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On this page:
Mountains of Manure
Animal Waste, the Environment, and Human Health
Regulation and Technology in Managing Waste
Comparing Animal and Human Waste Production
Did You Know?
What You Can Do
Where there are animals, there is animal waste, and as the growth of industrial farming concentrates thousands of animals on increasingly fewer farms, it produces massive amounts of animal waste on relatively small plots of land. When too much waste is produced in one place, there's no safe, cost-effective way to either use it productively or dispose of it. While government regulation and better waste management practices can make a difference and should be encouraged for existing farms, the problem of livestock waste will never end so long as we rely on concentrated industrial farms to produce our food.
Mountains of Manure
The USDA estimates that more than 335 million tons of "dry matter" waste (the portion of waste remaining after water is removed) is produced annually on farms in the United States, representing almost a third of the total municipal and industrial waste produced every year. FWhat's more, animal feeding operations annually produce about 100 times more manure than the amount of human sewage sludge processed in US municipal wastewater plants. FOne dairy farm with 2,500 cows produces as much waste as a city with around 411,000 residents. FUnlike human waste, however, in most cases the law does not require that livestock waste be treated.
At farms where animals are allowed to graze on pasture, much - if not all - of their manure is excreted directly onto the land, serving as a fertilizer and recycling nutrients back into the soil. On industrial livestock farms, however, animals drop their manure in the houses where they live. From there, the manure must be cleaned out, transported, and stored, each step of which can negatively affect the environment. Simply cleaning out livestock houses can waste vast amounts of water—a dairy operation that utilizes an automatic "flushing" system can use up to 150 gallons of water per cow per day. F
Manure is usually stored for many months, often in giant outdoor pits known as lagoons. FAs it decomposes, the manure emits harmful gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. FMeanwhile, these lagoons can leak or rupture, polluting the surrounding soil and water systems. One study conducted by North Carolina State University in 1995 estimated that as many as 55% of the manure lagoons on hog farms in that state were leaking. FEven without leaks, manure lagoons are so fragile that major storms often result in overflows. Perhaps most famously, in 1999, the majority of North Carolina's manure lagoons spilled over into waterways during Hurricane Floyd, leading to widespread water contamination. What made matters even worse was that North Carolina, like most states, requires no treatment of animal waste. F
Since manure is produced on factory farms in excess of what can safely be absorbed by the farm's soil, it is often shipped to neighboring farms for use as fertilizer. Unfortunately, manure is quite heavy, so transporting it both consumes large amounts of fuel (needed to power the trucks that haul it) while at the same time contributing to air pollution (due to emissions from the trucks that haul it). F
Once the manure arrives at its destination, it is sprayed onto farm fields as fertilizer. Under the current system of animal production, however, there is always more manure available than can possibly be absorbed by the soil as fertilizer. In fact, studies show that between 1982 and 1997, as industrial agriculture grew, the US experienced a 64 percent increase in the amount of manure that could not be absorbed by our soils. FThis practice is not only harmful to the soil, but can also result in contamination of human drinking water and lead to serious public health problems.
Animal Waste, the Environment, and Human Health
People often believe that animal manure is harmless, but in truth it can be quite hazardous. Factory livestock facilities pollute the air and release over 400 separate gasses, mostly due to the large amounts of manure they produce. FThe principal gases released are hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. FGasses can be dangerous air pollutants that threaten both the environment and human health. Nitric oxides are also released in large quantities from farms through manure application, and are among the leading causes of acid rain. F
The risks of lagoon leakage, overflows, and illegal discharge of waste also pose a direct threat to the quality of soil and water systems. A report for the U.S. Geological Survey documented over one thousand spills and dumps of animal waste in the ten Midwestern states it surveyed over the course of three years. FManure from leaky lagoons or saturated farm fields has also been known to enter public water sources and infect humans. FFor example, a study of waterborne disease outbreaks from 1986 to 1998 conducted by the Centers for Disease Control demonstrated that in every case where the pathogen could be identified, it most likely originated in livestock. F
Among the many nutrients usually present in high concentrations in animal waste are phosphorous and nitrogen, which are beneficial to the soils when the manure is added in small concentrations. However, the volume of manure usually found in lagoons and storage systems, and subsequent very high concentrations of nutrients, can cause a range of ecological problems like fish kills or a loss in biodiversity Fwhen released into the environment and can affect human health when leached into drinking water. Nitrogen in manure is tied up in its organic state until, through decomposition, it is converted to a soluble form (ammonium nitrate). When ammonium nitrate is mixed with water, nitrates can leach into groundwater systems and threaten the water quality. F According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), drinking water with nitrate concentrations above ten parts per million (ppm), Fcan cause developmental deficiencies in infants and death in severe cases due to oxygen deprivation. Nitrates introduced into the body through affected water significantly reduce the blood's oxygen carrying capacity, Fand deprive the body of oxygen. High nitrate concentrations are also believed to have caused spontaneous abortions and possibly cancer. F
The storage of animal waste under industrial livestock facilities and in manure tanks also poses a direct health risk to both animals and humans. Since animal waste is often stored directly beneath the barns in which the livestock live, livestock commonly die from poor ventilation that allows for the buildup of toxic gases inside confinement facilities. FWhat's more, manure pits have been known to claim the lives of farm workers, and between 1992 and 1997 at least twelve workers died due to asphyxiation by manure gases and drowning while trapped in manure lagoons. FThe gases in livestock facilities can also pose other risks to workers; for example, methane is highly flammable, and if not vented properly from manure tanks it can cause explosions. F
Regulation and Technology in Managing Waste
Until recently, there has been very little regulation of animal waste. Federal law changed in 2002 to require virtually all confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs G) to apply for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for their waste discharge. In 2005, the rule was revised requiring only CAFOs that discharge waste (i.e. into streams, rivers, or lakes) to apply for a NPDES permit. FHowever, these new regulations make it clear that Federal law prohibits any CAFO from discharging waste, even accidentally, without a permit and will face fines if this is violated. Additionally, CAFOs applying for this permit are now required to submit a nutrient management plan (NMP) with the permit application that is open for public review. FThis new regulation makes nutrient management a Federal regulation (no longer leaving it up to the states to enforce) and requires a plan of action for the management of waste to ensure that no waste is discharged from the CAFO site. The Environmental Protection Agency has the right to prosecute those who discharge animal waste illegally under the Clean Water Act, Falthough these cases are brought infrequently.
Apart from regulation, there are some other innovations that may help control the potential problems associated with animal waste. Researchers have discovered that adding sodium carbonate—a mineral commonly found in laundry detergents—to manure can dramatically decrease the amount of the harmful bacterium E. Coli O157:H7 present. FThere are also feed additives for cattle—including one derived from a type of seaweed which is already widely used in human foods and cosmetics—that can significantly reduce the amount of this dangerous strain of E. Coli in cattle manure. F
Another proven and simple way to reduce the presence of E. Coli in cattle manure is the method of sending them out to graze on pasture, and taking them off of industrial feed made of corn and other grains.
While feed additives are a creative way to address some problems, ultimately they do nothing to address the fact that too much waste is being produced in areas that are too concentrated. Eliminating E. Coli bacteria does nothing to address the problems of harmful gases or the detriment high concentrations of manure (and therefore nitrogen and phosphorous) have on the environment and human health. While methane digesters can partially reduce the discharge of harmful gasses, they can't eliminate the solid waste which still must be stored and discharged, nor do they protect against leaks or overflows that can contaminate water supplies.
Comparing Animal and Human Waste Production
In order to compare the impact of different types of animals, livestock statistics are often cited in terms of "animal units." One animal unit equals 1,000 lbs. of the live weight of an animal, (for example, four 1,250-pound cows equal 5 "animal units" of cattle, while 125 eight-pound chickens make up 1 "animal unit" of chicken).
By this measure, one animal unit of broiler (meat) chickens produces an average of 14.97 tons of manure each year, fattened cattle 10.59 tons per year and dairy cows 15.24 tons per year. FIn comparison, one "animal unit" of humans produces a mere 5.48 tons of waste per year. F
Did You Know?
- Dairy cows in confined feeding operations throughout the US produce more than two billion pounds of manure nitrogen per year. F
- The most recent available Census of Agriculture data shows that there were almost 95.5 million cows and calves in the United States in 2002. FThere were also about 60.4 million hogs and pigs, each producing waste every day. F
What You Can Do
It's clear that the best way to deal with industrial agriculture's mountains of manure is to de-concentrate the animals and likewise de-concentrate their waste. Sustainable, pasture-based systems allow for the animals to distribute their waste in amounts that the soil can absorb, without using large quantities of water for washing or fuel to power trucks for transportation and spraying. By shopping at small, local sustainable farms and supporting pasture-based methods of waste management, we can all encourage change and promote healthier and more environmentally-friendly farming.


