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Masks, Scrubs & Peels
A powerful clarifying treatment that helps reduce congestion and minimize the appearance of pores. Combines exfoliating Glycolic Acid and purifying Salicylic Acid with calming and soothing Aloe Vera.
HERO INGREDIENT: Salicylic Acid is a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) that has keratolytic, anti-acne and fungicidal properties.
SALICYLIC ACID: Salicylic Acid peels are particularly useful for patients with oily skin and open comedones.
GLYCOLIC ACID: This acid reacts with the upper layers of the epidermis, weakening the bonds that hold dead cells together. This allows for the exfoliation of outer skin cells, revealing underlying, smoother-looking skin. It helps improve skin texture and diminishes the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.
ALOE VERA: This helps cool and soothe the skin.
HYALURONIC ACID: This helps the skin retain moisture, plumping the skin and reducing flakiness.
1.0oz (Formerly Glycolic Purifying Peel 1.7oz)
Sunburn Alert: Use a sunscreen, wear protective clothing and limit sun exposure while using this product for one week afterwards.
Alcohol Denat., Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycolic Acid, Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate (L)
After cleansing, apply a thin layer to entire face morning and night. Follow with moisturizer and/or sunscreen.
A powerful smoothing treatment that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Exfoliating Glycolic Acid helps reveal younger-looking skin while soothing Aloe Vera calms and reduces redness.
1oz (Formerly Glycolic Refining Peel 1.7oz)
Glycolic Acid reacts with the upper layers of the epidermis, weakening the bonds that hold dead cells together. This allows for exfoliation of the outer skin cells revealing underlying smoother looking skin. This helps improve skin texture and diminish the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.
Bilberry, Sugar Cane, Sugar Maple, Orange & Lemon are a concentrated blend of 5 botanical extracts contain several naturally occurring AHAs, including Citric, Glycolic, Malic and Tartaric acids, known to promote younger, more radiant-looking skin by increasing cellular renewal.
Aloe Vera helps to cool and soothe the skin.
Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycolic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarium (Sugar Cane) Extract/ Extrait de Canne a Sucre, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract
After cleansing, apply a thin layer to entire face morning or night. Follow with moisturizer and/or sunscreen.
Brand New Day Microderma Scrub & Masque
This superfine, water-activated exfoliator combines organic sweet pea flour, pineapple enzymes and mineral rich kaolin clay to remove impurities, clarify, and smooth skin for a luminous, baby-soft complexion.
DIRECTIONS FOR SCRUB: Mix in the palm of your hand with a bit of warm water and blend into a creamy paste. Massage onto damp face using gentle, circular motions. Rinse with warm water.
DIRECTIONS FOR MASQUE: Mix with equal parts water for an exfoliating masque, greek yogurt for a clarifying masque, or raw honey for a hydrating masque. Apply to damp skin. Leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
INGREDIENTS: zea mays (corn) starch*, pisum sativum (pea) flour*, sodium cocoyl glutamate, kaolin, ananas comosus (pineapple) fruit extract*, fragrance/parfum
*Ingredients from Organic Farming
A purifying mask and spot treatment that combines pore-refining Moss Extract with oil-absorbingKaolin and Bentonite to leave skin looking healthy and clear.
HERO INGREDIENT: Kaolin and Bentonite Clay have natural absorbent properties that help dry excess oil.Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Sulfur, Bentonite, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Kaolin, Alcohol Denat., Cetearyl Glucoside, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Squalane, Titanium Dioxide, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Fructooligosaccharides (D-beta), Cistus Ladaniferus (Labdanum) Resin, Alcohol, Phytic Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Gentle enough for daily use, this 3-in-1 cleanser, scrub and mask leaves skin soft, supple and radiant. Soothing Oats and exfoliating Jojoba Beads sweep away dry skin and impurities.
OAT BETA GLUCAN is a biopolymer from Oats that produces excellent sustained moisturization of the skin and improves the skin's appearance.
JOJOBA BEADS These spherical beads provide gentle, yet effective exfoliation.
OAT PROTEIN This helps soothe, soften and hydrate skin.
Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Wax Beads, Avena Sativa (Oat) Flour, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sesamun Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Water/Aqua/Eau, Avena Sativa (Oat) Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil*, Chitin, Beta Glucan, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sclerotium Gum, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract*, P-Anisic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil*, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil*, Nardostachys Chinensis (Spikenard) Root Oil, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil, Xanthan Gum, Phenethyl Alcohol
*Ingredient from organic farming
100% of the total ingredients are from natural origin
75.90% of the total ingredients are from organic farming
It is important to keep all Dr. Alkaitis' masks moist on the skin.
Organic Cellular Repair Mask will repair, regenerate, and fortify your environmentally damaged and/or aging skin. This mask contains real strawberries. Do not use if you have allergies to strawberries.
1.25 oz (38g) | 25 Masks
Raspberry*, Blueberry*, Blackberry*, Oat Buds*, Grapes*, Strawberry*, Bilberry*.
* – Signifies certified organically grown.
Organic Enzyme Exfoliating Mask
It is important to keep all Dr. Alkaitis' masks moist on the skin.
Organic Enzyme Exfoliating Mask is ideal for skin that needs to be renewed, refreshed, and rejuvenated. It is a gentle and effective anti-aging treatment. It thoroughly removes all of the accumulated debris in the skin, while supplying essential phyto-nutrients, antioxidants, and minerals to the skin. This mask also has a brightening and lightening effect.
Organic Oat Buds*, Blueberry*, Bilberry*, Strawberry*, Raspberry*, Grapes* and Blackberry*; Extracts of Barley Grass*, Turmeric* and Cat's Claw; Enzyme Exfoliating Complex consisting of Cellulase, Lipase, Lactase, Protease Complex, Xylinase, Amylase, Bromelain, Papain, Maltase, Beta-Glucanase, Invertase, Pectinase, Mannanase, Phytase, Alpha-Galactosidase, Arabinosidase and Glucoamylase.
* – Signifies certified organically grown.
It is important to keep all Dr. Alkaitis' masks moist on the skin.
The ultimate therapeutic treatment mask, Organic Universal Mask nourishes, soothes, calms and rejuvenates sensitive, irritated and inflamed skin. An excellent mask, for post skin peels and micro-dermabrasion. You will see from the ingredients that this is a real meal for the skin. This mask contains grass. Do not use if you have grass allergies.
Organic Grass Juice Complex (Kamut Grass*. Alfalfa*, Oat Grass* and Wheat Grass*), Oat Buds*, Sea Vegetable Complex (Chlorellaº, Dulseº, Spirulinaº, Sea Palmº and Sea Willowº), Hemp Protein*. Vegetable Complex (Carrots*, Cabbage, Sweet Potato*, Kale*, Broccoli*, Asparagus, Brussels Sprouts, Cucumber, Ginger*, Onions, Cauliflower, Beets*, Tomatoes* and Parsley*). Organic Seed Complex (Pumpkin*, Sesame*, Amaranth*, Flax*, Soy*, Oats*, Rye*, Buckwheat*, Millet*, Barley*, Brown Rice*, and Sunflower*).
*- Signifies certified organically grown
º- Signifies ethically wild-crafted
Pear Fig Polishing Enyzme Peel
A nourishing mask that helps smooth and rejuvenate dry, devitalized skin. Formulated with hydrating Fig, smoothing Jojoba Beads and exfoliating Pear Puree for glowing, polished skin.
Lactic Acid is specially formulated in a time-released complex to penetrate slower, resulting in less irritation. Lactic Acid is well known for its ability to exfoliate, moisturize, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, synthesize collagen, and firm and lighten the skin. This stimulates an increase in Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are natural moisturizers and humectants in the skin, such as hyaluronic acid.
Pear Puree An intensely aromatic fresh puree that is a rich source of natural enzymes, amino acids, alpha-hydroxy acids and antioxidants.
Jojoba Beads These gently remove dead skin cells and leave the skin smooth and supple.
Fig Fruit This natural gel derived from the Fig is high in pectins, AHAs and free sugars.
Cranberry Seed Oil Helps nourish skin and reduce the signs of aging with a balanced blend of Omega-3 & 6 fatty acids, polyphenols, tocopherols and tocotrienols.
Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin), Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Wine, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Lactic Acid (L), Glycerin, Aqua/Water/Eau, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon) Bark Extract, Origanum Vulgare (Oregano) Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis (Golden Seal) Root Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Leaf Oil, Ginger Oil, Potassium Sorbate
Formulated for dull or congested skin, this clarifying mask exfoliates with Pumpkin Enzymes to promote a clear and radiant complexion.
HERO INGREDIENT: Pumpkin is a powerful antioxidant due to its high Beta Carotene content. It is also a natural exfoliator.
Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin), Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Wine, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Lactic Acid (L), Glycerin, Aqua/Water/Eau, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon) Bark Extract, Origanum Vulgare (Oregano) Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis (Golden Seal) Root Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Leaf Oil, Ginger Oil, Potassium Sorbate
Perfect, smooth, detoxify, and even skin tone with this creamy, 100% natural clay mask. No matter what your skin type, this is the perfect addition to your weekly regimen.
Infusion of Foeniculum vulgare* (fennel), Stellaria media* (chickweed), Lavandula angustifolia* (lavender), Rosa damascena* (roses), Porphyra umbilicalis* (nori seaweed), Ruscus aculeatus* (butcher's broom), Rhassoul Clay, Apium graveolens (celery) Juice*, Cocos nucifera (coconut) Oil*, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Zinc Oxide*, Cannabis sativa* (hemp) Oil*, Vaccinium macropacrpon (cranberry) Seed Oil*, Rubus ideaus (red raspberry) Seed Oil*, Extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra* (licorice), Symphytum officinale* (comfrey), and Salix alba* (willowbark), Populus Tremuloides (Aspen) Bark Extract, Gluconolactone, Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetearyl Glucoside, Extracts of Olea europaea* (olive leaf), Echinacea purpurea*, and Caldendula officinalis*, Essential Oils of Litsea cubeba, Commiphora myrrha, Pelargonium roseum (rose geranium), Citrus reticulata (mandarin), Lavandula angustifolia, Pogostemon cablin (patchouli), Coriandrum sativum (coriander), Cedrus atlantica (cedarwood), Grain Alcohol*, Rosemary Oleoresin Extract citral**, xanthan gum
Essential oils in this product contain: limonene**, citronellol**, geraniol**, linalool***
*from Certified Organic Agriculture
**natural components of essential oils
Sweet Cherry Brightening Enzyme Peel
An exfoliating mask that helps brighten and smooth sun-damaged skin. Sweet Cherry Puree is a vitamin-rich anti-inflammatory while Resveratrol helps brighten and even skin tone.
Sweet Cherry Puree is rich in vitamins and phytochemicals, including Vitamin C and Beta Carotene, which function as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. This helps prevent skin discoloration and refine mature skin.
Lactic Acid Has known benefits of this AHA include exfoliation, moisturization, reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, skin firming and brightening.
Wine Extract A concentrated preparation of polyphenols and other bioactive compounds derived from red Cabernet-Sauvignon grapes grown in France. Polyphenols are a class of powerful antioxidant compounds that fight free radicals to help detoxify, purify, soothe and brighten skin.
Salicylic Acid A Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) that has keratolytic, anti-acne and fungicidal properties. Salicylic acid peels are particularly useful for patients with oily skin and open comedones.
HOW TO USE: Apply a thin layer and massage into clean skin. Leave on for 3-5 minutes. Rinse well. Repeat 1-2 times per week.
Sunburn Alert: Use a sunscreen, wear protective clothing and limit sun exposure while using this product for one week afterwards.
Prunus Avium (Sweet Cherry) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Aqua/Water/Eau, Lactic Acid (L), Salicylic Acid, Tartaric Acid (L), Wine Extract, Mandelic Acid (L), Bromelain, Malic Acid (L), Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Prunus Serotina (Wild Cherry) Bark Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Lycopene, Sodium Metabisulfite, Xanthan Gum, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Alcohol, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Potassium Sorbate
A creamy, nutrient-rich mask that blends detoxifying White Tea , hydrating Borage Seed Oil and soothing Aloe Vera to hydrate, firm, replenish and protect devitalized skin.
HERO INGREDIENT: White Tea contains powerful phytochemicals that help improve the body's detoxification process and suppress free radical activity.
Water/Aqua/Eau, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Ceatearyl Wheat Straw Glycosides, Glycerin, Populus Tremuloides (Aspen) Bark Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Seed Extract*, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract*, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Extract, Bisabolol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract*, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil*, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil*, P-Anisic Acid, Xanthan Gum


