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International Students
Our student body is diverse,
representing countries from
around the world.
International Students
We have a long tradition of attracting students from around the world to study in our collaborative learning environment. International students also add to our rich campus diversity.
In addition to a completed application, applicants whose first language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- Scores should be sent directly to the University by the testing service.
- Adler University 's code number for receiving test scores is 1147.
- Applicants who have taken the paper-based TOEFL must receive a minimum score of 580.
- Those who have taken the computer-based TOEFL must have a minimum score of 240.
- Applicants taking the Internet-based TOEFL must have a minimum score of 92.
- Those who take the IELTS must receive a minimum Academic score of 7.
- Applicants who have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited program in Canada or the United States may not be required to submit a TOEFL score.
All transcripts from outside of North America (including Mexico) must have a course-by-course evaluation completed by a transcript evaluation service (www.wes.org or www.ece.org). Please contact us for specific transcript translation requirements.
Studying in the United States
International students may apply for an F-1 (student) or J-1 (exchange student) Visa. Please submit the required tuition deposit as well as the following forms to Adler University:
- International Student Checklist
- International Student Request for I-20
- Affidavit of Financial Support
The Office of Admissions will enter your name and information into the SEVIS database and will mail you an original I-20 along with any other required documents. You will then need to make an appointment with the American embassy in your district (if required) and present the I-20 or DS-2019 to the consulate. Prior to meeting with the consulate, you must complete Form I-901 and submit a fee of $200 to the Department of Homeland Security.
- You can access the I-901 by downloading it. When completing the I-901, enter your name exactly as it appears on the I-20 or the DS-2019. If you choose to complete the I-901 online, you may pay by Visa, MasterCard, or American Express.
- Another payment option is Western Union Quick Pay. This option is available in any country where Western Union offers its Quick Pay service. Instructions, along with a completed sample of the Western Union form, can be found on the SEVP website. Bring a printed copy of the instructions and the sample of the completed form to the Western Union agent.
- If you elect to submit the I-901 by mail, include a check, international money order, or foreign draft (drawn on US banks only) in the amount of $200 US dollars. Mail the form and the fee to the address listed on the Form 901. The Department of Homeland Security will mail you a receipt within three days of processing. Make copies of your receipt and keep it with your other important immigration documents. It is better to pay your SEVIS fee online because it will be processed immediately, and you can retrieve your receipt directly from your computer. You must pay the fee at least three business days prior to applying for your Visa, or applying for admission to the port of entry if you are exempt from the visa requirement.
To obtain a student visa, you must be prepared to prove:
- You have a valid passport, and you have been admitted to Adler University.
- You have sufficient funds to cover all of your expenses for the duration of your stay.
- If sponsored by an agency, show a letter indicating your award.
- If your support is from family funds, show bank statements, letters of credit, and the available assets of your parents.
- At a minimum, your financial documentation must demonstrate you meet the financial requirements indicated by Adler University
- You plan to return to your country and not remain in the US after completion of your studies (you may have to show you have a good reason to return home).
- You will be a full-time student each semester.
- You will not work illegally.
- You will maintain an acceptable academic standing.
If the consulate finds you qualified, he or she will stamp a visa approval on your passport. Some visas allow one entry into the US, while some allow two or more. We suggest requesting a multiple-entry visa, because you may want to travel for a short vacation.
Travel Considerations
International students traveling outside of the US will need the following documents for re-entry:
- Passport: must be valid at least six months into the future
- Valid visa
- Current Form I-20
- Any past Form I-20s or DS-2019s you have held
- Remember to submit your I-94 card as you leave the US and retain a new I-94 upon re-entry (request that the border official staple your new I-94 card into your passport)
- Proof of Financial Resources: carry a letter verifying your fellowship, assistantship, or private resources covering your expenses as a student
- Visa to Enter a Third Country: if you are visiting a country other than your own, you may need a visa from the third country for entry
Spouses or dependents joining the student in the United States should present the following to the U.S. Embassy:
- Dependent Form I-20 or DS-2019
- Evidence of financial support for the entire family


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A new UCLA study demonstrates that climate change could cause temperatures throughout the Los Angeles region to rise by 4 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit by mid-century. These results could mean a tripling of extremely hot days in downtown LA and even more misery in outlying populous areas including the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. Even if greenhouse gasses were cut globally, the Los Angeles area and its 18 million residents would still see temperatures increased to about 70 percent of projected levels.
Alex Hall, a UCLA climate expert, led the study with a large team of researchers and graduate students. The team evaluated the years 2041 to 2060 to predict average regional temperature changes. In contrast to most global climate models, which use grids 60 to 120 miles wide, the UCLA study was very granular – a grid of 1.2 mile wide squares was imposed on an area that ranges from Orange County to Palm Springs and then northwest towards Santa Barbara.
The long term forecast is certainly bleak. Coastal communities such as Santa Monica, Venice and Santa Barbara will see increased temperatures ranging from 3.7 to just under four degrees Fahrenheit. But the real misery will be in towns that already endure scorching summers, such as Big Bear Lake and Palm Springs. Those areas are projected to have average temperatures soar by an average of five degrees.
The impact on this region, which accounts for about $750 billion in economic activity, is huge. Higher temperatures will increase the demand for energy needed for air conditioning, which will strain an already feeble grid. And in an area already confronting water scarcity, the increased demand for this precious resource will only add to California's already toxic political climate. The area's ecosystems will also come under increased strain. But what is most unsettling is what we do not know: what will be the effects on weather patterns including those Santa Ana winds and those long bouts of June gloom fog?
+ UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Via ScienceDaily
Photos of Downtown LA from Runyon Canyon and Palos Verdes at Sunset courtesy Leon Kaye

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to the Contracts, Purchasing & Surplus Office at CWU. We strive to maintain the most efficient operations while adhering to requirements of university, state, and federal laws, rules, and procedures. It is our goal to serve our customers in the most timely, efficient, and professional means possible. We are located in Mitchell Hall on the 2nd Floor, East End. Our hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding University holidays.
Link to Purchasing 101 Training Guide
Link to Contract Process Flowchart
Mission Statement
Purchasing supports Central Washington University's educational mission and administrative needs in accordance with the University's policies and procedures by assisting faculty and staff in obtaining timely, high quality products and services at low prices, utilizing good business practices and professional ethics.
Purchasing News & Announcements:


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July 12. 2013 11:20PM
Race Day musing: NH is vacationland for all
Today is Race Day at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. As NASCAR fans from all over New England (and even farther away, sometimes) enjoy this motorsports spectacle, just a few miles down the road New England's elite will be boating on New Hampshire's lakes, where homes can go for more than $10 million. Is this a great state, or what?
New Hampshire has a long and wonderful tradition of drawing vacationers and sight-seers from all walks of life.
From the days of the grand hotels through the golden era of Hollywood and into the New Economy of hedge fund managers and Internet billionaires, the natural beauty of the Granite State has lured the rich and famous. And throughout the years, the glamorous set always has crossed paths with average folks heading into the woods to camp, to the lakes and rivers to fish, and now to Loudon to watch races or Weirs Beach to enjoy the camaraderie of Bike Week.
We hope that it always remains this way. What a loss it would be if New Hampshire vacation spots all become so developed that land prices push rental rates beyond what the average Joe can spend. The multi-million-dollar homes on Lake Winnipesaukee and at Rye Beach are beautiful, and the economic activity they bring is most welcome. But New Hampshire would lose so much character if most of its vacation spots and tourist destinations looked like that. We don't want to be Martha's Vineyard, thank you very much.
Now and then we hear people complain about NASCAR and Bike Week traffic, or the crowds at Hampton Beach. For our part, we are thankful that this state is a place where the common man (and his family) can and regularly does vacation along with (if not alongside) the cufflink-wearing crowd. May it always be that way.


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The San Jose Earthquakes' Designated Player era is coming to an abrupt end. Brazilian forward Geovanni, the franchise's first DP signing, will not be back in 2011.
Geovanni came to San Jose with a resume studded with high-level stops – including Barcelona, Manchester City and Benfica – but provided only one goal and three assists in 777 regular-season minutes for the Quakes.
San Jose coach Frank Yallop moved Geovanni around the lineup in an unsuccessful attempt to unlock the 30-year-old's potential. Too often, Geovanni was found looping back into the Quakes' defensive third to take possession of the ball – which meant he was much too far from goal to be the danger man San Jose had envisioned.
"I think it gave us a great boost when we needed it," Quakes general manager John Doyle told MLSsoccer.com, "but then to hang onto Geovanni ... what he was looking for was a little bit too high for the output he gave us. He was looking three years at a high [salary]. I think we could get a little more impact for that."
[inline_node:321914]The Geovanni decision underscores Doyle's biggest offseason project: rebuilding his strike force around 2010 MLS Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski.
In addition to letting Geovanni walk, Doyle also chose to decline the options on Cornell Glen and Eduardo and watched the Portland Timbers pluck Arturo Alvarez with the next-to-last pick of Wednesday's Expansion Draft.
Glen misfired on a bushel of chances for the Quakes this season, Eduardo was hurt for the vast majority of the season and Alvarez was inconsistent with his performances from week to week.
"We played Eduardo and Cornell Glen, and they didn't have great impact," Doyle said. "It's just one of those things. Besides trying to find a player to play with Chris, we want to find someone who'll play great soccer all over the field. If we can find somebody who scores bunches of goals, too, obviously we'd like that."
Doyle said Alvarez's departure was made more tolerable by the fact that the 25-year-old El Salvador international has made known his desire to move abroad when his current MLS deal expires after the 2011 season.
"Arturo is a good player, but he needs to be playing week in and week out, and Frank didn't play him week in and week out," Doyle said. "For us, it was a thing where, if Arturo had stayed, it would have been fine, but Arturo has visions of going to Europe or Mexico or South America. We thought we could move forward."
Doyle said he's not averse to bringing back Glen or Eduardo at a lower salary than their options were worth, although that option seems remote. He also said the team hasn't given up on the idea of a San Jose DP.
"I think it's something [to explore] if you find the right guy," Doyle said. "When Geovanni came to us, the price was right – it was worth the gamble. We look at all kinds of players. We're not not looking at high-priced players, it's just to see if they're the right fit."
Geoff Lepper covers the Earthquakes for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached at email@example.com. On Twitter: @sjquakes
Ready to Launch: MLS Matchday 2010, The official MLS iPhone app. It's FREE! Download it here!


