Stacks of books ready to travel with us!
I am packing for vacation today! Hooray!
Although what I'm actually doing is writing a blog post about packing, when I should be just madly packing, hah! But I have stacks ready to put in bags, so that's a start, right?
I am a terrible over-preparer and usually pack way too much for one week. For example, for this one week beach trip, I have packed 7 books for myself, 4 books for my daughter, and an audio book to listen to in the car on the way. Plus several writing and art projects, and some summer academic prep for my daughter. That's totally do-able in one week, right?
I think part of the reason I over-prepare for a trip is that I love anticipating fun. I love looking forward to the lazy moments, and I relish in the fact that I will get to hang out with my family by the ocean, and stay in my PJs as long as I want, and do nothing but read for hours on end, and see beautiful sights for a whole week. Sometimes I get more happiness from looking forward to a trip than I get while actually on the trip! Which seems silly, but as a creature of habit and a homebody, it can be stressful to travel, even to a well-loved place. So, sometimes the anticipation of a fun time can bring just as much joy as the actual event!
What about you, do you find that looking forward to good times can sometimes bring as much happiness as those times in and of themselves?
Do you ever notice that we, as parents and teachers and decorators, tend to love holiday themes and decor before the fact, but often dismiss the theme immediately after the event? We decorate for Christmas starting in October, but it's a faux pas to keep your decorations up past New Year's. We wear red, white, and blue the whole week before July 4th, but put away the patriotic clothes on the 5th. I used to do the same thing with my speech lessons. I would read trick or treating books leading up to Halloween, but never after. I would make heart crafts before Valentine's Day, but never after.
But I've noticed in this, my 16th year as a speech language pathologist, that children will often talk more about an event or experience after that experience. Just by accident, I stumbled upon this bit of knowledge this year, when I left some egg and nest books out after Easter and had some children request the books saying things like, "Oh, those are like the eggs I hunted!" or, "Hey I did that-- let's read that one again!"
So let's slow down in putting our thematic unit activities away so quickly after an event or holiday. I myself plan to read these two fireworks books -- Olivia Forms a Band, and The Very Lonely Firefly-- for the next few days in my speech therapy sessions, in hopes that it will help my patients be able to recall more details, vocabulary, and concepts about their own experiences with fireworks this week.
What were your favorite family traditions for July 4th? What traditions do you hope to pass on one day?
Flanna's friend slept over last night and joined us for crepes!
Hi, friends! It's been a while since I've blogged, but today, we have a day off mid-week and nothing, I repeat, no.thing. on our schedule! So, I had time to do all the little things I love to do: cook, eat at a table with my family, tell stories, laugh, go for a walk, take a long bath, read, and now, even blog! Hooray for a little down time!
It's been a nice lazy day so far. My hubby and daughter played Minecraft a bit, my hubby serenaded us with his guitar from his office/music room, and we ate crepes for breakfast (my favorite recipe from the Moosewood cookbook) and my favorite fancy cheese and crackers for lunch. Yum.
Homemade crepes with blueberries and homemade whipped cream. Yum.
I know that checking those things off would be helpful, but I also know that I have been feeling exhausted, not just physically, but mentally exhausted, with work and all of the zillions of things pulling me in this or that direction. So today, I am going to keep that planner in my bag, and keep that to-do list waiting for a bit, because sometimes, I need to actually rest on a day off!
Do you have a strange urge to fill your "down-time" with tasks, too? To accomplish things every single day, even on your days off? Often, that drive can be helpful, but some days I really do need to just rest and re-set.
discovered if it weren't for waking up early.
I had the flu last week. It was awful.
I'm so glad to be feeling better now, finally!
The worst part of feeling icky last week was the fact that I had trouble resting and sleeping, because of a steroid shot and the Tamiflu I took. Apparently, insomnia is a possible side effect for both. So, I tried to rest, but wasn't really able to, which I think slowed down my recovery.
I would find myself waking up much earlier than normal, unable to fall back asleep. Which drove me crazy. I would lie there in the early early mornings in the dark, and try to close my eyes and get back to sleep, and be so frustrated!
But then, this weekend, I thought, "Maybe this is a gift?" This peaceful time to be awake, to be still and calm, while everyone else is asleep, when the sun isn't out yet, and the world is quiet. Maybe it's a gift?
When I thought of it that way, it did seem special, much less frustrating, and like a magical, quiet moment for me to reflect on the day to come. I started to use that time to look at my TimeHop, or "On this Day" memories in Facebook, and to try to take a bigger view of my life as I started my day.
Nothing truly changed, but when I reframed that insomia in my mind, it made me less anxious about it, less worried that it would happen again, and less frustrated that I was awake before I really needed to be. And feeling less stressed was a gift.
What can you reframe this week? What is frustrating you a bit, that just might be a gift in disguise?
It has rained quite a bit here for the past week. I get a little gloomy without sunlight, so all the rain had me a little down. But then I walked by my hostas and realized that the rain has made them look so beautiful and lush. The rain is a gift, for these plants.
I cleaned out my daughter's closet over the weekend. Oh, dear. So many clothes that don't fit anymore. So many shoes that she has outgrown. So many toys that she is getting too big for. My hallway is now lined with bags of things to donate: some to hand down to cousins, some for Goodwill, others to take to my work. When will I have time to deal with those tasks? I just barely had time to clean out a closet, hah! It can be overwhelming, all the tasks to be done! But then this evening, as I mulled over my weekly schedule and tried to pencil in Goodwill drop-offs, I realized that I should be thankful that we live in such an abundantly luxurious time, when shoes and jeans and books and toys are actually reasonably affordable. And I should be grateful that my sweet girl worked hard during a weekend to sort and organize, and was even agreeable about donating her hand-me-downs (which never usually happens! She normally wants to save every shiny gum wrapper, hah!) Abundance, and outer order, are gifts.
Each morning when I wake up, I try to thank God for several specific things. I am thankful for my family, for my home, for my dog, for my strong body. For rain. For organized closets. And even if it's rainy out and I have to step over 3 Goodwill bags on my way to the coffee maker, I really do find that when I notice gifts and name them, I am happier with my lot in life.
Today on my lunch break, I noticed I was feeling pretty stressed about all of the items still un-done on my to-do list. I knew I had a busy afternoon full of patients to see after lunch (which translates into zero time to get those tasks checked off my list!), and I was nervous that I would end up taking work home for the weekend if I didn't get it all done. When I sat down at my therapy table with my first afternoon patient, though, I took a deep breath and told myself to, "zoom in."
It took a few minutes. I was face to face with my patient, so I tried to notice what he was noticing. I tried to see what it was that made him light up. I noticed he'd had a hair cut since last week, and I could see his eyes better today. I noticed that he smiled when he tapped a shape-sorter block against the table. When I copied him and made the same tapping sound, he laughed. I noticed that he used his voice more when there was noise in the background, like a ball popper popping or a musical toy playing. By the end of the session, I had forgotten my to-do list stress, and had learned a few new things about my sweet patient that made our session incredibly productive. Just by zooming in.
It's the same at home. When I'm caught in the big picture of who needs to be where, and what needs to be done when, and how best to juggle it all, if I can just "zoom in" on my daughter, or my husband, or my dog, or a neat flower that just bloomed, my stress will often flow away, without a lot of effort on my part.
And now, it's Friday! And I'm home! And my daughter's spending the night with her cousin! And even though I brought a tiny bit of work home, I'm going to "zoom in" on my hubby and have a nice dinner with him now!
What can you "zoom in" on today, for a quick happiness boost?
Summer Speech Sound Practice: Make it Fun!
This is the timer function on my cell phone.
It's within the clock app.
It's summer, hooray! Time for vacations and trips and a break from our routines!
I'm all for summer fun, but as an SLP (speech language pathologist), I don't want my speech students to lose their speech skills over the summer. So, I often give parents summer packets and word lists to practice over their summer vacations. But this summer, I have a new twist on speech homework: The Super Speed Speech Sound Game.
2. When the timer starts, the child starts at #1 and says as many words correctly from the list, in order, as possible. You interrupt them if the word was incorrect and have them repeat it correctly (quickly) before they can move to the next word. Don't let them slip an incorrect word past you--we don't want a child to practice a word wrong! So don't be afraid to interrupt them and have them repeat the word until it is right.
3. When the timer buzzes, write down the number of the last word on the list the child said correctly. This becomes their "score."
4. Then, challenge the child to try to "beat their score" two times. Reset the timer for one minute and have the child start over at #1 and read the same words over again quickly and correctly. Again, if they say a word incorrectly, interrupt them and have them repeat the word correctly. When the timer buzzes a second time, compare the # they got to with their first attempt. The second try is almost always higher! Celebrate that the child "beat their high score!" Then, reset the timer again, and do one last round. When the timer buzzes, write down the # they got to.
5. If the child beats their high score twice, reward them with a dance around the kitchen table or something equally silly.
The Super Speed Speech Sound Game will build automaticity and help children maintain their speech sound skills even when they are out for the summer. Let me know if you try it, and how your child liked it, if you did!
My view from bed, as my hubby greeted the pup this morning.
Today, I was very sick. I woke up early in the morning to prepare some food for a pot-luck I was planning to attend at work today. But within moments, I felt shaky and nauseated and just downright horrible. A stomach bug had struck!
Luckily, it must've been a short-lived bug, because I felt much better by this evening.
But the thing that struck me today, was that immediately when I told my husband I was feeling sick, he jumped out of bed and got to work helping me. He brought me ginger ale. He turned on all of our fans, so I wouldn't be hot. He got out the cleaning supplies and lysol. He brought me a bucket. He brought me a bell to ring in case he was downstairs and couldn't hear me. He checked on me every half hour or so. I felt so cared for.
It occurred to me that I am a grown-up and could probably have gotten all of those things for myself, even in my sick state. I felt a little guilty that my busy hubby had to take time out of his day to help me. Several times, I apologized to him, for being so needy.
But when I thought about it, I realized that if the tables were turned, I would want him to accept my help without feeling guilty about it. I would want him to feel cared for and safe without having to apologize for needing help or care. I would be honored to be able to help him, because I love him and being helpful is one way I like to show love.
And so I tried to just accept help, and appreciate his kind care, rather than feeling bad about needing help.
I do think that many times in loving relationships, if people don't accept help gracefully, it can put others off. A friend or family member who thinks they are being loving by doing things for others constantly but who never accepts help from others, can seem to be keeping other people at a distance, even if they don't mean to. I think it's something we need to consider about ourselves. How do our rejections of help, or our expressions of guilt, or our apologies when we do receive help, affect the person trying to lovingly give us care or help? Does it make them feel that we aren't as close as they thought, because we are uncomfortable being needy in front of them?
Let's try to be graceful in accepting help from those we love.
Have you ever noticed this? How gracefully do you accept help from your loved ones? How can you be better about this?
The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness, fullness thereof.
This week, the tulip trees (Japanese magnolias?) have begun blooming all over the city. I notice them as I am rushing to drop of my daughter at school, rushing to work, rushing home, rushing to the grocery store, and generally, well, rushing around.
I notice them, and they call to me.
To slow down. To look up. To take time, just a moment, to appreciate them while they are here. Because they won't last forever. Some gifts are brief.
And so yesterday, I paused. I stood under a tree in a parking lot and looked up.
And peace came. I didn't even know I called it. But it came.
What gifts call you to pause, and notice them?
I was talking to my daughter recently about her earliest memory. She says she can remember me singing while I stood holding her in the shower in our green tiled bathroom with the bamboo shower curtain in our old home on Pulaski Street in Athens, GA. She would've been about 2 at that time. I do remember that moment, because it was unusual for me to hold her in the shower. I usually gave her a bath, and even if I had given her a shower, I would usually just hold her hand and let her stand in the shower because I was too nervous I would drop her if I was holding her. But on that morning, she had been sick, and I wanted to hold her up high so she could breathe in more steam from the shower. I remember being nervous and holding her slippery soapy body so tightly, so she couldn't wiggle out of my arms. But she just remembers a sweet warm care-taking experience, thank goodness, not my fear of her slipping!
Anyway, she asked why she doesn't remember anything from before this memory. There were probably zillions of things that happened before that day that were just as interesting, if not more interesting than that first memory. And I told her that one of my professors had taught me that we often do have sensory memories from before our "first memory," but that until we can understand and tell stories, we aren't able to encode those memories so that we can later recall them. It was probably around 2 or 2 1/2 when she was first able to understand and tell simple stories, and that's probably why she remembers and can recall this moment.
I think a lot about how stories are so important to us as humans. Stories help us make sense of who we are, of who our family is and was, of how we got to this place and where we might go. Stories are more than just looking back and reminiscing, they are actually important in how we see ourselves as connected to the world and what we think of ourselves individually. Carol Westby, a brilliant SLP and researcher, remarked in a recent journal article about the importance of teaching children to create stories about their own lives, "A coherent life story can lead to making informed choices, learning to effectively solve problems, and taking control of and responsibility for one's life." Also, as I've discussed before in this blog, researchers at Emory University's Family Narratives lab say, "... adolescents who are embedded in a storied family history show higher levels of emotional well-being, perhaps because these stories provide larger narrative frameworks for understanding self and the world, and because these stories help provide a sense of continuity across generations in ways that promote a secure identity (see Fivush, Bohanek, & Duke, 2008, for a full theoretical discussion)." When we can tell a story about how we overcame an obstacle, or how our family members faced strife but persevered, we help our children become more reflective individuals who can calmly face problems, flip back through their library of their own or others' experiences, and come up with solutions that might work in this case.
