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Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Total Time
Prep 5 mins
Cook 20 mins
Delicious baked sweet potato french fries---I got this recipe from Food Network's website.
Ingredients Nutrition
- 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced like steak fries
- 29.58 ml olive oil
- salt and pepper
- feel free to add whatever seasoning you like. garlic powder, taco seasoning, etc
- Preheat oven to 425. In a large mixing bowl, drizzle oil over the potatoes. Add seasoning mix and toss to coat. Place fries in one even layer cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes, turn and bake 10 more minutes. Fries should be soft on the inside and browned on the outside.
Most Helpful
I make these quite often...they're a good way to eat a sweet potato (which is very good for you). I used cayenne pepper, garlic powder and salt. Delicious!
If your family hasn't tried these fries, they are really missing out. Use the suggested spices or those of your choice. I like garlic and Italian seasonings. Thanks for posting.
This is the perfect recipe for a beginner 'yammer'. I used Paula Deen's 'house' seasoning: garlic powder, pepper and salt with a bit of onion powder. They were so delicious - there wasn't enough! I only bought 2 sweet potatoes because I wasn't sure we'd like them. I will be going back to the store directly to make more! Thank you for the simple, healthy recipe! (Actually looking forward to trying the taco seasoning.)


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SARANAC LAKE - An art exhibit honoring the journey people face when confronted by cancer is currently on display at Adirondack Medical Center, a member of Adirondack Health.
Launched in 2004, the Lilly Oncology on Canvas Art Competition and Exhibition invites people who are diagnosed with any type of cancer, as well as those affected by the diagnosis, to express through art and narrative the life-affirming changes that give their cancer journey meaning. Prizes for the winning artwork consist of donations made to the cancer-related charities of the artist's choice. Art from the competition is then put on display at hospitals, cancer centers and cancer advocacy group events.
The current display at the Saranac Lake hospital features 20 pieces of work from the Lilly art exhibit. They are located in the hallway near Medical Imaging, which provides services such as mammography, CT scans and other diagnostic radiology (X-ray).
Article Photos
Michelle Golonka, an executive sales specialist with Lilly USA, hangs artwork that is part of an exhibit honoring the journey people face when confronted by cancer.
(Photo courtesy of AMC)
The exhibit will be on display until April 6 and is open to public viewing during normal hospital hours.
Visit www.LillyOncologyOnCanvas.com for more information on the Lilly Oncology on Canvas program, or to submit artwork.

subset: commoncrawl


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|Featured products from Pharmaceutical Technology's monthly newsletter, Equipment & Processing Report
The cart incorporates a retaining tank that facilitates steam sterilization. A steam-rated hose connects to the condensate outlet, enabling the operator to handle the sterilization process safely. If the tank fills up with condensate, it can be removed and drained easily. A pressure transducer in the steam line does not allow the operator to disconnect the hose until the pressure in the steam loop is zero. In addition, a programmable logic control (PLC) guides the operator through the sampling steps, thereby reducing the amount of training needed.
Kaeser Compressors
Each unit includes a blower, motor, drive, silencers, controls, and a full enclosure. The enclosure attenuates noise, protects the package from dirt and dust, and keeps the blower properly ventilated. The integrated package is designed to facilitate maintenance and installation. Operators need only make a piping connection and an electrical connection to set up the blowers.
The DB 166C and DB 236 units have a small footprint and are easily moved. The blowers are appropriate for pneumatic conveying of process components, chemicals, bulk powders, and pills.


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Jump to navigation
A few weeks from now, my wife and I will pack our only child and all her gear into the back of our rapidly aging Ford Escape with a big new college decal on the back window. We will drive her across five states and 500 miles to Chapel Hill, N.C. Interstate 95 will henceforth be known in our home as the Trail of Tears.
There is nothing novel about my family's bittersweet road trip. And despite how anachronistic and inefficient college has become, I expect and hope that the sight of cars packed to the windows with bedding, clothes, and the trappings of teenage life will remain a late summer fixture on America's highways for generations to come.
Few spheres of American life are more ripe for disruption by technology and price pressures than our higher education system. College can be difficult to defend in the face of runaway tuition, crushing debt, and educational outcomes of questionable value. Undergraduate teaching is too often treated as an afterthought at major research universities. The next scandal with big-time college sports is never far away. Good jobs requiring technical skills go unfilled while philosophy majors make cappuccinos at Starbucks. Students still pile...
It's no secret that principals are pretty stoked when students who transfer into their schools have a history of high scores on required annual tests. School leaders feel great pressure to perform in the public eye, and having a few more kids to bump those numbers up is certainly a welcome surprise.
It's usually light hearted and all in good fun when they say, "ooh, we'll gladly take her," knowing that with each academically strong test taker, their overall school profile is likely to at least hold steady and hopefully even improve. The more 4s and 5s their students get on PARCC or Smarter Balanced, the better they look to district and state leaders, as well as parents, reporters, prospective home buyers, and the community at large.
I have no problem with a school leader wanting to land a good headline for performing well in every way, including on mandated tests. Who wouldn't want a new kid coming in who scored double 5s on PARCC last year?
But this relationship needs to be a reciprocal one in which all parties get what they need. And in far too many schools, that symbiosis is missing.
The high achieving test...
As readers may recall, I'm in the middle of a series of posts about ways we can improve our schools beyond changing public policy. If this is only mildly familiar, it might be because of the hiatus since my last contribution, which is due to my procrastinating. And for good reason, I believe: I have very mixed feelings about the argument I'm about to make.
The argument is simple: If we want to improve our schools and school systems, we need to do much better at recruiting, developing, placing, and supporting effective leaders. That much is plain common sense, and not very controversial. Various strains of "effective schools" research going back decades find that leadership is essential for excellence.
Where I get hung up, though, is with the idea that great leaders can make schools—and especially school districts—work well, given the dysfunction of the larger system within which they must work, and the Gordian knot that's been tied by decades of contradictory, often compromising, laws and regulations, not to mention the impossible politics often created by unruly elected school boards. (A knot that reform—especially charter schooling—has tried to cut.)
Strong leaders are surely better...
Every instructional strategy, from direct instruction to the flipped classroom, elicits both negative and positive outcomes depending on when, where, and how it is employed. When it comes to using competition, however, schools tend to favor cooperative learning as the preferred approach for inter-student activities designed to increase learning and motivation.
Negative views of competition stem from early research purporting that its use in most contexts led to undermined motivation, negative self-concept, and anxiety on the part of participants. However, research on resiliency highlights the fact that adverse conditions do not universally lead to despair; they may, in fact, fuel motivation for high levels of achievement. Failure to achieve valued goals (e.g., winning a competition) may hurt, but the result does not have to be debilitating. In fact, experiences with competition during youth present opportunities to fail under safe conditions. In doing so, they provide lessons on how to manage the range of emotions and possible behavioral responses to setbacks, particularly for those who have been sheltered from such experiences. Thus, participating in competitions also facilitates teaching about coping skills in the face of disappointment.
Another important benefit of competition is deriving feedback that leads to self-reflection and improvement. If...
When it comes to reform for urban school systems, effective community organizing is crucial. Community Organizing for Stronger Schools: Strategies and Successes takes an in-depth look at the practice and how it affects schools.
The authors conducted a six-year longitudinal study on eight groups across the United States, all of which had been in existence for at least five years: the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, Oakland Community Organizations, Chicago ACORN, Austin Interfaith, Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope, People Acting for Community Together, Community Coalition, and the Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project. The data sources included: archival documents, adult member survey, youth survey, observations, interviews, teacher survey, public administration data, and media coverage. Dating back to 2003, the study is one of the largest ever to examine the relationship between community organizing and educational outcomes.
Across the sites studied, community organizing was shown to increase awareness of the needs of low-income parents and youth of color. This organizing was characterized by frequent meetings and interactions between organizers and education leaders that typically included discussions around joint reform efforts and implementation.
More district resources were also allocated for low-performing, high-poverty schools, and new policy initiatives echoed the proposals of community organizers. For...
This report from Civic Enterprises and Hart Research Associates provides a trove of data on students experiencing homelessness—a dramatically underreported and underserved demographic, according to the U.S. Department of Education—and makes policy recommendations (some more actionable than others) to help states, schools, and communities better serve students facing this disruptive life event.
To glean the information, researchers conducted surveys of homeless youth and homeless liaisons (school staff funded by the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act who have the most in-depth knowledge regarding students facing homelessness), as well as telephone focus groups and in-depth interviews with homeless youth around the country. The findings are sobering.
A new Mathematica study examines whether principal evaluations are accurate predictors of principal effectiveness as measured by student achievement. Researchers have done some research on the validity of teacher evaluation measures, but principal measures are less studied.
The authors examine a principal evaluation measure called the "Framework for Leadership" (FLL), which was developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as part of a mandated revision of the state's principal evaluation process. Superintendents and other district supervisors use the tool to assess principals, and it includes twenty leadership practices grouped into four domains. These domains comprise practices that, when employed by principals, the state believes can raise student achievement. The four domains are strategic/cultural leadership, systems leadership, leadership for learning, and professional and community leadership (more on some of these later).
The study uses data from the pilot implementation of the FLL—which had no consequences for principals who participated—during the 2013–14 school year. The study focuses on 305 of the 517 principals in the pilot for whom the analysts had suitable administrative data. It included state test scores for all Pennsylvania students who were administered state math and reading tests from 2006–07 to 2013–14, in grades 3–8 and the eleventh grade....
Late July might be famous for potato chips and trips to the beach. But it's also the time when America's inequality, like the hot summer sun, is at its zenith, particularly for our children. Affluent kids are spending their days (and often their nights) at camp or traveling the world with their families, picking up knowledge, skills, and social connections that will help them thrive at school and beyond. Needless to say, these experiences are seldom accessible to their less affluent peers.
As Robert Putnam argued in his landmark book Our Kids—and again in his recent report, Closing the Opportunity Gap—there is a growing class gulf in spending on children's enrichment and extracurricular activities (things like sports, summer camps, piano lessons, and trips to the zoo). As the upper-middle class grows larger and richer, it is spending extraordinary sums to enhance its kids' experience and education; meanwhile, other children must make do with far less. (Putnam got the data for his chart from this study.)
Source: Kornrich, S. & Furstenberg, F. (2013), Investing in children: changes in parental spending on children, 1972-2007
More critically, that...
We hear parents, teachers, and students use the word hope every day. But what exactly does it mean? When we read or hear the word, we might think of a positive outlook or desire, yet its true definition is nebulous. It implies that something will automatically or magically occur without effort. Even though having an optimistic outlook is important to overall well-being, a person with an unstructured and immeasurable concept of hope is prey to vague expectations—as if he is a passive bystander waiting for an outcome to come about.
What happens when it is instead viewed as an active construct? Studies have found that hope, when used in a proactive manner, can become a useful framework to help achieve goals and contribute to personal and psychological health.
Positive Psychology: A Strengths Approach
Historically, psychologists have approached the study of psychological well-being from a deficit perspective, focusing on treating and alleviating pathologies. Over time, they have taken an increasingly proactive and positive approach to the study and development of individuals and their happiness. Positive psychologists focus on developing personal strengths, fostering the growth of positive responses to adversity, and strengthening social and emotional foundations in patient's lives. They study well-being, contentment, and...
Tim Kaine, the junior United States senator from Virginia, is the Democratic Party's vice presidential candidate, running alongside Hillary Clinton. The duo will face off in November against the Republication Party's Donald Trump and Mike Pence and the Libertarian Party's Gary Johnson and William Weld.
Education issues are familiar to Kaine. He was the governor of Virginia before becoming a U.S. senator, and his wife, Anne Holton, has served as Virginia's secretary of education. Here are some of his views:
1. The Every Student Succeeds Act: "I'm pleased to report that Congress passed a bipartisan education reform bill in December 2015 called the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This bill replaces the long-expired and broken legislation known as No Child Left Behind. It will make changes that educators and families support, like decreasing the emphasis on standardized testing and giving states the flexibility to close achievement gaps." July 2016.
2. Free college: "We will make college debt-free for everybody." July 2016.
3. Importance of education: "Education was the key to everything we wanted to achieve as a state [when I was governor of Virginia], and it's the key to everything we want to...


