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Dulais Valley cafe opens to help bring people together
Posted: May 15, 2014|
A NEW Dulais Valley cafe to help isolated pensioners get out and meet other people has been opened.
Community transport organisation, Dansa (Dulais, Afan, Neath, Swansea and Amman valleys), has transformed an empty cafe into a new venture.
Thanks to around £70,000 in grants, The Cwtch cafe has been set up at Crynant Business Centre.
Dansa now plans to use its transport service by taking people from their homes to the cafe so they can have a chance to get out and about and enjoy a meal in the company of others.
Related content
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St Patrick celebrations held at the Dulais Valley village believed to his birthplace
Susan Evans from Dansa said: "There was a cafe at the business centre which was vacated last year.
"We saw it as a social enterprise for us and decided to re-open it.
"We mainly transport elderly people and we see it as an opportunity to use our vehicles to take people to the cafe.
"We can help to get people out. We will go out into the community and we can fetch them and bring them to the cafe.
"We want social interaction for them and a chance for them to meet people.
"With meals on wheels they just get a meal and don't get to see anybody."
Ms Evans said in total they had received £57,000 from the Tudor Trust, £7,770 from Collaborative Communities, £5,000 from Awards for All and a £250 donation from Warburtons.
"We are hoping to turn it profitable," she said.
"We are hoping it will be a success.
"But any profits we make we will plough into the community transport business."
The grant money has enabled the organisation to fully refurbish the cafe — which is open to the public — and also employ a full-time chef for two years.
"As a new venture it will first be open from 7.45am to 3.30pm," said Ms Evans.
"We are looking to open it on weekends. We are also thinking about doing some events like faggots and peas with bingo."


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music video: blood orange – i'm sorry we lied directed by abteen bagheri
This is the incredible Abteen Bagheri directed video for Blood Orange (aka Dev Hynes)'s I'm Sorry We Lied. The gripping video totally brings to life every chord, riff and melody from the track and is everything that is should be and more. If you still haven't heard the Blood Orange remix of Lana's Blue Jeans, then check it out under the cut.
Post Tags: abteen bagheri, blood orange, dev hynes, i'm sorry we lied, music video
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- Willamette
- Athletics
- News Archive
- 2012
- March
- Mattox Selected for NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
Track and Field | Thursday, March 8, 2012
Mattox is Selected for NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
SALEM, ORE. -- Former Willamette University cross country, track and field and women's soccer athlete Kimber Mattox '11 (Bend, OR/Bend HS) has been selected to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The award provides $7,500 toward graduate school tuition.
Mattox and Stephanie Skelly (see similar press release) are the first Willamette soccer players to be chosen for NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships. Mattox also is the seventh athlete from the Willamette cross country and track and field programs to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship since 2004-05.
Each academic year, a total of 174 student-athletes from all three divisions are granted NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships. The overall number includes 29 male athletes and 29 female athletes from each sport season.
This prestigious scholarship adds to the impressive list of accomplishments for Mattox as a college student and an intercollegiate athlete.
Mattox is an Exercise Science graduate who achieved a 3.828 cumulative GPA at Willamette. She graduated in spring 2011 and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She completed junior eligibility during the 2011 track and field season after participating as a sophomore in cross country in the fall of 2010. She played two seasons of soccer as a midfielder for the Bearcats in 2008 and 2009.
"Receiving the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship is an honor that makes me reflect on what wonderful opportunities I have had in my athletic and academic experiences. This scholarship is a strong demonstration of the NCAA's incredible support of student-athletes. But it's also a reflection of the amazing coaches, professors, mentors, teammates, and peers who make the extra effort to promote the success of students. I am thankful for the opportunities that I had as a student at Willamette and for the people who continue to cultivate my experience as a student and an athlete."
Mattox is now competing in cross country and track and field as a graduate student at the University of Oregon. She is working on a master's in Human Physiology and plans to graduate in 2013.
"Although she is now completing her graduate studies at Oregon," Rigsby noted, "Kimber Mattox will long be remembered as one of the great competitors in Willamette's rich running history. Her magnificent senior campaign included multiple school records, four Northwest Conference championships in track and cross country, and All America honors in both sports.
"Beyond her numerous athletic accomplishments, Kimber has performed extensive collaborative research with faculty and researchers at Willamette University, Oregon Health Sciences University and the Oregon Research Institute. A talented student and athlete, Kimber is an outstanding recipient for this prestigious national honor."
As a soccer midfielder, Mattox was named Honorable Mention All-NWC in 2009. During her two seasons, she earned four goals and two assists for 10 points and also contributed to Willamette's defensive efforts.
"I was always impressed with her ability to achieve at the highest mark both on the soccer field and in the classroom," Arthur commented. "Kimber was a soft spoken soccer player who led her team by example with a relentless work ethic."
Mattox earned First Team Capital One Academic All-District honors in the combined category of cross country and track and field in 2009-10 and 2010-11. She qualified for All-Academic recognition from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) during the 2009 and 2010 cross country seasons and the 2009, 2010 and 2111 seasons in track and field.
"Kimber took the term student-athlete to the highest level on both fronts while competing for the Willamette cross country and track and field programs," Head Coach Matt McGuirk said. "We are extremely pleased to see the NCAA recognize her extraordinary accomplishments by awarding her the prestigious Postgraduate Scholarship."
During her last year at Willamette in 2010-11, she earned All-America honors at the NCAA Championships in cross country (35th place) and in track and field (2nd place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. In 2009, she achieved All-America status in track and field by finishing sixth in the steeplechase.
Mattox's qualifying time for the 2011 NCAA Championships in the steeplechase, set a Willamette record at 10:23.34 and was the seventh fastest time ever recorded by an NCAA Division III athlete. She also set a WU record with her top time in the 1,500 at 4:28.11.
While at Willamette, she placed in the top 10 in the steeplechase three times at the NCAA Championships (6th in 2009, 9th in 2010, 2nd in 2011) and was in the top 12 twice in the 5,000-meter run (12th in 2009, 9th in 2011). She was selected as the West Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year in 2009 and 2011.
During the 2010 cross country season, won the Northwest Conference women's individual cross country title and placed seventh at the NCAA West Regional. She received All-West Region and First Team All-NWC recognition in cross country in 2009 and 2010.
At the 2011 NWC Track and Field Championships, Mattox won the 1,500-meter run, the 5,000-meter run and the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She was chosen as the NWC Women's Track Athlete of the Meet in 2009 and 2011.


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What happened to classic bass drum tuning?
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Bo Eder
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 11,530
Re: What happened to classic bass drum tuning?
Actually, I came from the days when heads like Pinstripes were new, and Powerstroke 3's didn't exist yet. There was only one time I got my 22" Slingerland bass drum to sound good with black dots front and back and felt strips on both sides. Once. When Remo came out with the Muff'l, I jumped on those but found myself cutting the foam ring in half because it was too much.
When the PowerStroke 3 came out it was a God-send! I think everyone rejoiced ;)
But in my older age now, I'm just lazy. It was so hard to get a good sound with the felt strip, and I never got that nice round low tone like I do now with a PS3, so in this case it's good. But I did see those new heads the kids are buying and I too, think its too much. Louie Bellson once said that you want the bass drum to ring a little because by the time the sound gets to the audience, you don't hear the ring anyway. The ring is what makes it sound like a drum, and not a cardboard box!
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July 31, 2015
Edward Morrissey was one of 100 graduates who received diplomas Thursday from Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School.
Morrissey says he was just weeks from graduating in 1942 when his father told him to leave school and get a job milking cows. He also worked at a gas station and a gun maker before enlisting in the U.S. Navy.
He served in the Pacific during World War II and was a Northampton officer for 25 years before retiring in 1977.
Morrissey was inspired by other World War II veterans getting their diplomas late in life.
Smith Vocational Superintendent Jeffrey Peterson calls Morrissey a "true American hero."
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these findings were correlated with the duration of trauma (although not with age of onset), with children who had been abused longer showing greater differences from their matched controls than children who were rescued after shorter periods of abuse.
These results are preliminary and require replication, but they suggest that a history of chronic and severe trauma in early childhood can be associated with alterations in fear-stress physiology and in brain development. At the same time, there is no reason to interpret these results as indicating permanent impairment. Indeed, there is no evidence on whether or how therapeutic interventions may affect the fear-stress system or the neurological development of children who suffer maltreatment early in life. There is, however, compelling evidence from research on children reared in orphanages and then later adopted into loving families of the remarkable capacity of the young child to recover from aberrant early care.
Children growing up in institutions have been the focus of a long-standing literature on early privation (Rutter, 1981a; Skeels, 1966). Studies of orphanage-reared children are now focusing on the wave of Romanian children adopted into families during the early 1990s (Benoit et al., 1996; Groze and Ileana, 1996; Morison et al., 1995; Rutter and the English and Romanian Adoptees [ERA] Study Team, 1998). This literature tells a compelling story about the severe developmental consequences of institutional care that affords neither stimulation nor consistent relationships with caregivers, which often confronts children with other physical adversities, including malnutrition, exposure to pathogens, and untreated chronic illness. It also reveals the remarkable recovery that characterizes many children exposed to these environments once they are adopted into loving homes, as well as the long-term impairments that continue to plague some of them many years after their life circumstances have improved. On both accounts, the fundamental message concerns the vital importance of consistent and committed adults in young children's lives.
Orphanage-reared infants and toddlers who have received adequate medical care and nutrition, but virtually no social or cognitive stimulation and few opportunities to establish a relationship with a consistent caregiver, show striking delays in motor and cognitive growth over the period of institutionalization (Provence and Lipton, 1962). They become extremely unresponsive, showing minimal crying, cooing, babbling, or motor activity. When tested in the orphanage, the deficits increase over time (Ames, 1997; Dennis, 1973; Provence and Lipton, 1962; Rutter and the English and Romanian Adoptees [ERA] Study Team, 1998).
When adequate physical care and developmentally appropriate stimu-


