Wikipedia:Articles for creation/2008-03-03

Critical Practitioner Inquiry - CPI for Students and Teachers of Teacher Education
CRITICAL PRACTITIONER INQUIRY – CPI FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Critical Practitioner Inquiry (CPI) is an approach that has been developed within the critical action research tradition. It started as an integrated part of the post-independence teacher education reform in Namibia and the attempts to brake with the racist apartheid policies in the 1990s. It was based on the educational efforts carried out by supporters to the liberation struggle in Southern Africa, particularly in the refugee camp for Namibians in Angola, called Kwanza-Sul.

In Namibia
CPI became an integrated part of the Basic Education Teacher's Diploma (BETD) programme that replaced the previous programmes in Namibia that were based on racist and ethnic grounds and the South African behaviourist notion of ‘fundamental pedagogy’. CPI is one of the professional themes giving direction to the BETD programme as it is supposed to develop a critical sense towards education and educational development. For that reason, CPI was initially strongly related to the foundation studies in the BETD where the narrow student perspective was supposed to be extended to a broader occupational perspective at an early stage in the programme, before the different aspects of CPI was attended to in connection with further studies in the programme, particularly the studies in Education Theory and Practice (ETP) and School-based Studies (SBS). However, the foundation studies are today replaced by an earlier start of specialised subject studies, which might hinder the creation of an early occupational perspective unless the teacher educators purposefully integrated it in their planned activities. A supportive unit is created at each college, called the Education Development Unit (EDU), where students and their teachers can get access to reference material, computers, production and professional support for their investigations into the conditions for teaching and learning at schools and colleges, even though the role of the EDU differs between the colleges, mainly because of a combination of perceived local needs and educational perspectives.

Students start their inquiries during the first year through the ETP and SBS by looking into the possibilities and constraints related to subject learning in schools. Each BETD student makes an investigation of a specific learning aspect in the student's specialisation (major) subject during the SBS studies. Back at college, the individual inquiries become the resource from which the specialisation studies are started towards the end of the first year in a generative way, replacing the static technocratic approach common in subject studies in Namibia. Considering that each student carries out his/her own guided inquiry creates a knowledge base related to classroom situations in schools, subject related learning aspects, and general educational perspectives addressed in the ETP studies, which continuously expands. These inquiries provide the teacher educators, if they chose to utilize the situation, with an opportunity to create a unique occupational knowledge base of education. Through this introduction to a critical practitioner approach to teacher education it is expected that the BETD students will develop a broad occupational perspective at an early stage in their studies that will be maintained through the continuing CPI studies in the programme.

The CPI activities during the second year of studies are integrated with the broad social conditions for schooling in the ETP studies. This is then linked to practical inquiries during the SBS placements that focus on specific conditions for schooling, such as the different social layers in the surrounding society and its relations to formal schooling, the role of parents, and the ideas that school principals and other administrators in the educational system embrace about the problems and prospects of formal education such as social issues related to school dropout, disengagement, and the clash between schooling as part of the modern society and the needs of rural families, with an attempt to challenge the common sense and taken for granted predispositions and to create a broad situational understanding of the conditions for schooling.

The last year of CPI studies include a major inquiry that has a developmental and action focus. Each student concludes the first CPI cycle by planning, carrying out, analysing, and reporting a piece of development work as part of the final examination of the BETD programme. These reports, that ideally combine the three years of CPI studies, are discussed at the colleges and constitute together with the students’ SBS portfolios, an important documentation of the students’ occupational wisdom developed through the three years of studies and an important resource for the future of the colleges and their own occupational development, for example as a basis for teacher educators own Critical Practitioner Inquiry, even today.

Parallel to the development of CPI in the BETD programme a continuous professional development of teacher educators took place through professional Higher Diploma and Master courses offered to all teacher educators at the colleges in Namibia as well as teachers and school principals at partner schools for the SBS during the first 9 years of the reform. During these first years of the reform efforts a total of 100 educators went through these courses or 40% of the teacher educators at the four colleges. These courses also followed a CPI approach in the sense that the course participants had to select an inquiry topic that was related to their occupational area, meaning that all inquiries were dealing with issues related to education in Namibia, most of them focusing on teacher education as it developed during these years.

