text:
Dec 09, 2012, 01:06 PM | |
Joined Dec 2012
14 Posts
Hello again.
I hope somebody can help me. I have problem with the Wifi unit. I have a D-Link router and it is something wrong between my android pad and the YS-X6 Wifi unit. The GCS says communication Disconnected and I don´t understand why. I bougt a new router, a new pad and a get the same information, communication Disconneted. I got it work together a short time with my PC and the GCS program, but not anymore. I'm lost. Please give me a hint to solve what I have done wrong. Best regards Lars Dahlstrom |
Dec 09, 2012, 01:54 PM | |
South Africa, GP, Johannesburg
Joined Sep 2010
2,495 Posts
Have you all seen the the ZeroUAV promotion for Christmas and New Year. http://www.zerouav.net/newsmore.aspx?id=110
There are some good offers there. |
Dec 09, 2012, 02:08 PM | ||
South Africa, GP, Johannesburg
Joined Sep 2010
2,495 Posts
Sometimes I have found certain routers just do not work. don't ask me why. I think it is someway that they set up the security on the router. That is why I always use the TP-Link router which always seems to work. |
Dec 09, 2012, 06:08 PM | |
Joined Dec 2012
14 Posts
No, I haven't. Something is suspect here, because I got it working for a while, but then it didn't. The blue LED is on. Hotspot... I have to find out how it works. Maybe I will buy me another router tomorrow, a TP-link. I don´t know. I don't think it is any fault on my D-Link router. Any more suggest? |
Dec 10, 2012, 12:03 PM | ||
Finland, Uusimaa, HKI
Joined Jan 2012
298 Posts
Dec 11, 2012, 09:24 AM | ||
It's like I read "OR" when ZeroUav is reading "AND". 2. YS-X6 & ZERO-Steadi470 Owners if buy YS-X4 WIFI Version, can upgrade to Navigator Version for FREE of charge. Meanwhile, can get FREE 10 waypoints activation on its owned YS-X6 & ZERO-Steadi470 by providing serial number and related information. ... 7. All buyers if buy YS-X6 Basic (4 waypoints version), can get 10 waypoints activition for FREE of charge ... Thanks for your help, Marc |
Dec 11, 2012, 09:31 AM | ||
South Africa, GP, Johannesburg
Joined Sep 2010
2,495 Posts
Dec 11, 2012, 09:37 AM | ||
Joined Dec 2012
14 Posts
I bought a TP-link and now it works fine. Just trying to learn about the system. Thanks |
Dec 11, 2012, 11:39 AM | ||
Thanks Marc |
Dec 11, 2012, 12:02 PM | |
Joined Dec 2012
14 Posts
Things starts up to work step by step, but I can't get the Google earth running in the GCS properly. I have some problems both with my PC and with my android pad. I think I have the latest version on both devices. On the pad it reads "loading map" but it is not loading. What am I doing wrong? On the PC it gets stuck when I click on "locate airplane" |
Dec 11, 2012, 04:00 PM | |
South Africa, GP, Johannesburg
Joined Sep 2010
2,495 Posts
Hi Amtech
If you do not want to use the wifi module, can you just connect the USB connection to the PC? I now have all the parts and will begin wiring up over the next few days. I am thinking for the Ground side, I will 1st test using the usb connection and then wire up the wifi module. Cheers Rob |
Dec 12, 2012, 01:47 AM | ||
Joined May 2012
129 Posts
About PC GCS Map
Originally Posted by Tuomas P.
I relocated the IMU into the top of the MC and it seems to fly much better now. Great! Now...my PC GCS will not show me the map eventhough I have internet access. How can I get the map? TP. Quote:
Thread Tools | |
Similar Threads | |||||
Category | Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
New Product | DJI WooKong-M Autopilot System for multirotors **Owners Thread** | DJI INNOVATIONS | Multirotor Electronics | 20124 | Today 04:18 AM |
Discussion | Zero UAV YS-X6 Owners Thread and Discussion | fajar | Multirotor Electronics | 2415 | Jan 14, 2015 03:08 PM |
New Product | Test video of YS-X6 Autopilot system | pzhang | Multirotor Talk | 141 | Jun 07, 2012 07:50 AM |
Discussion | Groupbuy for YS-X6 system | fajar | Australia | 14 | May 15, 2012 05:35 AM |


text:
2012-13 Oakland County high school basketball preview
December 3, 2012 in High School
In our college basketball previews last month, we were able to take a close-up look at every college team in the state. Obviously, with mainly a staff of one right now, that same strategy won't work for previewing high school basketball, so instead, I've broken the state up by regions and have asked a few guests who are familiar with those areas to share some thoughts on the best teams and players in those areas for our previews this week in a roundtable format. First up is Oakland County.
Scott M. Burnstein, an author and high school sports contributor for The Oakland Press, agreed to give his thoughts on Oakland County hoops for us below. Make sure to check out his blog and follow him on Twitter. — P.H.
Top five players in Oakland County:
1. James Young (Rochester SR G/F) – Best overall player in the state, signed with Kentucky.
2. Jon-Jon Williams (Southfield-Lathrup SR G) – Versatile 6-foot-3 backcourt gem signed with Toledo.
3. Yante Maten (Bloomfield Hills Lahser JR C) – Top post player in Oakland County.
4. Austin Price (Detroit Country Day SR G) – Smart and savvy combo guard signed with Lehigh.
5. (tie) Paris Bass (Birmingham Seaholm SR G/F) – Long and athletic 6-foot-7 swingman.
5. (tie) Miroslav Jaksic (Walled Lake Western) – Huge upside for this 6-foot-11 Euro dynamo who can go inside and out with ease.
Top five teams in Oakland County:
1. Detroit Country Day – Loaded with D1-caliber guards and wings.
2. Clarkston – Perennially the most fundamentally sound and disciplined team in Oakland County.
3. (tie) Rochester/Rochester Adams – Rochester has All-American Young, Adams is led by the dangerous duo of junior point guard Akhemji Williams and senior forward Zack Littleson.
4. Bloomfield Hills Lahser – The top junior class in Oakland County, headed by Maten and perimeter threats Armand Cartwright and Khalil Gracey.
5. Waterford Mott – Outstanding inside-outside tandem of all-league point guard Khalil Malone and impact senior center Quincy Norman (Detroit Renaissance).
One under the radar player to watch:
Gage Throgmorton (Walled Lake Northern) – A 6-foot-6 gunner with a gritty attitude.
One under the radar team to watch:
Southfield – No Division I recruits in the mix, but this could be the team with the most chemistry sporting a nice blend of solid Division II recruits like Quinton Arnold, Earl Swift, Brandon Bean, Chris Boatman and Darnell Butler with moxie and experience (the core of the team has won back-to-back district titles and were reserves on the Bluejays 2011 final four squad).
Subscribe to the BallinMichigan RSS feed, like BallinMichigan on Facebook and follow @BallinMichigan on Twitter.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Well, I have yet to play any of the old Wolfenstein games. I would have been either not-yet-born or living in a crib. Yes, I'm a babby girl compared to the rest of the internet. I was looking forward to playing Wolfenstein: The New Order, as it would probably be my first fps, since my laptop is terrible and I have hardly any internet to even download, let alone play something like Tf2. I suppose I could try playing my dad's copy of Cod on the DS, but the faces in the game make minecraft graphics look stunning in comparison.


text:
Nevada: Make Animal Cruelty a Felony on the First Offense!
Your help is needed today to pass "Cooney's Law" SB 223 and make certain acts of animal cruelty a felony on the first offense!
SB 223 is named after Cooney, a rescue dog who was brutally killed by her owner in Reno last year. The most serious charges available in that case were only a misdemeanor under current Nevada law.
Nevada is the only state in the country where someone can torture an animal to death on three separate occasions before facing a felony animal cruelty charge.
SB 223 will change this deplorable fact and make certain that prosecutors have the ability to appropriately charge those who commit the most heinous acts of cruelty against animals the first time they do it. By authorizing such a first-offense felony, Nevada will help to ensure that the penalty actually fits the crime.
SB 223 is timely, reasonable and necessary.
Forty-two other states already have first-offense felonies for the worst types of animal cruelty, and recent cases, like Cooney's, have clearly demonstrated the serious deficiencies of Nevada's current law.
Furthermore, while animals themselves are clearly deserving of humane treatment and appropriate protections of the law, multiple studies point to another important reason to take crimes against animals seriously – those who commit animal cruelty are often the same ones who act violently against spouses, children and other vulnerable members of our communities.
By appropriately sanctioning those who commit these abhorrent crimes against animals, Nevada will not only help those in our communities with four legs, but also benefit those with two. The sooner we can intervene with these offenders, and with their propensities for future violence, the safer we can make Nevada for everyone, animals and people alike.
However, time is running out for SB 223. It must make it out of committee by April 15.
Nevada residents: your help is critical for the passage of this important bill. Please send a letter to your state legislators through ALDF's website today and ask for their support of SB 223!


text:
My research began in February, 2000. All information has been gathered using the internet and other genealogists research. I have run into many "dead ends" but will not give up! This will be an ongoing project. If you find any of your family in my tree, please make contact so we can share information. |
My McKay Family of Western Pennsylvania
Updated September 5, 2000 |
Lynn McKay Mysliwiec firstname.lastname@example.com |
Edit Your Page |
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.
© 2009 Ancestry.com |


text:
Group Fundraising
KC American Sportservice (KCAS) is pleased to open a limited number of concession stands at Sporting Park to non-profit groups in the KC area as a way to raise funds for their organizations. No more bake sales, gift wrap sales, or car washes. You supply the manpower, they supply the rest! A few FAQ's to help you get started...
What does my group need?
- Committed, service-oriented volunteers
- A six-game minimum commitment
- Volunteers must be 21 and over
- A designated group leader
Do we provide training?
Yes, all volunteers must attend an orientation/training class which includes proper service of alcohol, as well as how to operate the stand and equipment. Training classes are set for:
These classes will be held in the Boulevard Members' Club at Sporting Park.
How much can my group earn?
Donations vary depending upon attendance and sales. Sportservice will donate $60 per volunteer or 14% commission of food sales per volunteer that is scheduled and participates per event.
What are the report times for each game?
Volunteers must report three hours before the event start time. Games usually last two hours and there is usually one hour of clean-up time. All together, it is approximately a six-hour time commitment.
Who should I contact for more information?
Contact Barbie Thomas by phone at (913) 912-7576.


