Historical Fiction Set In Ancient Sumer - Secret Of The Scribe By Jennifer Johnson Garrity

I always loved to supplement history studies with historical fiction. I found picture books and novels aplenty while studying Greece and Rome, the Renaissance and Reformation, or the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. But ancient Sumer? The closest I could get was the story of Gilgamesh, but it is an epic, not a novel, and not nearly so appealing to eight- to twelve-year-old girls!

Actually, both girls and boys alike will delight in Secret of the Scribe, the first historical novel about ancient Sumer I've seen. Author Jennifer Johnson Garrity transports the reader back 5000 years to the time of Abraham and the bustling city of Ur. Told in first person, it's the story of a young girl, Tabni, who grows up in comfort as a slave to a Sumerian queen-until a great calamity forces her to flee the palace by night and make her way into the world alone.

Don't we love The Boxcar Children and My Side of the Mountain, where the courageous protagonists must live resourcefully on their own? This universally appealing theme appears in Secret of the Scribe as well. As the young scribe Tabni weaves her narrative, the reader journeys with her by boat down the broad Euphrates River to the Sumerian trade center of Ur, where we experience both the grandeur of the gleaming ziggurat and the stench of narrow back alleys.

Tabni's tale draws us in. We feel her grief and hunger as she finds herself homeless in a new world. We discover her pluck and courage as she forms a daring plan while living alone in secret. And we taste Tabni's fear of vengeance from the many gods she tries desperately to appease.

In true "historical novel" fashion, Secret of the Scribe teaches the reader about life and customs in Ur-how people in this ancient civilization lived, ate, dressed, worked, and worshipped. Italicized words sprinkled throughout the book point to a glossary of unfamiliar terms, making it easy for the teacher or homeschooling parent to incorporate vocabulary into their Sumerian studies.

Secret of the Scribe would also make a great springboard into arts and crafts. The book introduces students to Sumerian trades such as weaving, metalwork, jewelry-making, and pottery, opening up all sorts of possibilities for accompanying projects. Trained as a scribe, Tabni writes on clay tablets, suggesting a project that dovetails art with learning about Sumerian cuneiform.

Brick Repair Mortars

Brick repair mortars have improved over the years. Originally, all repairs were made using any color of mortar that was available. As this market grew, it has become necessary to match the new mortar to the original mortar around the home. This practice of brick restoration has been in use for nearly ten years. However, there are newer methods available which allow for more precise mortar matching. Now, you can match any mortar every time.

Twenty years ago, custom mortar matching was completely unheard of. In fact, ten years ago this idea was laughed at. All repairs were performed as side projects, and were not expected to match mortar colors. You can see evidence of this on nearly any old building on your local town square.

Over the past ten years, it has become more desired to have your mortar matched to the original mortars in a building simply because public awareness of this ability. However, many of the contractors in this market still laugh and think that custom mortars are simple marketing tactics and have proclaimed they too can match these mortars. With these contractors, custom mortar matching simply means that they will make an attempt to get the mortar close.

There are companies around that can and do match you mortars, but most of the companies are only getting close. The companies that can and do match your brick repair mortars are using certified mortar matching.

Certified mortar matches are lab analyzed matches. Samples are taken from the mortar joints of a project and sent into the lab. These mortar samples are tested for their general hardness and composition. Each color tone in the samples are identified and matched. This includes local contaminates that may be found in the mortar which change it texture or color.

After a formula is created to match the samples taken, the formula is physically tested and confirmed to match the samples taken. From these confirmed formulas, certified pre-mix mortars are created, and shipped out to be used. These pre-mix mortars are guaranteed to match the original mortar colors.

Make sure that your contractor is using certified mortar matches, and ensure that you are getting a job done right. These repairs are too costly to pay for poor mortar matching, and these certified mortars are available to everyone. You or your contractors have access to order certified mortar matches, and you don't have to settle for less.Be sure it is a certified mortar match.

Digital Audio Compression

When you listen to a live musical instrument, the sound you hear is an analog sound wave. Such a wave can take an infinity number of values. This signal has to be converted into a sequence of numbers (0s and 1s in native machine language) for storage and playback on a computer. This process of digitisation creates a raw digital music file which uses 10MB or more per minute (at least 30MB for a 3 minute song).

