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What is in this article?:
- Wall Street and weather hit U.S. farms
- Falling prices?
- Plunging prices are actually a price correction, after a year of climbing prices due to global demand and an extremely tough summer of floods and droughts nationwide.
- Dairy farmers are especially hard-hit, because the price they're getting for raw milk has dropped drastically while the price of feed grain has not gone down as much.
Recent weeks have been bad for agricultural commodity producers, with falling prices impacting Pennsylvania's farmers. An economist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences said there are reasons why prices for corn, milk, soybeans, beef, pork and wheat have fallen sharply.
James Dunn, professor of agricultural economics, noted that what appears to be plunging prices are actually a price correction, after a year of climbing prices due to global demand and an extremely tough summer of floods and droughts nationwide.
"For the last several weeks, prices for basic commodities have been going down sharply," Dunn said. "Some went down a few weeks ago, others went down recently, but all basic agricultural commodities that are of interest in Pennsylvania have dropped in the last two months -- pretty substantially in most cases.
"Some by 20 percent, others by just 10 percent, but all are down considerably. Corn and soybeans have bounced back somewhat this week but still are well below their levels in early September."
Dairy farmers are especially hard-hit, because the price they're getting for raw milk has dropped drastically while the price of feed grain has not gone down as much, according to Dunn. The disparity is compounded by excessive spring rain, summer drought and flooding in the Northeast and record drought in the Southwest. The harsh weather wiped out much of the feed corn and forage crops intended to feed dairy herds.
"It's been a bad year for on-farm feed production, so a lot of farmers will be going out to buy stuff they thought they already had produced," he said. "So, they spent money to plant crops they didn't get, and now they have to spend more money to replace them."
Dunn said because the weather in the Midwest has improved in recent weeks, the corn crop should be better than projected earlier in the summer -- a much-needed break, since Eastern farmers probably will have to buy supplemental feed and forage at premium prices.
Another culprit is Wall Street, Dunn explained, as speculators jumped in to take advantage of a well-known economic indicator, driving prices higher than the norm.
"A lot of times, if you have a national economic recovery coming, the basic commodities lead the recovery," he said. "So, people with no interest in or understanding of agriculture invested in commodities because they were looking to make money.
"But once it became clear that the U.S. economy was not recovering, and that we actually may be at risk for a double-dip recession, these people fled from the basic commodities because they were afraid prices would go back down. And of course, their departure back into cash and out of agriculture meant that the commodities lost value because there weren't buyers willing to step in at those high prices.
"To some extent, they created an investment 'bubble' of higher-than-reasonable commodity prices."


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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/156033
- Title
- Convolutive reshaping as a way to simulate voltammetry at disk electrodes
- Author(s)
- Mahon, Peter J.
- Abstract
- The accurate transformation of voltammograms obtained from one dimensional simulations for various mechanisms at spherical electrodes into the corresponding voltammogram that would be obtained for the more complicated disk geometry is demonstrated. The procedure is based on the convolutive reshaping of the currents using a specific function that has been developed to convert the spherical geometry into a corresponding disk. Due to the requirement that the extended semiintegral should be equal for both geometries, four possible scenarios are examined to find the conditions that are optimal. In general, excellent results are obtained with the procedure but where significant differences have been observed, the effect is dependent on the radius factor and it is demonstrated that the best results are obtained when the disk and the hemisphere have equal areas.
- Publication type
- Journal article
- Research centre
- Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences
- Source
- Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 56, no. 5 (Feb 2011), pp. 2190-2200
- Publication year
- 2011
- FOR Code(s)
- 0301 Analytical Chemistry; 0306 Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural); 030102 Electroanalytical Chemistry; 030604 Electrochemistry
- Keyword(s)
- Coupled reactions; Cyclic voltammetry; Disk electrodes; Microelectrodes; Simulation; Spherical electrodes
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- 0013-4686
- Publisher URL
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Peer reviewed

subset: commoncrawl


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"Between heresy and schism there is this difference, that heresy perverts dogma, while schism, by rebellion against the bishop, separates from the Church. Nevertheless there is no schism which does not trump up a heresy to justify its departure from the Church."


