Don't tell me what to do, tell me a story

Photos of poker from last year... Nostalgia for me. Boring for others

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattieo/19290417/in/set-453140/

Free beautiful gregorian chant music apparantly

M

The average homeschooled student outperforms their public school peers by 30 to 37 percentile points

Home Schooling Achievement, a study conducted by National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), indicates the academic integrity of homeschooling; the average homeschooled student outperforms their public school peers by 30 to 37 percentile points across all subjects. The study also indicates that public school performance gaps between minorities and genders are virtually non-existent among homeschooled students

Buddy Check Scuba Diving - Bruce Willis Ruins All Films

There are several mnemonics for the buddy check:

Begin with review and friend
Bruce Willis Ruins All Films
With Many apologies to Bruce Willis. I am a huge bruce willis fan. Love Die Hard etc. But this is how my instructor taught me not to die underwater

There are several forms of buddy check, but almost all cover five definite principles. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors BWRAF formula is as follows:

B - Begin - BCD
Check function of BCD. Operate inflator and deflator to ensure that BCD can accept and release air. Test oral inflator. Operate all dumps to check that air can be dumped quickly. Ensure straps (shoulder straps, cummerbund) have no slack, and are lying flat.

W - With - Weights
If a weight belt is worn, check that the belt is secure, and the strap arranged so that it can be released with the right hand of the diver. Ensure that weights on the belt are not likely to shift during movement, and are suitable for the diver. If a weight harness is worn, or the BCD possesses an integrated-weights system, test system for adequate operation. A secondary aim is to ensure that the buddy is familiar with the weight system of the diver being checked, and is able to operate them in an emergency

R - Releases
Starting from front, verbally noting all releases and forms i.e. clip, push, velcro and ending with buddy turning back checking tank clamp.

A - And - Air
Open air valve on tank. Most divers then close the tank a quarter turn for an added element of safety. Breathe the air through the regulators to ensure that it is fresh and dry: impure air is extremely dangerous underwater, but can usually be recognised through an unpleasant, often oily, taste or smell.

F - Friend - Final Check
Conduct a final check of the diver. Ensure that hoses are clipped to the diver neatly, and are in the correct configuration. Make sure the diver has fins and a mask, and any other accessories (cameras, reels, knife, compass, torch etc.) needed for the dive. Check that these are secured to the diver, or else placed in a spot where they can be handed down once the diver is in the water. Correct anything else that needs doing.

The PADI mnemonic (Begin with Review and Friend) is the standard one taught by the agency, but many divers have their own; Burger with Relish and Fries is one of the more popular.

The Happiness Project

• "Whoever is happy will make others happy, too." Mark Twain.
• “There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.” Robert Louis Stevenson
• "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42
• “Imaginary evil is romantic and varied; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren, boring. Imaginary good is boring; real good is always new, marvelous, intoxicating.” Simone Weil
• “What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.” Colette
• “It is easy to be heavy: hard to be light.” G. K. Chesterton

Catholic Blog Awards Link

http://catholicblogawards.com/2007/nominated_blogs

Lent, Like a slow moving truck

This year:

1. I will give up alcohol for Lent, this includes Sundays, excludes St Patrick's day although that does not mean getting blind drunk on that day.
2. I will read a new religious book during lent for 5 minutes each morning
3. I will go to 1 mid week mass a week. On Tuesday night or Thursday night most likely.
4. I will call Az each week on Tuesday nights @ 7pm.
   

Books for Lent

Fr. Kenneth Novak: The Crucifixion of Jesus: A Forensic Inquiry, The Mystery of the Crown of Thorns

Fr. James Doran, Editor Emeritus: To Know Christ Jesus

James Vogel: My Imitation of Christ, The Backbiting Tongue

Jason Greene: The Life of Fr. de Smet, Solzhenitsyn: A Soul in Exile

Anne Stinnett: The Liturgical Year

Simon Townshend: Cross and Crown, My Way of Life

Lisa Powell: A Book of the Love of Jesus, How to Resist Temptation

Christopher McCann: Marcel Lefebvre (Biography), Friends of the Cross

Mary Anne Hall: The Sinner's Guide, In the Likeness of Christ

John Rydholm: Maxims of Christian Chivalry, My Life With Thomas Aquinas

Jon Rydholm: The New Testament, My Daily Psalm Book

Jervis Bay Underwater Adventures

Underwater Scuba Diving, with Disey, Carolyn and Gordo. Richard and Janet as hosts. Mick and Lyn as boat captains and the fish as friends.

To be completed

http://www.oceantrek.com.au/

See you later!

Friends...
Can spring from no-where as bulbs planted by God each new season,
He knew where we'd be and which flower we'd long to see,

just as the Winter turned over.

They brighten our day and soften our way,
so that when it storms we can see how it gives life....
for under their care, a sweet scent remains in the air
and our hearts learn the love of Our Father.

:) Thanks God. by KL

Emma, slow and peaceful

Dear Bookclubbers (those who refuse to read the book and attack at will) and Booklovers (those who totally immerse themselves in the wealth of literature which we choose to read),

Thank you for another fantastic meeting last month over the most popular novel Emma by Jane Austen. Rave reviews all round?

The discussion was colourful, in depth, fruitful and even appreciated the humour of the way in which Austen revealed that Mr Elton "was actually making violent love" to Emma in the carriage! (Remember literary thinks not to take this literally!!)

Some special mentions this month go to:

Simon Takita for being so committed to the bookclub that he continued to read in another location while we were meeting - taking up the first ever reading non-member status for Come What May. Congratulations!

Thomas Kowk who decided to come for lunch and for bringing along his own fine literature (the newspaper). Nice effort - but he just may have given the impression that he would like to read Emma?

Theresa Spinks for bringing along TWO new recruits (Matt and Ange we hope you'll be back!)

James Baxter for admitting he would like to propose in a letter but make sure he is there to see her reaction. Priceless.

Next meeting is Saturday 24th March @ the White Cockatoo. We can move the starting time to 12.30. (Unless there are any other suggestions.)

Also make sure you have read Macaulay’s winner: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

Keep reading!

Lucy

http://www.logandancesydney.com/

Dance- to move around the floor to a rhythm or beat

http://www.logandancesydney.com/