text:
This series of articles by David Mertz assumes readers have a familiarity with basic object-oriented programming concepts: inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism. We pick up where the basics leave off; how some "exotic" techniques can make applied programming tasks easier, more maintainable, and just plain more elegant. This series will primarily present examples in Python, but the concepts apply to other programming languages too.
This first installment examines metaclasses. Just as ordinary
instances (objects) are built out of classes, classes themselves are built out
of metaclasses. Most of the time, you do not need to worry about the implicit
metaclass (named
type in Python) that is used in class
construction, but occasionally, deliberate control of a class' metaclass can
produce powerful effects. For example, metaclasses allow "aspect oriented
programming," meaning you can enhance classes with features like tracing
capabilities, object persistence, exception logging, and more.
Related Reading
Python in a Nutshell
In general principles, OOP works the same way across many programming
languages, modulo minor syntax differences. In an object-oriented programming
language, you can define classes that bundle together related data
and behavior. These classes can inherit some or all of their qualities from
their parents, but can also define attributes (data) or methods
(behavior) of their own. Classes generally act as templates for the creation of
instances (or simply objects). Different instances of the
same class typically have different data but share the same "shape"--e.g.,
Employee objects
bob and
jane both
have a
.salary and a
.room_number, but not the same
room and salary as each other.
In Python (and other languages), classes are themselves objects that can be passed around and introspected. Just as regular classes act as templates for producing instances, metaclasses act as templates for producing classes.
Python has always had metaclasses. The metaclass machinery became exposed much better with Python 2.2. Specifically, with version 2.2, Python stopped
being a language with just one special (mostly hidden) metaclass that created
every class object. Now, programmers can subclass the built-in metaclass
type and even dynamically generate classes with varying
You do not need to use custom metaclasses to manipulate the production of classes, however. A slightly less brain-melting concept is a class factory. An ordinary function can return a class that is dynamically created within the function body. In traditional Python syntax, you can write the following.
Python 1.5.2 (#0, Jun 27 1999, 11:23:01) [...]
Copyright 1991-1995 Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam
>>> def class_with_method(func):
... class klass: pass
... setattr(klass, func.__name__, func)
... return klass
>>> def say_foo(self): print 'foo'
>>> Foo = class_with_method(say_foo)
>>> foo = Foo()
>>> foo.say_foo()
The factory function
class_with_method() dynamically creates
and returns a class that contains the method/function passed into the factory.
The class itself is manipulated within the function body before being returned.
new module provides a more concise spelling,
but without the same options for custom code within the body of the class
>>> from new import classobj
>>> Foo2 = classobj('Foo2',(Foo,),{'bar':lambda self:'bar'})
>>> Foo2().bar()
>>> Foo2().say_foo()
In all of these cases, the behaviors of the class (
Foo2) are not directly written as code, but are instead created by
calling functions at runtime, with dynamic arguments. Not only are the
instances dynamically created, so are the classes themselves.
Methods (i.e., of classes), like plain functions, can return objects. In
that sense, it is obvious that class factories can be classes just as easily as
they can be functions. In particular, Python 2.2+ provides a special class
type that is just such a class factory. The new class
type is backwards-compatible with the older function of the same
name, by the way. The class
type works as a class factory in the
same way that the function
new.classobj does:
type as a class factory metaclass
>>> X = type('X',(),{'foo':lambda self:'foo'})
>>> X, X().foo()
(<class '__main__.X'>, 'foo')
type is now a (meta)class, you are free to subclass it:
type descendent as class factory
>>> class ChattyType(type):
... def __new__(cls, name, bases, dct):
... print "Allocating memory for class", name
... return type.__new__(cls, name, bases, dct)
... def __init__(cls, name, bases, dct):
... print "Init'ing (configuring) class", name
... super(ChattyType, cls).__init__(name, bases, dct)
>>> X = ChattyType('X',(),{'foo':lambda self:'foo'})
Allocating memory for class X
Init'ing (configuring) class X
>>> X, X().foo()
(<class '__main__.X'>, 'foo')
The magic methods
.__new__() and
.__init__() are
special, but in conceptually the same way that they are for any other class. The
.__init__() method lets you configure the created object and the
.__new__() method lets you customize its allocation. The latter is
not widely overridden, but does exist for every Python 2.2 new-style class.
There is one feature of
type descendents to be careful about;
it catches everyone who first plays with metaclasses. The first argument to
methods is conventionally called
cls rather than
self, because the methods operate on the produced class,
not the metaclass. Actually, there is nothing special about this. All methods
attach to their instances, and the instance of a metaclass is a class. A
better name makes this more obvious:
>>> class Printable(type):
... def whoami(cls): print "I am a", cls.__name__
>>> Foo = Printable('Foo',(),{})
>>> Foo.whoami()
I am a Foo
>>> Printable.whoami()
Traceback (most recent call last):
TypeError: unbound method whoami() [...]
All of this surprisingly non-remarkable machinery comes with some syntax sugar
that both makes working with metaclasses easier and confuses new users. There
are several elements to the extra syntax. The resolution order of these new
variations is tricky though. Classes can inherit metaclasses from their
ancestors--notice that this is not the same thing as
having metaclasses as ancestors (another common confusion). For
old-style classes, defining a global
__metaclass__ variable can
force a custom metaclass to be used. Most of the time, the safest approach is
to set a
__metaclass__ class attribute for a class that wants to
be created via a custom metaclass. You must set the variable in the class
definition itself, since the metaclass is not used if the attribute is set later
(after the class object has already been created). For example:
>>> class Bar:
... __metaclass__ = Printable
... def foomethod(self): print 'foo'
>>> Bar.whoami()
I am a Bar
>>> Bar().foomethod()
So far, we have seen the basics of metaclasses. Putting them to work is more subtle. The challenge of using metaclasses is that in typical OOP design, classes do not really do much. Class inheritance structures encapsulate and package data and methods, but one typically works with instances in the concrete.
There are two general categories of programming tasks where I think metaclasses are genuinely valuable.
The first, and probably more common, category is where you do not know at design time exactly what a class needs to do. Obviously, you will have some idea about it, but some particular detail might depend on information that will not be available until later. "Later" itself can be of two sorts: a), when a library module is used by an application, and b), at runtime when some situation exists. This category is close to what is often called "Aspect Oriented Programming" (AOP). Let me show an elegant example:
% cat dump.py
import sys
if len(sys.argv) > 2:
module, metaklass = sys.argv[1:3]
m = __import__(module, globals(), locals(), [metaklass])
__metaclass__ = getattr(m, metaklass)
class Data:
def __init__(self):
self.num = 38
self.lst = ['a','b','c']
self.str = 'spam'
dumps = lambda self: `self`
__str__ = lambda self: self.dumps()
data = Data()
print data
% dump.py
<__main__.Data instance at 1686a0>
As you would expect, this application prints out a rather generic
description of the
data object (a conventional instance). We get
a rather different result by passing runtime arguments to the
% dump.py gnosis.magic MetaXMLPickler
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE PyObject SYSTEM "PyObjects.dtd">
<PyObject module="__main__" class="Data" id="720748">
<attr name="lst" type="list" id="980012" >
<item type="string" value="a" />
<item type="string" value="b" />
<item type="string" value="c" />
<attr name="num" type="numeric" value="38" />
<attr name="str" type="string" value="spam" />
The particular example uses the serialization style of
gnosis.xml.pickle, but the most current
package also contains the metaclass serializers
MetaPyPickler, and
MetaPrettyPrint. Moreover, a user of
dump.py "application" can impose the use of any "MetaPickler"
she wishes, from any Python package that defines one. Writing an appropriate
metaclass for this purpose will look something like this:
class MetaPickler(type):
"Metaclass for gnosis.xml.pickle serialization"
def __init__(cls, name, bases, dict):
from gnosis.xml.pickle import dumps
super(MetaPickler, cls).__init__(name, bases, dict)
setattr(cls, 'dumps', dumps)
The remarkable achievement of this arrangement is that the application programmer need have no knowledge about what serialization will be used--nor even whether serialization or some other cross-sectional capability will be added at the command line.
Perhaps the most common use of metaclasses is similar to that of
MetaPicklers: adding, deleting, renaming, or substituting methods for those
defined in the produced class. In our example, a "native"
Data.dump() method is replaced by a different one from outside of the
application, at the time the class
Data is created (and therefore,
in every subsequent instance).
A useful book on metaclasses is Putting Metaclasses to Work, by Ira R. Forman, Scott Danforth, Addison-Wesley 1999 (ISBN 0201433052).
For metaclasses in Python specifically, Guido van Rossum's essay, " Unifying types and classes in Python 2.2," is useful.
My Gnosis Utilities package contains functions to make working with metaclasses easier and more powerful.
David Mertz , being a sort of Foucauldian Berkeley, believes, esse est denunte.
Return to Python DevCenter.
Copyright © 2009 O'Reilly Media, Inc.


text:
This year Bee County and area residents are blessed with daily reminders of God's majesty thanks to the abundance of green pastures and fields of colorful wildflowers, especially after years of drought in which they were absent.
In the last issue of this newspaper, our Experience South Texas spring 2012 section provided calendars of upcoming events and a myriad of suggestions for newcomers and visitors to sample in this vast five-county region, from fishing and festivals to concerts and art exhibits.
Easter Sunday, the most glorious day of the year for believers, is almost here.
In today's issue, we are pleased to present our He Is Risen special section, offering inspiring messages from some of our area's pastors and a listing of Holy Week services in many houses of worship.
Whether one is Catholic or Baptist, Lutheran or Pentecostal, a reader (and family) should be able to find something to pique one's interest in order to return to church and give thanks for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
For many persons, now is a time of transition – whether beginning a new job in the Eagle Ford, graduating from high school or earning a college degree, starting out as newlyweds, giving birth to a new son or daughter, or losing a loved one to cancer.
Whatever one's circumstance, now is the time to speak with God and tell Him how much He is loved and trusted. He will understand because He has experienced our doubts, temptations, suffering and pain. One thing's for certain: We always have a friend in Jesus.
God bless all of you during this Holy Week.

