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Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center has its own bear barrels for free rental to anyone recreating on Alaska's public lands. Our barrels are the small and large size Bear Vault plastic containers with screw-top lids, which are approved by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee for use on all public lands.
The consistent use of bear-resistant food containers in wild places has resulted in bear populations that do not associate humans or their property with food sources. Keeping the bears wild and uninterested in human presence means safe camping for you and keeping the bears alive... 'A fed bear is a dead bear.'
Where bear barrels are required in National Parks, there are free bear barrel rentals available on site. Our bear barrels are intended to be used in places where there are no free barrel rental programs already in place. Please use on-site rental programs if there is one available for where you're going.
Stop by the Fairbanks Alaska Center to rent a free bear barrel!
A $50 refundable deposit & driver's license or passport is required at check-out.
No reservations are available, first come-first serve.
Have questions about bear safety? Learn more about staying safe in bear country.


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So what is so great about a monoblock chair, something that is normally reliable when folks have big parties or occasions and when all seats are taken. Well, practically nothing other than being something which can easily be brought out and sat on, but it seems that Bert Loschner has added something to the Monoblock, adding stunning sculptures which make them stand out.
By applying some heat, he was able to artistically create unique sculptures with these monoblock chairs, adding some spice to the usually boring and common shaped plastic chairs. This includes designs that include swinging a rope or holding an umbrella, each giving this chair a different and unique look.
Check out other interesting tags at BedZine: bert, loschner, occasions, plastic chairs, rope, sculptures, umbrella
See more Categories at BedZine: BED Furniture.

subset: commoncrawl


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by Mike (The Gun Guy)
Not too long ago M.D. asked the group if he could get some product reviews, and he had a list of suggestions for review. On the list was the Ruger Mini-14 ranch rifle, newer style. I got mine about four or five months ago, and I guess that qualifies as new, or at least the newer style.
What's different from the previous versions? I don't think any of the internals changed. Really, the difference is in the sights and the barrel. You can tell a new one from the old one because the new one will have a barrel that's thicker towards the receiver then it tapers in. The old style has a barrel that's the same length all the way down.
I guess I should start with why I got a Ruger Mini 14 ranch rifle in the first place. There are several reasons for me. I wanted something in the .223 caliber because it's a common round, because I wanted something I could coyote hunt with, and because all you AR owners in the states seem to be having so much fun with the .223! For me though, an AR-15 was out.
We have a class of weapons known as 'restricted' in Canada, and the AR-15 is on that list. That means I couldn't take my AR out in the field and hunt with. I could only double lock it while transporting it to an approved range and only with something called an ATT, or authorization to transport.
Not to mention that we still have a registry for restricted weapons, but out long gun registry was scrapped. I got my gun license and my first rifle just after the long gun registry was scrapped so my name appears on none of the old copies, and I want it to stay that way.
For non-restricted long guns in .223, there were a couple of options. There was the Kel-Tec SU-16, a Remington pump .223, and I believe you could get a VZ 58 chambered in .223. I wanted a semi-auto, so the Remington was out. I was leaning towards the Kel-Tec SU 16 or the VZ 58 for the reason they took AR magazines (you could get a magwell adapter for the VZ) and in Canada there's a loophole where as long as a magazine is labeled 'pistol' you can use a 10 round mag in a semi auto, otherwise you are restricted to 5 rounds. In the end, though, I went with the mini for two reasons:
- Reliability was not in question with the mini 14. They are many things, and reliable is one of them. The Kel-Tec received mixed reviews on quality and longevity and I just haven't seen too many VZ's around.
- The pedigree of the Mini 14. The first time I ever laid eyes on an M1 Garand I fell in love. My love continued to the M14 and the fact the mini 14 used the same mechanicals as the M1 and M14 just in a scaled down and smaller caliber means I love the mini 14 too. Besides, John Garand was a Canadian, and you got to have some national pride. Right?
So, if any of you don't know what a Ruger Mini 14 looks like, here is a picture of mine:
So, exactly how does the mini 14 perform in my opinion?
Ruger Mini 14 Ranch Rifle Sights:
One of the things with the new mini is it has new sights, so I thought I'd talk about them. It comes with a non-adjustable front sight and an adjustable peephole rear sight. Both sights have 'blades' on either side to protect them from glare. I'm just guessing at that function, but it seems reasonable. Now, when they work, they work fantastic. But then they don't' work so well. Here's a tip if you decide to buy this rifle. The rear sights will shake itself loose in less than 50 rounds. It's mounted on a post and secured by one bolt. It will shake itself to the right or left and that's where you'll shoot.
The first thing you need to do is remove the screw (takes an Allen key), put a dab of the blue lock tight on it (not the red stuff, unless you want trouble) then tighten it back down. Once the lock tight sets you won't have that issue. The sights also have windage adjustability with screws on either side of the post that uses the same size Allen key as the securing bolt. To adjust left or right you must adjust BOTH screws otherwise it will leave a gap and the sight will shake itself around when firing. It's a good idea if you want it right in the middle to ensure you snug up both screws or it will shift on you with the vibration of shooting.
I will make a note on the scope mount, as you can see I do use a scope. I like the scope mounts and included scope rings. Each scope mount has a tab that goes into a notch in the provided mounts, making a very solid and secure mount.
It's not a tack driver. It never was a tack driver. For anyone who buys this thing and then is upset they can't hit the middle of the target at 1000 yards probably shouldn't be buying guns at all. The Ruger Mini 14 is called a ranch gun for a reason. It's made to be a low maintenance reliable gun that you carry around with you in your pick up truck around the farm in case some varmints need killing. I would say though, it's more accurate than just that. I took a 50-yard pistol target and put it at 100 yards, and that's where I sighted my scope in. I sighted the scope in and then put a fresh target at 100 yards and took 10 shots (resting the barrel on a block). Two of the 10 hit right in the middle of the target, the rest were scattered around the middle (more low than high) but I'd say the whole group was about 2". Sorry, I did not take a picture to show you, but I can say that any of those shots would have been in the kill zone of coyote, and definitely a deer. So sure, it's not a tack driver, but it's plenty accurate, more than enough, anyway.
Stock and Construction:
The stock of this particular unit is made of a black polymer. You can also get wood if you like. The polymer is light but I feel it's very strong, and it does not feel cheap at all like a Remington 597 or a Kel Tec. I guess there is a huge difference between polymer and plastic. I've had it knocking about the woods on many occasions and it still looks new. The ergonomics are good, the rifle stock fits nicely in my hand and I get a proper cheek weld when sighting down the iron sights. This may change with a very large or very small person. I'm about average height and build and I feel they did a very good job with ergonomics for the majority of people. You can get a blued stock or a stainless steel. I really like the stainless steel. If TSHTF when gun oil and supplies are low, stainless will resist rust much better in the absence of all the awesome gun cleaning and gun oils we have access to now. Sure, it's shiny and reflective, but you can easily take care of that with some dirt if you really needed to.
The gun easily comes apart by flipping it over, putting a screwdriver or punch in the hole in the trigger guard and pushing up. The trigger group comes out and then you can simply remove the stock from the gun. It's not complicated inside but I will advise being careful when taking it apart. There is a large return spring along the underside and when you take it out, the part that holds it in that's closest to the trigger assembly is held in by a loose pin. Turn the receiver either way and it'll come out and you'll lose it and you kind of need that little loose pin to keep your spring in place.
I would absolutely love it if Ruger used AR mags. But, they don't. They use proprietary magazines. In Canada, they are almost impossible to find in anything other than the factory 5 round configurations. Not that it really matters, as we can only put 5 rounds in a semi auto mag at a time up here. I do have a couple of factory 20 rounders that are pinned to 5 (and those pins come out the minute TSHTF and WROL!) but they were $50 a piece. There is only one supplier that regularly gets these magazines, and they get a shipment in about 3 or 4 times a year and the magazines are sold out within a day or two.
Also, the magazines are a bit of a pain. You have to rock them in like an AR mag but it's not as smooth. It's easier with a longer mag as you can get a good grip on it. The factory 5 round disappears into the stock, which is something I actually like when shooting the rifle. It's just tricky to get them in. If you don't' angle them in just so, they get stuck and then you're in for a bit of a struggle. Also, I have one 5 round mag that goes in fine each time and another that's more finicky. Now, I've never had a feed failure yet, so that's a good thing. I still wish they used AR mags.
The receiver is marked as .223 caliber. Not Remington .223, .223 caliber. This means that you can feed .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO. I can tell you I've fed all sorts of different types of ammunition through this gun. American Eagle 55-grain FMJ. MFS stainless 55-grain FMJ. MFS 62 grain soft point, and 55-grain hollow point. American Eagle tracer rounds. Unidentified 5.56 military surplus I picked up at a local gun show. It eats it all, and it eats it all without complaint. It's not picky and that's the way I like it because let's face it, .223 is getting pretty scarce. With the Ruger Mini 14, you can horde whatever you can get your fingers on and not worry about it.
As a gun enthusiast, I have to say hearing the sound of that receiver closing and chambering that first round is just awesome. It makes that typical gun sound you hear in the movies, or perhaps in a well-maintained AR-15. Just beautiful. If fires as slow or as fast as you pull the trigger. I've emptied the magazine (5 rounds, I'm a Canadian) in what I swear was less than a second with almost no muzzle climb. I've put about 1,000 rounds through it so far and have not had a jam or misfire. The barrel does tend to get pretty hot, but it doesn't seem to affect the accuracy of the gun at all.
As far as aftermarket parts for this rifle, it's on the same level with the likes of the 10/22, Remington 870 and AR-15. You can get all sorts of accessories such as stocks in all sorts of configurations. Scopes, mounts, flash suppressors or muzzle breaks (if you need a muzzle break with a .223 caliber you should really start working out). I mostly prefer my rifle stocks to be rifle stocks, but if you want to make this thing tactic cool, the only limit is your wallet.
I think the Ruger Mini 14 is a well built and well-made gun. It does exactly what it's advertised as. It's a ranch rifle, a field gun, a reliable little buddy that will go into the bush with you and come out none worse for the wear. Sure, the magazine situation kind of sucks, you have to ensure when you field strip it a tiny little pin that's very loose and 100% necessary to the operation of the rifle doesn't take a walk, and you have to monkey with the sights to get them to work properly. I paid $830 for the rifle brand new, and I can more than live with those quirks for a gun that is that price and has the kind of reliability that the mini has. I don't have to worry what ammo I put through it, it's not picky. I don't have to worry if it gets rained on, I just wipe it down when I get home and it's good to go store if I don't feel like cleaning it that day.
The charging mechanism is smooth, it doesn't seem to jam and it's accurate enough. I even think that the rifle is pretty, but beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.
From what I've read, the mini isn't as accurate as an AR-15 but it's a lot less expensive and apparently more reliable. Reliable in that you don't need to clean it as meticulously to maintain that reliability. I'm sure that will cause arguments from the die hard AR people, but if it's true then that makes the mini 14 a better TSHTF gun.
I don't regret buying it, and I think I'll be keeping it. If you ask me if I recommend it, yes, 100%, but the choice is yours.
Ruger Mini-14: Homestead Defender