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I thought back pain was unavoidable . . . Sara showed me it's not true.
David's Success Story
After 35 years of being a professional musician, sitting hunched over the guitar for many hours each day, I grudgingly accepted back pain and stiffness as a constant. In just three classes Sara has given me techniques to alleviate the pain as well as an instinctive knowledge of how to position my spine while playing [guitar] that feels incredibly free and healthy.
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Above and beneath Saltwells
Posted: March 22, 2012|
IN BUGLE 1019 we published several extracts from a fascinating book entitled 'Report on the Earl of Dudley's Mines and Minerals' dated 1931, written by one W.F.
Clark, who was Mineral Agent to the Dudley Estate. We are grateful to Anthony Westwood from Eve Hill in Dudley for bringing the book to our attention.
In his report Mr Clark included eleven collieries, one of which was Saltwells, and it's this area of the Black Country, both above ground and below, that commands our attention on this occasion.
Eighty years ago the Earl of Dudley's Estate still covered a wide area and Mr Clark's report, compiled from information gathered over the best part of a decade, was attempting to evaluate the viability of further mining. He began his report on Saltwells Colliery by saying it covered a total of 778 acres, but went on to remark, "The whole of this area is heavily waterlogged and is unlikely to be ever unwatered, and may be regarded as having no profitable letting value, excepting the areas where the Thick Coals outcrop against the Netherton Anticlinal where it will have a value in periods of strike."
In the years after the miners strike of 1921 Saltwells Colliery had gone into decline, but during its lifetime no less than 33 pits had been sunk, all producing coal and to a lesser extent white ironstone. These rich mineral resources meant the colliery stretched from Brierley Hill in the west to Old Hill in the east and was bounded by Netherton and Cradley Heath, a warren of tunnels and deep cut shafts that had managed to extract four types of coal; brooch, twofeet, thick and heathen, with a four foot seam of ironstone found below the heathen.
The mining was undertaken by Charter Masters, specially qualified men with training and experience, who were contracted to the Earl of Dudley's mining agents to supply the labour, horses, tools, candles, explosives, and also light beer, which was sent down to the coal face in small kegs at the middle of the working day. If the free beer wasn't up to standard the miners would often down tools and refuse to work.
However this problem was eventually resolved when an agreement with the miner's agents saw an increase in the miners' pay.
In his report Mr Clark described the basic geology of the Saltwells Colliery: "The Saltwells area is divided into three areas by Faults. The northern area (No.1) is bounded by a fault running east to west, with a throw of 10 to 15 yards to the south.
No.2 area is divided from No.3 or southern area by a 20-yards up-throw, thus No.2 area is a trough.
"No. 2 area is under water except near outcrop, and a pumping plant would have to be put down."
Clark also mentioned an area referred to as No.4. "There is about 7.5 acres lying to the south of the River Stour which is cut off by mines which have been sold, and by previous workings, and the nearest pit is No.30, which would necessitate driving 200 yards through the gob and crossing a fault of 9 yards up-throw to the south".
In conclusion he said, "Nothing remains worth working in No.4 area."
The 'Thick' was by far the most profitable type of coal, but in 1931 it appeared the Saltwells Colliery was unable to yield much more of it. Of the Thick, Clark said,: "Total area remaining is 379 acres, the whole of which has been worked a second time, with two areas worked in such a manner there is nothing remaining worth working again. In No.2 area the water is above the Thick Coal except near to the outcrop against Netherton Anticlinal."
And for Area No.3 it was the same story: "In this area there are 44 acres around No.19 Pit where the water is up to the Thick Coal. At No.24 Pit there is very little coal left and it is under water."
The remaining whitestone covered a total of 279 acres across all four areas, but what was left was too poor to worked at a profit; in fact Clark said, "The whitestone is all under water."
The overall impression given by Clark's report on the Saltwells Colliery was that it had seen its heyday and in general all the workings had become inundated with flood water with little viable mining left.
In contrast to the complicated geology and mine workings beneath Saltwells, the landscape on the surface couldn't have been more different and included the idyllic Saltwells Wood, a tract of the ancient Pensnett Chase that had become part of Lord Dudley's estate after the enclosures of 1785. Timber was in great demand at the time, especially to produce charcoal for the budding iron industry, so the area was planted with trees and the area west of the Black Brook became known as Lady Dudley's Plantation.
In Blocksidge's 1907 Dudley Almanack, a walk from the centre of Dudley to Saltwells Wood, a distance of approximately 3 miles, is described in great detail and accompanied by several picturesque views. It mentions the Saltwells Wake and the healthy benefits of walking this pleasant place: "On the first Sunday in May large numbers of people visit the Saltwells, take the waters, stroll about the wood, and whilst thoroughly enjoying the freshness of spring, doubtless think of the charms of the coming summer. To hard working men of the neighbourhood, even two or three hours employed in going to, and coming from, this charming oasis in the Black Country, must result in material benefit, both in body and mind."
Finally the author, E.
Blocksidge, advises those living at a distance not to be adversely influenced by the fact that the Saltwells are in the Black Country: "It is true they are within a few yards of active collieries and works, but once in the wood a visitor might easily imagine he was miles away from anything of the nature of manufacture or business."


