text:
Promoting Efficient Conference Spending Policy
This Memorandum has been replaced by:
May 15, 2013
To: OPDIV and STAFFDIV Heads
From: Ellen G. Murray
Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources
Subject: HHS Policy on Promoting Efficient Spending: Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and
Meeting Space, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing and Publications
The purpose of this memorandum is to implement changes to the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Policy on Promoting Efficient Spending: Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meeting Space to reflect the increased reporting requirements and enhanced controls required by Section 3003 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013. This provision:
- Requires per-conference and annual reporting to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), including information not currently collected centrally.
- Requires HHS to broaden the activities defined as a conference.
- Restricts the use of funds appropriated in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 or any FY 2013 appropriations Act for travel and conference activities unless they are consistent with OMB Memorandum M-12-12, and thus, makes it an Antideficiency Act (ADA) violation to use any FY 2013 funds for travel and conferences that are inconsistent with OMB Memorandum M-12-12.
Specifically, Section 3003 states:
"(a) The head of any Executive branch department, agency, board, commission, or office funded by this or any other appropriations Act shall submit annual reports to the Inspector General or senior ethics official for any entity without an Inspector General, regarding the costs and contracting procedures related to each conference held by any such department, agency, board, commission, or office during fiscal year 2013 for which the cost to the United States Government was more than $100,000.
"(b) Each report submitted shall include, for each conference described in subsection (a) held during the applicable period—
(1) a description of its purpose;
(2) the number of participants attending;
(3) a detailed statement of the costs to the United States Government, including—
(A) the cost of any food or beverages;
(B) the cost of any audio-visual services;
(C) the cost of employee or contractor travel to and from the conference; and
(D) a discussion of the methodology used to determine which costs relate to the conference; and
(4) a description of the contracting procedures used including—
(A) whether contracts were awarded on a competitive basis; and
(B) a discussion of any cost comparison conducted by the departmental component or office in evaluating potential contractors for the conference.
"(c) Within 15 days of the date of a conference held by any Executive branch department, agency, board, commission, or office funded by this or any other appropriations Act during fiscal year 2013 for which the cost to the United States Government was more than $20,000, the head of any such department, agency, board, commission, or office shall notify the Inspector General or senior ethics official for any entity without an Inspector General, of the date, location, and number of employees attending such conference.
"(d) A grant or contract funded by amounts appropriated by this or any other appropriations Act to an Executive branch agency may not be used for the purpose of defraying the costs of a conference described in subsection (c) that is not directly and programmatically related to the purpose for which the grant or contract was awarded, such as a conference held in connection with planning, training, assessment, review, or other routine purposes related to a project funded by the grant or contract.
"(e) None of the funds made available in this or any other appropriations Act may be used for travel and conference activities that are not in compliance with Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M–12–12 dated May 11, 2012."
Accordingly, the following changes are being made to the policy on the Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meeting Space, the revised version of which is attached:
1. Annual Reporting:
HHS' current approach for reporting on conferences that exceed $100,000 will generally meet the majority of the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) above. However, additional details will be required for the annual report to the OIG, such as the contracting procedures used to acquire support for each conference. These new reporting requirements apply to all conferences held by HHS in FY 2013. (See Attachment 1, section 1.4)
2. Reporting of Conferences in Excess of $20,000:
To meet the requirements of subsection (c) above and ensure timely submission to the OIG, new reporting requirements have been established. These reporting requirements apply to conferences held by HHS on or after March 26, 2013 (the enactment date of this provision). (See Attachment 1, section 1.4)
3. Grants and Contracts:
Although subsection (d) applies to grantees and contractors, it does not affect the conference-approval process.
4. Compliance with OMB M-12-12, dated May 11, 2012:
OMB Memorandum M-12-12 established a definition for conferences; implemented the requirements for Deputy Secretary-level review and approval of conferences in excess of $100,000; and established a threshold of $500,000 for any single conference, which may be waived by the Secretary under exceptional circumstances. Subsection (e) above makes it an Antideficiency Act violation to obligate, on or after March 26, any funds made available by an FY 2013 appropriations act (whether for conference hosting, travel, per diem, or any other miscellaneous cost) for a conference whose total cost to HHS from all sources exceeds the thresholds above unless the appropriate approvals were received in advance. Therefore, to meet the requirements of subsection (e) above, the definition of conference is revised to be consistent with OMB, the approval threshold for the Deputy Secretary's approval is reduced (reflecting the difficulty of capturing all travel and miscellaneous costs accurately), and the requirement to obtain approval prior to the obligation of funds is reinforced. (See Attachment 1, section 1.3)
These policy revisions are effective immediately and apply to all sources of funds (whether from an annual appropriation, multi-year appropriation, no year appropriation, appropriated user fee, mandatory appropriation, gift funds, or reimbursements from such appropriations, etc.), as well as non-appropriated funds, i.e., those set by law, etc.
The January 3, 2012 policies on the Use of Appropriated Funds for Food (Attachment 2), Promotional Items (Attachment 3), and Printing and Publications (Attachment 4) remain in full force and effect.
Please share this transmittal memorandum and the attached policies with all appropriate officials within your OPDIV or STAFFDIV. Questions regarding this policy may be addressed to Clarence Randall, Office of Grants and Acquisition Policy and Accountability (OGAPA), at email@example.com.
Related Documents
Attachment 1: HHS Policy on Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meeting Space
Exhibit 1: Report on Conferences Held by HHS OPDIVs and STAFFDIVs in Excess of $20,000


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Last month I started to use quite a lot of products... Most of them were sent to me for review purposes.
Avon Planet Spa White Tea Energizing Face Mask
SkinCeuticals Correct Eye Cream
Luview Lemon Balm Bubble Cleansing Foam
Yves Rocher Lavande Essentielle Good-As-New Foot Scrub With Pumice Stone
Luview Aqua Essence Whitening BB Cream
Hydroxatone AM / PM Anti-Wrinkle Complex For Day And Night Use SPF 15
Luview Whitening Capsule BB Cream
Hydroxatone SunSoak Age-Defying Self Tanner
Luview One Touch Brush Sun Powder
Hydroxatone Lashatone
New York Color Liquid Lipshine Lipgloss
Sigma Beauty Eyeshadow Palette - Flare
And a bar of soap. It's called Coconut Scrub but to my taste it smells like apples. It has some scrubbing particles in it. Seems to be drying for my skin though.
Softsoap Coconut Scrub Bar Soap

subset: commoncrawl


text:
May 30, 2013
Four days after an Albemarle County police officer was involved in a shooting in Charlottesville, police are releasing some details.
Charlottesville Police have finally released the name of the man who was shot by an Albemarle County officer over the weekend, and who shot him.
They say Albemarle Officer William Underwood shot Josue Salinas Valdez at Valdez's home on Birdwood Court in Charlottesville Sunday night.
Police say it began as a hit and run investigation in Albemarle County, and that's what caused Officers Underwood and James Herring to arrive at Valdez's home.
Albemarle Police refused to provide any information about the hit and run investigation.
Charlottesville Police say there was a struggle at the home, and that's when Underwood shot Valdez. Valdez is still at the University of Virginia Medical Center, in stable condition.
Charlottesville Police say, they were not there when the shot was fired.
"Our officers were called after the incident occurred," said Lt. Ronnie Roberts with Charlottesville Police. "Our officers were working with the medical staff, with the Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad, and then securing the crime scene itself."
Officer Underwood has been put on administrative leave while the police department does an internal investigation.
An officer with the same name, William Underwood, received an award last week from the Albemarle County Police Foundation for valor, because he participated in a murder-suicide investigation at Rio Mills in December. During that response, an officer fired a shot at a suspect and missed.
Albemarle Police refused to confirm if the Officer Underwood who received the award, and the Officer Underwood who shot Valdez is the same person.
The Birdwood Court investigation comes just two months after Charlottesville Police were investigating another officer-involved shooting. That happened at the Elks Club in March.
In that case, Officer Alex Bruner fired a shot at a suspect, wounding him. Bruner has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Roberts says the Birdwood Court case has been harder to work out because there are fewer witnesses than in the Elks Club case.
"In this case you don't have a number of people who were out and about during this type of an incident," said Roberts.
Police don't know yet when Valdez will get out of the hospital, or if he will face charges. They say that is up to the Commonwealth's Attorney. Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney Dave Chapman confirmed that his office is investigating the case, but said he could not make any comment about it.
May 28, 2013
Police are canvasing Birdwood Court, but are not releasing any new information.
After an officer-involved shooting at a Charlottesville home Sunday night that left one person wounded, police are still releasing few details about what led the officer to fire the weapon.
The shooting happened in the 100-block of Birdwood Court around 9 p.. Sunday. Albemarle County Police were at the Charlottesville home investigating a case that happened earlier in the day.
The only thing Charlottesville Police have confirmed is that an Albemarle County officer fired a weapon, hitting a man at the home.
Neighbors tell the Newsplex the victim is still at the University of Virginia Medical Center receiving treatment for his injuries, but police have not given an update on his condition.
On Tuesday, Albemarle County Police confirm the officer who fired the weapon has been put on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. While that's protocol, it's something police wouldn't confirm until Tuesday.
County police also say any information on what led them to that house in the first place will come from the city. Charlottesville Police said Tuesday they have no information to give out.
Neighbors said they're anxious to hear from police about what happened and what led the officer to fire his gun.