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Oh wait, never mind, my granddaughter explained to me that this was an advertisement that the Liberal Party of Ontario had purchased.
Sorry about that, I was having a dippy moment
Dippy analogy. Don't see any other news media website plastered with partisan ads. Not even the Toronto Sun.
Not to mention the 30+ op-eds that praised Wynne and attacked Andrea as "right-wing" which is absurd to anyone who knows anything about the economic political spectrum.
Have a nice day :)
It's an ad. Obviously my
eight year old knows more about advertising than you do.
When a news organization turns its website into veritable partisan website plastered with partisan talking points and links, this violates its journalistic objectivity.
One needs more than a grade 3 education to comprehend this.


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Found this recipe on Pinterest and made it for lunch today (I wasn't awake enough at breakfast time :) and lo LOVED it!
Banana Pancakes
1 ripe banana
2 eggs
That's it. You mash up the banana up really well, then mix in 2 eggs and cook them in a skillet on medium heat.
I made silver-dollar sized pancakes and this recipe made 6 of them (though I burned the first batch, so I only got 4). It seriously only takes 1 minute per side on medium heat. I used a non-stick pan, so I didn't need any oil or butter. I also added a little vanilla and cinnamon. They were great! Sweet enough that no syrup is needed, but not overly sweet. It's also a great way to get protien/eggs into lo's who don't like eggs. I will be making these on a regular basis!


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Ask an Eye Doctor and Get an Answer ASAP
Hello, Thank you for the question.I am Dr.A.S.Desai and I look forward to assisting you .
Are you available for chat now?
What eye drops have you put?
Similassan Irritated Eye
Have you carefully looked at that eye in the mirror with a torchlight? Have you noticed any foreign body or whitish dot/streak on the cornea ( colored part of the eye)? A pink eye or infection is not painful so it does not look like a pink eye.
I can't find anything in my eye, and I have asked someone else to look. It is gotten worse over about 36 hours.
I don't see a dot.
Sometimes corneal lesions can be missed on torchlight examination but are easily picked up on special equipment called slit lamp in the ophthalmologist's office.
Has the vision in that eye got blurred or foggy too?
No, my vision is fine. I do wear contacts normally, but used glasses today. I tried my contact lens (disposable) for a little while and it actually hurt less.
My vision is fine, except for the sensitivity to light which has become worse.
If wearing of contact lens actually causes a reduction in pain ( then it is acting like a bandage contact lens) then it is very likely that you have a corneal lesion. I am afraid there is nothing you can do at home nor would any OTC eye medicines help in case of corneal lesions. Till you get to visit an ophthalmologist use lubricating eye ointment only and patch the eye overnight ( just in case it is a corneal abrasion alone). But going by your symptoms it looks like there could have been a corneal ulceration. Discontinue wearing contact lenses and switch to glasses.
If it is a corneal abrasion only, then you will feel better symptomatically within 24 hours as the superficial layer of cornea heals within that time.
A corneal abrasion can occur in contact lens wearers sometimes but heals well with lubrication .
OK, is an opthamologist the only type of dr. that can treat this, or can a general practice dr. (ie walk-in urgent care) help with this. I ask since it is the weekend.
If there is a corneal ulcer, then the symptoms will continue to worsen and vision begins to get affected.
I would prefer an ophthalmologist to have a look as a general doctor would not be well equiped for such an eye exam.
Thank you for the advice.
Only a slit lamp exam can tell whether or not the cornea is involved and if so then the exact nature of involvement ( whether an abrasion or an ulcer).
Is there anything else that I can answer for you?
Could it be that there was something in my eye and now it is gone and that is why I don't see anything?
Yes, it is still a possibility.
Thank you.
Sometimes a foreign body can get embedded on the under surface of the upper eye lid and cause similar symptoms.
OK-- does that cause sensitivity to light
This image shows tha commonest site for sub-tarsal foreign body.
This kind of foreign body can abrade the corneal surface and cause eye pain, watering and even light sensitivity sometimes.
I will try to look again to see if there is anything. I didn't know that it could cause light sensitivity, so now that makes more sense.
Thank you for answering my questions.
You are most welcome. Hope you relief soon.
Thank you!
If you need more help, please use the reply tab to continue our conversation. If you do not require further assistance, kindly rate my service.
Thank you and best wishes.
It was a pleasure to have answered this question. Views expressed are for information purpose only and cannot substitute a visit to an ophthalmologist


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by: Roberto Orgiu • 87
All Android applications categories
by: Roberto Orgiu • 87
ShareItApp has been created to be easy to use, quick and pleasant: with this software, you can share your own application, providing your friends a download URL or even the APK file if you downloaded it from somewhere like XDA-Developers.
This software is provided as-is and it's still in development. Please,
***instead of giving a bad rating, write me an email explaining your issue and I'll get back to you as soon as possible***
- Open application source or change it with a long press
- Ask for app info or uninstall selected application by long pressing on the second button (on some ROMs this last feature could require you update manually the list because of the Broadcast being thrown late)
- Share app link bu pressing on the third button or send its APK by long pressing on the share button
- Tutorial
- Slightly different layouts for phones and tablets (still a working in progress)
- Dynamic search
from 87 reviews
Download ShareItApp
Free - V1.4 - RTM - 3M
Share this app


text:
12-Year-Old Latest YouTube Sensation [VIDEO]
It's amazing to me what is happening in the music business since "social-media" sort of took over our lives.
You know, Facebook, Twitter, My Space. With smart phones, tablet like computers, i.e. iPad, we're able to connect, converse, entertain, and learn with a relatively small hand-held device. Beam me up, Scotty.


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Family Birth Center
The Family Birth Center at Sutter Amador Hospital (SAH) offers private all-in-one labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum rooms in a setting that is both caring and comfortable. These spacious rooms allow family members and friends to share in the birth experience. Childbirth education, online pre-registration, pain management (including epidurals), breast feeding support and a pump rental station are other ways our staff helps expecting parents enjoy this very special time.
Visitor Information:
- Family and friends are encouraged to visit patients between 1 and 8 p.m. Please remember that both mom and baby need to rest.
- Siblings may be permitted to visit if free from infection, accompanied by an adult, and psychologically and emotionally mature enough not to disrupt the environment.
Laura Cooper, RNC
2nd Floor, Sutter Amador Hospital
200 Mission Boulevard
Jackson, CA 95642
(209) 223-7460
Meet Dr. Robert Young, Sutter Medical Foundation OBGYN. Watch the video
You can now search and sign up for our Childbirth Education classes online.
Search Now
If you are planning to deliver your baby at Sutter Amador Hospital's Family Birth Center, you have the option of completing online pre-registration. Register now.
Take a virtual tour of the Sutter Amador Hospital Family Birth Center.
Video Tour


