text:
Thursday, 28 March 2013

Misadventures in internet dating

Ah, internet dating.  Where would we be without it?  Over the past ten years I have repeatedly dipped my toe into the murky pools that are Match, Guardian Soulmates, Ok Cupid and Free Dating, with varying* levels of success.

I first tried online dating when it was still in its infancy, around 2004.  Things did not begin well.  The first guy I met seemed fantastic; we talked on the phone and seemed to get on, so he came to Leicester for a drink.  A great night followed.  Lots of chatting, a few kisses (I was much bolder in those days), and when he missed the last train home and I offered him a bed for the night, I was ever so proud of myself for not having sex with him and ruining a promising thing.  Second date... he told me he was gay.

I took a break for a year or so before giving Match a go.  This established a pattern for the next eight years: sign up with a service, go on a few terrible dates, have a year-long break - just long enough to forget how horrendous the experience is - before being tempted back to begin the whole cycle over again.  Over the years I...

... met up with a charmer who hadn't even bothered to take off his wedding ring.

... went on a first date with a guy who told me that he admired Hitler's powers of organisation.  There was no second date.

... listened to someone talk about his ex-girlfriend for a good two hours before I could escape.

... got to the snogging stage with one guy who, on the first (and last) night we kissed, declared, "I can locate the clitoris with my tongue in under ten seconds".  Erm, thanks but no thanks (and also, this is what passes for a boast nowadays?!).

To be entirely fair, I wasn't always the innocent party on these bad dates.  On one occassion the guy drove all the way from Peterborough for lunch, only to find me horrendously hungover and trying very hard not to vomit into my falafel.  I dated another person for longer than I should have, just because we made a shit hot team at the local pub music quiz.  Once we hit the jackpot and won the cash prize, it was bye bye to him.

By 2010 I was thoroughly fed up with the whole shebang.  My best friend, Cara, had struck online dating gold; meeting her now-fiancee just as she was about to give up on it all.  I figured she'd used up the internet dating luck in our group and that I should just retire gracefully to live out my days alone.  Deleting all my profiles, I took a longer-than-usual break.

Two years passed, and after doing some thinking about what I wanted from life (ok, after one too many Saturday nights home alone), I decided to give it one more try.  I'd heard good things about OK Cupid, so I set up a profile and waited for the usual mixture of x-rated missives that made me want to vomit, vaguely promising overtures from guys who always seemed to work in IT, and the occasional message that actually got my heart racing.  To begin with, it was really the same old same old.  A few fleeting meet-ups with guys who were clearly not for me.   A few email flirtations that never seemed to go anywhere; that I wasn't convinced I wanted to go anywhere.  And then, as I was just about to give it all up once again, he came along.

Because yes, I am now that rare beast: an internet dating success story.  What made it work, at last, when all other attempts had gone so badly?  I think it was a combination of things.  After years of being very happily single, I was finally ready to commit.  The pleasure I took in my own company - the joy of doing things like travelling alone - had started to pall, and I had reached a point where I definitely wanted to be with someone.  OK Cupid was the best of the dating websites, too, with a system of seemingly endless questions which led to surprisingly accurate matches (The Boy and I are a 99% match, according to their algorithms).  Last, but by no means least, is the fact that I met him.  That 99% match thing is no joke: we really are perfect for each other.

Never mind that it took us six long weeks (and at least twelve dates) to get round to admitting we liked each other**.  Never mind that I spent a lot of those six weeks wailing to my friends (and on Twitter - overshare much, Janet?) "Why won't he kiss me?!"  Never mind that, by the end of those six weeks, I had firmly placed him back into the friendzone, so convinced was I that he didn't fancy me.  We got there in the end.

Do you want to hear something really annoying though?  I'm the first person that The Boy ever met through internet dating; so as far as he is concerned, the whole thing is EASY.

* and by 'varying', I mean 'no' levels of success (with one glaring and obvious exception).
** this is what happens when you put two shy and socially awkward people together: our 'moves' consisted of sitting on a slightly closer sofa cushion and then wondering why the other one hadn't picked up on our overtures!  He ended up having to send me a message telling me he liked me, because apparently we are both still in middle school.

Wednesday, 27 March 2013

March reads

1. If I ever want to read something completely undemanding but entertaining, I reach for the Sookie Stackhouse series.  Dead To The World is my favourite for a myriad of reasons, most of which, admittedly, related to the fact that the character of Eric (the hot, blonde vampire played by Alexander Skarsgard in True Blood, the TV series based on these novels) has a central role in the storyline.  I read it from cover-to-cover, curled up in front of the fire, on a cold Sunday recently.  Bliss!

2. I loved John Green's most recent novel, The Fault In Our Stars, so when a friend from my craft & book groups recommended Looking For Alaska I was keen to read it.  I have to admit, it didn't capture my heart.  Telling the story of Miles Halter's first year at boarding school, I found that the main characters - particularly the Alaska of the title - were not hugely sympathetic.  I never felt like I really knew them or was rooting for them.

3. A bit of a cheat, putting this book in, as I've only just started reading it.  But I'm alread hooked and, judging by how quickly I read all of McDermid's edge-of-the-seat thrillers, I will have devoured The Vanishing Point well before the end of the month.

4. Our latest book group choice was Before I Go To Sleep; very much the kind of novel I read in large quantities and then feel mildly guilty about. A thrilling page turner about a woman who has such severe amnesia that she forgets everything as she sleeps each night, the plot hinges upon the question: who - if anyone - can she trust?  Ironically, it's an ultimately forgetable but nevertheless compelling novel:  I read it in one sitting but can now barely remember whether I even liked it all that much.

5. Both volumes of Nigel Slater's Kitchen Diaries are as lovely to read at as a 'real' book. Beautiful production values combined with wonderful photography, reliably delicious recipes and enjoyable anecdotes makes this a fantastic read.  I've been working my way through the January & February recipes in this second volume, trying to cook something new every week; I especially loved the chickpea and tomato stew, to which I added some chunks of chorizo.

6. What Matters In Jane Austen? was an utter pleasure.  A collection of essays on questions ranging from 'Is there any sex in Jane Austen?' to 'Why is it risky to go to the seaside?'  If, like me, you are an Austen geek, then this book will definitely be one to savour.  It made me want to go back and reread my favourite of her novels, Persuasion and Pride & Prejudice.

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Seen & heard: March

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
Oh, I so desperately wanted to love this film as much as I love the book.  I figured it was a good sign that the author, Stephen Chbosky, had taken on writing and directing duties.  But... but... I just didn't adore it, which makes me sad.  The best thing about it is Ezra Miller's candescent portrayal of Patrick; whenever he's on screen, it's hard to take your eyes off him.  But as tends to happen with movie adaptations of novels, it felt rushed and not fully realised.  I think I am going to try and forget that the film ever existed and just read the book again.

The Five Year Engagement
I'd variously heard that this was brilliant and terrible.  Actually, it's neither.  Slightly over-long, slightly worrisome from a feminist perspective (it's the classic 'look at this poor man, his girlfriend mistakingly thinks her career is more important than him or his career' tale*), but nevertheless quite amusing, and a decent enough way to pass an evening.
* see also The Devil Wears Prada

21 Jump Street
I was pleasantly surprised by this reboot of the 80s TV series. Witty (I laughed out loud, in a most unbecoming fashion, a number of times) and satisfyingly full of explosions, it's a great popcorn movie. Highly recommended.

I'm utterly obsessed with James Blake's new single Retrogade.  You may remember his dubstep/R&B reworking of Feist's Limit To Your Love from a few years ago (which was also fabulous). His music reminds me of my days as a dissolute clubkid, when staying up all night was par for the course and most evenings out ended in a tangle of limbs as we all cuddled up together listening to chill-out music until the sun rose.  He says his new album - out next week - is influenced by a recent meeting with Joni Mitchell, which can only be a good sign.

Monday, 25 March 2013

What makes me happy

Two of my favourite bloggers, Sarah and Laura, both did 'What makes me happy' lists recently and so, as I often do, I am copying them taking inspiration from them!

1. Daffodils; nodding in the wind, in a vase in my kitchen... wherever they are, their sunny yellow cheeriness never fails to make me smile.
2. Curling up in my huge armchair with the fire lit and a good crime novel on my lap.
3. Arranging trips to visit friends.  London this weekend was fab, hopefully I'll make it to Manchester over the bank holiday, and Norfolk is on my list too.
4. Driving the last few miles on the M62 to see my mum.
5. Seeing my niece's eyes light up at the mention of anything Harry Potter-related.
6. Pupils who say "thank you" when I put a worksheet on their desk.
7. Custard donuts.  So bad, yet so very good.
8. The moment when I see The Boy across a crowded train station/airport.
9. Waking up on the first morning of a school holiday.
10. Secondhand bookshops.
11. Getting email notification of a new comment here; I read and appreciate every single one (and speaking of which, do read Louise's great post about blog commenting).
12. Speaking to my dad on the phone, or getting an email from my mum.
13. When a pupil wishes me a happy weekend or says thank you for a lesson (this happens more than you would think; I teach some absolute sweeties in amongst the horrors).
14. Hearing that song, the one I love above all other at that moment in time, on the radio.  What gets me squealing at the moment?  Still One Direction I'm afraid!
15. Receiving an unexpected letter from a friend.
16. Finding an unexpectedly perfect dress.  My latest, a simple black number from H&M, makes me happy every time I put it on.
17. Fairy lights.
18. Having my back stroked (maybe I was a cat in a former life).
19. Feeling the warm sun on my face.
20. Getting into a bed made with freshly washed linen.