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Peggy Dolane is a digital writer who lives in Seattle and shares each summer, and her heart, with Antrim County Michigan. Today, Peggy shares with us a recent experience she had at the Glacial Hills Pathway Natural Area, where she was able to quietly enjoy the beautiful Michigan landscape.
Read about her experience below, and tell us in the comments section some of your favorite places to enjoy a peaceful afternoon in Pure Michigan.
There's a stillness in the woods that you can't find on any mediation retreat. Walking along a quiet path the trees stretch up into the sky and embrace you in their canopy.
It's easy when summer finally arrives in Antrim County to sit all day long on the shore of a sparkling, aqua lake and never venture into the forest. But on grey days when the North wind blows, a hike deep into the woods is a welcomed outing.
For years I'd driven by Glacial Hills Pathway and Natural Area near the Village of Bellaire without giving it a second thought. This summer I heard Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy has partnered with Antrim County and Forest Home Township to develop a series of hiking and biking trails in this 763 acre upland forest. So on a grey July day I decided to check it out.
You'd hardly guess that these woods were logged off more than 100 years ago by Maine investors looking to grow their riches out "west". After the lands were logged clear and the lumber barons gone, nature took care of reforestation.
Eventually maples, beech and oak grew up into a high canopy. You'll also find random groves of red pine evenly spaced like soldiers in their rows. These trees were planted in the 30s by the Civilian Conservation Corp, bringing depression-era jobs to this impoverished region as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal.
Farm houses and back-road single wides have changed little over the past 50 years, and the quiet forests of one of the nation's most beautiful regions have been left untouched.
Trail designer, Brad Gerlach of Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, expects the 20 miles of trails — featuring rolling hills, wild flower meadows, brilliant fall colors, and stunning territorial vistas — will make this local treasure a mountain biking destination.
It's easy to get lost in the quiet of the place even with well-marked paths and despite it being just a quick ride down the road from Bellaire. Not having my bike with me, I was happy to wander awhile and listen to the sound of the wind in the tree tops. Drinking in the lush green surroundings, for one precious moment, I sat alone, in the presence of the woods.
Peggy Dolane is a digital writer who lives in Seattle and shares each summer, and her heart, with Antrim County Michigan. You can follow her @PeggyDolane.

subset: commoncrawl


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A person with a passive-aggressive behavior pattern may appear to comply or act appropriately, but actually behaves negatively and passively resists. In the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, passive-aggressiveness is not officially characterized as a personality disorder. Instead, passive-aggressiveness is labeled as an area that needs further study.
The cause of passive-aggressiveness is unknown. There may be environmental and genetic factors that contribute to the development of this behavior pattern.
Prefrontal Cortex
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
Factors that may increase your chance of passive-aggressive behavior include:
Passive-aggressive behavior includes:
A mental health professional diagnoses passive-aggressiveness after doing a psychological evaluation. This may include a range of mental health and neurological tests to assess how the brain is functioning.
There is no medication available for passive-aggressiveness. If anxiety or depression is also involved, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants. Antidepressants are medications that ease the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Counseling can help you become aware of the problem and acknowledge the need to change.
American Psychological Association
Mental Health America
Canadian Psychiatric Association
Health Canada
Passive-aggressive personality disorder. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated November 30, 2009. Accessed August 13, 2013.
Personality disorders. Mental Health America website. Available at: http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectId=C7DF8E96-1372-4D20-C87D9CD4FB6BE82F. Accessed August 13, 2013.
Last reviewed June 2015 by Michael Woods, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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Kennedy discusses C8 issue
PARKERSBURG – A discussion on C8 exposure and its place as a national environmental issue took place Wednesday at the Blennerhassett School auditorium.
One of the attorneys involved in the continuing litigation is Robert Kennedy Jr., who has worked on many environmental cases across the U.S. His law practice, Kennedy and Madonna, LLP, is in Hurley, N.Y.
In West Virginia, Kennedy was involved in mountain top removal mining and the settlement reached in the case against DuPont related to cleanup of a former facility in Spelter, Harrison County.
Attorney Harry Deitzler, whose law firm has worked on the C8 issue since 1998, said Kennedy's actions as an environmental advocate have "made a difference in the country from A to Z."
Kennedy said as an environmental advocate there is no such thing as Republican children or Democratic children. He said the issue is to preserve the country's environmental infrastructure for the children.
"It's a national issue," he said. "It's an issue about the moral obligation we have to our children; we're not protecting the environment for the sake of the fishes and the birds; we are protecting it because we recognize that nature is the infrastructure for our communities."
There is an obligation to create communities for the next generation to provide them the same opportunities for dignity, enrichment, prosperity and good health, Kennedy said.
He said the environmental infrastructure connects us to past generations. It is something that belongs to all and cannot be reduced to private property and ownership, Kennedy said.
"Issues of democracy and the environment and human health are ultimately intertwined," he said.
Kennedy said in 30 years of law practice he has worked for public interests rather than private interests. He said the C8 cases amounted to deception about the release of the chemical.
Kennedy said DuPont was aware of the dangers in the late 1950s and memos between attorneys for DuPont urged the company to come forward about the danger of the chemical, calling it "their moral obligation."
Kennedy said polluting the environment leads to a bad economy.
"You hear people say you have to choose between economic prosperity on one hand and environmental protection on the other," he said. "That is a false choice; in 100 percent of the situations good environmental policy is identical to good economic policy."
Kennedy said DuPont has been urging the public to treat Parkersburg and West Virginia as if it were a business in liquidation.
"They want to convert the natural resources, the rivers and the streams, the farms and grasses and people into instantaneous cash as quickly as they can," he said. "They can have a few years of pollution-based prosperity and can make a few people in Delaware very, very rich but they are going to impoverish the people of West Virginia and make them sick."
Kennedy said environmental injury is like deficit spending in that it loads the costs of one generation's prosperity on the backs of the next.
Kennedy said investing in the environment does not diminish wealth but increases wealth and has to be made to ensure economic vitality.


