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I was unable to attend the Predictive Analytics World Conference 2012 being held this week in Chicago, but am looking forward to the Boston event during the first week of October.
The agenda for Monday, the 1st of October, has Dr. Scott Nicholson from LinkedIn listed to present the opening keynote speech. Scott has a PhD in Economics from Stanford and his LinkedIn profile says he is the Chief Data Scientist for Accretive Health. I suspect that "formerly from LinkedIn" would be a more appropriate description for Scott.
One of the main reasons I am attending PAW Conference is to hear Dr. John Elder, the founder and CEO of Elder Research. On Monday's special plenary session, John will cover the concept of having a sophisticated algorithm working as your "Wingman" assigned to complex tasks. On Wednesday, John will also lead a special day-long workshop on predictive analytics using his book, Handbook of Statistical Analysis and Data Mining Applications.
I am also interested to hear Tuesday's keynote speech from Bob Jewell of IBM Watson Solutions talking about the practical business applications for the Jeopardy-playing software.
In addition to all of the great predictive analytics topics, the event provides an opportunity to hang out along the Boston Harbor at the Seaport Hotel. If you hurry, you can still get an early-bird special for the PAW Conference and $279 nightly hotel rates.
Perhaps we will see each other there.


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RESEARCHERS took to the streets of San Francisco this weekend to protest at the US's travel restrictions on people with HIV. Delegates to the Sixth International Conference on AIDS, led by the two chairmen, joined a Unity March organised by 75 agencies in the city on Saturday. Banners in the crowd read 'Discrimination kills', 'Stop AIDS not people with AIDS' and 'AIDS is a global crisis'.
John Ziegler, one of the chairmen and a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, said the immigration laws were 'discriminatory and medically insupportable'. Among the marchers was Jonathan Mann, former head of the World Health Organization's Global Programme on AIDS. He had just received a standing ovation for a speech arguing that AIDS had become 'a crucible in which the future of health is being forged'.
Mann said people with HIV and AIDS had 'declared their firm intent to participate in, rather ...
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The Peace Corps' Shortage of Applicants
The Peace Corps boasts that it receives a great many initial applications for Volunteer service. It's recently announced, for example, that applications are up "70%."
However, according to the most recent statistics released by the Peace Corps to Wiki under the Freedom of Information Act, the agency has no current surplus of applicants who are medically qualified to become Peace Corps Volunteers. Only medically fit applicants can become Volunteers, so emphasizing the size of the initial applicant pool can be irrelevant and misleading.
Indeed, for the Peace Corps to tout how many initial "applicants" they have before the medical screening process may be intentionally misleading. The Peace Corps knows that applicants might lose interest in joining if they hear that the agency is having trouble filling its slots.
What the Shortage of Applicants Means
The truth is that the selectivity of Volunteers is minimal – other than to determine if the applicant is medically fit. One hundred percent of the applicants who are medically fit are invited to training and service as a Volunteer.
This means that applicants who are medically fit could have virtually unlimited leverage with the Peace Corps to control the placement process. They could, for example, insist on being sent to a country with a low early quit rate and with the best survey responses from the Volunteers (these results are posted on the Wiki). The Peace Corps could then no longer say, "If you don't accept this offer, there might not be another." If no surplus exists, that warning is merely a ruse. The Peace Corps has no surplus of applicants it can turn to if one applicant become selective and refuses to adhere to the script of the bureaucrats.
Applicants should have no fear of insisting that they be placed in a country with a low early quit rate and strongly positive ratings from the annual survey of Volunteers. The potential power rests with the applicants. This is a case where the buyer is king. In the commercial market place, if sellers outnumber buyers, the buyers are usually king. That's the situation with the Peace Corps application process.
The Peace Corps has tacitly acknowledged this situation with its recent statement that it will now – as it never has before – seek to honor the country and program requests of the applicants, seek to expedite the onerous medical screening process, and otherwise cater to the applicants. See http://www.peacecorps.gov/media/forpress/press/2418/
In addition to a shortage of applications, the number of Peace Corps Volunteers in the field seems to be declining in real terms. In 2009, 4,188 Volunteers entered service; in 2010, 4,338; in 2011, only 3,431; and in 2012, 2,871. This implies that the problem is more than the absence of a surplus; the Peace Corps is contracting.
