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Massachusetts aces international math and science tests
With the announcement of the Trends in Math and Science Study results this week, there are all kinds of statements being made about who made out well and what it means. They range from the wildly overstated claims of the Foundation for Excellence in Education that Floridaâs mediocre performance on the TIMSS signified that the Sunshine State is a ânational example,â âworld leader,âand âbusting all the mythsâ to accurate praise for Massachusetts for showing continued progress into the upper tier of countries in the world in math and science.
Here are the four takeaways from the tests
The TIMSS test matters. Massachusetts should be extremely pleased to have done well on the TIMSS test, for it is in many ways a tougher test than the PISA tests. Dougal Hutchison and Ian Schagen analyzed the TIMSS and PISA tests for the National Foundation for Educational Research citing the work of Graham Ruddock, who looked closely at the tests in a British context, noting:
It is the quantity of reading that marks PISA out, not the complexity of the language, which is similarly unfamiliar in both the international studies. The high reading demand of questions in PISA is often accompanied by a relatively lower demand in the mathematics or science required. This reflects the lower level of mathematics or science that students can apply in new contexts as opposed to very familiar ones. (Ruddock et al., 2006, p.123).
The TIMSS is a more objective test based on multiple choice answers, with far more numeracy and algebra on the test items (PISA has more data manipulation), and more focus on knowledge acquired.
The United States is still doing poorly, but Massachusetts stands out among an increasing number of states that are participating as countries. On 4th-grade math, the US is fully 60 points behind Singapore, 40-plus behind Japan and 20 behind Great Britain. The Statesâ 11th place showing is no reason for celebration. As the NCES press release notes, 4th graders are improving over time with the average US score going up 23 points since 1995 (12 points in just the last four years). The US did moderately well on the percentage of 4th graders scoring advanced, coming in around 8th of the 57 countries sand other systems tested.
On 4th-grade science, the happy news is that US 4th-graders are performing at a higher level (now 7th of the 57 systems against which it was compared); the bad news⦠there is virtually no change in the US 4th-grade score since 1995! The US is over 40 points behind Korea and Singapore.
Worried? Letâs focus on 8th-grade performance, which tells more about sustained ability to move students forward (and also for reasons of keeping our dear readerâs interest). By the 8th grade US students fall to just slightly above average (509 versus the TIMSS average score of 500). Worse, there is virtually no change in 8th-grade US student performance on this test since 2007.
Average math scores, 8th grade (57 countries and education systems)
Korea, Republic of 613
Singapore 611
Chinese Taipei 609
Hong Kong 586
Japan 570
Massachusetts 561
Russia 539
Connecticut 518
Florida 513
US average 509
TIMSS scale ave. 500
Looking at some of the states that participated in TIMSS, we can see that a Globe front page headline this week was justified in noting that Massachusetts pupils buck the national trend. On both 4th-grade but more importantly on 8th-grade math, Massachusetts (if it were a country) scores with international leaders. We have a long way to go to get to the level of South Korea, Singapore and Chinese Taipei, but we blow the doors off of other states and the U.S. âWorld leaderâ Florida scores right about where the U.S. does. Hmm.
Turning to science, again, the US 8th graders muster a mediocre average score of 525 (versus the overall international average of 500). While the U.S. has made progress since 1995, that canât be said of the period since 2007. What of state participants like Massachusetts, Florida and Connecticut? Again, Massachusetts performs very well, behind only Singapore. We need to up our game significantly to reach Singapore, but we are far ahead of the US average and clean the clocks of neighbors like Connecticut and also ânational leaderâ Florida.
Average science scores, 8th grade (56 countries and education systems)
Singapore 590
Massachusetts 567
Chinese Taipei 564
Korea, Republic of 560
Japan 558
Finland 552
Slovenia 543
Connecticut 532
Florida 530
US average 525
TIMSS scale ave. 500
States lead the way on reform. Arne Duncan noted in his press release associated with TIMSS that states can play a role in improving schools. Well, given what Massachusetts has accomplished these past two decades and the little impact of federal policy, perhaps a better way of putting it is: States and localities are the only entities capable of improving student performance. States and localities bring 90 percent of the revenue pie, and states and localities are flexible and innovative enough to craft policies that matter.
The question for Massachusetts is why, if it is showing this kind of progress, it would want to tether itself to national and federal efforts like the Common Core standards, tests, and curricular materials. Why the best state in the US would resign itself to being like all the rest of the states is truly a difficult policy decision to explain.
Massachusetts still has a way to go. The students participating in the TIMSS are a representative sample of students from around the state. We know we have a long way to go to get Boston, Cambridge, New Bedford, Fall River, Lawrence, Holyoke, Springfield and other urban school districts up to the bar. But the TIMSS data is clear in showing the weaknesses we have vis-a-vis the highest-performing countries. Singapore has double the percentage of students in the "advanced" scoring range in math and science.
So the title of this post is overstating where we are. We deserve a B or B+ on TIMSS, with a recommendation to redouble our efforts to address unique issues. Specifically, the test confirms that we need to make our standards and curricular choices even more rigorous and that we have work to do to improve the quality of our teacher core.
If we make the right choices, having the best schools in the world is within reach. Lowering the bar by adopting Common Core is no more helpful than it would be for a teacher to tell a student who is performing well and improving fast to join a study group with underachievers. For us that means the rest of the United States, which earns no more than a C- on TIMSS.
Crossposted at Pioneer's blog. Follow me on twitter at @jimstergios, or visit Pioneer's website.
A new law expanding virtual schools?
Back in January 2010, there was a lot of hope that the charter school expansions associated with the new law would work out well. The data on that is largely tremendous. The new charters are faring very well, thank you.
There were other elements in the law including the creation of statewide âvirtual schools,â schools where students could do much of their coursework online. That promise was not kept, as the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education put into place what were onerous regulations that dissuaded all but the Superintendent of Greenfield Schools from attempting to create such an entity.
Susan Patrick, perhaps one of the most informed policymakers on virtual education, noted at a recent event in Massachusetts that the Department Education actually took her original advice on best practices in how to regulate online learning (no geographic restrictions, no enrollment caps, and pay for successful course completion, etc.) and did the exact opposite. (Check out from 22:00 to 24:30.)
In many states throughout the country, virtual or digital schools are serving ever growing numbers of students. During this public debate, my organization has urged everyone to look at Floridaâs Virtual School, even inviting FLVSâs founder, Julie Young, to speak with district and state policymakers.
This past week, the Senate gave a second chance to digital learning in Massachusetts, passing a bill that expands the presence of virtual schools statewide, so that by 2020 the Board of Education could license up to 10 of such schools.
The bill, which originated in and was passed by the House as H4274 (no online summary available), gives emphasis and preference to those schools that will serve students with distinct medical issues, that have dropped out, travel for the arts or sports, fear bullying, and are high-performing students.
Starting in 2013, the Board of Education will be able to grant three virtual schools from 2013-2016, the same number from 2016-2019, and up to four in the 2019-2020 cycle. Again, no more than 10 can be created. Applicants for licensure can include school districts, charter schools, teachers, and parents â and the existing virtual school in Greenfield is guaranteed one of the licenses. The Senate bill establishing 37 elements necessary in any application, but then sets the following parameters:
- The number of students attending virtual schools full-time will not exceed 2 percent (currently, about 19,000 students) of the statewide student population
- Local school committees can restrict local enrollment if more than 1 percent of its students attend virtual schools (for a point of reference, in Boston around 550 students, in Chelsea 60, in Lawrence 130).
- At least 5 percent of students have to come from the district within which the virtual school is formed.
The bill also does away with âseat timeâ requirements â that is, the minimum number of hours that a student must spend physically at school. It places the same curricular mandates and requirements for standardized testing as are present in all Massachusetts public schools.
As argued before (here, here, and here), I am a big supporter of lots of choices for parents. So in principle this is a good bill. I also appreciate the fact that the licenses will be given out for period of three to five years with a accountability review based upon achieving promised improvements in student achievement and other important metrics.
In section (m) there are requirements that the school submit an annual report that includes
- a âdiscussion of progress made towardâ stated goals;
- âa list of the programs and courses offered;â
- âa description and number of the students enrolled,â applied and not admitted;
- âa [detailed] financial statement)â;
Section (m) requires âinformation regarding, and a discussion of,â
- student attendance and participation;
- student-teacher interaction;
- student performance;
And, finally a discussion of
- courses completed and not completed;
- the creation of âa community for studentsâ;
- activities âto engage students and how students participatedâ;
- parental involvement;
- âthe schoolâs outreach and recruitment effortsâ.
Thatâs a lot of discussions and descriptions, and for the most part useful for the Department of Education as it seeks to learn about what is working and may work in the future. The bill also requires the Department will then produce its own report based on MCAS and other metrics, which it will provide back to the school and the public.
What is missing from all of this are two things Iâve noted in previous posts on virtual learning, drawing from the experiences in other states. First the negative, then the positive experiences.
As the New York Timesâ Stephanie Saul made clear in her 2011 piece on virtual schools, Pennsylvania was seeing over 50 percent of its virtual students withdraw from the courses they were taking. The problem was solvable â and it required little more a proper auditing of teachers and students together with a change in the payment system so that payments followed the child, but were only made after the student had successfully completed a course.
Such a change would have all kinds of virtues, including creating incentives for the virtual school to seek out students who were good fits for online courses â not just warm bodies that would sign up for a course.
Which is where the positive experience of the Florida Virtual School comes in. Established in 1997, during the administration of then-Governor Lawton Chiles, FLVS started due to a $200,000 grant from the state department of education and support from the Alachua School District and the Orange School District.
As I noted in a previous RTS post, the Florida Virtual School, a Better Government Competition winner, is the example we should be looking at:
FLVS is not a simple distance learning option, with correspondence-style courses and videoconferencing, as you can find in rural western US states, Alaska and parts of Canada. FLVS is a completely internet-based model that provides students in rural as well urban settings everything from AP classes, summer intensive work and remedial support to a full-fledged K-12 curriculum. FLVS is a statewide school system funded on a âpay for performanceâ basis. Rather than focusing on âseat time,â it aims for studentsâ mastery of their subjects.
The numbers show that it is working. FLVSâ course completion rate has consistently remained above 80%, with 80,000 students completing 100,000 course enrollments (each enrollment equivalent to one semesterâs work). These students range in demographics and in terms of needsâfrom emotionally and physically handicapped students to the academically advanced. Minorities comprise about one third of FLVSâs population, exceeding the national online learning participation rate among minorities by about 20%. Among AP students, minority participation was at 39% in 2006-2007. You can see some FLVS student activities here.
Susan Patrickâs iNACOL notes that FLVS has
pushed next generation learning forward with a combination of competency-based learning and performance-based funding. With open enrollment, students can register and begin online courses any day of the year⦠Funding is provided when students successfully complete courses. Every student in Florida has access to the 115 online courses offered by the Florida Virtual School, providing licensed educators who are skilled in online instruction.
This performance-based funding model has required FLVS to develop sophisticated data systems that monitor student progress in detail. Data was integrated between the instructional and administrative information systems used in the school. Specifically, the learning management system for the online course data was integrated with the student information system for a standards-based learning model for monitoring progress in real time.
Florida Tax Watch reported that the performance-based model of Florida Virtual School was a better return on taxpayer dollarsâserving a higher percentage of under-served students, while producing better results in student learning outcomesâthan traditional models.
So, where does this bill come out on funding? Well, as you might expect, we have got our work cut out to ensure that we are putting the right incentives into place. The bill notes in section (k) that
The amount of tuition per pupil a school district shall pay for its student or students who enroll in a commonwealth virtual school shall be the school choice tuition amount.
The school choice tuition rate referred to in the Senate bill is 75 percent of any schoolâs âoperating cost per full-time equivalent pupil for the receiving school district.â The tuition rate is capped at $5,000. As Patrick notes in the video at top (again the same segment, 22:00 to 24:30), it is far better to have the funding follow the child on a per course basis, with the check being cut only when the student successfully completes the course.
But, alas, we will still be cutting checks among districts.
As a P.S., the final section of the Senate bill makes an explicit warning:
Upon release of the proposed regulations, the board shall file a copy thereof with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate who shall forward the regulations to the joint committee on education. Within 30 days of the filing, the committee may hold a public hearing and issue a report on the regulations and file the report with the board.Thatâs a bunch of words that admonish the Commissioner of Education not to tie this law up with red tape. Well said, Senators.
Crossposted at Pioneer's blog. Follow me on twitter at @jimstergios, or visit Pioneer's website.
The perfect storm facing Jewish Day Schools
Think of school choice in Massachusetts and the first thoughts that come to mind are charter schools in the public realm, possibly the Bay State's many high-end and mainly historic independent schools, or Catholic schools in urban and suburban areas across the Commonwealth.
The fact is that there is a lot of choice in Massachusetts. Consider the 3,300 kids in METCO interdistrict programs in Boston and, to a lesser extent, in Springfield; kids in other interdistrict choice programs around the state; and vocational-technical schools around the state.
If Catholic schools have seen declining enrollments, the waiting lists for charter public schools and METCO programs are in the tens of thousands. With the impressive work of the stateâs regional voc-tech schools, they now have thousands of kids on their waiting lists as well.
Of course, for independent schools affordability is a huge barrier to entry. That is true not only of the $25,000-plus annual tuition locations, which often focus part of their recruitment strategies on providing scholarship opportunities; it is also true for Catholic schools and Jewish Day Schools (JDS).
With 3,000 students enrolled in Massachusettsâ 19 Jewish day schools (which represent Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and pluralist cultures), we are talking about a set of schools that serve about as many kids as are enrolled in METCO. Except for seven historic schools (Yeshiva Academy in Worcester, the Lubavitcher Yeshiva and the Heritage Academies in Longmeadow, New England Hebrew Academy and the Maimonides in Brookline, the Solomon Schechter Day School in Newton, and Cohen Hillel Academy in Marblehead), the JDS are of relatively recent vintage having been established since the 1970s.
A recent study entitled "And You Shall Teach Them Diligently": The History and Status of Jewish Day Schools in Massachusetts provides important historical and pedagogical analysis of JDS. (The title is drawn from an exhortation in Deuteronomy 6:7.) The author of the paper, Jason Bedrick, then focuses on enrollment declines in the day schools, which have mirrored the decreases seen in the public system over the past decade, though there has been some growth in Orthodox âChabad-affiliated K-8 schools and high schools of all affiliations.â The result is that
Declining enrollment in recent years has left Massachusettsâ Jewish day schools with significant excess capacity. Capacity utilization ranges from below 49 percent to 100 percent, with only one school at either extreme and most schools operating at between 70 percent and 99 percent. More than half of the schools are operating at less than 90 percent capacity while only one-fifth are operating at less than 70 percent capacity.
What is leading to the declines in JDS is different from the demographic patterns we see in the overall public system. Part of it is cost, with âthe range of total per student costs at the Jewish day schools [ed. note: including infrastructure costs] is similar to the range of current per pupil expenditures at nearby public schools [ed. note: excluding infrastructure costs].â
Citing Professor Jonathan Sarna of Brandeis University, Bedrick notes that
the day schools are currently facing a âperfect stormâ of a growing number of families requiring financial aid combined with a shrinking philanthropic base of support. This is making it difficult for Jewish day schools to fulfill their longstanding tradition of not turning away students due to lack of ability to payâ¦
Marc Baker of Gann Academy says that the need for financial aid since 2008 is âthrough the roof.â Gann is âcloser to Catholic schools than other independent schoolsâ in that the socio-economic status of most students is âright in the middle, on the brink of not being able to afford it.â This is true of many Jewish day schools in Massachusetts, particularly, though not exclusively, the Orthodox schools. âWe donât have a wealthy clientele here,â explains Esther Ciment, principal at New England Hebrew Academy, âThere are multiple families with five or six kids in the school. Itâs absolutely impossible for them to pay full tuition or even half tuition, so we give out a lot of scholarships. Filling that void is a struggle all the time.â
The latest demographic survey of the Jewish community in the Greater Boston area found that 27 percent of families earn less than $50,000 annually with 15 percent earning less than $35,000.
How should we address the âperfect stormâ of increasing need for financial aid and decreasing philanthropic support? Acknowledging the two state constitutional barriers to providing public tax dollars for private school use, which sadly stem from the Know-Nothing bigotry of the 1850s and 1860s, Bedrick suggests an education tax credit program to ensure that children have the widest possible access to the schools their parents choose for them. There is a clear need, especially for low-income families; and tax credits have been targeted in New Hampshire and Rhode Island to address those specific needs.
Bedrick suggests looking at these programs in neighboring states to see how we might structure such a program here, suggesting that the education tax credits could be granted to philanthropies or philanthropists contributing to state-approved, non-profit scholarship organizations. The organizations would then grant scholarships to qualifying families.
Studies indicate that reductions in revenue from the tax credits are generally less than the corresponding reductions in education spending as a result of students taking advantage of the programs. More than 100,000 students in 10 states â including Rhode Island and New Hampshire âare currently educated under tax credit programs.
You can see a paper on Rhode Island's tax credit strategy here. See Bedrick describe the study below.
Crossposted at Pioneer's blog. Follow me on twitter at @jimstergios, or visit Pioneer's website.


