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Amy Eshleman on Libraries As the Original Maker Spaces
11.12.13 | Amy Eshleman is the program leader for education at the Urban Libraries Council. Before that she was assistant commissioner for strategic planning and partnerships at the Chicago Public Library, where she led the creation and expansion of YOUmedia.
This post is part of a series of conversations with thought leaders on digital media and learning, then and now. In conversation with journalist Heather Chaplin, leaders reflect on how the field of digital media and learning (DML) has changed over time, and where it's headed.
Spotlight: Let's start at the beginning. You were part of the team at the Chicago Public Library that MacArthur initially approached about YOUmedia. How did the library react to this idea?
We were thrilled they thought public libraries were important spaces for innovation. When our team first met with Connie Yowell to hear about the research they'd been doing around youth and digital media it was August 2008, and we did not have a robust teen program, let alone a teen space.
So the idea didn't seem scary or out there?
We'd been thinking about how to do something like this for a long time, but nothing felt right to us. When we heard the notion of hanging out, messing around and geeking out, we were super excited.
That's interesting. You said you'd been looking but nothing had felt right. Why did this approach feel right?
The fact that it had those principals but was going to be grounded in research was important to us. It felt connected to real learning and that it might actually have real outcomes. We wanted something that could be a jumping off point for youth to connect with the rest of the library's resources and activities.
Can you give me an example of how YOUmedia helped facilitate that?
During the planning phase, we did a pilot project with Digital Youth Network on our One Book, One Chicago program. That's when the entire city is encouraged to read the same book at the same time, and then the library organizes activities around the book. We had youth join in reading "The House on Mango Street." It was a jumping off point because the kids read the book, but then they also collaborated on spoken word projects and music. They took photographs and made videos. They acted on their own interests but it was all organized around themes from the book. After seeing this, we knew YOUmedia was going to be exciting for the library.
There's so much excitement about YOUmedia among DML people. Can you tell me what makes it a success from the library's perspective?
There are about 50 to 75 kids in the main library every night. That was not happening before we opened the door to YOUmedia. But also, it's been a shift for the library to let youth curate their own kinds of engagement, and that's trickled down into other projects.
Like what?
After YOUmedia, we realized we wanted to do a whole strategic planning process around using digital media better and also supporting innovation—both internally and externally. That was clearly influenced by YOUmedia. And since then, the Chicago Public Library has opened a maker space in an innovation lab. They have also, started a Geek in Residence program to provide an incubator space and entrepreneurial support for small Chicago start-ups.
How did your work at Chicago Public Library and with YOUmedia lead you to the Urban Libraries Council?
The Urban Libraries Council is a think tank membership organization that supports innovation in public libraries across North America, primarily in big cities. In 2011, they received a grant from MacArthur and the Institute of Museum and Library Services to be the technical assistant entity for the Learning Labs project.
That goes off the YOUmedia work too, doesn't it?
The Learning Labs project has given 24 libraries and museums around the country 18-month planning and design grants. They're going to take the principles of connected learning and the lesson learned from YOUmedia and build out new spaces and experiences for teens. They're not replicating YOUmedia. They're taking what we've learned from YOUmedia and building their own versions of it.
We ran an interview with John Palfrey of the Digital Public Library of America recently and he was talking about the need for libraries to simultaneously honor diversity while standardizing enough that people can navigate the system. I feel like what you're saying resonates with that.
I think that's absolutely true. Libraries are still repositories of information and people need to be able to walk in the door and know they can access that information. At the same time places are different. The library in Chicago is different from libraries in San Francisco, New York, or Los Angeles. And they should be. That's why the YOUmedia network and these Learning Labs grants are giving people a framework with some unifying principles around connected learning. We don't say, "You have to have a recording studio," or "You have to do STEM." Each place needs to build spaces and opportunities that make sense for their youth.
But some standardization is necessary.
It's nice to have a little bit of standardization because then we can build a community of practice around the work.
I hear sometimes people talking about YOUmedia changing the library paradigm from one of consumption to one of creation. But I wonder, is that really true? Were libraries really just places of consumption?
YOUmedia was transformative for us because it showed libraries have a critical role to play in after-school time. Learning does not stop when the bell rings at the end of the day.
No, I don't think so. In some ways I'd say libraries were the original maker spaces. People would come into community rooms in libraries to learn how to knit, or repair a car, or garden. There was always a creation part of libraries, but now the creation part done in a more connected way. Things like fab labs or make shops are not just one-off experiences. These places are staffed with people who have real expertise, and when you come in you might meet other people who are doing related work.
Going back to YOUmedia, let's step away from all the great stuff for a minute. What went horribly wrong?
I honestly don't think anything went horribly wrong. What I would have liked to do differently was build in more time for the mentors, who are the heart and soul of that place, to document what they're doing. I would have liked to give them more time to reflect and put on paper what they were learning. The mentors get pulled in a lot of different directions.
What other lessons are you taking forward with you?
We spent a lot of time designing the YOUmedia space. We said to ourselves, "This is where they'll hang out, this is where they'll mess around, and this is where they'll geek out." After about the first week, though, it became clear the youth where going to hang out wherever they wanted to hang out. The important thing is to spend your time thinking about the activities that will support kids in the environment. You don't necessarily have to worry so much about the actual space.
Can you give me a couple examples of how your thinking has changed since all this started?
I think libraries all over the country have been struggling with connecting what kids are learning in school to what happens outside of school. I think the work MacArthur has done, particularly YOUmedia, the Quest schools, and HIVE, has really shown what a learning ecosystem can look like. YOUmedia was transformative for us because it showed libraries have a critical role to play in after-school time. Learning does not stop when the bell rings at the end of the day.
What worries you the most looking forward?
We need to really think about robust professional development. We need to think about what skills we need in our libraries outside of traditional librarian skills. We should be working with information and library schools so that when people graduate they can support these new kinds of environments.
Is there anything you want to add?
In my experience, libraries are getting really energized about DML work. It feels like a natural place for libraries to be. I see libraries around the country thinking how to be at the center of these conversations and how to support kids with the kind of authentic learning experiences that will lead them to be successful as adults.
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Song of Solomon (Song of Songs)
Love Theme
Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) Theme of Love Quotes
A love poem with a love theme behind it? Who'd have thought, right? But Song of Songs is actually surprisingly light on musings about love. Mostly because the bride and groom spend the majority of their time talking about how gorgeous they both are and how badly they want to get it on in a vineyard. There are a few passages, though, that hint at their views about love and their devotion and commitment to each other tucked in between all the sexytimes.
Questions About Love
- Do you think the bride and groom's love for each other is real? Or is this all just a physical attraction?
- What does the bride risk in the name of love? Does the groom risk something, too?
- Is the bride's faith in the groom's love romantic or foolish?

subset: commoncrawl


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Councilwoman is out of line
Published: Friday, March 14, 2014 at 6:45 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, March 14, 2014 at 6:45 p.m.
Let me start by saying that this is my opinion and those mentioned in this should not be held accountable for thoughts on this subject.
First off, I know more about Africa than Thibodaux City Councilwoman Constance Johnson, and so does Thibodaux Police Chief Scott Silverii.
I have had the pleasure of knowing Scott Silverii for the past 41 years of my life.
As a kid, he would visit my house often and hear of my dad's travels to Africa when he was around 8 to 12 years old.
He was learning about Africa before this woman. Back in those days, the words "black" and "colored" were still readily said and expressed without fear of being labeled a racist.
For her to even attempt to play the "heritage" card, then she must understand two things, her own heritage and knowledge of what she speaks.
There are several different versions of "Kumbaya," and all stemmed from an earlier version written by an unknown author sometime in the mid 1920s.
Over a period of time, this song became a song of hope and love for much of the world.
For her to single this song out as a song of African culture or folksong is purely uneducated grandstanding to prove a point.
Scott Silverii's reference to "holding hands and singing 'Kumbaya' " wasn't an attack on anyone or any culture.
It was a way of expressing that holding hands and singing campfire songs isn't going to bring peace and safety to a community.
Do you really think that replacing "Kumbaya" with "campfire songs" would have been as effective and understood as to the true meaning to what he was trying to express?
No. I doubt it. And if he would have, most of your readers would have inserted "Kumbaya" themselves, and then we would be talking about why it wasn't said in the first place.
She is asking for the resignation of someone with a Ph.D. who risks his life daily over something that she doesn't understand?
Regardless of her educational level, she should be removed from office for not knowing the difference between heritage bashing and pop culture and also for inciting community friction when she was elected to uphold it and fight this type of intolerance.
Who wants a s'more?
All together now, "Kumbaya, my Lord, Kumbaya."
And when we are done with "Kumbaya," let's sing "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing." All of my harmony, love, peace and firewood.
Mark Herrington
Little Rock, Ark.
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.


