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The day Reggie Bullock has waited for all his life is finally here.
The day Reggie Bullock has waited for all his life is finally here.
Bullock is expected to receive a phone call from an NBA team, and then hear NBA Commissioner David Stern call his name on national television sometime tonight during the 2013 NBA Draft.
The 22-year-old Kinston native is on the verge of becoming just the sixth from here to be drafted by an NBA team, joining Cedric Maxwell (1977), Mitchell Wiggins (1983), Charles Shackleford (1988), Jerry Stackhouse (1995) and Herbert Hill (2007).
It wasn�t long ago that Bullock was working on his dream as a child at Holloway Recreation Center. Then came the recruiting process, and then came the commitment to UNC.
While in high school Bullock won virtually every award an individual could receive. Three years later he became a full-time starter for the Tar Heels.
Today, the child who wasn�t allowed to play in his middle school championship basketball game due to a dirty bedroom will see the fruits of his labor fulfilled.
�When I first saw him, in the sixth grade, it was because I wanted to go see the kid that everybody was talking about,� said Wells Gulledge, Bullock�s former high school coach. �From at an early age, you could really tell that he was a well-rounded kid in regards to the way he played, and also the way he carried himself.�
Gulledge remembers knowing how special Bullock was going to be before he ever donned the green and gold of Kinston High.
�There�s not very many kids that you can look at and say, �That guy�s going to be a pro.� But at a very young age, you could tell that with Reggie,� Gulledge said.
There�s really no telling where Bullock could land. He�s been projected to go as high as the 19th overall pick of the first round to falling into the second round.
On the eve before the draft mock drafts at SI.com and NBADraft.net had Bullock going early in the second round. Two weeks ago both websites had the 6-foot-7, 200-pound wing as a first rounder.
Experts at DraftXpress.com gave Bullock the highest slot at 19th to the Cleveland Cavaliers, while one expert at CBSSports.com listed him going 21st to the Utah Jazz.
Only first round picks get guaranteed NBA contracts.
Regardless of where Bullock ends up, Gulledge simply wants to see his former player and student succeed.
�In a perfect world, in a perfect scenario, (we) certainly would like for him to go as high as he possibly can with a team that understands what type of player they�re getting and what type of person they are getting,� Gulledge said. �I hope that there�s some veterans there that will bring him along and continue to teach him the ways of the next level in regards to the lifestyle and how to keep your inner circle tight, how to really take care of your body and mind, and finances.�
Since declaring for the NBA draft in April � Bullock decided to pursue a professional career and not return to UNC for his senior season � the former McDonald�s All American and Gatorade N.C. Player of the Year in 2010 has been traveling abroad, auditioning for roughly half of the 30 NBA teams.
He left Atlanta to return to Kinston on Wednesday afternoon following a workout with the Hawks. On Tuesday he worked out for the Indiana Pacers, and on Monday auditioned for the Chicago Bulls.
Bullock will be in town today for the draft instead of in New York. After all, this is where his journey began.
�If you think of everything that�s ever gone down in Kinston, this kid�s getting ready to be drafted in the NBA draft and he chose to be here,� Gulledge said. �That says a lot about who Reggie Bullock is.�
Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
2013 NBA Draft
First round draft order for tonight�s NBA draft, which begins at 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN. Kinston�s Reggie Bullock is expected to be taken late in the first round.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Orlando Magic
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Phoenix Suns
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trail Blazers
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Utah Jazz
15. Milwaukee Bucks
16. Boston Celtics
17. Atlanta Hawks
18. Atlanta Hawks*
19. Cleveland Cavaliers*
20. Chicago Bulls
21. Utah Jazz*
22. Brooklyn Nets
23. Indiana Pacers
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Clippers
26. Minnesota Timberwolves*
27. Denver Nuggets
28. San Antonio Spurs
29. Oklahoma City Thunder
30. Phoenix Suns*
*�via trade


