeting and everything else. When it’s written down, you train each person correctly. You just need to plug students into the system first; then, once they have shown they can do the things outlined, they can then work in that position.
Participant: Do you have any recommendations on how we can monitor quality customer service? If people do not complain, it is difficult to know if there were complaints.
St. Clergy: You can use online reviews as a gauge or simply use Survey Monkey for short surveys. Those are really the two ways online.
Participant: I would appreciate your ideas regarding last-minute cancellations and if you have a policy for no-show appointments. I expect some cancellations with pediatrics, as children can get off the school bus and tell Mom they aren’t feeling well—but I have people who cancel if a cloud comes up.
St. Clergy: I have a doctor who charges if the patient has two last-minute cancellations in a row. Another who just charges if I don’t reschedule within 24 hours. So it is up to you. They happen. I would start a waiting list for those who want to come in earlier; then when you do have a cancellation, you can start filling up the schedule with the ones who wanted an earlier appointment. Try charging and see what happens.
Participant: Our staff is spread out over several locations. Would you recommend having weekly meetings via phone or web, since actually getting together face to face will be difficult?
St. Clergy: Yes, I’d suggest weekly phone meetings using Google Docs/sheets so that everyone can be on the same document (agenda). You can also use Office 365 with Word Online to do the same thing.
Participant: At my front desk we seem to spend a lot of time explaining to people how their own insurance works, usually when they come for the appointment. Is there a way to streamline this information and get it across without so much time spent?
St. Clergy: You can consider emailing that information to the patient before they come in to save some time. Or have a document that outlines the benefits and is easy to understand, too (if possible).
Participant: I’m an SLP with a small pediatric practice. I failed to hire the correct person to run the front desk and to keep her for a long time. Any suggestion for finding and keeping a front-desk person?
St. Clergy: I would hire slow and fire fast. The best thing you can do is to run an ad that has two things at the end. One is this statement: “Please send your resume and cover letter in PDF form only.” You’ll be surprised at how many people will send it in Microsoft Word. If they do, don’t even consider them for the job. The other is to put “top performers only need apply.” This will help you get good people responding to the ad. You can do this or not, but I usually like to say after they’ve starting talking about themselves, “Look, I’m not hearing top performer.” You’re looking for someone who can deal with conflict. You want the person who says, “Oh, really? Well, you should call my old boss and ask him how I completely took his business from x to x.” Those are two powerful ways to get great people in that position.
Participant: I am the front-desk person (owner). My employees (SLPs) talk with parents often. How can I encourage them to set goals? Would setting a goal for rescheduling be an example? Do you have any other suggestions?
St. Clergy: You have to get them in the habit of setting goals for themselves. Try open-ended questions first: What are your goals for work, for seeing patients, for revenue production for the practice? Try to steer them toward the goals you have for the practice. If that doesn’t work, you’ll have to help them set goals that you want to see with suggestions. A reschedule rate can definitely be a goal. Other goals can be centered on new patients seen, referrals generated, reviews collected online, revenue production, etc.
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May 2017
Volume 22, Issue 5


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Big weekend for CFL teams

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The latest from the CFL’s HQ.

Toronto, ON – (October 14, 2010) – It’s shaping up as Showdown Weekend in the Canadian Football League as teams fighting for playoff positions face each other on the road to the 98th Grey Cup in Edmonton.
It starts here at Rogers Centre with a Friday Night Football clash between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts, two rivals with identical 7-7 records, locked in a battle for second place in the CFL East and the home playoff date that comes with it.
On Saturday in Vancouver, the Edmonton Eskimos (4-10) face the British Columbia Lions (5-9) in a match-up that could go a long way towards determining the third and final playoff spot in the CFL West.
Sunday’s doubleheader starts with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-10) visiting the Montreal Alouettes (10-4), with the Blue needing a win to maintain their momentum in their quest to catch the Argos or Tiger-Cats in the East, or possibly, become the crossover playoff team that supplants Edmonton or B.C. in the West.
This Fall feast of meaningful games peaks in Regina later that afternoon, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-5) look to pull even with the Calgary Stampeders (10-4) in a game that has huge implications for first place in the West.
Of course, the team that finishes first knows that a single playoff win at home is all that stands between them and an appearance in the Grey Cup game next month.
There are still plenty of mathematical possibilities, with four weeks to go until the playoffs in a year marked by close games and plenty of parity. But here’s what we do know going into this weekend:

  * A Hamilton Win OR Winnipeg Loss + Edmonton Loss = Hamilton clinches a playoff spot for the second straight year.
    * A Toronto Win OR Winnipeg Loss + Edmonton Loss = Toronto clinches a playoff spot, marking an impressive turnaround after winning just three games in 2009.
    * A Montreal Win + Toronto Loss = Montreal Clinches First Place in Eastern Division, and the right to host the Eastern Final for the third straight year

“It has been a tremendous season and judging from this weekend’s match-ups, the best is still yet to come,” said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon.
“It promises to be a weekend of great CFL football and we’re looking forward to it as much as our fans are.”

