text:
Originally, I had planned my trip to Germany for July 2003, to coincide with my 30th birthday. Given vacation time issues, money, and the war in Iraq, I decided not to go and defer it until this summer. In Dec. 2003, UA increased the number of miles that you could buy in order to redeem for an award flight. At that time, I had 29,000 miles, and needed another 21,000 to reach the "Saver" Award. Since I had decided to go to Germany first, and then fly home from LHR, and knew my dates of travel at that point, I called up UA to get my options for flights to/from. The original routing outbound was SEA-ORD-FRa, on UA940, and then 949 coming back from LHR, via ORD. Seating availability was really limited for me, as I was on a saver award. Still, the cost to buy the 21k miles was $590, plus $71 for all the EU/UK taxes. Not bad, considering it would have been upwards of $1,600 if I didn't have the miles. About a month later, I was contacted by UA (email I think) to contact them regarding a change in my flight. Great, I thought...turns out that UA wasn't operating the ORD-FRa flight that left ORD at 9pm CT. The guy looked at the other options, and with a supervisor approval, I was put on #916, which originated in SEA and went to FRa, with a stop/change of planes at IAD. Perfect! I love flying through IAD, and I was flying out on my 31st birthday, and would be my first flight on a 777!
The six months leading up to my trip was difficult for me, personally and professionally, so this trip was a way for me to forget everything and have a good time. I had done a lot of research, and by the time I left, I had every day in Germany planned out, covering nearly every corner of the country in 10 days. About a month before the flight, I checked the UA website itinerary again, and the times/flight numbers were the same, following a small 20 min. change in departure from SEA and LHR on the 26th. The one major change was that the IAD-FRa segment would now be a 744!!!!!! I had been in one when I worked for UA in SEA, but never flown on one. I was thrilled beyond belief.
7/3/04- MY 31st BIRTHDAY!
Ch. 9: Not at first, but then YES.
Wx: cloudy, with drizzle in south Everett/north Seattle.
Reg: N580UA
Photo © John F. Zielinski
Photo © Chris Barrow
(I'd use my own pictures, but the webmaster doesn't seem to like mine, so I'm using what's on the website already)
The day had FINALLY come...given that I live 2 miles from PAE, the most cost effective way for me to get to SEA is via the local Shuttle Express vans, $35 plus tip. Only problem is that you have to make other stops to pick up others, so the van had to pick me up at 3:45am, and my flight didn't leave until 8am. Yikes. I woke up at 3am that morning...
We arrived at SEA at 5am, which was earlier than I expected. I had a full backpack and a smaller wheeled-suitcase that is the max. size allowable without having to check it. That was my goal: pack smart, and don't check in bags. Not that I don't trust UA, but it's a waste of time having to wait on the other end. My trip was 3 weeks, but only packed for 10 days, as I'd be doing laundry at my Uncle's in Scotland. The check in counter line was long, but moved quickly. Since my flights were int'l., as far as I knew, I couldn't use the easyCheck-In system, which is GREAT. I was in line for 10 minutes, and then the guy behind the counter issued my boarding pass, and told me I wouldn't have to check in the case. Perfect...total time at the counter: less than 5 minutes. It was on to the TSA security checkpoint, which meant another 10 minute line, but seemed to move fairly quickly. I went through security without hassles. The guy ahead of me somehow forgot he had put scissors about a foot in length in his suitcase, and quickly surrendered them to TSA after turning bright red, and boy, that sure must have woken him up!
After getting to the North satellite, the first order of business was to get a tall, non-fat mocha with whip cream and a piece of banana bread at Starbucks, which of course is strategically placed near the top of the escalator. I then walked around to see the other flights: a US flight to PHL, AS planes at N7 and N8, and other UA planes headed to various destinations. I think I saw an AC A320, but can't recall right now. My flight was leaving from N6, and there was a 752 already there. But, it was heading someplace, and shortly pushed back after I got to the gate area, probably an early departure to DEN or SFO. Shortly after, N580UA pulled up, which is what I'd be riding on.
Boarding started on-time at 7:30am, and was uneventful. A full flight, but don't recall hearing requests for volunteers to take a later flight. I sure wasn't, I had waited long enough! I made my way back to 24A, and stuffed my backpack under my seat and the wheeled case in the overhead bin, which proved challenging. There was a college kid from Syracuse, NY who I talked to a little, and the guy on the aisle said nothing. The doors were shut, we pushed back, and after a very smoky startup on the #1 engine, we were off to the races, specifically 16L. The captain came on an announced Ch. 9, and the call sign of UA8158. However, due to some audio problems, it wasn't actually on so I couldn't hear the taxi out and conversations following takeoff. We took off, and I saw an EVA Air 744 parked in the cargo area. We made a left turn over Federal Way and then headed east, making our way up to FL370. After following the route of US Highway 2, once the clouds broke up, I could see downtown Wenatchee, but not Lake Chelan to the north. Just east of Wenatchee (EAT), the audio problem was fixed, and I picked up Ch. 9. The movie was "The Whole Ten Yards" with Matthew Perry and Bruce Willis. I didn't like the first one, so I wasn't going to watch this one. Besides, as any A-net member knows, Ch. 9 is the ultimate IFE! Ch. 9 was fairly active, so I was writing notes a pretty quick pace, all for the purpose of my report!
To make things go a little faster, here's the highlights:
Meals: Cheese omelette with German-style sausages, southwestern potatoes, orange juice, and an orange flavored cake. Later in the flight, we were given another drink and some mini-pretzels. I didn't eat the omellete.
Cabin service quality: No problems...just like the vast majority of UA flights I've been on. Interestingly enough, I was really watching the UA employees at SEA and on the flight to see if the morale had gone down, because only a few days earlier that week, UA was turned down for the 3rd and final time for the ATSB loan guarantees. But...nothing. Everyone I had encountered so far was polite and professional, which is what I always experience at UA.
Route to IAD, based on Ch. 9: we followed the route of I-90 across northern Idaho, then over Montana, some light chop over South Dakota to Minneapolis, and then over Lake MI towards GRR. At that point, we were given our route for the rest of the flight: direct to Bel Air, Jet City, and Morgantown, WV. Over Lake MI, we made a right turn heading 160, then 140, then 120, and back to 140. There was also a reference to Drier/Dryer on Airway 34. Another navigation point mentioned was Kessel, not sure where that is.
Descent and landing: FL370 down to 330, then to 290, 250, then to 11,250 feet, down to 070 before entering the traffic pattern for IAD. We turned south for the downwind leg, turned left for the base, and left again for final t landing on 1L. OAT was 86 degrees, and the altimeter setting was 29.98. It was a smooth landing, and we taxiied to D11.
- Exactly what I had anticipated, no problems. Slight deduction due to the audio difficulties for the first 30 minutes and lack of Ch. 9.
Layover at IAD:
Following a pee break, I took some pictures of the TED aircraft and gate area. People must have thought I was nuts or something. Oh well, too bad. Then...I saw her! No, not a beautiful blonde, but N777UA!!!! Below the cockpit were the words "Working Together"..the first 777 to enter service. I was thrilled...I had the unique pleasure of walking around this plane the day she was delivered to UA on May 15th, 1995, in PDX, parked at gate E5. I was hoping to fly on it, but at least I saw it, and on my birthday. Part of a GREAT day. And...sitting next to N777UA, was the 757 (N508UA?)in the new livery, so I took a shot of that. I guess I like it, but it will take some time to get used to it. I still like the red/orange/blue myself. Finally, it was down to C1 for the continuation of 916 to FRa. For anyone who knows IAD, the distance between D11 and C1 is pretty significant, and I was surprised that for a flight that continued on, UA didn't try to park it closer to the international flight.
UA 916, IAD-FRa
B747-400 (not sure the specific model of this 744, sorry)
Ch. 9: NO
Wx: sunny, but a little hazy. Probably really f---ing humid, too. OAT: 86
Reg: N174UA, del. date 1/20/90
Photo © George Canciani
Photo © Resocha
Photo © Aaron Hall
Photo © Aaron Mandolesi - Mile High Images
I got down to C1 just in time, and boarding had actually already just begun. The lounge was REALLY packed, mainly due to the fact that our 744 was boarding, PLUS there was an LH744 presumably going to FRa as well, parked right across at C2. So, imagine two full 744's of pax at one end of a concourse...at IAD. Claustrophobia city! Anyhow, I fought through the mob with my wheeled case and backpack to the counter. I had 34C, which was the original seat assignment on the 777, and still had it on the 744. Mission: get a window seat, which is what I prefer. The lady behind the counter was on her own and in a rush. I gave her my boarding pass that was issued back in SEA, and asked if I could get window seat. Quick answer: YES! On top of that, it was in Economy Plus, and I was supposed have been in reg. Economy. Happy Birthday to me from United Airlines! Cool...37A, over the back part of the left wing and just behind door #3. I asked the f/a if I could go up to the flight deck, and she advised I could, but after we landed. No problem. Also, I noticed the Spanish-speaking f/a, about my age, was gorgeous! Black hair, great smile, a little chunky, but sadly for me, had a ring. Anyway, nice eye candy for 7 hours! Seated next to me was a teenager named Alex from nearby Ashburn, VA, and a larger sized African-American woman from TPA, on her way to Nigeria, who liberally put on some perfume she bought at a duty-free shop. Not overly obnoxious, though...better than b.o., I guess. Anyhow, both of these two happened to have the new Bill Clinton book, and quickly opened it up and went into a trance it seemed. Why anyone would carry a 900-page book on vacation, I don't know.
I started taking pics. instantly. The one of the TV screen and map didn't come out, but took several of the wing and winglet, but #1 and #2 weren't visible from my angle. I couldn't even hear the engines start up, and took some more pics. once the flaps were set. According to the display, estimated flight time was 7:10. We had a fairly quick taxi out to 1R, behind an AZ 763. That took off, and then I got another pic. as we turned onto 1R.
Takeoff was AWESOME!! The engines spooled up and we were on our roll...due to the heat and humidity, we used about 6-7k of runway before rotating. Being close to the engines, I could really feel the plane surging through the thick air like a hot knife through butter. Add in some vapor trails, and damn...BEST TAKEOFF EVER! We continued north into MD, and then turned right (another wing/winglet pic. at this point) and flew south of BWI out towards the "Del-Mar-Va" peninsula east of Baltimore, which consists of the three states of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, for those who didn't know that. I wanted to follow the map, but unfortunately, they started the main part of the IFE at that point. We were also given drinks and a party-mix to snack on, and also a hot towlette at this point. The documentaries were about sharks, and then about trying to find the wreckage of Columbus' Santa Maria. Interesting.
Movies were "Starsky and Hutch" and then Hidalgo, once we approached the coast of Europe. I didn't watch S&H, but I did see Hidalgo, which was actually pretty good! I recommend it, and I don't even like horses.
Again, to make things go a little quicker here:
Meals: I chose the beef, which consisted of beef chunks in gravy, along with vegetables, salad, a fruit/cheese plate, and a piece of spice cake, which was the closest thing to birthday cake! Also, since drinks were free, I treated myself to a Heineken. (they didn't have Pabst Blue Ribbon, neighbor...) I usually don't drink alcohol on the international flights, as it speeds up the dehydration process and adds to jet lague. Still, it was my b-day, so why the f--k not?
We had something for breakfast, but I forgot what it was, and didn't write it down.
Route: Ok, with no Ch. 9 and no constant map on the screen, so I'm defaulting to my knowledge of IAD-Europe flights here: Take off to the north, right turn and over southern Maryland out to the Delmarva peninsula, and then northeast past NJ, NY, CT, RI, and Boston. Continue NE towards Newfoundland, and then east over the Atlantic, towards the southwestern tip of Ireland, and I officially turned 31 a few hundred miles southwest of Ireland after calculating the local time at the origin (IAD). Then, gradually southeast towards Belgium, Luxembourg, and then the start of our descent near Bitburg, Germany. The map came on again, and we crossed over Mosel river halfway between Trier and Koblenz. We continued on towards Mainz, and then it got a little hazy for me on specifics, as we made 2-3 turns, and then I got caught up again...we flew south of FRa, and then turned left, and left again, and landed on 26R.
I took pictures like crazy of the approach and landing, especially with the flaps and speed brakes. Across the airfield, I noticed the US Air Force base...Ramstein, isn't it? The runway at FRa was a little rough. We taxied over the the terminal and I saw a lot of Condor and LH planes parked. In the distance, I saw UA 945 from ORD land, which was a 772. We pulled up to gate B28 and parked. As I waited for everyone to get off, I noticed a CX 744 being towed to it's gate.
Finally, everyone got off, and I then asked again if I could visit the flight deck. I had seen it once before in 1996, but wanted my picture taken of me sitting in the captain's seat. The F/A called up, and I was given the green light to go up, after leaving my stuff down below. I saw the awesome Business/Conoisseur seats upstairs, and then got up to the flight deck, which still seems cramped on the 744. The f/o was there, his name was Sal, which I suspected was his nickname, as that was the initials on his crew bag. He started out flying smaller planes for UA, presumably 737 and 727's, and then made his way to the 747. Anyhow, he was more than happy to let me sit in the captains seat and let me take pictures, including two of me, which was what I wanted. He then turned on the avionics and pointed out key instruments. Granted, I knew what several were, especially the basics, and then I asked about some others and pointed out some other things. He seemed impressed about what I knew, and asked if I was a pilot myself. I replied "I wish" and he then said it seemed like I knew my way around the flight deck pretty well! Needless to say, that REALLY made my day. Sal was getting anxious to pack up this things and get going, which was understandable. I went back downstairs, thanked everyone for allowing me to go upstairs, and for a great flight.
In the 10 minutes or so it took to leave the flight deck, exit the aircraft, and walk towards customs, I must have had the biggest smile on my face. After a great first flight on the 744, being on the flight deck and having the f/o tell me I knew my way around pretty well, two things happened:
- I realized that despite what I had been told years earlier, I SHOULD get my pilots license! I already know a lot, it interests me, and why stop there?
- 6 months of personal and professional setbacks and disappointments were quickly washed away into oblivion. What a great start to my vacation, and towards getting my life back in order.
OVERALL GRADE FOR UA 916, IAD-FRa: A+ !!!!!!!!
I am more than willing to forgive the lack of Ch. 9...this flight was by far my BEST EVER on UNITED!
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it!
[Edited 2004-08-02 02:23:53]