text:
Thank God the Trump show is almost over.
It's like a zombie that keeps rising from the grave, after everyone was sure it was dead. Last season, I would have bet it had officially jumped the shark… but then they did the "Book Smarts vs. Street Smarts" concept, and damn if that didn't hook me all over again.
However, once I realized that NONE of the apprentices were ever going to tell Trump to go screw himself, I vowed I was done after this season.
Couldn't someone have stood up and at least flipped the bastard off?
But now I hear that, next season, they're promising to have "Old Farts" against "Young Bucks"… and that's just too damned fascinating a concept to ignore.
The bitter and arrogant versus the attitude-challenged arrogant. Gramps against the whippersnappers.
Should be quite a show.
I'll bet the producers are having a field day lining up borderline personalities that explode under stress.
Maybe there'll be fights!
Anyway, the "hidden" marketing wisdom in this last episode just screamed out to me, and I thought I had a great theme for this blog… until Alex, the guy who got fired, stole my punch line.
And then he put dessert topping on it.
Great stuff. Maybe he deserved to get the axe, maybe not. But here's the twin observations that, I believe, made the show worthwhile:
1. Of COURSE the product was art, and not just a tee shirt. (I have already started next month's Rant newsletter, and my theme is "find the real product". Coincidence? Or eerie interference from forces beyond our reckoning?)
The winners understood the nature of what they were selling — a famous (though obscure) artist's limited edition. So they emailed several thousand of his rabid fans, and went to town selling these tee shirts as art.
(By the way… for my money, Haines makes the WORST tee shirts available. They shrink, they're thin, they rat-out fast, and fit like they were sewed by monkeys.)
This is what the USP is all about — your unique sales position. The average mall-rat may or may not care about your special edition tee. The art will either excite him on a primitive level, or leave him cold. He may just rather have a retro-AC/DC "Highway To Hell" logo.
And, this may be my imagination, but after age 30, you don't get a lot of people buying "show" tees. The occasional Grateful Dead tie-dye from the '87 world tour, sure. But only to work out or sleep in. Or maybe to put under your sweater, as a secret bit of rebellion.
I believe art is important. I like all kinds of art.
This tee shirt was art.
2. For me, though, the winning comment (may I have the envelope, please)was what Alex said during his dreaded "farewell taxi ride": Before the show, he'd thought it took months and months to plan out a business project.
Now, he realized that was bunk.
You can plan, create product, and roll out profitable ventures in a weekend. In an evening, even, once you get your stride.
That's huge. Most people tentatively entering the entrepreneurial world overplan their first few projects… and often suffer from that overplanning. They spend too much time outside of Operation MoneySuck, screwing with stuff that will be irrelevant unless they find a good market and create killer advertising.
I just covered this in the updates to "Kick-Ass Copywriting Secrets" — you can test for markets in a very short time, for spare change now.
And finding the right product, especially your first time into a particular market, is more a matter of giving people what they already want. Not what you think they "need".
The basics of killer marketing are, and always have been, pretty simple.
So — two great lessons in one show.
I'm sure both went right over The Donald's head.
Can you imagine what he would do, if forced to come up with a product and marketing plan for a tee shirt all on his lonesome? After freaking out because his toadies weren't there to suck up, he'd have a big "speak to truth" meeting with the vapid wasteland inside his own head.
Panic would set in quickly.
I find that image extemely entertaining.
What do you think?
John Carlton


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Patriot Day 5k
Hansen Dam Park
Sat 09/07/2013
Patriot Day 5K has a very simple mission, and that is to educate people about Patriot Day. In 2002, Patriot Day was designated as a Day of Remembrance, honoring those killed by the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Unfortunately, more than a decade later, there are still many people across the United States who do not know about Patriot Day and what it means. We would like to change that. Through our Patriot Day 5K runs held in multiple cities throughout the country each year, we will be bringing awareness to Patriot Day and its meaning, and at the same time, bring communities together so that we can remember what it means to be an American, what it means to be Patriotic and what it feels like to want to make America better. We should Never Forget the victims and all those affected by September 11th, but more importantly, we believe that we should honor the victims and heroes of that day, by doing our part to make America a little bit better tomorrow, than it is today.Event schedule and timesPacket pickup and same day registration 6am to 6:50 am Race Starts 7:00 am Awards 8:15 am
- Address:11001 Dronfield Ave.
Pacoima, CA 91331


text: Since he first came to Beekman 1802 Farm, farmer John has grown his goat herd from 80 to over 130 milking does. We use their Grade A premium milk to create several different artisanal cheeses & ice cream. Note: We are a seasonal producer to allow the goats to rest during gestation. Dairy products are produced for approximately 9 months/year.


text:
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Aaron Regunberg: Providence Can Learn from Chicago Teachers Strike
Friday, September 21, 2012
This week, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) voted to end their seven-day strike after reaching a contract deal that is fairer to teachers and better for students. CTU won a number of changes, including:
More funding for electives; CPS had originally proposed no funding for additional staff, but CTU won funding for over 600 new positions, mostly for arts, music, and physical education.
Fairer evaluations; the School Department (CPS) had wanted the majority of a teacher's evaluation to be based on standardized test scores (a policy that I, and the majority of the education community, believe to be incredibly narrowing and ineffective), but now 70 percent of a teacher's quality rating will be based on their practice and 30 percent on test scores.
More money for school supplies; originally CPS was only offering $100 for supplies per teacher, but now that will be raised to $250, and for the first time in CPS history there will be guaranteed textbook distribution on the first day of classes.
- More mayoral accountability; the original contract lasted five years, but the new one lasts three, so Mayor Emanuel will have another negotiation before his second term so the community can hold him accountable.
To start off, the clearest lesson that I draw from the CTU strike is this: if teachers unions want to be successful in what I believe to be their long-term goals of protecting public education and providing teachers with the security and autonomy they need to practice their profession, they have to do a better job of engaging the parents that their members serve. To me, that means two things—first, they have to begin really prioritizing the priorities of parents (which far more often than not line up with the priorities of teachers), and second, they have to begin investing heavily in parent outreach and parent organizing.
The Chicago Teachers Union was successful in their recent campaign largely because of all the work they did on both these fronts. Upon winning the leadership of CTU in 2010, Karen Lewis and her Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators (CORE) slate turned the focus of the union towards standing up for many of the biggest issues concerning Chicago parents. They began actively fighting for smaller class sizes, for less drill-and-kill standardized testing, and to stop CPS's community-damaging policy of mass school closures. In other words, they began standing up for students and against the corporate education reform mindset that had taken over CPS in ways that parents could see, understand, and appreciate
Just as crucially, CTU began engaging in a vigorous parent outreach campaign. For months and months prior to the strike, CTU organizing committees have been taking root in hundreds of schools, ensuring teachers were showing up at school council meetings, parent nights, and principal-organized parent meetings to explain CTU's positions and engage in dialogue with parents about their own concerns. When parents expressed their shared outrage over issues, these teacher activists went a step further and helped organize them, showing them how parents and teachers can work together to more effectively fight for better schools.
And guess what—all that work and outreach and relationship-building and real, student-centered advocacy paid off. Because when Chicago teachers made the decision to risk it all and go on strike for a better contract, they walked the picket line with the broad-based support of a strong majority of the Chicago public. A poll by We Ask America of 1,344 voting Chicago households found that 55.5 percent of Chicago residents approved of the Chicago Teachers Union's decision to go on strike, compared to 40 percent who disapproved. Support was more robust among Chicagoans of color, with 63 percent of African Americans and 65 percent of Latinos expressing approval. Among parents of public school children, CTU support was even higher, with an astounding 66 percent approval versus just 31 percent disapproval. And when respondents were asked who they thought was most to blame for the strike, most said management (34 percent blamed Mayor Emanuel and 19 percent blamed the School Board) while just 29 percent blamed CTU.
That's why parents were willing to make sacrifices to accommodate their children for the week and a half that schools were closed. It's why so many parents joined the protests themselves. And—make no mistake—it's why Mayor Emanuel felt compelled to make actual concessions in the contract negotiations, and ultimately why CTU was able to come out of this process as successfully as they did.
So now we come to the lesson. Here in Providence, the idea of widespread public and parental support for the teachers union is not an intuitive concept for most people, and that should give the leadership of the Providence Teachers Union a cause to sit down and do some real soul-searching. If PTU were to go on strike tomorrow, how many parents would support them? My bet would be very few. But clearly that's not how it has to be.
PTU leadership needs to learn from the success of CTU and immediately engage in two major organizational shifts. First, they need to take CTU's lead in fighting for the broader educational changes that teachers, parents and students all care about—issues like smaller class sizes, less standardized testing and curriculum narrowing, more support services and electives, and no more school closings (for a good example of what PTU could be fighting for, check out this awesome report CTU put together called " The Schools Chicago's Students Deserve"). And second, they need to redirect a large portion of their not insignificant resources towards doing real, on-the-ground parental engagement. Communicating with parents, making phone calls, going door-to-door, sparking dialogue and bringing families into the conversation—this is work that PTU is uniquely well-situated to be doing and that is very much in PTU's long-term interests to be doing. Though I'm not very hopeful we'll see a sea change overnight, I hope for all our sakes they take the hint.
This piece is getting on the long side, so I'll mention my second major reflection in brief. If there's anything the management side of the equation should learn from the Chicago strike, it's this: teachers need to be welcomed into the process of school transformation. Teachers are the ones who we call on to actually implement school reforms, so they need buy-in on those reforms. They need a say. They need to be treated like the professionals they are, and not disparaged and belittled the way Rahm Emanuel has made a point of disparaging and belittling his city's teachers. If CTU's stand has accomplished anything, hopefully it has given evidence of this lesson. In the words of CTU President Karen Lewis, "We are trying to have people understand that when people come together to deal with problems of education, the people that are actually working in schools need to be heard. And I think this has been an opportunity for people across the nation to have their voice heard." I think it has, as well.