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Nikon D610 Review – The Nikon D610 arrives as the successor to the Nikon D600. We take a closer look to see if it's the camera the D600 should have been all along in the What Digital Camera Nikon D610 review.
Nikon D610 Review
Just under a year later and we have the Nikon D610, with its arrival suggesting that Nikon wants to draw a line under the bad press the D600 has received in some quarters and start afresh.
Nikon D610 Review – Features
Compared to the D600, the Nikon D610 sees only three obvious improvements over its predecessor – the burst speed has been beefed up a little from 5.5fps to 6fps, there's now a new 'quiet continuous' mode that shoots at 3fps, with the noise of the shutter release dulled for those times when you need to keep a low profile, while the camera's Auto White Balance has had some attention for improved colour rendition in artificial lighting and more realistic skin tones.
The first two new features can be attributed to the new shutter mechanism compared to the D600, which while we can't corroborate this, might point to the cause of the issue with the D600.
While there are only subtle changes from the D600, it still features a mightily impressive specification. This includes a pixel-rich 24.3MP full frame CMOS sensor that supports a built-in 1.5x DX crop mode, so if you're currently have an APS-C Nikon DSLR, you'll still be able to use your DX-format lenses, albeit at a reduced resolution of 10.5MP.
Combined with the EXPEED 3 image-processing engine sees the D610 offer a native ISO range of 100-6400 that can be expanded to an ISO equivalent of ISO 50-25,600. This means it delivers an identical ISO range to the D800, but falls a little behind its closest rival, the Canon EOS 6D, which offers an expanded ISO equivalent to 102,400.
AF system
There's a generous pro-like 39-point AF system, with the central 9 points cross-type variants for improved AF acquirement, as well as being capable of locking on to your subject in conditions as poor as -1EV. And because the AF system is hooked up to the D610's Scene Recognition System, 3D focus tracking is possible, which sees the D610 utilise a predictive system to track your subject as it moves round the frame.
There's a decent optical viewfinder that delivers a 100% coverage and a solid 0.7x magnification, while at the rear you'll find a 3.2in display with a resolution of 921k-dots and as we've seen before, the screen is designed to adjust to the surrounding brightness.
Thanks to the built-in flash, the D610 offers wireless flash control that allows you to trigger remotely positioned compatible flashguns for more creative lighting out on location, with the option of TTL or Manual control.
Like the D600, wireless transfer of images is supported via the optional WU-1b Mobile Adapter, but it's a same not to see this facility integrated into the D610.
Nikon D610 review – Design
With the Nikon D610's internals staying pretty much as they we on the Nikon D600, its no surprise to see the exterior remains pretty much identical too. The top and rear covers are constructed from magnesium alloy, which leaves the remainder formed from high-impact polycarbonate plastic. While it doesn't quite deliver quite the same robust feel as the higher-priced D800, its still sports the same high-level of weather-sealing to protect it from dust and moisture, resulting in a hardy but lightweight shell.
The D610 is a nicely proportioned piece of kit, with a comfy generously sized handgrip that even when clasped with large hands, won't see your little finger dangling over the underside of the camera. It's also logically laid out, with both existing Nikon users and those who have been tempted to jump brands having no reason to not feel at home with the D610.
Along the top-plate you'll find a fairly uncluttered mode dial, with the release mode dial underneath it that now includes the additional quiet continuous shooting mode. Both feature a dedicated locking button to avoid any unintentional dial turning during shooting, though we'd have liked to have seen something a little less fiddly for the release mode lock.
The D610 is dotted with a plethora of external access points for a range of shooting controls, with large and comfortable buttons to press, while the dual front and rear command dials fall comfortably to the hand and are easy to turn.
Nikon D610 review – Performance
While the Nikon D610's 39 AF points are grouped relatively closely together in the centre of the frame, that's the only major grumble here. The Mult-CAM4800 unit works well, acquiring lock-on quickly without any hunting, even in relatively poorly-lit conditions, while selecting the desired AF point is done via the D-pad at the rear – in some situations it might be desired to reduce the active AF points down to 11 should you want to move around the frame quicker.
We have to say the sophisticated AF tracking options at your disposal when AF is set to continuous work impressively well. You'll have to spend a little time learning the system – there's a choice of nine, 21 or 39-point Dynamic AF modes on top of the 3D Tracking mode, but the set-up for you will depend on how erratically your subject may be moving.
Combined with the slight boost in frame advance from 5.5fps to 6fps, the D610 makes a sound case for itself when it comes to shooting action, sustaining that pace for 15 Raw files or 40 JPEG files with a Class 10 SD card.
Live View
AF in live view is a bit of a different story, with the AF performance being pretty sluggish – you'll find it's useful for close-up work where you have time to consider the shot, but if you intend to track your subject, it's not really a realistic expectation. This is not a unique problem for the D610 as most DSLRs struggle in similar circumstances, but it's worth considering if you intend to shoot in this way a lot.
As well as the 6fps burst shooting offered by the D610, the other new feature is the Quiet Continuous shooting mode. This will be a welcome addition for social and wedding photographers, but don't expect it to be silent – while the noise of the shutter is dulled, it's still relatively audible and may still be too loud a clunk in some situations.
One of the benefits to moving up to full frame is the size of the viewfinder, and the D610's is noticeably larger and brighter than those found in the majority of APS-C DSLRs. There's a handy on-demand grid overlay that can be set-up too, aiding composition and helping to battle slightly wonky horizons when shooting.
LCD performance
In isolation, the D610's 3.2in screen looks impressive, with detail rendered nicely and a decent amount of contrast displayed. While good, the overall effect isn't quite as punchy as some rivals, while a more useful 3:2 aspect ratio would have been more use.
Perhaps the biggest question though is whether we would experience any dust or oil appearing on the sensor after prolonged use. To find out, a test shot was taken against an illuminated white background down in our studio before rattling off just over 3,000 images before another shot was taken under the same conditions. Reviewing the images at 100%, we're happy to report that both shots exhibited no signs of any oil or dust deposited on the sensor.
Overall then, while it does have its little niggles, the D610 is a very satisfying camera to shoot with. As we've said, the majority of controls fall to the hand nicely, while the fast AF, solid burst shooting and large viewfinder all add to the experience.
Nikon D610 review – Image Quality
Colour and White Balance
As with the D600, we found the camera's Auto White Balance performed very well, and was well-judged in most scenarios. As we've seen with other recent Nikon DSLRs, there's also an Auto 2 mode designed to maintain warm lighting colour under artificial light should you want to retain the mood of the scene, rather than a more neutral result.
The D610 doesn't feature the complex 91,000-pixel 3D Matrix III system that's found in the D800, the 2016-pixel RGB sensor used by the D610 performs well overall.
If we're being picky, we'd have liked to have seen a similar feature that's provided by the D800 whereby the camera's metering automatically detects and prioritises the exposure of a face in a backlit scene while we did find on the odd occasion that it was necessary to dial in -0.3 – -0.7EV to retain highlight detail in relatively contrasty scenarios. That said, the D610's metering performance is still very strong.
While there's still an AA filter used by the D610, the level of detail achievable from the 24.3MP full frame sensor is still very impressive. Looking at results from our resolution test chart and Raw files at the base ISO of 50 sees the sensor resolve down to 32lpmm (lines per mm). While it can't quite match the 36lpmm achieved by the D800, its still very impressive and edges out its closest rival, the 20.2MP Canon EOS 6D, which resolves down to a 30lpmm.
Image Noise
Both Raw and JPEG files at lower sensitivities display smooth and detailed results with no noise visible to detract from the final result. Its only at ISO 3200 that image noise becomes apparent, with subtle luminance and colour noise beginning to creep into the image, becoming a little more pronounced at ISO 6400, though still more than useable.
While in-camera processing can be an issue at higher sensitivities, resulting in a waxy look, the D610's JPEG files hold up very well. This is thanks to fairly light processing processing being applied that sees detail holding up relatively well, though for best results we'd recommend shooting Raw and send a little time in post-processing to achieve the better result.
Nikon D610 review – Verdict
It wouldn't be unreasonable to be cynical about the Nikon D610, with its very minor updates hinting at what many people see as it simply being a marketing fix for the somewhat tarnished D600. While to some extent this may be true, the D610 is still a fantastic piece of kit.
With the excepiton of Wi-fi connectivity that some may have liked to have seen, the specification is incredibly comprehensive, with no major gaps to deter those who are thinking of upgrading.
The build quality and finish is very good, with the blend of magnesium alloy and high-impact plastic delivering a sturdy but relatively lightweight feel.
In use it delivers the goods, with a sound AF system and logically laid out controls, while the full frame chip will deliver highly detailed and rich images. All-in-all then, it's a very well made, well-thought-out and high-performing DSLR that should be very tempting at the price.
Nikon D610 Review – Sample Gallery
This is a small selection of images taken with the Nikon D610. For a wider selection of images, head on over to the Nikon D610 review sample image gallery.
Nikon D610 First Look
In a surprise announcement, Nikon has just this morning unveiled the D610, successor to the popular D600 which was released last year.
While it sports the same 24.3MP sensor as the D600, the shooting speed has been upped to 6fps, and a new Quiet Release Burst mode allows for shooting at 3fps in near silence – a boon for wildlife and street photographers.
The D610 also inherits several characteristics of Nikon's D4, including the Expeed 3 image processor and AF sensitivity.
Given the abundance of previously existing Nikon technology in the D610, this release may be a response to the dust/oil issues that have plagued the D600 since its release.


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Phone: 503-823-4682
fax: 503-823-4019
1221 SW 4th Ave. Suite 210, Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 503-823-4682
fax: 503-823-4019
1221 SW 4th Ave. Suite 210, Portland, OR 97204
Steve Novick grew up in Cottage Grove, Oregon and graduated from the University of Oregon and Harvard Law School. He spent nine years as an environmental law enforcement lawyer at the U.S. Justice Department, recovering $129 million for taxpayers in the Love Canal toxic waste case, and securing judgments against violators of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.
Since returning to Oregon in 1996, Steve has served as policy director in Governor Kulongoski's 2002 campaign; as communications director for Citizens for Oregon's Future, a non-profit dedicated to providing reliable information to the public on tax and budget issues; as legislative liaison for Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo; and as a policy analyst and spokesperson in numerous campaigns against ballot measures that threatened education, healthcare, public safety and services for seniors. Steve has also waged a lengthy campaign to get the Oregon Lottery to increase its investments in schools by reducing its excessive payments video lottery retailers.
Novick has said that his focus as a Commissioner will be on looking for opportunities, in a variety of policy areas, to "take action now to avoid problems later." He stated, "We can strengthen our economy by making Portland a model for reducing healthcare costs. We do that in part by encouraging and enabling people to keep themselves healthier and avoid trips to the hospital - everything from developing safe routes for kids to walk to school to getting employers and unions together to share effective wellness strategies."
Novick is also confident that Portland can be made safer by working with the County and the State to redirect some resources from prison to prevention. "And we can make Portland truly sustainable," he said, "by taking steps to get ready for the earthquake - steps like getting help for homeowners to bolt their homes to their foundations."
Novick has also stressed the need for Portland to address the startling levels of inequality in the city. He believes that the use of urban renewal as a primary economic development strategy has too often exacerbated, rather than alleviated, racial and geographic disparities in Portlanders' standard of living, and that in future, the City's major investments and policy decisions need to be subjected to "equity impact analysis."
Novick, a former longtime Sellwood-Moreland resident, now lives with his wife, Rachel Novick, and their Corgis, Pumpkin and Checkers, in the Multnomah Village neighborhood. They enjoy playing tetherball, watching the Colbert Report, and taking advantage of Portland's many treasures, from Trek in the Park to dragonboat races to walking up Mount Tabor, walking through Forest Park to Pittock Mansion... and, of course, the Corgi Walk in the Pearl.
2013 Reporting Calendar


