text: BASTOB GENDER POLICY DEVELOPED IN 2001 1ST REVIEW IN AUGUST 2001 2ND REVIEW DECEMBER 2006 BASTOB Initiative for People's Self Development 4/7 Humayun Road, Bl-B, Mohamadpur, Dhaka-1207 Bangladesh E-Mail: email@example.com Web Site: www.bastob.org Table of Contents 1. BASTOB: An introduction 2. The context: Women's Position in Bangladesh 3. Rational for Gender Policy in BASTOB 4. Gender Policy: Goal/Objectives Components 5. Gender Strategies 5.1. Organizational Level 5.2. Programs and Stake Holders Level 5.3. Mechanism to ensure Gender Equity both at the Internal and External Level. Developed in 2001 1st Revision in August 2004 2nd Revision in December 2006 BASTOB Gender Policy – Page 2 1. BASTOB: An Introduction: A group of energetic experienced and comparatively young social workers established BASTOB in 1997. BASTOB is a Bengali word, which means reality. The initial activity of BASTOB was to train up slums women on tailoring trade and initial funding of the project was made by its founder members. The first activity of the organisation was upon invitation of NETZ to send Bangla-Shur Cultural team to Germany to present Bangla culture through folk songs and dances to the German Community. BASTOB got approval from the NGO Affairs Bureau and send the team to Germany in May 1998. The first foreign donation project was dressmaking training for the slum women and preschool for the slum children. BASTOB got its FD Registration under this project. NETZ – Partnership for Development and Justice provided commitment letter for this project. In 1998 there was a devastating flood in Bangladesh. BASTOB received some funds from NETZ, Missio-Austria, Liechtensteinisher Entwicklungsdienst, DASCOH and German Embassy for carrying out emergency relief work for the flood prone areas. Emergency relief work was done in the districts of Dhaka, Narshindi, Barisal and Gopalgonj. However, later on a rehabilitation programme for agricultural and small business rehabilitation was implemented. The specialty of the program was to provide interest free loan to the flood affected people. Another rehabilitation project for construction low-cost houses, installation of tube-wells and to build latrine sets in Barisal District was also implemented. NETZ, Missio-Austria and some friends of Liechtenstein funded the Projects. In October 1998, BASTOB received two health projects for Dhalghata and Materbari unions of Moheshkhali Upazilla. NETZ provided financial support for the project. But because of objection raised by BGS, the NGO Affairs Bureau allocated only Dhalghata union for BASTOB. As a result Dhulahazara and Khuntakhali unions of Chakaria Upazilla was selected for BASTOB. Some financial support for a project on cultural training was also received from NETZ in 1998. A cultural training program was started in the training room of BASTOB head office at Mohammadpur, Dhaka. In February 1999, NETZ Chairman, Mr. Manfred Krueger and Director Mr. Peter Dietzel visited BASTOB. They emphasized highly on the staff and organizational development along with improvement of the organizational management systems. It was felt that as a new organization BASTOB needs some technical support for strengthening its organizational management capacity. Based on this realization, the Governing Board of the organization selected a part time local experienced NGO management consultant to support the processes of developing the organization. In 1999, BASTOB developed a project named "Empowerment of Women thorough Income and Employment Generation". LED via friends of Liechtenstein funded the project. At the end of 1999, with the financial support from NETZ, BASTOB developed another project on Mobile Trade Training School. BASTOB is implementing all activities under two programs one is BASTOB Social Development Program (BSDP) and another one is BASTOB income and Employment Generation Program (BIEGP). Preventive Health Care and Community Self-Management Project (PHCSMP), Mother and Child Development Program (MCDP), Empowerment of Costal Fisheries Community (ECFC) Project, Rural Education and Health Development Project (REHDP) and Sultan-Sofa Pathshala are under BASTOB Social Development BASTOB Gender Policy – Page 3 Program (BSDP) and Integrated Women Development Project (IWDP) and Micro-Finance Program (MFP) are under BASTOB income and Employment Generation Program (BIEGP). 1.1 Vision of BASTOB BASTOB envisions a society in which poor and disadvantaged people are developed and self-reliant. 1.2 MISSION STATEMENT BASTOB is a non-profit, voluntary development organization working in the areas of institution building, income and employment generation, health, human resource development, education and promotion of culture for the disadvantaged segment of the society especially for women, youth, and children. BASTOB's goal is to establish a people-initiated development process and to ensure socio- economic development of people. BASTOB is committed to follow people's participation, institution building, human rights, gender equity, environment friendliness, poverty alleviation and people's sustainability in achieving its goals. BASTOB is following a path of organizational sustainability, consistent with people's self- reliance. Considering development as a complex process, BASTOB encourages partnership and networking with government and other like-minded organizations. BASTOB has experienced, energetic, dynamic workers and members committed to achieve its goals. It believes in people's capacity and creativity and also in participatory management and is committed to ensure participation at every level. 1.3. The Core Values of BASTOB Believes in people's capacity and dignity Culture and environment friendly Creativity and innovation Discipline, participation, team work and openness Cost consciousness Gender equity Accountability and transparency Honesty and integrity Justice and fairness Striving for excellence 1.4. Legal Status: BASTOB is registered with the Prime Minister's office - NGO Affairs Bureau. The Foreign Donation Registration Number is 1263/98 dated 6th May 1998, and with Societies Act No -S- 3161(126)2003 dated 22nd May 2003. BASTOB Gender Policy – Page 4 2. The context: Women's Position in Bangladesh The women in Bangladesh are extremely disadvantaged in terms of social and economic development indicators. Their low status in the society is due to low literacy rates, life expectancy, and most importantly lack of access to economic and informational resources. In Bangladesh patriarchy finds expression in the perceived notions of female dependence and subordination. The practice of patriarchy creates in the minds of woman, whether mother, wife or daughter, a feeling of worthlessness, servitude and dependence within the family. The role of women is characterized by lack of freedom and limit individual development. The existing inequality is deemed to be the outcome of specific social institutions designed to restrain their power: namely, segregation and legal subordination in the family and social structure. The biological or physical difference between man and woman is often interpreted in accordance with the patriarchal notion that men are superior to women. Patriarchal ideology influences and shapes the sexual division of labor where work is allocated on the basis of sex, within both the home and the workplace. The son is viewed as the sole supporter of his parents in their old age. a daughter on the other hand, merits an altogether different treatment. As a result of the prevailing negative attitude towards the female sex, it is common for mothers -to-be in Bangladesh to suffer from the anxiety over the sex of the unborn child. The desire for sons is so intense that the birth of a daughter can have serious consequences on the marriage itself. The UNDP Gender-related development index (GDI) ranks Bangladesh at 123rd position out of 174 countries (UNDP 1999). This poor ranking is the result of the relatively low index value arising from the low literacy rates and the low share of earned income of women compared to men. Although, in recent years some attempts were made to bring women into the mainstream of events in Bangladesh, they are yet be incorporated in any significant numbers in the decision- making structures of the country. Women hold less than five percent of senior positions in the civil service and their representation at the senior levels of the executive, legislature and judiciary is marginal. In terms of ownership of land and assets, men at all levels of society are better off than women, a significant portion of the people living in absolute poverty being women. Households headed by women are among the poorest in the country with 45 percent of female-headed households living below the poverty line. Gender based violence, which often stems from existing socio-cultural attitudes that regard women as inferior to men, take place in various forms that include wife beating, rape, acid- throwing, trafficking, sexual coercion and harassment, as well as verbal and psychological abuse. Despite some progress made in recent years, women in Bangladesh continue to suffer severe forms of discrimination. In a culture that places greater value on boys than on girls, women experience discrimination and relative deprivation at every stage of their life cycle. They enjoy fewer rights and have access to fewer opportunities compared to their male counterparts. Women consequently have lower literacy rates, lower incomes, fewer assets and less access to productive resources. Women also experience higher levels of malnutrition and morbidity, female morbidity being 14 percent higher than male. This difference is most pronounced during women's reproductive age (15- 49 years), when morbidity for women is 38 percent higher than for men. (UN, Dhaka, 2000) BASTOB Gender Policy – Page 5 3. Rational for Gender policy in BASTOB BASTOB considers women as the gateway of bringing any change within the family and community level and so has taken efforts to direct resources and services to them. BASTOB's focus on women is also based on the assumption that women are the main change agents both at the family and community level. Therefore, BASTOB has to address their basic needs and upgrade their economic condition to improve their overall status in the family and community they live in. BASTOB realized that women's mobility, decision-making power, access to resources are all controlled by men in their households and therefore redistribution of power through economic, social and political empowerment of women is essential to bring changes in the status of women. BASTOB strongly believes that the vital force of every organization is its people who engage in a collective effort to achieve a specific set of objectives. It is they who make the organization a living entity. Keeping this in mind, BASTOB is constantly trying to increase the number of women at all levels of its projects. It was found in a research that once a critical mass of about 30-35% women in the organization, including at decision-making levels, has been achieved the organization as a whole becomes more accountable to the specific needs and interests of women. Some Guiding Principles followed in formulating BASTOB's Gender Policy A focus on gender rather than women implies not looking at 'women' and women's issues in isolation but recognizing the different needs and interests of women and men in the context of power relations between them. A gender analysis of an organization examines the processes and interventions in and by the organization in terms of their effects on women, men and the relationships between women and men. It explicitly recognizes the unequal gender relations between men and women in society. Gender equality means equality between women and men at various levels: equal material welfare, equal access to resources and opportunities, a value system based on the belief in equality, equal participation in decision-making, and equal control over resources and benefits. 