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16 December 2010 | ||
16:00 | to | 18:00 |
The association was founded with the aim of protecting and promoting this great vine species in memory of the eminent Professor Luigi Manzoni, who worked with dedication and steadfastness on an important research project that made a fundamental contribution to the development of wine making in our local area. The vines created by Professor Manzoni, the former head of the "Cerletti" agriculture and oenology school in Conegliano Veneto, are now by definition some of the most important native species in the Province of Treviso.
Participating in the event will be eight producers that are members of the Confraternity: Casa Roma of San Polo di Piave (TV) at Via Ormelle 19, Vigna del Sol of Negrisia near Ponte di Piave (TV) at Via San Romano 63, Bonotto delle Tezze of Tezze near Vazzola (TV) at Via Duca d'Aosta 16, Walter Nardin of Roncadelle near Ormelle (TV) at Via Fontane 5, Le Magnolie of Negrisia near Ponte di Piave (TV), Italo Cescon of Roncadelle near Ormelle (TV) at Piazza dei Caduti 3, Az. agr. Conte Collalto of Susegana (TV) and Le Vigne Morosina of Cessalto (TV) at Via Palù 17.
Present at the event will be the journalist and food and wine writer Giampiero Rorato to comment on the historical elements, the oenologist Luciano Vettori for the technical part and Fabio Guerra for gastronomic contributions.
With the additional aim of promoting "Venice: Wine Capital", for 2 weeks the Bar and Restaurant of the Bistrot will be offering Incrocio Manzoni wines at a "flat rate" in order to spread awareness and encourage tasting of their excellent, typical qualities. We would be delighted to welcome you and let you enjoy these marvellous tasting opportunities.
Coordinators: Umberto Perissinotto and Sergio Fragiacomo
With the support of the Italian Wine Sommeliers' Association – Venice


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We found this amazing butterfinger cupcake waaaaaay back in early 2009, and at first, I wasn't sure it was real!
You can find it at what has become the holy grail of Disney cupcakes and all things yummy, Starring Rolls Cafe, in Disney's Hollywood Studios.
I decided (nearly three years later) that it was time to re-visit this treasure and see if it still garnered high marks as a snack (or breakfast ;-)) worthy cupcake.
I'm all about in-depth research — especially where frosting is concerned! So what's underneath that crushed butterfinger topping?
The answer is obvious, isn't it? Chocolate, frosting, and more chocolate! As you can see, I got the lighting a little better this time! You can see this monstrous cupcake in all its glory…
Once you carve through the butterfinger topping, your first stop is that lard-y vanilla buttercream frosting — the perfect accompaniment for this particular baked good. I'm so glad they didn't go with straight chocolate; the vanilla gives a lighter flavor and look to the cupcake while still delivering lots of texture.
The chocolate cake here is one of the best when it comes to Disney cupcakes. I've never had it be dry, grainy, or tasteless as it can be at some other bakeries.
And, of course, you get the surprise of the rich chocolate fudge frosting in the center of the cupcake! Sadly, no more butterfinger (would be fun to see pieces of butterfinger in that central frosting), but the chocolate punch is a great complement to the vanilla frosting on top.
As always, this cupcake remains in my top tier list of favorites!! I'd love to hear about yours!
Have you tried the Butterfinger Cupcake? Let us know your thoughts — and your other favorite cupcakes in Disney parks!

subset: commoncrawl


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From time to time we find ourselves in the mood for some Chiptunes. You know, the music that accompanied all of the best 8-bit console games? These days there are a lot of projects that use the audio chips of yore to recreate the sounds, but you're always faced with the issue of sourcing those parts. [Jack Gassett] took some inspiration from one of those projects, but solved the rare hardware dilemma by building his own Chiptunes MIDI device in an FPGA.
He saw one of our features on an Arduino controlled YM2149 programmable sound generator. He realized that you can already find FPGA libraries out there that mimic this sound generation hardware, and he's already done extensive work with an Arduino soft processor. Why not combine the two?
He's using a Papilio FPGA with a wing that includes a MIDI connector and audio-out jack. As you can hear in the clip after the break this sounds just like the real thing. And he's got plans to roll as many different types of sound generating chips into the mix as possible. You know, one FPGA synth to rule them all.


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Tokyo/London/Vienna - 20 May 2014 (UNODC) - Synthetic drugs are taking an ever-greater share of the illicit drugs market, according to a new report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). New psychoactive substances (NPS) are also flooding a market for synthetic drugs long dominated by amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), such as ecstasy and methamphetamine, which are more widely used than cocaine, opium or heroin.
"There is a dynamic and unprecedented global expansion of the synthetic drugs market both in scope and variety", said Jean-Luc Lemahieu, Director for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs at UNODC. "New substances are quickly created and marketed, challenging law enforcement efforts to keep up with the traffickers and curb public health risks."
Rates of methamphetamine seizures are higher than ever across the world, largely driven by the rise in seizures in East and South-East Asia as well as in North America, according to the 2014 Global Synthetic Drugs Assessment . Methamphetamine, which can seriously harm users, continues to spread in Asia, posing a growing challenge to health care providers and drug control authorities dealing with large youthful populations. Methamphetamine supply grew rapidly in Asia, already the largest market for ATS, between 2008 and 2012 when methamphetamine seizures tripled to 36 tons.
New international supply channels are linking formerly regional ATS markets. Supply routes to Asia, the largest market for ATS and ecstasy worldwide, have emerged from West Africa and the Americas, supplementing methamphetamine manufacture in Asia. West Africa seems to be becoming a trans-shipment point for methamphetamine trafficked to East and South-East Asia via South Africa or Europe. Since 2009, about 86 per cent of ATS originating from West Africa seized at Western European and Japanese airports were destined mainly for Japan as well as Malaysia. Turkey may also be emerging as a transit point for methamphetamine smuggled from Western Asia to East and South-East Asia.
The report confirmed signs of an expansion of the use and manufacture of ATS in Europe already observed in 2011. Methamphetamine seems to be replacing amphetamine, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Baltics. Amphetamine continues to be the main ATS used in the Middle East.
Ketamine, a veterinary anaesthetic, is more widely misused in East and South-East Asia. Mainland China and Hong Kong accounted for almost 60 per cent of global ketamine seizures between 2008 and 2011.
Surge in new psychoactive substances
Marketed - often wrongly - as 'legal highs' and 'designer drugs', NPS are proliferating but in the absence of an international framework, responses to the problem vary significantly from country to country. None of the 348 NPS reported globally in over 90 countries at the end of 2013 is currently under international control. However, in 2014, the United Kingdom requested the international control of mephedrone, a potentially fatal substance, under the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The use of synthetic cannabinoids, which mimic the effects of cannabis, is soaring; the total number of these substances almost doubled from 60 in mid-2012 to 110 by 2013.
Synthetic drugs have gained in popularity among the young. In parts of South and Central America, ATS use in younger age groups sometimes even exceeds that of cannabis and/or cocaine. In North America and Europe, certain NPS are more widely used by young consumers than traditional illicit drugs.
A particularly worrying development is that NPS are no longer restricted to niche markets. Evidence from almost all regions of the world indicates that tablets sold as ecstasy or methamphetamine contain substances other than the touted active ingredients - increasingly, they comprise chemical cocktails that pose unforeseen public health challenges. Emergency services may therefore find themselves unable to identify life-threatening substances and powerless to administer the proper medical treatment.
Khat, a plant-based NPS until recently confined to traditional use in East Africa and parts of the Arabian peninsula, is increasingly being trafficked from East African countries, such as Ethiopia and Kenya, to European destinations, such as the UK and the Netherlands, and even as far afield as North America. Saudi Arabia has reported by far the largest khat seizures in the Middle East. Lately, khat has also been seized in East and South-East Asia, as cultivation of the plant has extended to that region.
For more information please contact:
In Vienna: Preeta Bannerjee, Public Information Officer, Phone: +43 699 1459 5764
Email: preeta.bannerjee[at}unodc.org
In London: Angela Me, Chief, Research and Trend Analysis Branch, Phone: +43-699 1459-5273
Email: angela.me[at]unodc.org


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Rapid star formation spotted in 'stellar nurseries' of infant galaxies
The Universe's infant galaxies enjoyed rapid growth spurts forming stars like our sun at a rate of up to 50 stars a year, according to scientists at Durham University.
The findings show that "stellar nurseries" within the first galaxies gave birth to stars at a much more rapid rate than previously expected, the researchers from Durham's Institute for Computational Cosmology revealed.
The research looked back 12.5 billion years to one of the most distant known galaxies, about one billion years after the Big Bang.
Using a technique called gravitational lensing - where distant galaxies are magnified using the gravity of a nearby galaxy cluster - the scientists observed the rapid bursts of star formation in the galaxy called MS1358arc.
Within the star-forming regions, new stars were being created at a rate of about 50 stars per year - around 100 times faster than had been previously thought.
The researchers, who say their work represents the most detailed study of a galaxy at such a young age, believe the observed galaxy is typical of others in the early Universe.
They say the galaxy, which measures 6,000 light years across, also has all the characteristics that would allow it to eventually evolve into a galaxy such as our Milky Way, giving an insight into how our sun and galaxy formed.
The Durham researchers based their findings on observations from the Gemini North telescope, based in Hawaii, and NASA's Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. The research appears in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The research was funded by the Royal Astronomical Society.
Lead author Dr Mark Swinbank, in the Institute for Computational Cosmology, at Durham University, said: "The runaway effect in this galaxy suggests it is growing much faster than expected.
"Given the size of the star forming regions, we would expect it to be forming stars at the rate of about one sun per year, but it seems to be much more active than that.
"We think this galaxy is fairly typical of galaxies at this time and we expect that the Milky Way once looked like this as it formed its first stars.
"In effect we are seeing the first generation of stars being born in a galaxy like the Milky Way. This gives unique insight into the birth of our own galaxy."
The researchers say most of the observed stars eventually exploded as supernovae, spewing debris back into space where it formed into new stars
Dr Swinbank added: "In this respect these stars are the seeds of future star formation in the Universe."
Royal Astronomical Society President Professor Andy Fabian said: "It is exciting to see such a detailed picture of a very distant galaxy.
"This pioneering work shows what our own galaxy might have looked like when it was a tenth of its present age."
More information: A Spatially Resolved Map of the Kinematics, Star-Formation and Stellar Mass Assembly in a Star-Forming Galaxy at z=4.9, Swinbank, AM, et al, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2009, DOI (10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15617.x)
Source: Durham University (news : web)


