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Model based design - a free tool-chain
Simon Mayr, Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences
Model-Based Design (MBD) is a mathematical and visual method of addressing problems associated with designing complex control, signal processing and communication systems. It is used in many motion controls, industrial equipment, aerospace, and automotive applications. Model-based design is a methodology applied in designing embedded software. During the past years there is a growing interest of more and more medium to small size engineering companies in order to cut down development time and costs. Common tool-chains are quite expensive commercial solutions due to the origin of MBD in aerospace and automotive industries. The main idea of this presentation is the MBD development with a complete free (or low-cost if target hardware is included) tool-chain from the modeling and control design to the hardware realization using an integrated development environment (IDE).
MBD – tool-chain
The plant modeling and control design steps are already possible in the standard Scilab-Xcos. Plant modeling can be done by using the Xcos Add-on Coselica for example. System identification and simulation verification is done in Scilab-Xcos too. For more dedicated control laws the system has to be described in mathematical terms, i.e., in form of ODEs. Such equations can be included into Xcos without effort. Of course, these ODEs can be used as plant model too, alternatively to Coselica. After the controller has been developed and tested in the simulation environment, it must be converted into C- code and transferred to the target. We make use of our own generator X2C. The code generator X2C, see [1], was originally developed more than ten years ago at the JK-University Linz, Austria as a Simulink extension generating assembler code for TI-DSPs.
As a reference application the well-known cart system is presented. As common to real world applications the vehicle load capacity is not known. We assume the vehicle mass m1, linear friction coefficient d1 and static friction coefficient FC as unknown but constant. In order to identify the physical relevant parameters and get rid of time derivatives we apply some exact filtering technique on the measured position x linear in the unknown parameters [2], which is solved using a standard recursive least square algorithm. For the adaptive self-tuning control (STC) approach the filters and a standard RLS algorithm are implemented in combination with a linear state control law parameterized in m1 and d1.
[1] X2C in Scilab-Xcos, 2013, http://www.mechatronic-simulation.org/
[2] JJE. Slotine, W. Li, Applied nonlinear control, Prantice-Hall, 1991
Paper signed by Simon Mayr, Gernot Grabmair, Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences


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So ive been saving up my money and we've been looking out for everything, and its all comin together full force now!!! We found the stand i want at Petsmart. Looked everywhere for one, it took so long. This is the one im getting. Im getting it next Friday!! :D This is what the stand will look like:
Ive read all these reviews for it, one stating it sucks, one stating its okay but it broke after not even 18 months (and in the review speaking of moving it with a tank on it... Hmm, wonder why it broke) and a whole bunch of reviews about it being a great stand easy to assemble and it lasts long (one person has had it over 3 years so far and still good). Since there are so many good reviews and only two bad ones, im assuming those two are wrong.
Ill post pics when i get it and start assembling. That should be fun! We decided exactly where its going too, so we are all ready! now we just have to wait for the tank sale in April!

subset: commoncrawl


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The Liko Viking XS and Liko Viking S mobile patient lifts offer superior care in small and narrow spaces. Both models boast electric raising and lowering of its lift arm and are made of environmentally-friendly aluminum. Additionally, the Liko Viking S offers three height settings to easily adapt to different lifting situations.
Liko Viking XS technical specifications
Liko Viking S technical specifications
Find 101 Mobility Near You:


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2016 ended high! And we're not expecting anything less from 2017.
Popular actor Ajay Chaudhary talks about his journey with Colors' ...
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text: The Nike ad for the upcoming World Cup is getting plenty of buzz around the net. But there have been few mentions of Roger Federer's cameo in the 3-plus minute shot. Fed battles in ping pong against England's Wayne Rooney, who is apparently (in the ad) on a red-hot streak (Just Roo It!). No Rafa appearance?! Even Kobe takes part in the action. See the clip by clicking the image above.


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Another new off-screen gameplay video of Gears of War 2 from PAX.
looks good
multiplayer in gears 2 and r2 gonna take months away from my time
of players that don't even know how to play the game?
gears 2 will rock my world.
alot of runnin around but not many enimies to shoot at!It sure isn't like resistance 2 where theres 50 enemies runnin at you at once!


text: Double Commander Double Commander is a cross-platform open source file manager with two panels side by side. It is inspired by Total Commander and features some new ideas. Features -... Free Open Source Mac Windows Linux BSD Dual Pane Support Dark theme Dual Pane Support Easy access to devices ... Flat view Help on local file Lua scripting Multi-tabs Optimal performance Search in Archives Tree view Add a feature 351 Like


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Vertical integration
|This article is part of WikiProject Definitions. Consider editing to improve it. View articles referencing this definition.
This article defines the term vertical integration.
In microeconomics and strategic management, the term vertical integration is a type of related diversification that describes a style of nearly total ownership and control. The degree to which a firm owns its upstream suppliers and its downstream buyers determines how vertically integrated it is. Note, however, that there is no ratio or quantifiable measure to denote this.
Vertically integrated companies are united through a hierarchy and share a common owner. Usually each member of the hierarchy produces a different product or service, and the products are combined to satisfy a common need. It is contrasted with horizontal integration, in which one part of the production process is expanded across several different market segments. A common successful horizontal integration example is how Intel (INTC) has dominated the computer processor market, supplying such chips to several different manufacturers, such as Dell (DELL) , Toshiba (TOSBF) , and the Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ) .
Vertical integration is one method of avoiding the hold-up problem. A monopoly produced through vertical integration is called a vertical monopoly, although it might be more appropriate to speak of this as some form of cartel.
==Types of Vertical Integration==There Is No Such Thing.


text:
This is Canada's Thanksgiving weekend,
full of dining, family and fun.
The beach sun was hot, the waves were swift
and the water was sparkly white.
A beautiful weekend all around in Ontario
I hope Jim and everyone are having a
great weekend too.
I think there should be a turkey smiley,


text:
First, apologies to the Database Daily readers. I'll include one in next week's issue as well, but the links didn't work and it's my fault.
The reason it happened is quite simple. I made a change and didn't test
it. But the back story is a touch more complicated and involves the
real reasons why all of us humans cause technology to fail. It started
with an upgrade for the Lyris mail server that we use. I downloaded the
software on Monday, but didn't get around to the colocation center for
a console upgrade until Friday. So I start it Friday and it's running,
showing me the steps on the CMD prompt window and it gets to working on
reindexing a table. So I leave for lunch because I'm hungry and the
room is cold.
I come back to find that the upgrade has failed because the DB ran out
of space. Huh? Space? So I check and my 16GB database file is set to
stop growing at 16GB to prevent server issues. So I increase the space
allowed to 20GB, remove a backup and start again. I think the db was at
12GB when I started, so I'm thinking 20 is fine. It's running and
running and fails again. Same issue.
It's getting late and I'm in the middle of things here, but I have to
get my son from school, so I leave it. Sat morning I log on and look at
the db. I have two large tables, one with 44million rows and one
slightly smaller at 26million. These two tables are GBs in size and
contain lots of historical information. I'm not sure why the data
hasn't been trimmed by the server, but I setup a couple loops to start
cleaning data and go about my day.
Sun morning I get up early, tell my wife I need to work and drive to
the colo. My backup size has shrunk from 11GB on Fri to 5GB and I
figure I'm ok. I start the upgrade, get to the reindex and go get some
breakfast. Sure enough, that was enough space, so I 'm upgraded and
things are working. I generate the DD newsletter, load it and go to
rake leaves and watch football. Now I sent myself a test, but I usually
only test ads and the editorial, not the links. and of course ,they
didn't work.
But why not? Well, for starters, I was converting the newsletter to be
stored in the DB, so the generator went from lots of inline ASP code to
building a variable to store in the db. In one place, not the link, but
the internal href before the link, I forgot to add triple quotes around
the link. I had single ones, so the article href didn't close and the
link didn't work.
I didn't test it because the security patches that I applied on Wed, as
I was about done with the conversion, blew up Visual Interdev 6.0,
which was how I was coding. And I was nervous about moving to VS 2003,
so I fixed a few bugs in notepad, not realizing the links weren't fixed.
They are now and after testing my own site with VS 2003, I'm ready to load the SQLServerCentral.com site and get back to work.
Apologies and Testing
The Voice of the DBA
Steve Jones is the editor of SQLServerCentral.com and visits a wide variety of data related topics in his daily editorial. Steve has spent years working as a DBA and general purpose Windows administrator, primarily working with SQL Server since it was ported from Sybase in 1990. You can follow Steve on Twitter at twitter.com/way0utwest
No comments.