Thursday, 21 March 2013

Image association week 16

So, it's only taken me two months to reply to Sarah's last photograph.  In my defence, it was a bloody hard one to respond to, and I'm still not completely satisfied with what I've come up with.  I also spent much of January and February with a hellacious creative block: I couldn't seem to write, photograph, make, sew, bake... everything was a struggle and I'm only just getting my groove back.

Anyway, back in January Sarah posted this image of the ceiling at her workplace....

And I spent weeks and weeks trying to figure out how the hell to reply.  I tried playing around with lines; I looked for chances to photograph grids... but no luck.  I'd narrowed it down to the concept of either 'looking up' or 'looking down', but I couldn't seem to take a decent photograph (some would argue I still haven't managed it).  But while walking in Leicester on Sunday morning, I looked down at the rain-soaked pavement and this map - and the reflections in the wet surface - caught my eye.  So, finally, here is my response Sarah!

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

The language of love

Looking for a decent Valentines Day card last month, I came across greeting after greeting which ran along the lines of "I can't live without you," or, "You are the missing part of me."  Similar sentiments are also a stock in trade for pop lyrics.  Am I alone in finding this language extremely creepy rather than romantic?

I didn't always feel like this.  When I fell in love for the first time, at the age of sixteen, I did my fair share of, "you make my life complete"-type mooning around.  I seem to recall copying out the passage from Plato's Symposium concerning everyone having another 'half'.  I think part of what appealed (as I was on the cusp of coming out) was that he suggested that your other half could be same gendered.  But I also wholeheartedly subscribed to the notion of having a 'soulmate': and she was it.

At twenty, and in love for the second time, I once again tended towards dramatic and sweeping statements about how I "couldn't live" without my boyfriend.  Now, I just think it's a shame it took me so long to realise that, not only could I live without him, but that I would be a damn sight happier trying to do so.

However, while making wildly exaggerated declarations as a teenager and young adult is kind of expected, as a grown woman - and, I think, as a feminist - the idea that I might need someone else to be 'complete' is anathema to me.  There is something uncomfortably stalker-ish about rhetoric like, "I can't live without you".  It reminds me too much of couples who have Every Breath You Take by The Police as 'their' song, not realising the sinister nature of the lyrics.

For the reasons outlined in my post on being a 'spinster', I had been single for a long time before meeting The Boy in October last year.  My life - as I had created it - was busy, happy, fulfilling, creative and generally awesome.  So much so that it had been a struggle to find anyone that I liked enough to give up my time for.  Then he came along, and I liked him so much that I quickly realised that spending time with him was even more fun than spending time on my own.  And interestingly, it was the very fact that my life was busy and creative that attracted him to me in the first place.  But is he 'my other half'?  My 'missing piece'?  'The one'?  Those concepts imply the existence of a fate I don't believe in.  They also do away with the element of choice and free will.  To me, it is a far greater thing that I have chosen him; that although I recognise there may be other options, he is the one I want to be with.  I love him passionately and completely but he is not my soulmate.  We are not fated to be together, and I could live without him very well (albeit, now that I have met him, unhappily).  But I choose not to.

Because I don't assume that I am somehow 'meant' to be with him, I can recognise that things won't always be flowers and hearts and that our relationship will require work at times; work I am prepared to put in.  I can't help but wonder if people who believe in the notion of 'the one' are also people who bail at the first sign of trouble.  After all - their thinking often seems to go - how can your partner be 'the one', be your perfect match, if you're not getting on terribly well?  Is that the point at which you'd want to leave to search for someone else to be your real soulmate?  Or have I just become cynical in my old age; am I being terribly unfair about what are really just romantic declarations?

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Sound familiar?

Image by Kara Passey, via Guerilla Feminism

The Boy brought this to my attention yesterday because it utterly sums up the way in which we consume culture.  Many's a (brilliant) film we have seen together, only to rip it to shreds later in the pub.  I increasingly filter everything through my feminism; one of the only movies to escape this treatment lately was Les Miserables, which we instead subjected to an anarchist reading.  I have even been known to lie in bed pondering whether being the little spoon compromises my feminist beliefs!

Sunday, 17 March 2013

You may have worked out the pattern by now: a few weeks with no Boy = plenty of new blog posts from me.  A visit to or from him = absolute silence for a week.  Sorry about that.  But The Boy has returned whence he came, and I'm back in my usual routine (until the beginning of April, at least).  So, what have I been up to?
DREAMING about an end to this endless snow and rain. It doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon, with more freezing temperatures forecast for later this week. Remember this time last year, when we had an unseasonal heatwave? I would give anything for the same thing to happen again, and soon.

BUYING my dream boots. Seriously, for the the last three years I have been searching for the holy grail of ankle boots; the pair that would make me give up my ballet pump habit. I had a very clear picture in my head: the right shade of tan, not too high on the ankle, not too high a heel, not too round nor too pointy a toe. When I found the absolutely perfect pair in the Debenhams sale I actually did a little dance, right there on the shop floor. Finally, my feet can stay warm and dry in the rain!

WEARING my hair up, a lot. The messy topknot has been a lifesaver as I try to grow my bob out.

EATING stupid amounts of cake at work.  We seem to go from one charity bake sale to another and it just seems, y'know, polite to contribute. I was also planning on making some macarons this afternoon, but I don't have enough icing sugar and I can't be arsed to leave the house again. On balance, this is probably a good thing.

READING the brilliant chapter-by-chapter summaries of Fifty Shades Of Grey by Jenny Trout on her blog.  They're saving me from ever having to read the book itself, and judging by the recaps, anyone who has read them deserves a medal for putting up with such rubbish.

WATCHING Born To Be Different, the Channel 4 series which has followed children with disabilities for the past ten years.  I also love One Born Every Minute, which is guaranteed to move me to tears every episode.

MAKING more cushion covers for the grand makeover of my living room.

FEELING hopelessly, stupidly, ridiculously in love :)  It's making me a bad blogger, a bad friend, a bad daughter, a bad teacher... but I just cannot bring myself to care.  Instead, I'm trying to just enjoy this feeling, and this time.  I'm sure the 'falling in love, staring into each other's eyes and generally being cheesy losers' phase won't last, so I want to make the most of it while I can!

PLANNING visits to and from The Boy, of course! We have managed to work out a schedule that means we're never apart for longer than three weeks during his time abroad, which is brilliant.

Monday, 11 March 2013

Music Monday: Tame Impala

I know I've been banging on about them a lot recently, but I'm ridiculously obsessed with Tame Impala's album, Lonerism, at the moment.  It might still be cold, damp and grey outside (seriously - is this the longest winter ever or what?) but their music makes me think of sun-soaked days, summer dresses, sandals, picnics, and staying outside late into the long, light nights.  So, y'know, all the things we won't be able to do in this country because it is just going to rain for evermore.

Waking up to snow this morning put me even more in need of some happy summery tunes to remind me that better times are (hopefully) ahead.  Tame Impala are from Australia, which explains a lot.  I can't imagine they could write similar music if they were from Prestatyn or Bridlington.  Here's Feels Like We Only Go Backwards, to put you in a summer frame of mind.  Perhaps if we all think about it hard enough, the seasons might show some inclination to change.

Thursday, 7 March 2013

Bonne anniversaire

I was feeling all proud of myself that this week marks my second blogging anniversary, until Laura wrote about her fifth birthday!  Clearly I have a way to go...

I initially started this blog because I'd become a more regular reader of other sites (Laura's amongst them) and - true English teacher - had thought, "I could do something like this".  My first post, on March 3rd 2011, said, "I've been reading so many great blogs lately, ones that inspire me in all sorts of ways: the music I listen to, the crafts I make, the outfits I wear, the books I read. So I thought maybe it was time to start writing again."

I didn't have any grand ideas to begin with, I just knew I wanted to write about the things that mattered to me: books, music, crafts, travel, family & friends, feminism.  And that is pretty much what has come to pass in the intervening two years.

I definitely go through phases in my blogging.  Sometimes I take - and post - lots of photographs (even if they are just crappy Instagram shots a lot of the time), sometimes my posts are very wordy and more diary-like.  Recently, as things have changed in my personal life, I am finding it harder to feel inspired or to find the time to write.  Ironically, this is coming at a time when my readership is larger and wider than ever before.  Ultimately, though, I'd be quite happy to blog even if I had no readers whatsoever.  Most of what I write here, I write for myself*, and I am not averse to spending a happy evening reading through old posts; being able to see what I was up to, what I was thinking and feeling, what I was reading or listening to, a year or two ago is one of my favourite things about this blog.  The past two years have been eventful ones, and I'm so glad to have a record to look back on.

