CV is available here
2019. The Social Question in the Twenty-First Century: A Global View, edited by Jan Breman, Kevan Harris, Ching Kwan Lee, and Marcel van der Linden. Oakland, CA: University of California Press. Read the entire book at UC Luminos Open Access
2017. A Social Revolution: Politics and the Welfare State in Iran. Oakland, CA: University of California Press (Read the introduction / first chapter). Translations: Persian, 2019 (Tehran: Shirazeh Press).
Winner of the Middle East Studies Association Nikki Keddie Book Award
Winner of the Arab Studies Institute Political Economy Book Prize
Reviewed by John Waterbury in Foreign Affairs (January/February 2018)
Reviewed in Middle East Journal (72, 1, Winter 2018)
Reviewed in Choice (55, 11, 2018)
Reviewed in Survival (60, 2, 2018)
Reviewed in Omran (7, 25, 2018 - in Arabic)
Reviewed in Gorky Magazine (September 2018 - in Russian)
Reviewed in Bustan: The Middle East Book Review (9, 2, 2018)
Reviewed in Dowlatyar: The Journal of Government and Public Management (6, Fall 2017 - in Persian)
Listed in Essential Readings on Postrevolutionary Iran by Jadaliyya Online (June 2018)
2019. “Iran’s Commanding Heights: Privatization and Conglomerate Ownership in the Islamic Republic.” Pp. 363-399 in Crony Capitalism in the Middle East: Business and Politics from Liberalization to the Arab Spring, edited by Ishac Diwan, Adeel Malik, and Izak Atiyas. Oxford: Oxford University Press. PDF
2019. “Pen to the Tiller: Land Reform and Social Mobility Across the 1979 Iranian Revolution,” with Zep Kalb. Journal of Agrarian Change, Vol. 19, No. 3: 465-486. PDF
2019. “Roads from Calabria: The Arrighian Approach to Agrarian Political Economy,” with Jennifer Bair and Philip A. Hough. Journal of Agrarian Change, Vol. 19, No. 3: 391-406. PDF
2019. "The Social Question in the Middle East: Past and Present." Pp. 188-207 in The Social Question in the Twenty-First Century: A Global View, edited by Jan Breman, Kevan Harris, Ching Kwan Lee, and Marcel van der Linden. Oakland, CA: University of California Press. PDF
2019. “Do Nomenklatura Dream of Capital Strikes?” (Symposium on Dismantling Solidarity: Capitalist Politics and American Pensions since the New Deal, by Michael McCarthy). Critical Sociology, Vol. 45, No. 4-5: 751-756. PDF
2018. "Divergent Histories and Converging Inequalities in the Middle East and Latin America." Middle East Report 284/285: 18-23. PDF
2018. "Voter Behavior and Political Mobilization in Iran: Findings from the Iran Social Survey," with Daniel Tavana. Report for the European Middle East Research Group, Lund, Sweden. PDF: DOI:10.26369/RE.2018.001 (translated into Persian)
2018. “International Political Economy,” with Christiana Parreira. Pp. 221-237 in The SAGE Handbook of Political Sociology, vol. 1, edited by William Outhwaite and Stephen Turner. London: Sage Publications. PDF
2016. “All the Sepah’s Men: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in Theory and Practice.” Pp. 97-118 in Businessmen in Arms: How the Military and Other Armed Groups Profit in the MENA Region, edited by Elke Grawert and Zeinab Abul-Magd. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. PDF
2016. "Social Welfare Policies and the Dynamics of Elite and Popular Contention." Pp. 70-100 in Power and Change in Iran: Politics of Contention and Conciliation, edited by Daniel Brumberg and Farideh Farhi. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. PDF
2015. “A Hidden Counter-Movement? Precarity, Politics, and Social Protection Before and Beyond the Neoliberal Era,” with Ben Scully. Theory & Society, Vol. 44, No. 5: 415-444. PDF
2015. “Notes on the Method of World-Systems Biography,” with Brendan McQuade. Journal of World-Systems Research, special issue edited by Kevan Harris and Brendan McQuade, Vol. 21, No. 2: 276-286. PDF (w/ pub. typos corrected)
2015. “The Breakaway Boss: Semiperipheral Innovations and the Rise of Mahmoud Ahmadinezhad.” Journal of World-Systems Research, special issue edited by Kevan Harris and Brendan McQuade, Vol. 21, No. 2: 417-447. PDF (w/ pub. typos corrected)
2015. “Did Inequality Breed the Arab Uprisings? Social Inequality in the Middle East from a World Perspective.” Pp. 87-111 in The Arab Revolution of 2011: A Comparative Perspective, edited by Saïd Amir Arjomand. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. PDF
2013. “The Rise of the Subcontractor State: Politics of Pseudo-Privatization in the Islamic Republic of Iran.” International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 45, No. 1: 45-70. PDF
2013. “A Martyrs’ Welfare State and Its Contradictions: Regime Resilience and Limits through the Lens of Social Policy in Iran.” Pp. 61-80 in Middle East Authoritarianisms: Governance, Contestation, and Regime Resilience in Syria and Iran, edited by Steven Heydemann and Reinoud Leenders. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. PDF
2013. “Vectors of Iranian Capitalism: Privatization Politics in the Islamic Republic.” Pp. 211-243 in Business Politics in the Middle East, edited by Steffen Hertog, Giacomo Luciani, and Marc Valeri. London: Hurst. PDF
2012. “The Brokered Exuberance of the Middle Class: An Ethnographic Analysis of Iran’s 2009 Green Movement.” Mobilization, Vol. 17, No. 6: 435-455. PDF
2012. “The Politics of Welfare After Revolution and War: The Imam Khomeini Relief Committee in the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Pp. 134-150 in The Cup, The Gun and The Crescent: Social Welfare and Civil Unrest in Muslim Societies, edited by Sara Crabtree, Jonathan Parker, and Azlinda Azman. London: Whiting and Birch. PDF
Essays and Shorter Pieces
“Polling an Islamic Republic: The Iran Social Survey,” with Daniel Tavana. American Political Science Association MENA Politics Newsletter, Vol 2, No. 1: 8-10. PDF
"How Years of Increasing Labor Unrest Signaled Iran’s Latest Protest Wave," with Zep Kalb. The Washington Post - Monkey Cage Blog, January 29, 2018 (translated into Persian).
“Unpacking the Welfare-Politics Nexus in the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Project on Middle East Political Science, Briefing 28 (2017): 26-30.
"Three Types of Attractions for Investment in Iran" (in Persian). Donyā-ye Eqtesād, May 14, 2015.
"Iran's Political Economy Under and After the Sanctions." Project on Middle East Political Science, Briefing 13 (2015): 10-12 (translated into Persian).
"The Rise of the Machines: Islamist Social Services in Comparative Perspective." Project on Middle East Political Science, Briefing 9 (2014): 18-20.
"A Domestic Playbook for Iran's Moderate President." Foreign Affairs, January 20, 2014.
"The Signal and the Noise in Middle Eastern Elections." with Alex Hanna. Foreign Policy, December 13, 2013.
"Failure and Success from the Inside and Outside: Studying Iran's Green Movement." Mobilizing Ideas, December 1, 2013.
“A Fistful of Tomans.” London Review of Books, Vol. 35, No. 2 (2013): 28-29.
"Iran, the Twenty-First-Century Island of Stability." Middle East Report Online, September 29, 2013 (translated into Persian).
“The True Cost of Sanctions” [In Italian]. Aspenia, Vol. 60 (2013): 56-61.
“Recognize the Structural Crisis of the World-System: Immanuel Wallerstein in Conversation with Kevan Harris.” Pp. 169-185 in 22 Ideas to Fix the World: Conversations with the World’s Foremost Thinkers, edited by Piotr Dutkiewicz and Richard Sakwa. New York: NYU Press, 2013. PDF
“The Politics of Subsidy Reform in Iran.” Middle East Report, No. 254 (2010): 36-39.
“The Bazaar in Contemporary Iran.” In The Iran Primer, edited by Robin Wright, pp. 108-111. Washington DC: US Institute of Peace, 2010.
“The Imam’s Blue Boxes.” Middle East Report, No. 257 (2010): 22-23.
Review of Militarizing the Nation: The Army, Business, and Revolution in Egypt, by Zeinab Abul-Magd. American Historical Review, Vol. 123, No. 4 (2018): 1436-1437. PDF
Review of Making Morocco: Colonial Intervention and the Politics of Identity, by Jonathan Wyrtzen. American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 124, No. 1 (2018): 257-259. PDF
Review of Middle East Studies for the New Millennium: Infrastructures of Knowledge, edited by Seteney Shami and Cynthia Miller-Idriss. Contemporary Sociology, Vol 47, No 3 (2018): 360-362. PDF
Review of Days of Revolution: Political Unrest in an Iranian Village, by Mary Hegland. Perspectives on Politics, Vol. 14, No. 4 (2016): 1248-1249. PDF
Review of On the Arab Revolts and the Iranian Revolution: Power and Resistance Today, by Arshin Adib-Moghaddam. International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 47, No. 4 (2015): 849-850. PDF
Review of Independence without Freedom: Iran’s Foreign Policy by R.K. Ramazani. Middle East Journal, Vol. 69, No. 3 (2015): 477-479. PDF
Review of The Politics of Nationalism in Modern Iran, by Ali Ansari. Perspectives on Politics, Vol. 12, No. 4 (2014): 934-935. PDF
Review of The Global Development Crisis, by Ben Selwyn. Journal of World-Systems Research, Vol. 20, No. 2 (2014): 315-318. PDF
Review of Iran Unveiled: How the Revolutionary Guards Is Transforming Iran from Theocracy into Military Dictatorship, by Ali Alfoneh. Middle East Journal, Vol. 68, No. 1 (2014): 163-165. PDF
Review of Iran's Struggle for Economic Independence, by Evaleila Pesaran. Iranian Studies, Vol. 46, No. 3 (2013): 484-488. PDF
Review of Going to Tehran: Why the United States Must Come to Terms with the Islamic Republic, by Flint and Hilary Leverett. Middle East Journal, Vol. 67, No. 2 (2013): 317-318. PDF
Review of Immanuel Wallerstein and the Problem of the World: System, Scale, Culture, edited by David Palumbo-Liu, Bruce Robbins, and Nirvana Tanoukhi. Journal of World History, Vol. 24, No. 3 (2013): 661-664. PDF
Review of Tarashidam, Parastidam, Shikastam: Guftarhay-i dar Siyasat va Huvyiyat-i Irani, by Mehrzad Boroujerdi. Iranian Studies, Vol. 46, No. 6 (2013): 1013-1017. PDF
Review of The Power and the People: Paths of Resistance in the Middle East, by Charles Tripp. Middle East Journal, Vol. 67, No. 4 (2013): 660-662. PDF
Review of Democracy in Iran: History and the Quest for Liberty by Vali Nasr and Ali Gheissari and Democracy in Modern Iran: Islam, Culture, and Political Change by Ali Mirsepassi. Middle East Journal Vol. 64, No. 4 (2010): 660-662. PDF
"Islam's Land of Ideas." Review of Iran's Intellectual Revolution by Mehran Kamrava. New Left Review 65 (2010): 151-160. PDF
Interviewed by Rustin Zarkar for the AJAM podcast, November 29, 2018.
Interviewed by Heath Brown for the New Books Network, December 11, 2017.
Iran from Below: Findings from the Iran Social Survey, lecture at the Atlantic Council, October 18, 2017.
"Iran's Commanding Heights: Conglomerate Ownership in the Islamic Republic." Talk at the Economic Research Forum Seminar on the Political Economy of the Private Sector in the Middle East. Marrakesh, Morocco, December 22, 2016.
"Rouhani is More Successful than the Reformists: Iran's Domestic and Regional Politics are Intertwined" (in Persian). Op-ed in Andisheh-ye Pouyā 25 (2015): pg. 27.
"Realistic Pessimism, Imaginary Success: Eastern European Trajectories after 1989" (in Persian). Essay in Andisheh-ye Pouyā 22 (2014): pg. 49.
Interviewed for Baylor University's Research on Religion podcast by Tony Gill, June 22, 2014.
"Technocracy or Populism: Rouhani and Political Development One Year After the Election" (In Persian). Interview in Andisheh-ye Pouyā 16 (2014): pp. 49-50.
"Protest, It's My Business: Where are Social Movements from the New Middle Class Headed?" (in Persian). Interview in Andisheh-ye Pouyā 14 (2014): pp. 147-149.
Michael Burawoy interviewed by Kevan Harris (in Persian). Critique of Political Economy, July 1, 2013.
"Digital Utopia, Reality of Dreams" (in Persian). Interview in Andisheh-ye Pouyā 10 (2013): pp. 55-58.
“Why the Revolutionary Guards Do Not Run Iran’s Economy.” The Diplomat. Published March 21, 2013.
“What Iran’s Green Protest Movement Lacks: Labor.” Published on TIME.com, February 22, 2011.


