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"Financial Market Cycles, Globalization, and the Recent Sub-Prime Crisis"
Graeme Wheeler, Managing Director, The World Bank
Eighth Annual International Seminar on
Policy Challenges for the Financial Sector
June 4-6, 2008, Washington, D.C.
Sponsored by:
The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Federal Reserve Board
I am conscious of George Bernard Shaw's comment that, "If all the economists were laid end to end, they would never reach a conclusion."
So I will try to be more of a one-handed economist in offering personal thoughts on financial cycles, globalization, and the sub-prime crisis.
Economic cycles have been recorded since the days of variable wheat harvests in ancient Egypt. Those who date business cycles suggest that there have been over 30 such cycles in the US over the past 150 years. Several originated in the financial sector.
Amsterdam, in the 1630s, provides an early example of how speculative behavior led to financial market panic and recession. During the tulipmania frenzy, the market for rare tulip bulbs boomed for twelve years before collapsing in 1636. At the height of its activity, prices for the rarest bulbs ranged from 6 to 20 times the annual income of artisans, and twice the amount that Rembrandt received for painting "The Night Watch" in 1639.
Even in those days, globalization played an important role. Foreign buyers were active in the tulip market and the wave of the bubonic plague which swept across Northern Europe killed 15 per cent of Amsterdam's population in 1636.
The cycles of exuberance and extreme risk aversion which characterize financial markets remind me of the little black cat that Victor Hugo described in an intriguing passage in "Les Miserables."
"We all know the habit of cats of hesitating in an open doorway – hovering uncertainly at the risk of being crushed by the closing of the door."
Herding behavior, and the black holes in liquidity which follow the collapse of asset bubbles, are common features of financial cycles. We know the pattern. Reductions in the cost of financing encourage credit creation, carry trades and leverage, and fuel asset prices. Investors take on greater risk in the search for higher yield and in doing so, significantly lower risk premia. We see dominant institutional investors placing similar bets, sharing similar benchmarks, and having similar pricing and risk management platforms. All face the pressure of generating alpha, meeting short-term profit goals, and outperforming peers.
We saw this pattern in the lead-up to the Argentinean crisis in the late 1990s. Investors continued to provide bond financing to Argentina – often at declining spreads – fearful of missing out on returns captured by those who preceded them. Argentina came to represent nearly one quarter of the emerging market bond index. Rather than requiring higher risk premiums from an increasingly leveraged borrower, investment managers benchmarked to the emerging market bond index felt obliged to buy at the going price.
Eventually, the party loses its sparkle when the onset of increased investor caution elevates risk premiums, lowers asset values and promotes the liquidation of the debt that supports higher asset prices.
Some things do not change. During the 1630s tulipmania, ordinary tulip bulbs contaminated the rare tulip bulb market. There were fraudulent credit practices, shady derivative trades involving tulip bulb offshoots, widespread default, and, in the aftermath, a vigorous debate over regulation.
Note the similarities with the March 2008 policy statement of the President's Working Group on Financial Markets. This suggested that the principal causes of the recent turmoil in financial markets were a breakdown in underwriting standards, a significant erosion of market discipline, risk management weaknesses, and the failure of regulatory policy to offset them. And we are hearing financial intermediaries stress how self regulation and sound ethical practices can overcome the need for far reaching regulatory changes that might help to limit public risk but would constrain private returns.
When Benjamin Franklin said, "There are only two certainties in life – death and taxes," he might have added financial cycles.
One might hope that the frequency and amplitude of financial cycles would diminish as governments improve their economic management through initiatives such as medium term financial strategies, fiscal responsibility rules, more independent central banks, flexible exchange rates, and prudent balance sheet management.
One might hope, but one should not be confident. In recent years, we have seen major corrections in equity markets – first in 2000 and again more recently, a private equity contraction in the high-tech sector, a boom and correction in emerging market fixed income, the same in securitized lending products linked to real estate, and currently, a commodity price boom. Risk capital moves rapidly from one asset class to another as each cycle plays out.
International capital flows increasingly dominate our cycles of industrial production. These flows, and the complex financial engineering which accompanies them, are overpowering the traditional instruments of monetary policy and the regulatory architecture. Cross border capital flows will increase rapidly as the growing middle class and large institutional savers in developing countries (and especially in Asia) diversify their portfolios and become important equity investors in OECD countries.
Developing countries are closely following the policy responses to the sub-prime crisis. They have not been substantially exposed to its fallout – at least so far - but the crisis has demonstrated how all of the elements that will form the Basle II pillars can fail in a G7 economy, including market discipline. The nationalization of Northern Rock and the handling of Bear Stearns and other institutions have changed the face of central banking and assumptions about the assignment of public risk. Developing countries will be more cautious in liberalizing their financial sectors as a result.
These countries are also watching to see where the next wave of internationally mobile capital will flow. With highly structured and customized financial engineering out of favor – at least for the time being – investors are looking for new avenues. Developing countries are an obvious target – especially given their rapid economic growth resulting from the global transfer of skill enhancing technologies, and the enormous transfer of wealth to commodity producers. It is important to remember that developing countries now supply 60 per cent of global crude oil production, and more than two-thirds of lead, zinc, and copper production.
Investment conditions are improving dramatically in developing countries. Government balance sheets are being bolstered as foreign exchange reserves swell, refinancing risk in debt portfolios diminishes, and risks around contingent liabilities and government ownership are better managed. The poorest countries have already qualified for debt relief worth over $110 billion under the HIPC and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative.
Capital flows – and particularly those embodying new technology – can be critical in creating opportunities to escape poverty. This is particularly true for sub-Saharan Africa – where 54 per cent of its population is aged under 20. At the same time, we should not sow the seeds of a crippling debt burden for future generations. Capricious borrowing by governments that are courted by bankers whose compensation arrangements make them eager and anxious to compete for new mandates, has been all too familiar in the past.
We saw large flows of capital into Latin America in the 1990s and the added difficulties this created for macroeconomic management. Some of the developing economies are very small – particularly several of the commodity producing countries in Africa. The combined Gross National Income in US dollars for the 47 countries of sub-Saharan Africa – including South Africa – is below that of the Netherlands.
How is the World Bank Group trying to help?
Our goal is to help increase access to finance for the poor and to develop more effective financial markets. We are working closely with institutions to upgrade corporate governance, and payment, trading, and settlement functions. We are also working to enhance practices on the ground with respect to accounting and auditing, and legal and judicial matters. Another key area is helping to assess the risks in developing countries' debt strategies – particularly in respect of non-concessional borrowing.
We partner with the IMF on many of these issues, but particularly on assessments of financial needs and vulnerabilities and on crisis preparedness. And of course, we are assessing and helping to build supervisory and regulatory practices.
Where does all this leave us?
Important changes are underway in the financial sector. Bank investors have seen major declines in market capitalization and will continue pressing the largest international banks to shrink their balance sheets, and focus on core activities as the financial supermarket model falls out of favor.
Most of the recommendations of the Financial Stability Forum submitted to the G7 in April are likely to be implemented. Financial reporting will be enhanced and rating agencies will provide analysis of more aspects of risk more explicitly, while regulatory authorities will have more bite and build up their knowledge of financial product innovation.
But, the days of boom and bust in financial markets will continue. The desire for reward and the fear of danger are too hard wired into the human condition for these to disappear. The thought I would like to leave with you tonight is that these cycles will be much more damaging than they need to be as long as the balance between private rewards and taxpayer risk remains heavily tilted in favor of those investing risk capital.
As Winston Churchill said, "The farther backward you can look the farther forward you can see."


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Can the NHS really teach us anything about customer service?
The NHS announced the launch of its new 'TripAdvisor' style feedback system for patients last month, for the first time allowing its customers to quickly and painlessly give frank, honest reviews of the service they receive at hospitals around the country.
This change in strategy by one of the biggest employers in the world highlights how important it is for businesses of all sizes to be aware of real-time feedback, both as a customer service tool and a source of information to drive innovation.