So, don't sugar coat your family history. Tell your children the good family memories, but also the hard ones. For Flanna, some of those include: How her great great grandma died young, but the older children took care of the younger children as well as they could for as long as they could. How the younger ones had to be sent to an orphanage, but they kept in touch and always sent letters back and forth. How her grandparents worked hard physical jobs that were tough on their bodies in order to earn enough money to send their children to college, and their children were the first to graduate college on either side of the family. How her great grandpa had a car wreck that caused a spinal cord injury but worked hard to relearn things with therapy and really enjoyed the therapy dogs that would visit the rehab center. How her great aunt wanted to have children for so many years and didn't give up and finally became a mom for the first time in her 40s. How her grandmother had to move from one state to another the summer before her senior year of high school, and how that felt like the end of the world, but actually allowed her to meet her future husband. How her great grandpa realized as an older man that he was actually homosexual, and how hard that was for the family, but also how it was probably such a relief for him not to feel like he was hiding his true self anymore. How her great grandmother grew up in poverty but became a Women's Army Corps member and learned skills and got a great job as a switchboard operator and was able to provide for herself even after her divorce.
Giving our children the good stories along with the bad can steel them for the tough times in their own lives. From our family stories, Flannery could learn: that families take care of one another, that families work hard to stay connected, that our family values education, that it runs in her family to love animals, that children are a gift not a burden, that sometimes scary changes work out well in the end, that you need to listen to your heart and be true to yourself about who you are from the beginning, that it's smart to work hard and be independent and always be able to provide for yourself. It's hard and scary to talk about difficult things with our children, and we definitely need to wait until they are old enough to understand the concepts, but it's important to be bold enough to tell our tough family stories as well as the good memories.
What family stories do you think have shaped who you are as a person? What stories do you want to be sure to pass down to your children or your children's children?
Fivush, R., Bohanek, J. G., & Zaman, W. (2010). Personal and intergenerational narrativesin relation to adolescents' well-being. In T. Habermas (Ed.), The development of autobiographicalreasoning in adolescence and beyond. New Directions for Child and AdolescentDevelopment, 131, 45–57.
Westby, C. & Culatta, B. (2016, Oct.). Telling tales: Personal event narratives and life stories. Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools, Vol. 47, pp. 260-282.
It's a new year! A new year, in a new state, in a new home, with a new job, and new routines, and new everything! Which, if you know the self help literature, means I have a clean slate--a brand new start! An easy new blank page for creating the life I want!
The first two resolutions are easy! We have moved to Macon, GA, the Song and Soul of the South, so there is music everywhere in my new home and new city. And as for writing--I have a blog that I am hoping to jump back into, and a zillion journals on my nightstand, and a writing group that will hold me accountable if I just ask. But the last resolution is the kicker.
I was going to make my third resolution to practice pilates, but when I searched deeper, I realized that it's not just that I want to do Pilates--I want to feel the calm and peace and connectedness to my body and the earth that I feel when doing Pilates. And really, I don't have to be doing Pilates to feel that. I can call forth that peaceful grounded feeling anytime I want, just by breathing, and correcting my posture, and noticing the gifts around me. So #3 will be the toughie but goodie that I think I can do a zillion times a day as I walk through the daily hurdles of this world. How we need peace right now!
I will start tomorrow, by loving on my precious daughter and husband and patients and families and calling peace at every greeting and parting throughout my day. It's not much, but peace grows from a small seed.
What about you? What are your goals for this new year? Write them down in a comment! You'll be more likely to keep them if you do!
Yesterday, I stumbled upon a gem.
Flannery & I read this book last week. It was great!
On Facebook, a friend of mine had posted a video of Father Thomas Hopko's 55 maxims for Christian living. I googled the podcast transcript and was just completely overwhelmed by the wisdom in this little list that an Orthodox priest (who died 1 year ago yesterday, May his memory be eternal.) had written.
4. Say the Lord's Prayer several times a day.
5. Have a short prayer that you constantly repeat when your mind is not occupied.
8. Practice silence, inner and outer. Just sit for a few minutes everyday in total silence.
9. Do acts of mercy in secret.
18. Be an ordinary person. Try to be like others as much as you can.
19. Be polite with everyone--first of all, the members of your own family.
But what struck me most was #17 - to cultivate communion with the saints. I've talked about this before on this blog, about how helpful it is for me to "consider the saints" and learn about them, so that I can be encouraged in this life on earth, which can really be tough. The saints that went before us faced the same problems we do, and worse. Yet they managed to rise above them. They weren't superhuman. They were just people like us.
For example, Flannery and I read last week about Saint Patrick. I didn't know that he was captured from Britain as a child and taken to Ireland as a slave. After six years as a slave shepherd, he escaped and tried to get away on a ship. The ship was full of hunting hounds, and the story goes that when Patrick tried to board the ship, the captain didn't want him there because he suspected he was an escaped slave. But the hounds howled and barked each time Patrick stepped away from them and quieted when Patrick was near, so eventually the captain agreed to take him home. And even though he made it home to his family, Patrick felt called to leave them to share the word of God with the people of Ireland (who had earlier enslaved him!). He went back and started a church in a barn in Ireland. And now he is Ireland's patron saint. I mean, I may have a stressful life sometimes, but I've never had to go try to teach my former captors about love and forgiveness.
So today, as I look ahead at a week crammed with too many evaluation reports to write and too many meetings to hold and too many meals to plan and too many birthday presents to buy and too many appointments to keep, it helps to think that others have faced all this and more. That others have fought the good fight and won, and are now cheering me on from above. It might sound cheesy, but in the Orthodox faith, we do believe that the Saints are able to intercede for us and to help us in our worldly struggles, even now. Sometimes when I'm having a tough day, I like to pray for Saint John the Wonderworker to pray for me, and it gives me strength. I also often pray that my grandparents (and my husband's grandfathers) and my uncle pray for me & my family. Many times, I have felt so comforted by the thought that they are interceding on our part.
Cultivate communion with the saints. It's more than just "considering" the saints, I think. And this week, I'm going to try to do just that.
What about you? Do you feel connected to those who have gone before you on this journey? How do you cultivate that communion?
Flanna riding her big bike, with gears and a basket and a cute bell.
--Mary Oliver, from "In Blackwater Woods"
Lately I've been giving myself permission to read and write more. To let the laundry pile up and the dishes wait to be unloaded. Because when I am stressed out and busy and don't let myself do what I love, I become a strange tense version of myself that I don't want to be.
out of the bad hand she was dealt.
Not a single ace or king, nothing up her sleeve.
her young newlywed husband (my grandfather) just couldn't handle it.
and so, it was off to the orphanage.
watching small, wiry Elsie twist her dark auburn hair.
and the clerk hurrying her with his eyes.
Elsie must've learned to be a lesbian.
and no boys, she explained.
and so many homosexual branches off my family tree.
Great Aunt Elsie and her artist partner.
They painted flowers and trees and laughed from a purple velvet couch.
They walked down to the farmer's market every Saturday.
in my hallway in California.
The beauty she created smiles out at me.
a cat sunning in her window.
out of a bad hand of cards.
Spring is coming, coming quickly. Here in California, it's upon us already. On my morning walk, I couldn't get over all of the new blooms that have popped up overnight! It's lovely to see the renewal.
And it got me thinking this morning as I was walking with my dog, that I, too, need renewal. I need to allow myself to do what spring does. I need to push away the old brown, decaying leaves that have covered up the beauty that is possible in my life, and make way for new green shoots, for new colorful buds. I need to get rid of the patterns that keep me always in a hurry, always behind a step, always stressed, always anxious, and make room in my life for wandering, and thinking, and reflecting, and connecting with the ones I love, and being the person I want to be. Because it's so easy, automatic almost, for my priorities to get covered with decaying leaves.
Today, with my to-do list hitting 3 pages long (for reals!), and my dog needing to go to the vet (he has a scratch on his eyelid), and my daughter's orthodontist appointment looming at the end of the day, and with dishes and laundry and e-mails piling up every moment, I am going to try to take deep breaths, and revel in the fabulous deep kiss my hubby gives me as he heads to work, and the way my daughter's hair flies behind her as she rides her scooter to school, and how my sweet dog chooses to lay on the thin kitchen rug just so he can be close to me as I work even though there are a hundred more comfy cushions and blankets for him all over the house. And as I write IEPs and do all of the boring paperwork that comes with being an SLP, I will picture the grinning faces of my students when they learn a new word or say their /s/ sound just right. And that will be me, doing what spring does.
Because renewal doesn't mean my whole life changes, that the muddle of deadlines and chores and hard things goes away. Renewal means that I push these things aside for tiny moments, that I focus briefly on what means the most for just long enough to let the green shoots of gratefulness break through the hard ground of my busy life. Drawing our attention to beauty, that is what spring does.
How will you invite renewal into your life this week?
I bought myself a journal a few weeks ago that says on the cover, "Do what you love." I use it to take notes each day at work. And that message --"Do what you love"--has been a good reminder to me-- to appreciate the meaningful work I get to do each day, and also to stop and do something for myself now and then.
I've even written a few poems (writing gives me such a happiness boost!) in my little journal, in the wee hours of the night when I'm finishing up with work. It's funny--this one tiny "splurge" on a $6 journal for myself has really brought me happiness--both by helping me feel grateful in the moment and by encouraging me to write more. Here's a poem I wrote this week called, "On Family."
as she waits on a prescription.
Love across the miles is hard.
I, too, collect tiny bits of family connection.
to songs my family once sang on car trips.
and hang them on the wall.
as if it were her own dear cheek.
We are a tribe fractured.
of a life we meant to have together.
Do you regularly get to "Do what you love?" And if not, how can you work toward that bit by bit?
Yesterday, you turned eight years old. Eight!
On your eighth birthday, there are so many things I want you to remember forever. I want you to remember your daddy being the "mail slot monster" and cracking us up as we left for school the other day. I want you to remember how our sweet and cuddly dog, Valentino, loves nothing more than snuggling under your blankets in your bed with you as we read together at night. I want you to remember the mountain of cards that arrived in our mail today--from grandparents and aunts and cousins who all love you so much. I want you to remember your excitement at reading Harry Potter for the first time this week. I want you to remember how kind you are to your friends, and how gentle you are with the kindergarteners in after-school with you. You take time to help them, hug them, play with them, and really listen to them. We were leaving from school a few days ago, and at least 4 kinder students ran to hug you as you left. You took time to hug each one and say something special to them. I want you to remember how you supported a friend recently when someone called her a name at school. And how you cheered on the Spartans football team and tried not to give up hope that they would win, even when it was looking grim. I want you to remember the cheerful, fiery, silly, brilliant, hard-working little girl you are right now.
Because I hold all these things in my heart. As you grow, I see you not only as you are now, but as a patchwork of all the beautiful moments when your nature has been revealed, noticing how some things remain constant as you grow. I, as the memory keeper for our family, hold you in my heart as the amazing eight year old you are today, and also as the strong baby who cried with such gusto at birth. And as the conservative new walker who was careful and thought out your actions before you tried them. And as the nurturing protector of animals and children you were as a toddler carrying your "kitty" and "baby" around and rocking and cooing to them. And as the artist intent on her work at the light box in your montessori. And as the athlete scaling the school monkey bars at age 3! And as the talented creator of amazingly accurate and realistic 3D models in preK. And as the careful and insightful mathematician creating and discovering patterns in your blocks in kindergarten. And as the writer of interesting and creative tales in first grade. And as the calm and collected performer with the sharpest memory around, standing on a chair as the angel in our church Christmas play. And as the nurturer of the ignored, ridiculed, different, and forgotten children that you are this year as you navigate the sometimes difficult social world of school. You are, and have always been, a treasure to me and your dad. And when I look at you, I see you as you have been, as you are, and as you will be one day. And I am proud to call you my daughter.
Happy eighth birthday, my sweet! Your daddy and I love you with all our hearts.
Today we had a long breakfast with our sweet friends from back home and then saw them off. And then we had a lazy day at home. We had all intentions of going to the park, but now it's dinner time and that just didn't happen! But we had fun! I read a little poetry. Flanna put on a Barbie wedding, complete with song performances, and taught herself how to play Minecraft. And Robi worked a while and now is grilling our dinner. It was definitely an unhurried day, which is a welcome change and really boosted my happiness!
What about you? Did you get a chance to "be unhurried" this weekend?
It was really hot this weekend, so we decorated quickly outside, but it brought back so many memories of celebrating this tradition when Flanna was small. I remember when she was tiny (maybe one?) and we decorated with pumpkins on the front porch of our green house in Athens, and every time we came in and out of the house, she had to kiss her pumpkins. Sweet thing! She has been a little spunky bit of sunshine her whole life.
What fall traditions are you enjoying?
The view from my bedroom window this morning--Hydrangeas are blooming!
One of my happiness commandments for myself is, "Be Unhurried." It sounds so simple, but it's one thing I have a hard time doing consistently.
Take, for instance, this morning. A friend of mine was taking Flannery to camp, since her kids were going to the same one and it was on her way to work (and not on the way to mine). My family got up with plenty of time to get ready, and then 15 minutes before it was time to leave, Flannery decided to switch outfits and wanted my help getting ready. I was cream-cheesing her bagel and bobby-pinning her hair (it was dress up day for the last day of camp, and she went as a hippie) and entwining lavender flowers into her headband and looking for my shoes and not finding my phone and putting dinner in the crock pot all at the same time.
Sometimes, "Be Unhurried" is about as do-able as "Be a giant frog."
Sometimes, too, "Be Unhurried" isn't really about changing my schedule. It's more about changing my attitude as I go about my day. I can breathe and say to myself, "I have enough time to get the important things done." I can smile and wink at my daughter as I get her into the car. I can play good music on my commute so I don't feel so rushed and crazy in traffic. I can try to notice beautiful things in nature as I drive to a meeting. And even if those things don't buy me time, they do make me feel less hurried. And that makes me happier.
So, today, how can you help yourself be unhurried? Can you leave 10 minutes early for your meeting and then take the time before your meeting starts to reward yourself with a little reading or just a brain break? Can you drop something off of your to-do list that was really too much to get done in one day? Can you cut yourself some slack here and there and realize that if the floor isn't swept before your friends come over, they're still your friends and who cares? Or can you just try to have an unhurried attitude throughout your normal busy day?
I'd love to hear what helps you "Be Unhurried!" Leave a comment below for me if you have ideas!


