text:
First, 2004's unusually busy hurricane season shredded the roofs of the Belleview Biltmore. Then the passing years shredded the blue tarps.
Now there is significant water damage throughout what was formerly believed to be the world's largest occupied wooden structure.
FOX 13's Steve Nichols got a look inside the water-damaged, decrepit corridors.
"The length of these corridors," Belleair Mayor Gary Katica pondered Wednesday. "I mean, just imagine being a room service waiter. They're like a quarter mile long."
The building itself is 820,000 square feet, the steeply-angled roofs totaling 4.5 square miles. When the Belleview Hotel opened in the late 1890s, it catered to a clientele that arrived in private railroad cars.
The evidence of luxuries are still visible: The spa, the patisserie, ornate woodwork and Tiffany glass windows, and skylights still mostly intact.
More than a century of use is also evident.
"One of the problems in this building is, it has to be leveled before they can start. There's an area that has sunk," Katica said. "I don't know how you level five stories."
And then there is the water damage. Portions of the ceilings in nearly every area are falling down on the first floor. The upper stories are no longer safe, according to Katica.
For that reason, we were only allowed to photograph the first-floor, where plaster walls are falling apart, and mold can be seen throughout.
Last month, an architect who hoped to initiate a $200 million renovation missed his last deadline to purchase the property.
Now, Katica and other members of the town commission are considering changing zoning ordinances to allow demolition of the Belleview Biltmore and construction of 164 town homes and condominium units.
"I mean it just reeks history as you go along," Katica said. "What a shame -- a national treasure like this."
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Le Latini
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1130 Jeanne-Mance
Montreal, QC H2Z 1L7
Getting there ›
CAN$31 to CAN$50
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Le Latini Details
Dining Style:
Casual Elegant
(514) 861-3166
Hours of Operation:
Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 11:30pm; Dinner: Saturday: 5:00pm - 11:30pm
Payment Options:
AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Executive Chef:
Joao Mendes
Dress Code:
Business Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins:
Additional Details:
Fireplace, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Smoking Area (patio only), Takeout, Wheelchair Access
Getting there
Cross Street:
Boul. René-Lévesque
Private Lot
Parking Details:
Parking fees of 10$ is credited on your bill.
A word from Le Latini
Le Latini is considered to be the best Italian restaurant in town and one of the best restaurants in Montreal.
Foodspotting photos
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
Diners' Choice Winner
Notable Wine List
Le Latini -
Best Restaurants in Montreal
Diner Reviews
Lunch menu was an excellent
choice, fresh & seasonal inspirations. One remark is that we found the service too quick - there was practically no time between starter, main dish and coffee. A pity for a restaurant with this reputation."
Dined on 7/29/2014
4 of us dined July 2014. We all
ate from the daily special menu. The onion soup pottage was very good, the salad was excellent. The Veal was tender and very tasty. The porgy (fish) was outstanding. It had a lemon glaze with toasted almonds and pasta. The chocolate mousse cake very good. We asked for a wine recommendation and what was suggested fit perfectly with both meal choices and was excellent. The service was exceptional! Good choice for a celebration."
Dined on 7/28/2014
Very slow service, start to
finish. Great spot to have a sit down dinner if you're going to Place des Arts, as very limited options around. This restaurant relies on its reputation, but wasn,t enough for me and group of 6."
Dined on 7/25/2014
Nous avons bien mangé sans plus.
Le service un peu trop rapide, nous sommes arrivés vers 19:30 et 20:15 nous finissions déjà notre repas principal. Nous aurions peut-être dû les aviser que nous n'étions pas pressés. Nous célébrions un anniversaire et sans aviser les serveurs, le fêter a reçu un dessert avec une bougie, belle attention du personnel. Un peu dispendieux comme restaurant."
Dined on 7/12/2014
My husband and I celebrated our
27th anniversary there on Friday night. The food was amazing as was the service. It was a beautiful evening so we were seated outdoors...it was just beautiful with the small waterfalls in the background and plants everywhere, candlelight at the tables...very romantic. Oh, the mystery desert was to die for!!"
Dined on 7/11/2014
The food and wine pairing was very
good. Beautiful presentation. Creative plating. Service good but lacking in warmth."
Dined on 7/9/2014
always excellent! staff kindly had
us visit their wine cellar and fantastic group dining room in the basement. my clients were very impressed with the place my favorite italian restaurant in the world"
Dined on 6/20/2014
The best in Montreal... best
outdoor terrasse ever... Marco and Pedro thank you for your hospitable service and great advice on wine selection :)"
Dined on 6/14/2014
near Place des Arts and Théatre du
Nouveau mode. Great place to have dinner before going to theater. Special menu at 35$. Great food and efficient service."
Dined on 6/4/2014
We were there to benefit from the
guest table at 5:30 pm. All was super including service and especially food. I will return as soon as possible."
Dined on 5/27/2014
The Menu at 35$ was good value.
Scaloppine very good and dessert as well Decor is getting old "
Dined on 5/23/2014
It is difficult to suggest a dish
at Le Latini as everything we had was great, but ... try to include at least one of their pastas. The room is one of the best in Montreal and the service is professional. Our lunch at Le Latini was also great value as we both selected items from the $25 prix fixe luncheon menu. (I never expected to see Le Latini and value in the same sentence.) This place is a Montreal classic which should be a featured stop on visitors' itinerary."
Dined on 5/12/2014
for the price I do expect
excellence. Cold plates, sent back the soup, almost cold. Service ? ? main dish, not impressed, also cold plate, need to go back to the oven. forget it ! One star ? for me no *"
Dined on 4/4/2014
The best italian food in Montreal;
period! Always fresh and tasty. Wine always exceptional. Waiters most professional. My favourite place to eat in town. Most beautiful downtown terrace in the summer."
Dined on 3/31/2014
Cannot miss with Latini; food
great and attentive service (not pretentious). Only recommendation would be the choice of music; not classic enough for type of restaurant but music was not unpleasant."
Dined on 3/14/2014
The food is always so original and
amazing. Some waiters are amazing, especially Davide but some are so, so, including the one we got this past Saturday night. Davide even took the time to come by and say hi. Next time I will ask for his section specifically."
Dined on 2/15/2014
Food was lovely. Service was
attentive. Found the décor to be a bit dated. Otherwise a lovely meal, if a bit pricey."
Dined on 2/14/2014
We were looking for a good
restaurant tp go to before going to the théâtre, we really enjoyed "Le Latini". Great service, Nice Warn place, great food, Nice presentation. Spécial menu for "spectacles" .WE will go back for sure."
Dined on 1/18/2014
Very personable staff, great
sommelier, terrific wine list (mostly Italian). This place is just steps from the Courtyard Marriott downtown. The food was tasty. They specialize is seafood but everything we had was very good. A bit on the expensive side, but not overpriced."
Dined on 12/13/2013
We had a reservation for 9:00 pm
on a Friday night. Not much people, food was very good, impressive wine list, very good service, and a real wood fireplace, to warm up the atmosphere. We will definitely go back."
Dined on 11/29/2013
This place has been around for
ages however has not aged. The service and food are great however do come at higher than Park Ave prices. A little pricey but always an enjoyable evening."
Dined on 10/21/2013
At this price...you would expect
something special... not only noodles with sea food on it..."
Dined on 10/12/2013
Our meal was FAB - hubby had pasta
(super yum) and I did mostly fishy. Perfect. Perfect service. So where are all the patrons? We are talking a very good restaurant - maybe they eat late . . . we eat rather early - and in this case, very well."
Dined on 10/7/2013
I have been going to Latini for
many years, and the culinary experience has been degrading recently especially when taking into account the price. There are much better options in town."
Dined on 10/3/2013
Service de très haute qualité,
attentionné. Généreuses portions, Raffinement"
Dined on 9/14/2013
Excellent service and food.
Service adjust to your needs and time you have for lunch."
Dined on 8/29/2013
Great service & superb Italian
specialties at Le Latini. Very convenient for a business lunch, its welcoming staff and overall atmosphere lead me to believe that it is a great place for more casual or festive occasions too. Will be back for sure!"
Dined on 8/28/2013
As always, spent a very nice
evening with friends from France enjoying a very good meal. We were sitting 'half inside and half outside' so it was very pleasant."
Dined on 8/8/2013
A good place downtown Montreal,
classic and traditional italian restaurant From my own point of view they are just too expensive for what they offered. Very nice decoration and murano glass, location is perfect and easy to park."
Dined on 8/1/2013
We had a nice table besides a pond
filled with plants and flowers. I wanted to impress my nephew and that made it. Great food! Nice desserts! Would go back!"
Dined on 7/22/2013
I asked to have the squid ink
Linguini to be used in a lobster dish and the waiter repleyed with a NO Problem answer!!!! and what a great dish it was. Took a work colleague and a customer to the restaurant and we all left very satiated and happy avout our dining experience.......VIVA LA Le Latini"
Dined on 7/11/2013
Au Latini, on prend soin de chaque
personne. Les suggestions du serveur sont toujours de bons choix. C'est au Latini qu'on sert le meilleur dessert du monde: Le Pralinato! :)"
Dined on 6/21/2013
Bon accueil, cadre très agréable,
service très courtois et nourriture excellente préparée avec des aliments de première qualité! Je le recommande fortement !"
Dined on 6/12/2013
Montreal's finest italian
restaurant offering tasty quality cuisine and exquisite friendly service. A must go place. A must revisit place. Bon appétit !"
Dined on 6/6/2013
It's a great place; no doubt about
it but... It is overpricey for the food quality it offers. There a other Italian cuisine restaurant as good but much less expensive. The wine list is impressive but very costly. The atmosphere was okay since a table beside ours had 4 gentlemen a bit noisy (maybe too much wine...). We went to Le Latini before bit will probably won't go back. The owner is diffrent and it is not as attractive as it used to be"
Dined on 6/6/2013
service was polite but not very
friendly my friend meal (veal) was very good, my pasta with seafood just OK dessert very good (cannolo and semifreddo)"
Dined on 5/31/2013
Been there with my wife for the
second time in ten years. Well I must say that the taste, the portions and the presentation of the plates did not impressed me. If you pay the full price then you should eat somewhere else. Very expensive for what it is! The Italian wine list may be fabulous but watch your wallet. They have only few wines available by the glass and no half bottles. Will definitely not return!"
Dined on 5/29/2013
Good food, excellent service, a
bit pricy for the food, and the plate presentation could have been better, but overall, we had an excellent evening. The wine list is amazing. Tks!"
Dined on 5/11/2013
A very expensive restaurant! We
did not have many options on a Saturday night for a table of five, so we dined here. The food was good, but certainly not worth the money paid. The presentation is beautiful -- soup is served directly from copper pot as is the mushroom risotto. However, the minestrone was flavorless - badly in need of seasonings as basic as salt! The risotto was also good, but again, not worth the very high price. The veal piccata was great, but the potatoes served on the side were cold. Paying $40 for the plate, I expect the ENTIRE dish to be served hot. The waiter took forever to introduce himself and was not very present after that. Eye contact with several other waiters, but none asked if we needed assistance."
Dined on 4/27/2013
Nous n'étions pas allés chez
Latini depuis plusieurs années. Nous n'avons pas aimé notre expérience. Des homards vivants se promenaient sur de la glace dans un étal devant notre table. C'était cruel de les voir ainsi mourir à petit feu. Les plats étaient médiocres et le prix était complètement inapproprié. Nous n'y retournerons plus."
Dined on 3/16/2013
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
CAPE CORAL- After kicking their way to seven straight wins, the Cape Coral Cyclones under fourteen girls soccer squad is all smiles.
After beating the best in Florida to win the regional President's Cup, the Cyclones have earned themselves a trip to the regional portion of the national under 14 tournament.
"Their approach to the game has been going from being just 12-year-old girls to actually achieving success and it shows in their championship," head coach Tye Cole said.
The Cyclones will be heading to Decatur, Alabama, for the national regionals in June, where they'll play top tier teams from eleven other states.
"It's very exciting," Cylones forward Claudia Lopez said. "We fought so hard this whole year to get here, and we're finally here. And we're ready to kick some butt."
"We have to focus and do what we have to do to do our best," Cyclones forward/midfielder Taylor Kruse said.
But the road to Alabama is a costly one, and a week's worth of accommodations and food make it even more costly.
That's why the team is using some of its other talents to raise money for the trip, singing and acting for a video they put together for one potential donor.
The Cyclones are doing anything they can to raise the estimated $20,000 they'll need to cover all costs.
And those efforts are already producing results.
"The pouring in of support from the local community businesses has been nothing short of outstanding," Cole said.
The Cyclones will be out in front of Sam's Club in Fort Myers from 9:00-5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 27th, asking for donations.
They'll also be hosting a pancake breakfast on May 18 at the Ruby Tuesday's on Pine Island Road in Cape Coral from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
And the Cyclones say if you'd like to make a donation, you can also deposit one directly to them at any Fifth Third Bank by mentioning their name.
All of these efforts are being put in so they can enjoy an amazing trip together.
"It's going to be once in a lifetime," defender Paige Paul said. "And I will never, ever forget it."
3719 Central AvenueFort Myers, FL 33901Main Phone: (239) 939-2020Newsroom Phone: (239) 939-6223