4. Gender Policy: 4.1. Gender Policy Goal/Objectives: To ensure a Gender friendly environment within BASTOB BASTOB's Programs and Projects will be based on clear understanding on gender relations, roles and identities. BASTOB Gender Policy – Page 6 Incorporating the concept of gender relations, roles and identities in designing and implementing program and project. 4.2. Gender Policy Components 4.2.1 Organizational Level 4.2.2 Program Level 4.2.3. Stakeholders Level 5.1. Organizational Level: 5.1.1 Governance (General Council and Governing Board) 5.1.2 Recruitment 5.2.3 Structure 5.1.4 Work Load 5.1.5 Staff Development 5.1.6 Staff Promotion and Transfer 5.1.7 Leave 5.1.8 Compensation Package 5.1.9 Transport Facilities 5.1.10 Child Care 5.1.11 Staff Counseling 5.1.12 Staff Safety 5.1.13 others 5. Gender Strategies and Approaches: 5.1 Organizational Level: 5.1.1 Governance 18.104.22.168 In the General Council and the Governing Board of BASTOB there should be representation of women and men at least at 3:7 ratios. 18.104.22.168 There will be a gender advisor from Governing Board who will be responsible to see organizational gender issues. Gender core team is reportable to him/her about the practice of organizational gender policy. A yearly gender audit report will be prepared and submitted to the Advisor. 5.1.2 Management Position: To Encourage and creating scope to bring women at every level of management. A 3-member core team heading by a convener will be formed to ensure the practice of organizational gender policy. This committee will look after organizational gender needs and other related needs of all staff. A gender Audit will by be done by this team every year and report will be submitted to BASTOB governing board via advisor. 5.1.3 Recruitment: Using flexible terms and conditions for recruiting women staff. Special preference will be given to women candidates in the coming five years. Recruitment board will be constituted taking both women and men. BASTOB Gender Policy – Page 7 Providing preference to a woman candidate over a male candidate when both of them are found equally competent. Recruit women candidate having lower education in some specific cases Recruiting advertisement will be made encouraging of women to apply. 5.1.4 Work Load: Same workload will be applicable for both male and female staff. Nature of job will be similar for the same position of the male and female staff. Workload will be reduced for female staff for their special time. Working distance in the specific field will be considered for female staff where the working field is scattered by consultation of other field staffs. 5.1.5 Staff Development: Equal opportunity for career development for male and female staff. Provide awareness to all staff about BASTOB's gender policy. Provide awareness on recent gender issues to all staff. Provide special training for enhancing their skills. Facilitate dialogue among staffs in every branch office on gender related issues through workshops and seminars. Introduce a Gender Audit Committee (GAC) to address the special needs/problems of women staff in BASTOB as well as organize gender workshops for them. 5.1.6 Staff promotion and Transfer: Preference will be given to a woman staff, if found competent, to promote in the next higher position. Transfer is applicable for both male and female staff. However, practical needs of women staff will be considered while transferring them. Organizational staffs will be given privilege to apply to the higher position of the org. while a new recruitment will be made. 5.1.7 Leave: All staff will have equal access to general leave and benefits. However, the women staff will have maternity leave (120 days) and male staff will have paternity leave (Seven days). Breast Feeding: Female staff will have one hour leave from her office duty during the first year of childbearing period. This facility will be applicable up to two children. 5.1.8. Compensation Package: All staff will have same level of salary structure at the same grade. Female staff will enjoy a nutrition allowance of Tk. 300.00 (Three Hundred) per month for a period of year from the date of conception. BASTOB Gender Policy – Page 8 5.1.9 Transport Facilities: Women staff will be allowed to use rickshaw instead of riding bicycle in culture sensitive rural areas. Both male and female staffs at the field level will have access to Rickshaw loan or Bicycle. Once 50% of the paid loan is realized then the staff can become owner of the transport. Staffs who are in Manager and Unit In charge level will have access to motor cycle loan of Tk. 100,000.00 (One Lac). 5.1.10 Child-Care: Develop a child-care center for the children of the staff (if there is needed) Children of BASTOB staff who will occupy First, Second or third position in their final examinations, will be awarded prizes annually. 5.1.11 Staff Counseling: Encourages an open and participatory environment. Women's voice will be given due importance in meeting and decision making process. Ensure an environment, free from sexual harassment (which includes physical, verbal and non-verbal). BASTOB will maintain a strict defined principle to deal with the cases of sexual harassment. BASTOB will follow an open door policy to ensure access to the management by the staff at any level. Incorporate gender sensitivity as one component of staff performance evaluation. Primarily Unit In charge will be responsible to see gender issues of all staffs especially sexual harassment and other safety issues. Moreover, there will be one person with whom the staff can openly talk and share about gender issues. Selected staff should be widely acceptable to other project staff. She/he will work as the gender focal point. He/She will be reportable to the convener of the gender core team. 5.1.12 Staff Safety: Provide required support/assistance to women staff in work especially during night travel and evening work. Allow flexibility for female staff during pregnancy and lactation period. There will be a provision for every staff to inform about his/her sexual harassment issue in a written form directly to the convener of gender core team. At the field level Unit In charge will be responsible to ensure the security of every staff. 5.1.13 others: Discourage the practices of giving and receiving dowry by all staff. BASTOB Gender Policy – Page 9 All Muslim staff must give positive consent on article 18 in the marriage registration form. Staff will not be allowed to marry twice without the permission of 1st wife. BASTOB discourages 2nd marriage of every staff. Staff (male and female) working in BASTOB can marry each other. But different supervisors must supervise them. Gender practical needs will be considered. For example, female staff during their menstruation period will be allowed to do deskwork for 3 days. 5.2 Programs and Stakeholders Level: Screen all programs/projects through genders lenses. Improve women's access to information by using various media. Address the special needs of women and children during emergency relief operations. Empower women through capacity building. Impart education on democracy and encourage women to participate in local elections. Therefore, consciousness will be given to the program stakeholders in the socio-economic and political issues. Provide legal aid support in partnership with other relevant organizations working on women's legal rights. Promote women's control over credit and income utilization and participation in family decision-making. Enhance women's confident and social dignity. Ensure women's access to safe health practice and services. Organize women through instituting. 5.3. Internal and External Strategy to ensure Gender Equity: Conduct internal gender audit of all its programs and projects. Support movements, which uphold women interest. Protest any anti-women declarations and actions. Maintains strategic alliance with key actors in the field of gender, such as women's organization or other organizations with gender expertise. 6.0 Other Promote exchange, dialogue and openness regarding gender issues Records of organizational work in the field of gender and making them accessible for the staff. Accommodate organizational learning on gender issues. BASTOB Gender Policy – Page 10


text:
Topic Page
Nation Topics - Environmental Activism
News and Features
Ecology has become a very important issue on campuses this season, and this teach-in was the forerunner--a kind of model--for thousands of college and high school colloquia to be held on April 22, dubbed "Earth Day" by the sponsors.
Ask Brock Evans, Washington lobbyist for the Audubon Society, what he thinks of the liedown- in-front-of-the-bulldozer approach to 'environmentalism practiced by Earth First!, and he scoffs, "I want to know how many acres they've saved in the last few years." Earth First! founder Dave Foreman's response is, many acres have they given away?" In the sixteen years since the-first Earth Day, the most prominent environmental groups have become more savy and more pragmatic politically as they have blended into the Washington landscape.
Johann Hari's piece "The Wrong Kind of Green" takes mainstream environmental groups to task for selling out their principles, often in exchange for money from the worst polluters. We invited a range of green groups mentioned in the article to respond to Hari's arguments in this special online forum.
The Nature Conservancy has acknowledged the oil leak in the Gulf, but failed to mention BP. Could it be because the Conservancy has close ties to the oil company? Johann Hari reports on the relationship between conservation groups and corporate cash.
Activists are figuring out what went wrong at the climate summit and what to do next.
The G-8 powers are willing to do just about anything to get a deal in Copenhagen. But the urgency doesn't come from a desire to stop climate change.
The Copenhagen summit has witnessed the coming of age of a genuine, global and muscular mass movement on behalf of climate action.
Promising local initiatives are pointing the way forward for national policy.
Some of the best activism is happening in Britain—but in policy terms, payoff has been slight.
Nation Media
Also From The Nation
Facebook Like Box

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Lexington's downtown 'Farmer's Market' begins
Posted: 04/11/2010 - A downtown Lexington tradition is back for the summer.
Posted: 04/11/2010 - A downtown Lexington tradition is back for the summer.
Posted: 04/11/2010 - A Lexington woman was the victim of a robbery and home invasion Friday night.
Updated: 04/09/2010 - Construction crews on Friday took the final step in finishing the part of the project that called for burying power lines.
Updated: 04/09/2010 - Fayette County residents will have the opportunity to dispose of some of the waste around their homes next Saturday.
