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Trevor Plouffe (Twins) homered with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give Team USA its ninth straight victory in World Cup play, a 4-3 win against Australia that allowed the Americans to close the second round with a perfect 7-0 record.
Team USA now advances to the third round as the No. 1 seed from the Italian pool (officially Pool G). So in the third round, the U.S. will start by playing the fourth-place team from Pool F (the Netherlands pool), which happens to be Venezuela—which beat Team USA 13-9 in the World Cup opener for both clubs.
Jason Childers (Rays), who gave up a five-spot to the Venezuelans in that loss, was part of another strong bullpen effort for the Americans on Monday, as he threw two scoreless innings. Cory Luebke (Padres) started and went six-plus innings, giving up three runs (one earned). A Pedro Alvarez (Pirates) throwing error was a key blow in the Aussie seventh-inning rally, when they scored a pair of runs to take a 3-2 lead.
Plouffe drove in the tying run for the U.S. in the seventh with a run-scoring groundout off reliever Tim Cox, a lefthander and former Red Sox farmhand. Plouffe then homered to left off Cox to end the game, his second hit of the game as he extended his hitting streak in the event to nine games.
The U.S. scored its first two runs in the sixth with a solo homer by Justin Smoak (Rangers), his World Cup-record ninth of the tournament, and with the help of an error and RBI fielder's choice by Jon Weber (Rays).
Luke Hughes (Twins) had three hits of Australia's six hits but also made an error while playing third base.
Team USA plays Venezuela on Tuesday in Florence (Firenze), Italy, one of four third-round sites in Italy.


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By Maureen Robertson
YOU'RE A WHAT?—Normand Brabant has a sense of humor. Before he participated in the cake-cutting ceremony at the 236th anniversary of the Marine Corps birthday in Ramona Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3783 last Thursday evening, he talked with fifth- through eighth-graders at Ramona Lutheran School. He was one of nine veterans from various branches of the service talking to the students before Veterans Day.
It seems some of the students thought a veteran was a veterinarian, Brabant said. "Now they know we're not veterinarians," he said, chuckling.
This is the second year the 89-year-old retired Marine has been the oldest Marine at the VFW's Marine birthday celebration. "I hope they find someone older next year," he said. "It'll be something to look forward to."
Continuing his witty dialogue, Brabant said that every morning he takes a walk around the mobile home park where he lives. Seeing him each day serves a purpose for at least one park resident. When she sees him, she reportedly says, "it's time to take my pills. Here comes Norm."
TECHNOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS—Ramona school board meetings each month traditionally devote time to showcase a program at one of the schools. This year, Superintendent Robert Graeff has asked the schools to target what's happening with technology to go along with the district's focus on 21st century learning. It's worth a stop at the monthly meetings that generally are held the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Wilson Administration Center Board Room at 729 Main St.
The school presentations are held early in the meetings and they don't last long, so you'll be home before 8 p.m., maybe even 7:30. Parents of youngsters experiencing technology in the classroom may already know what's going on, but the rest of us are learning.
At one meeting, three middle school teachers talked about how they use texting, emailing and tweeting with their students. Then Myles Vandergrift mentioned TED.
TED — for Technology Entertainment and Design — is amazing, and it's free. Go to ted.com on the Internet and start selecting TED talks. They're about 18 minutes long and they're from, as Vandergrift said, "the smartest, most intelligent scientists, engineers and inventors of the world...This is the most phenomenal stuff. I show this to the kids and they're just — 'wow.'"
Last month, words like iClicker, Khan Academy, BOBD — that's not a typo. It stands for Bring Your Own Device —

subset: commoncrawl


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'She's MY bestfriend, you're not supposed to take her away!'
Tears just wouldn't fall down, yet the pain doesn't seem to want to go away. I'm stuck in a corner staring in empty space, waiting for something... anything to happen... anything just make it all go away! I can't bear the pain growing in my heart everytime I remember the times we've spent together. All seems vivid and familiar, just like watching a ...scene from a favorite movie.
You have him now, you no longer need my company. The excitement you felt everytime you see me, has long gone replaced with the music when the two of you are together. Your bright smiles and lively laughter, you shared with me, once reserved only for me. That made me proud. You are my treasure. I would feel very happy whenever you would agree to model my designs and pose for the camera, even though I know you hated it so much, that made me feel special. But, I no longer fill that special place in your heart now, do I?
You may say you still care for me, but it isn't the same. The world may continue to rotate for you, as if nothing unusual happens, you have everything you can wish for. But, I lost my best friend, the one I thought who would be with me until I grow old and gray.
I know I'm being silly pouting like this, when I was the one who encouraged the two of you to be together. You're so dense! You don't even know when a guy fall head-over-heels for you, and don't even realize... you're falling too. That's why there's a bestfriend, to help you sort out those things. But afterwards, you're on your own, no longer with me, but with him.
Don't get me wrong, I like seeing the two of you together, who wouldn't agree you make such a cute couple! Jealousy probably... not really, though I don't have a special someone in my heart right now, that will come in due time, like what I've said earlier I'm really happy for the two of you.
The feeling is rather more like loneliness.
You were the first one who taught me how to really smile. A true smile of happiness. And without you, I fear I'll forget how. You...we used to be happy, the two of us, together, you give importance to my presence, now, I'm not so sure. Are you happy being with me? or are you happier when you are with him?
I don't like to be left alone. My mother's always away. I rarely see her, she's usually occupied with her business. Who am I to complain? Even when I was still a child, it had always been like this. I'm used to it ... because, you always keep me company, but not for long...
And in times like these I wonder, was it I whom you needed... or you whom I wanted.
You're no longer MY Bestfriend
You're no longer MY Sakura... but his.
Author's notes:
+ I tried narrating it as would a ten year old girl, but considering it's Tomoyo were talking about here, well you get the picture [and take note I said, I tried, doesn't necessarily mean I succeeded]=þ.
+ It's my version on how I think Tomoyo feels of Sakura. I think her affections towards Sakura is more on sisterly love [or buddy love, which ever you prefer] rather than the usually implied romantic love between them.
+ I know I'm not the best writer, and I usually have trouble expressing the idea I want to get across. I hope every point was made clear=þ.
+ Love to hear from you! [It's my way of saying, please review=þ] Good day!


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Full Details
Murlok push connect tubing is very easy to work with, however sometimes when a tighter bend the rigid tubing may possibly kink, or if the tubing is resting against the side of the sump or tank, a bit of noise may occur. The BRS Silicone Tubing upgrade kit will eliminate any noise coming from the tubing, as well as allow for more flexibality when routing the tubing.
The kit will come with 6 feet of silicone tubing, and if more tubing is needed please purchase additional 1/2" Silicone tubing, which we will then be able to send the entire piece of tubing in one piece.
No leaks, No problem. By Daniel S. on 8/20/2017Daniel S. would recommend this product to a friendSo I read the previous comments about how people were upset with this product because it leaked, so I was on the fence with buying it. I learned early in this hobby you can't listen to every review and I'm glad I went with my gut and bought it because these are sooooo much better then the original tubing that comes with it. Just remember, with this tubing, if you want to use the shut off valve, you'll need to buy 3 extra 1/2 inch Murlok adaptors and make sure.you push them in tight. just to be safe I wrapped some ends with zip ties but not sure if i even needed to. Happy Reefing.
Don't waste your money By Preston on 11/29/2016Preston wouldn't recommend this product to a friendGood god man! It's too expensive not to work. $26 for 3 fittings and some tubing, okay. I was disappointed after install when I found the tubing does not seal around the barb fitting. The hose is clearly too big and or the barb fitting is too small. My dual reactor hangs above my sump and all 3 fittings were leaking. I tried hose clamps as well with no change. I will be calling BRS in the morning to express my dissatisfaction with this product.
Junkkkk By edmond on 11/17/2016edmond wouldn't recommend this product to a friendPlz stay away from this u need a lot of zip ties plus their is not enough fittling for a ballvale and it KINKS so easy i wish i could return this item i had to throw the hose away
Great product By Christopher on 9/4/2016Christopher would recommend this product to a friendI would say you definitely need to get this when purchasing your reactor. Super easy to install and super flexible allowing me toount my reactor wherever I needed. Only problem is the tube has a poor connection to the connector fittings. You need to tie wrap them on tight otherwise they will fall off/leak.
Barb fittings are not tight By Stephen on 6/11/2016Stephen wouldn't recommend this product to a friendBarb fittings are not tight and causes the silicone tubing to leak. Will not work on an out of sump install.
A joke By chance on 5/22/2016chance wouldn't recommend this product to a friendComes with very little fittings and hardly enough hose to barley pipe just the inlet port just order the solid ro tubing in your color and Mur lok fittings with the ones you need save yourself the hassle and money on this junk!
BRS Reactor Silicone Tubing Upgrade Kit By FLSharkvictim on 4/30/2016FLSharkvictim would recommend this product to a friendThis should of came w/ the reactor not that hard plastic tubing that comes with it originally!!!! It's a must upgrade if you buy any of the BRS reactors. HIGHLY recommended.
Great tubing kit for reactors By Steeve on 4/24/2016Steeve would recommend this product to a friendUsed 2 of those kits to retrofit my tank with carbon, biopellets and GFO. BRS sent the 2 sets of tubing in one lenght which was perfect to waste as little tubing as possible. End result, my in sump reactors are installed and the lenght of tubing I have means I can empty, refill and rinse the new media out of the sump and put it back in. The barbed fitting are not supertight with the silicone tubing ID, so I ended up using barbed fitting I found locally.
Great upgrade but not complete By Dave on 4/15/2016Dave would recommend this product to a friendGreat kit for upgrading reactors but should come with nylon hose clamps to make the kit complete!
Great product By BSauerhebr on 1/27/2016BSauerhebr would recommend this product to a friendI was using the tubing that comes with the reactor. Now that I have switched to this won't go back. So much easier to dial in the flow with this silicon tubing! Great kit BRS!
reactor tubing By james on 11/26/2015james would recommend this product to a friendtubing very flexible made it easy to mount reactor where I needed
Great product By KEITH on 10/20/2015KEITH would recommend this product to a friendVery flexable fixes the issue I had with normal push loc tubing
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Product Questions
The ball valve can either be connected directly to the pump and then the stem adapter can push into the other side of the valve. If you want to keep the ball valve out of the water, you could easily just use a small piece of RO tubing to connect the ball valve right to the elbow coming out of the reactor as well and then stick the stem adapter into the other side of the ball valve.
We do not currently have a ratchet clamp for 1/2" tubing however we have found standard plastic zip ties work great in this application! Feel free to let us know if you have any further questions!
This kit will come with 1x 6' section of tubing which can be cut to make 2x 3' sections like on our base models. Feel free to let us know if you have any further questions!
You will need one kit per reactor as each will come with enough fittings for outflow from pump, input into reactor and outflow from reactor. Feel free to let us know if you have any further questions!