Blogging has also made me a better English teacher.  Going through the same writing, editing and redrafting process as my pupils has given me more of an appreciation of how to advise them.  And it does me no harm to realise that even a grammar and syntax obsessive such as myself still regularly makes mistakes and typos.

I'm very grateful to all the readers who give me such great feedback; I really feel like I have got my own little blogging community around me.  My friends and family also regularly read and comment on what I post, and with family spread across four continents, this blog is an invaluable way to stay connected with them.

So happy birthday to Words That Can Only Be Your Own: here's to another fabulous and fun two years of blogging!

* mostly: I will admit to ocassionally putting a post together with the thought of someone else - usually another blogger - in mind.

Wednesday, 6 March 2013

Literary lust list II

It's World Book Day tomorrow, which makes this an apposite time to post another literary lust list.  All of my friends and relations know that the quickest way to my heart is with bookish homewares or accessories (but not so much with actual books; I'm very difficult to buy for because I own so many already).  Here are just a few lovely things that have caught my eye lately.

Words cannot fully express how much I want this 'Reading is sexy' t-shirt, designed by Oregon artist Sarah Utter and available from Portland-based website Buy Olympia.  I bought a bumper sticker with this design when I was in Portland, and have regretted ever since that I didn't pick up the entire range.  Let it be known that this is what I want for my birthday (size L, ta).  I would also quite like everything else on the website.

I Capture The Castle tea towel from The Literary Gift Company.  This book is one of my all-time favourites, and I adore the opening chapter, with narrator Cassandra Mortmain sitting in her kitchen sink.  It introduces the tone of the whole novel beautifully.

Wuthering Heights Kindle case, also from The Literary Gift Company.  I still feel shame-faced about reading on a Kindle when I'm travelling, and this case might make me feel a little less guilty about it.
And finally, this "She has read too many books..." brooch from Bookity's Folksy shop to replace an identical brooch I had on my coat for years, which eventually fell apart after being caught in one too many British rainstorms.

Tuesday, 5 March 2013

A week of making

A few weeks ago, B & E over at Make, Do & Spend did a Week of Making.  Like them, one of the reasons I began to blog was to share my love of creative projects, but when work and life get busy, making things is often the first pastime of mine to go by the wayside.  So I decided to be inspired by B & E and try my own week of making.
Made... lemon cupcakes, purely to use up a single leftover lemon that had been lurking in my fridge for weeks. They went down very well at school on Monday.

Made... homemade arrabiata sauce (slightly cheating by using tinned tomatoes, but it was delicious nevertheless).

Made... plans for my upcoming trips with The Boy. Paris in April, Berlin in May... I am so excited, not least because I love planning things. Any hints or tips for either destination would be very gratefully received.

Made... yummy pancakes with raspberries and maple syrup. I love long, leisurely breakfasts on my day off.

Made... blinds for my friend, Emma's, kitchen windows. As I got to work I thought, "I really miss sewing, I should do more." Half an hour in, and I was cursing as I untangled threads and battled with my sewing machine.

 Made... a ticket collage to fill the final gap in my hallway wall, which is lined with similar collages.

Made... a coffee cake for my mum's 65th birthday on Sunday.


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Type: response

text:
How to Create a Great Resume for an Assembly Operator

by Scott Shpak

The first impression you make on a potential employer comes from your resume. In two pages or less, you must sell your skills as an assembly operator with enough flair to attract attention and earn an interview. Consider what the company needs as you create your personal sales sheet.

1. Enter your contact information. This should be at the top of each page. Use a common, easy-to-read font such as Arial, Times New Roman or Century. If you are experienced with word-processing software, use a header to enter this information.

2. Highlight your primary skills as they relate to the assembly operator job. Call this section "Key Skills" and keep it in the top 1/4 to 1/3 page. This is often the only section read before proceeding with your application. Basic requirements include good manual dexterity, the ability to lift a certain weight, standing for long periods of time, and handling repetitive tasks efficiently and accurately. Draw on skills you developed if you have previous experience in similar jobs.

3. Match your skills in the summary to the job listing for which you reply. If you have experience in areas such as inventory management, quality inspecting or involvement with continuous improvement teams, mention these, even if the job listing doesn't. If you have no experience as an assembly operator, highlight transferable skills that will apply. Consider other work, hobbies and education as sources of skills that transfer to the assembly job.

4. Add your work history. Beginning with your most recent job, create a short history for each of your past positions. List tasks performed at past jobs that apply to the assembler job. This chronology should fill no more than the remainder of page one. Once again, adding experience common to factory environments will make your resume stronger, so mention things such as first-aid training, health and safety courses, and forklift operation -- anything that will reflect your versatility in a manufacturing environment.

5. List your education, both general and job-specific. Assembly operator positions usually require high school diplomas. Reading, writing and math skills are a minimum requirement. Automation frequently requires computer knowledge, so include reference any computer training you have. Focus on extracurricular training only as it applies to the assembler job.

6. Add your volunteer work and hobbies. When a recruiter wants to see a more complete picture of you as a person, this is where she will find it. These items don't need to apply to the assembler position, but keep them short to avoid creating the impression you have no time for a job.

7. Format your information so your pages look balanced and pleasing. Use resume templates or examples found online to guide you. Avoid the temptation to over-format. You are making a clean presentation of information.

8. Proofread and spell check aggressively. Let friends or family do so as well. Nothing will scuttle your hard work as easily as a simple spelling or grammar mistake. This is particularly important for an assembly operator, who is hired to do detailed work.

9. Submit your resume in the form requested by the employer. If email submissions are requested, do not mail or fax unless this is also specified. For printed copies, use resume paper and manila envelopes.

Photo Credits

  • Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
Suggest an Article Correction

warcinfo:
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2017-13
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for March 2017
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf


WARC-Truncated: length

text:
A Business Transformed

A Business Transformed

“When I started this business, personal security was one of my main priorities. Several years ago, the Lord changed my heart and now my desire is to serve and glorify the Lord in the work I do and the company does. This desire and prayer have had a huge impact on me and how we operate our company.”

Justin owns and operates a freight forwarding business that specializes in transporting fresh and frozen products. He has warehouses in Minneapolis and Chicago with employees in both locations.

“Today our first priority is to understand our customers and to serve their needs. We meet at least monthly with all the employees, including those who work on the loading docks. We ask them to share stories about how we can better serve our customers and work as team doing so.

“Recently, one of the employees at our Chicago warehouse shared the following story. Late on a Friday night a truck carrying products arrived from a customer in Indianapolis to be delivered to its customers in both Chicago and Minneapolis. The truck had been loaded in a very random way, with individual orders mixed up and paperwork not matching the orders.

“The employee, who had already put in a full day, could have just offloaded the items to be delivered in Chicago and sent the truck on its way to Minneapolis. He wasn’t expected to do anything more.

“Instead, he said, ‘Why don’t we unload the whole truck and reload it correctly for the guys in Minneapolis?’ It took two employees four hours into the wee hours to identify, sort and reload.

“This is a small story that could go unnoticed, but it really reflects an attitude of employees in Chicago who wanted to support employees in Minneapolis, who had just gone through a difficult time changing warehouse locations.

“A consultant once told me that the best brand promise is not one that is expressed but one that is felt or experienced. I think the same is true for how we serve the Lord in our work. What counts is how I live it out.

“My job is to serve the Lord by providing a place where people have the opportunity to participate in his work in the marketplace and by leading our employees to work cooperatively in understanding the real needs of our customers and in meeting those needs. The result is just that and a whole lot more.”

This WorkLife blog post written by Bill Dalgetty, President, Christians in Commerce. Copyright Christians in Commerce. christiansincommerce.org Used by permission. Content distributed by WorkLife.org > Used for non-profit teaching purposes only.

No comments (Add your own)

Add a New Comment

Comment Guidelines: No HTML is allowed. Off-topic or inappropriate comments will be edited or deleted. Thanks.


text:
Millennials will stay engaged in the workplace if they feel they are valued

Young workersThe “ability to make an impact on the business” matters notably more to millennial employees than their salary and other benefits. According to a new survey from recruitment firm Korn Ferry, income comes in last on their list. The Second Annual Korn Ferry Futurestep Millennial Survey highlights the younger generation’s workplace preferences, including a need for feedback and a willingness to work long hours. In the survey, which asks what will make a millennial choose one job over another, 38 percent said “visibility and buy-in to the mission and vision of the organisation.” The survey also found that consistent feedback is key to managing millennials, with three quarters of respondents saying this generation needs more feedback than other generations. However, only 13 percent of respondents said they offered more feedback sessions to this group, and less than half offered mentorship opportunities.

“It’s clear that millennials want to know what their organisation stands for and how they can impact the company’s mission” said Jeanne MacDonald, Futurestep President of Global Talent Acquisition Solutions. “It is often difficult for older managers to find or take the time to offer the feedback that millennials crave, but it is critical in helping them understand how their role fits into the greater organisational strategy.”

