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The RN Staff Nurse, under the supervision of the Unit Director/Charge Nurse is responsible for the nursing care of patients assigned to him/her and directs others in patient care. Delivers care based on patient needs appropriate for the infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult or geriatric patient. Demonstrates an interest in patient centered approach to total nursing care. Instructs LPN's and PCA's. Demonstrates cooperation, flexibility, and resourcefulness when dealing with patients, visitors, physicians, and hospital personnel. Utilizes the six steps of Nursing Process which includes: Assessment, Nursing Diagnosis, Identification of patient outcomes, planning, implementation and evaluation. When working swingbed area, be able to coordinate care based on patient needs.
Education: Graduate of an approved school of nursing
Experience: Desirable characteristic includes at least one year medical/surgical experience. May begin at entry level. Successfully completes orientation to the medical/surgical unit.
Licenses/Certificates: Current Alabama License. Current BLS certification. ACLS preferred but not required.


text:
In the thread about Live and Let Die, Stonefly7 wrote:
"...I don't do mite counts either, not interested. The weak ones are weak for a reason."
This made me think about the parasite/host relationship, and the idea that in many instances, an imbalance in which the parasite overwhelms the host is caused by weakness in the host - that the parasite serves the purpose of weeding out weakness. I find with my houseplants, that the appearance of a parasite is often the sign that I have over-watered, or the plant isn't getting enough light, and that my error has made it weak, allowing the parasite to gain the upper hand.
I said in the same thread that I do not believe that all colonies who have mites will ultimately die because of them, but that is a theory at this point.
Many would suggest perhaps, that the situation we are seeing now - with so many bees dying from mite-related issues - is due to the overwhelming strength of the parasite, in contrast to a host which is not accustomed to the pest.
But is this really the case?
My questions are aimed primarily at those of you who have had enough experience with treatment free colonies I guess, but I'm interested in all perspectives.
• Will a truly strong colony succumb to mite-related issues?
• Or do these strong colonies tend to find a balance and maintain lower mite loads?
• Or does it really appear to be random? Do you find really strong, thriving, productive colonies that just nose-dive and die due to mite issues?
• Do Treatment free failures tend to be "total", where all colonies meet a similar fate, or do the failures just tend to be cumulative, or of too-high-a-percentage for the individual beekeeper to tolerate?

subset: commoncrawl


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Hello everyone,
first year extracting, got 1 super, about 75% capped. I'm looking to purchase a refractometer, preferably from Ebay (I sold a bunch of items so have some paypal cash) does anyone have any recommendations? don't want to go broke or need to buy top of the line, but i also don;t want a cheap one. Just looking for a good, reliable, accurate refractometer. Any suggestions?


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Moms deserving of a night out joined Warm 106.9's Maya at Northgate Mall for National Mom's Nite Out! From fashion to fun, this night pampered, refreshrf, inspired and entertained everyone's inner fashionista! Listeners also had a great time playing the Girleywed Game to win SIMON Mall Gift Cards!
AboutWarm 106.9
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Modern Apartment in Prague Center #4
Massimo di ospiti4
Camere da letto1
Dimensioni35 m²
piano2(con ascensore)
- Adatto a famiglie e bambini
- Internet Wi-Fi
- Cucina
- Animali ammessi
- Ascensore
- Biancheria da bagno
- Aria condizionata
Dettagli dell'alloggio
|Legerova, 120 00 Prague, Repubblica Ceca
|Tipologia di alloggio
|Codice dell'annuncio
|Tasso di accettazione
|Tempo di risposta
|poche ore
|Calendario aggiornato
|2 settimane fa
We will be so happy to welcome you in our cosy, modern and comfortable 1 – Room Apartment that consists of a living room with fully equipped kitchenette, a large double bed, sofa, dining table with chairs and a cabinet with a large LCD TV and a spacious bathroom. Welcome home!
Due to the construction of new lift from the subway, to the neighbor building, sidewalk in front of the apartments (Legerova Street) is temporarily closed. We are very sorry about that and kindly ask you to use Lublanska and Rumunska Streets to get to our apartments. Please note, that parking on Legerova Street is temporarily unavailable and construction noise is possible during the day.
Apartments are located just in few steps from subway station (metro) I.P.Pavlova, and only 5-7 minutes' walk from the Wenceslas Square. In this central and at the same time lovely district you will find a lot of delicious restaurants with international cuisine: Czech, Italian, Korean, Vegetarian, Indian and others. Also there are two grocery stores nearby - Tesco and Zabka, where you can buy all the necessities for cooking and bath.
STARBUCKS - 100 meters
KFC - 110 meters
PAUL - 80 meters
McDONALDS - 115 meters
SUBWAY - 100 meters
We try to meet all our guests personally; however your comfortable stay is very important for us and our team, so we have a reception here!
Our receptionists will be glad to help you with a good choice of excursions, best city attractions and the best shopping centers. They will suggest how to plan your vacation best, in which club to go, where to listen to jazz or where to drink cocktails enjoying a beautiful view over Prague. They will order a taxi for you and make a table reservation in a restaurant or pub. There you can also absolutely for free print your airline tickets or book new tickets to get to the nearest towns of the Czech Republic.
If you have any questions, feel freе to ask us about!
We will try to organize a memorable stay in our fabulous city for you!
Best regards, Elizabeth and Elena
Regole dell'AbitazioneOur apartments are very popular between families with children and older people. Please, be mindful that if you are planning to travel as a group of adults, we might collect the refundable security deposit of 50 euro/person to assure safety, cleanliness and integrity of your apartment.
We know how travelling with your four-legged friends can be problematic. At our Apartments we accommodate small pets for just 10 euro/night!
Children older than 2 y.o. are for the price of adult.
|Prezzo per ogni ospite oltre 2
|8 € ogni ospite in più (a notte)
|Check-in dopo le
|Check-in prima delle
|Su accordo
|Check-out prima delle
|Politica di Cancellazione
Le recensioni dell'alloggio
Pulitissimo,a pochi metri da un'ascensore che porta direttamente alla fermata della metropolitana, appartamento molto più grande delle aspettative :) . Il personale è molto disponibile. Consigliato.
Splendita città e splendito appartamento.
È stata una mini vacanza indimenticabile.
Grazie per la squisita ospitalità.
One of the best value apartments that I have stayed at. Roomy and well appointed 10 metres from elevator to the metro and a 15 minute walk in to town. A supermarket and good restaurants a couple of blocks away. The reception staff are excellent, helpful, courteous, and speak good English just be aware that the photos can differ from the actual apartment you get, but when I looked in to the others they were all very good, perhaps even better than mine! I would be surprised if you were disappointed here
The apartment was very clean, service was very quality, it was very close to the center of the city and also closed to the tram lines. The staff was very kindly and friendly, especially I would like to thank Alisher for his services and for his helps. And also thakns to all facility members, it was a lovely stay for us.
Unfortunately we couldn't stay at the apartment we booked, due to a technical problem.
The staff however has been really gentle, polite and available: they gifted us with a bottle of wine and replaced our accomodation with a hotel room (Royal Court just a few minutes walk away). That was the same franchise.
24h reception, staff young, available and perfect english speaking. The room was amazing and comfortable.
Nearby underground station and a Vegeterian restaurant (for veg friends like us :) )
A great location if you want somewhere that is near public transport (tram and metro) and also close enough to walk into the city if you are fit and have plenty of energy. The apartment was spacious and very warm for December, kitchen quite adequate and light cleaning was provided daily. Having transport arranged from and to the airport was very convenient.
The real asset to these apartments are the desk staff who do a really wonderful job day and night. Helpful and polite they are the best advertisement the place could have and deserve the highest praise.
If you are travelling near to Christmas there are plenty of sites with Christmas villages and at least two within easy walking distance. If you want to visit places such as the castle or Kafka museum the 22 tram departs only 50 meters from the door.
I stay in Prague with my family. The apartment was perfect; very tidy and clean. The location is very good, 10 min to the main avenue by walking. Elizabeth answer every question by mail with excellent options. Beds confortable, bathroom excellent. Beautiful place.
We loved our staying in this flat in Prag! The apartment was really nice, clean, modern, comfortable and indeed very well located. Even better than we expected from the photos! The personal very very helpful, nice, there was always somebody there. Very easy to get to the sightseeing points from there, walking distance to almost everywhere. The street was a bit loud, but we would surely stay there again and recommend it. :-)
Very nice location, professional and polite stuff, and the most important - very nice apartment. Tastefully decorated, clean, well equipped,comfortable, spacious. I recommend this place:)
- Qualità degli alloggi garantita
- I proprietari sono contattati e verificati telefonicamente
- Un sistema di pagamento efficace e sicuro


text: I have been wondering if it matters if the hives are placed so that they have sun on them first thing in the morning or if they are OK in partial shade. The place I am considering setting our hive doesn't get sun on it till 10:30am or so. Kevin, my husband, says that surely the bees can look out and see that it's morning [img]smile.gif[/img]