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Search Results
Title: Lives and voyages of Drake, Cavendish, and Dampier ; including an introductory view of the earlier discoveries in the South Sea, and the history of the bucaniers.
Author: Johnstone, C. I. (Christian Isobel), 1781-1857.
Publication Info: New York : Harper, 1843 [1844]
subjects: [Drake, Francis, Sir, 1540?-1596] [Cavendish, Thomas, 1560-1592] [Dampier, William, 1652-1715] [Voyages and travels] [Discoveries in geography]


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North Huntingdon woman helps organize 'Art in the Kitchen' tour
When Jennifer Miele-Cinti of North Huntingdon offered up her home as a location to host an Excela Health Christmas auction event, she couldn't help but notice the then-CEO's wife, Marie Gallatin, checking out her kitchen.
"I think she was eyeing it up the whole time!" Miele-Cinti said.
Gallatin is one of the organizers for the Westmoreland Museum of American Art's "Art in the Kitchen ... Plus!" tour taking place on Oct. 5, and Miele-Cinti's will be among the featured kitchens on the self-guided tour.
Miele-Cinti and her husband, Dr. Jason Cinti, live in a housing plan built on the former Lincoln Hills Golf Club, and the house is built to take advantage of the natural vistas the landscape offers.
"On the side of the kitchen, we have a morning room, which we added through our builder, Bob Schuster," Miele-Cinti said. "It has giant windows, and you can sit there in the morning eating breakfast and watching the sun come up."
The family's kitchen has a double-level 8-foot bar, with a hibachi grill on the lower level and a dining area on the upper level. It also features double ovens, granite counters and a crushed-granite sink.
"It is pretty awesome, I have to tell you," she said. "We tried to make it a very social kitchen."
The concept for the "Art in the Kitchen" tour started with a cookbook produced by the museum, said Arlene Kendra, publicity chairwoman for the event.
"With 'Art in the Kitchen,' each house has a little sample food from one of the recipes in the cookbook," Kendra said. The first cookbook was published in 1995.
The tour, which benefits the museum, is organized through the museum's Women's Committee, which, Kendra said, has donated more than $400,000 over the years to help fund exhibits, building renovations and other needs.
"The committee was founded in 1960, a year after the museum, and the first thing they bought was a silver tea service," said Kendra, of Greensburg. "Over the years, they bought many paintings, which, at that time, didn't cost nearly as much. Now, when we buy something, it has to be in partnership with others."
The Women's Committee is all-volunteer.
"Some work in the gift shop, some are docents, and others help organize fundraising events such as 'Art in the Kitchen,'" Kendra said.
This is the 16th year for "Art in the Kitchen," and, Kendra said, the committee was looking for something different.
"We've been doing it for so many years that we wanted to find something new, so some of our kitchens feature unique outdoor spaces and different features," she said.
A unique space
When Mary Senuta of Greensburg was decorating her family room, she fell in love with the reds and golds she chose.
"Our family room is sort of done in Tuscan colors, and we carried that into the morning room and the kitchen," she said.
The Senutas' home has an open floor plan, and their kitchen leads to the morning room and into the family room.
"It's a great entertaining space for family holidays; you can fit quite a large group of people there, and from the kitchen, you can see all the way through to the family room," Senuta said.
A friend of Senuta's is a member of the Women's Committee and recommended adding her house to the tour.
Senuta said she enjoys having room to maneuver while cooking.
"I don't want to make it sound like it's huge, but it's spacious enough that it makes cooking pleasurable," she said. "My husband loves to cook, too, so he'll come home from work sometimes and put on a pot of soup. Plus you can have eight or nine people in the kitchen and not feel cramped."
Space seems to be a unifying feature among this year's featured kitchens. The home of Joseph and Filippa Ponsi of Hempfield also is open and inviting.
"It has some beautiful granite countertops and backsplashes," said Filippa Ponsi, whose kitchen was also featured on the 2011 tour. "It's a cherry kitchen with a center island and a granite breakfast bar that will seat about eight people."
The Ponsis' kitchen features a Viking stove with six burners and a desk area for planning special menus.
"The view from the kitchen is beautiful because we live on a Standardbred horse farm, so there are always horses when you look out the window," Filippa Ponsi said.
The tour of the Ponsis' kitchen will be led by local artist Lynne Mack, who created several of the paintings on display at their home.
"In the breakfast area, there's a mural of the house where my mother grew up in Italy, which Lynne painted. She also did the artwork in the dining and piano rooms," Filippa Ponsi said.
Mack will lead the tour, answer any questions about the artwork and will also take visitors through the Ponsis' conservatory and patio, which features a marble fireplace.
So what does Ponsi like best about her kitchen?
"Truthfully, I like takeout, and so does my husband!" she said with a laugh. "But it's a very nice kitchen; it's easy and efficient, and you have a lot of room to move around when you're cooking."
Cooking with the pros
The tour will not just feature local residents with beautiful kitchen designs; it also will look at how the professionals operate.
Seth Bailey, head chef at the Café at The Frick in Pittsburgh, will showcase his culinary talent at the art museum's temporary location, Westmoreland @rt 30, 4764 State Route 30 in Unity, between Greensburg and Latrobe.
Raised on a West Virginia farm, Bailey grew up with the whole family cooking in the kitchen.
"We raised our own vegetables, hunted and fished, and it was a nice way to tie everything together on the table," said Bailey, 32, of McCandless.
For the tour, Bailey will be doing sushi-rolling demonstrations.
"We'll discuss how to buy your fish, how to prepare the rice and show how to put everything together for a couple different types of rolls," said Bailey, adding that he hopes to find some late-season wild king salmon to use in the demonstration.
Bailey will be doing demonstrations at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Chef Greg Andrews, 47, of Greensburg also will welcome tour participants into the working professional kitchen at The Supper Club at The Greensburg Train Station, 101 Ehalt St.
Taking the tour
The tour will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting with Bailey's presentation at Westmoreland @rt 30. Participants can start there or at the six other tour sites. Tickets are $25 in advance and are available at Westmoreland @rt 30, the Greenhouse Winery at the Westmoreland Mall, Never Enough! Boutique in Greensburg, Rose Style Shoppe in Latrobe; G Squared Gallery in Ligonier and Morninglory in Murrysville. On the day of the tour, tickets will be $30 and available only at Westmoreland @rt 30, from 9 a.m. to noon.
For more information, call 724-837-1500 or visit WMuseumAA.org.
Patrick Varine is an editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7845 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Whitehaus Decorative Metal UnderMount Bathroom Basin 18.5" W
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Everyone knew late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was rich—he had a gun made of gold! But he might have been even richer than anyone thought—like, net-worth-of-$200-billion rich, making him the richest person on the planet. Gaddafi was the .0000001%!
Muammar Gaddafi Might Have Been the Richest Person in the World
Current Status: Blessed (1)
Seeded on Sun Oct 23, 2011 2:04 PM
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May 5, 2008
Looks spot on mate, the red S3's have really grown on me. I take it yours is Misano red it looks like it in the pics?
Looking Good !!
you know i never even considered buying a red
S3, but since seeing a few on here, they've definately
grown on me...
yer it sure is Misano red
Is the old girl running alright now ?
nah traction and abs light keep appearing and i keep losing power, still under warrenty though so she should be goin in this neek.
Misano is the only Red to have imo, Absolute is more of an Orange and doesnt look nowhere near as good.
Yeah hopefully get it sorted then...
mines bin playing up again too
getting a fault saying charge pressure exceeded, it's going in
wednesday, get a new N75 chucked on,
hopefully fix the problem...
If not...i might just burn it out and claim off the
insurance lol
is your car lowered at all gav?
na bud standard height
Looks good fella, noticed a red S3 in Reading yesterday - very nice. What kind of tyres have you got on there?
Bit of a mixture by the look of it
The car looks mint mate, the red really does stand out on the car, you have done a cracking job on it....well done
smart mate
me 3 , had my hart set on noggy blue but theres a few red
ones that keep catching my eye.
good work mate,
want to clean mine
tyres were matching till saturday some how got a screw driver stuck in one (the whole thing), luckily i have some spare 17" TT wheels so i took a tyre from one of them.
A whole screwdriver?
you tell me bud, its got me baffled. i could only just see the X shape sticking out the tire, thought oh its a small one out a socket set, but oh no its a full lenth screw drive minus the plastic handle.
looking good bud..............
had to laugh at the title to the thread..you did what to her???
That is one nice finish, all it takes is a bit of time and a lot of elbow grease. I wish I had the time!!!
looks almost as good as the ferrari red S3 that was posted ages ago ....... or was that on ts ???
...but this is absolute red, non? Looks it to me...
Either look good anyway!
Looking good mate!
Separate names with a comma.