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DoD News Briefing with Brig. Gen. Wiggins from the Pentagon
Presenters: Deputy Director for Regional Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff Brig. Gen. Perry Wiggins
June 06, 2007
GEN. WIGGINS: Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to be here once again and provide you the operational update for this week as well as answer your questions.
As I stated last week, the fifth and final surge brigade has closed in on Baghdad, and I did state that they were going to be operational about mid-June. With that, as we have seen with our forces in the past, there's an additional time frame that's associated with these forces in order to fully be established themselves in sector. Part of that is involved with getting -- in working with their Iraqi security force counterparts as well as getting to know the leadership in their respective areas of operation, as well as the citizens. And that's important to note.
As you already know, the Baghdad security plan not only encompasses Baghdad but encompasses areas to the north and south, areas like Diyala province and Baqubah. And I know you've heard several folks speak on why we do that. It's to get at those areas that can influence Baghdad with the levels of violence.
As well, we build toward the total effect or the full effect of the surge, we'll start to see or expect to see the operational pace pick up as more of these forces become fully operational capable.
Only after we begin operations and after we have the full contingent of the surge forces on the ground will we begin to see and start to assess the full operational impact of the surge capabilities on the ground.
It's a hard fight. We continue to move into places and challenge the enemy in areas where we haven't had a presence or a continued presence. We expect it to be a continued hard fight as we continue to move into areas where the enemy has had safe haven. So we just expect that and we understand that. So, you know, it's going to get harder before we make it -- or it gets any easier.
As well, the search continues for our two soldiers -- or our missing soldiers, as well as British nationals. We continue to act on tips that are provided -- and we get numerous tips -- and we continue with a full-court press with regards to patrolling throughout, and we'll continue to do so until those soldiers are found.
And as far as Afghanistan, I think, as I said, we have nullified their offensive, their spring offensive, thus far. And I will tell you, I think in fact the offensive is not theirs but ours. We have taken the fight. Activity has been very high in both the Eastern and Southern sectors of Afghanistan. And the Taliban, as I said, took serious losses to its leadership, as well as to its fighting forces. We're continuing to look at indicators in Afghanistan, those indicators being, as I stated last week, the poppy harvest, and our additional forces starting to join in the fight, as well as we're talking a look at a move toward a more asymmetric type of targeting or attacks through the use of IEDs, and a particular concern with the IEDs is the technology associated with these IEDs. We have seen some technology that tends us to believe that it's coming in from Iran. But I will tell you that we have not determined exactly how that technology is getting into Afghanistan, and we have not determined at what level the involvement, as far as the Iranians are concerned. We're also concerned with asymmetric attacks, suicide bombs, because that seems to follow fairly close relation to IEDs, suicide vehicle, and then suicide bombers themselves.
So, with that, I'll take any questions that you might have.
Yes, sir?
Q There was a military strike against a suspected al Qaeda target in Somalia last Friday. Can you tell us whether you hit the target, what was gleaned from that, or what the post op was on that?
GEN. WIGGINS: What I can tell you is with regards to our global war on terrorism, is that the war on terrorism is global, and that's why we call it that. We tend to be centric and associated on Iraq.
But with that being said, the commanders on the ground in the particular areas of operation have the capability to reach out and touch someone. And so with those capabilities, there's also an operational sensitivity associated with these because the success associated with a lot of our operations makes it where we need to maintain an operational security associated with it. And so with that said, we don't like to talk a whole lot about operations throughout the globe because that decreases the amount of success that we have in targeting these individuals out there.
I will tell you that we continually hunt those that are a threat to the United States and our very freedoms. They can run, but they'll only die tired.
Yes, next question?
Q But can you say whether the target was hit?
Q General, can you tell us -- or offer any clarity on what may or may not have happened today on the Turkish border? First, if any number of Turkish troops have been observed crossing the border today. They have been known to come across in counterinsurgent operations in the past.
And can you tell us what, if any, action U.S. troops would be authorized to take under any such circumstances if there might be a clash on the border?
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, to answer the first part of your question, we have no indications or no reports that the Turks have conducted a cross-border operation into Iraq. I know, you're all aware that they're a partner with us on the global war on terrorism, and that they continue to fight the Kurdish terrorists that have targeted a number of their citizens in their country. They are conducting aggressive operations in Southeast Turkey, counterinsurgency operations, and they continue to do so.
With regards to your second question, I can tell you that I know the secretary has said that we'll continue to work with the Turkish government in regards to their terrorist issues and prosecuting the global war on terrorism, and that it would not be helpful if we had a destabilizing situation in Northern Iraq. And that's about all I'll comment on.
Yes, sir.
Q Have you seen any movements, troop movements, along the Turkish border, on the Turkish side, over the last week or so that would indicate that preparations for some kind of military operation on the part of the Turkish is actually possible?
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, I can tell you, as with all military forces, they move throughout their countries, and when you're prosecuting a counterinsurgency operation. With regards to any indication on whether they're preparing for a cross-border operation, we have no indication.
Yes, ma'am.
Q Could you tell us a little bit more about the high-value detainee that was transferred to Guantanamo today, when he was captured and where?
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, all I can tell you about Arale -- I think you're talking about Arale. Arale's a bad guy. Arale has operated, in Pakistan as well as in Africa, with arms shipments, smuggling and different types of terrorist activities.
What I don't want to do is get into operational specifics, with regards to how he was capture, primarily because of what I talked about with regards to the operations of the global war on terrorism. Our success in a lot of cases is due to large fact that we keep those quiet. And I know, you'll understand that we want to make sure that we continue the successful operations that we have.
Q Even when, you can't say?
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, I can tell you that it happened recently.
Yes, sir.
Q Can I ask about the recent reports about a number of neighborhoods in Baghdad which are under control? A document suggests that's only about a third of the neighborhoods.
What's your target for getting neighborhoods under control? And how will having just one extra brigade make a big difference in that regard?
GEN. WIGGINS: Right. What I can tell you is there has been no plan to secure every single neighborhood in Baghdad. Similar to how we here in the United States have neighborhoods that have relatively or no crime levels where we don't put a whole lot of effort or police but where we have neighborhoods where we have a significant amount of crime, we tend to focus on those areas.
The Baghdad security plan is similar. There are some areas in Baghdad that have relatively now or low levels of crime or violence. What I can tell you, based on a recent article that I saw, that the assessment in there is inaccurate. The bottom line is that assessment is a snapshot. It's done at a division or below headquarters level. It's not an assessment made by General Odierno nor General Petraeus. And the fact is I don't believe that anybody ever discussed securing every single neighborhood in Baghdad.
Q So you're saying it's inaccurate, the numbers there are wrong?
GEN. WIGGINS: I'm saying that -- to use that assessment in that type of fora is not correct, yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Q Can you talk to us at all about your concern about the increased violence in Diyala province? Is the surge taking away any assistance that can be provided up there? We've seen recent reporting, I think today, about the number of Strykers that are being hit up there and the constant drumbeat of how Diyala is getting a lot worse, that some of the violence is squeezed out of Baghdad and moved up there. Can you talk to us about your concerns and --
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, I can tell you that I listened to General Odierno recently, who discussed specifically about Diyala and I believe Baqubah as well and how we're getting additional forces up there because that's one of the areas that we talked about that can influence Baghdad. It's important, and I think that's a part of the Baghdad security plan, is to get at those areas where we have -- and we understand that as we conduct operations in Baghdad, there are still areas to the north and south that we call the north and southern belts -- Diyala province being one of those -- that we need to get at. And as we get in there -- I think he also discussed the fact that we have -- they've been there for a relatively long period of time without a continual coalition presence.
That enables them to conduct operations, build defenses or security zones for U.S. -- in anticipation for coalition forces to move into those areas. We're going to get at them. I think General Odierno discussed there's additional forces that are going to go into those areas. And as far as the surge plan, I think we need to wait, as I said earlier, till we get all the forces on the ground before we make an assessment on how operations are progressing. And that takes the full operational capability of the forces that we have placed in this plan.
Yes, ma'am?
Q What can you tell us about the current pace of EFP attacks against U.S. troops over the month of May and now into the first couple of days of June? Are you seeing more EFPs?
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, EFPs are a concern. We have seen a slight increase in that type of technology over the past several months. It would be right now in the month of -- in the month of May to get into numbers, to tell you the truth, contrary to popular belief, I don't -- numbers don't originate with me, okay? I get numbers in some cases, but I don't make assessments. That's where commanders on the ground make those assessments based off of trends.
But to answer your question, there is a great concern with regards to the technology that's out there. There's great concern, as I know you heard Secretary Gates talk about the Iranian technology that seems to be flowing into Iraq. And the fact of the matter is, is we need to stem that type of technology.
Q Well, if EFP attacks have been rising over the last couple of months, what does that tell you, or tell commanders about the flow of Iranian-based technology into Iraq?
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, first of all, we know there's a flow. Whether it's increased or not, I don't have that -- I don't know if it's been necessarily increasing the flow. But I can tell you that, you know, we're getting at this, and through diplomatic channels as well. When the secretary -- or Ambassador Crocker, specifically, addressed this with the Iranians in dialogue here recently, that was one of the points that he brought up, is we need to thwart the influx of this type of weapon systems coming into Iraq. Because I think we're both -- and the bottom line is, is actions speak louder than words with regards to these particular types of things.
So not to -- right now, as far as is it an increase in the number of them and is that based off of an inflow, don't really know right now.
