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Solving the puzzle of ice age climatesJune 3, 2014 9:12 am | by Genevieve Wanucha, Oceans at MIT | News | Comments
The paleoclimate record for the last ice age tells of a cold Earth whose northern continents were covered by vast ice sheets. Chemical traces from plankton fossils in deep-sea sediments reveal rearranged ocean water masses, as well as extended sea ice coverage off Antarctica. Air bubbles in ice cores show that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was far below levels seen before the Industrial Revolution.
Obama rolls out rule to cut power plant pollutionJune 2, 2014 11:58 am | by Dina Cappiello and Josh Lederman, Associated Press | News | Comments
The U.S. government rolled out a plan Monday to cut carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by 30% by 2030, a centerpiece of President Barack Obama's efforts to reduce the pollution linked to global warming. The rule, expected to be final next year, sets in motion one of the most significant actions on global warming in U.S. history.
Global survey: Climate change now a mainstream part of city planningMay 29, 2014 8:31 am | by Peter Dizikes, MIT News Office | News | Comments
An increasing number of cities around the world now include preparations for climate change in their basic urban planning; but only a small portion of them have been able to make such plans part of their economic development priorities, according to a unique global survey of cities. The Urban Climate Change Governance Survey underscores the extent to which city leaders recognize climate change as a major challenge.
Miniature gas chromatograph could help farmers detect crop diseases earlierMay 29, 2014 7:55 am | by Angela Colar, Georgia Tech | News | Comments
Researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute are developing a micro gas chromatograph for early detection of diseases in crops. About the size of a 9-V battery, the technology's portability could give farmers just the tool they need to quickly evaluate the health of their crops and address any possible threats immediately, potentially increasing yield by reducing crop losses.
A more Earth-friendly way to make bright white cotton fabricsMay 29, 2014 7:44 am | News | Comments
With a growing number of consumers demanding more earth-friendly practices from the fashion world, scientists are developing new ways to produce textiles that could help meet rising expectations. They report in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research one such method that can dramatically reduce the amount of energy it takes to bleach cotton while improving the quality of the popular material.
Electricity use slashed with efficiency controls for heating, coolingMay 23, 2014 1:13 pm | News | Comments
Commercial buildings could cut their heating and cooling electricity use by an average of 57% with advanced energy-efficiency controls, according to a year-long trial of the controls at malls, grocery stores and other buildings across the country. The study demonstrated higher energy savings than what was predicted in earlier computer simulations by the same researchers.
New tide gauge uses GPS signals to measure sea level changeMay 21, 2014 2:19 pm | by Robert Cumming, Chalmers | News | Comments
A new way of measuring sea level using satellite navigation system signals, such as GPS, has been implemented by scientists in Sweden. Sea level and its variation can easily be monitored using existing coastal GPS stations, the scientists have shown, and requires just two antennas that measure signals both directly from the satellites and signals reflected off the sea surface.
New fossil-fuel-free process makes biodiesel sustainableMay 21, 2014 1:58 pm | News | Comments
A new fuel-cell concept from Michigan State Univ. allows biodiesel plants to eliminate the creation of hazardous wastes while removing their dependence on fossil fuel from their production process. The platform, which uses microbes to glean ethanol from glycerol and has the added benefit of cleaning up the wastewater, should give producers the opportunity to reincorporate the ethanol and the water into the fuel-making process.
Study shows iron from melting ice sheets may help buffer global warmingMay 21, 2014 9:22 am | News | Comments
A newly-discovered source of oceanic bioavailable iron could have a major impact on our understanding of marine food chains and global warming. A team in the U.K. has discovered that summer meltwaters from ice sheets are rich in iron, which will have important implications on phytoplankton growth. In turn phytoplankton capture carbon, thus buffering the effects of global warming.
Britain launches $17 million science prizeMay 20, 2014 9:33 am | News | Comments
Britain is offering 10 million pounds (almost $17 million) to whoever can solve one of humanity's biggest scientific challenges. What's the challenge? Organizers said Monday the public would vote on which of six challenges the prize should tackle, ranging from reversal of paralysis to making air travel environmentally friendly.
Scientists forecast economic impacts of the drought on Central Valley agricultureMay 20, 2014 8:19 am | by Kat Kerlin, UC Davis News Service | News | Comments
California's drought will deal a severe blow to Central Valley irrigated agriculture and farm communities this year, and could cost the industry $1.7 billion and cause more than 14,500 workers to lose their jobs, according to preliminary results of a new study by the Univ. of California, Davis Center for Watershed Sciences.
How beach microbes responded to the Deepwater Horizon oil spillMay 20, 2014 8:03 am | by Dan Krotz, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | News | Comments
In June, 2010, two months after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Regina Lamendella collected samples along a hard-hit beach near Grand Isle, Louisiana. She was part of a team of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers that wanted to know how the microbes along the shoreline were responding to the spill.
Studies say climate change worsens wildfiresMay 19, 2014 11:44 am | by Seth Borenstein, Associated Press | News | Comments
The devastating wildfires scorching Southern California offer a glimpse of a warmer and fierier future, according to scientists and federal and international reports. In the past three months, at least three different studies and reports have warned that wildfires are getting bigger, that man-made climate change is to blame, and it's only going to get worse with more fires starting earlier in the year.
"Smoking gun" evidence for theory that Saturn's collapsing magnetic tail causes aurorasMay 19, 2014 9:47 am | News | Comments
Researcher in the U.K. has recently shown that Saturn's auroras are caused by the same phenomenon which leads to dramatic auroral displays on Earth. The finding originates in stunning new images of Saturn's auroras as the planet's magnetic field is battered by charged particles from the Sun.
EPA proposes changes to emission rulesMay 16, 2014 10:56 am | by Associated Press | News | Comments
The EPA has announced a proposal to reduce oil refinery pollution that, if adopted, would mark the first change to the industry's emission standards in nearly two decades. The move is part of a consent decree that resolved a lawsuit filed by nonprofit environmental attorneys with Earthjustice and the Environmental Integrity Project on behalf of people directly affected by emissions from refineries in Louisiana, Texas and California.
Study: Emissions from forests influence first stage of cloud formationMay 16, 2014 8:03 am | News | Comments
Clouds are the largest source of uncertainty in present climate models. Much of the uncertainty surrounding clouds' effect on climate stems from the complexity of cloud formation. New research from scientists at the Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets (CLOUD) experiment at CERN sheds light on new-particle formation, which is the very first step of cloud formation and a critical component of climate models.
Writing is on the wall for air pollution thanks to air-cleansing poemMay 15, 2014 12:23 pm | News | Comments
A poet and a scientist at the Univ. of Sheffield in the U.K. have collaborated to create a catalytic poem called "In Praise of Air". The poem is printed on material containing a formula invented at the university which is capable of removing nitrogen oxide from the atmosphere. According to its developers, the cheap technology could also be applied to billboards and advertisements alongside congested roads to cut pollution.
Solar wind ion analyzer to look at key player in Mars atmosphere lossMay 15, 2014 9:49 am | by Claire Saravia, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center | News | Comments
This past November, NASA launched the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission. One instrument aboard the spacecraft will study ions, a special component of the Martian atmosphere, to help solve the mystery of why the planet has been losing its atmosphere over billions of years.
Multilayer nanofiber face mask helps to combat pollutionMay 13, 2014 12:43 pm | News | Comments
In response to persistent haze and concerns about its health effects, scientists in Hong Kong have developed a simple face mask which can block out suspended particles. The nanofiber technology can filter ultra-fine pollutants that have yet been picked up by air quality monitors. These particles can measure 1 micrometer or less.
Dangerous nitrogen pollution could be halvedMay 13, 2014 12:16 pm | News | Comments
The most important fertilizer for producing food is, at the same time, one of the most important risks for human health: nitrogen. If no action is taken, nitrogen pollution could rise by 20% by 2050 in a middle-of-the-road scenario, according to a study now published by scientists of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. This research also shows that ambitious mitigation efforts could decrease the pollution by 50%.
Radar surveys and data models indicate West Antarctica Ice Sheet collapse underwayMay 13, 2014 7:27 am | News | Comments
Researchers at the Univ. of Washington have concluded that Antarctica's fast-moving Thwaites Glacier will likely disappear in a matter of centuries, potentially raising sea level by more than a half a meter. Data gathered by airborne radar, detailed topography maps and computer modeling were used to make the determination. The fastest scenario based on the data, the researchers said, is 200 years, and the longest is more than 1,000 years.
Ice-loss moves the Earth 250 miles beneath our feetMay 12, 2014 9:22 am | News | Comments
Studies of Antarctica have shown the earth is "rebounding" due to the overlying ice sheet shrinking in response to climate change. This movement of the land was understood to be an elastic response and a very slow uplift over thousands of years. But new research has revealed that the land in this region is actually rising at a phenomenal rate of 15 mm a year, much greater than can be accounted for by the present-day elastic response alone.
