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Cedar Park Public Library named winner of prestigious Gale Cengage Learning Financial Development Award
Library recognized for securing new funding sources
The Cedar Park Public Library is the 2014 winner of the prestigious Gale Cengage Learning Financial Development Award. The award is presented annually to a library organization for exhibiting meritorious achievements in carrying out a project to secure new funding resources for a public or academic library.
The Cedar Park Public Library developed Fable Fest an annual fundraising festival organized by the Cedar Park Public Library Foundation which includes arts & crafts, costume characters, demonstrations, performances and activities. The 2013 festival had 7,500 attendees and raised $21,000 for the Cedar Park Library. The Cedar Park Library Foundation has provided financial support over the years to the Cedar Park Public Library for early literacy programs, an annual summer reading program and technology resources. In a community with many young families, the library's youth programs are a valuable and popular source of early literacy support.
"The Cedar Park Public Library demonstrated the kind of community collaboration required to develop new and innovative fund raising initiative that replaced an existing funding source and engaged the community. The jury the Fable Fest exemplified the type of initiative that exemplified the Gale Cengage Award Learning Financial Development Award," noted jury chair Liz Bishoff.
Cedar Park Public Library Director Pauline Lam says, "The Library is honored to have received this national award which is given to only one library nationwide each year. The Cedar Park Public Library Foundation has always been the backbone of the Library providing supplemental funding in addition to the Library's budget. The Fable Fest has become a destination and the Library Foundation's signature event attracting people from all over Central Texas. The award recognizes the Foundation's effort and commitment to the Library."
From 2002 to 2012, the Cedar Park Public Library Foundation was recipient of the Dell Foundation's Literate Community Grant. With a change in their corporate giving the Library Foundation had to develop other fundraising opportunities to support the Library's enrichment program and technology needs. The 2009 Fable Fest event raised $2,428.22, each subsequent year the Library Foundation sought to increase the sponsorship and attendance. For the 2013 Fable Fest, the Cedar Park Public Library and the Cedar Park Public Library Foundation raised $21,037.00 a 20% increase over the previous year. To realize this goal, the Fable Fest Launch Party was co-sponsored by the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce and the Cedar Park Public Library Foundation, which local businesses and organizations were invited to attend.
Members of the 2014 Gale Cengage Learning Financial Development Award jury were Liz Bishoff, Chair, The Bishoff LLC; Barbara Bard, Coastal Carolina University; Dani Porter-Lansky, Florida Atlantic University; Jane Tuten, University of South Carolina-Aiken; Joyce C. Wright, University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign.
The Gale Cengage Learning Financial Development Award will be presented at the ALA Award Ceremony and Reception on Sunday, June 29th at the ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas.
Cedar Park Public Library receives 2013 Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award
Library recognized for its service to the community
The Texas Municipal Library Directors Association has awarded the Cedar Park Public Library the 2013 Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award. The Cedar Park Public Library is one of just 28 libraries among the 560 Texas public libraries to be recognized with this honor.
The Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award recognizes public libraries that demonstrate service excellence in each of the following ten service categories:
• Conduct a Summer Reading Program; youth, teen and/or adult
• Provide services to underserved populations either through outreach, special programs, collaborations with other libraries or organizations, special classes, special collections, etc.
• Provide enhanced service to the public during the past year either through increase in service or a change in type of services
• Provide current marketing materials highlighting basic services and publicity about specific programs the library offers
• Develop a set of policies and procedures for the library which have been reviewed and updated within the past 5 years
• Provide cultural, topical and educational programming for adults and families
• Provide literacy support for all ages
• Invest in collaborative efforts
• Establish professional staff training to include training opportunities for staff at all levels
• Provide a library web presence either through the city or with the library's own website
Library Director Pauline Lam says, "The Cedar Park Public Library is a life-long venue for learning and fun. Library staff has done a great job serving this community. The Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award recognizes their performance, their commitment of excellence and their dedication in serving our community."
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Stocks Manage Mixed Close After Lackluster Jobs, GDP Data
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- U.S. stocks closed Thursday's trading session mixed amid weak European markets and a weekly initial jobless claims miss.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 19.6 points, or 0.2%, at 13,146. The S&P 500 lost 2.3 points, or 0.2%, at 1403. The Nasdaq shed 9.6 points, or 0.3%, at 3095.
The Department of Labor reported that weekly initial jobless claims ended March 24 fell by 5,000 to 359,000 from the prior week's revised level of 364,000. The latest update was disappointing because economists were expecting 350,000 claims, according to Thomson Reuters , after an original reading of 348,000 last week.
RDQ Economics , however, noted that the four-week average of claims fell 3,500 to 365,000, which the firm said was the lowest level for the four-week average since May 2008.
"The new seasonal adjustment factors have revised up the level of jobless claims in the first quarter of 2012 but they have not revised away the essential message of the report--the labor market and job creation appears to have strengthened significantly in the first quarter of the year," the firm said in commentary on Thursday. "The indications from jobless claims, consumers' attitudes toward the labor market, and regional manufacturing indicators from the New York Fed and Philadelphia Fed are that March will likely be the fourth consecutive month in which nonfarm payroll growth exceeds 200,000."
A report on economic growth came in line with expectations. The government's third read on GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2011 was unrevised at 3%. This is up from 1.8% annualized growth rate in the third quarter, although still worrisome given that growth is expected to pull back going into the first quarter of 2012.
"The pace of improvement is leveling out and while GDP was not revised the sub components were a bit better for the economy with better final sales and a downtick in the inventory contribution," said David Ader, strategist with CRT Capital.
"In the medium term, we might see more volatility," said Zahid Siddique, portfolio manager with Gabelli Equity Trust of GAMCO Investors. "Stocks have had a good run up... but some of the economic data is starting to show a deceleration in growth."
The U.S. market was following losses in Europe after the European Commission said an index of executive and consumer sentiment fell to a reading of 94.4 in March from a revised 94.5 in February.
With Greece's troubles largely falling out of the spotlight, investors have been keeping an eye on deficit problems in Portugal and Spain, were sovereign debt yields have climbed recently. On Friday, European governments meet in Copenhagen where they will aim to increase the rescue firewall in the region. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to allow the increase.

subset: commoncrawl


text: InvestorPlaceInvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips This week, the overall grades of three mortgage stocks are lower, according to the Portfolio Grader database. Each of these rates a "D" ("sell") or "F" overall ("strong sell"). The post 3 Mortgage Stocks to Sell Now appeared first on InvestorPlace.


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ADB Annual Meeting Launches Three-Gigawatt Solar Energy Initiative
3 May 2010: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced a solar energy initiative to generate 3,000 megawatts of solar power over the next three years, with plans to invest US$2.25 billion and the potential to leverage an additional US$6.75 billion in co-financing.
At the 43rd Annual Meeting, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 1-4 May 2010, the Asia Solar Energy Initiative (ASEI) was launched with the objective to fund projects and knowledge-sharing mechanisms to attract commercial banks and the private sector to invest in these projects. In addition to direct financing, ASEI will set a target of raising US$500 million from donor countries to "buy down" the high up-front capital costs of investing in solar energy, as well as to design other innovative ways to attract private sector investment.
ASEI will also establish and host the Solar Energy Forum, an international knowledge-sharing platform that will track solar development projects, discuss new solar power proposals and incentive mechanisms, and organize conferences, including the first Solar Energy Forum, which is scheduled for 5-6 July 2010, in Manila, Philippines. [ADB Press Release]


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Top Definition
you're sitting on your arse in front of the computer alone aren't you,you fucking narbo?
dari annon. Rabu, 03 Maret 2004
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
Being totally narbo; like, being lame, stupid, and dumb, like a loser, but in a totally cool way that it's "narbo."
Dude, you're so narbo, like you are so lame. You think you're so cool but everyone thinks you're a chompski-honk. Whatever man, peace out.
dari Al Cane Jumat, 04 Februari 2011


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Apple Bottoms
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guidelines for products and services. (January 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Apple Bottoms is a fashion brand for women launched in 2003 by rap artist Nelly, Yomi Martin and Ian Kelly. The brand was initially a denim label, but has since expanded to include other women's and girl's clothing, perfume and accessories.
The brand was launched with a model search televised on VH1. It quickly became popular in the hip hop community, and is referenced in various rap songs, including Twista's "Overnight Celebrity", MC Jin's "36-24-36 (Applebottom Jeans)", DaCav5's "Tetris" and Flo Rida's Low. In 2006, it was the sixth most popular denim brand, based on Google searches.[1]
As of 2012, Apple Bottoms are sold through the website DrJays.com. The brand's last ad campaign was in 2010, and featured Nelly.[2]
- ^ Hall, Cecily (May 25, 2006). "Denim's biggest hits". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
- ^ Yanetta, Tiffany (March 19, 2012). "So, What Are 2006's Most Googled Denim Brands Up To Now?". Racked. Retrieved January 24, 2015.