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Associated Press
Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has hired Drew Rosenhaus as his agent and has taken steps toward making himself available for an NFL supplemental draft.
Pryor's lawyer, Larry James, said Monday that Pryor was in Miami and had signed an agreement with Rosenhaus, a high-powered agent who represents some of the biggest names in sports. His client list includes standout wide receivers Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco along with former Ohio State running back and Pryor teammate Chris "Beanie" Wells, now with the Arizona Cardinals.
"I am happy that he has reached this point and he's in secure hands," James said of Pryor.
Pryor, James and at least two other people spent the past few days discussing the quarterback's options in terms of agents. Then Pryor flew to Miami on Sunday and signed a contract with Rosenhaus on Monday.
James also formally notified Ohio State that Pryor had signed with an agent, which officially made the three-year starter ineligible in the eyes of the university and the NCAA. That clears the way for the next step in Pryor's hopes of making it into the NFL.
"The university declares him ineligible," James said. "Therefore, that is a prerequisite to being eligible for the supplemental draft."
Pryor announced last week that he would not return to the team for his senior season.
He had already been suspended by Ohio State and the NCAA for the first five games of the 2011 season for accepting improper benefits in the form of cash and discounted tattoos from a Columbus tattoo-parlor owner. The NCAA is investigating all aspects of Ohio State's athletic program, particularly the football team.
The probe led to the forced resignation of head coach Jim Tressel on May 30. Tressel has admitted he knew his players were taking improper benefits but covered it up for more than nine months before Ohio State officials discovered his knowledge.
Pryor cannot be signed as a free agent by an NFL team.
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so i was wondering if i could speak with mr jones, in 2012 on vevo made you look with slegh bell dj primier ect, i noticed that you were rapping on stage. well my name is natacha short for tasha, and over the air waves my name kept comming up.. there are alot of tashas in the world.. however there seems too be alot of coincedences evoling my first name in music. weird in fact.. things i do on a...
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Independent Dems to end Senate majority coalition with GOP
ALBANY -- The state Senate's Independent Democratic Conference in a surprise move Wednesday said it will end its historic, bipartisan coalition with Republicans to form a Democratic coalition to run the chamber next year.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo applauded the move, which could end the last bastion of power for Republicans in state government. Republican senators under co-leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) had been the Democratic governor's most reliable allies and were critical to accomplishing much of Cuomo's first-term agenda.
The change would happen after Election Day, unless Republicans can win at least three seats now held by Democrats to secure a majority on its own.
Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx), who heads the IDC, said he has the support of all five members of the Independent Democratic Conference. He met Monday behind closed doors with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has been spearheading the effort to secure a Democratic Senate majority to advance a progressive agenda.
"All IDC members are united and agree to work together to form a new majority coalition between the Independent Democratic Conference and the Senate Democratic Conference after the November elections in order to deliver the results that working families across this state still need and deserve," Klein said.
"There is no doubt that we have accomplished much for the state over the past four years," Cuomo said, citing accomplishments with Republicans. "There is also no doubt there are progressive goals that we have yet to achieve and that we must accomplish next January."
But Senate co-leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) said, "It's unfortunate that Mayor de Blasio, the radical Working Families Party and their co-conspirators in the Senate Democratic Conference are attempting to take control of the New York State Senate. This 'agreement' is nothing more than a short-term political deal designed to make threatened primaries go away." Two members of the IDC -- Klein and Sen. Tony Avella of Queens -- have been facing potential primaries.
Republicans have controlled the Senate for most of the last half-century despite a Democratic voter enrollment advantage that has grown to 2:1 over Republicans. Democrats won a majority in 2007, but lost it again in 2009 after two years marked by historically high tax increases and spending, as well as political gridlock.
The IDC formed in 2011 as a repudiation of that Democratic leadership, denying Democrats a majority, even though together they would slightly outnumber Republicans.
The brief chaotic Democratic tenure, however, was under a different leadership and about half of those Democrats are gone. The minority conference is now led by Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers), who could become New York's first woman to lead a majority legislative conference.
Cuomo has been on a statewide tour since the legislation session ended last week promoting victories including bills to combat heroin addiction. In the stops in Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton and on Long Island he had Republican senators at his side and congratulating them as partners in the success of state government.
On May 31, Cuomo had committed to trying to flip control of the Senate as part of a deal to secure the important endorsement of the liberal Working Families Party.
"Today's announcement that the IDC will be reuniting with Senate Democrats to form a new progressive majority in the state Senate is great news for working families throughout New York," said Bill Lipton of the Working Families Party.
The party is pushing measures long blocked by Republicans. They include more protection of late-term abortions, a higher minimum wage and a Dream Act to provide college financial aid to immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children.


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'Buckets and Tap Shoes' to present next Performing Arts Series event at UMM
As part of the University of Minnesota, Morris Performing Arts Series, Buckets and Tap Shoes will perform on the University of Minnesota, Morris campus in Edson Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 13, 2010. The group features a collection of musicians, percussionists, and dancers that bring great energy to the stage with five-gallon buckets, metal cans, found objects, and of course, tap shoes. The group received honors at the 2004 Minnesota Fringe Festival and from Minneapolis City Pages.
Morris student Sam Krump-Johnson '11, Maple Grove, who majors in theater and media, is really excited to see the group. "I've heard really good things about them, so I know I'm going to try and get all my friends to go."
On Sunday, November 14, 2010, at 11 a.m. in HFA 125, the Humanities Fine Arts theatre and dance rehearsal room, Buckets and Tap Shoes will present a tap master class that is free and open to the public. The class is intended for all levels of tap experience. Bring your tap shoes.
For ticket information for the evening performance, contact the Office of Student Activities at 320-589-6080.
This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.


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|A designated wildland-urban interface area under the control of local government could be harvested for biomass, as well as sawlogs and pulpwood. Photos: Robert Gray
The wildfire hazard issue in British Columbia gained prominence after the 2003 wildfire season in which three fire fighters died, 350 homes and businesses were destroyed, 45,000 residents were evacuated, and the province spent more than $700 million in suppression and fire rehabilitation. The province commissioned former Manitoba premier Gary Filmon to review existing policy and procedures as they applied to wildfire threat to the wildland-urban interface (WUI) and to recommend changes so that what happened in 2003 wouldn't be repeated. Two key recommendations from the Filmon Report relate directly to the biomass-to-energy industry: the need to add value to the small-diameter trees constituting the greatest threat to communities; and tenure reform, giving those who need to treat the material access to it.
First steps woefully inadequate
In response to the Filmon Report, the provincial government developed a grant program encouraging local governments to take the lead in resolving the wildfire threat to their communities. Developed through the Ministry of Forests and Range and administered by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), the program comprised a partial grant (50% from the UBCM) to support the development of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan, as well as subsequent grants for fuel treatment pilot projects and operational fuel treatments (75% from UBCM if beetle-affected lodgepole pine was involved; otherwise 50%).
|Forest licensees often will not treat hazardous stands near urban areas because of poor wood quality or quantity.
On the tenure reform side, the province created several special licenses providing access to small quantities of biomass. This was initially a small-scale salvage licence for dead lodgepole pine, and eventually, an interface licence enabling a municipality to treat all species but in small volumes. New clean air legislation is also making small quantities of biomass available because the forest industry is no longer allowed to burn slash piles.
Unfortunately, none of these fixes deal with the necessity of providing sufficient access to predictable quantities of biomass feedstock so that an investor could be encouraged to build a bioenergy facility such as a thermal heating plant or wood pellet plant. With small treatment units of low-value material, there is little economic incentive for municipalities and businesses to pursue a bioenergy solution to the problem. So with federal and provincial fuel treatment grants drying up and local governments struggling to balance their budgets, movement on wildfire hazard reduction has come to a halt.
A new approach
An initiative that focuses on local governments directly managing the WUI around each of their communities is being championed by the southeastern British Columbia communities of Cranbrook, Kimberley, and St. Mary's Indian Band, as well as the Ktuanxa Nation Council Society and the Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society. The proposed solution will not only add value to the material and provide access to feedstock, but will also reduce the need for fuel treatment subsidies in many cases. An economic and fire behaviour analysis would determine the appropriate width of the WUI buffer needed to develop biomass-to-energy industries capable of aggressively removing the fuel hazard from the forest. Within this WUI buffer would be sufficient biomass volume to develop both small-scale thermal heating projects as well as large-scale bioenergy products manufacture. The buffer would also contain large volumes of traditional sawtimber, which is more valuable on a volume basis than typical bioenergy material, but which is often needed to offset the harvest cost of biomass.
|Mechanical thinning near forest communities can help reduce the risk of dangerous wildfires.
Although much of the fibre in British Columbia is under long-term licence to the forest industry (and municipalities, in the case of Community Forest Licences), it is not true that it is unavailable to local governments for wildfire hazard reduction. Since the 2004 Filmon Report, the province has pressured local governments to take the lead in treating hazardous fuels on Crown land under long-term tenure to the forest industry (including BC Timber Sales). The province requests that local governments advocate the treatment of hazardous fuels on Crown land in the interface that is under licence to a long-term tenure holder. In many cases, the forest licensee will not treat the stand because of poor wood quality or quantity. If the licensee refuses to treat the stand, the local government is encouraged to use municipal tax dollars, in conjunction with provincial and federal grants, to treat the hazardous fuels. Under this strategy, the province thinks it's appropriate for local governments to treat these stands but doesn't afford them the opportunity to manage a large enough area or volume to make it economically efficient. And, from the perspective of avoiding a protracted battle over tenure reform, it is attractive to promote the development of bioenergy in a passive sense because it doesn't require a reapportionment of resources or messy legislative changes. Under this model, biomass is only available as the opportunity arises.
The difficulty with this approach is that there is no predictability of feedstock availability, and the use of biomass is not tied to a larger economic goal or landscape management strategy. The small-scale licences and environmental legislation that free up small amounts of biomass are insufficient to stimulate bioenergy industries for two key reasons: the volumes are too small to support business planning and investment, and the volumes are not predictable from year to year. Opportunity biomass is tied directly to positive economic opportunities for sawtimber or pulpwood; if market conditions aren't right for those commodities, the waste component that goes to bioenergy won't be produced. In short, reliable biomass for energy can't be a byproduct of harvest for other commodities.
Many benefits
However, the development of bioenergy opportunities also should not be the sole means to an end. It should be tied to meeting other social, environmental, or economic objectives such as WUI hazard reduction, as in the case of communities in southeastern British Columbia. Unlike other forms of bioenergy, failure to exploit the biomass resource comes with significant environmental, social, and economic consequences. If we don't deal with the accumulated biomass proactively, we will have to deal with it during and after a wildfire at a significant cost to taxpayers, human health (e.g., smoke, direct threat to human lives), business, etc. It is therefore in the province's interest to create and support the biomass-to-energy sector as a means of solving other problems. Direct government intervention in the timber supply and tenure arena is not without precedent. The government has amended tenures and licences in a number of locations over time to lessen the economic effects on a community or industry during periods of market instability (e.g., for the Skeena Cellulose pulp mill in Prince Rupert, the MacKenzie pulp mill, and others).
Currently there exists an unfortunate state of inertia as it relates to solving the WUI threat as well as the development of local, viable bioenergy enterprises. The interface fuels issue is quite simply a biomass issue: there is too much of it surrounding our communities and it constitutes a very real fire hazard. Ironically, the outstanding issue preventing the development of local-level, viable bioenergy enterprises is access to the biomass that creates this threat. The simplest solution is to amend the tenure system, allowing local governments and First Nations access to the biomass in strategic locations so they can address the wildfire hazard issue economically, encourage the development of local and viable bioenergy enterprises, and diversify the local energy and forest resource industries.
Robert W. Gray is a fire ecologist and principal of R.W. Gray Consulting Ltd., based in Chilliwack,
British Columbia.


