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I love promoting my clients! Each month I’ll showcase one of my authors. Please support them and their books! Here’s a look at some of the books my clients have written in the last few years.
Featured Client of the Month ~ October
This month I’m featuring author Randy Kay, who writes incredible stories set in the end-times. His novel Will’s Purpose encouraged and inspired me tremendously and helped me envision the future in a way that gave me an infusion of greater hope and joy. He recently completed another novel The Last Earth, which continues the story of Will. Here is what he has to say about his writing journey:
My career started as an agnostic writer in Chicago wishing to pen a religious column for the Tribune. I didn’t particularly like the fundamentalist devotees whose espousals typically contradicted their practices; otherwise known as hypocrites. So exposing religiosity’s fallacies through a series of articles proved satisfying. After work one evening, I entered my bedroom, and in a moment of vulnerability I earnestly shouted out to God, “If you are real, show yourself to me.” Less than a year later he answered this agnostic’s prayer in a profound way beyond what any words could remotely explain. I met God, and became a believer in Jesus Christ.
Over twenty years later I decided to author a novel, then as a believer wishing to again challenge some religious paradigms. By this time I had also extensively studied end-times prophecies. Combining these two passions, I wrote a novel entitled Will’s Purpose. It’s a story part true, part fiction, as are most novels. The beginning starts with a demonic vision by a young man (true), followed by an apparent murder (also true), followed by a murder-mystery (fiction), and an end-times plot (part fiction, part possibly true–time will tell).
There is a section in the novel that proved so emotional for me that it took several months to write because much of it is true. That section represents my encounter with Jesus during a near-death experience in the hospital. My eyes often teared in remembrance of the most dramatic encounter in my life–my time spent within the tender care of the one I used to adamantly doubt.
The first drafts of Will’s Purpose were not artful. My editor, Susanne Lakin, turned a lemon into lemonade by sweetening my final manuscript with her professionalism. This novel comes with a warning, however: May Be Hazardous for Religionists. I still do not think highly of religion or religious institutions that impede relationship with God.
My second novel, The Last Earth, continues the Will’s Purpose saga as an adventure-laden apocalyptic story with a twist. This novel will release during the 2012 Christmas season. Writing The Last Earth proved cathartic as I tried to answer the age-old question: ‘Why does God allow bad things to happen?’ Most of us appreciate the New Testament grace displayed by Jesus. Few understand the side of God’s judgment often displayed in the Old Testament. While telling the story I believe God answered that question for me, and I hope my newest novel conveys this answer in an entertaining manner.
I have two other works in progress, my first nonfiction book, Truth Beckons, and a fictional story about a woman whose chooses death as the ultimate penance for committing the unforgivable sin. I feel that my purpose is to relate the unwavering grace of Jesus Christ from the trained perspective of a former agnostic who is in constant need of forgiveness.
Featured Client of the Month ~ September
This month I’m featuring emerging author Valarie Richardson, who writes under the name Valarie Lovelight. Valarie’s beautiful insights into life and faith are inspired by her many rich and challenging life experiences, which are evident in her compelling novel Seeing through the Eyes of Love–a story with themes of judging and mercy and compassion. Here is what she has to say about her writing journey:
My name is Valarie Lovelight. As an administrative professional, I deal with people who are sick, dying or have lost family members. Often, these beset and bereaved people need a ministerial visit for prayer, comfort and other services.
Over the years, I have interacted with thousands of people who have touched my life in their struggles and tragedies. This is where the heart strings of my writing stems from. Being able to draw on their emotions, oftentimes, I’ve become “one” with that person in what I’ve seen and heard.
In 2010, on Thanksgiving Day, I remember driving around the city and handing out plates of food. Having stopped at a light, there was a man holding a sign—but looking straight ahead to avoid eye contact. As we offered him a plate, he immediately dropped his sign, reached into the bag and began to eat the first thing he pulled out. He ate so fast, I had to turn my head to hide the tears.
Seeing through the Eyes of Love is my first published work and my fifth written work dated back to 2009 when I first entertained the thought of having this story published. This story was written to illustrate a series of teachings I call The Importance of Love. What started out as a short story, thanks to Susanne’s mentoring, has turned into a novel. The subject matter came from my actual interactions with people during street ministry; and my working in the past with people who were on public assistance. There are life stories all around us! I am compelled to tell these hurting people’s stories—for others to see and experience what they live day-to-day!
But on a lighter note, I love to write poetry as well as light-hearted stories that make you smile.
Featured Client of the Month ~ August
This month I’m featuring author Lilian Gafni, who has written a spectacular book set during The Inquisition in Spain. Her research is impressive, and her characters come to life in this revealing story that will touch your heart. Here is an interview with Lilian. Be sure to buy her new release Flower from Castile!
I was born in Cairo, Egypt and schooled in a non-denominational, French Catholic School of St. Vincent de Paul. The school accepted Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Muslim and Jewish girls. I loved the nuns, and they were good to me. In Egypt all spoke Arabic besides the international languages found there. My father came from a Greek background so he spoke Greek in addition to Italian. He spoke seven languages. I never picked up the Greek language, because my paternal grandmother died young. We spoke French at home, but when my maternal grandmother visited we spoke to her in Ladino, a mixture of Castilian Spanish and Hebrew words. The word Spain in Hebrew is Sepharad, and my family is of Sephardic background. My ancestors were exiled from Spain in 1492, but Ladino was kept as a spoken language throughout the centuries. When the state of Israel was born in 1948 we became the target of mobs in Egypt. My parents then immigrated to Israel where I had to learn Hebrew. Later on I served two years in the Israel Defense Forces and transferred to the Negev Desert where I met my American-born husband Joel. Afterwards we came to California to raise our two children. Since I spoke Romance languages the transition to English was easy. I was able to finish high school, then college, university and graduate work.
Tell us about the genre of your work.
I write both fiction and nonfiction, although I did discovered later on that fiction is where I want to be.
Why did you choose this genre?
I feel comfortable in fiction, which helps me create without bounds. I still adhere to portray accurate historical events within the parameters of creative fiction. In fiction I find that characters speak to me as live persons. They take a life of their own and dictate which way they will evolve. I believe that we draw these characteristics from real live characters from the past. These can be an amalgamation of several characters into one.
What are some of your books, stories that have been published?
In addition to my three books, Living a Blissful Marriage, Hello, Exile and Flower from Castile, I also published a short story called “Rust”y in the anthology L.A. My Way. Rusty is the story of a vagabond using many stratagems to trick his unsuspecting victims to help him survive. I had fun writing it and it falls into a satirical category.
Tell us about your second book.
For my second book I switched to fiction where I wanted to explore. My second book Hello, Exile is historical fiction based on a true-life story. In the 70s I worked in the US for the commission on Soviet Jewry, where our efforts centered on helping Soviet Jews leave an oppressive regime in the Soviet Union. I corresponded with prisoners of conscience in exile, and with Ida Nudel, the main character in my book on which this book is based. At the time, I used the fictitious name of Klara Abramovna Abramovitch for my main character to disguise her real identity and not endanger her life. I then classified Hello, Exile as historical fiction even though it was biographical. I wrote Hello, Exile back in 1987 then put it away in a drawer, not knowing what to do with it. I published it in 2004, which makes my first written book to become my second book to be published. I guess it’s never too late to reactivate a dormant book. Hello, Exile is the story of human strength in the face of everything meant to destroy it.
In my newest book, Flower from Castile Trilogy I used my Sephardic background for insight into the exodus of Jews from Spain in 1492. My main character is the sixteen-year-old Catholic girl, Isabella Obrigon, who discovers a secret to her birth. She becomes caught between two faiths and two people. She must decide on whether to stay in Spain or join her brethren in exile. When her path crosses with Miguel Costa, an eighteen-year-old Converso (a convert to Catholicism) her fate becomes sealed with his. Flower from Castile Trilogy is a story about redemption, love and forgiveness. Two unlikely individuals who hate each other fall in love despite harrowing events pulling them apart. This period in history can be learned through the lenses of real characters that lived at one time in an uncertain world. I also tried to recreate in Flower from Castile a lost world where a peaceful way of life ended and religion ruled with an iron fist. The book is geared to adult fiction, but can also be a YA book.
How do you come up with the names of places and characters in your books?
The places I selected for the narrative in Spain had to be the seat of power in Seville for the monarchs and the place from which a whole exodus of exiled Jews will sail from its largest port. The character’s names were easy to cull from history, but the main character’s name had to be the same as Queen Isabella. Isabella Obrigon shared the same name as the queen as her godmother, and shh . . . there’s a spoiler here, and the answer is in the book.
What is your favorite thing about your book?
My favorite thing about writing historical fiction in particular is opening a door into the past to see how people lived. How they survived danger? What made them choose one decision over another? How they sacrificed their lives to save others? And how the human spirit wins in the end over tyranny and oppression?
Are there other comments, advice, or tips that you would give to beginning writers?
There’s always a beginning, a middle and end to everything. I was a beginning writer and wrote by fits and spurts. Another way to motivate us to write is to be inspired by using a banner, a photo or a motto of a famous or prolific writer on the wall above your computer that quotes in his or her own words why they write. Mine is framed on the wall above my computer and it says: “Writers help summon people to a vision of human betterment. It is not unnatural for writers to be concerned about the human estate or to deal with those universals of human experience. Their primary goal is to their consciences. They create an awareness no just to things as they are, but as they ought to be.” — Norman Cousins
Featured Client of the Month ~ July
This month I’m featuring Betsy Cheung, who is a writer in Hong Kong. Besty’s written one of the most intriguing futuristic novels I’ve read in a long time. Reminds me a lot of Snowcrash, and is a merge of politics, philosophy, computer tech, and a search for heritage. I hope you take a moment to read about her and her writing journey:
Posting on someone’s else’s website is a real honor. It is like cooking in someone else’s restaurant, or painting on someone’s canvas and I will bear in mind to drop the horsing I usually do when writing on my own website. Every website has its own perks, and I guess the readers of mine like the horsing which I alternate with giving away secret insights just to make sure they’ll put up with it.
I met Susanne for the first time when I was looking for an editor for my dystopian novel which has been three years in the making. A friend recommended me to look at her website, and I love it, not the least because she made everything sound easy. She has this aura of reliability and trustworthiness that was soothing. That was three months ago, and everything my guts told me about Susanne came true. My book Presage is now finished and available at Amazon. Not only that, but she has invited me to for this guest post.
There is a story to this novel which I had to write and get off my chest. One day, a friend sent me J.G. Ballard’s book Kingdom Come in a brown paper bag. To send an anti-consumerism novel to a retail space architect –which was my day job at the time– was very ‘him’. “Consume with Gusto,” he wrote. I did more than that. The effect of hedonism and materialism of a mindless consumption-led society was not new to me, but in the novel, Ballard turned it into a silent evil that lurked under the surface and consumed our souls reducing us to hypnotized animalistic creatures without identities who moved and acted violently in mobs. It changed my perspective on my job, but I also felt that Ballard’s message was not complete. It was like a locomotive: once rolling, more and more cars tagged on. I needed to bring order to my numerous thoughts about this subject or justify the reason I was part of the whole machinery and I started to write to free myself from the grip of circumstances. The paradox of the free market’s current growth model is that it’s depleting the earth’s resources, fouling up our air and waters and putting more money in the pocket of the 1percent rather the people who need it and whose consumer power will keep the economy going. Come 2018, in the world I describe in Presage, things will have aggravated, tension would have run up higher as the apocalypse will loom larger causing severe reforms to be put in place like the scores and mindroids which will reignite our compassion and reinstate the civility that we once had before free market advocates told everyone ‘greed is good.’ The question is whether it is too late.
That was nearly four years ago. I am no longer working as a retail mall designer. Instead, I teach architectural design and write in my spare time. Self-publishing is now so easy that Amazon is accused of driving the little publishers out of business, but the paradox is that the easier it is to learn, the more difficult it is master and stand-out for both amateurs and professionals. It’s like singing, all you have to do is open your mouth, but whether you have a happy audience is a different matter. And unlike blogging, which is inexpensive, publishing a book can be an expensive learning curve especially if you have the full range of things done professionally, the cover, the trailer, the marketing, the list goes on and on. There’s three ways to go about it, learn to do it all yourself is number one. Number two is to have lots of friends so you can exchange favors for each other and the third option would be to learn promote it so your sales can cover it all . . . I’m going for the last one as you may have noticed and Susanne is a godsend whose help I cannot do without. Thank you Susanne!
Featured Client of the Month ~ June
Ann Lee Miller
This month I’m featuring contemporary-fiction author Ann Lee Miller, who’s written numerous novels over the last ten years that showcase her unique voice and penchant for complex characters. Ann delves into the human heart and reveals much good in the midst of ugliness. Her tagline for her writing is “Flawed People, Flawless God.” Ann is just now launching two of her novels as eBooks and has put together a gorgeous website. I hope you’ll take the time to visit her! Here’s Ann’s guest post:
Three months ago I would have been the last writer on the planet to indie publish. Now, after hearing the voice of God and choking down a hairball of pride, I’m a lot like Paul who persecuted Christians, then became one.
I was the 2011 president of the Phoenix chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. My BA in creative writing swung discretely from my belt beside the inscription of my highly respected literary agent. I’d notched a long list of writers’ conferences into my belt and worn out copies of Donald Maass’s books, Jack M. Bickham’s Scene and Structure, and Renni Browne and Dave King’s Self-editing for Fiction Writers. Self publishing was fine for people who were impatient or not quite ready for “real” publishing. If anyone could land a traditional publisher, I could.
The ten year anniversary of when God called me to write loomed in January. The popularity of eBooks and e-readers had started the book industry down the same road the music world had plummeted when people started downloading songs from the internet. Publishers were feeling the pinch from e-books selling cheaper and being published by authors without the aid of publishing houses. As publishers’ revenues shrunk, they laid off workers, published fewer books, stuck with well-established authors, and took risks on fewer new novelists. Even literary agents struggled to stay in the business. My agent of two and a half years let go all her unpublished clients, including me, to pursue more lucrative business ventures.
On February 17, at the lowest point of my despair, my son, who followed the decline of the music industry, suggested I indie e-publish my four completed novels. At that moment, God infused me with hope and directed me to do something I never would have considered without His prompting. Since then, I feel like He is jostling me forward, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”
First, C.S. Lakin snagged me a slot in a month-long book-marketing course for free because the teacher needed a test class for her first run. A family friend and graphic designer offered to produce my book covers with no money down and allow me to pay him as funds came in from the sales of my books. Another friend hired an MBA who is a high school classmate to consult with her as she e-publishes her books. She is sharing much of his expertise with me. Jeff Bennington’s Indie Author’s Guide to the Universe crossed my desk at just the right time, and I stumbled onto Twitter Power, by Joel Comm, at a garage sale.