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Paws Up in the Vermont Countryside
The Paw House Inn • West Rutland, VT
Escape Kit
- A Two-Night Stay for Two Humans and Two Dogs, Sundays through Thursdays ($248) or Fridays and Saturdays ($345), in Shakespeare's Retreat, Good Dog, Spot, or Bad Dog
- Or, a Two-Night Stay for Two Humans and Two Dogs, Sundays through Thursdays, in The Bark Avenue Suite ($268)
- Daily Three-Course Country Breakfast for Two Humans
- $25 Dining Gift Certificate for Little Harry's
- Welcome Basket with Homemade and Local Vermont Products
- Unlimited Use of On-Site Dog Care Facility and Fully Fenced-In Dog Park with Agility Course
When it comes to pet-friendly accommodations, it's ruff out there. Some hotels accept them and other hotels tolerate them, but The Paw House Inn in Vermont caters exclusively to the unique needs of dog owners and their dogs.
Escape to the adventures of a dog friendly Vermont winter wonderland with up to two canines. All rooms have custom-made dog beds and electric fireplaces and an optional upgrade to the Bark Avenue Suite will land you and your pooch a California king-size bed, private entrance, and a private porch.
Ski or snowboard at Killington, Pico Mountain, or Okemo Mountain Resort; snowshoe, cross country ski, or hike along the hundreds of nearby dog-friendly trails; or just relax in the homelike comfort of Vermont's premier dog-friendly B&B. Mario's Playhouse—the inn's on-site dog facility—is also available any time so you can always explore and enjoy Vermont's treasures with the peace of mind that all dogs will be comfortable and safe.
Throw yourself a bone when it comes to the daily three-course breakfast for humans, where the menu may include homemade waffles topped with fresh fruit and Vermont maple syrup or fluffy made-to-order omelets. You'll also receive other tasty treats including a welcome basket featuring local Vermont products.
Little Harry's, is where you'll want to settle in for dinner. "Locals have packed this restaurant ever since chef-owners Trip (Harry) Pearce and Jack Mangan brought Vermont cheddar ravioli and lamb lo mein to downtown Rutland in 1997," says Fodor's.
So, for the love of dog, roll over and fetch this Escape.
For more, watch this clip on The Paw House Inn from the Travel Channel.
"Breakfast was delicious, [and] the room was spotless (not even one dog hair that wasn't ours). It's a warm and wonderful way to travel with your dogs, and you know they are well taken care of while you explore Vermont shops and restaurants without them."-- TripAdvisor
escapes 30-day promise
LivingSocial gives you up to 30 days to return your unused voucher for a full refund. Once you've made a reservation, you are subject to the merchant's cancellation and refund policy. If you want to secure your preferred dates of travel, we strongly recommend that you complete reservation with the merchant within 30 days of your purchase—after that, LivingSocial will not issue any refunds.
the fine print
- Limit 1 voucher per reservation; vouchers cannot be combined to extend stay
- Valid for stays until 2/7/13
- Reservations required and subject to availability
- Not valid on group or existing reservations
- Merchant cancellation/re-scheduling policy of 1 week applies; voucher subject to forfeiture
- Blackout dates are 12/21-31 and 1/18-20
- Based upon double human occupancy and two dogs; additional humans and dogs are welcome in some rooms for a small fee
- Voucher includes a $25 dining gift certificate for Little Harry's, a welcome basket with homemade and local Vermont products, unlimited use of on-site dog care facility and fully fenced-in dog park with agility course
- Pets required
- Nights must be used consecutively
- Taxes are not included and will be collected at redemption
- All deal components must be redeemed during one stay
- Other conditions apply • PAID AND PROMOTIONAL VALUES EXPIRES ON February 7, 2013 • PAID VALUE DOES NOT EXPIRE • PAID VALUE EXPIRES ON February 7, 2018 • PROMOTIONAL VALUE EXPIRES ON February 7, 2013 • Enjoy By February 7, 2013
Other conditions apply
Except where noted in the fine print:
• Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion
• Tax and gratuity are not included
• Merchant is responsible for the quality of the products or services provided to you at redemption
• LivingSocial Terms and Conditions - https://www.livingsocial.com/terms
Original Price:
- 0% savings
- remaining


text:
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With the necessary skills and know-how, they warrant the authenticity of your Rolex and ensure that your Rolex enjoys a five-year guarantee.
The reliability and precision of an ordinary mechanical watch can be affected by a magnetic field of 50 to 100 gauss. But many scientists are exposed to much higher magnetic fields during the course of their work. Rolex's solution was the Rolex Milgauss, created in 1956, the first watch of its kind. Hence the name of the watch, mille being French for thousand.
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The Oyster Perpetual Milgauss, the watch for those with a passion for the worlds of science and discovery, reconciles strong magnetic fields and chronometric precision.
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Stay connected with us to get the latest health and fitness news, innovative workouts, healthy recipes and wellness tips.
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ACE Fit Share
Miso, mirin and sake—three standard ingredients used in Japanese cooking—enhance the mild sweetness of halibut. Deboning halibut steaks is actually a simple procedure, which creates delightful tender morsels of fish. You can substitute halibut fillet, if desired.
Nutrition Profile:
Diabetes Appropriate
Gluten Free Diet
Healthy Weight
Heart Healthy
High Potassium
Low Calorie
Low Carb
Low Cholesterol
Low Sat Fat
Serves 4
Prep Time 30 min
Total Time 30 min.
Step 1
Whisk miso, sake (or rice wine) and mirin in a small bowl into a smooth paste.
Step 2
With a large sharp boning knife, remove skin from halibut steaks. Following the natural divisions created by the bone and cartilage, cut fish from the bone to create 4 small boneless steaks (also called medallions). Trim any dark areas.
Step 3
Preheat broiler. Line a heavy baking sheet with foil and coat the foil with cooking spray.
Step 4
Place the halibut medallions on the prepared baking sheet and brush the tops with half the miso glaze. Broil, 3 to 4 inches from the flame, until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the medallions over and brush with the remaining miso mixture. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top and broil until the fish is opaque in the center, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with lime wedges and pickled ginger.
Featured Workouts
Check out our 12-week fitness plan designed to boost your strength, endurance, muscle definition, energy level and overall health.
Flatten your stomach and build strength in the muscles that provide stability and mobility for the spine, pelvis, ribs and hips.
Focus on pulling, rotating and building strength with workouts created alongside Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Dawes.
This workout provides a challenging total-body workout that can be done from the comfort of home with no equipment other than bodyweight and space.


text: Hello my name is Tyler i am a technician by trade. I am currently employed at a Mercedes dealer in St. louis MO,. But I like to work on just about anything with a motor wheels. Ok now to the good stuff, I have recently aquired a 1992 GMC 2500 ext cab long bed, with about 220,000 miles,. It needs a little love but its a diamond the rough. Im looking forward to chatting with everyone and helping out whereever i can.


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forum: Food & Drink
Pages: 1 2 | Home » Food & Drink » Save my sage!
#11 Thu 22 Feb 07 7:51am
The White Rabbit
- Forum super champ
- From Sydney, Australia
- Member since Tue 22 Jun 04
Re: Save my sage!
I had the exact same thing happen. I read somewhere that if the plant does just die for no reason (ie. not over/under-watering) then it's a fungal or bacterial disease and it's best to lose the plant in the rubbish (not compost or green recycling). The stems will begin to go black and then it's all over. Sage can survive well in pots but occasionally you get a bum plant.
#12 Thu 22 Feb 07 12:10pm
- Member
- Member since Tue 20 Feb 07
Re: Save my sage!
I hope that doesn't happen to mine!
I'll avoid watering it for a couple of days, as suggested, to dry the soil out a little.
Fingers crossed!
I've never had a plant that's died for no reason. I've always come to the conclusion that I'M the reason! No matter how much research I do to find out how to take care of the plant, I just don't seem to get it right!
Mind you, I did have a small success once: I managed to grow a little advocado plant from the stone of a fruit I bought to make an advocado cheesecake. The plant grew to about 20cm and then suddenly lost it's leaves and dried up. So upsetting!
#13 Thu 22 Feb 07 6:22pm
- Forum champ Occupation Duty Free Lancome and Fragrance sales
- From Greater Vancouver
- Member since Mon 23 Oct 06
Re: Save my sage!
When you grow things from seed you always have a high % that die or just dont take so don't think it's you, lol, just have a few going at the same time. Fingers crossed for you.
#14 Fri 23 Feb 07 3:02am
The White Rabbit
- Forum super champ
- From Sydney, Australia
- Member since Tue 22 Jun 04
Re: Save my sage!
THe diseases i read about were ones that had just multiplied on the plant - nothing you can do about it.
#15 Fri 23 Feb 07 5:13pm
- Member
- Member since Tue 20 Feb 07
Re: Save my sage!
Ladies and gentlemen ... we have greenfly!
I guess that might be the problem!
#16 Sat 10 Mar 07 1:08pm
- Member Occupation Systems Engineer
- From Oldham
- Member since Sat 10 Mar 07
Re: Save my sage!
You can get spray for greenfly. Sage like well drained soil, you prob only need to water twice a week at the most in the winter if you are keeping it indoors. My basil on needs watering once per week at the mo.
Pages: 1 2 | Home » Food & Drink » Save my sage!


