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- Highlights: PDF (198 KB) | Word (42 KB)
- Final Report: PDF (1.5 MB) | Word (6.5 MB)
A key aim of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is to provide new educational choice options to parents whose children attend Title I schools that were identified for improvement because the schools did not make adequate yearly progress toward meeting state standards for two or more years. The first of these options is the opportunity for parents to transfer their children to another school in the district that has not been identified for improvement, and the second is the opportunity for low-income parents to enroll their children in supplemental educational servicessuch as tutoring, remediation, or other academic instructionthat are offered by a state-approved provider and are in addition to instruction provided during the school day.
This report examines the impact of participation in Title I school choice and supplemental educational services on student achievement, as well as the characteristics of participating students. The analysis was conducted as part of the National Longitudinal Study of No Child Left Behind, using data from nine large urban districts. These districts were selected based on two main criteria: 1) availability of the necessary longitudinally linked student-level assessment data, and 2) relatively large numbers of students participating in the two choice options. The nine districts are: Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Washington, D.C.
For the achievement impact analysis, the study used a quasi-experimental "difference in differences" design to examine within-subject pre-post comparisons and comparisons between students participating and not participating in the choice options. In essence, this approach examines differences in achievement trajectories for the treatment and comparison groups, over a period that extends before and after treatment (i.e., before and after students changed schools or enrolled in supplemental services).
The analysis relies on student-level participation and assessment data for a period of up to five years, from 2000-01 through 2004-05, depending on data availability in each district. Although nine districts were included in the study, the impact analyses are based on a smaller subset of districts (six to seven) due to data issues.
Key Findings
In the sample of nine large urban districts, participation in both Title I school choice and supplemental educational services was highest in elementary grades.
- For supplemental services, 24 to 28 percent of eligible students in grades 2 through 5 participated, while in high school, fewer than 5 percent of eligible students participated.
- For school choice, average participation rates in grades 2 through 5 were between 0.6 and 1.0 percent, while high school participation rates were between 0.2 and 0.4 percent.
In the nine districts, African-American students had the highest rate of participation, compared with other racial or ethnic groups, in Title I supplemental educational services and an above-average participation rate in school choice.
- Hispanic students had a higher participation rate than white students in supplemental services but a lower participation rate in school choice.
- Limited English proficient students and students with disabilities had relatively high participation rates in supplemental services and relatively low participation rates in school choice.
- Transferring students tended to choose schools that had lower concentrations of minority students and greater racial/ethnic balance than the schools that they left.
Across the nine districts, students participating in the Title I school choice and supplemental educational services options had lower prior achievement, on average, than other students in their districts.
- Students participating in supplemental services had lower prior achievement than eligible students who did not participate. Students participating in the school choice option had similar prior achievement levels to eligible nonparticipants.
Across the nine districts, the average achievement levels of the schools chosen by students using the Title I school choice option were consistently higher than the average achievement levels of the schools from which they transferred.
In the sample districts, student participants in supplemental educational services experienced gains in achievement that were statistically significant.
- Across seven districts with a sufficient sample of participating students, participation in supplemental educational services had a statistically significant, positive effect on students' achievement in reading and math.
- There is evidence that effects may be cumulative: students participating for multiple years experienced gains twice as large as those of students participating for one year.
- African-American students, Hispanic students, and students with disabilities all experienced positive achievement effects from participating in supplemental educational services.
For Title I school choice, the study did not find a measurable impact on student achievement, but sample sizes were small.
- Across six districts with a sufficient sample of participating students, participation in Title I school choice produced no statistically significant effect on achievement, overall or after multiple years in the chosen school.
- However, sample sizes for the school choice analysis were substantially smaller, due to the relatively small number of participants, which reduced the power of the analysis to detect effects and suggests that caution is warranted in interpreting these results.


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Eclipse Day Florence 2012
More info on event site
- Open Source Processes: Lessons for Industry - Mike Milinkovich (Eclipse Foundation)
- Title to define on topic EMF, Ecore and new Xcore - Ed Merks
- Title to define on topic CDO & UBS - Eike Stepper & Robert Blust (UBS)
- Language Development with Xtext - Sven Efftinge (itemis)
If you are interested in presenting a session, please send your topic to email@example.com
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The call for papers is now open.
Presentations will be 20-30 minutes long, including time for questions. There will be a computer projector to support your presentation but you will need to provide your own laptop. Presentation slides can be posted to the Eclipse Day Florence 2012 wiki and, if you'd like to share a short paper on your topic, we would also be glad to post a .pdf on the site.
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Get all the major supplies needed to make this project with the Summer Sweets Page Bundle or you can order them separately.
Summer Sweets Page By Susan Cobb
Susan's Tip: These cardstock stickers are self-adhesive, which makes this a quick page to make. I added foam tape to the back of some of the stickers for added dimension and inked the edges for greater contrast.


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Open Meeting: Planning Committee for a Workshop on Strategies to Limit Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption in Young Children
Date: March 8, 2017 (9:00 AM Eastern)
The Planning Committee for a Workshop on Strategies to Limit Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption in Young Children will hold an open meeting on March 08, 2017 from 9:00-10:30am ET. Attendees may register to attend in-person or listen to the open meeting online.
Exploring the True Cost of Food: A Workshop
Date: April 23, 2012 - April 24, 2012 (8:00 AM Eastern)
The Planning Committee on Exploring the True Cost of Food will convene a workshop to explore the hidden costs of food production. This 1.5 day workshop will examine the costs of food when environmental externalities and unintended public health consequences are accounted.
Report Release: Ensuring Safe Foods and Medical Products Through Stronger Regulatory Systems Abroad
Date: April 4, 2012 (1:00 PM Eastern)
Public release of Ensuring Safe Foods and Medical Products Through Stronger Regulatory Systems Abroad
Meeting 2/Workshop: Examination of the Adequacy of Food Resources and SNAP Allotments
Date: March 28, 2012 - March 29, 2012 (8:00 AM Eastern)
An IOM committee will examine the adequacy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) allotments, specifically the (1) the feasibility of establishing an objective, evidence-based, science-driven definition of SNAP benefit adequacy consistent with the program goals of improving food security and access to a healthy diet, and other relevant dimensions of adequacy, and (2) data and analyses needed to support an evidence-based assessment of the adequacy of SNAP allotments
Review of the Child and Adult Care Food Program: Future Research Needs
Date: February 7, 2012 (8:30 AM Eastern)
At the request of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the Institute of Medicine (IOM) is planning to hold a one-day workshop to explore methodologies for design of a nationally representative survey of child care settings. It is a continuation of the review of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal requirements carried out by an IOM consensus committee, which released the report, Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All, in October, 2010.