text:
Game over
Re: Game over
how in the hell did you actually find that video? it only has 100 views lol...admit it..you filmed it!
Re: Game over
Got a link from a fellow Steeler fan.
Re: Game over
Saw what happened to the titans when they did that...
tsk tsk tsk |
Re: Game over
Not to mention Houshmazedah!!
Re: Game over
So far Jets Fans have Stomped and burned the Towels!!! This will not end well for them. These idiots need to learn, they don't believe it until it happens. smh.
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:05 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2015, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Shoutbox provided by
vBShout v6.2.1 (Lite) -
vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2015 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
User Alert System provided by
Advanced User Tagging v3.0.8 (Lite) -
vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2015 DragonByte Technologies Ltd. Runs best on HiVelocity Hosting.
Navbar with Avatar by Motorradforum


text:
Viewpoint: The invisible plague of concussion
Traumatic brain injury is a hidden epidemic in the US, reaching beyond American football to wounded military veterans and girls' soccer players. Neurosurgeon Dr Anand Veeravagu outlines concussion's potentially devastating side effects.
It is all too common for patients to tell me that they have been knocked out while playing sports or in an accident. But the consequences of concussion, or "getting your bell rung" as the disarmingly quaint expression goes, can prove disastrous.
As Chief Neurosurgery Resident at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital, I've treated many of our nation's service members, some of whom came home with injuries that changed their lives forever.
I will always remember in particular one US Army soldier in my care. Mitch (not his real name) was nearing the end of his deployment in Afghanistan when his convoy was hit by a roadside bomb.
His vehicle's heavy armour shielded most of his body from the blast and saved his life. But it did little to protect his brain. Despite the very latest in helmet technology, the powerful shock waves of such a blast hitting a vehicle often wreak havoc on soft brain tissue.
At a battlefield hospital in Afghanistan, Mitch underwent an emergency procedure called a decompressive craniectomy, where surgeons removed a 13-in (33-cm) piece of his skull to help make room for uncontrollable brain swelling.
What is concussion?
Concussion is an abnormal brain function that results from an external blast, jolt or impact to the head. Even if the knock does not result in a skull fracture, the brain can still experience a violent rattling that leads to injury.
What happens?
Because the brain is a soft gelatinous material surrounded by a rigid bony skull, such traumatic injuries can cause changes in brain function, such as bleeding, neuron damage and swelling.
Long-term effects
Research continues to demonstrate that repetitive concussions significantly increase the risk of permanent neurologic dysfunction, such as sustained memory loss, worsened concentration or prolonged headaches.
Do helmets help?
Definitely, but not completely. Though a helmet may prevent a fracture and absorb some of the impact, most of the force is still transmitted to the brain, whether one is riding a motorbike, playing sport or working on a building site.
What can be done?
Seek medical attention. People do not always know when they have suffered a concussion and it is crucial that a diagnosis be made. Both time and frequency are critical components of prognosis in cases of brain injury.
This is a fairly common strategy for treating patients with severe head injuries.
A similar surgery was performed on US Representative Gabrielle Giffords when she suffered a bullet wound to the head in 2011. After Asiana Flight 214 crashed in San Francisco in July, passengers who suffered blunt-force head trauma also underwent the operation.
I performed Mitch's final surgery, a cranioplasty where we used special implants created by 3D printers to reconstruct the fragmented bones of his skull and restore the natural shape of his head.
The procedure also allowed him to ditch the heavy protective helmet he had to wear. Mitch came through the operation extraordinarily well.
His family pictures are now of him, without a helmet, embracing his children. Yet his injury is a stark reminder of how destructive brain injuries can be.
Mitch's case, unfortunately, is just the tip of the iceberg. More than 260,000 of America's veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI), the invisible wound of war.
And yet these numbers do not come close to capturing the extent of head injuries suffered by the wider American population.
This year alone, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that over 1.7 million Americans will suffer a traumatic brain injury, whether a mild concussion or something more serious.
During the last decade, emergency room visits for sport- and recreation-related TBIs among children and adolescents increased by almost 60%.
After American football, girls' soccer is the fastest-rising category of teenage TBI.
Brain injuries and neurological illnesses have been termed America's silent epidemic.
And it is not just a US problem - researchers in Canada recently reported that an estimated one in five teens had suffered a TBI that required admission to hospital or caused them to become unconscious for at least five minutes.
The saddest statistic is that many of these potentially life-altering injuries could have been prevented.
Every individual experiences a brain injury differently. Loss of consciousness, headaches, transient memory loss, slowed cognition, ringing in the ears and nausea are just a few of the symptoms that may or may not be present at the time of an injury.
Often, these symptoms are so abstract that the diagnosis of TBI proves elusive to patients, parents and doctors.
With increasing evidence indicating multiple brain injuries are related to depression and Alzheimer's, the potential side effects of such symptoms are too grave to ignore.
The most powerful treatment for brain injuries is prevention and, failing that, early intervention. Rest, clinical exams and therapy are critical to restoring cognition, thinking and brain power. The earlier a concussion is recognised, the better the prognosis - something that is especially true in children.
The attention captured by the class-action lawsuit against the National Football League suggests the public is becoming increasingly concerned about the effects of repetitive brain injuries.
As the new NFL season gets under way this week, that legal action is currently working towards a $765m (£490m) settlement.
Dozens of US states have passed laws similar to one introduced in the US state of Washington in 2009, under which young athletes who suffer a suspected concussion in sport must be cleared by a medical professional before being allowed back to the game.
Until we as a nation appreciate the importance of brain health, America's headache is unlikely to get better.
DrAnand Veeravagu (@AnandMed) is a former White House Fellow/Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense and currently Senior Neurosurgery Resident at Stanford University. His views are his own and do not reflect those of any institutional entity.


text:
Hours of Operation
Mon - Thurs:
Noon - 9pm
Noon - 7pm
10am - 5pm
Welcome to the Music Source
Home of All Your Musical Needs
Check out our Products at MusicSource123.com!As your one-stop-shop for all things music, Music Source has been serving the musical needs of the greater Grayslake and Northern Chicago suburbs for over 24 years! We're here to give you "sound" advice, quality instruments, and musical equipment and accessories, no matter what your playing ability or genre. We are musicians ourselves, and we're dedicated to helping other musicians in our area, whether novice or professional.
We are also a full service repair shop for Band Instruments, Woodwind Instruments, Guitars, and Electronics. Electronics repairs include PA system repairs, amplifier repairs, and everything electrical in between.
At Music Source, we're proud to provide our community with:
- Name-brand instruments for sale
- A comprehensive stock of guitar accessories
- Starter acoustic and electric guitars, and electric basses rentals
- Live sound rentals
- First-class music lessons, all ages and levels welcome
- Superior instrument service and repair
- Performance Based Band/Ensemble Training
At Music Source, everyone is a musician. We don't hire just anyone off the street to work in our store. Instead, when you shop at Music Source, you'll benefit from the friendly, expert advice of professionals who know what they're talking about! We are passionate about keeping up with all of the latest trends and technologies in the industry to ensure that we provide you with the most sound advice possible and the highest quality equipment on the market. At Music Source, you'll always receive individual attention and professional service, whether you're looking for equipment to fit your budget, an affordable repair, or music lessons with a seasoned teacher.
Musicians Serving Musicians for Over 24 Years!


text:
Survival for iPad
Posted: 08/02/2012 Filed under: Jeff Mazo, Survival: Global Politics and Strategy | Tags: iPad app, Survival Leave a commentBy Dr Jeffrey Mazo, Managing Editor, Survival
The new Survival for iPad app, released today, is one of the most exciting things I've been involved with in nearly a quarter-century of journals publishing. You can buy individual issues, starting with the February–March 2012 issue, which hit the newsstands last week. They have all the content of the printed version, but we have the facility to add audio and video of interviews with authors or recent, relevant IISS events, and colour versions of photographs, maps, figures and other graphics. The diagrams in the article by Dean Wilkening on 'Does Missile Defence in Europe Threaten Russia', for example, are particularly striking. We are also able to include Wilkening's technical appendix, absent from the printed version.
Using the free iPad app to purchase an issue is like buying an issue of Survival : Global Politics and Strategy from a bookstore or newsstand. If you are an IISS member or a subscriber to Survival, there is no change: you still receive the printed version of each issue, and you can view all the individual articles electronically via the IISS website.
Survival is one of the first journals in the field of global politics and strategy to take this step. It has been a long time coming. In 1993, as a partner in a small academic press, I was on a conference panel on the future of scholarly publishing. It was the year that the now-ubiquitous PDFs first appeared, and predictions of the demise of the printed book and journal were rife. But I sounded a note of caution: regardless of technological advances, it would be at least 20 years — when a new generation of researchers who had grown up in a digital world would begin to emerge — before electronic publications would seriously challenge the printed word.
It's been nearly 20 years, and everyone now downloads and shares PDFs, even if many people still print them out to read. More and more people have e-book readers such as the Kindle: the IISS began publishing e-book versions of Adelphi Books and Survival issues last year. But there is still something about the bound volume and the printed page, with its 500-year pedigree, that makes it the most enjoyable information technology.
Until now. Apple's iPad and similar tablets are still a minority pursuit, but soon they will be as ubiquitous as mobile phones. And the quality of the online reading experience and the ease of getting around have taken a quantum leap, even over web-based publications.
But one other thing I noted in my 1993 talk: print will never die until someone invents an electronic book that you can read in the bath. Forget jet-packs; Apple, I want a waterproof iPad.


