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• Homeschooling with Melamed Academy

  • Torah Studies at Melamed Academy

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A Growing Trend

According to the US Department of Education, homeschooling is on the rise. In the 2011-12 school year 3.4% or 1,770,000 children were educated at home – an increase of 300,000 from 2007.

Why did they opt out of the classroom? 91% cited concerns in the school environment, 77% wanted to provide moral instruction to their children, 74% wanted a different type of academic instruction.

It makes sense that children’s individual needs can often be better accommodated at home than in an institutional setting. Many kids have health issues precluding regular attendance or concentration; others can’t focus well when they’re with a group. Sometimes homeschooling is spurred by the parents’ individualistic tendencies; regardless of the school’s quality, they prefer to guide their child’s education without being dictated by standardized criteria. Other times, it’s the advantages to the family lifestyle that are the draw. Globe-trotting parents can now take their children with them, without being tied to school vacation schedules.

As yeshiva day school tuitions continue skyrocketing, homeschooling in the Torah community is growing as an attractive option due to its affordability.  Do the math: Instead of working full time to pay tuition bills and meeting up with their children at the end of the day when both are at their lowest energy level, mothers can decide to quit chasing their tails, and simply focus on bonding with their children by providing their education themselves! Other times, homeschooling is an unanticipated reality, compelled by external factors such as a child’s health, rocky development, behavior and emotional challenges, a problematic social setting, or a lack of a Torah observant facility providing special services.

flat design concept for education and online learning

Homeschooling also has many educational and practical advantages:

  • Price: Educating each Orthodox Jewish child in the US today, costs an average of $150,000, including tuition for preschool through the post-graduation Israel year. High-end Modern Orthodox day schools run double, for a $300,000 price ticket. Each year that the child studies at home represents a significant cost savings for his family.
  • Emotional Stability: Homeschooling parents say goodbye to the morning rush, expensive peer pressure, the infamous school bullies, and external pressure created by school demands and meetings discussing criteria that the child isn’t meeting. Now it’s just the happy family who is responsible only to their own standards (and the state’s requirements)
  • Learning that Matches the Child’s Natural Rhythm: Classroom teachers are dealing with constraints of managing a group, plus they must complete the textbook by the end of the year. All those external pressures translate to stress, and cut-short conversations that don’t allow a child to explore and develop an intellectual curiosity about a subject. He may have liked studying fish, but now the class is moving on to amphibians – there is no time available for lingering. Homeschooling provides the optimal setting for fostering the child’s initiative and stimulating his inquiring mind.
  • Close Family Ties: Parents who prefer to remain the primary role models in their child’s life are thrilled with the results of homeschooling. Children who are firmly rooted at home grow up with a strong family identity in terms of lifestyle, values, and Torah standards. Also, children who are home for more hours a day are more agreeable to pitching in with household chores; they feel part of the household, not just visitors. Teens, especially, will enjoy seeing their positive contribution to the family with home repairs, cooking, and preparations for family celebrations and events.
  • Efficiency: Even preschoolers can have commutes or bus rides of an hour in each direction, to school and back home. Also, travel time cuts into play time needed for child-appropriate development. Did you know that the average six-year-old in Lakewood, NJ, spends 1000+ hours every year in the car? Homeschooling makes for an efficient day. The actual curriculum can be covered in fewer hours, plus there are no hours wasted while buckled in a seat-belt. Extra hours in the day can also help recoup lost sleep time, resulting in happier, calmer, well-rested kinderlach.
  • Educational Freedom: In school, a student must absorb new facts in the designated time frame, or risk falling behind and being forever doomed to playing catch-up. Alternatively, a quick learner can spend lots of wasted time bored hearing the same facts repeated, reviewed, and then practiced again. A homeschooled child doesn’t feel labeled by his unique developmental progression. He also has time for extracurricular activities and talent development – plus the family still has the funds available to pay for these activities.

Melamed Academy educates students in both day-school and home-based settings, including many students who are studying from home temporarily due to a variety of personal reasons. Homeschooling parents deserve admiration for the increased responsibility they carry, as the child’s parent and educator, combined.  Melamed collaborates with parents to design the optimum setting for the child’s education and development, with emphasis placed on gaining self-confidence in one’s abilities and fostering self-directed achievement.

However, when parents are choosing homeschooling as a proactive choice, there are important factors to consider:

  • Parental Authority: Does your child listen to you? Do you stick to your demands when the child whines, or do you end up compromising and lowering your expectations? When you are the parent, a lack of authority may result in a child going out to play while leaving their toys behind on the floor. If you will now be the teacher, a lax discipline will result in a child who can’t read or spell. Think carefully before becoming the sole authority in your child’s school life, and especially for a teen.
  • Time Management: Homeschooling generally becomes the mother’s responsibility, adding to her daily regimen of household tasks. Do you always complete your “To Do” list? If not, do you prioritize according to long-term goals or do you only manage according to the urgency of the task? There will be days of sick children, renovations, repairs, and erev Yom Tov. Is it important to you that your child spends the requisite daily time on each subject? Do you have a plan how to make that happen?
  • Child’s Study Habits: Is this a child who loves to learn, or who runs away from books? How do you plan to motivate the child, and foster his natural talents?
  • Social Interaction: A peer group plays an important role in developing social skills, such as being part of a team, giving and sharing, teaching and learning from one’s peers. Some children may gravitate towards older or younger friends, but there are certain healthy developmental skills that are best learned when children relate to peers. Any home-schooling arrangement should incorporate a plan for creating opportunities for the home-schooled child to develop peer friendships.
  • Community Connection: Torah Jews have a community-centered life. Men daven daily with a minyan, and families join up with other like-minded neighbors to form mini-communities and larger community networks. There is a strength gained from living Torah in a community, maintaining the religious standards demanded by a community, and being part of the rhythm of communal life. A child’s community is generally his school, and the teachers serve as role models. Think about where your child will connect to community role models as a homeschooler. Will it be in a Bnos/Pirchei group, being part of a shul, or having a private tutor?
  • Long-Term Plan: Sometimes homeschooling lasts successfully for years; other times, it’s short-lived. Are you leaving your options open, in case it doesn’t work out? A wise home-schooling arrangement will ensure that the student covers all grade level curriculum, with documentation that can be presented to the next formal school at which he will wish to study.