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To add to the confusion regarding the next live appearance of KUSH, the long-running project of FEAR FACTORY bassist Christian Olde Wolbers, FEAR FACTORY drummer Raymond Herrera, DEFTONES guitarist Stephen Carpenter and CYPRESS HILL frontman B-Real, the group's previously announced Whiskey show in Hollywood, California, originally slated for January 20th, then moved to January 21st, has now been postponed to an as-yet-undetermined later date. We'll have more information as it becomes available.
KUSH Postpone Hollywood Appearance (Again)
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Lefthand Canyon Restoration Grant - 2001
Trailridge Runners 4WD Club
Longmont, Colorado
In the fall of 2000 a coalition of motorized recreation groups started working with the Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest to improve the conditions at the Lefthand Canyon OHV area. The Lefthand Canyon OHV area was seeing an increase in user created motorcycle trails, user created 4WD roads and hill climbs. The original 4WD road switchbacks had been cut across so much that it was hard to know where the original road was. Also, the upper meadow was being damaged from all the motorized use off the main 4WD road.
The effort began with Martha Moran, Boulder Ranger District Recreation Officer, who wanted to work with the user groups to improve the conditions in the Lefthand area. The Trailridge Runners 4WD Club, Northern Colorado Trail Riders, and Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit had been cleaning up the lower section of the Lefthand Canyon 4WD road for over 10 years. Martha started working with these organized motorized groups, as well as the Rocky Mountain Trials Riders Association, the Colorado Association of 4WD Clubs, and the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition to develop a restoration project and to write a grant to request funding from the Colorado State Parks OHV program. The scope of the grant would be to restore the upper meadow and surrounding areas, remove the user created hill climbs, and control the motorized use back onto the designated 4WD roads and motorized trails.
After many meetings with all the interested parties, the Lefthand Canyon Restoration grant was written and presented to the Colorado State Parks for consideration. The Lefthand Canyon Restoratio grant included letters of support from the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, Rocky Mountain Recreation Initiative, Fourteener's Initiative, Mile Hi Jeep Club, CSU Big Wheels, Hillbillies 4X4, Eurosport International, Cycles of Boulder, Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance, and the James Creek Watershed Initiative. In the Spring of 2001 the Colorado State Parks approved the Lefthand Canyon Restoration Grant.
In the Spring of 2002 the Boulder Ranger District of the USFS hired a person to work on the Lefthand Canyon area to monitor the use and collect public input. Documentation, by use of a GPS, of the existing 4WD roads and Motorcycle trails was begun to compare the on the ground network to the designated road and trail system. The Forest Service has produced a Map of Lefthand Canyon showing the designated routes.
Through the Summer of 2002 planning for the location of the posts and cables took place. The metal posts and cables would be used on the main 4WD road to keep motorized vehicles on the designated 4WD road. The Forest Service also began the process of acquiring the engineering approvals for this type of route control.
In the Winter of 2002 Matt Nunn, a Trailridge Runners 4WD Club member, purchased metal to build steel versions of the standard Forest Service information kiosk. On February 8, 2003, members of the Trailridge Runners 4WD club and members of the B.R.O.N.C.O club met at Greg Beery's shop, 4WD Xtreme, to cut the steel into parts that were used to build the information panels. Large steel pipe were also cut to length for use as the vertical supports. These new information panels are designed to last. The all steel construction and fully welded (thanks to Matt Nunn) assembly of these panels will help them survive over the years.
In April of 2003, after the Lefthand Canyon Cleanup, the Trailridge Runners 4WD Club continued with our clubs part of the Lefthand Grant. We installed the first of the three metal informational panels at the entrance to the Lefthand Canyon OHV area.
Construction began by digging the four post holes that would hold the concrete footers for each support pipe. Once these were in place and the concrete had hardened a bit, the previously assembled steel information panels were cut to size and hoisted into place with a back hoe. Matt then welded the cross braces to the posts.
After putting all three panels up, the angle iron and plexiglass doors were hung. The final assembly was sturdy and ready for the public. Brian Rasmussen, Boulder Ranger District personnel, painted the wooden back panels and installed Forest Service information the next day.
Two weeks after we installed the information panels the Lefthand Canyon had it's flash flood. The amount of material that was moved from the road entrance was the worst that I had ever seen. All of the loose dirt had been washed away and only the larger rocks remained at the parking lot and main entrance to Lefthand. I though for sure that the information panels would be laying flat, but as we approached, there they were just as we had left them when we completed our project. The signs of the flash flood were all around. If the sign can survive this, hopefully it will last a long time.
In June of 2003 the second kiosk for Lefthand Canyon was installed at Five Points. The project involved getting the metal sign panels, concrete, and Matt Nunn's welder and an air hammer up to the work site. We all met at the beginning of the Lefthand Canyon 4WD road and loaded up the vehicles. Dan Lawson hauled the concrete, Darrel Turner hauled up the signs and Richard Boddy towed up Matt's welding trailer.
Matt's trailer lost one tail light on the way up, but we got all of our stuff to Five Points. The first task was to get the holes dug for the sign. Five Points is very rocky, thus the reason for the jack hammer and drill. Everyone took turns digging into the rocks and shoveling out the busted up debris. It took a few hours of working to get all four holes deep enough. (We did use the back hoe to finish off the last one.)
The next stage was getting the concrete going. Bill Boitano brought up 30 gallons of water and an electric pump so we could mix up the concrete. The pipes were set and concrete poured. Matt began cutting the panels to fit in between the posts. The welding didn't take long, but the fitting was the time consumer, especially on the last panel.
While we were at Five Points we put in the temporary closure gate that would be used to close off themeadow area in the following weeks. The temporary closure was for the post and cable project that is part of the Lefthand Canyon Grant.
The post and cable work took place in the middle of July, 2003. The contractor used a boring machine to put in the holes for the steel posts. Each post was then anchored into the hole with concrete, leaving about 3 feet of the post above ground.
The next step was pulling the steel cable through the pipes. The contractor incorporated a custom system to pull the cable in continuous lengths through each post. The cables were pulled taunt and clamped in place. As added security, the cable ends were welded to keep them in place.
In March of 2004 the third metal information kiosk was installed at Olympia, the next saddle north of Five Points. Getting the kiosk material and the equipment to the site was the challenge. The easiest route to this location was up Castle Gulch. The size of the obstacles on the main Lefthand Canyon road are not negotiable with a trailer. Members of the Trailridge Runners 4WD Club used their vehicles and trailers to haul the concrete, metal panels and posts, generator, and tools up the narrow shut of Castle Gulch and across the ridge over to Olympia.
After choosing a location to place the Kiosk the holes were dug for the support posts. This site was much easier to dig the holes and the work was completed quickly. Rocks were gathered as fill material for the support post holes and the post centers. Using the 30 gallons of water we mixed concrete to anchor the four posts and fill the post centers. Once the first two posts were placed and firm enough the first of four panels was hoisted into location with the use of a receiver hitch mounted hydraulic hoist. After positioning and leveling the panel into place, Matt Nunn welded the panel to the support posts. Each panel was put through this process. Once the panels had been welded in all four posts were filled with concrete to finish off the project.
This panel was immediately used to inform the public about the emergency closure of the Overland Fire area just to the north of this ridge.
On April 17th, 2004 the main meadow restoration project took place. The week before the meadow restoration volunteers from the Trailridge Runners 4WD Club and the Pinzgauer 4WD Club hauled up the materials for the main project. Also, before the project a contracted back hoe repaired the water drainage problems on Forest Road 286, tilled and contoured the meadow, and filled the erosion gullies. Top soil was consolidated while the decomposing granite and clay material was used in the bottom of the gullies. This material was packed to insure its stability. The final process was to distribute the top soil over the filled erosion gullies for the volunteers to seed and mulch.
Over 100 volunteers worked with hand tools on designated areas laid out by Ed Self of Wildlands Restoration Volunteers and Walsh Environmental Engineering. Each area had a crew and crew leader tasked with a specific work description. Some areas required check dams and water flow control, others needed contouring and seeding. After the main work on all the areas was completed hydro-mulch and straw was laid over the work areas by Americorp volunteers to hold the seeds in place and assist in the first growth that would take place during the spring.
With the light rains that followed the project new growth has already begun in the restoration area. Maintenance of the pipe and cable to keep motorized recreationists off the restoration will continue, as well as frequent checks of the area by the Forest Service.
After two months of final touches and growth the meadow area is on its way to recovery.
Volunteer Hours
In 2001 motorized recreation groups invested over 30 hours in meetings and field reviews to write the Lefthand Canyon Restoration Grant.
In 2003 work began on the three metal Kiosks and the pipe and cable route control. Some 436 hours were invested in purchasing materials, designing and constructing the Kiosks and installing two of the Kiosks in the Lefthand Canyon Recreation Area. Also during the summer the pipe and cable route control was installed.
In 2004 the planning and execution of the meadow restoration took place. The restoration work included 1440 hours of volunteer effort, as well as 368 hours of hauling materials and installing the third Kiosk.


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HAGERSTOWN — A 27-year-old woman is in critical condition after being hit on the Dual Highway Thursday night. She is the third woman hit on that road in the past month.
The woman, who name has not been released, was flown to Shock Trauma at the University of Maryland in Baltimore after the accident at 9:25 p.m.
Hagerstown police said the woman was walking in the road when she was hit by an eastbound Nissan truck in the 1700 block of the Dual Highway.
One woman died after being hit by an unmarked patrol vehicle driven by a Washington County sheriff's deputy early on April 3 and another died after being hit by a vehicle early on March 18.
Location, ST | website.com


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Scents bring memories, and many memories bring nostalgic pleasure. We would be wise to plan for this when we plant a garden.
Thalassa Cruso
Source: To Everything There is a Season, 1973
Contributed by: Zaady
For many people the scent of certain plants can revive memories with a vividness that nothing else can equal, for the sense of smell can be extraordinarily evocative, bringing back pictures as sharp as photographs of scenes that and left the conscious mind.
I have always found thick woods a little intimidating, for they are so secret and enclosed. You may seem alone but you are not, for there are always eyes watching you. All the wildlife of the woods, the insects, birds, and animals, are well aware of your presence no matter how softly you may tread, and they follow your every move although you cannot see them.
Today I am sure no one needs to be told that the more birds a yard can support, the fewer insects there will be to trouble the gardener the following year.
Copyright © 2016 Gaiam, Inc.