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It only took Jake Allen six starts to put his name next to Manny Legace in the Peoria Rivermen record book as he posted his third shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over the Abbotsford Heat on Friday night at Carver Arena.
The three shutouts are now tied with Legace for the most by a Rivermen goaltender in a single season since the team joined the American Hockey League. Allen is now 5-1-0-0 with a 1.26 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage to start his professional career.
Adam Cracknell scored the game's first goal just 55 seconds into the second period after skating through the right circle and wristing a puck past Leland Irving's glove. The goal went unassisted for Cracknell's third of the year.
The Rivermen continued strong play in the second and the game took a clean but physical tone. Stefan Della Rovere put a big hit on Josh Meyers halfway through the second period, helping keep the pace for the rest of the game.
Phil McRae buried his first power-play goal of the year from the bottom of the left circle after receiving a cross-ice pass from Derek Nesbitt halfway through the third period. Nick Drazenovic also recorded an assist on the goal. McRae is now tied with Drazenovic and TJ Hensick with a team-leading six goals.
The Rivermen killed off a five-on-three advantage late in the third period, with a great save by Allen on a point-blank one-timer to end the two-man advantage. He finished with career-high 37 saves and has alternated shutouts in each of his first six starts.
Peoria killed off all eight Heat power plays, while going 1-for-3 on the man advantage thanks to McRae's goal. The Rivermen finished the game with 27 shots against Irving who entered play with a league-leading 10 wins.
The game was also marked by the induction of former ECHL head coach Jason Christie into the Peoria Rivermen Hall of Fame. He became the 33rd member and fifth coach to join the Peoria Rivermen Hockey Hall of Fame. A former Rivermen player on the 1999-2000 Kelly Cup winning Rivermen team, Christie took over as head coach the following season and led the team to 233 wins over five seasons.
The Rivermen take on the Heat again Saturday night at Carver Arena at 7:05 p.m. The first 2,500 fans will receive a Rivermen hat courtesy of OSF St. Francis Medical Center. For tickets or more information call 309-676-1040 or visit www.rivermen.net.


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Sorry for hijacking this thread - but one image on Walt's site (designated as Italian, no date given) reminds me a lot of the "Schnapshund" glass liquor bottle dogs made in the Flühli region, mostly in the first half of the 19th century.
Dear Walt,I just don't know. The only thing I am fairly sure about is that such an exotic design being developed independently at different places is rather unlikely. Much more likely is that someone saw it - and produced something similar at home (unless both items are Swiss). But which way round? I have no indication whatsoever, whether Italo-Swiss or Swiss-Italo is more likely.
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Other than Kenya and Tanzania, what are the other two modern day East African nations that make up the Swahili coast?
Mozambique and Somalia
List six African goods that the Swahili used for trade.
•Perfume gums
•Mangrove logs
•Turtle shells
List six Persian or Arab goods that the Swahili received for their African goods.
•Persian carpets
Fully explain why the Swahili are considered middlemen.
The Swahili are considered middlemen because they were literally in the middle of the land and the ocean, the buyers and the sellers, and the African and Arabian.
How did the Kiswahili spread to the interior parts of Africa?
The Kiswahili spread to the interior parts of Africa by using trading caravans.
The Swahili people were primarily influenced by Arabs and Africans (Bantu). Parts of their culture came mainly from the Arab side, and other parts of their culture came mainly from the African (or Bantu) side. Next to the word of phrase, write whether it came from the Arab side or the African side.
A) Islam (Arab)
B) Medicine Men (Bantu)
C) Kofia Caps (Arab)
D) Thatched Roof (Bantu)
E) Bui Bui Robes (Arab)
F) Intricately carved doors (Arab)
G) Belief in spirits (Bantu)
H) Verandas (Arab)
I) Mosques (Arab)


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Official Blog
May 18, 2015
May 16, 2015
News from Idiot Nation:
We have launched a new Idiot Nation exclusive contest! Enter for a chance to win a hand-numbered lithograph commemorating Green Day's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show in Cleveland, OH at the House of Blues on April 16, 2015.
Login to win: HERE
May 15, 2015
EXCLUSIVE: Hyde Park International has joined the band with Geezer, coming aboard to sell the comedy starring Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong about an ex-punk rocker 10 years into his band's "indefinite hiatus" and struggling with his adjustment to the real world. Lee Kirk wrote and directed the pic, which co-stars Judy Greer, Selma Blair, Chris Messina and Fred Armisen.
Full article at Deadline Hollywood: HERE
May 12, 2015
Ringo Starr and friends at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame getting ready for the big show. Stay tuned for more!
May 09, 2015
Watch the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 30th @ HBO
May 07, 2015
When David Hayes and I were starting Lookout Records and getting ready to put out records by bands like Operation Ivy, Isocracy, Crimpshrine, and Sweet Children, it was hard to see ourselves or the bands we worked with as anything other than perennial outsiders.
In those days, the mere mention of Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner could have me frothing at the mouth; his magazine seemed to epitomize the world of corporate dinosaur rock we had to set out to upend.
May 03, 2015
Check out Broken Guitars: HERE
April 30, 2015
Check Green Day out in the new May 7th issue of Rolling Stone: HERE
April 30, 2015
"It was kind of like being at your own wedding and your own funeral," singer-guitarist says in an exclusive Q&A
April 23, 2015
"Like Sunday, Like Rain" now available nationwide on Digital/DVD/VOD: HERE


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Give peace a chance
With all the focus on holiday hubbub (see below), it's easy to forget there's a whole world out there. Penn's museum goes Epcot (kinda) on Sunday for its 17th annual Peace Around the World celebration. Visitors get their play passports stamped for stopping by exhibits about, say, China, Cameroon, Honduras, Iraq, and more, and there's plenty of Middle Eastern drumming, Indian dance, face-painting and balloon shaping to make things festive.
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South St., 1-4 p.m. Sunday, $12 adults, $10 seniors and military, $8 full-time students and children 6-17, free under 6, 215-898-4000, penn.museum.


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on May 1, 2013 - 7:30 PM
FORESTVILLE – The final version of the 2013-14 village budget for Forestville has resulted in a smaller tax increase since the last draft proposed by new Mayor Linda Aures.
A final budget adopted Tuesday calls for a tax rate of $5.13 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The spending plan was reduced by about 13 percent from the initial budget compiled by former Mayor Beth Bowker. Aures made cuts in the fees to be paid to lawyers and other areas in the budget. She had unanimous support from the board for the new plan.
The total budget is $332,570.
Aures named Kevin Johnson as her new deputy mayor. Also appointed Tuesday was Ron Lineman, who will serve the one-year unexpired trustee term vacated by Carol Woodward just prior to elections in March.
The new trustee appointment gives the board five members for the first time in several months.
The agenda Tuesday also included some reviews and changes to the employee handbook. A new policy set a 35-hour work week for full-time employees. It also requires employees who work more than 35 hours to obtain approval from the mayor. The overtime policy was changed so that overtime would be paid only after 40 hours were worked in a week.
In reviewing the village's full-time positions, the board also approved the title of utility worker and established a list of duties for the workers as well as qualifications for the jobs.
Michael Sullivan was introduced as the new village attorney. He was appointed for a one-year term at the rate of $75 an hour.


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Rent Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum, Books a la Carte Edition 11th edition today, or search our site for other textbooks by Laurence Behrens. Every textbook comes with a 21-day "Any Reason" guarantee. Published by Pearson.
Need help ASAP? We have you covered with 24/7 instant online tutoring. Connect with one of our Writing tutors now.


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James Clyde Banks, 90, of Findlay, went home to be with the Lord Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, in celebration of his 90th Christmas birthday.
Friends and family may visit 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. today, Dec. 29, 2012, at Hufford Family Funeral Home, 1500 Manor Hill Road, Findlay, OH 45840, (419) 422-1500. His funeral will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home with Pastors Paul Reimer and Gordon Dickson officiating. The Hancock County Veterans Memorial Squad will perform full military rites following the service.
Memorial contributions in Jim's name may be made to Operation Smile, 6435 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA 23509.


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Altoona Area school board members are searching for 2013-14 superintendent candidates who are from Pennsylvania and who can maintain a school district's strengths while addressing its weaknesses.
"Superintendents aren't a dime a dozen," board member Tim Lucas said.
It's not that we are going to have dozens of applicants beating down our door. That's just not going to happen, I don't think," Lucas said. "I don't mean this as a slight to the area. Superintendents just aren't easy to come by."
As the early stages of the search begin, the board will likely seek recruiting assistance from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, Lucas said.
The board hasn't met to discuss qualities they would seek in a superintendent, but experience is at the top of Lucas' list.
"I suspect we'll be looking at candidates with experience as superintendent at a smaller school district or as an assistant superintendent from a larger district," Lucas said.
Board President Ryan Beers said a candidate should have a vision for improving a school district.
"I'd like someone who evaluates the strengths of the district, sees the weaknesses and addresses them," Beers said.
Superintendent candidates should embody several qualities to win board member Dick Lockard's vote.
"We have to get somebody from Pennsylvania who knows Pennsylvania school law," Lockard said. "We have to get someone with good moral character who likes children, who knows how to operate a business and who can also be a public relations person to keep people informed."
Mirror Staff Writer Russ O'Reilly is at 946-7435.


