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This much anticipated match was won by two goals by Paul Scholes, taking England closer to qualifying for next summer's
Euro 2000 championship finals in Belgium and Holland. They now go to Wembley in 4 days to complete their mission.
The first chance of this highly charged game went to Scotland who almost scored from a corner but the ball went out of play from a Scottish player after Seaman failed to capture the ball. Then England created some promising play through Owen but but the danger was cleared by the home team. Hendry stepped in a couple of times for his country to prevent England's forwards from scoring.
Craig Burley put in a great cross after 14 minutes but Campbell headed the ball out of play to stop Gallacher causing
trouble for Seaman. Gallacher, a moment later, was booked for a foul on Michael Owen and will now miss the second leg of this tie at Wembley on Wednesday.
In a tense match, England finally took the lead after 21 minutes when Paul Scholes received a pass from Campbell on his chest, brought the ball down to the ground and thumped the ball into Scotland's goal.
Scotland almost equalised a minute later when England's defenders let through Gallacher but Seaman was able to stop the shot with his leg. There was another heart-stopping moment 5 minutes later when Dodds fell to the ground in England's penalty area but the referee dismissed any Scotland claims for a penalty. Scotland were also screaming for a penalty two minutes later when Dodds protested that he was held in the area, but again the referee waved 'play-on'.
With three minutes of the first half remaining England extended their lead, again through Scholes. The goal was
started by Beckham who took a free-kick, finding Scholes free to head home the ball past Sullivan. England now had a comfortable lead going into the half-time break but again, Scotland threatened immediately after the re-start, but Dodds was denied by the crossbar. England also had a chance before the whistle for the break to make it 3-0 but Hendry cleared the ball away from Owen before any real danger could emerge.
At the start of the second half England appealled for a penalty when Scholes looked to be fouled in Scotland's area but
today the referee was not awarding penalties it seemed. Scotland furiously tried to pull themselves back into this game but all their efforts were to no avail. They had a chance through Hutchinson who tried to score with his head from a corner but his effort went over the crossbar.
England made the first substitution of the game after 67 minutes when Andy Cole was sent on to replace Owen. His first chance of the game came in the 71st minute but his header was cleared by Scotland's defenders. Ince then had a nice volley from 25 yards out but Sullivan was able to collect the ball easily.
The best chances of the remaining game went England's way but they couldn't deliver the final touch but they had done enough to secure a win away from home and have set themselves up well for the second leg at Wembley next week.
Sullivan, Weir, Ritchie, Dailly, Hendry, Ferguson, Dodds, Burley, Gallacher (Burchill 82 mins), Hutchinson, Collins.
Subs Not Used: Calderwood, Camerson, Davidson, Durrant, McCann, Gould.
Seaman, P Neville, Campbell, Ince, Adams, Keown, Beckham, Scholes, Shearer, Owen (Andy Cole 67 mins), Redknapp.
Subs Not Used: Southgate, Froggatt, Wise, Sinclair, Phillips, Martyn. (Full Squad)
England Scorers: Scholes 21 & 42 mins
Scotland cautions: Hendry, Gallacher, Dially, Ferguson, Hutchinson
England cautions: Scholes, Neville, Redknapp, Adams, Ince
Manuel Diaz-Vega (Spain)


More than 200 past and present students and staff return to the Defence base on Saturday.CHALPAT SONTI November 28, 2012 4:26am
Puckpunyal Primary School principal Kevin Warne (right) announces the school's BER building is to be renamed after former assistant principal Martin Coffey (left) and former princuipal Ray Pitman.
It’s a little bit different when former Puckapunyal Primary School students and staff want to have a look around their old stamping ground.
Security issues mean it is not really possible, unlike most people wanting to relive their school days.
So what to do? Organise a reunion, of course.
That’s what former principal Ray Pitman did — the result was more than 200 people from all parts of Australia at the school on Saturday.
‘‘I contacted Brigadier Mark Holmes in February who was a Colonel here when I was here so I knew him,’’ the principal from 1981 to 2003 said.
‘‘I said let’s do it this year while we’re both here and through Facebook and emails we were able to contact most people.’’
One of the highlights for many during the day was the honouring of Mr Pitman and long-serving deputy principal Martin Coffey, with the renaming of the stunning Building the Education Revolution building which will now be known as the Pitman-Coffey Centre.
And while many were back on the base for the first time in decades, that’s certainly not the case for Katie Atkinson. Going completely against the grain of short-term stays coinciding with Defence postings, Ms Atkinson has almost never left.
Now in her third year of teaching, Ms Atkinson attended the school as a student from 1997-99 when father Ross was posted to Puckapunyal.
‘‘I also did work experience here when in Year 10 (at St Mary’s College) and I did my teaching rounds here when I was in my first year of university in Bendigo,’’ she said.
‘‘I also did casual relief teaching here and my Mum (Helen) is the integration aide here.’’
A man has been arrested and charged following an incident in Toolamba on Saturday morning where a firearm was allegedly discharged.
More than 2200 people have signed up to show their support for a campaign to have the green route chosen for the new Yarrawonga Mulwala bridge.
Members of Murchison Book Club are hosting a literary lunch with Vivien Achia, author of Marrying Italian — When Love is Not Enough.
Echuca police are disappointed with the behaviour of people across the Easter weekend, with a large amount of alcohol-fuelled violence reported.
Painter Ben Winspear and Scott Wileman will create new works as the public look on during the at Rochester Art Exhibition.
Kyabram Bombers have the chance to beat Rochester under light for the first time this Friday evening.
Lions star recruit had a tough introduction to the GVFL.
Tocumwal's Don Elgin is aiming to compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland
Eighty residents at a forum determined the Heathcote Community Plan was on track but need some fine tuning.
Cobram-based students host educational forum on crystal methamphetamine.
Senior state minister Adrian Piccoli reaquainted himself with Deniliquin yesterday, leaving Deniliquin Counil hopeful it has an ally in him.
With his blue eyes and snow-coloured coat, Nanneella horse Sinatra has looks worthy of a fairytale.
Fourteen-year-old Benalla girl Jaimee Linke will launch her debut novel next month.
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Published on October 17th, 2018 | by Subhash Nair0
Two GTS Panameras Join the Porsche Family
Porsche has added two extra sporty models to its Panamera range. With a powerful performance from the four-litre V8 biturbo engine 460 hp, extra dynamic chassis systems including three-chamber air suspension, and their own unique design elements and equipment, the Panamera GTS and Panamera GTS Sport Turismo harness a one-of-a-kind performance package.
For example, the Sport Design package with black exterior elements and large Alcantara surfaces in the interior is included as standard. What’s more, Porsche has expanded its portfolio of comfort and assistance systems to include a head-up display with various configuration options for the entire Panamera range.
Emotion and efficiency: V8 engine with 460 hp and sports exhaust system
At the heart of both of the new Panamera GTS models is a four-litre V8 engine with 460 hp of output and maximum torque of 620 Nm, cultivating an emotional sound and driving experience when combined with the standard sports exhaust system. The biturbo engine, which features a gasoline particulate filter, outperforms its predecessor by 20 hp and 100 Nm, accelerating the Panamera GTS and Panamera GTS Sport Turismo from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds as it works in conjunction with the standard Sport Chrono package. The two models achieve a top speed of 292 and 289 km/h respectively.
There are no interruptions in tractive force as power is transmitted to the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive system by the eight-speed PDK dual clutch gearbox. Their exceptional performance is achieved with moderate consumption of just 10.3 l/100 km (Sport Turismo: 10.6 l/100 km).
Performance and comfort: sports chassis with three-chamber air suspension
Designed to reflect the sporting prowess of the Panamera GTS models, the chassis systems are impressively dynamic. The adaptive air suspension with three-chamber technology is fitted as standard, which results in flexible control and optimum spring rate spread. The sports chassis in the two GTS models has been lowered by 10 millimetres, while the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) function has been adapted for an even sportier calibration. The result? Outstanding lateral dynamics.
Large brakes (390 millimetres in diameter at the front, 365 millimetres at the rear) deliver outstanding deceleration.
That distinctive GTS look: Sport Design package with black highlights
When compared to the predecessor, the new Panamera GTS models’ basic equipment package has been significantly upgraded in a number of areas. The Sport Design package with a new black front end, black trim at the bottom of the rear, and a variety of darker elements highlights the more athletic appearance. The GTS models are equipped with 20-inch Panamera Design wheels as standard. The interior features hallmark elements of black Alcantara and anodised aluminium.
The standard package also includes a heated multifunction sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles and Alcantara trim and the Connect Plus module for a wide range of digital services. With the optional Interior GTS package, drivers can customise their vehicle with various design elements, such as a rev counter, designer seams, and GTS logos in the contrasting shades of Carmine Red or Crayon.
A first for the Panamera: head-up display with many configuration options
The GTS models offer all the same innovations as the second-generation Panamera range. These include the digital Porsche Advanced Cockpit, assist systems such as Porsche InnoDrive including adaptive cruise control, and optional rear-axle steering. The GTS also features one highlight that is new to the entire Panamera range – the head-up display. The display can be configured by the driver and projects all relevant information directly into their direct line of sight in full colour.
Even better for day-to-day driving: the first ever Panamera GTS Sport Turismo
As is tradition at Porsche, GTS stands for Gran Turismo Sport. Porsche’s first road-approved sports car, the 904 Carrera GTS, was launched all the way back in 1963, bringing racing technology to the streets. This was followed by the 924 GTS and 928 GTS, which cultivated the concept throughout the 1980s and 90s. In 2007, the GTS celebrated its revival with the Carrera GTS. The first generation of the Panamera GTS followed in 2011, initially available as a sports saloon only.
Now, the new Panamera GTS is also available as a Sports Turismo. With a large boot lid, low loading sill, increased luggage compartment volume and 4+1 seating configuration, the new GTS variant based on the 2017 model meets the highest of standards for everyday driving, while also delivering outstanding performance.
The new GTS models are available to order now. In Germany, the Panamera GTS is available from EUR 138,493 including VAT and country-specific equipment; the Panamera GTS Sport Turismo is available from EUR 141,349.


