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"the newspaper is 4% success rate to land a job, if that is all they want to use, they are killing themselves on more opportunity" —webinar chat comment
When Twitter first appeared on the virtual scene in 2006, I thought it was utterly frivolous and inanely obsessed with what someone ate for breakfast. It turned out that I was so wrong. Last week's webinar on Twitter for Job Seekers further illuminated the substantial uses that have evolved wielding the power of the Twitter tool.
The webinar divided neatly into two segments:
Andrea Snyder, manager of the Job & Career Information Center at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, has made active use of @JobCenter_Pratt Twitter stream to share job-seeker news, events and resources that the library has to offer. The tweets reach people on a different level, getting the word out to those who don't often come in to the physical library. Andrea thinks the Twitter presence promotes her library as more of a person than an organization. She also makes the keen observation that the library's use of Twitter is as much about listening as it is about broadcasting. She follows job-related hashtags (#jobs, #careers, #libs4jobs) to stay tuned in to the Twittersphere.
Brooke Roegge, digital information specialist at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (@PositivelyMN), revealed that thousands of job opportunities are posted on Twitter every day. Third-party Twitter job search tools have contracts with big employers, like Kaiser-Permanente, Starbucks, Wendy's, the list goes on. Brooke described a number of strategies and tools job seekers can use to search for jobs and target their searches to specific industries and geographic locations. There are even smartphone apps for on-the-go job seekers.
Listen to the archive to:
Two things stood out from today's webinar on E-Reader Policies and Procedures for Libraries:
In fact the guiding mantra in both David Newyear's and Ming Heraty's presentations was to avoid reinventing the wheel. With their own implementations of e-reader lending at their libraries sprouting from others who had already taken the plunge, they pay it forward with lots of why/what/how information.
Why start an e-reader lending program in the first place? It's part of being a forward-thinking library that introduces patrons to new technology, or in the case of Ming's community, keeping up with early adopter patrons in a "gadget-friendly community."
Once the objective is clear and the administration is on board, the "what" and "how" questions flow in. David and Ming covered a lot of ground about what devices they chose, what content sources they used, what training they provided for staff, how they developed policies and user agreements, how they managed accounts on multiple devices. The presentation is so dense with information, it is worth an hour of your time to watch it.
The concurrent side chat is an explosion of knowledge-sharing in its own right—a revelation of the complexities of this e-reader lending venture. If WebJunction had a prize for most intense webinar question-and-answer chat dialog, this one would be a winner.
Relive it all through the archived resources:
In conjunction with this week's webinar, Developing and Maintaining E-Reader Policies and Procedures for Libraries, we asked Robyn Truslow, Public Relations Coordinator at the Calvert Library in Prince Frederick, Maryland, to share a post with their approach to managing policies and procedures for circulating e-readers, including keeping up with changes and needed revisions to the processes.
Thank you Robyn!
The short answer is to create a small team that includes someone on the front line and someone who really knows the ins and outs of the devices and meet regularly to tweak as needed.
Let's be honest…once you commit to a certain ereader to circulate, you sort of get stuck with that particular device. The Kindle and NOOKcolor were the two hottest ereaders when we got our grant so that's what we bought. It would be too complicated to add each new hot device as it was introduced. Nor are there many libraries that can afford to add devices as they come out. MANY man-hours went into the processing of the first set of 72 devices…we are not anxious to add more even though we recognize that those particularly devices are hardly cutting edge anymore. So, stuck with the Kindle and NOOKcolor, the process of purchasing books and processing the devices for circulation doesn't really change.
However, ebooks are still coming out for them so I guess we need to keep adding to them…or do we? So many people are getting their own devices now that it might make little sense to commit money to putting ebooks on OUR device rather than ebooks that customers can put on THEIR device. This internal debate has left us sort of just waiting on this issue. We had actually pre-ordered some titles when the devices first started circulating and it was a bit of a pain to get those titles loaded when they finally came out. Each ereader has an average of 100 titles on it already so do we really need more?
Our biggest policy/procedure is our User Agreement. Though some grumbled, we asked staff to read the whole thing to customers at each checkout. There is a good bit of training info in the agreement and possibly some off-putting "Do NOTs" but we felt it important to protect the devices. We also knew that new situations would arise that might require tweaking of the user agreement and therefore the NEW information would need to be communicated to a customer that may have checked out a device before the change. For instance, we have decided that we need to ask that customers not use/store the device in an environment with tobacco smoke. We also realized, 12 broken cables later, the need to train customers how to plug and unplug the device.
We have 12 differently themed sets of ereaders and at this point, two of the sets no longer regularly have holds on them. Perhaps it's time to weed a few copies from each of those sets and make a new set for 2011-2012 bestsellers? Easy enough…we just create a new Barnes & Noble account, deregister a few of the less popular devices and re-register with the new account. OK, we'll also have to change the barcode and property label and add a new record. And then there are software updates…do we pull the devices so we can run the update?
You don't want a big team discussing these issues, just two or three people that have front-line and technical knowledge and the capacity to move forward with any decisions.
"Size does not matter. Quality matters" (Susan Hill Pieper)
As an introduction to the revised edition of the popular "Small But Powerful Guide to Winning Big Support for Your Rural Library," this one-hour webinar was indeed "Small But Powerful." It packed a punch of great insights and ideas that will help small libraries stay strong, relevant, and vital to the communities they serve.
Jennifer Peterson, community manager at WebJunction, ARSL board member and chair of ALA Rural, Native, and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds Committee, kicked it off with suggestions for "amplifying the value" of libraries every day and everywhere through the use of technology tools and data resources. Reach beyond the library walls with cool tools like digital frame slide shows, social "satellite" sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), library calculators, and videos of non-library people expressing what they value about the library.
Susan Hill Pieper, director of the Paulding County Carnegie Library (OH), shifted the presentation into high gear with her no-nonsense advice and first-hand experiences that have built a community of patrons who "cannot imagine life without the public library" and will rally enthusiastically to support it. Counseling that "your library must show excellent service consistently" in order to garner ardent support, Susan discussed a host of strategies and tips for sustaining a "modern library"—no matter how small—and for broadcasting its value loud and clear. She urges libraries to be willing and ready to adopt new technologies but to examine them for relevance and meaning to each community. The audience appreciated her example of scrutinizing "self check-out" for its detraction from the one-on-one interactions that may be the soul of the rural community library.
Marci Merola, director of the ALA Office for Library Advocacy, wrapped up the session with a quick tour of the substantial aggregation of resources that ALA has amassed on behalf of library advocacy efforts. Their Advocacy University is a potent collection to get you amplifying your library's value on multiple fronts.
This is just an appetizer for the full meal of possibilities. Go to the webinar archive page for:
The title alone lets you know that this going to be a pretty hip blog post, right? And just look at the pretty logo over there…signs of good things to come! Edge is the name of an exciting initiative that is coming soon to a library near you. Earlier this year, WebJunction joined the Edge initiative, a coalition of 13 organizations working together to compile a set of benchmarks for public access computing in libraries (check out the press release). The intent of these benchmarks is to help ensure that all communities continue to have quality computer and Internet access at public libraries. One thing is clear about this work—it's no small task! Public access computing is such a core resource in libraries, but the needs of the individual libraries and their respective communities vary greatly (queue the dramatic, challenging music).
I am sure this is a bit of preaching to the choir, but high-quality access to technology in public libraries is critical for people to succeed in today's world. Without access to the information and opportunities that exist online, some people in this country will not be able to do homework, look for employment, obtain health and wellness information or connect with their government, community or civic organizations. Libraries have taken on a critical role in many communities to provide access to these services, but we also know that there is room to improve. Sometimes we need a little help to make our case for the importance of these services, both internally and with stakeholders. That's where the benchmarks come in.
These benchmarks will be the examples of high quality services and offerings that help to improve the lives of patrons and the communities that libraries serve. We've been collecting feedback from coalition members and also working closely with the library field, local decision makers and community leaders to create benchmarks that are relevant, actionable and that can align with local community priorities. The work to date has included hundreds of hours spent pouring through data, reading reports, conducting focus groups and synthesizing all of the information into a usable resource – and we're not done yet.
The project will soon be launching at pilot sites in several states and will be available for broader public use later in 2012. One of the key elements of participating in the benchmarks is an assessment that a library will complete. In some cases, the assessment results will shine a light on a library that is doing great work and should be recognized. In other cases, a library may be able to use the assessment to acknowledge that there are areas that could use improvements. The benchmarks will also include a wealth of information and resources that can be used to help advocate for public access computing improvements to local funders and decision makers. We're going to give you the tools to help implement ideas and find out how to make improvements that will have an impact.
Now this is clearly a bit a teaser, because we're not quite ready to share the actual benchmarks just yet…there's more cooking going on in the kitchen, and we're a bunch of picky chefs. But, we're looking forward to bringing you more details as work on the Edge initiative progresses – stay tuned!
"Imagine, I thought, the impact I could have on a person who is discouraged and disheartened about their employment prospects or financial situation. They come to the library and experience a kind of oasis, and see new possibilities, rather than feeling stigmatized about their situation. In the process, they also discover the many other things their library offers."
Project Compass has spent the last year leading workshops around the country about how libraries contribute to workforce recovery and local economic health. We've heard from so many workshop participants about the high level of energy and enthusiasm for taking the next steps to keep their libraries vital and central in the community. We're excited about the impact of the project and we'd like to share our excitement with you through this webinar.
