text:
Patrice necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 243 diseños de 52 diseñadores freelance.
Calamvale Medical Centre
We are a general practice (family medicine) group in our 12th year and are looking to rebrand and update our look! 12 doctors, 20 staff in an Australian suburban setting.
Our tag line is "For all family health care"
Our practice population is middle class and family orientated. We cover all aspects of family health and are the longest serving practice in our area with an excellent reputation.
We believe strongly in customer service and delivering the highest quality care and service to all patients.
Our target audience is our local existing patient base and new patients. Our geographical area is an area of high growth, home owners and middle to upper middle income earners. Many existing and potential new customers have young families - from new borns to high school aged children.
3 new practices have opened locally in the last 2 years, and we wish to maintain our reputation as the practice of choice while continuing to grow our business.
Our culture is one of highest quality service from all staff.
We require a simple, not overly stylized design.
We don't like:
. heart beat / ecg tracing / stethescopes / standard medical signs or clip art images
. pictures of people
. difficult to read fonts
Our nearest competitor and similar name (which causes confusion to customers) see http://www.calamvalefp.com.au, so we our design must be differentiated from this look.
Our current (outdated) website is http://www.calamvalemedical.com.au
We do like:
. medical colours - ie green/ blues - similar to current business card
. a design that will transfer well to printed materials - eg fax covers, business cards, website, signage etc.
. indicative of what we do - 'for all family health care'
. authorative, strong, caring and competent
. something timeless that will not date
. something that can transfer to other business arms - ie skin clinic, allied health practice
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
My first post here was about a radical bodily change I was undergoing (drastic weight loss due to an undiagnosed medical condition) and how it made me think about myself, my body, and my visibility as a woman. I shrank, quickly and unintentionally, and the experience reaffirmed my commitment to FA, because people praised me so lavishly for something that was both not under my control and actually a symptom of, well, misery. I was constantly reminded of the strange world of thin privilege: my clothes no longer fit, which was dispiriting and embarrassing — but when I walked into a store I could just buy a skirt, right off the rack, just like that! (That first skirt, I'm telling you, I am still amazed over two years later.) My body felt different in certain ways (chairs felt different; I got cold more easily) but not in others (my rack still got in the way of everything; I still had the same proportions, only narrower). I had crossed the line of cultural acceptability (as I had before in my life, but without the perspective of feminist theory and FA); I was through the looking-glass, almost literally.
Now I'm back on the other side. For the last year, a change in medications has both improved the state of my rebellious organs and caused weight gain as a standard side effect. I'm back around where I started, in the inbetweenie range, with an "overweight" BMI and a cartoony-sounding bra size. And you know what? I'm happy about it. Because I feel so much better than I did when I was thinner. Any negative thoughts I start to have about my fatter body — and we all have them, because we're trained to — are outweighed by the positive thoughts I have about, say, being able to eat cheese again without dire consequences.
This is not to say that there haven't been things that were difficult about gaining a bunch of weight. I want to make it very clear that here I am speaking from a position where, "overweight" or not, I still retain a lot of thin privilege: doctors still listen to me (so far), people don't demonize me to my face or on the news, I can still shop in some straight stores (to give just a few examples). Interestingly, the only person who's commented on my fatter body so far (as contrasted to the people constantly commenting on my thinner body) is a good friend who knows why I was losing so much weight before — and her comment was that she was glad to see me looking healthier. (Okay, to be fair, Mr Machine has also commented that my rack has gotten, uh, more substantial.) The point I'm trying to reach, here, is that between my still-not-that-fat privilege and my gradual shedding of weight-obsessed or non-feminist friends over the last few years, people haven't given me shit for gaining weight. (I'm sure my grandparents would have had some strong opinions, but dead men tell no tales, right?) I will tell you exactly what has caused me the most grief in the process of fattening up: my bras. Oh, and my boots. And my pants and belts. In other words: the clothes, the manufactured things, the objects. (But I have been patiently updating my wardrobe to keep up with my hips — and this week, I finally got some new bras (thank you Figleaves clearance!), and my world is suddenly a hundred times sunnier.)
Here's what was not difficult or irksome about getting fatter: my body. My reflection. My shape. Losing sight of my hipbones. Noticing a fold of flesh return to my back. Watching my profile change, take up more room in the mirror. Feeling more of me moving around. I like me. I don't mind having more of me, as long as I can afford to clothe more of me. There is no absolute value to any body size. There is no line on your mirror saying "If your hips touch this, your body is wrong." My body's not wrong now, and it wasn't wrong before. It's my body, and now that I live with respect for it, I don't dread or thrill to its changes in size.
In that first post, way back when, I wrote this:
Right now, I'm a lot thinner than I'm used to being. Temporarily, I'm feeling a disconnect between the "real me" and the "representation of me." But maybe I'll stay at this weight, and I'll realign my self-conception; maybe instead of a chubby healthy person, I'll be a thinnish person with a medical condition. I'll adjust. I'll be good to myself. Maybe my health will improve again, and I'll gain back those 20 pounds and more. I'll adjust. I'll be good to myself. I'll remember that this body I live in is me and not a container or disguise or symbol for me. How will I do it? I'll start right here.
Thanks for helping me be good to myself, Shapelings. I drink to you tonight.


text:
Town Square
School libraries in the SRVUSD
Original post made by Larissa Worth, San Ramon, on Feb 22, 2010
In a school district that prides itself in its overall state rankings and that has a specified goal on its website to "increase the academic achievement of all students"; it is imperative to understand that it wouldn't be possible to achieve these rankings or this goal without our school libraries. In fact many studies in the last few years have found that there is a direct link between students' access to school libraries and students' test scores.
School libraries are classrooms where students are taught essential research skills and the 21st Century information literacy skills that they require in order to navigate through all of the resources available to them in this age of "information overload." Students are also taught how to use critical thinking in examining and evaluating various information sources to discern what is authoritative and accurate.
School libraries provide priceless intellectual value to all of our students. To deny them access to their libraries is to lessen their chance for overall success and academic achievement!
Comments (60)
a resident of Monte Vista High School
on Feb 23, 2010 at 7:59 am
Our counselors have informed us that at tonight's school board meeting, the board will be discussing whether to lay off all of the district's counselors. The board will vote on the layoffs at the next meeting on March 9. Please write to the board (go to the SRVUSD website, click on district, board of education, board member contact info), or come to the board meeting tonight (7 pm, 699 Old Orchard) to voice your support of counseling!
a resident of Danville
on Feb 23, 2010 at 8:29 am
I hate to see anyone lose their job, but--at least in my case--I found my child's counselor to be useless. We have also had our fair share of useless teachers. Every parent needs to get involved in their child's academic career. Become familiar with what is required for graduation, as well as college testing and applications. Don't count on someone to do it for you. I'm glad that I did it my way. It took a lot of time, but it was well worth it. You--need to be your child's advocate. Good Luck.
a resident of Monte Vista High School
on Feb 23, 2010 at 10:47 am
Fire them all.
Since when do schools need counselors or librarians? Have people forgotten the internet? With the internet, it is extremely easy to apply for college or get a vast array of information.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 23, 2010 at 1:43 pm
I find our counselor to also be of NO use. They get involved in the wrong thing, while ignoring the important stuff! Save the Librarians!
a resident of Los Cerros Middle School
on Feb 23, 2010 at 2:20 pm
I am not only an involved parent in our district, I also work for the district. My children have attended various schools for the past 12 years. I have personal experience that the librarians and counselors have been a positive influence in my kids lives. For many years, the librarians have offered a safe learning environment children to do their homework. Many of these kids don't have a safe place to go after school. The librarians help the kids learn valuable technology. Things that just can't "pulled up from the internet." Librarians don't just check out and file books.
Our counselors are equally valuable, they are involved in so many aspects of the students success. They track their grades, give them someone to talk to. When some schools did a survey, many children didn't have anyone that they felt the could talk to. Remember middle school years and the first few years of high school are very difficult for many children. The incidence of teenage depression and just the day to day stresses for kids to participate in so many activities; burns many of them out. The counselors offer advice on how to handle these types of stresses. They are valuable to creating the schedules of the kids, running tutoring groups, offering assistance to parents, as well as many other duties that would highly jeopardize the success of our kids. We need to support our librarians and counselors and I strongly urge the School Board to protect their positions within our district.
