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Cross-posted from NextGenJournal
Dr. Gavin Schmidt is a climate modeller at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, as well as the editor at RealClimate. I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Schmidt, one of the top scientists in his field, on what we can expect from the climate in the coming decades. Here is the entirety of the interview we completed for my article Climate Change and Young People.
Kate: In a business-as-usual scenario, what range of warming can we expect within the lifetimes of today's young people – so to about 2070 or 2080?
Gavin: Well, we don't have a perfect crystal ball for exactly what "business-as-usual" means, but the kind of projections that people have been looking at – which involve quite high increases in population and minimal changes in technology – you are talking about global temperature changes, by about 2070, of somewhere between two, three, five degrees Celsius, depending a little bit on the scenario, and a little bit on how sensitive the climate actually is.
That metric is a bit abstract to most people, so how will that amount of warming actually impact people's lives?
That's a very good question, because most people don't live in the global mean temperature, or the global mean anything. Those kinds of numbers translate to larger changes, between four and six degrees of warming, over the land. As you go towards the poles it becomes larger as well, because of the amplifying feedbacks of ice albedo changes and reductions in snow cover.
Right now the range between a cold summer and a warm summer, in most mid-latitude places, is on the order of a couple of degrees. You'll be looking at summers then – the normal summer then – will be warmer than the warmest summers that you have now, and significantly warmer than the coldest summers. The same will be true in winter time and other seasons.
How will that impact metrics such as agriculture, food prices, the economy…?
It's easy enough to say that there are going to be some impacts – obviously agriculture depends on the climate that exists. People will adapt to that, they'll plant earlier, but crops are very sensitive to peak summer temperatures. So you'll see losses in the fatally sensitive crops. But then you'll see movement north of crops that were grown further south. You have to deal with the other changes – in nutrient balances, water availability, soil quality. We're not talking about just moving the subtropics further toward the poles.
Lots of other things are going to change as well. Pests travel much faster with climate than do other kinds of species: invasive species tend to increase faster, because they're moving into an empty niche, than species that are already well established. There's going to be changes to rainfall regimes, whether it snows or rains, how heavily it rains – a lot of those things will tax infrastructure.
You've got changes for people living on the coast related to sea level rise. That will lead to changes in the damaging effects of storm surges when any particular storm comes through. We're also looking at more subtle changes to the storms themselves, which could even amplify that effect.
How much of this warming, and these impacts, are now inevitable? Do we have the ability to prevent most of it, and what would that take?
Some further changes are inevitable. The system has so much inertia, and it hasn't even caught up with what we've put into the atmosphere so far. As it continues to catch up, even if we don't do anything else to the atmosphere from now on, we'll still see further warming and further changes to the climate. But we do have a choice as to whether we try and minimize these changes in the future, or we allow the maximum change to occur. And the maximum changes really are very large. It's been said that if we allow that to happen, we'll end up living on a different planet, and I think there's some certain truth to that.
I hear you talking a lot about uncertainty, and that's something a lot of people are paralyzed by: they don't want us to take these actions because they think everything might be fine on its own. What's your response to that attitude?
Any decision that you're making now that has to do with the future is uncertain. We make decisions all the time: where to invest money, whether to buy a house – these things aren't certain, and we still have to make decisions. The issue with climate is that no action is a decision in and of itself. That one is actually laden with far more uncertainty than if we actually try and produce energy more efficiently, try and use more renewables, adjust the way we live so that we have a more sustainable future. The uncertainty comes with what would happen if we don't make a decision, and I find that to be the dominant uncertainty. But climate change is not unique in having to deal with decision making under uncertainty. All decisions are like that. It's nothing special about climate change in that there's uncertainty about what's going to happen in the future. Any time we decide to do anything, there's uncertainty about the future, yet we still manage to get out of bed in the morning.
Probably in response to this attitude, climate science has got a lot of bad press in the past couple years. What have your experiences been – what sort of reactions have there been to your research?
There are a lot of people, particularly in the US, who perceive the science itself – just describing what's going on and why – as a threat to their interests. To my mind, knowing what's going on in the planet and trying to understand why should just be information, it shouldn't be a threat. But other people see it as a threat, and instead of dealing with either their perceptions or what the science actually means, they choose to attack the science and they choose to attack the scientists. Basically, you just have people adopting a "shoot the messenger" strategy, which plays well in the media. It doesn't get us very far in terms of better understanding what's going on. But it does add a sort of smokescreen to divert people's attention from what the real issues are. That's regrettable, but I don't think it's at all surprising.
And finally, are you at all optimistic about the future?
It depends on the day.


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The third movie in the franchise. Wow! Continue reading "Wake Up, Girls! – Beyond the Bottom – Anime Movie Review"
Category: Anime Movies
Wake Up, Girls! Shichinin no Idol – Anime Movie Review
And the start of an idol franchise begins with a movie. Is Wake Up, Girls! Shichinin no Idol worth your time?
Continue reading "Wake Up, Girls! Shichinin no Idol – Anime Movie Review"
Kiniro Mosaic: Pretty Days – Anime Movie Review
The franchise continues with a movie release!
(Spoilers in this review)
Continue reading "Kiniro Mosaic: Pretty Days – Anime Movie Review"
Wrapping up the 30-Day Anime Challenge
Well, I've been stuck at Day 13 for weeks. But I've decided to try my best to finish the rest of the 30-Day Anime Challenge in one go. I'm on my phone at the moment, so I'll refrain from adding pictures for now. Maybe I'll touch up this post later on.
Here we go, folks!
Day 13 – Anime Character You Are Most Similar To: Miyanaga Saki from Saki is actually me except I'm not a mahjong demon. Sometimes I'm happy, but I'm more often sad. Tripping on air is a real possibility for me, too. And talking with others is not my strong suit.
Day 14 – Anime that never gets old no matter how many times you've rewatched it: That's going to be Saki Achiga-hen for me. It's by no means a perfect show, but I get so emotional just by watching episodes I've already seen before so many times.
Day 15 – Favorite animal sidekick, pet, or summoning from any anime: Ioryogi from Kobato is the one for me. He initially seems like he's just a grumpy stuffed dog plushie that happens to breathe fire, but it turns out there's much more to him than that. And here I thought I was over tsunderes.
Day 16 – Anime with the best animation: I like the crazy mahjong scenes in Achiga-hen. I'm not really an expert on animation, sorry.
Day 17 – Favorite supporting male anime character: Masaoka Totomi from Psycho Pass is so nice and analytical and strong and fatherly, even though he wasn't the best father in the past. His final decision is also very heartbreaking. I also like Akabayashi Mizuki from Durarara!!. A gangster with morals is pretty cool to me. I-I promise I don't have a fetish for older men.
Day 18 – Favorite supporting female anime character: I think it has to be Kirame Hanada from Saki Achiga-hen. Her mahjong ability isn't useful under most circumstances, but she's glad to be of use as the sacrificial pawn for her team. Staying chipper despite facing strong opponents, Hanad is also skilled in working with her opponents to stop common enemies. I don't know, I just like the underdog, I guess.
Day 19 – Most epic scene ever: I mentioned this in Day 12, but Miyoshi Karin's heroic moment in Yuki Yuna episode 11 was not only a tearjerker, but it was also awesome. Sacrificing her body in order to take out five "bosses" by herself when her friends needed to work together to take out a single boss is no small feat.
Day 20 – Anime character that gets on your nerves: Hosokawa Kanako from Maria-sama ga Miteru 3rd is frustrating. The way she idealizes Yumi only to spout hateful words to her former idol once she learns Yumi is a person and not an infallible angel gets me so angry. Her black-and-white view of my issues is stupid, too. Kanako does gets better later on, but she just disappears from the story shortly afterwards…
Day 21 – Favorite goofy anime character: Ujimatsu Chiya from GochiUsa makes my sides ache and my heart warm. Patient and kind childhood friend with Syaro, quirky birds of a feather with Cocoa, and sisterly figure to Chino (whenever they do interact), Chiya is probably the best girl in the show (in my opinion). Hopefully the younger girls start imitating her instead of gun-crazy Rize, empty-headed Cocoa, or hysterical Syaro.
Day 22 – Favorite weapon, gear, or armor used in anime: I never finished watching the show, but I do read Boku no Hero Academia and I think Iida Tenya has the coolest hero suit by far. He really looks like a superhero with his face completely covered up like that. The suit itself is pretty slick, too.
Day 23 – Favorite attack someone used in an anime: I need to watch more action shows.
Day 24 – Moment that shocked you the most in any anime: Four words. Fingernail scene in Higurashi. I still think about how terrible it would be if that happened to me from time to time to. A close second: umbrella scene in Another.
Day 25 – Saddest anime death: Zero Requiem ;_;. There's also Furukawa Nagisa in Clannad. Death by childbirth is probably one of the worst ways to go, actually.
Day 26 – Best anime fight: I guess Kougami Shinya's fight with Makishima Shougo in Psycho Pass? It demonstrates two different fighting styles pretty well. Some of the matches in Hajime no Ippo are amazing, too, but I only skim through the manga so names are too hard.
Day 27 – Most badass scene: Last time I bring up Achiga-hen here, I promise. Well, the awakening of Takakamo Shizuno's power, Lord of the Mountain Depths, was pretty cool. In order to fight her supernatural opponents and realize her goal, Shizuno stopped being a normal mahjong player and became a mahjong terror. Too bad it wasn't really foreshadowed well at all.
Day 28 – Favorite quote from any anime character: "The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed." ;_;
Day 29 – An anime you wished was real: I want to keep my fantasies and reality seperate so I've never really thought about this. Maybe, if anime movies count, Summer Wars? But now that this topic was brought up, I'm reminded of an idiot who would grace a forum with his unwanted presence. He thought being a character in the One-Punch Man setting would be awesome. If you ain't Saitama, you ain't gonna be having much fun, man. Just saying.
Day 30 – An anime you wish never ended and continued on: At least let me see Yumi graduate from Lilian Girls' Academy. I know Maria-sana ga Miteru had been over for over 4 years (and the anime has been finished for even longer), but I still love the show.
There we go. That only took forever. And I'm about done with work for today, too. Blogging was the most productive thing I could do today since there was no inventory for me to complete.
Anyways, I'm sorry to bore you. Thanks for reading to the end!
Glass no Hana to Kowasu Sekai – Anime Movie Review
Glass no Hana to Kowasu Sekai was a movie that was released back in October 2015. I had plans to watch it back in January, but I was kept busy with college, oops. Nearly seven months later, I'm here to review this film! Continue reading "Glass no Hana to Kowasu Sekai – Anime Movie Review"