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O Albany Improbable City of Political Wizards, Fearless Ethnics, Spectacular Aristocrats, Splendid Nobodies
AbeBooks Seller Since April 16, 2008Quantity Available: 1
AbeBooks Seller Since April 16, 2008Quantity Available: 1
About this Item
Bibliographic Details
Title: O Albany Improbable City of Political ...
Publisher: Viking Press January 1983
Publication Date: 1983
Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition:Fine (F)
Dust Jacket Condition: As New
Edition: First Edition.
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Taxonomy and Description
St. John's wort is a member of the genus Hypericum, of which there are 400 species worldwide.
There is some disagreement as to the plant's family, some placing Hypericum in the segregate family Hypericaceae, while others place it in the family Guttiferae. However, most researchers now think that the
morphological and chemical differences of the two families are insufficient to justify separating them (1,2).
The plants are described as glabrous perennials, erect and usually woody at the base. The ovate to linear
leaves are sessile, opposite, and well-supplied with translucent glandular dots. The regular flowers have five
short, subequal, entire, imbricate, basally connate sepals, and five persistent-withering yellow petals. The
ovary is superior, capsicular, and three-styled. Stamens are many, arranged in bundles of threes, and the
flowers are profuse, arranged in branched cymes which bloom from June until September. In the absence of
insect pollination, apomixis commonly occurs.
St. John's wort should not be confused with rose of sharon (H. calycinum), a common
ornamental ground-cover in the United States. Rose of sharon flowers and leaves are much larger than those
of St. John's wort (though interestingly, anti-biotic substances have been extracted from H.
calycinum that are similar in activity to substances in H. perforatum (3).
Range and Habitat
St. John's wort is native to Europe, West Asia, North Africa, Madeira and the Azores, and is naturalized in
many parts of the world, notably North America and Australia (4,5). The plant spreads rapidly by means of
runners or from the prodigous seed production and can invade pastures, disturbed sites, dirt roads, the sides
of roads and highways, and sparse woods.
In the western United States, St. John's wort is especially prevalent in northern California and southern
Oregon, hence one of its common names, "Klamath Weed". Because of the known photosensitizing
properties of the plant, which can be toxic to cows and sheep, it has been considered a pest in some places.
Prior to 1949, it was estimated to inhabit 2.34 million acres of rangeland in northern California. For years
an attempt was made to control the plant with herbicides6, but with little success.
The solution to the problem with St. John's wort in northern California finally proved to be with biological
methods of control, not pesticides. In 1946, the leaf-beetles Chrysolina quadrigemina Rossi, and to
a lesser extent C. hyperici Forst, were introduced from Australia, where it had been observed that
they had a voracious appetite for Hypericum. Their appetite proved to be so voracious, in fact, that
by 1957 northern California's stands of St. John's wort were reduced to only 1% of their original number (5).
Ironically, however, at the time of release of the Chrysolina beetles in California, it was not known
that herbalists would one day keep Hypericum populations well under control.
Etymology of Nomenclature
The name Hypericum is ancient and may have several derivations. Yperikon was first
mentioned by Euryphon, a Greek doctor from 288 BC (7). Pliny called the ground pine Hyperikon,
though also chamaepitys and corion (8). One common explanation for the name
Hypericum is that it may derive from ereike (heather) and hyper (above) (9). However,
although one Greek species of Hypericum looked similar to heather (though it grew taller), it seems
more likely that the name derives from eikon (a figure, possibly an unwanted apparition) and
hyper (above), which relates to the ancient use of St. John's wort to exorcise evil spirits or
influences (10), since the plant may have been placed over religious icons as a symbol of protection. Linnaeus,
who described the genus, thought that Hypericum came from yper (upper) and eikon
(an image) (vv11).
The common name, St. John's wort, is obviously a reference to St. John. Its earliest use may date back to the
6th century AD when, according to Gaelic tradition, the missionary St. Columba always carried a piece of
St. John's wort because of his great regard for St. John (12). Some early Christian authors claimed that red
spots, symbolic of the blood of St. John, appeared on leaves of Hypericum spp. on August 29, the
anniversary of the saint's beheading, while others considered that the best day to pick the plant was on June
24, the day of St. John's feast (10). In the Christian tradition, St. John represents light, hence the flowers were
taken as a reminder of the sun's bounty (13).
History of Use
Dioscorides, the foremost herbalist of the ancient Greeks, mentions four species of Hypericum-
-Uperikon, Askuron and Androsaimon, and Koris--which he recommends
for sciatica, "when drunk with 2 heim of hydromel (honey-water)." He also claims that it "expels many
cholerick excrement, but it must be given continuously, until they be cured, and being smeared on it is good
for ambusta (burns)." H. crispum and H. barbatum, he writes, have "a diuretical facility....and
of moving ye menstrua. The seed being drunk for 40 days drives away tertians and quartans (fevers occurring
every 3 or 4 days, possibly malaria)" (14).
Theophrastus recommends H. lanuginosum, a Greek species, for external application, while Pliny
says it should be taken in wine against poisonous reptiles. H. coris, another Greek species, was
mentioned by Hippocrates and Pliny (15). Although many older authors attest that the ancients knew of
Hypericum as Fuga daemonum and used it to drive away demons, none make reference to
any specific writers (16). Dioscorides, Pliny, and Theophrastus do not mention either this name or this use of
the plant, but herbalists from the 16th and 17th centuries commonly mention the name.
In the early humoral system of medicine, Galen considered Hypericum to be hot and dry, while
Paracelsus wrote of the plant in the early 1500's that it could be used as an amulet against enchantments and
apparitions (17). St. John's wort was used in early pre-Christian religious practices in England, and it has
many legends written about it (18). For instance, one belief was that bringing the flowers of St. John's wort
into the house on a midsummer eve would protect one from the evil eye, banish witches, etc. Another belief
was that that if one slept with a piece of the plant under one's pillow on St. John's Eve, "the Saint would
appear in a dream, give his blessing, and prevent one from dying during the following year" (17). The favor St.
John's wort enjoyed is well expressed in the following poem (19):
St. John's wort doth charm all the witches away.
If gathered at midnight on the saint's holy day.
And devils and witches have no power to harm
Those that do gather the plant for a charm:
Rub the lintels and post with that red juicy flower
No thunder nor tempest will then have the power
To hurt or to hinder your houses: and bind
Round your neck a charm of a similar kind.
Several noted English herbalists, reflecting the general beliefs of their time, wrote very favorably of the
virtues of St. John's wort. For instance, Gerard (ca. 1600) tells of the ointment he made of the plant as being
a "most precious remedy for deepe wounds", and adds that "there is not a better natural balsam....to cure any
such wound" (20).
Culpeper (ca. 1650), who was fond of ascribing astrological signs to medicinal herbs, says that
Hypericum "is under the celestial sign Leo, and the dominion of the Sun." He goes on to say that "it
is a singular wound herb, healing inward hurts or bruises," and that as an ointment "it opens obstructions,
dissolves swelling and closes up the lips of wounds." Also, he claims it is good for those who "are bitten or
stung by any venomous creature, and for those that cannot make water"--which use modern science
confirms--and adds that the plant helps with "sciatica, the falling sickness and the palsy" (21).
Other early uses of Hypericum include as an oil (made by macerating the flowering tops of the plant
in oil and then placing them in the sun for two or three weeks), which was "esteemed as one of the most
popular and curative applications in Europe for excoriations, wounds, and bruises" (22). This preparation was
even used by the surgeons to clean foul wounds, and was official in the first London Pharmacopeia as
Oleum Hyperici (23).
Other popular folk-uses for St. John's wort have included: as a decoction for gravel and ulcerations of the
ureter (24); for ulcerations of the kidneys, febrifuge, vermifuge, jaundice, gout, and rheumatism (25); as an
infusion (1 ounce of herb to 1 pint water) for chronic catarrhs of the lungs, bowels, or urinary passages; and
as a warm lotion on injuries to the spinal cord, for lacerated or injured nerves, bed sores, and lock-jaw (26).
The native American Indians used several indigenous species of Hypericum as an abortifacient,
antidiarrheal, dermatological aid, febrifuge, hemostat, snake bite remedy, and general strengthener. After St.
John's wort was introduced by European settlers, they used it as well for similar conditions (27,28).
As for the young United States, St. John's wort was not well-known and was rarely mentioned by prominent
writers on the subject of medicinal plants. One of the first references to the plant is from Griffith (1847),
who says it can be used as an oil or ointment for ulcers, tumors, and as a diuretic (29). Even the Eclectics,
medical doctors from the late 1800's and early 1900's who favored herbs in their practice, did not use St.
John's wort much.
Nonetheless, King, in his Dispensatory (1876), mentions its use in urinary affections, diarrhea,
worms, jaundice, menorrhagia, hysteria, nervous imbalances with depression, and its usual external
applications, including the use of the saturated tincture as a substitute for arnica, in bruises (30). In the later
Felter-Lloyd revision of King's Dispensatory, tincture of St. John's wort, in a dose of 10-30 drops
mixed with 4 ounces of water, taken in teaspoonful doses every 1-2 hours, is prescribed for spinal irritation,
shocks, concussions, puncture wounds, and hysteria (31).
Today, modern American herbalists still use St. John's wort for many of the same conditions for which it has
been recommended throughout the ages (32,33).
The genus Hypericum has an exceedingly complex and diverse chemical makeup. H.
perforatum has been most intensively studied, but there is data available on 66 other species (34). The
compounds that have been identified from H. perforatum can be divided into several classes, which
are summarized along with their pharmacological activity in Table 1.


