text:
Campbell serving on education panel
By Beth Christian Broschart
Staff Writer
In preparation for the 2013 legislative session, House Speaker Rick Thompson appointed nine delegates – including Del. Denise Campbell, D-43rd District – in late December to serve on a bipartisan panel that will delve into the Governor's Education Efficiency Audit.
"The education system in West Virginia is on the brink of an overhaul, and it is important that all members of the House of Delegates are up to date and knowledgeable of what the audit recommends and what is needed to improve upon our education environment here in the state," Thompson said. "As speaker of the house, I am charged with assisting each House member in making an informed decision.
"I am asking this work group to obtain as much information as possible, and ultimately become a resource for other members as the legislation resulting from the audit is considered so we can build common ground now and hit the ground running."
In choosing members for the work group, Thompson consulted with Minority Leader Tim Armstead.
"Education is key to moving our state forward and ensuring that our children can stay here and pursue their goals," Armstead said. "This session will provide us with an historic opportunity to improve education in our state, and I am confident that the members of this work group will put the needs of our children first and work toward making the changes necessary to achieve the best outcome for our students."
Campbell said she is looking forward to the challenges of being part of the panel.
"I am very honored and excited to be appointed to the education audit work group," Campbell said. "Our primary goal is to see that every West Virginia student received the best education possible and that we are able to meet the needs to provide that education."
Campbell said the group had their first meeting Wednesday in Charleston.
"We are going through the audit and making sure to talk with the different stakeholders and looking at what we can do from a legislative standpoint," Campbell said. "We hope to see what, if any, legislation we can make to help improve our education system in West Virginia."
"I have two children who have been through the school system in Randolph County," Campbell said. "I also graduated from Randolph County schools and it is a wonderful system. But measures change, and even though we hate measuring children by testing, it is the best measure we have."
Campbell said one big issue the group will try to tackle is the truancy issue in West Virginia.
"If a child is not in school, they cannot learn," Campbell said. "We want to help assure all children, including special needs and extended studies, have the opportunity for a good education."
Those appointed to the Audit Work Group along with Campbell are Del. David Perry, D-Fayette; Del. Larry Williams, D-Preston; Del. Randy Swartzmiller, D-Hancock; Del. Doug Reynolds, D-Cabell; Del. Bill Anderson, R-Wood; Del.Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan; Del. Amanda Pasdon, R-Monongalia; and Del. Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha.
Because this is a gubernatorial election year, the legislative session will begin in February, rather than January.
"I want this work group to have the time to hold discussions with every stakeholder to gain a full understanding of what changes are needed to make West Virginia's school system among the best in the country," Thompson said.


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« Back
The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy
Book, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux
August 2007
Authors: John J. Mearsheimer, Editorial Board Member, Quarterly Journal: International Security, Stephen M. Walt, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs; Faculty Chair, International Security Program
Ordering Information for this publication
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security
The Israel Lobby," by John J. Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Stephen M. Walt of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, was one of the most controversial articles in recent memory. Originally published in the London Review of Books in March 2006, it provoked both howls of outrage and cheers of gratitude for challenging what had been a taboo issue in America: the impact of the Israel lobby on U.S. foreign policy.
Now in a work of major importance, Mearsheimer and Walt deepen and expand their argument and confront recent developments in Lebanon and Iran. They describe the remarkable level of material and diplomatic support that the United States provides to Israel and argues that this support cannot be fully explained on either strategic or moral grounds. This exceptional relationship is due largely to the political influence of a loose coalition of individuals and organizations that actively work to shape U.S. foreign policy in a pro-Israel direction. Mearsheimer and Walt provocatively contend that the lobby has a far-reaching impact on America's posture throughout the Middle East—in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—and the policies it has encouraged are in neither America's national interest nor Israel's long-term interest. The lobby's influence also affects America's relationship with important allies and increases dangers that all states face from global jihadist terror.
Writing in The New York Review of Books, Michael Massing declared, "Not since Foreign Affairs magazine published Samuel Huntington's 'The Clash of Civilizations?' in 1993 has an academic essay detonated with such force." The publication of The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy is certain to widen the debate and to be one of the most talked-about books of the year.
John J. Mearsheimer is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science and the co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago. He has published several books, including The Tragedy of Great Power Politics.
Stephen M. Walt is the Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and was academic dean of the Kennedy School from 2002 to 2006. He is the author of Taming American Power: The Global Response to U.S. Primacy, among other books.
For more information about this publication please contact the ISP Program Coordinator at 617-496-1981.
For Academic Citation:
Document Length: 496 pp.

subset: commoncrawl


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SuperPacs For Romney Coordinate TV Ad Buys
By Peter Overby • Oct 15, 2012
Originally published on October 15, 2012 10:13 am
Since April, more than 825,000 presidential campaign ads have been broadcast in the battleground states. Oddly, the dominant Republican voice on TV hasn't been that of nominee Mitt Romney. The big advertisers are four heavily funded SuperPacs and tax-exempt groups.


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This is a video by excatholics
Ex-Calvinists For Christ: A Call To Repentance - YouTube
Maybe Dudley can explain why they are so angry at Calvinists. I am not an ex-catholic so I really don't understand his anger towards Calvinists. It is obvious he is purposely bringing up the subject to argue and debate. I never bring it up with people unless I know they are Calvinists or that I know they can take the argument without leaving angry.


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I'd kiss that cheek🙂
Posted by | June 5, 2009, 8:45 pm
So cute… With Kitty in the background😉
Posted by | June 5, 2009, 9:14 pm
Sweet. I've actually been thinking about getting a permanent Fedora tattoo, though it wouldn't be on my face.😉
Posted by | June 5, 2009, 9:33 pm
do you know where we can get fedora stickers in the UK?
Posted by | June 5, 2009, 10:17 pm
why not print them yourself? this may be the easiest/cheapest way
Posted by | June 9, 2009, 7:05 am
Now that you have gotten that permanent tattoo, its time to tell you about the Fedora rebranding project. We will be moving away from blue and the letter F. We are looking at more like orange and the letter X. Thankfully you have two cheeks.
Posted by | June 5, 2009, 10:30 pm
Was it self made or are these available somewhere?
Posted by | June 5, 2009, 10:55 pm
I suppose you love Fedora🙂 I'm think to try the new version …🙂
Posted by | June 8, 2009, 8:10 am