The day after my husband and I prayed for the capital I would need to pay for professional editing and promotion, a part-time job appeared. In March, a string of checks arrived from odd sources. My two proofreaders refused payment and said they wanted to invest in my career. In April my alma mater slated me for four speaking engagements next spring. Many more of my far-flung friends and relatives than I could have hoped agreed to read and pass on my debut, Kicking Eternity.
I don’t know where this path will lead, but I feel joy in cooperating with God.
My inspirational romance, Kicking Eternity, launches June 1; The Art of My Life, September 1; Avra’s God, December 1; Tattered Innocence, March 1, 2013.
Ann Lee Miller earned a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University and writes full-time in Phoenix, but left her heart in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where she grew up. She loves speaking to young adults and guest lectures on writing at several Arizona colleges. When she isn’t writing or muddling through some crisis—real or imagined—you’ll find her hiking in the Superstition Mountains with her husband or meddling in her kids’ lives.
Featured Client of the Month ~ May
This month I’m featuring fantasy author Blake Collins, who’s written a very evocative fantasy series full of wonder and excitement. Blake talks about his writing journey below:
My love affair with writing did not begin until late November 2009, just after I and my wife had relocated to Singapore on a lengthy expat assignment. While work was good and travel exciting, the need for a creative project outside of work constantly beckoned. Though I had been told many times before that my work with the pen was worthwhile, I still ignored the calling in favor of other pursuits. Such wild adventures included the creation of a fantasy board game, video animation, playing guitar, and the list goes on.
Entertaining as each project was, I still found something lacking from each. So it was that I finally came to write and cater to those voices in my head that demanded to be put on paper. Starting with a few trial paragraphs just to see how far I could go on one random night, the ideas and excitement continued to snowball. So it was, after spending many a night and weekend pouring over The Secret of Troika with an intermingling of short stories, I finally finished my novel in late 2011. Much of my development can be attributed to my editor and guide C.S. Lakin for helping me reach the finish line.
Continuing to work as an electrical engineer and still located in Singapore – the nights and weekends too remain unchanged while I toy with new-found ideas on paper. With my first novel from the Silver Series now out on Smashwords, I wasted no time moving on to another challenging adventure. Having found a writing partner with similar interests, I and a fellow fantasy fanatic have already hatched an idea for a trilogy meant for the big screen. Still in the beginning stages, it is safe to say this epic fantasy will be thought-provoking with it’s never-before-seen concept.
Well, there is not much more to say about my writing journey. Two years, one novel, a screenplay trilogy in the works, and a dozen short stories later – it is safe to say that I’ve finally found my calling.
Blake A. Collins currently lives and works in Singapore with his wonderful wife of six years and their thirteen-month-old daughter. When not traveling the world or spending time with family or friends, Blake can usually be found tending to his writing projects or finding some fun way to burn the calories. A native of Texas, Blake hopes to return home at the end of 2012 after three long years away.
Times are bleak for the race of wizards. Evil seems to prevail with the warlocks holding the reins and the mages spurning their aid to anyone. Yet, good magic still exists within the world and its seeming epicenter of Cadence, NY. And at the heart of this positive force, is Wyatt Silver, a twenty-two-year-old wizard who knows that he is a wizard—just not how to be one.
Featured Client of the Month ~ April
THE HIDDEN HERITAGE JOURNEY
My writing journey began in a most unexpected way, what some might call a chance encounter. On a family vacation in the Black Hills of South Dakota one summer we happened upon a Native American band playing in the tourist town of Deadwood. The music from Brulé, a small, upcoming band of three, was as captivating as the surrounding landscape. Their distinct sound initially caught my attention—the hauntingly beautiful mix of flute, keyboard, and traditional drum they are now famous for. Listening one could immediately sense something deeper at the heart of it. Sure enough, in reading about Paul LaRoche, the band’s founder, I found his life story equally captivating.
All the way back to Minneapolis I heard a voice, You should write a book about this man…
But before I reached home a flurry of doubts drowned out the voice, telling me I had no connection to Paul LaRoche, a complete stranger. I wasn’t Native American or adopted, and furthermore I didn’t have any writing credentials. The loudest doubt pushed through time and time again: You’re not a real writer; you’ve never even been published! Yet each time I listed to Paul’s unique music, the voice returned.
Three years passed before I dispelled the doubts and found the courage to respond…and as soon as I did, an amazing journey began. First came an article about Paul, published in a regional magazine. Next came the book, a project that took three years to complete. Hidden Heritage: The Story of Paul LaRoche was released in 2006. That summer Paul invited me to join him at several Brulé events. None was more moving than at Mount Rushmore National Monument. I stood on the park’s plaza, the majestic granite monument in the backdrop, the beautiful Brulé music playing in the mountain air, signing books alongside Paul. It was a moment I never could have imagined seven years earlier on Main Street Deadwood. I had only a few moments to listen as Paul played. We didn’t even speak. Yet God intertwined our otherwise separate lives and gave us a connected purpose, a purpose that didn’t end there.
While writing Hidden Heritage I discovered Paul’s great-great-great grandfather, a Yankton chief named Strikes the Ree (1804-1888), was an important figure in American history. In 1804 Lewis and Clark were camped at Calumet Bluff when word came that a baby had just been born. The famed explorers wrapped the infant in a flag and declared that he would someday be a great American citizen. Their prophecy indeed came true. Strikes the Ree was a great leader among his people and played a significant role as a peacemaker during the Great Sioux Uprising. During his life he traveled to Washington DC and received peace medals from three US presidents. Worthy of an epic tale, I’ve since learned the great burdens the chief bore during the years of cession and settlement on the Northern Plains have largely been overlooked by historians.
Long after I finished Paul’s book, Strike the Ree’s story called out to me time and time again. A few weeks ago I read a post from author/speaker Page Lambert titled “Write Brave, Write Epic”. Her words challenged me: Be brave. Write the BIG story. Be fearless in your belief that yes, we can set aside our smallness and our frailties and reach for that deeper part of ourselves that knows there are GREAT TRUTHS in this world, and it is these truths about which we must write.
I believe the Hidden Heritage journey has led to this important, historical book. God has equipped me—through all that’s happened since I stood on that crowded sidewalk in Deadwood thirteen years ago—to write this epic novel and I can move forward with confidence. Chance encounter? Hardly. Every step declares it is God’s divine plan, a journey that is far over.
Barbara Marshak is the author of two nonfiction books, Michigan and Rookie: Guardians of the Night, the remarkable story of a cop and his K9 partner, and Hidden Heritage: The Story of Paul LaRoche, the inspiring biography of the Native American recording artist, Brulé. Hidden Heritage earned Finalist in the Biography category of the National Indie Excellence Awards (2007), and the USA Best Book Awards (2006). Barbara also cowrites for Hidden Heritage, a documentary-style television series based on the book. In 2010 two of her short stories were selected for publication: “Prairie Promises” (first place) in a regional literary journal, and “Lost Letters” (finalist) in a Wwestern anthology. Barbara’s writing portfolio includes over 150 published stories and articles. She is a regular presenter at writers’ events and is currently seeking agent representation for her first novel, Seeds of Salton.
You can learn more about Barbara and contact her at these sites below:
Featured Client of the Month ~ March
This month I’m featuring author Nick Giannaras. Here is a short post in which you can get to know Nick a little bit. His fantasy series on Nanthara is entertaining, humorous, and rich! The first book in the series is called Secrets Revealed and here’s a little bit about it:
“Come along and follow Courtar, a young adolescent cleric, who begins this adventure by befriending a rugged Dwergen named Boren. Drawing unwanted interest from all who see Courtar and the once thought extinct race, the two friends hire a jailed Alkanien, Azin Sildanel, as a guide. Not realizing what they are getting themselves into by gaining the services of this wanted assassin, they are soon joined by E’Umae Brin’ala–a female mage, Vindicar–an Alkanien paladin of Temple Sovereign, Sir Angelo–a human Temple Sovereign knight, and his two assistants, Dreg–a massive Galenmyr barbarian, and Eldren–a Nivvick thief.
Be prepared to be taken through a myriad of emotions, constant danger, unforeseen intrigue, and unexpected outcomes as these brave warriors take on the darkest enemy the world has ever seen. Be prepared to enter…Nanthara.”
I love God and my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am proud of my Greek heritage, and I am the first practicing chiropractic physician of my family. I reside in North Carolina, where I stay active in my church, Deliverance Christian Center, enjoy my awesome family, and mess with my numerous hobbies. Among other things, I am an avid tabletop war gamer of various periods, I’m a Civil War reenactor, and I love to hunt, fish, paint, and dabble in creating Christian music via my computer. I never thought of writing as a form of ministry until I began this endeavor in 2005, and now I pursue it vigorously. I view my books as entertaining with a message, and I pray they reach the world with a positive impact for those who jump into my words. Some people may not have an opportunity to speak encouragement to others one-on-one. In my office, or when I’m out and about, I can. But the books can reach farther and in places I cannot go.
You can read about Nick’s Relics of Nanthara series here.
You can purchase his books here
You can read Nick’s blog here.
Featured Client of the Month ~ February
This month I’m featuring author Pola Muzyka. Here is her guest blog post in which you can read about her amazing past and what led her to where she is today.
Making the jump from writing corporate scripts to writing novels was confusing–like driving when I moved from Rome to England and then back to the US. I thought I knew how to drive. I did good when I first moved to England cause I prepared myself for the switch to left side driving. But after I got familiar with driving on the left, I was shocked to find I could no longer drive on the right.
Writing was pretty much the same. I knew how to write drama when I was younger–studied theater and drama for over ten years, and taught creative writing. I wrote parts for plays and even a multi-million dollar film.
Then I switched. I worked for decades as a corporate script writer, thinking of how to best represent my clients and their products or services. This thinking included what the consumer needed to know verses what the client wanted to sell and how to best represent both. I took a professional’s writing course and aced every script I wrote afterward.
The creating boiled down to what the shots would look like, camera angles, lighting, cost, graphics, shot lengths, and timing weighed with dialogue and visuals. My clients benefited by increases in sales and recognition.
I figured it would be easy to switch back to creative dramatic writing when I decided that my love for the Lord, and passion for His kingdom, were greater than my desire to just earn a living. For over twenty five years I studied Bible and people, taking courses in both counseling and theology. My passion for creativity never waned. I painted, wrote poems, acted, directed and put together many dramatic presentations. My desire to express myself as an author of novels began to merge with my desire for creativity and my desire for the Lord.
First I wrote Christian Children’s books while I was still writing corporate video. Then I took the plunge and in 2008 after gathering much information about Islamic culture and the hardships Christians experienced during the gulf war, I set down to write Escape the Hezbollah. I wrote and rewrote.
The frustration loomed high because my head was still in corporate script writing. I wanted to weave details in, but at the same time, I anguished to depict the human, real life drama of what was going on inside from a personal point of view. I knew I needed more studies. Corporate work had confused me and caused me to lose sight of the dramatic human element.
After about the tenth rewrite and third class in fiction novel writing the book was ready and so was I. My goal was to make my characters so vivid that readers feel they actually know them and I think I accomplished that with Escape the Hezbollah. My characters went through the experience of a full and extreme range of emotions.
“It is one of these novels that one regrets coming to the end; the feeling of losing a friend.” –Mel Fabrikant, Paramus Post
Today I write novels weaving fiction with fact as I develop characters from my past, my imagination, and my observations of the dramatic side of the life conflict Christians face. I call them Stronghold Smashers. They are fiction stories of true spiritual warfare in our lives and how to deal with the strongholds involved.
Read more about Pola at her website: http://polamuzyka.com
Pola Muzyka is an accomplished award-winning TV, commercial, and corporate writer. She has always had a flair for dramatic writing. In the 1980s she wrote part of a script for film director Federico Fellini. She researched and translated work for four-time Academy Award-winner Danilo Donati, who deemed her work “the most extensive research ever done on a film.” Escape the Hezbollah is her debut as a novelist and combines her talent as researcher and dramatic writer in this powerful and gripping story.
Pola is a multi-disciplinarian who began her career as a dramatic actress, having done both starring and feature roles in Hollywood-based motion pictures. She has showcased her visual art in many galleries and hosted several TV shows, including a television series for baby boomers.
Although she has traveled and lived all over the world, Pola was raised on a sheep farm and continues to enjoy country living. Her passion lies in her relationship with Jesus Christ and her ministry connecting Christians in media. She is the founder of the Internet-based Christian Media Alliance. Subsequently, she has toured India as a media missionary and produced documentary films helping pastors in various countries.
Today she writes Christian fiction novels depicting true spiritual warfare in our lives and how to deal with the strongholds involved. Her first novel, Escape the Hezbollah, won the CSP Book of the Year Award for fiction.
Featured Client of the Month ~ January
I’m Rita Schulte—a licensed therapist in the no. VA/DC area—and I’m passionate about matters of the heart, so whether I’m writing, counseling, or doing my radio shows, the idea is simple: I want to take a look at some of the cutting edge issues that are affecting you and the people around you and have you consider: how in the world is all this mess called life affecting your heart?
On Heartline we talk to some of the leading professionals in the Christian counseling and literary industry, as well as hosting discussions with real people who are struggling with real life issues. My one-minute spots, consider this, are designed to do just that—have you consider some life issue or biblical truth and chew on it a bit.
If you want to know a little bit about me, check me out at www.siftedaswheat.com, where you can ask questions, find out about my book, listen to other podcasts, or request to be a guest on the show.
Remember, it’s your heart, keep it alive, by checking the pulse!
When I’m not writing or doing the shows, I love spending time with my kids and grandkids and traveling to Florida where we are blessed to have a second home. My past hobbies included painting (which I hope to do again someday in my spare time!).
Rita Schulte received her bachelor of science degree in psychology and a master’s in counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. She is a licensed professional counselor and board certified in the state of Virginia. Rita has a private practice at Harbor Counseling and Consultation in Fairfax, Virginia, where she specializes in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and bereavement. Rita has written a book titled Sifted As Wheat: finding hope and healing through the losses of life. In April, 2011 she launched Heartline Podcast, where she talks with top leaders in the Christian counseling and literary world about cutting edge issues affecting the hearts and lives of people today. Beginning in January of 2012 Heartline will be heard on 90.5 FM in North Carolina. Rita also does a 1 minute devotional spot called Consider This, airing on 90.5 FM Life radio in North Carolina, and 90.9 FM The Light in Lynchburg, Va. In 2012, Heartline will present notable guests Dr. Tim Clinton, president of American Association of Christian Counselors, Dr. Emmerson Eggerichs, June Hunt, Dr. Linda Mintle, and Dr. Larry Crabb. Stay tuned!
You can connect with Rita at her website Sifted as Wheat
On Twitter @Heartlinepod
Post on “The Necessity of Brokeness”
Rita A. Schulte, LPC
Counselor, Author, Host of Heartline Podcast
Client News for January:
Barbara Majchrzak–Appearance and book signing on Saturday, January 21, 2012 – Dakota County Author Fair, 1-4 pm, Dakota County Library, Apple Valley, MN.