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Preview: Phillies v. Mets at Citi Field – 7:10 pm Eastern
The 2008 World Champions Philadelphia Phillies (14-10, 1st) continue their four-games road trip with a short two-games series with their main rival in the National League East, the New York Mets (12-13, 3rd). The first game of the two-games set will be played at the Mets new home, Citi Field, and will start at 7:10 pm Eastern. The Phils' starter will be Chan Ho Park (0-1, 8.57), who is coming off an earlier beating at the hands of these same Mets on May 1, where he was only able to go four and two-thirds innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits and six walks, while striking out only one batter, in the Phillies' 7-4 lost. Park is still looking for his first win as a Phil, while folks ponder if this will be Park's last chance to stay in the Phillies' starting rotation. The Mets will counter with their ace Johan Santana (3-1, 1.10), who is coming off of a no-decision against the Marlins on April 29, as the Mets' bullpen once again let him down. Santana went seven strong innings, giving up only two runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out seven, in the Mets' 4-3 lost. He will be looking for his fourth win of the year as he hopes to once again dominate the Phils. The Phillies will be looking to come out of New York with at least a split, before coming home for a three-games set with the Braves.
My honest opinion? I see this game as a lost for the Phillies, as, since Santana has joined the Mets last season, the Phils have been unable to do anything with him, and the only times that they do score runs when he's the starter for the Mets is when they get to the bullpen once he is taken out of the ballgame. The only way for the Phils to win this game is for their starter to keep them in the game, until they can get at the Mets' bullpen, like they did last Saturday. But, since it is Park who is starting the game tonight for the Phils, I do not see this as being a close game, unless the Phillies' presently red hot offense can find the holes in Santana's armor and exploit them. So, I am resign at seeing this as a lost, unless, by some miracle, the offense decide to beat up on Santana. While I'm hoping for it, I'm not seeing it as happening.
4 Comments
Thanks, I hoping for the best, but I am not expecting it as long as Park is pitching lousy as a starter.
Or I suppose Julia could have said "phaith".🙂 You never know, Park could come out and pitch a gem. I'm not holding my breath, now, but you never know…
Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts
I did say that I hope our red hot offense will be able to blast Johan tonight. I'm just not seeing it happening. As for Park, he at the moment doesn't look like someone who can even pitch a quailty start, never mind a gem.


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Cover Story
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India has test-fired a nuclear-capable missile that could reach as far as Beijing, as well as much of Europe. The test brings India closer to producing nuclear weaponry.
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What is in this article?:
- Irrigation No. 1 in list of keys to peanut profitability
- Water activated herbicides
- Combination of two older programs
• Without water, the success of each key is significantly reduced and that is why irrigation comes in at No. 1 in the list of Top 10 Keys to Peanut Profitability.
EDITOR'S NOTE — Organizers of the Farm Press Peanut Profitability Award have reviewed production data from previous winners to arrive at a "Top 10 Keys to Peanut Profitability." This list of successful production practices has been presented in descending order in Southeast Farm Press and on this website, with sponsorship provided by DuPont Crop Protection. The Peanut Profitability Awards, based on production efficiency in whole-farm situations, is entering its 13th year and is administered by Marshall Lamb, research director for the National Peanut Research Laboratory, and his staff.
Combined, the previous nine Keys to Peanut Profitability will help growers produce higher yields and higher quality peanuts.
But without water, the success of each key is significantly reduced and that is why irrigation comes in at No. 1 in the list of Top 10 Keys to Peanut Profitability.
Marshall Lamb, director of the USDA National Peanut Laboratory, says irrigation increases peanut yield by about 30 percent on a 10 year average, and even drastically higher in drought years like those experienced in all peanut producing regions in recent years.
"Managing irrigation with Irrigator Pro will add at least 300 pounds per acre in yield for irrigated producers," he says. "This is why so many past Peanut Profitability and high yield winners use Irrigator Pro — including one of last year's winners, Kreg Freeman, and a host of others."
The availability of moisture for peanuts is critical at key times in the growing season for maximum yield and to reduce stress that can affect both yield and quality. Without irrigation, during the past three years many growers across the peanut-producing belt in the U.S. simply couldn't plant peanuts because of a lack of soil moisture.
This year, for example, Luray, S.C., growers Bud and Corrin Bowers say they couldn't plant cotton or peanuts on time because they didn't have moisture in some fields. Fortunately, they have irrigation on some of their peanut land and could apply enough water to plant.
Unfortunately, about a third of their peanut crop this year is on new ground, which for the most part is not irrigated.
"Because of a lack of moisture at planting time, this has been one of the most frustrating times I've had in farming," says Bud Bowers. "We got backed up on planting cotton, which got us backed up on planting peanuts — without irrigation we would have been in a bigger mess."
Like so many growers across the Southeast and Virginia-Carolina belts, the Bowerses have to contend with herbicide-resistant weeds, particularly glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth (pigweed).
In the past, growers dealt with virtually every weed problem with glyphosate pre-plant and an over the top early season application of the same material, plus one or two others to control the few grasses and weeds not adequately controlled by glyphosate.
Now, it is almost standard practice among peanut growers go back to a pre-glyphosate regimen, applying pre-plant herbicides to manage resistant weeds and reduce the amount of glyphosate used in order to lower the risk of further resistance problems.


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Katy Boyd Smith@katyboydsmith active 3 years, 12 months ago
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If you want to meet people in Occupy London or you want get involved but aren't sure how, come in and ask a question. We will help you find your way around.
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Lollapalooza: Summer music festivals
Published On: May 10 2011 04:23:18 PM CDT Updated On: Aug 02 2013 01:00:52 AM CDT
Lollapalooza starts today in Chicago, Illinois. From the mountains of Colorado to the forests of Milwaukee, this summer will be jam-packed with some of the best music festivals ever. Find out more about these events that spotlight everything from alternative rock to jazz -- and have spawned their own festival cultures.


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The School Library Profiles developed by the Library Research Service are meant to be used as a comparative tool for school libraries in Colorado. The results represent data received from school libraries that completed the 2012 Colorado School Library Survey. Profiles for each participating school compare individual school data with averages for schools with similar grade level and enrollment ranges. Please note that since all data were derived from responses to the survey, schools that did not respond to the survey are not represented in the Profiles.
Use the school locator (below) to find the school for which you would like to see the 2012-2013 School Library Profile. Remember, schools that did not respond to the 2012 Colorado School Library Survey will not be represented in the Profiles.
Please Note: Starting with the 2008-09 profiles, we are using medians instead of averages for the comparison groups. Medians represent the school in the middle of each statistic - i.e., there are equal numbers of schools above and below the median. For this reason, we felt this was more representative of the "typical" school than average, which can be more strongly influenced by outliers.
- Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy, Colorado Springs
- Jackson Elementary School, Colorado Springs
- James H Risley Middle School, Pueblo
- James Irwin Charter High School, Colorado Springs
- Janitell Junior High School, Fountain
- Jefferson Academy Elementary Charter School, Broomfield
- Jefferson Academy Secondary School, Broomfield
- Jefferson Co Open Elem School, Lakewood
- Jefferson High School, Edgewater
- Jenkins Middle School, Colorado Springs
- Jewell Elementary School, Aurora
- John Evans Middle School, Greeley
- John Wesley Powell Middle Sch, Littleton
- Johnson Elementary School, Fort Collins
- Johnson Elementary School, Montrose
- Julesburg High School, Julesburg


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When holiday ads start bombarding your children before Halloween, it can be difficult to keep their focus and attention on what's important. Just ask yourself, which is more fun: Making a holiday wish list or studying for upcoming exams? Face it—it's hard to compete.
But with the right organizational tools and planning, you can help your children maintain their schedules and end the year as successful students.
Use our tips below to keep your children focused amidst holiday lights, Christmas music and sugar-filled cookies Continue reading 6 Tips to Keep Your Kids Focused During the Holiday Season


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"I thought we showed more consistency and effort in this game. We shot the ball well, which, unfortunately, is not common, but that always makes up for other things you don't do well," said head coach Mike Luce.
The Trojans shot well right from the opening tip as the Beeville boys ripped the nets for a 12-3 lead midway through the first quarter. The visitors rallied to some degree, outscoring the Beeville boys 7-6 over the rest of the first period, but the hosts held an 18-10 lead.
The long-range jumpers from Lucas Glew, Andy Dang and Brent Reyna, five in all, helped the Trojans secure a comfortable 39-20 lead at the halftime intermission.
The barrage was not over and the Trojans carried their shooting prowess over into the second half. Four more treys found their mark in the second half to help the Trojans hold off the Bulldogs.
Yoakum hit for 21 third quarter points to cut six points off its deficit at the half, but the Trojans returned to form and out-scored the Bulldogs 22-14 over the final eight minutes to grab the win.
The last basket of the night, a step-back jumper from beyond the arc by Tony Gonzales, epitomized the Trojan night. Gonzales took a pass in the corner near the baseline with time winding down. One quick dribble in and then he stepped back and drained his first and only shot of the night for the game's final three points.
The Beeville inside game was also working well with posts Cameron Kremers and Tyler Stewart controlling things in the paint. Forward Hunter Hardy also played well over the second half, getting all of his six points on short jumpers after halftime.
Kremers finished the night with a team-high 20 points. Guard Reyna followed closely with 18 (three jumpers from beyond the arc). Glew finished with eight points with two treys to his credit. Stewart hit also hit for eight points, most coming from inside the paint. Cody Vasquez added seven points with one three-pointer. Dang added six points with two first half treys.
In all, the Trojans fired in a total of nine treys in the game. It was one of their better games of the season.
"Our defense, especially help side, was good, but I felt like we needed to make it harder to move the ball around the perimeter. Our inside play seemed very effective as our guards did a god job of getting the ball inside," Luce said.
"Hopefully we can continue to play at this level."
The Trojans are competing in the Pride of Texas tournament at Tuloso-Midway this weekend.