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Stock Futures Rise as Cyprus Deal Is Clinched
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Stock futures were rising Monday with investors relieved that Cyprus was able to negotiate a last-minute bailout deal with international creditors over the weekend.
The "troika" consisting of the International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central Bank, and the Cypriot government agreed overnight on the terms of a deal, with eurozone finance ministers' approval, that would allow Cyprus to unlock €10 billion to recapitalize its ailing banks.
The deal, which requires massive cuts to Cyprus' bloated banking sector that has ballooned from billions of dollars funneled in from Russia over the years, spares bank deposits under €100,000 from financial losses but forces various losses upon deposits above €100,000.
Futures for the S&P 500 were rising 4.75 points, or 6.71 points above fair value, at 1,556.75. The index is up more than 9% this year but dropped 0.24% in the last five-day trading period, it's firstly weekly drop in four weeks, driven by uncertainties over Cyprus' ability to secure financial aid and greater-than-expected contraction in eurozone manufacturing.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were popping 24 points, or 48.97 points above fair value, at 14,483. Futures for the Nasdaq were up 12.75 points, or 13.24 points above fair value, at 2,806.25.
Cyprus' second-largest bank, Popular Bank of Cyprus, commonly known as Laiki Bank, will be shutting down with senior bondholders taking losses and deposits under €100,000 transferred to the Bank of Cyprus, the country's largest lender.
At both banks, deposits greater than €100,000, which are not insured under European Union law, will be frozen and put to work on resolving Laiki's debts and recapitalizing the Bank of Cyprus, which itself must undergo significant and painful restructuring under the deal.
The deal also calls for tax increases and privatization of state assets.
Cyprus is expected to receive the first tranche of the €10 billion in early May.
Banks in Cyprus are expected re-open Tuesday after staying closed for the past week out of fear of bank runs. Monday is a public holiday in Cyprus.
Major U.S. economic data weren't expected Monday though a flood of data is scheduled for the holiday-shortened week.
Widely watched economic releases include February's durable goods orders and the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index for March on Tuesday, and the third estimate on U.S. fourth-quarter GDP on Thursday.
The FTSE 100 in London was rising 0.79% and the DAX in Germany was gaining 1.43%. The Hong Kong Hang Seng index finished up 0.61% and the Nikkei 225 in Japan increased 1.69% on Monday.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury was falling 9/32, lifting the yield to 1.961%. The dollar fell 0.11%, according to the U.S. dollar index.
May crude oil futures were rising 47 cents to $94.18 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.


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Everything you need to know about accessing and using central computing services whether you are on campus or working remotely.
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Explore Computer Services
Campus computers
Where to find computers in computer workrooms, lecture theatres and kiosks and how to use them
Staff computers
How to use staff computers and purchase hardware
Remote access
Working off campus? We provide service that allow you to access your desktop, files and UCL software applications and systems.
News articles
Further Help & Resources
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- Can I save to the desktop?
Yes your desktop files are stored on your N: Drive the full location is N:/Desktop Settings/Desktop/ where they will be backed up every night. It is also advisable to save your documents in more than one location. Other recommended places are:
- Online Storage
- USB Memory Sticks- see USB memory stick guide
- How can I scan my documents or devices for viruses?
Desktop@UCL uses two different scanner programs to scan individual files, folders and drives for viruses and spyware. The type of scanner depends on the service you are using:
- Desktop@UCL on campus - Microsoft Endpoint and you can See the Virus scanning guide for more information.
- Desktop@UCL for staff - FSecure
- Where can I find a list of available applications on Desktop@UCL?
A complete list of available applications on desktop@UCL can be found via the links below. This will be updated as new applications or versions are made available.
- Where should I save my work?
It is recommended that you save your work on the Central Windows Filestore. This is backed up every night and is password protected so is more safe and secure than other methods such as USB sticks or internal/external external hard disks


text:
Forgotten treasure
City Hall and preservationists push to bring Julia Morgan's long-vacant YWCA back to life
By Joe Piasecki 08/06/2009
The years have not been kind to architect Julia Morgan's once stately Pasadena YWCA building, a symbol of civic pride that now stands in the shadow of City Hall as little more than a monument to neglect.
Weeds grow tall near the rusty metal sign that had marked its entrance along South Marengo Avenue. Windows are broken or boarded up. Litter is strewn where flowers once grew. An outdoor play set rusts in its fenced-off courtyard, where shopping carts, bottles and other debris mark the hidden encampments of people who are as forgotten as the building, but find their way inside through a missing basement window. An architectural treasure is left to rot.
"It's a disgrace," said Claire Bogaard, wife of Mayor Bill Bogaard and cofounder of the preservation group Pasadena Heritage. One of the organization's first acts more than 30 years ago was successfully campaigning for the building's inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
But in recent weeks, city officials have taken a renewed interest in the three-story Mediterranean-style structure that was built in 1921 — just two years after Morgan, California's first celebrated female architect, completed the palatial Hearst Castle on the Central California coast for press baron William Randolph Hearst. The building has been left vacant for more than 15 years since its sale by the YWCA to Trove Investments, a land-holding company owned by Hong Kong businesswoman Angela Chen-Sabella. Company officials could not be reached for comment on this story.
Earlier this year, city officials cited the structure for code violations and resumed stalled negotiations with Trove to either purchase the building or help broker an agreement for its restoration and reuse. The idea was discussed in a June closed-session meeting of the City Council, but specifics of those talks are being held close to the vest.
"It's an increasing tragedy that the owner will not take proper action. The council is anxious to see progress made on that property," said Mayor Bogaard, with Planning and Development Director Richard Bruckner adding only that the city is "interested in a process that would see significant investment in an historic revitalization of the building."
A lot of ideas
A decade of false starts tells us this is anything but a done deal. Plans for converting the building's upstairs dorm rooms, indoor swimming pool bathed in natural light and spacious gymnasium area under wooden trusses into a boutique hotel have fizzled twice, and more parking would be required for offices or housing.
"Over the years they've received several offers and we've been eager to get something moving there. The conundrum that any property owner would have is it's going to take millions of dollars to rehab this historic building," said Eric Duyshart, a business development administrator with the city.
Meanwhile, "It's become an embarrassment to have this really important building right across from City Hall so in need of help," said Pasadena Heritage President Sue Mossman. "I fear every day something will happen to it as it sits empty and looking pitiful, right in the heart of the city."
Before Trove took over the building, it held offices for organizations including Women at Work and the Doo Dah Parade.
The latest reuse concept for the historic Civic Center building is its possible conversion into city office space. For his master's degree thesis, Cal Poly Pomona architecture student and Pasadena resident Milad Sarkis drafted plans to restore the YWCA as a new headquarters for the Pasadena Water and Power Department (which currently leases space on South Los Robles Avenue), sharing the proposal earlier this year with both the American Institute of Architects and development officials at City Hall.
"The idea is that the public retain some kind of ownership of the facility and having PWP would fit a historic sense of having the building in public service," said Sarkis, who would revive its courtyard as an educational xeriscape garden to encourage water conservation.
According to a 1920 news report in the Pasadena Evening Post, YWCA volunteers at the time raised $350,000 to build the structure on land given to them by David Gamble of Procter and Gamble, who resided in the Gamble House. The fundraising campaign slogan: "By the people of Pasadena for the people of Pasadena."
Sarkis was granted permission to enter and photograph the building last year during a taping for the television series "Heroes" and said he discovered a still-sturdy building despite some serious damage from squatters, nesting pigeons and rainwater leaking in.
City Redevelopment Manager Dave Klug attended a presentation by Sarkis, but no final decisions have been made about the building and "there are lots of ideas floating around," he said.
"We've been trying to resurrect good-faith negotiations with the owner on some options the city is trying to understand — lease prices, purchase prices and the value of the property," explained Duyshart.
A renaissance
In terms of its impact on the city's character, the YWCA building is a priceless piece of history, said Ann Scheid, who oversees the Huntington's Greene & Greene collection for the Gamble House and is the author of two books about Pasadena, most recently Arcadia Publishing's "Downtown Pasadena's Early Architecture."
Only the 1910 YMCA building next door and the 1914 post office on Garfield Avenue predate the YWCA — City Hall was finished in 1927 and the Civic Auditorium in 1932 — making it perhaps the most influential structure in the development of the city's first Civic Center plan.
"The very layout of the Civic Center was determined by the location of the YWCA and the post office and they really determined the city's architectural style. It's a key building in the Civic Center and one of Pasadena's greatest architectural achievements," said Scheid.
The Morgan building's influence on the very design of the city core dates back to the City Beautiful movement, a push for urban beautification through the building of grand public structures that was introduced to America at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, explained Victoria Kastner, Hearst Castle's official historian and an expert on the life and architecture of Julia Morgan.
"One of the most important things about the Pasadena YWCA is it was meant to be part of an ensemble of public buildings, and the saddest thing is that it's now derelict and nearly abandoned instead of playing this important role," said Kastner.
It's also one of the city's first examples of affordable housing.
"YWCAs were an extremely important social response to young women going to work in cities in the first part of the 20th century and not having a safe and affordable place to live, being forced to take rooms at boarding houses, which meant associating with unsavory people. The YWCA gave young women who were entering the workforce a safe and chaperoned place to live," said Kastner.
Morgan, who Kastner described as the nation's "first great woman architect — the first to compete directly on the same playing field as men," was heavily involved with the Young Women's Christian Association, building a dozen YWCAs up and down the state in addition to her numerous other public and commercial projects, including the Mission Revival Los Angeles Herald-Examiner building in downtown LA.
Morgan's connections with the YWCA were rooted both in her affiliation with philanthropist Phoebe Apperson Hearst, mother of William Randolph Hearst, and her own role as a career woman in a male-dominated world. Morgan, who studied engineering at UC Berkeley, was the first woman to graduate from the world-class École des Beaux-Arts architecture school in Paris — lauded worldwide at the time as a monumental achievement for womankind, said Kastner.
"Pasadena is extremely lucky to have a Julia Morgan building, and one that is still largely intact," said Mossman. "It's a simple building, but elegantly expressed. It's functional, yet handsome, and reflects the influences of the 1920s. When [Morgan] was designing Hearst Castle she kept redesigning to what her client wanted, which was very extravagantly detailed and flamboyant in many places. Buildings like this YWCA, where Julia Morgan herself determined the design, reflect her true nature: an engineer as well as an architect, who understood structure and believed beauty can come from an honest expression of form and function that says everything it needs to say in a quiet, dignified way."
So, said Claire Bogaard, "It's a double blow to have our only Julia Morgan building, a building in the middle of the Civic Center and on the National Register of Historic Places, in such very bad shape. When Julia Morgan built something, she built it very well. The bones of this building are strong."
But this isn't the end of the story, suspects Kastner.
"It would have made [Morgan] sad to see her building in this state, but the good news is it's in a town where people really care about architecture," she said. "I don't know when or how, but it's going to have a renaissance, and that would have made her happy."
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Tales of ordinary people living in extraordinary circumstances — maybe even your own ancestors — live on in Civil War era documents here at Ancestry.com.
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text:
Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, The
Enter the world of ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Momma and Dad decide it's time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with the amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons head South to Birmingham, Alabama...toward one of the darkest moments in America's history.
A hilarious, touching, and tragic novel about civil rights and the impact of violence on one African American family.
Praise for The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
"Written in a full-throated, hearty voice, this is a perfectly described piece of past imperfect. Curtis's ability to switch from fun and funky to pinpoint-accurate psychological imagery works unusually well. Although the horrific Birmingham Sunday throws Kenny into temporary withdrawl, this story is really about the strength of family love and endurance. Ribald humor, sly sibling digs, and a totally believable child's view of the world will make this book an instant hit." — School Library Journal
1996 Newbery Honor Book
1996 Coretta Scott King Honor Book
An ALA Notable Book
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
The New York Times Book Review Best Book
A Horn Book Fanfare
- Ages
- 11, 12, 13
- Interest Level
- Grades 6 - 8
- Grade Level Equivalent
- 5.5
- Lexile Measure
- 50
- Guided Reading
- Publisher
- Yearling Books
- Number of Pages
- 224
- Genre
- Historical Fiction