A Workshop on Alliances for Obesity Prevention: Finding Common Ground
Date: October 20, 2011 (8:30 AM Eastern)
The IOM will hold a public workshop titled "Alliances for Obesity Prevention: Finding Common Ground." The workshop will be hosted by the IOM Standing Committee on Childhood Obesity Prevention. The purposes of the workshop include: 1) Hearing from organizations and/or movements that may be allies for obesity prevention, and engendering dialogue with those organizations to identify common ground; 2) Discussing how to develop innovative alliances that will maximize resources, accelerate progress, and sustain efforts toward obesity prevention; and 3) Learning from other public health initiatives that have benefitted from forming such alliances in order to maximize resources and accelerate progress. The workshop is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Nutrition and Healthy Aging in the Community: A Workshop
Date: October 5, 2011 - October 6, 2011 (8:00 AM Eastern)
Recent trends reveal that growing numbers of older adults now seek to live independently in the community setting. This shift creates new challenges for the older people, their caregivers, and social services and nutrition professionals who seek to assure the availability of nutrition and other services for this population. Nutrition needs are not always understood and nutrition services are fragmented and poorly integrated with other services. Coverage and reimbursement for such services also remain serious limitations, thus increasing the possibility that older persons requiring services fall through gaps in this tenuous service net. A better understanding of the issues is needed.
Workshop on Understanding the Relationship between Food Insecurity and Obesity
Date: November 16, 2010 - November 18, 2010 (8:30 AM Eastern)
The IOM will hold a workshop to explore the paradox of hunger and obesity and the relationship between these two social problems. Attendees will discuss the current state of research as well as the need for new data and analysis in order to further understand this complex relationship.
Leveraging Food Technology for Obesity Prevention and Reduction Efforts: A Workshop
Date: November 2, 2010 - November 3, 2010 (8:00 AM Eastern)
The Food Forum of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) will convene a workshop on the current and potential role of food technology in addressing today's most critical public health challenge – overweight and obesity.
Meeting 1: Examination of Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols Phase II
Date: October 26, 2010 (8:00 AM Eastern)
As a first step toward clearing up consumer confusion about food labeling and in response to a congressional directive, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have asked the IOM to undertake a review of "front-of-package" nutrition rating systems and symbols. An IOM committee will begin by focusing on the nutrition criteria underlying the rating systems, and considering the purpose and overall merits of these types of programs.


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GPSOLO July - August 2008
Scams That Target the Elderly
A few months ago I received a call from a friend at my church who was concerned that her elderly mother, Helen (not her real name), may have become the victim of a fraudulent telemarketer. She said that a home improvement handyman called Helen offering to clean her gutters at a discount rate because he was already working in the neighborhood. Although Helen had not planned to have her gutters cleaned until the fall, she could not pass up a "discount." Once the handyman began the work he claimed that one section of her gutter was loose and needed repairs to prevent leaking. Helen was thankful that he caught the problem even though she hadn't noticed any leak. Owing to her severe arthritis, Helen could never have climbed a ladder to view the damage for herself.
As Helen wrote a check to pay the handyman, she mentioned that the handrail on the stairs to her front porch was loose. The handyman smiled and said he would be happy to help check it out for her. He took a quick look and informed Helen that the handrail had rotted through and the support beams under the porch also would have to be replaced immediately to prevent the porch from collapsing on an unsuspecting visitor. He asked for a deposit to purchase materials, but Helen, to her credit, said she would have to talk it over with her daughter. That evening, after Helen's daughter arrived home from work, she took the ladder out of the garage and climbed up to survey the handyman's work. The gutters had not been cleaned, nor was there any sign of repairs to any section of the gutters, and the porch was sound. The handyman was part of a home improve scam ring whose leader, his uncle, was serving a prison sentence for defrauding home owners out of thousands of dollars for shoddy repair work or in most cases no work at all. This scenario is replayed daily throughout the nation.
I regularly get calls from lawyers trying to help clients, and all too often, their own parents or relatives. Americans are getting older faster than ever and facing the challenges that come with aging. As a nation, people over age 65 account for approximately 13 percent of the population but represent 30 percent of scam victims. This article will address three of the major scams that target the elderly: telemarketing fraud, charity fraud, and home improvement fraud.
Telemarketing Fraud
Telemarketing fraud costs victims more than $40 billion a year; much of that money comes from seniors. Scam artists target seniors because they are often more willing to continue a conversation—they may live alone, may have free time to talk, may be less likely to hang up the phone because they see that as rude, may have memory impairment, or may be more trusting. Today the traditional scams discussed below may evolve into identity theft once the scammer obtains credit card or bank account information. Common telemarketing fraud schemes directed at seniors include the following:
Prizes and sweepstakes. These frauds generally involve informing the victim that he or she could win, or has already won, a "valuable" prize or a lot of money. The victim is required to send in money to cover taxes, shipping, or processing fees. The prize may never be delivered or, if so, is usually costume jewelry or cheap electronic equipment worth far less than the money paid to retrieve it. Be suspicious of any sweepstakes solicitation that asks you to send money to cover shipping and handling costs or to provide a credit card number as a condition of receiving your prize. Many states prohibit claims that you are a winner unless you have actually won a prize; requirements that you buy something to enter the contest or to receive future sweepstakes mailings; the mailing of fake checks that do not clearly state that they are non-negotiable and have no cash value; and use of seals, names, or terms that imply government affiliation or endorsement.
Remind your clients and their family members of the following:
• Sweepstakes are free.
• Buying merchandise will not improve your chances of winning.
• Before you get excited about having won the sweepstakes, read the entire solicitation. If your prize notice tells you that you are a "guaranteed winner," there is usually a qualifying statement indicating that you are only the "winner" if you have and return the winning number.
• Bona fide contests clearly disclose the terms, rules, entry procedures, and odds of winning.
Investments. Because many seniors live on fixed incomes, they often want to increase the value of their estate and ensure they have sufficient funds to meet basic needs. In investment scams, offenders persuade the elderly to invest in precious gems, real estate, annuities, or stocks and bonds by promising unrealistically high rates of return. The investments often consist of fake gemstones, uninhabitable property, or shares in a non-existent or unprofitable company. Three out of four people over 65 years of age receive at least 25 percent of their income from investments. Securities, such as stocks, mutual funds, and other investments are sometimes higher-yielding—and also higher risk. Unfortunately, that has made many senior citizens vulnerable to con men and fast-talking brokers who are eager to deprive investors of their life savings. In order to protect your clients and their savings, tell them to follow the tips below before investing:
• Be wary of unsolicited phone calls and letters.
• Always demand written information—and read it carefully.
• Be suspicious of "insider information," "hot tips," or "rumors."
• Never be afraid to ask questions or tell someone that you don't understand.
• Don't give in to high-pressure sales tactics.
• Don't believe promises of doubling or tripling your money in a short time.
• Deal only with established brokers.
• Read the fine print on contracts and prospectuses.
• When in doubt about an investment, don't make a commitment before you feel comfortable. It's better to lose an "opportunity" than to act hastily and lose the money you have worked so hard to save.
Health, funeral, and life insurance. Many seniors are concerned about having the funds to pay for needed medical care or a proper burial or to bequeath to loved ones upon death. Unscrupulous salespeople take advantage of these concerns by selling the elderly policies that duplicate existing coverage, do not provide the coverage promised, or are altogether bogus.
Health remedies. The elderly often have health problems that require treatment. Preying on this vulnerability, offenders market a number of ineffective remedies, promising "miracle cures." Unfortunately, given this false hope, many seniors delay needed treatment, and their health deteriorates further.
Travel. Compared with younger adults, seniors often have more leisure time and are attracted to low-cost travel packages. However, many of these packages cost far more than market rates, provide substandard accommodations, or do not provide the promised services.