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Indulgent Wine Country Experiences
For more information contact:
TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA – September 4, 2008 -- Temecula's Wine Country is booming, and it's no wonder. A quick trip to the Temecula Valley Winegrowers' Association's web site
South Coast Winery Resort & Spa Owner, Jim Carter's vision is simple: "to create the romance of a Wine Country experience with the blending of nature, fine wine, fine food, and elegant comforts -- presented to <its> guests with gracious hospitality." Plus, adds Carter, "With air travel challenges and sky rocketing gas prices being what they are today, getting here is so much easier and much more enjoyable."
As the Harvest Season springs into full force and folks begin looking to create new memories that will last a lifetime, wine aficionados and novices alike will no doubt enjoy a Wine Country get-away to Temecula, California. Below is a quick at-a-glance listing of Harvest Season events that have been designed by South Coast Winery Resort & Spa to help make visitors' Wine Country experiences complete:
Bridal Open House
Experience the splendor of South Coast Winery Resort & Spa's full service Bridal Packages and Wedding Getaways. All perfectly designed for you. Let the magic of our vineyards transform your "wedding dreams" into unforgettable "wedding
Summer Goddess Sessions at the GrapeSeed Spa
Just as its name suggests, South Coast Winery's GrapeSeed Spa Summer Goddess Sessions are uniquely wonderful and absolutely laced with South Coast Style. This Part II Session includes an indulgent signature spa treatment plus an evening with internationally acclaimed author and meditation specialist, Caroline Reynolds, exploring How To Understand and Read Chakras:
· Discover the properties and meaning of your chakras
Bring your girlfriends and plan to spend the day. This session includes a decadent spa treatment, pool, whirlpool, and sauna usage, all followed up with Chef Alex's specially prepared picnic and wine under the stars. Cost is just $190 -- all inclusive especially your very own take-home feather boa and flowers in your hair.
For details, call: 951-587-9463 X 7280 -- Ask about the Summer Goddess Session
Annual Wild Women of Wine Country
You're invited to join Maggie Carter for her Annual Women of Wine Country Luncheon & Fashion Show. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we couldn't think of a better time to show we care than with this very special, fun-filled day at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, featuring Chef Alex's celebratory harvest lunch, fabulous auction and some incredibly dynamic fashions. Cost is just $15 pp; and the proceeds for the event benefit Michelle's Place Breast Cancer Resource Center. Show your support & reserve your place today! Call today: 951-587-9463 Ext. 7210.
Please note all ticket sales are final; if you should find you cannot come, send a friend!
Grape Stomp Blessing of the Wines & Harvest Celebration
South Coast Winery Resort & Spa is known throughout Southern California for its warm and friendly hospitality and fun-filled events, but it's particularly known for its fun-filled, family friendly harvest celebrations!!! This year our popular Grape Stomp & Harvest Celebration makes no exception. Join us Sunday, October 19th for an unforgettably good time. It's that time of year when we invite you, our friends and family, to celebrate the Harvest as they offer up an authentic Grape Stomp -- Blessing of the Wines -- and Harvest Celebration complete with friendship, fun and plenty of laughter. Join for:
· Grape Stomping Contests
Call: 951-587-9463 Ext. 7210 today to reserve your place – Make it authentic by reserving your own private villa for the night, tucked away in the vineyards.
Winemakers Dinner
You're invited to join South Coast Winery for yet another intimate evening with its Executive Chef Alessandro Serni and Winemakers Jon McPherson and Javier Flores as they share the joys of South Coast's passion for great wine and quality times; while indulging in some spectacular new wine releases and familiar favorites. Delight your senses with an amazing wine and food journey that includes a five-course menu. Reservations required. Cost is $125 per person/$115 club.
Call 951-587-9463 Ext. 7210 today.
South Coast Winery Resort & Spa is a 38-acre destination property located in the heart of Temecula's Wine Country that provides quality times and produces award-winning wines. Its latest addition in Orange County is the popular wine country retreat, South Coast Winery Restaurant and Tasting Room. Located just north of South Coast Plaza at the corners of Bristol and MacArthur, it's open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, Sunday Brunch and a fully-stocked wine tasting bar. For more information about this release, electronic photos or to schedule a private media tour of South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, contact Crystal Magon at (951) 587-9463 Ext. 7204 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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"Listening to your programs, I have learned a lot about apologetics and have enjoyed playing broadcasts for my youth group, friends, and family who are looking for answers. Your ministry is invaluable. I hope to continue as a Radio Club member forever."
"When He asserts and says: This is My Blood, who shall ever hesitate and say it is not His Blood?"


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La Crosse Mayoral Candidate Doug Farmer is promising millions of dollars to revitalize local neighborhoods.
He says the money is possible through a TIF that set to expire at the end of the year. By state law, a TIF can be extended one year, but only if the proceeds are used to rehabilitate and preserve local neighborhoods.
In total, it would add up to $3M over three years.
Farmer says that can be used for things like the Housing Replacement Program, where the city buys a run-down house, builds a new one, then sells it for profit.


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March 29, 2012 —
HURLEYVILLE, NY — The Woodsongs Coffeehouse at the Sullivan County Museum will feature Steve Lane (www.myspace.com/stevelanemusic [1]) of Port Jervis on Saturday, April 7 at 6 p.m. Lane was raised in a farmhouse on old-time country music, and has become a noted alternative country music songwriter. He learned the guitar from his country-music father Don Lane and brother Dan, and other musicians that hung around their house when he was a child. His father will perform with him at the coffeehouse. Visit
The evening will also include a return performance by Van Manakas (www.vanmanakas.com [2]). Manakas is recognized by the musical press as one of the most versatile and respected guitarists in the country.
The evening is sponsored by Steve's Music of Rock Hill (www.stevesmusiccenter.com [3]) and hosted by the Sullivan County Bluegrass and Americana band Little Sparrow. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission costs $5.
Visit www.sullivancountyhistory.org [4] or call 845 434-8044 or 845 671-9548.


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I think I might be the only one here but I am actually pretty happy with the effort I saw last nite. This is the most cohesion i have seen with Melo, Stat, and Lin. Lin/ Baron together looked damn good at times. I think the bucks had a lot of luck at times with some really bad 3 point shots, and the refs were on their side for sure. I also think Stat played pretty well, he was more aggresive and had a nice big + rating. I think Chandler's Hammy injury will give the Wrist time to heal so he will be more of an offensive force again! , So, not everything is looking down guys..
I am also starting to see Novak as somewhat as a liability as his rebounds for minutes are just pathetic as a forward. If Chandler is not in the lineup, I don't think we can have Novak on the floor, unless we are down a lot and have no choice.


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Karen Johnson, SNS, child nutrition director for the Yuma (AZ) Elementary School District, has been named winner of the Golden School Foodservice Director of the Year Award in the 21st annual Foodservice Achievement Management Excellence (FAME) Awards competition. Other 2010 FAME Award winners include... • Mary Anderson, director of Culinary Express for the Wayzata (MN) Public Schools (Silver Leadership Award); • Jacci Morrow, SNS, assistant director of child nutrition & food service ...
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Just learned the news too.
It was easier to hope for PJax in the beginning. But it's so tough to even think about it now. Woodson certainly has done hell of a job.
It might have marked a history moment, the rising (and soaring) of Woodson after this season.
If I must pick one. Let me say I will vote for master Woodson. (But I will still welcome PJax if he got more votes.)