- Page 1 Huawei Mate 20 Pro Review
- Page 2 Camera and Battery Life Review
Huawei Mate 20 Pro Camera – Leica-infused triple camera impresses still
Arranged in a 2×2 grid on the rear of the device is a main 40-megapixel f/1.8 sensor, 8-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto sensor for zooming and a 20-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide sensor. There’s also a dual-tone LED flash rounding out the package.
That ultrawide sensor is the most obvious change from the Huawei P20 Pro, replacing the monochrome sensor Huawei has been using for a while. The reason for this switch is simple: Huawei said there’s enough data and detail captured in the 40-megapixel sensor to make the extra info picked up by the black and white sensor redundant. This seems like a clever move, and it’s one that pays off in practice. Having both a normal focal length, telephoto and ultra-wide sensor offers up a ridiculous level of versatility with your shots.
You’ll get the best shots out of the 40-megapixel main sensor. By default, the Mate 20 Pro utilises pixel-binning to use those 40 megapixels to produce a 10-megapixel image. You can shoot purely at 40-megapixels, but this limits the number of features available (you can’t zoom, for example) and leaves you with very large file sizes.
Another option on by default is the Master AI system. This makes use of the dual neural engines inside the Kirin 980 to detect scenes and objects, altering the look of the picture in the process. I found this AI boosts colours, adds some minor sharpening to landscapes, and smoothes faces. Nothing is too strong, though, and this mode also builds in HDR.
Master AI will also suggest appropriate times when you should switch between the various available modes. Point the phone at a person and it will enable portrait mode; point it at a bridge and it will switch to ultra-wide. I’ve been thoroughly impressed with how well it determines the subjects presented to it in my viewfinder.
On occasion, the Master AI makes too many changes to an image, often boosting blues in the sky too far and making greens and reds look unnatural. However, some will probably prefer these changes; and it does feel as though Huawei is making photos as “Instagrammable” as possible.
If you really dislike the AI changes then you can turn the feature off completely. I’d advise against this, though, since it really leaves your snaps looking flat, lacking in dynamic range and colour.
Ultra-wide shots can suffer from some loss of detail around the edges but in general, details and colours are good. The 8-megapixel telephoto sensor is the only one of the bunch to be optically stabilised (all the others rely on Huawei’s software-based EIS) and this helps minimise hand-shake when taking portraits. Again, the results are mostly very good, with accurate cut-outs around everything apart from really straggly hair strands and unusually shaped glasses.
Low-light shots from the Mate 20 Pro really impress. Colours are kept intact and it doesn’t add too much muddy noise to the sky in the process. There’s a dedicated Night mode for capturing a photo of a building or still object at night. It takes a few seconds and snaps at multiple exposure values, combining them together for a seriously bright photo.
Where the Mate 20 Pro camera is less successful is in video capture and selfies. The 24-megapixel front camera delivers relatively poor selfies; it feels like all those megapixels are being wasted. Video recording, too, is nothing more than adequate. There’s no 4K at 60fps and the image stabilisation is less effective here.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro Battery life – An endurance king
There’s a 4200mAh battery tucked inside the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. That’s a sizeable cell and even more impressive when you consider just how svelte this device is. As the capacity suggests, this is a champ when it comes to endurance.
Many phone manufacturers often tout “two days of use” but the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is one of the few mainstream handsets I’ve reviewed that can genuinely go from 8am on one day and last until midnight the next, and this is without too much fiddling with battery-saver modes.
The decent battery optimisation features really help you tailor the phone to work for you. You can alter screen resolution manually, or pick from two preconfigured battery-saver modes. There’s even a Performance mode that will do the opposite, optimising the phone for improved speed at the expense of longevity.
I’ve been shifting between the modes depending on the tasks I’ve been performing and they each appear to make a genuine difference to endurance. Leave everything on ‘default’ and you’ll get on average 6-7 hours screen-on time. That’s impressive going.
Streaming an hour of HD Netflix over Wi-Fi, with brightness set to 50%, consumed a mere 5% power. That score is comfortably better than other Android phones. It does a decent job of conserving juice during gaming, too – even in intensive, graphically demanding titles.
When you do run low on juice, the Mate 20 Pro has a few more tricks up its sleeves. It supports 40W fast charging (as a comparison, the iPhone 11 comes with a 5W charger), which will give you roughly 65-70% in around 30 minutes. This means I can charge up the phone in the morning and have enough power to comfortably last the day – and then some.
You’ll need to use the included 40W charger to get these speeds, of course; and it’s a hefty block.
There’s fast wireless charging, too, up to 20W with the right Qi charger. I’ve been using a 10W Qi pad and it tops the phone up in a few hours.
Related: Best wireless chargers
The wireless charging capabilities can also be used in reverse, charging a second Qi-enabled device by bringing it into contact with the back of the Mate 20 Pro.
Why buy the Huawei Mate 20 Pro?
The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is easily the most feature-packed phones, even nearly a year after it was announced. It has a fantastic camera, superb screen, competition-beating battery life and plenty of additional tricks alongside.
If it wasn’t for Huawei’s slightly janky software and some mild complaints about the curvature of the display, this would be the most complete Android phone I’ve ever reviewed.
- These are the best Android phones
- …and these are the best phones
- Prefer iOS? Check out the best iPhones
The Mate 20 Pro is full of great features and offers up an excellent alternative to any other flagship phone on the market right now. Even a year after launch, and with the Mate 30 Pro also now official,
Score in detail
Battery Life 10
Calls & Sound 8
Screen Quality 9


