text:
It's the time of year when the blossoms come out of their shell, and the sun peeks a little brighter. The temperatures warm, and it's a sign that summer is just around the corner.
For some fun for the whole family this spring, try a few activities below to help prepare for the sunnier days ahead!
* Head to the beach and fly a kite.
* Take a walk around your neighborhood and soak up a few rays from the sun.
* Get a little dirty ... in the garden that is! Clear away unwanted debris left from the winter months, and start preparing your garden for your plants or vegetables.
* Take a bike ride as a family. Plan a route around your neighborhood and set off on an adventure, together.
* Pack a few sandwiches, drink boxes, and other easy treats and have a picnic. Go to a local park or set outside in your own backyard and simply enjoy each others company, while you feast in the sunshine.
* Pay animals a visit at your local zoo.
* Make your own hopscotch course on the sidewalk and make a game of it.
* Gather up a few good books, and go outdoors and read. Find a swing at a local park, or set up lawn chairs in your backyard.
* Go to a local playground and play! Swing on swings, slide on slides, teeter on the teeter-totter, play on the jungle gym … hey, they say you're only as old as what you feel. So have fun and just enjoy the playtime!
* If it's a rainy day, play hide and seek indoors. Then make chocolate chip cookies afterwards.
Need more ideas? Visit the links below for more fun ideas for the whole family this spring!
Play a little memory together, with the Butterfly Match Game online. Find matching pairs of cards and see who can do it the fastest!
Celebrate the spring season with FamilyFun.com. Find arts and craft projects that will get your kids curious about the outdoors, as well as some activities to have fun on the inside.
Get a little crafty this spring with Kaboose.com! Find fun activities and crafts that you can do indoors and out!


text:
From March 23 to 27 in 1913 the equivalent of more than two months worth of rain pelted certain regions of Ohio, leading to one of the worst natural disasters the country has ever experienced.
At the height of the storm parts of Ohio were receiving 2 to 6 inches of rain per day, according to an article written by Trudy Bell. Bell is considered to be one of the foremost national authorities on information regarding the Flood of 1913.
The impact of the flood on communities across Ohio varied depending on location, but those close to rivers and bodies of water were devastated by the incident.
Article Photos
Photo courtesy of Marietta College Special Collections
A carriage goes through floodwaters in Columbus.
Across the state at least 428 people lost their lives and more than 20,000 homes were destroyed by the flood waters, according to www.ohiohistorycentral.org.
Bell said many of the initial estimates about the total number of deaths are unrealistically low, because of the time that they were released.
"When researching the 1913 flood you will notice that the official report numbers are generally very inconsistent," she said. "Some of the reports were gathered so soon after the incident that all of the data wasn't in."
Fact Box
Did you know?
Rainfall over the state totaled from 6 to 11 inches over a four-day period.
Death toll numbers ranged from 400 to 600 people in Ohio alone.
More than 20,000 homes were destroyed in Ohio.
Dayton, Hamilton and Columbus were three of the hardest hit cities in terms of total deaths and damage in the state of Ohio.
Source: Trudy Bell and www.ohiohistorycentral.org
The State Board of Health's reports for instance, were released in May directly after the crisis happened, according to Bell.
This didn't allow the board to take into consideration all of the deaths due to disease, starvation, loss of homes or a number of other factors that contributed towards the loss of lives.
The death total that Bell has found to be the most realistic and credible during her research is the one formulated by the Red Cross.
"In October of 1913 the Red Cross estimated that in Ohio alone the death toll was around 600 people," she said. "They were on the ground keeping detailed records throughout the entire catastrophe and waited for the data to be properly compiled before releasing a number."
Communities along rivers and streams were devastated by the destruction that occurred as the flood waters rose.
Dayton, located on the Great Miami River, was perhaps hit the hardest of any area in Ohio by the natural disaster.
Flood waters reached 29 feet at the highest point and an average of 10 feet of water raced through the streets of downtown Dayton, according to the Silver Jackets website hosted by the Midwestern Regional Climate Center(www.mrcc.isws.illinois.edu).
The Silver Jackets are teams formed at the state level and work together with other federal, state and local organizations to help reduce the risk of floods, according to the official website of the Silver Jackets (www.nfrmp.com). They promote flood planning and prevention methods across the nation to help reduce the risk of these catastrophic floods.
Unfortunately for Dayton during the 1913 flood, no such organization existed.
Dayton suffered greatly because of its location on the Miami Valley Watershed, according to Bell.
"Three major rivers converge at the edge of Dayton and all of that water was funneled towards the city," said Bell. "That much water led to the breaking of the levee system that Dayton had."
On top of the flooding, much of Dayton burned due to fires that ravaged what buildings weren't completely enveloped with flood waters.
"A great part of downtown Dayton burned from burst natural gas pipes," said Bell. "The flood happened so fast that many didn't have time to turn off the gas supply."
The water, fire and a number of other factors contributed to one of the highest death totals in the state of Ohio.
The Silver Jackets website estimates that approximately 123 lives were lost during the 1913 flood in Dayton alone.
The state's capital, Columbus, had to deal with 92 fatalities and an estimated $1.5 million total in personal property damage, according to the community profile on the website.
While it didn't have as many total fatalities, the capital had to help with the destruction over the entire state.
The governor of Ohio at the time of the 1913 flood was James M. Cox.
Cox realized very quickly that this storm was something that was going to affect the entire state, according to Bell.
"The governor was a former newspaper man, covering the railroad beat when he was in Cincinnati," she said. "He was able to use that familiarity to help direct the distribution of relief efforts and supplies across the states via the railroad."
Columbus also had its levee system destroyed by the flood waters that ravaged the city.
The damage done to the capital was devastating to local homeowners, leaving around 20,000 of the 30,000 estimated population homeless. The Columbus building department estimated personal property damage totaling $1.5 million, with nearly 5,000 buildings damaged and 500 completely destroyed, according to the Silver Jackets.
Bell said she often tries to imagine what it would have been like to be Gov. Cox during the natural disaster.
"He was the newly appointed chief executive of a thriving fertile state to start the week," she said. "Then only eight days later he was in charge of a state that was in ruins."
Cox didn't panic, but slowly put the pieces back together and began to help rebuild the state.
He was very active in the recovery, through relief efforts and providing funds for rebuilding, according to Tom Rieder, reference librarian at the Ohio Historical Society.
"All of the cities and towns that were affected in the flood would eventually recover," he said.
This was in part due to the money that Cox raised and the steps he took to ensure Ohio wouldn't be caught by surprise again.
"He and the general assembly raised over $500,000 for relief funds to be used for those affected in the disaster," said Rieder. "He traveled around the state surveying the damage, trying to help wherever and whenever he could."
Ohio would not be caught completely off guard again, thanks to the development of the Miami Conservancy District and other flood prevention programs. Eventually Ohio recovered from the storm, but not before hundreds of lives and thousands of homes were lost.
"It took years for buildings and bridges to be rebuilt, and even longer for industry to get back to peak efficiency" said Rieder.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Job Fairs Ditch Paper for Bar Codes
Job fairs can be infuriating—and inefficient.
Candidates wait on line in front of a booth. When they finally get to the front and start asking questions about that dream career in engineering, the recruiter says he's actually handling marketing jobs for the company and that other guy, also surrounded by a crowd of candidates, is the right person to talk to. Half an hour, down the drain.
For employers, it's not much better. Recruiters spend hours talking to hopefuls who stand no chance of being hired, while the really stellar candidates who need to be courted get frustrated and walk away.
There's no easy fix, but there are signs of progress. Nearly 80 companies, including Bank of America and bio-pharmaceutical company AbbVie, have partnered with Chicago tech firm Recsolu LLC to make the process slightly more palatable.
Using the firm's Recpass technology, job-fair attendees can submit their information (name, contact info, résumé) once via a mobile app, and then use a QR code, a type of bar code, to reload it for each company whose booth they visit.
Representatives from those companies can immediately screen for work authorization or years of experience, directing those who don't meet qualifications to one area, where the applicant can learn some basics about the company, and sending top prospects to another group, where they can be courted a little more personally. Some firms even use the quick screens to invite candidates to hospitality suites for additional meetings that same day.
Recruiters can also take notes ("Recommend!" "Supply chain intern?" "NO") on the virtual résumés during their brief meet-and-greets and pass clean and annotated versions along to HR and other hiring managers.
Recsolu charges on an annual subscription basis.
Dan Black, Americas director of recruiting at EY, says his firm can stay in a candidate's good graces by simplifying the introduction-application-hiring pathway. And with the firm planning to take on 7,200 U.S. college students for internships and full-time positions in fiscal 2014, simple is good.
"Doing things effectively and also efficiently is mission critical when you're talking about this kind of volume," Black says. His recruiters can keep tabs on which candidates have had outreach from the company, who still needs follow-up, who might benefit from a reminder to submit the formal application. Before starting to work with Recsolu a few years ago, he says, tracking potential candidates before they actually applied was inconsistent, at best.
Bank of America used to have so many résumés on hand after job fairs that it would sometimes outsource the scanning process, says Erika Irish Brown, who leads diversity recruiting for the bank. Now, applicants are processed faster and their information can be shared with the appropriate hiring managers before the career fair is even over.
Automation isn't making old-fashioned, in-person interaction disappear, though. In fact, Black says, recruiters now spend more time actually recruiting.
And there's still something to be said for a paper résumé. "You always need backups," Brown says.


