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Villa Palmera
3710 Calpe, Spain –
|Room Type
Two Bedroom Villa
Interhome is a vacation rental provider founded in 1965. We are an International entity with its head office located in Switzerland. With more than 33.000 vacation homes and apartments in more than 30 countries to choose from, you will find the perfect getaway that best fits your expectations and your budget. Interhome is highly dedicated to making your vacation an unforgettably pleasant experience, through an efficient and secure booking process, reliable key handover, and assistance during your stay. We are available for any enquiries 24/7.
Area Info –
Closest Landmarks
- Peñón de Ifach Natural Park 2.4 miles
- Port de l'Olla d'Altea 4.1 miles
- Algar Waterfalls 7.1 miles
- Mundomar 9.8 miles
- Benidorm Palace 9.9 miles
- Aqualandia 9.9 miles
- Sierra Helada Natural Park 10 miles
- Tram Station Disco Benidorm 10.1 miles
- La Granadella Beach 10.6 miles
- Rincon Deloix 10.7 miles
Most Popular Landmarks
- Casino Mediterraneo Benidorm 10.7 miles
- Acqua Natura Park 10.9 miles
- Terra Natura 10.9 miles
- Mal Pas Beach 11.7 miles
- Terra Mítica 11.8 miles
- La Cala Beach 13.6 miles
- Les Rotes Beach 14 miles
- Denia Ferry Port 14.3 miles
- Les Marines Beach 14.8 miles
- Oliva Nova Golf 18 miles
Closest Airports
- Alicante Airport 40.4 miles
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Facilities of Villa Palmera
Most Popular Facilities
Private parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is not possible) and charges apply.
Free! WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.
- Oven
- Kitchenware
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator
- Shower
- Private bathroom
- Toilet
Living Area
- Dining area
- Fireplace
Media & Technology
- Satellite channels
Room Amenities
- Mosquito net
- Heating
Pets are not allowed.
- Barbecue
- Private pool
- Patio
Building Characteristics
- Detached
Outdoor & View
- Mountain view
- Sea view
Languages Spoken
- French
- Spanish
- German
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Until 10:00 AM
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to room type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.
Children and Extra Beds
All children are welcome.
One child under 2 years stays free of charge when using existing beds.
There is no capacity for cribs in the room.
Pets are not allowed.
Villa Palmera accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.
Please contact the Keyholder a few days before arrival to arrange your time of arrival
Please inform Villa Palmera of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details provided in your confirmation.
Please note that the full amount of the reservation is due before arrival. Interhome will send a confirmation with detailed payment information. After full payment is taken, the property's details, including the address and where to pick up the keys, will be sent to you by email.
A damage deposit of EUR 400 is required upon arrival – that's about 471.82USD. This deposit is fully refundable at check-out as long as there's been no damage to the property.
License number: AT-425385-A


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Global Environmental Change
Discussion of the distribution and abundance of living organisms and how these properties are affected by interactions between the organisms and their environment
Moderator: BioTeam
Problems Affecting Today's Society
As time goes by, the main preoccupation in today's world is science and technology. We live today in a time of challenge. Poverty, population, pollution explosion, the wasteful extraction and use of our country's land and waste resources and the social inequity among are people are the most problem affecting today's society.
Poverty, if we are fighting for it, we must be able to say were poverty is found and how extensive an enemy force poverty really is. We must be able to estimate how of that enemy appears in the form of inadequate food, inadequate clothing, inadequate medicine, irrelevant and insufficient education, wrong values and subhuman housing.
Then, if we fail to conserve water, we will have nothing to drink. If people denude the forests, they will not have trees to enjoy. If the businessmen and middlemen were more cooperative, the high prices would be controlled. If they had known the fish came from polluted pond, they wouldn't eaten it. If all the people supported the family planning program wholeheartedly, then the population would not have increase significantly. This conditional problem has a probable results that may affect us.
Today, as I noticed, we are coming to the stage when a declaration of war against poverty of the body, intellect, and spirit, against inequity in life's gains and opportunities, against the depletion of nature's wealth, against the pollution of our environment, and the controlled rise of population will be compelling, not only because, we owe it to ourselves, but also because we have to fulfill our duty to posterity.
And when our war is declared, will we prefer to fight our individual life's battles, or will we join the collective campaign?
Environmental Changes and Effects
Environmental Changes and Effects
Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. It can be a change in the average weather or a change in the distribution of weather events around an average (for example, greater or fewer extreme weather events). Climate change may be limited to a specific region, or may occur across the whole Earth.
In recent usage, especially in the context of environmental policy, climate change usually refers to changes in modern climate (see global warming). For information on temperature measurements over various periods, and the data sources available, see temperature record. For attribution of climate change over the past century, see attribution of recent climate change.
Factors that can shape climate are often called climate forcings. These include such processes as variations in solar radiation, deviations in the Earth's orbit, mountain-building and continental drift, and changes in greenhouse gas concentrations. There are a variety of climate change feedbacks that can either amplify or diminish the initial forcing. Some parts of the climate system, such as the oceans and ice caps, respond slowly in reaction to climate forcing because of their large mass. Therefore, the climate system can take centuries or longer to fully respond to new external forcings.
The technology does greatly affect our lives today. Information and Globalization Revolution brought changes not only to human but also to our nature. These changes are inversely proportionate to the environment because as we demand for high technology we also brought unobserved effects to the nature. Our attention is focused on the major economic problems. But we don't mind that more attention should be given to our environment. We experienced now a simultaneous typhoons and landslides. These climate changes threatened us because for some of it will going to happen much worst effect that it will cause.
[b]A serious challenge[/b]
A serious challenge
Climate change is one of the most serious challenges of this century. It is impacting people, animals, plants and natural environments – from the deepest ocean to the highest mountain.
The current rate of greenhouse gas emissions is likely to cause average world temperatures to rise above 2°C – a change which is expected to irreversibly alter all life on Earth.
Climate change will seriously affect humans, our environment, our health and our security. Rising sea levels, wildfires, floods, droughts and storms will become more common, and up to 30 percent of the planet's plant and animal species could become extinct.
The world has a wide range of possible solutions that will help combat climate change. Protecting and better managing natural resources is not only one of the most cost-effective, it is the one piece of the puzzle that we cannot afford not to do if we are to make the transition to a sustainable low-carbon world in the coming decades.
Global Warming and Ocean Environmental Changes
Global Warming and Ocean Environmental Changes
Climate Change Threat to Coastal Environment and Marine Biodiversity
Rising sea levels and increased ocean acidity, largely driven by global warming, herald looming environmental changes for coastal regions and marine biodiversity.
The effects of global warming are beginning to be felt in the marine environment. Thermal water expansion, caused by higher global air and water temperatures are causing a gradual increase in ocean levels, while melting ice caps threaten a more serious increase. Meanwhile, rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are causing the acidity of the ocean to increase with unknown environmental consequences for marine biodiversity.
Environmental Effects of Rising Sea Levels
Whether caused by thermal expansion due to increased temperatures or melting of ice caps, the rising sea levels threaten dire environmental consequences for the entire globe.
Chapter 5 of Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and published by Cambridge University Press in 2007 states, "Global mean sea level has been rising. From 1961 to 2003, the average rate of sea level rise was 1.8 ± 0.5 mm yr–1. For the 20th century, the average rate was 1.7 ± 0.5 mm yr–1, consistent with the TAR estimate of 1 to 2 mm yr– 1".
A report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, published in January 2009, titled "Coastal Sensitivity to Sea Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region" predicted, "Rising sea level and the potential for stronger storms pose an increasing threat to coastal cities, residential communities, infrastructure, beaches, wetlands, and ecosystems. The potential impacts to the United States extend across the entire country".
Chapter 4 of Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change, edited by Hans J.Schellnhuber, and published by Cambridge University Press in 2006 states, "The main causes of increased global average sea level during the 21st century are likely to be thermal expansion of the ocean, melting of small glaciers, and the melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets".
Increasing Ocean Acidity and the Marine Environment
Rising sea levels is not the only result of climate change. Ocean acidification, caused by increased uptake of carbon dioxide by the oceans is now recognized as having a severe environmental effect on marine biodiversity.
In the article "Ocean Acidification may Increase Calcification Rates", published in the May 2008 edition of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the author, Hannah L. Wood states, "Species with calcium carbonate skeletons, such as mollusks, crustaceans and echinoderms, are particularly susceptible to ocean acidification. As pH decreases, so too does carbonate availability that has led some authors to conclude that ocean acidification will result in reduced rates of calcification and shell dissolution for all calcified organisms".
An article published by the Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre in June 2008, titled "CO2 and Climate Change: Ocean Impacts and Adaptation Issues" states, "Other ecological effects of ocean acidification may include interference in the respiration of fish, effects on larval development of marine organisms and changes in the solubility of both nutrients and toxins".
'CHANGE' The permanent thing in the world
'CHANGE' The permanent thing in the world
Let us start from the creation of the Earth. Why do God created the world? The answer is just simple, because he wants all His creation to have a place to live and reproduce. Addition to this, God created the human being to take care all of his creation, or simply means that we have the responsibility to all the things we have on Earth.