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Personal Fitness Trainer Workshops and Certification Exam
Personal Trainer Certification Workshops are offered by Training Made Fun.
Training Made Fun personal trainer certification workshops are 2-day intensive trainings. There will be an initial focus on lecture to ensure sufficient knowledge levels in the areas of functional anatomy, exercise physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics, and program design. The second half of the weekend you will experience hands-on instruction focused on functional and traditional exercise applications, usage of various equipment types and tools, and advisement on how to progress or regress each exercise.
Call 1 (888) 229-2368 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
Please contact TrainingMadeFun.net directly for information about their workshop schedule and pricing.
Please Note: NESTA offers an online Personal Fitness Trainer Certification Course for those seeking to study at their own pace in the comfort of their own home. Please click here for our Online Personal Fitness Trainer Certification.
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Suttons Bay Apartment Rental Photos and Description
Located in the heart of the Village of Suttons Bay and is walking distance to many gourmet or casual dining, boutique and specialty shops, an old fashioned movie theater, grocery store, drug store and hardware store. .
New carpet and furnishings - Both bedrooms have a queen bed. Nice size dining room table and kitchen with Range, refrigerator, microwave. Full bath.
Keywords: Village of Suttons Bay,
- Suitability:
- children welcome
- non smoking only
- pets not allowed
- wheelchair inaccessible


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Minister in 'rent-a-protester' flap offers to open his books
BY ROSALIND ROSSI Education firstname.lastname@example.com January 27, 2012 8:18PM
Rev. Roosevelt Watkins of Bethlehem Star Church. File Photo | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times
Related Stories
Updated: February 29, 2012 8:08AM
A minister in the eye of the "rent-a-protester" storm has offered to open the books of his non-profit agency to prove it spent taxpayer money appropriately — and not on packing school closing hearings with paid protesters.
"Small stipends" offered to school protesters did not come from after-school and safe-passage grants the HOPE Organization received from Chicago Public Schools, the group's CEO, Rev. Roosevelt Watkins III, told the Chicago Sun-Times in an email.
"I have called CPS and invited them to review the organization's accounting and verify the grant has been spent appropriately,'' Watkins, pastor of Bethlehem Star Church, wrote the Sun-Times Thursday evening.
Earlier that same day, the Sun-Times reported that Schools Inspector General James Sullivan was looking into charges that cash-strapped protesters were paid $25 to $50 to pile into buses outside HOPE's Englewood office and attend school closing hearings. Some carried pre-made signs; others read from pre-crafted scripts, protesters said.
Two men told the Sun-Times they were misled about the subject of the hearings, ended up disagreeing with the pro-closing position they were supposed to convey, and were paid later at HOPE's office by a woman who plucked envelopes filled with $25 in cash from a container full of envelopes.
Watkins previously told the Sun-Times he organized busloads of protesters to attend closing hearings, but said they should have received "training" on "community organizing" first — something two protesters said they never received.
Said Watkins: "Those that did not receiving the training should not have received a stipend.'' The stipend money, Watkins said, came from "a coalition of clergy" who have "money set aside for outreach in the community.'' Only "private money'' and not church or HOPE money was used, he told the Sun-Times previously.
"Like every other neighborhood, members of the faith community engage residents, parishioners and activists on how to affect change, including participating in community meetings on issues of significant importance,'' Watkins added later in an email to the Sun-Times. "Often, for their time and involvement in training programs and activities, we provide a small stipend to help offset expenses such as transportation, food and childcare.''
Wrote Watkins in his email: "No one should be surprised Chicago's faith community is working to empower parents and residents to speak out against failing schools.''
CPS spokeswoman Becky Carroll confirmed Friday that Watkins called Renaldo Kyles, director of CPS faith initiatives, Thursday night to say he was issuing a statement inviting CPS to review his books.
"The IG [Schools Inspector General] has already taken steps to look into this matter, and we await his findings,'' Carroll said.
HOPE has received $1.4 million in CPS funds since 2010, CPS records show. It also won a city contract worth at least $61,000 in January 2011 for "out-of-school-time opportunities.'' Meanwhile, Watkins has joined a long list of ministers who have supported Mayor Rahm Emanuel's school reform agenda.
During a school board meeting Wednesday, Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) urged board members to wipe the comments of what he called "paid protesters" from the closing hearing record. Such efforts "subvert our public process,'' said Fioretti, who added that what he saw at the Crane hearing he attended was "embarrassing.''
Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard said later that same day that he knew nothing about the so-called "rent-a-protesters.'' Brizard pointed instead to 9,000 people who joined a telephone townhall with Brizard organized last week by Stand for Children, a non-profit group that backed a school reform law that weakened teacher tenure protections and made it harder for the Chicago Teachers Union to strike.
Of those parents who called in, Brizard said, "That's the kind of people I listen to.''


text:
Banks go from grey to glorious techie colour in IT talent search
When billions of dollars depend on your information technology, it had better be good. That is why banks need the best IT talent, and lots of it. The global IT workforce at Credit Suisse is 10,000. At Goldman Sachs it is 8,000. JP Morgan employs 4,500 people in IT in Europe.
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text:
Principia Methodologica: Theory and methodology in educational research
|Course code EDUC6295
|Units 10
|Level 6000
|Faculty of Education and ArtsSchool of Education
The purpose of this course is to serve as an introduction to the intellectual traditions which ground research in education and the social professions generally. Primary grounding will be developed from the philosophy and history of the social sciences, with a strong additional point of departure building from the history and philosophy of science more generally.
Not available in 2015
|This course provides students with the opportunity to:
1. examine and discuss a range of philosophical approaches to foundational issues in educational research;
2. critically engage in debates on the philosophical premises of differing research methodological traditions;
3. articulate a coherent philosophical basis for the methodological choices made in the construction of educational research; and
4. demonstrate cogent reasoning and understanding of the philosophy of educational research.
|The following questions are foundational to the content of the course:
- What are the methodological consequences of specific ontological and epistemological positions?
- What central methodological tenets and virtues are implied by differing philosophical positions?
- How do we understanding the relationship between the intended audience of research production and its philosophical foundation?
- What is the place of the normative in the production of educational research?
|Replacing Course(s)
|Industrial Experience
|Assumed Knowledge
|Modes of Delivery
|Internal Mode
|Teaching Methods
Self Directed Learning
|Assessment Items
|Contact Hours
|Lecture: for 1 hour(s) per Week for Full Term
Tutorial: for 2 hour(s) per Week for Full Term


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kismet Inn Spa
Kismet Inn Organic and Natural Spa
- Categories: lodging / bed & breakfast
- Address: 44 Summer Street Map
- City, State: Bath, Maine Country: United States Postal Code: 04530
- Phone: 207-443-3399 Fax: Not Available
- WebSite: http://www.kismetinnmaine.com
- Email: kismet Inn Spa Contact: Shadi Towfighi
- Description:
An extraordinarily beautiful bed and breakfast in a tranquil setting on Library Park, Historic district of Bath, midcoast, Maine, Kismet Inn and Spa unites Old World hospitality with New World luxury. Rooms are custom-designed with such unique features as hand-crafted furniture, Japanese soaking tubs, and radiant heat floors. Meals are prepared with organic, locally sourced ingredients. Spa and wellness services include private yoga sessions, massage, bodywork, and our signature exfoliation treatment. We are ideally located one block from restaurants, antique stores, cafes, galleries, and specialty shops on Front Street, recognized by the American Planning Association as one of the nation's Ten Great Streets and "an architectural treasure.".
- Online Ordering: Yes
No comments yet
your comment about kismet Inn Spa
Solicitations Will Not be Added


text:
CSNPhilly.com Phillies insider Jim Salisbury reports that Ryan Howard is heading to Philadelphia today to have his surgically repaired left ankle examined by a specialist for the second time this week. [Link]
According to the report, if his infection has cleared and the wound healed, Howard could be given the green light to accelerate baseball activities, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro told Salisbury. Read the rest here. ... Meanwhile, the Phillies kept their winning streak alive at Petco Park, but continue to feel the loss of Howard. Vance Worley fanned a career-high 11 strikeouts, and Chad Qualls and Jonathan Papelbon locked down the eighth and ninth, in guiding the Phillies to a 2-0 victory over the Padres Thursday night. The Phils banged out their runs on a Jimmy Rollins sac fly in the first and an unearned run on a passed ball in the ninth.The Phils have won 12 straight games at Petco dating back to 2008.


