Romanticism was a movement that dominated all genres; including literature, music, art and architecture; in Europe and the United States in the first half of the 19th century. It originated in late 18th century as a reaction against the ideals of order, calm, harmony, idealization and rationality which marked Classicism in general and late 18th-century Neoclassicism in particular. It was influenced by the German movement Sturm und Drang (“storm and drive”), which focussed on intuition and emotion as opposed to rationalism. Romanticism laid emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as glorification of the past and of nature. The movement was partly a reaction to the Industrial Revolution and the scientific rationalization of nature. The best known English Romantic poets include Blake, Coleridge, Wordsworth, Keats, Byron and Shelley. In America, the most famous Romantic poet was Edgar Allan Poe; while in France, Victor Marie Hugo was the leading figure of the movement. Here are the 10 most famous Romantic poets and their best known works.
#10 Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Lifespan: October 21, 1772 – July 25, 1834
Along with William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge is credited with founding the Romanticism movement in England. In 1797, the two friends broke the decorum of neoclassical verse with daring original poetic works which laid emphasis on emotion and glorification of nature. The following year their collection of poetry Lyrical Ballads was published. Though the immediate reaction to Lyrical Ballads was modest, it is now considered a landmark work which changed the course of English literature and poetry by launching the influential Romantic movement. Coleridge is one of the most important figures in English poetry who deeply influenced the major poets of his era including Wordsworth. Among other things, he is credited with utilizing everyday language to express profound poetic images and ideas.
Kubla Khan (1816)
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798)
#9 Percy Bysshe Shelley
Lifespan: August 4, 1792 – July 8, 1822
Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the leading “second generation” Romantic poets and he created some of the best known works of the movement. He was a controversial writer whose poems are marked by uncompromising idealism and great personal conviction. Though he produced works throughout his life, most publishers and journals declined to publish them for fear of being arrested for either blasphemy or sedition. As a result Shelley couldn’t gather a mainstream following during his lifetime. However, his popularity grew steadily following his death and ultimately he achieved worldwide fame and acclaim. Apart from being an idol for later generation of poets, Percy Bysshe Shelley also exerted influence on such prominent figures as the German philosopher Karl Marx and the Indian freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi. He is considered one of the greatest poets in the English language.
Ode to the West Wind (1820)
Prometheus Unbound (1820)
#8 Robert Burns
Lifespan: January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796
Also known as the Bard of Ayrshire and the Ploughman Poet, Robert Burns is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland. He is considered a pioneer of Romanticism who had a major influence on the movement. The poetic style of Burns is marked by spontaneity and sincerity; and it ranges from love to intensity to humour and satire. His best known works include Scots Wha Hae, which served as an unofficial national anthem of Soctland for many years; A Red, Red Rose, among the best known love poems; and Auld Lang Syne, which is widely sung in the western world at the stroke of midnight on New Year. Robert Burns is the most widely read Scottish poet and he is celebrated not only in his country but around the world. He remains a cultural icon in his nation and in 2009, he was voted as the greatest Scot by the Scottish public in a vote run by Scottish television channel STV.
Auld Lang Syne (1788)
To a Mouse (1785)
A Red, Red Rose (1794)
#7 Alexander Pushkin
Lifespan: June 8, 1799 – February 11, 1837
Alexander Pushkin was a poet, playwright and novelist who is widely regarded as the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature. Pushkin published his first poem when he was 15 and by the time he graduated his talent was already widely recognized within the Russian literary scene. The most famous poem of Pushkin is The Bronze Horseman. A work regarding the equestrian statue of Peter the Great in Saint Petersburg and the great flood of 1824, it is considered one of the most influential works in Russian Literature. Pushkin married Natalia Goncharova, one of the most talked-about beauties of Moscow. Rumours of an affair between his wife and French military officer Georges-Charles de Heeckeren d’Anthès led to a duel between the two in which Pushkin was fatally wounded at the age of just 37. Though his work has been associated with several movements, most consider Alexander Pushkin to be a central representative of Romanticism in Russian literature.
The Bronze Horseman (1837)
I Loved You (1830)
Ruslan and Ludmila (1820)
#6 John Keats
Lifespan: October 31, 1795 – February 23, 1821
Along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats was one of the most prominent figures of the second generation of English Romantic poets. Keats died due to tuberculosis in 1821 at the age of only 25. His work was in publication for only four years and it was not generally well received by critics during his lifetime. However, his reputation grew after his death and by the end of the 19th century, he became one of the most beloved of all English poets. The most famous and acclaimed poems of Keats are a series of six odes known as the Odes of 1819. The most highly regarded among these is To Autumn, which has been called one of the most perfect short poems in the English language. Through his 1819 odes, Keats created a new type of short lyrical poem, which influenced later generations.
To Autumn (1820)
Ode on a Grecian Urn (1820)
When I have Fears (1848)
#5 Victor Hugo
Lifespan: February 26, 1802 – May 22, 1885
Victor Hugo is one of the most famous French writers of all time. Though most famous in the literary world for his great novel Les Miserables, his poetry is also very well known, especially in France. The first collection of poetry of Hugo, Odes et poésies diverses, was published in 1822 when he was only 20 years old. It earned him a royal pension from King Louis XVIII. His next poetry collection Odes et Ballades, published four years later, established him as a master of lyric and creative song. When Napoleon III seized complete power in 1851, Hugo openly declared him a traitor. He had to leave France and settle in Guernsey. In exile, Hugo produced his most acclaimed poetry collections Les Châtiments (1853); Les Contemplations (1856); and La Légende des siècles (1859). Victor Hugo was at the forefront of the French Romantic literary movement and he is the best known French Romantic poet.
Demain dès l’aube (Tomorrow, at dawn; 1856)
Le Pape (The Pope; 1878)
La Pitié suprême (The Supreme Compassion; 1879)
#4 Lord Byron
Lifespan: January 22, 1788 – April 19, 1824
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, commonly known as just Lord Byron, was one of the leading figures of the Romantic Movement in early 19th century England. Byron first achieved fame with the publication of the first two cantos of his narrative poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage in 1812 and his reputation further enhanced with his four highly successful poems referred to as the “Oriental Tales”. Lord Byron is often described as the most flamboyant and notorious of the major Romantics due to his indulgent life and numerous love affairs. Many of his poems are autobiographic in nature and much of his work is pervaded by the Byronic hero, an idealised but flawed character capable of great passion and talent but rebellious, arrogant and self-destructive. Lord Byron is considered the leading second generation Romantic poet and he continues to be influential and widely read.
Don Juan (1824)
She Walks in Beauty (1813)
Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage (1818)
#3 William Wordsworth
Lifespan: April 7, 1770 – April 23, 1850
Wordsworth, along with Coleridge, launched the Romantic Age in English literature with the publication of Lyrical Ballads in 1798. From 1799 to 1808, he lived at the Dove Cottage in the village of Grasmere in the Lake District of England. Here he became friends with another prominent poet, Robert Southey. Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey were the three main figures of the group known as Lake Poets, as they all lived in the Lake District. The years 1797 to 1808 are now recognized as the best years of Wordsworth and are known as his Great Decade. After struggling initially, Wordsworth became one of the most renowned poets in his later years and was appointed Poet Laureate of Britain in 1843. The Prelude, an autobiographical epic, is widely regarded by critics as his greatest work though his most popular poem is perhaps I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, commonly known as Daffodils. William Wordsworth is considered a pioneer of Romanticism and one of the greatest poets in English literature.
Tintern Abbey (1798)
The Prelude (1850)
#2 Edgar Allan Poe
Lifespan: January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849
Widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States, Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most influential and famous figures of American literature. His poems appear throughout popular culture and lines from them are often quoted. Poe is celebrated as the supreme exponent of Dark Romanticism, a genre which focuses on human fallibility, self-destruction, judgement, punishment and the demonic; as well as the psychological effects of guilt and sin. One of the prominent theme in his poems is the death of a young, beautiful and dearly loved woman; which he called “the most poetical topic in the world”. The best known poem of Poe is The Raven. It influenced numerous later works including the famous painting Nevermore by Paul Gauguin. Apart from being one of the most famous poets, Edgar Allan Poe is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre and an important contributor to the emerging genre of science fiction.
The Raven (1845)
Annabel Lee (1849)
A Dream Within a Dream (1849)
#1 William Blake
Lifespan: November 28, 1757 – August 12, 1827
William Blake remained largely unknown during his lifetime but rose to prominence after his death and is now considered a highly influential figure in the history of poetry and one of the greatest British artists. Blake’s most renowned work in poetry is Songs of Innocence and of Experience, considered one of the leading poetic works of the Romantic era. The collection often contains poems with similar themes, and at times the same title, to contrast the innocent world of childhood in Songs of Innocence with the corruption and repression of the adult world in Songs of Experience. Blake claimed to experience visions throughout his life. He revered the Bible but was hostile to the Church of England and organized religion in general. His poetry and art often created mythical worlds full of gods and powers, and sharply criticized industrial society and the oppression of the individual. Blake is considered a key figure in Romanticism for his emphasis on subjective vision and the power of the imagination. He is also highly regarded for his expressiveness and creativity as well as for the philosophical and mystical undercurrents in his work. In 2002, William Blake was placed 38 in BBC’s poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.
The Tyger (1794)
And did those feet in ancient time (1808)


1. May your memories today be warm ones May your dreams today be dear May your joy last through the year Have a wonderful birthday!
2. In this world, where everything seems uncertain, only one thing is definite. You’ll always be my friend, beyond words, beyond time and beyond distance.
3. Birthdays are a time to say We hope you have the greatest day Laugh, smile and celebrate with friends May the magical days show no ends! Happy Birthday!
4.Birthdays are a time to say We hope you have the greatest day Laugh, smile and celebrate with friends May the magical days show no ends! Happy Birthday!
5. We bicker, we fall out, we quarrel. We fight, we argue, we scream. We look like enemies but deep down inside we are best friends on the same team. Happy birthday
6. A simple celebration, a gathering of friends; here is wishing you great happiness, a joy that never ends.
7. I may have knotted up your pigtails or sneakily checked your mails, but to stand by you in your time of need, I would never fail. Happy birthday.
8. The worst part about having you as my sister is that I can never hide anything from you. That is also the best part actually, because I sail through my troubles after I listen to your point of view. Happy birthday .
9. I will never forgive you for every time you have fought with me. But I want you to know that despite our differences I will still love you unconditionally. I know this sounds quirky but that’s how wonderful sisterhood is, you see. Happy birthday.
10. A birthday bouquet of words I send to you – May the days ahead be bright and colorful Full of joy, happiness and friendship May you continue to be Such an uplifting and positive force in so many people’s lives And may your year ahead Be blessed and happy – Always.


Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
I think you will enjoy this creative idea from Jamie, and find ways to make a meaningful "me" book with your child.
Please be sure to visit Jamie's site for more ideas about parenting! http://www.avantgardeparenting.com
Making a "Me" Book
Book sharing can be a joyous experience for parents and children. Choosing a favorite story and snuggling in after a bath can be the perfect ending to any day. But what if your child just isn’t into books? Here’s an idea that to help get even the most book-averse kiddo involved in the process–make a ‘Me’ book. Grab some paper and markers and help your child make a book all about himself! The key is to let your child be an active participant in making the book–let him choose the colors, what to draw, and even what to include. Here are some ideas for pages:
• Favorites: Include your child’s favorite colors, foods, and games.
• Facts about Me: Record your child’s height, eye color, hair color, etc.
• My Family: Include the members of your child’s family and extended family. (A family tree format could be fun!)
• Where I live: Record address, phone number, number of rooms in my house, number of trees in my yard, and so on.
• What I like to do: Include your child’s favorite activities, whether art, soccer, karate, or dance.
Update your ‘Me’ book annually, semiannually, or even monthly as your child grows and changes. I have an idea that this book will be one that your child wants to read with you day after day!
What I think . . .
There are all kinds of readers. Some—like my daughter and me—are never without a book to read for pleasure. Others—like my son—are careful, analytical, and curious readers who read primarily to seek information from the page.
No matter what kind of reader your child becomes, you can help him or her get started. After all, you are your child’s first teacher. And, best of all, you can have some fun in the process.
Please feel free to share your own ideas. Tell me about ways you've enjoyed reading with your child.
Madeline Boskey, Ph.D.


Convict Women's Press Inc.
Publishers of fine books on the lives of convict women transported to colonial Australia
We are a not-for-profit publishing company dedicated to publishing history books about nineteenth century female convicts transported from Britain to colonial Australia.
Our award-winning authors and editors bring the experiences of convict women and their families to life through meticulous archival research. Many of our writers are members of the Female Convicts Research Centre Inc., a Tasmanian-based global research organisation made up of thousands of family historians and researchers.
Welcome to the Convict Women’s Press online shop
Format: Paperback, (colour plates).
Edition: 1st Edition of Volume 2.
Published 2018. Pages: 200.
Convict Lives at the Cascades Female Factory (Volume 2) is the fifth book in the Convict Lives series, featuring the fascinating lives of 29 female
convicts who spent time in the Cascades Female Factory, between 1829 and 1855. Edited by Alison Alexander and Alice Meredith Hodgson.


Even after 9 years, it’s still a pretty big thrill when the advance copies of the new volume of The Complete Peanuts show up at the office. Here’s Vol. 18, 1985-1986, and the 1983-1986 Box Set, fresh out of the box. These guys’ll be available in a couple of months — stay tuned for previews!
Will Hines and I are both collecting these volumes. There are 17 books so far, and this will be the 18th. I knew this fact about him— that he was collecting them— before we were friends, and it was one of the ways that I knew that we would at some point BE friends.
The fact that Patton Oswalt is writing the introduction for this upcoming volume is GREAT news.


What Factors Are Crucial To Well Being?
Sonja Lyubomirsky Ph.D. wrote the book, "The How of Happiness" and conducted extensive research on the percentages of how happiness is divided.
50 percent is thought to be genetically predetermined, or it also can have some roots in early childhood experiences. 10 percent is situational, meaning that where we live, how much money we make etc. plays a part in overall happiness.
The exciting piece is that 40 percent…which is a lot, can be manipulated with tools and learned behaviors. This 40 percent is where I work mostly with clients…


“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni
No-one makes progress, much less succeeds, alone. Leaders, striving to achieve through others, must understand what makes teams work effectively. This leadership fable is an easy read about how to build and manage successful teams and is ideal for large, medium and small business, also members of teams that need better cohesion. The five dysfunctions include that major issue of trust which when lacking can encourage veiled discussions and guarded comments. The fall out can be fatal.


Tasmania’s cultural life has been shaken-up in recent years by MONA and its festivals, but long before David Walsh there was Lucy Charlotte Benson. In this richly detailed biography, Anne Blythe-Cooper has restored to centre-stage one of Tasmania’s own “Eminent Victorians”. Organist, conductor, composer, performer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mrs Benson was so much more than the sum of these parts. Her capacity for work, her passion for the arts, and her ability to drive and enliven the cultural life of the rough little colony at the bottom of the world reveal the strength and impact of the individual creative human personality.
Robert Jarman, Theatre Director
This remarkable woman made a significant contribution to the cultural life of Tasmania through the performing arts. Performer, music teacher, organist, musical director, conductor, and costume-designer, she gained a reputation for excellence after her first successful interstate foray into choral competition. A seemingly tireless dynamo, she presented concerts and large-scale musical productions throughout the state, enriching the lives of her appreciative audiences. Amy Sherwin, (The Tasmanian Nightingale), considered Lucy to be “one of the best teachers of voice production in the colonies."
Anne Blythe-Cooper’s meticulously researched and beautifully presented book pays a well-deserved and fitting tribute to this worthy Tasmanian.
Noreen Le Mottee, Tasmanian Theatre Awards Judge, veteran actor and passionate theatre archivist.
A well-researched and fascinating read about Lucy Benson and her family and the important contribution they made to the cultural life of Tasmania. I began reading and I was hooked. Robyn Eastley, Archivist.
There are many Tasmanian stories still untold, much of historical import yet undocumented. Anne Blythe-Cooper has ably filled one of the gaps in the records with Leading Amateurs, her biography of Lucy Benson, a pioneer of what eventually would become known as community arts. Lucy was a tour de force, a mover and shaker, significant in the arts and cultural life of Victorian and Edwardian times. She was a musician, conductor, theatre director and promoter of the arts.
As Blythe-Cooper says in her introduction, ‘It seems unlikely that a woman born in Tasmania in 1860 should have a far-reaching influence on the musical culture of her nation and beyond. Not only was [Lucy Benson] a leading amateur performer of her day, but she was a leader of amateurs whose musical pedigrees extend to the present time.’
Tasmania’s population has always included a disproportionate number of artists, musicians and writers, and Leading Amateur is a worthy addition to the annals of this island’s cultural life.
Dr Terry Whitebeach, writer and historian


I use stable isotope geochemistry to understand environmental and biological signatures in extant and extinct vertebrate remains. I conduct modern experimental research on natural variations in carbon and nitrogen isotopes of modern carnivores and omnivores, which to this point are mostly unknown. These values must be understood to properly implement stable isotopes in ecology and conservation of non-herbivorous mammals, and additionally, understand the diets of these animals in the fossil record.
I continue to work with extinct vertebrates through analyzing the carbon, oxygen and nitrogen isotopes of fossil mammals and reptiles. I can track changes in local environment and climate, and relates these abiotic factors to extinction factors. I enjoy using museum collections from around the world for much of this geochemical research.
- Eagle, R.A., Enriquez, M., Grellet-Tinner, G., Pérez-Huerta, A., Hu, D., Tütken, T., Montanari, S., Lloyd, S.J., Ramirez, P., Tripati, A.K., Kohn, M.J., Cerling, T.E., Chiappe, L.M., Eiler, J.M. 2015. Isotopic (13C-18O) ordering in calcium carbonate eggshells reflects body temperatures and suggests differing thermophysiology in two Cretaceous dinosaurs. Nature Communications. doi:10.1038/ncomms9296
- Passey, B., Hu, H., Ji, H., Montanari, S., Li, S., Henkes, G.A., Levin, N. E., 2014. Triple oxygen isotopes in biogenic and sedimentary carbonates. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 141, 1-25.
- Montanari, S., Louys, J., Price, G. 2013. Pliocene paleoenvironments of southeastern Queensland, Australia: inferences from stable isotopes of marsupial tooth enamel. PLOS ONE 8(6): e66221. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0066221
- Montanari, S., Higgins, P., Norell, M. 2013. Dinosaur eggshell and tooth enamel geochemistry as an indicator of Mongolian Late Cretaceous paleoenvironments. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 370, 158-166.
I am interested in widely exploring what impact humans have on the survival and diets of uncommon vertebrates. I have worked across all time scales using techniques such as stable isotope analysis to figure out what the remains of animals (bones, eggs, hair, tissue) can tell us about the environments they lived in and the food they ate. I am currently using stable isotopes, in conjunction with next-generation sequencing methods, to look at modern samples collected from wildlife non-invasively (scats and hair) to see what they can tell us about the diets of carnivores, such as big cats. Combining genetic and chemical methods, we can get an extremely clear picture of an organism's dietary ecology. This allows us to be able to compare diets between sympatric species and geographically separated populations. It is vital to understand how apex predators change their diets as their habitats become more degraded so we can predict how food webs will change over time with increasing human ecological interference.
- Montanari, S. 2017. Discrimination factors of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in meerkat feces.
- Montanari, S., Amato, G. 2015. Discrimination factors of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes from diet to hair and scat in captive tigers (Panthera tigris) and snow leopards (Uncia uncia). Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 29 (11), 1062-1068. doi: 10.1002/rcm.7194