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This book explores connections between poverty and migration in the context of the expansion of neoliberalism in Europe. The last decade has witnessed a massive movement of people in response to rising inequalities as a result of political changes and economic reforms implemented across the continent. As people seek new opportunities, movement itself becomes part of the process of generating new inequalities. The chapters in this volume provide vivid examples of local participation in such global processes.. Price: $85.00
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The Lightning Insider - Game Day
Let tampabaylightning.com become your destination for all the latest Lightning scoops. The Lightning Insider will be in the stands, in the locker room and on the road with the team to provide you with an inside look at the Bolts as they pursue Lord Stanley's hardware. Our resident snoop will make sure you're the first to know when the Lightning are making news.
Well, this is the last chance. Will the Lightning finally get a win against the Rangers tonight? Will we see the team that showed better work habits in the first three games under Interim Head Coach Rick Tocchet, or will it be the team that took a step backward against the Devils on Sunday?
Tocchet sounded a warning for his players when asked this morning if tonight's game would be a good test.
"The light bulb had better be on tonight because [the Rangers] totally outclassed us in Prague," Tocchet said.
Tocchet also fired a shot at his players regarding the power play's continued struggles. Tocchet believes more players heading to the net will solve some of the issues.
"We're going to get to a point here where we'll have to change personnel on the power play," Tocchet said. "Whoever is going to the net is going to be in. It's just not working now."
Hardly a veiled threat there!
Mike Smith will be back between the pipes tonight and looks to be healthy. Matt Pettinger is out and Tocchet said he's having an MRI today to determine the extent of the injury he suffered in practice yesterday. Gary Roberts and Chris Gratton were both on the ice but are expected to be scratched, with David Koci getting the call tonight.
Associate Coach Mike Sullivan will watch tonight's game from the press box, but will be behind the bench soon, possibly as early as Friday in Minnesota. Cap Raeder remains behind the bench tonight with Wes Walz. Once things settle, Sullivan will run the defense and the penalty kill.


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Select any of the dots for available climatological normals and all time records across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands or choose from the list of areas below.
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Croix
What are normals?
In a general sense, a "normal" is the expected value (e.g., temperature, precipitation amount, etc.) for a particular location during a particular time of year. Normals help describe a location's climate by quantifying certain elements, such as precipitation seasonality. For monthly and annual values, normals are typically the average values during the 30-year period. Distinctly different from averages, daily normals (1981-2010) were computed using a harmonic fit, a statistical method which dampens the effects of outliers, creating a smooth transition between adjacent days.
Why does NOAA produce normals?
For what purposes are normals used?
Is our climate becoming warmer and wetter?
Click here to return to unique local climate data web page for the NWS San Juan


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Frisco trustees begin work toward finding a new schools superintendent
Frisco needs a superintendent who understands that small schools are important, can wade through complex Texas school finance system and be adaptable, trustees said Tuesday. And leading the fastest growing district in the nation can't just be a stepping stone for someone with sights elsewhere.
Trustees want someone who will be here to stay.
"I'm not looking for someone who has aspirations to go on to Dallas ISD or some other monolithic district," trustee John Hoxie said.
Frisco trustees met Monday to begin their work in replacing longtime superintendent Rick Reedy, who will retire from the district after a new leader is named.
Before Frisco trustees could start thinking about what they want in the next schools superintendent, they first had to identify the assets and challenges of the district. The district will reach 43,000 students this year with officials expecting its growth to eventually level out at around 55,000 to 65,000 students in the coming years.
That rapid growth was near the top in both the assets and challenges lists. Frisco grew from five campuses to 52 under Reedy's watch. Trustees said building new schools helps accommodate growth while maintaining small schools for personal interaction, a plus, but maintaining quality growth under tight financial constraints is a constant challenge.
Trustees also conceded that one of the biggest challenges for any new superintendent will be following the popular Reedy, who has been superintendent for 16 years.
"How the district picks up and follows a new leader after Reedy" will be a challenge, said trustee Brenda Polk, adding that finding the right persona will be key.
Much of the discussion was making a wish list of qualities in a would-be suitor: a good communicator, trustworthy, personable, familiar with Texas laws and holds similar values as the district's visioning statement.
To help in the matchmaking, trustees discussed the pros and cons of hiring a search firm and whether or not to have a nationwide or statewide search. No decisions were made.
Consultant Danny Modissette told trustees that knowing where the district is going to and what is most important will help them find the right match who reflects the values and skills needed in Frisco. He added that it may not necessarily be the person who has the best interview.
"It's not a beauty contest," he said. "It's finding the best match for Frisco ISD."


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By Anthony Bowe
A bill changing how teachers earn tenure won approval from the House Education Committee in the wee hours of Friday night.
The committee narrowly passed Senate Bill 191 on a 7-6 vote shortly before 1 a.m. after an eight-hour marathon of passionate testimony from teachers, union leaders, school officials and various interested parties. The decisive seventh vote came from Rep. Karen Middleton, D-Aurora, after a week of guarding her position on the bill. Along with the entire committee, Middleton received hundreds of emails and calls from proponents and opponents of the controversial legislation, looking to sway her vote during the days preceding the vote.
"I've been getting a lot of feedback on both sides of the issue. A lot of folks who are not constituents reaching out," she said. "The biggest thing that I'm hearing that they're concerned about is just the timing of the bill and a lot of people aren't aware of a lot of the work that was done before it was introduced."
The educator effectiveness bill, also dubbed the teacher tenure bill, would use a new evaluation system to decide which teachers are protected by non-probationary status, or tenure. The senate passed the bill last week. The measure now travels through a strict schedule of votes in the House in order to reach passage by Wednesday, the final day of the session.
"If the schedule works the way we're hoping it will… we can go to appropriations on Friday, and either add it to the special orders calendar Friday afternoon or Monday and that would still give us enough time with the Wednesday deadline to get this back with any changes in the senate," said Rep. Christine Scanlan, D-Summit County.
Rep. Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock, is also a prime House sponsor.
Over fifty people testified on the bill Thursday. Emotions ran high as evidenced by bickering between committee members and tears shed by one who testified.
"This bill means I won't have the opportunity for due process," said Lisa Johnson, a Denver Public Schools teacher who cried during her testimony against SB 191. Johnson said she was unfairly placed on a remediation plan by an assistant principal who was biased against her.
"The assistant principal's decision was rubber stamped by everyone from the principal up to the superintendant. I had had one evaluation at that time," Johnson said.
An administrative law judge overturned the assistant principal's decision in a testament to due process that Johnson and Rep. Judy Solano, D-Brighton, fear teachers could lose.
"For those people that don't perform up to par then that due process section is out," Solano said while discussing the issue with a staunch critic of the bill, Martha Houser, chief legal counsel to the Colorado Education Association.
Senate sponsor Sen. Michael Johnston, D-Denver, has repeatedly stated that SB 191 will not affect the dismissal process already posted into law. The senate added an amendment last week that insures a teacher's ability to appeal to the superintendent after an ineffective evaluation. House sponsors also added an amendment for teachers making an appeal in districts without a collective bargaining agreement. The added provision allows an appealing teacher and school officials to mutually agree on a third party to review the appeal.
"It keeps in place whatever the locally bargained agreement is on appeals. What it does is ensure that in any location that might not currently have a collective bargaining agreement or might not currently have an appeal right that that is absolutely provided," Johnston said. "The purpose of this was to set a strong floor to the fact that everyone would have that appeal right at a minimum."
If SB 191 passes the state would implement a new evaluation system by the 2013-2014 school years. In that system, 50 percent of a teacher's rating would be based on multiple assessments including CSAP. A teacher earns non-probationary status after three consecutive years of positive evaluations that display student growth. However, if a teacher earns poor evaluations showing no growth for two years, tenure protection is stripped. The teacher would be given a third year to improve. Principals will also be evaluated, with 50 percent of their evaluations based on their school's overall growth.
The definition of an "effective" teacher is would be developed by the Council of Educator Effectiveness, created by an executive order from Gov. Bill Ritter in January. SB 191 would codify the council into state law. The bill says the council has until March to deliver its initial recommendations on effectiveness to the State Board of Education
Ben Jackson, an English teacher at the Bruce Randolph School in Denver who testified Thursday, said the bill would add security to his job.
"I believe it empowers teachers," Jackson said. "Currently we have a system that is broken — a broken system that evaluates teachers almost entirely on subjective measures — and this would insert some more objective measures in student growth into a teacher's evaluation."
CEA, the largest teachers union in the state representing over 40,000 teachers, has emerged as the leading opposition to SB 191. Prior to the committee hearing Thursday, CEA sent a press release outlining why the union opposes the bill. It lists its qualms with the bill to include the loss of local control in placing teachers and reducing force by teacher effectiveness levels, the lack of due process for teachers deemed ineffective and the lack of funding for a statewide mandate.
"The members who are contacting me are angry. I have actually never seen them more angry," said Beverly Ingle, CEA president.
Ingle testified with CEA Executive Director Tony Salazar.
"We believe this bill does create unfunded mandates for districts at a time that budgets are being slashed, classroom resources are being reduced — programs will be reduced and class sizes will increase," Salazar said.
The bill's funding is set to come from gifts, grants and donations. According to the bill's fiscal note, almost $300,000 is required over the next two fiscal years. A new House provision added in committee Friday says that if $250,000 isn't raised by September 31 of this year, the state Treasurer is required to make up any difference with money from the contingency fund. The provision is seen as a security blanket if Colorado isn't successful in its phase two bid for $175 million in federal grants in the Race to the Top competition.
Colorado lost in its first phase bid in Race to the Top in March, finishing 14th out of 16 finalists in. SB 191 proponents believe the bill would boost Colorado's chances in the next phase of grants to be rewarded this summer.
"This is a conversation that we've needed to have for a while and we're going to continue to pursue federal matching dollars or grant dollars," said Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs.
CEA, which supported the state's first Race to the Top application, said Colorado won't be as successful without the union's support. Union buy-in was one factor out of many in the first round of grants.
"Senate Bill 191 has split the education community for issues not considered by Race to the Top," said Linda Barker, CEA's director of teaching and learning, during testimony. "Now Colorado's Race to the Top phase two application will exclude local associations and CEA, which will have adverse impact on the state's success factors in phase two."
State applications for phase two are due in June.
Another union, American Federation of Teachers Colorado, has thrown its support behind the bill. In an announcement Wednesday AFT Colorado president said its support represents what its members want.
"I wouldn't necessarily say we're in conflict (with CEA), we're just representing our members," said Brenda Smith, Colorado AFT president.
AFT added its support to the bill after negotiating a series of amendments with sponsors, according to Smith.
One of the added amendments requires a school district to consult with at least two staff teachers when hiring a transfer teacher. Another requires districts engaging in staff reduction to take into account a teacher's effectiveness first and their seniority second.
"This means the bill, with these amendments, can move forward without undermining basic fairness to teachers and with it key purpose intact," Smith said.
AFT is a small union that mostly represents teachers in Douglas County. Smith said AFT Colorado has over 2,000 members in Douglas and over 3,000 in the state.
The Colorado Association of School Boards, the Department of Education and the Colorado Association of School Executives all support the legislation.
The bill will most likely hit the House floor on Monday. So far it has garnered unanimous support from Republicans and has splintered Democrats into two camps. Gov. Bill Ritter has stated his support and House Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, is a sponsor.
Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, another bill sponsor, said basing evaluations on growth would level the playing field for teachers in under-privileged schools.
"You have to evaluate teachers who are in like situations. That was one of the faults of CSAP, is you were literally comparing Highlands Ranch High School with North High School. The demographics are different." Rice said. "Now teachers have incentive to take on more difficult jobs. No matter where they are, whether they're in Highlands Ranch or North High School, they are evaluated and rewarded based on the situation that they're in."
Another group of House Democrats, led by a coalition of former teachers, say the bill was created without input from teachers.
"We've spent six years talking about student assessment. We're spending two weeks talking about teacher assessment. I think that's inappropriate," said Rep. Nancy Todd, D-Aurora, who originally set to sponsor the legislation but removed her name as it neared introduction.
— email@example.com