On a PC, a .WAV is an example of a default audio file, while AIFF(Audio Interchange File Format) is the default format on a Mac. On a Unix machine, Sun Microsystems' AU(AUdio) format is the default for audio. These file formats are an exact replica of the original sound, except for small sampling errors. (They also support limited audio file compression.)

These files have to be compressed to the more usual levels of 3-5MB per song. Compression rearranges the sequence of numbers, sometimes throwing away less significant information, in order to reduce the file size. The way the compression is achieved leads to the many different audio file formats available. Each compression algorithm requires a decoder to make sense of the data during playback. The combination of a compressor and a decoder is called, surprisingly, a codec.

COMPRESSION TYPES

There are two broad compression types:

1. Lossless codecs. This kind of compression reduces the file size while retaining every scrap of information from the original file. This means that the original file can be reconstructed exactly as it was before the compression. Lossless compression does not significantly reduce the size of an audio file. Examples of general lossless compression algorithms include zip or gzip compressions.

2. Lossy codecs. These throw away some of the information from the original music file. Ideally what's thrown away is what the human ear cannot hear, namely sounds below 20Hz and above 20KHz. Thus, the most successful lossy codecs are based on an understanding of psychoacoustic perception. Lossy compression can reduce the size of the file to less than 10% of its original size. Most of the codecs you will come across are of this type. Examples include MP3 and WMA codecs.

CONSTANT V VARIABLE BIT RATE Something else you might come across concerning compression is bit rate. This is the number of bits (0s and 1s) per second in an audio stream. This kind of represents how much information is being conveyed per second. The bit rate within a single music file can be constant or variable.

A. Constant bit rate (CBR). The music/audio file is compressed to the same level throughout the file. For example moments in the audio file having only a drum beating are reduced to the same bit rate as moments having all musical instruments playing at the same time. You would think there is more information to convey when all instruments are playing at the same time than when only the drum is beating. You would rightly choose a high bit rate to accommodate the complex sounds from all the instruments. But a higher bit rate results in a correspondingly larger file.

B. Variable bit rate(VBR). Each moment is compressed to a different bit rate depending on the complexity of the sound. For example, while the drum beat alone can be compressed at 96 Kbps (kilobits per second), the moments with all musical instruments playing could be compressed at 256Kbps. This results in a smaller file size without sacrificing the quality of the music. Remember file size is inversely proportional to bit rate.

Preparing For Cheerleading Competition

Bag sales are up so that must mean cheerleaders are gearing up for competition travels! So what better time for us to break down competition must haves for cheerleaders and coaches alike.

Coach Checklist: Cell Phone - Always have a cell phone on you! Keep your contact list updated with team members phone numbers as well as a secondary number in case of an emergency. Keep this information updated every year by having team members fill out an information form at the beginning of each season. There are some great sample forms available in Coaching Cheerleading Successfully.

First Aid Kit - Make sure that everything you may need is in your first aid kit. Replace any old items and add any new ones.

Music - Make sure you have the music on hand for the routine. You may even want to bring along additional tunes to keep your team motivated. One of my all time favorites is ChampCheer & Dance 2!

Paperwork - Make sure you have copies of necessary paperwork needed to compete.

Medical Forms - Check that each girl has submitted their medical form so they are eligible to compete.

Notepad - Competitions are a great place to take notes on how your team can improve as well as what they are excelling in so keep your notepad and pen with you at all times. There is always much to gain from documenting new strategies seen throughout the competition season.

Video Camera - It's always a great idea to use a video camera at all competitions. Ask a parent to video tape the competitions for you so you and the entire squad can learn from them.

Cheerleader Checklist: Cheerleading Uniform - Make sure you have your complete uniform ready for competition!

Shell Skirt Cheerleading Briefs Cheer Socks Hair Bows

Cheerleading Poms - If your coach doesn't hold onto the entire team's poms, make sure you have yours packed and ready to go.

Shoes - Competition shoes should always be clean and white. Our pick for the best competition shoe is the Nfinity Evolution. It's super light weight yet still provides amazing control.

Make-up - Even if make-up is applied before you leave for the competition, odds are you'll need a touch up.

Snacks - It's important to stayed fueled on the big day. Be sure to bring some healthy snacks because you could be at the competition venue all day.