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Salesforce.com and VMware are forging a high-profile partnership, according to a Web site announcing an April 27 event being held by the companies.
The site, VMForce.com, includes few details about exactly what is planned, saying that Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff and VMware CEO Paul Maritz will "make an exciting joint announcement on the future of cloud computing."
"VMForce is coming," a headline reads. "See it here live on April 27."
Representatives for both vendors did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.
The VMware partnership could result in some type of virtualization-as-a-service offering, but other evidence makes the guessing game more difficult.
VMware has recently made moves toward application development, purchasing Java tools maker SpringSource, as well as business applications in general, scooping up the Zimbra e-mail and collaboration suite from Yahoo.
In turn, Salesforce.com has been broadening its offering beyond pure CRM (customer relationship management) with efforts like the Force.com development platform, its AppExchange marketplace and FinancialForce.com, accounting software that is the result of a joint venture with Unit 4 Agresso.


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Data Opens Possibility Of A Curved Cosmos
(ISNS) -- The shape of the universe may be dramatically different than before thought, a group of researchers now says.
Researchers investigating a major anomaly in the afterglow of the Big Bang suggest the fabric of space and time may actually be curved like a saddle, possibly upending the currently leading notion that light and anything else traveling through spacetime zips through a "flat" universe in straight lines. In a saddle-shaped universe, however, any object that seems like it is traveling parallel to another item will actually veer away from it after vast distances.
However, there may be other explanations for this anomaly, scientists cautioned. Our universe may have collided with another universe shortly after the Big Bang, or the anomaly might just be a statistical fluke.
Researchers began noticing the anomaly in question nearly a decade ago when they analyzed the cosmic microwave background, heat released in the aftermath of the Big Bang. Scientists can study the fluctuations in hot and cold spots in the cosmic microwave background to learn more about the structure and evolution of the universe.
Data from NASA's Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), launched in 2001, unexpectedly suggested that the universe may be lopsided — hot and cold spots on one side of the cosmos appear hotter and colder than on the other. The evidence for this anomaly has increased over time, and data from the Planck satellite launched by the European Space Agency in 2009 supports the existence of the same anomaly.
"The observed anomalies in the cosmic microwave background are intriguing — they may just be a statistical fluke, but they might be an indication of new physical processes at play in the early universe," said researcher Andrew Liddle, a cosmologist at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
This lopsidedness contradicts the prevailing view in cosmology that moments after the Big Bang, the universe grew titanically in size. This growth spurt, called inflation, would have evened out the cosmos and made it look mostly similar in every direction.
Now cosmologists suggest these anomalies occur because the universe is not flat. Instead, these researchers propose the universe may be ever so slightly "open," curved in such a way that parallel lines, which never converge or diverge when traveling on a flat surface, will eventually diverge from one another, like on a saddle.
"The light rays in a curved universe appear to follow curved paths," Liddle said. "They are following lines that are the shortest distance in curved space, just as airplanes follow great circles when flying around the Earth."
The idea starts with the observable universe forming like a bubble inside a larger "meta-universe." The act of birth may have triggered fluctuations in the wall of the bubble that would imprint themselves as very large-scale disturbances. One consequence would be this asymmetry in the cosmic microwave background that WMAP and Planck see; another is a universe that looks flat but is actually curved beyond the observable horizon of the universe.
"The amount of inflation that takes place inside the bubble determines how flat the universe is," Liddle said. "We want there to be enough that it is almost, but not quite, flat."
This concept "is an extremely intriguing one, particularly as it suggests that there may be other interesting new physics just around the corner," said theoretical physicist Marc Kamionkowski at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, who did not take part in this research. "While still quite speculative, this open universe scenario does seem to provide a more natural way to explain why the distance scale of the asymmetry is so close to the horizon scale today than other scenarios I've seen."
Matthew Kleban, a theoretical physicist at New York University, who also did not participate in this study, said that improving the understanding of the curvature of the universe is very important. "With that said, this certainly doesn't constitute direct evidence, but it's tantalizing," said Kleban.
This concept faces competition from a number of other explanations scientists have bandied about to explain this anomaly. For instance, another universe may have collided with ours, suggest Kleban and his colleagues.
However, all these explanations for this seeming anomaly in the cosmic microwave background that demand a rewrite of the laws of physics may ultimately be moot.
"The majority of cosmologists probably believe that the observed anomalies are a statistical fluke rather than a real property of the universe, which is an entirely reasonable point of view," Liddle said.
In 2014, the Planck team could reveal whether the anomaly is indeed a fluke when it releases more data on the cosmic microwave background. The idea of a saddle-shaped universe may be supported if the distribution of temperatures in the sky does not follow a bell curve.
Liddle and his colleague Marina Cortês detail their findings in the Sept. 13 issue of the journal Physical Review Letters.


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Blackberry Pie Bars
Use our BakeBot Ai Chat for instant answers.
Why I Love This Recipe
Ingredients You'll Need
Ingredients for the Crust and Topping:
Zest of 2 lemons
1½ cups granulated sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, cubed and chilled
Ingredients for the Blackberry Filling:
4 large eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup sour cream
¾ cup all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
6 cups fresh blackberries
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter; set aside.
2. In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and the lemon zest. Using your fingers, rub the zest into the sugar until all of the sugar has been moistened. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the lemon sugar, all-purpose flour and salt. Pulse a few times to combine. Add the butter and continue to pulse until the pieces of butter are no larger than the size of peas, about 10 to 12 pulses.
3. Measure out 1½ cups of the crumb mixture to use for the topping and put it in the refrigerator until needed. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake the crust until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes while you prepare the filling.
4. To make the filling, whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Whisk in the sugar, sour cream, flour and salt until thoroughly combined. Gently fold in the blackberries. Spoon the mixture evenly over the crust and make sure all of the blackberries are in one layer and not sitting on top of one another.
5. Sprinkle the reserved crust mixture evenly over the filling. Bake until the top is lightly browned, about 45 to 55 minutes. Let cool for at least 1 hour before cutting


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Here's an interesting app for a number of browsers that lets you, with the click of a button, swap all the pronouns and gendered words (save for slurs, for some reason) in order to get a different perspective on the thing you're reading. It makes for an interesting juxtaposition to see how male and female politicians are described in general discourse, for instance.
And take any arbitrary story about sexism, and you'll end up with something that would get MRAs' blood boiling:
Yesterday, a man by the name of Gabrielle Toledano – evidently a human resources manager for EA games – wrote a rather confusing and deeply problematic op-ed for Forbes outlining why, in his estimation, sexism isn't responsible for the dearth of men in gaming. To quote his opening remarks:
It's easy to blame women for not creating an attractive work environment – but I think that's a cop-out. If we want more men to work in games, we have to recognize that the problem isn't sexism.
…The issue I have is that the video game industry is being painted as more sexist than other female-dominated workforces. I know sexism exists, but the issue isn't just in video games. And it's not what's holding us back.
Nonetheless, there are still too few men working in my company, so it's clear there is an issue to fix. Rather than blame the majority just because they are the majority, I believe the solution starts with us – men.
Which is, frankly, one of the most flippant, useless and blithely ignorant summaries of the problem I've ever had the misfortune to encounter.
Completely changes your perspective on things, doesn't it?
Continue reading "Jailbreak the Patriarchy"


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Dinosaurs Greet Year 3 As They Return from Half-Term
Year 3 children at Foxhill Primary school (South Yorkshire) got a pleasant surprise when they returned to school after their half-term break this morning. Teachers, Miss Faulkner and Miss Hartley had been busy preparing the classrooms in readiness for teaching about dinosaurs, which is Year 3's topic for the rest of the winter term.
Teaching About Dinosaurs
Lots of dinosaur pictures and information adorned the walls of the classrooms, along with questions about dinosaurs that the children had compiled as part of their preparation for this topic. The segregated part of the classroom that had been designated as a quiet reading area had some wonderful cut-out dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals on the wall. Even the sign stating "Reading Area" had been created using dinosaur pictures – very imaginative. Guarding the reading room was a big illustration of a meat-eating dinosaur, not a T. rex (three-clawed fingers) perhaps some sort of Allosaurus?
Fearsome Dinosaur Pictured on the Classroom Door
Picture credit: Foxhill Primary/Everything Dinosaur
A Clever Dinosaur Illustration
We love the way the tail has been shaped round the door handle. Miss Faulkner made the yellow tummy by carefully placing sticky, yellow squares onto the dinosaur's underside. The children enjoyed spotting the changes that had taken place in their classroom over the half-term holiday period. The teachers aided by teaching assistant Mrs Wainwright and Everything Dinosaur began the topic with a morning of dinosaur themed activities. As Miss Faulkner had chosen "Collaboration" as one of the key objectives for her class this term, the children collaborated on making a cast of a dinosaur tooth, before going on to look the fossilised teeth of prehistoric animals.
In a second session with Miss Hartley's class, the budding young palaeontologists explored the differences between carnivores and herbivores and Miss Hartley got the chance to handle and describe some fossils. There was even some time to look at the questions the children had come up with as they thought about how the dinosaurs died out, where can fossils be found and which animals alive today most resemble dinosaurs?
A Dinosaur Timeline
We have sent over a template for creating a scale model of a dinosaur timeline, so that the children can learn about some of the geological periods and plot on the timeline when dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals lived. Sounds like Year 3 are going to getting involved with plenty of extension activities as they explore this particular topic.
To view the range of educational dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed toys and gifts available from Everything Dinosaur: Everything Dinosaur's Website.