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NORTHEAST, PA — Elected officials at every level were supportive of Act 41, which Governor Tom Corbett signed on July 2. The act stipulated that properly designed septic systems are automatically in compliance with Pennsylvania's anti-degradation requirements, which are mandated by federal law.
The law came in response to a new proposed policy by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Preservation (DEP) that would have imposed what many considered to be burdensome regulations on septic systems installed in exceptional-value and high-quality watersheds, which applies to most of Wayne and Pike counties.
Critics said the DEP policy would have added thousands of dollars to the cost of building a house. In some cases, the policy would have required an underground barrier to surround a septic system to prevent the spread of nitrates into the environment.
The DEP crafted the policy in response to a determination the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board (EHB) in 2011 that the method the DEP used to review septic systems in watersheds with exceptional-value and high-quality waters was not adequate.
County and township politicians in Pike and Wayne were universally opposed to the proposed policy, as were builders and contractors. The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) was also opposed, and in May wrote a letter to the DEP, saying, "The UDC and its members in Wayne and Pike counties say the implementation of the policy would likely decrease land values because the most valuable land—adjacent to lakes and streams—would become unbuildable, undevelopable and unusable for most purposes."
Local politicians contacted their representatives in Harrisburg about the proposed matter, and the general assembly quickly adopted a new law that essentially said on-lot septic systems that comply with the state's Sewage Facilities Act are automatically considered to be in compliance with the state's anti-degradation program, which must be approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Before ACT 41, DEP was required to review on-lot septic systems to ensure they were in compliance with the anti-degradation policies, but that review is now not required.
Now three environmental organizations have written to the EPA saying that the organization should review and reject Act 41, and instead, "in its place promulgate new standards for Pennsylvania that specifically override Act 41." The groups say that Act 41 constitutes a violation of the Clean Water Act.
The three groups, which are the Pine Creek Valley Watershed Association, the Raymond Proffitt Foundation, and the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, issued a press release on August 23 which said, "If the EPA fails to act, the three organizations may bring legal action against the EPA for its failure to perform its legal obligations under the law."
"The governor (Corbett) did not like a recent ruling from the EHB that required anti-degradation review of on-lot systems as a source of potential contamination to exceptional-value waters, and so rather than comply with the law, the governor decided he was above the law and could simply rewrite the rules. But he does not have that right, he is not the king, and it is the EPA's obligation to ensure that the Clean Water Act is complied with and that all residents of Pennsylvania are protected from such callous disregard of our water protection laws," said Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper.
A spokesperson for the EPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


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Crash sends Mt. Spokane student, parent to hospital
Troopers say slick conditions caused a driver to crash into oncoming traffic near Mount Spokane High School Thursday morning.
According to Washington State Patrol troopers, a Mount Spokane student was dricing to school when she lost control of her car. The 17-year-old drove into the westbound lanes of traffic, crashing into an oncoming car. The driver of the other car was a parent who had just dropped their child off at the high school.
Both drivers were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The drivers complained of head and neck pain.
Troopers said the teenage driver will be cited for driving too fast for the conditions.
© 2013 KXLY.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without prior permission.