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Deus Ex: Human Revolution ReviewBy Jake Gaskill - Posted Aug 22, 2011
Like its tortured protagonist, Deus Ex: Human Revolution carries with it the clear remnants of its past, while evolving past the limitations that often accompany those connections, to become something wholly its own. Human Revolution is a thoroughly engrossing and satisfying ride.
The Pros
- Thoroughly engrossing world/settings
- Slick and satisfying gameplay
- Great sense of freedom and experimentation
The Cons
- Inconsistent enemy AI
- Jarring disconnect between cutscenes and gameplay
- Illuminati clumsily included
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Review:
Evaluating Deus Ex: Human Revolution based on how similar/dissimilar it is to its acclaimed grandfather, the acclaimed and seemingly infallible Deus Ex, and/or Human Revolution's divisive predecessor, Deus Ex: Invisible War, will be a natural inclination for anyone who has played the previous two games; however, I think it would be a waste of time and would do a disservice to what the team at Eidos Montreal has achieved with Human Revolution, flaws and all.
Meanwhile, Back At The Lab
After his lab is attacked by unknown military forces, Adam Jensen is left on the brink of death, and is forcibly outfitted with all manner of physical augmentations to both save his life and turn him into a highly capable super soldier for his boss, David Sarif, founder of Sarif Industries, one of the world's leading biotechnology firms specializing in human augmentation research.
Over the course of the story, Adam must travel the globe to track down those responsible for the attack and uncover a few painful truths along the way. For as many twists and turns as there are (cough…Watchmen…cough), the story itself is, for the most part, well-paced and enjoyable. Sadly, the inclusion of the Illuminati as a major player in the game's overall conspiracy is an unfortunate misstep. The story itself is rather well told and compelling enough on its own. Adding something as tired and predictable as the Illuminati unfortunately takes away from the rest of the story.
The World is Yours
The yellow-tinged near future of 2027 is brought to life with pitch perfect detail and presents a world that feels both entirely plausible while just beyond reality. From the dark streets of Detroit to the neon sign-lit Hengsha to a miles-deep research facility in the arctic, the settings are diverse and wonderfully realized from top to bottom.
What the game lacks in graphical horsepower, it more than makes up for with mood and atmosphere. And the clever use of strategically placed backdrops—Mass Effect comes to mind—gives the illusion of existing in sprawling environments and metropolises even though you're only exploring contained, yet still expansive, portions of said environments. The world has a life of its own, and it's a place you want to exist in, an absolute must for a game that could take you upwards of 35 hours to beat if you complete all the side quests and take your time; running and gunning types might be able to get through it in as few as 15 hours, aka one hour per chapter, which would be mighty impressive.
Choose Wisely
From the first demos we ever saw for Human Revolution, the emphasis has always been on player choice, one of the defining characteristics of the Deus Ex series. The game does a fabulous job of giving players (nearly) absolute freedom to play and combine combat (lethal and non-lethal), stealth, hacking, and social elements in any way they see fit.
I say "nearly" because there are several key boss fights in the game that are combat-centric, and for someone like me who went the hacking/stealth route and didn't upgrade my combat abilities at all (aside from upping my armor, mainly to prepare for the boss fights), these showdowns were much more limiting in terms of options than I was expecting, especially given how much freedom there is in the rest of the game. Of course, none of the bosses were particularly tough, even for my nerdy, non-confrontational Jensen, so it didn't ruin the overall experience, but it was a bit surprising.
Augmented Reality
The augmentation system is the other major component in which players have the freedom to tailor the gameplay experience to their particular play styles. The menu can be a bit overwhelming when you first look at it (and the heartbeat sound that accompanies it gets quite annoying after a while), but once you get a grasp on which ones you want to focus on, it becomes easy to navigate.
The options are also plentiful, and best of all, when you unlock a new ability, you instantly get sort of perk for that augment, which serves as its first level. But because there's usually a lot of time between upgrades, getting a little something extra makes the wait for the next upgrade point much more tolerable, and you get a cool perk to boot. It's a small yet very smart design choice that improves the quality of the overall game tremendously.
Mixing and matching your augments is one of the game's great joys, as you can truly make your Jensen wholly your own. But as the game tells you, you aren't able to upgrade all of the abilities, so you do have to be careful how you spend your points.
Thankfully, there's no real way to screw up your character. Like I said earlier, even though I ignored combat upgrades, I was still able to get through the toughest boss fights, even if I had to strategize a bit more. So, you really can explore freely without having to worry about augmenting yourself into a corner later on. Also, because of how the levels are laid out, it's totally possible to be a not entirely lethal character (because after all, the silenced pistol and arm blades are just too sweet not to use) while still holding your own on the battlefield, making for an experience that truly caters to all types of players.
Ask The Right Questions, and You Get The Right Answers
The social functions can also open or close story and gameplay avenues depending on how you navigate them. Human Revolution features a character "interrogation" system not unlike that seen in L.A. Noire, neural analyzers and mood-altering pheromone emitters aside. While "failing" these conversations, which you can do by misreading a person's personality type, can definitely cause problems, there's usually always a way to solve the problem without their help; it will just be a hell of a lot harder to do so. Like, if you screw up with your pal at the Detroit police station during one of the game's first missions, you'll have to sneak your way through the station and reach the basement morgue undetected. If you can convince your friend to let you in the station, you are free to walk around all you want, turning what could be a potentially hour-long mission into a five minute one.
Like I said, I stuck primarily to the stealth/hacking tract for my playthrough, from my experience with the gunplay, I think shooter fans will find a comfortable fit here. The controls can be a bit stiff at times, but upgrading the combat augments will definitely help steady your hand and make it a more enjoyable experience, perhaps more so than I think a lot of people are probably expecting. The variety of weaponry is also welcomed and includes everything from a stun gun and a plasma rifle to a crossbow and a rocket launcher; again, it's all about options.
Here Comes The Catch
Although, for as many successes as there are in Deus Ex Human Revolution, it's not without its shortcomings. For one, the enemy AI can be inconsistent, vacillating between the smartest enemies ever to a rock in a uniform. This becomes quite noticeable when dealing with one of the game's otherwise well executed cover system.
When in cover, you are virtual invisible from most angles, but there are times when an enemy should clearly be able to see you but they don't; however, when you go out of cover and are simply squatting behind whatever object you were in cover against, the enemy that didn't see you a second before spots you instantly. Or there are times when you an enemy will spot you from a good distance away as you're diving between cover, but other times they won't see you dragging one of their buddies away because you're out of their cone of vision, even if there are no obstructions between you and the enemy.
Presentation wise, there is a serious disconnect between the cutscenes and the gameplay, and not just because its pre-rendered vs. in-game engine. The cutscenes are incredibly dark and dominated by shadows, while the game is significantly brighter (even before tweaking the brightness settings), so when it jumps between the two, you can't help but be pulled out of the experience.
The performances are solid across the board (Sarif being the weak link) but the facial animations are stiff, and during the majority of your conversations, all the characters cycle through the same six or seven animations, regardless of the context of the conversation, which can make for some rather strange interactions.
The Revolution Has Come To An End
Some people might see the game's multiple endings, sadly determined by pushing one of four buttons (assuming you complete two side objectives towards the end of the game, otherwise you will only have two buttons to choose from), as potentially a way to invalidate everything the player has done over the course of the previous dozens of hours by letting them pick a conclusion entirely counter to how they played the game (e.g. picking the harsher of the endings despite being non-lethal, or murdering your way through the game and picking the most sensible outcome); however, like the choices themselves, which range from light grey to darker grey in theme, nothing is black and white, and humanity's capacity to adapt to ever changing realities, especially in terms of technological progress and humanity's own evolution, is one of the game's primary themes. Again, it's not executed as elegantly as it no doubt could have been, but it wasn't a game-breaking cop out either, and I thought it fit nicely within the context of the overall story.
Like its tortured protagonist, Deus Ex: Human Revolution carries with it the clear remnants of its past while evolving past the limitations that often accompany those connections to become something wholly its own. It certainly isn't perfect, and there is plenty of room for improvement (a sequel is hinted at, so hopefully the team will have a chance to build on this very solid foundation), but Human Revolution is a thoroughly engrossing and satisfying ride, and it's one you'll want to restart as soon as the credits finish rolling.