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I have a little over 9000 songs. Between yesterday and this morning, iTunes Match is finally done evaluating and uploading songs, and it seems to have made a few mistakes.
If I show the iCloud Status column in my song list, in a number of albums I'll see "Matched" for most of the tracks, but "Uploaded" for one or more track. If I look up that song/album/artist on the iTunes Store, Apple has those songs. I've even looked at the track info to see if they might have been encoded differently, but on the few I've spot checked they have the same encoding as the other songs in the album that were matched.
I've been able to force iTunes Match to re-evaluate songs that showed "Error" before (no errors now), but I can't seem to figure out how to force it to re-evaluate these songs that were non-matches even though they're in the store. How do we do this? Do I turn off iTunes Match and start over again? I've been reluctant to do so considering how long it took yesterday.


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(Only available on ParcCorniche.com)
Our One-Bedroom Deluxe suite accommodates a maximum of 4 people and it's perfect for one person, a couple or small family. Our suites feature a king-size bed in the master bedroom and a full bathroom. Fully equipped kitchens include all appliances. The living and dining room feature designer furniture and rich décor with a queen sized sofa sleeper and the patio door opens to a private balcony.
- Fully equipped kitchens and full bath with granite countertops and rich wood cabinetry. (Stove top, microwave, Full size refrigerator, Toaster Oven, Coffee maker Dishware, Utensils, pots and pan and dishwasher) (Sorry no conventional oven)
- Central air conditioning
- 32" HD Television in master and Living room
- Alarm clocks
- Free in room safe
- Iron and Ironing board
- Hairdryer
- Private balconies/patios overlooking lush Florida landscaping
- 546 Sq. Ft.


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In a letter to Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Janet Napolitano, Senator Diane Feinstein (D–CA) has asked that DHS stop enforcing immigration law regarding farm workers:
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has wisely used its prosecutorial discretion to defer removal of young people who arrived in the United States without documentation as children.… I respectfully suggest that you adopt a similar policy of exercising prosecutorial discretion to defer enforcement against agricultural employers and workers.
In other words, "We already aren't enforcing the law for some, so why can't we keep doing it for others in order to help my state?"
California is the nation's top producing agricultural state. With approximately 81,000 farms, from Napa to Fresno, the state produces everything from grapes and oranges to figs and avocados. During peak harvest time, the $44 billion industry employs more than 400,000 workers.
For the second year in a row, however, farmers report experiencing shortages in workers. Many factors are likely at play here, including increased economic opportunity in Mexico and the resurgence of the construction industry in the U.S. Senator Feinstein, however, seems to place the blame almost solely on the Obama Administration's attempts to enforce the law against agricultural workers who are illegal immigrants.
Her solution: stop enforcement. In fact, not only is the Senator calling for the abuse of prosecutorial discretion to benefit agricultural workers in her state, but she was one of the chief authors of portions of the Senate's comprehensive immigration bill that would grant permanent amnesty to agricultural workers across the U.S.
Rather than creating a magnet for trapping low-skilled labor in a cycle of poverty through amnesty for illegal immigrants, the U.S. should take steps that work for both laborers and employers by reforming our legal immigration system. One key component would be building an effective temporary worker program to allow those who seek to come here to work to do so legally and fill important niches in the national workforce. This would supply employers with the employees they need to help grow the economy and create more jobs.
The Obama Administration has already abused its "prosecutorial discretion" when it stopped enforcing parts of the immigration laws and implemented by regulation what several previous Congresses chose not to legislate. Instead of following the appeals of special interests and tolerating yet another attempt to undermine U.S. laws, Congress should pursue border security and immigration reform that respects the rule of law and strengthens the economy.


text: Retirement is one of the key financial goals for many people. Saving early and often is important. So is taking advantage of products and accounts designed specifically for retirement. Tax advantages are a key feature of annuities, IRAs and employer sponsored retirement savings plans, such as 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans. Any earnings growth in these products is generally tax-deferred until you make withdrawals, generally when you are retired and may well be in a lower tax bracket.


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Customers today want answers to their questions as they shop. Shopify has tools to help you communicate with your customers so you can make sales and prevent returned orders. Today we'll discuss the different ways you can communicate with your customers. When you add your contact information to your footer, it's easy for customers to
shopify experts
It's. One of the like those little things in your business, but it's, also one of the most important things, because these are the people that are actually you know facing the customer right. So if you're, not the person that actually facing the customer, if you have those people hired in your business, please
They get stuck in this process and never end up, launching anything and truth be told there's, no secret to finding winning products and the methods that i'm gonna show. You today are really the most effective things that i've, come to know in my entire ecommerce journey. So without further ado, let's begin now.
Figures on your dropshipping store. I had a student yesterday who reached 11 billion dollars in sales. So, congratulations to him, but all jokes aside, the reason I'm making this video is because the next video is actually gonna be on how to run Facebook Ads. So if you guys watch this entire article, you're.
You could decide you want to start a print-on-demand business by monday, get your website up and running by tuesday and start making sales by the end of the week. Welcome back to learn with shopify, i'm. Your host michelle and in today's. Video. We're, going to learn how you can start a print-on-demand business
So i'm on the printful website, which many of you know is, i guess, like the go-to when it comes to print on demand, along with a handful of other others. I'm in no way affiliate to any of these companies, but i just wanted to suggest these, because these are companies that i've used
The website is well. Alright, I'm gonna show you guys my Instagram page is well. We're, pretty much all the sales came from and I was gonna break down the exact marketing strategy that I used, but before we dive to the video he has been showing insane support on the channel recently like insane
So before we get into this challenge, let me just explain some of the tabs. I actually have open. So this is the brand new shopify store. We just created there's a 14 day trial. We just started on it and, as you see there's, like literally nothing on this store, yet it's, an absolute
Just gonna go over steps a-to-z on exactly what I did to build those stores. So you guys can just watch this video and follow along exactly step by step, if you guys do enjoy this video remember to slap a like on it and if you're, not subscribed, I don't know what you're doing
We'll talk about just how pagefly aids consultants and also companies earn money in the shopify companion program. Shopify partners play an essential function in introducing new sellers to shopify and providing options that help them start sell market and also handle their businesses. They can be provider, app companies, content carriers and so on.
They likewise have program called the Shopify associate program and also I believe they're the same program. I will link them both down below, so you individuals can check them out. However basically I wished to tell you people about this outstanding possibility, since I have actually been using it for a couple years now
Hey there trainees welcome to my today's lecture on exactly how to develop a Shopify companion account. This is going to be a small video clip. I'm, going to reveal you just how to produce the account, due to the fact that I have currently produced a different video on just how to in fact
So the first thing you need to do is to find: Shopify comm, slash companions, so you will be taken to this web page and afterwards you're gon na click on sign up with now as well as [Songs] Once you click on it, you will certainly be required to this web page right here.