Confidence games. These frauds generally do not involve a product or service; instead, they include a broad array of deceitful scenarios to get cash from the elderly. The offender may pretend to be in a position of authority (e.g., a bank examiner) or otherwise trustworthy, concocting a story to get the victim to hand over cash and then disappearing. For example, a scam that has become popular on the Internet is the "lottery proceeds" scam, in which scammers claim to have won the lottery but to have no bank account in which to deposit the winnings. The offender promises the victim a premium in exchange for use of his or her account. After the victim makes a "good faith" payment to the offender, the victim never hears from the offender again.
Final tips. Below are some additional tips to help your clients and relatives avoid telemarketing scams.
• Never disclose your credit card, bank account, or Social Security numbers to someone who contacts you by telephone or Internet.
• Ask detailed questions about the offered product/service, the total price, the delivery date, the return and cancellation policy, and the warranty terms.
• Ask the caller to send you more information through the mail. Any reputable company will mail information about its products or services. If a telemarketer is unwilling to provide you with specifics on the phone or through the mail, be suspicious.
• Research the company's track record with your local Better Business Bureau.
• Resist pressure to send payment via private courier, wire transmission, or overnight delivery—these tactics sometimes prevent you from changing your mind.
• Pay with a credit card. Federal law protects consumers from paying for charges on their accounts when they have not received the ordered merchandise. You have the right to contest such a charge with your credit card company.
• Call 1-888-5OPT-OUT to have your name removed from consumer lists provided to telemarketers by credit reporting agencies.
• Take your time in making decisions. Remember, they called you. Don't be afraid to say no or hang up.
An "Easy Hang Up" device can used to help seniors end calls without fearing they are being rude or abrupt. Once the senior decides the call is unwanted, he or she presses an activation button, and a short recorded message is played, such as "I'm sorry, this number does not accept this type of call. Please regard this as your notification to remove this number from your list. Thank you." The call is then disconnected. You may want to recommend this device to particularly vulnerable clients. These items are available online and retail for about $16 to $60.
Charity Fraud
Americans donate billions to charity each year, and older Americans are especially generous. Most charities are honest, but some employ dubious solicitation tactics. Advise your clients to follow the suggestions below before donating money to a charity online, by mail, by telephone, or in person:
• Be alert to groups using names that closely resemble those of well-known charities.
• If you do not recognize the charity, it could be a fraud. A legitimate charity welcomes background checks on its operations. Verify the organization by asking for its exact name and phone number, especially if donating online.
• Find out the planned uses for the money to be donated. Will proceeds directly benefit those in need? What portion of the contribution will go toward the charitable purpose and what portion will be spent on fundraising and administrative costs?
• Be wary of appeals that are long on emotion and short on descriptions about providing help to those in need.
• Don't succumb to high-pressure tactics and demands for an immediate decision.
• Before making a donation online, look at the organization's URL in the browser window. If the domain name of the URL is hidden, is unfamiliar, or is not the same as the link's text, the request may be a scam.
• Never give credit card or Social Security numbers to a telephone solicitor.
• Do not give cash. Write a check in the name of the charity, not the individual fundraiser, and get a receipt.
• Check with your state Attorney General's Charities Bureau to determine whether the organization is registered.
Home Improvement Scams
As I described in the introduction, home improvement scams are quite frequently targeted at seniors. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 60 percent of older persons live in homes more than 20 years old. As housing stocks age, so do their owners. In addition to repairs, these homes may require grab bars or ramps to provide accessibility. Each year, home improvement contracting fraud ranks among the top five most common complaints received by the New York Attorney General's Office. The complaints involve, among other things, shoddy workmanship, deceptive pricing, and failure to honor warranties or make refunds.
To guard against home improvement scams, you may wish to recommend the following advice to your clients and family and friends:
• Watch for contractors who come to your home unsolicited claiming that your home needs expensive repair work for damage that you never noticed. Common approaches involve work on your chimney or driveway. These contractors often offer a special "deal" because they have material left over from another job in your neighborhood.
• Never agree to have work done on the spot. Determine what you want done and seek qualified contractors.
• Get at least two written estimates from reputable contractors that include specific information about the materials and services provided for the job.
• Check references by contacting the Better Business Bureau, local licensing authorities, previous customers, banks, and suppliers.
• Do not pay the full amount up front or other unreasonable advance sums. Negotiate a payment schedule tied to the completion of the job and pay by check. Do not pay with cash.
• Get any promises in writing and make sure the project is thoroughly described in your contract. If you can, ask a lawyer to review the terms of the written contract before you sign.
• Don't be bullied or pressured. Call the police and get a license plate number if a door-to-door contractor won't take "no" for an answer.
Seniors who are isolated and have little contact with family, friends, caseworkers, and other concerned parties may be at increased risk of being victimized by fraudulent businesses. Decreasing this isolation through police welfare checks, neighborhood watches, and in-person outreach efforts can help to ensure that elders are aware of available resources they can turn to with questions and concerns about potential scammers. Further, ongoing contact with family members can provide the means to monitor an elder's financial matters. Lawyers can play an important role in educating seniors about how to better protect themselves from fraud.
Benjamin Bruce works as an assistant attorney general in the Rochester, New York, office of New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, where he handles a variety of consumer fraud and public advocacy matters. He may be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Jun 14, 2005 | 352 Pages
Dec 30, 2008 | 782 Minutes
"A most extraordinary book…Lesser is a brilliantly gifted writer."
—Caroline Myss, author of Sacred Contracts and Anatomy of the Spirit
"Elizabeth Lesser bravely and beautifully explores one of the most compelling questions of life: How do we emerge from suffering and challenge with real, encompassing wisdom and love? Broken Open is personal, pragmatic, and enlightening."
—Sharon Salzberg, author of Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience
"Rich in food for philosophical mastication, and sparkling in their stylistic clarity, the true-life stories in Broken Open are both entertaining and enlightening."
—Tom Robbins, author of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Still Life with Woodpecker, and Villa Incognito
"Insightful reflections…Reminiscent of Rachel Naomi Remen's books (e.g. Kitchen Table Wisdom), the book is gentle in tone without falling into sentimentality an clear without being dogmatic or simplistic."
—Library Journal
"Never again will a painful experience break me down. Instead, I'll use Elizabeth's book to help me bread open into greater strength, acceptance, and awakening."
—Jane Fonda, actress, activist, and author of My Life So Far


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Hudson Sq. residents try to keep lid on club scene
By Albert Amateau
A group that owns a restaurant and bar in Hempstead, L.I, is seeking cabaret and liquor licenses for a new club on the east side of Hudson St. north of Canal St. with a capacity for 550 patrons.
The proposed club in the 9,800-sq.-ft. ground floor space at 250 Hudson St. at the corner of Dominick St. worries members of the Friends of Hudson Sq. because it is a block away from Club NV on Hudson at Spring St., also with a capacity for more than 500 patrons.
NV has created havoc in the neighborhood for a couple of years with several shootings, not to mention noise and club card litter said David Reck, a member of Community Board 2 and president of the Friends of Hudson Sq. Another club that big a block away would be too hard to take, he added.
Lynne Distasio, her son Damian Distasio and Salvatore Cacciato, owners of Lobster Bar and Restaurant in Hempstead, are applying for licenses for the club under the corporate name of D&C Nightlife NYC. The application lists tapas house/cabaret as the type of premises.
