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This op-ed by Andrew Gillum, Director of Youth Leadership Programs, People For the American Way Foundation, was originally published at The Huffington Post.
In the quick unraveling of Rep. Aaron Schock's political career, some have questioned if Millennials are ready for Congress, but it's wrong to conclude that Schock's youth was the reason for his mistakes. And it's even worse to write off young people as unfit for public office.
To the contrary, electing Millennials to public office has the potential to be tremendously beneficial to our country. As Tina Nguyen at Mediaite puts it "Hell, there needs to be more Millennials in Congress, but ones that demonstrate other millennial virtues — tech-savvy, ambitious, and striving to be self-sufficient." I couldn't agree more.
And while it's easy to celebrate the potential that young people could bring to the business of governing, no one should think that it is only future "potential" that young people have. A quick look at communities around the country demonstrates the striking impact that young people in public office are already having. I know, because I see it up close every day. As Mayor of Tallahassee and as Director of Youth Leadership Programs for People For the American Way Foundation, I've collaborated with young elected officials who work diligently and effectively for their constituents and communities, while progress by their – literally – senior counterparts in Washington stalls. (This Congress has one of the oldest median ages on the books, so anyone who thinks that longer life experience is all it takes to be an effective legislator hasn't been reading the news.)
While Congress's inability to govern has been on display time and time again, I'm constantly amazed at the ability of young people at the state and local level to actually get things done. We don't expect to see an increased federal minimum wage anytime soon, but young electeds have sponsored both living wage ordinances and minimum wage legislation across the country. One of our members, Rep. Matt Lesser, co-sponsored and successfully advocated for the historic minimum wage increase in Connecticut. A cohort of young electeds pushed for a minimum wage increase in Wisconsin tied to inflation.
Young legislators in Colorado have tackled what seem to be losing battles in Congress: universal pre-K and Head Start funding. Rep. Crisanta Duran sponsored a bill to provide affordable child care for low-income families, and Rep. Dominick Moreno helped create the "Breakfast After the Bell" legislation that now gives more than 80,000 kids free breakfast in Colorado, a state where one in five children experience hunger.
And across the country, young people in public office bring innovative solutions to the problems their communities face. Nebraska State Senator Amanda McGill has worked on initiating telehealth services in schools. Cambridge Councilman Leland Cheung created incentives for start-ups in mixed use zoning areas. Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak in Pittsburgh has championed open data and transparent government.
Everywhere I go, I meet people of every age eager to tell me about some extraordinary young elected official they know, as if that experience is unique to their community. It's up to me to tell them that dedicated, effective young people in government aren't the exception in communities across the country -- they're the rule.
In all 50 states, young people are offering new perspectives and outside-the-box solutions. In a country that's seemingly more divided than ever, we need more young people lending their voice and stepping up for public service. Don't look to Aaron Schock as the face of young politicians – look in your own backyard.
Protesters throughout the nation have come out to march and peacefully protest the unjust criminal system that led to Michael Brown being gunned down in Missouri on August 9, including members of the People For the American Way Foundation family.
In Missouri, two members of PFAW Foundation's Young Elected Officials Network have taken key roles speaking out for justice. State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal and Alderman Antonio French were both part of the protests in Ferguson; Chappelle-Nadal was tear-gassed, and French was arrested. Other members of the YEO Network have also been organizing national petitions, marching, buying food and water for protestors, trying to dissuade looting, among other things.
Chappelle-Nadal, elected in 2010, represents part of St. Louis County in the Missouri Senate. She has been vocal in her criticism of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and his response to the crisis in her community.
"I never expected to represent a war zone," she tweeted Thursday.
French, on the other hand, has been documenting the protests through "advocacy journalism." Born and raised in O'Fallon, French has dedicated his time in public service to improving the quality of life in north St. Louis, often working in conjunction with police to create safer spaces.
During the protests last Wednesday, French was arrested and then released early Thursday, but the reason behind the arrest remained unclear. His arrest, along with his work documenting the protests, have made him a "national voice against the militarization of police."
In Miami, another PFAW Foundation voice joined the protests. Young People For alum Phillip Agnew, founder of the Dream Defenders, organized a similar demonstration to protest how "police departments around the country will continue to use black and brown bodies for target practice."
Many Americans are appalled at the actions taken by law enforcement officials in Ferguson, Missouri this month. PFAW Foundation is proud of the work being done by members of our leadership networks to build a more equal America.
A successful movement begins with a plan for change. People For the American Way's plan is simple: identify people with an interest and a passion for service who represent the diversity of their communities, equip them with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary for success, and offer long-term support and access to a network of like-minded leaders.
This summer's primary elections prove this plan is not just theoretical. It stands up to the test. Its success can be seen last week in the state of Michigan — a prime battleground for state and national issues ranging from marriage equality to workers' rights to women's rights — where a group of young, progressive leaders won their primary elections.
One candidate for a Michigan House of Representatives seat is Jon Hoadley. He's an openly-gay man, 30 years old, who is running for office for the first time. He's also an alumnus of affiliate PFAW Foundation's Youth Leadership Programs – Young People For and the Front Line Leaders Academy. Last week Hoadley won his primary race for the District 60 seat in the Michigan State House of Representatives and, if he wins the general election in November, will become a member of the Young Elected Officials (YEO) Network.
And Hoadley is in good company. Last month PFAW Action Fund endorsed a slate of young progressive candidates through the Young Elected Progressives endorsement program. Together they represent a progressive direction for the state. PFAW is proud to support these leaders as they move towards the general election in November or toward future efforts to advance progressive values in Michigan.
If the 2014 primary elections and the slate of candidates, including Hoadley, running for office this year are an indication of the payoff of PFAW's investment in young leaders, then we are off to a great start. It shows that what we have works. We've made real change. But it also proves the necessity of continued investment in progressive infrastructure to make a difference on these critical issues, now and in the long term.
We're at a time when the influence of money in politics goes unchecked, access to the ballot box is challenged, and the far Right is becoming increasingly extreme, intolerant, and out of touch. The individuals endorsed in PFAW's Young Elected Progressives campaign are standing up to defend and lead with the values of freedom, fairness, and equality for all.
The following is a guest post by Roeland Park Councilwoman Megan England, member of People For the American Way Foundation's Young Elected Officials Network.
Before a city council vote last week in Roeland Park, Kansas, it was legal in our town to refuse or terminate housing, services, or employment for someone on the basis of who they are or who they love. I didn't believe that our community would tolerate this kind of treatment for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender neighbors and friends. As a councilmember, I felt the obligation to ensure that everyone — regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or military status — has the opportunity to live, work, and contribute here.
This spring, Councilwoman Jennifer Gunby and I introduced a non-discrimination ordinance providing protections for the LGBT community and others. This seemed like the right thing to do for many reasons. First, it's fair and just. It shows that our town, like so many others, values diversity and inclusion. It highlights the shared values of our community. It's good for our economy, since it attracts businesses and visitors who want to feel that everyone is welcome in our town. It supports a strong and productive workforce and happier, healthier communities. What's more, many of our neighboring towns were already a few steps ahead of us. Cities like Lawrence, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri have had similar non-discrimination protections for over 20 years. In every corner of the country, cities and towns are increasingly understanding the importance of passing laws that prevent discrimination. And we were thrilled last week when Roeland Park finally did, too.
However, we still face an uphill battle in the larger fight for equality. In my work on this ordinance, I've learned that many people — even members of the press — are still unaware of the lack of federal protections in place for the LGBT community. There's no end in sight to congressional gridlock in Washington, and it may be a while before our state of Kansas has the leadership necessary to wipe discrimination from the books. My hope is that other local elected officials will realize, like I did, that they have the power to make a simple but profound change in the lives of those they are sworn to represent. While change may be slow nationally, at the local level we have a tremendous opportunity to protect and serve our constituents, and to drive progress and innovation.
When Councilwoman Gunby and I began this process, we thought change might come quickly; we didn't expect five months of revisions, public hearings, and tense discussions. While much longer and more difficult than we imagined, I now realize the importance of that process. It reaffirmed my respect for the political process. I saw the benefits of engaging the community in a critical dialogue, and in bringing light to the issue week after week. In some of the more difficult moments, when I wasn't sure that the ordinance would ultimately pass, I wondered if it had all been worth it. One local transgender man answered that for me by sharing the story of how speaking publicly for the first time and simply telling his personal story encouraged young trans people to reach out to him for support and guidance. It was this act of kinship, of humanity and community, that reinforced for me the importance of the process no matter the outcome.
When focused on the big picture, we sometimes fail to see the smaller impacts of our work, the daily reverberations. But now, with both the ordinance in place and many conversations started, our community is all the better for it.
Andrew Gillum is the Director of Youth Leadership Programs at People For the American Way Foundation.
Julián Castro, current mayor of San Antonio, was just confirmed in the Senate by a 71-26 vote to lead the Housing and Urban Development Department. Castro, one of the earliest members of People For the American Way Foundation's Young Elected Officials Network, is the first to become a Cabinet member.
I remember meeting Julián at our very first YEO convening in 2006, and being impressed with his passion to serve and better his community in Texas. We are incredibly proud of Julián and excited to see what he'll accomplish in this new position. His proven leadership in fostering urban revitalization and economic growth make him a natural fit for this position, where he will be able to combat homelessness and help secure access to affordable, quality housing for more Americans.
Julián's confirmation yesterday demonstrates how supporting young elected officials in our movement can reap tremendous results. I often say that YEOs are the state and local leaders of today as well as the national leaders of tomorrow. While Julián will be the first (former) YEO member to serve in a cabinet level post, I am sure he won't be the last.