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Job Lot serves 400,000 pounds of food to hungry families
Truck drivers for Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) left the parking lot of Quonset headquarters to more fanfare than normal Tuesday morning. The trucks blared their horns, pulling out behind a fire engine and State Police vehicles flashing their lights, as a crowd cheered nearby.
Then again, it wasn't a normal delivery.
The trailers were filled with 400,000 pounds of nutritious food staples to be donated to 10 food banks across New England and New York – the equivalent of 333,330 meals.
"In a country as great as we are, it's sort of disappointing that we don't have the imagination or the will to get rid of a problem we have the capability to deal with," said Alan Perlman, owner and partner for Ocean State Job Lot.
Tuesday's event served as a kickoff for Three Square Meals, a food assistance program administered by the Job Lot Charitable Foundation, which was established in 2003. In 2013, the program is expected to distribute more than 60 truckloads, or $1.25 million, worth of food.
For many Job Lot employees, hunger is a problem they take personally. Head of Marketing David Sarlitto shared an experience he had while shopping at his local BJ's Wholesale Club. He observed two young boys, roughly 8 and 11 years old, making their way through the food sample stations at BJ's. Upon asking an employee, he learned that the two were regulars on Saturday mornings.
"The father of these two young kids has been out of work for a year and the mother has MS. Their breakfast is whatever samples they can pick up," he said.
The story was heartbreaking for Sarlitto, but he said he is proud to be part of a company that takes action to fight hunger.
"Companies like ours have to play a larger role … to actually give a gut-punch to issues like this," he said.
Perlman was quick not to take the credit, though, noting that the support of customers makes the program possible. Over four weeks during the holiday season, Job Lot shoppers in seven states were asked to donate $1 at the register. Shoppers donated a total of $1.2 million.
Job Lot in turn matched $100,000 of shopper contributions, and also donates all administrative services, labor and delivery costs, ensuring that donations go directly to food assistance for people who need it. The 10 recipient food banks then distribute food to more than 500 smaller pantries.
Perlman said it isn't credit the company wants – it's awareness.
"What we're trying to do is bring awareness to people who are not aware of how serious food insecurity is," Perlman said.
Perlman and his partners leverage the company's buying power to stretch donations, purchasing food in bulk for half the cost or less. He recognized the distributors that have been especially generous, including Bob's Red Mill, General Mills, Kellogg's and Zatarain's. Kellogg's, for example, sold Job Lot 10 truckloads of cereal at a cost that is just 30 percent of what they normally pay. Zatarain's soups cost OSJL $1, rather than the typical $4 they pay. Those distributors give added discounts and make product donations knowing of Job Lot's work with charities, and food banks in particular.
"We consider ourselves very imaginative," Perlman said.
Governor Lincoln Chafee and Senator Jack Reed both praised Job Lot as a Rhode Island success story.
"Ocean State Job Lot is a great Rhode Island story. It's about Rhode Islanders who built an extraordinary company but never forgot about the communities that sustained them and nurtured them, and the people of those communities," Reed said.
Among the food banks served is the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, which CEO Andrew Schiff says has the "home field advantage" of being able to work closely with OSJL year-round.
Both Schiff and Reed pointed out that between 2009 and 2012, food donations from companies have decreased by 2.1 million pounds.
"This is going to go a long way to make up that effort," Reed said.
For Schiff, he says the "worst thing possible" would be turning people away when they are in need of food.
"We have been challenged to try to keep up with a rapid increase in need for food assistance. So many people who once were donors to our organizations now have to rely on us for food," he said. "Every time, Ocean State Job Lot has come through with a food donation that has made it possible to serve everyone in need."
Schiff additionally praised the company for educating customers and engaging them in the charitable work. Perlman says education and awareness are necessary if there is any hope to rid the country of hunger.
"No one is secure as long as someone else doesn't have enough food for their family," he said.
Too bad Job Lot does not realize that the Food Bank CHARGES agencies per pound on food. They also do not give ffod to needy people themselves but instead refer them to food pantries (who have purchased the food from them). Job Lot would've been better off just giving the food away themselves.


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Older News » Facts about tutorsLast updated 1:53 PM on 24 May 2012
Private tutoring to give kids a helping hand in their schooling is a growing business. However, it's also an area where parents can be vulnerable to bogus offers and misleading advertising.
If you're considering using a tutor, you need to know how to get the best service for you and your child.
It's important to know that the job of a school is to ensure your child's educational needs are met in line with the curriculum.
Teachers in NSW public schools are university educated and use effective teaching and learning techniques. If you have concerns about your child's education, you should discuss it with your child's teacher, year adviser or principal.
Mohan Dhall, chief executive officer of the Australian Tutoring Association, says parents should first think whether their child would benefit from tuition. After all, a well-structured home environment may provide the best framework for parents to help their children.
However, if you have identified an area or areas that could benefit from extra academic attention, then you need to be clear about what you want the tuition to achieve, Mohan says.
Key points
- Discuss your child's education with their teacher first.
- Tutors need to add confidence and work in partnership with your child's school.
- Tutors should be warm, empathetic and subject matter experts.
- Tutors should build confidence in your child so that they trust their own skills.
- Exercise caution if you're asked to sign contracts with a tutor.
Read the full article on the School A to Z website.