By Steve Scauzillo, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Posted: 04/08/15, 9:14 AM PDT |
Several cities in Southern California will have to reduce water use by as much as 35 percent under a new conservation schedule released by the State Water Resources Control Board.
Arcadia, Beverly Hills, Colton, Glendora, La Habra, Redlands, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena and Upland are some of the cities targeted to reach the top tier water reduction standard, which goes from 10 percent to a high of 35 percent.
Burbank, Chino, Chino Hills, Covina, Lake Arrowhead, La Verne, Fontana, Monrovia, Ontario, Palmdale, Walnut and many cities and communities in the San Gabriel Valley served by Suburban Water Systems must meet the 25 percent reduction,
To read entire story, click here.


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According to ESRB, this game contains: Blood, Violence
Parents might want to think twice before purchasing Vampire Night for the little ones. While visuals in the game aren't exactly R-rated scary, it is fairly realistic looking and this is a very violent game with a high body count and blood splatter and body parts flying all over the screen. Some easily scared children might find some of the more creepy monsters in the game a little disturbing as well.
Fans of light gun games should enjoy Vampire Night. There's no real innovation here, but it's a solid entry into the genre and the extra features should make the experience more worthwhile than most typical light gun games.
All gamers should be aware that the Guncon 2 light gun accessory needs to be plugged into RCA jacks on the television for it to function. For those with high-definition TV screens and complicated digital component cable hook-ups, the Guncon 2 accessory may not function or it could prove to be a rather large inconvenience to setup. The original PlayStation Guncon is also compatible with Vampire Night. The game is also playable with the standard Dual Shock controller, but unless you think using a PC mouse is a thrilling experience, don't bother with this option and stick to the Guncon.
- Fraud Alert: Pete Smith, Content Producer - September 9, 2014
- Observations from PAX East 2012: What’s old is new again - April 12, 2012
- Observations from PAX East 2012: Are video game gimmicks finally maturing? - April 11, 2012