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Philippine ex-leader pleads not guilty in second case
MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Former Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her husband have pleaded not guilty to corruption charges related to an overpriced deal with a Chinese telecommunications company.
Arroyo was arrested last year on a separate charge of electoral fraud. She has since been indicted in a second case in connection with a $330 million government contract with Chinese telecommunication company ZTE Corp.
A congressional probe found the 2007 contract overpriced and ridden with problems, including allegations that Arroyo's husband accepted bribes to push through the deal with his wife's approval.
Under public pressure, Arroyo later canceled the deal. She left office in 2010 and faced a wide-ranging prosecution initiated by her successor's administration.
Posted | Updated


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Spiritual Life
At Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, nurturing our relationship with God is as important as challenging our minds. Resources are varied, so each person has opportunities to discover God in new ways and to strengthen familiar practices of faith.
Chapel services
Chapel services in the Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount bring the community together two times a week regularly. Services can include preaching, intercessory prayer, music, drama and communion.
Prayer Services
Each semester, different prayer services are scheduled for students, faculty and staff to join. Often these services are held in the smaller Chapel of the Word in Waltner Hall. These may include:
- Intercessory prayer.
- Praying the Daily Office: Using Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book
- Centering prayer
- Evening Song and Prayer: Services of singing, prayer, scripture reading and silence, patterned after the Taizé community in France, are offered several times during fall and spring semesters.
Spiritual Formation Program
Courses, seminars, retreats and spiritual guidance help students develop disciplines for growing in faith. These resources nurture awareness of God's presence and give guidance in to the ministry and mission experience of the student.
Spiritual Retreats
Spiritual retreats focusing on disciplines for spiritual life, different ways of praying and new avenues for experiencing God at work. Several retreats are offered each semester and are coordinated by the campus pastor.
The Pilgrim's Way
A labyrinth in the meadow on the AMBS campus provides outdoor space for reflection and prayer.
Spiritual Direction
Several AMBS faculty, retired faculty members and trained spiritual directors in the area are available to provide a mentoring relationship to students for nurturing greater awareness of God's presence. Spiritual directors meet with students for a one-hour session approximately once each month during the school year. For more information, contact the campus pastor.


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The intensity of today's action erupted in a minor boil during the two-minute offense drill when offensive lineman Scott Young and linebacker Justin Luettgerodt mixed it up and had to be separated. Both regained their composure and were back in action on the very next down.
BYU head coach Gary Crowton noted after practice, "The defense is always intense. I don't think they were necessarily not intense yesterday. We just had good timing offensively as a unit. The defense did well today. I don't know if their intensity was up more, but they just performed better. A lot of it was because of the drill. They're very good as a unit defending the two-minute drill, so seeing them have success against that drill wasn't all that surprising."
Cougarback Aaron Francisco delivered a forceful hit on freshman receiver Antwaun Harris across the middle, forcing an incompletion, while Luettgerodt knocked down a pass intended for sophomore tight end Daniel Coats over the middle. Senior cornerback Micah Alba also deflected a pass to receiver Rod Wilkerson along the sideline and Ryan Beck intercepted a pass.
Sophomore linebacker Cameron Jensen did now any lingering signs of an ankle sprain last week, getting to the quarterback three times during the drill. Incoming JC sophomore linebacker Gary Lovely showed his athleticism, knocking down a pass at the line of scrimmage.
Heaney added: "We knew what we had to change today going in. I think we did that today on the field during drills. Mendenhall told us we needed to change our mindset and had to come out better and with more intensity. I think we did that today. We shut them down pretty well so I'm happy about that."
It was not all defense as the offense also had its moments, albeit few and afar between. Receiver Riley Weber made a nice sliding catch on a sideline route; Todd Watkins caught a well-thrown fly pattern from John Beck; and Matt Berry threw a great post corner route to Austin Collie for a 40-yard gain.
On the final play of the drill, with the offense facing a third and long, the defensive reserves started yelling on the sidelines – rallying the first team starters to stop the offense. Watkins counter-responded vocally for the offense. On the play, John Beck was flushed out of the pocket and threw an interception right into the arms of Francisco. The defense trash-talked the offense all the way to the final huddle where Crowton gave an impassioned speech to his young charges.
"It was an effective drill and I was happy about it," Crowton commented. The defense was up again intensity-wise and they're very good at that drill. We had better timing yesterday than we did today offensively, but the defense was tough. It was good to see them get after it like that," he said.
© copyright by TotalBlueSports.com


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Maxtrack, a European action sports distributor, is stoked to announce the launch of Bluebird Wax Europe. The first shipment of product has arrived and is being dispatched to retailers.
Read on for more from boardsportsource.com:
Bluebird Wax was started in 1996 from a kitchen table in Jackson, Wyoming (USA) with $300. Bluebird Wax dedicates all of their time to making hard, fast, long-lasting snowboard wax to keep you riding well all day. Top riders like Travis Rice and Marc Frank Montoya use Bluebird Wax on their snowboards because it performs as well during the last lap of the day as it did for the first.
The company is all about love over money and the team which is now a who's who of top snowboarders and produces a variety of pro waxes for some of the world's best snowboarders. Some of the best selling models are the Travis Rice All Temp Pro Wax, Bryan Iguchi All Temp Pro Wax and MFM All Temp Pro Wax.
Maxtrack is an established European distributor who first started working with MBS Mountainboards 15 years ago. They moved into snow 5 years ago by taking on the distribution for Never Summer Snowboards. They have just launched www.BluebirdWaxEurope.com to promote and help distribute the Bluebird product range.
The first shipment of Bluebird Wax has now arrived and pre orders have been dispatched to dealers. There is still stock available for dealers wanting to get involved – please contact Maxtrack by email: firstname.lastname@example.com or phone +44(0)1531 890955.


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|Davidonis, Gayle
|Meredith Jr, William
|Heiholt, J
|Richard, Olga
|Ingber, Bruce
Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2005
Publication Date: 6/4/2005
Citation: Davidonis, G.H., Meredith Jr, W.R., Heiholt, J., Richard, O.A., Ingber, B.F. Effects of seed weight changes on fibers per seed and fiber property uniformity. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. 2005. p. 1932. Interpretive Summary:
Technical Abstract: The average weight of a fiber is determined by the extent of primary and secondary wall development. Yield can be increased by increasing fiber weight and/or the number of fibers per seed. Since increasing fiber weight in some genotypes has the potential to increase micronaire to unacceptable levels, strategies need to be developed that limit cell wall deposition. Seed weight has shown a positive correlation with micronaire. Since and increase in the number of seeds per boll decreases average seed weight, strategies that alter the number of seeds per boll would be expected to alter fiber properties. Characterization of the relationship between seed weight, fibers per seed and fiber properties will supply basic information for strategy development. Cotton (Stoneville 474 and FiberMax 832)was grown under irrigated conditions in 1998 and 1999. First position bolls were tagged on 7/13-7/15/1998 (node 13-19) and on 8/2-8/4/1999 (nodes 15-19. For each tagged boll, mean seed weight and fiber properties were obtained. Fiber was analyzed using AFIS. The number of fibers per seed was calculated from AFIS length and fineness measurement using the relationship that, Fiber weight per seed=(AFIS mean length)(AFIS millitex)(number of fibers). Maximum seed weight was higher in 1999 than in 1998. In 1998 variability in bolls samples resulted in poor correlations between seed weight, fibers per seed, mean fiber length, mean length variability and cell wall thickness. In 1999, as seed weight increased, the number of fibers per seed increased. FiberMax 832 at maximum seed weight (153 mg)had more fibers than Stoneville 474 at maximum seed weight (129 mg). As seed weight increased, fiber mean length and cell wall thickness increased. Fiber length variability was experessed as mean length coefficient of variation [L(w)CV]. As seed weight increased, length uniformity increased. An increase in length uniformity paralleled the increase in cell wall thickness. At maximum seed weight, Stoneveille 474 had an L(w)CV of 17% while FiberMax 832 had an L(w)CV of 19%. Strategies to increase the number of seeds per boll may reduce micronaire values and decrease length uniformity. These strategies include the reduction in the number of unfertilized ovules per boll.