Shame on the person who commented "fire them all." I hope you are never faced with the possibility of losing a job. These positions have some amazing people associated with it and most of them have families to support. Please think about that before you make such harsh and hurtful remarks.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 23, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I have to hand it to the school board - another year, another round of layoffs that directly impact the children. A very effective way of ensuring maximum parent involvement. As a taxpayer please tell me - how many layoffs occurred last year in the Administration of the district and how many are projected for this year?
a resident of San Ramon
on Feb 23, 2010 at 4:59 pm
I am a mother of two girls at Bollinger Canyon Elementary and I believe that the librarians are instilling a unique understanding of the power of the written word. Sure, people can go to the Internet and find a massive amount of information, but many people, children and teenagers in particular, do not have the understanding to consider the source and really determine if that information has value.
In addition, a school librarian begins by exposing a Kindergartener to wonderful books that encourage them to listen to words and enjoy the stories, while making them want to learn to read it for themselves. Then, they continue by exposing first and second-graders to increasingly complicated stories, boosting their confidence and developing their abilities to comprehend plots and characters and so much more! Then they begin teaching third graders and up how to take an idea that they need to develop and go about gathering information as research. Even in math, it is widely know that early learners cannot simply learn conceptually and that is what the Internet is, a virtual, conceptual library. In math, we use manipulatives to make concepts concrete. Libraries are concrete and exciting for children. Librarians are guiding children and helping to find those "topics" and levels of books that encourage readers. If a child is not that interested in reading, they can often come up with something that might spark some interest, even if it is Sports Illustrated Kids. They teach children how to find their "just right" books so that reading is just the right challenge without being boring or frustrating. Research has shown that reading is solidly linked to scholastic achievement and exposure to books from an early age is critical to language development. It is a hard time, with awful decisions being made about where to make cuts. I don't know the answers, but I do know that our schools without librarians would be a profound loss to our district.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 23, 2010 at 5:10 pm
"...a school librarian begins by exposing a Kindergartener to wonderful books that encourage them to listen to words and enjoy the stories, while making them want to learn to read it for themselves."
Excuse me, but shouldn't the parents be doing this for their kids LONG BEFORE kindergarten? Perhaps as soon as they're born?
a resident of Danville
on Feb 23, 2010 at 5:42 pm
"Fire them all.
Since when do schools need counselors or librarians? Have people forgotten the internet? With the internet, it is extremely easy to apply for college or get a vast array of information. "
Tell me, do you really understand what the day of a school librarian or a school counselor involves or are you simply guessing because you've never used what they have to offer? As a teacher and a parent, I rely on these professionals regularly.
The internet is an anemic substitute for a knowledgeable librarian. And not all parents can parent. Librarians and counselors make a difference every day in the lives of students and our schools will not be the same without them.
a resident of San Ramon
on Feb 23, 2010 at 9:49 pm
I cannot believe that this discussion even has to be had! The state has cut our funding so much that the school board has to decide between a librarian and a counselor? Yes, I agree that it is the parents' responsibility to read to their child from birth but the librarian introduces them to so much more! Our school librarian has exposed my daughter to books I promise you my daughter would NEVER choose when we go to the library together. And, YES, my daughter and I go to the library once a week. We have been going since she could walk, however that doesn't mean I can expose her to everything!
What's next, let's get rid of public libraries as well because we have the internet. Better yet, why don't we just get rid of books because we have the internet? When will this end?
When my daughter was in kindergarten my husband and I split up. My daughter looked forward to seeing the school counselor. It was a safe place for her to express her anger about what was happening in her life that she had NO control over. And, again, YES, we took her to see a therapist as well but it was the counselor at school that she related to and looked forward to seeing!
I don't want to see anyone lose their job and I most certainly don't want to see another cut at my daughters' public, NOT SO FREE, school. This garbage makes me want to pull her from the public school system and put her in a private school. Those of you who say fire them all should be ashamed of yourselves!
a resident of Danville
on Feb 24, 2010 at 12:53 pm
The internet is great, but libraries are very important, but once again it is the union that is the problem. Parent volunteers run most of the library responsibilities at our schools now and they can easily take on the other roles that the librarians say only they can do. Parent volunteers can run the library very efficiently and possibly even more because of their love for their children and friends, but the unions won't let that happen, they would rather fire them and close our school libraries. That is ridiculous!
As for the counselors, I agree that they don't do much, but if one child needs someone to talk to and they turn to a counselor instead of committing suicide, then it's worth it.
SRVUSD needs to start putting the kids first. Look at the Rhode Island HS that fired all of it's teachers. Amazing! If it doesn't work, start over. SRVUSD is too concerned with keeping up their image. Get rid of the bad teachers, listen to parents, prevent the bullying, and TEACH OUR KIDS, that's why we pay our taxes. Put the kids first, and then worry about where the money is going to come from. I'm sure that more parents would be willing to donate more (time and money) if they were convinced that it would be used wisely and help our kids.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 24, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Marie: I agree 100% with your opinions! You should consider running for the school board. Very few people understand that what is best for the teachers union is not what is best for the students and parents.
a resident of San Ramon
on Feb 24, 2010 at 3:45 pm
When using the term "Librarian" we need to remember that there is a huge difference between our district's secondary schools' Certificated Teacher Librarians who are double credentialed (with a CA teaching credential & a Teacher Librarian Services credential) and who often also have a Masters in Library and Information Sciences; and our elementary schools' Classified Library Media Coordinators who may or may not have had any formal education in Library Technology.
This is where it is easy for parent volunteers to mistakenly think that they could "run most of the library responsibilities at our schools ... and they can easily take on the other roles."
a resident of Danville
on Feb 24, 2010 at 4:08 pm
"Get rid of the bad teachers, listen to parents, prevent the bullying, and TEACH OUR KIDS, that's why we pay our taxes. Put the kids first, and then worry about where the money is going to come from."
Maria, this all sounds great and I think we all want these things. But unfortunately, none of these things is easy to accomplish. How do we get rid of bad teachers? I would love to hear your ideas on this because I know many frustrated parents who've been beating their heads against a wall trying to make this happen. Preventing bullying takes a coordinated effort (hopefully implemented by counselors) and it takes resources - up front. Putting kids first and worrying about where the money will come from later? I don't know how any school district could function this way. I'm not even sure what you're getting at here. I think this all sounds fabulous, but the question is how can it be accomplished?
a resident of Danville
on Feb 24, 2010 at 7:29 pm
"Disappointed"- To answer your question, you can accomplish Maria's goal by having a school board that stands up to the teacher's union, and prevents the teacher's union from bullying them into benefits we can not afford in this recession. Remember, they are called the "teacher's union", not the "what is best for the students union", and not "what is best for the community union", as their primary goal is to accomplish what is best for the teachers. It is time for school boards across the state to stand up to the teacher's union, and start doing what is best for the students, parents, and community, not what is best for the teacher's self interest.
a resident of Walnut Creek
on Feb 24, 2010 at 10:39 pm
It's sad that we have to lay off librarians and counselors but what else can we do? There is no money. Somebody has to go. It's the sad reality. When the money is not there, it's simply not there. Most families don't want to lose their home to foreclosure but when the money's not there to pay the mortgage that's what happens. A school district is no different. When the well is dry, some have to go without water.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 24, 2010 at 11:48 pm
We don't need these dum libraries. What can our kids learn from stoopid books that they can't get from TV?
a resident of Danville
on Feb 25, 2010 at 7:09 am
Getting rid of "tenure" would be a big step forward. It would make teachers do their job well or, like the rest of the world, get fired! The union may be beneficial for the teachers, but it's hurting our kids.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 25, 2010 at 8:06 am
It's tough because we're having a hard enough time attracting good teachers to the profession...most of these people could be out making a lot more in the private sector and probably would have more job security too. So how do you attract excellent teachers without some of the protections unions provide? More regulation at the state level? Is that what we want??
It's all well and good to say "do your job well or get fired," but if you can't make the job attractive enough, you're going to have to set that bar very low.
I don't have an answer for you, but forcing teachers to take the short end of the stick probably isn't the answer to improving the quality of education in this state.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 25, 2010 at 10:57 am
A national study last year showed that based on the number of hours most teachers work per year, teachers on the average earn more per hour than CPA's, electrical engineers, I.T. professionals, and several other professions. Having months off in the summer, and numerous school vacation days during the year that most other workers do not get, the average teacher earns more per hour than many professions. This does not even include the pensions that teachers earn, that no other occupations receive. People who go into teaching never expect to get rich, and often are attracted by the months off in the summer and all the school holidays. In conclusion, we can attract quality, good teachers, without giving away the farm to the teachers union. It is time for the school boards to renegotiate with the teachers union, prevent the union from bankrupting our districts, and start putting the students, the parents, and the community first, not the union.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 25, 2010 at 11:40 am
I'm guessing the national study you saw took into account the *recorded* hours teachers work. As a teacher I put in more hours outside the classroom (lesson planning, grading, tutoring students before and after school) than inside. And many many teachers work during the summer. Trust me, I was in upper management of a consulting firm and my husband and I consider my teaching job community service based on my "hourly wage."
