text:
Town Square
Is the school board listening?
Original post made by Dan, Barron Park, on Apr 5, 2007
Now, just months before a new superintendent arrives, I see that the board has promoted Scott Laurence to a position that has been open for four years, with no open posting or opportunities for others to apply. Laurence may be a good principal, but using "being recruited" as a reason to promote him is insulting to the management team and to the community.
In fact, it looks like a thin cover for cronyism.
Does the board plan to make such accommodations for the next employee who says he/she is being recruited? This is not the way to manage a district, nor address its obvious cultural problems.
While the board claims to be listening, its recent actions indicate just the opposite.
(Note: The message above was published as a letter to the editor in the March 28 Palo Alto Weekly).
Comments (33)
a resident of Community Center
on Apr 5, 2007 at 5:16 pm
They listen, just not with their ears.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Apr 5, 2007 at 5:48 pm
I have to agree that they indeed listen. Here is how:
If you say "I said so" they will not listen however if you say "my attorney said so" they will listen.
a resident of Southgate
on Apr 5, 2007 at 8:12 pm
The school board listens to a lot of people. There are a lot of different viewpoints out there.
a resident of Meadow Park
on Apr 6, 2007 at 8:17 am
Yes, Dan, they are listening. It is pretty clear to whom. But WHY? Why was the eruption of the entire mangement team into an unprecedented revolt, clearly with the sympathy of a vast majority of Palo Altans, not enough to shake their trust in the person who caused the revolt? It's mystifying. Well, she's leaving in a couple of months and they will be stuck with the mess.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 6, 2007 at 11:04 am
The problem is not that they don't listen. They listen, and listen and listen. First they listen to the Superintendent, then they listen to the District Staff (two strikes against them at this point), then they listen to the public, and they listen again to the public, then they listen to the principals, then the teachers, then the students, then the student board members, then they listen to lawyers and they listen to the reporters, then they listen to the public again, then they listen to their cards and letters, then they listen to someone who shows up waiving money, then they listen to someone who shows up waiving data, then they listen to someone who shows up waiving lawyers, then they listen to someone who shows up waiving experts, then they listen to PIE, then they listen to politicians calling them, and then they call up board members and politicians from other areas and listen to them.... And then on goes the listening... They listen themselves into daffy paralysis and utter confusion.
What they don't do is give themselves a fighting chance by implementing a sound strategic planning process with a well articulated 1,2,3,4,5 year plan. Robust planning processes are NOT about setting a plan in stone and then ignoring everything that goes on in reality around us from there on out. Good planning processes are about understanding priorities, setting sound plans, setting contingency plans, setting up regular reviews and accountabilities, and disciplines adherance to the planning cycle. The plan becomes a roadmap, and then the board doesn't have to sit around taking the pulse of everyone every time someone says "BOO" at a board meeting.
The issues, prorities, important projects and goals and community input on those goals and priorities can be hashed out during the planning cycle. And then it becomes a roadmap for the board decision making. Then the board doesn't have to flap around aimlessly in the wind listening listening listening listening... Its death to the school district by listening. Lets focus on a strategic planning process already!!!
If we don't know how to do that, lets get some advice. I suggest they start with Melissa Baten Caswell to consult on how we should do that. She is (or was last year) the PTA president, and I believe she has strategic planning professional background, and she's smart, calm, and well respected.
Frankly, I think it doesn't matter who they get advice from, but they need to bring professional advice in, someone NOT beholden to MFC, not the current disappointing staff, and someone not tainted by several of the very severe trust and respect issues that have tainted almost all that's gone on in the last year.
Its time we get some reason and process and direction back in to this school district, and take the excessive 'listening' out of the equation.
Can they PLEASE also put MFC on administrative leave already? How much damage are they going to allow her to do before they finally take her key?
a resident of South of Midtown
on Apr 6, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Parent, You make some good points.
A few things about planning:
Good planning takes good foresight and vision that goes *beyond* the issues that are always discussed here. Our world is changing at warp speed, yet our schools are failing to adapt to that reality. Instead, we maintain administrative and electoral structures that came out of the mid-20th century - structures that mitigate solid, long range, or intermediate range planning.
How many BOE members get elected with a solid long-term view (realizing that long-term views will differ from candidate to candidate) as just one quality necessary for service? How many BOE members have an inkling of the larger problems facing education, and the region, before they get elected, and elaborate on those problems in a way that relects back on the job thier angling for? How many BOE members are queried in a substantive way during election time on these large issues? How many BOE members ever express closer working relations with the city as a priority, and absolutely necessary step that will *have* to be taken if our community is ever to manage good comprehensive planning?
Answers to the above can be summed by two words - i.e. "very few". Very few, if any, BOE members are compelled to think about these things because the BOE is mired in *local educational politics*, where the big questions are "how are we going to pay for infrastructure?", or "should we have language immersion?", etc. etc. Talk to most of the teachers and site administrators in the district about whether they think the BOE and executive administratino makes a big *positive* difference in their work of educating our children.
When was the last time you heard a BOE member or Superintendant insist on creating iinter-district efficiencies, *big ones*? I can't remember that happening, even once.
Regarding the structure of decision-making, the BOE operates "by habit" relative to the Superintendent. It's human nature to want to "get along" with the person you hire, and are supposed to manage. The special complication in present day educational administrative structure is that we have mostly non-educators - BOE's - deciding to hire someone who is assumed to be FAR more expert than they are. Think about the complications that creates from the planning side. Think about how the present day structure of educational administration - with Superintendents doing their 5-year [if that] dance from district to district (that's the career path) - mitigates *against* good planning.
Educational administration as it currently exists, with mobile careerists put at the helm by popularly elected folks who mostly know nothing of the realities of *everyday* in the classroom, is a disaster. the only thing that saves Palo Alto and much of this region from going over the edge - like lots of other districts already have - is the fantastically high educational level of our demographic, and the superb quality (in general) of our teaching and site administrative staff.
We need to find ways to reform a system that gets most of its inputs, and the large weight of authority, from a single job-hopping administrator, and a BOE that rotates members every other year. This *structural* problem is one of the reasons that we have BOE members listening and listening and listening - ad infinitum.
We need to find a way to "de-politicize" education, as much as possible. Th latter wouldn't be an easy task (and is impossible to do altogether), but until we accomplish larger strides in that direction, forget about efficient planning.
The real sweet spot for educational innovation is in the administration of education. We're just now beginning to see this truth recognized. It's going to be a while before we see substantive change, but until we do, ,public education will continue to be compromised - even in the better districts.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Apr 6, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I also think parent made some good points. But they are completely different from what RWE picked up.
BOE listens to all these many voices, and indeed it is a bit confused. But in a sense this comes with the territory, listening to conflicting voices and advice, and the board and the administration had learned over time how to navigate among those voices.
What is new in this equation is -- ta dam -- THIS TOWN SQUARE FORUM. And I think this is what contributes to much of the confusion and the frustration, for the administration, the board, and the public.
Until Town Square, one needed a real drive to go and physically attend the board meetings. One needed a reasonable amount of knowledge to stand up and speak -- under his or her own name -- in front of the board -- and of the TV cameras. And one had limited amount of time -- at most 3 minutes every 2 weeks or so. Consequently, only people with real interest did it, and that filtered most of the noise. The next filter was the need for a sustained and broad popular interest: if one said whatever one did only once, it would tend to be quickly lost and forgotten. To create a serious and sustained interest for a broader issue (other than some personal grievance) one needed enough "warm bodies" to show up at multiple meetings and speak up -- otherwise it quickly became apparent that an issue did not have behind it more that the same one or two people showing up meeting after meeting. Finally, the public non-anonymous appearance forced people to do their homework, rather than to shoot from the hip on topics they might have no idea (but no lack of opinions) about. Consequently, it was reasonably easy for the board and administration to assign "public weight" to various speakers.
Compare this with post Town Square era. Suddenly it became easy to voice an opinion. This opinion is not necessarily publicly attributable, so it does not need to be thoughtful or considered. There is no time or frequency limit anymore, so one can post multiple opinions creating an impression of having a lot to say. There is no limit on masquerading as multiple posters, so it is easy to create an false impression of supposedly widely held position. In summary, it became a much more "noisy" discussion, which makes it very hard on the board or administration to pay serious attention to the voices here. Yet by not paying attention, the board rises the ire of the posters that "the board doesn't listen to them."
We often may think that discussion on this forum is a substitute for a public discussion with our elected officials, while creating at the same time a forum for easy sowing of random noise, for vocal and thoughtless dissent, and for easy and unaccountable berating/ridiculing of public officials. IT IS NOT.
I joined these forums since I had some time on my hands. Like many others I also found the anonymity helpful to express certain opinions which I knew will be unpopular. Yet after participating for few months I am coming to the conclusion that Bill Johnson did not do Palo Alto any favor by allowing anonymity here. It is my current opinion that this forum significantly lowered the level of public discourse in Palo Alto, and that the damage is not worth the occasional benefit that such anonymity provides.
Signing off, probably forever - Wolf.
a resident of College Terrace
on Apr 6, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Wolf (whomever you are!) -- I agree with you about anonymity and the problems it has caused here. I think we would be much better served by being required to use our real names, just as we are when we speak in meetings or write to an editor. Even being required to post only under a single screen name, as I've argued elsewhere, would help.
I would be sorry to see the Forum go, though. I think it does offer something valuable to the community and rather than lowering the level of public discourse, I see it as having actually enabled a lot of people to partake in it. If only they (and you!) could be persuaded to do it under their (your) own names – then it might be more civil and even more constructive than it is.
Personally, I'm very interested in public education and have communicated my concerns directly to the BOE in writing before this forum existed, and in letters to local newspapers. My work and family circumstances, however, don't allow me to attend board meetings at present. I'm sure I'm not alone in that and I'm grateful to have another place in which to express and explore my concerns.
Certainly, this forum is not a substitute for other kinds of engagement. But where else can you find a discussion of these issues in the same depth open to the same range of voices? Or the same level of debate?
I do sometimes get a chance to see broadcasts of our Board of Education meetings and what strikes me is how little debate they allow. Many questions are left hanging, never answered or never raised in the first place.
Maybe that's a good thing if the BOE is ever to get anything done, but what I was looking for in the city -- and what this forum allows when at its best -- is a place to hash out some of the real, and genuine dilemmas that face us as a community, especially when it comes to education. Is there somewhere else I can go to find that?
While some threads here have been poisoned by rash and inflammatory postings, a great number of others have been civil, informative and explanatory of issues.
This forum is not perfect. The loudest and most obdurate voices sometimes prevail -- but isn't that true, too, of some of the people who are heard most often at public meetings?
Yes, there's a lot of noise here, too, but there is also debate here that often rises to a quality that I think is worth the attention of our elected officials.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 6, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Wolf, I'm sad to say that I wholeheartedly agree with your conclusion that "this forum significantly lowered the level of public discourse in Palo Alto, and that the damage is not worth the occasional benefit that such anonymity provides."
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Apr 7, 2007 at 12:30 am
Sorry guys,
I used to use my name in other online forums and I was harassed and cyberstalked. What you say hear doesn't just disappear, it's there to be Googled.