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Nixon Tapes Released: Looking Into The Secret World Of The White House
340 hours of secret tapes recorded by former President of The United States Richard Nixon were released on Wednesday. The tapes that were recorded in a three month period in 1973 mainly highlight domestic and foreign policy issues.
The tapes are hugely significant in terms of their historical value but they also give people a very rare glimpse into the secretive world of the White House and the duties of the President. This was explained further by Gregory Cumming, who works at the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in California:
"I always think it is fascinating in the President's own words, what he is thinking about other presidential leaders," said Cumming. "That is what you get here, you get his unvarnished thoughts and his interaction with someone like Brezhnev. It is very interesting and I think it is very important for scholars to hear the discussion of what is going on in the Oval Office with these very important leaders."
Nixon resigned from office in August of 1974, the White House taping system installed by him in 1971 was then dismantled. While the quality of some of the tapes or poor, they offer a great view on the politics of the time, and important conversations that cultivated American history.
Video Courtesy Of Reuters
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NordicTrack AudioStrider 600 Elliptical
This SpaceSaver® elliptical features the new ifit® Workout Card technology that provides workouts and coaching from a Certified Personal Trainer.
- ifit® Workout Card Technology-ifit® combines fitness equipment and modern technology with interactive Memory Cards that can be ordered from your local Sears retailer or the Internet. Each ifit® Workout automatically controls the resistance of the elliptical and provides motivational coaching from a certified personal trainer.
- ClearView™ Backlit Console-Perfectly clear and easy to read, the ClearView™ display has a large viewing angle so no matter how tall or short you are, you can always keep track of your workout progress. It displays your time, speed, distance, pulse, carbs burned and calories burned.
- SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance-This smooth, frictionless resistance system allows you to adjust your workout intensity without interrupting your workout.
- Upper-Body Workout Arms with Soft Grips-Burn more calories and add muscle tone with upper-body arms that provide a great total-body workout and increased cardio benefits.
- Ergonomic 18 Stride Length-Enjoy long, full strides and develop long lean muscle with this generous 18 stride length.
- 4 Personal Trainer Workouts, 2 Heart Rate Workouts-The AudioStrider 600 comes with 4 Personal Trainer workouts that automatically adjust the resistance of the elliptical to focus on aerobic, weight loss, or performance goals. It includes 2 Heart Rate workouts that help you stay in the right training zone by automatically increasing the resistance when you need to raise your heart rate and decreasing the resistance when you need to lower it.
- 1-Touch™ Workout Programming-Select your preferred workout with the single touch of a button.
Specifications & Dimensions
Product Documentation