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Jays Face Key Matchup Tuesday Night
Northern Iowa Comes Into Game With Higher RPI
Tuesday night's Creighton men's basketball game is a big one for head coach Greg McDermott. The Jays host Northern Iowa, where McDermott went to school and got his first college coaching job.
While the matchup will always be special for Creighton's head man, McDermott said this year is more important.
The Bluejays and Northern Iowa are both top-rated teams in the Missouri Valley Conference in terms of RPI, with the Panthers a bit higher than the Jays at No. 22.
Creighton, though, is the matchup's only top-25 team and McDermott said the return of the students to campus could make a difference in a tight game.
"We're excited to have our students back," said McDermott. "A lot has gone on since they left, so I'm sure they are anxious to get back to the flow of it. They're very important to our success and I think there will be a buzz in the building that we haven't had in a while."
Tipoff is 8 p.m. at the Century Link Center.


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Posted today:
posted HEREA vulnerability in Snort has been reported, which potentially can be exploited by malicious people to bypass certain security restrictions.
The vulnerability is caused due to an error in the frag3 preprocessor which causes snort to skip "ip_option_length" bytes from the end of the IP options when reassembling a packet. This can potentially be exploited to bypass signature detection via certain specially-crafted fragmented packets.
The vulnerability has been reported in version 2.4.3. Other versions may also be affected.


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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Mississippi River traffic in southeastern Louisiana was shut down Sunday while the Coast Guard led a search for a sunken tugboat believed to have gone down in the middle of the river.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Carlos Vega said 28 southbound and 22 northbound vessels were anchored and waiting for the re-opening of the river; and numerous others not yet in the area would likely be affected. One cruise ship bound for New Orleans was diverted to Mobile, Ala., and contingency plans were being made to do the same for another cruise liner that had been set to reach the city Sunday night.
The Coast Guard closed the river Saturday at 1 p.m. after the sinking of the 48-foot tug C-Pec was reported near the town of Venice. Officials don't know why the tug sank or exactly where but Vega said it was believed to have gone down in the middle of the river. Traffic in both directions was shut down from the mouth of the river to near mile marker 10. It was to remain closed until authorities could locate the tug and determine whether it was a navigation hazard.
"Two people from the sunken tug were reported to enter the river and were rescued by a good Samaritan and transferred to the Coast Guard response boat and taken back to Station Venice," the Coast Guard said in a news release. The names and condition of those rescued were not available.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local authorities were helping with the search, which included the use of sonar.
Ownership of the downed tug was unclear. The Coast Guard said it was working to find and contact the owner. Online records indicate the vessel was owned by a limited liability corporation with a Belle Chasse, La., address, but the corporation was listed as inactive on the Louisiana Secretary of State website.
Carnival Cruise Lines diverted its ship the Conquest from New Orleans to Mobile on Sunday afternoon and passengers were to be driven to New Orleans.
The Conquest's next trip to the Bahamas has been shortened to a six-day voyage, scheduled to depart Mobile on Monday evening, Carnival said in a news release. Guests scheduled to sail on the shortened trip are being offered a one-day pro-rated refund, or a full refund if they decide to cancel their trip.
The company was making contingency plans in case another ship, the Elation, was unable to reach New Orleans on Sunday night because of the river closure, Carnival spokeswoman Joyce Oliva said in an email.


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Juicy Hamburgers, Potato Salad, & Sangria: 15 Recipes for Summer Cookouts
Happy 4th of July! Are you lazing about today? Headed for the grills in the park later? Or perhaps you are waiting for the weekend and you're still plotting your big cookout menu. Well, we have a few suggestions. Suggestions like this 3-ingredient Hurricane, a cold and fruity classic cocktail you can mix up in a big pitcher. Or a pasta salad with tomatoes and basil, and the juiciest burgers ever. Read on for these and more: our own favorite cookout recipes.
• 1 How to Grill Really Juicy Burgers - A recipe and more: Tips and step-by-step photos showing how to get the juiciest burger possible off a home grill.
• 2 Pepper Weenies with Smoked Bacon & Vidalia Onion Marmalade - If you eat just one hot dog this year, make it this one.
• 3 How to Cook Great Ribs in the Oven - For when you don't have a grill, or can't cook outside. These oven ribs are phenomenal.
• 4 Wild Rice Burgers - These veggie burgers are best cooked on the stovetop, but finish them carefully on the grill for a bit of smoky char.
• 5 Tomato & Mozzarella Potato Salad with Lemon-Buttermilk Dressing - A simple yet totally flavorful salad for summer picnics.
• 6 Roasted Garlic, Olive and Tomato Pasta Salad - A creamy pasta salad with fresh summer tomato and lots of sweet roasted garlic.
• 7 Italian Macaroni Salad - Classic summer salad.
• 8 Sweet and Savory Wild Rice Salad - There's a lot going on this sweet and savory, zesty rice salad.
• 9 Mixed Berry Fool - Simple, cool, and fruity.
• 10 Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Pie - Extra easy pie, especially if you substitute storebought ice cream or frozen yogurt for the homemade.
• 11 Malted Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Squares - An easy no-bake recipe.
• 12 Lemon Cream & Coconut Icebox Cupcakes - The texture and flavor of a cupcake, with no heat and no cooking required at all!
• 13 Non-Alcoholic Sangria - Sangria the whole family can enjoy.
• 14 The Original Hurricane - Simple and fruity, this three-ingredient Mardi Gras cocktail is easy to turn into a big batch for a crowd!
• 15 Chilean Pisco Star-Spangled Punch - Another great recipe for a crowd, and it's spangled with fruity stars.
Happy 4th of July!
Related: No Fire? No BBQ? Fire-Free Picnic Ideas for the 4th of July
(Images: See linked recipes for full image credits)


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AFTER-SALES SERVICE: No Hassle 100 Percent Money Back Guarantee.This is a Satchel You'll Be Using for Years.Please Contact Us.
Top-Handle Bags


text:
With my writer's hat on: please forgive my impudence as someone who can barely order a meal in French, but you might want to get a native English speaker to edit your English copy.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=74322\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
How about replacing that American flag? It's the English language - they just got lucky.John [a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=74828\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Perhaps I will remove all flags in a new version, so everybody will be happy [a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=74868\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
You could, of course, keep both sides happy by including both flags. The text for each would be the same, with the following small exceptions. For the English-language version, every "o" should be followed by a "u", so you have words like "colour", "phoutougraphy", etc., that don't occur in the American-language. And for the American version, you should change every "ou" to "o", so that you get "color", "Photography", "shold" and "wold", and "Luminos Landscape". [a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=74885\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
I was curious to know what software you used to create your web pages?[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=74826\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


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No hope in the Bay today?
Post general kiteboarding discussion topics here!
Moderator: BayAreaKite
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No hope in the Bay today?
I guess Waddell is the only place blowing today? I could go but only to watch, waited till now to see if any spots come up but doesn't look like happening? I see a little bit of fog above mountains but I am only seeing hopes there... any accurate forecast.
Well... I was at Waddell when I realized. I saw Dave and LMG kiting. When I was watching, I talked to some local people and they were extremely nice, surprisingly. I've read a lot of posting about localism but I didn't feel that way today. I've almost gone out but my consious said no. But by talking to people long enough made me so comfortable kiting next time. I was soooooo happy to even watch today! I would love to go there and kite next time.
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Automatic doors at a local store not only momentarily halted a shoplifter's getaway Friday, but caused the thief to leave incriminating evidence behind.
Ardmore Police Department reports indicate officers responded to Walmart about 10:50 a.m. Loss/prevention employees reported spotting a man who had concealed a candy bar and a soda in his clothing before attempting to leave the store without paying for the refreshments. The shoplifter was confronted and he fled — sprinting at full speed toward the automatic doors.
He might have made a clean getaway, except for one small problem. He was faster than the opening mechanism on the doors.
Instead of a clear path to freedom, the shoplifter crashed into the slower-moving doors. Although he still managed to flee the scene, the tangle with the doors caused him to drop his wallet and his sunglasses.
Not only was the entire bungled escape captured on a store security video camera, but the man's wallet contained identification listing not just his name, but his address. An officer called his residence and left a "We know who you are; we know what you did. Turn yourself in" message.
Later in the day, the shoplifter followed the officer's instructions. He arrived at police headquarters where his was issued a citation and a court date.