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The wait is over! Download the BeerAdvocate app on iTunes or Google Play now.
Get 12 issues / year of BeerAdvocate magazine for only $9.99!
Rauchbier - Karl Strauss Brewing Company
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Ratings: 2 | Reviews: 2 | Display Reviews Only:
3/5 rDev +18.1%
Tap @ Hamilton's. Pours clear amber with a ringof white bubbles. Clean, light smokey aroma. Crisp smokey flavor with light malt, but without the sweetness in the nose. More buttery and woody. Some bacony goodness as well. Not bad, but also not very strong for a smoked.
12-10-2008 17:09:39 | More by magictrokini
2.08/5 rDev -18.1%
Pint at Karl Strauss the other night for around five dollars, reviewed from notes, this beer was the 1st Annual Homebrew Contest Winner from back in October
A-Golden amber color that was a little bit orange, small 1/2 inch bubbly white head, went away quickly, not much retention or lacing
S-Smokiness, burned wood, salt, deli meats, bacon, roasted malts, and BBQ
T-Weird I know but this tasted like a pastrami sandwich to me and was rather repulsive, so much salt and weird texture that it almost had to be choked down, some sweeted toasted malt when it warmed but needed a whole lot more to balance out the super strong smokiness
M-Medium body, needs more carbonation, saltiest mouthfeel in a beer I have experienced, also dry and sticky, taste lingered far too long
D-Could barely drink four or five ounces, should have gotten a taster before, ended up pouring the rest out, salty and heavy, not a good mix, far from smooth
This beer was brewed by a San Diego resident, Matt Morrison and was a special tap last week, he brewed his recipe on site, it has 24 IBUs which I was told if pretty high for a rauchbier but seemed low compared to some of the imperial IPAs out there, would not drink again, not recommended
08-19-2008 22:17:50 | More by Floydster
Rauchbier from Karl Strauss Brewing Company
- out of 100 based on 2 ratings.


text:
Although it's a very rare breed, the American Water Spaniel is the State Dog of Wisconsin. A dual-purpose animal, it was bred for companionship and retrieval ability.
Physical Characteristics
The American Water Spaniel is longer in size than many Spaniels. Its strong legs and muscular body allow it to move effortlessly through water, and its pace is balanced.
This medium-sized dog's unique coat, which can have closely-knitted curls, is wavy and generally solid liver or brown in color. The American Water Spaniel also has a long muzzle and hairy ears.
Personality and Temperament
The American Water Spaniel is versatile in its hunting capability and sensitive in nature. Apart from being a pleasant companion, it is cordial with other dogs and obedient if given proper training and exercise.
Given its name, it is no coincidence the American Water Spaniel's favorite activity involves water games. However, it should be taken for indoor and outdoor activities, as well as place the dog on a routine-based exercise schedule. Additionally, a American Water Spaniel's ears should be checked regularly and its coat should be brushed and combed weekly; this will help remove any dead hair.
The American Water Spaniel generally lives for 10 to 12 years. One of its major health problems is mitral valve disease. Other minor health issues include canine hip dysplasia (CHD), patent duct arteriosus (PDA), and pulmonic stenosis. It may also occasionally suffer from progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and patellar luxation. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may conduct eye, cardiac, and hip exams on this breed of dog.
History and Background
Though nothing can be confirmed about the origins of the American Water Spaniel, it came to be recognized as a breed for the first time in the mid-western parts of the United States. It is assumed that the breed evolved from the Irish Water Spaniel and its other versions like Tweed Water Spaniels, Northern Water Spaniels, and Southern Water Spaniels. It is also believed that the English Water Spaniel and the Curly-Coated Retriever might have played a part in its development.
Recognized as one of the least popular American Kennel Club breeds, the American Water Spaniel wasn't registered until 1940. The breed, however, remains popular in Wisconsin and is still the state dog today.
The term for the nostrils and muscles in the upper and lower lips of an animal; may also be used to describe a type of tool used to keep an animal from biting
The act of making an opening narrower.
mitral valve
The fold of membrane found between the left atrium and left ventricle
The dislocation of a bone from the joint
A condition in which growth and development are not up to normal standards
The wasting away of certain tissues; a medical condition that occurs when tissues fail to grow.