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Mrs. Mendez was born March 23, 1912, in Sierra Blanca to Jose Baldillez and Pasquala Alvarez Baldillez. She married Jesus Mendez in Mercedes and was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesus Mendez; and her daughter, Guadalupe Mendez.
Survivors include three sons, Joe B. Mendez of Beeville, Jesse Mendez and Juan Mendez, both of St. Charles, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held Wednesday, April 17, from 2 to 9 p.m. at Oak Park Memorial Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 7 o'clock.
The funeral service was conducted there Thursday, April 18, at 10 a.m. with Pastor Salvador Rincon officiating. Interment followed at Evangelico Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Joe L. Mendez, Mario J. Mendez, Salvador Barrientes Jr., Francisco Cano Sr., Roberto Pena Jr. and Justin Pena.
Oak Park Memorial Funeral Chapel


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soldier They're armed with the latest in high-tech weaponry and cherished as heroes by their countrymen — which may make risking their lives on a daily basis just a little bit easier.
Entertainer/Model Sure, they get to travel the world and get paid the big bucks, but the competition is tough — and mainting their looks is even tougher.
artist Even though they're not promised any of the money or fame usually reserved for other celebrities, artists get to do what they love: spend their lives expressing themselves.
cocktail waitress With the advent of "Hooters" restaurants, the job of the cocktail waitress has been elevated to that of a cultural icon, but even a good tip sometimes isn't worth dealing with drunken customers.
construction While it's not hard to tell they are master builders and handyman, constructions workers face dangerous conditions, often in very extreme weather.
cowboy More than just the Marlboro Man, real-life cowboys live the quiet life far from the city, and their office is the great outdoors.
firefighter More than just the ones you see at charity auctions, firefighters have become American heroes in the wake of 9/11.
news-tv Although it can be a tough niche to break into, your local TV news personality can make a great living being in front of the cameras.
nurses They work long hours and often under highly stressful situations, but it's one of the few jobs that can save lives.
pro-athlete Fame and big bucks make it good to be king for LeBron and other professional athletes, but your chances of making a living out of playing ball are pretty slim.
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Closure of St. Joseph's set
PARKERSBURG – Camden Clark Medical Center has developed a time schedule for the closure of the St. Joseph's Campus.
Rather up to four years, the closure will take place in two phases over five years, said Mike King, president and chief executive officer of Camden Clark.
The plan to eventually move all services to the Memorial Campus will be done without impacting patient care or access to services, according to King. Plans are in place to increase space at the Memorial Campus to accommodate programs being moved from the St. Joseph's Campus.
In August, King announced the St. Joseph's Campus will be closed in the next two to four years.
"I announced that, over the next two to four years, Camden Clark Medical Center would relocate and consolidate all hospital acute care services to the Memorial Campus," King said. "The notion being that consolidated, our medical center would be stronger programmatically, clinically and economically."
Hospital officials said the reason for the consolidation and closure was the substantial decline in patient volumes, the physical condition of the St. Joseph's Campus and the financial challenges, especially in the implementation of the national Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Admissions are dropping and length of stays at hospitals are shorter as health care shifts from in-patient to out-patient services because of how insurers will pay, officials said, adding they do not need the combined bed space of both facilities.
However, based on current inpatient volumes and bed capacity, the complete consolidation of acute care services will occur in two phases over five years, King wrote.
"The reason for the longer time frame is that, as we more closely examined the requirements to make this move, there is simply not enough space at the Memorial Campus to accommodate all of the programs and services currently housed at the St. Joseph's Campus in the manner we desire," King said.
The first phase will occur over the next two years and will relocate all aspects of the cardiac program, including open heart, from St. Joseph's to the Memorial Campus, King said.
The emergency department at the Memorial campus will be expanded to accommodate both campuses' emergency patient population, King said.
The second phase will be completed in five years and will include the relocation of all remaining acute inpatient services including orthopedics and spine, King said. This second phase will mean the addition of new space at the Memorial Campus, he said.
"Camden Clark Medical Center Board approved this direction at the December meeting," King said. "The next phase will be to begin the planning in earnest for these moves in a way that revitalize our physical plant and benefit our patients and families and meet the needs of our physician community."
St. Joseph's Hospital was established more than 100 years ago by the Sisters of St. Joseph and was the second Catholic hospital in West Virginia. West Virginia United Health System with Camden Clark purchased St. Joseph's from Signature Hospital Corp. for $87 million in a deal completed in March 2011 and merged it with Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital to form Camden Clark Medical Center.
Much misinformation and false rumors have been spread since the announcement was of the closure of the St. Joseph's Campus, King said. Among the rumors are plans to to sell Camden Clark, closure of services and the possible uses for the St. Joseph's Campus.
The immediate closure of St. Joseph's campus has never been a part of the consolidation plan, King said.
"It continues to operate and will remain open until we can relocate and consolidate all services to one convenient location," he said. "Moreover, rumors about the elimination of specific services are also blatantly false.
"For instance, our heart program is not going away. Not only is it alive and thriving, it is continuing to grow," King said. "In fact, we have added an additional thoracic-heart surgeon in December to enhance our services and coverage."
The emergency department at St. Joseph's also will continue to operate until emergency services are relocated and consolidated, he said.
Among rumors is the St. Joseph's facility could be bought by the government for a Veterans Administration hospital. A comment from the VA was not immediately available.
Residents have much to be excited about, King said.
"We're going to bring to our Mid-Ohio Valley a medical center – new buildings, expanded services and more specialties," he said. "This means state-of-the-art medical services for the region, new construction jobs for workers and a more modern downtown campus for our state's third largest medical center right here at home."


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WVU Extension classes slated for March
There will be a series of educational classes offered in March exploring methods in growing and marketing garden and other horticulture crops. The classes will take place at 7 p.m. March 5, 12, 19 and 26 in the conference room of the Upshur County Extension Office.
The March 5 meeting will be taught by Terry Hudson, a Kanawha County grower who has developed some low-cost methods to extend his growing season. In particular, he has developed a low-cost construction method for high tunnels. If you are interested in extending your growing season in the early spring and late fall, this would be a good session to attend.
The March 12 meeting will address the "Farm to School" marketing program. It will be taught by Cindy Nesselroad, the children nutrition supervisor for the Upshur County Board of Education. The Farm to School marketing program could be great for anyone searching for additional marketing venues. Following the "Farm to School" session, the Buckhannon-Upshur Farmers Market vendors will hold a short informational meeting concerning the upcoming 2013 market season. Vendors will receive copies of the BUFMA's by-laws and vendor applications.
The March 19 meeting will be taught by a representative of the Tygart Valley Marketing Cooperative. This organization has been working to develop cooperative methods of marketing in this region. The cooperative is open to the growers in Upshur County. This would be a good session for farmers and other growers who are looking for additional ways to work together in growing and marketing local produce.
The March 26 program will be dedicated to issues related to the Buckhannon-Upshur Farmers Market. The Farmers Market has gone through several challenges over the last few years. The goal is to work toward the growth of the market for the coming years. This session will address plans for the future of the market.
Anyone who would like to attend this series of meetings or anyone who has additional questions can contact the WVU Upshur County Extension office at 304-473-4208 before March 4.


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I was out for a drive on some of my back roads in Farm country in the Moristown area. I came accrosss a new born Fawn being licked dry by it's mother. I got some wonderful pictures to share. Shortk]ly after seeing the Fawn I came accross a couple of Baby Raccoons who were too cute for words. Then I spotted a family of Red Headed Merganzers out for a ride on the St Lawrence River. And to cap it all what a beautiful Sunset all in the same evening 6-5-13. I hope you had a nice evening as well.
Wildlife Active Last Evening
By: sprucebruceSubscribe Channel: Pets & Animals Location: Morristown NY
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By Mike Linn
The story goes something like this: A graduate student logs onto the Internet to research a major paper, finds a site, quotes its content only to find out later the site's information was gathered by a sixth-grader.
The tale is an example of the dangers associated with students using Internet search engines as their main gateway to academic research.
Clovis Community College public service librarian Kelly Gray said she heard the graduate student's story at a recent conference of librarians.
"You just have to be careful. There are sites out there, they look like they're good, but you don't exactly know who is behind the site and if it really is reputable information," she said.
Gray is one of many librarians nationwide who have seen students using search engines rather than the more traditional library research methods, The New York Times recently reported.
She said Internet search sites are great as a starting point, but students should double check the validity of the information.
Eastern New Mexico University chemistry professor Newton Hilliard agrees.
In some respects, search engines like google can provide "powerful resources" for academic research, but Web searches need to be verified in an academic library, he said.
Hilliard said a student in one of his biochemistry classes was supposed to do a report on rust, the biological version, which is a mold or fungus.
After researching the topic on the Web, the student turned in the report on the chemical version, the rusting of iron.
"Anytime a book has been published, many many people throughout the process have looked it over, proofread it — so there's a fair chance what's in the book is correct," he said. "Google — I could sit down this afternoon and write Web pages … and there's no control of the Web pages. It might be correct, it might not."
Hilliard said many students — especially in low-level classes — don't understand that content found on Web pages could be incorrect.
Even so, Eastern students in increasing numbers are using Web searches rather than ENMU's Golden Library for research, said Brackston Taylor, a reference librarian at Eastern for eight years.
"They come to the reference desk less than they used to," he said. "They come to me when they don't find what they're looking for (on the Internet)."
Taylor said students come to the library only when they are doing comprehensive research or want to use the full range of resources available.
For Golden Library Director Melveta Walker, google offers a convenient, yet biased form of information for students.
"There's no authentication out there for the general Internet," she said.
Fifteen years ago, she said students spent two weeks researching for a paper and only spent a few days writing.
Now, with electronic resources at local libraries, students can spend maybe four hours conducting research and have longer to write the paper.
"Then when google came along (students said) 'That's even easier, we'll just go do that,' not realizing that what we had been giving them in the automated area was authenticated," she said. "They think anything they can get in electronic format has got to be good because it's on the Internet, and that's not necessarily so."