Water Bottle - Another important factor is to always stay hydrated so always keep your water bottle with you.

Camera - Team websites are more popular than ever so, keep a camera handy capture and share memories from your competition travels.

Bag - Keep all of your gear together in a duffle bag. Our pick for the best cheerleading bag is the Ultimate Cheerleading Duffle Bag. With separate compartments for all of your gear this bag is sure to keep you organized.

Finally always remember your Confidence and a Smile!

Bad Credit Personal Loans - Things to Know about Cash Advance Loan Companies

Cash advance companies will give loans regardless of your credit situation. Determining qualifications based on income and access to a checking account, payday loans are approved in a matter of hours. When you need cash fast and have bad credit, apply for a personal loan to solve your money problems.

Bad Credit Doesn't Matter With Cash Advance Companies

Credit isn't an issue with cash advance companies. They don't look at your credit report or score. Instead, they verify that you have a source of income, usually a job or pension. They also check that your contact information is correct. And finally, they need banking numbers for your checking account to wire your funds.

Payday loans are meant to be for a short period of time, around two weeks. Loan amounts are also relatively small, $1500 or less. So it isn't worth the time or money for lenders to do an extensive background check on your credit history.

Speed Is Important To Payday Loan Lenders

Lenders know that payday loans are for financial emergencies. That's why they place such an emphasis on getting money to you fast. With most online payday loan lenders, applications take less than ten minutes to complete.

In minutes you will get a response on the status of your loan. Most companies approve loans in less than an hour. Your cash is wired directly into your checking account, usually overnight. However, there are some lenders willing to get money to you faster for a higher finance fee.

Repayment Is Automatic

Your loan payment is automatically handled by your lender. On your arranged payday, the cash advance company will deduct the required payment. Paying off your entire loan will keep finance costs to a minimum. But you can extend your loan period; just arrange it with your lender.

Payday loans are a no hassle way to secure cash in a hurry. When speed is important, turn to an online lender to get you a cash advance loan in just a few hours. Without having to deal with a lot of paperwork or questions, you can get approved for a personal loan, even with bad credit.

Yellow Ribbons Of Hope

Incidents of ribbons worn on collars, backpacks, cars, or hanged on house doors have been first seen when various people attempted to envision a better future and inspire hope. Wearing and otherwise displaying ribbons of various colors to remember loved ones far away or to identify with a particular cause is a contemporary custom that has its roots in both popular culture and folk tradition. Today, ribbons continue to appear on people's garments or on their doors and cars since their symbolic meaning motivates, inspires and mobilizes people.

During the last decade, no single form of expression documented in the Archive of Folk Culture has stimulated more sympathy letters, more phone calls of compassion, more in-person inquires on the issue than the yellow ribbon. After reporters asked the US Congress to comment on the yellow ribbon frenzy that came into being in support of Americans being held hostages in Iran, between 1979 and 1981, the need to find the initiator of this ribbon-style symbol of hope and support was overwhelming. Eventually, a body of information accumulated and the story that reemphasized the yellow ribbon symbolism belonged to Penne (Penelope) Laingen, the wife of Bruce Laingen, one of the hostages in Iran during the US Embassy Tehran incident.

Bruce Laingen was serving as the charge d'affaires of the United States Embassy in Tehran when Iranian student revolutionaries seized the Embassy on November 4, 1979, and held the staff working there hostage until January 20, 1981. A few days after the incident, Penne Laingen hung a yellow ribbon around an oak tree in their house yard in Bethesda, Maryland, as a symbol of support for her husband and other American citizens who were held hostages by the Iranians. She later stated that her action was a way to bolster her own strength and that of their three sons throughout the crisis. Years after the end of the incident, in 1991, the Laingens donated this yellow ribbon to the Library of Congress. The existing collection today contains sound recordings and photographs from that donation ceremony, apart from an interview with both Penne and Bruce Laingen.

During that hostage crisis, the use of a yellow ribbon transferred to the outside world a symbolic significance that has been acquired even earlier than the US Civil War. The late Gerald E. Parsons, in his article "Yellow Ribbons: Ties with Traditions," attempted ten years after the Iran hostage crisis to explain how this act of compassion and encouragement came into being. His founding was shocking, as it was not a custom, or a song that gave yellow ribbon its significance. It was a folk tale-a legend, actually. However, the contemporary recreation of the folk tale helps people keep their spirits up during a crisis and can indeed awake the public interest on issues some cannot and will not ever forget. Today, yellow ribbons remain symbols of peoples' hope and support.