Most children love visiting the library and the summer holidays can provide a great opportunity to do this. If your child is starting school in September why not pick up some books that will help children prepare for starting school. There are many books available ranging from ones that have descriptions of the school day to more sophisticated stories, both forms can be used to generate a conversation between parent and child. Providing these opportunities to talk about starting school can help to dispel fears and provide a platform for any questions your child may have. All members of the family can be involved in these discussions including older siblings who have more recent experience of starting school and grandparents who may be involved in childcare arrangements. One of our favourite books is ‘Topsy and Tim Start School’ by Jean and Gareth Adamson. This book introduces children to what they might experience in their new school including using the cloakroom, areas of the classroom, playtimes and having their lunch at school. There is also a great little puzzle at the end!
Our top 10 starting school books are listed on our task cards in the starting school box.


If you know us at all, or have ever attended one of our Workshops for Women's events, you know we are big on great books. Dads Matter by Bob Hazleton is my new favorite.
Why a book about Dads when we are so all about women? What we are really about is improving the lives of women, empowering them to create lives of purpose, meaning, joy and abundance. And having our men understand the value they bring as "Dad" to our children, our relationships and our world therefore supports all of our goals.
Dads Matter challenged me in a gentle and positive way. It allowed me to revisit things from my training as a coach, relook at my own parenting skills and areas for improvement, and opened a window to revisit my own relationship with my father who passed away when I was 18.
I am a huge fan of Bob Hazleton. I actually met Bob many years ago at a support group meeting, during a difficult time in my life as a single mother with a struggling teen. With a look - Bob conveyed his care, and managed to stop my ramblings and help me get centered and realize what insanity I as "mom" was bringing to the picture. Later it was a huge surprise and wonderful gift to have him be one of my trainers at the Resource Realizations Coaching academy, and to staff parenting seminars with him for other parents of troubled teens.
And just to make the loop complete - this book was laid out by Workshops for Women graduate Jennifer Omner, President of All Publications. Her care and dedication to the project are obvious and beautifully executed. (www.allpublications.com)
So yes, I am biased. However this is truly one of those great books with the power to change and inspire our lives. Here is an opportunity to change the world for the better - invest in a wonderful gift for yourself in your own evolution - and make a brilliant gift to the Dads or soon-to-be-Dads in your world.
Dads Matter by Bob Hazleton. Available now www.amazon.com
Kelly Sandstrom CPC
Workshops for Women


It was on the 10th of November when the hopeless-romantic me grabbed a pen and let the ink drip and drizzle on a piece of paper… This was the concoction me and pen came up with….. If anyone should find themselves relating in one way or the other to the words written, then I’ve realized my goal ~ to touch people. (nmed)
QUEST FOR UNDERSTANDING
November 10, 2003
Question: How do you stop the heart from feeling? From getting hurt, from feeling pain?
Answer: You can’t. For it the heart stops to feel, it would lose its purpose. It would lost its very reason for existence.
Question: If we can’t, how can we at least ease the gripping pain? How can we stop the invisible hand from clutching the heart too tight?
Answer: Let it be. For if it weren’t for the pain you feel, you would never appreciate the joy it gives you.
Question: Why then do we have to feel so much pain in order for us to feel joy? Can’t we just leave out the pain and feel the joy instead?
Answer: You can never appreciate the intoxicating joys of loving if you have never felt its very opposite; its surging pains.
Question: The heart has too many tasks to attend to, and far too many pains to suffer. For an organ with such a noble purpose, why should the heart be in such a vulnerable and delicate state? And why should it be without protection or replacement?
Answer: If it were, men would never feel the need and importance of taking great care with their hearts. They would allow it to be stabbed, broken and hurt, and would do the same to others hearts; knowing it can easily be replaced. They would take their hearts for granted.
Now, you would not want that to happen to an organ with such a noble purpose, would you?
Question: People say the brain should rule over the heart in all aspects of life. Is that the reason why the brain is above the heart? Should we always follow our brain, and not our hearts?
Answer: The brain is above the heart, yes. Because it is the logic of being; it is what makes you rational and able to think things through. (Although at times, you do not apply this. J)
The heart is at the very center of your body. It was and is there because your heart is the center of your being, your very core.
Each decision your brain formulates must pass through your heart for editing, polishing, and refining. It is now up to you to choose either dictates of your brain or the callings of your heart. The brain shouts but the heart whispers, you must learn to listen well.
Question: Why do we have so many questions about the workings of the heart, yet we can never find the answers?
Answer: The heart has reasons which reason knows nothing of.


George Samuel Clason tells us in his book Richest Man in Babylon, “Gold slippeth away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those who are skilled in its keep.” These words serve as a reminder that while there is no formal training required of landlords and (in some jurisdictions) property managers, to oversee rental properties, rental investors looking for a good return are wise to be well prepared before investing money or taking on the task of managing rental properties.
One of the best ways to prepare for, well, anything is by reading as much as possible about the subject at hand. There are a number of great books about investing in and managing residential rental properties and an equal number of good reads about real estate and business in general.
Here is a list as recommended by some of the best in the business. Some consistently make the top ten lists, while those that do not are still great reads.
Think and Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill) – One of the most widely read books on this list and for good reason, is given the number one spot for its’ outstanding ability to change the thinking of its readers around the world. According to Napoleon Hill, “the most powerful instrument we have in our hand is the power of our mind.” In this book, Napoleon Hill studies the lives of 40 millionaires and shares the wisdom and philosophies he extracted. Whether your goal is to be rich or not, if you have any intentions of being successful in whatever you do, this book is a must read.
The E-Myth: Revisited (Michael E. Gerber) – Slightly less popular than its predecessor, this book remains high on the list of small business owners and entrepreneurs as a reminder of “what not to do” that causes so many small businesses to fail every year. It also serves as a guide on what steps to take and systems to put into place for the journey to entrepreneurial success.
The 4-Hour Work Week (Tim Ferris) – While Tim’s style and methods are a bit controversial, there is a lot to be said about the paradigm shift this book brings about for many of its readers. Far too many entrepreneurs become successful at the expense of a healthy and balanced life, but the concepts in The 4-Hour Work Week can help provide that balance for open-minded and ambitious readers.
Landlording: A Handy Manual for Scrupulous Landlords and Landladies Who Do It Themselves (Leigh Robinson) – This book makes the list because of its useful and practical advice for the both the novice as well as the veteran landlord. It’s been referred to by some as the ‘bible’ for landlords and is one of the only books on the list that is constantly updated. Beware this book has several editions, each one offering good, solid, relevant advice about how to manage your tenants and your money.
Buy It, Rent It, Profit (Brian Chavis) – In some circles this book is touted “the guide” for multiple unit investors, and may be to property managers what Leigh Robinson’s book is to landlords. It provides very good, practical insight into the ‘how to’s of managing rental properties. Be warned there is some self-promoting in this one and some of the websites and resources mentioned are no longer relevant.
The Landlord’s Handbook (Daniel Goodwin and Richard Rusdorf) – This book provides some great real life scenarios for beginning and intermediate landlords to consider along with some practical advice on handling disputes, what to include in your leases and more. This book is considered an easy and enjoyable read.
Landlording on Auto-Pilot: A Simple, No-Brainer System for Higher Profits and Fewer Headaches (Mike Butler) – If you wish to place your landlording business on autopilot, this is the book for you. This book is said to be beneficial to both the newbie landlord as well as the veteran. It contains such great tidbits as “add a clause in the lease that rent automatically increases 2.9% annually”, and much more.
Streetwise Landlording & Property Management: Insider’s Advice on How to Own Real Estate and Manage It Profitably (Mark B. Weiss and Dan Baldwin) – Mostly geared towards the property manager rather than the landlord, this book is said to be one of the most comprehensive and informative books around for multi-dwelling property managers.
A Fool’s Guide to Landlording (Tony and Sandra Midea) – This guide is a witty and comical account of the life of a landlord at its worse. These real life landlords warn newbies to stay away at all costs, but provide lots of practical, useful advice for the bravest of the bunch. The comic relief provided in this guide is much appreciated.
Property Management Kit for Dummies (Robert S. Griswold) – This book provides everything landlords and property managers need to get started from lease agreements to tips on where and how to advertise. For many, this is the ‘must have’ guide not only for beginners, but as a refresher for veterans as well.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but should be viewed as a starting point on your journey to wise investments and highly effective management of your rental properties.
What are you reading, or have read in the past that has impacted your business?


