This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC. All opinions are 100% mine.
It’s easy to think of some of the benefits of earning your Masters of Arts degree online. You could save a great deal of time and expense when you factor each time you had to attend classes and go to and from university in the traditional way.
Getting ones degree online is becoming more and more common as people with work and/or family commitments simply do not have the time to deal with all the trappings of a traditional university experience.
The USC Rossier School of Education’s MAT@USC offers current educators and aspiring teachers the chance for career-enhancement and the prestige of earning a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from an elite research university at USC with the convenience and flexibility of studying online.
With the USC Master of Arts in Teaching degree program’s innovative, groundbreaking tuition reimbursement program, highly interactive online learning, linked with field-based experiences–in your area plus an accelerated program that if you wish you can finish in just one year . This is also an exciting opportunity to become a part of the elite USC Trojan Family.
Sound intrguing? Find out more program information by clicking the link.
I had planned to address the topic of setting off fireworks every summer weekend over Maple Lake even before I saw the “Letter(s) of the Week” in the Haliburton County Voice.
These letters, written by local cottage country property owners were not only food for thought but were enlightening in their enumerations of all the ways uncontrolled personal use of fireworks in cottage country is a very bad thing.
To digress for a moment, prior to this year I, Canadian born, and raised in Connecticut from ages 6-18 by Canadians with frequent returns to my entire extended family in Canada, found the Canadians that I encountered in Canada to be…not like Americans. For starters, they confirmed the oft-repeated stereotype by being refreshingly polite–if more the “arm’s length”- formal kind of politeness.
But does this type of “politeness” extend so far for some Canadians who hold a decisive opinion about a matter such as the fireworks but chose to pretend the issue does not exist? And is it at it’s base due to fear!?! Is there a fear among Ontarians that they will be perceived as impolite to speak up when they feel a large wrong needs righting?
I don’t know. I really hope not.
I always had a sort of idealized notion of what a Canadian is/was. But growing up, I was always steered in the direction of not talking about things that might make other people uncomfortable–even if said thing needed to be addressed–so for better or worse, here goes.
About five years ago a neighbour on Maple Lake, a year-rounder I believe, began setting off fireworks every single weekend of the summer. (This is not a precise accounting. I simply know that no matter when I went to the Lake, from the last weekend in May when we opened through Labour Day when we close, it was and has been the case.)
I hoped it was a passing phase as the fireworks startled me and scared the daylights out of my dog–and they destroyed the peacefulness that used to be indigenous to our little lake which is dotted with year-round personal residences and cottages.
The setting off of fireworks phase has not passed, however. I’ve realized belatedly that it is not just a band of folks on Maple Lake that have gone ga-ga over something that I’ve always thought very American. To embrace the crassness of setting off fireworks whenever and wherever you please, for there can be no other way to describe their intrusiveness when they go off unexpectedly near your home, is to ignore the specialness of setting them off one or two nights a YEAR.
So to everyone who still insists that setting fireworks off every weekend of the summer is special–as well as your “right,” as someone who has grown up with the American traditions involving fireworks let me tell you: You are acting like a bunch of Americans.
You are Canada. You will never be the United States nor do you want to be, trust me on this. Let’s just cite one reason: preserving your national identity as Canadians. Both countries have much to laud but they are separate, distinct entities unique unto themselves.
Let me reiterate the very real ramifications of Uncontrolled Use of Fireworks on Maple Lake and other lakes in cottage county:
1. Fireworks increase the potential of fires
2. Noise pollution and the consequences (e.g. loons leaving, tourists leaving)
3. Toxicity to the air, water, and surrounding grounds***
*Let me expound a bit about the toxicity of fireworks. They get shot off mostly over the lakes. Unlike how it may appear, they do not just explode. The reality is that the exploded debris falls into the water, along with the chemical residue. Yes, this is bad for the ecosystem and even if you don’t really care about the ecosystem and shame on you if you don’t–you are poisoning your own water.