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Minimizing the Nuclear Threat: A Local Law Enforcement Strategy
By Al Goodwyn, Operations Support Directorate, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.
nuclear attack, if carried out, would have consequences for the United States as well as the international community. In spite of these catastrophic consequences, many agencies ignore the vulnerabilities of the United States to a radiological or nuclear attack. Such an attack could be prevented by a properly trained and equipped law enforcement officer. For this reason, finances, training, equipment, and other resources are being made available to decrease the risk of this threat.
Due to the highly technical and complex nature of preventive radiological/nuclear detection, the U.S. president established the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in April 2005. The DNDO mission area includes providing support to state and local law enforcement agencies in detecting, interdicting, reporting, and ultimately preventing a catastrophic nuclear or radiological attack in the United States. One of the important functions of the DNDO is the support of local law enforcement agencies, which includes providing radiation detection training as well as assistance with grant funding applications for equipment.
Nuclear Threats
Nuclear threats can be categorized based on the nature of the delivery system. The DNDO's primary mission is focused on preventing threats involving a nuclear weapon, a radiological dispersal device, and/or a radiation exposure device.
Nuclear Weapon: A nuclear weapon the ultimate terrorist weapon—is commonly associated with a mushroom cloud, a significant death toll, and significant destruction. These devices release nuclear energy in an explosive manner. They include state-sponsored weapons, terrorist-constructed weapons, and lost or stolen weapons.
The U.S. government, including the Departments of State, Energy, and Defense, in cooperation with foreign governments and the International Atomic Energy Agency, are actively working to improve the security of SNM. For example, the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Agency implements security upgrades at nuclear sites throughout Russia and the states of the former Soviet Union. In addition, several initiatives led by the Department of Energy as well as Customs and Border Protection (within the DHS) are in place to screen cargo prior to leaving foreign countries or upon arrival at U.S. ports. Programs include the Container Security Initiative and the Megaports Initiative, as well as the recent Secure Freight Initiative. These efforts improve the ability to scan cargo for nuclear and other radiological materials at major international seaports. The October 2007 National Strategy for Homeland Security provides a summary of these and other related initiatives.1
Radiological Dispersal Device: A radiological dispersal device, or RDD, is commonly referred to as a "dirty bomb." This device uses radioactive material combined with a conventional explosive. When detonated, the radioactive material is dispersed, contaminating the surrounding structures. The purpose of this device is to cause economic and psychological damage rather than a lethal threat to nearby populations. In fact, the risk to life would likely be limited to the effect of its associated conventional explosive. The effectiveness of the device depends primarily on the amount of radioactive material present. Quantities significant enough to affect an area would also be extremely hazardous for terrorists to handle. However, because many terrorists do not have high regard for their own individual well-being, they would likely be willing to risk their lives.
Although an RDD has not yet been used within the United States or against U.S. populations, this threat continues to be viable. Philip Zelikow, the executive director of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9/11 Commission), stated in 2004 that al Qaeda "remains interested in using a radiological dispersal device, or dirty bomb; a conventional explosive designed to spread radioactive material. Documents found in al Qaeda facilities contain accurate information on the usage and impact of such weapons."3 Like a nuclear weapon, the RDD requires radioactive material to achieve the desired effect. However, unlike with a nuclear weapon, the radioactive material needed to fashion an RDD exists in significant quantities in most countries, including the United States.
Radioactive materials enhance our everyday life through their roles in medicine, research, and industry. For example, the medical field uses these materials to diagnose illness and injury, for the treatment of cancer patients, and for sterilization of medical tools. Sources are also used in industrial applications to determine the adequacy of pipe welds, to determine soil density prior to construction activities, and even for the sterilization of food. Although radioactive source controls exist, they vary depending on the type and quantity of the radioactive material and the degree to which a country can control the material.
Used incorrectly or for illicit purposes, such radioactive material can affect health and safety in a limited population and can affect property habitability. Take, for example, a tragic accident that occurred in Goiânia, Brazil, in 1987, which resulted in the deaths of four people due to radiation exposure—one of those a six-year-old girl. The source of the radiation exposure was a medical device containing a large quantity of radioactive material called cesium-137 left in an abandoned clinic. The device sat untouched for approximately two years before individuals entered the abandoned facility and removed it, suspecting that the device might have value as scrap metal. While dismantling the device, they ruptured the radioactive source container, allowing the radioactive material to disperse easily.
From there the material was spread to family, friends, and neighbors. Two weeks elapsed between the onset of radiation sickness symptoms (swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness) and the determination of the true cause. In that length of time, 249 people were contaminated, with four of those receiving exposure significant enough to cause death. Confirmation that they were dealing with radioactive material was made when a visiting physician borrowed a uranium fuel facility's radiation detector and immediately discovered elevated radiation readings around the home where the source was located. The psychological impact was obvious as well. Over 100,000 people were voluntarily monitored due to fear of contamination. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, "[T]he accident in Goiânia had a great psychological impact on the Brazilian population. . . . Many people feared contamination, irradiation and damage to health; worse still, they feared incurable and fatal diseases."4 This resulting psychological terror points to the value of an RDD or similar device to a terrorist organization.
Consider that the material used in the Goiânia medical device, when removed from its housing, could have been detectable a quarter of a mile away. But with no detectors present, the hazard went unrecognized. Figure 4 shows the cleanup effort in the neighborhood where the source was handled.
Radiation Exposure Device: Similar to an RDD, the radiation exposure device (RED) relies on radioactive material but does not use an explosive component to spread the radioactivity. Instead, for terrorist purposes the device could be placed in a public location with the intent of exposing as many people as possible to high levels of radiation. These sources can be very small in physical size yet emit lethal radiation evels. The source in the Goiânia, Brazil, accident would have made an effective RED. The capsule containing the source material was a cylinder only two inches tall and two inches in diameter.
Even though the Goiânia material was detectable from a distance of a quarter of a mile, a shielded configuration could reduce the radiation levels of the source significantly. For example, three inches of lead around this source would reduce the exposure rate significantly—but it would still be detectable at a few dozen feet away.
Likelihood of Attack
Just understanding the threat does not necessarily mean that federal, state, and local agencies should fund detection capability without knowing their respective vulnerabilities and the likelihood of such an event. Clearly, though, even the slightest chance of a nuclear weapon being used against the United States warrants focus on prevention. A study sponsored by Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) in June 2005 assessed the likelihood of a nuclear weapon attack. Survey results were received from 76 nonproliferation and national security experts indicating that over the next 10 years the average risk of a nuclear attack was 29 percent.5 Although not scientific, the study provides a broad perspective from those within the nuclear nonproliferation community of nuclear attack risks and points to a heightened concern that such an attack might take place.
Source Availability
Within the United States, radioactive sources unsuitable for nuclear weapons are used for many other applications. Licenses issued by federal and state governments authorizing the purchase and possession of radioactive materials fall under two main categories: general and specific. The general license applies to facilities handling relatively small sources of limited hazard, whereas specific licenses are specific to an individual source. Approximately 22,000 specific material licenses have been issued, and each year approximately 1,000 new licenses are issued.6 Most uses are for medical, academic, and industrial purposes. The availability of sources increases the probability that RDD material could fall into the hands of terrorists. It is reasonable to assume that each city or large municipality in the United States has one or more licensed facilities in its territory.
U.S. radioactive material controls are stronger than those of many other countries, but they are not without lapses in accountability and security. Many radioactive sources in the United States are associated with industrial activities and are portable, lending themselves to the possibility of loss or damage. A U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) report issued in August 2003 reported that 1,300 radioactive sources had been lost, stolen, or abandoned in the United States since 1998. Those losses averaged almost 250 per year, although most were eventually recovered.7
If a law enforcement agency is either beginning or considering a preventive radiological/nuclear detection mission or is interested in enhancing its existing capabilities, a vital component is training. Individuals responsible for using detection equipment or for designing a comprehensive monitoring program must understand the equipment's functions, its limitations, and appropriate protocols for assessing whether identified radioactive material is benign or a threat.
The DNDO provides several radiation detection training courses to the first responder community. These courses range from instruction on the use of specific detectors to broader program management issues and are designed to train law enforcement and public safety officers on the handling of radiation detectors within the bounds of their operational environment. The courses provide extensive hands-on, practical exercises with radioactive material so that personnel employing this equipment can effectively perform the following tasks:
Table 1 provides a list of the courses available to support a law enforcement preventive radiological/nuclear detection program. For additional information on DNDO training opportunities, please contact Tom Bourne, deputy assistant director of the DNDO training program, via e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Prevention Planning
A law enforcement agency motivated to be part of the growing preventive radiological/nuclear detection effort needs detection capability. However, a significant amount of thought and planning is required prior to putting that first detector in service.
Primary and Secondary Screening: Detector use in a prevention program is divided into two phases: a primary screening phase and a secondary screening phase. During primary screening, an individual uses equipment that provides an initial alert for the presence of radiation. This equipment might be as small as a communication pager, worn on the belt, or a large portal device for commercial-vehicle monitoring. In addition to providing an alert to the presence of radiation, the device can provide the operator with an indication of the radiation intensity. These primary screening devices will typically not, however, provide the operator with an indication of the type of material present or the legitimacy of the source.
A secondary screening device may be necessary to further adjudicate an alarm. These devices are capable of analyzing the radiation "signature" from the material in question to determine its type. All radioactive materials emit unique radiation energies that can be assessed to determine the elements present. The unique radiation energies are the signature or "fingerprint" that allows distinction between one radioactive element and another. Secondary screening devices provide this level of technical resolution and should be accessible when adjudicating a detection event. Even secondary screening devices will not necessarily provide conclusive evidence that the radioactive material present is intended for an illicit purpose. As with any law enforcement activity, a significant amount of intuition and situational awareness is necessary to adjudicate an alarm, in addition to an organizational structure that provides sufficient technical and operational support.
Technical and Operational Support for Alarm Adjudication: Figure 5 summarizes the typical flow associated with a radiation detection alarm adjudication effort. Note that screening is not necessarily the last effort taken. If a law enforcement officer or representative is not able to successfully adjudicate the alarm, additional resources are warranted. These can be provided through state or local assets. Many regions have developed the technical capability to perform alarm adjudication. This task requires both a method of transmitting data collected from the secondary screening device and an organization capable of receiving the data and performing the analysis. Data are collected in electronic files and sent via e-mail through a desktop or wireless laptop computer. Individuals providing data collection, transmission, and analytical support must have training and experience in the study of radiation spectra. Scientific disciplines that often accompany this experience are physics and health physics.
The DNDO recognizes that the ability to adjudicate every alarm successfully is limited. One reason the JAC was established was to bridge the gap between state and local expertise and the expertise that exists within the federal government related to nuclear weapons material and design.
Within the DNDO, JAC watch officers have access to experts in nuclear smuggling, nuclear threats, terrorism, radiation phenomena, and radiation detection at the Department of Energy and DHS laboratories. These experts work to minimize the impact on the legitimate movement of people and goods by providing timely responses to all requests for technical assistance and detection alarm adjudication. The typical response time from the JAC back to a state or local agency is one hour.
In addition to a technical assessment of the data, the JAC coordinates a rapid assessment in the context of nuclear smuggling trends and threats, intelligence, and law enforcement information regarding terrorist groups and activities. Based on conclusions and recommendations provided by the JAC, the requesting site official can then make an informed determination as to whether the incident involves legitimate transportation of radioactive material or may indicate something else such as a licensing violation, criminal activity, or nuclear terrorism.
Intelligence Capabilities
To improve intelligence coordination, the federal government, through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), created field intelligence groups (FIGs) to manage intelligence-related information concerning potential U.S. threats. The groups work closely with the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs), the DNDO, and various field office squads to provide information to law enforcement personnel at the state and local levels.
On the state and local level, 38 fusion centers around the country have been created to blend relevant law enforcement and intelligence information and coordinate security measures. These fusion center efforts constitute one more resource designed to reduce threats in local communities. Analysts from the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis work side by side with state and local authorities at fusion centers across the country. These analysts facilitate the two-way flow of timely, accurate, actionable information on all types of hazards.
In the past, federal agencies were given missions that had clear-cut boundaries. Today, these same agencies still have their specific missions but have also been tasked with coming together and addressing the vital mission of preventive radiological/nuclear detection. This has resulted in a major paradigm shift. It has been recognized that individual agencies can no longer handle all of the issues involved in preventing a terrorist attack. Therefore, efforts have been consolidated to resolve the issues.
Within the DNDO, a broad complement of operational and technical staff is in place to accomplish a mission that no single organization has the expertise to fulfill. The Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of State, FBI, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard are among the organizations that provided staff to the DNDO with expertise in nuclear physics, radiation detection, and radioactive material controls. Along with training and alarm adjudication support, the following are specific DNDO objectives to support law enforcement communities and other stakeholders within the federal, state, and local governments as well as the private sector:
As discussed, there is not one type of radiation detection equipment that can satisfy all the needs of a preventive radiological/nuclear detection program. Likewise, there is not one organization with the broad expertise and assets to fully detect, assess, and adjudicate a radiological threat. It requires cooperative efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to detect, report, interdict, and ultimately prevent a catastrophic nuclear or radiological attack on the United States.■
1White House, National Strategy for Homeland Security, October 2007, http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/homeland/nshs/NSHS.pdf (accessed December 19, 2007), 16–19.2National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, Management of Terrorist Events Involving Radioactive Material, NCRP Report no. 138 (Bethesda, Maryland: National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, 2001), 13–24.3National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Twelfth Public Hearing, June 16, 2004, http://www.9-11commission.gov/archive/hearing12/9-11Commission_Hearing_2004-06-16.pdf (accessed December 19, 2007). 4International Atomic Energy Agency, The Radiological Accident in Goiânia (Vienna, Austria: International Atomic Energy Agency, 1988), http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub815_web.pdf (accessed December 19, 2007), 21–29, 115.5Richard G. Lugar, The Lugar Survey on Proliferation Threats and Responses, June 2005, http://lugar.senate.gov/reports/NPSurvey.pdf (accessed December 19, 2007), 14.6U.S. Government Accountability Office, Nuclear Security: Actions Taken by NRC to Strengthen Its Licensing Process for Sealed Radioactive Sources Are Not Effective, statement by Gregory D. Kutz, July 12, 2007, GAO-07-1038T, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d071038t.pdf (accessed December 19, 2007).7U.S. General Accounting Office, Nuclear Security: Federal and State Action Needed to Improve Security of Sealed Radioactive Sources, GAO-03-804, August 2003, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03804.pdf (accessed December 19, 2007), 4Top
From The Police Chief, vol. 75, no. 2, February 2008. Copyright held by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, 515 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 USA.


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Prep Time
Cooking Time
Total Time
We love to make this a day ahead and let the flavors meld.
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 pound crawfish tails
- 2 8-oz packages cream cheese, allowed to come to room temp
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (we prefer Louisiana brand)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon Cajun seasoning, plus some for dusting
- ½ bunch of green onions
Step 1
In a skillet melt butter, then add crawfish tails and sautee for 2-3 minutes or until fat in crawfish tails is melted.
Step 2
Set aside and allow to cool. Allow cream cheese to come to room temp.
Step 3
In a large bowl, mix together with sour cream, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and cream cheese.
Step 4
Add in crawfish tails, seasoning and green onions and fold over to integrate. Cover and refrigerate.
To serve
Create mound of mixture on a platter, lightly sprinkle with Cajun seasoning, and serve with a variety of crackers.


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Firefighters this morning extinguished flames that damaged a home on the Isle of Palms.
The fire ignited about 7 a.m. at a home on Palm Boulevard, Battalion Chief Richard Hathaway said. The flames damaged an elevated porch toward the back of the house, he said.
A family was at the home when the fire occurred. No one was hurt and the home sustained minimal damage in the incident, Hathaway said.
Firefighters believe the fire was sparked by an electrical issue, he said.


