text:
The following list of optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These optional excursions might or might not be available. Whether it's a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to them.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided might be in a foreign currency; you can use our online currency converter for exchange rate information.
Walking Tour & Jenney House Museum Wrap up your day in America's original settlement with a historic walking tour along the waterfront while hearing intriguing tales of this historic town's past and ending with a talk about the Jenney Grist Mill. Approximate value: $16 USD per person
Foster's New England Dinner There is something unforgettable about Foster's traditional New England clambakes. Maybe it's the atmosphere which can only be described as pure, unadulterated fun. Laughter. Singing. Impromptu dancing. Or maybe it's the food. This traditional New England clambake is served with award-winning clam chowder. Steamers (soft-shell clams) bursting with flavor. Fresh veggies and tender corn on the cob. And of course the fresh Maine lobster, so sweet and succulent that it practically melts in your mouth. Chicken and vegetarian dishes are also available. Approximate value: $41 USD per person
Lake Placid Cruise & Olympic Jumping Complex The Lake Placid Marina features a one-hour narrated cruise aboard an all-weather scenic boat. Enjoy listening to the history of the stately manors that were built along the shore. This cruise takes the visitor from Lake Placid through the Adirondack wildlife and the magnificent Whiteface Mountain settings where the alpine events of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games were held. Next visit the Olympic Jumping Complex where in the summer or fall you might see young aspiring Olympians practicing ski jumping on plastic mats. Ride in an elevator ride to the top of 20-story jump tower and enjoy the great view! Approximate value: $26 USD per person


text:
27 May 2011 - 6:54pm
This week's "Prize Pics Wednesday" proved to be the most popular ever; more than 650 of you guessed where Domo was hanging out this week.
Domo (a prize at one of our skill Games this season) must have known sunshine and warmth was headed our way for Memorial Day weekend! We caught him scaling the stairs, reaching the top of the 10-story tall ZOOMbabwe waterslide.
Based on his grimace, we think he might be just a little nervous (but excited) to try out the World's Largest Enclosed Waterslide! Nearly 900-feet long, ZOOMbabwe practically threw Domo for a loop with all those twists and turns in complete darkness.
Congratulations to this week's winners; a pair of park tickets go to the 10th, 20th and 30th correct answers we received:
Sign up for next week's newsletter for another chance to win free tickets to Holiday World & Splashin' Safari!
Privacy Policy Jobs email@example.com 812-937-4401 or 877-463-2645 Entire Contents © 2013 Santa Claus, Indiana

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This hostel is a student dorm from september-june, so it's not very new. Cheap, though! The rooms are a bit shabby (bare walls, old stickers on the doors) but they are clean. The toilets and showers are also clean. The kitchen is very basic (= don't try to cook there, we tried boiling water for pasta and after half an... More
Hungary >
Central Hungary >
> Városliget
Ranked #290 of 406 Specialty lodging in Budapest
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with HostelWorld so you can book your Univa Youth Hostel Budapest reservations with confidence. We help millions of travellers each month to find the perfect hotel for both holiday and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.


text:
Blue Book® Suggested Retail Value Fuel Economy (city/hwy) Other M-Class ReviewsUser ReviewsThe community thinks...
"Safest SUV on the Planet"
by Realtor from North Carolina on 09/08/2007.
Trim: 2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class ML350, Owned 2 years.
It is the safest SUV on the planet, including a virtually indestructible roll cage. We love the very effective AWD system as we use it on rough, mountainous terrain in our real estate work. In Low Range it will crawl up and down virtually anything with just the factory tires. The Parktronic system saves me a lot in tight spots and is very accurate. It accelerates well and has a very small turning radius which is good in town and in tight spots. The AWD system doesn't require any shifting of levers or buttons to engage the system...it does it all itself except for LOW range. Oil and brake warning lights are convenient to avoid ruining motor or brakes. Oil changes only every 10000 mi.
The seats cushioning material isn't comfortable...it seems to flatten out easily and feels hard. The A/C vents for the back seats blow very little air. The trim pieces to the left and right of the rear glass lost their clearcoat and look awful now (replacing them soon). Drinks in Front cupholders block flow of A/C. Sunroof controls need to be "one-touch", except for the last 8 inches on closing. Unique tire size results in expensive replacement costs. Rear hatch is a little hard to pull down for my 5' 2" wife.
Overall review:
The fine points are all that need work on this vehicle. I buy vehicles first and foremost to survive a hard crash...everything else is secondary, including fuel mileage. This vehicle gets reasonable mileage when driven moderately. I get 23 mpg regularly on the highway at 65 mph. If you don't survive a crash then reliability and fuel economy don't matter. We replaced the water pump and brake pads/rotors at 85000 miles and that's about it. Our next SUV will be another ML mainly due to it's ability to protect me and my family way beyond the "5 star" crash rating.
Review ID: #516340
Is this review offensive?
Related ArticlesSave Time and Money: |


text:
Group serving those with disabilities seeks dollars to expand
Written by Quintin Ellison- Jackson still 'economically distressed'
- Cullowhee advocates seek to sharpen vision of community plan
- Jackson leaders search for equity in fire tax debate
- Sylva getting pretty good at filling empty town board seats
- Cullowhee planning initiative out of the gate at last
- Sylva leaders adopt streetscape plan for Main Street, N.C. 107
- New checkpoint procedures implemented in Jackson
- WNC native tapped for EDC post in Jackson
Webster Enterprises, a community rehabilitation program serving those with disabilities and disadvantages in Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, wants money from the three counties so the nonprofit can create additional jobs.
"I wouldn't ask, if we didn't really need it," said the group's executive director, Gene Robinson. "I wouldn't have the nerve if I didn't think it was an excellent investment."
Robinson asked Jackson County commissioners this week for $20,000 to be given to Webster Enterprises during the next fiscal year, and for a low-interest loan of $50,000.
The group plans to ask both Macon and Swain counties for $20,000 each, too.
"We're going to create jobs, a lot of jobs," Robinson told Jackson County's commissioners.
Webster Enterprises wants to provide training and support to more than 50 people with disabilities. Robinson said the workers would make disposable drape covers used by hospitals during surgeries.
"Do you have immediate contracts with hospitals, suppliers?" Commissioner Charles Elders asked.
Robinson said not exactly — Webster Enterprises sells to a third party buyer who packs a to-go kit, complete with the drape, goggles, sponges and more, to hospitals.


text:
Discuss Psychic Abilities for Free. No Account is Needed.
Community Chat
All Forums General Discussion Beginners Telekinesis Extra-Sensory Perception Energy Manipulation
I\'m not any more fascinated by psychology than any other type of science.
I am majoring in psychology in college right now, and I like it. It may just be a coincidence that I am also interested in psionics, though. I\'m not sure it\'s related.
Parapsychology; I would guess some of you would know what that is, the more scientific study of paranormal happenings or psuedoscience. That there just shows a relation to psychology. They both involve the mind in their main understandings. Just psychology is more accepted then parapsychology, though eventually parapsychology may prove to be the new psychology.


text:
- New Arrivals
- Holiday Gift Directory
- Household Helpers
- Organizers
- Kitchen
- Health & Beauty
- Lawn & Garden
- Pets
- As Seen on TV
- Sale & Clearance
Birthday Reminder Magnet (C5410)
Never forget another birthday! "Birthdays to remember" magnet has lined spaces under each month so you can easily write in names and dates for every upcoming birthday. Stick it on your fridge so it's always in view! Made of flexible magnetized rubber with durable paper covering. 13" H x 5" W.
Forgot your password?
Try our Password Recovery Page.


text:
Network Infrastructure
The strategic objective is creating the conditions for allowing all network participants to conduct integrated research activities through the promotion of integrated actions of research, reinforcing the mutual specialization and mutual complementarity.
The main activities performed during the 2005 dealt with the coordination of the Joint Research Activities (JRA), the encouragement of integration activities and exchange through the assignment of awards, the promotion of long lasting integration and the promotion of Joint Educational Activities.
In order to coordinate the activities among JRAs the Network Infrastructure has organised and participated to common JRAs/IAs meetings in Paris (June 2005) and Lund (September 2005), has defined common platforms within the different JJRAs introducing the concept of "Emblematic scenarios" as inter JRAs activities.
In order to encourage integration activities and exchange among partners the Network has instituted and assignment awards: Mobility Fellowship Awards and Best Joint Paper Award.
The "Mobility Fellowship Award" has been instituted within the ENACTIVE Network of Excellence to sustain and motivate inter-partner collaboration on specific research topics that are related to the Joint Research Areas addressed in the Network.
In order to evaluate the submitted proposal the JRAs leaders commission have been fixed the following evaluation criteria: Level of integration, Relevance for Enactive, Application program, Curriculum, Other issues.
The JRAs leader commission has also assigned the "Best paper award" to the most representative paper produced during 2005 by partners of the Network.
Regarding the promotion for long lasting integration, the Network has encouraged the integration with existing NoEs ed IPs (S2S Network of Excellence, Intuition Network of Excellence, Kaleidoscope Network of Excellence) and has instituted a specific section of the web-site dedicated to a bulletin/newsletter on new initiatives.
The Newsletter is a new tool for disseminating the main activities of the Network to an external audience, and in particular to potential new members for Enactive Interest Group (EIG). The Target Audience of the Newsletter will be: ENACTIVE Partners, EIG, Registered Users and Dissemination database.
Regarding the Promotion of Joint Educational Activities, a set of specific strategic actions to be performed by the Network during the forthcoming period have been planned.