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This exchange program is administered by the University of Maine – Farmington. Students work with the UMaine Office of International Programs to prepare for this experience.
The Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), founded in 1613, is the oldest Argentine university and one of the most prestigious in Latin America. The university's colonial building complex located in downtown Córdoba has been declared a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO. UNC's PECLA program is one of the best and most comprehensive programs in Spanish as a Second Language and Latin American Culture in Latin America, which has led to an established history of working with some of the leading American and other international universities in Latin American Studies.
Argentina is an enormous country, the eighth largest in the world and the second largest in South America. And a country this large has an incredibly diverse terrain and climate: climates range from tropical in the north to sub-Antarctic in the south. The magnificent Andes mountain range with its breathtaking, pristine scenery contrasts dramatically with the urban frenzy of Buenos Aires, one of the world's largest and most cosmopolitan cities.
Córdoba is the city with everything. An important university center for centuries, Córdoba is known as "La Docta" (the Learned or Lettered City), for the influence that both its very large student population (approximately 110,000) and its prestigious academic community have exercised on its cultural life. Far from the urban complications of Argentina's largest city, Buenos Aires, many of the recreational activities in the city of Córdoba are oriented toward the college-age population, with various opportunities to combine culture, sports, outdoors and night life. The city's layout and youthful atmosphere make it very easy for students even with limited exposure to the Spanish language to enjoy the rich colonial setting of one of UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage Sites.
Marisela Funes, Assistant Professor of Spanish at the University of Maine Farmington, coordinates this program.
This program is suitable for students with a major, minor or concentration in Spanish. It offers intensive Spanish language at all levels. Advanced Spanish speakers have the option of enrolling directly in UNC courses with Argentinean students.
Minimum overall GPA of 2.5
Fall semester ONLY – early July through early December.
All accepted students will take a total of 16 credit hours. Students will gain approval of all courses with their advisor and home college before going to Argentina. Courses will include: one 4-week intensive Spanish course at the beginning of the program (5 cr.); three semester courses (9 cr.); and one journal course (2 cr.).
Accepted students will take a language proficiency exam in order to be placed at the appropriate level of language courses. Advanced Spanish speakers have the option of enrolling directly in UNC courses with Argentinean students.
The final transcript will be issued by the University of Maine – Farmington. All credits and grades are based on the UMF system.
Program participants will stay with host families, the best way to experience Argentine language and culture. Host families will meet students at the airport and provide two daily meals and laundry service.
The University of Maine at Farmington, which administers this exchange program, handles all arrangements for group travel on regularly scheduled flights, Boston-Córdoba. Students are responsible for their travel to and from Boston.
Dr. Marisela Funes, Assistant Professor of Spanish, UMF: firstname.lastname@example.com
Lynne Eustis, Assistant Director, International and Exchange Programs, UMF: email@example.com
Estimated budget for a semester in Argentina
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subset: commoncrawl