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|Welcome to the MANGA Forum.
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I Made This 2 Support Manga Entertainment, So Enjoy!Upcoming Release...Strait Jacket.http://youtube.com/watch?v=QEcuLQPvOjs
it reairs on chiller after tokko ends in september


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Report a Comment
- Rent in our region is expensive. Does that mean it's unaffordable?
- Think you know Metro? It's whichWMATA week 91
- The Obama administration says zoning is at the heart of some huge economic problems
- On Thursday, the WMATA board heard about why Metro keeps catching on fire. Then on Friday, Metro caught on fire.
- Adams Morgan could get more housing and preserve its plaza, too. But it probably won't.
- How Barcelona gets bicycling right
- Until someone cleans up this landfill, people are taking a shortcut. Can we make the shortcut better?


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Night eating and lack of sleep can sabotage weight loss. Herbalife's Prolessa Duo, when used with the Formula One meal replacement shake, satiates hunger or controls appetite, and burns fat. Along with some new resolutions to target your behavior, it assists with weight loss by sending the message to your brain that you are full and satisfied, and by burning fat.
Prolessa Duo burns fat and produces a feeling of satiation, and can easily be added to Herbalife's Formula one meal replacement shake. When used in conjunction with Herbalife's Cellular Nutrition, the basic of which is the Quick Start Program, your safe weight loss program will be off to a great start. Many satisfied customers report success with using Prolessa Duo to curb appetite and stop the night-time snacking in the evening, when taken with the Herbalife Formula One meal replacement shake. Reports have been positive, with decreased snacking before bedtime.
Alteration and commitment to increasing hours of sleep have also assisted in weight loss. A noticeable body fat reduction has been seen in customers using Prolessa Duo within one month, with up to a 10 percent decrease in body fat within 3 months.
Prolessa duo acts on the ileum in the digestive tract, where enzymes break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The ileum's wall has finger-like projections (villi), which absorb nutrients. It helps to activate the ileal brake, to increase satiety levels. Studies show that increased exposure of the ileum to nutrients produces weight loss and improved glycemic control, with improved appetite-reduction over time, suggesting that ileal break activation may achieve sustainable decreases in food consumption. Much new research is available on how ileal brake stimulation affects food intake, satiety, glycaemic control and weight loss. So, if night eating is a problem, add some Prolessa Duo to Herbalife's Formula One meal replacement and I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results! It comes in a weekly or a monthly supply, and you can get it at a discount rate just by signing up as a distributor.
Further suggestions that you may implement: Get more sleep! Recent studies show a strong relationship between decreased sleep and weight gain, so check yourself on that. Take time to relax before bedtime and make a commitment to practice good sleep hygiene.
For discounts on all Herbalife Products click here to learn how to become an Herbaife Distributor online from anywhere in the world.


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Varsity Male Athlete of the Week: Greg Miaczynski, Central Tech track and field
Greg Miaczynski, Central Tech
It was the kind of track and field weather that Greg Miaczynski sought all season.
When the sun finally shone and the temperatures finally rose during Saturday's Lock Haven High School Classic, the Central Tech senior took advantage of it.
Miaczynski showed why he's the returning District 10 Class AAA champion in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Competing at Lock Haven University's Hubert Jack Stadium, the senior set school and meet records in that event at 38.55 seconds.
Miaczynski also placed second in the 110 hurdles. His 15.08 showing in that discipline was topped only by the 15.04 of Southern Columbia's Luke Rarig.
"I was in a good mood that day," Miaczynski said about his results. "It was at the point in my season where I wanted a (personal record). I was a little off my pace in the 110, but I made up for it in the 300."
Although Elaine Benson is in charge of Central Tech's program, Miaczynski has worked more with sprint coach Dave Woodard throughout his years there.
However, as his scholastic career winds down, he thanked the entire Falcons staff for helping him achieve his success.
"They've always been behind me," he said, "pushing me and helping me to do my best."
Miaczynski will compete in his last regular-season meet with the Falcons when they take part in Saturday's North East Invitational.


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To Heaven and BackMary C. Neal
In 1999 in the Los Rios region of southern Chile, orthopedic surgeon, devoted wife and loving mother Dr. Mary Neal drowned in a kayak accident. While cascading down a waterfall, her kayak became pinned at the bottom and she was immediately and completely submerged. Des... Read More
More From: Mary C. Neal
To Heaven and Back: A Doctor's Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again: A True Story is Mary's remarkable story of her life's spiritual journey and what happened as she moved from life to death to eternal life - and back again. Detailing her feelings and surroundings in heaven, her communication with angels and her deep sense of sadness when she realized it wasn't her time, Mary shares the captivating experience of her modern-day miracle.
A story of finding a purpose on earth, an awareness of God, a closer relationship with Jesus and a personal spiritual journey, To Heaven and Back will reacquaint you with the hope, wonder, and promise of heaven, while enriching you own faith and walk with God.
Product Details:
Page Count: 240
Released: 05/2012
- Product type: Book
- Format: Softcover
- Release Date: Jun 5, 2012
- Height: 0
- Volumes/Discs: 1
- Pages: 240
- Publish Date: May 29, 2012
- Language: English
Customer ReviewsWrite your own review
- Not much about Heaven by ShuShu on 4/20/2014
I was very excited to get this book so I could read about Mary's "extraordinary" journey to heaven. A better title would be, "My Spiritual Journey After Death" or "Coincidences are Really Signs from Dead Loved Ones." There may have been only one paragraph on her journey to heaven, which really didn't consist of much at all. Basically, she got to a "hall" to continue her journey and found out she had to come back. There, that's it. Now you don't have to waste your money like I did. Well, I guess finding out that she donates some of the proceeds to charities makes me a little less upset about spending my money.
- Beautiful by Carie on 4/9/2014
I read this book twice. Thank you Dr. Neal for putting yourself, and your family into this book, and reminding us how precious life is. Also for reminding us that the universe is way more magical than we on Earth realize while we are here. I am sure that it had to be difficult to share such private parts of what you went through, and especially what your family went through with your son. I thank you for that. Your book is a blessing for so many people. All the best to you and yours. I loved this book.
- Loved the book. by bishpoul on 5/8/2013
I love the simple truth that comes from Heaven. We are so
blessed to be able to look beyond the veil and see what God
has in store for us. God bless us.
- A Gift by Schambechc on 1/5/2013
This book is a gift and I will share it with everyone I know
- Credible Account of Multidimensional Reality by Rachel on 7/6/2012
This book is a wonderful contribution to the stories, published or not, of how our human journey can and does take us into alternate reality
under certain circumstances- and not all of them involve a near death experience. Many of us have had these experiences, and they ARE utterly difficult
to put into words- thus I appreciate that this one came with the fleshing out of a human story, making for a nice, and for many, validating summer read. These experiences generally do change us for the better and are profound. I find it interesting that most of the low reviews come from "christians"- and from people who appear locked into narrow and rigid beliefs dictated by man, and not by personal spiritual experience. While that - personal spiritual experience- may be scary for some, and it may feel "safer" to stay within a rigid belief system, it certainly doesn't make for growth and understanding.
Mankind was much more connected to these very natural experiences in former times, and they remain accessible to pockets of people around the globe, but in our age of fear and extreme closed mindedness, they are seen to be on the fringes. Unless you personally have one or more of them, you have no real business commenting on the validity of hers- but reading the book with an open mind might invite such experiences to your life, for the greater good.
- A Leap of Faith by hoytann on 7/6/2012
In our analytical, data driven world, we are lulled into the belief that we know it all, or at least we can research what we don't know. That eliminates the leap of faith it takes to take part in many of the most rewarding experiences in life. If we spent time analyzing all the possible problems associated with experiences like having and raising children, getting married, moving to a new town and starting a career, most of us would stay in bed. Mary Neal has shown us that there is so much in our world that we can't actually see, but must take a leap of faith and believe. Her story is told in such a way that we are drawn in and vicariously experience all that she went through. After finishing the book, it's impossible not to continue to mentally revisit her experiences, and notice all that is holy in our own lives. This book shows you that faith comes in many forms, and can be strengthened through our interactions with those in our lives. It is hard to put this book down once you start it.
- An Angel of Light by lizziesmom1998 on 6/13/2012
An Angel of Light
Book review of To Heaven and Back, by Mary Neal, MD
I remember several years ago when my family and I took a summer trip to the Grand Canyon. The mountains were the tallest I'd ever seen, and the remoteness of the area made us feel like pioneers blazing a trail where no one had ever gone before. And then there was the time we went to see Niagara Falls. There was an abundance of cactus covering the landscape, and the scorpions and coyotes were things to be feared.
How much more would I need to write before you, the reader, would question my experiences, and eventually discard what I've written as worthless? There are no mountains at the Grand Canyon, nor cacti, nor desert creatures that live near Niagara Falls. You would know that my narrative doesn't match up with the reality of those places. You've probably seen pictures, read about, or possibly even seen them firsthand. My statements are easily disputable by anyone who knows the truth.
The same is true regarding Dr. Neal's description of her death experience. We have Scripture to teach us about Heaven, including the eyewitness experience of John, who was given an extensive glimpse into Heaven and wrote about it in the book of the Revelation. The apostle Paul also wrote about his experience when he was "caught up to the third heaven" in 2 Corinthians chapter twelve. Interestingly, after Paul's experience, he did not feel compelled to write a best seller, but rather realized that his experience could cause him to become boastful, so God gave him a thorn in his flesh to keep him humble.
In this day of religion and spirituality, there are many who claim to have had near death experiences. They describe seeing their loved ones, angels, gardens, etc. The thing I find to be most curious, is that the focus of those experiences is never on Jesus. Paul says that to be "absent from the body" is to be "present with the Lord'. Based on his statements about Heaven, combined with the totality of Scripture, I believe that Heaven is Heaven because Jesus is there. We've become so focused on our "Mansion just over the hilltop" that we've lost the real treasure of Heaven – Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who left His throne in glory to take on the form of man, humble Himself in obedience to His Father and die on a cross to ransom His people from the certainty of spending eternity apart from God. These are the statements that are sorely lacking in a book about Heaven.
I have no doubt that Dr. Neal nearly lost her life during her kayaking trip in Chile. I have no doubt that it took a miracle for her to survive oxygen deprivation, shock and injury during the arduous trek back to civilization, and ultimately back to her home. Those circumstances were real, verifiable and overwhelming. My knowledge of Scripture, however, has taught me that our minds and our hearts are easily deceived. To quote the apostle Paul once again, "…even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2 Cor 11:14). Why would Satan give a woman an experience that she attributes to God and Heaven? Maybe you should chew on that question yourself for a bit!
Other statements made throughout the book made me question the "god" of Dr. Neal's experience. For example:
"Thankfully, God is patient and God is faithful. He sits in the back seat just waiting for our invitation to move up to the front so that He can steer and press the pedals. If we give Him the car keys, He will take us on an unbelievable ride." (p 25)
That is not the God of the Bible. The true God "changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; He reveals deep and hidden things;" (Dan 2:21). He "shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb…' He "commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place…" (Job 38). He "knows when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar…Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me." (Ps 139) Ours is not some wimpy God hoping that we'll give Him the keys and let Him drive a while!
"'It was a good example of how easily things come together when one is moving in the direction of God's will. It has taken many years to truly learn that when everything seems difficult and feels as though you are swimming upstream, it is usually because you are not following the direction of God's will. When you are doing God's will, everything seems to happen without much effort or many obstacles." (p 12)
Perhaps you can think of a few Biblical folks who might disagree with that idea. A few that jump into my mind are Moses, Joseph, Paul, and Jesus. They were right smack in the middle of doing God's will, and they were pursued by an army, sold into slavery and unjustly imprisoned, stoned and crucified respectively. It's a good thing they didn't use her qualifications for reassuring themselves that they were doing God's will!
Speaking of her son, Dr. Neal wrote, "Given his very young age, I believe he still remembered God's world, which seemed to give him an understanding of the spiritual aspect of my experience and what I was going through." (p 114).
Dr. Neal mentions this idea a few other times in her book. In other words, all of us are eternal beings whose lives began in Heaven, until we were to be born as fleshly beings. This is an unbiblical teaching that is embraced by Mormons, and other cults.
My review of this book is lengthy. I could go on, but I am hopeful that what I have written will serve as a warning to those considering reading this book. I do not believe it has any basis in truth, apart from the description of her accident. Perhaps her visions were dreams, or notions sent to her from Satan to deceive the masses. I take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus "is able to keep you from stumbling…" (Jude 24). Don't be deceived. If you want to know about Heaven, read about it in the Book written by the One who made the Heavens and the earth, because "Every word of God proves true." (Proverbs 30:5)
I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for the purpose of this review. Obviously, I was not required to write a positive recommendation of this book.