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CRM is evolving and changing all the time. It's one of the fastest growing industries, that brings innovation and simplifies lives of thousands people and businesses.
CRMs are no longer viewed as an option, it's a must. In 2018 this tendency will continue, with more companies shifting to cloud-based CRM solutions.
Trends in CRM are largely influenced by the trends in the software industry. These were defined by Kevin Kelly in the book "The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future". The author provides a big picture view on the future of technology and how it will affect our lives. Interacting, cognifying, flowing, screening, accessing, sharing, filtering, remixing, tracking, and questioning are the 12 trends that already started revolutionizing the way we live and work. CRM trends, even though on a smaller scale, follow the same defined pattern.
If you're using CRM in your business and want to know about latest developments in the industry, here is the list of key CRM trends to look out for in 2018:
The scariest holiday of the year is nearly here and spooky monsters are already crawling out of their dusty graves. Don't waste your time and buy Bitrix24 while you can…
No tricks. Just treats. Here is how much you can save:
Bitrix24 Cloud (compare plans)
You can place your order through a Bitrix Partner, or inside Bitrix24.Store.
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These special offers are valid from October 30, 2017 to November 5, 2017 in all domain zones except CN, PL, RU, UA, KZ, BY. Please note that this offer does not extend to accounts already on paid plans, telephony credits, face recognition credits or SIP-connector subscriptions. Halloween Sale discounts cannot be combined with other discounts or special offers (except for partner discounts), neither can they be extended beyond the original subscription period purchased with this discount. All future subscription renewals will be billed at regular price. If you have any questions, please contact your local Bitrix24 Partner or shoot us an email at email@example.com
Your Bitrix24 team
Every marketer or a business owner wants to see their sales skyrocket. And there are numerous ways to promote the business and turn this vision into reality.
Social media is one of the recent advertising methods. But in order to fully benefit from the opportunities that social media has to offer, it's important to think strategically and optimize ad performance.
This article is intended to explore Facebook advertising basics and psychological tricks to help you create a successful Facebook campaign.
Customer success depends on so many factors. Not only your product should meet customers' expectations, but all brand touchpoints are supposed to be smooth and pleasant. Unfortunately, we cannot overrule the human factor and all companies have to deal with accidental bugs, complaints and grumpy customers. Here is where customer service communication comes in. Be it verbal or written, it is like the glue that spell all the differences between churn and loyalty, between dissatisfaction and success.
We prepared a list of rules Bitrix24 success team uses to communicate with customers. Some of them you've probably heard of, but we also share our "secret" gems. Applied to any human interaction, these rules will make you an effective communicator and level up customer service communication in any company.
Scott and Margaret flaunt two very different personalities. While he's always the first to come to the office and the last to leave, she's usually fashionably late. The rest of the team adores her, though, because Margaret is kind, respectful and easy to work with. Despite being a bona fide genius, Scott is unfortunately less so. Try as he might, he cannot seem to score the employee of the month recognition.
It is, after all, where Margaret's unbeatable.
The fact that they are both highly intelligent people notwithstanding, her tact and empathy somehow trump his remarkable outside-the-box thinking. Even with his positive outlook, Scott has never been able to demonstrate the kind of performance his company is looking for. When Margaret was finally promoted into a customer service manager, Scott took a leave of absence to deal with his anger management issues.
In the eternal struggle between soft and hard skills, Margaret's emotional intelligence won another battle against Scott's IQ.
Here's how raw genius hardly stands a chance when well-managed emotion is in the room, and why companies should learn to harness the power of emotionally intelligent people.
Yes, we've done it. By popular request, the 'official' app for QuickBooks integration is out and available to all users, paid or free. This is the first iteration of the app and it syncs information for contacts, companies or accounts between your Bitrix24 and QuickBooks accounts. This is very convenient if you are issuing invoices from QuickBooks, rather than Bitrix24 for example. You will also get notification inside your Bitrix24 account when QuickBooks-issued invoices are paid by the client.
If you have a desktop version of QuickBooks, please use this app instead.
What are the most important prerequisites of a very successful company? The list is too long to recite here. Although the performance assessment of managers and control over customer communications are certainly among them, these processes are difficult to track.
Great news! An updated Bitrix24 Start CRM Page provides a complete Communication, Sales and Workload overview in a convenient single page display.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of Commerce's upcoming Legislative Luncheon will give area representatives a "wonderful opportunity" to keep their constituents apprised of government happenings, according to District 16 Representative Katrina Jackson.
The Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of Commerce's upcoming Legislative Luncheon will give area representatives a "wonderful opportunity" to keep their constituents apprised of government happenings, according to District 16 Representative Katrina Jackson.
"I think it's always important to keep the public informed about what we're doing in Baton Rouge," she said.
Jackson will speak and take questions from the audience along with District 33 Sen. Mike Walsworth, District 19 Rep. Charles "Bubba" Chaney and District 14 Rep. Jay Morris, at the catered luncheon slated for July 19 at the Bastrop Visitor Center.
Jackson said she plans to speak at the luncheon about legislative accomplishments that have pertained to economic development.
"The Chamber of Commerce has worked really hard to bring opportunities to the community," she said. "As businesses grow, the community grows. But the luncheon is not just for business people, it's for everyone in the community."
Chamber director Dorothy Ford said this will be the fourth year for the annual event.
"This is will give the public the chance to get an update and more information about bills passed in the last legislative session," said Ford. "I think this year's [luncheon] will be one of the more popular because [recent education reform legislation] has been such a hot topic for everyone."
Ford said that lunch will be served first, and during the meal each representative will have 10-15 minutes to speak before all will take questions from the attendants. This year's event will differ from past luncheons in having four legislators as guests, due to redistricting last year which added a representative to Morehouse Parish's state delegation.
"Usually, the legislators stay afterward and talk to the public one-on-one," said Ford. "I think that's important, bringing our elected officials to us and giving citizens the chance to meet them in person."
The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 19 at the Visitor Center. Tickets are $10 apiece for Chamber members and $12 apiece for non-Chamber members. The deadline for purchasing tickets – which are available at the Chamber office, 110 N. Franklin St., Bastrop – is 9 a.m. July 16.
The luncheon is being sponsored by Christmas Realty, Delta Healthcare Management and Morehouse Community Medical Center.
Ford said the Chamber is looking forward to more events, such as inviting Governor Bobby Jindal and La. Fish & Wildlife Secretary Robert Barham to speak later this year.


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TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology held Transylvania University to just 26% from the field and relied on a balanced scoring attack to earn a 66-38 men's basketball victory on Saturday afternoon.
Freshman Wade Stallings (Indianapolis/North Central) led the Rose-Hulman offense with a career-high 12 points on 4-4 from the field and 3-4 on the foul line. Senior Julian Strickland (Indianapolis/Pike) also reached double figures with 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
The balanced attack also featured senior Jake Dodd (St. Peters, Mo./Missouri-St. Louis) with nine points; sophomore Tyler Duffy (Fishers/Hamilton Southeastern) with nine points, five rebounds and four assists; senior Alec Houpt (Chesterton) with eight points; and sophomore Jimmy Miller (Indianapolis/North Central) with seven points.
Mason Monroe led the Transylvania offense with nine points, and Joe Jennings added eight points and eight rebounds for the Pioneers.
The Rose-Hulman defense was equally impressive, holding Transylvania to just 13-50 from the floor (26%) and 3-21 from three-point range (14%). The Fightin' Engineers allowed just five points in the first 11 minutes of play, then held Transylvania without a field goal for eight minutes during the second half.
Rose-Hulman quickly jumped out to a 10-2 lead on three-pointers by Miller and Strickland. The lead readched 18-5 with 12:03 left in the first half on a pair of Strickland free throws.
Transylvania trimmed the margin to 12 points at 23-11 on a Jennings field goal with 6:35 left in the first half. Rose-Hulman pushed the lead back to 18 points at 29-11 on a Dodd layup and maintained an 18-point lead at the break.
In the second half, Rose-Hulman pushed the margin to 20 points on a score by senior Jordy Martin (New Albany) to open the scoring and never looked back.
Rose-Hulman remains in a three-way tie for first place in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings at 13-4 and 8-2 in league play. Defiance and Mount St. Joseph are also tied with the Fightin' Engineers at 8-2 in conference games. Rose-Hulman hosts Anderson University on Wednesday night.


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Wednesday, 08 May 2013 09:35 AM
The western Los Angeles County branch of the Boy Scouts of America has become the latest chapter to break with the national organization over its proposed lifting of a ban against gay scouts while continuing to exclude homosexual adults as troop leaders.
The council, which represents more than 14,000 scouts and ranks as the nation's 14th-largest scouting chapter, called for the Texas-based youth organization to go further by welcoming gays into the ranks of its adult volunteers as well.
In issuing its declaration on Tuesday urging a "true and authentic inclusion policy," the Los Angeles group joined at least two branches in New York state that have pushed for allowing gays to work as troop leaders or staff members.
The Boy Scouts of America holds it annual national meeting on May 23 in Texas, where a resolution will be voted on that would end the century-old group's policy denying membership to youths on the basis of sexual orientation.
The compromise proposal unveiled last month, which stopped short of allowing gay adults to work within the organization, drew criticism from both gay rights groups that want the scouts to go further and conservative religious organizations that sponsor troops and want no change to existing policy.
Alan Snyder, chairman of the board for the Western Los Angeles County Council of the Boy Scouts, said the members of his chapter's board have for more than a year discussed what should be its stance on the role of gays.
"We're hoping that by being visible on the issue, we can encourage others to have the temerity to join us," Snyder said.
The council is backing a resolution stating that no youth or adult shall be denied membership "as a leader, volunteer or staff member solely based on their sexual orientation or preference."
Patrick Boyle, author of the book "Scouts' Honor," about sexual abuse in the organization, said groups within the scouts, such as the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, have long called for being more accepting toward gays.
"Normally it's just one voice in the woods, but now they're joining a much larger chorus so it might have a little larger impact now," he said.
The conservative Family Research Council earlier this year ran an advertisement in the newspaper USA Today urging the scouts not to change their policy on gays.
"As a father, I wouldn't want my sons to go on a camping trip with a teenage girl and stay in the same tent. Similarly, I think it's unwise to put boys or young men in a tent with boys or young men who are homosexual," said Rob Schwarzwalder, senior vice president for the Family Research Council.
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Chen, Y-F. and Jobanputra, Paresh and Barton, Pelham and Jowett, S.M. and Bryan, S. and Clark, Wendy and Fry-Smith, A. and Burls, Amanda (2006) A systematic review of the effectiveness of adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in adults and an economic evaluation of their cost-effectiveness. Health Technology Assessment, 10 (42). pp. 1-266.
Jobanputra, Paresh and Parry, D. and Fry-Smith, A. and Burls, Amanda (2001) Effectiveness of autologous chondrocyte transplantation for hyaline cartilage defects in knees: a rapid and systematic review. Health Technology Assessment, 5 (11). 0-57.