The world we live in, was a paradise before, you can see clear skies, smell a clean air, good environment, no garbages and you can even gather fresh fruits to eat in the yard. That's the world before, because there's no such thing that can harm the world before. As years pass by, the world improved because of the globalization, many inventions were made for the sake of the human being. Others say that globalization or the improvement of technology made our life so comfortable but somehow it also has a bad effect to all of us living here on Earth. Yes, that's true, maybe were are enjoying the world right now because the modern technology, but we must not forget our resposibility to our environment or the"Mother Earth".
The tragedies were experiencing right now is just one of the consequences of our neglegence. Try to ask ourselves why we are experiencing this, because of the word "change" as the globalization changes our lifestyle, it also changes our perception about taking care of the environment or simply 'we always forget our responsibility'.
September 26, 2009 just an ordinary day to each and everyone with an extra ordinary event happened here in the Philippines. The country was hitted by typhoon "Ondoy" which brought a large amount of water that made the majority area of Metro Manila covered by water. Many were killed, many had diseases, many are still missing and worst many will start all over again because their houses were covered with water. There are no rich and poor when our environment teach us our lesson, we are all in the same shoes.
"Change" is always there and we can't help it, but as the one responsible on Earth, we must not forget that God give us the authorithy to take in-charge of all the things He created. We must all do our part. No to pollution, because it can kill us all.
Re: Global Environmental Change
let's all try to be responsible
The world has been changing ever since it formed. There have been way bigger events than what's going on at the moment, and bigger ones will surely follow.
That being said, I am fully aware that us humans are changing the world more than we have ever done. I'm excited to see what the outcome is! :)
Somehow, here I am again, entertaining some Biblical prophecies in my mind such as massive changes will take place: natural destruction (take note of the recent earthquakes and flash floods), wars and conflicts between nations... etc. and these things tell that the end of times is near. What about that? anyway I don't mean to open non-science idea here. It just popped out okay after all, we individually work for our own salvation.
Anyway, going back to the connected topics here, this planet is totally exploited to the max. There's nothing new anymore and let's just wait for the other outcomes.
---Just one act of random kindness at a time and you can change the world---
We've always got flash floods, tsunamis, eartquakes, wars, disease and all that fun stuff our beloved God decided to give us. There hasn't been any natural disaster recently that hasn't happened dozens of times before. Through the human history God has loved us with all kinds of natural disasters causing mass death, so we should have got used to it by now. And I think he is going to continue having fun with us for years to come. Ever played the computer game named Populous? Well, I can see many similarities in the game's gods and our God...
If you just think about God's love (hey, he just wasted some 200 000 Haitians, what a jolly bloke!), I am sure as hell afraid to go to heaven, because if he expresses his "love" in a similar way he does here on earth, my friend, we are fucked.
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sterilization in microwave oven
About microscopic forms of life, including Bacteria, Archea, protozoans, algae and fungi. Topics relating to viruses, viroids and prions also belong here.
Moderator: BioTeam
sterilization in microwave oven
Could be something like that possible? If i put a glass (pipettes, test tubes etc) to the microwave oven and set it to for example 10 minutes (may be more) and to maximal power (heat) couldnt be it sterile?..........just wondering.
A microwave works by vibrating water molecules and the heat results from that friction. Maybe the water in bacterial cells would boil but I'm not sure about virii.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Re: sterilization in microwave oven
No, really. That's why we still have autoclaves beside the microwave oven (which has many other uses) in every microbiology lab. The best reason is that to really kill everything you need to heat the stuff around 120°C for 15 to 20 minutes. And even though some of the toughest spores may survive (rare, but a pain when it happens and you have to throw away liters of culture medium ). In the other hand your microwave will never heat anything over 100°C.
Plus you may damage your microwave if there isn't enough water or anything to absorb the microwaves inside the oven. Definitely not a good thing to do.
Nope again. Sterilization need temperature around 120ºC, and this cannot be attained in a microwave oven, because you need pressure. If you cannot afford a real autoclave just buy a pressure cooker, and sterilize in it (20 minutes after it starts whistling).
Generally works great but:
- it is not easy to have all surface completely lighted and hence disinfected
- Some plastics really do not like UV in the long term
- Some bacteria are very resistant, so it can take some time to attain a proper disinfection, and I am not sure that spores will die.
- UV "bulbs" lose power over time, but you cannot see it without something to mesaure the enrgy of the bulb, so sterilization time lengthen.
That's why the cheapest way to sterilize is still autoclave/pressure cooker.
Re: sterilization in microwave oven
what about this??? take a look
Microwave Oven Can Sterilize Sponges, Scrub Pads
The results were unambiguous: Two minutes of microwaving on full power mode killed or inactivated more than 99 percent of all the living pathogens in the sponges and pads, although the Bacillus cereus spores required four minutes for total inactivation.
source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 143050.htm
Re: sterilization in microwave oven
Hi People,
I was an Optometrist but am retired now.
Around 1983 that's right 26 years ago I started using and recommending microwave ovens to sterilities contact lenses.
This was an extrapolation of an old original technique of using heat like boiling the lenses in saline in their case over a stove???? This all sounds primitive but soft contact lenses that were useable had only just been invented and started to become available to the general public. Most were made on a local mini lathe put in a vial and hand delivered in those days. How they were sterilised effectively was still a wild frontier. This all changed within a few years with the advent of a few contact lens sterilisation solutions.
Anyway what I found was you could sterilise above 120 degrees Celsius using a microwave. Those of you who think that water in a microwave only reaches 100 degrees following the normal laws of physics are wrong.
If you can imagine a contact lens case made of thermal resistant plastic with its lid slightly unscrewed then you have how this is done. What happens is the microwaves emanate from the magnetron at the top of the oven and travel down. The first water molecules they hit are the ones in the air space above the contact lens saline solution. These molecules reach temperatures well in excess of 100C. In effect they are super heated. This heat is then transferred into the surrounding case and solution below containing the lens. If you time it right usually a matter of only about 20 seconds the solution goes way above 120C. What I aimed for was to take the temperature to just below the melting temperature of the contact lens case. Don't ask me what that was because I don't know and I determined this by destroying hundreds of cases. It probably was above 300C.
I then rotated the contact lens case lid down and sealed the case with the lens sitting in the solution until it cooled. About 30 minutes.
At that time there was a standard for sterilising contact lenses using heat and from memory it was to keep the lens above 84C fore more than two minutes or a temperature of 92C for one minute. This standard was determined for electrical heating units that could heat the case while you slept. I'm not saying this standard was correct, its just what was considered to be OK at that time.
I did measure the temperature of the solution in the contact lens case after 4 minutes after toping the microwave and it was still above 92C.
Far better chemical sterilisation solutions became available and I stop using this heating method around 1990.
My point is microwave oven can take steam, which is confided up to temperatures well above 100C even though there is still water, which is still in liquid form bellow.
You can control this temperature by regulating how much pressure or steam is released or vented off while heating.
Don't believe me. Them find a plastic container, which you can seal about 10 to 30ml internal volume.
Put a little water in it about half full and seal it. Place in the microwave with a super dry tea towel around it.
Turn the microwave on and be ready for one hell of a BIG BANG.
SEE, the container has melted more so where the steam area was.
The temperature must have reached above 100C or the melting temperature of the plastic even though there is water in the tea towel indicating that all the water did not turn to steam.
Lastly try and boil the same container in water over the stove to see if you can get it to melt or even get soft.
So the laws of physic can be bent. Your professor was slightly wrong.
Now all you clever people go out and think of ways of sterilising things like holding items in the super heated steam above a tray of water with a lid on top to capture the steam.
I note that there are already baby utensil sterilisation devices you can put in the microwave which work as I have described.
Still not happy then e-mail me, may by I will reply. [email protected]
I do not agree fully with what is above, but I think that there are a few points that are woth mentioning:
- what you are describing (92ºC for 2min) is closer to pasteurisation than sterilisation. What happens is that you kill most of the microorganism, and since this is repeated daily, and considering that the eyes can deal with limited contamination it is probably safe enough, but the contact lenses are probably not sterile.
- Microwave can and do superheat water above 100ºC, but this is neither reliable nor safe. Not reliable because it is impossible to predict accurately what temperature will be reached before it starts boiling (usually "explosively") nor how long you can maintain the temperature. Meaning that for sterilization, you can't guarantee that enough time and heat has been applied to your device to be truly sterile. And as I said above it is not safe because handling superheated liquid might be fun, but create massive/explosive bubbling that can cause burn.
- In your last paragraph what you are describing is actually exactly what happens in an autoclave or a pressure cooker, less things that are designed for safety. The microwave as any other source of heat can and will heat water well above 100ºC if you keep it in an enclosed compartment, which will increase pressure inside the vessel. The difference between that and the pressure cooker is that the pressure cooker has a safety valve and walls made of thick metal. The walls are able to withstand the pressure, your plastic might not (just as you point out) and the safety valve has 2 essential roles: it prevent the pressure to build up to unsafe levels even with the walls, and more importantly it controls the steam temperature (which is proportional to the pressure). Then you can have the certitude that whatever you wanted to sterilize has been exposed to enough heat to kill all bacteria and viruses.