As the largest workers' compensation third party administrator in Ohio, CareWorksComp provides best-in-class service to more than 26,000 customers. We have been serving Ohio companies since 1950. The Workers' Compensation Group Rated Program through CareWorksComp could save your company significant money on your workers' compensation premium; in one year alone, CBAO members saved over $120,900. Even if your company is enrolled in another workers' compensation group rating program, you should compare your current program to CBAO's group rating program through us.


Counting down to the NZ general elections, suddenly things are getting interesting, thanks to Jacinda Arden and Light rail!
"Transport has concluded that light rail offers the best benefit to cost ratio, compared to heavy rail and bus rapid transport, to improve transport in the suburbs of the isthmus. Its business case found that existing transport is already at capacity and light rail is needed as soon as possible.
Auckland Council had included the light rail line as part of its 2016-2026 10 year plan. The Government's Auckland Transport Alignment Plan has pushed it back to after 2028 despite acknowledging that passenger demand requires it within the coming decade. Labour is keen to begin work on the light rail line as soon as possible and will work with Auckland Council to make funding this project a priority within ten years.
(Excerpt from Labour Fact Sheet document).
This plan didn't exactly make waves. Barely a ripple.
Now, counting down to the general elections, the labour party, flagging in popularity, makes a bold move. Replacing "old and boring" Andrew Little with fresh and vibrant Jacinda Arden, the Fabian "Wolf in sheep's clothing" of choice, and very much in line with the youth-appeal agenda of UK's Labour Party.
A brilliant political move: The media spotlight changes from Blue to Red as National has the rug pulled out from under their feet. The Nats might as well not exist as far as the TV news is concerned.
So what? Good idea, great way to ease congestion in gridlocked Auckland. But, this is of course all part of the UN 2030 Agenda global plan and I have little doubt Booz Allen Hamilton will come creeping out of the woodwork as part of this. Even as I write this, the TV is blaring Arden's "superstar reception" and commenting on "Jacindamania" amid her repeated use of the phrase "World Class Cities" as she makes the Light Rail announcement. In the global scheme of things I see the last minute Labour Party bombshell and sudden focus on light rail as a sign of the rapid progression of the New World Order agenda to have all the pieces in place by the year 2030.