text:
- Jan 17:
- Target email to shoppers: Is it for real?
- Jan 14:
- Target details free credit monitoring service
- JPMorgan's Dimon: Target breach is a wake-up call
- Jan 10:
- Target now says up to 110 million customers victimized in breach
- Target hack: Tips for worried consumers
- Dec 27:
- Target admits customers' encrypted PIN info was stolen
- Dec 26:
- U.S. a laggard in adopting more secure credit cards
- Dec 25:
- Target seen losing customer loyalty in wake of data breach
- Dec 24:
- Target: Beware of scam emails related to card theft
- Dec 23:
- Justice Department steps in on Target data breach
- Target hack could become class action suit
- Dec 22:
- Weak credit card security made Target a juicy target
- Dec 20:
- Target hack: How did they do it?
- Target hack: Customers' fury, frustration mount
- Dec 19:
- Target data breach: What you should know
- How to know if your card was affected by Target's data breach
- Target hack: 40 million card accounts may have been breached
Amid reports Friday that credit and debit-card information stolen from up to 40 million Target customers already is being sold on the black market, security experts warned that such attacks not only will continue but could worsen.
While businesses are experimenting with new ways to deter cyberthefts, the experts noted, the crooks are getting smarter about exploiting vulnerabilities in the growing ranks of companies whose operations are linked across the world's vast computerized networks.
"The reality is that these incidents are only going to increase," said Paul Lipman, CEO of Redwood City security firm Total Defense. "It's a result of the increasing connectivity of everything we touch."
Target, meanwhile, scrambled Friday to reassure customers by offering free credit monitoring and encouraged them to keep shopping during the holiday season by announcing a 10 percent discount this weekend. That may do little to calm the popular discount retailer's angry customers, many of whom said they couldn't reach anyone Friday at Target's hotline, 866-852-8680.
"I'm furious and I'm frustrated," said Mia Siegel, of Danville, who said she was among those who shopped at a local Target store during the Nov. 27 to Dec. 18 data breach and who hasn't been able to get through on the hotline. Each time she called, she said, "You have to go through the whole phone tree, and they tell you, 'Just a minute, we'll have someone help you,'" and then "it just hangs up on you."
Other people lodged similar complaints on Target's Facebook page, and San Francisco resident Jennifer Kirk on Friday sued the chain in federal court, claiming it "failed to implement and maintain reasonable security procedures."
Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder acknowledged in an emailed statement that "we are experiencing significantly higher volume than normal to our call centers," and added, "we are working hard to resolve this issue by adding team member support and system capacity as quickly as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience."
The company, which said it is "hearing very few reports of actual fraud," still hasn't disclosed details about how the attack occurred. But on Friday, Brian Krebs -- a well-respected cybersecurity blogger who first disclosed the breach -- reported that credit and debit-card data stolen in the attack "has been flooding underground black markets in recent weeks." He added that the purloined information has been "selling in batches of one million" for $20 to more than $100 per card.
Experts said retailers are experimenting with a number of technologies to minimize the impact of such incidents.
Some are designed to spot attacks minutes after they begin instead of taking days, which is often the case now, said Hugh Thompson of Sunnyvale security company Blue Coat. While that might not stop crooks from stealing information, he added, "it's a way to vastly reduce the impact of it" by letting firms react more quickly.
Another method is to encrypt more parts of the business's operations, so that even if some data is stolen, it will be harder for the thieves to decode, said Terence Spies of Cupertino-based Voltage Security.
Marc Maiffret of Phoenix security company BeyondTrust added that many retailers will likely be prompted by Target's breach to hire consultants to identify their vulnerabilities and suggest improvements.
But he characterized the on-going battle with cybercrooks as a "cat and mouse game," noting that every time businesses make their systems safer, the bad guys figure out new ways to exploit them.
Eric Chiu, president of Mountain View security company HyTrust, agreed. "As thieves get more savvy," he concluded, "we should absolutely expect that we will see more breaches of greater magnitude."
In a report detailing the problems it expects in 2014, Japanese security firm Trend Micro predicted "we're going to have one or more events like this every month," said J.D. Sherry, the company's vice president of technology and solutions.
He noted that one reason for the grim assessment was that many retailers still use Windows XP as their operating system, Because the software is a dozen years old and will no longer be fortified with security updates from Microsoft after April, he added, "this is a big problem."
But for Target, its immediate focus was the fallout from the attack. In a statement, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel noted that just because someone shopped at Target during the attack "doesn't mean they are victims of fraud" and emphasized that those customers "will not be held financially responsible for any credit and debit card fraud."
Contact Steve Johnson at 408-920-5043. Follow him at Twitter.com/steveatmercnews.


text:
Fitness Series
Oops! We do not offer these products in your country or region. Continue Shopping
Oops! We do not offer these products in your country or region. Continue Shopping
Home Bikes
Your alarm clock goes off at 5 a.m. on a Tuesday. You roll out of bed, open the blinds, and it's a veritable blizzard outside. Your eyes reluctantly go to the chair in the corner of your room, with your workout clothes that you laid out the night before with full intentions of going to the gym first thing in the morning. One last look at the snow, and you climb back into bed. You resolve to hit the gym on your way home from work, no matter how tired you are or how late it is. How many times has this happened to you? It doesn't matter where you live or what you do; sometimes things just get in the way of going to the gym. Take problems into your own hands and buy a Spinner® bike for home use. You'll never have to miss another workout!
Work Out on Your Own Time
The Spinner Sport is the best home exercise bike on the market. And it's set at a one-time price lower than what you would spend on an annual gym membership! Do you find yourself avoiding the gym at the most trafficked hours, even if it may be more convenient for you, because the indoor cycling bikes are usually all taken? Or maybe you've had to cut your workout short because there's a long line of impatient cyclists waiting for a free bike. These worries could be a thing of the past if you invest in one of our home exercise bikes. The Spinner Sport is compact enough to keep in an office or second bedroom, and packs all the punch of our commercial bikes. Take control of your fitness regime now with the best home exercise bike available today, the Spinner Sport.
Ride in comfort
The Spinner Sport includes all the features of our commercial bikes that you've probably used at the gym. The easy-to-use resistance knob will help you find the perfect resistance for every workout; simply turn the dial to increase or decrease the resistance. Our bikes also come with a weighted flywheel to keep your momentum up as you pedal and make sure that your stroke is smooth and uninterrupted. It's easy to adjust the handlebars or the seat for your comfort and safety. The Spinner Sport also includes a wide, extra-padded seat, so you can feel comfortable and balanced during your home workouts.
Achieve your fitness goals
With your purchase, you will also receive four complimentary cycling DVDs to help you stay motivated and in shape. Each video is led by a different instructor, giving variety and keeping things interesting in your home workout while helping you surpass your goals. For example, Turn and Burn focuses on strength building while Maximum Results will help you achieve your weight loss goals. Your friends and family will be amazed at the transformation in your body and energy!
Invest in your health
Our bikes are of the highest quality and even come with a 10-year warranty so you don't need to worry about riding too hard. On second thought, there may not be such a thing as riding too hard for our customers! For convenience and cost effectiveness and the same excellent quality you would find in any health club, order the best home exercise bike today. Consider it an investment in your health! Say so long to those lazy wintery mornings. Hello, workouts on your schedule!
Copyright 2016 Mad Dogg Athletics®. All rights reserved. Spin®, Spinner®, Spinning®, Spin Fitness®, SPINPower®, the Spinning logo ®, Peak Pilates®, CrossCore®, Bodyblade®, Ugi®, and Resist-A-Ball®,
are registered trademarks that are owned or used under exclusive license by Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc.