In Ethiopia
The CPI approach is developed further through a Master course for teacher educators at different universities in Ethiopia during 2003 – 2005. In addition to being the first time that university lecturers in Ethiopia are asked to systematically start thinking critically about their own practice as teacher educators, the course develops the contextual inquiries of CPI including three contextual aspects of education: (1) analysis of practice with the aim to find out about the basis for this practice, a basis that is often taken for granted. The analysis of practice has both historical, contemporary, and future perspectives as it is related to the officially expressed and actually created dispositional knowledge amongst students, based on questions like “What is the intention, how is it carried out, and for what purpose?”; (2) The official policy context is another important aspect to look into in days of neoliberalism but also historically, especially in countries that have been heavily influenced by foreign hegemonic forces, even though not officially colonised. Such critical inquiries will tell us about the intentions hidden behind the on-going doublespeak and symbolic adaptations; (3) The third leg of contextual inquiries is to develop a scholastic perspective that will assist the practitioners in their inquiries with the aim to move away from cultures of blame and to create a reflective position towards their own practice and broaden the capacity for situational understanding.

With these contextual studies that all along are tested against the practitioners’ practice, they will develop a situational understanding that will guide them in their choice of focal point for their practical intervention. Each course participant reports their critical inquiries to each other and some have even transformed the course report into articles that are published internationally, as a way to make the preferential right of interpretations amongst educational practitioners acknowledges beyond their own ranks, but foremost to create a knowledge base amongst practitioners that will develop their own situational understandings.

For the present and the future
In present times when all nation states and educational systems seem to be locked into the global neoliberal matrix of external surveillance as part of a new managerial agenda, discourses of competition as perceived guarantee for quality, and human beings portrayed as consumers of own choices under the discursive images created by the corporate and political spin industry, it becomes even more necessary to maintain a critical sense to avoid being totally manipulated by external forces. Critical Practitioner Inquiry can play a significant role in teacher education and amongst teacher educators as a way to maintain the occupational control over practices and programmes as well as over our own minds, thoughts, and collective understanding.

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 * 1) REDIRECT VTun

Mont Blanc Patron of Art Limited Editions
Mont Blanc started the Patron of Art limited edition series in 1992. The first one was the Lorenzo de Medici. Almost all pens in this series of limited editions have a 4810 and 888 limitation. These two variations differ only in materials used. In form, they are usually identical. The 888 version usually has precious gems or metals that justifies the higher price point compared to the 4810 version. The Patron of Art Series complements the Writer's Series which started the same year. The Patron of Art limited editions are in general more desirable than the Writer's series due to lower production numbers and non resin based pens.

Patrick
Personal (and other irrelevant) information, attack removed.

Cure for AIDS?
AIDS we all know the horrible outcome of it, so why not try to spend more time on fixing it. Well I have an idea for every scientist, doctor, or whatever, try taking the blood samples from somebody with AIDS and put it into a rat when you start to see the rat acting as if it has the AIDS time it to see how long it takes it to die. After that take another lab rat and do the same thing except this time when you see the rat reacting test a few solutions to see which one makes the rats live longer. Once you've done that take the solution that helped the rat stay alive longer and start to use other solutions in it to improve its affevtiveness. After all this is done start testing on bigger animals or things and keep writing down EVERYTHING that you see when testing don't just write important things down because sometimes the little things are most important in the end.

Sun Prince
Sun Prince has been a motivational speaker, tv talk show host, spiritual advisor for many years and the registered owner of Tel-i-Vision Universal. He is considered to be one of the wisest motivational speakers of all time. He is the writer of several inspirational books, mainly, The Book Of I Haves. He is written, produced, directed and edited serveral digital Screenplays, movies, mainly Real Obsessions, The Seventh Seal, etc and produced and hosted several Tv Shows: H2:Helping Hands and Sun Prince Raw & Uncut ( for Comcast, now Time Warner Cable)

