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Nikon D5300 Review - The Nikon D5300 succeeds the D5200 at the top of Nikon's entry-level range. Find out how it gets on in the What Digital Camera Nikon D5300 review
Nikon D5300 Review
If you were to cast your mind back eleven months you'd recall Nikon renewing their D5000-series of DSLRs by introducing the then-new Nikon D5200. In a world where camera models seem to have an increasingly short lifespan, it has been succeeded no less than eleven months later by the new Nikon D5300 – a model that's been brought bang up to date with the introduction of wireless Wi-fi connectivity.
With many new camera models being updated so they provide the functionality to share images more easily, there's an ongoing concern from consumers that manufacturers are adding wireless connectivity into new models and asking a premium for them without necessarily introducing other new and exciting features.
Is this the case with the new Nikon D5300, or have Nikon turned the already impressive D5200 into an even better performing DSLR?
Nikon D5300 Review – Features
As well as introducing Wi-fi connectivity, Nikon have made some other significant changes to the Nikon D5300 to ensure it's not merely catering for those who'd demand the latest wireless technology. The latest sensor development to the camera pulls it further away from the entry-level D3200 and closer towards the D7100 – two models the D5300 slots in-between in Nikon's DX-format DSLR lineup.
While its 24.2MP DX-format CMOS sensor and maximum 6000 x 4000 pixel output may not seem any different, it's an entirely new proposition.
By removing the optical low-pass filter in front of the sensor in a bid to preserve the finest levels of detail and clarity, it suggests the D5300 should record sharper and crisper detail than its predecessor – something we'll explore in greater depth when it comes to assessing image quality. Turning our attention to the D5300's sensitivity range further highlights similarities between its sensor and the one used within the D7100.
Before entering the boost setting, the native ISO range runs between 100 and 12,800, whereas previously on the D5200 it stretched between 100-6400. If a low-light situations demand a higher ISO, the D5200 can be pushed to an equivalent of 25,600.
Continuous shooting
Whereas the D5200 gained a 1fps continuous burst improvement over the D5100, the same can't be said for the D5300 and it shoots at the same 5fps rate as the D5200. This is a little surprising given that the camera is one of the first DSLRs to be rolled out with Nikon's newly developed EXPEED 4 image-processing engine, which we half expected to increase the frame rate to at least 6fps.
Take into consideration that the D7100 shoots at 6fps and the D5300 appears to adopt the same sensor, it's quite possible the D5300 has the processing power to shoot faster but has been capped at 5fps in an attempt not to tread too heavily on the D7100's toes.
Other similarities with its predecessor include a 39-point AF system, which uses the Multi-CAM 4800DX autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection. Of the 39 AF points, nine are the more sensitive cross-type, with the option to set the camera to an 11-point array should the AF point be required to be moved more quickly across the frame.
Despite the AF system not being as advanced as the D7100's 51-point array, which also benefits from having six more cross-type sensors, it's well equipped with 3D focus tracking. Not only is this intuitive enough to follow the movement of a subject in a frame, it's capable of predicting the position of the subject at the moment the image is captured based on the measurement of the subjects movement and speed.
In addition there's single-point AF, dynamic area AF (9,21 or 39 points) and auto-area AF, with the focus modes consisting of auto-servo AF (AF-A) single-servo AF (AF-S), continuous-servo AF (AF-C), not forgetting manual focus.
For metering the D5300 uses the tried and tested 2,016-pixel metering sensor. This is designed to work in tandem with Nikon's Scene Recognition System, which cleverly analyses a scene before refining adjustments to exposure, autofocus and white balance to deliver the best possible results.
Added to this, there's the option to set exposure compensation over a +/-5EV range in increments of 1/3 or 1/2, but another feature not yet mentioned that's improved on the D5200 is the 3.2in, 1,037k-dot Vari-angle screen. Though it sees an improvement in two key areas, these being its size and resolution, Nikon's screen technology still lags some way behind Canon who has excelled with its touchscreen functionality for well over a year.
For an upper entry-level DSLR, the video output is suitably advanced for moviemakers. Fitted with a built-in stereo microphone and compatible with external microphones that attach via a 3.5mm jack, the D5300 records Full HD video at frame rates up to 50p/60p, with 30p,25p and 24p frames rates also available.
The option to select full-time servo, which allows the camera to continually autofocus while filming is approved of, but Nikon has again missed out on the opportunity to renew its 18-55mm kit lens to make it quieter and prevent it from disrupting audio footage with its constant whirring.
Nikon D5300 Review – Design
The quality of the Nikon D5300's overall finish is, as you might expect a blend of the D3200 and D7100. Notoriously, Nikon's D5000-series has always been of similar size to the entry-level models, but thanks to inconspicuous tweaks to the D5300's design it now feels fractionally larger in the average sized hand.
The Nikon D5300's designers have also opted for a less curvaceous body (most noticeable above the model number) making it appear more squat than the D5200 when viewed from above.
The larger thumb rest at the rear contributes to a more comfortable feel in the hand and by shifting the playback button and d-pad controls down, albeit by a few millimetres, they now feel more accessible and better positioned. Other improvements see the info button that's used to change a whole host of settings on the fly, shifted down so it's parallel with the AutoExposure-Lock button.
Larger screen
One of the consequences of the larger screen are small buttons below the d-pad for zooming in playback mode. On the subject of the screen, it's now made easier to pull out thanks to a section of the body being calved out beside the playback button. The screen fulfils the majority of space at the rear and though it's a thinner unit than we've seen previously on the D5000-series it protrudes a few millimetres from the body. Thankfully this doesn't have an adverse affect on handling.
Weighing 195g lighter than the D7100 and 20g less than the D5200, the D5300 is only 15g heavier with a battery and memory card installed than the D3200. Everything else about the D5300's design is very well thought through and superbly executed.
The Live View switch is now labelled to make its purpose a little clearer when viewing the camera from the rear and while the mode dial offers a reassuring click in use, it offers no locking mechanism like on the D7100 to prevent it accidently being knocked, though we never found this to be an issue.
Possibly the biggest exclusion on the D5200 is that of a secondary command dial to adjust aperture independently – a feature only found on more advanced DSLRs in Nikon's DSLR lineup. In its absence the exposure compensation button has to be used in combination with the rear scroll dial to adjust aperture in manual mode.
What with more and more smaller system cameras offering the benefit of twin control dials, we'd like to see Nikon rival the competition and introduce twin control dials to its entry-level range.
Nikon D5300 Review – Performance
Prior to the Nikon D5300, Wi-fi has only been supported on previous Nikon DSLRs by the use of an optional WU-1a wireless mobile adapter (£48). Its been a long time coming, but the introduction of built-in Wi-fi on the D5300 suggests we can expect it to appear built into other Nikon DSLRs in the future.
To take advantage of the wireless connectivity, Nikon's Wireless Mobile Utility app (WMU) needs to be installed – a free download for both iOS and Android operating systems. Regrettably, unlike other manufacturers' apps, many of the common settings such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation can't be controlled via the app. Instead, the app is very basic in terms of its appearance and functionality.
Despite shutter speed and aperture settings being displayed beneath the live view feed (of which there's no lag or delay we must add) there's no way of accessing them to change them, meaning the app is essentially acting as a remote trigger to fire the shutter in its take photos mode, nothing more.
Autofocus can be controlled from the app provided you're using a lens that features an inbuilt motor, but rather disappointingly it's not possible to change the cameras settings on the fly and instead you have to go to the menu options and switch the shoot mode to camera, adjust your settings, and then switch it back to WMU – a painstaking task that should be made a whole lot easier.
App usage
By far the best use of the app is for viewing images you've already taken. You're given the option to select the photos you wish to download to your mobile device at either the original size or a recommended size which down samples images to a smaller resolution.
After download the images will appear in the devices camera roll from which they can be uploaded to social media or exported via email. One other observation was the incorrect orientation of portrait images in the app when viewing shots prior to downloading them. On more than one occasion we found it frustrating having to turn our mobile device to view the image the right way, only for the auto-rotate function on our device to rotate it by 90-degrees.
Much like the D5200, the D5300's autofocus system impresses, especially when it's paired with a premium lenses in the DX range. While the 18-55mm kit lens will be sufficient for beginners, its fairly noisy operation in AF mode can interrupt audio footage when recording HD video and there's a tendency for it to hunt back and forth too in low-light. As before, the 3D-tracking mode worked well yet again on test, managing to keep apace with high-speed rally cars to ensure pin-sharp results were delivered shot after shot during a continuous burst.
The coverage of AF points in the frame is excellent for a camera of its pedigree and its relatively quick to move the AF point around the frame using the d-pad when composing through the viewfinder. The same can't be said for Live View however and with its lack of touchscreen there's a long delay in getting the AF point where you need it to be.
That, combined with the fact that when the mirror is flipped out of the way it relies on contrast-detect AF, it's plainly more sluggish at acquiring focus in Live View than DSLRs implementing the latest technology of building phase-detect pixels into the sensor.
Video AF speed
The outcome of this is that it also has an affect on focusing speed when shooting video. Set to Full-time-servo AF (AF-F) we'd like to see the lock-on speed faster for video – an obvious area for improvement on a camera of this type and Nikon's other DSLRs going forward. Loaded with a SanDisk Extreme Pro card, the D5300 is capable of shooting six frames at its maximum permitted burst of 5fps set to Raw+JPEG.
This figure is exactly the same as recorded previously on the D5200 and a second after the buffer interrupted shooting, the camera fired again with a shot-to-shot time of 1.5secs. To shoot an unlimited number of frames at 5fps on the D5300 you can do so by using one of the three JPEG compression settings (Fine, Norm, Basic). Interestingly, these performance tests prove the speed and buffer performance is little different to the D5200, despite it allegedly having more processing power with the inclusion of the new DIGIC 4 image processor.
Nikon D5300 Review – Image Quality
Colour and White Balance
The D5300's Auto White Balance rarely misses a beat and can be relied on to render faithful colour temperature in a variety of different scenes, both indoors and out. Too add to this, colours straight out of the camera are rich, punchy and vibrant, leaving you with little or no work to do with the Saturation slider in post-processing. The only colour issue was experienced at the expanded ISO 25,600 setting, where an obvious magenta cast spoils and otherwise faultless colour and white balance performance.
The D5300's 2016-pixel RGB metering sensor goes about its business effectively, offering spot, centre-weighted and matrix metering modes. Rarely did we find ourselves dialling in exposure compensation, other than maybe 0.3EV-0.7EV in particularly high-contrast scenes. For a majority of users, Active D-Lighting will want to be permanently set to Auti. In high-contrast scenes the automatic digital processing helps to preserve saturation and detail in the brightest or darkest areas. Without it users could find their results appear slightly more washed out, particularly in areas of the sky as per the example image.
The removal of the anti-aliasing filter does give the D5300 the edge over the D5200 when it comes to level of detail the sensor resolves, however it is marginal and unless you inspect images incredibly closely like we did our resolution chart, it's hard to spot the difference. Resolving 28 lines per millimetre (lpmm) is an impressive readout from the sensor – great for zooming in and inspecting details much more closely, but also cropping tightly without having a disastrous effect on image quality.
Image Noise
Comparing the D5300's ISO results alongside the D5200's revealed the D5300's noise performance is the superior, both in Raw and JPEG images. Although a faint trace of luminance noise is introduced at ISO 800, it can be removed in post using noise reduction techniques. As for colour noise, this doesn't appear until ISO 6400. ISO 3200 and 6400 are useable on a day-to-day basis and while the results at ISO 12800 and 25,600 feature less noise than the D5200, these high ISOs should be avoided, even in low-light if you're after resolving the very best image quality from the sensor.
Nikon D5300 Review – Verdict
The Nikon D5200 impressed us last time around, but Nikon have managed to go one-better with the D5300. While its new features don't make it a groundbreaking release, they add up to make it a better specified product for the entry-level and advanced amateur photographers it's out to target.
It's been a long time coming, but it's great to finally see Wi-fi built into the body of a Nikon DSLR. It's not all-good news however. Nikon's mobile utility app is in need of development to offer greater functionality to those who want to control the camera remotely. In addition, we expected the camera to shoot slightly faster and provide a better buffer performance, but we found little change from the D5200 in this respect despite the new EXPEED 4 image processor.
Possibly the biggest disappointment on the D5300 is the lack of a touchscreen. Rival products like the Panasonic Lumix G6 and Canon EOS 700D both boast this feature and we're now at the stage where we expect such functionality from a camera of its price and pedigree. If a touchscreen isn't one of your main concerns, it remains an excellent DSLR and it's hard to pick faults in terms of image quality or its build and finish.
With only £110 being the difference between the D5300 and D7100 at the time of writing, we'd be tempted to go the whole hog and sacrifice the D5300's in-built Wi-fi and tilt screen for the D7100's more advanced AF system, 100% viewfinder and weather-resistant build quality.
The advantages of doing so would be appreciated in the long run, plus it's a better-tailored product for photographers who'll quickly find themselves progressing to an enthusiast level.
Nikon D5300 Review – Sample Image Gallery
These are just a small selection of images captured with the Nikon D5300. For a wider selection of images head on over to the Nikon D5300 review sample image gallery.
Nikon D5300 Review – First Look
It's just under a year ago since we witnessed the arrival
of the D5200 and Nikon has announced the Nikon D5300. Slotting in above the D5200 in the Nikon line-up, the D5300 is designed to appeal to aspiring users looking to upgrade from a compact, as well as what Nikon terms 'networkers', which hints at its Wi-fi functionality, but more on that shortly.
While it shares a virtually identical resolution to the D5200, Nikon claims the 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor inside the D5300 is newly developed and like its big brother the D7100, the sensor does away for the need of an anti-aliasing filter for improved sharpness.
New EXPEED 4 image processor
The D5300 is the first Nikon DSLR to feature the EXPEED 4 image processor, improving the performance of the camera in a number of areas over its predecessor, including better Auto White Balance control and ISO performance at higher sensitivities – the D5300 sports a native ISO range up to ISO 12,800, but can be expanded to an ISO equivalent of ISO 25,600.
One of the strengths of the D5200 is its relatively sophisticated AF system, and it's no surprise to see the 39-point Multi-CAM 4800DX unit transfer across to the D5300. We've been impressed with its performance in the past, particularly the 3D tracking system that's linked to the D5300's Scene Recognition System to cleverly track your subject across the frame, so it shouldn't through up any nasty surprises on the D5300.
Interestingly though, where Canon has made efforts to improve the live view AF performance of the EOS 700D by adding phase-detect photosites onto the sensor, the D5300 continues to rely solely on contrast-detect AF during live view and video capture. We'd have welcomed some innovation here from Nikon or at least built-in phase-detect photosites on the sensor as this in the past where some Nikon DSLRs have struggled – not only against the likes of the 700D, but the growing range of system camera rivals too.
Wi-fi Connectivity
With the trend for built-in Wi-fi connectivity increasing on new cameras, it's nice to finally see a Nikon DSLR offering this built-in functionality, rather than as a optional accessory as we've seen with both the D3200 and D5200 for example. Expect easy transfer of images from the camera to your iOS or Android device via the dedicated free Nikon App to share in social networking sites, as well as offering the ability to remotely shoot, with feed from the D5300 transmitted to your smart-device.
At the rear of the camera, the vari-angle screen remains, but increases in size to 3.2in with an aspect ratio of 3:2 and a boosted resolution of 1037k-dots. Curiously, while touchscreen functionality is becoming more wide-spread on cameras in this sector, the D5300 goes without.
There's also a dedicated HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode that captures two images in quick succession at different exposures before merging them together in a single image with a much broad range of shadow and highlight detail compared to a single exposure. The Active D-Lighting mode has also been tinkered with, now with a specific Portrait mode to balance the exposure.
As the D5300 is likely to be used as a dual-role camera for both stills and movies, you'll find Full HD 1080p video capture at either 60/50p, while there's a built-in stereo microphone too.
Nikon revealed that the D5300 is based around a new monocoque construction that does away with the need for a separate chassis and is formed from a new material that Nikon remained tight-lipped on on what it actually was. That said, if you've handled a D5200, you'd be hard-pushed to differentiate the look and feel of the D5300 once in the hand.
First Thoughts
While we've seen a fair bit of innovation recently across the market, Nikon plays it much safer with the D5300. Looking at the specification and at first glance at least, appears to be a suitable upgrade of the D5200,though there are still some areas that we feel need attention if it wants to be the best there is for the aspiring photographer. We can't make any real judgements though until we've gott our hands on a final production sample to find out how it really performs.
The Nikon D5300 is expected to be available mid-November
with a body-only price of £729, and a kit price of £829 with the 18-55mm VR lens.
Watch our First Look video preview:


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Board member Bill Stockton made the motion to appoint Board President Jim Crumrine and board member Ronald "Buddy' Hardy.
The motion was seconded by board member Kay Hickey and it passed without opposition.
Board President Jim Crumrine said that he and the board's newest member, Kenneth Elsbury, have had a less expensive plan in mind for the development of groundwater sources and a reverse osmosis filtering system to supplement the district's surface water system.
Elsbury had been sworn in as the board's newest member earlier in the meeting. He was appointed to replace George P. "Trace" Morrill, III. Morrill, a local attorney whose father was once president of the water board, resigned because he was elected to the City Council last month.
Elsbury, a geologist with the Dan A. Hughes Co., spoke a few times earlier in the year at town hall meetings held by the City Council before their $15.3 million bond issue failed at the hands of voters on May 11.
Elsbury and Crumrine visited a reverse osmosis operation near Donna in late April and made their recommendation for the development of a less expensive reverse osmosis operation during that trip.
Crumrine told fellow water board members Monday that Mayor David Carabajal had assured Elsbury that he would be one of the City Council's appointees to that committee.
Each of the five council members was expected to appoint up to three citizens to a committee at the Tuesday evening City Council meeting. In all, the committee will have 17 members.
Crumrine and Elsbury are expected to recommend that the city drill one well in the Jasper aquifer and treat that water at a smaller RO plant that would be located at the city's water storage facility in the 200 block of West Cleveland Street. That would also be the site of the deeper well.
They also are recommending that three wells be drilled into the shallower Evangeline aquifer. That water only needs to be treated for iron and not for suspended solids or chlorides.
Although the Evangeline aquifer does not provide the quantity of water that the Jasper contains, that water is of much better quality. And three wells drilled at different parts of the city, would provide almost as much water as one well in the Jasper.
The two said the iron can be removed from the Evangeline water by a simple chemical and filtering system.
That RO plant would be located in a building large enough to accommodate expansion once the city realizes a need for more treatment capabilities.
Engineers Bill Norris and Jesús Leal, principals with Norris Leal Engineering Water of Austin, are recommending that the Jasper aquifer water be run through the RO plant to remove the 1,500 parts per liter suspended solids content and to remove the chlorides found in that water table.
Some of the Jasper water would then be blended with the filtered water from the RO plant for taste purposes.
The scaled down project could cost the city less than $9 million. Under the plan, Crumrine and Elsbury proposed that money saved by reducing the amount of raw water purchased from the City of Corpus Christi could be kept in a fund and then that money could be used to expand the RO facilities in the city. That would allow the city to avoid the cost of borrowing money for expansion.
On May 11, after the vote count showed that Beeville residents had turned down the $15.3 million bond issue, then Mayor Santiago "Jimbo" Martinez said he liked the idea proposed by Crumrine and Elsbury.
The 17-member committee will be asked to send the City Council a recommendation on how to provide surface water supplies for the city and to recommend ways to finance the project.
Gary Kent is a reporter at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 120, or at email@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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These basic sugar cookie recipes offer a delicious treat for any gathering of family or friends.
Tried and true, sugar cookies are an American favorite! This tender, sweet cookie is perfect for the holidays or a child's birthday, covered in royal icing.
For a twist on a classic cookie, try our Lemon Sugar Cookies or Brown Sugar Cookies recipes below.
Grandmother's Simple Sugar Cookies
Ethel's Sugar Cookies from Betty Crocker Cookie Book
Bill and Barbara Richardson's Biscochitos