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According to a reporter at the Huffington Post, as reported by Politico, Mitt Romney's campaign manager says that a Romney presidency might resemble the tenure of James K. Polk. What does Team Romney find appealing about our 11th President?
Polk, who served from 1845 to 1849, presided over the expansion of the U.S. into a coast-to-coast nation, annexing Texas and winning the Mexican-American war for territories that also included New Mexico and California. He reduced trade barriers and strengthened the Treasury system. And he was a one-term president. Polk is an allegory for Rhoades [the Romney campaign director]: He did great things, and then exited the scene, and few remember him. That, Rhoades suggested, could be Romney's legacy as well.
The notion is that, like Polk, Romney will focus on a few big projects — most notably entitlement reform — and if this makes him a one-term Presidnt, so be it.
Actually, Polk's presidency is quite well remembered compared to nearly all others from the 19th century. In a way, he's like a baseball player, say Joe Rudi, who is so frequently described as underrated that he becomes somewhat overrated. But that's a potential subject for another post.
For now, I'll note that Polk didn't decide to serve just one term as a matter or principle or to free himself up to tackle difficult challenges in the face of public opposition. Indeed, Polk's position on expansion was very much in harmony with the prevailing popular mood of the day — one that older, more prominent presidential hopefuls like Henry Clay and Martin Van Buren failed to read. And Polk's positions on tariffs and finances were standard Democratic Party fare.
As I understand it, Polk declared at the time of his nomination that he would serve just one term for reasons of political expediency. His nomination had been a compromise between, to oversimplify, the Northern and Southern wings of the Democratic Party, whose delegates had been unable to nominate either Van Buren (champion of the Northern wing) or Lewis Cass (mildly favored by the Southern wing). Polk was a southerner (from Tennessee), but as a protege of Andrew Jackson, he had decent relations with Van Buren (another Jackson protege) and his key northern supporters.
As the Democratic nominee, Polk knew that he faced huge difficulties in holding his fractured Party together during the campaign, particularly given the presidential ambitions of leading Democrats like Van Buren, Cass, John Calhoun, Thomas Hart Benton, and James Buchanan. To maximize his prospects of obtaining strong support from these key figures in 1844, Polk decided to announce when he accepted the nomination that he would not be a candidate for President in 1848; in other words, he would not stand in their way.
This gambit worked, although Polk had to make plenty of additional promises (not all of them kept) before he gained the reasonably enthusiastic support of the key players in his Party.
Will Romney follow in Polk's footsteps? I don't expect him to declare this year that he will only serve one term. And enacting Paul Ryan's controversial budget and entitlement reforms may prove more difficult than anything Polk accomplished during his arduous presidency.


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Music and Memory
Music and Memory
Piano Sonatas of Viktor Ullmann
Thursday, April 19, 2012 - 7:00 pm
A number of prominent composers had their lives cut short by the Nazis. Among them was Viktor Ullmann, a distinguished Czech composer, conductor, and pianist of Jewish heritage whose work has rarely been performed since his death. In commemoration of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), pianist and award-winning music professor Jeanne Golan performed and discussed a selection of Ullmann's piano sonatas, including some written while he was imprisoned at Theresienstadt.
Golan recently spent her sabbatical year recording and performing Ullmann's music. Her efforts to reintroduce his work is testimony to his talent and provides a beautiful way for us to commemorate his life.
Viktor Ullmann (1898-1944) was a leading composer of his generation. Stirred by Goethe's maxim, "live within the moment, live in eternity," his music is autobiographical, accessible, and pays homage to the past by quoting music from Mozart to Yiddish folksong, from operetta to Bach. In September 1942, Ullmann was deported by the Nazis to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, where he continued to compose. In October 1944, he was transported to Auschwitz and murdered in the gas chambers.
Jeanne Golan is a pianist and award-winning professor of music who has performed extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe. She recently recorded the complete piano sonatas of Viktor Ullmann, pieces that span from his days as a prominent musical figure in Prague to his internment at Theresienstadt.
Related AudioJeanne Golan - Minuet/Totentanz (Ullmann)
This program was made possible with support from the Bernard and Rochelle Zell Center for Holocaust Studies at Spertus.


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on February 13 to consider the nomination of Jacob "Jack" Lew for Treasury secretary, the committee said on Wednesday.
Committee chairman Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, will question Lew "about his experience, his views on fiscal policy and ideas for spurring economic growth" at the 10 a.m. hearing, the committee said.
"We have a tremendous amount of work to do over the next couple months to get our fiscal house in order. It is my hope that — after a thorough vetting process - Jack Lew will be quickly confirmed so he can help tackle our country's pressing economic issues," Baucus said in the committee statement.
Lew was recently Obama's chief of staff and a former White House budget director.
(Reporting by Rachelle Younglai; Editing by Jackie Frank)


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UNDATED (KAIT) – Rising water is causing problems throughout southern Missouri and northeast Arkansas, and potential for major flooding lurks along several area rivers.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon sent the Missouri National Guard in to help in the area affected by flooding and threats to levees in southeast Missouri. Guard units will help emergency responders near Poplar Bluff.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued by the city of Polar Bluff late Monday morning in the area south of the Black River and east of WW Hwy ("Ditch Road"). According to the Incident Command Center at the Poplar Bluff Police Department, water is currently spilling over the top of the levee on the west side of Black River south of Poplar Bluff, and more evacuations have been issued for residents in Butler County living south of Poplar Bluff, north of HH Highway and between Hwy 142 and Black River. A shelter is established at the Black River Coliseum for those with no where to go.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Poplar Bluff has received 4 to 8 inches of rain since the middle of last week, and the current forecast calls an additional 5 to 9 inches between Monday and Wednesday. The Missouri Department of Transportation says parts of Highway 53, Highway 1-42, and 158 are closed in addition to many Butler County roads and the Poplar Bluff area.
In Hardy, AR, Police Chief Ernie Rose said The Spring River at Hardy has also passed flood stage and said residents were evacuated beginning at 4 a.m. Sunday when the river was at 11 feet, and everyone was able to leave their homes safely. Chief Rose did say some power line and trees were down in the area.
In addition, Hardy Mayor Nina Thornton says the flood warning system performed as expected and notified city officials of dangerous water levels. She says the river is currently at 13.8 feet at the bridge with debris coming down river. City Hall evacuated mid-Monday; all files and furniture were moved out during the evacuation.
The Randolph County Sheriff's Department says The Eleven Point River at Ravenden Springs is currently at 20 feet, almost 5 feet above flood stage. The department also says several roads are closed including multiple gravel roads, Highway 90 at Eleven Point, Highway 328 and Highway 166.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE), Norfork Lake was at 562.8 feet Monday morning and rising, with 34 percent of flood storage capacity in use. ACE says the lake can handle up to 5 more inches of runoff. Nearby Bull Shoals Lake was at 664.2 feet Monday Morning and rising with 21 percent of the lake storage capacity in use; Bull Shoals will be able to handle 5.8 inches of runoff. Greers Ferry Lake near Heber Springs was at 462.8 feet and rising with 5 percent of the storage capacity in use, and is able to hold 14.4 more inches.
NWS says a flash flood watch remained in effect for portions of east Arkansas from Monday evening through Wednesday evening for Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Lee, Mississippi, Poinsett, and St. Francis.
Many area schools closed early due to the rising waters.
A map of real-time stream flow monitoring sites and graphs of flooding in Arkansas from the past 7 days are available at the USGS website.
If you see water over the road, please do not attempt to drive through it. Turn around and find an alternate route. Before going out, check to see what roads are closed to plan your trip.


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District 186 wants to limit 'Public School Choice'
Seeks wavier from federal rules on high-poverty schools
With four themed magnet schools and one charter school drawing students from across the city regardless of attendance boundaries, School District 186 prides itself on offering "choice" to Springfield families who want to put their children in unique educational settings. [See "Choice schools," April 7, 2011]. But besides the popular magnet schools Superintendent Dr. Walter Milton is so keen on expanding, District 186 is required by federal law to offer a different kind of school choice, "Public School Choice," to any student at a high-poverty school that has underperformed for at least two straight years.
District 186 has followed that requirement in the past, but this year is looking for a way out. Instead of offering Public School Choice to every student at each failing school, the district is hoping to offer the option only to three students at each failing school. Rather than offer Public School Choice to more than 4,000 schoolchildren, as it did last year, the district would offer it to about 40 students. The waiver request is currently in draft form as the district waits for feedback from the Illinois State Board of Education, but a final waiver application is due by July 30.
"We're required by law to offer it to every kid in the school, but we're getting to the point where we have no choice," says Larry McVey, the district's coordinator of Title I programs. Under the federal No Child Left Behind initiative, Title I schools – those with high poverty rates, generally 75 percent or higher – receive additional federal dollars but are also subject to more rules. One of those rules is that districts must offer students the option of transferring to a better performing school if their own school fails to make Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) for two years in a row. McVey says that as No Child Left Behind standards rise, more and more schools fail to meet them, leaving the district with fewer and fewer schools to which students from failing schools can move.
Though it has the option to move Public School Choice students to any school in the district, District 186 only moves them to other Title I schools. Asked why kids from poverty schools can only go to other poverty schools, McVey responded that a non-Title I school wouldn't have all of the same supports, such as parent educators, who check in with families, ensuring they make it to parent-teacher conferences and sometimes connecting them to such services as clothing or food banks.
This year, 18 of more than 30 district schools are Title I schools and 13 of them had to offer Public School Choice. That's up from seven the year before and two in the 2008-2009 school year. Though two more schools will become Title I schools next year, for a total of 20, it's likely that even more Title I schools won't have made AYP for a second year in a row and will have to offer Public School Choice.
Whether or not the district is permitted to offer Public School Choice to only some of the students at each failing school, as usual Springfield will not have to allow moves for all applicants. In the past, District 186 has denied moves for anywhere from 73 to 90 percent of applicants.
ISBE does not oversee how districts decide who moves, and McVey says federal guidelines are murky at best. He says that individual schools in District 186 often rank students according to low-income and academic performance and then he calls parents to ensure they're applying for a transfer for the right reasons.
"The perception of school choice is that 'I don't like my janitor, so this is my ticket out.' In actuality, it's not that at all," McVey says. "It's a federal mandate that says, 'Look, if you're at a low performing school and your child is low income and low performing, then you may have the option or opportunity to transfer to another school that would be performing better than you.'"
In the 2008-2009 school year, only two Springfield schools offered Public School Choice to a total of 800 students. Thirty-one applied for a transfer and three were actually moved. The next year, seven schools had to offer Public School Choice to 2,173 students. Ninety-nine of those students applied for a transfer and the district allowed 26 of them to change schools. For the current school year, the district offered Public School Choice to 4,108 students at 13 different schools. One hundred and twenty-eight students applied for a transfer and 29 moved to a different school.
Since 2008, most schools have only transferred between zero and four students each year, but two schools have transferred many more students at a time. Graham Elementary School moved 15 students this year, and Washington Middle School moved 20 students the year before.
Contact Rachel Wells at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are edging higher as another big week for company earnings begins.
Halliburton rose after the oil exploration company said it was profitable in the first-quarter after reporting a loss in the same period a year ago. Athenahealth, a provider of online services to the health care industry, slumped after its earnings fell short of Wall Street's expectations.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose three points, or less 0.2 percent, to 1,868 in the first few minutes of trading Monday. Last week the index logged its best performance since July after the first major week of earnings.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 35 points, or 0.2 percent, to 16,443.
Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.70 percent from 2.73 percent on Thursday.


