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Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Necco Conversation Hearts (Sweethearts) 2010
As we're in the middle of Candy Season one of my favorite things to do after a holiday is to see what's on sale from the previous holiday and glance at the early merchandise on the shelves for the next one. The Epiphany usually marks the emergence of Valentine's Day candy. I scour the aisles looking for something new. So when I saw the new packaging for Necco Sweethearts I thought they'd expanded their line. They have been offering an all-chocolate version, Spanish language version and lately a Tart version. I thought this new fruity array was an addition.
I bought them but didn't open them, just tossing them on my pile for review. Then the comments started trickling in from readers, who were finding my old review and weighing in on the changes. It appears that it's a complete replacement for the classic Necco Sweethearts (see my review of them in 2008).
There are so many things wrong. Let me start on the front of the package.
The Official Candy of Love
Does Love have a governing board that can decide these things, like the Olympic Committee? No, no it does not. Love, Freedom, Justice and Anger ... these concepts and emotions are boundless and cannot have anything official about them. Invoking any sort of official in association with them is false advertising. Love does not do endorsements. (Unless Necco would like to step forward and show me their contracts with Love.)
New Package Design
I actually like it. It's bold but still soft and, yeah, a bit feminine and childish. At first I though the colors of the hearts were a little too vivid, but after seeing the actual candies inside, I'm setting that aside. The choice of Love Bug as the statement on the featured heart is a bit odd.
It's marked in a black stamp there in the upper right corner, 99 cents and the package holds 7 ounces. Can't really beat that, especially when the little boxes are usually selling for 50 cents for one ounce (though sometimes on for as little as 20 cents each). Not terribly attractive but kind of makes me nostalgic for the time before bar codes.
Lack of Branding
The front of the package does not bear the name of the maker. The name Necco isn't actually on the package anywhere ... just New England Confectionery Company under the nutrition facts panel (followed by the web address of www.necco.com). The previous years' packaging does have Necco and its logo featured prominently both on the front and the back of the packages.
It's January 13, so a little more than a month before Valentine's Day. Valentine's candy has been in stores for at least a week. On the back of the package is says for baking, gifting, craft ideas and more visit mysweethearts.com. You know what's on that page as I write this? It's a placeholder about some sort of iPhone app. No promised recipes or craft ideas ... not even any mention that would be what I expect to find it there. (See screengrab.)
The New Flavors - Show You Care ... 6 Delicious Ways to Share!
Strawberry, Grape, Green Apple, Lemon, Orange and Blue Raspberry.
I'm not going to break the flavors down one by one. What was nice about Necco Sweethearts was the subtle sweet flavors, nothing exciting, they were simply pleasant.
The new flavors are a blend of sweet and tart. The texture is smoother than the usual compressed dextrose candy like SweeTarts, because this is made with mostly sugar and corn syrup instead of dextrose (which is just a powder form of glucose and has a different mouthfeel).
The citrus flavors are completely artificial with a tangy note that is wholly un-citrus and more like a chemical. The pink ones taste like a combination of lipstick and the old wintergreen ones, which is just a disgusting mix. Grape has as much clove flavor in it as food coloring though the mixture is nearly palatable.
These do not show I care ... these show that I have no regard for my lover or friend's expectations of what a heart shaped candy should taste like.
It's as if Necco took all the artificial colors that they aren't using for their new All Natural Necco Wafers and pouring it all into these improved Necco Sweethearts. Simply put, they're a mess. (Now, I would've been thrilled if the conversation hearts were also going to be all natural, what an awesome innovation that would have been.)
Once I opened the bag I was in trouble. The smell is a blend of Love's Baby Soft and strawberry candles. And if I were just sniffing the bag, well, yeah, I have to expect that. But this thing made my car smell, they make my office smell. When I'm done with this review they're going in the trash someplace where I am not.
Better Printing
The one thing they have improved upon was one of my beefs with them previously. They production quality is better. The pieces are well formed and most especially the printing is clear. Sure about a quarter of them aren't printed square in the center, but they're still readable.
The sayings are cute. They're using the heart symbol quite a bit. Hey Baby, Smile, Sweet Love, Dream Big, You Rock, Puppy Love, Meet Me, Love Me, Hug Me, Kiss Me, For Ever, Ask Me, even Marry Me
I'm not saying they shouldn't make these, someone probably likes them, but they should be an additional product in the line, not a replacement for the iconic original.
UPDATE 1/27/2010: It's been a few weeks and it seems that the response posted here has been overwhelmingly negative about the flavor change (few have mentioned the new texture).
So I talked to Jackie Hague, the Vice President of Marketing for Necco who navigated this new change (along with the All Natural Necco Wafers, which I fully support). We had a great talk about candy in general (she worked for Mars for 20 years and was responsible for many of the limited edition M&Ms that so many of us have loved over the years).
First, you can still get the classic Necco Sweethearts. The change over was made mid-way through the production schedule. So the first part of the production run was the classic flavors (Banana, Wintergreen, Orange, Cherry, Grape) and then they switched over the ingredients and equipment for the new formula. They are sold at very few stores, basically the discounters: Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar , 99 Cent Only, Freds , Odd Lots, Wakefern and Sav A Lot. (The image shown here is the classic flavors on the left that I found at Dollar Tree and the ones on the right are the new flavors/colors - here's what the package looks like.)
Second, Ms. Hague said that the changes were made based on consumer feedback. The most common requests from folks who wrote or called were for a softer texture and for more intense & modern flavors. Banana was not well liked, apparently yellow is not ordinarily expected to be banana. The texture was introduced first with the Twilight version of Sweethearts (though future versions won't have Passion Fruit) as well as the tangier, more vibrant flavors.
So the takeaway from this would be, if you don't like the new flavors, make sure that Necco knows that. Return the product, write to them or call. I wouldn't expect a whole lot in return (a canned response) but I do think that they log the feedback - it's in their best interest. (Ms. Hague also said that they've assigned more people to help out with the feedback process, so perhaps the responses will be more appropriate instead of a copy/paste FAQ.) Ms. Hague understood my frustration with not just the lack of information but the contrary information provided by the website and candy packages and it's apparent they're working on that.
The Necco website's Sweethearts product page used to say this, "One thing Sweetheart lovers can count on each year is the candy's simple, familiar formula. The basic recipe has never been changed. Both Sweethearts and the familiar NECCO Wafers use the same batter—sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, gums, coloring and flavoring." However, they've finally updated their websites to reflect this new change and have omitted that statement that they honor the time-tested flavors ... because they were tested by time and after about a hundred years, even as the #1 Valentines candy selling 8 billion hearts a year, they lost. Necco thinks that this new version will appeal to more people, which is possible, but it's clear it's not the same people who have been buying them.
Update 2/10/2013: Both versions of Necco's Conversation Hearts are on store shelves this year. By far the most ubiquitous are the newer fruity version, but I did find the almost-classic "Conversation Hearts" at Walgreen's. The old ones are called Conversation Hearts, not Sweethearts. I've only seen them in the little boxes, only as singles (not in the shrinkwrapped five packs and no bags).
The classic version has white (cinnamon), green (lime), yellow (banana), pink (cherry), purple (grape) and orange (orange). So they've eliminated clove and wintergreen. It's too bad. The texture has returned to the crunchier version. The colors are more vibrant and the printing just as inconsistent.
Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 8:22 am
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Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.


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Study Shockingly Suggests Internet Trolls May Not Be Very Nice Or Particularly Mentally Healthy In Real Life
from the you-don't-say dept
"... correlations, sometimes quite significant, between these traits and trolling behavior. What's more, it also found a relationship between all Dark Tetrad traits (except for narcissism) and the overall time that an individual spent, per day, commenting on the Internet."It's worth noting that the survey found, by and large, that most people online are perfectly reasonable and decent human beings. At the very least they're just quiet lurkers:
"To be sure, only 5.6 percent of survey respondents actually specified that they enjoyed "trolling." By contrast, 41.3 percent of Internet users were "non-commenters," meaning they didn't like engaging online at all. So trolls are, as has often been suspected, a minority of online commenters, and an even smaller minority of overall Internet users."The study appears to rely heavily on subjects pulled from Amazon's Mechanical Turk, who may not be a good control representative of what constitutes normal behavior, either online or off. The study also appears to be rather heavily reliant on simply asking people if they liked to be jerks on the Internet -- which if I were an Internet troll, I'm not sure I'd answer correctly. Reading their analysis and methodology, it's not clear to me if the researchers did (or could) calculate how anonymity can turn a relatively normal person into a blathering jackass (as this classic Penny Arcade comic illustrates in deep scientific detail).
Is somebody necessarily a sadist offline because anonymity turns them into a jerk when they're online? Isn't it possible that people act worse online because the sense of anonymity gives them the belief they're free from repercussion and can therefore experiment with darker, but not necessarily dominant, aspects of their personality they'd fear to explore offline? Wouldn't that especially be true of children, who may express anger at their lack of power through online rage, but develop into perfectly normal people as they age?
You can dig through the full methodology yourself, assuming you're smart enough, professor. Those shoes make you look fat. I'd also like to point out that the Beatles sucked, Internet Explorer is the vastly superior browser, the RIAA makes a lot of solid points based on sound scientific data, the Comcast merger will help cure cancer and save puppies, and my little sister is much better than you are at this game, bro.