Sun Prince
Sun Prince has been a motivational speaker, tv talk show host, spiritual advisor for many years and the registered owner of Tel-i-Vision Universal. He is considered to be one of the wisest motivational speakers of all time. He is the writer of several inspirational books, mainly, The Book Of I Haves. He is written, produced, directed and edited serveral digital Screenplays, movies, mainly Real Obsessions, The Seventh Seal, etc and produced and hosted several Tv Shows: H2:Helping Hands and Sun Prince Raw & Uncut ( for Comcast, now Time Warner Cable). He also created several photgraphic posters and paintings: The First Supper, Genesis:The First, The First Father

João de Castilho
http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%A3o_de_Castilho

Tragic Heroes or Just Heroes in most western translations
1989 film directed by John Woo and Ma Wu. The film follow the reshuffling of power within the Hong Kong triad following the assasination of thier leader.

Plot
Danny Lee stars as a low level traid member pulled into the viaing for leadership of the Hong Kong Triad. As the inside man who allowed the assasination of the former leader cannot be found, yet his confession of guilt is phoned to the triad's headquaters, none or the potential leaders want to be the first to start accusing. Stephen Chow attempts to begin provoke a gang battle between two triad sects, leads only to the death of an innocent policeman, and add fuel to the situation. Different potential leaders begin asserting their power to gain respect, with the ever preasent threat of a traiter, fights breakout within the ranks of the triad. The tension peaks as the traiter storms the triad safe house in a desperate attempt to impress his own authority, leading to another classic John Woo heroic bloodshed finali.

trivia
this is one of the numberouse hong kong films are rumers to be funded for by the mafia in an attempt to recruit new members. However it is of note that this film focuses on the loss and pain caused within the triad by death and dissregare for honour and respect for elders.

this film, as well as many others of John Woo's collection contained a vail of cloth ignights with the only explanation being that it was shot.

Within the conclusion of the film, a character makes referance to the resterant scene in "a better tomorrow", a eariler film of John Woo's, by placing guns in plant pots and vases.

States
Rated: R (US)

Tragic Heroes or Just Heroes
A 1989 gangster film, staring Danny Lee, David Chiang and Show Sing Chi, directed by John Woo and Ma Wu.

Plot
Following the death of a triad leader, there is conflict within the Hong Kong organised crime syndicate as various possible leaders via for power. David Chiang attempts to bring the traiter in the midst of his own group to justice following a taped conversation of traitor admitting his crimes, but who cannot be found, while Danny Lee, the elected leader of the triad has his family attacked as he fights unknown enemies to bring the organisation back under control. Their actions are hindered by Chow Sing Chi who is attempting to built up anger between the two completing triad’s of Hong Kong. The film is brought to a classic John Woo heroic bloodshed conclusion as the traitor leader of the group storms the triad safe house in a desperate attempt to gain control over the group, but is met by heavy resistance.

States
Rating: R (US)	18 (UK) Running Time: 93 Min The film grossed: 7.913 M. HK$ Directed by: John Woo & Ma Wu Written by: Tommy Hau & Kuang Nieh Music: Romeo Diaz & James Wong Movie Company: Magnum Films

Trivia
Although roomered to have been one of the many films financed by the mafia for recruiting new members, this film contained themes such as the horror of death, and respect for tradition and elders.

Within this film, as with many other John Woo films, there is a scene containing a curtain which has ignited from being shot.

During the conclusion of the film a character refers to “a better tomorrow”, a previouse John Woo film, by placing handguns in flower pots and behind vases. Strangely most of these guns did not contain any bullets when fired.

Tragic Heroes or Just Heroes
A 1989 gangster film, staring Danny Lee, David Chiang and Show Sing Chi, directed by John Woo and Ma Wu.

Plot
Following the death of a triad leader, there is conflict within the Hong Kong organised crime syndicate as various possible leaders via for power. David Chiang attempts to bring the traiter in the midst of his own group to justice following a taped conversation of traitor admitting his crimes, but who cannot be found, while Danny Lee, the elected leader of the triad has his family attacked as he fights unknown enemies to bring the organisation back under control. Their actions are hindered by Chow Sing Chi who is attempting to built up anger between the two completing triad’s of Hong Kong. The film is brought to a classic John Woo heroic bloodshed conclusion as the traitor leader of the group storms the triad safe house in a desperate attempt to gain control over the group, but is met by heavy resistance.