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MILAN (Reuters) - The threat of a political crisis pushed Italy's funding costs higher at an auction on Wednesday, with the world's fourth-largest debtor paying more to borrow over one year than it has since December 2012.
Fears the governing coalition will not survive if former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is expelled from the Senate following a tax fraud conviction have already hit Italian bonds trading in the secondary market.
On Wednesday, the Treasury paid 1.34 percent to sell 8.5 billion euros in one-year bills, up from 1.05 percent at a similar sale a month ago. Demand totalled 1.4 times that amount, slightly down from 1.5 times at the previous auction in August.
"Italian yields remain at acceptable levels," said ING rate strategist Alessandro Giansanti. "But it is clear that the market doesn't like the domestic political tensions."
Analysts say the higher yields encourage domestic demand, helping the Treasury meet its pressing funding needs. About two-thirds of Italy's 2 trillion euro debt is held domestically.
But an auction of longer-term bonds on Thursday for up to 7.5 billion euros will test appetite for Italian paper among international investors.
The bond sale will take place shortly before lawmakers resume a debate on centre-right leader Berlusconi's political future.
The issue threatens the survival of Italy's fragile left-right coalition. Supporters of the former premier have threatened to pull out of Prime Minister's Enrico Letta's government if he loses his seat.
A meeting of the Senate committee charged with the decision ended without holding a vote on Tuesday, easing tensions in the immediate. Hearings resume on Thursday at 1300 GMT (02.00 p.m. British time).
Analysts see early elections as unlikely but say a government reshuffle is possible. It would come at a time when Italy is due to draft next year's budget, seeking to contain a public debt already projected to exceed 130 percent of output.
In a move set to further swell the debt, Italy plans to up the ceiling on 2013 net debt issuance by more than a fifth to 98 billion euros, a Senate panel said on Tuesday.
Domestic political woes and supply pressure have reduced the appeal of Italian bonds compared to Spanish ones. On Tuesday the yields on Italian 10-year bonds rose above those of Spain for the first time since March 2012.
On Wednesday, Italy also sold 3.0 billion euros of one-off bills maturing in late December at an average 0.51 percent yield. The smaller sale was covered 2.3 times as investors sought to park year-end liquidity.
Additional reporting by Gabriella Bruschi; Editing by Catherine Evans


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JACKSON — Surgeons at the University of Mississippi Medical Center recently transplanted a pancreas and kidney into a 49-year-old man, marking the first such event for the state and final piece of UMMC's abdominal transplant line. "Our goal has been to build a complete and high-functioning abdominal transplant program," said Dr. Christopher Anderson, UMMC associate professor of transplant surgery and ...Read More »
Tag Archives: kidney
COLUMBUS — The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) has awarded a certificate of need (CON) to RCG Mississippi Inc., d/b/a Lowndes County Dialysis, of Columbus. The CON authorizes the establishment of a satellite end stage renal disease (ESRD) facility in Columbus. MSDH reports the proposed project will relocate 10 stations from its current 35-station facility less than a mile ...Read More »
JACKSON — In June, the Mississippi Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a 2011 law that required appeals of certificate-of-need decisions to go directly to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court said appeals from CON decisions by the Mississippi State Department of Health must go first to the appropriate lower court. In this case, that would be chancery court. Yesterday, the Supreme ...Read More »


text: http://web.sny.tv/media/video.jsp?content_id=25523621 NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony said the plan was always to return from his finger injury on Sunday. It didn't matter that Sunday's opponent happened to be his former team, the Denver Nuggets, the same team he forced into trading him to the Knicks in a blockbuster deal in February 2011. "It didn't have nothing to do with that," Anthony said in the Knicks locker room following his 34-point outburst in the Knicks' 112-106 victory over the Nuggets at Madison Square Garden. "I don't got no hard feelings towards them." It just happened to work out that Anthony's return from an injury to his left middle finger after a two-game absence coincided with Denver's arrival in New York, which owns the best record in the Eastern Conference (15-5). Despite tape on that left middle finger, Anthony overcame a 1-for-6 start to his day and helped the Knicks take control in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of the team's 32 points in the period as he abused former Knick Danilo Gallinari down the stretch. After the Knicks answered an 8-0 Nuggets run that put Denver up 88-80, the Knicks ran off a 12-0 run of their own — sparked by back-to-back Steve Novak 3- pointers — to go ahead for good, 92-88. Anthony later hit a three of his own to make it 97-90. He hit back-to-back baskets on a jumper and a drive to push the lead to 110-104 with under two minutes to go. "He has been amazing throughout the entire season," said Knicks center Tyson Chandler, who had another strong game with 15 points and 12 rebounds. "Tonight was no different. He is playing at an MVP level right now." Knicks coach Mike Woodson, whose team improved to 8-0 this season at the Garden and 19-1 here overall, agreed with Chandler's assessment. "Melo is playing at such a high level," Woodson said. "There is no question he is one of the MVP candidates in this league. He has been great for us. His teammates rely on him and he is relying on guys around him to help him. This is the beauty of our team right now." Nuggets coach George Karl was asked about Anthony prior to the game, and whether he saw a different player, a different person than the one he coached in Denver. Anthony said before the season began that he was willing to sacrifice his own scoring in favor of more balanced team scoring and a renewed commitment to defense. He said his experience with the gold-medal winning Olympic team had made him a new man. "He's always done that," Karl said of Anthony before the game. "He's always had the skills to do it. It's the commitment and consistency of doing them and putting them in every game. "I think what I see is, a team that, when it gets down, and in the fourth quarter, close games, they're playing with a kind of mad-dog personality. They've got great defensive hands. They've got a great shot blocker in the middle. They've got Jason Kidd, who knows how to disrupt the best player on the court. Their pick-and-roll defense is first class." Anthony and Karl feuded down the stretch of Melo's tenure in Denver, but Karl believes that playing alongside NBA champions like Kidd and Chandler can only have a positive effect on Anthony's attitude. "I feel that Melo's going to win a championship someday," Karl said. "Scoreboard and numbers and stat sheets aren't important. It's the team scoreboard and the intangibles that make winners champions." Whether Anthony and the Knicks have a chance to challenge for that championship this year remains to be seen. For now, Anthony is playing at a very high level, hand injury notwithstanding. He says he isn't worried about MVPs or championships or even his old team, just about winning basketball games, especially those at Madison Square Garden. "It is another game on my schedule this season," he said. "The emotion is gone. It is another game on the schedule that we definitely wanted to win. We want to defend our home court." **For my NBA.com Notebook with Video, Notes & Quotes, click here. Photo: Daily News Facebook Comments Share this story...FacebookPocketWhatsAppGooglePrintMoreTwitter


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Each of our readers takes a different tack when dissecting Boise Weekly. News hounds linger over the first few pages, music nerds thumb through the Guide and crossword junkies cut straight to the back. Well, now there are a few more reasons--in addition to anthropomorphized cats, astrological prophecies and ripple-chested men--to scan BW Classifieds.
In our Jan. 9 issue, artist Elijah Jensen-Lindsey resurrected his popular cartoon Hobo Jargon. Whether it's a dude talking about "triumphant pubic hair" or a bearded man looking for a "less boastful leotard," Jensen-Lindsey pens hilarious asides for both his hirsute and clean-shaven characters.
In other new comic news, this week's paper includes the first installment of Garry Trudeau's long-running syndicated national comic, Doonesbury. For more than 40 years, Trudeau has made his name penning timely political and social commentary. We'll publish the Sunday edition of Doonesbury each Wednesday in 8 Days Out and post Trudeau's five other weekly installments online at doonesbury.boiseweekly.com.
But it's not all chuckles this week. We're also launching Rest of the Best, a competition that takes up where BW's Best of Boise leaves off. Each year after BOB hits the stands, we are flooded with calls from local florists, carpet cleaners, glass blowers and others wondering why we don't have a category honoring their trade. Rest of the Best is a way to give some love to businesses not on the BOB ballot.
Beginning this week, you can vote under the category Recovery Starts Here, which includes Boise's best bail bondsman, DUI attorneys and loan shops. Just head to boiseweekly.com and look for the Rest of the Best button. Results will be printed each week in the Classifieds section. Upcoming categories include ski season, Valentine's Day and wedding planning.
But enough about the back of the paper, here's what's front-and-center in our world this week: The main News feature looks at how Boise's homeless population is using free Internet access at the public library to have a voice, the Noise feature trails Ketchum cowboys Old Death Whisper and the Arts feature delves into Shakespearean heroines, kung-fu and the undead.