domain: game


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Good afternoon and Happy Friday everyone!!! I have been so darn busy and have neglected my blog as of late and I apologize for that. With summer just around the corner, we are all wanting those bikini bod’s 😉 so I am posting a delicious, filling, and healthy salad that I made. Skinnytaste is one of my favorite places to pull recipes from because they are delicious yet healthy. I followed this recipe pretty closely, but decided to grill the corn to make it a little more ‘summer-esque’ if you will. I grilled the corn about 15 minutes (until it was charred on all sides) and then cut it off the cob into the salad. You could really make this recipe your own- whether you sub black beans for chick peas, add cucumber, scrap the onion if you have a hot date- the skies the limit on this salad!
I paired our salad with an artichoke because how can you not? They are in season, at the farmers market every Saturday, healthy, and delicious 🙂 Maybe enjoy it with a nice glass of white wine? I didn’t have any on hand so yes, that is a cider beer in a wine glass.
Chat with you all soon!

domain: hobby


FOLSOM, that’s what!
Barney recounts attending Folsom Berlin last week for the very first time!
Last weekend was a truly magical experience I cannot wait to repeat next year. I finally got my arse over to Berlin for Folsom Europe and boy am I glad I did. My relationship with Folsom Berlin actually traces back to my first event ever, which I had intended to be Folsom last year. However, nevermind this being the height of the pandemic and the fact I’m not one for big crowds and was by myself, I also booked my flights for the weekend of Folsom San Francisco, meaning I arrived in Berlin at completely the wrong time. That’s the story of how I ended up attending Quälgeist’s ABDL weekend as my first ever event, which kicked off my career change and led me to PlayTyme. This is the story of what happened when my prophesized arrival at the pearly gates of Folsom finally took place.
Arriving with ample time to get settled, I was fortunate enough to stay with a friend near Nollendorfplatz in Schöneberg; the district where the street fair takes place and the hub of Berlin’s queer culture. I was surprised to see many leather and rubber clad people casually walking around at lunchtime. The street fair wasn’t until Saturday. This was Wednesday. Yet, the odd pup hood was a common enough sight in this part of the city on this particular Wednesday afternoon. I felt immediately at home. Berlin has that effect on me. In fact, the smell of the freshly-opened FFP2 mask I wore on the U-Bahn took me right back to my very first time in the city and I couldn’t help smiling as I felt its embrace.
What was interesting to note was the casualness of the locals. Berlin is famously sex-casual and as the kink capital of the world, it houses some of the most prominent fetish stores alongside a myriad of smaller independent businesses. I saw a leather shop selling wares designed specifically for fetish gear, as well as actual dog collars. The shop window, standing on a street corner opposite a pizza place where families dined whilst the sunset colours radiated against its glass, was adorned with a slogan advertising this specific dual purpose. The Western continent may be rather casual when it comes to sexuality and nudity, but Berlin really seems to take this in stride on a whole new level, with kink and fetish on full display and proudly honoured by the community.
It was amazing to see the fetishists come out in full force. I met a friend for a drink at Prinzknecht (the social epicentre of Folsom) in the afternoon and we were the first customers. By the time I returned to the pub in the evening, a sea of kinksters had flooded the bar and spilled out across the street. By Friday, I had met up with some friends for an exploration of the local fetish shops, at which point the streets were teeming with kinksters fully clad in their chosen attire. Broad daylight reflected against motocross gear and intricately-bound rope as we ventured from shop to shop, stopping for some free drinks outside Boxer before heading to Woof bar.
On Saturday morning I decided to explore the street fair early by myself, a decision my anxious procrastination indicated was the right one. That was a lesson I’d learnt the first time I arrived in Berlin. The nervousness over how something might be is never a reason not to find out how it will actually be. Excitement and anxiety are the same physiological reaction, and it is the things we don’t do that we regret, not the things we do. Feeling particularly brave, I adorned my pup gear and headed out by myself. The morning sun felt cold on me. The paranoia of what people might think or say froze it against my skin. Until a kid passed me on the street who said my mask was cool and suddenly I felt like I’d been handed a small plate of confidence to get me through until I found the kinksters. Which, naturally, took about two more minutes of walking.
The nerves continued, though. I was now entering a crowded area alone. I forgot what to do with my hands. In a panic, I paid the full suggested €10 donation for fear I’d be frowned upon, only to then need to take out more cash. Feeling awkward but rapidly approaching comfortability, I made small talk with the first few faces I recognised and watched a rope demonstration that really helped me relax. I started to have fun. I forgot about meeting up with people for a little while and just let myself be a bit awkward. I took part in the puppy photo and later the ABDL one as the faces of friends old and new started gathering amongst the crowd. The crowd never felt overwhelming, though. There was always room on the pavement to avoid it and everyone seemed to have a very respectful attitude towards each other’s personal space. No one was pushing, nowhere did I feel trapped. Simply standing in the middle of it all and looking around at everyone being themselves was just so beautiful.
Tourists and locals alike arrived at the fair, but they weren’t on safari. This wasn’t a zoo for them to gawk at the weirdos. They got involved, they had fun, their attitude to everyone’s attire was so nonchalant. My bare arse was hanging out of my leather jockstrap the whole time and I practically forgot it was. The number of people I bumped into that I’d only interacted with online was even more staggering. I even got to meet the former Recon admin who had first reached out to ask if I’d write about my clown fetish, only to have left Recon by the time I was finally ready to. The number of padded diaper butts in onesies and other ABDL paraphernalia was also mind-blowing. What I thought was so brave and daring had become something accepted and normalised.
Thanks to support from my friend, I was prepared to change into clown gear at the street fair. It took a lot of encouragement to get me there, but the response was overwhelming. I felt like myself. I felt like people could finally see me. No one snickered or leered. No one made fun of me or was afraid of me. Every person I interacted with was welcoming and supportive. The high fives, thumbs up and even the laughs were all so encouraging and I finally felt like I really belonged, even if I was bringing a lot of colour to an otherwise largely black sartorial aesthetic. So many people asked to take pictures with me - I even got interviewed for a German podcast right there in the street just because they liked my outfit (more info to be announced at a later date). I was so comfortable being a clown in public by the end of the day that I went for dinner at a restaurant like that. A handful of us showing up in all sorts of fetish gear and not even the one guy dressed as a sex clown caused so much as a blink.
I’m not one for clubbing, so my Saturday evening was mostly spent outside Prinzknecht (the idea of people fucking on the dance floor to club music is for me a level of hell I’d rather not visit). The amount of beer alone I’d been drinking just out and about each day would start to slow me down enough by the time the evening rolled around that I was ready for a reasonably sensible bedtime most nights anyway. That night I went to bed with such a full heart. The new experiences I’d had compounded into the most wholesome feeling (and yes, that includes pissing in someone’s mouth for the first time). On Sunday I even had my first spreader pants experience, which was awesome!
Overall, I think that the welcoming atmosphere, the chilled out environment and the casualness of the locals made this one of my happiest kink experiences yet. Parents and elders alike, going about minding their own business, not worried that their kids are going to be somehow damaged or corrupted by witnessing people being their authentic selves. That they’re not afraid to explain sex or self-expression to them, nor are they threatened by the simple freedom of someone just wanting to wear a harness. This felt like a true acknowledgement and embracing of the fact we’re all more than what society tells us we can or should be. In the days after Folsom, the streets remained littered with kinksters. There was no washing away of these parts of our lives. Everyone was welcome to continue being themselves.
Good thing I’ll be heading back next week for Quälgeist’s ABDL weekend again. I can’t wait!


