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How E-Rate Became a Law
How to Apply for the Program
Frequently Asked Questions
The E-Rate: An Overview
Over the past 20 years, the information revolution has transformed
nearly every aspect of American life. Millions of Americans use
modern technologies to work, gather news and information, access
training and education, conduct business, participate in the civic
life of their communities, and communicate with friends. However,
until Congress enacted the E-Rate as part of the Telecommunications
Act of 1996, few schools and libraries had sufficient resources to
help students and adults keep up with these rapid changes. The
E-Rate is significantly changing this situation. It is helping to
bridge the digital divide by bringing new technologies and the power
of the Internet to urban, rural and low-income schools and
communities nationwide.
What is the E-Rate
What is the E-Rate
designed to do?
What does the E-Rate
What types of institutions may apply for discounts?
How do schools, libraries, and consortia receive E-Rate discounts?
How large are the discounts?
How are discounts
Which schools and libraries and what services are being funded by
the E-Rate?
How much money has each state received through the E-Rate program?
Is the E-Rate program
What work remains for
Are there success stories from states and districts about the
benefits of E-Rate?
What is the E-Rate?
The E-Rate provides $2.25 billion in discounts annually for
advanced, affordable telecommunications services, Internet access
and internal connections to public libraries and public and private
schools. In the first seven years (1998-2004), $14.6 billion in
discounts have brought the Internet and new information technologies
to tens of thousands of public and private schools and libraries,
and to over a million classrooms.
What is the E-Rate
designed to do?
The promise of the E-Rate is straightforward: to assure that all
Americans, regardless of income or geography, can participate in and
benefit from new information technologies, including distance
learning, online assessment, web-based homework, enriched
curriculum, increased communication between parents, students and
their educators, and increased access to government services and
What does the E-Rate provide?
The E-Rate provides discounts to public and private schools, public
libraries and consortia of those entities on telecommunications
services, Internet access and internal networking. E-Rate discounts
are provided through the Federal Communications Commission by
assessing telecommunication carriers for a total of up to $2.25
billion dollars annually. This methodology follows a
long-established Universal Service Fund model, used to ensure
affordable access to telephone services for residents in all areas
of the nation for over 65 years.
types of institutions may apply for the discount?
Non-profit elementary and secondary schools (public or private), and
non-profit libraries may apply for E-Rate discounts. Applications
may cover individual schools, entire school districts and consortia.
Schools, libraries, local government agencies and health care
providers may participate in consortia.
Applications are made to the Schools
and Libraries Division, a part of the Universal Service
Administrative Company.
How do schools, libraries and consortia
receive E-Rate discounts?
Applicants do not
receive funds directly. They receive a discounted price. Once an
application is approved, the school, library or consortium accepts a
bid from the telecommunications service provider of its choice. The
provider receives funds from the federal government to make up the
difference between the discounted price and bid price. If no local
telecommunications providers bids on the work, the local telephone
company is required to provide the requested telecommunications
service as the carrier of last resort. For more information about
the E-Rate program, visit the FAQ page at the
Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) where general questions about the
Universal Service Fund are posted.
How large are the discounts?
Discounts range from 20 to 90 percent based on local poverty levels.
Schools and libraries must pay the undiscounted portion of their
telecommunications bill themselves.
How are discounts determined?
Discounts are determined by the percentage of students eligible for
the national school lunch program and by the school's (or
consortium's) urban/rural designation.
The matrix chart here outlines the
E-Rate formula.
Measured by
% of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program
If the % of
students in your school that qualify for the National School
Lunch Program is...
...and you are
in an URBAN area, your discount will be...
you are in a RURAL area, your discount will be...
Less than 1%
1% to 19%
20% to 34%
35% to 49%
50% to 74%
75% to 100%
Which schools and libraries and what services are being funded by
the E-rate?
The E-Rate reaches a majority of the nation's schools and libraries.
According to the Universal Service Administrative Company, 82
percent of public schools, 46 percent of private schools, and 61
percent of the nation's libraries received funding in year three of
the program.
The E-Rate
was deliberately structured to ensure that America's neediest
schools and libraries receive priority in E-Rate discounts. The
program's rules require that those entities with the highest
discounts receive limited internal connections funding first.
E-Rate first year:
59 percent of discounts went to the neediest
E-Rate second year:
54 percent of discounts went to the neediest
E-Rate third year:
69 percent of discounts went to the neediest
E-Rate fourth year:
70 percent of discounts went to the neediest
E-Rate fifth year
64 percent of discounts went to the neediest
How much money has each state received through the E-Rate program?
(Funding Year data as of
12/31/2008. Funding Year 2008: July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009. Numbers
may not add due to rounding.
Figures are in thousands of dollars.)
Is the E-Rate program
The E-Rate has
helped to improve access quickly for libraries and public and
private schools. In
1996, only 28 percent of public library systems offered public
Internet access. Today, thanks to increased resources and the
E-Rate, nearly all library buildings offer public access computing,
and 14 million Americans regularly use these computers at no fee.
Further, only three percent of instructional classrooms were
wired in 1994. As of 2003, 93% of instructional classrooms are
wired. Between 1998 (when the E-Rate launched) and 2003, statistics
show that classroom Internet access disparities between rural,
urban, and suburban schools and high and low-poverty districts have
been dramatically reduced.
Demand for
the E-Rate remains strong. For the 2005 funding year alone, almost
39,000 applications were submitted by schools, libraries, or
consortia for discounts. Discounts requested totaled an estimated
$3.65 billion, far more than available funds. Under the E-Rate
rules, a maximum of $2.25 billion in discounts will be distributed
according to the following priorities: All telecommunications
services and Internet services are discounted first, then internal
connections are covered
starting with the neediest schools until the $2.25 billion cap is
What work remains for E-Rate?
There are still instructional rooms and libraries that remain
unconnected. And for those that are connected, most rely on E-Rate
discounts to maintain connectivity. Furthermore, much more needs to
be done to determine the quality and speed of connectivity. All
students, educators, and library patrons should have high-speed
Internet connectivity to fully participate and learn in an
information-dominated economy and world.
Are there success stories from states and districts about the
benefits of E-Rate?
Yes. EdLiNC
issued "E-Rate: A Vision of Opportunity and Innovation" in July
2003 (Full
Report) that contains wonderful examples of how the
E-Rate has enriched the lives and learning of students and brought
government resources closer to library patrons who otherwise would
not have access to web-based information and services. Go to
http://www.EdLiNC.org/pdf/ERateReport070803lores.pdf for more.


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Harris—who scored 27 points Tuesday night while leading top-seeded Half Hollow Hills West High School to an 80-63 win over Copiague in the Suffolk Class AA quarterfinals—has powered the Colts to a sterling 20-0 record this season. The nation's top-ranked power forward became the 11th Long Island prep player to score 2,000 career points in the third quarter of Tuesday night's victory.
The Naismith winner will be determined in early March and will be recognized at the annual Naismith Awards banquet March 23, 2010 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta. The Naismith Trophy is among the most prestigious national award presented annually to the college and high school basketball players of the year.
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
Last week, Harris was selected to play in the annual Jordan Brand All-American game April 17 at Madison Square Garden. The game, which will be televised live on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET, includes the top 10 high school senior basketball players in the country, according to ESPNU rankings.

subset: commoncrawl


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PHENIX CITY, Alabama -- After an investigation that began in January, two Montezuma police officers and an Oglethorpe police officer were arrested September 7 in Phenix City.
The Americus Times-Recorder reports Montezuma Police Sgt. Rina C. Coy, 36, and officer Jennifer M. Bailey, 31, along with Oglethorpe Police officer Jessica S. McIlrath, 25, were arrested and each is charged with one count of third-degree felony burglary.
The three officers are accused of burglarizing a home in southern Russell County. A former family member of one of the women lives at the residence. The crime was reported January 25.
Both Coy and Bailey have been placed on administrative leave without pay pending an investigation, while McIlrath's employment has been terminated.
Coy and Bailey had been with the Montezuma police department for eight and five years respectively, while McIlrath was still under a probationary period.
If convicted, the women could face up to 10 years in federal prison.