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Fart or Poop? And Other Games We Play on Road Tripsamberdoty
Today my family and I are making the ten hour drive from our home down to Florida for a week long vacation. As I write this we are four hours, two and a half movies, a half dozen donuts, four cups of coffee, and one game of "fart or poop?" into our trip. (Fart.)
We waited until Anders and Danica were securely strapped into their carseats to tell them we weren't headed to pre-school today. However, the fact that we had packed half our home into the back of the car had Anders on my heels all morning demanding to know why I needed so much stuff for a day at work.
"Mom, are you going to sleep at your job tonight?"
It's a good question and it's one I've wondered myself a little too often lately, hence, the vacation.
My intent was to film the big reveal and share the video with you and I did, but unfortunately it seems the caffeine didn't have quite enough time to reach my right thumb which, at about 30 seconds in, stopped the recording unbeknownst to me. My dream of becoming a director of a major motion picture is ruined. Naturally, I'm devastated and in the remaining hours of this trip I plan to seek comfort in something truly appalling, like a gas station hot dog or some type of dehydrated meat stick made from the most undesirable parts of a menagerie of animals.
While I play the game of rest stop food poisoning roulette, please enjoy this abbreviated video of Anders learning he's going to Disney World. At one point I ask him to think of a place he really wants to go and if I had known where that was ahead of time I could've saved a bucket of money and a cross country trip. When I asked my 2-year-old what she was most looking forward to at Disney she screamed "YELLOW!"
Way to dream big, kids.


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St. Louis directory :
Beard & Brother ,
Proprietors of the
Excelsior Safe and Scale Works, No. 99 & 101 Second Street.
The Excelsior is the safe that saved the Books and Papers, after being in the
great fire of the City Buildings, Ninety Hours!
The Excelsior Scale
Took the Premium over Eairbaanks' at the Fair in Saint Louis, and is guar-
anteed to be equal to any Scale in the United States. The price is 30 per cent, Less
than the Fairbanks.
N. B.—Pumps of all descriptions, Hydrants, Plumbering, &c.


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Just days before the biggest event in football, and probably all of sports, President Barack Obama shared an opinion that might dampen the enthusiasm of the NFL.
In an interview that will appear in the Feb. 11 issue of The New Republic, Obama said: "I'm a big football fan, but I have to tell you if I had a son, I'd have to think long and hard before I let him play football."
The two head coaches for Sunday's Super Bowl, brothers John and Jim Harbaugh, don't agree with the president.
"Football is a great game," Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh told the Denver Post. "And anybody who's played the game knows what a great game it is, what it provides for young people, what it provided for people like me. I think it's a huge part of our educational system in our country and it's going to be around a long time."
Said San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh: "Well, I have a 4-month old, almost 5-month old son — Jack Harbaugh — and if President Obama feels that way, then there will be a little bit less competition for Jack Harbaugh when he gets old."
Concern about the violence of the sport and the lasting harm to players continues to garner attention. Studies linking football to long-term degenerative brain damage and suicides of former players have many parents questioning whether they should let their children play the game.
Just as there is disagreement among current and former players, coaches, and fans on this issue, there also is debate among healthcare professionals and sports medicine experts. I polled some experts for their opinions:
Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, pediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital:
"If it were my child, I'd never let them play football. No way. For my boys, the risks are too large, the sentiments too cruel, and the gains simply not worth it. There are plenty of other sports teams out there to grow, exercise, form friendships, and excel."
Dr. Steve A. Mora, orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon in Orange County, California:
"Playing football certainly increases the chances of extremity injuries as well as concussions. I've seen so many football injuries in my career that it really does make me think twice about letting my kids play. At the same time, my viewpoint is skewed because I only see the injuries. Overall most kids on a football team remain injury free. So yes, if my children were passionate about football, I would allow them to play as long as they were not getting repeatedly injured. I would not allow my children to play if they suffered a single concussion."
Dr. Ford Vox, brain injury specialist at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta:
"If I had a son, I would steer him towards other sports. The key issue is whether children can really give informed consent for sport. I don't think they can, so parental judgment will have to supplement the child's preferences. Once a kid is mature enough to take on responsibilities like driving and voting, if they remained passionate about football, I'd make sure they know the apparent risk, but they'd receive my support in their choice."
Dr. Andrew Blecher, primary care sports medicine physician at the Southern California Orthopaedic Institute:
"Football has much to offer but also comes with significant risks. When he is old enough and mature enough to understand these risks and make an educated decision then I would let him play. However, I truly believe that the long-term cognitive decline consequences of playing football are not due to a few concussions but rather due to the repetitive sub-concussive hits to the head that occur on a daily basis. Therefore, I would strongly recommend that he not play lineman, linebacker or running back."
Dr. Christopher Geary, orthopaedic surgeon and Chief of Sports Medicine at Tufts Medical Center in Boston:
"I'm sure a lot more data will come out before I am confronted by this decision, and hopefully effective new safety measures will be instituted. Right now, though, I would say that I would not intentionally steer him to football but I would not specifically prohibit him from playing. Not that I wouldn't be nervous every time he took the field to some degree, but if he came to me and wanted to play I would let him."
Dr. Jonathan Edwards, Chief of Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina and Director of the MUSC Sports Neurosciences Program:
"The short answer is no. I enjoy watching football, but I think the current state of the game is that hard hitting, hard tackles, head injuries, and other chronic residual ailments are so commonplace that I would steer them to other sport options. There has been some progress in terms of equipment, changes in rules, shifts in focus in coaching, but for my own kids, I would prefer other ways for them to get exercise and learn teamwork."
Dr. David Geier is an orthopaedic surgeon and Director of MUSC Sports Medicine. For more information about football injuries and other sports medicine topics, go to his blog at drdavidgeier.com.


