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'Schools are not going to be able to escape'
National | INTERVIEW: Secretary of Education Rod Paige argues that the president's massive hike in education spending will allow Uncle Sam to demand results-and push competition
"'Schools are not going to be able to escape'" Continued...
ALTHOUGH he is a famous native son of Mississippi, scores of inner-city children at a Jackson, Miss., Boys and Girls Club seemingly were unimpressed with Rod Paige's celebrity during a visit last month. Mr. Paige, the first African-American secretary of education, gazed through a gym window at grade-schoolers clamoring for basketballs. Others shot pool behind him.
All around, children passed time after another day of school. But what happened during their school day? This is the question that drives Mr. Paige.
In an interview with WORLD, the nation's education secretary said he is a walking and talking testament to what education can produce. "In the Baptist church where I grew up, they used to sing a song called 'I Am a Testimony,'" Mr. Paige said. "And as I've lived my life, I more and more think about that because I see myself now as a testimony. I am ... a testimony to what caring parents, dedicated to education, can do ... to provide opportunity for a person to come from rural Mississippi-Monticello, Mississippi, specifically-to a place around the table with the cabinet members of the president of the United States."
The former teacher, school administrator, and coach chortles at those on the left who mock President Bush's education policies; and Mr. Paige contends winsomely with conservatives who say the Bush education plan is financially profligate.
The tension that Mr. Paige must tackle as President Bush's preacher for big-spending federal education reform was evident during the Mississippi trip. Mr. Paige toured his alma mater, Jackson State University, and the Boys and Girls Club with Mississippi's Republican gubernatorial candidate, Haley Barbour, the former Republican National Committee chairman.
At an ensuing press conference with Mr. Barbour at his side, Mr. Paige countered the assertion by some that the president's No Child Left Behind (NCLB) plan makes demands without offering teachers the money to meet them. He cited a recent Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development study showing the United States now spends $480 billion annually on public and private education.
Quickly, however, he balanced his defense of increased federal education spending with this disclaimer: "We are now in the middle of the pack [in education effectiveness] when it comes to the rest of the industrial nations. So we are not getting the bang for the buck that we need.... We spend $120 billion less now on the military [than the total spending on education].... Education is a big spender; as a whole, it is a poor producer."
For Mr. Paige, this seems to be the message: The Bush administration is spending a lot of money, but it will demand better results.
Mr. Paige seizes every opportunity to cheer teachers-about every 10th sentence or so. "There is a secret," he told WORLD. "Teachers love kids." But he never misses a chance to challenge union-led anti-reformers as "retarding and restricting our growth in education." Teachers unions, in turn, are heavily critical of Mr. Paige.
Besides being his birthplace, Mr. Paige appreciates Mississippi and states like it precisely because of their "right-to-work" laws that lessen teacher membership in unions. Such states cooperate better with President Bush's NCLB plan. In Mississippi's case, federal funds also flow significantly above the national average. This state receives 15 percent of its education budget from the federal government compared to a national average among other states of 8 percent.
With TV cameras rolling and Mr. Barbour at his side, Mr. Paige first commended Mr. Barbour, saying his vision is the kind that "can transform us as a state the same way that it did me as an individual." Yet Mr. Paige immediately went on to commend the state's current efforts (under a Democratic governor) to comply with NCLB guidelines as a good example of education reform.
Education has become a key issue in Mississippi politics. Mississippi's Democratic governor, Ronnie Musgrove, brags often about how he put "a computer in every classroom." Republican Barbour has scored big political points during the current campaign countering that computers are nice, but he'd rather have "more discipline in every classroom."
For Mr. Barbour, the amount of money that is spent-either at the federal, state, or local level-cannot be the barometer by which an elected official is judged. He is keying on a theme of plain-talking, honest leadership that is willing to "say no" to bad ideas, about education or any matter.
"We've got to quit judging politicians' commitment to education by how much money they spend," he told WORLD. "We've got to start judging them by the results that they demand and achieve from our schools for our children. And that means, What do our children learn? How much do they know? At what level can they perform? All the other talk is irrelevant for that child's future."
That's the same theme Mr. Paige tries to emphasize at the national level even as journalists often turn to discussions of budget numbers. He bristles at those who suggest that the president has not budgeted enough funds to ensure teachers can instruct children at NCLB levels. "What amount of funding would satisfy them?" asked one local reporter during the public press conference.
"That's the question I ask," Mr. Paige retorted. "When will they be satisfied? Because the amount of money that the president has put into the No Child Left Behind Act is historical. It is the most money ever put in the federal budget for expenditures for the education of disadvantaged children. To give you an example to make it clear, ... when we took office, the Department of Education was spending $300 million a year on reading instruction; it was called the Reading Excellence Act.... The president came in and his proposal was to put reading in a program called 'Reading First.' ... And his initial budget was for $900 million. That triples it. The '04 budget now is up to $1.1 billion. That means there will be over $5 billion ... over a five-year period. So those kinds of questions from teachers come from one or two or three different sources. One is, they are not quite familiar with the budget and what actually goes into it. Another one is one that is a little bit more sinister, and that is those who are not quite in agreement with other elements of the [NCLB] Act."
Union hardliners, especially in the National Education Association, top Mr. Paige's "sinister element" list. He condemns the group for "protecting its own union status quo" and "showing little interest in children and parents who have to struggle to get an education for their children, who need the help of teachers, and who need the help of schools. We should be very upset with the attitude of an organization that tries to unravel the best hope that children have had in many years in the No Child Left Behind Act."
The law places a high emphasis on federally monitored student testing. The hope is that NCLB will bring to the surface any weaknesses in local schools, which then will be at least financially motivated to address them because of a possible loss of NCLB federal funding.
Yet some wish the Bush administration would press harder for vouchers on a national level. Children's parents, they argue, already know what schools are good and bad in their area. Who needs more federal tests to prove the obvious? Give parents voucher money equal to the cost of educating their children in a public school and put the market system to work as they choose the best schools.
"That's what we are doing!" Mr. Paige insists. His voice has a "can't win for losing" tone to it, but remains patient nonetheless: "We are busting our backs out there doing that."
He cited the District of Columbia voucher initiative recently pushed through Congress. "We agree with that, but we have a democratic system here and so we have to get what we can out of the system," he said. "I believe that a child, no matter his performance, should be able to choose the school that's best for him. That's the policy that we'd like to see across the United States. Unfortunately, there are too many people who disagree with that."
Competition already is forcing education reform, Mr. Paige believes, even among those who don't want it. For instance, while some oppose homeschooling, Mr. Paige thinks "homeschooling for parents who feel that that's best for their child should be available to whoever supports it. I think homeschooling is one of the delivery systems among a lot of delivery systems. And we think that parents should have choice."
The success of nonpublic-school options-homeschools, private schools, religious schools-will force competition on public schools, he argues. "I think at some point schools are not going to be able to escape the competition that the market system brings because homeschooling is there; cyberschooling is there; the growth of other schools. So that there is no way to get around it."
But no reform will work, Mr. Paige says, without strong parental involvement-even for students in public schools.
He recalled "the unbelievable fantastic obsession with reading" his mother instilled in her children. "My mother, whom I didn't appreciate at the time as much as I do now, insisted that we read. I have three sisters and a brother and I promise you, all of them can read and could read early," he said. "And when you look at all the children's books and classics that you're supposed to have read, we had to read them. So now it comes back to me ... just the joy and the power of reading."
He recognizes that an increasing number of families are troubled. "Parents today are under a lot of different types of stress, more so than my parents were when I grew up," he said. "Many parents are working two jobs. Both of my parents had jobs, too. So I'm not going to put that out as an excuse."
Ultimately, Mr. Barbour and Mr. Paige both argue reforms and standards are important, because all students eventually will be assessed for what they've learned-in a test called life.


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New Coffee: Two Exciting Guatemalas
Guatemala Acatenango Gesha is very, well, 'Gesha' in character with all the florals, sweet citrus, and fruited notes we've come to expect from this particular coffee. It's such a beautiful cup, especially in the City/City+ roast ranges. This year saw a good harvest, so we're offering it in 1, 2, and 5lb increments.
Guatemala Huehuetenango Cuilco is a custom-built lot by us, put together from several farm samples of closely neighboring farms in the Cuilco region. This coffee strikes a nice balance between brown sugar sweetness, roasted nut flavors, and malic acidity, making a great brewed cup and a fairly 'classic' profiled SO espresso.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Holiday Inn Express Gibson PA Hotel is nestled in the Endless Mountains Region of Upstate Pennsylvania. Our rural hotel is located directly off of INTERSTATE 81 @ GIBSON EXIT 219 in Susquehanna County.
Our convenient location, with quick and easy interstate access is located along one of Pennsylvania's many scenic byways. Our countryside hotel is just moments from the Harford Fair Grounds
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Our convenient location, with quick and easy interstate access is located along one of Pennsylvania's many scenic byways. Our countryside hotel is just moments from the Harford Fair Grounds and the world renoun EMR Paintball Park both of which are located right here, in New Milford, PA. Be sure to visit the newly opened historic LDS Priesthood Restoration Site, where Joseph Smith and his wife Emma lived, a short and scenic drive northeast along the Susquehanna River. Our location, halfway between Binghamton, NY and Scranton, PA (the homes of SUNY - Binghamton University and the University of Scranton), makes us the ideal choice for those looking for a quick place to stop in between destinations - without the hassle of city traffic and construction
Our Upstate PA hotel is also near many Industrial Corporations. Cabot Oil & Gas, Southwestern Energy, Carrizo, WPX Energy, DTE Energy and Baker Hughes are just a short drive away from our Marcellus Shale Region hotel.