The project has reached nearly 2000 front-line library staff all around the country, stimulating conversations and actions to take those next steps. We have lots of stories and strategies to share from the amazing library staff we've worked with. The reflections from participants in the workshop preceding the ARSL conference—Jamie, Pamela, Hope and Joan—are a representative sample of how rural libraries have taken the Project Compass curriculum ideas and run with them.
This webinar is for anyone who is interested in how libraries are supporting their communities through these turbulent times. Whether you work in a large or small library, whether or not you attended a workshop, join us as we review the highlights of the project and look ahead to a thriving future.
[The following excerpts from the reports of three more participants in the Project Compass workshop before the ARSL conference affirm the power of the curriculum and the collaborative exchange of knowledge among rural library representatives.]
From Pamela Thompson, Director, Mason County Library System (WV):
As I attended the Project Compass workshop, I had mixed feelings about what our small library system could do in helping unemployed and small business entrepreneurship. With limited budgets I thought we were doing all we could to help our community. Unemployment rate is high in our county. After a half day in the Project Compass workshop I was wondering why we haven't done more!! The ideas I brought back to Mason County were affordable and helpful to our community. I have already implemented various ideas at the libraries. I also realized that we are not alone in this "Not enough funding, what more can we do." As I participated and listened to all the people we met, I realized that we all in rural libraries face the same problems, whether it be West Virginia, Texas, Kentucky, Arizona, or wherever a rural library is located. By the time the day was over, I was more excited about returning to work to start sharing ideas and implementing programs in our system. After talking to the other WV libraries in our group, they felt the same way.
On returning to Mason County, I immediately came up with a game plan and talked to staff about what we intended to accomplish. In a week's time we have two libraries with couponing stations, a couponing group in two libraries. Also will be attending County and Town meetings more often, allowing patrons to fax resumes free of charge, allowing patrons to print resumes free of charge and we will be starting a Computers 101 class twice a month at each library to help patrons get an email address, learn how to print resumes, or whatever the need is.
Thank you for the scholarship to allow us to attend an awesome workshop!!
From Hope Wilson, Fremont Public Library (IN):
The pre-conference workshop was inspiring and refreshingly well-organized. I had visited the Project Compass website before attending (before I was even aware of the conference) and had downloaded the Project Compass workbook for myself and the other two librarians on staff. The workbook is so resourceful that it can be a bit overwhelming. We were unsure as to where, when, how to begin.
Attending the workshop gave me the big picture. I now see that the resources are there when/if needed; for example, I don't have to visit all the links in the manual before proceeding, because proceeding today is the important thing. I was able to return to my library and put some small things in practice immediately. Now, we offer free resume faxes and have purchased a new bulletin board just for local entrepreneurs. We can revisit the resources as we progress.
This workshop came at a great time for me as an administrator. We just added an online, self-paced computer training program and are asking the staff to improve their computer skills. Project Compass reiterated the need for them, as employees, to keep enhancing their own job skills.
I appreciated the positive, encouraging approach of the PC workshop. During my brief staff meeting I found that my employees felt good about what they are already offering and felt validated that their work is indeed a service in ways not considered before. For example, I don't think that they thought of gardening programs as a help to the un/underemployed. Yet they well might be. This is not to say that the staff does not realize how much more we can do. They are looking forward to seeing the library meet the goals they suggested at our staff meeting.
The PC workshop was so beautifully organized and offered such great discussion ideas that I found it easy to pull out an hour's worth for my staff. Next month I'll be attending a six-county consortium where I'll present a short summary to other directors. And next month we'll have another staff meeting to measure our progress on Project Compass goals.
From Joan Pellikka, Outreach Services Coordinator, North Country Library System (NY):
We are a cooperative library system of 65 member libraries, all separate entities governed by their own boards of trustees. The largest library in our system serves a community of roughly 27,000; the smallest, 121. More than half of our libraries have annual operating budgets of less than $50,000; fifteen have budgets of less than $25,000. We have some of the poorest libraries in the State and everyone works very hard with limited resources. The ARSL conference offers programs tailored to meet the specific needs of the smaller, rural library presented by people who clearly understand that work environment.
My first day in Frisco, I attended the Project Compass workshop, which left me with a more focused direction for collecting and presenting workforce development resources on the NCLS web site. From there, my goal is to offer training for member library staff, who in turn will share these resources with the public. More importantly, I gleaned bits of information that will stay with me for a long time. The following quote was probably the most important thing I saw and heard at the conference:
Lifelong learning is not an option anymore; it's a necessity. SMART is the new RICH.
~Bernie Trilling, 21st Century Skills
One librarian pointed out that this statement clearly illustrates the value of libraries at all times, not just in times of recession. Her comment, along with the quote, struck me very powerfully. Also during Project Compass, we viewed the video, Did You Know 3.0, which provided statistics that were, for me, eye opening. I am working on integrating both the quote and the video into advocacy efforts for our member libraries.
In the same session, we were reminded that it is so important to not make assumptions about job seekers. Highly skilled professionals such as physicians and pilots are finding themselves in situations where they must learn to assess their abilities and market them in another industry. We must be flexible and prepared to assist everyone with varying levels of expertise.
[Jamie Matczak, from the Nicolet Federated Library System, Green Bay, WI, participated in the Project Compass Workforce Recovery workshop before the ARSL conference. The patron story that Jamie relates took place shortly after the conference and reflected a key message of the workshop training—to help patrons uncover their skills and learn new ones.]
I work for a library system, so I don't get a lot of interaction with patrons. I do volunteer (when I can) for my neighborhood library, usually helping patrons with using the internet or laptop basics.
On Tuesday, I helped a woman named Rita. She is a retired widow, age 75. She had never used a computer or the internet before, but she wanted some part-time work at the local Kwik Trip. When she went to the job fair at Kwik Trip, they gave her a newspaper clipping with a web address and told her to apply online. She told them she didn't know how to use a computer, and the Kwik Trip folks told her to "go to the library. They will help you."
She was very nervous and quiet. Because of a medical condition, her hands shake. She kept apologizing for this, and I said, "no problem, let's work on your application." She did not have an email address, so I set up a gmail account for her. Her work experience prior to retiring was working for our Norbertine Center in town, which we also call The Abbey. She was a cook for 20 years. Most days she would cook and clean for 40 priests/fathers, two meals a day. On weekends, she would cook for up to 100 of them, and sometimes she only had one other person helping her.
We started working on her application. I had never worked with someone who had zero computer experience, so this was new for me, too. Because she had never used a computer and did not have familiarity with the keyboard, I did all the typing. We probably would've been there for hours if I had let her, so in the interest of time, she dictated and I typed. I told her that we could set up separate sessions for going over email, the mouse, computer basics, etc. We worked through the application. Rita was never late for work in the 20 years she worked at the center. She had a clean record and was willing to work any hours.
When we got to the section of "other skills," she said she didn't have any. Then she said, "Well, my husband and I did own a restaurant, but that was 20 years ago."
I said, "how long did you own this restaurant."
"About 30 years," she said.
"Rita!" I said. "You owned your own business? Did you supervise? Manage? Do payroll? Those are all great, valid skills!" She confirmed that she did all of that, without a computer of course, but she still knows those things.
It took us close to an hour to finish, which is how long my sessions usually run. We we finished, she started getting out her wallet and asked what I charge. I told her nothing. This was something I do as a volunteer, and it's what libraries are all about. Then she asked if she could give me a tip! I laughed and said "no." She had tears in her eyes and said "thank you" about 20 times. I told her she could let the staff know when she wanted to meet again, and I would help her with other things.
I started tearing up on my walk home. It was definitely one of those "ah ha!" moments for me. It made me grateful for the skills I had and happy that I could help someone else.
I really hope I can help her more, and it would be awesome if she got this job. :)
With the national unemployment rate inching upwards for the last three months, it looks like job seekers will continue to head for the nearest library for guidance. We know that libraries across the country have put tremendous energy into helping unemployed and underemployed patrons find their way through the demands of the 21st century job market. Through Project Compass, we are building a Workforce Resources knowledge base of strategies, solutions and case studies.
There are so many patron demands to be met and so many ideas to explore that it can be overwhelming. Sometimes you just have to put one foot in front of the other and take the next step. That's why we are pulling just a few good Practical Tips to Help Job Seekers to the surface of the Job Seekers sub-topic. (Look for the short list in the lower left rail.) We will refresh the list periodically.
We're pulling these tips from a growing reservoir of practical ideas resulting from Project Compass' reach through its workshops and programs. If you have sipped from the short list and are eager for more, here are 3 sources:
The good ideas keep flowing Project Compass-way. Look for the summary from workshop #2 in early August—it's focused on support for entrepreneurs and financial literacy. We're also getting great survey feedback from over 1000 library staff who have participated in f2f workshops. Stay tuned.
Project Compass offers its second free online workshop, Libraries Supporting Small Business and Financial Health. This workshop explores the potential for libraries to help move their communities from surviving to thriving by supporting local entrepreneurs and by helping patrons increase their personal financial skills. Looking beyond the immediate needs of job seekers, discover other approaches to supporting the workforce in your community and growing their capacity to succeed in the 21st century.
The program will kick off with a live webinar on July 12, and will be followed by four weeks of self-paced reading assignments, facilitated discussions and peer networking. Read the full description.
Or go straight to registration, which is open to all until filled. Participation in the first workshop is not required.
If you are participating in workshop #1, you are welcome to register for this second workshop. The content and discussion topics will investigate different pathways to workforce renewal.
