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October 2012 | Volume 70 | Number 2 Students Who Challenge Us
Anne K. Bergen
My brother Roger is dead now. He was a mason and a builder, but as a young man, he was a thorn in the side of pretty much every one of his teachers. I remember one of my final conversations with him shortly after he learned from his doctor that he would have just one more fall playing golf, one more Christmas with his family. We talked about how in society's view, his life would not have been deemed "successful." The worker whose hands were calloused and raw at the end of the day had somehow not measured up. As an educator with a career spanning nearly 40 years, I finally got it.
Even as a young kid, Roger had extraordinary gifts as a builder, yet not one teacher recognized and celebrated his talents. His high school in a relatively wealthy Boston suburb prided itself on its Ivy League college acceptance rate and its number of National Merit finalists. There, Roger spent most of his school days desperately trying not to be invisible, acting as a class clown to hide his reading difficulties and to get noticed.
I recently spoke with a mother whose son had committed suicide after being suspended from school on the day of the first prom he would have ever attended. Ben, she explained, had learning challenges and few social skills. He was at the bottom of the social hierarchy of a school in which scholars and athletes were held up as the exemplars. She didn't blame the school for Ben's death, but it was obvious to me that Ben had become invisible there because he didn't fit the model of the "successful" student.
In a time when the focus of education is on high test scores and college acceptance, Roger and Ben have something to teach us about the culture of schools. We must change the culture and give the invisible kids a chance to shine.
Parents want their kids to get a piece of what they consider the American dream, and who can blame them? But what are we creating? Kids end up going to college only to discover they have no idea what they want to do with the college education. Young adults who don't complete college—and many who do—drift from job to job searching for work that brings them some level of enjoyment. Too late, they learn that happiness doesn't come from making a lot of money; rather, happiness comes from building lives of meaning and purpose. What role might educators play in helping them find those satisfying lives?
The world needs scientists, inventors, builders, plumbers, mechanics, lawyers, politicians, salespeople, artists, and so much more. It's important for schools to treat all these pursuits as valuable. We might still talk about going to college, but we should frame that discussion differently. For example, we could say, "There are many ways to develop your gifts; you may attend a traditional four-year college or a technical institute. The most important task before you is to find what brings you joy and satisfaction and how you can use that passion to contribute to society."
From the time students enter school, we must help them identify their unique gifts, talents, and passions. Some kids come to school without any idea what they are capable of doing, but great teachers can help them discover in themselves talents that they never saw before. Our job is to guide students in finding connections among their strengths, their interests, and the needs of the world.
We need only look at the bored, indifferent faces of too many students in our classrooms to know that they simply aren't buying what we're selling. The more they see the relevance of each subject, the more they will invest in what we're teaching. Students need to hear the message that there are many ways to be successful and that doing well in school will give them the skills and insights to find the work that suits them best.
Parker Palmer writes eloquently about the need for educators not to hide our identities and "lob factoids at [students] from behind a wall."1 It's only when kids recognize our integrity that they will feel secure enough to invest in a relationship with us.
As a principal, I've used some of my own life stories to come out from "behind the wall." I've told students about the day I overpermed my hair and had to walk down the school corridors with a huge fuzz-ball head. I connected that story with the "bad hair" days students all have at some time or another, the days when they fail, get dumped, or face challenges. I've spoken about my fear of trying out for the school play and implored student to face their own fears.
When a disruptive student was sent to my office, I would tell that student about my brother and say, "I refuse to let you be the class clown. You will not waste your talents and throw away what you have to offer the world." One 8th grader wrote this note to me upon my retirement:
If I did get in trouble, you would be there to tell me: Don't be that kid, that dufus, class clown … and you know that means a lot more than a phone call home or a detention. Your words meant something to me.
One of the teachers at my school found a way to talk about growing up in a family with an alcoholic parent. She shared the shame she felt and told students how she worked through it. Several students who felt alone and ashamed also came forward to share their stories.
Another teacher told his students about how he struggled with a learning disability and eventually came to realize that he wasn't stupid but just learned differently. The bonds he created were impressive; students with similar concerns no longer felt invisible.
Our students will invest emotionally in us and hear what we have to tell them when they know how we have struggled and failed. Many students who act out are secretly screaming for attention and validation. They need to hear our true voices, not those coming from behind a wall, to know that they aren't alone.
Students who don't feel connected to school often present the most discipline problems. Like Roger and Ben, these students come from the ranks of those who feel incompetent, who learn differently, and who are not interested in traditional academics.
Schools can build connections with these students by giving them an opportunity to succeed at something they enjoy. At the middle school where I was principal, a teacher who had a passion for carpentry offered to work with interested students during our activity period. Mostly boys and a few girls raced to his room every day to build a shed, picnic tables, and bird houses. These students happened to be among our students with the most challenging behaviors. Our discipline problems plummeted as students found joy and success in their work.
We encouraged our students to investigate the local vocational high school as a way to develop their talents. In the past, attending the "voc" school was not cool, but we turned that attitude around and celebrated with our 8th graders when they received acceptance letters to the school. At a school assembly, those students were called up on stage in front of the entire student body, and everyone cheered for them. One boy said, "Wow! That was the first time I was ever called up on stage for anything. It felt good."
We also didn't neglect our skateboarders. Although these students practice as diligently as football players, they rarely have cheering fans or earn trophies. To recognize their dedication and skill, we started holding a small skateboard competition with students serving as judges. To be eligible, competitors had to demonstrate good behavior and complete their homework. At our traditional annual awards ceremony, the winners were called up on stage to receive trophies, and I remarked on their perseverance, hard work, and sportsmanship.
One of our most significant additions to our extracurricular program was an after-school Lego club that our school psychologist began. Every Friday afternoon, 25 to 50 students flocked to the cafeteria to design and build complex creations. Many of the club members had previously stayed on the sidelines in group activities; the club got them to interact with fellow students as they compared structures and shared materials. They no longer felt invisible or alone.
Although it is certainly important for many students to follow a traditional route to college, we must also remember the Rogers and Bens of the world. By changing the definition of what it means to be successful, we can help them discover their innate gifts. By sharing our stories, we help them develop insight into their own problems and show them they are not alone. By giving them opportunities to display their talents, we help them feel more connected to school and the community.
We must never let any child be invisible; the costs are too great. If Roger and Ben were here today, they would agree.
Author's note: To learn more about Ben's story, visit Ben Speaks, a nonprofit suicide awareness organization.
1 Palmer, P. (2004). A hidden wholeness: The journey toward an undivided life. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, p. 17.
Anne K. Bergen is a retired educator who has served as a teacher, reading specialist, and principal in Franklin, Massachusetts. She is the creator and host of the local cable television program It Takes a Village: Raising Resilient Kids in Today's World.
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God of War IV Might Have a Release Date |
Listed in: Rumors Tags: god of war, mighty ape, sony santa monica
Sony Santa Monica announced they'd be giving the God of War series a rest after they finished development on God of War III, but rumors and fake game trailers for a fourth installment have been rampant ever since. It's been about a year and a half since we last entered Kratos's world; seems like more than enough time to get the creative juices flowing again. While there are still no official announcements regarding the game beyond what we already know, one New Zealand retailer seems to know something we don't.
Mighty Ape, an online games vendor based out of the Kiwi nation, currently has the game listed for pre-order. The date noted on the site is September 28th, 2012 – less than a year from now. Naturally, there's no official confirmation of this date and it goes against series tradition, with God of War titles usually dropping in March, but it's still something to note.
We'll just have to wait and see what Sony studios have to say about this rumored release – it's not uncommon for retailers to jump the gun on release dates, and September could very well be the month of GoW. It's been an interesting year of job postings, developer resume leaks and other tidbits, but this is the closest we've come to a concrete date since God of War III.
Are you ready for another God of War?
Via PSX
46.2% of voters think this story ROCKS! |
WHAT ARE YOU? SOME KIND OF PUSSY? YOU DONT LIKE PUSSY? No sex? WTF, Thats what make Kratos THE MAN!
Kratos is not the man. He is fake and character. He doesnt exit if Sony doesnt developed him and bring him to existence game. Its just a game.
By the way, sex in the game is not necessarily and its ridiculous. I played it and ignored dirty sex in it, anyway.