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Georgia state Rep. Terry England compared women to farm animals while discussing an abortion measure on the Georgia state house floor.
The republican lawmaker was commenting on HB 954 -- a measure which would prohibit a woman from having an abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy -- when he made the curious comparison, according to The Raw Story.
Georgia Republican Lawmaker, Compares Women To Farm Animals
Current Status: Published/No Action (12)
Seeded on Sat Mar 10, 2012 9:52 PM
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Your Own Trees
- Conferences
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- Forestry Reference Handbook
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- Interactive Tree ID
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- Cornell: Trees & Shrubs
- ISU Campus Trees
- Plant Maps
- The Science Dictionary
Local News
- Emerald Ash Borer
- Ash Spider Mite
- Pear Sawfly or Pearslug
- Ash Plant Bug
- Ash Sawflies
- Ash/Lilac Borer
- Leafcutter Bees
- Oystershell Scale
American Mountain Ash
(Sorbus americana)
The American Mountain Ash, also known as Mountain Ash or Roundwood, is a deciduous small to medium size tree, attaining a height of 30 feet (maximum 71 feet), and a trunk diameter of more than 1 foot. It does not grow rapidly and is considered a short-lived species.
The leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, 6 to 10 inches long with lance-shaped leaflets that are 2 to 3 inches long; fine and sharp toothed margins, dark yellow-green on top and paler beneath.
The fruits are pomes (berry-like), 1/4 inch in diameter, in large clusters, and an orange-red color when mature.
The twigs are thick, smooth, and gray to red color. The bark is light gray-brown, smooth on younger trunks, and rougher on older ones.
Considered a beautiful ornamental tree with no commercial value, it is commonly found in disturbed forest edges, cold swamp and bog margins, and rocky outcrops. Distinctly a northern species, it ranges from Newfoundland to Manitoba south to the northern portions of the United States and along the Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina.


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Emerald Coast ChapterWe are the beach people. The surfers, paddle boarders, kayakers, fishermen, swimmers, beach runners, and walkers. We are activists who want to protect the ocean environment, and our access to it! The ocean and beaches are our playground! More Details
Surfrider "State of the Beach" talk in Pensacola -Tuesday Aug. 14th
Surfrider Emerald Coast will be in Pensacola Tuesday to discuss our research findings and current oil disaster work. Please join us!
"State of the Beach" Report: Talk by Michael Sturdivant
Tuesday at 7pm at Bayview Senior Center, 2000 E. Lloyd St., Meeting Room 101, Pensacola, Florida


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Cleveland Browns RB Peyton Hillis said Wednesday that he encountered taunting this season because of his skin color.
Hills became the first white running back to rush for 1,000 since Craig James in 1985.
He told the Dan Patrick show (via the Canton Repository) that opposing teams trash-talked to him about his race on the field.
"Every team did it," he said. "They'll say, 'You white boy, you ain't gonna run on us today. This is ridiculous. Why are you giving offensive linemen the ball?'
"All kinds of stuff like that you hear on the field, but I use that to my advantage. I kind of soaked it in, ate it up a little bit, because I enjoyed it."
Hillis, acquired from the Denver Broncos last year, rushed for 1,177 yards for the Browns.
He told the Dan Patrick he's heard of nicknames others have created for him. Among them:
Hillis was primarily used as a fullback before joining the Browns. He credited former Cleveland coach Eric Mangini for giving him an opportunity.
"Coach Mangini came up to me before our first game, against the Buccaneers, and said he could see me being a 1,000-yard back," Hillis said.
"I never had a coach have that much confidence in me before. He helped me out a whole lot on a mental level."
Nate Davis is a reporter, blogger and editor who's been at USA TODAY since 2000. He has covered the NFL since 2005. No, he did not play quarterback for Ball State. Davis' succession of our esteemed colleague Sean Leahy at The Huddle is considered a Brady-for-Bledsoe swap by most "insiders."More about Nate


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EXCLUSIVE: Three True Blood veterans, co-executive producers Alexander Woo, Raelle Tucker and Brian Buckner, have signed separate 2-year overall deals with HBO. Under the 2-year pacts, the three will continue as co-executive producers on the vampire drama for the upcoming fifth season. Additionally, the deals call for UTA-repped Woo and Tucker and CAA-repped Buckner to develop new projects for the pay cable network. (Woo, Tucker and Buckner may also stay with True Blood if the series goes to a sixth season.) All 3 have been with the show, created and executive produced by Alan Ball, since the beginning.
Trio Of 'True Blood' Co-Executive Producers Sign Overall Deals With HBO
6 Comments
Go Bucky!
I'm sure Bucky is bright red with excitement.
Go Bucky !
I'm shocked this show has writers since it makes no sense at all.
Woo woo Alex Woo! Way to go, man, keep on killing it (onscreen and in your career). :-)
Writers? This show has writers? I thought the actors just threw fake blood on each other and had simulated sex over and over. Wait I guess that's writing.


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|Embargoed Until:
September 24, 2008
10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Yearly Premiums For Family Health Coverage Rise To $12,680 In 2008, Up 5 Percent, As Many Workers Also Face Higher Deductibles
Workers Pay An Average Of $3,354 Annually Toward Family Coverage, More Than Double What They Paid Nine Years Ago
Growing Shares Of Workers Now Face Deductibles Of At Least $1,000, Including More Than One-Third Of Those Covered By Smaller Firms
Bethesda, MD -- Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose to $12,680 annually for family coverage this year -- with employees on average paying $3,354 out of their paychecks to cover their share of the cost -- and the scope of coverage has changed, with many more workers now enrolled in high-deductible plans, according to the 2008 Employer Health Benefits Survey released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET). Key findings from the benchmark annual survey of small and large employers were also published today as a Web Exclusive in the journal Health Affairs. http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/hlthaff.27.6.w492
Premiums rose a more modest 5 percent this year, but they have more than doubled since 1999, when total family premiums stood at $5,791 (of which workers paid $1,543). During the same nine-year period, workers' wages increased 34 percent, and general inflation rose 29 percent.
This year many workers are also facing higher deductibles in their plans, including a growing number with general plan deductibles of at least $1,000 -- 18 percent of all covered workers in 2008, up from 12 percent last year. This is partly, but not entirely, driven by growth in consumer-directed plans such as those that qualify for a tax-preferred health savings account (HSA).
The shift has been most dramatic for workers in small businesses with 3-199 workers, where more than one in three (35 percent) covered workers must pay at least $1,000 out of pocket before their plan generally will start to pay a share of their health care bills -- rising from 21 percent last year. For workers facing deductibles in preferred provider organizations (PPOs), the most common type of plan, the average deductible rose to $560 in 2008, up nearly $100 from 2007.
"With rising deductibles, more and more people face a substantial amount out of pocket for their health care before their insurance fully kicks in," Kaiser President and CEO Drew Altman, Ph.D., said. "Health insurance is steadily becoming less comprehensive, and it's no wonder that in today's tough economic climate many families count health care costs as one of their top pocketbook issues."
"Even modest growth in premiums and deductibles can result in financial challenges for many working families, particularly when coupled with high food and gas prices in 2008. But rising health care costs are also a burden on employers, particularly small businesses," said HRET Interim President John Combes, M.D.
The annual Kaiser/HRET survey provides a detailed picture of how employer coverage is changing over time in terms of availability, costs, and coverage. It was conducted between January and May of 2008 and included 2,832 randomly selected, nonfederal public and private firms with three or more employees (1,927 of which responded to the full survey and 905 of which responded to a single question about offering coverage). The annual percentage premium increase is calculated by comparing this year's average premium to last year's, a change in methodology designed to be more reflective of changes across the entire market.
Most Workers Are In PPOs, Although Enrollment Rises In HSA-Qualified Plans
PPOs continue to dominate the employer market, covering 58 percent of covered workers. Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) cover 20 percent of workers, with 12 percent in point-of-service (POS) plans, 8 percent in consumer-directed plans, and 2 percent in conventional indemnity plans.
The share in consumer-directed plans -- high-deductible plans that include a tax-preferred savings option such as an HSA or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) -- has increased to 8 percent today from 5 percent last year and 4 percent in 2006. An estimated 5.5 million covered workers are enrolled in these plans, including about 3.2 million in plans that would allow the worker to establish an HSA and 2.2 million in plans with an HRA established by the employer.
The growth in consumer-directed plans occurred mostly among workers at small firms (3-199 workers), where 13 percent are now in this type of plan, compared with 8 percent in 2007. In firms with at least 200 employees, 5 percent of workers are enrolled in such plans -- statistically unchanged from last year. By definition, these plans all have high deductibles -- with the average general annual deductible for single coverage at $2,010 for HSA-qualified plans and $1,552 for HRAs.
Premiums for consumer-directed plans are generally lower than for other types of plans, although in addition to the premiums, employers may also contribute money to the savings accounts. On average, firms pay a total of $8,291 annually toward the cost of family coverage for a HSA-qualified plan, including a $1,522 contribution to the account. In comparison, firms on average contribute $9,495 toward the cost of family coverage in non-consumer-directed plans.
Among firms offering such consumer-directed plans, six in ten say that the primary reason was cost -- and more than four in ten say that in their opinion the most successful result has been lower costs. About four in ten employers say that communicating and educating their workers about the change was their greatest challenge in adopting consumer-directed plans.
Small Businesses And Their Workers Face Challenges
As in the past, smaller businesses are significantly less likely than larger ones to offer health insurance. While virtually all large firms (200 or more workers) offer health benefits to their workers, only 62 percent of smaller firms do so. Just under half (49 percent) of the smallest firms (3-9 workers) offer health benefits. Among all small firms (3-199 workers) not offering health benefits, nearly half (48 percent) cite high premiums as the most important reason for not doing so.
As in the past, the survey finds that workers in small businesses that offer health benefits on average pay more for family coverage than workers at larger firms do -- $4,101 annually for workers in small firms (3-199 workers), compared with $2,982 annually for workers in larger firms. For single coverage, the opposite is true, with workers at small firms annually contributing less on average than workers at large firms ($624 vs. $769).
"Many small businesses struggle just to provide any health benefits for their workers, and when it is offered, their workers on average pay more for family coverage and face higher deductibles than those at big employers," said Kaiser Vice President Gary Claxton, coauthor of the study and director of the foundation's marketplace research.
Three In Ten Large Employers Offer Retiree Health Benefits
The survey finds that 31 percent of large firms (200 or more workers) offer retiree health benefits this year, similar to the 33 percent that did so last year but less than half the 66 percent that did so in 1988.
Among those large firms offering retiree health benefits, 69 percent say that at least some active employees will be eligible for retiree health benefits if they retire at age 65 or older, and 90 percent say that some active employees will be eligible if they retire before age 65. Within these large firms reporting that at least some active employee are eligible for early-retiree or Medicare-age-retiree health benefits, about 78 percent of active workers would be eligible at age 65 or older, and 72 percent of active workers would be eligible if they retire before age 65.
Most Firms Offer Wellness Programs
The survey finds that more than half of all firms offering health benefits also provide at least one of seven wellness programs: weight loss program, gym membership discounts or on-site exercise facilities, smoking cessation programs, personal health coaching, classes in nutrition or healthy living, Web-based resources for healthy living, or a wellness newsletter. However, relatively few firms offer incentives such as gift cards, travel, merchandise, or cash (7 percent), a smaller share of the premium (4 percent), or a lower deductible (1 percent) to encourage workers to participate in wellness programs.
In addition, 10 percent of firms offering health benefits give their employees the option of completing a health risk assessment to help employees identify potential health risks, and of those, 12 percent offer some sort of financial incentive for workers to complete them.
"Large firms have invested in wellness programs and believe they improve health (79 percent) and reduce cost (68 percent)," said coauthor Jon Gabel, senior fellow at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.
Other key findings from the survey include the following:
Health Affairs, published by Project HOPE, is the leading journal of health policy. The peer-reviewed journal appears bimonthly in print with additional online-only papers published weekly as Health Affairs Web Exclusives at www.healthaffairs.org. The full text of each Health Affairs Web Exclusive is available free of charge to all Web site visitors for a two-week period following posting, after which it will switch to pay-per-view for nonsubscribers. Web Exclusives are supported in part by a grant from the Commonwealth Fund.
©2008 Project HOPEThe People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.