I do stick to one name here and I think limiting the ability to use sock puppets is a legit. form of control that would end some of the problems complained about here.
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Apr 7, 2007 at 8:32 am
What do you mean by "sock puppets?"
a resident of Community Center
on Apr 7, 2007 at 9:06 am
I think he means taking your shoes off....then your socks..... sticking your hands in your socks like puppets.... and talking at random intervals to people like you and me.... most people can have up to ten characters, although this may vary with age..... i learned this on wikipedia...sock puppets
a resident of Community Center
on Apr 7, 2007 at 9:09 am
So long
Its been good to know ya
so long
its been good to know ya
this dusty old dust is gettin my home
and I must be driftin along
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 7, 2007 at 9:47 am
This is developing into an interesting discussion which probably wouldn't happen if we all used our own names. I tend to go by one of the most ambiguous nom de plumes used here and since it is used by so many, it is hard to know if one parent is the same as the parent used five posts or whatever ago. It is probably wrong of me but it is a habit I have got into and without giving it too much thought I just do it. The reason I started to become anon was to prevent my children being embarrassed by what I wrote. I also gave opinions on other threads with my own name and consequently was questioned about my thoughts when I ran into acquaintainces. I didn't really mind that much until I got into a big discussion with someone who really wanted to argue for the sake of arguing and it actually upset me. I don't like arguing and I don't like people harrassing me for my opinions. Therefore, it is much better to remain anon so that you can go to local events without having to enter these type of discussions at a time which is incovenient. I suppose I could do as many people do and think up a name which I use all the time, I just haven't done it. But then there is still the problem of the one anon name appearing on different threads and a personality problem could arise which would make someone disagree with you on a topic completely different from another topic you have disagreed with and your opinion is weighted differently as a consequence.
On the whole, with few exceptions, I think that remaining anon is just a plus to this forum. By losing the ability to enter any and every discussion in a purely anon persona from any other used before makes me feel that I can enter any discussion on any topic and be listened to for what I have to say rather than for who I am.
Parent (one of many)
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Apr 7, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Anonymity gives people freedom to be rude, cutting, belittling, shrill, etc. I walk around town wondering how many of the friendly, polite people I see in person are the hostile, arrogant people who post here. I feel more distrustful when I'm out in public.
I'm not condemning everyone who posts here anonymously. There are sincere and respectful dialogs here, but the lasting memories are of the people who come here to shoot off their mouths with abandon. It's poisonous.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Apr 7, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Anonymity isn't guaranteed, you know. With me, what you see is what you get. Enough so, that one person identified me easily. My anonymity here is because I'm pretty anonymous out in the real world as well.
There's an interesting discussion over at Salon about how they're now requiring registration for their letters--in part because women writers get such abusive mail. I've seen all sorts of sexual stereotyping occur online. I appreciate that this forum is moderated, but even so I find it more productive to be gender-neutral online. Certain assumptions don't get made.
a resident of Barron Park
on Apr 7, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Hate, what is it about others "shooting their mouths off" that you don't like? I'm curious?
That also goes for Wolf.
It's quite interesting to note _who_ objects to anonymity in these forums. Without mentioning names, the very people who are complaining above have during many forum discussions been the _most_ acerbic.
There are oftimes good reasons for maintaining anonymity. For instance, how many teachers and staff members would have been willing to offer up utheir names publicly when the "management team" issues were raised? A few did, but it's notable that those who did were in agreement with what had been going on, and not a part of the larger majority who were appalled at what had transpired. Sometimes being able to maintain yuor job and feed a family outweighs the desire for perfect transparency.
Frankly, it's best not to pay attention to the 'signature' in a forum like this. What difference does it make if someone posts thoughtful ideas anonymously? We've all met our share of rude, hateful people in public forums. Life is difficult.
What advantage does it bring for someone to post with their real name, _unless_ they have nothing to lose from such public exposure?
I'm aware of at least four individuals who have been deeply involved in one or another private or public initiative who would have seriously compromised their public positions if they'd posted with their real name.
I suppose some would now take to judging those individuals, calling them less-than-truthful persons, as if to deny the fact that _everyone_ dodges the fringe of pure feeling to negotiate settlement with exaggeration, slight distortion, etc. etc. Who speaks with perfect transparency, all the time? Name one person who does that. Read
There are many sides to an argument; there are many solutions to most problems; sometimes it's not possible to express all of the things that one feels need to be said to gain an optimal solution.
Forums like this are one more possible way to help inform. Those that are most frustrated by what happens here are most likely those who have been frustrated by the emergence of new ideas, and transparency.
Also, when getting into forums like this, it's best to realize that contributors _are_ going to weigh in differently than they otherwise would. There are disadvatages and benefits to that; just as there are in face-to-face communication, and when contributors choose to identify themselves.
There is a beauty to anonymity - permitting as it does statements and actions that would often otherwise not be expressed. What's wrong with that?
Why are counseling hotlines anonymous? Think about how anonymity _enables_ those in trouble, in that case - and others like it.
if someone comes off a bit harsh in a forum, don't answer in kind; ignore her; or turn her rudeness on its head. Be creative. Have fun. After all, nobody knows your name.
a resident of another community
on Apr 7, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Eavesdropper says I'm sad to say that I wholeheartedly agree with your conclusion that "this forum significantly lowered the level of public discourse in Palo Alto, and that the damage is not worth the occasional benefit that such anonymity provides."
I also agree. It only takes one or two trolls to make a forum useless. They foul the water. But like SPAM, it's difficult for the individual to do anything about it.
I don't know why the Weekly tolerates it. They could remove trash postings but for some reason they arent doing it. Maybe they count success by the number of postings, even when it is mostly by one person.
The troll returns, Anna Mike JL Jeremy Loski Periwinkle Publicus Sanford RWE Veritas Winslow Arbenaugh and Naysayer are one troll. And their new incarnation is the fictitious Phil Lanthrop. DON'T FEED the TROLL.
a resident of another community
on Apr 7, 2007 at 4:53 pm
DFT, How many times have you been told not to lie? There's no popcorn for you tonight, and no more playing with your computer. My friends in the neighborhood are telling me that you have become a troll. Is that true?
a resident of Escondido School
on Apr 7, 2007 at 9:02 pm
I agree that the PAUSD is not listening to its public when it does not open up a top spot in a more competitive fashion in light of the recent management issues. Perhaps there is more information of which we are not aware, but it does look like they did not want to lose one employee so they ditched all the good faith that they were building with both the management team and the public. As for the posters worred about the negative effects of anonymity, I, too, worry--but about those who would write comments such as "signing off, probably forever," "trolls," and "lowered the level of public discourse." Sign off, but don't threaten us that you are going to, hammer away the point without attacking the person, and please do not estimate your discourse so highly.
a resident of Barron Park
on Apr 9, 2007 at 10:27 am
I, too, think those complaining the loudest about the level of discourse on this forum are often those who have themselves brought it to the lowest level. Usually I find if someone reasonable gets out of hand with a specific post, a gentle reminder is enough to bring the conversation back. I've read some very thought provoking debate on many issues on this forum. Especially for time-strapped parents, the ability to have ongoing discussions about school issues is, I think, an advantage.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Apr 9, 2007 at 11:07 am
It is my current opinion that this forum significantly lowered the level of public discourse in Palo Alto, and that the damage is not worth the occasional benefit that such anonymity provides.
Signing off, probably forever - Wolf.
Hmm, wonder why Palo Alto Online staff had to edit/remove these "Wolf" posts. Pot, meet Kettle.
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.] Web Link
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff] Web Link
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff] Web Link
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Apr 9, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I've had a couple of online disagreements with Wolf myself and I've also noticed a certain less-than-dimplomatic quality to some of his replies. But maybe that's part of what he doesn't like--not just what others post, but what he posts. Or how he posts. Maybe it is unproductive for him.
Online communication heightens some characteristics and subdues others, we may or may not like our own online persona and that, I think, affects what we think of online forums.
a resident of Community Center
on Apr 10, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Hey folks....in case your interested... there was an article in today (or yesterdays) london guardian about the subject you've been recently addressing....pertinent info....
a resident of Community Center
on Apr 10, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Hey folks....in case your interested... there was an article in today (or yesterdays) london guardian about the subject you've been recently addressing....pertinent info....
a resident of Crescent Park
on Apr 10, 2007 at 11:42 pm
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 11, 2007 at 8:31 am
Very interesting article and should be read by many on this forum.
Oh, and just to let you know, those of us from across the pond call the Guardian the Manchester Guardian, not the London Guardian. It used to be a regional newspaper which became national. It is different from other British nationals because it writes from the prospective of the north of England rather than the other nationals which are written as London being the centre of the universe (or Britain anyway).
a resident of Community Center
on Apr 11, 2007 at 8:43 am
...your very welcome.....thanks for making it easier to access....
glad i could do something remotely constructive....
and thanks for the info Brit....Manchester Guardian sounds okay to me....
a resident of Fairmeadow
on Apr 12, 2007 at 4:49 am
I like that there is a community forum at paloaltoonline.
I consider its structure a work in progress, as I think it currently allows (encourages?) snide, poisonous-pen types to hijack the tenor of otherwise civil and thoughtful discussions. I look forward to its further evolution.
I'm sure there are many examples of good additional features in online community forums that, if adopted here, might encourage useability and civility. I think some features at slashdot.org are worth looking at:
1.) volunteer "member" moderators are randomly assigned to rank posts, e.g., for relevance, and an average numerical score is assigned to each post as a result.
Then, as a reader, I can set my filter level to only display posts of a certain score or better. This allows me to filter out the poisonous personalities, trolls, wise-acres, etc., if I so choose: a poster to a thread is not guaranteed to be read by all readers, and especially not if they are anti-social or off-topic.
2.) responses to individual posts can "tree" out into seperate discussion threads.
This allows me to skip tangential discussion threads.
digital editor of Palo Alto Online
on Apr 12, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Tyler Hanley is a registered user.
Thanks to all for the feedback and suggestions regarding Town Square. This is a work in progress and an experiment of sorts, and we will be making changes that we hope will improve the experience for the majority of well-intended users. We are especially focused on ways to discourage the posting of disrespectful, sarcastic and other kinds of comments that drive others away. Keep suggesting ideas, so we can take them into consideration as we make changes to the site.
a resident of Southgate
on Apr 12, 2007 at 8:11 pm
This morning I posted a web link to a column that Jon Carroll wrote in this morning's Chronicle as a new topic. I see that it would better have been posted in this thread, so here it is. It's about behavior in forums like this, and is based on the years of experience on the Well, the grandparent of all such discussion groups.
Web Link
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 14, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Thanks Tyler.
I like the idea of being able to "rate" posters, and to make posters use the SAME "alias" through registration. But, I do not want anyone deleted for any reason. I want to see why posters are being "rated".
I have seen too many items deleted for reasons I cannot fathom to support the deletion of any item, unless it is a post which endangers someone by giving "outing" somebody's address etc.
a resident of another community
on Sep 27, 2007 at 2:41 pm
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
Don't miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.
Cherries and Berries
By Laura Stec | 4 comments | 1,572 views
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength . . .
By Chandrama Anderson | 2 comments | 1,033 views
Meeting Other New Parents
By Cheryl Bac | 0 comments | 747 views
They Are the Lucky Ones
By Max Greenberg | 1 comment | 318 views
One more week to vote!
Don't forget to cast your ballot online. Voting ends May 29th. Stay tuned for the results in the July 21st issue of the Palo Alto Weekly.