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When Valerie Horton was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, she chose a doctor with Summa who came highly recommended by friends who worked at other medical facilities. With technology and specialized services in the treatment of women's cancers, she felt confident in choosing Summa.
"Summa did a good job of explaining things to me. I had surgery on June 8. It was an outpatient surgery, surprisingly."
Horton had six and a half weeks of radiation treatment thereafter.
"I am cancer free today…if I'm going to live, for my husband and my son, then these are the people that I think I should place myself in the hands of."
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency, whose disaster relief track record is spotty at best, rarely conjures up warm images in the eyes of the American public.
In an apparent effort to revamp its image, the agency is billing itself as "federal family" in its latest disaster response efforts.
"Under the direction of President Obama and Secretary Janet Napolitano, the entire federal family is leaning forward to support our state, tribal, and territorial partners along the East Coast," a FEMA news release declared Aug. 26 as Hurricane Irene made landfall.
Some suggest the phrase "federal family" conjures images of big brother.
''They're trying to personalize the federal government. But that ain't the way to do it,'' Republican political consultant Frank Luntz said.
''Some smart Republican is going to come along and compare it to 1984 and Big Brother. It's 1984 all over again," he said.
Meanwhile, FEMA spokeswoman Rachel Racusen was quick to note the term was not new.
''The term 'federal family' is a phrase that FEMA has used frequently in public materials for years, spanning multiple administrations and federal responses to disasters,'' she said.
After Irene, FEMA Running Low on Funds
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Top Erie, Crawford employers' list shows only slight changes
A single manufacturer, two hospital systems, a school district, three levels of government, a social service agency, an insurance company and a discount chain -- those are Erie County's 10 largest employers.
That breakdown, part of a larger top 50 list compiled by the state Department of Labor & Industry, shows only minor changes from the one published a year earlier.
Gone from the list is the Millcreek Township School District, replaced at No. 10 by the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute.
With about 1,500 local employees, Scott Enterprises belongs on the list, but is excluded because its employees are paid by individual hotels and restaurants.
Crawford County's top 10 list also includes a similar mix of employers -- a hospital, two levels of government, three school districts, a discount chain, a college and two manufacturers.
The two lists are bound together by what economist Jim Kurre, a Penn State Behrend professor and director of the Economic Research Institute of Erie, thinks could be key to the region's relative success in the most recent recession.
Both lists represent a level of employment diversity that continues to grow more pronounced.
Manufacturers, which would have dominated such a list 30 years ago, continue to be important employers, accounting for 20,500 jobs in Erie County and 6,800 in Crawford County.
But save perhaps for school district and government employment, no one sector dominates the local economy.
Manufacturers, which account for 15 percent of all nonfarm jobs in Erie County, represent just six of the top 50 employers.
The rest are a mix of retailers, social service agencies, medical centers and nursing homes, schools, staffing firms and service-sector businesses.
Kurre maintains our increasingly diverse economy is part of the reason that Erie County's unemployment rate has been below the national rate for 21 months.
This wasn't always the case.
For most of the past 50 years, recessions in Erie tended to last longer and result in a higher percentage of lost jobs than in other parts of the country.
During the recession of the early 1980s, for instance, unemployment in Erie peaked at more than 18 percent, while the U.S. rate topped out at 10.8 percent.
That trend changed in this most recent recession, and Kurre gives some of the credit to a balanced economy, heavy on education and medicine.
Economic diversity isn't without its shortcomings.
Manufacturing jobs, which today represent a smaller slice of our local economy, tend to pay more. In fact, manufacturing accounted for just 13.2 percent of all Erie County jobs in 2009 but generated 21.5 percent of all income, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
And while Erie County's unemployment rate is below the national average, local income has been falling relative to the national average for decades.
In fact, 1973 was the last time Erie's per capita income matched the national average. That, it's worth noting, was the same year that manufacturing employment in Erie County reached its high.
JIM MARTIN can be reached at 870-1668 or by e-mail.


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First of all, I am an amateur at running and installing sound systems.
We recently set up a new sound system in our church and I have been having trouble getting it to work properly.
Equipment: Shure ULX Wireless Mic system, Mackie 802-VLZ3 mixer, Crown XLS202 Amp, JBL Control-23 speakers
Problem: In order to get any volume I have to run the system with the gain, line level. master volume control on the mixer, and the amp controls very high. When I do this I have a lot of background noise even without anything plugged into the mixer.
Anyone have an idea where my problem is? I need to get this fixed, our pastor has all the sermons recorded and the recordings sound terrible with all the noise.
low volume from Crown xls202
Started by ranger, Mar 31 2011 12:05 PM
3 replies to this topic
Posted 31 March 2011 - 12:05 PM
Posted 31 March 2011 - 01:27 PM
Are you using the XLR / Main out of the Mackie to plug into the XLS202's XLR inputs?
Posted 31 March 2011 - 03:06 PM
Are you using the XLR / Main out of the Mackie to plug into the XLS202's XLR inputs?
Posted 31 March 2011 - 05:54 PM
The XLS202 should only need 1.4Vrms (corresponds to 0dB on most mixers) to clip with the knobs turned up all the way. Is there any way you could verify that you have this signal level coming out of the mixer? Also make sure that all 3 pins are connected properly on the XLR link. In other words, if you have reason to doubt your cable (i.e. it's home-made or nonstandard) then check on it.


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|hope college > academic > religion
The Department of Religion is a department within the Humanities Division presenting an area of study and research which students may choose as the focus of their liberal arts education. The Department of Religion is comprised of four fields: Biblical Studies, Historical Studies, Theological Studies, and Studies in World Religions.
There are four (4) Religion Major options: 1) Comprehensive; 2) Biblical Studies; 3)Christian History and Theology; and 4) Ethics, Culture and Social Witness.
Comprehensive Religion Major
The Comprehensive Religion Major offers a broad program of study that includes courses in Biblical Studies, Church History, Christian Theology, Christian Ethics, and World Religions. While some may focus their studies in one of these areas, this major provides a broad exposure to different areas of study.
Religion plays a central role in social, political, and economic events, as well as in the lives of communities and individuals. The Religion Major offers you an excellent way to understand and navigate the complex and diverse world of the twenty-first century.
Biblical Studies Major
The scriptures of Judaism and Christianity are the defining texts of these faith traditions. They contain the stories of its ancestors and heroes, the likes of Abraham and Sarah, Joshua, David, and Jesus of Nazareth. The biblical books also contain worship songs and love poems, laws, and wise counsel, prophecy and tales of apocalyptic terror. There's so much to love and appreciate! What better way than by choosing a Biblical Studies Religion Major.
Scripture is a great starting point for understanding Jewish and Christian history, theology, and Christian ethics. It would serve you tremendously well as a primary major if you intend to enter the field of ministry, and is great preparation for seminary or graduate school in biblical studies. Or it would be a wonderful double major for personal and professional enrichment.
Christian History and Theology Major
The major in Christian History and Theology focuses upon Christian theology, the value of the Church, and the day-to-day devotion of ordinary believers. It offers you the opportunity to grow in your knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith.
The ultimate goal of historical and theological sutdy is to enable Christians to better understand and share in the worship of God and love of neighbors. At the core of this knowledge is the desire to be shaped by God's revelation in Scripture. Therefore, in both required and elective courses you will be trained to consider critically the meaning of Christian doctrine, evaluate the enduring contribution of key figures, and to understand the living and dynamic shape of the Christian faith.
Ethics, Culture and Social Witness Major
Are you interested in considering a career with a Christian service organization or a career in mission? Would you like to learn about how to connect the things you believe with the challenges Christians face in a complex world? Are you being challenged to think more deeply about what it means to live your faith every day?
Students pursing a religion major in Ethics, Culture, and Social Witness will focus on topics such as: How do religion and culture influence each other? How can Christians engage in practices that change the world? How do Christians engage in moral reflection? What does it mean to care for the earth, to seek justice, and to the things that make for peace, to bind up the wounds of people who are afflicted? Because Christian Ethics is fundamentally concerned with the way Christians live out their convictions in their cultural context, this major places a special emphasis on the way Christian faith is embodied in social witness.
A minor consists of a minimum of 20 credits, including three courses at the 200 level and two courses at the 300 or 400 level. The minor must include one 400 level Religion seminar. Religion 100 does not count toward a minor.


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Groktimus Primal's - Evil Legumes
I'm finally at the point where I am adding back the one food I truly miss which is peanuts / peanut butter. I don't really care for almonds and I'm pretty sure they contribute to my headaches. I like macadamia nuts but it will be nice to eat something much cheaper and different for a change. Brazil nuts are a favorite too but they are also somewhat rare and pricey. The grains I don't miss and they are never coming back I will have to start measuring the quantity I eat because they are addictive and the carb/calorie profile is so-so. Hopefully I won't be cast down into the pit a Primal darkness!