Such a great oldie but goody. Songwriters: Gary Byrd, Calvin Hardaway, Mike Sembello,. When the clef indicates that middle C is the middle line it is called the Alto Clef. Tenor: tenor saxophone, alto clarinet despite its name, it is usually used as a tenor instrument. I'm not sure if that's extreme for a baritone or whether I really am a baritone though. I very much enjoyed this video.
To create a music list, please sign in. I can hit e2 on the low end, so I am a low baritone. One day when he was performing for his friends , Ronnie White of The Miracles saw him and was amazed by his musical talents. Stevie Wonder has had a prominent place in popular music for over 40 years, recording over 30 top 10 hits. He was born Steveland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan. C clefs are preferred in classical notation for instumental ranges that hover around middle C. Hard to believe really as I was riding my bike and playing over the fields at that age.
I have a free chart up that anyone can download. These ae different musical voices. Of course, since w … oodwind instruments typically have a greater range than human voices, there is considerable overlap between parts. This avoids incessant interchanges between Treble and Bass Clefs, or the alternative of writing notes an octave too high or low. He has some memorable and lovely hits: Superstition, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life and Sir Duke. Soprano: flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, soprano saxophone.
Learning to sing high notes well is a delicate skill and you gotta pay attention to your voice and get all the facts straight in order to do it. This is a common confusion, so it's worth trying to sort it out. They each have a different range and pitch, with soprano being the highest and bass being the lo … west. It also has an F trigger, which opens up more tubing near the bell of the trombone and changes the note. Fernando is an active opera … singer. Just like all the other sheet music on hornbandcharts. Just unzip the file and each individual part will be ready for viewing on your computer or tablet screen or for printing.
Hey I'm getting my site up and running for horn charts, and I'd love for any of you guys to visit and give me your feedback. If you believe that any review contained on our site infringes upon your copyright, please email us. The purpose of the C Clef is to show which of the five lines of the staff represents middle … C. Do you usually like this style of music? He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. And again this is not in falsetto! Here's the link: I will change it from time to time, but for the moment, it is I Wish by Stevie Wonder. Zachary competition and the second Filipino to be admitted to the world renowned San Francisco Opera Merola program in its more than 50 years of existence.
I've learned some scales and stuff over time but judging a person's musical talent by their knowledge of terms and stuff like that makes no sense. It features a medium slow groove and a flexible solo section. Despite living in poverty, he looks fondly on those days and wishes they could come back once more. He plays the piano, organ, clavinet, melodica, synthesizer, harmonica, bongos congas, drums, and bass guitar. We use data about you for a number of purposes explained in the links below. Choose love over hate, right over wrong, kind over meanness. You may love it of course.
You will also be sent an email to the address provided at checkout with the same links. The tenor clef is one note higher than the alto clef! Alto and tenor in the middle. You can't ever go wrong with a Stevie wonder song. He … is definitely not a countertenor either where falsetto is applied. Is it a good teaching tool? I wanted to show my appreciation. He still sings and records for Motown. This allows players to reach the range from a low E flat to a low B, which is ph … ysically impossible on a tenor trombone.
Just thought I'd answer this question so it has some sort of answer instead of no answer. And turning lights on and off in the bathroom Stevie Wonder signed with that marvellous record label Tamla at just 11 years old. One of his greatest hits rankles a little: I Just Called To Say I love You. We have 129 songs for Stevie Wonder Piano, Vocal and Guitar Sheet Music and other instruments. I pride myself on doing a quality job and making my charts look very professional, I hope you enjoy.
He has also kept himself busy on the domestic front: He has been married twice and has 9 children. A baritone horn looks somewhat like a miniaturized tuba. These shows have mostly been staged in the U. Hope over no hope at all. The reason is that the songs and the words that we talk about, those conditions still exist in the world, and that hurts my heart.


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Camila Cabello Drops 'OMG' with Quavo & 'Havana' with Young Thug
Camila Cabello is doubling down with two new summer-ready singles, “Havana” with Young Thug and “OMG” featuring Quavo.
The first of those tracks is the Latin fusion of “Havana,” which finds Camila and Thugger going from Cuba to East Atlanta. “This is history in the making,” boasts Jeffery. “My heart is in Havana,” sings the former Fifth Harmony star, who was born in Cuba.
Next up, Camila and Quavo have fans saying “OMG” with Auto-Tuned flavor. Taking on the Migos flow with a harmonizer’s flair, Camila sings about being “from Miami,” while “causing trouble in L.A.” Then, Q raps about his diamonds moonwalking like Michael Jackson, before adding: “Oh my God, you’re awesome!”
“i wanted to put 2 summer songs out off my album in honor of me going on the #24kMagicWorldTour this summer,” wrote Camila. “hope u love them.”
— camila (@Camila_Cabello) August 3, 2017
“Havana” and “OMG” are set to appear on Camila’s forthcoming solo debut album, The Hurting, The Healing, The Loving, which is due later this year. The LP is also expected to include the previous singles “Crying in the Club” and “I Have Questions.”
Camila is currently opening for Bruno Mars on his “24K Magic World Tour,” which runs through November.

domain: entertainment


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PHOENIX – Thanks to a federal grant, Phoenix police expect to hire 15 new school resource officers.
They’ll be working in elementary and high schools starting next school year. Currently, Phoenix has 68 officers and four sergeants serving 18 school districts.
After last year’s shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, Phoenix police created a school safety program. It allows schools that currently have no resource officers to hire off-duty officers that are specially trained in safety procedures. The program also calls for patrol officers to spend 30 minutes a week in or around schools in their beat areas as time allows.
According to a report prepared for the city council, police have also been conducting campus inspections and providing safety recommendations. As of early September, police say they have inspected 115 schools.
The department also established a committee of police and security professionals to encourage schools to have an emergency response plan. New training protocols have also been developed relating to school violence.