So to wrap this up, microwave will allow the disinfection (reducing the amount of bacteria/viruses to safe levels) of what you put in them, but they are neither safe nor reliable for sterilization (destroying all living organisms on the surface).
Science has proof without any certainty. Creationists have certainty without
any proof. (Ashley Montague)
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Regulatory reform through Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Act") and Basel III is about transparency, making the derivatives world less opaque, and more standardization. While the end goal of the derivatives provisions is less risk and greater stability in the market, these new standards come at a potentially considerable cost for all derivatives users—not just dealers and financial services companies.
Corporate End Users will pay more for over-the-counter ("OTC") derivatives as banks pass along the increased cost of their own compliance to customers. Beyond the actual costs of the derivatives themselves, corporates will also incur the costs to comply with certain elements of the new trading regulations—including the increased recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
The majority of non-financial services companies using OTC derivatives to hedge and mitigate commercial risks are likely to be defined by the Act as End Users. End Users may be able to bypass some complexities of the Act by applying for exemptions, notably from trading on an exchange and using a clearinghouse so they can continue to trade OTC derivatives. Still, they'll be impacted by increased costs and margin requirements, and they'll have to meet the recordkeeping, reporting and business conduct rules applicable to all users, plus annually file their End User election with the regulators.
Navigating the End User pros and cons
When compared to exchange-traded futures, key benefits of OTC derivatives include easier customization to risk and lower collateral and daily margin requirements. But soon, if a company does not qualify for or elect the End User exemption, the Act requires swaps to be traded on an exchange and cleared through a central clearinghouse.
By forcing a portion of swap transactions into these regulated clearing institutions, the Act concentrates risks into one location and ensures both parties honor their trade obligations. Regulators will monitor the exchanges and clearinghouses for increased standardization, greater transparency, and collateral requirements.
Corporates eligible for the End User exemption must decide: Should we move to exchanges and/or centrally cleared trades to save on some of the increased costs of using derivatives, or should we continue to trade bilaterally to better manage risk while paying more for derivative positions? In either case, companies will likely post more collateral than before. Centrally cleared derivatives will need daily postings, while counterparties to bilateral trades will also ask for more collateral to help offset their increased costs.
The scope of swap regulation for corporates
In July 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission released final definitions of "swaps," a.k.a. contracts that fall under the scope of the Act. This clarified which derivatives were impacted by the Act and which types were excluded from certain requirements. For instance, deliverable forward contracts (which deliver/exchange the underlying currencies rather than net settling) may be excluded from the scope. But non-deliverable forwards (when settlements are combined into one net payment between the company and bank) are included, as well as foreign currency options.
This implies that companies that use only plain-vanilla, deliverable-forward foreign currency derivatives could be spared from the new rules. But they won't be entirely off the hook: They'll likely still be hit with higher bid-and-ask spreads, greater transaction costs, and increased requests for higher collateral postings due to Basel III and the other regulatory requirements impacting the banks. And corporates will still be subject to new recordkeeping and reporting requirements—including reporting requirements for inter-affiliate swaps.
Where reform will hit hardest
- Business strategy: The increased cost of OTC derivatives will lead companies to alternatives to manage their risk, including exchange-traded derivatives or more strategic OTC use. Not all derivatives will cost the same or have the same hedging power as they did before.
- Funding: Financial institutions are expected to pass along increased costs to corporate hedgers, and companies will be asked to post more collateral. Companies must look at their debt and working capital profiles to consider how much collateral they'll need and have the ability to post, especially as markets shift.
- Operations: Processes must be updated to accommodate new types of derivative transactions. Additionally, IT will need to update systems to accommodate complex recordkeeping requirements. Finance managers must ensure that margin and collateral are posted daily.
- Accounting: It may become more difficult to obtain and maintain hedge accounting, which could result in increased earnings volatility.
Increased prevalence of margin and collateral
Before the Act, OTC swaps typically required little or no collateral. If positions became too large, then banks sometimes required credit support annexes (CSAs), which are legal documents that regulate collateral for derivative transactions. Now, CSAs or other similar credit support agreements are likely required for all OTC derivative trades, and they'll require more collateral posting. Previous regulations had less stringent capital requirements. Companies will be forced to manage cash and other liquid, highly rated investments more proactively.
Recordkeeping requirements
All swap counterparties, including End Users, will be required to maintain a full set of data related to each of their derivative positions. These rules apply to all derivatives with expiration dates after July 21, 2010. And it's not just active swaps that need to be recorded; all swap records must be maintained for five years after the transactions are terminated, and two years' worth must be readily accessible.
With this much data needed, companies might want to invest in new software. While spreadsheets can manage large volumes of information, companies that deal with a sizeable derivatives portfolio should consider a more practical approach that runs less risk of data entry mistakes or formula errors. Finance, compliance, and IT leaders can work together to design these new systems.
Reporting responsibilities
For every swap, information must be submitted to a swap data repository ("SDR"). SDRs are newly created central locations for data reporting and recordkeeping to reduce risk through transparency. Some of this information will be publicly published in real-time to lend the market more transparency on timing, prices, and volumes of transactions, without revealing party identities. Otherwise, regulators will track derivative activity through confidential reporting.
For a corporate trading with a financial institution, the reporting requirements will likely be the financial counterparty's responsibility. Corporates doing internal swaps (i.e., interaffiliate swaps) will be responsible for real-time reporting for those trades.
To simplify the reporting complexities, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association ("ISDA") released a Dodd-Frank Documentation Initiative with a standardized protocol. The ISDA Dodd-Frank protocol lets corporate End Users submit required information in a set format to their counterparties just once, instead of separately to each. The protocol also updates existing trading documentation to decrease trading disruptions and negotiations.
End User path forward
- Identify what's regulated in your portfolio: Assess which instruments meet the official definition of a "swap" or "security-based swap" and thus fall under the scope of the Act.
- Evaluate your classification: Establish whether or not the entity that executes the swaps qualifies as an End User, or whether it's considered a swap dealer ("SD") or major swap participant ("MSP"). While most corporates won't be considered SDs or MSPs, heavy users of derivatives, like companies involved in energy or commodities, may.
- Weigh the costs and benefits of changing strategies: End Users have numerous choices for executing and clearing their swap transactions, each of which could impact price and cost.
- Understand new collateral demands: Consider what impact the increasing collateral requirements will have on liquidity and borrowing. Armed with that analysis, a corporate End User can decide whether to trade on exchanges, trade over-the- counter, continue to trade OTC, or forgo derivatives altogether.
- Analyze the administrative and operational requirements: Most derivatives will be subject to new recordkeeping and reporting requirements, so new systems for mass data storage and other compliance matters will need to be in place. Companies should look into outsourcing some of the necessary tools and infrastructure as well as exploring processes and liquidity requirements for posting collateral.
- Assess impact on financial accounting and reporting: Standardized derivatives may not exactly match the terms of the hedged exposure, leading to a requirement to apply the more complex hedge accounting requirements (i.e., application of long-haul hedge accounting) as well as income statement volatility.
So while some rules are not final, it's clear that the Act will have a significant effect on most corporates. Companies must start planning now so they're not caught off-guard by growing costs, demands on cash, and changes in risk management.
Contributors: Ray Beier, Ed Heitin and Chris Rhodes. For more information, please contact (646) 471-3366 or email@example.com


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Cashman unsure Jeter will be ready Opening Day
Yankees captain gets cortisone shot in ankle, misses second straight game
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees are bracing for the possibility of an Opening Day without Derek Jeter, as the captain's availability is now in doubt after an anti-inflammatory cortisone injection was administered to his left ankle on Wednesday morning.
General manager Brian Cashman said that the stiffness and soreness Jeter is experiencing with his surgically repaired ankle is not a serious setback, but Jeter may need to begin the year on the disabled list with the club's April 1 opener approaching.
"I just can't rule it out," Cashman said. "We've got to do what's right for him. Whatever is right for him, it will be right for us."
Jeter is expected to rest for at least the next few days following the injection, which was administered by Dr. Daniel Murphy in Tampa. Jeter was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against the Phillies and was not at George M. Steinbrenner Field for Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Red Sox.
"It's a little setback, but we'll get through it," manager Joe Girardi said. "What it means for today, tomorrow, the next day -- I can't tell you. But we'll get through it."
The Yankees have not fielded an Opening Day lineup without Jeter since 2001. In that game, Luis Sojo started at shortstop in place of Jeter, who was on the disabled list with a strained quadriceps.
CC Sabathia said that he has texted Jeter to wish him good luck, but New York's ace did not seem surprised that the team is uncertain about Jeter's availability for the opener.
"I mean, he broke his ankle less than six months ago," Sabathia said. "Would you like to have him out there? Of course. But realistically, if he's not, I think him being healthy in the long run is what we look for. Being healthy Game 1 of the playoffs or October is better than him being healthy for Opening Day."
Jeter's longtime teammate, Andy Pettitte, said that he knows Jeter is frustrated and that there will be a symbolic meaning if the team can see Jeter's name in the lineup on April 1.
"Hopefully whatever Derek has going on, the shot will calm it down and help him with that," Pettitte said. "I look forward to seeing if that helps him and he's able to get back out there. He had a pretty serious surgery on his ankle, so it's going to take a little bit of time, especially running around out there at shortstop."