Posted: 04/09/2010 - A man charged with robbing a horse farm in November has now been cleared.
Updated: 04/09/2010 - Roy "Dusty Dan" Baldridge pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing matter portraying the sexual performance of a minor. He was sentenced Friday afternoon.
Updated: 04/09/2010 - Coach John Calipari arrived at Keeneland Friday morning to sign special edition Maker's Mark bottles, bearing his image.
Posted: 04/08/2010 - A victory for Mayor Newberry and his fight against a proposed water rate hike from Kentucky American Water.
Posted: 04/09/2010 - The event will be on the UK Campus after the spring meet ends at Keeneland.
Updated: 04/09/2010 - New information out today about crime in Lexington may have you taking extra steps to protect your home. Lexington Police say property crimes are up, but violent crime in the city appears to be dropping.
Updated: 04/09/2010 - A 20 year-old is dead after slamming her car into a light pole on Man O'War at Osbourn Way around 4:00pm Thursday.
Updated: 04/08/2010 - Most of the mess downtown should be completed in time for the World Equestrian Games creating a better-looking and safer streetscape.
Updated: 04/07/2010 - Some smart phone users are about to have City Hall in the palm of their hands.
Updated: 04/07/2010 - They're just trying to stay fit, but while some gym members are exercising, thieves are giving their credit cards a work out.
Updated: 04/07/2010 - People walked to raise awareness for heart health.
Updated: 04/07/2010 - The post positions for Saturday's race at Keeneland were drawn Wednesday morning. Pleasant Prince is the early 3-1 favorite.
Updated: 04/07/2010 - Police caught up with Ricky Eugene Slone over the weekend in Floyd County.
Updated: 04/07/2010 - After hitting the motorcycle, police say the suspected drunk driver hit a parked Cadillac Escalade.
Posted: 04/07/2010 - Police are searching for a suspect after a robbery at a Lexington Motel 6.
Posted: 04/06/2010 - Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Larson tells 27 NEWSFIRST the paperwork was filed Tuesday afternoon.
Posted: 04/07/2010 - Lexington Police are looking for a man who assaulted a delivery guy, then robbing him of his food and money. Now Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information leading to an arrest in this case.
Updated: 04/07/2010 - The side of a Lexington mall is badly burned and police believe three people used the distraction to steal from a grocery store.
Updated: 04/06/2010 - Tuesday was the first day tickets to Friday's event at Keeneland could be picked up.
Posted: 04/06/2010 - Lexington Police are looking for a man that they say burglarized a home, only stealing checks. They believe this may not be the first time he's committed this crime.
Updated: 04/05/2010 - Tyson Gay and Micki King are stopping by two Lexington middle schools Monday to encourage students to walk at least 40 minutes a day.


text:
Front Lake Villa"Dolce Vita" S
Apartment | 2 bedrooms | sleeps 4
|Key Info
Our front lake Villa has been renovated this year and it is composed by two similar apartments with direct access to the lake beach from the garden surrounding the property. Both options are blessed by a stunning view over Como Lake and surrounding mountains.
Apartment "Sylvia" is situated on the first floor of the Villa and it offers two bedrooms , one bathroom, one kitchen and a spacious living room with a front lake balcony. The main bedroom has a king size bed, a large wardrobe and a window opening on a balcony with astonishing lakel view which will make your awakenings special every morning.
The second bedroom is furnished with a single bed, wardrobe and through a large window offers the pleasure of enjoying a beautiful panorama of Valtellina's Alps.
The bathroom has everything you might need and it is equipped with a Teuco multifunction shower giving our guests the opportunity to relax with SPA features such as turkish bath,hydro massage and aromatherapy. The nice kitchen has fridge, dishwasher, freezer, coffee machine, oven and it is fully equipped with kitchen items and cutlery.
The whole property has been furnished using charming ancient furniture matched together with modern design items aiming to meet the expectations of a sophisticated and demanding international audience.
The Villa is surrounded by a spacious garden with private access to the beach and lake view terrace ideal to warm up your day enjoying a tasty breakfast.
We suggest to rent a car because even if you can find restaurants, bars, groceries shops on a walking distance and a bus line to Como and Menaggio is just stopping few meters away, driving a car will definitely give you more flexibility resulting on a more pleasant stay and therefore more opportunities to better discover some of the spots that made George Clooney or Richard Branson falling in love for Lake Como. A private park is available for up to 6 cars.
|Sleeps up to 4, 2 bedrooms
|Will consider
|Corporate bookings, Long term lets (over 1 month), Short breaks (1-4 days)
|Family friendly
|Great for children of all ages, Suitable for people with restricted mobility
|No pets allowed, No smoking at this property
Features and Facilities
|Central heating, TV, Satellite TV, Wi-Fi available
|Kettle, Toaster, Hair dryer
|Clothes dryer, Dishwasher, Cooker, Microwave, Fridge, Freezer, Washing machine
|2 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms of which 1 Family bathrooms
|1 Sofa beds, Single beds (1), Double beds (1), Dining seats for 8
|Linen provided, Towels provided
|Balcony or terrace, BBQ, Private fishing lake or river
Availability Your dates are available
Guest reviewsPowered by TripAdvisor
Guest reviews no reviews
Guest reviews Powered by TripAdvisor
Help other travellers decide where to stay
This holiday home hasn't got any reviews yet. The average rating on Holiday Lettings is four out of five. This place could be newly added or perhaps it's a well kept secret. Either way, it's time to reveal all.
This advert is created and maintained by the advertiser; we can only publish adverts in good faith as we don't own, manage or inspect any of the properties. We advise you to familiarise yourself with our terms of use.
You're booking with
Alessandro B.
100% Response rate
Calendar last updated:27 Mar 2014
Based in Italy
- English
- French
- Portuguese
- Italian
Also consider
- Bellagio
- 200 properties
- Varenna
- 148 properties
- Menaggio
- 136 properties
- Mezzegra
- 42 properties
- Tremezzo
- 39 properties
- Lenno
- 38 properties
- San Siro
- 36 properties
- Bellano
- 32 properties
- Porlezza
- 31 properties
- Gravedona
- 29 properties
- Colico
- 28 properties
- Gera Lario
- 25 properties
- Domaso
- 24 properties
- Santa Maria Rezzonico
- 22 properties
- Pianello del Lario
- 19 properties
- Cadenabbia Griante
- 15 properties
- Dervio
- 15 properties
- Griante
- 11 properties
- Cremia
- 11 properties
- Rezzonico
- 10 properties


text:
Six Best Club Parties in Miami This Week
By Laurie Charles
Roca, Patron's New Tequila, Now Available in Miami
By David Minsky
Top Chef Talks Pizza and Siena Tavern Miami
By Jen Mangham
Five Reasons to Join a CSA for Fall
By Hannah Sentenac
Miami Icons: The Bacardi Complex
By Travis Cohen
By Travis Cohen
Sound Garden to Bring Ambient Tunes to Bayfront
By Hannah Sentenac
Choices Kitchen Now Offers Full Menu
By Hannah Sentenac
Whether you're looking to satisfy your craving for vegan fare or for soups that extend beyond the chicken-noodle and clam-chowder variety, Whole Foods Market is the place to go. Besides interesting items such as Mediterranean beef stew and spinach orzo soup, it features an expansive array of prepared vegetable dishes, from tofu pad thai to raspberry tofu diablo to a delightfully tangy eggplant à la napolitiana (red peppers drenched in olive oil and vinegar stuffed into an eggplant). Or if you're into down-home cookin', the market offers healthy portions of piping-hot meat loaf, barbecued and fried chicken, sweet corn, stuffing, steamed vegetables, and lots of other hot foods.


text:
November 20, 2014
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Charities nationwide are using a tool developed in northwest Alabama because of the fallout from Hurricane Katrina.
Community groups had a problem after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005: They didn't know how to keep track of thousands of people who were seeking help far from their homes.
A collaboration between aid agencies and computer programmers resulted in software called CharityTracker. It keeps track of thousands of charity recipients in about 680 cities nationwide this Christmas season.
The software was developed by Simon Solutions Inc. in Florence. It's one of about 30 software tools used by U.S. nonprofits to keep up with the thousands of needy people who seek assistance daily.
Simon Solutions President Mike Simon says CharityTracker is successful partly because it's so simple to use.
Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Join Our Twitter Followers
iPhoneography Online Course
The Art of iPhoneography Workshop
2013 Top Mobile Images of the Year!
2012 Top Mobile Images Of The Year
Recent Posts
- Mini Mobile Portfolio Review (MMPR) – Alon Goldsmith
- iPad Photography App Tutorial Pixelmator Part 3 – Layers and Selections by Jerry Jobe
- Streets Ahead Interview: Cecily Mariece Caceu – Mobile Street Photography
- iOS Photography App – Fotograf – Temporarily Free Today
- Apple Announces World AIDS Day 2014 Campaign for (RED) – TheAppWhisperer
- Flickr Group Showcase – TheAppWhisperer (TAW) – 23 November 2014
- Mobile Photography – A Picture's Worth with Luis Rodriquez / Lrh Arquitecto – TheAppWhisperer
- 'Sponsored Post' – HostelWorld.com iOS App
- Flickr Group Showcase – TheAppWhisperer (TAW) – 16 November 2014
- Microsoft Hires Photographer To Travel The World via Instagram
- Mobile Movies Showcase – Week 44 – by Donna Donato
- Creating An Alternative Reality – Mobile Street Photography by Paul Brown
Mac Apps Archive
ArtRage 4 Painting Software Now 50% Off For A Limited TimePosted on June 27, 2014 | No CommentsAmbient Design www.artrage.com, the award-winning creator of realistic art painting software for Mac, Windows, iPad, and iPhone, announced today that the popular ArtRage 4 paint software for Mac and Windows […]
Pixelmator 3.2 Sandstone Is Now Available on the Mac App StorePosted on May 22, 2014 | No CommentsToday, the Pixelmator Team announced Pixelmator 3.2 Sandstone, an amazing update to its fast, innovative, and powerful image editing app, featuring an all-new Repair Tool, 16-bits per channel support, and […]
JixiPix Software Releases New Chalkboard Artistic Software for MacPosted on December 9, 2013 | No CommentsJixiPix Software announces the release of a new chalkboard artistic creation software for Mac OS. Chalkspiration is the new creative canvas for businesses and artists to create chalkboard layouts and […]
DxO Perspective – New Photo Mac App – UpdatedPosted on November 8, 2013 | No CommentsThis is an update to a week old app from DxO Labs, essentially the same company that our Head of Technical Hardware, Kevin Carter, writes for as their Lead Editor […]
XnRetro – Temporarily FreePosted on October 28, 2013 | 1 CommentXnRetro is a popular app for iPhone photography packed with light leaks and filters. Usually it retails for $0.99/£0.69 but today it's free. Click here to download.
Psykosoft releases Psykopaint as standalone Mac AppPosted on October 12, 2013 | No CommentsPsykopaint 1.2.1 is a painting application with a twist, that allows you to paint while the colors are selected automatically based on a photo. Until now the app was accessible […]
Ember – New Digital Scrapbook App – For MacPosted on July 24, 2013 | 1 CommentEmber is a brand new Mac app from the developers of Clear and Rapid Weaver. It allows you to Drag in images from your Mac and around the web, and […]
TouchRetouch – New For MacPosted on July 23, 2013 | No CommentsTouchRetouch is one of the most popular apps for iOS both for the iPhone and the iPad and now the developers, ADVA Soft have launched a Mac version. TouchRetouch is […]
Apple Unveils Logic Pro XPosted on July 16, 2013 | No CommentsApple today unveiled Logic Pro X, the most advanced version of Logic Pro to date, featuring a new interface designed for pros, powerful new creative tools for musicians, and an expanded collection […]
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Now AvailablePosted on June 10, 2013 | 1 CommentAdobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the availability of Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 5 for Mac OS® and Windows®. The product is available as an individual license or as part of […]


text:
Order Now:
877.432.2887 • 805.437.7766
Find By Brand:
Buy With Confidence!
Top Brands,
Top Performance.
Fully warrantied products from the world's most trusted manufacturers.
This is a Hi-Capacity Brand AC/DC Adapter for your Dell I1525-129B. The Hi-Capacity AC/DC Adapter meets or exceeds original manufacturer power specifications for Dell I1525-129B AC/DC Adapters.


text:
Well, OK then
Wow. Just wow.
So over-the-top I like it
Dancing chickens? It doesn't have to make sense. It's C-Pop!
This is pure awesome
My friend just sent me this break-up message she received after 7 weeks of dating. My fav reason for split is #3 pic.twitter.com/EdAFS5lLKy
— Amy Nelmes (@amynelmes) November 13, 2014


text:
User Profile: Guerrino_P
Member Since: January 08, 2011
[-6] July 12, 2014 at 4:35pm
It's very unusual that the pilot didn't finish it. Israel has a history of killing Palestinian children without any remorse whatsoever.
In reply to snrar's comment on the story Video Shows Israeli Pilot About to Bomb a Terror Target Until Something He Saw Stopped Him Cold
Responses (2) +
[2] July 12, 2014 at 5:07pm
foobared responded:
July 13, 2014 at 10:49am
Robin M responded:
July 9, 2014 at 12:47pm
Crotch itch.
In reply to Mazeman's comment on the story The New Video of Kim Jong Un That Has Some Seriously Questioning His Health
[-1] July 9, 2014 at 7:31am
Alex wants a job on Fox News. Sorry sweetie, you're no blonde.
July 8, 2014 at 6:52pm
Governor Perry or Fairy?
[-4] July 8, 2014 at 4:51pm
July 7, 2014 at 3:00pm
I think it's wonderful that she found faith. God Bless you.
In reply to the story A Former Playboy Bunny Just Made an Unexpected Transformation
Responses (2) +
[4] July 7, 2014 at 3:11pm
Huh responded:
[-1] July 7, 2014 at 4:30pm
Everything_to_Gain responded:
[-3] July 7, 2014 at 10:28am
Israel must get serious about the peace process.
In reply to the story As Young Men Are Slain, Palestinian and Israeli Families Comfort One Another
Responses (2) +
[4] July 7, 2014 at 10:42am
tzion responded:
July 8, 2014 at 3:28pm
BillyChristian responded:
[-1] July 6, 2014 at 2:17pm
I hope you are from the north.
In reply to rreactor's comment on the story New 'America' Footage Depicts a National Tragedy About to Unfold
July 6, 2014 at 1:04pm
You made a few mistakes. I saw the "documentary" and it's not a documentary film. I'm not a liberal. I'm not a fool that takes this country for granted. I'm not a racist. I am a descendant of a people this country was named after. Stick to making enchiladas or at the very least take a film appreciation coarse. Oh, I'm still glad that (what Blaze people call) the brown guy is going to prison.
[-7] July 6, 2014 at 12:03pm
It's a shame that the Feds didn't shoot every last one of them.
[-3] July 6, 2014 at 11:29am
You got teary because this piece of crap was painful to watch. I'm so glad the brown guy (Blaze term for visible minority) is going to prison.
[-6] July 6, 2014 at 11:23am
I'm so happy the south lost. To this day, they are still anti-American.
In reply to the story New 'America' Footage Depicts a National Tragedy About to Unfold
Responses (2) +
[5] July 6, 2014 at 1:59pm
rreactor responded:
July 6, 2014 at 7:55pm
aricht43 responded:
[-1] July 6, 2014 at 11:20am
I was serious. Moron? Takes one to know one? I hope you'll be okay when Clinton gets in.
In reply to Guerrino_P's comment on the story Do You Know Which Country Is the World's Biggest Oil Producer?
[-6] July 6, 2014 at 9:45am
Not nice to recommend crap to the Blaze faithful. I saw the movie and it's terrible. The best part was at the end when you see D'Sousa in a jail cell… where he belongs.
[-13] July 5, 2014 at 5:20pm
I saw the film last night. I wish I could take back last night. I'm happy D'Scumbag is going to prison.
In reply to the story New 'America' Footage Depicts a National Tragedy About to Unfold
Responses (3) +
[7] July 5, 2014 at 5:28pm
unusualsuspect responded:
July 5, 2014 at 7:13pm
Tacit Eagle responded:
[4] July 5, 2014 at 8:08pm
GrumpyNGrumpier46 responded:
[-1] July 5, 2014 at 5:18pm
Thank you Obama. You will go down as one of our finest presidents. God bless you.
In reply to the story Do You Know Which Country Is the World's Biggest Oil Producer?
Responses (2) +
[7] July 5, 2014 at 7:19pm
Jeetman responded:
[-1] July 6, 2014 at 11:20am
Guerrino_P responded:
July 4, 2014 at 10:07am
Hitler's dog turned out to be Jewish as well.
In reply to bornagaincowgirl's comment on the story The Hidden Identity of This Nazi Poster Child Would Have Stunned Hitler
[2] July 4, 2014 at 10:05am
Sounds like a real winner. Bye bye.
[3] July 4, 2014 at 10:03am
Democrat voters… and people who think the earth is 6000 years old.
[-1] July 3, 2014 at 4:21pm
I hope as much to wipe out Israel.
In reply to jakartaman's comment on the story 'Journalists! Journalists!': NBC News Crew Caught in Middle of Jerusalem Clash
Channel Finder
Find TheBlaze on your TV
Channel Finder
TheBlaze is available on channel .
Spread the word!
If you can't find TheBlaze, please call to upgrade your package
Channel Finder
Unfortunately, TheBlaze is not available on .
But you can help! Call at or press CONTINUE to email your provider and urge them to add TheBlaze to your channel lineup.
But you can help! Press CONTINUE to email your provider and urge them to add TheBlaze to your channel lineup.Continue
Request TheBlaze
Please complete the form
Thank you for supporting TheBlaze
While you're waiting for your TV provider to get TheBlaze, sign up to watch it online now.