Project Compass is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Libraries continue to be a pivot point in their communities as we move from recession toward recovery. No matter where your library is on the spectrum of providing services to the un(der)employed, this free online workshop from Project Compass will build your knowledge and confidence to deliver programs and services that will keep the workforce in your community moving forward in the 21st century. The workshop will cover how libraries can respond to the basic needs of patrons impacted by the weak economy and to the specific needs of job seekers. It kicks off with a live webinar on June 1, and will be followed by four weeks of self-paced reading assignments and discussions.
Read the full description.
Or go straight to registration, which is open to all until filled.
Project Compass is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
This week we had the pleasure of hosting Ioannis Trohopoulos, director of the Veria Central Public Library, for a one-hour webinar presentation about his 2010 ATLA award-winning library. Veria Central PL is setting an inspiring example for other libraries around the globe, demonstrating that even a small library operating under significant economic challenges can be a mover and shaker. We recorded the session, and it's posted to WebJunction.org for you to view at your convenience.
Ioannis actually has a far-reaching vision to transform all public libraries in Greece. Beginning in his own small city of Veria, Macedonia (pop. 55,000), he champions the library as a "center for creativity, innovation, and learning." As he described to us Veria Central PL's approach to serving the unserved, building partnerships, and creating experiences, we noted that his vision and strategy aligns very closely with the IMLS 21st Century Skills Framework. IMLS is promoting the critical role of U.S. libraries and museums in preparing citizens for success, and emphasizes the importance of skills in creativity, innovation, technology literacy, self direction and lifelong learning. Ioannis' library actively models and engages its users around those skills, striving to provide a user-centric library environment that offers up-to-date and new technology.
Their outstanding results led to Veria Central PL's receipt of the 2010 Access to Learning Award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This award recognizes non-U.S. organizations for their efforts to connect people to information through free access to computers and the internet. Veria Central PL's technology outreach programs, focus on children, and emphasis on digital libraries, has been recognized as a model of what can happen when a small public library focuses on meeting the needs of its users. Ioannis of all people understands the challenges around doing this, as illustrated by this equation he showed us:
Ioannis didn't just present on the library's past accomplishments, but also described their current strategy to reshape Veria Central PL to create experiences for "Generation Y," renovate the building, foster civic engagement with offline and online social networking, and identify funding sources that will ensure long-term sustainability. But don't forget that his vision goes beyond Veria: he is also working on a nationwide initiative to transform Greek public libraries into vibrant new resources sitting at the heart of their communities.
Please schedule an hour to listen to and view the presentation, and prepare to be inspired!
Serving the 21st Century Patron, the second WebJunction online conference, was a huge success! Thanks to all who attended and also to our presenters!
The archives for the 8 sessions are posted to the conference page. If you were unable to attend in person, please take advantage of the archived sessions.
Just a few highlights:
Thanks to all attendees for helping to make the conference a success. We'll be sharing additional feedback from all involved after collecting post-conference survey results, so stay tuned. And for those of you unable to attend – check out the archives today!
You are invited to attend WebJunction's second free online conference, Serving the 21st Century Patron, on December 1–2. Over the course of 8 sessions and with 11+ speakers, we'll focus on the changing needs and evolving approaches related to customer service in 21st-century libraries. Be sure not to miss the final session, Battledecks, which challenges speakers to present an unknown set of slides—and the audience gets to choose the best result!
Space for the conference is limited, so register now. Staff are also encouraged to attend as a cohort under a single registration: not only does this allow more people to attend, but you benefit from face-to-face discussion, as your group convenes in a single room with the sessions projected. Members who did this at our first conference provided these tips for successful cohort attendance.
We're gearing up for our 2-day online conference in December focused on Serving the 21st Century Patron and in addition to hosting 7 sessions with 11 outstanding presenters we're experimenting with Battledecks. Peter Bromberg provides a nice definition of Battledecks on this Learning RT blogpost:
Battledecks is a fun improv exercise that challenges contestants to deliver a presentation on the fly using an unknown slidedeck containing random (and often hilarious) slides. The contestants are judged on their ability to create a coherent presentation that incorporates the slide content smoothly. Laughs and getting through all of the slides on time are a plus.
We're excited to be bringing you an online version of Battledecks to wrap up the conference with some interesting twists:
We look forward to seeing you at the conference, for as few or as many of the sessions as you're able to attend and as always, archives will be made available.


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Post hoc or propter hoc? Public union malfeasance meets academic pusillanimity
A couple of days ago, in a column called "Phony Cuts/Real Taxes," I reproduced here a chart from Connecticut's Yankee Institute for Public Policy that contrasted the growth of the state's population for the last several decades — only a tiny uptick — with the growth of state expenditures: Yes, that's right, it's up, up, up and away! The increase is prodigious all along, but it really gets going after the "temporary" (ha, ha) state income tax came on line in 1991.
Those politicians: they're such cards. When it comes to taxes or other devices to convert the meum of individual wealth to the tuum of state appropriation, "temporary" always means "permanent." Did I mention, by the way, two facts about Connecticut? 1. It has the highest per-capita indebtedness of any state in the union. 2) Every statewide office in Connecticut is held by a Democrat. All of them. In 2008, the pseudo-Republican Christopher Shays — the last Republican Congressman in New England — said sayonara; in 2010, the rest of the offices went blue. (Bonus question: what happened to New England? Most of it used to be staunchly Republican. Now most of it is deep blue, and even more deeply in debt.)
Is there a connection here? Here's a hand-dandy chart, originally from Moody's, reproduced by CNN that tells the story.
(Click on the link for a version in which you can mouse over to see just how much you owe.) So it's states like Connecticut (your share: $4859), Massachusetts, New York, California, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, and Hawaii on one end of the spectrum and Wyoming, South Dakota, Texas, Nebraska (your share: $15), and Iowa at the other end. What are some differences between the two groups? Oh, right, states in the former group are overwhelmingly, some are exclusively, Democratic, the latter are heavily Republican. Is that an accident? Is the political complexion of a state irrelevant to its fiscal health? What do you think?
While you are pondering that, here's another post-hoc-or-propter-hoc quandary. After "Phony Cuts/Real Taxes" was posted, I heard from Andy Cowin, Chairman of the Yankee Institute, who sent me a remarkable op-ed he had published a few weeks before in The Wall Street Journal. It's entitled "Unions Try to Silence a Think Tank." (The link, I regret to inform you, presents not the full article, but only an opportunity to pay for the full article, which, let me hasten to add, is worth doing.) In his op-ed, Mr. Cowin describes how public-sector union leaders in Connecticut had filed a complaint — what he aptly characterized as "a bizarre complaint" — against the Yankee Institute. Their tort? "That the Yankee Institute is critical of Union practices and that our funders share the same view."
40 Comments, 18 Threads
1. Marc Malone
What is odd, is that almost all States have a balanced budget requirement; so how do they manage to get into so much debt?
Oh, and yes, Liberals play hardball. In every organization, the bad drive out the good, when the good do not drive out the bad.
July 31, 2011 - 9:55 am Link to this Comment | Reply-
Many states have been running deficits just like the federal government. Sure they may have a law requiring a balanced budget, but it probably doesn't say you can't borrow money to do it. Municipal bonds serve the same function for states that treasuries do for the feds.
July 31, 2011 - 3:57 pm Link to this Comment | Reply-
Another way for states to accumulate debt is through failure to fund public-employee pension plans. I believe you would find the governments of most states with considerable debt have chosen to underfund their pension plans in deference to increased spending on social programs. My single-party (Dimocrat) state of Washington is one of these. Governor "Queen Christine" Gregoire and her Court (State Legislature) have never found a bleeding heart rathole that wasn't worthy of dumping a load of taxpayer money into.
July 31, 2011 - 4:33 pm Link to this Comment | Reply
2. PattyMor
Well in Illinoisistan they play the games. They keep 6 months OR MORE of bills in accounts payable. So unpaid bills don't count. Then to "fund" the pension plans they borrow money. You'd think they would appropriate money out of the general fund to pay the pensions, but then they couldn't hire an army of government employees to keep voting Democrat. And it will all go on until the thing collapses.
July 31, 2011 - 10:04 am Link to this Comment | Reply -
3. randomengineer
One problem with your piece is the lack of illumination of hidden expenses; e.g. in MN a blue state one can purchase catastrophic health insurance covering a family for $60/month whereas my co-workers in KS (same company) are forbidden to buy such a thing. The result is that a "red" state can be red due to dumping of hidden health expense on to the individual where the blue state has a slightly better protection of the individual via a form of collectivism that works (i.e. a realistic implementation of insurance pooling.) Ultimately what this means is that if your spouse gets cancer in MN and you have the policy in hand you are not ruined financially as you would be in KS (where the health insurance costs about $1200 / mo for a family through your job.)
What this means overall is that while MN may tax/spend more per capita overall there are also fewer bankruptcies from health issues and more stable financial situations for the population as a whole. SD right next door to MN reports similar state budgetary numbers but also gets more federal $$ for health care. In sum red states appear to be doing better because the blue states are picking up the slack for them. Hardly anything to boast about. It's manipulation of numbers in columns, not reality.
Health care is not the only metric but one I am familiar with. I'd like to see valid comparisons but I don't see yours as being fundamentally any more intellectually honest than that from the left.
July 31, 2011 - 10:38 am Link to this Comment | Reply-
Gosh Random, I know the Democrat Underground talking points look good when you read them, but perhaps you should check out some REAL DATA like the study by City University of New York School of Public Health and Ohio University, Athens.
They concluded regarding the Massachusitts Health Care law;
● Massachusetts' health reform, enacted in 2006, served as the model for the
2010 nationwide reform that will not be fully implemented until 2014.● Although the Massachusetts reform has covered many of the uninsured, underinsurance remains widespread, and illness and medical bills still contribute to 52.9% of all bankruptcies in the state. The number of medical bankruptcies has not decreased.