domain: sociology


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More goodness from the Lead Painters League, this time my Week Two entry, titled Command On The Frontier. The frontier in this case being the interwar Northwest Frontier, nominally. British officers and sargents attempting to control the volatile, dangerous border between what was then British India & Afganistan.
Unlike my winning Round One entry, Commandgot soundly and deservedly thrashed by a spectacular field hospital entry from Hammers. Entertainingly, both cover the same ground — British interwar army — and even the same theatre (!) so the random match generation had a bit of a sense of humour about the whole thing.
LPL5 Round 1 is over and Round 2 begun by the time you read this. The LPL format, for those of you not familiar, is ten week-long rounds, with entries paired up so with 70-odd participants there’s 30-some one-on-one entries per round. The league format means no elimination, and every round you’ll be paired up with a different contestant.
The Round 1 bonus theme was “Civilians”; my entry was five Pulp Figures’ Surly Servants, with a RAFM Investigator’s Roadster‘s back corner on the left. All sculpted by Bob Murch, in fact!
As a bonus, I quite handily won my Round One matchup, against some quite nice modern bystanders. (I don’t enter LPL with any particular expectation of winning; there’s too many far better painters active on LAF for that!) On to Round Two and more!
A bit quieter around the Warbard right now; I’m having most of my gaming time sucked up by the Lead Painters League 5 and real life; Corey is however away for the weekend at the Dak-Kon convention up-Island and promises lots of photographs upon his return. He’ll probably be doing a run of Amulet of Fire at some point over the weekend, too.
I’ve been painting various things, most of which I’ll wait for the various rounds of LPL5 to reveal, but here’s one of my new projects – a small foray into the Russian Civil War with a unit of White Russian riflemen, figures from Brigade Games, paint scheme not completely historic but based on inspiration from the Osprey White Armies book and some of the great resources shared on LAF’s Back of Beyond forum. Expect to see five or six of his squadmates in a future LPL5 round!
Minor update, a few hours later: I posted this photo to LAF’s Back of Beyond forum and asked for feedback, and got some excellent advice from some of the local experts. I especially like the fact that Russian troops often had coloured cloth inner parts on their fur hats; this was news to me and it’s a chance to make them more colourful yet!
As discussed in my last post on entering LAF‘s LPL5, here’s all ten of the images from my 2009 LPL3 entries. I finished somewhere in the bottom third of the pack, but certainly didn’t enter with any expectation of doing much better — I entered to give me incentive to work on my painting and photography, which worked out just fine!
LPL3’s bonus rounds were “Germans” for Round One, which I botched; the German WW1 stormtroopers I did for Round 7 were supposed to be my Round 1 bonus entry, but I ordered them too late. Round 5 was “Cavalry”, which I managed with my first 15mm fantasy unit painted in years. Round 10 was “Lost Worlds”, bonus points for an exploration team, a “native” team and “monster” or similar — pegged max bonus points there, and a photo I’m still proud of!
[L]ess than a week left until Round One of the Lead Adventure Forum’s famous and awesome Lead Painters League opens; I entered in 2009 in LPL3, sat out 2010’s LPL4 for a variety of bad reasons, and decided to get my arse in gear and enter LPL5 this year when it was announced a while ago!
Three rounds of the LPL are themed rounds; you can enter anything at any time but get bonus points for following the theme. These theme rounds, especially the big blowout final round, Round 10, are among the most interesting of an already interesting league! LPL5’s special rounds are Round 1: Civilians; Round 5: Africa; Round 10: Scenes from the Movies. I got a good batch of civvies in for Round 1; I think I know what I’ll submit for Round 5 & Africa, but haven’t a damn clue what I’ll do for Round 10 this time around…
I think I’ll do a gallery post in a day or so of my LPL3 entries, just to inspire me to keep on the ball with LPL5 this year.
Entries have to be in by Saturday 12 March at 1200GMT, if you’re inspired to enter. I have no expectation of even getting into the top half of the standings, but it’s a great excuse to finish figures, take good photos, and kick my painting up a notch – entering LPL3 definitely made me a bolder, better painter!