text:
Full-Time Program
Primary care providers working full-time at an NHSC-approved site with a HPSA score of 14 or above can receive up to $60,000 in loan repayment for committing to serve at site for at least two years.
Primary care providers working full-time at an NHSC-approved site with a HPSA score of 13 or below can receive up to $40,000 in loan repayment for committing to serve at the site for at least two years.
At the end of two years, Corps members can apply to continue their service and receive additional loan repayment. With continued service, providers may be able to pay off all their student loans!
In order to apply for the loan repayment program, you must:
- be licensed to practice in an NHSC-eligible discipline,
- have a job at an NHSC-approved site, and
- have unpaid, qualifying educational loans.
Learn more about the eligibility requirements and the application process.
Corps members are required to practice full time at their NHSC-approved sites, unless they are participating in the half-time program. Full-time clinical practice means working a minimum of 40 hours per week, for at least 45 weeks each service year. For most types of providers, at least 32 of the minimum 40 hours per week must be spent providing direct patient care or teaching in the outpatient ambulatory care setting at your site.
Providers work no fewer than 4 days per week, and no more than 12 hours of work is to be performed in a 24-hour period. Up to 7 weeks (35 work days) of leave is allowed away from your site each year.
For more information on what counts toward full-time clinical hours, view the "Service Requirements" section in the Application and Program Guidance (PDF – 370 KB).
Ready to apply? Get started by reviewing the application process.
Application and Program Guidance (PDF - 370 KB) ›
FAQs ›
Loan Repayment Program At-A-Glance fact sheet (PDF - 891 KB) ›
Loan Repayment Program Flyer (PDF - 599 KB) ›
BCRS Loan Repayment Programs for Nurses (PDF - 420 KB) ›
Find Jobs at NHSC Sites
Search for primary care job openings and information on NHSC sites. The NHSC Jobs Center currently uses HPSA data as of January 1, 2013, which are the official data for NHSC programs.


text:
Visual Size Report
From Adobe Labs
Table of contents |
Release Notes
Visual Size Report is an extension for Adobe® Flash® Professional that allows for size optimization of SWF files. Flash Professional currently offers SWF size data as a text-based, size report log during the publishing process. However, this log can be difficult to parse and act upon, especially for SWFs that contain many elements.
Unlike this existing text based log, the Visual Size Report panel shows detailed SWF size data in an easy to use categorized list to help developers and designers understand the elements of their SWF. It allows users to navigate directly to the elements in the FLA file (scenes, symbols, library). It is sensitive to the document's context and immediately displays the file size gain/loss after each publishing step.
Learn more and download Visual Size Report
Once you have downloaded the extension (ZXP) file from the Visual Size Report download page, double click the ZXP file to open the Adobe Extension Manager. Read and Agree to the Disclaimer and End User License Agreement (EULA) to finish the installation.
The extension is installed as a graphical panel called "Size Report" in the "Other Panels" sub-menu of the "Window" Menu. The access path is "Window > Other Panels > Size Report."
The panel allows designers and developers to see the various elements of a SWF file by category and their respective sizes. Additional information is also shown when available (e.g. characters of embedded fonts).
Users can also double-click on an element to open it in the appropriate workspace window. For example, double-clicking on a MovieClip will open it on the Stage. However, double-clicking on certain types of Elements (Fonts, ActionScript) will not open the element. This problem is a Known Issue.
The panel is context sensitive to the currently active FLA file in the workspace. However, users must publish the SWF after opening the panel for the panel to load the initial set of data. This is a Known Issue.
System Requirements
Adobe Flash Professional CS 5.5 must be installed in order to use this technology.
See the Flash Professional CS5.5 system requirements
Known Issues
- Appropriate System Requirements: Please ensure that you are adding the Visual Size Report extension to an installed copy of Flash Professional CS5.5. Earlier versions of Flash Professional are not supported by this extension.
- Initial Publish Required: The Size Report panel has no data when it is first opened or when a new FLA file is opened. It requires the FLA to be published to get relevant information for elements of the newly published SWF. The publish process can be triggered explicitly to force a refresh of the Size Report panel or it will refresh at the next publish, via "Test Movie" for example. This issue has been logged and will be addressed in a future release.
- TLF Text: The Text Layout Format text engine is not accurately categorized in this release. It is included as a single "ActionScript" element with the name "Scene 1: Frame 1". This issue has been logged and will be addressed in a future release.
- ActionScript: Full details of ActionScript code are not shown in the Size Report panel, including the size of particular classes or file names of external files etc. Additionally double-clicking an ActionScript element will not open it in any workspace windows.


text:
Select a datex
Step back in time and experience the Australian gold Rush era. Explore the wonders of Ballarat as well as Sovereign Hill, a replica of an old gold-mining town, where you can tour the underground mines, ride a stagecoach and pan for gold! An optional addition to your tour is a visit to the Ballarat Wildlife Park where you can get up close and personal with the creatures of the Australian bush, and, if you dare, a crocodile at feeding time! Take a chance on striking gold.
- Instant Confirmation
- Comprehensive tour by bus/coach
- All entrance fees included
- Free hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Informative, friendly and professional guide
Travel to Ballarat and visit Sovereign Hill, a perfectly re-created 1850s goldmining settlement. Explore the shops and wander the main street to visit goldsmiths and craftsmen at work. Journey through the town and see the Victorian architecture of a prosperous era. Cross the original route of the early horse drawn stage coaches. Try your luck panning for gold, visit the museum or ride a stage coach (own expense). Tour an underground gold mine or catch a ride in a traditional horse drawn carriage (own expense). Discover the turbulent story behind one of Australia's most notorious incidents at the Eureka Stockade Centre in Ballarat. View Ballarats historic sites and beautiful Victorian architecture, a thriving monument to the towns golden era of prosperity. Visit the Gold Museum. Enjoy browsing the unique period style stores along with real life characters and story re-enactments.
Upgrade your tour to include a visit to the Ballarat Wildlife Park. Discover the unique creatures of the Australian bush. Share the Parkers families passion, the family has been involved in caring for Australian wildlife for over four decades. Get as close as you dare to a crocodile at a feeding session, see Tasmanian devils, wallabies, giant turtles, emus and poisonous snakes. Also touch a cuddly koala, encounter kangaroos and meet Patrick, the wombat.
Please click on "View Additional Info" for the hotel pickup list
Schedule details
See kangaroos and other Aussie animals at the Ballarat Wildlife Park
Select a month to view a calendar of availability and departure details.
Departure Point:
Tour departs from selected Melbourne hotelsOR
Federation Square
Departure Time:
- 8:20am
Hotel pickups commence prior to this time, you must contact the local service provider to verify your exact pickup time.
Times are subject to change due to local traffic conditions.
Return Details:
Returns to original departure point at approximately 5:30pmPricing information
Click the link below to check pricing & availability on your preferred travel date. Our pricing is constantly updated to ensure you always receive the lowest price possible.
Tour options:
Ballarat and Sovereign Hill full day tour departing Melbourne. Pickup/drop off from centrally located Melbourne hotels.
Ballarat and Sovereign Hill full day tour departing Melbourne. Pickup/drop off from centrally located Melbourne hotels. Includes entrance to Ballarat Wildlife Park.
Additional information
Historic Ballarat and Sovereign Hill Day Tour with Optional Wildlife Park
- Transport by air-conditioned coach
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
- Admission to Sovereign Hill
- Entrance fees to Ballarat Wildlife Park (if option selected at time of booking)
- Live commentary on board
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities (optional)
Additional Information:
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Vehicles are collapsible wheelchair accessible, however the driver is unable to assist passengers boarding and disembarking due to insurance regulations
Voucher Info:
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity. What's this?
Local Operator Information:
Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.