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Ronald "Ron" Lee Kern Sr., 69, of Charles Town, passed away Friday, May 16, 2014, at his home, while surrounded by his loving family, and under the care of Hospice.
Born Sept. 12, 1944, in Frederick County, Maryland, he was the son of the late George William Kern and Shirley Virginia Frye Kern.
Ron loved his family, spending time with his granddaughter Emma and all of her many animals, and fishing in the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. He was a former Sergeant for International Security.
He is survived by two sons, Ronald "Bud" L. Kern Jr. and wife, Somjit, of Baltimore, Maryland, and Ronald "Tootie" L. Kern III, and wife, Traci, of Charles Town; three daughters, Rebecca "Becky" Fridley Boyer and companion, Jay Carlisle, of Charles Town, Brenda L. Kern of Charles Town, and Tamara L. Jeffries and husband, William "Billy," of Ranson; one brother, Robert Kern, of Knoxville, Maryland; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and close friend and companion, Tammy White.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 31 years, Sharon Lorraine Dunn Kern; and one brother, James Richard Kern.
Services and interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in his honor be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, 122 Waverly Court, Martinsburg, WV 25401.
Please see the full obituary at www.BrownFuneralHomesWV.com.


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Sources: The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg
quote: Investors said it was not a good buy and the stock went down, even though sales are fine.
quote: a very expensive commercial during the super bowl with Ozzy and Justin Beiber
quote: And the last time I walked into a best buy to get a tv was a long time ago, and it was a frustrating experience. I wanted to get a new LED flat panel and the salesgirl wouldn't shut up about plasma this, plasma that, and that I needed to walk into the front room (aka most expensive stuff) for the good stuff. Maybe if they actually tried to sell me WHAT I WANTED, they might have made a sale.


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Mr. Newton A. Tingler, 87, a resident of Elkins, passed away Monday evening, Sept. 24, 2012. in Nella's Nursing Home.
He was born Nov. 29, 1924, at Osceola, a son of the late Willie K. Tingler and the late Bula V. Whitecotton Tingler.
On Feb. 4, 1950, he was married to Mary Cunningham Tingler, who survives in Elkins.
Article Photos
Also surviving are one son, Joseph Tingler and wife, Christy, of Elkins; and one daughter, Lois Tacy and husband, James, of Beverly. One grandson, Wesley Tacy; one great-granddaughter, Emma Tacy; and several nieces and nephews also survive.
Mr. Tingler was the last surviving member of his immediate family and was preceded in death by two brothers, Bruce Tingler and Kermit Tingler; and one sister, Wilma Hetzer.
Mr. Tingler was a farmer and a mail carrier and retired from the United States Forest Service as the caretaker of Spruce Knob Lake. He was a member of North Fork Apostolic Church.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday from the funeral home chapel with Pastor Dewaine Corley officiating. Interment will follow in the Newton and Mary Tingler Family Cemetery at the Sinks of Gandy.
At the request of the family, flowers are to be omitted. Memorial contributions may be made to Vision Worship Center Building Fund, 1612 Lavalette Ave., Elkins, WV 26241, in memory of Mr. Tingler. Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Newton A. Tingler. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.


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Lancome Color Design Sensational Effects Eye Shadow Reviews
Great, great, great!!!!I've tried so many different eye shadows and I've been using all the other Lancome ones, since I usually buy sets of at least two. These are absolutely gorgeous, great colors and durability, no creasing whatsoever,and the best thing: they blend well together, so you ca create completeley new shades, as if working with pastels on a piece of paper. I have a pink and turquoise one, and achieve so many dramatic and luminous shades of violet and purple in between. — 8 years, 2 months agosoniakatarina | 4 reviews
Eh..For $16.50 I expected much more. It was basically like buying the single eyeshadows at Sally Beauty Supply for .99 cents. I wasn't impressed for the price at all. Colors didn't blend all that well and all day wear was a no-go. Save your money. — 8 years, 3 months agoMei | 21 reviews
Oh well...When I first saw these colors, I thought they were gorgeous, and loved the idea of a light wearing, noncreasing, blendable and longwearing shadow to boot. The only thing I really like is that it is longwearing. But it isn't blendable at all. I also find that some of the shimmer doesn't last as long as the color does. The lighter shades I find I have to douse the brush in before anything shows up. I won't repurchase. — 8 years, 3 months agoleskae | 10 reviews
If they take this one off the market, I'm writing a letter of complaint.Backstage Pass, a deep burgundy color, is the only thing i have found that comes close to L'oreal's Eye Smoker in Eggplant, that was taken off the market. This eyeshadow really enhances the appearance of light eyes, especially gree/yellow/blue tones. It really makes the eyeclolor stand out. I get many compliments on my eyecolor when i wear this shadow. — 8 years, 3 months agoVictoriaAnn | 10 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 1 people said helpful
Sensational eyewearEye colors are dramatic, love the colors - especially the purple and the turquoise colors — 8 years, 3 months agopaulakh | 8 reviews
Smooth finishThis is one of my favorite eye shadows. It glides on beautiful and stays fress all day long. — 8 years, 4 months agoDesnoyers | 10 reviews
Great selection of colors, long lasting!I have many of these shadows, and find them to be really blendable, and easy to apply. Great for highlighting, as well! A little on the pricy side, but they last quite a while. — 8 years, 4 months agoPattySch | 15 reviews
Just OKI use DRAPE Sheen to highlight my brow bone. The texture of the eye shadow is not that great and doesn't hold well on brushes so it doesn't distribute well when applied. — 8 years, 4 months agoTzoneGal | 91 reviews
Love The StuffLancome puts out a killer Eye Shadow. I wish they would make more dark, and bright colors. It is expensive, but lasts forever and wears well, until you take it off. I will purchase more. — 8 years, 5 months agoMrsWils0n | 22 reviews
Does Not Blend WellTry as I may- with primer or without, there is nothing you can do with this eyeshadow. The shadow does not blend well at all which causes more of a striped effect than a natural look. I will say- they have a great variety of color and the color will outlast a day at work. — 8 years, 6 months agobriar_rogue | 66 reviews
This review is: Helpful | Not helpful | Inappropriate | 1 of 1 people said helpful
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My Reasons for Reporting This


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In Port Richmond, more than 100 parishioners of St. Mary of the Assumption R.C. Church gathered outside Christ the King Chapel on Park Avenue for a procession that ended at the church on Richmond Terrace. Along the way, they dramatized the 14 Stations of the Cross.
The live-action street theater featured parishioners dressed in period costume. Alberto Maldonado, playing Jesus, was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate and carried his cross; the two thieves, Roman soldiers, Apostles and the crowd trailed him through local streets.
The Way of the Cross tradition is especially popular with immigrants from Latin America.
The St. Mary's program caters mostly to the parishioners from Mexico and other Hispanic nations, for whom such street processions in observance of Good Friday and Palm Sunday are customary, said the Rev. Mark C. Hallinan, S.J., pastor.
"It's a reminder of their customs back home," said Father Hallinan, "It builds their faith and reinforces cultural traditions, as well as give them a taste of home here."
Ruperto Pani of Port Richmond said the program taps into the spiritual essence of faith. "The Catholic Church gives us our faith in Jesus, who gave His life to save us. For Hispanic people, this is a great celebration for us, and [an incentive] for us to grow in faith and grow in the community."
At Immaculate Conception R.C. Church in Stapleton, parishioners wearing colorful costumes re-enacted Jesus' carrying His cross on the way to His crucifixion on the streets of Stapleton about noon on Friday. About 200 people participated as the faithful started in the school yard by first dramatizing the trial of Jesus using speaking parts from the Bible and then processed through the streets doing a brief depiction of each of the 14 stations along the route.
"Doing the Way of the Cross outdoors is a Hispanic tradition and it's a devotion and public witness to one's faith," said the Rev. Peter Byrne, pastor.


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West Branch School, 755 Moore Ave., Newberry, has received five contributions from local businesses through the state's Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.
The EITC program offers a state tax credit to businesses that choose to contribute to program-approved organizations.
Among West Branch's contributors are The Animal Hospital, Comfort Keepers, Healthy Touch Day Spa and Salon, Waste Management and Northwest Savings Bank.
Article Photos
Natali Prindle, West Branch School's operations manager, accepts a check from Paul Santos Jr., area manager, and Angela Kauffman, teller, from Northwest Savings Bank, which awarded the school with $5,000. The students of West Branch School were eager to join the excitement.
With these funds, families can receive tuition assistance on an as-needed basis, allowing children to attend West Branch School.
West Branch offers an exceptional education with guaranteed low student-teacher ratios in a challenging, engaging atmosphere.
"It means a lot to me that now more kids can come to West Branch. I love making new friends!" an Upstairs student exclaimed while making a thank you card to one of the contributors.
"I think it's so wonderful that so many local businesses have responded to the EITC program this year," said Natali Prindle, the school's EITC representative. "Our school is able to help families join our educational community, and contributors are able to direct their taxes back into that same local community. It's a win-win situation for all involved, and a heart-warming one at that."