States
Rating: R (US)	18 (UK) Running Time: 93 Min The film grossed: 7.913 M. HK$ Directed by: John Woo & Ma Wu Written by: Tommy Hau & Kuang Nieh Music: Romeo Diaz & James Wong Movie Company: Magnum Films

Trivia
Although roomered to have been one of the many films financed by the mafia for recruiting new members, this film contained themes such as the horror of death, and respect for tradition and elders.

Within this film, as with many other John Woo films, there is a scene containing a curtain which has ignited from being shot.

During the conclusion of the film a character refers to “a better tomorrow”, a previouse John Woo film, by placing handguns in flower pots and behind vases. Strangely most of these guns did not contain any bullets when fired.

Elk Farming
Elk farming is an agricultural industry for the production of elk as livestock or for the sport of hunting. Elk have a variety of uses. The velvet antler or, the antler in the premature stages or growth, has been found useful in medicinal purposes; as well as the venison industry. All of these markets are rising in popularity thus causing an increase in the breeding industry. Other species of similar type are farmed in the same way such as deer, moose, and red stag.

History
Elk have been farmed for thousands of years throughout the world. There are records of elk being farmed in Asian and the Mediterranean countries before the birth of Christ. Until the 1960’s elk farming was localized to zoos and a few remote elk hunting resorts. Since then it has been constantly escalating. Some of the first commercial farmers in the United Sates obtained wildlife from the wild with permits, or they were purchased from zoos. Today there are more than 1000 elk ranches with over 120,000 animals in the United States.

New Zealand has one of the most thriving markets for elk, red deer, and a red deer-elk hybrid. New Zealand’s business is thriving with the production of meat and velvet. With the demand of venison, a large amount of the product is shipped to Europe for consumption. The demand for local meat production has also been on a constant rise.

Livestock
The elk farming market is relatively new to the United States. In its early stages, the breeding stock has become of high value. The same standard pertains to the production of elk as cattle, the bigger the better. In 1990 The North American Elk Breeders Association (NAEBA) was formed. NAEBA has set up rules and regulations for breed purity and strength, ownership, and marketing. They help the industry to continually increase in production and quality of animal.

Elk do not need the close care that it takes to raise cattle. This is because of the strong, hardy nature of the animal. They will eat just about anything they can find, ranging from grass, shrubs, weeds, and even tree bark. The most common feeds are alfalfa and grain.

In an area suitable to hold one beef cow, 2 to 3 elk maybe be kept comfortably. Elk may eat 2 to 3 percent of their body weight daily. On average a cow elk, the female, has a live weight of 450 to 650 pounds. The bulls are much larger weighing from 800 to 1000 pounds. Elk need an increase of nutrients so that they can produce better products. For example, before and during breeding, while the antler is growing so they it will produce a larger amount of velvet, and after calving.

The facilities that hold elk are very different than those of cattle. The fence is made of high tensile wire, which provides strength and durability, which should be at least 8 feet high. The area should provide a large grazing area along with a fresh water supply and shelter. It is recommended that a strand of barbed wire be stretch at ground level to keep predators out and calves in. A strand of electrified wire is another great option, placed slightly above ground level.

Breeding
Elk breed from early September through November. This period is called the rut. A cow will give birth after a 250-day gestation. The calves are carried throughout the winter. Therefor it is necessary that they are well fed and receive the needed nutrients during this period. If they are well taken care of, the elk will have up to a 95% pregnancy rate. Calves are born from May through July. Cow elk can begin to breed after 18 months, but bulls should wait to mature for two to three years. A cow elk can breed for more than 15 years effectively. The estrus cycle is about 21 days. A bull may breed as many as 20 cows in a season.

It has become a very common practice amongst elk breeders to use artificial insemination (AI). AI provides a method of gaining genetic superiority of the male. A bull with large antlers will pass that trait onto his offspring. For this purpose the semen is bought and the cow is bred artificially with the hope that the young will receive that genetic trait. Through AI and semen preservation, a sire can continue to produce offspring even after he is dead or his health has declined.