Whatever you dump on the ground near a lake seeps into the water table eventually and then it gets into your water–your swimming water and in the case of our cottage, our tap & shower water. This dovetails into #4…
4. Interfering with wildlife habitats.
First-hand story. Last year I spent about a month living on Maple Lake. Despite the rainy and seasonally cold weather of the summer of 2009 on Maple Lake, I could hear and sometimes see a pair of loons that have taken up residence on the Lake each summer for as long as I can recall. Their haunting calls are unmistakable and for me, comforting that some things don’t change (though I wouldn’t know if the specific pairs of loons changed–I would guess they’d have had to)–you can count on them. Or so I thought.
I’m soon heading up to Maple Lake and I’m going to try to find a second loon on our lake because instead of the minimum 2 that I’ve seen every year for as long as I can remember–I’ve only heard the sound of a single, solitary loon in 2010.
Did my neighbour and his regular weekend fireworks frenzy drive away one of Maple Lake’s loons and if so, are we going to lose the single remaining loon, too?
I’m not at all an expert about loons. I just know they bring me stolen moments of serenity. Loons are beautiful creatures to behold as they duck under the water and resurface 100 or more feet away in their elaborate “game” of try-to-find-me.
What I can say with confidence are the facts as I’ve observed them.
I have a neighbour across the way who every weekend of the summer at about 9:30 p.m. sets off about 20 minutes-worth of fireworks. He (I presume it’s a “he”) scares my older dog out of her senses. She quivers & shakes both during the noise assault and long after. The noise kills the atmosphere of peacefulness that Maple Lake always exuded. I’ve now read that this is a problem for other lakes in cottage country and the fallout (no pun) is remarkably similar to our own.
Naturally, the question of what have I done to try to solve this problem ? is a relevant one. I’ve worried and complained about it as I’m doing here for the first time but have I addressed this with the people setting off the fireworks? The answer is no, I have not. I was hoping the novelty would wear off but of course, it hasn’t or I wouldn’t be speaking up now. Now I do want to try and have courteous conversation with them but I cannot figure out where exactly they live. It is somewhere in here:
Area of Fireworks Activity on Maple Lake
Please click to enlarge.
As you can see by the named roads this is a densely populated area of Maple Lake and it’s going to take some sleuthing to find out “who” is shooting off fireworks on their property out over out lake every. single. weekend. Not to mention to do the sleuthing I’m going to need to either go to the site of the fireworks by canoe or trespass on “private property.”
Even here in the U.S. of A. in the great state of Illinois (absolutely no sarcasm–I love where I live) there are much stricter limits on the type of fireworks that can be bought legally. For us, it’s sparklers and poppers essentially but then, we do a very American thing. On and around Independence Day a/k/a The Fourth of July, towns and cities alike put on displays for everyone to enjoy. They have a distinct beginning and end, are controlled for safety and someone cleans up afterward. Not perfect but way more in-line with something I used to think was a standard Canadian trait: civility and respect for one another and the environment.
I do believe that both countries share in the desire to put a halt to unnecessary pollution of our precious natural surroundings. Surely banning unregulated use of fireworks in cottage country, Haliburton County specifically, is unquestionably a positive step that we, as stewards of this planet, should not hesitate to take.
Am I going to continue to be the “misdirected” polite Canadian and ignore what is being done to Maple Lake in the name of a (very) few people’s need to entertain themselves with exploding gunpowder? Nope. Can’t do it anymore. I love the Lake too much. And I’m not walking away. I’m digging in. (On a personal note, it was harder to attempt to do so this year as my youngest son was preparing for college and I was needed back here in Chicagoland.)
I’m willing to meet halfway in my suggestion for a remedy as is so often the end result of circumstances like this. If I made the law, I would allow use of fireworks on specific holidays like the July 1st Canada Day, Victoria Day on May 24 and quite possibly both the civic holiday on the 1st Monday in August and on Labour Day. The rest of the time I’d allow small “personal” fireworks like sparklers & poppers that will neither drive away our wildlife or our human residents and vacationers alike who would prefer to enjoy their evening without the punctuations of those that wish to emulate bombs exploding.
I’d love to hear any sincere comments, ideas or suggestions from you about on fireworks in Ontario’s cottage country so use the comment box or please drop me a line at maplelakeontario@gmail.com.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Woodrow Wilson. All opinions are 100% mine.