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As Americans examine the first 100 days of the Obama administration, it's important to make a candid assessment of the president's actions so far. These first months are widely considered an indicator of the policies the president will pursue in the years to come. So what have we seen so far?
As Iran continues to work feverishly to acquire nuclear weapons, the United States continues to pursue its policy of "engagement." Just one day after North Korea launched a long-range missile, the administration announced drastic cuts in missile-defense funding, including a halt to further deployment of Alaska-based interceptors designed to counter missiles from North Korea.
Our president, in a handshake seen around the world, embraced Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez while Venezuelan Jews face virulent, government-sponsored harassment.
We have seen Barack Obama reverse the Bush administration's policy of boycotting the U.N. Human Rights Council, the body that organized the Durban II conference against racism, and that continuously focuses on condemning Israel and turning a blind eye to the genocide in Darfur and other human-rights abuses.
The Obama administration further selected Charles "Chas" Freeman to be the chairman of the National Intelligence Council.
Freeman is a long-standing apologist for the Saudi regime, a harsh and ideological critic of Israel, and a proud subscriber to the Stephen M. Walt/John J. Mearsheimer "Israel Lobby" thesis. After a public outcry against him taking such a sensitive security post, Freeman stepped down.
Many mainstream media outlets have reported on the growing "tension" between the Obama administration and the new Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Obama administration has asked Congress to relax sanctions against the terrorist group Hamas, so that if Hamas and Fatah ever come to share power in a Palestinian unity government, the United States can continue to send millions of dollars to the territories.
We have seen trillions and trillions of dollars allocated to bailouts and new government spending. The massive growth of government engendered by this spending — and the debt burden that will be handed down to our children and grandchildren — will haunt us for decades.
Our security agencies have been paralyzed by the double punch of released intelligence memos and vague threats to prosecute those who protected this country from harm in the previous administration.
Despite numerous campaign promises of "transparency" and "openness," only one of the 11 bills signed by the president so far have been made available to the public for review before signing. (In fact, some of them weren't actually reviewed by members of Congress before they were whisked up to the president's desk.)
The president promised not to appoint lobbyists to his administration. He has appointed several, including former Raytheon lobbyist William Lynn to be deputy secretary of defense.
We have seen thousands of people across the United States protest against the high taxes and unimaginable government spending proposed by the current president. These "tea parties" — peaceful, truly grass-roots demonstrations of public opinion — were called "unhealthy" by senior White House adviser David Axelrod.
As Americans, we all want our president and our country to succeed in tough and challenging times. However, for those who care deeply about national security, the economy and other vital issues, these early days of the administration offer an opportunity to examine the president's priorities and intentions that should not be missed.
While the president's supporters will praise his actions in these first 100 days, many of the Obama administration's actions have been cause for concern for American Jews.
As such, a balanced and honest review is in order.
Matthew Brooks is executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition.


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Karamalikis, Juanda, Sahamies Headline Final 24 at EPT Barcelona
After four days of action the field at EPT Barcelona has been reduced to 24 players with several high-profile poker pros still gunning for the final table.
Local Samuel Rodriguez is the chip leader with 5.3 million chips but Aussie Jonathan Karamalikis is in second place with 3 million.
Poker superstars John Juanda (1.6 million chips) and Ilari Sahamies (1 million) are certainly still in the mix as the final table draws closer.
More established as a cash-game stud Ilari Sahamies has been a revelation at the EPT Barcelona and already finished fourth in the €50k high roller for €291,900. It remains to be seen if he can make it back-to-back final tables in Barcelona.
Interestingly two female players remain in the field as French player Lucille Cailly is stacked with 1.4 million while Dutch PokerStars pro Fatima Moreira de Melo is shorter with 805,000 but could potentially make the biggest score of her poker career in this event.
Welsh pro Roberto Romanello also secured a spot in Day 5 but will have his work cut out for him with only 497,000 chips.
De Meulder, Margets and 35 Others Eliminated on Day 4
Many final-table aspirations were put to bed on Day 4 of EPT Barcelona as 61 players entered the day.
Matthias De Meulder, Leo Margets, Andrey Zaichenko and Konstantin Puchkov were among the notable players who busted through five levels of play on Day 4.
Tomorrow the remaining 24 players will play down to a final table of eight players. It should be a riveting day of poker as the big names attempt to make one last push for the final table. Action resumes at 12:00 CET.
Here's a look at the top 10 chip counts at the end of Day 4:
1. Samuel Rodriguez – 5.3 million
2. Jonathan Karamalikis – 3 million
3. Mikalai Pobal – 2.7 million
4. Antonin Duda – 2 million
5. Anton Sinel – 1.9 million
6. John Juanda – 1.6 million
7. Ole Schemion – 1.5 million
8. Lucille Cailly – 1.4 million
9. Elias Gutierrez Hernandez – 1.29 million
10. Javier Piazuelo – 1.25 million
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5/25/12 Update
Just 50 days from Opening Day for the Summer Meet. There has been a slight modification to the end of the season. There will be no racing on Saturday December 1st, but a card was added to Sunday December 9th, which is now Closing Day.
Horse Racing's Biggest Day is coming up on Saturday May 5th, the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby! Portland Meadows will be throwing the biggest party in town with tons of great activities and ways to celebrate the Run for the Roses. Stay tuned to this page as we'll be updating all the events and news leading up to the Derby in the coming weeks. Doors will open up at 7:00am for wagering on Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby will be run just after 3pm.
The names atop the Portland Meadows Jockey and Trainer standings were all new faces to the top, as Javier Matias took his first Thoroughbred riding title, Felimon Alvarado his first training title, Luis Torres his first Quarter Horse riding title at Portland Meadows, Juan Sanguino won his first Quarter Horse training title, and Howard Belvoir took home the Leading Owner crown.
Portland Meadows wrapped up its 65thseason of live racing on Wednesday March 14th.
Fifty-Five (55) live race days were conducted between Opening Day on October 17thand Closing Day on March 14th.
All sources handle totaled $38,001,156 during the 2011-12 season for an average daily handle of $690,930. This represents a 2.63% increase from the average daily handle of $673,215 from the 73 live-day 2010-11 season.
Portland Meadows and 750 AM The Game sports radio are pleased to announce that The Winning Ticket Radio Show will continue throughout the off-season and into the new Summer Racing meeting every Sunday beginning March 18th. The show will also now be an hour program, running from 10am to 11am. The show is hosted by Portland Meadows Track Announcer Jason Beem and will air live on 750 AM The Game and can be streamed at www.750thegame.com.
1001 N. Schmeer Road - Portland, OR 97217
ph. (503) 285-9144
e. firstname.lastname@example.com