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Please tell your friends about whatreallyhappened.com !!!
Please tell your friends about whatreallyhappened.com !!!
"We'll know that our disinformation campaign has worked when everything the American public believes is false." — William Casey, Ronald Reagan's CIA Director at his first staff meeting, 1981
In a recent ruling, a New York state judge ordered former President Donald Trump to pay a hefty sum of $364 million, a verdict stemming from a fraud trial against him and his companies.
The charges, which Trump's supporters have labeled as baseless, accused the former President of inflating the value of his properties to secure more favorable loan terms from a lender. Critics argue that this verdict, far from being a simple punitive measure against Trump, could potentially destabilize the entire economy.
The court's decision was based on the conclusion that Trump had committed fraud by exaggerating the value of his properties. Interestingly, the lender involved in the case stated that they had not been defrauded and had suffered no damages. Despite this, the judge found Trump guilty. Critics argue that the implications of this verdict could necessitate a significant shift in business practices for real estate developers.
META platforms censored the documentary 'The Black Dress', which we jointly produced with Friends of Palestine Network, mere minutes after The Palestine Chronicle released it.
Mere minutes after The Palestine Chronicle released the documentary 'The Black Dress', jointly produced with Friends of Palestine Network, social media companies began imposing restrictions on viewing the most comprehensive response to the New York Times allegations on December 28 that Palestinians committed mass rape on October 7.
Instagram and Facebook, in particular, deleted the documentary altogether alleging that it had promoted 'dangerous organizations'.
Despite the fact that 'The Black Dress' refutes the allegations mostly based on Israeli sources, and without embracing the claims of any organization or entity, 'dangerous' or otherwise, META maintained its position, even after producers reinstated the content without referencing any organization by name.
Google's so-called "AI" Gemini (formerly Bard) is being manually programmed to erase white people.
They've done the exact same thing with Google Search so this is not surprising, nonetheless the depth of hatred they have to have to want a people to be erased is quite remarkable.
Douglas Murray, the director of the British Free Speech Union, announced a new initiative on Monday aimed at doxing critics of Israel for "hate speech" and keeping them from getting jobs.
"Douglas Murray is Director of the British Free Speech Union. He is now going to lead an initiative to have harsher penalties for those accused of hate speech, and bar 'bigots' from employment opportunities based on social media posts!" Keith Woods commented on X.
"These speech laws have been used to target nationalists more than anyone -- Murray's countryman Sam Melia is going to jail for sharing stickers about mass-immigration and this is what he is working on, what a disgrace!"
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says drones are taking over the modern military landscape amid Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine, urging an increase in the production of drones.
In a meeting with the commanders of Chechen units on Monday, Medvedev, Security Council Deputy Chairman, said that drones are changing people's mindset and the way they think about war.
"When the special military operation began, few people were talking about drones. There was an understanding that this war would also be fought using the classic rules of warfare from the past. However, it turned out that the world had changed and technology had changed, too," he said.
According to Medvedev, to the surprise of almost all military strategists across the world, drones are taking over the modern military landscape and reshaping the battlefield.
MUST WATCH: Mike Benz makes damning case that the RIG was in for the 2020 election SEVEN MONTHS ahead of time.
How they did it was truly evil.
TUCKER CARLSON: "So what you're saying is … they knew the outcome of the election seven months before it was held?"
MIKE BENZ: "It looks very bad."
How did they do it?
According to censorship expert @MikeBenzCyber, a concerted effort, starting in April 2020, was made by a coalition involving the DHS, NATO, the DNC, and other entities to launch a mass censorship campaign across all social media platforms.
This campaign aimed to pre-emptively censor any disputes over the legitimacy of mail-in ballots.
Four key institutions were part of this effort:
On February 15, the U.S. government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Somalia to construct up to five military bases for the Somali National Army in the name of bolstering the army's capabilities in the ongoing fight against the militant group al-Shabaab.
This is a troubling development that not only risks further militarizing Somalia and perpetuating endless war, but comes with the potential of exacerbating geopolitical rivalries at the expense of the needs and interests of ordinary Somalis.
According to statements by U.S. officials, the bases are intended for the Danab ("Lightning") Brigade, a U.S.-sponsored Special Ops Force that was established in 2014. Funding for Danab initially came from the U.S. State Department, which contracted the private security firm Bancroft Global to train and advise the unit. More recently, Danab has received funding, equipment, and training from the Department of Defense.
Tucker [00:00:00] Illegal immigration into the United States is at its highest levels ever. Tens of millions of people have come here illegally over the past 15 years, and none of them will ever leave. Mostly they come from the poorest countries on the planet. We don't know anything about them, really. We don't know if they're pro-America. We don't know if they're hostile to the people who already live here. We don't know, in the case of the recent arrivals, what they're going to do for a living as robotics eliminate low skilled jobs. So what's happening right now at the border that what's often mentioned on TV is really undersold as a story. This is changing America forever, and almost certainly for the worse as we're watching it. And no one is doing anything about it. The governor of Texas occasionally makes noises about it—it's over his border that this human wave is flowing, and yet he's taken no real steps to stop it.
In fiscal 2022, 70 percent of the largest cities in the U.S. did not have enough money to pay their bills.
The former first lady of Haiti has been indicted in the assassination of her husband, President Jovenel Moise.
Judge Walther Voltaire has indicted former First Lady Martine Moise for being "complicit" in her husband's 2021 assassination.
The judge made his decision after receiving evidence from two defendants who claimed Martine Moise had knowledge of her husband's assassination plot but did not warn her husband due to her desire to become president herself.
Judge Voltaire also indicted dozens of others, including former Prime Minister Claude Joseph and the ex-chief of Haiti's National Police, Léon Charles.
Former President Donald Trump has formally asked the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and help him with his attempt to have his case against him dismissed on the grounds of presidential immunity.
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decided last week that Trump is not exempt from prosecution in the case that special counsel Jack Smith has brought. However, the court postponed issuing the mandate until Monday to give Trump time to petition the Supreme Court to intervene.
The trial of Trump, which District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan postponed while the former president filed his appeal of the decision, will now take place even later as a result of his request to the Supreme Court to pause the mandate while he files his appeal.
Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines has drawn attention to a transgender activist she claims is engaging in child abuse.
On X (Twitter) on Monday, Gaines drew attention to a biological man sharing a picture of himself breastfeeding a baby on Instagram.
Gaines then pointed to posts made by the same individual using clamps on that same part of the body.
The former college athlete said this man was using a baby as a sexual prop. She also stated that the west is sacrificing its children to appease disturbed individuals.
A so-called glitch on the Nevada Secretary of State's website caused unmailed ballots to show up as counted in the recent Nevada primary.
The Nevada Secretary of State's office (run by Democrat Francisco Aguilar) on Sunday learned of the 'glitch' after numerous Nevada voters realized their votes were counted in the recent primary even though they didn't participate.
The SoS office "determined that the problem resulted in some counties not taking the proper steps to upload their voter registration. Every night each county uploads their voter registration to the secretary of state's database, which executes code to create the statewide voter registration file that Nevadans see when they log into vote.nv.gov, according to the secretary of state's office." – The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders believes that President Joe Biden and his administration are a "failure" and that voters do not support his open border policies.
"Governor, why is it so hard to deport people who don't belong here who kick cops, drive drunk, and steal my grandma's Social Security number?" host Jesse Watters asked Sanders during an interview on Fox News.
"Because we have a president who absolutely doesn't care that millions and millions of people are coming across our border illegally. He has the power to shut the border down, to stop it. He can reinstate the remain in Mexico policy. He could actually build the wall. There is a lot of things he could be doing and this simply is a complete and total failure by this administration. In the state of Arkansas alone we seized enough fentanyl in the last year to kill every single person in our entire state," Sanders began.
E. Jean Carroll's attorney, Shawn Crowley, indicated on Monday night that the former Elle columnist and rape obsessive might sue former President Donald Trump a third time.
Crowley made the comments during an interview with Jen Psaki on MSNBC's "Inside with Jen Psaki" after Trump said at a Michigan rally over the weekend that he didn't know Carrol, had done nothing wrong to her, and that the lawsuits against him were "unfair."
"What he said was absolutely a lie," Crowley claimed. "Two unanimous federal juries have found that not only did Trump know who E. Jean was, he sexually assaulted her and lied about it repeatedly. Everything he said about her over the last five years has been a lie and has been defamatory," Crowley asserted.
The fallout from Judge Engoron's recent ruling against former President Donald Trump continues to ripple.
Following the controversial $350 million judgment against President Trump and his sons, Don Jr. and Eric, American truckers are threatening to halt deliveries into New York City.
The Gateway Pundit previously reported that an American trucker who goes by "Chicago Ray" had this to say in a video he shared on social media, where he explained why truckers across America are planning to stop delivering to NYC.
"I've been on the radio talking to drivers for the last hour and fifteen minutes, and I've talked to at least ten drivers going the other way. I'm heading down from South Wisconsin. And they're [other truckers] gonna start refusing loads to New York City, starting on Monday for NYC. I talked to about three guys that I work with who texted the boss and told him they're not going to New York City."
"I don't know how far across the country this is or how many truckers are gonna start denying loads to go to New York City, but I'll tell you what—you f**k around and find out!"
"Okay? We're tired of you motherf**kin' leftists f**king around with Donald Trump," he said.
Many look at Generation Z and wonder how things could have gone so horribly wrong, but it isn't a mystery at all. The truth is that the young adults of today are the product of the western world's dying culture. We have often been warned that the liberal elite will fundamentally transform our culture, but in reality they have already fundamentally transformed it. They dominate education, they dominate the media, they dominate the entertainment industry, they dominate the corporate world, they dominate at all levels of government and they even dominate most of our major religious institutions. They have imposed a culture on us that is completely foreign to the culture that was once dominant in the western world, and the consequences have been nothing short of dramatic.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange may be extradited to the US to face up to 175 years in prison after a two-day appeal hearing in London's High Court. Assange's wife Stella fears her husband may die if extradited.
London's High Court's two-day hearing is about to seal the fate of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, an Australian citizen who may be extradited to the US to face a possible life prison sentence. International watchdogs argue the WikiLeaks founder could be subjected to serious human rights violations in the US if extradited.
"The whole case seems to hang on the United States wanting revenge," Paul Goncharoff, owner of the consulting company Goncharoff LLC, told Sputnik. "Revenge against a non-US citizen who published information about US government activities and did so from an EU-based website."
The reasons why the United States failed in Afghanistan and Iraq and is "in decline" today are its "ignorance and arrogance," the chairman of the defense committee of the Senate of Pakistan, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, told Sputnik.
"The US policy towards certain countries in Asia is sometimes based on the combination of ignorance and arrogance. Arrogance, because they are a big country, because they think of themselves as a superpower, they think they know it all. But they don't. They don't know the culture and the values of other countries. And also ignorance, because they don't understand the people of these places. This is why they failed in Afghanistan, this is why they failed in Iraq," Sayed said in an interview.
These are the same reasons why the US is "in decline" now and has been like that for some time, he added. The senator explained that he used to live in the US, received a masters degree from one of the most respected US universities in Washington — Georgetown, and worked in the US Congress as an intern. However, the country had changed a lot since then and the US he knew "was different."


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BuddyPress + bbPress – Site wide forum does not work
I've looked at solutions around here and found some that i thought would work but they didn't.
This is a fresh WordPress, Buddypress, bbPress install. (Installed in that order)
When I installed all of the everything went fine(i think) until i wanted to access the site wide forums from the site.
When i click on the forums link in the menu it i get a red square that says "The forums component has not been set up yet."
In Settings>Forums>Archive Slugs i get one error.
Forums base: Forums Possible BuddyPress conflict: Forums page
Other then that i'm not able to see the forum index (list of categories and their sub forums) even if i add [bbp-forum-index] to the forums page.
anyone got and idea of what's wrong (except that i'm a complete beginner at wordpress).
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.


