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Inquest jury recommends charging 3 Milwaukee officers
Derek Williams died in police custody
An inquest jury is recommending misdemeanor charges against three Milwaukee police officers who ignored a suspect's pleas for help as he gasped for air in the back of a squad car.
It's now up to prosecutors to decide whether to file formal charges against the officers in the case of Derek Williams. Williams died in July 2011 after gasping for breath and begging for help for about eight minutes in a police car. The officers eventually performed CPR and called paramedics.
The jury also found that there was probable cause that Williams -- who had the genetic marker for sickle cell but not the disease itself -- died of sickle cell crisis.
The officers were not present when the verdict was read in court.
Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Playing through Atlanta.
The first place Phillies (36-26) begin their first visit to the deep south with a three games series in Atlanta to meet the third place Braves (32-29). The first game will be played at Turner Field and will begin tonight at 7:30 pm Eastern. The Phillies' starter will be Jamie Moyer (6-3, 4.65), who is presently riding a personal four games winning streak, including a recent victory against the Marlins on June 1, where he pitched seven innings, giving up five earned runs on seven hits, in the Phillies' 7-5 win. He will be trying for his fifth straight win, while hoping that the offense will once again supply him with some runs. The Braves will be sending to the mound Tim Hudson (7-4, 3.01), who is coming off a lost against the Reds on June 1 as he was taken out of the ballgame because of a left hamstring pull, after having completed six innings, giving up four runs, three of which were earned, on seven hits, in the Braves' 6-2 lost. He will be looking to help the Braves stop the presently very hot Phils while also trying to avoid giving their batters a chance to crush another starter.
The Phils' offense, after being red hot for the last couple of weeks, is once again having a hard time scoring runs, although they are getting a few timely hits at the right moment. But, the starters are presently picking up the slack as they have together pitched several good games during the most recent road trip and home stand, while the relief corps has continued to keep the batters of the opposing team from knocking in many runs in the late innings. If this continues, the Phillies will be hard to beat in many of the games that are left to play this season.
The first place Phils are once more two and a half games ahead of the Marlins, who will be starting a four games weekend series with the Reds. The third place Braves are three and a half games behind the Phils, whom they will be hosting for a three games weekend series. The fourth place Mets are now four and a half games behind the Phillies as they continue their four games series with the Padres in San Diego.
2 Comments
I cannot believe that game! Did Kelly Johnson really drop that pop up? And did Blanco really get thrown out at home? Wow wow wow. When you're hot you're hot I guess. But with the ways that Atlanta beat the Fish this week, can't say I'm crying for them, even if it means the Phillies win
Did Kelly Johnson drop that pop upl? Why yes, I do believe he did, even if even I was surprised when I heard it happen on the radio. Did Blanco get thrown out at home? Yes, he did. The Braves took a risk and it backfired on them, big time.🙂 Yes, when you are hot, things just seems to go your way. I\m hoping it stays that way for the rest of the road trip.🙂

subset: commoncrawl


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My DH is feeding my LO everything that we eat. He's not paying attention to baby food stages and is not following the wait 3-4 days for allergies rule since he says that both our families do not have a family history of food allergies. LO is 6.5 months old and loves everything he gives her -- from ice cream, rice, mashed fruits (nectarines, peaches, bananas, watermelon, etc), veggies, guacamole...even chocolate. Of course, he's avoiding the obvious no-no's like honey. He's not giving her a ton, but just a little bit, but enough to make me nervous that it could upset her stomach.
Is this OK? LO seems to be OK -- no signs of allergies or constipation, but I just worry that one day there will be a problem.


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Programs offered at University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Program for the
MD Degree
(MD) Allied Health
(AHS) Graduate
(PhD, MS) Combined
(MD/PhD, MD/MPH) Office of Special
(includes MED)
We are very proud of the contributions our students, faculty, and staff make to our mission:
to improve the health of North Carolinians and others whom we serve.
Education is the foundation of all of our work at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine,
and on our website you will find all the information you need to access our programs
and understand our vision and values.
William L. Roper, MD, MPH
Dean, School of Medicine
Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs
CEO, UNC Health Care System


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Totteridge Golf Club
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
July 11, 2004
GREENSBURG, Pa. â On a hazy and humid day in the hills of Western Pennsylvania, Mark Washburn II of Reston, Va., and Thomas Dunlap of East Liverpool, Ohio, carded matching 1-over-par 73s to capture co-medallist honors at the Solutions Consulting Junior Classic Qualifier. In the Girls Division, Lindsay Salsburg of Navarre, Ohio, shot a 5-over-par 77 to claim the qualifier crown.
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Solutions Consulting Junior Classic Qualifier was held at the Totteridge Golf Club. Eighty-eight junior golfers from 11 states, including 32 from Pennsylvania and 24 from Ohio, competed in the 18-hole qualifier. Twelve boys and three girls qualified for this weekâs 54-hole tournament, which will feature 99 juniors, ages 12-18.
In the Boys Division, Washburn got off to a slow start, but was able to shoot a 2-under-par 34 on the front nine, earning a spot in this weekâs Solutions Consulting Junior Classic.
âAfter the first three holes, I got my driver under control, which helped a lot because of all of the fescue out there,â Washburn said.
Washburn, who was 4-over-par after three holes before making a run on the front nine, is looking forward to his second AJGA event. However, he feels there are improvements that can be made in order to make a good showing in the tournament.
âPutting is going to be difficult this week and I definitely need to stay away from double bogeys,â he said. âI would love to win but I would be happy with a top 10 finish since this is only my second AJGA event.â
Dunlap credited his short game as the catalyst that earned him a spot in this weekâs tournament.
âWhen I missed a shot, I still gave myself a chance to make a good score,â Dunlap said. âI didnât miss it in the wrong places and was able to get up and down a lot.â
Also qualifying in the Boys Division were Jason Bernstein of Paoli, Pa., John Giannuzzi of Wellesley Hills, Mass., Stephen Markovitz of Bridgeville, Pa., Brent Deems of Ashland, Ohio, Tony Jaffa of Owings Mills, Md., Michael OâKeefe of Medford, N.J., Daniel Obremski of Irwin, Pa., Grant Doverspike of Bakersfield, Calif., Chad Kokoska of Clarksville, Pa., and Brad Cieslinski of Natrona Heights, Pa.
Three players, R. Scott Pugh of Harrisburg, Pa., Steve Kidron of Horsham, Pa., and Bennett Boyer of Millersburg, Pa., finished in the top 12, but opted to take one AJGA Tournament Exemption in lieu of playing in this weekâs event.
In the Girls Division, Salsburg also struggled early, but found her game after some early miscues.
âI got off to a rocky start, but I just started to relax,â Salsburg said. âMy driver wasnât as consistent as normal, but my chipping and putting saved me all day.â
Salsburg is looking forward to the opportunity to compete this week.
âI really just want to hit my driver straighter,â she said. âThe course is difficult, but really nice, so I think I can do well.â
Robyn English of Warwick, R.I., and Jessica Hamilton of Rockville, Md., also qualified to round out the Girls field in this weekâs tournament.
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA has a membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.
Titleist, the AJGAâs National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Associationâs success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.
First-round tee times will begin Tuesday at 7 a.m. and conclude at 11:57 a.m. at Totteridge Golf Club. For more information on the Solutions Consulting Junior Classic, please contact tournament headquarters at (724) 837-6700..
The Foundation
The Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program provides financial assistance to junior golfers who wish to play in AJGA events. Its goal is to give top-flight golf opportunities to young golfers regardless of financial resources. This program helps to fulfill the AJGA's mission of developing young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.
What is Leadership Links?
Leadership Links is a new program whereby the AJGA is able to further its mission to help develop young men and women by teaching charitable giving skills and service-oriented practices at an early age. This program gives juniors all the tools necessary to donate their time, talent and resources to local charities and the AJGA youth development programs. Please click here to learn more about the program and the different opportunities available.