As carbon dioxide levels rise, some crop nutrients will fallMay 8, 2014 8:08 am | by Diana Yates, Life Sciences Editor Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign | News | Comments
Researchers have some bad news for future farmers and eaters: As carbon dioxide levels rise this century, some grains and legumes will become significantly less nutritious than they are today. The findings are reported in Nature. Eight institutions, from Australia, Israel, Japan and the U.S., contributed to the analysis.
Sprites form at plasma irregularities in the lower ionosphereMay 7, 2014 9:46 am | News | Comments
Sprites are an optical phenomenon that occur above thunderstorms, about 37 to 56 miles above the Earth. Atmospheric sprites have been known for nearly a century, but their origins were a mystery. Now, a team of researchers has evidence that sprites form at plasma irregularities and may be useful in remote sensing of the lower ionosphere.
Nanocellulose sponges to combat oil pollutionMay 6, 2014 11:10 am | News | Comments
A new, absorbable material could be of assistance in future oil spill accidents. A chemically modified nanocellulose sponge, the light material developed at a research laboratory in Europe absorbs the oil spill, remains floating on the surface and can then be recovered. The absorbent can be produced in an environmentally friendly manner from recycled paper, wood or agricultural by-products.


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Overall: 4.2 / 5 based on 29 reviews
23 of 29 reviewers would recommend this product to a friend.
Returned -
By: Kristystroh from Pittsburgh, PA
I returned this jacket - it was not flattering for me.
Great garment -
By: Launtielil from Stamford, CT
I gave this to my sister for Mother's Day. Her wardrobe consists mainly of weekend and semi-dressy items (she wears uniforms all week). It's lovely, goes with everything, and is definitely a year-round garment. She's worn it several times already, and loves it. I scored a big hit with this gift!!!!
Lightweight, cute jacket -
By: LouisaSuz from PA
Because I couldn't decide which size would fit best, Orvis suggested ordering both the small and the extra small, which I did. Interestingly, the maroon background colors differed - either dark/solid-looking (small) or faded/muted (extra small). This single variation gave a completely different "feel" to the style. I liked the muted/faded background best, which seems better for Spring. The jacket fits well and the sleeves on the extra small are not overly long for 5'2" me. Which means that for someone 5'8" the sleeves will probably be too short. I haven't washed it yet, so I can't comment on this.
Not for petites -
By: Joan45
Was looking for a short jacket with a stand up collar, but this one was too long for me and when you roll up the sleeves, it shows a solid red which didn't have a finished look.
Color and fit is good -
By: Flamingo from California
This jacket fits true to size and the colors are good. My disappointment is based on the poor quality of the material and the lining is flimsy at best.. I would be embarassed to wear this jacket and I'm returning it to Orvis.
Love this Jacket -
By: Meitene from Pocono Mountains, PA
Top 500 Contributor
This jacket is everything I hoped it would be. I love the rather muted colors. Will go with many tops and pants. It fits well. I especially appreciate that it has pockets. Am looking forward to wearing it for Easter Brunch.
By: Bigi
Great Find! -
By: Happyfan
I bought a light-weight Indian print lined jacket . I live in a city and will use it three out of four seasons. The print goes with a number of colors for slacks, so the look can be changed easily. Orvis has carried Indian prints for a number of years--I have several in different weights and I love them all!!
By: Deniceo
Lovely jacket -
By: Diatom from Charleston SC
This a beautiful jacket, great fabric, fits well- very versatile weight. Very well made.
|Exclusively for Our Customers:
Orvis Handcrafted Reversible Jackets
The story of our exclusive block-printed jackets began more than twenty years ago, when Orvis Women's Product Development Specialist Sharon McNamara traveled to Jaipur, India in search of British-inspired block-printed fabrics. The artistry and skill of the regional craftspeople there lead to the creation of our most popular women's jackets of all time.
Sharon recently shared her memories of that:
"In those days, elephants, camels, and burros were used to transport the fabric to the remote villages of the Jaipur region. I was the only western visitor in the village at that time, and I met with the country's premier block printer. He worked in a room that was covered from floor to ceiling with boxes of print blocks. Each wooden block was carved by hand and it could take up to two weeks to carve some of the more elaborate patterned blocks. I learned that each print takes multiple blocks – the most elaborate fabrics can require as many as 28 different blocks. Because they are made of wood, each block can only be used less than 300 times before its crisp, precise lines become blurred and a new block must be carved.
I quickly learned how difficult the printing process can be, after trying it! Master printers, using techniques that are centuries old, are highly valued for their skill. It takes great strength and a steady hand to line up the blocks precisely to get the exact print. Men do the block printing and women do all the embroidery and embellishments by hand, after the fabric is dyed and finished.
At that time, all of the dyes used in this village came from nature. For example, black dye was made from a combination of iron horseshoes and blackstrap molasses. After the fabrics were dyed in huge outdoor earthen vats, they were washed three times and then laid out on the desert floor to dry. The sun would bake in the color, setting the dye.
The finished fabrics were then carried to the town of Jaipur via burro, where they were used to create reversible jackets, pairing two different prints with a fine layer of lightweight cotton fill in between. The materials were sewn by hand and trapunto-stitched on a single-needle treadle machine. The women in the workrooms would create the self-covered buttons by hand and detail the jackets with further embellishments and embroidery, depending on the design.
The quality and care that go into our reversible jackets is unparalleled, and every jacket is still a unique, handcrafted work of art. The men and women we work with in India take great pride in continuing this centuries-old tradition of artistry and block printing. Our longtime vendor partners – Sam Hilu and Raman Monga – are the guardians of this tradition of quality."
Orvis is proud to offer our customers the world's finest handcrafted reversible jackets.

subset: commoncrawl


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State Cyberbullying Laws: A Brief Review of State Cyberbullying Laws and Policies
By Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. Patchin
This Research Summary summarizes the current state of cyberbullying bills and laws across the United States.
Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2014). State Cyberbullying Laws:
A Brief Review of State Cyberbullying Laws and Policies. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved [insert date], from http://www.cyberbullying.us/Bullying_and_Cyberbullying_Laws.pdf
Cyberbullying Law Ruled Too Vague
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about a cyberbullying ordinance in Albany County, New York, that was being challenged and subsequently evaluated by the New York State Court of Appeals. The incident that initiated the review occurred back in June of 2011 and involved a 15-year-old student who had posted photos and hurtful comments of a sexual nature about several of his classmates to a Facebook flame page. He was one of the first to be charged with the new cyberbullying law. His attorney challenged the law as being overly broad, but lost in city court and the student ultimately pled guilty (while still retaining the ability to appeal). He did appeal to the Albany County Court, but again lost. The New York State Court of Appeals agreed to review the case and today returned their opinion.
In short, in a 5-2 split decision, the court stated that the cyberbullying ordinance that Albany County had drafted was poorly written and was therefore invalid. As drafted, the law was too broad and as a result violated the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment: "It appears that the provision would criminalize a broad spectrum of speech outside the popular understanding of cyberbullying, including, for example: an email disclosing private information about a corporation or a telephone conversation meant to annoy an adult" (p. 11).
While it is likely that the forthcoming headlines in most articles and commentaries about this case will proclaim this as a victory for Free Speech advocates and argue that the opinion confirms that criminalizing cyberbullying is not allowable, that is far from what the opinion really says. In fact, the court was careful to specify that proscription is possible, if a law can be more precisely crafted: "Cyberbullying is not conceptually immune from government regulation, so we may assume, for the purposes of this case, that the First Amendment permits the prohibition of cyberbullying directed at children, depending on how that activity is defined" (p. 8).
We can set aside for a moment the question of whether new criminal statutes will help us solve the cyberbullying problem. I have stated previously that I don't believe they will contribute much, and that other measures are likely to be much more effective. But, is the kind of speech the student promoted on Facebook protected? The court inferred that most likely, it is not.
The court acknowledged that most would agree that the student's behavior was "repulsive and harmful to the subjects of his rants, and potentially created a risk of physical or emotional injury based on the private nature of the comments" (p. 15). Again, the court was concerned principally with the sloppy language: "Even if the First Amendment allows a cyberbullying statute of the limited nature proposed by Albany County, the local law here was not drafted in that manner" (p. 14).
So what kind of language could pass constitutional muster? Well, there were some hints to this in the opinion. Albany County's Ordinance states:
"Cyber-Bullying shall mean any act of communicating or causing a communication to be sent by mechanical or electronic means, including posting statements on the internet or through a computer or email network, disseminating embarrassing or sexually explicit photographs; disseminating private, personal, false or sexual information, or sending hate mail, with no legitimate private, personal, or public purpose, with the intent to harass, annoy, threaten, abuse, taunt, intimidate, torment, humiliate, or otherwise inflict significant emotional harm on another person."
There are just a few specific words included that are problematic. In a dissenting opinion, Judge Smith argued that a cyberbullying law should be clear to apply only to students (as written, Albany's ordinance seemingly applied also to adults and even possibly corporations) and that certain ambiguous terms would need to be removed: "The County concedes that the words 'embarrassing' and 'hate mail' are 'vague and thus unenforceable.' … Once these deletions are made, I see nothing in the law that renders it unconstitutional" (p. 2).