Would an individual want to attend a college that could barely fill its freshman class and accepted 100% of the applicants? Or is not able to fill its Freshman class? What would this lack of selectivity mean in terms of the quality of their classmates and the value of the degree?
Background of the Data
Six years ago PC Wiki received data from the Peace Corps – via a FOIA request – that in FY 2007 the Peace Corps received 11,108 applications, but only 4,588 survived the medical and legal clearance process to become "qualified." Of this pool, 4,408 were invited to training. This means that of this pool of "qualified" applicants, 96% or all but 180 were invited to training. The ratio of those who were medically and legally cleared to those who were invited to training was 1.04 to 1.
Pursuant to the same FOIA request, Wiki found that in FY 2008 the Peace Corps reported that it received 13,041 applications, but only 4,265 survived the medical and legal clearance process to become "qualified." Of this pool, 4,123 were invited to training. This means that from this pool of "qualified" applicants, 96.7% or all but 142 were invited to training. The ratio of those who were medically cleared to those who were invited to training was 1.03 to 1.
When the Wiki filed a FOIA request to update this data, it was absolutely clear what we wanted. Indeed, PC Wiki cited the data it had previously received from the Peace Corps as the template for what it was asking in the new request. Nonetheless, the Peace Corps dissembled for six months – repeatedly misconstruing the request for what was being sought and forwarding the wrong data in an obvious attempt to hide the facts about the applicant pool shortage.
The Peace Corps finally complied with FOIA and provided current data that show that in 2009 89% of the applicants who were medically fit were invited to training and service; in 2010, 87%; in 2011, 90%; and in 2012, 99%. Indeed, in 2012, only 16 of the applicants who were found to be medically fit were not invited to training and service. Printed below is the table from which these percentages are derived.
A Shortage of Applicants Means Lack of Selectivity
The lack of selectivity at the Peace Corps compares unfavorably with the acceptance rate for Teach for America, which also involves a two-year service commitment. In 2011 it received a record number of 48,000 applications. The organization selected 5,200 applicants to be teachers — 77 percent graduated this spring, 6 percent of them graduate students and 17 percent professionals. In 2010 the organization received 46,000 applications and accepted 12 percent.
The fact that the Peace Corps is not selective – other than for medical fitness – means that it cannot select the applicants who have the greatest commitment to grassroots development assistance, those with the deepest experience of immersion in a foreign culture, or those with particularly useful skills. The absence of selectivity means that the Peace Corps is taking in many who will quit early – one explanation for the high and costly early quit rates.
The bottom line for applicants is clear. Applicants have power. They can insist that they be sent to a country with a low early quit rate and superior ratings from the annual surveys of Volunteers. PC Wiki recommends that applicants insist on their requests, and, if they are not honored, that their applications be placed on hold until they are honored.
The Peace Corps may complain that these statistics are not the most current, but it has the power to publish the most current statistics. It could admit that it has an application shortage. It could admit that it is unable to be selective, other than for medical fitness.
As for PC Wiki, we have found that securing data from the Peace Corps under the Freedom of Information Act to be so difficult that no additional FOIA requests for updates of the selectivity/application data will be filed. Wiki urges applicants to request the most current data from their recruitment officers. (Applicants should seek the percentage of applicants who have survived the medical screening process who are invited to training.) If the placement officer won't provide the current statistics, applicants should put their applications on hold until the Peace Corps becomes transparent with applicants.
The reason that Wiki is publishing these data is to encourage the Peace Corps to intervene to reform the poorly managed programs. If applicants use the data to become selective and to employ their latent power arising from the shortage of applicants, the Peace Corps may have to reform the poorly managed programs. Wiki is attempting to use market forces – consumer demand – to drive reform. Applicants have power, both to secure an invitation to serve in a well managed country and also to encourage the Peace Corps to overhaul the poorly managed countries.