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18 Jan 2013 09:40:56 AM
And Now They're Fired: Chad Griggs, Marcus Levesseur, and Many, Many More
(Griggs might not have had the best ground game in the biz, but he made up for it in pure funkatude.)
It must be spring, Potato Nation, because in order to make room for their new batch of Strikeforce fighters, the UFC has been doing a little cleaning out of their roster as of late. In total, 9 fighters have been axed as of this morning, including everyone's favorite muttonchops aficionado, Chad Griggs. MMA Opinion has the full list, so join us after the jump to find out which fighters will no longer be punctuating the undercards of FUEL and FX events.
Chad Griggs: 11-1 before entering the UFC, Griggs' lack of a ground game was quickly exposed in his debut, where he was choked out by Travis Browne in under three minutes at UFC 145. After dropping to light heavyweight, Griggs returned at UFC 154 to face PRIDE veteran and feared striker Cyrille Diabate. Those who were expecting a slugfest left disappointed, however, as Griggs was choked out in the first round again, just 15 seconds later than his first fight.
Marcus LeVesseur: Despite being one of the more decorated wrestlers to enter the UFC in some time, "The Prospect" quickly showed that he was simply not well rounded enough to hang in the sport's highest promotion. After dominating the beginning of his UFC debut against TUF 12 alum Cody McKenzie, LeVesseur became McKenzietine victim #11 at just over three minutes into the first round. After scoring a snoozer of split decision over Carlo Prater in his next fight, Levesseur was absolutely savaged by Abel Trujillo at UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Diaz.Read More DIGG THIS


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I talked to one of the control ops via Echolink a few weeks ago and he said it had been moved. I can't verify it. It was a simplex echolink link into a repeater. There were actually two of them, one on 145.850, and the other on 145.925. I didn't know anyone else was working on this. Had he not said they had been moved Riley was going to be my next call! Thanks for your efforts. This sort of thing is one of the reasons we shouldn't use CTCSS on satellite uplinks unless we have to.... 73, Drew KO4MA ----- Original Message ----- From: "George Henry" <firstname.lastname@example.com> To: <firstname.lastname@example.com> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:59 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Terrestrial repeater interference to AO-27 > Has anyone heard that rogue repeater thru AO-27 recently? I received a > phone call from Riley this afternoon, following up on my complaint about > the repeater, and he wanted to know if it was still on the air. It is > located too far from my home QTH to hear directly, and my satellite > antennas are down at the moment. The one time I *did* hear it on the > ground (early October), I was out mobile and much closer to it than when I > am at home, but I haven't been up that way (northern suburbs of Chicago) > for quite a while. > > George, KA3HSW > _______________________________________________ > Sent via firstname.lastname@example.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via email@example.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
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Ants are endlessly fascinating. They seem so HUMAN in the way they bustle around, cooperating in all things whether building great metropolises, hauling food, overcoming enemies or taking care of their queen and their baby sisters. They epitomize industry and selfless devotion to the cause – their colony. Of course as children we may have squished dozens of these little workers, but we have also watched their activities in wonder, marveling to see so many of our own behaviors reflected in their activities.
|Dagger-Jawed Army Ants
©Mark W. Moffett/Minden
With 12,000 species world-wide, ants are the most diverse and widespread of the social insects, which include termites and some wasps and bees. Ants are found on every continent and in every habitat, but are especially successful in the tropics. Everywhere they are abundant and in many habitats are the dominant organisms, in terms of individuals far outnumbering all other animals. They have few enemies and many have long-lasting, stable colonies. Individual ants are remarkably long-lived, as insects go, with queens living as long as 13 to 15 years or so, and some workers surviving 4-7 years. Unlike other social insects such as termites or honeybees, which are quite specialized, ants have many different ways of life. Some have mutually beneficial relationships with plants or other insects. Although a few ants are household pests, and some may cause agricultural or other damage, many are beneficial in terms of controlling pest populations, cleaning up wastes, and aerating the soil.
All ants are social; there are no solitary species. Some are tiny, less than 1/16 of an inch long, while some tropical species are over an inch in length. Depending on the species, ant colonies may be made up of only a few individuals, while others number in the millions. In this and other ways, ant societies appear to parallel human societies. Some are simple hunter-gatherers, with little specialization among workers, while others have huge and sophisticated societies with highly specialized tasks divided among different "castes." Driver ants in Africa and army ants in South America are ruthless predators, moving in huge numbers from temporary bivouac to bivouac in search of prey. Any of us who read "Leinigin versus the ants" when we were in school can still remember the terror inspired by the image of a huge river of driver ants overrunning everything in its path. Leafcutter ants also have huge colonies, but theirs are sedentary and underground, sometimes lasting more than 20 years. Leafcutters are farmers, chewing up fresh leaves and fertilizing them with their saliva and feces to provide a rich substrate for the fungus they cultivate as food for the colony. Harvester ants in dry grasslands stockpile seeds in underground storage areas. Other ants are ranchers, herding and protecting groups of tiny, honey-dew producing insects such as scale and aphids. Desert-dwelling honeypot ants use their own sisters as "cisterns" to store honeydew. Formica ants in boreal forests make huge mounds of pine and spruce needles, which serve to regulate temperature and humidity. Some ants do no work themselves, instead robbing pupae from neighboring ant nests, and then forcing the captured ants to work as slaves.
|Dr. Mark Moffett
Photo by Frank J. Sulloway
Mark Moffett, renowned National Geographic photographer and explorer, has made a career out of his fascination with ants, and will be at the museum to talk about his favorite organisms on Wednesday, September 15. An enthusiastic speaker with – needless to say – wonderful photographs – Mark will regale his audience with tales of warfare, industry, and cooperation. He encourages all ages to attend!
Don't miss Mark's distinguished lecture at HMNS:
"Adventures Among Ants: A Global Safari with a Cast of Trillions"
Mark Moffett, Ph.D.
Wednesday, September 15, 6:30 p.m.
Purchase your tickets in advance here.
Check out Moffett on Colbert in May 2010:


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PACFIC PALISADES, Calif. (Oct. 3, 2009) - After a long hard first-round win Saturday, ETSU senior tennis player Yevgeniya Stupak (Kyiv, Ukraine) could not overcome both a unlucky draw and time as the defending Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year fell in second round action at the 2009 Riviera ITA All-American Championships on the campus of UCLA.
"Yevgeniya had tough draw both rounds today," said head coach Steve Brooks. "Both opponents she played today were more talented than most the players that competed in the entire pre-qualifying draw. With this being Stupak's senior year I'm still proud of how she represented ETSU in such a
prestigious event."
Stupak -- the No. 98th-ranked ITA singles player -- outlasted a tough opening round opponent in Columbia's Nicole Bartnik. In her first contest the ETSU captain played a number of long points, before closing out the match 6-2, 6-4.
After advancing to the Round of 32, the 15th seeded Lady Buc student-athlete held serve throughout the first seven games, for a 4-3 lead in the first set. After Wichita State's Lutflana Budiharto tied the match at 4-4, the Shocker sophomore rallied for a 6-4 first set win.
With both the momentum and rest on her side Budiharto crusied to a 6-0 second set victory.
"In the second match I think Stupak simply ran out of gas," said Brooks. "Budiharto is a great player and after we had the lead at 4-3, she was able to break Stupak's serve with some great shots from the baseline. Between a hard fought first round match and a number of long points in that first set I don't think Yevgeniya had the energy to push a hard return back to Budiharto. That ended up being the difference and once Budiharto found her groove, Yevgeniya couldn't overcome some lucky breaks and good shots."
Attached above is final results from pre-qualifying action of the 2009 Riviera ITA All-American Championships, Saturday.
For more information on the championship ETSU women's tennis team, please visit www.ETSUBucs.com.