Their application submitted to Community Board 2 on Aug. 10 for recommendations had a seven-page petition with the names of neighborhood residents purported to be in favor of the new club, Reck said. The petition was nonsense; it had every address on the street, buildings with no residents at all. They withdrew it and agreed it was in error, Reck added.
Community Board 2 is scheduled to vote on a recommendation for the licenses this month and the boards business committee has scheduled a hearing at 75 Morton St. for 7 p.m. Sept. 14.
A year and a half ago Mike Bergos, owner of Club New York in Times Sq., withdrew his application for cabaret and liquor licenses for a new club he intended to open at 250 Hudson St. Bergos gave no reason for the withdrawal but Friends of Hudson Sq. opposed his club application.
The site is on a block zoned for manufacturing where clubs are as of right and require no special land-use permits. But it is across the street from the area rezoned last year from manufacturing to mixed residential and commercial.
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olyfan63 wrote:Standing in Pete and John's shoes, here's how I'd look at it:
- We were ONE (KEY) PLAY AWAY from the next round of the playoffs. A sack, a pressured incompletion, stopping a key running play better, etc.
- We were ONE PLAY AWAY from NFC West championship and home field advantage.
- We might be more than ONE PLAY AWAY from beating SAN FRAN and GREEN BAY in the PLAYOFFS.
- The most important KEY PLAYS we need are from our DEFENSIVE LINE, e.g., to pressure and sack Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Kevin Kolb.
- We might need better/deeper D-Line play to cope with SF's Colin Kaepernick as a veteran next year, and beat the 49ers when it matters.
- With about $8 million (or whatever the exact number is), we can probably get FIVE OR SIX PLAYS PER GAME that we aren't getting now.
- We can also upgrade by getting another BIG, FAST, DOMINANT WIDE RECEIVER. That will give us maybe ONE or TWO plays per game we aren't getting now.
- A better linebacker or two could give us another THREE or FOUR plays per game we aren't getting now.
- We will get THREE or FOUR PLAYS a game better from our more experienced O-LINE, Sweezy better, Carp back and healthy. An upgrade could make that higher. Upgrades take time.
- We will get THREE or FOUR PLAYS a game better on D from improvements by Irvin, Wagner, young non-Sherman/Browner DB's (Lane, Guy, Thurmond, etc.)
- This is a crap year for QB's in the draft. This is the peak of Flynn's value, this year.
- We were OVERALL LUCKY WITH INJURIES this last year. We could lose FIVE to EIGHT PLAYS per game through injuries next year if we aren't as fortunate.
- This team needs to upgrade our current talent pool by at least TEN PLAYS PER GAME, just to stay competitive at the same level and have a good shot at being improved.
Here's what I expect PC/JS to DO:
- We will trade Flynn and get some value for Flynn. Picks, or a D-lineman, or a WR. Flynn to KC and sign-and-trade Dwayne Bowe could be a possibility, or trade to move up.
- PC/JS will try to trade to move up in the draft to grab a stud DL or WR.
- We will draft some stud D-Line talent, some DT up-the-middle push, early in our draft. We get a rookie who can pressure. +TWO PLAYS PER GAME.
- If we have a chance to draft a Green or Julio Jones type of WR by moving up, we will do that. +ONE PLAY PER GAME.
- We will pick a couple linebackers in the early/middle rounds, to replace Leroy Hill & compete with Malcolm Smith. +TWO PLAYS PER GAME.
- We will draft a developmental QB who can physically do many of the things Wilson can do, and has good work habits and upside. We lose TEN+ plays per game if he has to play.
- We will score another Jason Jones type of player in free agency. With J. Jones in the Atlanta game, never mind losing Clemons, we win. +TWO PLAYS PER GAME.
- We will try to draft or sign a DE to hedge against Clemons not coming back 100% or Irvin not developing as an every-down player.
- If the talent is there, I wouldn't be surprised if we pick up another OL in the draft or in free agency. Just not Tyler Polumbus.
- If the talent is there, a future-star TE wouldn't be a bad early round pick.
- I think we look for a mid-late round running back who could be a Terrell Davis or Alfred Morris type of back. (Recall TD was a 5th or 6th rounder)
My guess at what happens off the field:
- We trade Flynn to move up in the draft. Jacksonville, KC, someone will give us value for him. We get back his cap space.
- In the draft, we pick up a stud inside rush, runstopper DT, whoever PC/JS target, as our #1 pick. (Plan B: stud WR)
- In the draft, we pick up DL depth, LB depth, developmental QB, and WR depth.
- In free agency, we pick up more DL depth, and maybe more WR depth.
My guess at what happens on the field?
- We are less lucky with injuries. We (lose) -FIVE PLAYS per game compared to last year.
- We get better pass rush from new D-Line talent. We gain +TWO PLAYS per game over last year, net of Irvin improvement, new talent, etc.
- We get better O-Line play just by guys coming back from injury and overall improvement of young talent & meshing better. (Carpenter, Sweezy, Okung) +THREE PLAYS per game.
- Wilson is +TWO PLAYS per game better than last year.
- Our new DC is -TWO PLAYS per game worse than Gus Bradley was last year.
- Our LB corps is +ONE PLAY per game better than last year.
- Our secondary is +ONE PLAY per game better than last year.
Outcomes on the field, with our +TWO PLAYS per game team over last year:
- We lose to SF and the Lambs on the road. We win all other divison games, but lose one other road game. We go 8-0 at home again. Record: 13-3.
- SF is good again. They go 13-3 and wind up in a tie for the division.
- Depending on tie-breakers... We're either division champs or a wild card once again.
- If we win our division, we run the table at CLink in the playoffs, and on to the Super Bowl, and win that also, beating the Patriots 42-31.
If we lose the division tiebreaker to SF...
- We win playoffs round 1 at home, win playoffs division round on the road.
- We play SF in the NFC championship game.
- From here, it gets a little fuzzy. There are so many wildcards. What I'd like to see is that we win an epic game against SF on their field, head to the Super Bowl, and hand Brady and the Patriots yet another Super Bowl defeat.
Remember when Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt stumbled upon "John Doe's" notebooks in Seven?


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Unquestionably the best receiver to ever to wear the green-and-white, Maynard is only one of two Jets in the NFL Hall of Fame -- that guy from Beaver Falls who threw him the ball and won a championship with him, being the other. He is also only the Jets all-time leader in every receiving category, and simply the greatest big-play weapon the team has had. Ever.
In addition, his jersey is only one of three that have ever been retired by the team; again, you already know the other two -- Namath and Klecko.
But for some reason -- maybe because he played before much of the current fan base got to see him, or has kept a low profile since retiring -- he never seems to get the credit due him. Heck, it's taken until the third time around for him to even get inducted into the esteemed TJB Hall of Fame!
This, my Jets brethren, is a glaring oversight that we hope to amend a bit with this (overdue) enshrinement of number 13 into the TJB Hall of Fame.
The very first player to join the New York Titans franchise in 1960, he is also one of the longest-tenured stars in team history, playing for the Jets for 13 seasons.