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Paving the way for future innovators
A sustainable pipeline of skilled workers well-versed in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math is what our nation needs if we are to remain competitive in a world that is becoming more complex by the year. Fostering a strong education system will allow us to pave the way for future innovators. Driving innovation in educational delivery that prepares our students for the careers of the future is critical for America, and the visionary educators at our Center are doing just that.
Education Innovators
A world-class educational system is the single most important factor in ensuring American students can compete for the best jobs. Meet the Center innovators who are working toward a brighter future for our nation's children.
E3 Washington
Integrating education, environment and economy to create sustainable communities.
New Venture Lab
Connecting Gonzaga University students to projects with entrepreneurs housed in the Innovation Center.
Sustainable Media Group
Helping individuals and organizations develop sustainable business competency.
Teach for America
Working to ensure all our nation's children have access to a quality education.
Teachers United
Building a movement of excellence to deliver a quality education for every student.
The Parents Union
Empowering Washington's parents and families to advocate for their children's learning.
Washington STEM
Advancing innovation, equity and excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Washington state.

subset: commoncrawl


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View the Style Preview below to check out the Alloy Apparel vibe.
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Soooo, just wanted to share that Vintage Linens is now in the shoppe! This was part of a grab bag at The Daily Digi. :) And now it's back in SMJ Designs Shoppe! You can grab it for $2 for a limited time! :) Hope you are all doing super fantastic! SMJ~~~VINTAGE LINENS~~~
Also you have to go check out the latest Artisan Notebook Issue! :) Full of fun SMJ pages and other fun stuff the team made! :)
Warmest wishes,
Shabby Miss Jenn


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Submit News
Truth Serum May be Used in Colorado Theater Shooting Case
Tiffany Kaiser
March 13, 2013 11:25 AM
Recipient E-mail
Sender E-mail
The decision to use it has been very controversial
A Colorado judge will allow prosecutors to interrogate theater gunman James Holmes using truth serum if he pleads not guilty by reason of insanity.
Holmes is the suspected gunman involved in the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado last July. Holmes has been charged with multiple counts of murder for
the open shooting
, which killed 12 people and injured another 58.
Colorado Judge William Sylvester ruled that prosecutors have the choice to use truth serum on Holmes in a "narcoanalytic interview" to determine whether or not he was legally insane during the July 20 shooting last year. But this is only if Holmes pleads not guilty by reason of insanity.
A plea of not guilty had been entered for Holmes yesterday after his lawyer said that the defendant was not ready to enter his own plea. Holmes can later change it.
Legal experts have questioned Judge Sylvester's ruling, saying that taking away the fifth amendment rights of the defendant because of an authorization to use truth serum drugs will raise a lot of fifth amendment-related issues.
Also, a jury may object to the court forcing truth serum upon the defendant.
Medical experts have weighed in as well, saying that the defendant still has the ability to lie while using truth serum. They also said that truth serum would be effective at determining Holmes' current state of mind, but a short-acting barbiturate like truth serum would not indicate his state of mind during last year's shooting. It will only loosen him up to talk about it.
"First of all, people can still lie under the influence of amytal," said Dr. August Piper, a psychiatrist from Seattle. "More importantly, the person under the influence of the drug is susceptible to outside suggestion. To try and do this would be unlikely to yield useful information, and could pervert the course of justice by rendering the defendant susceptible to pressure."
It's unclear exactly which drug will be used, but experts predict short-acting sodium amytal.
CBS News
"We basically took a look at this situation and said, this is bullshit." -- Newegg Chief Legal Officer Lee Cheng's take on patent troll Soverain
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The Style Gallery is a great new way for you to view, love, and share outfit photos. It's meant to showcase
all the expressive, creative, and inspirational personalities of our community!
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Police: Evidence indicative of meth lab at fire
MARTINSBURG – Evidence that would suggest the operation of a methamphetamine lab was discovered at the scene of a trailer fire in Martinsburg on Tuesday morning, the city police department announced.
The Martinsburg fire and police departments responded to the fire, at 312 Athletic St., at about 6:12 a.m. Tuesday. When they arrived, they found a single-wide trailer fully engulfed in flames.
The trailer, which was deemed a total loss, was believed to have been occupied at the start of the fire. However, any occupant who had been inside was able to get out, leaving the scene and not returning during the time personnel were there, according to a release from the Martinsburg Police Department.
Steve Allen, from the Berkeley County Office of Emergency Services, was requested to respond to the scene, as was an official from the state Fire Marshal's Office.
During the course of the investigation, several items and components which were indicative for the operation of a methamphetamine lab were discovered, according to a press release from the Martinsburg Police Department. Among items recovered were Coleman fuel, a respirator mask, propane cylinders, alkaline batteries, a blister pack of pseudoephedrine and coiled copper tubing. A Special West Virginia State Police Evidence Collection Team equipped to deal with such incidents was called to help secure the scene and remove possible harmful contaminants.
Police detectives and fire investigators were still attempting to locate the occupants of the residence, according to the release. Martinsburg Fire Capt. Greg Hoover said at the scene that no one was injured during efforts to put out the fire, but there was a small dog that suffered injuries.
The cause and origin of the fire are being investigated by fire personnel.
– From staff reports


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-waits for light-
-Arrives like a boss-
K do the tech o^o
I focuses meh ckra into le palm creatnz a spr. After iz crete sprs, meh tro it at le oppnt. Wile in mid ar it split into 30
K now lurn me da gen nao u_u
Den y u no do gen b?
I prform da tech by sndin' my chkra into da pplz brain and makin dem dink dat they iz shrt-range while in relity they be up in dat mid-rnge.
Good yey
Forum Rules


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"The Department of Computer Graphics Technology (CGT) offers the Master of Science degree with a thesis option. Students may choose courses that deal with virtual and augmented reality, product lifecycle management, and interactive media research." Below are some degree theses on the aforementioned subjects and topics.
Theses from 2013
Pilot Study of a Kinect-Based Video Game to Improve Physical Therapy Treatment, Jacob Samuel Brown
A Study Of The Effects Of Computer Animated Character Body Style On Perception Of Facial Expression, Katherine Cissell
Investigating the Effect Specific Credits of the LEED Rating System have on the Energy Performance of an Existing Building, Richelle Fosu
The Effects Of Parallax Scrolling On User Experience And Preference In Web Design, Dede M. Frederick
UNDERSTANDING VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF PRODUCT MODEL DATA IN INDUSTRY, Joseph Gerace
An Examination of Presentation Strategies for Textual Data in Augmented Reality, Kanrawi Kitkhachonkunlaphat
MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNITURE FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED COMMUNITIES: A MILESTONE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, Farah Nasser
IMPACT OF GRAPHICAL FIDELITY ON A PLAYER'S EMOTIONAL RESPONSE IN VIDEO GAMES, Vivianette Ocasio De Jesus
CORRELATING THE PURDUE SPATIAL VISUALIZATION TEST WITH THE WONDERLIC PERSONNEL TEST FOR AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS, Karthik Sukumar
Theses from 2012
Defining Industry Expectations and Misconceptions of Art and Technology Co-Creativity, Vanessa C. Brasfield
DEFINING INDUSTRY EXPECTATIONS AND MISCONCEPTIONS OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY CO-CREATIVITY, Vanessa C. Brasfield
Social Media Marketing in a Small Business: A Case Study, Sarah Cox
User Assisted Tree Reconstruction from Point Clouds, William P. Leavenworth II
EFFECTS OF AUGMENTED REALITY PRESENTATIONS ON CONSUMER'S VISUAL PERCEPTION OF FLOOR PLANS, April L. Lutheran
An Analysis of Step, Jt, and Pdf Format Translation Between Constraint-based Cad Systems with a Benchmark Model, Dillon McKenzie-Veal
The Effect of Supplemental Pictorial Freehand Sketches on the Construction of CAD Models, Maria Nizovtseva
Towards the Development of Cost Metrics for Inadequate Interoperability, Kyle L. Sigo
The Effects of Microblogging in the Classroom on Communication, Alex Vernacchia
Incorporating Reverse Engineering Methodology into Engineering Curricula, Trevor Wanamaker
Research on the Relationship between Story and the Popularity of Animated Movies, Meng Wang
Sketching 3D Animation, Innfarn Yoo
Theses from 2011
How do Millennial Engineering and Technology Students Experience Learning Through Traditional Teaching Methods Employed in the University Setting?, Elizabeth A. Howard
WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF REAL VERSUS AUGMENTED MODELS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SPATIAL ABILITY BASED ON HAPTIC OR VISUAL LEARNING STYLE OF ENTRY-LEVEL ENGINEERING GRAPHICS STUDENTS?, Katie L. Huffman
Stereoscopic Visualization as a Tool For Learning Astronomy Concepts, Norman M. Joseph
Recruiting for Higher Education: The Roles that Print, Web, and Social Media Play in the Decision Process for Prospective Students, Brandon X. Karcher
Comparisons Between Educational Map Software Displaying Soil Data, Laura A. Kocur
Visual Learning Styles Among Digital Natives, Eric Palmer
Using A Serious Game To Motivate High School Students To Want To Learn About History, Marin M. Petkov
Adopting Game Technology for Architectural Visualization, Scott A. Schroeder
GPU-Based Global Illumination Using Lightcuts, Tong Zhang
Theses from 2010
Effects of Lighting Phenomena on Perceived Realism of Rendered Water-rich Virtual Environments, Micah L. Bojrab
Full CUDA Implementation Of GPGPU Recursive Ray-Tracing, Andrew D. Britton
An Examination of Social Presence in Video Conferencing vs. an Augmented Reality Conferencing Application, Travis B. Faas
A Study of the Effects of Immersion on Short-term Spatial Memory, Eric A. Johnson
Evaluating the Efficacy of Clustered Visualization in Exploratory Search Tasks, Sarika S. Kothari
Large-Scale 3D Visualization of Doppler Reflectivity Data, Peter Kristof
Data Structures And Techniques For Visualization Of Large Volumetric Carbon Dioxide Datasets In A Real Time Experience, Jason B. Lambert
A Comparison of Peer Evaluation: The Evaluation App versus DeviantArt, Brian M. Mccreight
Evaluating User Modality Preference Effect On Cognitive Load In A Multimedia, Justin V. Scott
The Small and Medium Enterprise's Perspective of Product Data Management, Karen Waldenmeyer