We are proud to say that we have never had a dissatisfied client, and we work across quite a wide range of areas. Just a few of our clients, in addition to the authors whose books are shown on the Published Books page, over the past nine years have included:
- Audiovisual Projects Limited: Proofreading reports, equipment schedules, drawings, plans and diagrams.
- Vicky Adin, author: Five novels and one children's picture book.
- Marion Day, author: Four children's picture books and two biographies.
- Sandra Arnold, author: Thesis/novel - Central Queensland University Sing no sad songs (110,000 words - copy edit and proofread)
- Barbara Goldsmith, author: Non-fiction astrology book Elements (100,000 words - proofread)
- Mrs Ann Russell, author: Three children's books in the "Little Truff" series, and other children's picture books.
- Justin Elliot, author: A dark future (Young adult fiction 40,000 words - proofread)
- Colin Brodie: Three illustrated children's books (edit, proofread, full book design, publishing)
- Margaret Pope: Non-fiction At The Turning Point - My political life with David Lange (edit, proofread, book design, publishing and promotion). Due for release 19 September 2011
- Torbay Historical Society: Local history book ... and then came the bridge (75,000 words - copy edit andproofread)
- Michael Smyth, barrister: Proofread two books on NZ employment law Employed but not engaged, Employed but under fire
- APC Logistics, Auckland: Brochure
- Auckland City Council: Major planning documents proofread prior to new Auckland Council being formed
- Dolphin Theatre: Posters and programmes for all productions
- Ellerslie Theatrical Society: Programmes for all productions
- Mrs S Hoare: Thesis - University of Auckland
- Dr Georgiana Galiussi: Assignment/thesis - University of Verona
- Ms Z Li: Law assignments - University of Auckland
- Megan Knott: Thesis - Victoria University, Wellington, for MA in Creative Writing.
- Simon O'Connor: Thesis for MA in Political Studies, University of Auckland
- Vi Siriwongrungson: Thesis for PhD in Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury
- Dean Pan: University assignments
- Leo Zhang: Dissertation
- Kato Kazunao: Diploma, Wellington Institute of Technology
- Hamish Ross: Research paper
- Fran Laneyrie: Thesis for PhD, Department of Management, Auckland University of Technology
- Eternal Press, Canada: eBooks, including Angel of Windword, A touch of scarlet, Hard winter, On the way to New Isosceles, Gypsy Crystal and others.
- New Holland Publishing, New Zealand: Eco-rangers save the planet by Maria Gill; New Zealand forest birds and their world by Geoff Moon.


phdru.name / Software / Python / sqlconvert
sqlconvert - a library to perform SQL conversions. It uses
sqlparse to parse SQL.
The library is in the early stage of development and currently cannot do much.
The first goal is to implement mysql2sql, a script intended primarily to convert mysqldump output (especially with extended INSERT syntax) to standard SQL to load at least to PostgreSQL or SQLite.
git clone https://git.phdru.name/sqlconvert.git
git clone git://git.phdru.name/sqlconvert.git
Requires: sqlparse , SQLObject
This is the page https://phdru.name/Software/Python/sqlconvert/. It was generated on Fri, 24 Sep 2021 16:52:21 GMT from CheetahTemplate index.tmpl. Some rights are reserved. Read more about technical aspects of the site.


STONINGTON – This is the book that celebrates Mystic from a bird’s eye view. Literally.
That’s the best way to describe Tish Rabe’s ‘Mystic by the Sea is the Best Place to Be’, a new children’s book written from the perspective of a family of gulls and produced to help celebrate the 100th anniversary from the Mystic Bascule Bridge, which was July 19.
The bridge is the oldest drawbridge in the United States. Led by the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, the community has been celebrating the bridge’s centennial since April of this year, including this weekend at the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival, and will continue through October 15.
Rabe, a prolific children’s book author and resident of Mystic, contributed to the festivities in her own way. “Mystic by the Sea is the Best Place to Be” was released on July 16, commemorating the bridge and the charming sea town whose two halves it connects.
Rabe had written for Disney, Doctor Seuss’ “Cat in the Hat”, Sesame Street and other popular children’s literature titles and publishers before founding his own publishing company in June 2020. After joining the Greater Mystic Chamber , she was approached in January 2021 by Membership Manager Morgan Yandow to write a book about Mystic.
When Yandow asked Rabe, a family of seagulls flew over Yandow’s head, and Rabe said his mission for the next four and a half months was to present the quirks and attractions of Mystic through the perspective of a family. four seagulls: Mason, the father, named Masons Island; Marina, the mother; Marco, the son, named in honor of the community’s Portuguese fishing heritage; and Misty, the girl, abbreviated from the name of the town.
“She’s a poet and her pages are beautifully illustrated…she brings them to life with the words she chooses,” said Bruce Flax, president of the Greater Mystic Chamber. “Being a resident for 15 years, she clearly knows the area, and that helped her put the words in place because it’s so familiar.
Rabe partnered with Italian illustrator Andrea Boatta for the artwork throughout the book, which blends perfectly with the author’s text.
“(Boatta) could draw animals and buildings, and that’s really the key to a book that involves architecture,” Rabe said. “I kept the text to a minimum, as I wanted to focus on the images. The illustrations in this book are truly spectacular.
As for the animals found in the book, the original plan was to feature sea creatures tied to Mystic’s ocean culture. But Rabe changed his mind.
“I suddenly realized that people come here from everywhere. So we have giraffes on Main Street and sheep at the Seaport, there’s a Koala bear on the rigging of the Charles W. Morgan…it’s a celebration of the diversity of people who come to visit Mystic.
The city’s 350-year history was another powerful source of inspiration for Rabe.
“It’s so family-friendly to walk around showing the kids animals and sailboats. There is a lot to learn about history and the history of seafaring,” she said.
One of the most striking examples of Mystic’s historical heritage is its Bascule Bridge over the Mystic River. Flax teamed up with the Mystic River Historical Society and former Groton Town Mayor Jim Streeter in April to talk about and celebrate the bridge. They were expecting around 50 conference attendees, but to their surprise, more than 200 people showed up to learn more about the landmark.
On June 30, the Chamber celebrated the retirement of veteran bridge operator Rod Coleman.
“We held a ceremony for him at the visitor center, and it was eye-opening, the number of people who came out to support him and the coverage it got. (It was) very emotional,” Flax said.
On Saturday, October 15, the Chamber will hold an official bridge anniversary dedication day, with presentations and speeches from officials and dignitaries on the bridge in the afternoon and food and music along from rue Cottrell at night, complete with a fireworks display on the river around 8 p.m.
“Mystic by the Sea Is the Best Place to Be” is available at Bank Square Books, Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic Aquarium, Mystic Visitors Center and online at mysticchamber.org. Rabe will also offer a book signing and meet and greet at the Mystic Visitors Center on Tuesday, August 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.