text:
Dirty Dancing and the Constitution: discover a new way to view an old classic
Long before Justin Bieber came along and channeled MacGyver by making a career out of a haircut and singing the word baby incessantly, there was a little movie that made Baby Houseman a pop culture icon.
She inspired teenage girls across the nation to wear white Keds, tie their shirts in knots, and practice complicated dance moves while walking across bridges, logs serving as bridges, and at times while swimming fully clothed, in various bodies of water. Dirty Dancing. The best movie. Ever.
I always watch it if it's on. At the very least, if I realize it's on during one of my favorite, look-at-how- talented-I-am-and-you're-not shows (Top Chef, Project Runway), Dirty Dancing will occupy the alt channel, and I'll switch over and watch during commercials to calm my nerves as I await various judges' agonizing decisions. I watch. I swoon. I recite the words and reminisce about the days when Patrick Swayze was alive and Jennifer Grey had her old nose.
So, naturally you can imagine my surprise while watching recently, when I realized a Constitutional connection I have so egregiously overlooked in the past 24 years. Baby, whose real name is Frances, was named after the first female member of the Cabinet?
You remember the scene: Johnny, with hungry eyes, asks Baby what her real name is, and she explains. I had to find out more about this woman. I put down my cockapoo and told him, for the tenth time, that I wouldn't dance with him if he insisted on having spaghetti arms, and went straight to the computer.
Indeed, the internet confirmed, Frances Perkins became the first woman to join the Cabinet as the U.S. Secretary of Labor during all three terms of the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration this day in history in 1933.
Educated at Mt. Holyoke College and Columbia University, Perkins made a name for herself in New York City politics by advocating for better wages and better working conditions for laborers. In 1929, after three years of working on the New York State Industrial Commission, then Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, appointed her as the commissioner. When he became president in 1933, he took Perkins with him and appointed her to the post for which she would become most well-known.
During her tenure as U.S. Secretary of Labor, she:
- expanded factory investigations
- reduced the workweek
- championed minimum wage
- championed unemployment benefits
- supported welfare
- supported federal regulations on child labor
- engaged in hearings and established reports that ultimately resulted in the Social Security Act of 1935, which still ensures continued wages for retired and unemployed individuals today.
Perkins joined hands and hearts and voices. Voices, hearts, and hands in the pursuit of fair treatment for the American worker. I have to say that knowing what I know now, I'm a little bummed that Baby decided not to go by Frances. Her namesake was quite a woman. I'm comforted however when I remember that like Perkins, Baby goes on to stand up for what she believes and becomes quite the woman herself. It took guts to go that guy from Law and Order to get help when Penny was in trouble! He was scary.
So next time you're watching Dirty Dancing, looking for a little inspiration, remember Frances Perkins. Nobody put her in a corner either.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Geir Pedersen
|915 14 708
Publications 2017
Investigation of breaking and non-breaking solitary waves and measurements of swash zone dynamics on a 5 degrees beach
Coast. Eng., 120, 38-46
Publications 2016
Fish finding with autonomous surface vehicles for the pelagic fisheries
Primary emotional traits in patients with personality disorders
Personal Ment Health, 10 (4), 261-273
PubMed 27257161
Relative acoustic frequency response of induced methane, carbon dioxide and air gas bubble plumes, observed laterally
J Acoust Soc Am, 140 (4), 2902
PubMed 27794353
Alcohol use disorders are associated with increased affective lability in bipolar disorder
J Affect Disord, 208, 316-324
PubMed 27810713
Tsunami-Genesis Due to Retrogressive Landslides on an Inclined Seabed
Impulsivity-related traits distinguish women with co-occurring bulimia nervosa in a psychiatric sample
Int J Eat Disord, 49 (12), 1093-1096
PubMed 27567004
Publications 2015
Attachment styles in patients with avoidant personality disorder compared with social phobia
Psychol Psychother, 89 (3), 245-60
PubMed 26332087
Development and Evaluation of a Forward-looking Acoustic Camera for Opaque Media Tested at High Temperature and High Pressure
Experiences in Close Relationships – Psychometric properties among patients with personality disorders
Personal Ment Health, 9 (3), 208-19
PubMed 26033784
Publications 2014
Step-down versus outpatient psychotherapeutic treatment for personality disorders: 6-year follow-up of the Ullevål personality project
BMC Psychiatry, 14, 119
PubMed 24758722
Poor Validity of the DSM-IV Schizoid Personality Disorder Construct as a Diagnostic Category
J Pers Disord, 29 (3), 334-46
PubMed 25248009
Changing from a traditional psychodynamic treatment programme to mentalization-based treatment for patients with borderline personality disorder--does it make a difference?
Psychol Psychother, 88 (1), 71-86
PubMed 25045028
Testing different versions of the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales in a clinical sample
PLoS One, 9 (10), e109394
PubMed 25289939
The three factors of the psychoticism scale of SCL-90-R
Personal Ment Health, 10 (3), 244-55
PubMed 25475425
Self-harm and suicidal behavior in borderline personality disorder with and without bulimia nervosa
J Consult Clin Psychol, 83 (3), 643-8
PubMed 25495360
Psychometric properties of the Affective Lability Scale (54 and 18-item version) in patients with bipolar disorder, first-degree relatives, and healthy controls
J Affect Disord, 172, 375-80
PubMed 25451440
Publications 2013
Accuracy of the Kirchhoff-approximation and Kirchhoff-ray-mode fish swimbladder acoustic scattering models
PLoS One, 8 (5), e64055
PubMed 23691146
Eating disorders in a large clinical sample of men and women with personality disorders
Int J Eat Disord, 46 (8), 801-9
PubMed 23983043
Publications 2012
The MBT Adherence and Competence Scale (MBT-ACS): development, structure and reliability
Psychother Res, 23 (6), 705-17
PubMed 22916991
Why the factorial structure of the SCL-90-R is unstable: comparing patient groups with different levels of psychological distress using Mokken Scale Analysis
Psychiatry Res, 200 (2-3), 819-26
PubMed 22494703
Publications 2011
Some suggestions for the DSM-5 schizotypal personality disorder construct
Compr Psychiatry, 53 (4), 341-9
PubMed 21741634
The symptom and function dimensions of the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale
Compr Psychiatry, 53 (3), 292-8
PubMed 21632038
A study of the dimensionality and measurement precision of the SCL-90-R using item response theory
Int J Methods Psychiatr Res, 20 (3), e39-55
PubMed 21812065
Publications 2010
Validity aspects of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, narcissistic personality disorder construct
Compr Psychiatry, 52 (5), 517-26
PubMed 21193181
Long-term continuation treatment after short-term day treatment of female patients with severe personality disorders: Body awareness group therapy versus psychodynamic group therapy
Nord J Psychiatry, 64 (2), 115-22
PubMed 20392134
Using measures from the SCL-90-R to screen for personality disorders
Personal. Ment. Health, 4 (2), 121-132
Psychiatric symptoms and countertransference feelings: an empirical investigation
Psychiatry Res, 178 (1), 191-5
PubMed 20452056
Publications 2009
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, paranoid personality disorder diagnosis: a unitary or a two-dimensional construct?
Compr Psychiatry, 50 (6), 533-41
PubMed 19840591
Substance use disorders among personality disordered patients admitted for day hospital treatment. Implications for service developments
Nord J Psychiatry, 63 (1), 57-63
PubMed 19172500
Inferring the acoustic dead-zone volume by split-beam echo sounder with narrow-beam transducer on a noninertial platform
J Acoust Soc Am, 125 (2), 698-705
PubMed 19206847
The impact of avoidant personality disorder on psychosocial impairment is substantial
Nord J Psychiatry, 63 (5), 390-6
PubMed 19333817
Nineteen-month stability of Revised NEO Personality Inventory domain and facet scores in patients with personality disorders
J Nerv Ment Dis, 197 (3), 187-95
PubMed 19282686
Publications 2008
When costs count: the impact of staff size, skill mix and treatment intensity on patient outcome for psychotherapeutic day treatment programmes
Health Policy, 86 (2-3), 255-65
PubMed 18083268
The quality of the DSM-IV obsessive-compulsive personality disorder construct as a prototype category
J Nerv Ment Dis, 196 (6), 446-55
PubMed 18552621
Specific personality traits evoke different countertransference reactions: an empirical study
J Nerv Ment Dis, 196 (9), 702-8
PubMed 18791432
A study of patients with personality disorder not otherwise specified
Compr Psychiatry, 49 (5), 460-8
PubMed 18702931
Publications 2007
The relationship between avoidant personality disorder and social phobia
Compr Psychiatry, 48 (4), 348-56
PubMed 17560956
Associations between patient characteristics and ratings of treatment milieu
Nord J Psychiatry, 61 (4), 271-8
PubMed 17763120
An empirical study of countertransference reactions toward patients with personality disorders
Compr Psychiatry, 48 (3), 225-30
PubMed 17445515
Publications 2006
The quality of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition dependent personality disorder prototype
Compr Psychiatry, 47 (6), 456-62
PubMed 17067868
An investigation of the validity of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition avoidant personality disorder construct as a prototype category and the psychometric properties of the diagnostic criteria
Compr Psychiatry, 47 (5), 376-83
PubMed 16905400
Generalizability studies of the Global Assessment of Functioning-Split version
Compr Psychiatry, 48 (1), 88-94
PubMed 17145287
Publications 2003
Day treatment of patients with personality disorders: experiences from a Norwegian treatment research network
J Pers Disord, 17 (3), 243-62
PubMed 12839103
Outpatient group psychotherapy following day treatment for patients with personality disorders
J Pers Disord, 17 (6), 510-21
PubMed 14744077