The shortage of qualified individuals to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics has been an unfortunate situation for some time now. Those that can least afford it–students who live in rural and high-need schools are being hit hardest by this shortage. The United States is the most powerful country in the world and yet, we are failing many of our children when we cannot offer them qualified teachers in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, or math).
For these reasons The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowships seeks to recruit, prepare and retain effective teachers for the students and schools who need them most.
The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship provides recent college graduates and career changers in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, or math) with a $30,000 stipend to complete an intensive master’s degree program at one of fourteen participating universities.
Some of the basic qualifications to be a seriously-considered candidate for the scholarship include these three:
- You must have completed your undergraduate degree (e.g. a B.S.) in a STEM field by June, 2011.
- You must have graduated with a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average.
- Finally, you need to honestly commit yourself to the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Program as well as it’s core goals.
Several facets of being a of Woodrow Wilson Fellow include completing a field-based master’s degree in teacher education and making a commitment to teach for a minimum of three (3) years in a high-need school while receiving intensive support and mentoring in your classroom.
Please click on this link: www.wwteachingfellowship.org to learn more about this outstanding opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many and to fill out an application so you may get started on that path.
IMPORTANT! Don’t delay! You need to apply now in order to meet the September 1 deadline.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ashworth College. All opinions are 100% mine.
One thing in life that we can all count on–no matter who we are– is change.
When you are a parent not only do you have your own changes to manage but those of your children. Though the roles of mother and father used to be very clearly defined and quite different, as we’ve moved into the 21st century the roles they play overlap as we adapt to the ultrafast-paced lives many of us lead.
However, a parent who is staying home raising a child or children has a time-honoured responsibility that has basic requirements that do not change.
It is of course your choice how you find the time do so but it may be more a need for you to prepare for the day when your child grows a bit more independent and you seek to increase your marketability that may have been on the back burner whilst you attended to parenting.
I can vouch for the fact after having two of my own that children do not grow up overnight. I can also speak to the vast challenge it is to juggle being a parent, a wage earner and a full-time student. I did all of my “non-traditional” student leaning in a brick and mortar university but that was before getting an Online degree became easy, affordable, and the cherry-on-top– as close as my personal home computer.
I am currently closely examining the cost of university as one of my children –now age 17–is beginning college in the fall. You probably know that the cost of education has skyrocketed to ridiculous levels, locking out students that would have sought higher education. With the financial circumstances of raising children this has been especially hard on folks who were on a tight budget to begin with.
Distance education is a mom-and-family-friendly path you can take to help you get the education you’ve may have always wanted or perhaps you realize you truly need. It’s flexible, affordable, and is as close as your nearest computer.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.
The Hampton Inns are running a sweepstakes in which the grand prize winner in going to have to make one of those rare life choices: Which 100 of my friends shall I invite for a FREE weekend at any Hampton Inn? (And if I do win the grand prize I will not worry a whit about the hotel taxes because I’ll be awarded $5000 to help pay the tax for the weekend!)
I’ll be quite forthright. I don’t have 100 friends that I see face-to-face but I’ll bet I could get 100 Internet buddies rounded up! That would be my first inclination. However, in-line with how many people feel that due to our ever-changing lifestyle more folks are considering family as friends (you’ve heard expressions like “My mom is my best friend” and the like) I might just invite every relative and FoR ( friend of relative) that I could contact.
Years ago, my grandmother made sure that my extended family got together for ginormous family reunions. Unfortunately times change, people leave us and traditions fall by the wayside. But one thing that hasn’t changed is that we all enjoy good food, great company and fun times shared so I think then that I’d invite friends yes, but family too–even family I’ve not ever met but know of and we’d meet up at the Hampton Inn in Barrie, Ontario for the weekend. I really love Barrie, Ontario as I’ve watched the lovely city on Lake Simcoe grow before my eyes as I frequently stop over on my way to our cottage which is north of there.