text:
Wise Blast Off Tour Series Centric 1 Folding Boat Seats - WD 1464
Sale price: Clearance price: Starting at: Sale starting at: Clearance starting at: Reg. price:
Maximize your comfort with the built-in contours found in the Wise Centric 1 Folding Boat Seats. Featuring builder grade marine vinyl with mildew and UV inhibitors to keep the boat seats looking like new season after season, the Centric 1 Folding Boat Seats' high-compression foam padding provides long-lasting comfort and stability. The heavy-duty, rotationally molded Centric 1 Boat Seat frame can be mounted to any 4 bolt BIA pedestal system. 6 year frame / 3 year upholstery warranty. Dimensions: 21.75'' H x 19.5'' W x 23'' D, seating depth 16.5''. Model: WD 1464.
- Boat builder quality boat seats that won't break your wallet
- Builder grade marine vinyl is UV and mildew resistant
- High-compression foam padding
- Heavy-duty, rotationally molded folding seat frame
- Mount to any 4 bolt BIA pedestal system
- 6 year frame / 3 year upholstery warranty
- Dimensions: 21.75'' H x 19.5'' W x 23'' D, seating depth 16.5''
The Wise Blast Off Tour Series is the boat seating solution system anglers everywhere have been asking for. For the first time you can completely refurbish your fishing boat interior with premium boat builder grade seating options. No matter what space limitations you have, you can mix and match the Blast Off seats to create the ideal seating group for your bass boat, fish 'n ski or even your walleye boat. The Blast Off Series is uniquely designed by the boating industry's leading seat designer to coordinate with boats of all ages and styles to provide a look and feel that makes you proud to take her on the water. All Blast Off seats are individually handcrafted by our seat builders that already make seats for many of the nation's leading brands. Choose from 8 hand-picked color combinations that work seamlessly in just about any brand of boat, young or old. No need to settle for less anymore. Make your boat a head turner at your next weigh in! Go Blast Off today for comfort and savings!
Need Help? 7 days a week: 7am to 10pm CT or call 1.800.227.7776 anytime

