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Wireless Driveway Alarms Like the Di2000S-A Keep Intruders Away Model DI2000S-A
Wireless driveway alarms, like the Di2000S-A, will keep you informed and safe by alerting you when a car, person or animal enters your driveway or any area you would like to monitor. The system works by sending an alert when the motion sensor detector is triggered.
The Di2000S-A uses a state of the art passive-infrared (PIR) sensor to detect any movement within the detection zone. When the sensor detects motion it transmits a wireless signal up to 1,000 ft. away to a plug-in receiver. When the receiver receives the alert, it emits a chime sound in order to notify you of any movement.
The sensor/transmitter sends out an invisible beam that is approximately 2'' x 2'' at one foot away from sensor to approximately 2' x 2' feet at 40 feet away from sensor. Essentially, the beam sends out a conical shape for a detection zone. If anything with a heat signature moves within this detection zone, the transmitter is triggered and will send a signal to the receiver, making it chime. The sensor is powered by 2 "AA" batteries (not included) and mounts with the supplied mounting bracket and mounting screws. Inside the transmitter are dip switches which allows you to pair it with other transmitters and receivers, and to determine the chime sound the receiver will play when triggered.
The receiver supplied in the kit plugs into a standard wall outlet. The front of the receiver features a counter that allows you to track the number of entrances through the detection zone. On the back of the receiver is a volume control knob that allows you to adjust the volume according to your preference. Also on the back of the receiver/speaker are two terminal screws; one is to power an external speaker, allowing you to hear the chime sound in another room or location. The second terminal screw is for a live 12 volt output, which can be used to power a variety of accessories such as strobe lights, sirens, counters, X10 interfaces, and virtually any product powered by 12 volts.
Highlights of the Di2000S-A
- High quality American Made product
- Reliability that you can depend on
- Amazing range, sending a wireless signal up to 1,000 feet away
- Expandable: four zones (each plays separate chime sound) by adding additional receivers and additional transmitters (sensors)
- Long battery life of transmitter, estimated 5,000,000 rings
These are just a few of the reasons why this wireless driveway alarm has been, and continues to be our number one selling monitoring system. Although this is a best in class system to monitor your driveway, it has many uses beyond that. We have customers who mount transmitters/sensors along fence lines to monitor movement along a property line.. We even have a customer who uses the Di2000S-A to monitor when his cows break through his fence line--no kidding!
|This is the new "A" system, not compatible with older models. Please call us for availability on models to match your system.
American Made
|The Driveway Informer® is manufactured in a strict Military manufacturing environment. Some of the specifications that Driveway Informer® manufactures to are but not limited to MIL-STD-2000, MIL I 45208, NASA 5300.4, WS-6596E (Navy).
|Quick Product Features:
The receiver included in this kit, and also sold separately, is the Di2000R-A. The receiver "receives" the wireless signal transmitted by the driveway alarm sensor and plays one of four ring-tones determined by the transmitter.
The receiver plugs into a standard 120V outlet. Located on the front cover, the receiver has a LCD counter to keep track of detections. It also features a reset button for the counter.
In addition to the LCD counter the unit has a volume control knob that allows you to turn it up to its loudest setting or all the way down to no sound. On the back of the cover are two terminal screws. One is for a speaker output to allow you to connect an external speaker to the unit.
Many of our customers will connect a wireless speaker for very large areas, such as a warehouse or other noisy environments. In addition to the speaker terminal, the Di2000R-A also has a 12 V DC output screw to connect any device that's powered by 12 volts. Whether it's a firebell, strobe light, siren, etc., the receiver will output and trigger these devices with a 12V current when the alarm is triggered. A dip switch located on the back of the receiver will change the output from 1-5 seconds.
Theoretically, there is no limit to the number of receivers you can pair with the driveway sensor. The only real limitation is the number of zones, or tones, the receiver will play. With the four tones you can pair transmitters into one of the four zones.
The receiver will sit flat on a table top or you can mount it using the predrilled mounting holes in the mold.
The driveway sensor for the Di2000S-A ki,t and also sold separately, is the Di2000T-A. The unit is a sensor as well as a transmitter. When it senses movement in your driveway it will transmit a wireless signal to the receiver.
The transmitter is powered by 2 "AA" batteries (not included) that will last approximately two years prior to needing a battery change. This is with an average of 50 "dings" a day and will decrease with more dings. Cold weather will also diminish the battery life.
This system is a PIR, or passive-infrared sensor, which will detect a combination of movement and heat within the detection zone. As a driveway monitor, the sensor emits a small 2'' x 2'' invisible zone immediately out of the sensor window and by the time it reaches it maximum detection length (approximately 50 feet) the detection zone will fan out to approximately a 2' x 2'. When a car passes through this zone, the transmitter will send a wireless signal to the receiver.
The transmitter ships with a mounting bracket that allows you to rotate the transmitter to fit the monitoring zone you would like to create. The receiver also has an antenna that will rotate 360 allowing you more flexibility to mount the transmitter in a variety of locations.
Customer Reviews
Product Reviewed: The Driveway Informer w/ 1,000 ft. Range
score average: 7 out of 5 , 34 review(s).
I have been buying these driveway alarms (and installing) then for my customers for years. The manufacturer's published range on this driveway alarm is actually 1,000 feet but I have installed it for customers who have gotten close to 3,000 feet range.rnrnAs a side note, we also use this as an outdoor entrance alert product. The only reason I am giving it a 4 is b/c nothing is perfect..I wish there was a portable receiver with this.
(Bishop, Georgia)
I purchased the Driveway Informer/Alarm several weeks ago and it has met my needs for the entrance to my property. I am aware that someone has entered the property before they come to the door. It is a well-made product and easy to install.
(Brookeland, Texas)
The driveway informer possibly saved our life on Dec. 8, 2010 when intruders approached our home at 4AM. I held a gun on the two thugs until Sheriff's Dept arrived. One had three warrants and was a reg. sex offender. The Driveway Informer can be your life-saver!
(Ripley TN)
The driveway alarm works well. We have it about 500 ft down our driveway from the house so we know when someone is approaching the house. It is a good product for the price. We tried a cheaper version that was rated for up to 1,000 ft but would not work at 500 ft.
(Durham, NC)
Purchased 2 alarms and an extra sensor. One alarm was to alert me if my 96 yr. old Mom had unexpected visitors when I was next door at my home. Her dementia prevented her from using good judgement and I couldn't stand every minute watching the house to see who called. Brother installed and darn thing worked so great every vehicle using our deadend road was announced! Yep, the 4 AM news carrier! That got fixed quickly! The second unit and extra sensor went to my brother's house. His worked too good also, but both are adjusted now and are fantastic. Only took about 15 min. to install. Have never felt so secure!
Works great - even around a bend and through the trees - all the way to grandma's house!rnJust wish it had the option of a longer chime (maybe 8 dongs instead of 4). Not disappointed at all, would recommend to others!!
(jasper, al)
Does everything that they say it will do - what more can you ask?
(Scituate, MA)
Item working good so far, wish outside sensor was a little smaller
This was a repeat purchase of the Driveway Informer. Obviously were satisfied with the first unit which lasted over five years until it was damaged. Support is excellent. Highly recommended!
(Naples, Fl)
We use the DI2000S-A Driveway Informer. It replaced other less expensive brands. This one is worth the money. It send the signal quicker than any others. Easy to install and ready to work in minutes.
(Gentry, AR)
Love product, easy to install, works great
(Auburn, AL)
Directions were not real clear as to WHERE the screws were located to open but generally was easy to set up and use.rnwas VERY sensitive during a recent rain and kept going off until I had to turn volume to almost nothing. Today seems to be ok. LIKE the counter on the receiver!! Great idea to keep track!!
(Harlem Georgia)
I purchased the driveway monitor in 2011 after much research I found this product to meet my needs. I also purchased another driveway monitor in 2015. The only thing that I think needs to be addressed: Over time being outside the rain water leaked into the inside of the transmitter around the antenna. I chose a quick fix by applying some rubberized tape around the antenna. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who is tired of throwing away money on all the other products that don't last more than a few months at best. The company is very proactive in helping their customers with the products that they sale. Very pleased !!!!
(Ardmore, Al)
Easy install and worked great immediately. Alarm sensor is 400ft from the house, great reception.
(jasper, al)
excellent product - does everything it says it will do.
(Pierre Part,La.)
Excellent driveway alarm ,with other units would get false alarms,0 with this one,I strongly recommend this alarm
This has been nothing short of fantastic!! The distance I can hear the bell from still astounds me!
(Gallatin, TN)
This is my second one and they work great My first one I had for about 6 years and was still working would recommend it highly
(Townsend Delaware)
This is my second driveway alarm. The first one lasted at least 10 years. rnWhen it stopped working, I decide to replace it. I have been very pleasedrnall these years with your product. Thank you very much.
David S
(Midlothian Texas)
Best wireless drive way alarm we have used in the past 10 years. Love the counter. Easy to reset.
(Kennewick wa)
I've had other motion sensor driveway alarm systems, but nothing works as good as this one. I have two transmitters. The front is over 1000 feet and it works every time. Ive had it installed now for three weeks, picks up every car and person entering my property. The receiver has a volume control which is nice. It also has 4 different sounds to choose from. Excelant device!
satisfied customer
(central northcarolina)
hugs and kisses. I bought and personally installed 2 outside sensors and 2 inside receivers and they work very well. My wife loves them and thinks I am a genius. Maybe I exaggerated a little but she definitely loves the alarms when someone enters our gate which is 1000 feet from the house.
Conneautville Soybean Crushing
(Conneautville, PA)
We could not be happier with this product. It works great for our business!
(Bon Aqua, tn)
Love it works great, so great when my husband mows close to sensor I hear every swipe. Have not had animal set off yet...had to move receiver closer to sensor when wouldn't work one morning as husband leaving for work & raining it didn't go off...moved the closest it can possible be so hope it does work better during rain. Although it's on the loudest it can be can't hear when I'm at far end of house. Anyone have any suggestions? Will update as time goes by.
(Idaho Falls, Idaho)
I was looking for a driveway alarm that would not get set off by tree movement or shadows. So far it does a good job just picking up people, vehicles, and animals. A few times it picks up birds. The only thing I do not like is the tone. It is not a clear crisp sound, it almost sounds muffled. Then there are only 4 sound options and most of them are way too long. I only have it set to the one single tone. Would like something that does not sound like a muffled doorbell. The distance that the signal reaches from the sensor to the receiver seems to be very good. I have not tried it at our furthest point yet.
Only up a couple weeks. Set up approx. 75 yards from house. Seems to work when it should. Would give 5 stars if had more experience with the unit.
Love our driveway informer - great to know when someone pulls in!
Very impressed haven't had any false alarms. Also I have a lot of trees and bushes that the signal has to pass through or around and problem.
(Orangeburg SC)
First driveway informer I purchased came from you. This is my 3rd. It has stood up well in normal weather. The only time I've had to purchase again is during an extreme weather situation. The quality is good and price is in range. Living in a country setting with burglaries & home invasions, It's a safer feeling knowing I can see who is coming in so I can be prepared. Several friends have gotten information from me on these informers.
Marc S. Barthello
(Havre de Grace, MD 21078)
Easy to install and remove for battery replacement
(Center Valley,Pa)
Product was shipped and received to a timely manner. The outside unit was easy to setup and mount to a post. The inside unit was also easy to setup. Works great for me. I found out the deer use my drive way at 5 am
(wilseyville, ca)
I'm very happy with my unit and the service i got from Alix an every one else.rnThank you again. Bob
Very nice system as it works very well with a lot of obstructions between the sensors and the base unit. We have a car lot and there is a lot of cars between the sensors and the receivers to obstruct the signal and the units work flawlessly. I am very happy with the way it works.
(Warren, Ohio)
The Driveway sensors work great. Signal range is fantastic and the receiver works great. The receiver sound can be heard clearly even above the TV. The only reason I don't give this a 5 is I think the Transmitter (Driveway Sensors) mounting brackets could be a lot better. They need to be stronger and designed so you could rotate the sensor beam in a greater arc so you wouldn't have to remount the bracket.