subset: commoncrawl


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Orlando 2 Star Hotels + SeaWorld + Motels
Know When You're Going?
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- 2 Stars
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- Free Parking (2)
- Internet (2)
- Swimming Pool (2)
- Wheelchair Accessible (2)
- Business Center (1)
- Dry Cleaning (1)
- Gym (1)
- Non-smoking (1)
- Pet Friendly (1)
- Restaurant on Site (1)
Hotels by Type
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"We were very pleased with our stay of two nights. Very clean and reasonable. We wou... Read more"
"Rooms are clean and the hotel is in walking distance to the convention center.
"The hotel is a little further from Universal than anticipated and the shuttle was not... Read more"
"My experience in Days Inn was great. The staff was friendly and the rooms was clean.... Read more"
"The only problem we encountered was a peculiar odor (like mildew) in our room... Read more"
Note: The nightly rates shown above do not yet include Tax Recovery Charge & Service Fees or (if applicable) Extra Person Fees, Child Fees, Additional Mandatory Hotel Charges or optional incidentals, such as parking, room service or movies.


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by Staff Writers Fort Wayne, IN (SPX) Dec 20, 2011
Northrop Grumman and ITT Exelis have teamed to compete for the U.S. Army's new vehicle-mounted, software-defined radio. The Army issued a draft request for proposal on Nov. 4, for the Mid-Tier Networking Vehicular Radio (MNVR), which replaces the canceled Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Ground Mobile Radio. If selected for the MNVR program, Northrop Grumman will lead the team and provide its Freedom 350 multifunction radio system. Exelis will support radio development, manufacturing, vehicle installation and integration, and logistical support services. "The innovation and expertise of both companies set this team apart as a formidable force in the MNVR competition," said Claude Hashem, vice president of the Network Communication Systems business at Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector. "Northrop Grumman pioneered software-defined radio technology, has expertise in more than 50 waveforms and functions used on advanced networks and applications, and is a recognized leader in the design of open architecture systems and network management solutions. "Exelis brings unparalleled radio technology experience and proven design, manufacturing and integration expertise having developed the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System with more than 550,000 fielded and the JTRS Soldier Radio Waveform," Hashem said. "This team brings together the synergy of two powerhouses in the communications market with extensive experience in high performance networking radio design, waveform integration, vehicular system integration and affordability through world-class manufacturing," said Ken Peterman, president of Exelis' Communications and Forces Protection Systems business. The Northrop Grumman-Exelis radio system will provide mobile Internet-like voice, data and video capabilities, connecting warfighters in on-the-move tactical platforms with each other and back to command centers. It is interoperable with other radios and uses multiple waveforms, including the Soldier Radio Waveform and Wideband Networking Waveform. Northrop Grumman developed the two-channel, full-duplex Freedom 350 radio based on more than 20 years of experience designing integrated communications, navigation and identification radio systems for aircraft. The radio uses a low-cost open architecture designed to have minimal impact in terms of size, weight and power on aircraft and vehicles. ITT Exelis Read the latest in Military Space Communications Technology at SpaceWar.com
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Vilenica Cave
Vilenica Cave is 2km northwest of Lokev, halfway between Divača and Lipica. It was the first karst cave to open to the public in the early 19th century and still welcomes guests every Sunday year-round.
Vilenica Cave is 2km northwest of Lokev, halfway between Divača and Lipica. It was the first karst cave to open to the public in the early 19th century and still welcomes guests every Sunday year-round.
Looking like an over-sized greenhouse (to let in the light) the Josip Pelikan Photo Studio is the complete studio of an early 20th-century Celje photographer and part of the Museum of Recent History .
This enormous pub next to the Storžič cinema on Slovenski trg is popular with a very young crowd and is about the only place worth mentioning in Kranj. It's a dance club on Friday and Saturday nights.
Pizza (€5.20 to €7.60) baked in a beautiful wood-burning tile stove is why most people come to this friendly gostilna, but there are plenty of other things on the menu such as žlikrofi (€6.90 to €11).
Ensconced in the oldest house (1528) in Ljubljana and one-time residence of the writer Primož Trubar, who wrote Abecedarium, this place – as much a restaurant as a cafe these days – oozes atmosphere.
If you're looking for a fix of rice or noodles, try the 'Chinese Star' on the river just south of the Old Town. Szechuan dishes, including the mapo doufu (tofu with garlic and chilli) are quite good.
The Ljubljana Puppet Theatre stages its own shows throughout the year and hosts Lutke, the International Puppet Festival (Mednarodni Lutkovni Festival), every other (even-numbered) year in September.
About 300m east is the pentagonal Water Tower, a 16th-century defence tower. Just north of it a set of steps lead to Židovska ulica (Jewish St), the centre of the Jewish district in the Middle Ages.
Authentic Middle Eastern food, like falafel and hummus, served up to go or eat in at a few tables and chairs scattered about. Perfect choice for a quick meal on the run or the late-night munchies.
A wooden-beamed cottage pub with a nautical theme (think nets and seascapes), this is actually a rather exclusive fish restaurant with a lovely (and protected) back courtyard for the warmer months.
Located in the deep recesses of a former tobacco factory complex, the Maribor Student Club stays comatose till Saturday when it turns into a raucous place with music and dancers all over the shop.
Spinaker can take five of you sailing along the coast to Piran and beyond from the main pier in Portorož. It also rents Zero 22 sailing boats (from €149 a day) and runs day-long sailing courses.