During those 13 seasons -- a few of them for a struggling expansion franchise -- Maynard was the unquestioned go-to guy, the player the team could count on to make the big play. In what was possibly the game where they needed his game-changing skills the most, the 1968 AFL championship game against Oakland, Maynard delivered the performance of a lifetime, snaring 6 passes for 118 yards and 2 TDs. And although he didn't catch a pass in that improbable win over the Colts in Super Bowl III, he was on the field, drawing coverage and freeing up George Sauer for a big day, contributing mightily to that hailed championship.
Known as a player who liked to improvise while running routes, Maynard was a highly respected player on the field. He was a five-time All-Pro (1960, '65, '67, '68 & '69) and a four-time AFL Pro Bowl selection (1965, '67, '68 & '69).
Although I was alive when he played for the Jets, I was very young and have no personal memories of Maynard's playing prowess. And because of the era he played, there isn't a lot of highlight films out there. But I do have the record book to testify to his special place in NFL history, as well as AFL history -- he is a member of the All-Time AFL Team.
As mentioned, he is the Jets career leader (or close) in every critical receiving category.
- Receptions: 633 (40th NFL all-time; 1st NYJ all-time)
- Yards: 11,834 (18th NFL; 1st NYJ)
- Receiving TDs: 88 (10th NFL; 1st NYJ)
- Yards/reception: 18.7 yards/reception (23rd NFL; 2nd NYJ)
- Receiving yards/game: 63.6 (27th NFL; 2nd NYJ)
- Most receiving yards/game in NYJ history: 228 yards (11/17/68 vs. Oakland)
- Most receiving yards/season in NYJ history: 1,434 (1968); also is responsible for 4 of the top 5 seasons in receiving yards in NYJ history.
Even more amazingly, Maynard didn't the join the Titans/Jets and start his true NFL career until he was 25, playing one season with the Giants as a returner (netting 84 yards on 5 receptions) and spending the 1959 season with Hamilton of the CFL.
If Maynard's numbers don't sound overly impressive, try to keep them in context. From his NFL Hall-of-Fame bio:
Although he never led the league in receiving any one season, at the time of his retirement following the 1973 season, Maynard was one of only five players to record more than 50 receptions and more than 1,000 receiving yards in five different seasons. A four-time AFL All-Star, his 633 career catches for 11,834 yards were both pro records at the time.Simply, just because you never saw him play doesn't mean he wasn't amongst the very best in NFL and AFL history.
Jets fans like to grumble that we get no respect. Well, if there is any player who more embodied a lack of respect than Don Maynard, I don't know who it is.
Here's hoping this modest tribute atones for some of that. Congratulations!


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Publisher: APCNews NEW YORK, 04 June 2014
A new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Mutuma Ruteere, was released in late May. It focuses on the use of new information technologies, including the internet, for disseminating racist ideas, hate messages and inciting racial hatred and violence.
The report highlights the importance of affordable access to the internet and promotion of local content, particularly for those groups who are most often the targets of racial discrimination, in order to reduce information asymmetry and misperceptions that feed racist and xenophobic sentiment. It also highlights the fundamental role of education and media literacy, especially for young people.
Recognising the importance of strong movements to counter racism and intolerance online, the Special Rapporteur suggests: "Community ownership of infrastructure, training in network and content management, and alternative software use, including free and open software, can help to bridge existing gaps in knowledge and access."
Legal and policy efforts to combat hatred and incitement, however, must take into account states' obligations to protect other fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression and opinion, the Special Rapporteur noted.
Commenting on the report, APC's Joy Liddicoat said: "We welcome the Special Rapporteur's focus on community efforts to combat racism, especially for marginalised and vulnerable groups. The Rapporteur also highlights the work of women's rights defenders and sexual rights activists, including their use of the internet and information and communications technology to promote and protect their rights. This work is critical to help combat racism and other forms of intolerance in ways that are empowering and which do not always require regulatory intervention by states, but rather empower communities to claim rights for themselves."
Alfredo López, from APC member in the United States and Mexico May First/People Link, added: "We're pleased the report links two of our major issues, de-privatisation of the internet and free and open source software, to the kind of access to knowledge and technology that will most effectively combat hate speech. It displays a progressive and incisive confidence in the ability of humanity to do the right thing when it has the power to."
Commenting on the broader issue of the intersection of racism and the internet, Shahzad Ahmad from APC member Bytes for All Pakistan stated: "Racism and discrimination are inextricably linked with censorship and surveillance, as we have highlighted in our most recent research." He added: "We found out that one set of people have the right to disseminate hate material against others who don't have the space or power to present their counter narratives. Millions of Pakistanis, including women and religious and sexual minorities, suffer from this with no respite."
APC, as well as May First/People Link and Bytes for All Pakistan, were part of the multi-stakeholder consultation process that led to the preparation of this report, and welcomed the report's findings and recommendations. APC will be supporting this work during the upcoming Human Rights Council session (including a side event on 25 June) and will continue to monitor and develop this work in the year ahead.


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Veteran WR Collie proud to be with Patriots
Veteran WR Collie proud to be with Patriots
Oct. 04, 2013
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Austin Collie has been a member of the New England Patriots less than a week.
Although it took the veteran receiver no time at all to recognize the culture he is now a part of.
"There's not many places where you go in and you can just tell winning is expected here," Collie said Friday while addressing the Boston media for the first time. "You've got a bunch of grown men here who know how to handle their business. You don't need anyone looking after them. They're all self-motivated, and I think that's a rarity to find that every single guy on the squad is like that.
"You can definitely tell that here is one of those places."
Collie was signed Thursday by New England (4-0) to help bolster a youthful, yet banged up, receiving corps. Danny Amendola, acquired during the offseason to replace Wes Welker, has missed the last three games with a groin injury. Rookies Kenbrell Thompkins (shoulder) and Aaron Dobson (neck) both suffered injuries Sunday night against Atlanta, were limited in practice this week and likely will be questionable for Sunday's game against Cincinnati (2-2).
Whether Collie plays against the Bengals (2-2) on Sunday remains to be seen.
"We'll kind of recall where he is and see where we're at tomorrow and make a decision," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "I don't know."
Collie was in training camp with the San Francisco 49ers but released on Aug. 31. After working out with a few teams, including the Patriots, the 6-foot, 204-pound wideout arrived in New England in time to practice Thursday, and again Friday.
"There's definitely a unique feel here, definitely great guys in the locker room, great team camaraderie," he said. "So it's fun. It's a great place to be."
Collie spent the first four seasons of his career in Indianapolis, where he scored 15 touchdowns in his first two years, but was limited to one game last season after rupturing his patellar tendon. He also has a history of concussions.
"All I want to do is just play football and that's what I'm doing," he said. "So, I'm a happy man."
Despite being cognizant of his new environment, Collie clearly is still acclimating to his new home.
On multiple occasions Friday, Collie responded as if he was answering questions about the upcoming opponent, referring to the Patriots as "they" before quickly incorporating himself into the group.
"We're an organization that's going to bring it every single week," he said. "There's guys here that don't need to be told how to work. They know how to work hard, they know what's expected of them and it's a phenomenal work environment.
"It makes your job easier."
While he's had only two practices to work with quarterback Tom Brady and is trying to get up to speed on the playbook as quickly as possible, Collie does have a few friends to help him along the way. He trained with Edelman and Amendola during last season's lockout.
"Austin's obviously been in the league for a while now, he's a great receiver and we're all excited to have him," said Amendola, who practiced but didn't say if he would play Sunday. "He'll pick up the playbook in no time, I'm sure."