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Product safety tips
Household fire extinguishers
In addition to working smoke detectors, every household should have UL Listed fire extinguishers strategically placed in certain rooms including the kitchen, garage or workshop.
Read the instruction manual and know your extinguisher's capabilities before trying to fight a fire. Portable fire extinguishers are useful for putting out small fires, but recognize your limits and the limits of the extinguisher.
Using the wrong type of extinguisher on a fire can actually make it spread, so it is important to plan ahead when purchasing and using fire extinguishers.
Four types of household extinguishers
The manufacturer's use and care booklet provides guidance on the type and size of fire with which your extinguisher may be used. The booklet also provides tips on how to properly use and maintain your extinguisher.
|Extinguisher rating
|Intended use
|Type A
|For use on fires involving combustible materials such as wood, cloth and paper.
Type B
For use on flammable liquid fires, including kitchen grease. Never use water on this type of fire.
Type C
For use in fires involving energized electrical equipment.
Type ABC
Works on all three types of fires listed above.
Important safety instructions
- If a fire breaks out, your first step is to get everyone out of the house and call the fire department. If the fire is not spreading and is confined to a small area, use the appropriate type of extinguisher for the fire. Know your limits and the limits of the extinguisher.
- Periodically inspect your extinguishers to determine if they need to be recharged or replaced. Extinguishers need to be recharged or replaced after each use even if you have not used all the extinguishing agent.
- When using a portable extinguisher, keep your back to an unobstructed exit that is free from fire.
- Check the manufacturer's instructions for operating guidelines, including proper distance between the extinguisher and the fire. Always aim at the base of the fire.


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Memorial Hermann's Executive Health Program can assist and support your company by optimizing the health of your executive team. Providing services to thousands of executives each year, our program targets and identifies your executive's medical risks and offers recommendations for a successful health management strategy.
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August 31, 2006
The echoes of clashing steel and the cries of combat enveloped the Battle Isles this past weekend. Through the carnage arose a new champion—War Machine. This war-hardened guild is an established force in Guild Battles, placing second in the last World Championship. Their path to this year's victory was not an easy one, however; they were put up against the best guilds in all of Cantha and Tyria, each willing to do whatever it took to claim the Champion's title.
War Machine's first challenger was Treacherous Empire. From the predictions I heard from onlookers, it seemed many wanted to see Te win, but most felt War Machine would be the victors. As soon as the battles commenced, War Machine fought with the fury of Balthazar as they laid waste to Te in two furious matches. Observers were in awe of the soon-to-be champions' devastating strategies.
After earning their place in the Championship Match, War Machine was prepared to take on Idiot Savants [iQ]. iQ had just beaten The Last Pride—the previous Champions, and arch-rivals of War Machine—in a series of three matches, and were determined to fight to the last man for the Championship title.
As onlookers waited for the match to begin, an eerie calm settled over the Battle Isles. The only audible sound was the harmonic chant of the Priests of Balthazar as they recited the appropriate prayers to garner Balthazar's blessing for the upcoming combat. While my fellow servants of Dwayna prepared the Resurrection Shrines, the two guilds emerged from the darkness, ready for their challenge. The silence was unnerving as anticipation rose, and when the gates finally swung open, the mass of onlookers erupted as if they had been holding in their sound for centuries.
The Idiot Savants seized a decisive victory against War Machine in the first match. Many of those watching alongside me proclaimed that War Machine couldn't possibly recover after such a loss, while others felt the loss would only strengthen their resolve. Ignoring naysayers, WM rallied well and, after a mighty struggle, emerged victorious. After two epic battles, it was down to one last match.
Onlookers once again fell silent as the final round of the Championship began. Without hesitation, Idiot Savants charged War Machine's guild hall, seeking to end the conflict in a rapid and devastating push. War Machine deflected the attack, and countered with a push of their own. iQ was unable to subdue War Machine's counterattack, and as iQ watched their Guild Lord's health dwindle, the chants for War Machine resounded throughout Cantha and Tyria. War Machine won the Championship, and the masses began their celebrations.
The people have a victor—they have their Champion!
The Struggle to Reclaim StolenArsenal Continues
As predicted, the items stolen from the Cantha-bound vessel mentioned in my earlier missive have been delivered to countless villains and degenerates, imperiling our fine continent. Hoping to even the odds by helping to place these valuable goods in the hands of the worthy, Canthan officials have requested I provide additional details about the weapons identified so far.
The first weapon to surface was the set of Salient Daggers. These razor-sharp blades are being distributed inside the borders of Kaineng City itself! Canthan officials are furious that those responsible for this horrendous robbery would dare have the audacity to distribute stolen wares on the city streets—and right under their noses. May Grenth forever torment these criminals in the Underworld! Assassins are flocking to the city, both to punish those responsible for the crimes against an unarmed merchant ship and, of course, to claim a pair of Salient Daggers for themselves.
My friends among the Luxons tell me of two separate weapons being dispensed within their vassal state. The Outcasts—forever impudent to the rightful rulers of the Luxon nation—have armed themselves with a new type of weapon known as the Hand Axe. This tool of war is proving effective, as bands of Outcasts have been harassing any party leaving the safety of Cavalon.
Also found within Luxon Territory is a Jade Sword. From what I understand, the Luxons provided an unknown blacksmith with a large quantity of Jade, and he was to deliver payment in the form of a new weapon most fitting for the Luxons. Needless to say, the Luxon Armada is enraged that their compensation was apprehended by pirating thieves, and thus have a burning resolve to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.
The Kurzicks have reported the finding of a new shield known as the Guardian of the Hunt. These shields have fallen into the hands of the Wardens—xenophobic protectors of Echovald Forest—and Kurzicks fear the Wardens plan to use the shields in their quest to extract revenge from man, upon which they place the blame for the Jade Wind itself.
I have also received the uplifting news that the Lotus Staff has been accounted for, and collectors all across the Kurzick Kingdom are distributing it. It feels good to know that some of these wares made it into respectable hands.
Many other pillaged items have reportedly been found; however, their whereabouts are too vague to make sense of. I am sure the location of these treasures will spread by word of mouth, so keep your ears open for any circulating rumors. May the gods show you the way to that which you seek.
Guild Emblemers Begin JudgingEmblem Contest
Over the past few weeks, the Guild Emblemers have collected submissions from amateur emblemers across Tyria and Cantha. To celebrate the growing relations with the Elonians, the Guild Emblemers requested submissions reflect an Elonian theme. The deadline for submissions has passed, and the judging process will begin shortly.
I was given a chance to view some of the submissions, and I must say I am in awe of the abilities of artisans from our two fine nations. I am sure those designs chosen to join the Emblemers' current collection will bring great honor to our Elonian neighbors, and hopefully will encourage them to open their borders to travelers. Many of the artists chose to create emblems that represent the visiting Paragons and Dervish with images of angels, scythes, and spears, while others based their emblem on the descriptions of Elona the visiting combatants shared weeks ago. While we have not yet seen their exotic land, I am hopeful these emblems will show it justice.
The Emblemers themselves are extremely pleased with the submissions they received, and have vowed to offer similar contests in the future. They tell me the judging process could take several weeks—what with working across two continents—so watch for the announcement of winners late next month.
Random Acts of Kindness
Another week has passed, and with it comes my weekly report on the kindness I witnessed during my travels.
On my way out to speak with the local Emblemer, I saw a young Necromancer named Griffon Man helping a Monk get settled into the Monastery. Not only did he help equip her for training, he also gave her detailed instructions on how to join a guild. Being a novice is always difficult, so I thank you for making it as easy as possible for the young Monk.
In the hectic metropolis of Kaineng Center, I saw Karne Vengeance giving tips and pointers to those new to the area. He provided information on the use of a Superior Salvage Kit, and helped those in the area make an informed decision on their purchases.
Over in Ascalon, I saw a young Mesmer distraught over losing her only weapon. She thought that, without a weapon, and insufficient skills to kill her opponents, she would be unable to continue on her adventure. Celestina Rose helped the Mesmer find a replacement weapon so she could resume her quest, and then accompanied her as she continued to learn her new profession.
Not too long ago, I noticed a young Ranger in Lion's Arch seeking to learn the skill Barrage. Ragnar Of Syvesten and Athena Draconis were both quick to send the Ranger to the Iron Mines of Moladune to capture the skill.
While over in Ascalon City, Cae Of Old Ascalon helped equip a recent inductee of Ascalon's Army with a bow, and with some very sound advice as well. Thank you for your kindness towards those less experienced than yourself.
Back in the comfort of my Monastery, I was fortunate to once again see multiple people answering questions for lost and confused students. Both Beau Arrowhead and Afficted Elemental helped a first year student locate Master Togo to begin mastering a secondary profession.
Thank you to all of those who help make our world a brighter place.
August 31, 2006All Scribe Articles


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Gamma and Cosmic Ray Astrophysics Branch
The mission of the Gamma and Cosmic Ray Astrophysics Branch of the Space Science Division is to conduct a broad-based research program relating to the gamma-ray and charged-particle environment and the use of gamma-ray and energetic particle detection systems in space. In support of this mission the Branch undertakes a program of (1) observational and theoretical investigations of gamma-ray, X-ray and cosmic-ray emissions from the Sun and celestial sources, (2) monitoring high-energy solar-flare activity, (3) monitoring energetic particles in the near-space environment and in the upper atmosphere, and (4) development and evaluation of gamma-ray and particle sensor systems for applications in space. Program activities include the study of fundamental high-energy processes in the Sun and in extremely violent celestial sources, evaluation of the cosmic-ray and solar energetic particle environments and the effect of charged-particle induced damage on microelectronics and manned systems in space, and the development of improved detection systems to monitor phenomena which relate to DoD systems. The unique capabilities of nuclear spectroscopy are utilized to study the nuclear component of matter in astrophysical sites and to develop advanced capabilities for detection and surveillance of nuclear materials in terrestrial and space applications.
Integrated Studies of Gamma-Ray Flares (G. Share, PI)
Spectroscopy of Hard X Rays and Gamma Rays from Solar Flares (G. Share, PI)
Solar Influence on Energetic Particles Impacting the Earth's Atmosphere (G. Share, PI)
High-Energy Radiation in the Solar Terrestrial Envrionment (A. Tylka, PI)
Gamma Ray Analysis of HESSI Data (R. Murphy, PI)
Theoretical High Energy Solar Physics(R. Murphy, PI)
Multi-Spacecraft Observations of Large Solar Energetic Particle Events in Solar Cycle 23 (A. Tylka, PI)
The Limits of Solar Energetic Particle Acceleration in CMEDriven Shocks (A. Tylka, Co.I)
Modeling Geomagnetic Cutoffs for SEP Hazards on the ISS and Other Spacecraft (A. Tylka, PI)