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Campus Tours
We can't wait to show you around...
The Welcome Center offers group and individual tours for potential students during fall, winter, spring and summer quarters. All tours begin at the Welcome Center.
PLEASE NOTE: There are no tours until September 20th. If you need help finding your classes, there will be campus guides through out campus the first two days of the quarter.
Tour Schedule for Fall Quarter (Sept. 20 - Dec. 9):
Mondays at 2 p.m.
Wednesdays at 12 p.m. (noon)
Fridays at 10 a.m.


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UCC-Water recently participated in a joint UNESCO/UNEP fact-finding mission on water management to Kabul.
More than twenty years of war and destruction - and not least two recent years of severe drought – has clearly emphasized the huge needs for rehabilitation of the water resources sector in Afghanistan. Many water infrastructure facilities are destroyed or damaged while the remaining are under tremendous pressure from thousands of returning refugees. Under such conditions, efficient water management becomes even more necessary, and this has been clearly acknowledged by the Afghan Government. The Government is establishing a National Water Policy Commission to outline the future management framework and important donors like EC, ADB and USAID are expressing their willingness to support these efforts.
Through meetings with key ministries, international organizations and other stakeholders, it was clearly stated that there is a huge need for capacity building support to the water management sector. But also that the staggering needs for support calls for a comprehensive and coordinated effort by both UNESCO and UNEP in association with other UN agencies. Specific ministry departments was recommended to be assisted by a specific UN partner organization, while cross-cutting issues such as water sector capacity building and environmental management could be handled by UNESCO and UNEP respectively.
The mission recommended that UNESCO and UNEP, in coordination with UNICEF and FAO, jointly consider how such a support program could be promoted and implemented.
Water utilities, Industrial production and technology, Product safety and environment, Rivers and reservoirs, Water resources and land use management, Ecology and aquaculture, Coastal and estuarine engineering, Marine infrastructure and energy
MIKE by DHI, MIKE CUSTOMISED by DHI
Copyright DHI © 2013 All rights reserved


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|The Amish Cook shares recipe for ranch snack mix
By Lovina Eicher
The last rolls came out of the oven around 8 or 9 p.m. So I had to wait to frost them until they were cooled off enough. After the frosting was set enough I put them in Ziploc bags.
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Laura L. Hunt
Xavier Siemens, UWM 414-229-6439 firstname.lastname@example.com.
Kathy Svitil ,Caltech 626-395-8022 email@example.com
Observations from four gravitational wave detectors, three in the U.S. and one in Europe, have allowed scientists to narrow down the possibilities of how the universe looked in its earliest moments.
A paper published in the journal Nature on August 20 reports new analysis of measurements by the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) Scientific Collaboration, which includes several scientists from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM).
In particular, Xavier Siemens, UWM assistant professor of physics, and Warren Anderson, associate scientist in UWM's Center for Gravitation and Cosmology, made significant contributions.
The group's work has shown how the search for elusive gravitational waves with the ultra-sensitive detector facilities has resulted in new information about the early universe. Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of space-time that are produced when massive objects in space move violently. The waves hold secrets about the events that created them and the nature of gravity which cannot be obtained with conventional astronomical tools.
The insight from LIGO data today is a hint of what is to come.
The Big Bang is believed to have created a flood of gravitational waves. These waves still fill the universe today as background "noise," similar to random ripples on a pond on a windy day.
"With gravitational waves, we'll 'see' the universe when it was much younger – and hotter," says Siemens.
"Gravitational waves are the only way to directly probe the universe at the moment of its birth; they're absolutely unique in that regard," says David Reitze, a professor of physics at the University of Florida and spokesman for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. Measurements taken between 2005 and 2007 by the detector facilities have set limits on the amount of gravitational waves that could have come from the Big Bang in the gravitational-wave frequency band that LIGO can observe.
Since no waves from the Big Bang have been found yet, says Siemens, LIGO scientists can rule out certain scenarios.
"On the basis of this work, we can eliminate some of the models because at some level, we would have found a signal [indicating gravitational waves] for those to be viable," he says.
The article in Nature also constrains models of cosmic strings, objects that are proposed to have been left over from the beginning of the universe and subsequently stretched to enormous lengths by the universe's expansion. "Bursts from cosmic string loops are an example of the kind of events that contribute to the background," says Siemens. "They're massive and they emit a lot of gravitational waves. My part was to interpret the results from LIGO in terms of constraints on cosmic string models."
Anderson served as chair of the review committee for the LIGO Collaboration's "Stochastic Background Working Group."
Several scientific papers are cited in the Nature article, including two that were authored by Siemens; Jolien Creighton, UWM associate professor of physics; and Vuk Mandic, assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. One of those papers, published in the journal Physical Review Letters, laid out the procedure for how gravitational-wave analysis results are used to constrain cosmic string models.
The insight from LIGO data today is a hint of what is to come, says Mandic.
Once it goes online in 2014, the upgraded Advanced LIGO, which will use the infrastructure of the LIGO observatories, will allow scientists to detect cataclysmic events such as black-hole and neutron-star collisions at 10-times-greater distances.
The LIGO project, which is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), was designed and is operated by Caltech and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Research is carried out by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, a group of 700 scientists at universities around the United States and in 11 foreign countries.
The LIGO Scientific Collaboration interferometer network includes the LIGO interferometers and the GEO600 interferometer, near Hannover, Germany, and designed and operated by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, along with partners in the United Kingdom funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
The Virgo Collaboration designed and constructed the 3 km long Virgo interferometer located in Cascina, Italy, funded by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France) and by the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (Italy). The Virgo Collaboration consists of 200 scientists from five Europe countries and operates the Virgo detector.


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BENDIGONIANS were hot under the collar again on Thursday as the town sweltered through another hot day.
While the mercury did not reach the record 43.8 degrees we saw on Tuesday there was little relief for residents as temperatures reached a balmy 42.7 degrees at 4.03pm.
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Michael Efron said the hottest place in Victoria was Walpeup which hit 44.4 degrees at 3.11pm.
Mr Efron said residents could expect another hot day on Friday with maximum temperatures in the mid-forties with a top in Bendigo of 43 degrees.
But there is good news.
A cool change is expected to sweep in late Friday evening and the next three days are going to be cooler with temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s.
It will come as a relief to many residents who have been struggling with the high temperatures.
The number of people affected by the heat continues to grow with 243 people treated for heat exhaustion across Victoria in the past three days.
The number of heat exhaustion cases increased eight-fold since Monday with Ambulance Victoria paramedics attending 80 cases of heat exhaustion or heatstroke across the state Thursday, as well as 28 cases of cardiac arrest and six cases of children locked in cars.
Ambulance Victoria is urging people with minor medical complaints to find other options, rather than calling triple-0 as the heatwave continues to take hold.
Emergency management manager Paul Holman said the community could play a part to help ease the pressure.
"People should only ever call triple-0 if they have a medical emergency," he said.
"That's even more important during the heatwave where the number of calls to ambulance increased 20 per cent over the last three days.
"Think about their situation before you call for an ambulance.
"One of the triple zero phone calls we received this week was from someone whose son had a sore throat.
"If you are suffering chest pain or any other serious medical condition, then certainly call triple-0. However if it is something less urgent then just think about whether a doctor, nurse on call, a relative or some other service is more appropriate."