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Ukulele, whistling melody, clapping, bells, acoustic guitar, piano – this upbeat track has the lot! In the style of popular technology company TV commercial ads such as Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft, this song has a very positive vibe and infectious melody.
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Skeptics question plan to close Gorton
Superintendent Richard D'Agostino made the case Thursday: Money spent to keep the city's three junior high schools operating at about 50 percent capacity would be better spent if Gorton closed and the $1.1 million saved is used to enhance programs for all students.
Whether the School Committee sees it that way won't be known until it votes Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. at Toll Gate (the meeting, which had been scheduled for this Thursday, was changed yesterday.) Meanwhile, the discussion to close Gorton and the question of D'Agostino's reasons for that conclusion will continue this evening starting at 5:30 when the committee meets at Vets High School.
While a short-term facilities committee recommended closing Gorton by a single vote about two months ago, it wasn't until last Thursday that the five-member School Committee saw the presentation. It wasn't easy to see, either for School Committee members or the nearly 300 gathered at Vets. Columns of enrollment and class size numbers filled one slide after the next on a large screen, but they were so small they were illegible. People complained. Rosemary Healey, the department's legal counsel and human resources director, informed the audience the slides are on the school website and that those with laptops and smart phones could follow along.
Legible or not, when it came time for the audience to speak, several said the numbers didn't add up and that there wouldn't be a $1.1 million savings. They also argued students would be spending up to an hour on buses to get to school and that the department should be moving toward a middle school, with grades 6 through 8, that would improve math and science instruction for sixth graders. Further, they reasoned, going to the middle school model would free up space at elementary schools for all-day kindergarten.
In his opening remarks, D'Agostino sought to cover all of these bases and more. He said he felt sadness when Rocky Point and Sholes roller rink closed, but they are gone. He pointed out that 12 Warwick schools closed between 1973 and 1978; that the senior class for the city's three high schools is 699 and that, "We're getting to the point where our high schools are going to be below 1,000 students [each]."
He said the administration's plan is to stay with the junior high school system and that by moving sixth graders into a middle school model would "cost more" because the system lacks the teachers certified for model school instruction.
D'Agostino argued all-day K "won't be here," and if it is legislated, it would be an unfunded mandate.
D'Agostino countered claims that the department has got it backwards and should have a long-range plan before moving ahead with closing a junior high. He said the first step has been closing four elementary schools, this is the second step and the third will be an examination of the high schools and "then we will look at a five-year plan."
D'Agostino called closing Gorton a "win-win" for teachers, students and taxpayers.
"We're putting money back in the classrooms," he said. "We need to downsize so we can do the things we need to do."
Director of secondary education Dennis Mullen, who chaired the short-term committee, said that Gorton had the lowest teacher-student ratio of the three schools [1-14]. His reasoning is that there should be equality between the schools. And while he acknowledged Gorton performed better than the other two schools in some NECAP tests, which brought cheers from the audience, he said, "you want to look at all the scores" to get the full picture.
In response to claims that closing Gorton would compromise instruction, Mullen said he had run schedules for Aldrich and Winman, which would absorb the Gorton students, and found that there is legitimate room. There would be no reduction in course offerings, including music and art, he said.
Possibly signaling how the committee may vote, only members Jennifer Ahearn and Eugene Nadeau had questions of the proposal. There wasn't a clear answer as to how much longer Gorton students would be on a bus to reach Winman or Aldrich. The answer given was 10 to 12 additional minutes to reach the district boundary of the other school, which got laughs from the audience.
Anthony Ferrucci, director of school business affairs, outlined the calculations he had used in projecting savings by closing Gorton. Also, the administration traced earlier efforts to use Gorton as the pilot for middle schools in the city.
"We spent thousands doing that and it wasn't successful," said D'Agostino.
That wasn't reason enough not to prepare for the possibility, in the opinion of Amie Galipeau, a member of the short-term committee. She said closing Gorton could preclude a middle school system.
Several Gorton students addressed the committee, saying closing the school would be disruptive and split "one big family."
"I would not want to go to a school so far away from my house," said seventh-grader Alyssa Ferland. Eighth-grader and student council president Julia French said Gorton has a 74-year tradition.
"Taking away Gorton is like ripping the heart out of Warwick," she said.
Gorton teachers also argued to keep the school open, as did parents and Warwick Teachers Union president James Ginolfi.
"You've got this backward," he said. "What are the goals and the vision?"
He called the numbers used to justify closure "distorted," and claimed that moving the Gorton students would make for tight fits at Winman and Aldrich.
Gorton parent and member of the short-term committee Edward Racca said he couldn't see how the administration would save 12 teaching positions by closing the school.
William Mellone went a step further. He provided the committee with a written analysis of Ferrucci's projections, saying, "I think you have been badly served." He said closing either Gorton or Aldrich would end up costing money due to added transportation costs.
Gorton social studies teacher and Warwick resident Peter Stone reasoned closing the school would have a negative impact on real estate as families won't want to move into the area and prices would drop.
City Council President Donna Travis told the committee she doesn't feel they have all the information they need. She said she is 100 percent in favor of keeping Gorton open. Yet, she said, the committee has approved a budget calling for an added $3.8 million in city funding. Asked after the meeting whether she would look favorably on the school budget request if Gorton remained open, she said, "I have a serious problem when they come to us any time they want to get money."
Travis claimed that a disproportionate amount of school funds go to the administration.
"It is time to put the brakes on the administration, it is way too heavy," she said.
The committee will learn soon enough how the mayor and council intend to deal with their request.
The mayor will have his budget to the council by next week.
The teachers' position is basically this: "We don't want a single school closed, under any circumstances, ever." If Peter Stone's well-intentioned argument is valid, Warwick should add a junior high or two or three in order to increase property values. The fact is, property values and local public schools have little relationship to one another. Just ask residents of Boston and New York, where the schools remain deplorable while real estate values continue to skyrocket. The fact is, a junior high needs to close this year, and a high school in two years. And when Warwick goes to two public high schools, which is about seven years overdue, the remaining two schools will still be at only 65-70% capacity. It's time.
Please don't complain that your children will be on a bus and extra 10-15 minutes. Special Needs children can be on a bus for up to a hour! Your children will not be suffering and if you feel that way bring them. If it will bring more money into the classrooms and not into the pockets of a administrator or to add a job of one I don't see the problem.
The airport is going to take 500 houses in the future. Warwick is shrinking . The school needs to close. The taxpayers of Warwick can't afford anymore. With having small classes, check out Go Local prov. and see where are schools finished.
Mr. Stark. The only reason Gorton would have to close is if you want to remain in a K-6 elementary model and not move to a 6-8 middle school. Warwick is one of 4 or 5 districts in the state that does not have this. If we did this, we would actually more effectively utilize the three buildings than we would by closing one and splitting those kids between Winman & Aldrich. And that would be the case for the next 7 plus years. Middle School, if done right, provides better instruction to those grades. This frees up space in elementary's to consolidate at least one of those and there'll be room for all day K when that comes. By the way, if Gorton closes and all day K comes in the next couple of years, there's not enough classroom space in the current K-6 model to fit them. Schools have to close, no question about that but the question is which one(s). As far as the high schools go, we should use our three buildings and greatly expand the Career & Tech center to make it home school in one of the buildings, open it up to more Warwick students, let 9th graders in, and add more out of district students and charge them a higher tuition than what they currently because it would be their home school. That generates revenue from the building. Then see where's that leaves the 2 remaining buildings with respect to capacity.
greedy teachers and their union don't give 2 hoots about anyone but themselves. Pretty much if the teachers or the union are for something it's best for the rest of us to be against it.
they should close this school this would save the city thousands
and the land should be sold for housing which would generate
tax revenue for the city
I was a Gorton Raider (Class of 92). The ruffians from Oakland Beach used to give me wedgie's, wet-willies, and the dreaded Rear Admiral almost every day. Because of all that happened there, I cant hold a job, stay in a relationship, or interact with people to this day. I am all for closing that school down!!!!
Thank you, Dave, for being the voice of reason. Everyone is being very emotional, but not thinking about what is best for the kids' education. The middle school model is what is best for their education. Did everyone see how well our schools are doing in comparison to the other districts in Rhode Island? I agree that schools need to be closed, but first we should look at the middle school model and full-day kindergarten. If that can be done with one less Junior High and High School then fine.
David, if you think a middle school model is the answer, think again. Many districts around the country are moving from a middle school model to a K-8 model, whole others are moving to a 'lower school-upper school' model. There is emperical evidence to support all three. But in the end, it doesn't matter. The single best indicator of student achievement is parental intelligence, while the second best is parental education level. RI ranks low in both when compared with other states in the northeast, so it should come as no surprise that RI's achievement test scores are second lowest in New England. And that's with most of the state having already endorsed your middle school position. So unless you can adjust parental intelligence, you're simply rearranging deck chairs, while leaving taxpayers with multiple schools at 50% capacity. LIke new math, phonetic spelling, open classrooms, and whole language, the trendiness of middle schools will fade. That is the cold, hard reality.
It's past time to close this school and one of the high schools. And then REDISTRICT. Schools are the lions share of our tax bill. Well over 60% of taxes on our houses go to schools that are not even producing well.
Of those districts moving away. most (if not the large majority of them) are urban districts like Cincinnatti, Baltimore, Philly, and NYC all of whom don;t compare demographically or socio-economically to us. Research on the efficacy of K-8 is thin because in most cases K-8 schools tend to be very small and don;t make a good statistical sample. Further, there's reasearch that shows that kids coming out of the K-8 model struggle in the much larger high school setting and there are performance drops that are similar to drops found in some studies of moving from K-6 to middle school. Thebottom line is that there is no general consensus on what the best grade make up is for these 'tweener' years. It's more important what's being taught and how it's being taught that matters and, over the years, I don;t think there's been good leadership administratively and via the school committee to hold people accountable to high standards. Look at the demographic info from the Winman/Tollgate feeder district and compare it to EG. They're very similar and yet EG vastly outperforms that feeder district so I wouldn't put as much weight on parental intelligence level as i think you would. Lastly, if we move to middle school and do it right, except for todsay junior high's we don;t have buildings at 50% capacity. But my point is we casn take the junior highs and put the 6th graders in and the capacities go to 80% or so for a long time. Because this opens up a lot of room in the elementaries and you could easily close one, maybe more but all day K would have to be considered too. High schools can be addressed separately from elem/middle school. it can be done but it would be hard work.
davebarry, check your last tax bill, the schools/city split is 55/45. Ten years ago it was 60/40. Schools are the lions share of every community's tax bill.
Wow I feel bad for details 172. I wish they had the anti-bullying campaign back then like they do now. Poor guy
The argument to keep the junior high schools open is a strong one if it means we are going to move forward with a Middle School (6-8) Model. I support that and so do many people. What I wonder is...If we do keep Gorton open what is going to be cut? WPS will not be getting any money from the City and there are large expenses looming on the horizon. Technology, professional development, books, buses, security, fire code requirements are expensive and are the people who are fighting to keep Gorton open going to accept cuts in programs or accept the idea of closing more elementary schools? It is inevitable that something somebody cares about is going to be eliminated. Last year the big outrage was the possibility of ALAP being cut. Parents packed the Admin building because a beloved program was on the chopping block..a beloved program that is only available to 200 students. It is a costly program..approximately $300,000.00 per year and only reaches a finite amount of students and the material taught should be taught to every student, every day. There are other things that cost the school dept. more money than is necessary but that's an argument for another day..the bottom line is no one wants to give anything up! Nothing at all. The Administrators don't want to give anything up, the Teacher's Union doesn't want to give anything up, the WISE Union doesn't want to give anything up and most of all the Parents don't want to give anything up. If we really want to embrace the Middle School Model, then let's do it. If we are keeping the half empty schools open for the sake of sentimentality then don't expect any real improvements down the line. Warwick is slow to change...but change it must in order to be competitive with other districts.
Dave: Thanks so much for reinforcing my point when you observe: "...there is no general consensus on what the best grade make up is for these 'tweener' years." Indeed, those who promote a "middle school model" as a panacea are chasing the latest fad for which empirical support simply does not exist. Much like HeadStart. The EG - TG comparison does not take into account the hundreds of Warwick students who attend private and Catholic high schools. Just ask the admissions offices at Hendricken, LaSalle, BayView, and Prout. As to holding educrats to "high standards", I'm assuming that you write such things with a straight face. High schools would be "hard work"?? This just in: Coaches at Tollgate and Vets have already been told to withhold any requests for capital improvements until "consolidation" has been approved.
If the school committee doesn't vote to close Gorton then they will have to make more cuts to programs to cut $3.8 million from the budget. The city is right to say no more money because of the decling enrollment. How will the school committee balance it's budget? Sue the city (the taxpayers)? Wouldn't be the first time.
I agree with you on Head Start as any benefits from it are pretty much lost by the third grade. With respect to the TG-EG comparison, i think it still holds. Is your assumption that only the poorest of the TG feeder kids attend the public schools? Look, i'm not implying at all that middle school is a panacea but it can and does work but it's only as good as those who operate within it. I have three kids in schools, one at each level, and the large majority of their teachers have been very good.. But my wife and I are involved in their education and stay on top of them and what they're doing. As far as high standards go, holding people to them can be done. Just because past school committees and Administrations didn't do it does not mean that it can't be done. I just don't buy that. I don;t think the school committe fully understands its duties and responsibilities - they operate (and have operated over the years) deferentially. I feel the same way about Admin but they work for the school committee. With respect to the high schools I use the term hard work because I would also expand the Career & Tech center to make it a home school, allow more Warwick kids in beginning in 9th grade, and allow more tuition-paying out of district kids in. There's a growing demand for CTC education and not many communities are going to build their own CTC. We have one, a good one, that's just too small.
Gordian Knot, the 'declining enrollment - therefore no more money' argument is kind of funny. The city lost triple the amount of population than the schools did over the last 10 years or so but the city side of the legder has grown dramatically during that period. Wouldn't it stand to reason that the City budget be held even like that of the schools? Look, I'm not suggesting that the schools deserve $3.8 million. All budgeting is a kabuki dance and the real numbers are rarely part of the proposed budget. Lastly, this Gorton issue has taken on the appearance of a fire drill that has to be done now. Closing it for Sept poses real problems. If we do that and the state mandates all day K (which most people agree is coming) there is not enough classsroom space in the current elemtary schools too house it for several years. So when that happens, the same critics will come out and start asking 'why is this so?' 'Where was your plan?'.
So there is a hue and cry now about closing Gorton, but deafening silence from the School Committee in explaining the reckless spending and lack of accountability in keeping 3 Jr. High Schools open for year after fiscal year with 50% capacity? Do you have any wonder why 55%+ of the City budget goes to education( 90%+ for wages, salaries and benefits) and less than 10 cents on the dollar is used for discretionary spending on things like books, computer software and other classroom staples? Close Gorton, sell the property and get it back on the tax rolls. This place is a looney bin.