subset: commoncrawl


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Celtics have 8 more three point attemps than us...maybe MDA get the picture now..
My question is: why aren't we playing Amare more?
This is what would happen if Pierce played Pierce hard at the 3-line:
Here's what happened if Pierce tried to drive on him:
Nuff Said. I'd rather Pierce chuck a 3 with a hand in his face.
Last edited by rady; Feb 04, 2012 at 03:33.
I like how we playing now...screw the three ball..this is our game


text:
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text:
Many books have been written about the effect our thought patterns have, on our relationships, our finances, how we perceive the world and on our own identity. Dysfunctional thinking leads to undesirable outcomes. Effective thinking leads to success.
I think this is a basic truth few would argue. It's also tragically overlooked.
I'd like to share three of my favorite mind hacks. Using these should help you think through problems better and ultimately lead you to more desirable outcomes. You can call these three hacks The Good Question, The Bad Version and The Top Idea.
The Good Question
The Good Question technique is based on the article The Dangerous Art of the Right Question by Venkat Rao. Venkat explores ways of asking more effective questions, and avoiding easy, useless questions we often settle on.
Good questions, Venkat suggests, are "motivated by the specific situation at hand". Good questions contain insider information. If your question seems too broad and general, peel away the few layers of generality – just as you would ripened jackfruit. With some drilling down you'll get the sweet core of the issue.
I also suggest good questions are forward thinking and solution-based (a minor deviation from Venkat's method).
An example of an (arguably) unproductive question, and one I myself am guilty of asking would be "why do I find most meetings so painful to sit through?". Another example of a bad question would be "what is the cause of my social anxiety disorder."
Both questions look backwards and focus on the problem, not the solution. They're also too general.
Better versions of these questions would be "Is patience a virtue I'm lacking, and would attending these meetings help me be more patient?" and "Is the 30 Day Rejection Therapy Challenge something I should attempt to combat my social anxiety disorder?"
In both amended questions, there is a proposed solution embedded within the question. To do this, you'll need to create a pool of understanding, or in other words, gather up whatever existing knowledge you have on the subject first.
Formulating the right question takes longer, but it will get you to your answer, faster.
[ Article continues after the jump.]
Push your comfort zone with CLASSIC EDITION
Buy Rejection Therapy Classic at The Game Crafters for $15.99
The Bad Version
The second thought hack we'll discuss is The Bad Version, but it's not bad like it sounds. It's actually a fun mental exercise used by television writers to fix broken storylines. I learned of this thought hack from an article by 'Dilbert' creator Scott Adams.
Here's how it works: Instead of trying to create a perfect plot fix, script writers will conjure up ridiculous and implausible ideas and work from there.
From the article:
If your character is stuck on an island, the bad version of his escape might involve monkeys crafting a helicopter out of palm fronds and coconuts. That story idea is obviously bad, but it might stimulate you to think in terms of other engineering solutions, or other monkey-related solutions. The first step in thinking of an idea that will work is to stop fixating on ideas that won't. The bad version of an idea moves your mind to a new vantage point.
A variation on The Bad Version is to imagine the worst case scenario for a given situation. To borrow the social anxiety theme from The Good Question, you might ask: "What is the absolute worst thing that can happen to me if I ask Bonnie to the dance on Friday?"
When you answer that question, envision the absolute most devastating situation that could occur as result of your asking. Now go beyond that. You may find that psyching yourself up for such a traumatic [fictional] outcome makes the actual event of asking seem almost non-eventful. Boring even.
It's like being mentally and physically ready to bench press 500 lbs, but you only lift 135 lbs. The weight will seem lighter than ever.
Maybe my spin on The Bad Version should be called The Power of Overestimation. Whatever you want to call it, it can smash mental plateaus like few other techniques I've tried.
The Top Idea
The third thought hack was conceived by programmer, venture capitalist and author Paul Graham. One of his most profound essays is The Top Idea in Your Mind.
Paul Graham explains:
I think most people have one top idea in their mind at any given time. That's the idea their thoughts will drift toward when they're allowed to drift freely. And this idea will thus tend to get all the benefit of that type of thinking, while others are starved of it. Which means it's a disaster to let the wrong idea become the top one in your mind.
The top idea in your mind is the one your subconscious will spend CPU cycles on when you sleep at night. That's why "never go to bed angry" is such good advice, and why it's a disaster to let the wrong idea become the top one in your mind.
If your top idea is bad, resolve the issue. If that's not possible, do whatever you can to de-prioritize it in your mind. A bold act of love or service to another might be a way to dethrone a negative top idea and exalt a positive one.
Graham suggests forgiveness as a potent strategy for clearing the mind of negative debris so you can make room for a a new top idea.
Not know for sure what the top idea in your mind is? Graham has an easy way to find out: Take a shower. Whatever topic your thoughts keep returning to, that is your top idea.
It's the idea that will lead you to success or something else.


text:
My preemie son was born at 31 weeks at 2lbs 15oz. He is now 6 weeks old and the doc is happy with his weight gain, but what I want to know is, how soon can I begin breastfeeding exclusively? (When discharged, I was "allowed" to breastfeed once a day and give fortified breastmilk for his other feedings). I asked my doctor but he told me to continue this routine to not stress out the baby. I want to respect his call, but it seems like my baby is beginning to prefer bottle over breast, and I want baby to get used to more breast time.
In the beginning, I used to be able to pump 5-7oz of milk at each session, nowadays I'm lucky to get 2oz of milk. I've been having trouble with clogged ducts, which is probably why my supply is decreasing. plus the fact that I have two older kids and a husband who's job takes him away 1/2 the week - who has time to get enough rest for an adequate milk supply?
I want to begin breastfeeding exclusively so I can stop pumping and *hopefully* end my clogged duct problem. Is it okay to stop offering fortified bottles now that my baby is home and growing well?


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Home List of Titles The 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey: power-spectrum analysis of the final data set and cosmological implications
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/42316
|Download PDF (Author's final draft) (Adobe Acrobat PDF, -1 bytes)
- Title
- The 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey: power-spectrum analysis of the final data set and cosmological implications
- Author(s)
- Cole, Shaun; Percival, Will; Peacock, John A.; Norberg, Peder; Baugh, Carlton; Frenk, Carlos S.; Baldry, Ivan K.; Bland-Hawthorn, Joss; Bridges, Terry J.; Cannon, Russell D.; Colless, Matthew; Collins, Chris A.; Couch, Warrick J.; Cross, Nicholas J. G.; Dalton, Gavin B.; Eke, Vincent R.; De Propris, Roberto; Driver, Simon P.; Efstathiou, George P.; Ellis, Richard S.; Glazebrook, Karl; Jackson, C. A.; Jenkins, Adrian R.; Lahav, Ofer; Lewis, Ian; Lumsden, Stuart L.; Maddox, Stephen J.; Madgwick, Darren; Peterson, Bruce A.; Sutherland, William J.; Taylor, Keith
- Abstract
- We present a power-spectrum analysis of the final 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS), employing a direct Fourier method. The sample used comprises 221 414 galaxies with measured redshifts. We investigate in detail the modelling of the sample selection, improving on previous treatments in a number of respects. A new angular mask is derived, based on revisions to the photometric calibration. The redshift selection function is determined by dividing the survey according to rest-frame colour, and deducing a self-consistent treatment of k-corrections and evolution for each population. The covariance matrix for the power-spectrum estimates is determined using two different approaches to the construction of mock surveys, which are used to demonstrate that the input cosmological model can be correctly recovered. We discuss in detail the possible differences between the galaxy and mass power spectra, and treat these using simulations, analytic models and a hybrid empirical approach. Based on these investigations, we are confident that the 2dFGRS power spectrum can be used to infer the matter content of the universe. On large scales, our estimated power spectrum shows evidence for the 'baryon oscillations' that are predicted in cold dark matter (CDM) models. Fitting to a CDM model, assuming a primordial ns= 1 spectrum, h= 0.72 and negligible neutrino mass, the preferred parameters are Ωmh= 0.168 ± 0.016 and a baryon fraction Ωb/Ωm= 0.185 ± 0.046 (1σ errors). The value of Ωmh is 1σ lower than the 0.20 ± 0.03 in our 2001 analysis of the partially complete 2dFGRS. This shift is largely due to the signal from the newly sampled regions of space, rather than the refinements in the treatment of observational selection. This analysis therefore implies a density significantly below the standard Ωm= 0.3 : in combination with cosmic microwave background (CMB) data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), we infer Ωm= 0.231 ± 0.021 .
- Publication type
- Journal article
- Source
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 362, no. 2 (Sep 2005), pp. 505-534
- Publication year
- 2005
- Keyword(s)
- Cold dark-matter; Cosmological parameters; Density-fluctuations; Digital sky survey; ESO imaging survey; Expanding universe; Halo model; Large-scale structure; Luminosity functions; N-body; Probe WMAP observations; Real-space; Simulations; Universe
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
- 0035-8711
- Publisher URL
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2005 RAS.
- Full text
- Peer reviewed