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[edit] "It's important to develop both technical skills AND communication skills. A good communicator makes all the difference in the real world."
Advice from Statistics Alumni
-Amy Stubbendick '96 Senior Biostatistician at Biogen Idec, a biotech company located in Cambridge, MA.
"Learn as much as you can about statistics - you might not realize it but statistics is one of the coolest, real-life applicable skills you will learn coming out of college."
-Ethan Bischoff '99 Data Analyst/Manager at Accenture
"1. It's too damn easy to pass the time. Week after week. Paycheck after paycheck. Don't let the days go by. Figure out what you REALLY want to do as early as possible.
2. Page through two books: What Color Is Your Parachute (2005) and Knock 'Em Dead (2005). They offer very different perspectives on the job search. The first helps you figure out what you ultimately want to do and then emphasizes that there's a back door strategy to landing a job where you shouldn't have to send out hundreds of resumes. The latter has practical hands-on strategies for facing an interview once you know what job you're going for specifically."
-Andrew Patterson '99 Database Marketing Analyst
"There are so many opportunities for someone who understands statistics. I did not realize how many areas of applications there were until I went to graduate school and started attending conferences. Whatever you do, find an area of interest and pursue it. If it doesn't turn out or if you change your mind, there is always another area out there that needs work. Statistics allows one to experiment in a lot of fields, yet gives you the flexibility to change if not entirely statisfied."
-Christine Kohnen '00 Assistant Professor at St. Olaf
"Depending on why you're a stats concentrator: a. If you have something you care about, stats can only help. The more of it you know, the more likely you are to be a rockstar [economist/sociologist/doctor/philosopher king/whatever]. b. If it's just "playing with data" you like, stats really is good way to open all kinds of doors. dream big. c. If it's really "statistics" you like, I don't think you actually need any of the "statistics" at Olaf. (it doesn't hurt, of course, but if you don't get it, you'll pick it up somewhere). Instead, learn linear algebra. Take all of the analysis. And do a little serious programming."
-Amanda Cox '01 Grad Student in Stat at U of Washington, soon to be graphics design editor for the New York Times
"If you are interested in applied statistics, it would be helpful to develop a substantive area of interest (e.g., economics, sociology, psychology, biology, medicine). Also take as many applied statistics courses as possible (economics might offer econometrics; I know psychology used to offer experimental design). The combination of a substantive area with knowledge of statistics makes you extremely marketable."
-Kevin Yoder '94 Assistant professor of sociology at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX
"If you are interested in becoming a statistician, I would highly recommend getting at least an M.S. degree in stats. I would also recommend becoming proficient in SAS since most employers (especially Fortune 500) use SAS for statistical analysis. Finally, I would recommend finding a summer internship to any student in stat at St. Olaf."
-Jon Francis '94 Senior Statistician at Amazon.com
"One way to focus your job or graduate schools goals is to combine statistics with other skills and interests. I have been able to combine my two interests--history and math, my majors at St. Olaf--in academic work and in my job. I am a demographic historian and I recently completed a Ph.D. in history at the University of Minnesota. My statistics background was a great advantage in my studies. Combining statistical knowledge with writing skills, however, has been critical for my jobs throughout graduate school."
-Catherine Fitch '95 Research Coordinator at the Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota
"I think that industry in general has a great need for statistical analysis, but the people in charge don't always know it. I would say be prepared to find ways to be creative with what you've learned, don't expect to just be told what to do. Everywhere I look in my organization, we have tons of data, yet not many know how to use that data to enhance reporting at the organization. Also, I would say do as much as you can to learn the current software tools. Data is typically gathered in a sql-compliant database, so a basic knowledge of SQL would be good too."
-Matthew Eliason '97 Application Architect at US Bank
"'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind....You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' seems like good general advice. For specific advice, I'd have to know the student!"
-Nathan Grawe '96 Assistant Professor of Economics at Carleton College
"Learn how to balance your career and your life as soon as you can."
-Julie Mattson '99 Actuary at Towers Perrin
"Learn lots of software if you can, take a computer programming class or two. There are a lot more options for students with bachelor's degrees than you might think, but the job pool becomes a lot larger when you have a Master's degree. Mayo is about the only place I know of where you can do academic work (publish papers in scholarly journals) with only a BA, but many for-profit companies have bachelor's-level statisticians as well, such as insurance companies, medical device companies like Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Guidant, American Medical Systems, etc, pharmaceutical companies as well as most manufacturers also use statisticians. Think long and hard about what your goals are in your career, do you want to publish papers in scholarly journals (expect to make less money than if you were in the for-profit domain) or do you want to help a company get FDA or other types of approval for their products (a lot more money in this line of work, but no publications). Gettting a Master's degree is harder (and more competitive) than getting a bachelor's degree. Don't expect to walk in and get A's without a lot of very hard work (even if you thought undergraduate was a breeze!). From my experience, MS programs in statistics tend to be harder than most other MS programs. If you're not 100% sure that you love statistics, there are lots of other areas you can focus on like Epidemiology, Public Health, Public Policy, Social Sciences, etc. that would give you an opportunity to use some statistics, but wouldn't necessarily lock you into working with numbers all day long."
-Erin McMurtry '01 Data Analyst at Mayo Clinic
"An advanced degree (in stats. or other areas) will assist greatly in opening job/career opportunities."
-Anne Otte '94 Independent Consultant in Clinical Study Management Companies
"Statistics is something that is applicable to all fields--I chose to specialize in statistics applied to the biomedical field because of how much more meaningful it is (as compared to the business world) although I had very little science background before graduate school. If you want to continue with Statistics after St. Olaf, UW has an excellent school that focuses more on the theoretical math of statistics relative to other programs (which tend to me more applied)."
-Leslie Taylor '01 PhD Program at University of Washington
"Career-wise, probably the best advice I could give is to go to grad school. My career has been entirely in academia and a Master's degree is almost a necessity here. The school doesn't have to be a great school--though I think a good school probably does give one a slight edge--because I think simply having an MA/MS will open many more doors in the academic world. And, if you really want a job, specialize in genetics (esp. proteomics) or finance. Life-wise...well, I guess I'd say get a job where you could actually help people. It makes the job much more rewarding."
-Ryan Wiegand '00 Research Associate, Medical University of South Carolina
"Only consider graduate school if you're very, very serious about it."
-Ben French '01 PhD Student, University of Washington-Seattle
"In my case, I would advise a student to work with real data analysis projects and to work on his or her communication skills. I find myself drafting memos and e-mails to investigators and data entry personnel every day. Being able to describe a problem or study results to different personnel levels on a research project has been challenging at times."
-Alfred Furth '98 Statistician, Mayo Clinic
"1. Get as much practical experience as you can (ie Math Practicum, REU's, or any other data analysis or research opportunities you can find.) 2. If graduate school is in your future, it definitely helps to have a good idea of what your long-range goals are before deciding on a program. Some schools track you towards more applied work (like what I'm doing at my current job), while others are much more PhD-oriented and focus more on theory from the beginning."
-Lynne Peeples '02 Biostatistician and Grad Student, Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard School of Public Health
"Without my statistics concentration, I would never have accepted a research assistant position with the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC after graduating from St. Olaf since this position revolved around statistical analysis (econometrics) and programming. It is because of this position that I have such a strong understanding of the US stock market and been able to advance in my current field. So, my advice is that very few people will have the background that you will have after graduating from St. Olaf, take advantage of it with the idea that you may have to start one or two degrees away from your ideal field."
-Eric Richards '99 Equity Research Associate; Bear, Stearns & Co.


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We thought we'd seen it all with the NSW Labor government, a synonym for maladministration. But the government's shambolic sale of energy retailers and power contracts is a cautionary tale that keeps on giving. On Tuesday night, NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal was forced to stack the boards of two state-owned power companies with Labor mates to force through sales, which the eight directors who quit en masse thought were not in the commercial interests of the companies.
The former Labor ministers and loyal public servants obliged Mr
Then again, perhaps the departing directors were wringing their hands over nothing. Experts believe the $5.3 billion sale of three retailers and two "gentrader" contracts (rights to sell power offtake from the Eraring and Delta West power stations) yielded about $8 billion less than the going price without a carbon price.
The Gillard federal government promises to introduce a carbon price, and the bidders took it at its word and discounted the assets accordingly, although part of the discount is probably attributable to the messy sale process.
It is further proof of NSW Labor's missing integrity that it is scrambling to complete these sales ahead of a certain electoral drubbing in March, at which point a Coalition government would be pledged to undo them if it can.
NSW Labor and unions may have cost the state tens of billions of dollars by not selling the power assets in the 1990s, but the greater risk is to the nation's reputation as a safe, predictable place to invest.
The Gillard government, which shows worrying signs of having been infected with the NSW Labor disease, needs to take note of this lesson. Good government requires unpopular decisions, but putting them off too long and being forced into expedient second-best solutions ultimately does more damage to a party's electoral standing.
The Australian Financial Review