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Freedom Communications
Freedom Communications Inc., parent company of the Clovis News Journal, Portales News-Tribune and Quay County Sun, should emerge from bankruptcy by the end of March, according to the company's top executives.
Interim Chief Executive Burl Osborne and Chief Financial Officer Mark McEachen said that while some change in the company's newspapers, magazines and TV stations is inevitable, "things will not be turned upside down … the (new) board is not interested in changing something that works."
Osborne added that Freedom's various publications and news outlets will continue to cover and address the needs of their local communities.
Freedom filed for bankruptcy reorganization Sept. 1. It owns 33 daily newspapers, 70 other-format publications and eight television stations.
A reorganization plan has been submitted to the bankruptcy court in Delaware. Creditors have until Monday to vote on the plan, which is set for a confirmation hearing March 9.
Under the plan, Freedom's secured debt would be reduced from $770 million to $325 million. Unsecured creditors would split an initial $32.2 million but would be able to pursue a lawsuit against the company board and insurance companies in an effort to recoup up to $25 million more.
The Hoiles family, which has owned the flagship Orange County (Calif.) Register newspaper since 1935, would have no ownership. The lenders have already named a new board of directors that will take over when the company emerges from bankruptcy. According to the court filings, Osborne will be the post-bankruptcy CEO. He has been interim chief executive since last summer.
After the court approves the plan, some technical work must be completed including the transfer of FCC licenses for the TV stations, Osborne said.
Already, Freedom Communications is attracting attention from investors that are buying debt from existing secured creditors, Osborne said. He acknowledged that one is Angelo Gordon & Co., a New York private equity firm that has also bought the debt of other media companies in bankruptcy, including the Tribune Co., owner of the Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and Minneapolis Star Tribune.
The names of investors and remaining lenders that will own the post-bankruptcy company will be filed with the court.
Osborne said that last year Freedom Communication's debt was selling for as little as 20 cents on the dollar, but recent interest has driving the price up to 70 cents.
"The interest level in this company and prospects for the future have become apparent to strategic and financial investors so there has been a large runup in the value of our debt," Osborne said.
McEachen added, "Our investors have the ability to put their money in any investment. They have chosen to invest in our properties and our associates. We have to be considered one of the media companies that will flourish in the future."
Freedom Communications' reorganization calls for the company to more than double pretax earnings to $98 million within four years. Osborne said that improvement will be achieved by:
• Continued efficiencies in management and operations. One example already implemented is joint newspaper delivery with the Los Angeles Times
• Revenue growth, especially from online activity, such as an existing partnership with Yahoo
• Improved coordination among divisions within the company
• Joint efforts with other media companies


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Cheap Prom Dress Shops
Not sure about which cheap prom dress shops to pick for your occasion? Shop from Cocomelody and you are sure to find the answers! Listed in an organized order, the wide collection of handmade cheap prom dress shops from us is of highest quality. In order to facilitate you, we provide detailed information for you to look up. Feel comfortable to ask our online customer service if you have any question. Best wishes to you and have fun.
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The act that everyone was talking about from day 2 of Lollapalooza 2012 was the act of Mother Nature that caused the festival grounds for almost two and a half hours on Saturday.
Attendees were evacuated from Grant Park and into underground parking garages just before 3:30 p.m., nearly an hour before strong winds and driving rain swept into the area near Lake Michigan.
A few acts were scrapped from the revised schedule once gates reopened around 6 p.m. Here are some of the highlights from those who were able to take the stage.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers continue to prove to be the ultimate showmen. Anthony Kiedis wears a suit coat on stage only to take it off after one song. Flea pounds out a funky bass solo before the band's second song. It was all part of a show that packed a large crowd into the south end of the Lollapalooza grounds. The Chili Peppers have been in a headlining spot at the festival before. And while the massive crowd sang along with many of the band's greatest hits, the Chili Peppers have played much better than they did Saturday night. Somewhere along the way, Flea's bass solos became a little too much. Kiedis has certainly had better days singing too as he appeared to flub the vocals on "Around The World." And the band's latest guitarist, Josh Klinghoffer, failed to match the rest of his bandmates' flair. While he's got the guitar licks, Klinghoffer is no John Frusciante when it comes to showmanship. They certainly weren't the best act with a headlining slot on Saturday night.
MORE COVERAGE: Lollapalooza photo gallery
Frank Ocean put on a solid performance that showcased his exceptional voice and superb song writing skills. He played on a stage tucked away among the trees in Grant Park the same time as the headliners were performing on much larger stages out in the open. No matter how small or hidden the stage was, Ocean turned in quite possibly the best performance through the first two days of the three-day festival. Ocean's voices resonated through the area as laid out the complicated love story of "American Wedding." And that's what Ocean does best; tell stories in his smooth R&B-infused songs. He's not afraid to show vulnerability along the way either. "This next song is kind of long," Ocean explained before playing the set-closing "Pyramids." The recorded version of the song runs almost 10 minutes on his latest album. The version of it he played Saturday night took it even further and added an amped up guitar solo at the end. It was a fitting end a top-notch performance.
The band fun. was among the first to play after the rain delay. Unfortunately their radio-friendly pop hits fell victim to a heavy bass sound bleeding over from another nearby stage. Their set seemed rather short too. Still, they found time to play their hit "We Are Young," leading to what was at that point one of the largest sing-alongs of the festival. It had been a long afternoon due to the inclement weather and spirits needed to be picked-up, That song may have been the cure. It also was the only highlight for fun. as sound issues continued to plague the band.
Canadian singer The Weeknd may have used an unconventional route to gain popularity, but it seems to be working. Fans packed into the muddy part of the grounds to hear one of the better voices of the day sing dark love songs. The Weeknd gained recognition by releasing his music for free through his website last year. A full backing band really brought the music to life on Saturday, making it feel much larger than studio versions. That also included the act playing Drake's "Crew Love" on which The Weeknd provides some vocal work.
GIVERS proved to be one of the highlights of the pre-storm portion of the day, The young band members seemed genuinely ecstatic to be part of Lollapalooza as they played, drummed and danced their mix of poppy world music. Drum sets were toppled. Guitars flailed in the air. It was a spirited performance from a band that truly enjoyed the moment.
Other notes: The evacuation seemingly went well as festival attendees were out of the area nearly an hour before the gusty winds and rain arrived. Plenty of festival volunteers were located near the exits to explain the evacuation plans... The revised schedule after the storm meant some of the acts never got a chance to play. They included Alabama Shakes, The Temper Trap, B.O.B. and others.
• Rob Carroll writes about pop culture and entertainment for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached at email@example.com. You can also follow him on Facebook and Twitter.


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Looking for a crop you can plant any time from before the last frost till June? Something delicious but easy to grow? Then you need potatoes in your garden. Plant them early for summer potato salads. Plant them in June for a supply of potatoes over the winter. There are over 25 easily available varieties to choose from, and many more lesser-known ones for more exotic tastes.
Potatoes like full sun and well-drained soil that's rich in organic matter. If your soil has too much clay around it, mix in 3-6 inches of rich garden soil, such as Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Flowers & Vegetables.
Start with small potatoes or pieces cut off larger ones. These are called seed pieces. Just make sure that you cut with a sterile knife, and that your pieces have 2 or 3 "eyes" or buds on them. Also, cut your pieces at least 2 days before you plant them.
This method produces potatoes of excellent size, color and shape. First, till the soil so that it is slightly sloped for better drainage. Lightly press potatoes (or seed pieces, cut side down) into the soil spaced approximately 12 inches apart. Cover the area with about 6 inches of loose straw. If you are in a windy area you can lay wire or a thin layer of garden soil such as Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Flowers & Vegetables over the area to hold the straw into place. Be sure to pull any weeds that emerge throughout the season and add more straw if needed.
Dig up your potatoes as needed about 2 to 3 weeks after flowering. Dig up the ones you want to store after the tops naturally turn yellow and die. Carefully dig with a spade or pitchfork, making sure not to wound the tubers. If you've used the straw method, carefully remove the straw and pick the potatoes off of the soil surface. You may also want to dig down a few inches to make sure you don't miss any of the potatoes.
If you want to stash your potatoes away for later meals, you have to "cure" them. That means keeping them in a dark place for about a week, at about 70 degrees with high humidity. This helps the potatoes heal any bruises and conditions them. After that, you can store them in a humid area between 35 and 45 degrees until you're ready to eat them. If you still have blemished potatoes after the curing stage, put them in your compost heap.
Potatoes are hearty plants, but they fall prey to certain diseases, including early and late blight, and gray and botrytis vine rot. You can help control these diseases by applying Ortho® MAX Garden Disease Control.
Several insects attack potato plants, including Colorado potato beetles and potato psyllids. You can control these pests with Ortho® Bug-B-Gon® MAX® Insect Killer Dust.