The Barrie downtown has one of the most scenic waterfronts in Ontario–Lake Simcoe,whichfor me is a must-visit. Barrie downtown has quite a number of exceptional restaurants and unique shops too as well as an outdoor farmer’s market. This area depicts turn of the century Ontario architecture, and many of the buildings have been restored to their original state which evokes a charming, small-town atmosphere. A portion of Barrie’s history can be viewed through the Ontario Historical Association Plaques if you want to dig more deeply into the city’s roots. The family aspect of the “100 friends” might particularly enjoy this because we have roots in the not-too distant area.
This is one side of Barrie, but the flip side is the highly-charged outdoor sporting opportunities and a vibrant nightlife offering a taste of excitement and fun-filled adventures for anyone wishing to partake of them. With 100 people to keep busy, Barrie seems to me the ideal locale to enjoy my Grand Prize from Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes.
So what are you waiting for? Wouldn’t you dig a weekend away with 100 of your closest friends? Want a few more details that make this getaway sweepstakes even more enticing? Alrighty!
There is no purchase required.
The contest is quite inclusive about who can enter. Eligible folks include residents of the 50 US States, Washington, D.C., Canada (excluding Quebec), the United Kingdom and Mexico!
The contest is currently underway and I’d urge you to enter NOW but the official last moment to do so is at 11:59pm CT on 9/4/10.
Oh yes, one more thing that is awesome about the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes: The sweepstakes is open to everyone! You don’t have to be a Hilton Honors member. You don’t even have to have previously stayed at a Hampton though I daresay once you do you will be likely to do so again.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Lunchables. All opinions are 100% mine.
My best memories of my son’s grammar school years are when we went on field trips with the school together. Whether it was a local symphony or the Chicago Symphony, an architectural boat cruise down the Chicago River or a biology field trip to preserved prairie-land, these trips held great meaning for me personally as a shared scholastic experience with my children.
More importantly though was what the kids gained from the experiences. A field trip is a unique, beyond-the-classroom immersion into real-life situations that would otherwise not be experienced. The depth of meaning, the level of comprehension, the enjoyments of “these up close and personal” activities all serve to pull the children into the experience like no textbook can. Further, an immersive group experience can sometimes be the light that flips the switch of true comprehension about a particular idea, place or thing(s).
To my great disappointment, with my younger son, field trip activities began to appear less and less until they simply were non-existent. The reason cited was a simple one: not enough money in the school budget for anything “extra.” As a mother this really broke my heart, not only for my son but for all children who might never otherwise experience some of the wonders beyond the classroom.
I’m very happy to be able to talk today about Field Trips For All which is the first effort from the folks at Lunchables as part of their new initiative called “Project Potential.”
Project Potential is an effort to literally help kids reach their life enrichment potential that otherwise they might not ever get a chance to do.
This is enormously important because field trip elimination is affecting scores of school districts across the spectrum. Huge numbers of school districts which are grappling with tight school funds/budgets that just don’t stretch far enough for anything “extra” are cutting out fieled trips all together.
There is some hope on the horizon with the very good news that Lunchables is aware of this dilemma and is taking action to address it by encouraging, as I am doing as well right now, anyone over the age of 6 to nominate a deserving classroom by clicking over to http://www.lunchables.com/potential/ and submitting a nomination for that classroom to receive a worthwhile, outside-of-the-classroom enrichment experience.
I’m sure without too much thinking you yourself can think of a deserving classroom to be nominated to be one of 50 lucky classrooms who will be selected to go on an inspiring, educational field trip and quite possibly have an experience that will be cherished for years to come.
Why not talk this contest up? There’s only gain to be had and speaking for myself it is very easy to think of some great classrooms with fantastic teachers and kids who deserve the nomination.
The more that word of this contest gets around the more classrooms will have a chance to be one of the 50 winners–so go ahead and drop a comment here about who you nominated and a bit about why you nominated them! Who do you think this educational prize should go to? I’m picking Mrs. Parr’s class at Hunting Ridge school in Palatine, Illinois because they are the greatest bunch of kids ever and because she is the most dedicated, motivated, committed teacher I may ever have met.