text:
We are a tight knit community of like minded enthusiasts who value "on topic", clean discussion. If this sounds like something you'd like to participate in, register and become a Dodge Ram Owners Club Member Today!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community you will have access to post topics, create your own image gallery to share with everyone, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free! So please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.
Old Dodger Rol Extreme SW MI SUPERCHIP CORTEX PROGRAMER BESTOP POWER BOARDS PERAGON BED COVER S&B INTAKE BACKUP CAMERA My Favorite Cargo, CASE & INGERSOLL GARDEN TRACTORS AND EQUIPMENT


text:
Article brought to you by: Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)Massive ice island breaks off from Greenland glacier
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
July 18th, 2012 Catholic Online (www.catholic.org) A massive chunk of ice, twice the size of Manhattan has broken off from a
Greenland glacier, a University of Delaware researcher says. The
59-square-mile iceberg is the second such substantial loss for the
Petermann Glacier over the past two years, researcher Andreas Muenchow
reports. An ice island four times the size of Manhattan was lost from
the glacier in 2010. The 2010 calving was the largest iceberg recorded in the Arctic since 1962. Taking more than a decade to occur, a passing satellite captured the calving on camera. The iceberg appeared to make the final break in less than two hours, as images from a polar NASA satellite demonstrate. Scientists analyzing years-old satellite data from 2001 first noticed the rift in the glacier's floating forward edge, or ice shelf, several years ago. Scientists correctly predicted that the most recent iceberg would break away during the warm summer months of this year. However, Muenchow says it's too early to blame global warming for the loss of Greenland ice. "Northwest Greenland and northeast Canada are warming more than five times faster than the rest of the world," Muenchow says, "but the observed warming is not proof that the diminishing ice shelf is caused by this, because air temperatures have little effect on this glacier; ocean temperatures do, and our ocean temperature time series are only five to eight years long - too short to establish a robust warming signal." The latest chunk of ice is expected to drift into the Nares Strait between Greenland and Canada, where it will break up into smaller icebergs, which could take a while. Fragments of the 2010 calving can still be found along the Canadian coast as far south as Labrador. The Petermann Glacier finds its way through Greenland's ice sheet, and essentially serves as a slow-moving conveyor belt, moving ice from the middle of the ice-bound island to the sea, where it forms colossal, floating plains of ice that, from time to time, give birth to enormous icebergs. These floating ice plains also buttress up the glaciers that feed them, slowing their progress into the ocean. Research has revealed that when ice shelves weaken or collapse entirely, glaciers speed up, moving more ice off of land and into the ocean and raising global sea levels. This week's iceberg birth has shrunk the Petermann Glaciers' ice shelf significantly, scientists say. . Article brought to you by: Catholic Online (www.catholic.org) |


text:
Beth Rosenberg
In late 2005, the government of Sri Lanka was forced to block direct dialing to 13 neighboring countries. Hackers had tapped into dial-up modems and swapped local Internet dial-up numbers for overseas numbers. Users—and their Internet service providers (ISPs)—were unaware of any changes to their modem configurations until they received their phone bills. While Sri Lankan ISPs and telecommunications providers restructured their security standards, consumers making international calls had to use a time-consuming and expensive human international operator.
Luckily, Sri Lanka had some guidance in its IT reconfigurations—from the government of Ireland, whose dial-up modems had been similarly compromised in 2004.
Even in the US, with its pervasive broadband Internet access, modems are still under attack by hackers and criminals. In 2004, a Louisiana man was charged with using a virus to reprogram 21 dial-up modems connecting to WebTV (now MSN TV) set boxes. The reprogrammed modems, rather than dialing up to WebTV, dialed the users' local emergency number, resulting in 10 false alarms to subscriber homes.
Zero-day attacks, broadband uncapping, war driving— hackers, like any other community, have their fashion trends. Flashy exploits that manipulate new and pervasive technologies make headlines in the press and on underground hacker web sites. Conversely, attacks on the pedestrian dial-up modem no longer command attention, nor are there as many old-style modems to attack. In 2005, more than 60 percent of home and corporate users accessed the Internet via broadband, with that percentage expected to increase significantly again in 2006.
Nevertheless, dial-up modems continue to be used across business and industry, including in such critical infrastructures as electrical grids and other public utilities. Organizations of every size have found that their legacy systems work well enough to not need upgrading. Many virtual private networks (VPNs) for on-the-road employees are still served by banks of dial-up modems. Organizations in rural areas, where broadband has not penetrated as deeply, still rely on modems for their daily business. Warehouses and distribution centers for companies of all kinds maintain dial-up network access. And, in the US as well as in other parts of the world, dial-up modems are routinely sold to corporations and government agencies.
As a result, dial-up modems continue to be hacker targets, internally and externally. In fact, the modem's lowliness makes it tempting prey for miscreants who have forsaken hacker glitz in favor of an easy back door to snoop, sniff and compromise data and networks.
The ISO 17799 security standard (formally known as the ISO/IEC 17799: 2005) has been available from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) since 2000 and has existed in other forms since the 1990s. ISO defines 17799 as "a comprehensive set of controls comprising best practices in information security."1 It is an internationally recognized, generic standard, and adopting it lets an organization become ISO 17799-certified.
The 2005 edition of ISO 17799 identifies the need to "conduct a modem sweep to search for back doors"2 as a best security practice. Meanwhile, the SANS Institute has also identified modem sweeping, otherwise known as telephone line scanning or war dialing, as an organizational best practice that should be performed regularly. This information appears, for example, in SANS' proprietary Security Consensus Operational Readiness Evaluation (SCORE) 2006 "Essential Security Actions" document.
Other organizations that handle crucial infrastructure via modems continue to implement their own standards or have taken the best practice of scanning and modified it to their own needs. For instance, as part of its "Cyber Security Management, Operations, and Design Considerations" document, the 57,000-member American Water Works Association suggests that its members' IT departments "use commercial telephone-scanning software that can usually identify modem connections not sanctioned by the utility"3 to protect vulnerable infrastructure.
Additionally, Texas's (USA) Department of Informational Resources (DIR) offers war dialing as a service to its state clients: "DIR Analysts utilize commercial software and custom scripts, to perform a comprehensive sweep of all devices and equipment attached to a customer's telephone lines.... Upon conclusion, DIR will provide a custom report detailing vulnerabilities found, with recommendations on how to remediate and/or mitigate the vulnerabilities. In addition, DIR will provide the comprehensive scan results from the commercial tool."4
In other words, telephone line scanning—by whatever name—continues to be a relevant, timely and necessary practice for any organization routinely using dial-up modems as part of its IT infrastructure.
Prior to the introduction of commercial telephone line scanners in 1998, any organization testing the security of its phone and modem lines had to use the phone hackers' own tools. Only two—the ToneLoc and THC-Scan programs, developed by so-called "phone phreaks" in the mid-1990s— held any official corporate IT stamp of approval.
The debut of the first commercial war dialer was a watershed for IT security auditors. It was a system developed by computer security professionals for computer security professionals, thereby entirely bypassing the need to interface with the computer underground. Suddenly, the hacker term "war dialing" had been rechristened "telephone line scanning," and the corporate necessity of modem sweeping had finally been legitimized.
The developers of these programs also understood that computer security auditors needed different tools from those used by computer attackers. While an attacker looks for any and all exploitable vulnerabilities, auditors work to build a comprehensive list of those vulnerabilities to prevent attack. In addition to attackers' brute-force tactics, auditors require easyto- use, highly configurable tools that can conduct repeated and repeatable exhaustive searches and generate detailed reports. Furthermore, commercial modem sweepers were business tools, all documentation was easily available, and support for the products came bundled with the software.
Following the release of the first two commercial telephone scanners (Sandstorm Enterprises' PhoneSweep and Secure Logix's TeleSweep), organizations that needed war dialers—and software publications that reviewed security technology—tried to understand these products' place in the IT security realm.
In 1999, acting on an Internet tip, IS auditing firm CanAudit tried implementing commercial telephone scanners in conjunction with its existing, highly limiting freeware war dialers. The test results are reflected in "Dial M for Modem: A Lesson in Training," published that same year in Security Management magazine:
[The commercial scanner] identified a vulnerability in a network maintained by a security systems company owned by the energy company. Through this system hole, anyone could have taken control of the security company's access control system and potentially its clients' systems as well. After witnessing a demonstration of the pandemonium that could have occurred via this breach, the company quickly plugged the hole.5
The freeware war dialers accomplished no such thing.
The authors of the network security classic, Hacking Exposed, similarly compared existing freeware war dialers and the new commercial products, enthusiastically endorsing the latter: "There is very little to reveal that isn't readily evident within the...simple graphical interface, automated scheduling, carrier penetration, simultaneous multiple modem support, and elegant reporting." They added, "If it appears that we're biased towards [commercial scanning], we are."6
Naturally, the hackers were watching, as well. The hacker bulletin boards and newsgroups were buzzing with questions about commercial war dialers: Could you get it for free? Why was it such a big deal for a program to be able to identify fax tones, when a good phone phreak could do it by ear? But the commercial scanners' engineers already had network attackers in mind when the products were developed.
The technical features and capabilities of the telephone line scanners first deployed in the late 1990s are as singular now as they were nearly a decade ago. These features include multimodem dialing, security hardware to prevent misuse and an "expert system" to identify remote systems. The successful products' graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and robust structures made it easier for less-experienced users to run the system, and they were modestly priced, often under US $1,000. In later versions, Sandstorm Enterprises implemented the patented Single Call Detect on its PhoneSweep scanner, and SecureLogix Inc. implemented the patented TeleWall Firewall on its competing product, TeleSweep. But both patents and the corporate eagerness to move to broadband gradually drove other commercial scanners off the market.
Today, only PhoneSweep, now in v.5.4, remains in active commercial distribution, accounting for 80 percent of all commercial telephone scanners worldwide. This is in part because Sandstorm Enterprises acquired patents on two crucial elements of telephone line scanning technology, thereby driving TeleSweep from the commercial market. Despite this fact, however, PhoneSweep engineers continue to upgrade the product's capabilities and finesse its existing features. PhoneSweep's latest release includes better fax recognition, more granular reporting, an improved GUI and more robust file importing capabilities.
Security professionals now widely acknowledge commercial telephone line scanners as trusted products in a high-stakes arena. That is because, regardless of the technology used, securing an organization's infrastructure from outsiders and rogue insiders is still a high-stakes game.
According to Bruce Middleton, a computer security and forensics expert and author on several books on cybercrime investigation and prevention, "Ports have become the [attacker's] entry of choice, but companies should still conduct a vulnerability scan with a war dialer periodically to detect any unauthorized modems on the premises."7
Stylish? No. In the news? Not really. But as long as dial-up modems still exist, attackers will continue to penetrate them. And, as long as cracking modems yields access to vulnerable data and networks, the recommended best practice for ensuring modem security will continue to be to "sweep" them on a regular basis.
1 The ISO 17799 Directory, www.iso-17799.com
2 SANS Institute, "Essential Security Actions: Step-by-Step/A Consensus of High Impact, Low Cost, Core Actions for a Program of System and Network Security Version 3," 2006, www.sans.org/score/ISO_17799checklist2.php
3 www.awwa.org/science/wise/report/AWWA_Securities/Section5.htm
4 www.dir.state.tx.us/security/services.htm
5 Gips, Michael; "Dial M for Modem," Security Management Magazine, September 1999, p. 24, www.securitymanagement.com/library/000720.html
6 McClure, Stuart; Joel Scambray; George Kurtz; Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions, Osborne/McGraw-Hill, USA, 1999, p. 271 and 277
7 Middleton, Bruce; "Using the Hacker's Toolbox," Security Management Magazine, June 1999, p. 59, www.securitymanagement.com/library/000689.html
Beth Rosenbergis a writer, editor and journalist with 15 years of experience in emerging technologies. She has written for the Boston Globe, Boston magazine, and the Christian Science Monitor; edited a book for Harvard's Kennedy School of Government; and created marketing collateral for numerous software companies. She is also the author of three novels.
Information Systems Control Journal, formerly the IS Audit & Control Journal, is published by the ISACA. Membership in the association, a voluntary organization of persons interested in information systems (IS) auditing, control and security, entitles one to receive an annual subscription to the Information Systems Control Journal.
Opinions expressed in the Information Systems Control Journal represent the views of the authors and advertisers. They may differ from policies and official statements of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association and/or the IT Governance Institute® and their committees, and from opinions endorsed by authors' employers, or the editors of this Journal. Information Systems Control Journal does not attest to the originality of authors' content.
Instructors are permitted to photocopy isolated articles for noncommercial classroom use without fee. For other copying, reprint or republication, permission must be obtained in writing from the association. Where necessary, permission is granted by the copyright owners for those registered with the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), 27 Congress St., Salem, Mass. 01970, to photocopy articles owned by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association Inc., for a flat fee of US $2.50 per article plus 25¢ per page. Send payment to the CCC stating the ISSN (1526-7407), date, volume, and first and last page number of each article. Copying for other than personal use or internal reference, or of articles or columns not owned by the association without express permission of the association or the copyright owner is expressly prohibited.