- 'I'm Born Again Today': Two Country Music Stars Reveal That They Are Gay 589 Comments
- New Gun Law Backfires in Washington After Museum Makes Drastic Decision Regarding Firearms in WWII Exhibit 326 Comments
- 'You Have Made a Dictator': Beck's Fiery Warning About President Obama's 'Impeachable Offense' 325 Comments
- Obama's Claims on Illegal Immigration Get Fact-Checked 309 Comments
- Obama Executive Action to Block Deportations of 5 Million Illegal Immigrants for Three Years 306 Comments
- When the Mic Died During the U.S. National Anthem in Toronto, That's When the Canadians Did Something Pretty Cool 107.1K Shares
- Commentary Dear Mr. Obama, It Must Be Good to Be King 57.5K Shares
- Commentary Bill Clinton Is an Alleged Rapist, Too. Why Aren't You Outraged About That? 36.6K Shares
- Thousands of 'Lost' Lois Lerner Emails Suddenly Found by IRS Watchdog 24.5K Shares
- 10 of the Worst School Lunches From the #ThanksMichelleObama Hashtag 19.3K Shares
- After the Government Broke Its Promise, Tens of Thousands Marched Against Abortion in Spain Read More
- Cemetery Incident Near Seattle Has One Heartbroken Relative Calling It a 'Hate Crime' Read More
- Why This Well-Known Pastor Who Values Small Gov't and Liberty Is Embracing Obama's Immigration Plan Read More
- Are Christians Getting Jesus All Wrong? Preacher Reveals the Bible Verse That Got Him Thinking Entirely Differently 234 Comments
- Researchers Decode 20-Page Codex to Unveil Ancient, 'Magical' Egyptian Text Read More
- Why TGI Fridays Will Be Flying a Drone Around This Holiday Season Read More
- Working in This Industry Leads to More Dishonest Behavior Compared to Other Jobs Read More
- Apple Made a Minor Tweak to Its App Store That Could Keep You and Your Family Safer Online Read More
- American-Made Pillow Artisan Provides the Gift of an Amazing Night's Sleep Read More
- Where Do Americans Rank in Terms of Giving? Read More
- European Scientists Are Going to Try to Grow Food in Space Read More
- Why TGI Fridays Will Be Flying a Drone Around This Holiday Season Read More
- Guy Arrested After His Daughter Inadvertently Gives Police All the Evidence They Needed Read More
- The White House Says the Law Should Be 'Modernized' to Make Illegal Streaming of Music a Felony Read More
- Apple Made a Minor Tweak to Its App Store That Could Keep You and Your Family Safer Online Read More
The Blog
- Major Newspaper Pulls Cartoon Critical of Obama's Immigration Reform After Many Call It 'Racist'
- Another Cosby Sexual Assault Accuser Goes on the Record — This Time a Former Playmate of the Month
- Official: Man Who Fatally Ambushed Florida Deputy Made Previous Threats Against Police
- Cop Caught on Video Slapping and Punching Woman During Arrest Gets Punished — but It's Not the Sanction You'd Likely Expect
- 'He Is One Arrogant, Obnoxious Narcissist': Blaze Readers React to CBS, NBC and ABC Not Being Asked to Air Obama's Big Immigration Speech — This Might Be Why
The Wire
- Former DC Mayor Marion Barry dies at 78
- Afghan parliament approves US, NATO agreements
- Tunisians vote for a new president
- Ferguson prepares for grand jury decision
- Rhode Island, New Jersey and Virginia High School Scientists Win Regional Siemens Competition at Georgia Institute of Technology for Research Solving an Open Math Problem and the Discovery of a Pharmaceutical Solution to Broad Spectrum Antibiotic Resistance
- Civic group: No Ferguson grand jury decision yet
- Pacquiao knocks Algieri down 6 times, dominates
- New York High School Scientists Win Regional Siemens Competition at Carnegie Mellon University for Research on Improving Reproductive Health Through Meiosis and Aortic-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells


text:
Are you ready for Winter?
'Cause that bullshit already started in Cleveland, and I'm not!
Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher when Fisher was Sabans offensive coordinator at LSU.
There are 40 teams total that got at least some level of Mock BCS points, so you can follow the link below to find them all.
My Top 25
My Rank/BCS/team/prev
1 ( 2 ) Alabama 4
2 ( 1 ) Florida St. 3
3 ( 3 ) Oregon 2
4 ( 7 ) Ohio St. 10
5 ( 4 ) Miss. St. 1
6 ( 8 ) Ole Miss 5
9 ( 19 ) Marshall 13
10 ( 9 ) Georgia 21
11 ( 14 ) Auburn 7
12 ( 28 ) Boise St. 15
13 ( 17 ) Ga. Tech 22
14 ( 23 ) Colo. St. 11
15 ( 15 ) Arizona 20
16 ( 6 ) Baylor 14
17 ( 11 ) Mich. St. 24
18 ( 13 ) Arizona St. 8
19 ( 22 ) Nebraska 12
20 ( 16 ) Wisconsin
21 ( 12 ) Kansas St. 19
22 ( 18 ) Missouri
23 ( 21 ) Oklahoma
24 ( 30 ) Clemson 23
(Utah and LSU are the two Mock BCS top 25 teams who are not in my top 25.)
Full Rankings 1-128
Out of top 25: (16) Notre Dame, (17) Duke, (18) LSU, (25) TX A&M
Earlier rankings:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
I have serious reservations about both Alabama and Florida St.; but its the right thing, at least at this point, for both to be the top 2 teams. Alabama has had major issues with playing on the road (one-point win over Arkansas, virtual loss to LSU, actual loss to Ole Miss), although they dont have any road games left. Florida St. has too; but its been a more general pattern of slow starts on both sides of the ball, followed by quick scores that the opposition offenses cant keep up with.
Last week, I mentioned that it was possible for both Mississippi St. and Alabama to be in the top 4 with a Tide win over the Bulldogs. This would have happened were it not for another team I didnt anticipate making the top 4, Ohio St.
A few things came together to help this happen. Even though the Gophers were unranked, that still counts as a good win. The fact that TCU escaped against Kansas on Saturday helped that to continue to count as a good win. (TCU beat Minnesota out of conference.) As I discussed last week in reference to Arizona St./Notre Dame, the effects of those out-of-conference results are huge.
If Minnesota lost to Michigan St., for instance, that would be positive for some Big Ten teams and negative for others, but it wouldnt have a huge impact on the conference overall. Out-of-conference results have a uniformly positive or negative effect though. If 8 or 9 games you play are made to look better or worse, that makes a big difference.
Ohio St.s strength of schedule was also assisted by Virginia Techs win over Duke. Losses hurt more than wins help, so if another loss had been added to Virginia Tech, that would have continued to weigh Ohio St. down. Instead, the Hokies ability to beat another pretty good team makes the loss not hurt so much.
Another factor that helped Ohio St. was Navys win over Georgia Southern. Im not going to pretend Georgia Southern is a great team, but they have 7 FBS wins, so thats a positive for Navy, which Ohio St. beat earlier in the year.
A big game for the Big Ten in general was Notre Dame/Northwestern. Not only was that a big win for a Big Ten team, but it also damaged what had been a quality opponent for Pac-12 and ACC teams.
Despite Northwestern taking even more of the luster off of Florida St.s win over Notre Dame, the Seminoles were still able to move into #2 after a quality win that coincided with an Oregon bye week. Ohio St. was a little too far behind to challenge the Noles either.
The winner of Ole Miss and Mississippi St. still has a good chance to move into the top 4, particularly if Alabama loses to Auburn. If Ole Miss (@ Arkansas) and Mississippi St. (vs. Vanderbilt) win next week, this would mean that Alabama would be shut out of the SEC championship game.
The way my system operates, its a disadvantage not to be in the conference-championship game at the end of the year. This is one reason Alabama did not rate as highly in my system as it did in the BCS in 2011, for instance.
I mentioned TCU earlier. Its not looking good for the Big XII in my system.
It would take a major group of losses by top teams for the Horned Frogs (currently #7) to move up significantly. Theyre idle next week, then they play Texas during Rivalry Week, which is their last chance to get a decent number of points. During championship week, they play Iowa St., so thats not going to help them out much. Even Marshall would get more points that week with a win. TCU is just a whisker ahead of UCLA, who can get a lot of points by winning out, especially if the Bruins win the Pac-12 South.
Kansas St. plays Baylor during championship week, but Kansas St. has two losses (and Auburn isnt helping them by losing) and Baylor doesnt have the prior wins. Their non-conference schedule was just awful.
No one outside of the top 10 has much of a chance of making the top 4, but teams like Georgia Tech, Arizona, and Wisconsin could move up significantly by winning their respective conferences.
As we learned in 2007 though, you never want to say its impossible for either a team like TCU or one of those lower teams.
LSU, Notre Dame, and Duke fell out. I think theyre all top-25 teams in ability (although none played like it Saturday), but teams in the 20s are packed pretty closely together, and all have at least one good chance for points coming up.
There were 11 losses or bye weeks in the top 18 last week, so that accounts for a lot of the movement. Any team that went into the week in the top 18 and won a game is now in the top 12. All but two (Marshall and Boise St.) are in the top 7.
Pac-12 teams are moving up, in part due to Arizona St.s win over Notre Dame.
Just like last week, there are no newly-ranked teams for the season, so there are no team logos. There are 39 teams total that got at least some level of Mock BCS points, so you can follow the link below to find them all.
