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In accordance with NSW Health policy, first priority for access to clinical placements is granted to NSW students. Following the allocation of places to NSW universities, requests for placements from interstate and overseas nursing students will be considered. Expressions of interest should be submitted by 31st October for consideration for placement in the following year.
Interstate or overseas student nurses must meet the following criteria:
(Note: These are two separate policies. Professional indemnity insurance in England may be obtained via the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Personal accident and injury insurance may also be obtain from the RCN or an independent insurance company of your choice).
Interstate or international students seeking to make requests for clinical placements should put their requests by fax or post to:
Nurse Education ManagerEducation CentreLocked Bag 4001Westmead NSW 2145SydneyAustraliaFax +61 2 9845 2999
A tuition fee of A$75 per full time week per student is applicable (payment by cash, traveller cheques or electronic fund transfer). Cheques, international bank drafts or electronic transfers should be made payable to "The Children's Hospital at Westmead". This can be paid at anytime after receiving the formal offer of a clinical placement and no later than on the first placement day.


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FREE Quick Over-The-Net Home EvaluationKnowing what your home is worth is important information to have if you are thinking of selling your home.Using the information you submit to us in the form below, we will conduct a thorough comparative market analysis by searching the database of all homes listed or sold in your area. With this current market data, we will be able to determine what your home might sell for if you decided to put it on the market. There is no cost or obligation for this valuable service. For a FREE Home Evaluation, please fill in the information requested. |
SUCURI "TONY" PALEVIC Licensed Real Estate BROKER Comfort Homes Realty Group 604 Midland Ave STATEN ISLAND NY 10306 SiComfortHomes.com |
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subset: commoncrawl


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Optics InfoBase > Optical Materials Express
Measurement of photon correlations with multipixel photon counters [Invited]
Luminescence of La0.2Y1.8O3 nanostructured scintillators
Demonstration of type-II superlattice MWIR minority carrier unipolar imager for high operation temperature application
Toward direct light-to-digital conversion using a pulse-driven hybrid MOS-PN photodetector
Effects of substrate voltage on noise characteristics and hole lifetime in SOI metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor photon detector
Temperature dependence of impact ionization in InAs: erratum
A microring resonator photodetector for enhancement in L-band performance
Si+-implanted Si-wire waveguide photodetectors for the mid-infrared
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy with visible-wavelength superconducting nanowire single-photon detector
Ag nanoparticles@ZnO nanowire composite arrays: an absorption enhanced UV photodetector
Simulation investigation of tensile strained GeSn fin photodetector with Si3N4 liner stressor for extension of absorption wavelength
High sensitivity 10Gb/s Si photonic receiver based on a low-voltage waveguide-coupled Ge avalanche photodetector
Room temperature fabrication of ZnO/ST-cut quartz SAW UV photodetector with small temperature coefficient
256 × 2 SPAD line sensor for time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy
Quantum cascade detector utilizing the diagonal-transition scheme for high quality cavities
Characterizing integration time and gray-level-related nonlinearities in a NMOS sensor
Vanishing tilt-to-length coupling for a singular case in two-beam laser interferometers with Gaussian beams
Enhanced photocurrent of a nitride–based photodetector with InN dot-like structures
Extrinsic photodiodes for integrated mid-infrared silicon photonics
Attosecond timing in optical-to-electrical conversion
Opt. Mater. Express Optics InfoBase Google Scholar
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Adv. Opt. Photon.Applied OpticsApplied SpectroscopyBiomed. Opt. ExpressChinese Optics LettersJ. Display Technol.J. Lightwave Technol.J. Opt. Commun. Netw.J. Opt. Netw. (2002-2009)J. Opt. Soc. Am. (1917-1983)J. Opt. Soc. Am. AJ. Opt. Soc. Am. BJ. Opt. Soc. KoreaJ. Opt. Technol.OpticaMeetingsOptics & Photonics NewsOpt. Mater. ExpressOptics ExpressOptics LettersOptics News (1975-1989)Photonics Research
Select a Journal: Adv. Opt. Photon.Applied OpticsApplied SpectroscopyBiomed. Opt. ExpressChinese Optics LettersJ. Display Technol.J. Lightwave Technol.J. Opt. Commun. Netw.J. Opt. Netw. (2002-2009)J. Opt. Soc. Am. (1917-1983)J. Opt. Soc. Am. AJ. Opt. Soc. Am. BJ. Opt. Soc. KoreaJ. Opt. Technol.OpticaMeetingsOpt. Mater. ExpressOptics ExpressOptics LettersOptics News (1975-1989)Photonics Research Year


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BATON ROUGE, LA (FOX44) — A bike path linking mid-city Baton Rouge to downtown is gaining serious traction. When it's complete, people will be able to bike or walk between Spanish Town, Memorial Stadium, Seven BREC parks and several spots in between.
Davis Rhorer with the Down Town Development District says the Downtown Greenway is a project born out of the changing needs of people here in the Capital City.
"Explore the world! There's more out there than to just stop at Baton Rouge and feel like that's it, I am finished," he said. "And sometimes, at some schools, once they stop, things happen or they feel like this is the way it's going to always be. It doesn't have to be like that."
The project has a $2.9 million price tag that's being taken care of by federal and state grant money.


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The Ancestors of Amy Johnston and Edward UnderwoodUpdated April 18, 2005 |
Amy Lynn Underwood firstname.lastname@example.com |
Edit Your Page |
Hi! Well I have done it now. I have added Ed's Family to the web page. I hope we don't crash the system! I will add some of the family trees so that it may be easyer to navaigate thru all of the surnames and find the people that you are looking for. I am still not sure how this all works. I just couldn't stand to leave anyonen out. I have also added to my side so if you have been here before then take another look. I have added to the McIntire and Scott sides of my tree. I am no where near done looking for more relitives so please come back often and check up on my research! If you have more information, photos or fun tales that you would like to add to this tree please E-mail me. |
My Family History |
Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees |
The content shown on this page has been submitted by a Genealogy.com customer, and is not subject to verification by Genealogy.com. Neither Genealogy.com nor its affiliates are responsible for the accuracy of any information contained on this page. The opinions expressed on this page are the author's alone and not the opinions of Genealogy.com.
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$8,000 First-time Homebuyer Refundable Tax Credit
If you've been reading here long, you might guess that I am no fan of social programs. However, I am a fan of taking advantage of opportunities as they are provided… provided your use of such offerings is moving you in a positive direction. A personal example I'll share related to Obama's spending plan or stimulus attempt back in the first of the year.
Part of this program allowed for the government sudsidy of COBRA payments and as I was between jobs at the time, a 60+% reduction in our monthly insurance payments was a nice benefit. To have refused would have been foolish… it was offered, it was legal, it was helpful.
Similarly, the tax credit offered to first time home buyers is a unique opportunity for those who both qualify for the program and who can actually afford to purchase a new home. Prices are low and rates are low and a home is a fantastic investment over the long haul. It is not the right time for everyone, but for some it is a great time.
For this reason, I want to pass along some information about this program. Enjoy!
If you have been waiting to take advantage of the low mortgage rates currently available, now may be the time. The economic stimulus package currently being pushed by the Obama administration includes an $8,000 first-time homebuyer refundable tax credit for qualifying buyers who purchase a home between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009.
Homebuyers cannot have owned a primary home within the past three years in order to qualify as a first-time buyer and you must make less than $75,000 if single, $150,000 if married. The house that you purchase must also serve as your primary residence for at least 36 months or you will be obligated to pay back the credit. Applying for the credit is very easy- all you have to do is claim it on your tax return and no additional papers or forms are necessary. You don't have to wait until the 2009 tax season comes around in order to get your $8,000 credit. Once you complete the purchase of your home you can get it sooner by filing an amended 2008 return.
Time is beginning to run out (the deadline is November 30th) and whether congress will extend the credit is still very much up in the air. The program so far has had a tremendous impact on new home sales and housing prices throughout the country as evident in the latest Case-Shiller index. The index showed the first increase in national home prices in three years with the National Home Price Index rising 1.4%. It will be interesting to see what direction housing prices will take in the months ahead, especially if congress decides to extend the program.
Thanks for readng along. I hope you're take minute to leave me a comment below or click over to the site (if you're reading from email) and let me know what you think of this content as compared to my typical materials.
6 thoughts on "$8,000 First-time Homebuyer Refundable Tax Credit"
I share your general opinion that social programs are usually wasteful and ineffective, particularly economic initiatives like the "stimulus" package. However, I think this home buyer tax credit is an example of a government program that can be helpful and actually useful in meeting the stated goals (prop up the real estate market). If the entire $800+ billion dollar stimulus was applied to actual infrastructure projects and programs like this, I think our economy would turn around much more quickly.
.-= Dustin | Engaged Marriage´s last blog ..Have You Tried a Marriage Retreat? =-.-
I think another example of a good program is Cash for Clunkers. It was a success since it was gone and implemented quickly. Although, others say that it would hurt more in the long-run for a variety of reasons:
- All the program did was advance consumers' purchase of new cars.
- The program effectively stole some value from the used car industry
- there was a slowdown in other purchase in the long run
- etc…Im not an economist so I don't know if these have some basis. Let's just wait for the data to come in after a few months to see the real score. But what do you guys think of the program?
Hi really enjoyed reading your article and was wondering What is good financial planning software that can be used in confuction with dave ramsey plan (microsoft money?


