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6 August 2013, Geneva, Switzerland – On the occasion of the 68 years anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, a 4-year-old Ginkgo biloba sapling, descendent of one of 170 trees that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, was planted at the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva in a ceremony organized by the Green Legacy Hiroshima (GLH), hosted by ICRC with the support of UNITAR.
The survivor trees, to be found at some 55 locations within a two-kilometer radius of the bomb's hypocenter, were nurtured and protected over decades by the Hiroshima City and local citizens' groups. Now, through the efforts of GLH -- a volunteer initiative founded in 2011 with support from the UNITAR and a local NGO, ANT-Hiroshima -- seeds and saplings of these trees are being shared worldwide. The Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, the Hiroshima Botanical Garden, Hiroshima University as well as the City and the Prefecture of Hiroshima also support the global effort.
The ICRC and Hiroshima have a special bond of friendship. On 8 September 1945 Dr. Marcel Junod, then head of the ICRC delegation, became the first foreign physician to enter the devastated city, bringing with him 15 tons of desperately-needed medical supplies. Over four days he inspected surviving hospitals, and personally tended to the sick and injured, writing later in his memoirs of the horrific impact of nuclear weapons on human beings. In honor of Dr. Junod's contributions a stone marker dedicated to him stands at the entrance of Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, and every year his anniversary is celebrated by Hiroshima's citizens
At the ceremony, ICRC vice-president Mr. Olivier Vodoz gave a keynote speech, followed by a statement from the deputy permanent representative of Japan in Geneva Takashi Okada. Messages from the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were also read out at the ceremony.
It is estimated that there are currently some 17,000 nuclear weapons worldwide, with almost 2000 of them on high-alert status. The ICRC has consistently drawn attention to the disastrous effects of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima, and of Nagasaki, and generally to 'the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons for public health, human safety and the environment', calling for their total abolition.
On the same day, there is a similar tree-planting event in California to commemorate the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl from Hiroshima who died of radiation-induced leukemia as a result of the atomic bombing.
top: 4-year-old Ginkgo biloba sapling planted in the ICRC premises
bottom: A moment of silence at 8:15 am, exact time when the atomic bomb hit Hiroshima on 6 August 1945
Related links:
Green Legacy Hiroshima webpage
Switzerland: Ceremony recalls dangers of nuclear weapons (ICRC website)
Red Cross holds A-bomb ceremony, calls for disarmament (Global Post)
Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese)
Jiji.com (in Japanese)
47 News (in Japanese)
Hokkoku Shimbun (in Japanese)
UN Secretary-General's message to a ceremony to mark the 68th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima (The Mainichi)
Message from the Mayor of Hiroshima (in English, PDF, 57KB)
Message from the Mayor of Hiroshima (in Japanese, PDF, 102KB)
Message from the Mayor of Nagasaki (in English, PDF, 226KB)


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No. 25 NC State beats Cleveland State
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State spent the first month of the season adjusting the pressure that came with being the preseason Atlantic Coast Conference favorite. Now Mark Gottfried's team is ready for a long homestand that could help the No. 25 Wolfpack build momentum before starting league play.
Richard Howell had 17 points and 10 rebounds to help N.C. State beat Cleveland State 80-63 on Saturday in the Wolfpack's annual return to Reynolds Coliseum.
Since starting 3-0 with a No. 6 national ranking, N.C. State (6-2) absorbed a 20-point loss to Oklahoma State in the Puerto Rico Tipoff championship and lost at third-ranked Michigan in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. There was also an 82-80 squeaker at home against UNC Asheville in which the Wolfpack didn't go ahead for good until the final 4 minutes.
Those performances seemed to show N.C. State needed time to adjust as they blended in three McDonald's All-Americans with four returning starters. The Wolfpack beat Connecticut in Madison Square Garden for the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday night, then shot 55 percent and led comfortably most of the afternoon to start a six-game homestand that will keep the team in Raleigh until 2013.
"We have learned that we have to play hard every night, every possession, every practice," Gottfried said. "Sometimes guys have to learn that. … We're also learning that for the most part when you do have some attention around your program, you better bring it every night because teams are going to play better against you. We haven't been in that role before so we're learning that.
"I hope for these guys they just keep understanding if we keep paying a price every day and really commit to it, we've got a chance to be good. But we've still got a long way to go in my opinion."
The message seems to have sunk in for Howell, a 6-foot-8 senior who earned his third double-double in four games. He had 13 points and 10 rebounds in the win against UConn despite missing most of the first half with an injury.
"Just me being a senior, I thought I needed to step up and fulfill that (leadership) role with this being my last year," Howell said. "I feel like we can go far but leadership is something we lacked."
C.J. Leslie added a team-high 19 points for the Wolfpack, and freshman T.J. Warren scored 16.
The Wolfpack won 589 games at Reynolds from 1949-99 until moving off campus to bigger PNC Arena for the 1999-2000 season. But the school has typically played at least one game a year at Reynolds for the past decade as a nod to the program's tradition.
N.C. State improved to 14-0 in the cozy building since its move, including a win against Marist in the 2007 NIT.
"I think it's special to play here," Gottfried said. "I think it's important for our fans, too. I think it brings them back in here and it means a lot to people. And it's fun, too, the crowd and how close they are to the floor. Our fans are loud and you could feel it in there today."
N.C. State pushed ahead to a double-digit lead about 11 minutes in and took a 47-32 lead after the first half. Charlie Lee (15 points) brought the Vikings (6-3) as close as 57-47 on a 3-pointer with 13:55 left, but Lorenzo Brown answered with two straight driving scores.
Lee finished with eight of Cleveland State's 18 turnovers, which led to 16 points for the Wolfpack.
"If we hadn't turned the ball over unnecessarily, we could have been right in this game," Vikings coach Gary Waters said. "That's one of the things that I'm trying to correct with these young kids. When you've got nine freshmen and sophomores, it's become a teaching game instead of a coaching game. Eventually, if they don't stop turning the ball over, then I'm not doing a very good job as a teacher."
Cleveland State, a Horizon League program, played its third straight game without preseason all-conference pick Anton Grady. The 6-foot-8 sophomore is expected to miss at least four weeks because of a knee injury sustained against Robert Morris on Nov. 20.

subset: commoncrawl


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|RPA Field School Certification
What is RPA Field School Certification?
RPA Certification means that your field school has met a set of professional standards covering the following five areas:
Why Certify Your Field School?
Field schools are the training ground for the next generation of archaeologists and an important public face of archaeology. They should display our discipline's highest standards of research and site stewardship. Both students and prospective employers can be confident that a certified field school meets established professional standards.
Apply Today!
If you are interested in obtaining certification for your field school, click here to visit the "Field School Application" page.