So Albany County is going back to the drawing board. County Executive Daniel McCoy said that they would work "to craft a (new) law that both protects free speech and keep kids safe." Many other communities around the U.S. are likely in the same boat. While this ruling technically applies only to the state of New York, lawmakers in other communities would be advised to review their recently-passed laws to make sure they can withstand the scrutiny applied to this law.
Cell Phone Searches: Implications for Educators from Riley v. California
New insight about the issues associated with authorities searching the contents of cell phones has been provided by the U.S. Supreme Court. While this particular ruling deals specifically with the question of whether law enforcement officers can search the contents of cell phones possessed by people who are under arrest, educators can certainly learn from it as well. In the opinion released yesterday, the Court analyzed two separate incidents (one in California [Riley v. California] and another in Massachusetts [U.S. v. Wurie]) where officers searched—without a warrant—the cell phones of individuals they had arrested. In both cases the phones revealed incriminating evidence that was used at trial, and both defendants were convicted.
The Skinny on Search and Seizure
As a very rough and brief primer on basic criminal procedure law (don't take this as legal advice!), the police are allowed to search the contents of, for example, a bag that a person is carrying, under a variety of circumstances. First, an officer could simply ask for permission to search it. If this isn't granted, but the officer has reason to believe that the bag contains evidence of a crime, it could be seized and a search warrant could be obtained from a judge. The judge would review the evidence and determine if a search is appropriate. If the officer feels that time is of the essence, and that waiting to obtain a warrant could create a public safety risk (e.g., if the bag was thought to contain a bomb), then a warrant would not be needed for the search (these are referred to as "exigent circumstances"). The officer would be required to convince a judge of this necessity after the fact in order for any evidence obtained to be admissible in court.
There is another fairly common circumstance under which a person's bag could be searched without a warrant, permission, or exigent circumstances. Once a person is under arrest, everything on their person and anything within the area of their immediate reach, is subject to search (this authority stems from another "Golden State" case: Chimel v. California [1969]). The purpose here is to identify weapons or evidence of a crime that may have been stashed by the accused upon hearing that the police were at hand. It is this latter scenario that was evaluated by the court in the current opinion: Can cell phones be searched, without a warrant, once a person has been arrested?
Cell Phones are Different
Some have argued that a cell phone is in essence no different than a bag: it contains "stuff," including possible evidence of a crime (though admittedly no weapons). And the rules, therefore, should be the same. If you are under arrest, the logic goes, then your cell phone should be eligible to be searched (at least that's the way the cops in California and Massachusetts interpreted the law). Well, in the end, the Court unanimously disagreed with this interpretation and ruled that cell phones are different from other items (such as briefcases or purses) and therefore are subject to different rules.
It was reasoned that cell phones have the potential to contain so much information, both locally on the device, but also remotely through cloud storage and Internet access, and that the risk of invading one's personal privacy is too great to allow a search without reasonable justification. And even then it is difficult, if not impossible, to put restrictions on what exactly is searchable. Text messages? Personal contacts? Photos? Videos? Notes? Just being arrested shouldn't result in a person having to reveal everything about their lives that is on, or connected to, their cell phone.
To be clear, the Court did not say that searches of cell phones are completely off-limits. Rather, it ruled that a search is not automatically allowed when someone is arrested. There must be exigent circumstances or probable cause that the phone contains evidence of a crime.
Implications for Educators
So how does this ruling apply to educators? Well, it really doesn't. Nothing included in the language of the ruling suggests a change in law or policy concerning the circumstances under which it is appropriate for educators to search the contents of student-owned cell phones (or other portable electronic devices, for that matter) that are brought to school. We know that the rules that govern police officer behaviors are different than those that apply to educators. I've also previously discussed on this blog the specific question of whether educators can search the contents of student-owned devices. My review of the relevant case law leads me to conclude that educators can in fact search student cell phones, under very restricted circumstances, but the parameters for such an action are not well specified and it can be difficult for most educators to determine when a search necessary and appropriate.
In New Jersey v. T.L.O (1985), the U.S. Supreme Court stated that students are protected from unreasonable searches, but also that the standard required by law enforcement officers (probable cause of a crime) is not the same for educators. School officials generally need only show that the search was "justified at its inception and reasonable in scope." What makes a search justified? What is reasonable? The greatest legal minds debate the answers to these questions, so how on earth are we to hope that a school administrator can accurately sort it all out? It is likely that many of these questions will end up being resolved in a courtroom at some point, but it is best to keep you and your school out of it.
We have produced a basic checklist that educators can use to help determine if a search is reasonable and justified in their particular situation. But again, these standards have not been tested in a court of law, so they are only speculative at this point. Our best advice to educators is to resist searching a student-owned cell phone unless there is a possible safety concern (e.g., a student says that they just received a text message from another student who said they have a gun). And in this kind of situation, it is best to turn the case over to law enforcement officers, who should better understand the current legal framework for these circumstances. More importantly, it is advised that educators discuss these issues with their school resource/liaison officer and school district attorney so that everyone is more or less on the same page. Don't wait until you are confronting a student who is believed to have contraband content on their phone before you develop appropriate procedures.
Image credit: Yataka Tsutano, Flickr, Creative Commons
The Criminalization of Cyberbullying
I have written quite a bit over the years on the question of whether it is necessary to enact new criminal statutes to combat cyberbullying. Be it a proposal for an amended state statute or a new city ordinance, it seems popular these days for politicians to publicly proclaim the scourge of cyberbullying by offering legislation to make it a crime. Few stand on the side of cyberbullies on Election Day, so it is probably a safe platform. But is it the right approach?
The latest incident to thrust this issue into the public light is a test case out of Albany, New York, where, back in 2011, a 15-year-old student was arrested and charged with a then recently-passed county-level cyberbullying law. The student in this case is accused of having created a "flame page" wherein he posted photos and disparaging comments about a number of his classmates. Some of the comments were sexual in nature. He attempted to challenge the law in city court, but lost and ultimately pled guilty to one count of cyberbullying, pending appeal. The Albany County Court affirmed the city court judge's ruling and it is now being reviewed by the New York State Court of Appeals.
Proponents of the law (and of the criminalization of bullying behaviors generally) say that cyberbullies need to be held accountable, and if schools and parents can't—or won't—do it, then society should. Opponents see this law as an attack on free speech, or challenge it as hastily written, with many essential elements left undefined or otherwise ambiguous. Others point out (quite rightly, in my opinion), that further criminalization will do little to solve the underlying causes of bullying overall.
Generally speaking, I feel that the criminal justice system should be the absolute last resort when trying to resolve the vast majority of cyberbullying incidents. If a teen repeatedly targets a peer with hurtful, harassing, or malicious online insults, and family- and/or school-based responses prove ineffective, then perhaps law enforcement does need to get involved. Even with that, though, I would hope the police and prosecutor would work to develop an appropriate solution that avoids a criminal stigma being placed on the teen.
For example, one option might be a deferred prosecution deal that is contingent on improved online behaviors. If the teen refrains from inappropriate online interactions for a specified period of time, then the charges would go away. Or maybe the accused could participate in a teen court, or meet with people who have been victimized by bullying in the past in a kind of restorative justice approach. Again, there are so many other possible avenues for dealing with bullying that hold much more promise for effectiveness than a misdemeanor criminal charge. All of these other options should be exhausted before requiring the teen to appear in front of a judge.
The other, broader issue being evaluated in Albany, is whether laws like this one infringe on a person's right to free speech. All U.S. citizens—even students—have free speech rights. There are, of course, limitations to this. We simply don't have the right to say anything to anyone under any circumstances. Moreover, inasmuch as the content of the speech matters (what is being said), so too does the context and consequences of that speech.
For example, it is perfectly fine for me to express my hatred for the University of Michigan athletic teams. I can stand on a public park bench and proudly and loudly proclaim my disdain for the Wolverines. That is protected speech. But if I am a high school student and repeatedly express that view during the middle of algebra class, in a way that disrupts the learning environment at school, well then that speech which was otherwise protected is now subject to reasonable discipline. The school has long been recognized as a unique environment where extraordinary restrictions on speech and other forms of expression are allowed, when necessary, to uphold school rules and maintain an appropriate school climate. As noted in Bethel School Dist. No. 403 v. Fraser, 1986: "The undoubted freedom to advocate unpopular and controversial views in schools and classrooms must be balanced against the society's countervailing interest in teaching students the boundaries of socially appropriate behavior. … Nothing in the Constitution prohibits the states from insisting that certain modes of expression are inappropriate and subject to sanctions." More recently, this interpretation has been expanded to include some student behaviors and speech expressed from beyond the school walls (to the extent they impact the school).