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Read an Excerpt
Melissa Thornsby never got nervous.
She'd been raised in the pretentious and oftentimes eccentric New Orleans high society, where it wasn't all that uncommon to check one's back and occasionally find a knife or two sticking out. But that was par for the course.
After Katrina, she'd started a foundation to rebuild the city, and when she met presidents, past and present, actors, musicians and other celebrities eager to "do the right thing," it was just another day at the office.
Even when she'd learned she was the illegitimate princess of the country of Morgan Isle and made the decision to move there permanently to be with a family that was, to put it mildly, suspicious of her motives, she barely broke a sweat. She took her late mother's advice and viewed it as an adventure.
So, visiting Thomas Isle, the former rival of her native country, and meeting the royal family, really wasn't a big deal.
Until she saw him.
He stood on the tarmac of the small private airstrip in the bright afternoon sunshine, flanked by two very frightening-looking bodyguards and a polished black Bentley at the ready. And he was, for lack of a better word, beautiful. Tall, fit and well put together in a tailored, charcoal-gray pinstriped suit.
Prince Christian James Ernst Alexander, next in line to the throne of Thomas Isle. Confirmed bachelor and shameless playboy. His photos didn't do him justice.
She descended the steps of the Learjet and the prince approached, flashing her a million-watt stunner of a smile. Her heart leapt up into her throat and a curious tickle of nerves coiled in her belly. Was it too much to hope that he was to be her guide for the duration of her two-weekstay? Although in her experience that task was typically left up to the princess since the crown prince was usually busy with slightly more significant tasks, such as preparing to run the entire country.
Flanked by her own equally threatening entourage the security detail her half brother, King Phillip, insisted she have accompany hershe stepped forward to meet him halfway.
When they were face to face, he nodded his head in greeting and said, in a voice as rich and as smooth as her favorite gourmet dark chocolate, "Welcome to Thomas Isle, Your Highness."
"Your Highness." She dipped into a curtsey, turning on the Southern-belle charm. "It's an honor to be here."
"The honor is all ours," he said with a lethal smile. Lethal because she could feel it, like a buzz of pure energy, from the roots of her hair to the balls of her feet.
He watched her intently with eyes a striking shade of green, and behind them she could see very clearly a hint of mischief and sly determination. She couldn't help wondering if he'd spent his previous life as a cat.
He noted her security detail and with one brow slightly raised, asked, "Expecting a revolution, Your Highness?"
Nodding to his own "muscle," she answered, "I was going to ask you the same thing."
If the question had been some sort of test, she could see that she'd passed. He grinned, playful and sexy, and the coil of nerves in her gut twisted into a hopeless knot. This really wasn't like her at all. Heaven knows, she was used to men flirting with her. Young and old, rich and poor, and all of them after the ludicrous trust her great-aunt and uncle had left her. But somehow, she didn't think the prince had money on his mind. He was one of the few men she'd met whose wealth exceeded her own. At least, she was assuming it did.
"The bodyguards were King Phillip's idea," she told him.
"Of course, you're welcome to keep them with you," he said, "but it's certainly not necessary."
Phillip had insisted she take the bodyguards with her, but he never said she had to keep them there. And call her optimistic, but entrusting her welfare to Prince Christian's staff seemed to her a valuable gesture of good faith. In the vast, stormy history of their two countries, the peace they had adopted was for all practical purposes still in its infancy. And her duty, the way she saw it, was to build on that.
"You'll see that they're flown back safely?" she asked.
He nodded. "Of course, Your Highness."
She cringed inwardly. She still hadn't grown used to the royal title. "Please, call me Melissa."
"Melissa," he said, with that sexy British accent. "I like that."
And she liked the way he said it.
"You can call me Chris. I imagine it best we drop the formalities, seeing as we will be spending a considerable amount of time together the next two weeks."
Would they? Another jolt of nerves sizzled inside her stomach. "Are you to be my guide?" she asked.
"If you're agreeable," he said.
As though she would say no to two weeks with a gorgeous and charming prince. She smiled and said, "I look forward to it."
He gestured to the waiting car. "Shall we go?"
She turned to her bodyguards, dismissing them with a simple, "Thank you, gentlemen."
They exchanged an uneasy glance, but remained silent. They knew as well as she did that Phillip would not be happy she'd sent them home.
Oh, well. If there was one thing her new family had learned, it was that she had a mind of her own. As deeply as she longed to be accepted as one of them, to have a real family for the first time since losing her parents, there was only so much of herself she was willing to sacrifice. At thirty-three, in many respects she was too set in her ways to change.
The prince touched her elbow to lead her to the car, and despite the layers of silk and linen of her suit jacket, her skin simmered with warmth. When was the last time she'd felt such a sizzling connection to a man? Or perhaps the better question was, when was the last time she'd let herself? This was as much vacation as business, and it wouldn't hurt to let her hair down and have some fun.
He helped her into the back, and she sank into the rich, butter-soft leather seat. He circled the car and climbed in the opposite side, filling the interior with a warm and delicious scent that left her feeling lightheaded. Were she home, she might have blamed it on the Southern heat, but the temperature here hadn't even topped eighty degrees and there was no humidity to speak of. Warm for mid-June on Thomas Isle, but mild by her standards.
As soon as the doors were closed they were off in the direction of the castle, which couldn't be more than a few minutes away, as they had flown past it just before landing. It appeared massive from the airdare she say larger than the much more modern palace on Morgan Isleand seemed to have acres of emerald-green lawns, ornately patterned gardens, and even a shrubbery maze.
A passionate lover of nature, she could hardly wait to explore it all. Her mother had been an avid gardener. Melissa's childhood home on Morgan Isle was renowned for its award-winning gardens, and she'd carried on the tradition at her own estate in New Orleans. Though it had been hard to leave that and move back to Morgan Isle, the U.S. had never really been her home. Since losing her parents, she had never felt as though she truly belonged anywhere.
"My parents, the king and queen, are anxious to meet you," Chris said.
"The feeling is mutual." She turned to him and realized he was studying her, a curious look on his face. "What?"
"Your accent," he said. "I can't quite place it."
"That's because it's a mishmash of different dialects. Little bits of every place I've lived pop out occasionally."
"How many different places have you lived?"
"Let's see " she counted off on her fingers. "I lived on Morgan Isle until I was ten, then I relocated to New Orleans, then it was off to boarding school in France and summers in California, then college on the east coast, then back to New Orleans."
"Sounds exciting," he said.
One would think so, but really all she had ever wanted was to settle down, stay in one place. Of course, when she finally had, it just hadn't felt right. She'd thought that moving back to Morgan Isle would give her the sense of home and family she had been longing for, but she'd been disappointed to find that despite it being her true home, she still felt like an outsider. It left her wondering if she would ever fit in anywhere.
"How about you?" she asked the prince.
"My diplomatic travels have taken me all over the world, but I've never lived anywhere but here, with my family."
She detected a vague note of exasperation in his tone. To her it sounded wonderful. After her parents died, she had been shuttled to the States to live with her great-aunt and uncle, who had little concept of family. Childless by choice, they saw their orphaned great-niece as more of an interloper than a part of the family. They wasted little time shipping her off to boarding school for her education and camp for the summers. Not that she blamed them. They'd done the best they could. Had they chosen not to take her in she would have become a ward of the state, and who knows where she would be today.
Melissa became aware that the car was climbing, and she knew that they were nearly there. Then the trees cleared and there sat the royal castle, like a scene from a child's picture book, high on a cliff overlooking the ocean and hovering like a sentinel above a charming village below. Far less modern than Morgan Isle, she thought with a tug of pride, but magnificent nonetheless.
She felt a little as though she had been thrown back into a past century.
From what she'd learned in her research, where Morgan Isle was modern and forward-thinkinga flourishing and expanding resort communityThomas Isle was traditional and private. Most of their economy was based on export, primarily fishing and organic farming. Some considered it archaic, but she saw it as quaint and charming.
"It's magnificent," she told him, gazing up from the car window.
"Do you know the history between our two countries?"
"Only that they've been rivals for many years."
"It's a fascinating story. Were you aware that both islands used to be ruled by one family? A king and queen with two sons. Twins, born only minutes apart."
"Their names wouldn't have been Thomas and Morgan, would they?"
He smiled. "In fact, they were. When the king died, the princes became ensnared in a battle over who would be become the next ruler. They each felt they deserved the title. When an accord couldn't be reached, one challenged the other to a duel." He paused for dramatic effect. "To the death.
"The survivor would reign as king. But their mother couldn't bear the thought of losing either one of them, and begged them not to fight. She suggested a compromise. They could split the kingdom by each taking one of the islands. They agreed, but their discord was so bitter, they never spoke again."
"That's so sad."
"To spite the other, each chose his own name for his island. Their subjects, as a show of loyalty to their respective kings, were banned from visiting the island on which they didn't reside, or even communicating with its people. Many families were broken and businesses ruined."
"What about the queen? Which island did she choose?"
"She refused to choose between her sons and was banished from both islands."
She pressed a hand to her heart. "Oh, my goodness, how awful!" How could they banish their own mother?
"It took hundreds of years to put our history behind us," he said. "That's why it's so important that we maintain accord between our two countries. Joining our resources could benefit both our islands. Both of our societies. Both of our families."
"King Phillip feels the same way," she assured him. "That's why I'm here."
"I'm relieved to hear that. Matters such as these have the potential to be very awkward."
"I'm a go-with-the-flow princess," she said, which was true, for the most part. "However, I take my new role very seriously. Anything for the good of the country."
He flashed her another one of those sizzling smiles. "Then I'm sure we'll get along quite well."
The car pulled up the drive to the gates, where a mob of press waited with microphones poised and cameras at the ready.
The gates swung open and guards in formal uniform stepped forward to control the crowd. The car continued on past a stone wall that seemed to extend miles in each direction, and what she saw on the other side took her breath away. Everything looked green and vibrant, and the castle itself was a towering edifice of stone and mortar and ornate stained-glass windows, all meticulously maintained and preserved.
"Welcome to Sparrowfax Castle," Chris said.
It was clear, as they rounded the drive and she saw the royal family and what appeared to be the entire staff lined up awaiting their arrival, that they were pulling out all of the royal stops. That annoying knot of nerves coiled even tighter in her belly.
This sure seemed liked a lot of trouble to go to for a simple diplomatic visit. Yet she couldn't let herself forget how important this was to her family and country, which would mean watching her behavior. Particularly biting her sharp Southern tongue that sometimes had a mind of its own.
As the car slowed to a halt, footmen in royal dress approached to open the doors. Melissa took the proffered hand thrust her way and rose from the back seat, feeling underdressed in her basic linen suit. The family was dressed and poised to receive royaltywhich she had to remind herself, she wasand for the first time in her adult life she felt apprehensive about her suitability.
Chris's parents, the king and queen, stepped forward to greet her. Though getting up in years, they appeared healthy and vibrant. Their other children, Chris's brother and twin sisters, were as breathtakingly attractive as their sibling. What a privilege it would be, Melissa mused, to belong to such a beautiful family. It was a wonder that all of them had yet to marry.
Good looks, however, were only a fraction of a much larger picture. For all she knew they could be rude and unfriendly.
Chris appeared at her side, and though it was silly, his presence seemed to have a calming effect on her.
"All this for me?" she asked.
Her question seemed to perplex him. "Of course. You're an honored guest. Your visit marks a new era for both of our kingdoms."
Little ol'me? She hadn't realized her visit would be seen as quite that big of a deal. Her own family hadn't put up close to this much fuss when she'd come home to her native land. In fact, there hadn't been any fuss at all. Her return to Morgan Isle had been very hush-hush, to avoid a media frenzy.