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Amsterdam Hostel
Amsterdam Hotel is only 3 blocks from Union Square, with bike rental, free waffles and en-suite bathrooms!
Amsterdam Hostel is located just three blocks away from Union Square in the heart of San Francisco, close to the citys best shops, restaurants and bars. We are also just seconds away from the famous cable cars, the theatre district and Chinatown.
We have a range of private rooms and shared rooms, all with en-suite bathrooms.
We also have a large number of common areas including a kitchen, a dining room, a lounge and a terrace. Free waffles are on offer for breakfast and we organise activities such as movie nights and pub crawls.
Other facilities at the hostel include an internet caf, bicycle rental and luggage storage. Linen is provided.
Weekly and monthly discounted rooms available. All inquires must be directed to the Manager.
Please note:
- Shared rooms are available for young people and students only; an international passport is required, along with a travel itinerary.
- Rates shown do not include taxes.
- Please inform us of any change to your expected arrival time.
Disponibilità e tariffePer visualizzare la disponibilità e i prezzi, seleziona le date e fai clic su "Aggiorna date"
Ostello Servizi & Politiche
- Reception 24 ore su 24
- Limitazione di età
- Noleggio biciclette
- Parcheggio per biciclette
- Giochi di società
- Scambio di libri
- TV via cavo
- Sala comune
- Carte di credito accettate
- Asciugatrice
- Telefono e fax
- Mappe della città gratuite
- Wi-Fi gratuito
- Frigo/Congelatore
- Asciugacapelli
- Asciugacapelli a noleggio
- Docce calde
- Accesso a Internet
- Cucina
- Lavanderia
- Biancheria inclusa
- Armadietti
- Deposito bagagli
- Forno a microonde
- Nessun coprifuoco
- Vietato fumare
- Terrazza
- Tasse non comprese
- Travel Desk per i tour
- Asciugamani inclusi
- Distributori automatici
- Lavatrice
- WiFi
Politica di cancellazioneQuesta proprietà ha una politica di cancellazione di 2. La mancata cancellazione entro questo intervallo di tempo si tradurrà in una penale pari alla prima notte di pernottamento.
IndicazioniMostra mappaNascondi mappa
From Greyhound:
Exit from Greyhound terminal onto Mission Street, turn left and walk towards First Street. Turn right onto First Street and walk one block to Market Street. Cross to other side of Market St. and turn left. Sutter Street will be on your right less than one block down, turn right onto Sutter (there's a See's Candy store on the corner). Walk about 10 blocks on Sutter Street. If you are going to 749 Taylor Street, turn right onto Taylor and property will be on left hand side.
From Amtrak:
From Amtrak's Shopping Center Station (SFS), cross to the other side of Market Street and walk up Powell St, following the Cable Cars. Turn left onto Sutter. If you are going to 749 Taylor Street, turn right onto Taylor and property will be on left hand side. If you are going to Mithila at 972 Sutter Street, continue past Taylor Street intersection, property will be on right hand side
From Airports:
From either Oakland Airport or San Francisco International Airport, take the BART train to the Powell Street station. The BART station is located in the international terminal at San Francisco International Airport. From Oakland Airport you will need to take the AirBART bus ($2) to the Colosseum BART station. Take BART train to Powell Street Station ($3.35 from Oakland Colosseum station, $5.15 from San Francisco Airport). Exit Powell station at Cable Car turnaround, follow directions above from Amtrak.
From highway 5 North: Take highway 580 W to highway 80 W. Take 80 W over Bay Bridge ($3) to 5th St. exit. Stay left on exit ramp, stay in lanes for Harrison St. (Slight left from exit ramp.) Go one block on Harrison, turn right onto 6th St. Follow 6th across Market Street. Street will curve to left and will become Taylor St. If you are going to 749 Taylor Street, property will be on your left, after Sutter St. If you are going to Mithila at 972 Sutter St., turn left onto Sutter and Mithila will be 3 blocks on the right hand side.