If teaching were as attractive as you make it sound, we'd have more outstanding teachers than we do. Nobody goes into teaching for the pay or the benefits.
a resident of Walnut Creek
on Feb 25, 2010 at 11:59 am
If that is your line reasoning, legitimate as it is, then teachers should work year around, working professionally with colleagues, adapting and adjusting curriculum, developing and evaluating assessments, reforming school policies, etc. But the thing is, now you do have to pay for it...in cash.
You see, holidays and summers are not costing the district or taxpayers a dime for teachers salaries, that is why teachers make a salary range between $50-70 grand a year. But if you insist on teachers working the hours that other people work, then they should be paid appropriately which would cost the district and stakeholders a whole lot more.
Not to mention, I am sure many parents love the fact that school is out for the summer and they can pursue other learning and engaging activities WITH their children.
FYI (www.city-data.com/city/Danville-California.html)
Average Danville household income = $140,000/year in 2008
Average SRVUSD Teacher salary = 63,000/year
a resident of Danville
on Feb 25, 2010 at 11:59 am
Study was based on the teachers(and other professions)listing the total hours they worked, which included work at home. Every profession I know takes work home, so teachers grading papers at home or lesson planning is no different than any other job. If you were in upper management of a consulting firm and left to be a teacher, and you indicate you did not leave for the pay or benefits, you obviously left to have more time with your family with months off in the summer and all those school holidays that no other profession receives. That is exactly my point. If we are going to get quality teachers who value time off in the summer and all those school holidays, than there is no reason to bankrupt the district by giving in to the union's demand for higher salaries and to keep the pensions going forward. You stated that nobody goes into teaching for the pay or benefits. So why should the district give in to the union demands regarding pay and benefits? The second highest paid educational employee in the state is the President of the State Teachers Union, who makes over $650,000 per year. The only winner when the districts give in to the teachers union is the union and their high paid executives. The losers are the students, the parents, and the community.
a resident of Walnut Creek
on Feb 25, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Please post a reference for your study. I think this would be valuable information for us to look at. Also, could post where you got the salary of the President of the Teachers Union?
Thank you
a resident of Danville
on Feb 25, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Yes, the summers off are an attractive feature of teaching (although I will likely be teaching summer school). But the reason I left the private sector is that I love teaching and I think I make a positive difference in the lives of students. I think this is why many teachers are in the profession. The good ones anyway.
There is a lot wrong with the teachers' union, not the least of which are the high exec salaries you cite. And yes, the union engages in bullying. No doubt about it. Just ask any teacher who ever tried not being part of the union.
And again, I don't have solutions. I just hate seeing the resentment of teachers (and librarians and counselors) in general.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 25, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Disappointed: I think you make some great points, especially about the teacher's union bullying. I can also tell that you went into teaching for the right reasons, and that you do make a positive difference in the lives of students. I certainly do not resent teachers, and in fact, while I was a student, I was blessed to have some really good teachers, and my child has had some really good teachers as well. What I resent is the teachers union using our children and our community for their own selfish reasons. I also worry about the financial condition of our district, and worry that good teachers like yourselve, may be dismissed, due to lack of seniority, while teachers protected by the union will remain. Please realize that parents support teachers like you, and thank you for your efforts.
a resident of Walnut Creek
on Feb 25, 2010 at 7:25 pm
You are completely on target with your latest post. Although I believe the union to be a potential strength within the institution, if they could broaden their approach, they would be much more effective and have a much better outlook from the community they serve.
But, we can't lump all teachers in one category and assume the union speaks for them all. That is not the reality, and that is not responsible.
a resident of San Ramon Valley High School
on Feb 25, 2010 at 7:28 pm
I am a teacher in the SRVUSD district. I am shocked by some of the statements listed in this blog. Just who is bullying who? I work, I pay taxes, I am not an executive. The only people I manage are 160 students, and I haven't had a raise in years. I work from 7 AM to 5 PM most days with a 30 to 35 minute lunch. It's true I'm paid for 7 hours a day. But it rare that I don't take home work, plan during vacations and put in 3-4 weeks during the summer planning for the next year. And don't forget all the unpaid "volunteer" hours managing clubs, writing student recommendations for college and scholarships, as well as answering emails from parents and students at night and weekends that I do. It's true I don't have to do this but I do and so do many of us. Please stop vilifying the teacher union, the union is just a collection of teachers struggling like the rest of California to provide for their families.
a resident of Monte Vista High School
on Feb 25, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Look at the websites for the Orinda, Moraga, and Lafayette education foundations. They raise hundreds of thousands of dollars from parents, local businesses, and even a large number of community members that don't have children in the public schools. With that money, they have been able to save counselors, librarians, and many other programs that would have been cut because of the state budget cuts. The parcel tax in Orinda is over $500/year, while ours is only $144/year. California is close to last in the nation for funding of our public schools. Our district receives nearly $2000 less per student than the national average. I think our district schools do a terrific job on a shoestring budget. My kids have had wonderful, dedicated teachers and counselors who have gone above and beyond to give them a top notch education. It might be time for us to step up as a community and fund raise to help our schools. Did you know that being in a neighborhood with a great school system can boost your property values by $100,000-$180,000?
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 10:16 am
American: thanks and you are right-on about most of your comments. Many school and district administrators have become bullies, trying to accomplish their own goals for their own financial and social benefit. However, I would not say that Disappointed is a good teacher, she doesn't sound like one, but I wouldn't know until I went into her classroom to observe. Side note, I love your web-name… too many people live in this great country and have lost their American pride!
Library Advocate: you have got to be kidding about Danville parents not being able to run the school libraries. Most, if not all, Danville adults are college educated with years of experiences, and whether they gave up their careers to be a stay-at-home parent or are currently working, they can take over this job if the union was out of the picture. Then are kids wouldn't be missing out and we could save some money.
Disappointed/Sarah: it seems that you sort of made a switch in your comments. This district can easily find teachers. These teachers have it made, working in a beautiful area and don't have to worry about crime and looking over their shoulders as they write on the board. They also have so many parent volunteers doing their jobs it is crazy. Many of the elementary teachers have parents correcting papers and much much more. I would say to any dissatisfied teacher…quit, find a job you like, we don't need you.
Reader: American didn't say teachers should work year round, but I can say, some choose to by teaching summer school and enrichment programs and they do get paid extra for that! Also, those salaries you quoted…many Danville households are 2 income families, which would make the teacher's 10-month job salary comparable.
Teacher: Most companies haven't given raises in years and most people work well over their 40-hour salary. Most employees come home in the evening to start working at home to answer phone calls, emails, and prepare slideshows and presentations. That is normal today!
Parent: you got it! My opinion, the problem is egos. I have approached my elementary school several times about ways to collect free money from local and national businesses, but they are so high on that horse, they can't see though the clouds. They think it is beneath them to collect free money, but they can certainly keep asking me for money. However, I no longer feel comfortable that money is being spent wisely in this district.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 10:28 am
The real issue here is unions - they need to go away period. We do not need a union to protect teachers, teachers are educated and quite capable of representing themselves. This is 2010 and our country needs to wake up and understand that the role unions played at one time is no longer needed and driving our costs for everything so high. Good teachers want to teach and they don't need a union to help them do that. How many union officials will lose their jobs? How many district employees will lose their jobs? Why is it we are paying over $20,000 per year to "care" for our prisoners and less than $5000 to educate our children...our future! I just don't understand how we have let this happen and it's time to stop and make the right changes!
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Marie: Thank you for your very well thought out and logical opinions. Once again, I would encourage you to run for the school board, as common sense appears to be in shortage when dealing with the teachers union.
Parent: You are absolutely correct about Unions. Unions were beneficial to society in the early 1900's to prevent human right abuses such as child labor, but now only serve as a benefit to special interest bureaucrats at the expense of the public. Look at non-union shops like Wholefoods, that treat their employees with respect and dignity, have great benefits, and customers benefit from great service without union extortion problems. Then go to a store like Luckys, where the union runs the place, where service is horrible as management is paralyzed by the unions. If we got rid of the teacher's union, we could keep the best teachers, and remove those who remain solely due to union rules. We could have parents help run the libraries without the union threats. If a situation came up in which the teacher actually needed assistance due to a unfair employment issue, she could simply open the yellow pages and find hundreds of attorneys willing and able to help, without the Union getting involved.