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Evening classes canceled Feb. 7, 2018. Learn more.
Home | Academics | Our Schools | School of Arts and Sciences | Arts and Sciences News and Features
Approximately 90 students, faculty and guests were part of Point Park University's Fourth Annual Humanities and Human Sciences Symposium held on campus April 19.
The symposium began with student poster sessions on various areas of psychological study, followed by a keynote presentation on the topic "Persecution, law and the origins of modernity: A lecture on the history of witch hunting." Then students from a variety of majors across the University presented their original research projects and gave readings of creative work in poetry, nonfiction and fiction.
"The symposium is a great experience because it allows us to showcase the work we've done as well as see each other's work," said Kristen Montgomery, a senior psychology major. Department of Humanities and Human Sciences faculty Robert Alexander, Ph.D., Karen Dwyer, Ph.D., Robert McInerney, Ph.D., Jehnie Burns, Ph.D., Brent Robbins, Ph.D., Robert Ross, Ph.D., Megan Ward, Ph.D., and P.K. Weston, Ph.D., moderated a total of 55 student presentations falling under the following categories:
"I really like the symposium because it brings together all the different types of academic programs across the University in a dynamic way," explained Robert Novia, senior psychology major.
The symposium's keynote speaker this year was Laura Stokes, Ph.D., assistant professor of history at Stanford University."Laura added a level of historical rigor and expertise with her talk. The students enjoyed the opportunity to interact with a scholar who is a rising star in her field and passionate about what she does," remarked Burns. In addition to giving an overview on persecution and witch hunting in Early Modern Europe, Stokes captured the audience's attention with an historical perspective on demonology and torture."She made some interesting parallels to how we think about outsiders today, and I later spoke with students who found that really insightful," said Ward.For junior English/creative writing major Jesse Padjune, the symposium helped her connect with other students and gain valuable experience presenting her work."The symposium was a wonderful opportunity for students to share their enthusiasm about their academic fields. It was exciting to see them so invested in the work they've been doing this year," said Burns.
For more information about majors offered in the Department of Humanities and Human Sciences, visit the department's landing page.
Directions to Campus
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© Copyright Point Park University | 201 Wood Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1984 | 412-391-4100


text: Gandhi joined Accel from Sequoia in 2008, where he invested in media and tech firm Gracenote before it sold to Sony for $260 million in 2008. Gandhi also backed Sourcefire, which went public in 2007 (current market cap: $728 million). At Accel, Gandhi backed Quidsi which sold to Amazon for $545 million last year. His current investments include social network StumbleUpon, online storage startup DropBox and custom men's pants retailer Bonobos.


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About the bloggerChuck Gormley is an award-winning beat writer who has been covering the Philadelphia Flyers and the NHL for the Courier-Post since 1988. Chuck has covered more than 1,000 NHL games in his career and has witnessed 10 different coaching changes in Philadelphia. Chuck loves hockey fights, hates the instigator rule and wishes every player played and talked like Rick Tocchet. When he's not covering hockey, Chuck is busy writing enterprise stories for the Courier-Post.
Blog Archives
Everyone loves the Winter Classic, so it's no surprise that more and more past Flyers are committing to play in this season's alumni game against the New York Rangers. A week after news broke that Eric Lindros plans to take … Continue reading → Continue reading


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I know at least some of you all know a bit about manual, so I have a question. What are the do's and dont's of clutch dropping (popping?) I just got a manual bronco II, and I know at some point im going to be doing that but I really dont want to mess up my truck in the process. Oh, and im practicing for my friend's manual RX7 which I will eventually be able to drive
So please, tell me how not to screw up my transmission (more importantly, my friend's transmission... that would result in a painful death for me)


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Flirty: Famous smile was a come-on
DRAWING BY DEBORAH DERR McCLINTOCK
Q. All the world has wondered what's behind Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile. So, what is? J. Roberts
A. Flirtation is on her mind, says psychologist Paul Ekman in Telling Lies. Pictured in the da Vinci painting is the classic coy smile, one of a couple dozen types of smiles. This is a felt smile, nothing false about it, with the person first facing and gazing away from the target, then stealing a glance, just long enough to be noticed, then looking away again.
"One of the elements that makes the painting so unusual is that Leonardo depicted her caught in the midst of such a flirtatious smile, facing one way but glancing sideways at the object of her interest," Ekman says.
Q. How might a starving soldier get horse steaks from a horse without killing the horse? C. Biscuit
A. Well, actually the horse did die, but not for several days, says Frances Ashcroft in Life at the Extremes: The Science of Survival. This is just one of the countless shocking tales of creatures– human and otherwise– in the throes of war and bitter cold.
The setting was the great retreat from Moscow in 1812, where the soldiers exploited the anesthetic properties of extreme cold to use their horses as a sort of "living larder." "We cut a slice from the quarters of horses still on their feet and walking," wrote senior sergeant August Thirion, "and these wretched animals gave not the least sign of pain."
The blood froze instantly, preventing hemorrhaging and death, and thus the horses lived for days. The soldiers' hands being too frozen for normal butchering, this was the only alternative– and anyway, death to the horses first would have meant meat too frozen to cut.
As with Thirion's horses, extreme cold may slow blood loss in humans, as was found during the Falklands conflict when many casualties inexplicably survived severe injuries, such as the loss of a limb, despite being unable to reach a field hospital for many hours, says Ashcroft. The mild hypothermia decreased their bodies' demand for oxygen and enabled soldiers to survive even with reduced blood volume.
Q. For Olympic marksmen, what's at the heart of a strategy to steady their shots? W. Tell
A. Amazingly, their heartbeat. Sports psychologists have found that top shooters squeeze the trigger between beats, says Dennis Coon in Introduction to Psychology. Apparently, the tiny tremor of the pulse is enough to send a shot astray.
Consider that the bull's-eye is about the size of a dime, at 165 feet away. Yet 50 bulls out of 60 shots (prone position) is not uncommon. Geometry reveals that the barrel's end must stay steady within a .006-inch tolerance! Learning of this, many competitors have begun using relaxation or biofeedback measures to tame their ticker.
Q. Dreams are loaded with action– flying, fleeing, falling, spinning. What's missing from them? S. Freud
A. In spite of lab dream accounts such as "I was naked, revolving at 45 rpm record speed. I had a hole in the center of my head. Spinning, spinning and spinning...," dreamers never report nausea or motion sickness, says Harvard's J. Allan Hobson in The Dreaming Brain.
While vision is paramount, sound is often missing or scant: "Then I heard something in one of the toilet stalls." Sensations of heat, touch, and taste are rare.
Pleasure and pain are also uncommon– pain's absence being all the more surprising in that most dream scenarios would seem to call for it.
Finally, dreams mostly lack visceral punch. Hobson recounts one from his own dream journal: "She is taking me to the woods to see the wild pigs. She carries two buckets of swill, saying, 'You must not feed them by hand. Rather, throw out the swill and wait.' Sure enough, they come– great, huge, grunting pigs, loving the swill. The scene shifts to a dinner table with her family present and roast boar (huge, juicy, brown) on the sideboard."
Yet through it all, no stink! Far worse, when Hobson sat down to dream-dine on succulent ham, totally absent were the fragrances of clove, madeira, pineapple. And not a single taste of dream wine!
Send Strange questions to brothers Bill and Rich at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Parking in NR2 4AD
Driveway on Bertram Way, NR1
Parking Space on Wilson Road, NR1
Car Park on St Faiths Lane, NR1
Driveway on Wherry Road, NR1
Driveway on Argyle Street, NR1
Driveway on Stan Petersen Close, NR1
Parking Space on Brunswick Road, NR2
Driveway on Brunswick Road, NR2
Driveway on Orchard Street, NR2
Information about parking in NR2 4AD
Looking for parking in NR2 4AD? You've come to the right place! Funnily enough, parking is what we do best - and we've got a sumptuous selection of 250 locations in NR2 4AD for you to choose from.
Our parking in NR2 4AD is up to 70% cheaper than what you'd usually pay, plus you can book your guaranteed space in advance right here - forget about feeding the parking meter.
No more fumbling for coins and no more circling the block looking for a space. As for parking tickets? You can wave goodbye to them too - if you overstay with us, you just pay for the extra time.
We're taking the pain out of parking for 1 million drivers across the UK. But don't just take our word for it - check out our latest customer reviews for NR2 4AD parking below:
"Great Location near to Carrow Road which is ideal for the football, safe and tucked away off the street, exactly as advertised with really great information, directions etc , will use again." — Driveway on Wherry Road, NR1
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None of our delicious JustPark spaces tickle your fancy? Don't worry - we've got your back. There are plenty of other parking options available in NR2 4AD - here's the best of the rest:
Off-Street Parking
Here's a selection of nearby off-street parking options:
|St Andrews multi-storey car park
|Norwich City Council
|£1.70 / hour
|5am - 6pm,
Mon - Sun
|Pottergate Car Park
|Norwich City Council
|£1.90 / hour
|5am - 6pm,
Mon - Sun
|Colegate Car Park
|Norwich City Council
|£1.40 / hour
|5am - 6pm,
Mon - Sun
|Chantry Car Park
|Norwich City Council
|£1.90 / hour
|5am - 6pm,
Mon - Sun
|Monastery Court Car Park
|Norwich City Council
|£1.60 / hour
|5am - 6pm,
Mon - Sun
Rent out a space
Got a spare driveway or garage in NR2 4AD? You can list your parking space for free with JustPark. It only takes a few minutes to get up and running, and you could be making money in no time. Find out more here.
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You can now book any one of our 20,000+ JustPark locations on the move with our mobile app - available for both iPhone and Android. View parking options, pay for a space and get directions - all with just a few taps of your phone.
Nearby Attractions
- Bridewell Museum 0.04 miles away
- Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery 0.12 miles away
- Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum 0.13 miles away
- Maddermarket Theatre 0.13 miles away
- Strangers Hall Museum 0.14 miles away
Nearby Hospitals
- Shizhen Huren 0.22 miles away
- Victoria Street Surgery 0.59 miles away
- Cavell & Lind Ltd 0.6 miles away
- Caroline House 0.77 miles away
- Adelaide Street Health Centre 0.85 miles away