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Firstly, the team at the Professional Development Unit would like to welcome you to Flinders University.
There are a lot of things for a new staff member to get to know at Flinders - from how to get around the campus, to where to park, and how to perform their workplace tasks.
This resource provides information all new staff members will need in their first few months of employment. It covers the requirements for academic, research and professional staff members.
Click here for the Induction Checklist (PDF 120KB) to help guide your induction program and activities.
Workshops for New Staff
There are a variety of induction and orientation programs for new staff. Some programs are mandatory for all staff, while others may only be mandatory for academic staff or staff with supervisory responsibilities. This page will assist navigate which induction and orientation programs are relevant for you.
First Day
As a new staff member, you will be introduced to the university and to your specific workplace on your first day of employment. While your supervisors and colleagues will help you with information relevant to your workplace, this page outlines the university-wide information you need to know, such as Emergency Procedures, Parking and Driving on Campus, and Work Health and Safety.
First Week
This provides important policies and other essential information you need to know about the University in your first week.
First Few Weeks
This provides an overview of the University, our people and structure of the University, and other information you will need to know within the first few weeks of starting at Flinders.
First Few Months
This provides an overview of information to familiarise yourself with over the first few months of employment, including performance management, training and development, and staying informed.
Once you have completed the relevant items included on your Induction Checklist, we would appreciate your feedback about the induction process. Click here for the Induction evaluation form and email it to email@example.com.
Resources for Supervisors
For supervisors facilitating the induction of new employees.
This provides an explanation of the induction process and supervisory responsibilities for inducting new employees.


text:
Owner's Manuals
Download a free Owner's or Operator's Manual by selecting the appropriate engine model below.
G Series
GXH Series
GXV Series
In order to view and print Honda Engine Owner's/Operator's Manuals, your computer must have Adobe Acrobat Reader software installed. If you don't have this software, it is available free by clicking on the button below:


text:
Weight-loss surgery seminar planned at Orange Regional
Weight-loss surgery seminar planned at Orange Regional
TOWN OF WALLKILL — Orange Regional Medical Center will host a free seminar on bariatric weight-loss surgery at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the hospital's multipurpose conference room, 707 E. Main St., Town of Wallkill.
Orange Regional's Bariatric Support Group will meet immediately following on "Nutrition — Eating During the Holiday Season."
To register, call 888-321-6762 or visit ormc.org/bariatrics.
Caregiver support group is scheduled Wednesday
HORTONVILLE — "Share the Care," a Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County Caregiver Resource Center support group, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Lander's River Cafe, Route 131, Hortonville.
The group will continue to meet on the first Wednesday of each month.
For more information, call 292-6180, ext. 122, or email email@example.com.
Session on 'NY State of Health' presented Thursday
NEW PALTZ — An open information session on "NY State of Health," an online marketplace offering New Yorkers a gateway to affordable health care, will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday at SUNY New Paltz, Student Union Building multipurpose room, New Paltz.
The session will offer information and assistance on new coverage options for small businesses, individiuals and families. Uninsured and underinsured individuals, families and employers with fewer than 50 employees are encouraged to attend.
For more information or to preregister, call 257-2901 or email firstname.lastname@example.com. Walk-ins are welcome.
Seminar on preventing falls planned in Milford, Pa.
MILFORD, Pa. — A free seminar on preventing falls will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Belle Reve Senior Living Community, 404 E. Harford St., Milford, Pa.
The seminar, which will be presented by the Belle Reve therapy department, offers tips to help prevent falls this winter.
RSVP by Nov. 7 to 570-409-9191.
Adult flu-shot clinic offered at Middletown Medical
TOWN OF WALLKILL — Middletown Medical will hold an adult flu-shot clinic from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at its Urgent Care Center at 111 Maltese Drive, Town of Wallkill.
Individuals receiving flu shots must be 19 years old or older.
Appointments can be scheduled by calling 342-4774.
Diabetes Expo planned for Saturday in Warwick
WARWICK — The Center for Diabetes Education at St. Anthony Community Hospital will present its first Diabetes Expo from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Warwick Town Hall, 132 Kings Highway, Warwick.
The day's first speaker is Dr. Seth Hurwitz, who will give a presentation on "Diabetes and Your Heart" at 11 a.m. Hurwitz is a cardiologist certified by the National Board of Echocardiolgraphy, the Board of Nuclear Cardiology and the American Board of Internal Medicine,with a subspecialty in cardiovascular disease.
At noon, Dr. Nicholas Belasco will discuss "Exercise and Diabetes." He is board-certified in family and sports medicine and is a certified impact consultant. He is director of the Bon Secours Concussion Management Program, which he created.
"Medications to Treat Diabetes" will be the topic of the 1 p.m. presentation by Dr. Yuriy Gurevich, who is board certified in internal medicine and endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism.
"Diabetes and Your Kidneys" will be presented by Dr. Sergio Obligado, board-certified in internal medicine and nephrology, at 2 p.m.
For more information, call 987-5168 or visit bschs.bonsecours.com.
Comedy show to support Elant at Meadow Hill Nov. 12
NEWBURGH — An evening of comedy, music, food and beverages to support the Elant at Meadow Hill Renewal Committee will be held 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at Newburgh Brewing Co., 88 S. Colden St., Newburgh.
Tickets are $35 per person.
Call 360-1410 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Matthew Weldon, the director of mosquito control for Levy County, held on Thursday a folder full of medical files -- of neighbors and family members who he claims have Lyme disease.
Matthew Weldon, the director of mosquito control for Levy County, held a folder full of medical files -- of neighbors and family members who he claims have Lyme disease, even though they haven't been diagnosed with it.
Weldon, who spoke Thursday with specialists at the Tick-borne Disease Symposium held at the University of Florida's Emerging Pathogens Institute, is representative of hundreds and even thousands of people in Florida who have Lyme disease symptoms without the diagnosis. Weldon says he, too, exhibits some of these symptoms.
That quandary is at the center of a controversy over what defines the disease and how it's tested. Those are particularly sensitive issues in the Southeastern part of the U.S., where
disease incidence is much lower than in the Midwest and Northeast.
That's at least in part because the tick that typically carries the pathogenic strain causing Lyme disease is more abundant up North, and the northern tick itself behaves differently from ticks in the South, said Dr. Paul Mead, the chief of epidemiology and surveillance activity at the division of vector-borne diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mead spoke at Thursday's symposium, explaining that the transmitting tick, ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the black-legged tick or deer tick, is less likely to bite people in the South and that the ticks are also less likely to be infected with the Lyme-causing pathogenic strain.
At the same time, the incidence of Lyme disease throughout the country -- especially in the Midwest and the Northeast -- has grown steadily since the first documented case in 1975 in Connecticut.
"Lyme disease truly is a major public health problem in the U.S.," Mead said. "The increase is probably not due to better reporting but true increases in Lyme disease."
Mead said that while the reasons for the increase are not entirely known, the reforestation of parts of the country as people moved to urban areas has caused the deer population to increase, and deer ticks can carry Lyme disease.
Along with urbanization, there's been a trend for people to move back to the country, in wooded areas, Mead continued, so they are more at risk of contracting the disease.
In the South, however, those same trends have not been confirmed.
Although the incidence of Lyme disease has increased in Florida, some experts think that most cases involve people who were infected in other states.
"When we tease it apart, we don't verify local transmission in the vast majority of cases," said Carina Blackmore, the deputy state epidemiologist with the Florida Department of Health.
Blackmore added that most cases occur in adults during the summer.
For Dr. Kerry Clark, however, the South has thousands of cases that go undiagnosed. Clark, a public health professor at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, said hundreds of people with Lyme disease symptoms have contacted him for help, including Weldon. They are the "Holy Grail" of evidence that the disease is born locally, since none could have contracted the disease out of state, Clark said.
"The symptoms are consistent, many with heavy tick exposure," Clark said. "I don't think it's logical to say that it's something else."
Yet many people with persistent symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches and the tell-tale rash associated with the disease, are treated for conditions such as fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by chronic joint and muscle pain. Others are told they have mental illnesses, Clark continued.
Clark said he thinks many of these people could be "false negatives" for Lyme disease -- because the current lab test checks for only one pathogenic strain of the disease, when there could be several others, he said.
"We need to think about modifying our tests," Clark said. "I think we're missing a lot of diagnoses."
Lyme disease is also something people in the military are monitoring. Lt. Matthew Yans, with the Navy Entomology Center of Excellence in Jacksonville, said people serving in military operations are more aware of Lyme disease, especially during global missions, since the disease is present worldwide.
Closer to home, intense training on nature trails makes military personnel more vulnerable to tick bites, Yans said. He is is working on developing a tick pesticide as well as a tick trap.
Dr. Glenn Morris, the director of the Emerging Pathogens Institute, said the institute organized the symposium "to tackle a problem before it's a problem," adding that there is a lot of uncertainty among both physicians and the public about Lyme disease.
"We're trying to stay ahead of the curve," Morris said.
Contact Kristine Crane at 338-3119, or email@example.com.