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It is the winter of 1964 and a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins. First comes his son, a perfect healthy boy. Then his daughter is born and Dr. Henry realizes that she has Down's syndrome. David makes a split second decision and gives this daughter to his nurse, Caroline Gill, telling her to take the baby away to an institution. Instead, Caroline disappears with the child, deciding to raise the baby herself. Little does David Henry know that this decision is something that will effect his life as well as the lives of his loved ones.
I've had multiple people tell me what an amazing book this is and although I'd read the back several times in both bookstores and the library I always passed it up. However, I finally decided to give in and I must say I'm glad I did. Although I was slow to get into the book, this story is something that was hard to deny. It was almost heartbreaking to see the way that David Henry's choice sculpted his family's life and his own, not to mention Caroline Gill's. Although you want to dislike David at first for what he did you quickly find that David has things from his past that may have caused him to do what he did and you can't help but feel very sad for him. I think that the author, Kim Edwards, did a really good job at writing this. Each character seemed so real and in the end this made me want to live my life with every bit of happiness I could find but also to be careful of the decisions that I make.
I will say that at times I had a hard time keeping with the story BUT that in the end I am so, so happy that I finally read this novel and I'd really suggest it to anyone looking for a good (but kind of sad) read.
Tweet tweet! See what I have to say on Twitter.
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BOSTON - The soldiers took over the square. They lined the park with bomb-sniffing dogs and patrolled the emergency staging area. Overhead, helicopters circled. People laid flowers at the barricades.
Just a day earlier, Copley Square, the heart of Back Bay, bound by the towers of Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library, was filled with celebration.
Now, it resembled a police state.
Monday's marathoners, so easily identified by their yellow and blue jackets - and their stunned faces - stood behind the barriers Tuesday afternoon and remembered when triumph turned to horror.
Craig Doherty, a 45-year-old attorney from Vancouver, had finished minutes earlier and had been wandering through the plaza. Having run many of the big marathons - New York, Chicago, and London - he was thrilled by Boston. With the cheering crowds and the palpable excitement of Patriots' Day, he felt the city reveled in the spotlight.