For these reasons, many homeschooling families choose Melamed Academy.Online learning is vibrant, appealing, and active – highly conducive to independent study and much friendlier than reading a textbook in each subject. Also, homeschooling parents have lots of wisdom and knowledge to import, but that doesn’t necessarily translate well to teaching math and science at every grade level. That’s where it’s good to have a computer-based program to present concepts visually, and drill facts in fun and exciting ways.

Elementary,middle,high Header

Homeschooling Program with High School Diploma

Melamed Academy’s full-time enrollment track empowers parents of homeschoolers to manage their children’s education, by using Melamed’s curriculum in both Torah and general studies. Melamed Academy also provides the full learning experience, complete with songs, sheets, contests, prizes, and theme units – comparable to a yeshiva day school environment.

Torah lessons are built from both computer-based and paper-supported curricular materials, designed to be studied with a parent, tutor, or chavrusah – maintaining the traditional chain of Torah education with 21st century materials. The secular studies are studied independently by the online student, primarily with computer-based lessons – including plenty of interaction with Melamed’s online teachers and classmates. Workbooks are included for grades K-6, while high school students type their assignments. Class discussion boards and bulletin boards provide forums for sharing the educational journey and collaborating on projects.

Online school accommodates a student’s flexible daily schedule which fluctuates according to the rhythm of his home life. Students have a weekly syllabus in each subject, with the leeway to spread schoolwork into segments throughout the day. Melamed online teachers supervise students’ progress and are available for their questions.

Servicing Every Student

At Melamed Academy, students on all ends of the learning spectrum receive appropriate lessons for their level and learning style, at no additional charge. Diagnostic tests evaluate the student’s starting point, and IEPs are implemented with courseware that includes audio-support, visual learning, and interactive knowledge checks that don’t require writing. It’s gratifying to see how students quickly see success, scoring 100s on their tests and charting new accomplishments every day. All of a sudden, a Yeshiva boy who failed science is staying up late to learn his Melamed biology course. A Bais Yaakov girl who couldn’t do math is now motivated to spend hours a day studying.

Melamed Academy also services the growing number of students slipping through the cracks in traditional yeshivos and Bais Yaakov schools. Some good kids experience a temporary non-conformist stage which results in having no appropriate school. Morning-challenged kids need the breathing room of online school, so their inability to arrive at the start of the day doesn’t doom their chances for success.

Whatever the reason may be, all students have a place at Melamed Academy. Students now have the chance to explore their interests such as art, calculus, psychology, or animation programming. Teenagers’ Torah studies lead to college credits, driving motivation for mastery – over 84 college credits can be earned during high school for Torah studies alone. Combined with college credit exams for general education requirements, an average student can graduate high school with an accredited BA in Liberal Arts – a giant leap forward for the student, and a tremendous value for the parents.

Homeschooling with a Group

Many families have expressed interest in homeschooling with a “round-robin” neighborhood rotation, enabling parents to hold jobs even while educating their children at home, meanwhile providing their homeschooled children with friends and playmates.

For the upcoming school year of 2015-16, Melamed Academy is facilitating the formation of homeschooling groups, so parents can collaborate, share tips about homeschool dynamics – and join up with other Melamed Academy families in their neighborhoods.

For registration, and to receive demo lessons, contact the Melamed Academy office at solutions@melamedacademy.com or by calling (732)228-8800.

See more information and view the course catalog at melamedacademy.com

Source for education statistics: National Center for Educational Statisticsnces.ed.gov


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Friday, February 27, 2009

To whom much is given

"For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48

Although this verse does not only refer to financial resources, it is obvious that of those whom have great financial resources, much financial commitment is required. The wealthy made their wealth in America and should, in turn, be willing to support America. Those individuals who net more that 200k or married couples who net more than 250k are being asked to pay just 3% more in federal income tax. If that breaks their budgets, then they are living too high on the hog. They need to quit whining, step up to the plate, and help their country. For an individual making $200k, that is an increase of $6,000 per year in taxes. This amount would greatly hurt someone making the median income of just under $50k per year, but not someone who nets $200k. All they have to do is drive their BMW one extra year before trading it for a new one – or forego one of their vacation trips.

It’s time for the wealthy to shoulder their share of sacrifice for America.

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Movie Review: Brave!

I’ve been waiting to see this movie ever since I saw the first preview and fell in love with that gorgeous red hair. I’m also a sucker for accents. This movie had all the elements I look for in an animated film, or any story really. The protagonist has a mind and will of her own, and typical teenage angst. I laughed out loud several times as I recognized some of my own words from my teenage years.