text:
If you're in the mood to browse a collection of post-modern art or throw down a few thousand on an original painting, simply power up your iPad and go no farther than your couch.
Startups and tech giants are launching fine art galleries and marketplaces online for discovering, browsing and buying art as the Internet transforms the art world much as it has the music industry. But while musicians have largely suffered financially in the digital revolution, emerging visual artists are embracing online galleries as a way to launch their careers, and seasoned artists have turned to the Web to show their work without having to secure gallery space and traveling across the country.
Sheila Finch, a landscape painter in Belmont who has been painting for about 45 years, began selling online in 2012 with San Francisco-based UGallery.
"Up until that point I had just discounted online galleries," she said. "I had always shown in brick-and-mortar galleries."
Finch, 59, spent years traveling to show her work, and struggled to produce enough paintings to fill the galleries she was in, until a few years ago when she broke her leg and had to take time off. She moved most of her work online, and continues to sell to collectors across the country, but gets to spend more time doing what she loves -- painting.
The online art world also gives art collectors and others access to more artists than ever before with a click of a mouse.
And with a growing number of online galleries, collectors don't have to wait for an art show to come to their city and navigate what can sometimes be an intimidating experience of walking into a gallery.
"People are dressed up, wearing ties. Or often you're the only one in there," said Erasmo Leon, an art collector in San Francisco. "It's almost like all eyes are on you. They're expecting you to make a purchase, and make a commission."
Leon has been collecting art for a decade, but in the last year switched to buying online, primarily through UGallery, one of several online art sites from the Bay Area that work with galleries and curate original art. New artists who have never sold their work before may sell 25 pieces their first year on UGallery, said gallery director Alex Farkas.
"The gallery scene is really hard to break into," he said. "A gallery might represent 10 people. Even in a city like San Francisco, there just aren't that many galleries."
UGallery takes a 50 percent commission; many of the site's artists also show in galleries, which typically take between 30 and 60 percent.
Tech behemoths Amazon and Google have also launched their own fine art sites in the last year. Amazon Art has 55,000 works on its site from about 250 galleries, including UGallery, and some original works cost upward of $200,000. Amazon spokesman Erik Fairleigh said people are paying top-dollar.
"We are very pleased with sales, and we are definitely selling our work at multiple price points," Fairleigh said.
Google's Open Gallery, which launched in December, is an extension of its partnership with museums and cultural institutions, which moved major national collections online.
"Now we're helping individual artists, galleries, archives or collectors to do the same by opening up the technology ... so that anyone with cultural content can publish it, creating exhibitions that tell engaging stories on their own website," said Google spokeswoman Becca Ginsberg Rutkoff.
Fine art didn't leap from gallery walls to Web pages simply with the omnipresence of the Web; rather, improvements in digital photography has made it possible to see the colors and textures of a painting online. High-resolution and retina display screens, touch screens for zooming images and the development of the tablet have made browsing and buying art a better online experience.
"You can really see the texture of an artwork," said Catherine Levene, co-founder and CEO of Artspace, a New York-based online fine art gallery. "That really is critical, and that wasn't there three years ago."
The digital age has also spawned a new genre of art and a new class of digital artists like Angeline Roussel of San Francisco, who sells drawings on the newly launched Palo Alto-based ArtCorgi, a site that commissions pop art.
"It doesn't make sense for me to have a traditional gallery because it's not the kind of work I do," Roussel said.
San Francisco-based ARTtwo50 created an augmented reality app that lets users see how different artwork would look on their wall by viewing them through an iPad screen. Almost everything on ARTtwo50 sells for $250, and after making five sales, artists can price their work at $500. Site Co-founder Patrick Coughlin said he was trying to remove the sticker shock that many consumers feel in galleries, and confusion about why art is priced they way it is.
"People end up saying 'I'm just going to go to Ikea and buy that poster,' or 'I'm going to go put up that old college beer poster for the 10th year in a row because it's just easier,' " he said. "We decided to strip all that out and get people to buy what they like when they see it."
The digital shift hasn't hurt the pocketbook of visual arts like it has musicians' because artists don't face the same threats of piracy and loss of physical sales -- vinyl and CDs -- that undid the music industry.
"Most artwork is physical objects," Levene said. "You can buy them digitally, but you have to actually physically distribute them."
While many art experts insist the physical gallery will never disappear, consumers -- even the avid art collectors -- now have fewer reasons to stand in front of a Picasso.
"I love to look at art and think about it and see what it's trying to represent," Oakland art collector Suzanne Becker said. "But there is something awfully convenient about sitting on a sofa and flipping through an app."
Contact Heather Somerville at 510-208-6413. Follow her at Twitter.com/heathersomervil.
Amazon Art
Based: Seattle
Features: 55,000 works from more than 250 galleries and dealers. All artists must be approved, and the site sells both original art and prints.
Commission: Sliding scale from 5 to 20 percent
Based: Palo Alto
Features: More than 50 artists and 80 styles of commissioned pop art, including cartoons, anime, sci-fi and drawings.
Commission: 20 percent
Based: New York
Features: More than 200,000 works from contemporary artists, including photographs, sculpture, drawings and paintings.
Based: Los Altos Hills
Features: A free app that provides streaming art to any Internet-connected TV, tablet or smartphone. Features images from museums, the Library of Congress and NASA.
Based: New York
Features: Original art from 1,500 galleries, 200 museums and art fairs. Runs the Art Genome Project, an ongoing study of art movements that tracks connections between artists, styles and more than 90,000 works of art.
Based: San Francisco
Features: More than 800 artists, many just starting their careers. All art is original and hangable.
Commission: 20 percent, and all works are $250 or $500
Google Open Gallery
Based: Mountain View
Features: Artists approved by Google can upload their work and publish a new website or improve an existing site.
Based: San Francisco
Features: 6,500 works from 500 artists. UGallery selects artists and accepts only original art .
Commission: 50 percent


text:
Third-graders from across Eagle County received a gift of possibilities this holiday season.
Possibilities: n. - one's utmost power, capacity or ability.
For the 12th straight year, local Rotary Clubs gave a dictionary to every Eagle County third-grader - 5,000 and counting.
"Every year they give our third-graders dictionaries and it has become a rite of passage of sorts for our students," said Anne Heckman, principal of Brush Creek Elementary School, where local Rotarians passed out dictionaries Thursday.
The kids understand they're lucky. Lucky: adj. - Having or bringing good fortune.
"We are always so excited when Rotary comes with the dictionaries for our third-graders," said third grade teacher Ann Olin. "The dictionaries themselves are very nice and have lots of pictures and interesting facts in them. The kids just love to look through them and discover new things. It gets them excited about learning."
A tradition is born
When Rotarians gave dictionaries to those first 300 third-graders a dozen years ago, some thought it would be a one-shot/one-year deal. Then an adorable second-grader bounded up to one of them on distribution day and proclaimed, "I'll get my dictionary next year, right?"
Without a moment's hesitation, the Rotarian looked into that child's bright blue eyes and said, "Yes you will."
And that's how traditions are born. Tradition: n. - The handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation.
The Vail-Eagle Valley Rotary Club started it in 2001 with 300 books. Other local Rotary Clubs quickly took up the cause. Like the children who get the dictionaries, the project grew.
Local Rotarians kick-started the project with what we'll call an investment: n. - the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value.
Local Rotarians raised the rest of the money, much of it through their annual Labor Day Rubber Duck Race down Gore Creek through Vail Village.
Now, 120 Rotary Clubs in 14 states are part of it, distributing dictionaries to more than 45,000 children every year. Dictionaries USA is run by Rotary Clubs in Colorado Springs.
Books contain the wisdom of the ages. Owning and reading them creates expectations, both in the kids and adults.
When the kids were asked if they could define "expectations," almost seven dozen hands shot straight into the air.
We could tell you that according to their new dictionaries, it's defined this way: Expectations: n. - The act or state of expecting: anticipation in expectation of what would happen.
Third-graders who don't read proficiently are four times more likely to drop out or flunk out of high school, studies say.
One in six children who do not read proficiently in third grade do not graduate from high school on time, a rate four times greater than for proficient readers, according to the report, "Double Jeopardy: How Poverty and Third-Grade Reading Skills Influence High School Graduation," commissioned by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.


text:
McPherson College's Samson Shivers and Adam Bruner have been awarded spots on the All-KCAC Third Team and Honorable Mention Team, respectively.
Bruner also garnered a position on the All-KCAC Defensive team.
Shivers has now earned some kind of all-conference honors for each of his three years at McPherson.
This season, he is averaging a team-high 14.9 points which places him fourth in the league. Shivers is second in the KCAC in three-point makes with 76 and is also second in free throws counted at 115.
He is McPherson College's all-time leader in three-point attempts (740) and makes (247) and has accumulated 1,472 points through three seasons as a Bulldogs. The Mac record is 2000, something that is not out of reach of Shivers but will require a solid senior season to conquer.
Getting placed on the honorable mention team means that Bruner is one of the top-25 men's basketball players in the conference this season.
Bruner, the former McPherson High standout, closed out the regular season with a third-best in the KCAC 43 total steals and a seventh place ranking in assists, 68. He has only played in 20 games this season, eight short of the athletes above him in the standings.
Bruner set a few career records this season, tabbing his most points (21), steals (6) and assists (7) in a game.
The Bulldogs enter the conference tournament as the No. 8 seed and will travel to No. 1 University of Saint Mary tonight at 7 p.m.
.USM has already been granted a place in the NAIA National Tournament with their winning of the KCAC Regular Season title.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
Quote: We have been given a fair amount of grief about our name change – we are a bar, not a bath houe- yet the name has stuck and been fondly shortened to San Fran, the Bathy and SFBH.
In a neglected state when they took it over, it has been Tim and Clinton's priority to give the bar a face lift and a "glam" up that is aligned with the new name
Mr Jenkins wrote: its the same place you played last time sage, except its had a 'glam' make over by extreme home make over queer eye edition
DeadAwake wrote: Oh please let the tickets be available before the 19th.
Do any Melbournites know how to get tickets for the Melbourne Arts Festival? Are there any Melbournites on here?