CEA advocates for teachers and public education. We've been a driving force in lobbying legislators
for the resources public schools need and campaigning for high standards for teachers and students.
Our proud history spans more than 150 years.
Whether it's your first time in the classroom or your sixth year, we are here with
all the resources early-career professionals need. We've got classroom management
and professional development ideas. We've got more ways to stretch your hard-earned
dollars. And we've got your back.
The Teacher Education and Mentoring Program (TEAM) is a two year induction program for
beginning teachers that includes mentorship and professional development. Beginning
teachers participating in the program are assigned a trained mentor to guide them
through developing individualized growth plans, uniquely based on their own needs as
CEA Executive Director Donald Williams visits Putnam Elementary School, where students chose their own books
to take home and share with their families.
February 26, 2018
This morning kicked off the Connecticut Education Foundation's 2018 Read Across America Reading Bus Tour,
featuring a 38-foot bus decorated with characters from popular Dr. Seuss books and outfitted with bookshelves,
benches, carpeting, and 3,000 donated books.
Sponsored by CEF, the nonprofit arm of the Connecticut Education Association, the weeklong literacy event
includes guest readers, costumed characters, literacy activities, and new books for nearly 1,000 students.
The colorful bus, which made its first stop at Putnam Elementary School this morning, visits a new town in
northeastern Connecticut each day this week, moving next to Thompson, Brooklyn, Sterling, Killingly, and
Giving the gift of reading
CEF President Jeff Leake celebrates Read Across America Day with students in Putnam—the first stop on
a weeklong reading bus tour.
(click image for larger version)
Motivating children to read is an important factor in nurturing student achievement and creating lifelong
readers. Research has shown that children who spend more time reading do better in school.
"This bus tour is an exciting way to educate children about the importance of reading and to help them develop
good reading skills," said CEF President and CEA Vice President Jeff Leake. "It builds excitement and gives
children the impetus to read, and for educators, it's a reminder that CEF is here to help them help their
students. With the CEF bus tour, we ensure that students in rural communities can choose books of their own to
take home. There's no more important gift than literacy."
Established by the National Education Association, Read Across America is an annual event celebrated on March 2,
the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. The event has been so well received that it has expanded
from a one-day celebration into a weeklong literacy event with more than 45 million students, parents, and
teachers participating in reading parties, community read-ins, activities, character parades, book fairs, and
Oh, the Places...
Fourth-grade teacher Sara Barile and her students cozy up to thousands of books on the Read Across America
(click image for larger version)
Fourth-grade teacher Sara Barile, whose students were first on the bus this morning, said, "Just seeing the
looks on their faces, the way they were waiting and so excited to see the bus pull in this morning was so great.
We've really been working hard on reading and showing students how you can get to so many places by reading, and
it's something you can do anywhere. This bus visit gives them that extra push to celebrate reading with everyone
else." Barile said her students have been exploring different genres in the classroom, and though most of the
selections have been works of fiction, such as Judy Blume books or the I Survived series, many of her students
are enjoying nonfiction.
"We're here celebrating reading, which is so important at every age, but especially for children," said CEA
Executive Director Donald Williams, who joined Putnam Elementary School's fourth-graders as they gathered around
the bus and chose their gift books donated by CEF. "CEF supports the needs of students all throughout the state
of Connecticut, and one of the ways is by getting them excited about reading, which is the foundation for all
Pre-K teacher Keri O'Neill, vice president of the Putnam Education Association, reads Oh, the Places You'll
(click image for larger version)
Guest readers, who read Dr. Seuss's Oh, the Places You'll Go, included teachers and administrators, among them
pre-K teacher Keri O'Neill, who is vice president of the Putnam Education Association.
"A love for reading is the best thing I could ever teach a student," O'Neill said, explaining that pre-reading
activities in her pre-K classroom include rhyming activities, learning letter sounds, and getting to know what a
book is and how to hold one. "You learn to read, then you read to learn, so this sets that foundation."
A hit with Putnam Elementary students, the reading bus was something many passengers said they'd like to ride to
school every day.
"If I had to rate this from 1 to 10," said fourth-grader Caleb Caouette, "I'd rate it 900,000."
As surprising as it may sound, students biting, kicking, throwing furniture, and hurting other students and teachers has become common in schools across Connecticut, CEA Program Development Specialist Robyn Kaplan-Cho told WTIC's Ray Dunaway during an appearance on his radio show.
Although it was after ten o'clock last night by the time the legislature' Education Committee heard public testimony on a bill to help ensure classroom safety and address student assaults, CEA members and staff made sure they were present to testify so that legislators could hear their stories.
Its a busy day at the legislatures Education Committee, with senate and house members hearing from the public on bills that cover a range of topics from remedial reading instruction to virtual learning to Education Savings Accounts.
The Oklahoma Education Association announced on Tuesday night that schools would shut down across the state if the state legislature does not pass a $10,000 pay raise for teachers and increased funding for schools by April 23.
Thank you to all of you who sent messages of support to our West Virginia colleagues. They have stood in solidarity and made their voices heard to demand recognition of their professionalism and dignity.
In one of the city's largest public forums—with a crowd of over 200—more than 60
Shelton teachers shared their concerns and ideas regarding school safety with colleagues, administrators,
and community members.
Raising the state sales and gas taxes, eliminating the estate and gift taxes, selectively raising
business taxes, eliminating collective bargaining for state workers, and reforming the Teachers' Retirement
System are just a few of the recommendations released today by the Commission on Fiscal Stability and
CEA leaders were joined by labor leaders from across the state and legislators in speaking out to protect the rights and freedom of workers to negotiate together and fight for decent and equitable pay, affordable health care, quality schools, and vibrant communities.
February 26 marked the kick off of the Connecticut Education Foundation's 2018 Read Across America
Reading Bus Tour, featuring a 38-foot bus decorated with characters from popular Dr. Seuss books and
outfitted with bookshelves, benches, carpeting, and 3,000 donated books.
CEA joined with the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) and the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) in a press conference at East Hartford High School demanding meaningful legislative action on school safety.
The State Board of Education today listened to teachers' concerns about fairness in education funding and responded by rejecting increases in enrollment for three charter schools that would have cost the state $627,000.
Though his opening address to the 2018 General Assembly emphasized Connecticut's tradition of fairness and the state's future generations, the governor's new budget proposal delivers mixed news for Connecticut students, teachers, and schools.
While Governor Malloy's message in his address to the General Assembly emphasized Connecticut's tradition of
fairness and concern for future generations, his budget proposal is anything but fair for Connecticut's students
and public schools.
Kim Sweeney is the winner of a nine-day NEA Adventures prize package summer vacation to Costa Rica. The trip—the grand prize in CEA Member Benefits' first-ever "Explore & Score" eight-week sweepstakes—includes meals, hotel accommodations, and tours of a cloud forest, hot springs, and volcano.
A change to the retired teachers' health insurance program that was adopted by the State Teachers' Retirement Board (TRB) this month will impact retired teachers and spouses who are on—or will soon be on&mdsah;the TRB's Medicare supplement (65 and older) plan.
Public officials are elected to represent the interests of local residents, but members of the Stratford Board of Education abdicated their responsibility to town residents by shutting them out of a public meeting.
State Supreme Court ruling in the Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding (CCJEF) v. Rell delivered a mixed verdict—bad for school funding, while rejecting the lower court's attempt to create burdensome schemes for testing, teacher evaluation, and education policy.


Rotary District 9465 Vocational Services Chair Mike Raspa was our guest presenter on Wednesday 17 September.
Mike has been a Rotarian for 15 years and is passionate about the contribution that a good club Vocational Services program can make to the community. He sees the the range of activities covered by the Vocational Services Avenue of Service as key to the health and wellbeing of clubs, with a good vocational program helping to bond the community and the club. With vocational opportunities starting at age 0 with the Imagination Library (childhood literacy) and extending through school-age scholarships to pride of workmanship awards for people of all ages, Mike has a point.
Listen to Mike’s presentation as he outlines the range of vocational services available to clubs, and suggests ways in which clubs can use vocational activities to enrich members’ Rotary Experience.
The Vocational Service Leadership Award recognizes Rotarians who have made a significant impact in advancing vocational service.
An individual may receive this award only once.
Candidates must have exhibited significant support of vocational service by fulfilling each of the following criteria:
• Exemplifying integrity and high ethical standards in their vocation and in Rotary
• Using their vocational talents to serve the community.
Personally undertaking at least one of the following:
1. Mentoring a young person to help that person succeed in vocational pursuits
2. Organizing a vocational service discussion or group workshop to inspire others to take action
3. Teaching other club members about their vocation by participating in a classification talk
4. Participating in a business networking event that introduces non-Rotarians to the principles of vocational service
5. Implementing an activity to celebrate Vocational Service Month in October
6. Participating in another vocational service project that meets local needs
Awardee: Marilyn Hopkins – Margaret River Rotary Club
The Rotary Club of Margaret River has provided funding for a program aimed at encouraging year one students to use their local public library called reading rabbits.
All year one students in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River are given a Reading Rabbits pack that includes general library information, colouring in and a special reading rewards card. Every time the student borrows a book from the library they will be given a stamp on their card.
After ten visits to the Library by one of the students prizes such as stationery, stickers and book vouchers available from the Margaret River Bookshop are awarded as incentives to encourage reading.
Reading Rabbits is sponsored by Rotary Club of Margaret River, The Margaret River Bookshop and Scholastic Australia.
Marilyn Hopkins was instrumental in setting up this program together with the Shire Librarian as a Vocational Program of the Margaret River Rotary Club. The success of the program is self evident.
Marilyn as a lawyer has used her skills for social causes and is a long standing member of Rotary.
Marilyn is a most worthy recipient of Vocational Service Leadership Award and the first recipient of this award in D9465. She will join a distinguished list of previous recipients on the Rotary International register of awardees.


How to Night out Successfully is actually a guide to building meaningful associations. It employs three click to read women as they pursue the dreams of getting absolutely adore and long lasting relationships. Whether you’re looking to meet a girl or maybe a guy, this book will teach you methods to maximize your odds of success. The book is a superb introduction to internet dating, and it provides a refreshing perspective on how to efficiently date.
Learning how to attract other folks is the very first step in creating long-term connections. This means understanding what makes persons want to be around you, and concentrating your attention in those attributes. This will help you meet even more people who reveal your interests and goals. Eventually, you can build a long-term relationship that is both pleasing and pleasing.
Mcdougal of this guide book, “How thus far Successfully, inch has a wealth of information to help you develop meaningful interactions. She focuses on the importance of being yourself and permitting yourself communicate your uniqueness to attract the suitable partner. It can help you make your communication abilities and choose your dates more pleasurable.
Asking someone on a date is definitely not as problematic as you think. When you procedure someone, continue to be present and ask questions to keep the attention. This will help you get the person’s approval. Always be sincere and respectful. And remember to avoid clingy, needy behavior. Going out with takes time and fortitude!
Staying funny is a superb way to attract to start a date. Try to consider some issues to talk about which will be interesting to them. You may also be sympathetic to their low self-esteem or anxiety. This will help you be friends with them better. Be sure to get a gift or two to your day to make them feel special.
A good book to learn about the basics of dating is “How to Date Successfully. ” This outlines all you need to know to make a lasting connection. It also address matters such as methods to keep the discussion focused and connect with the person you’re conversing with. Whether if you’re dating online or perhaps offline, this guide will teach you steps to create dating more successful.
If you are planning to date someone, it’s important to be realistic. When your partner is constantly pressuring one to take stuff faster, you need to take a step as well as reevaluate your thing. You should not truly feel insecure or ineffective. Rather, try to focus on the things that subject to you.