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The Costs of Owning an Annuity
by Stan Haithcock
I think we all can agree that annuities are the curse word of the financial world.
The consensus is that the annuity industry has earned its bad reputation and negative stigma with their maligned sales practices. That being said, over $200 billion of annuities are sold every year with multiple trillions already on the books.
With 10,000 baby boomers retiring each year and needing the types of contractually guaranteed strategies that annuities can provide, it's important to understand all of the costs involved. This is especially the case if you are considering adding an annuity to your portfolio to solve for a specific goal like lifetime income.
Annuities should be viewed as pure "transfer of risk" solutions that solve for a specific need. I have developed an easy-to-remember acronym that will help determine if an annuity would complement your situation. That word is P.I.L.L., which stands for:
P = principal protection
I = income for life
L = legacy
L = long-term care
I think these products should be owned for their contractual guarantees and not potential, hypothetical, or projected growth. The saying I use is "you own an annuity for what it will do, not what it might do." The point here is that I don't view annuities as growth products, because I think there are much better "non-annuity" alternatives available for growth. Most informed investors agree with me on this.
Cost Categories
Now that we have laid the foundation for where I think annuities should fit within a portfolio, let's look at the specific costs of owning them and also a brief description of each strategy. Annuity costs can be broken down into four categories: disclosed, built-in, opportunity, and tax.
Disclosed Costs
- Within an annuity prospectus (for variable annuities) or statement of understanding (for fixed annuities), annuity companies have to list and explain the specific costs of owning the annuity.
- The annuity agent is responsible to explain these annual costs, how they are applied to the specific annuity contract, and how the policy is affected if money is taken out.
- Riders (attached benefits that can be added to an annuity policy) also come with disclosed costs. Riders can contractually solve for goals like lifetime income, death benefit, or long-term care coverage. It's important to know that the cost of a rider is for the life of the policy. For example, if you have an income rider that has a guaranteed growth percentage during the deferral years, you will still pay an annual fee even if you turn the lifetime income stream on.
Built-In Costs
- Most of the time, these hidden costs involve variable annuity mutual funds (also called separate accounts) and handshake-type agreements between the carrier and the outside mutual fund companies. This really isn't a big deal here, but you need to know that they exist and do affect your accumulated value investment returns.
- All annuity commissions are built in to the policy, so you never see these fees actually taken out of your premium total. For example, if you invest $100,000 in an annuity, you will see $100,000 applied to your policy. However, it's important to understand that commissions have been paid to the writing agent and those commissions are part of the internal costs of issuing the policy. Don't let your agent get away with saying that they charge no fees. That's simply tiptoeing on the semantic line of truth.
- All deferred annuities (variable, fixed-rate, fixed indexed, etc.) come with a surrender charge period and corresponding surrender charges. For example, if you buy a 10-year fixed indexed annuity, the surrender charges to take all of your money out would be declining in percentage amounts (10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0). Deferred annuities allow you to take out 10% of the accumulation (investment) value on an annual basis penalty-free, but for any amount over that 10% number, surrender charges will apply.
Opportunity Costs
- This is a cost that most agents never talk about, but needs to be addressed and fully understood before any annuity purchase is made. Because annuities are transfer-of-risk contractually guaranteed solutions, you have to be aware that to solve for a specific goal like lifetime income, the allocated annuity money might miss out on other positive market opportunities outside of the annuity structure. This is why any annuity purchase should be appropriately allocated to fit each specific person's need, and should not be a one-size-fits-all solution.
Tax Costs
- Never take tax advice from anyone other than a qualified tax professional. Always have a real tax professional sign off on all annuity tax strategies.
- For all annuities purchased after 1982, LIFO (last in/first out) taxation applies to money taken out of an annuity contract, with gains being taxed first and at ordinary income tax levels.
- With "annuitized" income streams, the income is a combination of return of principal and interest. For income streams not in a qualified (i.e., IRA) account, an "exclusion ratio" applies. This exclusion ratio is important to understand and plan for, because a portion of your income (return of principal) will not be subject to taxes.
- For annuities in a non-qualified (non-IRA) account, the penalty for taking money out before age 59½ applies, unless the IRS-approved 72T rules for penalty-free withdrawals are implemented correctly. Again, you need a qualified tax professional for all tax strategies using annuities.
Types of Annuities
Let's look at the primary types of commercial annuities available, and the costs attached to each strategy.
Variable Annuities
Costs: The average annual total fee of a deferred variable annuity is around 3% (including attached benefit riders). Ouch! There are also surrender charges as well, if you take the money out before the specified term of the policy.
Key Points: The vast majority of annuities sold in the U.S. are deferred variable annuities with surrender charges, and they tend to pay very high (built in) commissions to the writing agent. Variable annuities were introduced in the 1950s for pure tax-deferred growth, and currently there are some very good no-load/no-surrender-charge variable annuities available. You have to buy them direct from the issuer, but if you can manage your own money, this is an efficient tax-deferred growth alternative to consider. You can also have a registered investment adviser RIA or securities licensed adviser manage it for you for whatever fee you negotiate with them. Jefferson National, Vanguard and Fidelity are the best choices in this arena, in my opinion.
Fixed-Rate Annuities
Costs: Fixed-rate annuities work like CDs (certificates of deposit), except that you only pay taxes on the interest when you take the money out. With CDs, you pay taxes on the annual interest if the money is held outside of an IRA. There are no annual fees taken out of a fixed-rate annuity, but there are surrender charges if you take the money out before the specified term.
Key Points: Surrender charge periods can range from as short as two years to up to 10 or more years. Commissions are built in and typically are very low to the writing agent. From an opportunity-cost standpoint, the risk here is locking your money in too long and missing a positive interest rate change. My advice is to look at fixed-rate annuities from three years to no longer than five years in length.
Single-Premium Immediate Annuities
Costs: Single-premium immediate annuities SPIAs are the original annuity design (still my personal favorite) and provide a pension like lifetime income stream that efficiently solves for longevity risk. There are no annual fees, but there is also no liquidity. Once the income stream starts, it's on for the duration the contract was set up for—either your life, two lives, a specific period of time or a combination of lifespan and a specific period of time.
Key Points: The opportunity cost with single-premium immediate annuities is locking in rates at what you might think are low levels. Commissions (built in) are the lowest of all commercial annuities. Single-premium immediate annuities are pretty much a direct reflection of the 10-year Treasury, so it might make sense to "ladder" your SPIA strategy over time if you don't need all of the needed lifetime income right now. Cost of living adjustment riders COLAs can be added to the policy in order to increase the lifetime income on an annual basis by a contractual percentage. However, attaching a COLA to your single-premium immediate annuity will lower your initial payment compared to a SPIA without a cost of living adjustment rider.
Longevity Annuities
Costs: Longevity annuities are in essence a long-term deferred immediate annuity, or what I like to call a deferred pension. There are no annual fees to this strategy, and no real liquidity as well. Deferral periods range from two years to as long as 45 years, with some carriers providing interesting planning strategies from a legacy standpoint.
Key Points: These originally came out about seven years ago, but have just started to become popular within the last two years. Commissions (built in) are very low, but a shade higher than a single-premium immediate annuity. Like an SPIA, you can contractually attach a cost of living adjustment rider that can increase your lifetime income stream by an annual percentage. As with SPIAs, attaching a COLA to the policy will lower the initial payout amount, so that decision comes down to past life expectancy within your family to determine if a cost of living adjustment rider makes sense. Also, longevity annuities do not have any attachment to the market and the death benefit is typically the initial premium less any payments.
Fixed Index Annuities
Costs: Fixed indexed annuities FIAs, also called equity-indexed annuities and inappropriately hyped as "hybrids," are fixed annuities with a limited upside (capped) call option on an index like the S&P 500 index. Any gains are locked in to never go below that amount. Costs are minimal, with total fees ranging from 0.50% to 1.50% on average and dependent on the additional riders that are attached to the policy. Most of the current popular offerings come with seven- to 10-year surrender charge periods.
Key Points: A phrase I came up with to remember concerning fixed indexed annuities is "the upside to an FIA is that there is no downside, but the downside to an FIA is that there is very limited upside." Built-in commissions on fixed indexed annuities are very high (as high as or higher than variable annuities), which is a primary reason these are being pushed by your local agent. Opportunity cost needs to be fully understood with this over-hyped and mis-sold product. The average annual return of fixed indexed annuities over the last five years is 3.27%, so this is not a strategy that is going to compete head-to-head with pure market returns even though most agents sell it that way. It's also important to understand that this product was designed to compete with CDs, not the stock market. The 3.27% average return pretty much validates the correct expectations of the product.
No one wakes up in the morning and says, "It's a great day, I think I'm going to buy an annuity." For the most part, annuities are sold, not purchased. That being said, it's important for you to fully understand the costs of an annuity along with other pertinent product facts in order to make an informed decision as to whether these "transfer of risk" strategies make sense for your specific situation.
Other Considerations When Evaluating an Annuity
Most agents learn one annuity product and try to fit it in to everyone's situation as a one-size-fits-all solution. It goes without saying that this is inappropriate and unsuitable from the consumer's standpoint. Instead of letting an agent launch into telling you about his current favorite annuity, flip the switch and tell that person exactly what you are looking to contractually solve for. In a lot of cases, an annuity is not the solution that you need. In some cases it is, but you need to know everything about the product so you won't be pressured into making a quick and uninformed decision.
In addition to fully understanding how an annuity works and the costs involved, there are a few other key issues that you need to be aware of as well in order to make sure that a specific annuity's contractual guarantees will actually complement your portfolio. The three main topics for discussion with your annuity agent are: current low interest rates, hedge fund annuity ownership, and carrier safety. Let's take a look at each of these issues as final pieces of your annuity decision-making puzzle.
Current Low Interest Rates
A primary pricing mechanism for most annuity products is the 10-year Treasury, which is currently at historically low levels. The single-premium immediate annuity SPIA is the annuity product that most reflects the 10-year Treasury. None of us knows where interest rates are going to go (short term or long term), and it is cavalier to say "well, interest rates have to go higher." Ask Japan how that statement went for them over the last two decades. It is a rational thought that interest rates might be at these levels for the foreseeable future. No one really knows, but it is important to plan around your "gut feel" concerning interest rates.
Hedge Fund Carrier Ownership
In less than two years, over 30% of fixed index annuities are now owned by hedge funds and private equity firms like Guggenheim, Apollo, Harbinger, and Athene. The top-selling fixed index annuity in the country in 2012 and currently in 2013 is hedge fund–owned. I'm not sure that this is good or bad, but it's worth knowing about and observing from a due diligence standpoint. These new owners usually pay higher commissions to the writing agent, and offer higher contractual guarantees that most traditional annuity actuaries have trouble signing off on. Let's hope these hedge funds and private equity firms' intentions are long-term and in line with age-old carrier risk management strategies.
Carrier Safety
Annuity guarantees are only as good as the issuing insurance company guaranteeing them. It's very important to do your homework on the safety and stability of the annuity carrier you are considering placing money with. I use the COMDEX scoring system, which is a composite of all rating services. (A complimentary report showing the COMDEX scores is available on my website at (www.stantheannuityman.com/comdex-rankings). COMDEX utilizes the ratings information from Standard & Poor's, Moody's, Fitch, and A.M. Best and assigns a score from 1 to 100, with 100 being the top score. Don't let an agent just refer to one ratings service. Always use COMDEX. Also, you need to know that annuities are regulated at the state level, not the federal level, with each state having a guarantee fund that backs annuity policies to a specific level. I encourage you to see your state's guarantee levels at www.nolhga.com (National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations).
It can also be helpful to have the agent confirm your perception of the annuity in writing. Rather than accepting his materials, write down exactly how you comprehend the terms and benefits of annuity based on the agent's presentation, sign and date it and then request the agent sign and date the same document.
—Stan The Annuity Man
Richard Waters from MA posted over 3 years ago:
There is no such thing as a "surrender charge", there is a deferred sales charge that is paid by charging an additional 1% annual fee and there is a corresponding reduction of the deferred sales charge. If there is a remaining balance of the deferred charge when the annuity is surrendered that amount becomes currently due. The so called "surrender charge" doesn't disappear over time you pay it over time. The prospectus should make this clear. Does anyone read the prospectus?
C Pickering from MO posted over 3 years ago:
Does anyone read the prospectus? Probably not. Many people do not read much these days--for many reasons.
Why not put the money, say $100,000, in a mutual fund account or several fund accounts (Fidelity or USAA funds, e.g.), get advice on fund selection from AAII's quarterly listing, as well as from Fidelity's or USAA's advisers, and go from there? I just don't understand the value of annuities compared to a personally-driven (with advice) investment program.
Barry Copeland from CO posted over 3 years ago:
Annuities have a bad reputation because they are generally a really bad deal for anyone. One exception is a high-net-worth individual who cannot participate in an IRA.
Take the FIA for example. The insurance company takes your $100K, locks it up as far as being accessible to you, and then feeds your own money back to you in small chunks with ever decreasing purchasing power due to inflation. The insurance company keeps ALL of the gain on your money until you reach your life expectancy. If you live longer than that, then the insurance company pays you out of their coffers with money that has seriously fallen in purchasing power.
It's also a fact that most annuities never annuitize. They are a good deal for the sales guy and the insurance company, but a rotten deal for the individual buyer.
Bert Rock from MD posted over 3 years ago:
I am trying to get a handle on whether an annuity might in general make sense. I understand that annuities, in general, pay out a lower percentage gain than if you had invested in equities or bonds.bond funds. But these investments are by no means guaranteed and it's possible to have negative returns. Is it not true that, going into retirement, if you put some portion of your savings into an annuity, that you can guarantee a particular rate of return at least on that portion?
Thanks for any input.
Bert Rock from MD posted over 3 years ago:
I am trying to get a handle on whether an annuity might in general make sense. I understand that annuities, in general, pay out a lower percentage gain than if you had invested in equities or bonds.bond funds. But these investments are by no means guaranteed and it's possible to have negative returns. Is it not true that, going into retirement, if you put some portion of your savings into an annuity, that you can guarantee a particular rate of return at least on that portion?
Thanks for any input.
Suryakant Shah from NJ posted over 3 years ago:
I am planning to invest in Defered Varaible Annuity offered by Fidelity. I am told that it's like investing in mutual fund with defered tax on gains. Also I can withdraw full investment after retirement.
Can appreciate any input on this.
Roger Grossel from FL posted over 3 years ago:
With so many other investment alternatives, I fail to see why anyone would consider an annuity. And buying one now subjects an investor to very high opportunity costs, given the high risk of rising interest rates.
This article explains some of the costs. It does not advise the AAII investor about potential major risks to undistributed funds or principal (his "P") when the owner dies. If an unscrupulous agent sells a lifetime immediate income annuity with no period certain, upon death that insurance company keeps undistributed funds. Also, what happens after life expectancy?
In a private communication, the author assured me that HE does not structure such contracts.
But I wish he had included in his article guidance on setting up contract beneficiaries and riders when the owner eventually dies or reaches life expectancy. Or perhaps AAII could have discussed these issues, pre-publication, with the author.
Michael Flynn from FL posted over 3 years ago:
I found annuities to be a place for cash after making full contributions to tax deferred pension plans and investments. Variable annuities offer mutual fund like performance with tax deferment minus some extra fees. Vanguard and Fidelity have low fees and no surrender charges. Fidelity offers a stretch provision which allows a beneficiary to take over the annuity and keep it as their own. In this regard it has some estate planning attractiveness. Obviously there are many other considerations. Proper allocation of investments with suitable diversification needs to be considered for your situation. I think one might consider an annuity in lieu of long term care insurance. I see variable annuities as a long term horizon investment for those who have discretionary funds to invest. They are a choice among many options.
Victor Bradford from CO posted over 3 years ago:
Good helpful article.
I, too, am considering diversifying into annuities and noticed one respected charitable organization offers a charitable gift annuity rate of 5.1% for someone around my age. Such an annuity also has a decent tax deduction, not just a deferral, and it supports your charity. Obviously, look into all the details, but you might consider charities as a reasonable alternative to brokerages or insurance companies.
Mark Holloway from OR posted over 3 years ago:
I have seen annuities put in IRAs. What is your opinion of this?
Roberta Shuken from FL posted over 3 years ago:
I have a Variable Annuity through Vanguard. The main reason I bought this type of investment was because I could not contribute to my IRA accounts any more.
The fees were minimal and stopped after 7 years.
I have the account more than 10 years and my assets have doubled.
For me, this was a good investment
Tighe Taylor from California posted over 3 years ago:
My problem with annuities is legacy. There are variable and fixed indexed annuities which will guarantee to grow a benefit base at 10 per cent simple interest per year. After 65, one may take 5 per cent for life. With variable annuities one will pay 4 per cent plus the 5 per cent he is taking. In other words, his account will have to do 9 per cent to keep up with fees and withdrawals. With fixed annuities, one may pay 1 per cent plus the 5 per cent he is taking against a cap of 5 per cent. Under either annuity, fees will consume his account with 7 to 10 years, and he will have nothing to pass on.
Two questions: 1. Is it better to have a variable where the market might do better than 9 per cent leaving some account value? The fixed indexed at 6 per cent costs and 5 per cent cap will surely be gone in a few years.
2. How does the annuity owner protect his or her heirs? Life insurance? More than a 20 year term policy will be very expensive after age 65. Any thoughts?
Tighe Taylor from California posted over 3 years ago:
How about legacy? A variable annuity may roll up 10 per cent and pay out 5 per cent. With 4 per cent expenses, this means that the underlying account would have to do 9 per cent to stay even. In years where less than 9 per cent was made, the principal would be eroded for heirs. A fixed indexed annuity may roll up 10 per cent and pay out 5 per cent. It may have only 1 per cent expenses, which means that the account would have to do 6 per cent to retain its value. How can this be accomplished when caps are 4 to 5 five per cent. After 5 to 10 years there would be nothing left. Do we presume that both are only for lifetime income, once the life rider is attached? Is there a way to preserve something in the account for heirs? (Enhanced death benefits would only help during deferral and not after income is started.) How about insurance? Would anything more than 20 year term be too expensive?
Tighe Taylor from California posted over 3 years ago:
How about legacy? A variable annuity may roll up 10 per cent and pay out 5 per cent. With 4 per cent expenses, this means that the underlying account would have to do 9 per cent to stay even. In years where less than 9 per cent was made, the principal would be eroded for heirs. A fixed indexed annuity may roll up 10 per cent and pay out 5 per cent. It may have only 1 per cent expenses, which means that the account would have to do 6 per cent to retain its value. How can this be accomplished when caps are 4 to 5 five per cent. After 5 to 10 years there would be nothing left. Do we presume that both are only for lifetime income, once the life rider is attached? Is there a way to preserve something in the account for heirs? (Enhanced death benefits would only help during deferral and not after income is started.) How about insurance? Would anything more than 20 year term be too expensive?
Margaret L. Hagen from NY posted over 2 years ago:
Annuity income is immune from the losses that could come from declining mental ability--from simple mismanagement of assets to vulnerability to con men. This protects heirs indirectly if it means that I won't become a burden on them after blowing through my nest egg. Also, on the subject of charitable gift annuities: a few years before I retired I bought three such, using highly appreciated stock in the company I worked for. I deferred them to two, four and six years past my retirement date. I'm now collecting on all three and they are a nice reliable supplement to SS and pension. I am about to purchase another, deferring it two years. And as someone pointed out in another forum, if I do die young (or younger-- I'm too old to die young) the charity will benefit, not some insurance company.
Carlyle Lebas from TX posted over 2 years ago:
Immediate annuities have the least complications and expenses.
I do have a variable annuity with Vanguard which has done well - they also list the cost features of the annuity as a separate item on the statements. I also have a similar variable annuity with Fidelity which has done well but does not show a separate item of the costs - I have discussed this with Fidelity to no avail. Any suggestions to get them to provide the exact charges as a separate item?
Dave Samuels from CA posted 4 months ago:
There are no-load (no commission) annuities which allow you to get out anytime without any fees or surrender charges. Also, when looking into immediate annuities there are some newer products that allow you to take a monthly stream of payments without being forced to annuitize. By not annuitizing, you can halt this income stream anytime and even draw out in a lump sum whatever is left over. In this low interest rate environment, by annuitizing you are simply receiving your own $$ back with a very small interest rate factored in. Always request the exclusion ratio-how much of the distributions represent return of principle versus interest. Example-a 90% exclusion ratio means 90% of the payments are principle and 10% interest.