subset: commoncrawl


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In the aftermath of the so-called "pink slime" controversy, more accurately known as lean, finely textured beef, we've seen some major retail outlets and restaurants electing not to offer the product. We've also seen three BPI plants temporarily shut, and there have even been a few school districts that have suspended such product purchases.
On the other hand, we've seen the USDA Secretary, academics, scientists and politicians whose state economies have been impacted by the shutdown come out in defense of the technology.
The thing that's interesting is that no one is arguing the product's safety – it's a USDA-approved process and product. The recovery process also makes ground beef leaner (which is a health aspect), plus it lowers the overall cost of ground beef to consumers.
Still, there's something magical about the words "pink slime," so christened by a government microbiologist in an email to his colleagues some years ago. The characterization was borrowed for use in media reportage, which aptly fit the need for sensationalism, and – perception being reality – the industry was suddenly playing catch up on the issue.
I don't believe anyone is surprised that the anti-meat activists jumped on this issue. And, it took no one by surprise that the anti-modern agriculture movement also jumped on the pink slime fiasco as validation that something is fundamentally wrong with how we produce our food. What maybe was a little surprising was that that the anti-modern agriculture movement within our industry also jumped on this opportunity.
The whole episode raises the question about which principles are worth standing up for and which ones can, or should be, compromised in the pursuit of political or economic objectives. This particular issue is one that goes beyond the natural, organic, anti-modern, anti-market activists.
Groups like the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) have been struggling, as a result of their losing efforts in remaking the GIPSA marketing rules, as well as mandatory country-of-origin labeling. So these groups, having discarded the goal of converting the majority of livestock industry to their positions, have concluded that topics such as pink slime fit their immediate fundraising needs.
In the end, groups like OCM have concluded that their cause is important enough to join with the enemies of our industry. And the results are sadly pretty predictable. As the saying goes "when you lie down with the dogs, you tend to get fleas."
Just as the interests of the country should come above partisan politics, the beef industry's best interest should come above petty internal differences. It's no accident that hamburger is under attack; it's the most price-sensitive and a major part of our market. If you hammer the hamburger, you hammer the industry, and these guys are patient and seem to love the idea of using our credibility to destroy ourselves.
The greatest irony is that those who want to destroy the modern packing industry are advocating increased production costs and regulations that will ensure the only ones who can compete are the biggest of players.


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Apple made a big announcement this morning, as promised yesterday: The Beatles have officially been introduced on the iTunes Store. Their music is available as a complete box set, as well as by individual albums and songs.
Those who were predicting the release of The Beatles' music on iTunes as the 10am EST announcement on Tuesday turned out to be correct. Around 9:40 this morning, the entire discography in a box set showed up on the iTunes Store, as well as individual albums like, fittingly, Beatles For Sale.
The Beatles box set costs $149, roughly the same as the physical incarnation as sold on Amazon, and includes 256 items, mostly songs. Each of the albums also includes a mini documentary video, but they aren't sold separately—only as part of the album box set purchase.
The availability of Beatles music legally online exclusively through the iTunes Store is no doubt a coup for Apple. But who—aside from Apple and a handful of industry pundits—has been holding off on acquiring The Beatles' catalog until they could purchase it via digital download? Most of us ripped our Beatles CD collections ages ago.


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The band's latest release is here! Click on the link above for CD ordering and check out the discography link for more!
All Night Long
is the band's second album, featuring sounds and styles from various corners of Cajun and Creole music. You are sure to get caught up in the foot-stomping and rocking songs of the true Cajun dancehall sound, while falling in love with the soulful and heartbreaking waltzes of years gone by. The cd is a genuine must for any music lover. Check out the discography page for more information.
South Louisiana has forever been marked with a rich history of music, from blues, rhthym and blues, soul, swamp pop, rock and roll, and, of course, cajun and zydeco music. Within the realm of cajun, creole, and zydeco music, however, there lies an emergence of contemporary yet traditional sound and style of the typical musician. With additions such as electric guitars, slide guitars, twin fiddles, triple row accordions, etc. and along with the influences of the fore-mentioned genres, the music itself continues to grow in an ever-dynamic fashion.
In the spring of 2000, Acadien Cajun Band was created with the intention and the will to carry the tradition one step further. Unlike the typical cajun and zydeco band, relying on standard sounds was not one of the band's primary objectives. Ryan Simon, the band's founder and guitarist/accordionist, states that "we are, and have always been for that matter, a band that relies on each other for our initiave and our sound. We are fundamentally traditional in what we play, whether it be standard tunes or not, yet we aspire to be 'originally challenged'" "Originally Challenged" as Ryan puts it, is the ever-present aspect that defines the band. Use one of the
best custom writing services
at your disposal and get a chance to see them play. Since the band first started playing venues and festivals, the main objective has been originality. The culmination of that can be seen on their latest release
All Night Long,
which is described in more detail on the discography page.
In addition to their orginality, Acadien Cajun Band can also be most noted for their versatility. "One thing we really pride ourselves on, " says Ryan, "is our versatility. Vary rarely when we play will we finish playing the same instruments we started out playing. I'll switch to accordion, or we'll just finish off with an acoustic set with two fiddles, etc." "We are a band of musicians, and our music defines the band, not the other way around."
Another measure the band takes in their approach to performing is the songs themselves. Despite the original tunes the band plays, the majority of its repertoire is tradition music. Ryan states, "We sound the best when we learn from each other. What really drives us is when we don't have to listen to records or cd's. That's when we become original, even if it is with standard tunes." "For example, we might play a traditional two fiddle two-step. We might just play it accoustically if one of us thinks its sounds better." "Each of us, moreover, is an encyclopedia of Cajun music in his own right. We each have different influences that we teach the others, whether it be songs or styles that help contribute to our sound.
Whatever the case, Acadien Cajun Band is an aspiring young band, full of exuberance and a true love for what they do. You will find them at jam sessions, clubs, dancehalls, recording studios and other venues through the music scene of south Louisiana carrying on what they were taught, teaching what they know, and loving every minute of it.
7th, McGee's Landing, Henderson, LA
12th, Abeliene Club, Rochester, NY
13th, Connolly's, New York City, NY
14th, Dancing By the Bayou, Glen Echo, MD
15th, Sportsmen's Tavern, Buffalo, NY
Acadien Cajun Band Live at Ashkenaz Music Hall
Berkeley CA
Acadien Cajun Band Live at Rosendale Cafe
Rosendale, NY
ACB's third release entitled "Sounds like Us" IS NOW Available!!! Please click below to order!!!
Acadien Cajun Band Live at Cajun/Zydeco Festival
at Ardenwood Farms
Fremont, CA
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Louisiana State University
National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, AL
Black Pot Festival, Lafayette, LA
Dancing on the Bayou, Glen Echo, MD
Rosendale Cafe, Rosendale, NY
Plaza Bowl, Richmond, VA
Long Beach Cajun Zydeco Festival, Long Beach, CA
Cajun and Zydeco Festival at Ardenwood Historic Farms, Fremont, CA
Sportsmen's Tavern, Buffalo, NY
RCZN, Rochester, NY
Roots Music in Texas Weekend, Fredericksburg, TX
Rendez vous des Cajuns, Liberty Theatre, Eunice, LA
Blue Moon Saloon and Dancehall, Lafayette, LA
Cafe Des Amis, Breaux Bridge, LA
Somebody Scream Productions, Ossining, NY
World Famous Mudbug Festival, Alexandria, LA
McGee's Landing, Henderson, LA
Randol's World Famous Cajun Restaurant, Lafayette, LA
Fred's World Famous Lounge, Mamou, LA
Ville Platte Cotton Festival, Ville Platte, LA
Pat's Atchafalaya Club, Henderson, LA
Lundi Gras, Downtown Mamou, LA
Nick's On 2nd St., Eunice, LA
Northeast Louisiana Film Festival, Bastrop, LA
Poppatop Club and Dancehall, St. Martinville, LA
Two-Check's Famous Dancehall and Jam Session, Maurice, LA
Rayne, LA Civic Center, live Cajun Heritage Performances, 2004
Augusta Heritage Week, Augusta, WV, 200-2003, 2005
Wawee's on the Vermilion River, Milton, LA
Congres-Mondial Acadien, Eunice, LA 2000
Numerous Private Parties, Wedding Receptions, & Socials
Press and Selected Past Performances
Traditional and Contemporary Cajun Music from South Louisiana
Contact Us
Photo Gallery
Please Visit YouTube and search
"Acadien Cajun Band" to see all videos


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Maurice Edgar CRUMPACKER, Congress, OR (1886-1927)
CRUMPACKER Maurice Edgar , a Representative from Oregon; born in Valparaiso, Porter County, Ind., December 19, 1886; attended the public schools of Valparaiso, Ind., and Washington, D.C.; was graduated from the Culver (Ind.) Military Academy in 1905 and from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1909; studied law at Harvard University; was admitted to the bar in 1912 and commenced practice in Portland, Oreg.; was commissioned December 31, 1917, as first lieutenant in the aviation section of the Signal Reserve Corps; accepted appointment as captain in the Air Service (production), National Army, July 8, 1918, and served until December 27, 1918, when he was honorably discharged as captain in the Air Service (aircraft production); special deputy district attorney for Multnomah County, Oreg., in 1921; unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress in 1922; elected as a Republican to the Sixty-ninth and Seventieth Congresses and served from March 4, 1925, until his death in San Francisco, Calif., July 24, 1927; interment in Riverview Cemetery, Portland, Oreg.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present
Related Links
Here are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.