text:
The use of noncontrast helical computed tomography (NCHCT) for theevaluation of patients with acute flank pain was first suggested by Smith andcoworkers in 1995. Since that time studies have shown a sensitivity of 97%, aspecificity of 96%, and an accuracy of 97% for this technique in the diagnosisof ureteral stone disease.1-3 As a result, acceptance of NCHCT by referringdoctors for flank pain has rapidly increased.4-8 There is no one universallyutilized protocol, but most NCHCT exams for flank pain are similar. This essaywill discuss our protocol, the key points of interpretation, and the generaladvantages and disadvantages of the technique. Other imaging options also willbe discussed.
Indications for CT are the same as those for the traditional IVP inpatients with suspected stone disease. Unenhanced helical CT is best used fordiagnosis and management of patients with acute flank pain and suspectedureteral obstruction. Such patients may present with hematuria on urinalysis(UA). An abdominal film may show a calcification within the course of theureter or over the kidneys. However, it should be noted that many renal stones,such as uric acid stones, are radiolucent on plain films but all stones areradiopaque on CT. In the pelvis, distinction between phleboliths and ureteralcalculi can be especially difficult with plain films. NCHCT often can clarifythe nature of these calcifications.
The patient should be well hydrated prior to undergoing NCHCT. Experiencewith IVP has shown that a contrast or fluid load can be therapeutic, as it mayforce the stone to pass. Additionally, urine within the bladder has been foundto be helpful in interpretation; therefore, a Foley catheter should not beplaced prior to the examination. Helical acquisition is desirable, though it isnot mandatory. Axially acquired images may be used for large patients, or whena helical scanner is not available. In our institution the data is acquired in2 to 3 breath holds from the top of the kidneys, usually at T12, to thesymphysis pubis using a collimation of 5 mm with a pitch of 1.5 to 2.0. Imagesare automatically reconstructed at an interval of 2.5 mm. The larger pitch canprolong the life of the x-ray tube and decrease the number of slices per exam.However, greater collimation and pitch values increase the risk of missingsmall stones in the absence of clearly defined secondary signs ofureterolithiasis. A kVp of 120 and a minimum of 200 mAs should be used. Noenteric contrast material is administered. This study produces about 150images. We film every other image, which results in 75 images that arehard-copied onto four laser films with 20 images per sheet. Mathie andcoworkers report that the course of three-dimensional tubular structures isbest appreciated by viewing on a computer monitor in cine or stack mode.9 All150 images are then reviewed on the picture archiving and communication system(PACS) monitor or workstation in the cine or stack mode.9 Lung windows also arereviewed on the monitor. It is our routine to obtain a plain film of theabdomen as a convenient method of patient follow-up in all patients withpositive results. If the NCHCT is not definitive, contrast can be given and thestudy repeated. This may sort out phleboliths, infection, or confusingfindings. We have found this necessary in over 10% of NCHCT studies.
Identification of the offending stone at the ureteral vesicle junction(UVJ), ureteral pelvic junction (UPJ), or within the ureter or bladder is themost frequent finding (figure 1). The size of the stone should be measured, astreatment and follow-up is often based on stone size. A short learning curvefor accurate identification often is observed as residents and physiciansadjust to noncontrast CT. A thorough under-standing of the anatomical course ofthe ureter on axial images is essential. Secondary findings such as additionalstones within the kidney, hydronephrosis, hydroureter, perinephric fatstranding, perinephric fluid collections, thickening of renal fascia, andnephromegaly on the affected side can aid with the diagnosis of ureteralcalculi.10 These associated findings can provide supportive evidence that anacute obstructive process was present in cases of recently passed stones.Boridy has shown that the degree of perinephric edema on CT correlates with thedegree of obstruction demonstrated on urography; patients with a higher degreeof obstruction have a greater amount of perinephric edema.5 The tissue rimsign, a rim or halo of soft-tissue attenuation seen around the circumference ofan intraureteral calculus on unenhanced axial CT, has been described as usefulin differentiating ureteral calculi from extraurinary abdominal or pelviccalcifications.6,10,11 Secondary findings such as perinephric fat stranding,perinephric fluid collections, thickening of renal fascia, focal renal bulging,and nephromegaly can be seen in other processes such as infection, tumorinvasion, and renal vein thrombosis. Consideration of this differential in theabsence of renal calculi should warrant a contrast study. Hemorrhagicpyelonephritis, an uncommon variant of pyelonephritis, can demonstrate awedge-shaped or rounded area of increased density on NCHCT.12 A carefulclinical history and laboratory studies, such as a UA and WBC count, often arehelpful. If fever and chills are part of the patient's presentation, we feelthat a contrast-enhanced study is essential. Postprocessing is not alwaysnecessary, but the generated data set is suitable for reformatted multiplanarvolume reconstruction (MPVR) and 3D reconstruction. The coronal and curvedprojections are similar to IVP views and may lead to greater acceptance byreferring clinicians (figure 2). Additionally, reformatted images may behelpful in tracing the ureter to the suspect calcification. Patients maypresent with limited clinical information. Other clinical problems such aspyelonephritis, cholecystitis, appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID),hernias, and tumors, can mimic ureteral stones. These disorders are difficultto diagnose on an IVP but are easily seen on noncontrast CT. In approximately10% of patients, differentiation of stones from phleboliths may be extremelyproblematic. A repeat study with IV contrast is indicated if the noncontraststudy is unclear and if infection or pyuria is suspected.
There are four well defined major advantages of NCHCT when compared tourography: 1) the speed with which the examination may be completed; 2) the avoidance of the use of intravenous contrast material; 3) the ability to diagnose other intra-abdominal conditions which may mimicrenal colic clinically; and 4) the ability to directly visualize all urinary calculi, including those thatare radiolucent, on conventional plain film studies. The entire NCHCT scan maybe completed in 3 to 5 minutes of technologist time. This is in sharp contrastto the minimum time of 45 minutes to perform excretory urography and theadditional time of up to 24 hours that is required to obtain delayed films ifthe patient is actually obstructed. This marked reduction in study time willdecrease the total time spent in the emergency department and allows painmedication for symptomatic relief and definitive therapy to be administeredmuch more quickly. Additionally, CT technologists are usually available aroundthe clock, making the technology readily available in emergent situations. With a pitch of 1.5 to 2.0, only 75 revolutions of the CT x-ray tube arenecessary, reducing radiation exposure and prolonging tube life. Also, if PACSis available, film usage is eliminated, saving further resources. Theadvantages of not using intravenous contrast material are obvious: There is norisk of adverse reaction and the patient avoids the discomfort of theinjection. Other conditions including cholecystitis, appendicitis, diverticulitis, andcarcinoma may be confused with renal colic clinically; each of these conditionsmay be directly diagnosed on the CT images (figure 3). The ability to visualizeuric acid calculi and small stones at the UVJ allows a definitive diagnosis tobe made. In the past, with IVP, the diagnosis in many of these cases could onlybe inferred. The size of an obstructing renal stone is associated with the clinical courseand can easily be measured on NCHCT. Takahashi et al found that mean stonediameter was significantly larger in patients in whom conservative treat-mentfailed (mean: 7.8 mm) than in patients with spontaneous stone passage (mean:2.9 mm).10
Noncontrast CT does not provide physiological information about renalfunction and the degree of obstruction, though functional information generallyis not required for initial patient management. The small learning curvediscussed above may necessitate repeat performance of contrast studies untilexperience is gained with NCHCT. Helical acquisition is desirable to keepradiation dosages low while locating offending stones of only a few millimetersin size. A 10-mm axial scan may show only the secondary signs of ureteralcalculi. Also, a paucity of perinephric fat can limit the secondary findings ofureteral obstruction. Another disadvantage of NCHCT is that other procedures,such as sonography or MRI, can provide similar information without radiationexposure.
Noncontrast helical CT has quickly become the imaging study of choice inevaluating patients with acute flank pain. This exam can identify both stonesize and location. When renal stones are absent, careful inspection for otherCT findings, such as ipsilateral hydroureter, perinephric edema,hydronephrosis, and renal swelling can provide evi-dence of a recently passedstone. Other pathology mimicking renal colic such as cholecystitis,appendicitis, PID, pancreatitis, and diverticulitis can be identified withoutadditional imaging. Due to its speed, safety, and diagnostic accuracy, NCHCThas rapidly gained acceptance from our radiologists, technologists, clinicians,and administrators. AR