Similarly, if I call someone up in the middle of the night and repeatedly, over the course of many weeks, tell them that "the Wolverines suck!" – that too may be subject to criminal sanction (for harassment or stalking). While the content of the speech is protected, the way in which it is conveyed is not. So, those tasked with keeping schools safe and orderly need to evaluate not only what was being said, but also what impact it had (or is likely to have) on the environment at school. Even speech that is protected in most circumstances could be subject to discipline under certain conditions.
I don't know much more about the Albany case other than what has been discussed in the media, so it is difficult to comment on whether a criminal response was necessary in that particular situation. I don't know if the school intervened or if the child's parents disciplined their son in an effort to resolve the situation. But I also don't believe that his speech should be protected by the First Amendment. The appellate court in New York is expected to return its findings within the next several weeks. But rest assured, no matter what the ruling, this will not be the end of this debate.
Image courtesy of Morse v Frederick (2007) (U.S. Supreme Court Case in which student speech was legitimately restricted)
State Sexting Laws
By Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. Patchin
This regularly updated fact sheet provides a brief overview and link to each of the state sexting laws. If you are aware of updates to the sexting laws in your state that are not included, please let us know.
Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2014). State Sexting Laws. Cyberbullying Research Center. Retrieved [insert date], from http://www.cyberbullying.us/state_sexting_laws.pdf


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Good Restaurant for my BIrthday Meal
- threedogs Mar 28, 2010 08:12 AM
OK, my birthday is coming up, and my daughters want to take me out for a meal and a movie on Saturday (my birthday is actually the week after, but since I have one daughter who is coming up from New Haven, a Saturday celebration is perfect).
I desperately need suggestions - these are the criteria:
1. Need vegan and regular (me) food on the menu..
2. Parking nearby
3. Hopefully a cinema nearby, too.
and last, but not least important:
4. Not too expensive
For price, I'd say up to about $17 a person is reasonable, less would be much better - I really like the idea that I can get the vermicelli bowl in Pho Pasteur (Chinatown location) for around $8, so use that as a basis - plus, while the atmosphere isn't special, it's still nice. My daughter mentions since PP is so reasonable, we could also order appetizers (and have some to take home - mmm)... there is parking at a nearby garage, I'm told, but I don't know how much that will cost - kids are telling me it doesn't matter, but neither of them are swimming in dough.
Exclude Mexican or Italian - I've had too much Mexican lately, and I'm half Sicilian, so I cook Italian at home all the time.
We originally thought of Elephant Walk in Cambridge, but it's gotten mixed reviews here.
Much has been written about Allston as a great chow destination these days - one of my daughters knows where to park around there, so that's a possibility.
Also thought of the other Pho Pasteurs, but I don't know how they compare.
Also - since it's the day (or evening) before Easter, do you guys think we'll need reservations?
Going out for the day - will appreciate any & all suggestions, of course. I'm depending on my chowhound family to steer me in the right direction - and, of course, will report back about our experience after our Easter Waffle-brunch (a new tradition in my home, designed my oldest daughter to force me to go easy on the work, lol).
Elephant Walk
2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
Pho Pasteur Restaurant
682 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111
wanted to add that I've searched the archives, but didn't come up w/anything different than I mentioned. Would love to try Grezzo, but it's way too pricey for us, IMO.
So far, I think Pho Pasteur is a safe bet for both those of us who are veg. & those of us (meaning me) who are carnivores.
25 State St, Newburyport, MA 01950
re: threedogs
How 'bout Solea in Waltham. Tapas usually offers a fair number of vegetarian options, though I'm not sure they'll meet the vegan requirements. You're also close to the Landmark Embassy Theater .
re: justbeingpolite
Solea looks awesome, but there doesn't seem to be enough vegan choices in the tapas (and their are no vegan entrees).
re: Taralli
Fantastic!! I didn't know this restaurant existed - I am def passing on this info to my kids. I'd love to try it... even if we end up choosing someplace else, this will def be one I visit soon. Sounds great.
re: threedogs
I'll second Red Lentil. I've only been once, but I enjoyed it a lot. Causal, low-key place with an interesting range of options, some of which were more successful than others. When I was there they had a special pizza made with the sauce from the Gobi Manchurian appetizer that was incredible, although the other pizzas our group tried were fine but not particularly special. It was definitely good enough that I want to return, although I'll probably try more of the non-pizza options in the future.
Red Lentil
600 Mt Auburn St, Watertown, MA 02472
Elephant Walk may get somewhat mixed reviews, but I've always had a great time there, and it fits all your criteria perfectly. It isn't necessarily authentic, but if you don't go in thinking your getting an authentic Cambodian experience I think it does a pretty good job.
Elephant Walk
2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
re: greenzebra
Good to know. I only wish I could use a Restaurant.com coupon on the weekend - yes, I am way too cheap for my own good, haha.
re: CocoDan
Doesn't seem to be much in the way of vegan for my daughter there - but if their website is any indication of the quality of restaurant - well, it's tempting. I loved the music - I also realize many restaurants will prepare special meals if I called ahead of time, so that's a possibility, too.
Big decision!! :D
re: threedogs
I think they'll prepare a veggie special for her if they don't have a nightly veggie special.
This doesn't quite fit all your requirements, but we eat at Grasshopper, in Allston, all the time. It's vegan Chinese, and the decor is simple, but well taken care of and clean. The menu is huge, with something for everyone (even my meat and potatoes father likes it), and the prices are low. We've never had a problem parking; however, I have no idea if there's a theater nearby.
Happy birthday!
re: invinotheresverde
Thank you for the birthday wish!
My daughters have eaten at Grasshopper a lot - I've been there a few times, too. I'd rather try someplace different (I think they'd like a change, too). One of my kids told me she's not crazy about Chinese, too (how is that possible?? that coming from MY child, no less... I think the world went a bit off it's axis when I heard that...)
If you like Afghani food and nice atmosphere, you might consider the Helmand, where your daughter could ask them to leave the yogurt off the vegetarian dish (not sure if they use butter in cooking the dishes, though). You could then head over to the Kendall Square Cinema, which isn't too far away.
Or, if you want super casual and funky, you could go to the Friendly Toast and then to the cinema, and park in the garage in the same complex. I'm pretty sure you can get validated parking from either the restaurant or the cinema.
The Friendly Toast
1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA
re: CreativeFoodie42
Oh, thank you - so many ideas... dear me, what to choose?!
My oldest daughter mentioned the Prana Cafe in Newton, too. She hasn't eaten there, but has heard good things about it:
Wow - at least I now have a whole list of places that my daughter & I can try during the year. Maybe one a month... my view (as a somewhat carnivore) of eating my way through vegan/vegetarian friendly restaurants in the Boston area.
Hey, I could blog that... hehe...
re: threedogs
I went to the Prana Cafe once. I knew it was a vegan restaurant, but I didn't realize it was also raw. It was my first experience with raw vegan food and I can't say I enjoyed it. I can think of plenty of "raw" foods that I eat normally and enjoy (different types of salads, etc.) but the fake cheese made out of nuts, and the dehydrated cracker-like thing... it just was not my thing. The food seemed completely unappealing to me.
re: Pia
I've had - and prepared - raw vegan food before, so it's not unfamiliar to me. But that doesn't mean I would go for all the food - for one thing, most raw foodies use a lot of nuts, and it's just too much for me (and I love nuts) in one sitting. Might try it another time, but not for my birthday...
re: bear
The Helmand looks really interesting. However, going over their vegetarian listings, I noticed one dish has lamb, and another has ground beef... made me think of that scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding - when the main character's boyfriend told her mother (or aunt - my memory isn't that good) that he was vegetarian (regarding their wedding meal)... look of confusion then "We'll have LAMB!!" (hahahaha - my family's reaction to my vegetarian daughters at first..)
re: threedogs
Ha, too funny. We have a family friend who truly can't wrap his brain around why my son doesn't just pick the meatballs out of the sauce for a vegetarian spaghetti.
I did notice the meat-based dishes on the "vegetarian" menu at teh Helmand, but am pretty sure the other dishes listed are actually veggie-safe. Not sure about butter, though, for a vegan, even if they omit the yogurt. You could always give them a call if it looks like a possible choice.
Wherever you go, happy day!
re: threedogs
You may be reading the menu incorrectly (or perhaps the online menu is in itself incorrect!). The vegetarian menu is truly non-meat. It's just that many of the dishes have both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions. Take the pumpkin kaddo, for example. A PP pointed out that if you leave the yogurt off the vegetarian version, it might be considered vegan (don't know about any butter in the dish). But the kaddo on the main menu has ground beef on top as well.
Their vegetarian entree is one of my absolute favorite dishes in Boston.
How about Shanghai Gate on Harvard St. in Allston, followed by a movie at the Coolidge? It's casual, but the food is great, the staff is friendly, and there are plenty of veggie/vegan options as well as traditional meat dishes. There's usually parking in the neighborhood, and it's only a 5-10 min walk to the Coolidge.
Shanghai Gate
204 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 02134
re: WilderPenfield
Thank you - but there's nothing playing at the Coolidge on Saturday that I want to see. Tough weekend - wish a couple of films that are debuting next week or the next were playing now, as a matter of fact...