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The notices have started appearing on workplace bulletin boards: Seasonal flu shots now available.
While medical professionals and public health experts say most people should get the flu shot at their earliest convenience, attitudes among the public range from "I'm in!" to "No, thanks."
Influenza, or the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness that in mild cases can be like a nasty cold, but in severe cases can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death.
Last season 138 confirmed pediatric deaths were tied to the flu, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People age 65 and older are most at risk, accounting for 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths and 60 percent of hospitalizations.
The flu is caused by many different viruses, in two general types called A and B. Vaccines are typically developed to protect against what research indicates will be the three or four most common strains.
The CDC reported that the two biggest factors affecting how well the vaccine works are its match to the virus strain and the health of the person being vaccinated.
With a good match, flu vaccine can reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor for flu by about 60 percent among the overall population. Even with moderate effectiveness, it can reduce flu-related illness, antibiotic use and time lost from work, along with more severe outcomes.
Flu activity usually peaks in January and February, but it can start as early as October and last through May.
Last year's flu season started early and was particularly severe. The previous year was milder.
"I never predict the flu season," said Dr. Alfred DeMaria Jr., state epidemiologist and medical director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Prevention, Response and Services at the state Department of Public Health.
"Now is not too early. People shouldn't miss an opportunity to get a flu shot," he said. "Last year, people regretted not getting it early."
Dr. DeMaria said people age 6 months and older should get the flu shot. People who are around the elderly, young children or people with chronic health conditions, who are most at risk for complications, should take particular care to get vaccinated and not risk spreading the virus.
Worcester's Division of Public Health will hold "Community immunity" flu shot clinics at senior centers throughout the region it serves, including 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 19 at the Worcester Senior Center. The schedule for other towns' clinics should be finalized in the coming week, according to public health nurse Patricia Bruchmann.
There is no out-of-pocket cost for the shot, and no one will be turned away, but people should bring their insurance cards, if they have them, so their insurance can be billed.
Some people, including health care workers and members of the military, are required to get a flu shot every year.
Katie Surdovel, an optometry student from Allentown, Pa., studying at MCPHS University in Worcester, said, "We have to get the flu shot for school. We have a free flu shot clinic."
She was planning to get vaccinated at the scheduled clinic next week. For those who couldn't make that date, the school would give them coupons to get a flu shot at a drugstore.
"I do every year. The military makes us get one," said Danielle Henry of Worcester, a receptionist at Unum and a member of the Army National Guard.
Ms. Henry said before she routinely got the flu shot, she had gotten the flu.
"It was horrible. Not fun at all," she said.
Others are willing to take their chances or have decided not to get vaccinated based on their own research.
A contractor at the Unum building, who declined to give his name, said, "Every time I hear someone getting the flu shot, they get the flu right afterward."
Jennifer A. Weeden of Southboro, who works in administration at an independent school, gets vaccinated against most diseases but not for the flu.
"Everything I've read indicates to me that by the time they develop the vaccine, a year or two has gone by," she said. "To me, the likelihood of it being effective is so low. And I see a longer term benefit of letting your immune system work through the illness."
Ms. Weeden said she read medical journals from the past year or two � she didn't just Google anti-vaccine websites � and concluded, "The dots don't connect."
She didn't recall ever having had the flu.
Edd Cote, a Millbury photographer, shared a similar attitude toward letting Mother Nature take its course.
"I don't take flu shots, never have, even when they're offered for free," Mr. Cote said.
He couldn't remember ever getting the flu.
"I really think there's something to be said for letting your body fight something on your own."
Contact Susan Spencer at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanSpencerTG.


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Photos: China's 'wild wall'
Photos: China's 'wild wall'
At restored sections of the Wall, visitors could be surrounded by thousands of people. At Gubeikou, there may only be a handful.
Despite the haze, the air in Gubeikou feels significantly cleaner than the smog that often characterizes Beijing.
The inviting courtyard of the Great Wall Box House.
An instructive sign welcomes visitors to the Great Wall Box House.
The area near Gubeikou is almost completely unrestored.
The author and his daughter on a particularly overgrown section of the Wall.
A hazy view from the Curling Dragon section of the Wall from one of the many watchtowers.
A small canal and well-paved street in old Gubeikou.


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Five things to watch for when President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney meet in their second debate:
1. A REBOUND? After taking a drubbing in the first debate, Obama's under big pressure to step up his game Tuesday night. He'll try to show energy and passion. Look for him to challenge Romney's claims more often, too. Obama's comfortable taking audience questions at campaign events and that should work in his favor at this "town hall" style debate.
2. MAN OF THE PEOPLE? The town hall format holds risk and opportunity for Romney. It could be a great chance to address one of the wealthy businessman's trouble spots — poll respondents rate him as less likable than Obama and less in tune with regular folks. Romney could warm up his image if he connects well with the voters on stage. What he needs to avoid: coming across as awkward or elitist.
3. MORE CIVIL? Expect a less confrontational tone. Although Democrats are urging Obama to go on the offensive, he needs to balance that against the restraints of the town hall atmosphere. The candidates will try to sound civil even while underscoring their differences, to show respect for the folks surrounding them onstage.
4. THE PEOPLE SPEAK: What will the voters ask? Usually not the kinds of questions posed by journalists moderating more traditional debates. "Real people" tend to frame questions in broader terms and are less likely to focus on the latest charges and countercharges. Sometimes they come up with something out of left field; that's the moment to see how candidates think on their feet.
5. MORE THAN WORDS: They won't be moored to a lectern or table, so this is the time to check out each man's body language. Does a candidate seem relaxed and natural or ill at ease? Does he show empathy for the questioner by stepping in close and making eye contact? Is he attentive while the other guy is talking, or does he grimace and move around distractingly or — even worse — check his watch?


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The state Department of Employment Security says Illinois unemployment fell in July to 6.8 percent. It was the fifth straight monthly decrease in the state's jobless rate.
The July figure represents a drop from 9.2 percent one year ago and marks the largest year-over-year decline since 1984. The last time the rate was lower than 6.8 was in August 2008 when it was 6.7. There are 35,600 more jobs than one year ago.
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The monthly employment report that the department released Thursday shows employers creating 11,200 private-sector jobs.
Department Director Jay Rowell says the falling jobless rate "seems to be picking up momentum with the warmer weather."
The federal government said earlier this month that national unemployment rate edged up to 6.2 percent in July.