Applicant Pool Data: 2009 - 2012
|Applicant Cohort Actions - FY 2009-2012
Follows a cohort of applicants that applied during a particular fiscal year through the application process
|Fiscal Year
|Number of Applicants
|Applicants Who Were Nominated
|Applicants Who Were Medically and Legally Qualified
|Applicants Who Were Invited for Service
|Applicants with an Active Status (The number of applicants in each cohort that are active as of 4.7.2014 who may still advance through the application process)
|Applicants Who Entered on Duty


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The Sports Network
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, November 21, 4:30 p.m. (et)
FACTS & STATS: Site: A.J. Palumbo Center (4,406) -- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Television: None. Home Record: NDST 2-0, JMU 0-0. Away Record: NDST 1-1, JMU 0-2. Neutral Record: NDST 1-0, JMU 1-0. Conference Record: NDST 0-0, JMU 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.
GAME NOTES: The James Madison Dukes look forward to possibly having an easier time of it on Wednesday afternoon, as they clash with North Dakota State in subregional action for the Legends Classic at the A.J. Palumbo Center.
James Madison, which is meeting the Bison for the first time ever on the hardwood, needed some late heroics on Tuesday in order to notch their first win of the 2012-13 season, taking down the Youngstown State Penguins by just a single point, 69-68. The Dukes had been working towards their first win as they went from losing to UCLA by 30 points in the season opener, to bowing in overtime to Duquesne by just two points on Monday.
As for the Bison, a group which is representing the Summit League, they took out a couple of easy targets in the early going this season, topping the likes of Valley City State and Mayville State, but this tournament has included some more formidable competition for sure. After defeating Youngstown State by three points in overtime on Monday, North Dakota State dominated host Duquesne on Tuesday in a 57-43 final for its third straight win and the fourth in five tries.
The Bison shot just 39.0 percent from the floor on Tuesday and converted a mere 5-of-11 at the free-throw line, yet that was still good enough to get the double-digit win against host Duquesne at the Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh. Leading the way on offense for NDST was TrayVonn Wright who not only scored a game-high 18 points, he also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds as well. Marshall Bjorklund accounted for another 12 points and Taylor Braun 11 points to go along with six assists and three steals for the visitors. While he finished with just six points in 13 minutes off the bench yesterday, Mike Felt remains the top scoring threat for the Bison with his 15.8 ppg, stemming from his incredible 20-of-38 (.526) shooting behind the three-point line which is actually better than his overall accuracy from the floor at 49.0 percent. Braun and Bjorklund check in with 13.0 and 11.4 ppg, respectively, as well for a team outscoring the competition by 14 ppg.
JMU trailed by as many as 11 points late in the first half against Youngstown State on Tuesday, but the Dukes refused to go away quietly as they managed to overturn a four-point deficit in the final 30 seconds of regulation and pull out the one-point victory. James Madison made it happen thanks to a three- pointer by Alioune Diouf with 23 seconds left and a pair of Charles Cooke free throws with just 10 seconds remaining. In that second half the Dukes got a huge boost from the bench which outscored the YSU reserves 12-0. Overall it was Rayshawn Goins who led the way with a game-high 21 points, followed by Diouf with 15, Cooke 11 points and Andre Nation 10 points in a reserve role. The leading scorer and rebounder in all three games thus far, Goins is averaging nearly a double-double with his 21.7 ppg and 9.7 rpg. Unfortunately, as well as Goins has played, it is still tough to combat the fact that this team is giving up 86.0 ppg right now.
Unless the defense for the Dukes gets more involved moving forward, teams like the Bison will take advantage and that could lead to yet another win for North Dakota State on Wednesday.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: North Dakota State 74, James Madison 65


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School has been cancelled here for tomorrow already too. Not much snow, but at least an inch of ice in everything and another inch of sleet on top of that. Yuck. Not sure if DH will have work or a delay or what, but he'll find out in the morning. I did finally put my bike on the trainer in the basement, all set up with the TV, but then ate such a huge dinner that riding the trainer was not happening!
DS's school is closed for tomorrow, but only because the boiler is out. They follow Denver public schools for closure/delays, and so far it looks like DPS is the only school district still on. Of course, MY school won't close. I was really kind of hoping for this morning, but no such luck. It was brutal. Our classroom was so cold this morning that I wore my down coat for the entire four hours. Going out in the hallway was ridiculous. At least the afternoon was upstairs and slightly warmer.