The Kendall area also has Emma's Pizza which is fun and casual. Has great salads, too.
Right in downtown Boston, the Stuart Street Playhouse would be another good choice. Rustic Kitchen is right next door, or a short walk to Chinatown. I would recommend Penang (Malaysian) and also fun to try would be Zaze Shabu. They have lots of fresh vegetable choices and it would be a fun way to share your birthday diner with your daughters. Enjoy your special day!
Rustic Kitchen
210 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 02116
Emma's Pizza
40 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139
re: snowcone
Sorry, just noted a typo - it is Kaze for Shabu.
41 Essex St, Boston, MA 02111
I want to thank everyone for their help on choosing a restaurant for my early birthday celebration (today is my actual birthday - I'm still recuperating from the weekend [have an annoying chronic condition], in pain, but it was so worth it...)
My daughter arrived from New Haven & drove us into Cambridge. Made a quick stop at Micro Center for my new [fantastic - it WORKS..] phone system: Ooma... four decisive words: no more phone bills), then proceeded to Kendall Cinema. Got there earlier than my other daughter, so we walked around - and she decided (this, I found out later, was premeditated) that we should stop at Tommy Doyles to by me a *martini*.
My response: "Are you crazy?? Do you remember what happened on Christmas??" [I had one glass of wine and proceeded to confuse her with my son's girlfriend when introducing them to my landlord's son... yeah, I can't hold my liquor..] Anyway, I ordered some too sweet Margarita-like drink on their menu that didn't even give me a slight buzz. We shared it, along with daughter no.2 who arrived quickly.
We then saw "City Island" with Andy Garcia. Great, funny movie - I love off-the-track films, about family and relationships. This was perfect for my birthday celebration, and we all enjoyed it (not always an easy task in our family of diverse tastes!)
Then we needed to eat. Well, we had previously decided to try The Similans, which is not too far from the theater. Then I discovered that one daughter doesn't care for Thai ("too sweet" - a common complaint about Boston Thai food) and the other didn't like her experience at Brown Sugar Cafe (same owners).
We looked at the menu for The Friendly Toast, but since about half the menu is breakfast food, (we were planning a waffle brunch for Easter morning), decided against it. Good location (right near the theater), though, so I'll keep this in mind for the future.
Of course, knowing how indecisive I can be, I still neglected to print up all the suggestions everyone sent. Arrghh. Depending on my aging (strike that - oldER) brain wasn't the best.
We talked about The Red Lentil, but decided against it this time (again, plan to try it another time).
Rangzen Tibetan Place was suggested (one of my daughters lived in Central Square a few years ago), and that sounded interesting, but we finally decided to go to Chinatown & go to Pho Pasteur.
That turned out to be a good choice - I haven't been there in a while, and, of course, I ordered my favorite, Vermicelli bowl w/shrimp, pork & fried egg roll. (the shrimp were smaller than last year, and we didn't get any fresh basil this time - but it was still delish), and my daughters ordered vegetarian vermicelli bowls, fried egg rolls (which they really loved) and saki. Fortunately, I could still walk after that - and we went to see if we could find a bakery that was still open. Sure enough, my oldest led us to the Great Taste Bakery, and they bought me a selection of pastries to take home for later.
All in all, we had a great time, with lots of laughs and good food. The only thing I'd change is to make SURE I printed up the Chowhound suggestions next time, instead of depending on my less-than-perfect memory.
Anyway, I'm happy to have a list of places that both my vegan daughters & I can visit together in the future. Thanks, hounds!!
The Similans
145 1st St, Cambridge, MA 02142
Brown Sugar Cafe
1033 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215
The Friendly Toast
1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA
Great Taste Bakery & Restaurant
63 Beach St, Boston, MA
Tommy Doyles
349 Watertown St, Newton, MA 02458
Pho Pasteur Restaurant
682 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111
Red Lentil
600 Mt Auburn St, Watertown, MA 02472


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Summit 24" Electric Range Model:WEM610
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Description & HighlightsBe the first to Write a Review
The Summit 24 Inch Electric Range (WEM610) is a dependable, easy-to-use range that offers a number of features yet stands in a compact 24" x 24" footprint. With four (4) burners and intuitive turn dial controls, this range offers full size functionality within a compact space-efficient design.
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The Denver Nuggets (33-43) fell to the Memphis Grizzlies Friday night at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee by the final score of 100-92. The Nuggets would suffer another injury as Ty Lawson went down late in the game holding his left ankle. Good news revealed after the game is that x-rays on Lawson's ankle came back negative and he will be day-to-day, although there is no timetable for the guard at this time.
Zach Randolph would lead the Grizz yet again against the Nuggets, scoring 20 points on 7-of-22 shooting, collecting 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. His teammate Marc Gasol would put up some incredible numbers as well, scoring a game-high 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting to go along with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block. The Grizzlies however would lose small forward Tayshaun Prince after scoring 12 points before heading out with an ankle injury.
Denver is now 3-27 in games this season when they don't score at least 100+ points. Shooting guard Randy Foye would lead the way for the Nuggets, scoring a team-high 21 points on 6-of-13 shooting, going 4-of-6 from behind-the-arc. Foye would also accumulate 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block. Kenneth Faried continues to play well stemming off of the month of March. He scored 17 points tonight on 7-of-13 shooting, collecting 12 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.
For the second consecutive game, Timofey Mozgov would connect for a three-point attempt. He would score 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting, pulling down just 3 rebounds. Aaron Brooks took Ty Lawson's spot in the starting lineup Wednesday night after Lawson failed to make a team meeting on time. Brooks would score 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting while collecting 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
The Denver Nuggets (33-43) return to action Sunday night on the road against the Houston Rockets. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM MT.
Tags: Denver Nuggets NBA Recap Ty Lawson


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OMG! Famous Actress's Face Is Ruined
Something has happened to Renée Zellweger's face, and it's not a pretty sight. Lots of buzz was set off when the actress attended the Elle Women in Hollywood event on October 20, looking so different she was unrecognizable! More »
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Homeware - The Vintage Guide To London
Crystal Palace's best kept vintage secret? Boo To A Goose!January 1, 2014 | Lena Weber 1
The unassuming attic of a regular residential house in Crystal Palace harbours one of the area's best kept vintage secrets, Boo To A Goose.
Read More
New in Stoke Newington: pop-up shop YeradessaMarch 14, 2013 | Lena Weber
Influenced and inspired by analogue lifestyle, mid-century consumerism and twentieth century nostalgia, new pop-up shop Yeradessa offers unique items from the recent past as well as contemporary gifts, homeware and lifestyle products including instant analogue photography from Impossible Project.
Read More
Mixing new and vintage: Pitfield LondonMarch 4, 2013 | Lena Weber
Pitfield London – named after its Shoreditch location on Pitfield Street – successfully mixes vintage and contemporary designer products in a space that is shop, gallery and cafe at the same time.
Read More
For vintage fabrics head to The ShopFebruary 18, 2013 | Lena Weber 2
Just off Brick Lane is The Shop, a little vintage store you might just pass by if you're not paying attention. And you most certainly don't want to miss this one! Inside, the walls are covered with shelves all tightly packed with incredible vintage fabrics and textiles from the Thirties to the Seventies, while dozens of baskets are spilling out vintage scarves, aprons, tables cloths and kitchen towels.
Read More
Shop for British design at The Dog & WardrobeSeptember 18, 2012 | Lena Weber 1
On the ground floor of the Regents Studios at East London's Broadway Market you will stumble across a real gem of a vintage interiors shop: The Dog & Wardrobe. Specialising in British design classics – think Ercol or Conran … Read More
New London vintage destination: Brixton VillageAugust 27, 2012 | Lena Weber 1
Brixton Village, a shopping arcade just behind Brixton tube station has had a complete make-over in recent months, attracting cafes, bars, independent boutiques and some seriously good vintage shops. The place still retains its ethnic charm with little houseware stalls … Read More


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We need to publicise attacks on Christians until our politicians can no longer ignore them
Topic: Nigel Farage
The number of Christian martyrs doubled last year, but we have the power to the help the persecuted
Posted on Thursday, 9 January 2014
Nigel Farage says he wants to keep our Christian heritage. What does he mean in practice?
Posted on Monday, 11 November 2013
UK politicians who support Christian values could learn a lot from straight-talking Timo Soini
Why did Cameron lose so many votes to Ukip last week? One important reason is the threat he continues to pose to the institution of marriage
Posted on Wednesday, 8 May 2013
If his 'gay marriage' bill is in the Queen's speech, he will lose the next election
Ken Clarke says Ukip voters are closet racists and loonies. Well, I'm not a racist. And Clarke would have had us in the eurozone: he's the loonie, surely?