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Sign up for the GingerScraps Newsletter!!
I voted.
Voted. Lovely Honorable Mention's!
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creating for Trixie Scraps & Connie Prince


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Can I Kick It?
"Can I Kick It?", an original MPB production, is part of our agency's dropout prevention efforts. It is a series of testimonies from prominent Mississippians, past and present, which might influence potential dropouts to stay in school. Each individual gives his or her own testimony as a means of inspiring and raising the individual and collective self-esteem of young African American men and women who are at risk of dropping out of school and giving up on a productive future.
Television Episodes
Air date 10/22/12
Episode #Public interest lobbyist
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Episode #Activist and attorney
Air date 9/11/12
Episode #Attorney in Mississippi and the Executive Director for the Access to Justice Commission; owner of Mississippi Products, Inc.
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Episode #Attorney, city councilman and leader of the New Afrikan People's Organization
Air date 8/13/12
Episode #MC and Co-Owner of Fahrenheit Creative Group and 106 Lounge
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Episode #Def Jam recording artist
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Air date 7/23/12
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Season 1
Andy Hardwick is a renowned jazz musician out of Vicksburg Mississippi. He's been playing since the age of 14. He's a regular fixture on the jazz music scene. Hardwick has managed to balance supporting his family and satisfying his passion for music.
Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin is a rap artist, activist and entrepreneur. Host of JSU TV23's Direct Line and Co-host of The Edge.
C. Leigh McInnis is an instructor of English at Jackson State University, the publisher and editor of Black Magnolias Literary Journal, and the author of seven books, including four collections of poetry, one collection of short fiction and one work of literary criticism.
Dr. Freda Bush is an obstetrician/gynecologist in Jackson, MS. She has delivered over 10,000 babies.
Jeff Marshall dropped out of high school just months before graduation. He resently returned to get his GED and is now working as a front end manager at IHOP. Jeff is also a community theather actor.
Nsombi Lambright is the executive director of the Americian Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, community activist and mother.
Rob Jay is the sports director at WLBT, host of an afternoon show on WKXI, Southern Soul Radio on the internet, and JSU's play-by-play man for basketball and football.BACK TO TOP
Season 2
Watch us on YouTube for new episodes every Monday.
AkilBakari - Community activist, organizer and entrepreneur AkilBakari realized his potential in high school and went to college upon graduation. Holding a degree in Information Technology, he now owns his own technology company and firmly believes in the necessity of completing high school.
Antonio Wright - As a football player at the age of 22, Antonio Wright's life changed when a car accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. He has since gone on to develop programs that promote community empowerment through wheelchair sports and recreation, youth mentoring and advocating for people with disabilities.
Big K.R.I.T. - Although Def Jam recording artist Big K.R.I.T. started his career as a teenager, he decided early on he was going to finish school. It was during high school that he discovered his passion for music, a factor that would only fuel his desire to graduate and begin a successful career.
Chokwe Lumumba - Chokwe Lumumba is an attorney, city councilman and leader of the New Afrikan People's Organization.
Davetta Cook Lee and Johnathan Lee - Davetta serves as an attorney in Mississippi and the Executive Director for the Access to Justice Commission. Johnathan is the owner of Mississippi Products, Inc. Both believe that the first step in achieving your goals is to get a high school diploma and that it is possible to rise above your circumstances and find what you are meant to do.
Geraldine Brookins - Geraldine Brookins serves as president of Changing Dynamics, a management consulting firm in Jackson, Miss. Two weeks before her high school graduation, Geraldine's mother passed away and she had to take care of her younger brother and sister. Now a psychologist in the Jackson area, she encourages young people to graduate from high school and not let challenges deter them from finishing.
Gloria Dickerson - Gloria Dickerson is the founder and CEO of "We Together Creating Change," an organization committed to making sure children are successful. Growing up in poverty in the Delta in the 1960s, Gloria was considered an "at risk" student and determined to overcome her circumstances and have a better life. She credits her education with helping her find success in life.
Jason Pyimfamous Thompson - Jason is an MC as well as a Co-Owner of Ferinheight Creative Group & 106 Lounge. Growing up in a very poor area, it was difficult for him to see himself succeeding. He saw many of his peers drop out of school but was encouraged by his family to stay. He believes that education will open many doors and give young people the power to change their circumstances in life.
Skipp - Jackson-born artist Skipp barely graduated high school with a 1.4 grade point average. After a push from his mother, he enrolled in college and began to realize his abilities. He explains that education "separates average men from great ones."
Flash Festival
Are you interested in making movies? Do you have a story or ideas that you would like to share with the world? Are you interested in graduating from high school and encouraging your friends do the same? If so, join the Can I Kick It? Crew for an action-packed weekend of film-making fun.
MPB and the Crew are gearing up for the 2013 American Graduate Student Film Festival and we need your help!
Learn more and APPLY NOW!BACK TO TOP
Television Episodes
- June Hardwick (Ep #)
- Davetta Cook Lee and Jonathan Lee (Ep #)
- Chokwe Lumumba (Ep #)
- Pam Shaw (Ep #)
- Jason Pyinfamous Thompson (Ep #)
- Big K.R.I.T. (Ep #)
- Geraldine Brookins (Ep #)
- Skipp (Ep #)
- Gloria Dickerson (Ep #)
- Antonio Wright (Ep #)
- Rob Jay (Ep #)
- Nsombi Lambright (Ep #)
- Jeff Marshall (Ep #)
- Dr. Freda Bush (Ep #)
- C. Leigh McInnis (Ep #)
- Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin (Ep #)
- Andy Hardwick (Ep #)


text: You are looking at Features Follow these results: Feature: 18/08/14 Will flying cars for humanitarian aid take off? One man's quest to help indigenous tribes in Ecuador might shake up the humanitarian sector — with a flying car. Transport Innovation Enterprise Technology Disasters Feature: 07/08/14 Mixing science and traditional knowledge in forestry Local knowledge mixed with science lets indigenous entrepreneurs boost their forest profits, reports Joel Winston. Forestry Indigenous Data Technology Agriculture Feature: 30/07/14 Building a brighter future for African researchers Overcoming barriers, an African academic network has been supporting some of the best scholars across the continent. Education Gender Technology Communication Policy Feature: 22/07/14 Equipping girls with science to drive change An NGO in Cameroon is educating women in science and technology to help them shape a brighter future. Education Gender Funding Technology Policy Feature: 15/07/14 Coders part of a 'Without Borders' beyond the MSF trend A coding group shows the enduring appeal of the 'Without Borders' volunteering model, reports Alice Hazelton. Technology Aid Enterprise Feature: 08/07/14 Q&A: Science policy lessons from Latin America Latin American countries are famous for football, but can offer science policy tips too, says Francisco Sagasti. Policy Governance Funding Latest features from our other editions التهاب الكبد الفيروسي.. لا تمويل لإنقاذ ضحاياه شمال أفريقيا والشرق الاوسط Le projet Awa, une nouvelle approche pour la gestion des ressources halieutiques Afrique Sub-Saharienne Ebola: Les anthropologues, composante clé de la riposte Afrique Sub-Saharienne Viral hepatitis more deadly than HIV, but unfunded South East Asia & Pacific Mixing science and traditional knowledge in forestry South East Asia & Pacific Why SEA hosts very few 'influential scientific minds' South East Asia & Pacific Madagascar se mobilise contre la déforestation Afrique Sub-Saharienne Q&A: Rainer Fischer on EU-Africa collaboration for R&D Sub-Saharan Africa Des recherches prometteuses pour la pisciculture continentale à Madagascar Afrique Sub-Saharienne Jeffrey Sachs: ODS son sólidos en ciencia América Latina y el Caribe Feature: 04/07/14 Q&A: Jeffrey Sachs on why the SDGs are big on science The UN advisor says criticism that the draft Sustainable Development Goals contain little science is unjustified. MDGs Policy Governance Feature: 02/07/14 Q&A: Mozambique's education minister on PhDs for growth Augusto Jone Luís says building higher education is vital to developing the country's energy and mineral sectors. Education R&D Energy Governance Feature: 25/06/14 Making higher education work for Africa: Facts and figures Sub-Saharan Africa is struggling to produce more and better trained graduates. Irene Friesenhahn explains. Education Enterprise Governance Feature: 25/06/14 Benefiting from Africa's brain migration How can Africa keep its best researchers and ensure its 'lost' brains can still contribute? Jon Spaull investigates. Capacity building Migration Enterprise Feature: 25/06/14 Making higher education work for Africa: Key resources Irene Friesenhahn rounds up sources of online information, highlighting key initiatives on Africa's higher education. Education Governance Innovation Feature: 19/06/14 Linking research and local people through organic agriculture Egypt's organic-farming project has grown into a global enterprise reaping rewards. Rehab Abd Almohsen reports. Agriculture Farming Gender Innovation Education Load more


text:
|Sky Performing Arts
"Hello Dolly" Sept. 19 - Oct. 5, 2014 Alexandra Clark, director
|Monroe's Community Theater
Unless otherwise posted, performances are at the Wagner Performing Arts
Center, 639 W. Main Street, Monroe 98272;
Friday & Saturday 8 PM,Sunday 2 PM.
Tickets are available through: Brown Paper Tickets or call 360/ 863-1663 to
reserve a seat.
We are now able to accept Mastercard and Visa at the door.
Reservations may be made for any performance.
Dramatic performances are $14 general admission, $12 seniors/
students/military. Prices for musicals are $14 and 16.
|Season 2014 - 2015
|In the Mood
December 5 - 14, 2014
at the Wagner Performing Arts Center, Monroe
Purchase tickets online from Brown Paper Tickets
Sky Performing Arts, presents this well-loved, all-ages
show, opening September 19 through October 3, 2014.
Directed by Alexandra Clark with musical direction by
Robin Hilt, Sky Performing Arts, together with the Monroe
Community Concert Band are excited to bring this show to
East Snohomish County.
l. sam samano. rick wright, ellen powell, robin
photo by candy schorpp