subset: commoncrawl


text:
What is it? A blend of dance, martial arts, gymnastics, acrobatics, ritual and music from Brazil.
What's needed? Stretchy pants, comfy top, bare feet.
The experience: My husband asks what challenge I'm about to tackle and I don't know quite what to say. Capoeira is so many things rolled into one ... so I tell the bloke I'm off to do a dance-y thing from Brazil.
I head to downtown Auckland, up a multi-level building and take in a sea view. There's a martial arts class on one side, capoeira on the other, separated by punching bags.
Many here wear white and coloured ropes around their waists, showing their level of expertise. There are 15 belts, the ultimate white for a grand-master.
I'm not the only rookie, dressed casually. A girl is here for a Christmas gift, one guy is an ethnomusicology tutor from Auckland University, another is from the corporate world.
I expect a room full of Brazilian bodies; I find a melting pot of European, Asian, Maori and Brazilians.
Teacher Mestre Junior has more than 21 years' practice in this art form, learned from his father, Mestre Pop.
He greets everyone warmly and then gets us all warmed up. We lap the room, running forwards, backwards, sideways, and we sweat within moments. The commands to change direction are foreign, so I follow the leader. I'm at the back of the pack, but soon we change direction and I'm leading (yikes).
The following menu of movements tests my mental agility as much as my physical strength, balance, flexibility and co-ordination.
In pairs, we head down the length of the room doing tasks including being on our hands and feet while crouched low, which is already one heck of an all-body workout.
In fact, the ethnomusicology tutor later confided that just 30 minutes into the 90-minute session: "I thought I was going to die". Well put.
One repeated signature move of capoeira (called ginga) is having legs shoulder-width apart and rocking back and forth, with a kind of swing. While doing this, I incorporate arm movements as if I'm trying to defend myself from an attack with arm positions across my face. I try to dodge and escape an (imaginary) kicking opponent. I'm in constant motion, making it hard for this attacker to hit me.
But then, it's all handstands and cartwheels across the floor. Hard yakka.
The pairings swap frequently, so I meet lots of people. Like all the beginners here, I'm always paired with someone with experience. This is helpful for learning techniques. But it also creates a friendly vibe.
One thing I really enjoy is kicking a punching bag. We're told to do it mostly in slow motion, with control, and it's non-aggressive - but with lethal intent. Talk about satisfying.
To finish is a game or "Jogo de Capoeira", in which everyone forms a circle (called a roda).
Some play instruments: a pandeiro (like a tambourine) and a berimbau (a single-stringed instrument), and Mestre Junior teaches a song.
Then pairs of dancers (capoeiristas) show off their dancing prowess in the roda in time with the music. It's a freestyle whirlwind of dance, pretend attacks and defence manoeuvres.
The dancers appear to almost collide, but the skill is in showing that you could get the other person - if you wanted to.
I tell Mestre Junior later that it almost looked like one guy was break-dancing in the roda.
But he corrects me and tells me break-dancing is actually like capoeira, which has been around for much longer. The dance goes back to the 16th century, when African slaves were brought to Brazil.
When they were not working, they danced, which was really a cover for the slaves amassing strength so they could try to escape and fight for freedom.
So there's a richness in the make-up of the moves of this dance, but also a richness in its history.
How much? $20 casual visit. Membership $25 weekly (up to four classes available a week ).
Worth it? This is an incredible work-out - I could barely walk for three days afterwards. You'd make friends here, for sure.
Try it: Beginners' and intermediate class 7pm-8.30pm Mondays, Au Capoeira school, 106-108 Quay St, Downtown Auckland
Rating: 10/10


text:
Peace Corps Applicants
Returned Volunteers
Join the RPCVs of Madison in our monthly meeting. Every month you can indulge in the warm camaraderie of your fellow RPCVs as we attend to the business of International Calendar and 'we all' Poster sales, supporting Peace Corps Partnerships, organizing the Freeze for Food, and regular social excursions.
The General Meeting is the third Wednesday of the month, usually in the Memorial Union or Union South during cold weather, or on the Memorial Union Terrace during warm weather, at 7:00 pm. Contact the President of the group, for details.
The Calendar Committee Meeting is the second Tuesday of the month, usually at Stalzy's Deli on Atwood Avenue. Contact the Calendar Committee Coordinator for details and exact time.
The 'we all' Poster Committee Meeting has monthly meetings that vary dependent on schedules. Contact the We All Poster Committee Coordinator for details.
We are a group of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and other individuals who promote Peace Corps ideals by:
About Us | International Calendar | How to Join | Activities
Information About Peace Corps | Contact Us | Return to RPCVs of WI-Madison Home Page
Web Development: Tripstream Productions.


text:
Celebrating 40 years of providing leading Soundmasking technology
Why sound masking?
Sound masking is the only acoustical treatment that addresses all sound paths. The acoustical effect of walls, carpets and ceilings are static; sound masking can be tuned and adjusted as needed. Adding sound masking to an open office space is the acoustical equivalent of tripling the distance between workers!
How is it installed?
Sound masking speakers are installed such that one cannot discern where the masking sound is coming from. Typically, upward-firing speakers installed above suspended ceilings uniformly fill the occupied space below. Speakers can be installed above suspended ceilings, below raised access floors and in open structure.
What are the benefits?
Sound masking systems reduce conversational distractions while increasing worker concentration, productivity, accuracy and satisfaction. Today's green buildings introduce new acoustical challenges. Adding sound masking can help solve the lack of privacy caused by decreasing workstation heights and less room absorption.
Why Dynasound?
Dynasound manufactures sound masking systems designed for every size office space and for all types of construction. We provide sound masking solutions for open offices, closed offices, SCIF and secure rooms. We can provide a single speaker system or a sound masking system consisting of thousands of networked speakers.
sound masking, paging, music, network control
Sound masking systems make excellent paging systems as well. Dynasound's networked systems can assign any mix of masking, paging and music on a per speaker basis.