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CLEVELAND (AP) — Jedrick Wills has slid into place for the Browns.
The former Alabama star right tackle, who will attempt to slide over to the left side for Cleveland, signed his four-year, $19.7 million contract on Tuesday, two weeks before he's scheduled to report to his first NFL training camp. The deal includes an $11.9 million signing bonus.
The Browns selected Wills with the No. 10 overall pick in April's draft, which boasted an elite class of tackles.
Cleveland has plugged the vital position the past two seasons with stop-gap measures following perennial All-Pro Joe Thomas' retirement after the 2018 season. Cleveland's hoping Wills can be their long-term answer at left tackle, but he'll first have to adjust to playing on that side of the line after working exclusively at right tackle for the Crimson Tide.
The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Wills started his final 28 games at Alabama, where he opened huge running lanes and protected the blindside of left-handed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He only allowed one sack last season as a junior before deciding to turn pro. He was named a second-team AP All-American.
His athleticism and versatility is what set him apart from the other tackles for the Browns, who have been impressed with his eagerness and aptitude during their virtual offseason program.
New Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan said Wills has picked things up quickly through video training.
"It has been really positive," Callahan said last month. "He is really a sponge of information. He has absorbed all the content that you can give him and he wants more. I am really excited about him. I am eager to at some point get on the field with him."
The Browns have signed five of their seven draft picks. The only unsigned players are second-round safety Grant Delpit and third-round linebacker Jacob Phillips — both from LSU.
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


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August 4, 2011–January 28, 2012
In celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the show's debut, the Library of Congress presents I Love Lucy: An American Legend. This exhibition explores the show's history through the Ball and Arnaz family scrapbooks as well as photographs, scripts, printed and manuscript music, and other documents from the Library of Congress.
Use of logo from I Love Lucy courtesy of CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Image of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz used with permission of Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr./Desilu, too, LLC.


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Emanuel gone, Rouse in as chief of staff
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama today said a bittersweet goodbye to the energetic and fierce manager of his White House, chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and elevated a quiet and seasoned adviser, Pete Rouse, to the most important gate-keep...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama today said a bittersweet goodbye to the energetic and fierce manager of his White House, chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and elevated a quiet and seasoned adviser, Pete Rouse, to the most important gate-keeping job in American politics.
"We could not have accomplished what we've accomplished without Rahm's leadership," Obama said. Emanuel is departing after nearly two grueling years to run for Chicago mayor.
The announcement was such a poorly kept secret that Obama joked it was "the least suspenseful announcement of all time," but it represented an important moment of transition for the presidency.
What Emanuel leaves behind is more than a staff job. It is the most demanding and influential position in the White House -- save for Obama's. The person who holds it is entrusted to help shape the president's thinking, prioritize his time, manage scores of egos and issues and keep the White House focused on its goals.
The mood at the White House reflected that this was no ordinary staff change. Cabinet members and senior staff members packed the ornate East Room, a setting often reserved for visits of heads of state, for the official word that Emanuel, the hard-charging leader of the staff, was on his way out.
Rouse, named interim chief of staff, is a calm, trusted senior adviser to Obama who has spent much of his career as a chief of staff in the Senate.
"There is a saying around the White House: 'Let's let Pete fix it,"' Obama said. "And he does."
In a nod to the political sensitivities of Emanuel's move, he never directly mentioned that he was running for mayor, and Obama didn't touch that, either. Emanuel, sure to be cast as an outsider by his competitors in the upcoming mayoral campaign, did not want to announce his run from Washington.
But Emanuel did call Chicago "the greatest city in the greatest country in the world." And he told Obama, "I'm energized by the prospect of new challenges, and eager to see what I can do to make our hometown even greater." The president and Emanuel, confidants and friends, hugged three times during the event.
"Mr. President, I thought I was tough," Emanuel told Obama. "I want to thank you for being the toughest leader any country could ask for in the toughest times any president has ever faced."
In an unusual display of emotion, Emanuel appeared to choke up as he spoke of his family's immigrant background, and the opportunities he himself has been afforded.
Rouse, befitting his style, stood quietly by the president and never spoke. Obama described him as never seeing a television camera or a microphone that he liked -- unlike the boisterous Emanuel. The differences were even apparent on stage -- Rahm with his trademark hands on hips, Rouse still and stoic.
Obama's choice of a permanent chief of staff will come in the context of a personnel reorganization, with some key players already planning to leave the White House grind and others likely seeing changes in their portfolios. The results of the Nov. 2 House and Senate midterm elections will also be a factor.
The mantra in the West Wing is that no one who works for the president is irreplaceable. And yet that's how they described Emanuel, a whirling force of ideas and energy with expertise in foreign policy, political campaigns, communications and the legislative process. Obama's aides talk of an unquestioned loss.
More than 150 staff members filled the seats of the East Room, snapping photos. The atmosphere was more joyful than sad, though the mood turned sober as Obama ticked through the list of problems they tackled together in the first 20 months of the administration.
Any feel-good reflection came in contrast to the political realities of the day. No sooner had Washington veteran Rouse been introduced than the Republican National Committee condemned the president for the choice, calling it an expansion of an "insular and out of touch White House."
Emanuel's move pits him against a growing field of local politicians vying for the job that will be vacated next spring by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, who announced in early September that he will not seek a seventh term. Emanuel's victory in the race is no given, with rivals certain to attack the longtime political operative and former congressman as a brusque outsider who belongs more to Pennsylvania Avenue than Michigan Avenue.


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Serfas Bicycle Light Mounts and Brackets
About Serfas - "Wherever your road leads we know cyclists seek the ultimate ride. With that in mind, Serfas is always striving to make products that reflect those wants and needs. Our 20-plus year commitment to quality, performance and customer service is reflected in our innovative products that are rider-tested and rider approved."


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Oracle CEO Larry Ellison declared the company is ready to offer "the most comprehensive cloud on the planet Earth," during a webcast event on Wednesday.
"It's been a long time coming," Ellison said of the Oracle Public Cloud, which encompasses Oracle's suite of Fusion Applications delivered as both SaaS (software as a service) and PaaS (platform as a service) features, including the Java Cloud Service and Database Cloud Service. It's also the home of Oracle Social Network, the company's foray into Facebook-like collaboration tools for enterprises.
Most of the details discussed Wednesday were well-telegraphed, given that Oracle Public Cloud was first announced at the OpenWorld conference in October and the company had put up a website filled with specifics, save for details such as pricing and general-availability dates.
The applications will feature per-user, per-month pricing, Ellison said. But it still wasn't clear by the end of the presentation whether all the components are broadly available now.
Meanwhile, Ellison's proclamation of Oracle's newfound cloud prowess on Wednesday stood in stark contrast to his past mockery of cloud computing as hype-filled "gibberish" applied improperly to long-standing technologies. Such jibes were nowhere to be found Wednesday as the CEO spun a broad strategic vision.
"We made a decision to rebuild all of our applications for the cloud almost seven years ago," Ellison said of Fusion Applications, which are also available on-premises. "It took seven years of work, thousands of people, billions of dollars, to make the transition from being an on-premise application provider to being a cloud application provider, as well as an on-premise provider."
Oracle is hoping these attributes will have special allure for customers, since they'll be able to choose either deployment model and move applications between them.
Oracle is set to offer 100 different cloud applications, spanning ERP (enterprise resource planning), CRM (customer relationship management), HCM (human capital management) and other software categories, Ellison said.
Wednesday's event also provided Ellison with an opportunity to tout what he called Oracle Public Cloud's many advantages over rivals such as SAP and Salesforce.com, as well as to engage in some of his traditional competitive trash talk.
One major advantage that Oracle Public Cloud provides is better security for customers, according to Ellison.
"We have very comprehensive, fine-grained security in our system," he said. The Central Intelligence Agency was Oracle's first customer, and security "has been very, very deep in our culture for a long time," he said.
"Your database is not commingled with other customers' data," Ellison added. "It's a big difference between our cloud and others on the market." Customers also get their own virtual machine, "so you are protected," Ellison said. "Modern virtual technology is how we offer safety."
Ellison has criticized the practice of multitenancy, a software architecture common in cloud services where a number of customers share a single application instance.
Multitenancy has long been cited as an advantage for cloud companies, since they can upgrade many customers at once, lowering costs, but Ellison turned that argument on its head.
"We think a modern cloud lets you decide when you want to upgrade, not have the cloud vendor tell you when you have to upgrade," he said. "We think that's a very big deal. We'll allow you, within reason, to decide when to upgrade." Customers will get about a one-year window to determine when an available upgrade is right for them, Ellison said.
Some customers may have questions about how often upgrades to Fusion Applications will actually be available, given that Oracle had been criticized for years over the delays in delivering the initial suite. But on Wednesday, Ellison portrayed the project's timeline as something necessary and vital.
"If there's one point I would like to make this afternoon, it's how hard it was, how long it took, how many people were involved, how much it cost," he said.
In contrast, rival SAP won't have anything "for real" in the cloud until 2020, Ellison claimed. "I don't think they'll make it. Our applications will have eight years of maturing. 2020. Excellent vision. 2020. Great news program. 2020. Terrible year to get to the cloud."
"All SAP's got is SuccessFactors," he said, referring to the cloud HCM (human capital management) vendor that SAP recently acquired. "I don't think that's enough." Oracle has made cloud acquisitions of its own in the form of Taleo, RightNow and Vitrue.
Those remarks drew a hasty response from SAP on Wednesday.
"As usual, you can tell who Oracle is most worried about by the competitors they criticize most," the company said in an emailed statement. "Building a profitable cloud business depends on scale -- with 17 million users, SAP's SuccessFactors business has the largest user base of any cloud apps provider." SAP is also offering a "complete ERP suite for the cloud today" in the form of Business ByDesign, and has many other "loosely coupled" cloud applications, the company added.
However, Ellison may have been referring to the fact that SAP's flagship on-premises ERP software, Business Suite, isn't yet rewritten for the cloud and may not be for some time. ByDesign is aimed at smaller companies and divisions of larger ones.
Meanwhile, another plus for Oracle's cloud is the fact it is based entirely on industry standards, unlike the competition, Ellison said.
"It's very easy to take our cloud applications and extend them and integrate them with applications you have running on-premises," he said.
What Ellison didn't say is that many would-be Fusion Applications customers will choose the cloud deployment option due to the sizable technical hurdles involved in running them on-premises.
Oracle's cloud also provides customers with a range of social networking-related features, including the ability to collaborate with one another and to reach out to customers on public social sites such as Facebook. At one point, Ellison demonstrated how a marketing professional could develop and deploy a Web store on Facebook without the help of IT staff.
Finally, Oracle's cloud incorporates a superior core infrastructure, running not on farms of commodity hardware but on Oracle's Exadata and Exalogic database and application server machines, which Oracle has heavily promoted for their high performance.
Exadata and Exalogic also provide superior fault tolerance and high availability, Ellison said. "If a component fails, a disk drive fails, it doesn't matter."
Those systems and others are now being offered with a new set of Platinum services offerings, which were also announced Wednesday during the event.
Chris Kanaracus covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Chris's e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
In order to extend the seal's service life, it is made out of an SKF-developed polyurethane, H-ECOPUR, which the company claims offers improved abrasion resistance and tear strength.
SKF said in a statement: "Ultimately, the seal can help wind farm operators reduce the risks of contaminant-related bearing failures and the high unplanned downtime, repair and lost productivity costs that follow."
Currently-available seals are not designed specifically for the industry, but rather for general industrial applications.
SKF said the product is designed to be capable of handling the rough surfaces that come into contact with each other during rotation and the limited lubrication conditions that are specific to the wind industry.
In order to allow quick, up-tower installation, the seal also features a steel band clamp with a fast-lock mechanism. SKF has carried out a field trial of the product on 40 2.5MW turbines.