text:
What a view!! Quiet Retreat in the Great Smoky Mountains in Highlands
- bedrooms 4
- baths 3
- sleeps 10
- pool no
- hot tub no
- pets allowed no
- type House
- community
rates (USD)
/ night
$ 1,500 - $ 1,800 / week
vacation rental description
Excellent rates!
Stop searching! This is the getaway place you are looking for!!!!
Romantic weekend planned? Weekend away with friends? Family reunion? This is the vacation home for you!
Enjoy breathtaking sunsets and a splendid view of the Great Smoky Mountains and the Nantahala National Forest from the back deck of this beautiful two story mountain home in Highlands, North Carolina.
Relax in our comfortable living room with a large stone fireplace. Huge picture windows allow you to continue to enjoy the spectacular view of the mountains even while you are inside. Cook in our well
appointed kitchen. Dine in the
hickory paneled dining room or take your meals through the French
doors to dine under the stars on
the spacious back deck. Two bedrooms downstairs (1 king and 2 twin) Two
bedrooms upstairs (1 king and 4
twin) Three full baths. (1 down, 2 up).
Comfortably sleeps as many as 10. Could be the perfect
romantic getaway for 2, a fun weekend for several couples, or a great
place for your family reunion.
Call or email today to make your reservations!
vacation rental location
property availability
- dates with deals
- unavailable dates
Last modified on 01-12-2014 at 8:27 AM.
email owner view full calendar
Cindy Dantzler Hammond 229-343-4904
house rental amenities
Central Heat and Air
Linens provided
Wood floors
Large deck
Mountain view
Ceiling fans throughout
Housekeeper upon departure
Fully stocked kitchen:
Stove / Oven
Coffee maker
Dishes, Silverware, Glassware
Large dining room table
Patio chairs and table
Charcoal grill on lower deck
Gas grill on upper deck
Washer and dryer in laundry room
Ironing board and iron
Alarm clocks
DirecTV VCR / DVD / DVR
CD player
Television downstairs and in main room upstairs
Telephone for free local and free long distance calls
High speed wireless internet (Bring your laptop!)
Save your cell minutes! Free local and long distance on our land line!!
activities and attractions in Highlands Smoky Mountains
Bike riding
Cross country skiing
Snow tubing
Horseback riding
White water rafting
National Park areas
Historic areas
vacation rental rates
1- 4 people $250/ night or $1500/week
5 - 10 people $300/night or $1800/ week
One time $150 cleaning fee required.
$250 refundable deposit required to confirm reservation.
3% Macon County NC occupancy tax
Cindy Dantzler Hammond 229-343-4904
accepted payment methods
Prior to paying a reservation deposit, always verify payment instructions by calling the phone number displayed on this listing page. By contacting the owner directly and paying by an approved method - credit card, paypal, check or bank transfer - your reservation payment will be protected up to $1,000.Learn more in our Security Center
Top things to do in Highlands
- Whitewater rafting
- Hiking
- Bird watching
- Shopping
- Golf
Top things to do on a budget
- Hiking
- Slide down waterfalls
- Grill out on the back porch
- Window shop downtown and have lunch
- Go to a wine tasting
Top things to do with a family
- Grill out on the back porch
- Hike the mountain trails
- Swim at Cliffside
- Slide down waterfalls
- Go to the Highlands museums
Cindy Dantzler Hammond , owner


text:
ATLANTA (AP) - A judge has ordered Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter to turn over her father's Bible and Nobel Peace Prize by Wednesday to be placed in a safe deposit box controlled by the court.
The civil rights icon's estate is run by his two sons, Martin Luther King III and Dexter King. The estate's lawyers on Jan. 31 asked a judge to order their sister, Bernice King, to surrender the items.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney issued the order Thursday. He had said at a Feb. 19 hearing the court would control possession of the items until the case is resolved.
McBurney ordered the estate to open a safe deposit box by Monday and to turn over all keys to the court on Wednesday once the items are inside.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
KMSP-TV11358 Viking DriveEden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: (952) 944-9999Fax: (952) 942-0455


text:
A view inside my floral obsession....
Acerca del autorjulie scholz
julies517 New York
Julie Scholz began making pictures in 1987 when she studied photography as a Studio Art major at SUNY Oneonta. She is a married mother of two teenagers, 3 Beagle girls and a Dachshund boy. They all, and her husband, happily live in Rockland County, New York. Julie has participated in many group and solo exhibits. She is currently a member of The Piermont Flywheel Gallery.
Fecha de publicación 19 de marzo de 2008
Dimensiones Apaisado grande 40 páginas Papel premium, acabado mate
Categoría Bellas artes
Etiquetas , Floral flower flowers garden nature macro botanical organic form color texture shape
Comentarios (1)
Comentario publicado.
bluestar12 dice
Hi, Julie,
Thank You. I just started working on a "Time Flies" book. Your flower images are beautiful !! I love the painterly quality. You'll have to give me some pointers on how you achieve such a dreamy quality.
publicado 09 de ene. a las 07:11 PST
Conéctese o cree una cuenta para publicar un comentario.


text:
Hot Stuff!
Article by: Liza Weisstuch - Despite the efforts of industry experts, market analysts and advertising executives, the formula for successfully establishing a trend remains a conundrum. The market moves like a plastic bag in the wind and the taste of the masses is far from quantifiable. In the liquor industry, when a seemingly good idea emerges, one can pour a boatload of resources into sleek packaging, advertising and promotions. Those efforts may turn heads at the bar and even [...] Read More »
The Rest of the Gin Story.
Article by: Robert Bradford - DEAR SUBSCRIBERS Due to a production error, a very important ingredient was omitted from last month's Gin article, unfortunately altering the ultimate flavor of its final presentation. With my apologies to you, our readership, Old Raj importer Henry Preiss, owner of Preiss Imports, and Robert Bradford, here is, in full, said missing ingredient. -PJ STONEThe costliest specialty gin of them all is Old Raj Blue Label Dry Gin, a product from [...] Read More »
Breaking the Rules with Tania Oseguera.
Article by: Liza Weisstuch - The private dining room at Casa Romero was small. The undertaking was not.Tania Oseguera, brand ambassador for Corzo and Cazadores tequilas, set the tone for the night when she notified the small group that tonight was "an opportunity to break the rules". Breaking is one thing, but she didn't warn that she would also be helping all of the nearly dozen people who'd gathered to build a strong foundation of tequila knowledge. It was a [...] Read More »
Look Who's Talkin' Green
Article by: Aimsel Ponti - The notion of organic products is not a particularly new trend, nor is the idea of "going green" to reduce the all-important carbon imprint on a global level.But we've all noticed that efforts towards both endeavors have been significantly ramped up, especially in the last two years. This is also the case when it comes to the beverage alcohol industry where "organic", "sustainable" and green have become popular buzz words. Some brands are purely organic [...] Read More »


text: Daniel C. Lubin is a Managing Partner and co-founder of Radius Ventures, LLC (Radius), a New York-based private equity organization that invests in leading edge, expansion stage health and life sciences companies. In his role at Radius, Daniel focuses on the firm's investment effort in the healthcare services and IT sector, and represents Radius on the boards of Healthsense, Inc., Management Health Solutions, Inc. and Aethon, Inc., all Radius portfolio companies. In addition to his role at Radius, he is the Chairman of Upsher Asset Management, a private family investment firm. Previously, he was a Director in the Investment Banking Division of Schroder Wertheim & Co., with co-responsibility for managing the firm's Health Care Group. He co-founded and was Managing Director of KBL Healthcare Inc., a health and life sciences venture capital and investment banking organization. In addition to his Radius boards, Daniel currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Riverdale Country School (Riverdale, NY). As a new member of the CSPC's Board of Trustees, he will be focusing on the Center's program initiatives on US healthcare reform. He formerly served on the Board of Trustees of The Haverford School (Haverford, PA). He has been a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, Wharton Business School, Columbia Business School and Columbia Law School on the topics of venture capital, family office formation and asset management. He earned a B.S. cum laude in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and an M.B.A. with honors from Harvard Business School.