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Complimentary transportation throughout Walt Disney World Resort—including transportation to and from Disney Theme Parks and Disney Water Parks—is available to Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels.
Avoid the hassle of driving and parking, and save time and money with complimentary transportation throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
Take in the sights from an air-conditioned bus, soar high in the sky aboard our world-famous Monorail, or embark on a relaxing boat ride—and take advantage of door-to-door service that delivers you from your Resort hotel to all Theme Park gates and throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
Complimentary transportation is available from 45 minutes prior to Disney Theme Park opening time up to one hour after Disney Theme Park closing time. Additionally, buses operate until 2:00 a.m. from the Disney Springs Area. Certain areas of Walt Disney World Resort are also connected by well-lit, paved, low-grade walking paths.
|Transportation Between Walt Disney World Destinations
Most areas throughout Walt Disney World Resort, including Disney Theme Parks, Disney Water Parks, Resort hotels and the Disney Springs Area, are accessible by bus. Some bus routes may require transfer from one bus to another.
Magic Kingdom theme park is accessible by water launch (also known as water taxi) from:
• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
• Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Ferryboats connect Magic Kingdom theme park to the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Epcot Theme Park and Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park are accessible by boat from:
• Disney's Boardwalk Inn and Villas Resort
• Disney's Beach Club Resort
• Disney's Yacht Club Resort
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
Disney Springs Area is accessible by ferryboat from:
• Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter
• Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
• Disney's Old Key West Resort
• Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
Originally conceived as a public transport for the future, the Walt Disney World Monorail System has three separate beams that travel throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
The first makes the following stops:
• Magic Kingdom theme park
• Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
•Transportation and Ticket Center
Additionally, there are express round-trip services to Epcot theme park and Magic Kingdom theme park that originate from the Transportation and Ticket Center.
How It Works
Benefits of Staying at Select Walt Disney World Hotels


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Shadow puppets
Make your puppets and stage your own shadow puppet theatre!
Choose your puppet
Choose from:
- Rama, the king (pdf)- the hero
- Sinta, the princess (pdf) - the beautiful princess
- Rahwana (pdf) - the demon king
- Hanoman, the monkey (pdf)- the warrior monkey
Learn more about the characters.
About shadow puppets
Shadow puppets come from Java, an island in Indonesia, which is famous for its shadow puppet theatre. Performances, shown after dark to enhance the shadows, have taken place for over a thousand years and can still be seen today. They would tell stories, including the great Hindu epic of Ramayana. Read a short version of the Ramayana story.(pdf)


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Chatham, MA97 Tilipi Run
Est. Mortgage: $/month
MLS Number 21306159
- Single Family
- Village Chatham
- Year Built 2010
- Bathroom 10
- Full Bathrooms 6
Boasting one of the most spectacular properties on the Cape Cod shoreline, this shingle-clad home is poised on 1.9 acres and majestically resides over the Atlantic Ocean, Monomoy Islands and Nantucket Sound. With 10,974 square feet of living space spanning three levels, the six bedroom estate has simply breathtaking views, manicured grounds and a glorious stone pool pavilion. The enchanting home is designed with a circular motif and gleams of pure elegance and includes multiple family gathering rooms, a banquet size dining room, chef's kitchen, 11 seat theater, an opulent wine cave and a circular one bedroom carriage house for guests or staff. A Creston smart home system controls security, electronic gate, lighting, audio, and driveway and pool heat with a touch of a button. idyllic property is incomparable on Cape Cod.
Listed by Chris Rhinesmith of Pine Acres Realty
Virtual TourSave FavoriteSchedule A VisitAsk A QuestionMore Details


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With rows of skyscrapers lining the Sheikh Zayed road, multiple mega malls and many multi-million pound offshore developments, Dubai may look like a temple to the petrodollar but, as anyone who spends more than a few days here will tell you, theres far more to the city than that. Dubai has an old quarter too, most of it clustered around Al Satwa, Deira and Port Rashid, which teems with life and is home to the citys oldest building - a 17th century British fort. It is here that youll get a taste of real Arabia in the shape of the abra boats that ply the creek and the bustling spice and gold ... Know more about Dubai
Ezeego1, is your online travel agent that offers you a one stop travel shop for cheap flight bookings, online hotel reservations, holidays & package tours, car rentals, bus tickets, cruises & more. We help you find cheapest air ticket bookings on all Indian & International Airline flight deals. We scan fares on both full service airlines such as Jet Airways, Air India and low cost carriers such as SpiceJet, Go Air, IndiGo and Jet Konnect to find you the lowest air fare on flight tickets. The Ezeego1 Travel Bazaar also features luxury vacations & budget tour packages including tour packages for India & holiday packages abroad. One can also avail of discount indian hotels, cheap international hotels & the most suited holiday packages with Ezeego1. For help with your bookings, call us on 1800 209 0800 or talk to us on Facebook & Twitter.


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On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, congressional leaders announced that they will award the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to the four African-American girls who were killed in the 1963 racially-motivated bombing of a Birmimgham, Ala., church.
The Sept. 10 ceremony inside the Capitol Building's National Statuary Hall will honor Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley. They were killed when a bomb ripped through Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church just 18 days after the March on Washington.
The bombing quickly became a watershed moment in the civil rights struggle, though justice didn't come as swiftly to those who committed the attack. With a lack of evidence and witnesses unwilling to talk, charges weren't filed during the 1960s against the men who law enforcement officials suspected of carrying out the attack.
In 1977, Robert Chambliss, a retired mechanic and former Ku Klux Klan member, was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the bombing and sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 1985. In 2001, Thomas Blanton was convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to four life terms. A year later, Bobby Frank Cherry was found guilty of first-degree murder and given four life terms in prison. He died behind bars in 2004.
The Congressional Gold Medal is Congress's highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. Past recipients include George Wasahington, the Wright brothers, inventor Thomas Edison, boxer Joe Louis, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, cartoonist Charles Schulz, and Pope John Paul II.