What is really troubling is that lately the teachers union is starting to take over the Parents Teachers Organization, and fooling uninformed parents that the PTO(which has credibility with most parents) is behind an issue and that the parents should concur. For example, the PTO is now pushing a bill to lower the percentage of votes needed to implement a parcel tax. This is simply another attempt by the teachers union to flex their muscles and extort more money from parents and the community. I have also noticed that lately they only schedule PTO meetings during school hours, and thus parents who work and actually pay for these things, are unable to attend. Until the school board stands up to the teachers union, the educational system in California will continue to suffer, regardless of how many parcel taxes are passed.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 1:09 pm
"However, I would not say that Disappointed is a good teacher, she doesn't sound like one, but I wouldn't know until I went into her classroom to observe."
Um. Thanks.
Not sure where you saw the switch in my comments. I agree that teachers have a lot to be thankful for in this district (I don't teach here, but my kids attend school here). Middle and high school teachers don't have parents "doing their jobs" though...and my hours as a teacher are far longer than my hours in the corporate world. It's a 24/7 job. Most teachers don't mind since they love what they do. That is, as long as they're not targeted by community resentment while they're working that hard. :)
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Parent, you are correct. My frustrations with my school, administration, and district got in the way of my last comment. However, egos do play a role. You make a great point that the world is changing and laws need to be updated. I have made the comment in the past that our jails are ridiculous. If our prisons were run like other countries, then we would not have as much crime. Basic food and shelter is all they deserve for committing a crime. Entertainment, technology, and visitors, are privileges for law abiding citizens. Imagine how much money we could move into education, if we treat criminals the way they should be treated for breaking the law. Mind boggling!
American: I agree that the school boards need new visions, but with my 2 full-time jobs (mother and volunteer), I wouldn't have time to run. The grocery stores were a good example of how unions get in the way. Unions should not have the right in tell a business owner how to run his/her own company, nor should they run our public school system. The PTO problem you wrote about is what I mean when I say egos get in the way. Egos like to be all powerful, dominate, and take over everything they can, again, for their own financial and social benefit.
Unions and tenure are the major problems. If teacher jobs were not protected with tenure, then teachers would feel the need to produce, just like every other American who is fighting to keep their job in these tough times! If there are bad teachers, we need to be able to get rid of them fast and easily. Teachers are the most important jobs we have in this country. We need to have smart kids so that our next generation of leaders will make good choices to help our country get better.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Say what you will about the teachers union or unions in general, but I don't blame them one bit for organizing themselves in this manner. The way the state has chosen to de-prioritize education is appalling.
Every year when the state gets into financial difficulty it cuts the school budget and every year the only way to reduce the cost is to lay off teachers and/or cut their benefits. Look at what happened in West Contra Costa. Those teachers agreed years ago to reduce their salaries in exchange for a richer benefit package that would cover their dependents and not just them. What happened? This last year the school district told them that their dependents would not longer have benefits and that they would still be paid the lower salaries they had agreed to. A contract is a contract. A deal was struck. This is just one example of why teachers' unions exist, to protect themselves from the yearly exercise of making teachers "pay" for the state's inability to plan and prioritize the costs of education.
Teachers making $40-50K per year should not be forced to make up the gap. These are TEACHERS for crying out loud, the people who shape and influence the lives of our children who will someday run the economy that will ultimately support us in our old age.
You want to know why other countries are eating our lunch when it comes to competitiveness? It's because they've prioritized education. Their teachers are revered.
Do I normally support unions? No. In most cases they are obsolete. But for teachers, I don't blame them one bit.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Back to the money issue, our schools and district need to make a change! I now hear that our district will not have summer school. Are you kidding! Stop spending money on making our schools look beautiful. Stop spending money on fundraising. Stop spending so much money on lawyers to get lawsuits dropped. Stop buying things we don't need. Go back to the basics and teach our children. Give them a safe environment to go to school and learn.
There needs to be accountability. Some of the school egos have been in their jobs so long, they think they are God and can do whatever they want. Administration should be moved around to prevent misuses of tax payer money. Nothing should be hidden. Everything needs to be put out on the table for all to see. That is when you will see a difference. But then again it also takes a few strong-willed individuals to stand up to all of this. Again, like that one RI HS, get rid of the problem and start over. I admire their courage!
May God bless our children and school district, we need it!
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Money? Are you serious?
The school districts are getting so little money these days that to think they're going hog wild spending on incidental items is naive.
They're getting by on shoe-string budgets and every year the shoe-string gets more worn.
If the school district is cutting summer school it's because that's what it's come to. From a relative standpoint, we're ahead of other school districts, some of whom have cut back on toilet paper expenditures for crying out loud. There's an environment that conducive to efficient learning. Kids, in addition to your books, lunch, and gym clothes, make sure to bring in a few sheets of TP in case you need to go to the bathroom.
a resident of Walnut Creek
on Feb 26, 2010 at 2:29 pm
I am very happy to see this discussion begin to address the real issues. I was a little concerned with some of the original posts like "fire them all."
Two Cents and Disappointed seem to have a good sense of what they are talking about. The union is a reality. It will not go away. So rather than demonize all teachers because of the union, we should look at the union as a contingent in the budget process.
No doubt, SRVUSD does operate on a shoestring budget. There is no excessive spending anywhere. 85% of the budget goes towards the mediocre payroll of teachers. The union needs to recognize this. Now is the time to except that we will ALL have to make concessions during this budget crisis.
I would love to see the union align its goals with a merit pay system and protect good teachers, not old teachers. Nevertheless, until the teachers themselves start demanding these reforms, the union will continue to act in accord with old values. If you want the teacher's union to change, then talk to the teachers, don't talk to the School Boards.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Two Cents: I do not think our state de-values education. I think the problem is there is limited discretionary spending available, due to legislative and judicial mistakes, and we simply do not have the available money for education that we need. For example, liberal Federal Judges are forcing the Governor to provide state funded medical care to prisoners, care that is better than most law abiding citizens can afford. If we could reduce the amount of spending on prisoner medical care, we would have additional funds to improve education. Liberal politicians like Gavin Newsome and his cronies have passed laws and ordinances that drive our best businesses out of the state due to excessive taxes and regulations and restrictions, which greatly reduces our revenue. I honestly think our Governor and most politicians in California value education, realize it is under funded, but due to legislative mistakes and misguided policies, simply do not have the funds available. I would like to see the Governor and the legislature take the same approach they did with the workers compensation system, to the educational system, and fight fraud and abuses, for the good of the state. Unfortunately, with the powerful teachers union in control of the state, that will never occur.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Now you're talking. This is one of the worst parts of dealing with a union, the fact that they protect all of their members, even if they're incompetent. Unfortunately they will never agree to merit or performance based pay because one of the central tenets of unions in general is that all members must be protected. To allow any member to be singled out as better or worse than any other member only fragments the union and leads to a dilution of their collective power.
And even if we did have pay based on performance, how would we measure? To use a test would mean teachers teaching to the test and not for learning's sake. And don't blame teachers for that outcome because we all would do the same in their shoes.
Unfortunately, I think the best way to get the best people teaching is to dramatically raise their pay. In that way better people would compete for those jobs. It's no wonder given the choice between a $150K job at Cisco and a $50k job as a math teacher that most people would gravitate toward the private sector. What we're counting on then is having a few people sacrifice their pay in order to teach or worse, getting people who couldn't actually get a job at Cisco to teach math/science.
If the pay difference were $150K versus $90k a higher number of really qualified candidates would start to consider the benefits of teaching. They would be able to do so because they might actually be able to afford living in the same area as their school, etc. You would be telling the prospective teachers that they wouldn't have to sacrifice their economic well being to take up one of the most noble professions on earth.
I know what I'm proposing is pie in the sky, but again, it's a matter of priorities. You get what you pay for. If you want better teachers, then pay better. They WILL show up.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 3:51 pm
American: There's a difference between devalues and de-prioritizes. I don't believe that the Governor/state devalues education. I said de-prioritize.
I believe that the state really wants to provide a good education because they do understand that it's an investment. I think, however, that the country in general "de-prioritizes" education.
Why does the country spend $700 billion on the military? Why did the country go to work with Iraq when it didn't have to? Why does the country quickly come to the aid of foreign nations when there are so many needy people within our own borders? It's a matter of priorities.
We don't think twice about spending on the military because we feel we need to protect ourselves from outside forces. We also feel the need to be a super power.