We are pleased to announce our new paper in PLOS Computational Biology showing the effects of path shape and size on systematic errors. Additionally, we show that the vector addition model captures the trends in behavior more accurately than the encoding error model. Read is here: https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007489
Author: Sevan Harootonian
Top 10% most downloaded papers!
Our paper “Grid coding, spatial representation, and navigation: Should we assume an isomorphism?” published in Hippocampus, is among the top 10% most downloaded papers! Congrats to Arne Ekstrom, Sevan Harootonian and Derek Huffman


Lord of the Rings Fellowship
Following the storyline of J.R.R. Tolkien's book The Fellowship of the Ring, this third-person action/adventure lets you play as part of the fellowship on a journey from the Shire to the River Anduin. Faithful to J.R.R. Tolkien's epic masterpiece, the game allows you to explore the massive environments of Middle-earth while solving puzzles and fighting enemies like Orcs, Black Riders, and an evil Balrog in the quest to destroy the fabled One Ring of Power.


Wuxia is a style of story I do enjoy due to Bruce Lee films, and too a lesser extent Jackie Chan and Jet Li along with various ronin films. The story of a wandering warrior relying on his knowledge of martial arts and cunning to overcome great odds to right a wrong is still a great setup for a story as it has ever been. Enter Blood and Steel a chinese comic based on a novel series by the same name. Its a simple revenge story but its action scenes are top notch in variety of setup, attention to detail, and artwork. Due to it being a comic it can afford to have detailed blow by blow encounters with text to carefully explain and describe each person's intentions and actions where the artwork can not. Overall its a very fun comic to read and it has to be read to understand what its like rather than listen to a person and their limited vocabulary. It also focuses on a theme of removing the mystique of martial arts, so no special powers beyond superhuman reaction times.
You can find it by searching for Blood and Steel comic or Blood and Steel manhua on a search engine.


Country Arts WA and Act-Belong-Commit presents Kookoo Kookaburra by A.J.Bailey adapted from the book by Gregg Dreise.
Locally presented by the Shire of Perenjori
Follow Kookoo and his friends in a heartwarming journey of story-telling, dancing and playing the didgeridoo.
Kindness is like a boomerang – if you throw it often, it comes back often…
This family-friendly performance is specially designed for children between 3 and 10 years.
Shows on the go is coming back to Perenjori on Thursday 18th May.
Leonard Donahue is giving a workshop at the Primary School from 9 to 10 and will perform in the Town Hall at 1.30 pm.


There’s a certain enchantment that comes with celebrating Christmas in a new home—a sense of excitement woven into the walls, waiting to be discovered. As snowflakes dance outside and the fireplace crackles within, there’s no better time to relish the warmth of your newfound sanctuary.
Adorning your new space with holiday cheer isn’t just about hanging ornaments or stringing lights; it’s about infusing the spirit of the season into every corner. Allow your creativity to take flight as you deck the halls, transforming rooms into pockets of festive joy.
But beyond the decorations lies the true heart of the holidays—creating cherished traditions. Bake cookies with loved ones, craft handmade ornaments, or simply gather around the fire to share stories. These moments, etched within the fabric of your new home, will become the cornerstone of beautiful memories for years to come.
The beauty of owning a new home during Christmas extends beyond your doorstep. Embrace the opportunity to foster connections within your neighborhood. Consider hosting a small gathering or sharing tokens of goodwill with your neighbors, uniting in the joy of the season.
Amidst the bustling preparations, take a moment to revel in the simplicity of the season. Appreciate the quiet moments—the soft glow of candles, the laughter of loved ones, and the comfort of your cozy abode. These simple joys hold the essence of what makes this time of year truly magical.
Reflect on the journey that led you to this point—gratitude for the blessings of a new home. Consider ways to give back to your community, whether through acts of kindness, supporting local causes, or simply spreading goodwill.
As Christmas morning dawns, the house echoes with the excitement of the day. Unwrap presents, savor a delicious meal, and relish the joy of being surrounded by the ones you hold dear. In these shared moments of love and laughter, your new home truly becomes the heart of the holiday.
Amidst the shimmering lights and joyous laughter, allow yourself to bask in the wonder of it all. Your new home isn’t just a structure; it’s a canvas for new memories, a place where love abounds, and where the spirit of Christmas finds its truest expression.
So, as the snowflakes continue their gentle descent outside, embrace the magic of this festive season in your new abode. Let your home be a haven of warmth, love, and joy—a place where the spirit of Christmas thrives, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
May this Christmas in your new home be a beautiful chapter in the story of your life, filled with love, laughter, and the comfort of home.


“I regard the use of the term “humanism” to mean secular humanism or atheism to be one of the greatest tragedies of twentieth century movementology, perpetrated by second-class minds and perpetuated by third-class polemicists and village atheists.
The attempt to sever humanism from the religious and the spiritual was a flatfooted, largely American way of taking on the religious right. It lacked finesse, subtlety, and the European sense of history.
While it invoked its own commonsense saints like Dewey and Santayana, it also betrayed the spirit of both, and violated the great American tradition of Emerson and Thoreau, who like their progenitor Blake could still see “a world in a grain of sand/ And a heaven in a wild flower.”
It is really quite tragic what evisceration of humanism that secular humanism and its founders are guilty of, and in my “maturity” I think it is too late for them to change their minds.
Secular humanism is destined to die a death brought on by its own self-deception,narrowness of vision, and inability to speak to the human quest for meaning.” (R. Joseph Hoffmann)


The Grove at the Edge of The World by Alia Synesthesia
This collection of fairy tales was written by Alia during the summers of 2013 – 2014 and published in 2017 with the help of technical editor Serge Taliansky and content editor Ariel Bissett. This collection is a set of dark folklore tales for the dark modern world. Melancholic and sweet, these tales do not subscribe by the standards of “good endings”. In real life, there is no such thing as “good ending”, and like all original and raw fairy tales, untouched by the censoring hands of child literature editors, these tales are meant to teach something beyond surface values of good endings. Inspired by Neil Gaiman’s tales and Oscar Wilde’s Pomegranate Tree, this collection will sweep you away from your modern realities and carry you into the world where you can almost swell the sweet aroma of the autumnal arboreal decay and dark, starless nights.
It was a magical night when summer rolled into autumn. The kind of night when the air is smoky and sweet, glow bugs warm up their dim-glowing bellies in the moonlight, and the night birds exchange their nocturnal greetings in the sheer canopies of oaks, maples and birch trees. The air smells like damp leaves, roasted nuts and cloves…It is on that kind of night, forest dwellers gather at the riverbank to listen to ancient tales, forgotten by history, told by the one whose life is eternal.
Dear reader, we invite you to leave your worries aside, get yourself a cup of warm chocolate, and enjoy this book while sitting comfortably in your favorite armchair or couch, wrapped in a warm blanket. Leave the world aside, and invite the mystical forest where the story takes place, into your living room.
Original Edition: January 12, 2017
Re-edition: June 1, 2019


The first hours and days following the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944 have strong claim to be the most crucial in world history. Spearheading this vast undertaking were crack British and American airborne forces.
The Day the Devils Dropped In examines in fascinating detail the pivotal role of the 9th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment over the first week of the landings. Tasked with neutralizing the mighty Merville Battery, capturing Le Plein and the Chateau St Come on the Breville Ridge, failure by the Paras to achieve any of these key objectives could well have unravelled the whole Overlord operation with catastrophic consequences.
In his quest to uncover the true story of the early days of the landings, Neil Barber has successfully tracked down surviving participants in the operation. As a result he is able to tell the full story of the fierce fighting that characterized the early days of the landings largely in the very words of those who lived through the experience. This adds much to the credibility and immediacy of this entralling book which paints a superb picture of what soldiers care to call 'the fog of war.' The result is an inspiring and revealing read and a fine tribute to those whose contribution must never be forgotten."


Childhood trauma is a serious problem that has severe consequences for its victims and society as a whole. Trauma in childhood can range from experiences of chronic interpersonal violence to other forms of overwhelming stress. Developmental traumatology provides a framework and principles to understand the psychiatric and psychobiological effects of chronic stress on the developing child. This field of study seeks to understand how childhood trauma impacts the development of children and the long-term consequences of these experiences.
Despite its widespread prevalence, less is known about the biological effects of childhood trauma in children compared to adults with a history of childhood trauma. However, research in this area is crucial, as understanding these effects can help in providing appropriate support and treatment for children who have experienced trauma. This article focuses on the peer-reviewed literature on the neurobiological effects of childhood trauma in children and adults with a history of childhood trauma. Additionally, the article reviews relevant studies of animal models of stress to help us better understand the psychobiological effects of trauma during development.
The Neurobiology of Trauma
Trauma has a significant impact on the brain, leading to changes in its structure and function. Childhood trauma has been shown to cause alterations in the brain’s structure, including the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. These regions play critical roles in memory, emotional regulation, and executive functioning, respectively. As a result, children who have experienced trauma are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.
Clinical Applications and Biomarkers
The neurobiology of trauma has important clinical applications, including the development of biomarkers that can help predict post-traumatic stress symptoms and monitor treatment response. Biomarkers can also be used to track changes in the brain’s structure and function over time. In particular, neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans have been used to study the neurobiological effects of trauma. These techniques allow researchers to observe changes in brain activity in real-time and can help identify key regions of the brain involved in the response to trauma.
Suggestions for Future Researchers
Despite the advancements in the field, there is still much work to be done to fully understand the neurobiological effects of childhood trauma. Researchers should continue to explore the long-term consequences of childhood trauma, including the development of PTSD and other mental health conditions. Additionally, researchers should continue to study the effects of different forms of childhood trauma, including physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to violence. Finally, more research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms of the brain’s response to trauma and the development of effective treatments for children who have experienced trauma.
In conclusion, childhood trauma is a serious problem with significant consequences for its victims and society. Understanding the neurobiological effects of childhood trauma is crucial to developing effective treatments and support systems for children who have experienced trauma. With continued research and advancements in the field, we can work towards a better understanding of childhood trauma and its impact on the developing child.
Start Making Positive Changes
Unleash the power of your mind to create the life you’ve always dreamed of.