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Opportunities in Science at Lewis & Clark
2013 Project Descriptions for Rogers and CRT Programs
February 12, 2013
Each project indicates which program it is eligible for. There are three possibilities:
- Rogers only: most of the projects.
- CRT only: All OHSU projects (end of this list).
- CRT and Rogers: some projects are eligible for both programs.
Prerequisites must be completed by the end of spring semester 2013.
Paulette Bierzychudek & Peter Kennedy
Investigating Forest Recovery in River View Natural Area After Removal of Invasive Plant Species
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
How do forests recover after invasive species removal? We propose to continue a long-term monitoring study in the River View Natural Area, begun in summer 2012, to examine ecological changes following the removal of invasive ivy, laurel, and holly. Students will survey plant species composition and abundance within two areas: a) where ivy and other invasive non-native plants were treated with herbicide and/or manually removed by the City of Portland, and b) in control areas where no removal efforts have taken place. These data will be used to better understand the effects of species invasions and of invasive removal.
Note: This internship is 5 weeks long and will occur in the first half of the summer.
Prerequisites: Students should have taken Bio 141. Bio 335 (Ecology) and/or Bio 223 (Plant Biology) are desirable but not required. Students will be expected to develop accurate plant identification skills. Experience with GIS is desirable.
Greta J. Binford
The creation of a biodiversity hotspot: comparative biogeography of Caribbean arachnids
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
The Caribbean is a global biodiversity hotspot, yet historical influences on high levels of endemism in the region are not well understood. An international group of arachnologists is undergoing a large-scale inventory of arachnids in the Caribbean. We are collecting multiple lineages and comparing their biogeographic histories to uncover shared patterns of divergence in space and time. We will infer relative influences of geographic isolation and dispersal on patterns of colonization and divergence. This summer students will work at the University of Vermont. They will analyze arachnids collected in the Lesser Antilles, and participate in a collecting expedition to Florida.
Prerequisites: Bio 151 required; Bio 200 and Bio 390 helpful but not required.
Greg J. Hermann
Constructing cellular compartments during embryonic development
This project is eligible for CRT and Rogers applicants.
Lysosome related organelles are membrane bound compartments that carry out specialized functions within particular cells of an organism. While much is known regarding the biochemical activities of these organelles (for example pigment formation in melanosomes), the processes involved in their assembly remain poorly understood. An understanding of these processes is important since defects in the formation of these compartments underlie a number of human genetic diseases. We are discovering and analyzing the function of genes controlling the assembly of lysosome related organelles in the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Our studies are focused on the initial formation of these compartments, which occurs during embryonic development.
Prerequisites: BIO151 or AP equivalent (BIO 200 or BIO 311/312 or BIO 361 suggested but not required)
Deborah E. Lycan
Ribosome biogenesis and export
This project is eligible for CRT and Rogers applicants.
The long-term goal of this project is to understand how cells make ribosomes. Ribosome biogenesis is critical for cancer cells as they ramp up their metabolic rate and their rate of cell division. Understanding how eukaryotic cells assemble and export ribosomes will provide new therapeutic targets for the specific inhibition of cancer cell growth without affecting normal cells. Ribosomes are among the largest and most complex ribonuclear-protein machines assembled in eukaryotes, and their export, from the nucleus where they are assembled, to the cytoplasm where they function, presents some unusual challenges for cells. First, ribosomes are huge compared to the dimensions of the nuclear pore. Second, export must be coupled to proper assembly to prevent the premature export of incomplete subunits. Recently, significant progress has been made towards identifying the export receptors for the large (60S) ribosomal subunit, but the factor(s) necessary to export the small (40S) subunit remain largely undefined. In my lab we use a combination of genetics, biochemistry and microscopy to understand the role of specific genes in this evolutionarily conserved process.
Prerequisites: Students should have completed Biology 200. Students who have taken either Cell or Molecular biology will find this background useful.
Tamily Weissman-Unni
Mapping neuronal circuitry using Brainbow zebrafish
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
Brain function relies upon the precise organization of neural circuits. Relatively little is known about how complex neural circuits form in the nervous system. Our lab uses a new multicolor fluorescence labeling approach ("Brainbow") to label neuronal populations in many different colors within the living, developing zebrafish brain. Students will use embryonic microinjection techniques, express fluorescent proteins in zebrafish larvae, and use fluorescence microscopy to visualize neurons and their connections in vivo. Students will also use 3-D digital reconstruction methods to analyze their data. Our investigations will focus on the mechanisms that underlie neural circuit development and function.
Prerequisites: Bio 151 or equivalent; Neuroscience background and/or interest. (Additional background in cellular or molecular biology is ideal but not essential.)
Anne K. Bentley
Controlled Growth of Metal /Metal Oxide Thin Film Composite Electrodes for Energy Storage and Generation
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
Transition metal oxide thin films are a promising class of materials for use in generating energy from solar sources and storing energy for later use. This project will explore routes to improve thin film electrochemical behavior by the incorporation of metallic and ceramic nanoparticles. Students will gain experience in nanoparticle synthesis, exchanging surface capping agents, and electrodeposition (applying an electrical potential to form a material on an electrode). The use of surfactant molecules to control the shapes formed by deposits will be explored. Characterization tools will include dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurements, fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, powder X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy.
Prerequisites: Chem 110/120 required
James A. Duncan, Professor of Chemistry
Fundamental Mechanistic Investigations of (Pseudo)pericyclic and (Pseudo)coarctate Reactions via CASSCF, CASPT2, and DFT Computational Studies
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
Several related fundamental mechanistic studies, involving primarily CASSCF and CASPT2 computational methods, will be carried out simultaneously, with attentive comparison of results. They will build on an original technique we have recently used to differentiate between pericyclic and pseudopericyclic reaction mechanisms. It will do so through the study of additional examples of such reactions whose mechanisms are still controversial, as well as used to differentiate between so-called coactate (meaning constricted) and pseudocoarctate mechanisms. In addition, certain DFT calculations will be carried out for comparison purposes.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Chemistry 210 and 220 (Organic Chemistry I and II) or equivalent.
Janis E. Lochner
Synaptic Secretion of Neuromodulatory Proteins from Dense-Core Granules
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
The regulated release of proteins from dense-core granules (DCGs) is critical to fundamental processes such as neuronal survival and synaptic transmission. Many of the underlying molecular events that drive the synaptic secretion of proteins from DCGs have not been elucidated. We propose to evaluate the relevance of a recently identified postsynaptic domain to DCG exocytosis and assess if this domain functions as a general activity-triggered plasticity module that facilitates exocytosis of secreted neuromodulatory proteins. Findings derived from these studies are relevant not only to physiological processes in the nervous system such as learning and memory but also to neuropathological processes.
Prerequisites: Prefer students who have completed Structural Biochemistry (Chem 330), Molecular Biology (Bio 311, 312) and/or some neuroscience course work.
Nikolaus Loening
Structural Studies and Functional Characterization of Neurotoxic Venom Peptides from Sicariidae Spiders
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
Spider venoms contain hundreds of components, including neurotoxic peptides and proteins. These venom components are of interest for their potential use as therapeutic drugs and as tools for neurophysiology research, as many of them specifically inhibit or activate ion channels and receptors in nerve cells. The aim of this research is to discover interesting peptides and proteins from the venom of the brown recluse spider and its relatives (the Sicariidae spiders), and then to characterize their structure and function. We will recombinantly-express spider venom peptides and study them using NMR spectroscopy and other techniques. This work will be done in collaboration with Dr. Greta Binford
• Biochemistry lab experience preferred…particularly experience with generating and working with protein samples (such as Bio 312 and Chem 336)
• Coursework in biochemistry/molecular biology preferred (such as Bio 200, Chem 330, and Bio 310)
Mathematical and Computer Science
Yung-Pin Chen
The Game of Go: Statistical Approach to Artificial Intelligence
This project is eligible only for CRT applicants.
A main goal of this project is to improve the performance of computer in playing the game Go through Monte Carlo methods. The central idea of this statistical/machine learning approach is to use a large number of random play-outs (possibly crafted with domain-specific knowledge) to quantify the quality of a move from a given board state. Through the Monte Carlo simulation, we will explore and employ various statistical computational methods and machine learning algorithms for search trees.
Prerequisites: Desired skills include programming experience (especially in Java), basic knowledge in statistics, and basic understanding of the rules of the game Go.
Peter Drake
Artificial Intelligence and the Game of Go
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
Writing computer programs to play games is an important steppingstone to solving more difficult problems. Computers now outperform humans at almost every widely-played abstract strategy game, including Backgammon, Checkers, Othello, and Chess. The classical Asian game of Goremains unconquered despite recent breakthroughs involving Monte-Carlo simulation. This project seeks to expand and refine these techniques. We are particularly interested in the human ability to divide the board into semi-independent regions, each of which can be considered separately.
Prerequisites: Students should have taken at least one (and ideally two) computer science course using the Java programming language. Students must know the rules of Go; any skill at playing the game is a bonus. Coursework in statistics is also helpful, but not required.
Jens Mache (1)
Parallel computing with higher-level languages and compelling examples
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
Computer hardware is undergoing a major shift. Two, four or six-core chips are now standard, and future processor generations are expected to increase core counts exponentially. This revolution in hardware has dramatic implications for software. Only parallel applications will benefit from increasing core counts, meaning that soon every programmer will need to learn parallel computing. This project seeks to examine higher-level tools and languages for parallel programming that to date have limited adoption. In addition to evaluating languages, the team will explore compelling example applications. This project includes studying existing systems, writing software, and experimentation with various designs and algorithms.
Prerequisites: Ideally, students took CS-277 Computer Architecture, CS-363 Operating Systems and CS-383 Algorithms.
Jens Mache (2)
Cybersecurity Competition Platform to Enhance Security Analysis Skills
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
The widespread use of electronic data processing and electronic business conducted through the Internet fuels the need for security analysis skills. Current security exercises typically lack interactive, experiential components and configuration flexibility. This project seeks to develop a series of configurable cybersecurity scenarios, the infrastructure necessary for running them, and concise documentation that explains security implications. Scenarios may include social networks, firewalls, buffer overflows, capture the flag, recover the network and intrusion detection.
Prerequisites: Ideally, students took CS-495 Security, CS-277 Computer Architecture and CS-363 Operating Systems.
Liz Stanhope
Computational models of hair bundles in the inner ear
This project is eligible for CRT and Rogers applicants.
How do our ears turn vibrations in the air into signals to our brain's hearing centers? One small part of this complex process is the hair bundle on cells in the inner ear. By reading existing literature we will learn about current mathematical models of these hair bundles. We will implement one of these models computationally using Matlab. With insights gained from this process we will ask if the methods of differential geometry might offer ways to improve existing models.
Prerequisites: Motivation and willingness to learn new things are the primary prerequisites. In addition:
- One student with interest in teaching, cell biology and/or biophysics
- One student with interest in teaching, and skills in computer programming. Matlab experience a plus.
Shannon O'Leary (1)
Using Laser Noise to Build a Magnetometer
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
Advancement in magnetometry will have profound impacts in diverse array of scientific fields and medical applications. This experimental quantum optics project investigates an interaction between light and matter that is highly sensitive to magnetic fields, specifically laser noise derived from quantum interference in an atomic vapor. The quantum interference process we use is Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT), which causes an otherwise opaque material to become transparent over a small color range. Because of its sensitivity to magnetic field, laser noise from EIT is an ideal mechanism on which to base a new class of compact and simple atomic magnetometers.
Prerequisites: PHYS 152
Shannon O'Leary (2)
Using Holographic Optical Tweezers to Study Microbubble Dynamics
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
Medical researchers are interested in developing a drug delivery system that uses directed ultrasound to rupture drug-filled microbubbles that have been injected into a patient's bloodstream. Toward that end, this project seeks to study how microbubbles confined within a capillary respond to ultrasound. We will begin by designing and building an optical trap using holographic tweezers to hold microbubbles in place within a capillary. This research will be done in collaboration with Professor Azzdine Ammi's group at OHSU, where the microbubbles are subjected to ultrasound and their dynamics are observed using one of the highest-speed video cameras in the world.
Prerequisites: None
Bethe A. Scalettar
Super-resolution microscopy studies of mechanisms underlying delivery of dense-core granules to synapses in hippocampal neurons
This project is eligible only for Rogers applicants.
Dense-core granules (DCGs) are organelles found in many types of neurons. In neurons of the hippocampus, DCGs house proteins that play a role in learning and that have implicated in Alzheimer's disease. In light of this, DCGs in hippocampal neurons are the subject of widespread interest.
My current research is directed at using cutting-edge, super-resolution microscopy techniques to elucidate mechanisms mediating the delivery of DCGs to sites of learning in hippocampal neurons. The goal is to obtain results that provide fundamental insight into physiological processes that underlie learning as well as insight into pathological processes that may underlie Alzheimer's disease.
Prerequisites: Preference will be given to students who are familiar with molecular biology and microscopy/imaging.
Erik Nilsen
Serious Games for Scaffolding Creative Problem Solving and Motivating Healthy Behaviors
This project is eligible for CRT and Rogers applicants.
"Serious games" is a term used to describe games that engage the player, but also aim to achieve a defined purpose other than entertainment. The research this summer will involve conducting two empirical studies of serious games. The first empirical study will be a follow-up to last summer's project focusing on creative problem solving in preschoolers at OMSI using magnetic blocks. The second study will involve the development and evaluation of several technological approaches to support changing health related behaviors including social media, web-based activity tracking and various reward systems including collaboration and competition.
Prerequisites: Experience in either Behavioral Research and/or computer Programming. This can be met through coursework (Psy 300 or CS 171/172) or other experience.
Todd D. Watson
Investigations of Response Inhibition and Risky Behaviors in Young Adults and Preschool-aged Children
This project is eligible for CRT and Rogers applicants.
We will examine the relationship between cognitive control (response inhibition) and risky behaviors in two distinct populations. We will use event-related potentials (a noninvasive measure of brain function) to explore the neural correlates of response inhibition during an alcohol-cue processing task in healthy young adults with and without a history of binge drinking. In a separate study, we will explore the relationship between response inhibition, risk-taking, and externalizing behavior in preschool-aged children. In all, we hope to determine if the ability to inhibit inappropriate cognitive responses is related to lower levels of risky behaviors in the "real world".
Prerequisites: It is highly preferred (but not required) that undergraduate students have previous experience with human electrophysiology and/or experience working with young children (aged ≈ 3-5 years). There are no requirements for high school students other than enthusiasm, a strong work ethic, and interest in neuroscience and psychology.
OHSU Projects (CRT only)
Claudio V. Mello and Christopher Olson
Research in the Vocal and Auditory Learning Laboratory
This project is eligible for CRT applicants only.
The Mello Lab investigates vocal learning in songbirds, hummingbirds and parrots. These animals share with humans the ability to learn complex vocalizations, which is the basis for speech and language acquisition. Songbirds provide a unique model system to investigate the behavioral neurobiology of vocal learning and auditory perception. They possess a system of discrete brain nuclei that function in feedback loops during song learning. We use a number of molecular tools to understand the genes that are critically related to the song system and that regulate song production and perception. We make extensive use of in situ hybridization to detect and measure the expression of specific genes in the brain, and we are developing a comprehensive molecular atlas of the zebra finch brain. Specific projects will investigate the effects of ethanol on the juvenile song learning and the underlying development of the song system in the brain. Work will incorporate the use of the zebra finch genome, the second avian genome sequenced to date, which has made it possible for us to apply computational and comparative genomics to better understand brain gene regulation in the context of vocal learning. Students may also participate in efforts to apply transgenic tools to better understand development in the songbird brain.
Jacob Raber
Genetic and Environmental Impact on Learning and Memory and Anxiety
This project is eligible for CRT applicants only.
The principal research goal in the Raber laboratory is devoted to the characterization of the effects of genetic and environmental factors on learning and memory and the regulation of anxiety. This characterization is subsequently used to develop and evaluate novel treatments to improve learning and memory and reduce anxiety levels. Specific projects include the decline in learning and memory with age and following exposure to radiation. The research project(s) of the summer intern might involve detailed analyses of already acquired rough data and/or the generation of new data.
Ujwal Shinde
Design and analysis of bipartite inhibitors of proprotein convertases
This project is eligible for CRT applicants only.
Our lab's research focuses on understanding structure, function, folding and evolution of proteins, using subtilases as our model. Subtilases are synthesized as multi-domain proteins. We discovered that N-terminal propeptides are important for folding and function as inhibitors that regulate activity in an organelle specific manner. This summer we will design and analyze bipartite peptide inhibitors that can block specific proprotein convertase paralogs. Our research involves multidisciplinary approaches that cover the fields of biochemistry, biophysics, cell and computational biology. Students with a background in field chemistry, physics, biology, computer-science, or statistics are encouraged to apply.
James Tanyi
Title To Be Announced
This project is eligible for CRT applicants only.
The use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is expanding rapidly to include many treatment sites throughout the human body, including the lung, liver, spine and prostate. SBRT requires very accurate patient localization and reliable immobilization to safely deliver ablative doses of radiation. The most commonly used method of localization for SBRT patients is conebeam CT (CBCT) because it allows volumetric visualization of patient anatomy. Immobilization techniques and devices used for SBRT include the Bodyfix system with/without abdominal compression. The primary purpose of this study was to analyze the setup differences as assessed by CBCT for patients localized and immobilized in a stereotactic body frame receiving SBRT to the lung and liver. The secondary goals are to compare the localization results for our patients to published studies in which different immobilization devices and techniques have been used and to calculate the margins needed to account for residual setup error after CBCT.