And in the "my nanny really can't cook" category...I asked her if she and DS could make cornbread from a box mix to go with our dinner tonight (white chili in the crockpot). Somehow, she managed to turn out completely flat hockey pucks of cornbread muffins. From a mix. I'm actually a little scared for tomorrow, since I suggested today that a good too-cold-to-leave-the-house day activity might be to make cookies and she decided they're going to give it a try tomorrow.
Gaye, single mama to Tyler (5/06) and Baxter the labradoodle
Wait...I signed up to DO an Ironman??? I thought I was signing up to go SEE Ironman!
I'm exporting part 2 of the presentation now. J is still awake, but hopefully will fall asleep and I can finally get on the TM for a 10:30 pm run. Yuck.
on closures: from HR today:
A. the HR department sent an email to everyone, misspelling governor.
B. The greeting was "Good Afternoon," despite it being 5:40 when it was sent
and then there's the obvious:
C. Why why why no winter storm here?
Everyone stay warm. Probably some of you have power outages, given the predictions of storming I've seen.
My day just opened up a bit: my pre-class appointment canceled overnight. I also got a decent amount of sleep and was WIDE awake at 4am. So, I'm up, working on stuff for later this week. Hopefully all that means that I can ski this afternoon (although a trip to the front porch for firewood suggests the winds are pretty fierce right now. brrr.
Snow all night plus snow predicted for today means no school for the kids today. At this rate they will be going to school into July. I think they had used up their built in snow days in Dec. And the school calls our house with an automated message at 6 am announcing the lack of school. Which. Wakes. Everyone. Up.
At least we have electricity and hot coffee.
I suspect part of my exercise today will be shoveling. And chasing the kids outside to play. :)
No school today for my kiddos either. I'm thinking about going over to my mom's (who is a teacher, so no school for her either) with the kids and baking cookies (I CAN bake )
Already got my workout in today. c25k 6-1 and 130 calories on the bike (15min?) to round off at 500 calories burned for the day. I'm icing my aching shins now and debating whether or not I will run tomorrow.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Plus DH & DD1(8) & DS(6) & DD2(5) & DD3(2)
Poor dh had to shovel his way out this AM because for some reason, he couldn't get the snowblower to start (too cold?). He shoveled just enough to get out, so I guess my exercise will also involve snow removal today. My kids are on a 2-hour delay, and I can finish up the project I have from home, I think.
If things clear up nicely by noon or so, perhaps I will venture out.
Dh leaves next Saturday. He wants me to be done working right now. I understand why, but I did give them next week as my final date. Next week will already likely involve realtor appointments, and that means cleaning like crazy this weekend. Urg.
Need to muster some productivity today. RM, thanks for the props. I am not feeling amazing today.
I hope everyone is keeping warm and enjoying a snow day today.
Wow, Jo, this is all happening so quickly. It's very exciting to read along, and I'm glad that selling things off is going so well already! Sounds like your farm has lots of interest, too.
Real, blech to running at 10:30. I would not have that kind of energy.
Track this evening, although getting there might be tricky with our older DD's track try-outs tonight, too. She really hopes to make the team, but there is a lot of competition. She has really found her running groove, though, and if she made it on the team, that would be so nice for her.
Other than that, just work, work, work. Which reminds me to get off MDC and get to work.
Quick question: you all who use trainers to ride your bikes indoors, tell me about them (the trainers, I mean). How big, how complicated, how expensive... I am just not going to be riding up and down this crazy, busy highway, so I'm looking for a biking alternative.
mom to 3 lovely kids
We had rain and thunderstorms last night then the temp plummetted suddenly. Running water froze in its tracks. Right now we have wind and snow. The streets are ugly and dangerous as it is garbage day for the East side of town. I've cleaned ours up twice but the first time was because I sent a teenboy to do what is apparently a woman's job. Then I handled my neighbors.
In school news, dd2's teacher does not think I am crazy. She actually recommended the book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother as a book that she found validating and felt I would too. I know dd3's teacher thinks I am a bit over the top.