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Literary Love Affairs
May 28, 2008 - Amanda Alexander
Reading one book often turns into reading several more, in my case. Often I will pick up a book on recommendation from a friend or because it catches my eye in the bookstore, and then I fall in love with the author. Some of the authors I've fallen in love with in the past include Jodi Picoult, Ian McEwan, Ann Brashares, and Jhumpa Lahiri. When you find a book that satisfies your every reading desire, it only makes you want more, and the most logical place to look is in other books written by the same person.
Well, my latest literary love affair is with British writer Nick Hornby. A few of Hornby's novels have been turned into popular films, including High Fidelity with John Cusack, Fever Pitch with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon, and About a Boy with Hugh Grant.
I picked up the novel version of About a Boy while I was studying abroad in England last week. I have always wanted to read this book, but I just never seemed to get around to it. I finally decided England was the perfect place to buy it. I read the entire book on my flight home, while listening to the movie soundtrack (I highly recommend doing this if you plan to read the book as well). Thus began my newest affair.
I am now reading another of Hornby's novels, A Long Way Down. This is the story of four people who decide they are going to commit suicide, but they all attempt to do it in the same place and end up getting into arguments about who should and shouldn't be allowed to kill themselves.
The great thing about Hornby is that he covers a lot of dark subjects with a great sense of humor and warmth. Hornby's characters are very real and they deal with situations in a way that you can easily see real people dealing with them. They are loveable, but they have flaws. They also learn a lot of life lessons, but they're never cheesy.
So if you're looking for a long-term litarary relationship, I suggest a date night with one of Hornby's books. I'm willing to share.
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Dawn AlbertsonPage address: http://sbs.mnsu.edu/psych/people/dawn_a.html
Dawn N. Albertson, Ph.D.
Degree, institution, year awarded
Ph.D. in Cellular & Clinical Neurobiology
Wayne State University School of Medicine, 2005
Area(s) of specialization
I am focused on the biological basis of behavior, in particular the molecular and genetic contributions. For the last 8 years my focus has been on neuropsychopharmacology and the molecular basis of drug abuse and addiction.
Research Interests
Although drug abuse and addiction has been studied extensively for decades, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still not well understood. Drug abuse is thought to induce long-term cellular and behavioral adaptations as a result of alterations in gene expression. With the recent sequencing of the human genome, we now have the unique opportunity to catalogue and understand the molecular consequences of drug abuse and addiction.
Until recently, the dogma of drug abuse research stated that all drugs of abuse, regardless of type, activate the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic reward pathway resulting in a flood of dopamine to the brain's pleasure center (the nucleus accumbens). This dopamine flood has been directly associated with the pleasurable feelings and reinforcing properties of drug administration.
In my previous research, we utilized human postmortem brain to examine gene expression changes that resulted from the chronic administration of cocaine and heroin - two drugs of abuse that work by very different mechanisms. Our data suggest that the profiles of nucleus accumbens gene expression associated with chronic heroin or cocaine abuse are largely unique, despite what are thought to be common effects of these drugs on dopamine neurotransmission in this brain region. This data necessitates a reexamination of our current assumptions about the commonality of molecular mechanisms associated with all abused substances.
Current research
As a new faculty member, my research agenda is in the developmental stages but now finding myself in the Midwest, I am interested in expanding my previous research beyond cocaine and heroin and into studies of methamphetamine.
Selected publications / Selected presentations
- Albertson, D. N., Schmidt, C. J., Kapatos, G., & Bannon, M. J. (2006). Comparison of Gene Expression Profiles from the Nucleus Accumbens of Human Cocaine and Heroin Abusers. Submitted to Neuropsychopharmacology.
- Bannon, M. J., Kapatos, G., & Albertson, D. N. (2005). Gene Expression Profiling in the Brains of Human Cocaine Abusers. Addiction Biology, 10(1), 119-26.
- Albertson, D. N., Pruetz, B., Schmidt, C. J., Kuhn, D. M., Kapatos, G., & Bannon, M. J. (2004). Gene expression profile of the nucleus accumbens of human cocaine abusers: Evidence for dysregulation of myelin. Journal of Neurochemistry, 88(5), 1211-9.
Courses taught
- PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology
- PSYC 420 - Drugs and Behavior
- PSYC 421 - Biopsychology (Fall 2006)
- PSYC 429 - Drug Dependence
- PSYC 490 - Drug and Alcohol Workshop
- Summer workshop - Drugs & Your Brain


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Top Definition
The male version of PMS. Symptoms include a dramatic increase bitch-ass-ness, whining and mood swings for no apparent reason.
Everyone watch out, John's having his mansies! Someone get him a tampon!
Por samanscomingthrough 13 de junio de 2009
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
A mans best pair of undies
Its friday, time to slap on my mansy
Por Tman21 22 de marzo de 2016
(1) A boy who THINKS he's a man, but has very girly tendencies such as: watching Gilmore Girls, having little armpit hair, not being able to play sports or video games, can't face his problems and doesn't act like a gentleman.
(2) Cross between a man and a pansy.
(2) Cross between a man and a pansy.
I can't believe he thinks he's mature, he's the biggest mansy ever!
Por antimansies 24 de junio de 2009
A term used for a man that is half man half pansy. A man that is not a complete pansy, but he does have his moments.
You'd light you're ass hair on fire, but you wont jump off this cliff. You Mansy!!
Por B$ 27 de marzo de 2005


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Said The Boy To The Girl: Laurel Pantin (@LaPantin)
An Essay on Beauty | Volume 1, No. 1 | New York City
by Brandon M. Graham [Published on February 27, 2013]
She is hands-down the prettiest woman in New York City, smart as a whip, and completely adorable. I could go on about her talent, how smart she is, but today I wanted to focus a bit on the way she looks, which is incredible, if you don't mind.
If you look at a photograph of her, it's very gripping. There are those iconic Sartorialist photographs by Scott and Garance, which are just great–really fantastic. I think those photos have lent themselves to be culturally anthropological in their undertones. Captured in the photographs are the physical and cultural development of costume and street fashion in lower Manhattan and at the center of it all, is Laurel. It's beautifully done.
After evaluating a series of photographs of her, I've simply come to realize that there is an indestructibility about her look, especially when it comes to her hair. She's worn it long, she's worn it short and in both cases, it's been just head and shoulders above the rest. She has the kind of beauty that is built for decades.
In front of the camera, she seems to be equally embarrassed and flattered that someone has asked to take her photograph. I think that is what humanizes her, endears her to us all, and makes her all the more attractive.
And when she smiles, for some odd reason (which I'll discuss with my therapist at a later date), it reminds me of the sort of gleefulness only gleamed from childhood. Beauty can invoke the kind of anticipatory excitement of going to the cinema as a kid. It's beautiful, it's goofy, and uncontrolled.
However, there are times when I think fashion, and beauty alike, have often cornered a person into choosing between "seriousness/elegant" and the "playful/ordinary". I've likened it to, going to concession stand, having only enough money for either something salty or something sweet and feeling torn about the decision.
But in the case of Laurel, there is this startling union of both salty and sweet. To put it delicately, she is a bag of M&Ms mixed into the perfectly popped box of popcorn. And for anyone who's had popcorn and M&Ms, then you know what I mean; it's the perfect blend. It's true happiness. I think she embodies that notion.
Her beauty is understood before it is really comprehended. It's nearly too wonderful for the world. In one paradigm she is this all-american girl, this all-american beauty from Texas. But in another, she reminds us that she's not just Ralph Lauren, but that she's Wildfang. And I think that's an important distinction worth making here.
She is a mathematical proof, in which her beauty is this kind of inarguable truth. There's absolutely no conjecture here on whether or not she is beautiful; it just is. The world is not flat, it is indeed round. It's that very understanding that we bring here when writing about her.
Laurel, in a very particular way, reminds me of what "cute" grew up to be, when all grown up. Her look, though seemingly thrown together at times, is really, upon closer inspection, and perhaps even on a subconscious level of her own doing, a wonderful coupling of downtown chic and uptown elegance that has been fashioned meticulously, well placed, well polished, and carefully chosen like the words in an essay. Her choices are remarkable.
It's really something to marvel at or to experience. I use the term 'experience' because I have often felt like beauty can and is experiential; it can inspire, it can violate, it can leave one elated, comforted or in some cases even heartbroken.
I think in a word, Laurel is contrast. She's a Texan girl living in New York City (and loves the Chicago Bulls). She's a women with a closet full of heels, but favors her white Chucks and has also run the New York City Marathon. She has beautiful long locks of brunette hair, but has in the stead (at least for time), chosen to lop it off, dye it blonde, and wear it boy-short.
I don't know, I just think she's swell. There's something almost experimental about the way she looks, and again, her smile carries this kind of animate expression too deep for words.
About The Author
Brandon M. Graham is a writer, author, and professor. At the centerpiece of his writing is film, literature, fashion, and design. He is the author of A Love Supreme: Amputated Feelings & Prosthetic Apologies. He has taught English and Writing courses at The New School in Greenwich Village and attends Columbia University. Graham currently resides in Manhattan.
Twitter | @BrandonGrahamNY | @SaidBoyToGirl
E-mail | email@example.com