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The subject matter of this rulemaking (RM# 11-05, LSA# 12-97) is the implementation of Indiana's Voluntary Clean Energy Portfolio Standard Program, also known as the Comprehensive Hoosier Option to Incentivize Clean Energy (CHOICE) Program. The rulemaking stems from legislation that was passed in 2011 and codified at IC ch. 8-1-37. The rule allows utilities to qualify for financial incentives if they meet targets for including clean energy resources in their supply portfolio.
Rulemaking Status
To view documents related to this rulemaking, please click here.
Public Comments
To view public comments about this rulemaking, please click here.
Next Steps
This rule became effective on August 8, 2012.
For questions related to this rule, please contact Assistant General Counsel Beth Krogel Roads:
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
101 West Washington Street, Suite 1500E
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 232-2092 | Email


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Popular property highlights
HYATT house Sterling/Dulles Airport-North is located within a few miles (5 km) of Herndon Centennial Golf Course and Center for Innovative Technology Complex. This 162-room, 3-star hotel welcomes guests with free breakfast, free in-room WiFi, and free self parking. It's near the airport and also close to Dulles Sportsplex and Dulles Golf Center & Sports Park.
Free buffet breakfast is included with your stay. Explore the hotel and meet new friends over drinks at the bar/lounge, or enjoy a bite to eat at the onsite restaurant. For a nice break, mingle with other guests at the free manager's reception.
All of HYATT house Sterling/Dulles Airport-North's 162 air-conditioned rooms provide MP3 docks, ironing boards, and desks. 32-inch flat-screen TVs are available for entertainment, and guests can stay connected with free WiFi. Beds are dressed in premium bedding and bathrooms offer hair dryers and designer toiletries.
Property features
At HYATT house Sterling/Dulles Airport-North, guests have access to a fitness center, free WiFi in public areas, and conference space. There's free parking, as well as a free airport shuttle during limited hours. The 24-hour front desk has multilingual staff ready to assist with dry cleaning/laundry, concierge services, and securing valuables. Additional amenities include a 24-hour business center, coffee/tea in a common area, and express check-out.
- Free buffet breakfast
- Free WiFi in rooms and public areas
- Free parking
- Onsite dining
HYATT house Sterling/Dulles Airport-North
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Located in the Virginia Technology Corridor, HYATT house Sterling/Dulles Airport-North is 5 miles from Dulles Town Center and 6 miles from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center. The hotel offers complimentary airport transportation to Dulles International Airport, 2 miles away.
This smoke-free pet friendly hotel features complimentary buffet breakfast each morning, which includes an omelet bar. The hotel's bar and lounge serves beer, wine, pizza, and appetizers.
A 24-hour business center is on site, and the hotel provides complimentary wireless access. This hotel also offers fitness equipment.
The hotel provides a Starbucks espresso coffee bar and a 24-hour market.
- 24-hour front desk
- Free airport transportation
- Number of floors - 6
- Bar/lounge
- Barbecue grill(s)
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Free breakfast
- Concierge services
- Conference space
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Express check-out
- Fireplace in lobby
- Fitness facilities
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Free WiFi
- Laundry facilities
- Meeting rooms
- Multilingual staff
- Total number of rooms - 162
- Restaurant
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Free self parking
- Long-term parking (surcharge)
- Snack bar/deli
- Conference space size (meters) - 245
- Free reception
- Smoke-free property
- Television in common areas
- Coffee/tea in common areas
- Grocery/convenience store
- Free area shuttle
- 24-hour business center
- Conference space size (feet) - 2638
- Number of meeting rooms - 4
Family Friendly Amenities
- Free Wi-Fi
- Area shuttle (complimentary)
- Grocery/convenience store
- Snack bar/deli
- Laundry facilities
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Long-term parking (surcharge), Free self parking
Room Amenities
HYATT house Sterling/Dulles Airport-North offers 162 air-conditioned accommodations with MP3 docking stations and bathrobes. Beds feature premium bedding. Flat-screen televisions are featured in guestrooms.
Bathrooms include designer toiletries and hair dryers. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access.
- Air conditioning
- Bathrobes
- Television
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Designer toiletries
- Desk
- Hair dryer
- Iron/ironing board
- Free WiFi
- MP3 docking station
- Flat-panel TV
- Premium bedding
- Private bathroom
Where to Eat
A complimentary buffet breakfast with an omelet bar is provided each morning.
Lobby Bar and Lounge - Serving wine and beer. Menu also includes freshly baked pizzas and appetizers.
Nearby Things to Do
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or near this Washington, DC-area hotel; fees may apply.
- Basketball on site
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Minimum check-in age is 21
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is noon
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 75 per accommodation, per stay (maximum USD 200.00 per stay)
- 2 per room (up to 50 lb)
- Restrictions apply
- For more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
No rollaway/extra beds available
Optional extras
Hotel Name
- HYATT house Hotel Sterling/Dulles Airport-North
- HYATT house Sterling/Dulles Airport-North
- Sierra Washington Dulles Hotel
- Sierra Washington Dulles Sterling
We should mention
Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section).


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SHE'S SVITZIN' Kim as Miss Pixie.
Casey Seymour Kim is channeling Miss Pixie at the Gamm, a space that can hardly contain her enthusiasm. Martha "Pixie" Feingold has retained the "Miss" of her girlish innocence, even though she has run through husbands like a swivel-hipped survivor at Pamplona.
She started out in her parents' Borscht Belt act, Eine Kleine Klezmer, going on to become a winsome child actor. In her young Hollywood career, she was a sort of a Shirley Temple or Judy Garland, only way down the pecking order of popularity. You might remember her from such B-movie classics as Yule Be Sorry and Purim Parade.
Puberty and the public didn't treat her kindly, although you wouldn't know it from her gushing devotion to her audiences. The same compulsive impulse that prompted Sally Field's "You like me! You really like me!" Oscar humiliation years ago is coursing like heroin through the veins of poor Ms. P.
We the audience are attending this special holiday edition of - Miss Pixie Late Night Clubhouse, on Rhode Island cable access Channel 3, but we might as well be watching Liza Minnelli at a flashy Las Vegas casino, desperately belting it out for all she's worth on the last night of her contract.
Miss Pixie hits the ground running, opening with an uptempo song from the 1963 Judy Garland Christmas special. The strain of her desperate eagerness to please shows, but she's not about to crack at any of her obvious fault lines. No sirree. This Betty Ford Center habituû is as well-practiced at denial as an Egyptian rowing champ. "I dried out and I bounced back — and you remember me!" That's all she needs to know.
She's swathed in red satin and topped with a towering blonde wig — a high-quality, more-is-more wig that's constantly competing with her to impress us. In eye-catching effort, the elaborate set tries hard to keep up with them. There's a Christmas tree on one side, plus presents, a wreath, and more. On the other side are menorahs, a payess-dangling Chaim the Hanukkah Turtle, and — my favorite detail — a bauble-bedecked six-pointed, well, Wreath of David, I guess. Hanukkah is a non-event, as far as Jewish holidays go, but the pixster insists on celebrating this time of year, "Even though me and my people have been excluded."
In Kim's lovely voice, Miss Pixie sings such songs as the twangy country ditty "Christmas For the Jews" ("that mistletoe kissin' gets me hot — look, I'm svitzin'"), "Holidays in Pawtucket," and the hyperventilating closer "It's All About You." She does get help, recruiting her accompanist Kevin (Jimmy Calitri) now and then to aid the act, and also her intern Karen (Melissa Bowler). Bowler provides a funny, low-key warm-up for the show and also does a good job nonchalantly whisking the Manischewitz out of her boss's hand and otherwise wordlessly watching out for worrisome signs.
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UTSA Alumni Reflections Gala is Aug. 16
By Marcia Mattingly
Communications Consultant, Office of Alumni Programs
(July 14, 2008)--The UTSA Alumni Association will host the ninth annual UTSA Alumni Gala at 6:15 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Westin La Cantera Resort and Hotel. The event will include a Power Drawing for vacations and other prizes and a silent auction featuring merchandise and services from alumni business owners and other friends of UTSA.
Today's headlines
- La Prensa Foundation is newest member of UTSA Lone Star Society
- UTSA alumna Jordan Kaufmann wins $50K for new stent-graft start-up
- UTSA begins new way-finding sign installation this summer at Main Campus
- USA Today: UTSA long jumper Tyler Williamson rescues three-year-old boy
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Honorees at the event will be San Antonio Deputy City Manager A.J. Rodriguez, B.B.A. '98, M.B.A. '00, as Alumnus of the Year and Olympic athlete and teacher Liza Hunter-Galvan, B.S. '93, M.A. '05, who will receive the Distinguished Service Award.
The new gala theme, "Reflections," was chosen to reflect the tradition, spirit and pride of UTSA and to reflect the past, present and future of UTSA through its outstanding alumni. The theme also captures the spirit and promise of the university as it realizes its dreams for the future.
"This is the night we celebrate the alumni of UTSA -- the volunteers, mentors and community leaders who have contributed to the phenomenal success of UTSA," said 2008 gala chair Cathy Starnes, Ph.D. '92, chief executive officer, Southwest Business Corp. employee benefits consulting division. "All the hard work is for a worthy cause -- raising money for student scholarships and programs and services for all alumni."
"We always have a wonderful time at the alumni gala," said association president Yvonne Fernandez, '85. "It is a great way for alumni to donate their time, talent and treasure to help make the evening successful. We always need volunteers to assist with table sales, obtain auction items and help with set-up on event day. If you're willing to lend a hand, please call us to get involved."
Honorary gala chairs are Gregg Muenster and Syd Muenster, '00, who are longtime UTSA supporters. Gala 2008 committee members are Melissa Aguillon, '95 '99; Paul Ayala, '03 '05; Dinah Covert, '95; Steven Langley, '05; Albert Estrada, '83 and Wayne Terry, '85. The emcee for the gala is Deborah Knapp, KENS-TV.
Marking its 30th anniversary, the UTSA Alumni Association helps to provide student scholarships with a portion of gala proceeds going to the UTSA Alumni Scholarship Fund. Over 30 years, more than $700,000 has been raised for scholarships. Sarah Garrahan, '77, judge of County Court-at-Law No. 4, assisted the first board of directors in obtaining the alumni association charter. The first president of the association was Yvonne Katz, Ph.D. '74.
The UTSA Alumni Reflections Gala begins with a cocktail reception and silent auction at 6:15 p.m. with music by the UTSA marimba ensemble. Dinner is served at 7:30 p.m. and the program begins at 8:20 p.m. The popular Austin band, Newsboyz, will provide music for the evening. Dress for the evening is black-tie optional for men and cocktail attire for women.
Table sponsorships are available at the Diamond level for $5,000, the Emerald level for $3,500 and the Ruby level for $2,500. These sponsors will have a student scholarship named for them for the 2009-2010 academic year. The Sapphire level is $1,500 and individual tickets are $125. Each table seats eight.
For reservations or more information, visit the UTSA Alumni Gala Web site or call (210) 458-4133.
UTSA Alumni Gala 2008 Power Drawing and Silent Auction
The Power Drawing is a great way to contribute to the UTSA Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. Purchase one ticket for $20 or 3 for $50 and have a chance to win one of these prizes: vacation for two to St. Maarten, $2,500 Valero pre-paid gas card, four-hour sailing tour of Lake Travis in Austin, trip for two to Breckenridge, Colo., with airfare to Denver, trip for two to Savannah, Ga., or a Samsung 40-inch flat panel HDTV. The prize drawings will be during the Reflections Alumni Gala Aug. 16; you need not be present to win.
For more information, visit the Power Drawing Web site or call (210) 458-4133.