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PATEROS Jessi Dowers, an outside hitter for Pateros, recently was named the Most Valuable Player in the North-Central Washington 1B League.
Dowers, a senior, helped lead the Nannies to an undefeated regular season.
Pateros (23-1 including Bridgeport volleyball tournament matches) would fall for the only time this year in the state quarterfinals before going 3-1 and bringing back a fifth-place state trophy, the best in school history.
The school's previous best at state was seventh, recorded last year.
Dowers finished state with 27 kills, 59/64 serving with 13 aces, 41 assists, 43 digs and 19 passes.
She plans to study architecture at Montana State University. She will wait and see if there is a need for setters on the school's volleyball team, her father, Gene Dowers, said.
Jill Moomaw of Waterville was named Coach of the Year.
Entiat was awarded the league's sportsmanship honor.
Joining Dowers on the first team was Chloe Gill, who finished the state tournament with 39 kills 55/60 serving, 16 aces, 42 passes, 55 digs and 6 assists.
Gill may attended an eastern Washington community college (Wenatchee or Walla Walla) where she probably will play libero on the volleyball team.
Many colleges will see players during the winter club volleyball season, coach Dowers said.
Rounding out the first team were Diana Davila and Hanna Clements of Waterville and Cierra Kohlman and Yumiko Sanford of Entiat.
The league's libero award went to Brittany Lamb of Entiat.
Honorable mention went to Grace Williams (10 kills, 44/48 serving, 7 aces, 42 passes, 48 digs, 4 blocks at state) of Pateros and Andrew Toomey of Waterville.
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Professor Ahmed Ragab
Director of the Science, Religion, and Culture Program
- PhD, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris
- MD, Cairo University
The Richard T. Watson Associate Professor of Science and Religion at Harvard Divinity School, Affiliate Assistant Professor at the Department of the History of Science, and Director of the Science, Religion and Culture program at Harvard Divinity School.
Ragab is a physician, a historian of science and medicine, and a scholar of science and religion. He received his M.D from Cairo University School of Medicine in 2005. In 2010 he received his PhD in History and Philosophy of Science from the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris. He was a postdoctoral fellow, then a lecturer of the Department of the History of Science at Harvard University. He joined Harvard Divinity School in July 2011 as the first Richard T. Watson Assistant Professor of Science and Religion at Harvard Divinity School. In 2012, Ragab inaugurated the Science, Religion and Culture program at Harvard Divinity School, which he continues to direct.
Ragab's work spans various fields and disciplines. He studies the history of science and medicine, science and religion and the development of cultures of science and cultures of religion in the Middle East and the Islamic World. He also studies various questions related to science and religion in the US with a focus on US Muslim communities.
Ragab's research on the history of science, medicine and culture in the Islamic world includes his history of medieval Islamic hospitals, and his research on the epistemic authority of medieval Muslim women with a focus on women-reporters of prophetic traditions. He also worked on sex and gender differentiation in medical thought in the region, on the development of anatomy and dissection and their relation to religious practices in the Ottoman context. He investigates medical thinking and physician-patient encounters in the medieval and early modern context.
In his most recent book projects, Ragab investigates the history of prophetic medicine the medieval as well as the modern Islamic world. Prophetic medicine is a body of literature that collects sayings by prophet Muhammad (prophetic tradiiotns), which included medical and health-related pronouncements and advice. Ragab's work investigates the rise of this literature, the role it played in the history of medical thought and practice and in the development of prophetic traditions, and its resurgence from the seventies of the twentieth century till now, the new developments related to this resurgence and the social and political significances of this literature. In another book project, Ragab investigates the development of views on science and Islam from the early nineteenth century. The project looks at how debates on science and Islam coincided with the introduction of modern science in the region and allowed for recasting the meanings of both science knowledge and religious knowledge. Ragab explains the historicity of the relationship of science and Islam and the role played by the coupling science-and-Islam in the formulation of new scientific discourses in the region.
Ragab was trained in epidemiology and medical sociology, and worked on infectious and epidemic diseases. He has a special interest in gender, ethnic and religion-based disparities in disease burden, and in the gender, ethnic, and religious dimensions of treatment modalities, and healthcare policy. He worked with the French Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (National Institute of Health and Medical Research), the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Center for Scientific Research) on various topics related to infectious, endemic and epidemic diseases specifically, H1N1, H1N5, Hepatitis C and HIV. Some of these projects include: "Public Policies, Professional Practices and Agents' Conduct Regarding the Risk of Avian Flu (Egypt, France, India, Niger, UK, Vietnam)" from 2006-2009. Along with that project he worked on similar projects on H1N1 in 2009, on Hepatitis C and HIV from 2008-2010.
He was elected a member of the Commission on History of Science and Technology in Islamic Societies and a member of the International Society for Science and Religion.
Links, publications and other matierals:
The Medeival Islamic Hospital: Medicine, Religion and Charity. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2015:
Translation (to English and French) of Aḥmad ibn Khalaf al-Murādī's "Kitāb al-Asrār fī Natāʿij al-Afkār": The Book of Secrets in the Results of Ideas. Milano: Leonardo3, 2009
Books in Preparation:
With Katharine Park, Knowledge on the Move: Cultures of Science in the Medieval World [In preparation for publication by Chicago University Press]
"One, Two or More Sexes: Sex differentiation in medieval Islamicate medical thought," Journal of the History of Sexuality, 24: 3, 2015. Pp. 428-54.
"History of Science," in Women and Islamic Cultures: Disciplinary Paradigms and Approaches 2003-2013, edited by Suad Joseph, Boston, Leiden: Brill, 2013
"Prophetic Traditions and Modern Medicine in the Middle East: Resurrection, Reinterpretation, and Reconstruction," Journal of the American Oriental Society, 132:4, 2012. Pp. 657-73
"Epistemic Authority of Women in the Medieval Middle East", HAWWA: Journal of Women in the Middle East and Islamic World, 8:2, 2010. Pp. 181-216
"Madman Walking: the image of the mad in Egyptian press", Egypte-Monde Arabe, Troisième Série, 4, 2007. Pp. 227-246
Book Sections
"Islam and Science" in Routledge Companion to Religion and Science, ed. James W. Haag, Gregory R. Peterson, Michael L. Spezio, London: Routledge, 2011
Commentaries, Book reviews and Encyclopedia Entries
Entries on "Al-Andalus/Ibn Rushd," "al-Biruni," "al-Tusi," "Ikhwan al-Safa (Brothren of Purity)," "Islamic Planetary theories and Cosmology," "Islamic Religious/Theological Cosmologies," "Islamic Theories of Spontaneous Generation and Evolution" in Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, ed. Muriel Gargaud. SpringerOnline
Commentary on "Cycles of Cathay - Sinology, Philology, and Histories of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in the United States by Christian de Pee," Fragments: Journal of History, vol. 2, 2012.
Book review of "The World of Pharmacy and Pharmacists in Mamluk Cairo by Leigh Chipman," Speculum, 87:1, January 2012. Pp. 196-97
Articles and Book Sections in Preparation:
"Monsters, Fossils and Patients: An archeology of medieval medicine," History and Theory [manuscript in preparation]
"Sira and asbab al-nuzul: Context as commentary; the text generating context; is chronology discoverable?" in The Routledge Companion to the Quran, ed. Daniel A. Madigan, and Maria Massi Dakake, London: Routledge [manuscript in preparation]
"Scientific Expertise and the making of Islamic legal opinions: an analysis of 'scientific' fatwas" [Article in preparation]
"Epistemes, Technes and Hermeneutics: the making of the 'Scientific Interpretation' of the Quran" in Deliberating Religion, Science and Progress in the Global Public Sphere, ed. Ulrika Martensson and Filip Ivanovic, London: Ashgate Series on Science and Religion, [manuscript in preparation]
"Pilgrimage, Geography and Genealogy: The epistemology of places in Islamic scientific and religious discourses", Fragments: Journal of History (Manuscript in preparation)


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By Matt Scott at St James' Park
When asked to sum up Moussa Sissoko's home debut against Chelsea on Saturday, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew probably couldn't have done so any better: "I don't really need to say too much. His performance spoke for itself."
The France international struck twice as the Magpies won a thrilling contest at St James' Park, including a smashing winner in the 90th minute.
Aside from his two goals, Sissoko completely ran the game from midfield, particularly against Ramires. The Brazilian is often a strong and energetic player that opponents find impossible to handle, but the former Benfica man found himself totally overrun by a man who cost the Magpies a mere £2 million last month.
Sissoko showed exemplary desire and a cool head to slot home his first after Petr Cech had parried Yoan Gouffran's shot, while his late winner was thumped home from 20 yards.
As well as grabbing his two goals, Sissoko gifted Papiss Cisse a one-on-one chance that the Senegalese spurned, while also setting up two other chances for his team-mates. The new Toon No.7 also took the initiative when required, firing six shots at goal, bettered by no other player on the pitch.
Arsenal and Tottenham tip-toed around January bids for Mohamed Diame, with the West Ham man available at a reduced price due to a buy-out clause in his contract, and while neither managed to secure a deal for the Senegal international, nor did either appear to show an interest in Sissoko, who was evidently available for less.
The Gunners have lacked a regular physical presence in midfield since the departure of Gilberto Silva and, although the Frenchman is not an all-out defensive player, his deft touch and imposing frame would slot perfectly in alongside the craft and guile of Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla.
Manchester United may well be comfortably clear at the top of the league, but several supporters have bemoaned the lack of a replacement for Roy Keane ever since the Irishman's tempestuous Old Trafford departure.
Anderson is not fit enough to play alongside Michael Carrick in the United engine room, while Phil Jones remains naive and his future clearly lies in defence rather than midfield.
With Darren Fletcher struggling to overcome a chronic bowel condition, Sissoko could have been the perfect figure to replace the Scot's all-action style.
"The whole team was magnificent," Pardew told reporters. "But Sissoko - it would be silly to ignore the fact that he announced his presence in the game, not just with his technical ability but with his power.
"It's something that has been sadly missing from the team and I don't really need to say too much, his performance spoke for itself.
"I remember seeing him at Toulouse about 14-16 months ago. There's only two players I've seen that I was desperate to get here. One was Cabaye and one was Sissoko."
|Newcastle are 14/1 with Bet365 to draw 2-2 with Tottenham
"I gave 100 per cent, the very best I could," Sissoko explained to the club's official website. "I was signed to do that, to give everything, to fight from the first to the 90th minute - that's what I try to do.
"I'm very happy today but we can't forget that it was a team performance. The team worked together. I played well but it's a team effort.
"Two goals and three points against Chelsea - a fantastic team - in front of a full-house, who supported us fantastically this afternoon. I couldn't be happier.
"I've never had so much encouragement and support. I always said I wanted to come to England to play in the Premier League and witness this sort of support."
While it may only be the start of Sissoko's time on English shores, one would be hard pushed to find a more spectacular introduction to the Premier League than has been enjoyed by Sissoko.
If he continues on this form, the minute figure of £2m spent by Newcastle two weeks ago could make every title-chasing side across Europe look very foolish indeed.
Follow Matt Scott on