text:
|GTA V Latest News | #GTAV | #GTAOnline
2012 The Epsilon Program Returns?
Grand Theft Auto V - General News | @ 08:30 AM MDT | By Ash_735
There's something weird going on at the Epsilon Program website. The Teaser website, originally created back in 2004 for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, was recently updated, there's now a Twitter feed under the name @EpsilonismToday. Strange indeed.
Login to GTAGaming
Not a GTAGaming member yet?
Sign up now!
Currently Online:
0 Members, 565 Guests
Website Links
Grand Theft Auto Zones
|About RSS IRC Archives Upload Feedback Affiliation Legal Staff Contact Join
|Home GTA V IV CW VCS LCS SA VC III Top Down Files Forums


text:
Outstanding pianos and sophisticated musical entertainment systems in one!
An intelligent alternative for those who want an unprecedented range of playback and recording features in an easy to use standard Mark III Disklavier system.
The original Yamaha Disklavier, which made its debut back in 1986, introduced the world to t...
Outstanding pianos and sophisticated musical entertainment systems in one!
An intelligent alternative for those who want an unprecedented range of playback and recording features in an easy to use standard Mark III Disklavier system.
The original Yamaha Disklavier, which made its debut back in 1986, introduced the world to the wonder of traditional pianos equipped with integrated digital electronics for recording, auto playback and more. Since that time, these computer-age 'player' pianos have evolved into instruments of truly remarkable capabilities. They can reproduce not only 'live' acoustic piano concerts, but ensemble music with instrumental and vocal tracks as well. They allow you to record and play back your own performance, create complex multi-track arrangements, and connect to the world of musical opportunities offered by MIDI devices, personal computers and the Internet. Their unique combination of acoustic excellence and digital versatility has made them an increasingly popular choice of pianists, educators and music-lovers worldwide.
Today, Yamaha is proud to introduce the latest evolution of the Disklavier line, integrating a host of new acoustic advances and cutting-edge digital developments. All models now play audio/MIDI CDs as well as floppy disks. Revolutionary new PianoSmart™ features make it possible to synchronize piano recording and playback with standard audio CDs. And for those who always wanted to play the piano, new SmartKey™ technology makes it easy, guiding you through songs note by note, while adding professional embellishment.
* Some features not applicable to certain models.
DC2B Features
- Integrated CD Drive
The CD drive lets you enjoy an extended range of Disklavier software, including discs with audio vocal and instrumental tracks, or play your audio CDs through the Disklavier sound system.
- PianoSmart™ technology
A new breakthrough in Disklavier technology, the PianoSmart system lets you enjoy Disklavier playback perfectly matched with popular music CDs.
- Recording and auto-playback functions
- New compact control unit with CD and floppy drives
- New PianoSmart™ audio synchronization
- Built-in amplified stereo speaker system
- Built-in SmartKey™ play-assist system
- XG instrumental tone generator
- Interference-free optical key, hammer and pedal sensors
- Abundant memory and programming features
- Direct computer interface
- MIDI and AUX connections
- Yamaha acoustic piano quality and performance
Expanded recording and playback functions
Equipped with a CD drive, the DC2B allows you to enjoy the entire range of Yamaha and third-party software, including CD software complete with high-fidelity vocal and instrumental audio tracks. It also features PianoSmart™, a new technology that lets you record your own piano or MIDI instrumental tracks while listening to your favorite audio CDs, and then play them back in perfect harmony.
Newly designed control unit
Equipped with 64 MB of internal memory, the Disklavier control unit lets you store your favorite songs for easy-access pre-programmed entertainment. An integrated digital tone generator can recreate nearly 700 instrumental tones, through headphones or external speakers, for piano/MIDI ensemble performance. PC, MIDI and AUX connections offer easy access to a world of external enhancements, from audio equipment and MIDI devices to personal computers and the Internet.
Supported by a vast library of Yamaha PianoSoft™
software, the Disklavier can reproduce live concerts by many of the world's top pianists, complete with the lifelike key and pedal movement.
It's like having world-class artists performing just for you.
It can also deliver high-fidelity vocal and instrumental tracks, so you can enjoy jazz combos, popular groups, chamber ensembles and more.
New teaching technology now even allows you to synchronize recording and playback with your own standard audio CDs.
Yamaha PianoSoft™ software
The original Disklavier music software, Yamaha PianoSoft offers prerecorded piano concerts by many of the greatest pianists of our times, along with many more performances by top studio pianists. The PianoSoft library includes literally hundreds of titles in genres from classical to jazz, pop and country music, along with special seasonal collections, regional anthologies, students songs, and compilations made especially for instrumental or vocal accompaniment. Whatever your taste in music, PianoSoft can bring it to you at the touch of a button, with 'live' piano music in the comfort of your own home!
PianoSoft-Plus™ ensemble software
The 'Plus' in Yamaha PianoSoft-Plus software is the addition of digital instrumental ensemble tracks, made possible by the Disklavier's internal XG MIDI tone generator. With these disks, you can enjoy Disklavier acoustic piano performance augmented by the sound of strings, brass, woodwind, percussion and more. Sit back to the beautiful sounds of chamber music, the passion and drive of a jazz quartet, the upbeat tempos of a popular group, or a stirring orchestral arrangement. It's all right there, with the ease of a single diskette. Just slip it into your Disklavier, press PLAY and enjoy your command performance.
PianoSoft-PlusAudio™ ensemble software
The Mark III Series' CD-playing capabilities expand your musical entertainment options even further. PianoSoft-PlusAudio and other audio/MIDI CD software complements Disklavier performance with high-fidelity vocal and instrumental audio track. Experience the sound of your favorite groups – complete with vocalists and instrumental soloists – enhanced by the live-concert presence of Disklavier acoustic piano playback. With a variety of titles already available*, and more in development, your Disklavier can entertain you and your guests better than ever – all with the ease and convenience of conventional audio CDs.
* Availability may be limited in some countries.
NEW! PianoSmart technology opens up a whole new world of entertainment possibilities
A truly revolutionary breakthrough in Disklavier technology, the PianoSmart system opens up a world of additional ways to enjoy your digital/acoustic piano. PianoSmart intelligently synchronizes Disklavier recording and playback with the operation of the built-in CD player. What this means in real terms is that you can now record your own piano or electronic instrumental tracks while listening to your favorite CDs, and play them back in perfect combination with the original recordings. 'Sit in' with the hottest new groups, classic combos or a full symphony orchestra, then sit back, press a couple of buttons, and listen to yourself performing 'live' with the pros! Through the use of MTC (MIDI Time Code), PianoSmart can also synchronize recording and playback with external devices such as multi-track recording equipment and video cameras*. These features enable pianists, families and educators to create audiovisual records of any performance, complete with 'live' Disklavier acoustic piano playback, stereo audio instrumentals and vocals, and full-motion video – all as one integrated presentation. They also allow creative musicians to collaborate in ways seldom dreamed of before. In combination with the many other Disklavier capabilities, PianoSmart extends digital/acoustic creativity into a whole new universe of options.
* Video synchronization requires an external video MIDI sync interface.
Built-in amplified speaker system
Incorporating their own stereo (60W + 60W) audio system with dual two-way speakers, Mark III Series pianos let you enjoy the sound of ensemble playback along with the acoustic piano itself. There's no complex setup; simply select the music you want to hear, press PLAY and sit back to enjoy the show. You can also use your Disklavier sound system to play your audio CDs. And, with the Disklavier's external connections, you can easily tie it into your home audio system, letting you route the sound through remote speakers to bring the concert to other rooms-even outdoors for parties on the patio.
PC, MIDI and AUX connections
Along with an unprecedented range of internal capabilities, Disklavier pianos also provide easy plug-and-play access to a world of external equipment. MIDI IN/OUT jacks let you control devices like synthesizers and sequencers from the Disklavier piano keyboard, add the capabilities of other MIDI devices to your Disklavier ensemble, or play the Disklavier's piano and instrumental tones from external equipment.
AUX connections let you amplify the Disklavier's sound via external audio equipment. The AUX In jack also allows you to listen and play along with audio recordings through external speakers.
The built-in PC interface lets you connect the Disklavier directly to your personal computer, for virtually unlimited range of additional possibilities. Play the Disklavier from your PC keyboard or applications. Download music files for playback on your Disklavier.
Wireless remote control unit with batteries
PianoSoft sample disk
CD software
Blank 3.5" HD floppy disk
Owner's manuals
Control unit suspension bracket
Audio & Video
|Sensor System
|Pedal Sensors :: Sustain & shift: incremental, position-sensing, optical :: Sostenuto off/on, optical
|Drive System :: Polyphony :: Pedals
|Keys :: Single-beam, optical, incrementalPolyphony :: 16-note polyphonicPedals :: Sustain & shift: incremental response
|Data Storage :: File Format
|Internal Memory :: 4 MB x 16 flash memory disks(64 MB maximum); :: up to 9 groups and 99 program sets; built-in :: calendar/clock/timerFile Format :: Standard MIDI File :: (format 0, 1) / E-SEQ
|Removable Media
|Floppy Disk: 3.5" 2DD (720 KB) or 2HD (1.44 MB) floppy diskCompact Disc: Audio, MIDI and audio/MIDI CDs, PianoSoft PlusAudio™
|Control Unit
|Main Display :: Song number plus 24-character x 2-line LCDFunction Indicators :: LED's (including drive/disk-number indicator)Drives :: CD and floppy disk driveSwitches :: Power, Host Select (MIDI, PC1, PC2, Mac)Dimension :: 9" x 3.5" x 7"W x D x H) :: (227 x 87 x 180 mm)Weight :: 4.8 lbs. (2.2 kg)
|Speakers :: 60W x 2; tone and volume controls :: 6 1/4" (16 cm) woofer x 2, :: 1" (2.5 cm) tweeter x 2
|MIDI In/Out, AUX In/Out (R,L/Mono), TO Host (serial port), To Piano, CD Control, Audio/Analog MIDI In, Foot Controller
|Ensemble Tone
|Type :: Advanced Wave Memory 2 (AWM2)Polyphony :: 32-note max.Ensemble PartsVoice Module Modes Normal Voices :: 16Drum Voices :: XG, GMPitch :: 676 (480 selectable) :: 21 kits total (11 selectable) :: Set at A=440, tunable ± 50 cents in 1-cent steps :: (in unison with digital piano tone)
|SmartKey Capability
|PianoSmart Technology
|Power Source
|Local AC current
|Pre-loaded Songs
|511 songs in internal memory.
|Supplied Accessories
|Wireless remote control unit w/batteries, PianoSoft sample disk, CD software, blank 3.5" HD floppy disk, owner's manuals, control unit suspension bracket
|Optional Accessories
|FC4, FC-5 foot switches, FC-7 foot controller
|Dimensions: Length Width Height Weight Finish
|5' 8" (161 cm)58-3/4" (149 cm)39-3/4" (101 cm)752 lbs. (341 kg)*Polished Ebony (DC2B PE)Polished Mahogany (DC2B PM)Polished American Walnut (DC2B PAW)
|Playback Functions
|Media select :: Floppy disk, memory disks (1 ~ 16), CDSong Select :: Rev/Fwd, song by song; numerical selectionMusic Search :: Rev/Fwd, with or without sound; direct by time or measureRepeat :: Disk, song, random, segment A~B, segment A~ :: 9 disk groups, 99 program sets, chain play, timer playProgramming :: MTC-linked playback with audio, MIDI and video sourcesPianoSmart™ Sync :: Software-assisted learn-to-play systemSmartKey™ Play :: Keyboard cancel, L/R part select, auto start, space playbackOthers
|Playback Controls
|Volume: 11 levels (0 ~ -10)Tempo: -50% ~; +20% in 1% stepsTransportation: ± 24 semitones (2 octaves) in 1-semitone stepBalance: Balancing volume of ensemble voices and pianoOthers: Keyboard cancel, pedal cancel, pedal count-in
|Recording Functions
|Tracks: 16 tracksL/R Dual Recording: Separate L/R or assignable split pointQuantize: 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/12, 1/16 of a quarter noteOthers: Re-recording
|Range: 30 ~; 400 beats per minuteTime Signatures: 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 7/4, 8/4, 9/4Function: Audible (tick, on/off), visual (LEDs)
|Editing Functions
|Track: Mix, move, copy, delete, transpose
|Utility Functions
|Song :: Copy, sort, delete, type convert (SMF, E-SEQDiskCalendar/Clock/Timer Title Entry
Songs are played back at the wrong tempo or in the wrong key.
Disklavier / Silent Piano / Hybrid Piano – Removing "Ghost" Files from USB Thumb Drives Using a Mac / Apple Computer
Disklavier, Silent Piano and Hybrid Piano: Removing "Ghost" Files from USB Thumb Drives Using a Mac / Apple Computer