text:
The 4th Annual Trivia Night for a Cure Taste Showcase & Silent Auction will be held Wednesday, April 24, at American Legion Zack Wheat Post 624 in Sunrise Beach.
The event is a fundraiser for Relay for Life of Morgan County which supports cancer research and education as well as local cancer programs.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the tasting - featuring signature dishes from several local businesses - to begin at 5:30. The trivia competition will start at 6:30. The silent auction will be held from 5:30-7 p.m.
Tickets are $25 each or $175 in advance for a table of eight. Call Diane at 573-374-4996 for more information.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
Articles tagged point and click adventure
11 Apr 2011 // 4:00 AM
- //Multimedia
- //Blogs
- //
Playing on trains and playing with time. The Moving Pixels podcast looks back on Jordan Mechner's classic The Last Express.READ more
//Mixed media
The Tallest Man on Earth "Rivers" (Singles Going Steady) // Music
John Calvin Abney "Goodbye Temporarily" (premiere) // Music
Adam Clark "King of the Sky (Anthony Dircson Remix)" (premiere) // Music
Rosemary Fairweather "I Wasn't There" (premiere) // Music
//Pm Picks
Anticipation and Expectation in Game Marketing: The Art of "Anti-Hype"
// Moving Pixels
"Watch the trailer for No Man's Sky and then for Frostpunk. There is a clear difference in the kind of expectations each creates in its audience.READ the article


text:
Wednesday February 26, 2013
AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team claimed its second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship outright with a 56-50 victory over rival Augusta State on Wednesday evening at the Convocation Center.
The back-to-back league regular-season championships are the first in program history. The USC Aiken men's basketball program now has four Peach Belt Conference regular-season crowns in its history (1992-93, 2007-08, 2011-12 and 2012-13).
In addition to claiming its second straight league crown, USC Aiken (19-6, 15-3) was also able to sweep the regular-season series from Augusta State (13-12, 8-10 PBC) for the first time since the 1997-98 season. The Pacers also bested the Jaguars, 76-62, on Saturday, Feb. 2 in Augusta.
The 50 points allowed in the game were the fewest points surrendered by USC Aiken on the 2012-13 season. It was also a season-low for the Jaguars.
USC Aiken and Augusta State entered the halftime break tied at 27-27.
The Pacers would pull ahead by as many as 12 in the second half before emerging with the six-point victory.
USC Aiken closed out the win over Augusta State shooting 46.5 percent (20-for-43) as a team. The Pacers shot 72.2 percent (13-for-18) from the free throw line.
Augusta State shot just 38.5 percent (15-for-39) from the field as a team in its loss to USC Aiken. The Jaguars shot 65.2 percent (15-for-23) from the free throw line as a team in the game.
The now regionally second-ranked Pacers held a commanding 34-21 rebounding advantage in the contest.
Three Pacers finished in double figures with Santoine Butler (Augusta, Ga./Gardner-Webb) claiming his fourth double-double of the season in the game. He had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Butler also had three blocks and two assists.
Paul Larsen (Mooresville, N.C./Mercer) just missed on a double-double of his own in the contest with 13 points and eight rebounds. He obtained half of his caroms on the offensive glass.


text:
Game of Thrones is a site for the HBO-series based on George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.
New to the series? Read our spoiler-free review of A Game of Thrones.
Read our Privacy Policy.
It's fun to see how Game of Thrones is starting to be woven into the fabric of popular culture… and, sometimes, into actual fabric. Helmut Lang revealed—through Creative Directors Nicole and Michael Colovos—that the fashion house's Fall 2012 ready-to-wear collection was inspired by HBO's series. When we spot the interview, we'll share it. Until then, watch the runway show at New York's Fashion Week, and check out Women's Wear Daily's full gallery showing the many looks.
The Westeros network consists of several different sites, including a forum and a wiki, for all your A Song of Ice and Fire needs.


text:
Frankie Sandford and the rest of the Girl Group The Saturdays were spotted visiting Radio 1 in Central London on Monday 4 March (just happened to be in the area with a camera or 2). They had an afternoon interview with Greg James. Something was going down but what?
On Twitter the Saturdays had this to say.
Too much fun misbehaving on @BBCR1 with @gregjames! PS: love you guys for getting #SatsOnRadioOne trending x pic.twitter.com/dneqB7M7Zz
Why were they visiting Radio 1? The answer is below from their latest Twitter update
Exciting day ahead!!! Shooting the music video for our next single. And it's a miiiiiighty tune, if we do say so ourselves! Ha! X
How did the girls look on the day? Verdict: very much on the money!
The Saturdays Spotting Visiting Radio 1 Monday March 4 Full Size Gallery (more…)


text:
Blue Gift Bucket
- Overview
He will love discovering the fun surprises inside this bucket: A Fandex with his favorite heroes, villains and more; an LED finger flashlight; and a compact Etch A Sketch® as well as a Tetris® puzzle for fun on the go. The bucket can be personalized to make this a special gift.
- Set includes bucket, mini Etch-A-Sketch, Finger Flashlight, Tetris Nano game and Superheroes Flip Deck.
- Bucket is made of weather-resistant galvanized metal and detailed with a sturdy metal handle and wood grip.
- Mini Etch-A-Sketch features the classic design that's been a favorite for decades.
- Finger Flashlight is able to stay lit or use as a blinking flashlight; set of 4, batteries included.
- Tetris Nano Game is travel size and plays the original Tetris® game providing hours of challenging fun; batteries not included.
- Superhero Fan Deck features 75 die-cut cards with artwork from the original comics.
- Ages 6 and up.
- Dimensions & Care
- 13" diameter, 9.5" high
Mini Etch a Sketch
- Overall: 7" wide x 5.5" high x 1" thick
- Weight: 6.5 ounces
- Two knobs allow lines to be drawn horizontally or vertically; a simple shake wipes the slate clean.
Finger Flashlight
- 1.5" long
- Set of 4; green, blue, red and white
- Batteries included.
Tetris Nano Game
- 2" wide x 1" deep x 4" high
- Requires 2 AAA batteries (not included).
Superhero Fan Decks
- 75 die-cut cards.
- 11" wide x 4" deep x 1" high
- Includes Batman, Robin, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the Green Lantern, Captain Marvel, Justice League of America, the Flash, the Joker, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, Lex Luthor, Cheetah, Brainiac, Poison Ivy and Deathstroke.
- Dust with a soft, dry cloth.
- Shipping & Return Info
This is a general shipping item.
View Our Shipping Information
Return Policy
At Pottery Barn Kids, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction is our priority. We carefully inspect your order prior to shipment; upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage. We will arrange for a prompt replacement. If, within 7 days for Quick Ship upholstery and 30 days for all other products, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value.
If your return for Merchandise Credit Cards is greater than $10,000, we will issue $10,000 in Merchandise Credit Cards to you that day, and then mail additional Merchandise Credit Card(s) for the amount in excess of $10,000 to you.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. We also cannot accept returns of final-sale items, which are identified by a price that ends in $0.99.
For returns of items purchased from your Pottery Barn Kids registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later.
For assistance, please contact Customer Service at 800.993.4923, 7 days a week, 5:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. PST.
International Returns: Online returns are available only for items that were shipped to the United States. If you would like to return items that were shipped outside the US, please see International Returns and Exceptions.


text:
Stanley Kettler and his son Robert run a family dairy in Grimes county that's been operating since 1949.
"The number will vary up and down a little bit but generally we always milk around 100 cows."
"If we were to try and expand, to get bigger or anything like that, I think that then definitely our location would hurt us."
Dr. Michael Tomaszewski is a visiting professor of dairy science at Texas A&M, and says the trend today is for dairies to be larger.
"There virtually still are family dairy farms, it's just that now as a dairy family, I might control 20,000 dairy cows, as opposed to 100."
Mark Patranella, head of purchasing for Blue Bell, says that small dairies can't take advantage of economies of scale that allow larger dairies to be more efficient.
"For the dairy industry as a whole, it's positive, for Blue Bell it's positive. We want a strong dairy industry. Our livelihood is dependent upon it as much as the dairy farmer's."
Tomaszewski says there's also been a shift in geographic location of dairies.
"Eight of our top ten milk producing counties in Texas are now located on the high plains."
Robert Kettler agrees that the hot Grimes County summers put them at a disadvantage to dairies located in west Texas.
"It's hot but it's a dry climate and they don't have these hot humid days with 105 degrees in the summertime with 90 percent humidity, where them ole cows are just, like the rest of us they're hot. I love where I live. I love what I do, but I'm not going to move to west Texas to grow a herd, and to keep on going."
And the less milk you produce, the more it costs to transport.
"If you don't produce a tanker of milk, they charge you extra, so if I'm a small dairyman, I'm hit there with from 25 to 50 to 75 cents a hundred weight because I can't fill that tanker up."
When asked asked how long his family could keep at it, Robert didn't have an exact answer.
"It's just a challenge, is all I can say, it's a challenge, and you stay in it and fight as long as you can fight, and when the day comes when we're tired of fighting, we'll through our hands up and transition to something else."
In 1975 there were over 100 dairies in Grimes County. Today there are two.