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An hour of life with Glen Jones. Talk about things that need talking about. Rants about things that could use a good rant. Conversation with folks worth conversing with.
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April 25, 2005: Sylvain Sylvain of The New York Dolls returns to Jonesville to discuss the band's career and reunion tour as well as his life and times in Rock & Roll.
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Well guys this was the offense we have been waiting for all year, yes even without AP. I think this team could win out believe it or not and go 6-9-1, leaving us with a pick around the 7-10 range. You have both Ponder and Cassels' contracts up after next season leaving no reason to bring either back unless in a backup role. I think we will draft a QB that will sit a year and be in contention to start in 2015 prolly a Jimmy Garapolo, Aaron Murray or Zach Mettenberger who can learn behind a pair of veterans.
I hate signing FA's unless its for a reasonable amount, you don't build your team through FA you bring in role players to provide leadership and stability On to the draft my favorite time of the year my mock drafts change every week or so and it has a little bit this week as well
1st- Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame, this pick makes sense here, Guion and Evans are good rotational players and we need a dependable starter in this slot. He is a block eater and will free up and allow the DE's and LB's to get to the QB and was the main cog in that Notre Dame front 7 that took them to the NT in 2012
2nd Loucheiz Purifoy, CB, Florida, The defense upgrade continues this is a need on this team considering Cook will not be back. Purifoy excels in press and man coverage and would be a great 1,2 punch with him and Rhodes
3rd L'Damian Washington, WR, Missouri, IMO Simpson will be gone next year and Washington is a rare player with size and speed. He reminds me of a Miles Austin who is Physical at the LOS and can then burn you for the big game
3rd D'anthony Thomas, RB/WR, Oregon I said it earlier this week a match up nightmare. You could line Thomas up everywhere on the field in a role like a Darren Sproles or Danny Woodhead. He excels in PR/KR and would be a 3rd down change of pace RB
4th Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia- I have watch Murray the last 4 years he has been at Georgia and got to watch him in the SEC title last year against Alabama, and this year against Florida. Yes he is injured which is why we get him this late, he can make all the throws and has all the leadership qualities you look for in a QB.
5th Eddie Lackey, OLB, Baylor - Lackey last year had 102 tackles and this year he is backing it up with 97 will add a run/pass LB opposite of Chad Greenway
6th BPA
7th BPA
Lets hear some thoughts


text:
Add a little sophistication to any room with the syrah end table with frosted glass in espresso by Winsome Wood. The dark finish of this square beechwood end table is accented with a two-pane frosted glass insert that adds an understated but attractive look to any room. Its tapered legs support a shelf near its base that can be used to store any assortment of items or knick-knacks typical to the room it's placed in. Its contemporary styling matches perfectly with the syrah coffee table or syrah console table found elsewhere on this site. This very attractive end piece is available for a low price. The syrah end table is easy to assemble.
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text: 17 Dec 2012 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS For 12 days, CR collaborators and editors are sharing what they're giving (and hoping to get), and where they are spending this holiday season. On day eight, hairstylist Akki Shirakawa weighs in. "I'm giving my wife Globe-Trotter travel luggage. It's perfect because we are going to hot springs in Japan for the holiday!" Above: Globe-Trotter Centenary Black & Black 26" suitcase, £890, at globetrotter1897.com. Photography courtesy Globe-Trotter Facebook Twitter Pintrest


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Freebie flash! Noir teddy bears, a clairvoyant bassett hound, and a megachurch…oh my!
As usual, I don't vouch for these books, and they come from a company that is not (to my knowledge) blocking text-to-speech. As promotional titles, they may not be free for long.
My Name Is Russell Fink
by Michael Snyder
Published by Zondervan (a faith-based publisher)
This one looks interesting. It would be 368 pages in paper, so that's a full novel. It claims to have a "postmodern" style, similar to Nick Hornby. There's a mystery and it seems like it might be pretty wild.
by Tim Davys
Published by HarperCollins
Woo-hoo! I'm happy to see one that isn't published by Zondervan…not that there's anything wrong with that, but I do like variety.
So, apparently, this one has to deal with living stuffed animals…as in toys. It's also noir…I guess maybe like Roger Rabbit with a makeover by Steiff? It's translated, and seems to be pretty well known. I'm looking forward to this one!
The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher: A Novel
by Rob Stennett
Published by Zondervan
This one is supposed to be a satire. 23 5-star ratings on Amazon (out of 28 total), that's a pretty good sign.
This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.


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Magnesium is one of the
most abundant minerals in soft tissues and is a vital catalyst in enzyme
activity, especially the activity of those enzymes involved in energy
production. Magnesium functions in the conversion of carbohydrates, protein, and
fats to energy. It also plays a role in the synthesis of the genetic material
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Deficiencies of this mineral may interfere with the transmission of nerve and
muscle impulses, causing irritability and nervousness.
Supplement Facts
Servings Size: Three (3) Capsules
Servings Per Container: 100
Amount Per
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*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
†Daily Value not established.
Other Ingredients:
Microcrystalline Cellulose (Plant Fiber), Rice Flour, Magnesium Stearate,
and Silica.


text:
When most companies say 'entry-level board', what they really mean is 'crappy board made with cheap materials.' That is not the case with the Nitro Prime Edge Snowboard. It has a flat profile, a lightweight yet strong core, and a medium flex that makes it versatile all-mountain machine that's fun to ride for everyone from beginners to seasoned veterans on tight budgets.
The Zero Camber profile is flat for a stable and forgiving feel that still retains much of the pop and edge hold as a cambered board, and biax fiberglass provides a buttery flex for getting loose on jibs. The lightweight Powercore core is made with poplar for its lightweight strength and snappy feel. An extruded base makes repairs easy, which is good because you're most likely going to be putting a lot of dents into this thing.
- Flat profile
- Twin shape
- Biax fiberglass
- Radial sidecut
- Powercore poplar core
- Hi-Def FH extruded base


text:
While ESPN has not yet stopped trying to continue the story regarding the Manziel Hei$man scandal, it has changed its tack and their approach to their coverage of our football team and QB.
In the latest from ESPN, via their ScoreCenter iPhone App notification, they are going so far as to actually help out Texas A&M's Football team by proving Manziel's innocence and clearing his good name with proof! The Proof is in the Parody...
I think what I like the most is that they are not directly quoting Johnny, not quoting a "source", nor even someone directly but they are quoting another news outlet and once again, not coming up with their own leads nor verifying their own information.
/end of sarcasm
I do not have the skills of CuppyCup but I can leave you with this mental image of ESPN:
Something to leave you with: Not that the conspiracy theorists need more ammo, but click on the pictures above and take a look at the first few links.


text:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – World Bank President Robert Zoellick on Tuesday unveiled $6 billion in funding to help Tunisia and Egypt address budget and reserve shortfalls this year and next, following popular uprisings that ended years of dictatorships but which have caused economic stress. Zoellick said a Group of Eight meeting…
Read More
By TBogg
By Amanda Marcotte
By Katie Halper
By Reuters
Raw Story is a progressive news site that focuses on stories often ignored in the mainstream media. While giving coverage to the big stories of the day, we also bring our readers' attention to policy, politics, legal and human rights stories that get ignored in an infotainment culture driven solely by pageviews.
Founded in 2004, Raw Story reaches 9 million unique readers per month and serves more than 30 million pageviews.
Copyright © 2004-2013 Raw Story Media, Inc. All rights reserved.