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Medical Decoding Career and Salary Facts
Medical decoders, or medical coding specialists, enter standardized codes for services and diagnoses on patients' bills. Continue reading to learn more about job duties and training for these specialists, and get info on certifications and earnings. Schools offering Computer Forensics degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Would My Job Description Be as a Medical Decoder?
As a medical decoder, your job is to prepare and process medical invoices with codes used by insurance companies and healthcare professionals. You assign codes to each treatment or diagnosis on a bill, which requires knowledge of the standard medical codes, medical procedures and medical terminology. You must have a basic understanding of the services in order to assign the correct code. Daily job duties involve reading medical bills, researching terminology, entering codes into a computer program and communicating with healthcare personnel.
What Training Do I Need?
Some employers provide on-the-job training, but most employers expect you to have prior knowledge of medical coding. You may obtain training through a medical coding certificate program at a vocational school or community college. Another option is to earn an associate degree in medical office assisting, billing or support.
In both certificate and degree programs, your courses may cover medical topics, including anatomy, medical terminology, ethics, diseases and procedures. You may study specific coding systems, such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). You're also trained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and other applicable laws and regulations.
Do I Need To Be Certified?
While not mandatory, employers may prefer you to be certified. Certification provides proof of your medical decoding skills and knowledge, and is offered by various professional organizations.
You can choose from three certified coding specialist options awarded by the American Health Information Management Association (www.ahima.org). The certification you'd apply for depends on whether you work in a variety of medical settings, a hospital or a doctor's office or group practice.
The Professional Association of Healthcare Coding Specialists provides various certification options for specialty coding (www.pahcs.org). Some of your certification options include cardiology, dermatology and mental health coding. You may also become certified in general medicine, family practice, general surgery and emergency medicine coding. If you complete exams in three specialties, you can become a Certified Multi-Specialty Coding Specialist.
You can earn the Certified Professional Coder designation from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) after completing a certification exam (www.aapc.com). The exam tests your knowledge of different coding techniques, including ICD, HCPCS and CPT. The AAPC also offers specialty certifications for outpatient hospital codes and payer coding and billing.
How Much Can I Earn?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical records and health information technicians earned a mean annual salary of $33,880 in 2009 (www.bls.gov). The BLS projected an increase of 20% in jobs in this field from 2008-2018. BLS job growth estimates were based upon an increase in medical procedures being performed, the growth of the older segment of the population and more cases of cancer. An increased reliance on electronic health record systems was also a factor in anticipated job expansion.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:


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EMT Liability Insurance
EMT Liability Insurance
Why do I need insurance?
In every business that provides services or a product, there is always the chance that the company is going to be sued. This includes:
- Injury to property
- Damage to property
- Injury on the premises
- Giving an inaccurate diagnosis to a patient
People are quick to sue these days. Now, if there is just cause, fine, but you need to cover yourself or you could find yourself out of business.
So what is malpractice insurance?
Malpractice liability insurance is a bit more specific than regular liability insurance. When you hear the term malpractice, you get thoughts of surgeons botching major operations and doctors giving bad advice.
Is it just for doctors?
The medical profession is what we think of when it comes to malpractice, but it is also very common for:
- Home Care professionals
- Alternative medicine professionals
- Dentist
- Attorneys
- Schools - This covers suits filed for injuries sustained by students while under the care of a teacher
- Suits filed against a company for employment discrimination!
There are so many different things that constitute malpractice. This type of insurance is becoming needed by more and more types of businesses.
What is the standard cost? What are the limits of coverage?
Usually, you choose a policy that covers you for a certain amount of money per incident. You might be covered for $75,000 per incident for up to three times a year for a total of $225,000. It is usually shown on a policy as 75,000/225,000. In order to know how much coverage you should get you need to:
- Understand your risk
- Be educated about what the insurance will do for you
- How high the costs can get
Usually, if you use your malpractice liability insurance three times in a year, it is most likely going to cost you much more the next year. Just like other insurance, if you use it more, you will pay a higher premium. It is the way insurance companies have protected themselves for years.
This type of insurance is expensive, but it is worth it for the peace of mind and is a must in certain professions.
How do I pay for it?
You can pay on a:
- Monthly
- Quarterly
- Semi-annually
- Annually
Although this type of insurance is quite expensive, it is worth it for the peace of mind it gives when you go to work every day.
EMT Liability Insurance


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The Great Commission
The Church of God has various mission efforts in different parts of the world. The good news is actively being taken to and shared in Canada, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania & the Philippines.
Christ told His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Acts 1:8 says "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Home | Doctrines | Devotional | Songs | Messages | Wilson Archives | Articles | Books
Tracts | Question & Answer | Meetings | Foreign Missions | Purpose | Contact | Updates
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Copyright © 2005 - Church of God. All Rights Reserved.


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After several requests for people looking for spices and herbs for brewing (POL ), Brewmasters Warehouse now has them available. I have never been a big spiced beer brewer, so if there are some other spices/herbs that you would like me to add to the site please let me know, and I will look at adding them to the site. Thanks for all of your support, EdHere they are
NO, thank you Ed!


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On Approximate Maximum Likelihood Methods for Blind Identification: How to Cope with the Curse of Dimensionality AbstractWe discuss approximate maximum likelihood methods for blind identification and deconvolution. These algorithms are based on particle approximation versions of the EM algorithm. We consider three different methods which differ in the way the posterior distribution of the symbols is computed. The first algorithm is a particle approximation method of the fixed-interval smoothing. The two-filter smoothing and the novel joined-two-filter smoothing involve an additional backward-information filter. Because the state-space is finite, it is furthermore possible at each step to consider all the offsprings of any given particle. It is then required to construct a novel particle swarm by selecting, among all these offsprings, particle positions and computing appropriate weights. We propose here a novel unbiased selection scheme, which minimizes the expected loss with respect to general distance functions. We compare these smoothing algorithms and selection schemes in a Monte-Carlo experiment. We show a significant performance increase compared to the EMVA algorithm, a fixed-lag smoothing algorithm and the Block-CMA.
[Edit] |


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Diary of a Foodie
Chicken Stock
Diary of a Foodie: Season One: Zen and the Art of Cooking
Makesabout 10 cups
- Active Time:20 min
- Start to Finish:4 hr
January 2007
Watch this Diary of a Foodie episode and view its accompanying recipes. Plus, explore all episodes and more recipes from the show.
- 1 (3 1/2- to 4 1/2-lb) whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
- 2 celery ribs, cut into 2-inch lengths
- 2 carrots, quartered
- 2 medium onion, left unpeeled, trimmed, and halved
- 6 fresh parsley stems (without leaves)
- 1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf
- 8 whole black peppercorns
- 4 qt cold water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Bring all ingredients to a boil in an 8- to 10-quart pot and skim froth. Reduce heat and gently simmer, uncovered, skimming froth occasionally, 3 hours.
Remove chicken, then pour stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl and discard solids. If using stock right away, skim off and discard any fat. If not, cool stock completely, uncovered, then chill, covered, and discard solidified fat.
Cooks' note: Stock can be chilled 3 days or frozen 1 month.
- Keywords
- diary of a foodie,
- poultry,
- soup
More Diary of a Foodie
- Chiles en Nogada con Salsa de Chocolate (Stuffed Poblanos with Nut Sauce and Chocolate-Pomegranate Molasses Drizzle)
- Easy Seafood Paella
- Gazpacho
- Chile and Bell Pepper Frittata
- Pollo Alla Cacciatora con Peperoni (Hunter's-Style Chicken with Peppers)
- Porcini and Honey Ice Cream
- View All Diary of a Foodie