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After a four-and-a-half-month winterization process, the historic theater thatŌĆÖs long catered to summer residents is now opening its doors in the winter for the first time. The auditorium is hosting the movies Thursday through Saturday, two shows per day, in the off season ŌĆō theyŌĆÖll cut back to two nights a week when plays ramp back up in the summer ŌĆō and though thereŌĆÖs only the one screen, theyŌĆÖve gone whole hog to make it a state-of-the-art experience. For $8 a person, a 35-foot separated screen, 7.1 Dolby digital surround sound and a fully digital projector will transport theatergoers into the world of a new star-studded production every week.
Instead of adopting the lower cost method of many community and dollar theaters and screening older releases, the theater went for the big fish, showing new and recent releases from a variety of studios. They drew crowds for the Tom Hanks blockbuster ŌĆ£Captain Phillips.ŌĆØ The theater also opened ŌĆ£The Hunger Games: Catching FireŌĆØ simultaneously with thousands of theaters across the country. ŌĆ£Last VegasŌĆØ premiered in Highlands just two and a half weeks after it was released.
The process of picking their films is a little arduous; each film has to be voted on by the PlayhouseŌĆÖs board, and then negotiations must be undertaken for film rights with each studio individually. But Tammy Hernandez, the theaterŌĆÖs managing director, says theyŌĆÖre trying to maintain a good mix of films, from the big names to the lesser known but still interesting movies.
ŌĆ£WeŌĆÖre going to try and mix it up a little bit. We want to appeal to everyone, but especially the people who are here year-round and donŌĆÖt have anything to do,ŌĆØ says Hernandez. ŌĆ£We donŌĆÖt want them to come here and say there isnŌĆÖt anything to do except shop.ŌĆØ
TheyŌĆÖve hired a few new folks to help with the increased workload, and though the winterization was expensive, the endeavor is so popular itŌĆÖs already starting to pay for itself.
ŌĆ£WeŌĆÖre actually sustaining right now with the money that weŌĆÖre making,ŌĆØ says Hernandez. ŌĆ£In previous years, weŌĆÖve struggled to make ends meet for the actual program in the summer, but this is giving us some money, some income during the slow time to help us possibly bring on even a better season.ŌĆØ


text:
"One night for her birthday we ended up at a family's friend's house and we were playing Taboo all night long and laughing and joking," he says. "She has this way of telling stories that will crack you up, and remembering things that you have forgotten that will have you in stitches.
"She had really learned in life not to take herself too seriously."
Canady says people have written rules for Bernice King that they're not willing to follow themselves: She's not allowed to make mistakes; she's not allowed to be different from her parents.
"She is not Martin or Coretta Scott King. She is her own person," says Canady.
In her 1997 book, "Hard Questions, Heart Answers," King wrote:
"I remember someone telling me when I was a teenager, 'It's better to be alone and be yourself than to be in a crowd and be someone else.'"
As she assumes a more public role, Bernice King seems to be finding a way to be herself, even when she is surrounded by a crowd.
Maybe now she is finally hitting her stride.


text:
Good afternoon,
At face value the compromise on a Department of Education announced by Senate President Emil Jones, Senator Miguel Del Valle and Governor Rod Blagojevich satisfies the requirement to maintain a State Board of Education set forth in the Constitution. But it still guts the intent that the board be comprised of a non-partisan body of people who will be an independent entity of the Governor.
Just this week - the Governor admitted that an effort to reconstitute the board would be "ripe for politics and gridlock and more bureaucratic morass, not less, and no accountability."
Then his tune changed.
Suddenly the board concept equates to accountability?
The at-will language regarding board appointments that allows the Governor to fire and hire members at his pleasure ensures that an independent thinker – a person who might actually put children and our schools' needs above political agendas – would surely be a short-termer.
As the board and I remarked back in January, this Governor's plan for education is not about improving our schools, about driving achievement, about increasing student performance, this is about control of the system.
Clearly, this is about politics.
This new "accountable board" I suspect is exactly the politically right type of accountability that he desires. And, I suppose it also provides the right type of political cover so that when we don't see test scores improve, he can just point his finger at his board and then dispose of them. Or an even more frightening thought, is that with a few changes to formulaic definitions, suddenly we have the illusion that there is more money going to the classroom, fewer schools in financial duress and less schools in corrective action.
Again – this is not about accountability – this is about control.
Two crystal clear examples of this include the proposed demise of the Public Information and the Legal Departments. Our legal department has saved the state countless dollars by ending outside contracts and keeping legal matters in house. Our attorneys on a daily basis advise local school board members, parents, superintendents and administrators on legal issues important to them. Their answers always reflect the law. Our Public Information Department provides similar assistance beyond answering the dozens of calls from the press daily, they also field thousands of calls monthly from parents and administrators and route them to the area where there answer can best be found; they direct them to resources available on the ISBE web site; they make everything that the State Board does available through the web site; they readily make resources available from ISBE on the web site; they save the state hundreds of thousands of dollars by producing educational CD-ROMs; and they promote our quality programs and teachers.
Wipe both those divisions out and the ultimate result is that the public will no longer receive straight answers only programmed answers reflecting the Governor's message.
My concern, and one echoed by several board members, is that there will be limitless boundaries for his control as it may affect local districts. And, while that will surely undermine Illinois choice to have a local control state, no one will know about it, because his appointees will not speak contrary to the Governor, and local school districts will likely be quieted for fear of losing the little amount of state funds that they receive.
I still believe in the board structure – and I reiterate that, at face value, this plan appears to maintain it. But any continuity through the appointment of members, any independence placed with the board, any ability of a state superintendent to truly advocate for the needs and wants of districts are surely absent in this plan.
People criticize education
for being too bureaucratic and encourage the concept that it be run like a
business. Well, anyone knows that a corporate board of directors is a group of
people from the outside who are independent of the Chief Executive Officer,
appointed to provide independence and oversight: This plan is certainly contrary
to that.
All of us are certainly pressed with the decision of how we want education governed in this state. I believe we want something better than this plan and there are plenty of people on both sides of the fence.
The legislature repeatedly through this session has done a remarkable job of discussing this issue and members have succinctly and impressively articulated your concerns. I would hope that at this hour, with just a few weeks to go, you read through the proposed amendment and contact your legislator to again give them the input that they need in making the best decision for your district and our state.
Robert Schiller
State Superintendent
of Education
Also included in today's message:
New Expenditure Threshold for OMB Circular A-133 Audits
The federal Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) has implemented revised standards for audits
of state and local governments under Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and
Non-Profit Organizations.
OMB has raised the federal expenditure threshold that determines
eligibility for sub-recipient (school administrative unit) A-133 audits from
$300,000 to $500,000 effective for fiscal years that end after
FY 2004 State & Federal Grant Amendments and Project Extension Requests
Many state and federal
grant projects are approaching a June 30 end date for obligating FY 2004 grant
funds. Please be aware that per
ISBE fiscal policy, all state and federal project end date extension requests
and final budget amendments must be received in the agency no later than 30
calendar days prior to the end date of the project. However, due to the fact that the May 30
due date falls on a weekend, ISBE will honor requests through the end of
business on
Check The Mail –
The FY 05 Reading
Improvement Block Grant Application will be mailed to school districts
today. The application has a
submission due date of
Elementary district, unit district, charter schools and elementary lab schools providing instruction in grades k-6 are eligible. Because funds are limited to kindergarten through sixth grade, high school districts are NOT eligible.
We encourage district personnel to read the documents carefully in order to complete their submission in a timely and accurate manner. Included with application are a handbook and a Q & A document. While there are no additions to the rules that apply to the grant this year, it is important to read the application and performance reporting responsibilities carefully.
Several school districts actually forfeited funds by not completing the required performance report. The fall disbursement of the grant is contingent on receipt of the performance report and demonstration of progress. More information on ways to prevent this and meet this requirement can be found in the handbook.
We hope the handbook will help rectify this situation in FY05, and that this will prevent any schools from forfeiting funds or help us to quickly redistribute the money to eligible schools.
We will also be including projected allocations with the application, but the final allocations will be based on legislative appropriation. We will notify each district in writing of its final allocation.
For assistance in completing the FY05 Reading Improvement Block Grant application, or for any questions related to the Reading Improvement Block Grant, please call the Curriculum and Instruction Division, 217/557-7323.
Legislative Update
The following bills passed both chambers of the legislature last week and will be sent to the Governor for final action:
SB2769 is designed to ensure that every student takes the Prairie State Achievement Examination prior to receiving a high school diploma.
SB2918 creates a new graduation incentive program. It increases the compulsory school age to 17 (with exceptions) and creates incentives for school districts to recover dropouts. The proposal also provides possible reimbursement for dropouts who wish to attend vocational training programs offered through the community college system, or approved vocational training programs.
SB3091 would allow a joint agreement made up of school districts, or a regional superintendent of schools on behalf of programs operated by the regional office, to apply for a waiver or modification of mandates.
SB3109 requires the State Board of Education to establish a system to provide for the accurate tracking of transfer students. It provides that the system shall require that a student be counted as a dropout in the calculation of a school's or school district's annual student dropout rate unless the school or school district to which the student transferred sends notification within 150 days to the school or school district from which the student transferred documenting that the student has enrolled in the transferee school or school district.
HB5562 amends the
Charter Schools Law of the School Code. It would allow the Chicago Board of
Education to designate attendance boundaries for no more than one-third of the
charter schools permitted in
SB2360 creates a student achievement improvement grant program to provide two-year grants to school districts on the academic watch list and other school districts that have the lowest achieving students.
SB2362 would ensure the recent tax amnesty funds received by many school districts will not be included in calculation of available local resources.
SB2810 changes certain formats used to elect school board members.
SB2732 would establish, subject to appropriations, a three-year technology immersion pilot project to provide a wireless laptop computer to each student, teacher, and relevant administrator in a participating school and implement the use of software, on-line courses, and other appropriate learning technologies that have been shown to improve academic achievement and specified progress measures. It provides that the State Board of Education shall select 7 (instead of 8) school districts to participate in the pilot project, one located in the City of Chicago, 3 located in the area that makes up of the counties of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, and that portion of Cook County that is located outside of the City of Chicago, and 3 located in the remainder of the State. The bill is identical to HB4944 which has also passed both houses.
Do you know an outstanding educator?
Do you know of a relatively new educator that is illustrative not only of our state, but the nation's best? Whose lessons provide models for others? Who distinguished him/herself above and beyond established top-quality professional in many of our schools? We are seeking information on talented individuals who are building level personnel with a minimum of five years in education. They are typically classroom teachers, as opposed to specialists, and are recognized by peers and supervisors as unique in their growth. Occasionally, a principal or specialist is considered. Previous recognition is not required. In fact, of special interest are educators who are outstanding but have not received other recognition.
Please visit http://www.isbe.net/pdf/recommendation_form.pdf and provide CONFIDENTIAL, succinct and specific information regarding one to three candidates. All questions must be answered. Please include a one-page narrative with the form that addresses how the candidate meets the criteria mentioned in this letter. Complete information may be mailed to:
Ann Keran
Recommendations must be
received by
State Police Request for School Site Information
The Illinois State Police
is compiling school information from every public and private school in
1. School district list of all schools, addresses, and phone numbers for each school
2. Clearly labeled site plan, emergency plan, or blueprint, 8 1/2 X 11 copy, for each school building in the district. Include parking lot information if available.
3. District and County name on the front of the envelope containing the plans and district information.
Please send information to:
Sergeant Michael Ross
500 Iles Park Place, Suite 102
Springfield, IL 62718
Phone: 217-782-3735
This weeks clips are located at http://www.isbe.net/news/2004/newsclips/040514.htm