For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.
Joy seems to me a step beyond happiness. Happiness is a sort of atmosphere you can live in sometimes when you’re lucky. Joy is a light that fills you with hope and faith and love.
Many men can make a fortune but very few can build a family.
We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.
Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.
Are you one of ‘em?
“There are thousands and thousands of people out there living lives of quiet, screaming desperation who work long, hard hours, at jobs they hate, to enable them to buy things they don’t need to impress people they don’t like.”
- Nigel Marsh


Publications, & Presentations
Events & Engagements
Join us for our Spring 2022 Semester Chats and Virtual Writing Retreats!
We will host Twitter chats on the third Wednesday in January and April during the Spring 2022 semester. We will host monthly virtual writing retreats on the second Saturday of every month.
Past Conference Presentations
Brown, L. C., Wallace, J. K., & Cokley, R. K. (2021). A labor of love: The makings of @FirstGenDocs. Journal of First-generation Student Success, 1(1), 49-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/26906015.2021.1891823
Wallace, J. K., Cokley, R. K., & Brown, L. C. (2020). This is soul work: A portrait of three Black first-gen docs. In J. Sablan & J. Van Galen (Eds.), Amplified voices, intersecting identities: First-generation phds navigating institutional power anthology (pp. 119-125). Boston, MA: Brill Sense Publishing.
(November, 2018). “This is Soul Work”: An Nkwaethnography of Three Black First-Generation Doctoral Students. Roundtable presented at the Association for the Study of Higher Education Annual Meeting.
(October, 2017). “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop”: Digital Space Interventions for First-Generation Doctoral Students. Education session presented at the Southern Association for College and Student Affairs Annual Meeting.


First research results of studies on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in Finland have been received23.04.2021
The first preliminary research results on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in Finland have been received. According to the results, vaccination reduced the number of cases of severe COVID-19 requiring hospital treatment by an average of 74% (95% confidence interval 42–88%) in the elderly and 84% (95% confidence interval 34–96%) in those belonging to the risk groups.
The study includes vaccination data for all people who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The effectiveness of the vaccines has been assessed separately for those aged 70 years or older and for those aged 16–69 in risk groups due to an illness. All the vaccine products used have been combined in the analysis.
The results are based on a register study carried out by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, in which the Care Register for Health Care, the National Infectious Diseases Register and the National Vaccination Register have been used. The data included in the study was collected between 27 December 2020 and 28 March 2021 so results mainly concern the effectiveness of a single dose of vaccine. The data is being supplemented continuously and the research results will become more accurate as the vaccination programme progresses.
- THL: First estimates of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines have been received – vaccinations have reduced cases leading to hospital treatment
- Mediuutiset (In Finnish): Preliminary results on the effectiveness of a single vaccine dose against COVID-19 have been received – Reduction in hospital treatment for the elderly about 74% in Finland


At nineteen, Hannah LeClaire already has a reputation in the village of Whitefish Harbor, where she grew up. She is a solitary young woman who is given to long walks along the coast of Lake Superior. On a cold April day, she wanders into a dilapidated house and meets Martin Reed, who has moved to Michigan’s remote Upper Peninsula to renovate the condemned Victorian once owned by his aunt. Quickly Hannah realizes that Martin is an outcast, too, and unlike anyone she has ever met.
Fire Point is the story of the summer Hannah and Martin attempt to rebuild their lives while restoring the house. But when Sean Colby returns to Michigan after being discharged early from military service, he cannot accept the fact that Hannah, his former girlfriend, is moving on without him—and commits a series of increasingly violent acts against Hannah, Martin, and the house. Written in spare, graceful prose, Fire Point is a thrilling and suspenseful story of love, vengeance, and renewal, set against the pristine beauty of one of America’s great inland seas.
Click to Purchase “Fire Point”


Shared Parenting Information Group (SPIG) UK
Parental Alienation Syndrome - articles
Comprehensive review of the literature about PAS - essential reading
- Rand, Deirdre C; The spectrum of Parental Alienation Syndrome (part 1), American Journal of Forensic Psychology, (1997) 15 (3) p 23-52
- Rand, Deirdre C; The spectrum of Parental Alienation Syndrome (part 2), American Journal of Forensic Psychology, (1997) 15 (4) p39-92
other articlesCartwright, Glen F. Expanding the Parameters of Parental Alienation Syndrome. The American Journal of Family Therapy. (1993) 21(3) p 205
Dunne, John ; Hedrick, Marsha The Parental Alienation Syndrome: An Analysis of Sixteen Selected Cases. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage. (1994) 21 (3/4) p21
Gardner, Richard A. Legal and Psychotherapeutic Approaches to the Three Types of Parental Alienation Syndrome Families: When Psychiatry and the Law Join Forces. Court Review. (1991) 28 (1) p 14
Gardner, Richard A. Addendum to: The Parental Alienation Syndrome: a guide for Mental Health and Legal Professionals; (1992)
Lund, Mary A Therapist's View of Parental Alienation Syndrome. Family and Conciliation Courts Review. (1995) 33(3) p308
Palmer, Nancy Rainey Legal Recognition of the Parental Alienation Syndrome. The American Journal of Family Therapy. (1989) 16(4) p361
Price, Joseph L.; Pioske, Kerry S. Parental Alienation Syndrome: A Developmental Analysis. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health (1994) 32(11) p9
This systematic denigration by one parent of the other, with the intent of alienating the child, is a symptom of depression and dependence.
Wood, L. Cheri The Parental Alienation Syndrome: A Dangerous Aura of Reliability. Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review. (1994) 27(4) p1367
Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is a theoretical disorder in children that arises almost exclusively in child custody disputes. In most PAS cases the mother "programs" the children to hate the father - often leading to false allegations of sexual abuse. This Comment examines PAS theory in light of the causation problems raised by assigning blame in an area that psychologists and courts recognise as extremely uncertain. It also observes that there is no empirical evidence supporting the theory, nor has PAS been subjected to meaningful peer review or publication. In fact, experts in the field have widely discredited the theory. The Comment then argues that PAS is dangerous because its wide dissemination in the legal community, via the PAS originator's self-published works, lends an undeserved aura of reliability to the theory. Finally, this Comment recommends that PAS testimony be excluded, but recognises that in light of Daubert v. Merrell...
Further references (in chronological order)(with thanks to Dean Hughson)
Articles by Richard GardnerGardner, R. A. (1985), Recent trends in divorce and custody litigation.The Academy Forum, 29(2)3-7. New York: The American Academy of Psychoanalysis.
Gardner, R. A. (1987), Child Custody. In Basic Handbook of Child Psychiatry, ed. J. Noshpitz, Vol. V, pp. 637- 646. New York: Basic Books, Inc.
Gardner, R. A. (1987), Judges interviewing children in custody/visitation litigation. New Jersey Family Lawyer, 7(2):26ff.
Gardner, R. A. (1990), Childhood stress due to parental divorce. In Stressors and the Adjustment Disorders, ed. J. D. Noshpitz and R. D.Coddington, pp. 43-59. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Gardner, R. A. (1991), Legal and psychotherapeutic approaches to the three types of parental alienation syndrome families: when psychiatry and the law join forces. Court Review, 28(1):14-21.
Gardner, R. A. (1997), Recommendations for dealing with parents who induce a parental alienation syndrome in their children. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations, 8(3):206-211.
Gardner, R. A. (1997), Recommendations for dealing with parents who induce a parental alienation syndrome in their children. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 28(1/2): (in press)
Other articles devoted entirely to PASPalmer, N.R. (1988), Legal Recognition of the Parental Alienation Syndrome. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 16(4):361-363.
Goldwater, A. (1991). Le syndrome d'alienation parentale (in English). In Developpements recents en droit familial (pp. 121-145). Cowansville, Quebec:Les Editions Yvon Blais.
Levy, D. (1992), Review of parental alienation syndrome: a guide for mental health and legal professionals. American Journal of Family Therapy, 20(3):276-277.
Cartwright, G.F. (1993). Expanding the Parameters of Parental Alienation Syndrome. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 21(3):205-215.
Dunne, J. and Hedrick, (1994), The Parental Alienation Syndrome: An Analysis of Sixteen Selected Cases. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 21(3/4):21-38.
Lund, M. (1995), A therapist's view of parental alienation syndrome. Family and Conciliation Courts Review, 33(3):308-316.
Walsh, M. R. and Bone, J. M. (1997), Parental Alienation Syndrome: An Age-old Custody Problem. The Florida Bar Journal, LXXI(6):93-96.
Publications that focus significantly on PAS
Huntingon, D. S. (1986), The forgotten figures in divorce, and fatherhood: the struggle for parental identity.
Lampel, A. (1986), Post-divorce therapy with high conflict families. The Independent Practioner, Bulletin of the Division of Psychologists in Independent Practice, Division 42 of the American Psychological Association, 6(3):22-6.
Jacobs, J. W. (1988), Euripidies' Medea: a psychodynamic model of severe divorce pathology. American Journal of Psychotherapy, XLII(2):308-319.
Johnston, J. R. and Campbell, L. E. (1988), Impasses of Divorce: The Dynamics and Resolution of Family Conflict. New York: The Free Press.
Blush, G. J. and Ross, K. L. (1990), Investigation and case management issues and strategies. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations. 2(3):152-160.
Wakefield, H. and Underwager, R. (1990), Personality characteristics of parents making false accusations of sexual abuse in custody disputes. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations, 2(3):121-136.
Ross, K. L. and Blush, G. J. (1990), Sexual abuse validity discriminators in the divorced or divorcing family. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations, 2(1):1-6.
Thoennes, N. and Tjaden, P. G. (1990), The extent, nature, and validity of sexual abuse allegations in custody visitation disputes. Child Abuse & Neglect, 12:151-163.
The California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Law: Issues and Answers for Health Practitioners. State of California, 1991.
Clawar, S. S. and Rivlin, B. V. (1991), Children Held Hostage: Dealing with Programmed and Brainwashed Children. Chicago, Illinois: American Bar Association.
Wakefield, H., and Underwager, R. (1991), Sexual abuse allegations in divorce and custody disputes. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 9:451-468.
Patterson, D. (1991-92), The other victim: the falsely accused parent in a sexual abuse and custody case. Journal of Family Law, 30:919-941.
Maccoby, E. E. and Mnookin, R. H. (1992), Dividing the Child: Social and Legal Dilemmas of Custody. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Rogers, M. (1992), Delusional disorder and the evolution of mistaken sexual allegations in child custody cases. American Journal of Forensic Psychology, 10(1):47-69.
Ceci, S. J., and Bruck, M. (1993), Suggestibility of the child witness: a historical review and synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 113(3):403-39.
Johnston, J. R. (1993), Children of divorce who refuse visitation. In Nonresidential Parenting: New Vistas in Family Living. ed. Depner, C. E. and Bray, J.H. London: Sage Publications.
Rand, D. C. (1993), Munchausen syndrome by proxy: a complex type of emotional abuse responsible for some false allegations of child abuse in divorce. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations, 5(3)135-55.
Sanders, C. H. (1993), When you suspect the worst: bad- faith relocation, fabricated child sexual abuse and parental alienation. Family Advocate, winter:54-56.
Ward, P. and Harvey, J. C. (1993), Family wars: the alienation of children. New Hampshire Bar Journal. March:30.
Garrity, C.B. and Baris, M.A. (1994), Caught in the Middle: Protecting the Children of High-Conflict Divorce. New York: Lexington Books (an Imprint of Macmillan, Inc.).
Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Divorce Proceeding (1994).American Psychologist, 49(7)677-680.
Hysjulien, C., Wood, B., and Benjamin, G.A.H. (1994), Child custody evaluations: a review of methods used in litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Family and Conciliation Courts Review, 32(4):466-489.
Stahl, P.M. (1994), Conducting Child Custody Evaluations: A Comprehensive Guide. London: Sage Publications.
Turkat, I.D. (1994). Child Visitation Interference in Divorce. Clinical Psychology Review, 14(8):737-742.
Ehrenberg, M. F. and Elterman, M.F. (1995), Evaluating allegations of sexual abuse in the context of divorce, child custody and access disputes. In True and False Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse: Assessment and Case Management. ed. Ney, T. New York: Brunner/Mazel Publishers.
Jones, M., Lund, M. and Sullivan, M. (1996), Dealing with Parental Alienation in High Conflict Custody Cases, Presentation at Conference of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, San Antonio, Texas.
Mapes, B. E. (1995), Child Eyewitness Testimony in Sexual Abuse Investigations. Brandon, Vermont: Clinical Psychology Publishing Co., Inc.
Turkat, I. D. (1995), Divorce related malicious mother syndrome. Journal of Family Violence, 10(3):253-264.
Adams, J. K. (1996), Investigation and interviews in cases of alleged child sexual abuse: a look at the scientific evidence. Issues in Child Abuse Accusations, 8(3/4):120-138.
Lampel, A. (1996), Children's alignment with parents in highly conflicted custody cases. Family and Conciliation Courts Review, 34(2):229-239.
Campbell, T. W. (in press), Psychotherapy with children of divorce: the pitfalls of triangulated relationships. Psychotherapy
Clancy, Patrick, Attorney at Law, http://www.accused.com
Last updated - 12 July 1998
SPIG Home Page