text: Im thinking of buying a set of NNBS headlights to take apart and modify. Im looking at removing the amber lense and painting some parts black and possibly putting in some red halo rings. I have heard of some putting them in the oven for 15 minutes at a certain temp to allow the glue to become flexible enough to seperate them but also have heard that does not work. I seen a video on youtube of someone cutting into the lights and re-assembling with black rtv silicone but not sure I want to take that route. Any ideas guys on ripping into the lights. I think I can get a set that someone replaced with projectors for around a $100 so its worth it to me to buy them instead of experimenting on my originals. - - - Updated - - - Anybody?? Bueller? Bueller?


text: I am very new to beekeeping someone gave me a hive so I took it apart and made me a new one the other day the people next door came ove and ask me if I wanted some bees they had a swarm in a tree so I went and got it that was something elese I got all the bees and never got stung so I put them in the hive last week they seem to be doing great Bees fly in bees fly out what I want to know is how long should I leave them alone I have already opened everything up and looked in once already everything lookes fine to me bees all over the place. How long until I can start harvesting honey out of the hive is there a set time I should leave them alone? Hope someone can help me out.


text:
CHAKULA Issue # 5: Africa Civil Society and the WSIS
Africa ICT Policy Monitor newsletter from the APC
Issue No.5, May 2003: Africa Civil Society and the WSIS
1. Africa Civil Society and the WSIS process
- What is the WSIS?
- How does the process work?
- Africa CSOs' involvement in WSIS
- Bamako 2002
- PrepCom 1
- Addis 2002
- PrepCom 2
- The Civil Society Bureau
- The Africa Civil Society Caucus
2. ICT Policy Training in Uganda
- Organizers
- Participants
- Course Content
3. New: African ICT policy reports now available
- Benin
- Cameroon
- Egypt
4. New Content on the Africa ICT Policy Website
1. Africa Civil Society and the WSIS process:
The World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) is an initiative of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the United Nations (UN). Its stated intention is to provide a unique opportunity for all key stakeholders to assemble at a high-level gathering and develop a better understanding of the information revolution and its impact on the international community. Whether this goal will be attained remains to be seen. Nevertheless, it is an important opportunity for civil society organizations in Africa to critically engage ICT for development issues.
Geneva 2002. First Phase
The first phase of the World Summit will take place in Geneva hosted by the Government of Switzerland from 10 to 12 December 2003. It will address a range of themes concerning the Information Society and adopt a Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action.
Tunis 2005: Second Phase
The second phase of the World Summit will take place in Tunis hosted by the Government of Tunisia, in 2005. Development themes will be a key focus during this phase. Progress will be assessed and a further plan of action adopted if necessary.
More details can be obtained on: http://www.itu.int/wsis/basic/about.html
How does the process work?
Preparation for WSIS consists of Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) and Regional meetings. The African Regional Conference was held in Bamako, Mali from 26-30 May 2002. For information about regional meetings see: http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory/regional/index.html
The first Preparatory Committee meeting was held in Geneva in July 2002 and the second one in February 2003. The latter meeting resulted in a draft declaration and action plan.
The draft declaration and action plan were the result of a compilation of inputs from the regional preparatory meetings and discussions that took place during the second PrepCom. These were finalised on 21st March 2003 and are referred to as working documents, meaning that the documents will serve as the basis for further work. Inputs to these documents are now welcome with a deadline of 31st May 2003.
An Intersessional period was proposed during PrepCom 2 to be dedicated to refining the working documents. This meeting is scheduled to take place in July in Paris.
The Third Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for WSIS (PrepCom-3) will take place in Geneva from 15 to 26 September 2003.
Africa Civil Society involvement in WSIS and the African Civil Society Caucus:
"Bamako 2002":http://www.geneva2003.org/bamako2002/doc_html/prog_unesco_en.htm
Africa civil society has been involved in the WSIS process since the Africa preparatory meeting held in May 2002 in Bamako, Mali. Representatives of civil society and non-governmental organizations from the African region gathered for a consultation on the role of civil society in the WSIS, on 26 and 27 May 2002, in Bamako, Mali.
"PrepCom 1":http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory/prepcom/pc1/index.html
During PrepCom 1 held in Geneva in July 2002, the 'Africa Civil Society Caucus' was initiated as part of a wider 'Civil Society Plenary Group'. Civil society organizations actively participated in the process which revolved around defining 'Rules of Procedure, Accreditation and Modalities for participation' and a brief on 'Contents and Themes' of the WSIS Prepcoms and Summit.
From a civil society perspective the outcomes of PrepCom 1 were less than expected. The key issue was that representatives of civil society organizations alongside private sector entities are recognized as 'Observers', and thereby do not have equal access, speaking, negotiating and/or voting rights to the WSIS process and Summit. This greatly limits the participation of civil society organizations in this process and is bound to influence the outcomes.
Addis 2002:
In November 2002, more than 80 civil society organizations met in Addis
Ababa at a workshop on ICT policy and civil society organized by APC in collaboration with UNECA and Article 19. Outcomes of the workshop included an action plan on issues relevant to WSIS. This meeting has lead to further Africa civil society involvement in the WSIS process at national, sub-regional, regional and global levels, including active participation in PrepCom 2.
PrepCom 2:
PrepCom 2 took place in Geneva from 17 to 28 February 2003. The Africa Civil Society Caucus was represented by between 30 50 organizations. The caucus met informally almost on a daily basis to ensure active participation in the formal process as well as in the different informal meetings, activities and events that were taking place.
The Africa civil society caucus made various submissions for input to the draft declaration and action plan, as well as on issues regarding civil society organizations involvement and participation in the process.
The Civil Society Bureau:
An interesting development during PrepCom 2 was for the formation of the Civil Society Bureau (CSB). The stated purpose of the CSB is to facilitate civil society organizations' participation in the WSIS process and Summit. The formation and functions of the CSB – which is seen in a similar structure to the Governmental Bureau – was and continues to be a very
controversial issue. The main concerns were centred around its operations, representation and accountability. The CSB was 'formally' constituted at PrepCom 2 and is now in operation comprising of about 25 representatives of various thematic groups known as 'families'.
Full details of the CSB and its working mechanism
Tasks done by the CSB during PrepCom 2 included:
- Defining principles of modalities and participation of civil society
- Establishing a finance task force to work on how funds allocated to civil society for participation will be disbursed
- Liaison with the civil society content and themes working group
It is important that Africa civil society representatives follow the development of this bureau closely. Africa is represented in the CSB regional thematic caucus 'Africa' family, and in a few of the thematic focused families.
Africa Civil Society Bureau represented by:
Anais Network (Oliver Nana Nzepa [email@example.com]) and FEMNET (Alice Munyua [email@example.com])
The Africa Civil Society Caucus:
The Africa Civil Society Caucus of the WSIS was initiated through joint efforts of civil society organisations present at PrepCom1. The aim of the Caucus is to strengthen African civil society's capacity to ensure that its perspective on the information society are articulated in the WSIS process.
The Caucus has discussed the agenda and content and themes of the WSIS in online discussions and at physical meetings wherever possible. Some of the key areas of concern African civil society organizations identified were: fostering an enabling environment for the development of an information society freedom of expression, universal and affordable access, gender equity, sustainable development, cultural and linguistic diversity, democratic governance, capacity building and global social justice.
Open and inclusive platform:
The Caucus is an open platform and invites all individuals and organizations in or with interest in Africa to participate online and at physical meetings whenever possible. A steering committee was formed during PrepCom 2 of the
WSIS in Geneva in February 2003.
Make sure your voice is heard:
The Africa Civil Society Caucus is using an online forum, convened by the steering committee content working group of the Africa Civil Society Caucus, to prepare inputs for WSIS. Weekly summaries in English and French will be available. (April 28 to May 23).
You are all urged to join this forum and use it as a central civil society space for talking about WSIS related issues.
To subscribe to this list please visit: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/africa
A website is currently under construction to enable access and sharing of relevant documents and information during and after the forum.
2. Training Course by APC and CTO Helps Civil Society Organisations Understand how ICT Policy Decisions Can Affect Your Work
ICT Policy for Training for Civil Society in East Africa
Kampala, Uganda, June 16-19, 2003
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC), with the support of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) is now preparing to hold the second 'ICT Policy training for civil Society' in Kampala, Uganda,
starting on June 16. Participants will come from civil society organizations in East Africa. The objective of the course is to build the capacity of CSOs to understand policy and regulation related to ICTs.
The training course is aimed at building the confidence of CSOs to engage and influence relevant ICT policy processes at national, regional and global levels. The course will be followed by a public meeting on ICT and development on June 20.
An estimated 25 participants and facilitators, from countries such as Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda will attend.
This is the second 4 day course offered by APC to civil society groups. The first was held in Johannesburg, South Africa in March 2003, and was attended by Southern African CSOs.
Contact: Emmanuel Njenga [firstname.lastname@example.com] or Milton Aineruhanga [firstname.lastname@example.com] for more information about how your organization can become involved.
3. New African ICT policy reports available:
New research reports on the participation of civil society in national ICT policy-making in Africa are now available on the APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor Website:
Egypt's CSO sector is active and far reaching, however despite the increase in the number of users, and the fact that Internet policy and regulation is becoming an issue, although only a tiny minority of activists work in this area. Recent lobbying on the newest communication bill is an encouraging sign that representatives of civil society are waking up to the fact that civil society much stake a claim in ICT policy formulation processes.
This report describes ICT infrastructure, policy and regulatory developments in Egypt, and notes the activities of civil society organizations -in responding to ICT policies
Report by Leila Hassanin, ArabDev.
With a current population of about six million people, Benin has a poorly developed telecommunication infrastructure in spite of being connected to the Internet since 1995. There are few civil society organizations and most work primarily in "traditional" areas of health, education, human rights and rural development. A few have recently began work in the area of ICTs.
This report examines ICT policy and regulation and the role of CSOs active in this field. The report also describes the current state of the ICT sector and the impact that this has on the work of CSOs. It concludes with some recommendations on how CSOs can play an active role in the formulation and regulation of ICT Policies.
Report by Ken Lohento, of Oridev
Cameroon has fewer than two hundred registered NGOs, and few of these organizations are active in the ICTs sector. This situation is changing rapidly mostly because of awareness-raising on the importance and role of ICTs in development. The emergence of an information and communication sector in Cameroon has brought forward various debates regarding the
formulation and strategies for the implementation of ICT policies.
This report describes a partnership building process between the Cameroonian government, private sector and CSOs in an effort to build the ICT sector in response to government's perceived failure to do so. The report covers the context of the emerging information society in Cameroon and the inadequacy of the current ICT policy framework. It emphasizes the role of civil society in the formulation of national ICT policy and strategies and the creation of an enabling environment for ICT sector growth. The report concludes with an articulation of civil society's capabilities in mobilization and intervening in ICT issues in Cameroon.
Report by Olivier Nana Nzepa of Anais.Ac?
The "ICT and Civil Society in Africa" reports were commissioned by APC to explore the role of local civil society organisations (CSOs) in developing and strengthening ICT policy-making at a national level in Africa. You can read and download these and other country reports from the APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor Website
New content on APC Africa ICT Policy monitor website:
The APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor Website has been updated with new content reflecting ICT Policy news, documents and resources as well as alerts and campaigns relevant for civil society organizations in Africa.
In this edition of "Chakula", of note:
Djibouti's National ICT strategy: 04/04/2003: United Nations Development Programme
President Ismaïl Omar Guellah of Djibouti is supporting a national strategy to move the country, strategically located on the Horn of Africa at the mouth of the Red Sea, into the digital age by 2010 to promote development and reduce poverty.
The Right to Communicate: Women in the Information Society 2003-03-01: CRIS
As part of the CRIS campaign, members are producing a series of papers for the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) as input to the WSIS. This paper by: Dafne Plou.
R63m African Connectivity Project Launched 04/22/2003: ITWeb
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC), funded by the Canadian government, has launched a R63 million project aimed at improving access to information and communications technology (ICT) in Africa.
Africa Launch of the Digital Diaspora Initiative 04/24/2003: Wougnet
Information and communications technologies (ICT 1) are becoming widely accepted as integral means for transforming the path of development. As envisaged in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the importance of harnessing information and communication technologies for poverty eradication cannot be overemphasized. Yet, as statistics describing the
growing digital divide demonstrate, women and girls are at particular risk for exclusion from opportunities presented by ICT to secure better livelihoods and other rights.
The reality of e-commerce with developing countries 04/11/2003: IDS
Business-to-business e-commerce applications are being promoted as tools that will enable producer firms in developing countries to reduce their costs substantially, thereby easing their access to global markets. Internet-based Business-to-business e-commerce, the argument goes, should help producers in developing countries obtain better information on global markets and give them direct access to new customers.
E-Africa – Journal of Governance and Innovation04/11/2003: Pambazuka News
e-Africa – Journal of Governance and Innovation will be launched on May 1 by the South African Institute of International Affairs Johannesburg, South Africa www.wits.ac.za/saiia ) . It will be a free e-publication to the leaders of nations, policy makers, key business and NGO people, academics and journalists across Africa.
APC-Africa-Women: Women's Electronic Network Training Workshop for Africa (WENT-Africa 2003) 04/02/2003: APC-Africa-Women
Based on the successful WENT experiences in Asia co-organised by APC's Women's Networking Support Programme, APC-Africa-Women offered a training workshop which aims to build the capacities of women and their organisations to utilise information and communication technologies in social development work and policy advocacy from 29th March – 4th April 2003 in Cape Town, South Africa.
THETHA – Cyberlaw and Internet Rights – May 22, 2003 05/08/2003, David Barnard: SANGONeT
The Southern African Non-Governmental Organisation Network SANGONeT) has been providing networking, information and training services to Southern African civil society organisations (CSOs) since its inception in 1987.
Many more news and documents available on the website
Chakula: Africa ICT Policy Monitor newsletter
Contact email@example.com with questions, comments and contributions.
Chakula is produced by the Africa ICT Policy Monitor Project of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Emmanuel Njenga Njuguna Project Coordinator AFRICA ICT POLICY MONITOR PROJECT E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com URL: http://africa.rights.apc.org Association for Progressive Communications http://www.apc.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
====== HURIDOCS-Tech listserv ======
Send mail intended for the list to .
Archives of the list can be found at: http://www.hrea.org/lists/huridocs-tech/markup/maillist.php
To subscribe to the list, send a message to , with the following text in the message: subscribe huridocs-tech
To unsubscribe from the list, send a message to , with the following text in the message: unsubscribe huridocs-tech
If you have problems (un)subscribing, contact .


text:
Scam targets Rexburg homeowner
REXBURG, Idaho - A new scam is targeting a homeowner in Rexburg and now police are investigating. Police said the homeowner found a couple in his home unpacking, but the couple said the home was listed for rent on Craigslist. Real estate agent, Ted Whyte, said the home isn't for rent it is for sale.
The Craigslist post now states, "this is a scam," but on Wednesday it looked completely different. The previous post asked for $650 in rent and a $650 deposit. It also said to contact Reverend Scott James in Africa with an international phone number.
"Luckily the homeowner drove past the home Friday morning and saw a light on. He opened the garage door and saw somebody in the garage with a pickup truck unloading stuff and said he rented the property," Whyte said.
Whyte is the real estate broker for the listing on Ash Avenue. He said the man and woman who moved in had stayed in the house for one night.
"It was a legitimate listing and home for sale and it was a scam. He was allowing people access to the property," he said.
Whyte said they had access to the house with a key and he is not sure how they got it.
"The people who had actually felt like they had rented the home there are still questions we want to answer as to how entry was obtained into the home," said Detective David Stubbs.
Stubbs said this is the first time he has seen a scam like this in Rexburg.
"Home rental scams have been going on in other parts of the country and once these are discovered they will move onto something else."
Police said be careful of international numbers and of listings where you can't meet the homeowner in person.
The locks were changed on the house early Friday. The homeowner is in his 80's and recently moved to Sugar City.