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The looks for the Louis Vuitton Man Spring/Summer 2009 Collection pay homage to the golden age of silent American theatre. As Luxury Insider puts it, "Hollywood legend Charlie Chaplin is the star of luxury goods titan Louis Vuitton's Spring/Summer 2009 Men's Collection. Artistic Director Marc Jacobs is clearly reaching for sublimated and effortless elegance in ensembles that suggest fragility. Menswear Studio Director Paul Helber keeps things light, with pale shades dominant."
More views from the Louis Vuitton Man Spring/Summer 2009 Collection after the jump.

subset: commoncrawl


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As the climate warms, moss growth dramatically spreads on the continent's peninsula.
Clock Gene Mutation Leads to "Night Owl" Behavior
April 10, 2017|
Scientists identify a mutation in the CRY1 gene in people with abnormal sleeping patterns.
April 10, 2017|
Scientists identify a mutation in the CRY1 gene in people with abnormal sleeping patterns.
April 7, 2017|
23andMe customers can now receive information about genetic risk for diseases including Parkinson's and celiac.
Octopus, cuttlefish, and squid extensively edit messenger RNAs in an evolutionarily conserved process.
April 5, 2017|
Scientists conducting a large-scale, comparative transcriptomics project have inadvertently highlighted widespread contamination in sequencing data.
April 4, 2017|
Childhood cancer survivors with mutations in certain cancer-risk genes have a higher risk of developing additional neoplasms later in life, according to research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting.
April 3, 2017|
At the annual American Association for Cancer Research meeting, researchers discuss the importance of understanding the epigenetic contributors to cancer progression and treatment response.
April 3, 2017|
A CRISPR-Cas9–based method probes the regulatory roles of noncoding DNA sequences.
April 1, 2017|
April Scientist to Watch Angela Brooks of the University of California, Santa Cruz, discusses her search to find vulnerabilities buried within the genomes of cancer cells.
April 1, 2017|
At the University of California, Santa Cruz, the researcher combs the cancer genome, looking for weaknesses.
April 1, 2017|
Eugene Garfield, the cancer moonshot, employee genetic testing, and more


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In a short space of time, the synthetic legal high K2 has had a major impact on our society.
Police and Hawke's Bay District Health Board have started a public education campaign against the substance (and other products) and Hawke's Bay Today is quite happy to lend its support to this worthy cause.
Today we begin a week-long series on the problem and what can be done to rid our communities of this dangerous substance.
Police officers and doctors have told us that they are seeing more people affected by K2. It is a worry because, like many synthetic cannabis products, one is never really sure what chemical combinations it contains.
It is time for us as a community to protect our children. There is a group of Napier parents - The Nanny Brigade - who protest outside shops and dairies who sell the product. This is a good initiative and it is up to us as customers to make it clear to these shops that we will not buy anything from them if they continue to sell a substance that puts people at risk.
The issue has become so big that the government has started taking notice. To his credit, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne is doing all he can to address the problem. Last week he announced a Temporary Class Drug Notice, banning substances found in K2 and there is currently a bill called the Psychoactive Substances Bill, which will become law in August.
Hawke's Bay Today will look at the problem from different perspectives. We would like to hear from you. Have you had an experience with K2? Do you know of a shop or dairy selling the product? Let us know and we will name them. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com.


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We recently challenged our readers to write a trip review about their travels for a chance to win a $150 Amazon.com gift card. Reading the submissions that poured in — which described trips to places from Alaska to Amsterdam — gave us a severe case of wanderlust.
It was tough to pick the best review to win the prize, but in the end, we gave the nod to D. Rockett for a review called Thailand Epiphanies. Here's a taste of the winning review:
"A recent trip to Thailand took me to the bustle of Bangkok, the serene majesty of Chiang Mai and the natural beauty of Phuket … all places that made me realize I didn't really know who I was until I got there. No. I didn't channel Julia Roberts in 'Eat Pray Love.' Real life can't be weeded down to a 2-hour revelation of life's big meanings. Instead, epiphanies occur in the margins of your story's notebook — notes culled during a boat ride with friends that makes stops to let customers feed catfish and allows for bartering for tchotchkes from a vendor in a canoe; life's big plan can be witnessed in the humble nature of a people via a refugee camp of women and children from Padong, Aka, and Yao tribes; and balance can be pondered when riding in a barely air-conditioned van on the shoulder of a road for miles on end butted next to a truck who will not budge an inch or cause an accident while he is riding in the proper lane." Read the rest!
While we only had one prize to give, we want to give a little love to a few runners-up that also wrote excellent reviews. Have a sampling:
Road trip to the Grand Canyon North Rim by Katie Matthews: "During our four-day stay we saw sunsets and rain clouds, lightning and rainbows, and Jupiter and its rings (!!!) all from our little spot on the seemingly top of the world."
My Week as a Marine Biologist by GingerD: "We would then all go down to the shore where we drew a line in the damp sand, had everyone gather behind the line, 'wash' their hands with dry sand to remove oils and give everyone a baby turtle to put down and watch as they made their slow journey down the sand and into the ocean."
Embracing Amsterdam by Christian Dew: "If you like free beer, yes I said free beer, then you must visit the Heineken Experience and that is located at Stadhouderskade 78, 1072 AE, Amsterdam."
Accessible Santa Fe by Helen Gallagher: "As we traveled around, my husband, with his transport chair, found doors were opening for him, a hand was ready to help over a bump in the road, space was made available in small cafes, and certainly our accessible hotel room was more than gracious."
Feeling inspired? Write about your latest trip!
— written by Sarah Schlichter


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Robert Kutner, Psy.D.
- Robert Kutner, Psy.D. - Gives FREE Consultations!
Top Benefits
- 23 years of experience
- Clinical and Forensic Services
- Evening Appointments
- Skype Video Services Available
Some of our most asked about procedures: Anxiety, Depression, Adjustment Disorders, Psychological Assessment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Areas Served: Las Vegas, North Las Vegas


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- Diplopia
- General weakness
- Vomiting
What causes diplopia, general weakness and vomiting? 5 possible conditions
See a list of possible causes in order from the most common to the least.
This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.
An aneurysm in the brain is a weak area in an artery in the brain that bulges out and fills with blood. It can be unpredictable and life-threatening, and can cause extremely serious conditions.
Migraine is a disorder characterized by repeated attacks of severe headache. Symptoms include throbbing or pulsating pain, usually on only one side of the head, and can last between four hours and three days.
A brain tumor is the growth of abnormal cells in your brain. Whether the growth is cancerous or not, any brain tumor is serious. Symptoms can include both cognitive and physical control problems.
Hyperparathyroidism is a condition where the parathyroid glands produce too much parathyroid hormone (PTH).
This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.
A bite from a venomous snake should always be treated as a medical emergency. Even a bite from a harmless snake can lead to an allergic reaction or infection.
Please consult a healthcare professional if you have health concerns.
Click to add a symptom to your list
- Top Symptoms
Copyright © 2005 - 2017 Healthline Media. All rights reserved. Our content does not constitute a medical consultation. See a certified medical professional for diagnosis. Privacy Policy