text:
Find information on common issues.
Ask questions and find answers from other users.
Suggest a new site feature or improvement.
Check on status of your tickets.
Use this link to report a NEES network security incident
3456 Views
0 Downloads
Experiment contains sensor data and some metadata.
Complete - 03/24/2014
The curation dashboard shows your progress as you add required elements to your project or experiment.


text:
We've prepared some sweet treats for you. Pick a Chocolate & receive instant prize of $5 cash coupon, free shipping, 30% off and more!
*Terms & conditions
Get others into the fun and offers and share this game.
We accept
You're protected by
Make Money with Us
Stay Connected
Design Your Own
Our Company
Customer Service
Enter your email address and get a $5 off coupon* on your next purchase


text:
Your browser doesn't have support for real-time updates. Please install flash or upgrade your browser.
CGI U 2013 will be held at Washington University in St. Louis from April 5 - 7, 2013, bringing together nearly 1,200 attendees to make a difference in CGI U's five focus areas: Education, Environment and Climate Change, Peace and Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health.


text:
Mary Calvagna, MS
A vaginal yeast infection is irritation of the vagina and the outside area around it, called the vulva.
A yeast infection is caused by an overgrowth of fungus that is normally found in small amounts in the vagina.
Factors that may increase your chance of a yeast infection include:
A vaginal yeast infection may cause:
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. A swab test of vaginal discharge will taken to confirm the diagnosis.
It is important to see a doctor if you have symptoms. Other health conditions, such as sexually transmitted diseases, have symptoms that are similar to a yeast infection. These can include
bacterial vaginosis,
chlamydia, or
Depending on the severity of the infection, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription antifungal medication. Antifungal medications are available as oral tablets, intravaginal creams, or suppositories.
To help reduce your chance of a yeast infection:
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Office on Women's Health
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
Women's Health Matters
Vaginal yeast infection. Office on Women's Health website. Available at:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/vaginal-yeast-infections.html. Updated July 16, 2012. Accessed July 26, 2013.
Vulvovaginal candidiasis.EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated July 18, 2013. Accessed July 26, 2013.
Yeast infections. American Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor website. Available at:
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/yeast-infections.html. Updated August 2010. Accessed July 26, 2013.
Last reviewed June 2015 by
Andrea Chisholm, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © EBSCO Publishing. All rights reserved.


text:
MARIETTA - A "closed" sign has been taped to the glass entrance door on the Ohio Travel Information Center at the I-77 rest stop north of Marietta.
Located in a room just inside the rest stop's main building, the information center closed a week ago, and is one of 11 such centers the state plans to idle by the end of June.
That's sad news for truck driver Larry Thomas, 52, from Tyler County, W.Va., who stopped at the local facility Wednesday morning.
"When I'm traveling I like to know where there are places to stay and what attractions are available in the area," he said. "And if there's an emergency it's good to have someone at the rest stop who knows where to get help."
Ohio Department of Transportation spokesman Steve Faulkner said the information centers at interstate rest stops are closing because travelers can obtain the same travel information on smart phones and other devices.
Thirty-four jobs will be eliminated when all 11 centers close, but those workers are being offered positions in other areas of ODOT.
Fact Box
* The state is closing 11 information centers along Ohio's interstate highways, and one at the Statehouse in Columbus.
* State transportation officials say the information centers are being closed because travelers can now access the same information via the Internet on smart phones and other devices.
* The closings are expected to save $2.1 million for state roads and bridges.
* All 34 travel information center employees are being offered jobs elsewhere in the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Source: The Associated Press
Travel information can also be accessed by calling 1-800-BUCKEYE, or online at www.ohio.gov/tourism/
Bill Miller, 75, and his wife Jackie, 68, of Hamilton, Ontario, were headed home when they stopped at the Washington County rest stop Wednesday. They, too, like the idea of having a manned information center.
"We use the facilities to obtain maps and find local accommodations," Bill said. "There's a lot of general information available, too."
Jackie agreed, noting the couple makes little use of the Internet for travel plans.
"We're unplugged," she said. "We like to take the backroads-to visit little towns and meet the local people. And when you go into a rest stop it's nice to be able to talk to a person face-to-face."
On Wednesday the closed local information center still contained racks of 2012 maps, pamphlets, brochures and other publications urging travelers to visit a host of Ohio cities and attractions.
"We'll still have some information and maps available out in the main hallway, but eventually there will be a kiosk with a keyboard in the center of the building where people can punch in a request for information," said Jay Pawloski, who helps maintain the information centers for ODOT District 10.
He said restrooms, vending and other facilities at the interstate rest stops will remain open to the public.
Last fall Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jeri Knowlton told Marietta City Council that the CVB had been approached about providing someone to help staff the travel information center.
But the CVB already has volunteer staff who operate a small information facility in the Kroger plaza along Pike Street.
"The I-77 rest stop is a few miles north of Marietta, and by the time people reach that location they've already passed Exit 1 into our area," Knowlton said. "But information about Marietta and Washington County is distributed out of information centers all over the state. So closing the centers will have an impact as that's less information we'll get out to the public."
She said it's her understanding that tourism agencies are working with the state to come up with alternative ways to get information to tourists.
Although some travelers may be using the Internet to learn about areas they may want to visit, Knowlton said that information should be provided in a variety of ways, including through rest stop info centers, travel magazines and other forms of mass media, as well as online.
"All of these things work together to draw tourists. We can't put all of our eggs in just one basket," she said.
Patricia Barker, assistant director of tourism at the Ohio Tourism Division, said there are 104 rest stops on highways throughout the state.
"Only 11 of those along interstate highways have manned travel information centers," she said. "But we are working with ODOT to continue offering visitor guides and brochures in those locations. And visitors can always call 1-800-BUCKEYE for tourism information."


text:
HARRISON, N.J. -- The combinations started to click. The confidence grew a little bit.
Goals by Fabian Johnson and Clint Dempsey led the United States over Turkey 2-1 Sunday for the Americans' second straight win in their World Cup send-off series.
Getting ready for their World Cup opener against Ghana on June 16, the Americans move on to Florida for next weekend's stateside finale against Nigeria knowing preparation is far from complete.
"It's important not to overanalyze these games," said midfielder Michael Bradley, who set up the first goal with a gorgeous chip. "There's a World Cup coming up, and everybody wants to now look at every play in every minute in every game, but it's important to now look at these games in the context of a bigger picture."
Tim Howard made his 99th international appearance, and with his 54th victory surpassed Kasey Keller to set the American record for wins by a goalkeeper. Other than that, the way the U.S. played was far more significant than the result.
"Quite an open game," coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "We still want to see a lot of little pieces."
Klinsmann made the decision 10 days earlier to cut American career scoring leader Landon Donovan, who got his third goal in two games for the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday. Klinsmann's roster, lineup picks and formation choices are highly debated by a growing American fan base.
The 26-year-old Johnson, among the five German-Americans on the 23-man roster, made his second straight start at right back. He received a backpass about 40 yards from goal in the 26th minute, made a run and laid the ball off to Bradley. Johnson continued his run, Bradley chipped the ball over the defense, and Johnson coolly slotted past goalkeeper Onur Kivrak with a left-footed volley from 6 yards.
"He kind of told me with the way he was running that he was going to keep running through," Bradley said.
Johnson, who had not scored in 20 previous national team games, jogged down the endline with both arms outstretched, stopped, turned and gave Dempsey a double high-five.
"On his celebration, you could see that he's not an experienced goal-scorer," Klinsmann said.
Johnson joked about his lack of preparation for jubilation.
"I'm a defender. On this part a Jozy or a Clint are better," he said.
Jozy Altidore, who started alongside Dempsey in the 4-4-2 formation with a diamond midfield, remained scoreless in six international matches since October. Altidore put the ball into the goal in the 15th minute after Kivrak saved Matt Besler's header off a corner kick, but Tunisian referee Slim Jedidi called a foul on Altidore for pushing the goalkeeper.
At this point, Klinsmann would be happy to wait 2½ weeks for the drought to end.
"I wouldn't mind if the goal comes against Ghana right now," he said.
Dempsey, who missed Tuesday's win over Azerbaijan in San Francisco because of a sore groin, made it 2-0 in the 52nd with his 37th international goal, joining Eric Wynalda and Brian McBride as the only Americans to score in 10 consecutive years.
Bradley brought the ball up the middle and passed to Brad Davis, who laid it off for Timmy Chandler on the left flank. Starting his first game for the U.S. since February 2013, Chandler sent a cross that defender Hakan Balta mis-hit in his clearance attempt. The ball went into the path of Dempsey, who poked it in from 1 yard.
"Especially the first half, I felt really sharp, energetic, got in some good positions," said Dempsey, who replaced Carlos Bocanegra as the U.S. captain last year.
Brad Guzan took over for Howard in goal at the start of the second half, and Turkey scored on a 90th-minute penalty kick by Selcuk Inan after Mustafa Pektemek went around Chandler, cut back and his shot hit the right arm of Geoff Cameron at the goal line.
Preparing for its seventh straight World Cup appearance, the U.S. is playing No. 85 Azerbaijan, No. 39 Turkey and No. 44 Nigeria. After the match against the Super Eagles in Jacksonville on Saturday, the 18th-ranked Americans head to Brazil for first-round games against far tougher opposition: No. 38 Ghana, No. 3 Portugal and No. 2 Germany.
Turkey coach Fatih Terim predicted the Americans can do well.
"They are a solid team with talented players," he said through a translator. "And I'm confident of Jurgen Klinsmann, too."
Saturday's game
U.S. vs. Nigeria at Jacksonville, Florida, 3 p.m. ESPN