text:
HBO and the "Game of Thrones" producers have apologized for comments made on the season one DVD about a prosthetic head that looks suspiciously like our nation's 43rd President.
Thursday afternoon, Barack Obama presided over the unveiling of George W. Bush's official portrait in the White House, a warm event that reminds us: It feels like years since President Dubya regaled the world with his famous spoonerisms. His retirement has been defined by an awkward silence. While John McCain's endorsement was trumpeted by Mitt Romney, Bush delivered his in just four words. "I'm for Mitt Romney," he shouted to a journalist as an elevator door closed between them. If, just for old time's sake, Bush had said, "I'm for Ritt Momney," it would have been perfect.
Just as Mitt Romney secured the Republican nomination, President Obama launched his presidential campaign with a weeklong celebration of his foreign policy accomplishments.
Former President George W. Bush was happy that heart transplant surgery for his vice president, Dick Cheney, went well, according to a statement Sunday from Bush's spokesman.
A federal judge has tossed out a lawsuit alleging conservative political ideology drove a prestigious, selective Justice Department hiring program during the administration of President George W. Bush.
In comparison to recent incumbents running for re-election, President Barack Obama's 46% approval ranks above only Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford -- who both lost their re-election bids -- in November of the year before an election. Most incumbents who were re-elected had an approval rating above 50% a year before the election. But George W. Bush, at 50%, and Richard Nixon, at 49%, also won re-election, and Bush's father George H.W. Bush had a 56% approval rating yet lost to Bill Clinton the following year.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama have come under fire after they were overheard talking rudely about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the G-20 summit.
Presidents Obama and Sarkozy may regret their private opinions of the Israeli PM, but they aren't the first mic gaffes.
The stakes in the current budget battles are enormous. As the super-committee deliberates over how to reduce the deficit and other congressional committees struggle to cut spending, the fate of important programs hangs in the balance.
Herman Cain talks about the Occupy Wall Street protests and who he thinks is really to blame for the economic crisis.
Canadian authorities braced for protests expected to take place near Vancouver, British Columbia, on Thursday outside an event where former U.S. presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are scheduled to appear.
Former White House photographer Eric Draper captured images of 9/11 as it unfolded.
Former Pres. George W. Bush offers his thoughts on the 9/11 attacks at the dedication of a Shanksville, Pa. memorial.
CNN's Becky Anderson speaks to documentarian Peter Schnall about his 9/11 related interview with George W. Bush.
A new study suggests firefighters working ground zero are at increased risk of cancer. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports.
A year after the attacks of 9/11, Maher Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian, was detained during a layover at JFK on his way home to Ottawa. He was held in solitary confinement for two weeks, interrogated and denied access to lawyers.
Former President George W. Bush says he experienced no pleasure when he heard about the death of Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda leader responsible for orchestrating the deadly terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
As Hurricane Irene gathered force, moving its way up toward the populated areas of the East Coast, politicians in both parties scrambled to prepare. President Obama cut short his vacation on Martha's Vineyard to return to Washington. Governors and mayors in all the affected states issued warnings, with mandatory and voluntary evacuations, and state officials mobilized.
If Rick Perry and George W. Bush had been born in the same family, W would have become known to friends as "the smart one."
In the debate over raising the debt ceiling, Democrats and Republicans now agree that failure to act will be a disaster for the country. President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner made their anxiety clear in their dueling speeches to the nation Monday night.
Money to provide a life-saving drug to AIDS victims in Africa may be cut from the U.S. budget. CNN's Jim Acosta reports.
As I sat watching the hysterical and apocalyptic reaction to President Barack Obama's speech addressing the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, in which he endorsed a position that was previously advocated by George W. Bush, Tom DeLay, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, opposition leader Tzipi Livni and even Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, it got me thinking about the other vicious attacks on the president's previous policies.
When President Barack Obama lays a wreath at the 9/11 Memorial on Thursday, he had hoped to be joined by former President George W. Bush. But in declining this invitation, Bush has left some observers puzzled, while others were supportive of his decision.
CNN's John King and panel members discuss the items found on bin Laden after he was killed.
Days after the daring operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden, pollsters reported that President Barack Obama's approval ratings were rising.
Sex, lies and murder. Americans seem to love conspiracy theories and too-good-to-be-true rumors -- type "George W. Bush IQ" into Google and watch what you get -- especially when it comes to politics.
The census is inherently political, even if most people don't see it that way.
U.S. presidents throughout modern history have developed their own foreign policy doctrines as conflicts around the world tested their leadership.
There was widespread support among scores of human rights groups and many others for recent efforts to have Switzerland open a preliminary investigation for torture against former President George W. Bush during his planned (and now canceled) visit to Geneva.
Charge George W. Bush with war crimes?
"Everyone should have the right to marry the person they love," says the former first daughter
Here are a few facts about the president's annual address to Congress that probably won't show up in the headlines:
CNN's Kate Bolduan looks at President Obama's challenges and opportunities in crafting his address to Congress.
The Bush administration used a White House political office as a "boiler room" to support Republican congressional candidates in violation of federal law, a report released Monday by an independent government watchdog agency concludes.
Dallas police do not believe the driver, who says his gas pedal got stuck, meant any harm
Authorities in Texas briefly detained a man late Wednesday after he lost control of his car while driving past the Dallas home of former President George W. Bush.
Authorities detained a person near the home of former President George W. Bush on Wednesday night after an incident in his Dallas-area neighborhood, a U.S. Secret Service spokesman said.
Somewhere in Texas, former President George W. Bush must be smiling. When President Obama and the Republican leadership reached a deal on extending all of the Bush tax cuts, including a generous exemption for estate taxes, the current president ratified a key policy from the former administration.
Two Senate procedural votes on Democratic measures to extend George W. Bush-era tax cuts for people who are not super wealthy failed on Saturday, preventing the measures from moving forward.
Former President George W. Bush joined a chorus of U.S. officials calling any leaks of sensitive government information "very damaging," telling a forum at Facebook headquarters that Wikileaks' recent release of 250,000 documents may significantly hurt Washington's image abroad.
Former U.S. President George W. Bush's book tour will stop at Facebook's headquarters in Palo Alto, California, on Monday, with the social networking site announcing a "Facebook Live" event for 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.
Jeb Bush would make a good president, but the former Florida governor has no intention of running for the Oval Office in 2012, according to his father, former President George H.W. Bush.
George H.W. Bush tell's CNN's Larry King the speculative stories that he had a clash with George W. made him upset.
Politics is serious business -- but not all of the time. From the halls of Congress to the campaign trail to the international stage, there's always something that gets a laugh or a second glance. Here are some of the things you might have missed:
Politics is serious business -- but not all of the time. From the halls of Congress to the campaign trail to the international stage, there's always something that gets a laugh or a second glance. Here are some of the things you might have missed.
CNN's Candy Crowley sits down with former President George W. Bush to discuss life after 9/11 and Afghanistan.
The question most readers will bring to George W. Bush's memoirs can be put into just two words: "Why Iraq?"
Former President George W. Bush defended his administration's handling of the war in Afghanistan on Sunday, telling CNN that some NATO allies who contributed troops to the conflict "turned out not to be willing to fight."
Americans are horribly divided over the legacy of our 43rd president: George W. Bush. These factions locked horns when Bush was in office, and they're at it again this month now that Bush has released "Decision Points," a memoir of his personal and political life.
George W. Bush is back. This time he's selling a book but once again he's getting very mixed reviews.
Former President George W. Bush tells CNN's Candy Crowley that not reforming Social Security was a huge disappointment.
Candy Crowley's 2008 exit interview with George W. Bush on his presidential legacy.
Who wouldn't take a company-paid trip to Florida in November? So I'm going but, no beach involved.
Reliability -- that was the watchword for President George W. Bush when it came to legacy-making choices for the Supreme Court. Reliability in both the person he wanted for the high court, and in the selection process itself.
The former president is "disappointed it hasn't happened yet"
After staying largely mum on the political scene since leaving office almost two years ago, former President George W. Bush will reveal his thoughts on the most historic -- and controversial -- parts of his presidency with the release of his memoir Tuesday.
Former President George W. Bush talks with NBC's Matt Lauer about the highs and lows of his terms.
CNN's Sarah Endo discusses the former president's new book, "Decision Points."
The terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001, gave his administration a clear goal and him the resolve to find out who was responsible and "kick their ass," former President George W. Bush writes in his new book.
Former President George W. Bush has stayed out of politics since he left the White House and, except for his own career, he largely keeps the subject at arm's length in his new memoir, "Decision Points."
A former President Bush adviser comments on reports that Bush considered replacing Dick Cheney in 2004.
When assessing the lowest moments of George W. Bush's presidency, outside observers might have gone with, oh, Abu Ghraib, or that time when he realized he was going to have to bail out the US financial system, or when his approval rating dropped to 22 percent on his way out the door.
At a dinner party with his parents and their female friend, he asked an embarrassing question about sex
"People claim that I lied about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction ... But the suggestion that I was racist ... represented an all-time low," Bush writes
Former President George W. Bush loomed large throughout the 2010 campaign even though he has been out of office for nearly two years.
Dick Cheney is certainly not one to hold back on how he really feels. George W. Bush, on the other hand, has been mum.
Michelle Obama makes an appearance in Milwaukee, stumping for Sen. Russ Feingold.
With his party's control of Congress teetering on the brink of disaster, an unpopular president decides in the final days to roll out his best asset: his wife, whose own approval ratings soar 20 percentage points higher than his.
The Supreme Court has turned aside a free speech dispute over a bumper sticker and a presidential event that had raised questions over the authority of the White House to keep dissenting voices at bay.
Commentary: Maya MacGuineas is the director of the fiscal policy program at the New America Foundation.
CNN's Susan Candiotti takes us on a tour of ground zero nine years after the attacks.
In the aftermath of 9/11, Americans were angry, fearful and scrambling for answers.
The ninth anniversary of 9/11 finds our country divided.
One of the great misconceptions in this country is that what happens in Washington determines what happens in financial markets. It's so simple, convenient, and satisfying to attribute market movements to the President, the Federal Reserve, Congress, the tax code, or some combination of them. It sure makes for great sound bites and slogans -- but often makes for inaccurate analysis.
First it was Greenspan. Now one by one, other elders of the economy are speaking out against deficits, and they're making the surprising argument for higher taxes.
Political media analyst Evan Tracey talks with CNN's John Roberts about some nasty political ads airing this year.
While he's not on the ballot, George W. Bush is still vital to the midterm election as far as the nation's top Democrat is concerned.
If anyone doubted whether campaigning had started for the mid-term congressional elections in November, the answer became clear on Sunday.
The president was young, a Harvard-educated intellectual admired for his charisma and skill with the written word.
Full disclosure: At Reason magazine, we watch porn at work, too. Only the difference between us and the Security and Exchange Commission employees who stand accused of downloading massive amounts of slap-and-tickle is that we at least sometimes view the stuff when, for instance, assessing whether the federal government is justified trying to lock up pornographers for a half-century at a time.
Suppose that shortly after 9/11, when it became clear that Osama bin Laden and other members of al Qaeda were responsible for the attacks, President Bush had made the following announcement:
Karl Rove, often described as President George W. Bush's brain, defended the former president in a new book against claims that he lied to the American public in order to invade Iraq in 2003.
Bush administration lawyers who wrote "torture" memos have been cleared of allegations of professional misconduct after a Justice Department internal investigation, which recommends no legal consequences for their actions.
A billboard of former president George W. Bush in a Minnesota town has attracted much attention. KARE reports.
On October 20, 2001, a concert was held in Madison Square Garden to benefit the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On stage were some of the biggest names in show business. In the audience were first responders who had been working around the clock at ground zero.
Former President Bill Clinton will travel to Haiti on Monday to meet with officials and deliver aid supplies to the quake-ravaged country, his foundation announced Sunday.
John King interviews former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton about Haiti relief efforts.
Aid helicopters drop food onto crowds of Haitians.
Midway through his presidency, George W. Bush was asked by the journalist John Dickerson to name his biggest mistake since 9/11 and what he'd learned from it. Here's what he said:
Some issues, it seems, still transcend America's increasingly bitter partisan divide.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday that President Bush's administration was "unrealistic" in its dealings with the war in Afghanistan.
Did President Obama land a Nobel peace prize at such an early stage of his presidency simply because he's not George W. Bush?
Sometimes, even in Washington, there's no way around a central truth: that in governing, there are moments when real, tough decisions must be made. No waffling. None of the usual "on the one hand, on the other hand." No hiding behind the votes cast by others.
The Iraqi man who threw his shoes at President George W. Bush last year, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, will be released from jail Tuesday, his lawyer told CNN Monday.
The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at then-President George W. Bush at a news conference in December could be released from jail as early as next week, his attorney told CNN on Friday.
The former First Lady would like to see the nation come together on issues
Could George W. Bush or some of his top aides end up behind bars?
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text:
I need some help/direction setting up a routine to convert an entire project from Civil3d to Microstation... )
I've successfully found ways to map linetypes,lineweights,text,etc... for ONE self-contained file. Now I'm facing the prospect of doing this for many files that each contain xref's and dref's...
My approach with one file (thanks to various posters on these forums) was to export to autocad 2010 (which converted my C3D objects into polylines, etc.) and then to export that to a DGN with linestyles and layers/levels mapped appropriately...
Now... any suggestions on how to set this up for many files that reference each other in various ways? The export to dgn utility does successfully find the xref's and creates dgns out of them, but since it didn't export them to 2010 first, the objects end up as cells in the dgn (when I want simple cad lines). (It also doesn't handle data references in the x-ref'd files...) To make it more difficult... I can't export to 2010 anyway, because the x-ref's won't bind (because they still have objects in them..).
Help please!
I'm in 2011 with sp1 and sp2.
Solved! Go to Solution.
I think what I'm looking for is a routine that will:
1. Open a sheet file (a production dwg)
2. Check for x-ref's (surfaces, linework, etc.)
3. Open up each xref individually and export them to 2010 format (reducing surface objects to simple linework)
4. Export the sheet file to 2010.
5. Create xref's in the new 2010 version of the sheet file to each of the files created in step 3.
6. Export the 2010 version of the sheet file to a dgn (which will nicely create xref'd dgns)
Seems simple enough right? *sigh*
I don't have any experience with the workflow you describe but I'd like to suggest something else if it is an option for you.
Since Microstation can open DWG files it will probably handle the workfow better as it can handle the conversion with XREF's and layouts to DGN. So my suggestion is as follows:
Export the C3D drawings to any <Format>.dwg that is compatible with a version of Microsation available downstream. Then open the converted files in Microstation and convert to DGN from there. It should convert and retain all the referenced files and layouts for you as well as applying additional entity and level mapping settings.
By the way, you do have some additional settings to control how a DWG is exported. Look on the AEC Editor tab in the Autocad Options settings.
That routine is in Civil3d: Batch export, but im sure you would have to promote all drefs prior to export
@ Neil:
I won't have access to Microstation... but this part of your post was very helpful:
By the way, you do have some additional settings to control how a DWG is exported. Look on the AEC Editor tab in the Autocad Options settings.
I de-selected the bind xrefs checkbox and then tried to export to 2010. voila! I now have a 2010 version of the drawing that STILL HAS THE XREF's from before (same file paths).
@ Joe:
The batch utility is helpful... it lets you create a new directory with all the converted files... but it doesn't change the x-ref paths... (all the converted drawings still xref the c3d files...)
I'm closer now! thanks guys...
eTransmit will remove all the paths from the XREFs. I think you'll have to run it after exporting to Autocad first.
I haven't tried etransmit yet, but I did mostly find a solution:
I set up my drawings to use RELATIVE paths for the xrefs.
Then with the batch convert to autoCAD utility I create a copy of the entire project directory in a new location.
These new files now miraculously reference each other. Then with a DGNExport on the sheet files (which can automatically find and convert the referenced files now that they are also autoCAD and not c3d files) I end up with a dgn sheet file with dgn references. AND the surfaces have been converted to linework which is how the client will eventually want it...
Thanks again forums!
mostly a solution? yeah... the data references have to be promoted first or they'll get dropped out of the process..
If your client wants the object data from your Civil 3D objects, GeoPak supports LandXML file import.