Housed in a stunning 1920s-style building next to the entrance to the Postojna Cave, the Cave Manor has fairly average international dishes but its set menus at €11 and €12 are a big attraction.
This little place in the city's biggest park supplies Ljubljančani (local people) with their favourite treat: horse burgers (€4). It's just down the hill from the Museum of Contemporary History.
This place serves simple but scrumptious Balkan grills like pljeskavica (spicy meat patties) and čevapčiči (spicy meatballs of beef or pork) in full view of the Drava. Cool place on a hot night.
This lovely and very welcoming kavarna in the basement of a 16th-century toll house with a huge covered terrace backing on to the river is just the place to relax in Kranj on a warm afternoon.
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I met Carol at Paddington Station and we take the Underground to Victoria Station. These large London stations connect London to the rest of Britain and Europe. Always lots of people milling and walking about. We walk down to the Royal Mews to have a look at the Queens horses and Stables. One of the finest working stables in existence, the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace displays details about the department of the Royal Household that provides transport by road for The Queen and other members … [Read more...]
Le Puy to Conques – a German pilgrim and the lost key
Le Puy, France Well, this was it. The planning and research was over. There were 800kms to walk from Le Puy to the Pyrenees and then another 700km to Santiago de Compostela. However our journey would be considerably shorter at 210km across the Auvergne region in Southern France. We would be following the GR65, one of France's longest Grande Randonnees or long distance paths. It is known to pilgrims as Chemin de St. Jacques. We left our luggage in the lobby at 8.00am after breakfast and … [Read more...]
Le Puy to Conques – Le Puy, the city of the Holy Virgin
In Le Puy, France for the start of our walk to Conques: The next day we had a lot to do. Waking early we left the hotel in the dark to attend the 7.00 am service which would include a pilgrims' blessing. I felt a sense of adventure as we walked up Mount Corneille and into the centre of old Le Puy looking for the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Walking along the dark streets with occasional lights illuminating cobble-stoned streets and the windows of closed shops we eventually found an entrance into … [Read more...]
Offa's Dyke – walking on the Dyke (760AD)
We had just left the Kington Golf Course – the highest in Britain and began our walk up the hills. The cold wind picked up again on these exposed slopes. We were now walking across high fields with increasing winds. It was difficult to see the next signpost and we became separated. I saw Carol diverge and called after her, but with the strong wind against me my shouts were drowned out. I dropped my pack and ran after her as she got further and further away. I managed to catch her up and we … [Read more...]
Visit Sandringham – on Peddar's Way
Peddar's Way Walk, Norfolk, UK We had stayed overnight at the Ostrich Inn in a delightful village named Castle Acre. It was a clear morning. Only one cloud on the horizon and that was today's walking distance from her to our next accommodation at Hunstanton 32 km away. It was too far to walk in one day. Breakfast in the hotel's large dining room. The cleaner's 5 year-old son Joseph was showing off his Spiderman tattoo (removeable). Mary, Ray's (the manager) girlfriend arrives. We get talking … [Read more...]
Camino highlight – O Cebreiro
We're at the historic Galician border markerWell, we're back from a superb Camino journey. Today (in Villafranca del Bierzo) we all got ready for a 7.15 breakfast so that we would be on time for the 8.30 bus to La Portela, 11 km away. The idea was to shorten today's walk which would be challenging anyway. We took our bocadillos and said bye to Lilliana. We walked across a different bridge and through the grey streets to the bus stop near the Hostal Cruze. Checked the times with the bar … [Read more...]
Via Francigena: Rome's seven pilgrim churches
St. Paul's Outside the WallsVia Francigena: Rome, Italy. The Seven Pilgrim Churches San Pietro, Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni in Laterano, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, San Sebastiano fuora la Mura, San Paolo fuora la Mura, Santa Maria Trastevere. Pilgrims throughout the ages have walked to or visited the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome as have popes, several saints and many members of the nobility. As Rome was founded on her seven hills, so her Christian foundations rested on these seven … [Read more...]
Via Francigena: Martigny to Orsieres
Suddenly the mists parted, revealing the valleyVia Francigena: Martigny, Switzerland. After a filling breakfast we donned our packs and walked out into the wet, overcast weather which was rather pleasant after the past few hot days. We arrived at a park where there was a fork in the track. Decisions. Decisions. One track zig-zagged up a huge ridge, the other along the base of the ridge. The map suggested following the lower track. We asked a group of walkers the best way to Sembrancher and … [Read more...]
Via Francigena: St Croix in Switzerland
Baud Brothers Mechanical MuseumVia Francigena: We arrived in St. Croix which was situated on a terrace sheltered by the slopes of Mont Chasseron. It was an attractive centre for skiers in the winter and hikers in the summer. While Canterbury and Kent had been shielded from the most uncomfortable weather of this hottest of summers, the rest of Europe hadn't. A light misty rain fell on the town of St. Croix but the temperature remained mild. .This did not bode well for the Italian section of our … [Read more...]
Road to Aghavannagh – an Irish walk
The Irish road to AvagannaghFrom the diary – Monday: Glendalough - Aghavannagh Glenalough Youth Hostel. 8.30 am, quick wash, breakfast. The four of us leave the hostel to go our separate ways. Me – off to Aghavannagh; about 10-12 miles down the road. It's a clear day and I feel good about being healthy when a lot of people have colds in this season. I stop at a phone booth to ring and book a bed at the next youth hostel. Seems that I'll be the only one there. I turn right at Laragh and set off … [Read more...]