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To enjoy every day playing the game of life, with dogged determination to constantly do better, serve more and improve the lives of all that we touch.
Through constant attention to clients unmet needs and anticipation of their desires we create the ultimate mortgage experience. We grow our business through exceeding expectations, building relationships beyond business and constantly striving to improve the lives and add value to our clients and partners.
- Treat others as we would want to be treated.
- Ravenous hunger for improvement.
- Humility when we succeed and honesty when we fail.
- Do more to add value than anyone else is willing or able to do.
- "Say what you do. Do what you say. No surprises!"
Josh Mettle Senior Loan Officer - NMLS #219996 - CA-DOC #219996
Get to Know Josh
Josh got burned by a loan officer and decided to become a mortgage professional and to care for his clients the way he wished he'd been treated. That's why our team promise is "Say What You Do, Do What You Say, No Surprises!" As one of the top 1% lending teams in the country, our absolute knowledge of the industry and professionalism will be hard at work for you and your family.
Drake Bloebaum Loan Officer - NMLS #225567 - CA-DOC #225567
Get to Know Drake
Drake Bloebaum has been advising clients on their home financing strategies for over eight years. He takes great pride in listening to and understanding his client's goals in order to craft the best loan for each individual's needs. Drake's favorite thing about his job is helping happy clients get into the home of their dreams.
David Nelson Loan Officer - NMLS #223291 - CA-DOC #223291
Get to Know David
In 2007 David became Josh Mettle's assistant and helped him achieve record breaking production numbers. In 2012 he became a loan officer and has had amazing results helping clients achieve their financial goals through home refinancing and purchasing. David is only one of four professionals in Utah with a FICO Pro certification.
Matt Smith Loan Officer - NMLS #941210 - CA-DOC #941210
Get to Know Matt
Matt has a decade of real estate industry experience and uses it to help his clients achieve their goals. A coach by nature, he sees you as a part of our team and is here to make your Mettle Group experience a success!
Jordan Campagna Loan Officer - NMLS #1178630 - CA-DOC #1178630
Get to Know Jordan
Jordan started work in the mortgage industry as a Loan Officer Assistant, Processor, the Mettle Group's Team Lead and now is a Loan Officer. He stresses the importance of integrity, a positive attitude, patience, respect, communication, and team work to achieve successful client's closings every day.
Scott Breen Loan Officer - NMLS #290475 - CA-DOC #290475
Get to Know Scott
Scott Breen tailors financing to each client's unique lifestyle and goals and he cares about the long term financial security and wealth accrual of each of his clients. Scott is an award winning photographer whose images have been displayed in galleries, public venues and government buildings across the state. He loves living in Utah and can be found riding his bike, skiing, hiking or playing with his children and grandchildren.
Ross Zimmerman Loan Officer - NMLS #532177
Get to Know Ross
Ross has worked in the finance industry for over 10 years. His back ground is in banking, helping clients manage their personal finances, which included home purchases and refinances. Ross is passionate about providing exceptional service and making a memorable experience when it comes to working with his clients. When he is not helping other families with their home financing, he enjoys spending his time with his family, his beautiful wife and 3 little girls.
Mike Jones Senior Loan Officer NMLS #33323 - CA-DOC #33323
Get to Know Mike
Mike Jones has over 12 years in the residential mortgage lending industry and an extensive background in the financial industry with over 8 years of experience in that field. His knowledge along with his desire to help every client the way he would like to be treated has helped him achieve great success. Mike has been a top producer as a Loan Office and a Branch Manager. He speaks both English and Spanish and has an extensive background in both VA and FHA financing. He will always look for multiple options and help you make the decision that is right for you.
Ryan Davis Loan Officer - NMLS #240625
Get to Know Ryan
Ryan has been in the mortgage industry for more than 13 years. He was a processor for 3 years on the Mettle Group team before becoming a Loan Officer. He has been involved in every aspect of originating a loan, from origination, processing, closing, funding to shipping the loans. He is dedicated to making the loan process personal, simplified and even a little fun.
Shane Barker Loan Officer NMLS #142013- CA-DOC #142013
Get to Know Shane
Shane's philosophy is to put himself in your shoes, do a quality job as if it were for his own mother, and treat everyone as a friend. Buying a home should be fun! That's one of Shane's focuses when working with him. He's found that honesty, respect, communication, clear expectations, and listening to clients make for a fantastic loan experience that everyone can enjoy. One of the best parts of the job is seeing happy clients getting into the home of their dreams! When not helping folks into a home, Shane loves going on adventures with his fearless wife and kids, playing sports, and real estate investing.
Katrinka Condie Loan Officer NMLS #1542179
Get to Know Katrinka
Katrinka partnered with mortgage and real estate professionals for 7 years focusing on credit challenged borrowers. This service helped over 2,000 families realize their dream of home ownership. Her experience in credit consulting services and client coaching drove her to become a licensed loan officer. Katrinka is dedicated to providing exceptional service and making the loan process educational and effortless. In her spare time, she loves exploring the great outdoors with her husband and four beautiful girls.
Bob Welsh Loan Officer NMLS #1470028
Get to Know Bob
Bob has spent the last 23 years working in the Salt Lake metro real estate market, primarily building and developing residential real estate sales offices. He has been involved with local Realtor organizations, serving on the board of directors of the Salt Lake Board of Realtors for 10 years. He served on the Utah Association of Realtors forms committee for 5 years, 1 year as its chair, as well as numerous other business and charitable committees in and outside of the real estate industry. After running successful offices for several different companies, he is now a Mortgage Professional with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation.
Jeana Lanktree Team Operations Manager
Get to Know Jeana
Jeana started in the Mortgage business in 2005 as a Jr. Processor. After getting her Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Consumer and Community Studies with an emphasis in Financial Advising at the University of Utah, she returned to the mortgage industry in 2013 as a Senior Processor.She joined the team as a Personal Mortgage Coordinator in 2014 and is now a Team Operations Manager.
Kim Cowdell Office Manager
Get to Know Kim
Kim started working in the mortgage industry in 2008 as a corporate office Receptionist. She was promoted to Reception Supervisor, overseeing all the reception staff in all branch offices. In 2012 she was offered the opportunity to work with Physician Home Loans and is excited to be a part of this awesome team.
Ashley Garcia Loan Processor
Get to Know Ashley
Ashley began her mortgage career in 2002 as a Data Entry file clerk, and then quickly moved up from there to many roles, including Loan Closer, Broker Coordinator, Closing Coordinator, Lead Broker Service Representative, Account Executive, Account Manager, Operations Coordinator, Lock Desk Supervisor and Personal Mortgage Coordinator. She is now enjoying a new position as a Loan Processor for the Mettle Group.
Cathy Richardson Personal Mortgage Coordinator
Get to Know Cathy
Cathy has been working in the real estate industry for the past 16 years in real estate tax processing, mortgage closer/funder and reselling foreclosed properties on behalf of sellers. She joined the Mettle Group in 2015 as a Personal Mortgage Coordinator and enjoys helping others achieve their dream of becoming homeowners.
Sam Robinson Loan Officer NMLS #1680103
Get to Know Sam
Sam took his first position in the mortgage industry in June 2015 and has craved the fast paced atmosphere ever since. He was offered the opportunity to work with Physician Home Loans in February of 2016 and accepted with excitement. Sam enjoys learning new skills to further extend his knowledge of the industry.
Moniquea Ryan Setup Processor
Get to Know Moniquea
In 2009, Moniquea was inspired to be part of the mortgage industry due to her Uncle and Aunt. Since starting she has held positions in cancellations, data entry, RESPA and now Setup. She looks forward to learning more and helping families into their dream home. Moniquea enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs. She plans on seeing the world in person not through the TV.
Brandi Romero Closer
Get to Know Brandi