Posted on Monday, 29 April 2013
Ukip policies are mostly either sensible or profoundly right. So until the Tories come to their senses I shall be voting for them
Ukip plans to derail the Tories over gay marriage: Farage has perceptively concluded that this, not the economy or Europe, is what will destroy Cameron
Posted on Friday, 14 December 2012
Farage understands the Tory grassroots much better than Cameron and his pals; this, in the end, is what will unseat him as leader of the party


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The New England Patriots are cleaning up house in an effort to get down to the mandatory 75 players allowed on the roster tomorrow, and the Patriots are now at 77 after making 11 moves today. They released five players from the squad, with none of the releases coming as a surprise. The Patriots have cut ties with wide receiver Kamar Aiken, backup linebacker and special teams player Niko Koutouvides, Rutgers UDFA CB Brandon Jones, cornerback LeQuan Lewis, and long snapper Mike Zupancic. Below are some assorted thoughts on their releases.
Aiken is the most notable name of the five, and he had a slim chance of making the roster to begin training camp. He was impressive in OTAs and minicamp and showed up well in training camp, but the wide receiver position is set right now. The six players set to make it are all essentially locks, and there was no place for a seventh receiver in Aiken. I'm hoping he can make it to the Patriots practice squad, as he looks like a decent player. But I believe somebody else will take a jump on him, because he is worth a roster spot for another team out there despite never catching a regular season pass.
Niko Koutouvides is a known player due to his tenure in this league (nine seasons), but there was no spot for him. The Patriots are set at six linebackers (five if you think Steve Beauharnais should be cut, which I definitely don't), and Koutouvides's special teams need is now obsolete with the addition of Beauharnais and the health of Dane Fletcher. Jeff Tarpinian is another linebacker and special teamer set for the chopping block, but he is younger and better than Koutouvides (ditto on the former for LB/STer Mike Rivera).
The Patriots indeed decided to re-sign Stephon Morris, leaving Brandon Jones an odd-man out at cornerback. He is suffering from an injury and didn't do well enough in the preseason to justify a roster spot over Morris, who had a promising career at Penn State. As for Lewis and Zupancic, those guys were not threats to make the roster (Zupancic never really provided long snapping competition for incumbent Danny Aiken).
Tags: Brandon Jones Kamar Aiken LeQuan Lewis Mike Zupancic New England Patriots Niko Koutouvides


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It's not where you are from, it's where you are @. And you are @ your corner office or swank function. These Sterling Silver functions let everybody know that you have arrived and they are @ the hot spot. (There is an $8.00 charge for engraving up to 8 characters. Please allow for a 1 week lead time on all engravables.)
Ravi Ratan
Sterling @ Cufflinks
Item Code: RR-111-SL


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Firefighters with the Richmond Hill Fire Department stood outside Love's Truck Stop, Kroger and Food Lion for three days last week to collect donations for the nonprofit Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation. The GFBF provides fire safety and prevention education, supports medical facilities and assists burn survivors in their recovery. Tiffany Stroud took her camera along to document the event.
June 5: Historical Society Lecture Series - The Richmond Hill Historical Society's monthly lecture is back from 7-9 p.m. at the Richmond Hill History Museum. This month's guest speaker is Bob Fennel, who will talk about his mother's book, "Little Did I Know," about her days working with Henry Ford. The lecture is free to the public, though donations are welcome. For more information, visit www.richmonhilhistoricalsociety.com or call 756-3697.
School's out for the summer, but that doesn't mean students should put down the books.
Around 400 Richmond Hill High School students became graduates Saturday during the school's graduation ceremony at Savannah State University Tiger Arena. The class of 2014 includes 94 honor graduates and earned academic and athletic scholarships worth more than $6 million. Taylor Carpenter took along a camera to document the ceremony.
May 31: Pigs in the Park BBQ and Music Festival - The community is invited to the second annual Pigs in the Park BBQ and Music Festival at the Georgia Veterans State Park in Cordele. The event benefits the Donnie Haralson Scholarship Fund and is an all-day event with arts and crafts vendors, multiple music stages, food and fun. The event starts at 9 a.m., and parking is $5. For more information, call 229-276-1004.
Crawfish and leaches.
Families enjoyed the beautiful weather outside Saturday as they gathered at The Ice Cream Stop for the showing of the movie "The Pirate Fairy." The Ice Cream Stop plays a free movie for the community every week. See what's showing week to week by checking its Facebook page. Tiffany Stroud took her camera to last week's showing and captured these images.
May 17: Old Fort Jackson's 206th Birthday Celebration – The community is invited to attend the birthday celebration from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Old Fort Jackson in Savannah. The event includes a dress up station where children can wear historic outfits, a three-person slingshot activity and Savannah Children's Museum's big blue blocks. Attendees can sing "Happy Birthday" and eat cupcakes at 3:30 p.m. to end the festivities. Regular admission pricing applies. For more information, call 232-3945.
One eighth-grader at Richmond Hill Middle School wants to work in a combination of ministry and government when he grows up.
More than 100 dog lovers gathered last week at the Richmond Hill City Center to celebrate their canine pals and raise funds for county's first dog park during the Bryan County Bark Park's second annual Wine and Cheese Fundraiser. Park organizers raised more than $14,000 through ticket sales, sponsorships, auction bids, drink sales and more. Julia Harrison took her camera along to document the event.
May 10: Savannah Animal Care Clinic Open House – From 1:30-4 p.m., the Savannah Animal Care Clinic is having an open house at its downtown location on Bryan Street for families and their furry friends. The event's purpose is to raise awareness and funds for the Humane Society for Greater Savannah. Attendees are asked to bring a donation in cash or kind (such as dog or cat food) for the HSGS. Guests can meet the doctors and staff and view a tour of the clinic. Heavy hors d'ouerves and nonalcoholic beverages will be served. A prize drawing ...
It's the start of a tradition. The first Savannah Promise Walk for Preeclampsia will be Saturday at J.F. Gregory Park in Richmond Hill, and the public is invited to attend. The 5k walk/run will include food, music and fun for the whole family.
Kingdom Life Christian Fellowships' Ladies of Life Women's Ministry celebrated women and girls at the John W. Stevens Wetlands Education Center Friday with a red carpet photo opportunity, sit down dinner and guest speakers. Miranda Osborn was on hand with her camera to document the event.
May 1: Historical Society Lecture Series - The Richmond Hill Historical Society's monthly lecture is back from 7-9 p.m. at the Richmond Hill History Museum. This month's guest speaker is Vivian Macks, who will talk on Henry Ford, the innovator, industrialist and farmer who turned his mechanical interests into a global company that changed the world - and made a mark on Richmond Hill. The lecture is free to the public, though donations are welcome. For more information, visit www.richmonhilhistoricalsociety.com or call 756-3697.
Dog lovers unite.
Q: How long have you lived in Richmond Hill?
National Opera Week is just around the corner. To celebrate, Richmond Hill's newest senior-living community, the Suites at Station Exchange and Station Exchange at Home, are hosting an evening of food, wine and the vocal arts.
Oct. 17-19: Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival - The festival features coastal seafood vendors, arts and crafts booths and carnival rides. This year's entertainment includes the Blues Traveler, Swingin' Medallions, Jake Miller and more. For more information, call 756-3444 or go to www.goseafoodfestival.com or goseafood.net.
Richmond Hill resident Naomi Havens overcame devastating circumstances and now uses her story and experience to help others dealing with health issues similar to her own.
The Richmond Hill Garden Club hosted its annual Pumpkin Patch at J.F. Gregory Park Saturday, garnering what may have been the best turnout yet. Attendees bought pumpkins, mums, crafts and homemade baked goods while children played fall-themed games and were offered lollipops from the Pumpkin Fairy. Tiffany Stroud took these photos.
Oct. 9: Ruffled Feathers Boutique Ribbon Cutting - Ruffled Feathers Boutique, 2552 Highway 17, is having a grand opening and ribbon cutting from 1:30-2:30 p.m. There also will be a grand-opening sale and light refreshments. For more information, call 459-2252.
Fall has arrived, and it's time to pick a pumpkin.
Q: How long have you lived in Richmond Hill?
Oct. 3-4: Movie Night under the Stars – The Ice Cream Stop in Richmond Hill invites the community to a free family fun night of movie-watching under the stars. Friday evening's showing will be a PG-rated movie, and Saturday night's movie will be rated G. The movies will begin at dusk. Guests are asked to bring lawn chairs. Visit the The Ice Cream Stop's Facebook page for more information.
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Definitely not your same-old every-day meatloaf! Mexican flavor and cheeses give a wonderful zip to this easy dish. Delicious served with mashed potatoes!