text:
Stocks Post Tepid Gains on Heels of Slowing Chinese Production
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Major U.S. stock averages exhibited a lack of conviction Monday, rising slightly amid discouraging economic data from China, the world's second-largest economy.
At last check, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.25% to 14,433.06 with 23 stocks advancing and 7 declining.
The S&P 500 added 3.04 points, or 0.2%, to 1554.22. The Nasdaq was up 1.24 points, or 0.04%, at 3,245.61.
Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) shares were plunging 9.8% to $45.64 after the Coraopolis, Penn.-based company forecast same-store sales to increase 2% to 3% in 2013, a slower growth rate than the 4.3% increase last year. Dick's reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.03 a share on revenue of $1.8 billion, short of the average analyst estimate of earnings of $1.06 a share on sales of $1.86 billion.
AT&T(T) shares were dropping 0.44% to $36.52 after Reuters, citing the Times of India newspaper, said the U.S. telecom is interested in buying a 25% stake in India's Reliance Jio Infocomm , a telecommunications venture controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, for $3.5 billion.
Gainers included UnitedHealth(UNH) , Boeing(BA) and American Express (AXP) .
Verizon(VZ) , General Electric (GE) and Microsoft(MSFT) were among the Dow components trading lower.
Sectors were mixed in the broader market. Technology, conglomerates, and consumer non-cyclical shares were edging lower while consumer cyclical, financial and capital goods sectors were ticking higher.
Data from China, published Saturday, continued to indicate a lackluster start to 2013. Reports showed that while inflation increased more than expected, both industrial production and retail sales were less than expected. China was also experiencing slower credit growth.
"A slew of China's economic data were released over the weekend and the economic outlooks painted by the economic data were less than satisfactory," noted Sim Han Qiang, investment analyst at Phillip Futures.
"Thus far, Chinese government has been proactive in dealing with property inflation but the desired results have not been forthcoming," the analyst added.
There were no major U.S. economic releases scheduled for Monday.
Volume on the New York Stock Exchange totaled a mere 1.76 billion shares and 1.01 billion shares on the Nasdaq.
The Dow on Friday smashed through 14,400 for the first time before pulling back by the close to post its fourth consecutive record closing session. The Dow and the S&P 500 booked six-day winning streaks on Friday.
Major U.S. stock averages ended higher Friday after a robust February employment report showed a decline in the unemployment rate to near pre-recession levels.
U.S. retail sales for February will be published Wednesday, potentially offering insight into consumption trends and how the sequester's economic impact on consumers.
Gold for April delivery was rising $1.50 to $1,578.40 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, while April crude oil futures were down 42 cents to $91.53 a barrel.


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February 26, 2013
ISBE DELL e-Broadcast 2012.235—ELL Enrollment Summary and Ceiling Calculator
The ELL Enrollment Summary and Ceiling Calculator is the first part of the ELL grant application, for districts interested in applying for:
- State funding: TBE/TPI: Transitional Bilingual Education/Transitional Program of Instruction
- Federal Title III funding
The submission deadline for the Enrollment Summary and Ceiling Calculator is March 8, 2013.
To be eligible for funding, once the Ceiling Calculator has been approved, a district will also have to complete the second part of the application, the ELL-TBE/TPI and Title III Application, which will be available in May.
The submission deadline for the consolidated TBE/TPI and Title III Application is June 30, 2013.
Please be advised that a written overview about the FY14 ELL Enrollment Summary and Ceiling Calculator is now available at http://www.isbe.net/bilingual/htmls/consolidated_application.htm.
On that page you can also find previously recorded Ceiling Calculator instructional video segments along with a document highlighting any changes or sections added since the segment was recorded in FY12.
Please contact the Division of English Language Learning if you have additional questions at 312-814-3850.


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Elkmont- Sunday 4/13/14
I have been swamped the last week or so between work, working on a Troutfest committee (get your tickets I can tell you the different auction items are going to be top notch this year and for a good cause), and trying to fish, so will try to play catch up.
The first shot is a picture just for Ducky, i have a new stream for you, it's new for me and I sure did not do it justice. There is a brookie in every hole and is crying for your posse's level of small stream expertise. Ask me at Troutfest, I will give you all the details, I would love to see a man of your skill work it! (P.S It's not in the park)
On Sunday I met my friend Dave at Elkmont, a Clinch TU alumni who had never fished Elkmont. His wife Melissa a TU officer was working with Casting for Recovery (no boys allowed) in Gatlinburg, so he was free for a few hours to discover new water. It was cool for me to play guide and feel no personal pressure to catch fish, I showed him some favorite holes and he managed to land and hit a few even with my help or hinderance!
It was a beautiful day, and for someone who fishes solo 90% of the the time it was nice to spend it with a friend.
Dave Gettin Set
Hookin it
Lettin her go
Dave is sworn to secercy on this hole
Dave saying "I did not double pinkie swear to that, I am showing my wife!
As any good guide Dave was provided at the end of the jaunt with an adult beverage and free popcorn and I was given an afternoon of showing off the park. A fair trade for both of us!
"It starts with a raindrop, don't let it end with a teardrop!"
"Nothing straightens out my mind like a twisting mountain stream!"
Last edited by bigsur; 04-18-2014 at 04:02 PM..
Good of you to share your stomin' ground with a newby.
I think I want a report from that Blue Line also
And I hate to sound like Debbie Downer, but just because your playing guide, doesn't mean there is any less pressure for you to catch fish
Call me if you want to go fishing, boating, hiking, or if you want to buy a foamie
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Seán Keane
Saturday / September 6, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
Seán Keane, from County Galway, is decribed as the "greatest musical find of the '90s" by The Independent. Traditional Irish, folk, and even country and blues songs all lend themselves to his unique style and unforgettable voice.
Inspired by Muddy and Monroe: Featuring the Del McCoury Band and Catherine Russell
Friday / September 12, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
Special guests the Del McCoury Band and Catherine Russell will perform with students and faculty to re-envision the music of Bill Monroe and Muddy Waters.
Gino Vannelli
Saturday / September 20, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
Since the 1973 release of his debut album, Crazy Life, Gino Vannelli has remained one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music.
Advanced Audio Live
Tuesday / September 23, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
Held in conjunction with the A3E Advanced Audio + Applications Exchange Conference, this concert will be a showcase for advanced audio applications that are changing how music is being produced and performed.
Twerk Du Soleil
Wednesday / September 24, 2014 / 7:30 p.m.
After 100 million views on Youtube, Todrick Hall is taking his wacky, whimsical, and hilarious hits on an international tour. Join Todrick and his amazing cast of characters as they sing, laugh, and twerk the night away. All ages welcome.
Prince & Janet: The Tribute
Thursday / September 25, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
Delve into the catalog of pop legends Prince and Janet Jackson in engaging new ways.
Friday / September 26, 2014 / 7:30 p.m.
Jeff Tweedy's latest project is a new band focused around a collaboration with Spencer Tweedy, the frontman's 18-year-old son and drummer. The band, Tweedy, will perform songs from its debut album.
Snarky Puppy / Kneebody
Sunday / September 28, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
The once Texan, now New York-based Grammy Award-winning quasi-collective Snarky Puppy has gone from a best-kept secret to one of the most respected names in instrumental music. Although still underground in many respects, the band has earned high praise from critical stalwarts like the BBC, Village Voice, Guardian, and Boston Herald, and has performed at some of the best venues and festivals in Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America.
Laszlo Gardony All-Star Sextet
Monday / September 29, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
Featuring some of Boston's jazz royalty, distinguished Berklee and Harvard faculty, this group performs originals and imaginative arrangements of jazz standards and traditional folk music.
Leo Blanco / Jason Anick and Jason Yeager
Tuesday / September 30, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
Berklee assistant professor of piano Leo Blanco kicks off this faculty showcase night with original compositions blending contemporary South American music, modern harmonies, and improvisation. Next, Berklee instructors Jason Anick and Jason Yeager present a dynamic program of modern jazz infused with classical, rock, Latin, bluegrass, and other influences.
Joe Musella: Steely Dan Tribute
Wednesday / October 1, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
Faculty Guitarist Joe Musella and his band play Steely Dan's classic Aja album.
Video Game Orchestra: Live in Boston 2014
Thursday / October 2, 2014 / 7:30 p.m.
Video Game Orchestra invites you to rock out to video game music in the group's signature "rockestral" style, which features a rock band, orchestra, and choir.
An Evening With Esperanza Spalding: Thank You October
Friday / October 3, 2014 / 7:30 p.m.
Esperanza Spalding returns to Berklee as part of a special two-week tour, Thank You October, with longtime collaborators Leo Genovese and Lyndon Rochelle. This intimate trio performance will feature selections from Esperanza's critically-acclaimed releases: Junjo, Esperanza, Chamber Music Society, and Radio Music Society.
Tim and Eric & Dr. Steve Brule
Saturday / October 4, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
If you've ever seen Tim and Eric (the duo of Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim) live, you are already aware that these two know how to put on a performance – complete with singing, dancing, and all sorts of other Tim and Eric-isms.
Tim and Eric & Dr. Steve Brule
Saturday / October 4, 2014 / 10:30 p.m.
If you've ever seen Tim and Eric (the comic duo Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim) live, you are already aware that these two know how to put on a performance—complete with singing, dancing, and all sorts of Tim- and Eric-isms.
The 8th Annual Business of Hip-Hop/Urban Music Symposium: A Rap with Talib Kweli
Monday / October 6, 2014 / 7:00 p.m.
The Business of Hip-Hop/Urban Music Symposium, presented by the Berklee Music Business/Management department, features a celebration of one of the most influential genres of music in today's record industry.
Patitucci, Wooten, Bailey, and Bailey
Tuesday / October 7, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
Join John Patitucci, Victor Wooten, Victor Bailey, and Steve Bailey as they explore the inner and outer limits of the bass. Each of these bassists has underpinned some of the greatest artists of the last three decades: Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Weather Report, Madonna, Bela Fleck, Dizzy Gillespie, Willie Nelson, and Jethro Tull among them. With special guest drummer Derico Watson.
Aaron Spears: Zildjian Artist-in-Residence Final Concert
Wednesday / October 8, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
Winner of the 2014 Drummies Artist Award for Best Gospel Drummer, Aaron Spears broke onto the national scene with the Washington, D.C. based jazz, R&B, and rock group the Gideon Band.
More Than Four Meets Brazilian Big Band
Thursday / October 9, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
The vocal jazz quartet More Than Four presents its love of Brazilian music with lush harmonies backed up by a contemporary Brazilian big band.
Orpheus: The Boston Homecoming
Sunday / October 12, 2014 / 8:00 p.m.
Orpheus, the seminal soft rock band best known for their 1968 hit song "Can't Find the Time," is back with original members Bruce Arnold, Elliot Sherman, Howie Hersh, and the legendary Bernard "Pretty" Purdie.