text:
Edited.....Although legitimate questions, I do not want some to misinterpret my comments. or apply some intentions.
Perhaps another day.
Edited.....Although legitimate questions, I do not want some to misinterpret my comments. or apply some intentions.
Perhaps another day.
Last edited by BjornBee; 02-03-2008 at 09:48 AM.
I don't think there's any mystery about who will be vetting Russian breeders...
Here's the application. It looks to me like the kind of requirements that set the bar high enough that they'll keep the wannabees out of the loop, and provide the consumer with a pretty good level of assurance that the Russian queens they're buying are good stock. In fact, the application looks like it would provide a pretty good framework for anyone wanting to start a queen breeders association.The Russian Honeybee Breeders Association received its' Articles of Incorporation in 2007 and held its' first annual meeting on November 1st, 2007, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The purpose of the association is to maintain and improve the various lines of Russian honeybees through propagation and selective breeding. All members are required to contribute to this extensive effort.
The initial Board of Directors of the group is made up of Charles Harper, CRADA holder and cooperator with the USDA Russian bee program, as well as Hubert Tubbs and Manley Bigalk, also both longtime cooperators with this program. As other members begin to contribute to the maintainence and selection of the various lines of bees these members will be certified by the Board of Directors as Russian Honeybee Breeders.
Collectively, all involved are pleased with the number of participants and their level of commitment. With many participants focused on this effort we anticipate even more rapid improvement in these bees.
For further information contact Vice President Hubert Tubbs
Big words, big business, regulations, deception and price fixing. Just a few to start with.
Wanna bees come and go and being a part of an association does not a better person make nor a bee.
Open mating is open mating is open mating. There is a wrong way and a better way. Anyone with the ambition to do so can be as successful as anyone else. Their success lies in the finished product.
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill
For those who are interested, here's the link to the Russian Honeybee Breeders Association page:
Here's a link to the USDA page on the Russian Bee Project:
Shouldn't take long to read through the two sites and figure out whether or not they know something about Russians.


text:
Dr. David M. Lucas, better known to most of us as Dave, championed the cause for the qualitative research method known as folknography. Lucas says, "We defined the method out of a need for a field research practice that allowed flexibility, pragmatism, creativity, but also preserved academic excellence and rigor. In retrospect, we first tried ethnography. This method seemed too broad, too difficult to explain or teach, and too loose. Then, we moved to rapid rural appraisal. This limited our practice because, though a RRA remains a great option for agricultural or land use projects, we need something to use in social and cultural applications such as marginalized neighborhoods or communities. So, in the end, we borrowed, homogenized, blended, and mixed different research components, plus added a few ingredients of our own, and outlined the method now known as folknography."
On folknography, Dr. Lucas comments, "This is an applicable and flexible method for use in the cultural, social, or communication disciplines. We've used this method successfully in several international applications. In the Dominican Republic, we queried health issues; in México, we have investigated development and economic issues affecting small communities. We have done field research with the Gullah/Geechee in South Carolina, equine industry in Great Britain, and perceptions of math in Appalachia and we studied Hong Kong through the use of metaphors. We have applied this method in over 20 projects internationally and nationally. Folknography has many and flexible possibilities. Yet, the method produces dependable and accurate results."
Dr. Lucas writes poetry, speaks publicly, travels extensively, and works constantly. He often puts in 16 hour days. "I have an incessant curiosity. I have a need to know and understand. In the end, this must be what drives me. I always ask 'why?'" Aside from these many activities, Dr. Lucas is heavily involved with Native American cultures and Appalachian log cabin architecture. Dr. Lucas stands ready to explain the research method folknography.
Regional Campus Outstanding Professor Award
Ohio University awarded the 2005-06 Regional Campus Outstanding Professor Award to Associate Professor of Communication David Lucas from the Ohio University Southern Campus was this year's winner.
"Each year we recognize no more than two individuals, and Professor Lucas is a richly deserving recipient. David has made strong contributions across the board. We are proud of his accomplishments and pleased to have him among our colleagues," said Charles Bird, vice president for University Outreach and Regional Campuses.
The award, now in its fourth year, was created to formally recognize faculty members at Ohio University's five regional campuses who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. Each award recipient receives a $3,000 stipend for the next two years.
Lucas' most noteworthy contribution in the classroom has been his interaction with students beyond the walls. He frequently engages his students in conducting research in his innovative communications classes, examining customs and cultures of groups and countries outside their familiar knowledge base around the world. That ties into his primary interest and work of the qualitative research method folknography, about which he recently published a book that he describes as a guide on how to use the method, "The Handbook of Folknograpy." He defines folknography as a research method that requires interviewing members of a certain socio-cultural or geographic population and then analyzing the themes of the interviews to better understand that demographic population
Lucas developed a new Tier III course in 2002, Cultural Inquiry in Various Contexts, which also ties to folknography. While he has taught numerous communications courses, he has also taught a course in international studies and several in Spanish. Preferring to think of himself as a learning engineer rather than a teacher, his teaching philosophy centers on interactive instruction and learning, the success of which is reflected in his students' positive feedback.
He has taught international courses in Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico and Spain and taken students on trips to Mexico, Dominican Republic, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Vietnam to study diverse cultures.
"I am humbled, but happy to receive this honor," Lucas said. "My efforts as a faculty member at Ohio University have been and will be directed toward my students. I seek to engage them in meaningful learning and also in research. Actually, I found my locus and focus in one of Karen Sandell's teaching colloquiums. I decided that I was a learning engineer. My task is to engineer ways, means, and mediums of learning for each student in each of my courses."


text:
The Paul Reuter Prize on International Humanitarian Law 2012 – Call for applications
05-09-2011 Event
The Paul Reuter Prize, in the amount of 5,000 Swiss francs, is generally awarded every three years for a major work in the sphere of international humanitarian law.
Event Info
When: 05.09.2011 - 30.11.2011
The Paul Reuter Fund was created in 1983 thanks to a donation made to the ICRC by the late Paul Reuter, Honorary Professor at the University of Paris and member of the Institut de droit international. The Fund's purposes are to contribute financially to an undertaking in the field of international humanitarian law (e.g. the publication of a book), and to finance the Paul Reuter Prize.
The Prize (5,000 Swiss francs) is generally awarded every three years for a major work in the sphere of international humanitarian law and will be awarded for the tenth time in spring 2012.
The Prize has been awarded nine times so far, to the following authors: Mohammed El Kouhène (1985), Heather Wilson (1988), Edward Kwakwa and Alejandro Valencia Villa (1991), Prof. Eric David (1994), Prof. Geoffrey Best and Major-General A. P. V. Rogers (1997), Ilias Bantekas (2000), Prof. Ruth Abril Stoffels (2003), Marten Zwanenburg (2006) and to Théo Boutruche (2009).
Under the Regulations of the Paul Reuter Prize, any work submitted must fulfil the following conditions:
- its aim must be to enhance knowledge or understanding of international humanitarian law;
- it must either be unpublished or have been published since the closing date for submissions for the most recent award of the Prize (15 December 2008);
- it must be written in English, French or Spanish.
Applications must include:
- a brief curriculum vitae;
- a list of the applicant's publications;
- three unabridged copies of the work submitted.
Applications must be received no later than 30 November 2011.
For more information: Presentation of the Paul Reuter Fund
Applications for the Paul Reuter Prize or requests for financial support for work in the field of international humanitarian law should be sent to:
The Chairman of the Commission of the Paul Reuter Fund
Legal Division
International Committee of the Red Cross
19, Avenue de la Paix
1202 Geneva