text:
Winner: Richard Kessel
Richard KesselFormer CEO
Richard Kessel, of Merrick, was honored last month at EAC Network's annual Golf Outing, "Golf For Good," at North Shore Country Club in Glen Head in recognition of his work with at-risk children, families and communities. Kessel, a member of EAC Network's board of directors since 2000, is a former president and chief executive of the New York Power Authority and before that served as president and chief executive of the Long Island Power Authority, for which he also served two terms as chairman of its board of trustees. He began his career in public service and was executive director of the New York State Consumer Protection Board from 1984-1995.


text: Broken String Band Caffe LenaSaratoga Springs, NY Share this event: Warm up for St. Patrick's Day with the Broken String Band, the Capital Region's oldest Irish Traditional Music band! This well-rounded quintet will perform classic Irish dance tunes and modern compositions in the tradition, as well as some great songs by Capital District bard George Ward. The band consists of founding band member and leader Ray Wall (hammered dulcimer, penny whistle, low d whistle, bodhran), co-founder George Ward (concertina, piano accordion, guitar, vocals), Peter Jones (fiddle), Eric Everson (Irish bouzouki, guitar, vocals), Kara Doyle (uilleann pipes, whistle, low d whistle, bodhran, vocals), and Hilary Schrauf (fiddle). Get Tickets There are no active dates for this event. Powered by Pre-sales end two hours before showtime. Remaining tickets will be available at the door while supplies last, starting a 1/2 hour before showtime. If the show sells out in advance, a Sold Out Message will be posted immediately on the Caffe's voicemail (518-583-0022). Not Available LocationCaffe Lena (View) 47 Phila Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 United States Map is loading... Categories Music > Celtic Kid Friendly: Yes! Dog Friendly: No Non-Smoking: Yes! Wheelchair Accessible: No Contact Email:email@example.com


text:
Doesn't Shane remind you of Christopher Lloyd's character Rev. Jim from Taxi?
Printable View
Doesn't Shane remind you of Christopher Lloyd's character Rev. Jim from Taxi?
Winning that challenge exposed... wit?
What is this idiotic thing Aras keeps doing with his hair? He looks like a 4yr old making a mohawk when he shampoo his hair.
Come to think of it, Aras is an idiot, it must be his head that's got a point, not his hair
The breakfast is hampered by nasty weather.
At least Aras has the sense to realize that winning the reward is going to put a target on his back. Too bad he relized too late.
Great idea. Setup a bed in a storm.
Why would these idiots admit who they're booting to the enemy?
Terry is trying to ascertain the final 4 from Shane, so he can find out which 2 Casayans are lowest on the totem pole. But Aras previously warned Shane and the rest of them not to give out any info.
We're having a storm here too. I feel for them, wouldn't want to be outside right now.


text:
LONDON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- A British website is offering a $4.6 million Christmas wreath created by a Finnish floral designer with diamonds, rubies and rare flowers.
VeryFirstTo.com, headquartered in London, said the $4,645,800 wreath was created by Pasi Jokinen-Carter, a floral designer and director of Flor Unikon Flowers, ABC News reported Wednesday.
Jokinen-Carter said the "exciting and exceptional project" features some of the most rare flowers and leaves in the world and the star of the creation is comprised of a vivid red 17.49 carat ruby and a 3.03 carat fancy yellow diamond.


text:
Rings are potent symbols of power, the circle of life, and promises to keep. At Gemvara, we believe that the rings you wear should be one of a kind, like you. That's why all our rings are made from scratch in your choice of gems and precious metals. Choose sapphire and platinum or citrine and rose gold: it's your choice. Mix and match gems and precious metals for a look that's exactly you. It's jewelry for all life's occasions, from an anniversary or Mother's Day to your own personal milestones and celebrations. Our impressive selection of emerald-cut statement rings by Ruzanna Davtian, Ji Hwang, Bijoux & Bijoux, and many other jewelry designers means you can find a style that's perfect for you. Because all Gemvara emerald-cut statement rings are made to order, we can hand-select the finest quality materials to perfectly suit your design. Emerald cut gems are increasing in popularity. Kim Kardashian is one of many brides who chose an emerald-cut engagement ring. Be careful when washing your hands: rings can easily slip down the drain! Clean emerald-cut statement rings in a bowl of water with a little mild dish soap. You can use a soft brush where dust collects. Gemvara's fine quality emerald-cut statement rings are designed to be passed down for generations, hand-crafted by skilled craftspeople in the United States.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


text:
New England Economic Review, issue Sep (1990) pp. 11-33
Bridge collapses and water main explosions focus national attention on the crumbling condition of the nation's infrastructure. Catastrophic infrastructure failures are always a momentary spur to debate on the nation's capital investment policies. But increasingly these negative developments have been accompanied by economists' claims that public capital investment makes a significant contribution to national output, . productivity, growth, and international competitiveness ; This paper explores the impact of public capital on economic activity at the state and regional level. The author concludes that those states that have invested in infrastructure tend to have greater output, more private investment, and more employment growth. Her findings suggest that public investment comes before the pickup in economic activity and serves as a base, but she cautions that much more work is required to spell out the specifics of the link between public capital and economic performance.
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The bourgeoisie, wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations. It has pitilessly torn asunder the motley feudal ties that bound man to his "natural superiors," and has left remaining no other nexus between man and man than naked self-interest…. It has resolved personal worth into exchange value, and in place of the numberless indefeasible chartered freedoms, has set up that single, unconscionable freedom — Free Trade.–from Chapter One of Marx and Engels's The Communist Manifesto, published on this day in 1848
Though the list of communist countries has dwindled to a handful, the triumph of free-trade capitalism is both a convenient myth and a dangerous idea, says the controversial Cambridge economist Ha-Joon Chang in Bad Samaritans:
Today, there are certainly some people in the rich countries who preach free market and free trade to the poor countries in order to capture larger shares of the latter's markets and to pre-empt the emergence of possible competitors. They are saying "do as we say, not as we do" and act as "Bad Samaritans," taking advantage of others who are in trouble.…
I am not suggesting that there is a sinister secret committee somewhere that systematically air-brushes undesirable people out of photographs and re-writes historical accounts. However, history is written by the victors and it is human nature to re-interpret the past from the point of view of the present.…. The result is that many Bad Samaritans are recommending free-trade and free-market policies to the poor countries in the honest but mistaken belief that those are the routes their own countries took in the past to become rich. But they are in fact making the lives of those whom they are trying to help more difficult.
Daybook is contributed by Steve King, who teaches in the English Department of Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland. His literary daybook began as a radio series syndicated nationally in Canada. He can be found online at todayinliterature.com.