This Week's Flyers

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.


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Richards gives it to Crosby

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If you haven’t seen any of the hockey highlights from last night check out this hit by Philadelphia’s Mike Richards on Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby. The Pens’ captain got rocked, but got right up and skated away.

A side note to this, watching CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada last night the panelists were discussing Crosby after the first period and how strong his legs are. They discussed how hard he skates and how difficult it is for other players to take him off the puck, Mike Milbury even said other players should take notes. One has to assume he was talking about Alexander Ovechkin, who hasn’t played great in every game in the Capitals series against the Rangers. Kelly Hrudey went further, twice calling Crosby “intoxicating.” Sounds like Hrudey has a man-crush on No. 87.

Watch both the Richards hit and the Crosby comments below, all within the first two minutes of the video.

This Week's Flyers

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.


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John Cleese’s Recipe For Creativity

How can we bring more creativity in our lives? And what does increasing our ability to be creative got to do with leadership? Allowing space to be creative gives leaders the ability to see complex business problems with fresh eyes and allow new ideas and possibilities to come forward. Hold the finger paint and smocks, comedian John Cleese’s 1991 lecture contains a recipe for creativity – 5 factors that we can arrange in order to give us the best change to be more creative. In short he believes that “Creativity is not a talent. It is a way of operating”. So even if matching a tie and shirt exhausts your creative talents you’ll find that Cleese’s formula gives you a process to encourage creativity.

Here is a summary of the 5 key tips for creating a ‘space time oasis for creativity’.

  1. Space – “You can’t become playful, and therefore creative, if you’re under your usual pressures.”
  2. Time “It’s not enough to create space; you have to create your space for a specific period of time.”
  3. Time – “Giving your mind as long as possible to come up with something original,” and learning to tolerate the discomfort of pondering time and indecision.
  4. Confidence – “Nothing will stop you being creative so effectively as the fear of making a mistake.”
  5. Humour – “The main evolutionary significance of humour is that it gets us from the closed mode to the open mode quicker than anything else.”


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Libraries long ago expanded from books to include magazines, newspapers, music, movies and audiobooks. Our library took that a step further and now loans out board games and baking pans. Their baking pans are appropriately located in a section of cookbooks, tying in the library’s core product with this new expansion. What a great idea!

In addition to the expense, who really wants to store a shamrock-shaped muffin tin or a beehive cake mold? And what better way to try out new board games before you buy them or when you need multiples for a party?

Sharing is economically and ecologically friendly and the library is making it easier to take small risks and experiment with something new.

How can you take advantage of opportunities to borrow some resources and creatively expand your horizons today?

About the Author leadership dots by dr. beth triplett

Dr. beth triplett is the owner of leadership dots, offering coaching, training and consulting for new supervisors. She also shares daily lessons on her leadershipdots blog. Her work is based on the leadership dots philosophy that change happens through the intentional connecting of small steps in the short term to the big picture in the long term.

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How to Set Your Lineup

Draft Day has come and gone. And now here you are with a team of 14 players of your choosing, waiting to carry you the playoffs.

However, your ability to win relies heavily upon your strong decision-making skills. You’ve got to set your lineup, and it’s got to be a higher-scoring lineup than your opponent. Thankfully, ESPN gives you almost everything you need to help you with these decisions.

I’m warning you now that this is going to be one of my drier LM Notes because it’s a lot to get through. To keep this entertaining, I am granting Mike and Jayson’s request and interspersing these instructions with images of NFL Cheerleaders. This is actually happening.

How does she not have rolls whilst sitting down? Ridic.

The Player Overview

Log in to your ESPN Fantasy Football account, access your team, and make sure you are on the “My Team” page. Then click on the “Overview” tab. This will show you a chart of all of your players with various stats. There is also a “Move Player” button next to each player. This is where you will set your lineup. By the time this season is over, you will have spent hours agonizing over this page. Trust me.

You’ll notice that your team is broken up into Starters and Bench. Please don’t forget that Bench points count for nothing. And the higher your bench scores, the higher your shame.

Next to each player’s name is a little notepad. Click on it for important news alerts, including injuries and suspensions that may affect your player’s ability to perform. There may also be red letter designations of any issues: P (Probable), Q (Questionable), O (Out), IR (Injury Reserve, which is a long term injury that might be solved by the end of the season, but no promises and you should check the news for more details), and SSPD (suspended).

The first subset of columns is the schedule for the week. All times are in ET. Every player locks into position, whether it is on your bench or starting line, as soon as his game begins. Plan accordingly. The” @” denotes that it’s an away game (which might factor into your decision).