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And the answer is Sofia Miacova. The downside to this chick is that she doesnt have many (any) ass shots. The upside to her is that her body is legitimately perfect. You cannot have a better body than this girl. You can match it but you cant beat it.
I want to be that pink bear, only facing the other way.
kate upton destroys her
The pic with her friend holding the camera is hotter than her.
@fupa_nation you are out of your mind
I guessed another unemployed Instagram "model" who lists an email address for bookings on her profile which is actually used to escort rich guys to find her lifestyle.
Was I right?
Love the juicy american thighs too!
love how this girl is somewhere prancing around her local gym meanwhile im sitting here at blast fitness watching soft 5's and middle aged latino land whales attempting to do zoomba
This could be the hottest woman alive.
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text:
Methods and reagents for preserving rna in cell and tissue s amples
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text:
Words Transposed.—In the article, "Rubella Reinfection During Pregnancy: A Case of Mistaken Diagnosis of Congenital Rubella," published in the November Journal (129:1353-1356, 1975), an error occurred in the first sentence. That sentence should read "Rubella reinfection is now recognized and acknowledged as a frequent occurrence in vaccinated individuals following exposure to natural rubella infections." As published, the word "individuals" preceded the word "vaccinated."
Thank you for submitting a comment on this article. It will be reviewed by JAMA Pediatrics editors. You will be notified when your comment has been published. Comments should not exceed 500 words of text and 10 references.
Do not submit personal medical questions or information that could identify a specific patient, questions about a particular case, or general inquiries to an author. Only content that has not been published, posted, or submitted elsewhere should be submitted. By submitting this Comment, you and any coauthors transfer copyright to the journal if your Comment is posted.
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"When he strokes my clit, I feel God." What is YOUR level of orgasmic mastery, Dear? Scroll down to find out how to travel the...Read More
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HERSHEY Sullivan County remembers what happened in the first round of the PIAA championships at the Milton Hershey Spartan Center in 2011, and from the tip Friday, the Griffins determined not to let it happen again. Then, a Wildcat victory now, a 24-point Griffin triumph that sent the District 3 runner-up Wildcats home early, 56-32.
With a week layoff from the one-point District 3 Class A championship loss to Lebanon Catholic, the Wildcats seemed to have plenty of time to recognize and repair their mistakes in preparation for the first round PIAA battle, but strength and size are tough to match and Greenwood was overwhelmed by Sullivan County on both accounts.
"I just thought we didn't really recover from last Friday and that disappointment," Greenwood coach Kent Houser said. "It wasn't a real good week at practice."
Article Photos
Sentinel photo by LARRY?YOHN
Greenwood's Josh Ferguson, left, drives to the basket while Sullivan County's Lucas Hatton (24) and Derek Williams (40) defend during the first round of the PIAA Class A boys basketball tournament Friday in Milton Hershey High School.
"We just didn't play well enough to win, they played a great game. They did everything they wanted to do and we didn't do anything we wanted to do that's going to make for a long night, and it was a long night," Houser added.
Shooting the ball well and playing solid defense have seemed to be the recipe for success for the District 3 runner up, but for a team that averages nearly 60 points a game, the Wildcats struggled to do either. Make no mistake, the Griffins were visibly motivated - forcing the 'Cats into uncomfortable situations as the squad played aggressive defense and crashed the boards while playing a steady offense geared toward its strength of getting the ball into the post.
One of the Griffins' many big men, Derek Wilkins, started slowly but warmed up after the intermission, dropping 12 of his team-high 16 total points in the third and fourth quarters.
Sullivan County kept its work boots tied tightly and the visitors on the scoreboard played as if they were in their home gym. The Griffins outrebounded and muscled the 'Cats inside and prevented second-chance opportunities while knocking down easy points in the paint. Greenwood had a difficult time finding an answer to Sullivan County's physicality.
"When we have run into big, physical strong kids like that, we've had a heck of a rough time," Houser said. "We had a horrible time with that tonight."
Adam Harrison led the Wildcats in the scoring column, netting 11-first quarter points en rout to his game-high 18. Harrison's old-fashioned three-point play late in the first quarter knotted the game at 13 and his shooting effort in the opening stanza kept his team in the game as it trailed by only two heading to the second quarter. From there, field goals were scarce the 'Cats made six the rest of the way. Two Wildcat field goals in the second quarter enabled the Griffins to go on a 29-7 point run that spanned the second and third quarters.
Josh Ferguson added six points while teammate Ryan Kerstetter struggled to find his stroke from beyond the three-point line he finished the night with two points.
"Our offense execution was not good - too many times somebody wasn't on the right page. We really spent a lot of time on that this week and it didn't improve any," Houser said.
Greenwood attempted to claw its way back into the game but the Griffins were too strong inside and out as they stretched the lead to put the home team in an insurmountable hole.
"They came out and wanted it a heck of a lot more than we did. We just didn't have any answers," Houser said.


text:
Download this recipe for a 3-by-5-inch card (PDF)
• 1 1/4 pounds lean ground turkey breast
• 2 tablespoons corn meal
• 1/4 cup egg substitute
• 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 4 slices Monterey Jack cheese (1 ounce each)
• 4 tablespoons low-fat plain yogurt
• 4 tablespoons salsa
• 4 thick slices red onion
• Arugula or lettuce
• 4 hamburger buns, toasted
PREPARATION: In a medium bowl, mix turkey, corn meal, egg substitute, seasoned salt and chili powder.
Divide mixture evenly into 8 patties. Top four patties with a slice of cheese and cover with remaining 4 patties.
Press edges together to seal in cheese.
Grill burgers over medium-hot coals, about 5 minutes on each side.
Mix yogurt and salsa together in a small bowl. Place a burger on each bun and top with onion, arugula and salsa mixture.
Makes 4 burgers.
Nutrition information per burger: 421 calories, 13 grams fat, 48 grams protein, 28 grams carbohydrate, 2 grams fiber, 96 milligrams cholesterol, 635 milligrams sodium
Recipe source: 3-A-Day of Dairy


text:
In celebration of Honda's 25th anniversary of its listing on New York Stock Exchange (NYSC), ASIMO was invited to ring the opening bell at 9:30 a.m. on February 14, the very first moment of the bell rung by a humanoid, as you will see here.
Sure, ASIMO has been to many places to demonstrate some amazing talents, but ASIMO had never been to a foreign country other than for shooting commercials. So, the destination of ASIMO's first official tour overseas was New York Stock Exchange (NYSC) of all places, to become the first humanoid ever to ring the opening bell. ASIMO played its important role perfectly by confidently going up the stairs to the stage overlooking the trading floor, and ringing the opening bell. Then, standing next to Honda President, Mr. Hiroyuki Yoshino, who accompanied ASIMO from Japan on its very first foreign trip, ASIMO waved to the audience that acknowledged the performance with a big applause.
Well done!
Shaking hands
Posing before the journalists
Honda's basic research and development in humanoid robotics began in 1986 with the goal of developing an autonomous walking robot that could be helpful to humans as well as of practical use in society. In 1996, Honda's prototype robot P2 made its debut, followed by the more advanced P3 in 1997. ASIMO, debuted November 2000, is a further evolved version of P3 in an endearing people-friendly size, 120cm-tall, that enables it to actually perform tasks within the realm of a human living environment, such as moving up and down on stairs or slopes, naturally and smoothly.
Specialized movements, guidance and explanation functions now enable ASIMO to be customized according to a wide range of user requirements. This year ASIMO robots are being leased to several corporations and museums. The humanoid robot has been working, since February 2002, as a receptionist for visitors to Honda's head office building in Aoyama, Tokyo.
Honda, which trades on NYSE as American Depository Receipts (ADRs), opened for trading on NYSC February 11, 1977 as the first listed Japanese automaker. Honda is currently listed on major stock exchanges in five countries (Japan, US, UK, Switzerland, France).


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Wether nintendo started it or not, it's kind of hard to feel bad for microsoft.
My older bro should be getting the 360 soon. I have no problem with it.
anyway, its funny that Microsoft say that even tho its Microsoft that started the whole "Wii60" BS
Wether nintendo started it or not, it's kind of hard to feel bad for microsoft.
what hurts microsoft most, and what will help the wii win the console war is the lack of desire for MS in Japan... Nintendo and Sony will rule that area like a fat kid with Kripsy Kreme. Here and in over in Europe MS has a chance, but we are talking about a huge population that is just as much as the US and not many will even look at a 360...Sucks for them but hey, what can you do...
Yes a text sig
My Wii is small...
and what sucks for sony is that I just heard...NOT confirmed yet... that their launch supply just got cut in half because of cell heating problems
Yes a text sig
My Wii is small...
ha typical just like the computer batterys
MS shouldnt even make another console , they will just lose the next gen war.
And that will suck if PS3s have heating problems
this is on a few forums now, alot of pissed gamers, what did yall expect?
It a company owned by Bill Gates the richest dork on the planet. Of course, they will slander other systems coming out of Japanese based companies, it is , believe it or not, the American way. LOL Sounds harsh but cmon peeps, it true and ya know it. US prides itself in making the best products, so dont take this statement to heart, I have never owned an xbox, and the only reason I have microsoft products is because my laptop requires it. Other than that let your money do the talking on the 19th. I know my wallet is full.
Well, if you think about it, the Wii is a 'kids toy' and a 'hardcore gamers dream'. Since nintendo is aiming for everyone, it can be considered everything And it made the Toys r us list
crazy ms try to ammend with nintendo make a partnership to kill the dieing company ,sony
Fair play to 'em, you can't really take sides in a console war... and if you can, I'll eat my hat


text: The upper Connecticut River has always been considered a treasured gem in the Northeast Kingdom. And thanks to a partnership reached in 2012 between the Vermont Land Trust, the Nature Conservancy and Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, 849 acres along a 6 mile stretch of the river in the towns of Canaan and Lemmington, are now protected from future development. The Johnson Farm Wildlife Management Area is only the third WMA on the banks of the Connecticut River along its 200 mile Vermont border.