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As you may know it's a bit difficult to reach Lisbon from Cyprus. But combine two low cost airlines it's possible to travel there without spending a lot of money. So, here is an example of the one possible route: Flight from Paphos to Rome Ciampino with Ryanair – Thursday/Sunday morning. Day in Rome –… Continue reading →
Budget, fast and fan way to get to Madrid, Sevilia or Valencia from Cyprus: flight from Paphos to Barcelona with Ryanair, shuttle bus to Barcelona Nord Bus Station and train from Barcelona Saints Train Station. Non-stop train to Madrid is just 2.5 hours and 37EUR one way! Better to buy it via Internet in advance.
Lucky guy – Purported Nexus 7 with 32GB of storage gets accidentally delivered in Japan http://t.co/mCPChVwU via @engadget # Agama robotic vacuum cleaners suck in a good way http://t.co/HBeV1OUV # txtr beagle announced as world's smallest ereader http://t.co/rY0gbDTV #
Finbarr's is empty on Sunday night. And it's El Classico! Shame on you, Nicosia! # Zenit won in Krasnodar! Gongratulations! #Zenit # Feel the Force: Angry Birds Star Wars coming November 8th to iOS, Android and computers http://t.co/ihB9bZDX via @engadget #
Happy Birthday XBMC! The best media center is 10 years old now! http://t.co/JGvT8mcD #
@AustCy thanks! # Fabregas, enough diving and simulation! #BenficaBarcelona # Bravo, Pedro! Good diving! #BenficaBarcelona #
Gmail now searches attachment text, homework hoarders rejoice! http://t.co/nzeVSNKE via @engadget # Tonight Champions League – difficult choice -: BATE vs Bayern, Juventus vs Shakhtar, Benfica vs Barcelona #


text:
The Infinity Blade series has always been the epitome of fighting games on iOS. It has always led with its foot first with the natural feeling controls and stunning graphics. Horn, published by Zynga, tries to take these features of a successful RPG game, add a true story, and include free roam. These are big steps they are taking to perfect what Infinity Blade was criticized for. (more…)
Tag Archives: Zynga
Review: Respawnables – The Pickup and Play Shooter
Zynga has never been one of my favorite developers with their freemium models. None of their games ever really felt like you can play them without paying. They were always mediocre at best. When I saw this Team Fortress clone in the App Store, I just had to try it out. Fortunately, it turned out to be one of the better shooters I've played on the App Store. Modern Combat 4 stands to be the sit down and play shooter, I say, Respawnables is the pickup and play shooter. (more…)


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Three More Harry Potter Books In The Works?
"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling is still refusing to rule out the possibility of expanding the boy wizard franchise, despite releasing the final installment, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," in 2007.
"I could definitely write an eighth, ninth, tenth. I'm not going to say I won't. I don't think I will, I feel I am done, but you never know."
The writer previously hinted about the return of Potter in April.
Rowling also credits the death of her mother with inspiring her to complete the first Potter book - because there would be no boy wizard if she didn't experience such grief.
Rowling suffered from a period of depression when her mom died from multiple sclerosis in 1990, and she channeled her sadness into her writing, completing the first installment in the magical story, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," in the years after her passing.
The star is still upset her mother never got to witness her remarkable rise to superstardom - but she admits her biggest regret turned out to be a blessing in disguise - because the tragedy inspired every step of the boy wizard's journey.
Speaking to talk show titan Oprah Winfrey, she says, "I regret... that my mother never saw any of it (success), but... I know 100 per cent she would have adored it (the books).
"But the odd thing is, and this is life, the books wouldn't be what they are if she hadn't died. Her death is practically on every other page of the 'Harry Potter' books, at least half of Harry's journeys are journeys to deal with death... So if she hadn't died, I don't think it's too strong to say there wouldn't be a Harry Potter, because I loved her and she died, that's why they are what they are."
Winfrey's interview with the British writer aired yesterday.
Click for Daniel Radcliffe pictures:


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Chapter 195 Drug Regulations
195.233. 1. It is unlawful for any person to use, or to possess with intent to use, drug paraphernalia to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, conceal, inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance in violation of sections 195.005 to 195.425.
2. A person who violates this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor, unless the person uses, or possesses with intent to use, the paraphernalia in combination with each other to manufacture, compound, produce, prepare, test or analyze amphetamine or methamphetamine or any of their analogues in which case the violation of this section is a class D felony.
(L. 1989 S.B. 215 & 58, A.L. 1998 H.B. 1147, et al.)
Transferred 2014; now 579.074; Effective 1-01-17


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Today's Features
Keller Center Research Report - December 2016
The latest edition of the Keller Center Research Report from Baylor Business is here! The December 2016 issue is filled with insightful and helpful writing about fascinating new research in the real estate and sales industries. More
The Southern Economic Association Honors Tisha Lin Nakao Emerson With Its Kenneth G. Elzinga Distinguished Teaching Award
Tisha Lin Nakao Emerson was recently honored with a prestigious teaching award by the Southern Economic Association. Student comments emphasize her organization, stress on critical... More
How the Stars of 'Fixer Upper' Transformed a Town in Texas
Entrepreneur Magazine: The story of how Baylor Business alumnus, Chip Gaines, and his wife, Joanna Gaines, also a Baylor alumnus, rose to stardom and elevated Waco to a new status. More
Baylor's Robbins Institute for Health Policy and Leadership Granted Membership into Business School Alliance for Health Management
Baylor University's Robbins Institute for Health Policy and Leadership, in the Hankamer School of Business, has been granted membership into the Business School Alliance for... More
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Steve Green, president of Hobby Lobby, came to speak to students at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business Nov. 10th. More
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HSB Spotlight
In this issue of the Baylor Business Review, we evaluate how the economy is doing in 2016. More
the Business


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"The Barn" by Brad Hill
Sold Out
Product details
- Mixed Media
- Approx. 19"W x 3.5"D x 8.75"H
- Signed Original
CLICK IMAGE to enlarge
* Note: Actual prints do not include watermark.
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- Medium: Mixed Media
- Artist: Brad Hill
- Collection: HCG Celebrates AMC's The Walking Dead, Originals,


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Worldwide Locations
Richard Pink, owner of Los Angeles' famed Pink's Hot Dogs, tells Asia Society Southern California why he chose Manila for his first international expansion.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear discusses the implications of President Obama's May visit to the Southeast Asian country.
Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama, who appeared on Wednesday at Asia Society, also explained why China's economic slowdown is "not good for anybody."
Amid tensions with North Korea, American and South Korean troops share military strategy and some light moments.
From Iran to Nepal and Singapore to Syria, here's how 2015 will be remembered on the world's largest continent.
Months before the issue dominated international deadlines, the Eurasia Group CEO scolded the U.S. for not taking in more displaced by the country's civil war.
In a Guardian op-ed published as COP21 began in Paris, ASPI President Kevin Rudd and former U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson argue that the "big three" can "become global leaders in a new and more sustainable energy future."
China's struggle to maintain economic growth without damaging the environment continues despite ramped up government efforts.
ASPI President Kevin Rudd joined former U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman and Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer at the 2015 Concordia Summit to assess the summit and how the U.S. and China might build on the meeting.
Having recently visited Beijing and met with senior Chinese officials there, Asia Society Policy Institute President Kevin Rudd shares his insights on the agenda for the upcoming Obama-Xi summit.
©2016 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | About AsiaSociety.org | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact
Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government. All views expressed in its publications and on its website are the sole responsibility of the author or authors.