This one focuses on the relationship between mother and daughter, which I found refreshing. Instead of Daddy trying to sell the daughter off to the highest bidder, it’s Mom trying to make sure her daughter has a good life by being a “lady” and by…yes, selling her off to the highest bidder. Merida won’t stand for it, and says so. “I’ll be competing for my OWN hand.”

I loved the look on Mom’s face when Merida shoots the arrow at the last target, winning her own hand in marriage. I know that look. I’ve seen it. I’m pretty sure my mother knows Merida’s look too.

The core theme of this story is “be careful what you wish for.” There were so many teachable moments and lessons, but beyond that this was a solid story with gorgeous animation and cute, quotable moments. Is it the best movie Pixar has ever done? No. But it’s good. Very good. It’s beautiful to look at, and the music is haunting. It’s an entertaining afternoon for kids and adults, and will leave you with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

At least, that’s what it did for me.

If you had a chance to change your fate, would you?  —Princess Merida

I love Merida as a protagonist. She dreams of more than being a princess, stuck in a castle, bound to follow rules and act like something she isn’t. She’s willing to take matters into her own hands, and risk everything to change her life, and her fate. But she’s young, and doesn’t realize what she asks for when she begs a witch to give her a spell to change her mother. It’s a lesson we all hopefully learn before too much damage is done. Be careful what you wish for, indeed.

1 comment on…“Movie Review: Brave!”

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divider   Newsland, 2013   divider
Rumpus Room, Melbourne, Australia

In July 2013 I undertook a two week residency at Rumpus Room in Melbourne. At the end I presented two works, one a collaboration with Ashlee Laing, and the other an occupation of the neighbouring empty field, number 34 Bloomfield St. The video performance and sculptural intervention both responded to Australia's 'Boat People' policies on asylum seekers and New Zealand's 2013 Immigration Amendment Bill which seeks to bring New Zealand into line with Australian policy.

All content and images on this website are copyright melissa laing unless otherwise specified.


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Sunday, July 7, 2013

Barefoot Summer

Book description:  "Madison’s heart has been closed for years. But one summer can change everything.

In the years since her twin brother’s drowning, Madison McKinley has struggled to put it behind her. Despite the support of her close-knit family and her gratifying job as a veterinarian in their riverside town, the loss still haunts her.

To find closure, Madison sets out to fulfill her brother’s dream of winning the town’s annual regatta. But first she has to learn to sail, and fast.

Beckett O’Reilly knows Madison is out of his league, but someone neglected to tell his heart. Now she needs his help—and he’ll give it, because he owes her far more than she’ll ever know.
Madison will do anything—even work with the infamous Beckett O’Reilly—to reach her goal. And as much as she’d like to deny it, the chemistry between them is electrifying. As summer wanes, her feelings for him grow and a fledgling faith takes root in her heart.
But Beckett harbors a secret that will test the limits of their new love. Can their romance survive summer’s challenges? And will achieving her brother’s dream give Madison the peace she desperately seeks?"
My review:  Other books that I have read by Denise Hunter were good; however, Barefoot Summer was excellent!  The characters and story line were very enjoyable and believable.  Great spiritual truths have been written into the pages of this book making it an encouraging read as well.  This is a fun summer book.  I am looking forward to more books in this series.  There are plenty of characters to get to know better, and I will love to catch up on Madison and Beckett.  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through their Booksneeze Blogger Program in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

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Thank you all for your support so far

Thank you so much

I just wanted to take some time to say a huge Thank You to everyone who has supported the crowdfunding campaign for Swallow Me, NOW! so far. At the time of writing this post, we’re a bit over the $900 mark.

A special thank you to:

  • Renee Price
  • Johanna Baker-Dodwell
  • Cecilia Clark
  • Becky Fyfe
  • Naomi Green
  • Linda Schueler
  • Becky Moss Chevalier
  • Glenys Gijsbers
  • Philippa Thomson
  • Jenny Gillan
  • Kelly Artist
  • Ashley
  • Julie Grasso
  • Phil Gijsbers
  • Alyssa Gijsbers
  • Samantha Hartmann
  • Regina Radcliffe
  • Yvonne Mes
  • Plus a few supporters who have chosen to remain anonymous

I really appreciate your support for my new book.

To everyone who has shared my link, I appreciate your support too. The campaign runs until the 20th September, so there is still time to get your pledges in.

To support my campaign, click here.

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Saturday, July 19, 2008

The Dark Knight Movie Review

Spoiler alert: I do talk about a couple of scenes from the movie.

I’ve never reached a theater an hour before the show is supposed to begin. I had bought my tickets online, but the line to retrieve those tickets extended up to the parking lot. I also greatly annoyed those beyond me when it was my turn to get my ticket – fifteen of my friends stuffed their online ticket confirmation receipts in my hand. But see, I didn’t give a hoot – I was going to see Batman!

I’ve never seen a movie which has ever had to bear the burden of so much hype (the trailer was so kick-ass). To overcome the unbelievable expectations of the audience had to be impossible, right? Seriously man, what a movie!

The Joker is introduced in an awesomely masterminded bank robbery and Heath Ledger plays the villain in a way Jack Nicholson never did. The Heath Ledger Joker is a maniacal villain who does what he does because he relishes destruction, enjoys slowing down the agony. He taunts a police officer in the movie, saying that he knew his friends best because he saw what they really were, when he slowly used his knife to take away their lives.