Q Could you please give us more details about how this technology is coming from Iran? What -- is coming through like Jaish al-Mahdi or the Qods Force? Do you have any idea?
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, we know the Qods Force is involved, okay, and that's not something -- that's something that's been previously reported.
As far as anything beyond that, as I stated earlier, we don't really know.
Q General, just to follow up on Andrew's question on the neighborhoods, you talk about commanders tracking trends. Can you say whether the trend in the number of neighborhoods that are secure is going up or down? We only got a little -- part of this one snapshot from General Brooks, but what we don't know is a broader picture. Are the number of neighborhoods that are secure, is it going up, is it going down, say, over the past six months? Are conditions getting better or worse?
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, you know, like I said, once again, that that's probably a question to take up with -- or wait until we get from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker to get the assessment on how things are going with regards to operations in Iraq.
Q Six months ago or six weeks ago -- I mean, obviously, there's -- those assessments have already been made. How does that compare to the one that was released the other day?
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, to be honest with you, like I told you, I don't track that. I'm an operator. As far as -- I don't collect statistics. I don't make the assessments. I basically -- I leave that up to operational commanders on the ground to make those assessments.
Q (Off mike) -- operations again specifically. You suggested, I think, that the fifth brigade really might not be fully operational in mid-June now because they have to get familiar with their Iraqi counterparts. When will the surge be in full effect? And you said there would be an increase in the operational tempo, how will that manifest itself? What kind of things should we expect to see?
GEN. WIGGINS: Yeah, and I understand what you're getting at with your question, but I think that's probably a question better served to ask the tactical commanders down range as opposed to me.
Yes, sir.
Q Going back to Diyala, is the diversion of forces up into Diyala province kind of slowed the push into the Baghdad neighborhoods, and going back to this neighborhood question, whether you had expected to possibly have those -- use those forces that you ended up diverting to Diyala, if that would have sped up the control of those Baghdad neighborhoods.
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, you know -- and like I told you, I know you guys have read and listened to General Odierno's comments as well. I think his comments were it didn't slow it down. That's part of the operational plan.
But once again, this is -- questions that I think are best served for a tactical commander who has his fingers on the pulse there.
I do know that the southern belts and the northern belts have been -- we're getting at those, and that's a part of that, and it's a part of the plan, it's a part of the Baghdad security plan itself.
Yes, sir.
Q Sir, commanders continue to say, as you have, that it's too early to assess whether the surge is making progress. But is it also too early to assess whether the political component of it is making progress?
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, you know, once again, I'm going to refer back to -- Ambassador Crocker as well as General Petraeus are going to make the assessment. It is -- those two gentlemen -- there I think we ought to wait for the assessment before we make --
Q Sir, do you have any figures for May for Baghdad, the number of -- inaudible word) -- the number of attacks there? I believe you said last week it was down 40 percent in Anbar, but there was some question about from what to what -- (off mike). Do you have any figures for Baghdad, sir?
GEN. WIGGINS: You know, right now I do not have figures for Baghdad other than what I gave you last week, that it was down 40 percent and it was down 20 percent throughout the rest of Iraq, I believe is what I reported from last week. I don't have an update to that at this time.
Q From what to what? It was down 20 percent from what?
GEN. WIGGINS: Like I said, I'm reporting the pieces. I'm not the -- I don't necessarily originate these statistics. But at the same time, I know that at that point in time, I'm reporting what I have.
Q (Off mike) -- against civilians?
GEN. WIGGINS: Overall attacks against civilians, yes, sir.
Q On Guantanamo, can you say what the way ahead is going to be with the decision on Monday throw out the charges? Is there going to be a new round of CSRTs to declare them unlawful enemy combatants, or unlawful illegal, or only an unlawful enemy combatant?
GEN. WIGGINS: No, I don't have any information on that. But that's probably something better served to ask the folks with detainee affairs.
Q (Off mike) -- Iraqi forces, that was another component of that report about the neighborhoods, is suggesting that one of the reasons that progress has been difficult is that U.S. forces are having to go back into the neighborhoods or to hold them for longer. What's your latest assessment of how the Iraqi forces are performing? What are their manning levels like? And how much are they able to take on at this stage?
GEN. WIGGINS: Well, you know, the Iraqi security forces' capabilities are improving. We'd like to see them continue to improve. And the leadership -- in some cases, it's based on the leadership and who's in charge of those respective units.
We continue to work with Iraqi security force members in order to build confidence and credibility in their capabilities.
I can tell you that we'll continue to do that, and as their capabilities increase and the credibility increases, we expect that to happen over the course of these operations.
Q How are they doing on the manning levels, though, because I think at first they came in pretty high. But are they managing to sustain those high levels --
GEN. WIGGINS: The Iraqi security forces' manning levels that I have seen, their percentages are improving. And to -- I'll just say they are improving.
Yes, sir?
Q Have you determined on that attack on FOB War Horse, I believe, up in Diyala, in Baqubah, whether that was -- you know, what kind of gas that was that was used?
GEN. WIGGINS: Are you talking about the chlorine attack?
Q Right.
GEN. WIGGINS: Yeah. That was chlorine. It's not something that's new. They continue to use chlorine types of attacks in order to terrorize the civilians as well. They're not effective as far as producing casualties. I mean, those that normally are affected are returned -- are released the same day. But they do create a -- I guess a terror type of sense among the civilian population. So they continue to use those.
Yes, sir?
Q On the recent terror tape related to -- purportedly related to the missing soldiers, have you been able to glean anything as to the veracity of that, whether it leads the military to believe anything about the fate of the soldiers?
GEN. WIGGINS: We do not -- we have not confirmed the veracity of that particular tape. We have not. We've seen it. As I said earlier, we continue to march on with follow up of tips with regards to our soldiers. We'll continue to look for them. And we'll continue to patrol until our soldiers are found.
But with regards to that tape, we have not confirmed the validity of that tape.
All right.
Q Thank you.
GEN. WIGGINS: Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
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text:
Ohio teachers air merit pay concerns to governorWritten by Associated Press | | firstname.lastname@example.com
Fired up over Ohio's new collective bargaining law, teachers have sent hundreds of emails to Gov. John Kasich trying to educate him on their side of a debate over how they should be paid and evaluated.
An Associated Press review of several hundred of the roughly 1,000 emails the Republican governor has received since late April shows teachers aren't so much angry but full of advice — though some messages are more pointed than others.
"NO TO MERIT PAY UNLESS YOU ARE PAID ON A MERIT SYSTEM AND THE PUBLIC GETS TO EVALUATE YOUR PERFORMANCE EVERY YEAR!!!!!!!," one writer told the governor.
At issue is a performance-based pay system contained in the collective bargaining overhaul signed by Kasich in March. Lawmakers are debating whether the idea should be included in the $55.7 billion, two-year state budget.
A November referendum on the collective bargaining law is likely, but putting the pay proposal in the budget could make it complicated to repeal it through a referendum.
The AP obtained the teachers' emails through a public records request. The messages were sent to the governor through an address on his office's website, which allows people to share their performance pay ideas. Not included in the records were any hand-written letters or messages sent to the governor in the larger fight over the budget or the collective bargaining legislation.
Some educators in e-mails questioned the fairness of basing their pay on such factors as how well their students do on tests. They also expressed concern over whether parent feedback should be a part of their evaluations.
"If I make a child work hard and show responsibility, and the parent thinks I am expecting too much, and dislikes me for it, then my pay will go down?" Nancy Scott, who's been a teacher for 32 years at Findlay City Schools, asked in her email.
Other educators, such as Melissa Wood, acknowledged the current system needs an update. Wood, a fifth grade teacher from southwest Ohio, wrote to Kasich to ask him whether she could be a part of reforming teachers' pay.
"We've just got to make some changes here," Wood said in a telephone interview about her message. Asked whether performance-based pay should be a part of that, she said, "I think it's going to be. I think it's going to have to be."
Kasich has used Twitter, his campaign email account and public speaking events to solicit teachers' opinions on merit pay.
The messages to Kasich on the topic of merit pay come as the first-term governor's fellow Republicans in the Ohio Senate have stripped the provisions dealing with the issue from the state spending blueprint. The House had inserted changes when it passed its version of the budget that were similar to the performance-based pay provisions contained in the collective bargaining law.
Opponents of the new law are seeking to have voters decide whether it should be overturned. Critics of the law, including the state's largest teachers' union, have said putting performance-based pay for teachers in the budget bill skirts the chance for voters to weigh in on the idea in the expected referendum.
Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said putting the merit pay in the budget had nothing to do with a possible referendum.
While he said the administration views the merit pay plan as "far more comprehensive" than what's in the collective bargaining law, Nichols declined to say whether the administration was pushing senators to restore it to the budget bill.
"We're working with the House and Senate on a whole host of issues related to the budget," he said. "We're not negotiating through the press."
The governor's office had worked with House lawmakers on their merit pay proposal.
Under the initiative, teachers' salaries would be based on how they are rated in a new evaluation process. Their amount of training and number of years teaching — the main components in their current salary schedules — would not be given as much weight. Instead, their employers would rate them on four categories that range from "highly effective" to "unsatisfactory."
Senate President Tom Niehaus says his chamber wanted to remove the wording out of respect for the referendum process. They also wanted to be sure, he said, that if any merit pay provisions are included in the budget, they are in line with what schools are doing to comply with their federal Race to the Top grants.
"I believe teacher evaluations can be an effective tool in improving educational outcomes for our children," Niehaus said Friday through a spokesman. "Having said that, we want to be transparent in our process and make sure we are not appearing to circumvent what voters may choose to do in November."
The full Senate plans to vote on the budget next week.
Lawmakers in both chambers would have to work out any differences between the two budget plans in what's called a conference committee. They face a June 30 deadline to pass the state spending plan.
Tags: Education, Government, Governor John Kasich, Merit Pay, Senate Bill 5