Finally, almost 5 years after I first became invloved with this project and 2 years after the expedition was completed along with my manuscript, my first book “The Bering Papers”: an extreme winters wimmers story, published by Austin Macauley of London was released on November the 30th 2015.
The book is 313 pages long including around 45 photos, maps and charts and tells the story of an audacious idea originated by friends in Russia to be the first swimmers in history to cross the Bering Strait in it’s entirety from continent to continent.
Little did I know in 2011 where my invlovement in this project would take me both physically and mentally. Now in the Bering Papers you will be able to read the full story for the first time.
I believe that it will be interesting for a wide range of people, not only lovers of winter swimming and other extreme sports but also those interested in people and places and real life events. There are around 6billion people in the world all with different experiences. In this book you will hear about some of those people scattered from the UK, to central Europe, the Russian far east, South Africa and America.……


Visit the website: Eastern Oklahoma Library System
We had the pleasure of building a website for the Eastern Oklahoma Library System, an organization that runs the public libraries throughout Adair, Cherokee, Delaware, McIntosh, Muskogee, and Sequoyah counties.
Public libraries provide many services to the community. Both entertainment and information can be found within the walls of a library, available to take you away to a far-off land or simply to help you complete a research paper.
As we built this website, we were able to learn how the Eastern Oklahoma Library System benefits the public. The website we created offers an online option for resources, which makes the library accessable from everywhere.
Here is a list of some of their keywords:
If you have questions about libraries in eastern Oklahoma and the services that are included, go to the Eastern Oklahoma Library System’s website.


Welcome to the next in our series of “Have You Watched a Good Book Lately?”
The series’ intention is to track a number of books’ progression from the printed page to the silver screen and assess how well or how badly the filmmakers accomplished each of the adaptations.
Today we’re going to be discussing “Ender’s Game,” a novel written by Orson Scott Card that was first published in 1984, winning both the Hugo and Nebula awards that year, and adapted for the screen in 2013 by writer and director Gavin Hood (“Eye in the Sky,” “X-Men: Wolverine”). For those of you unfamiliar with the basic premise, here is a brief synopsis of the story (adapted from the book cover):
“Once again, Earth is under attack. An alien species is poised for a final assault. The survival of humanity depends on a military genius. But who? Ender Wiggin. Brilliant. Ruthless. Cunning. A tactical and strategic master. And a child. Recruited for military training by the world government, Ender’s childhood ends the moment he enters his new home: Battle School. Ender proves to be a genius among geniuses. In simulated war games he excels. But simulations are one thing. How will Ender perform in real combat conditions? After all, Battle School is just a game. Right?”
From the Source’s Mouth
Let’s start our discussion with one of the main concerns of any story adaptation – how true is the film to the source material? That’s a bit of a quandary in this case. Gavin Hood clearly was aiming for a “based on” adaptation and not an “inspired by” one – the names and the basic plot points were the same as in the book, and he even lifted much of the dialogue word-for-word. However, he gutted the major themes, hard questions, and fundamental details upon which Card’s original version depended in favor of making a more mainstream, action-adventure movie; as a result, the adaptation is just a pale shadow of the original. So, it’s adaptation, but only because Card’s story was so unique that the elements the film shares makes it impossible to mistake it for anything else.
The story focuses on Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, a five-year-old child who is selected to attend the International Fleet’s (IF) Battle School to train for the upcoming war. Seventy years in the past, a species known as the buggers (called Formics in the film) attacked Earth and decimated its fleet; twenty years later, the Second Invasion took place, ended only by a gutsy tactical move by a now-revered soldier named Mazer Rackham. When he destroyed the aliens’ main battleship, the entire invasion force fell apart, and all the soldiers were found dead at the controls of their ships. That strange occurrence remains an unsolved puzzle.
Humanity decided it would not wait for a third invasion but would make a preemptive strike. And, those in charge reasoned, as children were much more easily trained and more adaptable to new situations than adults, they had to be at the forefront of leading that charge. As such, at only five years old, Ender finds himself aboard a space launch with 19 other boys his age, all headed for training at the Battle School station. And here’s where the film makes its first major mistake.
The producers cast Asa Butterfield, a 15-year-old actor, to play Ender. Yes, it would have been harder to work with a five- or six-year-old in such a demanding position, but Butterfield’s age (and those of the other “children” around him) made him completely unbelievable in the role. After his training, Ender would easily be over 18, the age at which we routinely conscript soldiers in the United States (and many other countries around the world), even though they are not usually in command positions. Card, though, set out to explore the difficult questions about how we use children in warfare and the morality of imposing such violent and restrictive training on the young. An older actor completely negated the very premise of the story.
Ender is brilliant, and he demonstrates this right from the start. Aboard the launch, he is able to reorient himself in zero gravity, where there is no “up” nor “down,” to adopt any perspective he wants – the only one of the bunch who can. Colonel Graf, the Administrator of the Battle School and the man who recruited Ender, singles him out for attention, thereby “isolating” him from the other children and ensuring he will have no friends. In this way, he will be able to focus entirely on his studies and will succeed or fail on his own merits. And here’s where the film makes its second major mistake. While aboard the shuttle, Ender extends his hand to the boy next to him in greeting and introduces himself. Though initially reluctant to accept, “Bean” then smiles and graciously accepts, and so a lasting friendship is born. Ender then has someone he can work with and confide in, and they remain together off-and-on throughout the film until the end. In the story, Bean is someone he meets much later in his training, and though they have a friendship, Ender is always clearly his superior. Ender remains the isolated commander, held not to the needs of his friends but only to each new battle.
After a short training period, Ender is prematurely promoted to Salamander Army, though he is clearly undertrained and unwanted by the commander of the unit. Only seven, small and scrawny, Ender is viewed as a liability to the older soldiers (ten and eleven years old), and he is ordered not to participate in the Army’s training battles. In the story, Ender uses the time to stay just inside the door to the battleroom, watching, analyzing, and learning strategies from the actions – and especially the mistakes – of his fellow soldiers; he then uses the information to guide his training during the rigorous practice sessions he sets up for himself and other soldiers who want to learn from him. And here – you guessed it – is where the film makes its third major mistake.
While Ender initially watches in his suit from the door to the battleroom, he sees an opportunity to help Salamander Army win the fight, and he takes it. The filmmakers show him expertly flying through the zero gravity battlefield (despite his obvious lack of training), both arms stretched out with guns blazing, and a huge smile on his face. This makes no sense. Ender had promised that he would always obey that commander’s orders, and here he takes the first opportunity to break that promise. It was a violation of the character’s discipline and his commitment to the chain of command for him to engage in so flagrant a violation of his well-ingrained training and would seriously injure his chances of advancement. It was, as such, completely unbelievable.
The film also failed to convey the rigors of Ender’s and the rest of the children’s training, a grueling schedule of classwork, practice sessions, and increasingly frequent battles that spans not just a few months, but years of their lives. It was a schedule meant to challenge young minds to the point of breaking; to push for results never before achieved by any one of any age; and to wear down the weak and harden those who would rise up in the ranks to command their own armies, and, in the case of Ender, to serve as Commander of the Fleet. The film gives us quick jumps up the training ladder, hitting only the major battles and successes, and we are expected to believe that Ender accomplished so much, and without a lot of training, in just a few short months.
Gone, too, are the very real brutalities of war – if not so much in the simulations, then in the toll it takes on soldiers and commanders forced to fight until they reach their limits and then are pushed to go beyond them. While the film’s final battle sequence sees Ender orchestrating his close-knit group of friend-soldiers into a rousing victory against the buggers, in Card’s story, there are casualties – many of them. Petra, one of the most experienced and competent commanders, freezes from exhaustion during a simulation, and she is broken as an effective fighter in future engagements, forcing Ender to rethink his battle tactics. Others, too, break along the way. Ender prevailed against the buggers, but at what cost? Card questioned whether the end really justifies the means with Graf’s court-martial for his brutal tactics, as well as the morality of genocide, even under such extreme conditions, yet we see no consequence for the soldiers or commanders in the film.
With all that said, it’s hard to imagine that there would be other deviations from the original story that would prove of consequence, but there actually are – many of them.
Card’s story is set against the political backdrop of a planet that has survived, though hardly unscathed, through two brutal wars. The only reason the people of Earth are united at this time, though, is because of the aliens, a case of “us versus them.” And it’s only the necessity of winning this new war that has permitted them to accept the harsh military realities of using children as front-line soldiers. What effect would this mentality have on a planet’s inhabitants, Card wondered? He uses Ender’s brother, Peter, and his sister, Valentine, to find out. The two take on secret identities, essentially blogging political opinions and “what if” scenarios to gain control over the political landscape. When Ender’s victory over the buggers eliminates the “us versus them,” Earth’s inherently divided nature rears its ugly head again, plunging the planet back into civil war. It is only Peter’s stranglehold on certain factions and Valentine’s support for off-world colonies that restores some semblance of peace. In the film, though, all we learn is that Peter is the brother Ender hates, and Valentine is the sister he loves, no more, no less. It makes for shallow characters and the abandonment of any meaningful discussion of how a war-like mentality can alter how we behave.
Perhaps the most important omission in the film comes at the end. Ender is wracked by guilt over what he did to the buggers, who, as it turns out, we never going to attack Earth again after learning that humans are sentient. The only bugger left is the hive-queen, and, through telepathy, she tells the story of her people to Ender, asking that he serve as their representative in communicating their history and intentions to the people of Earth. He writes an account told in the voice of the hive-queen as part of Valentine’s history of the bugger wars, and he signs it simply as “The Speaker for the Dead.” His moving description becomes almost a religion among humans, and many take up the practice of having someone communicate their life to the living, without glorification or adornment, when they have passed away. This account is the bridge that serves as the major transition to the next installment in the series, and it puts all that has happened in this book into perspective. Its omission in the film is a lost opportunity to gain meaning and understanding from the underlying story.
The Final Cut
So, how did “Ender’s Game” as a movie fare as a book adaptation overall? Very, very badly. In translation, it lost its foundation and its heart. It lost what made the book such a powerful statement about humanity. I would give it no higher than a D- for its lack of insight in to what was important in the original story and how to communicate that.
What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Please add your comments in the section below.
– Miriam Ruff, Content Creator, PoetsIN
DISCLAIMER: The opinions discussed in this blog post are solely those of the blogger and do not necessarily represent any thoughts, values, or opinions of PoetsIN and any of its affiliate groups.


