text:
Editor's note: Journal Junction offers the public a forum to applaud successes, discuss issues, point out problems and review the events of the day in a constructive manner. Journal Junction comments should be limited to two to four sentences and be no longer than 80 words. Longer comments should be submitted as "Letters to the Editor,"?which is a separate forum. The Journal's classified ads section offers help to those with lost or found items. This is a sampling of comments received today. Any others, subject to editing, are published in the online Journal Junction at www.journal-news.net under opinions.
From Inwood:
I was in the Dunn Building to pay taxes on Friday. Why have the elevators not been inspected since 2010? This should be a safety concern.
From Martinsburg:
The "W.Va. Code" is a bloated, mish-mash of ill-conceived barriers and restrictions on legitimate individual activities. Fraser Institute's "Economic Freedom in North America Index" (URL: www.freetheworld.com/ release.html) rates W.Va. as 59th, trailing behind eight socialist Canadian provinces and ahead only of Mississippi. W.Va. government needs to repeal many many outdated, overbearing, condescending "laws" rather than introduce 1,502 new legislative insults to a great Mountaineer people.
From Harpers Ferry:
What is this town coming to? The school has rats and the apartments have ants! No one wants to do nothing.
From Berkeley Springs:
The D.C. whackadoodles are at it again. Two side-by-side articles in today's newspaper with the following headlines: "FAA to close 149 air traffic towers under budget cuts" and "Additional $200 million to aid Jordan." I think the entire federal government is out to lunch and "we the people" will have to bus the tables.
From Charles Town:
I just read that Obama is working with Congress to give Jordan an additional $200M in support. I am 60 years old and lost my job last year. I am losing my house, car and unemployment benefit this month. I've worked for more than 40 years with no help in sight when I need it. What's wrong with this picture?
From Huntfield:
If our elected officials cannot solve a simple problem like overcrowded deer and cat populations, what makes you think they are capable of solving real problems?
From Charles Town:
Let's face it, police officers who work for small towns like Ranson, Martinsburg and Charles Town are basically the rejects of those employed working in large cities. About the only thing they are good for is issuing speeding tickets.
From Martinsburg:
Instead of David Heatwole's suggested "contemporary art piece," (one man's art was once another man's junk) the mayor and City Council should consider a metal "Question Mark" for the square's pedestal. This would be a companion piece to the "Comma" at the train station. This concept could be expanded on by placing "Periods," "Exclamation Marks" and cool "Ampersands" all over town.
From Tuscarora:
I would hope those in authority would come to their senses and put the doughboy statue on the pedestal at the square and not that idiotic backyard piece of trash that was on the front page of The Journal March 22, 2013.
From Gerrardstown:
I agree with Mr. Shore about the negative impact of teacher bashing. When I was in his class, he presented the material thoroughly. We students did well on the tests if we studied his assignments. I disagree with him, though, about salary issues. He was an excellent teacher on a beginner's salary. My son, now in his class, says he is still a great teacher on a much higher salary. Teachers could be paid less. It's up to the students.
From Martinsburg:
I saw in The Journal today where President Obama is proposing giving $200 million to Jordan. He just gave money to Syria, yet we have people here who can't pay their bills, lose their houses and can't afford to eat a decent meal. I don't see how he sleeps at night. Maybe before we give it to them we could ask them, "How about giving us $200 million worth of oil?"
From Martinsburg:
We keep reading how the Berkeley County school superintendent, principals, teachers and staff are so great. Try going to one Martinsburg High School sporting event where they play the music between breaks, listen and you decide if it's anywhere close to mature.
From Charles Town:
Two years into office, and what exactly have our new city council members accomplished? No new jobs, sidewalks in disrepair and vacant structures continuing to be the norm. Heck, one member even promised to thin the deer population. How is that working out?
From Martinsburg:
What is to become of a culture where "political correctness" is the unwritten rule, and objective opinion based on virtuous and moral behavior is considered "hate"? Note to isolationists: The enemy is inside our perimeter. We're being destroyed from within.
From Martinsburg:
Potomac Edison has estimated my last three months of electricity use. When it decides to do its job, a lot of customers will be in for a big surprise. My electric meter has been read three times out of the past 12 months.
From Martinsburg:
After reading several of Sean O'Leary's rants in the Journal, Beretta USA rejected West Virginia's bid for their relocation here. "Too many irrational, unbalanced and unstable pseudo-intellectuals running around loose where dangerous weapons are available."
From Shepherdstown:
I wish the people who are writing about Shepherdstown Elementary would mind their own business and get a life and get a job! If people want to transfer to another job, that's their business not yours!
From Martinsburg:
The phrase "there is light at the end of the tunnel" was popularized by Herbert Hoover around 1931, when the U.S. stock markets staged a strong rally, convincing him and others that the crisis was over. Of course it wasn't, and the buoyant markets gave back everything and more over the next three years.
From Berkeley County:
Delegate John Overington's drive to reinstate West Virginia's death penalty never mentions what taxes will be raised or educational and highway programs cut to pay for prosecuting the criminals. Death penalty cases are among the most enormously expensive cases to prosecute.


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Top Definition
When you're having sex with a girl in the doggy style position and you pull out your dick and cut it off, at the same time cooking bagels in a deep fryer. You then cover the whole area in peanut butter and a dragon comes in and has a threesome with you and the girl while rolling around in the peanut butter and there is SO MUCH SEX OH YES THERES LOTS OF SEX
So me and my girlfriend had a Swedish Jesus Taco last night.
Shit was cash.
Shit was cash.
od uživatele GHeroLinkinPark 29. duben 2010
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
WAILUKU - A Kihei man was released from jail last week after being incarcerated for 18 months for sexually assaulting a woman who had obtained a court order prohibiting him from contacting her.
Brian Therrell Jr., 35, also was placed on five years' probation as part of his sentence Thursday. He was ordered to comply with sex offender registration requirements and to pay $3,375 in restitution.
Therrell was arrested in July 2011 after police said that he broke into the home of the woman, a family member, and sexually assaulted her.
In court Thursday, the woman said that she was afraid of Therrell, who had threatened to hurt her and burn down her house.
She said she didn't suffer physical injuries that night because "I knew I had to comply to stay alive."
At the time, Therrell was on probation for felony abuse of the woman in 2008.
"I do understand he will not be incarcerated forever," she said. "Each day he is is just one more precious day where I am safe."
First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Robert Rivera recommended a 10-year prison term for Therrell. He had pleaded no contest to two reduced counts of second-degree sexual assault, third-degree sexual assault, 11 counts of violating an order for protection and abuse.
"The defendant has demonstrated that although he qualifies for probation, he's likely to violate it because he just can't take no for an answer," Rivera said.
He said that Therrell would probably violate conditions of his probation and end up in prison.
But defense attorney Al Albrechtson said there wasn't anything in Therrell's record to show he wouldn't comply with probation. Therrell had abided by requirements of his probation in his 2008 case and was "if not a model probationer, at least someone who completed everything that was asked of him," Albrechtson said.
Second Circuit Judge Richard Bissen said that Therrell completed all probationary conditions "with the exception of one, and of course it's a big one - and that is he did not remain arrest- or conviction-free."
Therrell said that he planned to move to another part of the island and eventually go back to Oregon. "I have no intentions of going back to Kihei again," he said in court.
When Bissen asked Therrell why he had violated his probation and the court's order, Therrell said he had thought there was a chance that he and the woman "could work things out, just as we did in 2008."
"It was never my intention to hurt or put fear into her or anyone else," Therrell said.
As part of his probation, Therrell was ordered to have no contact with the victim and to not consume alcohol or illegal drugs. He also was ordered to participate in sex offender treatment and a domestic violence intervention program.