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ATM Safety
Observe Surroundings
Before approaching any automated teller machine (ATM), be alert for any suspicious persons, occupied vehicle(s) close by or unusual circumstances. Should you see suspicious persons or circumstances or otherwise feel uneasy or uncomfortable with your surroundings, leave the area immediately-do not use the ATM. Come back at a later or more appropriate time or use an ATM at another location. Report any suspicious persons or activity to law enforcement authorities. Try to use the ATM during normal business hours.
Be Ready to Transact Business
Before approaching any ATM machine, have your access card and any other paperwork necessary for your particular transaction ready and in your hand. Having to retrieve these items from a purse or wallet is time-consuming and allows a potential offender easier access to your valuables. By being ready to transact business before approaching the ATM, your transaction becomes quicker and safer.
Remain Observant While Using the ATM
While transacting business at the ATM, continue to observe your surroundings. Be careful not to disclose or otherwise reveal your Personal Identification Number (PIN) to others while using the ATM. Never begin a transaction when strangers have a clear view of the ATM keyboard. Use your body to shield the ATM keyboard as you access the machine. This will allow you to access the machine without disclosing or revealing your PIN. You should check your surroundings every few seconds while actually using the ATM. Should you observe any suspicious persons or circumstances, terminate your transaction immediately, leave the area, and contact law enforcement authorities.
Leave Quickly
Upon completing your transaction, retrieving your card and receiving your receipt, immediately leave the ATM area. Do not count or otherwise visually expose any money received from the ATM. Continue to observe your surroundings for any suspicious persons or circumstances, such as anyone following or approaching you. Always maintain a safe distance between you and any stranger. If you believe that you are being followed, you should go to the nearest place where there are people and contact law enforcement authorities.
If Approached
If you are at a drive-up ATM and someone approaches your vehicle on foot, immediately drive away, leave the area and call 911. Don't worry about getting your card out of the machine before you leave, it's not worth getting robbed or hurt. Your money is replaceable, your life isn't.
ATM Failure
From time to time, an ATM machine may fail and keep a cardholders card. Sometimes the card is kept because of a device that has been inserted into the card reader. There has been such cases take place in North Carolina. Should you use an ATM machine and it keep your ATM or credit card, contact the company responsible for the ATM machine and notify the Police.


text: To understand a Cleveland fan, or just the sports landscape of the city itself, out-of-town and national writers must feel obligated to offer up the preamble. Before any success can be achieved or any praise be given, we must be reminded of the failure, or is it failures? It seems like either could work, and we've reached the point where we've got a preamble to the … [Read more...] about Cleveland Sports Misery: This Is a New One


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This article is more than 1 year old
Jacqui Smith kick-starts yoof ID debate site, site kick stops
It's the way she tells them...
Fresh from its success in selling ID cards to the aviation industry, the Home Office has moved straight on to young people with a 'have your say' online forum, mylifemyid.org. The site is fronted by a video of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith getting down with the yoof of Shooters Hill College.
Or at least it was - the site went down for "maintenance" before we got as far as the end of that paragraph. But from memory, we can tell you that the initial response from users has been positive, with comments ranging from (we paraphrase slightly) 'how can we stop this nightmare scheme', through 'you're going to spin the results of the survey anyway', to 'patronising guff.'
The site had only amassed around 30-40 posts in today's brief outing, but a pattern seemed to be emerging. Site administrator Pete Comley, who is also managing director of the contractor running the exercise, Virtual Surveys, seeds a topic with a post to jolly things along. Then a couple of commenters say it's all a load of bollocks anyway.
In her video, which can also (surely "only"? - ed) be found at Politics Home, Smith tells us that proving your identity is really important, and "that's why the government wants to help young people be amongst the first to benefit from an ID card." Lucky young people.
At the time of its demise mylifemyid-argh-its-me-heart.org had about 12 registered commenters (yes, you need to register to participate) and 15 guests online. According to Smith the site is intended to kick start the debate with young people. Perhaps she should try to kick more gently. ®
Update: The site revived shortly after we posted this story, having moved/disappeared several posts in the interval. In response to accusations of censorship, administrator Matt G (nice hair, Matt) protests that it was a technical glitch, and that they have no intention of silencing people. So you can let rip as much as you like, apparently...


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Foxes sink Blues
Leicester scored three second-half goals to preserve their unbeaten start to the SkyBet Championship season with a dramatic 3-2 win against Birmingham at the King Power Stadium.
Blues took the lead in the 12th minute through Matt Green and, although they dominated the game, Leicester had to wait until the 78th minute before equalising with a fine strike by Jamie Vardy.
Andy King and David Nugent, from the penalty spot, added two more before outplayed Birmingham grabbed a last-minute consolation from Chris Burke.
Leicester suffered a pre-match blow when influential captain Wes Morgan was ruled out with a back injury.
Manager Nigel Pearson opted for a 4-3-3 formation and the Foxes were quick out of the blocks, with Jamie Vardy racing clear from a Ritchie De Laet pass, only for Darren Randolph to deny him with a brave save at his feet.
The Blues goalkeeper needed lengthy treatment before he could continue.
Pearson had asked the players to turn the King Power Stadium into a fortress, but their defence was breached in the 12th minute by Birmingham's first attack. Shane Fergsuon crossed the ball from the left and, when Leicester failed to clear, Green pounced to drill home a shot from close range.
It was his first goal for Blues after joining them in the summer from Mansfield, for whom he scored 40 goals in 62 League games.
The goal was against the run of play and the Foxes continued to dominate the first half without being able to convert the chances they created.
Matty James ballooned a shot over the bar after a low cross from Jeff Schlupp and Danny Drinkwater was also high and wide with his effort following a long throw-in from Liam Moore.
The chances kept on coming - and kept on being wasted. Schlupp fired wide after cutting in from the left, Drinkwater shot over after some excellent work by Nugent and Vardy saw his effort scrambled away by Randolph at the near post.
And in first-half stoppage time King and Chris Wood both missed two more good opportunities.
Pearson brought on Anthony Knockeart and Lloyd Dyer for Drinkwater and Wood for the second half and switched to a 4-4-2 system.
However, the pattern remained the same with the Foxes totally dominant without breaking through. Knockeart put a shot into the side net from Dyer's low centre and Nugent wasted another chance in the 57th minute with his side-foot shot saved by Randolph.
Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was brought into the action diving to tip a free-kick from Neal Eardley round the post in the 66th minute.
But in the 78th minute the equaliser finally arrived, with Vardy driving a low right-foot shot into the net from the edge of the penalty area after a great run down the left by Dyer.
Four minutes later the Foxes were celebrating again with King producing a clinical finish from Nugent's pass, and a penalty by Nugent in stoppage time after Eardley had brought down Dyer increased Leicester's lead.
Blues hit back with a last-ditch goal from substitute Burke but the Foxes held on for their first home win of the season.
Source: PA
Source: PA


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Contractors in Eugene, OR
6,631 Results within
Market Sector
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Browse Contractors in Eugene, Oregon by Trade
Frequently Asked Questions
How many contractors in Eugene, OR are on the Procore Construction Network?
There are currently 6,631 contractors in Eugene, OR on the Procore Construction Network.
How can I find and connect with contractors in Eugene, OR?
The Procore Construction Network allows you to search for contractors in Eugene, OR that meet your business needs. Most companies provide a phone number or website on their business page so you can easily connect with them.
How can contractors in Eugene, OR join the Procore Construction Network?
The Procore Construction Network is free and open to any businesses in the construction industry. Click Sign Up at the top of this page to submit your information and create your business page.
How do I know what areas contractors in Eugene, OR cover?
Most businesses listed on the Procore Construction Network have updated their service area. Select a business to view a service area map and find what other areas they work in.
How do I invite contractors in Eugene, OR on the Procore Construction Network to bid on projects?
The Procore platform offers a Bidding tool to Procore customers. If your company uses our Bidding solution, you can search and invite businesses on the Procore Construction Network directly from the Bidding tool. Not yet using Procore? Request a demo.