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Principal Complainant Against Katsav: The Court Gave Me Back My Dignity
Woman known only as A. from the Tourism Ministry says she had never sought revenge and that the severity of the punishment was not of paramount importance to her.
The principal complainant in the rape conviction against former President Moshe Katsav, the woman known only as A. from the Tourism Ministry, said yesterday that Katsav's punishment fit his crimes.
"Although this is not at all a happy day for me, there is definitely a feeling of satisfaction over the sentence," she said.
A. also said she had never sought revenge and that the severity of the punishment was not of paramount importance to her.
"The main thing from my perspective is the verdict, that the court - unanimously - believed me and gave me justice, even though it was delayed justice," she said. "The court gave me back my dignity."
A., whom the court also ordered Katsav to pay NIS 100,000 in damages, said she would be happy to return to her normal life. Sources close to the victim said she was in no hurry to file a civil suit against Katsav - as the woman known as A. from the President's Residence, whose complaint was not included in the criminal action against Katsav, said she intended to do.
Associates of A. from the Tourism Ministry said she needed to look into the legal feasibility of filing the civil suit and how the statute of limitations affected it.
A friend of A., Dror Nisan, who was with her and her lawyer, Daniel Sror, when the sentence was handed down yesterday, told Haaretz that in contrast to the announcement of the verdict - when they were very tense and finally wept when the tension was released - "we were much calmer today. It was clear to us somehow that there would be a prison term, because it had to suit the verdict."
Nisan said A. was relieved "especially because of the realization that, although there has been talk of an appeal, and it could drag on and the sentence could be postponed, things are at least coming to an end."
The complainants L. and H. who were part of the indictment, as well as a complainant from the Transportation Ministry on whose complaint the statute of limitations applied, declined to speak with the media yesterday, although in the past they had done so.
The first complainant who went public, A. from the President's Residence, said: "The seven years to which Katsav was sentenced today will not bring back the seven years I lost dealing with the irreparable damage, which also impacts my future."
"The insults and suffering I endured from him, his associates, his family and his lawyer can't be countered by even the most perfect punishment," she added.
But A. from the President's Residence also said the personal price she paid "is dwarfed by the message the court sent out today to all of society: even citizen number one is not above the law."
Women's organizations yesterday welcomed Katsav's sentence, saying it conveyed an important message both to victims of sexual violence and their attackers. The sentence "sent a clear message of belief in the victims and the justice system, and of zero-tolerance to the perpetrators of sexual violence," said Michal Rosen, executive director of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel.
Nurit Tsur, executive director of the Israel Women's Network, said yesterday: "The sentence is appropriate and is a victory for all of Israeli society - both men and women. The court determined that there is no place for rape and sexual harassment in Israeli society, even when it concerns people in power."
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COLLEGE STATION (AP) - Texas Cooperative Extension regional crop reports for the week of June 18:
Mrs. David Brian Brackett
Meredith Brooke Curry and David Brian Brackett were united in marriage at 8:00 pm at the Whitaker Ranch in Canyon Texas. Dr. Jim Smith of Amarillo officiated the ceremony.
Drs. Nathan and Selma Wilson of Lubbock, Texas are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their daughter, Christina Rae, to Brian James Maines, son of Kenny and Sharon Maines of Lubbock, Texas.
James R. "Jim Bob" and Fay Smith celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a dinner with their family. Hosts of the celebration were their children. They are the parents of Kevin Smith of Midlothian; Robby Smith of Lubbock; and Jana Smith, deceased. Smith and the former Roifae Ledford were married June 21, 1957, in Abernathy. They have two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mr. and Mrs. David Adams of Lubbock are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Calli Lynn Adams to Dylan Christenson of Costa Mesa, CA. Dylan is the son of Bruce and Diane Christenson of Santa Maria, CA.
Harold Paul and Laurita Bertrand of Floydada celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a family dinner June 9 at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Derrell Monday of Vernon. Hosts of the celebration were their children. They are the parents of Donna and Bob Robillard of Lawton, Okla; Janna and Derrell Monday of Vernon; and Kim and Dean Hinton of Wichita Falls. Bertrand and the former Laurita Stambaugh were married June 12, 1947, at her parents' home at Kress. They have six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Christopher Lee Betts
Erin Lee Flanagan and Christopher Lee Betts were united in marriage at 4:30 pm on June 23, 2007 at the Shepherd of the Plains Lutheran Church in Lubbock, TX. Pastor Guy Bergenthal officiated the ceremony.
Hector and Eva Garcia of Brownfield celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a Mass June 23 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, with a reception following. Hosts of the celebration were family and friends. They are the parents of Johnny and Roseanne Garcia of Casa Grande, Ariz.; Edward and Ana Garcia of Kingsville; Hector and Ortencia Garcia of Brownfield; Ricky and Victoria Garcia of Albuquerque, N.M.; and Joe and Shannon Garcia of Keller. Garcia and the former Eva Gonzales were married June 13, 1957, in Edinburg. They have 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Matthew Trent Mays
Meredith Marie Parker and 2nd Lieutenant Matthew Trent Mays were united in marriage at
Robert "Ray" Jameson and Will Allen "Billie" Stodghill Jameson of Plainview celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary June 19. They are the parents of Robert Alan Jameson and David Ray Jameson. They were married at First Baptist Church in Amarillo. They have two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Randy and Shirley Schoor of Lubbock celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception June 23 at Broadview Baptist Church. Hosts of the celebration were their children. They are the parents of Kathy Lewallen of Levelland; Rickey Schoor of Lubbock; and David Schoor of Lubbock. Schoor and the former Shirley Hice were married June 22, 1957, at First Baptist Church in Anton.
Donald and Joyce Hancock of New Home will celebrate their 50th anniversary today at First United Methodist Church in Wolfforth. Hosts of the celebration are their children and grandchildren. They are the parents of Dahlen and Jody Hancock of Wolfforth and Donette Case of New Home. Hancock and the former Joyce Raymond were married June 22, 1957, in Abernathy. They have four grandchildren.
Brent and LouAnn Barker of Keller are pleased to announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Brittany Noel, to Mr. Tyler Thomas Duniven, son of Tommy and Diane Duniven of Wylie.
Doug and Nancy Schultze of Edmond, Oklahoma are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Brittany Schultze of Lubbock to Jordan Strebeck of Clovis, New Mexico. Jordan is the son of Sid and Selena Strebeck of Clovis, New Mexico.
Mrs. Daniel Alan Biase
Louisa Suzanne Hatch and Daniel Alan Biase were united in marriage at 7:00 pm on June 23, 2007 at the First United Methodist Church. Reverend Glen Austell officiated the ceremony.
Yields for Oklahoma wheat harvest poised to be significantly higher than 2006
SHAWNEE, Okla. - Early estimates for Oklahoma's 2007 winter wheat crop appear to be overly optimistic, but the overall yield is still poised to be a major jump over the 2006 crop.
Mrs. Jonathan Faulkner
Lindsay Schubert and Jonathan Faulkner were united in marriage at 7:00 pm on June 2, 2007 at the First United Methodist Church in Hobbs NM.
Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie McElfresh of Lubbock are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Shelah McElfresh to Ben Wood both of Lubbock. Ben is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Wood of Burkburnett.
Mrs. Ben McCaslin
Lesley Brooke Floyd and Benjamin Carl McCaslin were united in marriage at 7:00 pm on June 9, 2007 at Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas TX. Reverend Tim Tinsley officiated the ceremony.
Larry and Terry Holland of Lubbock are pleased to announce the engagement of their son Christopher Holland of Lubbock to Christa Peterson of Merkel. Christa is the daughter of Mike and Cheryl Peterson of Merkel.
Joe and Loretta Kitten of Slaton observed their 50th wedding anniversary June 18. A Mass of thanksgiving, dinner and dance will be held later. They are the parents of Cassandra and Ron Willett of Midland; Derek and Jane Kitten of Slaton; Lester and Nancy Kitten of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; Dr. Todd and Libbey Kitten of Richmond, Va.; Scott Kitten of Manson, Iowa; and Connie and Zach Parham of Odem. Kittten and the former Loretta Steffens were married June 18, 1957, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Slaton. They have 15 grandchildren.
David and Pam Messick of Lubbock are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Lauren Claire Messick to Trevor Jackson Sessums, both of Lubbock. Trevor is the son of Steve and Robbie Sessums of Lubbock.
Dr. Donald and Delia Craig of Lubbock celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary June 21-23 with a family reunion at their home. Hosts of the celebration were Donald and Delia Craig. They are the parents of Ken and Dana Hornung of Port Orchard, Wash.; David Raymond Craig of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Dr. Andrew and Carol Reifsnyder of Austin; and Richard Craig of Lubbock. Craig and the former Delia Asberry were married June 7, 1957, in Greenville. They have five grandchildren.
Jimmy and Cindy Runnels of Abernathy and Andy and Jamie Junod of Plainview are pleased to announce the engagement of their children Alicia Runnels to Austin Junod, both of Lubbock.
Mike and Suzan Ramage of Spur, TX are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Elise Michella Ramage to Matthew Otis Johnson. Matthew is the son of Jack and Nan Cloud of Lubbock, TX and Ken and Kim Johnson of Waco, TX.
Linard and Betty Actkinson of Lubbock celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary June 21 with a family trip to California. Hosts of the celebration were their children. They are the parents of Leonard and Sue Actkinson of Vallejo, Calif.; Barbara and Robert Brown of Lubbock; Belinda and Ronny Cannon of Sand Springs, Okla.; and Mike and Elizabeth Actkinson of Mesquite. Actkinson and the former Betty Yarbrough were married June 21, 1947, in Lubbock. They have nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Smooth Fusion: 'Globally located in Lubbock, Texas'
Smooth Fusion is a unique company. As one of the most sophisticated Web and Internet development firms in the country, they have worked on projects for well-known companies like Phillips Electronics, La Quinta, Greyhound, Conoco-Phillips, and more. Smooth Fusion has also earned the position as one of a select group of companies authorized to build Web sites directly for Microsoft. That's why Smooth Fusion likes to say that they are "Globally Located in Lubbock, Texas."
Acupuncture, Chinese herbal remedies help clients find relief from aliments, pain
Acupuncture is becoming more and more popular today as a viable way to treat chronic disease and pain. It's an ancient method to treat the ill, created thousands of years ago by the Chinese.
One call to Blackmon-Mooring does it all - HVAC, plumbing, sewer line, clean air
Got an air conditioning problem? Call Blackmon-Mooring!
Use a reverse mortgage to fund home maintenance; call now
As homes mature, there are many demands that are essential in maintaining the home's condition. A reverse mortgage can provide you with the extra income for home improvements or renovations, while comfortably staying in your home. Money received from a reverse mortgage can be used in virtually anyway you choose, from being able to pay off existing debts, fund health care and prescription drugs to traveling or simply having the peace of mind of having extra cash when needed. For most, it provides the extra income to allow them to live safely and securely in their homes.
Medical Spa of Midland prescribes bio-identical hormones for healthy aging
We all get older, if we are fortunate. When we "feel old," it is most often due to the decline in our hormone levels.
Rightway Medical Supply helps you put your best foot forward
If you are suffering from foot pain or discomfort, visit Rightway Medical, located at 3409 82nd St. (just west of Indiana Avenue), for relief.
Need secure, added storage? Call Trailer Rental Co. for information
Looking for a secure, affordable solution to your storage problems? Think Trailer Rental Co.!
Remodel kitchen with little or no money out-of-pocket; call Kreativ Kitchens now
Want to redo your kitchen but don't think you can afford it? Kreativ Kitchen says, "Yes, you can!"
Lubbock Health Care Center offers variety of care services to patients
Lubbock Health Care Center is a fully-licensed and certified nursing facility. They offer individuals a number of different care services, and their professional interdisciplinary medical staff, which is supervised by a medical director, provides comprehensive programs designed to help each person reach his or her maximum ability.
Furniture Renovations can repair chairs in your home; call today
If you have furniture that needs fixing, call on Furniture Renovations! From minor repairs to major refinishing jobs, Furniture Renovations has the skill and experience to do the job right.
Put B&I Review to work for your business
Now is the time to advertise your business in the B&I Review! The deadline for the Fall 2007 B&I Review is July 23, and space is filling now.
Moving? Visit Hurley Packaging of Texas for moving boxes, supplies
The moving process can be a headache for anyone. Whether you're moving across town or across the country, one thing has to be done before you can get going - packing your belongings!