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The aspirations of this likeable riverside wine bar are finally being met. Once something of a drinking den, it has remodelled itself as a suave 'wine lounge & events venue', & a smarter, less rowdy crowd now comes. More than 40 wines are offered by the glass in tip-top condition, from an appealing 100-strong list – although fans of beers, lagers & cocktails aren't short-changed. Food has been kept simple but classy: share a baked Camembert or a plate of antipasti, or choose simple, well-cooked mains (langoustine with garlic butter & chips, spinach & ricotta ravioli with sage butter). Desserts are dull, but the cheeseboard is a treat. The location is ideal if you want to relax & watch the river traffic, & quiet enough to have a conversation without shouting.
Are you the restaurant owner? Click here for Links & Logos
Travel to Star & Garter in style with London's leading minicab firm Addison Lee.Get a quote »


text:
A day after Democrats released polling numbers indicating congressional challenger Raul Ruiz is running close behind incumbent Rep. Mary Bono Mack, the party's national campaign committee said it was launching a new attack ad campaign against the Palm Springs Republican.
"Some politicians are really cut out for Washington," an announcer says at the beginning of the new 30-second spot to begin airing Friday, Sept. 21. "And the way she looks after special interests, politician Mary Bono Mack fits right in."
The ad reflects the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's first independent expenditure for a television ad in the race for California's 36th Congressional District, according to a news release issued by the committee.
The committee shelled out $126,000 to air the spot through Oct 1.
Democrats, who have unsuccessfully targeted Bono Mack in the past few election cycles, have said for months that Ruiz, an emergency room doctor from the Coachella Valley, represents their best shot yet at unseating the eight-term lawmaker.
This week's poll, conducted by the liberal-leaning Democracy For America, showed Ruiz trailing Bono Mack by a margin of 47 percent to 44 percent.
The National Republican Congressional Committee responded, saying their internal polling data puts Bono Mack roughly ahead 56 percent to 35 percent, though they have yet to release details of their survey.
Follow Ben Goad on Twitter: @ben_goad


text:
Cook County'scash-strapped public health and hospital system hopes to save an estimated $99million thanks to more than 1,000 federal Medicaid waivers that were announcedon Friday.
The waivers will helpthe health system enroll more than 115,000 uninsured patients into the federalhealth program.
County BoardPresident Toni Preckwinkle said she has worked with state and federal lawmakersto obtain the waivers.
"I am so pleased tosee this result after many months of hard work," Preckwinkle said in astatement. "Our health care system is vital to the community and we mustcontinue to ensure everyone in Cook County has access to quality medical care."
The waivers will onlybe accepted at county health facilities, but patients will be able to use themelsewhere after 2014, said county public health spokeswoman Marisa Kollias.Officials hope to keep the patients within the county health system after 2014.
Uninsured patientswho will be eligible for Medicaid in 2014 can get the waivers. They willreceive a "medical home" where they can obtain the routine and preventativemedical treatment, according to a county news release.
County officials havebeen working to find ways to drive down costs within the public health system,which counts two hospitals, an urgent care center and more than a dozenclinics.
While the county hadn'tsealed the deal until Friday, Preckwinkle was so confident the waivers wouldcome through she banked on them in her nearly $3 billion 2013 spending proposal— funding that largely helps run the health system as well as the courts andjail. The nearly $100 million will help as Preckwinkle works to erase aprojected $268 million shortfall next year.
205 N. Michigan AvenueGround FloorChicago, IL 60601Station Operator: (312) 565-5532Newsroom: (312)565-5533


text:
Police are investigating the theft of several expensive metal pieces from a construction site in Wormleysburg.
West Shore Regional police said that sometime between Friday afternoon and Monday morning, someone took six water tight manhole covers with frames, two manhole lids, along with pipe bends and water line valve boxes from the site at 360 Poplar Church Road.
The value of the stolen items is over $5,000, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the West Shore Regional Police Department at 717-238-9676.


text:
I love Evans' game and think he could emerge as a franchise centerpiece capable of playing point guard, shooting guard or small forward – basically whatever the Kings need. ...The promise of his rookie season was real. If things this season go as right as they should, Evans will be knocking on the top 25 a year from now.
We talk after games.
Evans top 10 plays
(Original NBA Photo by Rocky Widner/Getty Images) Flipper, you CAN'T GUARD ME! Flipper is ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED by Tyreke Evans. Clearly, Flipper was out of his element and had no business guarding Evans. ...and yes, I know this is a horrible Photoshop--it includes Magic players. But that's what you get when you have to 'work'.
Tyreke is not doing that great in these polls. Help him out SacTown!!
[Evans is] still overshadowed a bit by Jennings' scintillating start, but that performance looks to be a bit of an outlier based on unsustainable shooting numbers. Evans' play, in contrast, seems to be the real deal. He's a distant second in the hype war, but in this two-horse Rookie of the Year race, I have him ahead by a few lengths at the quarter pole.ESPN's John Hollinger on this season's potential ROY winners.
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- Product Information
Product Description
Light up your toasts for the holidays, for the bride and groom or for any special event with our fabulous 4.5 ounce glow champagne glasses. Perfect for your bar and to light your table at weddings, milestone birthdays, anniversary parties and of course New Year's Eve. Just bend and shake to activate the glow. Our yellow glowing champagne glasses are sold by the piece. Please order in increments of 1 piece.
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Announce School Events with Custom Banners!
There is always a lot going on at the start of the school year--tryouts, fundraisers, Homecoming, pep rallies, and much more. Announce these special events with customizable School Events Banners from Windy City Novelties!
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text:
It appears an electrical problem sparked a fire at Lebanon church that was built back in 1911.
Lebanon Fire Department Chief Chris Dowell said they would have a final determination on the fire on Tuesday.
The blaze broke out around 11 p.m. Saturday at the Lebanon Church of God on C.L. Manier Street.
Church member Chris Grooms said it's like dealing with the loss of a family member. Two children were supposed to be baptized at the church Sunday morning.
Fire Captain Thomas Pearson said it took about two hours to get the fire under control. When they arrived on scene there were flames coming out of the back of the church and heavy smoke.
Pearson said they had difficulty getting into the church because the flames were separated by different rooms.
Thankfully, nobody was hurt.
Church leaders will meet Tuesday to figure out what to do about future services.
Copyright WSMV 2012 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
SLIDESHOW: Lebanon church fire More>>


text:
Posted By: Dan Messineo
The Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha said they had to rescue a couple of dogs from parked cars during the record heat Tuesday. Officials said leaving your pet in a car during the summer weather can be fatal.
It's just the middle of May and Nebraska temperatures have already climbed to 100 degrees. Nebraska Humane Society officials said they've already received multiple calls of pets locked in scorching hot cars.
In a statement, Dr. Louise Murray from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said never leave animals alone in parked cars. "On a hot day, a parked car can become a furnace in no time-even with the windows open-which could lead to a fatal stroke," Murray said.
According to the National Weather Service, during an 80-degree day, after the sun beats down on a car for just 10 minutes, the interior temperature hits 99 degrees and from there it skyrockets. After an hour, a car turns into a death trap with temperatures reaching to 123 degrees.
The Nebraska Humane Society said Tuesday that they rescued dogs from cars with interior of temperatures of 120 degrees. Officials said the best way to protect your dog during the summer heat is to leave them inside at home when running errands.
Officials said if you see a pet locked in a hot car to call the Lincoln Animal Control Office at 402-441-7900.
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text:
With over 9,000 members, the Business Law Section is the largest section of the State Bar. This executive committee oversees:
The standing committees are actively involved in providing member services and educational activities as well as initiating, developing, and drafting California legislation, commenting upon state and federal legislation, and participating in regulatory reform in California.
The section:
Members of the executive committee:
Applications from the section's lawyer members who have actively participated in its standing committees are strongly encouraged.
Committee communications are conducted electronically and posted on the section's website; therefore, each member must have access to the internet and an e-mail address to receive and review committee meeting notices, agendas, reports, etc. Lawyers throughout California who meet these requirements and who can make the time commitment are encouraged to apply.
Deadline for 2014 applications: Feb. 3, 2014
2014-15 terms begin: Conclusion of 2014 State Bar Annual Meeting (Sept. 14, 2014)