domain: hobby


In today’s technological age, it probably is not wise to brag about the quality of your Rolodex. It makes people think you’ve dropped your iPhone in the toilet. But whether you have them stored on your smartphone or on a crumpled up cocktail napkin, it still is important to know who to contact and how to do it. In the ultra competitive industry of economic development, it is vital.
Lawrence officially has a new leader of economic development that comes loaded with a ton of contacts. I sat down for a good conversation with Steve Kelly on just his third day on the job as the new vice president of economic development for the Lawrence chamber of commerce.
To be clear, Kelly did not brag about his Rolodex. Kelly may end up being one of Lawrence’s most important salesmen. His job is to interact with and help close the deals with new and expanding companies that will produce new jobs in Lawrence and Douglas County. But I got the impression that Kelly is the type of salesman who doesn’t oversell anything. Instead, he’s the type who will always remember your name, where you met, and figure out a way to make a connection whenever your paths cross.
While he didn’t tout his connections, I know there are many in the community who are excited about them. Kelly came to The Chamber after having served as the deputy secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce and director of business and community development for the agency. When asked, he can rattle off a list of big deals he has been a part of: the Mars candy plant in Topeka; the Kansas Speedway and surrounding retail development; General Motors expansions in Kansas City; and many aviation deals in Wichita.
The complete list would be much longer. He had been with the Department of Commerce for 26 years. He was the guy who always survived the change in administrations. Political appointees have short shelf lives, but deal makers last longer than the fat-free mayonnaise in my refrigerator.
Lawrence has had experienced economic development leaders in the past decade, but often their experience was in different regions of the country. Not only does Kelly know the players in Kansas, he’s lived in Lawrence for nearly 30 years.
Economic development and the jobs its produces are always important, so it would be hyperbole for me to say the community is at some sort of crossroads. But this is an important hire for The Chamber. There has been a lot of turnover in both this position and the Chamber CEO and president position. It is not coincidental that the turnover has coincided with some fairly stagnant job growth numbers over the last decade.
As I’ve said before, I like to share some of the conversations I have with community leaders, so here is a look at three takeaways from my meeting with Kelly:
It is a common refrain that Lawrence has a poor reputation in broader economic development circles. What you hear is that projects are more difficult to do here than they are elsewhere. I’ve heard that refrain through both good times and bad, so I am never sure what to make of it. Business executives, I suspect, always want to move faster.
But there is no doubt that such a reputation could be damaging to Lawrence's and Douglas County’s efforts to grow jobs. Kelly was diplomatic about the topic but certainly didn’t dismiss the complaints.
“I think there probably is some work to do in that area,” Kelly said of Lawrence's reputation in economic development circles. Some of that commentary is out there. It is not a real large group of folks who work on these projects. There are a lot of conversations. Both good words and bad words get around pretty quickly.
“I think there has been a perception that Lawrence hasn’t been as easy or as amenable or as welcoming as some other communities have.”
Kelly, though, also said that Lawrence is a well-planned community. It hasn’t traditionally done things “willy-nilly.”
“One of the reasons Lawrence is cool is maybe because the community hasn’t done some of these things that people sought,” Kelly said. “But I would say there is a perception out there that there are easier places to do things than Lawrence.”
I’m confident that there is a subset of the population who has no problem with that perception. But that reputation comes with a question: Will it hold Lawrence back from being a jobs leader?
I didn’t ask Kelly that one. It was only his third day on the job. But he knows what he has signed up for.
“The world is pretty competitive right now,” Kelly said.
VenturePark, the city-owned industrial park on the eastern edge of the city, opened for business in October 2014. The park, though, is still seeking its first tenant.
Menards, the large home-improvement retailer, has announced plans to construct at the park a center that manufactures and distributes certain building materials. But the company has put those plans on indefinite hold. I don’t have much of an update for you on that, other than chamber officials previously have said they were hopeful the company would re-evaluate after the presidential election. I do know that Kelly has worked with the Menards folks in his state capacity, and I’m sure they are among the first calls he is making in his new job.
Kelly said, despite the park being empty, there is no reason to second guess the city’s decision to proceed with Venture Park. It is right next door to the East Hills Business Park, it has easy access to the recently completed South Lawrence Trafficway, it has a rail spur, and it was on old industrial property that was going to need to be cleaned up regardless. (You may remember, it was the old Farmland fertilizer plant.)
“I think the decision they made at the time was a very good decision,” Kelly said.
In terms of what the public’s expectations should be for the park in 2017, that’s a tough one to answer.
“It is not something you can put a magic timeline on,” Kelly said. “If it hasn’t happened by a certain time, you can’t say it is a failure. I don’t think it works that way. I have seen enough examples to know that getting over that first hurdle is typically the hardest one. Once you get that first tenant, it usually takes care of itself.”
Regardless, I still think it is an important year for VenturePark. At some point, an empty business park becomes demoralizing. I think a key question will be how aggressive the city is willing to become with incentives to get over that first hurdle. It is worth remembering that through the Farmland bankruptcy process, the city got the land for free, plus received a multimillion-dollar trust fund to clean up the property. Granted, the city has spent millions on the roads and infrastructure at the site, but the deal the city got on the property may allow it to be fairly aggressive.
Kelly did not weigh in much on the new policy the city has adopted as it relates to economic development incentives. He said he hasn’t studied it enough to offer specific comments. But he did talk about how incentives are an “important” piece of the puzzle in attracting a company, with other big pieces including workforce availability, workforce training and the “general climate or vibe” of the community.
“When you are changing a policy like that, you want to understand what you are trying to accomplish, and then be very diligent in trying to determine what the unintended consequences may be.”
The policy changes at City Hall, though, are just one item to keep an eye on with the City Commission. City Manager Tom Markus has talked about the need for the City Commission to do more big-picture, strategic planning, and 2017 seems to be the year that is going to happen. Such a process will encompass many topics, but certainly jobs and economic development will be a part of the discussion.
It will be interesting to see what type of vision the community comes up with for economic development. Throw into the mix that at the same time the University of Kansas will be getting a new chancellor. Some of KU’s strategic planning has opened the door for the West Campus to become more business and entrepreneurial oriented. If the next chancellor has a passion for that, an exciting plan could be crafted. Imagine if Lawrence’s next business park was on West Campus, where companies that want to have close access to talent among the university’s faculty and students could locate.
Kelly didn’t get into any of those specifics, but I know forging relationships with the university the city and the county is a priority for him.
“We can sit here and talk about and know about a lot of our assets, but what’s important is to have a real plan on how to take advantage of those attributes that set us apart or give us an advantage,” he said.
Chamber still considering major, private capital campaign; eco devo leaders hoping to get an assist from Phil Mickelson
There’s a major economic development project in the works in Lawrence, but it may not be the type you’re thinking about.
Lawrence Chamber of Commerce leaders are likely to make a decision later this month to launch a fundraising drive — or in the lingo of the business, a capital campaign — to better support economic development efforts in the community.
The idea behind the campaign is simple: Have private businesses and individuals start stepping up to the plate at a level that is much closer to the funding that city and county government currently provide the chamber.
“Our public sector level of funding is tremendous for a community of this size,” said Greg Williams, president and CEO of the chamber. “But our private sector financial support leaves a lot to be desired and, frankly, for good reason.
“We need to start proving ourselves in the job creation arena.”
Chamber leaders received a report last week from a Columbus, Ohio-base consulting firm estimating the potential for a capital campaign in Douglas County. Williams declined to release that number, but he said he was very encouraged by the findings. (UPDATE: According to a presentation I heard at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Board meeting this morning, the chamber is looking at a goal of $850,000 over a period of three years.)
“They brought us a number that they can guarantee they can raise,” Williams said. “It is a number that will really allow us to go full speed ahead.”
The chamber’s board of directors now must decided whether to formally commit to the campaign. Williams said a meeting is scheduled for Feb. 27 to discuss the campaign, which likely would allow donors to make pledges for up to a three-year period.
If approved, the chamber likely would launch the campaign in early April. Williams said the campaign would be introduced in a way to make it clear where any money raised would be spent. He said programs, among others, would include one focused on helping existing businesses grow and expand, one focusing on entrepreneurship that would work with the KU School of Business, and a program aimed at boosting the chamber’s ability to recruit businesses from outside the region.
Williams — who has been on the job since late May — said he’s already working to boost that effort. He and the chamber’s economic development project manager are flying to California in the coming days to begin talking to business prospects.
Why California? The reason may surprise you.
“The minute Phil Mickelson made his proclamation that he's leaving California because of the state’s income tax, I bought a plane ticket,” Williams said. “We have to reach those businesses that are preparing to leave the state in droves.”
In case you missed it, Mickelson has created a bit of feeding frenzy on California’s wealthy after he said he was considering moving from the state for tax reasons.
But California may not be the only area that has a messaging problem at the moment. Williams said he’s also working on an initiative to help folks in Kansas City better understand Lawrence.
He said one of the surprising things he’s learned while in Lawrence is that many Kansas City business leaders view Lawrence as some distant place. Williams said the chamber is working with a firm to create some messaging strategies — which could include actual advertisements in the Kansas City media — to promote the idea that “Lawrence is next,” as in the next stop down the road.
He said he recently talked to a broker who pitches Lawrence locations to business in the Kansas City. Williams said the broker said the response often is “why would we go that far west?”
One of the marketing points a chamber campaign is likely to make is that Lawrence is closer to downtown Kansas City than Grandview is to KCI.
“There are people who think Lawrence is Goodland, and that is a problem,” Williams said.