early praise for
“A rich tapestry of autobiography and meditations on feminism, motherhood, art, and culture, this book is as intellectually satisfying as it is artistically profound.
A sharply intelligent, lyrically provocative memoir.”
—Kirkus (starred review)
"Shalmiyev stubbornly, brilliantly pursues loss in this psychogeography of immigration, grief displacement, and damage. A mother herself, Shalmiyev's narrator channels the ghosts of Dorothy Richardson, Anaïs Nin, Frances Farmer, and the sad, bad stories of Aileen Wuornos and Amy Fisher, who could never be the right kind of girls. Like the great modernist writers, Shalmiyev writes from, not about trauma, but at a pitch that's witty, dry, sad, and laconic. 'I love America,' her narrator declares. 'It's broken, like me.'"
—Chris Kraus, Author Of I Love Dick
"The coldness of Russia, of the occult; the heat of punk rock, of motherhood. The psychic tear of emigration and motherlessness; a past gone into mystery. With sparse, poetic language, Shalmiyev builds a personal history that is fractured and raw; a brilliant, lovely ache."
—Michelle Tea, critically-acclaimed author of Against Memoir
"When she leaves her native Russia at age eleven, Sophia Shalmiyev is forced to abandon a mother she may never see again. Mother Winter is the wrenching story of her exile and grief, but it's also a chronicle of awakening—to art, sex, feminism, and the rich complexities of becoming a mother herself. Like a punk-rock Marguerite Duras, Shalmiyev has reinvented the language of longing. I love this gorgeous, gutting, unforgettable book."
—Leni Zumas, author of Red Clocks
"Mother Winter slices through the conventions of narrative with the most delicate blade, ribboning what you think you know about memoir, homecoming, what it means to live in a female body, to live as a motherless mother, to be mothered by art and the arms of all that is strong enough to hold you. This book hypnotized me with its beauty and brutality. I feasted on Shalmiyev's sentences, and they will stay with me for a long, long time."
—Melissa Febos, author of Whip Smart and Abandon Me
"The flickering alcoholic parent creates a writer by their absence. The kid colors the void, packs it with stuff, a life, and a love. And thus she lives. Mother Winter, Sophia Shalmiyev’s catastrophically bright, wavering motion of a memoir, forged through sticky clouds of pain, is vividly awesome and truly great."
—Eileen Myles, author of Evolution


Wed, Feb 08|
East Alton Library
Illinois Libraries Present: Saying Yes to Your Story: A Conversation with Kwame Alexander
Time & Location
Feb 08, 2023, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
East Alton Library, 250 Washington Ave, East Alton, IL 62024, USA
About the Event
Join us for an evening of inspiration and conversation with best-selling and award-winning children’s and young adult author and poet, Kwame Alexander, author of the Newbery Award winning book, The Crossover, Newbery Honor/Caldecott Medal winning book, The Undefeated, and most recently, An American Story, for an Illinois Libraries Present event for young people and their families. Kwame will share ways to say yes to your story and persist in the face of rejection as he shares his own publishing journey. As a creator of more than 36 books, Kwame will energize our community to harness the power of words and storytelling for change! Please note that this program will be presented live without a recording.
Kwame Alexander Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, publisher, and New York Times Bestselling author of 36 books, including Swing, Becoming Muhammad Ali, co-authored with James Patterson, Rebound, The Undefeated, The Crossover, and The Door of No Return. A regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. In 2018, he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic in Ghana, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an international literacy program he co-founded. He is the writer and executive producer of The Crossover show on Disney+.
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility.
To request accommodations, please email firstname.lastname@example.org. Register online here: https://bit.ly/ILP_KwameAlexander


Today, this lovely and cool and greyish Sunday afternoon, marks my first writing date. Me and another writer friend met up for a few hours at a local bar, sat on the back patio and….. wrote. We bounced a few ideas off each other, talked some things out, I read her play, but for the most part, we sat in silence and wrote and were hugely productive.
I love that I have started my August, usually a month consumed with work stress (the work that pays me the paycheck) by claiming time for the work that I want to be my future. And even better, I realized today that in this year where I have been, by force, almost completely physically inactive, I have been hugely creatively active. Funny how things work out sometimes.
So, ok, I’m not able to work out and claim that fitness level that I want to achieve, but I’ve got three creative projects in the works that are making me happy and are steering me toward the life that I want to lead. Cool.
Today: I mapped out two plot ideas and chose the one to start with and wrote the opening scene. I realized that the reason I was stuck on another plot idea was that another story has to happen first before I can get to my little money laundress. Today, it became apparent that Fantasy Man gets the first book. Don’t know what the heck I’m talking about? Well, you’ll just have to stay tuned and read the books! They’ll be steamy. You’ll like them. I hope.
Next Sunday: 2nd writing date.