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It's never a good thing for the Utica Police Department to lose dedicated members who are well-respected among their peers, officials agree.
It's never a good thing for the Utica Police Department to lose dedicated members who are well-respected among their peers, officials agree.
But with the department already rattled by more than 30 vacancies, saying goodbye to five esteemed supervisors who retire this month – each with 20 years of experience – couldn't come at a worse time, they said.
These two captains, two lieutenants and one sergeant together brought specialized training and expertise that played key roles in the department's operations, Utica police Chief Mark Williams explained this week.
So to have them walk out the door will bring bittersweet farewells, mixed with the fear and hope of what will come next, Williams said.
"Are we all replaceable? Yes, but you just don't get there overnight and there's going to be growing pains until the new officers get acclimated to their new positions," Williams said of the future promotions that will fill these supervisory openings.
The following officers are retiring:
Capt. Wayne ManolescuCapt. James WatsonLt. Steven BruckerLt. Scott CifonelliSgt. Loriann CozzaWith Williams and city Mayor Robert Palmieri expected to conduct interviews in the weeks ahead to choose their replacements, Williams said he is confident the department will stabilize itself in due time. The department will be currently working with 127 officers – far less than the stated complement of 163.
"We have some very capable people in our agency that are going to step up and excel and take on greater roles in the police department," Williams said.
In the meantime, though, Williams knows officer safety and occasional mistakes will be a concern as leaner ranks "do more with less" simply to handle day-to-day calls for service. The city's shootings have been up because there isn't as much proactive policing as Williams would like, but he believes the first step to turning around that trend begins with a stable supply of supervisors.
The department currently has to fill two of three captain positions, four of five lieutenant positions and five of 27 sergeant positions, Williams said. Then with 16 officers out indefinitely for long-term medical reasons, it could be more than a year until any new recruits actually take to the streets.
"Younger officers are going to make mistakes, so that's why supervision is crucial," Williams said. "We all make mistakes, so the point is to limit those mistakes so they end up being minor mistakes instead of major mistakes down the road."
The current president of Utica's John E. Creedon Police Benevolent Association, Investigator John Dellerba, shares the chief's worries.
"Officer safety is obviously Number One, because with fewer officers that becomes a major concern," Dellerba said. "And if the officers aren't safe, then what's that say about the safety of the city?"
The police chief and mayor understand a number of officers have left to join higher-paying police agencies, like the New York State Police. And they can't blame those who choose to retire after only 20 years, considering how demanding police work has become, Williams said.
But for as long as the five retiring supervisors were on the job, the Utica Police Department was lucky to have them, Williams said.
Captains Manolescu and Watson took on multiple roles in the department: Manolescu was a firearms instructor, captain in the Special Operations Division and Utica's representative on Oneida County's Drug Task Force; Watson has served as captain in both the Criminal Investigations and Uniform Patrol divisions; and both co-commanded the department's Emergency Response Team.
"They're both very well-respected in the law enforcement community and very experienced in what they did," Williams said.
Lieutenant Brucker was a "sharp guy" who spent most of his career in the Uniform Patrol Division – the "backbone" of the department – and taught criminal justice college classes on the side, Williams said.
Lieutenant Cifonelli had a fondness for investigative work, rising through the ranks in the Criminal Investigations Division from sergeant to lieutenant before retiring from Uniform Patrol.
"Scott's one of those cop's cops," Williams said. "That's a guy who you won't find anyone who has a bad word to say about."
Sergeant Cozza worked in Uniform Patrol and Criminal Investigations and guided the department back to its reaccreditation in 2011, an important factor in solidifying the department's "exceptionalism."
"This is much more than an eight-hour-a-day job to them, and they mostly went above and beyond without compensation," Williams said.
Although the department finds itself depleted of manpower nowadays, Mayor Palmieri credits the chief with doing the best he can to build the most efficient and effective police force possible.
"I'm kind of proud of where we are at this point, and I'm proud of where we're going. We do an awful lot with the complement we currently have," Palmieri said. "Listen, there's no utopia and I guess we'll never see it … but myself and the chief came on in very difficult times, and we're committed to making the city the best it can be."
Follow @OD_LaDuca on Twitter or call him at 792-5037.


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Paul Snyder, the longtime amateur scouting director for the Atlanta Braves who helped mold the likes of Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, David Justice, Jeff Blauser and Chipper Jones, will be enshrined in the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame at Riley Park on June 14 prior to the Charleston RiverDogs game against the Augusta GreenJackets.
This will be the sixth year of honoring pro scouts, with the selections announced by The Goldklang Group, owners of the Charleston RiverDogs.
Criteria for induction includes a minimum of 20 years of pro scouting experience, with selection based on a combination of quantifiable success in the field, contributions made to the game in other areas of the sport whether professional or amateur, and importantly, their involvement and dedication to the local community that is honoring them through induction.
Snyder played an integral role in the rise and sustained dominance of the Atlanta Braves during the 1990s as the team's longtime amateur scouting director (1981–1990; 1999–2000), assistant to the general manager (1991–1995; 2001–2006), and director of player development (1977–1980; 1996–1998).
"When I got the call, I was overwhelmed," said Snyder. "I'm very honored by this. The biggest thing when one is a scouting director is that you need good help. And I was blessed to have had great help. It's nice to be honored, and I thank the RiverDogs for it."
Snyder retired from the Braves after the 2007 season.
In 2005 he was inducted into the Braves Museum & Hall of Fame, and in 2006 he was presented with the King of Baseball Award given by Minor League Baseball.
In recognition of Snyder's career accomplishments, Baseball America named him one of the top 25 people in the game on the publication's 25th anniversary in 2006.


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Poetry by Roy Chicky Arad, eBook, in Hebrew.
Poetry by Roy Chicky Arad, eBook, in English.
Translated from Hebrew by Dory Trupin.
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Here's a quick question. How much does your health insurance cost? You probably have no idea.
Most Americans get coverage through an employer – either their own, their spouse's or their parent's. The employer usually picks up most of the tab, somewhere between 50 and 80%. You probably know the size of your share, since it is taken out of each paycheck. But few people know the size of the entire bill.
That is about the change. Starting this year, the W-2 form you receive from your employer will include the full amount that was paid for your health coverage. (That's the form you file with your tax return listing compensation for the year. Employers who file fewer than 250 of them are exempt.) When you see it, you may be in for a big surprise.
Take a look at Box 12. If you received health coverage, you will see the code "DD" followed by an amount. That's how much your employer paid. There's a good chance it's a lot more than you thought.
The average individual policy cost $5,615 in 2012 and the average family policy $15,745. Some plans cost much more – over $20,000. If you are like most workers, only a small portion of that, about a quarter on average, is deducted from your paychecks. The rest is compensation you may not have realized you were getting.
The cost of health coverage was not reported until now because it is not subject to income tax. The money is a benefit you receive tax-free, so the IRS has no need to know how much it is. For most workers, this ignorance is bliss. They enjoy financial protection from health care expenses and have no idea what it really costs.
The problem is that many workers pay the cost without realizing it. That's because their employers make up for the expense by paying less in salary. If Box 12 on your W-2 lists, say, $15,000, there's a good chance you could be making thousands of dollars more in salary if your employer didn't provide health benefits.
The change in reporting was mandated by the health reform law. The purpose is to make you more cost-conscious. With knowledge of what coverage really costs, workers may be more open to accepting cheaper plans in return for higher salaries. That could help to push spending down throughout the health care system.
The law does not change the tax treatment of your health coverage. It is still tax-free, if you get it through an employer. While some fear the new reporting rule will make it easier for the government to tax health benefits in the future, there are no plans to do so. A tax change would require that Congress pass another health reform law, and that is not likely to happen anytime soon.
Lest you think the new rule was an insidious provision slipped in by Obamacare's architects, it actually had clear bipartisan support. It was originally proposed by two Republican senators – Charles Grassley of Iowa and Michael Enzi of Wyoming – and two Democrats – Max Baucus of Montana and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
America has the most expensive health care system in the world. While cost increases have moderated in recent years, they are unsustainable in the long run. Few of us appreciate how much of the expense we actually bear – often with each paycheck. Thanks to health reform, we will now have a better idea. That could be a first step in bringing costs under control.


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Offering the same value, comfort, and sound quality of our popular E6i Omni, the E6i Directional Earset is designed for even more gain before feedback in noisy spaces or near loudspeakers.
The E6i Earset mics are practically invisible to live or broadcast audiences. They're incredibly comfortable for the wearer. They capture sources clearly with excellent rejection of ambient noise and feedback. And their unique snap-on cable extends the equipment life many times over. In addition, the snap-on cable makes the same earset compatible with virtually any wireless mic system, simply by switching cables instead of buying an entirely new mic.
We've mounted our tiniest mic capsule on an even tinier boom that is rugged, flexible, and incredibly lightweight. Silicon padding at the earpiece helps keep the boom comfortably in place, even with glasses or other head-worn accessories. Countryman offers the widest range of boom and windscreen colors to match virtually any skin tone. The more-flexible boom on the E6i is very easy to adjust and perfect when one mic is shared among several people.
What's more, the protective caps change in seconds, provide moisture resistance, and allow you to select between hypercardioid (most popular) and cardioid patterns for on-location fexibility.
It's no surprise that Countryman's E6i Directional Earset is a top choice for any spoken word application with excessive background noise or potential for feedback.
The E6i Directional microphone is supplied with a snap-on cable with specified connector, windscreen, set of two protective caps (hypercardioid and cardioid), set of two collar clips (black and white), and carrying case.
Style & Comfort
WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
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You will require this certificate at the final stage of building work for minor structural alterations that do not have the effect of changing the character or use of the building, such as carports, fences or signs.
Your building permit will indicate whether a certificate of final inspection is required. A certificate of final inspection is required for all building works that do not require an occupancy certificate.
The building surveyor responsible for the work will issue a certificate of final inspection if satisfied that the building is suitable for occupation.
Please consult with your council building department and your building surveyor for further details specific to your building work.
A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.
To be eligible for this certificate, you must:
Please consult the responsible council for more information regarding eligibility requirements.
The person in charge of carrying out building work (generally the building practitioner) must notify the relevant building surveyor at the completion of each mandatory notification stage of building:
As indicated on the permit.
Fees Details for this service in table format.
Please consult the responsible council for specific information on fees to be submitted with your application.
Building Act 1993 VIC
Building Regulations 2006 VIC
Glenelg Shire Council
Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.
Glenelg Shire Council