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Immigration Reform Amendments Target Border Security
By editor • May 9, 2013
Originally published on May 9, 2013 7:48 pm
The Senate Judiciary Committee is plowing through dozens of amendments to its immigration overhaul reform plan. Many of Thursday's proposed changes are Republican attempts to have tighter controls on the border with Mexico. David Welna talks to Audie Cornish.


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Trump treasury pick Mnuchin tied to smelly banking
His group bought seized, corrupt La Jolla Bank
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Valedictorian denied diploma for saying 'hell'
Oklahoma high school wants apology, student refuses
She graduated at the top of her class, but a valedictorian in central Oklahoma still doesn't have her high school diploma.
Prague High School is withholding Kaitlin Nootbaar's diploma until she apologizes for saying the word "hell" in her commencement speech, The Associated Press reported.
During her speech in May, Nootbaar said she had wanted to be a nurse, then a veterinarian, but when people ask what she wants to be now, she said "How the hell should I know? I've changed my mind so many times."
In the written version of her speech submitted to school officials, Nootbaar used the work "heck" but said "hell" in the moment instead, The Oklahoman reported.
The Prague High School superintendent told the AP in a statement Monday that Nootbaar "used language that was inappropriate for a graduation exercise."
The teen and her family disagree and have refused to apologize.
The school district did turn over Nootbaar's transcript so she could start classes Monday at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. She's there on a full scholarship, her father said, and is majoring in biology with plans to become a marine biologist.
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text: I highly recommend Carlson D-Drops! I found them at our local health food store. You just put a drop on your nipple before nursing and my DD doesn't notice a thing. I love not having to shove a dropper in her mouth. The drops we got were $26 but that was for 365 doses, so not bad in the long run.