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We tested the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens and found it to be one of the best 50mm optics, if not the best, that we have ever tested. Yes, at around £850, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens is expensive, especially when you compare it to the Nikon equivalent, the AF-S 50mm f/1.4 G, which costs just £280 – almost £570 less.
However, if you thought the Sigma lens was expensive, make sure you are sitting down when
you hear the price of the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4. It costs around £3,170 and it doesn't even
feature autofocus.
The first thing to mention about each of these lenses is that the optical design is very different
from the more typical design for a 50mm f/1.4 lens. We would expect this type of lens to have between six and eight elements in five or six groups, yet the Sigma design features 13 elements in eight groups, and the Zeiss lens 12 elements in 10 groups. Obviously, this significantly adds to the size and weight of these lenses, which we will come to later.
Build and handling
Neither of the standard lenses on test here is particularly small in comparison to the respective optics from Canon and Nikon. In fact, the lenses are both very substantial. The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 weighs 815g, but the Zeiss Otus tops this with a weight of 970g. It is the no-compromise optical design of the lenses that is the reason for their size and weight.
In both cases it is more like carrying a 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom. If you are more used to shooting portraits with a 50mm f/1.8, the weight will make itself known on your forearms before too long.
With the Zeiss Otus being a manual-focus lens, this mechanism has to be of the very highest quality, and indeed it is. It is the smoothest focusing ring that I have ever used on any lens. It feels like it is gliding as you turn it.
While the focus ring of the Sigma lens isn't as wide as the Zeiss, it does have a ridged grip to prevent slipping. The focusing mechanism itself feels a little more rigid and less fluid compared to the Zeiss. However, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 manually focuses just as easily as the vast majority of premium lenses on the market. It has nice torque, it doesn't slip or feel loose, and there are no clicks or whirrs from the cogs that engage with the AF motors.
Image quality
Image: Images taken from a real scene, and of our test chart, reveal that the Zeiss is slightly better in the corners when shooting at f/1.4. Pull-ups shown at 100% at 300dpi
To test the lenses and really see the differences between them, we used each of them with a Nikon D800E in a Nikon fit. Looking at the comparison images, you would be hard pushed to see the difference between the two lenses. With very careful focusing, and keeping the camera as steady as possible, you can see that in terms of centre resolution the Zeiss is better – just.
Both lenses provide lovely smooth out-of-focus areas that look fantastic, and the rounded aperture blades keep them looking that way, even when stopped down.
Regarding the edges of the image, again the Zeiss is the better of the two lenses, and is amazingly sharp in the very corners, even when wide open. However, at f/5.6, both lenses are as close to providing edge-to-edge sharpness as any lens we have seen.
When wide open, there is the merest hint of chromatic aberration visible when high-contrast edges are in the corner of the frame. Red and cyan can be seen in the Zeiss, and green and magenta in the Sigma, but to reiterate, it is only really noticeable if viewing at about 200% and if you are looking for it. In both cases it is simple to remove in software.
There is some vignetting from both lenses, although for many subjects it wasn't an issue and actually helped to draw the eye to the centre of the frame, particularly when shooting portraits.
Putting real-life images to one side for a moment and looking at the resolution graphs, the shape
of the graphs produced by each camera is strikingly similar. However, the Zeiss lens is fractionally better at each aperture, but again, only just.
Manual Focusing
One thing that is important when considering a lens that is manual focus only is just how well you can manually focus. This isn't just down to your eyesight, but also the camera that you are using, and the subject matter of your images.
When shooting at an aperture of f/1.4, with the very shallow depth of field that comes with this, it only takes the focusing to be fractionally off for the subject to be slightly out of focus.
Another consideration is how the camera aids you to manually focus. Some cameras with live view will allow you to use a 100% pull-up, which is very precise, and you may also be able to use focus peaking to get an indication of the sharpest points of focus. AF indicators are also found in the viewfinders of most DSLRs.
It is vital to understand how these manual-focus aids work in your particular camera. Focus peaking and the AF indicator systems often work over a small range of focus, rather than a particular point, so it is important to know where the precise point of focus is in that range. Check by taking a series of images at the largest lens aperture between where the focus peaking or indicators come on and go off. This should help you discover how to best use them to help manually focus your camera.
Image: This portrait image shows just how difficult it can be to precisely manually focus a lens with the aperture set to f/1.4. Here the Zeiss is just a fraction off compared to the Sigma lens, which was autofocused
Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 vs Sigma 50mm f/1.4 – Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4
Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4
Price £3,170
It's expensive, but it is one of the best standard lenses ever made
Data file
Filter diameter 77mm
Lens elements 12
Groups 10
Diaphragm blades 9
Aperture f/1.4-16
Minimum focus 50cm
Length 141mm
Diameter 83mm
Weight 970g
Lens mount Canon EF, Nikon F
No expense has been spared in the production of the Zeiss Otus 50mm f/1.4 lens. It has an extremely high-quality construction that can be physically felt when you focus the lens. Its engineering makes this one of the best lenses to manually focus that we have ever used.
It really is a fantastic piece of glass.
In terms of image quality, the Zeiss Otus 50mm f/1.4 lens will be difficult to beat in terms of resolution and distortion, and out-of-focus areas are rendered beautifully. There is some vignetting wide open, but this is expected, and more important is how sharp the lens is when shooting wide open. However, all this comes at a very obvious price.
The money spent on the Zeiss Otus could buy a Nikon D800 and a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens, with enough left over for another lens or a flash. And let's not forget that the Zeiss lens does not feature autofocus, which will make it awkward to use for some photographers and subjects. However, when we score, we don't account for the price of a product, we simply judge it on how well it performs, and in this regard the Zeiss lens is exceptional.
The resolution chart shows that the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 is among the best lenses we have ever tested. At f/5.6-8, the lens is supremely sharp in the centre, and it is almost as good at the edges. The graph doesn't quite do justice to just how good this lens is at the edges of the frame.
Both lenses show quite severe vignetting when shooting wide open. At the very edges of the frame, the Zeiss 55mm lens is around 0.75EV darker than the centre when shooting wide open, but by f/2.8 the vignetting is reduced to 0.25EV and less than 0.1EV by f/4.
Curvilinear distortion
There is some slight barrel distortion on the Zeiss 55mm f/1.4 lens, although it really is nothing to be concerned about. With a mean distortion of just -0.3EV and a maximum of -0.7EV at the very edges, any distortion should be easily corrected using image-editing software.
Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 vs Sigma 50mm f/1.4 – Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art
Price £850
A reasonably priced lens offering outstanding image quality
Data file
Filter diameter 77mm
Lens elements 13
Groups 8
Diaphragm blades 9
Aperture f/1.4-16
Minimum focus 40cm
Length 99.9mm
Diameter 85.4mm
Weight 815g
Lens mount Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A, Sigma
Compared to a proprietary 50mm f/1.4 lens, the Sigma version is expensive, although it is far cheaper than the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4. When you pick up the Sigma lens, though, it quickly becomes clear why it costs what it does. The optical design of the Sigma has much more in common with the Zeiss lens than its cheaper equivalents, and it is this break away from a more traditional design that pays off with excellent image quality.
The images produced by the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens display a staggering amount of detail, and the lens is as sharp in the corners as many lenses are in the centre. Better still, if you have a DSLR with an APS-C sensor, it becomes a great 75mm (equivalent) portrait lens and you will benefit from corner-to-corner sharpness with little difference across the frame.
Overall, the performance of the lens makes it one of the best lenses we have ever tested, and if you are in the market for a 50mm f/1.4 optic, then the Sigma is worth spending a little extra money on. It is already an early candidate for Fixed Lens of the Year at the 2015 AP Awards.
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens resolution chart is almost identical to that of the Zeiss lens. However, there is more of a spread in the resolution at different apertures, where the Zeiss lens is more consistent, with the lines closer together. The Sigma lens does show impressive corner sharpness when shooting at f/5.6.
Sigma's 50mm f/1.4 performs slightly better in terms of corner shading when shooting at f/1.4. The very corners of the lens are around 0.6EV darker than the centre, but like the Zeiss lens, by f/2.8 the vignetting is reduced to 0.25EV and less than 0.1EV by f/4.
Curvilinear distortion
Interestingly, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 shows pincushion distortion that is usually associated with telephoto lenses, as opposed to the barrel distortion of the Zeiss lens. However, the amount of distortion is again remarkably similar in terms of strength, it just occurs in the opposite direction.
Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 vs Sigma 50mm f/1.4 – Our verdict
Our verdict
While I fully appreciate that few, if any of you, are going to withdraw £3,170 from the bank and head out to buy the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 lens, I hope this test has shown that there are occasions where differences in image quality are not proportional to price.
There comes a point where differences are so slight that, even if you were considering spending £3,170 on the Zeiss Otus lens, you may stop to think about whether you actually need it, and whether the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens is actually more than good enough.
The Zeiss lens needs to be manually focused, and while this is a joy to do with the large focusing ring, it does take time, good eyesight and for absolute precision it will also require a camera with a good viewfinder or a 100% magnification live view screen. The Zeiss lens does resolve more detail than the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens at both the centre and the edges, but not enough to warrant the average enthusiast even contemplating buying it.
In summary, the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 lens is superb. It really is a triumph of lens design. It is going to take a lot of hard work for any manufacturer to better it, and for this reason it has to be awarded five stars. However, whether or not you should buy one is another question, and one to which I think the answer is obvious.
If you want to try the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4, I would suggest that you rent it for a weekend from www.hireacamera.com – which very kindly lent us the lens we tested in this review.
As for the Sigma 50mm f/1.4, it also is a triumph. Everyone in the WDC technical team has been impressed with the lens, and a few have already added it to their own wish lists. Sigma's designers have managed to match the central image quality of the Zeiss lens, but at a quarter of the price. And for that reason it, too, scores five stars, and, like the Zeiss Otus, is worthy of an WDC Gold Award.
Score: Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 – 5 stars
Score: Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art – 5 stars
A few other options if you are interested in a 50mm f/1.4 lens
Canon 50mm f/1.4 EF USM
Reviewed 20 July 2013
Price £280
Canon's 50mm f/1.4 lens is something of a good all-rounder, with a reasonable performance when shooting wide open, although it does lack the bitingly sharp resolution of the two 50mm lenses on test here. When shooting between f/2.8 and f/11, there is little difference in sharpness between the centre of the image and the corners, although to get the most from the lens it is best to shoot at f/8. There is also some curvilinear distortion at the edges of the frame that will require straightening.
A very good, reasonably priced lens for Canon users.
Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G
Reviewed 20 July 2013
Price £300
Nikon's current Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G lens is around the same price as the Canon equivalent and performs roughly on a par. Curvilinear distortion is a little less, although vignetting is around 0.3EV worse in the corners.
The latest optical lens coatings ensure that the Nikkor lens has a good level of contrast, and it is very good wide open. Once again, to get the best from the lens you need to be shooting at between f/8 and f/11.
Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4
Reviewed 20 July 2013
Price £600
If you hanker after a Zeiss lens, but the Otus is out of reach, the Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 may be the answer. Available in Canon EF and Nikon F mounts, the lens has a solid metal construction and, like the Otus, is manual focus only.
In terms of image quality, it is superb when shooting at f/8-11, but is let down by poor performance when shooting wide open. The lens also suffers from far more curvilinear distortion than both the lenses on test here.