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Happy National Puppy Day! To celebrate, Doggy Times will put out three posts on puppy tips, house-training, and puppy training.
What do you think of when someone says “puppy”? A fluffy face? Sweet puppy breath? Perhaps you’ve had a puppy before and you immediately think, “Work!” Yes, those sweet little furballs are a true workout! Nipping, chewing, peeing, jumping, and barking are some of their favorite activities. For most, though, the inconveniences and troubles of puppy raising are worth it a hundred times over. I mean, really, look at that adorable face!
Having a puppy is a whole lot easier if you take the time to train your puppy. Pups with basic manners are more fun to live with, too. If you train him, you will have more time to simply enjoy his short puppyhood.
Yes, I’m Listening…a Little
Your puppy has a super short attention span. He probably won’t want to train for 10-15 minutes like an adult dog, even if you have delicious treats. Don’t force him to do long training sessions. He will get bored and not cooperate, and you will wonder why you ended up with such a dumb pup. Your puppy is very intelligent, but he has so much energy that he doesn’t like to focus and stay still. 5 minutes is good for some puppies, but others will need even less time.
Having a short training session doesn’t mean that training should be fast and furious. Let your puppy take his time when he learns. If you rush him, he will get confused and not like training with you. Keep it fun!
Collar and Leash
Uh…you don’t have to teach your dog to wear a collar and leash, right? Actually, you do. Some puppies will accept wearing a collar and leash more than others, but they still need to learn. The minute your puppy gets home, you should put his collar on. He might fuss a little, so distract him with a toy or treat. Leashes, however, are a totally different thing. Most puppies can’t stand having that tempting string-thing dangling by them. Attack!! If you introduce the leash positively, though, your pup will be happy to oblige. Here’s how to do it:
Attach your leash to your dog’s collar inside the house, but don’t pick it up yet. Let your puppy drag it around for a few seconds, with you distracting him with treats. Do this for however many days you think necessary, only don’t rush it. Next, pick up the leash while inside. Your puppy probably isn’t going to be happy about this! To help him, show your puppy that you have a simply delicious treat in your hand. Lead your puppy a few steps before giving it to him. Continue this for a few days. Now you can test it outside. Still have a few treats in your pocket to lead your puppy. However, he’ll probably be so thrilled at being outside without a fence that he won’t need it! By the way, now’s a good time to discourage pulling. Don’t let your puppy tug, because when he’s older, it won’t be so cute!
The Basic Commands
If you don’t enroll your puppy in a puppy obedience class (a very good idea, by the way), you need to teach him some manners at home. Start with sit. It’s very simple and good for your puppy’s short attention span. Next, work on the most important life skill, come. This is such a vital command that I can’t stress it’s importance enough! Once your smart pup has mastered these you can move onto some other fun ones like lay down, high five, drop it, and take a bow.
Always, always keep training super duper fun for your puppy. Read the Tricks page to get a better idea of how to teach him and what supplies you’ll need.
Have fun with your puppy, and remember to keep training paw-sitive!
Happy National Puppy Day! To celebrate, Doggy Times will put out three posts on puppy tips, house-training, and puppy training.
So, you are now officially the owner of a cute little puppy. Are you happy? Good! However, to keep that happy feeling alive through these sometimes challenging months, you need to start puppy raising on the right foot – and, of course, paw. Here are a few tips to help you out!
Take Me With You!
Your puppy is like a sponge, soaking up all of his experiences, good and bad. This means that if he has a bad scare from a vacuum, he may continue to be frightened of it even as an adult dog. If you don’t get your furry friend out in the world so he can experience new people, animals, smells, and places, he might grow up to be fearful or – even worse – aggressive of what he’s unfamiliar with. Don’t start getting panicky, though! It’s not that hard to help your pup adjust to the human world. You simply need to expose your puppy to any situation he may encounter as an adult. Here’s a short example list of people, animals, and places he should be exposed to before he hits 16 weeks:
People with hats, umbrellas, shopping carts, canes, people in wheelchairs, screaming children, older people, babies (with supervision, of course), people in overcoats, people running, jogging, biking, skateboarding, etc.
Animals: large dogs, small dogs, cats, chickens, cows, sheep, horses, hamsters, etc.
Places: outdoor restaurants (check to make sure they allow dogs first), stores, homes other than yours, parks, places with big bodies of water, places with cars, etc.
If you get your puppy used to being handled while he’s young, his adult life will be so much easier. Here are a few things you can do with your puppy to help him get used to being touched: tickle his toes, rub his belly, touch his tail, open his mouth and touch his teeth, hold his feet for a few seconds, lift the flaps of his ears, stroke his snout, etc.
Some puppies are very upset when you try to touch them on certain places. If this is the case, you will have to proceed very slowly. Have a special treat between your fingers and let your dog lick it. While he is busy enjoying it, casually and gently touch the place. Don’t do it so much that your puppy begins to wiggle or struggle uncomfortably. If you do this about every day, your puppy will soon accept your touching that spot because he associates it with something good.
You probably already know this, but here’s another reminder: never play rough with your puppy. If you encourage* growling, snapping, jumping, or clawing during your play sessions, your puppy will continue acting that way for the rest of his life – even if he weighs 130 pounds. And having a small Dachshund isn’t an excuse for this either. He will end up biting an innocent child or even adult who starts to play with him.
Tug-of-war with a rope toy is a fun game that many dogs enjoy. However, it probably isn’t the best game to play with a puppy. While you see tug as just a fun game, at the other end of the rope, your puppy sees it as a test of strength. That means that, when he wins, he will think that he is better than you. You are accidentally letting him challenge your role as pack leader! If you choose to play tug with your pup, make sure you win as many times as he does. However, it is a very good idea to let tug-of-war wait until your puppy is old enough to understand that it’s just a game and you’re still boss.
*Encourage doesn’t just mean saying, “Good dog, Rover!” If you ooh and aah, laugh, or even let a smile sneak up on you, your puppy will think you are saying, “Good dog, Rover! Snap, growl, jump!” When your puppy starts acting up during play sessions, the game must stop immediately.
Enjoy this special time with your puppy, and please take the time to raise him right.
Happy National Puppy Day! To celebrate, Doggy Times will put out three posts on puppy tips, house-training, and trick training.
There have been hundreds of books written on house-training puppies. Within these books are different methods of teaching a puppy where to go potty. Don’t get overwhelmed! House-training your puppy isn’t as difficult as it may seem. It just takes time, patience, and encouraging words from you.
Set the Clock
From the minute you bring that little bundle of love home, set a timer on your clock or phone that will ring about every 15-30 minutes. If your puppy has an accident before the timer rings, you aren’t taking him out often enough. Set the timer for less time.
Get a Cage
It might seem cruel to lock your dog in a cage, but to him, it’s his own little cave, his special room where he can retreat from noise and have a nap. Also, it means you can leave him alone in the house in his cage without having to worry about him chewing your shoes, peeing on the carpet, or attacking the leather couch. With house-training, having a crate means that you can be reassured that your dog won’t go pee during the night or when you’re gone (as long as it is not for a long period of time; puppies do not have good bladder control). Dogs don’t like to mess up their sleeping area, so this makes having a crate really handy.
Remember, when you purchase a crate for your pup, get one that will fit his size when he’s a grown dog too. Once you’re used to the luxury of a crate, you won’t want to go without! Sometimes, if his cage is too big, though, he will pee in one corner and sleep in the other. It might be a good idea to purchase a crate with a movable panel to make it smaller or larger. Another option is simply putting a cardboard box with something heavy in it inside the cage to half the size.
Section Off the House
Your puppy will have less places to go potty in the house if you block his way to certain rooms. Bedroom, closet, and bathroom doors will need to remain closed from now on. Also, if you have a hallway, a baby gate restricting your dog’s access to it would be a good idea. You could also put up a small gate separating your kitchen from the living room. This way, your puppy won’t sneak off while you’re cooking or watching TV to go potty in another room. These gates will also help keep clothes and toys away from your puppy’s sharp teeth!
Whatever you do, don’t yell at your dog when he goes potty in the house, and please don’t hit him! He is a babyand doesn’t know any better. If you shout at your pup, swat him, or stick his nose in his mess you will ruin that beautiful bond that was just created. Your puppy will think that you’re someone to be avoided and will try to hide his messes under chairs, on rugs, or in dark corners. Don’t make house-training more difficult than it has to be!
Your dog has just had an accident in the house. Take a deep breath! Now, quickly clean up his mess with smell-removing cleanser (this way, he won’t smell his old mess and go again on that spot). Don’t punish your puppy. Set your timer for less time and look into your puppy’s licorice eyes, full of love for you. You’re not irritated at that little pupsie-wupsie anymore, are you?
When you take your pup outside to relieve himself, he probably won’t be interested. He’ll sniff around, bark, and try to play with you. Don’t punish him for this. Your puppy has no idea what you really want, so disciplining him would be unfair. Instead, enjoy some outdoor time with your new dog. Take him on a short walk or run around the yard with him. Hopefully, he will go potty once when he’s outside with you (if he doesn’t, take him inside and go back out again in a few minutes). When he does go, praise him and give him a small treat. Remember, there’s no such thing as too much praise for a puppy who has gone potty!
But He WON’T Go Potty Outside!
Remember to remain calm! Now, when your dog has another accident in the house, soak up some of it with a newspaper. Lay that icky paper in the yard where you want him to go potty. This way, he will smell it and want to go there again. Also, if your puppy is continuing to go potty in the house, you aren’t taking him out enough.
If your dog is going to be a large breed, don’t carry him outside if you think he’s about to go in the house. Soon, he will be too large to just scoop up! Hook a finger under his collar and gently show him outside while he is a puppy, encouraging him to follow you. When your puppy has that growth spurt, he will already know to follow you outside.
Know the Signs
Can you tell when your puppy needs to relieve himself? Circling and sniffing are the main indicators. Also, if your pup scratches, whines, or barks at the door, he obviously needs to go out!
Yes, house-training is a lot of work, but look at that little baby looking up at you, ready to play. In the long run, the cleaning, nighttime potty breaks, spoiled carpeting and rugs will be worth it. You’ll end up with that beautiful dog of your dreams! You can choose to make house-training fun for your little pup or you can spoil the beautiful relationship that has begun. It’s up to you!
Puppy raising is full of trails and errors, but you’ll pull through better than ever with time, patience, and lots of paw-sitive reinforcement!
Easter is a wonderful holiday. Spring has sprung, and everything outside has turned to a lush green. For many humans, Easter is a rush-rush time, filled with many activities. After going to church, it’s time to see the family, eat a big dinner, and have some Easter candy. It’s a very busy day, and it’s important to make sure your dog is not forgotten in all of the holiday bustle. You dog doesn’t understand that it’s a holiday and may get scared and confused.
Some people have parties on Easter, and your dog can be part of that, too. If family is coming over to your house or you are bringing your dog to another house, make sure you follow these simple safety rules to keep your dog safe:
Put all purses and bags up on a counter, out of reach from your dog.
If any presents are unwrapped, throw away all trash.
Don’t give your dog any candy. It could hurt him.
If your dog is stressed out from all of the hustle and bustle, let him nap in a quiet room with a few toys to keep him company.
Leash your dog when the company is at the door. This way, your dog won’t bounce up and down on them.
Always make sure your dog is not underfoot; it’s no fun to be stepped on. Ouch!
Many people, as an Easter tradition, will have an Easter egg hunt. Plastic eggs filled with candy will be hidden outside or in the house for the excited children to find. This is great, but just make sure your dog doesn’t find an Easter egg for himself and break into it. Candy can make dogs very sick so it is best for us to stay away from it.
Keep all chocolate away from your dog. Chocolate is poison to dogs. Please place all Easter goodies up high and out of reach of your furry companion. If your dog tangles with any chocolate, call your veterinarian right away. If your dog eats too much chocolate (especially dark chocolate), it could kill him.
As an Easter treat, you could bake your dog some homemade doggy biscuits. Your dog will love you for it! You could even put some dog biscuits into baggies and tie them up with pretty ribbon to give away to all of your dog’s friends.
To celebrate the upcoming National Puppy Day, here is a post to help you decide if you’re up for the challenge of raising a puppy. It’s hard, yes, but also very rewarding!
Are you thinking about getting a puppy? That’s great! However, I won’t tell you that having a puppy is always a happy-happy experience. It can be very hard to keep that ball of energy calm and tolerate his rowdy behavior. You need to have patience, a good attitude, and a sense of humor.
Are You Ready For a Puppy?
Sometimes, the time just isn’t right to get a puppy. Are you gone at school or work most of the day? Is nobody at home to watch the puppy? This probably isn’t the best time to introduce a puppy into your life if this is the case.
Do you have time to devote to training and exercising your puppy? Exercising will vary from puppy to puppy, but you should set aside at least 30 minutes to vigorously play/walk with your puppy. Remember, this time doesn’t include petting or just hanging out with your new pal, bonding with him. Training is also vital to having a well behaved adult in the near future. Your puppy is like a blank sheet of paper, waiting to be drawn on. You can neatly do this yourself by teaching him polite commands like Sit and Lay Down or let your puppy scribble on it himself. If you choose the latter, you will end up with a big mess!
What about potty training? Do you have three weeks or more to devote to teaching your puppy the appropriate place to go? He will have to be taken outside about every thirty minutes, maybe more. And to top it off, you will have to clean up your puppy’s messes several times a day that he does in the house will maintaining a good attitude. After all, he’s just a baby.
Do you enjoy keeping your house spotless? Do you have lots of breakable things and nice carpet and rugs? If so, your puppy will quickly damage or ruin them! They get their muddy paw-prints all over your house, chew the fringes of carpets, knock over statues and whatnot, and go potty on your carpet. I’m not going to lie and tell you that puppies are little angels. They can be very destructive!
Are you prepared to deal with teething? Teething is when a puppy looses his baby teeth and the big ones grow in. It can be very painful and uncomfortable for your furry friend and make him want to chew EVERYTHING. Shoes, wires (extremely dangerous! You dog could get an electrical shock!), the kids’ toys, furniture, and anything else within chewing reach will be a victim of your pup’s sharp teeth. You will have to supervise your puppy and accept that some things will be chewed up and destroyed. Love that new coffee table? Prepare for little teeth marks along the edges! One good thing about having a puppy, though, is that you will be forced to keep your house a lot cleaner!
Holidays are not good times to get a puppy. Everyone is busy and has other things to attend to like baking, decorating, or entertaining guests. Your new puppy, still lonely for its mother and litter mates, will feel forgotten and scared. It’s easy to forget such a little thing as a puppy, and it can happen to the best of us. Frightening your dog in such a way will lead to unwanted behaviors in the future. Please wait until after any holidays to get a new puppy!
When you get a new puppy, you are making a promise to him. You’re promising to take good care of and love him for the rest of his life. Are you up for the commitment? Please think of the future before you get a dog! Are you going to move to a house or apartment where they do not allow dogs? Obviously, don’t go out and buy a puppy! Also, you need to think long and hard about the breed of dog you want and decide if it fits your lifestyle. You dog could live for ten years or more, and you want to make absolutely sure that this is the kind of dog you want to spend that time with.
Can’t Handle a Rowdy Pup? Get an Adult!
Puppies aren’t for everyone. They’re super (SUPER!!) cute, yes, but they are also a lot of trouble. If you think that you can’t handle a boisterous puppy but still want a canine companion, get an adult. There are many friendly adult dogs in shelters or rescues just waiting for a home. They’ve passed the teething stage and most of them are already potty trained. Also, by adopting an adult dog, you’re giving him a second chance. Check out your local shelter or Petfinder.com for dogs looking for homes in your area.
Recently, I went on a hike with my humans. I was very worried on the ride to the trail as I thought I was going to the vet’s, but I soon calmed down once we passed that building. I had a great time following the path with my excellent sniffer, and I saw something I had never seen before: a big body of water. Some of my humans went to throw pebbles in the sparkling water, so I had to come too. First, I carefully sniffed to make sure so much water wouldn’t be dangerous. Then, I dipped my paw in. It was cold! I was so thrilled at the wet sensation that I probably would have jumped right in if I hadn’t had a leash on. I was ready to go back to my roots and retrieve like my ancestors!
Hiking with your dog can be a whole lot of fun, even when all of the trees and grass are dead. We found that we had a lovely view because all of the leaves were gone! Before you give this fun activity a try, however, there are a few safety tips you should keep in mind:
Are Your Dog’s Paws Tough Enough?
Sometimes, rough terrains can wreak havoc on your dog’s feet. Rocks, branches, and gravel can bruise or cut his paws. What do you usually walk your dog on? A smooth sidewalk, gravel, or grass? If your dog walks on smooth and soft surfaces like grass and sidewalks most of the time, his paws are not tough enough to take hiking. Slowly build up to increase the durability of his paws by walking on gravel for a few minutes during your walks. Increase the amount of time you spend on rougher surfaces every week, and soon your dog will be up for the challenge of hiking! Obviously, never walk where there might be glass or any other sharp objects. This will not help make your dog’s paws tougher and might seriously damage them!
How fit is your dog? I run often, so even though my humans were tired after our hike, I felt like going on for much longer. If your dog is only used to leisurely strolls, however, you need to build up the time you walk him to get him fit enough to hike.
Remember, puppies and older dogs do not have the stamina middle-aged dogs do. A puppy’s joints are still growing, so too much jumping, running, or walking could harm them. And older dogs, because of aging joints, cannot walk as long or far either. Consult your veterinarian before your take a puppy or older dog on a hike.
If your dog is a puppy or senior, don’t allow him to jump off of steps or rocks while on hikes. If he’s small enough, you can just pick him up and carry him. You won’t be able to this with some dogs, though! If Fido weighs more than you can handle, choose a different hiking trail that doesn’t have stairs or rocks you have to jump or climb.While on my hike, my humans had to carry me up some steep wooden stairs (pictured above). I wanted so badly to jump, but they thought it would be too much on my older joints.
Take Advantage of Benches!
Even if your dog looks fresh, take some breathers while on your hike. Dogs can be very secretive and don’t like to admit when they’re tired. Plus, you’ll find that resting on a bench or rock will give you time to admire the scenery. My humans stopped at two benches to rest, and, even though I wanted to go on, I sat on them too.
Always, always bring water for your dog in the car for after the hike. If your dog gets really hot and thirsty, bring a water bottle with you and let your dog lap it up. If you don’t like sharing a bottle of water with your doggy, you can buy a collapsible dog dish that fits easily in a pocket. There are these nifty bowls on Amazon.com here and here.
Stay on Leash
Naturally, don’t let your dog take a hike off-leash. There are several good reasons for this. First of all, it could be harmful to other people taking walks. A small child might get scared of a large dog (or even a small one) coming towards him. It doesn’t matter if your dog likes little kids and other people. Most people have no way of knowing that and don’t want to be jumped on and kissed by your dog. A person who doesn’t like dogs or who has been bitten by one before might take this as a threat. Another important reason is your dog’s safety. Without a leash, he could run off the path, fall down an overhanging rock, tangle with some small wildlife, etc. Plus, what if your dog decides not to come when he’s called? That good smelling stick will be seen as more impelling than your repeated calls. Please be considerate of other people and a responsible dog owner and leash your dog!