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Property owner and Hollywood legend Judd Hirsch has applied for a variance to allow him to construct a 176-foot turbine on Eve Eden Road in the Town of Denning, which is on the north side of the remote Roundout Reservoir.
Some of his neighbors are less than pleased with the prospect of a windmill in their rural neighborhood, and they have circulated a petition asking the zoning board of appeals (ZBA) to deny the variance.
The ZBA had been scheduled to make a decision on the matter at a November 13 meeting, but the Ulster County Planning Board (UPB) got wind of the issue and asked the ZBA to put off a the decision until the planning board has time to review the application.
In New York State, county planning boards can weigh in on zoning matters in some cases, for instance, if a project would have intercommunity impacts. But a spokeswoman for the UPB said no one could offer a comment about what the board will be looking for until they have examined the application. The UPB meets next on December 4.
According to the minutes of the ZBA meeting on October 30, which included a public hearing on the wind turbine, various concerns were raised about the matter. The question of whether birds would be harmed by the windmill was responded to by a contractor for the project, Sherret Chase, who offered a statement from the National Audubon Society, which said residents would see no impact on the local bird population.
Also according to the minutes, "Questions were raised about physical dangers (ice fling, sound, catastrophic failure, fire and rescue). The site was chosen to make sure that these possible problems would not be a danger to the homeowner. The site chosen is a far distance from neighboring properties as to remove effect of failure."
The minutes indicate that the biggest concern was the impact the windmill would have on the viewshed, especially the "magnificent view of the Shawangunk Mountain range," which reportedly "would not be blocked for anyone."
In deliberating the matter, board members will probably be considering relevant sections of the town code, which say that a variance may only be granted if three conditions are met: the land in question cannot yield a reasonable return if used only for a purpose allowed in the district in which it is located; the circumstances applying to the property are unique and do not generally apply to other properties in the district; the use to be authorized by the variance will not alter the essential character of the surrounding area.
Some residents of the town feel that even though town officials followed the legal procedures for notifying residents about the public hearing and the workshop on the matter that preceded the hearing, they could have taken additional steps to notify more residents about the project earlier, to allow residents more time to educate themselves on the issue.
On another matter, several residents sent letters to the editor to The River Reporter because the local newspaper, Ye Olde Tri-Valley Townsman, has declined to publish letters to the editor about the matter, either pro or con.
Resident Tiffany Gillman wrote that she objected to the turbine because the constant noise of the turning blades would mar her son's enjoyment of the rural countryside and wildlife. She wrote, "I know some people will guffaw when reading this and say, 'there goes another one of those pesky environmentalists,' but I would never call myself that. I don't always take the extra steps to the recycling can, I drive an SUV when I know there are more efficient cars available, I gave up vegetarianism when I realized how good bacon tasted." But, she says she and some of her neighbors are opposed in part because they don't know enough about the impact on the environment and the people.
But for the paper, the decision not to publish letters was in part one based on economics. In response to a complaint from resident Sharon Selwyn about the paper's decision, the editor, Linda Comando, wrote, "to ask us to print all of the letters that we received would take almost two pages and quite frankly it is cost prohibitive."
As for the decision to print no letters at all, she wrote, "It is my understanding that the Town of Denning Zoning Board will be voting on this issue, and that there will be no further public comment. With this being the case, what would all of these letters gain except to cause dissension among neighbors, which I can see by your note, is already happening."