Time is not something that the Yankees have an abundance of. Cashman said that the club needs to know Jeter can play a full nine innings in the field as well as play in back-to-back games before they would consider him a viable option at shortstop.
Yet because of Jeter's reputation as a gamer, Cashman would not rule out the possibility that Jeter finds a way to be in the Yankees' lineup when the first pitch of the regular season is thrown.
After all, Cashman, Girardi and head athletic trainer Steve Donohue actually had to forcefully tell Jeter that an ankle fracture wasn't something he could play through for the remainder of the ALCS.
"I hate to say it, but no matter what he's up against, he's going to find a way," Cashman said. "He's always found a way. That's just what makes him tick. That's always been our experience with him. That's the entire aura of Derek Jeter: he just finds a way."
If Jeter is unavailable to begin the season, Eduardo Nunez would be the Yankees' everyday shortstop. Cashman said that the club is confident Nunez will be able to handle the job.
"There's a reason Joe Girardi played Nunez at shortstop the entire spring," Cashman said. "It was in the event we ever had any issues, we'd have somebody ready to go. I'm not saying [Jeter] is going to be DL'ed, but I can't tell you he won't be."
It has been a rough spring for the Yankees in the DL department, as outfielder Curtis Granderson and first baseman Mark Teixeira suffered injuries that will keep them out of action at least through April. Alex Rodriguez is also expected to be sidelined until the All-Star break as he rehabs from left hip surgery.
"Injuries are a part of the game, you know?" Sabathia said. "Guys are going to go down. Nobody's going to feel sorry for us. We've got guys in here who can hopefully step up and try to fill the void until these guys come back."
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Little has changed in companies' working capital management over the past year—which means that companies have a huge opportunity for improvement. This is the key take-away from this year's "2014 U.S. Working Capital Survey" from REL, a division of The Hackett Group.
In this year's iteration of the annual study, REL and CFO Magazine analyzed the 2013 financial statements of the 1,000 largest public companies that have U.S.-based headquarters and are not in the financial services sector (the "REL 1000"). They separated the companies into industry groupings, then organized them into quartiles within each industry in terms of days inventory on hand (DIO), days sales outstanding (DSO), and days payables outstanding (DPO). For every company outside the top quartile in one of these metrics, REL and CFO calculated how much additional cash the organization would have available if it improved efficiency enough in its inventory, accounts receivable, or accounts payable processes to bring the associated metric in line with the level achieved by the top quartile of businesses in its industry.
This analysis revealed that the total opportunity for improving working capital among the 1,000 companies in the study is $1.020 trillion—which separates into a total accounts receivable (A/R) opportunity of $331 billion, a total accounts payable (A/P) opportunity of $266 billion, and a total inventory opportunity of $423 billion.
The study also found that cash on hand increased 12 percent among the REL 1000 from 2012 to 2013, although as a percentage of revenue, cash on hand remained static at 8 percent. Debt also increased, up 8 percent year-over-year and 26 percent over a three-year period. "What we are seeing is that companies are still using the low interest rates, as they have been for the past couple of years, to have access to cash flow," says Analisa DeHaro, an associate principal in REL's working capital practice. "They've been utilizing the low interest rates to different extents depending on whether they're top performers or in the lower tiers. Now we're looking at how companies are going to fund their capital improvements when interest rates start to rise."
Balancing Working Capital Tradeoffs
Eventually, when rates increase, companies will have to fund capital expenditures using cash generated through operations. According to the REL/CFO study, the top performers are already doing that by optimizing their working capital management.
"We work with a lot of companies that are looking at the tradeoffs between the different elements of working capital and also costs," DeHaro says. "They're figuring out which drivers they can actually impact and identifying areas of opportunity. Over the last several years, a lot of companies have been looking to extend payment terms on the supplier side. They've been going through rounds of payment-terms extensions. And now many companies are looking at other ways to improve cash flow."
Obviously, as companies extend their payment terms on the A/P side, that affects the receivables of their suppliers. "Companies that are being impacted with their own DSO are looking at how they can mitigate that through their own payables," DeHaro says. "And similarly, if they're looking at expanding inventory, they're figuring out how to make tradeoffs with payables that can mitigate the costs."
The net result of these calculations, according to the REL/CFO study, is that days working capital—which is trade receivables plus inventory, minus accounts payable, divided by one day's worth of revenue—remained essentially flat in 2013; it fell by 0.3 days, from 34.2 in 2012 to 33.9 in 2013 (see Figure 1, on page 2). But that doesn't mean companies' working capital practices are identical to a year ago.
In fact, the study provides evidence that improvements in one area of working capital management can lead to denigration of working capital performance in other areas. REL and CFO measured the gap in working capital metrics between the organizations identified as top performers and the median company in the REL 1000. In the payables arena, the median company made big strides. DPO for the median organization was 57 percent lower in 2012 than DPO for top performers, but in 2013 this gap fell to just 43 percent. That's the good news. The bad news is that this improvement had serious consequences for the median company's inventory levels. The difference in days inventory on hand between the median organization and top performers increased from 45 percent in 2012 to 59 percent in 2013.
REL views this shift as evidence that organizations which aren't top performers are increasing their payables performance by squeezing suppliers or delaying payments, rather than by implementing best practices. Ultimately, companies that are consistent top performers optimize working capital management on an ongoing basis by implementing processes that routinely balance tradeoffs between receivables, payables, and inventory.
Best-Practice Decision-Making
In terms of receivables, DeHaro says, leading companies are undertaking process improvement initiatives in all the different components of the DSO metric (see the sidebar "Headline Metrics for Working Capital Management" on page 3). This is especially true for leading companies in industries where customers are pushing hard for extended payment terms. "DSO is not just terms," she says. "It is an amalgam of both terms and payment performance. While a company may be getting requests from customers for longer terms, one way it can mitigate that is by having very clear, standardized processes and having lots of tools in place to understand the profitability impacts of offering customers elongated terms."
Another best practice is to ratchet up credit and collections activities. "Companies need to make sure they're not putting themselves at undue risk in extending credit to their customers," DeHaro says. "And they need to make collections more effective. Their DSO needs to be more heavily weighted toward the terms that they're negotiating, rather than toward poor payment performance by their customers."
For inventory metrics, companies should focus on optimizing the levels of inventory they hold. "They need to understand how much they should be holding in buffers or stock," DeHaro says. "They should evaluate their lead times with suppliers and minimum order quantities." And the impact of inventory issues on the company's working capital needs to be a routine consideration in procurement decisions. "Companies need to consider all of these factors when they're deciding which suppliers to do business with," DeHaro adds.
For payables, top-performing companies are evaluating which payment terms are standard in their industry, then they're turning to approaches like dynamic discounting and supply chain finance. "In general, best practices are balancing all these options," DeHaro says. "They won't necessarily work for all your supplier base, but they'll work for a portion of your supplier base, and you need to determine how they can positively impact your DPO standing."
The other thing top performers are doing to improve payables performance is automating processes. "They're looking at electronic funds transfer, electronic bill presentment, scanning, those types of technologies, and determining how they can impact their overall payables process, their supplier relationships, and their cash flow," DeHaro says. "Some are also considering p-cards. All of these things wrap into one another, with tradeoffs between cost and cash flow."
Integrating Working Capital into Corporate Culture
The top companies are making working capital management a key focus, paying close attention to how net working capital affects their customer relationships and their supply chain. "We are seeing some companies build working capital metrics into their incentives program or their overall goal structure, either for their sales force or across the entire organization," DeHaro says. Most companies in the lower tiers of working capital performance don't go that far, but they are paying some attention to the tradeoffs inherent in working capital management. "For some companies, the cost take-out may be the priority right now, but it's very rare that we see a company that doesn't have any visibility into at least one of these metrics"—meaning DSO, DPO, and/or DIO, DeHaro says.
According to the REL/CFO study, across all organizations, DSO fell slightly from 36.4 days in 2012 to 36.3 days in 2013; DIO remained steady at 29.6 days; and DPO increased slightly from 31.8 days in 2012 to 32.0 days in 2013. DeHaro attributes the stability of these metrics to the current interest rate environment. She expects that as interest rates rise and cash becomes harder to come by, pressure will mount for companies to move working capital management up the priority list.
A working capital improvement initiative is a major project, but one well worth undertaking. "Working capital doesn't turn around in a month," she says. "It's something that needs to become part of the corporate culture, part of the incentive program, and part of the company's overall goals and strategies year over year. I think the reason we see the top performers outperforming the median group so significantly may be that these organizations have made working capital management part of their overall standard operating procedure."
Meg Waters is the editor in chief of Treasury & Risk. She is the former editor in chief of BPM Magazine and the former managing editor of Business Finance.


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Hamilton sets early pace
Lewis Hamilton blitzed first practice ahead of the Italian Grand Prix as he set his sights on again reeling in Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg in the battle for the Formula One world title.
Unusually, there was no Mercedes lockout of the top two places as instead Hamilton spearheaded a British one-two, with McLaren's Jenson Button second on the timesheet around one of the sport's historic tracks, Monza.