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Introversion's Prison Architect paid alpha raises over $100,000
Tiered payment system boosts UK developer's latest project
Introversion's latest title, Prison Architect, has raised over $100,000 in its first days, as users download and pay for access to the maximum security prison sim.
The alpha build went live on Wednesday September 26, and offers players a range of payment options through a pre-order system.
Speaking at the Eurogamer Expo over the weekend, Introversion's Chris Delay and Mark Morris revealed that in 72 hours the game had raised $101,145 with 2667 sales, with tiered pricing ranging from $30 to $1000.
A tiered pricing system inspired by Kickstarter offers multiple options, from access to the alpha and a copy of the game, to art books and soundtracks, special editions and users paying to be digitalised in the game. The exact break down of those sales follows:
- Base ($30) - 1801
- Aficionado ($35) - 343
- Introversioner ($40) - 134
- Name in the Game ($50) - 302
- Physical Pleasures ($100) - 69
- Digital-Immorto-Criminalise Your Face ($250) - 13
- Shake it Like a Polaroid Picture ($500) - 1
- Warden Norton I Presume? ($1000) - 4
From GamesIndustry.biz Recommendations by Taboola


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Duluth, MN (NNCNOW.com) --- Warm and sunny weather welcomed 500 people as they walked together for stronger, healthier babies at the Duluth March for Babies Saturday, April 27.
The DECC and Lakewalk were host to strollers, families and corporate teams who raised more than $85,000 to help babies be born healthy.
Special guests at the day's events included the 2013 Duluth Ambassador Family, Nate and Kelly Alvar who formed Team Alvar in memory of their two sons Isaiah and Mason, who passed away due to birth defects and prematurity. They walk in honor of their other two sons Jonas and Elias.
This year, Team Alvar raised more than $21,000 for the March for Babies. To date, they've raised more than $85,000.
The top four teams included Team Alvar, UnitedHealth Care, Northland MOPs and St. Luke's Hospital.
Money raised by the event funds research, education and community programs. This year, the March of Dimes, the leading non-profit organization for maternal and infant health, celebrates its 75th anniversary and its ongoing work to help all babies get a healthy start in life.
Posted to the web by Krista Burns


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|[TenTec] The 'big loop' question
|email@example.com (rohre)
|23 Sep 1997 14:18:28 -0500
A one wave length loop antenna satisfies the condition of having balance of inductive and capacitive terms. Any multiple of a wave length antenna that has balance of capacitance and inductance is by the definition, a resonant antenna. A resistor inserted at the far side from the feed in some antennas terminates the antenna so as to change its directional character, in the case of rhombics and Vees or Beverages. In the case cited, the loop could be considered a special case of a rhombic. Incidentally, the statement to the effect that all the radiation had happened before the end of the antenna was reached, seems at varience with the texts. Kraus, in "Antennas" notes that in order for radiation to occur, there must be a discontinuity or change of conductor direction. But, doesn't the energy distribute itself over the whole antenna in order for this to happen? -- FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm Submissions: firstname.lastname@example.com Administrative requests: firstname.lastname@example.com Problems: email@example.com Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
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HOLYOKE - Police are seeking donations of toys for the narcotics unit's annual distribution of gifts to children of low-income families on Christmas Eve, Detective Anthony M. Brach said Thursday.
Toys may be brought to the Police Station at 138 Appleton St. or people may make arrangements by calling Brach at (413) 322-6950, he said.
Officers hand out the gifts at homeless shelters and in the high-crime areas and drug hotspots where families and children saw police during the year making arrests, he said.


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Unnecessary Preposition
Modern English has changed to the point where once-necessary prepositions are now considered unnecessary. Use of unnecessary prepositions creates wordiness, and can give a somewhat childish quality to the writing. While use of these prepositions is not grammatically incorrect, it's better to tighten up your writing as much as possible.
Where did that report go to?
It's unnecessary to use to at the end.
Where did that report go?
Could you get that box off of the table?
Could you get that box off the table?
Anne met up with Mary at the party.
There's a two-fer here.
Anne met Mary at the party.
Where would we find the information at?
Where would we find the information?
Break it up into smaller sections.
Break it into smaller sections.
Could you please carry this box to downstairs?
Could you please carry this box downstairs?
The winner was awarded with a gold medal.
The winner was awarded a gold medal.
- Previous article Ending a Sentence with a Preposition


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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – In a busy day for the FDNY on Staten Island, firefighters battled a blaze in a first-floor apartment in Clifton's Park Hill section.
The fire, at seven-story 141 Park Hill Ave., was the third unrelated blaze to break out on the borough on Thursday.
Nobody was home in the apartment at 2:19 p.m., when the blaze was broke out, and no injuries were reported.
It was under control at 2:45 p.m. and its cause remains under investigation, according to an FDNY spokesman.
At 12:13, about 60 firefighters were summoned to 78 Ridgewood Pl. in Brighton Heights, to extinguish a fire on the second floor of a three-story home.
And approximately two hours earlier, firefighters KO'd a blaze inside a two-story home at 53 Orange Ave. in Port Richmond.
No injuries were reported in either of those incidents as well.