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WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Confused controllers at Reagan National Airport near Washington put two departing commuter jets on a collision course with a third, officials said.
The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon, The Washington Post reported.
The immediate cause appeared to be a shift in wind patterns that led to a change in aircraft approach routes that was not completely communicated to air traffic controllers.
All three jets were operated by US Airways. They were carrying a total of 193 people.
Disaster was averted when a controller realized she had made a mistake and called the pilot of the incoming plane, telling him to abort the landing and circle the airport. No one was hurt.
An official said the problem with the change in traffic patterns was compounded by simple sloppiness, the newspaper reported.


text: I bought a yard of the blue floral asian print --I just loved it , but didn't know what I wanted to do with it . And didn't want to cut it up . So I decided to cut 12" blocks and make a few sampler blocks with it. This is just the top so far, because I am not sure what I want to put on the back yet.


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The Queen's Diamond Jubilee has been commemorated in Buckingham, with the planting of an English oak tree in Bourton Park.
To mark the Jubilee, AVDC bought an English oak tree for each town and parish council in the district to plant for future generations to enjoy.
AVDC chairman Derrick Isham joined Buckingham mayor Ruth Newell to plant the Jubilee oak in Bourton Park last week.
Mrs Newell said: "As a Buckingham tree warden for many years, I am delighted to be able to plant the Jubilee oak tree in our lovely Bourton Park, where it will be enjoyed for many years to come."


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Korean cooking forum topics
Home › Forums › Recipe requests › birthday party
This topic contains 2 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by sirdanilot 7 years, 10 months ago.
Hi! =DD
first of all, thank you so much for the recipes you upload! =D
i really enjoy them! ^_^
now.. on February i'll be having my birthday party, and i thought i could make some Korean dishes for my friends.. But.. it should be something that you can eat without using forks and it's little, like apetizers ^^
i've thought to make kimbap.. but are there any other things i could make?
What do usually people make for parties?
Thank you in advance for your answer!^^
how about sweet flower pancake? mandu (dumpling)? or even panfried tofu (you can probably put the sauce in a dipper instead of pouring it on the tofu)…. for the drinks, you can try barley(bori) tea or watermelon soju (alcoholic drink)
Hope that helps a little! :)
Mandu would be a great success I think. how about chungpomuk and use the sauce for dipping? Hobakjeon or the vegetable pancake would be good too I think.
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Houston - Representative Gabrielle Giffords is laughing at jokes and eating sushi and even spoke the word "better" when asked recently by her husband how she was doing. Her doctor describes her as a hard worker who diligently completes her therapy each day.Giffords has been going through her rehabilitation in a room adorned with pictures of her family and notes of encouragement as she recovers from a bullet wound to the head suffered during a political event last month. She is several weeks into a process that medical experts say will be a lengthy and gruelling effort.Her doctor said patients with injuries similar to Giffords have good and bad days. Sometimes, they will make progress and improve for several days and then encounter a day when their muscles are not as strong as expected or they are tired."It happens quite frequently. We don't even panic anymore, because that happens," said Dr Gerard Francisco, who heads the team of specialists treating Giffords.Those who have spent time with Giffords said she has reached several impressive milestones. She is able to mouth the words to songs such as "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". Husband preparing shuttle launchShe is eating meals on a consistent basis, whether it's hospital food or sushi or matzo ball soup brought to her bedside by her rabbi.Her top aide has said Giffords knows she was shot, but doesn't know about the deaths and injuries to those around her."There's lots of excitement as she continues to speak more and improve," said family friend Tilman Fertitta, who has spent time with her family and friends and visited the congresswoman. "She's in a great mood and working hard."Her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, has been splitting his days between the hospital and training for his space shuttle launch in April. Kelly has said he expects Giffords to be well enough to attend the shuttle launch, but doctors said it was still too early to say whether she would be in good enough shape to travel to Cape Canaveral, Florida, to watch her husband head the mission.She is in therapy from morning until night, Fertitta said, and sees Kelly every day.A typical day for a brain injury patient at the hospital will include physical, occupational, music and speech therapy, Francisco said, but can also carry over to actual activities. Encouraging progressFor example, if in occupational therapy the patient is relearning to feed themselves, doctors may use breakfast as a time to incorporate that back into the daily routine.Francisco said the hospital often uses music therapy to treat brain injury patients. He said doctors have found the brain's right hemisphere is especially sensitive to music, and in some cases, can cross over to parts of the left hemisphere. The therapist will often choose music the patient likes or can relate to in the therapy.Francisco declined to give specifics about Giffords' treatment and progress, but called her a "hard worker" - a term he uses to describe a patient who engages in therapy.Dr Neil Jasey, who specialises in treating traumatic brain injury at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation said the new glimpses of progress are "extremely encouraging (because of) the fact that it's happening this quickly".Giffords seems to understand social context if she's laughing at jokes, and has some insight into her condition if she can realise she is now better, Jasey said.Jared Loughner is charged in federal court in the assassination attempt against Giffords that killed six people. Authorities described him as a mentally unstable college dropout who became obsessed with carrying out violence against Giffords for reasons that aren't clear.
Excellent. She already has more brain function than the average Republican and a LOT more than George W Bush ever had.


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Thank you CM! much appreciated!
Wow, beautiful!
Thank yo morris! I was lucky my camera didn't get fogged over! haha
Thanks Patti! it was a rainy foggy day, but lots of fun!
Thanks for stopping in!
Very nice, deb!
So pretty! Thank you! I love it!
Thank you lyndee! much appreciated!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
Thank you TS I'll have some peak colors for you tomorrow. Probably not Friday night, but I think I'll be able to put up more peak on Saturday! stay tuned! I think you might like one or two! haha
Oh, this is beautiful now, I can imagine how gorgeous it will be at peak. Please post more, I just love fall like this and we don't get much color here in Texas. Thanks so much, Deb!


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Originally published Friday, July 18, 2014 at 6:15 AM
'Sally Ride': America's pioneering woman in space
Lynn Sherr's biography, "Sally Ride: America's First Woman in Space," tells the story of the space pioneer. Sherr discusses her book Tuesday, July 22, at Town Hall Seattle.
Special to The Seattle Times
Author appearance
Lynn Sherr
The author of "Sally Ride: America's First Woman in Space" will appear at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, at Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Ave. Tickets are $5 at townhallseattle.org and at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call the University Book Store at 206-634-3400.
It's sometimes hard to remember that Sally Ride, born in 1951, faced many obstacles, yet pioneered great changes for women. As Lynn Sherr, an ABC News reporter who covered NASA's space-shuttle program from 1981-1986 writes in her interesting new biography, "Sally Ride: America's First Woman in Space" (Simon & Schuster, 320 pp., $28), not only was Ride America's first woman in space, ending "an all-male cowboy culture" of astronauts, but she also earned a doctorate in physics and was the first woman "CapCom" (capsule communicator) on a shuttle mission. She served as flight engineer on the seventh shuttle mission, taught at universities, wrote children's books, started her own business, was a board member of several major companies, and became the only person to serve on government commissions that examined both the Challenger and Columbia shuttle disasters.
In almost everything she did, Sherr states, Ride excelled. She grew up in Southern California, where her academic achievements and talent for tennis earned a partial scholarship to the private Westlake School for Girls and, later, a full scholarship at Swarthmore College. An "early thwarted career ambition," however, was Ride's "personal obsession" with becoming shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Her mother would eventually say it was the "only thing she told Sally that she could not do simply because she was a girl."
Those who knew Ride agreed she was an introvert, cool under pressure, someone with a lot of pride who worked "very hard to avoid appearing stupid." This need to fit seamlessly into social expectations of the times and the strict NASA culture led her to keep a secret for decades: although she dated men and even married, her longest and most rewarding relationship was with another woman, Tam O'Shaughnessy. Sherr explains that she was approached about writing this book simply to finally answer the question: who was the real Sally Ride?
By the 1970s, NASA was being pressured to add scientists, women and minorities. Not everyone had to be a white, male fighter pilot. That Ride had the right stuff for her professional life comes across well in Sherr's telling, which praises Ride without overdoing it. And although Ride hadn't grown up wanting to be an astronaut — a headline in The Stanford Daily put the idea into her head — Ride negotiated a dauntingly difficult path with relative ease.
The book is less revealing about Ride's private life. Sherr repeatedly makes the point that Ride was good at compartmentalizing. Adopting the stoic NASA front, she learned to protect friends, family and herself from media pressures and countless requests for appearances.
Particularly after her first shuttle flight, she would remark, "Everybody wanted a piece of me." She declined to be on "Dancing with the Stars." Her former husband, Steve Hawley, said she sometimes felt "used." In 1981, when her friend, tennis pro Billy Jean King, underwent horrible recriminations after it became known she was gay, Ride realized her future might be in jeopardy, too.
When Ride retired from NASA, she returned to Stanford with a science fellowship, then accepted a full professorship at UC San Diego. She bought a town house in La Jolla and lived there with O'Shaughnessy, carefully keeping up appearances until her death from pancreatic cancer in 2012. "She taught us," Sherr writes, "that our home planet is as exotic as any distant point in the cosmos, that you can fly high without ever leaving Earth."