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It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Do you like hills?
Yes i live in North Wales so have no choice but to run along hilly routes.
Just done the Conwy half where you runup the great orm, so hopefully it shouldnt be to bad!
Click: Cotswold Marathon
In that case you couldn't have picked a better event to try your hand at the 26.2 distance. It's a 3 lap course on minor country lanes, very low profile, but well marshalled and supported. The hills aren't exactly lung-busters but you'll be glad to get to the top of 'em.
Did the 35-mile event last year and had to go up that hill four times.
Only one long hill as I seem to remember - the race start was half way up it (and a long walk from race HQ). An attractive rural loop. Relaxed atmosphere at the venue. Organisation good.
Doing Rhayader 20 the day before so I didn't think it would be very sensible entering this again.
See you at the start line then, have a good run everyone.
Thanks Sole Man .....
I'll second that, have a good one everyone, it would be nice to put faces to names at the start line or after. I'll be in red Horwich vest if you see me give me a shout
The (scarey) ice crean cone man was David Smith, he is setting a Guinness World Record for "The Fastest Marathon run as a Dairy product"
His next conquest is to run the London Marathon twice. Starting at 4am at Buckingham Palace! See link for his running endeavours this year: http://www.justgiving.com/londonx2
The 'hill' was tough on the 3rd lap just before the 20 mile marker, and then the 3 mile gentle incline after that didn't really help I will return one day to get my sub 4 hrs, but only after lots of hill training!
Can anyone help me.?
I was the Ice cream cone at the cotswold marathon. I am trying to prove I ran this race as a diary product to claim the guinness world record for the fastest diary product. Without witness statements I can't prove it. If any runners or officials can provide statements I would be very grateful and can be contacted at email@example.com
I thought running the race would be the hard bit but oh no proving it is so much harder!


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Community Preservation Committee
Willard Memorial Chapel
17 Nelson Street
Auburn, NY 13021
For more information, call (315) 252-0339
Tiffany Sunday Concert Series
Dr Joan Hillsman and the Syracuse Chapter Gospel Music Workshop of America (SGMWA) - Return for the Second Year
When: Sunday, February 10, 2013 @ 3 PM
Where: Willard Memorial Chapel, 17 Nelson Street, Auburn, NY 13021
Dr. Joan Hillsman, Music Educator and Director of SGMWA, will present a concert with the Syracuse Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (SGMWA) on Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 3 pm.
The concert will feature all genres of gospel music, from spiritual (forerunner of gospel), traditional and contemporary gospel selections. Dr. Hillsman, who will give an overview of the history of gospel music's heritage, is a renowned music educator, gospel music historian, author, lecturer, and president of Joan Hillsman's Music Network, Inc. (JHMN).
Tickets for this concert are $10.


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If you are seeking a world-class educational experience within a vibrant, Christ-centered learning community, Cedarville is the place for you. Step up to the challenge of our arts, sciences, professional and graduate programs, and achieve more than you ever imagined. Be challenged and transformed by professors who are experts in their fields and invest their lives at Cedarville to mentor and guide students like you.
Art + Design Exhibition 10/28/17 - 11/11/17
PLease join us for a time to celebrate the class of 2018 with worship and a special speaker. This is the last time the...
CU Fridays are designed to let you get a first-hand experience of all that Cedarville University has to offer. You'll... continue »
Welcome to the Cedarville family! When your son or daughter chooses Cedarville, so do you! We're committed to helping you stay connected to your student and to Cedarville by providing helpful resources, timely information, and campus updates.
This website is your place for 24/7 access to information about upcoming events, helpful services, campus news, and important contacts. Parent information is also just a phone call away: 937-766-7955.
It is a privilege for us to partner with parents in equipping students for lifelong leadership and service. We welcome your involvement and questions at any time!


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Three to Focus on: Jaguars @ Titans, Week 16
Three to Focus on: Jaguars @ Titans, Week 16
The Tennessee Titans' quest for a Wild Card spot in the AFC took a major hit as they gave the Indianapolis Colts their first win of the season last week. The Titans are still in the hunt, but at 7-7, they are a game behind the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals. They'll look to bounce back this week against another struggling division rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jaguars' biggest strength this season has been placing payers on injured reserve, so they'll piece together a team to bring to Tennessee. Interim Head Coach Mel Tucker has had mixed results in his three weeks on the job, as a blow out win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has been sandwiched around two embarrassing beatings on national television. Tucker hopes to keep his guys motivated as he looks to become full time head coach, while the Titans are in must-win territory to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Titans Wide Receivers vs. Jaguars Cornerbacks
No position has taken more significant injury hits for the Jaguars than cornerback. The top three outside CBs are out for the season, opening the door for a street free agent and undrafted rookie. CB Ashton Youboty has been torched in his five games with the team, as his -10.1 Coverage grade attests. Opponents are completing 76.5% of passes his way for a QB Rating of 140.9. On the other side, rookie Kevin Rutland has held his own over the last three games, but mostly because he's only seen 15 throws his way. He's done a nice job of avoiding the big play as he's given up a long of 22 yards. The one constant for the Jaguars has been CB Drew Coleman (+1.8), who remains healthy and spends the majority of the time covering the slot.
The Titans are still trying to figure out what they have in WR Damian Williams (-6.6). The second year receiver has seen 669 snaps this year, up from 218 in 2010, but he's been inconsistent at best. He appeared to break out Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers, but he's been rather average since. WR Nate Washington (+5.5) has had a good season with 50 of his 66 receptions coming out of the slot. He'll see a lot of Coleman in this game.
Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Titans Rookie Defenders
I wanted to include the Titans rookies in this preview so what better way than to look at their match up with running back Maurice Jones-Drew. Tennessee's defense looks good for the future as four different rookies have graded positively while seeing significant playing time this season. Defensive tackles Jurrell Casey and Karl Klug were drafted in the third and fifth round respectively and both have exceeded expectations. Casey has been outstanding against the run (+10.4) and his 28 Stops are tied for sixth among defensive tackles. We gave Klug some love in our Scramble piece highlighting late round gems , and he has been the best pass rusher on the Tennessee defensive line at +5.6. At the linebacker level, first rounder Akeem Ayers and fourth round pick Colin McCarthy, have been key contributors against the run. Ayers is grading at +4.3 in the run game while McCarthy is at +1.8. McCarthy took over for injured LB Barrett Ruud in Week 10, and he's outperformed the free agent signing to this point. We were not high on the Ruud signing at the time and McCarthy's performance may give him the starting nod heading into next season.
The rookies have the pleasure of trying to tackle the bowling ball that is Jones-Drew. He's third in the league in forcing missed tackles and seventh in our Signature Stat Elusive Rating at 44.7. No running back in the league has carried the ball as much as Jones-Drew as he's had to take on an extra workload due to the inept passing game. Despite the extra attention from defenses, he's having one of his best seasons to this point and he's in the midst of six game streak of grading at +2.0 or better. This week figures to be a common match up in years to come as the rookies try to slow down Jones-Drew.
Jeremy Mincey vs. Michael Roos
The Titans offensive line has been one of the league's best in pass protection, coming in at third in our Signature Pass Blocking Efficiency rankings. All five starters grade positively while protecting the passer, but the player giving up the most pressures is probably the most recognizable name on the line, Michael Roos. He's had a strong season at +7.8, but last time out he was getting whipped by DE Dwight Freeney, and this week he'll be matched up with the Jaguars best pass rusher in Jeremy Mincey (+13.1). In a season where the Jaguars have nearly three starting units worth of players on IR, Mincey has been a fixture at defensive end playing 92.5% of snaps on the year. Since pass rush specialist DE John Chick went down to injury, Mincey is the only consistent threat on the Jaguars line, so it'll be up to provide enough pressure to protect the depleted secondary.
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Monday, September 5, 2011
Guess who's coming to town?
About this time of year I start getting requests for some Santa and Witchies. Thought I would share a sneak at one. The man in red will be arriving soon - he still needs his beauty sleep for now. More later . . .
Posted by Blondie ~ Vintage Primitives at 10:45 AM
1 comment:
- Donna said...
Ah, you're tantalizing us! I like what I see so far!
- September 5, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Inclimate Weather Reminder
Posted by Staff Writer on January 13, 2012
School closings due to inclement weather:
Minnesota winters often involve some inclement weather. In the event of the closing of the Lakeville campus due to weather or other emergency, an announcement will be made on local radio and television stations:
WCCO AM 830, WCCO 4 TV, KARE 11 TV and KSTP Channel 5
All campus closings will also be posted on our student website at students.msbcollege.edu or students.globeuniversity.edu as well as through the CampusConnect.
All other closings (faculty in-services and holidays) are located in the course catalog.
Additional ways to learn of a school closing posted on any of these three channels:
KSTP offers offer email or text alerts regarding school closings at this site:
WCCO offers a list of closed schools at the following site:
KARE11 offers a list and an email alert at the following site:
Decisions to close the campus are made with consideration of both our commitment to
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Normandy, France
With multiple stories in play as to how this cheese actually came to be, there is no argument that it is one of France's most popular cheeses! Made from cow's milk, Camembert is ripened by the Penicillium Candidum and Penicillium Camemberti molds for at least 3 weeks. Young Camemberts are somewhat firm, but with age, become softer and smell stronger. Always best served at room temperature, this bloomy rind cheese is fabulous when spread on a crispy, crusty baguette, or with fruit.
This cheese comes as a complete wheel which weighs approximately 1/2 lb.
If you can't find what you need, please call us. We have hundreds more items in stock. Toll-free: 800.547.1515


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How cool is that? I love your idea for using the leftovers, too.
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
How cool is that? I love your idea for using the leftovers, too.
I came across this tutorial while wandering around here last week and now I have become a D4P maniac lol! I can't stop making these. Going to put this together for my bed and just wanted to say a big Thank You to cjomomma for the lesson and inspiration. I am a new quilter and this has really helped me out - the best way to learn is to just jump in and try and I am really liking this . Thank you again cjomomma!!!
Like the moon, and the stars, and the sun - yeah we all shine on.
One question, if my squares are 5 or 6 inches, would I still use the 2 inch ruler or do I need to make first cuts wider as the starting blocks are larger? Can't wait to try this, I LOVE when simple techniques make for intricate looking blocks. I am thinking I am going with really dark for one block and a lighter version for the other block, possibly same color way. I'll try to post pic if I get it done. Thank you so much for this tute, it's EASY to understand and always better when you have pics to help.
This is great! Thanks for posting the tute.
Angie S.