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A titular see in Armenia Prima, suffragan of Sabastia. Satala according to the ancient geographers was situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, a little north of the Euphrates, where the road from Trapezus to Samosata crossed the boundary of the Roman Empire. Later it was connected with Nicopolis by two highways. This site must have been occupied as early as the annexation of Lesser Armenian under Vespasian. Trajan visited it in 115 and received the homage of the princes of the Caucasus and the Euxine. It was he doubtless who established there the Legio XV Apollinaris and began the construction of the great castra stativa (permanent camp) which it was to occupy till the fifth century. The town must have sprung up around this camp; in the time of Ptolemy it was already important. In 530 the Persians were defeated under its walls. Justinian constructed more powerful fortifications there, but these did not prevent Satala from being captured in 607-8 by the Persians. It is now Sadagh, a village of 500 inhabitants, in the vilayet of Erzeroum. The remains of the camp still exist strewn with fragments of brick bearing the stamp of the legion; there are also the ruins of an aqueduct and of Justinian's citadel; some Latin and Greek inscriptions, the latter Christian, have been discovered. The Christians were numerous in the time of Diocletian. Le Quien , "Oriens Christianus," I, 431, mentions seven of its bishops : Evethius, at Nicaea, 325; Elfridius, 360; Poemenius, about 378; Anatolius, 451; Epiphanius, 458; Gregory, 692; Philip, 879. The see is mentioned in the "Notitiae episcopatuum" until the thirteenth century, and we know the name of the bishop, Cosmas, in 1256.
The Catholic Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive resource on Catholic teaching, history, and information ever gathered in all of human history. This easy-to-search online version was originally printed between 1907 and 1912 in fifteen hard copy volumes.
Designed to present its readers with the full body of Catholic teaching, the Encyclopedia contains not only precise statements of what the Church has defined, but also an impartial record of different views of acknowledged authority on all disputed questions, national, political or factional. In the determination of the truth the most recent and acknowledged scientific methods are employed, and the results of the latest research in theology, philosophy, history, apologetics, archaeology, and other sciences are given careful consideration.
No one who is interested in human history, past and present, can ignore the Catholic Church, either as an institution which has been the central figure in the civilized world for nearly two thousand years, decisively affecting its destinies, religious, literary, scientific, social and political, or as an existing power whose influence and activity extend to every part of the globe. In the past century the Church has grown both extensively and intensively among English-speaking peoples. Their living interests demand that they should have the means of informing themselves about this vast institution, which, whether they are Catholics or not, affects their fortunes and their destiny.
Copyright © Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company New York, NY. Volume 1: 1907; Volume 2: 1907; Volume 3: 1908; Volume 4: 1908; Volume 5: 1909; Volume 6: 1909; Volume 7: 1910; Volume 8: 1910; Volume 9: 1910; Volume 10: 1911; Volume 11: - 1911; Volume 12: - 1911; Volume 13: - 1912; Volume 14: 1912; Volume 15: 1912
Catholic Online Catholic Encyclopedia Digital version Compiled and Copyright © Catholic Online


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See interactions with nutritional supplements and food, and how they may increase the effectiveness or reduce side effects with this medicine
This medication is used to prevent stomach ulcers while you take NSAIDs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen), especially if you are at risk for developing ulcers or have a history of ulcers. Misoprostol helps to decrease your risk of serious ulcer complications such as bleeding. This medication protects your stomach lining by lowering the amount of acid that comes in contact with it.
This medication is also used in combination with another drug (mifepristone) to end a pregnancy (abortion).
This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.
This medication may also be used in the hospital to assist with childbirth only at the time of delivery (e.g., cervical ripening, induction of labor) and for the treatment of severe bleeding after delivery. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. When misoprostol is used vaginally for these purposes, it works by causing the womb muscles to contract.
This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read it carefully. If you have any questions about this drug, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy.
If you are taking this drug to prevent stomach ulcers, take it by mouth usually four times a day, after meals and at bedtime to minimize diarrhea, or as directed by your doctor.
If you are taking this medication for abortion, take it by mouth exactly as directed by your doctor.
If you are using this medication to start labor, your healthcare professional will insert it into your vagina.
Avoid taking antacids that contain magnesium while using misoprostol because they may make the diarrhea it causes worse. If you need an antacid, consult your doctor or pharmacist to help you choose a product.
For ulcer prevention, continue to take this drug for as long as you take NSAIDs. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same times each day.
Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.
Used with permission. ©2015 Walmart. All Rights Reserved.
Important Walmart Disclaimer: All content provided is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a medical professional. Consult your medical professional for guidance before changing or undertaking any diet, exercise or health program, or before using any prescription or over-the-counter drug. Neither the author nor Walmart.com assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the subject matter. Walmart does not sponsor, recommend or endorse any third party, product, service or information provided on this site.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or allergies, always read the ingredient list carefully for all products prior to consumption. If the ingredient list is not available on the product, check with the product manufacturer, or do not consume the product.


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They've been called 'America's favorite married couple' and their lives have been an open book even before they started documenting their marriage on their hit realty show, Giuliana & Bill. In the series, Giuliana and Bill Rancic have openly struggled with their desire to have a baby, and Giuliana became an advocate for breast cancer awareness when she herself was diagnosed in fall 2011.
In the new season of Giuliana & Bill (premiering Tuesday, July 16, at 8/7c on Style) they take their first international vacation as a family. However, being new parents is not without its challenges. Giuliana and Bill find themselves seeking help from a sleep specialist for Duke and meeting with various pediatricians. The enterprising duo continues to find success in their careers, especially with their restaurant in Chicago RPM Italian, which they want to expand to a second location. Now that they are getting into a routine, G wonders if they should have another child. But before they take that next step, Bill is adamant about living in Chicago, especially since he found his dream home.


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The phrase "like father, like son" takes on new meaning when it comes to Brian Willette, of South Hadley, and his son Kevin Nieves, of Springfield.
Nieves has always been close to his dad.
"He's my hero, he's my idol (and) he's a hard man to live up to," Nieves said this week, home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Army National Guard.
Some would say Nieves, who is barely 20, had already gone pretty far in measuring up to his personal hero when he followed in Willette's footsteps to serve in the military.
Ten months ago, as Nieves arrived for duty in Afghanistan's Laghman Province, he had the honor of pinning a Purple Heart on his father's chest.
Today, he is home with a Purple Heart of his own, an honor his father had cautioned him not to seek. Willette had also entrusted a commemorative coin to Nieves in hopes it would keep him safe.
Willette, who in civilian life is a driver with the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, was commanding a 33,000-pound gun truck in support of the Army National Guard's 102nd Infantry in Afghanistan last fall when it was hit by an improvised explosive device. He suffered traumatic brain injury and back damage in the attack that came at the close of a nine-month tour of duty.
Willette is a staff sergeant, who was serving as 1st Brigade Combat Team squad leader with F Co. of the Army Guard's 102nd Infantry's 1st Battalion. Nieves is a private first class with the Army Guard's 181st Infantry.
The Purple Heart is among the nation's highest military honors, awarded to those who have been wounded or killed in war.
"I was very, very proud," recalled Nieves of the ceremony on Oct. 28 in which he pinned the Purple Heart on his father's chest. "It's a big enough honor for someone in my family to have an award that prestigious, but to have the honor of pinning it on my father, it was awesome," he said.
Six months later, Nieves received his Purple Heart from none other than Gen. David Petraeus, now head of the CIA, as the general concluded his service as commander of the U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan on June 4. Petraeus paid tribute to Nieves' unit as being members of the "New Greatest Generation."
Nieves has a sister who was in Iraq while he and his father were in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Christine Willette serves with the Air National Guard's 104th Fighter Wing stationed at Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield.
Gina Willette, is "a great Army wife," according to Brian Willette. The Willettes also have two younger children.
Nieves said his father has been in the Army "since before I was a thought."
Willette, who also served combat duty in Bosnia, said he recognized Afghanistan "was a dangerous place," which is why he had warned his son not to go looking for a Purple Heart of his own and gave him his military coin in hopes it would keep him safe from harm.
Nieves said he was carrying the Purple Heart coin in his breast pocket when he had his own brush with death.
On duty in a security tower at Camp Phoenix in Kabul on April 2, he watched a black station wagon slow down as it approached the camp. Not alarming, since people sometimes got the inbound and outbound gates mixed up, or lost their way, he said.
Then came the blast of the first bomb. "My memories are a little shaky," said Nieves. "It was so unexpected. I felt it in my sinuses. I was dazed.
"I gave myself a quick checkover: No blood, no blood. What was going on? I heard gunshots and I thought: This is really happening," he recalled.
Every time his weapon jammed or he had to reload, the enemy would push in a little. Then, Nieves and his fellow soldiers would start shooting again and drive the insurgents back.
Back and forth they went, back and forth. "It was us or them, and it certainly wasn't going to be us," said Nieves. "It seemed like forever."
In reality, the firefight probably lasted 25 minutes. Four Americans, including Nieves, were wounded, but there were no casualties.
Nieves also earned a Bronze Star for valor.
Both father and son continue to serve in the Army Guard, Nieves' unit is headquartered in Worcester, while Willette's unit is based in Southington, Conn.
Nieves remembers the day he came home, landing in Worcester and being driven to the armory there, marching out to the cheers of the families and being released into this privileged country where even the poorest are richer than most people in Afghanistan. He confesses that he kept his dark glasses on in case the tears came.
For his father, it's been a proud time. "I'm just so amazed that he was 10 when the towers came down," Willette told an Air Force writer in Afghanistan. "And now, nine years later, he is proudly serving his country. I'm so happy we got to do it together."