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Get the Proenza Schouler Fall 2009 look with French Connection
The Proenza Schouler Fall 2008/09 collection hit the runway just yesterday with a fashion forward collection full of folds, pleats and pussybow blouses and coats. Already, here's now you can get the look... with this green Mayhem coat from French Connection for £125. A loose fitting forest green coat, it features a tie neck, balloon sleeves and two front pockets. It's loose fit means you can layer it up with a dark green dress and coloured tights just like the runway look. While you may not want to copy the blue eye liner right around the eye, it's not a bad find to DIY until the real thing hits stores in about 6 months (or 3 when they hit chain stores).
[Image from Getty]


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Food prices aren't likely to skyrocket because of drought conditions. Vehicles are going to continue to become mobile infotainment centers. And one of the reasons unemployment remains high is because people don't want to work.
Those were a few of the comments during the Northeast Indiana Economic Outlook Panel discussion Thursday at IPFW. The event, sponsored by Tower Private Advisors of Fort Wayne, drew more than 70 people.
They listened to Howard Halderman, president of Halderman Farm Management; Nick Knappenberger, owner of H&E Machined Specialties; Pete Henry, a vice president with Midwest Pipe & Steel; Sri Bramadesam, president of Autoline Industries; and Tony Reincke, president of Granite Ridge Builders.
Last month, the Labor Department reported food prices are likely to rise in the months ahead as the Midwest drought has made corn, soybeans and other grains more expensive.
But Halderman said some farmers had better yields than expected, so the public shouldn't push the panic button just yet. He said many growers use genetically modified seed, which was able to produce despite drought stress.
In fact, Henry said, agribusiness is alive and well as the U.S. is still the leader in agricultural technology. During the recession many industries were hit hard, but agriculture really hung in there, Knappenberger added.
Bramadesam said the automotive business is coming back. Consumers can expect the continued electrification of cars, he said, with hybrid vehicles becoming increasingly common on the assembly lines – and in showrooms.
Vehicles made of composite materials including aluminum, Bramadesam said, will play a major role in coming years as the auto industry looks to make lighter-weight cars and trucks to meet fuel efficiency standards.
During the recession, Reincke said, his company didn't look around to see what our competitors were doing. Instead, Granite Ridge embraced other forms of marketing, such as social networking.
As for unemployment, Knappenberger said some people don't want to work and would rather accept unemployment benefits. Reincke recalled a job candidate he wanted to hire, but the applicant sought the position on his own terms.
He wanted to start in two months after his unemployment ran out, Reincke said. I said, We need you now.'
Tom Lewandowski is president of the Northeast Indiana Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. He didn't attend Thursday's panel discussion, but wishes he had.
When an employer says people don't want to work, they're not finishing the sentence. What they're really saying is that people don't want to work at what I'm willing to pay.'
Lewandowski said most people don't want to live off jobless benefits but have to figure out whether a position is worth accepting.
Can they pay for the baby sitter? he said. If the job is long-distance and their car needs a new transmission, can they buy one? The fact is, a lot of these jobs are lousy.


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This is version 5.0.3 (15882) July 16 2012 build. I feel pretty comfortable writing about these talents now as I think these are what we are going to get when MoP goes live. I am writing this from a DPS/Arms/raid perspective so I will explain why I selected the talents I did as well. Blizzard has stated that they want all of these choices to be hard to make so I want to try and rationalize out what I can select to get the most gains in a raid setting.
I enjoy playing a DPS warrior for multiple reasons. I enjoy the visceral feel of charging, leaping and intervening around the battlefield and bringing ruin to the enemy. I enjoy out DPSing other warriors because I am both a bit cocky in game and I am pretty sure many other warriors, through experience over the past 8 years of the game, feel the same way. So do these talents I picked touch upon that feeling side of mashing the key and wrecking a mob, or trying to produce big numbers and end up on the wowprogress/guild progress top 200 boards? BOTH! While some of these talents are a bit meh for me, I more or less feel like this is a pretty decent build. I think the theory crafters are going to have a bit harder time determining the best talents to pick this time around. Thats of course assuming that most of them havent quit by now. So why did I choose what I did for these talents? I will run down my selections by level tier. Where motivated to do so I will try and show any advantage where I can.
Level 15: Lets get physical er mobile.
Juggernaut: I will probably stick with Juggernaut. Generally as DPS, when I charge into a fight (Raid) I am at least on that mob for 12 seconds. When I do this, this generates 10 rage and a nice 1.5 second stun. As we all know rage is good. I really like having a 12 second CD on this and anything longer feels too long. If I need to initiate on the boss to gain some rage, before peeling to and add with a pool to spend, then 12 secs is great. With Arms gaining rage to spend through white damage, I should be able to peel to a those early adds with 20 rage from boss charge + 3 hits + 20 rage on the add charge. Over a minute, this should be a rage gain advantage. (60 seconds / 12 sec CD = 5 uses per minute = 100 rage per minute).
Double Time: If DT was still setup to double dip on rage generation I would probably take it. I would end up charging an alternate target and then my main target. This would allow you to start a fight with 40 rage just from DT. However that isnt the case anymore and you only gain from the initial charge. Some people could probably make the argument that you can squeak out a slight bit more CC (1.5 sec stun on initial target), gain 20 rage, then go to your real target with another 1.5 second stun. But also as you are traveling from target 1 to 2, you are not gaining rage through white damage or hitting any special attacks to pump the meter up. For PVP this may be a great flag running talent (charge to enemy->charge to enemy->Heroic leap->Intervene ally) but for PVE I dont think I will be using it. In the end you are on a 20 second CD with 20 rage gained. Rage loss (non-gains) compared to Jug. (60 seconds / 20 second CD = 3 rage gains over a minutes = 60 rage).
Warbringer: I see this mainly being used in PVP. However if a raider can live with a 20 second CD on charge, and most of us probably could, then maybe the healers might be a bit happier? The 3 seconds of damage not being dropped on a tank every 20 seconds might add up over a night of raiding. (60 seconds / 20 second CD = 3 rage gains over a minutes = 60 rage).
*The rage generations listed in these talents are probably optimal, if not slightly unobtainable. Travel time between mobs with the 8 yard minimum distance, the 2 GCDs of 2 charges with DT, etc.
Level 30: I want to liveeeeeeeee!
I started off very much so in favor of Impending Victory but I am thinking strongly on Second Wind for PVE now. I would love to hear reasons why Impending Victory or Enraged Regeneration are better for PVE.
Enraged Regeneration: Some people tend to downplay the usefulness of Enraged Regeneration (ER). And I think of it as an ER patch me up quick to where I am not going to die right now! Maybe in 20 seconds but not right now! In the past I have had pretty good luck keeping myself up for a while by dropping a bloodthrist into Berserker Rage into ER. Yes it has save my butt so many times. So will I be taking this as an Arms warrior on live? Nope, at least not at launch. See Impending Victory. An example: 100K health. Go down to 10K health. Pop ER and you are back to 20K instantly, 30K 5 seconds later so 5 seconds to gain 20K health. This, as do the other 2, scale up (health per second) as your health pool increases. 1 minute CD.
Second Wind: Again, I feel this is mainly PVP related. However as I have been looking at this one talent over the last hour and talking to several people about it, running some numbers, etc I am liking it more then I was before for PVE. I could see where a healer may be able to save some mana if you are not in immediate danger of dying. Yes it will probably have situational uses in some fights but all in all I still dont think this is the best choice on this level tier with the other two talents available to us. Its usually the burst that kills us before a healer gets to us vs an over time. And if its an over time then probably more people are dying than just you. This may get better and better as we go along from tier to tier. This may also be great for tanks. I am not sure if this has any type of internal cooldown (I dont think it does) but this is the way of how I understand the first part to work. Passive: Whenever you are below 35% health, you regenerate 30% health per second. An example: So if I have 100K health, I go below 35% health to 10% health remaining, then I gain at a rate of 3000 (HP x .03) health per second until I reach 35% again. In that same 5 second window as above, I would gain 15K health vs 20K. However, this will continue to tick if you are below that 35% mark. So you wont have as much burst self heal, but you will probably have more total gains. The second component to this is a rage gain thats decent.
Impending Victory: You are a warrior! You hit stuff hopefully hard! Do you want to run away while ER or SW heal you up or do you want to wail on something? This may be more important for Fury to take as a gap filler. Fury seems to be rage starved with the current rage numbers and currently this is a cheap 10 rage attack. But lets look at this as a heal (and it does damage!). ER will give you 20% hit points (HP) over 1 minute. Impending victory will also give you 20% over a minute, but doled out in 10% chunks (instant heal) available every 30 seconds. So theres not quite as much burst heal as there is with ER, but more than there is with SW. The 2nd part to this is also nice. Killing an enemy that yields exp or honor resets the CD of IV and causes your next IV to heal you for 20% of max HP. As a warrior I have victory rush popping all the time in raids. I would also expect this to be popping often, giving you a potential of many extra IVs over a minute. When in doubt, turn around and hit it!
Level 45: Stop it!
Your choices here are AOE root > AOE snare > AOE spell interrupt. I think all of these are more suited to PVP than PVE, but if you have a lot of runners in a dungeon then maybe you can find some use for a couple of these. I am pretty underwhelmed by this tier of talents. This would probably be one of those tiers that I would ask for something more exciting from Blizzard.
Staggering Shout: For PVE DPS I would probably select this talent. If I am hitting this button I would imagine I am doing so to support the tanks and want to slow (stop) mobs down for them. There may be times this could save a runner from pulling additional packs and causing an overwhelming mob situation. I don't like the 40 second CD but I am guessing this is a PVP balance issue rearing it's ugly head in PVE. This would have been great in BC and Cata starter dungeons but from what I have been in so far (4) the new dungeons are not that challenging.
Piercing Howl: As DPS I don't think I would take this, unless yet again I was supporting a tank. Possibly a tank would need help slowing down adds they are kiting and I would be hitting one of them from behind in an effort to burn them down. Now if I was tanking, I would surely take this. This is a great kiting ability for warriors and it's only going to cost you 10 rage.
Disrupting Shout: An AOE spell interrupt. If this works on bosses then this might be decent for that. I could see all sorts of fun behind had with this in the Alterac Valley BG as people pile into a throne room, but in PVE I expect this to not work against a boss. Am I incorrect in thinking this? If it does work against a boss then this may be decent. If I was on add duty I would have my focus on the boss and look for that particular cast that I was assisting with interrupt duty on. This combined with pummel will give warriors an extra oh $h*T interrupt that many other classes won't have access to as the CDs on these abilities seem to have been increased for many in MoP.
Level 60: Kill it dead!
This tier, along with the level 90, I think will require the most testing. This and the level 90 I anticipate being inaccurate on because I haven't done enough testing or seen enough numbers. I have spent a decent amount of time testing these out so far and but will require a bit more. I was standing still when I grabbed the numbers off the tool tips and had no buffs (I think) to modify numbers. If I were to take a reasonable guess I think that what I am saying could be true. I think the usefulness (see damage done) of each ability will vary based on the number of mobs that you have to attack and the positioning of the mobs.
-For single target I think the most damage can be done in a single attack by Dragon Roar > Bladestorm > Shockwave. However over a minute it may be Shockwave > Dragon Roar > Bladestorm.
-For kiting piles of mobs, possibly a gauntlet event where stuff is always in front of you, and depending on the distance from you... it could be Shockwave > Dragon Roar > Bladestorm.
-If there are piles of mobs all over the place it would probably be Dragon Roar > Bladestorm > Shockwave.
I didn't see a formula in my searching but I possibly didn't look hard enough. I think the formula for Bladstomres looks as follows. You are talking (X mobs) to hit for 120% x Weapon damage x 6 seconds. I had the Skullstealer Greataxe equipped (1488 DPS). I also didn't have any extra buffs on me and wasn't in combat when I took those screen shots of the tool tips.
(X) x ((120 x 1488) x 6 ) =
(X) x 10665 =
Going by tooltips, and a single use, I see 10665 damage to a single unit for Bladestorm VS 10317 for Shockwave VS 27,729 for Dragon Roar.
Now that we have a single target use... how much damage can we do in a minute vs a single mobs?
Bladestorm (1.5 min CD - 6 seconds - no rage): 10665
Shockwave (20 second CD - instant - no rage): 3 x 10317 = 30951
Dragon Roar (1 min CD - instant - no rage): 27729
So it looks like over a minute Shockwave would win. In a single use, I need to push this to try to do this last bit of damage before I die and hopefully help the raid win, looks like dragon roar would win.
Now I think the harder choice comes down to what am I doing, who am I doing it to, and how many of them are there ;). If you were tanking your choice may be different. If you were kiting mobs as a tank, or just tanking a bunch of adds, I think I would be taking Shockwave. However as a DPS I may not have all the adds in front of me. I think I would take Dragon Roar. This is a 360 degree attack, on a 1 minute CD, and isn't as position dependent as Shockwave.