text:
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Even at events that are as rain-plagued as the 16u PG BCS Finals and PG WWBA 2017 Grads or 14u National Championship have been this week, it's still easy enough to spot the teams that are going to seriously challenge for a Perfect Game national championship. Call it recognizing the fabric of a team -- how it's built and what its character and personality is.
In fact, the task of determining the fabric of a team can be made easier when watching how it contends with long rain delays and rushing from one field to another as games are rescheduled -- all the while managing to maintain its edge. The Houston Heat Black are a good case in point.
The Heat Black, playing in the 16u PG BCS Finals, pretty much mowed through their six pool-play opponents en route to a 6-0 record and a spot in the playoffs -- if the weather ever allows them to be played. They've hit, they've pitched, they've stole bases and they've fielded flawlessly. The evidence points to a team that was built to succeed at a challenging tournament made even more challenging by all the delays, postponements and cancellations.
"This group has been together for awhile and the main thing that we try to do is keep them ready, keep them focused and go one game at a time in this thing; it's a tough, tough tournament," Heat Black head coach Jeremy Knox said Tuesday afternoon after his team was actually able to get a game in the books.
"The Marucci teams are great, the South Florida Elite are great -- everybody's tough -- so we just try to go one game at a time and hopefully we end up in the dance at the end. You always want to do well, but we don't ever talk about championships. Of course we want to win one, but we just play the game the right way each time, and hopefully we come out on top at the end."
All of Houston Heat Baseball's teams play in the Texas Premier Baseball League and Premier Baseball sets up its national championship events using the same format as the one used at the PG BCS Finals with two separate sets of pool-play games. Knox feels like that may give his team a leg-up on the competition at this Perfect Game BCS Finals national championship event.
"We've been prepared for it," he said. "It's a tough way to kind of grind it out and mix and match but we've been through it before and so I think that's why we're having a little bit of success so far down here."
The Heat Black dusted off its first three pool opponents by a combined score of 31-4, which included a 20-2 win over the IBAHS Knights in their tournament-opener on Friday. They faced what was their toughest test in the first game of their second set of pool-play games when they snuck past the Easton Rockets, 2-0, in a classic pitcher's duel.
Heat Black right-hander Nick Perez (2015, Austin, Texas) threw a complete game, three-hit shutout with five strikeouts with only one walk and one hit-batsmen. Perez, who also hits a ton and plays third base, is the No. 50-ranked top national prospect in the class of 2015.
Easton Rockets right-handers Triston McKenzie (2015, Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Ryan Nolan (2015, Martin County, Fla.) were pretty good themselves, combining on a five-hitter with five strikeouts and two walks while not allowing an earned run.
Wins of 15-0 and 7-2 over the So Cal National Travel Team and the Florida Surge, respectively, followed for the Heat Black.
"We've been together now for three years, four years with the same nucleus of guys, with the exception of one or two," Knox said. "Basically, they're used to the format from being here before and they want to play, and I'm just letting them play the game."
It's difficult in this analysis to determine which aspect of the Heat Black's game has been the dominant: hitting pitching for fielding. They are hitting .416 (67-for-161) as a team, although they have only 12 extra-base hits; 10 pitchers combined for a 1.20 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 35 innings; and 149 total fielding chances were handled with only one error (.993) and seven double-plays were turned. They were also successful on 13 of 14 stolen base attempts.
Eight Heat Black batters are hitting .417 or better, led by Ryan Newman (2015, Spring, Texas) at .700 (7-for-10 with six RBI and eight runs scored); Jake Almendarez (2015, Pearland) at .615 (8-for-13); Perez at .600 (6-for-10) and Ryan Leftwich (2015, Cypress, Texas) at .545 (6-for-11).
Every pitcher Knox has trotted out there has been effective, it seems.
"I've been fortunate to have some good arms with this group with (Cameron) Kremers, (Nick) Perez, (Austin) Boyles, (Neal) Bhatia and (Kendal) Jefferies," Knox said. "We've got a lot of arms and I'm lucky to have them, and now I'm just trying to keep them fresh."
It's probably important to point out another player on the Heat Black roster who plays a pretty big role in the team's success. Middle-infielder Kody Clemens (2015, Houston), the son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens and younger brother of minor-leaguer Koby Clemens and Texas Longhorn and 2012 Perfect Game All-American Kacy Clemens, is already making his presence known while fitting nicely into the fabric of this team.
Clemens is ranked the nation's 129th overall prospect in the class of 2015 and that class's No. 1 middle-infielder. He is ranked 16-1 in the state of Texas.
"The really great thing about this team is there aren't any cliques," Knox said. "We've got the star power with Cody Clemens, and Cody -- hats off to him. He could be kind of the big-league guy and big-league everyone, but he blends right in and they all just enjoy each other and have fun.
"That's really the main thing of why I think it works, is that they all enjoy each other and they don't want to be that guy that brings the ship down. They just want to compete and push each other, and that's what great about them."
Knox said that Roger Clemens helps out with the team -- at least as much as his time allows -- just as he did with the Houston Banditos when Kacy played with that organization the last couple of years.
"Roger will throw BP to the guys sometimes and he'll pull our pitchers aside and talk with them," Knox said. "It's always great having Roger around; he's very hands-on and that's a great experience for our kids."
Knox has been with the Houston Heat Baseball organization for five years and has coached this same group of young prospects since they were 13 years old. It's been quite a journey through numerous Perfect Game tournaments for the teenagers and it will continue when they compete at the PG WWBA 2015 Grads or 16u National Championship in Marietta, Ga., July 12-19.
"What I'm trying to do with group -- I mean, it's tough in Texas but that's not the only baseball (being played)," Knox said. "I try to show them the entire baseball world and show them the big picture, and it's always great to see someone you don't know and see other talent from across the country. It's a good experience for them to say, 'Hey, there is somebody that can do some of the same things that I do; what do I need to do to get better?'
"This is our third year at a Perfect Game event and you can't beat the exposure," he concluded. "Our kids like the challenge and they seem to get excited every time we come here, so I can't ask for anything else."


text:
Anzelc amendment prohiting pre-Labor Day school start passes with bipartisan support
The Minnesota House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee passed an amendment authored by Rep. Tom Anzelc, DFL-Balsam Township, to the House K-12 education bill that prohibits school districts from starting classes before Labor Day.
Anzelc's amendment passed with support from both sides of the aisle.
During debate in the Ways and Means Committee, Anzelc pointed out that tourism-related businesses in his district are already experiencing thin margins, meaning any action to limit time for families to take summer vacations could further damage their profitability.
"I've heard from many businesses in my district about this issue," said Anzelc. "Quite frankly, we hurt the industry's bottom line when we cut the vacation season short. It simply doesn't make good economic sense. I'm pleased my amendment passed."
The House K-12 omnibus bill was expected to be heard on the House of Representatives floor on Tuesday, April 23.