Brandi began her career as a loan processor in 2009. She has held positions in processing, as a personal mortgage coordinator and is once again a Closer. She thrives by learning all aspects of the mortgage industry and is driven by customer satisfaction through authentic connection. Brandi loves traveling with her husband and spending time with family.
Wendy Spaeth Closer
Get to Know Wendy
Wendy has been in the mortgage industry for over 18 years. She has held several different positions including Receptionist, Shipping, Closer, Closing Team Lead, Funder and Funding Team Lead. But her love and passion is Closing. She loves to spend time with her family at their family cabin outside of Kamas and just being outdoors, hiking or playing with her grandson.
Shane Jenson Underwriter
Get to Know Shane
Shane has worked in the mortgage industry for about sixteen years in multiple capacities, both in Wholesale and Retail residential mortgage lending as an Operations Manager, Account Executive and Underwriter. He loves the great interdependent relationships fostered by our fast paced business and team oriented environments and has always thoroughly enjoyed being a part of those teams to play a part in providing homeowners the best possible experience.
Holly Robertson Loan Processor
Get to Know Holly
Holly has been in the mortgage industry for more than 20 years. After receiving her Bachelor's of Science degree in Finance from Jacksonville State University, she embarked on a career in the mortgage industry. With her vast experience ranging from origination to servicing, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her team. She is passionate about educating clients and keeping them informed throughout the loan process. In her spare time Holly enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She loves running, skiing and appreciates the active lifestyle that Utah has to offer.
Brittany Strasters Intake Processor
Get to Know Brittany
Brittany first began her career in the mortgage industry in 2005. After several years of being away from the industry, she decided to go back into the mortgage world, and is finding this is where she was meant to be. She is excited to be working with this team and is eager to learn and grow.
Michael Hunter Intake Processor
Get to Know Michael
Michael worked in the mortgage industry for approximately 1 year, and then he ventured out to try a couple other avenues, before joining the team at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. Michael is young, hungry, and smart, he strives for excellence in everything he does. Client satisfaction and doing a thorough job are two things he prides himself in and takes very seriously.
Colby Jenson Licensed Loan Officer Assistant-NMLS# 1574919
Get to know Colby
Colby began his career as a medical assistant and then voraciously pursued medicine. After finding he was proficient in communicating with physicians and tending to their needs, he enjoyed a career in healthcare executive leadership. After 10 years of working with physicians, managing physician groups, and pursuing medical/psychological studies, he found that his passion was working with people and creating processes that make life easier. When given the opportunity to join one of the premier physician loan teams in America, he opted to join the mortgage industry to help physicians on a different level. He is now a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator in the state of Utah and believes in providing excellent service through commitment to character, consistency, speed to respond, and efficiency. He is proud to be a part of the Mettle Group.
Taylor Cowan Loan Officer-NMLS# 140595
Get to know Taylor
Born and raised in Salt Lake City. You can typically find Taylor at a University of Utah sporting event, hunting, working out, or eating sushi with friends and family. Taylor is a people person who loves to help others realize the American dream of home ownership. He has 10 years experience in the mortgage industry and takes pride in creating an amazing experience for everyone he works with.
Colin Jenson Marketing Manager
Get to know Colin
Colin began his career in broadcasting and was a video editor for the local television station here in Utah for three years. He decided to join the Fairway Utah family as the Marketing Manager in November 2017. He loves creating media content and finding new ways to share with the world.
Kylie Lanktree Perfect Loan Process Manager
Get to know Kylie
Before joining the Fairway family, Kylie spent three years working as a caretaker and Behavioral Assistant for adults with special needs and disabilities. Taking care of others and creating exceptional experiences for all individuals has always been her calling. After joining Fairway in the summer of 2017 she fit perfectly into her role as Perfect Loan Process Manager sending gifts of appreciation to create a joyous experience out of the stressful process of buying a new home. Kylie enjoys candy, photography, reading and powerlifting.
Jenilyn Drummond Processing
Get to know Jenilyn
I started in the mortgage industry in 2010, I started in the funding department, became a team leader and trainer but found my passion in Processing. I love being able to take a file and make it work for our borrowers. My favorite part is when we get the photos of our borrowers outside their new home with smiles from ear to ear. That is why I come to work everyday is to help make the dream of a home a reality. In my free time, I spend it with my two amazing kids..
Austin Treadway Loan Processor
Get to know Austin
Austin has worked in the mortgage industry ever since he graduated high school in 2012. He started as a loan officer assistant and moved into processing in 2014. Austin loves building relations and providing clients with 5 star customer service and cannot wait to help you get into your new home!
Jordan Asmus Loan Processor
Get to know Jordan
Jordan took his first position in the mortgage industry back in 2014 as a shipper. He then began to work his way up from the back end of the loan process all the way to the front and became a loan processor back in September of 2016. Jordan joined Fairway and has never been more excited to be working with such an amazing team and helping clients achieve their goal of homeownership. In is spare time Jordan currently goes to Salt Lake Community College and is studying to get his associates and will transfer to the University of Utah to complete his bachelors in Philosophy.
Conner Jenson Loan Officer Assistant
Get to know Conner
Before joining the Fairway family, Conner was a sales expert and trainer as the assistant store manager at Office Depot. His sales experience will help him further his new career as a loan officer assistant. He enjoys spending time with his family and is a hard core gamer.
Brock Harvey Setup Processor
Get to know Brock
Brock is a Setup Processor, who began his mortgage career in Feb. 2015. From the very first day, he knew this was the industry for him. Brock is proud to be part of Fairway, and is excited to expand on his career in this field.
Jason Drobeck Loan Officer
Get to know Jason
A 7-year veteran of the mortgage business, Jason Drobeck began his career in Denver, CO and recently moved to Park City, UT. Jason spent the first 10 years of his life growing up in Mexico and Chile, therefore he is fluent in Spanish and passionate about helping the Latino community. During his career Jason has been in the top 10% of production for the companies he's worked for as well as leading a team of originators.
In his spare time Jason likes to spend time with Caitlin and their two dogs, Cooper and Rango. They enjoy hitting the slopes with their snowboards, taking their mountain bikes for a cruise or just enjoying the outdoors in the beautiful landscape that is Park City.
Ben Kyle Loan Officer NLMS #180036
Get to know Ben
Ben has been a mortgage loan originator for almost a decade, with a prior 15 years of person to person sales experience. He has been a top producer throughout his career. His passion is creating the most informed and stress free home buying experience for his clients. Knowledge is power and he strives to give his buyers the knowledge they need to navigate the process. He is also a VA home loan specialist having closed nearly 1000 VA loans in his career.
Rail Cressall Setup Processor
Get to know Rail
I have been in the mortgage industry for 2 years. Before that I was a banker. In my free time I enjoy walking up mountains and riding my motorcycle. I am also an avid skier and am always waiting for that first snowfall.
Bill Jackman Licensed Loan Officer Assistant NMLS #113839
Get to know Bill
Bill has worked in the mortgage and real estate industry for 24 years. In addition to his years as a Loan Officer he has spent time managing underwriting and credit policy teams for Top 10 ranked national mortgage companies. He loves helping clients achieve their dream of home ownership, whether first time home buyers or experienced homeowners. He has seen how homeownership changes lives gets to wake up every morning knowing that is what he gets to help people accomplish, bringing his wealth of knowledge to solve even the most complicated financial puzzle. Bill loves spending time with his wife and three daughters, mountain biking, hiking, road trips and all that living in Utah has to offer.