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Latest update : 2012-10-08
Liam Neeson returns for more kidnap drama in 'Taken 2'
Much-loved actor Liam Neeson is back on screen as bad ass dad Bryan Mills in "Taken 2". The sequel to the 2008 kidnap thriller features more kidnapping, more high-octane action, but a new director, Frenchman Olivier Megaton. Olivier tells Catherine Nicholson why the sensitive Irishman makes a good ruthless killer, and what he thinks of critics who say action movies are brainless.


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New Products
Palmer Performance Engineering's DashLogic Device
Knowledge is power, and you'll be feeling mighty powerful after you hook up this new DashLogic from Palmer Performance Engineering. Read on to discover what all makes this device so practical. Read More
CORSA Offers C7 Drivers More Sound And Thrust With New Exhaust Parts
If you've been waiting for the right time to upgrade your C7's exhaust, CORSA is here to say: Act now! The company's new Helixx X-Pipe and axle-back exhaust system will deliver on both sound and power for your car. Read More
Corvette America Releases Free iOS And Android App For The Holidays
You use your phone for just about everything these days; why not use to shop out parts for your ride? Corvette America lets you do just that with a new app for both iOS and Android-based devices. Read More
Wilwood Announces New Aerolite Brake Kits for the C7 Corvette
Wilwood engineered and rigorously tests for their products for the track and their brake kits provide unsurpassed quality and performance. The new Aerolite Brake Kits for C7 Corvettes is a fine example. Read More
New Brembo 3D Online Video of the Z07 Brake System
The Z07 Performance Package for C7s will include some terrific features, such as Brembo's new brake system for the platform. A new video demonstrates the product's inner workings with 3-D cutaways and diagrams. Read More
American Car Craft Introduces Sleek Alternator Covers For C6s
New alternator covers from American Car Craft will give your C6 a shine that you've craved for a long time. They're made by hand using brushed stainless steel, and they look better than good; they look fantastic. Read More
Lingenfelter Launches GT9 HYD Roller Camshaft for LS Series Motors
The new GT9 HYD roller camshaft from Lingenfelter works on popular LS series engines to deliver powerful performance with a smooth idle. Read up on its stats here. Read More
Vintage Air Reinvents Accessory Drives For LS Motors
The Vintage Air Front Runner accessory drive system restores harmony to your LS series motor. Over 75 custom engineered pieces unite to keep your V8 running for the long road ahead. Read More
Corvette America Launches Weatherstripping Kits For 1956-2004 Vettes
New from Corvette America, these weatherstripping kits for 1956-2004 Corvettes are the real deal. That's because they use the same kind of material that GM used, while also being malleable for great fit and finish. Read More
LG Motorsports Debuts G2 Coil Overs For The C7 Stingray
LG Motorsports has finally released its new G2 coil over shocks for C7 Stingrays. Using Hypercoil springs and aluminum body Bilstein shocks, these units go great with the company's G7 sway bars. Read More
Palmer Performance Engineering Debuts The DashLogic For GM Vehicles
Palmer Performance Engineering's follow-up to the DashCommando is this--the Dashlogic. It displays the DIC and HUD of several late-model GM vehicles onto the dashboard, and does it painlessly. Read on inside. Read More
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Kook's Headers and Exhaust makes its new C6 axle back systems accomplish a great deal. Made from 304 stainless steel, these kits will see enhancements made to sound, style, and performance in one package. Read More
AIRAID Offers Specialty Filters for LS Engines
Your LS engine can breathe easier with AIRAID's new array of bolt-on filters that connect directly to the throttle body. Designed to withstand extensive NVH, the filters get the job done in small space allotments. Read More
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Edelbrock's Do-It-Yourself Crate Engine Kits Complete The Process
The Edelbrock Do-It-Yourself kit is an all-in-one unit, here to take care of all the bits and pieces of your SBC build from top to bottom. See details inside. Read More
Forgeline Broadens Wheel Offerings To Be Wider And Taller
Forgeline's one-piece forged monoblock wheels are making a splash, and the company is pleased to announce expansion into larger and wider wheels to better cover your taste in tires. See more details inside. Read More


text: Sony Ericsson Rachael Smartphone with Google Android Michael Kwan / Monday, July 6, 2009, 10:58 am / No CommentsWhen you glance down at the lower portion of this smartphone, you see that it carries the XPERIA branding. However, what this branding does not show is that the rumored Sony Ericsson Rachael could very well be a Google Android smartphone. And it's got plenty of awesomeness to boot. This is certainly "just" a rumor […]more → Posted in: Uncategorized Tagged with: google android, rachael, sony ericsson