A mysterious and unsettling painting of a young girl has caused quite a stir, earning a reputation as “cursed” after being returned twice to a charity shop due to its eerie vibes. The artwork, depicting a girl in a red dress with an uncanny facial expression and eyes that seem to track observers, was donated to the Hastings Advice Representation Centre (HARC) shop in St Leonards-on-Sea.
SHE’S BACK!!! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/AahgqTUPfw— Jayne Sharp (@Jaynesharp) August 21, 2023
The painting’s peculiar aura prompted two separate buyers to return it shortly after purchasing, citing its unsettling and creepy nature. The manager of HARC, Steve, confirmed the uncanny phenomenon of the painting’s eyes seemingly following viewers around the room. The painting’s origin story traces back to a middle-aged man who donated a collection of old pictures and frames, among which the eerie portrait was included.
Upon first encountering the painting, Steve was taken aback by the strange expression on the girl’s face, exclaiming, “Oh my God, look at her face.” Acknowledging its disconcerting quality, he agreed with a customer’s observation that it had a creepy quality. The painting was initially sold for £25, but the initial buyer swiftly returned it, claiming it exuded an unsettling “aura.” In response, the painting was placed back in the shop window, this time with a markdown and a cautionary note about its potential “curse.”
Despite the warning, another customer braved the purchase, securing the painting for £20. However, this buyer also soon returned the painting, shaken and distressed, insisting she never wanted to see it again. The painting reappeared in the shop window, accompanied by a new note that humorously announced its return with the phrase: “She’s back! Sold twice and returned twice! Are you brave enough?”
The second buyer took to social media to share her experience, attracting attention from an international community of art enthusiasts who have a penchant for peculiar second-hand art pieces. The painting gained a devoted following as users shared their thoughts, with some suggesting it had an “evil” vibe, while others commented on its potential to bring misfortune. Amid the comments, the painting even earned comparisons to a young Nicole Kidman.
The post’s popularity eventually led the second buyer to reconsider. She returned to the shop, requesting to reclaim the painting due to its newfound online fame. Steve gladly obliged, letting her have the painting back for free, eager to part ways with the unsettling artwork.
In the end, this enigmatic painting of a little girl managed to capture the attention of both local shoppers and a global online audience, solidifying its place as an intriguing and memorable piece of art with a mystique that continues to captivate.


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Nuestra Granja (our farm) has been long in the making since my great grandfather, Christopher Porter, acquired the land. It was passed on to my paternal grandfather, Ronald Porter, where he and my grandmother, Marlene Porter, raised four children. As my grandmother readied herself for downsizing, my family and I moved into the farmhouse. We’ve since let go of some of the original acreage of the farm but what remains today is parts of the original farmhouse, a grand pond that was built by my grandfather and the future site of our family’s garden.
Our goal is to provide hands on education opportunities to others as we learn about homesteading ourselves.
- We aim to produce high quality food grown from the best seed varieties we can find
- We do not use genetically modified (GMO) seeds
- We produce our own compost out of only organic ingredients
- When we supplement our compost, we strive to source the best organic compost we can find
- In addition to some of our favorite garden items, we are committed to growing seed varieties local to our region
- Our farm is cruelty free and is committed to the safe keeping of all farm animals
The land has withstood generations of change but one thing remains; our family’s desire to live a self-sustained life remote from the troubles of the busy world around us. Nuestra Granja is a sacred practice of cultivating food and honoring the earth that provides for us.
The Turner Family

domain: agronomy


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(bisons.com) - It was a tough spot for the Buffalo Bisons.
On Tuesday, their scheduled starter, Thad Weber, was scratched from his start just over an hour before the first pitch. The Toronto Blue Jays placed Josh Johnson on the disabled list with a strained right forearm and will recall Weber on Wednesday as a result and need him fresh.
Buddy Carlyle was forced to make a sport start, replacing Weber in Buffalo's 13-4 loss to the Syracuse Chiefs at Coca-Cola Field, giving the Chiefs a 2-1 series win. Faced in such a situation, manager Marty Brown said his team should look at the game and leave it behind.
"That's what happens in Triple-A when you lose your starter an hour before the game," Brown said. "The difficult thing is we really don't have a long-man in our pen right now. Using (Bobby) Korecky yesterday (in the second game of a doubleheader) and coming back we really didn't want to use him again. Bullpen did what they were capable of today."
The loss of a starter was felt even more by the Herd with Weber being one of the most effective pitchers in the International League this season. Weber had been the best thing going on the mound for the Bisons, hurling into the seventh inning eight times in his last eight starts and owning a 2.64 earned run average.
Brown admitted the timing of losing Weber was unfortunate, but that he deserved to be promoted to the big club for the second time this season.
"That's what we're here for, it's Triple-A, and obviously there's a need at the major-league level with Josh Johnson going on the DL," Brown said. "Thad's ready, we wish him the best. Like I say, 'That's why it's called Triple-A.' You have to hopefully keep guys ready and available."
Carlyle, who pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief on Monday, allowed two runs - on a first-inning two-run homer by Tyler Moore - while striking out a pair over two innings. The Herd was able to get one of the runs back in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Clint Robinson.
But the Chiefs opened the game up in the fourth. They scored five runs in the inning, surprising considering Tommy Hottovy was on the mound. The left-hander had given up just three runs, one earned, in 13 innings pitched prior to Syracuse batting around the order, recording six hits against him.
Zach Walters hit a two-run shot to right-center before two quick outs were recorded. Syracuse responded with four two-out hits that led to three more runs and a six-run lead. Hottovy saw his ERA go from 0.69 to 3.60 in his two innings of work.
The Herd had 12 hits but struggled to manufacture runs, getting just two leadoff men on base. Andy LaRoche led the offense with three hits, including two doubles, an RBI, a run and a walk while Anthony Gose, Jim Negrych and Munenori Kawasaki all had two hits.
With an exhausted bullpen, infielder Mike McCoy made an appearance on the mound, pitching the ninth. It marked the first time a Bisons' position player pitched since catcher Jean-Luc Blaquiere hurled on June 5, 2012, in a 21-3 loss at Columbus. The last Herd position player to pitch at home was Trent Durrington, in 2007.
McCoy was one strike away from pitching a scoreless frame but Josh Johnson hit his first homer of the season, a three-run shot to right, on a 3-2 pitch. The three runs, all unearned, were the only ones given up by McCoy, who allowed two hits and a walk.
Help is on the way for the Herd bullpen, however. Brown said Kyle Drabek, the 25-year-old with 30 career starts for the Blue Jays in three years, will be available Wednesday on MLB injury rehab. He will back up another Jay on MLB rehab, Drew Hutchison, who will start his second game for the Herd Wednesday.
"He's been throwing real well in Double-A," Brown said of Drabek. "I had him before so I know what to expect. Even though he's coming off surgery it'll be nice to get him here. ... He's a bulldog."
By virtue of the defeat and wins by Norfolk and Pawtucket, the Bisons dropped out of the IL wild-card lead. The Tides and Red Sox are tied for the wild-card lead, a half-game ahead of Buffalo.
The Bisons still have their eyes on winning the IL North, too, trailing division-leading Rochester by 3 ½ games. And they will have an opportunity to cut into that edge over the next few days, as the Bisons take on the Red Wings in a three-game series at Coca-Cola Field starting Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.
"This is the time of year you work for all winter," Brown said. "When you're working out in the winter you think about being in a pennant race and in games that actually mean something at this time of year. It's fun to see the fans have that opportunity in Buffalo to go out and watch a close race and hopefully we can finish strong."

domain: news


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Yam embraces vintage silhouettes and feel-good materials such as pearls and recycled metals. Classic and industrial hardware elements are complimented with cheeky and charming nature motifs and pearl accents.
Size: 2 in. Metals: Brass/bronx, gold filled hoop Details: Recycled pendant
Made in New York.
You may also like

domain: design


Neighborhoods Near Barksdale
The Barksdale area is largely divided into two parishes:
- Caddo Parish (which houses Shreveport) and
- Bossier Parish (which houses Bossier City, Benton, and Haughton).
The dividing line is the Red River. Both sides of the river have their own respective vibes. For example, the “Shreveport side” tends to have more festivals, art, and celebrated history. For fun, Shreveporters like to go out to dinner, lunch, brunch, etc, and “be seen.”
On the other side of the river, Bossier residents appreciate more of a family-oriented, public school-centric lifestyle. Bossier residents enjoy family outings with their respective neighborhood developments, favorite restaurants, and the up-and-coming East Bank District on the Red River which features multiple breweries and the trendy restaurants.
The Bossier side of the river has become more and more populated in recent years, and both sides are very proud of their respective cultures and histories.
Homes for Sale in Shreveport
I want to be your realtor
Contact me today for all your home buying and home selling needs!