The second subset are the fantasy stats for each player’s most recent season. Because the 2013 season hasn’t started yet, the stats are currently showing for 2012. They will change to the current season in the coming weeks and update accordingly. The seasonal stats are as follows:

  • PRK (Position Rank) – This is the player’s ranking among all other players with the same position.
  • PTS (Points) – Total Fantasy points for the season.
  • AVG (Average) – The average points per game.
  • LAST – Fantasy points scored last week.

The final column is sort of a “projection” column. The stats are as follows:

  • PROJ (Projection) – ESPN’s projection of points a player will score that week
  • OPRK (Opponent Rank) – The opponent rank is how well that player’s opponent ranks against defending against that player’s position. For example, Tom Brady is going against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. Brady’s OPRK is 22nd. That means that out of 32 teams, the Bills are 22nd defending against QBs. These stats are color coded. If the ranking is green, that means that chances are high that your player will score at his projection or higher. If the OPRK is red, the opponent is good at defending against that position, and there is a chance your player will score lower than the projection.
  • %ST (Percentage Starting) – This is the percentage of all ESPN Fantasy Football players who own that specific player and are starting him. If you like to think like the majority, this is a good stat to check.
  • %OWN (Percentage Owned) – This is percentage of ESPN Fantasy Football leagues wherein this player is on someone’s team.
  • +/- (Change in Percentage Owned)- This is how the Percentage Owned shifted since last week.

Usually the player overview is enough data to help you choose. But in case you need more, there’s always…

The Player Card

I know this isn’t what the guys are looking at, but I’d kill for her arms.

Staying on the Player Overview tab, you’ll notice that each player’s name is a link. Clicking on this link brings up the Player Card. This pulls up the stats most relevant to each position:

  • QB – YDS (Passing Yds), I/F (Interceptions/Fumbles), PTS (Fantasy Points)
  • RB – ATT (Rushing Attempts), YDS (Rushing Yards), TD (Touchdowns), PTS (Fantasy Points)
  • WR/TE – REC (Receptions), YDS (Receiving Yards), TD (Touchdowns), PTS (Fantasy Points)
  • D/ST – PA (Points Allowed), I/FR (Interceptions/Fumble Recoveries), TD (Touchdowns), PTS (Fantasy Points)
  • K – FGM (Field Goals Made), FGA (Field Goals Attempted), XPM (Extra Points Made), PTS (Fantasy Points)

In addition to the stats, the player card will give you the player’s weekly fantasy projection, an explanation of the projection and a photo of the player so you can judge how hot he is.

There isn’t a single natural boob in this entire shot.

The other tabs are somewhat secondary to the player card and the player overview. The Stats tab lists the most relevant information for each player. You can find out what all the abbreviations mean from the Drafting 101 post. The News tab is important because it will alert you of any injuries or suspensions, though it is the same news you can get from the Player Overview. The schedule gives you a long term calendar of your whole team so you can look ahead to any bye week lineup issues. Finally, the rankings tab will give you the weekly rankings of your players from each ESPN analyst.

Work that rain, girl.

Outside Sources

I found this gem from Arizona Family. They’re clothed and flat so it’s PG-13.

ESPN is not the be-all, end-all of fantasy football news. There are a number of external sources that can give you a competitive edge this season.

  • Analyst rankings – I listed a few other websites in a previews post that offers their own opinion on weekly rankings and analyses. A second opinion won’t kill you.
  • Football news – Watch NFL Network, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, ESPN, whatever you have to do. Your Fantasy page will only give you news on your own players. But knowing who might be out, which backups are now playing, what personnel changes might affect your team will definitely make you a better Fantasy player.
  • Your League Managers – That’s right. Jayson and I are here for you. If you have any questions or want advice, just ask.

I don’t know why, but this is such a cute picture.

In the next few days, I will post more info about how to go about changing your players in case you are getting drafter’s remorse. I know I promised that it would be the next note, but I thought it might help for everyone to properly take stock of their players before deciding to make any changes. I’ll be sure to have that posted before the weekend.

Weird bunny tail ruffle notwithstanding, every single one of these girls still has a better ass than Miley “I want to twerk but I am so bad at it” Cyrus.

Now I leave you with this fun fact. Did you know that Phyllis Smith, who plays demure Phyllis on The Office, was once an NFL Cheerleader? She cheered for the St. Louis Cardinals before they became the Arizona Cardinals. She also used to be a burlesque dancer. What a saucy minx!

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The latest food safety violations in Lebanon County

1 min read Posted November 23, 2018

Here are the most recent food safety violations in Lebanon County, as documented by Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture.

Inspections are taken as a “snapshot” of the day and time, and should not necessarily be taken as overall indicators of an establishment’s cleanliness. Violations are often corrected prior to the inspector leaving the site.