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Mentor Graphics Adopts Shareholder Rights Plan
WILSONVILLE, Ore., June 24, 2010 – Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) today announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan in which one incentive stock purchase right will be distributed for each share of common stock held by shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 6, 2010 (the "Rights").
The Rights are intended to enable the Board of Directors to protect the Company and to allow all of the Company's shareholders to realize the long-term value of their investment in the Company. The issuance of the Rights is not intended to prevent a sale of control of the Company that is determined by the Board of Directors to be fair, advisable and in the best interests of all the Mentor Graphics shareholders. The Rights Plan provides that, unless redeemed earlier by the Company, the Rights will expire on December 31, 2011.
The Rights will be exercisable if a person or group, or any other person with whom they are acting in concert, without the approval of Mentor Graphics' Board, acquires 15% or more of Mentor Graphics' common stock or announces a tender offer for 15% or more of Mentor Graphics' common stock. Under the Rights Plan, synthetic ownership of Mentor Graphics' common stock in the form of derivative securities counts towards the 15% ownership threshold, if the investor or group physically owns 5% or more of the common stock.
The Rights also will be exercisable if a person or group that already owns 15% or more of Mentor Graphics' common stock, without Board approval, acquires any additional shares (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company or pursuant to a stock split or subdivision). The Company's existing stockholders, if any, that beneficially own in excess of 15% of the common stock will be "grandfathered in."
If the Rights become exercisable, all Rights holders (other than the person or group triggering the Rights) will be entitled to purchase Mentor Graphics' common stock at a 50% discount. Rights held by the person or group triggering the Rights will become void and will not be exercisable.
The distribution of the Rights is not taxable to shareholders. The Rights will trade with Mentor Graphics' common stock and Mentor Graphics' Board may terminate the Rights Plan or redeem the Rights prior to the time the Rights are triggered. Further details about the Rights Plan will be contained in a Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company.
About Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of about $800 million. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the Company's results of operation and long-term strategy. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations, and are subject to risks and uncertainties discussed in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from expected results. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement contained in this release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
For more information, please contact:
Media Contact Ry Schwark 503.685.1660 firstname.lastname@example.com | Investor Contact Joe Reinhart 503.685.1462 email@example.com |


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Q. How much does it cost and what is included?
A. There is no charge for burial of veterans. The burial benefit includes the grave plot, the opening and closing of the grave, a concrete grave liner for casketed burials, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care of the grave. The funeral home will obtain a burial flag to accompany the veteran's casket or urn. Upon request, the funeral home will also arrange for military honors for the veteran. The cemetery representative or state cemetery program director can provide information on current charges for spouses and dependent children. The benefit does not cover funeral home charges such as the cost of a casket, cremation, viewing, flower cars, or transportation of the remains and family. However, if the veteran dies of a service connected cause of death, the family may be eligible for reimbursement from the VA for some of the funeral home costs up to $2,000.
Q. What is the procedure?
A. Normally, all arrangements are made through a funeral home. The person handling the funeral arrangements should take a copy of the military discharge form (DD Form 214) or other military service documents to prove eligibility to the funeral home. The funeral home will contact the cemetery of choice to verify eligibility and make all of the arrangements for the burial service. If you are making arrangements for interment of a spouse, you will also need to provide the funeral home a copy of the marriage certificate.
Q. How can I reserve a grave space or burial plot?
A. You may not reserve a grave space. Veterans, spouses, and dependent children are interred in the next available grave space for the type requested (casketed space, cremation space in a columbarium wall niche, or cremation space for in-ground burial). In most cases the veteran and all family members will be interred in the same grave space. However, you may pre-register with the cemetery.
Q. How do I pre-register?
A. Although you cannot reserve a burial space, you can pre-register at a cemetery. Complete a Pre-Registration Form, attaching a copy of the military discharge form (DD Form 214) (and if appropriate a copy of a marriage certificate) and send these documents to the Texas State Veterans Cemetery of choice. The cemetery will verify your eligibility, inform you accordingly, and maintain a copy of these documents on hand so that the next of kin does not have to find them at the time of need.
Q. What proof of eligibility will I need to pre-register?
A. You will need a copy of your DD214 or other discharge form.
Q. What is a Texas State Veterans Cemetery (TSVC)?
A. The State of Texas owns, and the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) operates, the cemeteries under VA guidelines - to provide dignified burial places for eligible veterans and their family members. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the state of Texas cooperate to build the cemeteries under the State Veterans Cemetery Grant Program. A TSVC serves veterans in areas of Texas not currently covered by a VA National Veterans Cemetery.
Q. What's the difference between a National Cemetery and a Texas State Veterans Cemetery?
A. The VA pays for the operation of most National Cemeteries while the states pay for operation of State Veterans Cemeteries. National Cemeteries and Texas State Veterans Cemeteries are operated under the same eligibility rules and apply the same cemetery maintenance standards. The only difference is that the state of Texas charges for interment of spouses and dependents, while in the National Cemeteries there is no charge for interment of spouses and dependents.
Q. Where are the TSVCs located?
A. They are currently in operation in the cities of Abilene, Corpus Christi, Killeen, and Mission.
Q. Where are the VA national cemeteries in Texas?
A. National cemeteries are located at Fort Bliss in El Paso, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Houston and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.
Q. May a TSVC be built within 75 miles of an existing TSVC or national cemetery?
A. Generally not. State cemeteries are designed to serve the veterans living within 75 miles of the cemetery site. Therefore, the VA deems veterans living within 75 miles of an existing state or national cemetery as already being served.
Q. Will I lose any of my VA burial benefits if I choose to be buried at a TSVC?
A. No. All of the burial benefits you are entitled to as an eligible veteran, such as a burial flag, grave marker, Presidential Memorial Certificate, or military honors, may be used at the TSVC.
Q. Will the Texas State Veterans Cemetery provide military honors at TSVC funerals?
A. At the request of families, funeral homes will coordinate with the Department of Defense or Veteran Service Organizations for military honors at all veterans' burials. If you are not using a funeral home, contact the cemetery for assistance in acquiring military honors.
Q. If I served in the National Guard or Reserves, am I eligible to be buried in a TSVC?
A. The rules for eligibility for burial in the TSVC are the same as for national cemeteries. Overall eligibility for burial in a veterans cemetery (national or state) is determined by a VA regulation based on a variety of qualifying criteria, many of which may apply to your periods of service on active duty or while in the Guard or Reserves. To ascertain your eligibility, please review the regulations on the VA Web site, or ask the Texas Veterans Commission or your Veterans Service Officer benefit counselor to assist you in applying for VA burial benefits.
Q. I am a veteran. Can my spouse or children be buried at a TSVC?
A. The spouse, surviving spouse, and dependent children of an eligible veteran are also eligible under current VA regulations.
Q. I don't have my military discharge papers to determine if my period of service was sufficient to qualify for burial benefits. How can I get a copy?
A. Please refer to How to Request Military Service Records or Prove Military Service from the National Archives site or you can contact the VLB and ask that a "Request Pertaining to Military Records" form be mailed to you.