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Interesting bits
Trip Start Jul 19, 2009
160Trip End Oct 25, 2010
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Mieke and I made a bee-line to the second-hand clothes. Not that we needed anything - I don't think I know a single person that really needs more clothes - but everything costs only 2 euro, so who can resist, and anyway, the real attraction is the incredibly good looking Moroccan vendor, most handsome man in the whole of the Dordogne. Always so friendly, squeezing in the few Dutch words he knows, knocking a bit off the price when I'm not even bargaining. Of course he chats up all the ladies.
Still, he makes my day.
Not Peter's though. He wanders off and sits demonstratively bored on a bench, facing the V�zere, back to us. Fed up with it all.
By now, being a captive audience to Mieke and me gabbing, giggling, reminiscing, silly song-singing, sweet-guzzling, is starting to take it's toll
Even a long suffering person such as Peter, can only take so much.
He is on the verge of dumping us and it takes all the charm and cajoling we can muster to get him to accompany us to Castlenaud la Chapelle to visit the Chateau des Milandes, former home of Jos�phine Baker and her eleven adopted kids.
A lovely castle but in no way seriously restored. A bit of a jumble really, more of a tribute to the famous revue-star than anything else. Still, it's amusing: photos, drawings, posters, letters, awards, costumes - discretely behind a curtain some black and white nude pictures.
Nothing shocking.
Mieke is very impressed.
'Did you see her bum?' Of course we did, could hardly miss it.
'And the back of her head?'
You have to know that there are two things in life Mieke most desires: a sticky-out bum and backhead.
Unfortunately she has neither, though what she has in front amply makes up for that. Most women would (and do) pay a small fortune for just a portion of her bosom.
Let me put it this way, she won't find a bra her size at Hussein's stall.
Anyway, getting side-tracked here, Peter and I were sorry there were no moving images of Jos�phine, as she must have been dynamite on stage.
The beauty of the creatures, to be allowed so near to them - I was in awe: the eagle owl, my god, and I saw the one that flew over my head that night - at the same time I felt sorrow for them not being wild and free, out in nature where they belong.
Later, when I walked into night I so hoped I would see my owl again, as a sign, to take away the sadness.
He didn't appear but I felt a presence and heard screeching....
......turned out Mieke had just stepped onto the bathroom scales.


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Which child is smarter, your analytic daughter, who can unravel complicated math equations in a flash, or your adventurous son, who can skillfully leap rock to rock while twirling his light saber? If you guessed the math whiz, think again.
At least that's the claim of Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence theory. Gardner developed the theory in the early '80s to explain why grade point averages, standardized tests and IQ assessments don't always give the whole picture of intelligence and ability.
Gardner concluded that we're all "smart" in at least one or two of the seven types of intelligences: logical/mathematical, visual/spatial, linguistic, musical, bodily/kinesthetic, intrapersonal and interpersonal. (He later added an eighth intelligence, naturalist.)
Thanks to Gardner and others who followed, instead of asking simply, "Is my child smart?" parents can now ask, "How is my child smart?"
Dr. Thomas Armstrong, an educator who popularized Gardner's theory in several books, including 7 Kinds of Smart, uses the theory to inspire teachers, parents and kids to realize their potential. He values individuality and, as he explains in his book, Neurodiversity, he believes qualities we now think of as negative may have been viewed as assets in the past.
"As it turns out, people with ADHD are novelty seekers, something you'd want to have in your tribe, and people with autism have enhanced perceptual functioning, again, a plus in prehistoric times," says Armstrong. "I think it's important that we honor and celebrate diversity — neurodiversity — in all its many forms."
Dr. John Medina, a Seattle developmental molecular biologist and author of the book Brain Rules, feels the multiple intelligence theory is too limited. He believes there may be millions, even billions of types of intelligence. "Every brain is wired differently from every other brain and learns in ways unique to that wiring," says Medina.
But if that's true, how can our school system possibly succeed in teaching so many different types of "brains"?
As Medina explains, "There is a need to take into account individual differences. That's where education should be headed if it wishes to take the lessons of brain science seriously."
Lisa BaughnSmith, a teacher at Kirkland's Peter Kirk Elementary School, works hard to bring out her students' individual abilities. She introduces them to the multiple intelligence theory early in the school year and tailors her lessons accordingly.
BaughnSmith finds that giving her students the freedom to approach assignments in different ways increases their confidence. "When students are given an opportunity to express themselves in a manner that emphasizes their strengths, you can get some pretty amazing outcomes," she says.
Praising effort
But relying only on natural ability is sure to backfire eventually. Without some effort, even naturally gifted students won't reach their full potential. In fact, a Stanford University study reports that praising the efforts of your child is significantly more important than praising their intellect. That's because students who believe they are naturally good at a certain subject often feel they don't need to work as hard.
Alternately, if a student believes he lacks ability in a subject, he may use that belief as a crutch. The study found that students respond better when taught that the brain, like a muscle, improves with use.
"The idea that something is challenging, therefore I must be 'dumb' is pervasive amongst students," says BaughnSmith. "But learning will not necessarily come easily and quickly; it takes practice and repetition to master a new skill or concept." Parents can help their children be successful learners by expecting them to be persistent, learn from their mistakes and make corrections, she says.
Carolyn Scott, an Eastside mother of two, says she wants her kids to realize that some subjects will simply come harder. "Using excuses isn't a choice," says Scott.
If your child is having difficulty meeting classroom requirements, dig deeper to make sure there isn't more going on, says Dr. Amy Summers, a child psychologist in Ballard. "If a child is struggling in an academic area that is really important to functioning in school, work and society — such as math or reading — it is critically important to have the child evaluated to determine what the underlying problem is and what other instructional strategies might work," she says.
Most of us will eventually learn ways to maximize our strengths and sidestep our weaknesses. How can you nudge your child in the right direction? According to Armstrong, you can do it by creating a welcoming atmosphere where kids are "free from criticism, comparison and pressure to succeed." Rather than worrying about traditional measures of intelligence, parents should "awaken their child's natural genius" and allow them to find their own path to success.
Chera Prideaux is a Seattle freelancer and creator of mamasknowbest.com.


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Lieutenant Tharp, with over 9 years in the military, and a dozen awards, gave a relatively brief speech. "There are a hundred and forty thousand men and women in Iraq, and I want to thank you for being here for them." He said that he didn't even resign when he got sent into the disaster that this administration has made in Iraq, and [thought] 'Who the hell screwed me?.'"
Tharp said that he resigned and joined Iraq Veterans Against the War after he got home. "From what I saw in Iraq, I was one of the most fortunate people in Iraq. I got to see the compassion of the Iraqi people...I got to work with two dozen diverse Iraqis. When I got home, I was asked by the national security agency to dehumanize them...and that is what I would not do."
After urging the audience to focus (a useful admonition before a question session in the greater Berkeley area), the first question was posed to Lee, who urged the audience to contact their Senators oppose the Patriot act and its latest "improvements" which are now on the Senate side, and Lee called "worse than the first patriot act".
Lee later added, in a frightening response to a question regarding the continued erosion of civil liverties, that she "certainly [believes] that not only the Pentagon, but also homeland security, with the Patriot Act that was passed thursday night. The net has been cast against those, citizens and noncitizens, who they want to go after."
You can contact your Senators at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm [1], but remember to contact the district staff as well by looking for your local address on the website (click on the Senator's name in order to do so.)
When asked how to bring Democratic leaders like Senator Feinstein (who has been one of the war's champions) into the fold, Lee encouraged the audience to make sure the audience to make sure the September 24th anti-war rallies were well attended.
Ellsberg jumped in to add that two senate committees with the capability of running minority hearings are the Senate Intelligence Oversight Committee and the House Committee on Intelligence. He added that Pat Roberts in the senate generally has to officially say he is going to not do this, but since it is clear he won't, he encouraged "people here and elsewhere" to press members of the intelligence committees (such as Senator Feinstein, Senator Rockafeller, Senator Levin).
He added that Feinstein certainly won't want to do this, but she is subject to pressure. We can force them to do this by saying that 'If you don't do this, we'll fire you." Mimi, the emcee, added that in her discussions with congressional staff, she's found that the Washington people hear most of the complaints, but that the local [Congressional district representatives] need to know that the people are starved for answers.
Steve, from afterdowningstreet.org, said that he didn't believe the administration had yet felt the full impact of the public's potential wrath. "We need more documents to make a solid case, and as we build that, it moves into the mainstream media, showly but surely. The arc of history is long, but it eventually bends toward justice...and we will get there."
Dr. Ellsberg then chimed in, encouraging all the audience members to visit afterdowningstreet.org, both for its Downing Street documents, and for the other information, including that on Robin Cook, the member of the Labor cabinet that resigned in protest beore the war.
Ellsberg added that he supported Lee's decision to move forward on the inquiry process, and that there must be more pressure put on the media to end this war sooner than did the war in Vietnam by asking them why they don't have the information that the British and independent press do, because "they have as much to hide as the administration, that they [the media] were easily fooled."
Tharp added by imploring the audience to ask its family members and friends in soldily Republican territory not to start the conversation with "Bush lied," but to instead encourage them to ask their congressmen to investigate the accusations of falsified intelligence.
But one of Lee's many comments truly stuck out, and is a message for the blogging community to remember: "There is still a digital divide in America. We did flyers and leafletting, went to community colleges and houses of worship, and that e-communication isn't enough."
We must do much more.
-Robert Klein, firstname.lastname@example.com [2]