text:
Dancing Under the Stars Tonight in Park Slope
Tonight is Dancing Under the Stars, the Fifth Avenue BID's summer music/dance program (every Tuesday evening in July and August).
Coincidentally, I just ran into Irene LoRe, who runs the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID at Forty Weight/Sweet Wolf's on Sixth Avenue and 12th Street.
Tonight DJ Chris Style in Washington Park will be spinning the beats for great dancing.
Starting at 6, of course, Park Slope's favorite rock band, Rolie Polie Guacamole, will do an hour of music for kids.
At 7, Dj Chris Style will spin the dance beats that will get Fifth Avenue moving!
We're Having a Block Party on Third Street! Today!
Third Street between 6th and 7th Avenue is having its first block party ever. EVER.
Finally, after all these years, one of the newer residents decided to organize one and she did a great job.
She put together a planning committee, she got a permit from the city to close the street, she organized activities for children and, best of all, rented one of those spacewalks.
Bernette Rudoph, an elderly and talented artist, is doing a wood sculpture activity with the kids.
What's really fun is that the street is closed to traffic and the kids can ride their biks and scooters up and down the streets. Also, there's fire hydrant sprinkler, a time honored way for city kids to cool off.
Real-Time Bus Arrival and Location Info for the B61 Bus
Help is on the way for the riders of the B61 bus. I got to know a little bit about riding the bus in Park Slope when I was commuting to the city for court reporting classes. Because I had that heavy (HEAVY) backpack, I would wait for the bus on the corner of Third Street and Seventh Avenue and wait.
And wait.
And wait.
I saw the same people every day and some days we got mighty impatient. There was always someone standing way out in the middle street looking southward for the bus. "Is that a bus," we'd ask.
Truth of the matter, it was almost always more prudent—and faster—to just walk to the subway at Grand Army Plaza or Flatbush Avenue. But sometimes you just want to take a bus.
On cold winter mornings, there was always such relief when the bus finally arrived. On most mornings there was just plain relief that there was a bus at all.
Well, some exciting changes are afoot for riders of the B61 bus.
City Councilmember Brad Lander's press guy sent out a release yesterday about the debut of something called BusTime on the B61 bus, making it the second bus in Brooklyn with the system that provides real-time bus arrival and location information. You an learn how the system works here.
The system, which is already in use for the B63 bus on Fifth and Atlantic Avenues, uses GPS devices on buses, which lets bus riders use their cell phones and computers to find out where the next buses to arrive on a route actually are.
I will say that it sounds like a big improvement over standing out in the middle of the street, risking injury, to check on whether there's a bus coming. Especially for those of us who need distance glasses and can barely see two blocks away. Quite often a van or a truck looked like a bus and I (and others) got our hopes up.
There are other planned improvements to the B61 bus, as well.
· More frequent buses in the PM rush hour, increasing the average headway from ten to nine minutes.
· More reliable service at all hours resulting from:
o An increase in the amount of time the bus has to make the run and to recover at the end of the route.
o A change in the location of the bus driver shift change from the middle of the line to the end of the line.
Lander says: "Bus Time is a great step forward for B61 bus riders, who are looking for more reliable bus service. The MTA has brought Bus Time to the B61 at our urging and I look forward to taking further steps to making the line a great bus for the neighborhoods it serves."
Fourth Avenue's Church of the Redeemer to be Torn Down
From Francis Morrone, architectural writer and historian, I have just learned that the Church of the Redeemer, built in 1866, on Fourth Avenue and Pacific Street in Brooklyn is going to be torn down.
Morrone says that it is one of his favorite churches designed by Patrick Keely, who designed hundreds of churches. Obviously, it is not a designated landmark. "If it's not torn down, it will probably fall down on its own," he writes on Facebook.
"I like the play of volumes, the intimate scale, the good detailing, the side garden. I love imagining the church in 1866, when it was slightly more bucolic in these parts, and today, when the church shares its sidewalk with the subway entrance," he adds. "And I love the mosaic sign for this church down in the subway station. It looks to me like Keely had a somewhat larger budget than he usually did with his Catholic churches. I'd love to see it with its stone cleaned."
Francis Morrone is an architectural historian and author of Architectural Guidebook of Brooklyn. Morrone's essays on architecture have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, City Journal, American Arts Quarterly, the New Criterion and the New York Times. In April 2011 he was named by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the 13 best tour guides in the world.
He thinks a high rise condo is going to be built in its stead.
Vote Hakeem Jeffries: Charles Barron Endorsed by David Duke, Former KKK Grand Wizard
There's quite an intense race in Brooklyn's 8th congressional district (which includes Fort Greene, Bed Stuy, Prospect Heights and East New York) going on. Turnout will be the key to who wins.
City Council Member Charles Barron and Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries are duking out it out. Last week, Charles Barron got a toxic endorsement from David Duke, a former KKK Grand Wizard and fervent anti-semite.
And what a great reason to vote for Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, who is running for congress in the 8th congressional district against City Council Member Charles Barron for Ed Towns' congressional seat. Not that you need a reason to vote for Jeffries, who is a good guy.
City Council Member Brad Lander has worked closely with Jeffries on issues including affordable housing, creating good jobs, and building stronger neighborhoods. "He's great at bringing people together to make real and concrete change. He's going to be a fantastic Congressman. I hope you can support him if you live in Prospect Heights, East New York, Bed Stuy, or one of the other neighborhoods in the district," writes Lander in an email.
The battle for a Brooklyn Congressional seat will likely hinge on one neighborhood in the sprawling and diverse new district- Bedford-Stuyvesant, political insiders say.
With record low turnout expected for the June 26 Demoratic primary to replace retiring Rep. Ed Towns, controversial City Councilman Charles Barron upstart and Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries have flooded Bed-Stuy with campaign literature and door to door visits in recent weeks, residents say.
"It's the Ohio of the district," a Jeffries campaign staffer said, referring to the perennial swing state in Presidential elections.
While each candidate has carved out sections of strong support in the recently redrawn 8th Congressional district, neither one currently represents more than small enclaves of Bedford-Stuyvesant, long seen as a must win area for any black pol. As many as 9,000 votes are up for grabs based on prior turnout.
OTBKB Endorses Nydia Velazquez for Congress
Here's the way I am voting on Tuesday, June 26th in the democratic primary: Turns out I'm in the 9th congressional district and not the 7th. So I voted for Congresswoman Yvette Clarke. That was a no-brainer. Now if I can just keep my congressional districts straight.
For congress in the newly redrawn 7th district I am voting for Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, the incumbent, because she's been doing a good job for twenty years and she cares about health care, education and transit. According to Brad Lander, "she led the successful effort to get the Gowanus Canal declared a Superfund site, which will bring hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up the Canal in the decade to come."
It's a race to watch because she's being opposed by Dan O'Connor, City Council Member Erik Marin Dilan and George Martinez (the Occupy Wall Street candidate). Interesting candidates all.
But Nydia's the one I'm going for this time.
Steve Levin, One of Park Slope's City Council Members
Here's a nice picture of City Council Member Steve Levin drinking a Coca Cola at the First Annual North Brooklyn Boat Club Summer Solstice party last night.
Steve's a very good guy. He represents parts of Park Slope; he shares Park Slope with Council Member Brad Lander.
Yes, he's as young as he looks. I don't think he's still in his twenties but he's probably just this side of thirty.
He grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey and came to Brooklyn to work as a community organizer after he graduated from Brown University.
He ran a Lead Safe House program and an Anti-Predatory lending program, both based in Bushwick. In 2006, Stephen became Chief of Staff to Assemblymember Vito Lopez. IN November 2009, Stephen was elected to represent the 33rd District of Brooklyn, which covers Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Park Slope, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, and Vinegar Hill
I remember that election very well. You can read my Breakfast of Candidates interview with Steve Levin here.
North Brooklyn is part of Steve's district, and the North Brooklyn Boat Club is a very happening thing in that neck of the woods.
The Problem with Fourth Avenue
Read this honest assessment of the new construction and negligible planning on Fourth Avenue by Robbie Whelan in the Wall Street Journal.
How did this happen in a neighborhood that fought like hell (and failed) to prevent the Atlantic Yards project, freaks out about a Barnes and Noble going in on Seventh Avenue, and cares about landmarking and all the rest. I hope Whalen is wrong when he states bracingly: "Brooklyn is going to be stuck for decades with this depressing wasteland of cheap materials and designs."
The optimist in me hopes that good minds (hello Brad Lander, Steve Levin, Park Slope Civic Council, Park Slope Neighbors) are working on ways to FIX what's wrong with Fourth Avenue. The zoning was screwed. No one was mandated to put storefronts on the Fourth Avenue side of their ugly high rise apartment buildings. Hence, it is an avenue with little or no street life. Thank goodness for the businesses that have set up shop there. The blocks between Union and President have some street life going on (Oxaca, Mission Delores, Rock Shop, Root Hill, an eyeglass store a wine shop). And between 2nd and 3rd Streets there's Two Moon Art House and Cafe.
There needs to be more and much in the way of amenable city planning or organic and artistic development. Is that even possible anymore?
Just as great architecture can lift the spirit, bad architecture can crush it.
In few parts of New York is this more the case than with the rash of new apartment buildings along Brooklyn's Fourth Avenue, the six-lane street that runs south from Atlantic Terminal and cleaves Park Slope from Gowanus. Because of bad decisions by Amanda Burden's City Planning Department and the profit-above-all-else motive of some developers, Brooklyn is going to be stuck for decades with this depressing wasteland of cheap materials and designs.
Just how bad is Fourth Avenue? Consider the latest addition, a 12-story rental apartment building ..
Park Slope's Brad Lander Proposes NYPD Inspector General
Brad Lander, one of Park Slope's City Council Members (yes, we have two, two City Council Members), has proposed legislation to add oversight to the NYPD in light of the Stop and Frisk controversy. A couple of days ago, he introduced legislation, along with Councilmember Jumaane Williams and 22 of his colleagues, to create an Inspector General for the NYPD. It sounds very Gilbert and Sullivan but it also sounds like a very good idea.
You can read about the new bill in the New York Times. Bur first read what Lander had to say about this effort on his blog.
We live in the greatest city in the world, so it's not often that I find myself wishing that we had something that exists in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia, but not here in New York. All of these cities have independent oversight for their police departments – which means there is someone whose job is to ensure that the police department's operations are effective, efficient, and protect our civil liberties.
With good oversight, people are more likely to follow the rules. Taxpayers can be more confident their money is well spent. Rights are more likely to be respected. Communities are more likely to build relationships of trust.
Without meaningful, independent oversight, problems grow and fester. Rules are broken. Pressure from the top outweighs what's right. Money is wasted. People take shortcuts with the truth. Our civil liberties are less likely to be protected. Agency morale suffers. The bonds of trust between the police and communities around the city are frayed. Policing becomes less effective. We need to stop this trend.
Video of Stop & Frisk Discussion at Beth Elohim
There was a panel with NYC Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, City Councilmember Brad Lander and others at Congregation Beth Elohim last night about the NYPD's stop and frisk policy and improving relations between the police and the community.
I wasn't there. Were you? Via Google I found this short You Tube video of Bill de Blasio speaking last night. City Councilman Brad Lander is sitting behind him.
Brad Lander's Shiva Visit to Leiby Kletsky's Family
Earlier this week City Councilmember Brad Lander visited the family of Leiby Kletsky, the 8-year-old Borough Park boy who was brutally murdered last week. He wrote about his experience with the family and it is on his website today. I was in Europe during this terrible tragedy and I knew nothing about it until I got back to New York on Sunday night. I was moved by Lander's reflections on his visit with the family and am reprinting it here for those who haven't had a chance to read it.
No words can ease or describe the grief, or heal the wounds, but — like so many people I've talked to — I've been thinking about it constantly for the past week, and wanted at least to write down some of what I've been feeling.
We were all heartbroken by the tragedy — especially those with close ties to the Borough Park and Kensington communities, or the Orthodox Jewish community, or those of us with young kids … but really all of us, beyond Brooklyn, beyond New York, beyond the Jewish community, beyond parents. The killing reminded us that despite everything we do to keep our kids and each other safe, there are spaces of senseless terror, of incomprehensible evil. That the things that are absolutely most dear and precious to us can be taken away in a heartbeat, for no reason at all.
At the shiva, after talking to his parents, I met one of Leiby's neighbors, who talked to me about how Leiby would play ball with the little kids in his building, about how rare it is for an 8-year-old to play with 4-year-olds, about how he had a heart of gold, living up to his name (Leiby is from the Hebrew lev, for heart).
While neither words nor actions feel meaningful in the face of the tragedy, the response of the Orthodox Jewish community has been remarkable. I've been deeply impressed over the past two years with the extraordinary voluntary (chesed) organizations and efforts in the community, for so many causes — taking care of sick families, helping kids go to summer camp, providing social and health and mental health services, and so many others. The past week showed that like no other.
Save This Park Slope Firehouse: Rally Today at 11AM
Mayor Bloomberg has proposed closing 20 firehouses and 8 of them are in Brooklyn, including Engine Company 220, located at 530 11th Street in Park Slope.
The community is fighting it and there's a demonstration this morning.