On tap yet: some house cleaning, GOTR coaches meeting, swim board doodoo, errands for 100th day of school, fun with the little guy, etc.
Jo ~ but alas, you ARE amazing, whether you feel it or not!
Snow removal on the docket here today too. DH's work was cancelled again today, so another day inside for the family. This time I'm riding the trainer before eating!
Gaye ~ brrrrrr...... that sounds miserable! Hope your nanny does okay with cookies. Messing up cornbread from a mix is beyond my comprehension. It's not like you can leave out the baking powder!
kerc ~ it's amazing that your town, of all places, did NOT get snow!
Happy Shoveling to everyone else!
RR: supposed to run 3 miles today, and LR on Friday, but since we are home again today, I just thought LR today would be best. Also wanted to see how my body felt and did running 8miles today after 4 fast miles (5 total) yesterday. Went well. Now no worries about fitting it all in on Friday. If kids get back to school that is. :)
NRR: iced in, snowed in, you name it. Kids have played outside for many hours today though, so that's great. They are having a ball with the ice. They also did some cleaning so the house looks good. All in all, nice day.
Jaygee~well said about Jo. :)
MM~awesome improvment on your pace/running!!! Way to go!
Mamajb~so good to hear your enthusiasm on your workout. Nice!!
Alex~loved reading about your run with the boys. Love the meal too! yum!!
Marathon alert~ $65 for a marathon, flat course, travel includes just driving to and from race (maybe 20 minutes each?), October date. For some reason I really feel like signing up today. *shrug*
Ugh, so dumb, I know!
I got the smaller snowbloer going by alternating between praying and cussing. I think I was able to drill through one drift to make a wide enough tunnel for the minivan, and I got the end of the driveway open, and the thing shut down a couple times on my in between...and eventually I gave up on machinery and finished with the shovel. When I look back on our first winter here and all the shoveling I did by hand, I wonder how the heck I did it all. And, how did I get so tired in 4 years?
In other news, PMS city. Thank goodness it was not a snow day here. Also, I have definitely eaten more than enough calories to fuel the struggles of the day. Maybe the convo with my mother helped with that. She seems to think I am moving too fast to get rid of stuff. Um, hello? Dh could be leaving in a month, or maybe two...and seriously, how much stuff do we need around us? I am absolutely not worried about "needing" any of the stuff we're getting rid of.
Two realtor meetings scheduled next week. Less stuff means less to clean, right JayGee? Going through closets and toys this weekend. Also want to try to schedule a YMCA SPA DAY with my sister.
jo, perhaps your mom doesnt like being faced with the reality of your move. For her it might be worrisome and she'll miss you. For you it is exciting and work to get done.
Alex, I've been keeping up on your blogs. I really enjoy them.
In other positive news I made my January goal of getting back to weight lifting a minimum of 2 days a week. Three would be better but I wanted to make my goal. For February I want to get the binging under control. I wrote down my guidelines and as it is a short month I hope I can do it.
I love days when I get dinner made early and it waits for me - chili tonight. Gotta run before people realize what I am doing.
RR um I walked the mall
Ugh. I have not had a run today and I desperately need one. Oldest dd is having eye surgery on Friday, my parents are here, and dh is stuck in Boston and can't get home until the weekend, which means he will miss the surgery.
But...it is in the 70's and sunny so who am I to complain?
Stay warm and safe Dingo Mamas!
Jo -- your mom is probably just projecting her anxiety about your leaving by telling you you're getting rid of stuff too fast. It makes it too real for her.
I had more personals but my mom keeps reading over my shoulder. Later.
"Now bid me run, and I will strive with things impossible." (William Shakespeare -- Julius Caesar)
We are totally snowed in here. I scaled a 6' drift this morning while walking my dogs. No school today, and no school tomorrow. It's been nice to have a snow day, we never get enough time together, but somehow I thought I would get more done around the house.
FMR: I feel like I've got shin splints. I haven't been running. Could I have just strained that muscle on the front of my leg? IS there a muscle on the front of the leg or just a tendon? I know I overdid it hauling in supplies yesterday. I bought like 150 lbs of food in prep for the storm--we had no bottled water in the house and we are close enough to the lake that I was concerned about an emergency water shut off from the floods there were concerns about (that thankfully didn't materialize.) Anyway I totally aggravated my foot pain, but I don't know what the heck I did to the shin on the other leg.
