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As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.

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There are other changes as well.

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We go on to the joy and through the tears
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We go on
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To a new day, we go on.

It's time to move on and move forward.

PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.

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So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!

If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.

So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

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Old 08-17-2008, 07:31 PM   #1
lukeandbrookesmom
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Question Olympic Stories

There have been a lot of human interest stories in the Summer Olympics. Which one have you found to be most interesting?
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Old 08-17-2008, 08:15 PM   #2
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Lopez Lomong.

2008 Beijing Summer Olympics | Lopez Lomong Profile & Bio, Photos & Videos | NBC Olympics
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Old 08-17-2008, 11:21 PM   #3
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There have been so many good ones, but I'd probably have to say I feel the most 'connected' with Michael Phelps' story. The mother of a boy with ADHD who was brutally bullied....a disinterested father (although DS' father no longer shows his disinterest because he's deceased)....a child who overcomes the challenges and shines above the rest. It verifies my hope that DS is well on his way to accomplishing his goals!!
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Old 08-18-2008, 01:39 AM   #4
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Wow, so many from over here. I've loved hearing all the stories about our medal winners - there's the kayak silver medallist who didn't even get in a boat until he was 14. There's the cyclist who won gold yesterday who won silver in rowing in Athens, then swapped sports. Then there's Rebecca Adlington, our double gold medallist in swimming, who just went to Beijing for experience for London 2012. As Team GB are now third (third, can you believe it? ) in the medal table, there are a lot of great human interest stories coming out over here from all our medal winners.
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Old 08-18-2008, 09:10 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by DyanKJ130 View Post
There have been so many good ones, but I'd probably have to say I feel the most 'connected' with Michael Phelps' story. The mother of a boy with ADHD who was brutally bullied....a disinterested father (although DS' father no longer shows his disinterest because he's deceased)....a child who overcomes the challenges and shines above the rest. It verifies my hope that DS is well on his way to accomplishing his goals!!
that for me is the best-I can feel his mothers pride!
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Old 08-18-2008, 09:15 PM   #6
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Well the whole Michael Phillips thing is just amazing!!

And the older woman swimmer who did very well!!(Can't remember her name)

The "ugly" little girl who could sing and the "cute" one who couldn't.

Did I mention Michael Phillips??
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Old 08-21-2008, 09:06 PM   #7
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And the older woman swimmer who did very well!!(Can't remember her name)
I think that would be Dara Torres. I was on my feet cheering for her and screaming "Come on Dara, do it for us older chicks!" Five Olympic games and missing gold by 1/100th of second at 41 years old is amazing! She made this older chick quite proud!

There have been so many wonderful stories and that is one of the reasons I love the games.

The Michael Phelps story rates right up there at the top.
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Old 08-21-2008, 10:45 PM   #8
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The weightlifter, I believe he was from Germany. Who won gold. His wife was killed in a car wreck a year ago. He held up her picture during the awards ceremony. They made such a cute couple. I just bawled.

Michael Phelps. His Momma acts like she's just a sweetheart. Seem like a great family.

The swimmer from the Netherlands who had been battling Leukemia.
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Old 08-22-2008, 02:16 PM   #9
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Dara Torres amazes me.
And I kind of like the "back at ya" aspect of Shawn Johnson's coach being from Beijing.
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Old 08-22-2008, 02:19 PM   #10
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Dara Torres
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Old 08-22-2008, 04:03 PM   #11
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So many to choose from - Love that Michael Phelps has more than succeeded in fulfilling his dreams despite having ADHD. His Mom seems simply wonderful! Dara Torres in so inspiring to us older gals - Go Dara!!! The weight lifter whose wife died really touched me as well. Also, the older woman (can't think of her name) gymnast that won a medal on vault for Germany whose son battled leukemia. Her story really touched me too. And of course, the little boy who marched in with Yoa Ming - his heroism was just awe inspiring! These are just a few stories that I loved.

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Old 08-23-2008, 03:04 PM   #12
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Oh -- and gotta love Hugh McCutcheon and the US men's volleyball team. I know he missed several games after his in-laws were attacked, but still -- to be able to come back after that tragedy.
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Old 08-24-2008, 11:50 PM   #13
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That weightlifter's story was a big tearjerker!

I also like the story of the female swimmer - I think she was from Great Britain. She was struck by a car when riding her bicycle and ended up losing her leg. She couldn't participate in the swimming she originally competed in because she couldn't stay in her lane, but she could participate in the open swim. She was staying on after the Olympics to participate in the Paralympics to follow.

So many stories, with so many athletes showing such amazing strength and courage!!
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