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May 30, 2016
What may be the most legendary ghost story in Lauderdale County is the account of what happened at Stuckey's Bridge, where a man named Stuckey allegedly killed 20 people traveling down the Chunky River before he was arrested and hung from the same bridge. Legend says you can see his lantern at night crossing the bridge, and fascination with ghost stories lies in something much deeper than the lives of those they're based on.
Dr. Alan Brown, author of the book "Haunted Meridian, Mississippi," tells us, "Well, I think our interest in ghosts lies in our desire to know that there's something after this life. There is a spiritual component to Halloween, and ghosts kind of provide that proof that some people want."
Unlike the tales of ghosts at Stuckey's Bridge where we're not 100-percent sure if those are actually true or not, the tales of hauntings at Rose Hill are based on people who actually lived and now call Rose Hill Cemetery their final resting place.
Anne McKee, a storyteller, explains, "There are tokens that are left on her grave where people hope she will remember them on the other side. So, although she's not spoken to me, and that's okay, I feel like she has spoken to others that come through here just to see her grave."
McKee is talking about the Gypsy Queen who is buried at Rose Hill, and perhaps those who visit her grave have her in their presence unawares.
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Ofrezca a familias trabajadoras una oportunidad de dar su primer paso para salir de la pobreza.
MADISON, Wis. — Credit unions and individuals throughout California and Nevada contributed more than US$16,000 in funds, of which the Leagues matched US$10,000, to support the construction of a new facility for Busia Compassionate Centre, an orphanage in rural western Kenya supported by World Council of Credit Unions. The improved orphanage started a credit union to offer formal financial services to the larger community for the first time.
California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues member credit unions that donated to the Busia campaign include:
"The California and Nevada credit unions' donations allow us to complete the construction of the new orphanage facilities and to bring financial services to Busia more quickly than we imagined," said Brian Branch, World Council president and CEO. "The Leagues' generosity and the contributions they have inspired throughout their states will make a lasting difference in the lives of more than 90 orphans and their community."
"I'm proud of our member credit unions for their generosity and support of this very worthy cause," said Diana Dykstra, president and CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues. "And as a League, we are pleased to be able to contribute to something that will help these children survive and become successful future leaders."
World Council launched the Busia Compassionate Centre campaign in June 2012 to build a better home for the orphans and to establish a credit union that would provide the Busia community's first access to financial services. Donations to the fund have helped pay for construction, clean water, balanced meals, education, medical expenses, sanitary living conditions and a small farm for food security. Contributions have also supported the credit union's staff and technological expenses, such as Internet access and smartphones, for conducting financial service transactions. Construction is expected to be complete this year. The orphanage has registered the credit union, which is currently creating operational policies and procedures.
Instrumental to raising awareness and funds for the Busia campaign among California credit unions was Taylor York, 13, daughter of CoastHills Federal Credit Union CEO Jeffrey York. After hearing about the Busia orphanage during a business trip to San Diego with her father in June, Taylor began a letter-writing campaign to credit unions in her state. She helped raised US$5,150.
World Council is organizing a Global Women's Leadership Network engagement program to Busia, Kenya, in May to visit the newly constructed orphanage and to help the credit union implement a financial literacy program. Engagement programs are open to everyone. Visit www.cuwomen.org/engagementprograms for details.
Learn more about the Busia Compassionate Centre at www.busiaorphanage.org.
El Consejo Mundial de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito es la asociación gremial y agencia de desarrollo para el sistema internacional de cooperativas de ahorro y crédito. El Consejo Mundial promueve el crecimiento sustentable de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito y otras cooperativas financieras en todo el mundo a fin de facultar a las personas para que mejoren su calidad de vida a través del acceso a servicios financieros asequibles y de alta calidad. El Consejo Mundial realiza esfuerzos de defensa activa en representación del sistema global de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito ante organizaciones internacionales y trabaja con gobiernos nacionales para mejorar la legislación y la regulación. Sus programas de asistencia técnica introducen nuevas herramientas y tecnologías para fortalecer el desempeño financiero de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito y profundizar su alcance comunitario.
El Consejo Mundial ha implementado 290 programas de asistencia técnica en 71 países. A nivel mundial, 57,000 cooperativas de ahorro y crédito en 105 países atienden a 217 millones de personas. Obtenga más información sobre el impacto global del Consejo Mundial en www.woccu.org.


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Hello Kitty Spa Slippers: White
Hello Kitty x Earth Therapeutics
Item # EarThSlipWht
Slip into these open-toe Hello Kitty Spa Slippers for some serious pampering. Sporting a... more details
Slip into these open-toe Hello Kitty Spa Slippers for some serious pampering. Sporting a signature Hello Kitty bow on each foot, these slippers also have a soft inner lining infused with Natural Aloe Vera and Vitamin E for non-stop moisturizing. Memory foam soles provide a soft, cushioned foot bed with extra support.
- Fits most foot sizes: Women's shoe sizes 5-8 (S/M) and 9-11 (L/XL)
- Plush Lining: 100% Polyester
- Trim Fabric: 100% Cotton
- Soles: 100% Thermoplastic Rubber, Memory Foam: 100% Polyurethane
- Spot clean as needed
- Made by Earth Therapeutics
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Displaying 1-8 of 8
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Hello Kitty Spa Slippers
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Spa Slippers
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Hello Kitty Spa Slippers
I love these slippers, They are so comfortable and I am happy about my purchase. Will continue to purchase all of my Hello Kitty merchandise from Sanrio.
hello kitty spa slippers
super comfy and very well padded!


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Things to see and do - Croatia
Leaving for Croatia
Where to sleep?
Croatia Hotel tips
Hotel Bunčić Vrbovec from26 €Book
Hotel Martini from40 €Book
Hotel Sport from51 €Book
Croatia Leisure tips
Cruise of the Elafiti and Green Islands from Dubrovnik
- 50.0 €
- Book
Montenegro Day Tour from Dubrovnik
- 52.0 €
- Book
Island of Korcula Tour from Dubrovnik
- 54.0 €
- Book
Croatia Travel guide
Croatia : Michelin's recommendations
Croatia has become one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations in recent years. The almatian Coastnaturally attracts the greatest number of visitors due to gems like the ancient imperial Roman city of Split, the Renaissance city of Trogir and, above all, Dubrovnik! The pearl of the Adriatic, a World Heritage site, miraculously survived the Serbian bombings in 1992. A walk on its ramparts offers breathtaking views of the sea and pink-tiled roofs.
But the islands are probably what really made the country's reputation, including Hvar (fashionable with members of the Jet Set from the world over), Brac, Vis and Korcula (where Marco Polo was born). The islands are covered with Venetian palaces and are very popular with people on cruises for their sparkling coves.
A crossroads of civilisations since antiquity, Croatia is a fascinating place combining Slavic and Mediterranean culture. See for yourself in Zagreb, the capital and largest city in the country, and possibly the most poetic too! In the early 20th century passengers on their way to Istanbul on the Orient Express never missed a chance to dine at the Regent Esplanade, the most beautiful luxury hotel in town. Zagreb is a city built on a human scale that is a pleasure to live in with its baroque old town reached on a funicular built in 1890, tramways, gardens, distinctive craftsmen and ski resort.
Croatia : Must-see towns and regions
Built on a rock and encircled by ramparts overlooking the sea, the "pearl of the Adriatic" has forgotten the bombing which took place between 1991 and 1992 and regained its former splendour. The narro...
This charming fortified city, built on a promontory, resembles a miniature Dubrovnik. Separated from the mainland by just 1 270m, it protected the island against potential invaders. At its zenith in t...
This town is home to a real gem and a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the palace of Emperor Diocletian. Of Roman origins, its mixture of Venetian and Austrian buildings and trendy bars are a concentration...
Perched on an islet, this enchanting medieval city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its narrow paved lanes, lined with high white stone houses and its quaysides and moored boats are full of a charm an...
This perched fortified village is truly delightful. Its architectural unity, lovely ochre stone, lanes of steps, vaulted passageways and little squares lined with trees paint a charming and unspoilt p...
Brac hides an original and attractive heritage which comprises the sailors' cemetery of Supetar, the port of Milna, the picturesque village of Škrip and the monastery of Blaca. Inland stone quarries, ...
This old fortified city is flanked by the sea on three sides. Within its walls are countless treasures and memories of two millenniums of history, from the Roman forum and Baroque treasures to delight...
Although Zagreb can hardly claim to abound in priceless architectural gems, its charm is elsewhere: in the alleys and steps of its upper district, strewn with palaces, and in the historic façades of i...