If, however, we said that education above all else must be prioritized because it's in our best interests to do so, and oh by the way having a well educated work force would lead to a better economy and a better standing in the world economy, then we'd make the other expenditures take the brunt of the cuts.
We de-prioritize education to our own detriment. And believe me, in the end we will pay the price for it.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 4:17 pm
American: you are absolutely correct about the liberals forcing their ideas down our backs. They have a way of giving to "bad" people, like criminals, prisoners, and illegal immigrants, and taking from the "good" people like our children! But I am going to stop before I write 10 pages about what is wrong with our political system!
Reader: who is demonizing all teachers? Yes, we have some, maybe even a lot, of bad teacher that need to retire, quit, or be fired, but no one is saying all teachers. I do think you are a little out of touch with our schools. There is unnecessary spending and spending in areas that only benefit a few. Teachers have made demands, just in the wrong areas, but I'm not ready to talk about that. If you really think the union is a good thing, and benefits our students, then I have nothing else to say to you.
Two Cents: Yes I am serious! I quietly observe everything that goes on at my school. I listen to all ideas and opinions. I know way more than the school would like. Yes, we have "show-string budgets", but so what! Everyone should have a budget. It is a shame that our per-student income is less than the kids in the city, but, that did not put us into this financial problem. Yes, we would do much better if we had more money, but we also need to be spending that money wisely. Yes, the school district is cutting back every year, but they are cutting the wrong things! TP, are you serious?
If we spend what we have more wisely, fight the politicians for more money, ask for local and national businesses to donate to our schools, and maybe even pay more property tax for our schools, then we would have more money to pay for better teachers. As for your comments on our armed services, if they don't protect us from everyone who wants to destroy us, then we won't need schools and teachers anyway, because there won't be another generation of American kids to teach. God bless America!
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Marie, stop it! You are killing me. :)
You are advocating higher property taxes?! That's inconsistent with what I thought were your conservative leanings.
I still say we need to spend less in other areas. There a difference between spending to "protect" ourselves and spending to invade countries we don't have to. We spent trillions with a "T" to remove Saddam. To protect ourselves does NOT cost trillions, but we spent/borrowed that money. If only we had the sense to prioritize education.
The TP comment is real. A number of Oakland and Richmond schools have said they are no longer spending on toilet paper. Is that really the country you want to live in? One that would rather spend trillions on a useless war as opposed to providing funds for something as basic as education.
I for one do not advocate higher taxes of any kind to pay for what an educational system that we rightfully deserve. I'm also in favor of military spending that is intended to protect ourselves.
The Iraq war was not an exercise in "protecting" the country. And I do not wish to harp on how/why we did it, but I do so to highlight that this country has clearly f***'ed up its priorities.
Another thing, could you please provide examples of the wasteful spending in the school that you've observed. If you are correct then I am very interested. Maybe I've overlooked something. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Marie for superintendent! (just please don't advocate raising property taxes)
American for mayor!
My two cents is that we need to raise class sizes. The teachers unions fought for lower class sizes because the inherent effect of that is hiring more teachers. It matters not to the student. That's a ruse. Kids need greater discipline, which does not only come through a 50s style paddling, but is completely attainable through proper amounts of physical activity and nutrition. Kids naturally want to listen, learn and obey. We must just get their natural neurotransmitters going, instead of poisoning them with Ritalin. With such discipline a class is easily manageable at 40 kids per. Being that teachers salaries make up the entirety of a schools budget, raising class sizes to 40 would eliminate 30% of the cost, leaving plenty to pay even a touch more for those we keep, so that capitalism ensures we have good minds at the helm of our classrooms. And we would still come out fiscally ahead by far. This is THE solution
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 7:05 pm
I completely agree, Gunslinger. It is THE solution. If you want all the teachers, good and bad, to quit their jobs.
Holy smokes!
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Timely article in Diablo Magazine for March:
Web Link
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Gunslinger: Your class size arguments are brilliant, and would greatly reduce the district spending. With less teachers needed, we could also do a better job of evaluating their skills and have a competitive market where the best teachers are rewarded, and the ones who depend on the union would be gone. We also need to give school administrators the power to quickly remove students who are discliplinary problems, so teachers can spend more time actually teaching, which is really important with a larger class size. Often, one or two problem students hijack the learning experience, and when faced with suspension, lawyer up, playing the "disability" card. Administrators need to support the teachers and quickly remove the problems students. Parents need to be more involved in the process of teaching morals and values to their children at home, and the teachers need to stop wasting time teaching "political correctness" ideology to the students. This scenario, not parcel taxes, or union threats, is needed to reverse the failing education system in California.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 26, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Gunslinger and American, how refreshing to read logical solutions!! Hate to bring up the good old days but; thirty five students to a classroom used to be the norm. Now with Paraprofessionals and parent volunteers and classes half that size, teachers threaten to quit their jobs if given any more to do. This mess is so out of control, unless American can run the show....I wish!
a resident of Alamo
on Feb 27, 2010 at 9:10 am
As good intentioned as they are, often few parents provide the basic and necessary book/reading support at home since this would require much attention to details, and insight into the capacity and interest of their children.
Professional librarians are like the surgical team in which each component is necessary to the total program. The surgeon(child) needs attending support even if the patient(child/family) never sees the benefit or fully comprehends the interdependence of the support team.
Librarians can lead, tactfully and cautiously, many young readers to appropriate, beneficial and interesting books for self involvement into the world of the imagination which is not recognized for the value it has for the young mind. Librarians, obviously, have loved reading, books, and have developed the mental range of reading knowledge which is more then just checking out books.
What often can not be seen is considered as meaningless, valueless, and of little positive benefit in the long run. Considerably wrong by just looking at what historically has been done by those with the most advanced imagination anyone could have, be that in science or the arts.
Hopefully, each in the community would side for the long range benefit of keeping librarians.
May you read an interesting book soon and be thankful for all the past librarians who provided, guided, and attended to your interests when you were young as well as currently.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 27, 2010 at 10:08 am
I was the best reader in my elementary school, and I can absolutely say it was due to my parents, not the librarian
a resident of Danville
on Feb 27, 2010 at 11:17 am
Marie, you have children. Would you be happy with 40 per class?
There's pretty strong evidence that large class sizes (with today's curriculum, not that of 35 years ago) result in lower test scores. And we all know what lower test scores and the resulting perceived school quality does for home values, so even on a purely selfish level we can appreciate the importance of test scores.
Certainly some self-motivated, bright kids with involved parents will fare just fine in a class of any size, with or without counselors and librarians, as Gunslinger clearly did in elementary school. But the goal is to educate ALL students, including those whose parents do not or cannot provide what they need. And like it or not, it is also the responsibility of our school system to educate those with disabilities, whether or not some community members perceive those disabilities as valid. If we remove those children from the classroom (at their expense, by the way, as there's strong evidence most children with learning disabilities benefit from maximizing their time in the regular classroom), as was suggested, because they "detract" from the learning of the majority, where will you put them? In special classrooms for the full day? Those still have to be funded by the district. Not every child/family fits your ideal mold and can buck up and fall in line with your "efficient" system.
I am "disappointed" that our only choice may be to reduce the number of counselors and librarians in this district. It's a great loss for our children and our community. I hope another solution can be found.
a resident of Danville
on Feb 27, 2010 at 1:28 pm
No Sarah, it's not up to the responsible parents to pay through the nose for those who take no responsibility. And that's a false choice anyway. The facts are with a lack of discipline you could have five kids in a classroom and the problem kids would still fall behind. With discipline you can have 40 kids per class with no one left behind. Booyakashah!
a resident of Danville
on Mar 1, 2010 at 9:59 am
Let's not stop at the teachers unions. Let's include the bloated and redundant education bureaucracy. A couple of examples - all school jobs are built at prevailing wage. That adds a premium of more than 40% to everything built for the schools. We can get the work done cheaper and better. Eliminate DSA (Division of State Architects). They require a set of building codes that are marginally different than codes for public buildings. Buildings aren't any better - just more expensive. Oh yeah, while we're at it, return the portables. ALL of them! With classes getting larger, there has to be less need for them. Unless the schools start dealing with expenses like any business enterprise in financial trouble they should stop whining and asking for more tax money and bonds.
a resident of Danville
on Mar 1, 2010 at 10:00 am
What a wonderful opportunity for high school students to become library aids, gain valuable experience and help fill a needed position (of course the Teacher's Union would go balistic).
I served as one in both my Junior and Senior year and aside from helping the other tudents find what they were looking for and checking books in/out I got a lot of studying done.