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Posted: 1:30 pm Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
Cool ocean temps may mean later start to hurricane season
By John Nelander
A later start to the hurricane season may be in the works thanks to cooler water this year in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
Water temperatures are currently significantly below normal in the eastern Gulf, throughout much of the western Caribbean and around the Bahamas, according to satellite data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Early season storms often develop closer to home, as we saw in 2012. So the fuel may not be available for another early start.
Sea surface temperatures farther out in the tropical Atlantic are above average, but that area usually doesn't come into play until July and August.
At this point in March last year, the Gulf of Mexico was unusually warm, and so was the area north of the Bahamas and off Florida's central and northeast coast. It's interesting to note, though, that the central Tropical Atlantic was actually cooler last March than it is now.
Last year, the season began ultra-early with Tropical Storm Alberto forming off-shore of the Carolinas on May 19. It didn't threaten land and moved out to sea. But Alberto was quickly followed by Tropical Storm Beryl, which developed off the coast of Jacksonville on May 26. Beryl smacked Jacksonville with 70 mph winds.
By the end of June last year, we already had four named storms in the record books, including Tropical Storm Debby, which dumped more than 2 feet of rain in parts of North Florida.
We're about two weeks away from the first real forecasts for the 2013 hurricane season. Colorado State University's Philip Klotzbach and William Gray will weigh in the first week in April. The UK's Tropical Storm Risk should release its forecast that week as well.
AccuWeather issued its spring forecast Wednesday and long-range forecaster Paul Pastelok contributed some early speculation about the upcoming hurricane season. First, he believes that drought conditions will continue to develop over the Florida peninsula through June, which means a late start to the rainy season.
Second, last spring's La Nina, which is conducive to tropical storm development in the Atlantic, has given way to neutral conditions this year. The phenomenon sometimes called "La Nada" — average water temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean — is expected to continue into summer, NOAA forecasters said this week.
The third factor is the cooler ocean water. A slow start could mean lower numbers overall this year, Pastelok added.
* * *
COLD END TO THE WEEK: Wednesday morning's low was 56 at Palm Beach International Airport; 58 in Palm Beach. It was mostly in the low- to mid-50s at inland locations, except one station west of the Palm Beach Gardens Golf Club reported a low of 49.
The front that blew through Tuesday night was the first of two, and the second is packing a much bigger punch. Friday morning's wake-up weather in Palm Beach should be around 51, degrees, and National Weather Service forecasters in Miami said there was an outside chance of frost in Glades and Hendry counties.
High temperatures are expected to rebound to near 80 by Sunday and into early next week. In fact, the Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a return to normal temperatures for the second half of the month, after an unusually cool first half.
Even precipitation chances are expected to get a boost in the second half of March. So far, it's been pretty dismal with only a trace of rain at the airport during the first 12 days of the month, 1.67 inches below normal. The average total for the whole month is 2.82 inches of rain.
About the Author
John Nelander is a freelance writer, book editor and publisher in West Palm Beach. Weather Matters features news and observations about the weather with a focus on what's happening in South Florida. The blog also looks at the latest studies on climate change as well as what's happening in the weather forecasting biz. His website is www.pbeditorialservices.com.


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It's that time of year again! Witches and monsters, spooks and silliness; everything is fair game in this year's ZBC Halloween Challenge. Your chance to scare people with the power of your imagination!!!
Between now and October 31, open a thread in the Halloween Challenge 2011 forum. You can start with a completed image or you can post a work-in-progress that you will finish by Halloween. Share your techniques, advice and critiques with your fellow entrants. Above all, have fun!
Deadline for entries is the witching hour: Midnight on October 31, 2011.
The Halloween Challenge historically gives participants a lot of exposure, so be sure to make your creation something that you can be proud of! Really push the limits of what you can do!
Start your thread here!


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Guest reviews
Recent reviews
- All reviews
- Positive
- Neutral
- Negative
Hotel Alcala is centrally located in David, walking distance from Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra Park and close to Parque Recreativo Omar Torrijos Herrera. This hotel is within the vicinity of Port of Pedregal. Make yourself at home in one of the 106 air-conditioned rooms featuring LCD televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms with showers are provided. Conveniences include phones, as well as laptop-compatible safes and desks. Make use of convenient amenities, which include complimentary wireless Internet access and tour/ticket assistance. Enjoy a meal at a restaurant, or stay in and take advantage of the hotel's room service (during limited hours). Featured amenities include a computer station, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and multilingual staff. Free self parking is available onsite.


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Last year was our first attempt at making a turkey and hosting our family Thanksgiving dinner – it was a success. My parents went to go visit my newly wed sister in Ohio and left the rest of us to vend for ourselves. It turned out to be quite the Thanksgiving feast, complete with food, naps, activities and more food. I love Thanksgiving day :) This year we will (hopefully) have +1 by Thankgiving and turkey dinner is back and mom and dads! Here are some shots from last years festivities…
They all grow up toooo fast . . .
meet Herman (the before) – I can't take any credit. He was delicious but James took over this project and did amazing.
Pretty thanksgiving printables for your use, created last year. They may be accessed here and here. Lots of fun stuff to make it all pretty – Happy Thanksgiving day planning!


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Cross-posted from the White House blog
Today, President Obama visited Buck Lodge Middle School in Adelphi, Maryland to announce major progress on the ConnectED initiative, designed to enrich K-12 education for every student in America. ConnectED empowers teachers with the best technology and the training to make the most of it, and empowers students through individualized learning and rich, digital content.
Preparing America's students with the skills they need to get good jobs and compete with countries around the world relies increasingly on interactive, personalized learning experiences driven by new technology. Yet fewer than 30% of America's schools have the broadband they need to connect to today's technology. Under ConnectED, however, 99% of American students will have access to next-generation broadband by 2017. That connectivity will help transform the classroom experience for all students, regardless of income.


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By DeFranciscoAugust 20, 2009
Visit Fort Riley
Community Programs and Services
Employment Support for Transitioning Soldiers
Project Warrior Internship Network was established January 2008 as a partnership between Fort Riley and Junction City, Kansas-based Welcome Home to Heroes Foundation. It is designed to help transitioning Soldiers receive professional training and experience in a potential career field. Interns will have the opportunity to train in a business while they are continuing to earn their normal military pay and surrounded by people who are committed to helping them learn. Internship training participants will increase their prospects for a full-time position as well as networking with the community. For more information visit www.projectwinfortriley.com.
Education Support
Barton County Community College provides classes for degree credit to military family members at no charge to the service member or their Family.
Home Away From Home Program
Several Central Flint Hills Region organizations participate in the Home Away From Home Program, which pairs Soldiers with area Families during the holidays. Community members wishing to enjoy the holidays with a service member, and service members looking to enjoy good food and good company can call the Junction City/Geary County Military Affairs Council at (785) 238-1270, the Manhattan Military Relations Committee at (785) 776-8829 or the Fort Riley USO at (757) 709-3814.


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Kevin Wilson
Citing a desire for more public input on the matter, Clovis school board members tabled consideration of a new name, mascot and color scheme for its incoming middle school.
Superintendent Terry Myers said the school, scheduled to open in the 2013-14 school year, is two months away from shovels going into the dirt. But he said the board's next meeting on Sept. 27 was the latest board meeting before architects would need the decisions.
"I'm a little torn," board member Max Best said regarding the prospect of deciding the matter at Tuesday's meeting.
Suggested names included Liberty, Bataan, W.D. Gattis, Llano Estacado, Robert H. McDougal, Clovis and Jim McDaniel. Suggested mascots include the Patriots, Conquistadors and Thunderbirds. Suggested school colors are red-white-blue, turquoise-silver-white and black-blue.
Best said he would lean toward Llano Estacado — a choice backed by board member Paul Cordova — and he suggested adding Falcons to the mascot list as a nod to the community's Air Force population.
Myers said the donors of the land for the middle school did not voice any preferences on such matters.
Chief Financial Officer Jose Cano said the district could get public opinion through an online survey that could be referenced from the district's websites. He volunteered to write a quick survey, and the board accepted. Myers asked Cano to pass the information along to board members, school officials and the media when the survey was available.
Clovis High Principal Wayne Marshall had only one request.
"No Eagles, no black and gold," Marshall said with a laugh, referencing rival Hobbs.


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Detail Images
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Free 2-Day shipping on orders over $50*
Select your style & size:Select options
5 Reviews
Better than the first.
Metolius updated the F.S. Mini II Carabiner with a larger gate opening for better clipping while climbing. Alpinists can appreciate this sequel's lightened weight, while sport climbers can gain confidence with the flared nose that reduces accidental gate openings. And every climber will love that the F.S. Mini II has a less expensive price tag for this season.
- Larger gate opening
- Lower weight
- Flared nose
- Wire gate
- Item #MET002D
Tech Specs
Tech Specs
- Reviews
What do you think about this product?
Have questions about this product?
Keys Cams and Quickdraws
I use these for a lot of different things. I have one on my keys two on my hammock and a bunch on my cams and Quickdraws. They're small light and have a smooth gate. They're a little hard to clip but you just have to get used to it. I prefer the CAMP nano but these are great too
Good for non climbing uses too
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
I've got these on my fishing kayak to help with rigging rods/anchor/tackle, and I have heard of people using these on rafts or driftboats too. Small, inexpensive biners are almost as versatile as duct tape
great for some uses, probably not others
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
I use these color coded on my x4 cams. They are perfect for that because they are cheaper than alot of other color options and lightweight. They are definitely smaller than most carabiners you'll get, but for just racking cams that's preferable to save on weight. I use alpine draws on all my cams so it's not like I'm using these biners for running the rope through or taking falls
too small
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
I got a few as racking biners, but they're too small for even that! I find them difficult to clip/unclip from my harness/rack loops. When I was hanging off a crimp, and trying to jangle my blue X4 off my gear sling, I decided that I was done with them. There are better small/light options out there that out perform this biner.
When I have to bail, I will be leaving these behind on the mountain.
great and small
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
These are great for hanging your hammock from. They're smaller than most carabiners with this power and very lightweight.
F.S. Mini II new specs
Check out the new version of the F.S. Mini, explained by Beth Rodden.
When will yellow be back in stock
Hey Ryan,
We should be getting another order some time late next month! Keep checking back!


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The game of baseball has been around since the 1800s but in the 1980s, a new way to play America's favorite game was invented. In 1985, we saw the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System, an 8-bit way for kids to have fun. Many games were released for the gaming console, the most famous probably being Super Mario Brothers.
After the NES there was the Sega Genesis, the Super Nintendo, the PlayStation, the Nintendo 64, PlayStation 2, Game Cube, and Xbox, etc.
With these new gaming systems came a broad variety of baseball games. There were some that were just so fun to play, others that were not as good, and some that were completely out of whack.
I have played quite a few of these baseball games as a kid growing up and I'd like to retell my experience as a gamer. Without any further ado, here are some the most memorable baseball video games.