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The Obamacare comic book!
Excuse me: the Obamacare graphic novel. What's the difference between a comic book and a graphic novel? The same difference as the one between dolls and action figures, but never mind that right now. What's important is that there's somebody out there who feels that the ideas behind a 2,400 page monstrosity of a health bill that nobody understands and even its defenders secretly hate | Read More »


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Management Update: Federal highway and transit funding secured.
April 01, 2010
The uncertainty surrounding federal highway and transit funding received a respite through the rest of this year when the Senate voted to pass the $18 billion Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, followed by President Obama signing it into law. This follows a series of continuing resolutions—or extensions—to keep funding afloat at current spending levels, following the September 2009 expiration of SAFETEA-LU. This measure also ensures that the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) remains solvent during that period through a $19.5 billion transfer from the United States General Trust Fund. The HTF is the federal government's primary source for financing highway, bridge, and transit projects, according to the DOT. It's largely financed by the federal motor fuel tax, which is 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 percent for diesel, and has not been raised since 1993.
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Dear Editor:
President Obama has spent the last four years blaming all the country's problems on the Bush administration. Now he can't blame the prior administration since that's him.
So who to blame? I think I have the answer.
Unemployment goes up, the economy gets worse, gas prices go up, welfare and food stamp rolls increase, the stock market goes down -- any or all will be Hurricane Sandy's fault. It's perfect, nobody likes her and she's not here to defend herself.
Since Obama never accepts blame for anything that goes wrong Hurricane Sandy needs to step up.
New Paltz


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A Daily Splash
Creating an environment that would highlight a stunning new collection of KOHLER Cast Iron colors, Coleman selected the color Vapour™ Blue, an aquamarine blue with a glassy translucency, to establish the tranquil, yet jovial tone of the space. Putting a curious spin on the spa bathroom concept and drawing from his previous experience designing children's bathrooms, Coleman opted to create an edgy and lively environment perfect for the urban child.
"Every child deserves a little something extra and A Daily Splash is a bathroom that no child will ever want to leave," explained Coleman.
About the designer
Christopher Coleman Interior Design is based in Brooklyn's historic waterfront district, DUMBO, and combines substantial practical experience with abundant imagination and energy. Coleman guides clients carefully throughout the design and use of materials – combining a refined eye with an understanding of price point, therefore making good design accessible to all. He is noted for his use of industrial and slick materials, which create dazzling textural interest. He has passion for creating spaces with a graphic sensibility, mixing various shapes and sizes, but always with a sense of humor.
See the designer discuss this room. Watch the video. (2:26)
KOHLER® Products in this Room
Tea-for-Two® 60" x 32" drop-in bath with reversible drain
List Price: $3,220.20
ClearFlo 1-1/ 2" adjustable pop-up drain
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Fairfax® deck-mount bath faucet trim with lever handles and traditional 8-7...
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3/ 4" ceramic high-flow valve system
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Fairfax® tall single-hole bathroom sink faucet with single lever handle
List Price: $360.60
Fairfax® Rite-Temp® pressure-balancing shower faucet trim with lever handle...
List Price: $139.25
Mastershower® round ultra low-flow 2-way adjustable bodyspray
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Dolce Vita® drop-in bathroom sink
List Price: $461.90
Pair 3/ 8" NPT angle supplies with stop, cross handle and annealed vertica...
List Price: $140.95
Adjustable P-trap with long tubing outlet, 1-1/ 4" x 1-1/ 4"
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3/ 8" NPT angle supply with stop and annealed vertical tube
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Mastershower® wall supply elbow
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Fairfax® toilet tissue holder
List Price: $88.10


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Sint Maarten, Zeeland - Netherlands
Property ID: 1864
Print Page
Located on the Dutch side of Sint Maarten, adjacent to the incredible beauty of Mullet Bay Beach, The Towers at Mullet Bay offers a beautiful resort experience on one of the most unique and charming Caribbean islands of them all. The resort features a championship golf course, tennis and a luxurious pool with a pool bar for your pleasure. A short walk away are plenty of casinos, watersports and, of course, shopping. Everything is served with a mix of French, Dutch and island style.Check-in Time: 16:00Check-out Time: 10:00Check-in Days: SaturdayImportant InformationResort will be painting the outside buildings and plan on finishing by Sept 30, 2013. A buliding next to this resort has minor construction under way and there will be some light noise because of jack hammering and clean up. The construction should be completed by the end of October 2013.Occupancy limits are strictly enforced: could result in forfeiture of the unit and/or other penalties.Please check with resort for smoking policy.Mandatory fee: Occupancy tax is 50 U.S. dollars.


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|Deck the streets with light
|Written by Holyoke Enterprise
Jeff Deselms, at left, and Rich Wittman, at right, spent much of Monday, Nov. 22 up in
bucket trucks decorating Holyoke. City crews were busy preparing Holyoke streets for the
holiday season by hanging lights and decorations above the streets.
—Enterprise photos