subset: commoncrawl


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ANTS Student E-News - Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
- Non-Violent Atonement Conference
- ABC Rep to Host Lunch & Appointments
- Sign up for Community Day!
- In Her Own Voice
- Director of Community Relations
- BSF Chapel this Thursday - "I Will Not Leave You Comfortless" -John
- Workshop on whites/people of color as allies Thurs. 6:30
- Chapel News (April 6-12)
- ANTS Welcomes John Bell on April 15
- The Graduating Senior Breakfast
- Children of the Incarcerated - The Role of the Church
- BSF Gospel Chorus Rehearsal Thursday 12:20
- Is Field Education in your future?
- UCC Scholarships
- Library schedule notice
Non-Violent Atonement Conference
Friday, April 11th, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Andover Newton Theological School
Wilson Chapel
How can we begin to guide the church away from the wrathful God of
Constantinian Christianity and back into the arms of the loving God of
How can we begin to guide the church away from destructive readings of
the cross and theologies captive to a wrathful God who mandates
A team of speakers organized by the Preaching Peace movement will offer
a day of interactive dialogue with proponents of new perspectives on the
saving work of Christ. Each 20 minute presentation will be followed by
20 minutes of discussion and questions.
Mark Heim (author of Saved from Sacrifice)
Sharon Baker (author of By Grace? (An) Economy of Atonement)
Denny Weaver (author of The Nonviolent Atonemet)
Tony Bartlett (author of Cross Purposes)
Michael Hardin (editor of Stricken By God?)
To Register:
For ANTS students, staff and faculty wishing to attend: Please e-mail
Mark Heim at email@example.com. The first 100 people will have their
registration fee waived.
For all others: Please e-mail Rev. Nancy Hitt at
firstname.lastname@example.com or go to the Preaching Peace website at
Registration fee is $30 for seniors and
students; $40 for general admission. A $5 boxed lunch will be offered
or bring a bag lunch.
ABC Rep to Host Lunch & Appointments
On Thursday, April 24 Lynne C. Eckman, the Asst. Manager National
Ministries and the National Scholarship Coordinator for the American
Baptist Personnel Services, will be on campus. She invites Baptist
students to email her directly if they would like to meet with her. And
if you are free for lunch on the 24th (which she will host) please RSVP
directly to Dean Nancy Nienhuis (email@example.com) to reserve a spot.
Sign up for Community Day!
What do President Nick Carter, Academic Dean Bill Herzog, and
Professors Bob Pazmino, Beth Nordbeck, Sarah Drummond, Sharon Thornton,
and Mark Heim have in common? They and more of their colleagues are
all participating in Community Day on Tuesday, April 15! You can too.
Please email me to be put on the volunteer list. Once again we will
close down classes for the day and go to do community service work off
the hill, partnering with the Rabbinical students at Hebrew College.
Please let me know if you have limitations with regard to the kind of
work you can do. A couple days before the 15th I'll be emailing
everyone with their team assignments. The day will once again being
with morning worship service (put together by JOTH), and end with the
John Bell Song event at 7 pm. Come for whatever part of the day you
can. We will be in small teams heading off to various areas around
Boston and lunch will be provided. This is an excellent way to spend
some out-of-classroom time with faculty and staff, as we all "roll up
our sleeves" for our neighbors in the greater Boston area.
Nancy Nienhuis
Dean of Students and Community Life
In Her Own Voice
Announcing a performance of In Her Own Voice; a one-person play that
gives a distinctive voice to named and un-named women in Scripture.
Donna Colletti-Lowre, M Div graduating senior, wrote and will perform
in the premier of this work-in- progress.
Donna was a professional actress, singer and director in her first
career, before entering seminary in 2004.
She has performed many roles from Shakespeare - commercials; in theater
,TV and film; in New York, LA, Europe and regionally.
Donna would like to bring In Her Own Voice to churches, retreats and
conferences as an educational outreach to women who sometimes feel they
are not seen enough in Scripture and not spoken enough about from the
There will be a Q&A after the performance.
All ANTS students, faculty and staff are cordially invited. Please
extend the invitation to members of your home churches, and the larger
Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Place: Wilson Chapel
Andover Newton Theological School.
210 Herrick St.
Newton Center, MA
Time: 7pm
Cost: Free
Director of Community Relations
I'm thrilled to announce the arrival of a new member of the
Institutional Advancement team. Devon Bates has joined us as Director
of Community Relations. She will work in the area of Church and Alumni
Relations, as well as in marketing, the web and the infamous "other
duties as assigned."
Devon comes to us with development experience and a strong background
in PR and Marketing. She has a deep commitment to environmental issues
and has worked with the Mystic Aquarium, the Environmental Studies
Institute and the California Coastal Commission. We are so happy to have
her join us!
Her office is Dabney 16 - please stop by and introduce yourself and
welcome her to our community.
BSF Chapel this Thursday - "I Will Not Leave You Comfortless" -John
This year has seen some sadness, trial and loss visit our community.
The Black Student Fellowship Chapel this Thursday will focus on God's
ability to get us through tough times and to comfort us even in the
darkest of times. Whether your heart be broken, tired, confused, at the
end of its rope, or standing in solidarity with others experiencing
difficulty right now, we invite you to join us in Wilson Chapel at 1pm
this Thursday as we support each other in the body of Christ through
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear not evil: for though art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me"
Workshop on whites/people of color as allies Thurs. 6:30
Please Join Andy Andrews, Philip Fitz, & Waetie Kumahia for an
evening of community building as we lead a training on how to create
supportive relationships as allies amongst whites and people of color.
This is part of the Justice Matters course.
Whether you are a student, a community activist, a preacher, or a
leader in your family, this workshop will offer an opportunity to
how we can all benefit from building alliances and supporting the
of everyone in our many communities.
WHERE? Andover Newton Theological School, Davis Hall, Room 301
WHEN? Thursday, April 10, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm.
Questions? Please call Waetie at (781) 329-6059
Chapel News (April 6-12)
Reflections at MORNING PRAYER for this week (April 7- April 11) will
be offered by:
Monday: Ned Allyn Parker
Tuesday: Bill Delia (Bill will also be sharing some of his music with
Wednesday: Ellen Quaadras
Thursday: Kurt Walker
Friday: Jason Boyd (LOCATION: TBA)
EVENING PRAYER (COMPLINE) in the Episcopal tradition:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays - 9:00-9:15 p.m.
Prayer Room, downstairs in the Wilson Chapel
Hosted by the Episcopal Student Fellowship
Joel Kemp will be
sharing the message at WEDNESDAY COMMUNITY CHAPEL, which gathers
every Wednesday of the academic year @ 1:00pm. Joel's father, Jesse
Kemp, will be offering a musical meditation during communion also.
Wednesday Choir Practice will be held at 12:40pm in the sanctuary.
Wednesday evening @ 6:00 there will also be a Jazz Vespers in the
Wilson Chapel hosted by the BSF.
Thursday at 1:00 the Black Student Fellowship will be worshiping in the
The Korean Evangelical meets twice weekly in the lower sanctuary in
the Wilson Chapel. Bible study is at 7:30 pm on Wednesdays and
worship is Sunday mornings at 11:30am.
Take advantage of the community forum at Morning Prayer and think
about offering a short reflection to your friends and family here on
campus. It's been a beautiful and uplifting experience. With
questions regarding worship in the Wilson Chapel, and upcoming
events, please contact Ned Parker at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Ned Allyn Parker
Admission Counselor / Chapel Steward
ANTS Welcomes John Bell on April 15
John Bell of the Iona Community will be coming to ANTS on Community
Day, Tuesday, April 15th!
From 4:00 - 5:30 pm in the Meetinghouse, he will be offering a workshop
"Stumbling Blocks and Stepping Stones for Worship" on the challenges and
opportunities of using music in worship. People participating in
Community Day will be back on campus in time to participate in this
From 7:00 - 9:00 pm that evening, there will be a 'Big Sing' with him
in the Wilson Chapel - a great way to wrap up ANTS Community Day!
A $5 donation is requested for each event; ANTS students are free.
Please contact Jennifer Shaw in the Faculty Office (ext. 228) to
register your name for the workshop.
The Graduating Senior Breakfast
The senior breakfast for those graduating will be held on May 7th @ 8AM
in the Dining hall-sponsored by the UCC fellowship.
Please RSVP if you plan on attending this event by April 28th to me @
With Thanks & Blessings,
Dianne Co-mod UCC
Children of the Incarcerated - The Role of the Church
Children of the Incarcerated - The Role of the Church
Justice Matters Presentation
Brenda Hermanson, Ingrid Cyros, and Judy Brandon
When a parent goes to prison the lives of children are profoundly
affected. In many states in the US
there is no group or agency designated to address the concerns of the
Even when processes that address their needs are in place, children
often feel
abandoned and may be ostracized and sometimes blamed by peers. Learn
about the
scope of the problem. How do we promote nurturing communities in the
church and
beyond that accept these families and minister to and with them? How
might the
church provide or participate in outreach and services that meet the
needs of
these families and others? In what way might study and advocacy by the
make a difference?
Thursday, April 10, 12 - 1:30 PM
Upper Noyes Hall
Professors Sharon Thornton and Kirk Jones
offer insight and facilitate conversation.
Practical Matters, a new online peer-reviewed journal designed to ask
and provoke questions about religious practice and practical
theology, is now accepting submissions on the theme of Imagination.
We are a multimedia, transdisciplinary journal out of the Emory
University Graduate Division of Religion, funded by Lilly Endowment
Submissions should help us see interesting and/or novel connections
between imagination and religious practice, past and present, in any
context or tradition. That could take many possible forms - e.g.
showing the relationship of imagination to ritual or religious
community, exploring types of imagination (religious, theological,
moral, pastoral, political), helping to clarify the connections
between religion and artistic process, revealing dangers or
perversions of imagination, etc.
Submissions from diverse disciplinary perspectives are encouraged.
This includes, but is not limited to, work originating in religious
studies, theology, history, ethics, anthropology, literature,
cultural studies, sociology, psychology, political science,
philosophy, media studies, the arts, journalism, or the sciences. We
also encourage work about and from diverse religious traditions.
We welcome submissions of traditional academic papers and critical
essays, but also are encouraging the submission of multimedia
scholarship. This might include film, video, soundscape, new media,
photography, art or performance, among other possible media. Do note
that although exploring the possibilities of multimedia scholarship
is part of our mission, we also are committed to working with
scholars of varying levels of technical proficiency.
The submission deadline is May 30, 2008. For further information and
submission guidelines, please visit: http://web.mac.com/
Letitia Campbell
Doctoral Student, Ethics & Society
Graduate Division of Religion, Emory University
BSF Gospel Chorus Rehearsal Thursday 12:20
Any and all wishing to sing in the Black Student Fellowship Chapel this
Thursday, we will be rehearsing in Wilson Chapel at 12:20 sharp this
week, with worship to follow immediately at 1pm. Contact Ngozi Robinson
at email@example.com with any questions.
Is Field Education in your future?
The last information session for students considering Field Education
in Fall of 2008 will be held Wednesday, April 16th. The session will be
in the Greene Room from 6:00 to 7:00pm. Contact Jen Walker,
email@example.com, with any questions or concerns.
UCC Scholarships
Edwin Whitney Trust Fund Scholarship: Preference for this $1,000 is
given to
a Connecticut resident preparing for UCC ministry. A student may apply
aid each year but total amount awarded may not exceed $2,000 over the
of study. Application deadline is May 31, 2008.
Storrs Congregational Church
2 North Eagleville Road
Storrs, CT 6268
Edwin Whitney Fund
Deadline: May 31
Grant Description: Grants from the Whitney fund are available to
residents who are preparing for ministry in the United Church of
Preference will be given to residents of Mansfield, CT. Awards will be
up to a maximum of $2,000 per person over the recipient's full course
Library schedule notice
The Library will have expanded Saturday hours beginning April 12
through the end of the semester. Saturday hours will be 10:00 a.m. -
5:00 p.m.
Reminder: On Community Day, April 15, the Library will be open
7:00-10:00 p.m. only.