Jo ~ I think mommajb and RM are onto something regarding your Mom. She's going to miss you, and all your preparation for the move makes it more "real". And yes, LESS to move is much, much better!
RR ~ ran 4.25 and walked 1 on the indoor track ! After DH gets home from soccer tonight, I plan to jump on my trainer for a short ride too.
Yes! Just tonight in our track practice we heard about an exercise for strengthening the shin muscles. It goes like this:
Stand on the edge of a low step by your toes, with your heels off the edge of the step. Stand up on your toes, and slowly lower your heels down to hanging below the step a bit. If it feels too easy, try coming down on just one toe.
See if that helps or if it feels like it's working the right area. But get healed up first!
mom to 3 lovely kids
Yes! Just tonight in our track practice we heard about an exercise for strengthening the shin muscles. It goes like this:
Stand on the edge of a low step by your toes, with your heels off the edge of the step. Stand up on your toes, and slowly lower your heels down to hanging below the step a bit. If it feels too easy, try coming down on just one toe.
See if that helps or if it feels like it's working the right area. But get healed up first!
Or walk on your heels, aka "duck walks" We used to do this after warm-ups in xc and track. I started doing it again this week and my shins are starting to feel better. Ice after a workout really helps too.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Plus DH & DD1(8) & DS(6) & DD2(5) & DD3(2)
4.5 hours of hard, heavy snow shoveling! There is a ton of snow!!! The kids mostly hung out, played in the snow outside and watched a movie. I passed out and took a nap during their movie. We had a couple of kids over all day today, and will have them tomorrow. In exchange, she took all three of mine over night for a sleepover!
Not perfect, Just amazing!
Don't we need a February thread? Won't some enterprising young thing with energy, who actually runs, go start it? I'm aged and worn out and haven't run in a week.
And my kids have been off school for two days; I have not. And ds threw up tonight meaning he's off school tomorrow, too! and I am not. He'll have to be my Special Guest again. Like he was on Tuesday. <sigh>
I'm going to have to run tomorrow. No ifs, ands, or buts about it!
Dingo mamas, can I get some advice? There's a local-ish half I'd love to do in May, but. I ran a bad bad half in late September (IT band problems) and was just getting into the groove again in December/January, then skipped two weeks to travel, then ran and had.... IT band issues. I did PT about a year ago and just could cry with the prospect of having to schedule all those appointments, etc. again.
Is signing up for the half, which will fill up soon, likely to:
a. motivate me to do my PT exercises and yoga?
b. be a waste of $65 if I can't run
c. prompt me to run whatever my IT band is like, which will go badly and hurt like hell for many miles?
Penelope if you cant get in for PT or massage can you work your IT with a tennis ball ? pr have DH do it ? and I vote race its 65$ and it could be awesome and its certainly a motivator to train and take care of you ! and if it does work it doesn't no big deal right ?
but this is all from the girl limp runnng the trail by my house on a regular basis
New Thread!
"Now bid me run, and I will strive with things impossible." (William Shakespeare -- Julius Caesar)
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CHESTERTOWN With mock disgust, Tom Martin looked at his racing dragster which had been modified to travel over snow for the Krazy Downhill Derby held Saturday Feb. 23. This beloved local event annually attracts competitors from a wide region for its festive atmosphere spiked with creativity and humor.
The running gear on Martin's vehicle, including skis strapped to its front wheels which were scavenged from a wheelchair, and its rear suspension – minivan wheels tied to plastic sled saucers – were beat up after the race. Martin's metal monstrosity had rotated and careened backwards down Dynamite Hill, with a crowd yelling in anticipation of a snowy crash.
"No one would believe us if we said we planned this," quipped Martin, as he and his cohorts Drew Kuklinski and Chris Walker, both from Chestertown, positioned the vehicle to be loaded onto a trailer.
Before the race, they described the vehicle's elaborate steering system, and its brake, a landscaping rake jutting out of the back of the heavy-duty steel vehicle.