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Chicken & stuffing picnic pie
Nutrition and extra info
- Freezable
Nutrition: per serving (10)
- kcal539
- fat30g
- saturates14g
- carbs40g
- sugars2g
- fibre2g
- protein27g
- salt2g
- 600-650g/1lb 5oz-1lb 7oz skinless chicken breasts (about 5 breasts), each halved to make 2 thin breasts
- 1 tbsp oil, plus extra for the tin
- 170g pack breadcrumb stuffing mix (we used Paxo sage & onion)
- 500g good-quality flavoured sausage (we used pork & leek)
- 1 egg, beaten
The ultimate convenience food, eggs are powerhouses of nutrition, packed with protein and a…
For the pastry
Season the chicken breasts. Heat the oil in a frying pan over a high heat and brown the chicken very quickly on each side – you might need to fry these in batches. Don't worry about cooking the chicken all the way through. Set aside.
Set aside 2 tbsp of the stuffing mixture. Make up the rest using half the amount of water that the packet says.
Make the pastry by tipping the flour into a food processor with 1 tsp salt. Add the butter and suet, and whizz to fine crumbs (or rub in with your fingers if you don't have a food processor). With the motor running (or stir with a fork), dribble in 150ml cold water until the pastry just comes together. Tip onto a lightly floured surface and bring together into a dough. Cover one-third while you roll out the rest to line an oiled, 20cm round springform or loose-bottomed tin.
Spoon the stuffing into the base of the pie, packing down well and smoothing the top. Arrange the chicken pieces over, cutting to fit like a jigsaw puzzle to fill in any gaps. Squeeze sausagemeat from skins and press evenly over the top, then scatter over the reserved dry stuffing. Roll out the reserved pastry until big enough to cover the pie with an overlap. Brush the edge of the pie with egg, then lift on the pastry lid and press edges to seal before trimming and rolling down excess to thoroughly seal.
Decorate by crimping the edges or pressing them with the prongs of a fork, then cut a little hole in the middle of the pastry to let steam escape. Brush all over with more egg (don't throw the leftover egg away).
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and bake for 50 mins. Brush all over again with egg and cook for another 10 mins. Cool in the tin, then thickly slice for a picnic or lunch. Or wrap well in cling film and freeze for up to 3 months.
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Comments, questions and tips
Comments (26)
I´m going to make this but wonder if anyone can suggest a good pickle to go with it?
I thought at first, a cranberry/redcurrant affair but then possibly a red onion marmalade and then confused myself even further by thinking of sweetcorn relish or piccalilli! Have confused myself so if anyone has any clear thinking on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!
I have made this 3 times now and frozen it once. Either way works well, you can't tell it has been frozen. A lot of the flavour comes down to the quality of sausagemeat so don't skimp on a good sausage! Same goes for stuffing. I have used paxo and a slightly posher stuffing mix and the latter was definitely a better flavour. Each time I have made it though it has been perfect - it really is incredibly easy to make the pastry is so well behaved you can hardly believe it. I have used both light and normal suet and can't tell the difference.
Should definitely be served with some kind of pickle to lubricate slightly!
It looks splendid out on a serving plate. Will be making this over and over.
Easy to make and very impressive when it comes out of the picnic basket! I would however make my own stuffing and put a layer of wet stuffing on the top otherwise it does go a bit dry the day after making it. My husband suggested making a chicken stock with gelatine in it to act as a filling between the pastry and the meat which I might try next time I make it. Flavours were yummy but think a home made apple and cranberry stuffing would add to it and to the moistness. Pastry was superb. We had it for Valentine , watching Love Actually, under the stars at an outdoor cinema under the mountain in Cape Town with champagne so was spectacular and befitting for the occasion.
Made this pie yesterday for today's buffet style New Year's lunch, and it was gorgeous! Looked very professional despite my ham-fisted attempts at crimping the pastry to seal. Lovely savoury flavours, moist and satisfying. I was worried that all that densely-packed meat wouldn't cook through within the allotted time, but my fears were unfounded. Lovely with pickles and salad.
Made this and took half to my parents as it is rather big! We loved it and so did my parents. It did fall apart a little, but perhaps I didn't press the chicken down enough. I did wonder whether to pour some gelatine down into pie so it holds it together better. May try it next time as I will definitely make again.
Questions (3)
Tips (0)
Got your own twist on this recipe? Or do you have suggestions for possible swaps and additions? We'd love to hear your ideas.
Be the first to suggest a tip for this recipe…


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"I've been a podcast listener for over two years. It's really been a blessing and helped me grow from a cafeteria Catholic to a real one."
"If I have written anything erroneous, I submit all to the judgment and correction of the Holy Roman Church, in whose obedience I now pass from this life."


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Fire crews were called to Waikiki Wednesday afternoon after a city bus spilled hydraulic fluid on Kuhio Avenue near Kapahulu Avenue, according to fire officials.
The bus turned right on Kapahulu Avenue and leaked the fluid all the way down to Kalakaua Avenue.
No injuries were reported. One moped skidded when the fluid was on the road.
The cleanup spanned several blocks and it slowed traffic in that area.


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Jeff Bank calendar reception
September 25, 2013 —
LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — Jeff Bank and Catskill Art Society (CAS) held the fifth annual photo contest, "Four Seasons of Nature & Landscapes" in Sullivan County, earlier this year, and selected 12 entries to be featured in the 2014 Jeff Bank Calendar. On Friday, October 4, from 6 to 8 p.m., a reception will be held at the CAS Arts Center, 48 Main St., to display the winning photographs. The photographers will be on hand, light refreshments will be served and the public is invited. The 2014 Jeff Bank Calendars will be available for a suggested $5 donation to CAS.
Sullivan County's beauty is well represented in the 2014 Jeff Bank Calendar by the work of this year's winning photographers: James Carney, Wurtsboro; Jerry Cohen, South Fallsburg; Kandace Gittleman, Kauneonga Lake; George H. Haas, Eldred; Russ Johansen, Livingston Manor; John Kocijanski, Monticello; Kath Lambert, Livingston Manor; Danny Seginak, Willowemoc; and Gloria Wagenkneckt, Loch Sheldrake.
The 2014 calendars will be available at Jeff Bank's twelve branches beginning October 5. Visit www.jeffbank.com.