Products
Velvet antler, the antler in the premature growing stages, is the main product derived from mature bull elk. In the second year of a bull elk life the antler begins to grow and continues to do so every year after that. The velvet is harvested while in the late stages of growth, just before it starts to turn into antler. That is when it calcifies and becomes hard like bone. A mature bull will produce 20 pounds or more of velvet annually. The current record is about 50 pounds in North America.

Velvet antler is tissue that is living and growing rapidly. It can grow up to one half pound a day. Because it is living, the velvet must be removed surgically. Like in any operation precautionary measures are taken to ensure the humanity and safety of the animal. Once cut, the velvet is then frozen and shipped to the manufacturer where it is then made into a consumable substance. Recent studies have shown that velvet contains large amounts of minerals with natural anti-inflammatory agents.

Venison
There is a growing demand for elk meat around the world. This meat is most commonly known for the tastiness along with the health benefits. Elk meat offers the best of both worlds, it is very low in fat, cholesterol, and calories-- but is very high in protein and other nutrients that our bodies need. Due to the healthy nature of this meat the industry has really started to boom. The consumption of venison has been on an increase of about 30% annually. This has been caused partially from a recent scare of disease infested animals. Therefore the price of venison has been on a constant decrease. The value of each animal has decreased thus causing an increase in the amount of animals used for slaughter.

Jon Bolen
Jon Bolen is an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder who competes in Northeastern independent promotions including the International Wrestling Cartel and the National Wrestling Alliance. Best known for winning the "Gut Check Challenge" in 2004, he had a brief stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling before being signed to a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment and assigned to its developmental territories Ohio Valley Wrestling and Deep South Wrestling. While in Ohio Valley Wrestling, he was one half of High Dosage with "Silverback" Ryan Reeves.

Early life and career
Born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Bolen became involved in weightlifting and football as a teenager. Attending California University of Pennsylvania, Bolen played football as a two-time All-Conference and All-American nose guard and two-time defensive captain. Although tearing three ligaments in his knee breaking his tibula and fibula, he spent only a year in rehab and continued playing during his senior year completing the season without missing a single game.

After graduation, he continued bodybuilding and eventually set a state bench record in the 275 lbs. weight class at 630 lbs. At a state power lifting meet, he attempted to qualify for the Arnold Classic by benching 700 lbs. Although coming two inches of locking out the qualifying limit, he did manage to break his own record at 670 lbs. During the meet, he met former Gold's Gym Venice owner Ed Conners who had happened to be in town that evening to attend a bodybuilding show. During this meeting, Conners encouraged Bolen to participate in the "Gut Check Challenge", a talent recruitment event organized by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in conjunction with TrimSpa as part of the Show of Strength Pro Championship weekend. Bolen accepted Conners' offer to fly him to Atlanta, Georgia and eventually won the "Gut Check Challenge" on October 16, 2004. The event saw entrants rated on the basis of their performance in five categories: "back bump", "mat techniques", "ring interviews", "running the ropes" and "squat challenge". The male and female events were won by Bolen and Jaime Dauncey respectively, with Bolen and Dauncey rewarded with a $4,000 USD cash prize and a subsequent appearance on TNA programming. During the next two months, he trained under Scott D'Amore for three hours a day and five days a week and began appearing at house shows after an 8-week period.

Bolen appeared several times in TNA during 2005, including an appearance at TNA Turning Point in which he teamed with Buck Quartermain & Joe Doering in a 6-man tag team match against Lance Hoyt & The Naturals on December 11, however he was used mainly as a preliminary wrestler during his later appearances with the promotion.

Ohio Valley Wrestling & Deep South Wrestling
Appearing on the undercard of the final episode of WWE Velocity, he and Sterling James Keenan had a WWE tryout match losing to Kid Kash & Jamie Noble. Bolen eventually signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment in July 2006 and assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling, a WWE developmental territory based in Louisville, Kentucky. On July 27, Bolen made his OVW debut losing to Elijah Burke at a house show. Two days later at an event at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, he teamed with Aaron Stevens, Rod Steel & Eddie Craven in an 8-man tag team match losing to Chet the Jet, Brent Albright, Cody Runnels and Shawn Osborne. On August 11, he participated in a 15-man battle royal which included Shawn Osborne, Elijah Burke, Eddie Craven III, Pat Buck, Mike Kruel, Shad Gaspard, Lennox Lightfoot, Ranger Milton, Neighborhoodie, Johnny Punch, Seth Skyfire, Rod Steele, Jack Bull, Los Locos (Ramón and Raúl) and The Untouchables (Deuce Shade & Dice Domino).