text: richard.walsh at comcast.net wrote > After a minute the > mouse was running around again and seemed no worse off. "Seemed" being the key word here. If memory serves the biggest problem with being immersed in these types of oxygen carrying inert fluids is that they leak into the body, presumably through the lungs. Eventually that gunk ends up in the liver which becomes cirrhotic. Since the time scale was so short that really wasn't much of a safety demonstration. There are lots of things that could be injected into a mouse and it would run around happily for a couple of hours and then be dead in a few days. At the more extreme toxic end of the spectrum, here are a couple most people have heard of: ricin and alpha-amanitin. Regards, David Mathog mathog at caltech.edu Manager, Sequence Analysis Facility, Biology Division, Caltech


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Eightmile Lake, Eightmile Trailhead, Seattle - Alpine Lakes Wilderness - Snoqualmie Pass - Central Cascades, Washington
Eightmile Lake - 6.5 miles
Eightmile Trailhead
|Round-Trip Length:
|6.5 miles
|Start-End Elevation:
|3,307' - 4,641' (4,659' max elevation)
|Elevation Change:
|+1,334' net elevation gain (+1,710' total roundtrip elevation gain)
|Skill Level:
|Dogs Allowed:
|Bikes Allowed:
|Horses Allowed:
|Related Trails:
Eightmile Lake - 6.5 Miles Round-Trip
Eightmile Lake (4,641') is located 3.25 miles from Eightmile Road in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness near Leavenworth. It fills a deep, rocky bowl framed by Eightmile Mountain (7,996') and jagged peaks on Jack Ridge in the Stuart Range.
This moderate, family-friendly trail passes through a recovering burn area to the lake, where social trails continue up the north shore to campsites and the inlet. The Eightmile Trout Creek Trail splits off after 2.7 miles for Lake Caroline and Windy Pass.
Eightmile Lake falls within the Enchantment Permit Area, and camping permits are limited and regulated.
A Recreation Pass is also required to access this trailhead. See below for details on day-use and camping permits. Dogs are not permitted on trails to Eightmile Lake, Lake Caroline and Windy Pass:
The trail rises steadily through a fire-scarred hillside to a split that rejoins itself at .55 miles (3,780'). Fire is essential to this ecosystem by culling dead trees, controlling pests, clearing space for new growth and returning nutrients to the soil.
Despite some aesthetic loss many trees are unaffected, and grasses and flowers were quick to fill open space.
The trail hops Pioneer Creek (.7 miles : 3,840') and moderates to the Alpine Lakes Boundary (1.1 miles : 3,910'). It shifts and undulates through invigorated brush to Little Eightmile Lake and the Eightmile - Trout Creek Trail split (2.65 miles : 4,415').
Grades steepen across the base of a large talus slide and along the outlet to Eightmile Lake (3.25 miles : 4,641'). Follow social trails (right) up the north shore to campsites and outcrops with good reach for anglers.
Interactive GPS Topo MapKey GPS Coordinates - DATUM WGS84
- N47 32.160 W120 48.825 — 0.0 miles : Eightmile Lake Trailhead
- N47 32.239 W120 49.434 — .55 miles : Trail rejoins itself at trail sign
- N47 32.070 W120 49.808 — 1.0 miles : Moderate climb through burn area
- N47 32.027 W120 49.857 — 1.1 miles : Alpine Lakes Wilderness Boundary
- N47 31.803 W120 50.154 — 1.5 miles : Undulating travel through burn area
- N47 31.646 W120 50.524 — 2.0 miles : Shifting path through brush
- N47 31.493 W120 51.082 — 2.65 miles : Eightmile Lake - Lake Caroline split
- N47 31.364 W120 51.367 — 3.0 miles : Rise along outlet stream
- N47 31.234 W120 51.504 — 3.25 miles : Eightmile Lake
Worth Noting
- Dogs are not permitted on the Eightmile Lake Trail.
Camping and Backpacking Information
Permits are required for all overnight stays from May 15 - October 31 in the Enchantment Permit Area. This includes Eightmile Lake and Lake Caroline.
- From October 16 – June 14, free unlimited permits are available for camping in the Enchantment Permit Area.
The Enchantment Permit Area is divided into five permit zones:
- Core Enchantment Zone
- Snow Lake Zone
- Colchuck Lake Zone
- Stuart Lake Zone
- Eightmile/Caroline Permit Zone
Camping is restricted to the zone for which your permit is issued. The only exception is for the Core Enchantment Permit, which allows you to camp in any of the zones.
All visitors are welcome to day hike beyond their zone, meaning those with a Snow or Colchuck Zone Permit may also visit the Core Enchantments, but on a day-use only basis.
There are three methods of obtaining an overnight permit during the permit season:
- Apply during the annual permit lottery.
- Make a reservation online after the pre-season lottery.
- Obtain a daily walk-in permit during the permit season
The Permit Lottery
- A pre-season lottery is held in February through early March of each year to award the majority of permits.
- Following the pre-season lottery, remaining permits are available on a first come, first served basis through the recreation.gov advance reservation system. A small number of permits are available on an unreserved daily walk-in basis at the Wenatchee Ranger Station in Leavenworth every morning during the permit season at 7:30 am (except Sundays).
Permit Fees, Rules and Restrictions
- Permits are $5 per person, per day.
- Permits are Non-Transferable.
- Group Leaders cannot be changed.
- Once a permit reservation is confirmed, no changes or additions may be made to the alternate group leader.
- You must enter the permit area on the entry date shown on your permit.
- You may camp only in the zone(s) indicated on your permit.
- Maximum length of stay is 14 consecutive days. People may not exit and re-enter at a later date.
Violation of terms may result in a fine and/or revocation of the permit / early termination of your trip.
Camping Rules and Regulations
- Group size is limited to 8 individuals or any combination of people and stock. All members of a permit group must camp together in one site.
- Two (or more) groups on separate permits may not travel and/or camp together if the total number exceeds 8.
- Groups must stay separate (minimum of 1 mile and 1 hour) and independent throughout their trip.
- Campfires are prohibited above 5,000', and within 1/2 mile of all lakes and streams. Campfires are not permitted at Eightmile Lake and Lake Caroline.
- Camp only in established campsites.
- Bathe and wash dishes at least 150-200' from lakes and streams.
Fishing Information
- Fishing is permitted throughout the Enchantment Permit Area (includes all lakes and streams) with a valid WA state fishing license.
- Contact the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for specific guidelines.
- wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/
Email: [email protected]
Sport | Commercial Licenses: 360.902.2434
Disability Licenses: 360.902.2460
Rules and Regulations
- A valid Recreation Pass is required to access the Eightmile Trailhead ($5 day use fee | overnight use requires payment for two days).
- Dogs are not permitted in the Enchantment Lakes Permit Area, including Nada Lake, the Snow Lakes, all Enchantment lakes, Colchuck Lake, Stuart Lake, Eightmile Lake and Lake Caroline.
Directions to Trailhead
The Eightmile Lake Trailhead is located 11.2 miles from Highway 2 in Leavenworth.
From Highway 2 on the west end of town, turn south on Icicle Creek Road. Drive 8.5 miles to Bridge Creek Campground. Turn left and drive past the campground, cross a bridge over Icicle Creek and continue 3 miles to the Eightmile Lake Trailhead.
Park only in designated spaces, just across the road from the trailhead.
Contact Information
Okanogan - Wenatchee National Forest | Wenatchee River Ranger District
600 Sherbourne St.
Leavenworth, WA 98826
Okanogan - Wenatchee National Forest | Headquarters
215 Melody Lane
Wenatchee, WA 98801