● The recently enacted national health reform is unlikely to adequately address
the widespread problem of medical bankruptcy.July 31, 2011 - 1:22 pm Link to this Comment | Reply-
My comment, which you failed to grasp, was that life in general costs $N per citizen regardless which state one lives in. What this means in terms of this discussion is that the notion of debt at the state level is impacted by accounting and policy regarding who pays and why.
There is and was nothing remotely leftist in anything I spoke of, that is, unless you think insurance pooling and actuarial tables are a commie plot.
What I'd like to see from Roger is detail as opposed to simplistic notions of red and blue. Of course, based on the comments replying or referring to me, I'm quite aware of why Roger chose the bumper sticker level.
August 1, 2011 - 7:11 am Link to this Comment | Reply
henry anson
Your analysis is directly from fantasyland.
Catastrophic health insurance at $60 a month is not the answer. Neither is your psychic reading of the charts that tell you that SD gets more medical funds from the government than MN. You have no details, and thus no insight to offer on those stats– you have simply conjured up a theory.
The federal government's revenue sharing and medicaid and a whole host of other programs tend to be extremely complicated, and cannot be reduced to a chart to explain the flow of funds.
But it would not and could not be the case that states that are in financial trouble are in their predicament because the federal government did not give them as big a handout as some other states. Broke states are broke because of their irresponsible spending: California is high on the list of broke states, yet they just decided that illegal immigrants should get a college tuition discount. Lifeguards are paid over $100,000 annually in the land of fruits and nuts, and government employee union pensions and salaries/benefits have been a sham on taxpayers for decades.
The states that are broke are broke because of their politicians, not some unreceived, imaginary gift from the feds.
July 31, 2011 - 5:21 pm Link to this Comment | Reply -
Looo Hooo
"to dumping of hidden health expense on to the individual"
Hidden? Umm, dont YOUR health care costs belong to ummm, YOU?
August 1, 2011 - 6:43 am Link to this Comment | Reply
4. Buck O'Fama
"That the Yankee Institute is critical of Union practices and that our funders share the same view."
Sure, I remember Ben Franklin writing in "The Poor Unionized Worker's Almanac" that "If the King doesn't give us retirement at 45 with annual grog subsidies, we're outta here!" You could look it up.
July 31, 2011 - 10:46 am Link to this Comment | Reply-
Harry Pool
Love your name. Wish I'd thought of it first.
July 31, 2011 - 7:27 pm Link to this Comment | Reply
5. proreason
Progressive are to "rich people" as Blue states are to Red states.
For an addict in need of drug money, the person with money in his pocket has less "right" to the money than the addict.
July 31, 2011 - 11:19 am Link to this Comment | Reply -
6. Harris Tweed
Great combination: a thuggish union and an unprincipled college — nothing new there.
July 31, 2011 - 12:45 pm Link to this Comment | Reply -
7. John
In the case of the northeast, what you've seen over the past 40 years is the tax-and-spend version of Pat Moynihan's "Defining Deviancy Down", in that politicians from states that benefited from the initial big government spending championed out of places like Boston and New York decided to emulate those cities and their parent states, and as a result are now in just as big or bigger holes.
In the run-up to New York City's near-bankruptcy in 1975 one of the reason was the loss of the city's corporate tax base to lower-tax nearby places like Connecticut and New Jersey. Both states gained corporate headquarters and middle-to-high income residents as a result of the city and New York State's high tax, high spending policies. But Democratic politicians from both Connecticut and New Jersey over time have decided to take advantage of the increased sources of tax income to raise their own tax rates, to the point they've all but eliminated their past tax advantage.
Once that's gone, there's really no reason for companies to stay in a place like Connecticut, if it's now just as cost-effective to move back to New York City or, if the job doesn't even require locating in the northeast anymore, for corporate to simply move the business to a less tax-obsessed part of the country. It's a lesson California is about to learn, too, though having ownership of 2/3s of the Pacific Coast line means the Golden State can abuse their businesses and residents and get away with it for a little longer than smaller northeastern states.
July 31, 2011 - 12:53 pm Link to this Comment | Reply -
8. T. T. Thomas
NO incoming governor 'guts' his/her state when seated. Every governor, either builds upon what he/she was handed from the predecessors blueprint or reforms bits and pieces. NO state is static one party or another these days. I grew up in a plains state that was democrat for longer than some of you've been on this earth. Now it goes back and forth and like neighboring states of the same background. They have have good years and bad years dependent on so many uncontrollable variables, no matter what party is in office.
Other states simply have long term problems beyond the reach of any one or two term governorship no matter the party in office because they, lost major economic bases, have horrible high density over populated pockets of poverty, high unemployment and essentially a state being in long term decay.
Bottomline? Take all the federal handouts from ANY or all of the states and watch them collapse in less than a heart beat.
July 31, 2011 - 12:56 pm Link to this Comment | Reply-
You mean all those handouts that are really federal tax dollars taken out of state, massaged by the federal mafia which takes its cut, and then sent back as state entitlements? Yeah, terrible.
I have an idea. Let the states employ the 10th Amendment option, keep our own fed income tax money, and spend it where we think best. Even when it comes to welfare and Medicare, we know at the local level who's the most needy and who's the best at playing the system for selfish gain. Oops, that last part about playing the system for selfish gain sounds like prostiticians, too!
The best part of my plan is that Health and Human Services becomes mostly irrelevant. Cut it and we suddenly have a balanced budget.
Imagine that.
July 31, 2011 - 1:39 pm Link to this Comment | Reply-
T. T. Thomas
Hey! I'm all for the states receiving ANY federal government subsidies of any kinds! I'm also for NO domestic private sector commerce receiving ANY federal or state subsidies! In the first instance, good luck! The constitution allows for the federal government to act on behalf of the welfare of the nation as a whole. In the second instance the constitution allows NO mandate for federal government subsidies to commerce or regulating commerce in the manner it does, thus I've long advocated a constitutional amendment defining the original intent of the commerce clause…for which on here, I've been deemed a moron by most commenters.
But, the people have chosen the course for the nation and there are NO simplistic solutions in reversing their long chosen journey that got us here. Beyond their rhetoric the people will NOT choose sacrifice for themselves…but durn sure for others. Thus, nothing significant is going to happen anytime soon besides more arrogant and empty 'political' rhetoric.
August 1, 2011 - 9:57 pm Link to this Comment | Reply -
T. T. Thomas
Actually a typo! I meant to say states should [not] receive ANY forms of government subsidies!
August 1, 2011 - 9:59 pm Link to this Comment | Reply
henry anson
Pure poppycock.
An electoral cycle change does not mean the state's political culture has changed– Obama's election did not mean the country wanted to turn socialist/Marxist, even though the left thought it did. Electoral swings occur everywhere, but that doesn't mean they always throw out the baby with the bathwater.
And you continue to make completely unsupported (and untrue) claims that the federal government's largesse is what keeps states afloat, financially. That is so bass-ackwards it is hard to believe anyone would suggest it.
The feds take the money from the citizens, waste a large portion of it on the massive bureaucracy that can't manage its way out of a wet paper bag, then they lose more through fraud– and then they return the meager leftovers to the states– FROM WHERE THEY GOT THE MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE. And that is just the programs where "revenue" (taxpayer dollars) are shared with the states. The waste and fraud of the the US government dwarfs anything the world has ever seen.
Your theory of "states collapsing" without federal subsidies is supported by nothing. It is made up out of whole cloth, and does not even begin to make sense, seeing as how the federal government has no money of its own– they get their money from the people who live in those states.
At least you got through a comment without blaming the Tea Party– so there is that.
July 31, 2011 - 5:44 pm Link to this Comment | Reply-
No kidding, Hank!
Commenter T.T. tried to sell the USPS in being a private organization as well.. !
Show me one private company which bled red 66% of the time/2 out of 3 years since 1971 and still afloat by NO government 'assistance'.
Even when T.T. admitted the overwhelming debt and 'borrowing' is due to USPS pensioners, it's still 'private'. Great stuff.
July 31, 2011 - 8:43 pm Link to this Comment | Reply-
T. T. Thomas
Try not to draw conclusions and make statements I did NOT conclude or say! Do you have such a capacity?
I NEVER made the statement that the USPS was a "private organization" as you claim! I did say however, that the USPS does NOT operate with federal funds.
Thats four times now!
August 1, 2011 - 10:17 pm Link to this Comment | Reply-
henry anson
USPS is losing billions, and will be broke by the end of this year. Estimates are that up to $238 billion in bailout funds will be needed over the next ten years.
Who do suppose will pay for that bailout? Any chance it might be the citizens of this country? Or do you think that $238 billion is also from the federal government's "stash"?
August 2, 2011 - 2:56 pm Link to this Comment
The Root '83
States would indeed collapse without federal spending, and I'm not defending the practice..
The truth is, in most states, its the employee/agency costs (inflated teacher salaries, bennies, administrators, overtime whores at the jails making six-figures, etc.) and all the unfunded pension gaurantees that are far above what the local population can actually bear in terms of real dollar cost.
The truth is, its the multitudes of local/state waste, fraud, mismanagement, cronyism, bid rigging, expense account padding, union vote buying, and make work no-show double dipping politicians, who are often holding simultaneous mayor/councilman/state rep/agency head positions, with multiple salaries and retirement bennies, that cost us the lions share of actual dollars in this country.
There are millions of them, probably tens of millons of them, in every city and state, all earning well above what the Private Sector would pay, for the same typr of work, with the same degree. All of them depend on Federal Lagesse to exist, as their local citizens simply cannot pay for this astronomical level of waste themselves.