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'Night Court' will be disassembled, and the pieces that were sold will be packed up and shipped to the collectors.
With all endings come new beginnings, tomorrow, planning for the next Art Basel will begin.
Le Baron pop-up at Night Court pt. 2.
One More Time
Saturday at Night Court
Saturday at Night Court
Open 12 noon - 2 am
Performance by Ry Rocklen & friends
10 pm Le Baron pop-up
11 pm performance by Kelela
Ocean Front between 21st and 22nd. Map
Colorful Inspiration
In thinking back to the 30's, the idea of strong Art Deco design and a bar cart serving martinis go hand in hand. Since then, both continue to be timeless icons, and have served as the inspiration for many new creations.
There's a story that when the Cosmopolitan was invented, the bartender simply wanted to make a pastel pink drink for the waitresses at their bar. Starting with a classic martini glass, he created a fruity remix – a fun colorful drink for a new age. In the same way, the light hues of pink, blue, and yellow paint on the buildings of Miami brought new life into the classic Art Deco structures.
Built in the 30s, many of the hotels on Miami Beach were worn down 50 years later. Some developers wanted to reshape the entire beach with an updated 1970s aesthetic however, luckily, fans of art deco architecture made their case that Miami Beach needed its own style.
Much like the Cosmopolitan, what started as an experiment, turned into a movement. In the early 80s, a man named Leonard Horowitz convinced Friedman's Bakery to let him paint their building pink and yellow. After appearing on the cover of Progressive Architecture magazine, many other buildings followed suit. Quickly, many the hotels that had been labeled relics of faded glory were reborn in a colorful new way.
Because of this strong belief that something new could be created by transforming something classic, Miami Beach is one of the most iconic cities in the world.
Photos: Sesse Lind
The Cocktail Companion
On Thursday night, Absolut hosted a dinner at The Standard Hotel, celebrating their art bar collaboration with Ry Rocklen. As a gift to the attendees of the dinner, Absolut published a hardcover cocktail companion, which presents each of their art bar collaborations, along with the cocktail recipes created by the artists for their installation.
Inspired by the colors and architecture of Miami, the book is a perfect memento of a perfect week.
Design: Frankenstein Studio
Having already combed through the official Art Basel Miami show, today is a good day to check out some of the satellite fairs. These smaller art fairs are spread out around the city, and give up-and-coming artists a chance to be seen in the halo of the larger fair. On a beautiful sunny day, strolling between the tents along the beach is a perfect was to pass the time. Just as the sun comes down, and it's a bit too cool for a walk on the beach, Ry Rocklen will be participating in an artist conversation at the Art Basel Convention Center.
Saturday is also the last night of the week for many down in Miami, tomorrow, scores of people will head home with stories, inspiration, and possibly some new art for their collections. With one last chance to go-all out, tonight should definitely be fun for everyone.
Friday night at Night Court
Friday at Night Court
Open 12 noon - 2 am
7 pm TMO live
8 pm Bouquet
9 pm DJYSL
Ocean Front between 21st and 22nd. Map
As the end of the week arrives, there are no more VIP previews and all the special openings have opened. There are a few less private jets in the airport and Rolls Royces on the street, but Miami is more bustling than before.
Art fans and party seekers have arrived from around the country to enjoy a weekend of art, events, beaches and sun. The day's best bets are to start it off at the Blood Mary bar hosted at the Absolut art bar, and to then head over to take a long look at the Art Basel exhibition. Later in the evening, head over the to W Hotel for a relaxing film dinner on the lawn under the calm night sky. After the movie, the possibilities are endless… after all, it's Friday night in Miami.
Le Baron at Playboy Theatre pt. 2
Bunnies Abound at Le Baron
Thursday night
Ry Rocklen VIP dinner at the Standard Hotel and drinks at Night Court.
Skål to Ry Rocklen
Thursday at Night Court
Open 12 noon - 2 am
7pm Barry Johnston
10pm Nite Jewel
Ocean Front between 21st and 22nd. Map
There is no better way to start a day at Art Basel than a conversation with artist Doug Aitken, who kicks off a series of artist talks this morning with the support of Absolut.
With perfect weather in the forecast, it also seems like the great day to hit the beach and go for a swim. Once the sun goes down, Absolut then has another busy night starting with VIP dinner hosted by Ry Rocklen at The Standard Hotel, followed by performances from Barry Johnston and Nite Jewel at 'Night Court'.
After that, its a tough choice between another the Le Baron pop-up appearing tonight at the Playboy Theatre or Tiki Disco at the Gale Hotel. Either way, it looks like another amazing day at Art Basel.
Le Baron Pop-Ups Take Over Miami
No matter what county it is, or what the venue is, any time Mr. A's hat appears on the door of a club, marking it with the scarlet letter of the debaucherous Le Baron, there is surely to be the best kind of trouble inside. Almost as if to prove the point many times over, Mr. A and his crew have a plan to becomes the kings Miami nightlife by taking over a different club every night, transforming each with their unique brand of fun.
With a reputation known the world over, everyone wants to get in on the action, however, only a select few will ever get in. Luckily we're going to be there each night. Check where to find Le Baron each night below:
Tuesday: SL at The James Royal Palm Hotel
Wednesday: Florida Room at The Delano
Thursday: Playboy Threatre
Friday: Pearl, Nikki Beach
Saturday: Pearl Nikki Beach
Sunday: The Wall, W Hotel
Wednesday night at Night Court
"People say, you know, everything is fashion nowadays, well I think everything is furniture. Ry seems to be on the same wavelength."
A Lovely Night at the Standard
Back in August, Absolut connected with Andre Saraiva for 'Back to Sweden' his first gallery show in his native country. Continuing with the Dream Concerts aesthetic that he presented in Sweden, he debuted a poster series titled Artist of the Day at a pop-up gallery hosted at the Standard Hotel in Miami – yesterday's artist was Damien Hirst.
Tonight at Night Court
8pm Dynasty Handbag
10pm Ariel Pink
Come check it out: At Oceanfront, Miami Beach
Tuesday night at Night Court
The First Night
"Bodies International wants you to perspire to greatness!" called out the gold-haired member of Bodies International, the artistic aerobics performance group that kicked off the opening party of 'Night Court'. As part of the show, the group taught guests a few basic dancercise steps to help them feeling fit through the coming days of art.
After everyone mastered their moves, they headed over to the bar for a Modernade, an And One, a Blood of a Champion, or a Winning Spirit – unique cocktails developed for the event.
The dancers and cocktails were both part of a full experience curated by artist Ry Rocklen to complement his art bar installation, which will be open for all of Art Basel in Miami. In addition to his careful staging, Rocklen has also chosen a headlining performer for each day.
For the opening night, gender bending rapper Mykki Blanco brought his pounding beats to the stage – loud enough that guests of a event next door came over the check out the show accompanying the music they could hear from afar. It was a perfect opportunity for everyone to try out their newly learned dance-moves.
Photos by Sesse Lind
An Art Happening
We Are the Champions, My Friends
Who says there are no prizes for second place? A glance at a contemporary trophy catalog reveals the old adage to be patently false. There are prizes for third, fourth and fifth places too. And beyond. Today, everyone is a winner.
Photo by Rob Chamorro
The Night Court cocktail collection
by Ry Rocklen
Tonight at Art Basel Miami Beach, Night Court — the pop-up bar meets performance venue meets sports arena — opens for the festival's official VIP preview. In addition to an incredible set of sculptures built by artist Ry Rocklen for the event, the artist expanded his repertoire to include a series of cocktail created to accompany the installation. If you won't have the chance to check it out yourself this week, here are the recipes to try them at home.
From the left:
The Winning Spirit
40 ml Absolut on the Rocks
And One
(Combo cocktail, one lowball cocktail and one shot)
Lowball cocktail
40 ml Absolut Vodka
20 ml fresh Lemon juice
25 ml Sugar syrup
20 ml fresh Blueberry Pureé (6 pieces of blueberries)
5 ml fresh Ginger Juice
Shake all the ingredients and strain over cube ice into a lowball glass.
20 ml Home made Vanilla infused Absolut Vodka
Add 1 piece of fresh Vanilla pod and 50 ml of Simple Syrup to 1 liter of Absolut. Set aside to macerate for a 3 hours and place in the freezer. Serve ice cold.
40 ml Absolut Vodka
20 ml fresh Lemon juice
30 ml fresh Orange juice
40 ml fresh Grapejuice
30 ml Sugar syrup
3 ml Guarana powder
3 drops Caramell coloring (Blue, Red or Green)
Pour all the ingredients over ice into a plastic sports bottle.
Go mix!
If you want more drinks, check out Absolut Drinks.
Night Court, an Absolut art bar installation by Ry Rocklen
Los Angeles-based artist Ry Rocklen unveils his installation Night Court, produced in collaboration with Absolut as the setting for a pop-up art bar during Art Basel in Miami Beach. Night Court is at once a bar, a performance venue, a sports arena and a showroom for Rocklen's new line of furniture, 'Trophy Modern'.
Art Basel in Miami Beach December 5-8, 2013
Absolut Art Bar joins the favorite winter meeting place for the international art world. With miles of sandy beaches dotted with classic Art Deco architecture, world-class art museums, and a glittering nightlife, Miami Beach ranks among America's most iconic cities. During Art Basel, it embraces the artworld with special exhibitions at museums and galleries across the city, transforming the week into a dense and dynamic cultural event. Over 250 of the world's leading galleries participate, drawing over 50,000 visitors each year.


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7 great quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.
Published On: Dec 12 2011 04:23:04 PM CST Updated On: Jan 17 2014 12:00:00 AM CST
Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. day. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech was the most famous speech at 1963's March on Washington. As the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the march and that iconic speech, take a look at some of King's greatest quotes.
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms Of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms.


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April 27, 2013
"Homegrown Terrorism Is Not On The Rise"
Op-Ed, The Boston Globe
By Risa Brooks
As details emerge about the alleged perpetrators of the Boston Marathon bombings, observers are increasingly speculating that the attacks represent a growing threat of homegrown Muslim terrorism in the United States. Certainly, the reported professions by Dzhokhar Tsarnaev that he and his older brother, Tamerlan, were motivated by jihadist causes, as well as evidence that that they had viewed militant Islamist propaganda, are disturbing. Yet, any claim that their alleged involvement in the bombings portends a growing threat of homegrown terrorist attacks in the United States is greatly exaggerated. There is little basis for thinking that the United States should fear an onslaught of attacks by Muslim jihadists in the United States.
December 14, 2011
"The Exaggerated Threat of American Muslim "Homegrown" Terrorism"
Policy Brief
By Risa Brooks
"...[I]nflating the terrorist threat could alienate Muslim communities in the United States. This would be a worrisome development, because those communities widespread rejection of terrorism and their ongoing willingness to expose suspected militants are two reasons why the homegrown threat remains small."
Fall 2011
"Muslim 'Homegrown' Terrorism in the United States: How Serious Is the Threat?"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 2, volume 36
By Risa Brooks
Despite a surge of arrests in 2009, evidence suggests that Muslim American terrorist activitya phenomenon sometimes referred to as homegrown terrorismis not on the rise. The 2009 arrest count is likely a combination of more aggressive law enforcement and an accident of data: several long-term plots led to arrests in 2009, and many of the plots involved groups, increasing the number of arrests per incident. In addition, many plots have been detected with the help of inside informants. It is therefore crucial not to overreact to statistics in a way that could alienate the Muslim community.
Fall 2003
"Making Military Might: Why Do States Fail and Succeed? A Review Essay"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 2, volume 28
By Risa Brooks
Risa Brooks reviews two books on regime type and military effectiveness: Arabs at War, by Kenneth Pollack, and Democracies at War, by Dan Reiter and Allan Stam.


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The Radiation Transport Group is part of the Reactor and Nuclear Systems Division (RNSD) within the Nuclear Science and Engineering Directorate (NSED) of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Radiation Transport is responsible for the development and use of nuclear analysis methods for criticality safety and radiation protection and shielding applications.
Radiation Transport staff perform basic and applied R&D, using their analysis experience and expertise to provide problem-solving tools, technical solutions, and policy advice to the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as well as other government and private organizations.
Vision & Goals
Through the specific goals described below, contribute to the safe, efficient, and cost-effective use of nuclear technologies:
- Develop accurate, reliable, innovative, and easy-to-use computational tools for criticality safety and radiation shielding analyses that advance the state-of-the-art.
- Produce high-quality technical analyses and documentation that address sponsor needs and meet or exceed sponsor expectations.
- Provide reliable and insightful policy advice on matters related to nuclear safety regulations and practices.


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PARIS Transmittal 2013-2: NCSL hosts webinar on PARIS Veterans Benefit Enhancement Program 3/11/13
Two of our PARIS Board members, Bill Allman and Manuel Urbina, have been asked by the NCSL (National Conference of State Legislators) to present a webinar on their state's Veteran Benefit Enhancement Programs. The webinar is scheduled for Monday, March 11 at 11AM PST/2PM EST. Here is the webinar description that went out to their listserv:
States Help Veterans Access Health Benefits and Save Money, Too
Veteran's Benefit Enhancement Programs connect low-income veterans who are enrolled in Medicaid, with benefits from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The result is that the veterans are getting the benefits that they are entitled to and the state saves Medicaid dollars. Washington was the first state to launch this program and other states have followed. This webinar features speakers from Washington and California, who will discuss issues related to setting up and implementing this type of program.
The NCSL informed us that anyone that is interested may attend. There is no limit on the number of participants. Feel free to forward it to anyone in your state that you feel may have interest.
Click on the link below for the webinar page. The page has a registration link. It is important to note that you must register to be able to attend!
Feel free to contact Bill Allman (360) 725-102) or Manuel Urbina (916) 650-0160 for any additional information.