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Delegate's Report, 18th Session, Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems
The United States is pleased with the outcome of the 18th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS). The Committee completed work on the Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Assessments of Foreign Official Inspection and Certification Systems. The Committee also made good progress in developing guidance on proposed draft Principles and Guidelines for National Food Control Systems. A detailed summary of the discussions on both of these items and on other matters considered by the Committee is presented below. The full report of the Session can be found in ALINORM 10/33/30 on the Codex website, www.codexalimentarius.net.
The 18th Session of CCFICS was attended by 159 delegates from 66 Member countries, one Member organization (the European Union) and five international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The United States was represented by: the U.S. Delegate, Mary Stanley, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service; the U.S. Alternate Delegate, Michael Wehr, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; five (5) governmental advisors; and six (6) non-governmental advisors.
Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Assessments of Foreign Official Inspection and Certification Systems (Agenda Item 4)
The Committee initiated work on this item at its 16th (2007) Session and extensively developed the document through two physical working groups and discussion at the 17th (2008) Session of CCFICS. The Committee's initial discussion on the document focused on whether to limit the document to system audits or to include inspections and other tools such as document reviews with the scope. After significant discussion, the Committee agreed to a broad scope to include all tools that could be used to verify foreign official inspection and certification systems and chose the term "assessment" to refer to and include all tools. The document is a process document providing extensive guidance on planning and implementing assessments of foreign official inspection and certification systems.
At this Session of CCFICS, the Committee carried out a paragraph-by-paragraph review of the document, making numerous changes in the text, most of which were minor adjustments to previously agreed to wording. The Committee did amend paragraph 24 of the document (relating to the inspection "tool") to eliminate all references to examples, based on concerns that the examples may provide an inaccurate view on the focus of inspections; the revised wording states that "the inspection tool may be used in some instances to confirm the effectiveness of controls by the competent authority(s) in the exporting country."
Other points of discussion and/or modifications to the document included the following:
- Clarified that an assessment should concentrate on systems rather than on specific commodities or establishments;
- Highlighted the overarching principle that an importing country's competent authority may conduct an assessment only with the agreement of the exporting country;
- Clarified that the tool to be used for the conduct of the assessment should be agreed by the importing and exporting country prior to the commencement of the assessment;
- Clarified that the competent authority of the exporting country should not only be notified by the competent authority of the importing country but also agree to the plan for the assessment and that this be done in a "reasonable period of time" prior to the commencement of the assessment;
- Highlighted the need to avoid duplication of effort on the part of the exporting country through coordination of assessments by multiple competent authorities in the importing country;
- Emphasized the need for the competent authority(s) of the exporting country to cooperate, coordinate, and assist in the implementation of the assessment;
- Clarified that it was the responsibility of the competent authority to ensure that their auditors, inspectors or auditing organizations were impartial;
- Discussed the area of confidentiality and agreed to use the term "confidential information" to encompasses a broad range of areas including commercial confidential information and intellectual property; and,
- Agreed to add a new paragraph ensuring that the importing country responds in a timely manner to requests from an exporting country for a request for assessment.
The Committee concluded its work on the document and recommended its adoption at Steps 5/8 by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Principles and Guidelines for National Food Control Systems (Agenda Item 5)
The Committee, at its 17th (2008) Session, recognizing the importance of countries having sound food control systems, agreed to develop a new guidance document on this subject. The Codex Alimentarius Commission, at its 2009 Session, approved new work for CCFICS to develop Principles and Guidelines for National Food Control Systems. CCFICS held a physical working group in 2009 to develop an initial document.
At this Session of the CCFICS, the Committee discussed the relationship between a "national food safety system" and a "national food control system", agreeing that a national food control system fits within the broader national food safety system. The Committee agreed to include the concept of a national food safety system in the document but to focus the guidance on the national food control system.
The Committee carried out an extensive general discussion on the document, focusing primarily at achieving an understanding of the scope for the document and on both principles and components/characteristics of a national food safety system and a national food control system.
The Committee developed two definitions of a food control system for future consideration.
Definition A: An integrated effort from all participants to achieve food safety and ensure fair practices in the food trade including consumers making informed decisions, the actions of business across the food chain to comply with requirements, the actions of government to develop science based standards and promote food safety to monitor and verify compliance and taking corrective action and enforcement action as needed.
Definition B: The national food control system is an action plan of the government strategy to ensure the production of safe food and to achieve food safety. It is based on public private cooperation, regulatory requirements, educational programs and enforcement actions.
The Committee agreed that the objective of a national food control system is "to protect the health of consumers and ensure/enable fair practices in the food trade."
The Committee agreed that the overarching principle of a national food safety system is the "precedence to the protection of consumers". The committee also agreed that the following high-level principles applied to both a national food safety system and a national food control system:
- Whole food chain approach;
- Transparency;
- Primary/shared responsibility of food business operators (producers, processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers) for complying with requirements and ensuring safe food;
- Responsibility of consumers to manage food safety risks;
- Consistency and impartiality;
- Incorporation of risk-based, science-based and evidence based decision-making; and,
- Cooperation and coordination between multiple competent authorities;
The Committee noted that the following principles applied more directly to a food control system:
- Preventative approach;
- Harmonization with international standards;
- Resources to meet objectives;
- Self-assessment and review procedures to ensure maintenance of fitness for purpose;
- Independence/objectivity of the system;
- Appropriate legislative framework;
- Equivalence/recognition of systems;
- Means to identify food safety problems;
- Means to respond to food safety emergencies; and,
- Adaptive, response to change with mechanisms to update the food control system.
The Committee agreed that characteristics/components of a national food control system could include the following:
- Precedence to the protection of consumers;
- Risk-based and pro-active;
- Maintaining situational awareness (including: statistical data on production, trade and consumption; knowledge of operators at various stages of the food chain; typical and atypical uses of raw materials, products and by-products); structure of production and supply chains; production technologies, processes and practices; consumer practices on selection, storage and handling of product; food safety hazards associated with each production step; and, epidemiological data on foodborne disease;
- Capability to learn;
- Based on prevention, intervention and response;
- Clearly defined and transparent legislation, regulations, guidelines, policies and procedures;
- Clearly defined roles and responsibilities for the competent authorities;
- Uniform national application;
- Sufficient infrastructure and resources; and,
- Adequate performance and enforcement capabilities.
The Committee briefly discussed the framework of a national food control system noting that this area included infrastructure and system management with these two areas having the following components.
- legislative framework;
- program design;
- resources;
- laboratories;
- personnel;
- facilities;
- equipment;
- transportation; and,
- communication
System management
- design and implementation;
- operations;
- verification;
- maintenance; and,
- improvement.
The Committee, recognizing that extensive further work was needed on the document, returned the text to Step 2 and re-established a physical working group to continue development of the document. The physical working group is tentatively scheduled to meet at the beginning of 2011.
Other Matters
The Committee noted that the Codex Committee on General Principles would be considering whether or not a Codex definition of "competent authority" should be established. Noting that a number of CCFICS-developed texts contain the term "competent authority" and that CCFICS had previously discussed the need for a definition for this term but decided, at least at that time, that the term seemed to be understood and that a definition was not necessary, the Committee agreed to forward the following points to CCGP for its consideration.
- The term "competent authority" is highly relevant to the work of CCFICS as it is extensively used in 8 of 9 texts developed by CCFICS;
- The Committee has considered defining the term at previous sessions by has concluded that the term was self-explanatory;
- The term is defined through its use in CCFICS and, therefore, a general definition would impact each of these texts; and,
- The term is used by many governments and a general definition should not exclude any of these uses.
The Committee received reports from FAO and WHO on their activities relevant to CCFICS. The Committee also received a report of activities of other international organizations relevant to the work of the Committee, and in particular, the work of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
Next Session of CCFICS
The next (19th) Session of CCFICS is tentatively scheduled to be held in Australia, from 17-21 October, 2011 at a venue to be announced.