Horse Hoof Care - No Hoof, No Horse

A basic part of horse hoof care is simply picking out the mud, manure, stones and other debris from the sole of your horse's hooves. It is simple and yet, this one of the most neglect parts of horse care. Keeping your horse's hooves clean goes a long way to help prevent common hoof ailments. At times, your horse may get small stones lodged in the grooves of the frog, which can cause bruising. Picking out your horse's hooves also removes packed mud or snow, which can make it uncomfortable for your horse to walk. Cleaning your horse's feet will allow you to see problems such as a puncture wound from something like a nail.

You will certainly hear or read from horsemen recommending you pick your horse's feet at least once daily, as well as before and after a ride. This is no doubt good advice, but in practical terms, don't go longer than a week without cleaning and inspecting your horse's hooves.

Keeping your horse's feet clean and dry as much as possible helps prevent thrush. The flooring of the stable should not be damp and allow for drainage. Your horse's paddock area should provide drainage to minimize the amount of time he has to stand in water and mud. Most of the moisture your horse's hooves need come from within the hoof itself and is provided by a healthy diet. Constant contact with wet conditions promotes rapid drying of the hooves and will cause them to start cracking and chipping.

Applying a hoof dressing can improve the moisture content of hooves and help prevent them from cracking. Rubbing hoof dressing on all parts of the hoof including the hoof wall, frog, heel and coronet can stimulate healthy new hoof growth. However, you should not apply hoof dressing too often as it may prevent the hooves from absorbing moisture naturally.

In the wild, a horse's feet wear down about the same rate as they grow. A domestic horse's hooves typically do not wear down as quickly since their hooves may be shod preventing them from wearing naturally, or simply because they are not subjected to such severe living conditions and consequently their feet grow faster than can be worn down.

In general, hooves need to be trimmed every six to eight weeks requiring the routine care of a professional farrier. The services of a reliable and experienced farrier are vital to helping keep your horse's hooves healthy. When choosing a farrier, ask other horse owners in your area and your veterinarian for a recommendation. Do not wait until you need a farrier before trying to find one.

Your farrier can help you decide whether or not your horse needs to be shod. Horses that are ridden a lot or work on hard terrain may need horseshoes or boots to protect their hooves. If your horse's hooves wear too much, the protective outer covering starts to be lost and the foot can become sensitive causing lameness. On the other hand, if your horse is more of a field ornament to be looked at or is only ridden occasionally then he most likely doesn't need to be shod. Regardless if your horse is shod or not, his hooves will need regular trimming to keep them shaped properly.

Without regular trimming, a horse's hooves will grow too long and can lead to hoof splitting, chipping, cracking and lameness. Long hooves can put your horse's leg limbs out of balance. Hooves need to be trimmed to keep them at the correct length and shape so contact with the ground will be uniform and will not cause the hoof to chip or split. Shod horses especially need a farrier's attention on a regular basis due to hoof growth loosening the shoes and growing over the edge of the shoes.

HDTV-Standard DVD Recorders And HDTV That Makes Sense

You may have purchased a new HDTV and now you'd like to get a DVD player for it. When it comes to HDTV, standard DVD players are an option. While you may have spent a lot on your HDTV, standard DVD players can save you some money. While some of the higher quality DVD players can cost you upwards of $1,800, you can still combine HDTV with a standard DVD player. HDTV and standard DVD players are still compatible.

Understanding the basics of a standard DVD player is the first step. When it comes to a standard DVD player they record at what is known as 480i. This allows the standard DVD player to still be compatible with older televisions and discs. This term, 480i, means it records at the same resolution as a standard television. Basically it stands for 480 lines of resolution that are interlaced. This can be converted to analog or work with digital too.

After 'deinterlacing' the picture there is an additional step when using HDTV with standard DVD players. This is because HDTV's run at higher resolutions. They usually run at 720p or even 1080i or 1080p. This means when using HDTV with standard DVD players they have to convert to this higher quality. Some standard DVD players convert better than others, but all or most are able to do so. The better the conversion, the better the picture.