Christian Bale and Aaron Eckhart as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Harvey Dent/Two Face were very good in their portrayals as well, but seriously, this is Ledger's movie. The scene with Batman pounding the hell out of the Joker and the Joker responding with his crazy laughter is one of my favourites. He just keeps laughing and taunting Batman ("What are you going to threathen me with?"). He derives insane pleasure from getting under the skin of a man he dearly wants to unmask.

The special effects and stunts in this movie take a backseat amidst the performances of Ledger, Bale, Eckhart and Oldman (as Inspector Gordon). How often do you see the CGI merge seamlessly with the narrative? The effects don’t take precedence over what the actors are trying to convey, and yet build up the riveting tension that Ledger and Bale love to play off.

There is a truck that does a somersault, and Batman bursts out of the Batmobile in a motorbike – this is very much an action movie. Yet, there is much more. There is a marvelously constructed story that has as one of its main underlying themes what Harvey Dent says in the beginning of the movie – “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain”.

My Verdict: 9.5/10

Anonymous said...

Wiil do.

gradwolf said...

oh yes! It was brilliant stuff from nolan! I hope I get to watch it again...

Coconut Chutney said...

I think Batman is like the best superhero ever. Superman is just a fool in a cape.
Anyone can be super with superpowers, but Batman, he's the dude!
I seriously need to watch this as well, tickets booked till next weekend back home. Stupid satyam not running enough shows.

Gauri Gharpure said...

came here straight from Dharma's blog. very nicely written review here.. The Joker is par excellence.. felt sad to see such a brilliant actor is dead!

this ws my first batman movie (Yes!!) and went so that husband would not bitch about my not being a sport for days to come :)... had surfed the net and done my homework abt this superhero to avoid looking like a fool... The movie, as I saw it, w/o any reference points, is WOW... my husband's jubilant now tht he's got me hooked to batman after successfully introducing me to superman, spiderman and such lot..

Idling in Top Gear said...

Dark Knight is first and foremost a human drama movie. The characters, their thoughts and emotions, were portrayed in a way that would give Lifetime movies a run for their money. Until the reviews came out, I thought Ledger's death was driving the attention. But with excellent reviews coming from every direction, couldn't help but go watch it. All I have to say is that we finally have a Batman who is as he should be - dark, agonized and confused.

Vivek said...

remember when we were little kids and had all of these batman toys! and we pretended to be batman and robin.
oh the good old days....

Neon said...

thanks! and batman is way cooler than the rest of the superheroes

@idling in top gear,

Yep, and Nolan set this movie up beautifully with Batman Begins (I hope you've seen it, it's very good too).

haha, how can i forget! My mom asked me a week ago if I wanted a batman toy from India. Sometimes she forgets that I'm not 4 :)

the Geekie said...

JOker's acting was really astounding

Anonymous said...

I have always liked batman and joker...well the concept of their rivalry and psychology anyways BUT the dark knight is overrated...honestly not many people would have watched the movie in theaters if Heath Ledger didn't's sad really.. the movie was okay but not great.Think about that.

my rating 7/10


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December 17, 2015

Bruce Lee Philosophy: 12 Positive Insights You Can Apply To Your Life

Learn from Bruce Lee’s philosophy to apply to your life

There are some people who make their mark in a big way, and Bruce Lee was one of them. Even though the actor, philosopher, and martial arts instructor only lived a short 33 years, he had many uplifting and insightful things to say. Many people believe that he was extremely mature for his age and way ahead of his time. Following is some of the Bruce Lee Philosophy that can change your life.

1. Take Charge Of Your Life

There are many things that you don’t have control over in life. You don’t have control over how other people will react, disasters, or unexpected losses, but you do have control over many other things in your life. You can get the education, do the work, take the chances, and reach out to the right people, and you can increase your luck and opportunity by doing so. On the other hand, you can choose to let circumstances take charge of your life, slow you down, stop you in your tracks, and dictate what you will or will not do, but you will not find the kind of success and fulfillment that Bruce Lee had with those choices.

2. Live For Your Own Purpose In Life

We are all put here with a unique purpose in life. If we were all supposed to live up to the same expectations, then no one would branch out and achieve amazing things.

In this day and age, common expectations include getting an education, getting married, having kids, buying a house, and earning a certain level of income. But just because those expectations are common doesn’t mean that you have to abide by them.

10 Quotes By Jim Rohn To Use As A Blueprint For Success

If you feel like you should travel the world for more happiness, then live up to that expectation you have to travel. If your purpose is to be an advocate for human rights, and stay single your whole life, then do that. Live up to your purpose and what your inner self expects of you – not what other people expect. That’s where your true happiness lies.

3. Your Thoughts Dictate What You Will Do

If you think you can’t, you won’t. If you think you can, you will try and have a great chance of succeeding. The way you think about yourself and the world around you will dictate what you can or cannot do, and your life will ultimately turn out exactly how you expect.

This applies to people who try over and over again too. Have you ever heard someone say, “I knew that I wouldn’t succeed”? Our thoughts influence how much effort we put in, how hard we practice, and how we behave, which influences whether or not we succeed. So, if you think you won’t succeed from the beginning, you will sabotage yourself along the way.

Therefore, strive to think positive thoughts about yourself and what you are capable of. Doing so will help you achieve the things you want to achieve.