text:
Town Square
Hoover: Location for a Charter in PAUSD
Original post made by Enjoy PAUSD Choice, Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Mar 2, 2007
The likely spot for this would be the Hoover school site, conveniently located on a main artery.
Of course the site may be currently full, so the district, since it's placing modulars all across the district anyway, should look to expand the Hoover site with as many modulars as possible, to make way for a bunch of charter school classrooms.
Later, when the charter outgrows a few modulars, well, then perhaps the district needs to sacrafice the size or perhaps the entire Hoover choice program. Afterall, we're a small district on fixed budget, and we can't afford to support a lot of optional choice programs -and- a absorb a charter school. So something has to give.
Since the district will clearly need to cut corners in order to make the charter school provisions, this would be the least painful place to take the hit. Not to say PAIN FREE, because of course Hoover people love their Hoover. Maybe Hoover people should get in contact with the MI people if they don't like this idea - because the writing is on the wall. Its only a matter of time as far as they tell us.
I mean - don't get me wrong - nothing would pain the community more than to see Hoover go by the wayside. But the district would be forced by the actions of the charter to do what it had to do - they don't want to harm any programs, but perhaps they'd be left with no choice.
Then, Ohlone, the other choice school in Palo Alto, can take up the slack for PAUSD families who still will want the choice experience, so we can expand Ohlone at the same time, to make room for the increased demand for "choice" that we'll experience as Hoover space goes away. Sure, Ohlone aint no Hoover, but its exactly the sort of sacrifice the MI people expect us to make.
(And the charter would never work on Ohlone campus anyway, because the Ohlone Way is particularly unsuited to running a campus community that is partitioned. The Ohlone way requires complete integration of that student body - so a charter at Ohlone would be disruptive to the program.)
So, I hate to say it, but it looks like Hoover should probably be the appropriate sacrafice.
Maybe Hoover parents should hurry and recognize that their program is an optional fixtures in this district.. Maybe they'd have a few words to say about the MI charter if it were staring them in the face. If you have something to say to the person in charge of the charter drive, hurry, don't wait till it's too late...
Web Link
Comments (55)
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 2, 2007 at 4:35 pm
You've GOT to be kidding. Gettiing rid of Hoover, which has been around since the 70's would start an educational WW III. Forget it.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 2, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Enjoy is a troll, trying to panic Hoover parents with disinformation.
Ignore her.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Mar 2, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I think it was meant to be a bit humorous - in an odd sort of way. But if the stats that I read about Hoover being 70% Asian is true - maybe it does make sense.
a resident of Midtown
on Mar 2, 2007 at 6:31 pm
What are you thinking? I guess your child doesn't go to Hoover.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 2, 2007 at 9:06 pm
If MI charterers care not about what they destroy, then why not Hoover? They don't care about protecting a system that produces years of excellent results, so why should the district?
I thought the new rules of the game are 'every man for himself'.
But in all seriousness, what would you suggest the district cut in order to support the costs of bringing in a charter? Something's gotta go...
a resident of El Carmelo School
on Mar 2, 2007 at 9:56 pm
I can't tell for sure if Parent was being humorous or serious, but I think we all need to start thinking of what's going to get cut. And I think that the Hoover site is logical, in terms of location and in terms of it being a choice school, meaning (sorry to say) expendible if necessary. Any other suggestions? How about PACE folks--any ideas?
a resident of Palo Verde
on Mar 3, 2007 at 12:28 am
Well, if something gotta give, why not Ohlone? It has a much bigger site than Hoover, so adding portables there seems natural.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2007 at 8:17 am
Agreed with Hoover as making the most sense, unless the Charter wants to do things the "Ohlone Way"...
Question: How much of the waiting list for Hoover would be resolved by locating MI Charter there?
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2007 at 8:43 am
"If MI charterers care not about what they destroy, then why not Hoover?"
Your premise is false. It is the anti-MIers who don't care about what they destroy. The best solution is a choice program: nothing needs to be cut.
Cutting Hoover is preposterous. You're trying to scare Hoover parents.
a resident of Midtown
on Mar 3, 2007 at 9:33 am
Choice or charter, what's the difference. Something's sacrificed either way.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2007 at 1:52 pm
"It is the anti-MIers who don't care about what they destroy. The best solution is a choice program: nothing needs to be cut."
Dear MI proponent: Your obliviousness to the realities and needs of other students in the district are, to the rest of us, virtually the same as not caring, so it is being called that. If you don't understand why you are being opposed, just look at your quote: you think we have resources for everything, that the district should give you whatever it is you want, and nothing would ever need to be cut. If that were so, we would all have an MI program now (and a lot of other things) and everyone would be happy.
Most Anti-MIers wouldn't have been "anti" if the people pushing the program would have been less selfish and more creative and diplomatic. There are other children in this district besides theirs.
If you think this can be done with such minimal resources, I welcome you to set up a private MI school and provide the instruction free to anyone who can't afford it. Since you think land and facilities are next to free in this area and getting them takes nothing at all, it should be a piece of cake and we'll all be happy. End of controversy.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2007 at 1:54 pm
That was the great thing about the choice choice: nothing was sacrificed: cost neutral.
a resident of Green Acres
on Mar 3, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Just curious -- is that really the problem here, that the people pushing MI really believe in their heart of hearts that what they want won't cost the district anything? That fighting for exactly what they want for a few kids and never compromising one iota is best for the district as a whole?
If it's so cheap, why don't you split off and do it yourselves? Organize a private school. You could start this summer. Why not put your energy into achieving the goal instead of "winning" at all costs?
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2007 at 4:05 pm
"If it's so cheap, why don't you split off and do it yourselves? Organize a private school. You could start this summer."
I guess private school would be a good idea if the tax money that MI supporters already pay to PAUSD would be returned to them... Wait, wait, isn't that exactly what charter school is all about?
Or did you mean to say "let us have your tax money and then ,if you don't like what we offer you, you can still go and pay for it again in a private school." How considerate!
a resident of Green Acres
on Mar 3, 2007 at 5:13 pm
If you find the situation so odious, you can easily sell your home and find another school district that might be more welcoming. Several people have suggested that the funding situation for charter would be more favorable in mountain view. Mtn View has faced declining enrollments and would probably be less contentious about dealing with a contentious and uncompromising special interest group.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 3, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Yet another parent,
There are all sorts of people in PA who do just that, sending their kids to private schools. Or, and this is a huge percentage, there are people who pay taxes who don't have kids in schools.
Taxes don't equal tuition-at-program-of-choice. The cost of taxes if more than made up by the increased home value that comes from being in a top school district.
And, of course, the original poster was being tongue-in-cheek. It is interesting how much more willing some appear to give up Ohlone than Hoover.
But, realistically, Ohlone's at capacity and the most popular choice prgram in the district. Hoover, of course, has the top API scores. So, no, of course, the school board's not going to close them for MI.
My guess is that they'd look for space at Cubberly, though I don't think an MI charter is guaranteed approval.
a resident of Green Acres
on Mar 3, 2007 at 5:26 pm
BTW, I did NOT mean to say "let us have your tax money and then if you don't like what we offer you you can still go and pay for it again in private school." You said it, I didn't.
You aren't offering the district anything. At least, nothing that is worth the cost to the district, you dn't seem to get that. That's the problem here. You are just demanding, far in excess of anything your property taxes are giving back. In fact, your taxes are not worth the bad will, administrative time, and energy this whole fiasco has already cost this town. Like I said, if this district is so bad to you, you can sell and move somewhere where you feel they appreciate you and all your demands.
I'm trying to get you to think about what you are proposing will cost the district, cost the other children enrolled in Palo Alto schools. If, as you keep asserting, what you propose is so cheap and won't cost anything, then do it yourself and stop demanding disproportionate resources while saying it's nothing. THAT's what I was saying. I'm trying to get you to think along the lines of what you claim, which is, really adding something to the district rather than just take, take, take at everyone else's expense.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2007 at 7:16 pm
From a logistical perspective - the main artery in and out of Palo Alto is Charleston. The enrollment at this charter will be significantly non-pausd. The Hoover campus the is right place to accomodate the traffic impacts.
flowing more traffic through neighborhood streets would never be accepted by the community - the board wouldn't be able to justify it.
Ohlone's extra land space must be reserved by the district for its own growing population, and a staging school would be required if every a new campus were to be added.
Many reasons why Hoover makes the most sense.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 3, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Thing is, if the MIers opened a MI charter in Mountain View they could send their kids there without having to move from Palo Alto. Then they could switch back for middle school and high school.
Traffic watcher's right about the traffic--Ohlone's on a neighborhood street and has about 10 parking spaces. Pick-up there's already an ordeal.
I think Hoover's problem is that it's a physically small campus. It's why MI wasn't an option there.
I wish someone would ask PACE if they're considering a charter petition in Mountain View. And if not, why not?
a resident of Crescent Park
on Mar 3, 2007 at 9:42 pm
The BOE is currently embarking on finding a solution for the growing high school populations. Reopening Cubberley in some form is on the horizon. I guess if the PACE school takes Cubberley, we can tell the kids at the overcrowded high schools that we are sorry, but there are kids in the district who really need to get their education in Mandarin.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Smaller size of Hoover campus is not a problem. This wouldn't be about sharing the campus - this would be about turning into a full on charter. Of course, this would be phased, so current Hoover can finish out while the charter ramps up. The Hoover program would just have to stop admitting any new students. If they started now then there would be four free classrooms by 2008/09 school year for the charter to start with.
Or portables could be added - several schools in the district are being waived for size, so squeezing in more portables would provide equivalent conditions to many other PAUSD schools.
This is different than the MI choice program which was looking for a spot to share strands with regular program school, while not disrupting any students. The charter doesn't have to worry about displacement of current program/students (because, well, they just don't worry about those sorts of concerns.)
I can think of no other cost effective, traffic effective, solution that minimizes displacement of neighborhood schools.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2007 at 10:14 pm
The vocal majority here really hates it when the minority can get the education it feels it needs, be it through choice or through charter. Thirty years ago charters were not an option, but today they are. Keep marginalizing the MI minority, keep marginalizing the Hoover community too, and soon enough they will end up joining hands, and then we will have a really substantial charter spinoff from PAUSD.
I hope that saner minds prevail, rather than let the tyranny of the majority run amuck in Palo Alto. You have been warned.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Ooohhh Another unveiled threat to PAUSD. Perfect.
Maybe the Hoover parents will like the idea of Hoover in PAUSD. Yes, maybe saner minds will prevail.
I saw a whole heck of a lot of Hoover parents (zero), on Grace Mah and Nico Janiks attachment published in the 1/30 board packet - meaning, not a lot were signing on to go to MI Choice program when it was still going to be run by one of the top districts in the state. Maybe Hoover prospective parents prefer a well established top school in the state, to an untested, start up run by ????
Board should not negotatiate with
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2007 at 10:54 pm
The thing I think the charter proponents are missing is that most people that move to Palo Alto are here specifically for the schools. If they were indifferent to the schools, and just as happy to go to charter schools, they'd have bought cheaper real estate.
People should be darn sure they understand that this charter will not have anything to do with PAUSD - other than (perhaps but not for sure) squatting on a site partially funded by the district. PAUSD will have oversight responsibility - that's AUDIT responsbility, not management or R&D or teacher hiring, or anything remotely related to running a quality school. The funding dollars they'll receive from PAUSD are a pittance relative to PAUSDs per student funding, and all the financial risk will reside on the charter.
Think about it this way - if you thought $10,950 was all it costs to run an MI classroom - think again.
This is a completely separate school district being proposed - and people will be making a very distinct choice between a mediocre but 'customized' bilingual education, or an excellent and highly sought after basic education.
And.. The day the Hoover community decides to turn against PAUSD will be the welcome day we can turn that campus back into a neighborhood school or better yet, just turn it over to the charter.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Mar 3, 2007 at 11:05 pm
Those who think that charter school will not fly in an affluent and good school district like Palo Alto should read the Princeton Charter School story at Web Link
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 3, 2007 at 11:47 pm
You anti people shot down a cost-free program that was important to those proposing it, but you don't seem to get it that importance. The problem is that you claim a right to dictate the way all children are educated without regards to the needs of others. This was never about money or resources. The thing you're missing is that choice programs and charters are intended to serve the needs of a few.
If you had thought carefully about what your campaign would cost those who want MI, we wouldn't be here. But you are oblivious to the needs of others and bent on forcing the district to follow your narrow vision.
You seem to doubt the district can do MI with minimal resources, but the district experts think they can.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 4, 2007 at 12:28 am
a parent,
Ummm, actually we voters do have rights to dictate, through an elected board, how our schools are run.
The MI program was not considered cost-free by the board. That was one of the reasons it was voted down. It was also unfair to families on Ohlone's waitlist--why are *your* wants more important than theirs or the kids trying to get into neighborhood schools?
Wolf, it's not about affluence, it's about PA being a basic-aid district. Most rich districts didn't get hit by Proposition 13 and don't face the tough choices we do in California because of it.
By the way, the charter-school pressure thing is poorly thought out. No school-board member who wants to hold his/her seat is going to vote for it because of the money issue.
The MI program failed to garner public support. A charter school won't either. At the county and state levels, there's that diversity issue.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 4, 2007 at 1:07 am
"Ummm, actually we voters do have rights to dictate, through an elected board, how our schools are run."
Um, not really: that's why we have rules about charters and choice programs.
It's OK for you to bully a minority and chase a selfish policy, but then you cry about MI people pursuing their right to a charter school. How's that work again?
And more complaining about Ohlone's waitlist? it's that kind of feeling of entitlement we cannot afford in this district. It's hard to imagine the district will expand your entitlement if you come demand it like that.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 4, 2007 at 1:56 am
A parent,
Oh you can seek a charter or a choice program. But I am also free to oppose them. The opposition to MI though diffuse and less funded than PACE was more effective. And, man, the sour grapes we've been hearing since.
I'm not complaining about Ohlone's waitlist. I'm pointing out that it's there and there's no reason why an MI choice program should usurp Ohlone's waitlist at Ohlone. I notice that you don't have a good reason for it. Why bump people from a desired and proven program for a nonexistent one?
What makes your perk more important than any other parent's desired perk?
You've not been bullied. You lost. You failed to make the sale. There's a difference.
Far from bullying you, I've suggested ways in which you could have MI without hurting the district--a charter in a non-basic-aid district, or a combination of summertime immersion with supporting language instruction during the year.
I'm interested in win-win situations for *all* the kids in the district. If you're a minority, it's because you're making yourself one by refusing to think about what's best for the district instead of just what you want.
Fact is, PACE seems to have done nothing to work *with* the district for a Mandarin language program that it can afford. The all-or-nothing attitude has been divisive. Now it looks like it will be destructive.
a resident of Midtown
on Mar 4, 2007 at 11:42 am
I feel sad that so many people are willing to sacrifice the Hoover program. My older daughter went to Hoover in 1992-97. It was an awesome experience. It was not about drilling and memorization like many people think. It was about solid foundation, critical thinking, and measured results. I rememeber that my daughter's 4th grade teacher gave failing grade in spelling to the whole class in the first quarter. All the parents were outraged. And how did the kids react? They adjusted to the new and higher expectation just fine. They liked to be able to understand and use new fancy and more adult like vocabulary and read more interesting books. All Hoover kids have kept in touch all these years and had a reunion last June when they graduated from high school. They grew into fine intellectual young adults. The Hoover school had very diverse population with whites being a majority then. I hope it is still a very fine school. May be I'll have a chance to send my youngest daughter there for 5th grade next school year. I wish more white parents choose to send their kids to Hoover - it's important to have the diversity.
As to MI and a charter school I'd say no. If there were space and extra money it would be fine. But that's not the condition in the district. Every elementary school near where we live has a waiting list for 4th grade (Hoover, Palo Verde, El Carmelo, Ohlone, Fair Meadow), and the kids are being overflown to the schools on the other side of town. This problem would have to be solved first before MI or a charter school could be addressed. I wanted my daughter to learn Hebrew, so I sent her to a private school. MI advocates may need to send their kids to private schools too for now.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Mar 4, 2007 at 11:43 am
"[I]t's not about affluence, it's about PA being a basic-aid district. Most rich districts didn't get hit by Proposition 13 and don't face the tough choices we do in California because of it."
Exactly my point. Palo Alto is in the precarious position where a charter school will cost it much more then it would a normal district. Yet the rules for establishment of charter schools do not discriminate between them, and it is as easy to start one in either place. And there is not much love lost in the legislature for basic aids districts to "fix" it, Simitian notwithstanding. In other words, Palo Alto should have thought about it harder than a normal school district, before rejecting a group that showed sustained support for legitimate education program.