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When families migrate from one area to another, it can be hard to determine if you have really located the same group of individuals. The difficulty is compounded if the last name and first names are relatively common. It's important to be certain that the "true" family has been located and that one has not mixed up families with similar names. Male cousins bearing the same first and last name are particularly easy to confuse.
The rest of this article can be viewed here and was one I wrote for Ancestry.com in 2007.
My new weekly column "Casefile Clues" is available by subscription only through this website.


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This column by Clare Lochary appears in the December issue of Lacrosse Magazine. Don't get the mag? Join US Lacrosse and its 300,000-plus members today to start your subscription.
'Tis Better to Give, Especially for Women
by Clare Lochary | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
Penn coach Karin Brower Corbett instills in her players a spirit of giving back, a practice wise to emulate.
© John Strohsacker/LaxPhotos.com
The Karnofsky family knew a good thing when they saw it.
The Russian immigrants in 1907 hired the boy to help on their coal delivery and junk wagon routes, which wound through the New Orleans red light district. Instead of just shouting or ringing a bell to attract customers, the seven-year-old could coax music out of a 10-cent tin horn that was little more than a party noisemaker. Recognizing his talent, the family gave him an advance on his salary to buy a $5 coronet from a pawn shop. That was big money then, especially for people so poor they lived in the black section of town, but they figured it was a worthwhile investment.
It was. The boy was Louis Armstrong, who grew up to be one of the most influential figures in American music. Today there is an organization in New Orleans called the Karnofsky Project, which provides kids with musical instruments.
I first heard about Louis Armstrong and the Karnofsky family during a Jazz Appreciation class in college. I'm embarrassed to say I dropped the course because I'm so tone deaf I couldn't handle the listening exams, but it was one of the most formative classes I ever took. From a $5 loan, an entirely new, uniquely American genre of music bloomed forth. The professor encouraged us to donate to charity early and often, since you never know who the next Louis Armstrong might be, or how that person might change the face of the medium he works in.
I know at this time of year, there are many expenses and requests to give, but I want to ask you to consider donating to US Lacrosse, if you haven't already done so. About 64 percent of our operating budget comes from your (much-appreciated!) membership dues, but when you give more, it helps us jump-start new teams with equipment grants, and to do it properly, with support for safety and positive coaching.
It's particularly important for women to donate to causes they believe in. Even in the 21st century, girls participate in sports at a lower rate than boys, and we need to do everything we can to put sticks in all the eager little female hands out there. (If you want to target your dollars to women's lacrosse only, the U.S. women's national team is a good choice.) I admire what Penn coach Karin Brower Corbett has her team do. All the Quakers donate a small amount to the Penn program, and it doubles every year. ($2 as freshmen, $4 as sophomores, $8 as juniors, and $16 as seniors.) It gets young women in the habit of charitable giving early in life, which can pay dividends later.
"We need more women to give. I tell them, 'When your husband is giving, say, $5,000 to his sport, if your family can only give $5, it had better be split, because you gave just as much time as he did, and our kids deserve it just as much,'" Brower Corbett said. "They need to get that, and fight for that, and understand the importance of giving back."
Laxers are famously generous with their time and knowledge, because it makes us happy to share our game with others. If you can throw a little cash at the problem, too, it would be greatly appreciated. You can never tell who the next Jen Adams will be. The more resources the lacrosse community has, the better the chance that we'll find her.
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Ruth Madge Brewer, 80, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Oct. 4, 2001.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today in Westminster Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Jeff Conway, senior pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.
Mrs. Brewer was born Aug. 11, 1921, in Carter, Okla., to William E. and Myrtle Jackson. She was raised in Carter and graduated from Carter High School. She married Johnie Brewer of Sayre, Okla., on Dec. 26, 1944. After World War II they moved to Dumas and then to Amarillo in 1952, where they raised their sons. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for almost 50 years.
During her working career she worked for several retail grocery businesses and Adams Plumbing. She was a volunteer and later an employee at Meals on Wheels where she received numerous honors for her service to her clients. She was a mentor to area schoolchildren. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and was adored by all who knew her.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, J. Michael Brewer and family of Prairie Village, Kan., and W. Mark Brewer and family of Amarillo; two brothers, T. Max Jackson of Elk City, Okla., and K. Adrian Jackson of Moore, Okla.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials be to Meals on Wheels, 219 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, TX 79101 or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176.
Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 6, 2001
© 2016. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us


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The Bold And The Beautiful Poll: Getting Together Again.
At it once more?
If you've been watching "B&B" for long, you know that pretty much nothing happens just once. So it should come as no surprise to see that Bill may want to take Steffy for another game of mattress tag. Katie certainly suspects this is the case. Is she right and would it be so wrong?
Vote in our poll and let Soap Opera Fan Blog know what you think. Don't see the option you would have chosen? Tell us what you think should have been included in the comments section.
Make sure to check out our Bold And The Beautiful appearances, B&B news, B&B spoilers and B&B polls. Join us on Twitter @soapoperafan and Facebook. Come tweet and Facebook with us about "Bold And The Beautiful," all the other soap operas, "Dirty Soap," "Glee," "Grey's Anatomy," "Vampire Diaries" and "Venice The Series!"
Photo Credit: Soap Opera Fan Blog
Fun fact! Matthew Purvis wrote this story just for you on November 28th, 2011 |


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8 ounce s
hazelnuts, roasted and peeled, coarsely chopped into 1/4 inch pieces
8 ounce s
bittersweet chocolate, coarsly chopped into 1/4 inch pieces
eggs, separated
1/2 cup
Cocoa powder for garnish
8 ounce shazelnuts, roasted and peeled, coarsely chopped into 1/4 inch pieces
8 ounce sbittersweet chocolate, coarsly chopped into 1/4 inch pieces
8eggs, separated
1/2 cupsugar
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Butter a 10-inch x 2-inch cake pan.
- In the bowl of a standing electric mixer, combine the egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar. Beat for 4 minutes on high speed until light and fluffy.
- In separate clean mixing bowl, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Slowly add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and continue to beat until medium/stiff peaks.
- Fold the nuts and chocolate into the egg yolk mixture. Carefully fold the egg white into the yolk mixture. Fill the cake pan 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes or until center is springy. Remove from the oven and cool on a baking rack. Dust with cocoa powder.Note: Makes 1 - 10-inch X 2-inch cake


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ColorChoice® Shrubs and Bushes—Not your grandmother's greenery
Shrubs (also called bushes) play an important role in home landscaping. Shrubs are woody perennial plants with multiple stems that provide visual interest and structure, as well as privacy and traffic control planted in the ground and in containers. Used solo, a shrub can be a dramatic a focal point. In groupings, they become hedges forming borders, windbreaks and screens.
Proven Winners ColorChoice® shrubs are sourced from all over the world, then tested and trialed in North America for a minimum of 5 years before being introduced to local gardeners. These are the special traits we look for:
|Hardiness in more zones
|Easy care with less pruning
|Prolific blooms
|Dwarf or compact growth habit
|Continuous color (foliage, bark, seeds)
|Unique appearance or use
|Multiple seasons of interest
|Superior overall performance
Available exclusively from Proven Winners®, ColorChoice® shrubs provide new and experienced gardeners with an unusual palette of color and texture guaranteed to elicit oohs and aahs.
For example, Arctic Fire™ Red-Osier Dogwood produces clusters of white flowers in late spring, then sheds its deep, dark green leaves in fall. In winter, the shrub's upright, intensely red stems become sculpture-like adding unexpected color and drama to an otherwise dreary landscape.
Some of the most popular Proven Winners shrubs are easy-to-grow Hydrangeas bursting with colorful blossoms. Take a look at Invincibelle® Spirit, the first-ever pink Annabelle Hydrangea. With hundreds of Color Choice® shrubs now available and more on the way, why settle for only evergreens?
Top 20 Best Selling Shrubs
- Common Name:AbeliaDuration:ShrubLight Level:Part Sun to Sun3 Readers Rated This: (4.7)
- Common Name:AbeliaDuration:ShrubLight Level:Part Sun to SunBe The First To Rate This:
- Common Name:AbeliaDuration:ShrubLight Level:Part Sun to Sun1 Reader Rated This: (5)
Latest Articles – Shrubs
Learn more about what to do with shrubs damaged in winter.
Learn how to plant a shrub.
Flowering shrubs are our specialty, but we know that no landscape can rely solely on blossoms to carry it through the entire year. That's why we round out our offerings with over 20 different evergreens and dozens of unique varieties with colorful fruit, foliage, and stems to brighten the dreary winter
Learn specifics for pruning some common shrubs.
Learn how to prune shrubs. Click here for part 2, When to Prune.