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Across Five Aprils appeals to a rather specialized audience. The sophisticated treatment of the Civil War themes requires some...
(The entire section is 139 words.)
Across Five Aprils appeals to a rather specialized audience. The sophisticated treatment of the Civil War themes requires some...
(The entire section is 139 words.)
On a bright April morning in 1861, nine-year-old Jethro Creighton is planting potatoes with his mother Ellen on their farm in southern Illinois. The thin, blond-haired boy is the youngest of twelve, although four of his siblings are dead, and the oldest left for California twelve years previously and has not been heard from since. Jethro was born in 1852, that terrible year when three of the Creighton children succumbed to the disease known as "child paralysis," or polio. Because of this, Ellen favors the boy, watching over him with "special tenderness."
Around seven o'clock, young Shadrach Yale passes by, driving a wagon. Shadrach, a serious, "powerfully built youth of twenty," comes from Philadelphia, and is the schoolmaster at the country school. Shad works for Jethro's father Matt during the summer, and Ellen considers him to be part of the family. The young man is smitten by Jethro's fourteen-year-old sister Jenny, and has a great appreciation for Jethro's "quick mind and delight in learning."
Ostensibly, Shad is going into town to fetch some supplies, but in reality, the objective of his trip is to get information from the outside world. Times are turbulent, and there is talk about war. Shad stops to reassure Ellen, who is anxious about the news he might bring. Jethro, however, like the eighteen-year-olds Tom and Eb, is excited at the prospect of war, and is impatient for it to begin.
Like so many of the young men of his time, Jethro has a romantic notion about war. He thinks war means:
...loud brass music and shining horses ridden by men wearing [fine] uniforms...some men were killed, of course, [but he] never doubted that if Tom and Eb got their chance to go to war, they'd be back home when it was over, and that it would be shadowy men from distant parts who would die for the pages of future history books.
It is not that Jethro is unfamiliar with death: he...
(The entire section is 785 words.)
Everyone sits down to a special "comp'ny supper" prepared by Jenny and Nancy when the long day's work is finally done. At first, the talk at the table centers around family affairs but before long, the focus of conversation turns to the nation's troubles. With deep concern, Matthew Creighton asks, "Will Kaintuck go secesh, Wilse?" and the visitor answers straightforwardly, "Maybe, Uncle Matt, maybe it will."
Wilse Graham then inquires how southern Illinois will feel about it if Kentucky does side with the South. He points out that the people of that area are "closer by a lot to the folks in Missouri and Kaintuck than [they] are to the bigwigs up in Chicago and northern Illinois." Matt agrees that as much as eighty percent of the people thereabouts "count Missouri or Kaintuck or Tennessee as somehow bein' their own," but he also laments the division in the country, insisting, "We're a union." Wilse gets angry then, railing about the affluent North's arrogance as it starves its less prosperous neighbor's industry with high tariffs because of jealousy that the South has finally found a way of life that benefits it. He asserts that the South only wants "the right to live as it sees fit to live without interference," and is prepared to fight "fer years if need be" to preserve this right. He goes on to predict that England will surely come to the aid of the Confederacy as well, if only to protect her much-needed source of cotton.
Ellen timidly interjects to bring up the question of slavery, and the plight of the "downtrodden people" in the South. Wilse at first tries to evade the question, but when John presses him to answer, he concedes that while he cannot justify the ownership of one man of another, slavery has been a fact of life "from the beginnin' of history." He notes that even the men who wrote the Constitution recognized the "peculiar institution," and pointedly demands to know what sort of welcome and assistance black men from...
(The entire section is 786 words.)
War fever is promoted shamelessly among the little towns in southern Illinois that summer. Every weekend, farming families pack children and picnic baskets into wagons to attend holiday-like gatherings, where speakers regale them with inflamed oratory about war. In late July, the first actual battle of the war takes place at Bull Run, in Virginia. Carriages filled with finely-dressed onlookers descend upon the scene, "all apparently eager to see the spectacle of young men butchering one another." The Union troops are soundly defeated and forced to make a hasty retreat. The battalion travels back along chaotic roads choked with the vehicles of witnesses who have come to celebrate what they had believed would be a quick and easy victory. News of a second resounding loss for the Union at a field called Ball's Bluff, also in Virginia, comes shortly thereafter. Reality sets in as the nation finally begins to understand that a long, bloody ordeal lies ahead.
Shadrach Yale decides to fulfill his contract and finish up the school year and John opts to wait until the harvest is in before they leave. Tom and Eb however set out at the end of summer to fight for the North. A short time later, the Union suffers another defeat, now at Wilson's Creek in Missouri. This development holds special significance for the people of southern Illinois because it is so close to home. Turmoil in the border states intensifies and Jethro, listening to the the men who gather frequently in the Creightons' yard to talk of war, becomes acquainted with a fascinating array of new names and places. These terms only later will begin to form a meaningful picture in his mind as the "great drama" unfolds.
Bill remains alone among the men, keeping silent throughout the upheaval of those days. He tells Jethro, who has taken to sleeping with him in the loft since the departure of Tom and Eb, that he has been "roamin' the fields" at night; the stillness and space help him unravel his thinking, which "is all of a tangle" of late. Bill is tormented by the terrible events...
(The entire section is 840 words.)
The first real victory for the North comes in February of 1862, when forces led by General Ulysses S. Grant capture Fort Henry, in Tennessee. Two weeks later, Fort Donelson, another Confederate stronghold, falls to the Union. People are "wild with joy," and the general feeling is that the war will be over "in a matter of weeks." Matt Creighton, however, sees no end in sight to the hostilities, and is disappointed with the much-touted General McClellan, who has so far made no move with the famed Army of the Potomac. Matt is intrigued, however, with the fact that two opposing generals, Grant and his Confederate counterpart S.B. Buckner, had been comrades at West Point. Ellen notes that their sons Bill and Tom, fighting on opposite...
(The entire section is 846 words.)
Coffee is in short supply by late March, 1862. To her shame, Ellen depends upon the strong drink and is subject to debilitating headaches if she does not have it. Determined to "suffer it out," she gamely attempts to abstain, but her malaise is so great that Matt cannot stand to witness it; he sends Jethro down to Newton to get some coffee for his mother, as well as other much-needed supplies. It is fifteen miles to the town, and Jethro, who is ten-years-old now, is proud that his father trusts him to take on such a "sizable job."
Jethro sets out in the early dawn. His spirits are high, and people getting about their morning chores wave to him in greeting. An old man, Jake Roscoe, stops him on the way, and, in answer to...
(The entire section is 884 words.)
The morning after Jethro returns from his trip to Newton, his father suffers a heart attack. Although the stricken man survives, he is never the same: "the vigorous, erect Matt Creighton [is] gone, [and] a man who look[s] twenty years older [has] taken his place." Jethro will always remember that day in late March of 1862 as the day he left childhood behind. As an eighty-pound stripling of only ten years old, he becomes the man of the house; now, he will labor from dawn to dusk to ensure the family's livelihood, and he will make decisions about the well-being of the farm on his own.
By the second week of April, the fields are ready for plowing. Jethro and Jenny do their best to get land ready for planting, while Ellen...
(The entire section is 655 words.)
Friends and neighbors from all over the county come to the Creightons' aid in the wake of the vigilantes' destruction. Ross Milton and Sam Gardiner collect money to replace some of the lost farm implements, and others come by to clean up the well and work in the fields. Close neighbors promise to help rebuild the barn, and one of Ed Turner's sons brings a dog to provide a modicum of protection. All of these kind actions bring comfort to the family, but their fears are never completely allayed.
During the months of May and June of 1862, more stories of horror filter through from Shiloh, as local boys injured in the battle come home. One of these young soldiers, Dan Lawrence, brings dreaded news about Tom Creighton. Tom...
(The entire section is 811 words.)
In looking back to the spring and early summer of 1862, Jethro sees that things had been going relatively well for the North. There had been victories at Forts Henry and Donelson in Tennessee, and only a small strip of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Vicksburg, in the state of Mississippi, had been under Southern control. As Shad had explained, the Union had only to seize that area, and the Confederacy would essentially have been cut in two. Jethro remembers also, however, his teacher's intimation that the fighting to secure this end would be horrific beyond belief. Indeed, the boy cannot but perceive the recent battle at Shiloh as an empty victory for the North, because of the deaths of Tom and so many...
(The entire section is 766 words.)
The deserters who descend upon southern Illinois are a fearsome bunch, intent on keeping themselves hidden from authorities and subsisting on whatever they can forage in the woods or pilfer from local farms. They are armed, and, in their desperate struggle to survive, create an atmosphere of terror for the Creightons and others who live in the area. It is not long before a murder occurs. A ne'er do well named Hig Phillips, who had avoided the draft by hiring someone to go to war for him, is killed in the dead of night by a band of runaway soldiers. They are furious that he has sat around at home for no reason other than sheer laziness for the past two years, while they have borne the unspeakable burden of war.
(The entire section is 896 words.)
Grisly battles of epic proportions continue during the spring and summer of 1863. At Chancellorsville, a Union Army with "greatly superior numbers" is defeated by a much smaller Confederate force led by Robert E. Lee. Seventeen thousand Union soldiers are either killed or imprisoned, and the Creightons, knowing that Shadrach Yale has likely been involved in the fighting there, anxiously wonder if he has been numbered among the casualties. Finally a letter arrives: Shad is all right, but he is weary and angry at the inept leadership his general, Joseph Hooker, had exhibited at Chancellorsville. He is also maddened at the "massive waste of life" he witnessed in this latest battle, as well as at Antietam and Fredricksburg. Reflecting...
(The entire section is 775 words.)
Stories of chaos and confusion dominate the news during the late summer and fall of 1863. After their hard-won victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg in early July, the North is dealt a "dreadful reversal" at Chickamauga, in northern Georgia. Outnumbered by as many as twenty thousand, Union troops under General Rosecrans suffer a crushing defeat. The rout is not complete, however, as the left wing of the Army of the Cumberland, led by General Thomas, holds firm in the face of the Confederate assault.
Nancy receives a letter from John, who is serving in Rosecrans' forces. He writes about the disaster at Chickamauga, the difficult days spent afterwards in the mountains near Chattanooga, and how reinforcements had arrived,...
(The entire section is 830 words.)
In December of 1864, the nation learns that General Sherman has won Savannah for the North while advancing through Georgia from Atlanta to the sea. The Union at first rejoices, but then stories of the nature of that infamous march begin to filter in. In Georgia, Sherman had allowed his men to run wild, pillaging, burning, and leaving utter destruction in his wake. After taking Savannah, he had turned north into South Carolina, where his army continued its lawless plundering, hungry for revenge and "enraged at the stubborn tenacity of the South in holding onto a cause that was already lost."
Jethro turns thirteen in the first part of 1865. Over the course of the past four war-torn years, he has remained slender, but has...
(The entire section is 848 words.)