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MAY 24, 2013 - Washington Business Journal
A Must Read - Share
Four more SAC Capital Advisors executives, in addition to founder Steven Cohen, have received subpoenas related to an insider-trading grand jury investigation, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
In recent weeks, prosecutors have apparently ramped up their efforts to build a case since the statute of limitations will prevent them from bringing charges after July of this year. This round of subpoenas, issued last week the Journal said, were given to SAC president Thomas Conheeney, chief…
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JavaOne Hands-on Labs 2009 are online
By lukas on Jul 10, 2009
All the JavaOne Hands-on Labs from this year are published at the Sun Developer Network. These "tutorials" will allow to get your hands dirty with the latest greatest technologies. However you'll miss the best part and that's the explanation of the speakers and help of proctors at J1. advertise the NetBeans RPC HOL


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By By David Ruderman, USAG Vicenza Public AffairsMarch 28, 2013
VICENZA, Italy - Dr. Samuela Franceshini keeps turning on light bulbs at the Education Center on Caserma Ederle.
The University of Maryland University College-Europe adjunct instructor has taught mathematics there since 2009, and is very familiar with the various student types in her classes. There's usually the class clown, the shy student afraid to ask simple questions, and then there are the ones who have a "eureka moment," who light up inside when, under her guidance, the numerical relations suddenly make sense and they get it.
"The classes are always different. It keeps you alive," said Franceschini.
A Vicenza native, Franceschini didn't start out to be a mathematician or a teacher. As a high school student, she followed a concentration in preparation for a business administration or accounting career, which included practical math, but not mathematics on the academic fast track.
"You cover a little more than the basics," she said. "It was better for me to get a piece of paper that would allow me to get a job."
But that didn't quite work out as she'd planned. Franceschini went off to the States in her late teens, working as an au pair, mostly to try something different.
"When you're 18, you're not sure what you want to do. Call it an adventure. Knowing the languages, especially English, is very important. But math skills were the skills I'd always had. I always liked how math is kind of like a puzzle: there are rules, and if you follow the rules, things fall into place," she said.
Things fell into place for her as well in upstate New York, and she stayed. Franceschini married a friend of the family she worked for and settled into a happy life in the Buffalo, N.Y., area.
She trained undergrad at the State University of New York at Buffalo, graduating with a BS in environmental engineering. She liked it well enough to carry on and completed both a master's and doctorate in civil engineering, working as a teaching assistant on the way to her PhD.
Franceschini held a number of internships in the private sector in addition to her teaching assistantships, but when the prospects of her graduation and the birth of her first child coincided, Franceschini and her husband made the decision to return to Italy.
"There was more of a natural support network to raise a child," she said.
From the multidimensional perspective of a mother, a mathematician and a teacher, Franceschini brings a natural sympathy to her role as an educator. But parents need not be trained in math or science to instill a healthy interest in the fields of the future in their own children, she said.
"Not everybody has to be a scientist, but the brain is a muscle. Doing math is like doing 10 pull-ups a day. So you keep it up through your lifetime, your logical and mathematical skills," said Franceschini.
"If I see what my son does, they start much earlier. They want to learn things, but they want the experience, and not just from a textbook. Even math is an experience. So you play chess, you play Uno. You count things and look around for shapes. You learn through impressions more than cognitively with a book. Learn and play, play and learn. I would say take them out shopping," she said.
Take them shopping? It something that's been good for her own daughter, and an approach that reveals a talent she notices in women generally, she said.
"If it has to do with money, women get it quicker," said Franceshini.
Looking back at the influences on her own development, mentors have been significant, she said.
"Probably more than one. In science you have to be a little handy, you have to know how to fix things, how things work. Perhaps I have that from my father, who was always working on things around the house. And I had some great teachers in high school and college," she said.
Franceschini also pointed to the recently deceased Nobel laureate Rita Levi-Montalcini as a role model she admires. Levi-Montalcini was the Turin born neurobiologist recognized with the Nobel Prize in 1986 for her discoveries in the field of nerve growth factor. She began her laboratory research in Turin and continued it underground in a homemade lab when the fascist government barred Jews from university positions during World War II.
La Signora della scienza, as she was known in the Italian press, resumed her work in the United States after the war and pursued it both there and in Italy until her death last December in Rome. There is a lot to admire in her example of dedication and perseverance, said Franceschini.
"That she worked till the other day, always. That she tried to have in her lab a lot of women. She dedicated her life to her work," she said.
It might serve as a motto for some of her own students. "Sometimes we have to go out of the way of what we are used to. Keep it up, the good job. That's all," said Franceschini.