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Porter promises victory Sunday against Saints
Porter promises victory Sunday against Saints
Thursday, November 09, 2006 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Today, many Republicans know how the Steelers feel. Riding high as the dominant team, they have been swept up in a landslide of losses and face the next few months as lame ducks, soon to be no longer the ruling party of the land. The shock of it all, at least for the defending Super Bowl champions, was evident as they reconvened yesterday to begin preparations for what they hope will become a better second half to a lost season. In fact, linebacker Joey Porter promised a new beginning will take place Sunday when they play the 6-2 New Orleans Saints at Heinz Field. "You know me," Porter said, "I want to put some of the pressure on my shoulder for us to go out and get this victory: We will come back with a victory on Sunday." His teammates can only hope Porter's words work as well as they did during the playoffs last season, when he called out the Indianapolis Colts and later the Seattle Seahawks' tight end, Jerramy Stevens. The circumstances are different this time. At 7-5, the Steelers had to win eight games in a row to win Super Bowl XL. At 2-6, they'd probably have to win 12 in a row to win Super Bowl XLI, a miracle not on their minds these days. "I'm embarrassed,'' admitted reigning Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward. "I can't speak for other players. Me, personally, myself? Yes, I'm embarrassed. I mean, to be 2-6? There's nothing fun about being 2-6. Especially, when you go out there and you put it all on the line to try to win ball games, yet for whatever reason you can't find a way to win games." They have lost six of the past seven games and continue to grope to find a way out and how to describe what got them here. "It's tough," said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, "because we know we're a good team with a bad record. It's frustrating out there right now." Halfback Willie Parker said after their most recent loss Sunday to Denver that he sensed a "hungrier" team last season than this one and a lack of trust in teammates. He declined to talk yesterday. "If that's what he thinks, so be it," said Ward, a co-captain on offense. "But you'd have to ask Willie about that. "I can't speak for other guys, I only speak for myself. I know me, it doesn't matter what happened last year, you have to move on." Other teammates disavowed any connection to a Super Bowl hangover. "I didn't hear [Parker's] comment, but I don't believe that's the situation," tackle Max Starks said. "I think all of us go out there and play our hardest. Nobody's thinking 'I need to sit down, I got what I wanted now.' " Said cornerback Deshea Townsend, "That's his opinion. I don't know, I feel like guys are playing hard, we're just coming up a little short." Porter said Parker and any of his teammates are entitled to speak their opinions and noted that he has led the locker room many times in that area. But he does not agree that there has been a softening of the attitude among the 2006 Steelers. "The way we go out and fight on defense, I know it's definitely nobody on my side of the ball who feels like that," Porter said. "I hate to lose anything I do. Me being a sore loser is natural. To lose the way we've been losing is frustrating." Guard Alan Faneca, co-captain of the offense with Ward, acknowledged that there was satisfaction with winning a Super Bowl after coming so close in 2001 and 2004, but he does not believe it took away his team's desire to try to win another this season. "I think hungers change," Faneca said. "I think as close as we were for so many years, that did satisfy that hunger a little bit. At the same time, I think myself and everybody came back in here ready and hungry to get another one. So, I think there are different types of hunger." Porter said it's not a lack of hunger that separates this year's club from the world champs, it's a glut of turnovers. "We haven't lost any hunger. We had more turnovers now than we had all of last year. We were involved in every game, but you're not going to win the game when you have four, five turnovers a game. The people you're playing are just too good for you to overcome that all the time." http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06313/736911-66.stm
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Re: Porter promises victory Sunday against Saints
I can only hope Porter gets the rest of the Defense fired up!!!!
And Ben, well he just needs to know who his under receivers are for the game! AND for Bill Cowher - FREE WILLIE!!!
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Re: Porter promises victory Sunday against Saints
Well go out there and prove it, and back your words up.
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Septic Lines and Bamboo
Newbie here! I will be planting bamboo in the spring. The problem I have is the area that I would like to plant has septic field lines. I have been searching the web on this subject and some say donÂt do it the bamboo will damage the lines. Other opinions are that the bamboo will actually help by wicking excess moisture from the septic system.
I am in zone 5. The area to plant is in full sun. My thoughts at this time are to plant ARUNDINARIA gigantean. I will have about 20ft around the planting to mow so as to limit it from spreading.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Depends if your a gambling man. There is no clear consensus on the subject as you have found out. But arundinaria gigantea would be the improper choice if one would have to choice. It can tolerate the damp conditions where as some other species of bamboo cannot. So in theory, it should have the capabilities to do damage. If you do choose canebrake, make sure it is a northern genotype so it can survive the zone 5 winters. Isn't there anywhere else the bamboo can be planted?
Thanks for the reply. I do have other areas that I could plant. The best other area is a fence line bordered by a ditch and then an asphalt road. This area is on a north-west slope and would be well drained and even dry in the hot season, with full sun. Any suggestions for either areas?
If it does damage your lines you probably will not find out till you have a dense interwoven net of bamboo rhizomes over your septic field. Then just imagine the trouble, smell and insanity of finding equipment that will be able to dig through the rhizome layers without wrecking the whole septic field. Might work nice but I wouldn't take that gamble.
Depending on the soil, bamboo can have very shallow rhizomes or they can dig deep. If you have poor or wet soil way down, but add good compost near the top, the plant will focus its growth close to the surface in the good soil, and is less likely to go down below 24."
No guarantees, but that has been my experience.
I've dug a lot of bamboo and have yet to see any rhizomes go deeper than 12"-15". Bamboo rhizomes are not like tree roots where they fan out and go downward and get bigger as time goes on: they like to spread laterally in a relatively narrow zone under the surface. If your septic lines are deeper than a couple of feet, I wouldn't worry. The only issue is that if you need to repair your lines for some other reason in the future you'd probably be advised to use a back hoe to tear through the rhizomes, because hand digging would be a chore.
Even if a stray rhizome did manage to get down and enter your drain line, it couldn't get very far unless it could send up a culm, which it couldn't do easily from within a 4" drain line (any shoots would run along the length of the drain line until they ran out of energy). The main problem would be 20 years down the road if you had to dig up some of the lines to do maintenance on them. You would have a dense rhizome mat to have to cut through. Now you wouldn't want to plant moso on the drain field, but if you planted Arundinaria gigantea, A. tecta, Pleioblastus chino, of one of the other small-mid sized bamboos, you should be all right.
The question looks pretty well answered but did anybody happen to see what he said about the asphalt road, at another place that he might plant it? I lost the picture that I had on my computer, that showed a culm coming straight up through an asphalt road. I wonder just how much they, the county or the city or whatever, will charge him for that repair. Just a thought.
I remember the picture, and that looked to me like an opportunistic rhizome coming up through a crack in the thin asphalt shoulder. It was interesting nonetheless, but I'm of the opinion that bamboo is not likely to punch through full thickness asphalt.
I remember seeing it here, also: http://www.bambootexas.com/php2/viewtopic.php?t=40
Rhizomes will find a way to squeeze through existing cracks, but they can't penetrate solid asphalt. At least, I've never heard of a bonafide documented case.
Seedlings of many plants are reputed to be able to "sprout through concrete," but closer observation always shows that the seedlings were actually taking advantage of a fissure that was already there. Once they get into it, their expanding circumferance can cause more of the pavement to break away and enlarge the crack, but the plant can't create a crack.
On the other hand, if bamboo gets planted in a container that is less than durable, such as a planter made of wooden slats, an expanding rhizome mat can rupture the container. I've seen photos of that! Same with trees in concrete or wooden planters. The concrete can be broken by the outward constant force of an expanding root system.
Thanks for starting this post which will give me a place to vent! Our septic field stopped draining correctly and the official in charge of the repair permit determined that we needed a shallower system. SO, we got a new tank AND a whole new field. After about a months wait, and days of "soon" they showed up unexpectedly Tuesday at about 8:45 in the morning. By 9:05 they had not only knocked over two 20+ft trees and a shrub exceeding 10ft in diameter, they completely demolished the most concentrated and diverse (not to mention polished) area of my garden near the foundation of my home. Its like a martian landscape out there now. Ironically, they then proceeded to come knock and tell us that they would have to temporarily remove two boards from our weathered decking. Big deal! What about the hundreds of dollars of plant life that can't be replaced with a couple of hits with the hammer! I hadn't cut anything back in the fall because I wanted to be able to identify plants when I move in a month or two, so it should have been glaringly obvious that I had a garden there. We had never specifically talked about plant or landscape damage control (never put a non-gardener in charge of these things), but it was layed out and diagramed in such a way that it appeared the plantings would be spared. Last minute talks between the contractor and the inspector apparantly dictated that it be done a little differently and the new tank would be placed closer to the house. To be honest, I hadn't even thought of doing precautionary relocation because our house is under contract and presumably the garden should look as it did when it was photographed and viewed by the buyers. What a mess! One of the plants was a clump of Golden Goddess bamboo. It was my first bamboo ever and I had grown it as a dieback plant for 5 years or so. No sign of it. Anyway, when it comes to plantings and septic tanks, be afraid- be VERY VERY afraid!
I can't imagine mature rhizomes NOT interfering with a drainage field. Won't they just find the little tunnels and run wild, sprouting at every hole, either blocking it or cracking the line material creating new entry points for not only rhizomes, but soil?
"Other opinions are that the bamboo will actually help by wicking excess moisture from the septic system."
People are always suggesting/exploring the use of plants to solve drainage issues. I don't think this EVER works with any plants. The problem is, when it rains it POURS and there is only so much a plant can wick. However, you will likely want to continue taking baths and doing laundry during your local monsoon season. Have you ever heard someone complain they planted so many pond plants that they wound up with a non-pond?
Don't Do it!
You are in zone 5 which covers a lot of geography. In Massachusetts, I was told, before a home is sold, the septic system MUST be dug up and its good condition verified or restored. I would not put anything around a septic field which might make such a chore overwhelming. I shudder to think of the damage the workmen might do!!
What's wrong with installing a metal barrier driven into the ground around the space you allocate to the bamboo?