text:
Trade pact signed by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico in 1992, which took effect in 1994. Inspired by the success of the European Community in reducing trade barriers among its members, NAFTA created the world's largest free-trade area. It basically extended to Mexico the provisions of a 1988 Canada-U.S. free-trade agreement, calling for elimination of all trade barriers over a 15-year period, granting U.S. and Canadian companies access to certain Mexican markets, and incorporating agreements on labour and the environment. See also General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; World Trade Organization.
Variants of NAFTA
This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on NAFTA, visit Britannica.com.
Learn More About
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Seen & Heard
What made you look up NAFTA? Please tell us what you were reading, watching or discussing that led you here.


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The Nation's #1 Registration Exam Course is geared to one thing and one thing only - ensuring you pass the PTO Exam!
All of the advantages of the PLI live course in your own home! Designed for students who prefer to work at their own pace, the PLI homestudy program replicates our live program. You get all of the same materials as in a live course; you even get all of the same lectures, but on video. Video lectures can be paused periodically to do additional reading, to study Exam questions under discussion, whatever you decide. You can even fast forward through material you already know. This option may be preferred by potential Exam takers with either a low knowledge base or some advanced experience. All of our registrants get access to our faculty to get your questions answered, via voicemail and email. Click here to Register.
Web archive MP4 MP3
Or see our Introduction to the Patent Exam on Click here for the current brochure
Subscribe for PLI's Law School Email Newsletter, for the latest information on the Patent Office Registration Exam, scholarships for students to our other programs, and more.
STUDENTS: Apply to become a PLI student rep to EARN MONEY OFF your PLI Course!
The PLI plan for taking the new Exam
All Contents Copyright © 1996-2015 Practising Law Institute. Continuing Legal Education since 1933.


text:
Cars > kidcope1969's Garage
About kidcope1969's Garage
My first car
1969 Z/28 Camaro
Car I wish I still had
1st Camaro
My dream car
R.J.Gottlieb's Big Red 1969 Camaro
- Type of racing: NASCAR/NHRA
- Driver: Stewart/Force
- Driving song: Born to be Wild
- Car movie: American Graffiti
- Car magazine: Autobuff(too bad it's no longer around)
- Car game: Only the real thing works for me....
— Profile last updated: Jan 14, 2015
Date Joined | Jan 21, 2012 |
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Club Groups
The group was started in 1995 by a few freinds at a coffee shop, it soon grew and grew. Since then our weekly cruise night events have grown to be N. California's largest and longest running weekly events drawing up to 200 classic cars and over 1,000 spectators. All pre 1973 autos are welcome....
California, United States
Business Groups
Phoenix Specialty Coatings Business
PHOENIX SPECIALTY COATINGS Where Your Parts Are Reborn Professional powder coating geared specifically to the automotive / motorcycle enthusiast and pro builder. I'm a custom one-off and Mopar parts restoration specialist. PSC's Business Group was the first powder coating shop to appear...
Tennessee, United States
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text:
Ypres, Austria
Panning shot of thousands of graves from the First World War. Distant church as seen through trees becomes long shot with graves in the foreground. Camera pans left to right round churchyard. Close-up of graves showing them huddled together. Various shots of graves. View of churchyard as seen through gateway. Close-up statue of soldier. Ditto.


text:
Easy Peasy 1.1: New Version of the Ubuntu Derivative for Netbooks
The latest release of Easy Peasy comes with artwork updates and re-worked packages but few spectacular changes.
Easy Peasy, the Ubuntu derivative for e-books has been released in version 1.1. Based on Ubuntu 8.04, the distribution, published by Jon Ramvis in 2007, is a customized version of Ubuntu for netbooks with a Netbook Remix interface. The difference is in a couple of scripts which makes netbook installation easier and some pre-installed proprietary applications like Skype, Flash and Picasa. The distro works with Asus Netbooks 7xx, 9xx and 1000 and also Acer Aspire One. Easy Peasy was originally called Ubuntu Eee, but had to be changed after protests from Canonical.
The first thing we notice with version 1.1 is the new look. Developers have set a new icon theme, wallpaper, log-in and splash screens. The Ubuntu logo has been removed and bugs fixed. The Ubiquity installer no longer starts after installation and the package-manager now recognizes the essential package sources. Also included is a bugtracker, a rather sparse re-worked webpage and upgrades for Songbird, Picasa and Flash.
An upgrade of the disto for users who already have Easy Peasy should be available from today. For everyone else, a distribution ISO is already ready for download.
Issue 171/2015
Buy this issue as a PDF
Intel Unveils Compute Stick
Four-inch-long computer on a stick lets you boot a full Linux system from any HDMI display device.
Obama Proposes Personal Data Notification Law
New statute would require companies to report break-ins to consumers.
TGXf Project Warns of File Transfer through Screen Pixels
Weird data transfer technique avoids all standard security measures.
Industry Giants Announce a Fix for the Password Mess
FIDO alliance declares the beginning of the end for old-style login authentication.
Poll: Vote for the Best Open Source Software for Photographers
The Linux New Media Awards have honored the most significant products, projects, people, and organizations for open source/Linux every year since 2000.
Debian Gets Forked
Legendary Uber-distro splits over the systemd controversy.
Linux Mint Project Releases Mint 17.1
New LTS version offers many refinements for the Cinnamon and Mate desktops and significant improvement under the hood.
CeBIT Open Source Forum Call for Papers
One of CeBIT's most successful forums returns in 2015.
TOR Network Isn't So Anonymous
A new study says it is possible to unmask 81% of TOR users.
.NET Goes Open Source
Redmond joins the revolution by turning the .NET Core Runtime into a GitHub project.


text:
Then invention by Narcis Monturiol, a Spanish engineer, came to limelight. He first conceived building submarine to help the coral fishermen. By 1859, 7 m long Ictíneo was all set for first real life test. But its propeller was hand driven by four people. Monturiol began construction on a larger submarine, Ictineo II, in 1862. The length of submarine was 17 m and it displaced 65 tons. Launched in 1864, the bigger submarine's propeller was operated with help of 16 men.
Ictineo II was equipped with single cannon that could be fired when completely submerged. Due to its bad performance, Monturiol decided to replace human power with steam engine of 6 Hp. And his creation was re-launched in 1867, propelled by one cylinder set in stern of the boat. The submarine did around 13 submersions to 30 m of depth. But the fate of this wonder piece was bad. It was seized by the creditors due to financial problems and was broken up to be sold for the metal as scrap.
Jules Verne acted as an inspiration for submarines pioneers of late 1900and early 2000 centuries. Better known as father of the science fiction, Jules authored Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea in year 1870. Though he lacked formal training in engineering and science, Jules has been an immense source of motivation for submarine inventors. Futuristic submarine for his protagonist named Captain Nemo had inspired many and Simon Lake was one of them. Lake even credited his ever growing interest in Sea exploration to Jules's Novel. He was pleasantly surprised when he got Congratulations telegram on his Argonaut's ocean voyage completion from the inspiring author.
In 1872, James McClintock traveled to Nova Scotia to conduct a meeting with the Royal Navy. Reason behind the trip was significant, he wanted to talk about his work in the submarine warfare and also express the desire of building submersible torpedo vessel for the Navy. Though, he had proposed engine that could be driven with ammoniacal gas and all other elements that he considered best for his boat, he was aware of its shortcomings too. Basic problems that were faced by this piece were inexact compass readings, lack of self propelling power and inability to keep a track of horizontal movements. Resurgam, soon followed these submarines. Reverend George Garrett intended on demonstrating 12m vehicle to British Navy and it was not free of mechanical problems.
And Fish torpedo, earliest self propelled torpedo by Navy, was created in 1871 by Naval Torpedo station. Its design was based on physical attributes of Early Whitehead torpedo by Whitehead. Next entered John Phillip Holland, the submarine pioneer of the 20th century who is now called father of modern submarine. He had launched the first ever submersible design in 1875. He determined to separate ballast water and air internally with the help of oiled and flexible silk partitions. Called Holland Boat No. 1, John's boat was laid in Albany Iron Works, New York. In 1878, this boat was shifted to another Iron Works in Peterson. Weighing 2-1/4 tons, 14 feet long Holland 1 propelled by four horsepower engine. Though he did not get any funding for his first proposal, improvised steam supply in this 14 foot long craft was enough to get funding from Fenian Brotherhood for following prototype.
Holland integrated key concepts that he had figured out about the submarine navigation and confirmed Holland 1 in Fenian Ram in New York. This 19 ton submersible was propelled by Brayton engine 17 horsepower and equipped with dynamite gun for tests at the New York harbor. Consistent progress of Holland came to a halt in 1883 because of internal disagreement among Fenian Brotherhood.
And later that year, Philip Holland met Edmund L. Zalinski who marketed the dynamite gun for Fenian Ram. He hoped to provide financing for building new submarine featuring his own pneumatic gun as chief armament. He also offered Philip Holland a position with his company ,which was quickly accepted by him. Both these men started a company named Nautilus Submarine Boat Company and in the mid 1884, Philip Holland started on with construction of Zalinski Boat.
Since then there has been many improvements in Submarines. Submarines of today are a resultant of combined effort of many brains. After gaining their inspiration from Verne's Novel or any other source, these heroes have bestowed us with a machine to discover a world under the water. And who knows one of us takes this machinery to another level soon.