My Top 25
My Rank/BCS/team/prev
1 ( 1 ) Miss. St. 1
2 ( 4 ) Oregon 5
3 ( 2 ) Florida St. 3
4 ( 3 ) Alabama 6
5 ( 10 ) Ole Miss 4
7 ( 8 ) Auburn 2
8 ( 7 ) Arizona St. 8
10 ( 9 ) Ohio St. 15
11 ( 23 ) Colo. St. 14
12 ( 11 ) Nebraska 9
13 ( 21 ) Marshall 17
14 ( 6 ) Baylor 22
15 ( 29 ) Boise St. 18
16 ( 15 ) Notre Dame 13
17 ( 20 ) Duke 23
19 ( 13 ) Kansas St. 11
20 ( 19 ) Arizona 21
21 ( 16 ) Georgia 25
22 ( 27 ) Ga. Tech
23 ( 18 ) Clemson 20
24 ( 14 ) Mich. St. 16
Out of top 25: (19) Oklahoma, (24) Missouri
Earlier rankings:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
It makes me sick to have to give Alabama credit for a win and to penalize LSU for a loss, just so you know. At least now I dont have to cheer for the Rammer Jammers in any of their remaining games.
I havent forced myself to cheer for Alabama since Thanksgiving Day of 2010 (I was neutral when they played Notre Dame in January 2013); but if LSU had kept winning, I would have had to cheer for them in one or possibly both of their remaining games.
Anyway, Oregon is #2 for the moment, but things will even out when the Ducks have a bye week next week. If I were to account for the extra week now, Oregon would actually be #4.
I was pleased that my rankings gave some credit to the Pac-12. I didnt make a rankings system to favor one conference (and neither did any of the widely-recognized systems). So while its not quite as strong as the SEC West (everyone but Arkansas has no losses outside the division), the Oregon/Arizona St./Arizona/UCLA group of teams has played well enough to help one another out, especially with ASUs win over Notre Dame. UCLA did lose to Utah, and Arizona did lose to USC, so thats why its not quite the same as the top of the SEC West.
I explained the circumstances, but the fact that Oregon is close enough to Alabama in the first place shows that its not impossible to break into the group of SEC teams even if they werent beating each other constantly. The best Pac-12 team with two losses isnt ahead of the best SEC team with two losses (Ole Miss), but they are ahead of the second-best (Auburn).
Arizona St. only has one loss; but unlike UCLA, they wont play Oregon until the Pac-12 championship (if at all) and they havent played Arizona yet. UCLAs win over Texas is also looking better after the Horns beat WVU.
I skipped Florida St. They should be a somewhat comfortable #2 next week if they win.U. Miami is possibly the best three-loss team (after LSU anyway). One of the Hurricanes losses is to Nebraska, and they are the only team to beat Duke.
Auburn/Ole Miss is not a mistake or oversight. Even though Auburn beat Ole Miss, I still think the Rebels belong ahead. Ole Miss is 1-0 against the top two teams in the West, and Auburn is 0-1. Also, the loss at LSU is more forgivable than the loss at home againstA&M.
TCU and Ohio St. are where they belong. Basically, the wrong teams won. Either conferences best chance was for the teams that were undefeated in conference with respectable out-of-conference losses (Michigan St. to Oregon and KSU to Auburn) to win out.
TCUs best win is the one they just had over Kansas St. The Oklahoma win is looking less impressive now. The Frogs beat Minnesota out of conference, but their games againstSamford and still-winless SMU dont help them out much.
Of course, Ohio St.s loss to mediocre Virginia Tech is going to be difficult to overcome, but they may have an outside shot if they can beat Nebraska (preferably if they dont incur any further losses) in the Big Ten championship.
There is then a huge gap before getting to #11, Colorado St. The Rams have a bye week, followed by New Mexico, so there will be plenty of opportunity for teams to pass them. Marshall already had its bye weeks, but the best team on their schedule right now (pending whoever wins the other division) is Rice.
Nebraska is between the two mid-major/group-of-five teams, but as I indicated, they can find their way to move up by winning.
Baylor only has the one loss, but the Bears played SMU, Northwestern St., and Buffalo out of conference. Also, they have yet to play Kansas St. Thats on championship week, so I guess it will be a good chance to make one last statement if the Bears keep winning.
Boise St. is not likely to move up very much. Notre Dame can move up a little bit, but neither of those will be particularly relevant with two losses.
Duke certainly still has some potential for points being that they may earn a rematch in the ACC title game with Florida St., but there isnt too much before then.
Everyone else is mostly just jockeying for non-CFP bowl consideration.
Georgia, LSU, and Texas A&M dont want to fall too far down the list of SEC bowls (I dont think the Bulldogs want to see Jacksonville again, for instance). Michigan St. looks like it may be playing an SEC team somewhere in Florida.
I mentioned Kansas St. and Arizona earlier. They look out of their respective conference races for the moment, but there are big games left.
Georgia Tech and Clemson will square off for best two-loss ACC team.
I didn't wait for the committee this time. Its LSU/Alabama week, so I want to give my rankings and move on. Im going to include the mock BCS standings as I calculate them. They will be the number in parentheses. There are no team logos below because there is only one new ranked team (Missouri, which replaces West Virginia), and they were ranked earlier this season.
LSU/Alabama is just one of the big games before the Iron Bowl, but there is a good chance it will be an important game for the national title race once again.
My Top 25
My Rank/BCS/team/prev
1 ( 1 ) Miss. St. 1
2 ( 3 ) Auburn 3
3 ( 2 ) Florida St. 4
4 ( 10 ) Ole Miss 2
5 ( 5 ) Oregon 6
6 ( 4 ) Alabama 5
8 ( 12 ) Arizona St. 19
9 ( 15 ) Nebraska 8
11 ( 7 ) Kansas St. 18
13 ( 8 ) Notre Dame 11
14 ( 26 ) Colo. St. 16
15 ( 13 ) Ohio St. 13
16 ( 9 ) Mich. St. 10
17 ( 22 ) Marshall 9
18 ( 30 ) Boise St. 21
19 ( 17 ) Oklahoma 23
20 ( 19 ) Clemson 20
21 ( 20 ) Arizona 15
22 ( 14 ) Baylor 22
23 ( 23 ) Duke 24
24 ( 25 ) Missouri
25 ( 18 ) Georgia 12
Full 128 computer ratings
Other teams who would have at least some BCS points:
42 ( 21 ) Utah
31 ( 24 ) W. Virginia 25
29 ( 27 ) Wisconsin
26 ( 31 ) Ga. Tech
33 ( 32 ) Florida
30 ( 33 ) Minnesota
35 ( 34 ) Louisville
43 ( 35 ) Iowa
49 ( 36 ) Stanford
48 ( 37 ) E. Carolina
50 ( 38 ) Cincinnati
27 ( 39 ) U. Miami
Earlier rankings:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Once again, Im going to have to ask for some patience in Ole Miss going down in the rankings. They have Presbyterian next week and a bye the week after that, so theyll possibly fall several spots in that time. (LSU, for instance, fell three spots after taking off this past weekend alone. Marshall and Michigan St. fell much more.) The following week, the Rebels play Arkansas, so someone else could also pass them after that week as well.
Why are they so high right now? Other than only having had one bye week, Ole Miss has the 4th-best schedule right now.
The Rebels beat Alabama, which rates as the second-best win by any team this season right now. The best win is Mississippi St.s win over Auburn. As you might guess, apart from Mississippi St., the best (or least-bad) team to lose to is Auburn.
Speaking of Auburn, if youve ever said to yourself, Id like to watch Gus Malzahn break dance, today is your lucky day:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFvqdQnWu9I
Anyway, if I were just making it up from scratch, Ole Miss would be somewhere around #10, so Im going to go through the top 10 and explain why Ole Miss is higher than each team in my ratings at the moment.
Im not going to comment on every teams prospect for moving ahead of Ole Miss, but the first two are particularly relevant.
LSU isnt one of the top few teams to lose to, but theyre much better than Arizona, which beat #5 Oregon. Oregon is very close to Ole Miss in points though, so I would expect them to easily pass up the Rebels with a win next week.
#6 Alabama has beaten none of the top 5 teams of the West yet, so thats why they cant be ahead of Ole Miss right now. Beating LSU would change that. Not only would it be a decent increase in points, but it would hurt Ole Miss more for losing to LSU. (Losses hurt more than wins help.)
#7 UCLA also has two losses (one of them to Utah), so they certainly dont have a strong argument to be ahead of Ole Miss.
#8 Arizona St. only has one loss, but when your best win is over USC, you dont belong ahead of a team with Ole Misss résumé.
#9 Nebraska is another one-loss team that just doesnt have the wins to compete with Ole Miss right now. The Huskers did beat Miami (which is no Alabama), but the quality of wins decreases rapidly from there.
#10 LSU needs another big win. They have Ole Miss (which counts for less than Alabama) and Wisconsin (which counts for less than Boise St.) but really not much after that. Kentucky and Florida dont rate very highly due to their records, and its harder to have the same strength of schedule playing in the East, especially when neither team has played a good out-of-conference opponent yet. Ole Miss beat Texas A&M, for instance, which has a better record than either of LSUs SEC East opponents and rates a good bit higher. The Aggies wouldnt necessarily beat the Wildcats or Gators, but it makes sense that they have a higher rating right now.