The survey also revealed differences in work styles, with nearly two-thirds of respondents saying millennials are less likely to work longer hours than other generations. It also found that more than half of respondents said it is equally or more important for millennials to find a job near family than other generations.

“It’s important to note that as an archetype, millennials will stay engaged and productive if they feel they are valued,” said MacDonald. “Bosses of other generations who feel they show their own worth by working long hours need to understand this is not the case for millennials and respect their time on and off the job.”

When asked with which generation millennials work best, Gen X (those born in the early 1960s to the early 1980s) and Gen Z (those born in the mid-1990s on) tied for the top spot at 44 percent each. Baby Boomers came in a distant third at 12 percent.

“Organisational leaders who understand the differences in the workstyles and preferences of employees in different generations can uncover unconscious biases to foster greater collaboration and success,” said MacDonald.

Share Button


text:
WorldCat Identities

Blackburn, Julia

Works: 51 works in 242 publications in 13 languages and 7,281 library holdings
Genres: Biography  History  Fiction  Domestic fiction  Records and correspondence  Comic books, strips, etc  Graphic novels
Roles: Author, Translator, Editor, Actor
Classifications: PR6052.L3413, B
Publication Timeline
Most widely held works about Julia Blackburn
moreShow More Titles
fewerShow Fewer Titles
Most widely held works by Julia Blackburn
With Billie by Julia Blackburn( Book )

40 editions published between 2005 and 2015 in 10 languages and held by 1,295 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

A portrait of singer Billie Holiday as seen through the eyes of friends, lovers, fellow musicians, critics, producers, pimps and junkies, narcotics agents, and others, from her Baltimore childhood to her rise to fame and her tragic death
Daisy Bates in the desert by Julia Blackburn( Book )

42 editions published between 1992 and 2012 in 9 languages and held by 1,158 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

In 1913, when she was 54 years old, Daisy Bates went to live in the deserts of South Australia. And there she stayed, with occasional interruptions, for almost 30 years. She left a detailed record of her life in her letters, her published articles, her book The Passing of the Aborigines, and in notes scribbled on paper bags, old railway timetables, and even scraps of newspaper. But very little of what this strange woman tells about herself is true. For her there were no boundaries separating experience from imagination; she inhabited a world filled with events that could not have taken place, with people she had never met. In Daisy Bates in the Desert Julia Blackburn explores the ancient and desolate landscape where Mrs. Bates says she was most happy. There are meetings with the aborigines and whites who knew her or about her, and slowly the facts of her life are allowed to emerge. But what makes this book so extraordinary is the way that, almost imperceptibly, the author fuses her own imagination and experience with that of Daisy Bates, until she seems to be recalling this other life as if it were her own, until she is able to bring us the feeling of sitting in a tent near a railway line, staring out across a red desert, where the boundary between experience and imagination disappears. This magical, absorbing new book by the acclaimed author of The Emperor's Last Island confirms Julia Blackburn as one of Britain's most original and talented writers. - Jacket flap
Old man Goya by Julia Blackburn( Book )

31 editions published between 2002 and 2012 in 5 languages and held by 980 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

"In 1792, when he was forty-seven, the Spanish painter Francisco de Goya contracted a serious illness which left him stone deaf. In this extraordinary book Julia Blackburn follows Goya through the remaining thirty-five years of his life. It was a time of political turmoil, of war, violence and confusion, and Goya transformed what he saw happening in the world around him into his visionary paintings, drawings and etchings. These were also years of tenderness for Goya, of intimate relationships with the Duchess of Alba and with Leocadia, his mistress, who was with him to the end." "Julia Blackburn writes of the elderly painter with the intimacy of an old friend, seeing through his eyes and sharing the silence in his head. Goya never stopped working, producing paintings 'between two cigarettes', and Blackburn captures his ferocious energy, his passion and his genius."--BOOK JACKET
The white men : the first response of aboriginal peoples to the white man by Julia Blackburn( Book )

12 editions published in 1979 in English and Undetermined and held by 615 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

The book of color : a novel by Julia Blackburn( Book )

7 editions published between 1995 and 2012 in English and held by 379 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

A Christian missionary arrives on an Indian Ocean island to convert the natives and the local witch doctor replies with a curse. The novel traces the effect of the curse. The missionary marries a native woman and his descendants, who return to England, are cursed with a colored skin in a white man's world
Charles Waterton : 1782-1865 : traveller and conservationist by Julia Blackburn( Book )

17 editions published between 1989 and 1997 in English and Dutch and held by 184 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Biografie van eenn excentrieke, adellijke Engelsman met veel liefde voor de natuur
Threads : the delicate life of John Craske by Julia Blackburn( Book )

5 editions published between 2015 and 2017 in English and Dutch and held by 124 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

John Craske, a Norfolk fisherman, was born in 1881 and in 1917, when he had just turned 36, he fell seriously ill. For the rest of his life he kept moving in and out of what was described as 'a stuporous state'. In 1923 he started making paintings of the sea and boats and the coastline seen from the sea, and later, when he was too ill to stand and paint, he turned to embroidery, which he could do lying in bed. His embroideries were also the sea, including his masterpiece, a huge embroidery of The Evacuation of Dunkirk. Very few facts about Craske are known, and only a few scattered photographs have survived, together with accounts by the writer Sylvia Townsend Warner and her lover Valentine Ackland, who discovered Craske in 1937. So Julia Blackburn's account of his life is far from a conventional biography
Goya : a life in letters by Francisco Goya( Book )

3 editions published in 2004 in English and held by 121 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

"From an early age Goya was anxious to preserve a record of his life, but few of his writings have survived and his most personal records appear in his letters. He corresponded regularly with the aristocracy and the monarchy, as well as with friends. Goya's surviving letters reveal a highly emotional man, prepared to state his feelings as passionately to the authorities of a cathedral as to a close friend. His letters make few concessions and are literary works in their own right. Uniquely individual, they signal a new attitude on the part of a fine artist towards his profession, his social position and his sources of inspiration. These writings look forward to the great artistic testaments of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries: Delacroix's diary, the letters of Van Gogh and Dali's Diary of a Genius." "From this new collection, in which many letters have been translated into English for the first time, Goya emerges as witty, passionate and unexpectedly vulnerable."--BOOK JACKET
Selected poems by Thomas Blackburn( Book )

3 editions published in 2001 in English and held by 100 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

The three of us : a family story by Julia Blackburn( Book )

4 editions published between 2008 and 2011 in Dutch and English and held by 90 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

De Engelse schrijfster Julia Blackburn schetst het leven en het huwelijk van haar vader, de dichter Thomas Blackburn en haar moeder, de schilderes Rosalie de Meric
The emperor's last island : a journey to St. Helena by Julia Blackburn( Book )

10 editions published between 1991 and 2012 in English and held by 68 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

An account of Napoleon's six years on the island of St. Helena describes the island's strange history and recounts the stories, myths, and absurdities
Thin paths : journeys in and around an Italian mountain village by Julia Blackburn( Book )

1 edition published in 2011 in Dutch and held by 59 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Beschrijving van wandelingen in de omgeving van een bergdorp in Ligurië en van contacten met de dorpsbewoners
My animals & other family by Julia Blackburn( Book )

2 editions published in 2007 in English and held by 47 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

A family story by Julia Blackburn( Book )

2 editions published between 2008 and 2009 in English and held by 26 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Julia Blackburn's father Thomas was a poet and an alcoholic. Her mother Rosalie was a painter who treated Julia as her sister, her confidante, and eventually as her deadly sexual rival. Later Rosalie was diagnosed with leukaemia and came to live with Julia for the last month of her life. This story is a tale of redemption, a love story
Hubert by Ben Gijsemans( Book )

3 editions published between 2015 and 2016 in English and held by 24 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Hubert is an autistic man who shapes his life by going to museums (in Brussels, London and Paris). The world outside is a puzzle to him. He talks to few people and only about museums and art. When his neighbour downstairs, a lonely woman, invites him again and again to come for a drink, he only goes because she has a painting that interests him. When she tries to seduce him, he doesn't understand. He takes photos of the pictures he likes -- usually of beautiful women -- and paints copies of the paintings at home. There is only one real woman who fascinates him; she lives in the opposite building and he can see her balcony from his window
Het laatste eiland van de keizer : een reis naar Sint Helena by Julia Blackburn( Book )

3 editions published between 1992 and 1997 in Italian and Dutch and held by 22 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Verslag van het verblijf van Keizer Napoleon I van Frankrijk op Sint Helena (1815-'21) en een beschrijving van de geschiedenis van het eiland
For a child by Thomas Blackburn( Book )

2 editions published in 1999 in English and held by 18 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

ZerO man Jan J. Schoonhoven : Dutch artist & civil servant (1914-1994) by Sandra van Beek( Book )

1 edition published in 2014 in English and held by 15 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

The leper's companions by Julia Blackburn( )

1 edition published in 2000 in English and held by 0 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

In this fascinatingly imaginative novel, Julia Blackburn has decimated all the rules, creating a magical tale that is part fable, part allegory, part present, part past, and wholly genuine and poetic. The unnamed protagonist has recently lost someone she loved, and her solution is to abandon the present, and the overwhelming pain. The seamless narrative lands her in a medieval seaside village where mermaids wash ashore, devils haunt in packs, a child is born with the head of a fish, and where one day, quite out of nowhere, there emerges a sage and wandering leper. The leper leads a small group of the villagers, including the protagonist, on a journey to Jerusalem, a harrowing pilgrimage that compels all the travelers to confront their deepest selves. Exquisite and lyrical, The Lepers Companions is a heart-rending tale by one of our most fiercely original storytellers
The book of colour by Julia Blackburn( )

1 edition published in 1995 in English and held by 0 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

In the late 19th century, an English missionary arrives on a remote island in the Indian Ocean, intent on wiping our fornication among the natives. Instead he incurs a curse that strikes first his dark-skinned wife, then his son and grandson. But is the curse supernatural--or a white man's guilty fascination with an alien new world?
moreShow More Titles
fewerShow Fewer Titles
Audience Level
Audience Level
  Kids General Special
Audience level: 0.41 (from 0.28 for With Billi ... to 0.94 for Het laatst ...)