Dillard Kitchen & Bath takes the worry out of remodels
Preparing for a remodel can be a lot of work, but if done correctly it can make the job go more smoothly and diminish the opportunities for chaos and mistakes.
Get ready for the Independence Day Sales Event at Carolyn's Christmas Creations
How low can you go?
Motivation of storied 'panty raid' is a thriving topic
T HE MORE I read about the Police Panty Raid (PPR) that occurred over on Slide Road, the more my mind gets tuned to thoughts of community standards - community standards being the litmus test that supposedly determines whether something's crudely vulgar or merely delightfully inspiring.
Wheat crop is huge but won't matter if grain can't make it to market
oy Varmaak, a cheerful, 50-year-old driver from South Africa, hopped from the cab of the tractor he was repairing and glanced at the 18-wheeler that sat idle in a Seminole wheat field.
Two famed Texas ranches at odds over wind energy
S ARITA - After a century and a half as cordial neighbors, two of the nation's biggest ranches find themselves feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys over wind energy and wildlife and whether the two can coexist.
O'Reilly center could signal more growth
If the city is successful in landing a new O'Reilly Automotive Inc. distribution center, it will mark the third time in just more than a year the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance has managed to lure a new corporate investment partner to the Hub City.
Martinson, Branum pulling away
Mikel Martinson made NAIA second-team all-American this spring at Wayland Baptist, and Chris Branum made NJCAA all-American a few years ago for Midland College.
Tech's Wilson ties for seventh in high jump
INDIANAPOLIS - Texas Tech's Lacy Wilson tied for seventh place in the high jump on Saturday at the U.S. track and field championships.
Beavers repeat at CWS
OMAHA, Neb. - Oregon State became the first team in a decade to repeat as College World Series champion, completing a dominant run through the tournament with a 9-3 victory over North Carolina on Sunday night.
Oregon State takes first game
OMAHA, Neb. - Freshman Jorge Reyes gave Oregon State another strong pitching performance, leading the defending champion Beavers to an 11-4 win over North Carolina in Game 1 of the College World Series championship Saturday night.
Tech's Myers, other ADs see no need to retire
ear the end of May, Gerald Myers went with a group to Scotland, playing two rounds of golf a day for five days in a row - on a seven-day trip. Golf carts, Myers discovered, are far less common in Scotland than in the United States, so he walked the 36 holes a day.
Robert Higgins learns responsibility while helping others
Despite having only recently finished his sophomore year in high school, Robert Higgins already understands the importance of helping others. That's why the Lubbock High School student volunteers with Up and Coming Scholars.
Interested in the Arts Center offers summer classes for teenagers, kids and adults
There are only three children in the portraits class on Friday afternoon. The rest of the young artists are either at grandma and grandpa's house for the day or simply absent.
From Our Forums
Work for true two-party system
Restore money from severe cuts to SPC
GOV. RICK PERRY'S decision to slash funding to South Plains College is a hard-hitting financial punch in the stomach that will be felt far beyond the 9,000-student Levelland campus.
From Our Forums
Don't compromise principles
TAKS is leaving - but not for a while
TO PARAPHRASE the British comedy troupe Monty Python, TAKS testing in Texas high schools is not dead yet.
Fewer are answering call to teach as better opportunities come knocking
As hundreds of thousands of baby boomers retire and the No Child Left Behind law raises standards for new teachers, school systems across the country are facing a growing scarcity of qualified recruits.
Ely's great-performer status grows bigger with Friday night's show
Joe Ely's near-legendary status as a Texas singer-songwriter, performer and storyteller actually grew even more Friday night.
Scantily clad dungeon-crawler Lara Croft has been reborn many times over the years as a line of video-game sequels and mediocre (OK, terrible) film remakes.
After years of juggling motherhood and music, Lawrence hopes for big break
hythm 'n' blues songstress Etta James made "At Last" her signature song in 1961.
Koontz's 'Good Guy' involves readers as the intensity climbs
One name that has been on my list of read-everything-they-write authors for more than 20 years is Dean Koontz.
Jessie Malin booked at Jake's
Bobwhite Brigade continues
KROOKED RIVER RANCH, SHACKELFORD COUNTY - "Tell me and I will forget, show me and I will remember, involve me and I will understand."
Secrist, Klier don't take easy way when it comes to working out
You've heard the stereotype that middle-aged men buy flashy sports cars to deal with growing older.
Branum, Martinson win ugly
With people in a dozen golf carts gathered around the scoreboard, Mikel Martinson felt sheepish about stepping up to accept any trophies after a day like Sunday.
Orioles visiting the South Plains in high numbers this spring and summer
This particular year has been great for Bullock's orioles (Icterusbullockii) in and around the South Plains. During the past 19 years, we've only ever admitted one or two, but in 2007, we've already cared for 10, and many others in the wild are being sighted and reported.
U.S. may not recover from Bush presidency
This was an unconstitutional, not duly elected administration from the beginning, in my opinion. Impeachment proceedings against Bush, Cheney and Ashcroft - the whole unholy gang of thugs - should have immediately been introduced and acted upon. The United States - now a fascist state - may never recover from the evils perpetrated by these men and their minions.
Graduates commended for a job well done
Graduates commended for a job well done
Rename some city departments?
As a Lubbock citizen I think we may need to rename certain city departments to honestly reflect department services. To begin, the Lubbock Police Department should be renamed "Lubbock Radar Enforcement." Anyone with an unsolved case or experience driving on Loop 289, I-27 or residential road in Lubbock will agree. The statistics of unsolved reported crimes to traffic citations reinforces this needed name change. When the number of solved crimes reaches one-fourth of traffic citations maybe we can consider changing the name back.
Council, city manager due some reminders
I have one question for the City Council: Where is our city manager? Isn't it funny when there is something going on in the city, she sends out one of the assistant city managers to announce it and then to answer questions (i.e., water restrictions).
Letter Of The Day
Some may not be mature by 21
Hand-written note would mean so much to troops
As a veteran, I can tell you that, these days, it is so important to support our men and women in the service of our nation.
Long-time city resident reflects on town in '30s
Graduates commended for a job well done
Letter Of The Day
Local news comes in handy
Reader criticizes media for 'selective reporting'
Re: The AP article "Driver arrested after plowing into crowd," concerning a vehicle plowing through several blocks at a crowded street festival, injuring about 35 people, seven severely, in Washington, D.C., (A-J, June 4).
Camera issue prompts questions, suggestion
So the Lubbock City Council decided to make money by installing red light cameras, then the state Legislature took away their profit. Two problems come to mind, in my opinion, with the whole situation, besides the obvious consideration of constitutionality: who ran the light, and what were the circumstances?
Avoid air hassles: Be discreet and on your best behavior
NEW YORK - In the past nine months, passengers have been kicked off airplanes or detained at airports for uncontrolled coughing, joking about hijacking, breast-feeding a baby, kissing and other amorous activities, cursing at flight attendants who denied them alcohol, failing to get a screaming child buckled in for takeoff, and carrying a sippy cup of water.
Try these four books about the Texas Rangers, then and now
Several new books focus on the Texas Rangers then and now - the law enforcement Rangers, not the baseball Rangers.
What a difference a comma and contraction make
GREASEPIT GRAMMAR Welcome to Swampscum, where Bubba and his pals meet regularly around the greasepit at Wade's Dixieco to perfect the English language.
There are No 'Bones' about it, '70s flashback makes good read
"A Thousand Bones" by P.J. Parrish; Pocket Star Books, $7.99.
Little Rock offers plenty tied to 50th anniversary of desegregation
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - National Park Service Ranger Spirit Trickey feels a special connection when directing tourists down the sidewalk to Little Rock Central High School. Her mother made the same journey 50 years ago as one of nine black students integrating the previously all-white school.
Student wins award in history, government
Before you leap, know your lizards
AMARILLO, Texas - Leapin' lizards! So, you want to get a pet iguana?
Many families struggle to feed their children when school's out
For a lot of families in Lubbock, the end of the school year means more than no more pencils and no more books. It means no more free breakfasts and lunches for their children.
Triathlon a bonding, learning experience for this Texas family
he number 13 is often considered an unlucky number by most people. But for Gary and Melissa Gates, 13 is the number that helps make up their family.
Saving cash on gas? You can use it to pay for higher food costs
Motorists might save a few cents a gallon filling their tanks with ethanol, but they could soon be paying more for a burger and a milkshake as a result.
Sole survivor of wreck released from hospital
Parents face common struggle to collect child support; millions owed in Lubbock area alone
he father of her son has always been unpredictable.
Award-winning poster reflects life in Southwest
Photographs yellowed by age, hand-drawn maps and old diaries inspire Emily Nash.
Nonagenarian recalls days when Lubbock had just 4,000 residents and a handful of stores
When Vollie Blanton was a little girl, cotton fields spanned most of Lubbock.
Care continues for most severely wounded soldier
TAMPA, Fla. - He lies flat, unseeing eyes fixed on the ceiling, tubes and machines feeding him, breathing for him, keeping him alive. He cannot walk or talk, but he can grimace and cry. And he is fully aware of what has happened to him.
Today In History
On June 25, 1950, war broke out in Korea as forces from the communist North invaded the South.
Crosby's stint in jail went unreported
Decades before Paris Hilton and voracious media hordes anxiously awaited her release from jail, aspiring crooner Bing Crosby was jailed quietly with nary a mention in the newspapers. And after he became a star, his arrest and court records just as quietly vanished.
Demos blast Cheney for stand on security exemptions
WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic senators on Sunday chided Vice President Dick Cheney for declaring his office exempt from sections of a presidential order involving matters of national security. Republicans, more cautiously, said the matter deserves review.
Hispanics show preference for life in Army
WASHINGTON - Slightly more Hispanics have been joining the military since the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, while the number of blacks signing up has dropped, according to Pentagon data.
British woman marries pen pal on death row in NC prison after 4-plus-year courtship
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - It began with an inmate pen-pal program. It blossomed into poetry. It led to a marriage.
Millions opt to do without bank accounts, citing cost, confusion and mistrust
WASHINGTON - Grandma stuffing money under the mattress isn't the only one living outside the banking system.
Body found believed to be missing pregnant woman; boyfriend arrested
CANTON, Ohio - A massive search ended in sadness Saturday when authorities announced they found a body believed to be a pregnant woman who vanished from her home a week earlier. A police officer believed to be the father of the unborn child was arrested on two counts of murder.
Drug-resistant germ infecting patients
Husband says Goodacre may return to Santa Fe home this summer
SANTA FE (AP) - Sculptor Glenna Goodacre, who suffered a head injury earlier this year, might return home to Santa Fe this summer.
Wives concerned about how military spouses have changed
UNION, N.J. - Rosa Cabezas was nervous. Her husband Carlos, a soldier in the New Jersey National Guard, was coming home from Iraq after being away for almost two years and she was worried about how he would fit back into the family and life he left behind to serve his country.
Feds say increase in immigration arrests not linked to 2006 protests
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) - Neighbors of Elvira Carvajal sought refuge in her house so immigration agents wouldn't arrest them. Friends of Herman Martinez asked him to bring them milk for their children because they were afraid to step onto the streets.
Other job opportunities keeping blacks from joining armed forces
WASHINGTON - The number of blacks joining the military has plunged by more than one-third since the Afghanistan and Iraq wars began. Other job prospects are soaring and relatives of potential recruits increasingly are discouraging them from joining the armed services.
Senators urge wavering colleagues to get behind immigration bill
WASHINGTON - Senators pushing a new immigration policy appealed Sunday to wavering supporters ahead of renewed debate on securing the borders and dealing with 12 million undocumented immigrants.
Americans set record in donations
NEW YORK - Americans gave nearly $300 billion to charitable causes last year, setting a new record and besting the 2005 total that had been boosted by a surge in aid to victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and the Asian tsunami.
Hilton faces aftermath of incarceration
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Dealing with jail time for driving offenses was difficult, but now Paris Hilton faces the aftermath.
McCain, Edwards have most at stake in latest fundraising totals
WASHINGTON - Republican John McCain and Democrat John Edwards are in danger of losing their place among the leading presidential contenders if their spring fundraising falls too short of earlier totals.
Gay marriage bill lifts spirits for pride parade