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Varsha and Deepak Guggari Associates (VDGA) is an architectural studio based in Pune, India. The firm functions as a studio, taking up projects involving study, analysis and exploration of visual, spatial, formal, social and technological ideas and concepts related to architecture.
Finesse in design and detailing is the motto of the studio, while creating spaces, crafting perfect ambience and exploring the materials remains the essence of their design. The firm has been known to practice "Contemporary Indian" architecture, working towards the synergy of contemporary and traditional styles. The studio has been appreciated in the form of various awards that have been won both at national and international levels. Both architects studied architecture at Prince Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra.


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BREAUX BRIDGE, La. — You could tell something was wrong as soon as the waitress sat the plate down. Instead of being piled high with crawfish, the plate had six or seven tiny crustaceans hiding in the etoufee. The cook had laid on an extra large serving of green beans to try to compensate, but it wasn't the same.
That's just one little episode at a restaurant near Breaux Bridge in the middle of Louisiana's Cajun Country. But it seems to sum up the situation many Louisiana crawfish, rice and sugar cane producers find themselves in these days.
At a time when Louisiana farmers would normally be harvesting boatloads of crawfish and preparing for the beginning of rice planting season, many aren't sure how many crawfish are left to be harvested in 2006 or whether they should risk planting rice in their salt-laden soils this spring.
What's known is that the salt water that Hurricane Rita pushed ashore in a storm surge that ranged from 5 to 20 feet in height, depending where you were on the night of Sept. 24, killed most of the crawfish that would have been ready for harvest in December.
And it left soils with soluble salt levels of more than 8,000 parts per million in rice and sugar cane fields 20 to 30 miles inland in parts of Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Vermillion and Iberia parishes in southwest Louisiana.
If there is any kind of a silver lining to the aftermath of the flooding, which persisted for as long as three weeks in some areas, it's that the salt levels tend to vary widely from field to field and parish to parish.
"Fields that were flooded for second crop rice when Rita hit don't have as much salt in the soil," says John Saichuk, Extension rice specialist with the Louisiana AgCenter. "You might have one field dry and the one next to it flooded, and the dry has a lot more salt in the soil." (The flip side: rice growers only had about 50,000 acres of ratoon crop because of last summer's low rice and high diesel and fertilizer prices.)
The more than 500 soil samples taken from 177 sites by LSU Extension personnel after the flooding from Rita subsided have shown soluble salt levels ranging from as low as 590 parts per million to 8,270 parts per million.
Veteran southwest Louisiana farmers have seen salt contamination from past hurricanes, but Rita was followed by a severe drought. That means the area has not received the rains that would help float the salt particles to the top of the soil and wash them away.
Southwest Louisiana normally receives about 60 inches of rainfall annually, but only got 40 inches in 2005. "We've only had two 2-inch rains since the hurricane," says Saichuk. "There's also a lot of salt in the surface water, which might not allow growers to pump irrigation water."
Louisiana crop specialists have recommended that farmers not plow their salt-contaminated rice fields because of concerns that plowing might move the salt deeper into the soil profile.
Jason Bond and Brooks Blanche, researchers with the LSU AgCenter's Rice Research Station in Crowley, La., have conducted greenhouse bioassays to determine the effect of salt contamination on rice seedlings.
So far, their work indicates that seedling emergence and plant dry weight 21 days after rice planting were not affected in soils with soluble salt levels of less than 980 ppm. Seedling emergence was reduced at least 76 percent in soils with greater than 6,430 ppm soluble salts.
"We know that some farmers simply won't be able to plant their fields this spring because of the high salt content, and some should be able to plant where it's lower," says Saichuk. "It's that huge area in the middle that will be the problem."
Saichuk, who is also based at the Crowley Station, says southwest Louisiana rice farmers were already hurting because of high fuel and fertilizer and low rice prices before the hurricane hit. "For some guys, Rita may have driven the nail in the coffin."
Bond says the greenhouse research has offered a glimmer of hope for some producers. "Soil test results have shown that soluble salt levels at the seven sites tested in the greenhouse decreased 40 percent to 60 percent from Oct. 25 to Dec. 12 of last year," he noted.
"However, more rainfall through the remainder of the winter months will be required for severely impacted fields to be productive in 2006."
Saichuk said LSU scientists can offer no guarantees as to what will happen after a farmer plants a field with relatively low soluble content. "We're in uncharted waters when it comes to what happens after the crop emerges and begins growing off."
The situation is also complicated by high levels of salt water in water bodies such as the Mermentau Basin, according to Clarence Berken, a rice farmer from Lake Arthur in Jefferson Davis Parish.
Berken, who said the salt contamination levels in soils he farms with his two brothers are relatively low, is concerned that once farmers start pumping water out of the basin, salt water will be pulled back in and pumped out onto fields.
Berken, past president of the Louisiana Rice Growers Association, helped organize shipments of about 200,000 pounds of rice to Hurricane Katrina victims in Lake Charles, Lafayette and Baton Rouge just two weeks before Hurricane Rita came ashore in the Lake Charles area.
Fellow rice producer David LaCour, who farms with his father, Francis, in Abbeville in Vermillion Parish, says he knows he won't be able to grow rice on at least 400 acres of their 1,500 acres. Some samples registered salt levels of 5,700 parts per million from that soil. The outlook for other enterprises is also bleak.
"We have absolutely zero crawfish to harvest," says LaCour. "All of my crawfish ponds were inundated with salt water and crab and fish and shrimp."
Because of the uncertainty brought by low rice prices, high fuel prices and the salt contamination, the Louisiana Rice Growers Association took the unusual step of writing a letter to landowners in the southwest Louisiana area, asking for their understanding last October.
"One of the complicating factors in our situation is that something like 80 percent of the rice in southwest Louisiana is grown on rented land," said Saichuk. "The letter stressed the need for finding help for our producers."
Another complication is that Riviana Foods Inc. announced in January that it is putting its rice milling, storage and drying facilities in southwest Louisiana up for sale. The company said it would continue to accept rice through the 2006 harvest season.
For some growers, the combination of negative events may have helped them make a decision. Saichuk says he believes southwest Louisiana's rice acreage will be reduced by 25 percent in 2006. "Some growers have said they're not growing any rice except what they need for crawfish."
For most of this winter, farmers have had to reach pretty deep to find much enthusiasm for planting another crop, but that may be changing.
"The short-term outlook has been pretty dismal, but the long-term is looking better," says Saichuk. "Rice prices are up a little, and research has shown that the salt levels are dropping in places. Spring-like weather also helps."
More than 400 farmers attended the joint annual meeting of the Louisiana Rice Council and Louisiana Rice Growers Association, sitting quietly and listening to presentations about the outlook for rice sales and government legislation.
Washington analyst Jim Weismeyer told the growers he thought it would be possible to pass disaster legislation to help them with the salt contamination problems since it is a (mid-term) election year.
"Our growers are not looking for welfare — they're just looking for a little help to do for themselves," says Saichuk. ""They just need a little break from the bad luck we've had in the last year or so."
Rice grower Donald Sagrera remembers not planting a crop after Hurricane Audrey struck southwest Louisiana in 1957. "Back in the 1950s, we could miss a crop and not be hurt too badly. There's no room for error these days."
"A number of our growers are saying that if we can just make it through this spring, we can survive," says Saichuk.
e-mail: [email protected]