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Use Spray-On Car Wash to clean all surfaces of your vehicle such as paint, glass, fiberglass, vinyl, plastic (be very gentle when cleaning dirty plastic as it scratches easily), wheels, and rubber trim. Works on a wet or dry surface. The lubricous emulsions work to loosen and dissolve dirt, oil, greases, bird droppings,and grime. In order to reduce the possibility of inducing scratches while cleaning it is important to follow these easy steps. Be especially careful on surfaces coated with mud, sand, and soil.
Work from the top down, saving the dirtiest portions of your vehicle for last. Work in small sections and do not allow product to dry on the vehicle. Wipe in a side-to-side motion; not in circles. Fold our soft microfiber cloth into quarters. Spray a small amount onto the cloth and then spray a small section of your vehicle, coating the surface with a moderate quantity of Spray-On Car Wash. An extra spray on bird droppings is a good idea. Give the product 15 seconds to sit on the surface to lift the dirt before removing.
With the microfiber cloth wipe the area very gently in one direction to remove the dirt using a wipe & lift motion. Turn the cloth frequently. Apply more Spray-On Car Wash if necessary. It's very important to be very gentle and not bear down with the first few wipes while removing the majority of surface dirt.
Using a second, clean microfiber cloth, lightly buff any remaining product from the surface. If necessary a light misting and buffing will bring out a nice shine. Turn your cloth frequently and always use a clean side of the cloth for the final buff.
As your microfiber cloth gets soiled, replace it with a new one and as often as necessary. Depending on how dirty your vehicle is, 3 to 4 cloths will be necessary. Microfiber is machine washable for many years of use.
You can follow up with our Paint Cleaning Clay, polishes, waxes, or sealants for a full detail.
out of
Great for the California drought
I live in the Santa Cruz mountains in California and my well is dry. I have to truck in my family's water into my tanks. The last thing I want to do is waste water washing my car or worse taking my car to an automatic car wash place. Instead I have starting using this wonderful product and I can properly take care Porsche 911 daily driver. Ordered extra towels and the microfiber cleaner to complete my waterless system.
Date published: 2014-08-02
out of
Great Stuff
I bought this product after my city restricted water usage and banned home car washing. I have used Griots products for years and expected the Spray On Car Wash kit would be just as good. I was correct it is an excellent product. I actually made this most recent purchase as a gift for my son, who has also used Griots products for years. I am particular about my cars and make an effort to take care of them. I usually lease cars for 3+ years. The 2012 Audi A6 I just turned in looked as good as new. It had been washed more often with the Spray On Car wash than with a hose (I do take my cars to a local hand car wash occasionally) there was no hazing or scratching at all. Excellent product!!
Date published: 2015-01-04
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A college essential!
I bought this product because i was going off to college and wanted to continuing washing my car without ruining my paint in a car wash. This is a great product and i recommend it to anyone. The spray on car wash microfibers are a must and make sure to wash when it is cool outside for maximum productivity.
Date published: 2015-08-30
out of
LA Beagle
Works as advertised -- but it requires effort
Great for a touch up wash. Not as easy or thorough as using water. Requires effort to get all the little places on a car. That having been said, it works as described with no scratching and leaves a wax-like shine on the car which looked great even after a rain storm. The towels in the kit are excellent. In drought-stricken California, I feel good about using this. But I have to say, it requires more time and effort than a normal wash and it cannot really be used on cars that have a lot of build up. It will also not remove water marks from sprinklers, etc. I needed a polish for that (as you might with a normal wash).
Date published: 2015-05-18
out of
Amazing Stuff!!!
I live in the Pacific NW. In winter it's impossible to wash my brand new SUV without running it through a car wash, which I'd never do. Using this product was so easy and I was amazed at the shinning results. Was a bit nervous since I didn't want to ruin the beautiful paint job, but took the chance to get all the dirt and grime off. Worked beautifully. At least there is a product out there that really lives up to it's claim and standards. Thank you Griot's!
Date published: 2014-12-29
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First time user of Griot's products
Excellent product! Just painted my 93 Cobra this winter (black). I haven't washed the car yet, and hated to wash it just to remove the bugs up front. This product was great (I used the micro cloths that were recommended). Ended up using it on the whole car as a quick detailer.
Date published: 2014-07-18
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Waterless car washes are a reality.
We don't need no stinkin' water. In California, washing your car is prohibited due to the drought. Thank goodness for waterless car wash. The result, after 28 minutes, is shown in the picture. My 1990 Carrera 4.
Date published: 2016-02-27
out of
Kansas City
The everything cleaner
I own 4 vehicles and am always cleaning and detailing them. I use all of Griots products, I use the waterless car wash for all my car cleaning needs, wheel wells, rubber mats, engine parts, rims, you name it. All these products are awesome, I go to lots of car shows and have meet other car collectors that swear buy these products. I own 6 Griots Garage bags 4 are trunk bags the other 2 are the larger bags, I have one for each of my cars and trucks and 2 for my polishing machine. I also own 2 trunk organizers and I highly recommend these products to people all the time. I keep a supply of the 8oz Griots spray bottles on hand as well as gallons of Speed Shine, Waterless Car Wash and Window Cleaner. When a friend asks me what I use I make them a small package with these products and a micro fiber cloth, and explain to them this is the best way for me to show you how much I endorse these products. This usually turns them into a new customer. Thank you Richard for making great affordable car care products a life time customer... KCK
Date published: 2014-09-24
Spray-On Car Wash Kit Reviews - page 2
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I have 2 high end cars, Audi R8 and the new Lexus RC F, white. Am concerned what happens to the grit on the car when the application is applied then rubbed off with the towel. Are you not rubbing the grit or sand into the paint? Thank you. Interested.
Asked by: coach11
The high lubricity in our Spray-On Car Wash enables you to safely remove dirt from the vehicle's surface.
Answered by: GG_Vikki
Date published: 2014-12-01
I'm planning on using this product outside. What is the lowest ambient temperature that it can be used at and still be effective?
Asked by: JJ103
We would recommend using the Spray on Car Wash in temperatures that are above freezing for the best results.
Answered by: Tanya
Date published: 2015-02-11
How does the spray on wash differ from the speed shine? (which is amazing stuff)
Asked by: DanP
Our Speed Shine gently loosens and lifts dust, pollen, smudges, light grime, and bird bombs off your paint, where they can be safely whisked away. If your car is dirty and needs a thorough wash you should use the Spray-On Car Wash. Our Spray-On Car Wash's special high-lubricity formulation provides a quick, safe wash without the water, whisking away dust, dirt, and road grime.
Answered by: gg_tatyana
Date published: 2015-05-31
I love this stuff, and have used it on my Audi A7 & R8 during these low water months in California. I have a car on order in a matte finish, and was wondering if this will work on that paint.
Asked by: Pale Rider
Yes, the Spray On Car Wash is safe to use on matte painted surfaces.
Answered by: GG_Vikki
Date published: 2014-09-16
Can this be used on a solid black 3M decal hood wrap without discoloring or leaving any marks? Thank you.
Asked by: rich14camaro
Yes the Spray-On Car Wash Kit is safe to use with car wraps.
Answered by: GG_Kraig
Date published: 2014-06-20
Can Spray-On Car Wash be used on the car windows? Will it affect the windows treated with Griot's Glass Sealant?
Asked by: sadderbutwiser
Spray on Car Wash can be used on car windows, however, it will strip off your glass sealant.
Answered by: GG_Roslyn
Date published: 2014-08-30
I have the Xpel paint protection film on my 2014 Stingray. Will this product be safe on the pain protection film? Thanks
Asked by: Serpico
Spray-On Car Wash is safe for you to use on paint protection film.
Answered by: GG_Vikki
Date published: 2015-08-05
How many car washes will the 35 oz bottle be good for? I would be using it on a 2003 Mustang convertible and not using it to wash the convertible top.
Asked by: Michaelsjolin
On average you should be able to get about 3-4 washes per 35oz bottle, depending on how often and how much product you use each wash.
Answered by: GG_Vikki
Date published: 2016-01-04
Spray-On Car Wash Kit Questions - page 2
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text:
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Gov. Beverly Perdue says her budget proposal for next year will include a temporary sales tax increase to restore education cuts made by the Republican-led General Assembly when they let a similar tax expire last July.
Perdue announced Tuesday her plan to recommend what she calls restoring three-quarters of the penny sales tax that had been on the books for two years starting in 2009. That would raise the sales tax in most counties from 6.75 percent to 7.5 percent.
The GOP-led Legislature rejected Perdue's proposal to set the sales tax at 7.5 percent, instead cancelling the penny altogether.
Perdue says the state owes it to children to stop cuts and make education a priority again by restoring the funding.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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text:
About this set: Playing second fiddle to the 1986-87 Fleer set, the undervalued 1987-88 Fleer set may some day be recognized for its importance and beautiful cards. This set contains the second year cards of many of the greats of the 1980's and 1990's. I am always looking to upgrade this set with PSA 10's. Please e-mail me if you have any for purchase. Thanks!
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text:
Barking Hound Village Foundation, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit corporation. Their mission is to save the lives of lost, abandoned and unwanted pets in Fulton County. They encourage on and off-site adoptions, work closely with rescue groups, and assist owners in locating lost pets. For more information on adoption or how you can help:
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text:
Gendarme V Cologne
By Gendarme for Men
Gendarme V Cologne by Gendarme, Gendarme v is by gendarme and is a masculine blend of lemon, bergamot, vetiver, tonka, citrus and herbs . Gendarme v is recommended for daytime wear. All products are original, authentic name brands. We do not sell knockoffs or imitations. ... Read More
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About Gendarme
History and background of Gendarme. Topper Schroeder is today a respected fragrance marketer whose own elite lines of scents and body care products include Gendarme, Grabazzi and GendarmeV (for men) and Carrière (for women). But in 1983, Topper Schroeder was just a consumer on a quest to find cologne he could wear with pride -- but without irritating skin or asthmatic reactions. Read more about Gendarme
More Gendarme fragrancesfor Women: Carriere , Gendarme 20 ,
for Men: Gendarme , Gendarme Green , Gendarme Sky , Gendarme G , Gendarme 20 , more
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text:
- Serena Williams on her loss to Elena Dementieva in Sydney today
A few of you guys were NOT pleased with this quote from ReRe. Fine - it's bad sportsmanship and typical of her when she gets handed a tough loss (anyone remember when she ate sour grapes at the 2007 US Open?
I don't know why but like the other lady ballers, including big sis' V, I'm pretty numb to these ridiculous statements at this point. We all know that a bad loss = temper tantrum with her.
So next time ReRe's words get on your nerves try putting her in a mental time-out. Or call the Super Nanny.
But either way, do yourself a favor and move on.
(image via Getty)