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Member Since: April 14, 2012
[-4] October 1, 2014 at 2:17pm
Huh? Paul never claimed to have met Jesus in the flesh.
[2] August 13, 2014 at 8:46pm
I likely don't share your worldview, but I agree with you completely. It's evident from your reply that you think for yourself. Appreciated…cheers.
In reply to dbhokie's comment on the story Planned Parenthood Counselor's Controversial Advice for a 'Teen' About Horse Whips, Sex Shops and More
[-1] August 14, 2014 at 11:28am
Thisguyrighthere responded:
August 13, 2014 at 8:34pm
Don't forget the death penalty for any consensual sex outside of marriage…for the woman.
[-2] August 13, 2014 at 8:27pm
And let's outlaw freedom of speech…and all other freedoms (including the right to have sex outside of marriage) while we're at it. Only Christians should have rights.
In reply to Freakofnature's comment on the story Planned Parenthood Counselor's Controversial Advice for a 'Teen' About Horse Whips, Sex Shops and More
August 14, 2014 at 10:46am
Git-R-Done responded:
August 14, 2014 at 2:19pm
piper60 responded:
[1] August 15, 2014 at 9:38am
Grover_Standpipe responded:
June 30, 2014 at 8:45am
Oh Chuck,
No confusion here; your intentions are more transparent than you might think.
Enjoy your quest.
June 29, 2014 at 8:49pm
I think you may be a liar based on your quotes.
1) what I've been putting down: that many who self-describe as "atheists" are very likely "agnostics"
but…the line you have repeated over and over is:
2) Atheists want the "Agnostic" definition applied to them. (After all, the Agnostic definition includes the word "thinker" — but not the Atheist definition. Very fitting, actually.) Seems to me that they are trying to re-define words
I see mental gymnastics, intellectual dishonesty, and potentially just lying.
June 28, 2014 at 11:26am
Tell us more!
The irony of it all is that if you actually believed the nonsense you were spewing then you would not be calling us 'atheists' at all. According to your repeated (copy and paste) attempts at defining other's beliefs, we would be more likely to fall into your very specific 'agnostic' category. I know you're not interested in us being categorized that way however. We call ourselves atheists, therefore we must to conform to your dictionary.
I know you're not stupid and must have recognized this already. However, you appear to require strawman atheistic arguments to attack in order to make yourself feel better about your own beliefs.
[1] June 27, 2014 at 7:31pm
Does this mean faith comes before evidence? I was honestly unclear when I read that.
June 27, 2014 at 6:53pm
More Chuck Stein please! We can't get enough of his special dictionaries, strawmans, and intellectual dishonesty!
June 19, 2014 at 6:36pm
Probably the germ theory of disease; or maybe gravitational theory.
[-4] May 22, 2014 at 7:29pm
@ Chuck
Attack the typos, that's fine. That is a very common tactic of a losing argument. Fail to address the point by creating meaningless distractions.
[-2] May 22, 2014 at 1:59pm
You appear to be the one struggling with the language. A prefix of 'a' is used as a designation for 'without' in the English language. Gnosis is knowledge, so therefore agnosticism is another way to say 'without knowledge'. Theism is a belief in a god or many gods. So, you guessed it, atheism is 'without a belief in gods or many gods'. This is how the language works, plain and simple.
Of course, if you think someone's belief system can be looked up in a dictionary than the entire point is mute anyways.
May 22, 2014 at 11:53am
Your original assertion on atheist vs agnostic is inaccurate, if not untruthful.
Gnosticism deals with knowledge. Theism addresses belief. The vast majority of atheists are agnostic atheists; meaning they don't definitively know if a deity exists, but given the evidence they don't believe such an entity exists.
April 24, 2014 at 10:28am
Proof of my position can be seen above^^
April 24, 2014 at 10:11am
…and also the inability of far-right social conservatives to defend their position of backing a criminal welfare rancher. All I hear are diversions (i.e. turtles) or 'I know you are buy what am I' type of responses.
[-1] April 24, 2014 at 9:59am
What amazes me most about this story is the length far-right social conservatives will go to defend this guy…no matter what.
In reply to kaydeebeau's comment on the story Cliven Bundy Under Fire for 'Negro' Comments, Wondering Whether Blacks Would Be 'Better Off as Slaves, Picking Cotton'
April 24, 2014 at 10:02am
April 24, 2014 at 10:04am
foobared responded:
April 24, 2014 at 10:11am
God_Is_Not responded:
April 24, 2014 at 10:20am
foobared responded:
April 24, 2014 at 10:28am
God_Is_Not responded:
April 24, 2014 at 10:47am
ClaytoMT83 responded:
April 24, 2014 at 11:53am
foobared responded:
[1] April 22, 2014 at 2:05pm
In other words, GBTV is trying to say 'facts make little difference to me if they don't fit my agenda'.
In reply to emmayche's comment on the story Award-Winning Song Writers Behind 'Frozen' Out With Giant Claim About Disney and God
[1] April 16, 2014 at 6:09pm
They can make A LOT of money off people who desperately want it to be true…that's why.
In reply to Bigthan84231's comment on the story Boy Who Says He Nearly Died and Met Jesus in Heaven Responds to His Critics
[2] April 16, 2014 at 8:57pm
anron4581 responded:
[1] April 17, 2014 at 6:39am
Mikeil305 responded:
April 11, 2014 at 10:26am
HAHA! Your conclusion is one of the most ridiculous attempts at logic I've seen. Using your thought process, non carpenters could not be christians. Women could not be christians. Anyone without deciples could not be christian. And, finally, anyone who doesn't die on a cross could never be a christian.
Is any of this even close to relevant or logical? No, you just wanted to take a shot at gays because you don't like them.
In reply to Sgt.Cookies's comment on the story Scientists Reveal Big Findings About Ancient Papyrus That Refers to Jesus' 'Wife'
March 15, 2014 at 10:27am
Prove that I'm lying about seeing 3 unicorns this morning. If you cant, then unicorns are more powerful than god. You can't prove they're not…therfore I win.
In reply to JohnDeFran.'s comment on the story You'll Likely Be Offended at Who Bill Maher Just Called a 'Psychotic Mass Murderer'
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Simms wading felt bottom sole boots fly fishing - size 10 stud set included
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MOBILE, Alabama -- Mobile police have arrested 2 men on burglary charges in separate incidents, officials said today in a news release.
Police arrested Alex Milton, 26, and charged him with third-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools in connection with an incident early this morning at the Rite Aid in the 5300 block of Overlook Road, officials said.
About 12:15 a.m. police responded to an alarm at the store. When officers arrived, they saw a man leaving the business through a hole in the cement blocks made with sledge hammer. The burglar was found hiding under a truck in the neighborhood behind the business, police said.
Milton was booked into the Mobile County Metro Jail shortly after 3 a.m today and was released about three hours later with a total bail set at $6,000, according to jail records. He is scheduled for a court appearance on Aug. 31, records show.
Milton has several arrests in Mobile County dating back to 2003 for a variety of charges including theft, domestic violence and traffic offenses, according to records.
In a separate incident that occurred about 12:36 p.m. Tuesday, an officer saw a fight amoung three people on south Broad Street. The officer later determined that one of the men, identified as Anthony TaMichael Fowler, was a possible burglary suspect, police said. Officers determined that Fowler was responsible for several burglaries. Fowler was arrested and charged with five counts of third-degree burglary, officials said. More arrests are expected, police said.
Fowler, 20, remains jailed with a total bail set at $15,250, according jail records. He is scheduled for a court appearance on Sept. 26, records show. Fowler has six other arrests in Mobile County dating back to September 2009 that include illegal drug related activity and domestic violence, records show.


text:
Oswego, NY -- An Oswego County Court jury today found a Fulton man not guilty of attempted murder.
But the jury did find Michael R. Watkins, 27, of North Third Street, guilty of attempted assault, assault, two counts of burglary and one count of criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies.
Watkins was accused of shooting a 35-year-old man in the back in February in a house on Erie Street in Fulton. Fulton police and investigators identified Watkins through interviews and then worked with state police to find him at a home on state Route 104 in Martville.
The victim was treated at Upstate University Hospital and released.


text:
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89 Points | Stephen Tanzer's IWC - May/June 2007
($32-$53) Red-ruby. Expressive, inviting aromas of plum, redcurrant, smoked meat, mocha, tobacco and cedar. Suave, juicy and bright, with lovely inner-mouth aromatic character to the flavors of redcurrant, minerals and dried flowers. Focused and primary. Lovely subtle claret with a juicy quality and lingering perfume.