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No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance…20 U.S.C. § 1681
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681) is an all-encompassing federal law that prohibits discrimination based on the gender of students and employees of educational institutions which receive federal financial assistance.
Educational institutions that receive federal financial assistance are covered by Title IX. If only one of the institution's programs or activities receives federal funding, all of the programs within the institution must comply with Title IX regulations. In compliance with Title IX, the Emory & Henry College prohibits discrimination in employment as well as in all programs and activities on the basis of sex.
In accordance with Title IX regulations, the College has designated Kim Steiner, as the College's Title IX Coordinator. She is charged with monitoring compliance with these regulations. Questions regarding Title IX, as well as concerns and complaints of non-compliance, may be directed to her.
The College has also designated Pamela Gourley, Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students, as the Coordinator for Student Sexual Misconduct. She is responsible for receiving student complaints of sexual harassment, including sexual assault, sexual violence or other sexual misconduct, against other College students. Melissa Davis, Senior Women's Administrator, is Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics.
This is perhaps the most widely held misconception about Title IX. Athletics are not the only component of academic life governed by Title IX. Other areas which fall within the scope of Title IX include:
Title IX also prohibits sexual harassment, which includes sexual assault and sexual violence. Additional information regarding what behaviors may constitute sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct is available in the College's Student Handbook (.pdf).
Title IX is designed to create parity in athletics, as well as other educational opportunities and experiences for men and women. Title IX does not require schools to cut men's athletic programs. Each school determines how it will comply with Title IX regulations.
While Title IX has been used mostly by women seeking to protect their rights, Title IX also serves to protect the rights of men. Title IX requires that males and females receive fair and equal treatment in all areas of education.
Title IX specifically allows for, or has been interpreted to allow for, single-sex programs in a number of categories. Included among those are: religious schools, traditional men's/women's colleges, social fraternities/sororities, youth service organizations such as, The Boy/Girl Scouts of America, and beauty pageants.
The under-representation of women in science, medicine, and engineering may violate Title IX. Educational institutions are required to provide women in these disciplines resources, support, and promotional opportunities comparable to their male colleagues.
The U.S. Supreme Court has broadened the interpretation of Title IX to protect from retaliation whistle-blowers who accuse educational institutions of sex discrimination. The court is of the opinion that reporting incidents of discrimination is integral to Title IX enforcement and would be discouraged if retaliation against those who report it goes unpunished.
The penalty for failure to comply with Title IX in the most extreme circumstances can include the termination of all or part of an institution's federal funding. This includes grants, subsidies, and other program funds from the federal government. In addition to the loss of federal funds, universities may be sued by those seeking redress for violations of Title IX. It is essential that institutions receiving federal financial assistances operate in a nondiscriminatory manner. To ensure the College's compliance with the law, adherence to Title IX regulations is everyone's responsibility.
The United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is in charge of enforcing Title IX. Information regarding OCR can be found at www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html.
Any member of the College community who believes that he or she has experienced prohibited discrimination or harassment in employment or in the context of academic pursuits should report the incident to the identified sources below:
A complaint should be filed within 30 days of the most recent action giving rise to the grievance. Retaliation against anyone who makes a complaint or participates in the complaint process is prohibited. Any member of the College community who becomes aware of potentially discriminatory or harassing conduct must report the conduct to one or more of the identified persons above.
Additionally, all potential criminal activity, including any allegation of criminal sexual assault or violence that is brought to the attention of any member of the College, must be reported immediately to Campus Police.
When a student or employee reports that he or she is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking – regardless of where the offense occurred – the individual will be provided with his or her rights and options for additional reporting and resources.
All College personnel, by virtue of their roles, responsibilities and authority, must report incidents of sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence.
Individuals who desire confidentiality and privacy related to incidents of sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence are encouraged to report incidents through confidential reporters in the Powell Resource Center. Confidential reporters (Powell Resource Center counselors, health services personnel, or campus ministry staff) are required to report incidents to the Title IX Coordinator; however, they do not reveal names unless given permission to do so by the person reporting the incident.
Emory & Henry College prohibits retaliation against anyone for inquiring about suspected breaches of College policy, reporting or cooperating in the investigation of any sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual violence complaint. Retaliation is a serious violation that can subject the offender to disciplinary action independent of the merits of the discrimination or harassment allegation, up to and including discharge. If the complainant believes that retaliation has occurred and seeks College resolution, s/he is obligated to immediately report it to one of the officials identified in Section III of this policy.
Students and employees will not suffer adverse consequences as a result of reporting a matter involving sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence in good faith. However, the protocol shall not be used to initiate frivolous claims, false claims, or malicious charges without regard to the truth. After the completion of remediation efforts, if the Title IX Coordinator concludes that the complainant's allegations were false, frivolous or malicious, the Coordinator may recommend disciplinary action against the complainant, up to and including separation from the College.
The informal complaint, which may not require a written statement, is the most commonly used procedure to address complaints of sexual misconduct, sexual violence, discrimination or harassment. Generally, an informal complaint should be reported by the Complainant within thirty (30) calendar days following the alleged discriminatory act(s) or the date on which the Complainant first knew of such alleged act(s). The Complainant may meet with the appropriate individual identified in Section III below in order to describe the complaint verbally. While a written outline of the complaint is not required at this stage, such a written outline or any other written materials related to the complaint are encouraged and will be reviewed if made available. The individual who received the complaint will consult with the Title IX Coordinator to determine the appropriate response to the complaint. The response to the Complainant is to be made within ten (10) business days, unless an extension is agreed to by the Complainant, and the response may result in protective measures or an informal remedy, such as: shielding a student from ongoing contact with an individual; reorganizing housing assignments so that students can feel safer; reassigning an employee or supervisor to a different work area; asking an administrative officer to speak to the individual to express serious concern about a behavior; reminding an individual of policies and definitions relating to sexual misconduct, sexual violence, harassment or discrimination; or an investigation may occur at any time during the informal process. An investigation may include, but is not limited to, meetings with the Complainant, the Respondent, any other appropriate campus administrators, faculty, staff and/or students who may have knowledge of the situation. Details of the complaint and the resolution will be fully documented and submitted to the Title IX Coordinator. An informal remedy does not preclude formal disciplinary action according to the Faculty, Staff and Student Handbooks up to, and including, termination of employment or separation from the College. Though referred to as informal, this procedure and its outcome are official and may not be appealed.
The formal grievance procedure may be used instead of the informal procedure for the processing of a complaint. A formal written complaint may be filed with the Title IX Coordinator. Generally, a formal complaint should be filed by the Complainant within thirty (30) calendar days following the alleged discriminatory act(s) or the date on which the Complainant first knew of such alleged act(s).
As soon as possible, but within fourteen (14) days after receipt of the written complaint, the Title IX Coordinator shall review the materials contained in the written complaint, and may either commence an investigation of the complaint or appoint a designee(s) to investigate or co-investigate the complaint. Such an investigation may include initial meetings with the Complainant and with the Respondent and a discussion of possible avenues for resolution of the complaint. Immediate protective measures or remedies may be implemented to respond to the complaint.
As soon as possible, but within a 60 days after the end of the information processing, the Title IX Coordinator will notify the Complainant in writing of the outcome of the investigation.


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|Another excellent opinion piece from Paul Murray writing in The West Australian:
The best way not to find water is not to go looking for it. Which, curiously enough, is exactly what the Rudd Government's Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce managed to do in its 17 months of existence.
The task force's final report released this week has been widely interpreted in the media as ending the dream of the north becoming an internationally important agricultural region on the rationale there just isn't enough available water.
That shouldn't be the case because any close examination of the report exposes it as a sham, dripping with green and indigenous politics and with a questionable scientific basis.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Paul Murray on the northern Australia land use report - Dam lies and statistics
Posted by Garth Godsman at 5:14 AM
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Mixing Fall and Summer Pieces Street Style
Look of the Day: California Dreamin'
Living in California can make for some pretty baffling weather patterns –– one week you're at the beach, and the next you're in a rainstorm. Fab reader –– and fellow California girl –– crystaljill used this seasonal confusion to her advantage by finding a cute way to mix and match her Summer and Fall pieces. She belted a pair of slouchy denim shorts, layered up with a flowered blouse and cardigan, then added cream-colored over-the-knee socks and lace-up heels. She's staying chic while enjoying the sunshine.
Congrats to crystaljill!
Everyone else, submit your looks, and I might feature you on FabSugar!


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Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts
Phone: ext. 2422
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Academic Accomplishments
- B.F.A in Acting, The Theatre School, DePaul University
- M.F.A. in Directing, University of South Carolina.
Stephen Davis is an Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts at Centenary University and a proud member of the Actor's Equity Association. Centenary directing credits include: Antigone, Lobby Hero, Ubu Roi, Italian American Reconciliation, Cymbeline, Twelfth Night, Polaroid Stories, The Imaginary Invalid, and Shake It Up: Magic, Mystery, and Mayhem an educational tour (he also adapted) focusing on the works of Shakespeare.
He served as the Centenary Stage Company fight choreographer for Peter Pan, Deathtrap, The Liar, Breakfast with Mugabe, Oliver! (also played Mr. Brownlow) and The Wizard of Oz (also Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz and Makeup Designer). Stephen has a B.F.A. in acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University, as well as an M.F.A. in directing from University of South Carolina, where he received the Two Thumbs Up Teaching Award for making a difference in the lives of students with learning disabilities.
While at Centenary, Professor Davis was honored with the 2010-2011 United Methodist Exemplary Teaching Award. He has worked with the Folger Theatre of DC for six years on their Shakespeare in the New Jersey public schools program entitled Shakesperience New Jersey, and is proud to have started the program here at Centenary University. He teaches classes and in-school residencies to all ages in Shakespeare, stage combat, theatrical makeup, acting, directing, playwriting, video production and movement for the theatre.
Shakespeare in The Schools Programs
Folger Shakespeare Library / Folger Education / Shakesperience: NJ
- June 10, 2014 WMBCTV clip –http://wmbctv.com/wmbctvnews/2014/06/10/centenary-shakespeare/
- April 30, 2014 article –http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/2014/04/local_high_school_students_cel.html
- April 14, 2014 article – http://www.broadwayworld.com/new-jersey/article/Centenary-Stage-Folger-Shakespeare-Library-Partner-for-School-Outreach-Program-20140414#.U1-1c1czITJ
- February 2, 2014 article –http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/2014/02/centenary_stage_company_in_hac_4.html
Hope Township School (Hope, NJ)
- June 2, 2014 article –http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/2014/06/assistant_professor_of_theatre.html
Blairstown Elementary (Blairstown, NJ)
- January 2015 article –http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/2015/01/photos_centenary_professor_bri.html
- January 14, 2013 article –http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/2013/01/centenary_assistant_professor.html
- "All Are Punished": Staging Romeo and Juliet in a post 9/11 World. (The Edwin Mellen Press; editors: Matthew Biberman, Douglas A. Brooks, Matthew Biberman, Julia Reinhard Lupton, August 2011) Shakespeare Yearbook, Volume 20: Shakespeare after 9/11: How a Social Trauma Reshapes Interpretation
- "Shake It UP Shakespeare: Magic, Mystery, and Mayhem" – Tour for Young Audiences – Shakespeare Education School Tour – Spring 2014