Remember the federal "stimulus money" that went exclusively to local governments?
That was debt, my friend, debt piled onto our grandchildren, to keep these unsustainable local theives from having to face fiscal reality.
States can brag all they want about their "balanced budgets" requirements every year, but as long as its funded in large part with a debt laden credit card from Uncle Sam, its bullshit.
They know they cant operate this way without bankrupting us all.
They just dont care.
August 1, 2011 - 7:33 am Link to this Comment | Reply-
T. T. Thomas
Folks don't have the faintest clue how much and for what, they rely upon federal funds in their states and communites to maintain services for them that, they would scream to the high heavens should they loose them or have them reduced. All they're capable of seeing in their minds are government employees.
August 1, 2011 - 10:08 pm Link to this Comment | Reply-
henry anson
Once again, you show just how much you don't get it.
Does the federal government operate some kind of business that makes a profit, enabling them to share that profit with those "folks"?
Where do YOU think the federal government gets the money to provide to the "folks" ?
August 2, 2011 - 2:32 pm Link to this Comment
henry anson
Sorry, but that theory is not supported by facts or logic.
The federal government does not have any money of its own. It gets its money from the citizens, in various disguises such as corporate tax, income tax, gasoline tax and revenue sharing programs with the states– who in order to participate must also reach into the pockets of citizens for money, since states don't have any money of their own, either.
States and their citizens turn their money over to the feds, who then waste a large portion of it before returning some back to the states– How could it possibly be anything more than a parlor game?
It is akin to suggesting that a robber who sticks up the local hardware store twice a month, but then gives the store back half of the loot, is somehow helping the hardware store stay solvent.
If the federal government was unable to take money from the citizens, what would they do for cash? How could they possibly give money to states to save them?
August 2, 2011 - 1:22 am Link to this Comment | Reply-
T. T. Thomas
Sorry, but that comment is not supported by facts or logic.
August 2, 2011 - 7:51 am Link to this Comment
GC Andersen
Blame lies equally with both parties, there old man? Guess that's why the public employee unions love Walker and Christie so much, and Illinois, California, Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts are all doing so well. All of those states have been effectively controlled by Democrats and their union thugs for years, even when they have had nominally republican governors.
July 31, 2011 - 10:36 pm Link to this Comment | Reply
9. Jim Baker
This size of government at the State level is no different than at the Federal level. It is like a cancerous tumor, it just gets bigger. These politicians can talk until hell freezes over, but the only two things you can be sure of is that governments will get bigger and taxes will go up. Short of a successful revolution, nothing else will ever happen.
July 31, 2011 - 6:49 pm Link to this Comment | Reply -
10. Lavaux
Two measures that might fix the problem of states running out of cash to fund federal entitlement programs is to (1) prohibit the feds from levying income tax of any kind (direct or indirect, on capital increase or labor), and (2) require the feds to finance their entitlement programs strictly through federal revenues. These measures would put the states in the position of the feds fiscal policy-wise and focus the feds on their constitutionally enumerated tasks. Each state would then have to decide whether to enact and finance a local version of Medicare and Medicaid, and the consequences of those local decisions would be born locally.
Then again, politicians of every stripe are vile, irresponsible creatures who can turn any land of plenty into an economically stagnant wasteland, so no one can make performance guarantees in perpetuity.
August 1, 2011 - 12:23 am Link to this Comment | Reply-
The Root '83
" require the feds to finance their entitlement programs strictly through federal revenues"
I agree with the frustration, but if this were done, every state would simply load everyone onto whatever Federal Program there is, regardless of fit:
Blind? Federal Welfare, plan 'X" for you.
Young single mother? Federal Welfare.
Food? No state paid school lunch, its Fed X to the rescue.
Disabled?, Job training? X marks the spot.Federal programs would be abused to death, and would (surprise) outspend the states "contributions" in Federal taxes, and force us to ultimately (surprise) fund every state with increasing Federal Debt…which is (surprise) what we are already doing.
No, it will take "blood in the limosines", and lots of it, before any politician cares about debt.
August 1, 2011 - 7:50 am Link to this Comment | Reply
It might just be a coincidence that Trinity College gave them the boot. I'd need more information before I could be sure. The recession has colleges scrambling these days, and they might genuinely need the space.
August 1, 2011 - 4:27 am Link to this Comment | Reply -
12. Ciccio
There is such an inherent conflict of interest in the votes of those being paid by the public purse that it should be illegal. That for one should stop the unions dead in their tracks.
August 1, 2011 - 6:16 am Link to this Comment | Reply -
13. Mike in Baltimoe
"Are there any Trinity alumni among my readers? I hope you'll ponder this story when you get your next appeal for funds from your Alma Mater. I know I'd think twice before giving them a penny. No, wait a minute: that's not right: I wouldn't have to think twice: I know straight off that I would never give them a cent, and I'd encourage you to do likewise."
I really doubt that you will find a TC alumni reading PJM. After all, it is a "Liberal Arts" school.
Maybe Randomengineer went to school there???????
August 1, 2011 - 6:31 am Link to this Comment | Reply -
14. Lee Hazel
These actions are similar to those called for by "Cloward Piven" and are seriously in play through out the country. There are hundreds of Unions, a limited number of Courts and only one Yankee Institute.
These kind of lawsuits are financially and morally debilitating. They are meant to sap the energies of the defendants.
The unions are just scratching the surface. Just wait until this election cycle moves into full swing.August 1, 2011 - 9:35 am Link to this Comment | Reply -
15. Gordon Walker
There is an aspect of out of control spending that most people are not willing to recognise. As a retired UK state school teacher I am aware that the vast majority of expenditure ends up in the payroll. In my career I never came upon a public employee who merited more than $70 000 per year. And no one needs a pension greater than $40 000 to keep body and soul together in their declining years, starting at the age of 67. Plus your Department of Education has been barking mad for the best part of two generations. There are also the frankly luddite EPA and Department of Energy which have recently fallen into Ecofascist hands. All this applies at Federal, State and City levels. And on both sides of the pond. So much work to be done and so little time left!
August 1, 2011 - 9:50 am Link to this Comment | Reply -
Excellent piece, Mr. Kimball. Thank you very much for the CNN Money link to that map, and for excoriating the idiot unionistas who think it's legitimate to sue an entity for justly criticizing their thuggery and extortionary practices.
One question, though. You called Christopher Shays the last Republican congressman from New England, with all other seats going blue in 2010. Are you being satirical? Because speaking for NH, both of our House seats are Republican (Charlie Bass is a RINO like none other and needs to be primaried out, but Guinta has been a quality Repub thus far), and Kelly Ayotte was elected to fill Judd Gregg's seat in the Senate, retaining Republican control of that seat. Also, fully 20% of the state legislature seats nationwide that went red in 2010 were in New Hampshire. So we're not quite so deeply blue as our surrounding New England states, thank heavens. And Maine is showing signs of reemerging sanity again thanks to Gov LePage.
(And of course there're the "Maine Sisters" from Maine and Scott Brown (R(ino) – MA) from Mass in the Senate, for what their worth as Republicans.)
So I really don't know if you meant to be satirical or were making a point that completely sailed over my head when you made your comment about Christopher Shays being the last Repub congressman in New England. Did you mean to say "in Connecticut?"
August 2, 2011 - 6:26 am Link to this Comment | Reply-
OH, and stupidly I forgot to edit out the part of my previous comment where I mentioned Mr Kimball's notation that all other seats went blue in 2010. He of course meant all other CONNECTICUT seats went blue in 2010, not all New England seats. I'm a twit for not fixing that before hitting POST.
August 2, 2011 - 6:28 am Link to this Comment | Reply
17. lmg29
Lies, damn lies and statistics!
Sir, you are using old data and selecting only the data that fits your hypothesis.
TX operates on a two year budget period and – as a result – Governor Rick Perry was able to hide the massive debt accumulating in TX for well over a year. It is now clear that CT debt (in dollars) per citizen is indeed higher than TX, however, CT debt to GDP ratio is significantly lower than TX.
Check out the debt per citizen (and debt to GDP ration) in this state:
which also happens to be one of the biggest recipients of Federal tax dollars.
Although there are some exceptions – in general – what you are calling RED states tend to have lower (or no) state income taxes relative to BLUE states. This is one reason why benefits in BLUE states tend to be better than in RED states (as noted by at least one previous poster).
Most revealing is the fact that – in general – RED states also tend to receive far more in federal tax dollars than they pay to the federal government, while BLUE states tend to pay far more than they receive, which is just one reason why debt per citizen tends to be higher in BLUE states than in RED states.
In other words, citizens of BLUE states tax and borrow more in order to provide better benefits, while citizens of RED states refuse to tax themselves, but choose – instead – to rely on federal dollars to provide mediocre benefits.
An interesting aside is that – in general – OBESITY rates also tend to be far higher in RED states than in BLUE states. Picture pigs feeding at the trough!
I am all in favor of a 'balanced' approach to solving debt, budget deficit and tax problems. I suggest starting with this approach: Federal dollars paid to each state should EQUAL federal dollars collected from each state. Because – frankly – I am sick of subsidizing a bunch of overweight rednecks in RED states that have nothing better to do that park their fat asses in front of their computers and whine about that which they know nothing!
August 2, 2011 - 11:32 am Link to this Comment | Reply -
18. pst314
"meets academic pusillanimity"
How much cowardice and how much fellow-traveling?
After all, most of the academics that I know are left-wing scum.