text:
Town Square
Sequoia Healthcare District exceeds enumerated powers
Original post made by Jack Hickey, Woodside: Emerald Hills, on Dec 9, 2010
In 1946 voters established the Sequoia Hospital District, generally comprising the area from the southern San Mateo County line to northern Belmont, to maintain a tax-supported hospital with the understanding there would be future bond issues to build and add to the hospital. In 1947 the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors assessed those district taxpayers a total amount of $46,578. The hospital opened in 1950. Today the assessment continues and in fiscal year 2009-2010 the District budgeted $7.4 million for tax revenues.
A 2001 Grand Jury report Web Link recommended:
"The Sequoia Healthcare District should reduce property taxes for district taxpayers unless in a future election district voters approve expenditures for purposes not approved by district voters in the 1946 measure establishing the district or in 1996 Measure H. This reduction would equal the amount expended by the district for purposes not approved by the voters in the 1946 measure or in 1996 Measure H and effectively limit district expenditures to those purposes approved by district voters. By this reduction in property tax receipts to be requested under the Revenue and Taxation Code �96.8, property taxes would be lowered for all district taxpayers."
The District continues to collect and expend property tax dollars for purposes not approved by district voters in the 1946 measure establishing the district or in 1996 Measure H. They are exceeding the powers as posted below:
ENUMERATED POWERS of the Sequoia Hospital District (a.k.a. Sequoia Healthcare District) established pursuant to the 1946 election and the Hospital District Law in effect at that time:
"Article 2. Powers
32121. Each local hospital district shall have and exercise the following powers :
(a) To have and use a corporate seal and alter it at pleasure;
(b) To sue and be sued in all courts and places and in all actions and proceedings whatever;
(c) To purchase, receive, have, take, hold, lease, use and enjoy property of every kind and description within the limits of the district, and to control, dispose of, convey and encumber the same and create a leasehold interest in same for the benefit of the district;
(d) To exercise the right of eminent domain for the purpose of acquiring real or personal property of every kind necessary to the exercise of any of the powers of the district;
(e) To administer any trust declared or created for hospitals of the district, and received by gift, devise, or bequest and hold in trust or otherwise, property situated in this State or elsewhere, and where not otherwise provided, dispose of the same for the benefit of such hospitals.
(f) To prescribe the duties and powers of the manager, secretary and other officers and employees of any such hospitals; to determine the number of and appoint all such officers and employees, and to fix their compensation, which said officers and employees shall hold their offices or positions at the pleasure of said boards.
(g) To do any and all things which an individual might do which is necessary for and to the advantage of a hospital and a nurses' training school.
(h) To establish, maintain and operate one or more hospitals, situated within the territorial limits of the district.
(i) To do any and all other acts and things necessary to carry out the provisions of this division."
The current Board majority of the Sequoia Hospital District is acting under the assumption that by having submitted what was referred to as a "Name" change from a Hospital District to a Healthcare District, the District automatically accrued NEW powers under the Healthcare District Law. Web Link In fact, creation of a Healthcare District (a TYPE of District) requires a vote of the people. A name change, such as from Sequoia to Douglas Fir does not.
In my opinion, most if not all of the Districts current expenditures exceed the ENUMERATED POWERS posted above. If so, this would be felony misappropriation of public funds.
Some of the most egregious examples of such District expenditures are:
1. $4.5 Million grant to subsidize school Districts after voters rejected parcel taxes.
2. $1.35 Million/year to the Children's Health Initiative, a massive program which acquires funds from multiple sources to subsidize Health Insurance for children from families having incomes up to 4 times the Federal Poverty Level. (>$62,000 for a family of three.
3. $2 Million Grant to Sequoia Hospital Foundation budgeted for 2010-2011) What about Kaiser Foundation and Palo Alto Medical Foundation who also serve District residents?
4. Multi-million dollars in charitable grants to non-profit agencies, and other government agencies, which have included Planned Parenthood, Catholic & Jewish charities, Samaritan House, 2nd harvest Food Bank, St. Anthony de Padua Dining Room, San Mateo County Union Community Alliance (formed by San Mateo Central Labor Council) etc.
5. $1 Million/year subsidy of Nursing Program with no payback from graduates. Nurses unions and local hospitals should fund and oversee this program.
6. $250,000 HeartSafe Program for distributing AEB (portable defibrillator) devices free to government schools. Such a program shoul result in reduced liability risk with a resultant reduction in insurance premiums. CSAC Excess Insurance Authority
Web Link, which oversees the pooled insurance JPA's of government agencies should seek legislation to mandate deployment of AED's to schools and other agencies as the Legislature did for private Health Clubs. See: Web Link
Any Attorney's out there who would like to take on this run-a-mok government agency? I've got $500 in seed money.
Comments (5)
a resident of another community
on Dec 10, 2010 at 11:44 am
Jack is getting tiresome.
He keeps insisting on quoting a Grand Jury which as been superseded by two subsequent Grand Juries which support what the Sequoia Health Care District is doing.
Further, he writes about the Hospital District Act which long ago was replaced by the Health Care District Act which encourages the great work Sequoia and many other Districts in California are doing.
Jack, give it a rest. Don't you even care about the many unfortunate people we are helping? Yes, it would be nice if private philanthropy took over. BUT they haven't and in this economy, wont.
a resident of another community
on Dec 10, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Mr. Faoro,
There are two aspects to your position that I find troubling.
1) you seem to place a very low priority of firmly determining the legal legitimacy of both the process of how the District has arrived in its' current form and the apparent absence of specific voter approval in its current form.
I personally find the lack of conscientious of your analysis toward these two very valid and important aspects troubling, and in my mind this facile treatment of these topics reduces the credibility of your conclusions.
To not have acquired this specific voter approval is tantamount to taxation without representation and strikes at one of the hottest buttons and most fundamental representational issues ever raised in our country, i.e. TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTIATION. It is irresponsible and unacceptable to not perform a more in depth and detailed response to every issue Jack raises. Instead of thESE dismissive attempts to avoid that through a thorough and measured analysis to bring to the debate.
It IS tiresome as a process, but this does not excuse from your responsibility to be conscientious and knowledge. Jack looks better because he is a better researcher with more patience. If you want to play this game, I suggest you put a lot more time and work into explaining why Jack's points are incorrect. Because to a lot of people, they look substantive and correct.
2) Your second and oft reiterated point about the angelic good the justification of not performing legal process for district formation and approval by election and how Jack doesn't care is an off-point low blow.
YOu don't know how Jack feels about this, and it's not to the point.
The point is the legalities, and if you don't care about the law and the rules, while we believe that regarding you, there is a larger and larger body of people who do care about the law very much, and you do them all a disservice by treating their concerns with such disdain.
Thank you, however, for moving somewhat away from rude and derisive comments, and comments of a personally demeaning nature.
Art, no really cares how you feel. You really are not the center of the universe as you act, but just another guy trying to help people work things out to a good end that process occurring for the express purpose of addressing and protecting the interest of the majority public affected by these taxes, as opposed to the interest of all you politicians so eager to control these funds for your own intended purposes, many of which seem to be of a questionable and self-serving, or simply downright inappropriate end.
The correct thing to do is COMPLETE audit of the District and public publishing of that analysis. The town meetings and public debate followed by a vote.
Resistance to thie process, designed to serve and meet the needs of the voters, will continue to expose the attitudes and actions of the District Board and LAFC0 over the years and currently which will make for very good information for the public to evaluate how their government is treating them and how fair and responsive they .
This is where this process is going now. Obfuscations and facile denials will prove impotent.
May you should call for the shock troops, if that's your style.
Your presence and comments to provide help for everyone to understand the attitudes and actions of those who have been responsible for getting us to where we are with this situation today.
I hope I have not been disparaging of you, and if I have I apologize.
Your statements and presence provide more clarification and understanding than I believe you understand or intend for the public who reads and thinks carefullyl
a resident of Atherton: other
on Dec 10, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Mr Faro I don't believe that helping the needy or unfortunate is what Mr. Hickey has taken issue with.
Rather, It is the boated and unnecessary administration costs that the district's existence creates that he claims is wasteful. Money that could be going directly to the sesame charities.
a resident of Woodside: Emerald Hills
on Dec 10, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Art Faro says: "Yes, it would be nice if private philanthropy took over. BUT they haven't and in this economy, wont."
He, of course, wouldn't mention the e-mail we Directors received from Don Shoecraft the District's $4,200/month PR person and media clipping service. It contained an attachemt entitled
"Kaiser grants $7.5 million for Oakland school PE"
Web Link
Note, that was not your tax dollars.
My fellow Board Members should take some advice from Foster City Councilman, Charlie Bronitsky Web Link choices without government help&eddate=07/06/2010 01:42:00 who rejected an appeal from Thrive for $16,500 of taxpayer's money. Sequoia Health Care District (over my objection), gave $100,000 to that same non-profit agency in 2009.
Regarding the Grand Jury, nothing in the succeeding Findings changed the relevant facts reported by the 2000-2001 grand jury. Web Link
Sequoia Hospital is owned and operated "lock-stock & barrel" by CHW. The District has negligible oversight function, yet they continue to Grant $1,000,000/year to Sequoia. It's time to level the playing field on which Sequoia, Kaiser, PAMF and Stanford compete.
The bogus Sequoia Healthcare District should either seek legitimacy or go out of business.
a resident of Woodside: Emerald Hills
on Jan 6, 2013 at 1:21 pm
The Sequoia Healthcare District, which refuses to seek voter approval for the continued collection of property taxes for purposes unintended by voters, still retains the power of eminent domain. As long as their newly assumed purpose goes unchallenged, they are free to "take" property which they deem essential to that purpose. And, they likewise have the power to encumber property of all kinds in pursuit of their purpose. Parcel taxes are their most likely choice of encumbrance. The Districts membership in the Association of California Healthcare Districts (ACHD) (see Web Link)
which has created a grassroots political organization, paints a picture of the Districts future.
Don't miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.
Cherries and Berries
By Laura Stec | 3 comments | 1,549 views
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength . . .
By Chandrama Anderson | 2 comments | 1,009 views
Meeting Other New Parents
By Cheryl Bac | 0 comments | 736 views
We need some volunteers.
By Stuart Soffer | 1 comment | 289 views
One more week to vote!
Don't forget to cast your Readers' Choice ballot online. Voting ends May 29th. Stay tuned for the results in the July 19th issue of The Almanac.


text:
Cancelled Tournament Leads to Nov. 9 Home Game at the Kress
By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Due to the unexpected cancellation of the HBCU Tip-Off Championship, the Green Bay men's basketball team has been forced to change its early season schedule, head coach Brian Wardle announced on Tuesday. The Phoenix will now open the season at home, hosting Northern Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. at the Kress Events Center.
The Phoenix was slated to open the season Nov. 8-10 with games against Arkansas Pine Bluff (Nov. 8) and Texas Southern (Nov. 10) at the HBCU Tip-Off Championship in Atlanta, but tournament organizers informed participating teams on Friday that the event was being cancelled.
"We were extremely disappointed to hear the tournament was being cancelled, especially for our players because the event would have been a great way to start the season on and off the floor," said head coach Brian Wardle. "We thought it would provide a valuable student-athlete experience, and it is unfortunate for all involved that the tournament will not occur."
Due to the cancellation, the Phoenix will now open its 2013-14 campaign at the Kress Events Center, welcoming Northern Michigan to Green Bay. The contest will be the second regular season game that Green Bay has played at the Kress Center. The Phoenix opened the 2010-11 season with a 75-36 victory over Minnesota Duluth in Wardle's debut as a head coach.
All ticket package purchasers will receive a complimentary ticket to the game against Northern Michigan. Tickets will be available beginning Friday and can be purchased at all Ticket Star locations, on TicketStarOnline.com or by calling 800.895.0071. All tickets will be general admission with adults tickets sold for $5 and youth tickets will be $3.
Green Bay last played Northern Michigan on Nov. 18, 2009, defeating the Wildcats 70-64 in the home opener at the Resch Center. Including nine-straight wins, the Phoenix leads the all-time series 19-10.
"Despite the unexpected circumstances, we are excited to play another game in front of our home fans and have the chance to play a game on campus," said Wardle. "We hope to see lots of students in the crowd helping us begin the season."
All tickets for the 2013-14 men's and women's basketball seasons are on sale now. For more information about season tickets, ticket packages and more, please visit the ticketing page at GreenBayPhoenix.com.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Green Bay Athletics, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com.
Follow us on Twitter: @GBPhoenix, @GBPhoenixMBB, @GBPhoenixWBB and @GBGavin.Like Green Bay Phoenix Athletics on Facebook.


text:
Create a free account to check out faster, store multiple shipping addresses, view and track your orders in your account, and much more.
Please enter your password to continue.
Lip gloss vs. lipstick? It's a debate that never gets old. While we love a bold, matte lipstick, we can't deny the sheer, easy finish of gloss. Cargo's new lip gloss—which comes in gorgeous hues like Big Sur, a mauve rose, and a shimmery pink called Woodstock—delivers the brilliant shine of a gloss, plus the long-lasting color of a lipstick. Bonus: It also keeps lips hydrated all day long.