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Aarons Auto-Browse 3.1
Enter the URL's you wish to browse, save them and hit the start button, thats all there is to it. This program simulates network activity to keep your Internet connection alive. It keeps you online by periodically retrieving web pages automatically over your connection. The program includes a browser window which will regularly display pages by itself. Useful for the disabled at can be used with voice output(XP Narrator) to read the page content.
See also: logged on, surfing, autosurfing, auto-surf, autosurf, surf, url, web, modem, alive, connection, keep-alive, keep alive, auto-browser, auto-browse, autobrowser, autobrowse, browse, auto, ISP
AutoTurnOff 6.20
AutoTurnOff can shut down computer at specified time even if no one is logged in. Features: 1. Helps to shut down computer at specified time. 2. Helps to restart computer at specified time. 3. Helps to log off computer at specified time. 4. Helps to hibernate computer at specified time. 5. Can be run even if no one is logged in. 6. Can be run in the background. 7. Supports Windows 7, 2008, Vista, 2003, XP, 2000.
See also: AutoTurnOff, shut down, restart, auto shut down, no one is logged in


text: orange Archive 1 It's Sumo Time! No need to find a wrestling mat, I'm not promoting a new fitness craze. This post is all about fruit! The other day my sister sent me an email with the subject line, "They are Back!" and only an image attached. At first I thought it was spam. I crossed my fingers Read More 0 Maple-Cranberry Granola I use the word granola is a loose sense with this recipe. It contains neither oats nor nuts. It does have a generous helping of dried cranberries and some very hearty cereal flakes. Erewhon Buckwheat & Hemp cereal provides the base for this alternative granola. This fiber and protein filled cereal is Read More 1 Orange Braised Beef Short Ribs with Fennel & Carrots Many home cooks are crazy about their electric slow cooker. Personally I am a bigger fan of braising in a Dutch oven. I just like the taste of food cooked slowly in the oven better than on a counter top. The meat and vegetables achieve a deeper flavor in the Dutch oven. Read More 11 Colorful Easter Meringue Cookies More than a year ago I went on a mission to conquer making meringues. It took me a few months and several dozen eggs worth of trial and error but eventually I figured out the technique and now I am a meringue making machine! Last Easter I took my new skill to Read More 4 How to cut citrus segments I wonder if you are like me when it comes to purchasing citrus. I hesitate before loading up on fruits that require peeling. I have a bad habit of buying these sun soaked winter treats only to sit for weeks in the fruit basket. I give the fruit a glance when I Read More 4 Simple Holiday Sides: Maple-Orange Cranberry Sauce I have all sorts of warm fuzzy holiday memories of sitting around my grandparents creaky dinning room table. The good china plates beautiful in their own right sat ready to be buried under our feast. Grandma's good flatware, not silver but gold, twinkled in the light of taper candles. Before we all squeezed in Read More


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I have an older Magnavox TV Combo. Lost the manual. On the rear is an output called Audio Output Coaxial. How can I used it to connect my TV audio to an external source. I can play CD, DVD, and JPG discs on the TV. But don't know how to get sound out. I don't want to get video out. I tried to find a manual but the Model # was not listed on any of the sites including Magnavox. BTW the TV is a 27" CRT TV with disc and cartridge players. Thanks for any help. MODEL # 27MDTR20/17 July 2005 |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by yosemitebill (My Page) on Sat, Mar 2, 13 at 21:11
The "Audio Output Coaxial" is probably the single RCA type connector and is one of two types of digital audio outputs available - the other is an optical signal that carries the very same information over a fiber optic cable. Either of these require an audio amplifier/receiver with digital audio inputs (coax or optical) that decode the digital stream to analog for playback through the amplifier - fairly common nowadays. If you do not have an amplifier with digital audio inputs, does the television have a headphone jack? If yes, you could use an adapter cable to go from the 3.5mm stereo mini-jack to two RCA plugs to run into the amplifier's analog input. |
Thanks yosemitebil! The info was much appreciated. Someone in the CompHelp forum sent me a link to the actual Manual, which gave me similar info and a great deal more. |
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Mon, May 1, 06 at 8:19
Can anyone tell me whether or not African Daisies (osteospermum) usually self-sow in zone 7? I know they're annuals, and I let some go to seed last year, just in case. I just wondered if I should keep a lookout for volunteers coming up.
Kathy |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by desert_cat_ca z8CA (My Page) on Mon, May 1, 06 at 14:18
i have a backyard full of african daisies..so my answer is yes.. |
I'm gonna diasgree on that one, mostly because of our winters and the wet clay soil. But this winter was dry and warm, so there may be a chance. I have never had them reseed in my garden. |
There are other flowers called African Daisys besides osteospermum. I have never known the osteospermum to reseed....but it must...or where do little plants come from?? Linda C |
- Posted by deep___roots ca9/sunset15 (My Page) on Tue, May 2, 06 at 13:33
your basic freeway daisy, which is osteospermum, will expand by sending out runners above the ground which will root. in fact if you see a runner with roots just cut behind the roots on the stem and plant. reseeding is too slow for this plant...it likes to cover ground. |
- Posted by davissue_zone9 z9 Sunset 14 (My Page) on Tue, May 2, 06 at 22:53
Annual African daisies self sow to the point of being invasive in Mediteranean climates (like California), but I doubt it would be an issue in Virginia. |
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WorldCall Internet connection slowdowns
May 27th, 2012WorldCall is an Internet Service Provider in Pakistan. They provide broadband Internet connections over a Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial network or what is commonly called cable broadband.
A few years back WorldCall upgraded Internet connections, and at the time I wondered how they would handle the increased traffic. Well, now I know how.
I use WorldCall and my connection slows down to a crawl at night time when Internet traffic is at its peak in Pakistan. My broadband connection becomes as slow as a dial up Internet connection! The slowdown lasts well into the night. It's only during the day time that the connection is at its advertised speed.
Another problem is that of frequent disconnections. Basically the connection stops working entirely. This happens a few times every day and has been happening with increasing frequency in recent months.
Complaining to WorldCall is pointless since they just make up excuses and don't fix the problem. They obviously lack the Internet bandwidth to meet their customers' requirements.
So it seems that WorldCall has only upgraded users on paper. In actual fact you don't always enjoy the advertised bandwidth.
7 Responses to "WorldCall Internet connection slowdowns"
Hey, Im having the exact same problem.
Did you find any solution for this??
If i need to change my Internet is PTCL a good ISP ?-
since 2 months i have problem in signal when i call to help line they just tell me :
problem will be solved soon and today i am happy i bought PTCL usb Evo and it is good bye bye worldcall.
my last suggestion for company please don't waste people's time and say sorry to all nation and close your every thing you can't do it . bye bye worldcall welcome Evo.
THANK U so much 4 ur reply
My Phone line kindda sux so.. i guess il have 2 stick with WC only -
PTCL is a better choice ,, i am using it and i am happy with it.
Complained for no cable line for few days but no reply-kindly do the needful as early as possible Thank you


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With U.S. intelligence agencies wracked by internal power struggles and paralyzed by bureaucracy, the president has been forced to establish his own clandestine group–Covert-One. It's activated only as a last resort, when the threat is on a global scale and time is running out.
When Dresner Industries unveils the Merge, a device that is destined to revolutionize the world and make the personal computer and smartphone obsolete, Covert-One operative Colonel Jon Smith is assigned to assess its military potential. He discovers that enhanced vision, real-time battlefield displays, unbreakable security, and near-perfect marksmanship are only the beginning of a technology that will change the face of warfare forever–and one that must be kept out of the hands of America's enemies at all costs.
Meanwhile, in the mountains of Afghanistan, CIA operative Randi Russell encounters an entire village of murdered Afghans–all equipped with enhanced Merge technology that even the Agency didn't know existed. As Smith and Russell delve into the circumstances surrounding the Afghans' deaths, they're quickly blocked by someone who seems to have access to the highest levels of the military–a person that even the president knows nothing about.
Is the Merge really as secure as its creator claims? And what secrets about its development is the Pentagon so desperate to hide? Smith and Russell are determined to learn the truth. But they may pay for it with their lives . . .
Alex Delaware amazon author Bernard Cornwell books Clive Cussler contest Danielle Steel Debbie Macomber Dorien Kelly Dowdell Library Foundation event events Facebook Google GoogleCalendar hours IFTTT Iris Johansen J.A. Jance James Patterson Janet Evanovich Janson Jayne Ann Krentz Jennifer Chiaverini Jonathan Kellerman kids Kids Night @ The Movies Kristin Hannah Lincoln Child Mark Sullivan Mary Jane Clark Mary Kay Andrews music new books Peter Straub reserve Robert Ludlum Social Network spotlight Stone Barrington Stuart Woods Tech Guy teen Thomas PerryCalendar