In September, Bolen teamed with Ryan Reeves as one half of the tag team High Dosage. Although the team met with success in the tag team division, the team lasted only a few months until Ryan's release from OVW on January 19, 2007.

On January 20, Bolen teamed up with Katie Lea to defeat Domino and Cherry in a mixed tag team match in Hillview, Kentucky. He would again team with Katie Lea in a handicap mixed tag team match against Cherry & Deuce N' Domino on January 24. The following night, he and Ariel defeated Idol Stevens & Beth Phoenix. Bolen would remain in OVW only a brief time before his final television appearance in the promotion teaming with T.J. Dalton against Charles "The Hammer" Evans & Justin "The Ox" LaRoche on January 31.

By mid-February, Bolen appeared in Deep South Wrestling teaming with Shawn Osborne in a losing effort against Freakin' Deacon & G-Rilla on February 15. Defeating Heath Miller in a dark match several days later, Bolen continued to team with Osborne although the two were less then successful. On March 16, he also lost to Kofi Kingston at a DSW event in Atlanta, Georgia. In his final appearance teaming with Shawn Osborne to defeat Robert Anthony & Johnny Curtis at the DSW Arena in McDonough, Georgia on April 5, WWE.com announced Bolen's release the following day.

Recent years
During the summer, he made his return to the International Wrestling Cartel making a surprise appearance at the supercard Super Indy IV interfering on behalf on former IWC Heavyweight Champion Ricky Reyes who was being attacked by Dennis Gregory and Brent Albright. Although scheduled to face Albright the following month at Summer Sizzler 4: Checkmate, Albright was unable to make the event due to "travel issues" and instead faced Chris Hero who he later defeated.

At 2007 Ellsworth Basebrawl, Bolen was to team with former tag team partner Sterling James Keenan against Unholy Alliance members Brent Albright & Sebastian Dark however Bolen was unable to make it to the event and instead Keenan ended up defeating Albright in an Ellsworth Street Fight.

Championships and accomplishments

 * National Wrestling Alliance
 * Regional
 * NWA Upstate Kayfabe Dojo Championship (1 time)

Joe Runyan
Joe Runyan was born in Oregon and raised in Boise, Idaho. He later moved to Alaska in 1969, where he lived for 25 years. He graduated from Oregon State University in 1970 with a degree in zoology. While living in Alaska, he and his wife, Sherri, commercially fished, raised a family of 4 kids, Zac, Seneca, Zetdi and Zabeth as well as a kennel of sled dogs. During his 25 years in Alaska, he lived either on the Yukon River or on the Tanana River. He began mushing in 1971, with a few dozen huskies, and became interested in the Iditarod while trapping on the Yukon. He recalls listening the news of the '73 Race on a portable radio. Joe later won the Yukon Quest in 1985 and then the Iditarod in 1989, becoming the first musher to have won both the long distance races. He also won the Alpirod, a race consisting of nine stages through the European Alps, giving him the first, and only, triple crown of dog mushing. "But some of my best experiences and memories may have been expeditions on the Yukon River trapping, with legendary woodsman Freddie Jordan, by dog team." Recalls Runyan. After retiring from dog mushing world, Runyan moved to Cliff, N.M. where he currently raises bird dogs, Patterdale Terriers, mules and pigeons. Joe says that his current occupation is "self-unemployed business ventures." He says his hobbies now are animals of all kinds, his wonderful family and exploring new country. He's had fish farms, managed alligator farms, raised mules, horses, sled dogs, homing pigeons, hounds, cattle and bird dogs. Joe Runyan still has a huge influence in the world of dog mushing, he manned the Iditarod coverage for Cabelas, Lands End, and did a substantial amount of televison coverage for local Alaska stations. Joe Runyan is not only a Iditarod icon but an icon for the entire sport of dog mushing! He is a proud father and a man of many interests.