Collie knows it's a coach's decision if he plays or not, but added he has been ready to take the field for a while.
"This is a great system — obviously, a system that's proven itself year in, year out. I love being in it. There's a lot of balls to be caught. I can't wait to learn more about it," he said. "I can't wait to get that chemistry down with No. 12 and jell with this offense."
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org


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About Town
Free bus ride to health fair in Newport
The Jamestown Medical Fund is sponsoring free transportation to the Newport Hospital Health Fair, this Saturday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A bus will make two trips to the fair from the parking lot at the Portuguese American Citizens' Club- at 8:30 a.m. and again at 9:30 a.m., with two return trips planned for later in the day.
The health fair will include guest speakers, free screenings and booths where attendees can learn about healthy lifestyles.
For more information about the bus trip, call Luann at 423-0550.
Versatile duo to play library this Sunday
The Jamestown library will present a concert by Jimmytown Juke, the multi-instrumental duo of Ed McGuirl and Mike Fischman, on Sunday, April 15, at 2 p.m. They are also known as the Folk Support Group.
The duo's repertoire features acoustic and electric blues and roots music. McGuirl is an award-winning songwriter whose works have been selected for several compilation CDs and an NBC documentary soundtrack. He was voted Best Local Blues Act in the 2005 Motif Magazine readers poll and has been nominated in this year's Providence Phoenix Best Music Poll in the blues category.
Fischman is the familiar host of WRIU Kingston's Bluegrass Breakdown and is a teacher of several instruments. In addition to Jimmytown Juke, he can be seen playing jazz with Swinglane, contra dance music with Wild Goose Nation, bluegrass with Post Road Gospel and acoustic folk with the Red Tide Ramblers.
Jimmytown Juke is renowned for their humorous onstage banter and their versatile musical abilities The audience will be treated to a very entertaining afternoon.
This concert is free and open to the public.
For more information, call the Jamestown library at 423-7280.
Walk with students to honor teacher
The Lawn Avenue School student council will host a walk around Jamestown this Saturday, April 14, to honor the memory of teacher Bruce Engelhard.
Students will use the proceeds from the walk to purchase a tree and commemorative plaque, which will be planted on the school grounds on Arbor Day.
The walk will begin at 10 a.m. at the Melrose Avenue School playground. Vacation program on lighthouse scheduled
During school vacation week, visit the Jamestown library on Wednesday, April 18, at 11 a.m. to learn all about the Rose Island Lighthouse and its surroundings.
Representatives from the Rose Island Lighthouse will bring an 11-foot tall model to the library. This solar-powered lighthouse is also equipped with a rain gauge, and children will learn how rainwater is collected for everyday use at Rose Island.
Children ages 4 and up and their families will enjoy this interactive one-hour program.
No registration is required for this free event, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Jamestown Library.
Ride along with Paul Revere at library
Celebrate National Library Week and Young People's Poetry Week at the Jamestown library on Monday, April 16, at 10:30 a.m. with a reading of Longfellow's poem, "Paul Revere's Ride."
This reading is for children ages 5 and up, and participants will also make a colonial tri-corner hat and a horse from construction paper and yarn.
This free event, which will take place in the children's room, requires no registration.
Leave time for open rec during vacation
Open recreation will be held at the community center during April vacation from Monday, April 16 to Friday, April 20.
Students in grades 3 to 5 will meet from 1 to 3 p.m. each day. Students in grades 6 to 8 will meet from 3 to 5 p.m.
High school students can use the center from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday and from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday.
Open rec. is monitored by recreation department staff and there is no fee to participate. Completed permission slips, which are required, are available at the community center. For more information, call the recreation office at 423-7260.
Garden club opens season with tea
The Quononoquott Garden Club will hold their first meetin of the year on Monday, April 16, in St. Matthew's Parish Hall. The business meeting begins at 11 a.m., with the tea scheduled for noon.
The program at 1 p.m. will be "Gardening with Wildflowers," presented by Karen Asher, president of the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society. Asher will give a slideshow about wildflowers in gardens and there will be time for questions and answers after the program.
QGC will be donating copies of the new RIWPS coloring books to the local school.
Italian artist topic of lunch time discussion
Artemisia, the first widely recognized woman artist of the Renaissance, will be the topic of "Lunch with the Artist," on Tuesday, April 17, at the Newport Art Museum.
Artemisia was an Italian Early Baroque painter, and is today considered one of the most accomplished painters of the generation.
The informal noon discussion will be facilitated by Richard Tyre. It is free for museum members and there is a $3 charge for non-members. "Lunch with the Artist" discussions will take place on the third Tuesday of each month.
The museum provides coffee for each meeting of "Lunch with the Artist," and bag lunches are welcome. For more information about this and other Newport Art Museum programs, call the museum at 848- 8200 or go to www.newportartmuseum. com.
Council nears vote on town budget
Town Councilors will have a final budget workshop and expected vote on adoption of the 2008 spending plan, Monday, April 30, at 7 p.m. They indicated they did not expect to make many changes in the budget proposed by the town administration for the year to begin July 1.


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Learn more and get your questions answered in a no-cost kidney education class.
Dialysis is a treatment that removes wastes and excess fluid from your blood.
In the early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), you do not need dialysis. The stages of chronic kidney disease can last for many years. But if your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to keep you alive.
National Kidney Foundation guidelines recommend you start dialysis when your kidney function drops to 15% or less — or if you have severe symptoms caused by your kidney disease, such as: shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting. Your doctor will help you decide when to start dialysis, based on results of lab tests that measure how much kidney function you have left and on your symptoms.
Private insurance generally covers treatment for kidney failure whenever your doctor says it is needed. If you don't have private insurance, you may be able to get coverage through federal or state funded health care programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid.
Most people (about 93% of those who apply) qualify for Medicare when they need dialysis or a transplant, even if they are under age 65. Medicare pays for 80% of treatment costs of kidney disease when kidney function has dropped to 10 – 15%, or when your doctor justifies it.
If you are not having symptoms, you may be able to wait a bit longer before you begin dialysis. However, some doctors believe that starting dialysis as soon as Medicare or insurance covers it is wise, since it can take a long time to recover if you let yourself get very ill. Since chronic kidney failure often happens slowly, sometimes people do not even know how bad they feel, until they start dialysis and begin to feel much better.
It is important to start getting ready for dialysis or a transplant well in advance — when your kidney disease reaches Stage 4 (severe, with glomerular filtration rate, or GFR, less than 30 mL/min). Learning about the types of dialysis and transplant options will help you make a choice that is best for you. Any type of dialysis will require surgery — usually outpatient — to allow access for your treatments, and this should be done well in advance to allow time for healing.
Dialysis is paid for with your health insurance and Medicare (even if you are under age 65). If you have an employer group health plan, it will pay first for 30 – 33 months, and Medicare will be secondary (paying some or all of the balance your insurance doesn't cover). After 30 – 33 months, Medicare pays first and your health plan is secondary.
Ask your dialysis or transplant center to help you figure out what your insurance will pay and how much you will be expected to pay out-of-pocket. You can also call DaVita Guest Services at 1-800-244-0680 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PT).