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Hanukkah festivities begin with candle lighting
JERUSALEM -- Jews around the world ushered in the eight-day Hanukkah festival Saturday evening, lighting the first candles of ceremonial lamps that symbolize triumph over oppression.
In Israel, families gathered after sundown for the lighting, eating traditional snacks of potato pancakes and doughnuts and exchanging gifts.
Local officials lit candles set up in public places, while families displayed the nine-candle lamps, called menorahs, in their windows or in special windproof glass boxes outside.
Hanukkah, also known as the festival of lights, commemorates the Jewish uprising in the second century B.C. against the Greek-Syrian kingdom, which had tried to impose its culture on Jews and adorn the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem with statues of Greek gods.
The holiday lasts eight days because according to tradition, when the Jews rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem, a single vial of oil, enough for one day, burned miraculously for eight.
For many Jewish people, the holiday symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
Observant Jews light a candle each night to mark the holiday.
Oily foods are eaten to commemorate the oil miracle, hence the ubiquitous fried doughnuts and potato pancakes.


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A Young Ken Interviews Paul Darrow (1986)
A youngling Ken Deep (left) interviews Paul Darrow (right) in 1986. Paul Darrow had played Tekker the year before in the Doctor Who story Timelash, he has since worked once again in Doctor Who in one of the Big Finish audio dramas, but he is best known for his character Kerr Avon in Blake's Seven. Image by Louis Trapani


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$14.39The intoxicating story of one of the greatest dancers in the history of ballet and the paradox of his profound genius and descent into madness Vaslav Nijinsky stands alone as a dancer, interpretive artist, and choreographic pioneer. His breathtaking performances with the Ballet Russes took Western Europe by storm, and his avant-garde choreography for The Afternoon of the Faun and Rite of Spring
Hold Me Tight and Tango Me HomeMaria Finn's husband was cheating. First she threw him out. Then she cried. Then she signed up for tango lessons. It turns out that tango has a lot to teach about understanding love and loss, about learning how to follow and how to lead, how to live with style and flair, take risks, and sort out what it is you really want. As Maria's world begins to revolve around the friendships she makes in
$15.99NATIONAL BESTSELLERFor more than four hundred years, the art of ballet has stood at the center of Western civilization. Its traditions serve as a record of our past. Lavishly illustrated and beautifully told, Apollo's Angels—the first cultural history of ballet ever written—is a groundbreaking work. From ballet's origins in the Renaissance and the codification of its basic steps and positions
$9.99Determination meets dance in this memoir by the history-making ballerina.In this instant New York Times bestseller, Misty Copeland makes history, telling the story of her journey to become the first African-American principal ballerina at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. But when she first placed her hands on the barre at an after-school community center, no one expected the undersized,
Life Lessons for Working TogetherIn a career that has spanned four decades, choreographer Twyla Tharp has collaborated with great musicians, designers, thousands of dancers, and almost a hundred companies. She's experienced the thrill of shared achievement and has seen what happens when group efforts fizzle. Her professional life has been -- and continues to be -- one collaboration after another. In this practical sequel to her
Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical BalletFrom adagio to voyage, over 800 steps, movements, poses, and concepts are fully defined. A pronunciation guide and cross-references to alternate names for similar steps and positions that vary from the Russian to the French or Italian schools are also invaluable aids. "More information available in one book than we have ever had before." — Dance Magazine.
Where Snowflakes Dance and Swear: Inside the Land of Ballet"Ballet is about as transparent as the federal government, which means that a very small percentage of its backstage business makes it into the public eye. Author Stephen Manes is about to change all of that with his new book."--Pittsburgh Post-GazetteWhere Snowflakes Dance and Swear zooms in on an intimate view of one full season in the life of one of America's top ballet companies and schools:
Plié with Fire (Dancing Dream #3.5)When Tiki Velasquez has to decide between jail and ballet school, the decision seems obvious. But after living on the streets in order avoid the dance world, sashaying right back into it may be too painful for her to bear. With a quick wit and a hard exterior, most people believe that messing with Tiki is just playing with fire. No one can really see that she's only trying not to get burned.
Winter Season: A Dancer's JournalAn irresistible inside look at one of the world's great dance companies, Winter Season is also a sensitive, intimate, and almost painfully honest account of the emotional and intellectual development of a young woman dedicated to one of the most demanding of all the arts.
A Dancer's Guide to the Technique, Traditions, and Joys of BalletA New Classic for Today's Dancer The Ballet Companion is a fresh, comprehensive, and thoroughly up-to-date reference book for the dancer. With 150 stunning photographs of ballet stars Maria Riccetto and Benjamin Millepied demonstrating perfect execution of positions and steps, this elegant volume brims with everything today's dance student needs, including: Practical advice for getting started,
A Manual for Dancing and LivingIn the 85 chapters of this guidebook, you will find many ideas about waltzing, dancing, and living. Dance descriptions and tips to improve your dancing are accompanied by down-to-earth ways to find greater fulfillment in your dancing and in your life. 25 different kinds of waltz are completely described, including: cross-step waltz, Viennese waltz, box step waltz, rotary waltz, polka,