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- In four games today, the winning points were scored in the final two minutes or overtime, bringing the season total to 36 such games. The Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers all won in overtime. The Cowboys won on a 38-yard field goal by DAN BAILEY with 6:07 remaining. The Texans, who scored twice in overtime, got the winning score on a 48-yard touchdown pass from MATT SCHAUB to ANDRE JOHNSON with 2:01 remaining. The Buccaneers scored a touchdown on their first possession of overtime capped by a 15-yard TD pass from JOSH FREEMAN to DALLAS CLARK with 10:40 remaining. The Green Bay Packers scored their winning points with 1:55 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 22-yard pass from AARON RODGERS to RANDALL COBB.
- Houston quarterback MATT SCHAUB threw for 527 yards in the Texans' 43-37 overtime win over Jacksonville. Schaub's 527 passing yards are tied for the second-most in a game in NFL history (Pro Football Hall of Famer WARREN MOON, December 16, 1990). Pro Football Hall of Famer NORM VANBROCKLIN holds the NFL single-game record with 554 passing yards (September 28, 1951). In that game, wide receiver ANDRE JOHNSON of Houston had 14 catches for 273 yards with one touchdown and rookie wide receiver JUSTINBLACKMON of Jacksonville had seven catches for 236 yards with one touchdown. It marked the first game in NFL history in which two players each had 235+ receiving yards.
- Washington rookie quarterback ROBERT GRIFFIN III completed 14 of 15 passes (93.3 percent) for 200 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 158.3 passer rating in the Redskins' 31-6 win over Philadelphia. Griffin's 93.3 completion percentage is the highest by a quarterback with at least four touchdown passes since Pro Football Hall of Famer STEVE YOUNG(October 16, 1994). Griffin had a 61-yard touchdown pass to SANTANA MOSS in the third quarter, his third touchdown pass of at least 60 yards this season. He is the first player in NFL history with at least three 60+ yard touchdown passes and a 60+ yard rushing touchdown in a season.
- Denver quarterback PEYTON MANNING threw three touchdown passes in the Broncos' 30-23 win over San Diego. Manning has 423 career touchdown passes and moved into sole possession of second place in NFL history, passing Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (420). With the victory, Manning (148) passed Marino (147) and tied Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN ELWAY (148) for the second-most regular-season wins as a starter in NFL history.
- Cincinnati wide receiver A.J. GREEN had six catches for 91 yards and a touchdown in the Bengals' 28-6 win over Kansas City. Green has a touchdown reception in nine consecutive games, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer LANCE ALWORTH (1963) for the third-longest streak in a single season in NFL history. The only longer single-season streaks all-time belong to Pro Football Hall of Famers JERRY RICE (12 games, 1987) and ELROY (CRAZYLEGS) HIRSCH (10 games, 1951).
- New England tight end ROB GRONKOWSKI had seven catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the Patriots' 59-24 win over Indianapolis. Gronkowski, who has 10 touchdowns this season, is the first tight end in NFL history with at least 10 receiving touchdowns in three consecutive seasons. In his third season, Gronkowski has 37 receiving touchdowns, the third-most by a player in his first three NFL seasons. The only players with more are RANDY MOSS (43) and Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (40).
- Tampa Bay rookie running back DOUG MARTIN rushed for 138 yards and had four catches for 23 yards in the Buccaneers' 27-21 overtime win at Carolina. Martin has gained 1,019 scrimmage yards in his past six games and joined Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON (1983) and EDGERRIN JAMES (1999) as the only rookies in NFL history to gain at least 1,000 yards in a six-game span.
Filed under:
NFL Week 11: Seven from Sunday
A look at seven statistical highlights from games played on Sunday afternoon, November 18, the 11th week of the 2012 season.


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Pendulum bound to swing in Maggie election, for better or worse
While political candidates are usually quick to point out their differences, this election season Maggie Valley residents are calling on them to come together.
For nearly a year, the Maggie town board has been mired in a logjam — the four town representatives locked in two-to-two stalemate on issue after issue — and Maggie residents are fed up.
"The people who live here are exasperated," said Mandy Hartline, owner of Stony Creek Motel. "If a good idea is brought up by two, then the other two are against it no matter what. It's almost like kids in the playground."
The town boards are supposed to have an odd number, preventing tie-votes and stand-offs like the ones witnessed in Maggie. But a seat became vacant a year ago when long time Alderman Phil Aldridge moved away. The remaining board members couldn't agree on who to name as a replacement, so the seat has been vacant all this time.
With a town election around the corner in November, residents hope the divisiveness will end, one way or another. Voters will elect someone to the empty seat, and a majority will finally be had — either on the side of Aldermen Mike Matthews and Phillip Wight or Alderwoman Saralyn Price and Mayor Ron DeSimone, assuming that Matthews and Price keep their seats in the election.
Related Items
"I feel like a majority view, no matter what point of view it is, is better than a stalemate all the time," said lifelong Maggie resident Beverly Ketner.
The current board was elected two years ago with the hope that Maggie would move forward after years of a ruling "good ole boy" system. Past boards were accused of making decisions to benefit their friends rather than all of Maggie. However, some residents feel that is still the case — only now it's a different "in-group" on the receiving end of favors.
"If they don't start making decisions for everybody, you know, the whole group instead of friends, then I feel like we are definitely not going to go anywhere," said former Alderman Colin Edwards, who resigned after being fed up by town politics. "When you are put on a board, you are supposed to work together. You've got to make the best decision for everybody."
Edwards said different groups of people in the valley have always been at odds, but he hopes that will change.
"It's been like this ever since I was young, but it's time for change," Edwards said. "I think there are some good candidates running. Then there are some, I hope and pray they don't get elected."
Edwards, who now lives outside the town limits, declined to say which candidates he preferred.
Ketner became so frustrated with the goings-on in town hall that she stopped attending board meetings. Like Edwards, she wants aldermen who consider the whole valley rather than just the business-interests lining Soco Road.
"I am thinking 60 percent of the people who live in the valley are not business owners. I am looking for someone who is for the total valley, not just the businesses," Ketner said.
Ketner said she would also like someone who is open-minded and willing to work through disputes.
Building businesses
In addition to compromise and cooperation, one of the top issues weighing on Maggie voters' minds is the economic climate. Jo Pinter, a resident and Realtor, said she wants the town to ease up on business regulations since they are still struggling.
"They need to be a little more lenient this time because the commercial people are having a hard time," Pinter said. "If you have places boarded up in the commercial zone, it is going to hurt the residential zone."
It is about a balance, Pinter said. Residents need to appreciate the motorcyclists who feed the economy, for example, but the motorcycling tourists also need to respect that people live nearby and don't want to hear a lot of noise after 10 or 11 p.m.
Pinter doesn't know whom she will vote for yet.
"I am kind of going to wait and see what stand they take," she said.
Meanwhile, fellow resident June Johnson said she wants town hall to expand its business horizon and not focus all its time and energy on lodging accommodations.
"I don't just think, I know that what must be done is broad-based economic development," Johnson said. "Our town officials have become focused on getting heads in the beds."
The valley can't survive as it did in the past, catering to blue-collar families taking week-long vacations to the mountains every summer. The tourist demographic that once fueled Maggie's economy simply doesn't exist anymore given the massive loss of furniture and textile jobs in the eastern part of the state — demanding Maggie adopt a new strategy.
Maggie also can't place all its hopes on the resurrection of Ghost Town, an amusement park that was once the tourism king-pen in the valley, she said.
"All you have to see is what Dolly is doing over in Dollywood right now," Johnson said, referring to the $300 million planned expansion of the Tennessee amusement park.
For Johnson, and other Maggie voters, the preferred candidate is interested in expanding the valley's business portfolio.
"The candidate has got to be someone who is knowledgeable about broad-based economic development, who has business sense," Johnson said, adding that she doesn't want an alderman with a questionable history. "I want someone who can stand having a background check and a criminal check and financial check."
Business owner Hartline said her top consideration is business sense, and she already knows which alderman candidate fits that profile for her.
Better or worse
While much of the focus is on who will snag the board's vacant seat — Janet Banks, part-time resident Joe Maniscalco or business owner Charlie Meadows — two seats are also up for reelection, and there is no guarantee that the incumbents will be the victors. Challenging Matthews and Price are Billy Case, Mike Eveland and Steve Hurley. Should one knock out Matthews or one beat out Price for votes, the board could flip from two against two to four against one.
Depending on the outcome of the election, "It could turn much worse or it could turn much better," said Mayor Ron DeSimone, who is not up for reelection. "It is a very crucial election for Maggie Valley."
DeSimone has become the main target for the other side to lob its vitriol at, claiming that he is the reason Maggie is stuck in neutral.
"There are only a few issues separating us. We aren't far from working together now," said Alderman Phillip Wight. "The only person that has held up everything has been the mayor himself."
Not to say that DeSimone and those on his side of the fence haven't done their share of mud slinging as well.
"Phillip Wight thinks that compromise is a sign of weakness," Johnson said. "He doesn't represent the rest of us."
For many, the problem is not that the board of aldermen don't see eye-to-eye, it's that they cannot compromise and find a mutually agreeable solution.
"It is not the disagreement that matters. It is the inability to be flexible to reach an agreement," DeSimone said.
Maggie residents have to decide if they want five people with five different points of view that can do what's best for Maggie or five people with the same views, he said.
"I think that is the question out before the town," DeSimone said.
However, for Wight, the question is different. Do residents want progress or regress?
"If they want to roll back to eight o'clock noise ordinance and more taxes and behind-the-door-meetings, then they know who to vote for," Wight said. "It's a clear choice. Which direction do you want to take the town?"
To help keep the candidates she finds undesirable out of town hall, Johnson said residents, who have in the past thrown their hands up in frustration, will need to rally and vote this November.
"What we need to do is get the residents who've just given up," Johnson said. "We have got to reengage them."
She added that much of Maggie still gets along despite the town board's infighting.
"The community is still out there that is still vibrant and cohesive, but it's not apart of town hall," Johnson said.
Maggie Valley candidates
In Maggie Valley, three of the five seats are up for election. Two of the seats are held by Mike Matthews and Saralyn Price, who are both running for reelection, along with challengers Billy Case, a Realtor; Mike Eveland, manager of the Maggie Valley Inn; and Steve Hurley, owner of Hurley's Creekside Dining and Rhum Bar. The third seat is vacant, with two years left in the term. Three candidates — Janet Banks, retired nurse practioner and nursing school professor; Joe Maniscalco, retired police officer; and Charlie Meadows, owner of Charlie's Wing House — are running for the empty seat.


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The official Tarvunian atlas, in which Tarvunia lies at the epicentre of Earth, or 'Erbu'.
The first edition of the Erbunty is credited to Sir Richard Foylylyes (1652-1713), a British land-owner, and champion young magician, who spent fifteen years travelling the globe, before he drew up his atlas.
Foylylyes was a devout Tarvuist, and travelled with his own mini chabernackle made of pig skin, which he would drape over himself on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and high holidays.
Foylylyes was a famous womaniser, and sadly died while making love to his two mistresses, when, in a freak accident, the ceiling above him collapsed, flattening him and his wenches.
He was survived by his half wifemunty, Lady Dlii Foylylyes, and his two-thirds wifemunty, Elxbethini.