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Node Mid-Back Shipping Information:
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Oceanside: (3K, 2S, 2PYR, 2 daybeds w/ trundles, sleeper sofa) Bamboo floors in Great room, ceramic tile in game room and a new hot tub. Located on a quiet cul-de-sac in Spindrift,, a gated community on an extra large beautifully landscaped lot. Only a short walk to beach access. The great room has a fabulous wall of windows allowing natural light throughout this spacious living area 42' TV with home theater system and romantic fireplace. New kitchen appliances for 2013. Breakfast counter seating up to 5, two dining areas with circular dining tables. Spiral staircase leading to a loft area above great room with daybed and trundle. Screened porch and deck off of great room allowing for additional outdoor dining space. Plenty of deck furniture!
The middle level has two King Master Suites with TV/DVD, jetted tubs, separate shower with twin sinks as well as private balconies overlooking the pool. A King bedroom with TV/DVD and a bedroom with 2 twins share a bathroom across the hall. All bathrooms have twin sinks and separate toilet/tub areas allowing more privacy. 8 TVs and 2 home theater systems! Ground level has a large bedroom with two pyramid bunk beds, day bed & trundle and TV/DVD, bathroom with stand up shower, washer/dryer, game room with sleep sofa, game table, foosball table and TV home theater system, kitchenette with full refrigerator, microwave and access to pool, hot tub and exterior.
Outside: Private swimming pool with enclosed outside shower and changing room, hot tub,volley ball, basketball court, new picnic table, lounge chairs, swing, driveway with plenty of parking. Short walk to community tennis. Family dog is welcome.
High Speed Internet. Gas Grill and park grill! Bed Linens provided year round with a full week rental (Discounted or partial weeks excluded). Bath Linens are available for an additional $130 plus tax ** POOL DATES mid April - mid Oct**
Hello and welcome to our home. We hope that your days spent at On Sail are filled with Love, Fun and Adventure. While you are here there are a thousand things to do or you can do nothing at all!
Either way we hope that you relax, recharge your life and
reconnect with family and friends.
My wife Linda and I bought On Sail because of all the
good times our family enjoyed here in the Outer Banks.
We wish the same for you. We ask that you sign our guest book, enjoy your stay and treat our home the way you would want yours treated.
Thank You
Kevin, Linda, Christopher and Gregory Carpenter & Lucky
"On Sail is in the middle of Corolla while hidden away in a private community."
Four generations of our family enjoy our beach house, why not yours? We are not some large corporation with impersonal workers who view you as just another tourist or booking. We are a family who had a dream so we bought some property in OBX. We deal with other small to midsized firms as much as possible so that we can retain that personal touch and our guests truly feel that they are welcome when they come for a visit to our home. We offer a military and public safety discount because we are both and as proud Americans, we are thankful for their service and mindful of their sacrifice. Come spend a week at our home and you'll have memories for a lifetime!
A well behaved dog is welcome.
Romantic fireplace, Ocean views, Air conditioning
Private heated pool, Screened porch, Ceiling fans throughout,
Hot Tub, Surround sound stereo/CD, Basketball backboard
Well-equipped Kitchen 2 Microwaves in house, Dishwasher
Easy beach access, 8 TVs/2 VCRs/6 DVDs Washer/Dryer
Outdoor shower 2 Master Bedrooms Portable stair gates
Deck/pool furniture Gas fireplace Highchair
City water Fish cleaning table Volley ball set up, Cable
Wireless broadband internet access Gameroom with microwave and foosball
activities and attractions at Corolla's Atlantic Coast
"Sleeps 20 comfortably in 7 sleeping areas while nestled in a private acre within a gated community."


text: DN Tutorial FAQArt tutorial questions answered:Q: What programs do you use to color?A: Personally I like to use Adobe Photoshop to color all my work. Although there are plenty of other software packages out there that people swear by like Painter or Art Rage, I just use the program I feel most comfortable with and I have been using Photoshop for so long that it has become second nature in my art pipeline.Q: Digital inking or traditional inking pens?A: Both styles of inking have their pluses and minuses. When I first started drawing and I wasn't very computer savvy I loved to use traditional inking pens. You can do some great things with inking pens, cross hatching, varying line width mid stroke, speed lines, all sorts of fun stuff. That's not to say you can't do these things with digital inking, it just takes a little getting used to. When I started experimenting with digital inking it was hard getting the kind of control you could get with inking pens, that was until I found the power of the 'pe


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Morganti Acne-prone Skin footnotes
a Zeroac Sole is an oil-free sunscreen product of Mavi Sud Srl, Aprilia, Italy.
b Zeroac Aquasphera is a product of Mavi Sud Srl.
c 3C System, Dermotech Italy Srl, Rome, Italy
d Triton X-100 is a registered trademark of Union Carbide and was purchased from Rohm & Haas Co.
e Teflon is a trademark of DuPont.
f Tween 80, a trademark of Croda International Plc, previously Uniqema/ICI
g Chromameter CR-300, Minolta, Japan. Chromameter is a registered trademark.
h Multipost 601 Solar Simulator, Solar Light, USA
k Schott WG 335 (3 mm) and a Schott UG (1 mm) optical cut-off filters, Schott Glasewerke, Mainz, Germany
m GraphPad Prism Version 4 from GraphPad
Software Inc., San Diego, Calif., USA. GraphPad Prism is a registered trademark.