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Facebook Co-Founder Dustin Moskovitz Sells More Stock
Mark Zuckerberg's Harvard roommate further reduced his holding as the stock started the week with another drop and the CEO prepared to address a tech conference.
Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz has sold more stock in the social network, whose shares have fallen since their IPO in May.
In a latest regulatory filing, it emerged that the former Harvard roommate of CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold another 5.7 million shares in the latest insider sale.
Facebook's stock on Monday closed down slightly at $18.81, giving the company a market value of $40.3 billion. The stock has traded as high as $45 and as low as $17.55.
Meanwhile, Zuckerberg is scheduled to address the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco Tuesday evening. The appearance marks his first on-stage speaking engagement since Facebook's much-maligned IPO and his first public comments since the company's second-quarter earnings conference call.
Last week, Facebook said in a filing that Zuckerberg wouldn't sell any stock in the company for a year and that two high-profile board members also had no plans to sell their personal stakes.
Last month, director Peter Thiel sold the majority of his Facebook stock after restrictions on insider sales expired.
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WASHINGTON -- Defiant in one of her final appearances in office, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Congress on Wednesday that she accepts responsibility for security lapses in the deadly Sept. 11 attack on U.S. posts in Libya, but she also stressed that the assault was part of a broader war the United States faces against extremists in North Africa.
Although her voice cracked and she appeared close to tears when describing the deaths of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, Clinton overall seemed confident – and even combative at times – when pressed on security lapses in the attacks in the eastern city of Benghazi.
The members' questioning took on highly partisan tones, with Democrats blaming Congress for denying funds they say would've helped the State Department improve diplomatic security, and Republicans depicting an administration coverup of high-level negligence in security measures. Clinton appeared first before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and then at the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Being hauled before Congress to answer for what an independent panel called "grossly inadequate" security procedures was hardly the ideal career capstone for a Washington fixture who vows to exit the political stage once her presumed successor, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., is confirmed. One Democrat openly lamented that Clinton's final appearance before Congress was over a tragedy rather than to recap her diplomatic successes.
"Nobody wants to sit where I am and have to think now about what coulda, shoulda, woulda happened," Clinton told the Senate panel.
Current events continually encroached on what was to have been the long-awaited reckoning over the Obama administration's handling of the Benghazi attack. In response to pointed questions about the Obama administration's preparedness to combat al Qaida-allied forces that are trying to win a foothold in North Africa, Clinton called the fight "a necessary struggle." She tied the assault in Libya to last week's hostage crisis in Algeria and the ongoing French-led military campaign against Islamist rebels in northern Mali.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney also tied the Benghazi hearings to the wider fight against al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, which is known as AQIM, the North African branch of the terror network.
"To this point, AQIM has not represented a direct threat to the homeland, but you can tell by our support of the mission that the French have undertaken and by our overall efforts to go after and contain and defeat extremists who would do harm to our interests, that we are very serious about this," Carney told reporters.
Clinton portrayed the militant operation against the U.S. consulate and nearby CIA annex in Benghazi as a direct consequence of the Arab Spring revolts, which toppled authoritarian rulers and gave operational space to long-suppressed radical forces. She said weapons that disappeared in the fall of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime undoubtedly had been smuggled to other countries, including for use in the Syrian uprising turned civil war.
However, Clinton said, the United States shouldn't give up on transitional governments, which she said were still struggling to foster democratic rule and rebuild their security forces – two areas where U.S. diplomacy could play an important role.