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Category Archives: Winter
The Weekend Round-Up: March 8-9
It's a fun and interesting mix of special events and activities this weekend, from free art programs at local museums to storytime at NPR to show time at local theatres to the start of DC United's season at RFK and … Continue reading
Where to Play on the Weekdays: March 3-7
Monday – When the storm gives you snow, make a snowman. But if it's not a Frosty-building or sledding kind of day, then celebrate the birthday (a day late) of one of the most beloved children's authors: Get out the … Continue reading
Filed under All ages, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Free, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Theatre, Virginia, Weekdays, Winter
The Weekend Round-Up: March 1-2
Celebrate the performing arts, Mardis Gras, French culture, and an early St. Patrick's Day. See a show. Do some LEGO movie-inspired activities. Attend a healthy eating and fitness fair for kids. Catch some local sports action. Enjoy one last skate … Continue reading
Where to Play on the Weekdays: February 24-28
Monday – Take the money tour at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It's a perfect outing for DCPS kids off from school, since programs are only offered on weekdays. For the younger set, head to a local go-to for … Continue reading
The Weekend Round-Up: February 22-23
We're getting a taste of spring this weekend! So, along with all of the events and activities listed here, be sure to consult The Best Places in the DC Area to Spend a Beautiful Day Outdoor with the Kids. If … Continue reading


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"I am convinced that behind the decisions of Grillo (suggested by his internet guru Casaleggio) exists a true subversive plan in Italy that could take us to a civil war.
If somebody doubts of what I am saying, just go to Youtube and look: 'Gaia' by Gianroberto Casaleggio. We are in the hands of two crazy people with secret missions. Mussolini' s fascism compared to this was just a joke!"
This radical online comment, by some anonymous reader, reveals the fear that commonly generates confrontational extremes in Italian political history.
At this moment, when the Italian government has fallen yet again, the youngest premiere ever in Italy and even the EU is about to form a new government. Another online commentator points out: We had eight premieres in the past twenty years, and only two of them were elected by the Italian people.
The Italian electoral system is the major target of the Five Star Movement of Beppe Grillo and Gianroberto Casaleggio. The future premier Renzi doesn't like it either, although he and Grillo agree on very little else. Italy has a long history of attempts to game the electoral system: populist movements, mafia conspiracies, back room intra-party deals, and maybe electronic "direct democracy" may get a chance.
Even without Berlusconi and his gaudy sex and corruption scandals, the Italian political scene is still a show. The general social climate of the country was obvious at the traditional television fiesta, the 64th San Remo music festival. The usual pop stars, crooners and show girls were elbowed aside by political disruptive banners, while a panoply of good and bad political types crowded together into the first row to seize a chance to be on TV.
On the festival's opening night, two spectators threatened to throw themselves from the top of the stage to their death, plummeting right into the audience. They demanded that their letter be read out loud by the host of the show in front of millions of RAI television viewers.
These histrionic suicides wanted to draw attention to the plight of unemployed workers in Italy — which they did. This wasn't the first time that desperate workers have threatened suicide during the music show. Italian viewers are a crowd highly sensitive to social injustice, enthusiastic members of trade unions and people's movements. Somehow, however, they never form a national government capable of favoring the interests of working people. Why is this, I wonder? Am I missing something?
Many things have changed in Italy since the M5S Five Star Movement unexpectedly became a significant presence in the Italian Parliament. The new movement, which organized through weblogs and street rallies, managed to elect large numbers of youthful political amateurs and women. However, electing legislators isn't the same as an ability to rule or manage the state. More


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Beyond "Either/Or" to "Both/And"
One of my grad students posted an essential question via Twitter a few days ago:
Is the Mississippi River a "taxpayer-funded shipping canal" or home to diverse water stories?
Her tweet, from @waterbugsUMN, included a link to a recent blog post by the travel writer Dean Klinkenberg. Klinkenberg summarizes just a few of the interesting, varied, some would even say "essential" stories that he came across in a recent trip through the Upper Mississippi River corridor. I'll write another time about why I think "essential" belongs in this discussion, but on to the main point today.
Klinkenberg only makes passing reference to the river as a barge canal, but that sense of things was heavily reinforced with the news last week that the Upper Mississippi would be designated the "M-35 Marine Highway Corridor."
There are many reasons why I personally think this is an appalling development. The name is reductive, even ugly. It reduces the river of mystery and mythology, the "spine of the nation" to an anonymous, numbered, static transect down the middle of the country. The name was apparently chosen to match the Interstate 35 corridor, which runs from Texas to Minnesota. What better way to make clear that the sole purpose of the river is moving goods.
Someone please write and tell me that I'm wrong, that this new corridor isn't a signal that the river as highway is taking the upper hand over the river as a globally significant ecological corridor. But when you do, I really want to know how that dominance won't happen. In other words, don't just write and say I'm wrong (I hear that a lot). Tell me how this corridor designation won't tip the balance away from ecological preservation and enhancement, how this won't pave the way (pun intended) for expanded locks, hardened river edges to tie big barges up, and all the rest of the Pandoras Box that happens when we decide one use of the river will take absolute primacy over the others (despite federal law, as I understand it).
I hope to hear from you and I hope to be reassured.
Nation's Longest River Significantly Affected by Changing Climate
Sorry, Mississippi River fans, the nation's longest river is actually the Missouri. As this news story makes clear, though, the changes on the Missouri are of a sort that will bring big impacts to the Mississippi as well.
It's not really a surprise that some parts of the Missouri are seeing too little water while others are seeing too much. Climate change reports for some time have indicated that dry areas will trend drier and wet areas wetter. A USGS report released recently documents those changes across a broad area (227 stream gages) and through a span of better than 50 years.
In some ways, the varying reception of this news is more significant than the documented changes. Some farmers are simply adapting, aware that conditions always change in the uncertain world of agriculture. People in other sectors of the economy are likewise concerned, and adapting. Fishing is a major economic activity, contributing over $3 billion annually in Montana alone. No one is quite sure what the changed river conditions are going to mean to this industry.
Still others don't seem to really accept that the climate is changing, arguing that poor river management by the agencies involved with the Missouri River are to blame. The Corps of Engineers comes in for criticism, of course.
Whatever the cause, the evidence in front of people shows that the river is changing. As one source said, "We no longer have a smooth, easy-going river," he said. "It's choppy and eroding the banks and just pretty ugly at this point in time."
And that's perhaps the most interesting part of the story, for me at least. People in a changing landscape respond to the differences they can see, that are most directly affecting their daily lives. The river is different–"we no longer have…" The explanations they offer for change vary almost on a person by person basis, and may or may not be grounded in science, in a systematic understanding of policy or any other set of ideas other than their own values and beliefs.
The rivers are changing. What do we do now?
Keeping Up with Water Issues in Minnesota
I think it's fair to say that thousands more people in Minnesota are thinking about water than were, say, a year ago. The second-rainiest June ever certainly got people's attention, and if not, the floods that all that rain generated certainly did. White Bear Lake, in the northeast suburbs of the Twin Cities, has rebounded a couple of feet since its lowest point, but it's still a long way from "full." Putting the matter more directly: there's still a lot of land between the end of people's docks and the water.
Not surprisingly, the amount of information available to people who want to become more knowledgeable has also grown. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency web site contains basic descriptive data on watersheds, aquifers and other "building blocks" for water education, in addition to regulatory and planning information, guidance on the varying types of monitoring the state and other entities are engaged in, plus much, much more. This may be a good place to start looking, but there is a LOT here!
A related resource, but one that has its attention focusing forward into the future, is the Minnesota Water Sustainability Framework. The study was undertaken at the request of the legislature to provide guidance for management of funds from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the MN constitution.
These are all highly informative sources, but they are really rather daunting just to dive into (sorry–been resisting water puns this whole post!) without much background. Instead of these sources, I would start exploring water issues by reading what's been posted on Minnesota Public Radio's Ground Level blog. Ground Level, which focuses on issues important to Minnesota communities, has been running a series on groundwater "Beneath the Surface" for several months now. These stories make policy issues specific and visible, describing challenges, best practices, ways communities in other parts of the country are addressing issues comparable to ours, and a host of other topics.
To stay up to date with this most excellent resource, follow @MPRGroundLevel on Twitter.
We're going to be talking about water in Minnesota for years, even generations. We really need to get to where our "taken for granted" water bodies like the Mississippi River, Lake Superior, or "our" lake where Grandma's cabin is, are seen (that is, recognized not just with the eyes of our emotional attachment), known (how do they work), and loved (why do we care?).
Water Challenges in "The Land of 10,000 Lakes"
The fact that there are water challenges in Minnesota should surprise no one, really. Last week, the Metropolitan Council released preliminary ideas for what might be done to alleviate water shortages in suburban communities on the northeast side of the region, communities that surround the shrinking White Bear Lake.
Coverage of the report is offered through the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Both are worth reading, as they address different aspects of this continuing story.
This much seems clear: The solution to "fixing" White Bear Lake (or the surrounding communities) will be expensive, ranging at this point between $155 million and $600+ million. And the "problem" is complex; we don't know, without a couple more years of study, exactly where water in the region comes from, where it goes, or what it's being used for.
Two blog writers, Brendon Slotterback at Streets.mn and John Harrington at My Minnesota, both offer critically important questions and broader policy perspectives.
This story can't be simplified, which on the whole is probably good. The Star Tribune story has gotten 214 comments so far; worthy of a close content analysis to see what "the average citizen" is thinking about with regard to water in this "well-watered" state.
