Month: March 2015

MARCH MADNESS is by far my favorite sporting experience, but John Oliver’s brilliant video sketch disrespecting the event caused me to laugh myself into near-respiratory failure!


Every one of my very closest friends is aware of two (not widely known) facts about me: (1) My family and I refer to Easter as Pascha, and (2) My favorite sporting event–the one I live for and illegally gamble upon–is the NCAA Final Four (these days referred to as March Madness). Unfortunately for my spiritual life, I ascribe religious significance to both of these events.

I would never have predicted that I would laugh so incredibly hard as I did watching someone lampoon my beloved sports event so ferociously. I cannnot make a single comment that would contibute in any meaningful way to the video linked below other than: If you have EVER watched the event known as March Madness, YOU MUST WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW!!!!!

The Terry Clarke Daily (Wednesday, March 11, 2015) has been published.


Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to suggest issues for potential articles for the publication. I try diligently to search for current articles on the issues suggested by the readership. Thanks to all who have helped this cross-platform publication to continue to attract and keep new readers! As usual, the link to the current publication is provided below.

Germany interested in friendly relations with Kazakhstan – Peter Hintze


Germany interested in friendly relations with Kazakhstan – Peter Hintze

Source: www.inform.kz

See on Scoop.it – Central Asia

Could US be growing less hateful? Report: Maybe, but racism more hidden – CNN


The number of hate groups in the U.S. remains on the decline for the second year in a row, according to an annual Southern Poverty Law Center report.

Source: edition.cnn.com

This article appears to align closely with what I have recently been told by my friends of color and what I have personally observed as a Human Rights Commissioner. 

Today is International Women’s Day! Celebrate Ladies Worldwide, While Remembering the Millions Victimized and Marginalized.


Today is one of the most important, and frequently ignored, “international” holidays in the world. I am proud that my daughter’s birth country, Kazakhstan (with whom she shares dual citizenship) has made International Women’s Day a national holiday.

On this day, let us pause and give serious thought to the atrocities suffered by millions of women  every minute of every day in our modern, “civilized” world–barbaric acts such as human traffiking, arranged and forced marriages, and group rapes–too often ignored for political reasons by government officials.
Rather than give lip service to this often-overlooked holiday or simply pat ourselves on the back for wishing a female a “Happy Holiday,” why don’t each of us take a pledge, not only to celebrate the many societal contributions by women, but also to take some step, however small, to stamp out the evils that bring great suffering to millions of women throughout the world? I am including below some links to worthwhile organizations whose missions include stopping human trafficking, domestic abuse and other important actions to make the world a safer place for women, as well as websites that describe the atrocities facing women today (WARNING–Some of the descriptions and images are not for the faint of heart.)
In conclusion, please celebrate this wonderful international holiday by showing appreciatin and kindness to the women who have made a difference in your life or the life of someone dear to you, however insignicant, but also do not forget the millios of women victimized and marginalized throughout the world simply because of their gender.

The Stories We Tell


This is an excellent pre-Paschal essay that has as much useful, excellent advice for non-believers as it does for practicing Christians.

Alexander Garoutte's avatarGod In All Things

narrativesI was once told that the stories we tell ourselves determine each and every choice that we make. The narrative we weave about our world, our experience, our character, our nature, and our God all play a part in our decisions. We are embedded in the fabric of our stories.

Some of these stories and their resulting actions are pretty basic: I believe that other drivers will generally stop at a red light so I feel comfortable cautiously proceeding when my light turns green. Some of these stories are much more complex: From the stories I believe about God and the story that I believe about myself, I will choose a job according to how it fits in my vocation story.

Though most of these stories are true enough, some are less so and others even completely faulty. When I was a teenager my narrative led me to believe that people were…

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The Most Important M’s In E-commerce


New technologies have been developing faster than ever before. While mobile commerce continues to grow faster than expected, have you ever wondered, what are the most powerful and valuable online shoppers? Well, it is very possible that you came across with this term already. They are the so-called “Millennials”…

Source: blog.smoolis.com

I typically hate stereotypes of any kind, but this collection of the common traits of “Millenials” was somewhat entertaining.

See on Scoop.it – Education

8 Ways to Engage eLearners [Infographic]


The 8 Ways to Engage eLearners Infographic provides 8 tips that will leave your learners energised and primed to look at your learning in a different light.

Learn more:

– http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?tag=Engage-ME%21

– https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/design-the-learning-of-your-learners-students-ideas/

– https://gustmees.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/practice-21st-century-assessment-flowchart-page2-pdf.pdf

– https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2015/01/28/practice-learning-to-learn-example-2/

– https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/is-your-professional-development-up-to-date/

Source: elearninginfographics.com

Superb graphic of the 8 steps important to engaging e-learners, along with an excellent collection of links providing more tips for the teacher/professor whose course includes distance-learners. I certainly could have used this information my last half dozen years as a Marshall Graduate College professor/lecturer!

See on Scoop.it – Education

Where Have All The Teachers Gone?


Enrollment at teacher training programs is down in many parts of the country, raising fears of a looming teacher shortage.

Source: www.npr.org

Very sad! I may be in the minority, but I believe GOOD teachers are terribly underpaid!

See on Scoop.it – Education