When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die; there is no middle ground. - Cersei Lannister
I've been hearing about A Game of Thrones for over a year already before I allowed myself to be finally hooked by the series. It only took the recommendation of my good friends, Christal and Lean, for me to start watching. As much as I wanted to read the books before I watched the TV series, I just couldn't hold back my curiosity any longer. Though I grew to love it late compared to the rest of the fandom, I'm still very glad that I even decided to start watching.
I watched the first and second season in less than two weeks. I was so hooked to the point that just watching one episode would leave me wanting for more. I couldn't stand the cliffhangers. Though I had work the next day, I still sacrificed my sleeping hours just to get my dose of GoT. The amount of nudity put me off a bit, but I learned to deal with it because it was such a small setback compared to how awesome the show is. The characters were easy to like. They grew on me as I delved deeper into the story. Each of them had their own struggles and it was not hard to pay attention to their respective journeys.
|I was so happy to the point that I had to document the unwrapping process of the package when it arrived a week ago.|
After the end of season two, I felt really restless. I wanted to know what was gonna happen next. Unfortunately, season three will air in 2013. It's still a long wait, but I can manage. Due to excitement, I even dared to borrow money from my Dad to get the boxed set that contained the first five books. Usually, I tend to lose interest in a book when I have already watched it on the big screen (or in this case, through my laptop screen). I get bored because I already know what's going to happen next. Though I sometimes have this itch to skip to the third book, (because I really want to know what happens next) I can say that the first book does not bore me at all. I enjoy every chapter of it because I get to understand the thoughts of the characters. Their actions suddenly make sense because of this. These interesting bits of information are not reflected in the TV series, hence, it's always better to read the book in addition to watching. The extra information provides depth to the already interesting plot.
I'd love to be more specific about the things I love about GoT, but I think I'll just end up spoiling the whole experience for the rest of you. Also, there's just too much to love. The list would just go on and on, so maybe I can reserve that topic for another day. Maybe I'll write about it when my schedule isn't as hectic anymore.
If you still haven't watched or read the series, I suggest you do. You won't regret it.


Personalized Magazine by Canoli Kids – 3+
Beautifully designed soft cover kids’ book series which characters can be personalized to look like the little ones you are creating the book for. Choose age, hair style, skin and eye color and your character is ready to explore the world, learn about eclipses and discover the bottom of the ocean.
Canoli kids offers parents a fun and unique opportunity to get their children excited about reading! Now parents can insert their child and perhaps their child’s best friend into a new story each month. In general, children not only find being read to fun but their reading levels actually improve. They begin to hear vocabulary they have never heard before, see what words look like, follow along with the story and may soon begin reading the story to you. With Canoli kids, the stories are personalized making reading together more special than ever before. There is no doubt kids will love to hear and read about themselves in the stories, eager to listen to their new adventures month after month.
As a teacher, I insist on the pleasure of reading and the importance of offering rich and adapted literature. I recommend, of course, to borrow books regularly from libraries but also to offer subscriptions to their child. Canolikids is one of those easy, affordable and above all educational gifts that parents and teachers love! Each month the child receives a documentary magazine. The adult can read it to or with his child.The sentences and vocabulary are rich, varied and adapted to young audiences. The themes address answers to children’s questions about the nature. They also address themes such as respect, empathy…. The expressive illustrations help the beginner reader to understand and remember vocabulary. Moreover, these magazines are personalized, the child takes it over even faster because he is the hero of the story. He wants to read and reread the same magazine and wait for the next one. Canolikids magazine offers the pleasure of reading as well of the pleasure of learning new things.
Canolikids is awesome! I loved the process of creating little characters for the children that I was gifting the magazine to, and the kids loved seeing themselves as the main character in the books! Each story is beautifully illustrated and told, with positive messages and lots of educational content introduced in an engaging and fun way. I also love that these books grow with kids. Little kids can simply look at the pictures and have the story read to them while older kids and caregivers will enjoy the “A moment to reflect” feature that offers suggestions for exploring the topic further. If you want a screen-free, connection boosting activity I highly recommend Canolikids!


Chris Wen-Chao Li is Professor of Linguistics at the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures at San Francisco State University, where he teaches courses in general linguistics, news writing, calligraphy, web applications, and advanced Chinese language, and graduate seminars in Chinese phonology, semantics, morphology, translation theory, and consecutive and simultaneous interpreting. Prior to the present appointment, he lectured on advanced-level English, phonetics, phonology, creative writing, news writing, and translation studies at National Taiwan Normal University, and taught Chinese language and poetry at the University of Minnesota. He has also served as Adjunct Professor in Translation at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, and worked as a Chinese language current affairs producer and radio announcer for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service in London.
Dr Li received his masters and doctoral degree in General Linguistics and Comparative Philology from Oxford University, where his research focused on Mandarin sound change and Chinese phonology. He is the author of A Diachronically-Motivated Segmental Phonology of Mandarin Chinese (New York: Peter Lang, 1999), Media Chinese (Taipei: Shita Books, 2005) and numerous scholarly treatises on language and translation. His translations of Chinese prose and poetry have appeared in Renditions (Hong Kong) and The Chinese Pen (Taipei). His current research interests include sound change, language contact, diglossia, standardization, phonological translation, Chinese romanization systems, and the phonological description of Mandarin Chinese varieties.