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Have you installed Mozy and your computer seems to slow to a crawl when Mozy starts to do a backup? Here is a tip that has worked for some people to bring their computer back to life and let Mozy continue backing up your data.
Open the Mozy configuration menu and select the Options tab.
Look for the "Disable icon overlays in Windows Explorer".
If this option is on, then deselect it and save your new configuration.
This new configuration can help to speed up your computer, but you will no longer be able to see in the file explorer if Mozy has backed up a file. A small price to pay to have your files backed up and have a more responsive computer.


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by Richard Devine
Feb 15, 2012
So by now everyone knows that Sony is buying out Sony Ericsson yes? Just in case anyone had forgotten, the company have started sending out letters to their customers reminding them and trying to gi...
Jan 27, 2012
The European Commission has given Sony the OK to take full control of Sony Ericsson, three months after Sony paid €1.05 billion for Ericsson's share of the partnership. Along with the...


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We posted this a few days ago, and usually deals this good don`t last.
These things put out very good sound, especially for the price. You get two flat panel satellite speakers and a subwoofer, along with a wired
remote (pretty useful).* This is normally $65-90 on the internet, but you can
buy one set (one per household it says) for $29.99.* href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=9eASk0x48lo&subid=1&offerid=2161.1&type=10&tmpid=346&RD_PARM1=sku%3D3196330"


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Site Navigation
If you have found going through the hundreds of different African safaris overwhelming, then you have come to the right place!
Going on an African safari is to experience amazing wildlife, beautiful scenery and friendly people. From seeing the 'Big Five' close up, to the endless Serengeti where the sky touches the Earth, to the masses of wildebeest during their annual Migration, to the mighty Zambezi River and Victoria Falls, to the stunning coastline of South Africa and the warm and genuine hospitality of Africans, and even the Uganan Gorillas which only the very strong of heart can visit, you will have memories to last you a life-time. However, you can't do it all in one trip. Therefore, it is important to construct a safari that is right for you.
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Just email us (mira at safarismadesimple dot com) and give us a rough idea of what you would like. We will take it from there and work with you to come up with just the right African Safari for you.
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Some of our clients have asked how they could contribute towards helping local communities while on safari. We offer solar powered lamps for your consideration. >>Read more...
WAIT A MINUTE... What am I doing HERE?? >> Find out!