Afterwards, they exchanged mock blame for the dubious engineering, but decided that Kuklinski hanging off the back of the dragster, lifted the front skis off the snow, rendering the complex steering useless.
"We'll be re-engineering this for next year," Martin said with a grin. "We'll redistribute the weight, and won't be using those saucers."
Competing craft, piloted by youngsters, had managed to stay on course as they traversed downhill.
One of them was a faux logging skidder, constructed with two-by-fours and thick plywood, appearing to weigh 200 pounds or so. Driving the boxy, hulking vehicle for Baker Logging were three Baker children – Hayden, 4; Cyrus, 5; and Wyatt, 10. The craft made it downhill with young Wyatt manipulating the two-by-four levers that dug into the snow for steering.
"I was headed toward the crowd, and I just pulled back on one brake and pushed the other, and we straightened out," Wyatt Baker said.
(Continued on Next Page)
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FactChecking 'The Pledge'
Republicans' "Pledge to America" falls short on some of its facts.
The Republican "Pledge to America," released Sept. 23, contains some dubious factual claims. It declares that "the only parts of the economy expanding are government and our national debt." Not true. So far this year government employment has declined slightly, while private sector employment has increased by 763,000 jobs. It says that ... Full Story »Posted by Donica Mensing - via FactCheck, NewsRack (Politics), JR Russ (t), Fabrice Florin (t), David K. Miller (t), Steven K Samra (f), Fabrice Florin (f)


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The International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) is the leading global membership organization for open, distance, flexible and online education, including e-learning. Membership of ICDE is open to teaching institutions offering post-secondary and/ or adult education, research institutions, educational authorities and agencies, educational service companies, and individuals. Associate membership is also available for not-for-profit membership organizations.
ICDE's member-driven agenda
The organization has a member-driven approach to its key areas:
- Leadership for Change – how can institutions adapt to an increasingly open and online world?
- Policies for creating a favourable framework for open, distance, flexible and online education
- Global mapping of open, distance and online education
- Supporting teaching and faculty in open and distance learning techniques
- Research and innovation towards high quality open and distance learning
- Increasing attainment levels of adult learners in higher education through ODL
- Open Educational Resources
- Quality Review service for institutions
- Scholarly articles on research and innovation in open, distance and flexible education in the peer-reviewed open access scholarly journal Open Praxis
- Partnership and networking
- Knowledge sharing through conferences and meetings
The ICDE network
Membership brings access to an established network of 160 institutions and organizations worldwide, representing over 60 countries, and responsible for educating up to 10% of the world's student population. The network is unique in its north-south focus, and because of its consultative partner status with UNESCO, and close relations with other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
Membership provides you with a link to ICDE's tremendous network of knowledge and expertise, and the opportunity to make use of this network both on your own initiative and through participation in ICDE events and projects.
Membership of ICDE also allows institutions, organizations and individuals to raise their profile internationally, and provides a platform for the dissemination of information relating to events, initiatives and research.
ICDE individual members, the staff of member institutions, and the staff and Executive Board of associate members benefit from a discount on the ICDE World Conference fee, and fees for other ICDE events. ICDE also enters into partnerships to bring discounts for members for third-party events, when purchasing publications and services, and for free trials of software and other services.
Member institutions may apply to host the ICDE World Conference, or a smaller ICDE International Conference in order to attract leading figures from the world of open, distance and online education to their country.
Rectors, Presidents, and Chief Executive Officers from ICDE member institutions and associate mebers are invited to attend the annual Standing Conference of Presidents (SCOP) meeting, a forum for peer-to-peer discussions on key issues in educational management.
For more details on ICDE membership and benefits please see the documents below.


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Still-lifes of flowers, but not as we know it from Thomas Hauser
To say "Thomas takes photographs of flowers'" is a bit misleading. Although it is correct, Thomas Hauser is by no means creating non-specific mantlepiece fodder for the likes of Clinton Cards, oh no. Cast off your cynical preconceptions of flower photography and take a look at these beautifully eerie blooms, arranged and photographed by Berlin-based, monochrome-loving creative.