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The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is located within the Department of Government in the College of Arts and Sciences on the main campus of New Mexico State University. The MPA degree addresses the specific needs of those pursuing a career in governmental or non-profit administration, and provides preparation for those interested in doctoral level study. With most courses offered in the evenings, the program is designed for both individuals who recently completed undergraduate degrees and returning students. It is structured to foster public service leadership by teaching students how to confront theory with practice and practice with theory.
The MPA is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), a distinction enjoyed by only about one-fourth of all Master's programs in public administration in the United States .
The MPA is a two-year professional degree. All MPA students complete a common set of six core courses in public management and policy. A minimum of 42 credit hours, which includes either an internship or thesis, and a final oral examination, are required for the MPA. The program is designed in such a way that full-time students who enter in the fall semester can receive their degree in two years or five semesters.
The MPA faculty brings a variety of perspectives to the program and endeavors to share the latest scholarship and the most pressing issues with students through courses and projects. The faculty encourages MPA students to think critically and creatively in addressing public concerns and problems. Case studies and practical exercises provide students opportunities to apply and revise knowledge developed by others. The small size of the program encourages close interaction among MPA students and between faculty and students.
The MPA program also offers joint degrees with the Department of Criminal Justice and the Department of History. For more information on those joint degree programs, see the links below.
Prospective students are encouraged to review the program requirements in the NMSU Graduate Catalog. For additional information, contact the MPA Director, Dr. Christina A. Medina, at 575-646-4935 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
MPA Application Deadlines:
October 1, 2016 for Spring 2017 admission
March 1, 2017 for Fall 2017 admission
*** Applications submitted after Priority Deadline are not guaranteed review for assistantships.
MPA Graduation Rates
*Note: ARY-5 Cohort is defined as 5 years before the annual report year of 2014-2015, determined as any MPA student who graduated in: Summer 2009, Fall 2009, and Spring 2010 and the length it took them to graduate.
Initially Enrolled
|Graduated 100% of Degree Program Length
|Graduated 150% of Degree Program Length
Graduated 200% of Degree Program Length
|Total Number of Students in the ARY-5 Cohort
NMSU Graduate School
Apply to the Graduate School at http://gradadmissions.nmsu.edu/how-to-apply/


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Technology Dispells Beliefs of Increased Cancer Risks in Dense Breasts
By: Mary Hayes, MD
Medical Director, Women's Imaging, Memorial Healthcare System
The topic of dense breasts made a few headlines recently when the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published that breast cancer patients with dense breasts are no more at risk of dying from breast cancer than patients with fatty breasts. Such development had our experts also fielding questions about mammography and detection for women with dense breasts and fatty breasts.
What is the difference between dense breast and fatty breasts? Breast deemed "dense" are made up primarily of fibrous or glandular tissue, but not much fat. It is more difficult to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue, as both look "white" on a mammogram. Fatty breasts consist of more fat than glandular tissue. Breast cancer in a fatty breast is easier to diagnose via mammography.
The published study followed breast cancer patients after they were diagnosed. Once health factors and tumor characteristics were factored in, researchers found that high mammographic density was not associated with increased risk of death from breast cancer or other causes. The study, conducted by Gretchen L. Gierach, PhD, MPH, and colleagues of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology Genetics at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., reviewed data from the U.S. Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium and examinations of 9,232 women who experienced invasive breast cancer between 1996-2005. At 6.6 years, there were 1,796 deaths reported, 889 from breast cancer and the rest from other causes.
Mammography remains the standard for detecting breast cancer
Breast cancer is harder to detect in women with dense tissue because it can obscure breast tumors or other high risk lesions on a mammogram. Now, women can have access to supplementary tools and advanced technologies, such as tomosynthesis, new 3-D digital mammography imaging that provides breast radiologists a clearer, more detailed view of breast tissue. In addition, women with dense breasts may be screened with supplemental ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The challenge is to detect tumors at the earliest stage. The cancers found in women with dense tissue are not more aggressive or more difficult to treat than in women with fatty breast tissue. Women can decrease their risk of breast cancer by maintaining healthy weight and exercising. Breast health includes getting annual mammograms, physical exams and informing healthcare providers about personal and family medical history.
Memorial Regional Hospital was the first hospital in the state offer breast tomosynthesis 3-D digital mammography imaging. The screening is now available at Memorial Regional Hospital and Memorial Hospital Miramar. To find out more, visit memorialcancerinstitute.com.
Memorial Healthcare System's Women's Imaging Services are located at Memorial Regional Hospital, Memorial Regional Hospital South, Memorial Hospital West and Memorial Hospital Miramar.
Source: Gretchen L. Gierach, Relationship Between Mammographic Density and Breast Cancer Death in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst (2012) 104(16): 1218-1227 first published online August 21, 2012 doi:10.1093/jnci/djs327


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SIKESTON - Miss Bonnie Hazel, who has been working since May 25 as stenographer in the office of Judge Brown Jewell, began work last weekend in a similar capacity in the law office of Bailey and Bailey. Miss Hazel succeeds Miss Erma Dumey, who has gone to San Diego, Calif., where she will be married.
SIKESTON - Lee A. Bowman, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Congressional Action Committee, reported his committee has voted unanimously in their Monday meeting to recommend to the Board of Directors to oppose the possible Constitutional Convention.
SIKESTON - Approximately 50 children were anxiously awaiting a turn to practice on the BMX Track at the Sikeston Sports Complex Saturday afternoon. All the "functional equipment" has been set up on the grounds and track in time for today's races, which are scheduled for 2 p.m.
SIKESTON - Laura Ann Dement, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Dement, was honored yesterday afternoon with a birthday party on her fourth birthday.
CHARLESTON - Construction of the Charleston Junior High School on South Main Street is a "little ahead of schedule," Superintendent Bill Bacchus reported. A completion date of February or early March is anticipated for the new structure which replaces the old facility which burned in May 1991.
CHARLESTON - A $1.66 per $100 assessed valuation tax rate was set by the R-1 School District Board of Education for the 1992-93 school year. The rate was adopted following a public hearing Tuesday.


text: A tornado watch has been issued for the Louisville area, and points west, until 2 a.m. Heavy rain and thunderstorms will sweep into our region during the evening. Heavy rainfall of 1"-2", high winds of 40mph to 50mph and severe thunderstorms will be possible. The prime time for severe weather looks to run from 4pm to midnight.


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Locker room stirs Cup memories for Modano
Thursday, 03.11.2010 / 9:44 AM CT / News
By Bob Matuszak
BUFFALO -- Sitting in the exact same spot he did on that June morning nearly 11 years ago, Mike Modano blankly stared straight ahead while dictating the magical film that was playing inside his eyes.
Feature: 1999 Stanley Cup Rewind
Gallery: Game 6 Photos
Gallery: Game 6 Post Game
Gallery: Game 6 Locker Room
Video Feature: Mike Modano
Highlights: Modano (2008-09)
Tickets: DAL vs LA - 3/12
Brett Hull's championship winner in triple overtime of Game 6 just 90 minutes into Father's Day was the culmination of Modano and the Stars' quest for magnificence, and on Wednesday the 20-year veteran leaned forward and clasped his hands to reflect on what was certainly the most memorable night of his career.
"Just picturing everybody in here afterwards, and visually knowing where everybody was when we were done and how we were sitting," Modano remembered at his locker stall located along the middle of the back wall of the visitors locker room in what is now HSBC Arena. "You remember all the people that were involved at that time and that were all here in this room at once."
Transfixed, Modano paused for a brief moment, as if he had just entered his own personal time machine that shuttled him back to a place where indeed nothing else mattered.
"As soon as you get here you know that something unique happened," he continued. "I got to see everything because I was right here in the middle. Just sitting here that night when it was all done for the 10 minutes we had by ourselves when it was over, it was really just a self-fulfilling feeling that you had. It was a sense of relief and accomplishment…it's just hard to explain."
Modano's glory in the late spring of '99 came with plenty of guts. He sustained a broken radius bone near his left wrist in Dallas' 2-1 Game 3 win in Buffalo, and needed some extra padding to help protect the injury the rest of the series.
"It was tough," he said. "That morning when I woke up after Game 3 I was really wondering what I was going to do. But I said that I've come too far, and we're two wins away from getting this thing over with. So we did everything we could to get on the ice. Once you get out there and playing, with the adrenaline and everything, it felt better than I thought it would. So that helped."
After the Sabres tied the series at 2 games apiece, the scene shifted back to Dallas for Game 5. That's when coach Ken Hitchcock dialed into his star center by dialing him up. Hitchcock, the master psychologist, called Modano at home the night before the pivotal contest to do a little brain digging and soul searching.
"He just asked how I was feeling and what I wanted to do and accomplish, and what type of player I wanted to be," Modano said. "He reminded me of what type of player I was, and that narrowed our focus.
"He asked those kinds of questions all the time, so it wasn't anything out of the blue. But it was special to get that from him -- calling me at home -- to know at that point for him he was thinking about me and my situation. He had his moments where you knew that he really cared personally and collectively for the group, and just wanted the best out of you."
That group was on a mission that season. After losing to Detroit the year before in the Western Conference Finals, it was go big or go home for the '98-99 edition of the Stars that featured grizzled veterans like Guy Carbonneau, Craig Ludwig, Brian Skrudland and Dave Reid. They wound up doing both, flying the Stanley Cup the approximate 1,200 miles from Buffalo back to Dallas.
"There was total relief," Modano said. "It was over, we had won and we were done. We got our one Cup that we set out to do in training camp, and that was our goal. There was no other way about it that year. We knew we weren't going to have a lot of returnees the following year -- even though we still got to the Finals -- but the bond that was made there, you'll always have it with those guys."
Modano actually came inches away from possibly depositing the Cup winner past sprawled Sabres goaltender Dominik Hasek. After Hasek stopped Hull's initial attempt at the doorstep, Modano swiped his stick at the rebound that popped out. But Hull was able to kick it with his left skate onto his own stick to shovel it home.
The goal set off a wild celebration in the right corner, where Modano threw his stick in the air before bear-hugging Hull. To this day, Modano still feels the excitement when he approaches that part of the rink.
"Every time I make a turn in that corner I remember the mob scene that happened there and that particular area of the ice," he said. "The flashbacks come back."
Modano had been back to Buffalo to play the Sabres on four other occasions since hoisting the Cup jubilantly over his head in '99, but this week's trip to western New York could be his last, as his magnificent career that began as the No. 1 overall pick of the Minnesota North Stars in 1988 begins to wind down.
But whether or not he returns again, one thing is for sure -- the city of Buffalo will always have a deep and an everlasting place in the Michigan native's heart.
"I spent a lot of time in Buffalo playing when I was a kid for Little Caesars," he said. "I played in games in (suburbs) like Amherst and Tonawanda. So to come back and win it all here that night, there was no better feeling."