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PORTLAND, Ore. — Two workshops on Tuesday during the National Association for Pupil Transportation's (NAPT) Annual Summit focused on organizational culture (i.e., the atmosphere and structure of a workplace) and how to create a high-performing team at one's workplace.
Mary Paulson, chief of staff and quality assurance management representative at Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Salem, Ore., headed the first workshop. The Salem-Keizer district recently implemented a number of change initiatives and reform efforts throughout the entire school system to improve its service to students.
Paulson said that there were several driving forces behind the change initiatives: the staff members in many of the district's departments were confused about who was responsible for certain tasks, there was a lack of trust between departments and supervisors and employees within departments due to micromanaging, and student achievement was below the state average.
Salem-Keizer based its change initiatives and reform efforts on the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9001 quality management system. Reform efforts were applied to a number of areas, including instruction and operations. In regard to operations in particular, the district worked on increasing teaching, training, credibility and trust.
Paulson said that in order to integrate these reforms into the district, staff members had to first be convinced that change was needed. This was achieved by providing them with hard data on student achievement, as well as anecdotal data. Creating a shared vision for the school system's goals was also necessary to establish a mentality that everyone was part of a team and that everyone plays an integral role in working toward the district's vision.
Another component to the quality assurance system that has been adopted by Salem-Keizer is that employees now have the power to change the status quo. Paulson said that frontline employees have the authority to change procedures if they feel that it could increase productivity.
The district's staff has also worked on communicating with one another and continually strives to establish avenues for employees to give one another feedback without fearing retribution.
To read about how the district's quality management system has impacted its transportation department, click here.
Following Paulson's presentation, other members of the Salem-Keizer Public Schools staff discussed how to establish a high-performance team at one's pupil transportation operation. Michael Shields, director of transportation, began by outlining some qualities of a high-performing staff. Those qualities include an ability to talk to one another, help each other and admit mistakes, an ability to be flexible, and an ability to practice, execute and adjust plans.
At the helm of a high-performing team, Shields said, is a leader. A leader must develop a vision for his or her operation and establish a plan for making that vision come to fruition. As an example, he said that his vision for his operation is to have a clean, safe shop and for everyone in his staff to work well together. To this end, it took him a long time to hire an additional technician for his maintenance team because he wanted to find someone who would work well with the other technicians.
Shields said that leaders also need to be aware of their employees' skills and help them use those skills to support the operation's vision. This requires coaching, encouraging and training employees and providing them with tools for success.
On hand to offer suggestions on how to have high-performing teams within the maintenance and operational sectors of a transportation department were David Farley, head mechanic at Salem-Keizer Public Schools, and Kevin Baker, lead router.
Farley recommended creating a one-year roadmap that outlines the staff's intended goals for each quarter. In the long term, a three- to five-year action plan can be drafted, and it should align with the transportation department's overall vision or mission. He also noted the importance of developing measurable data points related to, for example, preventive maintenance in order to track progress in accomplishing long- and short-term goals.
Baker continued in this vein, suggesting that operations set up periodic reviews of procedures and modify them as needed to increase efficiency. He also urged attendees to document processes that work.
Related Topics: conferences, efficiency, NAPT
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"They are going to the schools, they are going door-to-door, they are going to the docks," said Jessi Robertson, a therapist and oil spill crisis team leader for AltaPointe. "Right now, we are trying to get into the community and make contacts."
After the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, rates of suicide, domestic violence and divorce soared in areas most affected by the disaster.
Health leaders have been concerned the same is ahead for Gulf Coast communities where generations of families have earned their livings from local waters.
In late August, teams of local and federal experts conducted emergency surveys in Bayou La Batre, Coden and Dauphin Island to determine the spill's impact on physical and mental health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is due to release survey results in about two weeks, according to Dr. Bernard Eichold, who leads the Mobile County Health Department.
The AltaPointe teams, meanwhile, are spreading the word about free counseling.
"We wanted to be able to get into the communities and actually do some service for them," Robertson said. "Sometimes, people aren't as apt to come to us, but they might be needing services to get them through this difficult time."
Robertson said that the outreach will continue as long as there is a need.


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IMHO, the more Wings fans on this board that also have played hockey is a bonus. Those kinds of fans are hard to find. I swear that 75-80% of american hockey fans haven't even skated.
i fixed that for you.
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MUSKEGON, MI – The Michigan Democratic Party is calling out State Rep. candidate Holly Hughes, R-White River Township, for campaign materials she used.
A scan of one of the pamphlets was uploaded to MichiganDems.com. The pamphlet refers to her as "our state representative."
Hughes is a former state representative, but is running as a challenger rather than incumbent this election after being narrowly defeated by Collene Lamonte, D-Montague, two years ago. Hughes also faces two other Republicans seeking the nomination this year: Kevin Erb and Max Riekse.
Joshua Pugh, Michigan Democratic Party Communications Director, blasted Hughes for pamphlets in a news release last week.
"Holly Hughes will say anything to get elected," he said. "In one of her first acts of campaign activity, she is misleading voters in the 91st District by suggesting that she is a current state representative on her campaign literature. The truth is the people of Muskegon County voted her out of office ... they certainly don't need someone representing Muskegon who is misleading voters about her credentials."
Hughes said the pamphlets contained a simple mistake in a graphic. Her office didn't catch the mistake before printing.
"It is an honest mistake our graphic designer made by carrying over something from 2012," she said. "I have called them to let them know that they made a mistake. Of course, it will be corrected immediately."
A few of her other materials use the tagline "Elect Holly Hughes Our State Representative," which Hughes said is accurate and she'll continue to use. Hughes' campaign website and sign outside her office use the tagline "for state representative."
"All of my signs and other material say 'for,'" she said.