text:
Start learning with our library of video tutorials taught by experts. Get started
The perfect first look at this personal information data organizer and how it can make any life easier.
Focuses on the upgraded functions that make Bento 2 even easier to use.
Introduces key database concepts as they relate to Bento, including collections, records, forms, and fields.
"There are quite a few things that make lynda.com the best online learning platform. One of the greatest is that you guys listen and respond to your audience and I can't thank you enough for doing so." —Nathan
more from our members »


text:
The Economist World in Figures 2011 Edition.
This iPhone reference app pubslihed by The Economist Magazine has facts and stats about over 190 countries around the globe. Whether looking for trivia or doing market research The World in Figures has tons of data and the ability to let users compare countries side-by-side.
Released: 2011-07-19 :: Category: Reference
Futurama Head in a Jar
From the sublime to the silly, but fun. MTV released Futurama Head in a Jar on the tail of Comic-Con – where it was previewed – as a free iPhone entertainment app this week. As the name implies, users get to create their own Groening-style heads with customizable hair, eyes, and even species. The decapitated go right into the Head Museum where head-collections can live on prominently displayed on shelves of their own.
Released: 2011-07-22 :: Category: Entertainment
NASA Visualization Explorer
The space shuttle's missions have been grounded permanently now, but that doesn't mean reaseach done in space is dead. There is the International Space Station, of course, but NASA also has a fleet of research spacecraft in use as well. Nasa Viz allows iPad users to access the most advanced research findings from those vehicles along with videos on space-related topics. The app contains stunning photographs, lots of text information and both mini documentaries and animated simulations. NASA promises one fresh story a week.
Released: 2011-07-26 :: Category: Education
There's been a veritable flood of hot new games released in the last week from almost every major gamehouse. Konami's entry, Gesundheit! is the one we most want to just stop and look at. It's an arcade puzzler with solid gameplay, but the hand-drawn art elements both in the cut-scenes and within the game itself are nothing short of breath taking. The soundtrack is almost as pleasing to the ears as the graphics are to the eyes. We can't wait to start playing.
Released: 2011-07-28 :: Category: Games
TableTop is a portable expandable recording studio for iPad. Users are presented with a variety of devices: samplers, mixers and sequencers, and many more modular devices for IAP to be arranged and used as the project demands. The GUI is clean and while it seems intended for serious musicians, users with little experience are reporting they are able to make some great-sound tracks too.
Posted in: Blog, Friday FiveTagged with: blog, Five for Friday


text:
Start learning with our library of video tutorials taught by experts. Get started
Shows how to create textures and materials, and apply them to models to create realistic surfaces in Maya renders.
Presents the concepts behind digital sculpting, shows how to produce images using the ZBrush tool set, and demonstrates the Digital Clay and Sculpting brushes.
"Words cannot express how much you people at lynda.com have changed my life. I have learned more than I could have from reading books." —Joseph A.
more from our members »


text:
Greg has been a public figure since he won his first Olympic medal at the age of 16. Over the years, he has gained wisdom from managing life's highest highs and lowest lows. He is a skilled inspirational and motivational speaker. His keynote addresses have been well received at professional, educational and athletic events the world over.
To book Greg for your event, please contact his agent or manager at the email below.
Speaking Topics
- Peak performance
- Greatness takes a team
- Overcoming adversity
- Diversity/Equality
If the topics above are not in line with the theme of your event, contact us. Greg will prepare an address specific to your organizations' interests.


text:
Diagnosing And Treating A Longstanding Heel Lesion
You walk into the room to see a well-dressed 48-year-old businesswoman sitting in the treatment room. She has her right foot cradled in her hands and is massaging the heel. You notice the stylish high heels on the floor beside her.
"You cannot imagine the pain that I feel, doctor," she says before you even ask a question. "It feels as though I have a little dagger pressing against my heel. How can there be so much pain from such a tiny little corn?"
When you get a closer look at her foot, you see the patient has applied a pad of skived moleskin. It is not a bad home treatment and may have been suggested by a previous podiatric physician.
By this time, a patient seeking treatment for a "porokeratosis" or "IPK" is frustrated and is "doctor shopping."
Her history and physical exam show that she has had the 2 mm diameter lesion for six months. The patient says it has increased in size since it was debrided by another DPM. She has had a succession of podiatrists call it a seed corn, a porokeratosis, an intractable keratosis, an IPK and a benign tumor. She calls it excruciating and wants it gone. Your patient wants to know if you can help her for longer than three months at a time.
You ask the patient when the lesion first appeared. The patient thinks for a moment before she answers tentatively. "I think it started when I got a stone bruise when I was training for a half marathon about 12 years ago," she notes. "It has been getting worse ever since in spite of having it cored out every two to three months. I am getting really frustrated."
Key Questions To Consider
1. What essential question does one still need to ask to help make the diagnosis?
2. What question should you ask about the location of pain?
3. What feature of this condition differentiates it from other conditions in your differential?
4. What is the differential diagnosis?
Answering The Key Diagnostic Questions
1. Is the lesion under a weightbearing surface?
2. Does it feel like there is a sharp point turned upward, like a knife, into the sole of the foot?
3. There is a white ring around the keratinized core.
4. The differential diagnoses for porokeratosis include an intractable porokeratosis (IPK), palmoplantar wart, punctate porokeratosis and callus.
A Closer Look At Porokeratosis
One of the biggest problems is terminology. Not all podiatric physicians speak the same language. This patient has a hard, keratinized lesion that has developed on the non-weightbearing portion of the heel. This is a porokeratosis or what we know as a porokeratosis. If it were in a weightbearing location, podiatrists would call it an intractable porokeratosis (IPK).
The long held thought that a porokeratosis was a plugged sweat gland has been disproved by multiple scientific methods, including electron microscopy and histologic examination under conventional microscopy. Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, the myth that the porokeratosis is a plugged sweat gland is still being taught at at least one of the podiatric medical schools today even though this has been disproved.
When I started researching this subject, I reached out to the dermatopathology experts in podiatry: Brad Bakotic, DPM, DO, Bryan Markinson, DPM, and G. "Dock" Dockery, DPM.
"In 10 years in my lab, I have seen probably thousands of cases of punctate keratoderma, tens of thousands of IPKs and over 100,000 deep palmoplantar warts, but I have seen only fewer than 20 cases of true 'punctate porokeratoses,'" notes Dr. Bakotic.1


text:
Get LISNews via email! Enter Your Email Address:
Heard a very interesting TOTN on NPR yesterday about Walmart, whose wealth as a company matches that of the country of Switzerland (over $250 billion dollars). Here's the link if you'd like to listen: from the audio transcript.
I was very surprised to hear Walmart acknowledged as a contributing sponsor on a different program on NPR.


text:
- Home
- All Products
- Valves
- Manifolds
Large diameter hose (LDH) manifolds are light-weight, compact unit is a simple, economical way to feed smaller hose lines with one large supply line, and continue with a large supply line. All outlets are valved. Relief valve and pressure gauge are standard. Manifolds are available in Storz or NST connections.