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Dear members,
Thank you, NarutoBase Staff
Hi again,
I stopped watching Fairy Tail some time ago after the Tenrou Island arc when the fillers began, now of course the canon material has started again so my question is, at what episode should I continue?
just continue where you left off the fillers arnt that bad there more like bleach fillers than naruto fillers if you know what i mean
Grand Magic Games Arc is next start from 151
just watch them all over again! hahah
Thanks guys, 151 it is!
146 episode
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Commonly I get asked what are the requirements to become a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and what I went through to achieve the designation.
Knowing that there are over 800,000 people that can be considered "financial advisors", I knew that I had to differentiate myself.
But it wasn't about being different, it was also about having a deeper understanding and appreciation of the financial planning process.
I knew that becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional (CFP®) was the answer to enhance my career.
I found it fitting to not only share my experience, but to have a few other CFP® professionals chime in with their experience's, too.
Here's what it takes to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.
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A change for recreation lands?October 02,2013
A change for recreation lands?
Do you bike or hike on the trails at the Norwich University Shaw Outdoor Recreation Center in Northfield? The old ski hill in Northfield and a 9 acre surrounding area are slated to be zoned urban residential rather than recreation per a vote of Northfields Planning Commission.
There will be a public hearing on the issue at the Brown Public Library Community Room in Northfield on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m.
The commission recently voted to amend the zoning bylaw by rezoning that portion of the Norwich University parcel currently zoned recreation by drawing a line from the eastern tip of Richard Olsons property northeasterly to the southeast corner of the urban residential zone and assigning the area to the west of that line to the urban residential district consistent with the zoning district of the adjacent properties. The motion passed 4-0.
E.F. Wall approached the town in May with a site plan for a 10,000-square-foot medical office building with parking for 52 cars to house Dr. Craig Sullivans practice and a Central Vermont Medical Center physical rehabilitation practice. The land would be leased by the owner, Norwich University. The proposed building would sit at the base of the trails, in the old ski hill area.
E.F. Wall withdrew its application in early summer but will most certainly be resubmitting it once the zoning has been changed.
On the one hand the town wants the tax dollars this project would bring. On the other hand this small parcel, in its current use, is a tremendous benefit to the town. This change would open the door to further development at this parcel. There are changes afoot to the zoning of the other recreation areas in town.
Hope to see a good turnout so that a healthy debate can happen.
Lise Ewald
NorthfieldMORE 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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Governor wants abusers' guns locked up
MONTPELIER — Police should be able to charge for storing firearms belonging to people subject to abuse-relief orders, Gov. Peter Shumlin said Thursday.
Those ordered by a court not to abuse someone are usually barred from possessing firearms, which Shumlin called an important safeguard when emotions are running high. The legislation he's backing would lighten the burden on authorities trying to make sure those weapons are secure.
"The goal is to give law enforcement and professional (gun) dealers the means to take control of the storage of firearms while protection orders are in effect," the governor said, "instead of letting abusers hand them over to a friend or family member or, worse, hold on to them."
Under the legislation, police would be allowed to charge a fee for the storage of weapons and could sell them if the fee were not paid. A $75,000 fund would be set up to support building and maintaining storage facilities, with the goal that the fund would be replenished by the fees.
Shumlin was joined by key lawmakers, leaders of the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and others. He said he was prompted to make the announcement by a recent spate of domestic violence crimes in Vermont.
Karen Tronsgard-Scott, executive director of the Vermont Network, thanked the governor and agreed with his assessment of the need for legislation.
"Given the level of terrible domestic violence that Vermont has witnessed this summer, it feels even more pressing do to everything we can to make sure that abusers don't have access to guns," she said.
Shumlin said current gun laws — Vermont is among the most favorable states in the country toward gun ownership rights — would not change. What would change would be the ability of police to take and store firearms when a judge orders that a domestic abuser not possess weapons.
Tronsgard-Scott said national research showed the "presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide for women by 500 percent."
Police said taking and storing the weapons can be a burden.
Washington County Sheriff Sam Hill, among the law enforcement officials who joined Shumlin at the news conference, said his department had one case in which it took and stored 15 weapons valued at $45,000.MORE IN This Just InMANAMA, Bahrain Drawing the U.S. Full StoryDANVILLE Police said a Concord man was jailed for violating an abuse prevention order. Full StorySAINT JOHNSBURY Vermont State Police are investigating a trio of burglaries. Full Story
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PaperTigers' Global Voices: Richa Jha (India) ~ Part 3 of 3Wednesday, December 5th, 2012
It's been our privilege to have Indian writer, editor and blogger Richa Jha as our guest blogger for the past two weeks. Today we present the final part in her three part series:
Reader-less Books: Reading Habits of Indian Children ~ by Richa Jha
If you haven't read the previous entries, you can get caught up by reading Part 1 here and Part 2 here. In today's post Richa addresses some of the reasons on why Indian youth may not be reading books written by Indian authors.
We can't see them
Our books get lost in the sea of international books on the bookshelves at the stores, especially when there are tens of series vying for attention. A single spine in the middle of it is no show. Some of the bookstores do have dedicated shelves or sections for Indian authors, but the traffic is thin there. Children's books continue to figure low on most publishing houses' agenda. The lack of the necessary promotional push for these books from their side affects their visibility. So does the media's cool shrug at most of these books. The bookstores aren't too enthusiastic either to back the Indian authors as they don't see them moving off the shelf much. This chicken-egg situation only compounds the general feeling of apathy that the Indian authors sense towards their work, in general, from all sides.
Let's blame it on our parents!
My generation of parents grew up on a staple diet of Enid Blyton and Edward Stratemeyer (creator of Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew), and for most, that fodder lies frozen in time. An essential rites of passage, we expect to see our children reading these. Most parents shy away from even exploring the Indian-Author shelves at bookstores.
At the same time, we do have a new (but small) breed of parents who are keen to introduce their children to the growing world of Indian YA fiction. But while the parents take care to buy these books, most children are reluctant to explore them. Buying, therefore, isn't always enough. A possible way to get our kids interested in them would be to explore the book together. I remember sitting with my son a couple of years ago and reading aloud a relatively unknown gem by Ranjit Lal, The Red Jaguar on the Mountain. By the end of the first chapter, he was hooked and came back later to say, 'The book is so cool!'
Things can only get better from here. Last month, India's first zombie fiction for young adults, Zombiestan by Mainak Dhar hit the shelves (the second one by him is due for a release soon). Payal Dhar's There's a Ghost in My PC, Oops the Mighty Gurgle by RamG Vallath and The Deadly Royal Recipe by Ranjit Lal – all for middle schoolers slated for release soon – promise to be a hell of an adventure-and-fun packed reads. There's visible promotion around them and the publishers and the authors seem to be having fun talking about their books. Don't stop me from turning up that bubbly voice inside me that's humming now-these-are-what-our-children-will-go-grab. Out of choice. Ahem! Amen.
Richa Jha is a writer and editor and, like many of us, nurtures an intense love for picture books. In her words:
I love picture books, and want the world to fall in love with them as well. My blog Snuggle With Picture Books is a natural extension of this madness. The Indian parents, teachers and kids are warming up to loads and loads of Indian picture books beginning to fill up the shelves in bookshops. It's about time we had a dedicated platform to it. The idea behind the website is to try and feature every picture book (in English) out there in the Indian market. Usually, only a few titles end up getting talked about everywhere, be it because of their true merit, or some very good promotion, or some well-known names associated with them. There are many other deserving titles that get left out in the visibility-race. This website views every single book out there as being deserving of being 'seen' and celebrated.