text:
Social policy
New climate change network
There is a growing recognition in discussions here in Poznan of the role that nature can play in helping people adjust to the impacts of climate change. Governments and environmental and development groups at the United Nations climate change conference are increasingly supporting such an approach. …
05 Dec 2008 | News story
Ecosystems and Food
What role for conservation in enhancing food security for the rural poor? This was the question posed to a multi-stakeholder panel brought together at the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona. …
04 Dec 2008 | News story
Save nature to fight climate change and reduce poverty
Rising sea levels, violent storms, melting glaciers, droughts and floods – all caused by global warming – will spell misery for millions of people, as they lose their homes, food and drinking water. …
02 Dec 2008 | News story
Women still absent in climate change debate
Lack of women's participation in efforts to solve climate crisis was the main focus of the Third Global Congress of Women in Politics and Governance held from 19 to 22 October in
24 Oct 2008 | News story
Spiritual Conservation
Spiritual and Religious leaders came together at the IUCN World Conservation Congress to explore how religious and spiritual traditions can support conservation. …
10 Oct 2008 | News story
The movers and shakers
It seems the old ways are always the best. The Equator Prize, announced during a ceremony at the Congress, recognizes the work of communities who are conserving biodiversity and generating income through traditional methods. …
08 Oct 2008 | News story
Buscando conexiones para encontrar soluciones
Tras su presentación oficial el pasado lunes 6 de octubre en la tarde, el libro "Pobreza y conservación" continúa hablando claro sobre la asociación entre la pérdida de la biodiversidad y la pobreza y qué alternativas se podrían encontrar para solucionar esta problemática partiendo de posiciones realistas …
06 Oct 2008 | News story
Put nature at centre of food crisis debate, says IUCN
The Declaration on World Food Security, adopted in Rome on June 5, fell short of showing the political will needed to address the underlying causes of the food crisis, according to IUCN. …
06 Jun 2008 | News story
Protected Areas, Equity, and Livelihoods in the Asia Pacific Region
On Friday April 25, 2008, nearly 100 delegates from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Asia-Pacific Forestry Week in Hanoi joined the parallel session on Protected Areas, Equity and Livelihoods (PAEL), funded by IUCN Economics & Environment and jointly organized by IUCN, Asia Forest Network (AFN) and the Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and Pacific (RECOFTC). …
19 May 2008 | News story
Food versus fuel debate not so simple, says IUCN
The debate currently raging about the global food crisis and whether biofuels are to blame for it is far more complex than it first appears. …
30 Apr 2008 | News story


text:
About this font family
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text:
A couple of years ago, three of the intrepid members of the V.F.C.S.D. were invited behind the velvet curtain and into the Oz-like private lair of the Academy Award®–winning composer Hans Zimmer (for the uninitiated, he's the genius behind the music of The Lion King, Inception, and The Dark Knight Rises). We were ushered into what looked like a cavernous library slash recording studio and as we entered, the master of music innovation was at work at a massive sound board, editing tracks for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. He was humble and welcoming; we were stunned by his awesomeness and therefore as articulate as gaping trout. So, naturally, when Hans announced that he and his pal, the Academy Award®–winning director Ron Howard, had collaborated on a new film, Rush, we knew the time was right to celebrate: on February 21, Hans and Ron joined Vanity Fair and Fiat to host "Una Notte Verde," (or, for those who don't speak lingua italiana, "A Green Night") to benefit The United Nations's International Labour Organization and its Green Jobs Programme. Held at the legendary Cecconi's West Hollywood, the cocktail party was attended by A-lister friends of the Oscar®-winning hosts, including Josh Hartnett, Alyssa Milano, Adrien Brody, Lake Bell, Mehcad Brooks, Kathleen Robertson, Dennis Haysbert, and documentarian Michael Moore, and other V.I.P. supporters of the nonprofit, which works in many countries to offer research, guidance, and practical tools to help governments, businesses, and workers make the transition to a "green" economy. Inspired by the green spirit of the night, Fiat brand unveiled its all-new 2013 Fiat 500e—a no-compromise electric car with an environmentally responsible zero-emissions design—which had the guests (and let's be honest, the staff, too) obsessing over the eco-chic wheels on display. But the best part of the whole shindig was that Hans and Ron extended their hospitality beyond the "green" carpet: download an exclusive track, composed by Hans Zimmer, from Rush, directed by Ron Howard. And you can address all thank-you notes to Hans and Ron, care of The Private Lair, Los Angeles.
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text:
On-Campus Events: Peace Corps Visits UI
University of Idaho
Multiple event times; details below
Idaho Commons
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID 83843
Peace Corps service is the opportunity of a lifetime and offers two years of international experience immediately upon graduation. Join us at these upcoming events to learn about Volunteer experiences, have your questions answered, and gain tips to guide you through the application process.
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Info Table - Idaho Commons/TLC Building
7 to 8 p.m. | Info Session - Idaho Commons Building, Fourth Floor, Horizon Room
About the Peace Corps: Read more or watch a video about what it's like to be a Volunteer including what Volunteers do, where they go, and the many benefits of Peace Corps service. Or apply now to begin your life-defining experience.
Stay Connected: Sign Up for E-Updates ||Facebook || Twitter || YouTube || Flickr || Tumblr || LinkedIn
For questions about this event contact Marya Nowakowski
If you require a reasonable accommodation when attending a Peace Corps event, please contact the recruiter identified in the "for questions about this event" section of the event listing. Please provide the details of the reasonable accommodation you are requesting.
Last updated Oct 23 2013
Reference #10891


text:
A list of student-submitted discussion questions for Stems.
This Possible Sentences strategy activates prior knowledge of specific science content by creating sentences using pairs of key vocabulary words.
To emphasize students' understanding of key words and practice applying the definitions of the vocabulary words to examples and drawings using the Frayer Model.
Covers carnivorous plants, how their life history matches their environment, and how they responded evolutionarily.
This study guide gives an overview of the characteristics of plant cells, plant tissues, and plant organs (roots, stems, leaves).
These flashcards help you study important terms and vocabulary from Stems.


text:
|HHS football team turns workouts into competition
|Written by Kyle Arnoldy
Summer workouts are often an important step for any football team hoping to make an impact in the fall season. With that in mind, Holyoke coach John Zilla presented his players with a competition serving as an incentive to spend as much time as possible in the weight room.
The competition pitted teammates against each other to see what team would spend the most time working out in the weight room.
Team Get Big won the HHS football team weight room competition over the summer. Team members are pictured from left, front row, Taylor Mayden, Marques Harvey, Bradley Cumming and Tyler Camblin; and back row, Brendan Kage, Andrew Kent, Trevor Dalton and Nathan Miles along with Wyatt Powell from Team Big-E-Smalls who is recognized as the only HHS player to attend every workout session. —Enterprise photo
Seniors were split into four teams and proceeded to draft underclassmen to join their team. Assistant coaches Nic Balog and Cutter Garrison dressed for the occasion in suits as they handled commissioner responsibilities for the draft.
With practices officially beginning Monday, Aug. 12 for the football players, Team Get Big has been crowned champion of the weight room competition.
Read the full story! Call the Enterprise about an e-subscription at 970-854-2811.
Holyoke Enterprise August 15, 2013


text: By Jan RahnManaging Editor With 4th of July just one month away, it's time to begin fundraising efforts for the annual fireworks display put on by the Perkins County Chamber. The light show will follow a full day of activities at Grant City Park on Thursday, July 4. There will be events for all ages to celebrate our nation's birthday—watch for more details about events in the park in upcoming issues. With an $7,000 budget, this year's fireworks display will follow tradition as being one of the grandest in the region. Public input is needed to achieve that goal. Donations from the public will be accepted at any bank in Perkins County, or at The Barber Pole in Grant. Names of donors and the size of the shell their donation will purchase will be published in upcoming issues. The shell sizes include: $10 and under—three inch shell; $11-$20—four inch shell; $21-49—five inch shell; $50-99—multi shot box; $100 and up—finalé.