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Chanel Pleases Its Faithful With Dandy-ish Collection
At today's Chanel show, Karl Lagerfeld's devotees were out in force.
Sitting in the star-studded front row Princess Kasia Al-Thani, dressed head to toe in Chanel, made her admiration for the designer clear.
Looking around, the Polish-born Princess, who is married to a brother of the Emir of Qatar, was anguished that two other people were sporting the same black and white Chanel jacket as her.
But the Princess was safe in the knowledge that she had gone a step further than anyone else in the room. Despite having had her broken foot recently screwed back together, she was wearing a pair of very fine pearl-studded Chanel stilettos. "I just love them," she said, wincing.
Princess Al-Thani, who recently founded the online luxury gift Internet site savoir-faire.com, was in good company.
Photographers snapped away as models Claudia Schiffer and Milla Jovovich made their way to their seats. Sitting next to Princess AI-Thani was jeweler Loree Rodkin,still basking in the glow of her Michelle Obama triumph. Since Ms. Obama wore Rodkin's creations to four inauguration – related events things just haven't been the same the L.A based designer says.
"When I got the call from the White House I was like, 'Is this really for me?,' " Ms. Rodkin recalls, adding that orders have been flooding in since photos of Mrs. Obama wearing Ms. Rodkin's rings and earrings were splashed across the world's press. The fame came at price, however. As part of the deal she had to donate a pair of the diamond chandelier earrings she lent Ms. Obama to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Ms. Obama chose the most expensive pair presented to her, the designer notes.
The Lagerfeld faithful were duly awed by a Chanel collection inspired by the 19th century English dandy Beau Brummell. Mr. Lagerfeld's sleek black designs stood out sharply on the Grand Palais's white stage. Lace white cuffs and collars both featured heavily as did high-waisted black pants. The German born designer threw in a bit of color with a pair of loose green pants and some cozy pink knitwear tops. After the show he explained that he had chosen green because "it is the color of hope."
As the crowds melted away, Princess Al -Thani concluded that she would probably buy some of the dresses on show. She said she particularly liked a white silk dress covered with a see through black silk veil. After all, she says, Mr. Lagerfeld "never disappoints". — Max Colchester


text:
Mike Haywood Skater Profile
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Hometown: Long Beach CA, Stance: Regular, Age: , Status: Am
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Damn Am Costa Mesa 2010 Saturday Qualifiers, Saturday, October 23, 2010, placed 69 out of 86 skaters.
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BMW Assist puts you in control of your travel plans. Up-to-date traffic information, congestion reports and alternative route suggestions can be called up at the press of a button, plus information about hotels, restaurants and other useful addresses. These can be entered directly in the navigation system. Its automatic emergency call feature and breakdown assistance request, including vehicle location data, enhances your safety.
BMW Online is an internet-based feature, offering individually-tailored information services including news and business updates. Access useful travel information directly from your BMW: from the locations of available parking spaces to the address of the nearest cinema or chemist. With its address book feature and e-mail function, BMW Online transforms your BMW M5 Sedan into a mobile office.
Completing the comprehensive service concept for the BMW M5 Sedan are BMW TeleServices. Even before your next service appointment is due, BMW TeleServices communicate electronically up-to-date data on the vehicle's condition directly to your BMW Service Centre either manually or automatically. This enables them to prepare for your forthcoming service visit and to call you to arrange a convenient appointment time. Requires the optional BMW Professional navigation system with integrated Bluetooth mobile telephone interface.
BMW TeleServices is currently only available in selected markets.
At BMW, we know that getting you to your destination quickly is more than a matter of mere speed. Information from the BMW navigation systems is just as important: directions are shown either on the Control Display or are available as audio instructions. The Professional navigation system provides extra convenience by allowing you to specify your destination by voice - and also to select the major iDrive functions acoustically.
Bluetooth-compatible mobile phones register themselves with the car via the optional port as soon as you approach the vehicle. All of your current telephone numbers, addresses and call lists are then automatically synchronised with the vehicle's internal system. You can then operate your phone while driving using the multifunction steering wheel and the hands-free system. Your BMW dealer will gladly advise you about the mobile phones for which the Bluetooth port has been optimised.
The BMW Individual High End Audio System achieves a first-class listening experience for the interior of a vehicle. Signal processing is precisely tuned to the three-dimensional space, and DIRAC technology together with speed-dependent equalizing reduces unwanted ambient noise to a minimum. In addition, 16 high-performance speakers generate an impressive sound stage for the occupants. The result is sheer listening pleasure.


text:
Laser Boresight Aimshot 223REM 20x
Price: $27.72
Sku: 18186
In Stock(18)
Minimize Your Shipping Cost by Selecting Products from the Same Warehouse.
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Aimshot 223 Laser Boresighter The most complete, accurate, easy and inexpensive way to accurately bore sight your weapon. By installing a laser diode into a (.223 Rem. for rifle and 9mm, 30 cal. for pistol) and utilizing an assortment of arbors (except 9mm-- no arbor required), it is possible to bore sight virtually any caliber weapon.
- Unit of Measure: EA
- Finish: Brass
- Battery: LR41 (3)
- Brand: Aimshot
- Manufacturer Number: BS22320X
- Type: Laser Boresighter
- Caliber: 223 Remington
- Dimensions: 223-20X
- Material: Brass
- Quantity: 1
- Style: Cartridge
- Mount: Chamber
- Purpose: Sight in Scope
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text:
Gear Guru – An Interview with Yvon Gilbert, stringer for Team Canada
February 3, 2013 · Print This Article
Most of the year, Yvon Gilbert manages two tennis stores located in Montreal, Canada. Two or three times a year, however, his day-to-day routine changes dramatically when he is asked by the Canadian Davis Cup team to be their head stringer. He has been traveling with the team to Davis Cup ties across the world and a fixture on the bench alongside players and support staff since 1999. He and his employees have also handled tournament stringing at the Rogers Cup almost continually since 1980. After the doubles match on Saturday, I had a chance to catch up with him.
Yvon: The biggest challenge is moving the machine (a Babolat Star 5) back and forth. Each day I need to bring the machine to the tournament site, and then pack it up and ship it back to the hotel so that I can string during the night.
It's difficult to bring the machine into a new country, especially in Latin America where customs fees are so high. When it costs $7000 to bring the machine into a country, it's almost as expensive to buy a new one. So we get in touch with the local Babolat distributor, and rent a similar machine for the duration of the tie.
What I always bring with me, regardless of where we are going, are the stringing instruments and accessories such as lead tape and finishing tape. The players carry their own grips, strings and overgrips.
Yvon: Tonight, for example, I need to string 16 racquets for Sunday's singles matches. Ten for Milos and six for Frank. I am the only stringer for the Canadian players, so the workload is pretty heavy. A few nights ago I strung from 11:30PM to about 7AM, which meant that I didn't sleep. Yesterday I slept a little bit, thankfully.
Yvon: One thing that's important is to time my stringing by taking into account the tension loss. I always do one player's racquets at a time; Milos' are first up tonight. Also, I take into account the start time of the match, and work my way back.
Milos and Frank are both using Luxilon M2, which is a co-polyester string. The balls play a bit heavier this week, so both of them went down about 1kg compared to their usual tensions to get the right feel. Frank is playing at 19.8kg, while Milos is playing 19.5kg mains and 20.5kg crosses. Both players ask for two-piece stringing.
Frank uses an app called Raquettune on his iPhone to check the tension on his racquet, and before his first match we were trying out different tensions at 0.1kg intervals before he settled into what he likes.
Daniel Nestor is unique in the sense that he will ask for each of his racquets to be strung at a different tension. He is playing gut mains and co-poly crosses and asks for 4 or 5 racquets to be strung for each match. The lowest tension is around 39lb mains/37.5lb crosses, and the highest is 42lb mains/40lb crosses.
Generally speaking, players string a lot looser today than a decade ago because of the co-poly strings. They play stiffer and have much better snap-back, so you need to string at a lower tension to take advantage of that.
Yvon: Frank Dancevic and Milos Raonic both use the Wilson Blade, but Frank used his older 2012 model during his singles match because the 2013 model, prepared to his specifications by Wilson's racquet technicians, has not arrived yet.
All the players' racquets arrive here customized, matched and ready to be strung. There might be some very minor tweaks involving lead tape, but generally all I do is string the racquets and get them ready to go. Recreational and competitive players in Montreal sometimes come to my store and request their racquets to be matched. We have a Babolat RDC machine as well as a Prince Diagnostic Center to measure weigh, balance, swingweight and frame stiffness. Once those numbers are calculated, we can go about making all of the frames play the same. It's a very time-consuming process; it takes about 4 to 5 hours to match 3 frames.
The overwhelming majority of the players here prefer to put on their own overgrips and are all pretty exacting in their gear preferences. They wouldn't be competing at this level otherwise. That attention to detail is a must to be a top player.
(Don't have the exact specs, but there is lead under the bumper, and a leather grip beneath the overgrip)


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MUMBAI: The counselling and selection process of about 4,000 students for the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has been cancelled following errors in the data on seat availability on the past two days of the admission process. "Candidates ranked between 1,601 and 5,527 are required to exercise a fresh choice of courses,'' say the IITs on their website.
After the joint entrance exam (JEE), conducted jointly by all the IITs, the counselling session for allocation of streams was held from June 20 to 23 during which selected students were counselled on the availability of seats at the seven IITs, at Benaras Hindu University and the Indian School of Mines (Dhanbad).