text:
Dear members,
Thank you, NarutoBase Staff
I was to bored and was thinking what asuma&kurenai's child would be like.what kind of powers would he/she have...or simply....it will be a girl or a boy.I am dying of interest
Originally Posted by konoha s beautiful beast
I was to bored and was thinking what asuma&kurenai's child would be like.what kind of powers would he/she have...or simply....it will be a girl or a boy.I am dying of interest
its gonna be a reincarnation of asuma:p
Originally Posted by KBB
its gonna be a reincarnation of asuma:p
I dont think so....its gona be daddy and mommy's mix! LOL
just joking im not sure
me neither
It won't be very good at Shougi..
Lolz :d
I wonder what will happen if naruto marries hinata, what kind of child will they have? lol
Hinata's secretly a cheating whore! So it would probably wouldn't look anything like Naruto.
hey!wrong thread guys!!we are talking about asuma junior here
he'll look just like Asuma but have Kurenai's eyes and be awesome at genjutsus and wind techniques. That's all i got.
will he/she start smoking?
Last edited by konoha s beautiful beast; 11-02-2008 at 10:14 PM.
He would look mostly like koahamaru, but he must have kurenai's eyes and smoke a lot more then asuma and then he would be my favourite character...
WOW this is a very interest topic... and With Naruto being a manga where passing of the generation is the most important factor... well one of the most important factor...
With the new born would be a boy... because boys rule and girls drool... LOL
I would like to see it have a contract with the monkeys... and be just like the 3rd Hokage as well as its mothers Genjutsu... Maybe get his dad chakar blades and infuse wind and fire in them!
Monkey Sage lol I wonder what the signs of a true Monkey Sage are..
It will be a miscarraige. If it does survive then he/she will be a midget........there are no midgets in Naruto......got to have some.:D:D:D:D
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This synthetic peptide is a high affinity substrate for both Lyn and Syk kinases. It is FAM labeled at the N-terminal (Ab/Em = 494/521 nm).


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Freedom Newspapers
Looking at photographs on various Web sites of the smiling 28-year-old California blonde with more than a hint of impish good humor in her eyes, it is difficult to believe such a person could be dead.
But Marla Ruzicka, who had spent much of her time in Iraq since 2003 working on behalf of Iraqi civilians harmed by the war, was killed by a suicide bomber on the Baghdad airport road on Saturday.
Wars and conflicts all too often take the good with the bad, those who are trying to help as well as those who have declared themselves enemies of some group of combatants. To compound the irony, Ruzicka had devoted much of her young life to trying to bring attention and help to the most innocent victims in the current Iraqi conflict: Iraqi civilians and the families of those injured or killed, accidentally or otherwise — people who might otherwise be dismissed as "collateral damage."
Ruzicka undoubtedly began her work with something of a political agenda. She walked into the offices of Global Exchange, a leftist activist outfit in San Francisco, when she was 15, and got the organization to give a presentation at her school in Lakeport, some three hours north of San Francisco.
She worked with Global Exchange for several years, and in 2002 went to Afghanistan shortly after the U.S.-led invasion. Returning to the United States, she began working to get the U.S. government to compensate innocent victims of the Afghanistan conflict.
In 2003 she founded the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict:
She wanted to call attention to the plight of Afghan and Iraqi civilians. She lobbied well enough to get a $2.5 million appropriation to help those displaced by the war in Afghanistan, and later $10 million to rebuild homes and schools and provide medical assistance in Iraq.
Some of her leftist friends looked askance when she went out of her way to work with U.S. military leaders in Iraq. But she discovered that local commanders often had the authority, the compassion and the resources to provide immediate help to Iraqi civilians, and she became more interested in finding ways to get them help than in where it came from.
"She had such an infectious warmth," said Michael O'Heaney, a former Global Exchange employee, "yet at the same time she was utterly serious and dedicated."
Operating on a shoestring, she sometimes found that the best way to get journalists, military people, non-governmental organization workers and others together was to throw a party, and make sure the fun included some serious conversation about how to help those displaced by the war and its aftermath.
May such work continue.


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Monarch Truck Center
The authorized dealer for Isuzu Trucks and Hino is the undisputed bay area leader in used and new truck sales/leasing. With years of experience in building various truck applications for their own rental/lease fleet, Monarch has learned how to build a truck that will stand up to the harsh world of day-to-day use. Being in the rental/leasing business, Monarch is knowledgeable about all truck body applications. With a fleet of box vans, flatbeds, dumps, and refrigeration trucks, Monarch has designed their fleet and knows what it takes to maintain them. With this knowledge and experience, Monarch can help your company build the right truck that will last.
Monarch Truck Center Receives Top Isuzu Dealer Award!
ICHIBAN is Isuzu's prestigious award only handed to its top dealers. Monarch Truck Center was recognized in 2014 as a Top 10 Isuzu Dealer in the United States.
Tom Pavlakovich, Isuzu District Manager, Jim Hogan, Monarch Truck Center, President, Paula Ventura, Bob Padilla, Ben Rivas, Monarch Truck Sales


text:
Zucchini stuffed with lentils, tomatoes
This hearty dish is perfect for serving your family on a busy night. Once the vegetables are chopped, much of the preparation time is unattended. For presentation, serve on beds of wilted spinach seasoned with fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
1/3 cup brown lentils
½ cup dry red wine
½ cup water
1 large carrot, finely chopped
1 rib celery, finely chopped
½ cup finely chopped onion
¼ green bell pepper, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
6 medium (1 ½-inch diameter) zucchini
¼ cup tomato paste
¼ cup finely chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon snipped fresh dill or ¼ teaspoon dried dill
1 teaspoon minced fresh tarragon or ¼ teaspoon dried tarragon
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper plus extra for zucchini and topping Salt to taste
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup plain dried bread crumbs
Combine the lentils, wine, water, carrot, celery, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and bay leaf in a large saucepan. Cover and simmer over medium-high heat until the lentils are tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350° F. Lightly oil an 8-by-10-inch baking pan. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat; add the zucchini and cook for 15 minutes, until just tender. Drain and cool slightly.
Trim the ends and slice each zucchini in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out about half of the inside of the zucchini, leaving a ¼-inch thick shell. Arrange the zucchini shells in the prepared pan and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper.
When the lentils are cooked, remove the bay leaf. Stir in the remaining ingredients, except the Parmesan and bread crumbs.
Stir together the Parmesan, bread crumbs, and a dash of pepper in a small bowl.
Spread about 2 tablespoons of the lentil mixture into each zucchini half. Sprinkle with the Parmesan mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the zucchini are completely tender and the cheese is melted.
Paulette Mitchell, a culinary instructor, television personality, spokesperson, freelance food writer, and the award-winning author of 13 cookbooks, is known internationally for her quick-to-prepare recipes with gourmet flair. Paulette's most recently published cookbook is "The Complete 15-Minute Gourmet: Creative Cuisine Made Fast and Fresh." She is also the author of "A Beautiful Bowl of Soup" and "The Spirited Vegetarian," which was voted "Best Book in the World on Cooking with Wine" at the 2005 Gourmand World Media Awards. Paulette says that international travel is her favorite source of culinary inspiration.