August 4, 2011 - 11:50 pm Link to this Comment | Reply
Comments are closed.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Genndy Tartakovsky's Hotel Transylvania Schools Hollywood on Cartoon Physics
- Thursday October 4, 2012
You could tell by its mixed reviews that many critics didn't know they just took a class in cartoon physics after watching director Genndy Tartakovsky's debut feature Hotel Transylvania. But the viewing public caught on right away — audiences were so captivated by its gut-busting gags and anti-realism animation that they helped it become the highest-grossing September opening in film history. Wired talked to the director about the film's success and what it means for the future of cartoon feature films.


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AUDITIONS TO ENTER PRIVATE LESSONS ONLY FOR SPRING 2015 WILL TAKE PLACE DECEMBER 14, 2014 . PRE-COLLEGE AUDITIONS FOR FALL ENTRY TAKE PLACE EACH SPRING. Click for online registration! New applicants click here for instructions. Pre-College Division Course Descriptions View the 2014-2015 Brochure (Uniflip) The Certificate Program is the ultimate experience and the recommended course of study in the San Francisco Conservatory Pre-College Division. This well-rounded and comprehensive program of private instruction, musicianship study and ensemble performance is designed for students who work with extraordinary dedication and purpose. Each of these levels is designed to be completed over a period of one to three years. Beginning
Young Artist
Musicianship/Composition The musicianship program is designed to cultivate aural perception, musical literacy and a strong inner pulse. Students master elements of music by performing sight-singing, keyboard harmony and rhythmic exercises;taking aural dictation;and studying practical theory, harmony, improvisation and score analysis. Students are assigned a level and class by the department chair, based on a thorough placement evaluation and in consultation with the musicianship and composition faculty. Musicianship classes cover all the material necessary to pass the theory, musicianship and history assessments offered by the Royal Conservatory Music Development Program as well as the College Board AP Music Theory test. A refresher course for the AP exam may be offered depending on demand among students who have completed Musicianship Level 4. All musicianship students (excpet those in Introduction to Musicianship) take faculty adjudicated examinations each semester. Annual grade reports are issued in June and teacher consultations are available as needed. Composition seminars are offered each year and structured based on level and age. Instructor and chair approval are required. Courses are continually reviewed and adjusted. Required materials must be purchased prior to the first class. Introduction to Musicianship – Designed for students with general musical knowledge, including the ability to read music, the course introduces students to sight singing, conducting. dictation and improvisation. Level 1 – Beginning-to-Intermediate theory, ear training, sight singing, improvisation and conducting, using diatonic melodies in simple and compound meter; major and minor keys; intervals; chord progressions; rhythmic design and phrasing. Level 2 – Intermediate-to-Advanced theory, ear training, improvisation and sight singing, using skips in all diatonic triads; syncopation; harmonic cycles of fifths and thirds; V7 chords; Bach chorales; non-tonal use of seconds; binary and ternary form. Level 3 – Fundamental harmony, ear training, sight singing, conducting and improvisation, using seventh chords; rhythmic patterns of two against three; inversions of triads and dominant seventh chords; non-tonal use of thirds; theme and variations; and rondo form. Level 4 – Intermediate harmony, ear training, sight singing, conducting and improvisation, using secondary dominants and chromatic non-harmonic tones; small subdivisions of the beat; changing meters; secondary dominants;9th, 11th and 13th chords; modulation; non-tonal use of sixths; and sonata and concerto form. Level 5 – Advanced harmonic concepts, ear training, sight singing, conducting and improvisation, using modes and remote modulation in twentieth-century idioms; polyrhythms, quintuplets and meters with unequal beats; tempo modulation; leading tone seventh chords, augmented sixth chords and Neapolitan chords; fugue; and intervals in a non-tonal context. Advanced Classes in Music History and Analysis – The study of the musical style of major composers, analysis of complete scores and readings in musicology. Students must complete a minimum of two of the following courses to meet the requirement for the Young Artist Certificate: Music History Overview - The Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern periods analyzed through the works of great composers from these eras. Middle Ages to the Classical Period - The study of msuical styles and forms of different eras, including Gregorian chant, opera, cantata, sonata and more. 1800s to the Present - The work of Schumann, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Mahler, Bartok, Ravel, Messian and others, viewed from national perspectives. Elective: Composition Seminar – Open to all students enrolled in the musicianship curriculum with permission of the department chair. Composition assignments are performed in reading sessions and recitals. Compositional techniques are discussed in class New Electives This Year Fundamentals of Electronic Music and Music Production - An examination of how recordingtechnology has impacted the creation and documentation of music, including soundwalks with iPads; recording techniques;the use of computers to edit, manipulate and invent sounds; projects in Garage Band; and terminology for working with audio, midi, editors, sequencers, and digital audio effects. Instrument Design: Past Present and Future - An overview of the history of instrument building, the evolution of instruments we use today and the changing relationship between composer, instrument builder and performer. Multimedia collaborative projects include building basic synthesizers, programming electronic circuits and instrument proto-typing projects with Arduino and Korg little bits. The class concludes with demonstrations of the student's own instrument designs. Public chamber music master classes, workshops and performances are part of the curriculum. Recent master classes have been presented by renowned musicians from the Bay Area and beyond. Dalcroze-Eurhythmics By tapping into the natural desire for movementthat all children possess, Eurhythmics imparts a thorough sense and feel for music and an understanding of its written language. The study ofmusic through movement cultivates inner hearing and gives children an intuitive understanding of musical elements, such as pulse, meter, rhythm, phrasing and form. Please note that all Dalcroze classes will begin two weeks late this Fall! First Steps at the Keyboard is a two-year course for the young pianist (ages five through eight). Using the Peery Habits Piano Curriculum, each group class contains assignments in three categories: · Muscular - developing muscular skills and a strong and correct hand position Students enrolled in this course are required to: |


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Arizona State at Oregon Game Preview
Oregon is taking on Arizona State in Autzen Stadium. The game last year should've been a loss for Oregon but lucked out when Arizona State turned the ball over seven times. Four turnovers and three fumbles will kill any team, and the Sun Devils only lost by 11. They outgained Oregon by over two hundred yards. Oregon only had 3.5 yards per carry and converted only 2 of 13 third down attempts. Bill C. at Football Study Hall had an adjusted score of Arizona State 28.5, Oregon 27.3.
This year the Sun Devils are without Steven Threet, who threw all four picks last year, and are one of the more experienced teams in the PAC-12. It's now or never for Dennis Erickson as this is one of the best teams he's had in Tempe.
Oregon's S&P+ has only improved sine last week. They have surpassed Stanford and now rank 6th in the country with a score of 267.1. Stanford is 7th with a score of 258.3. Oregon has the third best offense according to this stat and the thirteenth best defense. Stanford is the seventh best offense and 10th best defense. More importantly this week, Arizona State is 30th overall with a score of 227, offensively they are 33rd on offense with 114.4, and defensively rank 31st with 112.6.
There is a pretty big gap in terms of offense and defense as shown by the statistics, but you can also tell just by watching. Since the LSU game Oregon has played better offensively than I can ever remember with Chip Kelly as head coach. The defense has been bending and not breaking. At some point I just have to stop worrying about how the defense is giving up a lot of yards per game and is missing assignments and just be happy that they held Cal to under 20 points.
Arizona has been inconsistent so far this season. They have huge stretches of playing great and playing poorly. They took the second half off during the game against Missouri, which they won in overtime, and played their way in to a loss at Illinois. At Autzen, Arizona State can't get in to a funk or the crowd will go nuts and Oregon will pull away.
This may be the best case scenario for the "Jump" video that plays after the third quarter. The Athletic Department has been forcing this on people for the last year and now Autzen will be rocking enough to go all out. I really hope this works.
Oregon still struggles passing the ball when the other team knows they are going to pass the ball. On passing downs Oregon ranks 50th, with a score of 115.8. On downs where Oregon can be balanced and run or pass, they are the best in the country with a score of 168.5. Oregon's passing S&P+ is eighth best, meaning that it is absolutely crucial that Oregon doesn't get in a position where they need to get big chunks of yards or they are going to struggle when teams know they need to pass it. It's even more imperative with LaMichael James out for the offensive line to get a lot of push. Kenjon Barner is great but LaMichael James is truly a class all his own.
Arizona State, while a passing team, is surprisingly good at rushing the football and this is reflected in the Rushing S&P+ where they rank 17th with a score of 132.4. They are 48th in the country passing according to the same statistic and 48th in passing downs. What we can draw from this is that Arizona State is a good offense, but not super. Oregon is the best team Arizona State has played so far so it will be interesting to see how they respond to a really fast defense. Let's see if Oregon can also stop the Arizona State offense that racked up almost 600 yards of offense last year, mostly off swing passes to running backs who motioned out of the backfield and which softened up the middle of the field for running plays and deep passes.
This game is really going to come down to the defense. The defense needs to do a much better job of holding the Sun Devil defense down. The offensive line needs to get a push at the line because Kenjon Barner is such a hit or miss back. I don't know what is going on with Cliff Harris but he needs to figure it out (all I can assume with


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Senior Member
I fully understand some minor nerf to Lee Sin incoming, and that is what we got. However - these nerfs have made Lane Lee Sin extremely *sh!tty*. Let me explain: Lane Lee Sin's advantage was being melee, and being able to still last hit from a distance with Q,and getting out quickly with W. At lvl 1, the cooldown was pretty high for its utility. Now they nerfed his range on W as well! Now that cooldown is increased for what I see as no good reason? Forget the fact that it misses its target 6 or 7 times out of 10. TL;DR: Cool down nerf was stupid - damage scaling was fine, maybe even too little. Take his scaling to .8 and reduce his cooldowns back to where they were or even slightly less on Sonic Wave.
how do you know it made him bad when the servers are not up?