With Billie
Alternative Names
Julia Blackburn britische Schriftstellerin

Julia Blackburn British writer

ブラックバーン, ジュリア

Daisy Bates in the desertOld man GoyaThe book of color : a novelCharles Waterton : 1782-1865 : traveller and conservationistGoya : a life in lettersSelected poemsThe three of us : a family storyThe emperor's last island : a journey to St. Helena


text:
Shark Footbag

Shark® Footbag

$12 $8

• Filler: sand
• Outer cover: synthetic suede
• Weight: 62 grams
• Diameter: 2.25 inches

SKU: 8162. Categories: , , .

Product Description

From the creative mind of master craftsman Allan Petersen comes the stylishly unique Shark® footbag. A three-panel zig-zag design, this sand-filled collectible footbag is awesome for tricks. The suede teeth stitched into the Shark® pattern act as a gasket for sand retention. “Jaws” will drop when “you rip it up” with the Shark®!

** Color Combinations Will Vary **

There are no reviews yet, would you like to submit yours?

Be the first to review “Shark® Footbag”


text:
Colombianismos - Let's test Cargill

Dear Cargill people:

Thank you very much for having us on Thursday morning in your mansion. Lunch was good, the fruits were tasty (particularly the strawberries and the pineapples) and the people were delightful. We can all see your business is doing very well, after all, as you highlighted, you earned USD $136,654 million last year from sales and other revenues! And USD $133,859 the year before! All this, whilst your operations and transactions - as you claim - were carried out as ethically as possible.

David MacLennan, Cargill's president and COO. / Photo: Elina Lappalainen.

However, my dear WPI fellows, nor David MacLennan nor Mark Fernandez mentioned the controversies Cargill is involved. Perhaps they are not that many but, for sure, there is one major scandal taking place right now, related to the fact that Cargill has acquired thousands of hectares in south Colombia.

Before you guys keep on reading, there are some arguments or facts I would like you to bear in mind:

*According to the United Nations Development Program, 52% of Colombian lands belong to 1.15% of the population. Meaning: we are the best at denying our citizens access to land!

* In 1994, the Colombian Congress, fully supported by the government, passed Act 160/1994as they intended to prevent further land inequalities. Act 160 was helpful to allocate vacant lots (which belong to the State) to peasants. Later on was decided how many hectares the peasants were entitled to, depending on the region the lot is situated (in regions with more productive lands, peasants may receive fewer hectares).

*The unequal possession of the land is a structural cause of the Colombian internal conflict. (This is an essay in Spanish regarding the problematic history of land in Colombia).

President Juan Manuel Santos claims he will reform the unequal land distribution in Colombia. / Photo: El Espectador.

This is information is relevant because Cargill, as Mark Murphy (assistant Vice President of Corporate Affairs) confirmed to me at lunch time, has acquired thousands of hectares in Colombia. Murphy pointed out the amount would be circa 60,000 hectares; the media has provided different figures that go from 26,000 hectares to 130,000 hectares, this is to be proven. What draws my attention even more is that Cargill, as Murphy admitted himself, is not usually in the land-buying business. It was an investment project, Murphy said.

On the other hand, ">Time's John Otis argues that this is what actually happened:

"Investigations by the development organization Oxfam and by Colombian lawmakers show that Cargill's Colombian subsidiary Black River Asset Management set up 36 shell corporations to make dozens of small land purchases that, individually, did not violate the legal limit. The end result of these transactions, according to the investigators, is that Cargill now own 129,857 acres in eastern Vichada department where it grows corn and soybeans".

One more thing: Cargill, as Colombia media has already reported, acquired the land that has been questioned with legal counselling from a reputed law firm: Brigard & Urrutia. Carlos Urrutia was appointed by president Santos to be the Colombian Ambassador to the U.S. but on July 23, 2013, he resigned due to this political storm that involves other companies besides Cargill.

I am not sure if I have made myself clear so far, because it is such an entangled issue. In my personal opinion, Cargill has a lot of explanations to give and plenty of queries to solve. Dividing the possession of the land into a handful of societies, as Cargil did, seems like a sophisticated plan that surely arises questions.

This post's name is "Let's test you, Cargill" because that is what I want to do: test this profitable company whose executives told us repeatedly that transparency is very important to them. They claimed to be proud of their second guiding principle: "Conduct business with integrity". Therefore, they will only pass the test if I am allowed to interview one of their spokepersons. I have already requested, they expressed they are willing to have a "more formal conversation with me". I want Colombians to know their side of the story, but most of all, I wan them to answer so many doubts I already have about their conduct. So let's see if when Cargill people say "transparency", they really mean it.


text:
Be nice and not naughty when traveling for the holiday

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

(CNN) — On a clear dry day, driving 55 mph, it takes long-haul trucker Camille Pask the length of three football fields to stop her fully loaded rig.

“Just because we have more wheels doesn’t mean we can stop faster,” said Pask, whose truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when packed.

This is the busy season for Pask, who will be working through the Thanksgiving holiday to deliver goods for the Christmas shopping season.

It’s also the busiest travel period of the year for Americans, when travel veterans and amateurs converge en route to turkey dinners — or just another day on the job. About 43.6 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between November 21 and November 25 for the holiday, an increase of 0.7% over last year.

Everyone wants a safe, happy holiday, so we asked workers on the front lines of the Thanksgiving crush for their hard-earned tips for smooth travels.

As Thursday rolls closer and the roads get more crowded with impatient drivers, Pask would like them to stay clear of larger trucks.

Knowing that 80,000 pounds is barreling along in the lane beside you, why would you ever cut off a semi?

Another tip: If you can’t see her mirrors, she can’t see you. And she can’t ever see any cars that ride in tandem with her on the right side. “That’s one of our major blind spots for small vehicles passing us on the right,” she said. “It’s a really dangerous spot to be.”

Leave enough time for traffic jams

With about 39 million drivers hitting the road this holiday, travelers need to leave enough time for unexpected delays. A minor traffic accident can back up traffic for hours on some of the nation’s highways.

During the holidays, “there are an awful lot of accidents,” said Fran Ehret, a toll collector on the New Jersey Turnpike for 26 years and now president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 194, which represents the turnpike toll collectors.

“Leave enough time to get where you’re going so you’re not having to drive too fast,” she said.

If you don’t regularly use toll booths and don’t have an electronic pass to pay the toll, pay close attention to the signs directing drivers to cashier-staffed booths.

“You don’t want to pull into an E-ZPass lane if you’re paying cash,” said Ehret. You could cause traffic delays, and “you’ll get a bill with a fee attached to it.”

And please don’t yell or curse out your toll collector or your fellow drivers because traffic is heavy or lanes are merging into the toll plaza. Pay your toll and drive on!

“People’s personalities change when they get behind the wheel of their cars. You meet them in their personal lives and they wouldn’t act like that,” Ehret said.

Research air travel security rules

There is no getting around it: All 3 million travelers flying to their destinations during the Thanksgiving holiday will have to pass through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. Some of them will be traveling with food for the feast. The TSA has posted special guidance online for travelers toting culinary creations.

TSA officers Jackie Fitzpatrick and Charles Link promise they don’t want to take away your pies. Really.

“We know there’s pressure to make that plane or you’re traveling with family or bringing special foods you don’t want to get squished,” said Fitzpatrick.

“It’s all about the pies at the holidays,” added Link. “Apple, coconut. Testing will be done, but (pies) are allowed.”

Fitzpatrick and Link, who supervise security checkpoints at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport, are going Italian on Thanksgiving Day and will be making pasta salad and baked ziti, respectively, for staff potlucks.

For travelers working their way toward a friend or family’s table with a tasty contribution, just do a little advance research at the TSA website to know what you can bring and how much you can bring. In the case of your specially made foods, they might need a little extra security, and they can’t violate the agency’s 3-ounce liquid rules. The agency also has a mobile app that provides information on checkpoint wait times, prohibited items and airport status.

Video games fall under the laptop rule and must be placed in a separate bin as they go through security machines. And snow globes can’t be larger than a tennis ball.