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Re: Goooood Morning SHR- Monday
"We know that Mother Nature is a woman. If she were a man, there would be no rain on race day."
Whatever goes... remember, this is a family forum
Annalee wrote:Goooood Morning SHR
21* in New Castle, Be nice to get back home were it's at least a little warmer in the mornings. Oh well, 1/2 a week down and 2 weeks to go.
I may take the time tomorrow, and see what this little city has to offer.
Sprint Cup Series Practice 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Sprint Cup Series Final Practice 11:45 am
(11:30 p.m.) SPEED
NCWTS Set-up 1:00 pm SPEED/ MRN
Camping World Truck Series Kroger 250 1:30 pm MRN/SPEED
Thoughts and Prayers to All
Have a Great and Safe Day
I am afraid this too has been PREempted.......by Barrett Jackson .........I have never understood this program either......yesterday I watched Rick Hendrick spend one million on a new
Corvette.......Really.....?!! I hope this was for charity. I really like the thrill of the hunt for a good bargain.
Smoke14Wins wrote:April 9 is . . . . . Winston Churchill Day and Name Yourself Day
Jellikit wrote:I'll be Nicky Flash....because it rhymes.
(love those commercials)
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The state is halfway through a 12-year $1.7 billion overhaul of our airports.
Now a scathing audit has uncovered poor state oversight of a contractor hired to manage the massive project.
One glaring point-- $1 million spent on a house kit now used as a construction field office in Maui.
"It seems extravagant to have this million dollar field office used once in a while for big meetings and only intermittently by other staff," said legislative auditor Jan Yamane.
The audit found that the cost was 30 times the going rate for standard trailers.
The state hired Parsons Transportation Group to oversee the massive project in 2006, but the audit found that the state airports division relinquished control to the contractor, raising eyebrows over whether taxpayers' money was being well spent.
"These are public funds. Are we getting the best value?" Yamane asked.
The audit also found a violation of the state procurement code. Parsons had a professional services contract, but went ahead and did a half a million dollars of construction work on offices on Ualena Street.
The renovation covered two floors of the building but the auditor says the company should have put the project out to bid.
But there's more.
It includes sketchy documentation to justify a long list of expenses.
Taxpayers paid for an architectural consultant to spend one to two weeks in Honolulu a month at a rate of $9,000.
That is in addition to travel and per diem ranging from $2,800-- to $3,600 a month.
And there's money for a sub-consultant that included a monthly rental of a Waikiki condo at $2,600 over a 16-month period.
Taxpayers were also billed up to $5,000 a day for what's listed as team building sessions.
And the audit questioned $11,000 in travel for a "cultural consultant.'
"We should get our money's worth and not overpay for some of these things," Yamane said.
There were even problems in areas where the airports division had direct oversight.
Because of poor planning, a Securitas security contract had to be extended three times and cost the public an additional $38 million.
"Maybe the first time it's excusable, and the second time-- this is not so great. Maybe someone should have realized, this is the third extension," Yamane said.
And even after six years of problems with electrical contractor, Ted's Wiring, the company still secured close to $8 million in additional work.
The state transportation department didn't dispute the audit findings but said with new leadership in place, it has changed a number of its practices.


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Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 869-7787
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Elite Operations Toys
Units: About 16,000
Importer/Retailer: Toys "R" Us Inc., of Wayne, N.J.
Manufacturer: Toy World Group Ltd/Chun Tat Toys Factory Limited, of Guangdong, China
Hazard: Surface coatings on the toys contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The recall involves four military-style Elite Operations toys, including Super Rigs (#1004), Command Patrol Center (#1020), Barracuda Helicopter (#1023), and 3 Pack 8-inch Figures (#1024). The product number is located on the toy's packaging.
Sold at: Toys "R" Us stores nationwide and toysrus.com from July 2007 through October 2007 for between $10 and $30. No other Elite Operations brand military play sets are included in this recall.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the toy away from children, and return them to any Toys "R" Us for a full refund or store credit.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Toys "R" Us at (800) 869-7787 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, and between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.toysrus.com
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of
thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the
nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or
mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household
chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at
301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing
to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.
Times: 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime
Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800
View CPSC contacts for specific areas of expertise
We are still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product.
Report a Product on SaferProducts.gov
The link you selected is for a destination outside of the Federal Government. CPSC does not control this external site or its privacy policy and cannot attest to the accuracy of the information it contains. You may wish to review the privacy policy of the external site as its information collection practices may differ from ours. Linking to this external site does not constitute an endorsement of the site or the information it contains by CPSC or any of its employees.
Click Ok if you wish to continue to the website; otherwise, click Cancel to return to our site.