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The garden is an important part of ancient Chinese architecture. It is a combination of structures and man-made landscape with natural scenery. It does not only provide lodging but also landscaping with architecture, environment and human in full harmony.
The ancient Chinese garden originated in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, when monarchs began to build parks for their own leisure and pleasure. During the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period, it was a fashion to build gardens. Until the Han dynasty private gardens appeared. After the Jin, and Northern and Southern dynasties, private gardens came into vogue as the rich and powerful sought to express their sentiment in landscaping. During the Tang and Song dynasties, a poetic touch was added to the layout and scenes of a garden, and became a general feature. In the Qing dynasty, garden architecture reached its peak.
There are many classifications according to different criteria. Herein garden architecture falls into four categories.
Imperial: These gardens, usually spacious, exquisite and grandiose, were built for royal families by thousands of people. Images of these gardens will linger in one’s mind forever. Now most former imperial gardens are in Beijing.
Private: These gardens are usually built in urban area, neighbored with residences. Since land is expensive in cities, private gardens are generally small and simple but delicate and look tasteful and play multiple functions. Most famous private gardens are situated in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.
Monastic: These gardens are commonly found in monasteries against quiet and verdant mountains. With natural beauty, these gardens are solemn within the sacred atmosphere.
Garden in scenic resorts: They usually occupy large public areas since they are based on the combination of natural scenes and man-made landscape and structures in suburb area or mountains.
To enjoy or appraise a Chinese garden, there are six aspects to keep in mind.
2. the way rockery and water are arranged
3. Pavilions, terraces, halls and chambers
4. Flower and tree arrangement
5. Appropriate names
6. Poetic touch
A Chinese garden consists of four parts:
1. Rock formations
2. Water scenes
4. Flowers and trees
Some Famous Chinese Garden
In China, many imperial and private gardens have been designated as world culture heritage sites by the UNESCO. Below I just list 7 for your info.
Summer Palace (Beijing)
Old Summer Palace (Beijing)
Chengde Mountain Resort (Chengde City, Hebei province)
Humble Adiministrator’s Garden (Suzhou)
Master of the Nets Garden (Suzhou)
Lingering Garden (Suzhou)
For info about some famous Suzhou Gardens please simply click Suzhou Gardens.
David is a travel consultant from http://www.chinafacttours.com. He have studied and traveled in many places in China.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/David_Bruce_Tan/221742
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4503425