What you seem to miss is that once you force a clearly defined subgroup to find its solution outside PAUSD, they no longer feel any particular indebtedness to it. You may worry that it will disproportionally affect this or that school, that it will affect traffic this or that way, that it will will fragment the community, that PAUSD will not be sufficiently compensated due to its basic-aid status -- they don't. By pushing them out, you basically told them to look for their solution elsewhere, and it would be foolish of them to worry about those who forced them to leave the system.
Basically MI tried to solved its problem within the system. They did it patiently and with diligence over many years. Like Hoover and Ohlone 30 years back, like Direct Instruction, and Child-Centered choice programs in middle schools almost a decade ago, like SI about the same time. The district was smart enough at those times to understand that its duty is to serve all its constituents, and not only the majority of them. Consequently -- albeit not without long struggles -- the district chose to accommodate those programs within itself. At the same time it put the policy for choice programs in place, to avoid such prolonged and divisive battles in the future.
Fast forward to 2006, the district chose to ignore its own policy and bend to public pressure when it denied the MI program. It doesn't really matter that MI was disliked by the majority of the public. After all, Choice Programs are NOT to satisfy the MAJORITY, but to address legitimate issues of the MINORITY. As long as the requirements of the choice policy were met, the school board should have approved it, unless an unexpected and unmanageable problem popped up.
Which brings us to where we are now. Charters are much easier to start these days, and MI people are correct to try this path if they feel strongly about their program. The fact that most Palo Altans disagree with them is immaterial. The fact that it may do less harm if started in Mountain View -- even if true -- shouldn't concern them. Palo Alto had its chance to solve this within the system. Once it blew it, it should bear the consequences. And if Palo Alto will displace or marginalize any other popular choice program -- be it Hoover, or Ohlone, or SI -- it should worry that this may repeat itself.
a resident of College Terrace
on Mar 4, 2007 at 12:09 pm
wolf : no, the district didn't choose to ignore its choice policy. it chose to exercise its right to not implement a new choice program.
The choice policy doesn't say we must start any program which meets the guidelines, or which pays for a feasibility study that "proves" that it meets the guidelines.. If it did, then you would be correct in saying it ignored its policy.
the problem was taking the money..like an expensive date, the proponents expected some return. saying it was a "no strings attached" bargain was ludicrously contrary to human nature.
a resident of College Terrace
on Mar 4, 2007 at 12:15 pm
wolf : oh yes...palo alto should bear the consequences for exercising its right to turn down a choice program??? what does that sound like to you? the woman should bear the hurtful consequences for turning down the date who spent so much time and money on her?
you aren't helping the feeling developing against the Charter school proponents.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Mar 4, 2007 at 12:21 pm
You can protest my description, you can "explain away" what the district did -- it doesn't really matter.
Once the die was cast, MI is looking outside PAUSD. Expecting them to consider what is best for Palo Alto is akin to expecting an evicted person to worry about the welfare of the landlord that evicted him. Whether the eviction was partially justified or not, whether it was legal -- all these are moot points for the evicted.
And expecting him to worry how the *landlord* now thinks of him is beyond ridiculous.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 4, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Again, the timing was not and is not for a Msndarin Immersion program. You may not like the reasons, but I've yet to see you effectively counter them.
Basically, it comes down to: a costly charter serves you RIGHT because you didn't do what we wanted. Your argument for a charter is coming down to revenge. I'm sorry, but that's a lousy foundation for educational policy.
And short-sighted. A program that hurts the district hurts everyone who lives in the district.
Of course you have a choice. You could look for A) less costly alternatives within the district--i.e. summertime immersion, year-round language support with an eye to getting a full immersion program down the line or putting it in a neighboring non basic-aid district.
Either of those approaches would bring you closer to what you presumably want without the corrosive divisivenes and without damaging the district.
But it would deprive you of revenge, wouldn't it? No, you'd rather through the time-intensive costly charter school route.
And the MI charter people do have a serious problem with getting a charter school approved--you're asking for a school that would increase segregation.
Bullis had several things in its favor--it replaced a school the district had closed. Nothing in its charter favored one ethnic group over another--i.e. that there must be native proficiency in Mandarin. And its backers came up with a lot of money to fund the school--my recollection is $2 million.
The county doesn't have to love basic-aid districts for it to turn down a charter petition for a school that increases segregation.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 4, 2007 at 2:03 pm
a parent has a basic vocabulary problem. They say that they are beng deniied an educational ~need~ by having been denied the MI program.
Really! Their NEEDS are being ignored. How is learning a second language a need??? Its a preference. Its optional. It a desire.
That would be like saying denying your 13 year old an Ipod or a pierced nose would be denying their needs. And OOOHHHH that makes a thirteen year old sooo darn mad when you deny them their "needs".
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 4, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Wolf suggests that PAUSD's policy should be to adopt any half baked scheme that comes along - in other words - negotiate with terrorists - because if we don't - they'll get it anyway. Luckily Wolf isn't a board member (wink wink) or else we'd be doing just that right now.
In my opinion, they haven't presented a compelling argument for reserving themselves a slice of a public school system for their own private needs, and they certainly haven't presented a compelling enough business/educational plan to attract enough in-district students into their experimental start up school.
And mistakes of the past (SI) should not be repeated unthinkingly. Again, thank goodness Wolf isnt a board member making these decisions. ;)
a resident of Palo Verde
on Mar 4, 2007 at 5:21 pm
One of you (I lost track which "parent" is which) sneers at the "need" of the MI community and compares it to an iPod or to a pierced nose. Is it really so? Is the desire for a deep fluency in foreign language equivalent to nose piercing? I think parent lost it here.
Another "parent" suggests that I think that PAUSD should accept "any half baked scheme that comes along." Not so. Sustained support for the program needs to be demonstrated over long period; alignment with the overall PAUSD mission needs to be demonstrated; cost neutrality needs to be demonstrated. If that is "any half baked", then yes, I think PAUSD should accept it, unless there is some major unexpected show stopper.
Finally, again, it doesn't matter what I say, or how much mud people throw at me. I merely presented what I think goes through the heads of MI people now, and I cannot fault their logic. Nor, seemingly, can any of the responders.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 4, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Clearly, the board was not convinced that MI would cost neutral given the need for space and the current lack of it. I agree that PACE made a case. Unfortunately for PACE, it was not persuasive.
If you think a program should be cost-neutral then why do you support a program that its proponents say will have $400,000 in start-up costs?
And if you think cost-neutrality is a virtue, why do you have an issue with opening an MI charter school in a district that will not be impinged upon in the same way?
And why should the desires of a small group--and it's a desire, not a need--have priority over those expressed by the district at large (for better science, space at neighborhood schools, etc.)
There's a lack in internal consistency here.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 4, 2007 at 7:21 pm
The logic of the MI choice/charter has been faulted endlessly. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
Fault 1 - second language fluency is in fact a want, not a need. If it were a need, how could we have 95% of our student population going through our school system without it?? (In fact, most are going on to great successes without it besides!. We're not even talking about a close call on 'want versus need'. Its clearly completely utterly optional.
Fault 2 - Nothing less than an immersion program can deliver adequate language education is false. Talk to Norm Masuda about how well the Level One high school Mandarin class is doing - or was he lying to the board in the board meeting on 1/30? I don't think so, he seems like a pretty well respected guy, and he said they are soaking it up like sponges (at HIGH SCHOOL level.)
Fault 3 - The MI choice proposal was not cost neutral even though the proponents who submitted that falsehood said so. The board recognized widely that there were many costs left out of that proposal and that the 'unforseen' costs including district staff time, would negatively impact the district.
Fault 4 - Doing something 'because I can' doesn't give one the moral highground. That makes it an end run. Finding ways to exploit loopholes in the law that you know darn well are damaging, makes you no better than the oil industry or Enron.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 4, 2007 at 8:21 pm
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.] The board killed MI as choice because of threats to block future parcel taxes. Everyone knew it was cost neutral, and the rest of that nonsense was a convenient fig leaf for the board. (Gail and Camille were the only ones who were consistent. And Gail, well, she said more than once that the sort of people interested in MI were rich. We know what that means.)
The district aligned itself against the needs of some parents. Now, those parents are pursuing a rational course to achieve their aims. Why are you begging them to align themselves with your needs? Selfish squared.
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.] MI is not a need for you, therefore it is not a need for the supporters? Mediocre language education is good enough for you, therefore it's good enough for all? The district experts say MI would be cost neutral, therefore it's not?
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.] The anti camp has yet to mount a real argument why we shouldn't have an MI choice program.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 4, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Learning Mandarin through immersion is not a NEED of any child of this community... It may be a wish, a desire, a nice option, an add-on, a luxury. It is not a need.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 4, 2007 at 10:13 pm
... As a matter of fact, the above MI proponent clearly says that it is a "need of some PARENTS"... That's the problem, it's the MI parents who think it is a need for some reason. Well, it is not any more of need than learning a whole series of other subjects in school.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 4, 2007 at 10:24 pm
"the above MI proponent clearly says that it is a "need of some PARENTS"... That's the problem, it's the MI parents who think it is a need for some reason."
No, the problem is this guy's insistence that it is not a need. It may not be a need for him, but then he concludes it's not a need for anyone else. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 5, 2007 at 12:08 am
A parent,
Naive? I don't think so. It was a close vote and one board member switched. Not one of them mentioned the problem with funding. They *did* mention the problem with enrollment projections. Since the next parcel tax is a few years off, but the overenrollment issues are already here, I think it's pretty clear where the board's concerns were.
But really it all comes down to this: most people don't want the program here. The support's not there. And PACE never gave those of us who were on the outside a reason to want it. As I've said, PACE failed to make the sale. Why should I support MI? Because a few people think they need it? [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
Seriously, MI is not a need for you. It's a desire. We're not in China. Your children need fluency in English to succeed in the United States. They *need* competency in mathematics. They *need* to understand the American political process. But Mandarin? It's too cumbersome to become a general second language like English. The Mandarin-speaking population is dwarfed by the Spanish-speaking population in California and the U.S. as a whole.
I believe very strongly in musical education. I think it will enrich my child's world. I understand though that it's more important for the district to make sure all kids get a solid education in reading, writing, math and science. Therefore, I will supplement my child's education with private music instruction.
Music's my priority--that doesn't mean I demand that it be the district's. Not when it means cuts in basic education.
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 5, 2007 at 6:28 am
We speak Farsi and English in our household. If I and others in PAUSD, think it's a need that my children are instructed in Farsi, how can this school district accomodate that need? I would like the MI proponents to tell me how my need can be accomodated, along with the MI needs, without impacting the district in a negative way. If an immersion program, where? If a charter school, where? Can the MI proponents, since they say that the issues for denial was funding rather than facilities, be more specific as to how and where they envision their needs be met?
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 5, 2007 at 9:22 am
You're late to the party and missed most of this debate, so I'll recap.
PACE had a need. They then did the research, worked with the district and proposed an educationally sound program that is cost neutral, is sustainable in terms of support within the community, fits CA standards and district goals, and does not impact neighborhood schools. (The details you ask for were all contained in the feasibility study the DISTRICT did.)
It's not enough to have a need: having a need doesn't mean you ought to get a program. Go do your homework, raise money, and make a proposal that fits the criteria. Then come back and ask for a Farsi immersion program. I'll support you.
Again, the program was not rejected for lack of funds: MI would cost the district nothing. It was rejected because the antis threatened to shoot down future parcel tax measures to deny the district money down the road. It was a kind of political blackmail that has come back to haunt MI opponents.
The antis forced the board to reject the needs of PACE parents. Now, the antis are begging PACE to accommodate their requests by taking their charter proposal elsewhere. Ironic.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Mar 5, 2007 at 9:49 am
Shahin: [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.] Attend the BOE meetings so that you can get a broad picture of what issues PAUSD is faced with at this time. Pay particular attention to the critical enrollment growth problems and some of the budget issues which they have been dealing with for some time now. The upcoming facilities budget meeting should be very enlightening also.
Don't be fooled by the tired rhetoric of the MI supporters. They did not prevail and they are now using tactics which are meant to extort their "needs" from the board.
If you need a Farsi immersion program, you also need to do your homework if you would like to accomplish this without damage to an outstanding school district. And if your children are already enrolled in PAUSD, you need to ask yourself what you will be sacrificing by taking them out in order to give them additional perks which can be had through other avenues. Charter schools serve some parents and districts very well. Choice programs are an extra perk which can fit into some districts. It seems that this basic aid district is maxed out right now and so adding choice programs may be impossible until other issues are resolved. Good luck with your research. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of Crescent Park
on Mar 5, 2007 at 10:40 am
There is also a lot of info/comments on the Does PA really want a Charter School thread.
a resident of South of Midtown
on Mar 5, 2007 at 11:49 am
You should also know that there was very little credibility with the Feasibility Study that Parent is referencing. For example, to say that "it wouldn't impact neighborhood schools", as parent says, was ludicrous. Even at the best, MI would have gone into Ohlone, then HAD TO MOVE IN A FEW YEARS WHEN IT OUTGREW OHLONE...where would it move to? Oh yes! Either a current or a future neighborhood school.
And, even before then, while it was occupying Ohlone's "extra" space...what was happening to the people on the waiting list for Ohlone who now couldn't get in because of lack of space?
That kind of disingenuity in the Feasibility study caused most of us in the Community, and even a few of the Board members, to publicly comment on the lack of trust we had in the feasibility study. If something so obvious as the answer to "where does it go in a few years?" is lacking from the study, how can anyone possibly trust anything else in it, such as cost projections, integration issues, etc?
Nothing has changed. It doesn't matter what anyone says or does, there are going to be people who continue to see opposition to MI in the light that parent does.
It is too bad. It burns up any residual sympathy that may have been left.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 5, 2007 at 12:53 pm
What is PACE's "Need"? I haven't seen Mandarin yet convincingly explained as a "Need." I hope someone from MI side will kindly describe exactly how learning Mandarin is a Need?
If you need it to graduate, to read your textbooks, or to go to college, or to get a job, or to buy a loaf of bread, or to take the drivers test, or to open a bank account, or to read a newspaper, etc. Then that would be a Need.
All these things would make fluency in Mandarin a Need in China.
But please explain how learning Mandarin is a need right here in Palo Alto.
Once we understand that Mandarin, and a few other subjects are ELECTIVE - then we treat them as such, and begin to weigh them against other electives of greater and lesser impact and importance within the community, and yes, there are unfortunately some electives that don't make the cut.
A Parent above dismisses the basic definitional issue with a four word statement: "Pace had a need." And goes straight in to discussion about what they did there. I think A Parent misses the point that he didn't have a need, but he had a really burning desire for attention to his desired elective.
There is a fundamental communication breakdown here. PACE thinks their desires for bilingual fluency for their kids, trumps the public education needs of 11,000 students.
I better sign off. I "need" a beer.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 5, 2007 at 1:05 pm
a parent,
What "educationally sound" program was that? The program proposed was some sort of last-minute Mandarin/Ohlone mash-up. It was going to be invent-a-curriculum as you go along since no project-based Mandarin immersion curriculum exists. All of this was supposed to evolve in a matter of months, led by a teacher who already has a full-time job.
With the exception of Nico Janik, no member of PACE ever expressed interest or excitment in a project-led approach. There weren't a slew of Ohlone parents wearing red at the board meeting.
MI just didn't offer enough to enough people in the district for people to want it. Your charge that the board collapsed under the threat of the withdrawal of PIE funds shows that you think that. After all, popular programs or even ones people are neutral about don't adversely affect donations and bond measures.
So why do you think the MI program was so unpopular? I realize racism is the convenient answer, but just as an exercise, see if you can think of some other reasons.
a resident of Fairmeadow
on Mar 5, 2007 at 8:26 pm
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 5, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Nicole, if you want to continue at Fairmeadow, why not keep Fairmeadow a neighborhood school? Why convert it to a charter?
a resident of Fairmeadow
on Mar 6, 2007 at 6:16 pm
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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:
Lawyer's footage of house arrest published in China
Men in plainclothes recently harassed at least six foreign journalists in Shandong province. Vivid news footage shoes a group pelting CNN reporter Stan Grant and his photographer with rocks when they tried to visit the home of an activist under house arrest. Brice Pedroletti from France's Le Monde, Stephane Lagarde with Radio France Internationale, and an unnamed New York Times journalist and photographer underwent similar confrontations in February, according to Agence France-Presse.