Join Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Councilmember Brad Lander, Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley and Borough President Marty Markowitz will join Park Slope and Windsor Terrace residents THIS morning to rally against the closure. If the Bloomberg Administration is allowed to proceed with this closure, response times at fires will increase dramatically for Park Slope and Windsor Terrace residents. Arrival of the second engine necessary to get water on the fire would rise from 4:08 to 5:24 (a 30% increase). The elected officials and residents will call on the Mayor to explore other savings or revenue options, rather than seeking to save $55 million by putting lives at risk.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 25 at 11am
WHERE: Engine Company 220, 530 11th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn
WHAT: Rally and press conference
WHO: Residents of Park Slope and Windsor Terrace, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Councilmember Brad Lander, Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, Uniformed Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy, Uniformed Fire Officers Association President Al Hagan
Lander: Livable Streets/Reduced Alternate Side Parking
Now the Mayor wants to grade the cleanliness of city streets. First restaurants, now this. Council Member Brad Lander, who's district includes Park Slope, Boro Park, Kensington, Gowanus and Carroll Gardens thinks it a good thing. He was pleased that Speaker Quinn announced today (in her State of the City address) that she intends to move forward on a bill he introduced last year: Intro 287 which would require the Department of Sanitation to reduce alternate side parking to once a week per side in Community Board subdivisions that achieve cleanliness ratings of 90% or above on Mayor's Office of Operation's "Scorecard."
Good street score = Less alternate side of the street parking. Okay. Here from Lander himself:
Author Calvin Trillin once joked that "You can park your car on the streets of New York, or you can have a full-time job — but you can't possibly do both." Unfortunately, for too many New Yorkers, this is all too close to reality. By allowing communities to reduce alternate side parking to one day per week, this legislation can minimize the sense of dread that that all drivers feel on a day when alternate side parking is in effect. It will also reduce unnecessary car trips, thereby decreasing air pollution, since in many neighborhoods a good portion of the daily traffic consists of people looking for parking.
This proposed legislation builds on the success and leadership of my own community board, CB6 in Brooklyn, whose district manager Craig Hammerman has helped to lead the way on this issue. And I look forward to working with Councilmember Sara Gonzalez and CB7 in Brooklyn — who have been keeping their streets clean and patiently requesting the same treatment for years — and other Councilmembers and Community Boards around the city.
I am proud to be a supporter of a more livable and sustainable city for users of all modes of transportation. This legislation is an important part of broader efforts to make our streets and our city work better not only for drivers, but also straphangers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Brad Lander: LICH in Jeopardy
Here is City Council Member Brad Lander's letter to Governor Cuomo about his decision to delay grants to LICH putting the hospital's survival in jeopardy.
I was very distressed to learn this morning that the Cuomo Administration has decided to delay grants to Long Island College Hospital/SUNY Downstate Medical Center, which may force the hospital into bankruptcy. I call on the governor to immediately restore these promised grants, in order to protect the health and safety of Brooklynites.
Long Island College Hospital serves people from throughout Brooklyn, and is especially important to residents of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens, for whom it is the nearest medical facility. Long Island College Hospital operates 300 beds, and annually delivers over 2,500 babies and has over 55,000 emergency room visits. Long Island College Hospital also provides 2,500 people with good jobs.
Last year — in recognition of financial challenges facing LICH, and in dialogue with the community — LICH began the process of merging with SUNY Downstate Medical Center. That deal will both preserve LICH as a great community hospital, and achieve efficiencies in the delivery of health care in Brooklyn. As part of the deal, LICH and SUNY Downstate were promised $62 million in state grants.
By delaying these grants, and suggesting that they might be cancelled, the Cuomo Administration is placing the merger, the survival of LICH, and the health of our communities in jeopardy.
I ask Governor Cuomo to respect the State's commitment to LICH/SUNY Downstate, to immediately restore these grants, and to help secure the future of LICH, SUNY Downstate, and the health of our communities.
First Event of the Park Slope Interfaith Social Justice Network
The Park Slope Interfaith Social Justice Network is newly formed organizations, which includes Old First Reformed Church, Congregation Beth Elohim, Kolot Chayeinu, St. Augustine Roman Catholic, Church, Greenwood Baptist Church and The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture.
Other congregations (and individuals outside congregations) are welcome to join!
The group is having its first community event sponsored by Brad Lander on Monday, January 31st at Old First Dutch Reformed Church 729 Carroll Street at Seventh Avenue.
At 7PM, there's a potluck dinner. Participants are asked to bring a dish to share as well canned or dried goods as a donation to the food pantry at St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church.
At 7:30PM, there will be a discussion about homelessness in New York City with a representative from Coalition for the Homeless and CAMBA. Conversation points to include: Where do we stand? What can we do to combat homelessness? What can we do to help out?
You can RSVP for this event here.
Monday night is also the HOPE Count, the annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE), sponsored by the NYC Department of Homeless Services.
In this event, NYC DHS and volunteers canvass parks, subways, and other public spaces to count the number of
people living without shelter in New York City. You can register for this event here.
The Hope Count begins at 10:30 PM.
Tonight: 6:30PM Community Conference Call with Brad Lander
Tonight at 6:30 PM: There's a Community Conference Call with Brad Lander to review his annual report on his office's 2010 accomplishments.
I want to encourage you to join me and my staff for the conference call we are hosting to review my annual report on our 2010 accomplishments this evening at 6:30.
To RSVP for the conference call click here, and we will send you all the information you need. You can RSVP right up until the last minute this evening.
Petition to Provide Better Alternatives for F/G Station Closures
As EVERYONE knows by now, north-bound F/G-train platforms at the 15th St. and Ft. Hamilton Parkway stations will be closed for the next 5 months (with south-bound closures to follow afterward).
No one denies that major track work on the F local tracks is necessary but F/G train users and losers believe that the MTA should provide service alternatives.
Many want the MTA to extend B68 bus (which runs along Prospect Park Southwest and Coney Island Avenue) past its usual terminus at Bartel Pritchard Square (at the 15th St/PPSW Station), to 9th St and 8th Ave, where riders could pick up the F train. Brad Lander has set up a petition and urges straphangers to demonstrate their support.
Already 1000 F/G subway riders have signed a petition for better transit alternatives.
If you are interested you can sign a petition to the MTA for better service alternatives.
Annual Report From Brad Lander
City Council Member Brad Lander has just released his annual report to the community. The report is broken down by issue, and by the various neighborhoods in the district and you can read it here. There is going to be a conversation about the report, some of the issues it raises, and where things are headed in 2011 on Thursday, January 27 at 6:30 PM. The public is invited to participate via community conference call. You can RSVP for that here. In the introduction he writes:
As a deep believer in democratic accountability, I believe it is essential toreport back to the community.One year into my tenure in the City Council,I'm pleased to share this first annual report onsome of what we accomplished in 2010, what we learned, and what we're hoping to do inthe year to come.
Panel Votes to Bring Millennium Brooklyn to Park Slope
Last night the Panel for Educational Policy, which consists of 13 appointed members and Chancellor Cathie Black, voted to locate Millennium Brooklyn High School inside the John Jay High School Complex making it the fourth high school in that large Seventh Avenue building in Park Slope. Prior to the vote there was a four-hour public hearing at Brooklyn Tech. From reports on Park Slope Patch, it sounds like the public hearing, attended by staff, students and other supporters of the schools within the John Jay Complex, was similar to the public hearing at the John Jay Complex last week.
There has been much controversy surrounding the way the Department of Education has handled the proposal to bring Millennium to Park Slope. It was originally presented as a proposal but soon seemed a fait accompli after Lisa Gioe Cord, the principal who has been selected to run Millennium Brooklyn, told her current school that she would be leaving (to start the new school).
At a hearing last week at the John Jay Complex staff and students complained that the John Jay schools were "set up to fail" when they were routinely denied funding for, among other things, improvements to the schools derelict building.
Others cried racism and "separate but unequal" treatment because the new school is set to be funded very generously by the Department of Education, as it is considered a selective school and part of the chancellor's New School Initiative.
Assemblyman Jim Brennan told the crowd last week: "This proposal is an egregious insult to the existing schools. Don't blame the demonstrators. Take Millennium and take it off the table right now…Strengthen and build what's here before you. Before you do anything new, you must help those who are here."
OPINION: What to many seemed like a fait accompli is now a reality. On the plus side, Millenium Brooklyn could be a "win by association" for the schools now in the complex in terms of much needed improvements (thought it is painfully obvious that this funding would never have happened without Millennium). What has been forgotten in all this is that Millennium Brooklyn has the potential to be an excellent new high school choice for Brooklyn students.
It is time to take a look at the recommendations presented by City Councilmember Brad Lander that he believes will be critical in helping to ease—and possibly heal—the tensions raised by bringing the new school into the building.
- Insure safety with respect for all students by removing the metal detectors for the entire John Jay campus and developing a strong building-wide safety plan.
- Commit to diversity at the John Jay campus by ensuring that the John Jay campus includes an ongoing mix of non-selective and selective options, and that the new school – and all schools there – work to reflect Brooklyn's diversity, and serve English language learners and students with special needs.
- Provide equitable and adequate resource investments across schools by implementing long-overdue building-wide improvements, and making sure that investments tied to these changes serve all the schools equally.
- Conduct space planning in an equitable, transparent, inclusive manner, in consultation with all the principals.
- Establish a "John Jay Campus Council" to build community among the schools, and partnerships with the broader community to help the schools succeed together, create shared spaces and institutions, fundraise, and connect to resources.
MTA Won't Budge on Shuttle Buses for F-Train Users/Losers
Seems that the MTA is playing hardball and will not provide shuttle buses to those left stranded without a subway station (Ft. Hamilton and 15th Street F trains stations) starting next week.
My friend just heard from City Councilman Brad Lander's office. Lander met with BP Marty Markowitz, Jim Brennan and the MTA and they will not add shuttle buses or increase routes along the B61 at all.
They are adding bike parking at Church and adding a B35 bus stop at the Church Street station. Neither solution does anything for anyone wanting to board at 15th Street or Fort Hamilton. Bad news.
Okay, you say. So those commuters have to walk to the 9th Street or Church Avenue stations. What's the big deal? Or they should just get on the train going in the other direction to Church Avenue and then get on the Manhattan-bound trains from there.
Think again.
It's really not the best solution for kids, for instance, who take the subway to schools in other parts of Brooklyn or Manhattan. A friend's daughter takes the F train from 15th Street to Fourth Avenue and then switches to the R train there. The proposal would mean that she, at 12-years-old, should get on the train at 15th and take it out to Church Avenue (which is a bit of a trek on the tracks) and then cross over to the Manhattan bound tracks and get the F back in the right direction to Fourth Avenue.
This is a hardship for the people who rely on the 15th Street and Ft. Hamilton stations. This is a big inconvenience. This is a lot of extra time on the subway for students and other commuters.
Solution? Well, how about shuttle service. The commuters over there really want that so why is the MTA being so tight fisted about it. When you take away (albeit for much needed improvements) you gotta give something back.
Shuttle buses are what the commuters who use those stations want.
A Moment of Reckoning for Park Slope & John Jay
Last night at the public hearing about the DOE's proposal to locate Millennium 2 in the John Jay Complex on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope, students, administrators, and teachers presented strong and passionate arguments about the Department of Education's mishandling of the situation. In my opinion it is clear that the DOE must listen closely to charges of racism, segregation and inequality (financial and otherwise) regarding the three schools that are already inside that building.
The overheated meeting last night, which took place in the overheated auditorium, exposed many serious issues that must be addressed by the DOE—and the Park Slope community. I think there is a radical disconnect between the community and the schools in the JJ complex, which serve, primarily, minority students. Few families from affluent and white Park Slope have opted to enroll in any of those school let alone tour through them to see what they're about.
As expressed last night, the students at those schools feel like barely tolerated guests in the community, at best, and criminals at worst. Many students in their remarks pointed to the metal detectors and police presence at the school and outside of it.
According to many who spoke last night, the lack of diversity, the lack of funding, and the sense of separation from the community have created a segregated institution within a community that views itself as enlightened and progressive. The students who spoke truly understand this disconnect and they expressed how it's left them feeling "other" and marginalized. Clearly, Park Slope locals have serious misunderstandings about what really goes on in the school building and they rarely venture inside to find out.
And then comes the proposal to locate Millennium as the 4th school inside those walls. With the schools' history of DOE neglect no wonder it caused such a negative reaction (and explains the loud and sometimes disruptive environment last night). According to accounts, Millennium 2 was originally presented to the staff and students as a proposal by the DOE but soon it was clear that it was a fait accompli.