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Residents start to plan for South Bay retail expansion
Mar. 14, 2013
Plans to further expand the South Bay shopping center may not be definite yet, but residents living near the mall aren't waiting for development plans to materialize before putting in their two cents.
At a meeting Saturday morning, abutters, neighbors and other stakeholders met in a charrette-style conference to determine the community's vision for an expanded South Bay.
According to McCormack Civic Association Executive Board member Desmond Rohan, approximately 70 people from Dorchester, Roxbury and South Boston met at the nearby Plumber/Gasfitters Local 12 building to discuss the possibilities involved in an expansion and what locals would like to see built.
Participants offered up a litany of concerns about the project, including increased traffic congestion, parking shortages and the potential impact on the surrounding residential areas.
In a charrette meeting, participants break off from the main discussion to form smaller group to generate ideas and to document plans. The groups then present their plans to the whole meeting and the preferred features of each group's contribution are included in a master plan.
After a committee meeting next Monday (March 18), design specialist Erik Miller, director of Wentworth's Center for Community & Learning Partnerships, will combine elements of the nine maps submitted by the subgroups and compile one vision to speak on the community's behalf.
Rohan told the Reporter that many of the ideas brought to the table concerned traffic flow in and around a potentially expanded South Bay mall. The community also brainstormed features they would like to see added alongside any new large retail stores, including a community center or other community oriented space, areas for restaurants and a design that would support small businesses anchored by the shopping center. Also of concern was the protection of the Dorchester Historical Society, which abuts the area eyed for development between Boston Street and South Bay.
A second community meeting will be held the morning of April 6 at the Plumbers Hall to offer residents a presentation on community planning and smart growth ideas that could include the neighborhood's interests. A final plan is scheduled to be put before the community on May 4 at the Plumbers' Hall.
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Zac Efron & Ashley Tisdale's beachy P.D.A.! Kellan Lutz's poolside fun! See how Hollywood enjoyed Independence Day
Credit: Albert Michael/Startraks
Updated: Tuesday Jul 05, 2011 | 12:30 PM EDT
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Ashley Tisdale grabs a prime seat – on Zac Efron's shoulders! – while celebrating her 26th birthday with pals in Malibu. "He's my brother/best friend!" Tisdale Tweeted.
Copyright © 2014 Time Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.


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Look, It's Snowing! So Much for "Global Warming," Eh, Jim DeMint?
If you live anywhere between DC and Boston, you are probably aware that a massive snowstorm is either upon you or almost upon you. Ever noticed what snow is? Frozen water, right? Which means the air is cold, right? Which means it's not warm, right?
Back me up, Jim DeMint's Twitter…
It's going to keep snowing in DC until Al Gore cries "uncle"
about 21 hours ago from web
Exactly. Exactly. This snowstorm is proof positive — as if we needed any more evidence! — that global warming is a hoax. Pay no mind to the "climate experts" who say that, in fact, severe weather of all kinds is a result of rising global temperatures and increased moisture in the atmosphere.
If global warming were a real thing, this nor'easter would be raining fire on Washington DC right now.
And that would be awesome.
Tags: Climate Change, Jim DeMint, Twitter, Weather
About Us
Comedy Central's Indecision is the network's digital hub for news, politics and other jokes: we're here, we're everywhere. We're not affiliated with any television show. We're affiliated with ourselves.


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text: We're Making Changes to Benefit You! The Office of Admissions wants you to know about some exciting changes at UAH that will benefit you as a future Charger! We've made these changes in support of the university's commitment to helping you complete your degree in four years and make the most of your college experience: More AP scores accepted AP credit award criteria have been revised so that UAH accepts more scores for admitted students beginning Fall 2014! More details » Increased credit hour limit for Merit Tuition Scholarship The credit hour limit for Merit Tuition Scholarship awards has been increased from 16 to 18 hours per semester! Now reviewing your latest high school transcripts UAH is now evaluating your high school GPA for admission and scholarships based on the transcript sent at time of admission. If your GPA increases between your admission and your high school graduation, your Merit Tuition Scholarship will be re-evaluated and adjusted as appropriate based on the final transcript sent. UAH moving to block tuition Instead of paying by the credit hour, full-time students will soon be able to pay a flat rate for tuition per semester for up to 18 credit hours! You can learn more about the transition to this financially advantageous structure and its impact for 2014-15 in the tuition table. Want to get a jump-start on fall classes and save money? New for 2014-15, the UAH Freshman Summer School Incentive Program allows all first-time, full-time admitted students to take classes this summer at the reduced fall semester per credit hour rate. To qualify, all you need to do is contact the Office of Admissions and change your admission term from fall to summer. You must be a full-time student (12 or more credit hours) for the fall semester. Here is an example of the way this works: If you take a three-credit course in the summer, you will pay the current 2013-14 tuition fees up front ($1,083). You then enroll for 12 credit hours in the fall. You will pay tuition fees on those 12 hours at the 2014-15 rate ($4,156). This would result in a combined total of 15 credit hours for the summer and fall semesters. We will then compare what you paid in total tuition costs for the summer and fall classes ($5,239) to the cost for 15 credit hours at the 2014-15 rate ($4,579). This would result in a refund to you of $660. For additional information, please contact the Office of Admissions at 256.824.2773 or firstname.lastname@example.com. If you are a UAH Merit Tuition Scholarship recipient, you may use a portion of your 2014-15 scholarship for these summer courses. For more information, please visit the UAH Financial Aid Scholarships page.


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S. Marshall Adams
S. Marshall Adams (right), a research staff member in ORNL's
Environmental Sciences Division
, directs the division's biological indicators research programs. He also serves on the adjunct faculty at the
University of Tennessee
Duke University
. He received his Ph.D. degree from the
University of North Carolina
. His recent studies have included effects of various types of contaminants on key fish populations and the significance of these effects on stream, river, and reservoir ecosystems. He has published scientific reports on predator-prey interactions in aquatic systems, health indicators of aquatic organisms, and the effects of environmental stress on fish. He has served as an associate editor for the
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
and is a book editor for the Ecological Society of America. Adams was recently awarded the annual prize from the Association of American Publishers for co-editing the outstanding book of the year in biological sciences,
Biodiversity of the Southeastern United States: Aquatic Communities
. Currently, he is an associate editor for the International Society of Aquatic Ecosystem Health. He has recently completed a book entitled
Biological Indicators of Stress in Fish
. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists.
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The Low-Income Forum on Energy (LIFE) 2004 Statewide Conference convened at the Prime Hotel in Saratoga Springs on November 8 and 9, 2004 to continue New York's statewide dialogue on the energy needs of low-income energy customers. The Forum, sponsored by the New York State Public Service Commission and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, brought together 142 participants representing 77 organizations from across New York State. Participants in the dialogue included representatives of community-based organizations, utility companies, Energy Services Companies, state agencies, local government, statewide nonprofit organizations, community action/weatherization agencies, and businesses.
The 2004 Statewide Conference marked the fourth statewide conference sponsored since LIFE's inception in 1998. Participants were welcomed by Public Service Commission Chairman William M. Flynn. Lieutenant Governor Mary O. Donohue was the featured opening speaker. Martin Insogna, Utility Consumer Program Specialist for the New York State Dept. of Public Service and Chair of the LIFE Steering Committee, served as Master of Ceremonies throughout the conference. The Conference Program featured three topic tracks (Resources, Technology and Markets) as well as several plenary sessions for all participants.
Final 2004 Conference Report [PDF]
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School of Graduate Studies > Graduate Catalogs > 2008-2010 > College of Education > Education: General Courses
Informal Assessment of Young Children 3 u
This class is designed to assist students in acquiring skills related to informal assessment. These skills include: the ability to use a variety of observation strategies, to apply functional assessment strategies, use play-based and other criterion-referenced instruments, and develop and implement program evaluation strategies. Additionally, the student will acquire the ability to link assessment results to IEP/IFSP formation, use assessment results to develop differentiated instruction, write summary reports for school files, communicate in writing and verbally about assessment results to parents and to other professionals.
Prereq: Admission to Professional Education.
Creating Professional Development Plans 1 u
This course is designed to be a campus based course with a 25% on-line component. This course prepares the initial educator to use reflection tools to gauge their current level of performance based on the Wisconsin Educator Standards. From their reflections and documentations, each participant will write a compelling goal(s) that drives the writing of the professional development for the next 3-5 years. Professional Development Plans (PDPs) will be completed and approved so that the initial educator will leave the institute ready to implement the first year of his/her PDP. Assessment strategies are part of the institute so that initial educators may begin to collect and analyze data that show professional growth and a positive impact on student learning. Participants will be part of a learning community which includes the university higher education representative and other members of their professional community.
Prereq: Enmplyed in public/private educational setting; professsional educator status.
Implementation of the Professional Development Plan 1 u
This campus based and on-line (50%) institute builds on prior learning from the previous summer institute in that this stage of PDP development and implementation requires the learner and the community to reflect on progress, look at the annual review of the PDP and make necessary revisions. They will analyze current data sources based on their assessment plans that were collected throughout the process. This institute will deepen content knowledge related to participant goals by including content and pedagogical specialists to increase the learners' knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to the standards addressed in their PDPs.
Prereq: EDUINDP 410/610 Creating PDPs.
Verification of the Professional Development Plan 1 u
This 1 credit campus-based and on-line (50%) institute builds on prior learning from the previous summer institutes by providing the final verification process with Initial Team Members of the Initial Educator's Professional Development Plan.
Prereq: EDUINDP 410/610 and EDUINDP 411/611.
Planning for Individual Needs 3 u
This class provides students with the skills to develop and adapt curriculum and instructional strategies to meet the educational needs of young children who require specialized instruction. The emphasis is on the provision of that instruction in the natural environment of the children.
Prereq: Admission to Professional Education.
Licensure Portfolio Review .5 u
A course to assist students removes deficiencies in the portfolio acceptable for student continuation in teacher education programs.
Mentoring the Initial Educator 3 u
The course takes participants through a set of strategic actions based on the research for effective schools and the guiding principles of Wisconsin's new educator licensure ruling, PI 34. The actions are grounded in four major themes: sharing a vision of educator quality based on Wisconsin Educator Standards; developing a collaborative environment in which to learn and practice; demonstrating the results of reflective practice by creating professional goals and plans and; focusing goals on increasing student learning successes.
Prereq: Employed in public/private educational setting; professional educator status.
The Professional Development Planning (PDP) Process 3 u
This course will prepare educators in the Wisconsin DPI professional and/or master level licensure cycles to guide and coach the initial educator through the process of reflection, gathering and analyzing current data, and using the Wisconsin Educator Standards to write, implement, and verify a professional development plan that meets licensure requirements and instills a commitment to professional learning and growth.
Prereq: Employed in public/private educational setting; professional educator status.
Serving as a PDP Initial Educator Team Member 3 u
This course is designed to be delivered as a site based and/or campus based course with a 50% on-line component. It is a performance based class meant for teachers, administrators and/or pupil service providers to take the content of the course and authentically apply the knowledge and skills to become a member of the Initial Educator Team and/or Professional Development Team. Therefore, the content is delivered and activated in class and the assignments are designed to be delivered on-line using reflection exercises and feedback as well as discussion groups following the sessions.
Prereq: EDUINDP 711.
Planning for Change: Seminar in Research, Practice and Voice 2 u
The purpose of this course is to provide the graduate student with the contacts and skills needed to accomplish the Capstone project. The project design from this course will be used to develop their Capstone project.
Prereq: EDFOUND / CIGENRL 723 and EDFOUND 780 and at least 9 additional graduate credits
Corequisite: EDUINDP 726
Capstone Advising I: Project Planning and Review of Literature 1 u
The purpose of this course is to advise and provide feedback to students developing their Capstone proposals and the first three chapters of their Capstone projects.
Prereq: EDFOUND / CEGENRL 723 and EDFOUND 780 and at least 9 additional graduate credits
Coreq: EDUINDP 724
Capstone Advising II: Data Collection and Analysis 1u
The purpose of this course is to provide the graduate student with the contacts and skills needed to accomplish the Capstone project. The project design from this course will be used to develop their Capstone project.
Prereq: EDFOUND / CEGENRL 723, EDFOUND 780, EDUINDP 724, EDUINDP 726
Capstone Project Seminar 2-3 u
The purpose of this seminar is to provide the master's student with faculty and peer support as the student grounds, implements, refines, assesses and reports his or her capstone project. The capstone project is a self-selected and defined project completed with advisor assistance, that makes a connection between the graduate study and the student's professional life as an educator. The course will be graded on a Satisfactory/No Credit grading scale.
Prereq: Approval of program coordinator and advisor.
Workshop 1-6 u