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Wire weight wrap
I'm not a big fan of tying nymphs with bead heads for various reasons. I have been using a lot of Hugh Hartstell's tutorials on tying, and he seems to use a lot of the wire weight wrap (.015 non-toxic).
The other day, I acidentally bought .025 wire weight. Is this going to be too big for #12, 14, & 16 nymphs? I tied a few pheasant tails with it, but they seem to be a little heavy. I have only been doing 6-7 wraps, instead of the 10-15 that Hugh suggests with the .015.
The other thing I have noticed is that it seems to point the tail at a weird angle, since the barbs are stacked onto the thicker wire weight and then tied down to the hook shank/bend area.
Any thoughts?
I use lead wire, or non-toxic, for BHPT's, Princes, etc when I tie a nymph pattern as you want to get the fly down deep to get the fishes attention. You can vary the size, and # of wraps to get the weight you want. I've found that it helps to wrap the hook shank with Unithread before adding the wire. Seems to keep the wire from slipping down the shank toward the hook bend.
You can also use copper wire, tied as a rib, to add weight. A Brassie, or zebra midge, can have the abdomen tied with wire. You really have a lot of choices as to how you want to tie the fly.
Yes, Hugh's tutorials were/are a great help to me. I know Hugh, used his flies, and i have a great respect for him as a tyier, as a guide, and as a friend. I stand in awe of his tying abilities, and hope someday to get close to his level of expertise.
I have not been tying that long and am far from an expert. So...
One thing that I have found that helps me prevent slipping is to put a small coat of head cement on the wire once on the hook. I usually will spend a little time putting lead on hooks before I start the actual tying process.
If I really want to weight a hook down I will put one layer of wire on (7-8 wraps) and then put another 4-5 wraps toward the front, but not all the way, of the initial wrap.
The weird angle can likely be corrected by less wire toward the hook bend.
I would also stay out of the Fat Tire while tying.
Hope this helps.
jasonkelkins at yahoo dot com
That wire is a little heavier than I would use for those size nymphs. Most of the time I like the wire to be about the diameter of the hook. Here's what you can do though to take care of the weight and tail issue. Just make 3 or 4 wraps wire under the thorax area. You are going to build that area up anyway. Make 3 or 4 wraps and build a thread dam in front of and behind the wire, now cover the wire with thread and apply a couple drops of cement. Leave enough room to tie the tail and body on without any wire underneath. Notice how I tied in the wire in this link and left enough room to tie in the tail and body material so that it would make a smooth transition. I think the wire in just the thorax area would be fine. It will allow you to keep the body slender and it will give the fly a jigging action.
"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it."
Salvador Dali
Last edited by flyman; 04-21-2010 at 03:13 PM.. Reason: 42
I agree with you that wire at the thorax will make the fly "nose" heavy and sink like a jig. Another option is to tie the wire on the rear half of the shank and the the nymph will sink tail first. Either method is valid, just depends on how you want the fly to appear under water as it sinks.
Choices, and choices, and choices. I still have a lot to learn in tying flies, but some guys from the local TU chapter meet every Saturday morning, and I'm invited if I bring doughnuts. HA HA! But seriously, I have learned alot just in the last month, blows my mind.
Some suggestions- 1)Use the .025 to tie some stonefly nymphs- big ones. Smokies fly fishers have concentrated on the Mayflies and Caddis and neglected the huge Stoneflies we have. Look at the size of the nymphal husks on the rocks stonefly nymphs are large. If you follow the fishing reports, the guys hunting those big browns aren't throwing #14 and 16's.
2) Lead free wire is lighter than lead. So we have more bulk for the same weight.
3) A rule of thumb is to use lead wire the same thickeness as your hook shank.
4) A problem most freestone nymphers have is getting their nymphs deep enough. I tie my stonefly nymphs with two tungsten beads one at the thorax and a brown or black for the head. I wrap lead free wire between them. I dubb over the bead and wire at the thorax.
5) With the problems at the tail, wrap a little dubbing.
6) Is where we put the wire on the nymph (other than altering the nymph's shape) really a factor after we attach a tippet resulting in drag, other forces? My personal opinion -90% of time its more important to get the depth.
Randall Sale
the Kytroutbum
You can always just tie in a strip length wise along the shank. Just put it through the hook eye and slide it down the bottom of the shank. Wrap it in and busy (as D. Cammiss would say..) the part at the hook eye to break it loose.
You can flatten the lead out too. Just unwind a manageable length and place it on a piece of wood and tap it with a heavy spoon.
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Last edited by MadisonBoats; 04-26-2010 at 03:57 PM.. Reason: ABCs
I have found that using the woven wire method allows me to add uniform weight across the entire hook. The beadhead could be left off the pattern in this link and may work for you
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A Portage police officer is being called a hero after helping save a boy's life during a fire early Saturday morning.
A house full of relatives -- three children and two adults -- caught on fire at about 1 a.m. Saturday in Portage.
One of the occupants, Peyton Epstein, 9, was trapped in the burning home.
Police Officer Bill Charlebois arrived at the scene and decided to crawl through the home and bring the boy out to safety.
Charlebois said he couldn't see anything but was able to feel around. He felt Peyton's hand, which grabbed back at his own hand, and he brought him outside.
"It's just doing your job as a police officer. I'm just very grateful it turned out the way it did and thankful for us being here today and being safe," Charlebois said.
The boy's mother said she's eternally grateful and has a hard time finding the words to thank the officer for his heroic actions.
The family met with Charlebois on Tuesday for the first time since the fire and shared lots of hugs.
The mother and father weren't home at the time of the fire. An aunt and grandfather were babysitting while the parents were out with other family members, celebrating the fact that they were renewing their vows Saturday night.
Because of the fire, they weren't able to renew their vows. But they're working with their vendors to reschedule the ceremony marking their 10-year wedding anniversary.


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Farmer desperate for hay warns of scam
Extreme drought last summer left many farmers with hay shortages
Southern Wisconsin farmers, still feeling the effects of the worst drought in more than 20 years, now face new challenges from scam artists.
The Columbia County Sheriff's Department said it is investigating a report of a hay scam from Arlene Frutiger, a hobby farmer west of Portage.
The drought, which weather experts classified as "extreme" this summer, led to hay shortages and sent farmers calling friends, neighbors, and out-of-state feed suppliers.
Frutiger bought hay locally but four of her horses died after pesticides in the feed poisoned them, she said. That sent her to the Internet, where she found Kinser Farms in Louisville, Ky.
Frutiger said the supplier, Chad Kinser, offered to deliver hay if she sent a $700 money order first. Three weeks later, she's gotten plenty of excuses but no hay, she said.
"I felt (wiring the money) was necessary," said Frutiger, who has several goats and 10 horses. "That's what I feel very stupid about -- I shouldn't have. And that's one thing I'm stressing -- if they say they want their money, say 'when you deliver it.'"
Frutiger filed a complaint, although the sergeant on call at the Sheriff's Department said he couldn't comment about the details of the investigation.
News 8's sister station, WISC-TV found the Kinser Farms website didn't have a phone number or e-mail address. A message on the "Contact Us" form wasn't returned Sunday.
The tough year got better for Frutiger when she found a local supplier who this week will drop off enough hay to get her through the winter.
"It's got to be a better year next year," she said. "I've been doing this 14 years and I wouldn't stop for anything. It's fulfilling, it's like a therapy, (the horses) are like your kids."
Copyright 2012 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Color Options
Optix encompasses two collections, Glacier Bay and Watercolors. This glass tile evokes the environmental features of the Pacific Northwest. The hues, tints and shades of the palette reflect a place of monumental beauty where inspiration is from surrounding landscape.
|Waterworks Collection
Color Options
Every fitting or fixture, tile or textile meets our uncompromising standards for quality assurance and excellence — proving that functionality and aesthetics go hand-in-hand.Our Heritage
The made-to-order program offers clients an expansive range of possibilities, including special finishes on fittings, custom colors and sizes for ceramics, artistic mosaics, and custom kitchen sinks.Learn more
Waterworks, Waterworks Studio and additional registered and unregistered trademarks are the property of Waterworks IP Company LLC and its affiliates.


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Woman denies burglary; forgeryJuly 09,2014Woman denies
burglary, forgery
A Brandon woman who police say stole her neighbors state income tax refund and cashed it for her own use in April before allegedly burglarizing her neighbors home in May denied three felony charges this week.
Robyn R. Page, 62, pleaded innocent in Rutland criminal court Monday to charges of burglary, forgery, uttering a forged instrument and a misdemeanor charge of petty larceny.
Page, who appeared in court on citations, remains free on court-ordered conditions that include orders to stay away from her neighbors home on 343 Town Farm Road.
At the end of April, Pages neighbor told police that her $600 refund check had been taken from her mailbox and cashed. Police say Page confessed to taking the check to pay for her rent, utility bill and cell phone minutes.
On May 26, Pages same neighbor told police that someone entered her home and stole dish detergent, cat litter and shower wash. A Brandon police officer who visited Pages home that day wrote in a court affidavit that he found all of the stolen items in the house and he said Page confessed to taking the cat litter.MORE IN This Just InBARRE TOWN Firefighters faced a collection of adverse conditions as a house on Granitville Road... Full StoryWILLISTON Police are asking for help identifying the man who tried to steal roughly $800 worth ... Full StoryNEWBURY Police said somebody stole booze and change from a Welch Road residence. Full Story
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My baby is not pooping anymore. She pooped right after birth and the first two days or so but no more after that.
She is gassy and seems to be fine otherwise- she's alert at times throughout the day, she nurses very often and looks fine.
Her birth weight was 8lbs 5 oz 21 inches. She went down to 7lbs 4 oz at 6 days old and as of Tuesday (July 3rd) she was 7 lbs 13 oz.
Her dr. told me to give her a glycerin suppository and I did and she pooped but not again on her own. I gave her another suppository on Saturday June 30th and she pooped but again has not pooped again on her own since then.
I'm starting to only nurse her on one breast in order to ensure she gets the hindmilk but I'm not sure if I should be concerned.
I forgot to add that we did have problems with nursing at first. My nipple was cracked and we stopped nursing on that breast for 2 days so it could heal and I was only able to express a little milk so my husband gave her a little formula as she didn't seem satisfied with the little I expressed and the other breast. We went to a lactation consultant and have been bf-ing exclusively since.
Thanks in advance for advice.