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What the America's leaders essentially have likely allowed is Russian nuclear weapons within the United States. Let that sink in the next time someone laughs and says America won't or can't be successfully attacked by the Russians and Chinese, or the Iranians. The average person can only foresee planes, ships and nuclear weapons from afar coming over, when in fact Russia could have a nuclear trojan horse already inside the gates. The Chinese version of what the Russians are doing can be linked to its state-owned COSCO company, which has hundreds, if not thousands of shipping containers within the United States — as well as management controlling key shipping ports like the one in Los Angeles.
JFK also spoke of a Russian nuclear bomb in an embassy within Washington, D.C. during his tenure:
Were the Russians Hiding a Nuke in D.C.?
More on the Club-K Container system can be read about under the following previous posts:
Northcom: Russian Cruise Missile Threat to U.S. Grows
Expert: Iran ships a dry run for later nuclear/EMP attack; humiliate Obama
Gulftainer is connected to the Uranium One deal.
Gulftainer is the Iraqi Jafar family's UAE-based ports company that is tightly connected to Russia and Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons programs.
In 2014 the Obama administration awarded Gulftainer a 35-year lease to Florida's Port Canaveral cargo container terminal in a secret deal code-named "Project Pelican."


text:
Anyone play the game, Temple Run? You know, the video game for phones and tablets where this great big, manic, hybrid gorilla-vulture creature chases your character as you dodge fire, rushing waterfalls, and treacherous cliffs at the same time as trying to collect shiny medallions and green gems? That's the one. We're big fans of that game around here, bordering on obsession, to the point that I had to give it up for Lent to prevent myself from spending every second of my already minimal free time dodging fire and escaping gorilla beasts.
Well, when my oldest son requested a Temple Run themed birthday party for his 6th birthday, I promptly replied, "No, they don't make Temple Run party supplies. I'm not even sure how we'd do that. Think of another theme. How about pirates or rock 'n' roll or superheroes?" But, my son is not easily dissuaded once he's stuck on an idea, so he persisted with his request. And I persisted with offering alternate ideas. Construction trucks, a luau, dinosaurs???
But after a bit of brainstorming with some friends, a vision for a Temple Run themed party started to evolve. We'd construct a Temple Run obstacle course in the backyard. There'd be fire and waterfalls and a cave. There'd be green gems and monkeys and tropical birds. There'd be a terrifying gorilla chasing our young party guests through the course, as they attempted to gather gold medallions and green gems to redeem for goody bag treats. Perhaps we'd need to ask parents to sign a waiver as they arrived with the party guests, sort of like those waivers of death they merrily hand you as you arrive at a bounce house party. (Kidding, sort of.) My husband was skeptical about this insane plan, but I'm just about as hard to dissuade as our six year old, once I'm set on an idea.
As if by fate, in the early stages of my party planning, I received an email from a party supply company, Shindigz, offering to send me a gift certificate to sample their products and services, in order to share my experience with all of you. It was kismet. It only took a few minutes of browsing their site to spark a million ideas. During a quick search for jungle party supplies, my plan for a Temple Run obstacle course became clear. I found green festooning in three different colors to use to as tropical vines framing the perimeter of our course. Rolls of sheer gossamer fabric printed in a water pattern would create the perfect waterfall obstacle. A shimmery foil banner printed with flames would become our fire obstacle. Plastic gold medallions became the coins we needed to entice our temple runners – coins which they could later redeem for goody bag treats. Tropical birds and monkeys lent an exotic feel to my run of the mill backyard. We added tiki lantern garland and a hanging fiery pot to complete the atmosphere. The hardest part was narrowing down my wish list from Shindigz' extensive collection of party supplies. I was so happy with everything I received and how fast it got to me, that I actually placed a second order for more festooning and a variety of streamers, which arrived just as quickly.
Once the vision for our 'Temple Run' course was in place, all that was left to do was plan an appropriately themed menu. Admittedly, I was stuck for quite a while. I even tried researching the supposed setting for the Temple Run game, but came up empty handed. Then, I started thinking about Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. I certainly wasn't about to go down the monkey brains and snake-stuffed snakes route for our menu, but then it occurred to me that Temple of Doom took place in India, which just happens to serve up some of my family's favorite food. In fact, chicken tikka masala with naan is high on the list of the birthday boy's favorite foods.
An Indian-themed buffet it would be. From that point, it was just a matter of selecting dishes that would appeal to both children and adults, as well as people who might not be so adventurous when it comes to trying new foods. The other top priority was ease of reheating during the party.
This was the Indian-themed 'Temple Run' menu we settled on:Chicken Tikka Masala Naan* Basmati Rice with Cinnamon, Cardamon, and Peas Indian-Spiced Meatballs with Raita Beef and Potato Samosas with Mango Chutney Indian Chickpeas Mango Lassis (Mango Yogurt Smoothies)
We also served a large platter of fresh fruit as well as a plate full of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, for anyone craving something a bit less adventurous. The PB&Js went largely untouched, as our Temple Run menu was enjoyed by most of our guests, big and small. I've linked to the recipes for the chicken tikka masala and naan in the menu above. (Rather than grill the naan, as in the linked recipe, I cooked them on a baking sheet, several inches under the broiler for about two minutes on the first side, a minute on the second. Worked like a charm!) I'll be sharing the recipes for the Indian Chickpeas and Mango Lassis in the near future.
Today, I'm sharing the recipe for the Indian-spiced meatballs and raita. Raita is a refreshing yogurt dip, not too different from a Greek tzatziki sauce. It's frequently served as a cooling counterbalance to spicy Indian dishes, and while these meatballs are not overly spicy, the raita makes a perfect dip. (Kids love to dip stuff. Trust me.) I added these meatballs to the menu mostly to appeal to our younger guests, but they were a notable hit with the bigger guests too!
A GIVEAWAY!!! My friends at Shindigz are offering a $50 gift card to one lucky reader, to give you a chance to enjoy their wide variety of part supplies. With graduation and summer barbecue season just around the corner, I'm sure that gift card would come in handy! To enter the drawing for the gift card, simply leave a comment below sharing what you think is the #1 factor which makes a memorable party! The winner will be selected using Random.org on Friday, May 31, 2013 at 12:00pm EST. One entry per person. 18 years or older. US mailing addresses only, please. Good luck!!
Indian-Spiced Meatballs
- 1 small or 1/2 medium onion, very finely diced
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 pound ground beef
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wipe a baking sheet with a little oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine the chopped onion, garlic, ginger, curry powder, garam masala, salt, cayenne pepper, eggs and bread crumbs (everything except the meat) in a large bowl, until evenly blended. Add the meat. Use your hands to combine the mixture, just enough to evenly disperse the ingredients.
Form the mixture into balls, about 1 1/2″ in diameter. Place them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes, until cooked through.
Makes about 24 small meatballs
Cucumber Mint Raita
- 1 large seedless cucumber
- 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
- 1/8 cup fresh mint leaves, finely diced
- Salt and pepper
Use a box grater to finely grate the cucumber. Squeeze the cucumber gratings to remove as much liquid as possible. (If you have a piece of cheesecloth available, it's useful to place the cucumber gratings inside the cheesecloth, then squeeze to remove the excess liquid.) Combine the cucumber, yogurt, and chopped fresh mint. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Disclaimer – Shindigz provided me with $100 gift card to sample their products and services in order to share my experience with you. All opinions expressed in this post are completely my own.


text:
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text:
It is clear that school is not the sole provider in a community's educational system and after-school programs play an integral role in extending the learning day for many students. Given the flexibility around content and program model, out-of-school time (OST) providers often have the unique ability to innovate more quickly than traditional public schools. These innovative after-school programs can drive better blended learning adoption, bringing effective personalized learning opportunities to students beyond just those in charter schools
I witnessed this first hand during my time at Citizen Schools, a nonprofit founded back in 1995 with the mission to revive the apprenticeship model and bring relevant, project-based learning opportunities to students after school. In California, they have forged strong partnerships with prominent tech companies such as Google and Cisco to introduce students to web development, creating Android apps and the BizWorld entrepreneurship program.
Tinkering with the Model
Over the past few years Citizen Schools has experimented with various blended learning approaches, drawing on best practices from tech-focused charter schools to bring personalized instruction to more students. In California, pilots began in 2010 using TenMarks and Khan Academy during homework help sessions. Those early informal trials showed the potential for these online tools to augment math instruction without it feeling like 'more school.' This year Citizen Schools is continuing with pilots at two sites, Ronald McNair Academy in East Palo Alto and Bronx Writing Academy in New York, with plans to expand pilots to approximately ten schools this fall.
Leadership, at the school and program level, is integral to running an effective site. In launching the program at McNair this year, Citizen Schools recruited Adrian Breckel who was formerly Academic Dean at Rocketship, a leading blended learning charter network. Breckel has worked tirelessly with Ravenswood School District and McNair's Principal, Jen Gravem, who have been cautiously optimistic about how the Citizen Schools team can help implement this model.
Let Me Upgrade You
The shift to blended learning at McNair has been in the works for years. In 2011 the school received a School Improvement Grant (SIG) from the Department of Ed, which they used to fund a major technology upgrade which included going 1:1 and and installing state of the art projection and sound systems in each classroom. This tech overhaul also included an investment in selecting iReady as their core software system. Breckel shares that "the usage of this technology (hardware) is fairly integrated throughout the day in different ways; teachers use projectors and doc cams fairly regularly and also assign homework that includes using the districts portal and tools such as the internet and Google Docs." However, the usage of online software is inconsistent since there is not official guideline or push on how to integrate iReady into instruction. This is where Citizen Schools stepped in to help integrate iReady and create more consistent personalized learning opportunities.
Early Signs of Success
Though the blended learning pilot just launched back in November there have been some clear signs of effectiveness. The iReady dashboard and other software tools help streamline communication between the school day and after-school educators, making it easier to meet student needs. Another benefit is teachers have more flexibility with flipped classroom approaches, including assigning homework via Google Docs, knowing the kids will have access to laptops and the network after school. (This is such an important piece of this work in communities where most kids do not have access to devices and internet at home.) Beckel is most excited about the ability for her educators to conduct small group instruction, which was a crucial aspect of Rocketship's model.
The district recognizes that creating a culture of experimentation during the after-school hours enables them to test other approaches, such as the new computer-based assessment coming from SmarterBalance. The District's STEM Coordinator, Robert Pronovost, who has extensive knowledge of blended learning has been a strong ally. Pronovost and colleagues from the district, Soloman Hill and Liz Gordon-Stoll, have gone above and beyond to show their support by teaching apprenticeships themselves. Hill, the Director of Technology, combined his own passions to design an apprenticeship entitled "Jedi Consulting" which allows students to learn about many new technologies and become consultants for school districts who are looking to implement technology successfully. This apprenticeship requires that students gain an intimate knowledge of different aspects of tech tools including usage, pricing, success rates, functionality, as well as assessing school needs.
This type of collaboration between the school, district and Citizen Schools is instrumental in making the program successful. This marriage between integral entities in the school system models how after-school providers can bring much-needed energy and talent to help schools create effective blended learning environments for more students.