4. Look Outside Of Yourself

This is a Bruce Lee philosophy to take to heart at every stage of your life. If you live for yourself, then you are going to trap yourself into a bubble that limits your happiness and success in life. You can’t do much in your own bubble – it’s just too small, and it gets lonely in there. But, if you step out of that bubble and focus on doing good for other people, taking care of others, and making other people happy, then you benefit your awareness, relationships, and happiness, all which lead to greater success in life and a more fulfilling existence.

Top 21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes On What Matters In Life

5. Take Action

Many of us fail to see this simple truth. You can think about a goal you want to achieve all you want, but the only way to achieve it is to start taking action towards it. If you do nothing, then you will never get any closer to it. Keep this in mind the next time you get an idea of what you want to do or who you want to be, and let it motivate you to take action. Make it a priority to take one, two, or three steps closer to what you want every single day. If you do, you will find yourself getting things done in your life that really matter.

6. Live In Balance

I know people who live purely by instinct. They fly off the handle, make impulsive decisions, and change their mind so often that they can never actually finish anything. I also know people who live purely from control. They try to direct which way things will go and never listen to their gut or take action on things that are out of their plan. Both groups of people never experience the kind of success that they truly want because they are not living in balance.

17 Abraham Lincoln Quotes To Increase Your Wisdom

When you are able to live by this Bruce Lee philosophy, and listen to your instinct as well as take some control over how you behave and go through life, you are able to achieve some great things. You will have access to your inner guidance system and be able to alter things when they are clearly not working out, and you will be able to commit to something long enough, with actionable steps, to see if it can pan out and make a difference to your life.

7. Choose To Be Authentic

Bruce Lee was authentic and accredited a lot of his success to that authenticity. But he acknowledged that it is very hard to be authentic.

We have so many pressures to live up to a certain standard and be a certain type of person. We feel we need to talk or act a certain way, and we try to reach for certain goals that other people expect of us. If the pressure is too much, we push our authenticity to the back and live other people’s dreams and desires in the process.

We want to be liked, which is why we try to adapt to what others want, yet, the most authentic people are the most liked. Authentic people are interesting and having something unique to contribute. They can impact other’s lives and the world in a big way. Remembering that can help you stay authentic in life. You have the find the value that being authentic has, because every once in a while you will need a reminder to stay true to yourself.

8. Use What Resonates With You

When trying to decide who you are and who you want to become, you will hear a lot of advice. You will find a ton of techniques and tips to help you master your life, and you can literally change your mind from moment to moment as you read one ‘truth’ and then another.
For instance, in one day I found myself believing that making goals was necessary for my success, and then upon hearing something else, I found myself believing that winging it was the best. At the end of the day I started to weigh each option in my mind and found myself stuck between the two. It wasn’t until I chose the option that resonated with me more that I found a system that worked well for me.

16 Lao Tzu Quotes For A Simpler Life

And that’s a great lesson from this Bruce Lee philosophy. What works for you may not work for someone else, and vice-versa. You need to use what resonates with you and let other people use what resonates with them.

Moreover, don’t only take advice or lessons from certain people. I know too many people who won’t listen to anyone who is not an accredited professional, and they end up missing a lot of lessons in life because of that. The fact is that a child walking by you on the street may have insight to help you answer a question you have been asking. Or, your mother (god forbid) may have some actual wisdom to impart on you. Don’t close yourself off from receiving insight and help that could change your life. You never know where it will come from.

9. Don’t Make Yourself Too Big

Did you know that Bruce Lee viewed himself as a martial artist more than an actor? He knew he was good at what he did, but he didn’t let his success define who he was. There are a few reasons that you don’t want to get too high on yourself.

First, when you start to see yourself as someone supernatural or above other people, you lose a sense of community, which is essential for your happiness and success. Other people start to get annoyed by you and you get annoyed by other people. That destroys relationships and burns bridges that could benefit you in the future.

In addition, when you view yourself as too big, you lose perspective on who you are and how you fit into the world. You lose sense of reality. One person is not better than the next. Everyone has their own unique abilities and value to add to the world, and yours is not better than anyone else’s. When you feel that it is, you stop valuing other people, and you stop learning and growing because you think your value is already high enough.

10. Don’t Stop Improving Yourself

If you become stagnant, you will suffer. You may start to feel discouraged about life and your place and potential in it. You may even become depressed as you stand still and live the same day over and over again. And, at the end of your life, you will look back and wonder why you didn’t take more chances or do more with your life seeing how much potential there really was for growth.

There is always something more to experience or achieve. You will never, despite your best efforts, become a perfect human being who knows everything. But, you can keep trying to work towards it!

Life is meant to be ever changing. You are meant to become wiser, stronger, and more capable. You are meant to experience more happiness and more success. Don’t settle for thinking that this is all there is, because life on Earth is never done with you – until you die. You always have the choice to improve yourself and your life while you are here.

11. Don’t Let Fear Of Failure Hold You Back

This Bruce Lee philosophy helped him to go after what he wanted despite fear, and he went after some big things! It wasn’t that he was incapable of feeling fear. He was human, so you know that he had fear in everything he attempted, especially when the odds were against him.

He was once told that he wouldn’t be able to fight due to a back injury he sustained in 1970, yet he didn’t let fear hold him back in that instance; through determination, he recovered and got to play roles in four and a half more films before his death.

10 Life Lessons Inspired By Maya Angelou Quotes

The point is that if you don’t move through the fear, you will never know what you are fully capable of. And, the experience that comes from going after what you really want despite your fear is often worth the initial discomfort and possible failure.