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A call to action by the ecological restoration joint working group of SER International and the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management
George D. Gann & David Lamb, editors
PDF Version in English
Versión PDF en Español
Many of the world's ecosystems have undergone significant degradation with negative impacts on biological diversity and peoples' livelihoods. There is now a growing realisation that we will not be able to conserve the earth's biological diversity through the protection of critical areas alone. This paper explains what is meant by the term "ecological restoration" and outlines how it can provide enhanced biodiversity outcomes as well as improve human well-being in degraded landscapes. In this way ecological restoration becomes a fundamental element of ecosystem management, although until recently, its potential has not always been fully recognised.
Given that many people now depend on what have become degraded ecosystems to sustain their livelihoods, ecological restoration needs to address four elements. These elements are critical to successful ecosystem management. Ecological restoration should:
This means ecological restoration can be a primary component of conservation and sustainable development programmes throughout the world. What makes ecological restoration uniquely valuable is its inherent capacity to provide people with the opportunity not only to repair ecological damage, but also to improve the human condition. The conservation benefits of restoration are obvious. What is less apparent, but which is at least as important, is that in many instances, ecological restoration has also been able to renew economic opportunities, rejuvenate traditional cultural practices and refocus the aspirations of local communities.
This paper has been produced by a joint working group of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) International and the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management. The primary motivation for this paper has been to establish a joint rationale for both organizations as to why ecological restoration is a critical tool for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Much of this document was derived from the SER Primer on Ecological Restoration (SER 2002 and 2004). The paper has been also been written to further the Principles of the Ecosystem Approach as endorsed by the Convention on Biological Diversity.
What is Ecological Restoration?
Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. It is an intentional activity that initiates or accelerates an ecological pathway—or trajectory through time—towards a reference state (see Boxes 1 and 2).
Ecological restoration has as its goal an ecosystem that is resilient and self-sustaining with respect to structure, species composition and function, as well as being integrated into the larger landscape and supporting sustainable livelihoods. Many healthy ecosystems are a product of human endeavors over very long time periods and therefore restoration commonly requires the participation of resource dependant communities. In this respect ecological restoration supports conservation and sustainable development efforts worldwide.
There are two major challenges involved when undertaking ecological restoration. One is how to undertake restoration across large areas comprising a variety of land-uses. The second is how to equitably balance the trade-offs between improving biodiversity conservation and improvements in human well-being.
Principles of Good Ecological Restoration Practice
Ecological restoration is a well-established practice in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. We have itemized fourteen principles of good ecological restoration practice based on experience gained over several decades. These principles, and the Attributes of Restoration Progress below, are consistent with both the scope and intent of the Convention on Biological Diversity's Principles for the Ecosystem Approach.
Principles of good ecological restoration practice include:
Human systems
Attributes of Restoration Progress
A degraded ecosystem can be considered to have been restored when it regains sufficient biotic and abiotic resources to sustain its structure, ecological processes and functions with minimal external assistance or subsidy. It will then demonstrate resilience to normal ranges of environmental stress and disturbance. It will interact with contiguous ecosystems in terms of biotic and abiotic flows and social and economic interactions. It will support, as appropriate, local social and economic activities. Such a state is often difficult to achieve. Nevertheless, significant environmental and social benefits can be realized even in the earliest stages of restoration.
Restoration can take time before all the benefits are evident. The attributes listed below provide a basis for assessing restoration progress. Some are readily measured. Others must be assessed indirectly, including most ecosystem functions, which cannot be ascertained without research efforts that are likely to exceed the capabilities, budgets, and time frames of most restoration projects.
The full expression of all of these attributes is not essential to demonstrate that satisfactory progress is being achieved. Instead, it is only necessary for these indicators to demonstrate an appropriate trajectory towards the intended reference ecosystem condition.
Human systems
Attributes may be more specific according to the nature of the restoration goals. For example, one goal may be that the restored ecosystem will provide habitat for rare species or will harbor a diversegene-pool for selected species. Yet other goals of restoration may be to provide aesthetic amenities or to accommodate activities of social consequence, such as the strengthening of a community through the participation of individuals in a restoration project.
Challenges and Opportunities
The circumstances that we seek to address are often very challenging. The areas of degraded land now present in various parts of the world are large. Some systems are severely degraded and will be costly to repair. Further, many of these degraded systems are still being used by people and many of these people are poor. We may not succeed in fully eradicating the causes of degradation in these circumstances but there is sufficient evidence from a variety of case studies for us to be optimistic. This evidence makes it clear that ecological restoration will be a key element not only of conservation but also for sustainable development worldwide.
Restoration can be large-scale or small scale, it can be carried out by one or a few individuals or via government programmes involving thousands of participants. It can be well resourced or modestly funded, it can involve ecosystems that can be restored quickly or those that will require hundreds of years before ecological recovery can be said to have occurred. In all cases ecological restoration will improve the biological diversity on degraded landscapes, increase the populations and distribution of rare and threatened species, enhance landscape connectivity, increase the availability of environmental goods and services, and contribute to the improvement of human well-being.
Reference: SER International Primer on Ecological Restoration. www.ser.org
Box 1: The Reference State
A reference ecosystem is an actual ecosystem or its conceptual model that is used in setting goals and planning a restoration project, and later in its evaluation. In its simplest form the reference ecosystem is an actual site, its written or oral description, or both. In other situations, the reference ecosystem is assembled from multiple sites and from other sources. In parts of the world where there is a lack of an actual reference ecosystem, or in situations where it is unclear which ecosystem over time would serve as an adequate reference, a more conceptual approach is required. It should be noted that the concept of the reference is a dynamic one, and that, typically, the reference represents a point of advanced development that lies somewhere along the intended ecological trajectory of the restored ecosystem (see Box 2).
Box 2: The Ecological Trajectory
Wherever possible, ecological restoration attempts to return an ecosystem to its historic trajectory. Historic conditions are therefore the ideal starting point for restoration design and planning. The restored ecosystem will not necessarily recover any of its specific former states, since contemporary constraints and conditions may render this impossible. Indeed, the historic trajectory of a severely impacted ecosystem may be difficult or impossible to determine with accuracy. Nevertheless, the general direction and boundaries of that trajectory can be established through a combination of knowledge of the damaged ecosystem's pre-existing structure, composition and functioning, studies on comparable intact ecosystems, information about regional environmental conditions, and analysis of other ecological, cultural and historical reference information. These combined sources allow the historic trajectory or other reference conditions to be charted from baseline ecological data and predictive models, and its emulation in the restoration process should aid in piloting the ecosystem towards improved health and integrity.
Background to Ecological Restoration: A Means of Conserving Biodiversity and Sustaining Livelihoods
The development of a global rationale for ecological restoration was first suggested by the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM) in preparation for the second joint workshop on ecological restoration with the Society for Ecological Restoration International (SER) held at Taman Negara, Malaysia in 2003. SER delegated the preparation of a draft document to an ad hoc working group composed of SER members George Gann (Chair), Carolina Murcia and Keith Winterhalder. Winterhalder, chair of the SER Science and Policy Working Group, wrote the first rough draft. Other SER delegates who contributed to the document both prior to and during the workshop included then SER Board Chair Eric Higgs, Keith Bowers, Nik Lopoukhine and Steve Whisenant.
The draft global rationale became the focus of negotiations at the Taman Negara workshop. Representatives from the CEM, the Ecosystem Management Programme (EMP) and other IUCN programmes who contributed to the development of the document include: Kamal Batanouny (CEM), Thérèse Beaudet (EMP), Steve Edwards (Coordinator, EMP), NordinHasan (CEM), Frits Hesselink (Workshop Facilitator), David Lamb (CEM Ecosystem Restoration Theme Leader), Nik Lopoukhine (CEM, SER), Stewart Maginnis (Forest Programme), Susan Mainka (Species Programme), Hillary Masundire (Chair, CEM), Clive Wilkinson (CEM), Marieke Wit (EMP), and Piet Wit (Deputy Chair, CEM). A working draft titled Ecological restoration: a means of conserving biodiversity and sustaining livelihoods, was approved by both SER and IUCN delegations at the conclusion of the meeting. The SER Board of Directors approved the document in April, 2004.
A final draft of the global rationale was prepared in advance of the 3rd World Conservation Congress in Bangkok, Thailandin November 2004 and was printed for distribution at that event (Society for Ecological Restoration International and IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management 2004). Gann and Lamb, co-chairs of the SER-CEM Ecological Restoration Joint Working Group, edited this final version. Keith Winterhalder, Andre Clewell and James Aronson, of the SER Science & Policy Working Group, contributed Boxes 1 & 2 and provided other editorial suggestions. Version 1.1 (Gann & Lamb 2006), is published on the web at www.ser.org, and incorporates this Background and some minor editorial modifications to the original approved document.
This document should be cited as: Gann, G.D., & D. Lamb, eds. 2006. Ecological restoration: A mean of conserving biodiversity and sustaining livelihoods (version 1.1). Society for Ecological Restoration International, Tucson, Arizona, USAand IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
© 2006 Society for Ecological Restoration International and International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
For further information contact:
Society for Ecological Restoration: www.ser.org
IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management: www.iucn.org/themes/cem
1133 15th St. NW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20005 USA
Tel: 202.299.9518


text:
Sources: Reuters, Forbes
quote: Right, so declining share price is not a sign of floundering. I guess I've just learnt something new today.
quote: Share prices can rise and fall, and indeed do, for reasons that have no relationship to the business prospects of the business concerned.
quote: For example many companies lost a lot of share value when the markets crashed in 2008, almost none of which had anything to do with actual business prospects of the businesses concerned.
quote: Why has the share price declined? That is hard to say, using any usual objective calculation method employed to assess a companies worth Apple is woefully undervalued.