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November 12, 2010 in DTE News
Big building with a small carbon footprint
Unico staff to discuss creating, sharing programs at Monday gathering
Downtown Spokane's 20-story Bank of America Financial Center has a gray-and-glass exterior, but in recent years, it has become quite green on the inside.
Unico Properties LLC, a real estate investment company based in Seattle, bought downtown Spokane's tallest building in early 2007, and during the past four years, the company has taken a number of steps—some groundbreaking in the Spokane market—to make the building more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable.
Two of the Unico's executives, sustainability manager Brett Phillips and Spokane property manager Liz Fitzgerald, will speak about their work at Sustainable Local Investment Partners' Green Business Networking Luncheon, which will be Monday, Nov. 15, in the Cutter Dining Room at the Spokane Club, at 1002 W. Riverside. Networking starts at 11:30 a.m., and lunch is served at noon.
Susanne Croft, SLIP's executive director, said the organization asked Unico's executives to tell their story for a couple of reasons.
First, SLIP surveyed some of its supporters earlier this year to determine what topics were of interest to them. Energy efficiency and sustainable workspace were among the most desired topics.
Also, SLIP works with businesses to help them become more sustainable. Croft said many of the business owners she works with lease the space their businesses occupy and don't feel like they have the power to make sustainable changes to their work space. Croft said she likes to show them that there are green options available in the Spokane market, and the Bank of America Financial Center, at 601 W. Riverside, is one of the primary examples.
"It's a really good showcase at a scale that's large enough for us to see," she said.
In the past four years, Unico has made a number of upgrades to the building intended to make it more energy efficient. As a result, the company has applied for and received Energy Star certification for the 30-year-old structure. The company also is seeking a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) existing-building standard.
In addition to upgrades that make the building more energy efficient, Unico developed the first whole-building recycling program in the city's core. Croft said recycling in a large commercial space—especially in the city's core—is challenging.
"The recycling truck doesn't stop at the curb of downtown buildings like it does at your house," she said.
However, the effort has had one significant benefit for Unico. Tenants are recycling waste they simply would have throw into the garbage previously. Consequently, the building has less waste and a small utility bill.
Some building owners, however, have made improvements to boost energy efficiency and sustainability, then didn't see their utility bills decrease as expected.
Wanting to ensure they would see the expected returns on investment—lower energy bills would help to justify the upgrade costs—some building owners, Unico among them, have begun using green-lease addendums. Such addendums are intended to ensure that tenants will be energy efficient and operate in compliance with the building owners green standards.
"It's really interesting to hear how they are watching tenant behavior and tracking all of thedata," Croft said.
The Nov. 15 Green Business Networking Luncheon is the last one in the 2010 series. While this year's lunches all have been at the Spokane Club, next year's events will be held at the Spokane Convention Center, which has received a silver LEED certification.
Seats are still available for Monday's Green Business Networking luncheon organized by SLIP. Cost is $15 per person. To RSVP, go to www.slipspokane.org.


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Civil War Era
During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate women were busy sewing for their soldiers. In the North, craft fairs and bazaars were common fundraisers and Album quilts, Flag quilts, even Log Cabin quilts fetched a pretty penny for the effort. As the war dragged on, women shifted their sewing focus - making the soldiers blankets and clothing.$22 per metre


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Tag Archives: Michael Echanis
Spyderco Previews New Pygmy Warrior Knife
Back in May 2011, I attended the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Tampa, Florida. At the Vendor Exhibit, I spied the familiar profile of the Warrior combat knife in the Spyderco Booth. Kristi Hunter, Spyderco's Government Sales Specialist, allowed … Continue reading
Posted in Knives, SHOT Show, SWAT
Tagged bob Taylor, Michael Echanis, Michael Janich, Pygmy Warrior, REKAT, Review, Spyderco, Warrior knife
1 Comment