Hamilton, though, was in a class of his own as he finished 0.623secs ahead of Button, with Rosberg forced to settle for only third best, with the German 0.808secs down.
Lewis Hamilton was in dominant, confident mood in first practice for the Italian Grand Prix (AP)
In light of what transpired in Belgium a fortnight ago, with Rosberg deliberately opting not to pull out of a collision with Hamilton on lap two which wrecked the Briton's race, the focus has been more intense than usual on the duo.
Despite apologising and paying a significant six-figure fine handed down by Mercedes, Rosberg still emerged from the event with a further 18 points more than Hamilton, and is now 29 ahead in the standings.
That has placed additional pressure on Hamilton to enjoy a clean weekend, something that has eluded him for some considerable time.
At least his time of one minute 26.187secs laid down a marker he means business this weekend.
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso also managed to finish within a second of Hamilton, lapping 0.982secs off the pace.
Suggesting McLaren could be in for a strong weekend, Kevin Magnussen was fifth quickest, just over a second back on Hamilton, and four tenths of a second down on Button.
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was sixth, a fraction down on Magnussen, with Kimi Raikkonen seventh quickest in his Ferrari.
Force India duo Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg sandwiched Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat to complete the top 10.
As for Daniel Ricciardo, winner of the last two races in Hungary and Belgium, the Australian was down in 16th, 2.3secs down.
Throughout the 90-minute session four test drivers were handed an outing, with Daniel Juncadella at Force India unusually given the opening half-hour in place of Perez.
The 23-year-old Spaniard completed 10 laps, with his best three seconds down on Hamilton as he finished 17th.
Sauber's Giedo van der Garde, in for Adrian Sutil, finished two places and eight tenths of a second ahead of Juncadella.
Further down the grid, Charles Pic took over FP1 duties from fellow Frenchman Romain Grosjean at Lotus, finishing 21st and nearly four seconds back.
At troubled Caterham, with another Spaniard in Roberto Merhi making his rookie outing in place of Kamui Kobayashi, the 23-year-old was 22nd on the timesheet.
Merhi completed 29 laps, with his best 4.5secs off the pace, but quicker than team-mate Marcus Ericsson who propped up the standings as he was a further two tenths of a second adrift.
Marussia's Max Chilton was 19th, 3.8secs back, but ahead of team-mate Jules Bianchi.
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Related Media: Asthma Management: The Animal Allergen
Not long ago, expectant parents were often advised to give away their family pets before a baby arrived, especially if there was a family history of allergies or asthma. The prevailing theory was that being around pets at a young age increased a child's risk for these conditions. Given that many households have at least 1 pet and that people tend to form strong attachments to their pets, this was often an upsetting and difficult task. Research makes it clear that the controversy surrounding this approach is far from over.
The Science
A study looking at the relationship of exposure to dogs and cats in the first year of life, and the allergy development at 6 or 7 years of age did not find what you might expect.
In the study, 474 children were followed from birth to age 6 or 7. The babies involved were healthy, full-term infants. When the children were 6 or 7, they were tested by both a blood test and a skin prick test for the presence of allergic antibodies. Researchers found that children who were exposed to 2 or more dogs or cats in the first year of life were less likely to have allergies.
Other studies had similar results, finding that early cat exposure was related to a reduction in allergy development. In addition, a review of available studies found that early exposure to pets was also associated with a decreased risk of eczema. However, these studies were all observational and a cause and effect relationship cannot be made from them.
Unfortunately, scientists remain uncertain which children might benefit (or be harmed) by early exposure to animals. To date, studies on this topic do not adequately control for differences in the degree of animal exposure or for genetic factors that we know strongly influence the development of allergies (such as whether one or both parents are allergic). The evidence that pet ownership is associated with a lower risk of allergy is interesting and suggestive, but pending larger and better scientific studies, it should still be regarded as preliminary.
Until we have more solid evidence, parents will have to make decisions about pet ownership without knowing the health consequences on their newborns from their furry friends.
If Your Child Already Has an Allergy
Although several studies have found that being around pets might help prevent young children from developing allergies, it cannot help a child who already has an allergy to cats, dogs, or other pets. If your child has already developed an allergy to your pet, it is a good idea to keep your child away from the pet.
If you do have a pet in your home and an allergic child, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology offers the following tips to help minimize contact with pets and their allergens:
- Avoid petting, hugging, and kissing pets if you are allergic.
- Keep pets out of the bedroom.
- Sweep, dust, and vacuum frequently.
- Use a micro-filter or double bag in your vacuum to help reduce pet allergens in the carpet.
- Keep pets off furniture.
- Have someone who is not allergic brush the pet regularly and do brushing outside the home.
- Use an indoor air, electrostatic, or HEPA air cleaner to filter pet dander from the air.
- Use cleaning products that contain tannic acid to help breakdown allergy-causing proteins. These proteins will rebuild over time, so repeated applications are needed.
- Talk to your doctor about the possibility of allergy shots for your child.
- Remove carpets or rugs from the house.
- Reviewer: Michael Woods, MD
- Review Date: 10/2015 -
- Update Date: 01/21/2014 -


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Federal agents execute search warrant at Janesville's Kealey Pharmacy
JANESVILLE—Federal agents executed a search warrant at Kealey Pharmacy in downtown Janesville on Friday in a health care fraud case, a spokeswoman said.
"All we can really do at this point is confirm an on-site execution of a search warrant regarding alleged health care fraud as part of a joint investigation," said a spokeswoman for the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services.
The spokeswoman, speaking from Washington, D.C., would give only her first name, Janna.
Asked for details, including whether there had been any arrests, Janna said she could not comment, which is "standard procedure" during investigations.
The Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General fights "waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid and more than 300 other HHS programs." according to its website.
Myra Longfield, spokeswoman from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Wisconsin, said via email that the agents were executing a federal search warrant but she could offer no further information.
The agents were from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Longfield said.
Kealey Pharmacy's owner could not be reached for comment. The fact that a search warrant was executed does not necessarily mean the pharmacy or its employees are suspected of any wrongdoing.
Kealey Pharmacy & Home Care Service, 21 S. Jackson St., was closed during its normal hours of operation Friday. A recording on its telephone line said it would reopen at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Two men in civilian clothing were stationed near the door inside the pharmacy Friday afternoon. One of them—apparently an agent—said the agent in charge was there and would say the same thing he was saying, that questions should be addressed to the U.S. Attorney's office in Madison.
Kealey Pharmacy is a member of Health Mart, a nationwide network of independently owned pharmacies.


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Death Notices for Oct. 8. 2013
James Richard Dawson, 77, Indianapolis, formerly of Bloomington, Ind., died Sept. 18 in Indianapolis. Services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at Round Prairie Cemetery, town of La Grange. Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater, is assisting the family.
Betty Ann Ebert, 86, Janesville, died Monday at Huntington Place, Janesville. Services will be private. Henke-Clarson Funeral Home, Janesville, is assisting the family.
Dean S. Einerson, 93, Janesville, died Sunday at home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Janesville. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of services Thursday at the church. Whitcomb-Lynch Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Janesville, is assisting his family.
Carol J. Popelka, 91, Delavan, died Monday at Willowfield Nursing Home, Delavan. Haase Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home, Elkhorn, is assisting the family.


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Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Day 5 Highlights
Only Slater, Fanning, Parko, and Michel Bourez remain in contention for the Quiksilver Pro title
After a short day of competition at Snapper Rocks only four surfers—Michel Bourez, Joel Parkinson, Mick Fanning, and Kelly Slater—remain in contention to hoist the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast champion's trophy. And what one physical trait do all four surfers have? They're incredibly strong and powerful surfers. The flyweights, rookies, and guys who base their act around aerial surfing have all been sent packing by men who are burying the rail and displacing big ol' chunks of water. Michel Bourez has been especially fun to watch. The Tahitian regularfoot can be a bit mechanical at times, but when he's on, there's nobody who surfs faster and with more power than the "Spartan." He'll match up against six-foot 185lb. Joel Parkinson in semifinal one, while Kelly Slater will butt heads against Mick Fanning in the second semi. Both Slater and Fanning train like maniacs and their surfing shows it. Call me old school but I'd rather see a properly executed full rail turn than yet another air reverse—and apparently the ASP World Tour judges are of the same opinion. Tune in this afternoon to see the last day of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast—may the best power surfer win!—JC
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast
Event No. 1 of 10 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT)
Snapper Rocks, Queensland Australia
March 2 -13, 2013
Final Four Decided at Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, Champion Crowned Tomorrow
SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Tuesday, March 12, 2013) -The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover, the opening stop on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), completed Round 5 as well as the Quarterfinals today in clean three-to-four foot (1.5 metre) waves at Snapper Rocks, narrowing the field down to the Final Four and setting up for tomorrow's finish.
Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, reigning ASP World Champion, posted the first Perfect 10 of the event today, mixing it up on the afternoon Snapper Rocks walls with unmatched style, power and versatility in his Quarterfinal bout with Julian Wilson (AUS), 24. The local standout was in sizzling form throughout the bout, posting a number of high scores and collecting the day's high heat total of an 18.27 out of a possible 20.