Varlal Souless
Seer Bael
upping the cooldown encourages players to not miss those 6 or 7 skill-shots and teaches them to be conservative spell timing and being able to accurately coordinate a champs abilities. Reducing cooldowns encourages players to increase their skill level...by not simply spamming spells to win
I find it funny that they nerfed his lategame damage instead of his early game burst due to high base damage. His level 2 ganks were more of an issue than his late game damage. Basically this nerf will do nothing.
So wait, wait, wait. They gave him a light nerf, and now he's unplayable? Go back under your bridge.
Soga no Tojiko
i don't see how those 2 small nerfs did anything really big to him


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That info is really helpful guys! Thanks a ton!
Liked a comment on the item Race Report: Oregon Enduro Series 2, Bend - Abby Hippely 1st Place 7/9/2014 1:00 PM
Added a comment about photo Race Report: Oregon Enduro Series 2, Bend - Abby Hippely 1st Place 7/8/2014 10:07 PM
Funner, Tiddlywinks and Tyler's Traverse were used for this Enduro. You can start at the Wanoga sno-park for all of these trails. Cog Wild is the best shuttle option. I recommend doing a shuttle or two and then ride from Wanoga into town on the last run and finish at 10 Barrel Brewing....Be sure to hit 'whoops' and the RIver Trail, too!
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In observance of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the Department of Housing and Community Development's Lead Safe Washington Program will host a Lead and Healthy Homes Intervention awareness fair from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at Marie Reed Recreational Center 2201 18th Street, NW, Washington DC 20009. This fair is to increase awareness of childhood lead poisoning prevention and healthy homes intervention.
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Under a Cold Emergency, additional services and supports are put in place to protect homeless residents. Learn more about a Cold Emergency.


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We've been experimenting with messages in various locations across Redfin.com. Recently, we placed an announcement in a message box at the top of our map page. Once the box is closed, it disappears until we run a new message.
When we released the latest version of Redfin.com, we ran our first message this space announcing our new neighborhood pages. The text was: "New! Pricing trends for every neighborhood. And more." With "neighborhood," we linked to a respective city page for each market. With "more," we linked to the Redfin blog post about the features of the latest release.
We were worried that placing an announcement across the top of the map would annoy people searching for homes. We ran the message for a week and tracked how often people dismissed the box and clicked-through to the links.
Click-Through Rate
The total click-through rate (CTR) for the message box was high (1.95%), higher than any other message location on Redfin.com. For the "neighborhood" anchor text, Seattle (2.93%) had the highest CTR and Southern California (1.35%) the lowest. The anchor text linking to the blog post had a CTR of 0.15%, which is not surprising given that it was the second link in the message.
Dismissal Rate
The dismissal rate for the message box was 1.50%. DC had the highest rate (1.86%) and Boston had the lowest (1.08%). The dismissal rate was lower than we expected. The low rate is likely due to the fact that users: 1) weren't seeing the box; 2) were unable to find the X to close the box; or 3) didn't mind having the box on the screen.
We're thinking about trying out a few different treatments for the box- different colors and different length messages to test how the dismissal and click-through rates change.
What about you? Did you notice the message? Did you leave it open or click it away?


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If you have any further queries or wish to make a booking then please feel free to contact us .
Venue Location
Swan Valley
Corner of Gnangara Rd & West Swan Rd
in the Edgecombes Café/Winery
TERMS & CONDITIONS: Bookings
Vouchers & Offers • You must state if using a voucher at the time of making a booking, otherwise normal pricing will apply. • All vouchers must be surrendered on day of play • All special offers, vouchers and deals are Not available in conjunction with any other offer • Vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash or credit. General • Players must be 12 years or over to play Paintball. Ages 12 to 15 will need a parent or guardian 18 years+ to accompany them, ages 16 and over can play unattended. • All players MUST pay their bill on the day of play. • We reserve the right to refuse a player if they are displaying inappropriate behaviour according to our policies and rules as outlined in our "Terms of Participation" registration form. • You agree to our "Terms and Conditions" once you have made a deposit or payment for your booking.


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Doing Good, Giving Back: SC Johnson Grants And Donations Total $248 Million Since 2000
RACINE, Wis., Feb. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 1915 when company founder and first generation leader, Samuel C. Johnson, laid the cornerstone for what is now the Racine YMCA, SC Johnson has worked to set a standard of community leadership through philanthropic efforts. That standard has become part of the company's ongoing commitment to doing the right thing in the communities in which it does business. An expanded section on the company's corporate website, www.scjohnson.com/socialresponsibility highlights these efforts and introduces a new online grant giving tool.
"We are honored to work in so many diverse communities across the globe. With that opportunity, we also have a responsibility to give back and we do it through providing grants, sponsoring student programs and organizing local volunteer efforts," said Kelly M. Semrau, Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs, Communication and Sustainability at SC Johnson. "We're proud to share these impactful stories on our expanded web site and hope that more non-profit organizations access information regarding our grant giving program."
Directly and through its corporate foundation, SC Johnson Giving, Inc., SC Johnson has granted more than $248 million since 2000, to local and global organizations. This includes hundreds of smaller grants every year as well as occasional large grants to support major or multi-year programs. In the last five years, SC Johnson made more than 1,250 small grants to support worthy initiatives.
For example, SC Johnson contributed to:
- Make-A-Wish of Wisconsin, to sponsor its Walk & Run for Wishes event
- Racine Kiwanis, to support renovation of a holiday lights display at the Racine Zoo
- Kenosha Public Museum, to sponsor its Sustainable Shelter exhibit
- Promoting Green Education in Shanghai: Each year, the company presents the SC Johnson Shanghai Youth Awards to deserving students who take part in an event, along with their teachers and other school leaders, showcasing youth environmental protection programs.
- Racine Reads: Dream Big!: In 2011, SC Johnson joined with community partners, including the Racine Public Library to challenge Racine elementary school students to read 1 million books during the school year. The students rose to the challenge and surpassed the goal, reading 1.8 million books. The grand prize for the school that read the most books per students was a $100,000 school library makeover.
- Supporting Education in India : Since 2009, SC Johnson India has been giving back to the local community by helping to provide quality primary education to young girls. By working with an organization that provides the necessary services, SC Johnson sponsors learning centers that focus on poor and disadvantaged communities, particularly in rural areas.
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text: Nope, I haven't lost my mind. I still love wheat and all of its gluten-y whole grain goodness. I do, however, have a few friends and relatives with food allergies and intolerances. And I am not a Monster. Its wrong to exclude them from all of the fun. Nut free is fairly easy. I do use my glass mixing bowl for the nut free people since my stainless one has scratches and I'm afraid it might have oils trapped from peanut butter related things. For dairy free things I use coconut oil instead of butter. Gluten free has been a long time coming. I have been reading about it for months. My cute sisters and my husbands sweet friend from school are both gluten free eaters… so from time to time I am going to make a few things that are gluten free. These were a great way to start. HERE is the recipe I used. I did weigh the flours. I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour to replace all three of Gluten Free Girl's flours. Also, I used regular granulated white sugar. I also substituted coconut oil for the shortening in the cream because I really don't care for shortening. I'm so pleased with how they turned out!


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Though we may not still be the raving capitalists we once were here in America, we still find the "socialist" label offensive and in direct conflict with philosophies of our founders. Socialism is, for better or worse, "…an economic system in which the means of production are publicly or commonly owned and controlled cooperatively, or a political philosophy advocating such a system. As a form of social organization, socialism is based on co-operative social relations and self-management; relatively equal power-relations and the reduction or elimination of hierarchy in the management of economic and political affairs." (borrowed shamelessly from Wikipedia)
No matter what Newsweek proclaimed on their cover a year or so ago, we are not all Socialists now. We abhor a collective mentality and we reject the systematic elimination of a highly competitive environment. We do not believe that the State knows better what we should do and how much we should be paid and to whom that pay should be redistributed to.
Americans have always longed for the crack of the bat that wins the World Series or the explosion of pads colliding during a winning touchdown. We love elections where great candidates fight for a hard won victory. We embrace the fact that wars must sometimes be fought to preserve freedom. And we know that freedom is the natural kryptonite of Socialism.
Socialists are never free. We have fought wars and will fight wars for our freedom and the freedom of millions around the globe.
Ok, you say, so what? Here is what.
The magic number "70" is the number of members of the 111th Congress who are members of the Democratic Socialists of America ("DSA"). These are not just politicians who vote left of center; these are card-carrying members of "The Democratic Socialists of America".
What exactly, you might ask, do these folks believe in? In their own words, "DISCOVER AND CREATE 21ST CENTURY SOCIALISM FOR BUILDING BRIDGES OF UNITY. WE ARE AN EDUCATIONAL AND INTERACTIVE GROUPING NETWORK GEARED TOWARDS PEACEFUL, PROGRESSIVE, AND RADICAL WORKS BASED SOLELY ON THE U.S. PERSPECTIVE."
But we are not Socialists, you say, so why do I care? Are we on a witch-hunt? Good question.
Do you care that our Congress has 70 of 435 members (16%) who are Democratic Socialists? Do you care that 11 of 23 (48%) Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee are Democratic Socialists? These are the folks to whom we have entrusted our judicial confirmations.