text:
- Cheer for Chelsea!
- Currently Unavailable
The Spanish striker Fernando Torres spent some quality time with the reds of Liverpool but has since chosen to seek greener pastures at Stamford Bridge with the Blues of Chelsea! Watch out for Fernando Torres the one they call "El Nino!"
Show your support for your favorite lads from Stamford Bridge in this official home jersey from adidas. This jersey uses ClimaCool technology to help true blue fans feel fresh when they're getting fired up.
This royal blue jersey uses golden elements on the seams, badge and player's name and number for a regal look that is fit for a lion and represents the glory of the club. The heat-transferred adidas logo and Chelsea badge reduce weight and brighten up the kit and the club's initials are embroidered on the back of the collar.
Cheer for Fernando Torres and the rest of Chelsea with this great looking jersey.
100% polyester.
Lamentamos que todavia no hay descripción en español para este producto.


text:
Lake Regional Health System is pleased to welcome Karen Hayes, Ph.D., APRN to Lake Regional Medical Group. Hayes will care for patients at Lake Regional Urgent Care and Lake Regional Clinic – Lake Ozark.
Hayes has nearly 40 years of health care experience. She received a bachelor's degree in science of nursing from the University of Virginia, a master's degree of science in nursing from the University of Kansas and a doctorate degree from the University of Missouri.
Hayes served in the military for 20 years, retiring from the Army Nurse Corps Reserve as a lieutenant colonel in 1996. She worked as a nurse practitioner in emergency departments in Iola Kan., and Wichita, Kan., before joining the Ashley Clinic in Chanute, Kan. She has provided primary care at Ashley Clinic and their rural outreach clinic in Yates Center, Kan. She also has taught at Wichita State University, Missouri Western State College, Saint Louis University School of Nursing and the University of Kansas School of Nursing. She said these experiences have shaped her skills for her new role at Lake Regional.
"My education and experience is a great fit for this job," Hayes says. "I'm certified both in family practice and acute care, and I have several years of experience in both."
To learn more about Hayes, view her bio online at lakeregional.com/physicians.
The medical staff at Lake Regional Health System includes more than 100 physicians and nurse practitioners who offer primary and specialty care for lake-area residents and visitors. For more information or to download a provider directory, visit lakeregional.com.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
The Citadel is an archive of information for George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.
New to the series? Read our spoiler-free review of A Game of Thrones.
Read our Privacy Policy.
"Did I? Well, it's so. My dreams are not like yours, Ser Duncan. Mine are true. They frighten me. You frighten me. I dreamed of you and a dead dragon, you see. A great beast, huge, with wings so large they could cover this meadow. It had fallen on top of you, but you were alive and the dragon was dead."
As becomes clear later in the story, the dead dragon proves to be Baelor Breakspear, who is killed fighting on behalf of Ser Duncan the Tall in a trial of seven.
The Westeros network consists of several different sites, including a forum and a wiki, for all your A Song of Ice and Fire needs.


text:
Culver Reacts to School Bond Defeat
School Officials Surprised; Voters Explain 'No' Votes
Culver-area residents made their voices heard, as two-thirds of voters shot down a $14.5 million school bond measure Tuesday night. School officials said Wednesday they knew passing the bond measure would be a challenge, but they didn't expect such an overwhelming defeat.
Culver School District voters soundly thumped the bond measure to remodel and upgrade the district?s schools by a 2-to-1 ratio Tuesday night, leaving Superintendent Stefanie Garber in ?complete disbelief.?
"Our facilities are failing," Garber said Wednesday. "So we can't do nothing. But yeah, two-thirds is a large amount."
Many of the teachers are working in buildings that have not been upgraded since the 1960s. And many of them said they hoped the measure would succeed.
"I had my hopes up that it would pass," first-grade teacher Cindy Dix said. "We were pretty discouraged when we saw that not only did it not pass, but the extent the no's won out over the yesses."
The money would have paid for several things. One of them was a 14-acre property that the district bought in 2008, when it was growing 12 percent a year.
"I voted no," Culver resident, Robert Page said Wednesday. "The reason why is that I believe purchasing a piece of land when the schools were in need of repair is a sign to me that they don't know how to quite spend their money."
The measure would have also updated the athletic facility and remodeled the elementary and high schools, fixing some major problems like their heating system. Right now, two thirds of the school is heated with a 1960s boiler. The school was hoping to get a more energy-efficient one in place.
Al ofl the proposed improvements would not have come cheap. The hike in property taxes would have cost the average Culver home owner about $21 a month.
"Until they can prove they know how to spend money, I'll keep voting no on such measures," Page said.
The school district plans to reach out to voters and show them why they need help.
"I just love this place," Garber said. "I hope for the best for it. So we need improvements."
Even though they were shot down this election, Garber said she would especially like to hear from people who voted no, as they decide what to do next.
Tuesday night's final tally: 742 no votes, or 67 percent, to 361 yes votes, or 33 percent.
A task force had tried to lobby for the measure in a community-driven process to tackle the problem of facilities that have exceeded their useful life. But in the end, a pocketbook issue in a tough economy sank like a heavy stone.
Among the proposed improvements were to expand and remodel the high school, from safety improvements to technology upgrades, as well as the heating-cooling system; demolishing and replacing classrooms in two old elementary school wings; gym modernization including more locker room space; a new building for concessions and public restrooms at the athletic field, and more.
But while the specifics of the request in the 640-student Culver district echoed successful money measures in far larger districts like Bend-La Pine, that district has been able to go to voters periodically as old bonds expire, asking for new funds for new or upgraded schools while keeping property tax rates about the same.
No such luck in Culver, where the last money measure, to build a new elementary school, was rejected six years ago. This time, the proposed tax rate of $3.46 per $1,000 assessed value would have cost the average Culver homeowner an additional $21.34 a month.
?I think this committed group of individuals has left no resource untapped? in pitching the bond measure, said Garber, who spent eight years as Culver Elementary principal before she became superintendent of the 640-student district three years ago.
Garber said one issue is geographic: A breakdown by precinct showed that while the margin of defeat was much smaller, 103-146, in Culver, closer to the schools, the measure went down by ?a landslide? in Crooked River Ranch and the outlying Haystack area.
Then there?s demographics: On the last, defeated money measure, 68 percent of the voters were 65 and older, meaning more fixed incomes and no kids in the schools.
?I don?t know what to say -- it?s just devastating,? the superintendent said. ?I do take it on as a greater challenge. Obviously we have more homework to do, educating the public about the schools and the condition they are in.?
Now, she only half-joked, it could be time for a ?space heater drive. Even as we speak, there are classrooms in which they don?t make the parts any more for the heater.?
?I just take it as it?s not the right time,? Garber added. ?Everything happens for a reason -- I?m very faith-based. If it was meant to be, it was meant to be.?
Copyright 2012 KTVZ. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Barton Memorial Hospital's skilled nursing facility was recently awarded five stars by Medicare.
According Medicare.gov, the five-star quality ratings are: "based on the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA '87), a nursing home reform law, and more recent quality improvement campaigns, such as the Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes, a coalition of consumers, health care providers, and nursing home professionals." Barton Memorial was given the five-star-rating based on the results of health inspections, staffing and quality measures throughout the last year. All ratings are combined to calculate the overall rating and this rating is only awarded to the top 10 percent of nursing homes.
The 48-bed long-term-care-facility has been in operation since 1997. It provides care for aging adults providing private and semi-private rooms, 24-hour licensed staff, social services, group and individual activities, entertainment and outings, volunteer programs, religious services and programs that maintain and/or improve independence.
"We have a longstanding reputation for giving high quality care," facility director Melinda Brogna stated in a press release. "We are honored to be able to provide long-term care to local families and maintain our tight-knit community."