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Chem.Insider Daily EMAIL NEWSLETTER
House Poised to Pass Pipeline Bill as State Court Clears Way
January 9, 2015 12:20 pm | by DINA CAPPIELLO, Associated Press | CommentsAs House Republicans prepared to pass legislation Friday to authorize construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, Nebraska's highest court removed a major obstacle to the project and a major reason behind President Barack Obama's opposition to the bill.
Activist Investor Intensifies Fight Over DuPont's Future
January 9, 2015 9:47 am | by Associated Press | CommentsA fight for control of DuPont Co. is intensifying after the hedge fund led by activist investor Nelson Peltz announced plans to nominate its own slate of four directors to the industry titan's board. Its shares edged higher in premarket trading.
GasBuddy Releases Fuel Price Outlook For 2015
January 8, 2015 5:27 pm | by Jon Minnick, Associate Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | CommentsWith all the talk of falling oil prices and its effect on the global economy, companies and consumers are keeping a close eye on the fluctuating gas prices. This week, GasBuddy has released its GasBuddy Fuel Price Outlook 2015. The report forecasts monthly gas averages and dives into the factors affecting the prices.
Photo of The Day: NY to Ban Plastic Food Containers From Restaurants
January 8, 2015 4:30 pm | by Kari Imberg, Associate Editor, Food Manufacturing | CommentsStarting this summer, New York City will join the environmental sustainability trend by banning restaurants and other food establishments from using plastic foam containers. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday morning that he will fulfill an initiative that was first suggested by his predecessor, Michael Bloomberg.
Judge Keeps Most of Gag Order in Former W.Va. Coal Exec Case
January 8, 2015 9:43 am | by JONATHAN MATTISE, Associated Press | CommentsA judge is upholding most of a gag order in a criminal case against ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship, who was in charge of the Upper Big Branch mine when it exploded and killed 29 men. U.S. District Judge Irene Berger wrote that she needs much of the gag order intact to maintain a fair trial with unbiased prospective jurors in southern West Virginia.
MeadWestvaco Plans to Spin Off Specialty Chemicals Business
January 8, 2015 9:20 am | by Associated Press | Comments"The separation of specialty chemicals will establish two strong companies that are better positioned to compete and profitably grow in their targeted markets," Chairman and CEO John A. Luke Jr. said in a statement on Thursday.
Thousands of Indian Coal Workers End Strike
January 8, 2015 9:16 am | by Associated Press | CommentsThey ended their protest late Wednesday after Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal assured them that Coal India, which accounts for 80 percent of India's coal production, would not be privatized and the interests of workers would be protected.
Keystone Pipeline Odds Remain Long Following Veto Threat
January 7, 2015 5:18 pm | by Andy Szal, Chem.info | CommentsControl of the United States Senate changed hands this week, but that appears unlikely to change the fortunes of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline following a veto threat from the White House. Shortly after the introduction of a new Senate bill to authorize construction of the pipeline, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the president would not support the current measure.
Inspectors Confident Chlorine Gas Used in Syrian Villages
January 7, 2015 10:34 am | by EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press | CommentsChemical weapons investigators concluded "with a high degree of confidence" that chlorine gas was used as a weapon against three opposition-controlled villages in Syria last year, affecting between 350 and 500 people and killing 13.
Shell, Villagers Agree to $83.5 Million For Huge Oil Spill
January 7, 2015 10:26 am | by MICHELLE FAUL, Associated Press | CommentsOil giant Shell has agreed to pay a Nigerian fishing community 55 million pounds (about $83.5 million) for the worst oil spill in Nigeria, an unprecedented settlement that experts say could open a floodgate of litigation there and abroad.
Monsanto Earnings Fall 34 Percent on Lower Corn Seed Sales
January 7, 2015 10:12 am | by Associated Press | CommentsMonsanto said Wednesday that its earnings fell 34 percent in its first fiscal quarter as South American farmers cut back on planting corn, reducing demand for the company's biotech-enhanced seeds.U.S. farmers harvested record crops of soybeans and corn last year, sending prices on those food staples to their lowest levels in years.
Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care Products Could Taint Swimming Pools
January 7, 2015 9:22 am | by Purdue University | CommentsA new study suggests pharmaceuticals and chemicals from personal care products end up in swimming pools, possibly interacting with chlorine to produce disinfection byproducts with unknown properties and health effects. A research group led by the Georgia Institute of Technology, has developed an analytical technique that identifies and quantifies 32 pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water.
US Home Prices Coasting Upward
January 6, 2015 10:35 am | by JOSH BOAK, AP Economics Writer | CommentsU.S. home values rose at a measured pace in November, a sign that demand remains weak as many buyers have been priced out of the market. The housing market faces an affordability crunch. Many potential buyers were sidelined by double-digit home price gains in 2013, which eclipsed average wage growth of roughly 2 percent.
California Governor Toughens Climate-Change Goals
January 6, 2015 10:18 am | by JUDY LIN, Associated Press | CommentsAs he was sworn in for a record fourth term, Gov. Jerry Brown charted an ambitious new goal on Monday for California in its fight against climate change, challenging the nation's most populous state to increase renewable energy use to 50 percent in the next 15 years.
Regulators Weigh Proposal to Close Part of New Mexico Plant
January 5, 2015 5:58 pm | by SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN, Associated Press | CommentsNew Mexico regulators began taking testimony Monday on a plan that calls for shutting down part of an aging coal-fired power plant that provides electricity to more than 2 million people in the Southwest. Dozens braved frigid temperatures to talk about asthma, cancer and other health concerns.


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She had some planttrades going on, and wanted me to post that she will honor her trades. She's sent a few out before going into the hospital, but wasn't sure which ones she sent and which ones she hadn't.
She's had to have emergency kidney surgery and still has more surgery tomorrow. She's doing well, in severe pain today. Keep her in your prayers. and Know that she'll be back here soon. thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
Thanks for letting everyone know about this. The GW is a big organization so there should be a lot of prayers going up for her. I will also put her on my internet prayer chain immediately. Please keep us posted. Alice |
- Posted by flowersandbirds4ever Z5 Me (email@example.com) on Mon, May 15, 06 at 21:57
My prayers are with her!Huggs Rosie |
- Posted by irish_rose_grower z7 LI NY (firstname.lastname@example.com) on Mon, May 15, 06 at 22:06
This is terrible news. Does anyone know where we can send a get well card to her? I've traded a few times but don't think I saved her address. I'm going to send her a getwell email at least for now. She's a terrific lady and my prayers are with her. |
- Posted by growingwild z7 AR (My Page) on Tue, May 16, 06 at 9:28
Seems like BC has been delt a raw hand on health, but she always comes back fighting. Thanks for letting us know Kathy. |
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Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. To avoid a communications monopoly, NBC was forced to sell the Blue network in 1941. Its buyer, Edward J. Noble, maker of Life-Savers candies, gave the company its present name. After merging with United Paramount Theaters in 1953, ABC expanded into the emerging television industry and soon became one of the three top networks. It specialized in sports broadcasting and developed the instant replay in 1961. It was bought by Capital Cities Communications in 1985 and by the Walt Disney Co. in 1995.
Variants of ABC
This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
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We design and enable customised solutions that support the unique needs of contingent workers and organisations engaging them. Our offering is completely distinct because we combine unmatched industry knowledge, an outstanding compliance record and superior service, to simplify processes and ease the complexities associated with flexible work arrangements.
An integrated contingent workforce lifecycle solution for organisations, recruitment agencies and consultancy businesses
A suite of professional and lifestyle services for individuals engaged in contracting arrangements
A comprehensive suite of migration solutions for individuals and Australian companies
Entity Solutions and Monash University have teamed up again to research the attitudes and wellbeing of white collar contractors, also known as Independent Professionals (IPros). The 2014 IPro Index shows that IPros have the skills and resilience to deal with change. Over six years, satisfaction rates have remained stable despite numerous changes in government and […]
Despite diminishing Australian business confidence during the first half of 2014*, Australia's white-collar contractors (otherwise known as Independent Professionals or IPros) continue to feel enthusiastic, immersed and happy at work. This is among the key findings of the 2014 IPro Index, the latest in an annual study into IPro attitudes and trends, conducted by Monash […]
Negotiations for the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) were formally concluded on 17 November 2014 with a Declaration of Intent signed by both countries in the presence Prime Minister Abbott and Chinese President Xi. Although the agreement won't come into effect until 2015, this announcement marks the beginning of increased economic cooperation and access to markets […]
The IPro Index is a landmark research study conducted by Monash University and sponsored by Entity Solutions about the contingent workforce in Australia. The IPro Index has been designed to elicit the attitudes, motivations and challenges facing Australia's white collar contractors (referred to as Independent Professionals or IPros). The research highlights to organisations and the market in general how to best engage and manage this growing sector of the country's workforce.
Click here to download a copy of the reportWhen we talk about the contingent workforce we are referring to individuals whose work is characterised by non-permanent and contract-based arrangements. This demographic of the workforce is variously known as independent contractors, temporary workers, freelancers, self-employed or consultants. We refer to them as 'Independent Professionals' (IPros). It's a term our company has taken a lead in adopting as a more accurate way of describing these individuals who carry out their profession with independence and flexibility.
Copyright © 2014