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Prof. Sharon Martin
Sharon Martin teaches applied flute and flute choir. She has been an active performer in the La Crosse community since 1984. She completed her Master's degree in music performance at UW Madison in 1997, where she studied with Stephanie Jutt. She has also studied with Janet Millard, former principal flutist of the Milwaukee Symphony, and has been a participant in masterclasses given by Julius Baker, Geoffrey Gilbert, Torkil Bye and James Galway. She played co-principal flute with the LaCrosse Symphony for many years, and was also a featured soloist with the LSO. She served on the faculty of Viterbo College from 1991 to 1998, where she taught applied flute and flute choir. She has maintained an active private studio in La Crosse, and has often been asked to coach local high school flute ensembles. She has also performed as a collaborative artist on many chamber concerts in the area.
University of Wisconsin, Madison (1997)
University of Denver (1979)
University of Colorado, Boulder (1976)


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Manchester police arrest man for church arson
May 01. 2013 12:44PM
MANCHESTER - Manchester Police arrested a Lee man Tuesday night after they found a small fire burning outside First Baptist Church, 536 Union St.
Officer Matt Barter responded to the area about 9:50 p.m. and saw a small fire up against the south side of the building, which appeared to be in jeopardy of igniting more fully. Barter also saw a man standing at the fire who moved closer to the flames and began to stomp them out with his feet as Barter approached.
That man was Mark Corey, 50, of Lee, according to police, and he was arrested for setting the fire.
The fire was quickly extinguished by the Manchester Fire Department, but police said there was some damage caused to the side of the building, including a hole that burned through a frosted panel on the side of the building that resulted in a small amount of smoke damage inside the building as well.
Corey was charged with arson.


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Sand Dollar, Garden Level
Sand Dollar is located beside our oceanfront pool/spa and features its own private entry; perfect for late night swims and relaxing in the outdoor spa. The beautiful décor includes Spanish tile floors and a cozy sitting area. Luxurious linens and an antique, queen size bed are features you will appreciate. A walk-in shower, microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker are some of the conveniences you will enjoy in this room, along with a flat screen TV & DVD player. The outside seating area has dune, garden, and pool views.
While Sand Dollar do not have an ocean view all rooms have access (until 8 PM) to our 2nd floor ocean front Verandah in the main Beach House.