text:
Legends: The Wheel
From inspiration to invention, the wheel is one of man's finest creations
The wheel was invented by Ug, son of Urg, at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 24, 100,007 BC. Well, it would have been if someone had invented clocks and calendars then. As it was, Ug was enjoying a fresh, cool morning. He always liked this time of day. It was before the sun heated up the blood in the dinosaurs and they started to get all frisky. There was a particularly tyrannous Tyrannosaurus Rex that Ug always had to look out for. But now he had space to think.
And he was thinking of ways to impress Ooma, the archetypal girl-next-cave, who sometimes smelled enticingly of entrails. He wasn't really looking at the wild apple tree, it just kind of occupied the middle distance into which he was staring. And when an apple fell from the tree and rolled down the hill, Ug had an epiphany, if someone had invented epiphanies by then. He was so excited, he forgot to discover gravity. But he stumbled upon something even more important.
Work still needed to be done. Ug first tried chiseling his stones into apple-like shapes, sort of oval. They didn't work so well, although Bozo, the cave clown, loved them. One of his ancestors fitted some oval wheels to his car to great comic effect. Even back then, genius was always one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration, which probably didn't go down too well with Ooma, considering no one had invented showers or deodorants then, but Ug eventually went on to become the Bill Gates of his day. Everyone started using Wheels. Stonehenge, the pyramids (Egyptian, Mayan, and Inca), all manner of early construction was made possible with round transportation devices.
Pulleys, volume knobs, so many things rely on circular movement to function. Even Charles Babbage's early attempts at making a computer involved wheels.
Putting teeth on the edge to make gears was another stroke of absolute genius, which really did reinvent the wheel. But we're getting ahead of ourselves.
Ug had a nemesis. Well, he would have if the concept of a nemesis had been invented then. The abrasive, obsessive Jabz lived a couple of caves down, his walls adorned here and there with minimalist hand paintings. Jabz had worked out a way to make the wheel perfectly round, as well as lighter and thinner. He called his creation the eye-wheel, because it was easy on the eye.
People began to forsake Ug's products and favor Jabz's, who started wearing a turtle around his neck to make him stand out from the crowd.
Ug didn't have to worry too much, since he already had more loincloths, mammoth tusks, and pterodactyl-tooth necklaces than he knew what to do with. But he liked to be busy. Normally, people worried about basic things, like if their family members were still going to be alive when they returned from hunting. Or, indeed, if they themselves would return from hunting.
Ug suddenly had too much free time on his hands and that led to his second and least popular invention: existentialist angst. Ooma, Ug's now-wife, could see that something had to be done. Having cured society of permanently grazed knuckles (the solution was simple: stand more upright), she decided Ug's vast stockpile of possessions could be used to help the less fortunate.
Together, Ooma and Ug came up with a third invention: philanthropy. Phil Anthropy was especially pleased that they named it after him, although he never knew why. Evolution doesn't always take a straight road, but the compassionate trait that made us not run everyone over with the first invention has to be given some kind of credit.