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By Barbara Kessler
Manufacturers have pounced on the composting trend, giving you, the consumer, many choices for how you want to recycle your kitchen and garden waste. Here are a few:
- This Tumbleweed Compost Bin was Member Tested and Recommended by the National Home Gardening Club, according to Clean Air Gardening, an online store that sells a large array of composters. We figure, what do we know? But the National Home Gardening Club, now there's a group that probably analyzes composters carefully. Apparently the Tumbleweed is engineered to still rotate easily when full and heavy. Tumbling action being essential to building compost quickly, this seems like a big plus. The unit also has an internal rod that facilitates the mixing action. The legs don't look too bracing, but the store blurb promises they won't rust. $189.99 at Clean Air Gardening.
- The Urban Composter is a similar tumbler, but it's made from recycled plastic food barrels. Maybe it's the hint of flannel plaid it the picture, but this composter just looks sturdy. It also costs a bit more than the gardener's pick, but the recycled plastic piqued our green antenna. Green Culture, the online store selling the Urban Composter, describes it as "an aerobic bacteria's dream" because it contains a "patented center aeration tub with a cross bar" that helps speed decomposition but also keeps the compost from "turning into a ball and just sliding back and forth." So be warned novice composters, clumping is probably something to watch for. $229 at Green Culture
- Talk about style. This modular unit may be a smaller composter, but not by much (it produces about 7 cubic feet of compost compared with 7 to 8 cubic feet for the Tumbleweed) and it you can picture it blending in on the patio. Even better, it has a special trick: It makes and stores up to five gallons of compost tea whilst doing its work. The Envirocycle Composter sold by Greenfeet, rolls and mixers the compost, then lets the juices flow into the base below where they are kept air tight (and presumably less odorous). Gardeners love compost tea as a foliar treatment because it helps keep their plants strong and resistant to disease. A home composter also can save that $10-plus for a gallon of "tea" at the local nursery. Hey, this composting could pay for itself! This drum and base of the Envirocycle are made of #2 plastic, which is recyclable. We'd expect at least this much from Greenfeet, a purveyor of eco-sensitive products since 1997. $139.95 at Greenfeet
- Want to dip your toes into home organic waste recapture, but aren't ready to make a big investment? This E-Z Compost Bin sold by Amazon.com is the base model and will do the job. But you see that pitch fork? This is more of a muscle builder. The advantages include its low cost and portability. You can make, turn and produce compost right on the ground, then move the bin elsewhere, spread the aged compost and start again. $29.99 at Amazon.com
Copyright © 2008 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media
One Response to "Composters, dig in, there are lots of choices"
Thanks for the mention!
The Tumbleweed legs are made of galvanized steel, so they are extremely sturdy, and they'll also keep from rusting.
If you want to go even cheaper than $29, keep in mind that you can also just compost in a plain old pile in the back yard! The only potential problem with composting that way is that you might attract squirrels or rodents if you are putting a bunch of kitchen scraps in a pile rather than inside a sealed bin. But as long as you're careful, it works just fine.


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The liver produces bile which aids in the digestion of fats. The bile travels through tiny canals which eventually drain through the common bile duct into the small intestine. The gallbladder stores excess bile that is not immediately needed for digestion.
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Girl Power!!!!! by Dena's Hen Party 2013 - over 1 year ago
"This was my 44th birthday party. When I was 14 (a long 30 years ago) I had a roller skating party and I decided to repeat this good time with all my friends and co-workers!" view full details


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Punctum Books is an open-access and print-on-demand independent publisher dedicated to radically creative modes of intellectual inquiry and writing across a whimsical para-humanities assemblage.
Learn more »Making a geologic turn, we create an opportunity to recalibrate infrastructures, communities, and imaginations to a new scale-the scale of deep time, force, and materiality. This would require us to assemble responsively with the non-human scale of geo-forces in play on this planet.
- Elizabeth Ellsworth + Jamie Kruse, from "Making the Geologic Now"
What light does aesthetics as a branch of thought, and art as a creative practice, shed on the (possible) end(s) of the world? What if we consider the end of the world as the finished product of aesthetic modernity? The blue ruin of earth is the total work of art at the end of history. The earth will be buried at sea.
- McKenzie Wark, from "Leper Creativity: Cyclonopedia Symposium"
Art, like life and cruelty, is a process, which is already hidden in the relationships between objects. What does it mean to sample data, not of finished artworks, but of noise itself, the environment?
- Andreas Burckhardt, from "A Sanctuary of Sounds"
Hoarders do affirm the existence of a material agency at work. They repeatedly say that "things just took over," got out of hand, and "overwhelmed" them; they experience the hoard as having its own momentum or drive to persist and grow; they offer rich and impassioned descriptions of the insistent allure of objects.
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But hush, this male body is slowly stirring, turning over, progressively regaining consciousness … the need for mastery steadily clenching 'its' grip. This slow turn reveals his many sides, angular, hairy, robust, smelly, warm, delicate, graceful.
- Jean-Paul Martinon, "The End of Man"
Copyright © 2011-2013 Punctum Books. All rights reserved. RSS feed. Website managed by Tristan Denyer


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Recipes in this Collection
what is great about this recipe is it doesn't use margarine, butter or salt! And it tastes great! its very filling! Submitted by HIMELISSA2007 Carbs: 40g | Fat: 3.6g | Fiber: 4.2g | Protein: 6.2g | Calories: 208.9
Delicious sweet and healthy, low-sugar sweet potatoes that taste like they're mixed with maple syrup Submitted by RACHEL_MAC Carbs: 18.1g | Fat: 0.2g | Fiber: 3.7g | Protein: 1.5g | Calories: 71.1
This recipe has been marked private.
Very Good 4.7/5
(6 ratings)
Submitted by VETSKY Carbs: 10.5g | Fat: 8.2g | Fiber: 2.3g | Protein: 2.7g | Calories: 135
Very Good 4.4/5
(7 ratings)
Great for those days you crave Mac n Cheese! Original recipe found in Kraft's eatingbetteramerica.com, my version uses the Spaghetti Squash. Submitted by SHELLPRO Carbs: 9.8g | Fat: 1.2g | Fiber: 2.2g | Protein: 2.1g | Calories: 53.2
My family loves green bean casserole, but it is sooo fattening!! So, here is our modified version that is now a favorite in our home for special holidays! When I bring it for potlucks, I never bring any home!! Submitted by SEWINGMEG Carbs: 7.5g | Fat: 2g | Fiber: 1.2g | Protein: 1.5g | Calories: 54.9
Incredible! 5.0/5
(4 ratings)
I don't add these, but the recipe also calls for 1 tsp sesame seed oil, 1/3 cup slivered almonds, 2 packages of Ramen Noodles plus their seasoning packets Submitted by TEEKAY25 Carbs: 13g | Fat: 6.7g | Fiber: 3.7g | Protein: 2.9g | Calories: 118.2
This is a great slow cooker side dish that's incredibly easy to make! Submitted by CHEF_MEG Carbs: 36.7g | Fat: 0.8g | Fiber: 6.1g | Protein: 6.8g | Calories: 170.5
Good 3.0/5
(2 ratings)
Made with Non Fat Cottage Cheese for a lighter version of a Classic. Submitted by MLD4U2 Carbs: 14.5g | Fat: 1.6g | Fiber: 1.7g | Protein: 4.6g | Calories: 93.2
This recipe has been marked private.