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To achieve the required radial internal clearance, the rings of individual bearings are matched at the factory, marked with the same identification number and usually packaged together in a single box. Be sure to check that the numbers on both rings match prior to mounting. Any mismatch could have a negative impact on the radial internal clearance and the performance characteristics of the final assembly.
When mounting super-precision cylindrical roller bearings with a tapered bore, the radial internal clearance or preload must be adjusted accurately. This is done by driving the inner ring up on its tapered shaft seat (fig.1). The resulting expansion of the inner ring determines the internal clearance or preload in the mounted bearing. For proper mounting, the inside or outside envelope diameter of the roller set must be accurately measured. SKF internal clearance gauges in the GB 30 and GB 10 (fig.2) or GB 49 (fig.3) series enable simple and accurate measurements. For additional information about internal clearance gauges, refer to Gauges.
Mounting a cylindrical roller bearing in the NN 30 K series using a GB 30 series gauge is described in the following. The same procedure can be applied when mounting cylindrical roller bearings in the N 10 K series using either a GB 10 or GB 30 series gauge. A similar procedure can be applied when mounting cylindrical roller bearings in the NNU 49 K series using a GB 49 series gauge.
When mounting without the assistance of an internal clearance gauge, be sure that the accuracy of the readings is sufficient for the application requirements.


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Las Vegas! 181 dancers will be winnowed down to 20 over eight rounds in four days. Judges will be Lil C, Debbie Allen, Adam Shankman, Tyce Diorio, Mary Murphy, and Nigel Lythgoe.
First up they're all doing solos and they could be cut immediately if their solo doesn't pass muster.
Hampton "Exorcist" Williams is up first and he's moving Shankman to tears within the first 20 seconds, Tyce within the first 30. I think he's a safe bet to go forward.
After the first ten solos, Nigel calls them back up for the first cut — girls we've not met before named Jennifer and Brianna.
Bellydancer Janelle Issis is up first in the next round of dancers and,...


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Hello all! This is my second post here!
I have a Compaq Presario 7360 and it has a standard 10GB hard drive. Now I got this new Deskstar 40GB hard drive because I want to upgrade the hard drive to a bigger one and I'm having a bit of trouble getting it to work. I plug it in and start up the computer and it doesn't recognize it. I hear the drive power up just fine and there is nothing wrong with the cables. I know that because I'm running this 10gig on the same cable right now. I've tried a bunch of different pin configurations and I've tried it with nothing but the 40gig drive plugged in but it still doesn't work. I've looked at the hard drive manufacturers website and it doesn't have anything related to this particular issue. It did however have a download for a diagnostic program which is supposed to find the drive and test it if it's there but it can't find it either. Does anybody know whats going on. I hope it's not that this computer can't handle it. I really need more space and this 40gig is all I can do for now.
Here is some info for the 40gig:
Manufacturer: Hitachi
Model Name: Deskstar
Website: http://www.hgst.com/
Capacity: 41.1GB
Model #: HDS722540VLAT20
Serial #: C1R521NM
Pin #: 14R9245
Any help you guys can provide will be GREATLY appreciated.


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Never Highlight a Book Again! Just the FACTS101 study guides give the student the textbook outlines, highlights, practice quizzes and optional access to the full practice tests for their textbook.______ is the study of the structure and function of biological systems such as humans, animals, plants, organs, andcells by means of themethods of mechanics . ______ is closely related to engineering, because it often uses traditional engineering sciences to analyse biological systems. Some simple ... Fictive motion 4.
|e-Study Guide for: Principles of Athletic Training: A Competency-Based Approach by William Prentice, ISBN 9780078022647
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Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page.How it works:


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In the Family section...
In the Integrity section...
In the Products section...
You care about the environment, and so do we. That's why we've put together these tips and resources for your family. Because green choices today make tomorrow brighter for everyone.
We've moved! As of January 2015, our blog posts are now located here on our new Family Home blog. We hope you'll continue to visit it for the latest posts from our bloggers.If you were trying to visit our SCJ Marketplace, click here!
Monday, January 12, 2015
Using a crockpot is one of the simplest ways to provide a healthy dinner
for your family − even on a busy weeknight. Crockpots are very energy
efficient and require minimal effort when preparing most meals. You can
set up the crockpot in the morning and then leave it on for the rest of
the afternoon...
Everyday Alternatives Articles
Friday, January 9, 2015
With the New Year comes a renewed determination to clean up and organize
our lives. Throughout the year, our homes get cluttered with items we
no longer need (or want) anymore and finding new uses for these things
can sometimes be challenging...
Reduce & Recycle Articles
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Resolving to make greener choices is a fantastic New Year's Resolution!
Here are 10 specific ways to make greener choices every day! People are
at different levels in their green efforts. So if you already do one of
these―just think about how you can take it to the next level!...
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
This is a fun, eco-friendly New Year's Eve Craft that your kids will
love to make and love to play with! You can reuse paper plates from your
party to make these noise makers. You can also use leftover wrapping paper and ribbons to decorate your noise-makers...
Monday, December 29, 2014
I got this vegetarian meatloaf recipe from my mom. I really enjoy her
seed loaf recipe and so do my children. I like to serve it with some
baked sweet potatoes and sautéed turnip greens but it goes well with
almost anything!
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
It is hard to believe that another year has gone by; I am now the mom of
a teenager and a tween and when I look to the future, I see college
expenses. So now it is time for me to sit down and create a new budget
for the New Year...
More with Less Articles
More Articles: Conserving Energy | More with Less | Reduce & Recycle | Everyday Alternatives


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VENICE, Italy (AP) — Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki's animation studio says "The Wind Rises," in competition at the Venice Film Festival, will be his last film.
Koju Hoshino announced Miyazaki's intention to retire Sunday, but declined to take questions, deferring to a news conference next week in Tokyo. "He wants to say goodbye to all of you, " the Studio Ghibli president said.
Miyazaki was not in Venice for the international premiere. His Italian distributor said he stayed in Japan for the domestic release.
Miyazaki, 72, is one of animation's most-admired and successful directors. He won an Oscar for "Spirited Away" in 2003, and a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement in 2005.
"The Wind Rises," Miyazaki's 11th feature film, is a fantasy-filled look at the man who designed Japan's World War II fighter planes.