text:
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text:
QoS/QoE Techniques for IPTV Transmissions
Date Added: Aug 2009
Format: PDF
Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) has recently gained momentum as one of the key applications in the telecommunications market. Most researchers believe that IPTV service represents a key opportunity for operators around the world to benefit from video delivery over IP networks. In this paper, the authors investigate the Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) techniques for IPTV transmissions. Particularly, the authors address two technical challenges in IPTV system: error concealment and channel zapping. To overcome the above challenges, the authors extend the function of the Set-Top Box (STB) and the home network gateway.


text:
If you are thinking about taking a Regents Online Degree Program there are some things you need to know. This orientation will take you through important information to help you decide if you have the necessary skills and equipment for online learning.
You may be wondering:
Online learning is here to stay, and
we are committed to your success.
So... let's get started!


text:
Historian kicks off museum's Titanic Tuesdays lecture seriesWritten by Sarah Ottney | Editor in Chief | firstname.lastname@example.com
Author and scholar Edward Tenner is fascinated by the unintended consequences of innovation.
One of the most compelling examples is Titanic, the luxury liner thought to be unsinkable that struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage in 1912 and sank, killing more than 1,500 people.
The belief Titanic was unsinkable was so ingrained many passengers left valuables in their cabins.
"In a sense, it was lucky Titanic had its architect aboard," Tenner told Toledo Free Press. "He was able to do some quick calculations and see the ship wasn't going to make it. If the architect hadn't been there, who knows how many people would have died because there would have been more optimistic assumptions about the ship's ability to manage the inflow of water."
Tenner, who recently spoke at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn to kick off its Titanic Tuesday lecture series with a lecture titled "Thinking about the Unsinkable," said he helps people put historical events into context.
"It's impossible to unlearn or disregard everything we have seen or heard, but what I hope is that people can at least partly suspend the extremely powerful visual images they have seen of Titanic and try to put themselves into the mentality of people who have not yet seen those images and to revisit the actual world of April 14, 1912," Tenner said.
For example, many believe Capt. Edward Smith acted rashly by continuing to travel despite iceberg warnings, but Tenner said it was not unusual for ship captains to proceed at normal speeds in such conditions.
"When you see in films he was getting warnings about ice and kept going you think, 'What an idiot,' but at the hearings in London, captains testified they were all doing it. Where ships collided with sea ice, ships did pretty well," Tenner said. "Of course, they had never seen 'A Night to Remember' or 'Titanic.'"
Fog was more feared by captains than icebergs, Tenner said.
"It wasn't that captains were unconcerned about the risks, but they happened to be focusing on the wrong risks," he said. "I believe everyone thought they had that part under control and were worried about other things, like fog.
"My own conclusion is that although there were many serious omissions, the big problem of Titanic was really an unusual set of conditions that were hard to foresee, none of which in itself would have been fatal, but together made the disaster such a stunning one."
Overconfidence is another factor in many disasters. Paradoxically, leaders with the most experience may be most at risk for accidents.
"They discount a lot of risks that terrify younger captains," Tenner said. "The captain of the Californian, for example, was in his 30s and absolutely terrified of sea ice."
Overconfidence plus too much faith in modern navigation software may also have been factors in the recent fatal wreck of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia, which ran aground in January under the command of an experienced captain, Tenner said.
Sometimes fixing one problem can lead to a different problem.
The Titanic disaster prompted many new regulations, including a requirement ships carry enough lifeboats for everyone aboard. Ironically, the weight of additional lifeboats likely caused the already top-heavy SS Eastland to topple on the Chicago River in 1915, killing more than 800 people.
Upcoming speakers
The Titanic Tuesday lecture series debuted in conjunction with the museum's new exhibit, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, which runs through Sept. 30.
The series will continue 7 p.m. May 8 when filmmaker Stephen Low will discuss the making of his IMAX film "TITANICA," which features archival photos of the ship's construction and footage of its wreckage combined with recollections of Titanic survivor Eva Hart.
Other upcoming speakers include:
- 7 p.m. June 12, "The Philadelphia Experience: Time Takes its Toll": Shipwreck sleuth and underwater photographer Tony Gramer will discuss his film about the search for an 18th century Great Lakes schooner.
- 7 p.m. July 10, "Michigan Connections to R.M.S. Titanic": Underwater archaeologist Ken Vrana will compare the Great Lakes to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and discuss Michigan's connections to Titanic.
- 7 p.m. Aug. 14, "The Ship Magnificent": Author and Titanic historian Bruce Beveridge.
- 7 p.m. Sept. 11, "RMS Titanic: A Century in Cinema": Ron Bartsch, senior projection manager for the Henry Ford IMAX Theatre, will discuss how the disaster was portrayed in films leading up to James Cameron's 1997 film.
Lectures are free with admission to the museum. Museum admission is $17 for adults (age 13-61), $15 for seniors (62 and older), $12.50 for youth (age 5-12) and free for members and children (age 4 and under). The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.
The Titanic exhibit is a separate admission and has timed tickets. Cost for both the museum and exhibition is $27 for adults, $22.50 for youth, $25 for seniors (62 and older), $10 for members and free for children. Reservations are encouraged.
For more information and a full listing of lectures, visit www.hfmgv.org/events/titanicTuesdays.aspx.
Tags: Edward Tenner, Henry Ford Museum, Titanic


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our database contains: 24 878 games
Star Trek Online: Delta Rising Update is here17.10.14
Lord of the Rings Online authors - layoffs17.10.14
New MMORPG announced - Chronicle: Runescape Legends15.10.14
MMO Hero Commander - Open Beta begins15.10.14
your comment
30.07.2015 am31 05:41:31
text příspěvku
24.07.2015 pm31 16:00:56
jocul simTr mi se pare ca este foarte distractiv si as vrea sa il incerc.
24.07.2015 pm31 16:00:46
Could be okay, but I can't tell since there's no way I'm going to accept that license. It'd serve the user right for accepting it.
17.07.2015 am31 03:55:56
11.07.2015 am31 04:44:04
your comment
05.07.2015 pm31 23:14:04


text:
When I'm logged out, everything works fine. When I'm logged in, I'm unable to visit the front-end of my site.
My main page is actually located in a sub-folder of my multisite installation: http://beta.eamann.com/mindshare/. I'm mapping a domain to this installation: http://mindsharestrategy.com/. When I'm logged in, the front-end of my site keeps bouncing back and forth between these two domains. I can still get to the admin side just fine ... but not the front-end.
If I log out, I can view the front-end of things just fine.
I'm using the development version of the plug-in, as I was instructed to do by several conversations with the developers. Ideas?


text:
Once Upon a Time
Once Upon a Time Season 2: Get a Sneak Peek at the Finale! (PHOTO)
Though we have a long, near-month hiatus until Once Upon a Time returns, we have much to look forward to in the final four episodes. In addition to discovering more about Greg Mendell and Tamara's evil agenda, we're also going to be meeting new characters — including, but not limited to, Robin Hood, and perhaps a band of Lost Boys.
That's right, OUAT fans — with the final two episodes titled "Second Star to the Right" and "And Straight On 'Til Morning," we're pretty certain that the gang is headed to Neverland. However, we don't know if it is because the newly-escaped Captain Hook leads them there, or if perhaps Neal Cassady is really Peter Pan and wants to get back to his land...
Either way, the cast is hard at work filming the second installment of the two-part finale, and Ginnifer Goodwin even gave us a sneak peek at the action!
Earlier today, she tweeted out this picture of the call sheet, which shows that they will be filming for eight days:
#OnceUponATime #Finale #HereWeGo twitter.com/ginnygoodwin/s…— Ginnifer Goodwin (@ginnygoodwin) March 25, 2013
Ahh, so exciting. Are you ready to head to Neverland, or do you think that the writers are just tricking us? Sound off below.
Catch the next episode of Once Upon a Time on Sunday, April 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
Alyse Whitney is an editor at Wetpaint Entertainment. Follow her on Twitter @AlyseWhitney.


text:
We present more of Colin J. Callahan's oil paintings that capture light with a sense of energy in the May 2007 issue of American Artist.
To read about more artists like Callahan, check out the May 2007 issue of American Artist today!
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text:
Safavieh Ralph Wall Mirror
This piece will be the perfect addition to any home décor.
The Ralph Mirror will fit anyone's decor.
It has the perfect size and look for any wall in your home. Constructed of a beautiful birchwood. No assembly is required.
Dimensions: 28.2"L x 23.1"W x 1"H; 12.5 lbs.
Safavieh Ralph Wall Mirror
Safavieh Ralph Wall Mirror
Our innovative products will provide you and your family with years of enjoyment. And with the Brookstone Protection Plus service and replacement plans, you'll have the added peace of mind knowing that if the unexpected does happen, we will simply repair or replace your covered product. Our enhanced coverage goes above and beyond the manufacturer's warranty, saving you time and money.
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text:
Add extra features and styles to make Thunderbird your own.Close
|User since
|March 29, 2013
|Number of add-ons developed
|61 themes
|Average rating of developer's add-ons
|Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Artist by nature. Lover of life.
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To create your own collections, you must have a Mozilla Add-ons account.