During the time of Guru Srimanta Sankaradeva the human society was divided on the basis of caste and creed. Mankind was divided into four varnas (or castes): Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Ancient Hindu texts suggest caste system was not rigid. There are examples of men born to families belonging to various castes and later with the help of devotion becoming maharishis. This flexibility permitted lower cast Valmiki who was a Shudra by birth becomes Maharishi and composed the Holy Ramayana. However, with the passes of time, those in the privileged position, for their own selfish motives, made the caste system rigid and then the caste of a person was determined by his birth, not by his occupation. This means that a person’s social status was obligated to which caste they were born into. Although this or other forms of differentiation exist in all human societies, however, it becomes a problem when such narrow minded caste system becomes the sole basis of systematic ranking and unequal access to valued resources like wealth, income, education, power and prestige. The Brahmans, usually priests, were at the top. The next were the Kshatriyas, or political rulers and soldiers. The Kshatriyas were followed by the Vaishyas, or merchants, and the fourth were the Shudras, who were usually laborers, peasants, artisans, craftsman, and servants. There were limits on interaction and behavior of people belonging to one caste with people from another caste.
The Priests (Brahmans) and warriors (Kshatriyas) were said to be “better” than or “superior” to the other castes, and in general the Brahmans and Kshatriyas were regarded as united into a ruling class. But although the Brahmans and Kshatriyas together proclaimed to be superior to the commoners, the Brahmans never hesitated to declare their own caste as higher than the Kshatriyas. The Vaishya’s duty was to ensure the community’s prosperity through agriculture, cattle rearing and trade. The Vaishyas were considered inferior to the Brahmins and Kshatriyas and expected to be weak in comparison to their rulers, and were infinitely exploitable and regenerative. These oppressions however, were usually not boycotted because this was presented as a natural state of affairs in the social real. Later, the Shudras took over agriculture and cattle rearing while the Vaishyas became traders and merchants. Then Shudras, who were usually laborers, peasants, artisans, craftsman and servants, were thought to not have any special abilities and were considered only capable of serving as slaves to the upper three class. Shudras enjoyed no rights or privileges, and were not permitted to perform any prayer, read or learn the Vedas or recite the mantras (prayer rituals). They were also not allowed to enter temples and could only serve the upper three castes as a slave, barber, blacksmith or cobbler (Gurjari). The upper castes started to almost exploit the lower castes for their own profit. Financially, the upper castes become richer and the lower castes become poorer day by day.
At that time, education and schooling was also reserved only for the upper castes, especially the Brahmins. Moreover, education and schooling was very costly. Thus, at any cost, the commoners could not afford education. Paper was not yet discovered by mankind. People used to write on leaves and on the bark of tree, in Assamese language we call it “hasi pat”. Also the books written in “hasi pat” (bark of tree) were very few in numbers. Books were not easily available even to the educated people. The schools were run by Brahmins. However, in some of the schools like the school of the great Guru Mahendra Kandali, which was located at Rampur (in Nagaon district of Assam, India), the guru admit all the upper caste children. That means, the children belonging to Brahman and Kayastha families. Still education was a dream for the rest of the people. Even if the guru want to offer free education to all, irrespective of their caste and creed, it was still not possible to educate all because the cost of stationery were too high and needed to be incurred by the student. As a result, a majority of the people were illiterate. Education and knowledge (”Gyan”) became limited only to a few number of people. Through education we acquire knowledge. In the life of a man, knowledge is like the Sun. Without knowledge a man becomes ignorant. It is knowledge (“gyan”) that makes us a human. Humanity and morality is lost when people lack knowledge. Even to know God one needs knowledge. So, with majority of the people being illiterate, the knowledge and morality was lost. The people belonging to the lower castes were fooled in the name of religion, in the name of God. People were made to do many wrong things and perform many rituals which were actually designed for the profit of those in a privileged position. The path of righteousness was lost. Thus, the path of enlightenment and the path of realizing the Gracious Almighty were lost. Unity among the people was lost. The people become cruel and unjust. People lacked knowledge and become superstitious. Ultimately, the people were in misery. At such a time, to save the people from being fooled, to put an end to the sufferings of the people, to tie mankind with the thread of unity, for the upliftment of the poor, for the well being of mankind, to protect righteousness, to pave the path of enlightenment, to reveal the true meaning of the Vedas, to insert the supremacy of the Holy Bhagavata Purana and the sacred Srimad Bhagavata Gita, to show the path of Loving Devotion (prema-bhakti), to spread the Holy name and virtue of Lord Krishna, to establish the Bhagavata dharma, the Supreme Lord incarnated as Srimanta Sankaradeva.
The world is full of misery. Desire is the root of all miseries. Desire leads to anger, hatred and jealousy, which are all the enemies of one’s own self. Anger is a fire inside us and before this fire could destroy someone else, it would first destroy us. Now, the main question is could anybody give up desire? Answer is “No”. We are human beings and we are always seeking pleasure. Today, (in this Kali age) human beings don’t have any control over their senses. Everybody wants to satisfy their senses at any cost. Human beings are greedy and are full of pride. But some wise man had said that the pride of goodness is the root of evil. One’s pride in intellect prevents absorption of the words of the sastras and saints into the inner faculty. The sole objective of human life is to realize the Supreme and Gracious Lord Krishna, and to make use of this precious human life for the upliftment of one’s own self. God could be realized only and only through devotion. But where there is pride of class, devotion is difficult because devotion is through the self, not through the body. And class and caste belongs to the body and not to the self. So, in such a situation, to end the worldly sufferings, to spread the supreme knowledge among all, the Guru Srimanta Sankaradeva decided to impart the knowledge of the Holly Bhagavata Purana and Srimad Bhagavata Gita. He decided to establish the Bhagavata dharma.
In this Kali age, the sinners could get purified only and only through Sravana and Kirttana of the Holy names and virtues of the Supreme Lord Krishna (sravana means listening to the Holy names and virtue of Lord Krishna and Kirttana means singing/reading the same). Hari’s name is the greatest friend of man. Whoever utters the same, surely his seven deeds are performed. Now, let us take note of these seven deeds:
- First, Hari’s name burns up all the sins
- It creates virtue in great abundance,
- It makes one detached from earthly matters,
- It helps attain loving devotion at Krishna’s Lotus Feet,
- It helps attain supreme Vaishnavite wisdom,
- It leads to the burning of all illusions,
- Finally, with supremely conscious and blissful Hari’s image, Hari’s name would unite the devotee in the final stage.
The person who sings Hari’s name surely gets salvation, being free from other offences.
The people in the Kali age would indulge in sins. And since the people would be very sinful they have no right over anything. Except Hari’s name, there is no other means that could rescue the people and end their sufferings. Hari’s name is the sole rescue. In the path of devotion (bhakti), one need not have to be a deva, dvija, a sage, one need not have to be of a pure mind and heart, one need not have to perform any sacrifice, penance or ritual, Hari is satisfied only and only in loving devotion. Hari is the father of all, He is all merciful, God Supreme. Even the most sinful and degenerate person gets redeemed from all the sins if he takes refuge at Hari’s feet.
In Satya, Treta, and Dwapara age, the people had to make a lot of effort to get the meditation, sacrificial ceremonies and worship done. And to perform these one requires a lot of virtue, patience, hard work, purity of heart and mind, wealth and so on. However, even if they get these rituals done, they rarely get the opportunity to become a devotee of Supreme Lord Hari. Also, the result of all such performance was only heavenly pleasure, wealth and prosperity, which were all perishable. Even if one attains the heaven, there too their fear and misery doesn’t end. Thus, we could say that there was no end to misery. There was no way to attain salvation; there was no way to attain the Gracious Lord Krishna. Today, although Kali age is the epitome of all evil, becoming a devotee of Krishna become very easy and simple, and Sravana and Kirttana alone makes a person a devotee of Lord Almighty Krishna. Thus, by chanting and listening to the Holy name of Hari one could realize one’s own self and serving the illusory ties one gets identified with Hari. Chanting the Holy name alone helps one cross the world.
To impart the supreme knowledge and to end the miseries of the sinful man, the Guru, Srimanta Sankaradeva faced a lot of hardship. The difficulties faced by the Guru while working for the well being of mankind and the upliftment of the downtrodden and deprived sections of the society could not be expressed in words. To rescue the people from their worldly sufferings and to pave the path of enlightenment, to pave the path of salvation, and to establish the great Bhagavata Dharma, the Guru needs to inspire loving devotion (bhakti) at the Lotus Feet of Sri Hari, and to achieve this He need to impart the teachings of the Holy Bhagavata Purana and Srimad Bhagavata Gita to the people. Now, one of the major challenges was the illiteracy rate in the society. A majority of the people were illiterate. Another problem was that the sastras were available only in the Sanskrit language. Sanskrit was not a spoken language. It was used only by the Brahmins and the literate people like the Kayasthas. For the rest of the people, Sanskrit was a language of the Devas. So, the sastras must have to be translated into a language understood by the common people. After translating the sastras, the teachings must have to be narrated to the people. Moreover, the copies of the sastras were very few in number and were not easily available. Thus, it was not an easy task to impart the divine knowledge to the messes when the people were mostly illiterate, poor and busy in earning two meals a day. To impart the supreme knowledge from the Holy Srimad Bhagavata Purana and Srimad Bhagavata Gita equally to all the sections of the society the Guru translated the sastras in Sanskrit into a language understood by the common people and authored many sacred books, and wrote many songs and dramas. Since the people were mostly illiterate, the Guru composed songs from the lessons of the Holy Bhagavata Purana and Srimad Bhagavata Gita and sang the same in a melodious voice, so that the people could listen to the songs, enjoy the songs and most importantly, gain the knowledge from the songs. The Guru also wrote many dramas like the “ankia-nat” and these dramas too contain the lessons of the Holy Bhagavata Purana. Thus, the teachings from the holy sastras were presented in a very artistic way to the people in an easily accessible, immediate, and enjoyable manner. And the Guru, Srimanta Sankaradeva spread the Holy name and virtues of Lord Almighty Krishna and the supreme knowledge of the Holy Srimad Bhagavata Purana and Srimad Bhagavata Gita among the messes. The knowledge which was not easily available even to the Devas and Maharishis in the Satya age was now available to all. With the blessings of Guru Srimanta Sankara, that supreme knowledge which Lord Sri Krishna imparted to Arjuna in the battle of Kurukshetra, was made known to all. It was the knowledge supreme, knowing which one could easily and very quickly get rid of all the worldly sufferings, attain perpetual bliss, and get salvation. It fulfills all the desires. This knowledge leads to the realization of Sri Hari. Knowing this knowledge one gets freedom from the circle of birth and death and departs to Vaikuntha (the supreme abode of Lord Krishna). The Knowledge and the sastras, which were earlier confined only to the upper castes and the learned people, were now available to all, even to the illiterate people.
The Guru Srimanta Sankaradeva imparted the Supreme knowledge to all. He tied the society with the thread of brotherhood and unity, and spread the message of love, devotion and compassion. He established equality among the people. He burnt like a lamp of knowledge and dispelled the darkness born of ignorance. He was an incarnation of Lord Sri Krishna. However, instead of calling him God we call Him “The Guru” because He came in the form of a guru, and only with the blessings of the guru one could gain knowledge, and attain Sri Hari.
"Srimanta Sankara Hari Bhakatara
Jānā yena kalpataru
Tāhānta bināi nāi nāi nāi
Āmāra parama Guru ." 375(Naam Ghukha)
Know ye that Srimanta Sankaradeva is like the wish-yielding tree (kalpataru) of all the devotees of Hari. Be triple sure that there is no (other) Guru than Sankaradeva himself.


Alan Committie, in association with The Little Theatre and the UCT Drama Department will present Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Tom Stoppard’s masterful comedy and theatre classic.
Stoppard, an Academy Award winning author who wrote the film Shakespeare in Love and many other great plays and films, captivated audiences with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a play that is the inverse of Hamlet and where the title characters are the leads instead of being minor players, with Hamlet himself only playing a small part.
The production concerns two of Hamlet’s friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and follows their misadventures, musings and actions as the events of Shakespeare’s Hamlet occur in the background. In the production, the duo appears onstage when they are off-stage in the Bard’s play, with the exception of a few short scenes in which the dramatic events of both plays coincide. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead thus explores the comic journey of two amusing characters as they find themselves trapped within the world of Hamlet the play, destined to die and having to confront their fate.
Heading the supporting cast of senior UCT drama students are three professional and highly acclaimed actors, namely Alan Committie (Cape Town comic and alter-ego of Johan van der Walt from MNet’s Laugh Out Loud) as Rosencrantz, Rob Van Vuuren (Twakkie from the SABC comedy hit The Most Amazing Show) as Guildenstern and Neville Thomas (CAPAB actor, UCT alumni and the comic face – and force – behind the Tempest car hire adverts) as the Player King.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead was preceded at each performance by a 12 and-a-half minute version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The presentation was fast, funny and frenetic, making it an ideal way to educate and entertain learners and remind us all of what occurred in the original text.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead had a limited run from April 21st to May 5th 2007.
Written by Tom Stoppard
Directed by Christopher Weare
Starring Alan Committie, Rob van Vuuren and Neville Thomas


The obesity epidemic is here. More and more adults are becoming overweight and diabetic every day. The problems related to overeating and under-metabolizing what we eat are enormous.
Hi, I’m Dr Tim Fischell, Author of “Burn Calories While You Sleep”. Like most middle aged adults, when I entered my 40’s, I began to experience weight gain and loss of fitness, despite my usual efforts to “exercise.”
With this new approach to working out, and the adoption of some new common sense “rules” for eating, I was able to lose substantial weight, getting back to my high school graduation weight, but twice as strong, at age 56.
Re-ignite your Metabolism
“Burn Calories While You Sleep” is one of the first books that asks, and answers the question, “Why do we lose metabolic activity as we get older?”
This is a common sense book. The main focus of this book is to provide a set of rules or guidelines that can be imprinted in your brain to allow you to efficiently, become fit, healthy, energized, and feeling young.
In this book you will learn:
- Why we tend to gain weight as we get older,
- How to reverse this
- How to change your metabolic rate
- How to literally “burn calories while you sleep.”
Once you have achieved your weight and fitness goals, the maintenance phase of this program allows one to maintain this high level of fitness while working out for only 35-40 minutes twice a week (plus some other tips and tricks that take little or no time out of your day).
Learn Why Walking on a treadmill will not solve your weight problem
You will realize why fad diets and fad exercising do not work. You will also learn other incredible and simple pearls and tips about raising healthy and fit children, living longer, and staying young as you age. This book will provide a concise outline to achieve a healthier and more youthful future for you and your children. It is teachable, learnable and sustainable!