text:
Court unawares
14 February 2005
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"There's no place for witness training in our country. We don't do it. It's unlawful," Judge Roger Sanders told a Crown Court jury last year. The Appeal judges this month sent shockwaves through a burgeoning satellite industry when they backed Judge Sanders' unambiguous assertion of the law. They went on to say that there was a "dramatic" distinction between witness training or coaching, which is absolutely not allowed, and witness familiarisation, which is allowed, and indeed encouraged, when it rejected an appeal by two asylum seekers involved in the notorious Yarl's Wood detention centre riot. They had argued unsuccessfully that unlawful pre-trial "coaching" of prosecution witnesses had led to their wrongful conviction.
Just how clear that dramatic distinction is in practice remains a moot issue and will no doubt be argued back and forth between litigators and their trainers. There is also considerable confusion over the extent to which new Court of Appeal guidelines apply to civil litigation, where witness preparation is rife among the City firms.
But first to clarify what the courts do not want to be seeing anymore. The Appeal judges published the following case study, which was drafted for the Group 4 staff that run Yarl's Wood. "Butlins Detention Centre for Asylum Seekers opened in January 2001. The centre is designed to hold up to 200 asylum seekers at a time, including women and children. There is a 15ft-high fence topped by barbed wire around the centre, CCTV cameras, regular patrols by security officers and the detainees are unable to move around the site except under guard. The centre is run by Group 4. Detainees have alleged that the security staff are rude, racist and intimidating."
Training company Bond Solon was employed by Group 4 - which was running the £100m flagship immigration detention centre in Bedfordshire - to advise potential witnesses among its staff in the wake of the February 2002 riot, which reduced half the complex to smoking rubble. The private security company had instructed Norton Rose. In a striking show of agreement, both prosecution and defence agreed that the training offered by Bond Solon was "wholly inappropriate and improper".
Mark Solon, the solicitor-director of Bond Solon, insists that his training was neither. "We decided not to use the case study and I don't know why it ever came out [at trial]," he says. Solon adds that that there was no coaching "whatsoever on the facts, or anything relating to the facts".
He continues: "The training was entirely appropriate and proper and this is endorsed by the Court of Appeal decision, which dismissed the appeal on the basis that there had been no coaching on the facts of the case full stop."
Just to complicate matters, no record of the training programme, or the training of a particular individual, or the identity of the trainer, was available at the trial.
The rather ambiguous role that the Bond Solon training exercise played did not stop Lord Justice Judge, sitting with Mrs Justice Dobbs and Sir Michael Wright, applying their minds to the subject of witness training.
Penny Cooper, director of continuing professional development at the Inns of Court School of Law, was "shocked" by the nature of the case study. "It's a very stark example of what you shouldn't do in witness preparation," she says. Cooper used to work at Bond Solon before joining the Inns. "I found it very surprising that someone would actually draft a case study based on the facts of the case," she continues. "As far as I'm concerned, it's widely known among people that do the preparation that you can't do that." She adds that she hopes "the baby doesn't get thrown out with the bath water" and firms understand that there is still a role of witness familiarisation.
Judge LJ restated the well-established principles that the witness should give their evidence "so far as is practicable, uninfluenced by what anyone else has said, whether in formal discussions or informal conversations". Risk was "inherent" in witness training, he argued. However, familiarising witnesses "with the layout of the court, the likely sequence of events when the witness is giving evidence and a balanced appraisal of the different responsibilities of the various participants" was a different matter. "Indeed, such arrangements… are generally to be welcomed," he added.
While the present case concerned a criminal appeal, Stefan Paciorek, a partner in the dispute resolution and litigation group at Pinsent Masons, believes witness training in the civil courts is "an accident waiting to happen". Whereas US lawyers have no worries about coaching their witnesses, he warns that the practice needs to be adopted with great caution on this side of the Atlantic. "I think that a trial is going to happen sooner or later where counsel on one side is going to be asked whether the witnesses were prepared and how they were prepared, and that's going to open a whole list of questions," he says. "A witness of fact is there to tell the truth, and what the court is keen to ensure is that that matter has not been tampered with in any way. The difficulty we have now is we have a very advanced civil litigation market in London - there are experienced practitioners who obviously want to ensure witnesses are ready to go into the box and there are the professional organisations like Bond Solon - but there isn't the guidance on a professional level."
Civil litigators are already taking notice of this month's ruling. "The critical feature here is that training can't be arranged in the context or relating to a forthcoming trial," says Matthew Saunders, a litigation partner at DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary. "If that applies in civil proceedings - and I can't see why it wouldn't - it means that the only basis upon which training can be conducted is as part of a general educational training exercise." Saunders is concerned that the Appeal judgment leaves trainers little room to add anything meaningful to the process.
Solon believes that "only about 1 per cent" of Bond Solon's turnover is concerned with preparing witnesses for criminal trials. He points out that it train "tens of thousands of police officers, customs officers and investigators every year" as part of career development. The distinction is between proactive and reactive witness preparation, he says. "Reactive training is where there is a trial coming up and witnesses have concerns about giving evidence in court. The Court of Appeal has made it absolutely clear that there are no problems with familiarising witnesses with the court layout etc; the only issue is whether witnesses can be given the experience of being cross-examined prior to a trial. The Court of Appeal has reiterated the longstanding view that there can be no witness coaching, which we entirely support." Solon believes it is appropriate for witnesses to have some sort of cross-examination, but says "it must have nothing to do with the facts of the case".


text:
Stockdale lifts Polk over Avery in thriller
Wed. February 06, 2013 at 10:39 p.m. | By Dean Hensley
COLUMBUS — With Avery County holding a 50-49 lead with seven seconds left Wednesday night at Polk County, the Wolverines still had confidence they could pull out the victory.
The play was simple: freshman Jamal Tanner would drive the lane and put up a shot if he had a good look, and all the while senior big man Ben Stockdale would be the trailer.
Tanner did get a good look, put up a shot with two seconds left, and it went off the back of the rim. Stockdale was there. He put up a quick high-arching shot that nicked the top of the backboard and fell in at the buzzer, giving Polk a thrilling 51-50 win.
"It was a play that Coach (Josh McEntire) drew up, where I would be trailing on the play in case Jamal's shot didn't drop. I've never been in that type of situation before," Stockdale said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime moment."
McEntire said that although Stockdale gives up some height inside, he makes up for it with heart. "He actually took the ball out on the play, so he ran the length of the court and still got it in at the buzzer. He's our senior leader, our team captain. He always gives 100 percent," McEntire said.
Stockdale finished with 14 points, scoring just the one bucket in the fourth period. Sequan Miller finished with 13 and was the only other Polk player in double figures.
The Wolverines (10-12, 6-6 WHC) travel to Owen on Friday. The winner of that game will earn the final 2-A seed from the Western Highlands Conference in the playoffs.
In the girls opener, the Lady Wolverines almost scored a huge upset win over Avery and even led the Lady Vikings at the break by a 21-20 score. But Avery started hitting its 3s in the second half, going on a 25-14 tear in the final period to win 55-42.
Kelsie Clarke led Avery (17-5, 11-1) with 19 points, and Lauren Burleson, who hit two 3-pointers in the fourth, finished with 14. Bre Heaton added 13 points.
For Polk (11-11, 5-7), Kara Overholt was the only one in double digits with 12 points.
"We led them for the first half. That would've been a huge, huge win," Polk coach Craig Culbreth said. "Now we need to win Friday at Owen. That's a big game for us, just like it is for our boys."
In opening JV games, Polk's girls won 28-22 and Avery's boys won 41-31.


text: I have awaken from my sleep my Buffalo Whagon Blasters Every game to us is like is the lasts one of the season we do not care who we face a Team like Buffalo faces the Enemy in his face look in to his eyes and crushes his soul before the battle begins . So I will say this all I read and hear is how the Jets team is more prepare all around and players better than us. Well let me tell u. That plane that u call Jets is going to be more lihe a one propelar ane one wing no wheels to land and no pilot driving it when we finish with it The soul collectors are going to be in full charge mode this Sunday. The fans are going to be so loud they are going to hear us in the next Dimension . Kan green is what the jets going to get infected when we crush your. Bones and body. All of does who disrespect us and come to our Holly ground will be knock to king dome come and turn to dust in the wind This is our House Holly to the Buffalo Nation. So get ready no prayers can save u now The Whagon Blasters has no mercy on your soul


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This was very easy to make, and pretty quick as far as risottos go. We increased the amount of dill to 1 1/2 tbsps, and the garlic to 4 cloves. We also added some crushed red pepper flakes. If you aren't watching calories or fat, it'd be great to add some more feta. You can read our full review with pictures at One Couple's Kitchen.
Greek Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto
Photo: Oxmoor House
If you don't have dill on hand, chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley or chives will also work in this dish.
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups risotto)
More From Oxmoor House
Nutritional Information
Amount per serving
- Calories: 426
- Fat: 8.9g
- Saturated fat: 3.6g
- Monounsaturated fat: 2.8g
- Polyunsaturated fat: 1.2g
- Protein: 33g
- Carbohydrate: 53.5g
- Fiber: 5.1g
- Cholesterol: 189mg
- Iron: 4.5mg
- Sodium: 794mg
- Calcium: 194mg
- 3 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth {Check for Gluten}
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 3/4 cups chopped Vidalia or other sweet onion (about 2 medium)
- 1 cup Arborio rice or other medium-grain rice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 3/4 cups (1/2-inch) slices asparagus (about 8 ounces)
- 1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Fennel Salad
- 1. Bring broth and 1 cup water to a simmer in a medium saucepan (do not boil). Keep warm over low heat.
- 2. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in rice and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add broth mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until each portion of broth is absorbed before adding the next (about 30 minutes total).
- 3. Stir in asparagus and shrimp; cook 5 minutes or until shrimp are done, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in cheese and remaining ingredients.
My Notes
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Greek Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto Recipe at a Glance
- COURSE: Main Dishes
- MAIN INGREDIENT: Shellfish
- DIETARY CONSIDERATION: Gluten-Free
- PUBLICATION: Oxmoor House
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NHS boss speaks to reporters but doesn't answer questions
The Chief Executive of the NHS has refused to answer questions about his future, after he was criticised for his role in the Mid Staffordshire hospital deaths scandal.
Sir David Nicholson was giving a speech about the future of the NHS at a healthcare event in London. Afterwards he spoke to reporters, but would not answer their questions.