Dollar Tree #3071

November 16, 2018 | 1201 Quentin Road, Lebanon PA 17042

6 – 501.111 Controlling Pests
In the back storage room, observed boxes of merchandise stored in an unorganized state & against walls which does not allow for proper inspection of the premises for evidence of pests.

Hutter’s Gas & Shop

November 20, 2018 | 1041 Maple Street, Lebanon PA 17046

6 – 202.15 Outer Openings, Protected
Door located in the back area of the food facility has a gap and does not protect against the entry of insects, rodents, and other animals.

4 – 601.11(A) Equipment, Food Contact Surfaces, Nonfood Contact Surfaces and Utensils
Inside top of the shake machine is not clean to sight and touch.

Dough & Shake

November 20, 2018 | 35 S. 8th Street, Lebanon, PA 17042

4 – 302.14 Sanitizing Solutions, Testing Devices
Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration.

5 – 103.11 Capacity-Quantity and Availability
Hot water was not available at the facility. Repair person notified.

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Cold Summer Tomato Soup with Fennel + Corn

HEY, August. It’s us. We’re back.

We’ve been running around with summer foods and summer places and summer friends because it’s been a strange and hard summer (year), and the best way we know how to take care of ourselves and others with some daily show of kindness is usually by cooking together. See also: Julia Turshen’s upcoming book Feed the Resistance: Recipes + Ideas for Getting Involved.

FullSizeRender (1)

Which brings us to now. Late August. Just in time to tell you about some of the good things, the things that have been getting us through, getting us up, getting us out: the things we’ve been eating all summer long before the season rolls out of here. There have been taco feasts and every kind of fruit crumble and hot weather drinks by the pitcher on porches. Stacks of watermelon slices taken for road trip snacks—and subsequently, stacks of rinds held in seat-belted laps because who remembers a trash bag when you’re just so excited you remembered to bring the watermelon in the car in the first place? There have been multiple cone ice cream afternoons. Popsicle breakfasts. Tomato lunches/dinners/snacks. No shortage of every kind of salad and seafood.

Heirloom Tomato Soup

Which just about catches us up to August: the most insane month for produce. Have you been to a farm or a farm stand or just any old supermarket for that matter lately? It’s nuts. It’s overwhelming. The colors, the smells, the number of peaches, plums, apricots, plum-apricot hybrids (heeeyyyy, pluots), plum-apricot-CHERRY hybrids, corn, tomatoes, berries, herbs, greens: it’s all happening. It’s almost ridiculous.

The joy and the problem of ingredients this time of year are one and the same: they’re all incredible. How can you possibly get to everything good while everything good is at its peak?

Not an easy task, but you know, we’re here to do our best.

Give us everything you’ve got while you can.

So let’s get to it with two of the most important guys on the August all-star team: Tomatoes. And corn.

Pick up the juiciest, brightest, ripest version of each and eat them in everything this month—including the reason we’re writing today: a cold summer soup that requires—hey!—no cooking. Which means even on the hottest, most humid of days (ok, some would say grossest, but we’re going to SOAK. IT. IN.—you’re going to miss August sweatiness the second you have to trade it in for a sweater), you’ve got dinner done without adding to the heat. AND because you’re making a cold soup, you can have lunch/dinner done for several days after, too—the leftovers are just as good, if not better.

And in case you’re looking for some seasonal science reading: here’s an article on why heirloom tomatoes really do taste so good.

And now, get off your computer, make this soup, eat it outside, and stay out as long as you can.

* * * *

Cold Summer Tomato Soup with Fennel + Corn
Serves about 4

You’ll Need:
-A blender
-A food mill (if you don’t have a food mill, you can just stick with a blender all the way through)

  • Kernels from 3 ears of corn
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
  • 3 tbs olive oil
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 tsp fennel seeds
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 3 strips of lemon zest
  • 1 leek, white & light green parts chopped
  • 1 fennel bulb, sliced + some fennel fronds reserved for toppings (see below)
  • About 2 1/2 pounds of tomatoes, heirlooms if you can get them (or whatever the best looking tomatoes you can find are), roughly chopped
  • Pinch of sugar
  • 1 tsp kosher or sea salt + more to taste

  • Handful of cilantro, chopped
  • 1 small jalapeño, seeded, ribs removed & chopped
  • 1/2 bulb of fennel, thinly sliced
  • Fennel fronds, chopped
  • Drizzle of cream/half & half or dollop of yogurt

* Warm 1 of the tablespoons of olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the red paper flakes, fennel seeds, and garlic.