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President’s column: The transformation $1 billion can buy
PULLMAN, Wash. – We celebrated one of Washington State University’s crowning achievements earlier this month: the successful completion of the $1 billion Campaign for Washington State University: Because the World Needs Big Ideas. With the official party behind us, though, it is important to understand just how lasting the transformation sparked by this campaign will be.
The statistics tell some of the story: More than 206,000 generous donors made more than 819,000 gifts, grants or other contributions to raise a total of $1,065,091,919. What an amazing accomplishment, especially when you consider the campaign spanned one of the worst economic periods in the institution’s history.
And, the transformation $1 billion can buy impacts every aspect of our institution.
Read more of Washington State University Interim President Dan Bernardo’s Perspectives column at http://blog.president.wsu.edu/2015/09/28/the-transformation-1-billion-can-buy/

domain: finance


The scripts for running CSIM coupled are documented in the CCSM3 User's Guide:
There are several configurations that may be of interest to ice modelers. The B configuration is the fully coupled model with active atmosphere, ice, land and ocean components communicating through the flux coupler. This configuration will result in the most realistic ice simulations.
The D configuration consists of CSIM, coupled to the
data atmosphere (datm6),
data ocean (docn6),
and data land (dlnd6),
components. This configuration runs quickly and is used for testing the software engineering aspects of the model. This configuration will not result in the best sea ice simulation, since docn6 does not allow ice growth in open ocean regions or leads, and the data read in by datm6 is from previous atmospheric model simulations.
The M configuration will result more realistic sea ice simulations than the D configuration. This setup replaces datm6 in the D congifuration with the latm6, data atmosphere model and the ocean mixed layer model within the ice model. The ocean mixed layer is a simple slab model which computes an ocean surface temperature and allows for ice formation due to ocean supercooling. More information on the formulation of this model can be found in the Scientific Document. latm6 runs on the T62 grid, and one year of NCEP forcing is included with this release.


Fathers can suffer baby blues as much as women
MANY men suffer from post-natal depression that can be just as debilitating as it is for women, doctors have found.
New research published in the 'Journal of the American Medical Association' suggested that around one in 10 new fathers developed the condition. Symptoms were most common in the first six months after a baby was born.
Men were more likely to have the 'baby blues' if their wife or girlfriend did too.
While there has been a greater effort in recent years to increase the awareness of post-natal depression among new mothers, the plight of men who experience the condition is less well-recognised and more controversial.
Doctors believe that, while men do not undergo the physical changes of pregnancy and labour, the upheaval caused by a new baby or by feelings of apprehension towards fatherhood can contribute to the development of depression.
Estimates of how many women experience the condition range from 10 to 20pc.
Typical symptoms include feeling helpless or extremely anxious about their child.
But the condition is highly variable and can range from mild depression to thoughts of suicide.
Women often describe feelings of guilt that they do not love their child enough.
But too little attention has been paid to depression in new fathers, according to the team behind the research.
Dr James Paulson, from the Eastern Virginia Medical School, who reviewed all the available evidence into male post-natal depression, said too few doctors were aware of how common the condition was.
He said: "More efforts should be made to improve screening and referral." (©Daily Telegraph, London)


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Behind the Music of Ori and the Will of the Wisps
It’s rare that every aspect of a game fires on all cylinders equally, but that’s exactly what Moon Studios has been able to accomplish with Ori and the Will of the Wisps. A follow-up to one of the most celebrated releases of 2015, Will of the Wisps has managed to improve upon its predecessor in every way–including, astonishingly, its score. Gareth Coker’s compositions have given Ori life since the early days of the franchise, and we were lucky enough to pick the award-winning composer’s brains just weeks after the title’s launch.
In this extensive interview, we go over everything from musical inspirations to the methodical art of matching a game’s soundtrack to what’s happening on-screen. We even get into the weeds about some of the score’s standout moments and how Coker went about creating one of his favorite themes. Individual tracks are linked throughout, but I recommend listening to the full soundtrack on streaming services beforehand for context (it’s also just a wonderful listen!).
GS: First of all, congratulations on shipping the game! This has obviously been a long time in the making, and the reception has been out of this world. Did you have concerns about being able to live up to the accolades that Ori and the Blind Forest received?
GC: Thank you! I hope the wait has been worth it! With regards to being concerned about living up to the pressure, I think that’s a thought that inevitably enters one’s head, but if you start making a game or a piece of art in the hopes of chasing more awards [then] you’re already setting down the wrong path. As a studio, every department examined itself and took into account any and all of the criticisms from the previous game–as well as what we did well–and really evaluated ways in which we could make the sequel better. Simply defining “What does better mean?” took quite some time, but eventually the studio settled on some core ideas that built on the original game, and the result is what you have today. In terms of music, I’m only ever looking at the connection between music and the game and how it makes the player feel; everything else is just noise.
GS: What inspired your general composition philosophy? Did any franchises you played growing up have a hand in shaping your take on game music today?
GC: Nothing in particular; my philosophy has been shaped by my taste which is something that constantly evolves while going through life. The version of myself in 2020 would write a very different score for Ori and the Blind Forest now than I did in 2014!
That said, there are a handful of franchises and composers whose work I would say I have always paid attention to. Originally it was the LucasArts in-house composer team of Peter McConnell, Clint Bajakian and Michael Land. Their tremendous work in developing the iMUSE music system really was pioneering at the time and while I was too young to understand it, I distinctly remember noticing it. Beyond the iMUSE system, the quality of the music shone through in all the other titles they worked on.
Another is the Deus Ex franchise, particularly the first game with the score by Alex Brandon. I’ve always felt the Deus Ex games did an amazing job with capturing vibe and feel, something that is of paramount importance when it comes to immersion in games. Jesper Kyd is the other composer who always seems to nail this no matter what project he is working on, particularly in his work on the Hitman and Assassin’s Creed franchises.
GS: As a sequel, how did the drastically larger scale of Will of the Wisps impact your process, if at all?
GC: It didn’t as much impact the process as much as it made me realize I had better be ready to take on an extremely large amount of work and make sure I had the infrastructure in place to be able to deliver something on such a large scale. In terms of the creative process, having more environments to work with and more character themes to develop in many ways made things easier. Especially with the increase in characters and the fact that they appear in different environments, it gave me a fair amount of flexibility in terms of what melodies to use where. I particularly enjoyed putting together Ash and Bone, which plays towards the end of Act One in the Silent Woodlands, as this combines Ori’s theme on piano, Ku’s theme in high strings, and Shriek’s theme in low strings.
What I had planned for but still hadn’t quite imagined was the sheer volume of work required to get this project recorded. 3+ hours of music is a lot of material to record, and we split the recordings over 2 dates: 4 days in December, 1 day in January. We recorded at AIR Studios in London–a phenomenal studio–with the Philharmonia Orchestra. Organizing logistics for my team (conductor, engineer, orchestrator, etc.) and making sure all the music was prepped on time was quite a challenge. The orchestration, the music preparation, the notation work, the taping of parts, the readying of Pro Tools session files, and so on. I think most people assume that the music just magically appears, but recording this soundtrack employed well over 100 people if you include all the support staff required. That said, it’s quite something to hear it all come together in the end, even if I was running on about 2 hours of sleep by the time we got there!
GS: The choice to blend vocals into a select few tracks in the OST results in some especially powerful moments (the crescendo in Ku’s First Flight is a personal favorite). What made you decide on this approach vs. going the strictly orchestral route?
GC: Voice has always been a key component of Ori’s soundtrack right from the opening notes of the first game. With our game being a language-less world (in the traditional sense), voice can be something that can be universally understood if sung with the right feel. Your reference of the flight scene is an example where to me, the voice is expressing joy. But to some, it could also represent relief or a yelp of breaking free; Ku’s wing has been broken her whole childhood, and only now is the moment she’s been able to get past that, and it’s the moment she’s been yearning for since she first started trying to fly. The vocals aren’t there so much to tell you how to feel, but more to help bring out whatever the player is feeling at that point. It’s my general approach for music–it can emotionally guide you, but a lot of the music exists in a place between happy and sad, and where that falls is going to be different from player to player.
There is also a heavy use of live choir on this game (we did not have the budget to record live choir the first time around!). The power of multiple human voices is something I really wanted to utilize this time around, especially given the darker overall tone. Particularly in Fading of the Light and the entire ‘endgame,’ you can really hear their value.
GS: The progression of Kwolok’s theme stands out as not only being one of the most enduring melodies in the game, but also one of the most reinvented. How do you go about altering themes to match different scenarios?
GC: I’m delighted you’ve asked about Kwolok’s theme as it was one of my favorite to write! It’s first heard in a fairly abstract form in The Eyes of Kwolok, and then is presented on bass clarinet in Kwolok’s Hollow / Dashing and Bashing. Then a grand version of the theme is presented in Meeting Kwolok, followed by a serene version of the theme for Kwolok’s Throne Room. Kwolok’s storyline takes him to the Luma Pools, where his arc closes out with Kwolok’s Malaise and Strength of the Forest.
I chose bass clarinet to represent Kwolok’s primary environment (Kwolok’s Hollow), as it is a reed instrument (reeds + swamps/marshes!), and also the range of the instrument is spectacular. It has weight and gravitas but also can sound sweet, particularly in its highest register. Putting it at the forefront of the mix when you first enter Kwolok’s environment immediately makes the player feel that this place is a bit different.
Upon meeting Kwolok, I take a more traditional approach and give it the full orchestra+choir treatment. I wanted the player to feel the same sense of awe that Ori would feel in that moment.
The throne room music is the same core melody originally written for bass clarinet but led by a humming male choir this time. The throne room is a place of calm and tranquility but represented another way to develop the theme.
Finally, Kwolok’s Malaise plays during the bossfight with a very different version of Kwolok. It still takes his theme but moves it to horns and strings and with a whole different set of instruments as this takes place outside his core environment.
Kwolok’s character arc takes you on a pretty full emotional journey and thus it allowed me to explore the full spectrum of what that theme could be turned into with all these different tracks.
GS: In past interviews you mentioned how important it was to get a feel for the “tempo” of a movement-focused game like Ori and the Blind Forest. Did Will of the Wisps’ heavy emphasis on combat also affect the way you approached composition?
GC: Combat still has a tempo too, so they approach largely stayed the same. Even with the emphasis on combat, Ori’s strengths lie in his freedom of movement. While there is an emphasis on new combat abilities this time around, you can still move pretty quickly when in combat. Finding that initial tempo of the game is always the same process for me; I’m just reacting to what I feel when I play the game.
GS: One of Will of the Wisps’ greatest strengths is how well the action on-screen meshes with the score and audio design as a whole. What are some of the tracks you feel benefit particularly well from being heard in the context of the game?
GC: Pretty much any of the major cutscenes, but one area I’d particularly like to highlight is the music that commences midway through Silent Woodlands: the tracks Reunification, Ash and Bone, Shriek, and Fading of the Light. This is one long sequence of gameplay that is very cinematic and while the tracks do stand alone, this is one part of the game where everything truly comes together–gameplay, visuals, narrative and audio.
For similar reasons I’d obviously recommend the ending sequence, really starting from The Spirit Willow which is a cutscene that precedes the final boss fight, right through to the end of the game. The Spirit Willow through to Ori, Embracing the Light is really one long continuous and connected piece of music when heard in-game. I did briefly consider stitching all those final tracks together for the soundtrack, but I figured people would want some reference points to jump in!
GS: Video games are many people’s first exposure to orchestral music today. Do you have any hopes that making scores like these will create future fans of the genre, or even inspire future composers?
GC: I think it’s inevitable. Especially if we are experiencing these things when we are young, we subconsciously carry them through to our later lives. My first memory of film music was Alan Silvestri’s Forrest Gump film and I can still recall every note of it to this day. The sheer number of people playing video games means that it’s inevitable that the music of some games will stick with them and some will be encouraged to go to the concert hall, and some will have a go at writing music with the goal of working in the industry. The games industry is still expanding, and the types of games being made is still growing. I suspect there will be several generations that will get inspired from the work currently being done.
Love the score and want to support Coker directly? You can purchase the 60-track OST on his Bandcamp page.