text:
Seaview - 12532 Beverly Park Road, Lynnwood, WA 98087,
(425) 355-3669, www.seaviewglobal.com
PYI quickly responds to our customer's ideas and needs. Since 1981, We've never forgetten that PYI doesn't exist without you
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text:
May 27th, 2012
Sunday: Tigers at Twins
Waiting for my flight to Boston. In the meantime, here are your lineups for today's series finale over in Minnesota. Delmon Young gets replaced by Don Kelly in the Tigers lineup, while Ryan Doumit returns for the Twins, who also give Brian Dozier the day off at short.
- Quintin Berry, CF
- Andy Dirks, LF
- Miguel Cabrera, 3B
- Prince Fielder, 1B
- Brennan Boesch, DH
- Alex Avila, C
- Jhonny Peralta, SS
- Don Kelly, RF
- Ryan Raburn, 2B
P: Rick Porcello
- Denard Span, CF
- Ben Revere, RF
- Joe Mauer, C
- Josh Willingham, LF
- Justin Morneau, 1B
- Ryan Doumit, DH
- Trevor Plouffe, 3B
- Alexi Casilla, 2B
- Jamey Carroll, SS
P: P.J. Walters


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Although air pollution has decreased over the last two decades, it is still a major problem in many areas. 'Euro standards' for vehicles have not succeeded in reducing real NO2 emissions to the levels set out in the legislation although they have made substantial improvements to air quality overall.
Increasing transport of goods is also leading to poor air quality. Freight was one of the main causes of the high levels of NO2. Increased shipping over the last two decades has also meant that emissions of acid rain-causing sulphur oxides have only decreased 14 % since 1990, despite major efficiency improvements.
Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said: "One of the big challenges of the 21st Century will be to mitigate the negative effects of transport – greenhouse gases, air pollution and noise – while ensuring positive aspects of mobility. Europe can take the lead by intensifying its work in the area of technological innovation in electric mobility. Such change could transform inner city living."
The 2011 Eurovignette Directive prescribes how EU Member States could incorporate the health costs from air pollution into any charging structure for large roads and motorways. The revenue from such schemes should be invested in sustainable transport, the Directive states. However, adoption of road user charges depends on a decision by individual countries.
Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said: "European economies rely on transporting goods long distances. But there is also a hidden cost, paid in years of reduced health and lost life. This cost is especially high for those living close to Europe's major transport routes. By incorporating these costs into the price of goods, we can encourage healthier transport methods and cleaner technologies."
While air pollution in Europe has fallen significantly in recent years, it is still a problem in some parts of Europe, where HGVs can be a major factor, the report notes. Diesel, used by most HGVs, causes more air pollution per kilometre than other fuels such as petrol. Exhaust emissions from diesel engines were recently labelled as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Heavy goods vehicles are responsible for 40-50% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution from road transport in countries covered by the EEA. Both NOx and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are considered in the report, as they can cause respiratory diseases, cardiovascular illnesses and other health problems.
The cost of air pollution from HGVs is up to 16 times higher in some European countries compared to others, the report notes.
The average cost of pollution from a 12-14 tonne Euroclass III lorry is highest in Switzerland, at almost € 0.12 per kilometre. Costs are also high in Luxemburg, Germany, Romania, Italy and Austria, at around € 0.08/km. This is because the pollutants cause more harm where there are high population densities, or in landlocked regions and mountainous areas where pollution cannot disperse so easily.
At the other end of the scale, the same lorry driving in Cyprus, Malta and Finland causes damage of around half a euro cent per kilometre.
In some regions the cost is also much higher than others. Zurich in Switzerland, Bucarest in Romania, Milan in Italy, the Ruhr Valley in Germany and Barcelona in Spain had some of the highest health costs compared to other large urban zones.
The calculations show that newer lorries would have a reduced impact, and therefore a lower cost. Euroclass IV lorries, which are up to six years old, or Euroclass V, up to three years old, would cause 40-60% less external costs on the same transport corridors. Charging haulage companies for the external costs of air pollution would incentivise newer and cleaner technologies, the report says.
The scheme would also create a level playing field, by internalising the costs that road freight currently imposes on the rest of society. The positive effects of such a scheme have been noted in Switzerland after the country adopted similar legislation.
The EEA analysis attempts to capture the complexity of different geographical influences on air pollution across Europe. The report includes the average costs of pollution for 66 separate classes of vehicles, with the cost of each estimated on three different types of road (suburban, interurban and highways) in 30 countries and 108 cities. Estimates of cost per kilometre, depending on the vehicle and its surroundings, range from virtually nothing to over 30 eurocents per km for a non-Euroclass lorry more than 20 years old.
European Union Member States must report to the Commission by October this year on how they will implement road charging, if at all. The detailed figures released by EEA are intended to help Member States decide on individual schemes.
The high cost of air pollution is in line with a 2011 EEA analysis, which shows that air pollution from large industrial facilities cost Europe € 102 – 169 billion in 2009 in lost life, poor health, crop damage and other economic losses. In the coming months, the EEA will publish an update to this report with more recent data.]]>
Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said: "European Union policy has reduced emissions of many pollutants over the last decade, but we can go further. In many countries, air pollutant concentrations are still above the legal and recommended limits that are set to protect the health of European citizens. In fact, air pollution reduces human life expectancy by around two years in the most polluted cities and regions."
The EEA's 'Air quality in Europe — 2012 report' examines citizens' exposure to air pollutants and provides a snapshot of air quality in Europe. The report is intended to support the development of more effective clean air policies.
• Particulate matter (PM) is the most serious air pollution health risk in the EU, leading to premature mortality. The report estimates that in 2010, 21 % of the urban population in 2010 was exposed to PM10 concentration levels higher than the most stringent, daily, EU limit value designed to safeguard health. Up to 30 % of the urban population was exposed to finer PM2.5 concentration levels above the (less stringent) yearly EU limit values. According to the WHO reference levels, which are even tighter than those imposed by EU law, respectively up to 81 % and 95 % of urban dwellers were exposed to PM concentrations that exceed the reference values set for the protection of human health – underlining the urgency of the coming review of air legislation.
• Ozone (O3) can cause respiratory health problems and lead to premature mortality. Exposure in cities is very high – 97 % of EU urban inhabitants were exposed to O3 concentrations above the WHO reference level in 2010. 17 % were exposed to concentrations above the EU target value for O3. In 2009, 22 % of arable land in Europe was exposed to damaging concentrations of O3, leading to agricultural losses.
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a major cause of eutrophication (excessive plant and algal growth in water) and acidification, and also contributes to the formation of PM and O3. In 2010, 7 % of Europeans living in cities were exposed to NO2 levels above the EU limit values. National emissions of nitrogen oxides in many European countries still exceed emission ceilings set by EU legislation and under United Nations agreements.
• Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a carcinogen. A considerable proportion of the urban population in the EU (20-29 % between 2008 and 2010) were exposed to concentrations exceeding the EU target value, which must be met by 2013. The increase in BaP emissions in Europe in recent years is therefore a matter of concern.
• Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is a big success story: emissions have been reduced significantly in recent years thanks to EU legislation requiring the use of emissions scrubbing technology and lower sulphur content in fuels. 2010 was the first year that the EU urban population was not exposed to SO2 concentrations above the EU limit value.
• Carbon monoxide, benzene and heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, nickel, lead) concentrations in outdoor air are generally low, localised and sporadic in the EU, with few exceedances of the limit and target values set by EU legislation.
In recent years, the EEA has published annual information on air pollutant emissions and exceedances of emission ceilings under the National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive. Later this year, the EEA will publish a retrospective analysis of whether the health and environmental objectives of the NEC Directive for 2010 have been met.
The European Commission is preparing a review of EU air legislation in consultation with stakeholders and will put a particular emphasis on air pollution policies in 2013.
Poor air quality can cause heart disease, respiratory problems, lung cancer, breathing difficulties and other illnesses. Some pollutants can lead to eutrophication, reduced agricultural crop yields, decreased forest growth and have an impact on the climate. Emissions of several pollutants have fallen in recent years, resulting in improved air quality in some areas. However, they have not always resulted in a corresponding drop of atmospheric pollutant concentrations. The persistent air quality problems require further efforts in mitigating the emissions of several pollutants.
Professor Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency (EEA), said: "Landscapes change constantly but in recent decades humans have often shaped them with little thought to the cumulative impacts and at a pace that is unprecedented."
"For the first time, this report presents the extent of landscape fragmentation across an entire continent using a scientifically sound method. It reveals the most relevant driving forces behind fragmentation, demonstrating that varying factors are relevant in different parts of Europe. The picture it paints is worrying."
The brown hare in Switzerland is an example of a species which has been pushed to the brink of extinction by landscape fragmentation in combination with other human impacts such as intensive agriculture. The animals' movement has been blocked by roads, so they find it more difficult to escape bad weather, and they are often killed by vehicles.
Extinction of the Swiss brown hare may be impossible to avoid as the 'point of no-return' may have been crossed. Indeed, animal populations often react slowly to changes in their habitat, so the current decline may be due to changes that occurred several decades ago, with further decline in animal populations across Europe to come as a result of more recent increases in landscape fragmentation.
However, it is not all bad news - the report also presents some positive stories. For example, badgers in the Netherlands were in decline for many years, until a 'defragmentation policy' was established in 1984, encouraging developers to build 'badger pipes' to allow easier and safer movement of these shy animals. The Dutch badger population has since increased slightly.
Although the situation is critical, there are several proactive policies for more effective protection of remaining unfragmented areas, and wildlife corridors which could successfully reverse the trend of growing fragmentation. Developers should build more tunnels, passages and bridges to allow animals to move more freely, the report says. In addition, planners should aim to upgrade old roads instead of building new roads, and 'bundle' new infrastructure, for example by building bypasses close to settlements or constructing road and rail routes next to each other.
Where the volume of traffic has fallen, roads should be reduced in size or dismantled completely. Most importantly, cumulative effects need to be considered more effectively in the future, based on the precautionary principle, to avoid repeating mistakes of the past. The problem of landscape fragmentation is also considered by the recently-adopted European Union Strategy on Biodiversity and Ecosystems, where green infrastructure features prominently.
Urban transport has a marked effect on quality of life for the three quarters of Europeans living in cities. Road transport is a major source of air pollution in cities, leading to a high proportion of the population being exposed to pollutant levels above EU and World Health Organisation standards. The seriousness of this was underlined in October when the UN classified outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic.
Traffic noise is also a major health issue in many cities. More than a quarter of the inhabitants of Sofia, Luxembourg, Paris and Tallinn are exposed to night-time traffic noise above WHO limits, according to data on 17 European capitals published in the report. Quality of life is also affected by commute times, with commuters in London and Budapest are most likely to travel more than an hour to work, according to a survey of 75 cities in the EU and Turkey.
Many cities have successfully improved the urban environment by addressing two sides of the issue - encouraging people to switch to non-motorised modes and public transport, while simultaneously restricting car use. Despite initial opposition, such schemes often become very popular with residents, the report notes, citing the example of Stockholm's congestion charge. The report argues that such positive examples should encourage municipalities to replicate policies elsewhere.
Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director, said: "Many cities are applying innovative ideas which will make the car-based transport system seem like an idea belonging to the last century. City life does not have to mean polluted air, congestion, noise and long travelling times. New ideas in urban transport are transforming many cities into more pleasant, healthy places to live."
Better cycling infrastructure in many cities is starting a self-reinforcing pattern of increasing bike traffic, the report notes, referring to the Copenhagenize Index of bicycle-friendly cities. For example, Seville recently moved rapidly up to fourth place due to the extensive new infrastructure for bikes, which has allowed bike traffic to increase from 0.5 % of kilometres travelled to 7 % in just a few years.
The EEA's TERM report also includes many other indicators measuring environmental trends connected to transport.
[i] These figures do not include international maritime transport.
A new European Environment Agency (EEA) report, 'Good practice guide on quiet areas', provides guidance and recommendations for authorities who need to identify and maintain these places. Its publication marks International Noise Awareness Day, 30 April 2014.
Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director, said: "When we think about noise pollution, we often think about loud music or a neighbour's barking dog. But in most cases, the real health problems are caused by long-term exposure to noise from road traffic, railways, airports or industry. Quiet areas are important because they can provide respite from noise, ultimately improving quality of life."
There are many different interpretations of what a quiet area means in practice, and how they should be preserved. This is understandable – an appropriate scheme in one place may not suit another location. The report provides an overview of quiet area measures across Europe. For example:
Another approach to the problem of noise is the idea of soundscapes, creating healthier and quieter environments. The European Soundscape Award 2014 aims to draw attention to the most innovative product, campaign, innovation or scheme solving a noise problem.
The award is a joint initiative of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Noise Abatement Societies of the Netherlands and UK. The deadline for submissions is 18th August 2014. More information.
The EEA has developed NoiseWatch, an app which measures and maps noise levels. Over the last two years, NoiseWatch has received more than 155 000 citizens' noise ratings from around the world. On 8 May, the EEA received a World Excellence Award for the app at the Geospatial World Forum.
Later in 2014, the European Environment Agency will publish its first Europe-wide noise assessment report. It will draw on data from Member States, highlighting the main sources of noise in Europe as well as its impacts on health and the environment.]]>
During summer 2012, the percentage of sites exceeding the 'alert threshold' was the lowest on record, indicating peak episodes were shorter and maximum ozone concentrations were lower. Nonetheless, the 'long-term objective' (LTO) to protect human health was exceeded in all EU Member States apart from Estonia, and it is likely many of them will not meet other targets phased in recently.
The lower levels seen during the summer last year were in part due to weather conditions. Ground-level ozone production depends on weather conditions such as sunshine and temperature, and is a result of chemical reactions between other pollutants in the air. These substances are emitted by industry, traffic, farming practices and from other sources.
Ozone pollution can travel great distances, meaning that it is both a local air quality issue and also a global, cross-border problem. This edition of the European Environment Agency (EEA) annual report on summer ozone levels covers the period from April to September 2012. It is based on data from 2 107 monitoring sites across Europe.
Twenty-one finalists were selected from entrants from 15 European countries. A jury made up of communication experts from across Europe selected the winner of each category, as well as a Youth Prize for participants between 18 and 24. Winners in each category will receive a € 500 cash prize.
Dovile Lubyte from Lithuania won both the Air and Technology category and the Youth Prize with her entry, 'Astronauts of the Polluted Earth'.
Demonstrating a more realistic approach, Javier Arcenillas from Spain won the Air and Cities category with 'Contamination,' which creatively depicted the pollution from industry. In 'BADAIR', Stella Carbone from Italy showed how people try to avoid air pollution, winning the Air and Health category.
'Ever closing' by Stephen Mynhardt from Ireland won the Air and Nature category with a photo story about air pollution and bird life.
Finalists were also open to a public online vote. The Public Choice Award was won by Stephen Connell from the UK with 'Wasted light', a series of photographs of power stations and steel works taken during the night.
You can see all the finalists and the eventual winners by clicking on the circles in the Eye on Earth map below, and selecting 'Feature info'. Scroll to the right to see all three pictures for each entry. Note that the circles represent the entries.
View Larger Map