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Iowa man reaches plea deal in child sex abuse case
A Des Moines man accused of sexually abusing three of his nine children has reached a plea deal with prosecutors.
Television station KCCI reports the man pleaded guilty Tuesday to three counts of second-degree sexual abuse. He will be sentenced in March.
The man had previously pleaded not guilty to nine counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of child endangerment.
The man was arrested in April in Chicago after a nationwide search. His wife was arrested in April in Des Moines. She was sentenced in October to up to 30 years in prison on three child neglect charges. Prosecutors say she failed to do anything to stop the abuse.
The Associated Press is not using the couple's names to protect the privacy of the children.
Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Also, just FYI that my DD was eating fruit exclusively when we started solids, and that's when her constipation started. Going back to EBF alleviated it. But aside from that, the only thing that has really made a difference for US was limiting fiber intake along with increasing fat and protein.
I don't know if it has been mentioned since this thread started a while ago, but supplementing magnesium and vitamin C has helped a lot of LOs suffering from constipation. Our ped actually sells the mag supplement - Natural Calm - in her office (why she didn't tell me this before Rx lactulose, I have no idea). I didn't have much luck getting DD to take it (although she does love vit C), but I give her epsom salt baths almost daily. I've been told that mag is well-absorbed through the skin so that's why the baths work.
As far as MoM, that worked for a little while with DD, but then stopped working. Plus, I started reading that it's not good to take long term. I do think it's one of the better alternatives as far as internal laxatives go.
Also, have you started using an aloe or lubricating jelly (I get "un-petroleum" jelly) to help make it less painful? That helped DD get over the fear - making it really easy for the poop to slide out.


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When the muscles start aching after an exhilarating few hours on the shore, don't give up — show everyone you can Push Through the pain by wearing this comfortable T-shirt from Hurley's One & Only collection. It features the brand name and logo in a faded print on the front, as well as a brand tag on the hem and a tagless collar for comfort. When you wear this premium tee, you'll never want to leave the party early. Keep rockin' your One & Only tee in front of all your friends.
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January 9, 2013 —
PROMPTON, PA — The Friends of Prompton State Park will host Winter Trail Days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 12 at the park, located on State Route 170 just north of its intersection with Route 6. Winter Trail Days is a national event that coincides with the grand re-opening of Prompton State Park after sections of it were closed for the last two years.
There will many free activities and demonstrations hosted or sponsored by local businesses including: a snowshoe demo by Northeast Wilderness Experience, cross county skiing demo courtesy of The Lodge at Woodloch, a "fat tire" mountain bike demo by Sickler's Bike Shop, an ice safety demo by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, an ice climbing demo by Back Country Summit Guides, a disc golf demo by Pocono Disc Golf Association, a geocaching demo by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and an ice fishing tournament (conditions permitting) sponsored by Seaman's Marine. There will be ample time for sledding and snow tubing if there is enough snow.
Local food vendors will offer homemade comfort foods for sale at the park. In addition, there will be off-site wine tasting at the nearby Antler Ridge Winery in Steen.
Prompton State Park is a 1,700 acre state park with a 280 acre lake. It has 23 miles of trails, a boat launch, an 18-hole disc golf, a Remote Control "airport" for radio-operated model airplanes, a picnic pavilion, picnic tables and more. With adequate snow cover, people can ski on many of the park trails and open fields, while the park's hills are ideal for sledding.
For details call 570/253-5744, or visit www.friendsofprompton.com [1], email email@example.com [2], or find Friends of Prompton State Park on Facebook.


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Thompson nothing but radical extremist
Recently, I attended a meeting at OUE on Common Core Curriculum. As a new educator, I am concerned about CC and how it will affect my career.
I was shocked when I heard that Andy Thompson would be attending to speak against this issue because he voted for the Third Grade Initiative, taking away the right for parents, teachers, administrators and school counselors to make decisions in the best interest of students. Thompson was once quoted saying, "Proponents of the Common Core say that the states and school boards still will have the flexibility in determining curriculum. This, however, is questionable at best. Standards drive curriculum, and the assessment tests will measure how well the standards have been absorbed." That doesn't sound very anti-CCSS to me. What bothers me is that suddenly Thompson is claiming to disagree with CCSS completely. Maybe that's because in the first round of testing, 57 percent of Ohio's third-graders would be retained. Meanwhile, Thompson argued that the standards were still not difficult enough for children.
When I had the opportunity to ask him why he voted for the TGI if he didn't support it, Thompson said he is "reevaluating decisions he previously made." This is the same excuse he used in the 2012 election after initially voting for the TGI, but he has failed to use his time in office to take action against it. No surprise, it's election year and again, he is "changing his mind."
The reason professionals are against the TGI is because instead of identifying possible problems and applying programs to correct them, children are simply retained based on one low test score. Additionally, most people aren't aware that this is the second attempt to implement the TGI in Ohio and it previously failed miserably. As an intern, I watched children progressively become more discouraged because of testing. My cousin is a third-grader from Woodsfield. He has never struggled in school, but emphasis on the high-stakes Ohio Achievement Assessment caused him to become so stressed about retainment that he decorated his Easter eggs with the letters "OAA". Andy Thompson clearly doesn't care about him, or local children like him.
Furthermore, if his apparent ignorance in regards to curriculum isn't enough, Thompson is also responsible for taking our tax money away from schools and sending it to Columbus to finance massive special interest spending, while at the same time, cutting school funding! This, partnered with record amounts of property tax levies, failure to fight for our local manufacturing jobs like Ormet, refusal to aid in extending unemployment benefits for those workers, and his apparent attacks on our elderly, such as making cuts to The Homestead Exemption, only further proves that Thompson does not respect the people he was hired to represent. Andy Thompson has a radical agenda as a politician, and does not support the self-governing ideals that our forefathers built our nation upon. It is time for this radical extremist to go!
Amanda Lancione


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"I have been a fan of Catholic Answers from its beginnings. Keep up this great apostolate, as it does help many of our Catholics appreciate their faith, especially in the military. Blessings and prayers for your continued success."
"We call sacred orders the deaconship and priesthood, for we read that the primitive Church had only those orders."


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21 September 2010
on Gogirl! Fashion Tag Competition. ♥
..i am that one on the fashion tag of May 2010 :)) click here to know more. There are also my favorite bloggers: Michelle from Glister Blister, Marla Singer from Versicle, another lovely bloggers. Fancyyy. :) PS: so sorry for bein such a bad blogger. im about to upload SOOO MUCH of my holiday pics and other photoshoots, but unfortunately my PC's broken when I got home from my holiday, haha : so maybe i'll post it later, and for now i'll post any photos other than my photoshoot ones to keep this blog alive, haha. Anyway, so glad there's so many of you with your superfab blogs who visit this blog, thanks! new friends, another blog to love. Let me know if you want me to exchange link, just drop some comments :) xx
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Related Links
USU Alumni Scholarship
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can Apply?
• Be an incoming freshman or transfer student (cannot have previously attended Utah State University)
• Be a child or grandchild of a Utah State alumnus
• Be admissible to Utah State University (date of acceptance to USU can be any date prior to the first day of school)
• Be a US Citizen
• Be attending USU in the year they receive the award (ie, scholarship cannot be deferred)
How are the applications judged?
The number of selection committees will be determined based upon the total number of applications. Each committee will use the same criteria when evaluating applications. Priority will be given to students who have a legacy at Utah State and whose family has been involved in a variety of ways at Utah State. Grades, ACT/SAT scores, extracurricular involvement, leadership, and service are taken into account. However, priority will be given to those who can demonstrate their legacy and history at Utah State.
How many scholarships are awarded?
The number of scholarship varies from year to year and depends on the amounts raised by the Alumni Association. Typically, about 30-35% of the applicants are awarded a scholarship. In 2013, 150 scholarship were offered, each worth $1,000 for the year.
How do I get an application?
Applications are only available online. Please fill out the form below.
When will I be notified?
The Alumni Relations office will begin sending award letters as soon as they hear back from the selection committees. Letters are usually mailed around April 1. The deadline to accept the offer is May 1.