domain: entertainment


In aquaponics, fishes provide nutrients for plants to grow by bacteria breaking down ammonia from their waste into nitrates which is then used by the plants. It?s essentially a closed-loop ecosystem created by the symbiotic relationship between plants and fishes.?
Aquaponic Fishes can function with up to 18 hours of light to carry out their daily functions as living organisms. Light is a necessity for aquaponic fishes and helps contribute to their health, stress levels, and reproductive functions.?
Fishes are the driving force of an aquaponic system; they provide the source of nutrients that plants use. Healthy fishes produce healthy nutrients.?
And Healthy fishes are based on how well they thrive in their environment. The amount of light provided for the fishes can affect their health and how they function.?
See our complete guide on aquaponics and what you need to know to run a successful system.
Do Fishes actually need light?
The fact that the eyes of common fishes like tilapia, perch, and koi are relatively large says much about their evolution. These fishes have these eye structures because they use it for survival in the wild.?
Fishes need light to carry out their daily functions.
The conditions in an aquaponic system is not anything close to conditions these aquatic animals may be subjected to in the wild.
Fishes need light to see their food.
Housed in a closed environment with many other fishes, being able to see the food when it?s available is a part of survival in an aquaponic system for fishes.
Without light, the fishes would have a hard time finding food which in turn of left uneaten can lead to fouling of the system. Therefore, the more light fishes are exposed to tend to increase their growth rate since they are able to feed more with the available light.
The reproduction of fishes would fall drastically since fishes will not be able to carry out the function.
Have you ever seen the courting ritual of the male and female tilapias? They are very playful and territorial around this time. Without light, these attributes of reproduction would cease and the cycle itself would not occur.
How does light affect the Health of the fishes?
Light is required for body pigmentation especially during the early development of fishes. This is true for most fishes especially colorful fishes like kois and tetras.?
High-intensity light can be stressful or even lethal to fish.
How much light does aquaponic fishes need?
Reproduction and spawning are best achieved with a photoperiod of 18h and 2500 Lux light intensity. Meaning that the fishes can perform well with a light period of 18 hours a day.
Source – https://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0100-879X2004000400004&script=sci_arttext
Lux is the SI-derived unit of illuminance and is equal to one lumen per square meter.
What types of light are best for aquaponic fishes?
The type of light that fishes are subjected to are produced different outcomes when it comes to reproduction.
The species under speculation is the blue Nile tilapia because it?s the most commonly used fish in aquaponics due to its growth and reproduction rate.?
Blue environmental color influences fish reproductive behavior. The higher reproductive rate and more intense nesting behavior in groups under blue light strongly suggest that this light stimulates reproduction in Nile tilapia.
Blue light comes mainly from light in the range of 5000k and 6000k, light intensity.
The light spectrum ranges from 1000k to 10000k where 1000k is the dimmest light and 10000k is the brightest.?
From the same study listed above, it was concluded that fishes perform better and produce fewer stress hormones when subjected to living in a green environment.?
I think mostly it?s from their nature and being surrounded by green plants calms their behavior since they have a more homey feeling.
It?s only natural to feel at home if you are surrounded by the thing you are accustomed to.?
Apparently, these fishes are no different and the benefits can be seen from their low-stress levels and reproductive responses when around these calming colors.
What Type of light Should you Use for Fishes?
LED lighting is the best kind of light that should be used for fish. LED or Light Emitting Diode is very efficient and most beneficial when compared to other light sources.
If you have to keep the light on for an 18 hour period the power consumption over time would certainly add up. LEDs are very energy-efficient and long-lasting.
Here is our pick from amazon for aquatic lighting. It’s really worth a look and the ratings for this light speak for themselves.
Apart from the power aspect, Other light sources can add unwanted heat to the aquaponic system which brings a lot of negative side effects such as decreases dissolved oxygen and pH swings.


Services, infrastructure before more housing
Hello! Is anybody there? Why are the citizens of St. Johns County being ignored?
We are not a bunch of sour old folks looking to keep the city small and quaint, although that would be nice. Yes, growth and change are inevitable, but uncontrolled it can have a destructive effect on the population of this county.
Are we putting the “cart before the horse” in encouraging growth before we implement some sensible planning guidelines that take into consideration roadway level of service, parking, availability of public transportation, capacity of our utility infrastructure, impact of deforestation on water management and access to services and supporting businesses?
In a previous letter, I cited the example of Easton, Maryland, which lost its one-time status among one of the best small cities quickly, due to uncontrolled growth.
St. Johns County needs better infrastructure, more and better services and improved transportation. It is a kind of “transportation desert.” You must get in your car, brave the traffic and fight for a parking spot, because it’s overrun by new residents and visitors. Drive to Jacksonville and Daytona for major retail stores and, in spite of some positive news from our airport, most people also have to drive to Jacksonville or Daytona to fly to other parts of country.
This brings me to our “small but mighty” Northeast Florida Regional Airport (St. Augustine Airport) which is working very hard to plan for sensible growth in the future. We need this asset!
Why are we allowing a residential development adjacent to the airport and close to the Gun Club and the railroad? We are welcoming noise, as well as safety, environmental issues and more traffic on U.S. 1.
There have been multiple examples of airports impacted by encroaching residential development. Our planners and officials should know that allowing even a small residential development near the airport is not compatible land utilization, regardless of how many documents owners have to sign. The FAA, in its guidelines, warns against this incompatibility and cities, like Chandler, Arizona, and others, have denied zoning for such incompatible uses. The approval by PZA of this housing development is not only poor environmental planning but also a potential hurdle for a service which is sorely needed in St. Johns County.
Voters, be advised that our candidates for St. Johns County Commissioners are receiving large sums of campaign contributions from developers based in Jacksonville and flooding our county with housing developments which are taxing our utilities, crowding our limited infrastructure and threatening the growth of our transportation and economic assets. Rise up and demand responsible government and competent planning and zoning implementation.


freezing water cooled screw chiller
freezing cooled water:25.86m3/h
Performance values refer to the following conditions:
Condenser water inlet/outlet temperature: 30oC/35oC.
Evaporator water inlet/outlet temperature: 12oC/7oC.
freezing water cooled screw chiller features:
Gas type R134a, R407c or R22
Acting as multi-function unit such as cooling, heating, sanitary hot water separately or simultaneously.
Shell and tube dry expansion type condenser, factory insulated with flexible close cell material.
The electric panel consists of compressor breaker, compressor contactor, phase sequence relay, control circuit breaker, microprocessor control with function display.
LCD display, touch screen control panel.
water cooled screw chiller must use with cooling tower .
our company also have cooling tower for water cooled screw chiller.
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text:
'MTV Roadies: Karm Ya Kaand' is full of high intensity drama as contestants gear up for their new tasks. However, disrespect is something that is not tolerated on the show. Ahead of their new task, contestant Vashu Jain will start mouthing off insults to his fellow contestant while even trash talking Gautam Gulati, who sternly warns him to never try this again.
(Also Read: Bigg Boss OTT 2: Amit Tandon’s Arrival In House Will Pack In A Dose Of Comedy As Contestants Roast Each Other! (Details Inside))
The whole thing will start as the camps of Gang leaders, Gautam and Prince Narula are gearing up for their upcoming battle. However, carried away by adrenaline Vashu will tell his fellow contestant Himanshu Arora from the rival Gautam Gang, that he is too scared to fight him which shows on his face. He will then get too carried away and even say that Gautam is the same as him, and is frightened of him.
Gautam who normally tends to maintain his cool will not take too kindly to this insult and then proceed to show Vashu, who the actual Boss is in the ring. Gautam will sternly proceed to tell Vashu to keep his attitude under check and not try to be too oversmart or else he will throw him out of the show in a second.
Vashu, staying perplexed by the incident won’t say anything while Gautam will then tell Prince to keep his members under check, and that disrespect won’t be tolerated on the show, to fellow members and particularly to Gang leaders.
(Also Read: Pathetic! Actress Charu Asopa Opens Up On Facing A Vicious CASTING COUCH Incident, Exposes Attempted Exploitation By Director)
Prince will then proceed to apologise to his fellow rival leader and chide Vashu, telling Gautam that if he or any other contestant from his group proceed to insult him, Rhea or anyone in such a crass manner ever again, he’ll kick them out himself. Rhea will watch in silence as no one is going to be too happy with display of such rude behaviour. 'MTV Roadies: Karm Ya Kaand’ streams on MTV and Jio Cinema.