REF. ALE - 23 BATHURST - A bright Single room in central London is on the market now! Inside the room you will find a -wardrobe, a , a -chest of drawers and of course a comfortable bed (2 in most twin rooms).. This property is extremely well connected (at walking distance from Kensal Green station) so you can get anywhere in minutes, and in the neighborhood you will find a lot of good restaurants, shops and supermarkets open until late. Reserve now!


THE PICKIEST EATER IN THE WORLD: THIS IS MADNESS! THIS IS MAD FOR LOBSTER AT EDSA SHANGRI-LA'S HEAT!!
I'll be honest with you... I don't eat lobster. Not because I don't think it's delicious, but quite the contrary. When I was around 12 years old or so, I tried lobster for the very first time and absolutely loved it. In fact, I loved it so much, I ate more than should be allowable for a 12 year old boy.
Unfortunately, eating my body weight in lobsters didn't agree with my system, and I ended up regretting it hours later, when I spent the entire following day face down in the toilet. Since that fateful day, I have stayed away from any form of Shellfish, worried that my allergic reaction would be triggered again.
While Rina was choosing her lobster, she asked me why I wasn't getting one of the crustaceans for myself. I reminded her about the story of when I was a child, and she shook her head and replied, "Your problem wasn't allergies.. It was Gluttony!".
I stopped for a moment to think.. Hmm.. She may have been on to something.
It's pretty hard to miss the glorious spread of different types of lobsters for you to choose from, once you enter Heat.
Or the Pacific Lobster and the succulent Lobster tails! The Lobster madness continues with even more choices, such as Palawan and Slipper Lobsters.
The Lobsters are pre-cooked, so you may just add a little butter and lemon and tear into those little suckers, but if you want to get a little bit more creative, a Heat Chef is waiting in the wings to concoct a little bit of Lobster love for you!
Some of the popular dishes of the evening was the Singapore Chili Lobster Tails..
Or if you're like Rina.. The Lobster sauteed in Lemon Butter and Garlic was all you need.
There is a whole slew of Lobster infused dishes, such as the Lobster Fried rice and Lobster Risotto that was added to Heat's already amazing selection, making every friday night without a doubt, MAD FOR LOBSTER!
The Mad for Lobsters Promo of Edsa Shangri-la's Heat is scheduled until the end of the year, and there is no word yet if it'll be extended past that, so I suggest you try it immediately! For a very reasonable P2,415++, you'll undoubtedly be taken to Lobster Heaven!
haha that's one of the reasons why I fell in love with her!


text:
Algiers is the capital of Algeria.