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According to the Army's Task Force Report, up to one in five soldiers returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan has a mild brain injury. The report also says that as many as 20 percent of the soldiers have had a concussion but many not even know it.
Concussion is the most common brain injury and it can happen when a powerful blast shakes the brain inside the skull. Symptoms of concussion include headaches, dizziness, irritability, and sleep disorders. The Army is now screening every returning soldier for a hidden concussion injury.
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Weight: 0.49
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International customers, please view our shipping page for information on additional shipping fees. CLICK HERE
KELLY'S CRAFTS-Xtreme Fun Nitelite Kit. This cool kit is great for everyone no matter your age! Make suncatcher and them hang them in your window or set them up in your new night light which hold all Kelly's Crafts Suncatchers: swap them out at will. This package contains five plastic suncatchers; eight non-toxic stains; auto on/off night light with a bulb (UL listed); suction cup hooks and numbered diagram for staining. Contents conform to ASTM D4236. Recommended for children ages 8 and up. WARNING: Choking Hazard-small parts. Not for children under 3 years. Imported.


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A Beloit man has succumbed to injuries sustained in a Sunday evening home explosion.
Todd Purdy suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns when the Beloit home he was renting exploded Sunday evening. The Rock County Coroner's Office was contacted by UW Hospital in Madison early Thursday morning saying Purdy had passed. The unofficial cause of death was a combination of burns and smoke inhalation.
Investigators say the explosion was caused after a new gas stove was installed in the home. Both the stove and an open-end connection were on the same line, and when the gas stove was turned on, the basement of the home filled with natural gas. An unknown source then ignited the gas, causing the home to explode and collapse.
The home's other occupant, Tara Purdy, suffered cuts, bruises, and minor burns and is in fair condition at the Madison hospital.
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By Steve Bain
Has anyone ever known you well enough to finish your sentences? Well, that's sort of how one of the most intuitive drawing tools in CorelDRAW works. The Smart Drawing tool was first introduced in CorelDRAW 12 to give freehand sketching the benefit of a kind of artificial intelligence. You can sketch a shape freehand-style on screen and end up with a precise vector object as a curve, native object or Perfect Shape.


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McCain Opposed, Played Games with, then Quit Pub. Fin. System
by Jonathan Singer, Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 01:02:03 PM EST
I've said it before and I'll say it again: John McCain is one of the most cynical, conniving and excessively ambitious career politicians America has seen for a very long time. Today's evidence? McCain's machinations on public financing.
As you little doubt have seen, McCain has been desperately flailing at Barack Obama in recent days in the hopes of scoring some "maverick" points with the establishment media inside the Beltway (who always love that kind of stuff) by attacking Obama for not opting into the presidential public financing system for the general election even before he has won the Democratic nomination (if he ever does so). But who is McCain to talk on this issue?
Back in 1995, McCain voted with Strom Thurmond, Phil Gramm, Jesse Helms and Rick Santorum against an effort to save the public financing program. In effect, McCain voted with arch-conservatives -- the most reactionary wing of his party -- to help kill the program. Even 10 of his Republican colleagues voted for the measure, helping show McCain's true colors as an opportunist rather than someone willing to buck his party's leadership for the sake of principle. Said Common Cause of the vote, "This is not a matter of budget politics. This is a matter of integrity." [1995 Senate Vote 194, Common Cause Statement, 5/25/1995]
When it finally suited him this year, McCain essentially pledged to be a part of the public financing system in order to secure a much needed loan for his campaign. The Washington Post today:
John McCain's cash-strapped campaign borrowed $1 million from a Bethesda bank two weeks before the New Hampshire primary by pledging to enter the public financing system if his bid for the presidency faltered, newly disclosed records show.
Then when it suited McCain, he pulled out of the public financing system rather than go through with his intention to be a part of the program. Yet now, when it suits McCain, he's hitting Obama for not opting in for a general election he is not yet (and may never be) a part of? McCain clearly has no credibility here, despite what the folks in the establishment press might think. No, McCain has shown time and time again that he is willing to play games with his perceived "principles" as it suited him. In this case, he voted against public financing before he opted into it before he opted out of it before he attacked Obama for doing so. I think there's a hyphenated pair of words used to describe people who waffle like that...
Tags: John McCain, public financing (all tags)


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Federal Employees Health Benefits Program:
Oversight of Carriers' Fraud and Abuse Programs
GAO-14-39: Published: Nov 14, 2013. Publicly Released: Dec 16, 2013.
Additional Materials:
- Highlights Page:
- Accessible Text:
(202) 512-7114
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
What GAO Found
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Healthcare & Insurance--Federal Employee Insurance Operations office, which we refer to as OPM's contracting office, monitors Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) carriers' compliance with requirements and other guidance for preventing, detecting, and eliminating fraud and abuse. These requirements include establishing a program to assess vulnerability to fraud and abuse, reporting annually on program outcomes, reporting potential fraud to OPM's Office of Inspector General (OIG), and implementing corrective actions to address deficiencies in fraud prevention programs. OPM's guidance encourages carriers to implement certain program standards, such as formal fraud awareness training for all employees. To monitor carriers' compliance with these requirements and other guidance, OPM's contracting office staff conducts the following activities.
- Review carriers' annual reports: Staff review information contained in annual reports from carriers that describe the carriers' fraud and abuse programs and their outcomes. Officials told us that they assess information in carriers' annual reports against program requirements and guidance and follow up with carriers whose reports suggest possible noncompliance.
- Conduct site visits: Staff also inspect and follow up on carriers' fraud and abuse programs during periodic site visits. Using a risk based site selection strategy, OPM contracting office staff conducted site visits of 27 carriers whose plans covered about 70 percent of FEHBP enrollees in 2012.
- Review and resolve OIG audit findings: Staff review and resolve OIG audit findings that identified areas of carriers' noncompliance.
- Review disputed claims and enrollee complaints: Staff review disputed claims and enrollee complaints to identify indicators of potential fraud or abuse, such as suspicious patterns of drug utilization.
OPM contracting office staff review certain outcomes of carriers' fraud and abuse programs, but several factors contribute to the challenge of assessing program effectiveness. Program outcomes in 2011 included 29 criminal convictions and more than $23 million in recoveries to the FEHBP, but program outcomes do not provide complete information about program effectiveness because they do not measure the success of efforts to prevent or minimize fraud and abuse. OPM contracting office staff reported that they have not adopted specific measures of program effectiveness for FEHBP fraud and abuse programs because they have not identified an appropriate way to measure the effectiveness of antifraud programs. Several factors contribute to difficulties in assessing the effectiveness of health care antifraud programs. These factors include lack of information about the baseline amount of fraud and abuse, difficulty establishing a causal link between antifraud activities and the amount of fraud and abuse, and difficulty measuring the effect of efforts to prevent or deter fraud and abuse.
OPM and the OPM OIG provided technical comments, which we incorporated as appropriate.
Why GAO DId This Study
The FEHBP provides health care coverage to millions of federal employees, retirees, and their dependents through health insurance carriers that contract with OPM. Carriers offer plans in which eligible individuals may enroll to receive health care benefits. OPM negotiates these contracts; requires that each carrier establish a program to prevent, detect, and eliminate fraud and abuse; and oversees carriers' fraud and abuse programs. Although the extent of fraud and abuse in the FEHBP is unknown, any fraud or abuse that does occur contributes to health care costs and may be reflected in the premiums for FEHBP enrollees.
GAO was asked to review OPM's oversight of FEHBP fraud and abuse programs. This report describes (1) oversight of fraud and abuse programs by OPM's contracting office and (2) the OPM contracting office's approach to measuring the effectiveness of FEHBP carriers' fraud and abuse programs. To do so, GAO reviewed documents that specify program requirements and guidance, such as carrier contracts and letters from OPM to carriers; documents that assist oversight of fraud and abuse programs, such as annual reports that OPM requires from carriers; and documents demonstrating oversight of carriers, such as memos to carriers from OPM contracting office staff regarding carriers' compliance. GAO also reviewed published work about measuring the effectiveness of antifraud programs. GAO interviewed OPM officials and officials from entities with expertise related to antifraud programs and measurement.
GAO made no recommendations.
For more information, contact Kathleen M. King at (202) 512-7114 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Aug 25, 2014
Federal Real Property:GSA Should Better Target Its Use of Swap-Construct ExchangesGAO-14-586: Published: Jul 24, 2014. Publicly Released: Aug 25, 2014.
Regulatory Impact Analysis:Development of Social Cost of Carbon EstimatesGAO-14-663: Published: Jul 24, 2014. Publicly Released: Aug 25, 2014.
Aug 7, 2014
Contractor Performance:Actions Taken to Improve Reporting of Past Performance InformationGAO-14-707: Published: Aug 7, 2014. Publicly Released: Aug 7, 2014.
Jul 30, 2014
Federal Grants:Agencies Performed Internal Control Assessments Consistent with Guidance and Are Addressing Internal Control DeficienciesGAO-14-539: Published: Jul 30, 2014. Publicly Released: Jul 30, 2014.
Jul 29, 2014
Federal Real Property:Better Guidance and More Reliable Data Needed to Improve ManagementGAO-14-757T: Published: Jul 29, 2014. Publicly Released: Jul 29, 2014.
Jul 22, 2014
Managing for Results:Enhanced Goal Leader Accountability and Collaboration Could Further Improve Agency PerformanceGAO-14-639: Published: Jul 22, 2014. Publicly Released: Jul 22, 2014.
Jun 17, 2014
Recovery Act:USDA Should Include Broadband Program's Impact in Annual Performance ReportsGAO-14-511: Published: Jun 17, 2014. Publicly Released: Jun 17, 2014.
Jun 11, 2014
U.S. Currency:Actions Needed to Improve Coin Inventory ManagementGAO-14-601T: Published: Jun 11, 2014. Publicly Released: Jun 11, 2014.
Jun 10, 2014
Managing for Results:OMB Should Strengthen Reviews of Cross-Agency GoalsGAO-14-526: Published: Jun 10, 2014. Publicly Released: Jun 10, 2014.
May 28, 2014
2013 Lobbying Disclosure:Observations on Lobbyists' Compliance with Disclosure RequirementsGAO-14-485: Published: May 28, 2014. Publicly Released: May 28, 2014.
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Dunkerton secondary principal Mike Cooper has taken a position with another district in Iowa.
Superintendent Jim Stanton says the move has been in the works for some time and is not related to a controversial assembly presented to 7th-12th graders last week.
Stanton says Cooper will remain with the school district through the end of this school year.