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Broad Wins Winter MVP Title – 02/04/14
1 Broad, Stuart 46.75 163.77 7 3 4.0 19 225 11.82 2 Stokes, Benjamin 74.74 94.66 4 0 4.0 15 177 11.83 3 Bresnan, Timothy 52.58 95.59 6 0 4.0 19 158 8.32 4 Bopara, Ravinder 72.59 58.29 4 0 5.0 18 140 7.77 5 Buttler, Joseph 95.49 0.00 34 0 5.0 18 134 7.47
Stuart Broad might well want to consign England's winter of discontent – which contained an Ashes' whitewash, an early exit from the World T20, defeat to the Netherlands and just five wins out of 23 matches – to distant memory. But that would be to ignore his own performances, which have seen him take the titles of England's Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Test Player. Broad led the race from start to finish, having begun with 6-81 in the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane. He scored 72 runs and took four wickets in Sydney to hold off the challenge of Ben Stokes for the Test FTI MVP, and finished the series with 155 runs and 21 wickets. Across all three forms of the game, he scored 238 runs and took 37 wickets. Along with Tim Bresnan, he played the most matches (19) and finished 48 points clear of Stokes in the overall race – the biggest winning margin since Jonathan Trott finished 80 points clear of Andrew Strauss in 2010-11. Broad is now ranked top of the all-time England MVP Rankings (inception 2007), the all-time ODI Rankings and the all-time T20 Rankings. Only Graeme Swann and Jimmy Anderson have more Test MVP Ranking points.
Ravi Bopara clinched the T20 FTI MVP, despite Alex Hales' pyrotechnics in the World T20. Hales, who won the 2013 FTI MVP, smashed 116 not out – England's only T20 century – off 64 balls against Sri Lanka, and 38 off 22 versus South Africa, but it was Bopara's ability to impact the game with bat and ball that proved decisive. The Essex all-rounder scored 221 runs at a strike rate of 144 runs per 100 balls and took seven wickets with an economy rate of 5.52 runs per over. His most explosive innings came in lost causes – 65 off 27 versus Australia in the opening T20 in Hobart, 42 off 24 against the West Indies in Barbados and 31 off 18 against South Africa in Chittagong.
Jos Buttler was England's Most Valuable Player in one-day cricket, scoring 274 runs at the rate of 123 runs per 100 balls. He also took 11 catches and completed two stumpings. Buttler, who finished fifth in the T20 FTI MVP and fifth overall, seemed to enjoy the extra time at the crease afforded by the 50-over game. He faced 168 balls in 10 T20 games (average 16.8 balls per game) but in ODIs, he faced 222 balls from 8 games (average 27.75 balls per game). He struck 15 fours and five sixes in T20 cricket and 18 fours and 10 sixes in ODIs. His best performance came in Antigua, where his 99 off 84 balls alongside a Joe Root century clinched England's solitary series win of the winter. He also smashed 71 off 43 at the WACA and 49 off 36 at Brisbane in the one-day series versus Australia..
The FTI MVP Explained
For answers to all of your Rankings questions simply click on the links below.
Why reward a captain?
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Why reward a batsman for scoring 30% of his teams' total?
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Why reward a bowler for taking five wickets in an innings?
Does each wicket a bowler takes have the same value?
Run outs
FTI MVP Extras
Keep up to date with the FTI MVP with our news bulletins and RSS news feeds. Plus check out what happend when we ran the FTI MVP formula through the 2006 statistics.
FTI MVP Video
Find out what the experts think by clicking here
To keep up to date with the England FTI MVP, visit www.thepca.co.uk. The leader board will update at the end of each day's play. If you have any questions or require more information about the FTI MVP, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organisations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,915 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.
For more information on the FTI MVP ranking system, please visit www.thepca.co.uk.


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Unreal Tournament Pre Alpha Playable Build Instructions
The forum post describing how to install the UT pre-alpha playable build is only visible to signed in forum members in the Top Secret Members Only forum. Unreal Tournament is still very early in development, so the build is incomplete, buggy, full of placeholder art and therefore is not in any way representative of the ultimate vision for the game. You really shouldn't play it now! Weve made it available to Unreal Tournament forum members so they can try the game out and offer constructive feedback on these forums, or maybe even jump in and start contributing.
BeyondUnreal IRC
Current Build: UnrealTournament-XAN-2261617-Win64
Launcher (Temporary Server Browser)
Unreal Tournament Live Stream: How to Play Our Game Today and Why You Shouldn't


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Terry Anderson, Donald Leal
Wed, 01/14/2015
Packed with examples, rather than theory, Free Market Environmentalism for the Next Generation offers new chapters, new authors, and compelling new stories of environmental entrepreneurs at work.
Terry Anderson, Donald Leal
Fri, 05/22/2015
In part II of this article series, Anderson and Leal show how climate entrepreneurs aren't just talking about the weather; they are doing something about it.
Terry Anderson, Donald Leal
Fri, 05/22/2015
Anderson and Leal take on the issue of climate policy and explain why dynamic markets provide the best hope for human interaction with dynamic environments.
Terry Anderson, Donald Leal
Mon, 03/02/2015
On Monday, March 2nd, we celebrated Free Market Environmentalism for the Next Generation with a book launch at the Hoover Institution in Washington. Featured panelists were IJ's Chip Mellor, the Nature Conservancy's Kameran Onley, and the Wall Street Journal's Kim Strassel.
Donald Leal
Thu, 11/15/2012
Captain Mark Lundsten explains how catch shares changed his life as a fisherman.
Donald Leal
Thu, 06/23/2011
Despite oil spills, hurricanes and a long history of misguided federal rules, Texas' commercial fishermen are doing better than ever thanks to new management based on free-market principles and local control.
Donald Leal
Tue, 05/17/2011
James Salzman
Wed, 10/27/2010
Ecosystem services such as clean water from forests are free, but now their value is being recognized. Entrepreneurs are developing markets for these services and providing incentives for conservation.
James Salzman
Fri, 10/01/2010
Markets for ecosystem services such as water filtration, erosion control, and pollination benefit the providers and enhance environmental assets.
Donald Leal
Tue, 06/01/2010
Scarcely a week goes by in which we do not hear or read some distressing news about overfishing in ocean fisheries. Such news comes at a time when the world has witnessed a phenomenal productivity boom in agricultural use of land.


text: Im 18 not longed turned 18 few months back...I work part time only 27.5 hours a week as a customer service manager in tesco head office. I do quite alot of overtime sinec i bought this car as i want to have it how i want it by the start of the new year(mods & save for new car). Anyway worked my **** off for this pay, get paid tomorrow got my pay slip today taxable pay £1,501.96. Taxed me LOADS left me with £914.31 Ohhh how i do love getting my well earned money taken away for me. They never tax me less then £250 i dont know why because i dont earn much my part time pay is £850-£750 depends because some weeks i work more hours when they need me. i've checked my tax code and i've got the right one. Does tax **** any one else off or is it just me?


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My Nonprofit Reviews
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1 reviews
Review for Firefighters Burn Fund Inc, Chiefland, FL, USA
I'm so glad I read this review. My husband & I were skeptical when we got a telemarketing call from this organization. I will NOT donate & I will tell all my friends & family NOT to donate either. It's a shame because my mother-in-law was killed in a fire and my first reaction was to donate to this organization. It gives reputatable charities a black eye!!
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BIRTHDAY GUY: Actor Nicholas Braun was born in Long Island, New York on this date in 1988. This birthday guy is probably best known for playing Cameron on "10 Things I Hate About You." He's also guest-starred on "CSI," "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and "Without a Trace." Braun's film resume includes "The Watch," "Prom" and "Red State."
ARIES (March 21-April 19): You may be tempted to make major alterations in plans or to stand up for your rights, but this is not the time to strike out on your own. Keep your temper under wraps and be as polite as possible.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You may wake up with a whole bag of chips on your shoulder. Keep your cool even when pushed to the limits. You may surprise yourself by reaching a much higher rung on the ladder of success.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Maintain a pleasant countenance no matter the provocation, and keep your spirits high. You have the ability to benefit from the battles going on about you if you manage to avoid the frays yourself.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Let your best friend do his or her own thing, and then maybe you can do yours. Forcing issues of any type can cause some major rifts that won't blow over quickly. Refuse to be a micromanager.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A dog's bark is not its bite. With everyone vying to be top dog, you may find yourself bristling with hostility at any criticism. If you find you must alter your plans, wait for better timing.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Pressures seem to spur people into doing things they regret later. You are blessed by the ability to see beyond surface irritations; use your knowledge to improve personal relationships.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You aren't on a clearance rack waiting for just anyone. If you think you are special, other people will think so, too. Give yourself some credit where credit is due; exude self-confidence.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Give them some space. Butting heads with people at close quarters could cause some irritation, so bring your best manners along. There is much work to get done; a lack of cooperation is counterproductive.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Cut through the crosscurrents to understand the cause of conflicts. You are able to make some very astute observations about what is really taking place — and this gives you the upper hand.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Keep your eyes on the prize. You are ready to take some serious steps. Today's rush and agitation could pave a path that sidesteps difficulties and obstacles if you avoid petty competitions.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Count to 10 — or maybe 20. Losing your temper could create permanent hostilities with those who control your future. Stifle the urge to lash out or to take on new projects voluntarily.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Maintain a neutral demeanor. If you don't let your feathers get ruffled, it is much easier to fly away from unpleasantness. Don't allow minor aggravations to get under your skin and ruin your day.
IF MAY 1 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: You have powerful ambitions that are peaking during the next several weeks. Work hard to use your energy and initiative in constructive ways, as this could be a good time to start a business or reach your goals. Put new initiatives on the back burner in July and early August when your attention is best aimed at exiting endeavors. Late August and early September is the very best time to make a romantic commitment or to receive applause from the public. That is a great time to make a job change or interview for a new position, since people will be impressed by your valuable talents.