text:
Top 10 Arthritis Events of 2008
Each year the Arthritis Foundation highlights the top 10 most significant events affecting the arthritis community. From achievements in public policy to new research findings, 2008 was a year marked by groundbreaking developments on both scientific and social fronts.
News that made the Arthritis Foundation's Top 10 include reports on the ongoing severity of and risk for arthritis; the proof and promise of biologic medications in treating several forms of arthritis; clues to better understanding arthritis' origins; and the growth of governmental support for programs designed to help people with arthritis.
1. House Passes Landmark Arthritis Legislation
2. Early Aggressive Therapy Best for RA
3. Kinase Inhibitors Promising Treatment for RA
4. Arthritis Hampers Activity in Adults With Diabetes
5. Biologic Therapies Benefit Children With JA
6. Cardiovascular Risk High in Arthritis
7. State Arthritis Programs Enhanced
8. Immune System Ages Early in Arthritis
9. Gingivitis and RA Linked
10. Nearly Half of Americans Will Develop OA
Download the PDF of this issue.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act (APCCA), the first comprehensive arthritis legislation in more than 30 years. The legislation seeks to expand and strengthen research and public health initiatives proven to combat the burden of arthritis and improve access to pediatric rheumatologists to address the country's severe shortage of these critical health professionals.
Although the bill never came to a vote in the Senate, the momentum behind the bill is strong and optimism for congressional passage in 2009 is high.
The APCCA encompasses several initiatives that have the potential to greatly improve the lives of people with arthritis. It's written to:
Enhance public health activities related to arthritis. By fully implementing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Arthritis Action Plan (NAAP), several public health activities can be enacted.
Proposed endeavors include collecting prevalence/incidence data; conducting public health surveillance; identifying best practices for prevention, diagnosis, management and care of arthritis; promoting community-based and patient self-management programs and activities; developing public information and education programs; expanding physical activity programs; and informing the public about nutrition education opportunities.
Expand and intensify research and public health activities related to juvenile arthritis. Grants and cooperative agreements will be made available to collect data on the prevalence, incidence and outcomes associated with juvenile arthritis at the CDC, including the development of a National Juvenile Arthritis Patient Registry.
Invest in tomorrow's pediatric rheumatologists. To overcome the desperate shortage of physicians who specialize in the treatment of children with arthritis and related diseases, the Act provides for grants to institutions supporting pediatric rheumatology and expands public-private partnerships to encourage pediatric rheumatology education and training. A loan repayment program would provide funds for professionals entering the field of pediatric rheumatology.
To receive updates on the Arthritis Foundation's advocacy efforts, visit www.arthritis.org/advocacy and sign up to become an Arthritis Advocate.
Twenty years ago, doctors believed the best protocol for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was to start slow and build gradually until an adequate level of pain and inflammation control was reached. This way of thinking has changed over the years, and physicians now treat RA much more aggressively from the time of diagnosis. With the advent of new biologic medications, the treatment possibilities for people with RA are many and their appropriate use is still being established.
Several key studies released data in 2008 provide physicians with more information on which to base their treatment decisions. Two of note showed that traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can be used with excellent effect. Three others showed effective uses of adalimumab (Humira) in the treatment of RA.
One study used traditional DMARDs, comparing a step-up approach to therapy (sulfasalazine alone; then after 3 months, methotrexate was added; and when the maximum tolerated dosage of methotrexate was reached, hydroxychloroquine was added) against parallel triple therapy (giving the three drugs at the same time from the beginning). The research team found that highly effective control of disease activity can be achieved using conventional DMARDs as part of an intensive disease management strategy. In this study, step-up therapy was as effective as parallel triple therapy.
Another study found that people with RA who respond well to methotrexate therapy – achieving a low disease activity score within four months – continue to have very good clinical responses throughout the first year. An initial good response to methotrexate defines a sub-population of people with early RA who can expect excellent one-year clinical prognoses.
Now that the biologic adalimumab has been on the market for several years, long-term study results are being released. Five-year results of the ongoing PREMIER study were released at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in October. This study compared the effectiveness of adalimumab in people with early RA (less than 3 years' duration) by comparing initial adalimumab plus methotrexate therapy, adalimumab alone, or methotrexate alone for two years. After the first two years, participants were able to continue taking adlimumab either with methotrexate or not. After a total of five years, combination therapy led to the best long-term inhibition of radiographic progression, best clinical remission rates, and best reduction of inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein.
For more information on medications used to treat RA and other forms of arthritis, visit www.arthritistoday.org.
To order your free copy of the Arthritis Today Drug Guide or the Arthritis Foundation's DMARDs brochure, call 800-283-7800.
The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has improved tremendously over the past decade since the introduction of biologic agents. These agents, however, are expensive to produce and must be administered via injection or intravenous infusion. In 2008, great strides have been made toward the development of a new type of RA medication that can be taken by mouth. These drugs are called kinase inhibitors and they interrupt the transfer of chemical signals involved in inflammation.
Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is an important mediator of immune signaling in a variety of cells, including mast cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and B cells. Results of a clinical trial testing a Syk kinase inhibitor were released in November in which researchers studied people with active RA who were already taking methotrexate. Participants received either the new drug at difference dosage amounts or placebo. After 12 weeks of treatment, researchers found the two higher dosages tested were both effective; however, there were more adverse events with the highest dosage. The participants noted symptom relief in as little as one week. There was also a significant decrease from baseline in biomarkers of disease activity. The research team concluded, "The rapid onset of effect, the improvement in arthritis parameters and serum biomarkers show that inhibition of Syk kinase is a viable new target for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis."
Jak-3 is a kinase involved in chemical signal transfer in B cells, T cells and natural killer cells – all of which are implicated in RA pathology. Early results of a clinical trial of a Jak-3 inhibitor were released in 2008. In this study, people with active RA who were receiving stable dosages of methotrexate but who did not get adequate relief from that drug were recruited. The participants received one of six dose levels of an oral Jak-3 inhibitor or placebo. The research team determined that doses of the Jak-3 inhibitor at 3-mg twice daily and higher were significantly more effective than placebo. Of participants in the 15-mg group, and nearly 38 percent reached clinical remission, whereas only 9 percent in placebo group got that result. Adverse events were dependent on the dosage taken. The research team concluded that the oral Jak-3 inhibitor in combination with methotrexate is efficacious, safe and well tolerated in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and is suitable for further evaluation in and expanded clinical trial.
An important study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2008 found more than half of adults with diagnosed diabetes also have arthritis, a painful condition that can be a barrier to physical activity. Physical activity is an important health strategy for managing both diabetes and arthritis, and lack of activity hinders successful management of these diseases.
The CDC analyzed data from the 2005 and 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which is a state-based, telephone survey. The data found the prevalence of arthritis among adults with diabetes to be 52 percent, compared with about 27 percent for all adults.
The prevalence of physical inactivity was significantly higher among adults with both diabetes and arthritis (30 percent) compared with those with diabetes alone (21 percent), arthritis alone (17 percent) and among adults without arthritis or diabetes (11 percent). A person with both arthritis and diabetes is 1.3 times more likely to be physically inactive than a person with neither condition, even after adjusting for age, sex and body mass index (BMI).
The study suggests adults with diabetes and arthritis have additional barriers to physical activity, such as concerns about pain, or aggravating and worsening arthritis condition, thereby limiting the ability to manage both conditions.
"Arthritis is a frequent comorbid condition for adults with diabetes," said John H. Klippel, M.D., president and CEO, Arthritis Foundation. "But for both diseases, physical activity is key to effective management. A lack of physical activity actually results in undesirable consequences including increased pain, stiffness, inflammation, physical limitation and potential disability.
The good news is that safe and effective self-management programs are available. People living with arthritis and diabetes can benefit from participating in one of the Arthritis Foundation's exercise or self-management programs, such as the Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program, the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program and the Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program," said Dr. Klippel.
To learn about the Arthritis Foundation exercise and self-management programs available in your community, call 800-283-7800 or visit www.arthritis.org.
Up until 2008, the only biologic agent approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA; sometimes called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) was etanercept (Enbrel), which gained the OK for use in children in 1999. But 2008 was a banner year for kids living with arthritis because two new biologic agents were approved for use in children.
On February 21, 2008, adalimumab (Humira) was approved by the FDA for reducing signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular JIA in patients four years of age and older. Then on April 8, 2008, abatacept (Orencia) was approved for use in patients six years and older.
Results of additional studies showing the safety and efficacy of biologic drugs in children were released in 2008 as well. Two studies of particular relevance and importance involved the two newly approved medications: adalimumab and abatacept. Both studies represent coordinated efforts by pediatric rheumatologists worldwide and highlight the importance of professional cooperation when conducting clinical trials in relatively rare diseases.
One study assessed the safety and efficacy of abatacept, a biologic drug that acts on T cell activity, in children with active JIA who didn't find relief from other treatments. Of the participants who responded well to abatacept, half continued to receive the biologic and half were unknowingly switched to placebo. The researchers then waited to see if the children would experience a disease flare. Flares occurred in 53 percent of participants getting placebo and 20 percent of those getting abatacept. On average, it took 6 months for those given placebo to have a flare.
Another study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in children with active JIA who had not responded adequately to treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The participants either had never been treated with methotrexate or had been treated but experienced adverse events or inadequate response. All patients received adalimumab for 16 weeks and half also received methotrexate. After this portion of the study, half of the participants continued to receive adalimumab, and half were unknowingly switched to a placebo. The researchers then waited to see if the children would experience a disease flare, and how long it would take for that to occur.