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LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — A Lynchburg College alumnus has left a record $5 million bequest to the college.
Media outlets report Walter W. Ridgway Jr. left the college most of his estate upon his death in 2013 at age 91. He is a 1948 graduate of the college.
It marks the largest gift ever to Lynchburg College.
Half of the bequest will be used for scholarships to students attending Lynchburg College from the Virginia Baptist Children's Home, Glade Spring Baptist Church and the First Baptist Church in Roanoke. The other half will go toward building construction and maintenance.
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- First-and-Orange - http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos -
CSU defensive end Lanston Tanyi gets Broncos rookie tryout
Posted By Mike Klis On May 10, 2013 @ 10:34 am In General Broncos | No Comments
Make that three players the Broncos have invited to participate in their rookie minicamp that started today.
Besides UCLA defensive end Damien Holmes and Kansas State longsnapper Corey Adams, the Broncos have invited Colorado State defensive end Lanston Tanyi. He is 6-foot-2, 250 pounds. Rookie camp invitees are not part of the team's roster. They hope they show enough in the camp to receive a contract.
Tanyi got the invite after defensive end Gary Mason Jr. failed his physical because of a knee injury. The defensive end from Baylor was to receive a $3,000 signing bonus as an undrafted free agent — providing he passed his physical.
Tanyi was featured in a Denver Post story written by Chris Dempsey in November for participating in a whopping 114 snaps in a win against Hawaii. Tanyi had 2 1/2 sacks and 2 1/2 tackles for loss, and played special teams in the 42-27 win.
Article printed from First-and-Orange: http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos
URL to article: http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2013/05/10/csu-defensive-end-lanston-tanyi-gets-broncos-rookie-tryout/19375/
Click here to print.
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Champagne Diamond Engagement RingsChampagne diamonds are beautiful naturally. They range in colors from the light hues of champagne bubbles to the warm, rich tones of cognac. These alluring stones make a statement about your individuality and style. Choose an unusual champagne diamond engagement ring from our Earth Collection and celebrate your love! Topazery's champagne diamond engagement rings combine our favorite designs with the finest precious metals and stones that cast nature's warmest hues. The subtle and sophisticated colors of champagne diamonds range in intensity from the darker and rarer tones of cognac and milk chocolate to the medium hues of honey and caramel to the lighter tones of candle light and champagne. Read more >>
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The Broadway revival of Ragtime, now playing at the Neil Simon Theatre, is starting a new post-performance talkback series called "Ragtime Talk Time". The discussion series will kick off on December 15 with a post-show chat with Ragtime's composer/lyricist team, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. The duo will talk about the process of working on their Tony Award-winning score for Ragtime, as well as other aspects of their 25-year creative partnership. The post-show Tuesday talks will continue on a monthly basis and are free to anyone attending that night's performance.
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Carly graduated University Of Toronto, Theatre and Performance program. She has written for various publications including art-speaks, Pembroke Daily Observer, Toronto Star - Performing Arts Section, The Canadian Post and more recently the Village Voice and the New York Daily News. As a member As a member of the Barrow Group, her specialties include performance stage production and talent casting.
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by pat189 » Sun Jun 08, 2008 2:42 pm
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pat189 wrote:Says he's been bothered by a viral infection the last few days and will get a day off today. That could explain his recent slump.
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720 State Rt 97 West Bellville, OH 44813 419 886 7070 GPS: 40.64524, -82.5431
View Hours of Operation
Located just off one of Ohio's major north/south freeways, Interstate 71, Der Dutchman Bellville is a convenient stop on your trip to Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
At this charming gathering place built on a crossroads between Cleveland, Columbus and Mansfield, every meal features the genuine hospitality and satisfying flavors Der Dutchman brings from Ohio's Amish Country.
Breakfast menu choices include still-warm cinnamon rolls, fluffy buttermilk hotcakes, homemade biscuits, and golden slices of fried cornmeal mush with sausage gravy or syrup.
Try Emanuel's Favorite, named for Emanuel Mullet, one of the original restaurant owners. A hearty plate to start your day, it includes a fluffy buttermilk biscuit with sausage gravy, two eggs made just the way you want them, hash browns, choice of ham, bacon or sausage and an order of our own homemade toast.
Our Country Breakfast Buffet, served from 7 to 11am Monday through Saturday provides plenty of savory selections. Scrambled eggs, crisp-fried cornmeal mush, and homemade biscuits with sausage gravy are among the satisfying choices. For a sweet start to the day, there are buttermilk pancakes, breakfast pastries, and fresh fruit.
Later in the day join our many loyal customers for the Barn-Raising Buffet. With our Lunch Buffet available from 11:30 am to 4pm, you'll find our crispy broasted chicken, real mashed potatoes, creamed corn, green beans, salad bar and more. Our Dinner Buffet, served from 4pm to close, offers tender chicken, juicy old-fashioned roast beef, ham or turkey, Amish stuffing, real mashed potatoes, creamed corn, green beans, homemade noodles, salad bar and other special dishes.
Lunch and dinner feature simple, straightforward classics—chicken, country-cured ham, roast beef and turkey. Satisfying specialties include our "Manhattans"—hot sandwiches served with real mashed potatoes or homemade bread stuffing and smothered with gravy.
Lighter options include homemade soups, fresh salads, and sandwiches. The salad bar at Der Dutchman is as bountiful as a kitchen garden and as colorful as a quilt. Rows of fresh vegetables and prepared salads are constantly refilled and refreshed. Just make sure to save some room!
Der Dutchman makes all its own baked goods, so dessert is always worth saving room for—especially the pie! Der Dutchman bakers turn out dozens of different kinds every day, including Peanut Butter Cream, made from a recipe with roots in Ohio's Amish Country, and traditional favorites like Dutch apple.
Making your dessert choice will be the most difficult part of your meal. With over twenty pie flavors, plus other favorites such as seasonal fresh strawberry pie , homemade bread pudding and ice cream, there will be no shortage of options.
Sit down dinners with your family don't have to be a time-consuming event. Even the busiest families can find time in their hectic schedules to share a wholesome meal together with our convenient Carry-out Ordering. Call ahead or stop in to place an order to take home. Every item on our lunch and dinner menu is available for carry-out.
Just like at other Dutchman Hospitality restaurants—Amish Kitchen Cooking is the main attraction. But the bounty of the country kitchen is enhanced by the genuine hospitality of our staff. We deliver attentive service, good value, and high levels of quality, consistency, and cleanliness every day. For those who enjoy the delicious food of the Amish/Mennonite tradition, Der Dutchman is a treat. For those who have not been exposed to this old-fashioned, made-from-scratch kind of country cooking, it is something worth discovering.
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A Closer Look at Long Term English Learners: A Focus on New Directions
In the STARlight, Issue 7
A Closer Look at Long Term English Learners: A Focus on New Directions
Written by:
Laurie Olsen, Ph.D.
Researcher, Author, Director
Sobrato Early Academic Literacy Program
Prepared by:
Yee Wan, Ed.D
Santa Clara Office of Education
December 2010
Download a PDF version, including key points, highlights, implications, and resources.
Format | B&W | Color | Podcast |
English | |||
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This research report includes data on 175,734 secondary school English Learners in 40 California school districts, and draws upon existing research literature and inquiries conducted in secondary schools.
A Long Term English Learner (LTEL) is a student who has been enrolled in U.S. schools for more than six years, is no longer progressing towards English proficiency and is struggling academically. They do not have the English skills needed for academic success, and have accumulated major academic gaps in their elementary school and/or middle school years.
- The majority (59%) of secondary school English Learners are LTELs. English Learners who enroll in kindergarten have a 50% chance of becoming a LTEL.
- Only one in three districts has a formal definition and process for identifying and monitoring services for LTELs. Their definitions vary.
- Factors that contribute towards ELs becoming LTELs include: periods of time in which ELs received no language development support; elementary school curricula that weren't designed for English Learners; enrollment in weak program models and poorly implemented English Learner programs; limited access to the full curriculum; a history of inconsistent placements; placement into interventions designed for native English speakers and treatment like struggling readers rather than addressing ELD needs; social and linguistic isolation; and transnational moves.
- By the time LTELs arrive in secondary schools, they have significant gaps in academic background. They have very weak academic language, and significant deficits in reading and writing skills. The majority of LTELs are "stuck" at Intermediate levels of English proficiency or below. Many have developed habits of non-engagement, passivity and invisibility in school. Most LTELs want to go to college, and are unaware that their academic program is not preparing them for that goal.
- Few districts have formal approaches for serving LTELs. The typical program for LTELs in secondary school is: inappropriate placement in mainstream classes, inadequately prepared teachers, overassignment and inadequate service in intervention and support classes, no participation in electives, and limited access to the full curriculum.
Several misconceptions undergird practices and policies that contribute towards the creation of LTELs:
- "The sooner and more fully immersed in English, the better. Time spent in the home language takes away from learning English". Research consensus is that continued development of the home language in school along with English benefits English proficiency and overall language and literacy and long term academic success.
- "Just good teaching works for all students. English Learners don't need special curriculum, services or instruction." Research confirms that English Learners need instruction and materials to be adapted and supplemented to address the language barrier. Oral language development is particularly important for English Learners.
- "English is more important than other subjects. If they aren't doing well in English, devote more time to English language arts. Science, social studies and art can wait." And yet, academic language is best learned in the context of learning academic content. Language development needs to occur throughout the full curriculum in order to foster academic language and prevent academic gaps.
Promising Approaches
Principles for effectively meeting the needs of LTELs are: urgency, a focus on the distinct needs of LTELs, strategies to address academic gaps and language development, primary language development, rigor and relevance, relationships, and integration without sacrificing access.
The School
A comprehensive secondary school program for LTELs includes:
- a specialized English Language Development course designed for LTELs;
- clustered placement in rigorous grade-level content classes mixed with English proficient students and taught with differentiated SDAIE strategies;
- explicit language and literacy development across the curriculum; native speakers classes in which the students have the opportunity to develop language and literacy skills in their native language like Spanish for Spanish Speakers (through Advanced Placement levels);
- systems for monitoring progress and triggering support; and
- a focus on study skills.
Districts piloting these approaches report more student engagement, fewer course failures, increased college-going rates, and improved CAHSEE passage.
The District
It is the role of the district to ensure high quality programs for English Learners through:
- clearly defined pathways and research-based program models;
- professional development (including coaching and collaborative time) for teachers and administrators;
- curriculum materials that facilitate differentiation for varying levels of needs;
- published expectations of growth and achievement for English Learners by length of time in program and by proficiency level;
- monitoring student progress;
- articulation between levels; and
- increased access to preschool programs designed for English Learners.
The State
State level policies needed to address LTELs include:
- Adopt a standard state definition of LTELs, and require data collection to support monitoring, early identification, and response
- Adopt appropriate and effective English Language Development materials and academic content materials with language objectives
- Provide consistent state messages and counsel (across accountability, corrective action and compliance functions) based upon English Learner research
- Provide professional development resources to prepare teachers and administrators to work effectively with English Learners
- Ensure that English Learners have access to the full curriculum
Implications for Teachers
Teachers need to know which students in their classes are LTELs, and use differentiated teaching strategies to support their access to the content. Planning for each lesson should include analysis of the language demands of the content being taught, and lead to precise language objectives. Active student engagement and oral academic vocabulary needs to become a focus in classrooms with LTELs.
Book List
California Department of Education. (2010). Improving Education for English Learners: Research-Based Approaches. Sacramento: California Department of Education.
Olsen, L. (2010). Reparable Harm: Fulfilling the Unkept Promise of Educational Opportunity for California's Long Term English Learners. Long Beach, CA: Californians Together. November 22, 2010, from http://www.californianstogether.org/docs/download.aspx?fileId=12
Online Resources
Californians Together
(A statewide coalition focused on English learner policy; commissioned the research for Reparable Harm.)
Long Term English Learner Project
Research Institute for the Study of Language in Urban Society
(A research project designed to explore the characteristics and educational needs of Long-Term English Language Learners (LTELLs).)
Menken, K. and Kleyn, T. (2009, April). The Difficult Road for Long-Term English Learners. Educational Leadership (online only), 66(7). Retrieved November 22, 2010, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/apr09/vol66/num07/The_Difficult_Road_for_Long-Term_English_Learners.aspx
Robles, J.W. (2010, November/December). Participatory leadership for English learner success. Leadership, 40(2), 26-29.
The Research Institute for the Study of Language in Urban Society's Long Term English Learner project
Questions for Reflection
- What are the characteristics of LTELs you know in your school?
- Are the "factors" discussed in the research brief that lead to ELs becoming LTELs present in your school/district? What else contributes towards the creation of LTELs?
- What are the biggest misconceptions that you think are underlying the practices and policies in your school/district that result in mis-serving English Learners?
- What are some explicit language and literacy development strategies across content areas that could be effective for LTELs?
- What policy changes would make the most difference to enable teachers to meet the needs of their LTELs?
- As educators, what can we do to bring about an end to the practices and policies that are resulting in students becoming LTELs?