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20 January, 2004
Fun Web Products
Ferenc lazar posted a link to the EULA for a site called Fun Web Products, and noted that the EULA "stinks." Fact is the entire web site stinks.
The site gives away free "fun downloads." If you're tempted to download any of this stuff, read this first: No fun with FunWebProducts.
It turned out that FunWebProducts is an operation of a company called IWon. Its software - a Web application - is essentially yet another piece of adware (often mistakenly called spyware although that is arguably a related subgenre).
FunWebProducts is notable because it acquired a large user population with remarkable speed. Iwon is responsible for a series of notorious adware products including IWon, iWon Co-Pilot, iWon Search Assistant, and MySearch/MyWeb.
What does it do?
What FunWebProducts actually does - as do a lot of other adware and spyware products - is to make it difficult to uninstall the software as well as hijack your browser by setting your home page to point to other sites. Worse still, FunWebProducts attempts to reset the browser home page should you dare to try to change it.
But, of course, anyone who downloads this free software will read the 5,000-word EULA that explains it all in incomprehensible legal mumbo-jumbo.
If you don't already have it, you should download a copy of Lavasoft's AdAware. You'll probably be surprised how much scumware is on your system.
Posted on 20 January, 2004
This is very cool: MusicPlasma. Enter the name of a recording artist, and you'll get a graphical display that shows similar or related artists.
(via Metafilter)
Posted on 20 January, 2004
Crackpots On The Web
PC Magazine's John C. Dvorak did an entire column on Internet crackpots: Don't Call Them Crackpots. He links to quite a few weird sites, and there are many more that were suggested by readers.
(via Rays of Light)
Posted on 20 January, 2004
Desktop Calendars
A calendar on your desktop, from Semafore Calendars. One image per month. These are some very nice images, and they come in a wide variety of sizes. The calendar layout isn't very practical, but who cares?
Shown here is the calendar for September, 2003.
Posted on 20 January, 2004
Eleven Seconds
Dave Pollard writes: Eleven Seconds. It's about an automobile accident.
time = 0 seconds:
You're young, and alert, and it only takes you 2/3 of a second to hit the brakes. You have snow tires, but you're on a raised bridge and it's icy. You're skidding, but staying straight.
time = 1 second:
59 feet since you saw the blockage ahead. The guy in the truck behind you sees your brake lights and it then takes him 2/3 of a second to hit his brakes. He's 60 feet behind you, about 7 car-lengths.
(via Carols' Chaotic Collection of Curiosities)
Posted on 20 January, 2004
George's Numbers
Here are some numbers to ponder. From The Independent: George W. Bush and the real state of the Union.
Today the President gives his annual address. As the election battle begins, how does his first term add up?
Posted on 20 January, 2004
Health Physics Instrumentation Museum
The Health Physics Instrumentation Museum.
Oak Ridge Associated Universities' Health Physics Historical Instrumentation Museum Collection contains more than 1,000 objects. Deemed the official repository for historical radiological instruments by the Health Physics Society, the collection chronicles the scientific and commercial history of radioactivity and radiation. The Health Physics Society has also been generous in its financial support for the purchase of items.
You'll find everything from atomic movie posters to x-ray and gas discharge tubes. Shown here is a NCA NU-TEC personal radiation monitor -- which looks amazingly like an old transistor radio.
Posted on 20 January, 2004
Rent A Coder
This is kind of interesting: Rent A Coder.
For software buyers:
Need a program created? Receive bids from our pool of 62,930 registered coders. Review work histories and resumes online, and then conduct business stress-free using our "Safe Project Escrow".
For programmers:
Earn cash with your high tech skills on 1019 currently open bid requests. Then subscribe to our newsletter and receive daily bid requests from our 21,983 registered buyers.
Posted on 20 January, 2004
Teeth Filing
Read one man's Teeth Filing Experience.
On February 2, 1998 I had four of my teeth filed to sharp points at the office of cosmetic dental specialist, Dr. Harvey Winters in Albany, NY.
I have always had something of a fascination with teeth - especially sharp teeth and fangs - and a predilection for biting. I can remember playing at "vampire games" secretly with other children as early as the first grade that involved light biting in conjunction with a tag like set of rules. As I grew and developed, so did my fascination with teeth and my love for biting.
This might seem pretty odd. But then again, we're taking about Lizardman.
Posted on 20 January, 2004
The State Of The Onion
Tonight, the president of the United States delivers the State of The Onion address. I think it's very cool that George W. cares about America's best humor publication.
* * *
Update: Oops. My fact checkers tell me that it's actually called the State of the Union address. Therefore, you'll want to join in and play the State of Union Address Drinking Game.
The general rules of this game are no different from any other drinking game. A drink is either a shot or a good gulp from a beer (or cider). Different events call for different numbers of drinks and all you do is watch the speech and play along.
If all goes well, you'll be unconscious by the time they show the other party's response.
Posted on 20 January, 2004
Baseball Uniform Numbers
From Slate: Uni Watch. It explains why some baseball players chose a particular number for their uniform.
Some athletes opt for a certain number because it communicates homeland pride: Jolbert Cabrera of the Dodgers wears No. 6 because he's the sixth big leaguer from Colombia, and former Mets Sid Fernandez and Benny Agbayani both wore 50 to honor their home state of Hawaii. Others opt for personal esoterica: Carlos May wore 17 because the name/number combo on the back of his jersey spelled out his birthday, May 17th,
Posted on 20 January, 2004
Begging On The Web
Here's another one of those Internet beggar sites: Pay for Cynthia's Wedding.
Hi, I'm Cynthia. In the beginning, I swore that we would not go into debt planning the wedding of our dreams. I set up a budget, but you know how that goes.
Things come up. And, it was really hard to cut out buying and buying and buying whatever tickled our fancy that week. So, we've added to our ever growing stack of debt to pay for this and that for the wedding, and we still have the rest of the wedding to pay for. What to do....what to do?? Hmmm, I know, start a website, and ask random strangers to help pay for our wedding? You betcha!
Tell you what, Cynthia. I'll give you a dollar if you change the pink-on-pink color scheme of that site.
Posted on 20 January, 2004
Beavis, The Man
Beavis, of Beavis And Butt-Head fame, is actually a real person.
Posted on 20 January, 2004
An Offer From Bill Gates
Breaking news: Bill Gates offers $25,000 to the families of Suicide Spammers.
Both sides of the Spam Debate erupted with outrage today when Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, keynote speaker of the annual meeting of Citizens Against Spam, announced he is offering to pay $25,000 to the families of each "Spammer" who commits suicide. Specific guidelines or instructions for the suicides were not detailed.
"I will personally reward $25,000 dollars to the families of each and every Spammer who kills himself," Gates announced to a shocked crowd.
Posted on 20 January, 2004
Cell Phone Cameras And Credit Cards
From Snopes: Thieves are using camera cell phones to capture credit card information.
Keep a watch out for people standing near you at retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, etc., that have a cell phone in hand. With the new camera cell phones, they can take a picture of your credit card, which gives them your name, number, and expiration date. Identification theft is one of the fastest growing scams today, and this is just another example of the means that are being used. So... be aware of your surroundings.
Verdict: Undetermined. It sounds like a good scam.
Posted on 20 January, 2004
Inspired By Abbey Road
Here's a collection of Abbey Road-like photos, sans Beatles.
Posted on 20 January, 2004