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Professor Lustig directs the Center for Business Law. After working in Washington, D.C., as an attorney-adviser to the Hon. Lawrence A. Wright of the U.S. Tax Court and as an associate at Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin, Professor Lustig joined the New England Law faculty in 1993. He previously was a visiting assistant professor in the University of Florida College of Law's Graduate Tax Program. A practicing certified public accountant before attending law school, he teaches Business Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations, Personal Income Tax, Products Liability, and Torts. He is the author of several articles on tax policy issues.
The Millionaires Tax Initiative in Massachusetts,
Bloomberg BNA
(2017) (with Lawrence Friedman)
Business Organizations Context and Practice
(2016) (with Susan R. Finneran)
A Continuing Look at Boston's Revised Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Program: Update Version 2.0,
15-07 New Eng. Law Boston Research Paper
To George Dargo: "I Hope You Had the Time of Your Life",
47 New Eng. L. Rev. 17
The Boston City PILOT Task Force One Year Later: Proposed Change and Its Aftermath,
46 New Eng. L. Rev. On Remand 14
The Boston City PILOT Task Force: An Emerging Best Practice?,
44 New Eng. L. Rev. 601
Foreword: Tax-Exempt Organizations and the State: New Conditions on Exempt State,
44 New Eng. L. Rev. XI
The Shelf Project: Tax on Insurance Buildup,
122 Tax Notes 665
(2009) (with Calvin H. Johnson and Andrew Pike)
Foreword: The Bhopal Disaster Approaches 25: Looking Back to Look Forward,
42 New Eng. L. Rev.
Many Unhappy Returns: One Man's Quest to Turn Around the Most Unpopular Organization in America,
40 New Eng. L. Rev. 563
(2006) Book review of memoir by Charles O. Rossotti
The Boston PILOT Task Force One Year Later: Proposed Change and Its Aftermath,
46 New Eng. L. Rev. 14
IRS, Inc.—The New IRS Oversight Board—Effective Reform or Just Politics? Some Early Thoughts from a Corporate Perspective,
42 Duq. L. Rev. 725
Teaching the Law School Curriculum
(Gerald F. Hess & Steven Friedland eds., 2004) contributor, pdf available here.
Who We Are: An Empirical Study of the Tax Law Professoriate,
1 Pitt. Tax Rev. 85
Taxation of Prepaid Tuition Plans – Middle Class Panacea or Placebo? Continuing Uncertainty and Variations on a Theme,
31 Akron L. Rev. 229
IRS Form 8300: The Attorney-Client Privilege and Tax Policy Become Casualties in the War Against Money Laundering,
24 Hofstra L. Rev. 623
(1996) with Matthew Harrington
Negative Basis Reconsidered: Of Hoaxes, Traps for the Unwary, and the Need for Reform,
32 Gonz. L. Rev. 45


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Shop, Dine, and Stroll with First Fridays!
For Immediate Release
June 29, 2012
Contact: Jamie Inglis, Event Specialist
Stroll along scenic Lakewood Bay and celebrate summer with First Fridays! This remarkable outdoor art market will feature accomplished artists, appetizing cuisine & beverages, and live entertainment. It will be held on the First Fridays of July, August, and September: July 6, August 3, and September 7, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. It will take place at breath‐taking Millennium Plaza Park, which is located at 200 First Street in downtown Lake Oswego. This summer celebration is a brilliant opportunity for community members to enjoy an "outdoor happy hour" on the lake!
Stop by First Fridays to shop for exceptional treasures. Artist mediums include watercolor, oil, pottery, glass, accessories, and jewelry.
To make First Fridays a true "happy hour," organizers have added three local restaurants to the event. Maher's Pub will be joining the fun to sell food and drink. World Class Wines will also be onsite vending enchanting beverages. Additionally, local Farmers' Market Favorite, Pop a Bak, will be selling their famous Greek Gyros.
First Friday guests will also be treated to wonderful music! The event will open with a performance from Oregon native and acoustic delight, Steve Hale. The following month will feature harmony‐laden rock n' roll from The Shwing Daddies. First Fridays will close with classic rock covers from The Menace Band.
To complete an evening of art‐filled fun, First Friday patrons are invited take a tour of local businesses that are extending their hours to celebrate the event. Be sure to tour all the stores that are participating and see all that Lake Oswego has to offer. Participating businesses include Accessories from the Heart, Chocolates by Bernard C., Firehouse Pub, Graham's Stationery, Lake Oswego Ice Creamery, Lucky Me Boutique, Ollar Photography, Pendleton Woolen Mills, Play Boutique, R.Blooms, Soletta Shoe Boutique, St. Honore Boulangerie, Step it Up Studios, The Clock Gallery, The Oilerie, Tuccis, and World Class Wines. Many businesses are also offering additional incentives to First Friday guests (discounts, gifts with purchase, etc.). To keeps patrons moving throughout downtown, the Lake Oswego Arts Council will be giving "Gallery Without Walls" Sculpture Tours at 6:30 p.m. at each First Friday.
Be sure to join the City of Lake Oswego for this unforgettable event and toast to an extraordinary summer! For additional information, visit www.ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec or call Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation at 503‐675‐2549. Cheers!


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Legoland closes its UK hotel due to threats
LONDON (AP) — The Legoland theme park west of London has temporarily closed its hotel after threats from far-right groups forced it to cancel a "Muslim fun day."
The resort had been booked by the Muslim Research and Development Foundation for about 1,000 families. The decision to cancel Sunday's event and close the hotel was made after the popular attraction received threats via phone calls, emails and social media postings.
"We are appalled at what has occurred, and at the fact that the real losers in this are the many families and children who were looking forward to an enjoyable day out at Legoland," the company statement said.
It said a small group had distributed misinformation about the event.
Legoland reopens for the season next week, but the hotel is open year-round.
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For Christmas, give a hand up
WASHINGTON – Christmas is upon us, and I still haven't bought anything.
I just haven't mustered the energy to shop. And I'm not alone. A survey conducted between Dec. 3 and 5 by RetailMeNot found that 87 percent of consumers still had holiday shopping to do.
Maybe you haven't finished your shopping because you don't know what to buy folks. Perhaps I can help. How about a money-minded gift?
? Give cash. Cash is king, and it's really supreme when used to help pay someone's bill. Times are still pretty tough for a lot of people. So rather than give them something they don't need, help them get out of debt, catch up on an overdue bill or get ahead of one.
Be careful with this gift idea. You don't want to support a pattern of bad financial management. But you can help an otherwise financially responsible close friend or family member who has experienced a hardship. You also need to be careful not to offend. People can be prideful.
Create a gift certificate offering specific help with something. Offer to pay a cable bill or utilities for a month. Put that on the certificate. Regiftable.com allows you to personalize a certificate with five nice themes. (Click on the link "Don't Want to Regift.") Write a letter expressing your desire to help them not with a handout but a hand up. If you can, when the certificate is redeemed, pay the bill directly.
? Give knowledge.Reading is fundamental and essential to understanding personal finance. Give someone a subscription to a magazine that can literally enrich his or her life. They may not jump for joy. But you don't know how many times I've heard someone say, "I have no idea how to invest."
I read Black Enterprise, Money magazine (published by Time) and Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. I would be thrilled to get a subscription to Consumer Reports. My husband and I consistently consult Consumer Reports before purchasing a lot of things — a car, household appliances or any electronics. But the magazine provides so much more than product reviews. The writers provide unbiased analysis of so many personal-finance issues.
With this gift, get the current issue of the magazine you want to give and include a note that you are providing a year's subscription. If you don't think people will read the hard copy of a magazine or don't want them piling up on their tables, get them a digital subscription. Many publications provide both hard copies and access to their digital editions.
? Give a session with a financial adviser.A full-fledged financial plan by an adviser can be costly. But you can arrange to pay for a session with a fee-only planner who charges a flat hourly rate. You want to give a sales-pitch-free session that will give someone a financial check-up.
"This gift can mean the difference between a person having a lifetime of financial problems and becoming a good steward of their finances," said Ernest Burley, a Maryland-based certified financial planner who works with clients around the country. Burley's lowest and most basic session is $250 for two hours. "But I never cut people off, so they often go longer. It includes a total review of a person's financial situation with recommendations, plus a cash flow worksheet."
You can also search for a fee-only planner through the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (napfa.org). Ask if the planner offers gift certificates.
Kiplinger's (one of my gift ideas) had a feature focusing on a few sites where you can get online financial advice. I particularly like the suggestion for Smart401k.com, which works with people by phone, email or online to help figure out how to invest in their employer- sponsored retirement plans such as a 401(k) or the federal Thrift Savings Plan. The service will look at your workplace investment choices and recommend what funds you should invest in and how much money you should allocate to each one. With a yearly membership, people get a quarterly update of the recommendations. A yearly membership is $199.95. But you can also get a quarterly membership for $59 and let the person try out the service. You can buy a Smart401k gift certificate.
I fully admit, my gift ideas aren't likely to result in the usual glee people show when they open a present. What I've recommended is akin to the socks or pajamas you got as a child. But if you're patient, you'll get your praise later.
Michelle Singletary's email address is email@example.com.