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Top Definition
common scottish slang for crying
"Aye, you were fair bawling and greeting like a wee bairn"
"Aww, I wiz almost greetin when Lassie died."
"Aww, I wiz almost greetin when Lassie died."
додав anna apple 12 Жовтня 2003
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
Used by many beings, including aliens and abnormal people. Used to say hello, while confusing the other person, normally into silence.
-and you are?
-and you are?
додав Dragon MkII 24 Липня 2004
A person gives a classical greeting to a hip crowd to be funny.
Greetings Bretheren what up with thee.
додав Sun Rhythms 13 Жовтня 2004
Greetings: Adjective: To greet the coming of an event. Commonly used as a way of saying "hello" - However, when used properly it can be used as a way of saying that you like something, or that something is pleasing. Often used in the past tense, but can be used in almost any situation.
1) "Ahh! This Florida trip is guna be so greetings!"
2) In the even that you find $20 "Greetings!"
2) In the even that you find $20 "Greetings!"
додав Kevin Brooks 17 Серпня 2007


text:
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Centers of Excellence—Reply
Edward H. L.
Arch Surg. 2010;145(1):107-108.
Published online January 1, 2010
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text:
on May 13, 2013 - 11:32 PM
, updated May 14, 2013 at 1:39 PM
Nov. 9, 1924 - April 26, 2013
At a time when five and dime stores were going out of business, Robert S. Vidler Jr. and his younger brother, Edward, took over their father's dry goods emporium on Main Street in East Aurora. Over decades, the brothers turned Vidler's 5 & 10 into a beloved icon.
Late last month, Mr. Vidler died at his home in Ithaca. He was 88.
The Vidler brothers had worked to keep their business strong and their customers happy.
They expanded their space for toys, lunch boxes, stationery, sewing supplies and kitchen goods by buying three store fronts when those businesses closed, said Sue Rakow, his daughter.
"It was just a real deep desire to keep the store going that their father had begun," she said. "Both he and his brother loved the store. They loved East Aurora."
Rakow grew up working in the store with her sisters and cousins, including Beverly and Donald Vidler, who now manage the business. They were all encouraged to help customers and would often take the time to write letters for customers with developmental disabilities who came from a nearby home.
"I remember him sitting in the back. We'd run back and talk to him. He was a big part of our growing up," she said. "He knew everybody, talked to everyone. It was like a community center. His people skills and his caring and kindness were his overriding qualities."
As a young man, Vidler attended Penn State University for one year before enlisting in the Navy during World War II and started officer training at Cornell University's Hotel School.
He was a supply officer on a submarine chaser, earned the rank of lieutenant and in subsequent years took charge of organizing shipmate reunions.
He served on the Village Board for several terms and was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. He also loved the Welland Canal in Ontario and kept track of the ships he saw go through it.
He delighted in working at the annual Kiwanis Club chicken barbecues in Hamlin Park – so much so that the family procured the recipe for the dish so that Rakow could continue to make it for him once he moved to Ithaca in 2004 with Rakow's stepmother, Alice Jean.
"We'd make the East Aurora chicken barbecue for him, and he loved it," said Rakow.
He is survived by his brother Edward and two daughters, Rakow and Phebe Cook. His daughter Ann Fates died at 63 on April 19, a week before he did.
A burial for Vidler with military honors is planned July 12 in Sampson Veterans Cemetery, Romulus.
A reception is being planned for July 13 in East Aurora.