* When spices and garlic are fragrant (but not yet browned), add the leek, sliced fennel, lemon strips, and a sprinkle of salt. Stir, then cover to sweat the vegetables until tender. This will take about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

* Add your tomatoes to a blender to purée. While the blender is running, add 1 tsp of salt, a pinch of sugar, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

* Place your food mill, with the medium disk in place, over a bowl. Pass the leek fennel mixture through the food mill, then repeat with your tomato purée. This will catch any skins/seeds/fibrous bits of the vegetables. Add the vegetable broth and mix everything together. If you are using a blender instead, work in batches to combine the fennel and leek mixture with the tomatoes and broth. Process until smooth.

* Cover and refrigerate for several hours, or even overnight, until very cold. This will bring the soup to the right temperature to eat, but will also give the flavors time to round out.

* When ready to serve, ladle the soup into bowls. Divide the corn among each bowls and top with the cilantro, fennel slices & fronds, and a drizzle of cream or yogurt.

© 2017 Lee and Lou Cook. All rights reserved.

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He’s the guy who’s tasked – a very disciplined guy in my opinion who possesses secrets that would turn your hair white – but at the same time he’s tasked with handling these kind of diva superheroes, you know? “Oh, really, Asgard? Dude, just get in the car.”

Clark Gregg

Within the sci-fi genre, there’s a type of character we all know, and often love.  He’s a little more weary than the rest, maybe a little more cynical.  He knows more than he lets on, and usually more than he can let on.  If he hasn’t seen it all, he’s seen at least too much for surprise.  And he’s the guy who holds the story together.

You’ll know him as Walter Skinner.  Or Frank Black.  Or K.  Or Phil Coulson.

He’s The Agent.

Back at the beginning of the year I received an e-mail from Isaac Rodriguez.  Isaac was preparing to shoot his next film, a sci-fi thriller called Site 13, and had a role he thought I might be interested in.

While we had previously met at local film festivals, at the time I knew Isaac more for his work.  In the last couple of years, he’s made a name for himself as a go-to horror filmmaker, with shorts like We All Fall Down, Lilith, and Harvest all finding success on the film festival circuit.  So I was intrigued by his offer.

As it turns out, he’d seen me in a suit in one of my Facebook pics and thought I’d be perfect for the role of “Agent X.”

I did have to think about it for a little while.  But he kind of had me at “Agent”.

By way of explanation, Site 13 involves the disappearance of a young woman near the Medina River (the film was shot for the Parks and Greenspace category of this year’s San Antonio Neighborhood Film Project).  Without spoiling our various roles, the cast includes Gloria Bueno, Jamye Cox, Taylor James Johnson, Alyssia Rivera, Chip Tamez, and myself as various characters caught up in the mystery.  Knowing Isaac’s visual sense, I had a feeling he’d come up with something appropriately creepy.

My role only required one scene.  But I was still nervous – while I enjoy acting (and have hopefully learned a few things as Nikki‘s assistant), I still don’t see myself as a professional.  So I took advantage of the time I had to prepare, try to get into character, and try to do justice to all those classic agent characters who came before.

We shot that scene on a Sunday evening, not too long after that original e-mail, at an office building near Ingram Park Mall.  Most of the shooting had been completed on location in the three days before, so my scene (with Taylor and Jamye) came very near the end of principal photography.  When I arrived, they were moving a little ahead of schedule, so I didn’t have to wait long before they were ready for me.

For all the nerves I was dealing with, it was a fun shoot.  The cast and crew (including producers Manuel Navarro and Donna Swafford) were very supportive, and while I’m still not sure of my performance, they seemed to like what I came up with.  And I appreciate that.

It’s been a few months since the film was wrapped and submitted to the NFP, and while it didn’t make the finals, Isaac and Manuel have continued to submit it to festivals.  And so it was a few weeks ago that we found out that Site 13 was selected to screen at this year’s San Antonio Film Festival.

We’re all pretty excited, and I’m actually looking forward to seeing how audiences respond to my performance. So I hope you can make it to one of our two screenings this week.  The full details are at the link above, and the teaser’s right below:

Thanks to the cast and crew, thanks to friends and fans for their support, and thanks to you for continuing to follow along.

Until the next chapter, “be seeing you…”

One thought on “Making Site 13, or: I’m No Clark Gregg, But I Get By

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Wading Through the Sea of Opinions

I recently sold an amplifier and stirred up a fun conversation with the buyer when we met in person. He was still lamenting about his amplifier choice, as he spent considerable research time – as many of us do these days – and sought out guidance online.
The problem, he discovered as he waded through countless forums, websites and video reviews, was that the opinions he found varied greatly. How could an amp be described as unreliable, shrill in tone, or lifeless and sterile in feel, while at the same time also being defined as being bullet-proof, a “holy grail” amp, and smooth with perfect overdrive bite?
Who ARE these people and what’s wrong with everyone’s ears?
Welcome to the world of the internet. That really is the downside after all. There is so much information available, but where do you go and who do you believe? Does

Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue
This is one of the best Fender reissue amps…or one of the worst…depending on the opinions you’ll find on the internet!

one try to gather a general sense of it all and simply “tally the votes” one way vs. the other, or does one base their decision on the loudest, biggest, or most popular voices out there?
The unfortunate truth is that there is no simple answer, but I have learned some things along the way. Here are some tips to consider:
• Forum communities are passionate and members love to split hairs. I’m guilty of this too! I love to “sweat the small stuff” – Have you read our various articles on Tube Screamer variants and modifications? Yes, changing components will make differences, but are they THAT big of a deal at the end of the day when you’re cranking up your gear and jamming with your friends? Not really… So don’t get too wrapped up in it all. I’ve spent years and money chasing tone and some things make a bigger difference then others, but most comparisons between items that are similar are simply that. They are SIMILAR!
• Marketing that you read in an ad or product description can have a powerful effect on the mind, but it is just often filled with over-exaggerated buzz words. And note that these can be often carefully crafted by marketing wordsmiths who may not even play guitar in the first place!
• Companies will split hairs about feature updates to position their products as the best solution out there – and it’s often to help justify increased prices. When Gibson talked about using hide glue on some of its more recent Custom Shop guitars to bond the tops and fingerboards, you’d think it was some magic formula that was FINALLY unlocked to take the guitars to some new dimension in tonal capture. New instruments that have now been recreated with even more accuracy than any previous reissue model in its history. Yes, the updates may be more accurate to the original, but I also don’t read any stories about bodies and necks coming apart from previous models or losing their resonant qualities because of the glue type being used. But we as players LOVE to banter and debate these subjects.
• Understand that reviews from online stores that sell gear, or from publications that otherwise accept advertising money for products, will have SOME bias. Between advertising and editorial, there is supposed to be a separation of church and state. But with that said, if you’re a writer and you don’t like some piece of gear, are you really going to bite the hand that feeds you and potentially harm the relationship between the editor and advertiser by trashing the product? This same rationale works in any industry, not just with guitar equipment.
• When choosing gear, understand whether you prominently are an at-home bedroom or home-recording player or someone who plays out live or in a full band context. The application of equipment varies greatly and some of it works better in one environment vs. the other. Don’t use a 100 watt Super Lead in a recording session in your apartment. It won’t sound good and you’ll probably be served an eviction notice.
• Pro players can make anything just about anything sound good in a demo video. I do believe that player technique and mastery of the instrument equals better tone. Always. FACT: ANY video demo from Joe Bonamassa will sound and look better than ANY video from David Szabados. So while chasing equipment is fun, truth be told, spending more time in the woodshed actually playing guitar will take you a lot further than just hunting down the next piece of gear. Have fun with it, but at least try to keep things in moderation and remember the point is to PLAY your instrument.


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Wednesday, May 24, 2017

MFT Colour Challenge 69

Today, I have two cards to share that I made using

I made both of my cards with my new MFT Butterflies stamp set
and coordinating dies.
Here's my first card:

I blended ink onto the borders of my card
and added my stamped diecuts (using Altenew and PTI inks) and a PTI frame.

I added my sentiment (from PTI's KIS: Thank You stamp set),
which I heat embossed in white onto a strip of charcoal cardstock.

I used the same products to make my second card,
to which I added a pop of yellow.

Thanks for looking!

Kim S said...

Beautiful mix of colors! I love the bright butterflies with the softly sponged background! They also pop beautifully on the darker color!

JanetB said...

I love those butterflies AND your cards. Beautiful.

Celeste Goff said...

Two gorgeous cards Leigh! I love them both!

Lisa Elton said...

Wonderful pair of cards Leigh! The soft ink blending on the first is so pretty!

donna mikasa said...

Wonderful takes on the color challenge--love both of your cards and those gorgeous butterflies!


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Luna Sauna 8′ x 7′

Luna Sauna 8′ x 7′

Includes the windows and 2 tier L shaped seating with rounded bench fronts.

Heater *

Select type of Heater for your Eagles Nest Sauna

Stronger Electric Heater

If you ordered an Electric Heater – would you like to make it one level stronger

Type of Cedar *

Please select either Knotty Cedar or Clear Western Red Cedar

SKU: 86XLU-2 Categories: , Tags: , ,

This medium sized modern looking unique outdoor cedar sauna is perfect for your home, cottage or cabin.  The gently rounded corners give added appeal and lots of space for the interior of the sauna.  Handcrafted in Canada with either Western Red Cedar or Knotty Cedar you will enjoy many years of enjoyment in this sauna.  Enjoy using the sauna outdoors in all 4 seasons.