text:
After atheists and scientists online spent years putting up with a
literal veritable tsunami [FTFY -Russell] of increasingly violent and unhinged death threats from Montreal resident Dennis Markuze (among whose many aliases, "David Mabus" is the best known), the authorities finally took reports of his stalking seriously and arrested the guy last year. Here is the latest.
Dennis Markuze, 40, recently received a suspended 18-month sentence after he pleaded guilty to uttering threats toward eight people. The case was heard at the Montreal courthouse.
Markuze, a resident of St. Laurent, was ordered to "abstain from participating in a social network, blog and discussion forum" during the sentence.
According to documents filed in the case, Markuze resided at Freedom House, a rehabilitation centre, to deal with problems he had with drugs and alcohol before he entered his guilty plea. According to the documents, he began consuming marijuana at age 15 and cocaine at age 23. At 25, he started drinking heavily, according to an assessment filed in his case in March.
The same assessment described Markuze as being motivated to deal with his substance abuse problems and mentions he completed a therapy program in March.
"He doesn't want to return to prison nor have more problems with the law," Freedom House's Clement Proulx wrote in the assessment. "He takes responsibility for what he is charged with and takes his sobriety seriously."
It all sounds very much like a wrist-slap, but I suppose it's harder to get more decisive action taken on matters like these. Still, the law in Quebec can no longer say he's not on their radar, at least. Can someone of Markuze's dysfunctional mental health be trusted to abide by a ruling to stay away from the internet?
Keep an eye on your inboxes and comment threads, people. Be ready to report the very first violation.
(PS: FFS, when I said "literal" I didn't mean "literally literal," I literally meant "literal" like you mean it when you don't mean "literal"! Why does everyone have to be so literal? It's literally the craziest thing in the history of ever, and I do mean that literally!)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Boiler Room Scams
Many legitimate companies use the telephone to solicit business, and "telemarketing" has become a widely used and sophisticated tool. However, some offers of goods and services are fraudulent. Consumers should be aware that a telemarketer might be a swindler or con artist. "Boiler room scams" refer to callers who use prepared scripts and high pressure tactics to sell a wide variety of worthless or overvalued goods and services usually over the telephone. Scams may include work at home, pyramid and chain letter schemes, solicitation of mail order sales, and billing of items not ordered. In general, a consumer may cancel if a company cannot ship an ordered item within 30 days.
DOJ - Office of the Attorney General
Public Inquiry Unit
PO Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
(916) 445-9555
(800) 952-5225 (CA Callers)
(916) 322-3360 (Out of State)
(916) 323-5341 Fax
(800) 952-5548 (TDD in CA)
(916) 327-5564 (TDD Out of State)
For scams related to work at home, pyramid, chain letter schemes, solicitation by mail, theft of mail, mail delivery problems; includes billing for items not ordered, contact the US Postal Service.
US Postal Service
Inspection Service Support Group
ATTN: Fraud Section
Suite 1250
222 S Riverside Plaza
Chicago, IL 60606-6100
(800) 275-8777
For scams related to deceptive sales pitches, time exceeded for merchandise ordered; if canceled, must refund consumer's cash, check, or money order within 7 working days or credit card account within one billing period (approximately 30 days), contact the Federal Trade Commision.
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
(877) 382-4357
Department Publications:
Be Smart-Buy Smart: Contests, Sweepstakes and Lotteries
Be Smart-Buy Smart: Mail Order
Be Smart-Buy Smart: Prizes and Gifts
Be Smart-Buy Smart: Telemarketing
Consumer Resource & Referral Guide
Directory of State Agencies
Directory of Federal Agencies
Return to DCA Home Page


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The clock is ticking for Democrats — the debt clock, that is. As the party opened its national convention, the Treasury Department officially announced that the national debt has passed the $16 trillion milestone.
Texas Republicans reacted quickly — and negatively. Sen. John Cornyn called it "another shameful benchmark in the Obama administration's fiscal record."
The ever-increasing debt was a leading theme at the Republican National Convention last week in Tampa. For Cornyn, the debt reinforces the need for a change in leadership.
This could hurt Obama, who needs to convince the American public this that he can stabilize the rapidly increasing debt with another term in office.
"President Obama has failed the test of fiscal responsibility," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. "The U.S. Senate rejected his last two budgets – unanimously."
According to a recent poll by ABC News/Washington Post, 71 percent of Americans say the president's handling of the economy will be a "major factor" in the way they cast their vote, but another poll by Gallup revealed that only 36 percent of Americans approve of Obama's economic stewardship.
"We need leadership from the White House, or our debt will continue to skyrocket, putting our economy and security at risk," said Hutchison.
The national debt has increased more during Obama's presidency than in former president George W. Bush's two terms in office — $5.4 trillion in less than four years.
"Under President Obama's stewardship, the national debt has grown by more than $4 billion per day, $170 million per hour, $2.8 million per minute and more than $47,000 per second," said Rep. Kevin Brady of The Woodlands, vice chairman of the Joint Economic Committee and a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Brady slammed the president for "crippling our economy" with an agenda of more spending and higher taxes on job creators.
"We've got a lot of work to do," he said. "We need to continue to bring that rate down and get our economy moving so that we can start to shrink the size of our debt relative to the economy."


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The old melody started as an English tavern song that began To Anacreon in Heav'n, where he sat in full glee.
Later, it was used in an American campaign song that began Ye sons of Columbia, who bravely have fought.
And later still, amateur poet Francis Scott Key used it in a song that began, When the warrior returns, from the battle afar.
Now, as Key watched the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in the summer of 1814, the melody came to him again, along with new words, Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light.
The story of the lyrics to the national anthem, or the "Defence of Fort M'Henry," as it was first...


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The main thing about West Gate, besides the notch cut conveniently through the Clan Alpine Mountains so Highway 50 could pass through, is the windmill.
A full view of the windmill, as seen from behind a fence and gate, looking northwest.
The top of the windmill, the part that spins round and round whenever the wind blows - which it does quite often.
The bottom part of the windmill: the center rod moves up and down, pumping water out of the ground.
A little water leaks around the bottom, freezing into ice in winter.
The water goes by metal pipe along the ground and then upward into this water tank built of rocks and concrete. The pipe can barely be seen behind the large fence post, near the top of the squarish water tank.
Now, being the good investigative sorts that we are, we'll climb the rock wall and peer into the tank.
Water! In the desert! This windmill used to run most of the time, but it seems to have been off for a while in some recent years. In summer, a nice water tank full of water can be a great thing to find out in the middle of nowhere - especially after a hot day of field work - although I'd hesitate climbing in this one because it's right along the highway.
I crudely calculated that I've passed through West Gate at least 200 times during the past 3 decades. I'm wondering if it's more than that - the number seems low to me, but maybe not! There was some hope of me keeping track of the actual number had I tried counting sometime in the 1980's, but it's too late now for more than just a crude estimate.
And right about when this posts, I'll be passing through again, on the first leg of another journey to Alaska. We'll be at the Iditarod when it starts up (did I mention that yet?) - see countdown widget on the sidebar, right above an Anchorage temperature indicator. Posting may be light to non-existent, although I have some pre-posts ready to go.