text:
SSA Openings
Park Services Assistant Manager (Dallas Zoo)
Jul 11, 2014
Park Service Assistant Manager at the Dallas Zoo
Wage Range: $14.00-$16.00
Reporting Relationship
The Park Service Assistant Manager reports directly to the Assistant General Manager of Park Operations and General Manager of the unit.
Purpose and Scope
The purpose of the Park Service Assistant Manager is to ensure that the Park Service Department provides every guest a clean facility to visit, the entire animal staff has bedding/waste delivered/removed, all events are setup in a timely and efficient manner, and all offices are cleaned. Also, this position will participate in the Zoo and SSA Green Team meetings and functions.
- Manage all Janitorial functions within public view, inside the zoo gates
- Manage all Perimeter functions in parking lots, back areas, hay barns and dumpster yards
- Manage all Janitorial functions in all office areas of the zoo
- Hiring and training of all Park Service team members in all procedures and operation of all equipment
- Maintain all paperwork pertaining to cleaning logs, deliveries and other Park Service checklists
- Purchase all cleaning supplies and equipment and maintain their inventory
- Develop and implement budget for operations department
- Oversee procurement and R&M of all non-food SSA equipment (radios, golf carts, wagons/jeeps, etc)
- Assist in equipment setup for all catered events
- Assist in SSA warehousing functions
- Maintain and Update all Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
- Serve as a liaison between SSA management and Dallas Zoo management to ensure that contract expectations are being met satisfactorily
- 3-5 years experience in Janitorial/Custodial services (Similar operations of theme park or zoo is a plus)
- Knowledge and experienced in training employees on all aspects of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and OSHA standards
- Knowledge of the composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods
- Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
- Experience maintaining an inventory system
- Strong leadership, follow up and communication skills
- Scheduling/staffing knowledge in order to maximize efficiencies
- Must be able to work days, nights, weekends, holidays, etc.
Please send resume
Via Email – email@example.com
Via Fax – 214.942.2443


text:
quote:cannot hit a cut on purpose
quote:That pretty much blows my mind after watching that swing.
quote:and YOU are the guy who proclaims 350+ drives??? on the reg?? your swing speed is shite..i could swing faster than you left handed and im right handed..
quote:blows my mind with that move
quote:My short irons are 5 yard draws and mid irons are more like 8 to 10 yard draws. I can hit a banana draw on purpose if I want but can't fade it
quote:He crushed me. -The Ball
quote:Hit my irons high. mostly hit everything high.
quote:the pro I have worked with has told me its incredible hand speed more than anything...a few scratch guys have told me the same thing after playing a round.
quote:Definitely look like a slight pull swing, but still... i have no idea how you get contact with your head and body movement all over the place. This swing is impressive for none other than the fact that you can actually hit the bal
quote:they are fixed on one tiny dimple on the ball