Size:  8″ W x 7’D  (includes 6kw heater or wood burning stove)

This includes 2 tier L shaped seating on the back wall and one side.  (Heater is on the other side).  Photo shown does NOT show the L shaped benches

4 to 6 people

  • Made in Canada
  • 1.5″ Thick walls
  • Bronze Tempered Glass
  • EPDM Waterproof system
  • Rust Resistant hardware
  • 3 Year warranty


text:
Date(s) and Time(s)
Food Court

Family Orientation has been specially designed for parents and/or partners of new Lethbridge College students. Families play an important role in the success of students, and these sessions will provide them with tips on ways to support students through their educational journey. Check-in for each session takes place in Centre Core at the Lethbridge College Main Campus.

Special note about the August 4 session: Family Orientation is for adult family supporters. However, new students can attend a meet-and-greet and campus tour while family members participate in Family Orientation. Please note this does not replace their New Student Orientation activities on Tuesday, Sept. 5. The August 4 session also includes a campus tour.

Questions? Contact or call 1.800.572.0103 ext. 5545 or ext. 5256.


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“Own the Bone” Provides Tools for Success to Address Growing Major Health Crisis.

LewisGale Regional Health System has implemented the American Orthopaedic Association’s Own the Bone Program. The program is aimed to better identify, evaluate and treat patients that suffer from an osteoporosis or low bone density-related fragility fracture (a broken bone that results from a fall from standing height or less). The program brings focus to the severe health implications of fragility fractures and the multi-faceted approach hospitals or clinics can employ to ensure these patients receive the most comprehensive care.

Statistics surrounding this health issue are alarming. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), up to 50% of all women and 25% of men over the age of 50 years will sustain fragility fractures in their remaining lifetime. The American Bone Health Prevalence Report states that more people in the United States suffer a fragility fracture each year than are diagnosed with a heart attack (MI), stroke or breast cancer combined and is projected to significantly increase as the population ages. Studies show that patients who have had a fragility fracture are 2 to 4 times more likely to experience another fracture than those who have never had a fracture.

According to the National Committee for Quality Assurance, only 1 in 5 Medicare patients have received the osteoporosis care needed after a fracture. Own the Bone is a national quality improvement program that incorporates 10 measures for reducing future fractures and provides LewisGale Regional Health System with immediate feedback on performance to measure success and help benchmark our facilities with other facilities. With Own the Bone, LewisGale Regional Health System reduces this huge treatment gap and ensures that our patients with fragility fractures are screened and appropriately treated for low bone density or osteoporosis. Learn more about osteoporosis.


text:
Lez Zeppelin

No question just praise for an amazing show in Sandy Hook a few weeks back. I was blown away and now in pursuit of more. Come back soon.

Lez Zeppelin responded on 12/25/2012

We loved playing for you in Sandy Hook. What a great audience. We want you to know that we were broken hearted and devastated by the events that took place a few weeks ago, and we hope to play again for you soon. On behalf of all of us, you are in our thoughts this holiday season. Sending a whole lotta love!

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Curse of the Spellmans

Book Cover
Average Rating
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Spellman files volume 2.
Varies, see individual formats and editions
Pub. Date:
Varies, see individual formats and editions

Their first caper, The Spellman Files, was a New York Times bestseller and earned comparisons to the books of Carl Hiaasen and Janet Evanovich. Now the Spellmans, a highly functioning yet supremely dysfunctional family of private investigators, return in a sidesplittingly funny story of suspicion, surveillance, and surprise.

When Izzy Spellman, PI, is arrested for the fourth time in three months, she writes it off as a job hazard. She's been (obsessively) keeping surveillance on a suspicious next door neighbor (suspect's name: John Brown), convinced he's up to no good -- even if her parents (the management at Spellman Investigations) are not.

When the (displeased) management refuses to bail Izzy out, it is Morty, Izzy's octogenarian lawyer, who comes to her rescue. But before he can build a defense, he has to know the facts. Over weak coffee and diner sandwiches, Izzy unveils the whole truth and nothing but the truth -- as only she, a thirty-year-old licensed professional, can.

When not compiling Suspicious Behavior Reports on all her family members, staking out her neighbor, or trying to keep her sister, Rae, from stalking her "best friend," Inspector Henry Stone, Izzy has been busy attempting to apprehend the copycat vandal whose attacks on Mrs. Chandler's holiday lawn tableaux perfectly and eerily match a series of crimes from 1991-92, when Izzy and her best friend, Petra, happened to be at their most rebellious and delinquent. As Curse of the Spellmans unfolds, it's clear that Morty may be on retainer, but Izzy is still very much on the, cases -- her own and that of every other Spellman family member.

(Re)meet the Spellmans, a family in which eavesdropping is a mandatory skill, locks are meant to be picked, past missteps are never forgotten, and blackmail is the preferred form of negotiation -- all in the name of unconditional love.