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SPRINGFIELD – The city expects to demolish the long-vacant HAPCO building in the South End and then seek new proposals for redevelopment of the lot, according to a city official.
Samalid Hogan, senior project manager with the city's Office of Planning and Economic Development, said the city rejected a single offer received for the site last year, and the building was subsequently damaged when struck by a car.
The city now expects to demolish the building at 739 Main St., but no date is set at this time, Hogan said recently.
Meanwhile, the city is conferring with Glory Inc., a South End clothing store, to convert a nearby, city-owned lot at 609-611 Main St., as a parking lot for its planned new location.
Both the HAPCO building and the unrelated vacant lot, within three blocks of each other, were foreclosed by the city for nonpayment of taxes.
Carmela Daniele of Longmeadow had proposed renovating the HAPCO site to reopen a gift basket shop in the South End. She had closed her prior shop Gift Baskets by Carmela due to illness a few years ago, but is now well, she said.
Daniele had submitted a bid of $13,700 to buy the tax-title property, and estimated a total investment of $220,800 to renovate and open the shop.
Hogan said the city, through a review committee, did not believe the proposal was in the best interest of the city for that site, and did not address parking issues. She said information was lacking, also. Once the building is demolished, the city will go out for proposals again, she said.
Daniele said she was disappointed by the city's decision, and had followed all the procedures in the request for proposals. The fact that the city received no other proposals for the site was not her fault, she said.
Daniele said she might be interested if the lot becomes vacant and is placed out for redevelopment proposals again.
Regarding Glory Inc., the clothing store is preparing to relocate to a building at 595 Main St., by the end of the year. It is moving from the former Union House hotel on Main Street, due to that site being in the path of a proposed MGM Resorts casino.
As part of the relocation, Glory Inc. submitted the high bid of $51,000 to purchase the city-owned vacant lot at 609-611 Main St., adjacent to its new building.
Mayor Domenic Sarno, as recommended by a review committee, selected Glory Inc. as the preferred developer of the city lot, from among three bids received, officials said. The sale, however, is not final until approved by Sarno and the City Council.
A competing bid was filed by Francesco Daniele, Carmela Daniele's son, offering $45,000 for the lot.
Francesco Daniele of REMA Capital LLC, was proposing to construct a multi-use, educational and cultural building at that location to serve the neighborhood, according to his proposal.
The review committee favored the Glory Inc. proposal.
"The committee scored the Glory Inc. proposal highest due to the retention and expansion of an existing long-standing business in the South End," said Tom Matthews, project manger for the Office of Planning and Economic Development. "The proposal had all funding in place for the project and they offered the highest price for the property."
Francesco Daniele declined comment.
The lot had previously housed a building with a bottle redemption center and used appliance shop which was demolished by the city.
The third bid for the site was for $5,000 and was rejected.