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Lindsay Manufacturing Co., a world leader in technology-driven irrigation systems, has unveiled Greenfield as the brand name for their newly acquired line of mechanical move irrigation systems.
The Greenfield line includes center pivot and pivoting lateral move systems specifically designed to irrigate smaller sized fields in a simple and efficient manner.
"The Greenfield line provides greater product diversification for Lindsay by entering a new market — highly efficient, small-field irrigation," Lindsay President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Parod said. "We have great confidence in being able to supply customers in this special market with a high quality, durable product that will be serviced and sold by highly qualified dealers."
Greenfield center pivots are engineered to irrigate from one to 60 acres and can be custom-sized by span length, overhand and end-gun options. Greenfield irrigation systems require extremely low power input using 24-volt control circuitry and 90 volt DC motors.
These systems provide accurate water distribution with low-pressure requirements, making them suitable for a wide variety of applications. Greenfield pivots are supported on 12-inch wide by 26-inch high flotation tires for minimum ground compaction and maximum crop clearance.
Greenfield pivoting lateral move systems are designed to irrigate up to 80 acres and will cover almost an entire rectangular shaped field. These low-pressure systems have the strength and power to pull their own water supply hose.
The unique pivoting feature allows the system to make a 180 degree turn at the end of a run so the system will irrigate the opposite side of the lane on its return trip. This feature gives an average six span system an effective coverage width of 1,360 feet while using the same hydrants for both runs across the field.
Both Greenfield irrigation systems have minimal wheel tracking and are hot dipped galvanized structures. The systems will be manufactured at Lindsay's newly acquired facility in Nunn, Colo., formerly known as Oasis Enterprises.


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The Kansas Senate's top negotiator on tax issues said Wednesday that it's critical for the state to cancel a planned sales tax decrease if legislators want to cut individual income tax rates further.
The Kansas Senate's top negotiator on tax issues said Wednesday that it's critical for the state to cancel a planned sales tax decrease if legislators want to cut individual income tax rates further.
Sen. Les Donovan, a Wichita Republican, defended GOP Gov. Sam Brownback's proposal to keep the sales tax at its current rate as negotiators for the House and Senate began work on the final version of tax legislation. The three senators and three House members must reconcile differences between the two chambers and were meeting on and off throughout the day.
The governor and many Republican legislators want to follow up on massive income tax cuts enacted last year, but the state also must stabilize its budget. Brownback proposed canceling a sales tax decrease scheduled by law for July; the Senate embraced the plan, but the House did not, opting to be less aggressive with a new round of income tax cuts.
Leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature believe the two chambers can agree on a single, compromise plan, but House GOP leaders have said repeatedly that their chamber will insist on a decrease in the sales tax. But Donovan was adamant Wednesday that it is "absolutely critical" to keep the sales tax at its current rate.
"That is the bottom line, you might say, the lynchpin of whether this works or not," Donovan said.
The sales tax is 6.3 percent, boosted to that rate in 2010 to help balance the budget under Brownback's predecessor, then-Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson. He and lawmakers promised that most of the increase would be temporary, and the tax is set to drop to 5.7 percent in July.
Lawmakers in both parties are reluctant to break the pledge, though some Republicans are willing to consider it with the promise of future income tax reductions. The powerful Kansas Chamber of Commerce has opposed canceling the sales tax decrease.
Lead House negotiator Richard Carlson, a St. Marys Republican, acknowledged that agreeing on the sales tax is "probably the most difficult problem we'll have." He noted that the House's tax plan passed by a wide margin.
"A number of members of our House felt that we couldn't pass that with the full 6.3 percent," Carlson said. "I'm certainly hoping we can find common ground somewhere."
The Senate's tax plan also embraces Brownback's proposals to guarantee cuts in individual income tax rates over the next four years, dropping the top rate to 3.5 percent for 2017 from the 4.9 percent set last year.
The House plan would promise cuts in personal income tax rates only following years in which overall state revenues grew by more than 2 percent. Legislative researchers have projected that the top rate for 2017 would be 4.88 percent.
Both chambers would phase out itemized deductions as income tax rates dropped, but would use different formulas.


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State makes Nashua's Fairgrounds Elementary a priorityBy BARBARA TAORMINA
Union Leader Correspondent
July 18. 2013 8:37PM
NASHUA — Fairgrounds Elementary School is among nearly 50 Title 1 schools throughout New Hampshire that will receive additional support to boost low test scores and improve student achievement.
Last week, the New Hampshire Department of Education released a list of schools and added it was pleased to announce they had been selected as Title 1 Priority or Title 1 Focus Schools. Title 1 is a federal funding program that supports schools where at least 40 percent of the students are from low-income families.
Priority schools such as Fairgrounds made the list because student scores on the New England Comprehensive Assessment Program tests were in the bottom 5 percent for the state. Focus schools were chosen because of the disparity between test results among different groups of students within a school.
Although the DOE's suggestion that it was "pleased" to identify four-dozen struggling schools raised a few eyebrows, Nashua school officials said the positive tone is the result of the waiver the state received last month freeing it from many of the mandates of the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act.
Under No Child Left Behind, federal funds for disadvantaged schools came with a lot of federal strings attached such as annual progress goals aimed at continually improving test scores until all students within a school perform at grade level.
Schools that failed to meet those progress goals have been labeled "in need of improvement." Title 1 schools have been required to offer tutoring and school choice options, and schools that continued to lag behind have been required to replace staff, hire outside consultants and restructure administrations.
But last month, New Hampshire became the 39th state to receive a waiver from what many considered the impossible requirements of No Child Left Behind. Now, the state's Department of Education is developing a new approach that gives school districts more choices about deploying federal resources to help students who need more support.
"What's happening is really a reset of No Child left Behind," said Nashua Board of Education member David Murotake, who heads up Nashua's curriculum committee.
Murotake and Nashua School Superintendent Mark Conrad met with state Department of Education leaders Wednesday to discuss what many hope will lead to more innovative classrooms.
"This is a process that can lead to a positive way to improve student outcomes," said Conrad. "There are no easy answers or we would already be doing it."
Priority schools such as Fairgrounds are top concerns.
In the 2011-12 round of NECAP tests, 49 percent of Fairgrounds' third-, fourth- and fifth-graders were either partially proficient or substantially below proficient in math, while 42 percent were at similar levels for reading.
Last year, 55 percent of Fairgrounds students scored at those low levels in math while the percent of students scoring poorly in reading crept up 50 percent.
Educators are replacing the punitive approach of No Child Left Behind with more support for teachers through professional development and networking that will go hand -in-hand with the state's new Common Core Standards."What we will be doing is putting together a team with Nashua and Department of Education officials who will put together a plan on how we can move our schools forward," said Conrad.Overarching goals include improving teacher effectiveness, strengthening curriculum, redesigning learning time, and increasing family and community involvement in schools.
Conrad said Nashua has not received its Title 1 funding for this year yet, but he is not expecting any increases.
Last year, New Hampshire received a total of nearly $37 million in federal Title I funding. Nashua received $2.9 million in aid for the city's five Title I schools, including Fairgrounds.
"I don't think you'll see any additional grants, but there may be more resources such as additional tutors," he said.
The plan of how to move forward and help schools like Fairgrounds is still being hammered out, but Conrad is optimistic about what it will mean for Fairgrounds students and their families.
"I know they have talented teachers and caring staff, but we need a sense of urgency at Fairgrounds," he said. "It's our school that needs the most support."


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Chicago Fire Homegrown prospect Harrison Shipp garnered another collegiate accolade Monday, as TopDrawerSoccer.com named the Notre Dame attacker its 2013 Collegiate Player of the Year.
Just over a week ago, Shipp led the Fighting Irish to its first ever NCAA College Cup, tallying the game-winning assist in a 2-1 win over Maryland in Chester, Pa.
Shipp's 12 goals and 10 assists for Notre Dame also made him a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy which is set to be awarded on January 10.
Though the club has not yet signed Shipp to a Homegrown deal, earlier this month MLS confirmed he was eligible to be signed directly by the Fire.
At a Season Ticket Holder Town Hall on December 14, the day before the College Cup final, Fire head coach and Director of Soccer Frank Yallop spoke highly of Shipp, comparing him to a young Mike Magee before insinuating the team would be bringing him in as a Homegrown player by saying, "We'll get him."