text:
Chuck Landon: MU fails to capitalize on size in narrow win
Marshall's game against down-trodden Rice wasn't supposed to be close.
And it shouldn't have been.
The Owls are 5-19 overall, 1-9 in Conference USA and their RPI ranking is No. 304 out of 347 NCAA Division I schools.
Rice is bad.
So bad, in the Owls' previous game they scored only 39 points on 19.6 percent field-goal shooting during a 22-point loss to SMU.
If Uncle Ben's would have sponsored a college basketball program this Rice team would have been the result. Short, bland and led by "Little Ben."
Yet, Rice actually led, 61-60, with 3:53 remaining before finally running out of time in a closer-than-anyone-imagined 71-70 loss to Marshall on Wednesday before 5,308 quiet fans in the Henderson Center.
So, why was it so alarmingly close? And why oh why didn't the Herd blow the Owls off the court?
It's because Marshall didn't take advantage of its advantage.
Namely, size.
Rice is the shortest team in C-USA and Marshall is the tallest.
Just breakdown the starters by height and Marshall had a 23-inch advantage, which averaged to 4.6 inches per man.
The 6-foot-10 Nigel Spikes had three inches on 6-7 Ross Wilson. Elijah, Pittman, 6-9, was five inches taller than 6-4 Julian DeBose. Dennis Tinnon, 6-8, had five inches on 6-3 Austin Ramljak. D.D. Scarver, 6-4, had a whopping nine inches on 5-7 Max Guercy. And DeAndre Kane, 6-4, was an inch taller than 6-3 Tamir Jackson.
Yet, did Marshall patiently hammer the ball inside against under-sized Rice's 2-3 and 3-2 zones?
The Herd refused to play to its obvious advantage. Instead, Marshall evened the size differential by practically matching Rice 3-pointer for 3-pointer.
The Owls were 9-for-27 from behind the arc, while Marshall was 7 of 21.
The difference is Rice has to shoot threes.
The Owls don't have a choice. That's why they lead C-USA in both 3-point attempts and 3-point field goals.
But Marshall does have a choice with a front line standing 6-10, 6-9 and 6-8.
Instead, the Herd chose to bomb away from 3-point range. Simply put, Marshall settled. The Herd took easy threes instead of working to get the ball inside.
That's why Marshall nearly lost despite having the biggest size advantage it ever has enjoyed in a C-USA game.
Yet, look what happened when Marshall did take shots inside the 3-point arc. The Herd was 16 of 24 on 2-pointers for a whopping 66.7 shooting percentage.
Now, compare those numbers to MU's 7 of 21 on threes for 33.3 percent shooting.
Not surprising, Marshall was exactly twice as successful on 2-point attempts.
"When we did start going inside it got us started a little bit," said Spikes, referring to a stretch where Marshall went from trailing by three points to leading by three. "It got us to the foul line."
Yet, Pittman, who has launched 40 threes in Marshall's last five games, defended the propensity of long-range shots.
"We had good looks," said Pittman. "If we have good looks we are going to take the threes."
Maybe I would be willing to accept that rationale in a normal game situation. But not when Marshall enjoyed the huge height advantage it had against Rice.
"At the end," Owls coach Ben Braun, "their size advantage was really a factor."
It should have been a factor from the opening tip.
"They couldn't matchup with us size-wise," admitted Kane. "It should have been a better played game by us."
That's about the size of it.
Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Contact him at 304-526-2827 or email@example.com.
The Herald-Dispatch welcomes your comments on this article, but please be civil. Avoid profanity, obscenity, personal attacks, accusations of criminal activity, name-calling or insults to the other posters. Herald-dispatch.com does not control or monitor comments as they are posted, but if you find a comment offensive or uncivil, hover your mouse over the comment and click the X that appears in the upper right of the comment. If you do not want your comment to post to your personal Facebook page, uncheck the box below the comment.


text:
Golden Triangle Vapor Open
Date: 9/8/2013 Album ID: 1702419
Photos by The Enterprise
Golden Triangle Vapor opened last week on Calder Avenue.
Many photographs taken by Beaumont Enterprise staff photographers are available to purchase as prints or on other products.
Generally, photos will be made available to order by the day after publication in The Beaumont Enterprise.
The Beaumont Enterprise owns and retains all copyrights to photographs made by its photographers. Prints and photo-products ordered from The Beaumont Enterprise are intended for personal, non-commercial display only.
Beaumont Enterprise photos may not be republished either in print or on the web without the consent of The Beaumont Enterprise.
For republication of photographs that appear in The Beaumont Enterprise, please call (409) 838-2802.


text:
Search U of M
Environmental Health and Safety Office
Related Programs
Written Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) Template
OSHA Occupational Noise Exposure Standard 29 CFR 1910.95
The Robert F. Pierce Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic
Can't Hear You Knocking
(Educational Video)
courtesy of
Hearing Conservation Program
The University of Minnesota Duluth Hearing Conservation Programs (HCP) is designed to prevent noise-induced hearing loss resulting from job related exposures and to comply with all applicable rules and regulations mainly the Minnesota Employee Right to know Law, and the OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95
A written
Hearing Conservation Program
is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) "..whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) (85dBA) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent."
This 8-hour time-weighted average is known as an exposure action level (AL).
the OSHA hearing conservation program requirements is codified in
Program Requirements
Engineering Controls:
29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1) requires that "feasible administrative or engineering controls shall be utilized. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels…personal protective equipment shall be provided and used to reduce sound levels…"
29 CFR 1910.95(d)
requires that monitoring be conducted when "any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.
29 CFR 1910.95(g) requires an "audiometric testing program" for "all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels".
Hearing Protectors:
29 CFR 1910.95(i) states that "employers shall make hearing protectors available to all employees exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater at no cost to the employees"
29 CFR 1910.95(k) mandates an annual "training program" for "all employees who are exposed to noise at or above the action level (an 8-hour time-weighted average) of 85 decibels…" and mandates certain aspects of the training that must be included. This includes the effects of noise on hearing; purpose, advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of different types of hearing protectors; purpose audiometric testing.
Record Keeping:
29 CFR 1910.95(m)
states that employers "shall maintain an accurate record of all employee exposure measurements…"
© Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
, 2013