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Oil Mister by Prepara
17x21-in. Easy Mount Roll-Out Cabinet Drawers by Lynk
8-in. Trifle Bowl by Anchor Hocking
2-pc. Jalapeno Pepper Rack with Bonus Corer by Steven Raichlen
Empire Red 5.5-qt. Professional 550 Plus Stand Mixer by KitchenAid
Onyx Black 5.5-qt. Professional 550 Plus Stand Mixer by KitchenAid
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So, how's that "customer centric" stuff working out for you?
Doug Hadden, VP Products
FreeBalance committed to a customer-centric approach in late 2006. We adapted our processes in product management, development, support and implementation to achieve this objective. This resulted in achieving ISO-9001 certification in late 2007. We implemented a customer portal and scorecard in 2007. The scorecard was automated in March of 2008. There is the view that companies can only improve those things that are measured. We measure customer cases. Customer cases include:
- Software problems that could be defects in the code.
- Data problems that may be caused by software defects, database or hardware issues
- Software enhancement requests
- Service requests – looking for implementation assistance or advice
All cases are rated by severity and priority by customers. Customers determine whether a case is considered an emergency.
The results from this approach are:
- Reducing the number of open cases by 70% since March 2008
- Reducing the number of open emergency cases by more than 97% since March 2008 compared to rolling average over the past year
- Achieving "green" on emergency cases- 2 or less since July 2008
- Achieving "green" on total open cases – 200 or less October 2009, except for a peak in April 2010
There are some other observations that are relevant:
- The trend shows a gradual reduction in case loads even though FreeBalance is growing the number of customers and modules in use by current customers. It will be very challenging for us to continue to achieve "green" with three large implementations scheduled to go live this year.
- Case loads tend to peak in the autumn of each year. Case loads may increase starting in September.
- Many long-term customers have remarked that our service has improved. (This was a bit of a surprise because I wasn't asking about support.)
- Many cases take weeks to resolve. Most FreeBalance customers have mature software that requires effort to reproduce problems. And, FreeBalance manages customer data securely to meet Canadian privacy laws and Government of Canada security regulations.
- The distribution of case types has changed over the past 2 years. Software and data problems represented less than 50% of total cases in 2008. It now represents roughly 60% as processes for service requests have accelerated.
- Many long-standing enhancement requests have been satisfied in Version 7 of the FreeBalance Accountability Suite.
- The frequency of SWAT Teams – where FreeBalance staff from multiple groups get together to solve a significant customer issue, has reduced significantly. There has been only SWAT team over the past 12 months.
- There is no question that regional offices with local staff are required to achieve better support.
- The number of problems or enhancement requests that occur outside the system through e-mail or informal channels has been reduced over the past 2 years. This is a good sign because it ensures that FreeBalance management is paying attention to the right things!
Tags: customer support, scorecard


text: Let me begin with the words of one contemporary philosopher: "There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know."


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WALL STREET WEST, INCORPORATED Charges leveled against firm by Denver office of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. RMN My 1, 1982 p.94 Witness deals serious SETBACK to SEC's stock-selling case against penny stock firm. RMN Jy 14, 1982 p.75 Pres, Ted V, Abbruzzese suggests Securities and Exchange Commission wrongfully handled a stock manipulation case. DBW DENVER BUSINESS WEEKLY v,5 #26 Mr 7, 1983 p,1,22 Penny stock brockerage house wins reversal of close order RMN Ja 18, 1984 p.69
Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.


text: Interesting property with 3500 sq. ft. on almost 1-1/2 acres, having 5 bedrooms, heated pool and tennis.This spectacularly landscaped estate is located south of the highway on Middle Pond Road, across from Shinnecock Bay. The house is set back from the road on 1 acre, with total privacy in a park-like setting. Master bedroom has king-size bed, 42" LCD flat screen television, en suite dressing room, bathroom with separate shower stall and aromatherapy bathtub. A heated pool, deco-turf tennis court/basketball court, Koi pond, trampoline and outdoor sound system are just some of the exterior amenities.Considerable renovation done .


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british gold refinery, manchester Complaints - Misleading advertising/obtaining property by deception
Company Name : british gold refinery, manchester - View All british gold refinery, manchester Complaints
* No Charge: There is absolutely nothing to pay. We provide free postage or courier collection and even free quotations*, and will return your jewellery to you completely free of charge if you decide not to accept our confirmed valuation:
on their website. Website also shows a 'gold calculator' which again, misleads customers into thinking that the amount shown is what they will be paid for their personal items.
ASA adjudication against this company in January this year ruled that they were no longer allowed to advertise in this way and that details of the £50 return fee consumers had to pay if they refused BGF's spectacularly low offer for their gold/jewellery, must be shown in the main content of the web page.
Two months on this has not been done. they are still misleading customers, still hiding behind 'terms and conditions' and still taking peoples' money. I have had to pay them £50 today to have my £925 gold watch returned after I refused their offer of £212 for it.
ASA adjudication can be seen at
Attitude : Agree Send Mail
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An experienced, determined businesswoman, Kathie Ferland, relies on her instincts to operate Kathie's Quilt Shoppe in Sanford, Maine.
Designer Kathie Ferland machine-quilted a large flower design in the tan print area at each block intersection. She stipple-quilted the border and the red floral or red, blue, or dark blue print portions of the blocks.