Archives Home | Our Collection | Research | History | How You Can Help | About Us
The Carolyn White Siegfried and DeFois Hathaway Siegfried Archive Center at Rochester School for the Deaf holds two primary collections: Documents and Audio-Visual records. These two collections include photographic prints, negatives, motion picture films, books, newsletters, and much more. Items in these collections span more than 130 years. Some items date back to the founding of RSD in 1876 and encompass over 100 cubic feet of historical materials.
Our Archive Center is on the second floor of Perkins Hall at RSD and includes an archival storage area, a research room, and small museum. Our musem area displays an interesting assortment of RSD items, including photographs, dance clothes, old printing equipment, a long hearing tube, wooden ice skates, and many other objects.
Included below is a sample of the subjects our collection covers:
Academic Bowl, Adventures in Education, vocational classes, Close-Up, Space Camp, Outward Bound, leadership retreats, PRIDE (supported employment program), RASA@RSD (Rochester After School Academy at RSD), and RSD’s Residential Treatment Program with Hillside Children's Center.
Proms, graduations, spring festivals, school plays, theatre performances, dramatic presentations, anniversaries, awards, foreign trips, and historical events.
Basketball, soccer, volleyball, cheerleading, softball, physical culture, boxing, and wrestling.
Alumni, Board of Directors, Deaf presenters, Deaf Artists in Residence, Founders, Superintendents, Staff / Teachers, Helen Keller, and Alexander Graham Bell.
Yearbook Club, Student Council, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Jr. NAD, Lambda Phi Phi, and the Optimist Club.
Buildings and dorm life.
Rochester Method of Communication
Cooking, sewing, carpentry, printing, biology, and dance classes.
Find out how we can help you with your project.


ProSessions is a bold new collection of affordable top-quality samples created by some of today’s hottest musicians, composers and producers. The ProSessions library delivers inspiration regardless of the kind of music you’re into. Each professionally recorded and edited CD delivers samples in multiple formats for today’s hottest Mac and PC software—AIFF, Acidized WAV and REX2. Designed for songwriters, producers and remixers, ProSessions is guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing and breathe new life into your music and mixes.
PRICE: 49,00 EUR


Health Reference Center Academic provides access to medical and professional periodicals, health and fitness magazines, and reference books and pamphlets. The database is designed for both nursing and allied health students as well as consumer health researchers. The material contained in this database is intended for informational purposes only.
Nursing and Allied Health Collection provides access to academic journals and other reference content covering all aspects of the nursing profession, from direct patient care to health care administration. The database offers current and authoritative content for professionals already working in the field as well as students pursuing a nursing-focused curriculum.
Use this database to research genetics and inherited conditions.
Find alternative medicine-focused magazines, journals, newspapers, definitions, directories, videos, & reference information on: Medicine, Nutrition, Diseases, Public Health, Pregnancy, Herbal remedies, etc. Included are links to diet, cancer, health assessment sites & government databases. Easily access 700+ videos from Healthology, Inc.'s consumer health video library. Spanish-language videos are available. The material contained in this Resource Center is intended for informational purposes only.
Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Collection provides access to academic journals and magazines covering the fields of fitness and sports. The database offers a wide spectrum of information, including proven treatment techniques, experimental research, and more.
Features information on almost 2,000 medical topics in language accessible to adult laypersons. Each article includes in-depth discussion of causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, procedures, and other related topics.


After many years research “A District at War” is ready for publication and should be available from 24th May 2010. The book is a unique and comprehensive history of Irlam and Cadishead’s involvement in the Great War. It contains 622 pages and includes many first hand accounts of the war from local soldiers, including their experiences on the Somme, Ypres and other historic events. It also contains 100s of photographs of local men.
All proceeds from sales of the book will go to the Hamilton Davies Trust which is a registered charity and undertakes community projects in the Irlam, Cadishead and Rixton with Glazebrook areas.
Copies of the book cost £12.99 each plus P&P. If you would like to pre-order a copy please let me know (no deposit required and no commitment) and I will contact you when the book is available.
The following review appeared on the Great War Forum:
I've now had the opportunity of seeing an advance copy. Let me be absolutely up-front here in saying that this is the best example of this sort of "memorial" book that I've seen. Something like 600 pages packed with individual stories and interesting "stuff". The level of detail makes this a fine social and historical commentary on an industrial area, a similar commentary on the war, as well as a fine tribute to the men who served. It is a book of greater significance than just to the local area around Irlam. Neil and Pete have my absolute respect for the work done - and all the profits are going to a very deserving local charity. Go buy a copy!


When ecologists first began considering that different parts of Arkansas have different characteristics, they called those areas "natural divisions." Today, that term is synonymous with "natural regions" and "ecoregions." We are proud that ANHC took the lead more than 30 years ago to produce materials to help teach about Arkansas. We continue to use and update these materials today, with programs, lesson plans, worksheets, and study and classroom guides.
This new guide highlights major components and unique characteristics of each natural division. It includes a Glossary of Terms and provides resources for further learning. This document is used in conjunction with the ANHC's educational program "Arkansas Ecoregions."
This is a fourth printing of one of the cornerstones of Arkansas's natural history education and includes original text and illustrations, along with information about the six natural communities from the ANHC poster series.
Arkansas is a mosaic of different habitats and diverse ecology, including mountains, prairies, rivers, caves, swamps, and forests. This section includes information about some of these habitats, including both current ecological issues and examples of how we are tied to the land. This section also includes special ANHC projects that highlight aspects of Arkansas's ecology:
Natural Communities Poster Series - this is a collection of posters with unique illustrations and information the plants and animals that live in six of Arkansas's chief natural communities or habitats.
Bill Clark Presidential Park Wetlands - this is a special outdoor interpretive project in downtown Little Rock that tells the story in text and pictures of a restored urban wetland on the Arkansas River. Panels on the site contain QR codes that link to information in the Education section of this site.
This booklet details the region's natural history, the current status of its natural communities, and new information about prairie restoration activities. A unique map detailing the presettlement vegetation of the Grand Prairie is also included. Hard copies of this booklet are available in limited quantities.
The ANHC Grand Prairie workshop is an extension of the information in the booklet and takes a broader look at prairies as a habitat.
Helen Beatrix Potter is well-known for her children's books (with characters such as Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck), but few know that the acclaimed children's book author was also a mycologist and conservationist. This guide uses the story of Potter’s life to introduce facts about the mushrooms and lichens she illustrated, the struggles of women to be recognized in science and publishing, links to art and nature, and the importance of safeguarding public lands.


সংস্কৃতি বিষয়ক মন্ত্রণালয়
মাধ্যমিক বা সমমান
০১ বছরের বাস্তব অভিজ্ঞতা সম্পন্ন
৮,২৫০/– থেকে ২০,০১০ টাকা
আবেদনের শেষ সময়
১০ অক্টোবর, ২০১৯ বিকাল ০৫:০০ টার মধ্যে
আবেদনের নিয়মসহ বিস্তারিত জানতে নিচের বিজ্ঞপ্তিটি দেখুন
সব সময় চাকরির খবরের আপডেট পেতে ক্লিক করুন এখানে।
ওয়াইএসআই বাংলা জবসে আজই আপলোড করুন আপনার সিভি। রেজিস্ট্রেশনের জন্য ক্লিক করুন এই লিঙ্কে।
Ministry of Cultural Affairs
Ministry of Cultural Affairs is a ministry of the government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, in charge of national museums and monuments; promoting and protecting the arts (visual, plastic, theatrical, musical, dance, architectural, literary, televisual and cinematographic) in Bangladesh and managing the national archives. The Ministry of Culture is also charged with maintaining the Bengali identity.
Department of Public Libraries, Department of Public Libraries is a government department in the Ministry of Culture responsible for government owned public libraries in Bangladesh and is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Department of Public Libraries traces its origins to the Public Library in the Dhaka University campus which was established on 22 March 1958 by the government of Pakistan. The Public Library was shifted to its present building in 1977 and opened in 1978.
The Government of Bangladesh established a network of public libraries down to every district and the department of Public Libraries was established in 1983 to manage them. In 2010 the department exchanged material on Bangladesh Liberation war with the National Library of India. Directorate of Archives and Libraries, Directorate of Archives and Libraries is a government department responsible for the management and operations of the National Library and the National Archives in Bangladesh and is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the International Standard Book Number agency in Bangladesh responsible for providing publishers with ISBNs.
Directorate of Archives and Libraries was founded in 1972 by the President of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It was placed under the Ministry of Education initially but later placed under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. It was initially located in a rented building and in 1986 it was moved to National Library building which was constructed in 1985. In 2001 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation to build a building for the Directorate of Archives and Libraries. The purpose-built headquarters were partially completed in 2004 and fully completed in 2012.