12. Adapt To What Life Throws At You

Bruce Lee pointed out that water has the ability to become what you put it in. For instance, if you pour it into a bottle, it adapts and becomes the shape of a bottle. Water gives very little resistance to what is happening and just goes with the flow. If you can become like water, and go with the flow, then you will have a much easier time in life.

Resistance is what makes life hard. When you resist reality, you create pain and suffering. When you resist your potential, you will never try to reach it. If you resist how other people act, you will always be in a state of conflict with them. Become more like water in all situations and life will be much easier.

Related Posts or You May Also Like:

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Thursday, August 4, 2016

An Admiring Glance

Valki Anderson, shown here with MBB Scholar Isabel, has completed her year as Scholarship Coordinator for Mercy Beyond Borders in Haiti.

Valki returned to the States a few days ago. She's a gifted linguist. Fluent in French before her arrival, she quickly picked up Kreyol as well and was able to converse with our Scholars and their family members.  It's obvious from the affection on Isabel's face that Valki will be missed!

As you can see in the picture below, the Scholars didn't want to part with Valki's dog, Manchu, either....
Thank you, Valki, for all the ways you contributed to the academic progress of the girls in our Haiti Scholarship Program over the past year!

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Saturday, October 31, 2009

Along the Nile

In our little dahabeya,
we cruised from Aswan to Luxor,
mooring alongshore in relative isolation,
far from the bigger river boats.

We spent a total of eight nights aboard the Afandina
so the daylight hours
(when we weren't at ancient sites or
participating in writing sessions)
afforded us a chance to sit and chat and watch Egypt go by.

The area alongside the river is verdant.
But, as you can see, the desert is never far away.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

A Glimpse of Egypt

How do I explain Egypt to you?

It's both the expected

and the unexpected.

I didn't expect, for example,
that traffic in Cairo would make Manhattan cabbies
look like models of civility.

I didn't anticipate
that every place I looked
I'd find a visual feast.

I didn't know
that I'd take a whole series of photos
of beautiful weathered doors
in Esna and Luxor.

I expected to find photo ops
in abundance
and I wasn't disappointed.

I didn't expect that when Egyptians asked
if we were English or Canadian
and found that we were Americans,
they'd burst into grins and flash a thumbs up
and say "Obama! Good man."

But they did.

What a trip!

I'll be showing you more glimpses of Egypt
in days to come.

I hope you won't get bored.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

On U.S. Soil

Exhausted. In need of sleep.
Flying home tomorrow.
Talk to you soon.
Have I got photos for you!
(But not quite yet).

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Out of a shattered open heart
springs a fountain of fiery sacred passion
that will never run dry.
- Rumi

"Shattered" - copyright 2007 Meri Arnett-Kremian.

I have learned not to worry about love
but to honor its coming with all my heart.
- Alice Walker

I'm aiming to be juicy with creative energy,
to express that fiery sacred passion,
to keep my shattered open heart

Why worry about finding love?
Love for another man who makes my heart sing
will come or not, as it chooses.

Right now I'm in love with
infinite possibilities
and manifesting magic.

p.s. I leave today for the photography workshop with Jan Phillips
in the Adirondacks and then head to Egypt for my writing workshop
& Egyptian mysteries tour. I've prepared a few posts to run during
my absence because I don't know whether I'll be able to post
regularly while I'm gone.

Please forgive me if I'm not as chatty as I usually am.

I know I'll have a lot of material on my return.

Blessings to you!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Soul Journey

As I walked outside in the early morning light,
the moon was hanging in the western sky,
full and shiny.

Ah, I thought.
Maybe that's it.

I've been feeling particularly open
the past few days;
feeling tender and raw as if I'm taking on
some secret sadness from unknown sources.

Sensing that I'm wide open psychic-ly
and not particularly well shielded.

Feeling mutable and changeable
as if the slightest breeze
will alter the way things look to me forever.

"Mutable" copyright 2009 Meri Arnett-Kremian.

If, as I've been told,
this wander I'm going on starting in mid-week
will alter me in profound ways I can't anticipate,

the cycles of the moon,
the wind ruffling the water's surface,
the feeling of tenderness for the suffering in the world
and a sense of being on the cusp
of something too big to grasp with my mind

are probably all part of the travel package.

A little preview,
so to speak.

Soul Journey.

All aboard. . . . .

Sunday, October 4, 2009

A Favor to Ask

Remember my friend Sarah?

Sarah was one of the intrepid "girlfriends"
in the girlfriends trip to Mexico in September.

Sarah is an amazing woman --
a single mom who, at 40 or so, took on the custody
of a neglected infant who was failing to thrive
in the care of his drug-afflicted mom.
He's made amazing progress and is now
a robust, verbally adept, intelligent preschooler.
Sarah's been granted permanent custody
of this little boy who thinks of her as his Mom.

Sarah is also a physical therapist of great skill
who has developed a sub-speciality in working
with post-mastectomy clients who developed lymphodema.

And given that physical therapy requires a lot of
exertion and being on your feet,
(not to mention the stamina required of
a 40-something mom of a preschooler)
Sarah's body has to be in good working order.

Except that a couple of months ago
she injured her back
and figured she'd grit her teeth and get through it.

It didn't work that way.

Sarah's having surgery on her lower back on Wednesday.

So I'm asking that all of you
keep Sarah in your thoughts
and send healing energy her way.