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Developing the Concept of Slope
Given multiple representations of linear functions, the student will develop the concept of slope as a rate of change.
Generating Different Representations of Relationships
Given problems that include data, the student will generate different representations, such as a table, graph, equation, or verbal description.
Approximating the Value of Irrational Numbers
Given problem situations that include pictorial representations of irrational numbers, the student will find the approximate value of the irrational numbers.
Expressing Numbers in Scientific Notation
Given problem situations, the student will express numbers in scientific notation.
Predicting, Finding, and Justifying Data from a Graph
Given data in the form of a graph, the student will use the graph to interpret solutions to problems.
Determining if a Relationship is a Functional Relationship
The student is expected to gather and record data & use data sets to determine functional relationships between quantities.
Graphing Dilations, Reflections, and Translations
Given a coordinate plane, the student will graph dilations, reflections, and translations, and use those graphs to solve problems.
Graphing and Applying Coordinate Dilations
Given a coordinate plane or coordinate representations of a dilation, the student will graph dilations and use those graphs to solve problems.
Drawing Conclusions about Three-Dimensional Figures from Nets
Given a net for a three-dimensional figure, the student will make conjectures and draw conclusions about the three-dimensional figure formed by the given net.
Evaluating Solutions for Reasonableness
Given problem situations, the student will determine if the solutions are reasonable.
Predicting, Finding, and Justifying Solutions to Problems
Given application problems, the student will use appropriate tables, graphs, and algebraic equations to find and justify solutions to problems.
Graphing Proportional Relationships
Given a proportional relationship, students will be able to graph a set of data from the relationship and interpret the unit rate as the slope of the line.
Analyzing Scatterplots
Given a set of data, the student will be able to generate a scatterplot, determine whether the data are linear or non-linear, describe an association between the two variables, and use a trend line to make predictions for data with a linear association.
Writing Geometric Relationships
Given information in a geometric context, students will be able to use informal arguments to establish facts about the angle sum and exterior angle of triangles, the angles created when parallel lines are cut by a transversal, and the angle-angle criterion for similarity of triangles.
Solutions of Simultaneous Equations
Given a graph of two simultaneous equations, students will be able to interpret the intersection of the graphs as the solution to the two equations.
Comparing and Explaining Transformations
Given rotations, reflections, translations, and dilations, students will be able to develop algebraic representations for rotations, and generalize and then compare and contrast the properties of congruence transformations and non-congruence transformations.
Mean Absolute Deviation
Given a set of data with no more than 10 data points, students will be able to determine and use the mean absolute deviation to describe the spread of the data.


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Peggy Bridal Robe in Snow
or make 4 interest-free payments of $58.00 AUD fortnightly with More info
The champagne is on ice. Let the pampering begin.
A celebration of girly glam, feathers, frivolity and friends together making memories forever.
Elegant and deliciously feminine, this bridal dressing gown is a luscious and playful addition to the wedding day preparations. Designed to be worn by the bridal party during the morning as they enjoy having their hair and makeup done ahead of the big event, the Peggy Bridal Dressing Gown will make the bride and her bridesmaids feel drop dead glamorous as they enjoy getting their hair and makeup done.
This piece is made from the softest fabric and features a stunning ostrich feather trim on each of the sleeves which are also detachable – allowing easy laundering and optional styling.
This gorgeous bridal dressing gown is available in a standard S/M or M/L, and comes with a silky sash that ties at the waist and can be adjusted accordingly.
The Peggy Bridal Dressing Gown is also available in French Navy and Blush, designed especially for the bride.
And even if you're not getting married, this little number is perfect for that sexy five star weekend or a cosy getaway with someone special.
This gown is available in a S/M (designed to fit standard AU Size 6 - 10) and M/L (designed to fit standard AU Size 12 - 16). The long design allows for graceful movement and adds an aspect of old-world glamour.
Model pictured wears size S/M and is 174cm tall.
100% Silk robe and matching waist tie.
Detachable 100% Ostrich & marabou feather cuffs, button attachments.


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Best First Aid Kits for Home, Office and Car
Best First Aid Kits for Home, Office and Car
Help! I'm hurt!
Injuries can happen in a split second. Do you have a first aid kit handy? Everyone should have one at home and in the car, at least, and also at work, school, church or wherever you or your kids spend time. Be responsible. Make sure you have well-stocked first aid kits in easy-to-locate places.
There are several types of first aid kits, designed and pre-packed to contain everything you'll need to handle certain types of emergencies in different areas such as home, business office or vehicle.
Types of First Aid Kits
Basic First Aid Kit for Home - This super organized, inexpensive 67-piece first aid kit contains medical supplies used for common injuries such as cuts, sprains, minor burns, insect bites or splinters. It even has a first aid instruction card. Keep this case in an easy-to-find location out of reach of small children. Let older children know what it is, where it is and how it is used. Buy as many as you need to cover your bases.
CAR and TRAVEL FIRST AID KITS
Emergency First Aid Auto Kit - This first aid kit contains emergency aid for your car and emergency aid for minor injuries - all in one. It comes in a durable case and contains bandages, non-stick pads, first aid cream, wipes, alka selzer, pain relievers, tape, tire puncture sealer and a flare. See also the Car First Aid Kit in a Black Nylon Bag
Compact First Aid Kit for Travel - Small and durable, this compact first aid kit is perfect for your boat, backpack, camping gear, vehicle or office. It contains adhesive bandages, tape, various wipes, gauze pads, burn cream and aspirin. Take it with you!
25 Person First Aid Kits - Every office should have at least one first aid kit to cover occasional cuts and abrasions, or for emergencies affecting more individuals at once. Choose from a plastic case or steel case. Kits contain bandages, first aid cream, cold pack, tape, plastic forceps, gloves, pads, gauze, ammonia and more.
50 Person First Aid Kits - First Aid coverage for a mid-sized office. Choose from plastic case or steel case. Each kit varies slightly but basically contain a variety of bandages, pads, gauze, various wipes, ammonia, cold packs, eye wash, plastic forceps, gloves, scissors, tape and first aid guidelines.
100-150 Person First Aid Kit - First Aid coverage for a larger area or emergency preparedness. Durable steel case is portable or can be mounted on the wall. Contains adhesive strips, stretch bandages, gauze pads, wound dressing, adhesive tape, site bandages, iodine, cold packs, ammonia, eye pads, antiseptic, first aid creams, cotton, alcohol, peroxide, aspirin, burn spray, antacids, scissors, tweezers, gloves, tongue depressors, antibiotic, eye wash, sting relief and poison ivy relief.
Shop all First Aid Kits
Shop all Wound Care
Shop all Emergency Preparation
Shop all Disaster Preparation
Shop all Infection Control
Shop all Personal Protection
Do you know what to do if someone cuts themselves? Read First Aid for Cuts and be ready to do the right thing!


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Showing all 3 results
Second Step® Elementary Classroom Kit for Grade 2
Growing up and getting along
By second grade, students have gained a sense of independence and self-awareness and are ready to start solving problems on their own. Teachers use research-based Second Step Elementary lessons and accompanying games, videos, and daily activities to teach students skills—such as how to avoid assumptions, pay attention and listen, finish tasks, and show compassion—that can lead to gains in confidence and school success.
Second Step® Bullying Prevention Unit Grade 2 Lesson Notebook + Staff Training
The power to create a positive school climate
Research-based bullying prevention taught in Second Step® Elementary that teachers know and students love. Set a foundation for social and academic success by teaching Second Step Elementary. Then build on those fundamentals with the Bullying Prevention Unit for Grade 2, with training for all school staff and lessons for students.
Second Step® Child Protection Unit Grade 2 Lesson Notebook + Staff Training
Working together to keep kids safe from abuse
Nothing is more important than protecting children from abuse—and doing so takes vigilance on everyone's part. To truly make a difference, both adults and children need to be educated.