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The daffodils are peeking up from the earth, with their bright green slender leaves, along with the crocus. And it seems the birds are unusually noisy lately. I always take that as a sign that it is time to clean up the garden and gather supplies to trim and feed the plants.
The daffodils are peeking up from the earth, with their bright green slender leaves, along with the crocus. And it seems the birds are unusually noisy lately. I always take that as a sign that it is time to clean up the garden and gather supplies to trim and feed the plants.
My beautiful blooming edgeworthia is finishing its bloom cycle along with the daphne. The camellias are blooming and providing that spot of color amid the barren gray landscape. The thing I like most about early spring is the cool crispness of the air. Along with that I am able to watch the earth literally warm up. The soil gets browner, the color returns to landscape. And it is no longer a dull gray. Seeing all of this makes my heart sing and "I want to go outside and work" juices start flowing.
What do I do first? First I clean up the garden. Trim all the dead foliage off the perennials, cut off all the dead hydrangea heads. I like to leave the hydrangea heads through the winter because the birds use that material to build nests. I gather all the leaves and put them in the compost pile. All this lets me start with a clean garden base.
Next on my list is the feeding program for the perennials. I feed my perennials, hydrangeas, flowering shrubs, clematis vines and peonies only once a year, but it lasts a long time and packs a big punch. In a large wheelbarrow, I mix one-third peat moss, one-third cottonseed meal and one-third 10-10-10 with trace elements. The peat moss is the buffer in the mix, and the cottonseed meal is a long-term organic feed. It is important that your 10-10-10 has trace elements in it. These are micro-nutrients such as copper, iron or boron. They are minor, but they matter.
Mix it up in the wheelbarrow and feed your perennials around the beginning of March. My small perennials get anywhere from � to � cup per plant. The clematis vines and peonies get 1 cup per bush. And the hydrangeas and large flowering shrubs get 2 cups per bush. I sprinkle the feed on the ground around the drip line of the plant, where the roots grow out to. This feed should be dug into the ground, but instead I mulch over it after I feed the plant.
Mulching every spring is as critical as feeding. Mulch does three things to benefit your garden. It keeps the roots cool, the moisture in and the weeds out. But wait, there is another huge benefit. We have such horrible red clay for soil that we usually have to add things to the soil to make it workable. I cannot tell you how many out-of-towners move here and think they are going to go outside and just start digging. They find out how impossible it is. One solution to this is to put down two to three inches of mulch each spring. Over the course of the year, the mulch breaks down and goes into the soil and improves it. I use triple-ground hardwood mulch.
In my next column, we will talk about mulch. I want to explain it so you will understand how important it is.
There is a Household Hazardous Waste Collection planned for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 23 at the Spartanburg County Administration Building at 366 N. Church St. Volunteers will be on hand to collect old pesticides and other toxins that are not allowed in the landfill. If you have any questions, contact Jim Weeks at 579-1624 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
There is great news to report. Spartanburg Community College horticulturist Kevin Parris got news recently that his Magnolia grandiflora "Kay Parris" has been endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society in England as a tree of merit. Parris cultivated this tree and named it in honor of his beloved mother, Kay. The Royal Horticultural Society holds trials each year in which it plants specimens and grows them for some time. The plants are graded by horticultural experts. The plants that score the highest are given the Award of Garden Merit. Many horticulturists in England follow these guidelines when determining what to plant in their own gardens.


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Gunmen kill 6 Egyptian soldiers at checkpoint
CAIRO (AP) — Gunmen stormed an Egyptian army checkpoint outside Cairo early Saturday morning and killed six soldiers, including some still in their beds, officials said, in what amounted to an escalation by militants on military targets near the capital.
Just days earlier, masked men opened fire on a busload of military police inside city limits, another rare attack on soldiers this far from the restive Sinai Peninsula, where the army is fighting a counter-insurgency campaign.
Provincial security chief Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Yousri told state news agency MENA that the gunmen also planted explosive devices after Saturday's attack in Shubra al-Kheima, but bomb disposal experts managed to diffuse two and detonate another in a controlled explosion.
The military blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for the attack, calling the group "terrorists" and saying they had planted the additional bombs to target rescue workers rushing to the scene.
Armed Forces Spokesman Col. Ahmed Mohammed Ali said the soldiers, of a military police unit, were attacked just after morning prayers. The Health Ministry confirmed the death toll.
"These cowardly operations will only increase our determination to continue the war against terrorism," Ali said in comments on his official Facebook page.
Amr Darrag, former head of the Foreign Relations Committee for the Brotherhood's political party, condemned the attack on his Twitter account and denied responsibility.
"How can the (Brotherhood) be accused (a) few minutes after the attack with no evidence or investigation?" he wrote.
Egyptian authorities say the Brotherhood has orchestrated a series of bomb attacks on police and other targets following the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi, who hails from the Islamist group. This week, prosecutors referred about a dozen Brotherhood members to trial for allegedly forming an armed unit that has carried out attacks in the Nile Delta.
They have produced little evidence open to public scrutiny to bolster these claims, however, and most attacks have been claimed by the country's most active militant group, an al-Qaida-inspired organization based in the Sinai called Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, or Champions of Jerusalem. The Brotherhood denies being involved in the attacks.
Authorities in recent days have also said they arrested a number of individuals they accuse of planning attacks on the police, including a group of 12 in the Delta governorate of Menoufia and others in northern Sinai.
Separately, Champions of Jerusalem said that one of its founding leaders was killed when a bomb he was carrying was set off by a car accident.
In a statement posted on militant websites early Saturday, the group said Tawfiq Mohammed Freij died Tuesday when an accident set off a "heat bomb" he was transporting in his car. It did not say where the accident took place.
It said Freij, also known as Abu Abdullah, was one of the founders of the group, who masterminded its attacks on pipelines to stop Egyptian gas supplies from being shipped to Israel.
It called him the "field commander" of an August 2011 cross-border attack into southern Israel that targeted a bus and other vehicles near the resort city of Eilat, killing eight people. Egypt's Interior Minister identified Freij as a key figure in the extremist group in January. David Barnett, a research associate with the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said that Freij is the highest ranking member of the Ansar identified thus far.
The wording of the most recent statement suggests that Freij moved from either Sinai or Gaza to Cairo or elsewhere in Egypt in early 2013 to supervise the group's operations, including a failed suicide car bomb attack on the interior minister in Cairo in September 2013.
The statement could not be independently authenticated, but militant groups regularly use the websites to make announcements.
Also Saturday, a Cairo court sentenced 68 members of the Brotherhood and other youth movements to two years jail for participating in a protest without a permit. They had been arrested during protests on the third anniversary of the 2011 uprisings that led to the ouster of longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
Authorities have been cracking down on Morsi supporters and other regime critics since the Islamist's overthrow last summer, saying they seek to establish law and order.
Following Saturday's attack, the National Defense Council, headed by the president and attended by military chief and other security officials, held a meeting in which members discussed security arrangements in advance of the upcoming presidential elections. They stressed the need for an atmosphere of "security and peace" to ensure a high turnout.
Meanwhile, Giza's criminal court sentenced Zohair Garana, the Mubarak-era tourism minister, to five years in jail on corruption charges. He still faces other corruption charges in a pending case.
Associated Press writer Laura Dean contributed to this report