What was even more galling to the staff and students and many in the crowd last night was the huge amount of money that will be poured into this new school effort, funding that has been repeatedly denied the schools in that building.
Millennium 2 is part of the DOE's coveted New Schools Initiative (it will be the 8th in that program) and money is no object for that program, which also brings in corporate funding for those "special" schools.
It seems that the sky's the limit for Millennium 2 while the DOE claims poverty when it comes to improving the quality of life in the John Jay complex (improving ancient bathrooms, plumbing, bell systems, classrooms, windows, walls, etc.).
Even if the opening of Millennium 2 is ultimately a win-by-association for the other schools it is painfully obvious to the teachers and students that improvements to the building and the school would NEVER have happened unless a "Park Slope approved school" was going in there.
Over and over teachers and administrators made the following point: the schools in the JJ complex were set up to fail while Millennium 2 is being set up for success. And what's the success formula: funding for the physical plant, funding for teachers, electives, guidance, after school activities and everything else that makes a good school good.
I agree with many who spoke that the JJ building is an embarrassment and the fact that it exists within this supposedly enlightened neighborhood is even more of an embarrassment. Many in this neighborhood would never allow their children to attend a school with non-working bathrooms, no electrical outlets and general derelict condition. Why is that good enough for the children in our district who go there???
Last night was truly a moment of reckoning that was a long time coming. Issues that have been kept under cover for a long time came flowing out. Racism. Segregation. Class issues. Money for some, financial neglect for others. Better schools for the rich, inferior schools for the poor. Misunderstanding between community and school populations.
Albeit, the talk was mostly from the side of the schools in the John Jay Complex, who don't want Millennium to be located in the building. Their counter-proposal is to invest in the schools that are already in there.
Representatives from the Secondary School of Research presented a list of demands they want addressed immediately, including the removal of the metal detectors which create a humiliating experience for the students and staff. A name change: Park Slope Collegiate instead of the John Jay Complex. And, of course, a long list of improvements to the building plus the restoration of the new school funding that those schools NEVER got.
A representative from Borough President Marty Markowitz's office said that Markowitz will advocate for that list of demands (minus not putting Millennium 2 in the building).
Later Brad Lander spoke honestly to the crowd about their charges of racism and inequality. He has his own list of what needs to be done there including the elimination of the metal detectors, a new name for the complex, and renovation of the physical plant. He also proposed a community/school council for understanding and connection between school and Park Slope.
Representative Jim Brennan also spoke to the crowd with these strong words: "This proposal is an egregious insult to the existing schools. Don't blame the demonstrators.. Take Millennium and take it off the table right now…Strengthen and build what's here before you. Before you do anything new, you must help those who are here."
City Hall Hearings and Snow is on the Way
With another snowstorm on the way, New York City officials are hopefully being smart about preparations for this one which comes on the slushy heels of the last botched snow recovery when days after Christmas snow crippled the outer boroughs and parts of Manhattan.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning from Tuesday evening through Wednesday at 6PM. The heaviest snow is supposed to begin after midnight tonight.
The National Weather Service is saying that New York City and Northeast New Jersey could get 8 to 14 inches of snow.
Yesterday's hearings at the City Council revealed what too many citizens already ascertained: things were seriously mismanaged if they were managed at all during the Blizzard of 2010.
The mayor was missing in action.
His deputy wasn't in town and he made a bunch of mistakes.
Our own city councilman, Brad Lander, was on vacation and there was definitely the feeling in Park Slope that we could call 311 and be told that there were just too many calls or we could, well, just sit in the snow and suffer. Councilman Steve Levin was around and he issued complaints about the city's slow response early and loud.
Politicians have every right to go on vacation but they must leave their offices in good hands in the event of an emergency. That's just plain common sense.
The sanitation department was not plowing in the outer boroughs and the outer boroughs really felt like outer I don't know where. Streets in Manhattan looked pretty darn tidy compared to what was going on out here in Park Slope.
It's not that we didn't enjoy a couple of quiet snow days. But many of us feared what would happen if there was a health or fire emergency or some other kind of personal or civic disaster.
This is a big wake up call for emergency relief efforts in New York City and hopefully things will get worked out before another disaster comes our way.
Brad Lander's Blizzard Cleanup Report
Today's the day!
The New York City Council will hold hearings to examine why the City' s cleanup efforts were so very bad during the Blizzard of 2010 (and other storms) and figure out what needs to change to prevent these problems going forward.
Yesterday Brad Lander sent his constituents a District blizzard cleanup report, to analyze the response in the neighborhoods of the 39th District and to summarize major issues that arose so they can be further investigated and addressed in the Council hearings and beyond.
Click on this link to read the Blizzard Report. Click on read more to see an summary of what's included in the report.
Brad Lander On F-Station Closures at 15th, Ft. Ham & Smith/9th Streets
Printed below is Brad Lander's response to the frustration of many Brooklyn strap hangers who use the 15th Street, Ft. Hamilton and Smith/ 9th Street F and G train stations, which will be closed for many months due to renovations.
You can be sure, Lander's office is getting plenty of phone calls. On the one hand: people get that improvements need to be made and that can mean station closures. But still, imagine if your subway station was being closed down and alternatives would add time to your already laborious commute.
How would you feel?
Lander says that he will be working to "push the MTA to provide better alternative service during the project."
I'm not sure what that means — bus service, bikes, scooters, sleds?
The P.S. to this letter is quite apt. He writes: I know this frustration comes right on the heels of the City's deeply inadequate snow removal efforts. Kensington in particular bore the brunt of the City's failures, with some blocks not getting plowed until the early morning of New Year's Day."
Lander says that he also plans to "redouble my efforts to insure that all our communities get the full level of government services they need and deserve."
Hear, hear.
Brooklyn never felt so much like "the outer borough" as it did during the recent snowstorm. The abrupt closing of these important stations feels like another added difficulty to "outer borough" life.
Ah, urban life.
Many of you have contacted my office today after learning abruptly that Queens-bound F/G service will be suspended at the Fort Hamilton Parkway and 15th Street stations for the next five months.
This is part of a necessary project to rehabilitate the F/G line. But the MTA did not do enough outreach to provide advance notice and has not offered adequate alternative service. I will be working immediately to push the MTA to provide better alternative service during the project.
The closure is part of the rebuilding of the F line's local and express tracks from Bergen Street to Church Avenue. The MTA is rebuilding tracks, signals, and switches along this entire section of the line. In order to complete the project, they need to detour the F train to the express tracks, which do not stop at either 15th Street or Fort Hamilton Parkway.
Unfortunately, the MTA has informed us that this means:
- Queens-bound service will be suspended at both stations from Jan 2011 – May 2011
- South-bound service will be suspended at both stations from Nov 2011 – March 2012
More information on the changes can be found at the MTA website.
Message from City Councilmember Brad Lander
Dear Neighbors,
I know it's been an extremely frustrating few days for many of you. My staff has been hard at work, trying to help the scores of people who have contacted my office while I've been on my way back from out of town. From the many of you who have e-mailed or called, I know that the snow (and car and bus) removal seems to be taking much longer than usual. We are still following up with the Department of Sanitation to address some of the major streets in the district (including Henry Street, Prospect Park West, McDonald Ave, and Cortelyou Road in Kensington) and have passed many of your requests about other streets on to them as well.
Unfortunately, we now hear that it may not be until the end of Wednesday before some streets in our neighborhood are plowed, even for the first time. (FYI– alternate side parking remains suspended for Wednesday). If your street hasn't been plowed or if there is a sidewalk that needs attention, my office has set up an online form at www.bradlander.com/snow.
You can also e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com, or call us at (718) 499-1090. You should try 311 first, but I know they have been overwhelmed, and slow to respond. I know that one more web-form is NOT what you need if you're still stuck on your street – but we will do our best to follow up to requests submitted at www.bradlander.com/snow. Of course, if there is an emergency, you should call 911.
The City Council has set up a hearing to review the City's response to this storm for January 10th at 1pm. We'll be asking questions about what happened, why the response seems so inadequate in so many neighborhoods across the city, and what needs to be done for the future. I'll be eager to hear your stories – however frustrating – as we prepare for that hearing. In the meantime, good luck. And thanks so much to all of you who have helped your neighbors get through the storm and dig out afterwards! –Brad
Lander's Office Not Optimistic About Snow Removal on Side Streets Today
After I spoke with Brad Lander, City Councilmember of the 39th District, on the phone, I got this message from Michael Freedman-Schnapapone one of his staff members:
We've been fielding a number of calls & emails from constituents today (over 60 at last count) which we are working diligently to bring to the attention of the Department of Sanitation & the Office of Emergency Management.
After speaking with the Department of Sanitation, we are not optimistic about the City getting all of the side streets clear by the end of today. Our office definitely wants to hear about major streets that are not clear, issues with abandoned vehicles preventing plowing, and other issues preventing emergency vehicle access. We'll be following up at the end of the day with more information. There has also been a City Council oversight hearing that will look into the storm response scheduled for Jan 10th at 1pm.
Brad Lander Weighs In
Turns out our dedicated City Councilmember Brad Lander was in Florida during the blizzard and was stuck at the Tampa Airport for many hours today. He's back now and says his office received 100 phone calls about snow removal problems.
I spoke to him a couple of hours ago as I was leaving the park (with David Pechefsky coincidentally) and asked him what went wrong and he said he had no information but some theories, and will look into it in the days ahead. The City Council will be having a hearing about the problems on January 10th.
In the meantime, Lander advised locals to call 311, call his office and in real emergencies, call 911. He believes that the snow will probably be cleared sometime tomorrow.
He said his office would be issuing a statement sometime this evening or in the morning.
"You probably haven't had a vacation since 2009," I told him.
"It wasn't much of a vacation," he told me.
No Word From Brad Lander on Snow Removal Emergency
Many in Park Slope's 39th district are wondering what City Councilmember Brad Lander thinks of this snow removal emergency. Hey Brad, where are ya??????
2010 Park Slope 100
Here it is, what you've all been waiting for: the 2010 Park Slope 100. This is the fifth annual alphabetical list of 100 people, places and things that make Park Slope such a special place to live. 100 Stories, 100 ways of looking at the world.
This year I received many tips from readers of OTBKB. Quite a few of these blurbs were written by OTBKB readers. Thanks to all! Please send your typos, your fact checks, your comments to me.
Heck, I know you will.
Five years of the Park Slope 100. That means that if you combine all the lists there are 500 people, places and things. A sort of mini-history of Park Slope since 2006.
Survey Shows Support for PPW Bike Lane and New Traffic Configuration
I heard it on NPR this morning and I just got the email from Rachel Goodman, City Councilmember Brad Lander's press representative,with news that the Bike Lane survey has been released and the findings are positive for supporters of the new traffic configuration and two-way bike lane on Prospect Park West.
The survey will be presented at a public meeting of the Community Board 6 Transportation Committee on Thursday, December 16th at 6:30pm at New York Methodist Hospital Auditorium, 506, 6th Street in Park Slope. Copies will also be available at the City Council's hearing on Cycling in New York City on Thursday, December 9th, at 250 Broadway, 10am.
The 13-question survey was collected online and in-person October 15 – 30, 2010. According to Lander's press release: "It was not a randomly-sampled public opinion poll, nor was it intended as a referendum on the project. While it was used as an organizing tool for active supporters and opponents of the project, responses reached far beyond organized advocacy networks."
Here are the stats on the survey itself. It was completed by 3,150 Brooklyn residents (828 living on Prospect Park West or the blocks immediately adjacent to the street; 1,137 elsewhere in Park Slope; 1,185 elsewhere in Brooklyn ).
According to Lander, "The responses show deep interest in the project, with over 2,000 respondents answering open-ended questions (in addition to the multiple-choice questions), and over 1,000 respondents voluntarily providing contact information."
And here are the actual results:
Among the 3,150 respondents overall, there is broad support for the project:
* 54% (1,522 respondents) wish to keep the configuration as-is
* 24% (688 respondents) wish to keep the configuration, with some changes
* 22% (633 respondents) wish to go back to the previous configuration
Among all respondents living in Park Slope (2,210 respondents):
* 49% (888 respondents) wish to keep the configuration as-is
* 22% (408 respondents) wish to keep the configuration, with some changes
* 29% (530 respondents) wish to go back to the previous configuration
Among the 272 respondents living on PPW, there is a roughly even split between those wishing to keep the bike lanes and those wishing to go back to the previous configuration:
* 31% (85 respondents) wish to keep the configuration as-is
* 18% (50 respondents) wish to keep the configuration, with some changes
* 50% (137 respondents) wish to go back to the previous configuration
Detailed findings from the survey (including methodology) are available at http://www.bradlander.com/ppwsurvey