text:
we do what we must . . .
August 6, 2011
a long time ago,
a mason from ireland left
and came to the united states.
he briefly settled in brooklyn, married
a woman who's name has been lost,
and upon having a son, john,
finally settled in corktown,
detroit's oldest neighborhood.
this man was named stephen martin,
my great great great grandfather.
upon my birth,
my mother decided to give me his name,
tying me forever to a man without whom
i would never have made it here.
but in what can only be called the metaphor of my existence,
she misspelled it.
and so my ancestor's name,
already anglicized from the irish,
had now been americanized
in a city once owned by the french.
i've often heard that there's a lot of power in a name.
and this misspelling, i now feel, was a kind of curse.
nothing i seem to do ever follows a proper path;
everything must have an accidental twist,
one based on false certainty.
what this has meant for me is that,
while my life won't ever be what one's should,
it has been one that i wouldn't change anything about.
not one thing.
would i trade finding the "knock" my family left behind in county kerry,
or petting a panda bear while he at an apple in chengdu,
or walking the early morning streets of paris at christmastime,
or burning in the himalayan sunshine outside the potala palace,
or a shockingly thorough olive oil massage from a burly greek woman on the coast of santorini for
a mortgage?
a wedding ring?
financial security?
i can't say as i would.
but i have often wondered
if marching to the beat of my own disco
means i won't get the chance to pass along a name,
misspelled or otherwise, if,
in twenty years time,
i'd regret not
being more
sometimes i wonder if passing on a name is important to me,
or important enough to me.
i'm not sure, but
i wonder.
in what can only be considered the craziest of signs,
it turns out that my name will live on,
just not in the usual form.
(bien sur)
and so here we meet little steven ambrose (jr)
a baby alpaca, born on august 5th, 2011.
he's sure to spend many a happy day with sally of rivendale farms,
who you may recognize from the comments.
that email was a solar flare during a starless moment for me.
you're timing couldn't have been more impeccable.
thanks sally.
of course,
i'm allergic to alpacas.
this is my life.
11 Responses to "we do what we must . . ."
August 6, 2011 at 5:38 pm
I guess I'm not surprised.
August 6, 2011 at 6:05 pm
Congratulations Steven! He's as cute as you are!
August 6, 2011 at 6:21 pm
These were taken right after he was born, he's getting cuter every day. (And better news, which I'm sure you'll appreciate even more – he is not destined to be neutered. Just thought you should know and be reassured.) I personally think he's as cute as his namesake, and good to know the name lives on.
August 6, 2011 at 7:54 pm
And as a compliment to his namesake, he's as unique to Alpaca-dom as Steven Ambrose is to the knitting community. He's a tuxedo grey with a brown saddle. How unusual is that? Very! Hopefully, I will go give him kisses soon, as his barn is just a couple of miles from mine. Know that he will be loved, adored and spoiled at Rivendale Farms and he will breed many comely alpaca dams and your namesake will have magnificent generations.
Cheers to you!
August 7, 2011 at 10:18 am
How stinkin' cute is this?! Love it!
August 7, 2011 at 12:04 pm
So, perhaps I was relinking you to your ggg grandfather when I misspelled your name? Family lines, names, and biology are often on my mind these days, for reasons I will not go into here.
But know that even if biologically you contribute little to the advancement of humankind (I am in the same boat), your presence here makes a difference to the people around you.
And if Steven Ambrose Jr grows up to be an ornery bastard, well, you can take pride in that too.
August 8, 2011 at 12:58 pm
This post made me laugh. Thanks and congratulations!
August 8, 2011 at 9:55 pm
August 5th. It's a good day to have a birthday. 😉
August 8, 2011 at 11:35 pm
He is so handsome, I'd think he were your biological son if not for the number of hooves ;-)!
As for the allergy — talk to your doctor. What's the cost of some Claritin or an asthma inhaler if you get to hug and properly welcome your namesake to your extended family? Or get to spin &/or knit some of his wool into something extra special for you or young Master Ambrose's "grandparents"????
Since then, judicious use of Claritin and open windows, with Benadryl and an asthma inhaler as backup, have allowed me to
August 8, 2011 at 11:38 pm
Eeep! Never mind that last bit — part of a longer story I decided not to tell here, but didn't completely delte!
March 28, 2012 at 1:04 am
[…] may recall that there's an alpaca in colorado named after me. well now there's a baby chick in oregon named in my honor. meet ambrosia: the fiber world is […]


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Shout! Factory has proven throughout 2014 to be one of the leading providers of quality home entertainment releases. That's thanks to releases such as Mr. Ed: The Complete Series, Hey Arnold!: The Complete Series, and a number of stand-alone DVDs and Blu-rays for the whole family. With the start of the new year, Shout! Factory will pick up where it left off this year—at the top of the home entertainment world. On Tuesday, January 6th, Shout! Factory will re-issue on Blu-ray, the 1978 classic movie The Boys From Brazil. The movie is based on the novel by author Ira Levin (Rosemary's Baby) and stars screen legends Gregory Peck (To Kill A Mockingbird, The Scarlet and the Black, Roman Holiday), Sir Laurence Olivier (Rebecca, Spartacus, Clash of the Titans), and James Mason (20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, North By Northwest, Thunder Rock).
Olivier stars in the movie's lead role as elderly Nazi hunter Ezra Lieberman. Lieberman has spent the better part of his life hunting down the last remaining pockets of the Third Reich. Now in his waning years, Lieberman uncovers a secret plot to assassinate nearly one hundred unconnected men around the world as he hunts for any former Nazis. Having made the discovery, it's up to Lieberman to stop the plot in question, which could have very bad results for the entire human race. His efforts to keep the plot from happening eventually leads to a confrontation with the man behind the plot, Dr. Josef Mengele (Peck).
The Boys From Brazil's upcoming January re-issue marks the first time that the movie has ever been released on Blu-ray. It will retail for MSRP of 24.97. Audiences can pre-order the movie online via Shout! Factory's online store for a discounter price of $19.97 at https://www.shoutfactory.com/film/film-drama/the-boys-from-brazil. More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online at:
Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com
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Abcarian: Looking for swimmer in cereal aisle
As Diana Nyad crawled out of the sea Monday, she was a wobbly, disoriented ball of inspiration for our times, a rebuke to the idea that we age out of our dreams.
It took her five tries, but she finally swam unprotected from Cuba to Key West, Fla.
Who has that kind of drive at 64? Who has that kind of heart?
Even if she hadn't completed this 110-mile swim, she'd be an inspiration to all the aging baby boomers who fight to stay fit but secretly wonder if the battle is lost, or all the hormone-challenged women who think they're too tired to tie on their running shoes each day. Really, she's an inspiration to anyone, anywhere who wonders how to persevere through failure.
It took her five tries, but Nyad, a once-great long-distance swimmer, finally achieved her "extreme dream." The poisonous jellyfish stings, asthma attacks and bad weather that plagued her previous swims were blissfully absent.
Still, watching a video of her final moments in the water was both exhilarating and painful.
You could barely see her at first, as a cheering crowd, standing in the water, obscured the exhausted swimmer.
But then, the crowd parted, and there she was, still swimming, nearly 53 hours after leaping off a seawall into the ocean in Havana.
As her feet found the sand, she seemed weakened and unsure. This was not the picture of some triumphant athlete at the peak of her power. This was a 64-year-old woman on her last leg. She looked dazed, wobbly, disoriented. Her face was burnt and swollen. Surrounded by cameras and screaming fans, Nyad stumbled alone. No one touched her. She came ashore under her own considerably diminished power.
In 1978, her first attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida had ended in failure. There was one more long swim, from the Bahamas to Florida in 1979. Then, she stopped swimming altogether. She became a journalist, wrote books, appeared regularly as a commentator on public radio programs and television.
In 2010, after some heartbreak - the death of her mother - she began grappling with what she called "existential angst." The years were passing quickly and she had unfinished business: that Cuba-to-Florida swim record she had undertaken so many years earlier. She had not swum a stroke in 31 years.
In 2011, amid tremendous publicity, she failed again. A few months later, she gave a TED talk about her swim. Its irresistible title: "Extreme Swimming with the World's Most Dangerous Jellyfish."
She was funny, serious and upbeat. To pass the time while swimming, she said, she counted numbers in four languages and sang to herself from a list of songs she'd memorized in a particular order.
"I couldn't wait to get into the dark in the middle of the night because that's when Neil Young comes out," she said. "You'd think you'd be singing Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' out in the majesty of the ocean, not songs about heroin addiction in New York City. For some reason, I couldn't wait to get into the dark of the night and be singing, 'I heard you knocking at my cellar door/ I love you baby and I want some more/ Oh, oh, the damage done.'"
Even her 65-song mental playlist, she said, was not enough to overcome jellyfish stings that injected her with a poison that slowed her respiration and movements. That swim was not a failure, she said. It was a prelude to what she felt certain would be her eventual success.
"The difference in accepting this particular defeat is that sometimes, if cancer has won, if there's death and we have no choice, then grace and acceptance are necessary," Nyad said. "But that ocean's still there. This hope is still alive. And I don't want to be the crazy woman who does it for years and years and years, and tries and fails and tries and fails and tries and fails, but I can swim from Cuba to Florida, and I will swim from Cuba to Florida."
And so she did. On Monday, when she caught her breath, she said she had three messages: "One is we should never, ever give up. Two is you never are too old to chase your dreams. Three is it looks like a solitary sport, but it takes a team."
I hope they're still putting champions on Wheaties boxes.
I want to see that woman in my cereal aisle.
• Robin Abcarian is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times.