domain: artistic


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Eventually I learned there was a degree in product design. That I could do something that involved the design of anything AND making things with my hands. It blew my mind. A light switched on and I was all about it. I studied at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where I designed furniture and handbags and jewelry and cars and worked the hardest I'd ever worked. Not sleeping for 3 nights at a stretch to finish projects, blood sweat and tears kind of thing. It was really eye opening. I worked creating furniture for a while when I graduated until I decided to get into handbags one night - and the next morning I got an email recruiting me to my first job in the business. It felt very natural, and very meant to be.
Photography by Layli Samimi


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She was sitting under a tree, throwing pebbles into the pond, still brooding over the events that took place earlier that day. Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Went the pebbles into the pond, each time creating a ripple in the calm water, her thoughts echoing an entirely different chaos.
He should not have yelled at me like that! So what if he’s my elder brother. I’ve grown old too now, I am not a baby anymore…
Plonk! Plonk! Plonk…!
And how dare he call me an idiot? I am not an idiot! I am as intelligent as he is, may be more! And what happened was an accident…
Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Plonk…!
I know he’s always had this hatred for me. Momma’s blue eyed boy! Why is he always trying to put me down!!! We are just a few years apart anyway. Why does he have to act so superior?
Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Plonk! Plonk…!!!
I was insulted. I am ALWAYS insulted by him. This time, he’s going to pay for it! This time I will make him regret yelling at me! I will show him I am equal in all respects to him. This time…
She was wet; the big splash brought her back to reality. Droplets had formed on her face; her hair and dress were wet too. For a while she was confused. She had no idea who made the splash. With anger in her eyes she looked here and there to locate the source of the splash. She found no one. Slowly her eyes fell on her own palm. The one which was throwing pebbles in the pond. It now held a big stone. SHE had made the splash!
While brooding over her brother, she never realized when her hand began picking and chucking larger stones in the pond. With each passing thought her hand was grabbing a bigger pebble, till it turned into grabbing stones.
How often do we let, small grudges, misgivings and self pity to take a big ugly form by brooding over it, by unnecessarily dwelling on it?
Anger, ego, jealousy, self pity, pride, malice, vengeance, vanity all begin at pebbles, and we only realize their hazardousness once we are drenched by a big splash. Do you want to curb it at pebbles? Or are you waiting to get wet?

domain: literature