text:
Former owner and operator of Daryl's Downtown restaurant in Jackson Daryl Hoskins recently had an $80,000 mortgage loan forgiven by Jackson City Council.
In the wake of the story, there have been some questions from readers, and some misconceptions of how the loan works.
To clear up some of these issues, a helpful guide including frequently asked questions is below.
When was the loan issued?
The $80,000 loan was issued to Hoskins Jan. 24, 2006.
What kind of loan was it?
It was a mortgage loan, with Hoskins putting up his restaurant property, 151 W. Michigan Ave., as collateral. The loan was issued by Jackson city officials, but was funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
HUD allocates a certain amount of money every year for the city to use for housing rehabilitation, demolition and much more – including issuing loans such as the one issued to Hoskins.
What was the loan used for?
HUD requires that job creation loans such as this are used for specific purposes.
In addition to a number of minor specifications, Hoskins was required to renovate his restaurant's third-story banquet hall and hire 16 low-to-moderate income employees by 2011. Hoskins was also required to use $600,000 of his own money for the renovation, with the HUD loan providing gap funding.
Did Hoskins meet the requirements?
Hoskins did not meet the requirements. He renovated the new banquet hall, which opened in May 2006, but he never had 16 low-to-moderate income employees on staff. At one point in 2008, he had 14 low-to-moderate income employees on staff.
What constitutes low-to-moderate income, according to HUD?
HUD income limits for 2005 were by household size and annual income. Limits were set at $32,800 for a one-person household, $37,500 for a two-person household and $42,200 for a three-person household. For a four-, five-, six-, seven- and eight-person household, the limits were $46,900, $50,650, $54,400, $58,150 and $61,900, respectively.
When was Hoskins supposed to begin paying the money back?
According to the promissory note issued by the city, Hoskins should have started repaying the loan in $8,906 yearly installments beginning Jan. 31, 2007, and ending Jan. 31, 2016.
Did he?
No, according to Jackson City Manager Patrick Burtch, Hoskins to date has not paid any portion of the loan.
Why then did the City of Jackson forgive the loan?
They chose to forgive the loan for a number of reasons.
First, the city was in third priority on the loan, which means there are two other loans ahead of theirs which will have to be repaid by Hoskins before the city receives the funds. Mark Hills, an attorney representing Citizens Bank, the first priority lender, explained that Hoskins will not be able to repay.
"There are no funds available to pay to the city," according to Hills.
Second, HUD officials have no interest in collecting the loan. Burtch said it would be wasteful to spend legal dollars fighting for something the city would never actually get.
Who is second in line?
As of now, Spectrum Pharmacy, LLC is second in priority, having issued a mortgage to Daryl's Downtown seven days before the city voted to provide the $80,000 loan. Spectrum Pharmacy is a Jackson-based business owned by Joe Dunigan. He is so far unwilling to forgive his loan, according to Hills.
Would the city receive the repayments?
Not really. The $80,000 would be resubmitted to the city as part of their yearly HUD allocation. This year, the city expects about $1.2 million from HUD. The city has the power to distribute those funds, but the funds are federally earmarked, and as stated above, HUD has no interest in getting the loan back.
The funds would not go into the city's general fund, as the mortgage was not originally issued with city funds.
Why doesn't HUD want it back?
HUD officials do not want to try and get the loan repaid, incurring legal fees and the like, to ultimately not get the money. In addition, HUD has a track record of allowing municipalities to forgive federally funded loans, as long as the recipients can meet certain criteria.
Criteria like renovating a banquet hall and hiring 16 employees?
Yes, criteria like that.
But Hoskins didn't meet those, so he should repay the loan.
Good point! But did I mention Hoskins doesn't have the money to do so?
Why not?
According to the Jackson County Register of Deeds, Hoskins has a number of mortgages out on the property, as well as two federal tax liens from the Internal Revenue Service. Burtch said current restaurant owner Steve Carlson is in the process of buying the property through foreclosure, not from Hoskins.
Hoskins could not be reached for comment on the issue.
Check back with MLive Jackson for updates to the story.
Contact Will Forgrave at firstname.lastname@example.com or 517-262-7554. Follow him on Twitter at @WillForgrave.


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Matt Damon reveals what it was like shooting a huge action scene at the world's second largest garbage dump in Mexico for his new sci-fi thriller, "Elysium." He also shares his diet and exercise secrets for bulking up to play Max in "Elysium."
Published at 9:00 PM GMT on Aug 5, 2013 | Updated at 10:49 PM GMT on Aug 5, 2013


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Oh brother. Are people STILL talking about this? It seems like people really just can't get over the fact that Leann Rimes cheated on her husband with Eddie Cibrian and broke his marriage to Brandi Glanville. I mean, how many years has it been now? The country crooner recently opened up about everything, admitting that she asks for "forgiveness" on almost a daily basis, but nothing seems to help. Here's what she says:
"I feel like so many people have written the story that they think will sell a magazine, or the story that they want to believe, but it's so 180 of what has been written."
"People have had the lies to twist for so long, they might as well have the truth to twist now. I've definitely asked for forgiveness on a daily basis. We are human beings who are going to sin and make mistakes…" she continues, "It's not something that's unusual to do."
Maybe it would be easier to forgive her if she just STOPPED talking about the scandal all the time? What do you guys think?
Photos via FameFlynet


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The Hon Donald Allan Dunstan AC QC - Biography
Donald Allan Dunstan was born in Suva, Fiji on 21 September 1926. After early schooling he transferred to South Australia and attended Murray Bridge High School, St Peter's College, and the University of Adelaide, graduating with a law degree in 1948. For some years he practised law in Fiji and later in Adelaide. He was appointed a QC in 1965.
Don Dunstan became involved in Australian Labor Party politics, and in 1953 successfully stood for the House of Assembly seat of Norwood. In Frank Walsh's government Dunstan held the position of Attorney-General and Minister of Community Welfare and Aboriginal Affairs. When Frank Walsh retired as premier in May 1967 Dunstan was elected leader of the Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch) and became Premier. The Labor Party was defeated in the 1968 election but in 1970 Dunstan was re-elected Premier, and thus began the so-called "Dunstan decade" of political reform. Dunstan resigned from politics due to ill health, in early 1979. Dunstan was awarded The Companion of the Order of Australia in June 1979.
During Dunstan's premiership South Australia was socially transformed. Among Dunstan's many reforms were those concerned with Aboriginal land rights, equal opportunities, consumer protection, town planning and the environment and the restructuring of electoral law. He also encouraged a flourishing of the arts, with support for the Adelaide Festival Centre, the State Theatre Company, and the establishment of the South Australian Film Corporation.
After leaving politics Dunstan published his political memoirs "Felicia" in 1981. He became the first director of Tourism Victoria in 1982, and then chairman of the Victorian Tourism Commission until 1986. He was national president of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign 1982-87, president of the Movement for Democracy in Fiji from 1987, and national chairman of Community Aid Abroad 1992-93. Always interested in food, and the author of a cookbook in 1976, he established, in 1994, the Don's Table restaurant, The Parade, Norwood, with partner Steven Cheng. He was an Adjunct Professor at Adelaide University from 1997-1999.
Dunstan was married twice: to Gretel in 1949, with whom he had a daughter and two sons; and to Adele Koh in 1976. Don Dunstan died in Adelaide on 6 February 1999.


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Due to a couple of hip injuries that seem to only be getting worse, I'm giving up on active recovery and the whole guessing game on which exercises I can do to aid recovery without further injury. Instead, I'm just going to stop squats, stretching, hip mobility...all of it for a few months a see where I'm at. Obviously, my muscle will be weaker and tighter, priming myself for a second injury, so I plan to ease into it very slowly when the time comes.
In the meantime, I have found I can't do anything that requires significant hip flexion without pain. Obviously my favorite, weighted squats, are out. But I've tried squats with an empty barbell and it's still enough of a load to hurt. Pistols hurt. Lunges hurt. I know from merely walking that I dare not try sprinting or even jogging. Bodyweight squats are okay, so long as I don't go past parallel. So my question is if deadlifts work the quads enough to make me believe I will maintain some strength there. I was thinking that since deadlifts don't hurt and I do them anyway, I could superset them with bodyweight squats. The BW squats would deliver the benefits of squatting outside of pure strength. But I want to maintain my raw strength as much as possible. So, is my deadlifts good enough, or is there something better?
BTW, leg extensions crossed my mind, but this requires a machine. I have free weights at home and don't have a gym membership, and it would be hard to justify any money spent just for leg extensions.