Please allow me to introduce our DSA members (as of 10/1/09):
Hon. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07)
Hon. Lynn Woolsey (CA-06)
Vice Chairs
Hon. Diane Watson (CA-33)
Hon. Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18)
Hon. Mazie Hirono (HI-02)
Hon. Dennis Kucinich (OH-10)
Senate Members
Hon. Bernie Sanders (VT)
House Members
Hon. Neil Abercrombie (HI-01)
Hon. Tammy Baldwin (WI-02)
Hon. Xavier Becerra (CA-31)
Hon. Madeleine Bordallo (GU-AL)
Hon. Robert Brady (PA-01)
Hon. Corrine Brown (FL-03)
Hon. Michael Capuano (MA-08)
Hon. André Carson (IN-07)
Hon. Donna Christensen (VI-AL)
Hon. Yvette Clarke (NY-11)
Hon. William "Lacy" Clay (MO-01)
Hon. Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05)
Hon. Steve Cohen (TN-09)
Hon. John Conyers (MI-14)
Hon. Elijah Cummings (MD-07)
Hon. Danny Davis (IL-07)
Hon. Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Hon. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03)
Rep. Donna F. Edwards (MD-04)
Hon. Keith Ellison (MN-05)
Hon. Sam Farr (CA-17)
Hon. Chaka Fattah (PA-02)
Hon. Bob Filner (CA-51)
Hon. Barney Frank (MA-04)
Hon. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11)
Hon. Alan Grayson (FL-08)
Hon. Luis Gutierrez (IL-04)
Hon. John Hall (NY-19)
Hon. Phil Hare (IL-17)
Hon. Maurice Hinchey (NY-22)
Hon. Michael Honda (CA-15)
Hon. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL-02)
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30)
Hon. Hank Johnson (GA-04)
Hon. Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
Hon. Carolyn Kilpatrick (MI-13)
Hon. Barbara Lee (CA-09)
Hon. John Lewis (GA-05)
Hon. David Loebsack (IA-02)
Hon. Ben R. Lujan (NM-3)
Hon. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14)
Hon. Ed Markey (MA-07)
Hon. Jim McDermott (WA-07)
Hon. James McGovern (MA-03)
Hon. George Miller (CA-07)
Hon. Gwen Moore (WI-04)
Hon. Jerrold Nadler (NY-08)
Hon. Eleanor Holmes-Norton (DC-AL)
Hon. John Olver (MA-01)
Hon. Ed Pastor (AZ-04)
Hon. Donald Payne (NJ-10)
Hon. Chellie Pingree (ME-01)
Hon. Charles Rangel (NY-15)
Hon. Laura Richardson (CA-37)
Hon. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34)
Hon. Bobby Rush (IL-01)
Hon. Linda Sánchez (CA-47)
Hon. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)
Hon. José Serrano (NY-16)
Hon. Louise Slaughter (NY-28)
Hon. Pete Stark (CA-13)
Hon. Bennie Thompson (MS-02)
Hon. John Tierney (MA-06)
Hon. Nydia Velazquez (NY-12)
Hon. Maxine Waters (CA-35)
Hon. Mel Watt (NC-12)
Hon. Henry Waxman (CA-30)
Hon. Peter Welch (VT-AL)
Hon. Robert Wexler (FL-19)
To read more about this organization or to see the source of this list, go to http://www.scribd.com/doc/35733956/DSA-Members-American-Socialist-Voter-Democratic-Socialists-of-America-10-1-09.
Please note that this list was compiled as of 10/1/09 and some members are no longer United States Congressmen. But this list is indicative of a Congress heavily influenced by socialists.
In fact, you may have noticed that Rep. Barney Frank, infamous from "Dodd-Frank", the massive overhaul of our entire financial system, is a DSA member. Does that concern you even just one little bit?
How about Rep. Charlie Rangel, so responsible for so much of our existing repressive and stifling tax code and a member who was one of only 23 House members to ever be censured for everything from tax code violations to unreported income? Remember, he wrote much of our tax code.
How about Rep. Ed Markey who voted to not count Ohio's 34 electoral votes in 2004?
These are but a few of our national leaders who subscribe to the philosophies of Socialism yet who exercise vast influence over our daily lives and our economy.
When you have that nagging feeling that Congress' current approval rating of 10% is still overstated and you feel that our government is just not listening to you, you may just be right about that…at lease for the folks on this list.
When will we care who we ask to lead us, whether it be in Congress or in the White House?


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Gamestop Black Ops 2 Pre-order Deals
Rahil Bhagat / Nov 12th, 2012 No Comments
The final Gamestop Black Ops 2 pre-order deals will be coming to a close as the game releases Nov. 13. It has been months since Gamestop, the world's largest video game retailer, started rolling out these pre-order bonuses for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. Now, with only hours left, the time to grab some sweet extras is running out. Gamestop's pre-order plan looked something like this: there were four waves of bonuses and if you pre-ordered as soon as it was available, you got an item from each of the four waves, but as the game got closer to release earlier waves started to expire. At this point in time, only the last wave remains.
So basically, you can choose between the confirmed chance to get an in-game player card or a chance to enter one of the two sweepstakes for either the trip around LA or the Kawasaki vehicle. It's also important to note that like all other retailers, pre-orders at Gamestop will get everyone a free copy of the Nuketown 2025 map and access to Black Ops 2 Double XP on Nov. 16 – 18. So you won't go home completely empty-handed if you don't win the sweepstakes.
Overall, while Gamestop's selection of pre-order bonuses is certainly unique, a lot of other retailers are offering interesting deals of their own. A particular favorite is what the Microsoft Store is offering for the Xbox version of the game–you get 1600 Microsoft Points and store credit. Amazon is also offering something very interesting as a pre-order bonus–you get 5 bucks worth of Amazon video and a free e-book hat that talks about the backstory behind Black Ops 2's main villain.
Wherever you buy Black Ops 2 from, it's no doubt going to be one of the biggest video game launches in history. As gamers, we can only hope that Treyarch and Activision do an outstanding job.
tags: activision , black ops , black ops 2 , call of duty , call of duty black ops , call of duty black ops 2


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Fitting in with the Avengers is not an easy job, not for a woman with no true powers beyond years of training and a ruthless ambition to succeed at any given task, and after a midair battle separates the Black Widow from the rest of her team, the mission to protect an advanced robot just got harder. Luckily, the Black Widow has her skills on her side, and the Avenger known as the Wasp at her back. Unluckily, the robot's owner is Dr. Doom, and Latveria's despotic ruler will stop at nothing to reclaim his own.
Preview: Black Widow & The Marvel Girls #2
Thu, December 17th, 2009 at 8:58pm PST
- Story by
- Paul Tobin
- Art by
- Jacopo Camagni
- Cover by
- Salvador Espin
- Publisher
- Marvel Comics
- Cover Price:
- $2.99
- Release Date
- Dec 23rd, 2009
- Browse for similar previews
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Rather than depriving herself of her favorite foods, Jessica has found ways to indulge in healthy ways! Jess explained how she turned her 'diet' into a lifestyle — and shared her inspiring weight loss philosophy!
Jessica Simpson has returned to Weight Watchers after the birth of her second child, Ace. Jess revealed that she is taking her weight loss journey day by day — but she's definitely not skipping out on any of her favorite treats! Jessica explained in a new interview how she has flipped her diet to include her favorite foods and still lose the baby weight.
Jessica Simpson's Post-Baby Weight Loss Struggles & Diet Explained
Jessica, 33, admitted that her second pregnancy wasn't as tough as her first, but that she was still shocked by the changes in her body. "I didn't gain as much weight in my second pregnancy, but I still gained a lot of weight," Jessica told ABC News. "Any woman, dealing with their body after pregnancy, you look at yourself and you're like, 'What just happened to me?'"
In addition to counting her Weight Watchers points, Jessica is turning her favorite foods into healthier versions of themselves! "An indulgence for me is like, ice cream, so I can have a Skinny Cow for four points, and I know that that'll be the sugar that I want that day," she told ABC. "Today we just had an eight-point lunch, and it was a faux spicy chicken sandwich from Wendy's but it wasn't from Wendy's – we made it in a healthy way."
For Jessica, her new method is modifying her favorite foods to be healthier. "I love to eat pizza," she said, "And I now eat my pizza on a tortilla."
Jessica Simpson's Post-Baby Weight Loss Journey
Jessica developed an amazing weight loss philosophy to follow.
"I'm taking it week by week so I don't get frustrated with myself," she told ABC. "If I had a long-term goal, and that's all I thought about it, I think it would set me back more. So I really, every week, try to make sure I stick with my points and get four workouts in. That's my goal this week, and I hope that I can lose from that. If not, I'm going to keep on going and try it the next week. So far, so good."
What do YOU think, HollyMoms? Are you impressed with Jessica's weight loss journey?
WATCH: Jessica Simpson Shows Off Her Daughter Maxwell Backstage At 'Fashion Star'
– Kristine Hope Kowalski
More Jessica Simpson Baby News:
- Jessica Simpson Debuts Baby Ace & Reveals She Is 'Done' Having Kids
- Jessica Simpson Shows Off Adorable Picture Of Baby Ace At 3 Months
- Jessica Simpson Shows Off Mini-Me Daughter Maxwell's Gorgeous Curls
View Comment
Posted at 9:10 AM on November 13, 2013
I feel Jessica is on the right path because you have to make it a lifestyle to succeed. By changing your habits, you change your lifestyle. People have to focus on making lifelong commitments to proper nutrition and exercise, not focusing on temporary diets!
"Sporadic efforts don't just produce sporadic results, sometimes they produce zero results." Tom Venuto
Visit my blog for more no fluff weight loss advice!
Posted at 9:43 PM on October 29, 2013
Posted at 9:39 PM on October 29, 2013
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