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European Commission open initiatives
European Commission digital agenda and cloud strategy
The European Commission (EC), the central governing body of the EU, has in the past several years pursued ICT policies that increasingly have been good for "openness" in the areas of standards, data, and software. Its recent announcements on cloud computing have continued this theme.
However, as with any broad strategy of this magnitude, there are parts of the strategy (many well-meaning) that could lead to trouble. Attention, engagement, and follow-up with the Commission are needed to assure a positive outcome.
The EC is seeking to bring new definition to their cloud efforts with its formal Cloud Computing Strategy (released last September) that lays out three key actions that it deems necessary for "unleashing the potential of cloud computing in europe."
These three key actions are:
- Encouraging the development and adoption of cloud standards to ensure interoperability, data portability, and reversibility
- The development of safe and fair model contract terms—and a model certification scheme—to build trust and accelerate the take-up of cloud computing
- The establishment of a "European Cloud Partnership," a public-private effort to identify common public procurement requirements for cloud services that, when adopted by governments throughout the EU, will presumably not only provide better tax-payer value, but will help stimulate and shape the cloud market overall
While the subsequent and coming months have been and will be further punctuated by various announcements, speeches, press releases, and reports offering new ideas or levels of commitment, all this can be viewed as a continuum of the ongoing ICT policy work that the EC has already been focusing on in areas that are more directly relevant to enabling cloud growth in Europe. Indeed, the Commission's Digital Agenda, announced in 2010, targets key cloud-enabling issues such as trust and security (data protection and cyber security legislation), and "Fast and Ultrafast Internet Connection" (via a variety of actions).
Also, part of the Digital Agenda are Commission initiatives on interoperability and standards (European Standardization Regulation, European Interoperability Framework). Combined, both of these initiatives acknowledge the role of open source and open standards in innovation. Likewise, the Digital Agenda and the Cloud Strategy are in essence demonstrating the growing support for open standards and open source within the Commission. Putting an emphatic point on this was Vice President Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for Digital Agenda, who gave a full-throated endorsement of open source at a conference last December.
So, where is the controversy? With several months of experience with which to evaluate the direction of the "Cloud Computing Strategy," here are the questions that are emerging:
Will "openness" be maintained in the strategy?
One can read the strategy as being positive for proponents of all things open since it is effectively solidifying the Commission's commitment to open source and open standards. However, the Commission has called on the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to lead the cloud standards work described above. Telecommunications standards, which are salted with standards-essential patents and other impediments to openness, are very different than those developed and used by the software and Internet communities. Early reports indicate that ETSI, as directed by the Commission, is, in fact, coordinating a generally open and industry-led effort to roadmap what standards are needed and is not seeking to drive their development. Open Source and open standards proponents are hopeful that any needed standards will be developed separately on an international and open basis. The Commission maintains that it turned to ETSI to lead this work since neither the Commission or other groups had the bandwidth for the work. Nonetheless, ETSI's role is being carefully watched.
Will the strategy generate self-defeating protectionist impulses?
The full benefits of cloud computing will be best realized if it functions as a global and borderless phenomenon. To its credit, the Commission has maintained from the start that it has no intention of fostering a "European Super Cloud," whereby policies would be pursued to develop a stand-alone, self-contained European industry. Nonetheless, European ICT companies and others have expressed fear regarding the stiff competition coming from outside the EU. Will they seek policy changes to trip up that competition and effectively put up a border around Europe?
Is there the risk of the strategy assuming a 'one size fits all' model?
Cloud computing means many different things depending on whether you're an individual consumer, an SME, a regional enterprise, a multi-national corporation, a public administration, an academic institute, and so on. In addition, cloud business models (Iaas, Saas, Paas, Daas, private, public, hybrid) are changing and new ones are emerging in real time. One of the key pillars of the Commission cloud strategy is to foster the development of safe and fair model contract terms and a potential cloud certification scheme. Can these efforts produce something that is timely or even relevant given the variety of cloud implementations that are emerging?
Most of these items will play out over the next 12 to 18 months. The Commission has established multiple working groups to grapple with these issues and other fora (conferences, workshops, etc.) which are currently meeting and are open to all stakeholders. Multiple open source advocacy groups—Open Forum Europe, the European Committee on Interoperable Systems, Free Software Foundation Europe—are engaged.
Nonetheless, at the same time that the Commission voices strong support for open standards and other policies that will promote the development and uptake of open source software, there are multiple avenues for the train to go off the track. Persistent attention to detail is always required.
3 Comments
Interesting article, cloud solutions have taken a place in IT the last few years. I work in the public sector, local government. I can see a slow adoption of cloud solutions, this makes it even more interesting how such organisations will adapt to the cloud and which questions they will be confronted with similar to the above.
I can already see companies, which deliver cloud solutions to the public sector, develop private clouds but if they are open?
I personally think the EC would benefit, and have this program succeed, if they not only develop this strategy further with companies who provide the cloud services, but also 'teach' the users about the cloud and open source and standards.
Edit: just got confirmed PinkRoccade, one of the major players servicing the public sector in the Netherlands with new cloud based solutions are working with Red Hat, using for example PostgreSQL and Alfresco. Hat Tip to PinkRoccade for doing it 'the open source way'.
Good article. Within PinkRoccade local government, we provide software solutions for local governments. in The Netherlands. Early 2012, we've started developing a new SaaS solution for local governments 'from scratch'. Our goal from day 1 has been to deliver more value for less money. Reducing the TCO of the technology stack we're using, has become an integral part of that strategy. I'm sure you'll smile when hearing that we're actively working together with RedHat experts to use the Linux OS within our cloud-solution. But it's not just the OS, we're also switching to PostgresQL database, Alfresco for Document Management System and Liferay for the civil servant and citizen's portals. Exciting stuff and something our existing customers give excellent feedback on. Both from an innovation point of view as well as the monetary aspect.
This strategy has good elements.
But it fails on the vital issues as it strip european consumers and companies from control of data that are extremely concentrated in the hands of a few huge players that are already abusing their power over markets.
As such this strategy actively contradict the critical efforts on #antitrust and #eudatap and is non-compatible with even basic requirements for the Single market.
There is a very simple minimum requirement and test of cloud structures. Cloud service provider - all together - MUST NOT BE ABLE TO distinguish between two transactions with the same citizens/device and two transactions with two different citizens/devices.
The strategy reflect the paranoid obsession of Command & Control that have emerged in the bureacuratic parts of EU leasing to unsustainable ICT strategies.
We could require security in cloud, but the active data abusers have lobbyed actively against it, as that would invalidate their business models at the expsense of citizens rights and market prosperity.


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Fla. woman, 77, faces drug charges
Arrest of 'Miss Gussie' part of ongoing probe, officials say
Published 5:10 PM EDT Aug 31, 2012
A 77-year-old Florida pastor is facing drug trafficking charges.
Gussie Smith was arrested for allegedly trafficking oxycodone.
She's the pastor at the Church of Jesus in the small Lake County town of Umatilla.
Folks around town calls her "Miss Gussie" out of respect.
Her daughter said Smith takes the oxycodone pills for pain and has no idea why she's facing trafficking charges.
Lake County detectives would only say that Smith's arrest is part of an ongoing drug investigation.


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Americans need the enormous new supplies of natural gas being found in this region of the country. West Virginians need the jobs that come with gas drilling and processing. Local and state economies need the boosts that come from the industry.
But not at the expense of unnecessary destruction of the environment.
As reported two years ago, residents of some areas of Wetzel County discovered some streams had been damaged badly by crews working for Chesapeake Energy. In one case, a waterfall on Blake Fork was destroyed so a road could be constructed to a drilling site.
It appears Chesapeake has repaired much or all of the damage caused - but that does not change the fact that the company broke the law in the first place. Violations of the federal Clean Water Act were committed.
Recently, Chesapeake agreed to settle pending legal action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, related to the Wetzel County problems. Subject to approval by U.S. District Court Judge Frederick P. Stamp Jr., the deal with the EPA calls for Chesapeake to pay a $600,000 fine and be placed on probation for two years. During that period the company's activities will be supervised even more intensively than normal by the EPA.
EPA officials, noting they worked closely with U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld on the case, stressed it sets something of a precedent. The action was the first by the agency related to drilling in the Marcellus Shale and under the EPA's Energy Extraction Initiative.
Let's hope it is the last such prosecution - not because the agency backs away from such activity but because the gas industry pays more attention to obeying laws such as the Clean Water Act.
When the Marcellus Shale drilling boom began in West Virginia, some residents worried gas companies would be allowed to destroy the environment at will, with little or no attempt made to stop them. The prosecution of Chesapeake for actions in Wetzel County should send a signal that is not the case - that while we welcome gas drilling here, we will insist that rules meant to safeguard the environment be obeyed.


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Mike Tindall, who is married to William's cousin, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips's daughter Zara Phillips, says father-to-be Prince William – whom he calls "Willy" – will be "outstanding" as a dad, "while Kate is a natural mother," he adds.
The rugby player told the Daily Mirror, "It's great for them. The whole family is really excited about the baby. I think everyone's excited. I'm so happy for those two. They'll be great parents."
Tindall, who wed Phillips nearly two years ago, says children are on their minds, too – in the future.
Dave M. Benett / Getty
Tindall's comments came as William, 30, spoke about the interrupted nights on his horizon when the baby comes along. When William and brother Harry opened a wounded warriors' recovery center run by the charity Help for Heroes, the prince was handed a teddy bear and a onesie with the motif "My Daddy Is A Hero" on it.
Triple amputee Josh Boggi then asked the prince, "Are you looking forward to it, Sir?"
"Very much so," William replied. "But all the mothers have been looking at me [and saying,] 'Just you wait, just you wait. Long sleepless nights.' "


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Ok, we gotta have a topic here for the Calder Cup Finals.
Grand Rapids Griffins are taking on the Syracuse Crunch, who are the defending champions (Tampa's affiliate was Norfolk last year). They have only lost 4 total games the past 2 post season, only 1 so far this post season.
I know we were kind of worried/looking forward to this, but with the big clubs. However this should be pretty exciting for Wings fans.
Game 1 Sat., June 8 GRIFFINS at Crunch 7 p.m.
Game 2 Sun., June 9 GRIFFINS at Crunch 6 p.m.
Game 3 Wed., June 12 Crunch at GRIFFINS 7 p.m.
Game 4 Fri., June 14 Crunch at GRIFFINS 7 p.m.
*Game 5 Sat., June 15 Crunch at GRIFFINS 7 p.m.
*Game 6 Tue., June 18 GRIFFINS at Crunch 7 p.m.
*Game 7 Thu., June 20 GRIFFINS at Crunch 7 p.m.
Watch for free
For those that haven't seen it, this is the Playoff intro video the Griffins had at the beginning of the postseason.
Edited by drumnj, 06 June 2013 - 08:30 PM.