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November 25, 2014
Stay up-to-date with KAKE News:
February 12, 2013
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is seeking public comment on a plan to clean up contamination at the former Unocal Chemical Distribution site in Wichita.
The public comment period on the draft plan posted on the agency's website opened Monday and closes March 12.
The agency will also hold a meeting next month to outline its preferred cleanup plan and solicit public participation. The session is set for March 5 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Wichita's Office of Environmental Health.
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Designer charity shop in Chelsea
While everyone will be focused on snapping up designs by a very well known model at a popular store tomorrow, why not take the opportunity to escape the crowds and get down to Chelsea, Old Church Street, to have a quiet browse in the newly refurbished Red Cross shop? Avoid a tug of war over that vintage style yellow dress and instead celebrate being in the only branch of the Red Cross that sells purely designer goods by picking up a pair of Jimmy Choos for just £85. With bargains like that, I wouldn't be surprised if you saw Miss Moss there herself!
Related: Isabelle's charity shop tips | Kate slums it for charity | Is vintage fashion really dead?


text: The Government and the Cloud: Defining the Relationship They say change comes slowly or not at all. The cloud computing movement is thankfully maintaining a slow crawl over the powers-that-be in our governments at every level: local, state, national, even international. (But let's save the complex, meaty discussion of the global cloud for another piece.)


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Twin hearts are intertwined symbolizing a love everlasting. Slim Sterling Silver polished band. Personalize with the 2 names of your choice, up to 10 letters per name. Austrian crystal birthstones representing the 2 of you are placed in each heart. Available in sizes 5 to 12 full.
Item ships in 2-4 weeks. May not arrive in time for 12/24.
Birthstone Chart
Type the names exactly how you would like them to appear including the capitalization. Leave the field blank if you do not want anything to appear. Please check your spelling.


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To lower the sodium even more, try replacing the salt with your favorite no-salt seasoning. Get creative by combining several of your favorites. For a spicy seed, try a combination of red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and smoked paprika!
Receive a recipe each week via e-mail or RSS feed.
Pumpkin seeds are a very good source of phosphorus, magnesium and manganese needed for bone health.
Seeds from 1 medium pumpkin (about 2 cups)
nonstick cooking spray
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste*)
Makes 16 servings
*Option not included in nutrition facts.
First published: 10/08/2012
Last updated: 10/29/2013
Reviewed by: Allina Health's Patient Education Department


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About Amy Umble:
Amy Umble is health reporter for The Free Lance-Star
Your assignment: Distribute preventive medicine to everyone in the region within 36 hours
Emily Smith has spent the last several months plotting the Health Department's reaction to two ugly scenarios:
* The arrival of a new flu virus for which the public has no immunity.
* A terror attack involving a biologic agent such as anthrax.
Smith is the emergency planner for the Rappahannock Area Health District. This week she discussed the Health Department's response plans with two dozen officials, representing local governments, schools, emergency services and nonprofits.
Smith and her boss, Dr. Brooke Rossheim, district director, told the group that if something bad happens and preventive medicines are recommended, they would need the group's help in distributing them to the public within 36 hours. They also said that this is how the distribution might work:
* First, notify the public that medicines are on their way.
* Establish up to seven distribution sites. Each locality in the region would host a site. Because of their size, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties might have two.
* Use local schools. The distributions could occur in the cafeterias, or outside in the parking lots.
* Expect up to 330,000 people, or everyone in the region, if a new flu virus is involved and vaccinations are offered.
* Invite only heads of households, or 110,000 people, if a biologic attack is involved and antibiotics are offered. The heads of households would receive enough medicine for everyone in the family.
* Obtain the medicine from the national stockpile maintained by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC would send the medicine to the Virginia Department of Health, which would transfer it to localities.
These plans are reminiscent of what actually happened in 2009 when H1N1, a new flu virus, appeared. Local schools were hastily converted to vaccination sites, and more than 23,000 children received shots. That experience was "very helpful in our planning and in our meetings this year," Smith said.
Permalink: http://news.fredericksburg.com/rapidassessment/2012/05/11/your-assignment-distribute-preventative-medicine-to-everyone-in-the-region-within-36-hours/


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Rev Peter Gomes: Gay, Black, Baptist, Republican.
Peter Gomes, who died a year ago today, was an anomaly in the growing ranks of out and open gay or lesbian clergy: he was raised Catholic, but became a Baptist pastor. He was also African American, and a Republican. Not, in short, an obvious fit with the popular image of an American gay man. But (and this is important) he was able to recognize and publicly acknowledge his sexuality, and to reconcile it with his faith. This is an important reminder for us that there is no conflict at all between a gay or lesbian orientation and religious faith, or with conservative political philosophy. The only conflict is with those influential people in some churches and in some political circles who seek to impose their own interpretations of Scripture, or their own political prejudices, on everybody else – in disregard of the fundamental Gospel message of inclusion and justice, and the conservative principle of non-interference in private lives. He is also a potent reminder that advocates for equality and sexual justice are no longer found only among liberals, but also include many important conservatives: Republicans in the US, and (some of) David Cameron's Tories in the UK. Nor are the advocates for full inclusion in church all liberal or mainline Protestants: they also include Baptists, Mormons – and Catholics.
Gomes was renowned for the power of his preaching: Time magazine named him in 1979 as one of the outstanding preachers in America and he was widely sought after as a speaker and preacher in both the U.S. and Europe. He was equally renowned for his scholarship: he was a member of both the Divinity School faculty and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, at Harvard, and an Honorary Fellow of Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge.
This scholarship is important, to appreciate his full significance as an advocate for LGBT inclusion and equality. Many of our opponents deny that they are prejudiced, claiming instead to be motivated only by Christian values "as found in the Bible". But the scriptural evidence for this is flimsy, based primarily on selective recourse to just a handful of verses, poorly translated, and poorly understood. Gomes, who has applied his considerable scholarship in history and Bible study, as well as his impressive communication skills, in writing a series of books on the Bible and its relevance to modern life, is superbly well qualified to counter the popular ignorance of what the Bible really does have to say (or not say) on the subject of homoerotic relationships (among other themes). In "The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart (1996)" (which became a best-seller), Gomes analyzes the historical efforts to misuse the Bible to marginalize Jews, blacks, women, and gays, and encouraged believers to grasp the spirit, not the letter, of scriptural passages that he believed had been misused to defend racism, sexism, anti-Semitism and homophobia.
The reasons he gave in 1991 when he came out publicly as gay for are worth reflecting on.
A self-described cultural conservative, Gomes stunned the Harvard community and reluctantly made national news when he came out as a homosexual in 1991 in response to gay bashing on campus. "I don't like being the main exhibit, but this was an unusual set of circumstances, in that I felt I had a particular resource that nobody else there possessed," he told The New Yorker in 1996.
-continue reading at Queer Saints and Martyrs


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READ MORE: Outer Cape Cod in Spring
It's always a good time to visit Massachusetts' Cape Cod. Here are some additional Yankee articles to convince you of that.
Please Note: This article was accurate at the time of publication. When planning a trip, please confirm details by directly contacting any company or establishment you intend to visit.