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This is a discussion on New here 05 wrx within the New Member Hangout forums, part of the Community - Meet other Enthusiasts category; ...
Greddy turbo, hks bov, turbo timer inside set to 3 minutes, injen intake and filter, boost guage as well, 3" exhaust from turbo back, thats all the performance parts/info I can see from a quick look
OPENSOURCE TUNING: Your questions answered here!!! RomRaider + TactrixOriginally Posted by McMuscle3
Take some time to read the sticky threads in each forum subsection. They contain answers to a bunch of the basic questions you typically will ask.
2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road - Daily
2005 WRX STi (Mods | Virtual Dyno) - Toy
Resident Tuner @ WTF Tuning
"Never trust anything that bleeds for a week and lives ..."
Yeah, Iv already been on this sticky reading some. im trying to finish it up now
Whats your opinion on going back to the dealership and having them reset my computer back to stock and go from there?
Where are you located?
Tazewell, Va... Its a small nobody town
Oh there is a 02 sensor in my exhaust but it is not plug into anything. I believe this is the wideband 02 sensor your talking about. I just need a guage and whatever connector for it. I have a 3 gauge pod but no guages to go into it I have a cheap looking boost gauge on it currently. Btw if anyone has extra guages laying around pm me and I would like to take them off your hands if they work and are fairly cheap-er priced.
Hmm...I'm up north, so I can't suggest any locations, but maybe some other people from VA will have some suggestions.
I know where Bristol is and there really isn't anything near there.
The Hawk-Eye Alliance #90|The Blobeye Syndicate #0|The Stink-Eye Mob #0|N.E.R.D. Founding Member & #3
2012 Ford Mustang GT Premium|Kona Blue|5.0L Coyote V8|6spd Manual|Corsa Catback Exhaust
In your #16 post, the wideband would be the second wire coming off the downpipe I believe. That is where my original WBo2 sensor was mounted (I have a 2011 so I don't know much about the 05's, but I think that it would be the same location).


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Thumbs up: So it turns out that Colin Kaepernick guy is pretty good after all, and probably the right choice at quarterback to lead San Francisco's offense in the playoffs. What else can be said after the 49ers rolled up 579 yards of total offense, the most ever in a playoff game for a franchise that made offense an art in the postseason. But with Kap at the controls, the Niners produced an evening of offense for the ages that including a dazzling 444 combined yards rushing and passing from a second-year veteran making his eighth NFL start. Yeah, that new guy at QB is all right.
Thumbs up: Is Kryptonite the only thing that can stop Kaepernick? The Packers certainly fell well short of that task as Kap ran crazy through and around them for 181 yards on 16 carries, including touchdown sprints of 20 and 56 yards, in a truly jaw-dropping individual performance. In the process, Kaepernick set a franchise record for most rushing yards in a playoff game and a NFL record for most yards rushing by a quarterback in any game, surpassing the 173 yards Michael Vick rushed for during a regular-season game in 2002.
Thumbs down: And because it is customary at the finish of games that have already been won, Kaepernick knelt down for a 1-yard loss on the final two plays of the game to bring down his final numbers. Before he started kneeling in victory formation, Kaepernick had 183 yards rushing on 14 carries. But somehow, his final total still came out looking just as good.
Thumbs up: We could go on and on about Kaepernick – and maybe should – but there were other main contributors in San Francisco's offensive juggernaut, and of course the first who should be mentioned is running back Frank Gore, who kept slamming into the Green Bay defense while churning out 119 yards rushing on 23 carries, including a 2-yard TD burst that put the Niners in control to say on the first play of the first quarter.
Thumbs up: So add it all up, and that's 323 yards rushing for the 49ers, another franchise record for a postseason game.
Thumbs up: Kaepernick also did it with his arm, averaging a whopping 15.5 yards on his 17 completions while throwing for 263 yards, with more than half of his completions being grabbed by his go-to guy Michael Crabtree, who finished with game-high totals of nine receptions for 119 yards, including 12- and 20-yard touchdown receptions.
Thumbs up: Before Green Bay began its final offensive drive as a beaten team with 3:34 to play, Donte Whitner, Dashon Goldson, Carlos Rogers and several other San Francisco defenders were on the field dancing to the music during a break in the action, and why not? Before allowing the Packers to creep down the field 77 yards on 11 plays for a meaningless final touchdown, that defense had shut down the vaunted Green Bay offense in the decisive second half, allowing only three points over the final two quarters until the Packers tacked on their final TD with 57 seconds left in the game.
Thumbs down: Before Saturday's game even got started – which promised to be a long one anyway – the opening kickoff got pushed back a half hour before game-time to a 5:25 p.m start because the earlier AFC divisional game between Baltimore and Denver was headed for overtime. That made the promise of a long game going even deeper into the night, though San Francisco's knockout blow in the second half tightened the ending off a game that had a wild opening quarter that lasted 40 minutes.
Thumbs up: Enjoyed the a capella version of the national anthem by Huey Lewis and the News, the venerable Bay Area pop/rock group that has sung that tune more than a few times over the years before big games at Candlestick Park. As Huey crooned and his band hummed behind him, it brought back fond memories of the halcyon days of the 49ers dynasty, when Mr. Lewis used to pal around with the likes of Joe Montana.
Thumbs up: Lining up in shotgun formation, then shifting into the Pistol offense, then handing the ball right up the gut to Gore for their initial first down and good yardage on two of their first three plays was a confuse-you-then-punch-you-in-the-face start for the San Francisco offense. The Niners then proceeded to Pistol-whip the Packers throughout the game, with both Gore and Kaepernick getting several of their big runs on read options out of that formation.
Thumbs down: But denied his first read when Michael Crabtree slipped, Kaepernick looked like an inexperienced QB instead of a playoff QB when he scrambled left and hurried a throw off his back foot on San Francisco's fourth play that cornerback Sam Shields stepped in front of and returned 52 yards for a shocking touchdown on what might have been Kaepernick's worst pass so in his young career.
Thumbs up: But what Kaepernick giveth, he also quickly gets back. Immediately displaying the upside of his risk/reward nature, the 49ers got the ball back and Kaepernick took them down the field on an eight-play, 80-yard drive, capping off the crisp answer to Green Bay's first strike with what Kaepernick does best – breaking containment and jetting out of the pocket on a designed passing play to race untouched past a back-on-its-heels defense for a signature 20-yard touchdown to knot the score. "I had to bounce back," Kaepernick said.
Thumbs up: Kaepernick's second touchdown sprint was even more breathtaking as he faked a handoff on a read option, sprinted toward the right side, then cut up the field, and then … was gone. Kaepernick blew into the open field in and instant and the Green Bay defense never had a chance as Kap galloped 56 yards untouched again into the end zone for the longest run ever by a San Francisco quarterback and the TD that finally put the 49ers ahead to stay.
Thumbs up: It was an encouraging sign to see Justin Smith, cumbersome left elbow brace and all, slamming into offensive linemen and jamming into the Green Bay backfield several times on the Packers' early possessions. It was even more encouraging to see him still battling away at the end of the game. Smith finished with five tackles, and his ferocious style didn't appear diminished by the partially-torn triceps that forced him to miss San Francisco's previous two games. "From my eye it looked like he was stout against the run and his legend grows," Niners coach Jim Harbaugh said. "What a player."
Thumbs up: C.J. Spillman is a special teams coverage wizard with a nose for the football. Spillman never broke stride as he raced downfield to cover a punt early in the second quarter and instead ended up covering the football after Jeremy Ross muffed Andy Lee's punt at the 9-yard line, giving the Niners a huge break that they quickly turned into a touchdown and 14-14 tie. Spillman made another great play to bring down Randall Cobb at the 11-yard line for no gain after a 52-yard Andy Lee punt in the third quarter.
Thumbs up: Tarell Brown looked like Willie Mays running with his back to home plate in deep center field when Brown made an over-the-shoulder basket catch for an interception on a pass that Rodgers seemed to be trying to throw away deep down the middle of the field. Brown then returned his pick, the first interception thrown by Rodgers in his last 284 passes over six games, 39 yards into Green Bay territory to set up the touchdown that put the 49ers ahead for the first time late in the second quarter.
Thumbs down: Dashon Goldson is a first-team All-Pro safety this year and certainly deserves to be, but for a guy with that status he makes way too many pivotal errors in judgment by delivering late hits and/or helmet-to-helmet blows when ball carriers are on the ground or close to it. His latest 15-yard unnecessary roughness flag helped the Packers fly 80 yards down the field for their third touchdown on a drive that lasted fewer than three minutes, and Goldson could have been flagged for the same infraction on a Green Bay scoring drive in the third quarter.
Thumbs up: With Kaepernick setting up the Packers perfectly by looking the other way before throwing, Vernon Davis made an out-and-up move that left linebacker A.J. Hawk in the dust to reel in the big-play pass he has been waiting for since the end of November – a 44-yarder on the penultimate play of the third quarter to set up Gore's touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter that gave the Niners a commanding two-TD lead.
Thumbs up: The 49ers unleashed All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis on blitzes like seldom before, and he was in Rodgers' face several times and harassed him into several incompletions while also dropping Rodgers for a nine-yard loss on San Francisco's only sack of the game.
Thumbs up: And after it all was over, somebody asked Kaepernick if he's a runner or a passer. "I don't want to be categorized," he replied. And so it was on this night of breakout performance on a national stage for a young, record-setting quarterback that defies categorization in today's NFL.
49ers vs. Packers: Thumbs up and thumbs down
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Lesson 4: Text Features
Lesson Plan
The Story of Jackie Robinson: Bravest Man in Baseball | 760L
- Learning Goal
- Use a text feature to find and explain facts in a text.
- Duration
- Approximately 2 Days (40 minutes for each class)
- Necessary Materials
- Provided: 50 Facts about Animals Handout, Facts about Animals Key, Featuring Text Features Handout, Finding the Facts Chart, Featuring Jackie! Worksheet (Student Packet, page 21)
Not Provided: Chart paper, markers, The Story of Jackie Robinson, Bravest Man in Baseball by Margaret Davidson
Before the Lesson
Read Chapter 9: "Jackie Speaks Out: -Chapter 10: "The End Came Too Soon;" Complete Student Packet Worksheets for Chapter 9: "Jackie Speaks Out: - Chapter 10: "The End Came Too Soon"
Activation & Motivation
Pass out the 50 Facts about Animals Handout to the entire class. Hand out the Facts about Animals Key to half of the class and instruct these students to keep the Key private from those who did not receive it. Ask the students to answer three questions about the facts on the 50 Facts about Animals Handout: 1) Where are the taste buds of butterflies? 2) What is a group of owls called? 3) Is a zebra black with white stripes or white with black stripes? The students who answer first should raise their hands and keep them up for the teacher.
Teacher Modeling
will explain that the group with the key was sooner able to answer the questions about animals because they had a tool to help them figure out where to look on the page for the answer. A key is one type of "text feature" that helps readers find and comprehend information in a text. I will distribute the Featuring Text Features Handout and explain that a text feature is a device in a text that organizes and emphasizes information. Authors use text features to help readers find and understand textual details more easily. Text Features include indexes, maps, timelines, tables of contents, diagrams, captions, and photographs. In a biography, an author may include several text features to help the reader find and understand factual information in the book.
Now that we have finished reading the book, we want to be able to find and gather information about Jackie Robinson's life. I will model identifying and using text features to help us find and understand explicit information in The Story of Jackie Robinson, Bravest Man in Baseball. I will start by asking the question, "In what year did Jackie join both the Monarchs and the Royals?" I will write this question in the first column of my three column chart. Note: See the Finding the Facts Chart for specific examples.
I will explain that while I read the book, I don't remember any specifics about the year Jackie joined the Monarchs and Royals. Also, information about those teams is probably in different chapters. Is there a text feature that can help me go back and find the information to answer the question? I will look at my Featuring Text Features Handout and find the appropriate text feature to help me answer these questions. Since I am being asked about a date, one text feature I can use is the Timeline. I see that there is one at the back of the book, so I can look there. I will write this text features the middle column of the Finding the Facts Chart.
I will think aloud as I examine the timeline. Joining two teams probably happened in the middle of his life, since he ended his career with the Yankees. I will look at the middle of the timeline. By scanning the timeline for clue words, I see that he joined those teams in April and October of 1945. In the final column of the Finding the Facts Chart, I will answer the question by summarizing the facts I found in the text using timeline.
I will model answering the next question, "Who said, 'Stop Robinson!' and why?" I will record my answers and the text feature I used to find it on the Finding the Facts Chart.
Think Check
Ask: "How can I use text features to find information in a book?" Students can answer that you can look at what the question is asking and see if there is a specific text feature that might help narrow down where you should look for information. The table of contents and index can help you find information about a specific topic, while maps and timelines can help you quickly find important information in a text about where and when something happened.
Guided Practice
will answer the next three questions on our Finding the Facts Chart: What were the four sports that Jackie earned letters for in college?, What was the "noble experiment"? On what date (day and year) was Jackie named "Rookie of the Year"?
We will look at the question and our Featuring Text Features Handout to find the appropriate text feature to answer the question. For example, the question, "What were the four sports that Jackie earned letters for in college?" does not give us a date to look up on the timeline or clues found in the Table of Contents. Since it is about actions, we will look for a picture or illustration of Jackie playing many sports (p. 25) and write "Illustration" in the second column of our Finding the Facts Chart.
We will interpret the information we found to answer the question. For example, we learned from the illustration that Jackie earned a letter for basketball, football, baseball, and track, because Jackie is dressed in the appropriate uniform for each of these sports in the picture. We will write our answer in the third column of our Finding the Facts Chart.
Independent Practice
will use multiple text features to find information in the text about Jackie Robinson's life. You will answer the questions on the Featuring Jackie! Worksheet in your Student Packet. You will be sure to include which text feature helped you find that piece of information. (See page 21 in the Student Packet.)
Reflective Practice
will come back together and share the answers to questions about Jackie Robinson's life. Ask: "How did students find the answers? Did using text features make it easier? What text features were not in this book?" We will discuss how some text features emphasize information, while others organize it. Can students classify and categorize these different types of features?
Build Student Vocabulary ambition
|Tier 2 Word: ambition
|Contextualize the word as it is used in the story
|When Jackie retired from baseball, "he gave a great deal of time to the Harlem YMCA, where he tried to teach children, as he said, 'about self-respect, the meaning of ambition, and a hope for the future.'"
|Explain the meaning student-friendly definition)
|Ambition means a strong desire to reach a goal. When Jackie says that he spent time teaching children the meaning of ambition, he means that he was trying to teach them to strive to reach their goals.
|Students repeat the word
|Say the word ambition with me: ambition.
|Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts
|As a child, my ambition was to become a teacher. Her ambition is to become a scientist.
|Students provide examples
|What is your ambition? Start by saying, "My ambition is _________________________."
|Students repeat the word again.
|What word are we talking about? ambition
|Additional Vocabulary Words
|vicious, humble, timid, fortunate, deed
Texts & Materials
Standards Alignment
(To see all of the ReadWorks lessons aligned to your standards, click here.)
User Comments
This is very helpful. Where can I find the Featuring Text Features Handout?
Thanks for the great ideas.