text:
Standing up against the hallelujah chorus for war
It's too bad U.S. bishops are spending so much political and cultural capital on the religious liberty fight which is now becoming bogged down over contraception. Too bad because while they are engaged in what I suspect will be a losing battle in a rhetorical war, the voice they are raising, rare these days in Washington, against a real war is getting lost in the cultural haze.
As U.S. Senators have essentially now begun taking orders directly from AIPAC and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—in a manner that would no doubt generate outrage in Israel were such frank interference attempted by the Obama administration—and as media reports continue to "soften" the American public in preparation for an "inevitable" confrontation with Iran, U.S. bishops have finally stepped into the fray raising a hand of warning.
In a March 2 letter from Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, chair of the U.S.C.C.B. Committee on International Justice and Peace, to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the bishops noted their concern over "an alarming escalation in rhetoric and tensions," including Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic and speculation on the possible use of force against Iran, including an Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
"The Bishops' Conference urges the U.S. Government to continue to explore all available options to resolve the conflict with Iran through diplomatic, rather than military, means," Bishop Pates said. "Before military options are considered, all alternatives, including effective and targeted sanctions and incentives for Iran to engage in diplomacy and cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), need to be exhausted," he added.
As they did before the beginning of the Iraq War in March 2003, a war billed as a cakewalk by its promoters that proved finally to be a humanitarian and fiscal catastrophe, the bishops repeated their misgivings about the concept of pre-emptive war, now again being touted to justify an attack on Iran.
"In Catholic teaching, the use of force must always be a last resort. Iran's bellicose statements, its failure to be transparent about its nuclear program and its possible acquisition of nuclear weapons are serious matters, but in themselves they do not justify military action," Bishop Pates said.
"Discussing or promoting military options at this time is unwise and may be counterproductive. Actual or threatened military strikes are likely to strengthen the regime in power in Iran and would further marginalize those in Iran who want to abide by international norms. And, as the experience in Iraq teaches, the use of force can have many unintended consequences," he said.
"Iran is an example of the significant threat posed to global security by a proliferation of nuclear weapons. The specific situation of Iran should be viewed within the wider search for a just and peaceful world built on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. A morally responsible nonproliferation strategy must be tied to a clear strategy for reducing and ultimately ending the reliance on nuclear weapons by any country. The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty itself ties nonproliferation to eventual nuclear disarmament."
This is a strong and important warning from the bishops. It needs to be repeated vigorously until someone in Washington gets the message.


text:
BENEFITING: OHEL Children's Home & Family Services
ORGANIZER: OHEL Children's Home & Family Services
EVENT DATE: May 06, 2012
Ohel Children's Home & Family Services wrote -
Is riding in the TD Five Boro Bike Tour on your Bucket List?
Team OHEL in the TD Bank 5 Boro Bike Tour helps kids with disabilities become kids with new abilities, by sending them to Camp Kaylie and OHEL's year-round camps.
Everyone can support Team OHEL. Raise as much as you can, help send kids with disabilities to OHEL Bais Ezra's year-round camps and OHEL's new groundbreaking Camp Kaylie. Kids with disabilities need to have fun and relax just as much as kids without disabilities. We also provide a well deserved respite for their parents and siblings!
PLEASE RESERVE YOUR TEAM OHEL CHARITY SPOT NOW BY CONTACTING by email firstname.lastname@example.com or call Laurie at 718-686-3316 for more information . OFFICIAL REGISTRATION NOW OPEN . WE WILL SEND YOU THE LINK FOR YOUR OFFICIAL INVITE. Please note $1500.00 fundraising minimum for a spot on the team, unless you have already secured your own spot directly through the lottery. You may want to create your fundraising page now, to get a head start on your campaign! You'll have your own fundraising page for OHEL that you can share with your friends and family, so that you can help spread the word.
Those who join us and ride with Team OHEL will receive the 2012 Team OHEL T-shirt and a OHEL goodies as well as a kosher breakfast and VIP start pass near the front of the pack. After the event you will be invited to our meaningful and special TEAM OHEL AFTERPARTY.
PS - If you have already secured your own spot in the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, you can still ride with Team OHEL and any money that you are able to raise is a bonus! We are pumped for this year and look forward to partnering with you to reach our goal of $50,000!
Come along for the ride, and help change a life!