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(UPDATE) see below.
Honestly not much as expected, but its pre-season game #1 and they looked good even if they didn't show us their cards before placing their bets. If recorded the game, I'll start off with some play by play up until the first Texans rushing touchdown.
First Quarter.
They came out in a I rt twins left set where the Z motioned back right. It was a quick set pass, and what jumped out was a nice cut block Brown showed to open up the game on the backside. Walters (the Z) Ran a hitch and sat down in the window for a nice ten yard completion.
The second snap of the game I missed the formation due to ABC13 leaving their line ups on the screen to long. They tend to do that every year and it gets to be frustrating. It looked to be a 5 step drop, and the pocket held up nicely, the interior line stonewalled the Chiefs four man rush and D.Brown made another nice pick up sliding out to pick up the rush backer. Schaub makes a nice completion Joel Dressen on an out route. I've always liked Joel Dressen, and would have really liked to see more of him in two TE sets last season.
Third snap was yet again another ABC13 special with them flashing back to the screen just in time to watch Slaton being tracked down on an outside run to the right. Vonte had a nice block but I couldn't see where the play broke down. No gain.
Fourth snap was an I left twins rt set with Walter motioning over tight rt. Nice lane opens up to the left, on a outside zone play but D. Brown whiffs on the inside Lber who slides inside of him and tackles Slaton for a short loss. Frustrating play, because everyone else seemed to get to their blocks.
Fifth snap was a 3rd and 11 play, out of a shotgun formation. At the snap of the ball the Chiefs come with the blitz, though the B gap, Brisiel gets turned inside and the blitzer(safety) shoots right off his back to get to Schaub for a sack. It looks as if they may not have adjusted properly to the Chiefs formation.
Texans punt.
Chiefs ball first and ten from the 20.
Chief line up in a single back bunch formation with Trips rt. They run a counter lead left. Mario Williams sheds his block and brings down Larry Johnson with a few other Texans assisting. Maybe a two yard gain.
2nd and eight Chiefs line up in a power I left, Texans show the 4-3 under look with Diles added as a what appears to be a fifth lineman on the TE side. Chiefs run a delay out of it that Ryans sniffs out, darts though the A gap but allows Johnson to run out of his tackle that turns a loss into a 3 yard gain.
3rd and 5 from the 25, Chiefs come out in a Shotgun bunch rt, with Johnson set up to the rt of Cassell. The Texans move Mario over to LE on this play. Chiefs get an isolation on the weak side man coverage with Fred Bennett, they complete a push route for the first down. Nice coverage from Bennett, just a very good throw from Cassell or that play would have been incomplete. Joel Myers commented the Texans gave the Chiefs to much time, but he ball was out in three seconds and there was no rush on. The Texans sent just four. Good play by the offense.
First and ten from the 35, Chiefs come out in a single set bunch formation Lt, and run a toss to the left side. Texans show the 4-3 under, Diles gets washed which creates a nice seal for the Chiefs, Bennett does a nice job getting off a block but cant make the arm tackle for no gain. Johnson gets pushed out of bounds for a three yard gain. I would have liked to see Cushing or Thompson playing the SAM on that play. Demeco fights every play, he had to fight though a ton of trash to get there, nice effort from 59.
2nd and seven, Chiefs in a Power I set right. Texans counter with the base under 4-3 look, they keep stacking the Will way off the line of scrimmage. I really don't like having Adibi that far in out in space, he looks like he is playing safety. Chiefs run up the middle weak, perfect example of Adibi being back to far to make the play, Johnson is gaining positive yards by the time Adibi can get up. Mario gets him from behind (by the ankles) or it's a big run. Chiefs pick up 5 on the play.
3rd down and 3, Chiefs come out in Shotgun left slot rt with the back setting up on the left (Mario Williams). Texans stay in a base 4-3 under, and don't adjust to the 3 wide package from what we can see. The Chiefs go with the slant as the slot clears but Demeco makes a hit to jar the ball loose. Chiefs forced to punt.
(great punt by Colquit, Jacoby let it go and they were able to down it at the three. Good play by the Chiefs, Jacoby did the right decision.) Texans get the spot of the 6.
1rst and ten from the 3, Texans come out I rt, twins left Walters motions back in tight. Chiefs adjust to the motion and tip off the blitz coming from the weak side. Texans get nice cut blocks on the weak side, especially Walters. The safety knifes in but Slaton cuts back (because of the great Walters block) and he grabs nothing but grass. Slaton gets out to the 11 before pursuit drags him down. Nice move by Slaton on the cut back, but it was set up by the cut blocks on the weak side.
2nd and 4 from the 11, Texans come out in an I left wing left. The run the Iso play action weak, and Schuab finds Johnson as he curls up in the Chiefs zone at the 27. Schaub look smooth in his delivery, and Johnson blows up an attempted jam 6 yards down the field. Man among boys at times, first down. Joel Myers thinks number 80 is Andre Davis, to funny.
1rst and 10 from the 27, Texans come out in an Ace formation (two TE's on both sides) Walters and Johnson left. Walters motions to the rt wing before the snap. I like this formation because for the Texans because it keeps teams from being able over shift to the TE side. Texans run a reverse back to Walters for no gain. Texans didn't block the play like a reverse they ran it just like a normal zone play. Chiefs weren't fooled.
2nd and 9 from the 28, missed the formation due to the broadcasters needing to get a shot of the down pour that had just began. They were in a 2 back set with the TE rt, and Walters in tight rt. Walters makes a nice catch at the 37 on the read route and curls up for a gain of just over 9 for the first down.
First and ten, Texans back in the Ace balance with Walter and Johnson split wide. Texans run the inside zone play left but Winston and Brisiel get nice backside blocks and Slaton cuts back for a gain of 4. Texans get called for holding but Bob Allen is yapping about the rain and we miss who the call was on. I didn't see it from the angle the TV showed.
First and twenty from the 27, Texans come out single back left slot lt in a 3 wide set. They run an inside zone play that gains two yards. There was a nice cutback lane that opened up off the nose but, Brisiel couldn't hold his block and his man shed and allowed the pursuit to rally and drive Slaton back. Slaton loses his helmet on the play.
2nd and 18 from the 29, Texans come out in what looks like the same formation. Schaub takes a 5 step drop, resets and finds David Anderson on what looks to be another read route between the Lbers. Nice pocket set up again, Texans doing a nice job holding up against the Chiefs base 4 rush. Texans get 7 yards.
3rd and 11 from the 35, Texans stay in same formation but flip it and run it right. Chris Brown checks in as the back and the Texans run the slip screen to Brown. Right off the bat, Brisiel gets an outstanding block to clear space for Brown to get started up field, then Chris White shows some quicks as he gets 10 plus yards down field to get another. Two great blocks, but Brown fumbles the ball as he gets hit running with his pads high and one hand on the ball in traffic at the 55. Chiefs defender stuck his hat right on the ball, Studdard gets down the field to recover the fumble and holds on. Studdard along with Brisel made the blocks that sprung Brown on the screen. Great work by the Texans line who look very light on their feet. Chiefs get called for a horse tackle personal foul that looked more like an attempted horse collar, but Texans keep the ball and get a first down.
1rst and ten from the 32, Texans stay in the same formation again, Chiefs with base 3-4 personnel. Schaub hits Owen on the out route to the left. Schaub threw the ball on the third step, read the defense, and delivered a nice strike. Chiefs ran a stunt with the OSLB on the strong side and the Texans picked it up. I can tell Matt read the blitz, and it wasn't a timing route because the Texans line didn't quick set in pass pro. Daniels catches the pass at the 26 and scoots up to the 22 before getting brought down.
2nd and 1 from the 22, Texans in a weak I rt, Texans run the inside zone play left White, Brisel and Winston all get to their blocks and open the backside cut for Brown. Brown cuts back toward the strong side, Daniels cuts the only defender to have a shot before the secondary get punished at the 11. This time Brown gets his pads down as he gets though the hole.
1rst and ten from the 11, Texans in a weak I lt, Inside zone call, this time to rt. Chris Brown tries to cut back but Duane Brown couldn't execute his cut block from the backside and his man is able to keep his feet, come down the line and meet Brown in the hole. Brown keeps his pads low and powers out a 3 yard gain. Brown looks better getting off the ball then he did last season. He just didn't get his head across before he tired to cut his man.
2nd and seven from the 8, David Anderson checks in for the FB, and the Texans go with that single back Lt, with Anderson and Walters left. Walters motions in tight, They run the inside zone play Rt, This time Brown blows his man off the ball and opens a huge cut back lane for Brown who reads it and bust up to just inside the 1 on another bruising run. Daniels might have gotten away with a little bit of a hold.
3rd and inches from just outside the 1. Gary calls a time out.
3rd and inches from just outside the 1, Texans line up in a goaline tight I formation lt, the wing motions Rip-Liz and the Texans run a outside zone play left. Studdard got a nice block getting left and spinning his but to the hole. Brown and White both had nice blocks as well, and Brown goes over both of them into the end zone. Touchdown. Not to often have we seen this line blow people off the ball in short yardage situations. Nice job.
Back up Quarterback didn't look sharp.
Dan O, didn't have a great game. You have to wonder how much the new system and the weather had an effect on him. He looked as if he didn't trust his reads and was waiting to see the route break open before he threw. When he did throw he just didn't have much on the ball, though he did look decent on a few timing routes. I liked the signing when they got him, I think he's going to play better as the preseason goes along.
Butler looked like he belonged at tackle once he got in the game, nice feet, may not have the ideal strength but I want to see more out of him during the pre-season.
Frank Okham really flashed a few times, but has a lot of work to do. The first time he got pressure was a screen where they let him though, the next play he got worked pretty good. He did show a few things, but we need to see more good and less bad.
Joel Dressen continues to impress me. I've always liked that kid, and wished he could get on the field more. He hyper extended his knee during the game.
Thor did not disappoint, Connor Barwin was impressive with the highlight being the fake spin move for a sack.
I think we got a good look at the basic stuff the Texans are going to do under Bush and aside from Adibi lining up to far off the ball, I liked what I saw. I thought the played very sound, and saw very few breakdowns from the Texans.
What were your thoughts on the pre-season game one?
Texans Nation,
Just a note to let you know that Texans RT Eric Winston has posted a new video blog at www.ericwinston.com to talk about the Chiefs game and answer questions from fans. Hope you like it!
Todd Schmerler,