The chances that your kidneys will get better depend on what caused your kidney failure. Kidney failure is divided into two general categories, acute and chronic. Acute (or sudden) kidney failure is often temporary. In chronic kidney failure, the kidneys normally do not heal.
In acute kidney failure, when kidneys stop functioning due to a sudden stress, kidney function may recover. But when the damage to your kidneys has been continuous and progressive over a number of years, as it is in chronic kidney disease (CKD), then the kidneys usually do not get better. When CKD has progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD), it is considered irreversible.
If your chronic kidney disease was not diagnosed until you were at the point of needing dialysis or a transplant, then it may seem sudden to you. However, the gradual injuries to your kidneys that occurred over a number of years caused permanent damage.
If you have acute kidney failure, you may need dialysis for only a few days or weeks while your kidneys recover. If your kidneys are too badly damaged to recover their function, then you will need long-term dialysis or a kidney transplant to live.
If it seems that your kidneys are recovering, talk to your doctor to learn whether it could be true. Tests can be done to determine whether your kidney function has improved.
The history of dialysis Dr. Willem Kolff is considered the father of dialysis. This young Dutch physician constructed the first dialyzer (artificial kidney) in 1943.Learn More »
It's good to go in with a game plan when it's time for dialysis, whether it's your first treatment day or your 50th. We've come up with 10 ways to help you prepare and maintain your quality of life on dialysis.Learn More »
Are you wondering how well your blood is being cleaned during your dialysis treatments? One way to find out is through the urea reduction ratio (URR). If you meet the URR goal after each treatment, you're on the right track. But if you're not meeting it, your blood may not be as clean as it could be. Learn more about how to get blood thoroughly clean during dialysis.Learn More »
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April 5, 2012
Ensure a rewarding hunt with a few simple safety rules
PRATT — Kansas gobblers are in full strut, and avid turkey hunters are champing at the bit to get into the woods on opening day of the general spring turkey season, which opens April 11 and runs through May 31. And because turkey hunting is a safe, rewarding way to introduce youth to a heart-thumping hunting experience, many parents and mentors are already pursuing gobblers during the youth/disabled and archery only season, April 1-10.
While calling male turkeys is one of the most exciting hunts in the Sunflower State, Kansas hunters must remember one word that exemplifies the perfect hunt: safety. Responsible hunters are sure of their targets before firing, and they hunt defensively to protect themselves from the mistakes of others.
The following are just a few defensive safety tips to follow when pursuing America's largest game bird this spring:
- set up against a stump, tree, or rock that is wider than your shoulders and higher than your head;
- never wear or carry the colors red, white, light blue, or black — the colors of a wild turkey gobbler — when turkey hunting;
- eliminate movement and set up in open timber rather than thick brush;
- avoid imitating the sound of a gobbling turkey;
- watch other game and listen for the alarm cries of blue jays, crows, squirrels, or woodpeckers that can tip you off to the presence of another hunter;
- assume any noise you hear is another hunter until you know; and
- never move, wave, or make turkey sounds to alert another hunter of your presence, but remain still and call out in a loud, clear voice to announce your presence.
Including the archery-only season and youth/disabled seasons, Kansas hunters will be able to hunt for two full months. During the youth season, youth 16 and younger must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older. The adult may not hunt during the youth season (except with archery equipment). No hunting license is required for resident hunters 15 and younger, but a valid Kansas turkey permit is required for everyone.
For more information, contact the nearest office of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism or visit the agency's website, ksoutdoors.com.


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Cluci Leather Handbags for Women Purse Tote Satchel Shoulder Crossbody Bag for Lady …Parent Black Large(L)13.50\
Materials : Top Grain Leather. High quality light gold hardware. Dark brown interior polyester lining. Zippered opening closure. The bag have leather feet on the bottom to protect the leather when it is set down.
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Shoulder Bags


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CAIRO (AP) — The head of Egypt's censorship board has resigned after the country's prime minister overruled his decision to allow a film starring a sultry Lebanese singer to be shown.
The film, titled "Roh's Sweetness," had already been in theaters for over a week. It tells the story of a married woman whose husband is abroad and lives with a relative in a poor neighborhood where she becomes an object of desire and sexual obsession for men.
Ahmed Awad, undersecretary to the culture minister and head of the censorship authority, told The Associated Press on Saturday that he had submitted his resignation Thursday morning in response to Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab's decision to stop the film from being shown. The censorship board is meant to be an independent body that gives the final say on whether a movie can be seen by Egyptian audiences.
"Of course I'm not happy with what happened," Awad said. "I did this out of respect for myself."
Awad said he had yet to receive a response to his resignation from the government.
Mahlab said he stopped the film from being shown in response to calls from the National Council for Motherhood and Childhood and "to preserve the morals of our children." Lebanese sex symbol Haifa Wehbe plays the lead character in the film and has a young boy infatuated with her. Also in the film, her character is raped.
Mahlab convened a meeting of prominent and artists Saturday, but did not change his position on the film.
In a statement, Mahlab said the government continues to value the fine arts and creativity in all its forms, "but there is a difference between art and the infringement upon values."
In a column in Saturday's edition of the independent newspaper Al-Shorouq, film critic Kamal Ramzy wrote that the prime minister's concern is misplaced given the many economic and social issues Egypt is currently facing.
Ramzy wrote that Egypt's leaders have not yet learned from their history with censorship, where political figures have in the past focused on film censorship while ignoring problems of corruption and governance.
It's a useless argument in "Roh's Sweetness," Ramzy writes.
"The scenes would only affect a sick person in this way," he wrote.


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Bobbi Kristina Brown Will Live With Her Grandmother Cissy Houston
HollywoodLife.com has learned exclusively that Whitney's mom Cissy will be taking Bobbi Kristina in indefinitely to make sure she doesn't turn to drugs and alcohol during this difficult time! Do you think this is the best thing for Bobbi Kristina?
Bobbi Kristina Brown, 18, is reportedly doing much better since she was rushed to the hospital after learning about her mother Whitney Houston's death. But as HollywoodLife.com reported earlier today, her family fears that the funeral tomorrow, Feb. 18, will trigger the initial feelings that sent Bobbi Kristina into a severe breakdown. So that is why her grandmother Cissy Houston has made the firm decision to take her in "indefinitely."
"Bobbi Kristina is staying with her grandma Cissy Houston in Newark, New Jersey, indefinitely," a source tells HollywoodLife.com exclusively. "Cissy wants to make sure Bobbi Kristina doesn't relapse into alcohol and drugs."
The source tells us that Cissy does not believe that Bobbi Kristina's father, Bobby Brown, will be able to give her the proper support she needs when she's in such a fragile state.
"Cissy doesn't think Bobby can provide Bobbi Kristina with a stable lifestyle. And Bobby's bizarre behavior last night [Feb. 16] at his concert is yet another example of his inconsistencies," the source tells us. "Bobby has repeatedly told friends that he won't leave Bobbi Kristina's side and will find her the best care available, but Cissy knows the number one person in Bobby Brown's life is Bobby Brown and it will always be that way."
UPDATE: Bobbi Kristina Arrives At Whitney Houston's Private Wake
Cissy has even invited Bobbi Kristina's friends from Atlanta to stay with her as long as they want! She wants to put her granddaughter in the most comfortable, loving environment possible.