Dreams Laid Down: New Music for Classical Guitar Alan Rinehart
- Michael Karmon: Dreams Laid Down:
- 1Dreams Laid Down: I. Swirl of Finches02:29
- 2Dreams Laid Down: II. Change03:23
- 3Dreams Laid Down: III. Wind Musician02:10
- 4Dreams Laid Down: IV. Gateway02:50
- 5Dreams Laid Down: V. If Nothing Else02:06
- 6Dreams Laid Down: VI. Dreams Laid Down02:53
- Richard Gibson:
- 7Variations Sobre una Tema de Juan Lennon, Op. 8904:17
- John Oliver: Ancient Heroes Suite:
- 8Ancient Heroes Suite: I. Couperin's Ghost02:56
- 9Ancient Heroes Suite: II. Pavanas of Milan02:59
- 10Ancient Heroes Suite: III. Downland's Spanish Galliard03:08
- 11Ancient Heroes Suite: IV. Sarabandas of Rumi05:01
- 12Ancient Heroes Suite: V. Canarios de Gaspar04:45
- 13Ancient Heroes Suite: VI. Passacaille04:33
- William Beauvais: Beginning of the Day:
- 14Beginning of the Day: I. —09:30
- 15Beginning of the Day: II. —02:48
- David Gordon Duke: Soliloquies and Dreams:
- 16Soliloquies and Dreams: I. —01:20
- 17Soliloquies and Dreams: II. —00:50
- 18Soliloquies and Dreams: III. —00:52
- 19Soliloquies and Dreams: IV. —00:39
- 20Soliloquies and Dreams: V. —00:27
- 21Soliloquies and Dreams: VI. —01:08
- 22Soliloquies and Dreams: VII. —01:15
Info for Dreams Laid Down: New Music for Classical Guitar
Dreams Laid Down brings to life the works of several acclaimed composers, evoking a tender, reflective atmosphere. Inspired by sources from the Beatles to the poetry of Rinehart’s wife, the album creates an intimate aural experience that is as personal to the listener as it is to the artist himself.
The title track, composed by Michael Karmon, is named after a book of poems by Rinehart’s wife Janice Notland. Karmon animated six of her poems with thoughtful, evocative compositions. Contrast this with composer John Oliver’s Ancient Heroes Suite. Oliver, inspired by ancient music conventions, worked with dance-oriented rhythms in experimental time signatures that recall melodies resonating through ancient halls, while filtering them through a modern context.
Variaciones Sobre un Tema de Juan Lennon, written by New Brunswick composer Richard Gibson as a wedding gift for his daughter Julia, reimagines parts of a song originally written by John Lennon. Exploring shifts in key signatures, major and minor modes, and alternate harmonization, Gibson takes the pop song and breathes his unique perspective into it. The album is rounded out with works by two more well-established Canadian composers. Guitarist-composer William Beauvais contributes his improvisatory and rhythmic Beginning of the Day and Vancouver's David Gordon Duke explores the full range of guitaristic colors in his Soliloquies and Dreams.
Dreams Laid Down tenderly beckons for the listener’s attention with the lilting strains of classical guitar. Showcasing Rinehart’s inspired musical gifts, the gentle performance warmly invites audiences into a serene listening experience.
Alan Rinehart, classical guitar
has over 45 years experience as a professional classical guitarist and has made many contributions to the guitar world as a performer, teacher, and music editor. Completing studies at Western Michigan University and a Professional Music Training Diploma from Vancouver Community College, he studied lute repertoire and technique in London, England at the Early Music Centre with some of the U.K.’s best known early musicians. From 1983 to 2003 he was a faculty member of the music schools at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Community College. He is a co-founder of The Vancouver Guitar Quartet. They became a regular part of the Vancouver and Western Canadian music scene from the late 1980s to 2003, with many concert and radio appearances.
After a long time residency in Vancouver, B.C., he moved to Nelson, B.C. in 2004 where he hosted “the Art and Times of the Guitar”, a weekly one hour radio show devoted to classical guitar, for 11 seasons (176 shows) and was the coordinator of the 19th Northwest Guitar Festival, a 3 day event held in Nelson April 16-18, 2009. He currently lives in Kelowna, where he recently had the honour of performing for their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their 2016 Royal Tour visit to BC.
He has released six solo albums and one release with the Vancouver Guitar Quartet that have received international critical praise. In 2017 he was nominated by Western Canada Music Awards for the Best Classical Artist award. His latest solo album, Verdi’s Guitar was recently picked by US based Classical Guitar Magazine as one of the top 10 recordings of the year.
This album contains no booklet.


Use the tabs above to explore the openings.
This site is dedicated to openings, in particular the opening words (first lines) of books, the opening lines of poems and (coming soon) songs, plays and films. The books included so far are mainly (but not exclusively) novels in the English language. Poems are mainly in modern English. There is no particular criteria for the inclusion or exclusion of a particular book or poem and to date, no book or poem has been excluded.
NB I am aware that some of the first lines are missing their endings and a few are duplicated. I am working on correcting this as soon as possible.
The site is updated from time to time with more books and poems, so if you can't find the book or poem that you are looking for, keep on checking back here. Don't forget to bookmark this page.3058 Books


The 8th (GIANT) issue of The Tortoise is here! This year’s magazine spotlights the giant tortoises of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, punctuated by a spectacular achievement in turtle conservation in 2019—the rediscovery of a tortoise on Fernandina Island in the Galápagos.
Feature articles include an exploration of the history surrounding the Fernandina Giant Tortoise which was considered lost for over a century, as well as an interview with biologist Forrest Galante who led the expedition to Fernandina Island in search of the tortoise.
Apart from the Galápagos, readers will journey to the other side of the globe to get a rare glimpse of the only wild population of giant Aldabra Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) in the Eastern Hemisphere.
This colossal issue is packed with 162 full-color pages exploring not only giant tortoises but features from the tremendously-dedicated biologists and artists who are inspired by the world’s turtles and tortoises.
If you are not already, consider becoming a member to enjoy the benefit of receiving The Tortoise magazine. Issues can also be purchased at our store.


Quantity: 1 available
Earlyish reprint of the Author's First Juvenile book. No date, but circa 1894. The Catalogue at end of book is dated 1893/4. Red, orange black and gilt illustration/titling to the front board and spine. VERY slightly duller red to the spine, but still pretty bright.. The illustration is of crossed swords under the Authors name and with Crossed Rifles/Oars/and an Anchor through the title. All edges Bright Gilt. Decorated e/p's. There is a presentation (birthday) note in old ink on the reverse of the frontispiece, dated 1895. Black and white frontispiece with tissue guard. 374 pp + 48 pp (b/w illustrated book catalogue). Illustrated in black and white by J . B. Zwecker. (3 plates + chapter decorations). "This is the tale of young Englishmen heading out to the Argentine with their family. Their adventures include the Mexican - American War with a raid by the Pampas Indians in which their sister is abducted....." . Overall this is a Very Good Clean, Tight copy, Bright and Very Clean. Now in a new protective - removable - clear plastic cover. Further Images on request. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall
Title: Out on the Pampas or The Young Settlers
Illustrator: Illustrated by J. B. Zwecker.
Edition: Early Edition
Publisher: London, Griffith, Farran & Co: 1894
Book Condition: Very Good+ with no dust jacket
Item: 1.00 Item
Seller ID: 001680
Keywords: History; Out On The Pampas Or The Young Settlers; G. A. Henty. Social History Writer Journalist English Interest Crimean War Boys Stories.


8th Graders will make a VoiceThread, illustrated, narrated and put to music. You will use They will make a bibliography using NoodleTools.
7th Graders will make a VoiceThread, illustrated, narrated and put to music.
6th Graders will make an Animoto, illustrated, narrated and put to music.
You will all be allowed to use http://www.rhymer.com/ and http://rhyme.poetry.com/. You will comment online on each others' VoiceThread Poetry when they are finished. You will use exclusively Creative Commons images from Flickr and Google Advanced Search.
Parameters for the poems:
- 8 Lines
- Any topic relating to Fall or Autumn. For instance: Back-To-School, pumpkins, Jewish New Year, Veteran's Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween, changing seasons, weather, trees, feelings about Fall, sports we play in Fall, etc.
- Save every URL for every photo you save unless it belongs to you.
More details to follow.