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By Trish Holder
I wash, dry, and fold approximately 10 loads of laundry per week. It is a constant logistical challenge to allocate enough time for these sequential chores.
Imagine what would happen if it took twice as long to dry the clothes. I'd be frantically drying my kids' soccer uniforms with a hair dryer, while they paced about in that "My world is ending and it's all your fault!" sort of way that teenagers are famous for. What parent needs more…Continue
Added by Trish Holder on February 28, 2014 at 4:59pm — 1 Comment
© 2018 Created by Home Performance Coalition (HPC) Powered by


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Message from the associate dean
Dear colleague, I welcome your interest in, and encourage you to become better acquainted with, the work of the Office of Learning and Teaching and how we can help you in your teaching role.
Our programs in tutor development and fostering group work, which have had significant successes, are outlined under the menu items at the left of this screen.
I warmly invite colleagues' feedback, so that we can continue to improve our systems and our service. Please send your comments, queries and/or suggestions about learning and/or teaching in the school to Belinda Chambers.
Alternatively, please feel welcome to speak to any of our team in person.
Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching
Robyn Gibson


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Three Photographers Document Three Eras of Modern Life at Feroz Galerie
Artsy Editorial
Setting out to take snapshots of the Alabama landscape of his childhood as studies for paintings, William Christenberry inadvertently embarked on a photographic project chronicling the passage of time in the rural South. Inspired to pursue photography further by an encounter with Walker Evans, since 1968 Christenberry has made an annual pilgrimage from the East Coast to revisit the same forgotten structures: an eerie red-brick building standing alone in Talladega National Forest, a juke joint that has since been torn down, country graveyards, churches, and warehouses. Considered a pioneer of fine art color photography, Christenberry manages to avoid clichés while triggering emotional responses to his depictions of a bygone era. He strives to reflect, as he describes, "the human touch, the humanness of things, the positive and sometimes the negative and sometimes the sad."
American, 1936-2016, Tuscaloosa, Alabama


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News & Events
For the Media
Clarkson University Professor Stephanie Schuckers Receives Graham Faculty Research Award
[A photograph for media use is available at http://www.clarkson.edu/news/photos/graham2008.jpg ]
Stephanie A. Schuckers, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering, was awarded the John W. Graham Jr. Faculty Research Award during the University's 115th commencement ceremony today.
Created in 1974 by the family of the late John W. Graham Jr., president of Clarkson University from 1966-1974, this $1,500 award is presented annually to "a faculty member showing promise in engineering, business, liberal arts or scientific research."
Schuckers received her bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Iowa in 1992. As a Whitaker Foundation Graduate Fellow, she received her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1994 and 1997, respectively. She arrived at Clarkson in 2002 from West Virginia University, where she was a faculty member in the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Department.
For example, in a currently funded project, she is studying the electrocardiogram over time as heart disease progresses, as measured by a wearable defibrillator, to predict a heart attack before it happens. She is also involved in research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, developing a wearable wireless monitor for chewing and swallowing to measure eating behavior. In work with the Department of Homeland Security, she is studying methods to increase the security of biometric systems, like fingerprint, iris, and face.
Schuckers' work is funded by various sources, including the National Science Foundation, American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, Department of Homeland Security, Center for Identification Technology, and private industry, among others.
Clarkson University crosses the boundaries of disciplines, nations and cultures in order for discovery, engineering innovation and enterprise to come together. As a result, faculty and graduates grasp the full impact of their calling, direct their research to the world's pressing issues and lead with confidence and distinction. One in seven alumni is already a CEO or other senior executive. Located in Potsdam, N.Y., just outside the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, Clarkson is home to 3,000 students preparing for rewarding careers through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, science, and health sciences, as well as unparalleled outdoor recreation and life experiences beyond the classroom.
Photo caption: Stephanie A. Schuckers, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering, was awarded the John W. Graham Jr. Faculty Research Award during the University's 115th commencement ceremony. President Tony Collins presents the award to Schuckers.


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For students who meet the rigorous requirements of the Center's Health Law program, the Center offers the Concentration in Health Law. Fulfilling the requirements of the Concentration expresses that a Saint Louis University J.D. student has not only completed the basic J.D. and core health Law courses, but has also used these skills in research and practical skills environments. This Concentration is evidence of the seriousness students approach the field of Health Law and their full exposure to the richness of the program. Most importantly, by obtaining the Concentration, the School of Law and the Center for Health Law Studies certifies that students are fully prepared to meet the demands of this rapidly changing legal field, and have excelled in the Health Law Concentration.
Concentration Requirements
(1) Register for the Health Law Concentration
A student who wishes to pursue the Concentration in Health Law Program must complete an application available online or get a from Cheryl Cooper in room 158. Students should register as soon as they decide to pursue the Concentration. Students are encouraged to apply as early as their first year of legal studies. In no event will a student be permitted to register for the Concentration in the last semester of law school.
(2) Ten credit hours of designated health law courses
Concentration students must take and obtain a grade of C or better in a minimum of ten credit hours in designated health law courses. Please note that although a grade of C- is possible beginning the fall of 07-08, it is by definition indicative of unacceptable progress in a given subject and will not be accepted as counting toward the Concentration. Courses and seminars which may be used to satisfy this requirement are updated during each registration period for the following semester.
(3) Practical experience
Concentration students must gain supervised experience in a health law practice setting. Students may satisfy this requirement by enrolling in the School's Legal Clinics or Externship Program (generally during the 3rd year of full time study or 4th year of part time or dual degree study). In special circumstances, students may satisfy this requirement by establishing, with the guidance of a faculty member, a non-credit externship in a practice setting, or by submitting evidence of completion of substantial part-time or summer employment in a health law setting, including significant research and drafting related to health care law. Non-credit externships and part-time/summer employment require at least 115 hours of work on health law issues under the supervision of a licensed attorney. A non-credit externship can only count toward the Concentration with prior approval by the Center for Health Law Studies.
(4) Publishable paper
Students must submit a publishable health law paper to be reviewed and approved by the director of the School's Center for Health Law Studies. Papers completed for a health law seminar or directed research will fulfill this requirement.
(5) Colloquia attendance and five (5) critical summaries
Finally, the student must participate in the Center's Colloquia in Health Care Law. The Colloquium Series will provide students with an opportunity to explore contemporary issues in health law. The Colloquia series includes at least five Distinguished Speakers each academic year and an annual Health Law Symposium. Up to two critical summaries can be turned in from any one annual symposium. In order to meet this requirement, a student must attend at least five speakers over the course of his or her law school career. Evening students and students with documented class conflicts may view the recorded presentation to fulfill the attendance requirement. Students can begin fulfilling this requirement during their first year of law school. A student must have completed at least three critical summaries by the end of the second to last semester of their law school career. Critical summaries should consist of a short evaluation of the information presented by the speaker and the student's reaction to and evaluation of the presentation. The summary usually amounts to 2-4 double spaced pages. Outlines are not accepted. The summaries are due within thirty days (30) of the presentation. In no event will summaries be accepted after the semester in which the presentation occurred.


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NEW YORK (AP) — Osama bin Laden's son-in-law should be sentenced to life in prison for his role as al-Qaida's spokesman after the Sept. 11 attacks, when he made "bone-chilling threats" against America, prosecutors said in court papers filed Monday.
The government said a life sentence for Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, whose words were "inciting, murderous, and hateful," would send an important deterrent message to would-be terrorists.
"Terrorism is a crime with high recidivism rates and rehabilitation is notoriously difficult," prosecutors said.
The papers were filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan a month before a sentencing scheduled for Sept. 23. Abu Ghaith's defense lawyer, Stanley Cohen, had urged Judge Lewis A. Kaplan earlier this month to sentence his client to 15 years in prison, saying it was sufficient.
Abu Ghaith was convicted in March of charges that included conspiracy to kill Americans and providing support to al-Qaida. Abu Ghaith is a Kuwaiti-born imam who married bin Laden's eldest daughter about five years ago. He is the highest-ranking al-Qaida figure brought to trial on U.S. soil since the 2001 attacks.
In their papers, prosecutors said Abu Ghaith "proudly sat at bin Laden's right hand" after the Sept. 11 attacks, repeatedly participating in videos aimed at recruiting more people to al-Qaida.
"Abu Ghayth repeatedly made unambiguous and bone-chilling threats that al Qaeda would continue to conduct terrorist attacks using airplanes," prosecutors wrote.
"Simply put, the defendant eagerly supported al Qaeda and its mass murder of Americans," they said. "The significance of Abu Ghayth's spoken words is unmistakable. Inspirational and charismatic speakers like Abu Ghayth allow al Qaeda to refill its ranks of suicide operatives by driving more future terrorists to al Qaeda's murderous mission."
In his trial's most dramatic testimony, Abu Ghaith described being summoned to a dark Afghanistan cave within hours of the destruction of the World Trade Center to confer with bin Laden, who told him: "We are the ones who did it."
Abu Ghaith testified that a worried bin Laden asked him how America would respond.
"America, if it was proven that you were the one who did this, will not settle until it accomplishes two things: to kill you and topple the state of the Taliban," Abu Ghaith said he replied.
In his papers, Cohen said his client had no prior knowledge or role in the planning or execution of the Sept. 11 attacks or any other bombing or terrorist activity.
"His role was confined to speaking, after the attacks had already happened," he wrote.
Cohen said a sentence of 15 years would really be 25 years, since Abu Ghaith spent a decade in prison in Iran, much of it under extreme conditions which included abuse and torture.
But prosecutors disputed those claims, saying Abu Ghaith formed a community with other Arab detainees and even married two women while incarcerated, fathering multiple children along the way.