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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Los Angeles police said they arrested a man accused of pranking at least a dozen NFL and NBA coaches into believing he was offering them contracts.
Kenneth Edward Tarr, 32, of Hollywood was arrested Monday and charged with felony eavesdropping for allegedly recording phone conversations he had with those he allegedly pranked, ABC News reported.
The Los Angeles Police Department said Tarr was being held on $20,000 bail.
"Such eavesdropping is a felony and the investigation is ongoing. We want to see if there are additional victims," LAPD Officer Sally Madera told KABC-TV, Los Angeles.
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy was one of Tarr's victims, ABC News said.
Tarr allegedly contacted Dungy pretending to be a representative of the University of Southern California, and offered him one of the school's coaching vacancies.
Tarr told ABC News his pranks made him more talented than the late comic performer Andy Kaufman or any comedian working today. He said it was his way of getting his art out into the world.
Tarr told ABC his victims also included the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA and the network said the Village Voice reported in June that Tarr said he pranked his way onto "The Ricki Lake Show" and the "Judge Judy" show.


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The next day a gang of four kids show up and Luis reluctantly joins them. The kids go across the country robbing people at gunpoint and trying to survive despite their feral naiveté. Ultimately the kid's goal – especially Luis – is to get revenge on the wicked bandits who killed his boarding school buddies and who continue to wreck havoc with everyone in the country.
The film has a grimy folk tale feel to it as well as some bawdy humor and shootouts that yield a few deaths. All this is fine but the film is inconsistent in its verisimilitude of the Mexican Revolutionary period. On one level director Estrada gets good natural, nuanced performances from the kids but from the adult actors he gets cartoon-like caricatures.
The film is also rather formulaic. Not only are there passing references to many Hollywood westerns including The Wild Bunch Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Unforgiven, but it's pretty predictable all the way down the line.
Perhaps the biggest problem with the film is that due to its violent nature it is not really recommended for kids yet it's not really appealing for adults either.
The DVD transfer is pretty weak. It appears in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1 but clearly was shot in 1.85:1 or something similar. The print is faded and has many scratches throughout – especially at reel changes. Considering the film was made in 1990 it's too bad there couldn't have been a better print available.
The sound is good. The dialogue can be heard just fine and the music – which consists mainly of strumming guitars, period Mexican music and some uplifting tunes – sounds fair.
There are no extras.
Bandidos is an average film about a gang of kid bandits in 1913 Mexico. It is both a gritty look at childhood in tough times but it is also a pretty conventional formulaic story. As a consequence the film - while certainly not unwatchable - doesn't necessarily appeal to either adults or children. The acting is good and the direction is okay – the main problem is the DVD transfer, which isn't appealing at any level.


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A mysterious creature is spooking a Prince William County neighborhood, just in time for Halloween.
According to InsideNoVa.com, a homeowner in Woodbridge reported seeing some sort of animal in the woods near Colchester Road and Randall Drive and the Prince William Plaza Shopping Center late Monday night. That's right off Route One.
From Inside NoVa:
"Officers were called late Monday to the area of Colchester Road and Randall Drive in Woodbridge after a neighbor reported seeing something suspicious.
"A coyote, or a werewolf," said Prince William County police spokesman Jonathan Perok.
The resident said they spotted the creature in the woods at 10:05 p.m."
Authorities came out and check out the area and saw no signs of a possible coyote.
But mythical creatures are nothing new for the area - in August, staff at Prince George's Hospital Center briefly caged a vaguely canine looking animal they called a "chupacabra."


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Editor's Note: This article was updated 9/2017. Although 2014 may not seem like that long…
Shopify Review: The Easy Way to Get a Great E-Store Running in No Time
Starting an online store can be a very serious undertaking, especially if one is absolutely adamant about maintaining even a modest amount of aesthetic control over the store. Some people visit their local bookstore or log on to Amazon.com and start buying guides in PHP with the intent of building a store from scratch, and that is not surprising considering how many of the so-called turnkey e-stores are genuinely unattractive. What is the point of spending time tweaking a WordPress site and theme to look just so, only to have an online store that looks more like 'so what?'
Enter Shopify
The answer is that there is no point, and that is why those who know about Shopify's offerings rarely go back. There are countless examples of how Shopify works running on some of the best looking sites and blogs around the web. What makes Shopify different than other e-commerce solutions is the fact that Shopify is almost completely customizable, and was designed by people who probably could teach Apple a thing or two about making user-friendly yet powerful software. That does not mean that Shopify is without its flaws, one of the most notable is the pricing structure. All but the most expensive monthly plan requires both a monthly fee and a transaction fee, which is not entirely unheard of in the e-commerce solution industry, but the lack of real-time stats on all plans seems hard to justify at any price. Even e-commerce solutions that come with many hosting accounts, as visually unpleasant as they may be, often offer real-time stats.
These small quips aside, the entire process of signing up for and establishing a new Shopify powered e-store is remarkably simple and straight forward. There are only four things that have to be done to get started, but a fifth step that will be covered in a moment is often involved. The first step is to choose a plan, but more on that in a minute. After all, who cares about prices for something that they do not know enough about?
Attack of the Templates
Shopify, like other e-commerce providers, brings with it an arsenal of professionally designed templates. If that is enough to make one cringe and/or gag, do not worry; all of Shopify's templates allow for 100% complete control over HTML and CSS. Yes, that is not a typo, Shopify offers 100% control over HTML and CSS. Put those PHP books away, sit down and relax a minute…this revaltion tends to hit people hard, so here it is spelled out: Shopify allows complete artistic control, and pre-made tools to add basic elements that people will usually want. Don't like an element? Just tweak it in the HTML view.
This flexibility is what truly makes Shopify interesting, as the most popular way to get a similar result is to buy an expensive template or have a developer build one by hand and host it on a VPS or dedicated server. The level of control offered by Shopify is impressive to say the least, but pales in comparison to their WYSIWYG editor.
Edit Me This, Edit Me That
WYSIWYG is an old idea, but being able to develop a store in a WYSIWYG format when one wants and being able to add custom HTML/CSS whenever necessary is impressive. Ease of use is always important, but so is accuracy, and Shopify's editor offers with both surprising grace and ease. Why can't other WYSIWYG editors be so powerful yet easy? Microsoft and Adobe, there is something to learn here. This is really a fifth step in the process, but it is something that most people will probably do at some point. After all, as good as some templates are what are, the chances that anything will match any given website well enough to not cause at least minor concern to customers?
What Do You Want to Sell?
Once the store is designed, it is time to populate it with items for sale. This process is also surprisingly simple and continues to show of Shopify's dedication to providing an ease to use service. Of course, selling also requires a payment gateway, which Shopify handily provides access to. This allows users to focus more on building a better mousetrap and selling it, not worrying about the financial mechanics and technical interfaces between a website and payment clearinghouse.
A Tale of Four Plans
There are currently four plans. The basic plan is $29 per month and comes with a 2% transaction fee, a 100 SKU limitation, and 1 GB of storage. The professional plan comes with a 1% transaction fee, a 2,500 SKU limit, and 5 GB of storage. The business plan comes with a 1% transaction fee, a 10,000 SKU limit, and 10 GB of storage. The unlimited plan comes with 0% transaction fee, unlimited SKU's, and unlimited storage. All plans come with a $100 Google Adwords credit and a $100 Amazon ads credit.
Wrapping Everything Up
Getting customers to buy can be difficult. More than a few websites get started with a great idea and a solution to sell, but the sales just do not roll in as expected. What happened? It may be nothing more complex than the fact that the e-commerce suite looked unprofessional, or did not match the caliber of the main website. This won't happen with a well laid out Shopify-powered store, and there are really not many limits to what one can crate with Shopify. In short, Shopify should be on the short list of anyone looking to monetize their web presence in a direct fashion. If that sounds like you, then you owe it to yourself to look at Shopify, but first look at your own e-commerce solution from the perspective of a customer and ask what could be done better. Chances are good that Shopify can help make that list a lot shorter, so give them a look.
Get a Free Trial with Shopify »