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Accessible Instructional Materials for Students with LD: Important News for Families and Educators
Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) are instructional materials that have been converted into accessible formats such as digital text. AIM can serve as a powerful tool to help students with learning disabilities (LD) who need such materials participate and progress in the general education curriculum. I'm pleased to report on some important new developments concerning AIM and share some helpful resources for families and educators.
AIM Commission on Higher Education
In December 2011, the Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities published a report with recommendations for addressing some of the challenges associated with providing AIM to postsecondary students with print disabilities. Convened under the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, the commission included representatives from the publishing industry, various institutions of higher education, and the accessible technology field. James Wendorf, Executive Director of NCLD, served as Vice Chair.
The commission report made a number of recommendations, including that Congress take action such as:
- Establishing a process for developing uniform accessibility guidelines for AIM.
- Reviewing the parameters of the copyright exemption (Chafee Amendment) that facilitates the delivery of AIM.
- Re-emphasizing the need for postsecondary institutions to comply with civil rights laws in order to address the needs of students with disabilities.
- Facilitating market solutions for AIM by taking steps such as giving content developers incentives to incorporate accessibility features into their products and reinforcing the importance of open source materials adhering to accessibility standards.
These recommendations, if acted upon by Congress, will have major implications for individuals with LD who need AIM.
PALM Initiative
Not all digital formats or technologies are designed and developed with features that make them automatically accessible (or useable) by all students. So the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM Center) recently launched a new initiative to encourage school systems to purchase already-accessible instructional materials. The PALM (Purchase Accessible Learning Materials) initiative encourages school systems to enter into purchasing agreements that ensure accessibility both in terms of the content of instructional materials (such as e-books) and technology delivery systems (such as e-book readers).
Promoting accessibility in "born-digital" materials is increasingly important as school systems continue to move away from traditional print-based instructional materials. In 2010 and 2011, the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice released guidance on the need for schools to ensure that students with disabilities have equal educational benefits and opportunities when information and resources are provided through emerging technologies such as e-book readers. Visit the PALM Initiative website for more information on how you can support this important work.
Critical Components of the AIM Quality Indicators
It's essential for states and districts to have in place effective systems to ensure the timely delivery of AIM. To help with this goal, the AIM Center recently published the Critical Components of Quality Indicators for the Provision of AIM to assist states and districts in developing and evaluating comprehensive systems for the timely delivery of AIM. The quality indicators were created in 2008 to describe seven major elements of effective AIM systems. In 2012, the AIM Center expanded these indicators to include more detailed, critical components. Various stakeholders can use the critical components and quality indicators to encourage collaborative processes for establishing and evaluating comprehensive AIM systems.
AIM Navigator – A Helpful Tool for IEP Teams
Finally, as the school year begins, families and educators may have specific questions about how to make decisions about providing AIM to students who struggle with traditional printed text. The AIM Navigator is an interactive guide designed to help IEP teams walk through the decision-making process. This guide includes various forms and checklists that cover the four stages of the AIM process:
- Determining whether the student needs AIM.
- Selecting appropriate specialized formats.
- Acquiring the instructional materials.
- Determining the necessary supports for the student to use AIM effectively.
The AIM Navigator can be invaluable to families and educators as they grapple with decisions regarding the appropriate and timely provision of AIM.
All of these developments have the potential to help students with LD who require the use of AIM. If you would like to receive ongoing updates on all things AIM, be sure to sign up for the AIM Connector e-newsletter on the AIM Center home page.
Additional information on LD.org:
- Accessible Instructional Materials: Ensuring Access for Students with LD (NCLD Policy Brief)
- NCLD's two-part series on specific AIM Materials:
Additional resources:
- Understanding the NIMAS and NIMAC Provisions of IDEA: Analysis of the Term Reading Disability Resulting from Organic Dysfunction and Its Relationship to the IDEA Category of Specific Learning Disability (AIM Center Policy Paper) by Joanne Karger (2012)
- AIM for Digital Equity (originally published in Learning and Leading with Technology) by Gayl Bowser and Joy Smiley Zabala (2012)
Joanne Karger works for the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) as a policy analyist and research scientist. She's a member of NCLD's Professional Advisory Board.


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Photos: Cowboys sign autographs for adoring fans; plenty of fingertip catches on Day 1 of camp
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Groaning Boards
Oh, but back in the day--round about the turn of the 20th century, to be more precise--folks came to this spot for a far different kind of service. Presidents came here. Celebrities came here. H.L. Mencken came here nearly every day. People the world over knew of this corner and were drawn to it, and not for a slab of asphalt. From 1885 to 1941, this crossroads was dominated by the "Palace of the South"--the Hotel Rennert, a red-brick pile of high-Victorian exuberance topped with a pair of gilt-roofed cupolas (from which anxious hotel employees watched the Great Fire of 1904 roar to within a block of the place).
For all its ornate trappings, the Rennert was known less for its beds than for its board of fare--which, old clippings invariably point out, was prepared by an all-black staff of cooks who were masters at turning Maryland's bounty of fish and fowl into waistcoat-bursting Falstaffian feasts. For far less than $2.50 one could wallow in gastronomic decadence: a tureen of butter-rich diamondback terrapin, a plump canvasback duck, endless rounds of bulbous, briny oysters. When the old hotel fell to demolition squads, you could say that old-school Maryland cuisine began its own melancholy decent into gauzy, gastronomic memory.
The hostelry's namesake founder, Robert Rennert, cut his culinary chops at a smaller inn on Fayette Street. He moved to Liberty and Saratoga after the federal government condemned the Fayette property to make way for a post office. When Rennert cut the ribbon on his new hotel in 1885, it was billed as the second-costliest edifice in the city.
The lodestar of local cuisine in those days was terrapin, and Rennert kept hundreds of these reptiles penned in the hotel's basement. (Only Chesapeake terrapin would do; the persnickety Rennert shunned turtles from Carolina waters.) Pheasant, grouse, and reed birds were also on the menu, alongside hominy croquets and Maryland beaten biscuits. While diners filled their innards in the various dining rooms, politicos filled their ears in the lobby. Here the city's Democratic bosses held court, ensconced in overstuffed leather chairs. And when the 1912 Democratic Convention was nominating Woodrow Wilson for president over at the Fifth Regiment Armory, the Rennart's public rooms overflowed with boozing and backslapping (and probably some backstabbing).
As the 1920s neared, however, the Rennert started down the slippery slope toward decline. A host of newer hotels were being added to the city's skyline. But the real damage was done by the 1919 Volstead Act--aka Prohibition. You couldn't prepare Terrapin à la Maryland without liberal amounts of sherry, nor properly wash down the rest of the Free State's formidable fare without ready vessels of beer and wine. The Rennert limped through the "noble experiment," but bills began to go unpaid. It fell into receivership in 1932.
Some gaiety returned once the taps reopened in 1933. There's a famous picture of Mencken at the Rennert's mahogany bar, tipping back his first public glass of post-Prohibition beer. (Of course, H.L. had been home-brewing on Hollins Street all along.) But the return of spirits wasn't enough to revive the brick-and-stained-glass grand dame, whose 19th-century décor was now dowdy and dated. The place was mired in financial and physical problems. (A rowdy fraternity dance in 1934 brought down the dining-room ceiling). In 1935, the noble pile was leased to a national hotel chain. When it pulled out four years later, the hotel owed more than $150,000 in back taxes. It was sold to a Washington, D.C., company bent on turning it into a car park.
The Rennert closed in December of 1939, but not before it witnessed one last freewheeling fete. Old-timers--Mencken among them--gathered for a final sup, and the musty temple's halls echoed with choruses of "Auld Lang Syne." The vacant edifice was pulled down in 1941.
The legacy of its victuals lives on only in praising prose, such as that of poet and anthologist Louis Untermeyer, who declared the Rennert home to "the best restaurant America" in his 1939 autobiography From Another World. If he had the luxury of choosing the site of his own death, Untermeyer wrote, he would elect to join the angels "in the basement lunch-counter of the old Hotel Rennert . . . eating shad-roe and listening to Mencken with one ear and [the opera] Die Meistersinger with the other."
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