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AICPA Amicus Brief Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Overrule Securities Litigation Case
March 31, 2014
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has filed an amicus brief in the case of Halliburton Company v. Erica P. John Fund, which U.S. Supreme Court watchers say is one of the most important securities litigation cases in years. At issue is a 26-year-old precedent that makes it easier for plaintiffs to bring securities fraud class action lawsuits against publicly traded companies.
During oral argument on March 5, justices appeared to look for a compromise that would give defendants earlier opportunities to defend against securities class actions without overruling entirely the so-called "Basic presumption of reliance."
In 1988, the court embraced the "fraud on the market" theory in the case of Basic Inc. v. Levinson. This assumes that public information about a company is known to the market. Plaintiffs in securities class action litigation cases do not have to show that they relied on a specific misrepresentation, only that they purchased or sold shares before the truth came out and suffered a loss.
In its January 6 amicus brief, the AICPA contends that Basic's presumption of reliance has created a shortcut to class certification in securities fraud cases that is outdated in light of the Court's more recent decisions. Furthermore, the AICPA asserts that Basic's presumption of reliance has a particularly detrimental effect on accountants – who are not part of the company but are required by the securities laws to make public statements.
"The combined effect of Basic and the federal law requirements that accounting firms provide audit reports makes accountants easy targets," the AICPA's amicus brief stated. "The accounting profession plays a critical role in facilitating disclosure by auditing many financial statements issued by public companies. Regulators demand that auditors make their statements public, and those demands are likely to increase. The broad class-action liability that the presumption of reliance perpetuates threatens the willingness and ability of accounting firms to engage in these audits."
The AICPA asks the Supreme Court to overrule Basic Inc. v. Levinson and hold that securities plaintiffs are required to prove, rather than presume, reliance. If the Court declines to overrule Basic, the AICPA asks that it allow defendants to rebut the presumption of reliance at an earlier stage of the litigation, which may save defendants significant litigation and settlement costs that are common to securities class action litigation regardless of the merits of a particular case.
A decision on the case is expected by June.