text:
South Sound advocate for the homeless Selena Kilmoyer recently was recognized as the 2012 Hero of the Houseless by the Thurston County Housing Task Force.
Kilmoyer, 68, of Olympia, has been involved in several local efforts to help provide basic services to those without permanent roofs over their heads, including the Bread & Roses Advocacy Center, the Devoe Road Shelter, the Out of the Woods family shelter and Camp Quixote. She has served on Bread & Roses' board of directors for several years and recently returned to the nonprofit, for which she serves as a live-in volunteer.
"Selena has been part of nearly every new approach to homelessness in our county," said Thurston County homeless coordinator Theresa Slusher, adding that Kilmoyer has brought a faith-based perspective to community efforts involving nonprofits, governments and businesses.
"… She helps all of us understand that by working together, we create a whole that is greater than the sum of our different parts," Slusher said.
Kilmoyer has a bachelor's degree in special education and elementary education from State University of New York in Geneseo and a master's degree in education and theology from Saint Michael's College in Vermont.
After divorcing her husband of 25 years, she lived a monastic life with a Catholic order in Oregon for about eight years. She moved to Olympia about 12 years ago to work at Bread & Roses.
The Olympian talked to Kilmoyer about her work and life. Here are excerpts of the conversation.
Question: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Answer: I believe that I'm an advocate from the marrow of my bones. I recall advocating for one of my classmates when I was in third grade, and I don't think I've stopped since then.
… I volunteered in jails and prisons for many years. I was a guardian ad litem at Vermont State Hospital, too. Ironically, one of my responsibilities there was to prepare cases for a panel that determined whether or not a long-term patient would be institutionalized or released to the community. Here we are, three decades later, living with the impact of those decisions — a large percentage of homeless people live with mental illness. For me it's been almost a completion of a circle.
Q: What are some of the biggest issues facing the homeless in South Sound?
A: I think we are experiencing less funding for mental health care. Housing dollars are shrinking. Social-service dollars are shrinking, and yet as a community we are expected to continue providing the fundamental basics to meet people's needs. Compounded to all of this is a very unstable economy. All of these factors have in tandem created more and more insecurity, particularly among the young. There is an increase of young folks, unaccompanied youth they're called. Thurston County school districts are also seeing an alarming increase in the number of homeless children, which is frightening, given the overall wealth of Thurston County.
It's so easy to use one generic term, "homeless," but there are multiple subcultures in the homeless community.
Gradually, we as a community are growing in the understanding of the diverse yet basic needs of all these different subgroups. … But that's not to say that we are fiscally, socially or even emotionally prepared to handle the increasing population and its needs.
Q: How do you think the issues can be resolved?
A: We must collectively look at all the various funding sources that are filtered through our county, and how can we better spend that money. … I'm hopeful we are getting to a place where we can let clear and accurate data determine who are the people, what are their specific needs and what are the best solutions.
… We have been remiss, I think, in the last six years in truly getting a handle on what needs to be done in Thurston County. Research demonstrates that other areas have embraced a plan to end homelessness and preventing homeless and are making great strides in just doing that. … We got caught in a quagmire and have not moved until very recently. I feel there's a new sense of light in our community and hope that hasn't been present for several years.
Q: What does the Housing Task Force award mean to you?
A: I was extremely touched. I was very moved that my peers perceive me in ways that they do. I'm so accustomed to be just part of the team that it was actually very difficult for me to be singled out.
Q: Social-service work is known for having a high level of burnout. What motivates you to continue your work?
A: I'm greatly supported by the little miracles I experience journeying with people who are homeless, like hearing about a first hot bath from someone who has lived on the streets for a long, long time. Those are the things that give me hope.
I have been blessed to work with many incredible people who just constantly persevere in trying to meet the unmet and growing needs of people in our community.
I also have a strong personal spiritual practice, and work very hard at maintaining my center. I have experienced burnout and I've experienced health difficulties, but I've been able to get through them with God's grace.
Q: The Homeless Consortium set a goal to eliminate homelessness in our area by 2016. It was an ambitious goal at the time, and then the numbers of homeless skyrocketed as the economy tanked. How close do you think South Sound will be to that goal?
A: I think that philosophically and pragmatically, as a community, we're beginning to listen to each other.
... Basically we're getting smart about what to do and how to plan, and we may just surprise ourselves and accomplish a lot more than we thought we could.
I'm hopeful. I'm incredibly hopeful.
Lisa Pemberton: 360-754-5433