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Story highlights
Iranian nuclear negotiators arrive in Istanbul, Turkey, for talks
Iran could bring "new initiatives" to the discussions, its top negotiator says
State media says Iranian officials are not encouraged going into the meeting
Iran is under intense pressure to rein in its nuclear program
Iranian nuclear negotiators arrived Friday and began consultations with Chinese and Russian counterparts on the eve of international talks on the country's nuclear program, state media reported.
Iran's top negotiator, Saeed Jalili, has said he intends to bring "new initiatives" to talks Saturday with delegates from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the United States, France, Russia, China, and Britain – and Germany.
That group has spearheaded diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to rein in its nuclear program, which Iran has said is purely peaceful but which U.N. and Western leaders suspect of having military aims, including a possible nuclear weapon.
On Friday, Iran's official Press TV cited a source close to the Iranian delegation in reporting that Iran sees little encouraging coming from the remarks of European and U.S. officials ahead of the talks.
Iran has been under increasing pressure to accept international demands to restrict its nuclear program, including a series of increasingly harsh economic sanctions imposed by European nations and the United States.
Last month, Iranian officials signaled they were ready to engage with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, over the issue. The European Union said Monday that Iran had agreed to Saturday's talks in Istanbul.
Iran suggested last week that one proposal may be a reduction in the amount of uranium it enriches to 20%, but it was unclear Friday if such a proposal was still on the table.
While the enrichment isn't enough to create nuclear weapons, which require a uranium content of 90% or more, analysts and inspectors say it is step toward being able to create a nuclear weapon.
Last month, the IAEA noted what it called a sharp and troubling increase in Iran's uranium enrichment capabilities.
Iran says the enrichment is for research and medical needs.
As a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Iran has the right, like other countries, to enrich uranium for commercial and research reactors. But the same facilities that are used for peaceful enrichment can be used to enrich uranium for a bomb, and inspectors say they have not been able to fully gauge Iran's intentions.
IAEA inspectors traveled to Iran in January and again in February to discuss the issue but said Iran refused to grant inspectors access to a military base the agency believes may have been used to test explosives that could be used to detonate a nuclear bomb.
Last month, IAEA director Yukiya Amano said the agency has credible information that Iran has engaged in "activities relevant to the development of nuclear explosive devices."
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton admonished Iranian officials to come to Istanbul willing to make progress on international demands.
"This is a chance for Iran to credibly address the concerns of the international community," Clinton said. "Iran, coming to the table, needs to demonstrate that they are serious."
A top Iranian religious leader, Ayatollah Mohammad Emami-Kashani, countered Friday that Western leaders should back off, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency.
They should, instead, "react to Iran's proposals logically and stop the current unconstructive accusations against the Islamic Republic," IRNA quoted him as saying.


text:
I tried to commit suicide after my first wartime deployment ended.
Set to go on watch, I loaded my .45 with a single bullet. Pulling the slide back, the round clicked into place with a heavy sigh. I felt the weight rising from my shoulders as I neared what I thought I wanted.
To be free. No more nightmares waking in cold sweats, dead bodies all around me. It was the kids most of all that got to me. Whenever we would canvass the area and find the kids, just as dead as the rest, my teeth clenched, I choked back the scream trying to get out and I turned back to a room of smiling soldiers who seem relieved to be alive, laughing and joking in the face of death. What was wrong with me that I didn't? Couldn't?
I put the gun into my mouth and closed my eyes. I locked my teeth around the barrel.
Then I heard a child crying outside my window; loud, shrill and perfectly pitiful. I put the gun down, disgusted with myself, and looked out the window. I could shoot myself right after I shut this kid up.
"Hey Kid, what are you doing on this side of the base. Housing's that way."
"I'm lost." Blubbering followed.
Really? "Do you know where your mommy was when you lost her?" More crying. Not the right question. "Okay, do you know where you live on base?"
"What's your address?"
"I don't know. But I know what my house looks like."
Not a big help since all military housing looked almost exactly the same. Okay, I had two hours before I was supposed to be on watch or dead, so I'd run the kid home and get back to my business.
"Okay kid, quit crying. We're going to get you home. Where were you before you got here? Don't be upset, just think. Take your time." He's was cute kid when he wasn't bawling his eyes out. I gave him my handkerchief and he proceeded to clean himself up. After blowing his nose, he tried to hand back my handkerchief, I waved it off, suggesting he put it in his pocket.
I won't need it where I'm going.
Looking more presentable, we set out. We got to the PX and walked around hoping someone would recognize the kid. After ten minutes, one of the store managers indicate d she knew Kyle. She checked the store records and gave me the address.
Kyle seemed happy and took my hand before running out the door. Despite the apparent closeness, it was nearly another half hour before we got to their home. The parents, Richard and Linda were as happy as Kyle was to see them. After the hugging and kissing, I noticed a load of boxes sitting on the porch and could see other boxes crowding the living room window.
"You folks look busy, so I'm going to jet, if that's okay."
Linda looked up from her son and hugged me. I wasn't sure what to do with my hands so I just stood there. Military husbands ranged from civilized to crazed. Didn't want a fight after doing such a good deed.
"No Sargent, we insist you sit and have a bit of food with us. It will only take a minute." Richard's smile was warm and friendly and I found myself agreeing without realizing it.
Linda was a great cook and had been slow cooking a roast most of the day. Everything was simple, rich and filling. Just like my mom used to make back in Kentucky. "So where are you folks moving to?"
Richard stood and began packing another box on the sofa. "Hawaii. That's where I'm from. We are leaving the military after twenty years. My time's up. Linda and I have been married for a decade and have never managed to make it back to the Big Island. It'll be Kyle's first time too."
A lifer. A happy lifer at that. I guess I could understand. He had a lot to be happy about. I helped them pack until it was time to go on duty.
I always had tomorrow to blow my brains out.
The next morning I felt better, a lot better in fact, and thought I might go help Richard and Linda finish packing. I still had two years to go but seeing them escaping the life intact gave me hope for my own future.
I went back to the house but there was nothing there. House was empty, no cars in the garage, nothing. Had they shipped out last night? No way. There was still far too much packing to be done.
I ran to the PX and asked the cute manager about Kyle's family. "It's too bad, isn't it? Been almost a year to the day now."
"What's too bad?"
"People really liked them. They were a great family."
Okay, what did I miss? "What happened to them?"
"Master Sergeant Watkins and his family died in a plane crash on their way to the Big Island of Hawaii."
"That's not possible." I saw them yesterday.
The young manager, Karen, her name badge said, went into the back office and came out with a small laminated square, with a family photo and an accompanying news article. The date of their death was yesterday, one year ago.
These were, in fact, the faces of the people I ate with, but I had never seen them before yesterday. I ran out of the PX and back to what was the Watkins' residence. I looked into the window, I could see the marks on the floor where I sat. Everything was as I remembered it.
I tried the door handle and found it open. I looked around inside. The air was stuffy and thick with dust. My loud footfalls bounced off the walls.
I sat down. Did I dream it? How do you dream of people you don't know? Have I cracked? No, people said they knew them, albeit a year ago. Ghosts? Angels? I don't believe in either…
I sat quietly contemplating the universe and what I didn't know about it.
I heard a truck pull up outside. A young soldier, his wife and a new baby followed in a mini-SUV. They converse with the driver before approaching me. "No, you've got the right place." It was starting to rain.
"Do you need any help?"
"You're really offering? My friends couldn't make it. What do I owe you?" He was young, maybe twenty.
I smiled, the same smile Richard gave me, one without reservation. "Don't worry about it. Just returning a favor…"
Paying it Forward © Thaddeus Howze 2013, All Rights Reserved