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"I listen to Catholic Answers Live via the internet all the time. Your show is truly edifying! You always present our great Catholic Faith in a clear and concise manner. Indeed, you speak the truth in love. Thank you for all that you do. Keep fighting the good fight!"
"That is our desire, to be tortured for Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and so to be saved, for that will give us salvation and firm confidence at the more terrible universal tribunal of Our Lord and Savior."


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Leather Black & White Mule
Style: 570104258
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Black pointy toe slide with contrasting white trim on the vamp. Twist-textured silvertone buckle on adjustable strap.
- Our obsessively great fit feels as beautiful as it looks.
- Breathable lining.
- Super-comfortable memory foam footbed.
- Leather sole scored for traction.
- Leather, manmade materials and metal. Imported.
- 3.6" heel.
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Protesters demonstrate against the level of unemployment in Tunis. Apr. 7, 2012. Police scuffled with demonstrators as the moderate Islamist government has been criticized by the opposition for doing too little to revitalize Tunisia's economy.
AP Photo
"Democracy Promotion after the 'Jasmine Revolution': A Dispatch from Tunis"
Op-Ed, Jadaliyya
June 5, 2012
Author: Sarah Bush, Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 20112012
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security
"Outside observers frequently refer to Tunisia as democracy's "best hope" in the Middle Eastthe likeliest case where the initial promises of the Arab Spring will be borne out. Of course, there are many challenges, including getting the economy running, drafting the new constitution, coping with some recent violence, and dealing with the emergence of the Salafis, a hard-line Islamist group. Still, Tunisia's functioning state, largely successful and legitimate 2011 election for the National Assembly, politically neutral military, and relatively high level of economic development all seem to bode well for democracy's chances there. If Tunisia is democracy's best hope in the Arab region, then how is the international community supporting its democratic transition?..."
Continue reading: http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/5850/democracy-promotion-after-the-jasmine-revolution_a
For more information about this publication please contact the Belfer Center Communications Office at 617-495-9858.
Full text of this publication is available at:
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The adidas adipure Adapt will let your foot adapt to a barefoot running experience while providing just a touch of protection.
When you're running in the adidas adipure Adapt, get ready to field one question quite often: "Are those water socks?" Your challenge: still saying "Nope, they're running shoes" with a smile on your face the 23rd time you're asked this.
But hey, at least the Adapt is getting people talking. And it should, but for different reasons. Yes, it looks unconventional for a running shoe. But once it's on your foot, the shoe does a good job of hugging your foot in all the right places, thanks to the stretchy upper.
The shoe felt surprisingly well anchored for all testers, in spite of the inability to adjust the upper fit. Still, unless you have a high-volume foot, we'd recommend wearing a sock to fill out the shoe. This will protect you from sliding around and developing blisters. On the downside, a sock might add to the heat in a shoe that's already on the warm side.
The platform of the shoe provides adequate protection from the pebbles and other debris you're likely to encounter on road runs. Beyond that, you get very little cushioning, but a somewhat springy ride thanks to the shoe's curved shape. We noticed the curvature of the platform flattening out after just a few runs, but the shoe remained smooth and responsive.
The curved shape of the platform provides a bit of extra protection on landing and more spring at toe-off. I've been comfortable in these for shorter tempo runs.
The shoe slides around very little on the foot during runs, but I still wasn't entirely anchored in place. I went sockless and came back with several blisters on the bottoms of my toes. With a thin sock, problem solved.
Though it's hard to get a secure fit without a lacing system, this was a comfortable shoe with plenty of road feel.


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~ Nicholas of Lyra, Franciscan; among the foremost exegetes of all times.


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Boston Red Sox (32-22) at Philadelphia Phillies (26-27)
Franklin Morales (0-0, 0.00) vs. Jonathan Pettibone (3-0, 3.21)
TIME: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast Sportsnet
Weather: 86, Partly Cloudy
Media: Twitter and Facebook
For the second time this series, the Phillies will catch a break by missing an ace-caliber pitcher. On Monday, it was Clay Buchholz who the BoSox held back due to shoulder soreness. Tonight, Boston will push back Jon Lester to take Buchholz's scheduled start tomorrow. Pitching in Lester's wake will be the versatile Franklin Morales, who is expected to be a reliever for the Sox over the long haul. Morales, 27, has yet to make an appearance this season. Over the course of his career, Morales has made five appearances against the Phils, with his lone start coming way back in 2007 as a member of the Rockies. In other words, he's a pitcher the Phils haven't really seen, and that usually spells trouble. Among the hitters starting tonight, only Jimmy Rollins has faced Morales more than five times. No one has yet faced him ten times.
As for Phillies starter Jonathan Pettibone, many of us are still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Pettibone has gotten great results so far, but the numbers seem hollow. He's got a 3.21 ERA, but a 4.51 xFIP. That is largely due to an 85.3 LOB%. As our own Corey Seidman tweeted earlier, opponents are hitting .330 against Pettibone when the bases are empty, but just .206 with runners on base. Those numbers aren't sustainable. Eventually, Pettibone is going to come back to earth. This could spell bad news with a potent Red Sox offense that is third in the AL in runs scored and fourth in OPS. Consider that the Red Sox have an OPS of .818 versus righthanders (compared to a .684 against lefties), and it could be the first rocky outing of Pettibone's young career.
A couple lineup notes: Cesar Hernandez makes his first big league start after being recalled from Lehigh Valley yesterday in place of the bereaved Michael Young. It should be a short stay for Hernandez, but fans will get a glimpse of what the 23-year old brings to the table. Ryan Howard sits, likely in need of the rest because of a balky knee. Domonic Brown moves up in the order, but Manuel curiously opts not to bat him cleanup in lieu of the resting Howard.
Lineup: Revere CF, Hernandez 2B, Rollins SS, D. Young RF, Brown LF, Frandsen 1B, Kratz C, Galvis 3B, Pettibone P
Your Gameday Beer: Sam Adams Boston Ale
Boston's most famous brewer is Sam Adams. When people go with Sam's standard offerings, the most popular is the Boston Lager. I've always been more of a fan of the Boston Ale, however. The taste starts off with a combination of sweetness and malts, but finishes heavy on the hops, leaving drinker's with a taste much more complex than its lager counterpart. While the lager may be the casual Sam drinkers selection, the Boston Ale is the beer drinker's beer. Have it with a steak, some vegetables and some cheeses to get in touch with your Colonial America self. –RD
27 Comments
Good idea resting Howard tonight. Brown still not high enough in the lineup but OK. Hopefully, our young pitcher can hold it together. We need a real winning streak.
Boy, have things changed down CBP way. It's not necessarily the first time, but certainly close that the Phils unveil a starting 8 tonight that is almost totally different than a year ago. Jimmy's the lone holdover in this part decision, part freak of the draw. Whether Team Makeshift can pull it out tonight, in what's seen as their best shot at a 4 game win skein this year is largely up to how Pettibone fares in facing a lineup light year's better on the Boston end.
Should be some energy exerted by the youngest lineup the Phils have flashed in a while. Young and hungry oughta be pretty interesting.
RD – I like the summertime Sam Adams.
I wouldn't overdramatize this, this early especially, but Papi here in the 2nd might be the key at bat of the game. Keeping it at 2 here might mean a lot/
Now to do something with it.
Let's see if they can get to Hernandez this inning. Might nbe a little optimistic, but Morales doesn't have great rhythm so far.
3 guys who hit the ball well off Morales earlier bat this inning. I guess that goes down as a hopeful hint.
Right up there with 700 other Phillies innings this year spelling out are ya kidding me?
Leadoff walk….well, you know how that works when it's the other way.
Morales all over the place as the inning went ion, Farrell playing with a charmed life by stretching his pen, but not going to it since a lot og game is left.
And Kratz. Good grief.
Pettibone fights back after dinks galore spell a 4 run first, and they're gonna leave him hung out with only the 2? Ugly bumps along the way. But they still could easily win this game.
Easily.. Nothing easy with this team..they need to work and come through with men on base..period
This, without question, with Martinez announced is the worst Phillies offensive representation in an inning since Oldis, Koppe and Malkmust musta batted in 1 inning.
This is an unbelievable inning with these 3. No offense to Galvis, but let's n ot get carried away with him.
These other 2? Just unreal.
Its a disgrace to me to see MiniMart in any uniform in the ML and even more so wearing the great Mickey's #7. Mantle must be turning over in his grave.
I would agree, except I don't know that Mini wearing a Detroit Red Wings sweater, or Manchester United uni would look too sexy either.
Probably a terrific guy, but good gawd.
That's hilariioud that the ump warned Horst. There oughta be a law that you have to be a decent pitcher to get warned. If you can't pitch, how's an ump to know?
Why even have Mini Mart pinch hit? Pettibone is a better hitter. Save Mini Mart to pinch run- the only thing he is capable of.
the hilarity of it is you use Howard or Nix there and save one for a big late inning spot is that Mini MIGHT be a better play than either against the lefty.
Might is just another word for nothin' left to lose.
Martinez should have drawn a walk. That pitch on 3-0 was clearly high. Probably a foot high. Anyway, Martinez hit a line drive.
Remember when we use to complain about Eric Bruntlett?
That Grizzly Adams looking mofo was better than 4 or 5 guys in the starting line-up tonight.
I guess the moral of the story is a good team can bury a weak player.
And I guess when the bad players multiply, Welcome to New York Mets baseball. Or an imitation of same.
They should have just worn Iron Pigs uniforms tonight.
Also, the Mets are a few innings away from sweeping the Yankees.
Whatever the connection, Papi has a terrific home run ratio in games he's played first base I guess since inter-league, or some qualifier. So in that regard, the blast was no surprise.
Dull game. Crappy bullpen with weak bats,
When, oh God when, is Rube going to release that deadarmed Durbin. Jesus he's terrible.
I'm with you. I cannot understand why his leash is so long. He flat out stinks. I also, based on his performance last season, though Horst we would have performed better than he has so far. Stinker of a game.
B P Durbin.
Frandsen needs to be in the lineup! Everyday, until he shows he can't do it. How do you reward a guy who carried your team the second half of last year? Trade for a rental at $6 million. A good rental IMO, but not one that should knock Frandsen out of the lineup over Howard vs lefties…
Ain't gonna happen..
Joe??? Did you watch the same game as I? Batting 6th and playing 1B was Fransen!!!
Yeah, and 1/3 with a BB. He needs more PT. He's only playing now because Utley and Young are out. He's a .293/.340 OBP against lefties lifetime in the majors and in the stratosphere the last 2 years. Keep him in the lineup.