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Went the Day Well? (UK - BD RB)
Marcus just found out those bleedin' Nazis snuck in to his town in 1080p....
Bramley End, an idyllic British town during the Second World War and a bunch of soldiers have just arrived on a mission to prepare the town for a potential German invasion. The soldiers are welcomed with warm greetings but after a few careless slips in their stories these uniformed men actually turn out to be those bleedin' Nazis on an undercover mission. Now it's time for us Brits to stand up and stop the Jerrie's from winning the war.
In another Ealing propaganda film to get the British cinema goers to hate on those Germans a little bit more and be ready to fight even in the most routine of circumstances, Went the Day Well? really lays on the "keep your eyes peeled" instructions for if those sneaky Nazis found a way to secretly infiltrate your community. With little things like looking out for the continental way of writing numbers (elongated fives and lines through sevens—both dead giveaways apparently) or housing foreign chocolate in their backpacks, this movie gives us pointers on how to spot the enemy and when they take over it teaches us never to give up the fight.
When the Nazis reveal themselves they go from fine friendly pretend English soldiers to full on demons. Heartlessly threatening to kill kids, betraying people they've been friends with in the town, shooting down some home guards on their bikes in cold blood and treating their prisoners like animals. This stuff is actually quite dark compared to a lot of old black and whites, especially in regards to some of the Nazi killings from the normal townsfolk, and even if the English characters keep calm and carry on it still paints the Nazis as pretty sinister underhand folks, despite the fact they can be overcome by post office workers, spinsters and a bunch of kids.
The last batch of Ealing titles I reviewed were DVDs and they were a mixture of grainy, flickering and soft transfers which, while slightly cleaned up, didn't exactly sell themselves as poster children for restorations. Here in an HD transfer that proudly advertises its restoration as the film opens is a whole different story. This is a seventy year old movie that had a lot of attention and outside of the odd speck and artefact looks bloody good. The image is sharp, surprisingly so in places and the transfer has a real depth because of it. The opening scene with Mervyn Johns showing us the gravestone for the Germans has an almost 3D effect to its sharpness. Texture of jackets and army uniforms are a lot more noticeable and there's even a bit where there's a baby crying and you can see it has a thoroughly wet bottom causing the desired effect.
There's still a sense of the grain though it's more part of the image than something that blankets it and while deep black levels are few and far between the image is still very impressive for the age of the movie and a hell of a step up from the Ealings I watched a few weeks back.
Again this area is a noticeable step up from the Ealing DVD releases. The continuous hiss is gone from the audio and what we have instead is a noticeably crisp, clear audio track that, while far from dynamic, captures the charm of the era's sound extremely well. There's not much in the way of atmosphere and the sound effects are more piercing that effective but this was still a whole lot more pleasant an audio experience than what the Ealing DVDs offered up.
With HD comes features and while they are not plentiful they are quite interesting. The first is a short film by the film's director Alberto Cavalcanti, called Yellow Caesar (22:21 SD) which is a bit of a pop at Mussolini.
Next up is a fascinating audio featurette from BBC Radio 3 'British Cinema of the Forties' (14:08) which is a brief history of Ealing and then a detailed account of what Went the Day Well? set out to achieve in the war era.
Went The Day Well? was an impressive upgrade for a seventy year old British movie and all of the failings from the recent Ealing DVD releases suddenly don't feel all that unavoidable anymore. The film itself is a quaint look at a bad situation but is a nice example of the cinema of the era so it's easy to just sit back and enjoy. Fans of the film should be pleased with the release and those who might fancy seeing an old film treated well in HD might like to check it out too.
* Note: The below images are taken from the Blu-ray release and resized for the page. Full-resolution captures are available by clicking individual images, but due to .jpg compression they are not necessarily representative of the quality of the transfer.
Review by Marcus Doidge
General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children
Disc Details
Release Date: 25th July 2011
Discs: 1
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 1.66:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono English
Subtitles: English HoH
Extras: Short Film, BBC Radio 3 Audio Featurette
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Alberto Cavalcanti
Cast: Leslie Banks, Mervyn Johns, Basil Sydney, C.V. France, Valerie Taylor, Thora Hird, David Farrar
Genre: Drama and War
Length: 93 minutes
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Here's a bit of irony. One of the members of Obama's gun control task force lead by Joe Biden has a son who was convicted a few years ago of plotting to commit a Columbine-style school shooting when he was a student at Marshfield High in Massachusetts.
Thomas Nee is the president of Boston's largest police union in Boston, the National Association of Police Organizations and was a cop himself. In 2004, his son Joseph conspired with a friend to "take ammunition and explosive devices into the school, secure the school's exit doors with bicycle locks and shoot students and staff." There is also evidence that Joseph brought his dad's service gun, a .40 caliber Glock, with him to school in one reported incident where he showed a fellow student the gun and told her how the "school was going to be shot up." If the plan had come to fruition, it's likely he would have used his dad's gun.
Now, Thomas Nee is sitting on the task force devoted to finding ways to take away people's access to guns. I guess he would be somewhat of an expert on gun violence since his own son once plotted to murder a bunch of students and teachers.
Trending: College Expels Disabled Boy Over Sex Assault Despite Girl Admitting SHE Molested HIM!
Nee's situation is slightly unique. Media love to fixate on how Lanza stole his mother's legally owned guns in order to murder a bunch of kids and adults. Pundits will claim that if only we had even stricter gun laws, there wouldn't have been any guns for Lanza to steal in the first place.
But in Joe Nee's case, his dad was a cop. Cops and military personnel are allowed to have guns. They're supposed to have guns presumably to protect themselves and other people. Yes, guns can protect you if they're in the right hands. Thomas's son stole his cop-dad's gun. So, is Mr. Nee going to propose to limit access of guns to police as well? His personal case proved that even a police officer's guns can be used for evil if they're in the wrong hands. Of course, they can be used for evil even in they're in the "right" hands. To be safe and consistent, maybe Nee should propose to ban guns in police departments.
Another expert on guns that is serving on this task force is Eric the Fast and Furious. Perhaps no one else knows more about smuggling guns illegally into the hands of Mexican drug cartels than Eric Holder does.
Quite the panel of experts we've got that will be finding out ways to curtail Americans' 2nd Amendment to make us all safer.


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by Jason St. Amand
EDGE Media Network
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is criticizing a Utah school district's decision to remove a children's book about lesbian parents raising children from its libraries, the Utah newspaper, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Officials from ACLU of Utah said the removal of the picture book, "In Our Mother's House," by Patricia Polacco, from the Davis School District's elementary school libraries is unconstitutional. The organization also wants to talk to with the district's superintendent Bryan Bowels about the issue and "the constitutional implications" the restrictions of the book could have.
"Federal courts have consistently concluded that the First Amendment protects student access to books in their school libraries, free from limits based on the administration's disagreement with the viewpoints expressed in the books," said John Mejia, legal director of the ACLU of Utah. "From what we know of the district's removal of the book, we have serious concerns that the district may have fallen short of these protections."
The book was removed from elementary schools after students' parents complained about the story's gay-friendly topic. Students are still allowed to take out the book but they must get consent from a parent.
The book started gaining negative attention in January after a mother of a kindergarten student at Windridge Elementary in Kaysville, Utah, which is about 23 miles north of Salt Lake City, was upset when her child took out the book out the library and brought it home, the article notes. Chris Williams, the district's spokesman, said the student's parents complained to elementary school officials.
On April 30, a seven-member school committee, which is made up of teachers, administrators and parents, ruled in a 6-1 vote that the book did not meet the district's curriculum standards.
"State law says schools can't have anything in the curriculum that advocates homosexuality," Williams said. "That is why it is now behind the counter." He added that school district officials only received three to five phone calls in the past few weeks from individuals who expressed negative feedback about the ruling.
The spokesman also said that the book was put into the library because a student who attended the elementary school is being raised by a lesbian couple.
A similar incident occurred in May of 2010 when a New Jersey school board voted to ban a book that involved gay themes from a high school. The board, which banned three books in total that were about human sexuality, made their decision after they received a complaint from a local chapter of Glenn Beck's 9.12 Project, a conservative organization that asks individuals to "Help us restore America."
This article was originally published by EDGE Media Network. All Rights Reserved. For more articles from EDGE, visit EDGEonthenet.com.


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Wii whacked with patent infringement claim - again
Remote and Nunchuck at center of row
The Wii's been hit with yet another patent violation claim, this time by a US firm alleging that the console's controllers its 'Human Movement Measurement System' (HMMS).
It's claimed that Nintendo violated a patent owned by Ohio-based company Motiva for an HMMS involving a "hand-held tracking device in communication with a base-station" used to create "an interactive gaming experience".
According to Motiva, the Wii uses an "interactive hand-held remote in communication with a base-station to reproduce users' movements" on TV - a pretty good description of the Wii Remote and Nunchuck.
"Using someone else's technology without permission is theft," said attorney W. Mark Lanier, Motiva's legal representative.
It's worth noting that Motiva's patent was filed in 2004, but only granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office in November 2007. The Wii was released in September 2006.
Motiva's HMMS patent was originally listed as a rehabilitation aid, but games have also been listed as another potential use. It's not clear whether the videogame usage model was part of the original 2004 filing, or added at a later date before the patent was granted. Either way, Motivia is seeking royalties, damages and attorney fees from Nintendo.
Back in May, Nintendo was told to pay US gaming company Anascape $21m (£14.2m/€16.5m), after a court upheld claims that both the Wii's and GameCube's controllers violated its intellectual property rights.


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What is better, facebook or twitter.com?
How can I delete e-mails on gmail and how can I change my facebook settings so facebook dosen't e-mail me?
Using the same tab ou use to log out, go to account settings. Over to the left of the screen, there is a link called notifications. You can click that and uncheck what you don't want them to send y...
Read More »
If i send Messages to my facebook contacts are they gonna show on my facebook account?
No it's not gonna show up in your Timeline
When my Facebook friends laugh directly at me when I'm in a Facebook webcam video, is that always funny?
yaya they may laugh at your video..so 1st show it to few of your close friend..if they say its good..thn pnly upload it.
Can you view people's profile on facebook if you are logged into your facebook page account?
I believe (NOT 100%) that you can view what they allow. As in, if you weren't friends with them. It will show certain things, depending on privacy settings, but no, you cannot view it as if you wer...
Read More »


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Fishers Cats drop twinbill
April 30. 2013 11:48PM
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats dropped both ends of a doubleheader Tuesday in Trenton, N.J.
Slade Heathcott's three-run homer lifted the Trenton Thunder to a 6-4 win in the opener, and Ali Castillo's eighth-inning single plated the winning run in the nightcap.
Trenton put three consecutive hits together in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn the win. J. R. Murphy doubled and Slade Heathcott followed with a bunt single. Castillo then singled through a drawn-in infield off Trystan Magnuson (1-1) for the win.
The Fisher Cats (11-15) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning of the nightcap. Kevin Pillar singled, stole second, advanced to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a passed ball for a 1-0 lead.
Trenton's first run was also unearned. Heathcott reached on an error and when Castillo's single slipped past Adam Loewen in right field, Heathcott scored the tying run.
New Hampshire starter Austin Bibens-Dirkx worked the first four innings, allowing two hits, walking two and striking out four. Chorye Spoone and Chad Back combined for three scoreless innings in relief.
Trenton's Tommy Kahnle (1-1) worked around base runners in the top of the seventh and eighth innings to earn his first win in relief of starter Caleb Cotham.
In the opener, Heathcott's fifth-inning blast, with Tyler Austin and JR Murphy aboard, made a winner of Matt Tracy, who pitched six innings for Trenton, allowing four runs and eight hits.
The Fisher Cats took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Kevin Pillar's leadoff homer. It was Pillar's third homer of the year. Trenton scored in the bottom of the inning on Kyle Roller's sacrifice fly to score Ramon Flores. Trenton was helped by two errors in the inning by New Hampshire second baseman John Tolisano, who committed three overall.
Clint Robinson led off the second with a homer for New Hampshire to give the Fisher Cats a 2-1 lead, but Trenton went ahead in the bottom of the third with a run on a double-play groundout and a Roller single to score Jose Pirela.
New Hampshire went back in front in the fifth on Ricardo Nanita's two-run homer, with Tolisano aboard. The blast gave the Fisher Cats a 4-3 lead before Trenton's three-run outburst in the bottom of the inning.
Ryan Tepera (3-1) took his first loss of the season for New Hampshire, allowing five runs, four earned, in four innings.