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Bay Area Hospital strives to improve the health of our community every day.
Bay Area Hospital is a tobacco-free campus.
We provide some of the most advanced and compassionate care in the region.
Whether you are receiving care or visiting a loved one, our goal is to make your stay with us a positive one.
Bay Area Hospital offers a wide variety of support groups and programs to improve the health of our community.
We are continually looking for opportunities to improve our organization and keep our community informed.
Coronary bypass surgery — Overview covers risks and results of this open-heart surgery.
Coronary bypass surgery is a procedure that restores blood flow to your heart muscle by diverting the flow of blood around a section of a blocked artery in your heart. Coronary bypass surgery uses a healthy blood vessel taken from your leg, arm, chest or abdomen and connects it to the other arteries in your heart so that blood is bypassed around the diseased or blocked area. After a coronary bypass surgery, blood flow to your heart is improved. Coronary bypass surgery is just one option to treat heart disease.
Coronary bypass surgery improves symptoms, such as chest pain and shortness of breath due to poor blood flow to the heart. In some situations, coronary bypass surgery may improve your heart function and reduce your risk of dying of heart disease.
You and your doctor can consider whether coronary bypass surgery or another artery-opening procedure, such as angioplasty or stenting, is right for you.
Coronary bypass surgery is an option if:
Coronary bypass surgery may also be performed in emergency situations, such as a heart attack, if your doctor sees that you''re not responding to other treatments.
Coronary bypass surgery doesn''t cure the underlying heart disease that caused blockages in the first place. This disease is referred to as atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease. Even if you have coronary bypass surgery, lifestyle changes are still a necessary part of treatment after surgery. Medications are routine after coronary bypass surgery to lower your blood cholesterol, reduce the risk of developing a blood clot and help your heart function as well as possible.
Because coronary bypass surgery is an open-heart surgery, you may have complications during or following your procedure. The most common complications of coronary bypass surgery are:
Less common complications include:
Your risk of developing these complications depends on your health before the surgery. Talk to your doctor to get a better idea of the likelihood of experiencing these risks.
If you''re having a scheduled coronary bypass surgery, your risk of complications is usually low, but still depends on your overall health. The risk is higher if the operation is done as an emergency or if you have other medical conditions, such as emphysema, kidney disease, diabetes or blocked arteries in your legs (peripheral artery disease, or PAD).
To prepare for coronary bypass surgery, your doctor will give you specific instructions about any activity restrictions and changes in your diet or medications you should follow before surgery. You''ll need several pre-surgical tests, often including chest X-rays, blood tests, an electrocardiogram and a coronary angiogram. A coronary angiogram is a special type of X-ray procedure that uses dye to visualize the arteries that feed your heart. Most people are admitted to the hospital the morning of the surgery. Coronary bypass surgery may also be performed in emergency situations, such as after a heart attack.
Be sure to make arrangements for the weeks following your surgery. It will take about four to six weeks for you to recover to the point where you can resume driving, return to work and perform daily chores.
Coronary bypass surgery generally takes between three and six hours and requires general anesthesia. On average, surgeons repair two to four coronary arteries. The number of bypasses required depends on the location and severity of blockages in your heart.
Most coronary bypass surgeries are done through a long incision in the chest while blood flow is diverted through a heart-lung machine (called on-pump coronary bypass surgery).
The surgeon cuts down the center of the chest, along the breastbone. The surgeon then spreads open the rib cage to expose the heart. After the chest is opened, the heart is temporarily stopped and a heart-lung machine takes over to circulate blood to the body.
The surgeon takes a section of healthy blood vessel, often from inside the chest wall (the internal mammary artery) or from the lower leg, and attaches the ends above and below the blocked artery so that blood flow is diverted (bypassed) around the narrowed portion of the diseased artery.
There are other surgical techniques your surgeon may use if you''re having coronary bypass surgery:
Once you''re asleep (anesthetized), a breathing tube is inserted through your mouth. This tube attaches to a ventilator, which breathes for you during and immediately after the surgery.
Coronary bypass surgery is a major operation. Expect to spend a day or two in the intensive care unit after coronary bypass surgery. Here, your heart, blood pressure, breathing and other vital signs will be continuously monitored. Your breathing tube will remain in your throat for a few hours or overnight after surgery, so you won''t be able to speak during that time. You can communicate with hand gestures and notes. The breathing tube will be removed as soon as you are awake and able to breathe on your own.
Barring any complications, you''ll likely be discharged from the hospital within a week, although even after you''ve been released, you may find it difficult to perform everyday tasks, or even walk a short distance. If, after returning home, you experience any of the following signs or symptoms, call your doctor. They could be warning signs that your chest wound is infected:
Expect a recovery period of about six to 12 weeks. In most cases, you can return to work, begin exercising and resume sexual activity after six weeks, but make sure you have your doctor''s OK before doing so.
After surgery, most people feel better and may remain symptom-free for as long as 10 to 15 years. Over time, however, it''s likely that other arteries or even the new graft used in the bypass will become clogged, requiring another bypass or angioplasty.
Although bypass surgery improves blood supply to the heart, it doesn''t cure underlying coronary artery disease. Your results and long-term outcome will depend in part on taking your medication as directed and following healthy lifestyle recommendations, such as these:
In addition to lifestyle changes you''ll need to make after your surgery, your doctor may also recommend a cardiac rehabilitation program. Cardiac rehabilitation — also called cardiac rehab — is a customized program of exercise and education, designed to help you recover after a heart attack, from other forms of heart disease or after surgery to treat heart disease. Cardiac rehabilitation often begins while you''re still in the hospital and continues with monitored programs in an outpatient setting until home-based maintenance programs can be safely followed.


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RIDGEFIELD, Conn. – There are still some open seats for the eight-week songwriting class with Emmy award winner Kevin Briody at the Ridgefield Playhouse.
Starting Jan. 3, the class will teach high school students how to develop a melody and to structure lyrics and instruments. By the end of the class the goal is to have each student leave with a recording of his or her own song.
Briody has shared the stage with artists ranging from Art Garfunkel to Aimee Mann and is an internationally recognized singer and songwriter. He won his first Emmy in 2008 for Best Original Song with "Little Starr", an original composition that also earned him a BMI Film & Television Award.
In 2009, "We All Fall Down" won an Emmy in the Best Original Song category. Briody has also released five CDs of his own. His "We're All Heroes" opened the Connecticut Special Olympic Summer Games. Autism Speaks, a national organization combating autism, commissioned him to write the song "Bring Them Back" to help raise awareness about autism, and Briody's song "Not Just A Dream" was featured on NBC's broadcast of The 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The class costs $200 per student for the eight weeks, although there are scholarships available.
For information, or to apply for the scholarships email email@example.com . For more information, call the box office at 203-438-5795, or go online .
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Republicans have nominated former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president, culminating a long primary fight and setting the stage for a close contest against President Barack Obama.
In a roll call of states Tuesday, New Jersey put Romney over the top, giving him the prize that eluded him four years ago. Romney is scheduled to accept his party's nomination in a speech Thursday night.
Republican voters flirted with a carousel of GOP rivals before settling on Romney, who effectively clinched the nomination in May. All of Romney's former GOP competitors have endorsed him, with the exception of Texas Rep. Ron Paul.
Paul did not have enough support to have his name placed in nomination, but he got votes in roll call.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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DelMonico Skip Genuine Panama Hat
Code: Del_Skip
Product Description
DelMonico Skip Genuine Panama Hat- For the kind of straw hat you can wear every day and keep it looking great, look no further than the DelMonico Skip. This 100% genuine panama straw fedora is a warm weather favorite, lightweight but sturdy. Here the teardrop crown is reinforced with the "Uncrushable" crown insert to prevent cracking and the straw is treated with a Teflon coating for extra durability. The 2" brim is wired inside to allow shaping however you like it best, and the simple black grosgrain hat band comes with a removable feather. Classic and dependable, this hat will look great with a wide variety of outfits all summer long. Handwoven in Ecuador.
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®by Bazaarvoice Express
(based on 3 reviews)
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Best Uses
Reviewed by 3 customers
Displaying reviews 1-3
hats are back
By vode
from upstate ny
Best Uses
Comments about DelMonico Skip Genuine Panama Hat:
this hat is awesome. you will receive many compliments when wearing it and be asked where it was purchased. Just by looking at it you tell the quality of make as opposed to copy's you will find in no brand hat department in stores. Great looking summer hat that goes with any casual wear or even dressed to the 9's for a wedding or evening out! I also have a stetson fedora purchased from you and everything I haved stated applies to this hat also.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
beuatiful hat
By enzo
from Aan Francisco ca
Best Uses
Comments about DelMonico Skip Genuine Panama Hat:
A beautiful hat. Very classy and casual at the same time. The hat does run large.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Great summer hat.
By Mark
from Waterbury, CT
About Me Casual Dresser, Comfort-oriented, Practical
Best Uses
Comments about DelMonico Skip Genuine Panama Hat:
Great looking hat. Perfect fit. I definately recommend this hat.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Displaying reviews 1-3
Join our newsletter and receive a promotional code for 10% off your next order! Simply complete the form below.