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Dordt College News
Weight Room Gets New Look
August 14, 2013
(Tuesday, August 13; Sioux Center, Iowa) Visitors to and patrons of the Dordt College weight room in the Recreation Center will notice a difference when they step in the door courtesy a project by Dordt College student Seth Vande Voort.
Vande Voort, a Sports Management major, interned with the Dordt College Athletic Department undertaking several projects during the months of May, June, July and August. Those projects included assisting with the annual Defender Gold Club golf outing; compiling and organizing recruit lists and giving the weight room a face lift.
"The weight room hadn't been painted since the facility opened in 1996," said Adam Conway, Dordt College Strength and Conditioning coach. "Seth, came up with the color scheme, and design. I gave him the basis of what I wanted to do in terms of words and logo design and he ran with the rest."
Vande Voort, assisted by members of the Dordt College summer maintenance crew, painted black and gold stripes to break up the white and white lettering for the various motivational quotes.
Vander Voort will be a senior at Dordt College in 2012-13 and is a member of the Defender football and track and field programs.
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As in rich in texture as it is in design, 'Darleen' from Alice + Olivia is a stunner to satisfy every fashionista fantasy. The towering heel and exaggerated bow elevate the appeal of this island platform bootie.
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House advances schools finance billBy PETER HIRSCHFELD
Vermont Press Bureau | April 25,2013MONTPELIER After watching the cost of public education nearly double over the past decade, House lawmakers Wednesday made a bid for tighter control over spending decisions traditionally left to local school boards.
A late-session push to curb the rise in education costs culminated with broad bipartisan approval of a bill that would, among other things, lower the threshold at which schools suffer financial penalties for excess spending.
The legislation also seeks to cut down on the staff-related expenses that account for nearly 80 percent of school costs. As early as 2016, under the bill passed Wednesday, districts could see penalties assessed if they exceed minimum staff-to-student ratios.
Ive been in this building for five years and seen probably a school librarys worth of education studies, said Rep. Adam Greshin, a Warren independent. And this is the first time in that period Ive had the opportunity to vote out a bill that stands an excellent chance of moderating the growth in education spending.
The cost-containment initiative from the Democrat-controlled House even won the support of the Republican minority, which has long railed against the opposition for its alleged unwillingness to undertake serious education funding reform.
This bill actually could have a positive effect, House Minority Leader Don Turner said after the 110-24 vote on the floor.
But Turner and other Republicans who voted yes said their support for the bill shouldnt be construed as an endorsement of the Democrats approach to the problem.
Rep. Heidi Scheuermann, a Stowe Republican, said the bill doesnt even begin to address the structural flaws in a funding system that has seen school costs soar even as student enrollment declines.
Instead of actual reform of the system itself, we are nibbling around the edges once again, said Scheuermann, one of the 33 Republicans who voted yes.
Year after year, weve heard desperate pleas for meaningful education reform, she said. And year after year, we ignore them. It is time to be bold. And this is anything but.
House Speaker Shap Smith encountered more opposition to the bill among members of his own caucus, where more liberal Democrats found fault not only with encroachment on local control, but in provisions that would reduce tax subsidies for people making less than $90,000 per year. Lawmakers would redirect that money to lower the tax bills of higher income-earners.
What this bill represents is a continued attack against an endangered species in this state, and thats low-income working people, said Rep. Paul Poirier, a Barre City independent.
Rep. David Sharpe, a Bristol Democrat and ranking member on the House Committee on Ways and Means, defended the move. He said the taxpayers who enjoy the income sensitivity accorded to households below that threshold will see their tax bills rise on average by less than 1 percent next year. The people above that figure, meanwhile, will see their obligations climb by nearly 7 percent.
Sharpe said the Legislature has long taken steps to cushion the impact on those below $90,000. He said its time now to restore some balance by making allowances for people making between $90,000 an $135,000, a group that pays the highest percentage of its annual income in property taxes.
House leaders made the bill more politically palatable Wednesday by dropping a provision that, over time, would have eliminated a grant program that metes out nearly $8 million annually to small schools. Critics of the program say it abets the spending problem by keeping alive tiny schools that wouldnt otherwise be financially viable.
Lobbyists representing the teachers union, school boards, and superintendents have all raised concerns about the bill, particularly the provision on staff-to-student ratios they say could have impacts on the quality of education delivered to Vermont students.
But with statewide property tax rates on pace to rise by more than 10 percent over the next two years, Sharpe said action is needed.
I dont want to go home saying I did nothing. Maybe you do, Sharpe said in opposition to an amendment that would have gutted the bill. Does this bill do enough? Probably not. But this was a difficult process to bring this bill forward.
The legislation will go up for a final vote in the House today before being sent to the Senate, where lawmakers will have only three weeks before the session is scheduled to adjourn.
Senate President John Campbell said hes eager to take over the baton, and that the property tax issue is urgent enough to warrant quick action on the legislation by his chamber.
firstname.lastname@example.com IN Vermont NewsMONTPELIER Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt. Full StoryVermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell plans to join the U.S. Full StoryMONTPELIER Gov. Full Story
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Summer 2013 Seminars
The Summer Seminar Series, which will be held in CL 1148 on Wednesdays at noon throughout the summer, is an opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to share ideas, enjoy fellowship, and learn over lunch.
Summer 2013
May 22
What is this thing we call education?
John Zwart
Should lectures be a thing of the past? The last few decades have seen a tremendous growth in educational technology—from clickers and smart boards to on-line courses and MOOCs. The plethora of educational options pushes us to re-evaluate what we do in and out of the classroom. In this presentation, we'll look at some ideas that flow out of "discipline-based educational research" as a way of addressing some of these concerns. Many of the ideas presented are shamelessly lifted from the recently held "Experienced Faculty Workshop" funded by the National Science Foundation. While the emphasis of that workshop was on physics pedagogy, that will not be the focus of this discussion.
Wouldn't You Like Some History with That?
Cal Jongsma
This talk will present a case study in using history for the teaching and learning of mathematics, drawn from the textbook I'm working on. We will explore the nature and early development of algebra, focusing primarily on the work of the medieval Arabic mathematician al-Khwârizmî (825 AD), who is often considered the founder of classical algebra. Bring along your impressions and prejudices from early high school algebra—nothing more mathematically demanding than solving a quadratic equation will be considered.
May 29
Kjøttkaker: The case for and against using bad language in religious education
Ethan Brue
Religious education: It ain't all the same. As a product of three very different systems of religious education, it seems to me that what distinguishes these radically different educational systems lies in the language we choose to use or avoid. I would like to describe my movement from the deeply zealous religion of the American public school system to the secularized system of pietistic evangelical education to the neo-reformational system which still seems to struggle like an insecure immigrant to communicate across a cultural language barrier. For those of us who have been educationally displaced more than once, we often find ourselves needing to revert to our tribal language when the culture around us has no word for what we are trying to express—leaving us feeling a bit embarrassed and awkward. All three systems begin each day singing (either via music or method) "Oh be careful little eyes what you see…oh be careful little ears…oh be careful little hands…" with the assumption that properly learned tunes will lead to proper action.
While I may chuckle at the list of "minced oaths" of my early Christian education, I am recently more troubled by the pietism of my public education system which aimed to clean up my foul language through the use of multiplication tables and number lines. I am specifically concerned about our language in the sciences, which ironically is often perceived as a universal language. All this language talk challenges me to wrestle with my own accent. Are students able to understand what I am trying to say? Or do they find my accent simply amusing or entertaining? I worry that my language is not offensive or culturally inappropriate enough to be of any use to them. I would like to suggest that the worst language is not necessarily words that have offensive meaning, but words that mean both everything and nothing, words that expose that I don't really know what I am saying. I'd like to share some of these words with you. I may claim to be Reformed, but I cannot hide the fact that I don't belong. I am from a different religious educational community. Force me to say "Shibboleth"…but before you kill me, give me a few minutes to explain.
June 5
Staff Satisfaction, Dashboards, and Backchannels
Val Zonnefeld, Sue Droog, and Jim Bos
Join us to learn more about the BCWI survey that Arlan Nederhoff previewed in the all campus assembly. We'll dig in a bit further and learn what makes Dordt a great place to serve and where our opportunities for improvement are. The new dashboard will also be unveiled. Learn how you can use this tool to answer data-related questions about the college. We'll run a backchannel throughout the presentation, so bring your laptop, or other smart device to post your questions.
June 12
'Beemageddon' threatens US with food disaster
Duane Bajema
The title was taken from Reuters May 2013 headline which reported on a malady labeled Colony Collapse Disorder that has been occurring in honeybees. There are definite implications for our food supply as much of the supply is dependent on plant pollination by honeybees. The disorder was first reported in 2006, and as with many initial reports, there was limited coverage, skepticism and uncertainty if the condition actually occurred or was a one-time anomaly. The condition has continued in varying degrees, and the news media has given a growing crescendo to the coverage, sometimes with accurate information, but many times with gross errors, and often with sensationalism as noted in the Reuters headline. We will discuss a general background to the disorder and discuss potential implications to the public.
Summer Research on Gaussia Luciferase
Crystal Elenbaas (Darren Stoub)
Gaussia Luciferase, GLuc, is a chemiluminescent protein from a marine copepod. This luciferase has characteristics that make it ideal for cellular technologies such as bioluminescent imaging. Our summer research project is focused on optimizing this protein. We are doing this by inserting mutations into its amino acid sequence to slightly modify the protein structure. With these changes, the goal is to optimize the protein so that it emits light longer and with a different color. The optimized protein can then be more effectively used for bioluminescent imaging technology, as a reporter gene, and for other techniques such as tracking infections in biological systems.
June 19
Results of the Android Workshop
Kari Sandouka
Following the end of the spring semester, a group of employees participated in an Android Development workshop. The goal of the workshop was to learn how to make Android Applications through the App Inventor software provided by MIT. The apps created from the workshop will be demonstrated along with a discussion of how app development and mobile technology is making its way into lives of Dordt students and employees.
Understanding Inflammation by Determining Integrin Signaling Interactions
Collin Korver and Christy Sikkema (Darren Stoub)