text:
Broussard prison 'report date' could be stalled
Unopposed motion filed in federal court
UPDATED 3:35 PM CDT Apr 01, 2013
A federal judge will consider a motion filed on Monday to delay the report date for convicted former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard.
The unopposed request, filed by the defense, would forestall the current April 8 deadline for Broussard to surrender himself.
The paperwork notes that Broussard has yet to be assigned to a facility by the Bureau of Prisons.
Judge Hayden Head will consider whether to grant the delay. Additional details supporting the request were not provided.
Broussard is facing a 46-month sentence stemming from his guilty plea last year on payroll fraud and bribery charges.


text:
Updating an ADF Web Service Data Control When Service Structure or Location Change
By Shay Shmeltzer-Oracle on Dec 19, 2012
The web service data control in Oracle ADF gives you a simplified approach to consuming services in ADF applications, and now with ADF Mobile the usage of this service seems to be growing.
A frequent question we get is what happens if the service that I'm consuming changes - how do I update my data control?
Well, first we should mention that if you do a good design of your application before you actually code - then things like Web service method signature shouldn't change. The signature is the contract between the publisher and the consumer, and contracts shouldn't be broken.
But in reality things do change during development stages, so here is how you can update both method signatures and service location with the Web service data control:
After watching this video you might be tempted to not copy the WSDLs to your project - which lets you use the right click update on a data control. However there is a reason why the copy is on by default, it reduces network traffic when you are actually running your application since ADF doesn't need to go to the server to find out the service structure. So for runtime performance, you probably should keep the WSDL local.
I encourage you to further look into both the connections.xml file where your service location is saved, and the datacontrols.dcx file where its definition is kept to get an even deeper understanding of how ADF works underneath the declarative layers.


text:
The Northeast Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering a class on Friday, April 19, to teach CPR /AED training, along with other First Aid skills.
The course will be taught from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Northeast Missouri Chapter House, 3062 Highway 61 North in Hannibal.
The cost of the class is $90. It includes a two-year certification with online skill refreshers and digital materials.
Register online at redcross.org/takeaclass .
Location, ST | website.com


text:
Has the rate of autism truly increased in the last 50 years or so or is it just that the classification of autism has gotten broader and as such the prevalence seems larger?
"Got Questions?" is a new weekly feature on our blog to address the desire for scientific understanding in our community. We received over 3000 responses when we asked what science questions were on your mind. We answered a few here and the Autism Speaks Science staff will address the other themes we received in this weekly post.
In the last two decades reported autism prevalence has increased by more than 600% and a number of studies have sought to investigate the cause(s) of this dramatic increase in autism prevalence over time. Recent findings suggest that at least a portion of the increase in prevalence can be attributed to changes in diagnostic practices, earlier age of diagnosis, and increased awareness of autism over time. However, converging evidence also suggests that while these factors account for a portion of the increase, they cannot alone explain the dramatic rise in autism prevalence. Thus genetic and/or other environmental factors likely play a role and are the subject of numerous research projects currently supported by Autism Speaks.
December 22, 2010 at 4:15 am
If expanded autism disorder definitions, increased awareness and other social factors can only explain a portion of the "dramatic" rise then environmental factors are presumably involved and studies exploring potential environmental causes or triggers of autism should receive more funding than they currently do. Even the IACC has acknowledged that funding dollars are disproportionately directed towards genetic focused autism research at the expense of environmentally focused autism research. Government funding agencies and organizations like Autism Speaks should restore the balance and direct more funding dollars towards environmentally based autism research.
December 25, 2010 at 7:29 pm
There are a number of other factors tat have not been factored in, mainly because the last study done would not tackle them due to the lack the ability to statistically quantify them.
Diagnostic substitution over time almost certainly has played a statistically significant role in the rise in the past 20 years. Data shows a steady decrease year over year in the diagnosis of mental retardation, Even the name change from mental retardartion to intellectual disability suggests a shift in the charactarizations of those with disabilities.
Another factor that is often overlooked which I also feel is a significant factor over the last 20 years is the availability of services in school systems and government in general due to legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act. The 1990's marked a watershed decade where disability rights were more prevelent than ever before and the resultant changes have meant unpresidented avaialability of services, especially for those with developmental disabiliies.
All these factors may also not fully explain an increase in autism or any other developmental or neurological disabilities for that matter. But taken as a whole and in perspective, it may help us to clarify and focus our efforts from exclusively looking at factors in the past 20-30 years to looking at a broader area of evironmental factors as well a potential inter generational issues. Genetics, in my view, is not limited to exclusively to finding genetic differences, but also at the much more difficult and potentially more eventful areas of epigenetics, where the interplay of genetics, environment and stressors may help to explain much in the area of developmental/intellectiual disability…
December 31, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Just be certain you haven't fallen for the "times" trick in your prevalence claims.
There is a tendency, based on the desire to be emphatic, to overstate differences of all sorts. You are likely as guilty as the ones I'll cite.
Watch Wendell Potter do it at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/34386829#34386829 (about 4 minutes 5 seconds into the video) There, he states that the price of a stock had "increased 300%" between two dates. He does not mention the actual prices.
The price of Cigna on the specified beginning date (Obama's meeting with insurance executives, March 5, 2009) was 12. What would it have been when he spoke if the price had truly increased 300%? Please don't be lazy, do the math.
The price as Potter spoke was 36. He was clearly in error, and the reason was that he did something you probably do as well: he used idiomatic rather than literal English to conceptualize the relationship. Specifically, he thought of the number 36 as "three times greater" than 12, when, literally, it is actually three times *as great as* 12. "Greater than" and "as great as" are in no other context equivalent, only in this type of "times" expression.
Likewise, Macworld magazine published (July 1989) a review of a new computer in which the 24 MHz clock speed was referred to as "150% faster" than its 16 MHz predecessor. Is there any doubt that the immediate cause of this error was thinking "one and a half times faster" be equal to "one and a half times as fast"?
This misconception has repercussions for *all* reported percentage differences, not just obvious ones such as the one at http://theautochannel.com/news/2006/07/10/014219.html (where the headline writer mindlessly converted the story author's "six times less likely" statement into "600% less likely.")
Since it is often impossible to know who is being literal and who idiomatic, I recommend avoiding "times" comparisons altogether, or at least the ones that combine "times" with any "-er" adjective. Even if you decline to deprecate them in your own usage, be aware that when most people say "n times greater/faster/heavier/…" *you cannot convert n to a percentage by simply moving its decimal point.*
Once you have been made aware of this discrepancy, failing to be alert to its consequences is tantamount to negligence and can even represent intentional deceit.
December 31, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Where in fact do you come up with "a 600 percent increase in just the past 20 years* as stated at
when the 1990 figure was 1:2000 and the 2010 figure was 1:110?
"Studies suggest boys are more likely than girls to develop autism and receive the diagnosis three to four times more frequently. "
Did you mean "three to four times" AS frequently? If your zeal overrides your accuracy, you are no more than a propagandist.
A good cause doesn't exculpate bad math.


text:
MileMeter morphs into Zengine
MileMeter, the Dallas-based pay-by-the-mile auto insurance company, no longer exists.
The online-only company was a bit of an experiment in 2008 by entrepreneur Chris Gay, who called it the anti-insurance company. He came up with the idea after a bad insurance experience when his car was hit by another driver.
Customers paid in advance for up to 6,000 miles and could buy more online if needed. Rates were based on customer-supplied odometer photos, age, home location and vehicle type but not credit scores or driving habits.
"It was profitable on an underwriting basis," Gay said. "But we started amid difficult circumstances."
He ticked off a laundry list of obstacles MileMeter faced: It was competing against much larger insurers, there was the financial crisis involving insurance giant AIG and the company needed more growth capital during a credit crunch.
Gay maintains the business served a niche need for retirees and college students who don't drive much, people who use mass transit but need a weekend car, business travelers who fly a lot and families with an extra car they drive only occasionally. He said he and his team received thank-you letters and even offers of beer from clients.
Now Gay is at work on his next venture, which emerged from the technology behind MileMeter. Zengine will offer cloud-based enterprise software for insurance companies later this year.