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The CFCA project in Legazpi, Philippines, recently sent us success stories from young adults who were sponsored through CFCA.
Here's one from Marisol, who has dedicated her achievements to her parents in gratitude for all they've done for her.
When I started studying, my father decided to work as a wood carver in a faraway place to earn enough to sustain our needs.
He rarely had a vacation in a year, only once or twice.
My mother was left to look after us. In spite of all of my parents' hard work, life was not easy for us. Thatís why it was a big help when I was sponsored through CFCA.
For six years in grade school, I gained honors for which Iíve worked hard. I dedicated it all to my parents because I respect their efforts.
It was an achievement for me as well to show that we can still surpass all the struggles that poverty brought to us.
I was 13 and our youngest was 9 when my father died. It was really painful to lose someone you loved so dearly, but it hurt that we could do nothing about it.
He was suffering from colon cancer but refused to take medication because he worried about the cost of treatment. He suffered all the pain of his illness and kept it to himself all the time.
That particular experience is one of the biggest reasons why I decided to work to give my family a better living so we would not ever have that hurtful experience again.
I finished high school in 2006. I spent another five years in college for a bachelor's degree in electronic engineering. I gave all I can with the help of my family, the CFCA community and above all, our Father Almighty.
The years Iíve spent studying had many uphill struggles. Every day, I walked approximately 30 minutes before I was able to get a ride to school.
I wasn't able to participate in some school activities that required registration fees since my mother could not afford it.
Many times, Iíve seen my mother owe money from our relatives just to provide needs in times when we really need it, and I donít want to see my mother in that situation all the time..
Sometimes she could hardly send us all to school. My siblings had to stop schooling just to let me finish college, and I do appreciate their sacrifice.
CFCA had given my family much help since the day I was sponsored in the first grade of elementary school.
Since then, CFCA helped me modify my life's direction. Sponsorship benefits helped develop me to be a good individual and citizen of my community.
Medical care and spiritual formation also strengthened our faith to believe that we could pass whatever adversities we face. The recreational activities also boosted our self-confidence.
I want to thank CFCA for its educational assistance and the opportunity to benefit from the scholarship program, which helped me realize better things for my family's future.
I've finished college and can start reaching my dreams. And because I finished my education in spite of all the problems that hindered me, I already can consider myself successful.
I thank God most of all, my loving family and of course my CFCA family, especially my sponsor for almost 14 years, Maíam Karen Domey and her family for having a heart good enough to let me experience this kind of joy and happiness.
Note: We called Marisol's sponsor, Karen, to let her know of this letter. "She's been such a wonderful, polite girl," Karen said. "She studies so hard; I can tell by all the grades she gets."


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Reel World
Wanted: Actors—The locally produced independent feature film Black will be shooting here in Albuquerque this fall and producers are looking for a cast. Five teenage girls (16-18), three teenage boys (16-18), four women (18-25), six men (18-25), two women (30-40), four men (30-40) and a whole bunch of "goth extras" are needed to round out the roster. Since this is a low-budget indie, these are not paid positions; but interested actors will get credit for their work. Black seems to be a dark goth drama about a troubled teenage girl who begins to sympathize with a fantasy character in a book she finds. Auditions will be held Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16, from 5:30 until 9:30 p.m. If you are unable to make auditions this weekend, please note that there will be other upcoming opportunities. Actual filming will take place Nov. 5-19. Anyone interested in trying out for the film can contact writer/director J. Starr Welty at email@example.com for more details.
Film Review
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
That sinking feeling
Back in 2003, Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl did just about everything right. The breezy mix of comedy, swashbuckling action, exotic locales and attractive stars made it a guaranteed summer blockbuster. Having perfected the formula in their first outing, the cast and crew have no recourse but to do it all over again for the sequel--only bigger, longer, louder, faster, more explosive, with a larger cast, more exotic locales and a whole boatload more special effects. Sadly, progress doesn't always imply improvement.
Film Review
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days
World War II drama resonates through the ages
Yes, it's true. Germany has a fondness for Holocaust dramas. So, too, does America, apparently. Of the 15 German films submitted since 1990 for Academy Award consideration, six have had an explicit connection to Hitler. Five of those landed Oscar nominations. Of the nine German films that weren't about World War II, only one was nominated for an Oscar. In the world's view, it would seem, Germany and Nazis go hand-in-hand--like chocolate and peanut butter or America and shotgun diplomacy.
Idiot Box
Finally! Programming for Actual Drooling Idiots
Baby First TV
How much TV should a baby be watching on a per-day average? If Benjamin Spock were alive, he'd probably tell you "none." But Dr. Spock didn't have a subscription TV empire to maintain, now did he? The brains behind the controversial new Baby First TV do, and their answer to the same question would be an enthusiastic, "Some!"
Week in Sloth
The Week in Sloth
"Office Webisodes" (www.nbc.com) Yeah, it's not really on TV, but TV is full of reruns right now, so NBC is trying a little something different by posting a 10-episode miniseries made up of three-minute story arcs featuring bit players from NBC's "The Office."


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Online registration at www.tax.ny.gov; seniors getting Enhanced STAR exemption aren't affected by the registration program
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today issued a final reminder: Homeowners must register for the Basic STAR property tax exemption by tomorrow.
"More than 2.2 million New Yorkers have used our fast and easy online registration process to ensure they don't lose their STAR exemptions," said Commissioner Thomas H. Mattox. "But we want every homeowner who qualifies for this important benefit to get it. So if you haven't registered, do it now."
During the past few months, to ensure that every eligible homeowner registers by the Dec. 31 deadline, the Tax Department's outreach campaign has included telephone reminders to hundreds of thousands of people, participation in more than 275 local registration events, fielding more than 500,000 incoming phone calls at its service center, and sending out multiple mailings directly to all 2.7 million eligible homeowners, as well as to local officials in every city, town and school district.
The average homeowner saves $700 each year on the local school property tax bill as a result of the Basic STAR exemption. By registering with the Tax Department - a one-time only event - homeowners will continue to be eligible for the benefit in 2014 and beyond.
The Tax Department said the registration facilitates Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 2013-14 budget initiative to save New York taxpayers millions by eliminating inappropriate exemptions.
The Basic STAR exemption is available on the primary residence of homeowners with incomes under $500,000. The new registration stems from a Tax Department investigation that found thousands of taxpayers receiving STAR exemptions on more than one property.
The new registration program does not impact senior citizens receiving the Enhanced STAR exemption.
Homeowners who haven't registered can visit www.tax.ny.gov and register online; for those without Internet access, call the Tax Department's STAR hotline at 518-457-2036 (translators stand ready to assist speakers of all languages).


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Study Literature in the US
Literature studies in the US can be conducted in any region of the country! Most major, four year universities offer a degree in English literature. English programs are core in American universities because every student must attain compositional writing skills regardless of their major! For those who specifically choose to study literature in the US, the breadth of an English program will encompass the history of the English language, composition, modern English grammar, British literature, American colonial literature, multi-cultural literature, literary criticism or theory, and even some are beginning to add English as Second Language training!
Course Structure
When planning to study literature in the US, expect courses rich in reading and writing. A literature program requires far more reading than many other academic courses. The courses are structured in lecture style. Assigned readings will be provided at the beginning of the course in a syllabus. Each international student is expected to critically read the assigned texts, be present in class for discussion, and contribute meaningfully to the course by applying textual analysis, evaluating the language of the text (such as metaphors, significant capitalization, emphasis, or historical relevance), or identifying dominant themes and concepts.
Literature courses are also formatted thematically; materials discussed throughout the semester have a clear relationship, so when reading, students should be examining the works for common themes. Literature studies always emphasize textual relevance and authors often build on or make references to other literary pieces. An international student studying literature in the US should function academically with these principles in mind.
In literature studies, paper writing rather than testing is the primary means of assessment. Most courses will require a minimum of two major papers constituting up to 50% of the course grade. One paper is often due at midterm and the other is due at the end of the semester. These papers should be written to build upon ideas presented throughout the course. In addition to reading, note taking in class is beneficial because professors often give relevant information that may not be obtainable outside the course. This information can be used later to generate research ideas or as enhancements when developing papers.
Degree Programs
The most commonly found degree programs for literature are English literature or English Education. Both tracks require intensive study of British literature, American Literature, Multicultural literature, literary criticism, composition, creative writing, linguistics, rhetoric, modern English grammar, and the history of the English language. In addition, students will have the opportunity to choose electives of personal interest.
The primary difference between majoring in English literature and English education is the requirement of pedagogical courses. English education majors will learn how to teach through courses in educational foundation, materials and methods courses, and finally a culminating practicum course allowing the international student to work in the field as a student-teacher alongside a cooperating teacher in an approved school district.
Career Opportunities
There are a range of jobs available for a person holding an English degree! Writing skills are transferable and necessary in almost every field. English majors are only limited to their own creativity in job prospects, but here are a few ideas:
- English teacher
- Writer
- Editor
- Technical writer
- Blogger
- Proofreader
- Writing coach
- Copywriter
- Playwright
- English teacher abroad
- English tutor
Top Schools
Contrary to popular belief, choosing a school based on rankings is not the best way to assure a top-notch education. Instead, review a university's faculty profiles for professors' areas of expertise. For example, if an international student is interested in multicultural literature, he or she should be looking for a university where two or more professors specialize in multicultural genres. If one is interested is a specific time period in British literature, the university of choice would be one that has an expert on this period on hand! To even further help a student make a decision, these professors can be ed by email and their published works or studies can also be accessed online! The best program is a program that can help you develop your area of interest. This becomes especially relevant if you later decide to pursue graduate studies!
Literature Programs
Visit the Study in the USA School search to find schools that offer programs of study in Literature.