"That was an amazing heat to be in," Parkinson said. "Julian (Wilson) is one of the most exciting surfers in world. Even with a 10, you're never safe with him. It's one of those heats that's a big match-up on paper and there were some big exchanges going down between us. Semifinals is good start for me and I'm feeling good and excited for a big finish tomorrow." The ASP World No. 1 will take on Michel Bourez (PYF), 27, tomorrow in the opening Semifinal of the event.
The Tahitian power broker continued his dream run at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast today, eliminating defending event champion Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, in their Quarterfinal bout. "It's a huge win for me," Bourez said. "Taj (Burrow) is the defending champ out here and he's such a good surfer in these waves. It's been a great event for me. I'm feeling healthy and hopefully I can keep surfing well and make my first Final on tour."
Kelly Slater (USA), 41, 11-time ASP World Champion and 2012 ASP World Runner-Up, put in a juggernaut performance in this afternoon's Quarterfinals, posting an excellent 18.03 out of a possible 20 in a momentum-building display against Bede Durbidge (AUS), 30. "That was a fun heat and it definitely improved for me towards the end," Slater said. "I'm on a new board so I didn't feel great during the start of that heat, but it felt better with each wave and was feeling really good by the end. The waves are fun and really improved following the hold. When it's clean like it is this afternoon, after the hold anyway, Snapper is a really fun wave."
Slater will face Gold Coast local and two-time ASP World Champion (2007, 2009) Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, in tomorrow's Semifinals. "Mick (Fanning) and I have a lot of history together," Slater said. "We both put our competitive heads on during events and he has a lot of experience out here. The home town crowd will be backing him big time and that's always fun. Should be a good heat."
Fanning closed out the day's action with a convincing Quarterfinal win over compatriot Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 24. "Wilko (Matt Wilkinson) has really been on point this event and has been amazing on his backhand," Fanning said. "He's a friend and a Rip Curl teammate, but we're both out there to win and I wasn't taking him lightly. The waves were pretty fun and I was able to loosen up later in the heat after putting some scores on the board. It was a solid heat for me and I feel good heading into tomorrow's final day."
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start. The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast will culminate tomorrow on the final day of the window.
Heat 1: Michel Bourez (PYF) 17.10 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.33
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.83 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 11.83
Heat 3: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.67 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 11.00
Heat 4: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.67 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 9.24
QF 1: Michel Bourez (PYF) 10.67 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 9.77
QF 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.27 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 8.80
QF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.03 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.40
QF 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.00 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.00
SF 1: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
SF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)


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Oz Park
2021 N. Burling St. Chicago, Illinois 60614
(312) 742-7898
Fee: Free
Age Range: Any
Loretta Castorini, a book keeper from Brooklyn, New York, finds herself in a difficult situation when she falls for the brother of the man she agreed to marry (the best friend of her late husband who died seven years previously).
Rated PG | 102 minutes | 1987
Presented by Charter One, with additional support from RCN.
Underwritten by Oz Park Advisory Council
Movies in the Parks is presented by:
With additional support from:


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Cartoon Network is home to your favorite cartoons, videos and free games. Play with your favorite Cartoon Network characters in Ben 10 games, Adventure Time games, Regular Show games, Gumball games and more. Watch full episodes and video clips of your favorite TV shows like Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, Ben 10, Regular Show, Ninjago, Incredible Crew, Level Up, Legends of Chima, Dreamworks Dragons: Riders of Berk and others.
Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Use. TM & © 2014 Cartoon Network. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. CartoonNetwork.com is part of Turner Entertainment Digital which is part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network.


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Braun to play for US in World Baseball Classic
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
Braun, who batted .381 in six games during the 2009 Classic, told Milwaukee's 1250-AM WSSP that he had already begun preparations for this year's event.
Braun will not have to travel far from the Brewers' Spring Training base at Maryvale Baseball Park; Team USA will begin training in Phoenix on March 4 and then participate in first-round play at Arizona's Chase Field from March 7-10.
"I'm feeling great," Braun said. "I actually started my baseball activities a little bit earlier than I usually do, because I'm going to play in the World Baseball Classic this year. So I have to get myself prepared a little sooner, a little quicker than I usually do."
Braun was entering his second full Major League season the last time the Classic was staged in '09. Since then, he has topped 100 runs, 35 doubles, 25 home runs and 100 RBIs for four straight seasons, winning 2011 NL MVP honors in a close vote over the Dodgers' Matt Kemp. In 2012, Braun finished second to the Giants' Buster Posey.
Braun will be in Milwaukee on Jan. 27 for the team's annual "On Deck" event, a fanfest that features autograph and photo opportunities, interactive games, memorabilia sales and public forums.
For more information, visit Brewers.com/OnDeck.
Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brew Beat, and follow him on Twitter at @AdamMcCalvy. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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The SEC announced its 2013 baseball television schedule, the fourth under the league's 15-year deal with ESPN.
The Southeastern Conference announced its official 2013 SEC Baseball television schedule on Friday, the fourth under the league's 15-year agreement with ESPN.
Florida will have a total of 10 games as part of the league's regular-season package that includes 70 broadcasts in 2013, as well as another 10 on its regional sports network partner, Sun Sports/FOX Sports Florida.
All of the games from the 2013 SEC Tournament will continue to be televised, with the championship game airing again nationally on ESPN2. The semifinals will also air nationally for the first time, which will be broadcast on ESPNEWS.
The SEC Baseball television package is derived from broadcasts on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, Fox Sports and CSS (CST). In addition, Watch ESPN/ESPN3 will also stream most contests live online.
"Both the success and popularity of baseball in our conference continue to grow," said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive.
"We are pleased to be able to offer an increased amount of television coverage of SEC Baseball to our teams and to our fans. This continues to move our baseball exposure to new levels and to a national audience."
Also, USA Baseball announced its annual year-end award winners on Friday and University of Florida junior right-hander Jonathon Crawford was recognized with the organization's International Performance of the Year.
As Team USA's starter in game one of the inaugural USA versus Cuba Series in Havana, Cuba, Crawford's outing set the tone for the 2012 Collegiate National Team season. The Okeechobee native went 6.1 innings, struck out six Cuban batters and picked up the win in the club's 4-3 victory at Estadio de Latinoamericana.
On the summer, Crawford led the team with 26.2 innings pitched. Along the way, he picked up two more wins for Team USA to finish the summer with a 3-0 record and a 2.02 earned run average. The International Performance of the Year Award was founded in 2009, and Crawford joins Keegan Thompson (2011), Chris Archer (2010), and Jameson Taillon (2009) as the award's recipients. Crawford will be presented with the International Performance of Year Award at a ceremony next Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center during the Gator men's basketball game against Mississippi State.
Track & field: The UF track & field teams began competition at the 38th Annual Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational on Friday at Devaney Center Indoor Track at the University of Nebraska.
Nine Gators advanced to Saturday's finals, including sophomore quartermiler Hugh Graham, Jr., who won the prelims of the men's 400 meters in 47.25, and freshman phenoms Destinee Gause and Kyra Jefferson, who each advanced in the women's 60 meters on Friday evening with PRs of 7.37 and 7.41, respectively.
Women's golf: Fresh off of Florida's third team title of the 2012-13 season, senior Mia Piccio, junior Elcin Ulu and sophomore Anna Young will compete in one last individual tournament this weekend before hitting the meat of their team schedule.
All three players will take part in the one day, 36 hole, Lady Bulldog Individual Championship as representatives of the Florida Gators. Even though the tournament is not a team outing, the trio of Gators will have a good chance to give UF its sixth possible medalist this year. Senior Isabelle Lendl already has two individual wins, while sophomore Camilla Hedberg is one week removed from her third title after being named co-winner of the Florida Challenge.
The Lady Bulldog Individual Championship will be played at the University of Georgia Golf Course (Par 72, 6,335 yards) which is also the site of this year's NCAA Championship. 38 competitors from 13 different schools will make up Saturday's field which includes players from seven SEC schools.
Swimming: The Florida Gators' swimming and diving teams closed out their dual meet season with victories against SEC rival Tennessee on Friday's Senior Night. Sending off their seniors in style, the 7th ranked women upset the 4th ranked Vols by winning with a score of 167-133, while the 5th ranked Gator men won in dominant fashion with a score of 208-92.
UF's men improved to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the SEC, while the women are 3-4 and 2-3 in the SEC. The win for the Gator men solidified their undefeated season, the second-straight year they have not dropped a dual meet.
To kick things off, the Gator women began the night with a sweep in the 1000 yard freestyle by claiming the top four spots. Leading the group was freshman Jessica Thielmann who clocked in a time of 9:41.81. Junior Alicia Mathieu touched second in 9:48.28, freshman Taylor Roy was third with a 9:53.44 and sophomore Jordan Smith rounded out the top four in 9:54.44.
Senior Jamie Bohunicky (Buchholz) began her last home meet as a Gator by swimming the 200 freestyle. In an exhilarating race to the wall, she was out touched by 0.14 tenths of a second; crushing her season best and posting an NCAA "B" standard qualifying time of 1:44.57. Bohunicky redeemed herself in the 500 free by winning the event with an NCAA "B" standard qualifying time of 4:39.93.