text:
Testimony :: Angela Kocze
Human Rights Education Director - European Roma Rights Center
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Testimony of Angela Kocze
"Human Rights of the Romani Minority"
June 8, 2000
It is an honor to be appearing before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe to discuss the
education of Romani children in central and eastern Europe. Before I begin, let me just say a word about myself
and the organization I represent. I am the Human Rights Education Director of the European Roma Rights Center
based in Budapest, Hungary. The ERRC is an international, non-governmental organization, which monitors the
situation of Roma in Europe, providing legal defense to victims of abuse. Since it was established in January 1996,
the ERRC has undertaken field research in more than a dozen countries, and has disseminated numerous
publications, advocacy letters and public statements. In the summer of 1998, the then Legal Director of the
ERRC, Mr. James Goldston presented testimony before this body about the current human rights situation of
Roma in the region, and why the United States government and public should be concerned. For further
information and reports, see http://www.errc.org
Apart from my activities related to the ERRC, I am also the Council of Europe's representative for Hungary on
their Specialist Group on Roma/Sinti Issues.
Public education plays a compelling role in society. In particular, it is one of the most sensitive and important
issues in minority-majority relations in various countries. I believe that education can be considered as academic
capital, which results from formal education and is measured in society by degrees or diplomas held.
Unfortunately, Roma quite often than not, are deprived such academic capital which could be a meaningful tool for
integration in European society. Powerful structural changes can be rendered by education. Without equal access
to appropriate education, structural mobilization is almost impossible. It is important to note that within the
post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the economic transition has meant drastic budgetary
cuts in educational programs.
The problems of access to education are quite complex, and they have a profound and lasting impact on the
self-esteem of Roma. With reference to Romani children's education, the following points are inextricably linked:
the socio-economic status of Romani communities (throughout the region today, Romani unemployment lies
between 70-100% officially) has adverse impacts on maintaining a home, the health of the community, and
naturally, school attendance. Many Romani children, just like children in the Third World, are forced to work
alongside their parents in farming, scrap collection, trading, and even in the informal economy. Those in urban
areas may drift towards delinquency given the poor socio-economic circumstances of their household. Lack of
socio-economic opportunities result in increasing welfare dependency. A sense of hopelessness pervades these
Romani communities.
Racism, prejudice, misconception and hostility against Romani children are openly tolerated in the region. Central
and Eastern Europe is today characterized by racism against Romani children in the classrooms, by both students
and teachers. There are some myths concerning Roma children and parents all over Europe, one of that is the
Roma parents do not encourage children to go school, however almost everybody want to seek a better future for
their children life as it they had. Many of them parents report the real danger of skinhead violence when sending
their children to school. Teachers and local authorities refuse to guarantee their safety. Then of course there is the
isolation of most Romani children in the classroom and the neglect on the part of their teachers. This neglect can
be considered as a form of passive racism. No wonder that Romani children, left to a traditional system of
education coupled with socio-economic hardships in their family, and facing racism, drop out in large numbers
even before completing primary education. While the last decade in the region witnessed an increasing emphasis
on the attainment of civil and political rights for the Romani communities, the social and economic rights of Roma
seem to have been relegated to a secondary status. However, it is precisely these rights that tend to determine
whether the Romani communities will be viable in the future---viable enough to practice their civil and political
Though there are serious issues related to the provision of Romani children's education in Western Europe(1), I
will focus on the post-communist countries, where the majority of Roma live today. The estimated Romani
population in Europe is between 8-10 million. My brief presentation will focus on problems of access (or lack
thereof) to quality education and offer some recommendations for the members of the U.S. Congress.
The lack of access to a quality education for Roma in the region has been the result of the peculiar and complex
history of state policy in each country. Time does not permit me to give an exhaustive overview of the history,
however, the legacies of the strong assimilationist policies of the Hapsburg monarchy in central Europe, and in the
Balkans, the policies of the Ottoman Empire, have had profound consequences for such issues as language
preservation and identity of the Romani communities today. In present-day Romania, which has the largest per
capita Romani population, the history of slavery in Wallachia and Moldavia finally ended in the late 1800s. And it
would be amiss of me if I didn't mention the greatest tragedy for Roma in the 20th century, the Holocaust or
Porraijmos in Romani, an event which resulted in the destruction of whole Romani communities, and which is
conservatively estimated at over half a million dead. As I am focusing on education in this presentation, I would
like to emphasize that one of the continuing ways we are discriminated against is that our history is completely
neglected in mainstream textbooks and research on our past, as well as contributions to society, are generally
neglected by mainstream scholars.
Socialist Period
The next significant period in Romani history is the period after Nazism, where the liberation by Russia, and the
subsequent strengthening of their hold on the region took place. The States in central and eastern Europe were in
the process of power centralization as the communist parties became hegemonic. During this period, the Romani
communities were seen in need of integration into the larger society, but an integration that was directed solely by
the State. Though this resulted in significant improvements with regard to material and social benefits, for example,
a guaranteed job and loans for housing, as well as a gradually increasing rate of school attendance for Romani
children, the Socialist state tended to be hostile towards the maintenance of Romani identity. It was at this time
that a system of differential learning began in central Europe: one for Romani children (many of whom spoke
Romani as their mother tongue) who were labelled as "learning deficient", another, far superior education for
non-Romani children. Those children who attended school with non-Romani children, were in many cases sent to
separate classes. Even within the classroom, Romani children were at times placed on one side of the classroom,
while the non-Romani children were placed on the other side. This system of segregated education has continued
with some modifications to this day (eg. Ostrava case).
Post-Socialist Period
Since 1989 the educational policy towards Roma and their access to public services, including education has seen
dramatic changes. I would now like to focus on several issues or problems which Roma children face today in the
educational system:
I. Educational Segregation: This manifests itself in many different forms and varies from country to country in
the region. If we look to contemporary history, two examples of systematic discrimination of minorities within the
mainstream educational system stand out. The first has been the exclusion of African-Americans in U.S. society,
while the other has been a parallel exclusion for European Roma. U.S. legislators need to be aware of the
example set forth by the Brown v. Board of Education (1954) decision which heralded a new way of thinking in
minority-majority relations in America.
At present, the societies in Central and Eastern Europe have become increasingly polarised, and this has resulted
in growing segregation in the region. Hungarian philosopher Tamas Gaspar Miklos has classified this as one of the
symptoms of a global phenomenon which he calls "post-Fascism", which in this case is characterised by stronger
segregation in the school systems of central and east Europe.
A. Exclusion from Educational System
In many cases, mainstream schools don't accept Romani children for enrolment (in great part due to pressure by
non-Romani parents), and re-direct them to so-called "Gypsy schools". Another form of exclusion is legislative
restriction. For example, the current Romanian law on education (June 1995) prohibits children who have
dropped out from the educational system for more than 3 years from resuming their studies. Coupled with poor
socio-economic conditions, many Romani children become drop-outs and street children. One human rights
advocate stated that in Romania the children are rejected very easily from schools if they do not have identification
cards, thus ID cards are determining factors in obtaining an education. Needless to say, many Romani children do
not possess these ID cards. Moreover, the parents, many of whom are illiterate, have a difficult time in negotiating
with the bureaucracy, which inevitably requires written requests for their children. Romani families without valid
documentation (as a result of forced marginalization) tend to fall out of the social safety net. Finally, I would like to
make special mention of the situation in the Balkans. The thousands of Romani children from ex-Yugoslavia who
were internally displaced and rendered de facto refugees (eg. Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, etc.) have been unable to
attend school for various reasons. The results of the previous decades wars, both the internal fractures within
former Yugoslavia, and the most recent NATO war on Yugoslavia (re: Kosovar Roma) have resulted in massive
internal displacements of Roma as well as loss of citizenship, disenfranchisement, and rights for thousands. Many
of these families are living lives of legal limbo, and their children are deprived of educational possibilities. This has
emanated from the tendency among many states of the region (eg. Croatia, Czech Republic, and others) to define
one's nation on the basis of the dominant ethnic group's affiliation, thereby resulting in the de facto exclusion of
Roma from citizenship.
B. Special Schools -Schools for mentally or physically impaired children
The over-representation of Romani children within the "special school" systems in the region has been an "open
secret" for the past two decades. There was research conducted on the problem, but there was seemingly little
will to change the policies. There are several reasons for the tracking of these Romani children into these
substandard schools. For many Romani-speaking children, instead of receiving Romani-language instruction, they
received lessons on how to "speak properly" in the language of their country. Another problem was the culturally
biased test for entering school. These tests were based to a large extent on the values of the particular state's
middle-class. To combat this severe institutionalised discrimination in the region, my organization now has a
lawsuit before the European Court of Human Rights. This is a landmark case, which is drawing attention to one of
the most serious educational problems facing the Romani community today (unfortunately, it could be many years
before the ECHR reaches a decision). I quote the ERRC press release below:
Representing 18 Romani children from the Czech city of Ostrava, the European Roma Rights Center and
local counsel filed an application with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, to challenge
systematic racial segregation and discrimination in Czech schools. Dimitrina Petrova, ERRC's Executive
Director, observed. "The Czech Republic's aspirations for integration with Europe cannot be reconciled
with continued with continued racial segregation in education. We are asking Strasbourg to declare what
the Czech Republic, have suffered racial discrimination in violation of their human rights.
Each applicant, ranging from almost 9 to 15 years of age, was initially assigned to a special school for the
mentally deficient on the basis of tests which have been validated for the Czech Roma, pursuant to
procedures which give free rein to conscious and unconscious racial prejudice on the part of teachers,
psychologist and school administrators. For decades, despite ample evidence of disparate racial impact,
Czech officials have knowingly perpetuated a system which routinely brands disproportionate numbers of
Roma have been deprived from an early age of equal educational opportunities essential to future life
The Strasbourg application contains abundant evidence showing that, in the district of Ostrava, Romani
children outnumbered non-Roma in special schools by a proportion of more than twenty-seven to one.
Although Roma represent fewer than 5% of all primary school-age students in Ostrava, they constitute
50% of the special school population. Nation-wide, as the Czech government itself concedes,
approximately 75% of Romani children attend special schools, and more than halves of all special school
students are Roma.
As a result of their segregation in dead-end schools for the mentally retarded, the applicants, like many
other Romani children in Ostrava and around the nation, have suffered severe educational, psychological
and emotional harm, including the following:
- They have been subjected to a curriculum far inferior to that in basic;
- They have been prohibited by practice from entrance to non-vocational secondary educational
institutions, with attendant damage to their opportunities to secure adequate employment:
- They have been stigmatised as stupid or retarded with effects that will brand them for life, including
diminished self-esteem and feelings of humiliation, alienation and lack of self-worth;
- They have been forced to study in racially segregated classrooms and hence denied the benefits of a
multi-cultural educational environment.
In June of 1999, the present applicants unsuccessfully pursued administrative remedies and sought redress
from the Constitutional Court of Czech Republic. The lawsuits charged the Czech Ministry of Educational
and local school authorities with segregating the plaintiffs and numerous other Romani children into
special schools for mentally deficient because they are Roma. The complaints noted that racial segregation
and discrimination in education violate the Constitution of the Czech Republic, the Czech Charter of
Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, other provisions of domestic law, and numerous binding international
treaties including the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Constitutional Court, acknowledging the "persuasiveness" of the Applicants' arguments, nonetheless
rejected the complaints, ruling that it had no authorrity to consider evidence demonstrating a pattern and
practice of racial discrimination in Ostrava or the Czech Republic. The Court effectively refused to apply
applicable international legal standards for proving racial discrimination.
Having exhausted domestic remedies, the applicants are now turning to the European Court of Human
Rights in Strasbourg. Their Application contends that their assignment to special schools constitutes "
degrading treatment" in violation of Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights. In so doing,
it relies on the legal authority of the Strasbourg organs, which have made clear that " a special
importance should be attached to discrimination based on race". The submission further argues that the
Applicants have been denied their right to educational, in breach of Article 14; and that the procedure
that resulted in their assignment to special school did not afford the minimal requisites of due process
required by Article 6(1).
As Slovak Romani activist, Mrs. Anna Koptova has emphasised in the past, the placement of Romani school
children in tantamount to the cultural and spiritual genocide of the Romani nation.
C. Schools in Romani Settlements
Throughout the region, there has been historical segregation of the Romani population that today continues to be
manifested in separate Romani settlements or shantytowns on the edges of villages and towns. Though the socialist
regimes of the region attempted to provide better housing for Roma and integrate them into the cities in some
cases, they were not entirely successful in overcoming society's prejudices. The segregation of Romani children,
already in place under the socialist regime, has been exacerbated by the liberalization of the educational system
whereby parents can choose to place their children (eg. Hungary and Czech Republic) in schools with no or very
few Romani children. In effect, the new regimes of central Europe have ceded their moral and legal mandates to
curb the segregation and alienation of schoolchildren.
The so-called 'Gypsy' schools in the settlements are situated in or near the Romani quarters, and have a majority
of Romani children. In Bulgaria for example, apparently more than 70% of Romani children attend such schools.
Generally, the schools in the Romani settlements have poor infrastructure, where the buildings are substandard,
toilets are unhygienic, etc. In addition, the teaching staff at these schools tends to be of poor quality, and
unmotivated to help with the children's development.
D. Segregation in Separate classrooms/school facilities
Even in those schools in the region where Roma and non-Romani children share their social space, there are at
times separate classes for Romani children and/or separate facilities for the children. As pointed out earlier, the
segregation of Romani children within the schools and their facilities is still common.
In 1997, it was revealed that in the eastern Hungarian town of Tiszavasvari, 17 Romani students
graduated from the Ferenc Pethe Primary school (8th grade). The ceremony was segregated, with the
Romani children graduating at a different time than their non-Romani classmates. Upon further
investigation by activists and journalists, it was revealed that the students had been physically segregated
for eleven years. Moreover, these children were not allowed to use the gym or the students' cafeteria
either. These practices were in direct abrogation of the Hungarian Constitution, Article 4 (7) of the Law
on Public Education, as well as Law 77 of the Rights of Ethnic and National Minorities (1993). In
addition, Article 76 of the Civil Code regards discrimination of the above nature as a violation of personal
This graduation ceremony was the ultimate expression of the continuing discrimination in contemporary Hungarian
educational practice. In a lawsuit brought forward by the Roma Foundation for Civil Rights, the School
administration was charged with discrimination, and compensation for moral damages in the amount of
approximately US$2350 was requested. On December 1, 1998, the Nyiregyhaza City Court ruled that the
personal rights of the children had been violated (under Article 76 of the Civil Code). The court's decision,
however, did not recognize the anti-discriminatory provisions under the Law on the Rights of Ethnic and National
Finally, though there certainly have been changes in the region in terms of the discourse on Roma (formerly
"Gypsies") and in terms of national policy programmes, it has proven enormously difficult in the present political
circumstances whereby the solution to the "Romani question" has been seen as a tool by the regional governments
to gain accession to the European Union. We seek a political willingness to improving access to school and
opportunities for academic achievement by Roma.
Moreover each country should develop an effective educational policy with a Roma community involvement.
In recent years there have been several successful projects addressing the Roma educational problem , which
mainly initiated by the civil sector. A substantial innovative programmes are supported by the Open Society
When the First Lady, Mrs. Hillary Clinton came to Budapest a few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting her at
the District VII Community Center. Here, many Romani people had the chance to raise their concerns about the
problems facing our community, and now I feel privileged to share with you, the U.S. Congress, my personal
views on the matter. Below, I highlight some concrete suggestions, which the U.S. government could assist with to
encourage education of Roma in the region.
1) In the present circumstances in the region, independent observers(2) have suggested the importance of
anti-discrimination legislation to fight segregation and societal disintegration.
2) Programmes for Romani assistant teachers in the primary school classrooms, and sensitization of non-Romani
teachers (here both class and cultural issues are important). Teachers need to understand the child's needs, and in
order to understand their needs, must understand their family situation. Thus, improved training for teachers in the
teacher training colleges is needed.
3) Encouragement of parent-teacher communication by providing incentives at the local level (parent-teacher
dinners/workshops, etc.)
4) Information about Roma should be "mainstreamed", not merely as projects in a few localities, but throughout
the region (perhaps the European Union educational directorate-general should assist the applicant countries with
this task).
5) In those Romani communities where the Romani language and other languages (such as Beas or Sinti) are the
lingua franca of the local population, bilingual primary educational programs should be investigated and
scholarships offered to Romani teachers to study bilingual methodology in the United States; this could be
conducted through the auspices of USIS or the USAID. In addition, scholarships for Roma to learn about adult
education in their own communities should be encourged in the same manner.
6) Strengthening and re-orientation of vocational school programmes to meet market needs; for example, schools
that will teach computer and information technology, re: USAID programs in the region.
7) University and High School exchange programmes for learning English, this could be conducted through a
variety of public-private initiatives involving the US government and colleges/universities.
8) Finally I would like to add that the problem of anti-Romani sentiment in the region is not likely to go away
without the continuous push on the part of domestic actors to overcome racism and xenophobia in society.
Campaigns in the schools to educate European children in the mainstream about the contributions of Roma to their
society and culture would be useful and certainly anti-bias education should also be implemented in this regard.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the United States Congress, thank you for your consideration.
* I would like to thank Ms. Nidhi Trehan, a doctoral student at the London School of Economics and Political
Science, for assisting me in the drafting of this statement.
1. 1 This has been covered in School Provision for Ethnic Minorities: The Gypsy Paradigm, ed. Jean-Pierre
Liegeois, University of Hertfordshire Press, 1998.
2 For example, see the Draft Report by the Save the Children Foundation, "Denied a Future? The Right to
education of Roma, Gypsy and Traveller Children", March 2000.