Blessings for a speedy recovery, my friend.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Dahabeya Afandina

Just thought I'd give you a little preview
of the Nile River portion of my trip to Egypt.

We'll be sailing aboard the Afandina,
a new steel-hulled dahabeya.

One of our group found this You-Tube piece
that explains about the boat.
It was produced by SpiritQuest Tours,
the Egyptian partner of my American tour company
Shamanic Journeys.

So enjoy...............

I know I will!

I've got to admit that I'm not a beer drinker.
I think it smells and tastes. . .
well. . . "nasty" comes to mind.

I do, however, brake for art.

Just not in this case.

Talk about odd couples. . .

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Inner Work

The outward work can never be small
if the inward one is great,
and the outward work can never be great or good
if the inward is small or of little worth.

The inward work always includes in itself
all size, all breadth and all length.

- Meister Eckhart

"Time Travel" copyright 2009 Meri Arnett-Kremian.

So much work to be done
on every level.

Here's a glimpse of my emerging series
called Time Within Time.
That's one facet of the work calling out to me.
Each of the pieces in this new series
includes the iconic sunflower,
which always seeks to face the light
even though it encounters times of darkness and shadow
so deep that the light seems extinguished forever.
Then the light breaks through again.
Pure, clear light.

So many layers to be explored.
So many poems to find.
So many songs to sing.

Come dance with me.


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Information sources.We obtain nonpublic personal information about our shareholders from the following sources:

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Protection of information. We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about current or former shareholders, except as permitted or required by law. Personal information refers to information that personally identifies you or your financial accounts. This includes among other items, your social security numbers, your address and account transactions. We do not sell your personal information to anyone.

Disclosure of information. We may send your financial advisor or other individuals (as designated by you) copies of confirmations, quarterly account statements and other documents reporting activity in your accounts. We may also provide your personal information to firms that assist us in servicing your account, such as our transfer agent. If at any time in the future it is necessary to disclose your personal information in a way that is inconsistent with this policy, we will give you advance notice of the proposed change so that you will have the opportunity to opt out of such disclosure. We will not disclose your personal information to any other unaffiliated third parties, except as permitted or required by law, unless you have specifically asked us to do so; that is, opted in.

Security measures. To protect your personal information, we permit access only by authorized employees or service providers. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your personal account information. Our employees and agents have access to that information only so that they may offer products or provide services to you, for example, when responding to questions directly related to your account. If you ever find that your account information is incomplete, inaccurate or not current, please write to us at Meridian Fund, Inc. c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing, 101 Sabin Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860-1427 or call us at 1-800-446-6662. This privacy policy applies to all Meridian Fund, Inc. accounts you presently have, or may open in the future using your social security number, whether or not you remain a shareholder of our funds. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at the address or telephone number above.


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Sunday, August 24, 2008

My mother-in-law, Mary Johnson, passed into eternity this morning.

We got a call early saying that she was laboring to breath.

We went on to church and hugsum preached a wonderful sermon and we prayed for her.

When we got back in the car, there was a message on his phone that she had gone on.

He had a choice to make. He had already arranged for someone to fill the pulpit for him - just in case... He could have the other person preach for him and we could come back home and prepare to go to Georgia.

He decided to go ahead and preach and praise the Lord. He glorified God. He said that there is never a good time to receive such a message, but if he had a choice, this was the best time and place. He had just done what he loved to do and was about to preach again. He feels so close to God when he preaches and so that is the BEST way.

It brought him much comfort and healing to be able to pour himself out for the Gospel.

Thank you for your prayers. We have felt them.

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

I am sorry for your loss, but what peace your husband's testimony offers. People will see that and say, "I want to be able to react like that when bad news comes." Praying for both of you.

5purposedriven said...

Not a lot to say in times like this, but you are in my prayers. Thank you, Lord, for your perfect peace, which passes all understanding.

Anonymous said...

That is awesome that daddy was able to react with such strength. It is funny how our passions in life seem to help even in dealing with the most difficult times. What a great way to deal with it, pour yourself into serving Jesus. HMMMMM, wow!

The Preacher's Wife said...

Oh, I am so sorry for you and Bro. Steve. I will be keeping y'all in my prayers.

beverlydru said...

Blessings and prayers flowing your way.

The Madrerohons said...

I'm so sorry. :( You have been in our prayers. Love you!

Julianne Hearn said...

You both are in my prayers. To hear that you served the Lord and the Lord brought healing and peace through Bro.Steve preaching perfect.
Please pray for Mrs. Libby...she's in the hospital having trouble breathing.
We love you all and will continue to keep you close in our prayers.
Julianne Banks Hearn


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The Interactional Construction of Social Authenticity: “Real” Identities and Intergroup Relations in a Transylvania Internet Forum

Symbolic Interaction

Published online on

Authenticity has become an increasingly salient topic within various interactional traditions, including conversational and discourse analysis, discursive psychology, interactional sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and symbolic interactionism. However, there has been remarkably little cross‐fertilization of ideas and concepts. In this study, we consider the relevance of the interactional sociolinguistic concept of relationality for symbolic interactionist theories of authenticity. We first disambiguate two forms of authenticity that are commonly studied but not clearly differentiated in symbolic interactionist research—self‐authenticity, which emphasizes selves, and social authenticity, which emphasizes social identities. We then argue that relationality and its three pairs of interactional tactics—verification and denaturalization, adequation and distinction, and authorization and illegitimation—are particularly useful in conceptualizing social authenticity. We draw on data from an interethnic internet forum to show how members of two ethnic groups, Hungarian and Romanian, employ these relational tactics to authenticate their own ethnicity as the rightful inheritors of a place‐based Transylvanian identity, and to limit the other ethnicity's similar identity work. We then clarify the significance of social authenticity for the interactional study of category‐based identities by widening our discussion to other contestations over social identities in everyday life.