If you’re getting a head start on Christmas, don’t wrap presents beforehand. The TSA may have to unwrap gifts, which could be sad if your child sees the light saber that Santa is bringing him.

And no toy guns or weapons, please. They won’t be allowed to pass through security. It doesn’t matter that they’re not real weapons. Security officials won’t allow anything weapon-like because it might scare your fellow passengers or the crew.

People with medical issues should call TSA Cares (855-787-2227) before they travel to see if they need to take any extra steps or if they qualify for extra assistance to clear security.

Don’t overpack

Southwest Airlines flight attendant Barb Pool can spot the travelers who have overpacked and rushed to get to the airport in time.

Pool advises travelers to pack in advance, check as much baggage as possible, research TSA rules about what you can bring, and leave behind contingency supplies that will be available at your destination. (Southwest allows two free checked bags, JetBlue allows one, and some airlines let frequent fliers and airline credit card holders check a bag for free.)

“Do whatever it takes to not stress,” said Pool, who often celebrates the holidays in advance with her family. “People get on a plane and are stuck for so many hours. It’s not a fun journey if you’re stressed.”

Pool tends to find joy in many of her flights, whether it’s holding a baby as nervous parents stow their bags, talking to military personnel heading home on leave, or helping people with disabilities get settled.

“Most of the time they’re preoccupied, but every once in a while they’ll offer to take you home for Thanksgiving,” she said. “Elderly people especially realize you’re not going to be with your family.”

She also knows that something larger might be stressing out her customers.

“Everyone’s not always traveling for happy events,” she said. “They might be fighting tears. It could be their first year without a spouse or they’re going to a funeral. Everyone’s not going to Grandma’s for dinner. I try to be extra sensitive to it.”


text:
Skip Navigation

WV School Directory

The listing of non-public schools does not imply accreditation or approval by the state of West Virginia, the West Virginia Department of Education, or County School Systems. Only non-public schools with "Exemption b)" or "Exemption k)" status are listed.

Cross Country Christian Academy
170 Hollywood Road
Newton, WV  25266

Telephone: 304-565-3399
School's Webpage: None Provided

Note: To download all addresses in a comma delimited format follow this link. You can import the downloaded file into Microsoft Access or your favorite database or application.

Map of Counties of WV (PDF File)


text:
FIT FOR THREE: This year’s FIT Foundation gala will honor Linda Fargo of Bergdorf Goodman, Jay Baker and Joan Hornig. In addition to being a FIT trustee, Baker, a former president of Kohl’s, and his wife Patty are longtime donors to the school, having given $10 million in 2001. Hornig is also an FIT trustee, and she donates all of the proceeds from sales of her jewelry in stores such as Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus to charity.

Liz Peek, the chair of FIT’s board of trustees, said, “What’s really wonderful in the world today — and what happens every night in New York — is being able to honor people for really doing the right thing and for being generous in particular for supporting your cause so magnanimously.”

This story first appeared in the March 4, 2014 issue of WWD.  Subscribe Today.

About 700 guests are expected to attend the June 9 event at Cipriani 42nd Street. While the party planning is still in its early stages, organizers hope to come up with something visual for the crowd to feast on, as was the case last year when a video installation was provided by artist Jennifer Steinkamp.

load comments
blog comments powered by Disqus


text:
De Morgan's Preface to Ramchundra's book

In 1850 Ramchandra published in Calcutta, at his own expense, A Treatise of Problems on Maxima And Minima, Solved by Algebra. The book was sent to Augustus De Morgan who republished the book in London in 1859. De Morgan added an Editor's Preface which contained De Morgan's thoughts on Ramchandra's book, Indian mathematics, the Hindu in India, and other related topics. This Editor's Preface also contained autobiographical notes that Ramchundra had sent De Morgan. This is contained on a separate page.

For Ramchundra's autobiographical notes see THIS LINK.

For Ramchundra's Preface to his 1850 edition, see THIS LINK.

For The Calcutta Review of the 1850 book, see THIS LINK.

For The Calcutta Review of the 1859 book, see THIS LINK.

Editor's Preface

In the year 1850 my friend the late J E Drinkwater-Bethune forwarded to England a number of copies of a work on Maxima and Minima, by Ramchundra, teacher of science, Delhi College, with directions to present copies to various persons, and among others to myself. On examining this work I saw in it, not merely merit worthy of encouragement, but merit of a peculiar kind, the encouragement of which, as it appeared to me, was likely to promote native effort towards the restoration of the native mind in India. Mr Drinkwater-Bethune's lamented death, which took place shortly after he had dispatched the books, prevented my knowing whether he also entertained any opinion similar to mine as to the distinctive character of Ramchundra's work; but, from his own knowledge of the history of mathematics, I think it highly probable. I addressed my thanks for the present to his successor, Mr Colvile, with some remarks on the subject. Having taken further time to think of it, I determined to call the attention of the Court of Directors to Ramchundra's work, in the hope that it would lead to acknowledgment of his deserts. I accordingly addressed a letter (24 July 1856) to Colonel Sykes, the Chairman, to whom I had previously mentioned the matter at a casual meeting. This letter was at once forwarded to the Lieutenant-Governor of the North West Provinces, with instructions to procure a report on the case, and to suggest, on the supposition of a public reward being approved of, the kind of reward which should be given. Answers were received by the Court, which were communicated to me on the 3rd of March 1858. They contained various replies to the questions proposed, by H Stewart Reid, Esq., Director of Public Instruction in the North-West Provinces, and other gentlemen connected with the same department. With some difference of opinion as to the mode of acknowledgment, there was unanimous appreciation of Ramchundra's services to his country, and admission of the desirableness of encouraging his efforts. The Court accompanied the communication of these answers to me with a request that I would point out how to bring Ramchundra under the notice of scientific men in Europe. In my reply (18 March), assuming distinctly that I conceived the question to be, not merely how Ramchundra could be rewarded, but how his work might be made most effective in the development of Hindu talent, I recommended the circulation of the work in Europe, with a distinct account of the grounds on which the step was taken. I entered at some length into my own view of those grounds, and volunteered to draw up the statement which should accompany the publication. After some correspondence on details, the Court (1 July), expressing entire satisfaction with my views, and characterizing them as "deserving of the most attentive consideration by all who are charged with the superintendence of education in India in its higher grades," accepted my offer to superintend the present reprint for circulation in Europe and in India.

I shall at once proceed to a short account of these views after which I shall give some account of Ramchundra the author of the work. Of course it will be remembered that the late Court of Directors is in no way answerable for the details of my exposition though their decided approbation was bestowed on the general sketch which I laid before them.

There are many persons, even among those who seriously turn their thoughts to the improvement of India, who look upon the native races as men to be dealt with in the same manner as Caffres or New Zealanders. Judging by the lower races of the Peninsula, and judging even these more by the grosser parts of their mythology than by the state of domestic life and hereditary institutions, they presume that the Indian question resolves itself into an inquiry how to create a mind in the country, and that mind fashioned on the English standard. They forget that at this very moment there still exists among the higher castes of the country - castes which exercise vast influence over the rest - a body of literature and science which might well be the nucleus of a new civilization, though every trace of Christian and Mohamedan civilization were blotted out of existence. They forget that there exists in India, under circumstances which prove a very high antiquity, a philosophical language which is one of the wonders of the world, and which is a near collateral of the Greek, if not its parent form. From those who wrote in this language we derive our system of arithmetic, and the algebra which is the most powerful instrument of modern analysis. In this language we find a system of logic and of metaphysics: an astronomy worthy of comparison with that of Greece in its best days; above comparison, if some books of Ptolemy's Syntaxis be removed. We find also a geometry, of a kind which proves that the Hindu was below the Greek as a geometer, but not in that degree in which he was above the Greek as an arithmetician. Of the literature, poetry, drama, &c., which flourished in union with this science, I have not here to speak.

Those who consult Colebrooke's translation of the Vija Ganita, or the account given of it in the Penny Cyclopaedia, will see that I have not exaggerated the point most connected with this preface. For others I will quote the impression made, five and thirty years ago, upon the mind of a mathematician whose subsequent career and present position will give that weight to an extract from his opinions which would have been given to any reader of the whole article by the article itself, even had it been anonymous. Sir John Herschel, in the historical article Mathematics in Brewster's Cyclopaedia, after some general account of the Hindu algebra, proceeds as follows:-

"The Brahma Sidd'hanta, the work of Brahmagupta, an Indian astronomer at the beginning of the seventh century, contains a general method for the resolution of indeterminate problems of the second degree; an investigation which actually baffled the skill of every modern analyst till the time of Lagrange's solution, not excepting the all inventive Euler himself. This is matter of a deeper dye. The Greeks cannot for a moment be thought of as the authors of this capital discovery; and centuries of patient thought, and many successive efforts of invention, must have prepared the way to it in the country where it did originate. It marks the maturity and vigour of mathematical knowledge, while the very work of Brahmagupta, in which it is delivered, contains internal evidence that in his time geometry at least was on the decline. For example, he mentions several properties of quadrilaterals as general, which are only true of quadrilaterals inscribed in a circle. The discoverer of these properties (which are of considerable difficulty) could not have been ignorant of this limitation, which enters as an essential element in their demonstration. Brahmagupta then, in this instance, retailed, without fully comprehending, the knowledge of his predecessors. When the stationary character of Hindu intelligence is taken into the account, we shall see reason to conclude, that all we now possess of Indian science is but part of a system, perhaps of much greater extent, which existed at a very remote period, even antecedent to the earliest dawn of science among the Greeks, and might authorize as well the visits of sages as the curiosity of conquerors."