This article first appeared in Forays, a cross-disciplinary review published by the Liberal Arts Division of the Maryland Institute, College of Art, Spring 1996
© Jack Wilgus, 1996
When I came to the Maryland Institute to teach photography in the late 1960s I was told that the Institute had been teaching photography for about a decade. In 1976 while researching the Institute for an exhibition on stereo photography in the Maryland Historical Society Library I was surprised to discover references to the teaching of photography in the 19th century. This led me to search further for information on what seemed to be a little understood aspect of the Institute's history.
The Maryland Institute was established in 1826 as the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of Mechanical Arts. It was patterned on the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia which had been organized in 1824. The first permanent home of the Institute was the Athenaeum at the corner of Lexington and St. Paul streets in Baltimore. Here it conducted scientific courses and general lectures and established a fine library. The Institute continued at this location until February 7, 1835 when the Athenaeum and all the Institute's property were destroyed by fire. Sixteen years later in 1851 reorganization was completed and a new home for the Maryland Institute was erected on Market Place at Baltimore Street and Marsh Market.
The Market Place building became the home of the school in 1852. Its great Exhibition Hall, said to be the largest clear space in America could seat four thousand people. In this great hall the Maryland Institute held an annual Exhibition of the Mechanical and Fine Arts and awarded medals in Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Printmaking, and Photography. The catalogs of the Maryland Institute Exhibition list in detail the exhibitors and awards given. The daguerreotypist Charles Fontayne and William Southgate Porter gained fame when they exhibited an eight whole-plate panorama of Cincinnati at the Franklin Institute, the Maryland Institute, and the Great Exhibition in London. The great hall was not only an artistic and cultural center but also the site of the national conventions of political parties. Four presidential candidates including Franklin Pierce and Millard Fillmore were nominated in the hall.
In 1852 the newly reorganized and revitalized Maryland Institute engaged an Instructor of Drawing, David Acheson Woodward. Woodward was born in Philadelphia in 1823 and moved with his family to Cincinnati, Ohio were he showed a strong interest in Art. He opened portrait painting studios in Cincinnati and then Philadelphia. He studied painting at the Pennsylvania Academy and traveled and painted in the United States until 1847 when he moved to Baltimore. He established a painting studio on the corner of North and Fayette streets. In 1851 he married Josephine Laty, the daughter of a Baltimore shipbuilder. They had five sons and two daughters.
In 1853 Woodward was elected Principle of the Drawing Department at the Institute and continued in that position until 1860 when he was elected by the board to be the leader in reorganizing the school. The result was a new School of Art and Design of which he was chosen Principal. He held that position until about 1879. The Maryland Institute's Twenty-Ninth Annual Report of April 1877 speaks candidly of financial and enrollment problems. The Annual Exhibition was not held, salaries were reduced, departmental appropriations were reduced, and some departments were discontinued. The report states "...great depression still exists in all branches of Commercial and Mechanical industry...".
Cover illustrations from Maryland Institute Schottisch, 19th century
sheet music, showing the exterior of the Market Place home of the
This undated photograph shows the back of the Market
Place home of the Institute before the 1904 fire.
An Annual Exhibition at Maryland Institute in the interior of the Market Place building. (from a William Chase negative in the Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection)
A medal awarded for improvement in drawing in 1854
|Woodward continues to be listed at the Maryland Institute in
Wood's Baltimore City Directory until 1879. Thereafter he is listed as
an artist with a studio at 74 N. Charles and later 99 N. Charles. No further
mention is made of Woodward in the annual reports of the Institute in the
1880s. Professor Woodward was associated with the Institute for twenty-seven
years. For nineteen of those years he was Principal of the Schools of Art
and Design. His tenure was a period of innovation, technological advancement,
and the development of a pioneering curriculum in the teaching of photography.
In 1857 Woodward patented the first widely successful photographic enlarging camera. He continued to make improvements to his solar camera in a series of patent renewals in the 1860s and 1870s. He became internationally recognized for his invention and in 1876 he was given an award at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. In the 1878 book How to Paint Photographs in our collection there is an ad for the Improved Solar Cameras by D.A. Woodward, Maryland Institute, Baltimore, Md.
As the Principal of the Schools of Art and Design Professor Woodward was a pioneer in the field of formal photographic education. His strong interest in technology and the art of photography are reflected in the inclusion of photography in the curriculum of the Institute during his tenure. Day school courses included "Tinting and Coloring Photographs in Water and Oil and Indian Ink" and "Photography, including the use of the various kinds of Cameras and Apparatus used in the business." In 1876 the tuition fee for Photography was Females -- $15.00 and Males -- $20.00 while the fee for Oil Painting was Females -- $8.00 and Males -- $10.00. The Maryland Institute had one of the first formal photographic programs under Woodward's direction. Such programs were very rare in the 19th century. When Woodward left the Institute in 1879 all photographic courses disappeared from the curriculum. This could have been caused by the removal of Woodward's influence or by the effect of budget cutting in tough times since the photography classes were more expensive than painting. With the end of Woodward's era photography courses did not reappear at the Institute till the middle of the 20th century.
On February 7, 1904, the anniversary of the 1835 fire, the Market Place home of the Maryland Institute was destroyed in the Great Baltimore Fire. The Great Hall, the fine library, and Woodward's life-size portrait of Johns Hopkins were now gone. The spirit of the Maryland Institute survived and classes resumed in temporary quarters two days after the fire. Through an appropriation by the Maryland legislature, a gift from Andrew Carnegie, and donated land from Michael Jenkins the Maryland Institute built a new permanent home at 1300 Mount Royal Avenue. Construction began in October 1905 and the first class was held in October 1907. The present Main Building was dedicated in 1908.
The lower level of the main building has housed the Photography Department since the mid-20th century. In a tribute to his contribution to photography the exhibition space in the department was called the Woodward Gallery until 2009.
I feel that we should offer special thanks to David Woodward for his pioneering efforts in photographic education and his technological advancement of photography.
The ruins of the Maryland Institute Market Place building after the Great Baltimore Fire of February 7th-9th, 1904
The Maryland Institute, College of Art main building at 1300 Mount Royal Avenue (photo by Jack Wilgus)
|An advertising card for Woodward's Solar Camera
(from the Wilgus collection)
|The back of the Woodward advertising card above
19th Century Maryland Institute Annual Reports and Exhibition catalogs
(The Maryland Historical Society Library)
Biographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Maryland and the District
Baltimore National Biographical Publishing Co., 1879 (Maryland Room -- Enoch Pratt Free Library)
The Daguerreotype in America, Beaumont Newhall, New York Graphic Society, 1968
Dedication, Maryland Institute, Address by Mr. John M. Carter, President of the Institute, 1908
The History of Photography, Beaumont Newhall, Museum of Modern Art, 1964
How to Paint Photographs, George B. Ayres, Appleton & Company, 1878
"Mayall's :Life-Size Portrait of George Peabody", Larry J. Schaaf, History of Photography quarterly, October December 1985
Photography In America, William Welling, Crowell Company, 1978
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The following document will walk you through the steps required for embedding Kaltura videos in Pages and Posts in WiscWeb.
This document walks a user through the steps of finding and embedding a Kaltura video into a Page or Post in the UW Theme. This document also assumes that you are the owner of, or have some administrator access to the video.
Users want to upload and embed videos to a video streaming service. WiscWeb has customized this ability to make it easy to embed videos from the UW-Madison campus streaming solution, Kaltura.
Kaltura MediaSpace is a product UW-Madison uses to host and deliver media for educational use at UW-Madison.To find out more information regarding Kaltura and its use, please refer to these documents:
To find your embed URL, follow these steps:
Once you have accessed and copied the the share URL from Kaltura, navigate to your Page or Post in WordPress.


After much discussion on how and why some books are
banned, Mrs. Conley's A.P. Language and Composition class recently created
"Banned Book Week" posters and placed them around the school to
educate their fellow school mates on the fact that many of their "favorite"
books have, at one time or another, been placed on a banned book list.
Students were encouraged to engage their fellow schoolmates in discussion about
the harmful effects of banning a book from a public library, school library, or
any public place where citizens are allowed to borrow and read books.
The Social Studies department is celebrating “Patriotic Week” September 11th through September 17th.
Mr. Bonning will be reading statements during
the daily announcements from the Daughters of the American Revolution
concerning “First Principles.”
On the September 16th during 5th period all
teachers will receive a word-search puzzle with the Preamble to the
Constitution as its topic. This will
give the students an opportunity to remember and practice reciting the Preamble.
In social studies classes on the 17th lessons
will be taught that bear on the Constitution.
In all other classes, teachers will be encouraged to teach something
related to the Constitution.
Now, for the FUN AND GAMES.....
On the 17th, before classes begin, the social
studies teachers will provide a doughnut prize to students who can
recite the Preamble from memory! During
the day on the 17th at the end of each class period a Constitution
Quiz item will be read and the first 5 students who make it to the office with
the correct answer will be awarded a candy prize!
What makes Key Club so successful is the fact that it is a student-led organization that teaches
leadership through serving others. Members of the Kiwanis International family, Key Club members build themselves as they build their schools and communities.
At Big Rapids High School, Key Club has a long tradition of
community service. One of the most
important and most enjoyable activities the club participates in is Relay for
Life – a 24 hour fund raising event for the American Cancer Society.
Relay for Life is…
overnight community fundraising walk
of people camp out around a track
of each team take turns walking around the track
games and activities provide entertainment and build camaraderie
environment for the entire community. This year the Big Rapids High School Key Club hopes to raise
$1000 to help fight cancer. How can you
help? Make a donation through any Club
member. You can even do this on line.
You can also come out and enjoy the event. Teams sponsor booths to raise money for the
American Cancer Society and there are a number of fun events and entertainment
scheduled throughout the day. This
year’s Relay will be held at the Big Rapids High School football field and
track Saturday, September 20 to Sunday, September 21. The Relay officially begins at 9 a.m. Come out and join us for the fun and help us
fight cancer together.


Book cover designs hold great importance in book publishing, because it is main part of book on which important information about book is printed. Book cover design consist on soft paperboard which does protect the internal soft papers. Our today’s post is related to book cover designs, in which we have shared “Newest Book Cover Designs For Your Inspiration”. These designs can prove very helpful for designers, they can get inspiration for their next design. Hope you will like this inspirational book cover designs collection, so let’s have a look below and enjoy.


Art Musics of Israel: Identities, Ideologies, Influences – March 2011
This conference was presented with the Institute of Musical Research at the University of London under Director Dr. Malcolm Miller. Themed days focused on aspects of East and West, Arabic and Jewish musics, nationalism and ideologies of pioneer generations, modernism and post-modernism. Papers on composers from the former USSR in the 70s and 90s, mixed with more general topics such as sociology of music, memory and the impact of the Holocaust. Also addressed were popular musics such as Cabaret and nightclubs in Tel-Aviv, Israeli Rock, and the impact of folk song and liturgical styles and collaborative Arab-Jewish projects in Israel and beyond. Contributors included Professor Amnon Shiloah (Hebrew University), Professor Arnold Whittall, (King’s College, London), Professor Jehoash Hirshberg (Hebrew University), and composers Yehezkel Braun, Andre Hajdu, Tsippi Fleischer, Michael Wolpe, Haim Permont, and Oded Zehavi.