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Accelerated Reader:
Level 5.2, 13 Points
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Grouping Information

Grouped Work ID 71b1da2c-d563-b7eb-9e91-1e4938415858
Grouping Title curse of the spellmans
Grouping Author lutz lisa
Grouping Category book
Last Grouping Update 2018-12-11 06:07:20AM
Last Indexed 2018-12-16 04:42:29AM

Solr Details

accelerated_reader_interest_level UG
accelerated_reader_point_value 13
accelerated_reader_reading_level 5.2
author Lutz, Lisa.
author_display Lutz, Lisa
available_at_arlington Columbia Pike, Glencarlyn
collection_arlington Detectives, Large Type
detailed_location_arlington Columbia Pike Large Type, Glencarlyn Detectives, Shirlington Detectives
display_description Izzy struggles to retain her private investigator's license after her fourth arrest, David's marriage to Petra, and Rae's teenage angst.
format_arlington Book, Large Type
format_category_arlington Books
id 71b1da2c-d563-b7eb-9e91-1e4938415858
isbn 9781410405982, 9781416532415, 9781416532422
item_details ils:.b13071075|.i13311220|Glencarlyn Detectives|D LUTZ|||1|false|false|||||On Shelf|Dec 09, 2017|gafd||, ils:.b13071075|.i13311244|Shirlington Detectives|D LUTZ|||1|false|false|||||Due Dec 8, 2018|Feb 26, 2018|safd||, ils:.b13271106|.i13551693|Columbia Pike Large Type|LT D LUTZ|||1|false|false|||||On Shelf|Aug 04, 2018|oafl||
itype_arlington Hardback
last_indexed 2018-12-16T09:42:29.875Z
lexile_score -1
literary_form Fiction
literary_form_full Fiction
local_callnumber_arlington D LUTZ, LT D LUTZ
owning_library_arlington Arlington Public Library, Aurora Hills, Central, Cherrydale, Columbia Pike, Connection Crystal City, Detention Center, Glencarlyn, Local History, Plaza, Shirlington, Westover
owning_location_arlington Columbia Pike, Glencarlyn, Shirlington
primary_isbn 9781416532415
publishDate 2008
record_details ils:.b13071075|Book|Books||English|Simon & Schuster,|2008.|409 pages ; 24., ils:.b13271106|Large Type|Books||English|Thorndike Press,|[2008]|592 pages (large print) ; 22.
recordtype grouped_work
Bib IdItem IdGrouped StatusStatusLocally OwnedAvailableHoldableBookableIn Library Use OnlyLibrary OwnedHoldable PTypesBookable PTypesLocal Url
ils:.b13271106 .i13551693 On Shelf On Shelf false true true false false true 9999
ils:.b13071075 .i13311244 Checked Out Checked Out false false true false false true 9999
ils:.b13071075 .i13311220 On Shelf On Shelf false true true false false true 9999
series Spellman files
series_with_volume Spellman files|2
subject_facet Private investigators -- Fiction
title_display Curse of the Spellmans
title_full Curse of the Spellmans / Lisa Lutz, Curse of the Spellmans / by Lisa Lutz
title_short Curse of the Spellmans


text:
Adjudication Panel

In excess of 65 people will constitute the adjudication panel for the 2017 Liberty Radio Awards. We had an excellent response to the call for adjudicators and have assembled a panel which includes several Station Managers, Programme Managers, Producers, Editors, Radio Trainers, Marketing experts, and some radio consultants.

The judges will be looking at the following criteria, and the extent of their relevance, when listening to entries:

  • Creativity – Marks are awarded for innovation, originality and novelty. Is the entry based on a new idea? Or does it follow the old ‘tried and trusted’ formulae?
  • Presentation – Marks are awarded for the way in which the piece is presented. If a presenter is used, is he/she comfortable with the subject matter? Does he/she appear knowledgeable and well-versed/well-rehearsed on the subject? For pieces without presenters (e.g. drama entries), does the entry run smoothly? Is it well scripted? Is it ‘polished and professional’?
  • Value – Does the entry achieve its objective? Does it entertain? Does it raise awareness? Does it prick the conscience? Does it hold the attention of the target audience?
  • Production – This relates to the technical side of the entry, the production process itself. Is the piece well produced? Is quality evident in the production? Are sound effects used appropriately? Is incidental music well placed and appropriate to the mood/atmosphere being conveyed? Please note that production “embellishments” on the actual entry will not gain extra marks. The judges want to experience the submission just as the listeners did.

This panel will commence adjudicating and reviewing the submissions from 13 February 2017 and will have four weeks to review the entries and to submit their scores on the online adjudication system.

We’re really grateful to the adjudicators for making their time available to review and consider all the entries and we look forward to the outcome of their work