The 100 and 200 backstroke saw three Florida women post NCAA "B" qualifying times with freshman Sinead Russell winning the 100 back with a time of 54.10 and junior Elizabeth Beisel taking the 200 by stopping the clock at 1:57.69, while sophomore Ashlee Linn followed closely behind with a mark of 1:58.12.
Beisel and Russell also finished one and two on the 200 IM with times of 1:59.70 and 2:00.83. Both were NCAA "B" qualifying standard marks and the time was a season best for Russell.
Freshman Nathalie Hinds added another pair of victories to her career by taking the top spots in both the 50 and 100 free, posting NCAA "B" qualifying standard marks for both; with times of 22.74 and 49.02, respectively.
With a few sweeps of their own, the Florida men took the top three spots in both the 1000 and 200 yards freestyle. Freshman Arthur Frayler touched the wall first in the 1000 with a season best time of 9:02.88. Behind him were sophomores Thomas Veale in 9:05.74 and William Silva (P.K. Yonge) with a 9:05.97 who also clocked in their best times of the season.
In the 200 freestyle, junior Marcin Cieslak won in thrilling fashion posting an NCAA "B" standard qualifying time of 1:37.85. Sophomore Dan Wallace and freshman Justin Kaisrlik finished second (1:38.40) and third (1:39.12) respectively.
Senior Jason Taylor, finished his last home meet as a Florida Gator by stopping the clock first in the 500 freestyle with an NCAA "B" standard qualifying time of 4:24.37. Silva (4:27.01) and Veale (4:29.58) took second and third place, thus producing another sweep for the Gator men.
The victories kept coming as the Gators touched the wall first in the 100 backstroke and the 100 and 200 breaststroke. In the 100 back, freshman Corey Main out-touched Tennessee's Samuel Rairden to finish first and post an NCAA "B" standard qualifying and season best time of 48.38. Sophomore Matt Elliot also claimed the top spots and posted NCAA "B" qualifying times in both the 100 (54.97) and the 200 (1:59.09) breaststroke.
In the 200 butterfly, redshirt junior Sebastian Rosseau got another sweep started taking the top spot with an NCCA "B" qualifying time of 1:45.34. Sophomore Connor Signorin was second, finishing with a season best time of 1:48.06. Senior Cameron Martin took the third spot clocking in a time of 1:48.15. Rosseau also finished first in the 100 fly, swimming a season best time of 48.74.
The 50 freestyle saw another NCAA "B" qualifying stand mark surpassed with junior Brad deBorde winning the event with a time of 19.88, while the100 freestyle, had sophomore Pawel Werner finishing on top (44.09) and deBorde (44.46) taking the second spot. Werner's time was yet another NCAA "B" standard qualifying time the Gators achieved on the night. Sophomore Carlos Omana added another victory by touching the wall first in the 200 IM with a season best time of 1:47.93.
The Florida diving team also contributed to the win with a pair of victories in the 1-meter board, where senior Sean Saley took the top spot with a season best score of 338.11 in front of family and friends on his last home meet representing the Gators. Fellow Gator, Chris Jones took second place with a score of 318.75. On the women's side, freshman Kahlia Warner also claimed first place scoring a season best 297.75.


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Benefits down, spending up: Unraveling FoodShare's impact
JANESVILLE--People receiving FoodShare--commonly called food stamps--will see their benefits decrease this month, but in the last 10 years FoodShare spending has increased more than 400 percent in Rock County.
On Nov. 1, FoodShare--commonly called food stamps--benefits decreased, ending a temporary boost that was part of a 2009 economic stimulus package.
The recent drop in FoodShare benefits means a� family of four would see their monthly benefits go from $668 to as low as $632, a decrease of $36 or about 5 percent.
Carla Haigh, division manager for economic support services, said her staff hasn't heard a "drastic outcry" about the month's return to lower benefit levels. However, staff has received a lot of calls from people confused about the changes.�
Part of the problem was that recipients received at letter in October notifying them of an annual increase in benefits. Then, a few weeks later, they got another letter saying their benefits were decreasing Nov. 1.
Organizations such as ECHO, the social services agency that provides food and other services to low income people, saw people who were confused about the changes.
Karen Zapotosky, ECHO client advocate described the two letters as "just bad timing."
As for the decrease, "a lot of people didn't understand it."
"They're paying for more rent, for utilities and they're paying a lot more at the store for food," Zapotosky said.
On the other side of the balance sheet, numbers provided by the Wisconsin Department of Human Services show that Rock County's annual spending on FoodShare increased 404 percent between 2003 and 2012, going from $8.68 million in 2003 to $43.72 million in 2012.
The largest percentage increase, 64 percent, occurred in 2009, when FoodShare payments in Rock County went from�$17.5 million to $28.8 million. That change was during the first years of the recession when the local economy was reeling from closure of the General Motors plant and related businesses. It also was the year the benefits boost went into effect.
FoodShare numbers are driven by a number of factors, the most significant--and most obvious--being unemployment and the condition of the local economy. But program changes can drive numbers, too.
In 2003, the state made significant changes to the program, including reducing reporting requirements.
Among the goals driving the changes were to "stimulate the state's economy through increased federal revenue" and increase the number of people on food stamps to "bring federal funds to the state's businesses," according to a state Department of Human Services PowerPoint.
Before the changes,� participants were required to report, within 10 days, any new source of work income, more than $100 a month of total child support, people moving in and out of a household, changes in child support obligations and a variety of other income-related markers.
After the change, households could be "certified" for six months, and had� to report only significant financial changes.
Before the changes, clients often were penalized for failing to report changes in income or household size and had benefits reduced or taken away.
The 2003 changes helped people who qualified stay on the program, but they also helped drive up the numbers.
Between 1995 and 2001, the number of food stamp cases and the amount spent went up and down, both in the state and in Rock County. In 2001, there were fewer unduplicated cases of families or individuals needing food stamps, both in Rock County and in the state as a whole.�
Since that time, the numbers have only increased.
Recipients of FoodShare benefits are encouraged to stick to the basics, such as breads, cereals, fruits and vegetable, lean meats, canned fish and dairy products.
But the program has long been subject to criticism for what participants are allowed to buy with their benefits.
According to the USDA, FoodShare—more commonly referred to as food stamps--benefits cannot be used to buy:
-- Nonfood items such as tobacco, pet food, household supplies, shampoo or soap, vitamins and medicine.
-- Hot food or food that will be eaten in the store.�
Benefits can be used to buy anything that qualifies as food such as soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers, ice cream, seafood, steak and bakery cakes.
-- Seeds and plants that produce food.
-- Holiday gift baskets, but only when the value of the nonfood items is less that 50 percent of the cost.
-- "Take and bake food."�
Why not set tougher restrictions on what recipients can buy with FoodShare dollars?
The USDA has considered such restrictions. In a 2007 report, it outlined some of the challenges of creating such a list. Perhaps the biggest challenge is defining "healthy food."
-- Diet sodas have no fat, sugars and many are low in sodium. Those characteristics would make them healthy choice for a person trying to lose weight. But diet soda also has no nutritional value.
-- Some brands of potato chips have less sodium per serving than some popular breakfast cereals. Such cereals might have added vitamin and minerals but also contain a large amount of added sugars.
-- Some candy bars have a lower percentage of calories from fat and less saturated fat than a serving of cheese.
-- Other foods, such as granola bars, are marketed as healthy snacks when they have more fat, sugar and sodium than other items that are traditionally seen as "junk food."
-- Everyone recognizes that limiting fat intake is important in all diets. But there are individual foods, such as nuts, meat and avocados that are high in fat but also "recognized as making positive contributions to a balanced diet," the USDA said.
In addition, the USDA report noted that thousands of food items come out every year, and making a decision about every item would be a logistical nightmare.
One federal program food program that does limit food choices is Women, Infants and Children, which is more commonly known as WIC.
WIC serves low-income pregnant women, nursing mothers and children younger than 5.
WIC is a supplemental nutrition program, and FoodShare participants can enroll in both programs.
The biggest difference?
"FoodShare has very few restrictions," said Susan Stein, executive director Nutrition and Health Associates/Rock County WIC. "WIC is very specific."
Those "specific" recommendations are based on the Institute of Medicine that shows that nearly all low-income women in childbearing years and children 2 years and older are at "dietary risk" both in terms of quality and quantity of food.
Another difference? WIC food benefits are not automatic.
To participate in WIC, income-eligible women make an appointment with their local office, bringing their preschool age children with them.
Depending on the situation, the appointment might include lead testing, connection to pre-natal care and other health checks and basic nutrition information.
Most importantly, they meet with a dietitian that reviews their family's needs and eating habits and gives them a "food prescription" based on their needs, Stein said.
That could include items such as baby food and cereal, formula, milk, whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Last updated: 11:22 am Sunday, November 17, 2013


text: Photo Gallery: Mayweather-Pacquiao Press Conference By Robert Littal - March 11, 2015 0 8237 Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter tweet 12► Photos from today's Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Kickoff Press Conference from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. This was craziest press conference for a fight that I have ever seen. Photo Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME®.


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Difference between T-Cell and Phagocyte?
For discussing the functions of different structures of all organisms.
Moderator: BioTeam
11 posts • Page 1 of 1
Difference between T-Cell and Phagocyte?
what's the difference between phagocyte and T-Cell Lymphocyte?