text:
One of the lead undercover FBI agents who assembled the political corruption case against state Sen. Leland Yee and others was removed from the investigation for his own financial improprieties, perhaps including his management of the lavish spending on the clandestine four-year probe, according to court papers a key defendant filed Thursday.
The agent, who posed as an Atlanta businessman in the investigation, was being probed for misconduct in late 2012 and early 2013. He appeared to have been removed from the undercover probe at that time, lawyers for indicted San Francisco political consultant Keith Jackson revealed in the court filing.
Jackson's lawyers argue that the agent's misconduct must be fully disclosed because it may be central to efforts to discredit the government's sprawling investigation.
The agent's financial misconduct is unclear, but court papers say he was key to ensnaring Jackson and later Yee in an investigation that began as a probe into reputed Asian organized crime figure Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow.
The agent, court papers say, paid Jackson $37,000 in consulting fees over 16 months as part of the undercover operation, arranged $20,000 in donations to an identified political figure, explored setting up a $200,000 fundraiser for a "senior federal elected official" and set up a meeting with a "prominent former professional athlete" to discuss a hotel project. Lawyers in the case say the probe crossed paths with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana, who has backed a proposed hotel and retail project near Levi's Stadium but has never been linked to any wrongdoing.
Among other legal arguments, Jackson's lawyers say the government failed to disclose that one of its lead agents was being investigated by his bosses when they sought approval from federal judges for wiretaps against Yee, Jackson and other targets. James Brosnahan, Jackson's attorney, has asked U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer to order the government to turn over internal documents detailing why the agent was reprimanded by the FBI.
"(It) is pertinent to understanding why Mr. Jackson was initially targeted, and then pursued for more than three years, even after the FBI removed its lead undercover agent … for financial misconduct," court papers say.
The U.S. attorney's office declined to comment on the issue.
Yee and dozens of other defendants face racketeering charges, which allege the now-suspended San Francisco Democratic legislator traded his political influence for bribes to help fund his political aspirations. The racketeering indictment characterizes Yee's political campaigns for secretary of state and San Francisco mayor as racketeering enterprises.
With the case now moving through the pretrial stages, defense lawyers have been expected to begin their attack on the government's case, and Jackson's allegations against the FBI investigators are the first salvo. Defense lawyers are also expected to mount efforts to toss out some of the prosecution's evidence, such as wiretaps and video surveillance, as part of claims the investigation amounted to entrapment.
Yee was repeatedly caught in wiretapped conversations discussing his efforts to trade his political power for campaign money, according to the government's court papers.
Howard Mintz covers legal affairs. Contact him at 408-286-0236 or follow him at Twitter.com/hmintz


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Is it a vanity or is it a desk? The answer is: both. Six functional drawers and a large work surface provide plenty of storage space for office supplies and a computer while a convenient knee opening makes it easy to scoot up and apply make-up when used as a vanity. Solid wood construction and your choice of Benjamin Moore paint finishes and artwork make it possible to turn this versatile piece into an item that adds style in the bedroom or in the office.
You may be interested in having a second, contrasting color or stain on certain parts of this piece (where relevant), such as knobs, drawer fronts, top surface, or the inside backs of display cabinets. If so, please specify the placement(s) and second color desired in the Special Instructions box above.
Measurements: 30h x 56w x 24d
Color Samples: Info and Order Here
Free shipping in the continental U.S. only. Call or email for rates in Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico & Canada.
Don't look now but autumn is just around the corner! The arrival of the fall season means not only changes in the weather and the number of daylight hours but also an opportunity to introduce changes into your home's decor. Along with hanging storm windows, chimney cleaning and covering the outdoor furniture, these five tips may help you make the transition from the relaxing look of summer to the cozy and inviting look...continue reading
It is usually the little things in life that really matter–a loving family, health and a roof over our heads. And it is the little things that usually bring us the most joy—a child's laughter, roly-poly puppies or a field of blooming flowers. When it comes to home decor, the little things that turn an ordinary home into a memorable and extraordinary space is the attention... continue reading;
There is no greater design inspiration than from Mother Earth herself. Color combinations, textures and forms and shapes can all be found by just opening your eyes and observing your natural surroundings.
1. Color combinations: The garden is a natural place to start if you are struggling trying to come up with a color scheme. If you do not have your own garden then take a day trip to your local botanical garden, zoo or public park. You will discover that all colors compliment each other and the sky is the limit when it comes to choosing a color combination that works for you... continue reading


text:
Learn how to use the best web design tools on the market plus increase your web design income to $125 (or more) per hour.
I often talk about LearnWebDevelopment.com and their unique training program for freelance web designers who want to increase their hourly rate without going back to college.
Unlike other web design training companies that throw tutorials at you hoping something sticks, LearnWebDevelopment.com's approach is different. They give you a step-by-step roadmap designed to get you up and running fast so you can make real money as a web designer.
Now, I've partnered with them to give you a free look at what their popular Successful Web Designer membership can do for you. When you sign up, you'll learn how successful web designers:
• Build impressive websites in days instead of weeks
• Make twice as much money in half the time
• Create recurring income
• And a whole lot more!
Sign up here:
Here's what others have said about LearnWebDevelopment.com's training programs:
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"Wow – there is a world of difference. This course has enabled me to know about parts of web design I just thought I could never manage. It has helped me to know how to charge properly, assess the jobs better, communicate with the client better, market better – the list is endless. All I can say is that my income from web designing has tripled, my confidence has skyrocketted and I am designing faster and better because I am simply doing more of it." – Natasha Koodravsev-Boyar
"I have expanded my business in a very short time from nothing to 10 clients just by having the knowledge alone and having the confidence to go out into the market place knowing I can compete against the other web companies." – Stefan Kaczmarczyk
Note: I only promote products I truly believe in. If you do decide to purchase any of LearnWebDevelopment.com's other training, I will make a commission as their affiliate.
Here's what you'll get if you decide to become a member of the Successful Web Designer:
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• No commitment. When you join The Successful Web Designer, you're not committing to anything. This means you can come in, see what web design is all about, decide if it's right for you and decide to stay or leave. No hard feelings either way.
Go here to learn more about the Successful Web Designer.