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Katie Souviney begins her third season as an assistant
coach for the men's and women's track and field
teams. Souviney works primarily with the hurdlers, long
sprinters, throwers and multi event athletes.
During her first season with CCSU, the men's team won its first ever NEC Indoor Conference Title and the coaching staff was awarded Coaching Staff of the Year. Her athletes broke four school records and Souviney had numerous athletes place at the conference meets. She also had one athlete qualify for the first round of the NCAA Championship.
Prior to coaching at CCSU, Souviney spent two years coaching at the University of Maine. In 2010, the Maine coaching staff was named America East Coaching Staff of the Year. At Maine, Souviney was responsible for the recruitment and coaching of the hurdlers, high jumpers and multi event athletes. During her two years coaching at Maine she coached athletes to thirteen All-Conference performances, eight All-New England performances, one school record, one USA Track and Field Junior National qualifier and forty two Top 10 Performances in UMaine history.
As a student-athlete Souviney served as captain of the Maine track team during her sophomore, junior and senior campaigns. She held seven school records at UMaine (100m hurdles, 60m hurdles, 60yd hurdles, pentathlon, heptathlon, 4x400m Relay and Sprint Medley Relay), was a seven time All-America East Selection and qualified for the first round of the NCAA Championship in the 100m hurdles. She was a recipient of the UMaine Scholar-Athlete award all four years of her career.
Souviney received her bachelor's and master's
degrees in exercise physiology from UMaine. She currently
holds a USTFCCCA Throws Specialist Certification, Level Two
Coaching Certification in the jumps, and is a Certified Strength
and Conditioning Specialist.


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Firefighters spent the first night of the new year on the scene of a fire that destroyed a long-time West Allis hobby store.
The fire at the Happy Hobby, near 80th St. and National Ave., broke out around 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve. The store was closed for the night.
Firefighters say there were heavy smoke and flames coming from the 20-year-old business when they arrived. They called for more help from neighboring fire departments.
Because the store was closed, no one was hurt. There's no word yet on what started the fire.