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ROCHESTER — Police continue to investigate the theft of several manhole covers and drain covers throughout the city Tuesday.
Early Wednesday morning, police released an image from a surveillance video of an older model white GMC pickup truck that is believed to be connected with the thefts.
The vehicle, thought to be a late 1980s or early 1990s model, was reported to be occupied by three males. According to a witness statement, at least one of the men were seen placing a manhole cover into the back of the truck on Tuesday afternoon.
Police got involved in the investigation after several reports were made about the missing manhole covers and storm drains from city streets and parking lots, around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The property was stolen on Farmington Road, North Coast Road, and several parking lots on Milton Road.
So far, police have no solid leads on the suspects, said Police Capt. Paul Toussaint on Wednesday. He said police are relying on the public's help in the investigation.
The value of the manhole covers and drainage covers stolen has not yet been determined. It has not yet been established whether the suspects would face a felony or misdemeanor theft charge if apprehended.
It is suspected that the thieves were planning to sell the stolen property for scrap metal.
Toussaint said police contacted all scrap metal yards in the area on Tuesday and told them to contact police if any storm drain covers or manhole covers turn up. But he said at times these kind of items are hard to notice for scrap metal yard employees, as "Sometimes people hide them in piles of other junk metal."
On Tuesday, police also asked other law enforcement agencies to be on the look out for the white pickup truck suspected to be associated with the theft.
Toussaint said that no other local communities have reported similar thefts.
The Public Works Department is responsible for replacing the manhole covers and storm drain covers stolen in Rochester on Tuesday.
Rochester police are asking anyone who may have information that could assist with this investigation, to call Officer Livingstone at the Police Department at 330-7128. You can also provide information and remain anonymous by calling the Rochester Crime Line at 335-6500 or Text to: CRIMES (274637) Body of Text: TEXT4CASH + your tip. Cash rewards are offered for information that leads to an arrest.
Rochester police seek help in finding manhole and drain cover thieves
ROCHESTER — Police continue to investigate the theft of several manhole covers and drain covers throughout the city Tuesday.