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Not worth the riskAugust 11,2014
Not worth the risk
The Aug. 6, 2014, Times Argus editorial, The Lesson of Toledo, rightly asserts that Toledo, Ohios water situation should be a wake-up call for Vermont. However, Vermonts drinking water reliance extends beyond Lake Champlain.
Our wake-up call should begin at home by protecting the water that comes out of the tap at the Conservation Law Foundations offices, the Agency of Natural Resources offices and the office of the governor.
Berlin Pond is the only possible drinking water source for Montpelier and parts of Berlin, including the hospital. Twenty-thousand people per day depend on this Capital City water supply source. Failure to protect Berlin Pond exposes our water source supply to unnecessary challenges, including algae blooms capable of shutting off our water, killing fish and sickening humans, as well as other invasive species with the potential to threaten our drinking water.
How many people actually adhere to the canoe and kayak cleaning protocols that could protect Berlin Pond from invasives? When moving boats from one water body to another, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration instructs to thoroughly clean all boat parts and equipment and allow the boat to dry for five days in warm, dry weather and up to 30 days in cool, moist weather. (http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/pdf/best_management_practices/Cleaning%20of%20Watercraft%20and%20Equipment.pdf).
With over 39 water bodies to recreate in within 30 miles of Berlin Pond, my husband and I will swim and paddle elsewhere. We urge the Agency of Natural Resources to make it official. Its just not worth the risk.
Yet, when a 2012 Supreme Court ruling stated that Berlin Pond fell under state jurisdiction (not under the city, which had protected the ponds surface water from human activity for over 100 years), the Agency of Natural Resources failed to protect Berlin Pond from surface water activity while reviewing petitions that would return Berlin Pond to protection.
Berlin Ponds filtration system was built to process water with no human activity. Unlike Lake Champlain, the pond is small, shallow and silty, with a drinking water intake barely 17 feet below the surface. Every hand, every oar, every piece of trash that goes into it degrades our drinking water quality. Visit www.protectberlinpond.org to learn more about the immediate threat to our drinking water, and join Vermonters at the Saturday rally at 11 a.m. on the State House lawn to protect safe, clean drinking water.
Sheryl Rapée-Adams
MontpelierMORE IN LettersA sixth-offense DUI gets plead down to a misdemeanor. A breathalyzer is refused. Full StoryBurr Morses recollection (Whats good for the goose, Nov. Full StoryMSNBC news analyst Rachel Maddows report on the election of Republican Rutherford B. Full Story
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The capital of Uther Pradesh is a hallmark of cultural extravaganza, known all over the world for its many splendours.
Lucknow - The capital of Uther Pradesh is a hallmark of cultural extravaganza, known all over the world for its many splendours. A city that has a magical charm, a charm that's forever and a charm that's apart. Be it the cultural charm or the monumental one, all are well conserved here to make Lucknow "The city of many splendours". Walking through the lanes and by-lanes of Chowk and Aminabad one finds Lucknow of yore. The 'tehzib' or mannerism is still prominent and a topic of great appreciation. This is a city that still speaks the language of "aap-janab" and the dictum of "pehle aap" is still a part of everyday life for a true Lakhnawi. And so natural it is - Aadab or salutation which has its own sophistication and style.
Lucknow - the old capital of the nawabs of Awadh where culture, courtesy and courtly lifestyle reigned supreme. Life in Lucknow was characterised by an old world charm with warmth, hospitality and a genteel formality inherent in every facet of its people. The city saw its most glorious days under the Nawabs when it became a great centre for literature, music, dance, arts and crafts.
Preparations like those of Tunde-ke-kabab, Rahim-ke-kulche nihari, Bismillah-ki-biryani, Radhey-ki malai gilori and lassi, Raja-ki-thandai ya Sharma-ki-chaat have held their heads high due to purity and standards maintained. Good eateries in Lucknow are often found in the serpentine lanes of old Lucknow.
The Asafi Imambara (popularly known as Bara Imambara), the Chhota Imambara, Residency, and Shah Najaf are monuments of architectural importance at Lucknow. The famous 'Bhul Bhulaiyan' (Labyrinth) is part of Asafi Imambara complex. Some other places of interest are the Picture Gallery, Chattar Manzil, State Museum/Lucknow Zoo, Shaheed Smarak, Dilkusha, Ambedkar Memorial, Planetarium, and Ram Krishna Math. British-built architectural sights in Lucknow include the Vidhan Sabha (State Legislative Assembly), the Clock Tower and the Charbagh Railway Station, with its distinctive domes, arches and pillars.
Chowk and Nakhhas are markets in the old Lucknow area where you can get a feel of traditional Lucknow. Some other important shopping centers are Alambagh, Kapoorthala, Indiranagar, Mahanagar, and Nishatganj.
The Hazratganj area is an upscale shopping market with colonial- style buildings. Interestingly, a popular pastime among the locals is window-shopping in the Hazratganj market.
Indian Rupee (INR)
English is widely spoken and understood in all cities and Tourist areas. Hindi is the official language.
The best time to visit India is in the winter. 3 major seasons. Winter summer and monsoon.
Flying time from Muscat : 2 Hours 30 Minutes
GMT + 5.30 Hours


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PORTUGAL TOUR (10D/9N) from €535
Welcome to Hotel da Bolsa, located at the historical centre of Porto next to the Palacio da Bolsa guests can easily get the hotel.Elegantly furnished and retaining yet the style built into the must attractive old building Hotel da Bolsa is a small cosy hotel which offers a 36 ensuite and cosy rooms. All rooms are fully-equipped by private bathroom, air conditioning, heating, satellite TV, direct phone and Wireless Internet access. Within walking distance guests may visit the Palácio da Bolsa (old Stock Exchange), Port Wine Institute, the greatest congress centre in town -Alfândega- and several classified monuments, or enjoy the pleasure of boat trips on river Douro.Special rate for a 24hr ticket for car parking in a public garage 50 meters from hotel.


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Cook County has among the highest number of commuters coming from another county in the nation, the U.S. Census Bureau reported in new estimates released from the American Community Survey. Nationally, 27.4 percent of workers commute outside the county where they live.
Among workers in Cook County, 505,593 live outside the county, according to 2006-2010 estimates from the American Community Survey. For example, 139,477 workers commute in from DuPage County, 93,471 from Will County and 80,833 from Lake County. Meanwhile, 301,182 residents of Cook County leave the county for work, with 135,387 going to DuPage County, 63,520 to Lake County and 38,179 to Will County.
"It is well known that Cook County draws a lot of commuters to work. The detailed information in the American Community Survey tells us where Cook County workers are coming from, where its residents work, and how its commuting patterns compare to those of other large counties," said Brian McKenzie, a Census Bureau statistician who studies commuting. "This information shapes our understanding of the boundaries of local and regional economies, as people and goods move across the nation's transportation networks."
The American Community Survey also provides annual estimates about how commuters in Cook County travel to work and how long it takes them to get there.
Means of transportation:
• In 2011, 62.2 percent of workers in Cook County drove to work alone, compared with 76.4 percent nationally.
• Meanwhile, 9 percent of Cook County workers carpooled in 2011, while 9.7 percent in the nation carpooled to work.
• In 2011, 18.5 percent of all workers in Cook County used public transportation – excluding taxicab – to get to their job, compared with 5.0 percent in the nation as a whole.
• About 0.9 percent of all workers in the county biked to work in 2011, compared with 0.6 percent nationally.
Travel time to work:
• In 2011, the average one-way commute to work for people living in Cook County was 31.9 minutes. The average commute nationally was 25.5 minutes.
• About 13.7 percent of all workers had a commute of 60 minutes or more in 2011, compared with 8.1 percent in the nation as a whole.
View more commuting statistics at http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/S0801/0500000US17031


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Well, I finally realize I have to night wean. Has anyone done this, how do I do it, and can it work?
My DS9 is having a kidney transplant in a little over 2 weeks. The hospital will not allow my 7 month old to stay with me or another person in a parent room so I can be close to both children. The baby will need to sleep in a hotel. The transplant coordinator said she did all she could and the surgeon even stepped in but no luck :( I am really sad about this but I need to make it as easy as possible on my help. I can't leave them with a baby who wakes every 2 hours through the night so I need to start this now.
We are planning on getting a crib (instead of cosleeping) and my DH will get up with him after a last nursing session at around 10 or 11. He will get the baby until 6 or 7 am. Does he need a bottle or should DH just try to get him to sleep without it?
How can I do this? I really need some suggestions.
Oh, I forgot to add that the transplant coordinator said that I might want to try to wean him!! That made me mad.