text:
Planet, Schmanet, Janet from The Rocky Horror Picture Show was supposed to be featured in The Rocky Horror Glee Show, the fifth episode of Season Two, but it was cut due to time constraint. It is sung by Carl with back-up from Emma.
Carl (Emma):
(Ahh, ah-ah, ahh, ahh)
I'll tell you once, I won't tell you twice
You'd better wise up (Ah-ah) Janet Weiss
Your apple pie don't taste too nice (Ahow!)
You'd better wise up, Janet Weiss
(Ahh, ah-ah, ahh, ahh)
I've laid the seed it should be all you need
You're as sensual (Ahh) as a pencil (Ahh)
(Ahh) Wound up like an E (Ahh) or a first string
When we made it, did you hear a bell ring?
You got a block? (Ahh) Well, take my advice
You better wise up Janet Weiss
The transducer (Ahh) will seduce ya
Planet, Schmanet, Janet!
You better wise up Janet Weiss
You better wise up, build your thighs up
You better wise up, and then she cried out
(Aaaaaaahhhhhh, aaahh)
- Although deleted from the episode The Rocky Horror Glee Show, the scene for this song is featured as a bonus feature on the DVD: Glee - Season 2, Volume 1 and Glee: The Complete Second Season.


text:
This is a group for all who own, play and like 7th gen consoles. The 7th gen is the time of the ps3, xbox 360 and the wii, this era is known as the connectivity era
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.
PS3 only. Game before Dark Souls.


text:
I have a confession to make. I am not one to go all out for art. I mean, if I can't afford the best, why bother, is what I say about art. I guess what I really mean is this: if I can't afford a Cy Twombly, why bother?
If you do love art by Cy Twombly, could you afford it? Interior design by Renea Abbott.
Or, if your taste runs more to romantic 18th century art, lord knows who can afford this but Axel Vervoordt. I mean, I would love THIS art in my house – but it's a little out of my price range.
Or, let's say you love art from the 16th century, like Nancy Lancaster did and Oscar de la Renta does, and Lars Bolander too – who happens to own this canvas – but could you afford it? What room wouldn't look better with art work like this?
Or consider the master John Saladino – his wonderful collection of art hanging in Villa di Lemma is enough to make one weep. In fact his Cy Twombly is so gorgeous – it was what first made me realize how much I love Twombly's work.
Maybe you aren't a Twombly fan. Consider then Saladino's Robert Courtright collage that hangs in his bedroom suite at Villa di Lemma. If you love it, but can't buy it, what would you do? What WOULD you hang on your walls instead of all this beautiful art that is out of the reach of the common man (you and me, that is!)
Because the art work that I like is so prohibitive, I hang other things on my walls. Like mirrors. You can find beautiful ones that are plain and relatively inexpensive.
Or, you could spend a little more and get a beautiful antique mirror – still much less than, say, an 18th century oil.
Picture courtesy of the beautiful blog www.trouvais.com
Plain or fancy, big or small – mirrors are a great alternative to pricey art.
A series of botanicals are also a nice alternative to expensive art. While this set is undoubtedly not cheap – one could create their own set from leaves in the back yard and then frame them between simple panes of glass.
Or frame them between Plexiglas, like Brooke at Velvet and Linen is doing at her shop.
Or, you could hang just one large botanical like this – flanked by sconces, instead of art work you can't afford.
I love old maps and lithographs – especially copies of old maps and lithographs that you can find for a song.
The old maps of Paris and Rome are appealing – particularly when they aren't originals. This map of Paris from Restoration Hardware, while not inexpensive, makes me just a little week in the knees. I only wish I had a place for it.
Hanging plates and porcelains on walls makes any room look fabulous! This room doesn't look empty without an oil painting, right?
My own collection of antique celadon plates have been hanging on the walls for years. Except they aren't antique, I bought them new – they just look antique. Almost any plain set of white dishes looks great on the walls.
Oversized clocks are wonderful substitutes for fine art. Brooke from Velvet and Linen (again! I just love that girl!) hung this antique clock face in an asymmetrical arrangement in her stairwell. I love how she paired the clock face with the Mora clock. Just beautiful!
In the Netherlands, lamp maker extraordinaire Ron van Empel has one of the prettiest clocks I've seen. Today – you can find oversized clocks copied from Target to K-Mart. You don't have to hang an antique anymore to get this look.
I adore screens in place of oil paintings – here, my sister Cathy has a screen that I would give anything to own!
Sally Wheat's screen caught my eye while driving by her house and peeking inside. She has hung everything in her living room but art: two mirrors and the sconces. An oil painting is certainly not missing here.
I also like to hang photography on walls in place of oil paintings. While some photography is very expensive, most is relatively not. Here in a beautiful apartment, Steven Gambrel hung a series of black and white photographs by Richard Prince along the back wall.
In the same apartment, a large photograph hangs in the study.
In her Paris apartment, Lee Radziwill hung a photograph by Peter Beard.
Nate Berkus hangs the photography of his late boyfriend Fernando Bengoechea.
Windsor Smith hangs this iconic fashion photograph by Mark Shaw in her home.
Large vintage photographs hang on the walls of this house on Long Island.
Martyn Lawrence Bullard designed this house around the owner's photographs – these striking ones are by Leni Riefenstahl. Certainly an oil painting is not missed here!
The bedroom of the same house has giraffe photographs by Nick Brandt.
\A serene photograph in a serene bedroom. Photography is a great substitute to oil paintings. Conde Nast has a wonderful collection of photographs for sale are ?>D>surprisingly affordable. Or you can always take your own camera and create something wonderful!
Which leads me to the giveaway!!! I am thrilled today to announce that photographer Tim Irving is hosting a giveaway. The winner will get to choose TWO photographs from his portfolio. To enter, all you have to do is go to his web site and then come back here, leave me a comment naming the photographs that you really like the best. Don't worry – if you win – you will still get a chance to go back and pick again, ok? So don't fret about your exact choice just yet. Below are my favorite photographs from Irving's portfolio:
You know what this is – BUT what is interesting about Tim's work is how he uses vintage cameras and lenses to capture a certain atmosphere. This photograph truly looks vintage to me. He also occasionally uses Polaroid's.
I love this shot of the rooftops of Paris. I love the colors.
This photograph is wonderful – taken in Spain. Notice that light fixture on the right, so beautiful!
This was taken with a Polaroid camera – and this shot certainly has a dreamy, vintage feel to it.
Another Polaroid photograph, taken of sconces for sale. Love this!
Provence, France. I love the juxtaposition of the old iron bicycle with the roses and wicker basket.
And finally – my last pick – white kitchen items found in Africa. Taken with an old camera lens to produce its vintage feel. I think any of Tim's portfolio would look so great on a wall, who would need an oil painting?
These photographs above are my favorites – now it's your turn to choose your favorite. Remember, to enter the giveaway – you have to go to Tim Irving's shop HERE, pick your favorite(s), then leave me a comment telling me which ones you love. The contest closes on Wednesday night at 11:59 p.m. I'll announce the winner the next day. Good luck!!!!