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text:
Controlling Devices with Relays
I recently was given the curious task of making noise on a factory floor at set intervals. The company wanted to use this noise to provide important auditory cues for specific events. These events included the time employees should clock in, clock out, take a break and return from break. The solution I implemented has been working well, and everyone involved has been pleased with the results. The gratitude I receive from employees that clock in and clock out is related directly to the inaccuracy of their own personal timepiece—those with fast watches appreciate the apparent extra time they have before clocking in. Later, though, they curse me for being delayed in clocking out when the watches on their wrists clearly show it is time to go.
The company I work for uses barcode clock terminals placed throughout the plant to record the time that employees clock in and clock out. In addition, the barcode clocks also record what job each individual employee is performing. When an employee clocks in or out, the employee scans his or her identification badge and a barcode representing the job the person is doing. The clock terminal copies this data to a buffer, along with a timestamp of when the items were scanned. CMINet, a data collection system running on two Microsoft Windows NT systems, is used to acquire the data from the clocks. The clocks are polled every minute or so to retrieve the data held in the clock terminal's buffer. During polling, the clocks also are set to the local time of the machine polling the clocks. The data acquired from the clocks is later imported into the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for job costing and payroll.
The company's policy on tardiness states, "employees will be considered tardy if they clock in one minute or more after their assigned start time." Due to the company policy concerning tardiness, the event bells needed to be synchronized perfectly with the barcode clocks and the machines running CMINet. This synchronization would, in theory, alleviate the discrepancies between the recorded clock-in time, recorded clock-out times and the true local time. Correct time synchronization is key, but it is not discussed thoroughly in this article.
Considering the one-minute-or-more-late-equals-tardy rule and the fact that employees invariably become time-challenged when returning from break, it was decided that scheduled bell soundings would be useful. Therefore, a mission-critical noise-making system was needed, and I was given the task of implementing it.
Based on the issues at hand, this project had to meet the following requirements:
Provide auditory cues using a bell system. The bells need to be audible and annoying enough to be noticed even after prolonged exposure.
Provide a simple way of closing an electrical circuit over a computer.
Provide accurate time synchronization for all time-sensitive systems, including the machine that would trigger the bells, the machines running CMINet and, indirectly, the barcode clocks.
With the requirements defined I began to formulate a plan. Five new 12VAC bells and a 12VAC power supply were purchased. These are the same type of bells commonly used in alarm systems or any sounding system. The bells physically hammer themselves in the same manner as an old alarm clock, and they pump out the decibels. The bells needed to be wired so that connecting two wires would ring all the bells in the plant.
To control the bells, we needed to close the bells' circuit temporarily. I was pointed toward a specific relay device, the AR-2, that can be controlled by a computer over a serial port. This device would be used to complete the bell circuit, causing them to ring. The AR-2 is sold by Electronic Energy Control, Inc. (EECI) for about $44 US. It has two relays on a circuit board, and both can be connected as normally open (NO) or normally closed (NC) relays. Only one relay wired as NO would be used for this project. An enclosure (EN-B) to house the board also was purchased. An emergency on/off switch was mounted on the enclosure for use in case something went terribly wrong. The AR-2 is documented well enough that I knew it would be possible to write a program in C to control it. This program could be scheduled using cron jobs.
For time synchronization, the NTP protocol was chosen. NTP clients and servers are unlikely to have interoperability problems due to a well-defined protocol that is widely adopted. In addition, NTP clients can handle network latency, daylight saving time and local time zones. Free clients are available for almost every major operating system in use today. Computers using these clients can readily obtain time sources accurate to at least the millisecond. Good accuracy is exactly what we need when trying to synchronize multiple systems.
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text: What punishment is proper for Chaney's decision, outraged by what he felt were illegal screens being set on his players, to send seldom-used reserve Nehemiah Ingram into the game for the sole purpose of delivering "hard" fouls? Does it matter that the result of Chaney's decision was a broken arm for Saint Joe's senior John Bryant? And does this permanently tarnish Chaney's illustrious legacy? Tell us, SportsNation.


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Ingredients & Description
Healthy Origins L-Arginine-SR is a unique formulation that utilizes a sustained release delivery system specifically manufactured to release the L-Arginine continuously over a 5-7 hour period.Robert E. Kowalski's new book details entirely new, natural approaches to lowering blood pressure. His revolutionary program eliminates the need for prescription drugs for most people. He advocates L-Arginine SR as an important part of that program.
Directions for use: Adults: take two (2) tablets three (3) times daily or three (3) tablets two (2) times daily preferably with a meal.
Supplement Facts Sustained Release L-Arginine 350mg Serving Size: 1 capsule | ||
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Arginine changes into nitric oxide, which causes blood vessel relaxation (vasodilation). Early evidence suggests that arginine may help treat medical conditions that improve with vasodilation, such as chest pain, clogged arteries (called atherosclerosis), coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, heart failure, intermittent claudication/peripheral vascular disease, and blood vessel swelling that causes headaches (vascular headaches). Arginine also triggers the body to make protein and has been studied for wound healing, bodybuilding, enhancement of sperm production (spermatogenesis), and prevention of wasting in people with critical illnesses.
*Not intended to diagnose or treat diseases or ailments, and is not reviewed by the FDA.
Uses & Indications.