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Broaden your selection: Category/Hobbies
health (13)
- BMI is a tool to help dieters. It calculates your Body Mass Index (BMI) and gives you an indication of your fitness. It saves the results in a file, so you can through the program look at the file, and compare your results from day to day, which gives you an overview of your weight development over time.
- BioImageXD
- BioImageXD - Free and open source software for analysis, processing and 3D rendering of multi dimensional microscopy images. It uses free software such as Python, wxPython, VTK, and is a free replacement for very expensive commercial 3D microscopy analysis and visualisation software BioImageXD is a collaborative open source free software project, designed and developed by microscopists, cell biologists and programmers from the Universities of Jyväskylä and Turku in Finland, and collaborators worldwide.
- ChronoJump
- A complete system for measurement, management and statistics of sport short-time tests. Chronojump is used by trainers, teachers and students.
- Diet Monger Ass Kicker
- You need 3 pieces to run this: DMAK itself, USDA data, wxeu.so (for GNU/Linux) or wxeu.dll (for Windows). All is explained on my website and in the package. The package includes both Euphoria source and executables. DMAK interacts with you to design diets according to your specifications. You can make your own REQ files for nutrient requirements (minimums and maximums). Features include: favorite foods, rejected foods, sorts, filters, internet searches, clipboard, etc. Every time USDA comes out with an update of their data, you can download it and then unzip it into the usda_data subdirectory and the DMAK data is updated. SR19 has 7200+ foods and 140 nutrients.
- Electrocardiognosis
- Electrocardiognosis is a software package designed to assist the physician in formulating diagnoses on 24h ambulatory ECG monitoring (Holter) recordings.
- Gnutrition
- GNUtrition is free nutrition analysis software written for the GNU operating system. The US Department of Agriculture, Nutrient Database of Standard Reference is used as the source of food nutrient information. Supports both Imperial and metric weights. Calculates for a wide range of nutrients, including trace minerals and amino acids. Can also calculate the recommended daily intake for many nutrients. Users can create recipes and compute their nutritional content. You can specify personal dietary goals, and compare the nutritional composition of various recipes to them. Output is in LaTeX format. This package was formerly known as RAT (Recipe Analysis Tool).
- Health
- GNU Health is a program designed for hospitals, offering the following functionalities:
- Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
- Hospital Information System (HIS)
- Health Information System
It has a strong focus on family medicine and primary care, along with socio-economic circumstances. It uses the following disease and medical procedure standards: (ICD-10 / ICD-10-PCS). There are facilities to aid in choosing medicines; prescription writing; patient, hospital finacial, and lab administration tools; a database of 4,200 disease-related genes; epidemiological reporting; and much more.
GNU Health is part of GNU Solidario, an NGO offering health and education to the underpriveledged through free software: http://www.gnusolidario.org/
- Menstruation Calendar
- Mencal is a simple variation of the well-known Unix command cal. The main difference is that you can have some periodically repeating days highlighted in color. This can be used to track menstruation (or other) cycles conveniently.
- Nut
- 'nut' allows you to record what you eat, and analyze your meals for nutrient composition. The database included is the USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 14, which contains 6,039 foods. This database contains values for calories, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, total fat, etc.; vitamins A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, B6, etc.; minerals calcium, copper, iron etc.; as well as the omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Nutrient levels are expressed as a percentage of the Daily Value, which comprise Reference Daily Intake and Daily Reference Values, the familiar standard of food labeling in the United States.
- Shrinking Man
- Shrinking Man is an application for tracking your weight and the calories consumed each day. It integrates well with the GNOME desktop environment.
… further results
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the page "GNU Free Documentation License".
The copyright and license notices on this page only apply to the text on this page. Any software or copyright-licenses or other similar notices described in this text has its own copyright notice and license, which can usually be found in the distribution or license text itself.


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- November 19: Chrysler Recalls Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos recalls | 22 days ago
- November 18: Dodge Dart Recalled to Fix Windshield Wiper Problems recalls | 23 days ago
- November 16: Lawsuit: Dodge Ram Trucks Emit Illegal Emissions news | 25 days ago
- November 14: Chrysler Recalls Jeep Cherokees and Dodge Vipers recalls | 27 days ago
- October 19: Chrysler Recalls Vehicles With Alternators That May Cause Fires recalls | 53 days ago
1998 Dodge Grand Caravan
AC / heater Problems
Worst 1998 Grand Caravan AC / heater Problems
Click on a problem below to read more.
- heater blows cold air1
- water running onto floorboard1
- NHTSA: Equipment: Electrical: Air Conditioner7
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Check out our Dodge Grand Caravan overview to see the most problematic years, worst problems and most recently reported complaints with the Grand Caravan.


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Nov 25, 2013
Managing network security at scale is not easy, but the organizations that do it best tend to follow a predictable, repeatable pattern. This paper distills those lessons into a pragmatic process designed for larger organizations and those with more complicated networks such as medium-sized businesses with multiple locations. We wouldn't claim our process is magical or easy, but it's certainly easier than many alternatives. Even if you only pick out a few tidbits, our process should help you refine and operate your network security more efficiently.
Network security management isn't easy, but there are more and less efficient ways to handle it. Knowing your posture and maintaining visibility are key, as are developing core workflows to bridge gaps between different operational teams. Network Security Operations monitors the environment and change requests to adapt the security posture as needed in a timely manner. It monitors for changes that slip past approval processes, develops workflows to handle the unexpected, and responds quickly when changes are requested to support other business areas. Finally, Network Security Operations understands that security policy changes impact other operations, and that it needs to analyze and communicate the potential implications.
Read this Executive Guide by Rich Mogull, Analyst and CEO, Securosis.


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Sharna Johnson
"18 cats?" The young officer asked me.
"No, 18 rats," I said, watching the predictable change in his expression while he tried his best to not laugh, instead focusing on his notepad as he scribbled.
That's right, I was filing a police report for 18 stolen rats.
Time warp back to the beginning … It was several years ago and we were moving to Clovis.
It had all started with three rats the snakes refused to eat, as they often do and for reasons only they understand.
Predictably, I got attached and the thought of watching them get "snake hugs" became less and less appealing.
Before I knew it, they too "bonded" and there were 15 more rats.
And then unexpectedly it was moving time.
A local breeder recommended vented plastic storage bins — the perfect solution to my quandary. Packed complete with food, bedding and water, my prolific little friends joined the kids, cats, dogs and luggage in the car and off we went to visit family before heading west.
The cats and dogs were easy to accommodate but let's just say the rats didn't go over well at Mom's.
So they were given a lovely shelf in my brother's art studio and moved to cages I had packed complete with ladders, toys, and fresh bedding.
Strange things started to happen.
My brother and I went to check on them and found them in a very large storage bin with shredded newspaper and things for them to climb and hide in.
The next day there were two bins; one for boys, one for girls.
Then a phone call from his studio mate. "I stopped by the studio with a friend and she was appalled at the conditions your sister's rats were in," she told him, explaining the friend had relocated them out of sympathy.
I was shocked. I had been forced to explain their presence to my family and questioned my own sanity for going to so much trouble to travel with rodents that make people climb furniture and scream for an exterminator.
Yet someone was appalled that my rats were living in temporary cages on their journey halfway across the country.
I tried to explain the situation was temporary — they had a large cage waiting for them.
"But you have male and female juveniles together in one cage. They are getting close to breeding age. You need to separate them," she said.
Nope, making more rats was part of the idea.
Sure, little rat faces cute and their antics are entertaining, but they are also incredibly nutritious snake food.
Wrong answer.
The rats were gone the next day. Just gone, new cages and all.
I was truly devastated. I did what any responsible rat owner would do.
I called the police.
"I know, it's crazy, but they are rats," I told the officer as he looked at me with huge eyes but managed professionalism, bless him.
I explained the whole situation, ending with the part about the studio mate with the do-gooder friend who I believed had absconded with my rats.
The next day he called. They had gone to the women's home and looked around, but no rats were found. He believed they were involved, but there was nothing he could do.
On a mission, I scoured local animal shelters, contacted rat rescue organizations (yes, they do exist), and even hit the streets asking if anyone had seen anything.
There were rumors of a new fad. Local artists were turning up with pet rats all over town (18 I'm guessing), but I couldn't prove a thing and reluctantly gave up and headed west with empty cages in the trunk.
I didn't realize until that experience I had overcome one of the challenges of loving animals — in learning to accept that they eat each other.
If you want to know a secret, I bet I'll be one of the first to cheer when they invent a tofu-rat that really gets a snake excited.