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Last week Harley-Davidson reached a deal with the leadership at the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 176 and the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 760 labor unions, but details on the deal were under wraps until the labor unions' membership at Harley-Davidson's Kansas City plant could vote on the deal. Ratifying the seven-year contract, Harley-Davidson will be implementing a new production operating system that is being rolled out across all of Harley's production facilities, including the Missouri plant.
While Harley-Davidson's new production system is expected to provide greater flexibility for seasonal and other volume-related production changes, it will also allow for great flexibility in customizing customers' bikes directly on the assembly line. Harley-Davidson has been touting its H-D1 factory customization service, and this new production system would appear to be the back-end changes necessary to make that program possible. We imagine the union members cared less about this added flexibility in Harley's production line, and were instead more concerned over the 145 workers who would be moved from full-time positions to flexible positions.


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Wild edge Flames 2-1 on Parise's overtime winnerby Dan Myers
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- For 55 minutes at Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday night, the Minnesota Wild played sloppy, sluggish hockey. The final five minutes made up for it.
Jason Zucker tied the game with 4:19 to play and Zach Parise scored a power-play goal just 27 seconds into overtime, propelling the Wild to a 2-1 victory against the Calgary Flames.
Calgary defenseman Mark Giordano was called for smothering the puck with 33 seconds remaining in regulation. Minnesota's eighth power play of the game carried into overtime, and Parise won it when he took a feed from Mikko Koivu and whacked a backhander past Flames goaltender Joey MacDonald.
Parise's goal was his eighth career OT winner and gave the Wild a win they probably didn't deserve. For much of the evening, Minnesota couldn't get out of its own way. The Wild's first period "wasn't good enough," said forward Devin Setoguchi.
That was an understatement.
It took almost five minutes for the team to get its first shot on goal and a power play six minutes in yielded more boos from the stands than shots on goal.
When Calgary got its first man-advantage chance two minutes later, the Flames scored just seven seconds in when a rebound of a Mike Cammalleri shot from the right circle was batted out of the air by Alex Tanguay for his sixth of the season. The goal was Tanguay's 16th career marker against Minnesota and gave the Flames a 1-0 lead at 10:18.
Following that goal, the Wild penalty kill -- and goaltender Niklas Backstrom -- were the only reason Zucker and Parise had a chance to be late heroes. Minnesota killed off Calgary's next six power play chances, including a five-minute major on Charlie Coyle in the second period and a four-minute double minor on Jonas Brodin in the third.
"When you waste nine minutes of power play, without even getting a shot on net, you just don't deserve to win," said Flames coach Bob Hartley. "We could have put them away and we didn't. They had a chance to put us away and they did."
"When you're up one and you have that many minutes on the power play, nine minutes within the last 25, you gotta make something happen. We didn't, and it cost us," Flames captain Jarome Iginla said.
Calgary was undisciplined too, committing eight penalties on the night. Their kill was stellar too, although the Wild certainly helped in that regard.
Minnesota coach Mike Yeo shuffled the team's power-play units this week in practice, trying to jumpstart a man advantage that hadn't scored in five games. Many of their chances early in the game generated few opportunities and the pairings looked out of sync.
But the eighth time was the charm. When Giordano was sent to the box with less than a minute left in regulation, the Wild had their first 4-on-3 chance of the night -- and Parise took advantage quickly into extra session.
"Our PK was very good all night, but eventually we took too many penalties" Iginla said. "It was a penalty filled night both ways. They got one and it was the difference."
"It was frustrating," Parise said. "I think we did a good job of executing on the power play. We hit posts, MacDonald made a good save at the end and you started to wonder, 'What do we gotta do here?' Fortunately, we were able to come through at the end."
The goal was a bit of redemption for Parise, who was robbed by Giordano in the first period. Down one, Parise corralled a rebound on the doorstep and flipped a backhander past MacDonald towards the goal line. With the puck straddling it, Giordano swooped in and saved a goal -- although it took a review from Toronto to overturn the goal called on the ice.
"I thought looking at the review that the call would stand. Apparently they had a different camera angle in Toronto," Parise said.
Koivu rang a pair of posts in the second period, but other than that, little materialized offensively for the Wild until Zucker streaked through the Calgary zone and redirected a great pass by Setoguchi past MacDonald for his second of the season in the dying minutes.
"I tried to shoot one and it came right back. Then I saw [Zucker] flying down the slot," Setoguchi said. "I figured if I just put it on his stick, he'd have a pretty good chance, he had so much momentum. I put there and he put it in."
The goal ruined a potential shutout for MacDonald, who had stymied the Wild for the second time in 72 hours. He stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 3-1 Flames win in Calgary on Saturday night and looked on his way to his third career shutout and first since joining the Flames earlier this month.
"We wasted our best goaltending performance we've had all year," Hartley said. "The last 40 minutes were just not good enough. I feel sad for Joey MacDonald because I feel he deserved to be first star and more importantly, he deserved a win."
Yeo was, admittedly, emotional after the game. He was pleased with how his team continued to fight down the stretch, snatching a critical divisional victory from the jaws of defeat.
"To me personally, I thought this was a huge step for our club," he said. "You have to do a lot of things to be a winner. The first period I thought we were a little afraid, but the second and third period, that's the fight that we need this year."