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Directed by Terence Young
Written by Richard Maibaum and John Hopkins,
from a story by Kevin McClory & Jack Whittingham and Ian Fleming
Premiered 9 December, 1965
There are so many firsts involved with this film, but here's one that matters right now: in the famous opening gun-barrel image, it is only with this movie that we actually see Sean Connery playing James Bond shooting us dead, and not stuntman Bob Simmons. Does it matter? Probably not. But it gives the movie a little extra kick when you can't visibly tell that it's not "really" Bond.
Another first: instead of the white dot that follows cutting to the movie's first shot, it dissolves and then irises out, to reveal a crest reading "JB" on a coffin. Heavens! Is James Bond dead? No, and neither is the actual inhabitant of the coffin, Col. Jacques Bouvar (Bob Simmons, in case you missed him), a known member of the evil international terrorism group SPECTRE. Bond shows up to the man's funeral on the assumption that he was faking his own death, and of course he's right: Bouvar is dressed in woman's clothing and posing as his own grieving widow, which means we're treated to the sight of Bond fighting a man in drag.
I will get around to arguing that Thunderball is the film where active misogyny, rather than a passive, laddish sensibility that's more dated than truly offensive, began to creep into the series, and here's where it starts: Bond knows that the woman is really a man in disuise because "she" opens her own door. He's so confident of this judgment, in fact, that he punches the widow right in the face without checking first. It's a little thing, and in another context, I would not make a deal about it.
After successfully killing Bouvar for real this time, Bond straps on a jetpack and flies away from the dead terrorists chateau to his waiting Aston Martin, as well as a woman whose identity is pretty much immaterial, and this saves what is otherwise a sort of drowsy and bland opening sequence - the fistfight between Bond and Bouvar is decent and all, but a jetpack? Bond has a damn jetpack? Now that is what I want to see in my spy movies.
Rating: 3 Union Jack Parachutes
The first thing we must be aware of is that, at one point, the theme was going to be "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang", performered by Shirley Bassey, then by Dionne Warwick, and then at some point Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman agreed that they would rather have the movie title appear in the title song ("Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" was a nickname given to the character in some countries; it remains in the film in the name of the Kiss Kiss Club). And so John Barry and Leslie Bricusse collaborated to give us "Thunderball", performed by Tom Jones. Let us not mince words: the song makes absolutely not the slightest damn bit of sense. "He strikes, like thunderball!" What the hell? ("Thunderball" was a military term for the mushroom-shaped cloud that follows a nuclear explosion; this nicety is not explained in the movie, and still doesn't help the lyrics). And for that reason, it's hard to regard it as one of the truly great Bond themes.
But holy shit, Jones sings his lungs out. According to myth, he held the final note for so long that he literally passed out (the same myth accrues to Bassey and "Goldfinger", which makes me awfully suspicious). And while this does not, of course, justify the fluffy idiocy of the lyrics, I have always nurtured a private fondness for the largeness and intensity of the song, however dumb.
Rating: 4 Shirley Basseys
Maurice Binder returns to the fold after two films away, and creates what will forever after be the quintessential James Bond title sequence: nothing but silhouettes of naked women, swimming against colored backgrounds (it, and the song, would serve as the immediate point of reference for the Weird Al Yankovic opening to the 1996 Leslie Nielsen vehicle Spy Hard, and I do apologise for reminding you of that film's existence). And so we must give credit to this sequence for its primacy and durability, even if as far as "silhouettes of naked women" go, there would be later movies which boasted more graphical appeal, or were more erotic, or both.
One need not have a degree in feminist thought to read this as one of the film's, and the series', most undisguised expressions of one of its key tropes: women are to be looked at and objectified. And the fact that the only other objects we see are men with harpoon guns firing at God knows what, intensifies the feeling that the women are being presented as some manner of prey. It's squicky, though not really more nor less squicky than later films in the franchise; I bring it up only because it is in keeping with a new ugliness regarding women throughout Thunderball.
Rating: 3.5 Silhouetted Women
This is quite possibly the purest expression of the Bond supervillain plot: steal nukes, hold the world ransom. It's elegant enough to have been the obvious and specific forebear to the most notable of all Bond parodies, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (in fact, that film takes more specific detail from Thunderball than any other Bond film: besides its plot, the eyepatch-wearing Number 2 and the villain's conference room of death chairs are two obvious lifts).
The problem - and I do not know that "problem" is the most apt word - is that Thunderball as the first (another one!) Bond movie with a running time over two hours, has a whole lot of time to explore that very simple and streamlined threat, and so we get an extremely lengthy opening act that watches as SPECTRE brings its plot to fruition: with a bit more energy and slightly more complex planning, we'd basically have a caper film, what with the switcheroo involving a NATO-bound pilot, the infiltration of a British health spa - where Bond happens to be recuperating under orders, naturally, or else how would he end up as our protagonist (and it's a close one, too: we see a room full of 00 agents at one point, and Bond has to essentially lie his way into getting the assignment that lets him be the hero). And this opening act is distinctly slower-moving than an action thriller had ought to be. It picks up, and the last 80 minutes of the film are surprisingly engrossing, considering how little happens; but the opening leaves a rough taste that never quite goes away. And given how much of the movie ends up in Nassau, after the Euro-trotting Goldfinger, I will confess the unforgivable: I never much like it when Bond ends up in the Caribbean.
Rating: 3.5 Stolen Nukes
Why, none other than the ruthless mastermind of so many SPECTRE plots, that organisation's second-in-command, the debonair, dashing Emilio Largo, played by Adolfo Celi (and overdubbed by Robert Rietty). Smart, ice-cold, wearing an eyepatch so that we have exactly no doubt as to how uncompromisingly badass he is: oh my candy-coated Jesus, is he boring. When it takes an eyepatch to provide a ruthless crime lord with the bulk of his personality, things have gone spectacularly far off script; but Largo has absolutely no color or spark of his own, no cackling "I expect you to die!" moment of excessive evil, nor any moments of taut, emotionally monstrosity. He's just a guy who stands there and barks out orders, and we can tell that he is really evil because he has some of his subordinates killed. That makes him functionally effective, but it is not the stuff of great Bond villainy, by any stretch.
Rating: 2 Evil Cats
A certain Domino Derval, played by Claudine Auger and the voice of our favorite dub artist, Nikki Van der Zyl, her second go-round as the voice of a Bond Girl. She gets a heck of a back story: Largo's mistress, and the sister of the man he had killed to get his whole nefarious plot going, there's no real reason for her to not be the most dynamic and exciting female lead yet. Instead, she is every bit the female counterpart to Largo himself: a bland non-entity, undeniably gorgeous, but that's the baseline for a Bond Girl - issues of taste aside, none of them come within swiping distance of "normal-looking", and only a very few fall short of the model-beautiful standard that Auger so undeniably fulfills. So no points just for being easy on the eyes. And that is, in truth, all she really does; a combination of a singularly empty performance and a script that offers her absolutely nothing to do besides look pained when Bond reveals Largo's treachery, Domino is the first of, I am afraid, many Bond Girls who are only eye candy, and whose function in the plot is limited to giving Bond somebody to canoodle with when he's tired of effortlessly mowing down the bad guy's army of thugs.
Rating: 2 White Bikinis
And another first: a seductive henchwoman! Of course, Fiona Volpe, the clever and treacherous co-conspirator played by Luciana Paluzzi, is not the first evil woman in a Bond picture; that honor falls to Rosa Klebb, so unglamorously played by Lotte Lenya in From Russia with Love. Therein lies the difference: Paluzzi isn't just a villain, she's also one of Bond's many sexual conquests (in fact, a different reviewer could just as easily interpret her as the "true" Secondary Bond Girl), something Klebb was never, ever going to be. Of course, Bond claims to have known all along and sexed her up just for the needs of the mission, but that is a half-truth if ever I heard one.
Anyway, the point being: Volpe is sort of just a sex object, but she at least manages to have the most spine and visible intelligence of any of the primary women depicted in Thunderball. Perhaps that's why she had to be made evil, I don't know. Even so, I enjoy her presence: in addition to being damn hot, Paluzzi plays the role with a certain malevolent self-amusement that makes her rather more memorable than her boss. There are a quite a few other "featured" henchmen in this movie, in fact, but there's no denying that she has far and away the most screen presence.
That said, major points taken away for inspiring the first real groaner of a pun in the franchise, after Bond uses her as a shield against one of her own assassins wile dancing: "Mind if my friend sits this one out? She's just dead." Though I'll admit that in my love of awful puns, that is probably the line I quote the most from this movie.
Rating: 3.5 Metal-Plated Teeth
You do not, if you treasure your own well-being, go to a Bond movie looking for progressive sexual mores; but there is a difference between "this is sort of dated and offensive and chauvinistic" and "this is a real, serious problem". For me, the first time the series crossed that line was in the admittedly lovely person of Patricia Fearing (Molly Peters), Bond's therapist at the health spa where he spends the unnecessarily protracted first act. Initially, she holds her own pretty damn well, rather firmly and even antagonistically shutting down the spy's casual attempts to seduce her. And that is why he ups his game, trapping her in a steam room after he's narrowly escaped an attack by SPECTRE goons, and very calmly pulling her into a corner as she sternly, then nervously, declares "no" over and over again. You know what having sex with a woman saying "no" is called? Because it very much has a name, and even a legal definition. Not okay, 007.
Rating: 1 Golden Corpse
There's surprisingly little, especially given the expanded running time and budget: really, the only setpiece worthy of that name is a big underwater fight between two veritable armies of scuba divers near the end. It is a somewhat notorious moment: even in 1965, when nothing like this had ever, ever been done, there were critics carping about how slow and un-thrilling it was. For it is the thing about scuba diving, it rather limits your speed, and that becomes exceedingly obvious when you're watching men underwater trying to throw punches, and John Barry's score is working double overtime attempting to keep the pace up.
You know what? I kind of like it, anyway. It is certainly not one of the great moments in screen combat, but the part of me that admires complex film shoots simply for how much work it took to bring them off, the part that knows damn good and well what a logistical nightmare choreographing that many diving stuntmen, as well as the cameras and lights necessary to film them would have been. And even if the results aren't the best in the world, I am in total and complete awe of the fact that it exists in any form. Yes it's like what Johnson said about a dog walking on its hind legs (or rather, given the film's sexual politics, what Johnson said about women preachers). But I will not feign embarrassment over this that I do not feel.
Also, there is a boat that explodes in the film's climax, and by God, but it explodes well.
Rating: 3 Walther PPKs
Well, I mean, a jetpack. But that is not necessarily a "gadget" in the class sense. What we do have, alas, is not exactly a bumper group: a flare gun, a pill with a tracker beacon, a Geiger counter watch, an underwater infrared camera, and a little tube that allows people to breathe underwater for four minutes, in defiance of all physics. And that is, okay, pretty cool. But it's no tricked-out Aston Martin, that's for sure.
What we do have, though, is the first out-and-out silly Q scene, in which Desmond Llewelyn gets to carp about being dragged out into the field and bitch at Bond being careless with much more familiarity than he had in the last movie. It's not as wacky as the Q labs sequences that present the character in his element, but it's amusing in its small way.
Rating: 2 Easily-Riled Welshmen
THE FIENDISH LAIR (and other sets)
Largo gets not one but two lairs of varying fiendishness: the first is glamorous Nassau hidey-hole with sweeping white curves every which way, and a damn shark tank - making him the first Bond villain to keep killer animals for fun - the second is a sleek, immaculately sexy yacht called the Disco Volante, which has no meaning that I can decipher, but is awfully cool-sounding anyway. Neither of these locales find Ken Adam working at his absolute peak, but there's an undeniable insouciant chicness to them that does more to characterise Largo than the bored actor playing him can manage.
The best sets, I'd wager, are the far lower key environs of Nassau, which is of course celebrating Junkanoo; the film takes place, therefore, in an entirely pleasing combination of designed sets and found locations which have a lot of color and energy and lived-in scruffiness. I cannot say that this is exactly the sort of thing that we look for in a James Bond picture, but it is certainly a fine example of the production designer's craft.
Rating: 3 Volcano Fortresses
Very little, in fact: notwithstanding the poniness inherent in a trip to Nassau, where the blue ocean could not possibly be bluer, there's not too much that Bond does that makes you desperately want to swap lives with him in this go-round. And this is specially disappointing given that it was director Terence Young who introduced Bond to the finer life in the first place.
That said, there is a scene where Bond idly pour himself a glass of Campari, and as a Campari obsessive myself, I am obliged to significantly overrate how cool such a gesture actually is.
Rating: 2 Vodka Martinis
I don't know if this counts: for it is said by the villainous Fiona Volpe, in articulating her foe's personality: "I forgot your ego, Mr. Bond, James Bond, who only has to make love to a woman, and she starts to hear heavenly choirs singing."
Forced or Badass: In this particular movie, it is kind of badass to hear 007 get called on his sexist shit, even if it's by a killer.
DOMINO: "What sharp little eyes you've got."
BOND: "Wait till you get to my teeth."
Thunderball is the moment where the Bond films, which had already lost some of its edgy credentials with the infusion of fantasy in Goldfinger, became spectacles that were, incidentally and not often significantly, spy thrillers. It cost a tremendous amount of money, and you can see the results, particularly in the Panavision frame, that vast anamorphic rectangle that meant, even in '65, "this is a Big Event Picture". Audiences responded in kind: Thunderball remains, in adjusted dollars, the highest-grossing James Bond movie in history, and even without accounting for inflation, it wasn't passed until 1979, seven films later.
And by no means is it a film without its significant pleasures on that front: I may have a personal distaste for any Bond film that involves the waters and beaches of the Bahamas, but there's no denying that they look incredibly gorgeous; and it is a particularly energetic, jaunty Bond adventure, the kind that is just plain fun to watch, in a perfectly relaxed and undemanding register. Better still, it doesn't require that the film be frivolous and trivial to get that way: Terence Young, returning to the director's chair after a one-movie break (it was to be his last Bond picture), removed virtually all of the fizzy humor that Guy Hamilton brought to Goldfinger, returning us to a more serious Bond who has a certain light tone, rather than a Bond who seems vaguely incapable of taking things seriously. Given how soon it would be that the franchise spun out into a seemingly irreconcilable divide between the movies that are simply goofy and insubstantial, and the ones that are grim and borderline nihilistic, I'm even tempted to say that out of the entire franchise, Thunderball does the very best job in any of the films of balancing moods, remaining serious when it should be but never abandoning the sense that all this is mostly for our popcorn-consuming delight. And since this balance is, in my mind, the thing that makes Bond films what they are, not the flimsiness of a Roger Moore picture nor the sobriety of a Timothy Dalton picture, but a genial combination of the two, I have long regarded Thunderball as being, at least, one of the quintessential Bond movies.
The fact remains, I liked it a lot more when I was 15 than I do now, and it's not just increased maturity and/or cranky old man syndrome (Goldfinger still delights the shit out of me). It's because, when you actually sit down to deal with what Thunderball is, and not what it looks like if you only pay attention to the edges, it's kind of aimless. The crushing lack of a decent villain or an engaging female lead has a lot to do with this, beyond a doubt: the bloat that such an apparently basic story takes on is another (this is among the longer Bond films, and certainly one that does the least with its running time). It is the first indulgent, lazy Bond film, in fact - the first of more than a few, and still far and away entertaining enough that I refuse to even briefly call it one of the bad films. But most of the problems of the worst Bond films are here in some tiny way.
What it does have to keep it going is an absolutely terrific Connery performance: reportedly his favorite turn as Bond, and certainly mine. It isn't just that he's finally comfortable with the character (that had certainly happened with Goldfinger), but that he marries all the elements of his characterisation in a complete whole better than he did before or after. The wit, the above-it-all bored quality he brings to the actual profession of his job (his scenes with Bernard Lee's M are great here; less so his interaction with Lois Maxwell's Moneypenny, who is inserted somewhat arbitrarily), the predatory charm of his relationship with women, the distinct sense that there is a working-class thug hiding underneath the gentlemanly shell, without being an actual brute as some of those to follow him in the role would sometimes do. It's all there, and Connery was still enjoying finding the character enough that the palpable boredom that would enter his performance in the next film is not here in even trace amounts.
It's such a fantastic, alive performance that really, one almost doesn't mind how minor the film is around him; for the justification for a Bond movie is, ultimately, Bond himself, and however much Thunderball falls short of top-shelf 007 action in many respects, I cannot think of denying that Bond is, here, just about as cinematically exhilarating as he would ever be.
(NB: the behind-the-scenes story of how this story came to be is weird and fascinating; but I shall speak of it at another time).