After the initial phase of treatment, 94 percent of those children receiving both adalimumab and methotrexate showed a significant improvement in disease signs and symptoms. During the second phase of the study, disease flares occurred in 71 percent of those receiving just placebo, 65 percent of those receiving just methotrexate, 43 percent of those receiving just adalimumab, and 37 percent of those receiving adalimumab plus methotrexate. Because disease flare was defined as a relatively small degree of worsening, many patients met the criteria for a disease flare while still showing substantial improvement compared with study entry.
After the double-blind phase of the trial was complete, some participants continued to receive adalimumab. Of those, after two years of treatment, 40 percent had achieved 100 percent improvement in symptoms compared with when they first entered the study.
For more information on juvenile arthritis, call 800-283-7800 to buy the Raising a Child With Arthritis: A Parent's Guide book or request a free copy of the Arthritis in Children brochure.
Over recent years, evidence has shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more likely to have cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the general population, even after adjusting for traditional CVD risk factors, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure and being overweight. An important study released in 2008 has now found that people with RA have as high or an even greater risk of CVD than people with type 2 diabetes, a recognized risk factor.
In this study, the research team found the prevalence of CVD was 5 percent in individuals without diabetes, 12.4 percent in people with type 2 diabetes, and 12.9 percent in those with RA. After adjusting for age, sex and conventional cardiovascular risk factors, the study found that a person with type 2 diabetes is twice as likely to have CVD as a healthy individual, and the likelihood for a person with RA to have CVD is 2.7 times that of a person without RA.
As we saw with Top 10 item number 4, diabetes and arthritis are involved in a feedback loop that leads to worsening of both diseases. If you add in heart disease risk, the vicious cycle becomes even more serious. Arthritis pain prevents people from getting the exercise they need, which can contribute to weight gain and the development of type 2 diabetes. Both diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis increase a person's risk of CVD, as does obesity. Physical activity can break this cycle because it lessens your risk of disability due to arthritis, helps control weight and reduces your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Another study released in 2008 looked at cardiac complications that occur after total joint replacement. The researchers matched people who had had a joint replacement and suffered a cardiac complication with an equal number of people who had had a joint replacement but no cardiac complication. Along with the typical factors associated with a higher risk of cardiac complications (a history of irregular heartbeat, coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure), the research team identified two new risk factors for cardiac complications following total joint replacement: having two joints replaced at the same time, and having surgery on a joint that had already been replaced once.
These studies emphasize the importance for people with arthritis to be particularly diligent when it comes to caring for their heart and preventing cardiovascular complications.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), guided by recommendations in National Arthritis Action Plan: A Public Health Strategy, has been funding arthritis programs since 1999. In 2008, the state-based programs funded through the CDC entered into a new, enhanced phase.
In 2007, a panel of national experts reviewed the arthritis programs funded through state health departments and made several important recommendations that led to major changes in the program that took effect in 2008.
An important outcome was to strengthen programs by providing states with sufficient funds to extend effective, evidence-based interventions to reach more people with arthritis. States will now use CDC funding to dramatically increase the availability of interventions such as Arthritis Foundation exercise programs, strengthen partnerships with Arthritis Foundation chapters and others, increase public awareness, and improve their ability to monitor the burden of arthritis and coordinate activities. The central aim is to improve the quality of life of people affected by arthritis.
As a result of increased investment in funded states, the CDC has funded 12 states for the period of 2008-2011, with average funding levels of approximately $500,000. This funding level is now on par with other major chronic disease programs.
With this enhanced program, states will increase awareness that something can be done for arthritis and will help people strive toward a goal of a life free of arthritis pain.
Goals of the CDC Arthritis Program
To learn more about the services the Arthritis Foundation offers near you, visit www.arthritis.org and type in your zip code in the box provided.
Patients with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have immune system abnormalities that resemble characteristics of immune dysfunction typically seen in the elderly. Studies released in 2008 reinforce and expand upon evidence previously released that people with autoimmune arthritis perhaps are biologically older than their chronologic age would indicate.
With aging, the thymus gland shrinks and produces fewer and fewer new T cells – a cell type intimately involved in the RA disease process. To compensate for this reduction in new cells, existing T cells replicate and divide more frequently. Every time a cell replicates, a buffering segment at the end of each DNA strand called the telomere gets a bit shorter. Therefore, the biologic age of the immune system can be estimated by the length of the T-cells' telomeres.
One study released in 2008 dug deeper into this phenomenon to determine the root of the premature aging. All immune cells ultimately come from bone marrow stem cells. Because stem cells have the ability to repair their telomeres, they have been considered to live forever; however, even in healthy individuals the stem cell reserve dwindles slowly as life progresses.
Researchers have now examined the biologic age and function of such bone marrow stem cells in RA. In people with RA, bone marrow stem cells lose their telomeres at a faster pace than in healthy individuals. Telomere sequences in 30-year-old people with RA were already as short as those in the 60-year-old healthy controls. This marked telomere shortening indicates the bone marrow cells were stressed in an attempt to keep up with high replication demands.
Thus, the researchers concluded that not only the immune cells but also the stem cells from which they originate are aging before their time. Defective function of bone marrow stem cells was independent of disease activity, suggesting bone marrow failure as a potential factor in the development of RA.
With data accumulating that the immune system in adults with RA ages prematurely, researchers released new data in 2008 showing similar premature aging in the immune system cells of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
The research team measured three indicators of immune cell aging. The scientists found that children with JIA showed an accelerated loss of T cells with advancing age. An accelerated decrease in the number of T cells in JIA patients may reflect loss of the ability of the thymus to produce new cells or the inability of existing T cells to proliferate fast enough. Their findings indicate that the immune system of JIA patients is considerably older than their chronological age, as is seen in RA patients.
These findings illustrate that premature aging of the immune system, and disturbed T cell numbers and functionality could be contributing to the immunologic abnormalities associated with autoimmunity and aging.
Results of several studies released in 2008 have linked periodontal disease (also called gingivitis or gum disease) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), revealing that people with RA are much more likely to have gum disease than people without RA.
One possible explanation for this co-occurrence is that pain and inflammation in the hands makes brushing and flossing difficult, leading to poor oral hygiene. However, the studies found that although oral hygiene was a factor, it did not fully explain the association between the two diseases. The results of these studies suggest that other parameters – most likely factors related to chronic inflammation – are responsible for the increased prevalence of gum disease in people with RA.
One small study found that RA patients are nearly eight times more likely to have periodontal disease compared to the control subjects. These findings accounted for such demographic and lifestyle characteristics as age, sex, education and tobacco use.
Other studies delved deeper into the association to look for disease and biochemical factors that could link the two conditions.
In a group of U.S. veterans with RA, scientists found that periodontal disease was more common and more severe in people with RA compared to people with osteoarthritis (OA). The research team found no association between gum disease and RA disease activity.
In research funded in part by grants from the Arthritis Foundation, another research team did find an association between periodontal disease symptoms and RA disease activity. This team, who reported findings in 2007 that periodontal disease was frequent and severe in people with RA, evaluated oral health in a larger group of people with RA. The overall prevalence of gum symptoms was 82 percent. And after adjusting for confounding factors, RA disease activity was significantly associated with periodontal symptoms. This relationship was further amplified with oral dryness, a common problem in RA patients.
Three research groups indicated that anti-cyclic citrullinated protein (anti-CCP) antibodies may play a role in the overlap of these two diseases. Anti-CCP antibodies are specific for RA, and precede the onset of clinically detectable disease. Concentrations of these antibodies were higher in people with both RA and evidence of infection with the bacteria that causes gingivitis.
The finding of these various studies argue for greater attention to dental care in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
A landmark government study released in 2008 suggests nearly one in two people (45 percent) will develop painful knee osteoarthritis (OA) over their lifetime, with the highest risk among those who are obese.
The study was conducted using data from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, a long-term study of black and white women and men age 45 years or older living in rural North Carolina. It is one of the largest longitudinal studies to monitor the onset and progression of knee and hip OA in this country.
Symptoms were determined through a question about each knee: "On MOST days do you have pain, aching, or stiffness in your LEFT (or RIGHT) knee?" Radiographic knee OA was determined by taking X-ray views of both knees, which were read by a radiologist and scored using the Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) scale. Symptomatic knee OA was defined as a K/L grade of ≥2 (at least mild radiographic OA) and symptoms in the same knee.
The study found that 60.5 percent of obese individuals – that is, those having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 – will develop symptomatic knee OA over their lifetime. The study also found that those with a prior knee injury were also at high risk, with a probability of developing the disease over their lifetime of 57 percent.
"Weight loss can lead to a decreased risk of symptomatic knee OA, and the association between the modifiable risk factor, BMI, and lifetime risk of OA in this study further underscores the need for public health weight loss and management interventions that would contribute to a decreased lifetime risk of OA," conclude the study authors.
"While Americans are looking forward to longer life expectancies than ever before, the reality is that they will also be facing many more years of pain and disability," said John H. Klippel, M.D., president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. "Obesity in this country is at an all-time high, putting millions at risk for disabling arthritis. Coupled with sedentary lifestyles and an aging baby boomer population, we are facing a public health crisis if Americans and Congress don't take action."