"Cissy has invited two of Bobbi Kristina's girlfriends from Atlanta to come to Newark this weekend to attend the funeral," the source says. "Cissy has asked the girls to stay with at her home as long as possible to support Bobbi Kristina, especially this Saturday at the services. Cissy wants Bobbi Kristina to be surrounded with as much support and love as possible. Cissy is determined to keep out all of the riff raff in Bobbi Kristina's life!"
We're so happy to hear Bobbi Kristina's family is looking out for her best interest during this terrible time and that she won't be returning to an empty home in Atlanta.
What do you think, HollywoodLifers? Is it best for Bobbi Kristina to stay with Cissy? Or do you think she'd be better off living with Bobby Brown? Vote and weigh in below!
— Reporting by Sandra Clark, written by Nicole Karlis
strong>More Whitney Houston News
- Bobbi Kristina Very Likely To Relapse Into Drugs & Alcohol, Expert Says
- Bobby Brown Says: 'Bobbi Kristina Is Doing Much Better'
- Whitney Houston's Family Wants Bobbi Kristina To Move To New Jersey


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Carnegie Hall, famed for the classical music luminaries on its stage, will give the singer-songwriter James Taylor pride of place next season. At the other end of the musical spectrum, the violinist Christian Tetzlaff will also be featured.
Announcing its 2010-11 season on Wednesday — the second in a row under an austere budget — Carnegie said it had assigned a high-profile Perspectives series to each performer. The hall will also present a festival dedicated to Japan, led by Seiji Ozawa, continuing its practice of showcasing a culture or theme through a variety of performances in different locales. Past subjects have included Berlin, black Americans and Leonard Bernstein.
The Japan festival is set for December, with a second round to follow in March and April. It will feature dance, Noh theater, taiko drumming, art exhibitions, manga and jazz, as well as performances by orchestras partly founded by Mr. Ozawa: the Saito Kinen Orchestra and the Seiji Ozawa Ongaku-juku, part of an academy established by the conductor.
"I am getting older, and I feel we have so many things in Japan to feel proud of today," Mr. Ozawa said in a video clip played at a news conference at Carnegie Hall. Mr. Ozawa disclosed two weeks ago that he had esophageal cancer. Clive Gillinson, Carnegie's executive and artistic director, said Mr. Ozawa and his doctors were "totally confident that he'll be fine."
This season's festival focused on China. Japan was chosen for next season, Mr. Gillinson said, because juxtaposing the two cultures "was a really, really interesting idea." People assume they are "superficially similar cultures," he added, "and yet they couldn't be more different."Continue reading the main story
Prominent Japanese companies have signed on as leading financers of the festival, called JapanNYC, including the Epson Corporation, Mizuho Securities U.S.A., Nomura Holding America and the Sony Corporation. The main individual donor is Yoko Nagae Ceschina, a major supporter of classical music who helped pay for the New York Philharmonic's trip to North Korea in 2008. More than 40 events are planned, and like the Chinese festival this season the Japanese event will be presented jointly with the Philharmonic Society of Orange County in California, where it will be called JapanOC.
In another highlight Valery Gergiev will conduct the Maryinsky Orchestra of St. Petersburg in five concerts of Mahler symphonies, part of a Mahler cycle that will also play at Avery Fisher Hall with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Gillinson said Mr. Gergiev came to Carnegie with the idea of performing the entire cycle in New York next season. But the Staatskapelle Berlin, conducted by Daniel Barenboim and Pierre Boulez, just ran through the Mahler symphonies at Carnegie last spring. "We weren't going to do a complete Mahler cycle again," Mr. Gillinson said.
The Vienna Philharmonic will open the Carnegie Hall season with four concerts, with podium duties shared by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Gustavo Dudamel. Also, musicians from the Risor Chamber Music Festival in Norway, led by a Carnegie favorite, the pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, will present four programs; the jazz pianist Brad Mehldau will be the composer in residence; Riccardo Muti gives his first New York concerts as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and the New York Philharmonic and its music director, Alan Gilbert, along with Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax, Gil Shaham and Audra McDonald, take part in a gala concert on May 5, 2011, the 120th anniversary of the opening of the hall. (The inaugural concert was also Tchaikovsky's American conducting debut.)
Unlike other Perspectives artists, who often lead workshops and teach, Mr. Taylor will simply perform on four evenings in April and May. Mr. Taylor will play with guest artists, his band and guitarist colleagues. One concert will be a gala celebration of Carnegie's history. Mr. Taylor said at the news conference that he felt the weight of leading a series at what he called a "great hallowed place," where he first performed in 1970 at 22. (He said the concert convinced his mother he could finally make a living in music.) "Certainly it's an honor, and a little bit terrifying," he said.
Because of cost cuts, this season and next, Carnegie is presenting about 180 events on a budget of $70 million, down from 200 events on budgets of $76 million in 2008-9 and $84 million in 2007-8, Mr. Gillinson said.
Meanwhile Carnegie has taken on debt to pay for the renovation of two towers at the top of the building on Seventh Avenue between 57th and 56th Streets. Once given over to studios and apartments rented to individuals, commercial tenants and artists, the space will become home to Carnegie's growing educational programs. The $200 million renovation project also calls for backstage improvements to the main auditorium and the smaller Zankel and Weill halls.
New York City issued $110 million in bonds last November on Carnegie's behalf to help pay for the renovation and replace $41 million in bonds used to create Zankel Hall. The issue will cost the institution about $5.4 million in annual interest payments starting three years from now. At the same time Carnegie had to pay about $6.1 million when it ended an interest-rate swap, a financial transaction that served as a hedge against the cost of the Zankel bonds. Mr. Gillinson said such losses for institutions were not unusual in the downturn.
Ratings agencies have looked favorably on the bond offering. Standard & Poor's gave it an A+ and Moody's Investors Service an A1. But the agencies noted that paying for the debt depended on donations and ticket sales, two uncertain sources of money.
And Moody's said Carnegie's total debt of $116 million had a maximum debt service — the money needed to repay interest and principal — of $9.8 million a year, or about 12 percent of last season's operating expenses, double the median debt service for nonprofits. Mr. Gillinson disputed those figures, saying that $10 million in bond proceeds, in addition to money set aside for the Zankel bond payments, will cover the first three years of interest, and that no principal will be repaid for 15 years.
By the time Carnegie faces the $5.4 million a year in interest, he said, fund-raising will have kicked into gear, and money should be on hand for the payments. He said that costs associated with the increased debt would not cut into performances and stressed that fund-raising for the renovation was separate from the money raised for operating the hall.
The bond issue — which is officially made by the Trust for Cultural Resources of the City of New York — was arranged by Sanford I. Weill, Carnegie's board chairman and the former chairman of Citigroup. Citigroup Global Markets is the lead underwriter, joined by Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, each of which received a portion of $1.7 million in fees to arrange the bond issue.
Included in Carnegie's overall debt picture is a $5.4 million loan for a luxury apartment at 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue intended for use by the executive and artistic director. "It wasn't something I asked for," Mr. Gillinson said, but the board of directors felt that Carnegie's top official needed a suitable residence to wine and dine potential donors as well as artists.
He added that when the economy took a nose dive in 2008, he proposed renting the apartment out to earn Carnegie some income. He said the tenant left after a year, and he moved in at the end of September.Continue reading the main story