text:
Follow Us
NHI Newsletter
Legal Notices
Some Favorite Sites
- At Risk for HD
- barista
- Branford Eagle
- Business NH
- Chris Volpe Photography
- Crosscut
- CT Capitol Report
- CT Enviro Headlines
- CT Mirror
- CT News Junkie
- CT Watchdog
- Design New Haven
- Gotham Gazette
- I Love New Haven
- Josiah Brown
- Karman Turn
- La Voz Hispana
- Laurel Club
- Media Nation
- Middletown Eye
- MinnPost
- My Left Nutmeg
- NH Register
- NH Review of Books
- NHV.org
- OneWorld
- Only In Bridgeport
- Oral History Project
- Reddit NH
- Saved By Design
- See Click Fix
- Smartpill Design
- St. Louis Beacon
- Taste Of NH
- Valley Independent Sentinel
- Voice of SD
- VT Digger
- Yale Daily News
Government/ Community Links
- 'r Kids Family Center
- Agency on Aging
- All Our Kin
- Animal Shelter Volunteers
- Arte Inc.
- Arts Council
- Artspace
- Beth El Keser Israel
- Bike New Haven
- Boys & Girls Club
- Cancer Support
- Chabad of Westville
- Chamber of Commerce
- Children's Museum
- Christian Community Action
- City of New Haven
- CitySeed
- Citywide Youth
- Columbus House
- Community Action Agency
- Community Loan Fund
- Community Mediation
- ConnCAN
- Creative Arts Workshop
- CT Best Restaurants
- CT Tech Council
- Data Haven
- Elm City Cycling
- Elm Shakespeare
- Elmseed
- Empower NH
- Friends Of Wooster Sq.
- Gay Men's Chorus
- GNH Community Chorus
- Habitat For Humanity
- Info New Haven
- INFO NH Calendar
- Jazz Haven
- Jewish Federation
- Job Finder
- Junta
- Labor History
- Lawyer Finder
- Legal Aid Network
- Liberty Safe Haven
- Life Haven
- Literacy Coalition
- Magrisso Forte
- Mary Wade
- Music Haven
- Neighborhood Music School
- New Haven 828
- New Haven Chorale
- New Haven Farms
- New Haven Museum
- New Haven Reads
- New Life Corp.
- New Reach
- NH Land Trust
- NH Symphony
- NH/Leon Sister City
- On The Road To Greenness
- Orchard Street Shul
- Orchestra NE
- Parents Available to Help
- Pat Dillon
- Peace News
- PechaKucha
- Planned Parenthood
- Police
- Promoting Enduring Peace
- Public Allies CT
- Public Library
- Public Schools
- Public Works
- Rainbow Girls
- Register Calendar
- SCSU Events
- Share Our Voices
- Shubert
- Solar Youth
- Soul-O-Ettes
- Squash Haven
- United Way
- Urban Design League
- Urban Resources Initiative
- W. Square Blossoms
- West Rock Trails
- Westville Renaissance
- Westville Synagogue
- Workforce Alliance
- Yale Events
- Yeshiva NH Shul
- Youth Continuum
11 "Developing" Teachers Face Possible Removal
by Melissa Bailey | Apr 17, 2013 2:06 pm
(18) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author
Posted to: Schools, School Reform
Twenty-nine teachers may lose their jobs at the end of the school year as the district's new teacher evaluation system moves to a new phase: Pushing out not just lowest-performing teachers, but those who failed to improve to "effective" over three years.
The 29 teachers who face possible removal include 18 who were rated "needs improvement," a 1 on a 5-point scale. The group also includes 11 teachers in a new category: those who failed to score above a 2 ("developing") for three years in a row and were deemed "not on track" to improve.
Non-tenured teachers are set to find out in meetings with supervisors as soon as next week if they face possible termination for poor performance. The early "non-renewal" warning is required by state law before May 1; however, the district gives teachers until the end of the school year to show enough improvement to keep their jobs.
The tense conversations come as a new phase begins for the city's nascent teacher evaluation program, which in 2010 became one of the first in the nation to grade teachers based in part on student performance, including test scores.
"We are no longer talking about separating from those who are egregiously bad, but those who are not on track to be 'effective,'" said Garth Harries, the assistant superintendent in charge of reform. "We are trying to say, 'Our kids deserve a very effective teacher.'"
"Not every basketball player can be All-American, but if you're on the team, you have to have a certain level of competency," said teachers union President Dave Cicarella.
Cicarella said the school system is being "fairly judicious" about which teachers it has flagged for possible termination. Scores with consequences are validated by outside auditors.
Principals and assistant principals also face a new grading system that mirrors the one for teachers. Their scores don't get validated, so principals don't have the same early notification process, Harries said. But "we've been aggressive about the evaluations of developing administrators from the start. Several of our separated administrators from prior years fell into that category, and that pattern is likely to repeat."
The new evaluation system grades teachers on a five-point scale based on three categories: student performance, based on teacher-set goals that include test scores; and professional values and instructional practice, based on classroom observations. The new system aims to help teachers improve through formal goal-setting, more classroom observations, mandatory sit-downs with supervisors to discuss the teaching craft, and added training for teachers who struggle. It also makes it far easier to fire tenured teachers when they fail to show improvement.
The ratings carry the following descriptions: 1 for "needs improvement," 2 for "developing, 3 for "effective," 4 for "strong" and 5 for "exemplary."
Unlike many other states and school districts adopting their own versions of reform, New Haven doesn't use algorithms to crunch demographic data and test scores to determine the "value" teachers add to their kids. Instead, teachers set their own goals for student learning based only partly on standardized tests. The system is seen as softer than the "value-added" teacher evaluation models taking hold in cities like Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and New York. New Haven has earned praise for pushing out tenured teachers for poor performance; helping others improve; and doing so in a manner that union leadership considers reasonable and fair.
So far, consequences have kicked in for only the lowest-performing 2 percent of the workforce. The new system warns returning teachers in November if they are on track to score a 1, gives them support, then calls for them to be fired at the end of the year if they fail to show improvement. In the first two years, 62 teachers, 33 of them tenured, lost their jobs through that process. Many others improved enough to stay employed.
"You Can't Stay At 'Developing' Forever"
Now, in the third year of the evaluation system, new consequences are set to kick in for teachers who are rated a 2, or "developing." The new grading system requires teachers to improve to the "effective" rating, a 3 on the scale, within three years. Teachers who do not score above a 2 for three years in a row face possible removal.
Here's how the process works: Every November, returning teachers get early notification if they appear on track to get a high or low scores on the evaluations, based on past performance and classroom observation. For the past three years, the district has issued notifications in November to teachers in the 1 or 5 category. The early notification kicks off an outside validation process and enables the district to impose consequences after only one year. Last November, 18 teachers were a pre-rated as 1s; another 47 got pre-rated as 5s.
Last November, the district also sent notifications to some "developing" teachers. Those teachers had been teaching in New Haven since 2010, had not scored above a 2, and appeared to be still "developing" (a 2 rating) this school year. At mandatory mid-year conferences, supervisors decided whether these "developing" teachers were en route to move up to "effective" by the end of the year. Teachers who showed progress were listed as "on track," meaning they will hang on to their jobs.
A total of 11 "developing" teachers, eight of them tenured, were placed in a new category called "not on track to be effective," according to the school district. That means they face possible termination at the end of the year.
If a teacher is rated "developing," explained union chief Cicarella, it means "you're not terrible. It's not like kids are lighting the trashcan on fire." But "there's clearly some gaps that have to be addressed. Kids are still learning—it's just not where teachers need to be."
In the new system, "you can't stay at 'developing' forever," Cicarella said.
The goal of the grading system is to ensure that all teachers are "effective." Though it's the middle of the five-point scale, it doesn't mean average, Cicarella said—it denotes a level of competency. "If you're going to be in the classroom teaching kids, there's a level of competency you have to have."
Cicarella said he is pleased with the way the district has handled the new system.
"It's not usually popular for a union president to say this, but I really think there has been a good effort to be judicious on this," he said.
Instead of automatically moving to terminate everyone who doesn't score above a 2 over three years—a process that might lead to grade inflation—the school system is handling each teacher's case on an individual basis.
Cicarella said the union has made sure principals and assistant principals follow the prescribed process for evaluating teachers. For example, in a handful of cases, the supervisors have failed to sit down with teachers for goal-setting at the beginning of the year. In other cases, supervisors have skipped the required thrice-a-year conferences where they are supposed to check in on teachers' progress and discuss how to help them improve. In cases where supervisors don't hold up their end of the bargain, teachers do not get punished, Cicarella said.
Cicarella has pushed the district to hold principals to similar consequences. Principals and assistant principals also get graded based in part on student performance, as well as on how effectively they use the teacher evaluation system to help their staff improve. So far, at least five principals have been pushed out due to poor performance.
So far, no tenured teachers have fought their removal; all agreed to go quietly without filing a labor grievance, according to union and district officials.
Following a national trend towards merit pay, teachers now stand to be rewarded for the first time for high performance on job evaluations: 47 teachers were flagged in November as potential "exemplary"; if a validator confirms that rating at the end of the year, some may be promoted this summer to a master teacher role with additional responsibilities and pay. The promotions are part of a $53 million plan to further develop the way New Haven grades, rewards and recognizes educators. The grant came from the federal government. The application calls for $5,000 bonuses for master teachers and principals; a panel of labor and management is working out the details.
So far, the biggest complaint about the evaluation system is inconsistency of implementation: Depending on who's doing the grading, and the goals each teacher sets, a teacher may end up with a very different score.
Fired Teacher: Eval "Unfair"
One new teacher who was fired after just one year in the school district called her evaluation "very unfair."
The teacher, whose first name is Cherylyn, joined Hill Regional Career High School as a science teacher in the fall of 2011 after teaching for one year in Milford. As a first-year teacher New Haven schools, she did not have tenure. She maintained she was not alerted of concerns about her performance until March, when the district issued her a non-renewal notice. Citing concerns about classroom management, her assistant principal put her on an improvement plan for the final three months of school.
"There was information that I disputed that was intended to qualify my performance as very poor," she said. She said she performed all that was asked of her in her improvement plan. She said she met the student learning goals she set at the beginning of the year in conjunction with her assistant principal, only to be told, "in the 11th hour, suddenly my goals weren't good." She was let go at the end of the year. As a non-tenured teacher, she did not have recourse to appeal the decision.
"The process is intended to be used wisely and fairly, but like any process, it can be manipulated," she said. "I don't feel like the process was any benefit to me." She said she has since landed a job in another school district.
Asked about the scenario, Harries later said that unlike returning teachers, first-year teachers don't get early notification in November of poor performance that may lead to termination. "We don't want to send a discouraging sign too early," he said. "We didn't want, two months into their tenure, to say, 'We're going to fire you.'"
Supervisors wait until mid-year conferences to identify first-year teachers in the "needs improvement" category, Harries said.
Harries said in reviewing a case for possible termination, the district examines not just whether a teacher meets her student learning goals, but whether those goals were "appropriate." In some cases, teachers were given reprieve from goals that were set too high; in others cases, the goals were set too low, he said.
Harries said simply completing the steps laid out in an improvement plan is not enough for a teacher to keep his or her job. "That's a common misunderstanding." If a teacher sits through a training session, but does not bring those skills back to the classroom, he said, that "is not sufficient for us [or] for our kids."
"The steps are designed to help people be better teachers," Harries said.
"At the end of the day, our obligation is to try and support," Harries said, "but it's the teacher's obligation to improve and be a good teacher."
Tags: teacher evaluations, Garth Harries, David Cicarella
Post a Comment
posted by: Brutus2011 on April 17, 2013 5:59pm
This article needs to be read critically—not in the negative sense of criticizing but in the positive sense of questioning the assertions of those in authority.
For example: Assistant Superintendent Harries is quoted' "At the end of the the day, our obligation is to try and support," and "but it's the teacher's obligation to improve and be a good teacher."
It is the administrator's job to support and not to try and support teachers in their jobs. This is a crucial reason why those above the classroom always endeavor to blame the teacher. And I know that Harries is a lawyer and is not a teacher—need I ask the obvious? I will anyway—what lawyer would want his job dependent upon the evaluation policies of a teacher? (In case you are wondering, I am a teacher and well on my way to be a lawyer and I can tell you that teaching school does not prepare you to be a lawyer and law school does not prepare you to be a teacher.)
Finally, there was a one sentence paragraph in this article that said that all tenured teachers went quietly without filing a dispute or complaint about their "termination." I will tell you it is because the implicit threat is that if "you go public, you will never teach again." And the NHFT management goes along with NHPS upper management personnel decisions.
What this means is that the thrust of this article is propaganda to make the rest of us think that NHPS is doing what is necessary to see to it that our kids get the best education possible.
I say that they are shameless reform shills who are primarily interested in protecting their jobs and don't really care about educating our youth at all.
Harries said, "The steps are designed to help people be better teachers."
How about taking steps to be accountable for being better managers and administrators?
posted by: Thomas Alfred Paine on April 17, 2013 8:03pm
This is a great big Pandora's box that New Haven has opened that has lead to dangerous and harmful repercussions.
Tying student performance to teacher evaluation has proven to lead to grade inflation and academic dishonesty, that is, cheating, by desperate educators who fear losing their jobs. The kids lose.
Threatening teachers with termination when students fail to work, study and pass those blasted standardized tests will diminish the pool of intelligent and qualified college graduates who may be willing to enter the teaching profession. Four years of college, two or more years of graduate school and your career could be ended forever by a poor evaluation based in part on factors that are often beyond the teachers' control. What other profession has to endure such evaluation? Many potential teachers will go to charter, private or parochial schools. The students lose.
New Haven teachers should demand a refund of their union dues from their so-called union, because it does nothing to protect their jobs. Several tenured teachers have been terminated as a result of these co-called reforms, but has there been any measurable improvement in student performance?
On day, not today though, we will regret all of this, just like we have regretted other school reform experiments with our children. Check the record of things tried and abandoned by the New Haven Board of Education in the last 40 years! And the kids are still losing!
posted by: speakingthetruth on April 17, 2013 8:26pm
Very well stated Brutus. I often question many in administrative positions in NHPS and I wholeheartedly agree with everything you have said.
posted by: robn on April 17, 2013 8:27pm
I think having an evaluation system is great because I've seen some slacker teachers in my life, but what's never been clear to me is how New Havens eval system weighs the quality of the students being taught. If a teacher teaches well behaved honor students, is that teacher judged the same as one who teaches slower learning students or students with behavioral problems from distressed homes?
posted by: ms2676 on April 17, 2013 9:22pm
Why is it a witch hunt? I'm sure that principals hate to fire teachers, however, if they are not doing their job properly, then action needs to be taken.
posted by: Threefifths on April 18, 2013 7:54am
posted by: ms2676 on April 17, 2013 10:22pm
Why is it a witch hunt? I'm sure that principals hate to fire teachers, however, if they are not doing their job properly, then action needs to be taken.
It is a witch hunt.Dedicated teachers in poor districts are being made the scapegoats for the failure to wipe out the destructive effects of poverty which is one of the problems.Firing teachers who have negative evaluations based on student performance on standardized tests and replacing them with other teachers will have little effect on the results.Sure,some teachers are better than others. But the entire profession is being demonized by the false assertion that the alleged massive failure in public education is the fault of bad teachers.
My bad.How about parent evaluations.
posted by: HhE on April 18, 2013 8:48am
Bad news, Threefifths, I agree with you.
As always, well said, Brutus2011.
Likewise, Thomas Alfred Paine, well said.
Amen, robn.
You might be surprised, ms2696. I have found that many building administrators run "their" school like their personal fiefdom, and what better way to express one's power, than to ruin someone else's carrier? (Please remember, in the teaching profession, termination is a carrier ender. Unlike many other professions and trades, where it is just a bad day at the office.)
One of the real problems with teacher evaluations, is teacher evaluations. If a teacher teaches 900 classes a year (5x180), they be observed 3 times at most. Hardly a good sample size. Many administrators are not good at observing teachers. My Mother worked for 20 years in the Grrenwich Public Schools in staff development and teacher evaluations. She says that she could tell that many of their administrators were doing a bad job of teacher evaluation just by reading the evaluations—and this is Greenwich, with the second highest pay scales in the state, and students who as a rule are good students.
posted by: mechanic on April 18, 2013 9:00am
I'm not an apologist for the New Haven "TEVAL" program by any means, but I do want to clear up some misconceptions.
A teacher's score is not solely dependent on student test scores. If a teacher works hard to improve their practice, but does not see improved test scores, they can still score a 3, which labels them an "effective" teacher and secures their position.
While New Haven was originally on the forefront of teacher evaluation programs, the state of Connecticut will require all teachers and administrators in all public schools (whether neighborhood, magnet, or charter) to be evaluated in a similar way this coming school year. This was the central issue to the bill passed almost a year ago (which Malloy introduced by saying that teachers sit around for 4 years to attain tenure).
The real problem with New Haven's TEVAL is the inconsistencey among evaluators (namely administrators). This inconsistency can be seen building to building, and even in large schools from administrator to administrator. I'd like to know what NHPS is doing to address this very critical issue.
posted by: CreatingUrgency on April 18, 2013 5:22pm
MECHANIC: The real problem with New Haven's TEVAL is the inconsistency among evaluators (namely administrators). This inconsistency can be seen building to building, and even in large schools from administrator to administrator. I'd like to know what NHPS is doing to address this very critical issue.
And we've seen it. We've seen one administer give out 5s like they were party favors, and another give out 1s and 2s like he was a hatchet man.
There's no reward for being a 5 other than knowing that you are doing a good job. And that's what it should be.
You know what giving out 1s does? It kills morale. It makes us all feel vulnerable. It makes us all feel like crap. Because we know it IS crap.
Coming in to observe someone 3 times…all during the same time at the end of the day when we ALL have management issues…is LOW.
Coming in after spending only 6 years in the classroom and then telling ME I'm not improving fast enough….that's LOW.
Coming in and not MODELING what you want to see is low.
One teacher was given a 1 and the outside validator came in and said he was a 5.
And you tell me this system is fair?
posted by: Threefifths on April 19, 2013 7:36am
I was reading this last night.How true it is.
The Corporate Dream: Teachers as Temps.
Just as corporations have revamped the private white collar workforce, replacing full-time, salaried personnel with "temporary" workers – a system in which some managers are officially temps – such are the prospects for teachers in the brave new corporate world of education "reform."
Glen Ford.
posted by: ISR on April 20, 2013 11:35am
Based upon his own criteria, de fact superintendent Harries is a "developing" administrator who should be considered for non-renewal. This NHI article, for example, documents the failures of continuing improvement of district test scores under his leadership: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/mixed_bag_on_school_scores/
Shouldn't he be held to the same standards as his teachers? Shouldn't he be as accountable for the scores of his district as teachers are for the scores of their classrooms?
But let's scrap the evaluating by test scores approach, which skews instruction to the test, and takes away weeks of actually learning stuff to teaching to the test. I'm all for assessment but that can be done by sampling rather than requiring every child to waste time taking tests.
Let's look to the nation that has the best school system in the world and was a turnaround from low achievement—Finland.
Finland has no tests. It requires teachers—selected from the top 10 percent of university graduates—to have advanced degrees. Extensive on-site mentoring is key. Finnish students—who don't start school until age 7—have the least amount of class time among advanced nations.
Yet, they are on top when evaluated.
Valuing not demeaning teachers is the way to go.
posted by: Christopher Schaefer on April 21, 2013 7:41am
Where New Haven's much-touted "reform" may likely be headed: "The Atlanta cheating scandal illustrates the dangers of the modern infatuation with incentives". http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/12/opinion/la-oe-stout-atlanta-teachers-incentives-20130412
posted by: careful on April 21, 2013 5:56pm
I do think that the evaluation system is needed there are some teachers that don't know more than there students and some that just don't care as long as they are being paid. Some are in their positions because of who they know not what they know give them tests lets see how many pass.
posted by: HhE on April 21, 2013 8:35pm
Careful, as a former teacher that did rather well on the NTE Core Battery and the NTE Content exam (aka CONNtent), please let me assure you that tests are not a good predictor of performance. I do not have the results at hand, but as I recall, I scored in the 95th percentile, 75th, and 93rd on the three parts of the core battery (required for New York state) and 98th percentile on the content area exam (required for Connecticut). I enjoyed answering a question on Josef Albers, my favorite artist, and was completed stumped by the question that require one to match lyrics with musical notes. Yes, knowledge is important, but the crux of good teaching is something far greater: caring for one students, the ability to communicate, evaluate performance, and manage a classroom.
posted by: Teachergal on April 21, 2013 9:29pm
Careful: Same can be said for administrators, even more so!
posted by: careful on April 22, 2013 4:15pm
Hhe As I said some not all, Your not one of them. Good to know we have some above average teachers but as I said some do not care. And I do say some not all.
posted by: HhE on April 22, 2013 8:54pm
Careful, was I a good teacher? Some administrators, students, and parents would say, "Yes, definitely. One of the best even." I know other administrators, students, and parents would say, "No, he was awful."
Teacher exams can only test knowledge (subject and general), and some—very limited—skills. As well as I did on them, I think they are rather useless. They do not evaluated a teacher's motivation nor their dedication.
I certainly do not object to getting rid of the dead wood and the incompetents, but I find that administrators rarely bother, but they are often all over getting rid of a teacher for political reasons.