text:
Thirty-two-year-old Kenneth Royal Wheeler is charged with making interstate threatening communications after a tipster alerted police a posting on his Facebook page. It included a plea for people in Grand Junction to "kill cops" and "drown them in the blood of thier (sic) children."
The Denver Post reports that Wheeler's lawyer told a judge Thursday that Wheeler had eliminated everyone he friended on Facebook. The lawyer wanted the judge to suppress evidence from Wheeler's Facebook page.
U.S. District Judge William J. Martinez denied the request. Wheeler now has 20 Facebook friends.


text:
Town Square
OPINION: To honor its 115th anniversary, PTA needs to tackle school funding
Original post made on Mar 10, 2012
Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 12:55 AM
on Mar 10, 2012 at 8:10 pm
The Molly Munger/PTA initiative, "Our Children, Our Future", is the ONLY one that funnels money directly to school sites and mandates parent and community input re how the money should be spent. Local control is the only way to go. Any initiative that gets money to the schools directly and avoids the black hole that is Sacramento gets my vote. PTA lobbying for our kids - for free -- for 115 years.
Today, our state ranks 47th nationally in what we invest to educate each student. We have the largest class sizes in America. Over the last three years, more than $20 billion has been cut from California schools and over 40,000 educators have been laid off. We are shortchanging our early childhood development programs, which are some of the best educational investments we can make. Our underfunded public preschool programs serve only 40 percent of eligible 3 and 4 year olds, and only five percent of very low-income infants and toddlers have access to early childhood programs.
"Our Children, Our Future" asks Californians to join together to invest in our children and our schools because we all share in the benefits of better schools and a better-educated workforce. Our Children, Our Future will also reduce the cost of education bonds to help end the state deficit and protect our children and schools from further budget cuts.
The measure will raise $10 to $11 billion annually in new revenue through a sliding scale income tax increase that varies with taxpayers' ability to pay. For couples, the increases range from 4/10ths of 1% on incomes after all deductions under $35,000 to 2.2% for couples with income after all deductions over $5 million. Couples would pay nothing on the first $15,000 of their income after all deductions, and existing tax credits will offset increases for most couples with income after all deductions of $40,000 or less. A couple earning $75,000 in income after all deductions would pay an additional $428 each year, while a couple earning $1.5 million after all deductions would pay $27,266 more.
The money will be placed in a separate trust fund that can only be spent as authorized by the provisions of the Act. The Governor and Legislature are prohibited from using the money. It cannot be used to increase current teacher salaries, but can be used to hire additional teachers, i.e., P.E. and staff, i.e., school nurses and to support programs that have been lost, i.e., the arts.
No more than 1% of money raised by the The Molly Munger PTA "Our Children, Our Future" initiative will go towards administrative costs -- mandated. The initiative will raise $10 billion for schools per year for twelve years. Every child in the state will benefit. The money goes into a trust and does not pass through Sacramento. Parent, teacher, community input re how money will be spent at each school site is mandated as well. At this point in time, CA would need to spend an additional $60,000 a year, per classroom, just to catch up to the national average -- that is a fact. CA has the highest ratios of students to teachers, students to counselors, students to administrator in the country -- that is a fact. We are shortchanging all of our kids and have been for many years.
PTA, the largest volunteer organization lobbying for children, supports "Our Children, Our Future". PTA has been in the trenches advocating for kids -- for free -- for 115 years -- my vote goes with them. Web Link
on Mar 10, 2012 at 8:21 pm
Not another penny from this proud Republican stalwart. I've given in the past - you can check the records - until it hurts. You'll only get another penny if you can pry it from my stiff, cold, white fingers.
on Mar 10, 2012 at 8:55 pm
A few questions.
I would be VERY happy to support anything that will protect and enhance programs as long as it can't be misused or used to increase benefits while we are in such a dire state.
Does this go straight to school sites or to the school district? Can it be used for facilities studies, administrative car allowances, increased benefits that can be negotiated away from the classroom or will it be used to protect programs?
I've noticed some of our bond payments can be collected from the general fund if we can't pay - would this tax revenue be given to the general fund or would it be protected?