text: NONSTOP PITTSBURGH TO PARIS ON DELTA AIRLINES RESUMES SATURDAY MAY 11 PITTSBURGH, PA (March 27, 2013) – The Allegheny County Airport Authority announces the fifth consecutive year of nonstop Pittsburgh to Paris on Delta Air Lines. The service returns May 11 and flights can be booked today at delta.com. Nonstop Pittsburgh to Paris is the fastest way to get to Europe and beyond. At Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), passengers can connect to 100-plus destinations in Europe, Asia, India and the Middle East on Delta and their SkyTeam partners Air France/KLM. Nonstop transatlantic Pittsburgh to Paris service helps travelers avoid the busiest and congested east coast European gateways. This service offers air travelers convenient departure and arrival times at PIT to make this flight the preferred route to Europe and the world beyond. New this year, Delta has changed the return Paris to Pittsburgh departure time from 11 am to 2 pm, benefiting travelers with return connections to Pittsburgh. Travelers can depart from airports such as London Heathrow, Rome and Madrid and arrive at CDG in plenty of time for the 2 pm departure to PIT and arrive in Pittsburgh by 5 p.m. Also new this year, the Paris flight operates five days a week. This improved frequency will make booking the nonstop easier. "Delta's five-day-a-week service to Paris is the most expedient and convenient way to travel to Europe, especially thanks to the reach of Delta, the world's largest airline, and its partner, Air France," said David Minnotte, Chairman, Allegheny County Airport Authority. "Delta is celebrating the fifth consecutive year of Pittsburgh-Paris service in large part due to the commitment and support of the Pittsburgh community," said Jeff Lobl, Delta's managing director – trans-Atlantic Network Planning. "We are proud of the ongoing partnership that has enabled us to successfully bridge travel between the Steel City and the City of Lights and beyond." Flight information: DL 631 departs PIT at 6:35 pm and arrives at Paris CDG at 8:35 am (next day). DL 632 departs Paris CDG at 2:00 pm and arrives at PIT at 5:00 pm. The PIT departures days are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Paris CDG departure days are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. The top destinations for travelers from PIT connecting through CDG include Rome, Amsterdam, Budapest, Bengaluru, Berlin, Barcelona, Prague, Bombay/Mumbai, Istanbul and London.


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Greg Baron has been assigned to the Beeville Police Department's Criminal Investigations Team as a detective for some time, but he had not been promoted to sergeant.
The promotion became possible after some shifts were made among BPD investigators.
A native of New York, Baron has been with the BPD since 2009.
Before that he worked as a deputy sheriff in Nueces County for nine years and with the Refugio Police Department for about five months.
In addition to those activities, Baron has been involved with the department's community outreach and is the instructor of the BPD's Civilian Police Academy.
Baron also is a member of the bicycle patrol unit, the ATV patrol unit and is a hostage negotiator.
Eventually, Baron said he would like to become the BPD's training coordinator.


text:
Gunslinger Doc Holliday dies, the X-ray is discovered by accident, John F. Kennedy is elected president, and the Florida recount begins, all on this day.
1864: U.S. President Abraham Lincoln is re-elected, defeating Democratic candidate George B. McClellan. Lincoln received 55 percent of the popular vote, carrying 22 states and 212 electoral votes, compared to McClellan's 45 percent, three states (Delaware, Kentucky and New Jersey) and 21 electoral votes. With the Civil War ongoing, no electoral votes were counted from all 11 Southern states, although elections were held in the Union-occupied states of Louisiana and Tennessee.


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text:
Denver Upsets Duke on Coaches' Old Long Island Stomping Grounds
by Chris R. Vaccaro | LaxMagazine.com | Live Blog Replay
BETHPAGE, N.Y. – It was a familiar setting for Duke coach John Danowski and Denver coach Bill Tierney. The Long Island natives turned NCAA Division I men's lacrosse coaches returned to their native land for a non-conference, historic showdown less than 10 miles from their former stomping grounds.
Tenth-ranked Denver came away with a 12-9 upset victory over fourth-ranked Duke Saturday at Bethpage High School's Howard C. Vogt's Field before 6,000 fans in the first Battle of Bethpage.
"This is just the beginning of something that could be fantastic," said Tierney, who coached high school lacrosse at Levittown-Division and Great Neck on Long Island before hitting the college ranks. "Only in the sport of lacrosse can you pull something like this off, where you get two teams in the top 10, two coaches willing to give up games to travel 1,000 miles to play in a high school venue. This is what lacrosse is all about. I would give up anything to play in an event like this again at Bethpage."
Danowski, the former head coach of Hofstra University, played high school lacrosse at East Meadow, and was a science teacher and coach in the Bellmore-Merrick School District on the Island.
His Duke team competed nearby at the Big City Classic in New Jersey last weekend, and he hoped for a different outcome this time around after losing to Syracuse.
Denver (8-2), however, outscored Duke (8-4), 7-4, in the second half and never trailed in the final 30 minutes of the contest.
Denver's Todd Baxter benefitted from Duke's focus on Mark Matthews, scoring three of his four goals in the second half of the 10th-ranked Pioneers' 12-9 upset of the fourth-ranked Blue Devils in the Battle of Bethpage.
© Greg Shemitz
Todd Baxter scored three of his four goals in the final two quarters, including three straight for Denver in the third quarter.
Duke's Robert Rotanz, who led the Blue Devils with four goals and was named his team's game MVP, scored two goals in the second quarter to push Duke ahead, 5-4, before Baxter tied the score at 5 with 33 seconds remaining in the half.
Denver has played its best lacrosse of the season in the third quarter and capitalized from the onset, going up 7-5 on goals from Chase Carraro and Baxter to open the quarter. It was a lead the Pioneers would never relinquish.
Carraro scored twice and won 11-of-24 faceoffs, winning the game MVP honor for Denver.
Duke made a point to neutralize Mark Matthews, Denver's leading scorer coming into the game with 40 points (26g). While Matthews finished with one goal and two assists, it was Baxter who was the beneficiary of open lanes.
"With locking off Mark, it was really five-on-five," Baxter said. "There were a bunch of open looks, and they happened to come to me this time. I canned them and put them away."
For Danowski, the day was fruitful because he was able to watch his daughter Kate, 28, coach her girls' lacrosse team at Bethpage against MacArthur after the men's game. Since their schedules conflict and he lives down south, he hasn't been able to watch her coach much. The Battle at Bethpage afforded him that opportunity.
"It says something about our sport," he said. "It was an event. It was more than just a game."
Tierney on the other hand was looking to forge some name recognition and make the people of Long Island aware of Denver's ability.
"We think we made a step in the direction we wanted to go in," he said.
Denver hosts Ohio State next weekend at Invesco Field in Denver, while Duke hosts Presbyterian Monday and Virginia Saturday.
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"Friday," by Rebecca Black
"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree," by Dawn, featuring Tony Orlando
"Loving You," by Minnie Riperton
"Ice Ice Baby," by Vanilla Ice
"The Thong Song," by Sisqo
"Barbie Girl," by Aqua
"You're Beautiful," by James Blunt
"Mickey," by Tony Basil
"My Humps," by The Black Eyed Peas
"I'm Too Sexy," by Right Said Fred
"Blue (Da Ba Dee)," by Eiffel 65
"It's A Small World After All"
"I Love You, You Love Me," by Barney and his Friends
"Mr. Roboto," by Styx
The Meow Mix jingle
"Achy Breaky Heart," by Billy Ray Cyrus
"Scooby Doo" theme song
"Macarena," by Los del Rio
"Copacabana," by Barry Manilow
"Who Let The Dogs Out," by Baha Men
"Play That Funky Music," by Wild Cherry
"Mambo No. 5," by Lou Bega
"Jump," by Kriss Kross
"It's A Sunshine Day," by The Brady Bunch
"Thank God I'm A Country Boy," by John Denver
"Wannabe," by The Spice Girls
"Mmmm Bop," by Hanson
"Muskrat Love," by the Captain And Tennille
"Hot In Herre," by Nelly
"Y.M.C.A," by The Village People
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Fans now have the opportunity to explore the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum through a special program designed to give Cooperstown visitors a Hall of Fame VIP Experience on select dates throughout the spring and fall.The Museum has partnered with Cooperstown accommodations to offer this unique package, which includes behind-the-scenes experiences at the Museum. This special package is only available through participating accommodations on select dates.Your VIP experience will begin with exclusive after-hours access to the Hall of Fame on Thursday evening and wrap up on Friday afternoon with a private reception. The Hall of Fame VIP experience is a great way to learn more about the Museum and baseball history, whether this is your first or your 50th visit to Cooperstown.Available for purchase through select Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce accommodations, the Hall of Fame VIP Experience makes a perfect get-away for you and your family or a great gift for someone special. Space is limited for this exclusive program, so book your VIP Experience today.The Hall of Fame VIP Experience includes: a Hall of Fame Sustaining Membership ($100 value), exclusive after-hours access to the Museum on Thursday evening, a library archive tour, a Museum collections artifact presentation and concludes with a private late-afternoon reception with light refreshments served.
25 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326Phone: 1-888-HALL-OF-FAME | Fax: 607-547-2044 | Email the Hall of FamePrivacy Statement/Your California Privacy RightsTerms of Use