Greece and India stand out, in ancient times, as the countries of indigenous speculation. But the intellectual fate of the two nations was very different. Among the Greeks, the power of speculation remained active during their whole existence as a nation, even down to the taking of Constantinople: it declined, indeed, but it was never extinguished. Their latest knowledge was inquisitive, as well as their earliest. They preserved their great writers unabridged and unaltered: and Euclid did not degenerate into what are called practical rules.

In India, speculation died a natural death. A taste for routine - a thing to which inaccurate thinkers give the name of practical - converted their system into a collection of rules and results. Of this character are all the mathematical books which have been translated into English; perhaps all which still exist. That they must have had an extensive body of demonstrated truths is obvious; that they lost the power and the wish to demonstrate is certain. The Hindu became, to speak of the highest and best class, the teacher of results which he could not explain, the retailer of propositions on which he could not found thought. He had the remains of ancestors who had investigated for him, and he lived on such comprehension of his ancestors as his own small grasp of mind would allow him to obtain. He fed himself and his pupils upon the chaff of obsolete civilization, out of which Europeans had thrashed the grain for their own use.

But the mind thus degenerated is still a mind; and the means of restoring it to activity differ greatly from those by which a barbarous race is to be gifted with its first steps of progress. No man alive can, on sufficient data, reason out the restoration of a decayed national intellect, possessed of a system of letters and science which has left nothing but dry results, inveterate habits of routine, great reverence for old teachers, and small power of comprehending the very teaching which is held in traditional respect. And this because the question is now tried for the first time. Many friends of education have proposed that Hindus should be fully instructed in English ideas and methods, and made the media through which the mass of their countrymen might receive the results in their own languages. Some trial has been given to this plan but the results have not been very encouraging, in any of the higher branches of knowledge. My conviction is, that the Hindu mind must work out its own problem; and that all we can do is to set it to work; that is, to promote independent speculation on all subjects by previous encouragement and subsequent reward. This is the true plan; all others are neither fish nor flesh.

That sound judgment which gives men well to know what is best for them, as well as that faculty of invention which leads to development of resources and to the increase of wealth and comfort, are both materially advanced, perhaps cannot rapidly be advanced without, a great taste for pure speculation among the general mass of the people, down to the lowest of those who can read and write. England is a marked example. Many persons will be surprised at this assertion. They imagine that our country is the great instance of the refusal of all unpractical knowledge in favour of what is useful. I affirm, on the contrary, that there is no country in Europe in which there has been so wide a diffusion of speculation, theory, or what other unpractical word the reader pleases. In our country, the scientific society is always formed and maintained by the people; in every other, the scientific academy - most aptly named - has been the creation of the government, of which it has never ceased to be the nursling. In all the parts of England in which manufacturing pursuits have given the artisan some command of time, the cultivation of mathematics and other speculative studies has been, as is well known, a very frequent occupation. In no other country has the weaver at his loom bent over the Principia of Newton; in no other country has the man of weekly wages maintained his own scientific periodical. With us, since the beginning of the last century, scores upon scores - perhaps hundreds, for I am far from knowing all - of annuals have run, some their ten years, some their half-century some their century and a half, containing questions to be answered, from which many of our examiners in the universities have culled materials for the academical contests. And these questions have always been answered, and in eases without number by the lower order of purchasers, the mechanics, the weavers, and the printers' workmen. I cannot here digress to point out the manner in which the concentration of manufactures, and the general diffusion of education, have affected the state of things; I speak of the time during which the present system took its rise, and of the circumstances under which many of its most effective promoters were trained. In all this there is nothing which stands out, like the state-nourished academy, with its few great names and brilliant single achievements. This country has differed from all others in the wide diffusion of the disposition to speculate, which disposition has found its place among the ordinary habits of life, moderate in its action, healthy in its amount.

The history of England, as well as of other countries, having impressed me with a strong conviction that pure speculation is a powerful instrument in the progress of a nation, and my own birth and descent having always given me a lively interest in all that relates to India, I took up the work of Ramchundra with a mingled feeling of satisfaction and curiosity: a few minutes of perusal added much to both. I found in this dawn of the revival of Hindu speculation two points of character belonging peculiarly to the Greek mind as distinguished from the Hindu; one of which may have been fostered by the author's European teachers, but certainly not the other.

The first point is a leaning towards geometry. Persons who are not mathematicians imagine that all mathematicians are for all mathematics. Nothing can be more erroneous. Not merely have the two great branches, geometry and algebra, their schools of disciples, each of which looks coldly upon the other; but even geometry itself, and algebra itself, have subdivisions of which the same thing may be said. For example, Mr Drinkwater-Bethune, above mentioned, was by taste an algebraist; as a practised eye would at once detect from his unfinished work on equations. Business brought him to my house one morning, nearly thirty years ago, at a time when I happened to be studying some of the geometrical developments of the school of Monge. On my pointing out to him some of the most remarkable of the conclusions, he said with a smile, "I see that sort of thing has charms for you." Now the Hindu was also an algebraist, as decidedly as the Greek was a geometer: the first sought refuge from geometry in algebra, the second sought refuge from arithmetic in geometry. The greatness of Hindu invention is in algebra; the greatness of Greek invention is in geometry. But Ramchundra has a much stronger leaning towards geometry than could have been expected by a person acquainted with the Vija Ganita; but he has not the power in geometry which he has in algebra. I have left one or two failures - one very remarkable - unnoticed, for the reader to find out. Should this preface - as I hope it will - fall into the hands of some young Hindus who are systematic students of mathematics, I beg of them to consider well my assertion that their weak point must be strengthened by the cultivation of pure geometry. Euclid must be to them what Bhaskara, or some other algebraist has been to Europe.

The second point is yet more remarkable. Greek geometry, as all who have read Euclid may guess, gained its strength by striving against self imposed difficulties. It was not permitted to take instruments from every conception which the human mind could form; definite limitation of means was imposed as a condition of thought, and it was sternly required that every feat of progress should be achieved by those means, and no more. Just as the Greek architecture studied the production of rich and varied effect out of the simplest elements of form, so the Greek geometry aimed at the demonstration of all the relations of figure on the smallest amount of postulated basis. The great problem of squaring the circle, now with good reason held in low esteem, was the struggle of centuries to bring under the dominion of the prescribed means what might with the utmost ease have been conquered by a very small additional allowance. The attempt was unsuccessful; so was that of Columbus to discover India from the west. But Columbus commenced the addition of America to the known world; and in like manner the squarers of the circle, and their refuters, added field on field to the extent of geometry, and aided largely in the preparation for the modern form of mathematics. Very few of these additions would have been made, at or near the time when they were made, if it had satisfied the Greek mind to meet each difficulty, as it occurred, by permission to use additional assumptions in geometry.

The remains of the Hindu algebra and geometry show to us no vestige of any attempt to gain force of thought by struggling against limitation of means: this, of course, because their mode of demonstration does not appear in the works which are left, or at least in those which have become known to Englishmen. But we have here a native of India who turns aside, at no suggestion but that of his own mind, and applies himself to a problem which has hitherto been assigned to the differential calculus, under the condition that none but purely algebraical process shall be used. He did not learn this course of proceeding from his European guides, whose aim it has long been to push their readers into the differential calculus with injurious speed, that they may reach the full application of mathematics to physics; and who often allow their pupils to read Euclid with eyes shut to his limitations. Ramchundra proposed to himself a problem which a beginner in the differential calculus masters with a few strokes of the pen in a month's study, but which might have been thought hardly within the possibilities of pure algebra. His victory over the theory of the difficulty is complete. Many mathematicians of sufficient power to have done as much would have told him, when he first began, that the end proposed was perhaps unattainable by any amount of thought; next, that when attained, it would be of no use. But he found in the demands of his own spirit an impulse towards speculation of a character more fitted to the state of his own community than the imported science of his teachers. He applied to the branch of mathematics which is indigenous in India, the mode of thought under which science made its greatest advances in Greece. My own strong suspicion that it was the want of this mode of thought which allowed the decline of algebra in ancient India, coupled with my thorough conviction that, whether or no, this mode of thought yields the proper nutriment for mathematical science in its early and feeble life, produced the recommendation to the Court of Directors to which this reprint owes its existence.