text:
Jobs and schools promise to be top issues in next year's city elections. The mayor's education agenda faces its toughest test in the African-American communities that gave him strong support in 2011.
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Current Issue
Why this parent blames the mayor for teachers strike
My kid is in a Chicago public school—a really good one, with selective enrollment, great teachers, and a great new "green" school building that is LEED-certified - but has no air conditioning. And here's the thing: It's getting warmer earlier--in the 80's last March, and hot in school. You know what? It's hard to learn and to teach when it's too hot. The heat makes it difficult to concentrate.
Why is this relevant? The lack of air-conditioning in some schools is just one of the issues that have been raised by teachers in the current strike. In Track E schools, students were in non-air conditioned schools during several days of over 100 degrees and weeks of over 90 degrees. Were the kids there to actually learn, or to make the Board of Education feel good that they're providing extended school hours for them?
The extended school day is another issue. It's fine to say we need longer school days to meet current educational standards. It's not fine if you have no curriculum for those extended days-- no art, no music, no physical education, no recess.
Plus, everyone agrees that teachers should be evaluated. Teachers want evaluation so they can improve their teaching skills. But how do we know if a teacher is good? If kids like the teacher? Some kids don't like good teachers because they enforce discipline and make them work. If the principal likes the teacher? Some principals play favorites, or penalize teachers who have spoken up about things that aren't going well. If the test scores go up? Surely test scores are unbiased data points, right?
Well, let's examine that. My kid's school has great test scores. It also has great teachers, kids who are motivated, parents who are supportive, a new building, textbooks, computers, art and music classes, and PE. But take the same school, the same teachers and principal, and plop them down in a violent neighborhood, take away the selective enrollment, and what happens? Test scores go down. Are the teachers suddenly less qualified, less talented, less caring, and worse at teaching? No. The environment has radically changed. Introduce factors like poverty and crime, and suddenly it becomes very difficult to teach and for students to learn at the same rate.
Then what happens when a school "fails?" It's shut down, and likely re-opened as a charter school with non-union teachers. Undoubtedly, some charters are better than the schools they replaced—but overall, charters are no better.
Why disrupt neighborhoods, close schools and fire teachers just to open charter schools that perform no better? Seems like the answer is 1) to bust the union -- the trend these days is very much towards blaming public sector unions for all our financial ills; and 2) turning public money into profit centers for individuals and corporations.
However, if you fire all the teachers, who will be left to teach? If you fire just the bad teachers, can you replace them all with good teachers? Or will you find mediocre teachers, compliant teachers, disengaged teachers, and call it an improvement? Who will go into teaching if the Board of Education and the mayor routinely put down the entire teaching profession and call into question their honesty, their commitment to their students, their quality as teachers? Who will go into a profession that demands constant continuing education if you are just told that your education and your degrees are worthless and you are paid too much? And why is a middle-class income too much money to pay our teachers?
Failure of leadership, not teachers
When you talk to teachers, what you find is a deep anger over cuts in education funding and the feeling that the children are not being served well by the system. They argue that every school needs a social worker and a school nurse, and text books on the first day of classes, not six weeks in. They argue that the emphasis on testing forces them to teach to the test and to teach students how to fill in little circles on a form—not to teach them critical thinking, or creativity, or love of learning. They argue that kids need art, because it unleashes creativity. They argue that kids need music and physical education, because these are lifelines for students who are otherwise drowning in the stress of their daily lives. They argue that no one should be expected to work 24% more per day and then take a pay cut. They argue that cutting health benefits means more sick days for teachers, more disruptions in the classroom. They note the major disrespect they feel from the mayor and his hand-picked Board of Education. They've been made to feel that they are at fault for everything that is wrong in the schools.
Meanwhile, Illinois is 50th in the nation in education funding. Let that sink in. And TIFs have been a major force in siphoning off money from education and into the hands of private developers, with little accountability for how those TIF dollars have been spent.
So perhaps the current situation isn't all the teachers' fault. Perhaps it is a major policy failure on the part of every single politician who has ever voted for a budget in the state, city, and county. Perhaps the appointed Board of Education is at fault for applying business models to education, with no basis in any research in education that has ever been done.
Perhaps the failure comes from the leaders, not the teachers.
Meanwhile, CPS parents have routinely seen their concerns dismissed by that same Board of Education. CPS parents have attended public hearings to argue forcefully against having their neighborhood schools closed, against sending their kids to other public schools and either placing them in unsafe environments or forcing them to travel through unsafe environments. The board has consistently gone ahead with their predetermined plans for school closures, teacher dismissals, principal dismissal and the labeling of schools as "failures" even as significant improvements were being made.
For all these reasons, I think the mayor is just plain wrong and at fault for the current strike. I think he set out to demonize the teachers, imply they were overpaid and under-performing. I think he wants to break their union so he can stop paying middle-class wages to public employees, and instead create profits for his friends in the charter industry. I think he's a Democrat in name only-- just like Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker, he wants to break all public unions, and the police and fire-fighters unions are next on the list. He thinks he can get away with it—but here's hoping that he doesn't.
Do non-union schools perform better? Richard D. Kahlenberg, writing for the New Republic, notes otherwise:
"The theory that a non-union environment, which allows for policies like merit pay, would make all the difference in promoting educational achievement never held much water. After all, teachers unions are weak-to-nonexistent throughout much of the American South, yet the region hardly distinguishes itself educationally. Indeed, the highest performing states, such as Massachusetts and New Jersey—and the highest performing nations, such as Finland—have heavily unionized teaching forces."
Thank you to the Chicago Teachers Union for teaching us all this past week about what the real issues are, and what the "education reform" movement is all about. We don't need Democrats who mimic Republican talking points on education or fiscal policy.
Melissa Lindberg is a CPS parent.
78 comments
To go to UNO parents must purchase a $100 uniform--
No uniform, no UNO. parents or guardian at the neighborhood schools cannot afford $100 for a uniform. Or money to buy books-magazines. heck, CPS is making neighborhood schools ask parents for paper towels and toilet paper. Clerks in CPS do transfers to charter schools from the neighborhood school will attest that the child with failing grades and low test scores does not transfer into a charter. When CPS closes more schools due to performance, the charters should be right there with them. Charters are political strongholds--watch, they will get more passes than they already have been given.
thank you
thank you, to the author of this article for stating the truth. Mayor Emanuel is a bully who consistently wants his own way. He does not care about the children he only cares about himself. Tell me, where do his children go to school????
I am 71 years old and when to Chicago schools until the age of 12. At that time the schools were so advanced so wonderful and we had recess, Gym, art and music. answer this for me where did the money come at that time?
Kudos to the union because they truly care about the education of our children and grandchildren. Not just about test scores so the federal government and the state government will give them more money for each school. This is an educational matter not a financial matter. Look what the financial geniuses of this country have done so far. May God be with the teachers and guides them to this terrible time
to Klem....
Klem....I don't "know a lot of SN kids who go to" Charters. I am a doctorate level clinician who actually works or has worked for the past decade in Charter Schools (I have spent years in at least one from each network, and in many stand alone contract schools) as well as in the neighborhood schools. My experience has been that when a child with an IEP is admitted to these schools, the IEP is not followed by the typically young, inexperienced teaching staff or enforced by the administration who KNOW NOTHING about education or working with children, especially those with special needs. Accommodations and modifications on the IEP are seldom followed, everything from the simple (seating) to the not-so-simple (use of equipment). I have been the sole voice for many of these children through the years. When they do not succeed or the parent gets frustrated enough, they are returned to the neighborhood school (in my opinion, the goal of the Charter all along). I have worked tirelessly for my students in these schools, more often than not with little cooperation from the teacher or principal, only to see them "counseled out" for not making adequate progress or tranferred by the parent because they cannot take it anymore. So, excuse me if I don't take what you write seriously, I actually work in these schools with these kids. It can be heartbreaking to see them fail because they can't be accommodated by a teacher who may or may not actually be a certified teacher, cannot manage a classroom of 35 students (yes, they lie about class size too) and knows nothing about Special Education.
You must not work with CICS, Learn, Locke, Noble Street, etc.
Because I have students in my program who have IEPs and attend those schools. And they are doing better.
Much better than if they were at CPS with the IEP, which means almost nothing. Maybe 15 minutes, two times a week for a pullout session. Yes, reams of paper generated writing up the IEP, but next to nothing is done for the student in school. Which is why they come to my program.
What exactly is so great about CPS special ed?
Charlotte Danielson
She states to hold off using high stakes testing because scores can't be directly linked statistically to one teacher. So reading score could have been the previous teachers work, (April, May, June after testing is complete) the after school reading program, special ed teacher, It is not statistically significant so why is there a push to link that score to that one teacher when we are not sure that they deserve it whether the result is positive or negative. Teaching is a team effort and must be collaborative. Then what is to ensure that elementary teachers will concentrate more on reading and math and not start to abandon SS or Science. Is that better for students? What if a teacher wants to be innovative, will this stifle teacher creativity? Don't get me wrong, teachers should be evaluated but they are being used to try to get rid of teachers who might be really good individually but not on a good team.
This is a really good article that brings many of these issues to light. I think people are content to send their kids to a school with no art, music, or foreign language when our suburban counterparts have those. And we are to be competitive with them?
My blood is boiling
...reading your last comment, klem. My son had an iep starting in 3rd grade. At that time we had him in Catholic school and he was bussed to our neighborhood public school 3x a week for 40 min. each time for
reading, math, and speech. After 2 years he was diagnosed with autism, and we decided to transfer him to the public school for increased services. He received 240 min. per week and also had an aid in with him for every class. I had constant updates from his special ed teacher and social worker, and the school counselor. I cried when i had to say goodbye to this wonderful, caring environment. I am tearing up now thinking of how they went above and beyond for my son.
aren't working longer hours?
Last year swipe in time was 7:57 AM and swipe out time 2:55 PM. This year swipe in at 8:00AM, swipe out at 3:30PM. Do the math. It is longer hours. No "extra" teacher takes over for me at any point of the day.
Lovely counter-argument, but
Lovely counter-argument, but I'm afraid that though you're trying to separate the teachers' contract from an education plan, the two are inextricably linked by virtue of the fact that it is the very livelihood and well-being of those teachers that good education plans come from. I know, educators being in charge of educating- crazy idea, right? To deny teachers of basic job and health security is to undermine their efficacy to the point where public schools WILL fail, and give Rahm Emmanuel et. al. opportunity to continue the gradual dismantling of the Chicago Public School system, which as Lindberg points out serves Emmanuel's interest in privatizing public services. Yes, those CICS and KIPP schools are currently the only schools properly serving children in many areas of the west and south side, but that is a reflection of the abysmal state of education funding and legislation that Illinois politicians and administrators have created (as a by-product of their efforts to further their own political and material profit). And the Teachers Union is going to stand by and take it no longer.