Integrins are a type of protein located in the membranes of white blood cells. Because of their location, integrins are able to communicate information about the intracellular conditions outward and the extracellular conditions inward. As a result, integrins play an essential role in communicating the immune response. Our research project investigates what other proteins may be interacting with integrins to communicate an immune response. By using site-directed mutagenesis, we mutate single amino acids in the intracellular domain of the integrin. These mutations allow the insertion of an unnatural amino acid, called benzophenone. When ultraviolet light is shone on benzophenone, a reaction called photocrosslinking occurs, which tightly binds the integrin to any other nearby proteins. By identifying what these other nearby proteins are, we can learn more about the signaling pathways involved in communicating a physiological response.
June 26
Nitrates in Sioux Center Drinking Water—How Much and Why?
Rob De Haan
Sioux Center, along with many other towns throughout the Midwest, obtains much of its drinking water from 30-40' deep wells located in a river valley. These shallow wells are impacted by the way in which the land area above them is used and managed. Nitrate nitrogen levels in these wells are of particular concern, as they often bump up against, or exceed, EPA standards in areas where much of the landscape is used for agriculture. For the last four years several colleagues and I have been conducting research examining the potential of nitrate leaching following several different cropping systems. Our results indicate that cropping system has a large impact on residual nitrate nitrogen levels in fields, and therefore on the likelihood of nitrate leaching into ground water. Land use is a complicated issue, and reflects our values as a society. We will explore these issues on Wednesday.
Using Recombinant Protein Technology to Investigate Inflammation
Caleb Boehler (Darren Stoub)
Inflammation is a natural response that can cause problems in the body. Specifically, inflammation that results from breast cancer radiation therapy can lead to the metastasis of tumor cells and inflammation during kidney transplant surgeries can lead to rejection of the new kidney. Dr. Stoub and his colleagues recently discovered a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs that appear to interact with a specific integrin protein involved in cellular communication. Integrins are transmembrane proteins in leukocytes (mainly neutrophils) that interact with the endothelial lining of blood vessels, facilitate migration into the surrounding tissue, and signal changes in cellular function that caused the destruction of damaged tissue, each of which is part of an inflammation immune response. In order to further improve the new class drugs, we need to understand how and where the drugs interact with the integrin proteins. This summer, we are using recombinant protein technology and a variety of protein purification methods to produce large amounts of a portion of the integrin protein called the Alpha A domain. Once we have the purified Alpha A domain of the integrin protein, we can use a variety of methods, including x-ray crystallography, to understand the interactions between integrins and the new class of drugs.
July 3
Continuous Improvement Initiatives at Dordt College
Kari Sandouka and Dale Zevenbergen
The term "Continuous Improvement" has become common around campus over the last few years. Kari and Dale will share what the CI philosophy and methodology involves, and how it fits at Dordt College.
Using design hierarchy in digital logic to illustrate the scientific method as a human invention
Douglas De Boer
What level of authority should be given to "science?" For example, in a 2008 presidential debate, candidate John McCain said that, "[public] policy ought to be based upon sound science. However, Christians believe that science is a human invention, thus subject to our sinful nature and thus not necessarily "sound," yet expressive of our God-given call to creatively care for the creation.
The universe is holistic. It does not obey or respond to science (or mathematics, or philosophy, or theology for some other examples), no matter that we humans cannot seem to perceive the complexity of the universe apart from some employment of scientific theories. The relationship is the other way around. Science (and mathematics, philosophy, etc.) is a human response to the universe. Digital circuits are also holistic. When constructed and actually used they might exhibit unpredicted behaviors. Understanding of the scientific method as a human invention in response to God's creation gives insight to why unpredicted behaviors occur, and more importantly, is essential to relating one's science to one's faith.
The hierarchical structure of digital logic naturally lends itself to an illustration of how the science of digital logic is humanly constructed.
July 10
Supreme Court wrap-up discussion
Donald Roth
Who defines what "marriage" means? Is Jim Crow dead and gone? Can you patent a part of nature? Is a houseboat a "vessel" for purposes of federal maritime jurisdiction? You can learn the answers to all… on second thought, most of these questions this Wednesday with SCOTUS 2012 in Review. Join Donald Roth, Instructor of Criminal Justice and Business Administration, to hear a short presentation on some of the most interesting and important cases to come out of the recently completed term of the Supreme Court, then engage in a (hopefully) lively round of Q&A and discussion over some of the finer points of what these cases (or any others you're interested in) really mean.
What is the faculty?
Neal DeRoo and Mark Tazelaar
A few weeks ago, we sent around some ideas we'd been discussing as a department about the Office of the Faculty at Dordt College. Our hope was to start a conversation about the issue of what it means to be a faculty member here, and that hope was met and exceeded. We have met with many faculty members in the weeks since then, representing every division and various years of service here, from first-year people to those here 35 + years. During our summer seminar, we will briefly summarize the main issues coming out of those discussions,and open the floor to further conversation, including ideas about how best to continue this discussion in a meaningful, campus-wide way at Dordt.
July 17
The Power of Marketing. Why you NEED that sports drink, but what has it done?
Mary De Young
Marketing and advertising can greatly influence our buying habits. One of the most successful marketing campaigns to the general public has been that of the sports drink. How can something that was designed for athletes be so heavily marketed to the general public? Sports drinks are big business, but what has it done to the business of our health, our teeth and to our children? Come and find out the history of sports drinks and the effects it is having on our society today.
Ninth-Century Music Theory in Context
John MacInnis
For two weeks in May, Anna Visser (undergraduate, English/Music) and I studied ninth-century music treatises as well as some philosophical documents read and written by ninth-century scholars. Sadly, Anna is unable to present with me, so I'll outline our project and share some of our findings using the website she created.
July 24
Quantifying Breathing Mechanics Using Lower Radiation Doses
Andrew De Haan (Kayt Frisch)
Many lung diseases alter the ability of the lungs to perform gas exchange (i.e. breathing) by changing the tissue biomechanical properties. Lung mechanics can be quantified non-invasively using image registration of CT scans at different lung volumes. CT scans create images using x-ray radiation, which is known to have negative side-effects. In an effort to lower the radiation dose, we are exploring the radiation dose required to gain useful mechanics information. Using a swine model, we are creating different breathing mechanics and analyzing the mechanics using CT scans taken using four different radiation doses.
The Effects of Impact Mechanics and Chest Protectors on Commotio Cordis
Rebecca Megchelsen (Kayt Frisch)
Commotio cordis (CC) is a rare phenomenon in which the heart stops beating after a blunt object strikes the chest directly over the heart during a short "vulnerable window" of a heartbeat. Most common in young athletes, 25% of CC fatalities are wearing chest protectors at the time of impact, showing that chest protectors do not effectively prevent CC. We are investigating how mechanical properties of impact objects and chest protectors affect the occurrence of CC in a swine model. Using high speed videos of impacts and compressive mechanical stiffness of the impact objects, we are looking for correlations between compressibility of chest protectors, CC and other bio-physical mechanical factors implicated in CC. The ultimate goal of the study is to provide data that will contribute to the design of chest protectors that will reduce the incidence of CC.
July 31
Cux1 in the brain: developing a yeast two-hybrid assay to identify proteins that interact with Cux1 in neural tissue
Brandon Wubben (Tony Jelsma)
The cortex of the brain is made up of six distinctive layers that play different roles in consciousness, thought, and memory but the differential development of these layers is poorly understood. The developmental protein Cux1 has been shown to be present only in cortex layers two, three, and four. In other developing tissues Cux1 is generally associated with cell division but in the brain it appears to regulate branching of the neurons. Moreover, altered levels of Cux1 may be associated with clinical depression. To understand better the role of Cux1 in neural development, we want to study its mechanism of action. I am developing a yeast two-hybrid assay to identify proteins that interact with Cux1 in the brain. Knowing which other proteins interact with Cux1 to help direct layer differentiation will allow a better understanding of both normal and abnormal cortex development processes.
Historic distribution of Massasauga rattlesnakes in Missouri
Katie Tazelaar (James Mahaffy)
Two rattlesnakes can be found in northern Missouri. One is the more abundant Timber rattlesnake that is found throughout the state. Another rattlesnake, the massasauga, has only been found in northern Missouri. Voucher specimens (preserved specimens in jars) of massasauga rattlesnakes are found mainly from counties along the Missouri, Mississippi, and Grand Rivers. This distribution has been used to suggest that massasauga populations were originally restricted to the floodplains of these major rivers. Massasauga distribution from surrounding states and our historic research would suggest that these snakes were more widely distributed throughout northern Missouri in wetter areas. The prairie crayfish was found throughout the northern grasslands. Burrows of this crayfish provide Missouri massasauga with its favored hibernating structure. The Missouri State Historical Society has digitized records for most of the Missouri counties; we searched all of those in the prairie crayfish range for rattlesnake accounts. We also searched local newspapers (digitized and a couple on microfilm) for rattlesnake accounts. We found 213 rattlesnake accounts. In a few cases massasauga were named (usually by the name prairie rattlesnake), but more often we had to use habitat, size, or other characteristics to try and determine the type of rattlesnake. Still, in 86 accounts there was not enough information to determine the type of rattlesnake. From these historic accounts, we found 8 counties that we are quite confident had massasauga populations. Four of these counties (Monroe, Pettis, DeKalb, and Caldwell) are counties not in the floodplain of the major rivers. Sixteen more counties had accounts that suggested massasauga populations, but we only have weaker evidence for these counties. Nine of the sixteen are scattered throughout northern Missouri away from the floodplains of the major rivers. Our historic evidence suggests that massasauga were widely distributed throughout the prairie crayfish range in suitable habitat in northern Missouri.
August 7
Investigating Proteases involved in Cancer Metastasis
Sam De Nooy and Kim Buyert (Robbin Eppinga)
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Death does not usually result from the primary tumor, but rather from the spread of the cancer. If we can stop cancer surgically, then the prognosis is often encouraging. Through studying the tumor microenvironment, we are finding an intriguing relationship between the gene dynamin and fibroblasts' extracellular matrix degrading capabilities.
Vice President of Enrollment Management
Howard Wilson
This summer, Howard Wilson became the vice president of enrollment management at Dordt. What does this new admissions position entail? Stop by the Summer Seminar Series on Wednesday to find out more, as Wilson will discuss what the enrollment management team does, what ideas they are considering, and what faculty and staff can do to help.
August 14 (Warning: This presentation, and its title and summary, contain major spoilers.)
"Huh? They're All in Purgatory?!?"—A Christian Critique of LOST and Its Otherworldly Ending
Josh Matthews
When the popular and critically-acclaimed TV show LOST ended in the spring of 2010, it revealed some of its secrets. And one of its major secrets—that the mysterious "alternative reality" narrative in the final season was really some kind of post-death purgatory—annoyed lots of viewers. It probably annoyed some of you; it certainly annoyed me.
Despite this reaction, my presentation will critique LOST's massive narrative arc and its resolution. I'll discuss literary precedents, problems, and reasons for LOST's ending, and I'll examine what the show's ending and its use of Christian imagery means for its 21st century global audience.