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What does John Updike know about art, anyway? Enough to write about it perceptively. The renowned novelist's art criticism appears in The New York Review of Books and has been collected in a newly published book. But he doesn't know enough—or, perhaps it is better said, see enough—to re-imagine its historical and aesthetic contours.
In his recent assessment of Jed Perl's New Art City in The New York Times Book Review, Mr. Updike upbraided Mr. Perl for refusing to buy into the standard account of postwar painting and sculpture—endorsed by museums, galleries, curators, critics, artists and, lest we forget, deep-pocketed collectors—that values Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg and Richard Serra over Edwin Dickinson, Romare Bearden and Christopher Wilmarth.
You'd think that Mr. Updike, who has seen fit to write kind words about out-of-the-mainstream painters like George Nick and Roy De Forest, might be willing to challenge the status quo. Yet there he was, sniffing over Mr. Perl's "curt treatment" of Abstract Expressionism, his dismissal of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein as "deft perpetrators of implicitly fraudulent effects," and his disappointment at the pervasiveness of Marcel Duchamp's gadfly cynicism. The history that prizes innovation, outrage and condescending populism over hard-won artistic truths remains all but untested.
I was reminded of these concerns upon visiting Hans Hofmann: The Legacy at the Painting Center in Soho. The exhibition is an effective antidote to a narrow art-historical view. Curated by the critic Karen Wilkin and the painter Geoffrey Dorfman, it spotlights the wide-ranging influence of the American painter and teacher Hans Hofmann (1880-1966). Centered on three Hofmann canvases, the exhibition features work by artists who either studied with Hofmann directly or who benefited from contact with his art.
The former camp includes (among others) George McNeil, Paul Resika, Louisa Matthiasdottir, Wolf Kahn and Robert De Niro Sr., whom Hofmann considered his best student. The latter includes Laurie Fendrich, Jill Nathanson and Walter Darby Bannard, and their paintings offer evidence of the continuing vitality of Hofmann's example.
Hofmann: The Legacy is a modest exhibition with big ambitions. Mr. Dorfman, writing in the catalog, envisions Hofmann as a "delirious scientist, pouring potent substances into a container … measuring the chemical reaction, monitoring any rise in temperature and urging the result towards a convincing apotheosis." He points despondently to a current scene "attuned to other frequencies," chief among them the marketplace. Lamenting the "stifling repetitiveness among contemporary artists," Mr. Dorfman posits Hofmann as an alternative whose work is "ebullient, radiant, courageous and various in [its] effects."
When he goes on to endorse Hofmann as a practical role model ("He was not depressive, didn't drink to excess, and was not a sufferer"), you know Mr. Dorfman is hoeing a tough row. People prefer genius-types who are poverty-stricken, alcoholic, crazy and earless; joyous just won't do.
And while Hofmann's position in the firmament is secure—he's typically lumped in with the Abstract Expressionists—he's somewhat misplaced and misunderstood. Notwithstanding similarities in painterly approach, the disposition and scope of his work set it apart from that of the New York School. At this date, Abstract Expressionism looks less like a stirring culmination than a closed book. Hofmann's art, in contrast, is forever pointing forward, its optimism and propulsion encouraging unimagined possibilities.
He had no agenda and set no limits. Figuration and abstraction, or a mix in between, suited Hofmann fine, so long as the resulting art was coherently realized through its plastic values. His aesthetic is more encompassing, open-ended and generous than that of even the finest painters in the New York School. Sunny, galumphing and wildly imperfect, his paintings clear a path veering away from the knowing malaise of contemporary culture.
That's what Mr. Dorfman and Ms. Wilkin suggest, and, by and large, they're right. That said, Hofmann: The Legacy is unlikely to change the mind of the scene's professional class of Doubting Thomases. It will not prompt a revision of the standard texts of art history, even among those sympathetic to its cause. The selection of paintings isn't as definitive as it could be. Few of the painters, including Hofmann himself, are represented by their best or most representative work. Transitional canvases by Ludwig Sander and Carl Holty, for instance, fail to give an indication of what they were capable of as mature artists.
The curators are aware of the limitations. They cite space constraints and offer "earnest apologies" to "excellent" living artists who weren't included. I'm sure Mr. Dorfman and Ms. Wilkin would love the space, time and financial resources to do right by Hofmann and his progeny. Would that they could bookend a major Hofmann painting—say, the Guggenheim's The Gate (1959-60)—with sizable works by Matthiasdottir and McNeil. As it is, McNeil and Matthiasdottir—painters who thrived on wide expanses of canvas—are represented by smallish efforts. The correspondences between their art and Hofmann's are recognized, but they're not made electric. And Hofmann is all about electricity.
But the last thing I want to suggest is that Hofmann: The Legacy is a squandered opportunity—far from it. The show is the finest yet to be mounted at the Painting Center; it provides a splendid blueprint for a more comprehensive exhibition and makes palpable the eclectic and deeply humane character of Hofmann's influence. The rare opportunity to view pictures by painters as good as Myron Stout, John Grillo, Ms. Nathanson and Ms. Fendrich is reason alone to be grateful.
Ms. Wilkin and Mr. Dorfman have started a dialogue that can only get more complex and compelling. History, like Hofmann's art, never sits still. It's always re-writing itself, forever offering its challenges. Mr. Updike has his work cut out for him. So do the rest of us. It will be a pleasure.
Hans Hofmann: The Legacy is at the Painting Center, 52 Greene Street, until Dec. 24.


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I am curious as to what GIS server software is out there. I have used a few different ones and am building a list of them. If you know of any others please mention it below because I would like to check it them out. I have listed the software that I am already aware of below.
GIS Server Software:
Name || Source || License
MapServer || Open || MIT-style license
GeoServer || Open || GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
TileStache || Open || BSD License
TileCache || Open || BSD license
Mapnik || Open || LGPL (Lesser General Public Licence)
ArcGIS for Server || Closed || ESRI
A Custom Server Built on GeoTools || Open || LGPL
MapZoom || Open || ???
GLG Map Server || Closed || ???
Deegree || Open || LGPL
Geomajas || Open || AGPL
Mapguide Open Source || Open ||LGPL
GeoMedia Map Publisher || Closed || Intergraph
MapViewer || Closed || Oracle
Mapbender || Open || GNU GPL and Simplified BSD license
Hopefully that list helps others who are also looking for options. Also if I have mistakenly added one please let me know. I haven't tried most of packages on the list so if you have used any of them please let me know if you would recommend it and how your experience with the software was.
Question 1: Do you know of any other GIS Map Service Software?
Question 2: How was your experience with a GIS Map Service Software package?


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The fifth in a five-part series
If you had $23 billion a year dedicated to improving low-income children's education and addressing a wide variety of other congressionally negotiated purposes, what would you do?
This is the question Congress should be asking when its members finally sit down to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Instead, however, it's more likely that Congress will simply tinker around the edges in hopes of "fixing" the ESEA—also known today as the No Child Left Behind Act—rather than transforming it.
The basic provisions of Title I, the ESEA's largest program—providing more than $14 billion a year to more than 54,000 schools and 23 million students—have barely changed in almost a half-century. The program has been an untouchable symbol of the nation's commitment to bettering the lives of schoolchildren from low-income families, despite little evidence that it has changed the odds for most of its intended recipients. And similar programs have had comparably modest effects.
This lack of transformational change occurs because federal education legislation typically is a blunt instrument that only asks schools to adhere to regulations based on imperfect policy and outdated evidence. Yet, history tells us that carefully crafted and focused legislation can do a few things: promote equality of opportunity; create infrastructure to help improve quality; stimulate state and local reform; and support good research, innovation, and the dissemination of knowledge.
Read the entire five-part series of essays adapted for Education Week from the recently published book Carrots, Sticks, and the Bully Pulpit. Writers include Charles Barone, Larry Berger, Elizabeth DeBray, Chester E. Finn Jr., and Andrew Rudalevige.
The first step to realizing the promise of legislation is to clear out the underbrush of existing ESEA programs and start over from scratch. New legislation focused on only a few evidence-based strategies for improving equality and quality should replace the old programs. This would build on knowledge accumulated over the past three decades from basic research on teaching, learning, and organizational improvement, as well as lessons from high-performing countries, states, and districts. The dramatic reduction of programs would eliminate most regulations and administrative costs, thereby giving states and districts a greater opportunity to concentrate on thoughtfully implementing new programs.
While the timing of the reauthorization process remains uncertain, the new ESEA, whenever it emerges, should address three specific issues: reducing inequalities, stimulating quality, and funding new practical research and innovation.
The first title, or section, of a new ESEA should offer states and districts incentives to develop equitable funding systems, provide additional funds to high-poverty secondary schools, and support preschool and kindergarten opportunities for low-income students. Each of these addresses a specific and critical need in our schools. In many states, school funding formulas favor students from well-to-do families and communities. With political will and federal incentives, this can be corrected.
The Alliance for Excellent Education, a Washington-based group devoted to high school reform, cites evidence from Johns Hopkins University that finds that approximately 13 percent, or 2,000, of the nation's public high schools account for 50 percent of our country's dropouts. The second component of this section of ESEA would provide resources and ongoing training for the faculty and staff members in those high schools and their feeder middle schools to create the kinds of supporting, motivating, and challenging environments necessary to prepare and retain their students.
Finally, a large body of literature finds that many children from low-income families have not learned the language and behavioral skills that will prepare them for 1st grade and beyond. These students enter 1st grade with a huge gap in size of vocabulary and oral-language skills and rarely catch up. To address this, the new ESEA would include a focus on training Head Start and other preschool and kindergarten teachers to provide these fundamental skills. None of this is easy to do, but all of it is necessary if we are to reduce the degree of inequality in our nation's schools, one of the largest in the developed world.
A second title in the ESEA would focus on supporting long-term strategies to improve the effectiveness of education for all students in states, districts, and schools. The effort would build on the powerful literature on organizational theory and international best practices that finds that a positive and supportive climate and a focus on continuous improvement of instructional practice are the secret sauce in countries, states, and districts with effective schools. Singapore; Finland; Ontario, Canada; the state of Massachusetts; Long Beach, Calif.; and Austin, Texas, are all important examples. Sustained, focused, evidence-oriented effort works.
The first step to realizing the promise of legislation is to clear out the underbrush of existing ESEA programs and start over from scratch."
The first initiative in this title would include authorization of funding for state and local implementation of the Common Core State Standards, including aligned assessments, curricula, and professional development. Successful implementation that was sustained over time would model a continuous-improvement strategy, which could lead to its becoming standard practice.
Additionally, this title would require states to develop accountability systems based on transparency. Politically set goals and intensive and extensive testing and arbitrary punishments designed by people in Washington alienate rather than motivate people in the field.
New state-designed systems with limited numbers of high-stakes tests would focus on making steady improvement around closing achievement gaps and increasing overall achievement and graduation rates. Use of the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, by states and the federal government would supplement state systems. PISA is particularly important because it comes the closest of many assessments to effectively measuring important cognitive abilities that require what psychologists call "transfer skills," taking knowledge from one setting and applying it effectively in another.
A third and final ESEA title would establish an applied research, development, evaluation, and innovation program that would supplement current research and development in the Education Department. The new program would be focused on understanding and improving the particular strategies proposed in the first two titles. The program would also include aggressive exploration of the use of information technology to improve educational opportunities of all students in and outside of school.
The approach suggested here is not radical, but it does require members of Congress to consider the development of K-12 legislation in a new way and asks them and states and local governments to focus on critical problems in education today. Unless the Elementary and Secondary Education Act moves away from its anachronistic compliance-based and politically expansive approach, federal legislation will not be able to support states and districts truly interested in dramatically improving schools and student learning.