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Heartbreaking news for more than a dozen Vann's appliance employees who were told they've been let go.
NBC Montana has been fielding calls all day from former employees who tell us with the holidays only a few weeks away, it couldn't have come at a worse time.
We first brought you the story Tuesday, and all day Wednesday we've been uncovering more of the story.
A former employee who came forward Wednesday claims the number of employees laid off is over 20, including one of Vann's original employees who had been there for over 30 years.
None of the former employees want to talk on-record, but at least six of the laid-off workers told us the same story: no severance pay, no termination documentation, no final paycheck and no warning.
One worker called us right after seeing our report Wednesday on the News at Five and said he had been told he'd get his final check Friday.
Another man called in and told us he'd been there six years, has children, a mortgage and Christmas to pay for and no way to do so.
Workers are telling us their big question is 'what about health benefits?' We had one viewer tell us that they were told there would be no COBRA or in-between job insurance. NBC Montana is still digging into that.
Wednesday evening NBC Montana talked with the new CEO of Vann's, Greg Regelbrugge, who confirmed system-wide layoffs but wouldn't offer any details of how many people or where.
"We're happy that we were able to save a lot of the jobs that would have been, frankly, let out in a terrible time of the year," said Regelbrugge. "This is a terrible time of the year to be doing this, but November is when we had to buy it according to the trustee."
From a business standpoint laying off employees is the best way to cut costs. We talked to University of Montana business law professor Dr. Jerry Furniss who said it's fairly common for a business to eliminate positions to cut costs.
"If you're taking legitimate actions to try and make a business work and make it viable, in order to do that you have to reduce your workforce," said Furniss. "That typically is considered a good business reason."
NBC Montana went to Vann's Wednesday evening and spoke with the store manager. He pointed out that if Vann's had gone completely bankrupt all employees would have been out of jobs. He told us at least this way not everyone had to be let go.
"I don't know a single company in this economy that's not looking to get right sized to run an efficient business," said Regelbrugge. "Frankly in a retail segment, all of those savings are being passed on to what we're buying and then employees we have now so we can take care of them for the next 50 years."
Regelbrugge told us that none of the people laid off were sales associates. He says it's all just a matter of trimming and consolidating positions to make the business run more efficiently.
NBC Montana will continue to check on this story and give you updates if we receive them.