text:
LightSquared is rallying its political supporters together as it fights to get approval to build its wireless broadband network from the FCC.
A growing number of Congressional leaders and state officials are urging the Federal Communications Commission to move forward with its review of LightSquared, the controversial startup that plans to build a national wireless broadband network using satellite spectrum.
Last week, Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) sent a letter to FCC chairman Julius Genachowski in support of the company and its plans.
"I write to express concern about delays in the approval process involving LightSquared's proposed 4G-LTE wireless broadband network," Conyers wrote in a letter sent last week. "I strongly urge the Commission to move with urgency to fully test potential solutions to the LightSquared-GPS interference issue employing transparent, fact-based methodologies, common-sense standards and independent testing facilities."
In total seven Congressional leaders have filed letters with the FCC supporting LightSquared's bid to build its network. And since December 13 state officials, including the governor of Mississippi have also sent letters of support to the FCC. Congressional leaders and state officials have been a mix of Democrats and Republicans.
What these lawmakers and government officials are saying is that the FCC should give LightSquared the green-light to build its nationwide wireless broadband network, because it would offer more competition and more bandwidth in the market at a time when competition and additional bandwidth are both very much needed.
"I think there is a common perception that the political weight is on the side of the GPS industry, because they have been effective in getting their constituents to say all kinds of scary things about what will happen if our network is buit," said Jeff Carlisle, executive vice president for regulatory affairs and public policy for LightSquared. "They do this to isolate us. But what they're saying simply is not true. And people all over the country, including our partners know that. They can see we are trying to offer something valuable to American consumers and businesses. And that's the support the letters from state legislators and from our supporters on the Hill are showing."
A year ago, the FCC granted LightSquared a waiver to use its spectrum, which is supposed to be used for satellite and terrestrial communications, for terrestrial only use. As a condition of this waiver, the FCC said that there can't be any harmful interference between LightSquared and others in nearby spectrum.
But the GPS industry claims that LightSquared's network will interfere with its receivers. And it has launched a political war against LightSquared to stop the network from being built.
Meanwhile, LightSquared acknowledges potential interference issues, and it's already agreed to not use the spectrum closest to the GPS bands. It's also demonstrated how filters can be used to mitigate interference.
But the GPS industry still claims this is not enough. And in a recent hearing government officials, who use GPS technology, testified that LightSquared's network would interfere with critical systems, including those used for aviation.
Now the FCC must decide whether it sides with the GPS industry and reject the waiver and LightSquared's license to use the spectrum to build this wireless broadband network. Or it decides that the interference can be mitigated and grants LightSquared the right to build its network.
Meanwhile, some Republicans have questioned whether the FCC and the White House have been showing LightSquared favoritism for allowing the waiver in the first place. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has vowed to block President Obama's two FCC nominees unless the FCC releases documents regarding LightSquared's review.
Sprint Nextel, LightSquared's largest partner, is hoping an FCC decision can be reached by mid-March.


text:
Big Cat Readers Pack: Book Band Green x 4 Pack
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text:
Preaching Christ Crucified at Theophany
On January 6th, Orthodox Christians gather together for the Feast of Theophany. This feast is the third most important feast day in the Orthodox Church (after Pascha and Pentecost). Yes, it's even more important than Christmas! On this day, we commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. One question that always arises during this festal season is, "Why was Jesus, the sinless Word of God made flesh, baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist?" There are several theologically correct answers. The hymnography and prayers of the feast state that Jesus' baptism sanctifed the nature of the waters, enlightened all creation, allowed celestials to celebrate and commune with the terrestrials, and made manifest the worship of the Trinity. However, there is another important aspect to this feast. If we look at Scripture and His baptism, we can see the promised fulfi llment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning His sacrificial death on the Cross. Thus, like the apostles, we can preach "Christ crucified" (I Corinthians 1:23) – the very heart of the Gospel – on the feast of Theophany.
First, let's take a look at John's baptism. It was not the same as our baptism today. In the sacrament of baptism, we were cleansed of ancestral sin, illumined, justified, given the seal of the Holy Spirit, and made complete and full members of Christ's one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. This is baptism's function in the post-Resurrection and post-Pentecost Church. But John's baptism was before all this. So, what was it? In Mark 1:4–5 we read,
John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and all were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
The gospels also tell us that John the Baptist was the voice crying in the wilderness that prepared the way of the Lord, as foretold in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1–7. At the sound of that voice, the people came to John, confessed their sins, and were baptized, promising to change their ways and to bear fruit worthy of repentance. John's baptism was a type of Jewish purification ritual in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.
So again, the question arises, "If Jesus is God incarnate, and sinless, why does He need to enter into this purification ritual for sinners?" Even John didn't want to baptize Jesus, but stated that he should be baptized by Jesus. In Matthew 3:15, though, Jesus states,
"Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."
Despite John's hesitance, Jesus submits to baptism at the hand of John the Baptist. The meaning behind all this is made clear if we turn to the Old Testament.
In Leviticus 16, we read about the Day of Atonement. This religious ceremony involved the sacrifice of several animals, including two goats. We read that Aaron the high priest was to
take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot shall be for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. . . . Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. So shall he make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins . . . (Leviticus 16:7–8, 15–16).
From this passage, we learn that the first goat was a sin offering that was sacrificed on behalf of the sinful Israelite people.
A few verses later we read about the second goat, the scapegoat:
And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:20-22).
This second goat was not killed; hands were laid upon it, sins confessed over it, then the goat was driven into the wilderness. In Old Testament times, banishment into the wilderness meant certain death. The scapegoat symbolized for the Israelite people the removal of sin by the placing of the sin on some other entity so that it became the bearer of sin. In the New Testament, it is Jesus who takes on the roles of both sacrificial animals.
First, Jesus is our scapegoat. At His baptism, the Sinless One took upon Himself, willingly and voluntarily, all of the sins of humanity – past, present, and future. Every sin, every transgression, every fault, and every error of fallen humanity is now laid upon Jesus' head. In doing this, He fulfills the type seen in the Levitical scapegoat. After being baptized and assuming the burden of humanity's sins, Jesus exits to the wilderness for forty days. The new scapegoat is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. But wait, there's more!
Second, Jesus is the fulfillment of the sin offering – the other goat from the Day of Atonement. Unlike the scapegoat, Jesus doesn't die in the wilderness. He goes into the wilderness for forty days to fast and to defeat the temptations of the devil. After that, He returns from the desert and begins His public ministry. Remember, however, that baptism itself involves water. This is important because in the Old Testament water is often a symbol of chaos and death! Thus, in His descent into the waters of the Jordan River at the hands of His cousin, John the Baptist, we see foreshadowed the death of Jesus on the Cross at the hands of his own people. By His crucifixion, Life-Giving Divinity enters into the chaotic waters of death, subdues it, and destroys it. Then, just as Jesus arises from the waters at His baptism, He also arises from the chaotic waters of death at His Resurrection on the third day.
The good news for us on the feast day of Theophany is this: No longer do we have to offer goats and banish goats year after year which, as it states in Hebrews 10, can never make the offerers perfect. Now, we have a perfect sacrifi ce – a perfect someone – to lay our sins upon. The old Adam tried to make Eve and the serpent his scapegoats and caused mankind to be cast out of the Garden of Eden. Jesus, the new Adam, comes and takes responsibility for sin and suffers God's wrath against sin so we don't have to (Isaiah 53:3–8). By becoming the perfect and sinless scapegoat and sin offering, He takes away sin and the resultant sting of death, and prepares the way to paradise and the unending presence of the light and love of God for those who believe. Let us believers place our sins, our failures, our passions, and our despairs on Jesus so that He can drown them by the virtue of His baptism. On the great and holy feast-day of Theophany, just as those Old Testament priests partook of the flesh of the sin offering, let us, with joy in our hearts, as the priesthood of all believers, partake of the Body and Blood of the crucified Christ who deigned to be baptized in the Jordan River for our salvation. Glory to Jesus Christ!
Fr. Stephen Salaris is pastor of All Saints of North America Antiochian Orthodox Mission.


text:
The Philadelphia Spiders?
The Phillies, who have brought new meaning to the phrase "home away from home," are in St. Petersburg tonight, giving us time to contemplate the insanity of a divisional leader having lost 22 of its first 35 games in its own park. For the record, in the NL East only the Mets are at .500 or better at home, and that 13-22 mark for the Phils compares unfavorably to Washington's 12-23 home start.


text:
Jalna by Mazo de la Roche ~ 1927. This edition: Macmillan, 1977. Hardcover. ISBN: 333-02528-8. 290 pages.
My rating: 5.5/10
This dramatically romantic novel by a young Canadian writer won a literary prize of $10,000 upon its publication nearly a century ago: an astonishing amount for the time, equivalent to something like $132,000 in today's currency. (I looked that bit up using a handy-dandy inflation-indexed currency converter I found online.)
Spurred on by her success, Mazo de la Roche went on to write another fifteen Ontario-set installments in the Whiteoaks family saga, creating something of a literary cottage industry of sequential books, assorted editions and collections, and theatrical, radio and filmed productions for the next fifty years.
I was well aware of this novel and its reputation as an iconic bit of literary Canadiana, but I hadn't actually read it until this year.
My verdict: I'm not stacking up the other 15 on my night table for essential reading, though I might possibly poke my nose into another one if the mood feels right. I do have a number of them stashed away, found at a library book sale some years ago. I gave them to my mother, and she returned them with not much comment, which should have been a bit of a tip-off.
No hurry on the others, though. Jalna was not particularly compelling. In fact, only okayish is as far as I'm willing to commit myself on this one.
The plot in a nutshell: Wealthy matriarch Adeline Whiteoak is approaching her 100th birthday, and her various offspring and descendants circle round her angling for her slightly senile blessing.
One grandson unpopularily marries a local girl, by-blow of the man who once unsuccessfully courted one of Adeline's daughters, while another brings home an American bluestocking. Both brides soon come to think that perhaps they have chosen the wrong brothers. The eldest of Adeline's grandsons, broodingly charismatic, ceaselessly womanizing and still-single Renny, catches the eye of the American wife, while her spouse in turn dallies with his brother's bride. Much chewing of the scenery ensues, helped along by the unmarried members of the family, Adeline's two elderly sons and her much-past-her-prime passive-aggressive daughter.
Absolute soap opera. Think a lowish-rent Gone With the Wind, sans Civil War and southern drawls and a horribly likeable heroine, but with similar over-the-top romantic heart-throbbings and dirty little secrets. (Perhaps not really the best comparison, but it was what popped into my mind. It's not really like GWTW at all. Perhaps Mazo de la Roche does stand alone.)
And there's an elderly parrot, and a cheeky young boy, to provide much-needed levity, though not enough to ultimately save this overwrought thing from itself.