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A Hex Upon You

Creating a hex grid for movement regulation
Tom Sparhawk

(Originally published in Big Muddy's "Fifth Column")

Terrain over hex pattern Recently I became interested in exploring World War Two aircraft combat using the "Blue Sky" series of rules by John Stanoch. This rule set requires a one inch hex grid to regulate movement of the planes. I purchased one "rug" that was already gridded out, but I wasn't all that happy with it - especially because of its rather small size and high cost. In examining this issue I came up with a solution that may be of use to others.

Most craft stores, including such stellar shops as Walmart, sell a item called "Plastic Canvas." This is designed for needlepoint projects and may be familiar to many folks as the basis of tissue holders, cloth Santas, and other items too cute to mention. It comes in a variety of sizes, up to 13" by 22", which is the size I use. The interesting aspect of this plastic canvas is that it is a grid - that is, a series of equally spaced holes.

To create a hex template I take the canvas and mark off those holes that trace out a hex shape. I do this over the whole canvas so when done the plastic canvas has a series of marks on it - each mark being one of the six corners of the grid pattern. Don't try to draw out the whole hex, as it doesn't work. You can create hexes of various sizes with this stuff, from about one half inch to, well, something really big. The pattern for the one inch grid is:

Basic hex pattern Once this template is completed, take a piece of fabric (I used a blue vinyl for sea), and starting at one end place the template over the fabric and use a pen to mark the corners from the template onto the fabric. Once one sheet's worth is finished, overlap the drawn pattern with the template by two or three holes, and continue marking through the canvas onto the fabric. This part is a little tricky so be careful or the grid lines may be way out of wack!

Once the hex corners are drawn on the fabric it is time to fill in the hexes. With a permanent magic marker (test this if you use vinyl - or you may end up with colored hands each time you use it!) simply "connect the dots." Don't try to draw lines between the dots - errors become REAL obvious if you do this. I use two or three marks between each corner, which seems to work well.

Hex over terrain Once the basic grid pattern is done you can add "terrain" or other things to make the mat more attractive. Conversely, you can draw in the terrain first and put the grid on afterwards. The results is a good playable surface that if fairly quick to create and significantly less expensive than what is available commercially. With this you can have air battles over water, desert, forest, or countryside!

The B-17 raid mat pictured here is composed of 2 inch hexes.

Home Page
Terrain ideas


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Untitled Document
Legal Digest

BJP's attempt to compromise the independence of the judiciary :

The letter of Gopal Subramaniam to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) withdrawing his consent for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court has created quite a furore in the country.People are getting reminded of 1973 when Indira Gandhi directed Mohan Kumaramangalam to take steps to have a committed judiciary.

It is quite clear that the CBI and the IB have been induced to do a hatchet job for the BJP which was angry with Gopal Subramaniam as an Amicus appointed by the Supreme Court for taking a tough stand in the Sohrabuddin, Kauser Bi and Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounter cases, in which Amit Shah the blue eyed boy of Narendra Modi has been chargesheeted.

The BJP has always insisted that the CBI was always a tool of the congress government. We had also seen this repeatedly in the corruption cases against Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav. The CBI and the IB have raised two questions about the suitability of Subramaniam.

The first reason given by the government for opposing Subramaniam's appointment is ridiculous. The government says that a conversation between Radia and some third person shows Subramaniam in a poor light. On the contrary, the conversation between Radia and Ratan Tata where his name is mentioned shows him in a very favourable light, since Radia says "I am not sure that he (Subramaniam) will agree to what they say. He is an upright person. I think Raja will be trying to get the AG (Vahanvati)".
In fact, the Radia tapes contain a deadly conversation between Radia and the former Finance Secretary N.K. Singh who was then a member of the Rajya Sabha and is now a prominent member of the BJP is found acting as an agent of Mukesh Ambani and conspiring with her about how to get a provision introduced in the Finance Bill to give a retrospective Tax concession to Mukesh Ambanis's company passed. He tells Radia about how he has managed to get the BJP leadership to replace Arun Shourie who was going to oppose the bill, by Venkaiah Naidu (former President of the BJP), who was found to be close to the Reliance President and who was told to support this bill. Arun Shourie in his interview with Karan Thapar confirmed the truth of these events. Instead of taking action against those in the BJP leadership who are caught in the Radia tapes as being agents of Ambani, the government has targeted an independent lawyer by using the bogey of his name being merely mentioned in the Radia tapes.

So far as the other reason given by the government is concerned, ie meeting the lawyer of Raja in his chamber, I do not think that there is anything unprofessional in such a meeting in the presence of CBI officers. An allegation of this type is absurd. I have observed the career of Subramaniam since the beginning with considerable intellect and I have found him to have the highest professional rectitude, a keen interest and a capacity for hard work. It is indeed unfortunate that the country has lost the opportunity of having a great judge in the Supreme Court and the BJP needs to be roundly condemned for this. If this government continues in this vein, they will have the same fate as Mrs. Gandhi's 1971 government.
Shanti Bhushan