text:
Originally Posted by Rick 1456
"Sticks and stones may break my bones but a ford will never pass me"
67 Camaro collector car
rick SoMd
"My Ford will "
American made Honey Processing Equipment "Built to last a lifetime"
My Ford won't - a 1914 touring car.
Well since everybody else weighed in on the battle,I dont think your ford or chevy could pass my Dodge! Just kidding guys but since I'm usually the lone Mopar guy(thus the name hemichuck) I have to stand up and be counted.
I am currently using deeps,mediums,and some shallows and I can tell you its a pain in the butt.I would(and will)go to 10 frame all mediums.Its easier to cut down nucs to medium than try to shuffle frames around all the time to fit this and that.
One last car prod,As soon as a ford or chevy powered car wins an NHRA/IHRA top fuel championship,I will switch brands.(that should keep me safe for another 50 years)


text:
Hey guys god it was good to see everybody again...If not for my wife agreeing to go I doubt I would have made it down ....She did all the heavy driving through NY and NJ she Awesome ! .......we only got lost once but this nice man moved his cones out of the way so we could U-turn and all was well...Big thanks to Amanda and Matt for all their hard work putting this together every year...Great food ..thanks to the chiefs Amanda and Kase !... Good friends ! and Giants football .....Awesome!!!
Last edited by JPizzack; 10-09-2012 at 01:13 PM.
Oderint Dum Metuant
It's too bad, I'm too good....


text:
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- With the physique of an All-Pro tight end, it's no surprise that Michael Morse does his offseason workouts with NFL stars, including 49ers running back Frank Gore.
Morse, listed at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, rises over his new Giants teammates and is expected to show off his light-tower power when position players first take the field on Wednesday. But for all his strength, Morse knows that, in baseball, a player only is as good as the small bones in his hand allow him to be. A year ago, one of those bones sent Morse spiraling downward.
A slide early in his first season with the Seattle Mariners left Morse with a bone spur that kept him from fully rotating his left wrist. One week after surgery, Morse was able to swing a fungo bat; three weeks later he was 100 percent healthy.
The problem: Nobody figured out that he needed the procedure until October.
By then, Morse's season was over, and it was a rough one. He hit .215 for the Mariners and Baltimore Orioles, with a .381 slugging percentage that was his lowest since 2008.
"I thought, 'This is it,'" Morse said. "This is how it happens to guys (as their careers wind down)."
Morse's ailment was a mystery during the season. MRIs and X-rays didn't show any damage and the doctors he consulted continually looked for a ligament injury that wasn't there.
Former Giant Mark DeRosa thought Morse was dealing with the same tendon issue that derailed DeRosa's career and led to a procedure that he once described as "a total failure."
"I talked to DeRo," Morse said. "He was like, 'Look at me now.' "
DeRosa is now in television, a job the talkative and fun-loving Morse seems perfect for. But the 31-year-old wasn't ready for a career change, not even close. Morse consulted with another veteran, Jayson Werth, and decided to go see hand specialist Richard Berger at the Mayo Clinic. Unable to do pushups and often crippled by arm numbness after swings, Morse was desperate for a fix.
"Even if we don't find anything," Berger told him, "I'm cutting you open. Something is wrong."
After months of failing in his quest for answers, Morse underwent an ultrasound that showed a bone spur Berger was able to shave down.
The 2013 frustration has been replaced by an overwhelming sense of relief. Morse said he's 100 percent healthy and he couldn't be more excited to be in orange and black.
DeRosa may have been wrong about the injury, but Morse, who signed a one-year deal with the Giants in San Francisco, says his friend hit a home run with his post-surgery career advice.
"DeRo said this is the place to play," Morse said, smiling. "I love it here."
"He has a different look about him this spring," Bochy said. "I think he sees that he is a guy that's in the mix and a guy knocking on the door."
The Giants system is filled with intriguing pitching prospects and Escobar is expected to be the first starter to reach San Francisco, possibly as soon as this summer.
For more on the Giants, see Alex Pavlovic's Giants Extra blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/Giants. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/AlexPavlovic.