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News 12 This Morning/Friday Oct. 18, 2013
(WRDW) -- "There's been some talks about 'how do I complete my FAFSA if the government is shutdown?'" said Linda Aubrey Higgins.
That question about federal financial aid, was asked by many college students as they wondered whether colleges and universities have had or will have any problems processing applications because of the16 day shutdown.
But, Aubrey Higgins, USC Aiken's financial aid director says so far, so good.
"We've had students complete their FAFSA and submit it to our office with no issues," she said.
She says there were worries as to what would happen if the shutdown continued through to the start of the spring semester.
"Just because we were able to complete the FAFSA--we still get money from the federal government," she explained.
More than 2,500 students at USC Aiken receive financial aid. That's about 90 percent of the student body who might not have receive funding in the spring if the government shutdown would have continued.
"If the Department of Education was still shut down and we weren't able to get our money from the Department of Education, how would these students receive their financial aid money?" she asked.
And although the coast is clear, that's only for now. That question could remain.
Only a short term deal has been reached to fund the government through until January 15th and if Congress can't reach a decision at that point, Aubrey Higgins says students will be impacted.
But she's says she feel optimistic that won't happen.
"I really think that the powers that be will make the right decision for the people and I think that when January comes, students will be able to receive their financial aid money, they'll be able to pay for school," she said.
As for now, she says it is safe to fill out the FAFSA in preparation for the spring semester.


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Democratic Convention Headliners Announced
Susan Davis reports on the presidential race.
The Democratic National Convention Committee announced the prime-time speakers today for the four nights of the convention later this month in Denver from August 25-28.
On August 25, Michelle Obama will headline the opening night of the convention, while former presidential rival Sen. Hillary Clinton will headline Tuesday night. The DNCC statement tout's Clinton as "a champion for working families and one of the most effective and empathetic voices in the country today."
Clinton's prime-time speaking slot should further quell lingering speculation that she is on the list of Barack Obama's potential running mates. Clinton's continued efforts to push for her delegates to have a "voice" at the convention—and vague answers to questions about whether her name will be put in for the nomination on the convention floor—have stoked discussion of tension between the two former rivals. Obama refuted the suggestion last week. "It has gone seamless," he told reporters when asked about convention plans, "It has not been a problem."
On August 27, the still unnamed vice presidential nominee will speak. All three of those speeches will take place at the Pepsi Center while on the final evening the venue moves to Invesco Field for Obama's convention speech.
"The 2008 Convention will highlight Americans coming together to change the course of this nation," said Convention Co-Chair and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in a statement echoing the theme of the four-day nominating convention.
The DNCC will roll out additional programming details and scheduled speakers throughout the week. Obama is currently on vacation with his family in Hawaii.


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News Releases by "Tina"
21st Annual National Letter Carriers Food Drive set for Saturday, May 11
May 8, 2013 by Tina
The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is a nationwide effort that provides food to local food banks and pantries that rely heavily on donations. The nations 175,000 letter carriers will collect food donations left at the mailboxes of generous Americans in more that 10,000 communities and deliver them to food banks and other hunger relief organizations, such as pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. Now in its 21st year, the S...
Tagged: campbells soup, national association of letter carriers, food drive, post office
5th Annual Will Rock 4 Food
Mar 22, 2013 by Tina
Think of four children you know. They could be your own children, your neighbors or coworkers children, your nieces and nephews, or even your childrens friends. Just think of four children and line them up in your mind. Now, separate one child out of that group. In Athens, one out of four children does not know where their next meal is coming from. Many of the children who are food insecure participate in the free and ...
Tagged: terrapin brewery, randall bramblett, betsy franck, classic city orthodontics
The 15th Annual Empty Bowl Luncheon
Feb 21, 2013 by Tina
Join us on Wednesday March 6th at 11:30 at the Classic Center in downtown Athens for this simple, but important, event to help us raise awareness about the issue of hunger in our community. Now in its 15th year, this annual event is a community project to raise much needed funds to support the work of The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. The luncheon offers the opportunity to enjoy a simple lunch of soup and sandwich, s...
Tagged: empty bowl luncheon, the classic center, hilltop grille, center stage catering, classic city chefs, bretts restaurant, fresh inspiration cafe, last resort, royal peasant, broad street coffee
Thank You Magic 102.1 for Helping to Feed the Hungry
Feb 1, 2013 by Tina
The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia wants to thank Cox Media Group and local radio station Magic 102.1 for their support of the 2013 Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon and Silent Auction. Their efforts will allow the Food Bank to provide over 2,000 meals to those that can't afford to feed themselves. To find out how you can help or to reserve your seat for our 15th Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon and Silent Auction visit our...
Tagged: magic 1021, magic morning show, cox media group
Looking for Something to Do this MLK Day of Service
Jan 11, 2013 by Tina
MLK Day of Service is set for January 21, 2013. In addition to the traditional volunteer opportunities available at the Food Bank on this day, consider participating in our unique Paint a Bowl to Fill Hunger Stomach event.


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Obtaining Guidance on Regulatory Requirements; Notice of Compliance Help Desk Implementation
June 12, 2008.
On May 15, 2008, the Commission issued an order in this proceeding directing the implementation of a compliance help desk on the Commission's Web site to provide a mechanism to submit questions regarding compliance with the statutes, rules, regulations and tariffs administered by the Commission. The compliance help desk is operational and can be found at http://www.ferc.gov/contact-us/compliance-help-desk.asp. A link to the compliance help desk can also be found on the home page of the Commission's Web site, http://www.ferc.gov.
Kimberly D. Bose,
[FR Doc. E8-13811 Filed 6-18-08; 8:45 am]


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by Isaac Asimov
Foundation Power Quotes
How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
"That's outside the question, revered one. You are here against the law of both Korell and the Foundation. I cannot in law protect you." (V.4.62)
As Judge Dredd can tell you, the law is powerful, and it's usually best to have the law on your side. Notice that without the law on his side, Mallow can't do anything to help. No law, no service.


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Definition of in vivo in English:
in vivo
adverb& adjectiveBiology
(Of processes) performed or taking place in a living organism: [as adverb]: fluid transport was measured in vivo [as adjective]: in vivo studies in animals The opposite of in vitro.
More example sentences
- Resin plates were contaminated in vivo upon intraoral use by 10 volunteers for 7 nights.
- An in vivo human bronchial xenograft model system was used to simultaneously analyze electrolyte and fluid transport defects in fully differentiated human cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF proximal airways.
Early 20th century: Latin, literally 'in a living thing'.
Words that rhyme with in vivorelievo
For editors and proofreaders
Line breaks: in vivo
Definition of in vivo in:
What do you find interesting about this word or phrase?
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If you already know about Samsung UN55ES7100, UN55F7100 is a newer model of it. Samsung UN55F7100 comes with more features and supported by latest LED technology of Samsung. So if you are searching the one of the best 3D LED Smart TV, I think Samsung F7100 series is the one of the right choice. What are the advantages of F7100 series? To more know about its features and advantages, you can read my Samsung UN55F7100 review below and I hope it is suitable with your criteria in searching the Best LED TV for your home and certainly it is also appropriate with your money. But don't worry, because previously I have decided to search the best place that offers you to get this Samsung 3D TV with the lower price than other place. Additionally, they also offer you with some additional service that may you don't get from other place.
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Samsung UN55F7100 Review : 1080p 3D Full HD LED TV with Ultra Clean Panel, Ultra Slim Design and Dual Core Processor
Samsung UN55F7100 arrives to enliven the competition of 55 inch 3D LED TV market on the world. It comes with many advanced features that supported by latest Samsung LED TV. UN55F7100 offers you to get new experience in enjoying 3D movies with 3D video as well as 3D sound with Cinema entertainment quality. With 720 Hz Clear motion rate, makes this Samsung F7100 series displayed the fast moving images such as games, sports, or fast action movies in-depth clarity, sharpness and contrast. The one of advantages of F7100 series is Samsung's 3D converter that allows you to watch movies in 3D HD although your source file is 2D images. Additionally, with newest micro dimming technology, UN55F7100 offers you to get new experience in watching movies with advanced picture color, contrast, and detail. Samsung F7100 series also features wide enhancer plus that allows you to watch your older and non HD movies with color more vivid. The other advantages of Samsung F7100 series is Ultra Clear Panel Feature that allows you to get an amazing picture even with reflective light. Ultra clear panel also makes the images with excellent shadow detail, enhanced contrast and color more vibrant. Not only its images quality that be improved, Samsung UN55F7100 also arrives with 3D sound that be improved. It features latest Audio HD processing such as DTS Premium Sound 5.1, DTS 2.0+Digital Out, and Dolby Digital Plus/pulse.
How about with its smart Features? Samsung UN55F7100 presents the latest features of Samsung Smart TV. Powered by Dual Core Processor makes this LED TV to process apps and browse to the internet faster. The others smart TV features of UN55F7100 are Smart hub, S-Recommendation, Full Web Browser and much more. It also equipped with Smart Touch Remote Control that allows you to control your multiple devices that connected on your HDTV such as blu-ray player, home entertainment system, and set top box. And still many advanced features that you will get from Samsung UN55F7100.
>> Please click here to read more features <<
Samsung UN55F7100 Specification
|1,920 x 1080 full 2D 3D HD
|Clear Motion Rate
|Slim Type
|Ultra Slim
|Sound Effect System
|DTS Studio Sound
|Dolby Digital Plus/ Pulse
|DTS 2.0+Digital Out / DTS Premium Sound
|3D Sound
|Samsung Smart TV with Smart Hub and S-Recommendation, AllShare, Smart View, Smart Phone Remote Support, Anynet+™ (HDMI-CEC), BD Wise, Game Mode, Picture-in-Picture, Bluetooth HID, USB HID Support, Wide Color Enhancer, ConnectShare, RVU, Eco Sensor, Auto Power Off, Auto Volume Leveler, Micro Dimming
|Bluetooth HID Built in
|Built in Wi-Fi
|Composite (AV)
|1 ( shared with component)
|ENERGY STAR Compliant
|Energy Star 6.0
|DTV Tuner Built-in
|ATSC / Clear QAM
Samsung UN55F7100 Review from End User
At this day when I write this review, there are no people who have written about Samsung UN55F7100 Review yet. But if you want to buy it, if we see the previously model that is ES7100 series, you should never doubt about its images and audio quality as well as its performance. So if you are searching 3D smart LED TV for your home, you should consider it as your choice. However with the passage of the time, certainly there are customers that write a review about this LED TV. So to check and more convincing about its performance, please click here to read Samsung UN55F7100 review from them who have bought and used this Samsung LED Smart TV.