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Published: October 30, 2013
Amended: May 28, 2014
For 2010 Strategic Plan and performance indicators, visit the archived Strategic Plan. The plan is also available in PDF format.
The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) is the "health college" of George Mason University. It is where health research meets health practice and service delivery. By integrating our educational programs, our clinical and community-based research, and our community engagement efforts, CHHS strives to provide a rigorous and innovative learning experience for our students, to be a major provider of the health care workforce in northern Virginia, and to produce new knowledge to address critical health and social issues in policy and practice, while both faculty and students are actively engaged in improving the health and well-being of people both locally and globally.
CHHS has a threefold mission:
From this mission, we derive corresponding goals:
The following section describes five major initiatives, either planned or already underway, that translate our mission and broad goals into discrete objectives for serving our four major constituencies: students, faculty/staff, our community, and the world. Although our vision is ambitious and contains significant challenges, CHHS is confident we can overcome those challenges and accomplish our goals. Reaching each of these will require the concerted efforts of our faculty, staff, students, and community partners.
We continue to receive recognition and full accreditation of our academic programs. While two of our departments are less than two years old and have five or fewer faculty, all our programs are thriving. New, highly qualified faculty have been hired, student enrollment has doubled in the last seven years, and the potential for growth is considerable. Moreover, health care is one of the top 10 workforce needs in the northern Virginia region, so CHHS is strategically positioned to play a major role in supplying the needed health care and human services professionals. To do this, we must expand and strengthen programs within existing departments. These efforts will include:
As proposed in our last strategic plan, we aim to create two new departments within the next five years: a Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and a Department of Environmental and Occupational Health. Each of these would be spun off by our current Department of Global and Community Health, building on specific faculty already here but adding new faculty as appropriate. These departments will be necessary building blocks for a new school of public health.
We have made considerable progress toward developing Virginia's first School of Public Health that will be merged within CHHS to become the College of Public Health and Human Services. The Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH), the accrediting body for educational programs in public health, has set forth requirements for a school of public health: 1) offering graduate degree programs in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Behavioral Sciences, and Health Administration; and 2) offering at least three doctoral programs in public health. Since CEPH already has accredited our Master of Public Health (MPH) degree (which serves as the Behavioral Sciences program), and the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) has accredited our Master of Health Administration degree, and our first doctoral program (Health Services Research) is nearing approval, we are well on our way to meeting CEPH standards.
Our next steps will be the creation of the two new departments (mentioned above)—Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Environmental and Occupational Health—along with doctoral programs in epidemiology and behavioral sciences.
Our public health faculty in the Departments of Global and Community Health, Health Administration and Policy, and Nutrition and Food Studies will contribute to meeting CEPH faculty requirements for a school of public health. In addition, we plan to offer joint graduate degree programs that combine public health with both nursing and social work. The result will be a stronger college that is capable of contributing multidisciplinary trained health practitioners and researchers able to meet the changing health care workforce needs of the region.
Our college has been a leader in converting courses and programs into distance learning format. Our degree-completion program in nursing, where students with a registered nursing license (RN) can enter and earn their BSN degree, is now completely on-line, as are the core course requirements for the master's degree in nursing. Every department offers one or more of its required undergraduate or graduate courses on-line.
We plan to add an on-line pathway for our very popular MPH degree within the next two years to expand access to more students in the southern part of Virginia and those out-of-state or in other countries.
CHHS is very interested in participating in the new INTO-GMU Partnership to recruit more international students to our programs. While we already attract a large number of ethnic U.S. residents (second-generation Americans or U.S. residents) and have a high percentage of nursing students from other countries, we see considerable value in attracting more international students to our other programs.
We are considering offering INTO access to our undergraduate programs in community health, health administration (especially the health informatics concentration), and social work. Graduate programs might include the master of public health, master of health informatics, and master of nutrition.
We plan to revise faculty evaluations to include metrics on innovative course design, use of on-line technology, and experiential learning.
CHHS is committed to promoting an innovative learning experience for students inside and outside the classroom. Most of our programs require a cumulative learning experience including clinical internships, community placements, and community and global capstone experiences. The majority of our departments provide state-of-the-art laboratory learning experiences to students, e.g., Nursing's Patient Simulation Laboratory, Rehabilitation Science's Functional Performance Laboratory, and the Health Informatics Learning Laboratory (HILL) in the Department of Health Administration and Policy. Given the strong student outcomes we see from these experience-based learning, we plan to expand opportunities for more students to benefit.
We routinely send letters from the Dean to all our students who achieve Dean's List status and recognize outstanding academic achievement at every college convocation. In addition, we also are quite concerned about students whose academic performance is not up to par. We have designated one academic advisor in our Office of Student Affairs to monitor and advise every student who, for either academic or non-academic reasons, shows evidence of struggling with their course work. Our goal is to forestall further academic distress and prevent dropout. In addition, we fully cooperate with the university Office of Student Academic Affairs, Advising, and Retention in their efforts to improve retention of students.
Because our Ph.D. students have significant difficulty in completing their degrees within a reasonable time period, we plan to improve student advisement and revise and clarify the requirements for the dissertation proposal and research to streamline and shorten the overall process.
We have created a Dean's Student Travel Fund to support a portion of the travel expenses for CHHS students, either graduate or undergraduate, who are presenting or co-presenting research papers at national conferences. Providing college financial support for such activities will generate student interest in research, and attendance at a national conference will expand scientific horizons and strengthen commitment to research. While these awards currently are competitive and limited to two per year, we plan to raise additional funds for this purpose to expand the number of students who can benefit from attending research conferences to ten per year.
We view students' involvement with faculty research as beneficial to both students and faculty, and we will work to increase the number of students engaged in such collaborations by making co-authoring and co-presenting with students an explicit criterion of faculty merit, promotion, and post-tenure evaluation.
The School of Nursing recently developed two community health clinics, one in Prince William County and the other in Fairfax County, to deliver acute and preventive health care to populations in need. These part-time clinics offer practice opportunities for faculty and hands-on educational opportunities for students. We will seek to develop additional partnerships throughout the region.
Immigrant and migrant health and health disparities are significant public health issues. Three CHHS departments (Nursing, Social Work, Nutrition & Food Studies) have faculty engaged in health research and or service with immigrant and migrant populations in Virginia and West Virginia. We will expand our work with migrant and immigrant communities through formal ties to such groups and county departments of health in the form of collaborative research partnerships, curriculum development, and student field placement.
In addition, preparing students in cultural aspects of these issues and how to address them would be an innovative and unique educational goal for CHHS. Therefore, we plan to strengthen the exposure to multiple cultures in specific courses and research projects related to immigrant and migrant health.
We plan to create a new position within the college for an Associate Dean for Community Engagement to direct and develop both educational (e.g., academic outreach) and service (community health clinics) opportunities for community residents, health and social service providers, and local governments. This position will be charged to increase communications both ways between our programs and the broad community as a necessary process for increasing community support of CHHS.
The proposed new building for the College of Health and Human Services (Academic VII/Research III) is Mason's investment in achieving the University's strategic goals related to the H component of the STEM-H initiative. One wing of that building is planned as a Community Health Institute (CHI), an active clinic to address the university's health, well-being, and community engagement goals. The CHI will bring together in a practice setting faculty from different departments, which also will facilitate research collaboration and multidisciplinary training of our students. The Community Health Institute will provide researchers and practitioners experience in research translation and implementation of evidence-based clinical practice, and students will learn best practices in treatment, coordination of care, and management of health services. CHI will be the point of entry for community residents to receive basic health care services, and it will promote individual and community wellness. CHI is central to our vision of the college as a comprehensive, multidisciplinary educational and research setting for the next generation of health care professionals.
Specifically, CHHS will:
The discovery of new knowledge through research is a key element of our mission. Although the College of Health and Human Services is only ten years old, we have made remarkable strides in developing our research base in that time. Currently, our annual research expenditures are about $4 million, and new grants in FY13 amounted to $9.4 million. To enhance our research capacity, we are investing heavily in both new tenure-track faculty and research infrastructure in the form of the Human Performance Laboratory for Rehabilitation Science, the Health Informatics Learning Laboratory in Health Administration and Policy, and the nutrition kitchen. But our research capacity and our ambition clearly are far greater.
Accordingly, our goal is to triple the amount of externally funded research from $4 to $12 million in annual research expenditures. To achieve this goal, CHHS will encourage and support faculty to develop externally funded research by:
Our current global reach through teaching, research and service is fairly extensive, extending to Africa, Europe, South and Central America, Australia, and Asia. In addition, we have led the development of several MOUs with universities outside the U.S. However, one of our goals is to improve CHHS's global presence. A greater proportion of our students should participate in global health and human service activities and develop cultural competence, especially in the context of research and service delivery. To accomplish this goal, CHHS will:
With the creation of a School of Public Health, the College of Health and Human Services will expand to become the College of Public Health and Human Services. By offering cross-school and -college joint-degree programs, and adding other new health-related degree programs, our enrollment will show considerable growth beyond what is anticipated for current degree programs. Moreover, the construction of Academic VII/Research III as the College's new home will become the very cornerstone of our plan and will create a powerful integrative force for the College. By providing a functional and supportive home for all our faculty, programs, labs, and students, the new building, including the Community Health Institute, will allow and foster growth, innovative multidisciplinary educational models, and a close coordination of faculty research and practice and student learning.