They both fight antigens, don't they?
Is phagocyte just general term which refers to all phagocytic cells including T-Cell....?
Do T-Cells recognize infected cells without anitbodies attached to the infected cells?
phagocytes like macrophages have general receptors to recognize some pathogens, and engulf them whole. T cells recognize the antigens, which is only part of the pathogen, but the antigen has to be presented on the host cells. You are mixing up the order of antibodies and T cells. Antibodies come from B cells, but cant be activated until the T cells turn them on.
There are two types of Phagocyte --> Macrophages and Neutrophils
They are both called phagocytes because they both engulf the pathogen.
However, macrophages have surface receptors, these "recognise" the pathogen.
With me so far?
The macrophages engulf the pathogen (invading cell) and then put the antigens from the pathogen on their surface.
This is called antigen presentation.
They will 'present' these to the T Cells, so that they can get prepared and stimulate the right cells.
T Helper cells and T Killer cells are the two main types you will probably need to know about.
T Helper cells release cytokines to stimulate the B cells to produce more antibodies as well.
Writing it out as a flow chart or diagram might help. There's loads of cells that sound the same and do some similar things... can get v.confusing!
I hope that has helped junbumkin!
This seems like a misuse in terminology.
A Phagocyte is any cell that engages in phagocytosis. So, I'd guess you mean the difference between Leukocytes and Lymphocytes.
Leukocytes are(basically) Macrophages, Neutrophils, and Monocytes.
Lymphocytes are(basically) T-Cells and B-Cells.
Both are parts of the immune system and neutralize antigens.
An antigen is anything that causes an immune response, which isn't necessarily a pathogen. Infact, many antigens cause no harm at all, which causes an allergic reaction.
So, a very basic summary of the immune response is:
A pathogen bypasses the body's physical and chemical barriers and the inflammation response. The pathogen is engulfed by a macrophage. The macrophage forces the surface proteins of the pathogen(antigens) to it's surface. Helper T-Cells get the information on how to neutalize the pathogen from the macrophage(from the antigens of the pathogen). These Helper T-Cells begin to multply and have two main roles. The first is to activate B-Cells and "tell" them how to neutralize the pathogen(antibodies). The B-Cells(also called Plasma cells) begin to multiply and produce the antibodies to neutralize this specific pathogen. The second role is to activate the Killer T-Cells. These Killer T-Cells can either destroy the pathogen, or, more commonly, destroy infected tissue. Since this consumes a lot of energy, when the process is complete, Supressor T-Cells stop the process completely, but also "tell" some B-Cells to "remember" how to destroy that specific pathogen, and become Memory B-Cells.
This is a type of specific immunity, and is an Active type.
Just a small correction:
A phagocyte is a generic term for any cell that can carry out phagocytosis. In the human immune system, there are 4 main types of phagocytes: macrophages(monocites in the blood), neutrophils, dendritic cells and eosinophils(Yes, eosinophils do have phagocytic abilities, although poor).
The human body contains many other cells with the capacity of phagocytosis that are not part of the immune system: septal cells in lungs, Kupfer cells in the liver, oligodendrocytes in the brain, osteoclasts in bones etc
"As a biologist, I firmly believe that when you're dead, you're dead. Except for what you live behind in history. That's the only afterlife" - J. Craig Venter
Yo, you seem to forget that B-cells are also phagocytes. Crosslinking of membrane bound antibodies will cause an internalization of the antibody-antigen complex, processing of the antigen, and presentation of that particular processed antigen on class II MHC. This will allow it to interact and activate T-Helper cells via the T-cell receptor specific to that processed antigen in the context of class II MHC.
the B cell does take in the antigen and then present it to a helper T cell by a class II MHC molecule, however the B cell is not a phagocyte. The process by which the B cell takes in the antigen is not phagocytosis, but receptor mediated endocytosis. The main diference in principle is that receptor mediated endocytosis only takes in specific molecules, while phagocytosis takes in all kinds of things. That is why a B cell can only present one antigen, the one it has receptors for.
"As a biologist, I firmly believe that when you're dead, you're dead. Except for what you live behind in history. That's the only afterlife" - J. Craig Venter
Re: Difference between T-Cell and Phagocyte?
I just joined this forum. I tried to use one of the two facts, biology noivce, as my username, but it was already taken. Then I used the other, here by chance.
I liked your clarification for phagocytosis and endocytosis - answered one of my long time questions. I have some further questions if you don't mind:
1. Does B cell process the endocyted molecules in similar way as phagocytes do, so MHC II present pieces of the molecules, or MHC II in B cell present whole molecules as they are endocyted?
2. If an antigenic molecule that a B cell receptor can recognize is bound to the surface of a, say, bateria body, does B cell endocyte the entire bacteria body?
3. If the answer to question 2 is yes, is B cell capable to lyse and digest (process) the bacteria, and presend small pieces by MHCII on surface like the phagocytes do?
4. If the answers to 1-3 are all yes, then the end results, or functions, of phagocytosis by phagocytes and endocytosis by B cells don't seem to be much different. Am I missing something?
5. (unrelated to the above) I was given the impression that a T helper cell gets activated when its receptors recognize antigens presented by MHC II on some phagocytes. What's not clear to me is that when the activated T helper cell move on to activate B cells, does it require the B cells to have the same antigen presented on surface? If not, how the T helper cell "tell" the B cells what antibody to make? If yes, the chance for all events to happen seems to be very very low to me.
6. Finally, if you don't mind, why B cells developed T cell-dependent and T cell-independed pathways to produce antibodies? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Hope your answer won't be "read an immunology textbook"
well...phagocytes are mainly part of the immune systems defense system, like when there is an inflammatory response. While lymphocytes are mainly for when the immune system attacks a foreign organism. However, lymphocytes can become phagocytes thats why i didnt say that they were part of a certain sector of the immune system.
Re: Difference between T-Cell and Phagocyte?
As was mentioned earlier, B cells engulf cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Phagocytes engulf the entire pathogen inside food vacuoles and kill the pathogens and release antigens, or present them to B cells through class II MHC molecules. B cells bind *free or presented* antigens on their B-cell receptors and internalize them, and then present them in their own class II MHC molecules. This magnifies the immune response. Through their MHC II molecules, they present the antigen to either cytotoxic T cells, which can bind to and lyse infected cells, or helper T cells, which can secrete cytokines to activate B cells and cytotoxic T cells to further magnify the immune response. I am not entirely sure, but I think other B cells have to have the same antigen presented, and it binds to them via a CD4 molecule (remember a helper T cell has several CD4 molecules). Activation of B cells via cytokines from helper T cells cause the proliferation of B cells into plasma cells and memory B cells. Plasma cells produce antibodies. Memory B cells help in the secondary immune response: they can produce plasma cells whenever the body is exposed to the same antigen again. So the T-cell dependent pathway ensures that the signal is magnified by contact with helper T cells before the B cell proliferates into plasma cells, and the T-cell independent pathway provides a quicker way to respond to the antigen if the body is infected again.
Hope that helps.
Re: Difference between T-Cell and Phagocyte?
Aptitude, that was a brilliant response. I was in microbiology class yesterday biting my tongue while the professor kept referring to B cells as phagocytes. Biology is all about using the proper terminology!
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Your Views: Vote to help stem outflow of teachers from Janesville district
Upcoming school board elections serve as a chance for the public to support the direction of the Janesville schools or demand change.
Based on reports I've received from many building representatives, I estimate that more than 70 percent of the 64 teachers who have resigned from the 2013-14 year in Janesville are teaching in other districts—Beloit, Sun Prairie, Whitewater, Madison, Fort Atkinson and others.
�Sixty-four resignations are nearly triple the 24 who resigned 2012-13.
�Names, with effective date, board packet dates and positions are available on the district website. In an era when data are demanded to prove accountability, this information is compelling. Resignation of nearly 10 percent of the teaching staff, averaging six years of experience, is a tremendous loss to students. Add in the 35 retirements, averaging 23 years of experience, and the number of teachers lost in 2013-14 comes to 99 positions to fill, with an average loss of 12 years of experience. Members of the school board have lists of resignations as part of board packets; however, cumulative data regarding how many teachers are leaving Janesville are not presented.
Bill Sodemann and Diane Eyers seem to believe that the Janesville School District is moving in the "right direction."
Dale Thompson, Kevin Murray and Fred Jackson recognize the significance of this loss and wish to bring healing to the district. I have already voted for these three. I urge every citizen who is concerned about the drain of professionals from our district to speak out by voting likewise April 1.


text:
Death notices for May 4, 2014
Louise Hookham, 91, Milton, died Friday at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home, Janesville. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Catholic Church, Milton. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Albrecht Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Milton and from 9 a.m. until time of services Saturday at the church.
Jenell "Jan" Shirk, 86, Delavan, died Friday at Mercy-Walworth Hospital, Lake Geneva. Services will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Delavan United Methodist Church, Delavan. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until time of services Tuesday at the church. Monroe Funeral Home, Delavan, is assisting the family.
David S. Stalsberg, 68, Janesville, died Thursday at home. A visitation will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Whitcomb-Lynch Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Janesville.