charter schools scores
Don't charters get to make up their own standards? So of course they are going to claim their students score well! Who knows how these made up standards match up to the rest of the state?
I love the article. My child just graduated from a neighborhood CPS school and got a seat in a specialty high school. I do not want the Charter Schools for my child as I don't want him in an unstable environment. He did very well on his assessments andI want him to continue with highly qualified teachers who stick around for more than one year. I want him to have a life outside of school and not go to school from 8 to 5 with 3 hours of home work.
I believe in our CPS teachers and think they deserve respect as well as a fair contract.
To be fair, it's not entirely
To be fair, it's not entirely a myth that Charters deny students in need of specialized learning services. I've worked at two west side elementary Charter Schools with enrollment sizes comparable to the CPS school I now work at but at each of the Charters, the total number of students with an IEP was substantially lower. Additionally, at each of the schools, it was rumored that students in the "lottery" who had an existing IEP from their CPS schools weren't selected. Clearly, the actual number of enrolled students with an IEP supports the fact that Charters can select their enrollment and will leave students deemed as more challenging behind, which impacts their overall achievement. Believing in high quality special education for all students is what brought me to the CPS neighborhood school I am now so proud to be a part of.
The principal at Waters ES
The principal at Waters ES (Titia Kipp), never observed anyone. And when our evaluations were due, she made them all up, falsifying dates, etc. The running joke was to make sure we had actually been in school on those days. And what about the one drama teacher there who is so mean, she routinely makes the children cry? That teacher is on the LSC. She protects the principal, and the principal protects her. There was also a teacher there who slept in class everyday for years. The school had to hire another teacher to teach while she slept. There is so much corruption everywhere. If these things were all happening in just one school, I can only imagine what other stories other teachers in other schools could tell. John Q Public has no idea what is really going on in the schools, and neither does the mayor and his board.
Congrats! You got CPS to do its job.
But come to the west or south side of the city. You can barely get them to test the kids. I have over 20 students with IEPs in my program. None of them get more than 15 minute pullout sessions at their CPS school.
When a student has learning disability that has them reading 3 or 4 years below grade level, 15 minutes sessions twice a week are not enough. Nor is simply dumbing down their curriculum and assignments.
Reasons why charter schools have lower IEP numbers?
One is that there is this rumor about charter schools not taking kids with IEPs...
you said a mouthful Klem,
you said a mouthful Klem, Amen
My sons' school is on the
My sons' school is on the south side. I don't know what goes on in other south side schools, just speaking of our experience. It really bugs me when people generalize an entire system based on only their experiences.
Charter Schools are not Putting Up the Best Scores
Klem in replying to Ms. Lindberg's letter had the temerity to say charter schools are putting up good test scores. This is likely because Klem is terribly uninformed. There are Chicago Schools that rank in the top 100 in the state... NONE of them are charter schools. In fact you have got to dig pretty deep before you find a charter school that is outperforming the better neighborhood schools. To be fair Nobel Street ranks 256 making it the highest ranking Charter School... lower than King Prep & Lincoln Park both neighborhood schools and a host of magnet schools. They rank 256 w/ more money than God, selective enrollment and creaming out their lowest performing students... which may make them worse than say a neighborhood school that scores higher without all that help.
Here's the link: http://www.schooldigger.com/go/IL/schoolrank.aspx?level=3 and now you are Dangerously Informed.
Your information is incorrect. Teachers ARE working longer school days as well as a longer school year. The extra teachers hired are NOT coverage for a longer day. They are supposed to be additional teachers to make it not just a longer school day but a better school day. Teachers now have a 45 minute lunch. Until now many had a 20 minute lunch which they had to eat with their class.
in re: Charlotte Danielson
That part of CPS evaluation is called the "CPS Framework," a knock-off of Charlotte Danielson. The CTU evaluation team tried to curb the rewording and the melding of domain components that were written mostly by a Board employee who is no longer there. Compare the CPS Framework with the original or revised version of the authentic Charlotte Danielson.
Still no citation? Only advertisement?
Sure, Klem, you like your school. Wherever it is. Actually, the initial ideas about charters had to do with taking care of challenging students in an environment tailored toward needs, not elitism. So, charters could have been directing more of their attention toward working with students with traumatic brain injury or behavioral problems or glitches in learning styles. Instead, they're the latest hedge scheme that's designed to pit teachers against each other and the public against public school. Face it: the head of an association of Illinois charter schools said that charters were made to combat the constraints of collective bargaining. They're not for the students as much as they're used to bust unions.
Selective Enrollment
You tout "selective enrollment" as if that is something to be proud of. Sounds pretty exclusive...not like a public school.
@ Don Washington - School Rank
Don Washington said: "There are Chicago Schools that rank in the top 100 in the state... NONE of them are charter schools. In fact you have got to dig pretty deep before you find a charter school that is outperforming the better neighborhood schools. "
2012 ACT - 2009 Explore:
1) Northside – 7.2
2) Noble Pritzker – 6.7
3) Noble Chicago Bulls – 6.4
3) Noble UIC – 6.4
3) Payton – 6.4
6) Noble Rauner – 6.3
7) Young – 5.9
8) Noble Rowe Clark – 5.7
9) Noble Muchin – 5.6
9) Noble Golder – 5.6
11) Jones – 5.4
12) Noble Comer – 5.2
12) Noble Noble St. – 5.2
14) Urban Prep West – 5.0
15) Chicago Academy – 4.8
16) Lane Tech- 4.7
17) CHGO Math And Sci. – 4.5
18) Lincoln Park – 4.4
19) Von Stuben – 4.2
20) Lindblom – 4.1
Klem, I work in a track E school and have not received a duty free lunch or recess. WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS / EXTRA STAFF TO COVER THE WHOLE BUILDING. I work a full 7.25 hours WITH KIDS (and THEN I can take a restroom break) and then I work 3-4 hours unpaid after the kids leave.
I work about 7am-6pm (give or take) each day. That is 11 hours. I also do from 1-2 hours extra work at home. Lets just estimate on the low end for this. So 1 hour a day at home + the 11 hours I am at school = 12 hours a day. 12 hours x 5 days = 60 hours The school year is about 38 weeks.
(Mind you, I usually go to unpaid PD every summer for 1-2 weeks. Mind you, I usually go in 2 weeks before the school year starts to get my classroom ready. Mind you, I usually go in on SATURDAYS when the school year begins. Mind you, I usually go in during fall, winter, and spring breaks to get my classroom and lesson plans ready for when kids return. I wont even include those extra, extra, extra times in this argument.)
If I work 60 hours a week for 38 weeks, that is 2280 hours. Lets take 2280 hours / 52 weeks to get an average of 43 hours!
I also didn't mention how I spend a good $3000-$4000 of my paycheck for school supplies, books, food, clean clothes for my students, etc, etc.
Please don't generalize about
Please don't generalize about ALL charter schools - Chicagoans (on both sides of the charter debate) are already doing way too much of that. I agree that the majority of charters in Chicago do not perform on par with, or outperform, many neighborhood CPS schools. Having worked with teachers in the CICS (three campuses), UNO (Nearly all campuses), KIPP (Ascend), Noble, LEARN (all campuses), and Catalyst (two campuses) networks though, I can say that to my knowledge, only one of those networks implements fines for student behavior, and a very, very limited number of individual campuses (and likely ones who have strayed from their original missions) hand pick students. In fact, I know that several of the schools I mentioned, including KIPP Ascend, actively recruit students who have struggled in other school settings. I'm not saying that your concerns are invalid, and I certainly don't believe that Charter schools are the answer, but I ask that people make sure they don't generalize across an entire system of diverse and individual schools. I know it's equally as unfair and invalid when people do that about CPS schools and apply generalizations to the school I work at.
Response to bobloblaw
As a Lane Tech mother, I can assure you selective enrollment CPS schools are NOT like private schools. Please inform yourself before attempting to make derogatory comments. Our children in selective enrollment schools have to demonstrate early on that they are good candidates for this type of schools. Not all kids in 8th grade are offered the selective enrollment test required to apply to this schools. Not all of those kids who take the test get to attend a selective enrollment school. And not all of them get to attend the school of their choice.
As a CPS mother, I have had a chance to ask some of the Lane students what they would like to see change with this strike. The FIRST thing they all say is AC in the class rooms!! It makes no sense to me that in prisons, criminals have better cooling systems than our children do. No matter how much of an overachiever my daughter and the majority of selective enrollment kids are, trying to learn in un unsafe environment does not help at all.
I support CTU 100%. The excuse of "children missing school" most parents have for being discontent with the strike is just that. Kids will make up for the days missing, and we as parents are still responsible for teaching them. So to those parents complaining about their kids missing school, how about you grab a book, sit down with your kid and teach them something! In my house, my kids are still learning, getting ahead on their lectures and supporting their teachers ;-)
Its may be a contract but it's a start to reform education
This may be a contract, but do not tell me that privatized interests like charter schools on the west and south side of Chicago are making an educational difference more than a cps school. Most of the schools closed in the last 10 years were all on the south and west sides of the city, leaving parents with no options but to send their kids to a charter school. Students sign a contract to perform at certain levels, and if they can't because they are learning impaired or didn't understand the work, they are ousted from those schools. Where are they supposed to go when the neighborhood school doesn't exist anymore because it had to make way for a charter school?
How are charter schools safer when they are in the same area with the same population. Answer me this... How many times in one year has a charter school had a report of assault on students? The number will baffle you. Most cases get swept under the rug, or the teacher gets fired to keep the story from leaking. Now let's go outside into the same community. Oh, that's right. It's the same community with the same crime rate, the same poverty rate, the same, the same!
These TIF funds can more than make up for the deficit you talk about. They are being illegally dispersed to businesses that have political associations with private sectors. These are public funds that are supposed to used for public schools and the improvement of communities. Tell me that improving the neighborhood schools wouldn't be in the best interest of our communities and future generations.
Please research your facts and become a more informed citizen instead of believing what you hear from your friends and the media.
Teacher from Massachusetts weighs in...
My sister and I are both teachers. We both earned our education degrees from state universities here in Massachusetts. My students consistently score in the top percentile on our MCAS tests. My students earn 4s and 5s on AP exams. My students earn in the high 700s on SAT exams. On the other hand, my sister's students have a difficult time passing her class never mind MCAS exams and AP tests. Am I a better teacher? No, not at all. Then what is the difference? I teach in a wealthy suburb of Boston where parents are involved and tend to be highly educated. Their children have access to enrichment programs and tutors. My sister on the other hand teaches in Boston. Many of her kids come from single parent homes; live in public housing; come to school hungry and go home after school to empty houses as their parents work. So I ask again; am I a better teacher or do I teach in a better situation?
I just want an elected board,
I just want an elected board, not appointed by mayor. Education should not be mixed with politics and business ( 2 member of board have stakes in charter schools). Conflict of interest should disqualify from serving on board.