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I've been a strength and condition coach, personal traininer, Crossfit level 1 and other such titles. I picked up disc golf several years ago and I have found that there are plenty of exercises out there that will help your endurance, distance off the tee and ability to produce power with your entire body.
Cardio is your best bet when trying to improve endurance, but disc golf isn't exactly a run as fast as you can type of sport. If your course has enough hills and length, just playing more than 18 holes usually helps with your endurance during tournaments. Some weekends I'll go play 60-70+ holes and that really has made a difference in being able to stay focused during two-four rounds of a tournament. However, I think being able to run 3-5 miles would be a good comparison to how much distance you could cover at a tournament. Also, a pretty easy substitute or addition to running is jump rope.
Flexibility is one of the most over-looked and underutilized FREE exercising you can do. It helps you warm up and also prevents injury. I would recommend a lot of lower body and hip stretches even throughout your round or while you're waiting for other players to throw. Tight hips take away from your ability to generate power from the ground up. I would also recommend shoulder and torso stretches as well, seems like common sense, but I know a lot of people who just step out of their car and start throwing. This also takes into consideration warming up before a round, throwing some putts, mids and drives just to get loose. When I worked with professional "ball" golfers, during a hour and 15 min workout 30 to 40 min could be spent just on improving flexibility. If your hips can't rotate and your back is tight you're not going to be able to produce as much power with your body to create that whip effect. Easy example: Make a fist and shake your hand as fast as possible......... now relax your hand and shake it as fast as possible......... the same is true with your body.
NOTE: A GREAT WEBSITE TO CHECKOUT IS http://www.mobilitywod.com (this is the single best site for improving and reclaiming mobility) GET A LACROSSE BALL!!!
Grip Strength: How you hold and release the disc has a big effect on distance and the amount of spin you can impart on the disc. Being able to do pull-ups will help increase your forearm and wrist strength. An easy and inexpensive grip trainer is a tennis ball, try and squeeze each individual finger along with your thumb. also if you look up http://rosstraining.com/blog/2010/09/14 ... ce-bucket/ you can see how to make a rice bucket and I would recommend checking out some baseball pitching rice bucket drills, they are AWESOME for strengthening your wrist, forearms and fingers. Probably the best $15 you can spend to improve grip strength. If you've never tried using a rice bucket you'll be amazed how much of a difference it makes.
Strength Training: I realize there are many schools of thought, different body types and certain limitations that individuals have when it comes to this topic. The best progression I have found in my experience working with college and professional athletes is to start with a good foundation. There's NO reason for you to bench press, deadlift or do any weighted movements if you can't move your own body weight efficiently. This especially applies to younger and older individuals. Some basic benchmarks I would have for beginners, intermediate and advanced:
Jump Rope 2 min
Push-Ups 25 or less
Pull-Ups 2-4
Run 2 miles in under 20 min
Jump Rope 5 min
Push-Ups 50-75
Pull-Ups 5-10
Run 3 miles in under 30 min
Jump Rope 10+ min
Push-Ups 100+
Pull-Ups 15+
Run 5 miles in under 40 min
Based on that breakdown I would say don't waste your time doing any weight lifting until you can meet the intermediate standard. I don't recommend using a lot of machines, unless you are injured for some reason. You don't play your sport sitting down, so there's no reason you should workout in that manner. Machines also don't allow you to use your entire body, it would be the equivalent to trying to throw a driver without using your legs, it's not going to workout for that well. Just like getting your entire body into your throw will help improve your distance, doing compound movements (squat, cleans, presses, ect.) will help improve your bodies ability to work as a unit and generate power.
Beginner workout example:
Push-Ups, Pull-Ups, Dips, YTLWs(back strengthening), Bodyweight Squats, Lunges, Running Stairs, Box Jumps, Jump Rope, Sit Ups, Planks, Mountain Climbers, Flutter Kicks, Bicycles, Crunches, Medicine Ball Throws (incorporate X-Step) and Burpees (you can youtube video of all of these) as for reps I would do as many as possible until you are able to reach the intermediate numbers. If you're under 25 your age works well for reps or just try for a total of 50 reps in as few sets as possible.
Push-Ups 2x25 or 1x50
Pull-Ups 5x5 or 12x2
Dips 10x5 or 5x10
Squats 2x25 or 1x50
Lunges 2x25 or 1x50
Burpees 5x10
Core Work: as many as possible
Intermediate Workout Example:
Bench Press 10-15 reps
Pull-Ups 50 under 10min, and then under 5min
Dips - sets of 10-15
Squat (start with the bar and slowly add weight)
Trap Bar Deadlift 10x5 or 5x10
Shoulder Presses 10x5
DB Rows 5x10
Start working on learning how to do power clean and hang cleans
Core Work: Hanging Leg Raises, Palloff Press and Medicine Ball Throws
Advanced Workout Example:
Weighted Pull-Ups
Ring Dips 20+
Bench Press Body Weight 15 times
Squat Body 1.5 Weight x 15-20 times
Trap Bar Deadlifts
Power Cleans
Hang Cleans Push Press
Handstand Push-Ups
Muscle Ups
Double Unders with the Jump Rope
Rope Climbs
KB Turkish Get-Ups
Basically, you want to work your biggest muscle groups because they are the ones that can generate the most power whether you're a football player or a disc golfer the same rules apply for power and force production. Also, lifting weights don't limit range of motion, exercises such as squats, cleans and presses actually help increase flexibility and range of motion. Obviously, everyone is different, but I do know that starting with body weight exercises and gradually moving towards weighted movements is the safest and most effective way to increase strength and prevent injury. Pretty much all of those Advanced exercises work on improving fast twitch muscle fibers which if you were a baseball player you would use to hit a ball and in golf "ball" or disc, you use your body in a very similar manner. If you have any thoughts or individual questions let me know..... this merely a guide and hopefully some useful information.


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Discussion in 'Off-topic Zone' started by jobberone, Jan 31, 2013.


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Tag Archives: Charlie Rouse
Benefit for Dayna Stephens, top saxophonist, BHS alumnus
Dayna Stephens knows a thing or two about overcoming obstacles. As a standout tenor saxophonist at Alameda High in the mid-1990s, he and a friend took over the jazz ensemble when the school's band director quit at the beginning of his junior year. Looking for more rigorous musical training, he transferred to Berkeley High his senior year, and quickly became one of the vaunted jazz program's leading lights. These days he's one of the most respected saxophonists on the New York scene, and he's facing a far more daunting challenge than an AWOL teacher.
Diagnosed in with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) at 19, he's long depended upon dialysis and has been on a kidney transplant wait-list for four years. Beloved by his peers as a person and a player, Stephens is at the center of an ongoing campaign, including a website, Help Dayna Stephens, to raise awareness about FSGS and funds for his medical expenses, which will run some $4,000 a month for anti-rejection medications alone. … Continue reading »


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Michael H. Walsh Jr.November 20,2012
Michael H. Walsh Jr.Michael H. Walsh Jr.
SOUTHPORT, Fla. Michael H. Walsh Jr., 68, of Southport, died Friday, November 16, 2012, in Panama City. Mr. Walsh was born February 24, 1944, to the late Michael H. Sr. and Frances Bussey Walsh, in Rutland, Vt. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Rodney A. Walsh. He leaves behind his precious wife of 46 years, Judy Henderson Walsh; a daughter, Missy Walsh of Southport, Fla.; three sons, Michael Walsh (Shari), David Walsh (Shelly), Jimmy Walsh; 10 grandchildren; a sister, Michele Sheldrick (William); and a brother, William Walsh (Lena). Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at Southerland Family Funeral Home Chapel, Panama City.MORE IN ObituariesCharles T. Baker
Charles T. Full StoryMarguerite Hoose
Marguerite Alice Peggy Hoose, 90, of Rutland, Vermont, died December ... Full StoryLouise S. Full Story
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Written by Guest on 17.07.2013 at 03:22
Meh, I think it's just about fair with the rating. It's good grind, but nothing special.
Written by !J.O.O.E.! on 17.07.2013 at 11:16
Very influential band though, so they certainly are special in the grind scene. Where do you think Misery Index got their name from btw, I didn't mean underrated in terms of the score it, rather I mean underrated in terms of how many votes.


text: Hello ladies. I'm currently BF my 8 month old son. My husband and I went on vacation (without the LO) for 5 days. I pumped and got good results until the last day. Today, I got my LO back and tried to nurse him as soon as I was with him. I didn't feel any letdown at all. My breasts are soft like after i nursed and don't seem to be "filling up" I had to give him a bottle to get him to sleep. Not sure what to do. I'm really determined to get to the one year mark. Please help.