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Dollar Tree Net Jumps 59 Percent in First Quarter
May 20, 2011,
CHESAPEAKE, Va.-First-quarter net income for Dollar Tree totaled $101 million, up an impressive 59 percent over last year's first quarter.
A 14 percent boost in net sales, which were $1.5 billion and which included a 7.1 percent increase in same-store sales, helped firm the bottom line for the dollar-store retailer. Bob Sasser, president and CEO, said, "Our business momentum was strong throughout the first quarter." Sasser added that the chain enjoyed increases in both traffic and ticket throughout the quarter, which ended on April 30.
Dollar Tree also benefited from a favorable expense picture. Selling, general and administrative expenses were up 9 percent but fell 120 basis points as a percentage of sales, to 24.5 percent. Gross margin picked up 170 basis points to finish the quarter at 35 percent.
The company now expects net sales for the full fiscal year to range between $6.5 billion and $6.6 billion, which would represent an increase of from 11 percent to 13 percent over the last fiscal year.
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Video: Color Comes on Strong at High Point Market


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Moose Jaw Police Service
Police calls
Moose Jaw Police Service received 33 calls between 7 a.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. Monday.
• A report of mischief involving a vehicle being entered was reported on the 800 block of Fourth Avenue Northwest.
• Police are investigating the front and rear windows of a vehicle being smashed out on the 1300 block of Redland Avenue.
• Police assisted EMS with transporting a patient to Union Hospital on the 300 block of Ross Street West.
• Police are investigating a reported theft of a passport from a vehicle on the 300 block of Fourth Avenue Southwest.
• A reported assault is being investigated on the 1200 block of Vaughn Street.
• A report of mischief involving youth throwing snowballs at vehicles is being investigated on Redland Avenue at Saskatchewan Street West.
• Police are investigating a report of a break and enter on the 200 block of High Street West.
• A person was warned of the city noise bylaw on the 1300 block of 12th Avenue Southwest.
• A person was charged with possession of stolen property on Saskatchewan Street West at Grafton Avenue.
• A person was charged with possession of stolen property on the 900 block of Ominica Street West.
• Three people were arrested on outstanding warrants and released for a later court date.
• Two people were charged with breach of recognizance.
• Four people were charged with breach of undertaking.
• Police attended to two 911 calls and two alarm calls.


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Voices of support for magistrate candidate
October 30, 2013
Paul Menditto has been in our township for multiple years and has supported our community and neighboring communities relentlessly. He has always been a helping hand when someone called for assistance, whether large or small. Paul has shown true resolve and unwavering character. Paul Menditto is a man of integrity and will be a judge for the people, who will be fair, honest and thorough to all concerned.
Please join me in supporting Paul Menditto for magistrate.
Cathleen M LaBosco
Bushkill, PA


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Requiring every teacher in Ohio to undergo a thorough annual evaluation might sound good in theory, but in practice many districts are finding that the cost and administrative burden outweigh the benefits.
"So much time was being spent on evaluations, it left less time available to actually work with teachers to improve what they do in the classroom," said Sen. Randy Gardner.
Lawmakers for years have wrestled with the complexity of producing an evaluation system that is fair to teachers, holds them sufficiently accountable and yet allows for local flexibility.
Gardner, a Bowling Green Republican and former teacher, might have struck that balance with Senate Bill 229, which passed committee yesterday with bipartisan support and could see a full Senate vote today. If passed, it would go to the House.
Some changes appeared to ease much of the opposition. "We have educator buy-in, and we have educator accountability," Gardner said.
The current system just started this school year. Principals must perform at least two 30-minute classroom observations, in addition to classroom walk-throughs, teacher conferences and a written report for each teacher every year. Teachers are given one of four ratings: accomplished, skilled, developing or ineffective.
Under current law, only a teacher rated "accomplished" can be evaluated every other year. The bill would require that "accomplished" and "skilled" teachers receive formal evaluations only every three years, with less intense and time-consuming evaluations in the intervening years.
Education groups like the change.
"If you have truly accomplished and skilled teachers, is it really necessary to go through the formal (evaluation)?" said Tom Ash of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators.
"We don't have a problem with evaluating teachers every year, but the teacher-evaluation system is a very specific and detailed process. It's going to tax the capacity of districts to be able to do that."
Half of a teacher's evaluation now is based on students' academic growth from year to year. The other half is based on performance gauged by conferences and observations by the principal.
The bill would reduce to 35 percent the academic- growth portion of the evaluation, while giving districts flexibility on how to determine the other 15 percent, through indicators such as student evaluations or other academic-growth measures.
Susan Bodary, a former adviser to Gov. Bob Taft who is now a partner with Education First, a national education-policy group, said there is no magic formula, but reducing the academic-growth component to 35 percent is in line with successful systems in other states. It also makes teachers more comfortable with the evaluations, she said.
"Making sure they have a balanced system so that teachers don't narrow their teaching to any one component makes a lot of sense," she said.
If passed, the bill would take effect on July 1.


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Contrary to popular myth, sleeping naked in a sleeping bag is not warmer than wearing additional clothing. There are actually many good reasons not to sleep naked in your sleeping bag if you want to stay warm and preserve the investment you've made in an expensive bag. Let's assume the …Read More »
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