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Facebook with theists
06-09-2012, 05:27 PM (This post was last modified: 06-09-2012 05:30 PM by Cardinal Smurf.)
RE: Facebook with theists
(06-09-2012 12:47 AM)sticks128 Wrote: The girl I am debating with just said "I don't think God is responsible for making the earth rotate. I know he is." And the context was not a "he created the Universe so everything that happens naturally is because of him" but rather a "I feel every day he is spinning it on his metaphysical finger like a basketball" context.
I don't have much experience yet with debating with theists. I myself was one many years ago and I've been reading forum posts a lot lately. So, take this with a big pile of salt if you must.
Did this debate begin spontaneously? Did you establish what you each hoped to come away from it with in the end?
From your last post it sounds like her continued interest in this debate is that she believes she will convert you.
No matter the outcome, you should both learn something from the experience. I would just take care feeding into her requests. Maybe just try to keep this verbal and not allow it to develop into each of you challenging each other with activities or involvement.
Also, as long as she continues attending church and spending most of her time with other Christians, all your work is likely for naught. If she shows no signs of doubt at all, then I would not expect your enlightenment to have an effect on her. Her fellows in Christ will likely "explain away" anything you say that may make her feel uncomfortable.
But, I could be wrong. We only have a small description so far of your dealings with her. Can you describe how she seems to feel about the subject matter you have so far offered her? Can you describe how she seems to feel about your continued debate? Does she seem inquisitive? Does she genuinely seem interested to know what your opinion is on religion? Or does she seem more eager to share more of what she knows with you?
EDIT: I read your last post again. It occurs to me that this doesn't sound like someone I would attempt to reason with.
He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy! -Brian's mum
RE: Facebook with theists
I went looking for a Thomas Paine quote for perspective for you:
"Attempting to debate with a person who has abandoned reason is like giving medicine to the dead."
― Thomas Paine
...and then found another which seems to conflict:
"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason."
― Thomas Paine, Common Sense
I'm going to stop trying to help now.
He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy! -Brian's mum
The following 1 user Likes Cardinal Smurf's post:1 user Likes Cardinal Smurf's post
mbrewer (06-06-2013)
RE: Facebook with theists
(06-09-2012 05:42 PM)Cardinal Smurf Wrote: @sticks128
The second quote is his observation that people will believe long-held myths; that time somehow gives them weight.
Skepticism is not a position; it is an approach to claims.
Science is not a subject, but a method.
The following 1 user Likes Chas's post:1 user Likes Chas's post
CaffinatedPuppy (04-04-2013)
07-09-2012, 11:28 AM (This post was last modified: 07-09-2012 11:35 AM by Cardinal Smurf.)
RE: Facebook with theists
(06-09-2012 06:03 PM)Chas Wrote: The second quote is his observation that people will believe long-held myths; that time somehow gives them weight.
Interesting. What I took away from his second quote there was the suggestion that anyone looking to convert someone else's opinion should be prepared with patience. That logic and reason are all well and good, but when the listener has been believing a thing for quite some time, it takes time for the seeds of reason to take root.
I thought the core ideal of the quote was patience. Conversely, the first quote seems to suggest one not waste one's time on those who refuse to see reason.
I suppose it all depends on the listener.
EDIT: I believe I do see how you interpreted the final sentence of the quote though. You and I both are likely thinking about the same thing in 2 different ways. You seem to be saying "time has converted this person (to their current way of thinking) rather than reason." What I was saying logically follows, which is "since they came to this line of thinking over a long time, reason is unlikely to be as effective as time and patience."
He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy! -Brian's mum
RE: Facebook with theists
Quote:For the most part, my Facebook friends are at least agnostic or open-minded enough to not fuss at me over any freethinking or anti-religion stuff I post. I have a few who will occasionally toss out a 'share this if you'll pray for this person who has cancer' thingy, but I just hide those, shrug and move on.That's how my F-list is now, but it wasn't always that way.
But the crazy, crazy woman I was talking about actually goes through everyone on her f-list's page-"likes" and trolls the pages. Like she'll tell them if she thinks it's in bad taste and generally she seems to feel like she's the internet-police. My aunt posted an Obama thing on my mom's FB wall, and this crazy woman called her and bitched at her for an hour, when my mom didn't even post it. So that's why she went through all my old "likes" and ended up on cracked.com, where they were making fun of a bad painting of Jesus, saying he looked like a pedo in it. He did. And it was funny, but she didn't think so.
Quote:I've trimmed down my list a bit more due to the reactions I was getting from theist friends that was unacceptable.The think I really can't grasp is that I used to be inundated with posts from Christians and I never once said anything. I never trolled them. But any time I posted anything remotely not in line with their views, they pounced all over me. And because they believe they have "the Truth," they think this is ok and have no idea why I don't like to be called an idiot for not converting to their religion. =D
RE: Facebook with theists
Sorry for the double post, but I had to share the fact that I was just Godwin'd today and I had to vent.
Apparently, standing up for human rights and saying religion can cause hatred and division is EXACTLY the same as what Hitler did in the Holocaust! Who knew?
Quote:I just want to say Amy your opinion on religon is remarkably similar to that of people like Hitler's on Judaism the only difference being he had much more power than you.
Same guy says I should be more "passive" when it comes to offending religious folks, even when human rights are concerned. Yeah, I see him getting removed from my F-list soon...
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Erxomai (08-10-2012)
Facebook with theists
(08-10-2012 01:55 PM)amyb Wrote: Sorry for the double post, but I had to share the fact that I was just Godwin'd today and I had to vent.
Bibliography or it didn't happen.
He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy! -Brian's mum
RE: Facebook with theists
Well, here's the whole thing
Dude thinks there is no good reason to EVER question religion or hurt anyone's religious feelings, including, apparently, when religion makes people violate human rights and kill each other (Salem witch trials, European witch burning, people getting killed over Innocence of Muslims, etc).
I think the confusion is he thinks, if I had "power," I would forcibly get rid of religion. I certainly would not. But I would hope to further human rights and to stop indoctrinating young children, because I think that closes their minds to other possibilities and makes it very hard to come to their own conclusions.
Strange, I never really thought of myself as being much like Hitler until today...
RE: Facebook with theists
(08-10-2012 04:28 PM)amyb Wrote: Well, here's the whole thing
Oddly enough, I've always pictured you with that little moustache.
Skepticism is not a position; it is an approach to claims.
Science is not a subject, but a method.
The following 2 users Like Chas's post:2 users Like Chas's post
amyb (08-10-2012), Erxomai (10-10-2012)
RE: Facebook with theists
Haha! I swear I don't have a 'stache.
It kinda blows my mind sometimes, the way some theists prove all my points about the problems with religion without realizing it.
And I'm very offended when people tell me I'm not allowed to mention being an atheist and I should keep my atheist mouth shut, even when I see harmful things being done because of religion. Everyone worries about "religious feelings," what about my "atheist feelings?" They get hurt all the time!
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