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oh god oh god oh god...i want to cry and scream and just hold her until it's all over, but she won't even let me close to her and i hate it so much.
her life is so insane, trying to get money for school, and insurance, and dealing with teh fact that her mom kicked her out but is still being a bitch...
and oscar's mom (he's her ex before me; i know his mom cause she was my driving instructor) told her that i said all this really nasty stuff about her and oscar, which i never did, and now she's questioning how much she can trust me and...
i just want to cry. i never said any of that stuff, i never would. i LIKE oscar, for all that he hurt her. and she says she doesn't care, but i know that she does, but she doesn't want to deal with it right now, so i'm just left with another hole in me that i can't repair
god...i want to hold her so badly it hurts. i want to comfort her, and support her and give her everything she needs, but she won't let me. not even as her friend.
i know she's mad at me, but my apologies and denials fall on deaf ears, and i can't do anything else.
she came over for dinner, and told my parents (not me) about how insane her life is, and i wanted to cry for her, cause it hurts listening to the fear and pain in her voice that i don't think anyone else hears.
when she left for utah last march...that last time i saw her, the fear was in her eyes...but back then, she let me be there for her. now...now is now, and i know that i can't do anything but be here and be strong for her, but it doesn't feel like enough and I WANT TO DO SOMETHING.
i feel so helpless when it comes to her. she's so strong and so afraid and she won't let me in.
god...i want to cry
i know that she'll come to me when she's ready...that when she can accept my caring, she'll open up again, but the waiting kills me bit by slow bit, and always is the nagging fear that she won't, that i've lost her.
i want to hold her while she cries
wipe the tears off her beautiful cheeks
whisper comfort in her ears
take the fear from her eyes
i want to cry with her
and hold her pain for her
and give her what she lacks
and simply be there for her
she's my friend, my lover
she will always be my first
she's my sunshine, my queen
and though there will be others
my heart will always love her
it hurts so much to see her go
to watch her battle her demons alone
to face the world and reap the pain
to always lose and never seem to gain
i want to hold her when she cries
wipe the tears from her beautiful cheeks
whisper comfort in her ears
and take the pain from her eyes
i'm crying. god, i hate this feeling. i want to help! that's what i do. i'm a giver. i take care of my friends, but she won't let me, and even knowing why, it hurts like hell. it feels like rejection, even though i know that's not her intent.
god, i'm so glad i'm seeing my therepist tomorrow. she'll know what to say. even wolf doesn't understand how i feel for her. she says she's using me, but she's not. i'm simply giving, and there's a difference.
i want to cry...there's so much in me that i can give to her, if only she would accept, but sometimes i doubt that day will ever come, when she can open herself to me. i know that we'll never be lovers again; i accept that. but i need to be her friend. i told her i would never leave her...she told me that she would always be leaving me, and i said i'd always be here when she returns. i meant that, in my heart and soul, but sometimes it's so hard. why does it have to be so hard for her to accept simple comfort? i know why...the world is so dirty, and her life is so fucked up. i want to kill every person who hurt her...inflict pain for everyone of her scars. they say it's unhealthy to carry so much hate inside of me, so i try not to think about it...but how can i not?
i feel a bit better, now that i've written all of this. the pain is less excrutiating. i forget, sometimes, how much she hurts me.
if anyone actually gets this far in reading this, please don't tell me to leave her. even if i could, i wouldn't be able to live with myself afterwards. i promised her that i would never leave her...and i have never broken a promise. i don't make them lightly.
Right now she probably needs you more than ever, but at the same time you've got to respect the decisions that she's making in her life. Both of you are two separate people with different beliefs and wants in life and if she's making some choices which she believes are best for her - you've got to let go part of your attachment.
I'm not saying not to care for her, let her know you will be there for her if she does need a helping hand. But you can't force yourself onto her, she seems rather independent and maybe she doesn't need that help (that help could make her feel guilt and worse - and it's good you're well-intentioned but in the end it's still her choice and what she will think that matters to her). Make sure you let her know you still care, and if she wants to she'll come to you when she's ready.
...was just going to type *HUG*
Anyway, Uncertain does have a good point. It's great that you want to be there for her, but you do have two separate lives. So remember to take care of yourself too.
~~~ the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses ~ e e cummings ~~~
thank you guys...youre the best!!!
"this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart" e.e. cummings


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Flooding on the A11 slip road at Wymondham.
by DAN GRIMMER
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Motorists are once again having to cope with floodwater at a roundabout off the A11 at Wymondham.
For the second day in a row, drivers have reported how this morning (Wednesday) the roads around the roundabout close to Norfolk police's headquarters are flooded.
A police spokesman advised drivers to drive carefully and to use an alternative route if possible.
1 comment
'... at a roundabout off the A11 at Wymondham' - which roundabout? Do you mean the one next to the underpass below the A11, or the one closer to Police HQ?
Wednesday, July 4, 2012


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Cynthia Steffe's contemporary, on-trend women's clothing offers major versatility, making each piece ideal for any occasion. The label's sophisticated-yet-playful skirts, jackets, tops, and other separates combine modern femininity with easy elegance. You'll find versatile dresses, tops, jackets, and skirts with dimension, texture, and ample embellishment in Steffe's collection, which has become a favorite among celebs like Anne Hathaway and Scarlett Johansson. In 2011 the brand introduced their chic contemporary label, Seamline by Cynthia Steffe.
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Ultra-feminine dresses for your party circuit.
Up the visual impact with striking patterns from right-now brands we love.
Perfect-fit wardrobe updates and chic accessories, curated especially for you.


text:
I have set up an ubuntu guest for Rails development in a Windows7-hosted virtual box. The windows workstation is a behind an extremely strict firewall with often fluctuating rules.
The ubuntu host seems to be unable to connect to hosts relying on SSL certificates.
The symptoms:
- trying to connect to https://google.com via chrome brings up the "This site's security certificate is not trusted!" error. Same with Firefox.
- trying to use curl with a secure site results in: curl: (60) SSL certificate problem, verufy that the CA cert is OK. Details: error: 14090086:SSL routines:SSL_GET_SERVER_CERTIFICATE:certificate verify failed
- trying to install ruby gems fails with "... certificate verify failed ... error"
Any solutions, including instructions on how to diagnose this? I have tried adding certificated from


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PHILOSOPHY: On the Subject of Freebies
Everyone starts out working for free. That's the only way those in the industry can find out whether you're any good. At some point, though, it's important to stop--or at least be more selective.
By Art Adams | July 30, 2012
Everyone starts out working for free. That's the only way those in the industry can find out whether you're any good. At some point, though, it's important to stop--or at least be more selective.
Over the years I've shot a number of freebies. Early in my career I did this for experience: film school was great for theory but told me nothing about how the real world worked, and the only way to learn that aspect of the business was to work in the real world. The problem, though, is that if you have no experience no one will hire you.
So how do you get experience?
You work for free. For a little while.
The hope is that you'll pick things up quick enough and well enough that those you work with will remember you for paid gigs. This is one of the best ways to break into the business as crew will almost never hire anyone they haven't worked with, or that no one they know has worked with. Sets can be high-stress environments with no room for mistakes, and that kind of temperament and ability can't be judged off a resume⦠unless that resume is full of names recognizable to the person reading it. Then they have a way of checking up on that person.
If you worked with that person on a freebie and they say good things about you⦠you're in. You'll be on the bottom rung, but that's better than not being on the ladder at all.
This works well for technicians, like camera assistants. Crafts with an artistic bent take on a different slant: the assessment now includes a showreel. In some cases the showreel can get one past the "reference checking" process, but often the "freebie" rule still applies.
In my case, my closest relationship with anyone on the set is generally with the director, and the only way to discover whether we work well together is to shoot something whose outcome matters somewhat but isn't going to cost anyone a career if it fails--the way a real shoot could.
I've done a lot of freebies with a lot of directors, and I've honed my criteria for doing these kinds of shoots over many years.
In the old days, when I was trying to break into the business, my criteria were:
(1) Will I learn something on this job that will help me get a better job?
(2) Will I make networking connections that will lead to future employment?
(3) Am I being obviously exploited, or is the exploitation subtle enough that I can fool myself that it doesn't exist?
The risks for exploitation are high. Many will happily hire you to work on a project just because you're the best they can get at the time; as soon as they get a real job, with real money, they'll hire someone much more experienced. This happens more often than I'd like to admit, and I dealt with this a lot very early in my career (mostly in LA).
These days, as an established DP, my criteria are a bit different:
(1) Am I doing this project with someone who is likely to offer me paid work in the future, particularly if this project is successful?
(2) Am I getting something that I can add to my reel and expand what I can show potential clients?
I'm occasionally willing to take a chance with potential new employers because this is how they come to know you and trust you. Once they trust you they'll bring you anywhere, but cracking the trust barrier is tough.
The trick is to make sure that no one is making money on the project. If I'm not making money, no one else should either. If the project is going to be sold down the line then I don't work for free. I might work deferred, but generally not. As a rookie camera assistant I worked on several deferred projects and I made a total of $75 between all of them. (That's about $150 more than most people make.)
These days I'll consider shooting spec spots with promising new clients. I've done a number of them over the past few years and they've nearly all turned out well. Have they all been worth it? Yeah, mostly. I haven't had any really horrible experiences on these freebies and I get to push my lighting and compositional skills, so they've been helpful. At the same time, though, those projects are days out of my life, and as I get older I want to spend less time creating media just for the shear sake of doing so and more time getting paid to do it.
Do I like my job? No. I LOVE IT. But I don't want to do it on a regular basis for no compensation. If I don't make money, I can't keep doing it full time. Period.
When I'm approached to do a freebie I ask myself:
(1) Who is this director? Can they demonstrate to me that they can do quality work?
(2) Does the opportunity exist to build a lasting business relationship, particularly if we create something great together?
(3) Are the odds very good that I will walk away from this with something spectacular that I can show to get more work? Does it fill an empty niche in my reel? Can I take the opportunity to stretch myself?
(1) and (2) are "nice to haves." (3) is a "must have." I don't work entirely for free except for the occasional charitable project shot with people I know. My payment for a "freebie" is footage that I can use however I want to in order to advance my portfolio.
Sometimes I've taken the raw footage from the shoot and cut it into something I can use because the director's edit works for them but not for me as a cinematographer. (Once a director only allowed me to use his edit because he wanted only one version of the project out in the world. He also claimed, after the fact, that the entire project was his intellectual property, which surprised me as I had a very large part in making it into that property. That relationship didn't work out. I want to work with collaborators, not dictators.)
This is a tough business. Often the only way to find out whether a business relationship is going to work is to do business without the risk of financial loss. At some point everyone works for free. The trick is to not make it a habit, and make sure that no matter what happens you get something out of the deal. If you're just starting out, well, you're getting the opportunity to prove yourself. For people like me, who have been around the block a few times, it's more about learning whether my personality will compliment a director's in the high-stress environment of a film set. Even so, I try not to shoot freebies very often--and I'm very selective when I do.
Art Adams is a DP who worked a lot of freebies early in his career to get started, but not so much anymore. His website is at www.artadamsdp.com.
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Bill Nelson: | August, 08, 2012
Don't drink this Kool-aid. Never do anything that will be of value to others for free. Just don't. Use your iMac, shoot your stuff, whatever. If they like it, they pony up. If they don't, you have work to do.
Art Adams: | August, 08, 2012
Not serving any Kool-aid. The point of my article to make sure that whatever you work on is of value to -you- first. To get ahead you have to show that you can do the work, but no one will hire you to do the work until you've shown that you can do it. That's when you hook up with like-minded people, pool your resources, and do the work to build up your reels.
I recently got a call from someone I'd never met who looked up my web page online and asked me to work very cheaply on a promotional video for his grandson's preschool. No thanks, that costs real money. I don't know you and I don't see a reason to do you any favors.
There's one director, though, who if he calls me up with an idea for a spec spot I'm completely on board, because I know we're doing stuff that will get us both more work down the road. No one makes money on it, we just pool our resources and make it happen to advance our careers. Those projects usually do exactly that, for both of us.
I think your point is that you should never work for free on something that someone else will make money on, but you won't. I completely agree.
Bill Nelson: | August, 09, 2012
I probably came on too strong with my comments. Correct, Art. Free samples at the candy store, perhaps.
Maybe it was just me, but I never worked for free on anything that I knew would end up being used 'as if' it were done by a 'real' production entity.
'Spec' is a four-letter word. Pay the dues, work up your chops all day long. You may well end up just hanging around a set, schlepping cable to see how your favorite director does something, but I don't concur that performing viewer-worthy work for free is necessary. (although the lucky 'customer' sure appreciates it…) It was not my experience… that's all
Just another philosophy.