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BAY CITY, MI — Residents here may notice discolored water flowing from their sinks next week.
Officials with Bay City's Water Distribution Department plan to flush the city's watermains from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. beginning Monday, May 6.
Mark Vamderberg, Bay City's water distribution and meter supervisor, said he hopes the systematic process finishes by Friday, May 17.
Crews perform the flushing neighborhood-by-neighborhood annually in the spring to dislodge deposits inside the watermain.
"It's so we have good, high-quality drinking water for the summer," Vamderberg said.
The catch is the process can cause orange-colored water — that's thanks to "minute rust particles" — which typically clears up within hours, he said.
"But the water is absolutely safe to drink," Vamderberg said. "People may also experience low (water) pressure for a short period of time."
The flushing begins on Wilder and moves south throughout the following two weeks, he said.
Residents with questions can contact the city's Water Distribution Department at (989) 894-8321 or by email at email@example.com.


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I think the Orioles will draw a lot better this year, given their success last year. I think there's a feeling of hope that had been gone for so long.
The pitching staff came together last year but they did nothing to reinforce that success. They have to make sure the pitching comes around again this year for it to convince me the O's are for real.
I would be more excited for Dylan Bundy. He is just on levels of stupid sick right now.


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About the Reserve Collection
- Materials are placed on reserve by instructors or by library staff to make limited resources available to as many students as possible
- Limited loan periods apply to reserve materials and overdue fines are charged.
- Course reserve materials are listed in McMaster's library catalogue (see the Find Course Reserves guide for more information on finding materials on reserve).
Reserve List Form
Use the Course Reserve Request form when you would like new or additional material to be placed on reserve.
The University's License Agreement with the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency ("Access Copyright") and the University's Fair Dealing Policy governs most photocopied material placed on reserve. For information on photocopying restrictions, please contact Library Services.
Since it takes several weeks to order and acquire new books, lists must be received well in advance of the start of a course. A partial list can be sent first and additions sent later. When photocopies are being requested, a copy of the course syllabus must be submitted along with the reserve lists. Inclusion of complete references will speed up the processing of lists.
Reserve requests are processed as soon as possible. However, at busy times of the year, processing can take additional time due to volume of requests. Please ensure that reserve requests are submitted well in advance.
Material Types
The course reserves listed on the Library website can include books, print articles where no electronic version is available, videos, or any other material that the instructor wishes to make available to his or her students for which copyright permission has been obtained.
In the interest of providing the greatest access to readings, it is recommended that whenever possible, links to readings which are available electronically to authenicated users be provided to students within an online course workspace. Instructors should familiarize themselves with the instructions on how to create links to electronic materials (e.g., articles in e-journals), as a straight cut-and-paste of links will not work.
If non-library material is to be placed on reserve, it should be in a form which facilitates processing:
- if supplying a photocopy, the full source should be given on the first page (e.g. author, title, journal title, publisher, date). You may be asked to supply copyright permission, depending on the article.
- if material is needed immediately, the required number of copies should be supplied.
The library will only place print copies on reserve where no stable electronic equivalent exists.
Reserve Types
- 2-Hour Loan - Loan period is 2 hours. May be borrowed overnight. Use if whole class must read and for all larger courses.
- 24-Hour - Loan period is 24 hours. Use for small classes or for materials which do not have to be read by a number of students within a short period of time.
- 7-Day Loan - Loan Period is 7 days.
Number of Copies
The library may adjust, on the basis of use and class size, the number of copies on reserve.
Please Note:
- all materials will be removed from reserve at the end of each course and will be returned to the stacks or to the instructor
- the library may adjust the loan status of titles from 2-Hour reserve to 24-Hour reserve or vice-versa depending on use.
Loan Periods and Fines
- A maximum of 3 items (6 items at the Health Sciences Library) from Course Reserves can be checked out at one time.
- Reserve materials cannot be requested or held for individuals, with the exception of books in the Short-term Loan, Overnight, and 3-Day Loan collections at the Health Sciences Library.
- Reserve materials may be checked out again if they are not in demand (a 15-minute waiting period may apply before items can be checked out again).
- Fines for McMaster University students are billed to student accounts and should be paid at the Bookstore or in Financial Services (Gilmour Hall, Room 209). Student account information can be obtained through Mosaic.
- All others must pay fines at the Circulation Desk of the appropriate library.
Reserve Type
Description of Loan
Fine for Overdue
|2 hour
|Due in 2 hours. Most can be checked out 2 hours before closing and are due 1 hour after opening on the following day.
|$5.00 per hour or part of hour
|4 hour
|Due in 4 hours. Used for projector loan program.
|up to $20.00 per hour or part of hour
|24 hour
|Due in 24 hours
|$5.00 per hour or part of hour
|7 day
|Due in 7 days
|$5.00 per day or part of day
|2 hour
|Due in 2 hours
|$2.00 per hour or part of hour
|24 hour
|Due in 24 hours
|$2.00 per hour or part of hour
|Three day
|Due in 3 days
|$2.00 per day or part of day
|Short-term loan
|Due in 7 days
|$2.00 per day or part of day
Reserve Contacts
- Mills Circulation/Reserve
- Innis Circulation/Reserve
- Thode Circulation/Reserve
- Health Sciences Circulation


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LONDON (AP) -- Markets were resilient Wednesday as investors continued to hope the U.S. Federal Reserve would provide new monetary stimulus even though its chairman, Ben Bernanke, gave no indication that any action was imminent.
In testimony to Congress on Tuesday, Bernanke was fairly downbeat about the U.S. economy. He did not signal any new stimulus was being considered, though he said the Fed was still looking at "ways to address the weakness in the economy should more action be needed to promote a sustained recovery in the labor market."
The stock market's initial reaction to Bernanke's testimony was to drop. However, it stabilized later as many investors think the Fed may at least discuss further action at its next policy meeting in a couple of weeks.
"Market participants parsed his words, and weighed the probability of further large scale asset purchases," said David Morrison, senior market strategist at GFT Markets.
The Fed has already completed two programs of asset purchases, which have the effect of increasing the supply of money. That in turn should increase the flow of credit, helping economic activity.
Renewed hope for more such help supported markets, as did positive earnings statements from Goldman Sachs, Coca Cola and Yahoo.
They helped offset a gloomy after-hours statement from Intel Corp., the world's largest chipmaker. It said its revenue for the current quarter is likely to come in below market forecasts and the stock is expected to open around 10 percent lower on Wednesday.
U.S. earnings statements will remain a focus of attention later. Those expected to report later include Abbott Laboratories, Bank of America, Honeywell, American Express and IBM.
By late morning in Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was flat at 5,632 while Germany's DAX rose 0.1 percent to 6,580. France's CAC-40 was 0.5 percent higher at 3,192.
The euro was down 0.5 percent as it continued its choppy trading in the wake of Bernanke's comments. As he spoke, it fell below $1.22 but the market reassessment helped it bounce back above $1.23 for a while.
Wall Street was poised to lose half of the previous day's gains, with both the Dow futures and the broader S&P 500 futures down 0.3 percent.
As well as monitoring Bernanke's second day of testimony and the next round of earnings, investors will be keeping a close watch on developments in Europe in the run-up to Friday's conference call of the 17 euro finance ministers. The ministers are expected to back the release of the first batch of funds for the bailout of Spain's banks.
"Concerns about Europe appear to be background noise at the moment, everyone knows it's there, it's just people's attention is elsewhere for now," said Michael Hewson, senior market analyst at CMC Markets.
Earlier in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.1 percent to 19,239.88 and South Korea's Kospi dropped 1.5 percent to 1,794.91. Japan's Nikkei 225 shed 0.3 percent to 8,726.74 but China's Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.4 percent to 2,169.10.
Oil prices drifted lower, with benchmark crude for August delivery down 49 cents at $88.73 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.


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Do not hire anyone you can't fire. Ignore this advice only under pressure so harsh that you can't resist.
You can bet that if you put under great pressure to hire someone, you'll likely to be under even greater pressure if you have to fire them.
Resist to the last ditch situations where employment is based on any reason other than the needs of the company and the particular worth and "fit" of the person being brought on board. As long as you are held responsible for the results of your department you should have the absolute right to hire and fire as you think best. You should insist on being let off the hook if that right is denied.
When possible run for cover when you are being pressured by a friend to hire his friend. Especially try to duck the bullet when the "do hire" message comes on a personal basis from the boss. Be particularly wary of hiring relatives of the boss.
In the real world there may be no escaping the forced hire. If that is the case, protect yourself from the start. Have a clear understanding with all concerned of the basis on which you are acting. Have a fall back strategy if things don't work out as planned.
Be sure to document the performance of the offspring of the shotgun wedding. You need facts about performance, whether he or she is a raging success or a total disaster.
Never become so dependent on an associate that he or she can't be fired.
I wish you career success in 2010.
Ramon Greenwood, Head Career Coach
Common Sense At Work