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Saturday, October 16, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.
Charter schools hot topic on ballot
By Linda Shaw
Jeff Petty, a former teacher and education researcher, is pro-John Kerry, pro-choice and very pro public schools.
He considers his desire to start a charter school to be along the same liberal lines. So he is frustrated that many Democrats reject charters as a conservative idea.
"It seems to indicate they haven't really looked into it as much as they might," he says.
It's true that Republicans make up a big chunk of those who want Washington voters next month to approve Referendum 55, which would allow the first charter schools in this state.
Yet to peg the charter-school movement as a conservative cause as opponents often do is to miss part of the picture. When it comes to charters, supporters come from the left, right and center.
A yes vote on the referendum would maintain the law; a no vote would overturn it.
The issue is national as well as local. At stake is whether Washington becomes the 41st state to allow charter schools, joining a movement that has swept the nation in the past 10 years, with more than 3,000 charter schools now in operation.
For some, like Petty, it's about creating new, innovative schools to supplement, not replace, existing schools. Nationally, there are those who support charters as one form of school choice, a broad term that also can include school vouchers, the idea that students could use tax dollars to attend private schools.
The pro-charter camp
In this year's Referendum 55 campaign here, a number of very rich individuals including some from outside the state have pumped major dollars into the pro-charter camp. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and John Walton, a Wal-Mart family heir, donated $1 million each. (Walton lists an address in Arizona.) Don Fisher, co-founder of the Gap clothing chain, came close to that. Eli Broad, a Los Angeles businessman and philanthropist, contributed $200,000, and another $190,000 came from Reed Hastings, a dot-com millionaire from California who is on that state's board of education.
In total so far, charter-school supporters have raised about $3.8 million in cash and in-kind contributions, with 15 contributions of $100,000 or more. Opponents have about $1.2 million, largely from the Washington Education Association ($552,000, counting in-kind contributions) and its parent organization, the National Education Association ($500,000).
"Most folks, on both sides, see this as a make-or-break moment for charter schools in Washington," said Todd Ziebarth, an education consultant in Denver who tracks the charter-school movement.
To supporters, the Washington charter-school law is a modest, careful effort to see if such schools can live up to their promise of providing a superior education in exchange for freedom from many regulations. To opponents, it represents an unproven experiment they fear will lead to the privatization of public education.
In this state, charter-school opponents are largely Democrats, labor organizations and members of what's called Washington's "education family" the teachers union and the professional organizations for school boards and school administrators.
Supporters are the more politically mixed lot.
Left of center, they include young educators like Petty, and minority groups such as Sea Mar Community Health Centers, which specializes in serving Hispanics. They are interested in charters as a new way to reach students who fall behind or are indifferent toward school.
"Lots of us in the minority community are not very happy with the public-school system as it stands now, partly because of the dropout rate," says Rogelio Riojas, executive director of Sea Mar. "We don't want vouchers. We don't want religious schools. We want a public school ... so charter schools are a great alternative for us."
Pat Wasley, dean of the University of Washington's College of Education, supports charters, too. (As an individual, not as a representative of the school.)
But she acknowledges she's in some strange company.
Wasley, for example, supports charters in part because she thinks they'll help ward off school vouchers. But she finds herself allied with Walton, who promotes both charter schools and vouchers.
That's OK with her because, she says, they can agree that parents should have more options.
Local organizers of the pro-charter campaign stress they're anti-voucher, too, and that the charter movement here is about creating another tool in the toolbox of public education.
Steve Mullin, co-chair of the Approve 55 campaign and president of the Washington Roundtable, says he hasn't heard any discussion of vouchers within this state's pro-charter ranks. He points out that the Roundtable opposed a voucher initiative in 1996. It also opposed the first charter initiative.
"We felt the barriers to entry were too low," he said. And, he asks, how can charters be a conservative plot if John Kerry and the national Democratic Party support them? (The Washington State Democrats, however, oppose the Washington law.)
But the presence of at least one pro-voucher contributor in this campaign has raised questions. The board of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, for example, is still weighing what stance to take on the referendum, said President James Kelly, in part because some members worry when they see Walton supporting it.
No one disputes that there are some outstanding charter schools and many good ones in the 40 states that allow them. That's one big reason Wasley supports them. She has seen teachers re-energized by the freedom that a charter school offers, when they'd previously been complacent about their ability to motivate some students.
"We don't know what gains might be made by re-imagining the school system, or re-imagining a school," she said.
A mixed record
But charters haven't all been good, and there have been some fiascoes, like a recent one in California, where 60 charter schools, all run by one organization, closed abruptly before school started, leaving students and teachers scrambling.
In Florida, for-profit groups ended up controlling some charters despite a law prohibiting that, according to Kent Fischer, a former St. Petersburg Times reporter. (The companies set up nonprofit front organizations that were, in name only, running the schools, he said. Washington's law, however, includes language that would prohibit such a tactic.)
The struggles of charter schools in Nevada turned James Welsh, now superintendent of the Shoreline School District, into a critic.
Only one of the six charters in his former Reno-area school district turned out to be as good as the other public schools, he said. Most struggled with financial management, employment policies and student-records issues. He said the district had to spend substantial time trying to help them with such administrative matters, as well as special-education regulations.
Overall, charter schools have a mixed record, better in some states than others. In Michigan, for example, a study by Gary Miron of the Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University found that charters had lower test scores than existing public schools. But in Connecticut, which has fewer charters, the scores were higher.
A fracas erupted over a recent study in which the American Federation of Teachers looked at scores that charter-school students received on the National Assessment of Education Progress.
After The New York Times reported the results that charter-school students score lower than comparable students in regular public schools the pro-charter crowd took out a full-page ad denouncing the study as too limited to draw conclusions from.
Petty says he's sent many a long e-mail defending charter schools to those who question their value. What many people don't see, he says, is that as good as some public schools are, others serve many students poorly.
He's seen promise in a Boston charter school where he once worked, and would like to start a charter high school modeled after a successful one in Rhode Island.
But where Petty sees an opportunity to strengthen public schools, others, like Catherine Ahl, a member of the North Kitsap School Board and the League of Women Voters of Washington, see an effort to end public education as we know it.
Hank Levin, director of the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education at Columbia University, says the national charter movement includes those who "genuinely see this as a way of freeing up [public schools] and improving them."
But it also includes those "who have an ideological ax to grind, and this is the game in town."
Linda Shaw: 206-464-2359 or firstname.lastname@example.com
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Harvest to End Hunger in Kearney
Kearney – Community Connections and the Tri-City Storm are partnering again this holiday season to help those less fortunate by collecting non-perishable food items, paper products and toiletries as part of the Harvest to End Hunger food drive.
Harvest to End Hunger is from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 10, at Boogaarts Food Store, Grand Central Apple Market and Sun Mart Foods.
Storm Hockey players will be at each location, where they will distribute a list to shoppers that details items needed to assist the hungry and homeless in central Nebraska. Carts will be provided to collect items purchased and donated by shoppers.
Items collected will benefit clients served by Campus Kitchen, Jubilee Center, Mid-Nebraska Food Bank, The Salvation Army and The S.A.F.E. Center.
"As winter approaches, many families in our area have to make difficult choices about their finances, including choices like whether to pay the heating bill or purchase food," said Community Connections Facilitator Nikki Gausman.
"In order to assist these families, and recognize National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week Nov. 11-17, we are asking for the public's assistance," said Gausman.
Other businesses and groups are encouraged to get involved in Harvest to End Hunger by seeking individual collections during the week. Donations can also be taken throughout the year to any of the agencies serving those in need.
For more information about Harvest to End Hunger, contact Gausman at (308) 237-2599.


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Family Fun Festival, an event to benefit MDA and Eagle Village, will be staged from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Aug. 31 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre by The Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 4256.
Spotlighted that day will be an all-day musical festival with some eight bands in a concert-like setting, eight full-size kiddie rides including coasters, Ferris wheel and more, a full food concession with beer and wine, eight game booths with prizes for kids, clowns and activities for the kids and attractions and exhibits for the whole family.
VFW Post 2391 will host an NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick competition Saturday at 9 a.m. at Pedro Menendez High School.
The competition is free and open to boys and girls ages 8-15.
The contest allows youngsters to showcase their talents in punting, passing and placekicking with scores based on distance and accuracy. Age classification is as of Dec. 31, 2002. For competition information, call Leo Mahar 471-6156 or the post, 797-5267.
Entry forms and release of liability forms will be available at the local schools and at the VFW Post 2391, 6184 U.S. 1 South.
Give the Kids the World, a program to support thousands of children suffering from life-threatening illnesses, will get a financial boost Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. when the Holiday Inn, St. Augustine Beach, hosts its annual Beach Tug of War.
The day will also include a silent auction and other features.
Clubs and companies are encouraged to sponsor teams or to make a donation. For further information call Celeste Kuhar, director of sales and marketing at the Holiday Inn, 471-2555. All proceeds will go to Give Kids the World.
Anastasia State Park is offering guided walks this month, beginning at 9 a.m.
Saturday will be The Maritime Hammock, with Ken Ceglady leading the walk.
The tours are offered with regular park admission of $3.25 per care of up to eight people or $1 per pedestrian/bicyclist. Tour participation is limited, so reservations are strongly suggested. Call 461-2035.
Walks last about two hours.
The Friends of Washington Oaks State Gardens will offer Kid's Saltwater Fishing Workshops Sept. 14 and Oct. 19. These workshops will introduce kid's to the basics of saltwater fishing. The targeted age group will be 10-15 years old, and park rangers will lead the workshops, instructing participants about saltwater fishing and proper use of equipment. Rangers will share some techniques that anglers use to catch fish and will also cover the importance of conservation and angler safety. Participants will learn to identify saltwater fish species commonly caught in this area, and will learn how to use a fishing rod and reel. The workshops will be hands-on, and participants will fish in the Intracoastal Waterway to apply their newly learned skills.
A grilled lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs, chips, cookies and drinks will also be provided. If desired participants may bring their own lunch.
Target ages are 10 to 15.
Workshop hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the fee is $20 per participant. All fishing gear will be furnished for use during the workshop, including complete rod and reel, fishing tackle and bait. Participants will also be given an information packet and certificate of completion.
Spaces are limited and advance reservations are required by calling Jean Hoover at (386) 446-6780 or e-mail email@example.com.
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Whether we are petitioning, rallying, or protesting ACTION United is all about the ACTION. Through the efforts of our members and volunteers, we have been able to affect change across PA by advocating and lobbying for the community.
To view the calendar of our Actions in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, click HERE.
See the links below to volunteer or submit your application for employment.