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The deal to sell Skylands Park in Sussex County (NJ) to real estate investment firm 17 Mile is apparently not dead after all. Mark Roscioli, owner of Ardmore (PA)-based 17 Mile, says the closing has been rescheduled for Friday, March 15. Read more here.
One Response to Sale of Skylands Park Postponed, Not Dead
There is an article today in the new jersey herald, regarding the sale of skylands park. Johnny regan


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First Love; JULIE. By Margaret Maze Craig. 247 pp. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company. $2.50. For Ages 12 to 16.
October 12, 1952,
, Section Magazine, Page BR26, Column , words
THE basic theme of Mrs. Craig's new junior novel is very similar to that of her popular "Irish": a girl's assertion of her integrity despite social pressures and the confusions of first love. Julie, however, is older than Trish was and her problems are more complicated.
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Riverside police warn about string of car burglaries
RIVERSIDE – Police have issued a warning to the community after responding to a series of recent vehicle and garage burglaries near Harlem Avenue.
In a news release, police reported areas targeted were largely along Harlem Avenue, but some occurred closer to the river as well.
The majority of the break-ins happened overnight between midnight and 4 a.m. Property stolen ranged from small items to large tool boxes.
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Contacting TEA
Phone: 520.795.8870
Cell: 520.403.9113
Fax: 520.795.8942
TEA Office
Paula Maniszko, AEA Organizational Consultant, 520.888.1088 or Paula.Maniszko
TEA Advocacy TEAm Contact Advocacy TEAm
(Southern Region)
520.888.1088 ext. 225
AEA Advocacy Help Desk
TEA President's Update: November 27, 2013 -Please take time to read the attached flyer to get the most current information.
TEA & AXA Happy Hour Bowling Event December 6th Come and make new friends! RSVP by December 4th to be entered into a drawing. See attached flyer for more information.
TEA General Membership Meeting December 11th All Members Welcome! See attached flyer for more information. Don't forget to RSVP!
Congratulations to member Art Almquist for receiving the "People Choice" award in People magazine's Teacher of the Year competition. Art teaches theatre at Tucson High Magnet School. His students were instrumental in recognizing Art by organizing a get out the vote campaign through Twittter, Facebook and other social media. As you can see Art inspires his students beyond the content of his classroom!
TEA Attendance for the TUSD Governing Board Meetings! Please plan on attending one of the TUSD Governing Board Meetings to show your support and have your input heard. Follow the link to see the TUSD Governing BOD meeting dates adding at least one to your calendar. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Past President's Messages
Important Documents | Things to Know


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The Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that states did not have the right to force online retailers to pay sales tax. It was an obvious tilting of the playing field, but in 1992 the game had barely started and no one really minded. Especially since, at the time, their ruling applied mainly to catalog sales as online retail was still in its infant stages. Today is a different story.
The e-commerce bias bequeathed to us by the court 20 years ago now effectively prohibits state and local governments from collecting $23 billion in legitimately owed tax revenue. More importantly, it influences consumer behavior, encouraging people to shop more online where the lack of sales tax enforcement gives cyber sellers up to a 10% built-in price advantage over their Main Street competitors.
Employees of those brick and mortar retailers are directly impacted by this injustice in the tax code. The businesses they work for are finding it harder and harder to compete with online sellers, and are forced to lay people off as a result. Thousands of jobs have already been lost and thousands more could follow if something is not done. There is a lot of talk on both sides of the aisle heralding small businesses as America's number one job creator and the backbone of our economy. Unfortunately, it just seems to be lip service at this point.
Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate to amend current sales tax laws, instituting rules that would make all sellers – regardless of how or where they conduct their transactions – equally responsible for collecting and remitting appropriate sales taxes. Traditional retailers already follow this policy, requiring multi-billion dollar online mega-stores to do the same is nothing more than fair. While both measures enjoy bipartisan support in their respective chambers, Congress is letting the legislation languish, to the detriment of local retailers across the country and the millions of jobs they support.


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Presentation: 'Introduction to the Mt. Hood Forest Products Mill and Recent Storm Water Upgrades'
- When: Tuesday, March 26, 2013, 7 p.m.
- Where: OSU Extension Office, Hood River
- Cost: Free
- Age limit: Not available
- Categories: Business, Community, Lectures, Community meeting
Charlie Allen, vice president of Wilkins, Kaiser & Olson Inc., WKO for short, current owner and operator of the Mt. Hood Forest Products mill, north of Parkdale, will give a presentation to the Hood River Watershed Group on recent investments in storm water management infrastructure at the mill and log yards, intended to improve water quality in Neal Creek and the lower Hood River.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the OSU Extension meeting room, 2990 Experiment Station Drive, Hood River. The public is welcome to attend.
For more info contact Steve Stampfli at 541-386-6063 or email@example.com.
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