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Education Course Fact Sheet: BioFuels & Lubes
Course content, instructors and details subject to change. This listing was last updated on March 1, 2013.
Date/Time: Sunday, May 5, 2013, starting at 8:00 a.m. For details, see course agenda
Course Chair: Dr. Girma Biresaw, USDA/ARS/NCAUR
Vice Chair: Dr. Neil Canter, Chemical Solutions
Course Description: This course will be an overview of current progress on the use of biofuels and biolubricants. The course elements will include an introduction to energy and alternative sources, some basic chemistry of vegetable oils, general performance requirements, overviews of market progress, niche markets and governmental and regulatory drivers. Information on European, U.S. and OEM views will be included. The course will primarily focus on lubricants but will include a general overview of alternative transportation fuels. Biodiesel feedstocks, production and quality issues will be covered. An outstanding list of speakers with first-hand knowledge of the above areas will teach the course.
You may also like: Automotive Lubrication 201 - Gasoline, taking place on Wednesday, May 8.
Overview: This module will provide a short synopsis of the materials to be covered in the course.
Instructor: Girma Biresaw, USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
Biography: Girma Biresaw received a Ph.D. in Physical-Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Davis, and spent 4 years as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He then joined the Aluminum Company of America and conducted research in tribology, surface/colloid science, and adhesion for 12 years. Girma joined the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the US Department of Agriculture in Peoria, IL, in 1998 as a Research Chemist, and became a Lead Scientist in 2002. At ARS, Girma conducts research in tribology, adhesion, and surface/colloid science in support of programs aimed at increasing the utilization of farm products. To date, he has authored/co-authored more than 225 scientific publications, including: 62 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 6 patents, 9 book chapters, 28 proceedings and 3 edited books. Girma is a member of ACS, AOCS, STLE, and Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy.
Chemistry 101 - Petroleum and Biofuels and BioLubricants
Overview: This lecture will contain basic nomenclature of vegetable oils. It will discuss the differences in chemical and physical properties of petroleum and vegetable oils and some analytical analysis methods of interest.
Instructor: Joseph Perez, Penn State
Biography: Dr. Perez has been involved in fuels, lubricants and environmental research for 60 years and is an STLE Fellow. His undergraduate degree in Chemistry was obtained from Kings College, Wilkes-Barre, PA. His graduate studies were at the Petroleum Refining Laboratory and Chemical Engineering Department at Penn State under the tutelage of Dr. Elmer Klaus and Dr. Merrell Fenske. His career has involved research at Penn State, Kendall Refining Co., Caterpillar Tractor Co., NIST and USDOE. He returned to Penn State in 1995 as head of the Tribology Group after the death of Dr. Klaus. Since then, he has had the privilege of advising over 24 MS, PhD and Post Docs in the field of Tribology. In addition, he has been the advisor for an Undergraduate Biodiesel Team of 10-12 students each year who obtain hands-on experience while conducting research on vegetable oils and biodiesel fuels. He has over 200 publications and presentations. He has conducted research on Environmentally Friendly Lubricants in collaboration with the USDA Oil Products Group, Peoria, IL for the past 12 years. This has led to the use of biodiesel and biobased lubricants at Penn State in farm equipment, vehicles and elevators on campus. Dr. Perez is a member of STLE, AOCS, SAE, ACS and ASTM. He received several awards from SAE, STLE, USDOE, and Kings College. He served in the Navy as an Aerographer from 1951 – 1955, received a commission in 1960 and served in the Naval Reserve, retiring as a Captain in 1990. He is a professional musician in his spare time and currently leads two bands at the State College Senior Center, The Second Winds Jazz Band and The Senior Dance Band. He retired at Penn State after 25 years of service and is currently still involved in the undergraduate biodiesel research team as an Adjunct Professor.
Biodegradation, Regulations and Standards
Overview: This module discusses the current test methods used and definitions for biodegradability. The concepts of "green and "sustainability: are also covered. Government programs in the US (BioPreferred Program) and the European Union (Eco-Label) are reviewed and details provided for how a lubricant manufacturer can qualify its products for both programs.
Instructor: Neil Canter, Chemical Solutions
Biography: Neil Canter received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Michigan in 1983 and his BS in Chemistry from Brown University in 1978. He has been working in the lubricant industry for over 25 years. Neil previously worked for Stepan Company and Mayco. Presently, Neil runs his own consulting company called Chemical Solutions. He specializes in commercial development, marketing, product development and regulatory support for the lubricant industry. Neil is a member of American Chemical Society, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE). Neil is currently a Contributing Editor responsible for writing the monthly Tech Beat column in STLE's TLT magazine. He is also a member of the STLE Education Committee and the Chairman of STLE's Metalworking Fluid Steering Committee. Neil has written articles covering new developments in biodegradable lubricants and a feature article entitled "What is Green?" that was in the December, 2010 issue of TLT. He has made presentations on biodegradable lubricants at past STLE local section meetings and was vice chair of the 2011 Biofuels and Biolubricants Education Course.
General Performance Requirements of Lubricants
Overview: Bio-lubricants must have equivalent performance to replace petroleum products. This lecture will discuss the basic requirements for hydraulic fluids, gear oils and engine oils and the pros and cons of vegetable base oils meeting these requirements.
Biography: See above.
Growth of Niche Markets in the U.S.
Overview: This presentation is a technical approach to environmentally safe lubricants. It will help the attendees chose the right environmentally safe fluid for their applications. It will review the definitions of environmentally preferable products and strengths and limitations of each type. It will also review the various definitions of "biodegradable" and the maintenance practices required to prolong the life of the fluid and the equipment. Included will be environmental fluid compatibility with hydraulic systems, thrusters, pumps, sealing materials, hoses, and other important components. Water infiltration, high pressure, wide temperature range usage as well as ways to manage these challenges will also be discussed. Finally, data that was gathered and observations that were made during several multiple year field demonstrations will be reviewed. Data that will be used covers oil analysis, equipment inspections, operating conditions, and overall cost savings.
Instructor: Mark Miller, Terresolve Technologies
Biography: Mark Miller is the CEO of Terresolve Technologies, a Cleveland-based company that provides non-toxic, biodegradable lubricating products. Mr. Miller has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University and an M.B.A. from Manhattan College. He has engineered, sold and marketed lubricants and lubricant additives for over 30 years. Terresolve's biobased fluids have been extensively proven in the lab and in the field and are renewable, support the agrarian community, and meet federal guidelines for environmentally preferable purchasing.
Biolubricant Developments and Markets in EU
Overview: Up to now there is no uniform legislation in Europe concerning biofuels or biolubricants. Each country has its own laws. Biofuels are fuels made out of renewable resources. But there is no exact definition of biolubricants, are they made of renewable resources, too, or should biolubricants be biodegradable and non toxic according to ISO 15380? This fact complicates the market data of biolubricants. Some European countries support the application of biolubricants by tax reduction or subventions. In Germany the market launch of biolubes started in the 1990s with a big advertising campaign for lubricants based on native vegetable oils. But soon problems occurred especially in the hydraulic sector. Other biodegradable base oils were developed and tested, but nowadays there are still users who reject ester based biolubes because of technical problems. Up to now the addition of biofuels into diesel and gasoline is not realized in every European country. In Germany since January 2011 regular gasoline is called E10 – gasoline containing 10% ethanol. But although E10 is cheaper than premium gasoline, many Germans don't use it because they are concerned about their cars. In addition environmentalists and even Germany's minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dirk Niebel demand the stop of selling E10 in Germany. The minister's reason is the rise of food prices, which affects poor people abroad, the environmentalists are concerned about exploitation of nature.
Instructor: Ben Müller-Zermini, Hermann Bantleon GmbH
Biography: Ben Müller-Zermini received a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Ulm, Germany. In his thesis he worked on the improvement of UV-detection in capillary electrophoresis and HPLC using glass fibre optic. In 2006 he joined the Hermann Bantleon GmbH in Ulm, Germany. The Hermann Bantleon GmbH is a middle sized company developing and distributing lubricants and anti-corrosive products. Ben conducts product development and analytics. He is secretary in the CEC working group CEC-SDG-L-103, which developed the new CEC-L-103-12 for measuring biodegradability of lubricants.
USDA Biolubricant Programs
Overview: This lecture summarizes the various programs at USDA aimed at helping the development and commercialization of biobased lubricants. USDA's programs cover all aspects of biolubricant development from basic research to commercialization. The main elements of these programs include: basic and applied research to improve the properties of current farm-based biolubricant ingredients such as vegetable oils; synthesis of new biobased ingredients with improved properties; characterization and investigation of the tribological properties of biobased lubricant feedstocks; testing and commercialization of biobased lubricant formulations in collaboration with stakeholders, through CRADA and other arrangements; increasing the purchase and use of biolubricants through the The BioPreferredSM Program.
Instructor: Girma Biresaw, USDA/ARS/NCAUR
Biofuels and Other Alternative Transportation Fuels
Overview: This lecture will discuss the status of biodiesel production and briefly cover the use of some alternative fuels. The ASTM and EU specifications will be reviewed. The process and safety issues of preparing biodiesel will be covered.
Automotive Markets and OEM Concerns
Overview: As the EPA considers higher ethanol blending volumes for gasoline and bio-ester volumes for biodiesel blending, it is critical to have stringent quality control in both industries. Both industries are expanding the types of feed stocks used to make our future alternative fuels and they are continuously changing/improving the processing techniques. New biofuel regulation guidelines continue to focus on meeting the goals of the Renewable Fuel Standard of 2012 (RFS2) and EISA 2007 (Energy Independence and Security Act 2007) to reduce our carbon footprint and dependence on foreign oil. The rate of volume production for each type of biofuel and the affects they will have on automobile performance and emissions are discussed along with comparative data to traditional petroleum derived fuels. Also discussed is the critical role of the chemical engineer in the ever expanding biofuels industry which will be focused on feed stock sustainability, cost optimized processing operations, cogeneration, and downstream compatibility. The biofuel and automotive industries can both learn from the unique biofuel chemistries to minimize any risks related to vehicle component material interactions in order to provide optimal customer performance satisfaction and a reduced vehicle emissions lifecycle model.
Instructor: Girma Biresaw, see bio above.
Presentation provided by: Jill ("Jay") Cummings, General Motors
Biography: Jay Cummings is the Lead Chemical Process Engineer for renewable fuels at the GM Powertrain Biofuels Analytical Lab. Jay performs analytical chemical analysis on gasoline, diesel, ethanol blended fuels, biodiesel, raw ethanol, butanol, and gasoline and diesel additives. She works with commercial and pilot scale biorefineries on process optimization studies and quality audits and relates those to the development of material compatibility testing and warranty investigations for the engine, drivetrain, and fuel system components of the vehicles. Jay has extensive experience with DOE and FMEA studies for both manufacturing and research applications, and obtained Red X Journeyman status under the Shainin-Six Sigma program at GM. Previously she was employed with the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, MI and holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Metallurgical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. Jay is a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Society of Tribologist and Lubrication Engineers, American Petroleum Institute, and the American Society for Testing and Materials. Jay is a co-author of 3 patents with Dow Chemical and 2 patents with GM; the primary author of 6 patents with GM; the primary author of 1 Tool Method with GM; and a co-author of 2 Defensive Publications with GM.
Biolubricants Review Session
Overview: This module is a review of the materials discussed concerning biolubricants.
Biofuels Review Session
Overview: This module is a review of the materials discussed concerning biofuels.
Course Agenda
8:00 AM Course Introduction
8:15 AM Chemistry 101 - Petroleum and Biofuels and BioLubricants
9:00 AM Biodegradation, Regulations and Standards
10:00 AM Break
10:15 AM General Performance Requirements of Lubricants
10:45 AM Growth of Niche Markets in the U.S.
12:00 PM Lunch
1:15 PM Biolubricant Developments and Markets in EU
2:00 PM USDA Biolubricant Programs
2:45 PM Break
3:00 PM Biofuels and other Alternative transportation fuels
4:00 PM Automotive Markets and OEM Concerns
4:45 PM Biolubricants Review Session
5:00 PM Biofuels Review Session
5:15 PM Course Ends
"STLE's Education Courses have been very beneficial in providing the training required for those people seeking to become CLS certified. The introduction of the Biofuels and Lubricants Course was a great example of the collective knowledge base that is utilized by STLE in order to keep pace with changing technologies. From the basic reasons why the industry is looking at new energy sources to the more practical technology of these fluids, this couse provided a good understanding of bioenergy's place in our industry. I recommend this program to anyone looking at getting involved with biofuels and lubes, as they gain momentum in our industry, which is focusing on renewable resources meeting more stringent environmental regulations." -Keith Tully, Technical Sales Manager, Petroleum Operations, UFA Co-operative Ltd., Calgary, AB, Canada
"This was an enjoyable class and I was able to greatly expand my knowledge of biolubes, which was limited before the class. The format and topics seemed to be well thought-out and relevant to the course." -Bill Potter, Technical Services Manager/Training, Inlet Petroleum Company
"I think the course included topics of interest for all, and the speakers were focused and had a good command of the course material." -Guadalupe Sanchez, Chemtura Corporation