As to counselors..... if we had listened to the counselor, my son (who was a "late bloomer")
would be in a "trade" instead of getting an MBA from Duke and heading a start-up in Silicon Valley!
a resident of Danville
on Mar 1, 2010 at 10:20 am
In theory school libraries would be a good thing if they were used as a means of instructing students to do their own research and evaluation of things they hear and read about. This is not the case in this area where schools are used for indoctrination and libraries suppress politically incorrect factual information.
I think this kind of system should not be supported as changes are unlikely to occur.
a resident of Blackhawk
on Mar 1, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Wait, so Duffy, just because one counselor failed to see the potential in your late blooming son, we should deprive all of our children from having academic and crisis counselors?
a resident of Danville
on Mar 2, 2010 at 7:33 am
Duffy...I say kudos to you. A caring, concerned, semi-literate parent should be able to guide a child through what is typically done by the counselors. It only take a little time and research.
As for someone to talk to...there are always the parents, parents of friends, family, priest, etc. A lot of other options.
a resident of Walnut Creek
on Mar 2, 2010 at 9:31 am
How awful to think that one of your own Danville children has to go to a trade school and live a second class life? Get over yourself, Duffy.
That guy who works in the garage fixing your SUV must be a criminal right? He must have a poor quality of life, right? He must have been a bad student, unsuccessful, had a bad upbringing? Poor old mechanic never got a break in life did he, now he is stuck in this dirty old garage fixing rich people's cars. Where did he go wrong? Hmmm. What a shame. I better neglect all advice from educational professionals and spend $100,000 for out of state tuition so my son can have a prestigious degree from Duke.
a resident of Danville
on Mar 2, 2010 at 4:02 pm
If Gunslinger could read he would have noticed that the state is in a depression. Therefore there is less money for everything in the state budget. The causes of the depression are many: bank managers, loan officers, intense greed among the main pillars of Wall Street and the worlds financial officers.
IT IS NOT THE F-ING TEACHERS UNION WHO CAUSED the need to cut back at all School Districts not alone San Ramon.
a resident of Diablo Vista Middle School
on Jun 5, 2017 at 11:35 pm
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Animal Kingdom
Academy Award® Nominee
A crime drama exploring the tense battle between a criminal family and the police, and the ordinary lives caught in the middle.
Starring Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, Luke Ford, Jacki Weaver
Directed by David Michôd
Running Time - 1:52
Genre - Drama
Opened in Theaters - Friday, August 13th, 2010 (9 years ago)
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My ski tech, Peter, giving me a pep talk
Me and the rest of Team USA during the team competition
Working on my jumping form
A season for a ski jumper usually includes the circuit of World Cups, Continental Cups or FIS Cups in which one athlete will follow those competitions depending on their level. As you know I am on the World Cup circuit and those 16 competitions take up the majority of my season. However, aside from World Cups, I also have World Championships, which take place in late February and World Junior Championships.
I competed in World Junior Championships last month, which includes all Nordic athletes (ski jumpers, Nordic combined and cross country skiers). For ski jumpers and Nordic combined the age is under-19 but for cross country it continues up to U23. These events are held every year and this year it was in Liberec, Czech Republic. I had jumped in Liberec twice before and although I knew it was a hard hill, it fits my jumping style really well.
The week before junior worlds, I was training in Italy and had had some of the best jumps of the winter, if not my life. I was beyond confident going into the event and was ready to complete my medal set. I had won a bronze in 2010 and silver in 2012, and I could feel that this was the year to shine.
I was wrong.
All my training jumps were ranked in the top three and going into competition day, I was happy, having fun and enjoying life. You could say this all came crashing down when I literally "crashed down" from the sky and jumped short. As I landed my first jump and realized I was only in sixth and 20 points out of winning, my heart was literally crushed. I had dreamed of becoming junior world champion since the age of 13 and in all of about six seconds, it was over.
I walked down into my changing room and immediately broke down. It wasn't that I was mad or upset, I just simply realized I couldn't handle the pressure. Keep in mind, I still had one more jump. After about two minutes I realized I had to pull myself together and get back to the top of the hill.
Of course my second jump was better, although I remained in sixth and walked away without a medal. I had wanted gold and I had gotten nothing. Again, after talking to coaches, teammates, parents, wax techs and officials the tears were never ending and it had finally sunk in that the competition was over.
I arrived back at the hotel and laid in my bed thinking about what had just happened. Then it came to me... I'm human. I simply woke up in the wrong mindset and messed up six seconds of my day which happened to be the ones that mattered most. But what are we if we aren't human? That is what makes the world go round, that's what makes this world function and most importantly that is what makes ski jumping one of the hardest sports in the world.
I let myself get bogged down for a couple hours then picked myself up and left it all behind. It was a time of the past and the only thing I could do was learn from it. Since I was little my mom always told me it's not always about the results people often admire but the person you perceive to be in others' eyes… because that, could be that hardest task of all.
Two days after the individual competition, we had a team competition in which four girls from one country compete together by adding up scores. To keep the story short, my second jump that day was 106 meters and I had set a new hill record on that very hill.
Although I had my best jump on the wrong day, mentally I knew I still had it in me. And that made me smile for a while.


text:
Capital and Counties Properties
Capital & Counties Properties PLC (Capco) is one of the largest listed property companies in central London. Our key assets are the Covent Garden and Earls Court estates – two of the capital's greatest destinations and addresses. We create and grow value through a combination of asset management, strategic investment and development.
- More
- Capital and Counties Properties Website


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NEA announces grant to Boulder filmmakers for Terry Southern documentary
Boulder-based director Nile Southern and producer Diane Markrow were awarded a $20,000 grant today from the National Endowment for the Arts for their documentary "Dad Strangelove," about literary luminary Terry Southern.
Nile Southern is son of the famed essayist, screenwriter, book author and champion of the Beat writers, who died in 1995. His first of eight (credited) screenplays was the darkly satirical, Cold-War classic "Dr. Strangelove" — co-written with Stanley Kubrick and Peter George.
It was nominated for an Academy Award, as was Southern's 1969 counterculture touchstone "Easy Rider," which he wrote with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper.
Born in Texas in 1924, Southern was hailed once by Gore Vidal as "the most profoundly witty writer of our generation" and by Norman Mailer as "the heir apparent to Nathaniel West."


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P598 - Conduction-Cooled FPGA-based USM Main PMC
PCI Mezzanine Card
The P598 is a conduction-cooled USM main mezzanine PMC with onboard FPGA.
Main Features
Technical Data
- User-defined through FPGA
- Line drivers and/or additional hardware implemented on USM Universal Submodule (not included)
- 32MB SDRAM memory
- Soldered
- 132MHz memory bus frequency
- FPGA-controlled
- 2MB non-volatile Flash
- For FPGA data and Nios firmware
- FPGA-controlled
- Standard factory FPGA configuration:
- Main bus interface
- Altera SOPC Unit incl. Nios II/f soft processor, GPIO, UART and DDR2 SDRAM control
- Wishbone-to-Avalon/Avalon-to-Wishbone bridges
- Chameleon Table V2
- Interrupt controller, SMBus controller
- PCI to Wishbone bridge, ID EEPROM emulation
- 16Z045_FLASH - Flash interface
- 16Z034_GPIO - GPIO controllers (2 IP cores, for onboard LEDs and 8-bit I/O)
- The FPGA offers the possibility to add customized I/O functionality. See FPGA.
- One slot for a standard USM module
- For implementation of line drivers and/or additional hardware
- Eight onboard LEDs, FPGA-controlled
- I²C interface to detect the USM module
- Compliant with PCI Specification 2.2
- 32-bit/33-MHz, 3.3V V(I/O)
- Target
- Isolation voltage:
- Voltage depends on implementation and signal routing of USM
- Supply voltage/power consumption:
- +5V (-3%/+5%), FPGA idle / US0 plugged: approx. 118mA, memory test / US0 plugged: 122mA
- +3.3V (-5%/+5%), FPGA idle / US0 plugged: 76mA, memory test / US0 plugged: 82mA
- MTBF: 848,597h @ 40°C according to IEC/TR 62380 (RDF 2000)
- Dimensions: conforming to IEEE 1386.1
- In accordance with VITA 20 (proposed Draft Standard for Conduction Cooled PMC)
- Weight: 36g (w/o USM module)
- Temperature range (operation):
- -40..+85°C, conduction-cooled
- Airflow: min. 10m³/h
- Temperature range (storage): -40..+85°C
- Relative humidity (operation): max. 95% non-condensing
- Relative humidity (storage): max. 95% non-condensing
- Altitude: -300m to + 3,000m
- Shock: 15g/11ms
- Bump: 10g/16ms
- Vibration (sinusoidal): 2g/10..150Hz
- Radio disturbance: no connection outside housing, therefore radio disturbance not relevant
- ESD/burst: no external interface connector, therefore ESD and burst not relevant
- Flash update tools for Linux, Windows, VxWorks, QNX
- Driver software depending on implemented FPGA functions
- For more information on supported operating system versions and drivers see Software.