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December 2008
Different Kinds of Loans
Charter schools can borrow money in one of two primary ways. The first is through a traditional loan and the second is through bond financing.* In both instances, without governmental or other intervention, financing costs for charter schools can be relatively high. A third, less common method charter schools have been able to use to obtain loans for their facilities is through a publicly funded loan program. This section discusses how some jurisdictions are attempting to make financing more affordable for charter schools.
Allowing Charter Schools to Indirectly Issue Bonds
Most states and Washington, D.C., attempt to make bond financing as affordable as possible for charter schools by allowing them to utilize public bonding authority, giving them the ability to directly or indirectly issue tax-exempt bonds (usually limited obligation or revenue, not general obligation, bonds). As public entities with taxing authority, local school districts have long had access to this low-cost financing mechanism. Those jurisdictions wishing to give the same opportunity to charter schools have done so by making it clear in statute that local government and other public finance authorities are empowered to issue tax-exempt bonds on behalf of charter schools. These are known as conduit issuers. In some instances, lawmakers have given this authority to existing governmental entities, such as public finance authorities; in others, they have created a new entity vested with the authority to issue bonds on behalf of charter schools. Either way, explicitly authorizing conduit issuers has been the most prevalent strategy thus far for allowing charter schools to borrow at a relatively affordable cost.
According to a 2007 study by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a nonprofit community-based development organization, about two-thirds of the states with charter school legislation, plus the District, have made charter schools eligible to access tax-exempt bonds through conduit issuers. Seventeen states have a statewide (or, in the case of the District, districtwide) conduit issuer that has issued tax-exempt municipal bonds to finance charter facilities.28 The ability of these organizations to issue tax-exempt bonds on behalf of charter schools lowers borrowing costs for the schools.
All conduit issuers charge fees for their services, although the services included and the mechanisms for calculating the fees vary. Their fees vary, too: Some conduits charge a fixed onetime amount, some charge annual fees that vary based on the size of the principal, some charge variable one-time fees, and still others charge both an initial fee and subsequent annual fees. These fees generally come on top of additional charges associated with any bond issuance (e.g., those from the underwriter with whom a conduit works to issue the bonds or from a legal or financial advisor [or, in some cases, both] who might be involved in the process). However, some conduits provide some of these services. A charter school seeking to finance its facilities through bonds also must be prepared to pay whatever interest rate lenders require. This rate is not set by the conduit issuer, but by the market, and is influenced by the school's creditworthiness.
Table 3 on page 21 lists state-authorized conduit issuers in four states—Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Texas—and a district-authorized conduit in Washington, D.C., which are among the most active nationwide in issuing tax-exempt bonds for charter schools. In some of these jurisdictions, charter schools also have access to local-level or countywide conduit issuers. But, based on the high level of tax-exempt bond offerings that these five conduits have issued on behalf of charter schools, each seems to be a predominant issuer in its jurisdiction. The role that each of these conduit issuers has played in the charter bond market in its respective area is discussed below.
Colorado. In 1998, Colorado became one of the first states to grant charter schools the ability to issue tax-exempt bonds through a public authority when the state legislature gave an existing conduit issuer, the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority (CECFA), the ability to issue bonds on behalf of charter schools.29 CECFA began issuing bonds for charters in 1999.
According to Jim Griffin, president of the Colorado League of Charter Schools (League), his members consider CECFA to be "a very capable, active, and helpful conduit financier." Although CECFA's fees were relatively high to begin with, he says, once it started doing a significant volume in charter bonds, it reduced its fees, and the costs to charter schools became reasonable. In recent years, the governing board of CECFA has voted to reduce its annual fees by 50 to 75 percent.
Bill Dougherty, a financial advisor to CECFA, says that, prior to expansion of the conduit's scope, the financing environment for charter facilities had been "predatory in nature." In the early- to mid-1990s, after the first Colorado charter school bill passed, new schools were forming without any established way for them to borrow capital. Dougherty characterizes it as a time when the "very few providers" (i.e., lenders, investors, and underwriters) were demanding "very high interest rates at onerous terms" on such financing options as commercial mortgage loans and taxable bonds. When charter schools started to push for less expensive ways to finance the capital they needed for facilities, the logical step was to give them access to CECFA and, through it, to tax-exempt bonds.
Gradually, according to both Dougherty and Jo Ann Soker, CECFA's executive director, as the charter school bond market has developed through the work of this conduit issuer, so, too, has the financial acumen of charter school operators in the state. One result is that some charter school operators secured investment-grade ratings for their bonds due to their school's strong fiscal operations. Because higher ratings allow schools to realize lower interest rates on their bonds, these schools can achieve lower ongoing financing costs.
Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency (MassDevelopment) is the Commonwealth's finance and development authority, legislated into existence for the purpose of providing businesses and local officials in distressed communities with financial and real estate tools and expertise to stimulate economic growth in the state. Helping to finance charter school facilities in these communities is intended to spur the state's economic growth by creating jobs (e.g., from building construction or renovation), as well as by supporting education. One of MassDevelopment's roles is acting as a conduit to issue tax-exempt bonds for charter schools. Once a charter school decides to seek bond funding for its facility, MassDevelopment guides the school through the process. In addition, its staff may advise school operators on related issues, such as real estate and building renovation, areas of expertise for the organization derived from its overall economic development charge. Marc Kenen, executive director of the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, says that, given the inherent complexity of issuing charter school bonds, having MassDevelopment facilitate the process is almost as important as its ability to issue the tax-exempt bonds. He adds that the charter community considers the agency to be especially helpful in pre-project planning; instances of this include guiding operators through the basic components involved in renovating a building (e.g., role of an appraiser, state requirements, environmental regulations) and helping school operators explore alternative financing, such as federally funded loans, for their projects.
Michigan. A major role of the Michigan Public Educational Facilities Authority (MPEFA or Authority), created in 2002, has been helping charter schools—known in Michigan as public school academies—to acquire tax-exempt bond financing. Since 2003, MPEFA has been an active conduit issuer for charter schools (see table 3 on p. 21) and, as of July 2008, it was working on an additional $88 million in bond deals for nine schools.
MPEFA financial manager Kathleen O'Keefe notes that this conduit issuer provides some benefits that commercial financiers cannot offer. For example, as will be detailed later in this section, MPEFA can intercept a charter school's per-pupil funding from the state, diverting it to pay bondholders directly, a service that makes the bonds more appealing to buyers because it decreases the risk that schools will pay their lenders late or not at all. In the same vein, she says, the Authority's close relationship with the Michigan Department of Education allows it to productively and quickly deal with "any hiccups in state aid payments" that otherwise might interfere with charter schools making timely payment on bond debt.*.
According to Dan Quisenberry, president of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA), one important aspect of MPEFA's work is that, by creating a "healthy infrastructure" for charter schools to seek bond funding, it has fueled the development of a bond-financing market in Michigan for charter schools. This has come about in part, Quisenberry says, because the conduit issuer's oversight on bond deals has given investors more comfort in buying charter school bonds.
Texas. In 2003, the Texas Public Finance Authority (TPFA)—a state agency that since 1984 has provided capital financing for state agencies and certain public institutions of higher education—established the Charter School Finance Corporation (CSFC) as a nonprofit corporation under Chapter 53 of the Texas Education Code.30 An amendment to the Texas Education Code enabled the authority to create the CSFC to issue bonds specifically for the acquisition, construction, repair, or renovation of facilities for open-enrollment charter schools.31 Other local conduit issuers in Texas also are able to issue bonds on behalf of charter schools and began doing so in 1999, with the first bond issue closing in early 2000.
Kim Edwards, executive director of the TPFA at the time this guide was researched, notes that in Texas school finance is decentralized. Among other things, this means that under state statute, there is no geographic restriction on local conduit issuers; so, for example, a school in Houston can have bonds issued by a conduit issuer located in Dallas. Thus, the state's charter schools can choose to work with any one of a variety of municipal conduits in addition to the TPFA. As of June 2008, TPFA had issued over $130 million in bonds for six schools, which constituted over 40 percent of the dollar amount of the state's bond issuances to date for charter school facilities. The bond issues handled by the TPFA have tended to be larger than those handled by local conduits; for example, there was a $35 million issue for KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) in Houston and a $37 million issue for IDEA Public Schools in various locations in the state. Edwards attributes these larger bond deals, in part, to the fact that the schools for which TPFA has issued bonds have tended to be larger and more established than others in the state, making them relatively more appealing investments.
Washington, D.C. The District of Columbia Home Rule Act authorizes the District to issue tax-exempt bonds for the acquisition, construction, and renovation of eligible capital projects that are owned by nonprofits, including charter schools.32 The District created the Revenue Bond Program, which is administered under the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. According to program director William A. Liggins, to qualify for the program, charter schools must receive tax approval and planning approval, if needed (e.g., zoning variance) from various agencies, as well as a memorandum of understanding from the District's charter school board. In addition to the relatively high volume of bond transactions the District had completed for charter schools as of December 2008 (as shown in table 3), five additional revenue bond issues worth $103.2 million were pending. Because the bonds issued through the program are tax-exempt, says Liggins, the longer-term bonds tend to have interest rates that are 2 to 3 percentage points lower than those on taxable bonds with the same term. In addition, he notes, his office has made an effort to expedite the issuing process; applications are generally reviewed, sent to various agencies for their approval, and voted on by the city council within 90 days—a relatively short time span, as it is not uncommon within the charter school bond world for it to take up to a year to structure and close charter school bond deals. Even when glitches come up, such as tax or zoning problems, Liggins says, they are usually resolved quickly and the deals are approved within 120 days.
Allowing Charter Schools to Directly Issue Bonds
Another way for state policymakers to provide charter schools with tax benefits aimed at alleviating the burden of facilities costs is to establish the legal framework for the schools to issue tax-exempt debt directly. By giving charter schools the power to issue bonds on their own behalf, rather than rely on conduit issuers, legislators could help schools further reduce their bond transaction costs.
Thus far, this policy alternative remains primarily a theoretical option. A recent development in Michigan, however, has opened the door to giving charter schools authority to directly issue their own tax-exempt bonds. Michigan's Revised School Code, Act 451 of 1976, provides the state's charter schools, known as public school academies, with statutory authority to issue bonds, as do traditional public schools. For many years, however, it was unclear whether the obligations of such schools could be issued directly on a tax-exempt basis.33