text:
Guns Don't Help Situation
Published: Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 2:06 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 2:06 a.m.
When I gathered with the old geezers for our regular luncheon, the subject of gun control came up. I mentioned that, in England, the cops did not carry handguns and that handguns were, for the most part, banned. I followed up by saying deaths from firearms there were among the lowest in the civilized world.
One of my friends differed, saying in England deaths were about on the par with the U.S. And so to Google. Deaths from firearms in the U.S. are 10.2 per 100,000 citizens. Deaths from firearms in the United Kingdom are 0.25 per 100,000. The death rate from firearms in the United Kingdom is much less than here.
And the NRA wants to add more guns to our society? Those figures are sobering and put the lie to the claim that more guns are beneficial to our society.
When I was in infantry basic training prior to shipping out to Korea in the 1950s, after receiving our rifles, the drill sergeant shouted, "Hear me, those are not guns, they are weapons! I do not want to ever hear you refer to them as guns."
Perhaps if the gun lobby were recast as the weapon lobby, we might more appropriately understand the meaning of a gun, a term void of any emotion or preciseness as to purpose.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Texas A&M – Corpus Christi baseball team took a 5-1 final over second-place Northwestern State on Sunday to win the Southland Conference series. The Islanders won the final two games after taking a loss on Friday to win their first Southland series since the conference opener against UTSA.
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi is now 15-20 overall, and 8-10 in Southland Conference play. The Demons fall to 14-19 this year, 10-8 in league games. Daniel Minor had another strong performance, pitching 8.0 innings and giving up just one unearned run on seven hits while striking out eight batters and walking none to improve to 6-1 on the year. It was his sixth game this season with at least eight strikeouts.
Jonathan Gonzales led the team with two hits in the game, while Eric Weiss, Drew Vest, Jordan Lee, Santiago Ruiz and Brad Porras had one hit apiece. Ruiz led the team with two RBI, while Gonzales and Jeramie Marek each plated one.
In the opening inning, the Islanders picked up a pair of unearned runs without the benefit of a hit as two walks and two NSU errors staked the visitors to a 2-0 lead.
Weiss and Vest started the inning off by walking on a combined nine pitches, and after a pop out, Weiss scored and Vest advanced to third on an error by the first baseman. On the next play, an error by the pitcher allowed Marek to reach, loading the bases with one out. Ruiz plated the second run on the inning with a sacrifice fly to let that scored Vest to make it 2-0 without a hit.
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi got their first hits of the game in the third inning, with Gonzales singling, and then Lee following with one of his own to put runners on first and third. Marek followed with an RBI bunt single that scored Gonzales from third on a safety squeeze as miscommunication between the pitcher and catcher for the Demons caused neither of them to play the ball as Marek reached with a hit on an attempted sacrifice.
In the fifth, the Islanders had two outs when Marek came to the plate. He grounded to the shortstop, but an error allowed him to reach base. After stealing second, Ruiz singled him home to make it a 4-0 game.
The sixth was more of the same for the Islanders, with another two-out rally producing a run to make it 5-0. With two away, Vest hit a hustle double as he took advantage of the left fielder playing the ball slowly to stretch the hit into a double. Gonzales followed with an RBI single to extend the lead.
The Demons got an unearned run in the eighth inning to end Minor's shutout bid, but the Islanders would finish the game with Franco Pace getting the first out of the ninth, and Phillip Garcia getting the final two for the 5-1 victory.
Next up for the Islanders will be a Tuesday and Wednesday night series against #17 Baylor in Waco. The Bears are currently on an 18-game winning streak before the final game of their series against Kansas State on Sunday afternoon.
For all the latest on Islanders Baseball, like the team on Facebook (Islanders Baseball), and follow them on Twitter (@CorpusBaseball).


text:
NRA Association
Published: Friday, November 1, 2013 at 12:22 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, November 1, 2013 at 12:22 a.m.
I have cancelled my National Rifle Association membership. I was with the organization for more than 20 years.
But, when the NRA's Tallahassee lobbyist, Marion Hammer, makes ridiculous-and-kneejerk endorsements in the Lakeland mayoral race, it's time to find another group to represent my interests.
Mayor Gow B. Fields signed a letter, with a group of other mayors, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, regarding gun violence. I don't support most of Bloomberg's nutty ideas, but Gow reached across partisan lines to find common ground in the tragic problem of inner-city violence.
That does not make him against the Second Amendment, gun rights or gun ownership. To claim otherwise is dishonest.
There are many issues, qualifications and matters of personal style that separate Mayor Fields from his opponent. Gun rights is not one of them.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
If there's one thing you do not mess with, in Russia, it's Vladimir Putin's image as an International Man of Sexiness. But that's what a group of anarchists in Siberia did by adding a picture of a sickly Putin, as well as President Dmitry Medvedev and several other politicians, to an ad about gonorrhea and other STDs that asks, "Do you need such companions?" This happened back in February but is still being investigated, which probably isn't a good sign for the alleged anarchists. Police arrested three men and conducted raids, where they found "extremist literature" and other anarchy-causing tools. If convicted, they could face seven years in a gulag for "hooliganism." If there is a bright side, at least they're already in Siberia.
[Moscow Times; image via]


text:
Latest News
Weekly Server Maintenance - August 31, 2016, 6:00 AM Central08/29/2016 - Maintenance/Updates
Power of the Plumes08/24/2016 - Events
Update to Aion: Echoes of Eternity Has Arrived!08/24/2016 - Announcements
Scheduled Game Update - August 24, 2016, 6:00 AM Central08/23/2016 - Maintenance/Updates
- About Aion
Here you'll find guides to help you start out and progress through the world of Atreia. Get from Level 1 to Level 40 fast with the
Player's Guide!
- Game Guide
- Overview
- Gameplay
- Classes
- Region Info
- Quests by Zone
- Crafting
- Items
- System
Featured Articles
- Media
Great Chieftain ZakufuScreenshot
Aturam Sky FortressScreenshot
Brigade General VashartiScreenshot
Quick LinksFansite Kit
- Forums
Forum Highlights
- Store
Truly Free™The revolutionary Truly Free model now comes to Aion! What is Truly Free?
©2009 – 2016 Aion, C.U.B.E., Black Cloud Marketplace, PLAYNC, NCSOFT, the Interlocking NC Logo, and all associated logos and designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCSOFT Corporation. All other registered trademarks or trademarks are property of their respective owners.


text:
PC Magazine: Can the Feds shut down cell phone service?
In an age when our smartphones are a constant companion, what is the protocol for shutting down wireless networks in an emergency? Is it allowed, and would it even help?
Post a comment
You must sign in before you can post comments. If you are experiencing issues with your account please e-mail email@example.com.


text:
The walls of Bayfield Town Hall were plastered with lists of economic development goals Tuesday night. The ideas written on the poster were extensive, including workforce day care needs, branding, marketing and website development for the town.
Inside the room, a small group of residents and elected officials threw around ideas of an equestrian-friendly trail system and building better infrastructure, all in an effort to grow, attract and retain business in Bayfield.
But after more than two hours of discussion about ways to boost business in the heart of the Pine River Valley, group members decided they ought to first focus on just one thing: Bayfield�s identity.
Without an identity, or a central message, the town will have a hard time prioritizing projects or goals, the group agreed.
�We have to decide as a community what we are and what we want to be,� Mayor Rick Smith said. �When we know what Bayfield is, then we can define the things we�re going to work toward first.�
When he was elected, Smith said Bayfield was known as a family-friendly town and focused its efforts in supporting that identity.
�Are we still that? Do we want to add to that?� he asked the attendees.
Bruce Evans, deputy chief of the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District, said the town attracts people looking for a �slice of Americana� and others touted the town�s quality of life.
But there�s still a need to develop a coherent message that will guide future economic development, group members said.
The group also agreed that infrastructure is key to whatever future action the town takes.
�Without technology and without getting broadband, we�re not going further,� said Anne Cook, a Bayfield resident who works in the insurance industry. �We�re not going to get a hotel when Bayfield can�t support broadband for 30 rooms.�
The meeting was billed as an effort to revive discussions and action that led to a strategic plan for economic development, approved in January 2009. And while some of the plan�s goals have been completed, many remain in the �to do� column. Meanwhile, a coordinated effort to update and make progress on the plan�s goals has languished the last couple of years.
�I think this gives us a very good template,� Town Manager Chris LaMay said as he reviewed the 2009 plan. �But if you look at the list of items, in my perspective, there�s a need to prioritize and reign it all in.�
Smith agreed.
�Where we failed is we didn�t put priorities,� he said. �With the extensive nature of all goals, there is no way this little town could have accomplished all those goals.�
The town needed to prioritize and set a timeline for certain projects, meeting participants said.
Representatives from regional economic development organizations Region 9 and the La Plata County Economic Development Alliance also gave advice.
�I like the idea of focusing on the big picture,� said Roger Zalneraitis, executive director of the Economic Development Alliance. �I�d like to hear what does Bayfield want to be in 10 or 15 years, and what role does economic development play?�
Zalneraitis suggested the town start by picking a few major projects that are in line with the community�s vision and help move the town toward a certain goal.
The Economic Development Alliance went through a similar process to develop a central mission, which is to create jobs in the county, he said.
Laura Lewis Marchino, assistant director of Region 9 Economic Development District, said Bayfield shouldn�t ignore the identity it already has acquired.
�I�m seeing your niche is bedroom community, like it or not,� Lewis said. She suggested �building upon those values and those strengths.�
Attendees also agreed on the need for more participation in economic development discussions.
The group scheduled another meeting in November to continue its work.
�We need to talk to people about what do you see in your mind, and what do you envision when you hear Bayfield, Colorado?� Smith said.


text:
Is Modern Yoga …Yoga?
As any trend, person, ideology, etc. mounts in popularity, it can easily diverge from its original state.
Perhaps this is simply a flexibility that allows for such expansion and appeal to a broader audience. Perhaps it is an imminent fall from grace that occurs once the subject is spread too thin. Yoga today is a $27 billion dollar industry. This is big business and a number that reflects its quick rise in popularity.