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Why Not Barbados?
Further east than its Caribbean cousins, Americans seeking a tropical-weather escape sometimes overlook Barbados. But it's just this extra distance, along with a stable government, that makes Barbados worth a second look, especially for the work-weary. Yes, all Caribbean islands offer warm weather and a chilled-out atmosphere, clean seas and lots of air- and ocean-borne animal life, but there are unique touches to the Barbados experience that set it apart from its island neighbors.
For workaholics, Barbados offers enough Internet connectivity and big-city business and office services to keep a corporation or a one-man enterprise running remotely. Workplace laggards can also find a place in the sun — or a shady seat at a bar — without exerting too much energy. With 285,000 people spread out on 166 square miles, it's possible to feel lonely and congested on Barbados within 15 minutes of driving.
During a press trip sponsored by the Barbados Tourism Authority and Mango Bay Resort, a small group of journalists got a peek into how Barbados, which has taken a measurable tourism hit from the weakened U.S. economy, compares against closer, more popular island destinations. Included was a visit to one of many annual music and cultural events on the island: The 2012 Barbados Reggae Festival. Island hoppers will note that roads in Barbados, especially the highways, are better maintained than on other islands. Like Europe, driving is on the left and cars have the steering wheel on the right. Don't bother renting a car if you're not used to such driving conditions since many side streets are narrow and winding.
Staying connected to work is usually no problem, except on the most remote parts of the island. Free and paid Wi-Fi Internet hotspots and computer cafes are readily available and there's a local effort to promote free Wi-Fi nationwide. Be aware, however, that cellphone roaming charges, especially for the data connections that drive smartphone apps, are rather stiff. For example, an AT&T Wireless text message, which popped up upon arrival in Barbados, warned that an international rate of $19.97 per megabyte would be charged if I switched on the data-roaming setting on my phone. I chose to leave it off, instead making use of available Wi-Fi to download email and surf the Web. For low-cost international phone calls, use an Internet telephony service such as Skype, Google Voice or Whistle, all of which let you make voice or video calls over a Wi-Fi connection instead of using your phone provider's data service.
Back up important data before you travel if you don't want your business to sink along with the laptop you just dropped into the pool. Cloud services like Google Drive, Box, SugarSync or Windows SkyDrive let you store files online so you can access them anywhere you can find an Internet-connected device.
Bridgetown, the island's largest city and the capital, is as urban as any midsize city, offering all the shopping and business services a traveling worker might need, including FedEx pickup locations and rentable conference and meeting spaces. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere and the conversion rate couldn't be simpler: two Barbados dollars for each U.S. dollar. Taxi services are readily available, but if you research the local bus timetables ahead of time, it's possible to get around via low-cost mass transit to many of the island's tourist attractions.
Bridgetown dining runs the gamut from high-end, fashionable waterside eateries to sidewalk food vendors with portable grills to Chefette "broasted" chicken, a local fast-food chain that competes with KFC. On Fridays, a trip to Oistins Bay Garden offers the chance to engage in a huge fish fry with hundreds of locals and tourists.
At Mango Bay Resort, an all-inclusive 76-room property, free Wi-Fi service was available in all areas, including the rooms and the oceanfront, where sunbathing iPad and Kindle users could be spotted. The rooms offered usable work areas, but wired Internet connections weren't available and in some cases you had to hunt for an available AC outlet. The resort, located in Holetown, a tourist-laden neighborhood of upscale shopping, drinking establishments and restaurants, also has a 24-hour guest lounge with a PC with free Internet access and a printer. All rooms have
coffeemakers, irons and ironing boards and safes wide enough to accommodate a midsize laptop, cameras and other gadgets. Also included in a stay at Mango Bay Resort is a catamaran cruise, which includes snorkeling and a chance to swim with sea turtles, who proved to be polite and used to the daily arrival of tourists bearing fish.
Smaller is better when it comes to traveling with gadgets. A small point-and-shoot camera will catch the whale poking its head out of the water while your catamaran neighbor is futzing with a sophisticated SLR. If your cellphone has a five-megapixel-or-better camera, use it, but turn off any services that automatically upload photos to the Web. Purchasing an inexpensive underwater digital camera is good for snapping what you might see while snorkeling.
It's hard to imagine that Hunte's Gardens, located in St. Joseph, about a 20-minute ride from Holetown, started from a garbage-strewn gully, but that's indeed what it was before owner Anthony Hunte, a noted horticulturist, got to the property. After attacking the pile with elbow grease and a hefty investment, the leafy, lush multilevel garden is now full of surprises, including buzzing hummingbirds and almost-hidden pieces of art. The garden and Hunte's home, built from an ancient stable, are almost as impressive as the low-key, friendly demeanor of Mr. Hunte, who is often on site. "I want people to experience the way we live," he said, as he delivered a tray of rum punches to the visiting journalists. "You walk in here and the dog is there." And indeed it was: A small pup sitting in the middle of a beautiful living room seemed oblivious to the chatty journalists nearby.
If you dine at the Waterside Restaurant, don't be shocked if you think you hear the baritone voice of actor James Earl Jones — it's just owner Peter Odle, who seems to relish the chance to engage with guests, but leaves no doubt to employees as to who's boss. The restaurant, an upscale establishment, is built up against the beach, which provides a constant supply of white noise for those who sample head chef Michael Hinds' culinary expertise. Odle, who has held top positions at the Barbados Tourism Authority and Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, also owns Mango Bay Resort and Island Inn, a 24-room property that mixes old and new construction inside the seemingly indestructible shell of an 1804-vintage rum storage building. While Wi-Fi is available here as well, it doesn't seep into some of the rooms because the walls are too thick.
A visit to St. Nicholas Abbey, one of the oldest-surviving plantation great houses in Barbados, reflects how comfortable life was for its owners — and how rough it was for those who toiled in the hot sun in the 400-acre sugarcane fields. One of the youngest items in the house is the Gentleman's Chair, a 1936 vintage mahogany contraption that puts today's high-tech couch-potato recliners to shame. Aside from armrests that swivel out so the user can slip in from the side, the chair's wooden footrests, backrest and lap table — complete with an electric lamp — can be adjusted to suit the user's dimensions and the chair is built on wheels so that it can be moved—even when occupied.
In the less touristy areas of the island, shell- , bead- or monkey-toting entrepreneurs can be spotted at bus stops or near stores. Our experiences were generally pleasant — no one was pushy or aggressive. In Barbados, like any other tourist destination, it pays to be smart: Crime exists everywhere, even in paradise. It's wise to scope out local neighborhoods by day before exploring them at night and nighttime walks on dark beaches aren't advised.
The 2012 Reggae Festival, held in multiple locations including Kensington Oval, one of the world's most famous cricket grounds, and Farley Hill National Park, one of the more scenic destinations on the island, is a colorful and energizing experience. The crowds came well dressed and stayed late but weren't rowdy, a welcome relief from some stateside events. The music was well balanced from Vintage Reggae and Bajan Reggae nights at Kensington Oval, Reggae Beach at Brandon's Beach and the finale, Reggae on the Hill, at Farley Hill.
So why Barbados? The answer seems to be stability: All the services a traveling worker would need are there. One tip for Americans: slow down. Things are rarely as urgent as they seem. A little patience goes a long way and arrogance will only slow things down. For more information, please visit the Barbados Tourism Authority at www.visitbarbados.org.