NEW YORK - New York's gay pride parade is traditionally a mix of politics and campy pageantry, and the state Assembly's move toward legalizing same-sex marriage has heightened the atmosphere this year.
Black lab jumps into owner's car, drives downhill and into Idaho river
SAGLE, Idaho (AP) - Bad dog.
Today In History
On June 24, 1948, Communist forces cut off all land and water routes between West Germany and West Berlin, prompting the western allies to organize the massive Berlin Airlift.
Pilot close to finishing record solo global flight
HOUSTON - Two stops before completing a journey that would make him the youngest person to fly solo around the Earth, Barrington Irving glided into Houston on Saturday with a message for the roughly 50 students who cheered his arrival.
Race, religion, speech cases await rulings in Supreme Court's final days
WASHINGTON - Nearly seven months have passed since the Supreme Court heard arguments about public school integration plans. A decision, it seems, is finally at hand.
Veterans defending their rights to express opposition to Iraq war
CHICAGO - The young combat veteran stared at the letter in disbelief when it arrived in his mailbox a few months ago.
Richardson makes pitch to Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson urged Tennessee Democrats to consider supporting his presidential bid when the state holds its primary on Feb. 5.
Woman who gave dog vote takes plea deal
SEATTLE (AP) - Jane Balogh, the owner of an Australian shepherd-terrier, is in trouble for submitting voided ballots in her dog's name in three elections. One tipoff for authorities: One of the envelopes was signed with a picture of a paw print.
Blacks making inroads on Southern campuses
RALEIGH, N.C. - For the first time ever in the South, blacks are as well represented on college campuses as they are in the region's population as a whole - something not yet true of the country overall.
Donnie Snowden
Farewell to the love of my life until we meet again. I miss you so; you are the bright star in my dark sky at night.
Robert A. "Rob" Ludlum
Robert A. "Rob" Ludlum, 41, of Sweetwater, Texas died June 24, 2007. He was born May 29, 1966 in Sweetwater.
W.T. (Scottie) Scott
W.T. (Scottie) Scott passed away June 19, 2007, in a hospital in Durango, Colo. Scottie was born in Kalgary in June 1921 and lived a good portion of his life there. He attended schools at Kalgary and Crosbyton. He drove a truck for many years and had a liquor store at Kalgary for several years. He served his country during World War II and was on the USS Utah in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked.
Billy Don Ledbetter
Billy Don Ledbetter passed from this life on Friday, June 22nd at his home. Memorial services will be held Monday, June 25th at 2 p.m. in the W.W. Rix Chapel. His family will receive visitors at the funeral home immediately following the service.
Gladys Tatum
Celebration of Life services for Gladys Tatum, 85, of Lubbock will he held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at Resthavens Abbey Chapel with Rev Mitch Wilson officiating. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.
Stephen LaRay Key
Stephen LaRay Key was born Feb. 14, 1946 in Piggott, Ark. to Nancy and Dalton Key. He passed from this life June 21, 2007, in Crosbyton at the age of 61.
Mary Ann Humble Dameron , 65, of Midland died June 24, 2007. Services are pending with Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home of Big Spring.
M'Leah Tanne Clepper-Haden
Shyla Maisel and Vicki Mashunkashey acknowledge with gratitude the many kind expressions of sympathy in the recent loss of their sister and daughter, M'Leah Tanne Clepper-Haden.
Gina Allen , 72, of Big Spring died June 21, 2007. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel. Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home of Big Spring.
Guy Roberson
Guy Roberson, 60, of Lubbock, died Thursday at Vista Care Hospice.
Casilla thrilled to get fresh start with Oakland A's under new name
OAKLAND, Calif. - Santiago Casilla was 19 when he became Jairo Garcia.
Williamson takes lead at Travelers with eye on Tour card
CROMWELL, Conn. - Jay Williamson would like to get back to playing PGA Tour events full-time. He's one day away.
Alinghi wins opener of America's Cup race
VALENCIA, Spain - The water was choppy and the boat untested. The crew hadn't raced competitively since April.
All-Star relief pitcher Rod Beck found dead in home
Rod Beck was a menacing sight on the mound, with a bushy mustache and a searing stare that intimidated batters throughout his 13-year career as one of baseball's best closers.
Texas' Wright earns rare win vs. Astros
ARLINGTON - Jamey Wright's bad luck against the Houston Astros may finally be changing.
Suicide squeeze play dooms Reds, lifts Mariners to win
SEATTLE - Ken Griffey Jr. capped his Seattle homecoming with two home runs, passing Mark McGwire for seventh place on the career list in the Cincinnati Reds' 3-2 loss to the Mariners on Sunday.
Futile Phillies nearing sports landmark - loss No. 10,000
PHILADELPHIA - Mitch Williams was signing autographs before the Philadelphia Phillies played an interleague game last week when a young boy spotted the former reliever in the suite level.
Astros top Rangers in wild one
ARLINGTON - Craig Biggio's 2,996th career hit was a tiebreaking RBI double in the 10th inning as the Houston Astros got a wild 12-9 victory against the Texas Rangers to avoid a series sweep.
Rodeo icon stood head, shoulders above sport
When I was about 13 years old and competing in rodeos across the South Plains in the 1970s, I fired a letter to the legendary bucking stock rider Jim Shoulders.
Mahan wins playoff for Travelers title
CROMWELL, Conn. - Hunter Mahan watched Jay Williamson hit two great approach shots from the 18th fairway on Sunday. Mahan stepped up both times and hit his just a little better.
Earnhardt hopes to prove he can succeed on road courses
SONOMA, Calif. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. is generally an afterthought when people talk about NASCAR's best road racers.
Montoya claims first Cup victory on road course
SONOMA, Calif. - Juan Pablo Montoya showed off his road racing prowess again Sunday, stretching his fuel to the limit and grabbing his first NASCAR Nextel Cup win.
U.S. women come out shooting, knock off over-matched Brazil
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - All Kristine Lilly and Abby Wambach could think about was getting off to a fast start. But this fast?
Men to watch at Wimbledon, which begins Monday (seedings in parentheses):
Has-beens, never-weres try to boost careers in South Coast League
ALBANY, Ga. - Bryce Florie wasn't ready for a real job. Not yet, anyway. He wanted to give pitching one more try, see if he could pull off a comeback that, in some ways, would be more remarkable than his return to the mound after that line drive smashed into his face.
at Hillcrest Golf and Country Club
Rookie comes through for Giants in win over Yankees
SAN FRANCISCO - Rookie Nate Schierholtz ended San Francisco's season-long eight-game losing streak with a two-out RBI single in the 13th inning as the Giants beat the Yankees 6-5 in 13 innings.
Arron Afflalo, g, UCLA
Sun drop the ball, fall to Silver Stars
UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Guard Becky Hammon scored 20 points to lead the San Antonio Silver Stars past the Connecticut Sun 71-58 on Saturday night.
Bourdais out front for Cleveland start
CLEVELAND - Sebastien Bourdais rolled his eyes and faked momentary despair when told he hadn't broken the track record.
Federer chases legendary Borg
WIMBLEDON, England - So much for resisting change at Wimbledon. They're embracing it.
Dixon wins Iowa Corn Indy 250 pole
NEWTON, Iowa - Scott Dixon earned his first pole of the season Saturday during qualifying for the inaugural Iowa Corn Indy 250.
Once a dominant star of ladies' golf, Webb still aims for No. 1
Karrie Webb never cared for the spotlight until she found herself in the shadows.
NASCAR's Gordon content both personally and professionally
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Jeff Gordon helicoptered into the race track, escorted four friends to his motorhome and instructed them where they could find food and beer.
Oden, Durant unlikely to make immediate impact
LeBron James needed only four years to reach the NBA finals. Tim Duncan was a champion in half that time.
Chicago Blackhawks grab Nigerian forward in draft
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Getaway day at the NHL draft ended up being the highlight of Akim "The Dream" Aliu's young life.
Gold Cup title at stake in soccer's backyard brawl
CHICAGO - Line Mexico and the United States up anywhere - a World Cup qualifier, a friendly, even a pickup game at a local playground - and it's going to be intense.
Renegades hold off Dusters, move to 5-6
Lubbock Renegades wide receiver Alvance Robinson does not like rivalries too much, but he said Saturday night's game was a must-win game against what has quickly become a rivalry for both teams.
'Bonanza' star, Blocker, eulogized with postmark
QuickScat is due update
Protesters continue opposition to family detention center
TAYLOR (AP) - About 400 protesters gathered outside of a highly criticized center for detaining immigrant families Saturday as part of World Refugee Day and asked officials to close down the facility, an official participating in the protest said.
Lives change when children are killed by relatives behind the wheel
RICHARDSON - It was Adrianna's day to go shopping at the mall, and her mom was looking forward to it. Mother and daughter alone together.
Lady Bird recovering from fever in hospital
Obama urges closure of Guantanamo Bay facility
SAN ANTONIO - Democrat Barack Obama told a Texas crowd on Sunday that he wants the Guantanamo Bay detainee facility closed - a step the Bush administration is considering - and wants to "restore habeas corpus" rights.
Texans seek billions in earmarks
WASHINGTON - Rep. John Culberson wants $10 million for nanotechnology projects. Rep. Sam Johnson is seeking $4 million for a National Virtual Vietnam Archive at Texas Tech University.
Voters get say on new DPS office
AUSTIN - Right now it is just an open field.
Duncan says governor wrong to accuse colleges of falsifying budgets
AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry vetoed more than 50 bills passed by the Legislature during the just-concluded session.
Our new blogs: Not all content fits into print
D omicidal Tendencies
Fun for all
Fun for all
Artists sickened when local theaters are targeted by arsonists, thieves
Who is not saddened when the arts, specifically our theaters, are targeted by arsonists and thieves?
Roadside bombs kill 7 American troops in Iraq; 2 al-Qaida militants captured
BAGHDAD - Roadside bombs killed seven American troops in Iraq on Saturday, including four in a single strike outside Baghdad, the military said, as U.S. and Iraqi troops captured two senior al-Qaida militants in northern Iraq.
Car bomb kills six U.N. forces in Lebanon
Karzai decries 'careless' killings by U.S.-led forces
KABUL, Afghanistan - President Hamid Karzai accused NATO and U.S.-led troops Saturday of carelessly killing scores of Afghan civilians and warned that the fight against resurgent Taliban militants could fail unless foreign forces show more restraint.
Israel releases funds to Abbas prior to summit
JERUSALEM - Israel agreed Sunday to release desperately needed funds to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a day before the moderate leader planned to meet the heads of Egypt, Israel and Jordan in a summit meant to bolster him in his struggle with Hamas.
Aruri, Hamas militant, taken by Israeli troops
U.S. envoy: North Korea could close reactor in three weeks
TOKYO - North Korea could shut down its nuclear reactor within three weeks and return to disarmament talks, a U.S. envoy said Saturday. Russia, meanwhile, said disputed funds have reached a North Korean account at a Russian bank, clearing a key hurdle in negotiations.
General says Iraqis too weak to maintain gains
BAQOUBA, Iraq - The U.S. commander of a new offensive north of Baghdad, reclaiming insurgent territory day by day, said Sunday his Iraqi partners may be too weak to hold onto the gains.
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(520) 331-5701
Rivas Custom Builders, LLC
32 years in business9034 E Camino Abril
Tucson, AZ 85747-9017
Additional Phone Numbers
- (520) 663-3550
Find a Location
BBB File Opened: 05/28/2009
Business Started: 12/07/1984
Business Started Locally: 12/07/1984
Business Incorporated: 01/31/2007 in AZ
Type of EntityLimited Liability Company (LLC)
Business Management
- Mr. William Rivas, Member
Business Category
- Home Builders
- Bathroom Design
- General Contractor
- Home Additions
- Construction Services
- Bathroom Remodel
- Remodeling
- Commercial Contractors
- Green Contractors
- Flooring Contractors
Licensing, Bonding or RegistrationThis business is in an industry that may require professional licensing, bonding or registration. BBB encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.
Number of Employees:8
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Cool "stuff" from Actel, Altera, and Xilinx
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In the schematics for an old computer I found a "Banana Register" (because the data came in bunches)...
In certain respects, being in the news business is like waiting for a bus in London: you can stand around for hours without anything interesting happening, and then suddenly ten of the little scamps arrive at once. (This reminds me of the schematics I saw about 20 years ago for a large computer. As I was rooting around, I found a register file named the "Banana Register." When I asked the designer how this came to be, he explained that things in this part of the circuit were quite most of the time, but every now-and-again the data came in bunches. Honestly, you couldn't make this sort of thing up.)
Anyway, following a dearth of news over the last few days, exciting happenings are now coming thick and fast. As covered in our column Actel ARMs the masses with the M7, for example, Actel is now offering the 32-bit ARM7 for use in its products, free of license fees.
Meanwhile, as discussed in the FPGA vendors mine specific niches story, both Altera and Xilinx have interesting news to impart. Altera have announced the Stratix II GX family, which feature what is quite possibly the best FPGA-based high-speed serial interconnect solution to date. On the Xilinx front, they have increased R&D spending and staffing in their DSP division by more than 20 percent and promise a flurry of announcements with regard to silicon, software, and IP over the coming months.