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Q. We plan to bid on some state bridge deck work planned in our area. Our district engineer is open to allowing a high-performance mix that will help mitigate the possibility of undue cracking.
Our lab is analyzing several mixes with standard features such as strength, set time, and chloride resistance. But we have been struggling with how to demonstrate a concrete mix's performance regarding crack potential. What is an acceptable test method to use to compare different concrete mixes?
A. Bridge engineers recognize that concrete shrinkage is a major contributor to bridge deck cracking. As a result, there are several research projects underway to assess how to best solve the problem. Notable efforts are underway at the Indiana Department of Transportation, the University of Kansas, and the Colorado Department of Transportation.
One commonly accepted method used to compare concrete mixes for potential shrinkage is the ASTM C 157 standard test method, Test for Length Change of Hardened Cement Mortar and Concrete. This test is also known as AASHTO T 160.
This test allows technicians to determine length changes of a laboratory-made concrete specimen. Lab technicians expose the sample to the controlled conditions of temperature and moisture, thus eliminating any other cause for expansion, such as externally applied forces or ambient temperature changes. The ASTM subcommittee which oversees the procedure reports that the method provides useful information for products that require testing under nonstandard mixing, placing, handling, and curing conditions.
In his recent article published in the HPC Bridge Views newsletter, Jerzy Zemajtis, a senior engineer at CTL-Group, reports that ASTM C 157 is useful in comparing different concrete mixes when the specimens have the same original size. He outlines how the procedure has been conducted on bridge deck mix design research.
Zemajtis does provide a word of caution. The researcher warns that the length change measured on the test prisms under the constant environmental conditions does not equal the shrinkage on the bridge deck. He advises that field conditions such as deck thickness, internal restraint from reinforcement, and deck curing all affect the shrinkage of the deck.
One way to keep current on the applied research underway on the topic of concrete bridge construction is to subscribe to HPC Bridge Views, published jointly by the Federal Highway Administration and the National Concrete Bridge Council. It provides relevant, reliable information on all aspects of high-performance concrete's application in bridge construction.
This bimonthly electronic version replaces the mailed newsletter first published in Jan./Feb. 1999. You can register to receive HPC Bridge Views at www.cement.org/bridges.
Also, bridge deck design is one session scheduled for discussion at the 2008 Concrete Bridge Conference, May 4–7, at the Hyatt Regency in St. Louis. To learn more and to register, visit www.nationalconcretebridge.org.
We invite questions from our readers on any aspect of concrete mix design, production, testing, or troubleshooting. To submit your questions please telephone 773-824-2492 or send your e-mail email@example.com.
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text: Hello all, I am a new member here and am looking for any advise people are willing to give. Some buddies and I are planning on heading to Alaska in 2014, I have been wading through articles, websites, and outfitters tring to do my due diligence. But its pretty daunting, I have been a subscriber of eastmans for years and know most guys who read it are serious hunters so I thought I would try looking here. We are thinking North West alska unit 23, we would love to do a moose caribou combo. We are serious bow hunters so that is our goal, and we are serious DIY guys so we are thinking drop camp or air taxi. If any of you would mind sharing any experinces you have had up north I would appreciate it. We all have young families so budget is a concern. Two of us are X-elk guides so we are experienced in the woods and not scared of wild places or critters. Any good or bad experiences any of you would be willing to share would be great! If you have a pilot you have used and would recomend that would be even better. From what I can tell from my research so far, just about every Ak. resident with a plane is willing to take your money so I am alittle burnt out on talking to outfitters so any help would be awsome. Thanks in advance!


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Fact: Diamonds are forever. So, before you commit to one, a little sparkle rundown is in order. Just read up and prepare to flaunt away.
Cut determines a diamond's brilliance. Meaning? The better it's cut, the more showstopping sparkle the diamond will have.
A diamond's color grade actually refers to its lack of color. Completely colorless stones receive the highest quality grades.
Clarity refers to a diamond's tiny natural imperfections, called inclusions. The fewer the flaws, the higher the clarity grade.
The carat of a diamond refers to its weight, not the actual size of the stone.
The Rue Diamond Shop Boutique opens Saturday, November 15, at 3PM ET.
By Brianna Lapolla, Staff Writer
Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You'll love Rue La La. Join now.


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What women are looking for is less consultation and more conversation. This is especially true for non-life-threatening conditions such as menopause or contraception, or manageable conditions such as migraines and chronic pain. The new ideal in health management is physician-as-partner. But that doesn't lend itself well to a few short minutes in the doctor's office.
Is the conversation dynamic impacted by the fact that there are more female physicians in women's health? The common belief is that women prefer female physicians, but a recent "She Says" national survey of 1,200 women conducted by Marketing Technology Solutions indicated that the preference is less about gender and more about the qualities commonly associated with women: empathy, listening, partnership. If women leave a physician's office without experiencing those qualities, they leave feeling uncared for, regardless of their physician's gender.With pressure from managed care and the resulting demands on medical practices, healthcare professionals are torn between a desire to give the best care possible and their daily race against the clock. Meanwhile, women's expectations are increasing. Medical knowledge is becoming a commodity for patients, caregivers, and consumers because information about any drug or disease state is just a Google search away. Women search health information more than any other topic online. The digital age has created an instant gratification factor that extends even to the doctor's office.
The Conversation Destination
Pink Tank is a full-service consultancy specializing in marketing to women. The company conducts qualitative research on behalf of clients, including focus groups and other research done by brand counselors with expertise in psychology, patient advocacy, gender, and cultural studies, as well as extensive experience in marketing to leading consumer and healthcare brands.
In recent qualitative research on the subject of menopause therapy, an OB/GYN said, "A successful conversation is when we both come to the same conclusion." In the same research a patient answered, "When I'm involved in the decision." Physicians want to feel they are giving the best care possible, and women want to feel cared about. The key is that they both want to agree. The contribution a brand can make to this insight is twofold: First, it helps both physician and patient walk into their visit prepared to agree, and secondly, it acts as a conversation catalyst to facilitate agreement, so both leave feeling more satisfied.
Every conversation has two sides; each side is equally important to success because conversation can be derailed on either side. Every time a doctor says "I don't think so," or a woman leaves with unspoken concerns or unanswered questions, an opportunity evaporates. To help each side prepare to agree means looking at the conversation as a destination in the marketing communication plan, rather than just another channel. On each side the beliefs that drive behavior must be addressed. To assume those beliefs are simply about therapy is a limited, product-centric view. The beliefs that need to change could be how the physician or patient feels about the disease itself, about each other, or even about themselves. Taken from real-world successes, below are some guidelines on becoming a conversation catalyst—and what to avoid—in the physician/patient dialogue.


text: First off I am not any better than the next guy out their and with some dedication, consistent form, correct arrow spine and tune these groups are in reach. This video clip is raw and not edited and shows how accurate some of these bows can be with short axle to axles. Here are two 3 arrow groups at 80 yards. I shot similar groups with the Hoyt Carbon Element so I am not here to push a particular brand just dedication, consistent form, arrow spine, and tune.


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Draft Signings
The 2009 First-Year Player Draft took place last week, with the Royals selecting 49 players. The club has signed seven selections, plus a pair of non-drafted free agents. Here is a list of players signed to date:
10th round selection Geoffrey Baldwin, a first baseman from Grand Junction High School in Colorado
11th round selection Ryan Wood, a shortstop from East Carolina University
12th round selection Nicholas Wooley, a right-handed pitcher from William Woods University
16th round selection Eric Diaz, a left-handed pitcher from New Mexico Junior College
20th round selection Patrick Keating, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Florida
25th round selection Richard Folmer, a right-handed pitcher from Stephen F. Austin State University
30th round selection Josh Worrell, son of former Major Leaguer Todd Worrell, a right-handed pitcher from Indiana Wesleyan University
Non-drafted free agent Jose Sanchez, a left-handed pitcher from Montgomery College – Germantown
Non-drafted free agent Kyle Sweat, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Central Florida