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Why is Bible engagement down in the digital age? Bible Gateway's Rachel Barach shares some insight.
The step in building a strong self-concept in your daughter is to be very careful what you say and do in her presence. Be particularly cautious about the matters of physical attractiveness and intelligence. –Solid Answers
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20 NIV)
All devotional content copyright © 2013 by James Dobson, Inc. Used with permission.
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A short story for the Young Samurai series!
Japan, 1612. Shipwrecked and his father murdered by ninjas, Jack Fletcher is rescued by the legendary swordmaster Masamoto Takeshi and taken to his samurai school in Kyoto. Hunted by the ninja Dragon Eye, Jack's only hope is to become a samurai warrior. And so his training begins . . .
In order to perfect his fighting skills, Jack goes on a gasshuku. But nothing can prepare him for the punishment of warrior camp - the climax of which is to enter the Way of Fire, a terrifying ritual that burns away evil. Can Jack overcome his fear and walk the Way of Fire?
Part of the award-winning Young Samurai series by Chris Bradford.
Visit www.youngsamurai.com for competitions and to find out more about the books.
Previously published for World Book Day.
'A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one and keeps them there until the end' - Eoin Colfer
'Addictive' - Evening Standard
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I mentioned my site That's Math! (www.thatsmath.com) in another thread. Someone mentioned they'd like to know more about how it got started. I thought I would…Continue
Tags: talents
Started this discussion. Last reply by teachmama--amy May 17, 2013.
Welcome, welcome, welcome, Bon!
So happy you've joined our forum, and we look forward to learning from you! Hopefully you will find this group as supportive and awesome as we all do, and you can find tons of cool ideas that you can use.
When you get a second, please stop by to update your profile--add a photo, some information, and join any and all groups that interest you.
Have fun, and we look forward to getting to know you--
© 2015 Created by teachmama--amy.


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Confession #1: I never wanted to be a CPR instructor. In fact, I tried to avoid even learning CPR. My grandfather was a CPR instructor and would talk to me about getting certified when I was a kid, helping at his concession stand at the public pool he owned. He really wanted me to have these life-saving skills, but I refused to let him teach me (I was eleven at the time- what did I know at eleven?). When I was fourteen, I started working at a daycare center as an assistant and one of the requirements of the job was to be trained in CPR. So along with the rest of the daycare staff, I took a class. The instructor terrified me. He taught with the belief that scare tactics would help his students learn better. I don't think I retained much of what I learned that day because I was too overwhelmed with his yelling the information at me.
Fast forward about 10 years. I was pregnant with my daughter and working for Head Start. Again it was required by my job to take a CPR class. This time, I went a little more willingly because I figured it'd be good information to have just in case my baby ever choked. The instructor this time didn't want to be there and it was obvious. She skipped parts of the DVD presentation, didn't really pay attention to what we were doing, and didn't seem to really care if we were understanding these life saving skills. I wish I could say it bothered me, but that's where my next confession comes in.
Confession #2: It didn't bother me. I was eight months pregnant and glad to get out of the class early.
My daughter was born in September 2006. I didn't think about the CPR class that I took until one day in April 2007 when she was seven months old and suddenly, right in front of me, choking. Severely choking (as in, lips turning blue, not making any sounds, choking). I'd be lying if I told you that I knew what to do right away. I didn't. For what felt like a very long time to me, but was probably only a matter of seconds, I couldn't think straight and started to get emotional. But then something took over, the adrenaline kicked in, and I was somehow able to remember what I learned eight months earlier. Five back slaps, five chest thrusts, five back slaps. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Finally the object was dislodged and my daughter was crying. As soon as she started crying, I started crying. My husband's version of the story is that I cried all day, every day, for two months. (That's probably true.)
Just as I started to get over this very traumatic experience, my daughter choked again. This time she was nine months old, sitting in a high chair, eating half of a grape. (Please if you give young children grapes, cut them in ¼, not in ½!) She started gagging, then the gagging stopped and she was turning pale. This time I reacted quicker and with more confidence. This time it only took four back slaps and the grape was out. My daughter cried just as she did the first time she choked, but this time, I did not. This time I decided that I needed to become a CPR instructor to educate other parents on what to do if they were ever in a similar situation.
I have been teaching CPR for almost six years now and I tell these stories in detail to all of my classes because I want other parents to learn from my experiences to keep their children safe. I can attest that even with prevention and supervision, accidents can happen. I can attest that even when we're educated, accidents can happen.
Confession #3: My daughter choked again when she was almost four years old. This time, I was already a CPR instructor and I should have known better, but she choked on a balloon. Yes, a balloon (you can read that story here).
I'm writing this now, not to scare you, but to be honest with you, as one parent to another about why this class is important. When you take Infant CPR or Toddler CPR at Isis, you will have the opportunity to practice hands-on life saving skills. Our classes are interactive and combine watching scenarios, talking as a group, and practicing. We do not use scare tactics in our class; but instead teach with a little bit of humor (we believe that if you laugh, you'll relax; and if you relax, you'll retain this important information better). Our instructors are all certified by the American Heart Association as BLS instructors and bring with us our experiences as EMT's, nurses, public health professionals, medical assistants and other specialties. We are a passionate group who care deeply about safety and want to be your trusted guides as you strive to keep your little one safe.
We know it's not an easy class to sit through. We talk about all of the horrible things no one wants to think about when it comes to your baby or toddler: choking, SIDS, your child needing CPR, your child experiencing a pediatric emergency. But trust me when I say it is traumatic and emotional to see your child choking. It is something you will never forget. I imagine the only thing worse, would be not knowing what to do in that situation.
Teresa Stewart, MS, MPH
Program Manager: Safety, Wellness and Sleep Support


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DURHAM, N.H. – Repairs and structural improvements to Cowell Stadium at the University of New Hampshire for the 2014 football season will make it possible for the team to play night games and bid for lucrative NCAA playoff games as well as benefit youth athletes from across the state.
The renovation will include the addition of stadium lights, replacement of the general admission stands, and re-orientation of concrete stadium seating and aisle ways. There has never been a night game played at Cowell Stadium during its 77-year history.
"As a graduate and former UNH football player, I am committed to supporting opportunities to make our state flagship institution more accessible to residents of all ages in the state," said Senator Lou D'Allesandro. "I'm pleased that along with my colleagues, we were able to bring lights to Cowell Stadium."
Cowell Stadium, originally constructed in 1936, is the home of the UNH football program as well as lacrosse, soccer, and track & field. In addition it is used for special events like Special Olympics and the CHAD All-Star High School Football Game.
"The lights will allow us to extend the use of the stadium to better allow us to serve the state and its constituency," said UNH Athletic Director Marty Scarano. "For example, we hope to soon host many of the NHIAA outdoor championships to include the three football championships."
Scarano added that the repairs and structural improvements are phase one of a future expansion and complete build-out of the stadium site, and athletics is actively seeking funds to continue work.
"There is something special about football under the lights, and we're excited that we'll soon be able to give our kids the opportunity to experience that unique atmosphere in front of our fans at Cowell Stadium," said UNH Head Football Coach Sean McDonnell.
The Wildcat football team, which owns a national best nine-year streak of consecutive NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) postseason appearances, will play host to Colgate on Saturday, Sept. 14, on Welcome Back 'Cat Pack and Kids' Day at Cowell Stadium. Season tickets and individual game tickets are on sale now at www.unhwildcats.com or by calling (603) 862-4000, ext. 5.


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Ready to cut the cable cord yet? For most people the answer appears to still be no. After all, you can't watch every television show on Hulu, Netflix, or even the networks' own sites (Criminal Minds, I am looking at you). And if you want mobile TV? So far the solutions haven't been ready for prime time. …Someone had to say it.
Now comes FilmOn.com, a site that streams live, HD television to your computer or iPad. We're talking ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, the WB, Ion, and even some non-American channels like Scuzz, Dubai Sports, and BBC News. The streams are what you'd see if you were sitting in front of your set, complete with commercials. (There are even a couple of porn channels that are most definitely porn and not Skinemax-like fare.) Once users pick a channel they can watch on the iPad in full-screen.
But who is FilmOn.com, anyway. And can they really get away with this?
When we visited FilmOn.com from a desktop browser the site asked us to download a file but wouldn't tell us exactly what the file did or would do. Support is currently pretty limited, and there's little explanation of the process, so we opted not to download and go back to the iPad, instead.
The mobile version of the site not only allows you to pick a channel to watch, but also see the schedule of what's on that day, search TV Guide, and pause the live feed. We couldn't get any videos to load on our Android phone, but the site was accessible and even listed more channels than the iPad showed.
Digging a little deeper into the FilmOn site, we discovered that the company has been around for a while and appears to operate in several different countries. They launched an HDi service — HD video for broadband TV — in early 2009. It appears to be the same thing as the stream on the FilmOn website. There's also a subscription service involved, but it's unclear whether this is necessary to watch everything on your computer as opposed to the iPad. Who knows, maybe FilMon turned everything on to draw users in, and will then start charging.
For now FilmOn.com is a fun diversion, and because it offers access to the major broadcast networks, you could use the service to watch your favorite primetime shows and NFL games right on your iPad. We're definitely interested to see if the site can weather the inevitable storm of C&D letters and lawsuits. The owner claims that the service is 100 percent legal, so maybe FilmOn will live on.
Check out our hands-on video below to see how the streaming looks on the iPad.
Viewing the nfl games streaming should be more straightforward. Anyone know of a different way?