Algiers may also refer to:

 Algiers Province, Algeria

Algerian history
 Kingdom of Tlemcen was occasionally also called the Kingdom of Algiers
 Regency of Algiers, a state in North Africa
 Bombardment of Algiers (disambiguation), multiple bombardments of Algiers throughout history
 Invasion of Algiers in 1830, the event which ended the Regency of Algiers
 Battle of Algiers (1956–1957), a battle between the FLN and France

Places in the United States
Algiers, Indiana, an unincorporated community
Algiers, New Orleans, Louisiana, a neighborhood
Algiers Point, a location on the Mississippi River in New Orleans
Algiers, Vermont, an unincorporated community

Other
 Algiers (Algiers album), a 2015 album by the band Algiers
 Algiers (Calexico album), a 2012 album by Calexico, released in 2012
 Algiers (band), an American band formed in Atlanta, Georgia
 Algiers (film), a 1938 American drama film
 Algiers Hotel, a hotel
 El Djazaïr, an Arabic-language newspaper

See also

 Algeria (disambiguation)
 Alger (disambiguation)
 Argiers, a piece of music on Mike Oldfield's 1976 compilation album, Boxed

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Integrated Supply Chain Solutions, also known as ISC Solutions was awarded the 2015 Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council's MBE Supplier of the Year, Class II. "On behalf of the employees of ISC Solutions we are both humbled and honored to win this prestigious award. A special thank you to our customers…. Henry Ford Health Systems, Ford Motor Company, Beaumont Health System, Xavier University and others; that believe in our supply chain solutions and provide us the opportunity and resources to be innovative, creative and solutions driven," said Cassaundra Bing, President, ISC Solutions.
ISC Solutions is results oriented and solutions driven. "We are very proficient at creating real time MBE spend solutions within a customer's supply chain. We provide an office supply solution to Ford plants and administrative offices throughout the US and Canada. We also have our own trucks and vans in a courier route management solution for desktop delivering items to over 4000 internal points of destination within southeastern Michigan. Our print management solution allows ISC to pick and pack EDI orders from our regional warehouse in Southfield and distribute to customers via our transportation group. Each of these solutions are supported by a variety of customer care processes; from online order platforms to EDI and summary billing solutions, to an online and 800 phone customer service team which is ISC's Signature solution," said Richard Counts, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, ISC Solutions.


text:
JOHN LLOYD CRUZ FIRST ENDORSEMENT APPEARANCE AFTER 2 YEARS IS HE COMING BACK TO THE LIMELIGHT?
Photos and videos of matinee idol John Lloyd Cruz have been surfacing after being on hiatus from the showbusiness since 2017.
Cruz, one of the most bankable actors of the Philippine cinema and very effective endorser once again proved that his fans are still waiting for his return. In a teaser video, which lasted only for a few seconds and only shows the back shot of Cruz's, and posted in the Facebook page of the number one selling shawarma Turks a few weeks ago had been viewed 3.2M times, shared almost 800 times and gained a huge number of comments.
Without any clue in that teaser video, his fans already assumed that it was him in the video. Actress Bea Alonzo on her Instagram also posted a screenshot of that teaser video, which garnered almost a million likes.
This Monday morning Turks finally revealed in the 1-minute and 17 seconds video of Cruz showing the actor walking through different destinations, which somehow depicts Cruz's sojourn. The video is very simple, yet there's drama the way it was created, and in a very subtle shot, he stopped and took a bite of a Turks pita donner.
The rugged look of Cruz in the Turks video titled Ang Pagbabalik is way too far from his guy-next-door image and a lot of people in the industry are asking if this signals his return to the limelight. His fans are still wondering about the life he's been living since his hiatus.
According to Turks president Gem L. Zenarosa that during the course of his talks with Cruz, they never talked anything about his showbiz career or plans. He added that he got Mr. Cruz as the latest ambassador of Turks because of his great confidence working with Cruz.
"I am really grateful that John Lloyd trusts our company, he is a brilliant and very creative young man. Aside from acting, we have discovered some of his remarkable talents," Zenarosa stressed.
The Ang Pagbabalik according to Zenarosa is actually about Turks Small Pita Doner, which will be available again in all its branches.
"John Lloyd is the best endorser for this because like him, despite his absence in the show business for a couple of years, the warmth and love of his fans for him never dwindles. With our Small Pita Doner, we believe that our customers will be happy to know that it is back in our menu," Zenarosa explained.
Just like Cruz who is seen to have a different image since he last appeared in the big screen, a clear indication that the actor is recreating himself and exploring different grounds, Turks is also doing the same thing to keep its customers excited whenever they visit a branch.
In time for the release of Cruz's endorsement video, Turks also released to the market it's the newest offering --- Turks Rice Bowl, which is a complete meal. You can choose beef or chicken for your rice topping, and it is priced at P50. The Small Pita Donner, on the other hand, is priced at P35.
"To keep up with the demands of our customers, Turks continues to improve our menu and offerings to satisfy the discriminating taste of our loyal patrons," Zenarosa stressed.
John Lloyd Cruz now joins the roster of endorsers of Turks such as Piolo and Inigo Pascual.
To watch the full video of Ang Pagbabalik visit https://youtu.be/Uh0WwLnIEDQ. You can also watch the video on Turk FB page: official.turks.
PRESS RELEASE: SBMA calls for SEA Games volunteers
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma has called for the participation of volunteers from the Subic Bay area in the 30th Southeast Asian Games that the Philippines will host late this year.
Once more tapping the wellspring of volunteerism that helped make Subic a model for military base conversion, Eisma urged local youths to take the opportunity to serve and be part of history.
"Make a difference and be a hero," Eisma said in a call broadcast over social media.
"Come show your malasakit once again. Be a SEA Games volunteer and give yourself the chance to serve the country and be part of history," she added.
Eisma made the call for volunteers after the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) announced the need for some 12,000 volunteers for the regional sports spectacle that will be held in November 30 to December 10.
PHISGOC chief operating officer Ramon Suzara said that volunteers will be mobilized for the Games in Metro Manila, Subic, Clark Freeport, and other venues to help run the country's hosting of the 56 sports and 529 events in this year's sports meet.
Eisma said she has called for volunteers to show their malasakit for Subic in so many occasions in the past. "Today, I am calling on you again to join the SBMA team and help make the 30th SEA Games successful," she said.
Out of the 56 sports slated in the 2019 SEA Games, 16 will be hosted in Subic. These are duathlon, triathlon, pencak silat, sepak takraw, chess, table tennis, muay thai, karatedo, vovinam, obstacle sports, modern-date pentathlon, beach volleyball, beach handball, and all water sports: sailing, wind surfing, and traditional boat race.
PHISGOC said around P100 million to P150 million will be allotted to the volunteer program from the P5-billion SEA Games budget of the national government.
- more -
The volunteers will be provided with uniforms, transportation, allowance and meals for an eight-hour shift.
Eisma said that those interested to join the SEA Games volunteer program in Subic may apply online thru this form. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
Recruitment of volunteers will be conducted from April to July, with the online registration starting on May 15. Training of volunteers will be held from August to October. (30)
With the monument honoring Subic's original volunteers in the background, SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma renews the call for volunteers, this time for the upcoming SEA Games events to be held in the Subic Bay Freeport.
When Should You Upgrade Your Television?
In general when upgrading any household appliances depends on the unit if it still working or in good condition, also the best rule would be if your budget permits you to buy a new one.
Nowadays, to watch a tv program can be as easy with just a few clicks on your smartphones, tablets, or even on laptop and computers, you just need to hook up your device on Wi-fi connection and you can stream a certain movie or television program for free or even subscribe online. I personally consider this as one of the best technology inventions! Although, shopping for tv is quite stressful when you talk about deals to get.
Now when we talk about when should you upgrade your television, there are things you need to consider when taking that step. Here are some things I have learned about the technology of television at the present time.
Some say that a typical lifespan of LED tv is 8-9 years or 80,000 hours or more and as long as there are no technical issues that can cause trouble. If you have a decent television and for the sole purpose is to watch the regular channels whether you are connected to an antenna or a digital box I believe it is still good.
Now, resolution wise such as 1080p & 4K, HD and UHD (ultra high-definition) features, what I have learned about it is that 4K or UHD is four times the resolution of a 1080p (HD) TV. A display of 8 million pixels for a 4K television giving you a good and quality display looking at it as virtually close to the scene when seated close to the television.
Some of the points I considered over the last weekend when we purchase our new Smart TV, which was on sale!
It has been 6 years since we purchased our LG 32" 3D LED Tv and we decided to replace and upgrade it to a new TCL 55" Smart 4K TV!
Original price of this unit was Php35,600 ($678) less Php12,605 ($240) price was down to Php22,995 ($438), we think this is the best price we can get for a Smart Tv. Aside from the price point that made us decide to get a new one, here are some of the specs of the Tv.
HDR PRO
HDR pro produces dazzling detail images with accurate reproduction
of light and dark shades. And allow you to experience HDR content via all sources.
MEMC
MEMC makes pictures smoother with both TV signal and multimedia signal. Enhanced with TCL's proprietary software algorithm, you can experience every detail when viewing fast-moving, action-packed content (example: Sports).
Micro Dimming analyses the TV content in hundreds of separate zones to adjust the brightness and darkness. The picture quality is simply improved and pampers your eyes. You will enjoy a fantastic viewing experience with great contrast, especially in dark.
TCL 4K UHD televisions reproduce in stunning details all shades of light,
natural colors for a truly immersive viewing experience via 3,840 x 2,160 pixels (4 x the number of pixels on Full HD TVs).
4K UHD Upscaling
TCL natural UHD TV applies a proprietary 2K-4K upscaling technology so that an FHD source
can be enhanced to stunning 4K level - delivering image fidelity higher than 90% - thereby delivering superb high-definition images.
Wide Viewing Angle Making everyone fit in the living room is difficult.
With the innovative technique by TCL, the viewing angle of TCL TV will be extended and the brightness
of TV will be enhanced, which means that you can also get the perfect detail even when you are sitting in the corner of the living room
Brightness Enhancement
With brightness enhancing technology, TCL TV can enhance the brightness
so as to provide a more natural picture and make sure that you can see clear images in the sunlight
The optimization of images and sound allows audiences to enjoy the immersive feeling of live-action sports events.
Delivers immersive 5.1 surround sound with Dolby decoder which optimizes the TV's sound quality.
T-cast
T-cast is the integrated feature exclusive for TCL. It allows you to operate TV by using smartphone; Be able to
screenshot great moment of TV program and share on social media; Cast the latest movies and dramas to a bigger screen,
and also capable to cast video and audio to mobile device, you can enjoy the non-stopped entertainment in every corner of your home.
Smart Volume
TCL TV's Smart Volume feature automatically adjusts programming volume thus eliminating sudden sound fluctuations typically experienced when switching channels or when television commercials air.
Watch Netflix in 4K HDR
Watch any movies in 4K HDR today, with a premium Netflix subscription. Members will be able to enjoy more HDR content in the coming months.
TCL TV +APP Store
TCL TV+ APP Store Latest version App Store provides you a comprehensive range of applications, over 300+ applications
ranging from video-on-demand, social, gaming, music, and photo sharing that enables interaction between TV and mobile sets.
As one of the world's leading internet television with a huge range of popular content, Netflix has something for everyone.
You can watch TV shows recommended just for you, including award-winning Netflix original series, movies, and documentaries.
WIFI 2.4G
TCL's built-in Bluetooth technology allows you to enjoy favorite music on your compatible Bluetooth device.
USB 2.0(3.0)
USB has maximized the transmission speed and increased bandwidth
which could be used in two unidirectional data paths: one is to receive data and the other is to transmit data.
With YouTube, you can see what the world is watching in 4K quality– from the hottest music videos
to what's trending in gaming, entertainment, news and more. Subscribe to channels you love, share with friends, and view on any device.
Enjoy your favorite on-demand content at a great lick through your existing network with built-in Wi-Fi.
HDMI2.0
HDMI2.0 supports 4K resolution image with high transmission speed, up to 4 audio streams could even provide a higher standard for better sound quality.
Last night we watched an episode of MMA match for three hours on Youtube and we enjoyed a continuous stream, our Wifi connection was on point, haha! We will be installing the Tv on the wall this coming weekend using the wall bracket that was included in the package, also we need to purchase an added cord for the digital box for the wall installation. From a 32" to 55" Tv we were amazed by the difference between the two.
Overall, when purchasing or upgrading for a new Tv, look for the specification of the unit you and your family be needing and the most important thing is to consider your budget.
Tip: I always find it a must to hook up any appliances in the house to an automatic voltage regulator, this will help any appliance in the house when electricity will fluctuate and will prevent electrical damage to the appliance unit.
I look forward for years of fun and techy viewing from our new TCL Smart Tv
Posted by Agnes Dela Cruz at 4/02/2019 02:10:00 PM 38 comments:
Labels: TCL Smart Tv, technology
JOHN LLOYD CRUZ FIRST ENDORSEMENT APPEARANCE AFTER...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