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A decision is expected on whether a proposed mega dairy farm can build in southern Wood County.
A judge could issue a ruling Thursday on whether to order the building inspector in Saratoga to issue building permits for Golden Sands Dairy. The Wysocki family filed a civil lawsuit asking the judge to issue the permits. The family said it applied for the permits before the town placed a moratorium on new construction.
The Wysocki family wants to develop a farm with 7,000 acres and 5,300 animals near Wisconsin Rapids.
The town of Saratoga said the Wysockis didn't submit all the necessary paperwork before the moratorium started. The Wysocki's company said it met all requirements.
The Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune says Judge Thomas Eagon is expected to issue the ruling.


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5-TRITC is a single isomer of the TRITC labeling reagent that is widely used in preparing bioconjugates of proteins and nucleic acids. The 5-isomer is predominantly used in labeling peptides and proteins.
Minimum Purity: 95%


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Intel-based Macs support starting from an external USB storage device's volume that:
- Has been formatted with a GUID partition type
- Contains an installation of Mac OS X 10.4.5 or later, or Mac OS X 10.5 or later, which is compatible with (or shipped with) the Mac that the USB device is connected to. Note: You should not use a version of Mac OS X that is earlier ("older") than the version your Mac shipped with.
To start from a USB storage device that meets the above requirements, connect the device, then select it in Startup Disk preferences. Or, connect the device, restart, and immediately press and hold the Option key to access Startup Manager.
- It may be necessary to connect the USB storage device to an external power supply, depending on its power requirements.
- If you're using a MacBook or MacBook Pro, try using a different USB port if you cannot startup from the external USB storage device.
- On a MacBook Air, the computer may shutdown automatically as a preventive measure if a USB device with issues is connected, or if the USB port on the MacBook Air itself is damaged.
- If you use Boot Camp, you may not be able to boot natively into supported versions of Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems installed on external USB hard drive.
Learn more
If you're using an external USB hub with several connected USB devices, the external USB storage device you wish to start from may not be recognized, or, may need to be connected directly into one of the computers USB ports instead. Some computer keyboards that include USB ports may not supply enough power to some external USB hard drives.
Tip: If your USB device isn't working, try following the troubleshooting steps here.


text: More help is needed to get MTA higher ed contracts funded Calling all MTA higher education members! More help is needed to get the higher education contracts funded. Please take a moment to e-mail your legislators to urge them to act on our collective bargaining agreements. Ask your legislators to tell House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Murphy, D-Burlington, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, to pass a supplemental budget bill that includes funding for all of the MTA higher education contracts. These contracts were agreed upon and ratified by the members of all of the MTA higher education unions after a long and protracted struggle. These are modest contracts that reflect the economic times in which we live, and they should be funded. The MTA is committed to getting these contracts funded as soon as possible. Please help us spread this message throughout the Legislature by calling and e-mailing your own state representative and urging passage of a supplemental budget that contains our collective bargaining agreements.


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Events » Adult Education Classes » Afternoon Salon
Afternoon Salon
Near the Palace, 1914-1915
Lyonel Feininger
American, 1871-1956
Oil on canvas
39-5/8 x 31-1/2 in. (100.6 x 80 cm)
Norton Simon Art Foundation
© 2013 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn
Reproduction, including downloading of ARS works is prohibited by copyright laws and international conventions without the express written permission of Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Architectural Details: Exploring Architecture in Art
Date: Sunday, December 08, 2013
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Speaker: Museum Educator
Type: Afternoon Salon
From Raphael to Lyonel Feininger, artists have used architecture to depict not only a sense of place but also psychological states. The grandeur of Rome, the modernity of Paris and the intimacy of a summer house in Normandy are all conveyed through the rendering of architectural details. Discover the impact of architecture on the art within the walls of the Museum, and end with a discussion of the architecture of the Museum itself and its impact on the visitor's experience.
Meets in Entrance Gallery | The program is free with admission and limited to 20 participants. | Please sign up at the Information Desk no later than 15 minutes prior to each session.