The Cisco AnyConnect client can be used on personal and university-managed devices. See this support article for instructions on how to use this service.
The GlobalProtect Always On VPN is not intended for use outside the United States. To request access to the GlobalProtect Always On VPN contact IT-Security@uiowa.edu
Please see this IT Security website for further information on using University IT services while traveling.


text:
It is the mission of this Blog to call out the deception and misrepresentations that are the hallmark of the Egrant scandal. As you know, we speak Truth to Power here, calling out lies where and when we see them.
Today's article in Malta Today, quoting extensively from the disgraced former Malta Independent Editor and PM Media Chief Pierre Portelli, whose credibility took a huge hit when news broke that he had reportedly accepted payments from Yorgen Fenech under dubious circumstances, causing him to resign from the party, discussed the Egrant scandal.
Portelli's negative assessment of Malta's most prominent Egrant whistleblower, Maria Efimova, is not helped by the interviewer's obviously non-objective perspective, as he fails to state neither that the charges filed against Efimova have been vigorously disputed, nor that the Magisterial Inquiry, which ruled that Michele Muscat was not Egrant's owner, was not supported by findings of fact. Malta's mainstream media has long been accused of partisan journalism, favoring PL leaders and their supporters, lest they lose lucrative advertising revenues.
Maria Efimova has responded to our questions about Portelli's statements during his interview, and we detail them herewith with verbatim quotes, so that there is no question regarding her meaning:
1. " Portelli still avoids to say who gave him the "forged" documents which he then passed to the Magistrate. At least, this time he didn't say it was me."
2."Is he saying that he knew the [Egrant] documents are "forged" at the time he gave them to the Court ?"
3. "I would like to say that I offered several times to testify in inquiry into Daphne's assassination via video-conference."
4. "I am still available if the Inquiry Board will deem my participation necessary."
Any intelligent person knows very well that if Maria Efimova appears in person in Malta, all sort of bogus, politically motivated criminal charges will magically surface, that she will be detained, denied access to an attorney, and possibly killed while in custody, lest she implicate Michele Muscat and her husband.
She could also be asked to identify the powerful Maltese leaders involved in the money laundering that occurred at Pilatus Bank. Given that the Magistrate's Report on Pilatus allegedly named and shamed all the directors and senior officers of the bank, and she worked there, she could corroborate their guilt. That's one more reason why her health and safety are in danger in Malta.


text:
Modified Diets & Medical Statements
CHCCS & Chartwells are committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for students during meal times. We understand the importance of providing accurate nutrition, ingredient, and allergen information for students to make informed choices for their health and well-being and we are dedicated to creating a foodservice environment that ensures information accuracy.Our goal is to provide students and parents with information that will assist them with self management of their individual dietary needs in real-world environments.
Please note that, in alignment with NCDPI and USDA guidance & regulations, the Medical Statement for Students with Unique Mealtime Needs for School Meals will only be accepted for students with medically documented disabilities or food allergies. If your child has a food intolerance or non-medical dietary preference, please refer to the “How are students with food intolerances accommodated?” and “Does Child Nutrition accommodate non-medical dietary preferences?” sections below for more information.
Who is eligible for a modified diet?
Any student who is unable to eat regular school meals due to a medically documented disability according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or food allergy are allowed food substitutions when requested by a parent/guardian and documented on a Medical Statement for Students with Unique Mealtime Needs for School Meals is completed (available under the ‘Helpful Links’ section at the bottom of this page.
What is considered a disability?
Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a “person with a disability” means “any person who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activity, has a record of such impairment or is regarded as having such an impairment.”
Major life activities covered by this definition include: caring for yourself, eating, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working. Major life activities also includes “Major Bodily Functions” such as: functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respirator, circulator, cardiovascular, endocrine and reproductive functions. The term “physical or mental impairment” includes but is not limited to, such diseases and conditions as:
- Orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments
- Cerebral Palsy
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Heart Disease
- Metabolic diseases, such as diabetes or phenylketonuria (PKU)
- Food anaphylaxis (severe food allergy)
- Mental retardation
- Emotional illness
- Drug addiction and alcoholism
How do you accommodate students with Food Allergies (peanut, tree nut, milk, eggs, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish, sesame)?
Part A should be completed by the parent/guardian. Part A (page 1) of the Medical Statement includes all information needed from the parent/guardian and should be completed in its entirety.
Part B should only be completed by the Licensed Physician or Physicians Assistant, or Nurse Practitioner. Part B (page 2) of the Medical Statement is required as documentation of the medical need and should be completed in its entirety and signed by the Licensed Physician or Physicians Assistant or Nurse Practitioner.
If a Medical Statement from a licensed physician is not received by School Nutrition Services, the child’s diet order cannot be processed and he/she may receive a regular meal.
The current Medical Statement on file will be honored until a new Medical Statement is updated by the licensed physician and received by School Nutrition Services.
School staff must follow the dietary orders in the current Medical Statement on file and cannot make dietary changes without an updated form from the Licensed Physician or Physicians Assistant or Nurse Practitioner.
How are diet orders processed?
The school nurse will provide copies of the forms to the CHCCS Child Nutrition Dietitian, Christine Polk, and to other identified staff who may need information about the student's dietary status. Once a meal substitution is made, the school must be allowed time to implement the change (which can take up to two weeks based on the Mealtime Needs). The parent is responsible for providing the food until the change is made.
Every effort should be made to ensure that all students have access to eating in the cafeteria, the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).
What if there is a change to my child’s Mealtime Needs?
A new Medical Statement needs to be completed for any changes to a student’s Mealtime Needs. All changes must be received by the CHCCS Child Nutrition Dietitian, Christine Polk, for review before being implemented.The school must be allowed time to implement the change (which can take up to two weeks based on the Mealtime Needs). The parent is responsible for providing the food until the change is made. Additionally, CHCCS will require a Medical Statement to discontinue diet order.
How are students with food intolerances accommodated?
If your child has an intolerance to a specific food, Child Nutrition can often meet their needs through a variety of choices at breakfast and lunch. Students may select foods to meet their needs through the offer versus serve options*. Other dietary modifications may be provided by Child Nutrition on a case by case basis. Please refer to our online menus or the menus posted at your child’s school.
Does Child Nutrition accommodate non-medical dietary preferences?
If your child is a vegetarian or has other food preferences such as a pork-free diet, these needs are usually met daily via the variety of menu choices we currently offer at breakfast and lunch. Students may select items that meet their needs through the offer versus serve option*. Child Nutrition may provide substitutions for your child based on availability. Please refer to our online menus or the menus posted at your child’s school.
What is Offer vs Serve?
With the offer versus serve option, students may select the foods that fit their dietary needs. At least two grains, one fruit and milk are offered daily at breakfast. At least two entrees, two vegetables, one fruit and milk are offered daily at lunch.
Food Alergy Disclaimer
Food Allergy Disclaimer: Please be aware that Child Nutrition prepares our food in commercial kitchens, where cross-contact with food allergens is possible and where ingredient substitutions and recipe revisions are sometimes made. Additionally, manufacturers of commercial food products we order may change their product formulation or ingredient consistency at any time without notification. Actual ingredients and nutritional content may vary and we are not able to guarantee that any food item will be completely free of food allergens. If you have questions or any concerns regarding ingredients of a specific food or recipe, please reach out to the CHCCS Child Nutrition Dietitian. You can find contact information at https://www.chccs.org/Page/9493

domain: medical


text:
KUNSTLER 2004 COLLECTABLE ORNAMENT – "AFTER THE SNOW"
by Mort Kunstler
Edition Size: 7500
Here for your consideration is the Timber Ridge School 2004 Collectable Christmas Ornament featuring Mort Kunstler's 1998 winter scene "AFTER THE SNOW." This is the 9th in a series of ornaments produced and issued by the Timber Ridge School.
The scene in "AFTER THE SNOW" captures a Virginia landmark: the Winchester, Virginia Court House. It is 4:40 PM on January 6, 1862, about fifteen minutes before sunset. The sun has just popped out before setting as the storm that dropped about four inches of snow on the city passes off to the northeast. With Winchester changing hands over 70 times during the war it was in constant use by both the North and South to house prisoners. Kunstler chose to paint this scene in winter to feature the court house and not the prisoners that may be in the courtyard during better weather.
This Christmas ornament was produced and issued exclusively by the Timber Ridge School, a licensed residential treatment center and accredited educational program serving young men between the ages of 11 and 19 with a history of serious emotional, learning, and behavioral difficulties. Funds for the improvement of campus programs and facilities are raised through the original sale of ornaments. Mort Kunstler, a very generous supporter of the school, donated the use of his work "AFTER THE SNOW" for this ornament. No more than 7,500 of this 9th in a series of ornaments were produced. It has a 24 karat gold plated over brass border and is finished with burgundy ribbon. It is packaged in a burgundy presentation box with black felt backing and comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity and an ornament stand so it can be either hung on a tree or displayed on a shelf.

domain: artistic