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They're called "erasure parties" and contrary to what you might guess, they do not involve consuming several cans of FourLoko and a box of matches after a bad breakup. Instead, on weekends during standardized testing season in Atlanta, small groups of teachers get together to erase and correct their students' wrong answers. In short, they cheat.
Social use of pink gum erasers wasn't the only form of cheating in the Atlanta Public Schools described in the 800-page investigative report released by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal's office last week, but it does sound like the most fun. According to the report, other teachers took more traditional approaches to cheating, such as obtaining test questions in advance or simply standing over their kids' shoulders and pointing at the right answers. At least 178 cheating teachers and principals at 44 different schools were uncovered, and 82 of the teachers confessed when confronted by investigators.
And the folks who caved all fingered the same culprit when asked why they did it: data. They blamed data-obsessed school superintendent Beverly Hall and her administration for setting "unreasonable improvement goals" and establishing a "no exceptions, no excuses" culture in which teachers and principals who failed to meet state testing targets were named, shamed, and booted.
Education pundits and wonks took up the cry, with lines like this: "Fundamentally, the Atlanta scandal is the logical and predictable result of data-driven reform." And this: "It's this idiotic pressure on schools and teachers regarding test results that I think is corrupting not just the test results, but education."
It's true that a heavy emphasis on testing can distort what teachers focus on during the days and weeks leading up to the test. But for all the disdain heaped on high-stakes testing, you'd think Atlanta was asking kids to do exotic and useless tasks like execute triple salchows or solve Rubik's cubes. The tests may not be perfect measures of academic achievement, but it's hardly outrageous to attempt to measure basic reading comprehension and math skills, particularly for elementary students.
Those "unreasonable testing goals" are being blamed for a culture of cheating, but there hasn't been as much attention paid to whether those targets really were so outrageous. This is due in part to that fact that in Atlanta, targets were individually tailored for each school and grade level, so there are no easily obtainable pass-fail figures. The system also required lower performing students to show more progress than higher performers.
The examples given as typical in the report are illuminating, however: If 60 percent of last year's fourth graders met expectations in math, the goal for the following year might be 63 percent, the report explains. If anything, the example given in the report is optimistic. National tests find that about half of Atlanta's fourth graders fall below basic reading skills, with less than a quarter of kids testing proficient or above.
Which gets to the fundamental question: Is it reasonable or unreasonable to ask that a majority of the kids in Atlanta be able to read and do math at grade level? In many cases, individual teachers were undoubtedly correct to feel they were being asked to work miracles. This is especially true given that the long legacy of cheating teachers meant they were annually hoisting themselves on their collective petards. Each year's standards were based on the previous year's results. A 2 percent improvement in math performance for fourth graders each year is already a tall order, but it's tougher still if the skills of last years' fourth graders were mostly fictional, the product of a decade of ever-inflating false scores.
But what is more unreasonable: putting intense pressure on teachers to get kids' scores up, or continuing to allow Atlanta's kids to slide by year after year as test scores show that they aren't learning even basic skills? Underlying the constant push for improvement in Atlanta and elsewhere is the ultimate in perfectly-reasonable-yet-unreasonable goals, the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which demands 100 percent proficiency by 2014.
There's no denying the pressure on Atlanta's teachers and principals was intense. The report is studded with stories that would make even Michael Lewis-era Salomon Brothers bond traders ashamed of their wussy hazing tactics. For example, "at Fain Elementary School, the principal forced a teacher to crawl under a table in a faculty meeting because the teacher's students' test scores were so low." Though student performance formally counts for only 25 percent of a teacher's evaluation by her principal, the report notes that in some schools, principals "told teachers that if they could not meet targets...they should find another profession." Or as one DeKalb county teacher told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Anybody whose job is tied to performance, it is a setup."
While forced crawling under conference tables isn't typical, in most professions it wouldn't be unusual to be told that if you can't meet your boss' expectations, you might want to start looking for another gig. But as Michelle Rhee, the former superintendent of D.C. schools (where another cheating scandal may be brewing) said in an interview with Reason in 2009, "in the private sector, they would think it's completely insane" to base only 25 or 50 percent of an employee's evaluation on how well he performs his core task.
But rather than facing the music or considering a career in retail, dozens (perhaps hundreds) of Atlanta's teachers decided to cheat, a choice they presented as inevitable to investigators. The report notes that "targets were implemented...in such a way that teachers and administrators believed that they had to choose between cheating to meet targets or failing to meet targets and losing their jobs."
In the first chapter of the book that made him famous, Freakonomics, economist Steven D. Levitt describes a study [PDF] he did of cheating in Chicago public schools. He didn't have the benefit of test papers covered with eraser marks to sift through, but he did have some sophisticated statistical tools to catch unlikely clusters of correct answers. Along with co-author Brian A. Jacob, he estimated that "serious cases of teacher or administrator cheating on standardized tests occur in a minimum of 4-5 percent of elementary school classrooms annually"—which sounds bad, but pales in comparison to the cheating found in nearly 80 percent of the Atlanta schools investigated.
But rather than condemn cheating as the inevitable consequence of testing, the scholars make this no-brainer point: "The obvious benefits of high-stakes tests as a means of providing incentives must...be weighed against the possible distortions that these measures induce. Explicit cheating is merely one form of distortion. Indeed, the kind of cheating we focus on is one that could be greatly reduced at a relatively low cost through the implementation of proper safeguards, such as is done by Educational Testing Service on the SAT or GRE exams."
There are many good (and well-intentioned) teachers trapped in a bad system in Atlanta and in public schools around the country. But sending half your fourth graders on to the next grade without basic skills is inexcusable—unreasonable, even. Cheating is not an inevitable consequence of focusing on data that reveal that fact. Atlanta's superintendent seems to have been a bad apple, and she was well on her way to spoiling the bunch. But she was right about one thing: Everyone needs to do better. No exceptions, no excuses.
Katherine Mangu-Ward is a senior editor at Reason magazine. This column first appeared at Reason.com.