text:
Page: 1 of 1 | Sort By: |
Hotels & Resorts Longford, Australia - Brickendon Estate World Heritage Site offer a unique Tasmanian experience. Owned by the Archer family since 1824, guests can explore over 20 convict built
Find great deals on quality hotels & resorts in Longford Australia, or indulge at one of our luxury resorts. Take advantage of the many amenities that can be included with your stay such as in-room internet access, wifi, room service, fitness center, pool, hot tub, steam room, and shuttle services to and from the airport. Browse our hotels and resorts in Longford Australia and plan your Longford Australia vacation today!


text:
A Cleaner, Greener, Healthier Oakland for All
Students from International High School work with volunteer park steward Dale Risden in uncovering the original creek bed at Joaquin Miller's home, The Abbey, in the 500-acre Joaquin Miller Park. |
With more than 100 parks, acres of open space, and beautiful vistas of creeks, forested hills and gleaming Bay, Oakland is a leader in combating Global Warming--Oakland recycles 75% of its waste, among the highest in the nation! By creating a sustainable city, we promote a green economy and healthy environment that benefits us all.
Consistently ranked among the ten greenest cities in the United States, Oakland models environmental improvement through four interconnected strategies:
- Growing the green economy by attracting the emerging field of green businesses and jobs
- Creating green opportunities by training residents to secure and succeed in green jobs
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by increasing energy efficiency; shifting to clean, renewable energy sources; and achieving our zero-waste goals
- Ensuring a green, safe, healthy environment for all residents and visitors
To learn more about Oakland's green strategies, visit Sustainable Oakland on the City's website.
Volunteer park stewards work closely with or Public Works agency staff help keep watch over Oakland's parks, creeks and open spaces. For additional information check out the Public Works Volunteer Opportunities page.
The Oakland Parks Coalition also monitors park maintenance and supports park stewards.
Help keep Oakland green by organizing or joining an Earth Day Project in your neighborhood.


text: TOP 10 Top 10 Better Man Can't-Fail Fashion Gifts Back to Top ▲ Can't-Fail Fashion Gifts 5 Cashmere scarf Share on Facebook Share on Twitter 0 Shares Burberry Given that a scarf only comes in one size and it's both practical and stylish, it's hard to go wrong with this gift. There are, however, two basic rules to follow to ensure your gift is a success. First, don't choose a cheap fabric like acrylic. You don't have to spend a fortune, but you should opt for wool or cashmere. Second, avoid flashy colors or strange patterns. Instead, choose neutral colors like gray and simple patterns like plaid so that he'll be able to wear his scarf with anything. Next Page TOP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Comments Show Comments More Like This Promoted Around the Web Special Features


text:
Whitwick Historical Group
Whitwick Historical Group is based at the Old Station Building in Whitwick. The group houses a large collection of resources which are available to members and non-members of the group.
Resources include photographs, maps, documents and artefacts and our media room provides access to microfiche, census returns, CDs etc. All these resources can be used by family history researchers as well as people that are interested in the history and heritage of the area, and experienced friendly experts are always on hand to help you.
The group enjoys an enviable reputation for producing its own publications, it arranges public talks on local heritage topics, produces a quarterly newsletter and annual calendar and presents regular exhibitions on national topics as well as local issues. Come and see us to discuss how we can help you with your research. Perhaps you have some old photographs that you would like the group to place in its archive?
Take a look at the resources we offer and call in to see us - we'll be pleased to see you.
Join us on a GUIDED WALK
Whitwick Historical Group has introduced a new feature to their programme: a guided walk entitled "A Walk Around Whitwick".
The walk includes ten significant sites in Whitwick and lasts approximately two hours. It is easily adapted to suit the needs of different groups.
Beginning and ending at the Old Station in North Street, the walk includes such locations as the Parish Church, the Old Convent, the route of the Charnwood Forest Railway and the Market Place.
Afterwards, light refreshments are served in the Station Building and visitors have the opportunity to look around our unique home.
Members of Thurcaston and Cropston Local History Society were our guests for the launch of the walk. Peter Smith commented, "I knew that Whitwick had historic roots so I hoped there would be more to it than meets the eye when driving through. Your carefully planned walk proved that was true and we were very impressed with what you have achieved in your base at the Old Station."
Members of Thurcaston and Cropston Local History Society on a guided walk in July 2014
To book a guided walk, call in at the Old Station or email: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Signing of Lease Secures Group's Future
The Chairmen of Whitwick Parish Council and Whitwick Historical Group met in Whitwick's Old Station to sign copies of the lease of the unique building which has been the home of the Group since 1987. The ten-year lease became effective on 1st January 2015.
Marlene Pearson, Chair of Whitwick Historical Group, stated, "Our Parish Council has been very supportive and helpful during the few months it has taken to arrange and formalise the lease. The Group now has security of tenure which is wonderful and will enable us to plan ahead with confidence."
Chairman of the Parish Council, Ray Woodward, added, "Whitwick Historical Group is a great example of what can be achieved by enthusiastic local volunteers. With their commitment to documenting and celebrating our heritage, they are an asset to the village and the Parish Council is pleased to support them in their endeavours."
The legal costs were met by Whitwick Historical Group aided by a generous donation from East Midlands Housing Group. The EMHG has a long association with Whitwick through its housing developments in the village. This contribution helps to preserve Whitwick's history and support the local community.
Chan Kataria, Group Chief Executive of EMH Group stated: "We are delighted to be able to support this valuable community project. We have a long and proud history here and anything we can do to preserve the heritage of this community is good news."
The Old Station is open to visitors on a regular basis. The volunteers who run Whitwick Historical Group are always keen to welcome new members and assist with research.
Photograph caption:
Ray Woodward, Chair of Whitwick Parish Council, and Marlene Pearson, Chair of Whitwick Historical Group, pictured inside the Old Station Building at the formal signing of the lease.
Whitwick Historical Group wins Award at Leicestershire and Rutland Heritage Awards April 2014
A History of Whitwick in Thirty Objects
The exhibition was a celebration of Whitwick Historical Group's 30th anniversary. Held on one day in Whitwick Methodist Church Hall, thirty diverse objects were chosen to represent Whitwick's unique history. Each artefact was displayed with accompanying information. Thirteen other local heritage and community groups added exhibitions and provided stands at the exhibition. Over 450 visitors attended the exhibition. The exhibition cost only £300 to deliver. The group deployed a wide range of marketing activities to publicise the exhibition.
Research Projects
Did you work in Whitwick?
We are researching businesses and trades in Whitwick and would like to hear from anyone who has worked in Whitwick
We want to hear your stories, how long did you work, how did you get to work, what the working conditions were like etc.
Do you have any artefacts, paperwork, relating to Whitwick businesses.
Living in Whitwick
We would like to interview older residents who have lived all or most of their lives in Whitwick.
We want to know what life was like, where did you shop, work, how did you travel, what were the houses like (many now demolished)
If you or a member of your family would be willing to be interviewed, please get in touch with us.
We want to hear your stories and record them before it is too late and a way of life disappears.
Secure Home for Whitwick Historical Group
Whitwick Historical Group is celebrating a more secure future thanks to Whitwick Parish Council.
The Old Station in North Street, Whitwick has been the home of Whitwick Historical Group since 1987. Ownership of this unique Victorian building in the village's traditional centre recently passed from NWLDC to Whitwick Parish Council. At a recent Parish Council Meeting, it was decided to grant the Historical Group a ten-year lease which will be formalised over the next few months.
Chair of Whitwick Historical Group, Marlene Pearson, stated, "For many local people, Whitwick Historical Group and the Old Station are naturally linked together. This link is stronger following positive action by Whitwick Parish Council."
She added, "There are several benefits for the Historical Group but most important are continuity and security of tenure which allows us to apply for accreditation as a group and thereby access more funding."
Ray Woodward, Chairman of Whitwick parish Council, said "Whitwick Historical Group is a great example of what can be achieved by enthusiastic local volunteers. With their commitment to documenting and celebrating our heritage, they are a great asset to the village and the Parish Council is pleased to be able to support them in their endeavours."
The History of the Village of Whitwick
The village of Whitwick is located in North West Leicestershire. Read a brief history of the village.
Researching Your Family History
The History of Whitwick Colliery
Contact us at
Whitwick Historical
Can we help you with your research? Can you help us? Do you have any old photographs? Contact us.
Our sponsors are:


text:
Eldorado Red - My Burner Feat. Tity Boi & Nephew
My Burner Eldorado Red Feat. Tity Boi & Nephew
Stream My Burner, the newest drop from Eldorado Red which features Tity Boi & Nephew. The cut was released on Monday, May 17th, 2010.
Bump My Burner, the latest cut from Eldorado Red which features Tity Boi & Nephew on the assist. It dropped on Monday, May 17th, 2010. Eldorado Red's horizons are broadening with each new release, and My Burner is no exception. It's a worthy addition to a catalogue that has seen much growth since Eldorado Red stepped foot in the rap game. We're looking forward to hearing more.
Hear more of Eldorado Red on They Hate, featuring Alley Boy. Check out Eldorado Red's profile page for the most recent info, news, songs, and mixtapes.
Is this a good combination? What do y'all think of this joint?


text:
quote:Bolden transferred or is transferring
quote:I hope this doesn't turn into JJ/JL part 2
quote:They will be great I kind of wish they weren't in the same class
quote:The circumstances surrounding that wont happen again unless Mett, Boldin, and Rivers all get injured this year.
quote:They can play one next year and RS the other to break it up a little bit.
quote:If Miles doesn't find a way to properly develop Jennings, people should start asking serious questions about his competency.


text:
You might have seen that I wrote about llama-trekking in our girlfriends' getaways story, but last week I actually got to experience the "Take a Llama to Lunch" tour.
Our guide, Stuart, the owner of Wild Earth Llama Adventures, explained that he owned 14 llamas (some rescued from not-so-loving homes) and that our group would be taking five of them on our hike to carry our food and backpacks. I led Domino—the most important llama because he carried our lunch—by his rope leash as we descended into the Rio Grande Gorge, just outside of Taos, New Mexico.
What are llamas like? Well, obviously, they're adorable, but I wouldn't call them affectionate—they'll let you pet their thick fur as long as you don't get too close to their faces. They're calm and they'll follow behind you as loyally as the best dog, but they start whining if you make them stand in one place for too long. (Stuart says it's instinct—if they stay still, it's easier for predators to catch them.) They'll eat right out of your hand and, no, they won't spit on you—as long as you don't get in the middle of a spat between two llamas.
Stuart, a walking encyclopedia of northern New Mexico ecology, pointed out various plants along the way (including the prickly pear cactus I happened to be standing in) and let us sample fresh-from-the-ground watercress. Near our lunch spot we saw petroglyphs—figures of humans and animals pounded into the rocks by Native Americans.
But my favorite part of the day was when I slipped off my sneakers, put my feet in the chilly water, and gazed out at the river slipping over boulders, the steep canyon walls and the dazzling blue sky. If you're in New Mexico, I encourage you to book your own llama hike. But even if you're just hanging around your neighborhood, I hope you'll get outside this weekend. No matter where you are, nothing beats some fresh air and sitting back to enjoy the view.
Here are a few outdoorsy activities around the country:
- On October 6, New Jersey's State Line Lookout (part of the Palisades Parks) will host a naturalist showing off live eagles, hawks, raptors and owls.
- Until October 8, while you're picking up a few juicy reds at one of 21 pick-your-own orchards in Vermont, you'll have the chance to win Apple iPods and iPod accessories.
- This weekend, California's Kelseyville Pear Festival will host tastings, crafts and a pear dessert contest.
- Pick out your own great pumpkin at Erie Orchards in Erie, Michigan, during this weekend's Pumpkin Festival.—Jennifer Conrad
What's your favorite way to take in nature? On a horse? In the garden? In a boat? On a Sunday drive? Let me know in Comments.


text:
Did you watch The Voice and X-Factor? Did you have just a little bit of envy for all the contestant's talent and skill? Well, thanks to the incredible agent b then we might have exactly what you're looking for – check out the kgbdeal below to get your musical career started!
Today, for just £15, you can enjoy your choice of either three piano or singing lessons with Musikuk. Worth £45 these lessons should have you maximising your potential in no time – plus you'll save 64% too!
about Musikuk
Musikuk is a piano and singing school built around the ideal of bringing music to everyone. With talented and skilled teachers this is a great way to get your music career started so give them a try today.


text:
You, or someone from your location, have already rated this doctor. Thanks
for the rating!
Rate Dr. Eric W. Palmer
Dr. Eric W. Palmer currently has no ratings.
Top Hospitals in Medford, OR
Top Urgent Care Centers in Medford, OR
Find a Doctor by Specialty
Top Radiologists
in Medford, OR


text:
Pharrell – The Message (Freestyle)
Esquire and GQ, Don't kid yourself trying to say me too/ Rigged yourself of thinking that me is you/ You aint me and nigga you cant be!
When it comes to fashion, Pharrell is the most iconic figures in hip-hop. With multiple clothing line endeavors, timeless hits and a personality that gets him fame all over the world, Pharrell truly does deserve the magazine stories that focus on his style. With Esquire and GQ coverage, there is no one that can do it like Pharrell. And he stresses this point to anybody who thinks otherwise. So don't rig yourself into think you are like the hitmaker.
The day you get GQ and Esquire praising you, then maybe you can say me too.


text:
Current Time
Concierge.com's insider take:
Currently the best centro storico budget option, this 21-room novelty opened in 2004. It's in the heart of the action, on a colorful street of food shops and fruit and vegetable stalls. One of the things that keep prices low in this four-story hotel is the fact that there's no elevator. The style is cozy antique, with rotating exhibitions of modern paintings by local artists that lend a more contemporary touch. Bedroomswhich are on the small sidehave cute cast-iron headboards; some rooms also have frescoed ceilings. There's air-conditioning and satellite TV, but no Internet access (though there are plenty of student-oriented Internet cafés in the vicinity).
User Reviews
write a review ›BEEN HERE? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
Be the first to write a review of Albergo delle Drapperie and share your tips with the Concierge.com community.


text:
Get the Best Priced Saturn LW2 Brake Rotors
- Fast Shipping
- 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
- Lowest Prices
Saturn LW2 Replacement Brake Rotors Information
Search our online brake rotors catalog and find the lowest priced discount auto parts on the web. We sell wholesale to the public. We offer high quality new, OEM, aftermarket and remanufactured Saturn LW2 Brake Rotors parts. We specialize in a wide-variety of high-quality car parts and accessories for your car, truck or SUV. Call toll free to order or place your order online via our secure checkout system. Our online parts catalog uses real-time inventory, so you can be assured the parts you buy are in stock at the time of ordering. Most orders are shipped the same day. They are available for the following Saturn LW2 years: 2000, 00. This part is also sometimes called Saturn LW2 Brake Disc. We stock brake rotors parts for most Saturn models including Vue, SL2, SL1, Aura, Ion, SC2, Outlook, SL, Astra, L300, L200, SC1, SW2, LS2, LW300, LW200, SW1, LS, LS1, L100, Sky, LW1 and SC.
We stock these Brake Rotors brands for the Saturn LW2: Centric, EBC, Pronto and Zimmermann.
00 2000 Saturn LW2 ABS Speed Sensor Front Right Standard Motor Products
00 2000 Saturn LW2 Brake Booster A1 Cardone
00 2000 Saturn LW2 Brake Caliper Front Right WBR - w/o Brake Pads
00 2000 Saturn LW2 Brake Drum Rear PBR
00 2000 Saturn LW2 Brake Hose Rear Dorman
00 2000 Saturn LW2 Brake Pads Rear Akebono - With Shims
00 2000 Saturn LW2 Brake Shoes PBR
00 2000 Saturn LW2 Brakes Rear Zimmermann
00 2000 Saturn LW2 Master Cylinder PBR
00 2000 Saturn LW2 Wheel Cylinder Rear PBR
Partsgeek.com had the best prices on the web... I am very satisfied with my purchase and will be returning!
I was very much impressed with the fast service form this web store. The item ordered was a perfect fit and the most important part was the price, way cheaper than anybody else online and cheaper t...


text:
DEVOTES Project (2012-2016) aims at improving understanding of human activities impacts (cumulative, synergistic, antagonistic) and variations due to climate change on marine biodiversity, using long-term series (pelagic and benthic).
A major aim of DEVOTES is to test the indicators proposed by the EC, and develop new ones for assessment at species, habitats and ecosystems level, for the status classification of marine waters, integrating the indicators into a unified assessment of the biodiversity and the cost-effective implementation of the indicators (i.e. by defining monitoring and assessment strategies).
DEVOTES is thus also intended to develop/test/validate innovative integrative modelling tools to further strengthen our understanding of ecosystem and biodiversity changes (space & time); such tools can be used by statutory bodies, Small Medium Enterprises and marine research institutes to monitor biodiversity, applying both empirical and automatic data acquisition. This objective will demonstrate the utility of innovative monitoring systems capable of efficiently providing data on a range of parameters (including those from non-EU countries), used as indicators of Good Environmental Status, and for the integration of the information into a unique assessment.