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As someone who writes about IT security, I like to think I can recognize digital trouble when I see it. Recent events suggest that's not the case.
Case in point
Last week, I received a call from a company vice president traveling in Sweden. "Yes sir, how can I help?" I asked after mandatory discussion on the likelihood of a new football stadium for the Vikings. "Just wanted to check," he replied. Bless him. "TeamViewer is asking to update. Should I allow it?"
I was about to say sure. But, I stopped short. Why hadn't my computer mentioned anything about updating? I've been using TeamViewer all day. In what some would call a "CYA" move — I prefer "discretion is the better part of valor" — I told the vice president to wait until he got back; something seemed wrong.
What's up?
After I got off the phone, I tried to update TeamViewer on several notebooks that haven't been used recently — all were up-to-date.
Okay, something's funky.
None of my IT cohorts were aware of any issues. Fortunately, friend and fellow journalist, Brian Krebs was. His post: FBI: Updates Over Public 'Net Access = Bad Idea pointed me in the right direction. In the post, Brian referred to this FBI E-Scam and Warning newsletter:
"Recently, there have been instances of travelers' laptops being infected with malicious software while using hotel Internet connections. In these instances, the traveler was attempting to set up the hotel room Internet connection and was presented with a pop-up window notifying the user to update a widely used software product."
My gamble to have the vice president wait was fortunate indeed. The FBI alert continues:
"If the user clicked to accept and install the update, malicious software was installed on the laptop. The pop-up window appeared to be offering a routine update to a legitimate software product for which updates are frequently available."
Sure sounds like what happened to the vice president. If that's not bad enough, Brian mentioned something equally troubling in his post:
"Bear in mind that false update prompts don't have to involve pop-ups. I've written about Evilgrade, a toolkit that makes it simple for attackers to install malicious software by exploiting weaknesses in the auto-update feature of many popular software titles."
Evilgrade takes it a step further. If applications have permission to auto-update, it's possible for Evilgrade to hijack the auto-update feature, install malware instead of an official update, and the user is none the wiser.
Francisco Amato, the creator of Evilgrade mentions how the attack starts:
"This framework comes into play when the attacker is able to redirect traffic in one of the following ways: DNS tampering, DNS Cache Poisoning, ARP spoofing, Wi-Fi Access Point impersonation, or DHCP hijacking."
Remember the FBI alert referring to hotel Internet connections? Attack tools like Evilgrade are the reason. Unlike company networks, public networks at hotels and cafes — particularly ones with open-access — aren't secure, thus perfect for setting up one of the above attacks.
Vulnerable applications
Surprisingly, a way to defeat malware like Evilgrade already exists — digital signatures. And some companies already use them extensively. For example, if a Microsoft-based computer does not receive the correct digital signature with an update, a window similar to the following slide will pop-up.
Unfortunately, not all app developers integrate digital signatures. And just our luck, the bad guys know which they are. Notice that TeamViewer is on the list:
- iTunes
- Java
- Opera
- Quicktime
- Safari
- Skype
- Teamviewer
- Vmware
- Winamp
If curious, the Readme.txt for Evilgrade has a more comprehensive list of vulnerable applications. Amato also created a YouTube video demonstrating how Evilgrade works.
What to do?About a year ago, Brian came up with his "Three Basic Rules for Online Safety," it might be a good time to review the first rule: If you didn't go looking for it, don't install it! Brian explains:
"If you must update while on the road, make sure that you initiate the update process. Avoid clicking pop-up prompts or anything that looks like it was launched from an auto-updater. When in doubt, always update from the vendor's website."
Final thoughtsI got lucky this time. I still need to thoroughly scan the vice-president's notebook — even though he didn't allow the update. The notebook was under attack and the second wave might have been Evilgrade.
Full Bio
Information is my field...Writing is my passion...Coupling the two is my mission.