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By Shelby O. Mitchell and Victoria K. Sicaras
In the midst of a weak public construction market and uncertainty about federal infrastructure spending, public agencies are still retaining architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms at a steady rate. In 2011, many of these partnerships may have been held together by our readers' sheer determination to get the job done — resorting to more outsourcing and unconventional project delivery methods.
In PUBLIC WORKS' exclusive annual reader survey, 86% of respondents told us their departments worked with AEC firms in 2011 — only one percent less than in 2010. Of these, 61% completed 10 or fewer projects with the help of firms, down from 64% the previous year. These changes make sense, in light of the 2011 public construction spending trend, which was down 2.6% — about $1.3 billion — from 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Nearly 60% of public works departments represented in our survey spent less than $500,000 on AEC services in 2011, while only a quarter spent more than $1 million. A third are optimistic about their budgets and expect to spend more in the coming year; only 20% say they expect to spend less. The rest anticipate their spending will stay the same (35%), or aren't sure what the future holds (19%).
Layoffs and outsourcing continue
Readers are retaining firms to cover specific gaps — "[We need help securing] environmental permits for repair of existing systems. Too many permits! Too many agencies!" — as well as broad needs — "We don't have the ability to do any AEC work in-house; it's all done by outside firms."
The outsourcing trend seems to be growing as public-sector downsizing creates leaner staffs across the country. President Obama made headlines this summer with his remark that "the private sector is doing fine," in terms of employment. Many news outlets failed to emphasize the rest of his message, which was essentially, "compared to the public sector." While private employment has begun to pick up — 1.6 million jobs were added in 2011 — public-sector losses continue.
In 2011, around 66,000 state government jobs and 90,000 local government jobs were cut, excluding education (a drop of about 2.4% and 1.2% in employment, respectively). According to one outplacement firm, Challenger, Gray & Christmas , more jobs were lost in the government sector than any other industry in 2011 — accounting for nearly a third of the year's layoffs. And those are just a fraction of the 600,000 jobs the public sector has lost since the beginning of 2009.
This prolonged trend may explain the frustrations some of you feel about having to rely on outside resources. One respondent vents, "[I'm] tired of training idiots who make more than public-sector engineers, have contracts with guaranteed 5% salary increases, get paid higher mileage rates, and sit in offices with phones and computers supplied by the state. As long as consulting firms keep contributing to politicians, they will continue to get more work at a greater and greater cost to taxpayers."
Forming partnerships
In a recent report, Infrastructure 2012: Spotlight on Leadership, the Urban Land Institute and Ernst & Young LLP discuss creative ways in which state, county, and local agencies are planning to repair and expand infrastructure. According to the authors, public-private partnerships have become an important tool that "can help realize development and operating efficiencies, achieve proper risk transfers that protect taxpayers, and enable more cost-effective financing for new projects."
The report estimates that half of U.S. states have used public-private partnerships over the past decade to complete nearly 100 transportation projects — accounting for about $54 billion in construction spending. However, 65% of these projects took place in only eight states, and 26 states have yet to attempt such partnerships.
In Omaha, Neb., several city departments — including Planning, the Mayor's Office, Parks, Recreation and Public Property — have used public-private partnerships to complete projects. "Our department has done projects with quasi-public entities, such as joint contracting with our Public Utility Board," says Heather Tippey Pierce, general services manager for the Omaha Public Works Department, "but we have pretty strict rules requiring the design-bid-build model with city funding."
Pierce is among a quarter of PUBLIC WORKS readers who report they haven't been able to use alternative project delivery methods. A 65% majority say they have tried at least one type (see chart).
Comments are generally more positive than negative, especially concerning design-build, construction manager/general contractor, and construction manager-at-risk. "Design-build works well with the right team," says one reader. "We prefer construction manager-at-risk to the traditional construction manager as agent."
But not everyone's experience has been positive. "[Design-build] has not been as productive as the design-bid process for us," says one reader. Another respondent says the construction manager/general contractor partnership was "costly, difficult, and did not yield the quality we are used to. We probably won't pursue this again."
In the category of "lessons learned," Steve Gurzler, PE, water and sewer superintendent and city engineer for Glens Falls, N.Y., reflects, "Our experience with performance contracting could have gone better if we were able to approach the project more slowly, and if we had hired another engineering firm as an owner's agent to assist in implementing the process."
Others indicate their biggest hurdles with nontraditional partnerships are in-house. "Our biggest challenge is with getting alternatives through purchasing and legal," shares one respondent. Another says, "Job-order contracting arrangements have been very successful ... but our budget people don't like them."
Whether or not they are popular with procurement departments, alternative project delivery methods seem to be here to stay, as cities, counties, and states negotiate the uncharted waters of the new U.S. economy — and enlist help from the private sector.
Click here for the Top AEC Firmsyfvdfdzdrbywwacuw
2011 consolidations rose as firms anticipated infrastructure projects and public-private partnerships.
No matter the economic situation, merger and acquisition deals seem to be the norm in the AEC industry. In soft economies and challenging market environments smaller firms struggling to hang onto their profits are more willing to sell or merge to avoid a shutdown of operations. In growing economies, buyers and investors confident in their respective markets make moves to diversify and expand service areas.
According to AEC management solutions firm Morrissey Goodale, 2011 saw a 13% increase over 2010 in both U.S. and global AEC mergers and acquisitions — a return to levels not seen since 2007. One reason for the surge was investor/buyer confidence in a stabilizing post-recession industry. "Specifically, they anticipated greater clarity around connecting massive domestic infrastructure development and rehabilitation needs with a public-private financing model," says Mike Cauley, principal consultant with the firm.
However, with both confidence and first-quarter consolidation activity down this year, it remains to be seen whether 2012 keeps pace with last year's rate of increase.
What does it all mean for public works departments? We asked about your experiences working with AEC firms going through mergers and acquisitions.
Almost half of survey respondents say they had worked with an AEC firm while it had gone through a merger or acquisition; 2% are working with a firm undergoing the process now. The good news: Most departments report their projects were not affected by firms' restructuring activities.
They were able to do a complete job instead of us having to utilize several engineering firms that had the capabilities we were looking for.
Uncertainty in the company by staff led to delays in getting answers and direction any time services were required outside the general consultant or general contractor.
They had growing pains figuring out their internal communications, but the project construction didn't miss a beat.
Depends on the specifics of the deal.
Some firms handle it better than others. If a firm was already having problems, then [the merger or acquisition made it] worse.
Although it did not affect our project, it eventually brought the AEC company down after four years.
Most popular AEC services
Help wanted (water expertise preferred)
The top five services most popular services provided by AEC firms hasn't changed in several years (see 'Technology trend' graphic), and likewise the remaining top 10 answers are no surprise: watersheds/water resources (23%), water treatment (21%), traffic control (21%), maintenance of public buildings (18%), asset management (15%). Readers also added a few of their own categories: transit engineering, sign inventory, environmental permits, and buildings.
Last year, we began asking if departments were using AEC firms for certain services more than they had in the past. While a third of respondents aren't relying more on outside expertise, water-related services topped the list for those who said they were. This year, wastewater/stormwater treatment, watersheds/water resources, water treatment, and pipeline construction/rehabilitation accounted for 57% of responses (56% in 2011).