One of the most commonly asked questions when getting started with e-textiles is "How many LEDs can I put in my project?" In this guide, we will cover conductive thread's resistance and how that affects powering LEDs, calculations to predict battery and power requirements, and some construction tips.
If any of the following topics sound unfamiliar to you, we recommend checking out the corresponding tutorial before continuing.
One of the most important things to consider when building a wearable project is the resistance of conductive thread. Unlike copper wire, which has very little resistance, conductive thread's resistance will vary depending on the metal used to make the thread and the thickness of the thread. Most conductive threads list resistance in Ohms/Ft. The lower this number is, the better, because less resistance means more electricity can get through to the components used in your project.
The basic electrical property Ohm's Law states that running an electrical current through a material high in resistance causes the voltage to drop. The higher the current, the greater the voltage drop. This means that even though a LiPo battery powering your LilyPad may put out 3.7 volts, by the time it gets through the thread to your components, it may drop to 3.0 volts or less.
Many electrical components, such as LEDs, need a certain voltage to function properly. For example, in a project with LilyPad LEDs if the voltage drops below 3 volts, a blue LED will stop working, followed by the green and finally the red. To get full-color output from RGB LEDs like the LilyPad RGB LED Board, you should always try to run at 3 volts or above.
To figure out an LED's voltage needs, you can take a look at the forward voltage section of the LED's datasheet. Check out this tutorial for more detailed instructions on how to read an LED's datasheet.
You can create your own low resistance traces using thin strips of conductive fabric. We recommend using iron-on adhesive to attach to fabric or ribbon, then using conductive thread to hand stitch components to the traces.
To figure out how long your project will run on battery power, you need to know two things: how much current your project uses and the capacity of your battery.
You can measure exactly how much current your project uses by measuring it with a multimeter, but we can also make a pretty accurate guess by looking at the LED datasheets and doing some math.
A single LilyPad Pixel Board will use 40mA when it's set to white (all three internal LEDs fully on). For a worst-case estimate, you could multiply that by the number of pixels in your project.
However, you'll probably be displaying different colors on your LilyPad Pixel Boards and turning them off entirely at times. The resistance in the threads will also drop the voltage, meaning the LilyPixels will run slightly dimmer and use less current. Usually, it's safe to halve the above estimate, which gives us 20mA.
For more detailed information on working with LilyPad Pixel Boards, take a look at our LilyPad Pixel Board Hookup Guide.
Now, let's look at the battery. Battery capacity is given in milliamp-hours (mAh). This number tells you how many milli-amps (mA) a full battery can provide for one hour before it's empty. The e-Textiles Battery that comes with most LilyPad Arduino kits has a 110mAh capacity. For many projects, especially ones with a large number of LEDs, you will probably want to use a higher capacity battery for a longer run time.
The other batteries in our catalog are not created especially for e-Textiles. Use caution to avoid shorting out conductive thread traces when using alternative batteries.


text:
Q: how JNDI lookup finds a java class? I have an EJB bean with remote interface. It's included in war file chapter08-service-1.0.
@Remote
public interface BookEJBRemote {
    ...
}

After I deploy it on glassfish I can call it from a client using
Context ctx = new InitialContext();
BookEJBRemote bookEJB = (BookEJBRemote) ctx.lookup("java:global/chapter08-service-1.0/BookEJB!org.agoncal.book.javaee7.chapter08.BookEJBRemote");

It works fine and calls the method. But I don't understand how is it finding the EJB or even glassfish instance? Obviously there is no clue about server or port of the glassfish in the lookup string.

A:
But I don't understand how is it finding the EJB or even glassfish
  instance.instance.

In order to get an EJB reference through a JNDI service, basically you need to:

*

*connect to the JNDI server

*once connected, to lookup an object using the name which it was
registered with.