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was stumped.
Seeking a smaller, faster computer chip, the company couldn't find a way to peel back metals from one layer without damaging other tiny, delicate structures. It couldn't interest its vendors in coming up with a solution, so it turned to one of its young Hillsboro engineers, Nabil Mistkawi.
Within three days, he had a solution that's now saving Intel millions of dollars annually - and ultimately earned Mistkawi a chemistry Ph.D. at
"It became very clear to me that I had to not follow the path of others, and go where there is no path," he said.
His solution illustrates that innovation can spring as much from creativity as scientific rigor, Mistkawi said. It's also emblematic of the tight bond between Portland State and Intel.
Intel's headquarters are in California, but the company employs 15,000 in Oregon, more than any other business.
Nabil Mistkawi
Process engineer
Lives in Keizer with his wife and three children.
Moved to Oregon from the Palestinian section of Jerusalem in 1986 to study at the University of Oregon. Earned his Ph.D. in chemistry at Portland State University this year.
One in every 15 of those Oregon workers holds a Portland State degree, and the company helps pay for many current employees to advance their education at the downtown university.
That's how Mistkawi came to Portland State. A University of Oregon grad, he went to work for Intel in 1993 and found himself surrounded by colleagues with doctorates. So he set out on the long process of obtaining one himself, without giving up his full-time job.
"It's pretty extraordinary that he was able to accomplish this and work full time," said Erica Thompson, an Intel colleague who has followed Mistkawi's work.
Semiconductor manufacturers build their computer chips atop silicon wafers, adding as many as 10 successive layers of metal while etching away a portion of each. The process goes through many iterations over several weeks.
"When you make a microprocessor there's about 400 to 500 steps," said Mistkawi, a research chemist and engineer.
Any step that slows the process clogs up the factory and delays the chip's completion. In an industry where products age as rapidly as uncorked wine, Intel can't afford delays.
For a key step in a new design, Intel needed a technique to strip out some materials while leaving others for connections and insulation. Conventional approaches had failed, so Mistkawi put his imagination to work.
"In a way, knowledge is limited to all we know and understand. That's where imagination comes from, because everything we know and understand had been tried," he said.
"That coupling of knowledge and understanding is what made this possible."
Neither Intel nor Mistkawi volunteered details of his approach, but they say it's 98 percent water, using fewer caustic chemicals than many etch techniques.
Intel and PSU
Of Intel's 15,000 Oregon employees, at least 1,000 hold PSU degrees.
Across the whole company, Intel says PSU is routinely among the company's top three sources of recent college graduates.
Intel and Portland State partner to bring Vietnamese students to Oregon to train for work in Intel's factory in Vietnam.
In addition to the environmental benefits, his approach saves Intel money, as there are fewer chemicals to buy and to dispose of. And at least as important, from Intel's perspective, it's a direct approach that streamlines manufacturing.
"Because of that, you're able to save money because of time, process time," Thompson said. "Other ways to get around it are probably much more expensive, and there are a lot of additional steps."
After conceiving his idea, Mistkawi spent a year refining it for mass adoption with his colleagues. The work of fellow engineer Lourdes Dominguez was particularly important, he said. Intel broadly adopted the technique across its factories in 2007 and now uses upward of 6,000 gallons of Mistkawi's solution every week.
Meanwhile, Mistkawi went about studying the principles behind his advance. That work, over four additional years, earned him his Ph.D. this year. Though many Intel employees pass through PSU, either at the beginning of their careers or in the middle, few take on the arduous task of pursuing a doctorate while working full time.
"That really takes a lot of effort, so this is really unusual," said Shankar Rananavare, PSU chemistry professor and Mistkawi's faculty adviser. Still, Rananavare said he sees a steady stream of Intel students pass through his labs at PSU.
"I try to make a special effort because the world they face is much more complicated than normal graduate students," he said.
Intel recruits to Oregon from top engineering schools across the country and around the globe. PSU does not carry a world-class reputation, but it has steadily invested in its science programs. The most tangible symbol of its aspirations is the glossy $35 million engineering building that opened in 2006.
So the relationship between Portland State and Intel is in part a matter of convenience, a nearby school to advance the education of Intel's employees. But Rananavare said it's also an endorsement of the caliber of PSU's programs.
"Proximity helps," he said. "But in the end, what you do matters."
Big employers commonly build close ties with their local universities. The schools provide a pool of prospective employees and a resource for research and employees' continuing education.
Intel's campuses near Phoenix have a close bond with Arizona State University, for example, and the University of Washington maintains a close connection with Boeing, among others.
Across Intel, roughly 3 percent of its employees are pursuing additional degrees at any given time, according to Morgan Anderson, an Intel government affairs manager in Hillsboro.
"We have a saying at Intel that you own your own employability," she said. "Each job that every employee seeks, they have to earn it."
Intel frequently helps out, paying 100 percent of employees' continuing education costs, up to $50,000, for studies directly related to their jobs. In Oregon, Anderson said, Intel began steering more students to Portland State a few years ago after determining PSU's programs met the company's standards better than other regional programs.
"We were spending a lot of money on private universities that didn't have the top level of accreditation," she said.
PSU has responded by tailoring its engineering program to fit Intel's needs, she said, and setting class schedules to accommodate factory technicians who work long hours. The university's faculty and engineering dean frequently meet with Intel, according to Anderson, looking for ways to coordinate their programs with Intel research, and that's helped establish a close relationship.
"I think Portland State is just a little bit hungrier than other universities," she said.