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OPENING STATEMENT: I really feel like we got better today. As you well know, the draft is a process, and throughout the process what you try to do is add good football players to your roster who want to compete and who can help you win. Sometimes they fall the way you want them to fall, sometimes they don't. Today we got some good players who fell to us in the right places. I feel real good about the guys we got. As you well know, building a team doesn't start with the draft, it doesn't end with the draft. This whole thing started when we were signing payers off of the practice squad, reserve futures, and signing our own players like Channing Crowder, Vernon Carey, Yeremiah Bell, etc. It didn't stop when we signed Jake Grove, Gibril (Wilson), and Eric Green. It doesn't stop here either. We got some good players today, we feel very good about it, but it's a whole process, and we have a plan for that process. We are trying to get good college free agents that are going to help us compete, and it won't stop there either. There are going to be some acorns that fall off the tree, and there are acorns on the ground right now that we may pick up. This is just another part of the process, and the process will continue.
As far as today, I'm going to go through the roster. We got Patrick Turner in the third round. We feel real good about this young man. He is a big, tall receiver; I think he runs excellent routes. He scored ten touchdowns last year, he's a playmaker, he's played inside, he's played outside, he's smart. I think he's got some versatility and some very good hands. A highly recruited player coming out of high school, played at a very successful program. They know how to develop receivers there (USC), who usually go on to get drafted. I feel really good about this young man.
(Brian) Hartline, another successful program there [ Ohio State], they know how to coach them up there too. Very articulate, very smart, very versatile. Plays on special teams, is a good sized kid, plays inside, plays outside with some flexibility at the wide receiver position that is very important to us. Both these guys have played inside, played outside, and both real good players. (John) Nalbone, small college kid from Monmouth, about 6-5, about 257, runs real good. Three year starter there at Monmouth. This kid has tremendous skills. He's going to have to learn to play at NFL speed, there's no doubt about it. He kind of dominated that league, and he's going to be a good player for us I hope.
(Chris) Clemons, another three year starter, hadn't missed a game in his career. Big, strong, tough, aggressive safety. Good cover skills as well. We feel real good that he was there for us and I think he's going to contribute on the roster very well.
(Andrew) Gardner - had a shoulder injury late in the season, but he's a four year starter, really. Played at a good program, he's got left tackle feet. He's big, he runs good, he's a good athlete, he's got real good test scores, he's very smart. He brings some much needed depth at the left tackle position, so we feel real good about getting him.
J.D. Folsom from Weber state. He is a developmental candidate. He's got real good size, he's about 6-2 1/2, almost 240, runs really good. Smart kid, older kid, he's more mature, will be about 25 soon. Real good core special teams player. Has some sub-down value as well, so we got a good plan for him. That pretty much wraps up the day.
On if the run on wide receivers and the Giants trading up before the third round pick influenced the selection of WR Patrick Turner
IRELAND: The run on receivers didn't have much impact on that pick at all, to be honest. We had Patrick in that round and feel real good about it. We were going to take that player regardless. We dint have to go up, we stayed right there and made the pick. We feel real good about it.
On if he can quantify how much this draft helped the teams' needs at receiver and what the state of that position is currently
IRELAND: It's going to be a competitive position, no doubt about it. We have a couple guys here on this team that did very well for us this last year. We felt like we had a couple guys on the board that could help us be more competitive at that position. To be able to quantify that position right now we have to go into training camp and OTA's, and figure out what we got. I feel like we have helped ourselves there. We got some size there, we got some physicality there, and we got some flexibility with these two guys (Turner and Hartline).
On if there were any pre-draft expectations that were not fulfilled
IRELAND: Not necessarily. The way you stack the board, you don't really stack it by need, you try to stack it by value. Sometimes things don fall the way you want them to, but we try not to reach for guys, so I wouldn't say we are disappointed in how the draft played out. I would say we hit some needs, and again, the process isn't over. We will still try to get some players that will help us here throughout the process.
On what he saw in Turner this year and why the team selected him
IRELAND: I think its confidence. I think his confidence, and his production really grew this year. His touchdown production and some of his catches. I think he became a more confident player and learned. From an offensive perspective, they keyed in on him to be a bit more of a playmaker. What he did this year at USC I think is very respectable. I think he is a very good player. I don't think 13 touchdowns in two years is anything to be ashamed of. I like the player; we had him up there from day one, so we feel real good about him.
On if he envisions Folsom as an inside or outside linebacker, and if he knew Folsom planned on going to veterinary school
IRELAND: We see him more as an inside player. I didn't know he was going to vet school. I know our area scout probably did. But we see him as an inside player probably the 'moe' position I'm assuming. He really can play 'mike' or 'moe.' I envision him more right now as a sub-linebacker. He probably can line up as 'mike' or 'moe.' Excellent motor, great kid, very smart.
On if he feels the team has enough 3-4 linebackers and hybrid pass rushers on the roster
IRELAND: I would say we feel real good about (Erik) Walden, Tearrius George, obviously (Cameron) Wake, and obviously the players that were here before we signed those guys. As you said we always look for pass rushers regardless of where they fall in the draft, it just didn't happen that we liked some of the payers that fell to us. We paid close attention to positions that we call 'core positions,' and pass rush is obviously one of those core positions, but they didn't fall to us the right way, so we went ahead and went for value.
On what the teams' level of interest is in free-agent and ex-Dolphin Jason Taylor
IRELAND: We haven't really talked about it too much to be honest with you. He's one of those acorns sitting on the ground right now. We have got to make a decision here right now, I'm sure pretty quickly, on whether we are going to do that or not. But we have not made a decision.
On if he agrees with Gardner calling himself 'one of the best deals in the draft'
IRELAND: Well, in think the shoulder surgery probably didn't help him in the draft. But I do feel like he's got left tackle feet, I think that's rare to find. He was a four year starter, a captain at a major university (Georgia Tech). I think that's a good value, absolutely.
On if there are rookie free agents that will be successful like Davone Bess was last year
IRELAND: We hope so. We felt great about Davone (Bess) last year, but you never know about the college free agent business. The make-up is most important in that regard. Trying to get the right kind of guy that will be successful in this program and that want to be good and want to be coached and developed. That is what we try to instill in those guys when we sign them. You are coming here to get coached and you are coming here to try and help us win.
On what he likes about Chris Clemons
IRELAND: I like the fact that he is a three-year starter. I like the fact that he is big and he is fast. I like the fact that he can cover. Whenever you watch him in a tape and whether or not he is in the slot or in the zone he has a pretty good awareness on coverage and I like that. He is big, strong and aggressive. He is a core special teams player. Those are hard to find.
On how many college free agents the team plans to bring in
IRELAND: It could be 8-10. Somewhere around there.
On the reasoning behind trading a seventh-round pick with Kansas City
IRELAND: We didn't have a whole left on the board. As you probably know, it gets picked pretty good and we really didn't have much left.
On if Bill Parcells called Scott Pioli Kansas City to make the trade
IRELAND: Actually it was Scott (Pioli) calling me and basically it was what the heck.
On if it was a family call with Bill Parcells and Scott Pioli
IRELAND: No. It was actually me doing that deal.
On if Chris Clemons has the same hitting intensity as Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell
IRELAND: I would say they have the same type of intensity. They will strike you. They are tough guys and they are good tacklers. There are some similarities for sure
On if in his mind there is a clear cut number one receiver of the nine players at that position
IRELAND: You have to let that play out. You can't really try to say yes to do that yet. I've got my thoughts, but I have to see that play out on the field to be honest with you. I've got some guys I would say yes to, but I would rather keep that to myself for right now.
On if his draft board was shorter than usual this year compared to years past
IRELAND: Again, I don't want to get into numbers, but it was picked clean. I can tell you that. We put guys on there that we felt had a chance to make our team and make us better. The way we do it is that we try not to have any window dressing up there. By the end of the draft, we know it is going to be picked pretty clean and it was.
On if Andrew Gardner benefited from being in a pro style offense and then switching to a option style offense
IRELAND: Yes. I think he benefited a lot from being in a pro-style offense and being a left tackle there for three years. I think it has benefited him greatly. I don't think it benefited him a whole lot last year when he was cutting and on the ground and trying to reach block.
On the extensive research that went into evaluating Brian Hartline
IRELAND: He was a junior coming out early and he really didn't have great production. We saw some things in 2007 with him that we wanted to verify not only from an interview standpoint on why he came out early because he wasn't this elite junior in terms of publicity. So we did spend a little bit more time with Brian. We had dinner with him and worked him out. It just so happens that we try and travel around we try to not only do it with one player, but a multitude. We try to kill a lot of birds with one stone. That happened to be in that group too. It wasn't just Brian we were trying to visit with. It was (Brian) Robiskie and (James) Laurinaitis and (Marcus) Freeman. We were trying to kill a lot of birds with one stone in that particular workout.
On if Brian Hartline is in the same mold as the Colts Anthony Gonzalez
IRELAND: I think that it's a little bit of the Ohio State system, they develop receivers and they are pretty successful in doing that. They are usually always very good route runners, usually have a very good knowledge of coverage's and they usually all play a multitude of positions. That seems to be kind of what we are looking for too, so that is obviously a school that I have a high regard for when it comes to developing prospect for the National Football League.
On if the system at Ohio State accounted for Hartline's perceived lack of production
IRELAND: I think it was and I think that he would say that as well. They went to more of a 'Wildcat' offense to say the least, they had a four-year starter at quarterback that was more of a thrower, that really didn't play a lot and so I think that was probably part of it.
On if he is more comfortable drafting players from the bigger schools and conferences
IRELAND: I would say that not only me but the other 31 teams feel that comfortable as well. I think that during the last five years 90 percent of the draft comes from those Division I schools, so I think that me and the rest of the league feel that comfortable with it as well. I like big school players, there is no doubt about it, to answer your question. I like them, Bill (Parcells) likes them, we like guys that start a lot of games, guys that you don't have to guess about. When you try to evaluate the tape and you don't have to guess on what he can do in the league, and you can see it, that makes you feel a lot better. Most of the time these big school programs they develop their players in a way that you see the things that you are looking for.
On the draft critics scrutinizing some of the selections that are made during the draft
IRELAND: I would say that the one that are projecting them and are not in the draft room and aren't in the business, really don't know what we go through. We keep it highly secretive, its highly confidential information, our scouts don't talk and so I don't know where some people would get their information. Unless they have been on the road scouting, like myself and our other scouts who do a tremendous job, they would not know the needs of the teams are, sometimes they don't know the character of the player, they are just kind of going out there and I don't know where they are getting their information. So I don't pay much attention to it to be honest with you and don't really care to be honest with you.
On the situation at nose tackle and if he is comfortable with the position as it is currently
IRELAND: Well we got a player that we like a lot in Jason (Ferguson), now I know that he is getting up there in years, it was a position that you would certainly like to address, but it just didn't fall in the draft the way you wanted to. We weren't going to reach and there are only so many big nose tackles walking on this earth and we just didn't get our hands on one this year.
On the signing of Jy Bond a punter from Australia
IRELAND: He is a big leg Australian punter who is a little bit old right now. But he has a big leg I can tell you that, he walked up and wanted a tryout and we accommodated the tryout and he is a nice young man and he can hit it five seconds I do know that, so we feel real good about him.
Team-released transcript


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WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says each of his proposed steps to reduce gun violence should get a vote in Congress — even an assault weapons ban that both parties agree stands little chance of passing.
Senate Democrats dropped the ban from the bill they plan to debate next month out of concern it could sink the whole package. Still, Obama says he's pushing for it.
In his weekly radio and Internet address released Saturday, Obama says the U.S. has changed in the three months since the December school shooting in Newtown, Conn., left 20 first graders and six educators dead. He says Americans support the ban, plus limits on high-capacity ammunition magazines, school security funding and a crackdown on gun trafficking.
"Today there is still genuine disagreement among well-meaning people about what steps we should take to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in this country. But you, the American people, have spoken," Obama said.
The White House said Saturday that Obama will make additional trips outside Washington to rally support for the measures, including the assault weapons ban. The White House also said that before Obama left for Israel earlier this week, his push for gun control was among the issues he raised with lawmakers from both parties as he embarked on a concerted effort to reach out to Congress.
In the Republican address, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah says the Senate Democrats' budget raises taxes by $1.5 trillion without doing anything to save entitlements like Social Security and Medicare. He says Republicans want a balanced budget that lives up to the nation's moral obligation to act in the best interest of future generations.
"Republicans recognize that keeping dollars, decisions, priorities and power in the hands of the people is what has made America the greatest civilization the world has ever known," Lee says. "Now is the time to return to that model." (ABC)


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Feather Wordpress Theme - Rating, Reviews, Preview, Demo & Download
Theme Description
Show your work in a great way on all devices with Feather – a responsive theme for the creative agency, freelancer or business. It comes in dark, light and grey base colors with plenty of options to customize and a ton of features.
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Theme : Feather Version : 1.3 Author : WPBandit - http://wpbandit.com .: January 24 2013 (v1.3) :. =========================================================== - Added portfolio archive, category pages and pagination - Fixed slow portfolio preload - Moved all page templates to /page-templates/ folder - Added option to disable responsive layout - Added minimal form base css - Removed outdated and unused form framework css - Removed custom comments-form, now uses default form for better plugin compatibility - Changed sticky footer to load on window.load to fix issue on certain pages - Moved respond.min.js to load in footer to work properly in IE8 and older - Minor CSS bug fixes - Updated .pot language file .: October 22 2012 (v1.2) :. =========================================================== - Updated to Air Framework 1.2 - Updated documentation - Added "Frontpage Boxed" template - Added "Frontpage Wide" template - Added shortcode dropdown selection in editor - Added unlimited sidebars functionality - Added support for single post templates - Added new icons to social module - Added support for HTML5 videos in embed field - Improved maintenance module - Fixed default page title in SEO options - Fixed dropdowns being hidden behind youtube embeds in IE - Added fancybox integration with default WP galleries - Improved portfolio thumbnails. Lightbox now loads first image on single page instead - Added content area in portfolio page template - Added styling option to limit vertical images height in galleries - Added pre-load to portfolio for a smoother viewing experience - Fixed sticky footer in portfolio - Fixed missing global background image for search, archive and 404 - Minor bug fixes .: August 24 2012 (v1.1) :. =========================================================== - Added option to stick header to top when scrolling - Added option to disable glass effect - Fixed issue with custom-functions.php - Framework updates .: August 23 2012 (v1.0) :. =========================================================== - Theme released
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