EDIT/One of the things that is so wonderful about Haliburton County is the people who live and work there! I have a new post to write but suffice at the moment to say that I was WRONG,WRONG,WRONG, about Internet access and I will be updating with the correct info. later this weekend.
Scenes like this one I found today make me long to return to Maple Lake. Unfortunately besides it being ridiculously early to head up there, I have a huge logistical problem– again it is the Internet–lack of it specifically. In case you’ve actually been reading this blog’s personal posts, especially early on, I whinged about lack of Internet access other than the ridiculously expensive alternative–”High Definition Satellite Receiver (service).” Buying that was the only way to be able to be at the cottage and work. Beyond that, we could watch videos, play games, stream music and so forth by paying through the nose. The weather last summer was truly putrid and one begins bouncing off walls without diversion (and yes, we did play cribbage and Uno). The Internet saved our sanity.
It cost $400 CDN for the install (it was dollar to dollar at the time). To have fast enough Internet to watch video/stream music, etc. we needed a “plus” type package which was $65 CDN a month. Did I mention the two-year contract? No “cottager’s special” for us. Long story short, the work aspect mixed with the shitty weather aspect mixed with some atrocious behaviour by “guests”-not-mine regarding my (father’s) property, really made it “not worth” having a satellite receiver. Our contract is up at the end of this month and so, as part-time cottagers, what are our choices?
I had high hopes for “the stick” as folks had been calling it but upon investigation into this Bell Canada offering I found 1. COST: $180 CDN install 2. 1-year mandatory contract 3. Mandatory rental of Bell-compatible modem–you can use your own but you’ll still be charged(!) and of course, the need for the stick–the least of all this.
Again, I’m looking at the cost vs. benefit and there’s no way to justify the cost of “the stick” and may I say a 1-year-contract is a great way for Bell Canada to stick it to the non-year-rounders?
So bluntly put, right now I’m pretty screwed. I realize Canada may think that those of us that use the Internet in as essential a way as land-line phones used to be, may think us strange–but you’ll catch up–or not. I really don’t care. I just want and need to have Internet if I’m to be gone anywhere for weeks at a time.
Right now I cannot get a good idea on Internet services for short-term use (less than a month per year) in Haliburton County. If I can’t, I can’t go to the cottage–it is as simple as that. I’ll keep my “big American” dollars here and Haliburton County will lose one more “tourist family’s” spendings. Wonderful.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.
I now live in Illinois which borders Missouri but when I was a teenager I drove in my VW camper van cross country. I was moving actually to southern California but as is my attitude still, if you are going to be in proximity of somewhere special try to go there too. Also because of Route 66 mid-20th Century vibe, I opted, when mapping my route pre-journey to make sure I drove some long strips of Route 66 as I drove west. I had 10 days to take in as much as I could of the country. My first-time trip through Missouri was cool in that we were following the rich-in-history-old Ozark Trail Systems that are somewhat in line with Rte. 66 and of course, the sad monument to long-ago practices, the Cherokee Trail of Tears. We made a stop at the well-known Meramec Caverns as well, as they are not far from the Stanton area of Route 66. I remember Missouri very well. There is just such a varied number of activities –so I’ve been back since– a number of times. I’d love to go to Branson–especially this time of year–I just need to have a distant relative leave me an inheritance as I would fully take advantage of the the fun Branson has to offer. I define fun many ways so I’ll mention just a few to be had in Branson.
Branson is an Ozark resort town which focuses on its wholesome country, pop music and family entertainment roots. Branson is a Midwest gem, the entertainment capital.
Two outstanding establishments for the non-entertainment hours depending on your needs and wants are the
Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center. They are situated right in the heart of the “entertainment capital of the Midwest,” so they are able to offer much more than just a place to stay. Consider if you would, these ideas!
Here are some specifics pertaining to activities for Spring 2010 in Branson:
Branson also has ongoing events like the 14th annual Branson Tri-Lakes Building and Home Show, NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament, Branson’s Best Boat and Recreation Show, Silver Dollar City’s Family Spring Break Day and the memorable Young Christian’s Weekend; not to mention a series of amazing concerts on the Branson Landing including shows from 65 South, Colgate Country Showdown with KHOZ 102.9, EXILE, The Nashvegas All Stars, and David Letterman Stupid Human & Pet Trick Auditions!