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A Developer.com Site
An Eweek.com Site
just wondering about how to use it any info would be helpfull
subdomains can help shorten your URL..if thats what you mean...some services can end up giving you long URLs for ex:
sub domains will just shorten that to for ex:
anymore info needed?
thanks for the info,swiftyMC[], just joined antionline and i just was wondering how to access my free subdomain.
as the faq i've looked at doesn't say much about the use of this most useful feature.as i'm a total newbie
could you or others point me in the right direction?
many thanks in advance
You can edit your subdomain under the "Member Functions".
And for right direction these liknks might be helpfull:
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
- Albert Einstein
This is the original post explaining it.
I came in to the world with nothing. I still have most of it.
I didn't see that post. Anyways, I'm going to start using AO's subdomain feature soon. Thanks JP for that feature!
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This is my biggest cannon. I built it to do two things. (1) I built it to be huge. And (2) i build it to hurl potatos as far as i posibly could. It has a 1.5 inch barrel that is about 16 feet long and angled at 45 degrees. the chamber is 2 inch pvc and is 6 feet long, 3 feet tall, and 11 feet wide (you will see what i mean in the picture). If you look at the picture and are wondering why there is duct tape all over the barrel, its because its the only thing i could think of to attach the 0.5 inch alluminum pipe to make it a little more ridged. it just uses a ball valve, but it is so powerfull you can only see the potato for about a second, then its out of sight. i have shot it so much that i can open the valve extremly fast. I did have my friend be a spotter and he said it went 3 feilds, which is a little under 3/4 of a mile. He was able to see it because he was about 1/3 mile out, but out of the line of fire. One thing i realized after i built it is that i cant shoot at anything because the barrel is at such a high angle. Tell me what you think. I will eventually put a piston valve on it, i just need the money first!
<img src="http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/907/cannon1fc1.jpg">


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In all the recent discussion of the h-index (my GSH is 11), it's worth noting that we need some kind of normalization by community. As any one who's ever written a paper in databases will tell you, it's the best way of getting a HUGE citation count. Why ? Because the field is a lot bigger, and the odds are that many people will end up citing your work. For example, my most cited paper is an old piece of work for the WWW conference.
Maybe you could normalize the index by dividing by the maximum.


text: Alex Valentine is an artist, DJ, teacher, all around awesome guy, and a master of the offset printing medium. Offset printing is a traditionally commercial process somewhere in between digital printing and lithography that uses ink on rubber blankets to transfer images to paper, and is how magazines, cereal boxes, and Red Stripe bottles are produced. Using this process, Valentine creates layered, painterly abstractions that are intuitive and crisp, showcasing his command of color, form and transparency. His recent solo show at Devening Projects + Exhibitions in Chicago, 'Blonder Tongue Audio Baton,' borrowed its title from a 1950's analog graphic equalizer and the title of a Swirlies album. And it makes sense: there's something about Valentine's work that indicates a stringent belief in the analog, recalling early 90s record cover design.


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Mayor Thomas M. Menino said Wednesday that he was "a pretty sick guy" when he first checked into Brigham and Women's Hospital Oct. 26 after an Italian vacation. But he declared that he is on the mend from a viral infection and a compression fracture in his back, even while offering no timetable for his discharge, let alone a return to City Hall.
"I felt lousy, really lousy," Menino said in a telephone interview from his hospital room, his first public words since he was admitted 13 days before. "I talked to the doctors over there [in Italy]. I said, 'I better get home.' I got home on Thursday night. Friday I came to the hospital, and a whole team of folks came to work on me.
"I was a pretty sick guy, but I'm coming back," he said. "I lost all my energy. I was completely fatigued."
A tropical storm has come and gone, October has turned into November, and a seismic election has unfolded. Through it all, the normally hyperactive mayor of Boston, a self-styled political strategist who takes no small amount of pride in leading the city through chaotic weather, has been closeted in a private room at the Brigham, guarded by a security detail.
Menino began the approximately 15-minute interview in a vigorous tone, but as time went on, he spoke in a somewhat more halting voice. His mind seemed sharp as the conversation ranged from the newly elected Elizabeth Warren ("I knew she had it going") to Hurricane Sandy ("Right on top of it") to the aides who are, in his words, "running a shuttle service between City Hall and Francis Street," where the Brigham is located in Boston's Longwood section.
He complained that with the elections over, "there's nothing on TV."
Menino made the call to the Globe as speculation about his health rippled through the corridors of power in Boston, with city workers, potential mayoral candidates, and downtown businessmen openly discussing his extended absence and pressing each other for particulars about his condition. Very few people have heard from the mayor, who is normally quick to pick up his phone and dial the numbers of friends, advocates, and confidants.
He has been hospitalized about a dozen times over his nearly two-decade tenure as mayor; Name a body part — elbows, knees, toes — and it's been treated. But his health has been a particular focal point of discussion since his election to a fifth term in 2009, largely because of an obvious weight gain, a possible result of leg and foot injuries that have left him using a special boot and a schedule that has him often grabbing unhealthy food while on the run.
In Wednesday's interview, Menino confirmed what his doctors have already publicly stated, that he suffered from what is believed to be a viral infection, which was compounded by a compression fracture he suffered last week while lying in bed.
He did, though, differ with previous reports on one front. He said he was already feeling under the weather when he and his wife, Angela, left on a long-planned Italian cruise to mark their 46th wedding anniversary, but he was gun shy about backing out.
"I knew I shouldn't have went," he said. "Angela planned this thing for three years. What am I going to say, 'I'm not going because I don't feel well?' Great story: The mayor gets divorced."
He said he felt increasingly sick while on the ship. When the cruise ended, while he and his wife were in Palermo, he developed a nagging cough, and his energy was sapped. He decided to cut his trip short by a couple of days, drive to Rome, and return to Boston.
"I've been here since with all these doctors poking and sticking you," he said. "I'm a pincushion."
He spends his days sitting in an armchair near his bed, hooked to an intravenous unit, probed constantly by nurses and doctors, and meeting with the occasional aides who arrive from City Hall with documents to sign or plans waiting for approval. He walks with the aid of a walker and receives physical therapy for his back at the hospital.
'I lost all my energy. I was completely fatigued.'
"I have pain in my back in the morning," he said. "They give you pain pills to take. I sit up most of the day, because these hospital beds are the most uncomfortable in the world. "
Asked directly when he expects to be discharged, Menino replied: "No idea. I'm just sitting here with my legs up. I'm unshaven, five days. But there are people worse off than I am. I have good staff who work hard every day."
He said he communicated with his public works officials constantly during last week's storm, which left Boston largely unscathed. He said he then dispatched 26 human services workers to New York to help the city with its recovery.
He seemed particularly pleased with the Warren victory over Scott Brown. "Look at those returns in Boston," he said. "Unbelievable, those numbers, better than Deval Patrick. Really impressive."
As the conversation came to an end, he paid homage to the hospital and took pains to say that the city was running fine in his absence. "We've got dedicated city employees doing the job well," he said.Brian McGrory can be reached at email@example.com.