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Welcome! This blog tracks the real estate market in the Central Shenandoah Valley, featuring market data and analysis, an exploration of common buying and selling questions, and candid commentary on all things real estate.
If you are interested in discussing any of the topics on this blog, or the details of your specific real estate situation, call or e-mail me!
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Why are we waiting so long to order appraisals??
I have had five transactions thus far this year where this dynamic seems to be at play....
The diagrams above are not showing the new reality for all lenders --- it is just a reflection of my experience with many lenders recently.
For whatever reason, (many) lenders (on many transactions) seem to be waiting to order an appraisal until they have completely finalized the approval of the borrower.
This is problematic for several reasons:
If you're buying a house, make sure your lender orders your appraisal as soon as you have made loan application --- especially since the fee that you pay at application is at least partially for the appraisal.
If you're selling a house, don't assume that the appraisal has been ordered as soon as the buyer makes loan application. Follow up and make sure that the appraisal is ordered ASAP.
If any lenders can explain why this is happening, or provide any good reasons for it happening this way, I'm all ears.
1 Comment so far . . .
Jon Higginbotham:
Great point and you are so right! I recently was told by a client I "stole" from a local credit union that they were doing the very same but I will tell you that not ALL lenders have this practice. At Summit Mortgage Corp., we work to get the loan completely processed in the first 10 business days after all the disclosures are signed AND title work and appraisal are submitted to Underwriting (UW) so there will be as few conditions to the loan approval as possible. Our UW turn times are usually 1-3 days and conditions cleared in 24-48 hours.
The real key to a smooth transaction starts with the loan officer. It's best to get all credit docs (W-2's, tax returns, pay stubs, etc.) well before the contract. Having the loan officer set the dates for loan commitment and closing will help too - eliminates the need for contract changes and makes the LO more accountable.
Great point and very relevant topic!
Jon Higginbotham
May 2, 2012 3:17 pm
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Scott Rogers
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Notes on survival for Simon O'Brien, GSOC chairman
Published 16/02/2014 | 02:30
NIALL Collins summed it up. "It's been a bad week for democracy, a bad week for transparency and a bad week for the Garda Ombudsman Commission." But thanks to the hard work of a handful of critics like himself, it's been a worse week for Enda Kenny, Alan Shatter and Martin Callinan.
So much so, that Simon O'Brien now has a chance to do the State some service. But first he must make a choice. To do his job come what may, or humbly pin the shamrock of Kenny, Shatter and Callinan to his coat as a signal that he has come to heel.
As someone who has studied the Irish political psyche for over 50 years I can assure O'Brien of one absolute truth. If he makes a stand the Irish people will finally rally to his side. But if he tries to be all things to all men his foes will fillet him like a fish.
Already his apology for not alerting the Government has weakened his position. Contrary to what Enda Kenny claimed, he was not obliged to alert it. Conor Brady, his predecessor, shrewdly said he would not have told the Government either – at least not until he had a lot more evidence.
O'Brien's mannerly remarks about having a "nice" cup of coffee with the Garda Commissioner were also a mistake in the midst of a battle. Anything that smacks of cosiness poses problems for Irish people. Clarity is crucial.
The problem is that nothing in O'Brien's past life in the London Met prepared him for the Coalition campaign against him last week.
The Met is not free of politics. But it is a crèche compared with the romper room of the Irish Republic since Enda Kenny's Government took office with a majority which has gone to its head.
But such power brings its own problems. And Kenny's Coalition is more dominant than any administration since the foundation of the State. De Valera did not have the help of a masochistic media acting as another arm of Government.
I refer to the collusion of political and security commentators – whom I call PolSec in honour of Orwell – who conducted last week's campaign in favour of Callinan and against Simon O'Brien. Thanks to our restrictive libel laws, I cannot spell out the names.
Actually, there is no need for me to name the PolSec cheerleaders. The whole country was talking about what absolute asses they made of themselves. At one stage they gave the impression of wearing garda uniforms with lots of gold braid.
But what really reinforced public scepticism about the PolSec campaign to promote Callinan at the expense of O'Brien was that it was a repeat performance. A few weeks ago the same pundits were rubbishing the garda whistleblowers, whose proposed evidence to PAC Callinan pronounced "disgusting".
By now the public can detect what Myles na gCopaleen called "Droch Bholadh sa Tig Againn" (a bad smell in our house). That smell is coming from a section of the media which has stupidly hitched its wagon to a Coalition star. Stupidly, because in a small country the public knows when the media is muzzling itself.
Both these forces – a Coalition made arrogant by its dominance and a media which has forgotten what investigative journalism is all about – combined last week to try to crush a decent London-Irish public servant.
And they failed.
They failed for a few reasons. First, because of the cogent political probing of a few Opposition politicians like Micheal Martin, Niall Collins, Lucinda Creighton and Mary Lou McDonald.
Second, because Pat Kenny and Ivan Yates on Newstalk and Vincent Browne on TV3 did the job RTE failed to do properly. Thirdly, because of the courage of a handful of columnists. At first sight it seemed a fragile line of defence. But Twitter traffic showed it was supported by the silent majority. By Wednesday, under steady volleys from Collins & Co, the PolSec campaign began to run out of road. By Thursday, the Shamrock Trio and their media minders were in trouble.
Always alert to a shift in the political wind, Enda Kenny eased himself out of the frame, leaving his loyal Labour supporters in the lurch. Shatter and Callinan were now backs to the wall. But having brazened it out a few weeks ago on the whistleblower issue, they decided to do it again.
Shatter went on Prime Time, where he steadfastly refused to give O'Brien his blessing. Then he went down to Templemore and backed up Callinan's claim that no member of the gardai was involved in surveillance. But this was a bridge too far.
Watching him on television I asked myself: but how can Callinan be so sure of that? Somehow I was not surprised when Pat Rabbitte publicly asked the same question. His reservations came barely in time to rescue the Tanaiste.
Earlier in the week Eamon Gilmore exposed himself to future grief by giving the Shamrock Trio full support. He was not helped by Joe Costello shouting "rubbish" in response to the Opposition's responsible probings. None of which went down well in Labour's leafy suburbs.
Simon O'Brien is now in a stronger position this weekend than he was last Monday. But he must reinforce his position by sharing any remaining reservations he may have with the Irish people. And trust it to come to a commonsense conclusion on the twin issues of bugging and leaking.
On the business of bugging I believe most Irish people apply the principle of Occam's razor: the simplest story is most likely to be true. Since the main function of the Ombudsman's office is to keep an eye on rogue gardai then it logically follows that any surveillance most likely came from that area.
On the leaked documents another old principle should be applied: cui bono, who benefits? Surely rogue gardai are the main beneficiaries of the stream of leaks to the Sunday Times – which weirdly included criticism about Simon O'Brien commuting to and from the UK.
But in the end, neither bugging nor leaking pose a mortal threat to Irish democracy. These are technical and security problems.
As the Chinese proverb says, we cannot stop the blackbirds of evil flying over our heads.
The problem, as the proverb points out, is when we let them make a nest in our hair. Rogue gardai are not really the problem.
The problem is the Government's undermining of the Ombudsman's office, which is responsible for dealing with rogue gardai.
But if Simon O'Brien stands up to what is now the Shamrock Duo, if the Opposition stays on the Callinan case, if the Labour Party stops acting like Kenny's lackeys, and if the media remembers that probing is what sells papers – then it might turn out to have been quite a good week for Irish democracy.
Sunday Independent