To connect to the JNDI server, you need to provide to InitialContext object several information such ip/port where JNDI server is listening. There are different ways to initialize the initialContext as described here.
If you don't provide this information the InitialContext will try to search the service in  localhost with default port as suggested in the previous answer.

Obviously there is no clue about server or port of the glassfish in
  the lookup string.

Due to the described above, you will not see url or port information as part of lookup name parameter.

A: If you're running glassfish and your client in the same computer, it can be that they are both using the default JNDI port 1099, and since both are on the same computer, there's no need to specify a host.
So the way it works, is that your client first contacts the JNDI server and the JNDI server returns where is that the EJB is located (usually which host and port where the EJB is available).
I don't want to sound negative, but EJBs proved to be a technology that didn't deliver what it promised and most companies have long time ago ditched EJBs or are trying hard to get away from them.

A: InitialContext does not just pick a default host (localhost) and a default port number. This information is explicitely set by glassfish itself, which is done using the Java Webstart technology.
You can test it by yourself: Assuming your application client is deployed to the context localhost:8080/YourClient. When you visit the link, a JNLP file is being downloaded and started by Webstart. You can manually save the file instead of letting it be opened automatically (that would be wget localhost:8080/YourClient on Linux, for instance). You'll see that Glassfish initializes your client application with a lot of parameters, including the JNDI-related properties:
<property name="java.naming.factory.initial" value="com.sun.enterprise.naming.SerialInitContextFactory"/>
<property name="java.naming.factory.url.pkgs" value="com.sun.enterprise.naming"/>
<property name="java.naming.factory.state" value="com.sun.corba.ee.impl.presentation.rmi.JNDIStateFactoryImpl"/>
<property name="appclient.iiop.defaultHost" value="localhost"/>
<property name="appclient.iiop.defaultPort" value="${request.appclient.iiop.defaultPort}"/>
<property name="${appclient.download.host.propertyName}" value="localhost"/>
<property name="${appclient.user.code.is.signed.propertyName}" value="${appclient.user.code.is.signed}"/>

These properties are not just specified for your convenience, they are mandatory. Try to start your client application as a stand-alone application (just run the main class in your favorite IDE): in such a situation, the initial parameters won't be set. You'll notice that InitialContext doesn't work so well without these properties.
Short answer to your question: InitialContext finds Glassfish and the EJB's, because your application was started with special parameters telling InitialContext where to look, how to initialize required classes, etc.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Welcome to Hotel Lee International !!!!
This hotel is favored for the warm hospitality and luxurious comfort we shower upon guests. It is situated in the Park Circus area, which is an ideal location for both leisure and business travelers.
Eighteen tastefully designed rooms, is a reflection of fine aesthetics and high living.
If you are in Kolkata and looking for a perfect abode to stay, visit Hotel Lee International to unearth an enticing experience. The bliss of enjoying the sheer luxury enriched with royal services ensures an unforgettable interlude. The hotel is an ideal choice for business and leisure travelers both due to its luxurious accommodation, mouth-watering cuisine and path-breaking services. Hotel Lee International has redefined the paradigm of luxury, comfort and services and still continuing its efforts to enhance the level of perfection.
24 hours Front Desk & Room Service| LCD television with satellite channels | High Speed WiFi Internet access | Mini fridge | Daily complimentary news paper | 24 hour Hot & Cold water in all attached Bathroom | Electronic safe deposit locker | Doctor on call | Daily Housekeeping & Laundry service | Travel assistance | Car Parking facility.
A fine dining multi-cuisine restaurant, serves wide range of mesmerizing dishes and refreshing drinks. Here we serve traditional and contemporary varieties that are sure to tickle your taste buds.
Located at 53 D/1, Tiljala Road, Kolkata - 700046. Beside 4 no. bridge connecting Park Circus 7 point crossing and EM Byepass.


Map 1 above shows the position of New Windsor Chapel, an Independent (Non-Conformist) church, which opened on 23 August 1797.  The Rev. Noah Blackburn of Delph preached the first sermon. The chapel had a graveyard and a Sunday School, which was built in 1843. It was also known as Windsor Bridge Chapel.
Parish records indicate that The Reverend Dr. John Clunie was active at New Windsor Chapel from May 1814 until April 1834. In 1835, he published and presented a eulogy for his friend, The Rev. Robert Morrison.  Clunie, born at London 9 April 1784, died on 23 June 1858. He was the Principal of Leaf Square and Seedley Grove Academies. He also wrote a Funeral Sermon for Rev. William Roby (1830) and other pamphlets. His nephew, John Clunie McMichael, went to Australia to carry on the Nonconformist tradition.
The Reverend James Pridie (1786-1873) served as the pastor of New Windsor Chapel for nearly fifteen years (circa 1814-1828), before moving to Sion Chapel, Halifax in 1929. His first recorded baptism at New Windsor was on 24 September 1814. During his tenure in Salford, he and his wife Susannah (nee Legge) had George in 1817, James in 1819, Benjamin in 1820, Sarah in 1822, William Roby in 1825  and Hannah in 1827.
From January 1843 until 1877, the pastor of New Windsor Chapel was the Rev. Thomas Gardner Lee.
Lee was a fervent abolitionist. However, New Windsor Chapel already had anti-slavery credentials before its association with Lee. As early as 1831, New Windsor filed a petition in Parliament supporting abolition. Lee was a member of the Union & Emancipation Society of Manchester, which supported the Union during the American Civil War. He was at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester on 9 October 1863 to welcome the abolitionist cleric Henry Ward Beecher, and again at his farewell breakfast on the 24th of October. Rev. Lee was also responsible for editing and publishing an edition of Henry 'Box' Brown's Narrative in 1851, which told the story of Brown's remarkable escape from American slavery in 1849. Lee rejoiced at the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, and sent a copy of the 'Salford Resolution' to him.
In 1850, as an advocate of Christian Socialism, The Rev. Lee published a prize-winning essay entitled A Plea for the English Operatives, a far-sighted essay devoted to the improvement of the working class. He also wrote A Lecture to the Working Classes. "Why John Bull has such dear bread" (1855). When the Manchester & Salford Equitable Co-operative was founded in 1859, Lee was appointed to its board of arbitrators.
TESTIMONIAL TO A CONGREGATIONAL MINISTER.-  The Rev. Thomas G. Lee, who for nearly twenty years has been the minister of New Windsor Chapel, Salford, has been presented by the members of his church and congregation with an address, expressive of their high estimation of his character and labours. The address, which was beautifully engrossed on vellum and illuminated, was accompanied by a purse of 50 sovereigns. Mr. Lee, though he has for thirty years been a zealous and industrious preacher, is perhaps better known to the general public as a talented and successful lecturer and writer on social and political reforms.
The nature of the dispute mentioned in the above passage is uncertain, though it is alluded to in The Christian Witness and Church Magazine (1848:p.139-140), and reported in the following.
Lee died on 26 September 1881 at the age of 81. He is buried in Salford.
Rev. Peter Rathbone Berry accepted the pastorate of New Windsor Chapel in 1877. He died seven years later at the age of 39, and is buried in Salford. He died of consumption.
Several sources mistakenly state that New Windsor Chapel closed in 1836. Actually, the chapel closed for funerals and baptisms in 1836 [though a few were conducted in early 1837). This may have been a response to the passage of the Registration of Birth, Marriages and Deaths Act (1836). The Chapel survived into the early years of the twentieth century (see below).
Windsor Institute was a Ragged School, and a constituent of the Manchester and Salford Ragged School Union.  It traces its origins to the Pendleton Ragged School , which began in a cottage on Croft Street in 1858. From there, it moved to Ellor Street, where John Edwin Calvert Lord, JP opened the new premises.
(July 1884) no.35, vol. IX NS: 126-127.
New Windsor Chapel, and the name 'Windsor Institute and Pendleton Ragged School' was adopted in 1914. From 1920 it was officially known as Windsor Institute, but the locals called it 'the ragged school'. The Institute was closed, and the building demolished in 1966, a casualty of the Council's 'urban redevelopment' juggernaut.
Windsor Bridge served a dual purpose. It spanned the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal and the Manchester and Bolton Railway (which became part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway as map 1 above labels it). The first passenger trip on the canal (November 1796) was managed from the nearby Windsor Castle Inn (see map 1). In 1825, the landlord of the Windsor Castle was William Dakin.
At the Pendleton end of the bridge lay the "New Windsor Coal Wharf", more commonly referred to as "Windsor Wharf". Next to it was the 'New Windsor Weighing Machine". Eventually, it would be replaced by the largest single-platform scale in England, and capable of measuring weights up to 40 tons.  The Weighing Machine Tavern (later the Windsor Bridge Tavern [now demolished] was located nearby.
unnatural crime (homosexuality) in 1807, hanged himself, and was eventually buried near the Salford weighing machine.
The demarcation between Salford and Pendleton is marked on map 1 by a dotted line. On the ground (and shown on the map) are the location of two boundary stones, near the New Windsor Coal Wharf, on both sides of the road. The rest of the border appears to have been marked by boundary posts (examples of which may be in the Salford Museum.
The Grapes Inn (aka The Grapes Hotel) can be located on the far edge of map 1. Its address was 16 Cross Lane. The landlord was John H. Canavan. His wife, Elizabeth, attended New Windsor Church for 45 years, and was renowned for her charitable works. She is buried at Weaste Cemetery.
Mary Smith : born in New Windsor in 1795. She married the missionary, Robert Moffat. Their daughter, Mary, married David Livingstone.
Popplewell's Buildings, located on Cross Lane, can be seen on map 1. The name may refer to the ownership of these structures by Francis Wilkinson Popplewell (1821-1889), a chartered accountant, who lived in Pendleton.
 See Memoirs of the life and labours of Robert Morrison D.D. for correspondence between Clunie and Morrison.
 Chapter 3 of Lancashire Nonconformity (1890). The Surman Index gives slightly different dates.
 Sept. 12, the Rev. Alfred John Morris delivered his farewell sermon, in New Windsor Chapel, Salford; from whence he is removing to Holloway Chapel, Islington: Patriot 15 Sept 1842. He also delivered a lecture on the Corn Laws (1841). He spent about four years at New Windsor.
 Two other sources confirm 1797 / 1797 ; another source, probably erroneously, has 1798.
 Sheldon was a grocer at Shude Hill. He married John Joule's daughter, Alice. Their daughter, Hannah, was baptised at New Windsor Chapel 3 Feb 1803.
 His son was Robert Cotton Mather, who was baptised at New Windsor Chapel on 23 Dec 1807 by William Roby. His daughter, Sarah, was also baptised at New Windsor Chapel by Roby on 14 Apr 1806.
 Baptised at New Windsor Chapel on 4 July 1825 by Rev John Clunie.
 He was instrumental in opening a new chapel at Charlestown, Pendleton.
 It was later called the Pendleton Sabbath and Week Evening School.
 The Baptism records for Christ Church on 7 Oct 1874, show that Francis Egerton Smith was the Weighing Machine Keeper. See also Corporation of Salford 1851-2 Expenditures.
 During the great cotton famine she ran a soup kitchen; in times of need she distributed soup to poor folk; she had 10 pensioners who were totally dependent on her; and she provided Christmas dinner for 20 old people every year. Elizabeth always helped at church fundraising bazaars, whether they were Church of England, Roman Catholic or non-conformist. She always helped at the Children's Hospital Annual Bazaar at the Free Trade Hall. She died in 1894.
 For detailed view: 1. click on image to enlarge. 2. Right click on image, and, choose 'Open image in new tab' from the menu. 3. Click on image to enlarge.