Ramchundra's problem - and I think it ought to go by that name, for I cannot find that it was ever current as an exercise of ingenuity in Europe - is to find the value of a variable which will make an algebraical function a maximum or a minimum, under the following conditions. Not only is the differential calculus to be excluded, but even that germ of it which, as given by Fermat in his treatment of this very problem, made some think that he was entitled to claim the invention. The values of x and of (x + h) are not to be compared; and no process is to be allowed which immediately points out the relation of x to the derived function 'x. A mathematician to whom I stated the conditioned problem made it, very naturally, his first remark, that he could not see how on earth I was to find out when it would be biggest, if I would not let it grow. The mathematician will at last see that the question resolves itself into the following:- Required a constant, r, such that x - r shall have a pair of equal roots, without assuming the development of (x + h) or any of its consequences.

It will readily be seen that a short paper, with a few examples, would have sufficed to put the whole matter before a scientific society. But it was Ramchundra's object to found an elementary work upon his theorem, for the use of beginners, with a large store of examples. As to the method which he has adopted, Europeans must remember that his purpose is to teach Hindus, and that probably he knows better how to do this than they could tell him. The excessive reiteration of details, and the extreme minuteness of the algebraical manipulations, are excellent examples of that patience of routine which is held to be a part of the Hindu character. I may make two remarks on matters which would strike the most casual observer.

First, the constant occurrence of "the same solved without impossible roots," and the transformation by which it is effected, will remind the English mathematician who has his half-century over his head, of the old "pure quadratic" and the victory which was supposed to be gained when the "adfected quadratic" was evaded by attention to the structure of the given equation. Ramchundra and Dr Miles Bland, &c. &c., are here precisely on the same scent, both making much of the same little.

Secondly in the confusion of terms which sometimes appears, in language implying that an equation is a factor of an equation, instead of an expression a factor of an expression, we have the same incorrectness which appears in more than one edition of Waring's Meditationes Algebraicae and which occasioned some amount of objection to the whole theory from those who could not see the inaccuracy and its correction. As in

"Scribatur x - α = 0, x - β = 0, x - γ = 0, x - δ = 0, etc. et per aequationem ex horum factorum continua multiplicatione
(x - α) × (x - β) × (x - γ) × (x - δ) × etc. = 0
generatam dividatur data sequatio."
I believe that selections from Ramchundra's work might advantageously be introduced into elementary instruction in this country. The exercise in quadratic equations which it would afford, applied as it is to real problems, would advantageously supersede some of the conundrums which are manufactured under the name of problems producing equations.

In the printing I have followed the original in every point, altering nothing except obvious errata, including the restoration of the numeral symbol 0 which in the original is always the letter o. This again is a mistake into which Waring allowed his printer to fall in almost all his writings. I thought that the European reader would be more curious to look at the way in which the Calcutta printer treated mathematical manuscript when his author was no nearer than Delhi, than to see the manner in which I could mend it. My printers, Messrs Cox and Wyman, have entered fully into the plan, and have produced as nearly a facsimile as possible. I may add that the Calcutta printer has acquitted himself in a manner entitled to especial notice and high praise.

University College, London
17 January, 1859.

JOC/EFR April 2016

The URL of this page is:


text:
 Know Everything About Plumbers In Austin
123ArticleOnline Logo
Welcome to 123ArticleOnline.com!

ALL >> Business >> View Article

Know Everything About Plumbers In Austin

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 8287

Plumbing is one of the most basic exercises carried out inside every residential households, in fact any building for that matter to ensure a good, unhindered flow of water supply. These is a detailed system, installed with much expertise and use of complex methodologies so as to build up an efficient, drinking water system, drainage system, sewage system etc. inside the house. Every house has a plumbing system of its own which differs from other houses as every house has its own layout marking off the opening of taps and baths at different locations.

A plumber is a person who is accounted for installing these systems into the house and takes care of all the probable problems that might sprout in the near future. He fixes, repairs, installs, attends to, detects the plumbing crisis, makes use of its intellect to detect the right problem and further uses the exact tools to attend to the problem almost in the most feasible and smart way possible.

Plumbers in Austin are most conveniently available, delivering off fast service in case of any emergencies. A good work that offers the customers a satisfaction is guaranteed, the prices are reasonable too. Usually 85$ is the rate of plumbers in Austin but depending upon the problem with the system the price may or may not shoot up.

So long story cut short, if you have a leaky faucet in the house, or your water systems need some mending, caring, fixing, attention etcetera call up the plumber in your telephone directory to put an end to your misery of dealing with petty issues of the house.

Backflow Installation (Austin)

Backflow installation means installing of assemblies so as to reduce and eliminate the chances of backflows of water in any water system, by segregating the drinking, portable water from non- drinking water such as drained out/ sewage fluids. The piping is separated from one another and given different path so that even in case of leakage one may, in no circumstance intervene with the flow of other. Such a blue print is judiciously planned out by plumbers; they give too much attention to the intricate details so that no such fiasco’s ever happen in the day to day life of a person. Furthermore, they inspect the entire system for any sign of weakness, vulnerability and cracks/ leakages to ensure that a tiny problem lying hidden somewhere does not transforms itself into a serious accident, waiting to occur.

Backflow installation comprises of many techniques and application of assemblies that prevent the flow of water from being hindered. Usually separation of water outlets from flood rim-level of receiving vessels, reducing pressure and making use of pressure vacuum breakers are a few of the many techniques used to tackle the situations.

For the purpose of http://austenplumbing.com/backflow-testing-installation.html - Backflow installation Austin , you can always rely on reputed companies, who understands the requirements and they provide the best service, which goes beyond the expectations. So if you need Plumber in Austin , then just contact the plumbing companies.

Total Views: 102Word Count: 506See All articles From Author

Business Articles

1. Voluntary Administration Experts Help You Navigate Through The Financial Crisis
Author: Thomas Dawson

2. Trash Tips For Consumers
Author: Kevin Smith

3. Bulk Sms Service - Bulk Sms Provider
Author: Ranjan

4. Wise Upgrade For Ip Surveillance Networks
Author: Argus Filch

5. Private Limited Company Registration
Author: Pooja

6. Learn How To Design Your Business Card Easily And Effectively
Author: hourscreative

7. How About The Magnesium Oxide Used For Thermal Conducting Filler?
Author: hu Allen

8. How To Properly Ventilate Your Home Until The Smoke Cleaning Services In Canton Arrive
Author: Kevin Smith

9. Top 5 Benefits Of Buying New Office Furniture
Author: Iron Age Office

10. How To Get Accolades For Arranging A Well-managed Corporate Event?
Author: Manish Singh Khatri

11. Exclusive Online Resource For No Guarantor Bad Credit Loans
Author: Andrew Edmonds

12. Silk Laminated Business Cards And Next Day Business Card Printing
Author: Vikram Kumar

13. Professional Home Builders Can Offer The Best Home Buying Experience According To Your Preferences
Author: roberrtdixo

14. Reasons To Hire An Marketing Company In Chicago
Author: Emilie Nicolas is the author of this article.

15. Installing The Correct Floor And Light Panels Australia For Your Home
Author: Reza Rahnamaei

Login To Account
Login Email:
Forgot Password?
New User?
Sign Up Newsletter
Email Address:


text:
Watch Another World on 123Movies

(2014) Detail

Another World

Another World on 123Movies

  • Quality Video:
  • Directed by:
    Eitan Reuven
  • Genre:
  • Actor:
    Larry Butchins, Zach Cohen, Susanne Gschwendtner
  • Country:
  • Runtime:
    1h 39min

Another World 123Movies Storyline:

Watch Another World 123Movies:A component narrative about the voyage of humankind to find our actual power and who we really are. It is a mission through science and cognizance, individual and planetary, investigating our associations with ourselves, our general surroundings and the universe as a whole.In a post-prophetically catastrophic future, an organic fighting project turned out badly leaves just four survivors safeguarding themselves from "the contaminated" - thoughtless executioners. As they battle to survive and comprehend what is going on, they discover another survivor, goal on uncovering reality., Another World 123Movies .

Watch Another World 123Movies Video Player

Watch Another World 123Movies Openload Player Trailer
another world, another world 123movies, another world putlocker, another world online, another world full movie, watch another world online, Putlocker movies, putlockers
» » Another World

123Movies | 123Movie | 123Movies Online

123movies today watch and download free movies with high quality in 123movie without registration all at 123movies online.


text:
Facilitating Change through Learning Strategies

Best Practice / Change and Organization

Facilitating Change through Learning Strategies
Randy Crawford , Career Consultant, United States

Organization don't change, People do

Change is the brainchild of leadership. Usually motivated through factors that can't be modified. In most organizational structures, its a top-down process. The focus of change can be derived through processes, technology, and learning strategy. As a consultant, I have been a part of many organizational change initiatives only to see the first flawed by impatience, perception, and communication. Those times when we were successful in instituting change that bridge organizational process and technology is when a major learning strategy was instituted. One that addressed the impatience of instituting correctly identified interventions, behaviorial modification to curb perceptions, and proper analysis which address all levels of organizational development and enrichment.

React  |  More on the Author  |  More on this Interest Area

About 12manage | Advertising | Link to us | Privacy | Terms of Service
Copyright 2017 12manage - The Executive Fast Track. V14.1 - Last updated: 23-3-2017. All names tm by their owners.