- FPGA Altera Cyclone II EP2C35
- 33,216 logic elements
- 483,840 total RAM bits
- Supports Nios II soft processor
- Connection
- Functions can be linked to Wishbone or Avalon bus
- Available pin count: 46 pins (FPGA to USM)
- Functions available via USM at rear I/O connector
- MEN offers an FPGA Development Package as well as Flash update tools for different operating systems.
- Package comes with function-identical convection-cooled PMC module with front I/O
- Only for development of FPGA, independent of conduction cooling
Ordering Information
MDIS5 System (and Device Driver) Package (MEN) for Linux. This software package includes most standard device drivers available from MEN.
MDIS5 low-level driver sources (MEN) for 16Z034_GPIO, 16Z037_GPIO and 16Z127_GPIO
Windows FPGA update tool (MEN)
MDIS5 low-level driver sources (MEN) for 16Z034_GPIO, 16Z037_GPIO and 16Z127_GPIO
MDIS5 System (and Device Driver) Package (MEN) for VxWorks. This software package includes most standard device drivers available from MEN.
MDIS5 low-level driver sources (MEN) for 16Z034_GPIO, 16Z037_GPIO and 16Z127_GPIO
QNX FPGA update tool (MEN)
MDIS4 system (and device driver) package (MEN) for QNX, source code. This software package includes most standard device drivers available from MEN.
Nios PMC USM FPGA Development Package (MEN) (without Altera Quartus II) (license included in PMC USM FPGA Development Kit)


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Monkey business? US unsure of Iran's space claims
The United States expressed doubt about Iran's claim that it safely returned a monkey from space, saying it is questionable that the monkey survived - or if the flight happened at all.world Updated: Feb 05, 2013 15:52 IST
The United States expressed doubt on Monday about Iran's claim that it safely returned a monkey from space, saying it is questionable that the monkey survived - or if the flight happened at all.
State department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said a lot of questions remained "about whether the monkey that they reportedly sent up into space and reportedly came down was actually the same monkey, whether he survived."
"The Iranians said they sent a monkey, but the monkey that they showed later seemed to have different facial features," Nuland told reporters.
"He was missing a little wart."
Tehran blames the confusion on Iranian media for initially using a photo of a backup monkey.
It says the monkey orbited and returned safely, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad added Monday that he would consider being Iran's first astronaut in space.
Nuland described Ahmadinejad's proclamation as an "interesting choice," but was more diplomatic than Republican Sen John McCain, who joked about Ahmadinejad's ruminations earlier Monday.
"Wasn't he just there last week?" McCain said in a tweet and linked to a story about the space-orbiting monkey.
So Ahmadinejad wants to be first Iranian in space - wasn't he just there last week? "Iran launches monkey into space" news.yahoo.com/iran-launches-…— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) February 4, 2013
Faced with criticism, McCain said in another tweet, "lighten up folks, can't everyone take a joke."
But it wasn't funny to Michigan Rep Justin Amash, a Republican, who tweeted, "Maybe you should wisen up & not make racist jokes."
Jonathan McDowell, a Harvard astronomer who tracks rocket launchings and space activity, backed up Iran's claim that monkey space flight was real.
However, he had a slightly different explanation for the photo mix-up, saying the simian with the mole died during a failed space mission in 2011. Internet wonders which monkey Iran sent into space
Iran has never confirmed that a monkey died in 2011, or that there was a failed mission that year. Tehran says its goal is a manned space flight.
Washington and its allies worry the program may be cover for ballistic missile technology development.


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Coffee Connections - Bavaria - January 10, 2020
Join the USO as we host a small gathering for military spouses to connect with each other while enjoying a cup of coffee. This is a great way to network, share advice, discuss local events, and meet new friends! All spouses of currently-serving military members are welcome.
More from the USO
Mar 26, 2020
38 Free, Fun and Educational Things for Military Kids To Do at Home During COVID-19 Quarantines
With schools closed and social distancing required to "flatten the curve" of the coronavirus pandemic, many military spouses are suddenly at home with their children with endless hours to fill. Here is a list of free, fun and educational activities for military children of all ages and interests to keep them busy during COVID-19 quarantines.
Mar 24, 2020
USNS Mercy to Care for Non-COVID-19 Patients in Los Angeles
In a matter of days, the Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy will sail from San Diego and dock in the port of Los Angeles to help lift the burden from local medical treatment facilities that need to focus their resources on patients affected by the coronavirus pandemic.


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Views » January 21, 2014
A Private-Sector Model: Really?
How Obama and the Democrats failed to defend the universal right to healthcare.
The president's (and the ACA's) declining popularity underscores growing public doubts about Democrats' willingness to stand and fight.
Outside observers watching the brouhaha over the Affordable Care Act's website malfunction might well have assumed that the GOP, not the Democratic Party, is the governing party. After all, GOP zealots turned the long-overdue launch of national healthcare—a momentous achievement for the country—into a phony crisis about a website malfunction. What's more, the national media obliged by allotting more time to fulminations about the website than interrogating the ideologues who oppose healthcare equity. While a few progressive commentators pushed back, the governing party went into retreat.
The GOP fury over the website's issues was rooted not in any newfound interest in the ACA's success, but in a long-held opposition to healthcare as a "right." In a telling moment in the 2008 presidential debates, Obama asserted a right to healthcare, and McCain rejected it. The problem is that Democrats have handled this malevolence as normal political discourse, rather than the outlier worldview it is. Republicans are the only major political party in the industrialized world still fighting national healthcare. The failure of Democrats to turn this retrograde worldview into a national scandal explains why the GOP maintains an undeserved death grip on the healthcare conversation.
But Democrats have not only failed to confront Republicans. They have also reinforced conservative mantras that undermine their professed agenda by mimicking the anti-government evangelism and uncritical exaltation of markets, most memorably in Bill Clinton's famous 1996 declaration that "the era of big government is over." Democrats also ceded political space to GOP fanatics during the Affordable Care Act's conception in 2009. Instead of contesting Tea Party fearmongering around Obamacare, Democrats offered concessions—first by excluding single-payer healthcare from consideration, then jettisoning the public option. The president's (and the ACA's) declining popularity underscores growing public doubts about Democrats' willingness to stand and fight.
Rather than reassert the purpose of his health plan in the face of post-launch criticism, Obama apologized—repeatedly. His team promised that the improved ACA website would operate with "private-sector velocity and effectiveness." Apparently they couldn't find any examples of government "velocity and effectiveness." They clearly didn't consider the U.S. air traffic control system, which wondrously handles 64 million takeoffs and landings each year (Air Force One included) and oversees the safest skies in the world. Nor the Social Security Administration, which has never missed a payment to its 57,469,232 beneficiaries. By contrast, in the private sector last year, a security breach at Target Corp compromised the credit card data of 70 million customers, and a battery malfunction grounded all Dreamliner jets—built by that icon of capitalism, Boeing—but no one blamed free enterprise.
Instead of defusing a phony crisis, the Obama administration's gratuitous paean to "the private sector" only emboldened foes. On Fox News, archconservative Charles Krauthammer denounced the hypocrisy of conceding private-sector superiority while trying to nationalize American medicine.
Fast forward to the ACA rollout. Obama lets right-wing ideologues exploit a website malfunction. He tolerates feigned GOP outrage over cancelled health plans, although Republicans didn't protest the turnover of more than 50 percent of individual plans each year under the previous system. He begs unscrupulous insurers to reinstate junk policies, when he could have turned the tables on them and revived (yes) the public option by absorbing the cancellation victims into a federal plan like Medicare.
Progressive disillusionment with Democrats has simmered for decades. As progressives push for more populist candidates, Democrats must choose a path. Will they confront corporate power and reassert the rightful place of government to facilitate economic justice and equity? There are signs of progressive renewal, including the inspiring struggles of restaurant and retail workers, campaigns to raise the minimum wage, election outcomes in New York and Seattle, growing opposition to war and a rising educational justice movement. Will Democrats embrace the demands of a resurgent progressive movement, or will they continue to indulge their corporatist impulses—and donors?
Help In These Times Continue Publishing
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James Thindwa is a member of In These Times' Board of Directors and a labor and community activist.