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Extreme weather survival tips
Published On: Jan 30 2013 03:44:13 PM CST Updated On: Jan 27 2015 02:00:00 AM CST
Parts of the U.S. are battling "life-threatening" winter conditions. If you have to venture out, follow these tips to keep you and your family safe.
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms Of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms.


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Note: Firm out of business. Do not use these products. Please discard or destroy these products.
WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, CBS Inc., New York, New York, announced a voluntary recall and replacement of the plastic bodies of its "Clippety Clop" "Comanche" and "Colt" ride-on toy "Wonder" horses because the plastic body may break during use.CBS has received 105 complaints that the body of the toy has broken without warning while being ridden, causing the rider to fall suddenly. Forty of these incidents resulted in injuries such as cuts, scrapes and bruises.The "Wonder" horse is a painted plastic riding toy, sometimes known as a hobby horse. The body of the horse is suspended by four springs from a tubular blue or blown metal frame. Children sit on these toys and rock or bounce while holding onto dowels attached to the horse's head.Over 114,000 of these ride-on toys, produced and distributed to retailers between March 1984 and May 1986, have been sold nationally for approximately $60 each. Only those units produced prior to June 1986 by the Wonder Unit of CBS Toys are affected by this recall.Any "Wonder" horse with a silver label on the horse's belly, or with a number higher than 86207 stamped on its belly, is not affected by this recall. These toys were produced beginning in June 1986 from a modified mold.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of
thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the
nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or
mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household
chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
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Ages 2 to 5 years old
Each week children are introduced to an artist and an activity inspired by their techniques, materials, and ideas. Activities invite young artists to build and refine their fine motor skills; engage in sensory exploration of materials, and learn how to share with others in this open art studio. There is no such thing as a bad mess in this space, which is tailored to children five and younger.


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The value of Washington's dairy exports has soared.
The Tri-City Herald reports that according to the state Department of Agriculture, the state exported more than $461 million worth of dairy products in 2011. That's a 35 percent increase in three years.
Washington is the nation's second largest exporter of dairy products, after California. Darigold, which is owned by the Northwest Dairy Association, a co-op representing about 85 percent of the dairy farmers in Washington, says it has been expanding exports consistently.
Dermot Carey, a senior vice president at Darigold, says it's exporting more to Asia as economic growth fuels demand for dairy products in countries that don't have the infrastructure or climate to increase their own milk production.
The Yakima Valley is one of the largest dairy-producing areas in the nation. Benton, Franklin, Klickitat and Yakima counties have 91 dairies and more than 110,000 cows.
In 2011, the state's milk production was valued at $1.3 billion, up 34 percent from 2010.


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A young girl from Japan and researchers at Kure Atoll in Hawaii have become friends.
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N.J. man charged with DUI, leaving scene in KillingtonFebruary 09,2014Josh O'Gorman
Staff Writer
KILLINGTON - A New Jersey man is facing a slew of charges after allegedly crashing his vehicle while intoxicated Saturday morning.
Travis Hudson, 22, of Tom River, N.J., is scheduled to appear March 31 in Rutland criminal court to answer charges of drunken driving, providing false information to police and leaving the scene of an accident.
At approximately 8:24 a.m., state police responded to a report of a crash on Roaring Brook Road, where they found an abandoned Honda CR-V, off the road and surrounded by beer cans, police said. The vehicle had traveled off the road and struck several signs and trees, but the driver was nowhere to be found, police said.
In the afternoon, Hudson came to the State Police Barracks in Rutland, where he denied drinking prior to the crash, despite appearing intoxicated, police said.
In addition to the criminal charges, police also issued Hudson tickets for failing to stay on the road and for leaving beer cans and other debris at the site of the abandoned vehicle.MORE IN This Just InMONTPELIER A new report from a commission that studied the cost, availability and quality of... Full StoryVermont fish hatchery changes focus, looks inland
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text: So far I have been putting my son to my breast at least once a night and giving him formula during in a syringe. I have been trying to relactate for a week now and things are going GREAT!!! I have so far today got 2 ounces total with just 3 pumps so far. Im sooo excited its working. I have been pumping every 2 hours and its working. Dont know if its the reglan, fenugreek, or the mothers milk tea. But Im finally making some progress and it will be a week this saturday I just hope my supply continues to climb


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Grosse, Robert
- BA - International Economics, Princeton University
- PhD - International Economics, University of North Carolina
Professor Robert Grosse is Director of George Mason's Center for Global Business. The center is a part of the School of Business, focusing on academic research in global business and development of programs and conferences in all three areas of global business, innovation, and organizational transformation.
Before joining George Mason University, Professor Grosse was the Director (Dean) of the EGADE Business School at Monterrey Tec in Mexico. He joined the Tec in early 2009, after teaching in a videoconference joint venture MBA between Thunderbird and the Tec since 1998. He oversaw the EGADE campuses in Monterrey and Mexico City.
Professor Grosse was the founding Director of Standard Bank Group's (South Africa) executive education program, the Global Leadership Centre, which is designed to offer leadership development training to the Group's 11,000 managers and executives. He joined the Group in March of 2006, and worked with the team overseeing the design of curriculum, recruiting of instructors, completion of physical facilities, and launch of the overall Centre programs in October 2006. He became the overall head of Leadership Development and Learning in July of 2007.
He holds a BA degree from Princeton University and a PhD from the University of North Carolina, both in international economics. He has taught international finance in the MBA programs at Thunderbird, the University of Miami, the University of Michigan, and at the Instituto de Empresa (Madrid, Spain), as well as in many universities in Latin America. As a consultant in international business he has worked for the US Commerce, State, and Treasury Departments, the Organization of American States, and the United Nations. Among the many companies he has served are: American Express, Anaconda, Banco Ganadero, Chase Manhattan Bank, Citibank, EXXON, IBM, Merrill Lynch, Raymond James, Standard Bank, Texaco, YPF, and Xerox.
Professor Grosse is a leading author on international business in Latin America. He has written about global firms' strategies in the region (Can Latin American Firms Compete?. Oxford, 2007), the financial crises of 2008-9 as well as in the 1980s and 1990s and strategies of banks and firms to deal with them (three books and a dozen articles) and the strategies of Latin American firms in international competition (cases on Enersis, Banco Ganadero, YPF, and LanChile, among others). He wrote a section on "International Business in Latin America" for the Oxford Handbook of International Business (Oxford, 2001). He is a Fellow of the Academy of International Business.
Professor Grosse has worked as Chair in Capital Markets at the Instituto de Empresa (Madrid), and as Visiting Professor of International Finance at ICESI (Cali, Colombia), Universidad del Norte (Barranquilla, Colombia), Universidad del Pacifico (Lima, Peru), and at the Universidad Gabriela Mistral (Santiago, Chile). He has taught executive programs in international finance and global business strategy in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, México, Panama, Perú, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain, Trinidad, Uruguay and Venezuela. He was President of the Business Association of Latin American Studies in 2005-6.