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ADDISON COUNTY — This fall's local high school girls' soccer season proved to be productive for several scorers, and the one who enjoyed the best all-around season against the toughest competition was Mount Abraham senior Evy Jacobs, the 2012 Addison Independent Girls' Soccer Player of the Year.
ADDISON COUNTY — Vergennes avenged an earlier setback to Middlebury to highlight local high school girls' soccer play on Tuesday. In other action, Mount Abe won at home, but Otter Valley could not defend its home turf.
The Commodores edged the visiting Tigers in overtime, 1-0, turning the tables on MUHS, which had defeated them in OT on the road earlier this season.
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Submit your contact info or call now to schedule!
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Providing the best massage is something Elements Massage™ prides itself on. The best massage isn't just a slogan, it's a commitment. It's a commitment to continue to uphold the service that you have rated as the industry's best. We strive to be excellent at what we do and we believe everyone should know where to go for the industry's best massage: Elements Massage™.
The Elements Promise™ is really us saying thank you for believing in us and the massage therapy we provide. The Elements Promise™ supports that our service is exactly what you say it is — the best in the industry.
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American Physical Society Sites|APS|Journals|PhysicsCentral|Physics
- American Physical Society Sites
- Publications
- Meetings & Events
- Programs
- Membership
- Policy & Advocacy
- Careers In Physics
- Newsroom
- About APS
- Become a Member
I became interested in science and physics in Junior High when I developed carpal tunnel from practicing piano. For most of a year I was restricted fro practicing and from using my hands for all other activities. During this period I found ways to fill the time that I had previously used for practicing. Mr. Pusey, my ninth grade science teacher, played a key role in providing stimulating ideas for study. He introduced me to physics books, and I became hooked. In high school, friends from my physics class and I started a science club, and I began organizing science fairs and science activities.
My interest in science and physics grew, and by the time I graduated from high school I knew I wanted to major in physics. As a physics major at the University of Utah, I do research with Professor Kai Martens and the Cosmic Ray research group. As a research assistant, I study the quantum efficiency of light detectors, and run cosmic ray detectors in the desert. I continue to organize science activities and tell people about science and physics as the secretary of the Society of Physics Students at the University of Utah. I plan to pursue a doctorate in physics and continue to do research while teaching at a university.


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Fair capitalism is best anti-poverty program
Re: "GOP can regain trust," July 25 Cal Thomas column.
Cal Thomas believes government anti-poverty programs are an abject failure, and that poverty is best addressed by charitable organizations (bless them, they do good work) and the GOP's mantra of "personal responsibility" (as if poverty is due solely to laziness and immorality). He's wrong about government's role. But what he completely ignores is the best anti-poverty program around: capitalism that benefits all workers, not just the wealthy.
Capitalism that pays its workers a living wage, that isn't anti-union, that doesn't ship jobs overseas, and that is not driven by the kind of greed and corruption that destroyed trillions in economic value would do more to reduce poverty than all charitable and government programs combined. Too bad Thomas and the GOP don't believe in capitalism with a heart.
Bruce Most, Denver
This letter was published in the July 29 edition.
For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here. Follow eLetters on Twitter to receive updates about new letters to the editor when they're posted.


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Will Charice Or Gwyneth Paltrow Get Naked On 'Glee' — What Stars Are Slated For The Show's Nude Episode!
Our favorite member of Vocal Adrenaline and Holly Holliday are both returning to the show soon — but will they be in the buff?
We're so pumped to hear that Charice, 18, is returning to Glee for the massive Feb. 6 post-Super Bowl show. But the real question is will the sensation stick around for the upcoming nude episode?
While reports quote creator Ryan Murphy as saying, "She's coming back in a big way," Charice may not return for good until far after her Super Bowl spot!
Ryan says, "We're finishing the year with her. She's coming back for five episodes at the end of the year. She's gonna be great. Lots of big, big ballads for Charice."
As for Gwyneth Paltrow, 38, even Lea Michele doesn't know for sure what episodes the megastar will be in, so she could very well end up in her undies with the rest of the cast!
While we might not get a chance to see ALL of Charice and Gwyneth in mid-February's skin-showing spectacular, we're super excited to see how Sunshine Corazon and Holly Holliday fit in with the rest of the cast season!


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Suffolk, ss. Division of Administrative Law Appeals
Rita Capece,
Docket No. CR-07-586
Dated: March 5, 2010
State Board of Retirement,
Appearance for Petitioner:
Rita Capece, pro se.
Appearance for Respondent
State Board of Retirement:
Melinda E. Troy, Esq.
Associate General Counsel
State Board of Retirement
One Ashburton Place, Room 1219
Boston, MA 02108
Administrative Magistrate:
Richard C. Heidlage, Esq.
Petitioner is not entitled to change her deceased husband's retirement option selection after his retirement and death. She had signed the spousal acknowledgement on the option selection form showing selection of Option B. No evidence showed the deceased husband was mentally impaired at the time he made his election, and her testimony that she believed the form she signed was a disability form is irrelevant in the absence of any fraud or misrepresentation on the part of the Respondent. Even if the option selection was invalid for some reason, the result would not have been changed, as the default selection is Option B in the absence of a valid election.
Pursuant to G.L. c. 32, §16(4), the Petitioner Rita Capece is appealing the July 30, 2007 decision of the Respondent, State Board of Retirement, denying her request to change the option selected by her deceased spouse at the time of his retirement. Ex. 1. The Appellant filed a timely appeal of this decision in accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 32, § 16(4). Ex. 2.
This matter was originally scheduled for hearing on November 21, 2008 and continued several times thereafter at the request of the Petitioner.
A hearing on the merits of the appeal was held on March 4, 2010 at the offices of the Division of Administrative Law Appeals, 98 N. Washington Street, Boston, MA. I accepted 9 exhibits into evidence at the hearing. Ms. Capece testified on her own behalf. I recorded the hearing on digital media.
Based on the documents entered into evidence and the testimony of Petitioner, I make the following findings of fact:
1. The petitioner, Rita Capece, is the widow of Charles A. Capece who was a Trooper with the Massachusetts State Police and a member of the Massachusetts State Employees Retirement System. Testimony.
2. On or about October 6, 1995, Trooper Capece applied for superannuation retirement with 38 years and 4 months of service. Ex. 3.
3. Trooper Capece elected to have his pension paid in accordance with Option B as provided in G.L. c. 32, § 12(2). Ex. 3.
4. The Petitioner also executed the Option B election form as the witness. Ex. 3.
5. Before the Petitioner executed Ex. 3, she had not had any communication with anyone representing the Respondent. She did have communications with Ms. Linda Turner who was working at the State Police barracks in Framingham, but Petitioner does not recall any representations about the form. Testimony.
6. Charles Capece died on May 4, 2007. Ex. 5.
7. On or about May 31, 2007, the Respondent sent Petitioner a Beneficiary Claim Statement noting that she was entitled to receive $8,269.45. Ex. 5.
8. Petitioner did not accept the payout provided for in the Beneficiary Claim Statement, but rather requested the Respondent to permit her to change her late husband's option election. Ex. 1.
9. The Respondent denied the Petitioner's request and notified her of its decision on July 30, 2007. Ex. 1.
10. The Petitioner filed an appeal on August 8, 2007. Ex. 2.
The Petitioner is not entitled to prevail in this appeal. G.L. c. 32, § 12(1) provides that the election of an option must be made prior to retirement and, in absence of a valid election, the pension shall be paid in accordance with Option B:
(1) Election of Option. -- . . . Election of an option shall be made by such member in writing on a prescribed form filed with the board, and once made may be changed from time to time by making a new election in a similar manner; provided, that no election of an option shall be valid unless such election is filed with the board on or before the date of receipt by the board of the written application for the retirement of such member . . . or unless such election is filed with the board on or before the date his allowance becomes effective. Upon receipt of such election by the board, the option elected shall take effect as of the date the retirement allowance of such member becomes effective . . . . If no election of an option is made or if none is in effect as provided for in this section, the retirement allowance of such member shall be paid in accordance with the terms of option (b) of subdivision (2) of this section.
For any member who is married, an election shall not be valid unless it is accompanied by the signature of the member's spouse indicating the member's spouse's knowledge and understanding of the retirement option selected. The retirement board shall provide the member and spouse with detailed information regarding the benefit option selected in order for the member and spouse to make an informed decision regarding said option.
. . . .
No provision of Chapter 32 permits a retired member or surviving spouse to change the option once the member has retired, and we have often held that there is no such right. See Elsmore v. Taunton Retirement Board, CR-05-533 (DALA June 27, 2008); Latsey v. State Board of Retirement, CR-00-723 (DALA), aff'd (CRAB 2001); Taylor v. State Board of Retirement, CR-00-599 (DALA 2000), aff'd (CRAB 2001); Byrne v. Malden Retirement Board, CR-96-766 (DALA 1997), aff'd (CRAB 1998).
Petitioner testified that she believed the form was a disability retirement application based on her husband's physical condition at the time. However, Exhibit 3 is an application for superannuation and the option selection portion she signed is similarly unambiguous. In any event, the Petitioner testified that she had not had any communications with anyone representing the Respondent retirement board prior to the time she signed the Option Selection form. She is therefore bound by its terms, whether she read it or not. Absent the elements of fraudulent inducement, a party will be bound to agreements signed voluntarily, but not read. Commerce Bank & Trust Co. v. Hayeck, 46 Mass. App. Ct. 687, 693 (1999); Farrell v. Chandler, Gardner & Williams, Inc., 252 Mass. 341, 345 (1925); Grace v. Adams, 100 Mass. 505, 507 (1868).
Even if the Petitioner could show that the election was invalid, this would not change the result. Under § 12(1), in the event that there is no valid option election as of the date the member retires, the pension is to be paid in accordance with Option B, the manner in which it was paid in this case.
One final matter. At the hearing, the Petitioner stated that she had filed the appeal to seek an accidental death benefit. Whatever the merits of that claim may be, and I do not express an opinion on that point, there is no such claim for an accidental death benefit on the record now before me. There is no evidence that the Petitioner made application for such a benefit before the retirement board or that it was denied. I do not therefore have jurisdiction to consider such a claim.
Based on the foregoing, I affirm the decision of the Respondent retirement board not to permit the Petitioner to change the option selected by her spouse, and the Petitioner's appeal is dismissed.
/s/ Richard C. Heidlage
Acting Chief Administrative Magistrate
Dated: March 5, 2010