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|Torald Othric of Griffonstone
Torald will make a 5-foot step between Lyla and Raoul. Then he will make a full attack
Scimitar on Stirge 1 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Shield Bash on Stirge 9 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
If one of them is already dead, I'll attack Stirge 2 or Stirge 8
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Kalina will take a 5' step west and fire a burst of shooting stars on the corner that was between herself, Dr. Benedict, and Raoul (hoping to catch 1, 2, 9, 8, & 7). 1d4 ⇒ 4
Umm, sorry Doctor, Raoul
Spray of Shooting Stars (Su): As a standard action, you can unleash a ball of energy that explodes in a 5-foot radius burst dealing 1d4 points of fire damage per level. A successful Reflex save halves this damage. This attack has a range of 60 feet. You can fire one explosive ball per day, plus one additional ball per day at 5th level and for every 5 levels thereafter. You can fire more than one ball at a time, but creatures caught inside more than one simultaneous explosions only take damage once.
|Raoul Calvisi
|Tahlaera Silverbow
I was waiting for Ash, but anyway... Lyla takes a 5-fot step in the direction of the street, to get away from the stirges, and casts guidance on Lord Bramwell. I've move her in the map.
|Dr. Benedict Darcy
Benedict notices the stirges too late and ducks his head under their attack. When Kalina releases her burst of stars he falls to one knee. Looking back at her in consternation, he stands and steps back. A dagger appears in his hand and he lashes out at one of the stirges.
REF SAVE:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Draw dagger from wrist sheathe.
5ft step to put stirges in my square between me and Raoul.
Attack stirge with flanking 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 2 = 19
1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (3) = 5
Ash still missing. If he doesn't post until tomorrow I'll DM this round of his actions.
|Ash Windfinder
Yes, sadly I hadn't found the time to compile the whole post yesterday.
Stirge 6: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Stirge 5 is still attached to Ash (which made his actions kinda pointless)
Stirge 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Stirge 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Stirge 7: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Stirge 8: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Stirge 9: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
[Stirge 1, HP 3, AC 16]
[Stirge 2, HP 3, AC 12, drunk 1]
[Stirge 3, HP 5, stunned etc.]
[Stirge 4, HP 5, AC 12, drunk 1]
[Stirge 5, HP 5, AC 12, drunk 1]
[Stirge 6, HP 5, AC 16]
[Stirge 7, HP 3, AC 16]
[Stirge 8, HP 3, AC 16]
[Stirge 9, HP 3, AC 16]
Stirge 1:
5 foot step into Kalinas square => touch attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
disease: 1d10 ⇒ 6
Stirge 2:
trying to keep attached: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
Strige 4:
trying to keep attached: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21
Strige 5:
trying to keep attached: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
Strige 6:
5 foot step into Ashs square => touch attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
disease: 1d10 ⇒ 1
Stirge 7:
touch attack Raoul: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
disease: 1d10 ⇒ 10
Stirge 8:
touch attack Dr. Benedict: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
disease: 1d10 ⇒ 10
Stirge 9:
5 foot step Kalinas square => touch attack Kalina: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
disease: 1d10 ⇒ 4
Seems as if all of them hit. Kalina, Dr. Benedict and Ash get 2 Points of Constitution Damage, Raoul and Tahlaera 1 Point.
Ash may roll a DC 14 Fortitude Save vs Disease.
I'll now put in your actions so far. Since Toralds and Dr. Benedicts proposed first Actions are no longer possible I'll let Torald attack 2 and 8 or Benedikt and then let Benedikt 5 ft step to Kalina to get one off of her.
[Stirge 1, HP 3, AC 16]
[Stirge 2, down]
[Stirge 3, HP 5, stunned etc.]
[Stirge 4, HP 5, AC 12, drunk 1]
[Stirge 5, HP 5, AC 12, drunk 1]
[Stirge 6, HP 5, AC 16]
[Stirge 7, down]
[Stirge 8, down]
[Stirge 9, down]
Still using your surprise and mostly unimpressed by the magical assault most Stirges manage to to attache themself to you and begin drinking your blood.
Once all of you mange to react though the Stirges start to fall like leafs.
Now it's Lord Bramwells turn and then the next round starts.
|Cerana Whisperwood
Leaving this here for when her turn rolls round.
Cerana stays where she is, draws her staff and throws a splintered spear at the attached strige on Ash if able, if not she'll fire it at the unattached one next to Ash.
Splintered spear: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
If it hits: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Just to be sure: "Down" means dead? Or it means off? And not that it makes a lot of difference with the GMs great rolls, but shouldn't attached Stirges have a lower reflex save?
On her turn, if a stirge is still attached to her, Kalina will touch attack it and Inflict Light Wounds
Touch Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 8add +4 if dex applies.
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
|Lord Bramwell
Since posting order is a little chaotic, here's a list of the characters acting now (after the stirges and before Cerana and Kalina): Tahlaera (already declared her action);2. Torald (already declared); 3. Dr. Benedict (already declared); 4. Raoul Calvisi (already declared); 5. Lord Bramwell
Lord Bramwell draws his morningstar, holding it in both hands, and steps to the side to help Cerana and Tahlaera. He aims at the stirge attached to Tahlaera and strikes with precision, trying to hit the little beast without injuring the elf.
Move action: 5-foot step + draw weapon
Attack: morningstar (+1 guidance)1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Attack to confirm critical 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage if it hits 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Damage from critical if confirmed 1d8 ⇒ 6
|Raoul Calvisi
Since posting order is a little chaotic, here's a list of the characters acting now (after the stirges and before Cerana and Kalina): Tahlaera (already declared her action);2. Torald (already declared); 3. Dr. Benedict (already declared); 4. Raoul Calvisi (already declared); 5. Lord Bramwell
I thought once things got clarified that didn't work as posted last round, we would return to initiative order. Kalina's post was to be applied on her turn. I thought the others were declaring for their turns the same way, in initiative order.
|Torald Othric of Griffonstone
To make things more clearly:
1st Round
Init 6: Lord Bramwell attacks Stirge 4
2nd Round
Init 25: Ash (not yet declared)
Init 24: Cerana attacks Stirge 5
Init 21: Kalina attacks Stirge 1
Init 18: Lyla casts guidance on Lord Bramwell
Init 14: Stirges (not yet declared)
I think we should wait now till Ash and Finkmilkana will post their actions.
|Ash Windfinder
Fortitude vs. Disease 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Init: 25
Ash tries ripping the stirge off his body.
Opposed Grapple Check vs Stirge 6: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
The still living Stirges just try to keep attached
strige1: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23=>1 Con Damage Kalina
stirge6: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20=>1 Con Damage Ash
[Stirge 1, HP 3, AC 16, drunk 2]
[Stirge 3, HP 5, stunned etc.]
[Stirge 4, down]
[Stirge 5, down]
[Stirge 6, HP 5, AC 16, drunk 2]
The few remaining Stirges stay closely lashed to their victims, drinking even more blood.
After Raouls actions only one Stirge on Ash will still be up (and most likely not until it gets a new turn). So far you sustained:
Ash: 4 Con Damage and may have contracted a disease.
Tahlaera: 2 Con Damage
Dr. Benedict: 3 Con Damage
Kalina: 3 Con Damage
Raoul: 1 Con Damage
|Torald Othric of Griffonstone
Torald moves 10ft east and attacks stirge 3.
Attack with Scimitar 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 missed
That's the stunned, unconscious one. I believe that did hit.
|Torald Othric of Griffonstone
|Dr. Benedict Darcy
|Lord Bramwell
Lord Bramwell sees the remaining stirges attached to Ash. He steps past Tahlaera and attacks one of them.
5-foot step
Attack (morningstar) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Yes, seems so. I missed that +4 if...
So you got one less con damage and Stirge 1 is down too.
Since there isn't any attached to Dr. Darcy right now (Torald killed that one allready last round) I assume you move to Ash and hit the last that's on him? If yes the battle is over. Right now I haven't gotten the time to write the wrap up but you all should be Level 2 now.
Kalina sits on the ground for a moment, somewhat woozy. When she gets a little strength back she'll heal herself and others for hitpoints. (I presume the constitution comes back on its own with time?) Then she studies the stirges curiously, and puts some of them in her pack, wrapped in a cloth.
Is it normal for them to attack like that? In the middle of a town?
Lyla picks up one stirge by its wing, looking at it with disgust and holding it in the tip of her fingers.
"Blergh, this thing is gross."
She drops the creature to the floor and speaks to Kalina. "No idea what this is nor what the heck it's doing here..."
|Dr. Benedict Darcy
Benedict leans against the wall for a moment, but shortly stands on his own, swaying slightly. "Stirges are known to carry a variety of diseases, I suggest that those who were bit go back inside and let me treat them for a few minutes each. It will reduce the chances of anyone catching something. The others can go on to either to the town hall or the temple. Those who I treat can then visit the other after their treatment."
Taking 10 for heal checks and using his healing kit, he can get a 16 on his skill check. This would give anyone a +4 on their next check to resist a disease. On a meta level it seems this only affects Ash, but in game he would want to treat everyone who was bitten.
Kalina will sit outside for awhile trying to get her head to stop spinning, and wait for a turn with the doctor.
|Cerana Whisperwood
Cerana inspects the dead stirges carefully, seeing if there is anything she can gather as out of place for stirges. Aside from the fact that they are in town.
Knowledge, Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
The constitution damage returns at a rate of 1 point per day on its own but can also be healed with magic (Lesser Restoration etc.)
Once the battle is over Zokar comes out of his tavern"What in the nine hells, is anyone seriously hurt? Where did those things come from?
Don't take this wrong, but what a luck they attacked you, I don't want to think what would have happened if they set on a group of kids.
You should probably still go to see Father Grimburrow about this, some of you seem to be a bit weak, I'll let my lads clean up this mess and inform the sheriff."
|Dr. Benedict Darcy
"Thank you for assistance, Zokar. Those of us who are hurt will go directly over to Father Grimburrow after I see to their wounds." Benedict turns to the others, "So Sir Othric, Lyla, Lord Bramwell, and Cerana will go to the town hall, and the rest of us to the temple? Is this acceptable?
|Raoul Calvisi
|Dr. Benedict Darcy
|Tahlaera Silverbow
Tahlaera sits down heavily after the last stirge is slain. A bit light-headed, she stands after a moment. Too dazed to wave Dr Benedict off, she allows him to minister to her wounds and nods weakly when it is suggested that they get started on the tasks at hand. "Obviously, we're on the right trail," she remarks.
Dr. Darcy is very nice, and kinda handsome. But he talks so much. I just asked a yes or no question, and he went on and on. I didn't understand half of what he was talking about. Is he that smart? Or am I just stupid? She gives him a weak smile in thanks, then rejoins the group.
Yes, let's go. Kalina joins with the group headed back to the temple.
|Torald Othric of Griffonstone
|Dr. Benedict Darcy
Lyla sits and waits impatiently in the room, dangling her feet quickly. She then stands up, walks to the Aministration's office door and is about to knock when Lord Bramwell stops her.
|Lord Bramwell
Not wanting to embarass the girl in front of the others, Lord Bramwell speaks directly into Lyla's head.
Don't be rude, Lyla. They'll receive us soon. Let's just wait for a little longer, shall we?
|Torald Othric of Griffonstone
Sense Motive 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
|Cerana Whisperwood