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Maria Moore captures the traces left by adrenaline-packed paintball battles
If you've been to a paintball session, you'll recognise the crazed, action-packed and normally freezing lark around in the mud that appeal to so many. As the inevitable dodging of bullets falters and your retaliation has sapped all ammunition, the place to be is behind cover, blending in with the unusual landscapes created to feed the frenzied Rambo fray.
As this pseudo war runs its course, the battlegrounds cease to be at the blow of a whistle, leaving only Traces of what was. And this is the focus of Maria Moore's photographic series that captures the unique landscapes made up of largely obsolete objects in isolation, devoid of the thrillseeking warriors that give them purpose. All that remains with any viewer is the remnants of a scenario, the echoes of laughter and the pat-pat of air powered guns.


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Kisumu/Nairobi — Scientists have welcomed the development of genome sequence data on the tsetse fly, the vector responsible for the transmission of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly known as sleeping sickness. They say it could be instrumental in devising strategies to eradicate the fly and reduce deaths and the spread of other diseases associated with it.
"The genome data could ultimately advance knowledge on the biology of the tsetse fly and the trypanosome parasite it carries. Aspects of its biology may offer some vulnerabilities, such as the rearing of live young inside pregnant females, the dependence of the fly on bacteria that live inside its cells and its unusual prey-finding behavior," Mathew Berriman, group leader, Parasite Genomics with Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, told IRIN by email.
"The protein involved in sensing light, smell and taste have been found opening the door for refinement of traps. Also in the genome we find evidence of viruses that are associated with parasitic wasps - this highlights the possibility that a natural predator of tsetse exists in the wild; if it could be found, it could be utilized for biological control."
Serap Aksoy from the University of Yale who co-authored the study, told IRIN: "The African trypanosomiasis affects thousands of people in sub-Saharan Africa. The absence of a genome-wide map of tsetse biology was a major hindrance for identifying vulnerabilities."
She added: "This community of researchers across Africa, Europe, North America and Asia has created a valuable research tool for tackling the devastating spread of sleeping sickness."
The researchers also found a set of visual and odour proteins that seem to drive the fly's key behavioural responses, such as in searching for hosts or for mates.
Tsetse flies have a highly unusual biology. Unlike other flies which lay eggs, they give birth to a single live larva which is then nursed into a full grown fly by feeding on the mother's milk glands.
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute said in a statement: "This disease-spreading fly has developed unique and unusual biological methods to source and infect its prey. Its advanced sensory system allows different tsetse fly species to track down potential hosts either through smell or by sight...
"This study lays out a list of parts responsible for the key processes and opens new doors to design prevention strategies to reduce the number of deaths and illnesses associated with human African trypanosomiasis and other diseases spread by the tsetse fly."
According to the researchers, the genome sequencing has helped to reveal "the fly's special repertoire of proteins for procuring, filtering, and packaging the blood and for viviparity [retention and growth of the fertilized egg within the maternal body until the young animal, as a larva or newborn, is capable of independent existence] and the expression of analogs of mammalian milk proteins."
Critical proteins identified
"Proteins have been identified that are critical for feeding unborn larvae - interfering with this process would break the life cycle," Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute's Berriman told IRIN.
The study was conducted by a team of 146 scientists from 78 research institutes across 18 countries. They analysed the genome of the tsetse fly and its 12,000 genes.
Other than sleeping sickness, the tsetse fly is also responsible for nagana disease (also known as nagana pest or animal African trypanosomiasis) in livestock.
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) says "sleeping sickness threatens millions of people in 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa."
Many of the affected populations "live in remote areas with limited access to adequate health services, which complicates the surveillance and therefore the diagnosis and treatment of cases. In addition, displacement of populations, war and poverty are important factors that facilitate transmission."
The disease attacks the central nervous system, hence causing severe neurological disorders or even death if left untreated.
The researchers hope the new revelations on the fly's genome will lead to the development of repellants or insecticides.
In 2009, WHO set up a specimen bank to help researchers to facilitate the development of new and affordable diagnostic tools. It contains samples of blood, serum, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva and urine from patients infected with both forms of the disease as well as samples from uninfected people from areas where the disease is endemic.