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Note: This is a corrected version of an earlier story. Correction appended below.
MONTREAL — In a control room walled with rows of vintage cassette decks, technician Mohamad Sam pops a newly duped tape into an Alpine AL-35 player, puts on his headphones, and listens.
A guitar strums, a guy sings.
"Too much bass," Sam says. "And that hiss – I'll have to bring that down."
He steps over to a digital sound mixer called a Dominator, adjusts the levels of the master recording, and dupes a new tape. The second time around, the quality check is a thumbs-up.
And so another day spools out on Nun's Island at Analogue Media Technologies — Amtech, for short, online at www.duplication.ca.
With the flick of a switch and some hand packaging of the finished goods, one more Montreal indie music cassette is sent on its way to market.
Cassette, you say? Didn't those things disappear years ago, replaced by compact discs and MP3s?
Apparently not.
In an age when music has become so easily accessible online, a cassette is something retro, tactile, cool.
"It's the idea of music being represented physically," said Sebastian Cowan, 26, owner of a small Mile End indie music label called Arbutus Records.
"It's a pretty amazing medium. Not only is it small and compact and esthetic, it's nearly indestructible. It's an actual product in the physical world that has weight and structure.
"And it's a conversation piece."
It's also much cheaper to make than that other retro favourite, a vinyl record — about three times less.
Cassettes are "absolutely the most economical way you can manufacture music," added Cowan. Most of the six bands on his roster have cassettes.
At concerts, they sell for about $5 each, and often include an MP3 download card.
"People don't necessarily play the cassette," Cowan said. "They usually just listen to the music in MP3 format."
Either way, the medium gets the message across, cheaply.
"An artist might not be at a point where they can sell 1,000 CDs, but they can make 50 cassettes, and certainly, those will sell," Cowan said.
"It's not a very risky venture to undertake."
It can also be a first step on the road to fame.
The label's most successful artist — Grimes, aka Claire Boucher, an experimental Montreal singer-songwriter — released her debut record, Geidi Primes on cassette in 2010.
Her third album, Visions, in 2012, got a rave review in the New York Times, and since then, Grimes has become a major star on the indie scene.
"Her first album was a run of 30 cassettes – we did them at Amtech," Cowan recalled. "Now she's gone on to sell hundreds of thousands of albums worldwide."
Across the indie-music world, cassettes never really went away, and have enjoyed a resurgence in the last few years as young bands find a cheap way to get their music out.
In the U.S. and England, the trend goes back a few years.
"The future ... never goes quite to plan," Guardian columnist Louis Pattison wrote from New York in May 2009. "Indeed ... the humble cassette tape seems to be undergoing a grassroots revival."
Tape racks at independent record shops are full of new material, he noted, bands putting out cassettes praise their "dynamic range" and "Maxell reports blank tape sales are up."
There's even, he added, "a revival in the art of the mixtape, proving that to this day, nothing says 'I love you' like two hours spent jabbing at a pause button."
Still, it's a far cry from the popularity cassettes used to enjoy.
In the U.S., the medium's largest market, sales of recorded-music cassettes peaked in 1988 at 450.1 million, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
Only about 15,000 sold in 2010.
But for a subculture phenomenon, the revival is widespread.
It's even being taught in media courses at universities, by academics such as McGill University's Jonathan Sterne, an associate professor of communication studies.
Author of The Audible Past: Cultural Origins of Sound Reproduction and MP3: The Meaning of a Format, and editor of The Sound Studies Reader, Sterne thinks tapes are here to stay — for now, anyway.
"No format is permanent," the musician and scholar said by email.
"Cassettes are enjoying a second life as a nostalgia medium. They're appealing to certain music subcultures because they're relics of an earlier period and because you can hold them in your hand.
"They're also a lot cheaper to release than vinyl, which makes them a great option for micro-labels who might otherwise only be able to do digital releases.
"But looking forward, cassettes will only last as long as there is sufficient market demand for companies to continue manufacturing them."
Does he listen to cassettes himself?
"No," he replied. "But it's partly my age (42).
"I remember listening to warped cassettes that had been kept in a too-hot car for too long, and I remember releasing music on cassette (as a bassist with a band in 1991) because we were too broke to put it out on vinyl.
"I have no nostalgia for them whatsoever."
Cassettes are getting a lot of press.
"There are currently dozens of cassette-related blogs and Tumblr sites," the Connecticut weekly New Haven Advocate noted in an article last November on the revival.
"Cassette-only record companies ... appear to be thriving. There's also a Kickstarter underway to fund Cassette: A Documentary Film."
Through select media, "cassettes are the only way you're going to hear a new song or album" that have no CD or MP3 equivalent, the Advocate article continued.
One example: the summer 2012 issue of The Believer, a San Francisco literary magazine, which "came with a 24-track cassette sampler of music you can't find online or on a compact disc."
Here in Montreal, cassettes are thriving, too.
At the annual Salon du disque et des arts underground de Montréal, held early this month in a Laurier Ave. church basement in Plateau Mont-Royal, electro-hiphop artist Maxime Robin did a brisk business.
"Buy my new cassette for $5, and you get my first CD (from 2006) for free," he touted at his table, one of dozens at the show. "There's a download card inside the cassette, so you can get the MP3."
Last year he tried selling the download cards alone, but no-one wanted them. This year, he bundled them with a cassettes, and they sold rapidly.
"Cassettes are a lot more fun, a lot more sexy, and they grab your attention much better than a download card," Robin said. They're cheap, too — each cassette cost him only $3.
The work was done at Amtech, the Nuns' Island firm.
Cassettes are definitely the hottest item in the long list of products made by the company, which was founded in 1989 by Georges Frehner and his wife, Denise Gorman.
The couple and their staff of 12 make a lot of other things at their 4,500-square-foot facility hidden off the beaten track at the end of a small strip mall on Golf Rd.
They design and print vinyl LP record covers. They make fan merchandise for bands. There are CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays to burn or sell blank online, along with their assorted cases.
But cassettes — that's the big thing nowadays.
"There used to be no demand at all for them, but now it's just crazy," Frehner said via Skype video from his Toronto office, which he opened a year ago to cater to the growing music market there.
"It seems that CDs aren't cool anymore — everyone's parents listen to CDs. And everybody knows you can put a CD in and rip it and upload it in three minutes — it gets shared all over the place.
"Whereas with cassettes, that's a lot of work. Nobody would take the time to rip a cassette and convert it to an MP3. Not that bands are really worried about that, because they sell so few copies.
"It's just the principle of it."
Cassettes are far from perfect, of course. They break, they warp, they hiss, the tape gets caught in the machine. They have to be flipped over to play the other side.
And supplies can be hard to find, too.
Amtech is almost out of high-quality chrome tape, and recently started sourcing its cassette shells — in a rainbow of colours, not just the old black and clear ones of old — from China.
Blank ones retail for only $1.39 each.
Amtech's production process is a mix of high-tech and antique.
A hand-operated pad printer rolls artwork onto cassette faces, superior to just pasting on a label (messier too — the machine is so splattered in goo it looks like Jackson Pollock got to it first).
After printing, staffers cut and score cassette covers so they fold properly, then pack them into the plastic cassette cases, again all by hand.
Big rolls of blank tape spool from a 1990s-era cassette loader, which then spits out one newly filled shell at a time; each cassette shell matches the type of tape, such as chrome.
A do-it-yourself design ethic is important to indie bands and home-recording enthusiasts, and it shows in the fancy-looking tapes they get Amtech to produce.
"Some of the unknowns make very gorgeous cassettes," said Amtech sales agent Jerry Fielden, also a guitarist with heavy-metal band Arapacis.
"There's world music, folk, and we also have CDs like this one," he said, showing the latest album of Vancouver dance punk band Fake Shark — Real Zombie, scented to smell like a cupcake.
Will there come a day when cassettes — along with the CDs and MP3s that were meant to replace them — will be museum pieces, items of folklore that nobody actually uses?
"This is what happens, right? When something becomes the norm or incredibly popular, people get bored with it," said Cowan, of Arbutus.
"Everyone now is tired of CDs, and MP3s are becoming more and more accessible with streaming services," he pointed out.
"But who knows? Ten years from now, maybe CDs will be coveted the way cassettes are now.
"People are realizing: 'Hey, there's something to this medium that everyone forgot about.' They're pretty beautiful, you know?
"We just don't notice that, because they're everywhere."
CORRECTION:An earlier version of this story that also appeared in print had the wrong date for Amtech's founding. It was founded in 1989.