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Watch CBSN Live
Adam Levine was hit with a big surprise while greeting fans and signing autographs outside Jimmy Kimmel's studio in Hollywood on May 6, 2015. The Maroon 5 frontman was pelted with a huge bag of white powder. According to TMZ, the prankster was detained by security and arrested on battery charges.
Credit: KRISTAL_KLUNE/INSTAGRAM
Actress Lindsay Lohan is showered with gold glitter as she walks with her attorney Mark Heller, at Los Angeles Superior court, March 18, 2013.
Credit: Damian Dovarganes/AP
Editor-in-chief of Vogue's U.S. edition, Anna Wintour, after she was hit with a pie by anti-fur demonstrators as she attended a Paris fashion show, Oct. 8, 2005.
PETA's vice president, Dan Mathews, said the pie - a vegetarian tofu tart - was retaliation for the magazine's decision to run fur ads while refusing to use PETA's anti-fur messages, though the animal rights group offered to pay the same fee.
Credit: PETA/AP/HO
Bill Gates with a faceful of cream pie thrown at him as he arrived at a meeting with business and government leaders in Brussels, Feb. 4, 1998.
Police arrested two pranksters following the incident and said they were looking for a third.
Credit: AP
Actors Bradley Cooper, Mandy Patinkin and Michael Pena arrive at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium as Ukrainian reporter and prankster Vitalii Sediuk grabs Cooper's legs, Jan. 18, 2014.
Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Ukrainian reporter and prankster Vitalii Sediuk grabs Cooper's legs, Jan. 18, 2014.
Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Vitalii Sediuk crawls under actress America Ferrrara's dress at the 67th Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2014.
Credit: Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
Vitalii Sediuk crawls under America Ferrrara's dress at the 67th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, May 16, 2014.
Ukrainian journalist Vitalii Sediuk is dragged away by minders after he tried to slip under America Ferrera's dress.
Credit: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
Surprise! Tom Cruise was squirted with a hidden water gun while giving an interview in 2005.
Credit: Screengrab
Kanye West takes the microphone from singer Taylor Swift as she accepts the "Best Female Video" award during the MTV Video Music Awards in New York.
Credit: Jason DeCrow/AP
Kim Kardashian was flour-bombed by a member of PETA at a launch event in 2012.
Kim Kardashian is covered in flour during arrivals at the "True Reflection" Fragrance Launch at The London West Hollywood on March 22, 2012, in West Hollywood, Calif.
Credit: Getty Images
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch photo bombs the group photo of musicians The Edge, Bono, Larry Mullen, Jr. and Adam Clayton of U2 as they arrive for the 86th annual Academy Awards held at Hollywood & Highland Center, March 2, 2014.
Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Actor Johnny Knoxville photobombs actress Jessica Alba at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards, April 13, 2014.
Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Vitalii Sediuk is walked off carpet in handcuffs after allegedly attacking Brad Pitt at the world premiere of "Maleficent" at the El Capitan Theatre, May 28, 2014.
Credit: Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Australian 2Day FM radio presenters Michael Christian and Mel Greig Michael Christian and Mel Greig joked about their successful hoax call to London's King Edward VII hospital in which they pretend to be Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles to get private details about the condition of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, who was in hospital with pregnancy complications.
They duped nurse Jacintha Saldanha into revealing details of her condition and she has now been found dead. The controversial prank took a dark twist three days later with the death of Saldanha, a 46-year-old mother of two, who was duped by the DJs despite their Australian accents.
Credit: Rex Features via AP


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text: About Katiehttps://thoughtsong.wordpress.comI like to dabble in writing out thoughts on scripture and life events. Music, to me, is a dear friend, the structure that organizes my thoughts, and the feelings of my heart. Most of my time, however, is spent Teaching and Homemaking (especially trying to create hygge and live as a gluten-free baker). Take all these things away and I still have my true identity: I'm a sinner saved by grace and who dearly loves the Savior who first loved her. And that's really all that matters.