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Workout Details
Equipment Type: Treadmill, Incline Trainer, Elliptical
Intensity Level: 1
Number of Workouts: 50
Get ready for a one-of-a-kind experience as you run your way through all 50 states. Whether you're looking for a fun run or training to beat your personal record, this program will take you on the ultimate American journey. You'll enjoy the different scenery of each map-based workout while you check off a race in each state.
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Ben has yet to fill out a bio.
Thanks for posting on my Bulletin Board and on some of my articles and for your appreciation and encouragement. As for the question on the "united" tag, I put it to Jonathan Wilson, who is as knowledgeable as any in the history of football, and here's what he said:
Jonathan Wilson @jonawils
@gol_iath It originally was then two or more clubs from the same city merged into one entity. Not sure why in Eng rather than elsewhere.
This is probably not very helpful, but I'm still looking. If I find a better explanation, I will pass it along.


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please shut up about millennials, i'm begging you
It looks like we're still doing this. Saying things about millennials. I asked us to stop, but I guess we're not stopping. Fine. The latest offense comes from psychotherapist Brooke Donatone writing at Slate. She thinks we "can't grow up" and are "unable to think for [ourselves]" because of "helicopter parenting." I think she needs(…)


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" Cultra, Holywood, Co.Down BT18 0EU Northern Ireland.Tel:+44 (0)2890 428 428 "
We bought a one year membership since my sons are both train mad. There is really a great variety of trains and vehicles to look at, and the boys loved playing about on the trains. A few of the trains are opened up so that the children can go through the cars or pretend to drive the engine.
The museum also has a number of different events like horse drawn vehicle days and bluegrass music. They have spooky stories at halloween, Victorian Christmas Caroling and various seasonal activities.
There is also a small play area, with a little station and some tea sets, and a few other toys. Other than this and the trains though, there is not a great deal for the young children in the transport section, and even less in the folk park. I do think a great deal more could have been done to make these museums more child friendly. For this reason, I wont be renewing my membership, but will join W-5 instead.
As to the folk museum part, they have the houses my husband lived in as a young child, so we really enjoyed that. It covers a very large area, and we've never seen some parts of it. There are some farm animals if you walk farther out. I would definitely plan a full day visit if you plan to see this. The houses are well restored and it is quite authentic. There is also a charming tea room in the folk park, with sandwiches, buns and of course tea, but terribely overpriced.
It is very educational. Downside not terribly fun, especially for young children any refreshments are horribly overpriced so bring your own picnic. Still overall worth a visit, especially for tourists.
I recently visited the Folk Museum and what a fascinating experience. For those who don't know, buildings across NI have been preserved/duplicated to match those of a century ago, and has been constructed into a village, which you can wander through, and if you're lucky you will also find members of staff carrying out typical duties. On entering you are given a map which guides you through the village. It begins with labourers cottages, which have 2 bedrooms, and you wonder how they managed to fit the 10 -14 people into them. Continuing through the village, you come to the houses of more skilled workers, which invariably get bigger and has more expensive items. A great idea to see how the class system worked!! Wood working and basket weaving were actually being practiced by members of staff using the same tools and was v. interesting to watch. Unfortunately they do not volunteer information to onlookers but have to prodded with questions. One staff member was even making soda bread and allowing visitors to sample. (Very tasty). I was told that the Folk Museum are planning on opening their own craft shop selling items made on premises using old methods. The village also includes a courthouse (and yes the judge's chair is the ideal spot for photos!), an old Northern Bank with an exhibition of all the old money and actual ledgers used by the banking staff. There is a printing office with copies of the newspapers that were printed at the time of the Titanic sinking. Schools with textbooks and very authentic looking graffiti were also present. There was also an old police station (lets just say the conditions of the cell left a lot to be desired) and there was an exhibition of the police force in its various names and guises up to present day. Regretably I only allowed myself an afternoon to visit the Folk Museum. It really needs a full day. I would have no hesitation in telling others to
visit - a fascinating insight into the past, and as it's a reconstructed village, you can go in and out of the buildings, pick up and touch most of the items and really get a feel for the past. An ideal educational experience for young people as well. It's only a 10-15 minute drive from Belfast, but it's really like stepping into another world! Go and SEE!!!


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Ice season is ending and it's time to head to the alpine, so replace your hammer with the Standard Adze by Black Diamond, and be prepared for bivy-ledge chopping fun. An adze has a million uses in the mountains: chopping a belay stance, digging a bollard, clearing snow to get to good ice, and hacking away until you have a place big enough for your bivy sack. Fits any Black Diamond ice tools.
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