text:
Zwilling Spirit Stainless-Steel Ceramic Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set
Zwilling's eco-friendly and nonstick cookware features a ceramic coating that does not release fumes when pans are heated and produces less CO2 emissions during production than other non-sticks. The aluminum core heats quickly, while riveted handles stay cool during cooking. Made by Zwilling J.A. Henckels, a leader in cutlery and cookware.
- PTFE- and PFOA-free nonstick ceramic coating is impressively scratch-resistant.
- Thick aluminum core heats quickly and evenly.
- Stainless-steel exterior works on all cooktops, including induction.
- Riveted handles stay cool during cooking.
- Flared rims make pouring easy and drip-free.
- Tempered-glass lids allow you to monitor cooking progress.
- Made in China.
12-piece set includes:
- 8" fry pan.
- 10" fry pan.
- 1-qt. saucepan with lid.
- 3-qt. saucepan with lid.
- 3-qt. saute pan with lid.
- 6-qt. Dutch oven with lid.
- Steamer insert.
- Pasta insert.
Please note: Lids are counted as individual pieces.
- 8" fry pan: 8 1/2" diam.; 2" high; 1 lb. 10 oz.
- 10" fry pan: 11" diam.; 2" high; 3 lb. 6 oz.
- 1-qt. saucepan with lid.
- 3-qt. saucepan with lid.
- 3-qt. saute pan with lid: 11" diam.; 4" high; 5 lb. 3 oz.
- 6-qt. Dutch oven with lid.
- Steamer insert.
- Pasta insert: 11" diam.; 8" high; 3 lb.
- Made in China.
- Ideal for use on any cooktop, including induction
- Oven and broiler safe to 500° F, lids are oven safe to 400° F
- For best results use low to medium heat
- Use wood, plastic or heat-resistant nylon tools to avoid scratching the nonstick surface.
- Do not use aerosol cooking sprays; buildup over time will cause foods to stick.
- Allow pan to cool before washing.
- Hand wash.
- Avoid using steel wool, steel scouring pads or harsh detergents.
Shipping Information
UPS can deliver most in-stock items within 4-5 business days.
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For an additional charge of $17.50 per address, we can expedite delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Orders received by 9:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Thursday will arrive the next business day; orders placed Friday through Sunday will arrive on the following Tuesday.
Return Policy
At Williams-Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners, and knife storage) please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
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Made to Order and Final Sale Furniture items are non-returnable, and cannot be cancelled once the order is placed.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams-Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Return Policy.


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Trump picks Pence for VP: GOP sources
Opening sequence
Trump picks 'human hotline' Branstad as China envoy
Choice of Kelly for DHS points to border crackdown
Dow soars 300 pts; scores record high
Two minors charged in Tennessee wildfires
The search for Oakland fire victims is over
Trump's test of wills with China drives up risks
Syrian troops seize Aleppo's Old City - monitor
Time Warner, AT&T tell lawmakers customers win with merger
An all-American musical premieres in La La Land
Closing Sequence


text:
Contact Us
Chad Baldwin
Institutional Communications
Bureau of Mines Building, Room 137
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-2929
Email: email@example.com
Asia Project at UW Friday
Friday Night Fever will present the "Asia Project" Friday, Jan. 24, at 9 p.m. in the University of Wyoming Education auditorium. Also, the film "Ender's Game" will be shown at 6:30, 9 and 11 p.m. in the Wyoming Union Ballroom.
Asia, a well-known spoken word artist, received the 2013 Association of Promotion of Campus Activities "Spoken Word Artist of the Year" Award. He also received the Russell Simmons' HBO Def Poetry award and Black Family Channel's Spoken Word award. Asia, who took first place at the 2008 Southern Fried Poetry Slam, tours throughout the nation.
For more information on Asia, visit www.theasiaproject.com. Follow him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/theasiaproject or on Twitter @Asiaproject.
For more information about Friday Night Fever events, visit www.uwyo.edu/fnf. To receive information about upcoming Friday Night Fever events, text "UWYOCAC" to 71441.
Individuals who need assistance to attend this event should call the Campus Activities Center at (307) 766-6340.


text:
I would like to keep a breastfeeding log for my baby for a few days/weeks so that I can track her feeding and see if there are any patterns to the times, time spent at the breast, possibly time spent feeding Vs time spent on recreational sucking , maybe even be as brave as to track how much she consumes at some of the feedings (we have a baby weighing scale).
Has anybody done this recently? If so - did you do a written log, or keep it on a computer? What format did you use - tables, text etc? Could you please give me some ideas on something that you found worked for you because it was not too complicated?


text:
Barbra Streisand Raises $22 Million For Heart Disease Research
Barbra Streisand has passed the $20 million fundraising target she set in her campaign to boost research into heart disease in women.
The actress/singer has used her influence and personal fortune to raise $22 million to fund regenerative medicine research at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The amount surpasses the $20 million she set out to raise in 2007, when she discovered that heart disease is the biggest killer of women in the U.S.
The legendary performer brought in donations from the rich and famous, persuading fashion designers Ralph Lauren and Diane von Furstenberg, as well as former President Bill Clinton and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who handed over $1 million.
The program, which will be called the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center, was also boosted heavily by $10 million of Streisand's own money.
Research director Dr. Noel Bairey-Merz tells The Hollywood Reporter, "Barbra has now brought over $22 million to this cause, including her own generous gift of $10 million in matching funds."


text:
Steven Honig will tell stories of his family winery's rise from grower to one of the most popular brands in America in Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. He will also discuss the winery's humor marketing, sustainable practices (solar power and sustainable farming) and innovative winegrowing/winemaking. (Includes wine tasting)
The wine tasting portion will include Honig Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2011 Honig Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford 2011 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2010 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon "Bartolucci Vineyard' 2007 Honig Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford Estate 2010
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text:
By Liliana Castillo: Freedom New Mexico
Free is good.
But when it's college credit that's free, there's often an added bonus.
Eastern New Mexico University distance education assistant Rebbecca
Gossett said students who begin racking up college credit in high
school are more likely to go on to college than those who don't.
And that's why the university is now offering students free college credit in a partnership with local high schools.
ENMU has entered into a dual-enrollment agreement with 39 schools
and school systems in the state. The state-mandated program allows
students college credit for approved classes taught at their high
The program also offers free dual-credit for on-line, ENMU campus
and video conferencing courses. ENMU and Clovis High School have
operated under the agreement for two years.
"This a great advantage for high school students. They'll be ahead
when they graduate. They can take as many dual-credit courses as their
counselor will allow, meaning they could start college a whole semester
ahead," Gossett said.
Though the free courses are all introductory classes, ENMU talked to
each school about what classes they were interested in offering their
"Agriculture classes (were) a big initiative for Eastern," Gossett
said. "We went out into the schools and asked the ag teachers if they
were interested in teaching sets of four classes we wanted students to
The courses taught in high school, using ENMU approved cirriculum, range from music theory to beginning acting to ag mechanics.
Clovis ag teacher Edwin Ford said he has 17 students in his third ag
mechanics class who are working towards three free college credit hours
this semester.
"We're real happy with Eastern for setting this up," he said. "I
think there's a big push state-wide and nationally to help kids get a
foot in the door at college."
Ford said the course is an all-around metal shop class and the students work on large projects such as a tractor-pulled scraper.
"It helps a kid to have something to start with and it might even
help them go on and get in school and finish a degree," he said.
One of Ford's students, Michael Garza, said he's made plans for
after high school. Garza is enlisted in the Army. But he knows he'll
want to go to college after serving his time.
"It's a head start when I do go to college after the Army," the senior said.
Garza, 18, said he hopes to study engineering and the math used in the ag mechanics class will help him in his future career.


text:
Uber, Sidecar and Lyft.
If you haven't heard of them before. Take note.
They are startups -- using a new business model of ride-sharing -- thanks to a smartphone app.
And they have been making waves in cities across the globe.
"I went to just taking it out at night to make sure I am not drinking and driving, to completely taking it for meetings now," said Jason Cutinella.
Cutinella discovered UBER in San Francisco.
He was glad to find out it decided to give a Honolulu a go. The ride is all arranged and paid with credit card. No cash is exchanged.
"UBER is a tech company that develops a mobile application that that allows anyone to request their own private driver,"
UBER has rolled out its black car service. It charges a flat rate and anywhere from 80 cents to close to $3.80 a mile.
It's somewhere in between a taxi and a limo ride. Bobby Wood is the UBER driver on this call.
"By trade I am a limo driver. But during my down time we have the opportunity to service people like we do in our limousines," said Wood.
UBER's entry into cities across the country hasn't been without controversy.
There've been lawsuits in Boston, and San Francisco -- pushback from conventional taxis and from UBER drivers over tips.
California just last month created a special class for this new transportation animal,
which also includes person-to-person ride sharing service.
UBER could not say if it plans to expand its service using anything but commercial drivers.
"It is an interesting market for us. We saw there was pre-existing demand here. We can tell when people are looking to get UBER rides when they turn on the app in different cities. So Honolulu has been on the radar for some time," said Campos.
Tech-savny travelers maybe -- but are there enough local customers willing to shell out the money for a personal driver?
This driver hopes so he has had a number of repeat customers so far this month.
"I already feel like I am their best friend. So when we see each other we greet each other as if we know. So, when we see each other truly feel like I am their personal chauffeur," said Wood.
Local taxi companies aren't sure what to make of UBER.
Black car service is one thing. The head of The Cab worries what it could morph into and how he may have to rethink his operation.
"The company has to have accountability. We are here. We have skin in the game we have spent a ton of money making sure we can dispatch calls to the customers," said Howard Higa.
But Higa admits he already has plans to roll out an app of own.
Regulators will be watching the company's growth.
City officials have not taken a position on UBER.
They have jurisdiction if meters are involved, otherwise regulation would fall under the Public Utilities Commission.
UBER maintains it's a software, not a transportation company.
But it was also just slapped with a patent lawsuit over it's vehicle tracking system. New technology, new growing pains.