text:
Friday, February 1, 2013 - Thursday, February 28, 2013
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WELLSVILLE - "Dawson's Circus" was the term coined for the raucous atmosphere that encompassed Wellsville basketball at old Beacom Memorial Gymnasium.
The "Dawson" came from then head coach Bob Dawson, whose teams had an unprecedented 136-15 record in a six-year span from 1970-76. Dawson was at the helm of the Wellsville program for 13 seasons from 1968-1981, and his resume included three undefeated regular seasons, three No. 1 rankings in the Ohio polls and a trip to the state final four.
"Circus," came from the efforts of students, fans, and cheerleaders among others that made Wellsville such a difficult place to play. The Circus was highlighted by the "Big Orange Machine," a cardboard cutout of a tank-like vehicle that moved along the wall under spotlight in a pitch-black gymnasium.
Article Photos
Michael Reiner, a freshman at Wellsville High School, stands below the new 'Big Orange Machine.' Reiner first got the idea to reintroduce the 'Big Orange Machine' when he learned that the gymnasium would be receiving new lights, that would allow them to be turned off for player introductions. (Salem News/Jon Rudder)
A balloon emblazoned with that evening's opponent logo awaited the machine, and when it arrived, a hammer swung down and broke the balloon.
Up came the lights, as well as the decibel level, and the game began.
The Big Orange Machine was a mainstay for over a decade at Tigers' basketball games, until 1981. Beacom Memorial received new lights that took too long to warm back up after being switched off, which effectively ended the exciting tradition.
The Big Orange Machine was lost, but not forever; and certainly not forgotten.
The man behind it all
The idea to recreate the environment of "Dawson's Circus" was that of freshman Michael Reiner, who is anything but your typical 15-year-old.
Reiner, who walks with a crutch as a result of Cerebral Palsy, is as spirited as kids come, and a competitor to boot.
After winning the county spelling bee, Reiner competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee where he advanced to the third round before being eliminated.
This spring he's got his eyes set on running track. Reiner has been working on building up the strength in his legs
"I've been working in the weight room," Michael said. "I do three days a week right now and I want to try to get up to four."
His complications do little to slow him down. Reiner also serves as the public address voice for the home team's player introductions.
"I get a little bit nervous, but it comes with repetition. I try and practice and do a good job under pressure, and I deliver most of the time," he said with a chuckle.
It hasn't been an easy road to ninth grade. In fact, it has had more than its share of bumps, but a few miracles along the way.
When he was 13-years-old, Reiner underwent a complicated surgery in an attempt to correct the problems that plagued his legs.
"He couldn't stand and needed to use a cane. He couldn't have walked from me to you before the surgery," his mother Paula, who teaches at Garfield Elementary School, said.
The procedure was revealed as a possibility while on a visit to a doctor's appointment for his twin brother, Mitchell.
"Mitchell had played football. He had been in the game not even three minutes, and took a hit that broke his leg," she continued. "We had him to the orthopedic doctor, and just chatting with him, I asked if he had ever saw kids with Cerebral Palsy. He said no, but I know this awesome man in Delaware. I went home and Googled him, and found people come from all over the world to be treated by him."
The surgeon, Dr. Freeman Miller, performed multiple surgeries at once. Seeing her son walk and move about now is nothing short of amazing for his mother.
"It's been life changing for him to be able to walk around now with one crutch, or no crutch," she said. "There were many things that fell into place. We shouldn't have been able to get in to see the doctor, he had no surgery appointments available, and everything just kind of came together like it was meant to be. He really did change Michael's life, for him to be able to get around now."
The ability to move about the gymnasium is of relatively little difficulty now, and it's not uncommon to see Michael socializing with fans before, during, and after basketball games.
"I always say that he's going to be the mayor one day," his mother added. "When we're out, we actually have to wait on him because he's talking to everyone from age six to 96."
Brotherly love
Michael is just one half of the duo that is the Reiner twins. The two have a unique bond that has been strengthened by all that they have endured together.
"They were both born 26 weeks early; Michael weighed one pound, 14 ounces. Mitchell was one pound, 15 ounces," their mother said.
Often never far apart, Michael can always be found in the stands at basketball games, watching Mitchell, who plays on the J.V. team.
When Mitchell sunk a crucial free throw against Southern Local in the waning seconds of the J.V. game on Dec. 11, Michael could be seen giving a celebratory fist pump at the opposite end of the floor. He was also the first one to congratulate Mitchell when he emerged from the locker room minutes later.
"It was intense, it felt pretty good coming out of the locker room seeing everyone and giving me high-fives," Mitchell said. "He (Michael) never misses a game. He always wants to come watch and gives me pointers a lot too," he added with a smile.
"Even as a freshman, you can still do big things," Michael said. "Just look at my brother, sinking that free throw."
Throughout his surgical process, Mitchell watched as his brother painstakingly went though a rigorous rehabilitation process.
"Yeah that was pretty big. When he walked he walked with sort of a crouch. Now he has straight legs and is getting better every day," Mitchell said. "We had a hospital bed in the living room, a lot of therapy afterwards to keep him from going back to where he was. There was some pain involved, but nothing he would never use as an excuse. He's not like that."
On the move, again
Michael first learned of the machine from his uncle, Steve Poynter. Poynter, a 1972 graduate of Wellsville High School told his nephew the story of the "Big Orange Machine," and all of the festivities that went along with it.
When Reiner learned of the new lights that would be installed at Wellsville High School's gym, he became intrigued at the idea of recreating the Big Orange Machine.
"I had never seen or heard of anything like it, so I thought 'Hey let's start it up again because it's something positive and good for the school system,'" he said. "I'm loving it because it's getting people out to the games, and that's what it's for. It's about showing pride and bringing people together."
Michael enlisted a little help from Jeff Campbell, a 1981 graduate of Wellsville High School.
"Even though he coaches at Beaver Local, he still has some tiger blood that runs in him - he told me 'Wellsville Alumni always give back.' He's a wonderful human being and person," Reiner said.
"I thought it was exciting (the idea). We actually tried to do it a few years back with some signs that said 'the big orange machine is on the move, again' but it has to be adopted by the kids," Campbell said. "If not it's just some thing on the wall. If they get into it it's a lot of fun."
Campbell is also responsible for the tiger that leaps through the gymnasium's north wall. With a little work and some design changes, the newest rendition of the Big Orange Machine came to life and assumed its place along the wall.
"It's a little bit different, but a lot of it is very close to the original," Campbell said. "It used to have a hammer instead of a claw. There was never a tiger sticking out of the top, but the rest of it is pretty close to what it was like."
The tiger that is seen operating the machine further reinforced his idea for the name of the student section it would represent.
"The funny thing is, I was thinking about calling our student section the Orange Army," Michael said. "And when I saw the design of the Army Tiger in the tank, I thought it was perfect."
The new Big Orange Machine takes its place in a similar location to its predecessor.
"Size-wise it's almost exactly the same. I knew it was a cutout of a 4'x 8' and that's about what it was. It looks smaller in this gym, but if it keeps going and everyone keeps going nuts over it I'll make him a bigger one."
Campbell grew up during the Big Orange Machine heyday and got to have his name introduced among the starters during one of the final seasons of the tradition. He fondly remembers the thought process from kid to player.
"To me that was it man, you couldn't wait to go as a kid and sit there and watch those guys play like Joe March and Larry Baldasare," Campbell said. "Then when your brother is playing you're cheering and then when it's your turn, you hear the pep band playing 'The Horse' and 'Hawaii 5-0' and it was just fantastic."
"The band was into it, the kids were into it, and parents were into it. So many people came to our games that weren't from Wellsville just because of the brand of basketball," he went on. "It was fast, it was fun and high-paced, and the effort was always there or Bob Dawson would sit you on the bench. He was the Bobby Knight of the area."
Once the design was finalized and the machine was in hand, next came the task of securing it to the gymnasium wall. Help wasn't far away, and Joe Traina, district Maintenance Supervisor, was there to lend a hand.
"We have a lot of help in this," Reiner said. "I can't thank everyone enough. People say 'you've done a great thing here,' but it's not me, it's we."
The new machine is attached to a garage door track. With the push of a button, the Big Orange Machine is on its' way down the track towards the balloon. When it reaches the end, the arm swings down and pops the balloon.
"Every person that he talked to was excited about it, from administration to anyone," his mother said. "Joe Traina was so helpful getting that thing up and all of the kids are excited about it and it's great."
The goal
The motivation behind all of Reiner's work is the hope to bring unity amongst Wellsville basketball fans.
"I want to make it so kids' plans on Tuesday and Friday nights are to come to the games," he said. "It would be awesome to build it with the group that I'm with, because I love these kids, and we can have memories about 'when I was in high school we used to go to games and the Big Orange Machine came out and we would go nuts."
His first opportunity to introduce the Big Orange Machine came during a pep rally before the boy's first game against East Liverpool. Reiner spoke to classmates, described the new pregame routine and made sure to thank everyone that played a part in making his idea come to life.
With his mother in attendance to see him speak, Michael didn't disappoint.
"I came and watched the pep rally and it was amazing. I was asking him that morning if he had written anything down. He had a few bullet points but not much else," she said. "I would have had my whole speech on there and I've been teaching for years. He had a list of people he wanted to thank and it made me teary eyed."
Michael came up with idea after idea of ways to get as many people involved with the new Big Orange Machine as possible, and was constantly reaching out to learn more.
"I would go around to people and look for a video, and I got a hold of Randy Allmon, who was in charge of the "Rah Rah Shu Shu" cheer, so I thought 'hey let's get the cheerleaders involved," he said. "Then I heard that the band would play, so I thought we should get them involved so they could have fun with it too. It's not just basketball; it's a lifestyle of togetherness."
Seeing the reception that her son has received for his efforts is somewhat of a shock for his mother. She cautioned him of taking on such a daunting task as a freshman, but couldn't be more proud of how it has turned out.
"I think everyone is so pumped, and I think they love how pumped he is about getting the community involved and getting the kids involved," she said. "People ask us about the shirts. I see people on Facebook, that live outside of the community, asking people to get them a shirt for when they come home. "
So far, his efforts have been a success. Renewed energy in a growing student section is proof of that.
"It's very exciting to have students in the game now. We haven't had that in a while," athletic director Don Elliot said. "They stand, they cheer. That's all a result of the things that Michael has tried to do. The kids are into it and that's the bottom line, that's what we wanted to get out of it; more kids in the gym."
Michael started working toward bringing back the Big Orange Machine near the end of high school football season. For it all to have come together so quickly is something special in its' own.
"I wasn't sure if we could put it all together so quickly, but he went to everyone and put it together," Mitchell said. "Part of me is surprise, but part of me isn't because knowing my brother."
Michael believes this is only just the beginning, and expects much more to come from the Big Orange machine.
"It's just awesome feedback from everybody that we're getting from this," Reiner said. "The effort to try and make it huge, is what's going to make it huge, and I love it here because of that reason."