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This week Senate Bill 3000, the legislation that would create a Department of Education under the Governor's purview, was the subject of a rare Committee of the Whole in the Senate. Testimony lasted about seven hours as dozens of witnesses, including ISBE Chairwoman Janet Steiner, board member Greg Kazarian and myself, testified about the ramifications of losing an independent board.
The bill was not voted on. Senator Miguel Del Valle, the
Senate Education Committee chairman has pledged to have two more committee
hearings, one in the
Many of you are well aware of ISBE's role to ensure compliance of state and federal rules, and also distribute funds. We don't often talk about the programs that don't involve assessment or auditing. But before I jump ahead I do want to make you aware of an important item in this week's message regarding streamlining some paperwork in our Funding and Disbursements division. Upon review, we have found several areas that do not require quarterly reports, and these will no longer need to be submitted.
Aside from that I would like to take this opportunity to highlight two programs this week that recognize our best teachers and young writers, both of which are celebrating their 30th anniversaries this year.
Those Who Excel is our teacher recognition program that honors people who have made outstanding contributions to public and nonpublic elementary and secondary education. The program also, through the contributions of our selection committee made up of representatives of teachers and education organizations, selects our Teacher of the Year. We have just wrapped up interviews with the 12 finalists for the Teacher of the Year award, and I would like to introduce you to them:
Lana Jean Baker of
Shaun Carey from
Christine Corpus of
Eric Curry from O'Fallon
Jane Frailey from
Sarah Greer of
Anna Kraftson-Hogue from Queen of
Christine Kelly of
Judy Murphy from
Deborah Perryman of
Pam Rathke from Ridgeview Jr/Sr High School in Colfax; and
Betty Waldhauser of
The 2005 Illinois Teacher of the Year will be announced
at the Those Who Excel banquet on April 17 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in
Also celebrating its 30th anniversary is the Young Authors conference, where we recognize our future Bestsellers as these aspiring writers come together to celebrate the art of verse.
Each year, over 2,000 students, volunteers and family members meet at Illinois State University to participate in Illinois ' Statewide Young Authors Conference. ISBE is honored to be part of this event which is cosponsored by the Illinois Language and Literacy Council. I know that many of you are already holding competitions to select the students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 who will participate in the conference. Over 3,000 informational packets have been sent to schools, and the conference guidelines have been made available on the homepage of the ISBE website at www.isbe.net. The conference will be held on Saturday, May 15 with registration due by April 9.
Further information on both of these programs can be obtained by contacting our Communications division at (217) 782-4648.
Robert Schiller
State Superintendent
of Education
Other important items in this week's message include:
Legislative Update
As I mentioned, education was placed top on the agenda in the legislature last week. I welcome any debate concerning the welfare of our schools and ultimately our children – even if that debate concerns the current governance structure.
The Senate Committee of the Whole offered by the Senate President, Emil Jones, and the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Miguel del Valle, provided for a good public discussion of the SB 3000. I believe many Senators are skeptical about the proposal in its current form as evidenced by the recent announcement of the Senate Black Caucus whose members are raising serious questions.
Also on Wednesday, the following bills advanced out of the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee:
HB 3942 would require school boards to publish each school's lunch menu and the nutrition content, including calories, of each meal item. It also would require comprehensive health education programs to include instruction on clinical depression and suicide prevention.
HB 3970 which limits PE waivers to a two year non-renewable waiver.
HB 3974 which prohibits the sale of soft drinks and candy via vending machines to students.
HB 3979 provides that if a pupil is suspended for one or more school days, then, for that period of suspension, the pupil's parent or guardian may place the pupil in a community-based education program approved by the State Board of Education
HB 4167 requires pupils to engage in daily courses of physical education for periods that are commensurate with their other courses of study, but does allow school boards to excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 if that time is spent for special education support and services.
4265 provides for a tax equivalent grant for
the city of
HB 4266 would increase the foundation level by $250.
HB 4522 would repeal the provisions placed into the school aid formula last year that requires the poverty grant to be prorated is the GSA appropriation is not sufficient to cover the cost of the formula.
HB 5041 is the Governor's proposal to require students to perform community service.
HB 6714 would require that all school districts establish a school bus idling policy that includes having parked school buses at least 100 feet from a school air intake system.
Other actions taken in the legislature this week include the Senate's passage of SB2362 which, if enacted, will ensure the recent tax amnesty funds received by many school districts will not be included in calculation of available local resources.
The following bills also advanced to third reading in the House:
HB4944 calls for the State Board to establish a three-year technology immersion pilot project that would provide a wireless laptop computer to each student, teacher, and relevant administrator, in the participating pilot schools.
HB6813 would allow the parents of special education students who prevail in a due process hearing to recover attorney fees and expert witness fees.
The legislative session will resume on March 23.
Updated Information Regarding the 2004 Assessment of English Language Learners
submitted to USDE in the accountability workbook for
Clarifying information from ISBE on this topic: Illinois believes that scoring at the proficient level, although for three consecutive years rather than the two years indicated in Federal information from Secretary Paige, is evidence that students have overcome difficulties in listening, speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language. The additional years would be applicable for both Title I as well as Title III purposes; however, full implementation of this three-year tracking system will not be realized until the statewide student identification system currently under development is in place. Full implementation of this system is anticipated in conjunction with the enhanced assessment system in 2006, at which time all grade levels will be tested (3-8 and 11). In the interim, we will make every effort to include students in the LEP subgroup for two years following transition from the program. This rationale is supported in the February 2004 USDE guidance on this topic.
all this will be implemented in
Including former LEP students in the LEP subgroup: For any student who has transitioned out of state approved TBE/TPI programs either one or two years ago, the field entitled "Years Since Student Exited the TBE/PI Program" must be indicated on the pre-ID label or by filling in the correct bubble on the answer document. Scores for students who have this field coded, will automatically become part of the LEP subgroup for AYP.
New Pupil Transportation Inquiry System
A new inquiry system is now available for local education agencies and the general public to view pupil transportation information submitted to ISBE such as claims, depreciation schedules, reimbursement and annual statistical data from FY 2003 and forward. The inquiry system can be accessed at http://webprod1.isbe.net/ptcrs/inquiry/inqhome.asp and can also be reached by clicking on "School Finance" on the ISBE Home Page. The inquiry system is located under the Electronic Financial Services heading. Questions regarding this new inquiry system can be directed to Jan Reische, Division of Funding and Disbursement Services at 217-782-5256.
Elimination of Some State Expenditure Reports
Recently there has been discussion on the number of forms (e.g. Expenditure Reports) that local education agencies must complete and submit to the State Board. An administrative decision has been reached to eliminate all quarterly expenditure reports effective immediately on STATE programs except for Summer Bridges (Extended Learning Opportunities in FY 2005), Regional Safe Schools and Early Childhood. These programs are exempt because we are working in cooperation with the Governors Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the state Department of Human Services (DHS) to claim various allowable state education expenditures under the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program (TANF). The state Bilingual program is exempt due to statutory requirements in the School Code; in addition, there may also be exceptions for some unique state appropriation grants that require greater financial accountability. We will still require end of year expenditure reports for all grant programs. This decision does not impact federal programs due to cash management requirements per federal rule. Questions can be directed to staff in the Division of Funding and Disbursement Services, 217-782-5256.
Certification Updates
Certificate Renewal and Moving from Initial to Standard Certification
Updated information about the requirements, options and procedures for certificate renewal and moving from Initial to Standard certification is now available at www.isbe.net. A home page hot topic called "Updated Certification Information" will connect you to a page with links to each of these topics. Please read this information carefully and share it with your staff.
Professional Development Providers
An email reminder was recently sent to all professional development providers whose original approval is scheduled to expire July 1, 2004. If your approval ends this summer, we urge you to access the PDP system http://webprod1.isbe.net/PDP and choose the option to either "Renew your application" or "Withdraw your application" on the "Renewal Application" screen.
Another New Use for OTIS
Beginning Monday, March 8, teachers and administrators will be able to apply for duplicate certificates through the Online Teacher Information System (OTIS) and to pay their fee by credit card. Access to OTIS is available at http://www.isbe.net/teachers.htm
The first round of grants for the Illinois Mathematics and Science Partnerships (IMSP) program have been released.
The discretionary grants offer additional training to teachers to enhance their content knowledge and skills in both math and science. The initial recipients reflect partnerships between regional offices of education, public school districts, universities and national science laboratories. The learned teaching methods are intended to drive student achievement in those two core areas.
The competitive grants will require participants to attend two-week institutes this summer and four follow-up sessions during the 2004-2005 school year. Participating teachers will become part of a statewide research team that will test their newly acquired skills in their classrooms. Teachers will be asked to evaluate their new teaching methods and report their successes and/or suggestions for refinement.
The grants are federally funded through
Title II, Part B of the No Child Left Behind Act.
2004-2005 Official Public School Calendars
The Official Public School Calendar is currently in the final testing stages for deployment via the Illinois State Board of Education Web Application Security system (IWAS). All 2004-2005 Official Public School Calendars will be required to be transmitted through this system when it becomes available in the next few weeks. However, an Excel version of the calendar is being made available in the interim at http://www.isbe.net/funding/excel/school_calendar_2004-05.xls. Please note that this should only be used as a working document for planning purposes and should not be transmitted to ISBE as an email attachment. We will notify you very soon when the IWAS version of the Official Public School Calendar is available. If you have any questions please contact Randy Johnson, Division of Funding and Disbursement Services at 217-782-5256.
Drivers Education Work Zone Awareness Program
The Illinois Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the American Traffic Safety Services Association and the Virginia Department of Transportation, has developed a Drivers Education Work Zone Awareness Program.
The program consists of a 90-minute presentation including a CD-ROM with a PowerPoint presentation, handout materials, the Pact-student agreement and completion certificate. For more details, please see the press release located at http://www.dot.state.il.us/press/r030104.html
March is Arts Month in many states across the country. The Illinois Art Education Association sponsors Youth Art Month during the month of March. The week of March 8-14, 2004, is the 22nd annual Illinois Arts Education Week. A poster sponsored by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Alliance for Arts Education is on its way to all public and nonpublic schools. The back of the poster contains references to the Illinois Learning Goals and Standards for the Fine Arts as well as suggested resources, activities and celebrations. This is a great time to plan family arts events, hold student performances and exhibitions, and advocate for arts education.
A proclamation promoting Illinois Arts Education Week will be available to be downloaded from our website at www.isbe.net next week. A smaller version of the poster and other additional information will also be linked on our website on the Curriculum and Instruction homepage.