There are a few standard DVD players that tend to offer the best conversion for HDTV. Standard DVD players are available that can record up to eight hours and hold a hundred and forty-two hours of programming. Beyond this, this type of standard DVD can convert very well. This is because it uses High Definition Multimedia Interface or HDMI. This particular technology works well for HDTV-standard DVD conversion. One of these standard DVD players costs around $440. There is also a HDTV-standard DVD conversion that can be done with what is called a HD-A1. These actually give you the best quality out of all the HDTV-standard DVD conversions. This type usually costs around $500.

As you can see, not only can HDTV-standard DVD conversions be done, but you have a few options to choose from as well. There are many price ranges to choose from. What you choose depends on the quality of HDTV-standard DVD conversion you want. But you can usually save money by using a standard DVD instead of the higher priced ones. In the end, choosing the right one for your HDTV-standard DVD conversion depends on your budget and needs. No matter what you will end up with a great deal.

Who is a Fencing Master?

In the United States anyone can become a coach in any sport simply by saying that he or she is one. There may be limitations as to who can be employed as a coach, especially in youth programs, but if you want to be a coach, simply say you are one, and presto... you are one. This is particularly true in fencing, where not only the term "coach" is used, but also the terms "fencing master" and "maestro" are commonly assumed by individuals who want to be seen as experts in teaching the sport and preparing athletes.

This confusion makes it important to understand who actually is a fencing master and what qualifications that title demands. Internationally the governing body for the Olympic sport of fencing is the Federation Internationale d'Escrime (the FIE). The FIE recognizes the Academie d'Armes Internationale (the AAI) as the international professional coaching organization. In turn the AAI recognizes national coaching organizations. In the United States the recognized professional coaching organization is the United States Fencing Coaches Association (the USFCA). The USFCA is also recognized by the sport's national governing body, the United States Fencing Association.

This trail of recognition is important because the certifying body for fencing masters in the United States is the USFCA. If you hold a diploma from the USFCA or one of the other national academies recognized by the AAI, you can legitimately call yourself a Fencing Master (or Maitre d'Armes).

So how does a fencing coach become a Maitre d'Armes. In the United States the USFCA certifies four levels of coaches:

Assistant Moniteur. This is an entry level position which qualifies an individual to assist in leading group classes in a club environment. The Assistant Moniteur must have completed at least 20 hours of practical teaching, and pass a written and a practical examination administered by a Moniteur or higher qualified coach.

Moniteur. The Moniteur is the first level of professional coach. Moniteurs are trained to teach group lessons in a club environment or to teach beginner or intermediate individual lessons. They must pass a written examination on rules, fencing technique and tactics, training methods and safety and risk management, and teach a complete lesson in a practical examination supervised by two Prevots or a Maitre d'Armes.

Prevot. A Prevot is a fully qualified coach capable of preparing advanced students for competition in individual teaching and training lessons. The Prevot completes a more demanding written examination that includes fencing tactical and training theory, and a practical examination involving teaching, training, and warmup lessons. Prevot examinations are supervised by two Maitres d'Armes.

Maitre d'Armes. A Maitre d'Armes is capable of preparing elite level competitors and of managing training programs and all of the activities of a fencing club or salle. They pass a more rigorous version of the practical examination and complete a thesis on some element of fencing theory, tactics, technique, or training. The candidate Maitre is examined by three Maitre d'Armes.

Starting in 2009 the USFCA started to certify Prevots and Maitre in single weapons, an option that had always existed for Moniteurs. Single weapon Prevots and Maitre are fully qualified to teach a single weapon and go through the same demanding practical examinations that are usually close to two hours in length. However, full Prevots and Maitres d'Armes must have demonstrated a high level of skill in all three weapons

This is a demanding process that requires encyclopedic knowledge, skill with the weapon, stamina, and the determination to succeed. Any Maitre d'Armes certified by the USFCA or by another country's national academy is deservedly proud of the accomplishment. Ask to see their diploma. I am proud to show fencing students mine, and I don't know any legitimately certified Master who would hesitate to do the same. When you look for a fencing coach, look for a certified professional who is a Moniteur, or Prevot, or Maitre d'Armes. You can be sure that their skills have been evaluated by their peers and found to be of a standard that will help you learn to be a better fencer.