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Рейн Таагепера (; 28 лютого 1933, Тарту) — американський та естонський політолог, професор Каліфорнійського університету в Ірвіні.

Освіта
Народився в Тарту, Естонія, Таагапера, втік з окупованої Естонії в 1944 році. В Таагепера закінчив середню школу в Марракеші, Марокко, а потім вивчав фізику в Канаді і Сполучених Штатах. Він отримав ступінь доктора філософії з Університету штату Делавер в 1965 р. Працюючи в промисловості до 1970 року, він отримав ще в M.A. міжнародних відносин в 1969 році і перейшов на наукові кола як політолог з Каліфорнійського університету в Ірвіні, де він залишався протягом усієї своєї американської кар'єри.

Політична кар'єра
Таагепера служив президентом Асоціації щодо поліпшення балтійських досліджень з 1986 до 1988. У 1991 році він повернувся до Естонії на підставі декана нової школи соціальних наук в університеті Тарту, який злився в повноцінний факультет в 1994 році, і де він став професором політології (1994—1998). У 1991 році він був членом Установчих зборів Естонії, а в 1992 році він балатувався як кандидат в президенти проти Арнолда Раутела (3-ій президент Естонської Республіки, 2001—2006) і Леннарт Мері (2-ий президент Республіки Естонія, 1992—2001), який переміг на виборах. Таагепера прийшов третім з 23 % голосів виборців. Пізніше Таагепера визнав, що одна з причин, чому він утік, не дивлячись на те, що мало шансів на перемогу, повинен був забрати голоси у Рюйтеля і, таким чином, допомогти Mepi піднятися до президентства. У 2003 році Таагепера погодився служити протягом півроку засновником і головою нової політичної партії, Res Publica, яка перемогла на загальних виборах у цьому році і очолив правлячу коаліцію під керівництвом прем'єр-міністра Юхан Партс до квітня 2005 року. Таагепера намагався утримувати партію більш-менш в середині спектра (Таагепера навіть припустив, що він був лівоцентристський політик). У 2005 році Таагепера залишив своє членство Res Publica, розчарований стилем керівництва партії і рухатися вправо (див його есе, Метеорні траєкторії). У квітні 2006 року Res Publica вирішили об'єднатись з національно-консервативню партією Pro Patria Union.

Наукові роботи
Теоретична наукова робота Таагепера, яка в основному має справу з виборчими системами, в значній мірі кількісна і моделюванна в характері і сильно проінформована епістемологією свого попереднього поля, фізика. Кількісний підхід також є його загальне ставлення до політології як наукової дисципліни. Він недавно систематизував численні вклади в теорії виборничих систем в цілому, кількісні теоретичні рамки, виставлені в обсязі прогнозу розмірів партії: Логіка простих виборчих систем (2007).
Оригінальний гносеологічний і методологічний підхід Таагепера, який визначається як логічне кількісне моделювання, систематично представлений в останньому обсягу Making соціальних наук більше наукових. Необхідність прогнозування моделей (2008). Особливий інтерес представляє його дослідження в гіперболічного зростання світової системи.
Крім кількісного вивчення виборчих і партійних систем, Taagepera також опублікував кілька досліджень Естонії та історії Балтійського моря, політики і культури. Ці останні, з іншого боку, більш особисті і зайняти міцні нормативні позиції. Таагепера також написав нагородами шматки прози (особливо Livland-Leaveland в 1990 році був удостоєний премії Tuglas в тому ж році).

Основні публікації
 Кількість місць і голоси: Ефекти і фактори, що визначають виборчі системи, 1989
 Естонія: Повернення до незалежності, 1993
 Країни Балтії: Роки залежності, 1940—1990, 2-й EDN. Тисячу дев'ятсот дев'яносто три, співавтор ISBN 0-520-08228-1
 У фінно-угорських республік і Росії стан, 1999.
 «Зорепад траєкторія: Res Publica партія в Естонії» (2006), демократизація 13 (1): 78-94.
 Прогнозування Партійні Розміри: Логіка простих виборчих систем, 2007 ISBN 0-19-928774-0
 Створення громадських наук Детальніше Scientific. Необхідність прогнозують моделей, 2008 ISBN 0-19-953466-7
 економна модель для прогнозування середньої тривалості кабінету на основі виборчої системи (з Allan Sikk), партії Політика, 2010 року.

Визнання
Таагепера отримав Халлетт Американської асоціації політичних наук (1999) і Лонк (2003) Нагорода, а також Національна наукова премія Естонії, суспільствознавство Категорія (1999) і Джоен Скайтт премія в галузі політології 2008. Модель взаємодії технології населення. Загальні системи 21, 137—138; Taagepera, Райна (1979) Люди, навички та ресурси: модель взаємодії зростання населення світу. Технологічне прогнозування та соціальні зміни 13, 13-30.

Посилання
 Rein Taagepera's profile in the University of California - Irvine website
 Rein Taagepera's profile in the University of Tartu website
Політологи США
Естонські науковці

Естонські емігранти до США