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Police target drug dealers in Kent
Crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis have been seized in a major drugs operation.
Police have carried out a series of raids, targeting suspected main drug dealers.
Several people have been arrested in the joint operation between Kent Police and the Metropolitan force. Tom Savvides has our report.


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SARANAC — Whether by mail, in person or online, support has been coming from all directions for Keith and Vicki Tedford and their sons, Shawn and Bryan.
Mr. Tedford was home alone on the night of Oct. 26 when an outdoor wood boiler ignited, setting fire to the family's house at 77 No. 37 Road, Saranac.
"The longest 15 to 20 minutes of my life was standing there watching everything I worked for, my wife and I, for our sons, burning and I couldn't do anything about it," he said.
Their home was destroyed, and the family's black Labrador retriever, Shadow, died in the blaze.
"She was as much a part of the family as the two boys," Mr. Tedford said.
They plan to rebuild their home, he said.
The family is staying with Mr. Tedford's brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Eileen Tedford, but they appreciated numerous offers for temporary lodging from neighbors.
A network of support, at home and from afar, has been the most surprising part of the weeks following the fire.
"Even today, in the mail, we're still receiving cards and donations and numerous texts, Facebook (messages) and anything that people can do to help us," Mr. Tedford said.
For him, one of the best examples of this support is an online fundraiser that has brought in almost $3,000 for them.
The effort was the idea of Saranac High School graduate Kevin Cross, who'd had Mr. Tedford as his physical-education teacher and baseball coach.
A graduate student at SUNY Buffalo, he didn't let distance prevent him from offering the family support.
Cross found the crowdfunding website Indiegogo, which lets users create an online fundraiser that accepts credit or debit cards to pay for donations.
Shortly after setting up the page on the site, Cross said he heard that his friends Kalob Drollette, Ben Depo and Devon Klooster, also former students of Tedford's, had wanted to help the family.


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On the road again, the Red Sox are on the road again. Ok, I won't attempt to transform a Willie Nelson classic into a baseball melody. But the opening line does speak the truth about the Red Sox.
After two days at home that had them play three games against Tampa Bay, Boston is once again packing their bags and taking their grey, away jerseys with them. Next stop: Kansas City.
Tampa Bay proved that good pitching will win out on most nights as witnessed by the lack of hitting the Red Sox showcased in the brief series that saw the Rays take two of three. So this might be a good time for a suddenly struggling offensive Red Sox club to head into Kansas City and take on the last place Royals. Well, think again.
It was this same Royals team that came into Fenway last month and split a four game series with Boston, exposing many holes in a heavily favored Red Sox lineup.
Revenge may not be on top of mind when they kick off a four game set against the Royals starting tonight, but should they struggle for the third series in a row, there will be a lot of question marks surrounding this club as we get set for September.
Thanks to Michael from the Royals Fansided network Kings of Kauffman for assisting with this series 6 pack and answering all things Royals related. Enjoy!
Tags: Adrian Gonzalez AL East AL Wild Card Baltimore Orioles Bobby Jenks Boston Red Sox Carl Crawford Clay Buchholz Cleveland Indians Daisuke Matsuzaka Daniel Bard David Ortiz Detroit Tigers Dustin Pedroia Eric Hosmer Fenway Park Free Agents Hideki Okajima Injuries J.D. Drew Jacoby Ellsbury Jason Varitek Jed Lowrie John Lackey Jon Lester Jonathan Papelbon Josh Beckett Kansas City Royals Kevin Youkilis Marco Scutaro Minnesota Twins MLB New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Terry Francona Texas Rangers Theo Epstein Tim Wakefield Toronto Blue Jays


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Written by Darci Palmquist | November 22nd, 2012(0)
Do you know how much water it takes to turn on your lights? Or how many fish are imperiled when you power up your computer? A new study takes stock of how our energy choices impact water and fish.
Written by Darci Palmquist | June 24th, 2011(0)
Cool Green Friday!
Written by Bob Lalasz | June 15th, 2009(1)
I count four out of five hot green links in today's Coolness as incontrovertibly positive! That's some kind of record…and if you don't like windy days (and I don't), it's five out of five. Read on, and get happy… President Obama announced Friday he's creating the Ocean Policy Task Force to craft a U.S. national […]
Written by Darci Palmquist | February 12th, 2009(1)
Would Darwin be shocked by the news coming out of the environmental world today? Read on and decide for yourself… The Darwin 200: The Great Beyond provides a wrap-up of all the Darwin hoopla out on the internet. Hamster Power: In the search for renewable energy sources, researchers at Georgia Tech are testing out hamster […]
We're green. We're nature-lovers. We are Conservancy Talk. Hear Nature Conservancy staff and invited experts share their voices on today's conservation issues — in our uniquely rigorous, science-based way. Learn more


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This week the Voice Alpha gang is reading Wonder Woman, the poem donated by Collin Kelley to Voice Alpha's list of poems for which the authors have given readers permission in advance to record for Dear Voice Alpha, the VA reading advice program. We'll end the week with a Voice Alpha critique of a reading of the poem by the poet himself. Feel free to add your observations on the readings to the comments. If you would like to send in a reading of Wonder Woman for Voice Alpha critique, email the MP3 to nic_sebastian at hotmail dot com.
All Voice Alpha readings of 'Wonder Woman.'
Nic's reading
Donna's comments
I thought that Nic's reading was very conversational. as if she was an old friend telling a story just to me, and I liked that approach. All of the words that were stressed were done so naturally, without artifice, something I (and evidently Dave) struggled with when approaching the poem.
It's hard to critique Nic's reading, as she approaches each poem so carefully. But… if anything was lacking, I felt that the humor/light touch of the poem was absent – although the subject matter is partially about the disappointment of the father, there is affection there for the man who spray-painted the rope and let himself be lassoed. I heard the disappointment but not the affection, except maybe in the phrasing of "poor dad."
Carolee's comments
I like the pace of this and I love how this opens — there is something in the tone of your voice, Nic, in those first lines about setting off alarms, that sounds somewhat foreboding.
I liked hearing that very much because the piece is about the father and the line he tries to walk between affection and embarrassment (shame? fear?). Your reading of those opening lines set up that teetering for me — how we aren't sure how anyone will end up handling this in the end. It also sets up an awareness about the seriousness of what is in the lines. It made me aware that the frame (the wonder, the superhero, the glitter) of this poem surrounds a really serious question. Thank you for that.
Because I was aware of it, I struggled a bit with this reading in places because the inflection seemed a bit cheery (I apologize if it's just me ascribing cheer because of the lovely accent) in spots where I wanted to hear again the daunting tone from the opening. A couple of examples: "the golden eagle oddly deflated" and "if the rope could have squeezed out an ounce."
Kristin's comments
As always, I love Nic's voice, the beautiful accent–no squeakiness or creaking of any kind. I like the way the tone was somber at first, and a bit more animated as the poem went along. I like the stress of "sunken" chest and "deflated."
I thought there was an unnatural pause at the end between "Wonder Woman's" and "invisible." A small quibble.
Overall, a wonderful rendition!
Dave's comments
I wanted the kind of expression present in the last quarter of the poem, beginning with "If the rope could've squeezed out an ounce of what he was really thinking," all the way through. Although it's difficult to criticize so fine a reading, when I compare the rest of it with those last few lines, I do feel you missed a number of opportunities to vary tone and stress. The humor of this poem ends up seeming somewhat submerged by the delivery.


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