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Editor's note: CNN Contributor Bob Greene is a best-selling author whose new book is "Late Edition: A Love Story."
(CNN) -- Every Friday afternoon, the backpacks are placed carefully on the floors of the hallways in the elementary schools of Moberly, Missouri.
There are 106 of them: 106 backpacks, each of them with no child's name and with no individual owner.
The backpacks tell a story that can both break your heart and make your heart swell with admiration.
And if you ever had any doubt about what the financial mess in the United States is doing to families across the country ...
Well, those 106 backpacks in Moberly will erase those doubts pretty quickly.
"We're a rural community," said Mark Penny, the superintendent of the Moberly Public Schools. "We're pretty much in the middle of the state."
The backpacks are there because Penny and his staff know that without them, the children for whom they are intended might go hungry between the last bell of the day Friday and the first bell Monday morning.
The backpacks -- property of the school -- are filled with food.
The idea is that, when those 106 children leave class on Friday afternoons, they will pick up the backpacks, sling them over their shoulders and casually walk out of the school with their classmates.
The idea is that the children who need the food -- they range in age from kindergartners to fifth-graders -- will blend in with the hundreds of other boys and girls who get enough to eat at home and that the 106 children will feel no stigma.
"We serve breakfast at school, and we serve lunch," said Francine Nichols, the school staff member in charge of the backpack project. "But we began to realize that some of these children go home to houses where they literally may not eat over the weekend. And we couldn't just sit back and not do anything to help them."
So, three years ago, the backpack program started. When the school senses that a child is chronically hungry -- "A lot of times, they just tell their teacher," superintendent Penny said -- the parents are contacted. If the parents are willing to accept the help, the children are told privately that a backpack will be waiting in the hallway Friday afternoon.
"We'll fill each backpack with soup, with ravioli in a can, with canned fruit, with cereal bars, with juice," Francine Nichols said. "We make sure that the food is the kind that a young child can prepare himself or herself, if need be. Because some of these children live in single-parent homes, and when that parent works, not only does it mean that there may not be enough food in the house, but there may not be anyone to fix the meal for the boy or girl."
Moberly is far from the only school district in the country to have a program like this. Quietly, they exist all over the nation. The first one that is often cited was organized in the 1990s by a hunger-relief group known as the Arkansas Rice Depot.
The weekend-food programs are not run by the federal government but by local communities that simply can't stand the idea of children going without enough food.
And in Moberly, the need has increased in the past year, with the national recession and high unemployment.
"The economy has not exactly been a blessing to families lately," Nichols said. "Last November, we had 34 children for whom we prepared the backpacks every Friday. This November it is 106. So that tells you something."
There are some weeks, she said, when she goes to the school storeroom to fill the backpacks, "and I don't know how there will be enough food."
Much of it is provided by the Central Missouri Food Bank in Columbia, 30 miles away. That agency's executive director, Peggy Kirkpatrick, said that one year in one town -- not Moberly -- a 9-year-old boy took a backpack of food home each Friday but admitted to his teacher that he wasn't eating it all. When the teacher asked him why, the boy said:
"Because Christmas vacation is coming."
He was saving the food. He was hoarding it, because he wanted to make it last over the two weeks away from school.
Kirkpatrick said that in some cities, there have been cases where "the pride factor among some parents is so great that they would rather let the child go hungry than accept the backpack." She said, with a mixture of sadness and anger in her voice, that she is also aware, in some cities, of parents taking the food from their children and eating it themselves -- or selling it for drugs.
But in Moberly, Francine Nichols said, some parents whose children have been helped by the backpack program contact the school when they have found work again and say that because they are back on their feet, they no longer need the assistance. "And then they begin to provide food for the program; they bring food to school to help other children," Nichols said.
It's not difficult for a teacher to know when a child comes to school hungry, she said: "Sometimes a girl in kindergarten will take another child's lunchbox. Sometimes a child will go through the trash looking for food."
Superintendent Penny: "A third-grader can be bluntly honest and tell the teacher what is in the cupboard or icebox at home. And, more to the point, what's not there."
Central Missouri is in the breadbasket of the nation, part of a region that produces corn, wheat and soybeans -- seemingly a place of plenty. But there's a lesson in that, Penny said; he said that for anyone around the U.S. who is reading these words and is tempted to assume that this kind of hunger only happens somewhere else:
"Don't assume."
Nichols said: "If people think that children aren't hungry in their community, they're fooling themselves. You just want so badly for these children to go home for the weekend not worrying about whether there will be enough to eat, and to come to school on Monday morning ready to learn."
Meanwhile, with Thanksgiving coming up, next weekend will be a long one.
And so those 106 backpacks will be a little heavier this week.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene.


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Blankets, Binkies, and Boppies
Thank god today is a bank holiday/partial staffing day, because I am a baggy-eyed pregnant zombie this morning. We had the most wonderful weekend up in Massachusetts – my mother went all out and threw us a co-ed tailgating themed baby shower, complete with football toss and cornhole competitions, a life-sized fathead of Tom Brady, and a bunch of our family and friends.
The overriding theme of this pregnancy for me is how often I've felt like I've been hit by a bus. When I found out I was pregnant, I walked around numb for days (weeks?), feeling like I had been hit by a bus, emotionally. Was it for real? Would there be a heartbeat? We had been waiting so long, and it seemed so surreal… and because I kept steeling myself for something to go wrong, it took me weeks and weeks to accept it and get really excited about it.
Then, over the summer, with the anemia and debilitating exhaustion, I simply felt like I had been hit by a bus. A double-decker bus. Each day. Repeatedly. Stupid bus.
And this weekend seeing how happy and excited our families are, and seeing so many of our friends (some for the first time since we found out) was wonderful in and of itself. And then when we got home last night, we sorted through all the gifts, and got to linger over each onesie and flip through each baby book and read the directions on baby monitors and marvel over how tiny infant diapers are… it was incredible, and I have been completely whalloped by the collective generosity of our People. It may seem obvious, but damn, the bus hit is much easier to take when all your People are on it, and the bus is made out of receiving blankets, binkies and boppies.
(For the record, this baby now has about 20 Red Sox outfits, 10 Patriots outfits, 1 Celtics outfit, and 1 adorable pair of maroon BC overalls with a coordinating white polo shirt waiting for him. Oh, and if you count bowling as a sport, then we can include the onesie that says "The Dude Abides".)
My brother Tommy took a million pictures – I haven't seen them yet, but I'll put them up on Flickr when I do. For my part, I spent most of the weekend enjoying being surrounded by family and friends, and trying to make sure I ate enough. There was no time for pictures, I was too busy soaking it all in.
Manise #
Love the new digs! Nice job.
What a lovely weekend to be showered with so many thoughtful " blankets, binkies and boppies". And what a great way to showcase the onesies hanging from under the umbrella. I notice a definite color gender theme. Wee bean is a him/ he??October 13, 2008
Manise #
Oh and the Sundara Bronzed Sienna Lace in the corner of your header? Beautiful!October 13, 2008
Debbie #
Sounds like a true Bostonian Shower! I love the sports related baby clothes and I agree with Claudia…only ONE Celtics outfit?October 15, 2008