text:
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text:
This is an archival or historical document and may not reflect current policies or procedures.
September 2010
In This Issue:
Upcoming Webinar about Applying Online for Disability Benefits
Why Social Security Matters to Americans
Social Security: One of the Best Places to Work in Government
Upcoming Webinar about Applying Online for Disability Benefits
If you have clients who wish to apply for Social Security disability benefits, you don't want to miss the informative webinar, Applying Online for Disability Benefits. It will broadcast live at 2:00 p.m. on October 6, 2010.
We made a number of enhancements to our online disability application, making it easier and more convenient to complete online. The webinar will tell you about applying online for disability, cover changes that make the process even better than before, and answer your questions live.
During this webinar, we will highlight the new aspects of this online application and tell you about other Social Security disability initiatives currently underway to improve the services we provide to those with disabilities. After October 6, 2010, the webinar will be available on our website to view anytime.
RSVP for the webinar and tune in October 6, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. EST. The place to go is www.socialsecurity.gov/webinars.
Why Social Security Matters to Americans
This year marks the 75th anniversary of Social Security. As you can imagine, we have quite a story to share. But the best stories belong to those who directly benefit from Social Security. We recently asked Americans to share their stories with us online; the response was overwhelming.
"Social Security is my lifeline," wrote one person. "It is difficult at best to live within the limit of my income, but it would be impossible without it."
"Disability benefits saved my life," said a veteran. "After combat service as a Corpsman with the Marines in Desert Storm, I spent 16 years in emotional turmoil. Because Social Security provided a financial safety net, I was able to obtain treatment for PTSD and will soon return to the world of the working (and the tax-paying). God bless America and God bless the Social Security Administration."
These are just a couple of the comments we received. Read more Social Security stories at www.socialsecurity.gov/75thanniversary/readstories/1.html. Better yet, please invite those you deal with to share their own story by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/75thanniversary/stories.html.
If you serve Americans who are preparing for retirement, be sure to advise them that the most convenient way to apply for Social Security retirement benefits is online.
Social Security offers an online retirement application your clients can complete in as little as 15 minutes. It's so easy! There's no need to drive to a local Social Security office or wait for an appointment with a Social Security representative.
In most cases, once the application is submitted electronically, the process is complete. There are no forms to sign and usually no documentation is required. Social Security will process the application and contact your client if any further information is needed.
Social Security: One of the Best Places to Work in Government
Social Security employees rate their agency as one of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government according to The Partnership for Public Service and American University's Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation.
The Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings draw on responses from more than 263,000 federal employees to produce detailed rankings of employee satisfaction across 290 federal agencies and subcomponents.
"Our employees make a positive difference in the lives of millions of Americans," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "I encourage anyone looking for a career in public service to look closely at Social Security. You can make a difference in people's lives and your own."
To learn more about careers with Social Security, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/careers. For more information about the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government, go to www.bestplacestowork.org.
Each year about ten million people become victims of identity theft. To help consumers stay protected, Social Security has joined the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and Council of Better Business Bureaus in support of Protect Your Identity Week this October 17 to 23. Free workshops, shredding of documents, exhibits, and credit report reviews are among the many activities open to the public during the week.
To learn more about identity theft protection, to help your clients assess their risk of identity theft, or to find events in your area, go to www.ProtectYourIDNow.org.
Subscribe to Social Security Update today and you'll always be in the know when it comes to Social Security news. All we need is your e-mail address.
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text:
Top Definition
A "Ghetto" way of spelling the name Paul.
Me and my boy Pawl are gona rip up the raving scene.
de matt piper 24 septembre 2006
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
A combination of the words persistent and mauling. Used to indicate such action in relation to social networking site activity. Said "pawler" will consistently post on walls, statuses, or any form of their target's online presence.
I'm afraid to update now, my wall has been getting Pawled all day.
de B Fleur 20 janvier 2010


text:
Extremism in America
Latest Updates
About the Ku Klux Klan
The Ku Klux Klan is a racist, anti-Semitic movement with a commitment to extreme violence to achieve its goals of racial segregation and white supremacy. Of all the types of right-wing hate groups that exist in the United States, the Klan remains the one with the greatest number of national and local organizations around the country.
More than 40 different Klan groups exist, many having multiple chapters, or "klaverns," including a few that boast a presence in a large number of states. There are over a hundred different Klan chapters around the country, with a combined strength of members and associates that may total around 5,000.
After a period of relative quiet, Ku Klux Klan activity has spiked noticeably upwards in 2006, as Klan groups have attempted to exploit fears in America over gay marriage, perceived "assaults" on Christianity, crime and especially immigration.
KKK Symbol
Confederate Civil War veterans Captain John C. Lester, Major James R. Crowe, John D. Kennedy, Calvin Jones, Richard R. Reed, Frank O. McCord
Each different Klan group has its own headquarters.
The Klan has fragmented into more than 40 separate factions of varying sizes. There is no "one" Ku Klux Klan.
Estimated size:
There are over a hundred different chapters in the various Klan organizations, with varying memberships. Overall, there may be as many as 5,000 members and associates of the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan is strongest in the South and in the Midwest.
Criminal Activity:
The Klan has a relatively high association with criminal activity, ranging from hate crimes to acts of domestic terrorism.
Mass mailings, leafleting and the Internet
Public rallies and protests, "adopt a highway" programs and other attention getting stunts, Internet
White supremacist ideology not far from that of neo-Nazis, although it tends to be more Christian-oriented and to stress nativism.
National Socialist Movement
Aryan Nations
Christian Identity
Financial support:
Little. Most funding comes from membership dues and sales of Klan paraphernalia.
The Ku Klux Klan first emerged following the Civil War as America's first true terrorist group. Since its inception, the Ku Klux Klan has seen several cycles of growth and collapse, and in some of these cycles the Klan has been more extreme than in others. In all of its incarnations, however, the Klan has maintained its dual heritage of hate and violence.
At first, the Ku Klux Klan focused its anger and violence on African-Americans, on white Americans who stood up for them, and against the federal government which supported their rights. Subsequent incarnations of the Klan, which typically emerged in times of rapid social change, added more categories to its enemies list, including Jews, Catholics (less so after the 1970s), homosexuals, and different groups of immigrants.
In most of these cases, these perceived enemies were minority groups that came into direct economic competition with the lower- and working-class whites that formed the core constituency of the Klan in most of its incarnations.
The Ku Klux Klan was overshadowed in the late 1990s and early 2000s by growing neo-Nazi activity; however, by 2005 neo-Nazi groups had fallen on hard times, with many groups collapsing or fragmenting. This collapse has helped create a rise of racist skinhead activity, but has also provided new opportunities for Klan groups.
In addition, in the early 2000s, many communities in the United States began to experiences a significant influx of immigrants, especially Hispanics, for the first time in their histories. A single-issue movement opposing immigration has helped create fear and anxiety about immigration in the minds of many Americans.
Many Ku Klux Klan groups have attempted to take advantage of that fear and uncertainty, using anti-immigration sentiments for recruitment and propaganda purposes, and to attract publicity.
Untitled Document
The Ku Klux Klan Rebounds
About the Ku Klux Klan
Recent Developments:
Changes in Longstanding Groups
New Klan Groups Emerging
Geographic Expansion
New Tactics
Criminal Activity
and Violence
Active Groups by State
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text:
on March 13, 2013 - 12:18 AM
, updated March 13, 2013 at 1:34 AM
What next in the Buffalo Bills' quarterback situation?
The Bills narrowed their options Tuesday with the release of Ryan Fitzpatrick after he turned down an offer of a renegotiated contract.
Fitzpatrick was due a $3 million roster bonus under the contract he signed with the team in the middle of the 2011 season.
It became apparent after the 2012 season ended, though, that it was likely Fitzpatrick's days as the team's starter were ending.
Buffalo resigned veteran Tarvaris Jackson and new head coach Doug Marrone announced that he would compete for the starting job next season. Compete with whom?
Buffalo is expected to select a quarterback early in next month's NFL Draft even though the crop of elite prospects at are not as numerous as in 2012
Another option is to sign an NFL free agent, but the pickings are thin. There may be an experienced QB under contract with other NFL teams that the Bills could trade for.
By cutting Fitzpatrick, the Bills saved themselves $3 million in salary cap space this season, but they will have to take a $7 million hit in 2014 for Fitzpatrick's contract.