text:
PRINCESS ANNE, MD - (Jan. 8, 2014) - Robin Hoffman has been appointed the director of the Center for Instructional Technology at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
"We are very pleased to have Mr. Hoffman's expertise in Online Learning Technologies as a resource to our faculty," said Dr. Ronald A. Nykiel, provost and vice president for academic affairs.
Hoffman returns to his alma mater from Salisbury University, where he was senior instructional designer. He previously served as technical teaching associate for the Department of English and Modern Languages at UMES and as promotions producer for Draper Communications (WBOC and Fox 21) in Salisbury.
Hoffman is working to earn a doctorate in education at Morgan State University, holds a Master of Science degree in instructional media from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. and a Bachelor of Arts degree from UMES.
"As a graduate of UMES, it's great to be back on campus," Hoffman said. "I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on new and emerging instructional technologies."


text:
Russell Westbrook and some of his teammates from the Oklahoma City Thunder dropped by the OU Medical Center to brighten the spirits of some of their youngest fans, children affected by Monday's Moore tornado.
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text:
Burns are one of the leading causes of death among children, with most of these fatalities occurring in home fires. Even more often, deaths in fires are caused by smoke inhalation.
Your family's best protection against fire-related injuries is to equip your home with smoke detectors. Thousands of lives could be saved every year if detectors were in place, awakening families in time to allow them to escape their burning homes. Install the detectors throughout the house, mounting them on the ceiling or on the wall 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling. They should be placed in halls adjacent to the bedrooms, as well as in the living room, garage, and other parts of the home where they can awaken the family if a fire has broken out. Test battery-operated detectors every six months to ensure that the batteries are still fresh. In general, batteries need to be changed once a year. (Many units emit a beeping sound when the batteries become weak.)
Home fire extinguishers are another good idea. Keep extinguishers in the parts of the house where a fire is most likely to start (the kitchen and the workroom, for example). However, use the extinguisher only for a small fire; if the fire is large, everyone should leave the dwelling immediately, and you should call the fire department from a neighbor's home. If children are home alone, instruct them to evacuate the house at once in case of a fire, even if it is a small one. Your child should learn to call 911, but he should understand that his own safety comes first, and he should make the call from another home.
Hold regular fire drills with everyone in the family participating. During these drills, plan and rehearse all possible escape routes for fires occurring in various parts of the house, as well as a place for family members to meet once they are outside. Since many fires—including most fatal ones—occur at night, conduct some of your drills after dark. A flashlight should be available at the bedside of every family member. Also, teach your children to "stop, drop, and roll" if their clothing should catch fire.
Of course, discourage your children from playing with matches, lighted candles, cigarette lighters, or other flammable devices. Also, keep in mind that most fatal home fires are caused by adults and their cigarettes; typically, a cigarette or its ashes fall on a bed or a couch, smolder for several hours, and then burst into flames, often after the family is asleep. Do not smoke in your house. Portable heaters also are responsible for many home fires and burns, and if their use is necessary, they should be used only with great caution.
Most burns that are not fatal are not related to fires. Most often, these are scalds from hot liquids—for example, when a child turns over a cooking pot upon himself, or turns the knobs on a bathtub faucet so that hot water flows on him. Children also sometimes suffer burns by touching a hot iron, a coil on an electric stove, a curling iron, hot barbecue charcoal, or fireworks.
To avoid scalding burns, reduce the temperature of your water heater so the water is never hotter than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep hot irons out of children's reach and keep children away from the stove when food is cooking. Also, keep hot-steam vaporizers away from a child's reach, and keep portable heaters away from children and from flammable materials, such as curtains, as well. Teach your child not to play with matches.
In recent years, nearly 12,000 people in the United States were treated for fireworks-related injuries in emergency departments; more than half were children. Every type of legally available firework has caused serious injury or death. Fireworks should never be used by children or other family members. Rather than risk your child's health, families should attend public fireworks displays conducted by professionals.


text:
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#210892 - 05/12/13 04:27 PM niggard
Registered: 11/18/11
Posts: 1
Loc: Cornwall, UK
I discovered highly interesting aspects when I followed up the 'controversies' link given with niggard. Usage (in various spellings)is richly illustrated in the Oxford English Dictionary with examples going back several centuries. The irony is that the doubling of the letter 'g' had taken place centuries before, and in a decidedly 'free-for-all' climate, before a quirk of orthography doubled the 'g' in a taboo word derived from negro. I have to remind myself that much of the meaning of a word often lies in the way it is used or misunderstood, or in the inferences drawn by the hearer.
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