Ole Miss went from being ahead of Mississippi St. in my ratings to being 0.25 behind the Bulldogs in the last two weeks, it just so happens there werent many teams in between ready to move up. Rating-wise, theyre as close to Mississippi St. as they are to Colorado St. now. Its just not translating from ratings to rankings yet.
Along with the top teams of the Pac-12 (mentioned above), the top teams of the Big XII are moving up. Kansas St. plays TCU next week, so the winner will probably find itself well into the top 10. The Big XII doesnt have that much depth in my formula though, so if its TCU, theyll probably go down from there (Kansas, bye, Texas, Iowa St.). Kansas St. can still finish undefeated in the Big XII (they lost to Auburn out of conference) and still has WVU and Baylor to play, so I believe they would be the stronger candidate for the top 4 by winning out.
Notre Dame finally has a chance to make a move by beating Arizona St. Louisville and USC (later this month) wont be bad additions to the resume either.
Everyone lower down lacks a great schedule at this point. I know this because there are no 3-loss teams in my top 25.
Colorado St. has a better rating than Marshall or Boise St., but the Broncos (with two losses overall) hold the tie-breaker in the Mountain West, so picking the best of the rest team might be tricky.
Like the TCU/KSU game, Ohio St. and Michigan St. should produce a team that can move up and do well. Unlike that game, both teams have competitive opponents coming up and neither has a bye week. If Nebraska keeps winning, that would help the winner of the Big Ten East even more down the road if they end up winning the Big Ten title game.
Oklahoma would get a big boost by beating Baylor, but there is not much left for the Sooners points-wise after that.
I dont expect a big move upward by Clemson. Other than Florida St., the ACC Atlantic doesnt have much to offer as far as potential points. Georgia Tech and a South Carolina team that will probably finish .500 are the best left on the purple and orange Tigers schedule. I certainly dont see Florida St. losing twice, which Clemson would need to happen to make the ACC title game.
Arizona can still influence things with game against Washington, Utah, and Arizona St. Making the Pac-12 title game certainly isnt out of the question. It seems like apart from Colorado, anyone in the Pac-12 South can easily beat anyone else.
I mentioned Baylor. The Bears still have Oklahoma and Kansas St. left, so they can still win the Big XII.
Duke looks like a good-but-not-great divisional winner again.
Lastly, no one wants to win the SEC East, it seems, but Missouri has a one-game advantage right now. The black and gold Tigers would lose the tie-breaker if its a two-way tie with the Bulldogs though. Texas A&M appears to be Missouris toughest test left, while Georgia still has to play Kentucky (on the road) and Auburn before closing the regular season with non-conference games.
In addition to the blog linked to above, I'm now on twitter @TheBayouBlogger and at www.facebook.com/BayouBlogger
There have been a lot of people who have looked at the top four whether it was the CFPs or the mock BCSs or my objective computer ratings and have gotten all upset that it contains three SEC West teams.
First of all, that kind of consensus tells you theyre wrong to complain; but secondly, people forget this isnt an 11-team Big Ten with an 8-game schedule and no championship game. No one is just going to avoid another top team or two and coast to the playoff.
Every team in the SEC West has to play every other team. The remaining battles start on Saturday, when Auburn plays Ole Miss. I can pretty much guarantee you they wont both stay ahead of Florida St. and Oregon if the Noles and Ducks both win this weekend (if you count Thursday night).
It is impossible for any combination of three SEC West teams to finish with one loss or fewer and therefore extremely unlikely that three of them would be in the top 4 at the end of the year.
Each of the four teams at the top of the SEC West right now has two games left against the other four. Auburn plays Ole Miss and Alabama; Ole Miss plays Auburn and Mississippi St.; Mississippi St. plays Alabama and Ole Miss; and Alabama plays Mississippi St. and Auburn.
Thats not to mention the fact that two of the teams (Mississippi St. and Ole Miss) still have to play Arkansas. I know the Hogs are winless in conference, but their only losses are in the SEC West and to the best team in the SEC East so far, Georgia. The only other loss from outside of this top group was in overtime to Texas A&M. Also, they put a scare into Alabama, so they can knock off one of these teams.
Speaking of Alabama, even though they got past Arkansas, they have to win in Tiger Stadium at night in about two weeks. They have done that a couple of times in recent years, but it wasnt easy. They needed to win in overtime in 2008 (even though that was the worst team Miles has had at LSU and the Tide were undefeated at the time) and in the last minute in 2012.
Auburn has to play Georgia, which appears to be the top team in the East, also on the road.
Speaking of Georgia, theyre the one SEC team that I could even imagine causing three of the top four to be SEC. Mississippi St. and Alabama could each finish with one loss (if Alabama wins out and Mississippi St. wins out apart from the Alabama game).
Alabama could be consensus #1 and go into the SEC championship game against Georgia (who themselves could win their remaining games). Georgia could win the SEC. Im not sure if a loss to another one-loss team in Game 13 of the season knocks a team down from #1 to #5, but if I were a one-loss Oregon team, for instance, I wouldnt want to have to find out the answer to that question.
On the other hand, LSUs only losses are to two top-5 teams and theyre way down at #19 despite beating the committees #4 team last week. So the committee probably wouldnt even allow that scenario to happen.
Speaking of LSU, they could be a catalyst for the SEC having just one team in the top 4. The Tigers are not eliminated from the SEC West. Alabama and Ole Miss beat Mississippi St., and Auburn could beat Ole Miss but lose to Alabama and possibly one other team (Arkansas and Georgia are possibilities). There would be nothing particularly strange about any of those results.
If there were a 4-way tie without Auburn under the above scenario, LSU would win the tie. LSU and Ole Miss would both be 2-1 against other teams in the tie, and then the resulting 2-way tie would be broken by LSUs win over Ole Miss. There could be a 5-way tie, but unless one of the losses is to another team (such as Arkansas or Georgia), everyone in the tie would then be 2-2 against the other teams. This tie would then be broken by best SEC East opponents, which right now would be won by Auburn with LSU a close second. LSUs opponents would have to be better (and not even) because they would obviously lose a 2-way tie with Auburn.
Anyway, even if Georgia wins out, they already have one loss, so a loss in the SEC Championship Game would give them 2 losses. If the entire SEC has at least two losses, it would make sense to give the champion a spot in the top four and no one else.
It doesnt take anything crazy though for the champion of the SEC could have one or no losses and everyone else could have 2 losses. This would also probably result in only that one team in the playoff.
So it seems nearly impossible for there to be three SEC teams in the playoffs, more likely than not for there to be two teams, and quite possibly just one team.
In short, if youre really nervous about there being too many SEC teams
Mississippi St. winning out will make sure everyone but Auburn finished with at least two losses. The chances are pretty good that Auburn will lose a second game anyway.
I, on the other hand, want to see LSU get as close as they can.
...For earlier access to my blogs, archives, etc., you can follow my wordpress site or my page on facebook.
m going to do things a little differently this week. To avoid confusion, Im omitting last weeks rankings from the chart (I will discuss movement of teams in the discussion below). Im listing my top 25 in order and to the right, Im first listing the college football playoff top 25, followed by a mock BCS (Ill just call it BCS from now on since there is no real BCS ranking anymore) ranking.
There are 36 teams that got at least some level of points under this approximated BCS system, so Ill mention those who arent in my top 25 afterward.
The BCS formula cant be completely replicated because there is no longer a Harris poll, and one of the computer systems (Massey) no longer lists ratings that comply with BCS rules, which included a ban on any consideration for margin of victory. I think Ive made a pretty good approximation by using the AP poll and Masseys normal ratings.
At least we can all agree on #1.
My Top 25
1 Miss. St. 1 , 1
2 Ole Miss 4 , 6
3 Auburn 3 , 4
4 Florida St. 2 , 2
5 Alabama 6 , 3
6 Oregon 5 , 5
8 Nebraska 15 , 17
9 Marshall , 23
10 Mich. St. 8 , 8
11 Notre Dame 10 , 7
12 Georgia 11 , 9
13 Ohio St. 16 , 15
15 Arizona 12 , 16
16 Colo. St. , (27)
18 Kansas St. 9 , 10
19 Arizona St. 14 , 12
20 Clemson 21 , 20
21 Boise St. , (31)
22 Baylor 13 , 14
23 Oklahoma 18 , 19
24 Duke 24 , 25
25 W. Virginia 20 , 21
Out of my top 25: (11) Minnesota, (21) USC
My full list of FBS teams
These are all other teams that would have received some level of points in the BCS system (same format as above; if theyre completely unranked, theyre omitted):
26. Missouri , 29
27. Ga. Tech , 34
28. Minnesota , 33
30. Louisville 25, 35
31. East Carolina 23, 22
34. Wisconsin . 30
36. Texas A&M , 26
38. Stanford , 32
40. Okla. St. , 36
Explanation and future rankings
I dont have time for too much editorializing, but before seeing these I already thought it was an oversight not to have a system that was at least partially objective. Im not going to judge the whole thing on one rankings list, but based on what I see here, I would have preferred to keep something like the BCS formula and pick the top four from that.