text:
Christmas Gifts for Kids - Seasonal Gifts - Under $25
Gift Buzz
You don't have to spend a fortune to make the men in your life feel special. With a variety of cool gifts for guys of all types, our list of great gifts under $25 for men will point you in the right direction and help you stay on budget. Read More »
There's not much time left for online Christmas shopping, but don't worry! We've got you covered with a list of amazing gifts for everyone on your list that you can still get before Christmas Eve and best of all, they are all under 20 bucks. Read More »
Each summer, the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market (called "OR" in the business world), becomes the world's largest outdoor sports showcase and industry gathering. With more than 25,000 exhibitors and attendees, OR is the place I go to scout... Read More »
Late summer is Obon season. No, not Udon season; that would involve noodles. Obon, or sometimes simply Bon, is a Japanese Buddhist tradition observed in the months of July and August. It is a time when people focus on their ancestors. They... Read More »
Hand-pickedChristmas Gifts
Did you know that we hand-pick all gift ideas for kids in the seasonal gifts category? Every product featured on Gifts.com has been reviewed in detail by our team for its high quality, popularity and much more. View great Christmas ideas for kids from the best stores online and further refine your seasonal gifts results by price, Gift Guru top picks and more to find the perfect gift.


text:
Tags: Wikipedia
I love the atheism/religion, bald/hairstyle analogy Rene! Sorry, don't know how to put an accent -mark over the e!
It is recognition that we lack sufficient information to make a provable conclusion.
An agnostic may say that there is not sufficient information for a provable conclusion, but it is possible that there is sufficient information avaible and the agnostic is either unable to find it or is unwilling to go that far.
Read About this Drive Here
Help Nexus When You Buy From Amazon
© 2013 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: Richard Haynes.