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Home / Student Testing and Accountability / Accountability / State Accountability / Performance Reporting
Performance Reporting is responsible for compiling and analyzing data to develop and report meaningful accountability ratings that help Texas public schools meet the educational needs of all students. As part of administering the state's public school accountability system, the department publishes assessment reporting and accountability information in several different formats, for different audiences, and for different purposes.
The department also provides guidance and resources to help school administrators, teachers, parents, and the general public understand and benefit from the state's accountability information.
The Accountability Ratings site shows ratings as well as the data used to determine the ratings for each campus and district. The site also shows the distinction designations earned by campuses. The 2019 Accountability System webpage is now available.
The Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR), formerly known as the Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) reports, pull together a wide range of information annually on the performance of students in each school and district in Texas. The reports also provide extensive information on staff, programs, and demographics for each school and district.
The School Report Card (SRC) combines accountability ratings, data from the Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR), and financial information to give a broad view of campus performance. Available for each campus in Texas, the SRC is intended specifically to inform parents and guardians about a school's individual characteristics and its academic performance.
The Snapshot provides an overview of public education in Texas for a particular school year that includes a profile of basic characteristics for each district.
The Texas Performance Reporting System (TPRS) provides additional performance reports and results not previously available.
The Texas Consolidated School Rating Report (TCSR) combines the accountability rating, distinction designations, Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) rating, and community and student engagement rating for each district and campus in Texas.
The Texas School Accountability Dashboard makes it possible to find clear and concise accountability information and demographics for an individual school, an entire school district, or the state as a whole. It also allows anyone to easily compare districts or schools.
The Assessment Scoring and Reporting site shows information related to various student assessment reports and applicable scoring documents and resources.
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The family-school partnering component of the State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) grant focused on several key actions in successfully accomplishing the grant objective: To increase the meaningful participation of families in RtI and PBIS implementation in LEAs.
These include the following:
- Developing a research-based curriculum, linked to the Colorado RtI and PBIS framework, which can be implemented in multiple venues for diverse stakeholders;
- Providing a menu of stakeholder learning opportunities which includes regional trainings, compacted presentations for existing conferences, an online course, and a website with adaptable tools and materials;
- Collecting higher education information on the current practices and needs in preparing future educators to work with families, so as to provide identified support and resources for faculty/programs;
- Creating a Colorado Family-School Partnering Community of Practice to increase the intentional application of partnering practices in improving student outcomes
The Colorado Department of Education has partnered with two federally-funded family organizations in supporting these actions:
Several CDE initiatives worked with RtI and PBIS Offices and the Exceptional Student Services Unit on this component, including Dropout Prevention and School Engagement; Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education; Office of Federal Program Administration; and Early Childhood Initiatives.
- RtI Action Network's Partnering with Families in an RtI Framework, Colorado Department of Education - A summary of the SPDG family-school partnering work
- During family-school partnership trainings, diverse audiences (including families, family liaisons, building principals, and teachers) attended. The SPDG partners, CPIRC, PEAK Parent Center, and Denver Metro Community Parent Resource Center shared in presentations and discussion.


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Home > News & Events > Wayland Press Release Archives > 2001 Press Releases > December 2001 > Student athletes donate food for local families
Student athletes donate food for local families
Student athletes from Wayland Baptist University donated and delivered Thanksgiving food boxes to eight Plainview families Sunday as part of a new character-building program initiated by the university.
According to Wayland Athletic Director Greg Feris, the students contacted the local Salvation Army to identify eight families to whom students could minister by assembling food boxes for the holidays. More than 100 of the nearly 170 student athletes gathered Sunday, Nov. 18 to bring their food donations for the "Champions Lending a Hand Food Drive" and to make deliveries in smaller groups representing athletic teams. The food donations, Feris said, totaled close to 400 pounds of food, almost twice what was needed for the eight families.
The food drive was the first of service projects to be coordinated by the newly formed Champions of Character Advocacy Council, which includes student representatives from each of the athletic teams on campus. Feris said the program stems from the university's athletic association, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, which instituted the Champions of Character program this year.
"There are two primary goals of the council. One is conciousness-raising about the five core values of character, which are respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship," Feris said. "The other goal is to identify various activities that can bring the student athletes together periodically for the benefit of those core values. Out of the council's discussion of how they can reflect those values, they thought about trying to do something for Thanksgiving for those in the community."
During their Sunday meeting, council members and men's basketball head coach Todd Thurman spoke about some of the values. Feris said the group's response to the call for food donations is a good sign they're reflecting those values already.
"While it's neat to see the food come in and be distributed, what I hope the students can gain from something like this is the opportunity to serve others that they'll be able to relate somewhere down the line," he said