Like so many of you, I particularly treasure the long, languid summer days here in the northern latitudes. Daylight comes as early as 4am, and lingers until around 10pm. Perfect weather for savoring the long novels I have been meaning to read all year. Sometimes I read outside in the garden, sometimes on my bed with the windows open and a sweet breeze flowing through. The author must sweep me into another world, where it doesn’t matter how long it takes me to finish and I am sad when I finally have to leave.
This has to be one of a very few all-time favorites–both the book and the author. An unlikely, and hardly believable event starts this emotionally thrilling novel, set in an Ethiopia at the brink of revolution. Conjoined twin boys are born to a mother (an Indian nun!) who dies in childbirth, and a father (a hard-headed British surgeon) who abandons them. Marion and Shiva are brought up in a family of doctors who adopt them: both are drawn toward medicine, and to the same woman, which sets events in motion for Marion that he cannot control. After medical school, and upon finding that his brother has betrayed him with the woman he’d hoped to marry, he flees to the United States, finding work where he can get it–in an overcrowded, understaffed New York hospital. In time, Marion’s past catches up with him, and he finds he must confront the two people who damaged him most–his father, who left him and his brother, who betrayed him. I have listened to this book on CD, AND read it in paper form. It is that memorable, that vivid, and deserves the very wide acclaim it has received since it was published in 2009.
Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy
Who hasn’t read Anna? But who has not read Anna in the summer, taking one’s time, reading it with fresh eyes for the second, third or fourth time? That is the beauty of this classic: it holds up so solidly even after multiple readings. I often overhear people say they are reading this Tolstoy classic, and others almost swoon with envy: “I want to read it again” or “What a treat!” or “I just finished it–for the second time”. I need hardly say that this is “the” love story–thrilling, engrossing, tragic and all the other words that describe passionate and doomed love. Anna leaves her staid marriage when she falls in love with the dashing Count Vronsky, and suffers the consequences of society’s disapproval to a degree she did not anticipate. There are a number of translations, and my personal preference is the Pevear/Volokhonksy version (shown here, with an unusual cover). The depth of Russian history and culture that provides the warp and weft for this story clearly elevates it above other long novels, even other classics. I plan to go for a third reading by August.
I have raved more than once in this blog about Urrea’s work, but this novel is (to date) clearly his masterpiece. He worked on this story, on and off, for more than twenty years, and it is big-hearted and sprawling–a generous feast. It is based partly on the real life story of Urrea’s aunt Teresa. Teresita, the story’s heroine, is a young uneducated Indian with a Yaqui mother, who gave birth at age 14 then abandoned her. Teresita is raised in an abusive home, but given mentoring and protection by Huila, a healer and midwife who lives on the same ranch. She sees the potential the girl has and teaches her about the magic ofherbs and plants. Fairly early in the story, Teresita is brutally beaten, and the story takes an unexpected turn into magical realism–so skillfully done even a skeptic like me did not falter or abandon the book. The cast of characters is as colorful and multi-layered and turbulent as Mexican history itself. A beautiful, beautiful story.
Kristin Lavransdatter, by Sigrid Undset
For years a copy of this book sat on my shelves, as I had inherited it from an aunt. I had heard many people say how much they had loved it, when they read it “long ago”. Hmmm…how interesting could a story about a young Christian woman in rural, fourteenth century Norway be, I thought? As it turns out–very fascinating! The story is rich with historic and social detail, vivid landscape descriptions, and best of all, unwinds the life story of a passionate, strong-minded woman who is a bit like Anna Karenina. Kristin grows up on a prosperous farm in rural Norway and becomes betrothed to a boring yet prosperous farmer, a family friend. But before she marries, she meets a handsome and worldly knight who woos her, and Kristin gives herself to him. She becomes pregnant, then must marry him, breaking off the arranged engagement and upsetting her family, particularly her beloved father. The story is really a trilogy, and I highly recommend the translation by Tina Nunnally, now available in one volume. I hope this story never goes out of print, as it is a gem.
The Children’s Book, by A.S. Byatt
Our book club read this long, richly detailed novel when it was first published a few years ago, and we all loved it–a rarity in our group of bright, opinionated, well-read women. It was short-listed in 2009 for the Man Booker Prize. Set in England between 1895 to World War I, the book’s center is a well-known children’s author named Olive (based loosely on children’s author E. Nesbit). There are myriad characters, including many children (I counted at least eight), relatives, artists, writers and other assorted hangers-on. Byatt says she started with an idea that writers of children’s books are not necessarily “good with children”, although Olive does not abuse her own. Benign neglect is a more apt term, as she juggles supporting her large family with her writing, meetings with other artists (and admirers) and trying to track with her numerous children and her husband. What particularly stayed with me about this story was the social and cultural detail, particularly about the Arts and Crafts movement, that Byatt so skillfully wove into the story. Each page seemed like a picnic, with luscious goodies thickly spread across a colorful counterpane. Yum!
A God in Ruins, by Kate Atkinson
I loved Atkinson’s Life After Life, which I have recommended to friends and family since it was published in 2013. This is Atkinson’s “follow-up” novel, focusing this time on Teddy, the younger brother of Ursula, (the central character in Life). It is not necessary to read the other novel first, however. This is a strong, stand-alone story. Teddy is a poet and RAF fighter pilot in WWII who barely survives (fewer than half of England’s RAF pilots survived the war), to become a husband, father and grandfather. Atkinson is a master at manipulating time (and sometimes reality) in her books; in this story she illustrates the damage of war and resiliency of humans who survive repeated trauma. There is a publisher’s quote that deftly describes the theme of this book: “his greatest challenge would be to face living in a future he never expected to have”. Particularly engaging is Teddy’s caustic and challenging daughter Viola, and his relationships with his two grandchildren. But it is difficult to single out one thing that makes this novel so excellent. It was all exceptional.


Stephen R. Wilk’s Lost Wonderland
from University of Massachusetts Press
If you want to know about how Wonderland came to be, what the attractions in it were and how they changed from year to year, and especially about the lives of the park creators and performers, by all means read the book. This website contains supplemental material — mostly photographs that couldn’t be put in the book, many of them in color
Wonderland Park was an amusement park that opened in Revere, Massachusetts, just north of Boston, and not far from Revere Beach. It featured state-of-the-art attractions, rides, and performances.
It opened on Memorial Day in 1906 and closed in September of 1910, and it presented an ever-changing roster of attractions. Today the region is still called by the name “Wonderland”, and the Wonderland stop on Boston’s Blue Line is literally across the street from where Wonderland Park once stood. Today the Wonderland Marketplace Mall and its parking lot occupy most of Wonderland Park’s Grounds.
Click on the links below to see more of Wonderland
Wonderland Conceptual Paintings
Wonderland Permanent Attractions
Fighting the Flames and Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Show
The Velvet Coaster, the Whirl the Whirl, and the Circle Swing
William H. Kennedy’s Wild West Show, The Miniature Railroad, the Skating Rink, and the Captive Balloon
The Gillette Dog and Monkey Circus, The South Before the War, Willard’s Temple of Music, Paradise — The Show Beautiful, and other shows
The Fatal Wedding, Under the Sea, and Pilgrim’s Progress
The Foolish House, The Third Degree, and The House that Jack Built
Trixie — the Equine Wonder, Battle Abbey, and The Human Laundry
The Beautiful Orient, Florida Alligator Jungle, Darktown, and the Wonder Wander
Hale’s Tours, The Rocky Mountain Holdup, The World in Motion, and Humanovo
Highlights of 1906 — Mr. Thompson’s Wild Ride and the Ryan Scintillator
Details — The Penny Arcade, the Photographer, Prince Tiny Mite, and other small things
Musical Shows — Marching Bands, Alice in Wonderland, and Cinderella and the Golden Slipper
Special Performers — Lincoln Beachey the Aeronaut, Annette Kellermann the Australian Mermaid, Chiquita the Doll Lady, James Hardy the Tightrope Walker, Matthew Henson, the Polar Explorer, and others
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Being in only a small part of all the Star Wars movies, the Biker Scout Trooper has little reference out there dedicated to it. Below are a few of the good books and websites we know that is out there for the fans.
The Biker Socut costume is kind of difficult to find pictures of. The few images that are out there are very scatttered across books and magazines. Below are some of the best books I've found that had images. The "Star Wars Chronicles" is probably the best reference book in general for star Wars costumes, and also the most expensive. The out of print "STARLOG guide to the Imperial Forces" had a couple pictures that were worth the $7.00 it cost.
"The Star Wars Visual Dictionary" has a full two-page spread of the Biker Scout. The main image shows the Scout on top of a speeder bike, and a couple more smaller picts of the biker scout and the helmet. If you are looking to make a speeder bike. The main image would be invaluable for reference. The book costs about $15.00 plus shipping on Amazon.com.
The "Star Wars Chronicles" is the mother of all Star Wars reference books. Over 300 full color pages of studio shots of all the props from the Star Wars movies. I cannot stress how well done and detailed this book is. If Lucas would only allow this kind of quality in all his licenced items, we'd be some bigtime happy fans. (grin) The one drawback is that the book has only one page dedicated to the Biker Scout Trooper. There are about 4 different photos on the page. But the rest of the reference shots of other costumes out weighs that one drawback, bigtime.
It's a bit pricey at over $120.00 but the price tag is definitely worth it for the quality you get in this book. You can get a good price on 'The Chronicles' at Amazon.com.
The Prop Builder's Molding And Casting Handbook by Thurston James. It costs about $17.00 U.S. and shows, in Step by Step instruction, about 8 different ways to make a mold. It also goes into great detail how to build a Vacuumform Machine. This book rivals "THIS" website in detailed descriptions! I cannot say enough about it... buy the book... use the book... be one with the book. Amazon.com has it instock.
501stPathfinders.com A great place for movie reference pictures. Their gallery is very impressive. BikerScout.net's Discussion Forums are the best place to talk with others about the Scout Trooper costume. Good friendly people over there. Please be considerate of others when posting questions in the forum.
Parts of Star Wars Excellent reference site cataloging the parts that made up the costumes and props of Star Wars. They have identified the boots and the blaster scope of the Biker Scout. Booyah!!!
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The Ickabog by J.K. Rowling
This week, JK Rowling announced that she is publishing a brand new story, called 'The Ickabog', online. The story is going to be published incrementally, and is completely free.
We thought that lots of pupils (and parents!) would be interested in reading this story. We are going to upload learning materials for each chapter of the story for those who might be interested. This is not compulsory and it is not extra homework: it is suggested points for parents and pupils to discuss a story, should they wish to do so. It is not intended to involve any writing, but some pupils may wish to. It is also not intended to be laborious, and some pupils may wish to just read the story by itself.
What it is intended to do, though, is to to support both parents and pupils with reading during this challenging time. Finding some space in the day to complete some reading can be challenging but it is also incredibly rewarding. The Ickabog is most suitable for pupils between P.5 and S2, but it can be read and enjoyed by all ages.
The story is available at www.theickabog.com and our first instalment of learning materials are available on the PDF below.
|The Ickabog - Chapters One to Five-converted.pdf||[pdf 162KB]|
Ickabog Illustration Competition
Calling all budding artists age 7-12, this is your chance for your illustration to be featured in J.K. Rowling’s new book The Ickabog! Closing date 17th July.