Both Hilton hotels are within easy driving distance of Branson’s championship golf courses, lakes, museums, theme parks and 49 live entertainment theaters.
For me spa treatment with the one I love would be just the ticket.
I’d book the Romance Package at theHilton Branson Convention Centerwhich promises to wash my worries away with a relaxing spa treatment. Perhaps I’ll take two.
This relax and recharge package includes deluxe, overnight accommodations at the hotel, a full breakfast for two and the complete awesomeness of a spa treatment for two.
Mmm. Doesn’t that sound really nice?
In addition to what you can enjoy in the proximity of the Hiltons there is much more to enjoy and it is a short drive to do so.
Packages for the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel come for every taste and include Hilton’s Bed & Breakfast Package, Romance Package, and Hilton Requests Upon Arrival™ to name but a few.
Be sure to click one of the above links to see and read more about all the great things waiting for you in Branson.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Cryo-Cell International. All opinions are 100% mine.
If you have been considering banking your newborn’s umbilical cord blood I think that some recent very unfortunate events in the world and how Cryo-Cell is responding to them may hold great interest for you.
Cord blood, or umbilical cord blood, is blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta at the time of birth. In years past it was standard practice to dispose of them following delivery. However scientific research discovered that cord blood is a rich source of stem cells making umbilical cord blood a usable substitute to bone marrow in thousands of successful transplants. Cells taken from your newborn are a perfect match for your child throughout his or her entire life!
As you probably know, our neighbour Haiti, which geographically is part of North America and only one hour away from the United States by air, experienced a devastating earthquake in January 2010. The city of Port-au-Prince was nearly leveled with tens of thousands dying and injured. They need help now in rebuilding and resuming a semblance of a normal life again but children are especially vulnerable in the meantime.
If you have been seriously thinking about storing your baby’s cord blood this may help in that decision.
February is the shortest month of the year so time is short for you, throughout the month of February to make a difference in the lives of Haiti’s children as Cryo-Cell will donate $25 to the “Save the Children: Haiti Relief Fund” when you enroll now.
It’s smart when making a not-insignificant choice like this to do your homework–to find out all you can– before making this choice. It may help to know that Cryo-Cell is at the forefront of the cord blood banking industry having worked with tens of thousands of clients and most importantly in my opinion, Cryo-Cell has more accreditation than any other private cord blood bank, anywhere.
Were you aware that thousands of umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants have occurred worldwide in an effort to combat over 75 different diseases? And here is something that astonished me: Cord blood stem cells are 100% match for the infant donor and 1 in 4 match his or her sibling!
As you might know I’m a Canadian national residing in the United States. I’ve done so for a very long time and so am familiar with American’s idea of ‘extreme’ sports. In my mind it is a given that the Canadians–just take a look at a map of Canada to know why I say this–are a hardy lot. Could the Canadian view of what constitutes an extreme sport be slightly different than their southern counterparts?
Reading about some of the winter fun times that folks in one of the mildest areas of Canada (Southern Ontario) take part in–in this case car racing on ICE reminds me that Canadians have no need to prove how hardy they are. Good times people, good times.
Ice racing
Car Racing on Ice
January 23-24 2010
Ice Racing started in Ontario more than forty years ago, and it continues to thrive as an inexpensive, fun part of the Ontario motorsport scene. The events were originally held on frozen lakes and rivers – and some still are – but in the late seventies, the Ontario championships moved to more permanent facilities at the fairgrounds in Minden, Ontario. The track is laid out, then repeatedly coated with water until a thick layer of ice is built up between the snowbanks that delineate the course. The ice race season starts in mid January and runs until early March, usually consisting of six two-day events.
Learn more about this Truly Canadian Motorsport!
Minden Fairgrounds Minden
Contact: Info Centre Tel: 705-286-1777
It’s easy to think of some of the benefits of earning your Masters of Arts degree online. You could save a great deal of time and expense when you factor each time you had to attend classes and go to and from university in the traditional way.