As part of its audit of Summit Academy North charter school in Romulus, Mich., the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) confirmed in a 2006 technical advice memorandum (TAM) that "a public school academy [i.e., charter school] is permitted to borrow money and issue taxexempt bonds." 34 An attorney commenting in the Bond Buyer about this IRS memorandum speculated that the ruling could be a helpful for charter schools across the country, given that many states have similar laws establishing that charter schools are public schools and, further, that they have the authority to issue bonds. 35
The IRS became interested in these issues because of a legal opinion accompanying a lease-purchase agreement that Summit Academy North entered into with Ohio-based Park National Bank in 1998. The opinion, written by the law firm counseling the academy, indicated that interest payments on the debt were tax-exempt because the academy was a "political subdivision" of the state.36 While the TAM concluded that the academy was not a political subdivision of the state, it also concluded that, as a public school and as structured under its particular charter agreement (which was granted by a Michigan university), the academy was carrying out governmental functions as an extension of the state and, therefore, should be able to issue tax-exempt bonds.37
Since this 2006 IRS decision, the state of Michigan has not tracked how many other charter schools have taken advantage of the ability to issue tax-exempt debt directly. Nor is it clear how broadly applicable the TAM might be beyond the particular facts and circumstances of this case. MAPSA's Quisenberry says his impression is that a few other charter school operators have issued debt in this fashion and that, among charter school operators, it is considered a welcome alternative but probably not a far-reaching solution to the facilities-funding challenge. Simply because charter schools have the legal right to issue tax-exempt debt themselves, he says, does not mean that the market will allow all schools to do so. He suggests that for charter schools that are considered a high risk, such as those in the start-up phase, issuing through a conduit may give potential investors an added layer of security.
Compensating Investors With Tax Credits in Lieu of Interest
As an incentive to invest in charter schools, state policymakers can make federal tax breaks available to investors. This option is intended to accomplish the same policy objective as taxexempt financing by creating opportunities for charter schools to obtain more favorable financing terms.39 Several states have moved to make charter schools eligible to participate in their state's allocation of Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) tax credits.40
The federally sponsored QZAB program allows public schools (including charter schools) to issue the tax-credit bonds if the school is located in an empowerment zone or enterprise community or is serving a population in which 35 percent or more of its students are qualified to receive free or reduced-price lunch. In addition, to qualify for QZAB allocations, a school or district is required to raise a contribution from private business equal to at least 10 percent of the proceeds from the bond issue. Proceeds from QZABs may not be used for construction of new facilities, but can be used for a variety of other school-related needs, including rehabilitation or repair of facilities. Investors earn tax credits, which make them willing to accept lower interest payments, thus reducing the cost of borrowing for charter schools.
Congress has authorized $400 million for the QZAB program each year since 1998, parceling out allocations of QZAB tax credits to states and territories based on the percentage of their population living below the poverty line.41 States have the authority to determine whether to allocate some portion of their QZAB allocation to charter schools, as well as to determine the amount of that allocation, if any.42
The QZAB program was conceived largely as a way of subsidizing school renovations in low-income communities by allowing schools to shift the interest payments on their financing from the borrower (i.e., the school) to the federal government. QZABs differ from tax-exempt bonds, for which the borrower pays interest, albeit at a relatively lower rate, since the investor does not have to pay tax on QZAB earnings. The U.S. Department of Treasury is supposed to set a tax credit rate on QZABs so that, on average, school districts that use the program will pay no interest. For example, investors might need to receive tax credits at the same rate they receive interest on corporate bonds with an "A" rating (e.g., 8 percent) in order for the investors to require no interest. Under this scenario, the Treasury would use the interest rate of A-rated corporate bonds as the rate at which it would provide tax credits on QZABs. For every dollar investors held in QZABs, therefore, they would receive 8 cents a year in tax credits until the bond matured. As a general rule, QZABs cut the cost of financing by half, according to an estimate in a 2004 Education Evolving report.43
According to a 2007 study by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), which provides a catalog of financing options available for charter school facilities nationally, only 24 of the 41 jurisdictions with charter legislation expressly make charter schools eligible to participate in their QZAB programs, with four more having no explicit prohibition against charter schools' participation.44 The LISC report also found that, as of 2007, charter schools in several jurisdictions (Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin, and the District) had issued QZABs. Among the jurisdictions featured in this guide, five have issued QZABs to charter schools—Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and the District. These five jurisdictions are among the most active nationwide in allocating QZAB credits to charter schools.
As of August 2008, approximately $3.5 million in QZAB credits had been allocated to Arizona charter schools according to Steven Race, chief financial officer at the Arizona Department of Education, which administers the state's allocation of QZAB credits. All public schools, including traditional and charter schools, that meet the federal eligibility criteria may apply to participate in the state's QZAB program. Arizona's QZAB credits are allocated to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
California charter schools may apply to participate in the state's QZAB program either directly or through their authorizing districts.45 California Department of Education (CDE) staff are charged with reviewing and awarding QZAB applications. They score project proposals based on the clarity and strength of required application elements (e.g., descriptions of the pledged contributions from private business). The application process and eligibility requirements are the same for charter schools as they are for traditional public school districts, except that a charter school applying separately from its authorizing district must inform and solicit support from its authorizer. According to Shannon Farrell-Hart, education fiscal services consultant in the CDE's School Facilities Planning Division, as of August 2008, the state had allocated $14 million in QZAB credits for charter schools, with another $2.5 million pending and expected to close later in the year.
Qualified public schools in Massachusetts, including charters, are eligible to participate in the state's QZAB program on a first-come, firstserved basis, according to Cliff Chuang, coordinator of Charter School Research and Finance at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which helps administer the program and allocate the state's QZAB credits. Chuang reports that since 1998 $33.6 million, representing 83 percent of the state's total QZAB allocations, has been issued on behalf of seven charter schools, with MassDevelopment serving as the conduit issuer for most of the QZAB deals.
However, there has never been an over-demand for QZAB allocations in the state because they entail complicated financial transactions and strict eligibility requirements, says Chuang, adding, "You can't go into this without sophisticated financial expertise. Then you need to have a consultant who really knows what he or she is doing, somebody who has studied [QZABs]." The need for this level of technical expertise means that schools must hire private consultants, resulting in higher transaction costs. Charter schools that have applied for QZABs have tended to be the state's larger, more established operators, according to the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association's Marc Kenen.
In Michigan, as of August 2008, the state had allocated about $3.7 million in QZAB credits for charter schools (or "public school academies" as they are known in the state), according to Andy DeYoung, an analyst in the Office of Grants Coordination and School Support at the Michigan Department of Education, which administers the state's QZAB program. As in Arizona and Massachusetts, all public schools in Michigan that meet the federal qualifications, including charter schools, are eligible to receive QZAB allocations on a first-come, first-served basis.
Charter schools are eligible to participate in the District's QZAB program as well. As of August 2008, the District had allocated $4.9 million in QZAB credits for charter schools, according to Liggins from the District's Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. Staff of this office are responsible for reviewing QZAB applications in the District and determining which of these will be presented to the city council for approval. Criteria used to evaluate applications include many considerations, such as the specific school improvements proposed, the level of need for physical improvements at each school applying, and the level of economic development in the area where the school is located. In addition, approval of QZAB applications submitted by charter schools takes into account whether the schools are in good standing with their chartering authorizers. Echoing Chuang's concerns about the difficulty of accessing QZAB funds, Liggins also notes that because of the complexity of the QZAB rules and regulations, it is challenging for charter schools to satisfy all of the associated credit requirements.
Additionally, Congress adopted the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, imposing restrictions on QZABs. This statute subjects QZAB issuers to the same arbitrage regulations as those that apply to tax-exempt bonds.46 In this context, arbitrage is profiting by borrowing at one interest rate, then investing the borrowed funds to earn a higher interest rate. While some say that investor interest in QZABs has declined in recent years due to overall market conditions, respondents from California, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., report that the new requirements have lessened the appeal of QZABs for investors and issuers alike.
In fact, Liggins suggests that by adding tax constraints that reduce the total amount of money that can be issued to schools, the new restrictions are at odds with the overall goal of the QZAB program, which is to give significantly lower-cost financing to qualifying schools. Whatever the reason, fewer QZAB deals have been packaged in the District recently, and Liggins anticipates that there will probably be an even greater slowdown in the future. Likewise, Rebecca Sullivan of MassDevelopment says her state has not used many QZAB allocations since these changes took effect. Chuang quantifies that observation, noting that prior to the arbitrage rule change Massachusetts used "every penny" of its QZAB allocations, but that as of spring 2008 the state had yet to give away over $13 million, the full amount of the state's 2006 and 2007 allocations. These allocations are due to expire in 2008 and 2009, respectively; meanwhile a $10-million deal for a Boston charter school is pending and expected to close before the end of 2008. Farrell-Hart of CDE makes a similar point to Chuang, stating that the arbitrage changes mean that QZABs are no longer "as good a deal for investors." She adds that, as of summer 2008, California had $48.6 million remaining from the $98 million awarded to the state in QZAB allocations for 2006 and 2007; as in Massachusetts, these allocations also are set to expire in 2008 and 2009.
Enabling Direct Loans for Charter School Facilities
As discussed above, the relatively low-cost finance options that states and Washington, D.C., have made available for charter school facilities has tended to relate to some form of bond financing. Another option for helping charter schools cover their capital expenses is to offer direct loans of public funds for this purpose. The District is the only jurisdiction interviewed for this project that has a dedicated loan fund for charter school facilities support. Established in 2003, the District's Direct Loan Fund for Public Charter School Improvement program provides flexible loan funds for the purchase, renovation, construction, and maintenance of charter school facilities, whether a school chooses to lease or own its site. As of the close of 2007, the District had obligated over $14 million in these direct loan funds, with approximately $12 million more available. According to Liggins from the District's Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, schools can receive up to $2 million in these loan funds at a relatively low interest rate (ranging from 2 to 4 percent over the life of the program thus far).
*Readers who are unfamiliar with the fundamentals of bond financing can find a very basic overview in the box on p.19 entitled, "Basic Bond Concepts and Terminology."


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