I know people who dont understand how my system works wont be happy with these. Last week, Ole Miss was technically #1, but I just didnt rank them as such on my blog because I wanted to see if they would beat LSU before taking that step. Im glad I made that choice.
Anyway, the question remains: how do they only lose one spot? I even thought I might have made a mistake, but Ill explain.
The first thing I wanted to mention is theyre actually #4, behind Auburn and Florida St. (who have had two byes apiece) if you divide the overall rating by playing weeks.
It also helps that Ole Miss started out a large distance over #3. A normal distance from one team to the next is about 0.02. Ole Miss was 0.12 ahead of last weeks (computer) #3, Florida St. Losing to LSU only subtracts 0.09 from Ole Misss score. Ole Miss still goes from 0.04 ahead of Mississippi St. to 0.14 behind. For context, in last weeks ratings, 0.14 was approximately the distance between #6 Oregon and #16 LSU. There just arent teams between the two in this case.
Just as an aside, this week LSU was only 0.04 short of the Ducks.
With Florida St.s bye week (most teams lose at least one spot in a bye week), Ole Miss was able to stay ahead and Auburn was able to pass them up. I understand one may object to two one-loss teams being ahead of Florida St., but at the end of last regular season there was just one, and at the end of this year there will likely be one. Someone has to lose Auburn-Ole Miss next week. Its not guaranteed Mississippi St. will get past Alabama and Ole Miss. Also, someone has to lose between Alabama and Auburn. Auburn also has to play Georgia. So there are plenty of future opportunities on here for Florida St. to move back up.
Even if Ole Miss beats Auburn next week, they will then have a lull in points. They play Presbyterian College the following week, followed by a bye. Florida St.s opponents of Louisville, Virginia, and U. Miami should pick them up a bit relative to Ole Miss.
Alabama plays LSU and Mississippi St. on the 8th and 15th, respectively, but next week they have a bye week, and on the 22nd they play Western Carolina (while Florida St. will play Boston College that week).
Once again, Auburn is a potential one-loss team that Florida St. may have trouble catching. Florida St. could be no better than third if both Auburn and Mississippi St. win out. Auburn would have a bye week during the championships in that scenario, but a win over Georgia to go along with the SEC West wins would still be difficult to overcome. If South Carolina and Kansas St. win the rest of their games, Auburn would have a very large number of points from those as well.
My computer ratings are a lot more fluid than the polls. Ill give a couple of examples.
When I had Alabama ahead of Auburn last week, that clearly did not mean that if both won theyd remain in the same positions. The teams are basically in a race. If youre ahead in a race and neither you nor your opponent fall down, youre not guaranteed to finish ahead.
Also, I said that teams playing tough opponents can pass up Marshall. Even though LSU was 9 spots behind, they did just that with the win over Ole Miss. Granted, many teams would have to win two games instead of one to make that distance, but its not as difficult to move up as it would be in the polls. Nebraska was 7 spots behind Marshall and also passed up the Herd by beating Rutgers.
Marshall has a bye next week so will most likely be passed up by even more teams. Michigan St. is also idle, but then Sparty will have a good chance the next week against the Buckeyes.
In addition to Kansas St., its also helped the SEC West that Boise St. (beaten by Ole Miss) and West Virginia (beaten by Alabama) have continued to move up. Both are now in the top 25. Wisconsin (beaten by LSU) is one of the next 10 teams out.
Also, SEC West teams have now swept three of the top five SEC East teams, Kentucky, Florida, and South Carolina. Georgia has the only win against the SEC West by any team in college football from outside of the SEC West, but the Bulldogs will play Auburn in a couple of weeks. Missouri has yet to play an SEC West team. Not that it helps much, but Tennessee was also swept by the SEC West, and Vanderbilt lost one and has one to play (against Miss. St.).
The top five teams of the SEC West are still undefeated against all outsiders. As mentioned, there are some really quality wins over those outsiders. LSU is the only one of the five who has lost twice within the group, but thats about to change with the Auburn-Ole Miss game.
Earlier rankings:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
I almost forgot to mention Im now on twitter @TheBayouBlogger
This website is powered by Spruz


text:
Spotlight Article:
Creating Healthy and Energy-Efficient Housing
What Does the Research Tell Us?
Keep Reading
Dry Notes from the Underground
free CONTENT
Research shows that homeowners invite mold growth and serious health risks with a finished basement that has moisture problems. [continue reading]
Moisture Problems in Manufactured Housing
free CONTENT
Manufactured homes are affordable to many. A study points the way to making them healthy by dealing with moisture problems. [continue reading]
CO Testing for the Real World
free CONTENT
Field inspections of gas ranges and laboratory tests provide the basis for a proposed CO emissions testing protocol. [continue reading]
Public Housing Breaks the Mold Part II: Veterans Era Housing
free CONTENT
In Part I, we discussed the particular moisture- and air quality-related problems of midrise housing, and we took a close look at two cases. Here we explore issues unique to Veterans Era Housing and present three cases where moisture problems were successfully addressed. [continue reading]
Creating Airtight and Healthy Homes
free CONTENT
With the ill effects of poor indoor air quality often in the news these days, it pays to design and build a house that's healthy from the start. [continue reading]
Public Housing Breaks the Mold
free CONTENT
Multifamily public and low-income housing have particular problems when it comes to moisture and air pollutants. In this first of a two-part series, we look at one particular type of multifamily construction: midrise housing. [continue reading]
Kevin Farrell
A Pause for Reflection: After 30 Years, Conservation Services Group Considers the Future of Energy Efficiency
In early September, Conservation Services Group (CSG) celebrated its 30-year anniversary with more than 200 guests. During the celebration at the ...
Ely Jacobsohn
Congratulations to the Home Performance with Energy Star Housing Innovation Award Winners!
Winners for the Department of Energy's 2014 Housing Innovations Award were announced on September 23rd during a special event ...


text:
The Mighty Eagle Band from Pecos Barstow Toyah ISD will be in the State Marching Band Contest in San Antonio, at the Alamo Dome, on Monday, November 3, 2014, at 9:00 am. If they make it to the final round, they will compete again that evening at a time to be decided.
For all those who can make the trip and cheer our students on---please join us!
For those who cannot, we invite you to watch it on the UIL web site. (there may be registration and fees involved)
The mission of the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD is to provide excellence in education. The district will becommitted to high standards of achievement, which will foster a positive, creative atmosphere
that empowers students with critical thinking, problem solving and decision making skills.
|Wednesday, November 26, 2014
|Comp Day - Staff Development
|Thursday, November 27, 2014
|Friday, November 28, 2014
|Monday, December 01, 2014
|STAAR: English I
|Tuesday, December 02, 2014
|STAAR: US History
|Elementary UIL Meet @ Seminole - 1:00p
|Wednesday, December 03, 2014
|STAAR: English II
|Crockett Middle School UIL Meet
|Student Early Release - 1:00p
|Thursday, December 04, 2014
|STAAR: Algebra 1
|STAAR: Biology
|Friday, December 05, 2014
|STAAR: Make Up Sesssion
|Swim: 3A & Under State Meet @ Keller
|Saturday, December 06, 2014
|Swim: 3A & Under State Meet @ Keller
|Monday, December 08, 2014
|PHS Band Christmas Concert
|Friday, December 12, 2014
|JV Girls BB: Pecos Tournament - 10:00a
|Saturday, December 13, 2014
|Swim: @ Seminole Invitational
|JV Girls BB: Pecos Tournament - 11:00a
|Thursday, December 18, 2014
|Regular Board Meeting - 6:00p
|Friday, December 19, 2014
|End of 3rd 6 weeks & 1st Semester


text: Companies How Starbucks avoids U.K. taxes Add to ... Reuters Published Monday, Oct. 15 2012, 12:11 PM EDT Last updated Wednesday, Oct. 17 2012, 9:34 AM EDT Starbucks's U.K. accounts are proving as confusing as their coffee menu, according to a special investigation by Reuter's correspondent Tom Bergin Watch More Video: Will lack of funds hurt EU growth plan? Holiday firm Thomas Cook hit by shock CEO exit Deere cuts profit outlook as farmers buy fewer tractors South Korean shoppers keeping wallets closed Russian chill in Europe's ski resorts Who will be my executor and power of attorney? Help wanted: Skilled trades workers and (real) cowboys Buy American… in Canada? Talking Management Video: Why communication is key for virtual teams Five years after the auto bailout: Where did the money go? Tiffany's sales sparkle in U.S. Twitter #fail: CFO accidentally tweets about deal Canada's cowboy shortage driving up burger prices BlackBerry wants you to trade your iPhone for cash HBC CEO talks retailer's real estate strategy Market Call Tonight: Top picks from Goodreid's Gordon Reid Streetwise: Nigel Wright's back and deal making at Onex Hackers target business travellers Will German rebound help euro zone? HBC takes out mortgage on Saks flagship store Comments AA More Related to this Story Market View Video: Debt burden swells for Canadian families Nobel Prize Video: Americans win Nobel economics prize