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University Park, PA --- An NEC Institute/Penn State study shows that computer programs, known as autonomous agents, not only can evolve their own language and talk with one another, but also can use communication to improve their performance in solving the classic predator-prey problem.
Like kids playing hide and seek, the autonomous agents used in the study hunted for and found their prey faster and more efficiently if they communicated with one another. "Talking," via a message board, enabled the agents to perform better than in all previous predator-prey studies –better even than when they had been programmed with a hunting strategy by humans.
Dr. C. Lee Giles, the David Reese Professor of Information Sciences and Technology and co-author of the study, says, "The findings have a number of possible applications, for example, smart web crawlers that communicate with one another as they scour the web automatically retrieving information. One can also imagine military applications or intelligent robots that explore other planets or the sea bed in groups while talking to one another."
The findings are detailed in a paper, "Talking Helps: Evolving Communicating Agents for the Predate-Prey Pursuit Problem," published in the current (6:3) issue of the journal, Artificial Life. The work was performed when Giles and co-author Kam-Chuen Jim were both at NEC Research Institute, Inc. Jim is currently at Physiome Sciences, Inc. Giles joined Penn State's new School of Information Sciences and Technology in Fall 2000.
In the study, four predator agents inhabiting a virtual, four-sided, two-dimensional-grid world, were set in pursuit of a fifth agent who served as the prey. The agents all moved simultaneously, at the same speed in north, south, east or west directions. No diagonal shortcuts were permitted. The predators could not see each other and did not know each other's location.
The researchers write that this scenario is probably more difficult for the predators than any considered in previous studies of the predator-prey problem.
The predator agents' goal was to capture the prey by surrounding it on all four sides. Each of the predator agents could "speak" a short string of zeros and ones, the binary alphabet, simultaneously. The communicated strings of symbols were placed on a message board. Each agent could then read all the strings communicated by all the predators in order to determine the next move and what to say next.
The researchers explain that the agents created their own vocabulary, the strings of zeros and ones, in a random manner. Self-organization into meaningful "language" occurred because the agents are coupled in the sense that they must conform to a common vocabulary in order to cooperate through communication. Since the predators cannot see each other and do not know each other's location, the predators have to evolve a language that can represent such information. The researchers found that as the size of the language increased, the performance of the predators improved. Using this observation, the researchers developed a method for incrementally increasing the language size that results in a coarse-to-fine search that significantly reduces the time required to find a solution.
The researchers write that "Future work could focus on the semantics of the evolved languages." Giles notes that "We can compute the upper bound of the number of useful meanings that the predators can evolve. The actual number of useful meanings that they did evolve was much smaller."
Jim added, "We found that in the evolved languages each word can have multiple meanings, with the meaning determined by the semantic context. This phenomenon is also observed in natural languages."
"As the size of the language increases, the average number of meanings assigned to each word decreases," he said.
The researchers conclude by writing, "It would be an important step to extend the analysis introduced here to other forms of multi-agent communication structures, such as a system of agents that communicate asynchronously or only to their nearest neighbors.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Penn State. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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Sailing clubs?
So... in my searches for sailing classes in my area, I came across a sailing club, Island Sailing Club with locations in Olympia, Kirkland, and Portland, OR. It looks attractive, because we're still renting after our move here last year (buyer's market my @ss).
Figuring out the cost of joining, monthly dues, the basic and coastal cruising courses for my SO and I, I'm looking at about $3500 for the first 12 months. This seems pretty reasonable for unlimited access to a fleet of 7 older but maintained boats, 4 of which were available on the perfect Sunday we visited. Plus 1 which would be available after completion of a third course, but I don't see us getting that far in one year.
Has anyone here been a member of a club like this?
My wife and I took a basic keel boat lesson, ASA 101, and then joined the club at the school. We paid a small initiation fee, $400 or there abouts, and then $99 a month. Had unlimited use of the school boats 25ft or less and got a greatly reduced rate on the larger boats (never did rent a larger one).
The ease of the club and the ability to sail on short notice encouraged us to get out more often than I believe we would have otherwise. We managed to sail typically once a week for four hours or so at a time and learned a lot. The club organised an event each month, typically a scavenger hunt, race around the bouys, BBQ on a beach a short sail away, etc.
Good times, good value, and great way to get sailing!
We looked at clubs in the area we are moving to but decided it was the right time to buy our own boat. No regrets with either decision.
Best of luck to you and enjoy the sailing out there!
You are right, it is not as much of a buyer's market as many news sources would suggest. I suspect prices are more accurately re-setting from an artificial inflation. Many folks are in a position like myself and sitting on multiple properties waiting for the craziness to settle down before even considering selling. No need to take a loss selling a perfectly rentable house when renting allows us to wait out the market, keep tax advantages, and still pay down the mortgage.
Good luck house hunting.
Not sure where you are located, but if close to Seattle, also look at windworks and Seattle sailing club. Both are located at SHilshoal, with in feet of ea other. WIndwarks had mostly dufours(ie dealer for) with a smattering of other brands. Seattle sailing is also the J-boat dealer, so they have a bunch of J's and other brands too. IIRC Windwarks follows the ASA system, Seattle sailing the J-boat class system. Both are probably more the same than different. IIRC looking into the costs a few years back, both are similar in cost.
Not sure, Island sailing may also be Neptune sailing club in Kirkland which I knew back in teh 70's when they had the property that is now David E Brink park, sold San Juans and Lasers. Used to rent hull #s 600-800 and race them back in the day.
Well I crew and race on some boats as well as belonging to a private club or 20 members. We usually have 3 boats available for use; all 30-32' cruising type boats.
We recently sold one and are in the process of searching for it's replacement. (Was time to upgrade)
We have a "buy in" that I believe is around $4500 and annual dues of $2000/year. You also need to put in 16 hours of maintenance work on the boats. Seasonal prep, cleaning, routine maintenance etc...
For this you can use the boats whenever they are available by going online and reserving the boat. We do have limitations on the number of days you can have a boat reserved (no blocking out every weekend for the season!) but there is almost always a boat available. And if you're off during the week like I was for many years it's GREAT! Only trouble is no singlehanding allowed. But to get access to a decent cruising boat at minimal cost is pretty nice.
That said I'm looking at getting my own boat b/c I want more control over how it's set up, want to singlehand, and don't want to share!
Oh, and when you sell to get out you get whatever the share price is then.
But it's still a good deal.
Island Sailing Club
The boats they have available are well kept, and while there isn't a huge selection, it is more than adequate for beginning sailors.
Getting a boat is usually no problem (if you don't count July 4th weekend), make your reservation and go. Even at the last minute there are usually boats available for use, although it might be a Santana 20 rather than the 24.
I firmly believe that you will get your money's worth from joining IF you make the commitment to sail as often as you can, a minimum of once/week, and take the time to put into practice what they taught you in class. Their classes are well taught and worth the money, IMO, so start with ASA 101 and then sail, a lot.
If you want further info just drop me a note, I'm in the area and my wife and I have taken their ASA 101 class. My boat is nearby ISC and I see they have boats you could use on short notice almost all the time.
I'm glad to help.
Thanks for the input everyone!
We're in Olympia. This location has 25 members right now, and 8 total boats. It appears from our visit and their answers to my questions that getting a boat will not be a problem. I think we're going to go for it. I'm just going to double-check that we'll be able to extend our 12 month commitment to the end of next summer instead of another 12 months at the end.
Your situation does sound ideal. Since you are looking at taking the ASA 101 and 103 courses for two people plus yearly dues equaling $3,500, my sense is it's worth it. And, if you're something of a tightwad like me, you'll do as Rick (Rorider) has said and sail as much as you can. Good luck.
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