With any luck, we won't be able to take water for granted here much longer.
Invasive Carp Found in St. Paul pool of Mississippi
Perhaps it was inevitable that invasive carp would reach the Twin Cities stretch of the Mississippi River, but this weekend's announcement that two adult females had been caught in Pool 2 (the stretch of the river from Hastings to the Ford dam) seemed oddly muted.
The press release from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says the discovery is "concerning" but that conditions this spring and summer, with many weeks of high water, have been conducive to carp migration. When the navigation locks and dams are opened for the passage of flood waters, as they have been for much of June and July, strong swimming fish like the invasive carp can migrate.
Of course, there is still a great deal of effort being made to keep the invaders at bay. Hopefully, these two individuals were outliers that don't signal a widespread infestation. Still, the proof is there that the fish can get this far upstream, in case anyone doubted that.
Ironically, this weekend also saw the publication of a story on Upper St. Anthony Lock and Dam, reflecting on the history of efforts to construct this facility, which will close on or before next June, per stipulation in the most recent Federal waterways law. Seems the St. Anthony lock never really did make Minneapolis a river shipping hub after all.
Many conclusions are being offered to interpret that fact, in the comments section of the article, and on Twitter. I'll leave it up to readers to go chase those perspectives.
For more on the discovery of invasive carp in Pool Two, look here
Flood (noun): Water Where We Don't Want It
Most readers of this blog know that the Mississippi and its northernmost tributaries are flooding, and that this year's excessive rainfall has made the flooding worse than most years.
Dennis Anderson's column in the Minneapolis Star Tribune takes the occasion of the floods, and president Obama's recent trip to the Twin Cities, as an opportunity to talk about a nexus of land-water-politics/policy that is not well known.
Anderson takes a while to warm up to his real subject, which is the inadequacy of Minnesota's policies and regulatory structures around agriculture and water. Yes, he concedes, many farmers are trying to do better about farming as if water matters. However,
Yet it remains true that we, as a state, treat water as if its clean, abundant flow — surface and subsurface — is guaranteed forever.
It's not.
Ask California. Or Texas.
We aren't California or Texas (yet) here in the Upper Midwest, but we persist in dumping water and sediment and noxious chemicals downstream without real accountability. We manage our land, both urban and rural, to move water off it as rapidly as possible. Our federal and state laws encourage the complete commodification of land and water and food, instead of treating them as legacies bequeathed from our ancestors and borrowed from our children.
We have to do better.
Flooding hits Minneapolis, St. Paul
Record rainfall last week is having an entirely predictable impact: near-record floods this week in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Good coverage of the situation is provided by the New York Times and by local TV station KSTP Channel 5. The KSTP story has really great video of the Mississippi flowing through the wide-open Upper St. Anthony Lock.
Reports are that the Mississippi will crest in St. Paul this week at the sixth-highest level on record, higher than any time since 2001. Personally (and I'm not a hydrologist) I wonder if the big push through the Minnesota River has made it to St. Paul yet. Parts of the Minnesota River watershed got 11 inches of rain last week–is that water yet in the major river systems?
Anyone with knowledge of how the flow is working through the Minnesota River system and what's in store for St Paul feel free to help us out with a comment.
One more thing: I don't know what our high water means downstream. Sure, the water will be higher as it moves through the corridor, but should Winona expect a flood? Dubuque?
Climate Change and Rivers: Prognosis for the Upper Mississippi
Writing as part of the "Earth Journal" blog on Minnpost.com, Ron Meador recently summarized some of the key takeaway points for the Upper Midwest from the National Climate Assessment report released in May. His verdict: hotter summers, longer dry periods, bigger downpours when it does rain.
Incidentally, the 2.37 inches of rain the Twin Cities got on Sunday June 1 is a record for that date. Just sayin.'
What does the National Climate Assessment offer in terms of the future of rivers in the Upper Midwest? Some quick points:
- Flood magnitudes are expected to increase, both in the Mississippi River Basin,and, perhaps more alarming, in the Red River of the North;
- Water quality and quantity are being affected by complex changes in patterns of the hydrologic cycle such as the timing and volume of rains;
- Changes in growing seasons are likely to affect crop patterns, thereby altering shipping needs on the Mississippi;
More locally, the St. Croix River may see "monster" algal blooms by 2050, owing to higher water temperatures and reduced summer flows.
It seems fair to guess that many of these anticipated disruptions may change the ways some of us who work on river issues do things. For instance, does it make sense to talk about "ecosystem restoration" on the Upper Mississippi when the dynamics that create the landscape and fluvial patterns in the region are fundamentally altered? If "restoration" isn't the right term, then what might be?
At River Life, we are increasingly understanding that responding to questions such as these is central to our work. One of the things that universities are really good at is thinking on longer time horizons than some of our community partners. In fact, some people think that our primary responsibilities are not to replicate the work our partners do but to consider a wider range of potential scenarios, bring up new issues ahead of their coming to public attention, imagine new futures beyond the urgency of the daily grind.
Climate change and rivers: a conversation that is just getting started and not stopping any time soon. Let us know specifically what you'd like to hear about.
And So It Begins: Upper St. Anthony Lock to Close in 2015?
Buried in today's newspaper article about progress on the federal water infrastructure bill is this sentence: "The lock and dam would close one year after the legislation is enacted." Passage of the bill is considered a shoo-in, and likely to happen in the next week or so, which would mark sometime in 2015 as seeing the closing of the Upper Lock at St. Anthony Falls.
I have to say, if this does happen on that timetable, it will be much faster than I thought it could be done. Good thing I don't make my living guessing about Congress!
The timetable offers a window into a deeper set of questions: what next, and what needs to be thought of, by whom? Read the article and you'll recognize that opinions are sharply divided on the advisability of this closure.
Here's my invitation/request: write a Comment (keep it civil) making the case for what we should be thinking about, learning, researching, considering right now since the lock closure is apparently imminent. I have participated in a couple of conversations about this, so I know there's thinking going on.
The timetable for closing the lock should begin shortly; let's spend that time thinking clearly about what is being done, what are the advantages, what are the disadvantages, what additional opportunities may be opened, what constraints should we be careful of. Environmental issues, economic issues, social implications, educational opportunities–all seem reasonable subjects.
I look forward to learning from you.
What Can Be Ironic About Asian Carp?
I'm guessing it was about 25-30 years ago (think David Letterman in his early "Late Show" snarkiness) when it seemed that irony would be the trope that defined the age. Whatever came along, there was a smart-aleck putdown, a side comment, a mocking dismissal, all of which served to establish superiority of the mocker over the mockee.
Some called this "irony": I'm not so sure, seemed pretty sophomoric to me. Thinking like the English major that I was then, irony was more along the lines of "whoa, didn't see that coming," most especially when the unexpected turn of events led to a whole new perspective on the subject at hand.
It's that "whole new perspective" thing that is what's "ironic" about our "Irony of Carp" program. We are not at all suggesting that the invasive carps are not a serious issue, and we are not looking for laughs here either. The intent of our program is to leave the audience reflecting "I never thought of it that way before. Maybe I should look into this further."
I think that's one of our jobs at a university, to invite people to think more broadly and more deeply than they might otherwise. Brian Ickes, from whom we borrowed the title to the program, certainly does so with his featured talk. Our panel will be likewise provocative. What might we mean by "resilience," a term that is thrown around pretty loosely these days? When we say the carp are going to destroy the "natural" processes of the river, we know what we mean by "nature," right? Clearly, community engagement is simply a matter of rallying the public to take advocacy action.
Or is it? We feel that these assumptions and questions should be asked, and that robust conversation about them along with direct advocacy action is what's necessary to rally our communities to address our changing river, and water, issues.
Of course another part of our university responsibility is providing access to reliable information. If your reflection in the issues associated with carps has you hungry for more information, you might start with these web sites:
- The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee is a group of federal agencies concentrating on the problem of trying to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes watershed.
- Locally, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area has a very detailed treatment of the issue, with links to a number of important background pieces and Action Plans.
- For those seeking more research-based information, the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center at the University of Minnesota provides an important window into that world.
- The Stop Carp Coalition site contains action oriented information on how to stop carp as a threat to Minnesota's water-based way of life.
We'll pick up the issue from time to time, of course, but with so many other first rate sources of information, we're just as likely to be reporting on what they have as contributing new insights ourselves. Still, we'll post something from the "Irony of Carp" session, just to say we did.
(Bad effort at '80s dismissive attitude there, closing the loop to the top of the post!)


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For various reasons, including privacy or cost, some people wish to get divorced in a county other than where they live. You can file in another county if both parties agree to it. Some counties publish divorces in the local papers; which is something to note. However, eventually, most people pick up on the fact that you are in the process or recently divorced. One disadvantage is that if anything goes wrong–and there is much that can go wrong (alimony or support does not get paid, visitation is not working, and property was not transferred)—it is more expensive and complicated to straighten problems out if the divorce was granted in another county.